Presentation by Keith D. Yurgosky at the 2012 ASBDC National Conference. Herb Lawrence of the Arkansas SBTDC and Michael Bowers of the Ohio SBDC also participated in the presentation.

1. Using Social Media
to Spread the SBDC Message
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

2. Our SBDC reaches far…
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

3. © 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

4. Introductions
• Keith Yurgosky – University of Scranton
SBDC
@scrantonsbdc
• Herb Lawrence – Arkansas State SBTDC
@astbdc_asu
• Mike Bowers – Columbus Ohio SBDC
@michaelbowers
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

5. Today’s Agenda
• Define the problem
• Tell our stories
• Produce ideas
• Develop a plan
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

6. This is a Test
• Take my picture
• Tweet picture with this text – Here is
@kyurgo of the @scrantonsbdc helping
#smallbiz learn about #socialmedia at
#asbdc2012
• Follow @PAsmallbusiness
• Re-Tweet their tweet
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

7. The Problem
SBDCs being known as
“The Best Kept Secret”
This isn’t helping SBDCs get noticed by
stakeholders (our funding sources)
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

8. Currently
We have hundreds of SBDCs tweeting and
posting to social media sites with no consistent
message
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

9. What We Need
Develop a uniform SBDC brand or
message across multiple Social Media
platforms.
•Common Tweets
•Consistent use of the #SBDC hashtag
•Targeted Tweets and Status Updates
to our Stakeholders (and anybody who’ll
listen)
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

10. What if all the SBDCs acted as one
cohesive unit?
We can use Social Media to let Federal
& State Representatives know every
time a new business opens or jobs are
created!!
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

11. Where Do We Start ?
Answer: Create an SBDC Online Brand
#SBDC
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

12. Blogging
• It’s free
• Search engine
friendly
• Good starting point
scrantonsbdc.wordpress.com
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

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14. © 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

15. “Blogging allows our SBDC
consultants a forum to share
their years of consulting
experience with others.”
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

16. Our SBDC Blog is our Social Media focal point for highlighting our
programming as well as client success stories.
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

17. Facebook.com/scrantonsbdc
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

18. Facebook
• “Share” info on New
Business starts and
Success Stories
• “Friend” Legislators
• “Share” info from
other SBDCs
facebook.com/scrantonsbdc
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

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21. Facebook is a great way to stay
connected with legislators. Being
“friends” helps keep your SBDC
fresh in their mind come budget
time.
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

22. © 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

23. So how can Twitter help ?
• Listen first!
• Use the Twitter Search to listen for your
SBDC, other SBDCs, or words that relate to
your #smallbiz location
• Hashtag.org (#)
• Participate by asking questions
• Share information (re-tweet)
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

24. Twitter
Our SBDC uses Twitter for:
• Sharing valuable business information
• Announcing new businesses
• Highlighting SBDC clients
• Promote SBDC training and other events
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

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29. Have you ever
“checked in” using
FourSquare ??
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

30. SBDCs should encourage clients to Claim
their Venues on FourSquare. SBDCs can
leave tips at these locations.
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

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32. © 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

33. SBDCs and FourSquare
• Leave tips at businesses using an SBDC
Screen Name
• Create an SBDC and FourSquare poster
advising people to check in at a location
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

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35. © 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

36. YouTube
• Create short (1 minute) small business tips
and/or How to Videos.
• Highlight businesses you work with … and
how the SBDC helped them.
• Use YouTube as a Search Engine
• Share videos on Blog, Facebook, Twitter,
etc.
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

37. © 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

38. YouTube SBDC
Success Stories
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqfTblv2wHM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjXfVcQk1PI
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

39. © 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

40. LinkedIn
• Create profile – highlighting expertise
• Join SBDC Groups
• Create a local SBDC group of your SBDC
clients
• Join other discussion groups… and participate
• Lead discussions … become known as an
“expert”
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

41. © 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

42. Pinterest
• Add Pins of client products / services
• Create Boards of SBDC clients
• Use #hashtags in descriptions
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

43. © 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

44. ??
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

45. It’s Time for SBDCs to
Stand Out in a Crowd
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

46. Not a Secret Anymore
• SBDCs need to be the leaders in Social
Media discussions regarding #smallbiz
• It’s time we start acting like a National
network
• It’s up to us
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

