On Mondays I post an interview with a social media marketing expert. My blog focuses on using social media to promote books (particularly self-published books), and I believe authors can really learn a lot about successful social networking by following the experts.
This week we meet Bethany Mooradian, owner of Queen of the Random Job and author of I Got Scammed So You Don’t Have To! and The Mystery Shopper.
KS: Tell me about your company – how it was created and what you do.
BM: Queen of the Random Job has two focuses: 1) to teach individuals how to find legitimate work at home jobs and avoid scams, and 2) to provide resources and guidance to the entrepreneur or small business owner.
It began out of necessity because I’m just not a fan of being an employee. In fact, the longest 9-5 job I’ve had was just for 9 months when I was 19. Early on, I learned that freedom of time was way more important to me than a steady paycheck and so I entered into the ‘random job’ world. My resume includes being a puppeteer, model, mystery shopper, artist in residence, virtual assistant, web-designer, parade float fabricator, vacuum salesman, tutor, writer, art gallery owner, housekeeper to Bill Gates and Paul Allen, and, of course, Ronald McDonald’s bodyguard.
I now have two books out and have conducted over 200 seminars teaching others how to find legitimate work at home jobs and avoid scams and consult with entrepreneurs to offer guidance in setting up their business.
KS: Who do you feel can benefit from a social media marketing strategy?
BM: I’m probably one of those rare marketers who doesn’t believe that everyone needs to jump on the social media bandwagon. Social media will only benefit your company if your target customer is using it! The key is to create a very specific “ideal customer” profile, find out which sites they use, and then move your business to integrate that platform as part of your marketing strategy. Too many times I see businesses that are spending their life on Twitter or YouTube, when they really should focus their efforts on Facebook or other sites. It really just depends on your specific customers and their interests.
KS: How long have you been blogging and what is the primary focus of your blog?
BM: I’ve actually been blogging since 2003, but until recently I’ve been very reluctant and intermittent. I write about legitimate companies who hire at-home workers, small business strategies, creating the entrepreneurial mindset, scams, and mystery shopping.
KS: What is your favorite social networking site? Why?
BM: For my own business development, I prefer www.biznik.com and www.meetup.com, because they allow for in-person connections with people who share my interests. This month alone I’ve attended seminars on creating a business plan, using WordPress and how to approach the mom-blogisphere.
For connecting with my customers, Facebook is necessary. While I don’t always agree with their rules, regulations, and constant changes without communication, it’s an incredible platform to reach my audience.
KS: What is your #1 piece of advice for social networking newbies?
BM: Begin with the end in mind. Figure out your customer first, find out where they hang out online, and then build your audience. And don’t be afraid to fail. You’ll get the hang of it soon enough, but you can’t over analyze any approach. Stay away from politics and religion, (unless, of course, you’re a political or religious organization!) focus on what your customer would want to know about your industry, and you’ll be just fine!
To find out more about Bethany Mooradian and Queen of the Random Job, visit:
Website: www.QueenoftheRandomJob.com
Blog: www.queenoftherandomjob.com/blog/
Twitter: @queenbuzzy
Facebook: www.facebook.com/workfromhome