Overnight Success

Social media expert Chris Brogan enjoys saying things like:  I'm an overnight success.... after 11 years of hard work, I became an overnight success.  Chris had the foresight to begin blogging early on, and is now recognized as a popular and well followed blogger.  Although he is an example that hard work over time does pay off, the relative newness of the social media phenomenon permits others to achieve success in a relatively brief period of time.

The social media experts providing seminars and advice in the Pittsburgh area, in some cases, have been at this game for less than two years.  Some authors of books that sell nationally have become experts in as little as three years.  With the new media industry just beginning to flourish, we are in exciting times - kind of like being around in the days of Henry Ford and the automobile industry during the industrial revolution.  Only in the information revolution, things are evolving so much faster.

Passion for the potential of social media is important in harnessing this opportunity.  You have an opportunity as the owner of a family owned small business to obtain success and move your business to the next level utilizing the opportunities afforded by social media.  All that is required is that you engage the opportunity with "gusto" (kinda sounds like a beer commercial lauding the achievements of elite athletes, eh?). 

With the help of a young Director of Store Operations, Mark Helgerman (owner of Trinity Jewelers) and I have experienced the blessing of hundreds of individuals visiting the Trinity Jewelers' Facebook page.  In a two month period, Trinity Jewelers went from non-existent on social media platforms to having the highest "Like" count for any jeweler in the Pittsburgh area that I can find on Facebook.  Pretty amazing for two conservative middle-aged Old Dogs.  (OK, we cheated - we had the help of a manager who is a very sharp young lady).

Here's the real Trick:  keeping these new Friends engaged.  Anyone can get a ton of "Like" responses on their small business Facebook page.  Does your family owned small business have enough exciting and engaging qualities to turn the curious prospect into a Raving Fan?  I think the Trinity Jewelers family does.  I hope your business does, too.

Life is often filled with hindsight regrets:  "Wish I'd seen that one coming and got on board sooner".  You've been warned in time, as there is still a window of opportunity to get on board the social media success train.

It's time to board.  Don't let this train leave the station without you.

Thanks for sharing 131 seconds of your day,
Smitty