1. 50
Expert Tips for Getting
Started on Social Media

2. When you’re getting
started on social media, it’s
easy to feel overwhelmed…

3. So, we reached out to a
panel of experts to get
some advice…

4. …and we asked them to
KEEP IT
SIMPLE.

5. We talked to:
business owners
marketers
social media experts
bloggers
entrepreneurs
authors
journalists
and more!

6. So, we reached out to a
panel of experts to get
some advice, but asked
them to keep it simple.
The Question:
“If you were to give a one-
sentence tip to a small business
owner just starting out with social
media, what would you say?”

7. So, we reached out to a
panel of experts to get
some advice, but asked
them to keep it simple.
Most stuck to one
sentence.
(Some cheated a little.)
But all provided helpful tips
that any business can use when
getting started on social
media…

8. So, we reached out to a
panel of experts to get
some advice, but asked
them to keep it simple.
Here are our favorite one-
sentence tips for getting
started on social media!

9. Every business has a story.
What’s yours? Share it in a way
that attracts clients and
encourages prospects to take
action.
Rebekah Radice
Social Media Strategist
@rebekahradice

10. Go above and beyond on your
original content and be consistent
with it. When it works, it's the
gift that keeps on giving.
Melonie Dodaro,
Founder, Top Dog Social Media
@MelonieDodaro

11. In social media, content leads to
conversations, conversations build
relationships, and relationships
result in ROI.
Robert Caruso
Founder & CEO, Bundle Post
@fondalo

12. Social media is virtual
networking. Take the time
to build relationships just
like you would face to face.
Laura Cummins
Owner, NineDotz Consulting
@NineDotz

13. Start small. Work to increase
engagement with those who have
connected with you and figure out
what types of content will get
them to like, comment, and share.
Gail Goodman
CEO, Constant Contact
@Gail_Goodman

14. Quality trumps quantity.
Pick one or two social media
platforms, and devote yourself to
learning about them and
using them well.
Joseph Cole
Content Writer
Posted on Constant Contact Google+ Page

15. Find a trusted friend who
also has a business that has
been using a social media
channel, and start learning
from them.
Don Richardson
Digital Popcorn
@DigitalPopcorn

16. …reach out to your best customers
first (and worry about finding new
customers after you are established)
and let their enthusiasm help catapult
your sustained success.
Lynette Young
Founder of Purple Stripe Productions and
author of Google+ for Small Businesses
@LynetteRadio

17. Be a lurker in social media
before diving in to learn the
ropes and create a strategy
that will work for your biz.
Alyssa Gregory
The Small Business Bonfire
@AlyssaGregory

18. Visuals are easier to relate to than
text, so include images in your
content that can be pinned to
Pinterest and shared across
other networks.
Cynthia Sanchez
Founder, Oh So Pinteresting
@OSPInteresting

19. Be honest, be warm, be
authentic, and put yourself
in the shoes of your
customers on social media.
Kim Garst
CEO of Boom! Social
@KimGarst

20. Fight social media overwhelm by
keeping it SIMPLE; don't be on
every social media network —
only where your audience spends
lots of time and help them.
Mike Gingerich
Co-founder of Tabsite
@mike_gingerich

21. Pick one network and do it well
first. Choose one that you like to
use personally and are
comfortable using. Master it.
Julia C. Campbell
J Campbell Social Marketing
@JuliaCSocial

22. Study your competition
and watch where they
participate in social dialog.
Don't reinvent the wheel.
Mike Stelzner
Founder, Social Media Examiner
@ Mike_Stelzner

23. Start slowly with one or two
platforms that your audience or
potential audience uses. Find content
and conversation starters that resonate
with them, and post consistently.
Beth Kanter
Beth’s Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media
@kanter

24. As you're developing your overall social media
strategy and goals, spend time on various social
media sites and get a sense for the best practices of
each platform, plus the top conversation topics and
questions about your business and industry.
Jessica Gioglio
Social Media Manager, Dunkin’ Donuts
Author of The Power of Visual Storytelling
@savvybostonian

25. Be useful and
indispensable.
John Haydon
Founder of Inbound Zombie and
Author of Facebook Marketing for Dummies
@JohnHaydon

26. Don't take on too much.
Focus on doing one thing
right on social media before
moving on.
Lisa Kalner Williams
Founder, Sierra Tierra Marketing
@sierratierra

27. Have enormous empathy for your
audience — in other words, look at
things from their point of view. Be useful
to your audience. Think: Would people
THANK ME for this? Is it meeting their
needs, or just fulfilling my agenda?
Ann Handley
Chief Content Officer, MarketingProfs
@MarketingProfs

28. Identify your goals,
then make a plan!
Ashley Taylor Anderson
Marketing Manager, SinglePlatform
@SinglePlatform

29. Be consistent and
be yourself.
Sean D’Souza
Chief Brain Auditor, Psychotactics
@seandsouza

30. You're not gonna
break stuff, just
get started!
Joey C
Creator, GoodMorningGloucester.com
@Joey_C

31. Share something small
every day. Small things over
time get big.
(And read my book, of course:
http://showyrwork.com)
Austin Kleon
Author of Show Your Work!
@austinkleon

