Social Media Marketing Archives - Charli K. Matthews

We’ve previously written about how to Use Your Voice, Build Your Brand and have so much more to say on the topic. Previously we discussed using your voice in marketing, learning from others, and the benefits of public speaking. However, there are other unique and effective ways to your voice. Read on for more tips.

How to Stand Out, Find Your Voice, and Not Get Lost in the Shuffle

There is a sea of voices out there. It can be difficult to find yours, so we recommend beginning by starting with your why. What are you trying to accomplish and why? What gives you passion and joy? Be vulnerable about what you do and challenges. This will help get others wanting to hear what you have to say. Followers must believe and trust you in order for you to help solve their problems, so be accurate as you are being open. You may realize there a niche you fit into. For example, my own Empowering Women in Industry was created when I saw the need for women in the industries to have a platform of their own. In a male dominated space, we lose that organic conversation with women so we need to create it.

Embrace Social Media

In short, social media is an extension of how you network with people. It offers resources to get to know people, their background, and even what they are looking for currently. Social media is a tool just like any content distributor from television to radio that allows you to share message to a broader audience. LinkedIn is great for professional connects. Be sure to fill out your profile with details relevant to your industry, and you will be rewarded with contacts. Zoom is great for meetings, video chats, and can even be beneficial to your business, your personal health, and it can help you follow the right people.

Not comfortable using social media or don’t have the time? Get a third party to manage your accounts.

Give Interviews

As many of you may already know, I love hosting and appearing on podcasts of all kinds to share whatever expertise I can. Everyone involved often finds it a pleasant and satisfying experience, not to mention the knowledge you can bring to the audiences. You may have a friend with a podcast who needs guests. Everyone has a podcast now a days and is looking for guests. Go through your client list to see if anyone is doing so. Don’t be afraid to use a potential client list as well. Find the podcasts, make an offer to appear, and see if they bite. Include why they should use you and the value you can bring. You may even search for podcasts in your industry. The bigger the audience the better, but don’t turn down any relevant option. Worst case scenario, a rarely seen podcast can help you prepare for a bigger one.

If you’re ready, why not start your own podcast? We have done just that with the Empowering Industry Podcasts. We discuss all sorts of relevant topics in a combination of “Let’s Get Social,” “Industry news with EP&E, and “Industry Interview.”

Charli co-presents at ASPE's Social Media Lounge

Recently I was reading a great blog entitled from B2B to B4B… What an inspiring statement! I wish I had come up with that myself! So simple, but really spot on!

So what does it mean to be there ‘4’ your customer?

We are all in business because we have a solution that helps solve a customers’ problem. Our customers, whoever they may be, have a goal in mind, and if you can be “4”them, then you can truly help them accomplish that goal. In other words, it’s not just about selling the products in my portfolio; it’s about truly understanding my customers’ needs and taking the time to be there for them, helping them succeed. My goal has always been, and will always be to help Connect, Inform, and Educate the industry I love and, above all, be there ’4’ my client.

Over the past two weeks, I presented on Networking, Marketing, and Social Media topics at both the Hydraulic Institute fall meeting and the ASPE meeting in Phoenix, AZ.

I was asked what my ‘takeaway’ was and what did I want to accomplish from my activities at these events.

My takeaway: if you take the time to get these three elements of your campaigns right then increased sales is just around the corner.
My accomplishment: to help my clients, who were present at both events. I did exactly what I set out to do, which was to raise their awareness of the role social media plays in their daily marketing activities and the importance of being able to network to create relationships that help build a strong business network.

I have to say that its been harder ‘said than done’ to accomplish what I set out to do as the past few months have been a series of back-to-back events that have taken my focus and consumed most of my time. To say its been exhausting would be an understatement, but as Lt. General Russell L Honoré said when I got the chance to hear him speak about Leadership at the fall HI meeting: “We have to be resilient. We have to battle and inspire our team by setting an example and demonstrating Leadership at all times.” It is so powerful when you are able to surround yourself with those who work hard and do it to give back to the industry that helped support them over the years. I am extremely fortunate to have a network of industry leaders that have done just that.

So over the past month, which started with the Fluid Sealing Association’s Fall meeting in Nashville, TN, and ended this week with the ASPE conference in Phoenix, AZ, I have had the chance to speak to so many people that have given their time for the mission… not because they had to, but because they believed in it. They believed that being there ‘4’ their customer was the right thing to do.