The key contact in my target market is typically a baby boomer. (Full disclosure: I are one. Born in ’53.) That’s a tough crowd to engage via social media. So I asked Paul Castain’s Sales Playbook group how I should go about getting them to use the tools more actively.
Boiled down, here’s the really great advice:
- Start with existing connections and contacts and “convert” them one at a time.
- Your existing contacts – who already respect you – are the key to helping you “go viral.”
- Approach them in your traditional way. From that perspective, lead them to the new way.
- You need a mix of communication methods. Primarily use the one each individual prefers. (A timeless tips that applies to web 2.0 as well!)
- Forward them stuff via e-mail from a wide variety of social media sources so they see the value of what’s out there via drip, drip, drip… from you.
- Share a success story. Suggest (again, one person at a time) that they share it with others.
- Walk them through how you do it (again, one person at a time) to show them how easy and valuable it all is. (Maybe via a free webinar)
So there you have it. One more time I hear Mom telling me that nothing comes easily or without persistence.
If you’re a member of the group, you can read the whole discussion here.
