1. Social Media Strategies for Small Businesses March 30, 2010

2. Social media isn’t a conversation. It’s where the conversation takes place.

3. Think Social Media Is a Fad? It’s a Revolution!

4. Benefits of Social Media It’s FREE! Builds deeper relationships Increases brand awareness Broadens your network Helps SEO Increases website traffic Can help reach journalists/media Empowers fans to be viral ambassadors for your brand Source: Social Media for Tourism Pros

5. Basic Social Media Strategy Incorporate into existing marketing & PR plans Listen to the conversation Review and analyze what you learn Engage if and when it makes sense Monitor and adjust Measure results Source: Social Media for Tourism Pros

6. Social Media = Biz Cocktail Party Business cocktail party Meet people and start conversations Answer questions and help others Ask questions and trust others’ advice Social media Become a member of the “community” Add value to the community Ask and answer questions More effective than live cocktail parties No boundaries of time or space Other people can listen in easily Source: HubSpot

7. Common Social Media Platforms Facebook& Twitter

8. What Is Facebook? A social networking service that allows users to connect to friends and colleagues Post updates. Share links, photos, and videos Can comment on others’ activity Well over 250 million active users Fastest growing demographic is 35 years old and up Over 8 million users become fans of pages each day Remember: Personal profiles are for people, not businesses. Develop a fan page instead. Facebook

9. What Is Facebook?

10. Facebook Benefits to Biz Low cost Engage with fans of your business page Fans receive your updates and can upload comments, photos, and video When fans engage you on your page, their activity shows up in their friends’ streams This can prompt others to check out your page and your business! Facebook

11. Facebook Benefits to Biz Can incorporate content from other social media platforms Ex: blog posts, updates from Twitter, pictures from Flickr, videos from YouTube, etc. Targeted advertising opportunities (cheap too!) Facebook

12. What Is Twitter? Free social networking and micro-blogging site that allows users to send and read messages known as “tweets” Tweets can have no more than 140 characters & are delivered to the author’s subscribers, known as “followers” 44 million + users 72.5% joined during the first half of 2009 Twitter

13. What Is Twitter? Screenshot of Twitter business profile page

14. Twitter Benefits for Biz Low cost Speed of feedback Potential reach of message Customer engagement/service Track what people are saying about your business Create buzz around upcoming events Promote your business and other content you create Twitter

15. Let’s Get You Set Up!

16. Facebook Setup Login to your personal Facebook page Click on “Advertising” at the very bottom right of the page Click on “Pages” Click on “Create Page” button Choose a Page Category & Name

17. Facebook Setup (cont’d) Complete detailed information Upload a photo or logo Write a brief bio/description Address, phone number, website, hours, etc. Click “Publish” Viola!

18. Facebook Setup: Next Steps Enter some content Add a status update Link to a great article about your biz Create an event Upload some photos

19. Facebook Setup: Next Steps Promote your page Update your personal status with a link to your new page – hit up your friends Become a Fan of other local/related pages Include links in your E-mail signature, on your website, in E-newsletters

20. Twitter Setup Go to http://twitter.com Click on the “Join the Conversation” button Create a username and password Add an E-mail address Type in the security code Click on “I accept, Create my Account”

21. Twitter Setup (cont’d) Click on “Settings” at the top right Account Settings: Select English and Central Time Zone DO NOT protect your tweets Profile Settings: Upload a profile photo Enter real name/business name Enter actual location (Ex: Elgin, TX) Enter website URL Enter bio – VERY IMPORTANT

22. Twitter Setup (cont’d) Click on “Design” at the top right Choose a background or upload a new image Viola!

23. Twitter Setup: Next Steps Enter some content (140 characters) Tell the world you’re on Twitter! Link to an interesting article related to your business Use a URL shortener like http://bit.ly to save space Talk about an upcoming event, sale, a new product/service Look for interesting people/organizations to follow Click on “Find People” at the top right Search by name, username & location

24. Twitter Setup: Next Steps Promote your page Update your Facebookstatus with a link to your new page – hit up your friends Become a follower of other local/related people/businesses Include links in your E-mail signature, on your website, in E-newsletters Set up HootSuite (www.hootsuite.com) Select columns to display

25. So What Do I Say?

26. So What Do I Say? Customer FAQs Tutorials Company news Events you’re attending Your own content Content from others Observations What you’re reading or watching

27. Rules of Engagement Listen more than you talk Remember: It’s about them, not you. Always “listen” and interact/engage Provide value far beyond your particular site or service Source: Social Media for Tourism Pros

28. Formula for Success 70 20 10 Source: Social Media for Tourism Pros

29. Formula for Success 70 20 10 70% of content = value-added, audience-based & not about you at all 20% of content = spontaneous interaction with followers, fans, or friends 10% of content = unabashed self-promotion Source: Social Media for Tourism Pros

30. Who’s Talking About Elgin?

31. Who’s Talking About Elgin? Your Fans!

32. Who’s Talking About Elgin? Your Fans!

33. Who’s Talking About Elgin? Local Businesses

34. Who’s Talking About Elgin? Local Businesses

35. Who’s Talking About Elgin? Local Businesses

36. Who’s Talking About Elgin? Local Businesses

37. Who’s Talking About Elgin? Cycling

38. Who’s Talking About Elgin? Completely Random

39. Who’s Talking About Elgin? Completely Random

40. Who’s Talking About Elgin? #$!*BLEEP*%#@ Completely Random

41. Who’s Talking About Elgin? Completely Random

42. Who’s Talking About Elgin? Completely Random

43. Who’s Talking About Elgin? Completely Random

44. Small Business Examples

45. United Linen

46. United Linen Family owned and operated company in Bartlesville, OK Founded in 1936 as a personal laundry and dry cleaning business Sells linens, uniforms, and restaurant supplies to other businesses Focus on customer service and empower all employees to deliver it Measurement

47. United Linen Help Retail Customers

48. United Linen Add Value

49. United Linen Add Value

50. United Linen Add Value

51. United Linen Keep Customers Informed

52. Promise Pizza

53. Promise Pizza Founded in early 2009 in Round Rock, TX Locally-owned small restaurant Key Goals: Social responsibility Better product Tasty pizza Community-minded

54. Promise Pizza Ask Your Customer

55. Promise Pizza Say Thank You

56. Promise Pizza Come Say Hello

57. Promise Pizza Twitter Only Deals

58. Promise Pizza Show Community Involvement

59. Promise Pizza We Can Do Better

60. Some Other Good Examples

61. Include links to social media sites on your main website.

62. Use E-mail signature files as an opportunity to expand your social networks.

63. Waco Chamber - Twitter Promote Events

64. Lost Pines Hyatt – Twitter Last Minute Deals

65. Twitter Examples Share Photos/Videos

66. Twitter Examples Share Photos/Videos

67. Twitter Examples Twitter Lists

68. Hyatt Lost Pines - Facebook

69. Papasan Team Realty - Facebook

70. Papasan Team Realty - Facebook

71. Questions? Sarah Page 1-800-776-5272, Ext. 3513 512-914-8873 (cell) sarah.page@lcra.org @ColoradoRiverTr