How the channel partners (distributors/agents) of B2B companies globally can utilize social media. If they are small operations without their own websites, social media is an ideal way to get their message out.

1. Damian Corbet
PR Services Manager
Halma plc

2. “Social media is about communication,
not marketing. It‟s about connecting
and engaging, not about pushing your
products.”
(Jonathan Wichmann, Head of Social
Media at Maersk Line)

3. That quote is relevant to ALL B2B social
media - wherever you are in the world.

4.  It all starts with good content
 What is good content?
 It‟s helpful to your customers:
◦ Relevant product info
◦ Instructions and „how to‟ guides
◦ Industry issues & insights
◦ Lists - „5 reasons you should use‟…
◦ SFC company news from newsletter
◦ Videos – instructional
 Give people a reason to follow you

5.  That‟s where social media comes in!
 Distribute all this great content via relevant
social networks

7.  LinkedIn
 Twitter
 Facebook
 Google+
 YouTube
 Sina Weibo & YouKu - China
 Regional:
◦ Xing – German-speaking countries
◦ vKontakte – Russia
 Choose 1 or 2
 Which ones will depend on your market

8.  It‟s what you say and how you say it that
matters
 Be helpful and don‟t blatantly sell
 That‟s a general principle relevant to all B2B
social media

9.  The global professional network
 Mouthpiece of your company
 Features:
o Product pages
o Targeted ads
o Groups - interact
o Recruitment
 The more you post, the more followers you‟ll
get

10.  Great for networking with:
o Customers
o Industry bodies
o Industry experts
o Trade media
 Follow relevant people and they‟ll usually
follow back
 Show your expertise
 Be interesting and people will re-tweet
 Don‟t sell!

11.  Over a billion users
 B2B companies are using it
 Encourage interaction:
o Special offers
o Events
o Industry news
o Questions
o Videos
 Customer service
 Understand EdgeRank
 Don‟t sell!

12.  Google is evil, but we need it
 G+ business page – like your LinkedIn page
 G+ posts rank higher on Google
 One login for everything
 Unique features:
o Circles – keep your contacts segregated
o Communities - like LinkedIn groups
o Hangouts - video calls with up to 10 people
o Google authorship

13.  Essential if you have videos
 Same login as Google+ and Gmail
 It‟s easy to make basic videos
 Post SFC videos when they‟re available!

14.  SlideShare
 Instagram
 Pinterest
 Tumblr
 Forums

15.  China
◦ Facebook and Twitter are blocked
◦ Sina Weibo, Qzone and YouKu are popular
◦ Halma China uses Sina Weibo and YouKu
 Russia
◦ vKontakte – more popular than Facebook
◦ Odnoklassniki – like „friends reunited‟
 Germany
◦ Xing – professional network similar to LinkedIn

16. Social media or B2B is about communication,
interacting & networking – not selling.
This applies to all social networks anywhere in
the world.
Think of it as a virtual conference – a place to
network and make valuable connections.

17. Damian Corbet
PR Services Manager
Halma plc
Tel: +44 (0)1494 789152
Mobile: +44 (0)7766 140875
E-mail: dcorbet@halmapr.com
LinkedIn: DamianCorbet
Twitter: @SocialDamian
Google+: DamianCorbet