You’ve likely discovered that it is virtually impossible to start, run and develop your business without mentoring.

When I  began my very first business I didn’t understand this so I struggled along and made slews of mistakes that cost me many dollars and waste of energy.

I did what many first time entrepreneurs do.  I:

•  Thought I could figure it all out myself.
•  Didn’t want to spend the money for an expensive mentor.
•  Didn’t even realize that I had blind spots.
•  Focused on what I was good at.
•  Ignored the parts I didn’t understand.

Ten years ago when I began my present business, which involves helping others like me, the first thing I did was to hire a mentor coach. I did spend a bundle of cash but decided it would be worth it. She did help me, however it was also a bit disappointing. I assumed that being a professional she would give me exactly what I needed, however I learned that it is also a mistake to make that assumption, as everyone has different strengths and skills.

My next mentor was perfect and I continue to work with him.  He helps me see past my blind spots and more. Here are a few things I have learned and some tips that can help you to choose the best mentor for you.

1. Be wary of people who say, “Hire me and I’ll help you get to six figures in a year!”  That is hype and no one can guarantee this. The very best thing someone can do for you is to help you get past your obstacles and blind spots and help you make decisions that will lead to higher profit.

2. Pick someone who will really listen to you and how you feel and what you need. It all needs to begin with you and a good mentor will take the time to hear you and really understand where you are stuck, where you want to go and what you need to overcome.

3. The best mentor is someone who has the ability to access tools and processes that are focused on your specific issues and not a stock program. Each business owner may dealing with similar issues but not the exact same challenges. You want someone who focuses on you individually.

4. Find someone who has the ability to see the best in you and can see more in you than you see in yourself. This is extremely important because when you are stuck and struggling, self doubt and judgment tends to cloud your perceptions. You need someone who can see what you are unable to see, and to give you the confidence to shift and grow into a stronger leader of your business. A good mentor is willing to speak out and offer constructive feedback and help you to expand your vision.

5. Choose value not price. If you have money issues, your own self doubt and fears will emerge in the process of considering who to hire and this can confuse you. Focus on the benefits and not your fears when deciding. This is an investment in yourself and your business and it needs to be about the value and benefits you  receive. If you get the help you need you will likely increase your income and  it will pay for itself in the long run. Pick someone who is a specialist at working with people just like you.

Entrepreneurs who choose to get help from a mentor are way more successful.  I hope the five tips I offer will help you to make a decision that will support your growth and transformation. If you want to add anymore tips from your own experience I would love to hear your comments.

Just when I thought I had it all sussed and could also help my clients with with Facebook, blogging etc., now Google is coming out with a new program,  “Google + Project.”  I groaned when I saw this because I want it simple! If this takes off I will have to figure out if it will help my business or not.

The real issue here is the challenge of staying current and also not spending all of your time online doing marketing. How to figure out the balance and how to know where and when to put your focus are two questions I get asked all the time.

They are excellent questions because marketing has to be strategic and follow a system that is right for your specific business. Too many people get sucked into the online bottomless pit and hours drift by before they wake up and wonder where they are. Meanwhile a lot of other important stuff hasn’t gotten done.

The very first important thing needs to be your own marketing plan!

Without that plan you are like a leaf in the wind and not in control. Here are a few good questions to ask that will help you craft the social media part of your marketing plan.

1. Who is your niche client group and are they on Facebook, Twitter or Linked in? If you aren’t sure you need to find out. There are some people who are not plugged in to these sites at all out of choice. For example, my  orthopedic surgeon. He doesn’t have a need and he says he doesn’t have time or interest.

2.  What are the five questions your clients are asking you? In your updates make sure you give value by addressing these five questions over and over with new ideas, awarenesses and inspiration.

3.  Are you mixing mix personal with business? I use facebook 100% for business. What this means is that I only post things I am happy for my clients and other business associates to read. All of my business updates come from my Business page. My friends page updates are  more personal but still relate, and just give a fuller dimension of who I am.

4. Are you consistent? If you only go on to your sites rarely, people won’t develop a relationship with you. Real connections take time to nurture and grow. For instance, I have a Linked in group and I tend to show up there at least three times a week and stay in touch with people. It keeps the group vibrant as well.  Same with your blog posts. You don’t have to do a new one every day but you need to be regular so people will find new, fresh posts to read. This is also a way to invite people to your website. In my case my blog is a page on my larger site, so once they are reading the blog they might check out other pages as well. (hint)

5. What three sites are the best for your business? Focus on those. Too many will make you scattered and quality is better than quantity. My three are Facebook, Linked in and Biznik.  I picked these three because this is where my niche group hangs out. I do Twitter to a lesser degree as my Facebook automatically post tweets, but I don’t actually go on to Twitter to RT more than once a week. I tried more and it was too time consuming for the roi.

Answer these five questions and it will make your social media marketing much easier and you will get way better results too! In the comments below it would be great to hear what your three sites are and why you use them.