This document provides tips and strategies for using various social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Google+ for business networking and referrals. It recommends building relationships through social engagement before directly soliciting, combining personal and business content, thanking others for referrals, and using photos and videos. Specific advice includes using LinkedIn to find referral partners, asking for Facebook recommendations, creating engaging Twitter hooks, keeping YouTube videos short, and using Google+ for search engine optimization.

1. Social Media Farming and
Harvesting Connections
Melinda Schmiedeknecht
BNI Social Media Consultant

2. Farming vs. Hunting
Apply your BNI good rules of networking!

3. Social Media Networking
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Do not prematurely solicit!
Build relationships, be social
Be intentional and set limits
Proactively search for referral partners
What language do you/your contacts speak?

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Be Strategic
Comment/post on business pages or groups
where your target audience is likely to be.
Combine personal with business in your posts.
Thank people for referrals they give you.
Thank people for providing good service to
the referrals you give.
Use photos or video as much as possible.

8. LinkedIn
• Most professional, less social
• Very searchable, easy to find prospective
referral partners for your contact sphere
• Use educational articles, discussion to build
relationships
• Don’t just connect, “follow.”

9. Facebook
• More social, less formal
• Essential for B2C
• Ask for recommendations for referral partners – who
do people like/use?
• Facilitates creative rewards
• Use lists to keep top of mind with key prospects,
referral partners

10. Twitter
• Shorter messages – limited to 140 characters
• Create a good hook and include a link to get
more information
• May post more frequently
• To gain followers, go follow your target
market

11. YouTube
• #2 Search engine
• Keep videos short, 2-3 minutes
• Lead with value
• Channel is easy to set up and free!
• Add to website, Facebook page

12. Google+
• Really helps with SEO – Search Engine
Optimization
• Hangout is cool easy way to have a free video
conference
• Target your posts to share with your “circle”
of prospects or existing customers or referral
partners.

13. www.SocialMediaExaminer.com for short,
informative articles.

14. www.Hootsuite.com to post multiple places at once.

15. www.Yoono.com for those with ADD

16. Thank You!
Please go like the BNI Southeast Facebook
page! www.facebook.com/bnisoutheast
melinda@bnisoutheast.com