Momentum Monday – Relationship Marketing Advice from Farmer Bob

It’s amazing how many people expect to start a relationship in social media and have it ‘bear fruit’ all in the same day. And yet those same people would agree it’s ludicrous to plant a seed in the morning and expect to reap the harvest for dinner that evening.

You know the people I’m talking about. The ones who send you an auto DM (Direct Message via twitter) thanking you for following them AND directing you to download their free report, watch their video or visit their blog.

My mother told me about boys like that – the ones who expected um…you know on the first date. What she had to say about them applies here: Turn and run the other way (and she may have mentioned something about a cow)!

Sowing the seeds for your future profitability

Let me tell you…the relationships that I started on the very first day of my very first business continue to pay dividends today – as colleagues, as clients, as joint venture partners, as friends.

The reason? I helped many people build successful businesses by sharing my knowledge, my contacts, my resources. Social media is no different – investing in relationships pays dividends.

5 Relationship Marketing Tips from Farmer Bob

#1: Prepare the soil – Get clear! What is your social media strategy? What is your core message? Who do you need to connect with?

#2: Plant the seeds – Start building your social media brand by sharing tips, establishing your credibility, attracting your audience.

#3: Tend the seedlings – Social media isn’t a set it and forget it strategy. If that’s your plan, social media isn’t a wise investment for you. It’s a relationship-building tool that requires regular tending.

#4: Eliminate weeds – Tune out the time-wasters and the trolls. Both take a lot from you with very little to give back.

#5: Harvest the bounty – Follow-up and follow-through AND always remember to give back (even if you pay it forward).

Want to get results in social media? Check out Social Media for Moms: Twitter