The digital age allows advisors to connect with more clients more quickly than ever before. And that's a good thing, right? Eh, not so fast.
Just because you now have greater access to prospects through the Internet and social media platforms, it doesn't mean you can't hit suitability and ethical speed bumps. On the contrary, you need to be just as careful, if not more so.
If you want a blueprint on how to navigate online "etiquette" you're in luck. Author Barry Libert's new book, "Social Nation: How to Harness the Power of Social Media to Attract Customers, Motivate Employees, and Grow Your Business," provides you with a set of rules to follow.
According to Libert, here are five tips to help advisors:
1. Pretend you're offline. It's pretty simple: if you wouldn't say it offline, don't say it online. It really doesn't matter if you're tweeting, blogging, chatting or otherwise. Many people behave as though what's said online won't have the same ramifications as it would in "real time." If you believe that's true, just talk to someone who's been fired for a post on Facebook or because of an inappropriate blog post. Yes, it has happened, and it can easily happen to you.
2. Remember, it's not all about you. It's time to face facts: While your family and close friends might be interested in just about every opinion and perspective you have to offer, the general public might not be. Remember, by and large, folks can quickly become bored. It's important to engage others by providing information, ideas and products they'll find helpful.
