Social Media Marketing Is Not Selling

"We get paid for bringing value to the marketplace" (Jim Rohn)

I'm continually amazed at how people go barreling into social media sites like a bull in a china shop and then wonder why they aren't well received. They hear social media is changing the way people do business and they make the mistake of thinking it's changing it to something "new" instead of simply changing it back to the way things used to be. (Yes, I know Twitter is new, I mean in spirit.)

I hear people focusing on what's in it for them...and how they can benefit and completely disregarding the idea of participating because they might be able to give something back. It's like the person at a networking event who only wants to size up whether or not you can advance their business before moving on to the next person. It's clear they view people as commodities and stepping stones instead of...well, people.

That's a shame, because when it comes to business, there's nothing that matters more than people and how you treat them.

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   As business owners, resellers and affiliate marketers we do indeed have something to sell. We also have a lot of competition with others selling the same thing, especially on the Internet. Therefore the best way to sell something is by not selling but helping others with issues and problems they may have, even by just being encouraging and upbuilding. Offer something of value like time and effort to people other than what you sell and people will buy what you sell when the need, desire and time is right for them to buy what you sell. The essence of social media marketing is being sociable, i..e being helpful, not selling.