social media & your business - gold coast builders association
DESCRIPTION
Presentation from May 24th event at Capitol Lighting in Royal Palm Beach.TRANSCRIPT
PRESENTS
Social Media & Your BusinessWhat are you waiting for?
May 24, 2011Georgianne Brown Co Founder & Managing Partner Big Couch Media Group
Agenda
• Big Couch Media Group• What is Social Media?• The Social Media Landscape• Why is Social Media Important? • Getting Started – The Basics • Directories • Tracking & Analysis • Industry Resources • Q&A
Big Couch Media Group • South Florida based full service digital strategy and solutions
company.
• Company principles, former senior digital executive leadership in publicly traded and large organizations in online retail, leisure travel, financial services, technology, and health/wellness.
• Extensive experience in assisting emerging entrepreneurial
growth organizations develop, implement, and optimize results oriented digital solutions. • Strategic Consulting• Website, Development, Design, and Hosting • Interactive Marketing • Social Media Marketing • Mobile Strategy
My Personal Goal For Today…..
….. You learn something new, and implement one thing…..
What is Social Media?
“Social media is the use of web-based and mobile
technologies to turn communication into interactive dialogue.”
- Wikipedia.com
The Social Media - Conversation
The Social Media Landscape
Social Media is Device Agnostic
Why is Social Media Important? • Ability to Bring Your Products & Services to Where Your Target
Constituents are Gathering – Content Distributiono Facebook: Over 500 million users; 250 million joined in 2010o LinkedIn: 100 million members, conducting over 200 billion searches in 2010
• Brand Reputation Management - Be In the Conversationo It is now very easy to see what people are saying about you and quickly
respond
• SEO - Rank High in Search Engines o Google LOVES social media – Social media must be an integrated aspect of
ANY successful SEO strategy
• Extremely Cost Effective Channel to Connect and Engage with Associates and Potential Customers – Cast a Wider Net
• IT’S NOT A PASSING FAD……
"Getting Started" – The Basics
• Capitol Lighting Social Media Opportunities• LinkedIn • Facebook • Twitter • YouTube • Company Blog • Other Social Media Channels
Capitol Lighting Social Media New Opportunities - 2011 • Expert Finder – PRO Directory • Weekly Featured Social Media Guest Host
– Blog – Facebook – Twitter
• Monthly – Featured Trade Professional - Expert Finder• Monthly Q & A Chat event on Facebook / Twitter • Quarterly - Consumer Webinars • Interest email [email protected]
Weekly Consumer Newsletter Featuring Guest Blogger
Distribution 33,000 and growing
Expert Finder
• New PRO feature - Free • Consumer directory • Access to over 150,000
site visitors monthly• Create robust profile:
– Description – Work Samples /Images– Awards / Publications– Contact Information – Link to website/blog
• Video tutorial available
LinkedIn – Company o Company profile (recently
enhanced):o Products & Services -
descriptions / images o YouTube Videos o Offers o Company Address o Twitter Integration o Blog Integration o Request Recommendationso Solicit Followers o Target Audiences o Link to Website o Encourage associates to link
profiles to company o Analytics now availableo Potentially test targeted paid ads
(PPC)
LinkedIn - Personal Profiles• Create a robust personal profile • Aggressively reach out to build
your network through past and present business associates, colleagues, and clients • Personalize message in request
• Request recommendations • Join related groups • Engage with status updates• Link Twitter & Blog• LinkedIn “Skills”, ability to
highlight skills, certifications, languages, and patents
Facebook • Create Facebook Fan Page
o Robust description o Contact information o Photos o Videos
• Build Fan base o Employees o Associates o Clients o Related groups
• Engage in conversation o Regular updates, i.e. tips, articles,
photos, news, PR, etc. o Monitor and respond to all inquiries
• Fan related and partner businesses • Consider targeted paid ad campaigns
Facebook Places • Facebook’s entrée to
Location Based Services• Information and / or
entertainment available via mobile that leverages GPS
• Claim your business on Facebook Places
• Leverage Facebook Deals as appropriate
• New feature, ability to import lists and invite contacts to join
• Coming soon: Group buying capability, i.e. Groupon like
• Optimize Twitter page • Build Followers • Integrate Twitter as a
method for short and immediate messages:o Customer Service o Announcements o Press Releaseso Promotions o Reputation Managemento Industry News & Trends
YouTube
• YouTube is the largest online video community boasting over 60 billion videos watched each month
• Build company YouTube channel
• Will integrate with your other social media
• Optimize descriptions and link back to website / blog
Company Blog
• Establish Company Blog
• Blog Platforms:• Blogger • TypePad • WordPress
• Tips for a successful blog:• Helpful expert content • Original content • Lists • Updates
• Link to your other social media
Google Places
• Google Places is the mechanism for you to optimize your company listing within Google can be found.
• Ensure you claim or list your organization and optimize content.
• Encourage customers to add reviews.
• Premium placements available with• Google Boost or Google Adwords – paid on a per
click basis
Local Directories • Like Google Places, there are several other major national
and local directories that you should ensure you have claimed your organization and optimized the content.
• National directories:
• YellowPages.com • Yahoo Local • MerchantCircle.com
*Note: YextTags.com for an annual charge of approximately $299 per year will get your optimized across 15 local directories
• Local directories: • HelloMiami.com• MiamiandBeaches.com
Connect Your Social Media • Link your social media, as they
all work together.
• Leverage services i.e. OnlyWire or HootSuite to automate and schedule messages across all your social channels.
• Integrate company social media on your website or blog.
• Add your social media to your email signature.
Tracking and Analysis
• Make sure you track and analyze all your efforts, establish quantitative goals / KPI’s (key performance indicators).
• Implement Google Analytics (free) to monitor:– Traffic & visitors to your website – Where visitors are coming from
• Establish Google Alerts for your company to monitor online media mentions or activity.
• Consider Social media monitoring services, i.e. SocialMention.com.
Summary• Embrace social media as a key strategy for your business…
your competition is already doing it.
• Lead by example within your organization.
• Allocate resource (internal or outsource) to make sure you are monitoring and engaging in the conversation.
• Integrate the concept - "casting a wider net".
• Measure your results.
• Stay educated.
• Have FUN!
Georgianne Brown Co Founder & Managing Partner Big Couch Media Group
Today’s presentation will be available on my LinkedIn profile and the 1800Lighting.com website / social media channels.
www.linkedin.com/company/big-couch-media-groupTwitter: @BigCouchMediaFacebook: www.facebook.com/bigcouchmediagroupBlog: www.bigcouchmediagroup.com/blog
[email protected] LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/georgiannebrown Twitter: @georgiannebrown