Imagine you are standing inside your company or business, or if you work from home, your front door. You fling it open, and there before you are five thousand eager faces, peering at you in delighted wonder, pens and paper . . . scratch that . . . iPads and Flip Cameras at the  ‘Ready to Capture’ your every word. And you? Do you smile and open your arms in a wide embrace them, or do you slam the door and head for the basement?

The thought of somehow being responsible for a relationship encompassing thousands, hundreds or even dozens of “friends” is daunting to many. We know that because so many businesses still have not embraced social media as a way to reach their audience. If you still have not ventured into Facebook Land, you really must. Everyone is doing it. We mean everyone. Even the glacial-paced old world are on Facebook.  If they are on Facebook, what’s your excuse?

We invite you to not only “interface” with your potential audience, but to embrace them . . . yes, virtually, of course, but really and truly, embrace social media as a way to have a personal, real relationship with many, many people who want to know and like you, but simply haven’t found you yet.

We think you can get personal with your social media audience, and have a real relationship with them very easily. The easiest way overall to do this is to:

1. Schedule time each week to write and post relevant, interesting and compelling content on various social sites. You don’t have to engage with every site immediately;

2. Find the one or two that fit your business best.

3. Schedule time to write a few brief comments, tips, tricks or a favorable review of something.

4. Schedule them to post, or use social media magic-makers, like Abracadabra Social Media to help you.

5. Respond to people who have responded to you. You wouldn’t have coffee with someone more than once if you did all the talking and she stared blankly into space the whole time!

There are nuances and tricks to being successful on social media, and the good news is that no one expects you to be perfect. The goal is to start, take small steps, and be valuable. Not every post needs to be about you and your business. If your Mom makes a killer lasagna, you’d be surprised how many people would like to know.

And they want to know you and get to know you!

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