The document discusses how social media has become an important tool for businesses, with over half of all adults using social media and sites like Facebook and Twitter seeing rapid growth. It provides statistics on social media usage and outlines the major social media platforms of Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. The document advises businesses to use social media to build relationships, show their personality, set goals and plans, and publicize their contact information in order to see returns through clicks and inquiries.
The answer is BOTH. Like any tools, the secret is how you use them.Think about other important business tools: Phones. Newsletters. To have GOALS and a PURPOSE. And FOCUS on those.
There’s a lot of hype right now. If it sounds too good, it is!It won’t cure cancer, make you rich.Like the telephone, newsletters, brochures, website, Google. Just another communications tool. Is the phone useful for business? Networking events? Clubs? Text messaging? All of these CAN be good.Make friends. Social media is NEW. Beware of EXPERTS. Check their RESULTS. Get RECOMMENDATIONS.
Tools don’t make a strategy, but they’ll help you execute one
These are the social media sites most businesses focus on. If you’re new to social media, we recommend getting to know them in this order:LinkedIn is the most business-oriented of the social networking sites. It’s business networking made easy. You post a profile of yourself, which includes what looks very like a resume. In fact it IS a resume. Treat it as such. You can state clearly what you’re interested in: networking, getting back in touch, meeting people, sharing information. Facebook is the #2 destination on the web. Started as a college site, so skewed toward educated people, business people but using it for social purposes.Twitter is the fastest growing social media site. 140 character blogging. Giant cocktail party. Becoming a “threat to Google” rival search.
These are the social media sites most businesses focus on. If you’re new to social media, we recommend getting to know them in this order:LinkedIn is the most business-oriented of the social networking sites. It’s business networking made easy. You post a profile of yourself, which includes what looks very like a resume. In fact it IS a resume. Treat it as such. You can state clearly what you’re interested in: * business deals* career opportunities* consulting offers* expertise requests* getting back in touch* job inquiries* new ventures* reference requests
Business goal: Get people your message, let them do business with you.Red are things you have to pay for.Green = costs only your time. And these are more sharable, more VIRAL, more subject to exponential sharing.
People in your industryPeople you admireCompetitorsVendorsFriendsNetworkCollege friendsRotarians
Anyone who cares about what you have to say, because:You make them moneyYou give them ideasYou connect them with othersYou inspire themYou amuse themYou pass on good tidbitsYou care about THEMEverybody will get approached by spammers and folks you don’t care about. Feel free to unfollow/unfriend, just as you can move to another group at an event or cocktail party.
* SM is your very own research team, focus group, and clipping service* Google alerts, Twitter search for your brand/name
We’re putting together a workshop where you complete your social media profile.In 4-6 weeks, we hope, and if there’s interest, more to come.Sign up on firecatstudio.com to receive a notification. Give me your card and i’ll email you.