AIM Custom Media Presentation by Greg Magnus - Social Networking SCORE & SBA Workshop - March 9, 2011

1. Social Media – Business Marketing Essentials Richmond SCORE www.richmondscore.org Greg Magnus Custom PublisherAIM Custom Media, LLCwww.aimcustom.com

3. Planning: creating a social media marketing plan

4. Essential steps for success

5. Strategy and Tactics: Creating a meaningful presence, establishing networks, pinpointing communities and engaging target markets

6. Top social media sites, tools of the trade

8. 50% of active users log on to Facebook in any given day

9. About 70% of users are outside the U.S.

10. Average user: 130 FB friends, creates 90 pieces of content per month

13. What is it about your purpose that brings emotional gratification to your target market? What is your Unique Selling Proposition (USP).

14. Create a theme: branding, education, relationship building, referrals, direct sales of products or services online, etc.

15. Define the demographic characteristics of your target marketYour purpose combined with your target market defines where you spend your time and resources WRT social networking.

17. Create a “keyword list” for your content

18. Content: profiles, comments, reviews, testimonials, articles, PR, coupons, web pages, email newsletters, etc.

19. Prepare your graphics in advance (images, photos, videos) that reflect your theme

22. A basic knowledge of computer programming significantly increases your ability to leverage technology

23. Graphic design capabilities, copy writing for developing your content, IT skills often needed for database management (email marketing, contact list)

24. Social Networking, executed correctly, yields excellent returns but requires time and time is money in business

26. Steps to Success Implementation Create a Strong Presence (profiles) Reach (create a network) Engage (build & nurture relationships) Persistence (work your plan) Facebook.com LinkedIn.com Twitter.com

28. Facebook | twitter | LinkedIn

29. Consider “niche” sites, which are less competitive and can be very effective:

30. Plaxo | Fast Pitch | Merchant Circle | Biznik

32. Join groups already populated by your target market; focus on those that are consistent with your theme

33. Learn how to use “applications” on LinkedIn and Facebook or outsource this task (key to leveraging tech)

34. Build your presence using applications and save time (RSS feeds, friend feed, twitter feeds, etc.)

36. Tools of the trade:

37. bit.ly (link tracking)

38. Ping.fm (leverage content)

39. Friendfeed.com

40. WordPress blog (recommended)

41. Share This, Add this, etc. (encourage sharing)

43. Answer and pose questions consistent with your theme

44. Indicate that you work for a company

47. In general, every other day is a good frequency for posting.

48. Topics that include “Facebook” are more frequently shared than most other topics. People like to talk about Facebook on Facebook.

49. Incorporating current events & popular news topics into your posts generally increases sharing of information while, at the same time, it engages more of your fans. Consider finding ways to integrate popular topics into your wall posts. For example, Lady Gaga during a Grammy show, etc.

51. Hootsuite.com

52. TweetDeck.com

54. Budget requirements?

56. National SCORE Blogger Ask an Expert Bloggerhttp://www.blog.score.org/