This document provides an overview of using social media to promote a business. It discusses the top 4 social media platforms: Twitter, blogs, LinkedIn, and Facebook. For each platform, it describes why businesses should use it, how to set up an account, and recommended tools. The document encourages establishing relationships, staying on top of trends, building a fan base, and positioning yourself as an expert. It stresses the importance of linking accounts, posting and engaging frequently, and testing strategies to maximize success on social media.

1. Jumpstart Your
Social Media Buzz
Wendy Dahl – Dahl Wedding Company
Allison Howell – The Innovations Company
Prepared for ISES-Orange County, CA
June 11, 2009

2. Why use Social Media?
• An easy way to establish
relationships with others
• You stay on top of industry trends
• Sets you apart as an expert if you are
focused
• Builds a “fan” base

3. Go for the Top 4!
• Twitter
• Blogs
• Linked-In
• Facebook

4. Twitter
• Free social messaging utility for staying
connected in real-time.
• Answer the simple question of, “What are you
doing?”
• 140 characters or less
• Least restrictive interface of the top 4 Social
Media Networks

5. Top 5 Reasons to use Twitter
• Drive traffic to your
website and blog
• Networking
• Conduct Research
• Generate immediate
buzz/ Creates a fan
base
• Shared information

6. Setting up Twitter
• Visit www.Twitter.com and register for an
account.
• Update your profile and settings to link to
your blog or website (THIS IS KEY)
• Set up your cell phone to be able to Tweet
when away from the computer

7. Twitter Tools
• Hootsuite or • TopTweet: Shows
TweetLater: Schedule Twitter’s top profiles. Find
future tweets key influencers
• HelloTxt or Splitweet: • Tweetmeme: Shows
One click updates all social important topics and who is
networking sites discusssing them
• LinkBunch: Allows you to • TweetDeck or Twhirl:
put several links into one Allows you to work with
tweet both Twitter & Facebook
• TweetBeep: Twitter alerts • Twittai: Cell phone
• TwitsLikeMe: Find people application to Tweet from
with the same common your phone
interest as you

8. Blogs
• Free online journal where you can write
about anything
• Typical blogs contain text, photos, videos and
links to other blogs
• Content is written by the blog author, a guest
poster or “borrowed” from another blog
• Comments can be made to blog posts and
blogs can be followed

9. Top 5 Reasons to Blog
• To establish yourself
as an expert
• To build your brand
• To reach people all
over the world
• Archival Marketing
• To stay active or
knowledgeable in a
field or topic

10. Setting up a Blog
• Decide which blog service you want to use
(Wordpress, Blogger, Typepad)
• Update your profile and add widgets
• Link it to your website and other social
media sites
• Post frequently and regularly
• Comment frequently

11. Blog Tools
• Technorati: Search • Delicious: Social Media
engine and popularity Bookmarking Service
index for blogs • Podcast: Digital audio
• Feedburner/RSS or video files that are on
Feed: Web feeds allow demand.
people to follow your blog • BloggerLinkUp: Write
• Bloglines: Allows you to or request guest bloggers
keep up with your for your blog
favorite blogs or • Wordpress Twitter
newsfeeds Plugin: Tweets are
• Digg: A place to discover posted in your blog
and share information on
the net

12. LinkedIn
• Social network for professionals
• Uses resume and past business experience to tell
others who you are
• Allows you to link to people you already know and
find contacts you want to get to know
• Allows recommendations, blog feed and activity
updates to round out your profile

13. Top 5 Reasons to use LinkedIn
• Demonstrate your experience
in the industry to prospective
leads and connections
• Build your brand through
demonstrating how connected
you are in the industry
• Expand your network beyond
the local market
• Build credibility by getting
recommendations
• Educate yourself about people
and companies you want to do
business with

14. Setting up LinkedIn
• Join at LinkedIn.com
• Update your profile, picture, past
positions, and add widgets
• Import your contacts and send invitations
• Join Groups and Associations to make
more contacts
• Give and receive recommendations

15. LinkedIn Tools
• Job Posting: Post a job position, find a job
• Questions & Answers: Ask a question of your network and
groups
• Groups: Participate in online discussions, ask questions,
recommend people.
• Applications: Create a feed from your blog, track twitter
buzz, share your reading list, take a poll, show where you are
traveling, and share slideshows
• Upgraded Account: Allows direct messaging, increased
profile searches, and search alerts
• Outlook and Browser Toolbars: Allow you to search for
and connect with contacts from within other applications
• Ping.fm: Allows you to update all of your social networking
sites at once.

16. Facebook
• Social utility that connects people
• Largest networking site
• Several different levels of privacy
• Writing prompt, “Jane Doe is….”

17. Top 5 Reasons to use Facebook
• Meet your peers.
• Find business
contacts. Build
relationships.
• Raise visibility.
• Develop your
personal brand.
• Target your niche.

18. Setting up Facebook
• Join at Facebook.com
• Update your profile, picture, past
positions, and add applications
• Import your contacts and send invitations
• Join Groups and Associations to make
more contacts

19. Facebook Tools
• Over 54,000 applications you can add to your
profile
• Make a Fan Page/ become a fan
• Friends Organizer
• Datebooks
• Mobile Facebook
• AsSeenOn: Shows people where they can find
you in Social Media on your Facebook profile

20. Be a Pro at Web 2.0
• Be first - Find a gap and fill it
• Staying power - Stick with your blog
• Show off your best stuff – Frontload
• Community counts – Content + community =
success
• Test and research – Keep up with the web
• Privacy – Don’t reveal too much personal
information
• Stay positive – Foster Goodwill
Source: ProBlogger

21. Questions?
Thank you from Wendy and Allison