Is it finding the right network to join?

Or just finding the time to update your status?

Neither of these matter if you do not plan to engage with the online community. One of the hardest skills for businesses to learn during this social media wave is the listening aspect.

Cold-calling on the Internet does not work; people do not care about your white papers or survey, because they want to engage first. They want to see if you are trustworthy.

Try to answer some questions that are relevant to your field first to build that necessary trust. Don’t try to push for a sale after one response, it takes time. I understand in this age of instant news and Blackberry’s that we have been trained for immediate information and responses, which works for media. But that is not how it works for social media.

We have the technology to be our own printing press but it still takes time and nurturing to earn that sale, nothing has changed. As you use social media as a two-way channel of communication, things will be fine. It is not going to happen instantly.

You have to understand that once you gain the trust of your audience, they will become key members of your marketing team, it is the voice of the consumers that will lead your way on the Internet. If you try to media social, well, it just doesn’t work.

When you and your audience trust each other is when social media is easy and enjoyable. Talk with them and not to them, they will reward you. I hoped this helped, let me know.