What is Social Media
and How Can You Use it To Improve Your Business*

                    Brian Linton
                    President and Founder
                    Sand Shack LLC
                    www.sandshack.com




      *With Emphasis on the Gift and Resort Retail Industry
7 Parts
1.   What is Social Media
2.   Why You Should Use it
3.   Blog
4.   Facebook
5.   Twitter
6.   What you can Accomplish
7.   How to Implement A Social Media Strategy
Part 1

What is Social Media
What is Social Media
• An umbrella term that defines the various
  activities that integrate technology and social
  interaction online
• Online technologies and practices that people
  use to share opinions, insights, experiences, and
  perspectives with each other.
• Social Media is the collection of tools and online
  spaces available to help individuals and
  businesses to accelerate their information and
  communication needs.
Wikipedia Definition
• Social media is online content created by people using
  highly accessible and scalable publishing technologies.
  Social media is a shift in how people discover, read and
  share news, information and content; it's a fusion of
  sociology and technology, transforming monologues
  (one to many) into dialogues (many to many) and is
  the democratization of information, transforming
  people from content readers into publishers. Social
  media has become extremely popular because it
  allows people to connect in the online world to form
  relationships for personal, political and business use.
  Businesses also refer to social media as user-generated
  content (UGC) or consumer-generated media (CGM).
Forms of Social Media

•   Facebook
•   Blogs
•   Twitter
•   YouTube
•   LinkedIn

               And Many Many More
Social Media, and the way it is used, is different
                  for everyone
Why You Should Listen to Me
• I am not a social media expert

• I grew up using forms of social media

• I successfully use social media for my business

• I am in your industry
  – Sand Shack is an environmentally friendly brand of
    resort merchandise. Products include has, belts, flip-
    flops and jewelry
Social Media
Works in Your
  Industry
Part 2

Why You Should Use It
It pays to be social


        $
• If you are not online, you will lose to those that
  are

• Having a website is no longer enough

• People will judge you based on your online, social
  presence

• All Business, no matter the size can benefit
• Build your web presence
  – When people search for your business or thing
    related to your business they find you.

• Connect with your customers

• Find out where your customers are both on and
  offline

• Build your brand
• Gain new customers

• Improve your public relations
  – Get Press Coverage


• Be able to hear what your customers are saying
  about you and your company
  – If it’s bad you can improve it
  – If it’s good, you can focus on it
Part 3

Blog
Blog
• #1 Most Important Social Media Tool

• Landing spot for all online, social activity

• Static vs. Dynamic

• Personal vs Business – or Both?

• Transparency
Personal




www.brianlinton.com
Business




www.sandshack.com/blog
Blogging Benefits
• Don’t just publish, interact
   – Better communication
   – Comments


• Build Community

• Low Cost and Easy

• Search Engine Ranking

• Create a blog of value
   – Convert readers into customers
Part 4
Facebook
                                                   Pages
                                               A Facebook
                                               Page is a
                                               public profile
                                               that enables
                                               you to share
                                               your business
                                               and products
                                               with Facebook
                                               users.
Tips for Using Facebook Pages
  -Start the Conversation       -Create a community

  -Converse – don’t sell        -Post regular updates
Facebook Search
                                                    -Search for what matters to
                                                    your business

                                                    -Find relevant groups and
                                                    pages

                                                    -Reach out and network with
                                                    leaders of relevant groups




Tips for Using Facebook Search
   Build a relationship with the leaders of communities who have influence
   over your potential customers

   Leaders/Administrators can mass-message all members and fans about
   your promotion
Sand Shack’s $5,555 Giveaway
                                 Had numerous administrators
                                 send out promotion codes to
                                 their members

                                 Put the Sand Shack brand in
                                 front of thousands of
                                 relevant people




100s of orders came flowing in

Multiple orders per minute!!
• Use of Facebook Groups

• The power of FREE in social networks

• 100+ New Customers

• The importance of execution
Facebook
                                        Events
                                  Organize and host
                                  online or offline events

                                  Use for competitions

                                  Send invites

                                  See who is attending,
                                  maybe attending and
                                  not attending




Success Story
           Name our Lobster Competition
Over 100 name submissions on Facebook
Brought Polling and Results Back to Our Website




                www.sandshack.com/blog
Part 5
Twitter
Twitter for Business?

