Be Yourself on Social Media.

Image representing Facebook as depicted in Cru...

I joined Facebook with my personal profile page in May 2008, and some would say at that point a monster was made. The truth isn’t quite so dramatic and was in fact a slow evolving process. Now I’m very active on Social Media and a lot of it is for fun, but most of it is a calculated effort to promote my company Total Broadcasting Service, and recently my wife and my Advisor status with the direct sales company, AdvoCare.

The truth is the “monster” reference above refers to both my frequency of posts and my willingness to break some long-standing “rules” for business and networking. The big one of which I refer is “never talk religion or politics”. It’s long been believed crossing the line into those two subjects is a sure way to lose customers or potential customers. Well, I’m a happy example of how that “rule” is largely myth. And I’ve come to the conclusion that the politics and religion banishment from social media discussion or business and networking discussion is created mostly by people who are personally more reserved anyway.

Nothing is wrong with being more tightly guarded about your thoughts, actions, or beliefs. But those who are ought not unfairly judge those of us who are happily more vocal. After all, if everyone held ideas so closely to the vest and never shared them how would people learn and grow and solve problems. It’s the more boisterous in society who call attention to problems and those problem’s solutions.

FB Tower pic w-number

Total Broadcasting Service is an eight year old company. We’re a radio advertising brokerage and audio production company that has added video production for internet marketing to our list of services. We experienced four years of growth after beginning operations in 2005, and then fell on hard times like so many others in 2009. We saw a lot of customers close their doors that year. Since then every year has gotten progressively better. And in 2012 we have recorded our best year ever in terms of gross income.

What I find interesting about this is the fact that 2012 was an election year and I made no secret about my support for what the election determined was a minority opinion. Not only was it a minority opinion nationally, but my Conservative politics was and remains an extreme minority opinion where I live and where most of my business originates from, in King County, Washington. So how can it be possible that my business has continued to grow and support my family with what amounts to an above-average income and life-style?

Stephen Colbert in New York City at Border's s...

Stephen Colbert

As Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert demanded to know during the Chick-fil-A vs Gay Marriage controversy last Summer, “I’ve got to know what positions my food has taken on all the issues. For example, I love Carl Jr’s Western Burger. It must be anti-ObamaCare, because it is clearly trying to kill us. And whenever I go to Applebee’s, I insist that they only give me right wings. After all, you are what you eat. And now, you also believe what you eat.”

The absurdity of Colbert’s comment should be obvious. And to me the obvious conclusion I’ve come to is that most people don’t care about politics or religion. Traditionally poor voter turnout proves this fact. Studies showing only about 50% of Americans regularly attend church further proves it.

Like Adam Smith clearly enunciated in his seminal book, The Wealth of Nations“, 

Profile of Adam Smith

Adam Smith

everyone cares about their own selfish interests. And that’s a good thing. Because in caring for our own selfish interests we as individuals and individual businesses are stronger and better able to serve specific customers and the general populace. Weak people and weak businesses serve very few. And in caring for their own selfish interests people care little about my politics or religion. They care about whether my business can make their lives better, something we constantly strive to do. And we strive with equal fervor for our Liberal customers as for our Conservative customers; for our Christian customers as for our Jewish, Buddhist, Atheist, or Muslim customers. Doing so is in our best interest.

My efforts on Social Media now include regular posts to my Facebook personal page, business page, and personality page. In 2010 I added Twitter and LinkedIn personally and for business to my Social Media promotional efforts. And in 2012 Pinterest began receiving our attention. And we are bloggers here on M Schuett blah blah blah. (We’re also on Biznik. But since they started charge money for even their most basic profile page we discontinued our subscription). Selfish advocacy of my political and moral points of view are frequent subjects of my posts. But foremost at ALL TIMES is merely to be interesting to as many people as possible in order to promote my business interests; Total Broadcasting Service, and in the past 3-4 months, AdvoCare health and nutrition.

AdvoCare allowed me and my wife to lose 30 lbs each in just 4 months.

AdvoCare allowed me and my wife to lose 30 lbs each in just 4 months.

Social Media experts will tell you that marketing through social media is not intended to get you direct business; but instead to keep your brand, product or service in the front-of-mind for potential customers. That’s true. But when you make yourself interesting on Social Media and are not afraid to “show a little leg” and make yourself vulnerable you gain credibility with even those who disagree with you. And in gaining credibility you gain direct customers. As we have. And we’re grateful.

Thanks for visiting. Comments are welcome.

The Best and Worst Times to Share on Facebook, Twitter

Using Social Media for business or with the direct intent of getting as much exposure as possible then you can benefit from this Mashable article telling you the best schedule from which to operate when posting.

The Best and Worst Times to Share on Facebook, Twitter.

Thanks for visiting. Comments are welcome.

Online Video as a Marketing Tool – NYTimes.com

Terrific Article from the New York Times on Online Video:

Online Video as a Marketing Tool – NYTimes.com.

Consumers More Likely to Use Businesses Active on Social Media | Inc.com

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Inc Magazine is a great source for Entraprenuars

This article from Inc. Magazine (or Inc.com) is from October 2010 but it’s still the most decided and clear study I’ve read about the effects of on-line social media marketing.

Let me give you just a small taste: Seven out of 10 consumers are more likely to use a local business if it has information available on a social media site!

Sooooo…how’s that Facebookpage of your’s looking NOW?

Image representing Facebook as depicted in Cru...

Image via CrunchBase

And what exactly have you Tweeted lately? Better get on it. Complaining that it’s a “time sucker” is no longer a good excuse. It’s like saying, “I could get a lot more accomplished if all these customers didn’t keep interrupting me.”

It’s a good read. Click and check it out.

Consumers More Likely to Use Businesses Active on Social Media | Inc.com.

Here is just one more little, personal bit of advice. My six year old website, www.totalbroadcasting.com, never had more visitors to it than the very first week I was on Twitter. And after that initial peak its number of visitors has never dipped down to the low levels it had consistently before that time.

So get busy on Facebook, LinkedIn, Biznik, Twitter, etc.

Image representing Twitter as depicted in Crun...

Image via CrunchBase

Thanks for visiting. Comments are welcome.

Seven Tips for Marketing a Business with Video | Entrepreneur.com

Here is an article that speaks to the need for you to have video in your marketing plans and how you might do it best.

Seven Tips for Marketing a Business with Video | Entrepreneur.com.

Thanks to Woodinville Florists for this article.