Donna Maria from Indie Business Network just finished an incredible talk on social media and how we can best benefit from it as small businesses.
Some key take aways:
If you do not embrace technology and systemize it for your business, you will not be profitable in 2 years.
Social media is FUN stuff because you get to talk about things that you LOVE. People want to connect with people who LOVE what they do. “You’re not just selling soap. You’re selling emotional connection and memories”.
If Donna Maria could pick only two social media mediums to use, she would choose a BLOG and a NEWSLETTER. Why? Because those are the only two mediums that you OWN. You control that. You don’t have to worry that someone (Twitter, Facebook) is going to change the rules and your social media outlet will be gone.
This isn’t hard. Talk about what you know. Talk about what you love. Interview people. Show your herb garden. Talk about cooking, your family – just whatever you do, start to make a connection. The beautiful thing about having products is that you don’t even have to be on camera.
Use the tools. Get the gadgets. Let technology make this easier for you. Podcast software costs $20. You can get a Vado digital video for under $80.
Thank you Donna Maria the presentation. Now, what are YOU waiting for? Go claim your blog, start your email newsletter and start broadcasting YOUR message to the world!
Wow! I’m just now seeing this. I’m only a year late. Sorry I missed it, thank you for including me in your blog. I love helping micro-business owners fine their stride, successfully integrating creating and selling handmade products with a lifestyle they can truly enjoy!
That was such a high energy and inspirational speech! I had to brag about it =)
Anne-Marie,
Thanks, I haven’t heard back and I wrote HSG a few days ago. Maybe they
will think of offering something like that in the future.
Michelle
That’s a good question. I don’t know if they will. The conference is video taped but as far as I know, it wasn’t video taped with one camera, sitting in one place (if that makes sense – the camera guy was moving a lot). So, I don’t know if that would work for a cohesive tape. But hopefully they’re able to take advantage of all the soapers out there that cannot come but would love to learn.
Donna Maria was a GREAT speaker – fun, vivacious, lots of energy. She did a great job. We all were pretty excited to hear her speak.
Essential Oils – just keep ’em as cool as possible, someplace with no light, and that’s the next best thing.
There are a few topics I wish I could have heard and this is one of them. I’m wondering is HSG sell their Conference 2010 DVD series online? I’ve contacted them and am waiting to hear back.
Thanks for the encouragement and tips! This sounds like it was a great presentation and I have to agree 100%. I have made life long friends via my blog, not to mention awesome customers. Thanks for all the updates about the soap conference! I will make sure I’m at next year’s!
I would have loved to hear Donna Maria speak. I am sure she is positively a dynamic, succinct and relevant speaker! I literally hang on anything and everything you guys say. As for my essential oils, oh my gosh! Are you serious? I have them in climate controlled environment, inside amber bottles, inside closets and drawers. Is it too late? Plus I would need to buy a new refrigerator because there are so many…..=)