Social media continues to create new opportunities for businesses to grow. While many companies are taking advantage of these innovative online tools, there are still many things to learn before diving into social media. In the emerging social media environment, it’s important to understand best practices on how to communicate professionally and authentically with relevant information, timely updates and compelling content. In this session, you will learn how to develop a social media strategy that engages your customers while encouraging community participation and user generated content. You'll walk away with an understanding of how to build strong communities on social media that are consistent with your overall marketing strategy and lead to long term growth and success for your business.

1. Social Media: Your Business Tool for Growth Presented by: Melodie Tao Social Media Strategist, Educator & Speaker October 14th, 2010: INET Beirut

3. Social Media Strategist, Speaker & Educator

4. Online Marketing Educator

6. Online and interactive agency experience

9. Social Media Monitoring

10. Strategy

11. Design

12. Promotions

13. Facebook

14. Facebook For Business

15. Page Customization

16. Welcome

17. Profile Photo

18. Privacy Settings

19. LinkedIn

20. Company Profiles

21. Business Benefits

22. Title & Heading

23. Profile Info

24. Summary & Specialties

25. Recommendations

26. ApplicationsIf tweeting about the event on My Twitter handle is: @MyMelodie

27. Getting Started in Social Media

29. Provides you with knowledge to lead conversations

30. Allows you to locate and reach out to bloggers and industry leaders who are creating buzz around your industry

32. Be an industry leader status by writing relevant articles and blogs

33. Ask your community questions that prompt replies and encourage user generated content

34. Create buzz through strategic promotions

36. Design elements drive traffic back to your original website/blog to increase conversion

37. Design elements encourage and prompt user generated content and participation

39. Contests that request consumers to submit photos and videos on a specific topic regarding your business (user generated content)

40. A charity campaign that results in your company donating money by users participating. allowing the winner to donate money to their charity of chose

43. Photos of employees and customers interacting.

44. Trade show photos

45. Pictures of employees working on community service projects

46. Company executives speaking, accepting awards, etc

47. Photos of facilities

49. Application tabs allow 3rd party programs such as YouTube

50. FBML tabs (Facebook Markup Language)- Developed and designed to match your audience’s needs

51. To change your page’s tabs add FBML application to your page. Then, go to your page manager, find the FBML tab and click ‘edit’. Within the box that opens, you will be able to change the tab name and add codeDefault Tabs Application Tabs FBML Tabs

53. Review, define, and improve content layout of the various page types under each tab.

54. Branding of Fan Page assets (images, placement, multimedia) that appeal to the intended target audience.

55. Editorial review, widget creation and/or refinement of content used throughout the Page. Cisco incorporates videos into their Facebook Page

57. They understand many consumers want to save money

58. They customized their page to provide an interactive calculator to show your savings

60. People who are already fans of your page, will see the “wall” first when they enter the page

62. A larger picture offers more visibility. You can include a logo or promotional banner

63. Preview ideas to decide what’s best for your goals

65. LinkedIn

67. Company information, location, website, etc

68. Make sure your profile is linked to your company when adding your work information to LinkedIn

70. When potential customers or clients do their research for your company they will search for you on LinkedIn. This will give them a more personal connection and understanding of who they’re working with.

71. Individuals can utilize LinkedIn to promote your company’s accomplishments, events, blogs and news

73. Keyword focused

74. List your city so people know where you’re based

76. Showcase other websites relevant to your business

77. Many use the default listings: “My website”, “My blog” etc. Instead of using these you want to customize the links

78. Opportunity to highlight your company website

79. Opportunity for keyword focused anchor text

80. Choose “Other” when listing websites and write in keyword to link directly to your site

82. Rather than just listing “tasks” of your job, list how you made an impact

83. Designed websites vs Designed interactive websites that lead to 20% increase in conversion rate from new visitors.

85. Demonstrates your credibility through real life work experiences

86. Don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations

88. Wordpress: Live feed to enhance your blog community and get your posts across to a new audience

89. Tripit: Lets others know your travel plans so they get a sense of your upcoming conferences, networking events. This creates opportunities to set up in person meetings and shows that you’re actively attending events for professional development

91. Thank You melodie@marketingmelodie.com http://www.marketingmelodie.com Connect: Twitter.com/MyMelodie Linkedin.com/in/MarketingMelodie Facebook.com/MarketingMelodie Slideshare.net/MarketingMelodie