It’s a brand new year, and hopes and plans are at their peak for business owners everywhere. Is your plan to create a new business this year? Or perhaps you want to build an existing business to new heights? Maybe you’ve been struggling to get your business going at all? Then again, it may be that you have an existing business and would like to take it in a new direction?

Whatever your situation, now is a great time to really get clear about your plans and aspirations for your business. For myself, I have done a great deal of soul searching around my existing business, knowing that I have another business in the wings that I am very anxious to build and grow.

So, let’s talk about some of the things I’ve been pondering and discoveries I’ve made recently. Perhaps they may help you in planning your future for your business.

I began this soul searching adventure because I just wasn’t completely happy with where my current business is and where I saw it heading.

First I looked at why I was in business in the first place. I have a deep, abiding passion for helping people. That is the main reason I became a social media manager. So many people seem to be drowning in an environment that is just like breathing fresh air to me. I knew I could make a difference in business owner’s lives. That passion is also why I am looking at putting my second business together.

Okay, if I was happy with my reason for being in business then why was I feeling this vague restlessness?

Maybe, I thought, it was the way I was marketing. I considered my purpose for using social media as a marketing venue. Social media is inexpensive and yet provides one of the best ways to reach a large audience. If I want to help a lot of people, I first need to reach a lot of people. So, marketing methods weren’t the issue.

Next, I considered the audience I was actually reaching. Oh, wait, I think I’ve fallen into one of the sly, sneaky traps in social media. I am having a great time networking and exchanging ideas with peers in my field, but that was the majority of who I was actually connecting with. It is easy to find yourself in this situation. People who are also in the same field have a very similar mindset. Facebook and Twitter will recommend these people to connect with because they have similar interests. But this is not my target market!

Bingo, I started a campaign to reach out to business owners that have nothing to do with internet or social media marketing, but are trying to learn how to use these tools. I have been contacting these business owners with helpful tips for their sites and their posts. And guess what? They are very receptive and appreciative for the help.

I feel like I have my mojo back. Social media has become fun again. It’s not that I don’t love and appreciate my peers. I do. And I will continue to connect with them regularly, but I will also continue to connect with new people who actually need my help. I also feel that this has re-energized me so that I can take time to start building my other business, about which I am very passionate.

So, what did I learn from all this? A few foundational questions that you absolutely MUST answer if you want to be truly effective and passionate in your business. They are:

• Why am I in business in the first place? (It’s never just about money)
• Why am I using social media as a marketing tool? (Or any other medium for that matter)
• Who is my ideal client?
• Am I reaching that ideal client on a daily basis?

I hope my journey has inspired you to take a step back and evaluate these questions. Even if you’ve answered them in the past, purposes change or get lost in the daily shuffle. Check in with yourself and make certain you are still on track with EXACTLY where you want to go and how you want to get there.

As always, if you have questions or would like help with your social media marketing, please contact Social Bee Online here.  I am more than happy to help you in any way I can.

Until next time…

Live with passion and purpose,
Vanessa

26 Responses to “Why Are You Using Social Media?”