32. Hire a professional (like my
company) to manage it if you are
unable to put forth the time and
effort to run it effectively.
Manage Your Media
Posted on Constant Contact Facebook Page

33. All good things come from
focusing on who you’re trying to
reach and how you can make
them successful.
Dave Charest
Sr. Manager, Content & Social Media, Constant Contact
@DaveCharest

34. After creating your accounts,
follow like minded businesses,
then watch and observe to get
the tone of the platform, then
begin to engage.
Pam Wood
Owner, Ballroom Made Simple
Posted on Constant Contact Google+ Page

35. Don't talk to people,
talk with them.
Catherine Russell
Content Writer
Posted on Constant Contact Google+ Page

36. Watch your
spelling!
Tammy Weaver
Posted on Constant Contact Facebook Page

37. You don't have to create
all original content, just be a
good source for trending
content in your industry.
Shannon Faulkner
CEO, Delphis Creative Marketing Solutions
Posted on Constant Contact Google+ Page

38. Learn from the experts and
never pass up a social
media class or seminar.
Charles River Running
Posted on Constant Contact Facebook Page

39. Provide value and don't
expect immediate results.
Rick Bannerman
Digital Marketing Consultant
Posted on Constant Contact Google+ Page

40. Don’t worry about being on
every social network — focus on
the ones that your audience uses
because they’ll be more likely to
engage with you and see your
messages there.
Azure Collier
Social Media Education Developer, Constant Contact
@AzureCollier

41. Let your personality shine
through. It's your biggest
differentiator and will attract the
right people to your business!
Jonathan Cooney
Co-founder, The Bridge
@TheBridgeSpot

42. Try to be informative
and share some useful
tips.
Robert Connell
Posted on Constant Contact Facebook Page

43. The key is to focus on the right conversations
that are meaningful to your business, like replies
on Twitter, posts to your fan page on Facebook
and to look for the local, targeted conversations
you can become a part of.
Tammy Kahn Fennell
CEO and Co-founder, MarketMeSuite
@TammyKFennell

44. Get professional advice
on how to use it. It’s not
the same as your
personal page.
The Dinner Daily
Posted on Constant Contact Facebook Page

45. Choosing the most relevant social
channel for your business is the key
to making it work effectively for you
and getting the best return on
investment possible.
Matt Ward
President/CEO, inConcert Solutions
@inConcertWeb

46. Be authentic. Be yourself. Don't try
to copy someone else's game plan.
Every company is different and
your unique content must come
from the heart and soul of your
company. Be you.
Leslie Fishlock
Founder and CEO, Geek Girl Camp
@geekgirlcamp

47. Forget what you know about
traditional marketing, use social
media to focus on getting to
know your customers.
Danielle Cormier
Social Media Community Manager, Constant Contact
@dcorms

48. Start out right by being consistent on the
platform that you own — begin by creating content
on your blog that solves the problems of your ideal
customer, include a shareable image in
each post, and then share that post on just
1 or 2 social platforms to begin with.
Donna Moritz
Founder, Socially Sorted
@SociallySorted

49. If you're using Facebook,
make sure you've got a
Facebook PAGE and not
a profile!
Kim Walker
Leader of Social Media Management, 5 Stones Media, LLC
@5stonesmedia

50. Start with one channel
and become consistent.
Todd Smith
Director of Marketing, Catamaran Marketing
@catamarketing

51. Approach social from the eye of
the buyer and write or curate
content that improves their life
or business.
Karla Williams
Success Strategist, Karla Williams Speaks
@KarlaWSpeaks

52. Figure out which channel
works for your industry
and focus on it first.
Carlos Scarpero
Founder, Mr.Leads
@DaytonSEOservic

53. Don’t overthink it!
Be authentic, be real,
be you.
Kristen Curtiss
Social Media Content Developer, Constant Contact
@KristenCurtiss

54. Find out what platform your
customers and potential customers
use and focus your efforts there rather
than trying to be everywhere.
Anne Siri
Owner, Iris Web Studio
@iriswebstudio

55. Be strategic and focus on
one platform that seems most
promising for your brand and be
awesome at that, rather than
being mediocre at a bunch of
different platforms.
Matt Steele
Social Media Planner, San Diego Zoo
@mattofsteele

56. Identify the correct social media
platform(s) and then post with
some consistency, commit to at
least once per week.
Matthew Service
Founder, Service Internet Solutions
@mattservice

57. Choose the social media
platforms that work for your
business and reach your
target market.
Jenneil Peters
CEO and Founder, Modern Working Woman
@ModWorkingWoman

58. Don’t push, engage!
John Hinnant
Posted on Constant Contact Facebook Page

59. Thanks for sticking around.
We hope it was helpful.
If you’re interested in more
social media advice, flip to
the next page.
If not, thanks again and best of luck with your social
media marketing!

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