Social media is an important tool for businesses that allows them to connect with customers, build their brand, and market themselves. Key platforms include blogs to share valuable content, Facebook to interact with communities, Twitter to communicate and find information, and LinkedIn for professional networking. When using social media, businesses should regularly post engaging content, monitor their accounts daily, and adhere to privacy and etiquette guidelines to build trust and avoid potential issues.

1. SOCIAL STATUS
A BASIC Introduction to
Social Media

2. Social Media
Social Media is defined as new media/new marketing.
Social Media can be easy to access, easy to share sites/blogs and
resources, easy to use, it promotes immediacy and when used
correctly it can promote trust in your business/brand.
Social Media is dynamic; it is rapidly evolving and there is always
something new to use, share and learn!
Social Media works on the same basics/principles of traditional
marketing.
Just as a business has time for traditional marketing, in 10 years
time social media will be just as normal as using emails and
websites.
And more necessary because social media is dynamic, global,
entertaining and educational.

3. Blogs
Blogs are daily journals/posts which can be publicly used to share
information about your business/brand.
Blogs drive content and can be found on search sites.
Blogs give a business the opportunity to write more in depth
information, i.e. valuable content and you can add widgets/links
and information to your blog to drive SMO (Social Media
Optimisation).
Blogs give businesses an opportunity to add content, to keep their
community informed, to add photos, advertising, marketing and to
keep people updated.
Blogs are interactive and can be used to promote and market your
business and brand. The more you update; the more you can drive
awareness about your business.

4. Blog Word Cloud – Social Status – http://socialnetworkingandmarketing.blogspot.com

5. Social networking
Any form of networking is great for business.
Either being involved and present at
programmes, events, launches, sales etc
Or attending events for networking.
People want to connect and if they see a
business offline and actually form a
relationship with the brand; this is beneficial
because your advocates will share links and
content with their friends.

6. Facebook
Facebook helps businesses connect with community and
individuals.
By creating a business page, you can build a brand and community
on Facebook.
This page has to be interactive and checked/monitored on a daily
basis.
I would recommend at least one update 5 times a week (during
business hours); write original content, share links from your
website/blog, add images, videos, quotes, resources and
information.
New Marketing/New Media is all about relationships and building
them.

7. Twitter
Twitter is considered a virtual newspaper. You can find any information
on any subject matter; so people use Twitter to interact, communicate,
market and promote their business as well as sharing personal
information (about their lives, interests etc)
Twitter is a highly interactive and public site.
It has a huge reach and it is an incredible way to communicate and
build a brand.
Most people on Twitter communicate, market, promote, converse,
engage and add links.
Twitter is primarily used to connect and interact with others. Twitter is
also used to share and exchange information.
Tweet at least 3 times a day; check/monitor your account daily and use
Twitter to find content, communicate and share.

8. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is considered as a networking site for business.
This is a site to promote your professional skills, share your
expertise with others, join groups and discussions and promote
your own business products and services
Build a brand and profile on LinkedIn.
You can add all your sites on there including your website,
Twitter account and RSS from blog.
It’s a great site to recruit, to interact with other business people,
to share content, to answer questions and to source
information.

9. Other Social Media Sites to use:
Image Sharing sites – such as Picasa, Flickr or Photobucket
amongst others to display pictures and use to share images on
other social media accounts
Pinterest.com – a great site to share visual content such as
images, quotes, Infographics as well as connecting with others
Instagram – a photo sharing app
Google+ - which collates all your Google links and profiles –
shares to Google and is considered another social network
which would be beneficial for business purposes
Other social networks – which has communities of like minded
users such as moms, educators, bookworms etc (just search
Google to find the one you are after! And join)

10. Profiles
Remember when you met or made a connection and you had a
5 second spiel?!
Social media sites gives you a chance to put your best spiel, the
best overview of your business online.
That profile or spiel is marketing YOU 24/7 and you can put
THAT spiel on any site.
Set up information (profiles/bios/brief information) about
yourself, business or brand online which reflects your business,
your style and your interests.

11. Privacy and Etiquette
The Internet is generally a public domain. Anything you put online
stays online and can be easily found.
List the original source of content (images, videos, quotes, articles,
blog posts etc); link back to the blog, the image or the video that you
have sourced.
Answer questions, respond to others, share resources, build a
community.
Be mindful of what you say online and use Social Media to engage
and interact with others and to build a community online.
Go with your instincts, never put ANYTHING that can affect you or
your business at a later stage.
Adhere to the terms and conditions of each account. Know your
own company's’ policies and set up a social media policy, a
customer service and a PR strategy.

12. Safety Issues
This is more applicable for youngsters and teens.
Don’t put up any addresses or personal details that can hurt
you later.
Stay away from negative nasty comments, inappropriate
pictures, contentious issues and details of things that are not
applicable to your business and brand.
Check bios, profiles, images and links before putting up
information.
In terms of being safe online again use your instincts!

13. Enjoy social media:
Check your accounts everyday. Entertain, educate, inform
yourself and others.
Curate content; find, read, research, source and share
information with people.
Join conversations
Communicate and engage online and socially.
You can meet like minded people, post valuable information,
promote, market and network your business.
It can change how you market and promote and it can help
you grow a business and community online and reach
people who you didn’t imagine you could connect with!

14. Remember:
Picture from - http://www.permeative.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/socialmediatime-001.jpg

15. For more information; or for social media
training and advice:
Elana Bowman
Social Status
0408 478 224
ebbyeryan@gmail.com
www.wix.com/ebbyeryan/socialstatus
Be aware of wonder ...
Copyright Social Status 2012