Social media marketing can help businesses in several ways but it does not replace core business functions. It can improve customer communication, help new customers find the business, and provide insights into the market and customers. To be effective, social media should complement an existing website or blog and have a clear call to action driving traffic back to the core online presence. The key is to engage on social media and provide value before directly promoting products or services.

1. Social Media marketing By: Evert Bopp Greenhouse Ireland www.greenhouseireland.com @greenhouseIre

2. First rule of Social Media marketing

3. Social Media marketing will not: Make you the next Google Attract a “big money” investor Make your product better Fix all your problems

4. However Social Media will: Improve communication with your customers Help new customers find you Help you to understand your market & customers Create targeted campaigns Find out what people think of your business & product

5. Social media marketing is only part of the game! You’ll need a central online presence (website/blog). You need a product or service You need a story

6. Push your information out from your hub. All social media marketing has to include a “call to action” or drive traffic to your site/blog Social media is a party so PARTY! Your website/blog is your house. Go to a party, meet strangers & bring the nice ones back to your house.

8. Main Social Media networks

9. But also...

10. Golden rules of social media marketing: Stay on topic Provide value Engage Give before you take Don’t spam Stay consistent

11. How to set up a twitter account http://vimeo.com/16456590

12. Twitter Clients Tweetdeck Seesmic Hootsuite Gravity Twitter app Echofon http://www.twitstat.com/twitterclientusers.html

13. Social Media on the road Social media allows for “snapshot marketing”. Lots of clients for smartphones Integration with camera, GPS device etc Geo-tagging images and updates You can market “on the go” Your audience might also be mobile

15. How to setup a Facebook account http://youtu.be/a4yu1XJQP50 http://www.vimeo.com/23944738 http://www.vimeo.com/24756973 http://www.vimeo.com/24758598

16. Case study

17. MicksGarage Car parts & social media? Facebook integration of online storefront using VendorShop. http://www.facebook.com/Vendorshop Free (and Irish) Sold over 1 million products across Europe

18. How to get it right Have an attractive image for your store Add a customised tab on your Facebook Page Incentivise your Facebook Fans Mention your Facebook Store in a status update Test the Facebook Store out yourself Consider using Facebook Ads to build awareness of your Facebook Store Encourage people who purchase through your Facebook Store to leave a recommendation

19. Tasks for next week Set up your own social media accounts. Follow/Friend at least 25 people Gain at least 10 followers and engage with them Think of a way how to best get your message/service/product across using Social Media.