Expat Networking 2.0: Expat Expert on Facebook for Business

Recently I happened to find Scottish-Canadian expat Mari Smith on one of my favorite microblogging tools Twitter. Mary is a Relationship Marketing Specialist who has used Facebook to build her wildly successful business that supports her mobile lifestyle. Currently Mari and her husband are traveling around the US with a RV! After connecting with Mari on Facebook, she kindly agreed to share a little about herself and her expertise on Facebook:

• Mari, can you tell us a little bit about your life as an expat living a mobile lifestyle?

Sure. I consider myself fortunate to have “triple nationality.” :) I was born in Canada to Scottish parents; lived in Edinburgh for twenty years and have been in San Diego, California since 1999. In the summer of 2007, my husband and I finally sold our family home after a long wait and decided to just throw caution to the wind: we sold off all our furniture, put a few things in storage and bought a big motorhome to travel the country for as long as we enjoy the mobile lifestyle. We just celebrated a full year on the road! It’s a fantastic lifestyle. The only downside is finding strong internet signals. Oh, and we call it our mobile marriage bootcamp. Ha!

• How did you become so passionate about Facebook?

Well, I started out many years ago as a certified relationship coach – my specialty is the world of people and what makes them tick. I’ve studied and trained in many personality assessments. For many years I wore two hats: a relationship coach and an internet marketer. When I got involved with Facebook through being on the alpha test team for a Facebook application, it was literally like coming home. Finally my two worlds could merge: relationships and the internet. I quickly mastered the technical features as well as the new social media marketing strategies and protocols that are quite different from traditional internet marketing.

• Many people believe that Facebook is just a social network where you can connect with friends and family.  How could an online network like this be used for business?

I’m using Facebook to connect with friends and family only about 5% of the time. The other 95% of the time I use for professional networking and strategic business building. Facebook offers an unprecedented opportunity for anyone in business to create incredible visbility, branding, a presence and following. I’ve heard it said “when the marketers move in, the members move out.” The trick, then, is to be a member. My mantra, in fact, is “relationships first, business second.” It’s a whole different approach on social media and that’s why I think so many people don’t understand how Facebook can be used for business purposes.

• Can you share some examples of how you have used Facebook to build your own business?

I’ve connected with high level joint venture partners, mentors and top paying clients. I’ve had to raise my consulting and training fees exponentially and predict my income will triple this year as a direct result of all my activity in social media. I tell my clients and students not to expect overnight results. You have to be consistent, congruent, transparent, authentic… and patient! You need to listen closely to what’s being said and not said – and join in conversations when appropriate. I’ve now built a huge loyal following on Facebook and on Twitter, the micro-blogging platform.

• What are some common mistakes that expats may make when decided to use Facebook as a tool to promote their business?

First, they need to consider the geographical Network they wish to belong – because Facebook only allows you to search for members within your Network and you can only join one city Network. Members can also join a place of work/organization Network and a school/college Network. So, for example, I choose to remain in the San Diego Network – though I could just as easily join the Edinburgh Network or Toronto, ON Network (or Anchorage, Alaska where I’m visiting for the summer!) Facebook allows you one city Network change per month. I haven’t found the need to change Networks, though a colleague gave a great example of switching from Vancouver, BC to Sydney, Australia in preparation for going there for six months. He was able to connect ahead of time with excellent contacts.

Mistakes members in general make are: adding too many friends at once (considered spam by Facebook), sending unsolicited email pushing their business without first building rapport, writing large signature files on Wall posts with links.

• If there was just one thing that you would recommend to the just expat starting to use Facebook as a business tool, what would it be?

Be absolutely clear on your objectives: who you want to network with, your ideal joint venture partner, your ideal client. Then grow your network diligently and deliberately with those people who fit your criteria. And, for sure, incorporate other social media platforms into your overall strategy, e.g. Twitter and YouTube.

• How can expats access your knowledge and expertise to build their business?

Via my blog here and my comprehensive multi-media system Facebook for Professionals here.

On Facebook, the direct link to my Profile is here and my Fan Page is here.

• Any last thoughts or tips?

For anyone not yet active on Facebook, set aside a good 45-minutes to populate your Profile with information about you, links to your sites and blogs, upload any relevant photos and videos, import your blog feed with Facebook Notes, add a few business applications, etc. Also, be sure to have a decent profile picture – it doesn’t have to be super formal. Informal is best. And, for access to my 7-Day Facebook Marketing Tips, visit my blog here.

Thanks Mari - great info!  You can also hear Mari’s reports from the road on her Be Free Go Mobile Blog.

YOUR EXPAT SUCCESS TIP: If you are an expat entrepreneur looking to build stronger, more expansive relationships and build your business, you should be on Facebook. Your first tip (if you haven't done so already) is to start a profile on Facebook.  You can connect with me (Megan Fitzgerald) here and Mari here . Then visit Mari's blog to learn more about how Facebook can help you reach your networking and business goals.

YOUR THOUGHTS? Are you on Facebook? Interested in sharing your own experiences, successes or challenges? Feel free to share your thoughts or additional suggestions.

Comments

[Mari Smith]

Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to your readers, Megan!! I'm so glad we met in Twitterverse and Facebookland. Such a whole new world we move in nowadays. Definitely makes it easier for expats to be global citizens and have mobile business and lifestyles!

Cheers,
Mari
@marismith

[Megan]

Mari,

Thanks so much for taking the time to share about your experience and Facebook expertise! It is always inspiring to see expats out there living their dream - keep up the good living!

Ciao!
Megan

[Penny Gould]

I enjoyed reading about how to stay connected in a mobile life, and haven't tried Facebook or Twitter yet - so thanks for that encouragement to move forward with technology!