I work with lots  of EFT practitioners who want to grow their practices.  If you have been listening to anyone who’s someone in the marketing world lately, you have heard that social media marketing is growing like the rabbit population during a very wet year.  One of the reasons that my own practice has grown faster than most is because early on I tapped into the power of social networking.

One of the big challenges when you’re starting with social networking is finding other people who share your passion. To help you do this, I came up recently came up with a list of over 30 EFT practitioners on the social network Twitter.  The people on list have extensive knowledge about tapping, are skillful at using Twitter as a social networking tool and are real go-givers.  

If you are passionate about EFT and other forms of energy tapping and would like to learn more about attracting more clients, I’d suggest taking a look at what this group is doing.  You don't have to join Twitter to see and I'm not saying that social networking is the right strategy for everyone. 

You can see the list by clicking here.

I'm curious about other people's experience with social networking.  Is it something you have tried? If so, what networks seem helpful? 

Blessings,

Paul

 

 Hi Paul,

I have to admit that I do not "get" social networking.  I don't understand why any one would want to do it, I don't understand it, period.  I know that Twitter seems to have affected the traffic here in the forum by attracting  away some of our top forum posters such as Chip and Deborah. I can only assume that they have found it useful. Please enlighten us. Is it helpful to have or to develop ADD as I suspect?

Mildred

Hi Mildred, Just wanted to say that the forums are a completely different experience than twitter, facebook, etc. Here I sink deeper into the posts and answer much more deliberately. My change in participation is more about me and my energy - I'm very good at initiating events and enjoyed being part of the start-up of these forums. In fact, I left another smaller EFT forum to come moderate here. In both cases, I find that after time, I've already answered many of the same questions more than once and I feel that my value-added and interest fades. I've also enjoyed seeing folks who came to the forums later step into a leadership role, taking time to answer questions. So I appreciate the folks who are passionately active now and I also trust my cycle of participation as well. Much appreciation to you, Deborah

Deborah,

Have I told you that you are awesome lately?  :~)

Mildred,

Today I just connected with my 5,000 follower on Twitter - a life coach from South Africa who is into Law of Attraction.  Having the ability to easily communicate with that many people has transformed my business. However, the reason I made this list is that I don't want you to take my word for it.  I invite anyone who's asking "What is this social networking stuff all about?" to ask practitioners who are using it.  

Blessings,

Paul

 Hi, Mildred,

 Social media has transformed my practice! It's allowed me to connect with and support people that I never would have met before (for example, the wonderfully helpful Paul Zelizer, whom I met on Twitter.) I'm more active on Twitter than Facebook, but just as one solid example, I now routinely have more than 100 people on my free teleclasses, and many have come from Twitter.  And then some become clients.

It takes some time, it's not for everyone, but in addition to being great marketing, it's also fun.  If you want a gentle introduction to Social Media, try searching youtube for some helpful videos.  Mari Smith, for example, has a great short video on youtube about how to do Facebook in 5 minutes a day.  Great stuff!

I hope this helps!

Warmly,

Pamela

 Dear Paul and everyone,

I was only half joking about the ADD question. Do you carry around a blackberry and check it while you wait for the elevator? What are the practicalities here of using Twitter?  Do you sit at your desk all day, thinking up pithy sayings to write in your twitter log and reading pithy sayings from other people?

Mildred

Pamela,

You are very kind.  Not only did I met you on Twitter (and I really enjoyed our conversation very much and look forward to more), I recently met your Mastermind buddy Stefan.  Another fantastic EFT practitioner I met through Twitter.  

As an example of real life results - today when I turned on my computer I had two new clients.  Both of whom I met through social media - in this case Facebook.

Blessings,

Paul

hi Paul, like...Mildred...the...idea
...of...network...marketing...and...
healing...together...leave...me...cold
...in...my...head...i...can...see...the
...benifits...yet...it...would...take...
some...convincing...that...on...some...level
...there...would...not...be...a...conflict...
of...intrest...somewhere...along...the...line
...and...then...my...head...reminds...me...its
...proberly...just...a...personality...thing!


peace&love...vern

Hi guys,

great discussion, thanks Paul for starting this. I have (at least) two opinions...:-). Here they are:

As I am using Twitter sporadically, and facebook a lot more, I have to say that twitter is overwhelming to me, too much "twittering" with not enough words, so much communication and I am not sure if 5000 followers would actually make me feel comfortable about the value of the personal connection. I am open to thinking that this  might change in the future, but for now, I am a person who likes to send a private email and pick up the phone to actually talk with the person - well - I am auditory..what can you say... :-)

However, the second opinion is that I do find great value in social networking, as this is a wonderful way to make connections that I can then take further in a way that works for me.

