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Social Media 101 for Business

What is social media?

“Forms of electronic communication… through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages and other content (as videos)”

– Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Why should businesses use social media?• Reduced marketing costs

• Inexpensive promotional opportunities

• Increased SEO benefits

• Increased leads

• Increased exposure

• Increased traffic

• Brand loyalty

• Marketplace insight

Social Media & Small Business• 90% of small businesses are engaged in social

media for their brand

• 60% of these businesses have experienced challenges in building an effective social media marketing strategy

Top Sites

• Facebook

• Twitter

• LinkedIn

• Google+

• YouTube*

• Pinterest*

Social Media Strategy• Define goals

• Increased traffic

• Greater customer service

• Increased awareness of products

• Define audience

• Who and where are they?

Social Media Strategy

• Define your organization and what makes you special

• Determine your resources

• Time

• Money

• Tools

Build Your Audience

• In person

• Contests

• Paid advertising

• Other social media networks

• Through existing customers (engagement)

• Research similar products or companies that serve a similar audience

Drive Engagement

Ask simple questions to start the conversation:

• yes or no

• true or false

• what’s your favorite?

• fill in the blank

• opinion

• click “like” if…

Drive Engagement

Photos

• related to your product or service

• branding without a hard sell

• memes and quotes

Encourage feedback on products and services

Thank those who comment or participate

Images

• Hire a photographer

• DIY with a digital camera

• Coordinate colors with your company’s logo

• Don’t include calls to actions in profile pictures or cover photos

• Use professional images related to your business

• Logos

Best Times to Talk Shop

• During sales

• Announcing new vendor

• Awards

• News or blog coverage

• Limited amount/almost sold out

Social Media Mistakes

1. Not having a social media presence

2. Having an unprofessional social media presence

3. Failing to develop a well-defined strategy and goals

Limit in Social Media

1. Linking accounts

2. Pushing out information

3. Posting once a month OR posting 5 times a day

4. Asking people to follow you

5. Text heavy posts

More Tips

• Build a presence on a variety of platforms

• Post valuable content on a regular basis

• Develop a strategic social media plan

• Find out where your customers are online

• Invest time and remain consistent

Facebook Opportunities

• Brand your products

• Reach new people and potential customers

• Interact with your customers

Facebook Basics• Create a professional Facebook page

• Use an interesting and/or related cover photo

• Personalize your page and show who you are, what you believe in, etc.

• Use variety in your posts and post types

• 75% business, 25% fluff

• Photos, links, questions, etc.

Facebook Power Tips

• Develop a content strategy

• Develop a posting schedule

• Post once or a few times a day

• Build your audience and engage

• A/B testing to determine best posts

• Increase audience with advertising

Demos

How to create a page for business

How to schedule posts

How to boost posts for more exposure

Twitter Opportunities

• Connect to customers in real time

• Build your brand

• Reputation management

Twitter Basics

• Be you

• Use related images for avatars and backgrounds

• Tweet about yourself and others

• Talk about things relevant to your business

• Articles, news, etc.

Twitter Power Tips

• Tweet with and about others

• Find or create hashtags

• Develop a posting schedule

• Auto-scheduling is your friend

• Editorial calendars help you keep variety in posts

Demos

How to create a Twitter account

How to schedule posts

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