How 5 Unanswered Questions Hurts Your Online Presence Without You Knowing It

Do YOU know what those 5 questions are?

They trip up almost every business owner I talk to who is looking to come online with their business.

One of the benefits of being in the social media arena is we share…we validate…we grow.  I love reading what my colleagues are talking about and creating awareness in the social media arena.

My questions that come after I read things are more so HOW are they actually applying what was talked about.

Point in case…I love Robert Cialdini and his work Influence (not an affiliate link).

Here is what I see on the grassroots level after all the blog post, videos and podcast are released with this powerful and beneficial information…

The everyday business person is still saying:

• What would I do there?
• Why would anyone listen to me?
• Where would I find the time?
• How would i do this and not go nuts?
• Who do I listen to?

So, my follow up to great posts like “6 Powerful Social Media Persuasion Techniques” by Jeff Sexton in the Social Media Examiner-by Michael Stelzner is to say let’s look how to put that into action for the everyday business person-shazam!

What are the 6 steps:

• 1. Reciprocity
• 2. Commitment & consistency
• 3. Social Proof
• 4. Liking
• 5. Authority
• 6. Scarcity

(Read the entire post here, it was brilliant)

Here is what I recommend to the every day business person who is starting to feel like Gumby stretched to the max and about to ricochet into space-lost his head.
1. What would I do there?
One, STOP thinking you have to be everywhere, good lord talk about driving yourself insane, who could possibly learn and play in 5 new arenas and still run their business effectively.

WHAT would you do?  How about just LISTEN.  If you listened ONLY you would still gain so much information, knowledge and more importantly understanding to what people want and need today.  Thats how you can create the most powerful effect for your clients anyway-giving them something SIMPLE that is WHAT they need NOW.

2.Why would anyone listen to me?

Ok, after I have given you the mindset shift and releasing the limiting beliefs around WHY you are not worthy then we will move to the all important point:

YOU are an expert with your unique life experiences and skills who can help someone navigate the journey you already journeyed and arrived on the other side with success to the people who will be going down those same roads.

So your WHY is because you bring value, experience and understanding to a specific need for your clients.

STOP playing SMALL and OWN IT! (If you listened, you heard where you can help them)

We will listen because you can help us:

• save time
• save heartache
• save money
• save sanity

you pick!

3.Where would I find the time?

ROFLMAO (rolling on the floor laughing my ass off – for those who are unfamiliar)

You will find the time when your business has dried up, then where will you be?
Today’s customer/clients demands you be a part of the conversation of they will take their money and go play with those who ARE THERE.

That is motivation enough for me.  Never mind all the obvious ways it allows me to leverage myself in a timely manner.  So it is not WHERE would you have the time it is more about ARE YOU restructuring your schedule so you are focusing on BEING where the market is looking for answers today.

4.  HOW would you do this and not go nuts…

That one is so simple and yet it allude me for over a year so here is my authentic pill- the beans sharing with you the answer to this is so simple which is how most great solutions are recognized the simple ones are the best.

Create a blueprint, (or hire someone) when you work from a strategy and know what you will be doing and when you do not waste time daily figuring it all out 365 times.  You do it once, you follow the plan and as opportunities arise that you need to tweak and shift, it is easier to create that segue.

My time has drastically reduced because I am operating from a blueprint I have created for entire year-then I continue to break down to the daily steps and each day I know what I HAVE to do and DO IT and have nothing to WHINE about because now it is simple and enjoyable vs flying by the seat of my pants everyday reinventing and using all my creative juices on the HOW sucks you dry.

5.  WHO do I listen to, I left this one last for a reason.

So many people focus on that first without having done their work.  Michele what on god’s green earth do you mean?

We have all been told  go online follow influencers then move from there…
WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG (unless your idea of pulling your hair out is something you enjoy)
Focus on listening to the needs of YOUR audience-your ideal client-your current customer that is where the juice is for innovation. Look for WHO in that playground. And how do you know the WHO without first knowing your purpose with clarity.

What I know is that from knowing my WHAT- Success Mindset and Web 2.0 I can now listen to with my own power behind me driving my engine my WHY, WHY am I  there? …to bring light to entrepreneurs & service based professionals who want to build their online presence which takes a successful mindset AND using web 2.0- tools, techniques and strategies.  So, my WHY is always there Watching my back! And when I  understand WHAT and WHY the where do I find time is given because they are the life blood of my business and my how becomes simple because I do it with a plan bringing me back to the WHO in all the right places.

Thanks for your comments, dialogue and conversation, keep it constructive and courteous…use your manners in social media and watch the benefits grow.