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SOCIAL MEDIA TO BOOST SALES

12/16/08

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Why social networking?• Increase your visibility online

• Improve your professional network

• Find hidden connections

• Make first meetings go smoother

• Deepen relationships with customers

• Find new prospects and make them customers

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Top social networking sites

• Myspace

• Facebook

• Flickr

• LinkedIn

• Fastest growing: Twitter, Tagged, Ning

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• Social media even more important in the travel, tourism and hospitality business!

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Today’s focus

• LinkedIn.com

• Facebook.com

Others to explore on your own:• Myspace.com• Twitter.com• Various travel related socnets

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Social networking fundamentals• Profile• Content• Contacts/friends• Search

– Understand your key words/search terms– Know where to search (e.g., Twitter searches

on Summize.com)

• Other functions vary by socnet

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Maximizing LinkedIn

• Make the most of your profile

• Showcase your professional expertise and personality

• Upload your address book contacts to expand your network

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LinkedIn profile tips• Be concise,

interesting and informative

• Use key words people may search on, such as safety or PPE

• Add every new contact you meet to your network

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More LinkedIn profile tips• Recommendations

add interest to your profile

• Add hobbies and interests to uncover hidden connections with existing or new contacts

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Advanced LinkedIn tips

LinkedIn Answers• Post questions or

answers• Showcase your

expertise• Search answers to

find and make new contacts

LinkedIn Groups• Search for keywords

such as meetings, travel, tourism, meeting planning

• 375 groups on “safety” alone

• Join groups to make new contacts

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LinkedIn groups search

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Facebook search

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Niche social sites

• Tripadvisor• IgoUgo• Virtualtourist.com• Chowhound• Guidespot• GoSeeTell

• Yelp• MyTravelGuide• RealTravel• Epinions• DontGoThere.org

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Online reputation management• Show your best face online

– How are you connecting?– How much is too much?– Define role and value of social media for you

as well as your brand• Know that what you say online to one

person, one time… you’re saying to everyone, all the time

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GETTING STARTED

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Joining the conversation: Listen

• Observe online communities where your brand is actively discussed

• Participate in conversations as if with someone in real life whom you respect

• Pay attention to how community members interact with each other

• Reach out to people as a human being, NOT as a marketer or salesperson

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Joining the conversation: Engage

I. Listen

IV. EvaluateIII. Contribute

II. Participate

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• Create content• Make it easy for people to connect to you• Participate in larger conversations• Integrate into social networks• Provide a valuable application• Build relationships on and off-line

Contribute to the community

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Benefits of social media• Deeper relationships with visitors/guests• Increased awareness for brand• Better communication with audiences• Broadening of professional network• Search engine prominence• Increased web or blog traffic

QUESTIONS?Lara.Kretler@Fahlgren.com@LaraK on TwitterBlog at www.larakretler.com614-383-1618 (w)937-271-9151 (c)