This document provides tips for using social media to build a consulting business. It recommends giving away your best ideas to establish credibility and trust, while focusing on thought leadership over implementation. Networking and prospecting should optimize your time investment. An authentic online presence where you have fun and share your passions will make you desirable to work with. Social media can build value, business and knowledge when used to connect with others in a helpful way. What matters most is listening, being human, useful, and helping others through meaningful connections.

1. You Only Get What You Give. Laura Fitton Pistachio Consulting Inc. www.PistachioConsulting.com [email_address] 800-747-1941 @Pistachio

3. Why You? They know (and like) you. They like your ideas. They know you will do a good job. You are ALL ABOUT them.

4. Web 2.0

5. Web WHO .0?

6. Photo Credit: (cc) matrianklw on flickr.com

7. Gravity.

8. Photo Credit: (cc) Hamed Saber on flickr.com

9. Social Media Makes Money?

10. Social Media Builds Value.

11. Social Media Builds Business

12. Social Media is Nothing New

13. Photo Credit: (cc) jerryfletcher on flickr.com

14. Social Media is Knowledge

15. Knowledge is Socially Mediated Photo Credit: (cc) fredoalvarez on flickr.com

16. Knowledge is Socially Mediated

17. Knowledge is Social ly Media ted

18. Photo Credit: (cc) gregor_y on flickr.com

19. Markets are Socially Mediated

20. Markets are Social ly Media ted

21. Welcome Mat

22. Sarcastic Welcome Mat Photo Credit: (cc) rbieber on flickr.com Photo Credit: (cc) rbieber on flickr.com

23. Shortcuts? Tricks?

24. [animal doing a trick] Photo Credit: (cc) redjar on flickr.com

25. No.

26. What Would Twitter Do? anniemal toe the water. make 1 SM tactic a pilot program and see what works. You don't have to do everything at once in a grand way. jimphelps "If you use social media to annoy me, I will block you and I'll tell my friends you suck. Be sure you offer real value.” Jassim Ali Its not a single flick of a switch act of magic :-) raw_dan be friendly, and write only interesting and useful things Susan Scrupski "stay connected and informed on Twitter." #1 soc media tip. MarkSalinas Keep a level tone Barbara K. Baker Do research well to find socnet(s) that best suits audience. Join community & be committed, honest & consistent. Marvin "eMarv" Corea get known by helping others Melanie Baker To quote @alexaclark, "You know know what people can bring to the party if you don't invite them". get to know people just for the sake of getting to know them. You never know what they might mean to life/work later on. Barbara Ling Promote your 'the benefits of my site to you' link Vinny Goldsmith give as much free information and advice as is economically possible - it establishes you as the source of expertise karenswim Pick one or two and then be an active participant Rob Blatt Make sure your image is the same across al networks.

27. What Matters?

28. Listen.

29. Listen. Photo Credit: (cc) gari.baldi on flickr.com

30. Be Human.

31. Be Human. Photo Credit: (cc) gebala on flickr.com

32. Know Yourself.

33. Know Yourself. Photo Credit: (cc) gi on flickr.com

34. Be Useful.

35. Be Useful. “ Never Have an Ordinary Day.”® Photo Credit: (cc) my MacBook :-)

36. Help Others.

37. Help Others. Photo Credit: (cc) finds on flickr.com

38. Connect.

39. Connect. Photo Credit: (cc) eschipul on flickr.com

40. Love Matters. Love Lasts.

41. Love Matters. Love Lasts. Photo Credit: (cc) prakhar on flickr.com

42. VALUE. visibility relevance relationships social capital community ideas trust

43. Surrender Dorothy

44. www.Twitter.com/pistachio …follow me