Today, I’m posting the answers to the Social Media Professional Series from over on Gregory Stringer’s blog, Grannelle’s Social Media. This was a great exercise and got me to think about some things that I’ve not thought about in a while. Here are the questions and my answers:
- How do you best define your practice in Social Media? What specifically do you do that is different, unique, and special in this wide ranging field?
My practice in social media is a bit broad, yet still targeted. In my business, which is IT consulting for small businesses and home users, I look for referrals among people I know and have known throughout my life in Knoxville, TN. I realized early on that Facebook friends were actually an audience that I might be able to eventually pitch ideas or just share funny lolcats with. Now that I’ve been blogging daily, I’ve been able to make my friends my audience and share with them my blog. I have 1300 friends today, which is a large group of people for any audience.
- What do you consider the most currently pressing issue you are faced with in your everyday duties?
My pressing issue faced daily is how to get the knowledge of what I do, computer repair, web development, and small businessIT, in front of as many people as possible, while staying available for jobs as they arise. Staying in front of a computer is a must, since I do most of my job over the internet remotely. Some of my clients aren’t even in Tennessee, so it is crucial to have remote access to their networks and computers. Web Development doesn’t require a lot of face-to-face contact (for better or for worse) so that of course lends itself to remote work. The issue for me is showing people that I’m still relevant with what I do in front of a quickly changing world of IT, mobile devices and internet services. So I have to tackle a wide range of topics to attempt to show a familiarity in hopes of getting asked questions which can turn into business.
- How do you approach your profession? What special techniques/procedures give you an edge?
What gives me the edge over my competitors is the fact that I’m the point of contact. I don’t have too many customers to stop me from answering my phone when people call. I do have a technician that works with me, however I’m still primarily the face and the personality of GetMorePC. Why this gives me an edge is due to the fact that people like dealing with someone they know is knowledgable, not just the next level 1 technician in the queue who might be in another country and not speak English as a primary language. Another advantage is my ability to use my language background to explain IT concepts in easy-to-understand metaphors to show people that they too can understand how this whole computer/internet thing works. I don’t talk down to people, which was a primary complaint I heard about other IT guys early on, and I speak to people “on the level” like human beings. I try to take care of my customers and not bill them into poverty in hopes that they’ll remember me, share me with others and call me back.
- What advice would you offer to others active in your field of interest or in Social Media generally?
The best advice I would give is to establish a large network of people from the many different networks of people you know. I have people from all three of the churches I’ve attended, high school, middle school, elementary schools, UTK, the bands I’ve been in, the jobs I’ve had and my present customers. It is so important to stay in people’s peripheral so they don’t forget about you the next time they need you. I also try to show my customers my humanity (my kids) in hope of connecting with them on a human level, not just being a business professional in a suit and an office.
- Any other thoughts you’d wish to share.
Greg, thanks for giving me the chance to talk about myself. I hope I can reciprocate and get you to contribute some content for my blog. I’m going to post this comment as my daily blog as a “social media reach.” I appreciate the work you’re doing with network marketing and social media and hope that we can work together soon.
Many thanks, Daniel! Your answers were informative and insightful. Grannelle’s Social Media is very appreciative of your taking part in The Social Media Professionals Series, an educational array on the sub-specialties of the SM profession. Look for a re-post of this interview in the weeks to come in GSM.