What are People Saying About YOU Online?

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What are People Saying About YOU Online?

Written by John Morey

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Staying Connected - From Facebook to Phonebook

Last week, I was driving home from a lunch meeting and was thinking of who I needed to re-connect with. David Greenberg (a personal friend and one of the best speaker coaches I know) came to mind. And I did something crazy. I didn’t search for him on Facebook. Nor did I Tweet him a personal message. I didn’t even send him an e-mail. I actually called him on the phone, and believe it or not, he answered! We connected, shared some cool business ideas, and I hung up feeling great.

In case you haven’t noticed, the world is moving to “networking”, more specifically, "Social Networking", which is taking off like a new industry on steroids. Some articles suggest that there are now over 380+ social networking sites!

If you do a search on “Social Networking”, you will get an idea of the number of sites out there, but here are some of the more popular Social Networking sites you should be getting to know.
•    LinkedIn
•    Twitter
•    Facebook
•    YouTube
•    Biznik
•    Plaxo

So, why are these sites so popular and why should you care?? Two reasons. The first, and most obvious, is that social networking is a great way to expand your connections, find new prospects and connect with like minded professionals. The second reason, that may not be so obvious, is that with all of the options and information our prospects have today, our decision makers are getting VERY smart... and VERY cautious.

Before anyone purchases something of significant value these days, they scour the Internet for information about the product, the company, the competitors and yes, THE SALES PERSON... That's You! Don't believe it? What do you do before you make a large purchase? Google it right?

It’s a fact, people more than ever, are checking YOU out to see that you have the credentials and the trust factor that would make them more inclined to buy from you. People today are now buying from “Trusted Advisors”, not Sales Reps.

Here is what people want to know:
•    How long have you been with your company?
•    How many years have you been in the industry?
•    What groups or associations do you belong to? Are the groups industry related?
•    How successful have you been in your career? (Awards, achievements etc.)
•    What is your education and training?
•    What other companies have you sold to?
•    Are you connected with anyone else in your buyers' company or industry?
•    Are you properly trained and qualified to represent the product you are selling?

Buyers want to avoid being "sold" and they hate being scammed or misled. Decision Makers are a lot more inclined to work with a winner, a professional, a subject matter expert and someone that has invested time into their niche or industry.

Ready to start building your online profile? Read on…

First, get signed up (free) on Linked-In. Linked-In is a social networking site for professionals. Complete your profile along with a professional picture and thorough review of yourself and your background.

Once your profile is set, start to invite people into your network that you’ve met in your professional career. Add friends, customers and co-workers, (past and present) and you will begin to build your network rather quickly. A KEY POINT that a lot of people miss is to ask for recommendations from your customers, co-workers, and past and present supervisors that you can post on your profile.

Begin joining some of the Linked-in groups that are relevant to your field and your areas of interest (ex: Salesblogcast, Sales Playbook). Get involved in their forums, participate in some of the conversations and grow your network with people in the various groups that you have a connection with.

Next, create a Google Profile and a Yahoo Profile of yourself. Start to post and reply to some questions on Yahoo Answers to build your status as a subject matter expert and Trusted Advisor.

Next step, visit the other Social Networking sites listed above and begin building a profile on the ones that you are comfortable with and are relevant to your areas of interest and expertise.

Whenever you are building a profile on yourself, I would strongly encourage you to follow these guidelines:
•    Use your real name!
•    Use a real picture of yourself (no logo or avatar)
•    Be Genuine and Truthful
•    Be Relevant
•    Provide Proof of your legitimacy

Lastly, I believe that everyone should have their own blog (www.blogger.com, www.wordpress.com). These are free to build and can offer you a great way to share ideas, information or, your expertise with your customers and prospects. Again, anything to highlight your knowledge of your industry is a huge plus for any sales rep.

You may think that Social Networking and blogging are just passing fads, or, that it is just for the kids. Maybe you think that you just don't have time for such things, but I can assure you that Social Networking will be the way that people connect and conduct business going forward. I would encourage everyone to develop a strong online reputation starting today. Once you get started, you will quickly find out that this is not a kids’ toy!

John Morey
		About the author:
		John Morey, publisher of the popular webblog, SalesHangout.com, has a 20+ year track record as a successful Sales Professional.Holding several high ranking Business Development and Sales Management positions, John is best known for his ability to hire, train, motivate and develop over achieving, heavy hitting sales teams.John has used his extensive sales training from some of the top sales companies in the world, to accumulate an impressive collection of sales awards and accolades for his professional accomplishments. .