How To Build a Large, Loyal, & Profitable Network Using the Social Web

There are lots of business out there that are reluctant to embrace social media – blogs, social networks, et cetera.

Both for fear of putting themselves out there, and for fear of negative comments.

What if someone says something bad about my company? I don’t want that on my blog or on the web...

That’s just it though, consumers are having those conversations. You can either engage and shift the conversation to a more positive discussion about your product or service, or you can turn your back on it and let what they’re saying shape your image.

That’s the basis of our discussion today with guest expert, Mari Smith. She’s the author of two books and is often referred to as a relationship marketing whiz, and the “Pied Piper of Facebook” (by FastCompany). Basically, when it comes to making sense of social media and building relationships, Mari’s your girl.

Click the flash-player below to listen:

[podcast]http://recordings.talkshoe.com/TC-97558/TS-570152.mp3[/podcast]

In this episode we discuss things like:

• How businesses are failing with social media (and what to do about it).
• How to become a social business to service customers and increase sales.
• How to find and curate high quality content to establish yourself as a knowledgeable expert resource that people want to follow.
• How to manage your time and put better systems in place.

...and more.

Other listening options:

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Additional resources and notes from the show:

• Keep up with Mari Smith and all her latest on her website here.
• You can download a free chapter of Mari’s new book “The New Relationship Marketing” here.
• Learn more about training services with Mari Smith here.
• Follow Mari Smith on Twitter.
• Subscribe to Mari Smith on Facebook.

How are you using social media in your business to either increase sales or provided an added layer of customer service? Have any great examples of how social media has helped improve your business? What’s your biggest challenge implementing social media to become a social business?