2012 is all about the C word!

I thought I'd share with you just one way I've made use of my social media platforms this week!

Over the holidays I reviewed my SWOT analysis to assess which direction I'd take my business in 2012 and I've spent the past week or so addressing some of the weaknesses and opportunities.

Being a Sole Trader has it's advantages but also many disadvantages so I've decided that this year COLLABORATION is going to be the key to success, allowing me to work with like minded people in similar fields and expand my business.

Social Media has been a great way to source these people, in particular Linkedin.  Using the filtered contact search to find people already within my network living in the marketing industry (& within the Swansea area) and also scoping out other Social Media specialists through the use of group discussions (and having a nose at their profiles and activity).

Another which was a pleasant surprise was a call I received from a Facebook friend of one of my Facebook fans.  The Facebook fan had commented on a discussion on my page, which in turn appeared in the ticker of all her Facebook friends, who just so happens to deliver Social Media training in West Wales and was looking for someone (like me) to build a referral partnership.

So, this goes to show that Social Media can be used for collaboration, something I think is vital for sole traders/small businesses like myself!

Take a few minutes out of your day to think who in your network you could collaborate with and arrange those all important face to face meetings!