This document provides tips for using social media effectively as a small business. It recommends focusing on a small target audience of 10-15 people and using platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter that match your local audience. Posts should be short and focus on starting conversations by asking questions. The best time and days to post are evenings and Wednesdays, keeping posts to 1-2 times daily and 1-4 times weekly. The goal is to consistently share your clear message or objective for how you help solve problems for people.

1. AWD SM: MAINTENANCE
Who What
YOU
Where When

2. KNOW YOUR OBJECTIVE:
— To become____________!
Ø The realtor people think of when
looking for condos in Midtown.
Ø The lawyer people turned to when
they need guidance on a will.
Ø The professor business owners ask
to talk about social media.
Ø The place people go when they
need training to improve their job
potential.
Ø The mechanic that can quickly fix
cars made in Japan.

3. WHO? THINK SMALL
— Your Social Media Audience:
Ø Is about gas mileage, not speed.
Ø Is a small group.
Ø 10 to 15 people you cultivate
and nourish.
Ø A group of people who serve as
your personal brand
ambassadors.
Ø Ask them what they think, how
they feel and to help you reach
your social media goal.

4. WHERE? LOCAL
— Social Media Tools are chosen
based on your audience.
Ø Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter,
or Blog?
Ø More and more on a mobile
device.
Ø Local, often hyper-local, and
short.
Ø Think geographic,
demographic, and
psychographic.

5. WHAT?
— A conversation
— A question
— A video
— A photo
— A tag
— A link
— A poll

6. WHEN?
— Often, but not too often.
— Find out when your audience
is online.
— Not 7:50 am J JK

7. WHO WHAT WHEN AND WHERE

8. Best time to post: 8 p.m.-7 a.m.

9. Best days to post: Wednesdays

10. Daily posts: one to two

11. Weekly posts: one to four times

12. Length of posts:
1-40 characters is best

13. Best way to spark a dialogue:
ask questions

14. Best structure: fill in the blank

15. Best keywords for deals:
"coupons" and "$ off"

16. Best coupon offer: cash discounts

17. Post type: text only

18. YOUR MESSAGE
— A MESSAGE IS:
— The one thing you want the
your small group to remember.
— Created from your objective.
— Something repeated several
times.
— About the solution to a
problem and how you’re
attempting to solve it, handle it
or improve things.
— Usually about people instead of
things.

20. AWD SM!
mfelts@unr.edu