This document provides tips and guidance for using social media effectively to grow a brand. It notes that consumers are spreading word about brands they love on social media platforms, so businesses need to be present where customers are. Some key statistics about popular social platforms are given. The document advises listening to customers, introducing your brand in a community, and gradually promoting your business after establishing trust. It also emphasizes the importance of posting valuable content rather than just self-promotion and recommends patience and evaluating trends over time to be successful with social media marketing.

1. David or Goliath Growing the “you” in your brand with social media

2. What is Social Media? Social media is a set of tools to help turn communication into an interactive dialogue online

3. Why Social Media? Consumers are becoming evangelists for brands, spreading the word on content being promoted, value being listed, coupons and discounts being given Some consumers are simply spreading the word for the sake of talking about a brand they love without getting anything in return. Your customers are there, so you must be there too

4. How about some stats? 1 in every 9 people on Earth is on Facebook People spend 700 billion minutes per month on Facebook "Social media accounts for one out of every six minutes spent online in US." Flickr hosts over 5 billion images Twitter is adding nearly 500,000 users a day Google+ has more than 25 million users

6. Overwhelming? Don’t let it become too much for you. When in doubt, always go where your customers are. Addoway’s customers are on:

7. Social Media Explained

8. Tips from what I have learned Remember to ask: Where do my customers spend their time? Follow your customers to be successful Don’t Measure Success by Follower Counts Social Media Doesn’t Equal Self-Promotion Learn From the Experts When in doubt, ask for help

9. How to use it effectively Listen - You have to listen first. What are they saying? Introduce yourself – Let them know who you are and how glad you are to be there as a member of the community. Chime in – Now it’s your chance to respond to posts, ask questions, and comments. This is your opportunity to show them your expertise. Listen and Chime in – Yes you still have to do more listening. It’s still not time for you to tell them what you sell or where you sell it yet. Promote – You’re building trust and friendships along the way now. You have made meaningful posts, comments and asked great questions. Now you have the opportunity to add what you do and where you do it.

10. What information do I post? Valuable content or in other words, Passion Posts “Passion posting” - providing valuable and meaningful content through messages on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, blogs, and forums every day Tip: Try to post one passion post for every 3-5 products posts and see what happens. You will get more followers, more mentions (retweets), more likes, and more comments.

11. Size doesn’t matter We all have the same clients at some point in the buying cycle We all have clients who are talking and are in need of something we can provide no matter our business size We can reach them at anytime of the day, wherever in the world they are located through more means than one

12. Patience is a virtue A successful seller is a patient seller who is constantly evaluating trends in the marketplace. You will be successful if you are: Constantly evaluating your product line and where you spend your time; Blogging, Doing social media marketing Building relationships with other sellers Marketing to your existing buyer base