As a business owner, you have probably come to realize that using social media is one of the best ways to generate interest and land new clients. At the same time, you likely fit into one of two groups:
- Those who actively use social media for prospecting
- Those who passively use social media, hoping that people come to them (as opposed to actively searching)
If you are truly interested in finding prospects via social media, you better find yourself fitting into the first group. You want to be as active as possible, reaching out to prospects in hopes of striking up a conversation.
Set your Sights on the Target
Before you do anything, you need to have a clear idea of which types of people/companies fit your target market. This allows you to cut through the clutter, focusing your time and efforts on those who may actually turn into a customer at some point in the near future.
For a better idea of just how simple this can be, let’s take a look at prospecting via Twitter. If you are ready to use this popular social media service to your advantage, here are three simple steps for getting started:
1. Write down three to five keywords that pertain to your business. A web designer, for example, may write the following:
- Web design
- Hire web designer
- Web design projects
- Looking for web designer
2. Once you have your list of keywords, it is time to visit the Twitter search page. At that point, plug in your keywords and search one at a time. You may be surprised to find that there are many people searching for somebody in your field.
3. Reach out. If you decide that a person is a true lead, it is time to strike up a conversation and see where it goes. Some people will answer. Some people will ignore you. This is all part of social media prospecting. As long as you remain persistent, continually attempting to connect with others, it will not be long before you haul in your first client.
Note: this is a brief introduction on how to use Twitter for prospecting. You will need to adjust your approach when using Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social media services.
Now that you know how to find prospects via social media, you can be more productive each and every time you use one of these sites.
