4 Ways to Use Social Media to Build your Home-Based Business

I owe a lot to Twitter for helping me secure two of my steadiest clients. Wait, that didn’t come out right – let me try again: I owe my time spent networking on Twitter, and building genuine relationships with others in my industry, with helping me secure two of my steadiest clients.

Do you see the difference in those two statements? The first might have lead you to believe marketing my business on Twitter is what brought me more business. The second statement correctly reveals that the process of getting to know others in my industry and allowing them to get to know me in return led to those colleagues sharing business leads with me, which I followed up on and am happy to report have become a steady source of my income.

Where exactly am I going with this? I realize that many entrepreneurs are still under the impression that social media sites like Twitter and Facebook are vehicles for marketing their products and services. And they’re wrong. I used to think that way too. Then I started getting followed by a mass of self-proclaimed Internet marketing experts which led to being bombarded by streams of sales pitches and ads. And I didn’t like it. Not one bit. I noticed no one else seemed to like it much either. Then I started paying attention to a few noted social media experts who were constantly saying that social media is simply about being social – networking and building relationships. Starting conversations, joining conversations, answering questions, helping others and, well, socializing.

I didn’t get it at first. I was there trying to earn a living and attract business. I didn’t see where socializing fit into my plans. I had no idea what I was doing, but eventually I started regularly interacting with other freelance writers and copywriters and before you know it I really began to appreciate the camaraderie and information I received from the links they shared.

One day a writer friend sent me a DM (Twitter speak for Direct Message) explaining that she had a regular client with a project he needed completed, but she was too busy to take it on. She trusted me to handle the client for her. I was stunned at her generosity. I expected freelancing to be cutthroat. I was also very greatful because I really needed the money.

The same thing happened again. Another writer friend had a client searching for another resume writer to contract overflow work to. Although I had no previous experience writing resumes professionally, the client took a chance on me because of my writer friends kind words; and I still write for that client today. It wasn’t Twitter that brought me the business; it was the relationships I’d developed with these writers that led me to these opportunities. I finally understood.

Social media is a big part of how we use the Internet now. Unfortunately, a lot of us are still confused about how to use it for business. Here are f0ur tips to help you build your business and your network:

Don’t get caught up in quantity over quality

There are lots of people on Twitter and Facebook obsessed with getting the most followers or sending out massive numbers of Tweets and updates. Social media works better when you focus on quality first. Choose to connect with people who can teach you something or provide valuable information.

Remember people do business with people they know, like and trust

I know I do, especially when making purchases over the Internet. Social media can help you build a loyal  customer base by providing a platform for you to demonstrate your intentions, ideas and expertise.

Network effectively in less than 15 minutes a day

I tip my hat to those who seemingly spend all day on Twitter and Facebook. Granted, some of those people have automated updates posting periodically throughout the day, but there are others who are constantly connected. I admit that sometimes I’m on more than I should be – after all, I do have client projects, kids, my mother, my husband, and other responsibilities that require me to tear myself away from the web throughout the day.

Don’t feel avoid social media because you only having a few minutes a day to spend networking. And don’t feel guilty thinking you should be putting in more time. If you can’t, you just can’t. Thankfully, you can show up a few minutes a day and still reap the benefits. You can even use social media tools like Hootsuite to post simultaneously to multiple social media sites all at once.

Keep it simple

The “social media gurus” can make social media seem so intimidating, but it isn’t really – or maybe it’s as complicated as you make it. I say keep it simple: Sign up, create an interesting profile, follow/friend people that interest you or have the same things in common as you do, and engage them in conversation. Lather, rinse and repeat.