2. What IS Social Media? A medium for social interaction, using highly accessible and scalable publishing techniques. Social media uses web-based technologies to turn communication into interactive dialogues.
3. Social Search & Marketing Google Places – start here and work your way
5. Facebook Setting up a free Facebook account for yourself and creating a page for your business is a good way to enter the social networking space. You can announce new product features and events, post pictures, and communicate directly to your fans. These people have essentially "opted in" to receive messages from your company.
6. Twitter To set up a free Twitter account, go to twitter.com, create a username and password, and begin finding people to follow – including your competition. A message sent via Twitter is called a “tweet.” (Isn’t that sweet?)
7. LinkedIn Establishing a LinkedIn account for yourself is a great way to network with like-minded business peers in your area and nationwide. LinkedIn can help you find business partners, vendors and resources to help your business.
8. Blogging What’s a blog? Is blogging right for you? Quality, not quantity. Promote your blog through social media Facebook Twitter LinkedIn
9. Social Search & Marketing Geolocation Marketing Have you heard of foursquare? If your location is retail-based, consider it. Yelp!
10. Consider Going Mobile Tablets and smart phones Can function as credit card scanners Can manage inventory Can help you connect with customers on the go Can let you quickly capture and share images, news, product issues They’re tax deductable too!
11. Social Media Management Social media *isn’t* free – it takes TIME You need to invest in social media – it’s not a cosmic cash machine (yet) Baby steps! Start small and build as you can Use tools like Hootsuite to be more efficient Don’t pay an “expert” – do your own research
12. Measure, Measure, Measure It’s not just about “likes” and traffic Measure what REALLY matters to your biz What are you learning from social? What do your customers really want? Ask! What is your competition doing? Spy! What are others in your industry doing that you can take and make your own? Research!
13. 5 Social Networking Tips It is important for you to locate where your customers are most likely to congregate online. Set aside a certain amount of time every day for social media activities. Don’t pretend to be something you are not. Become an online expert in your field by dispensing advice and playing a valuable role in online communities. Listening is perhaps the most important part of social media.
In a nutshell: It’s a relatively cheap and easy way for your to market your business!
Talk about Hootsuite and other management solutions
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It is important for you to locate where your customers are most likely to congregate online. This will vary based on your industry so choosing the right social network will ensure that you don’t waste time.Set aside a certain amount of time every day for social media activities. You don’t have to spend a long duration, but it is important to have a continuous presence online to monitor conversations about your business and send out messages.Don’t try to pretend to be something you are not. Social media is important because it shows the human face behind your business. People are more likely to purchase from someone they know and trust.Become an online expert in your field by dispensing advice and playing a valuable role in online communities. Answer queries that people have and be helpful so that people get to know your business and the role it plays in your industry.Listening is perhaps the most important part of social media. Many businesses misunderstand social media and use it purely as a broadcast medium. Instead, you should be monitoring what people are saying about your products and acting on the feedback you receive.
