Social Media Marketing vs. Social Media Networking

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Social Media Marketing vs. Social Media Networking

social media networkingEarlier this week, I published this comment on my social networks: Entrepreneur tip: Outsource your social media marketing to a Virtual Assistant so that you can focus on your clients. One of the members basically responded that a Virtual Assistant can’t build relationships with potential clients, only you can. This is true. This is where social media networking comes in, not social media marketing. Let me explain the difference.

What is Social Media Marketing?

Social media marketing is simply marketing through social networks.  This can done with a blog, publishing micro-posts on various networks, uploading videos to YouTube, or adding a call to action at the end of your articles, for example, tweet this, digg this or share this. These are a few of the marketing strategies you can use for social media marketing.

What is Social Media Networking?

Social media networking is making connections through social networks; hence, being social.  Your connections can be both personal and professional.  Professional networking is for building relationships with your potential customers.  This type of networking can only be done by you, not your Virtual Assistant.

Outsourcing to a Virtual Assistant 

It’s important to note that you should not outsource your social media networking; however, you can outsource your social media marketing.

A Virtual Assistant can help you with the back office sort of tasks: for example, setting up your profiles and networks, scheduling your marketing messages, marketing research, managing your contact lists, adding your content to your blog, as well as optimizing it, and uploading your videos to YouTube with the intention of them going viral. These are a few examples of what your Virtual Assistant can do for you. This, in turn, frees up your valuable time allowing you to focus on your clients.

Bottom line, a Virtual Assistant can’t build relationships with your clients for you, but they can help you market to your clients. However, it is necessary for you to establish a relationship before you start marketing to your potential customers. That’s a whole nother topic in itself.

As always, thanks for reading, and please share this post by clicking on any of the share buttons below!

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About The Author

Rita Cartwright

After graduating with a degree in marketing, Rita knew she wanted a career in the marketing industry. However, she took a detour and worked for Sears as a retail manager. When that didn't work out, Rita decided to launch her own business offering word processing services. These services eventually morphed into digital marketing services. Her desire to be a provider of professional digital marketing services led her to earn an Internet Marketing certificate from Art Institute, which reinforces her marketing degree from Arizona State University. Twenty two years later by the grace of Father God, Rita is still in business assisting her clients with their digital marketing. She also shares ideas and advises them on digital marketing, social media marketing and business operations.

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