Create a Niche

 Is there a certain part of your business that you are REALLY good at?  Highlight it with status updates and connect with individuals and businesses that are in that niche area.  For example, a business coach that specializes in small business and entrepreneurs wouldn’t connect with large business and corporate conglomerates that would be ineffective and waste of time. By focusing on the areas and individuals that are your target audience, you will be able to network and expand your contacts.

 Plan Out What Your Going to Say

Most social networking platforms let you do what’s called “scheduling” of your profile updates.  For example, you may create your updates for the week on Monday and then you can add them into a scheduler like Ping.Fm or Hootsuite . These schedulers will post them on the day that you indicate, that way if you get too busy, you will know that your profiles are still getting updated.

 Check Out Your Competition and then Create Partnerships with Them 

Sounds crazy, huh?  But it’s not.  Clearly we all can’t be everything for every client or customer.  Let’s say that you are a transcriptionist and you are too busy to help a customer with a project that they need ASAP, why not reach out to one of your competitors to see if they can help?  I know it sounds like the opposite of something that you would do but you may be surprised at how well these partnerships work. Referrals as well as knowing how your competitors operate can be beneficial in the long run.

 Learn What’s New

 Social media is one of those ever changing things that you need to stay on top of.  Make sure when you are working on your networking you also spend time on study about what’s new. New platforms pop up everyday and if you stay ahead of the game you will have the upper hand on the latest technology and your clients will appreciate that you are up to date.

 The most important step you can do though is every day take 20 minutes to work on your social networking.  Schedule it if you have to.  Put it on your calendar and set a timer.  Making time for it every day consistently will ensure that you are making the connections and fostering them.

• Blogging – Have you virtual assistant write up blogs to post on your site. A VA can not only write a post and post it to your blog but can publicize your posts in several ways.
• Article Submission – Do you have articles that you’ve written but haven’t had time to submit?  Have your virtual assistant do it.
• Twitter-Your virtual assistant can write up your tweets and schedule them for a week at a time so you don’t have to worry about it.
• Facebook – Have your VA send your friends and fans birthday greetings as well as posting upcoming events and specials.
• SlideShare – This is a fairly new application that brings PowerPoint and Social Media together. 
• YouTube – YouTube is a phenomenon that is also new to the business world.  Have your virtual assistant demo products, tape interviews, etc.
• Pod Casting – Consider yourself a radio host?  Why not, have your assistant set up the show, book guests, write content.

Whatever platform you choose one or all of them you don’t have to go it alone. Social Media is more than just a fad or a phase, it is a proven way to network and build your business and the best part is that it is free!