47. What Do You Need To Do ?
Listen – for #sbdc #legislative and #location content
Participate - Respond to questions and share SBDC info and
events
Reach Out – Make sure legislators and other stakeholders know
what is happening at your SBDC
REMEMBER © 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

48. How Do I Get Started ?
• Website
• Blog
• Facebook
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Pinterest
• LinkedIn
(Search Engine Optimization)
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

49. Where Do We Start ?
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

50. Here’s our plan…
• What content to tweet and retweet : We
would set up programmed searches for hashtags
like #SBDC and #asbdc, #SBA, #smallbiz and
#jobs. (Hashtags are a Twitter feature people
use to aid searching for topics. People offering
content include them in their tweets, so people
searching can find them).
• What to watch out for : We should set up
Google Alerts to catch any mention of SBDCs
especially our own, of course. Also, mentions of
our partners, clients, and local issues.
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

51. • When to reach out: We’d want to watch for
media people and issues that could create
media opportunities for us,,such as interviews.
Reaching out in Twitter means either tweets
mentioning specific handles or direct
messages to specific people.
• How to reach out: We’d want to reach out
correctly and respectfully, only for specific
cases and specific people. Direct messages
should ever look or feel or act like spam.
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

52. © 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

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54. © 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

55. Social Media Marketing
Massing Fires
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

56. Feeding the Cash Register
Email
BLOG
Local Search Off-Line
Web Site © 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

57. Getting the Word Out
Spread the word on the RIGHT Channels
Post it on a site that
search engines can
index
Create Content in
Where we create content to FEED our Blog a Form Customers
Want
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

58. Tools to Create Content
• Slideshare.com upload your PowerPoint, word documents, pdf files, brochures, even
video online to share with your audience
• Animoto.com Video creation and sharing tool that allows you to upload images and
short video clips, add text, then mix with a great music library to share with your fans.
short video clips, add text, then mix with a great music library to share with your fans.
• Storify.com Online curation site bring information from Google, Facebook, Twitter,
• Storify.com Online curation site bring information from Google, Facebook, Twitter,
YouTube, Instagram and more. Perfect for quick creation of information in appealing
YouTube, Instagram and more. Perfect for quick creation of information in appealing
format.
format.
• YouTube – Fits as both a support tool and as its own social network. Shoot video
• YouTube – Fits as both a support tool and as its own social network. Shoot video
from anywhere, upload to YouTube and share on your sites.
from anywhere, upload to YouTube and share on your sites.
• Get more information about Slideshare, Animoto and YouTube at our Storify article
• Get more information about Slideshare, Animoto and YouTube at our Storify article
“Tools to Create GREAT Content”
“Tools to Create GREAT Content”
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

59. Tools to Save Time
• Hootsuite.com
• Buffer.com
• Tweetdeck.com
• Facebook Page Scheduler
Read all about these and other scheduling
tools at our Storify article “Scheduling Tools
for Beginners”
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

60. Connect with Us
• E-mail hlawrenc@astate.edu
• Facebook http://www.facebook.com/asu.sbtdc
• Facebook http://www.facebook.com/herb.lawrence
• Twitter http://www.twitter.com/asbtdc_asu
• LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/asusbtdc
• Pinterest http://pinterest.com/astatesbdc/
• Google Plus
https://plus.google.com/u/0/116773498364928584762/posts
• Oh… or call me (870) 972-3517
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

61. SBDC Social Media Checklist
___ Check Google Alerts for any Mention of SBDC. – Share Content|
___ Pick one client each week / month to feature - Use SBDC Blog to feature client
___ Along with Blog make an SBDC Video to highlight client
( Business Starts, Expansion, Obtain Financing, New Product, Awards etc. )
___ Link to Blog post / Video on your SBDC Facebook Page
___ Tweet the Blog Post
___ Use #SBDC Hashtag #Town #Legislator #jobs #4jobs
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

62. Follow Us
@ScrantonSBDC
(For a copy of today’s handouts)
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

63. Questions?
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC

64. facebook.com/scrantonsbdc
@scrantonsbdc
http://scrantonsbdc.wordpress.com/
pinterest.com/scrantonsbdc
800 Linden Street
Scranton, Pennsylvania 18510
Phone: (570) 941-7588
E-mail: sbdc@scranton.edu
www.scrantonsbdc.com
© 2012 The University of Scranton SBDC