The Power of Social MediaJune 11, 2010

> Tina Lambert, CAE | VSCPA Vice President of Member & Public Relations

What the heck is Web 2.0 & social media?

BlackPlanet.com, Flickr.com, Reunion.com, aSmallWorld, Bebo, Blue Dot, Bolt, Broadcaster.com, Buzznet,

CarDomain, Consumating, Couchsurfing, Cyworld, Dandelife, DeadJournal, DontStayIn, Doostang,

Ecademy, eSPIN, Facebook, Faceparty, Flickr, Flirtomatic, Fotki, Friends Reunited, Gaia Online,

Geni.com, GoPets, Graduates.com, Grono.net, Hyves, imeem, Google, Infield Parking, IRC-Galleria, iWiW,

Joga, Bonito, Last.fm, LibraryThing, LinkedIn, LiveJournal, LunarStorm, MEETin, MiGente.com, Mixi, MOG, Multiply,

My Opera Community, myYearbook, Netlog, Nexopia, OUTeverywhere, Passado, Piczo, Playahead, ProfileHeaven,

Pownce, RateItAll, Reunion.com, Searchles, Sconex, Shelfari,Soundpedia, Sportsvite, Studivz, TagWorld,

TakingITGlobal, The Doll Palace, The Student Center, Threadless, TravBuddy.com, Travellerspoint, Tribe.net, Vampire Freaks,

Vox, WAYN, WebBiographies, Windows Live Spaces, Woophy, XING

The Social Media Landscape

SOCIAL MEDIAIS AN UMBRELLA TERM…

THAT DEFINES THE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES THAT INTEGRATE TECHNOLOGY, SOCIAL INTERACTIONAND THE CONSTRUCTION OF WORDS, PICTURES,

VIDEOS AND AUDIO.

http://www.wikipedia.org

It’s also a fancy way to describe PEOPLEhaving CONVERSATIONS online.

Photo by Kris Hoet

• Blogs

• RSS

• Widgets

• Online Chat & Listservers

• Wikis

• Social Networks

The CONVERSATIONS are powered by…

• Social Bookmarks

• Podcasts & Videocasts

• Video Sharing Sites

• Photo Sharing Sites

• Virtual Worlds

The CONVERSATIONS are powered by…

Why should I care aboutWeb 2.0 & social media?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFZ0z5Fm-Ng

Is social media a fad? You decide! Socialnomics.net

Reason #1SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES ARE THE MOST POPULAR SITESNEXT TO GOOGLE AND YAHOO — AHEAD OF PERSONAL E-MAIL.

Nielsen, Global Faces & Networked Places, 2009

Reason #2SOCIAL MEDIA HAS BECOME A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF GLOBAL BUSINESS AND WILL CONTINUE TO ALTER THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCE.

John Burbank, CEO of Nielson Online, 2009

Reason #3TIME SPENT ON SOCIAL NETWORKS IS EXPLODING –3X FASTER THAN OVERALL INTERNET RATE.

Nielson, Global Faces & Network Places, 2009

Reason #4THE IRS USES SOCIAL MEDIA. IF THEY CAN DO IT, CAN’T YOU?

IT’S NOT A FAD. IT’S A FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT IN THE WAY WE COMMUNICATE.

The old communication model was aMONOLOGUE.A >>> B

The new communication model is a DIALOGUE. A<<<>>>B

• Transparent/open• Inclusive• Authentic• Vibrant• Consumer-driven

Old way… New way…

• Controlled• Organized• Exclusive • One sided• Product-driven

Only 14% of people trustADVERTISEMENTS.A >>> B

78% of people trust RECOMMENDATIONSof other consumers.A<<< >>> B

MEET YOUR FUTURE EMPLOYEES, PARTNERS, CFOs, CEOs…

What are some of the advantagesof Web 2.0 & social media?

• Cheaper • Stickier • Viral • Interactive• Visible• Global• Changes quickly• Connects

Some ADVANTAGES…

• Flexible • Helps Your Search

Engine Rankings• Drives Traffic to

Your Website • Good Word of Mouth• Business Leads• Ideas, Trends, Buzz• It’s EVERYWHERE

Even more ADVANTAGES…

• Transparent/open• Inclusive• Authentic• Vibrant• Consumer-driven

Old way… New way…

• Controlled• Organized• Exclusive • One sided• Product-driven

Are my staff, clientshanging out HERE?

Or hanging out HERE?

