Social Media

What? Another social media expert?

I am not really a fan of that term. What does it actually mean? If you know how to set up a Facebook page or a Twitter account do you qualify? Children know how to do that. Are you an expert if you have 5,000 Twitter followers? I’d argue no, especially since you can buy followers on eBay.

So here’s the deal. Whether I’m an expert or not is a moot point. Let’s just say that I know how to effectively use social media.

Sure, I write about it quite a bit on my blog and for other sites. But I’m living proof that I know what I’m doing. Don’t believe me? Keep reading.

A Very Brief History of How I Began Using Social Media

After the publication of my first book in February of 2009, I hired a PR firm. It seemed logical enough. I wanted the world to know that I wrote a book and a PR firm could do what I couldn’t (or so I thought). After three months, I realized that I was doing much more on my own–and I wasn’t formerly schooled in public relations.  How did I manage this? I applied effective social media principles to my own marketing and promotional efforts.

Specifically, I did the following:

• I read a great deal about social media and ways to use and not use it. I devoured social media books, blogs, podcasts, and webinars.
• I started my own podcast and submitted it to iTunes.
• I redesigned my site. OK, I didn’t do it. I paid an extremely talented and honest developer to do it for me.
• I started blogging. A lot. I am a big believer that blogging is part and parcel of an effective social media strategy. I also carefully guest posted on other blogs.
• I began tweeting and promoting others’ sites and posts, often commenting on their blogs. I started building my own community.
• I gave away more than 150 copies of my book, knowing that favorable reviews or mentions in blogs could pay off in spades. I was right.

Were you successful in using social media?

I like to think so.

How can you tell?

• In July of 2009, my first book reached #91 on Amazon’s best seller list–not bad for a self-published book about IT projects.
• I soon had multiple offers for my second book from proper publishing firms.
• A publisher bought the rights to my first book. It was recently released as a revised (and far superior) edition. You can say that I graduated.
• My metrics improved across the board–vastly. My bounce rate on Google Analytics dropped considerably. My Alexa ranking skyrocketed–and continues to increase almost every day. The number of unique visitors per day on my site increased tenfold. So did the number of page views.

For my second book, my publisher asked me if I was going to hire a PR firm. I didn’t bat an eye. Never again. I know exactly what to do to reach and grow my audience.

What can you do for me?

It’s completely apocryphal for anyone to make grandiose promises about the benefits of social media. There are many snake oil salesmen out there. I will, however, stand behind the following:

• I know how to effectively build–and grow–a social media presence.
• I can enable you to connect with your audience better.

Contact me to find out more.