Here are 7 things about Social Media that can hep you better understand where the digital world is going.

1. 7 Things to know about Social Media with Catherine Tryon La Crosse Chamber of Commerce Business over Breakfast Nov. 16, 2009

2. Why should you care about Social Media for your business? Social Media = building communities! Trust is the new currency. Free to participate - biggest cost is time. Social Media programs are becoming legitimate marketing tools.

3. 1. Think Ripple Effect Businesses and Organizations are challenged to create deeper and more meaningful relationships with their clients. Ripple effect has long lasting and far reaching capabilities.

4. The Big Splash Having a huge budget doesn’t mean anything in Social Media Big event and then it’s done. You (the company) can’t just say it. You have to get the people to say it to each other! James Farley, CMO Ford Motor Company

5. 2. Have A Strategy What are you trying to accomplish by using Social Media? More Sales Higher SEO Rankings Crisis Communications Customer Service Brand Awareness

6. Websites are Bridges Traditional Media Marketing Social Media Marketing Your Website Word of Mouth Marketing Email Marketing

7. 2. Define Your Goals Understand WHY you are using social media programs. Popularity game vs. real value Remember – it’s not a race!

8. Building Awareness Facebook Users Scoop Up Free Starbucks Ice Cream July 6, 2009 To introduce consumers to its new ice cream, Starbucks and Unilever offered free pints to Facebook users.From July 6 to July 19, participants could visit Apps.facebook.com/starbucksicecream. At the top of every hour, they had a chance to give a pint of Starbucks ice cream to a friend or family member. Each hour, 800 pints were given away, with a total of 280,000 for the duration of the promotion. While the promotion encourages participants to send the treat to friends, less generous users also have the option of simply sending the coupon to themselves.

9. Send Ice Cream to a Friend!

10. 3. Match The Tools To The Strategy After you know what you are trying to do, select the best tools to execute your strategy. Learn about the tools and which ones will help you achieve your goals. Using the best tools doesn’t guarantee success or solve all marketing problems.

11. Web 2.0 Tools

12. 50% of Americans use some form of Social Media

13. 4. Be Authentic & Transparent People want to connect with people, not cartoons or pictures of their pets. Create profiles that match your company brand and brand message. Interact and create relationships first Selling happens only after trust is established

14. 5. Know your Target Listen to online conversations about what people are saying about you or your brand. Participate in groups or forums where your target audience hangs out! Answer questions or add comments to carefully brand yourself as an valuable source of information.

15. Who is Your Audience Determine where your audience hangs out: Avg. ages: Linkedin= 41 Twitter = 31 Myspace = 27 Facebook = 26

16. 6. Think Integration Social Media is just one piece of your marketing strategy. It works best when worked into your overall Online Marketing Strategy. Jumping into the social media scene without a strategy is fine if your expectations are to listen & observe.

17. 7. Measure Results Metrics do exist! There are a variety of tools and methods to measure your efforts.

18. It all takes time… Sure, sometimes Social Media campaigns can produce substantial & measurable results, but that is not always the case. Social Media will make a huge impact immediately on your business if you are: already popular have a great brand have a truly original idea that people will want to share.

19. What is the Co$t of Doing Nothing? Do you really want to take that risk? The social media tidal wave is here Are you swimming with the current?

20. Thank You! Catherine Tryon Phone: 608.843.2345 Email: catherine@catherinetryon.com