Social Media Marketing Is Critical In Building Your Home Based Business

Have you been dragging your feet when it comes to using social media marketing to grow your business?

As of, December 31, 2011, Internet World Stats says there are 2.267 billion Internet users in a world with 6.9 billion people. Imagine, nearly 33% of the world popuation goes online! And, 79% of the 347 million people in North America alone use the Internet, according to their stats. Now I don't know about you, but I think that's a pretty good reason to dip your toe into social media marketing.

But, for those still not convinced, check out this next little tidbit.

Amazingly, over 50% of the active Facebook users log on to Facebook every single day, and generate on average, 3.2 billion Likes and Comments per day. Over 500 million engage with Facebook on external sites, and Facebook alone is on pace to reach 1 billion active users this year! These are mind boggling statistics!

Social media is exploding on the world scene so it makes sense that the new way to reach customers, clients and prospects, is through social media marketing. The term Web 2.0 refers to using the Internet in a social setting. It is the interaction between people. It is the essence of social media.

If you Tweet your way through life, jump on Facebook everyday, or connect on LinkedIn, you are participating in Web 2.0. A blog is Web 2.0. RSS feeds are Web 2.0. Wikis are Web 2.0. If you can interact through comments or by contributing to a discussion, you are engaging in Web 2.0.

Web 2.0 just makes sense for social media marketing.

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A friend of mine, who took her business to six figures in six months using Facebook alone. Another friend created a portfolio of six figure income streams simply through blogging and article marketing using multiple sites. And still another one of my mentors has used Twitter to generate a six and seven figure income over the past several years.

Each of these internet marketing masters have tested and refined the steps needed to break free from their jobs or life circumstances. Each of them tapped into social media marketing training that teaches them everything they ever wanted to know about marketing online – and offline for that matter.

My Facebook friend taught me a little marketing strategy, that doesn't cost a dime.

Let me share it with you here. Create a Facebook account if you don't already have one, and start engaging in social media marketing right away. First, choose a niche market that you can relate to. Maybe it's cat owners or golfers, or coin collectors. Next, type the niche name in the search box on Facebook and hit enter.

Look for large groups to connect with. You can join them if they are open groups, but some groups require the Administrator to approve your membership so ask to become a member.

Create a Facebook Fan page, and invite people in your group to like your page. If you switch your account ID, and make your comments in the groups as "your fan page," people will click on your picture to see who you are, and that takes them to your fan page. Make sure your fan page invites them to "Like" it, and then they will get all your updates on their wall. This is where the relationship starts.

Your objective is to create a community on your fan page by encouraging interaction. You can do this by asking questions, taking surveys, Trivia or debates. Ask your fans what they are struggling with right now, and then give them 90% value, with 10% sales sprinkled in it. Be authentic, and the sales will follow.

Post updates on your fan page wall, 3-5 times per day, consistently. You want your fans to keep stopping by to see what interesting little nugget you have to share. And don't forget to post pictures. Ask yourself before you post… "would I want to receive this message? Will the recipient find true value in this, or will they want to block my updates?"

With your community built, your new friends will like you and trust you. People buy from those they like and trust. Your social media marketing is nearly on autopilot at this point, as long as you keep showing up for the party.