So you use Facebook, you blog, and maybe you even tweet, but what are some of the things you should be doing with these tools to increase business and build your brand? Join Brian Linton, founder of Sand Shack, as he dives deep into social media strategies relevant to the retail industry. Find out how and why to build a following online and authority in your space. Learn low cost, virtually free, strategies to increase traffic to your website and store without your customers feeling like they are being sold to, and learn the tricks and tips that he has used to build Sand Shack’s social media presence and increase his business.

1. Advanced Social Media: Strategies for Using Facebook, Twitter, and Blogging For Your Retail Business Presented by Brian Linton Founder Sand Shack LLC Brianlinton.com Sandshack.com January, 2010 © 2010 Brian Linton

2. Agenda My Background and Why I am Here Benefits for Retail Stores BloggingOutside the Box Strategic Facebook Strategies That Drive Traffic Broadcasting Through Your Tweets How You Can Create Your Own Social Network

3. My Background Grew up in Singapore and Japan Founded Sand Shack while in college in 2006 Also while in college, founded a coffee company – and failed Live and work in Philadelphia Girlfriend’s name is Joanna and Dog’s name is Zoey Speak Chinese, love to travel, write, and scuba dive

4. Why You Should Listen To Me I am not a social media expert I grew up using forms of social media I successfully use social media for my business Most importantly, I am in your industry -Sand Shack is a brand of resort merchandise

5. Brianlinton.com

6. Agenda My Background and Why I am Here What is Social Media and Benefits for Retail Stores BloggingOutside the Box Strategic Facebook Strategies That Drive Traffic Broadcasting Through Your Tweets How You Can Create Your Own Social Network

7. Social Media Definition for Our Industry Social Media is a collection of online tools (mostly free) that allow retail establishments to connect and communicate with their customers. Social media allows for instant communication and feedback about events, promotions, and allow retail stores to find out what their customers like and don’t like. Proper use of social media by retail establishments does not entail mindless self promotion, it is about consistent communication with customers and providing free, useful content that will influence customers to make a purchase from an online or offline store.

8. Benefits Drive qualified traffic to your on and offline stores Reach out and find people who otherwise would not of found you Understand your customers at a deeper level Only sell products your customers want Improve your business through feedback Make More Money

9. But wait… New research by Citibank reveals that social media has yet to penetrate the small business world, finding that 76% of the 500 organizations surveyed have not found social media useful in generating business.

10. Agenda My Background and Why I am Here Benefits for Retail Stores BloggingOutside the Box Strategic Facebook Strategies That Drive Traffic Broadcasting Through Your Tweets How You Can Create Your Own Social Network

11. Business Blog

12. Blogging with a Purpose Choose something your customers care about Provide free material that is not a sales-pitch Go above and beyond your reader’s expectations Encourage your readers to leave comments -respond to comments Use plugins to better interact with your readers -create polls, etc.

13. Give Away Your Secrets

14. The Power of Images and Video Use images and video whenever possible Purchase digital camera with video capabilities Transparency Find images for free at Fickr.com Upload videos to YouTube

15. What Google Loves Unique Content Keyword rich content and tags Quality and consistency Wordpress

16. Market to Your Customers Through Separate Blogs Setting up a blog is free and if potential customers have various interests, you can reach more by creating multiple niche blogs

18. Are there any competing blogs?

20. Use email marketing services such as Constant Contact or iContact.

21. Double opt in subscription

22. Use newsletter to send subscribers valuable information on the topic

23. With subtle mentions to your store

27. Network

28. Become part of a community

30. Niche Social Media Sites and Forums Find existing sites to join Network and promote yourself

31. Involve, Create, Discuss, Promote, Measure Courtesy laurelpapworth.com

32. Agenda My Background and Why I am Here Benefits for Retail Stores BloggingOutside the Box Strategic Facebook Strategies That Drive Traffic Broadcasting Through Your Tweets How You Can Create Your Own Social Network

33. Facebook Page A Facebook Page is a public profile that enables you to share your business and products with Facebook users

34. Facebook Strategies for Business Industry news (trade shows, exhibitions, product recalls) Tips on using your products/services Stories about how your producst/services have helped people Stories about your employees and your customers Special offers You can link to or provide product reviews Provide links back to your blog/website

35. Facebook Advertising Should you pay to advertise on Facebook? Pros: Highly accurate target advertising Affordable pay per click Easy to use and setup Cons: Can get expensive, fast Facebook ads are largely ignored Must convert clicks to sales Advertising is not very social (despite Facebooks efforts)

36. Facebook Search Find and connect with people or groups who have influence over your potential customers Search for what matters to your business Reach out and network with leaders of relevant groups Join groups and make friends Note: Only Leaders/Administrators can mass-message all members and fans about you

37. Networking is Free Instead of paying to advertise, you can do your own target marketing using Facebook Facebook search helps you find groups and people in your target market Have group leaders/administrators tell their followers about you -greater response than advertising

38. Agenda My Background and Why I am Here Benefits for Retail Stores BloggingOutside the Box Strategic Facebook Strategies That Drive Traffic Broadcasting Through Your Tweets How You Can Create Your Own Social Network

39. Twitter Update Followers Don’t just self-promote Monitor conversations Address problems (bigger brands) Join a conversation Be human – not a robot MORE WORK??? Link Facebook and Twitter so Facebook updates are posted as tweets as well

40. Tips for Using Twitter Post original thoughts on your topic or industry – thought provoking Link to articles relevant to your business or industry – or just something that interests you Help others with problems you have the solution to Share tips Share photos -twitpic Connect with people from Facebook and your blog Join industry and topic related groups

41. Tips Continued Ask questions and answer questions Combine your social media approach by linking back to your Facebook page and blog Find business opportunities – vendors, contractors, salespeople, employees Find experts to invite to write a guest post for your blog Respond to tweets mentioning you or your store/brand Share what you are doing Avoid hard-sell tactics

42. Agenda My Background and Why I am Here Benefits for Retail Stores BloggingOutside the Box Strategic Facebook Strategies That Drive Traffic Broadcasting Through Your Tweets How I’m Using All of This How You Can Create Your Own Social Network

43. How I am Doing It Sandshack.org

47. Link Your Blogs to Unique Facebook Pages

48. Twitter Can Help You Promote Your Blogs

49. Agenda My Background and Why I am Here Benefits for Retail Stores BloggingOutside the Box Strategic Facebook Strategies That Drive Traffic Broadcasting Through Your Tweets How I’m Using All of This How You Can Create Your Own Social Network

50. Creating your Own Social Site From Scratch Go to Godaddy.com and purchase a domain name – approx $8/year Purchase hosting – approx $50/year Setup Wordpress – FREE Choose free template and set up your pages (home, about, contact etc.) Set up newsletter subscription service Begin blogging and promoting your posts

51. Contact Information Contact Brian: Tel: 508-292-9427 or brian@sandshack.com