Social Media TipsRotary Club

July 21, 2010

Getting started Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Choosing the right social media

Agenda

Some slides show how-to steps that you don’t need to write down. The presentation will be made available on Facebook at MarketingBizTalk or contact me at thekrws@gmail.com.

University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business found that the social media adoption for small businesses in the U.S. doubled in 12/2009 survey of 500 owners.

Small business social media usage doubles

Company page on Facebook/LinkedIn

Post status updates or articles

Build network via LinkedIN

Monitor positive/negative feedback

Blog on expertise

Twitter as a customer channel

Other

10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

Social Media Us-age by Small Businesses

Keep it consistent - Consistency doesn’t mean repetition. Customize profiles and updates to align with the uses of each social platform, but maintain a common theme throughout.◦ Bio page, profile picture, tone of voice◦ Naming consistency across platforms

Promote your brand – Think about the image you want to project build toward that. ◦ Real name or business name◦ Own your name for SEO

Get some help – social media maintenance takes time◦ Use tools to help you update such as Tweetdeck, Hootsuite, Google alerts◦ Hire someone to help you develop relevant and consistent content

Be human – sure what want to provide valuable content, but make sure it comes across as personable.◦ Be yourself as you connect with people and build online relationships◦ Interact with your audience

4 ways to improve social media

Consistency/availability of names across future platforms◦ Facebook◦ Twitter◦ Blog◦ YouTube◦ Etc.

Branding individual or business◦ Company name◦ Freelancer

Naming social media

Google adwords tool helps to understand the words people use to search the internet

Example: ◦ I want to talk about plastic water bottles◦ User search frequency is higher for reusable

water bottles or sports water bottles

https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal

Identifying keywords upfront

Shorten URLs is sometimes needed◦ Because text in social media is limited◦ To customize URLs so they are easily remembered◦ Track hits

Multiple free sites that shorten URLs and track hits

http://bit.ly/

Shortening URLs

Site to store and share presentations ◦ Reviews and testimonials◦ Best practice tips◦ Industry statistics◦ Customer/training presentations

Slideshare – www.slideshare.net

Getting Started with Facebook

No. 1 social networking site If there were a Facebook nation, it would be

the world's 6th largest country Everyday half a million people join

Facebook. The fastest growing group on Facebook is

people over the age of 30. Facebook is the #1 photo sharing site

Facebook facts

Always create the page from your personal account so that you control the destiny

If another person creates the page for you, you can not remove them at this time

Add people as admins if someone will help maintain it

Creating a Facebook Business Page

Choose a name you like:  Names can’t be changed today, so think long-termin 75 Characters or less, including spaces

Use your company name when you own the company and it is a unique name Add a qualifier to your company name if it is not unique, it is a franchise, etc.

Use your personal name if you are branding yourself.

Use keywords in the title that others search so that Google and others can find your page

Naming a Facebook business page

Create a solid foundation and then build upon it

Go to ads and pages to select Create a Page

Create a Facebook Business Page

First things first

Add photo or logo

Add basic information

Add detailed information on Info tab

Wall – The center of your profile where all the action takes place.

Photos – Upload, share and comment on the pictures you upload.

Notes – Notes are another way to communicate with your friends.

Videos – Upload your mobile videos, link to YouTube videos, or other videos

Events – This feature allows you to plan an event and invite your friends.

Choose your initial tabs

Easy applications that meet business objectives◦ LinkedIN profile (search applications | linkedIN | add to

my page)◦ SlideShare (search applications | slideshare | add to my

page)◦ Poll (search applications | poll | add to my page)

◦ Import a blog (application settings in upper right corner | select Notes | import a blog | input your URL)

Choose applications

Content

• Article links• Experiences• Tips• Survey results

Specials

• Timed promotions

• Sales• Discount

coupons

Events• Current• Local• Group

Information for your

wall

Add contacts◦ Account | Edit Friends | Upload contact file

Create List◦ Friends | Create List

Messages | New Message

Promoting your page

Promote with an ad |

Create an ad

Landing pages are effective ways to get your message across to your audience◦ Set as default◦ Available on pages; not

personal profiles◦ Purchase pre-built

templates or hire someone to code

Create a special landing page

Social media isn’t stand-alone marketing. Promote it through traditional channels.◦ E-marketing ◦ E-mail links◦ Business cards◦ Web sites◦ Flyers and brochures◦ Events◦ Networking◦ Word-of-mouth

Traditional and social media

Getting Started with LinkedIN

Current position Two past positions Education Profile summary Profile photo Specialties At least three recommendations

Completing your personal profile

You need a registered, company-owned email domain to create a business profile. ◦ Click on "Companies“ under "More" in the top navigation.◦ Click on "Add a Company" link in the upper right area.◦ Type in your company's official name and your email

address. If your email address is confirmed, you will be taken

to the "Create a Company" page.◦ If your company email address is not a confirmed email

address on your LinkedIn account, a confirmation email will be sent to the company email address.

If you do not have a registered company owned email address to create a Company Profile you may still create a group to promote your business.

Developing a business page

Posting an update is optional and can be done at any time.

Content is text and/or a URL to share ideas and other websites with others.

Posting an update can automatically generate Network Updates (based on your settings).

Updates remain at the top of your Profile until a new one is added.

Update your network activity

Search for people you know Import your desktop contacts (contacts | add

connections | import your desktop email contacts) Add email addresses

Expand your connections

SlideShare for presentations, customer testimonials, etc.

WordPress or BlogLink to connect blogs CompanyBuzz to follow specific topics in

Twitter conversations Tweets for Twitter following and tweeting

from LinkedIn Huddle is a private workspace to collaborate

with your team

Useful applications

Review questions/answers that are relevant to your business

Answer questions that establish you as an expert

Understand problems facing your industry

Questions/Answers

Develop new groups Participate in existing groups Don’t lead with a sales pitch Give more than you take

Groups

Getting Started with Twitter

Note-taking, jotting down ideas or bookmarking websites

Blog posts and other interesting information with your audience of followers.

Receiving answers to questions posed to your followers – but remember, the conversation is two way.

Establishing business connections Publishing updates of news, product

releases and other information

Uses of Twitter

Go to twitter.com Click “Get Started – Join!” Enter your details (Remember your personal

or business branding for consistent naming) Click “Create my Account”.

Establish your account

Choose settings and complete your account information

Choose profile to upload your picture and complete your bio

Customize Notices and Mobile for your needs

Setting up Twitter

Search for industry magazines Search for your gmail, AOL, etc. contacts Invite via email Browse suggestions Search names on Twitter

Find Followees/Followers

A hashtag (#) is a way to unite global Tweets around a topic. These are tags that that help those who seek similar content discover your Tweets (#iphone)

Find relevant hashtags at hashtags.org RT @username is used to reply to or reference another

Twitter user, put the @ symbol in front of their username shows that you are retweeting a message to your followers

Leave messages you retweet intact as much as possible Use a URL shortener such as bit.ly or tinyurl

Twitter basics

On your home page, search for tags

Search for tweets

LinkedIn is exclusively for business to build contacts – a place to reach out to experts in your industry

Twitter is a place to make quick contact with your sources and to ask general questions of those in your network. Short tips, specials and links to articles

Facebook business page is used to relay a business message, tips of the industry, establish expertise and credibility

Should we choose?

Social media works differently for each business. There are no silver bullets.

You choose social media engagement based on:◦ Target audience◦ Message content◦ Time commitment

No silver bullets

The one sure thing is that social

media will continue to grow

Make sure you establish the right social media balance

Content Context

Conversations Connections

Find MarketingBizTalk on Facebook to access this

presentation