The Power of SOCIAL MEDIA in Business

While looking at various aspects and my own experience with social media platforms, I realise more and more the true power they have unfortunetely yes in some ways negative aspects but in many positive aspects as well.

I was asked a while a go by the marketing manager of a Cafe in Bostwana advice when using social media. My main answer was make it interesting. Many business Facebook or Twitter accounts are very focused on pushing a product or service and that is it. Whilst yes I agree your main objective would be to advertise and promote your product or service I do not feel this forms a relationship or interaction with the target market or client.

In my opinion a business should have a website, this is their foundation online and in the digital marketing space, This will have the basic details the company profile, their products and services and a contact page.

A social media page however I feel should be "the personality of a brand", it should be fun and inviting as well as interactive with people. It acts as a supporting tool to engage current clients and potential clients and drive traffic to your website which has further details. This process also helps with search engine optimisation for your website.

A social media page for example a cafe should not only have the food specials on it, but share a joke or wish all your Facebook friends or Twitter followers a good weekend, put up interesting quotes. All this portrays your brand and your business personality. Our consumers are all human and we need to grab their attention and communicate with them on a human level. If the page is more exciting and interactive we can form a relationship with our clients make our brand exciting.

Social media also allows two way traffic, you can post and show clients various details and receive feedback as well. This helps with market research and gaining further information about your market, it helps to define your target market.

Each social media platform has their own strength, for example Google + helps with search engine optimisation, Facebook is very interactive great for market research and  for pictures, Twitter is good for sending out quick information and quotes, Linked in for a more professional profile. When these platforms are used to their full potential they can be a great digital marketing strategy run on very little or no budget

Are you living or existing!

Tyler Perry: 'It doesn't matter if a million people tell you what you can't do, or if ten million tell you no. If you get one yes from God...

There is not to much I can say about the above its explains itself, Tyler Perry another man who grew up with nothing and worked his way up to be on of the best producers, actors and directors today. This profound statement may be just a few words stated by one man but packs a good punch!


Tyler Perry is an example of a man who has grown up with nothing and has worked to be the man he is today and is a "man for others" his generosity and willingness to empower others is amazing. God has used him in so many different ways to reach out to people.

His movies and stories always have a deep meaningful idea behind them, he uses them as a tool to communicate some of the issues the world faces today. If you have not watched a Tyler Perry movie my advice would be to watch all of them!

The statement above drives the entire foundation and thinking behind my blog. with God, passion and hard work you cannot go wrong. You can be used as a tool in many different areas. One small human in a big world yet you can make a big difference.

I would like to share the following link, a speech Tyler Perry made at Whitney Houston's funeral which gives you an idea of his faith and a great story of the amazing Whitney Houston.

In valor there is Hope

I thought I would share this poem. I first stumbled upon it after watching the movie Lone Survivor, the story of Marcus Luttrell and his team who are sent to capture a  notorious Taliban leader. The mission however does not go as planned and he is the only man who survives.

Ironically he is saved by a group of local villagers who risk their lives to help him. The human spirit is one remarkable thing!

I am currently reading Marcus Luttrell's book Lone Survivor that the movies is based on a must read.

In Valor There Is Hope - (A poem by Chief Tecumseh)

 “So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people. Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.

Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect to all people and grovel to none.

When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself. Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision.

When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home.”

~ Chief Tecumseh ~

Risky Business.... or maybe not ? “ Perseverance and audacity generally win ”

 “In the same way that I tend to make up my mind about people within thirty seconds of meeting them, I also make up my mind about whether a business proposal excites me within about thirty seconds of looking at it. I rely far more on gut instinct than researching huge amounts of statistics.” Richard Branson 

The words of who I call the crazy man! After reading Sir Richard Branson book "Losing my Virginity" a book I highly recommend it changed my perceptions on taking a risk, the courage or bold step that needs to be made.
 
Branson had learning difficulties growing up and struggled in school, reading, writing and speeches were not his strong points. Today he runs an empire, has written a book and does many talks all over the world. He took so many risks and still does in the effort to build the Virgin brand. Virgin started as a small record company, grew into a recording studio and record label which has signed some of the greats and has grown further into the many areas it is involved in today such as Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Money and many many more. Branson had what can simply be put as balls! Virgin Cola ??? who did he think he was to take on the greats Coca Cola and Pepsi? well Branson did!

As I have said I have always been a realist, look and analyse all situations deeply. In business I would think this would be wise to ensure the success of any venture. Branson based a lot of his business ventures on feeling, passion, and his own perseverance and drive. He also had a heallthy disregard the impossible and know one could tell him that something could not be or should not be done. Once his mind was made up he put 100% into everything he did.

I think we can learn a lot from this, yes we should look at the facts and figures but also how we feel about any venture or idea. Facts and figures can provide us with certain details but they do not take into account that we all think differently and work differently. "One mans junk is another mans treasure" a very true statement.

Sometimes we have to take that bold step, the courage and self confidence that no matter what the world may say and think we have our own ideas and can prove to all that nothing is impossible.

Bransons bold approach to business inspires me to put myself out there, get out of the comfort zone and work harder than ever, this is surely a recipe for success.

His business philosophy was to surround himself with good hard working people, without the team Branson has supporting him the Virgin brand would not be what it is today and that goes for any business. he treats his employee's with the utmost respect and values very single one of their contributions to the Virgin group.

Once we have pushed ourselves to take this big step perseverance is a big factor in the success of anything we try to do. It will always get difficult, it is what we learn from those moments that only makes us even stronger for further challenges.

 

" The Miracle Isn't That I have Finished. The Miracle Is That I Had The Courage To Start"

A "healthy disregard for the impossible".

A "healthy disregard for the impossible". the words stated by Larry Page one of Google's founders and current CEO.

Larry Page was giving a speech to a graduate class in Michigan 2009 when he made that statement. 

We often look at seemingly impossible tasks and are defeated before we even begin to try, a negative mindset towards something will certainly not help. we may look at ourselves as one small person what possibly difference could we make? I sit here also being some what a realist, always looking at the reality and the finer details not having the courage to move forward with great ideas or dreams. Then I see a man like Larry Page and what he has achieved today.

He started out having to use all his credit cards to finance the first few hard drives for his great idea, this idea starting while laying in bed  one night in his university dormitory and turning into something amazing!

Today Google is one of the biggest and voted the top company to work for worth a net total of approximately $23 billion, once again all starting from a young student laying in bed.  

As a young man myself i find myself at the "beginning" of my life so to speak, so many possibilities, so many opportunities, the world awaits. It is an exciting yet scary thought. My thoughts today are to keep a positive and focused mind set, not to be swayed by the many worldly views and attitudes but to define myself, formulate my own ideas and opinions and to be pro active in thinking always. I think we can gain inspiration from the greats such as Larry Page after all he is only a human as we all are and is using his talents and skills to the best of his ability.

it is also interesting to note that Larry mentions his family a great deal in his speech and the importance of his family and how supportive they were on his journey a value i admire.

See the link below for the full speech by Larry Page

http://googlepress.blogspot.com/2009/05/larry-pages-university-of-michigan.html