I like facebook better, as the pace is slower, and the posts more graphic. I have made wonderful connections with EFT practitioners that before I only knew from a distance, and many soldiers, even in Iraq and Afghanistan who are currently serving and tapping daily! Care packages, youtube posts and many supportive emails have come from these connections. It is amazing and wonderful to see what these soldiers are doing for each other and for EFT, and I am endlessly grateful to be able to be a part of the journey. None of this would have happened without social media, and it is great that it is  so easy to connect.

 Mildred, I think it is important to find what  works for us. These forums are EFT specific. We don't share a lot of private information, we don't have pictures and  videos for others, and if someone has a glass of red wide for dinner, none will know. I like that I know that everybody here in the forum has a common interest, and we help each oother out to the best of our abilities.

I think it is good to find what works for us and what we are drawn to, if to any at all.

I also feel that it is important to have a sense of why we are joining, what we want to share, what we are looking for and willing to share with others freely. I think it is so easy to get overwhelmed and lost. But at the same time it can be very powerful to use web 2.0. with intention and, at least for me, in a professional, congruent and consistent way, that represents who we are.

I personally don't see much value in putting photos of my backyard up, simply because I am aware that I am sharing very private information with the world, that will stay within these networsk for much longer than I have control over.  There is a  big brother effect that I am mindful of, and just because I am connected with folks doesn't neccessarily mean that I will feel comfortable having this information in cyberspace ten years from now.

So I guess my "take" on social media is right now, that it is important to have an intention for why we spend time where, professionally and personally, what we would like to do and how we would like to present ourselves, and also know what doesn't work. In the end, whatever we do becomes a part of our life.

Sometimes, it is good to have several opinions *smile*.

Much Love

Ingrid

 

Hope I am replying correctly...

I use social media for my practice, Facebook and Twitter. I have obtained quite a few clients from Facebook, but not from Twitter, yet.  Social media creates a knowable connection for the future client, but it does indeed take time, as well as meaningful sharing.

Hey John,

Looks like your messages are showing up fine.  When are we gonna have the pleasure of a pic of your smiling face?

Most of my clients also report better luck with Facebook.  And, yes, I agree - it's takes some time build a presence.  It's not like clients start pouring in within minutess of signing up for Facebook or Twitter.  Same is true with almost all marketing.

Blessings,

Paul

 Thanks Pamela,

I appreciate your advice. Thank you for letting me know how it works for you. Do you find that you tweet with your phone or your computer? I envision tweeters as those who are stuck in elevators or on the subway with only a phone for company.  How long does your tweeting take and does it distract your attention from other matters?

Mildred

Paul and others,

  Are you folks actually advertising on Facebook?  Or is there some other means by which others become aware of your practice.  (I'm new to Facebook and still learning the ropes).

Thanks.

Ed

 

 Ed,

Thanks for reaching out.  Social media marketing is a skillset unlike any other form of marketing.  The answer is yes and no.  Yes I am marketing there and getting amazing clients.  And no, it doesn't look like traditional forms of marketing - at all.  If you're interested in using social media marketing effectively, I suggest doing some exploring about how the process works.  One place to start is with the website www.facebookandtwitterfornewbies.com

Also, we haven't yet mentioned in this conversation two important points:

1) When your clients are experienced at social media, they have the ability to tell many more people about your work.  A rapidly growing portion of my client base is coming from referrals from current clients via social media.   

2) The average daily social media user has an income that is significantly higher than the general population.  There is a high concentration of people on social media channels of people who can afford to pay well for services they value.

Ed, let me know if I can help you get oriented on Facebook.

Blessings,

Paul

 Hi, Mildred,

 I use both my phone and computer for Social Media.  Because I travel, my phone is essential.  There are lots of times I can tweet on my Iphone that would otherwise be very quiet marketing days for me. At home, I prefer my computer because I can type faster!

If you think about your phone as filling in the otherwise dead times with both social connection (vitally important if you tend to work alone from home) and marketing, it's well worth it.

 I hope this helps!

Warmly,

Pamela

PS - Paul, thanks for the website reference for social media newbies - I'm always looking at things like that to share.