Getting started in low-cost, no-cost social media marketing Wade Kwon News Pirate

Conversation starters Who's on Facebook? Who's texting more than emailing? What's the name of that Chinese restaurant down the street?

Who's on Facebook?

Who's texting more than emailing?

What's the name of that Chinese restaurant down the street?

Conversation killers Who wants to buy this watch? I bet I could tune up your car for less than $50. Do you like this shirt? Let me tell you how to get one just like it.

Who wants to buy this watch?

I bet I could tune up your car for less than $50.

Do you like this shirt? Let me tell you how to get one just like it.

Social media = fun You don't log on saying, "Gee, I wonder what someone can sell me today ...” I log on to find out: What's going on with my friends Funny pictures they've uploaded What's going on in the "world" = Birmingham, pop culture, politics, friends' workday

You don't log on saying, "Gee, I wonder what someone can sell me today ...”

I log on to find out:

What's going on with my friends

Funny pictures they've uploaded

What's going on in the "world" = Birmingham, pop culture, politics, friends' workday

Do you even need social media?

Important questions What is our marketing goal? What is our motive? To join the conversation, or to control it? Do we have resources to use social media? low cost but time investment no one tells you about the "puppy investment”

What is our marketing goal?

What is our motive?

To join the conversation, or to control it?

Do we have resources to use social media?

low cost

but time investment

no one tells you about the "puppy investment”

Important questions How will we test our message? Experiment? Are we willing to fail publicly? How will we measure results?

How will we test our message?

Experiment?

Are we willing to fail publicly?

How will we measure results?

By the numbers 150 million on Facebook bigger than Russia = 9th largest country 112 million blogs tracked by Technorati Bigger than Mexico = 11th largest country Audience = about 5 times as much

150 million on Facebook

bigger than Russia = 9th largest country

112 million blogs tracked by Technorati

Bigger than Mexico = 11th largest country

Audience = about 5 times as much

By the numbers 35 million on LinkedIn California = biggest state 7 million on Twitter Virginia

35 million on LinkedIn

California = biggest state

7 million on Twitter

Virginia

Blogs What are they?

Let’s take a quick tour.

Pros You can host it, full control. Hosting elsewhere - no traffic bump, no integration. You can tout your expertise, your friendliness, your goods. Google loves blogs. Ex.: Lipstick Birmingham

You can host it, full control.

Hosting elsewhere - no traffic bump, no integration.

You can tout your expertise, your friendliness, your goods.

Google loves blogs.

Ex.: Lipstick Birmingham

Cons Maintenance - have regular content. Maintenance - pay close attention to your readers. Birmingham News breaking news You have to drive traffic. Time intensive.

Maintenance - have regular content.

Maintenance - pay close attention to your readers.

Birmingham News breaking news

You have to drive traffic.

Time intensive.

First steps Game plan who's blogging, what topics, how much time, who's the reader. Blog interactively. You're not selling product. You're building conversation. Be patient. It takes months to be "noticed" by Google.

Game plan

who's blogging, what topics, how much time, who's the reader.

Blog interactively.

You're not selling product. You're building conversation.

Be patient.

It takes months to be "noticed" by Google.

LinkedIn What is it?

Let’s take a quick tour.

Pros Very professional. No fooling around here. Richer demographics: Nearly 60% of users = $93,000+ incomes Poll: 28% executives = $104,000 avg. inc. Poll: 30% consultants = $93,000 avg. inc.

Very professional. No fooling around here.

Richer demographics:

Nearly 60% of users = $93,000+ incomes

Poll: 28% executives = $104,000 avg. inc.

Poll: 30% consultants = $93,000 avg. inc.

Cons People see it as specific tool. Not for sharing personal stuff. Severe limitations in customization. Facebook: build apps, create fan pages. Blogs: do just about anything. LinkedIn: recommend people, ask questions, create/join groups.

People see it as specific tool.

Not for sharing personal stuff.

Severe limitations in customization.

Facebook: build apps, create fan pages.

Blogs: do just about anything.

LinkedIn: recommend people, ask questions, create/join groups.

First steps Beef up your personal profile. Network with others related to you: by profession by geography Trumpet what you need: new engineer, new vendor, advice on sales pitch.

Beef up your personal profile.

Network with others related to you:

by profession

by geography

Trumpet what you need:

new engineer, new vendor, advice on sales pitch.

Facebook What is it?

Let’s take a quick tour.

Pros The game in town. 150 million users. Can instantly build audience among friends. Flexible: can engage in several ways. Pages. Groups. Apps. Targeted ads.

The game in town.

150 million users.

Can instantly build audience among friends.

Flexible: can engage in several ways.

Pages. Groups. Apps. Targeted ads.

Cons You're still playing by Facebook's rules. Re-designs. Pages. New design = lost in the shuffle? Time intensive. Has any business turned it into clear engagement and success? Even Facebook still figuring it all out.

You're still playing by Facebook's rules.

Re-designs. Pages.

New design = lost in the shuffle?

Time intensive.

Has any business turned it into clear engagement and success?

Even Facebook still figuring it all out.

First steps Ask your customers. Are they on Facebook? How do they use it? What do they like to see? Dislike? Adopt a Cause. Think like Facebook.

Ask your customers.

Are they on Facebook?

How do they use it?

What do they like to see? Dislike?

Adopt a Cause.

Think like Facebook.

Twitter What is it?

A demonstration.

Let’s take a quick tour.

Pros Buzz tool of the moment. Easy to start using, integrate with Web site, computers, phones. Very personal one-to-one and one-to-many conversations.

Buzz tool of the moment.

Easy to start using, integrate with Web site, computers, phones.

Very personal one-to-one and one-to-many conversations.

Cons Few users. "I don't get it" factor. Backlash / negative buzz.

Few users.

"I don't get it" factor.

Backlash / negative buzz.

First steps Tim's rule: Try it on your own. Follow, reTweet, chat, reveal. Be bold. Stand out if you want to make a splash. It's still the Wild West.

Tim's rule: Try it on your own.

Follow, reTweet, chat, reveal.

Be bold.

Stand out if you want to make a splash. It's still the Wild West.

Before we wrap up …

Learn to blog (from me) April 11, 18 Homewood Library Birminghamblogging.com

In conclusion Do you need social media for marketing? What is your goal? Which tools are best for you and your customers?

Do you need social media for marketing?

What is your goal?

Which tools are best for you and your customers?

Thank you!