HABB – The Hair and Beauty Benevolent is the official charity for the hairdressing industry that helps hairdressers in need.
Since it launched in 1853, HABB has always been there for hairdressers, many of whom had nowhere else to turn. It still sees more than 200 applications each year – including students.
“The core goal of social media is to enhance client experiences, cultivate your relationship online” #salonowners
— Salon Guru Websites (@SalonGuruTweets) February 26, 2016
When I read, “The core goal of social media is to enhance client experiences, cultivate your relationship online,” I actually shivered. Really, I did. I think I’ve got issues with vacuous #TwitterPlatitudes like: enhance client experiences YUK!
Surely it should read, “The core goal of social media is to be Social?” i.e: Companionable.
Look, I’m not going to beat around the bush here, I’ve been on social media almost since it started in 1997; in 1998 I started my first blog! And I can assure you, if you want to, Get the best out of Social Media, all you have to do is follow the rules of social media etiquette – Number one being: Be Friendly.
My wife is reading The Tea Planter’s Wife by Dinah Jefferies, and she is (maybe was) really enjoing it. So she looked-up and followed @DinahJefferies on Twitter. And she tweeted: “I’m reading #TheTeaPlantersWife by @DinahJefferies and loving it.”
Dinah Jefferies Liked the tweet.
One of my wife’s followers tweeted, “Thanks for recommendation, ordering a copy today”
And my wife replied, “I hope you’ll enjoy it :-)”
Dinah Jefferies did NOT follow my wife back, and did not engage further – even though my wife had potentially sold a book for her.
Simply, Dinah Jefferies should have thanked my wife and engaged her in further conversation, because they are the basic rules of social media etiquette.
My wife unfollowed @DinahJefferies and is now a little iffy with the book.
Social Media is all about being social. COMMUNICATION – If you can’t do it, don’t do it!
Madalyn Sklar @MadalynSklar is a real card, I call her the Promo Queen; she really is the Queen Bee of the Twitter Girls (Madalyn’ll get that quip). The point is, Madalyn is a relentless, hard core promoter who knows how to operate the interconnectivity switchboard – big time.
On the other hand, I aim to be, and hope I am, a million miles away from that! I like to think I’m an organic tweeter. Which means I’m small-time and personal, informal and friendly; basically, what I do is actually connect with the people I follow and my followers – the best I can. I don’t care about the numbers (how many people follow me) or about celebrity, I care about the conversation! And actually that’s also what I like about Madalyn, she can chat heart-to-heart.
Don’t automate your account and allow someone else to hijack your persona!
I followed @_TOUGH_GIRL after our #TwitterSmarter interaction – All Good :-)
Then ToughGirl Sarah Williams sent me an automated Crowdfire direct message, which basically said, visit my website: toughgirlchallenges.com – All Not So Good!
The point is: I feel that that DM was SPAM! Because, I feel that all ToughGirl is doing is trying to sell me her website. I really hate automated direct messaging on Twitter, it’s such bollocks – No One Cares or wants little turds deposited on them (maybe 0.5% of 2% (0.01) do?).
Anyway, I told @_TOUGH_GIRL that automated DMs are bollocks and then she blocked me, apparently she got negative vibes – ‘Nuff Said!
In reality though, all the negativity had come from Sarah Williams’ direction, but she was unable to understand and see it – because Sarah had relinquished a portion of her control to Crowdfire!
If you want to connect with your audience, you’ve got to do it personally.
Who’s a tough girl? My wife.
Can you see what is happening in those Twitter Profile Cards above? …You can click on the link to My Website, but you can’t on the other two twitter profile cards – Such a simple advantage!
Yeah, I’m sure you need to read my latest beginners Article: Tweak Your Salon’s Twitter Profile! It is step-by-step walk-through of your twitter profile, I’ll show you something to make you change your mind – well, I’ll make at least one thing better for you. More…
Salon Blogging – 101 Beginners Tips
I’ve written an article for @thephorestword: Salon Blogging – 101 Beginners Tips, partly as a thank you for a brilliant video answer to a question, and partly as an add-on to their blog post: Is It Time You Started A Salon Blog?
If you are thinking about getting yourselves a salon blog, Start off by having a gander at: Salon Blogging – 101 Beginners Tips
I didn’t have the time on Thursday to answer @MadalynSklar‘s #TwitterSmarter questions because I was working. I hope you don’t mind Madalyn, but I’ve answered them here; I thought it’d be clearer for you?
Q1: Where should small biz owners start focusing their attention on networking with content marketing?
# It’s got to start with the small business owners understanding what their target audience’s requirements are, and then being where they hang out! It all depends on the type of business, and what the audience’s needs are: Typically, it might be in a problem solving capacity (customer services) within a specialist forum!!!
Q2: Why should professionals use content marketing to build relationships with others in their industry?
# Building relationships with others in the hairdressing industry opens doors at one end of the spectrum and educates at the other. Obviously it’s very worthwhile – Everyone usually benefits.
Q3: What are some key similarities between content marketing and networking?
# The lines are blurred, but when I write a blog post or share an image it starts a conversation, reminds my clients I’m still breathing and that maybe the should give me a call, for me the key word is conversation. And they are both ‘on message.’ [by-the-way, I liked the business card metaphor]
Q4: What are a few tactics for networking with content marketing?
# Collaborate with others who use/share Your content to add value to Their related product or output.
Q5: Is content marketing a cost-effective solution to expanding a Professional’s network?
# Content Marketing, IMHO, is the simple, free, organic method of pointing people to YOUR hub on the internet. And like all organic methods on the internet (they are usually free) the cost-effectiveness must be measured by what one is aiming to achieve – Free may end up as being V.expensive as there are many pitfalls!
Q6: How does content published online impact networking offline?
# It may act as a foot in the door, or give one the opportunity to shake someone’s hand and say, “thank you very much, here’s a box of chocs.” It may act as a catalyst to a conversation between a client/reader and a third party – Hairdressers rely on recommendations for new clients.
Q7: What are the biggest content marketing mistakes that negatively impact a professional network?
# In my opinion the biggest content marketing mistakes that negatively impact on a professional network are: not having a comprehensive marketing plan and not understanding one’s target audience – Spamming selfish bollocks comes in at a very close second!
Q8: What are 3 resources that a small business can use to learn more about networking with content?
# My two are: my dear departed friend, author and all round marketing guru Ray Willsmer; and Jakob Nielsen of the Nielsen Norman Group, who oddly taught me about being honest about everything – not just about usability!
Q9: How should content be designed to appeal to the individuals you’re trying to connect with?
# Start off by understanding one’s target audience’s needs and marry that with one’s goal. Look at one’s business competition, then, surprisingly, ask one’s target audience for input. Of course Madalyn, this is the golden ticket question!
Q10: How do you measure if content marketing is working to develop your professional network?
# By having a defined goal and by looking at the multifarious results! But actually this may be almost impossible! Within hairdressing content marketing may be used to maintain clients, following the premise that it is more cost effective to keep clients than it is to find new clients!