FOUR WAYS SOCIAL MEDIA CAN HELP YOU TODAY

GROWYOUR BRAIN

FINDYOUR CALLING

BUILDYOUR NEST

MAKESOME DOUGH

How do I get on theWeb 2.0 & social media highway?

A. Drive

B. Participate

A. Listen

•Immerse yourself in conversations•Monitor trends & competition•Google alerts

•Set up a profile•Friend 25 people•Comment on blogs•Answer questions

•Share your expertise•Create content/ideas•Write a blog•Drive conversations

D. Traffic Signs

>Privacy: Customize what others can see about you (professional v. personal)

• Create ‘Friend’ groups

• Edit privacy settings

>Etiquette: Once you’re riding the social media highway, remember to obey common Internet traffic rules of thumb.

>Policy: Obey or set company guidelines for participation.

socialmediagovernance.com/policies.php

THINGS to consider…>Be responsible for what you write. >Consider your audience.>Exercise good judgment & common sense.>Respect copyrights.>Protect confidentiality.>Bring value.>Develop a plan.

REMEMBER…YOU are your BRAND.

E. Test Drive

• 7 million users > 1,382% increase in one year > largest age group is 35-49

• It’s simple> Communicate short

(140-character) bursts of information to the people that subscribe to your updates

> These updates are known as “tweets.”

How do I get started? 1. SET UP AN ACCOUNT

How do I get started? 2. ENTER PROFILE INFO

How do I get started? 3. FIND OR FOLLOW FRIENDS& GROUPS

Tweetdeck

> Runs on your desktop

> Multiple accounts

> Friend & search columns

> Facebook & Myspace

> iPhone app

How do I get started? 4. SELECT TOOL TO POST & READ TWEETS

How do I get started? 4. SELECT TOOL TO POST & READ TWEETS

FOLLOWING

@usernameDM (Direct Message)

RT (Retweet)

#HASHTAG

TweetUpShortened URL

How do I get started? 5. LEARN THE TWITTERVERSE

TWEET

How is the VSCPA involvedin Web 2.0 & social media?

• RSS • Podcasts • Blog (CPACafe.com)• Microblog (Twitter.com/VSCPANews)• Photo sharing (Flickr.com)• Video, Videocasts (YouTube, Coming Soon!)• Social networking (LinkedIn, Facebook groups• Online communities targeted to different

practice areas, including e-mail listserves• Visit “Social Media” section

of www.vscpa.com

New MULTIMEDIA & ONLINE OFFERINGSto enhance membership

OTHER social media for CPAs

• Wiki: www.wikicpa.com

• Blogs: www.cpacafe.com > www.cpablogger.com > www.cpasuccess.com > http://bigfouralumni.blogspot.com

• Videos & Media:www.financialfitness.com > www.aicpa.org/Media+Center >www.feedthepig.com

• Learning: www.cpalearning2.com

RESOURCES on social media

Blogs

www.TypePad.com

www.WordPress.com

www.BlogLines.com

Microblogging/Tracking

Twitter: www.Twitter.com

TweetDeck: www.TweetDeck.com

TwitterBerry: www.orangatame.com/products/twitterberry

HootSuite: www.HootSuite.com

Tweetie: www.atebits.com/tweetie-iphone

Hashtag: http://hashtag.org

Google Alerts: www.google.com/alerts

RESOURCES on social media

Social networksFacebook: www.Facebook.comLinkedIn: www.LinkedIn.comPlaxo: www.Plaxo.comHubStreet: www.HubStreet.com (a new one for CPAs and lawyers)

Multimedia sharing sitesYouTube: www.YouTube.com (videos)Flickr: www.Flickr.com (photos)Picasa: Picasa.Google.com (photos)SlideShare: www.Slideshare.com (slidedecks)

RESOURCES on social media

PodcastingiTunes: www.apple.com/itunes(for finding and listening to podcasts)Audacity: audacity.sourceforge.net(for recording / editing podcasts)

WikisPB Wiki: www.PBWiki.comWikiSpaces: www.WikiSpaces.com

Policies & ArticlesMashable: www.mashable.comGovernance: www.socialmediagovernance.com/policies.php

CONNECT with me/us

Tina Lambert, CAE

VSCPA Vice President, Member & Public Relations

• Phone: (804) 612-9416

• E-mail: tlambert@vscpa.com

• Web: www.vscpa.com

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tinalambertwww.linkedin.com / search for “Virginia Society of CPAs”

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/TinaLambert1www.facebook.com / search for “Virginia Society of CPAs”

• Twitter: www.twitter.com/TinaLambertwww.twitter.com/VSCPANews

THANK YOUvery, very much!