A Walk on the Wild Side
A Field Guide to
Social Networking

Your Guide
Louellen S. Coker
Social Media Expert
Web: www.yourcontentsolutions.com
Blog: www.yourcontentnotes.com
LinkedIn: louellencoker
Facebook: Content Solutions
Twitter: @Content Notes

Community involvement
Ubiquity = Success
• Networking events
• Traditional Marketing
• Websites

Why isn’t it working?
• “Interruption marketing” is tiresome
• Expensive
• Little guys can’t compete

How do we reach the summit of
our networking potential?
Social Media Networking
“Word-of-Mouth or Community Based Marketing
that leverages Technology as a Platform for
Conversations.”
~Erica O’Grady

Social Networking’s Unusual Reach
You can reach
formerly
unreachable
audiences

Getting Started
is EASY!

Success
Requires a
Plan of
Action

Success Requires Taking
One Step at a Time

Success Requires
Focus on Your Community

Success
Requires
Effort

Hmmm?

Um…
• Losing control There’s an
• Time Elephant
• Leaking secrets in the Room!
• Making sense of
all the “buzz”
• Branding

Are You Socked In?
• Signing up for EVERY Social Media Site
• Being inconsistent
• Focusing too much on BUZZ
• Focusing too much on the “virtual” world
• Bankrupting your social capital
• Focusing too much on the money

It’s About Your Community

Nurturing Your Community
• Make PEOPLE important
• Stop focusing on the influencers
• Treat everyone like a VIP
• Stand out from those around you
• Show a genuine interest in your
community members
• Promote and support the things your
community cares about too!

Guidelines for a Good Journey
• Get over yourself
• Don’t think you’re going to solve
every problem
• Integrate social media into your
current marketing mix
• Relax, be the brand
(aka your friendly self)
• Be a risk taker, yet be careful
• Add value and be helpful
• Be open and honest
• Pay attention to your community

Feel like you’re being stalked?
Stalking is a good thing!
You don’t sell your agency
through social networking.
You DO create relationships
that are ultimately beneficial.

Often your community
hangs out peacefully

Pay attention!
They’ll let you know when they’re not happy!

RECOVERY
• Respond rapidly
• Acknowledge your
mistake
• Think out loud
• Connect with peers
• Show you’re human
• Feature those you
serve

The Trail
social capital = reputation
reputation = access
access = reciprocity/favors
reciprocity/favor =
accomplishments
accomplishments = trust
trust = reputation
reputation = social capital

Wash
Rinse
Repeat

Ready to
get Started?

Tools You’ll Need For the Trek
• Ideas for a username
• An email address
• Your zip code
• Your street address
• A memorable password
• A web-friendly logo
• Permission from your agency

Choose Your Campgrounds Wisely
• Blogs
• Professional Networks
• Social Networks
• Media Networks
• Microblogs

Finding Bull Markets
• WordPress
• LinkedIn
• Facebook, MySpace
• Slideshare, YouTube, Fl
ickr
• Twitter

Staying Cool
• Time Saving Tools & Applications
NutshellMail, Tweetdeck, Twhirl
• Search & Monitor
Analytics, Twellow, Twitter Search, Tynt
• Auto-posting
Tweetlater, Blog Posts, Link Posts from Delicious
• GTD, 4-Hour Work Week Techniques
• Focus

Questions?
www.yourcontentsolutions.com
www.yourcontentnotes.com
Facebook: Content Solutions
LinkedIn: LouellenCoker
Twitter: ContentNotes
940-384-9407

Resources
• http://www.slideshare.net/ericaogrady/write-that-down-van-wilders-
guide-to-social-media
• http://www.slideshare.net/gioslideshare/from-0-to-social-in-50-minutes
• http://www.slideshare.net/guestf1e806/social-media-for-nonprofits-
overview-presentation?type=powerpoint
• http://yourcontentnotes.com/2009/03/blogs-in-plain-english/
• http://yourcontentnotes.com/2009/03/twitter-in-plain-english/
• http://yourcontentnotes.com/2009/03/social-media-in-plain-english/
• http://yourcontentnotes.com/2009/03/social-networking-in-plain-english/
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPU4awtuTsk
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzT3JVUGUzM
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mztymu72l7c
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpqpAGLS2t4
• Photos by Louellen S. Coker © Content Solutions
• Photo on slide 22: http://www.istockphoto.com
• Special thanks to Tusker Trails (www.tusker.com) for a wonderful climb!