This document provides an overview of social media for self storage executives. It defines social media as communication platforms on the internet that facilitate conversations. The document outlines the growth of social media usage and its impact on businesses. Examples are given of how social media can be used for marketing self storage facilities through blogs, tweets, and highlighting local vendors. Potential stumbling blocks for social storage executives engaging in social media are also discussed.

1. Social Media For Self Storage
Executives
Original Talk Given at TSSA
Executive Retreat on 6/17/2011
Kenny Pratt
Crescendo Properties
Properties: www.StorageKings.com
Blog: www. SellingStorage.com
1

2. What Is Social Media?
A Platform - Not A Fad
A Helpful Framework
Use Cases - Examples
Stumbling Blocks
2

3. Social Media Examples
3

4. What is Social Media?
1. Any tool or service that uses the internet
to facilitate conversations.
2. A set of communication platforms
4

5. A Platform - Not A Fad
• Some Stats on Social Media Growth
• What other businesses are experiencing
• What History Shows Us
• What Wall Street Thinks
5

6. Social Media Revolution Video
6

7. The Geeks Are Graying
• 51% of Facebook users are over 40
• 49% of YouTube users over 40
• 49% over 40 believe themselves to be
“Up to date on the latest technology.”
Source: Brand Asset Valuator Survey of 16,000 people
http://www.inc.com/magazine/201106/the-geeks-are-graying.html
7

8. Cane-Fu
8

9. Meet One Of My Customers
9

10. Meet a
San Antonio
Blogger
Dale
Blasingame
www.NormalGuyGuide.com
10

11. Stacy - A San Antonio
Mommy Blogger
• Regularly Reaches 9,000 people
11

12. • I am quick to send out Tweets when I receive great
customer service somewhere or hear about a great
promotion going on. I know a lot of others who do too.
• I don't spread bad publicity ... but there are plenty of folks
out there who do.
• Occasionally, I will highlight a brand or company on
Facebook - last week I talked about all my favorite vendors
from my local farmers market and linked to their Facebook
pages.
12

13. What Other Businesses Are
Experiencing
13

14. Below Average Cost Leads
Below Average Cost per Lead, Inbound vs. Outbound
2010 v. 2011, % of respondents’ costs by lead channel
Source: HubSpot
14

15. Social Media is for B2B and B2C
Source: State of Inbound Marketing Report - http://bit.ly/aewfHr
15

16. Blogging and B2C and B2B Leads
Source: State of Inbound Marketing Lead Generation Report - http://bit.ly/cVMpkn
16

17. Social Media Is Work
17

18. # Blog Articles By Leads Generated
Source: State of Inbound Marketing Lead Generation Report - http://bit.ly/cVMpkn
18

19. Source: Social Media Examiner 2011 Social Media Marketing Industry Report http://bit.ly/kweebK
19

20. Source: Social Media Examiner 2011 Social Media Marketing Industry Report http://bit.ly/kweebK
20
20

21. What History Shows Us
21

22. We Market On Top Of Platforms
Print (Yellow Pages, Newspapers,
Direct Mail, Etc.)
Radio
Television
Internet
How Many Of These Are Gone?
22

23. Social Media Is Just A New
Platform
Platforms are stable. Tactics Change.
23

24. What Does Wall Street Think?
Facebook - 2 Billion in Revenue
Recent Valuation - 75 Billion (37.5x Revenue)
Twitter - $150 Million in Revenue
Recent Valuation - 7.7 Billion (50x Revenue)
LinkedIn - 200 Million in Revenue
In 3 days from IPO stock goes to $100/share
Recent Valuation - 9 Billion (45x Revenue)
24

25. 25

26. A Helpful Framework
26

27. POST Framework
• P. People
• O. Objective
• S. Strategy
• T. Tools
Image Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmdrgravy/365075809/
27

28. 28

29. 29

30. They’re Not Worried
About Their Shoes
30

31. Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/apreche/212103632/
People
• Who do you want to reach?
• Where can you find them online?
31

32. Objective
• What are you
trying to
accomplish?
Image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uuuhyeah/381407461/
32

33. Strategy
• How do you
intend to reach
your objectives?
33

34. Tools
• What tools help you execute your strategy
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lenore-m/2515800654/
34

35. Let’s Piece It Together
Some Use Cases
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wheatfields/3026492855/
35
35

36. Stumbling Blocks
36
36

37. Transparency Amplifies Who You Are
37
37

38. Quelling Fears
• Personal screw-ups vs. corporate
screw-ups.
• Happy and engaged employees
make your life easier.
• A little guidance goes a long way.
• Policy Ideas at Socialmedia.org
38
38

39. Tweetable Fact:
You’re employees speak on your behalf
every single day.
You can trust them with 140 characters.
39
39

40. Not Experimenting
http://www.flickr.com/photos/horiavarlan/4273225057/
40
40

41. Waiting
http://www.flickr.com/photos/07anycolouryoulike/4536619509/ 41
41

42. Invest
Where your
competition is
not
42

43. 43

44. Thank You!
Kenny Pratt - Crescendo Properties
Blog: www.SellingStorage.com
Properties: www.storagekings.com
Phone: 916-538-2266
email: kenny@cpinc.us
www.linkedin.com/in/kennypratt
www.twitter.com/sellingstorage
44