If someone asks me who I would recommend to assist them with Social Media, what would I answer? I know dozens of bloggers with social media expertise.
When I searched for Social Media Events on EventBrite today there are 2,359 worldwide as you can see from the image in this post - and that is only one of many sites that list events.
Here are the numbers of results for other Social Media searches on EventBrite:
- 113 Social Media Events New York
- 112 Social Media Events San Francisco
- 62 Social Media Events Chicago
That doesn't even count the events that don't happen to be listed on that one site. What I'm getting at is that this is more proof of what I keep telling bloggers about focusing on geo-targeted niches.
If you want to be recommended - by me or anyone - you have to give us a reason. A reason to single you out. A reason why you are just the person for a particular business to contact. What marketers and Web designers have always recommended:
YOUR USP - Your Unique Selling Proposition.
Why You Must Differentiate or Die!
That applies to every small business, every blogger and every consultant. Make a name for yourself in something SPECIFIC - not just social media, or blogging, or whatever your business does.
You must answer this one question:
Why should I recommend YOU over everyone else?
As I explained further in BLOGGERS: Position Your Blog Where the Money Is, I believe the answer you find will be a combination of location and specialty. Like these:
- Adam Toporek who recently decided to specialize in tips on how to offer Good Customer Service Experiences
- Rohan Gilkes who brought together the Washington D.C. Food Bloggers and launched Washington D.C. Influencers @365thingstododc
- Maritime Social Media Marketing @JensenMaritime
You can't be the best or most famous or any other adjective for a niche as huge as social media (or web design) This has been true as long as there has been an Internet! And it is still true today.
Those who have a specialty
become known in their industries
and become the go-to people
who get the recommendations
and the business.
That can be you. Find a passion. Become the best in that niche. Add a geographic location because there are still some people who want to only do business with those who are located physically near them (and because it never makes you less interesting nationally or internationally either!).
Freelance writer Donna Anderson @SheWritesaLot who is a regular contributor for Examiner.com provided some exceptional tips on how to cover local in your blog in her recent guest post here: Bloggers And Small Businesses Can Conquer Cyberspace With Collaboration.
Do you know (or are you) someone who has a specialty? Let me know in the comments of this post so I can add them here - and they're on my radar (and others') so we can recommend them when opportunities arise.