It always feels great when someone you respect and is in the same business as you, follows you back on social media. This kind of reciprocated following feels like you’re rocking your social media strategy. Right?
But wait, it’s not that simple.
In fact, your next client or customer might have been that person(s) you didn’t follow because they didn’t “fit” your strict strategy.
Why?
If you stay stuck in the mindset of only following and following back people who also work in the same business as you, you’re sunk. These people are your direct competition, and in this dog eat dog world, direct competitors rarely refer clients.
That’s the truth.
In fact, most of those “peers” you connected with on social media would probably rather take on a client and do a crappy job for them, than refer them to you.
That’s how competitive the world has become. People would rather do less than their best work for clients than pass up an opportunity.
These people are still stuck in the “more is better” way of operating.
But, more isn’t better. Better is better.
Quality work will always carry you farther and help you build a loyal following and reputation in the long run.
Always.
Over the last year, I connected with two clients who came to me after working with a well-known marketer.
Both clients came to me very disillusioned, and needing help sorting out, a less than quality mess, that was the result of their previous arrangement.
Sad, isn’t it?
And, there’s even more to this equation.
If you only share strictly work-related items on social media you will never connect with and might even lose possible clients.
Why?
Because clients and potential clients or customers are people who have varied lives and interests. no one is one-sided.
By sharing other unique things via social media, you will attract new people and show different interesting sides of yourself. You become more human, more relatable.
You become someone who others will like, trust, and want to do business with.
Here are two great examples;
My friend, Jan Gordon of Curatti, is well known not only for her great business skills but also for her fantastic photography. And her photographs have broken the ice and made the initial connection for many new business clients.
My friend Lisa from Inspire To Thrive is well known for her business sense and her interest in the weather.
Well done, Ladies!
So, I hope I’ve offered you some food for thought next time you follow someone on social media or share something new.
Let me know your take on this topic.
How strange, I have also just ‘gathered’ two clients who have experienced disastrous webdesigns and transformed their sites to how they wanted, with excellent results. There are so many so-called webdesigners out there that think they can wield WordPress, and make a pig’s ear out of it because they really don’t know what they’re doing. Good job I’m there to pick up the pieces.
I know, right? It’s frustrating not only for clients but also for those of us who offer quality, and as I sometimes say, no BS, service. Good for you Alice, keep up your quality work and thanks so much for dropping by. Have a great day. 🙂
Good information that we tend to overlook.
Thanks, George. Have a great day.
Thank you Amanda for the mention. You are so right – it’s not all about just connecting with people in your own little world. I’ve met so many wonderful people here on Twitter including yourself 🙂 Some people only follow those with a lot of followers. I try to have a varied amount of people but after reading this I will expand my horizons even further 🙂
Thank you so much, Lisa. It is my pleasure to mention you. I am also so glad we connected. Personally, I tend to look at people’s following to follower ratio more than how many followers they have.