The Retail Social-ista Next Door: Let me Introduce Myself with Social Media

The Retail Social-ista Next Door

...everything I know I learned while shopping!

Let me Introduce Myself with Social Media

Greeting

s from the Shopper next door!
As I have mentioned in previous posts, I have been off exploring (another word for shopping) the world of social media and trying to figure out what it might mean to us in Retail. Aside from the obvious, advertising and brand building, how might this media impact the way you do business, who you do business with and the role of the customer. I discovered that this social media thing has many angles...

Let's start from an angle we all understand. Most of us would prefer to 'buy' based on the input we get from our trusted friends.. but how do we gain trusted friends? If you are reading me right now, have i become a trusted friend? Do you believe me yet? What will it take for you to believe me and add me to your trusted friend list? Let's start at the beginning and see if i become your friend by the end of this.

The first thing you may ask about me is, who is this person anyway? Is she qualified?

I invite you to take a look at my LinkedIn profile (social media) and you will see that i have over 30 years in Retail technology consulting and have worked with some of retails 'best in class'. I have held good titles and worked for prestigious firms. Go ahead and Link with me. I love new friends!

Ok, so that's great but that does not tell me how well she is regarded by her peers? Who are her peers anyway?

Again, LinkedIn (social media) is a great place to start in order to see who some of my friends are and if you know any of them. Maybe someone has even written an endorsement there. Then I invite you to visit TheRetailTradeCenter (social media) to see who has connected with me. And since I created TheretailTradeCenter (social media), take a look at some of the early adopters to see who some of my supporters are. Every new venture usually begins with the people who believe in you. (Early joiners to communities are usually found the furthest back.) I am happy to add you as a contact too!

But what about street cred? Does anyone else follow her that has anything to do with social media or retail?

This is when we dive into the social 'conversation' of Twitter, Friend Feed, Utterz, etc. (all social media) Here I invite you to visit my Twitter profile (social media) and check out who is following me. This is not for everyone but I will dive into some of the ways to use Twitter, FF, and Utterz in later posts. I belong to all of them. If you are inclined, Follow me!

Is she well read in the subjects she is talking about?

Check out my Blogroll (social media) for a start. You can find it on the left hand side of my main Blog page under "What I'm Reading." and believe me, i read it every day. More about that in a later post.

and finally, This is all great but do these people like her?

This is when i take you to FaceBook (social media). Though it is just starting to capture the adult world, FaceBook is more about personal relationships and not something you share with everyone you know. Do you perhaps see some of the same names in my FaceBook profile as you have seen in other places we have explored today?

So whether or not you have decided to trust me or add me to your trusted friend list, (I hope you have) you have now seen just the beginning of how social media can be used for business. Can you see some possible uses for social media in your job? Stay tuned to future posted to learn even more!

Thanks for stopping by;

The Shopper Next Door