           Update Followers

           Don’t just self-promote

           Monitor conversations

           Address problems (bigger brands)

           Join a conversation

           Be human – not a robot
Twitter Search




Different than Google because you can monitor conversations –
                what people are talking about
Search for Your Topic of Interest


                           Join the
                         conversation



                            @   reply
Customer Service Example
        Craigslist
Twitter for Research
Part 6

What You Can Accomplish
Increase Traffic to Your Website




     Traffic on Sandshack.com over a 25 day period
Gain More Followers
   Convert them to customers
Get Press Coverage
Part 7

  How to Implement
A Social Media Strategy
Plan Your Attack
Steps for Success
1.   Plan your attack
2.   Set up a blog
3.   Set up a Facebook, Twitter and other accounts
4.   Make regular blog posts and other updates
5.   Reach out and communicate with people
6.   Learn from your customers/research them
7.   Build a reputation of expertise
Successful use of Social Media is about COMMUNICATION


                        And

   Consistency and Quality – Consistent Quality
Be Transparent
•   Admit your shortcomings
•   Show your successes
•   Be Human – Be People, not a Company
•   Use video to show your personality
Other Things to Consider

Don’t just use text

Use Pictures

Audio/Podcast

Shoot Video
Questions



 For More information

   Cell: 508-292-9427
or brian@sandshack.com
 www.brianlinton.com
  www.sandshack.com

Social Media Presentation

  • 1.
    What is SocialMedia and How Can You Use it To Improve Your Business* Brian Linton President and Founder Sand Shack LLC www.sandshack.com *With Emphasis on the Gift and Resort Retail Industry
  • 2.
    7 Parts 1. What is Social Media 2. Why You Should Use it 3. Blog 4. Facebook 5. Twitter 6. What you can Accomplish 7. How to Implement A Social Media Strategy
  • 3.
    Part 1 What isSocial Media
  • 4.
    What is SocialMedia • An umbrella term that defines the various activities that integrate technology and social interaction online • Online technologies and practices that people use to share opinions, insights, experiences, and perspectives with each other. • Social Media is the collection of tools and online spaces available to help individuals and businesses to accelerate their information and communication needs.
  • 5.
    Wikipedia Definition • Socialmedia is online content created by people using highly accessible and scalable publishing technologies. Social media is a shift in how people discover, read and share news, information and content; it's a fusion of sociology and technology, transforming monologues (one to many) into dialogues (many to many) and is the democratization of information, transforming people from content readers into publishers. Social media has become extremely popular because it allows people to connect in the online world to form relationships for personal, political and business use. Businesses also refer to social media as user-generated content (UGC) or consumer-generated media (CGM).
  • 6.
    Forms of SocialMedia • Facebook • Blogs • Twitter • YouTube • LinkedIn And Many Many More
  • 7.
    Social Media, andthe way it is used, is different for everyone
  • 8.
    Why You ShouldListen to Me • I am not a social media expert • I grew up using forms of social media • I successfully use social media for my business • I am in your industry – Sand Shack is an environmentally friendly brand of resort merchandise. Products include has, belts, flip- flops and jewelry
  • 9.
    Social Media Works inYour Industry
  • 10.
    Part 2 Why YouShould Use It
  • 11.
    It pays tobe social $
  • 12.
    • If youare not online, you will lose to those that are • Having a website is no longer enough • People will judge you based on your online, social presence • All Business, no matter the size can benefit
  • 13.
    • Build yourweb presence – When people search for your business or thing related to your business they find you. • Connect with your customers • Find out where your customers are both on and offline • Build your brand
  • 14.
    • Gain newcustomers • Improve your public relations – Get Press Coverage • Be able to hear what your customers are saying about you and your company – If it’s bad you can improve it – If it’s good, you can focus on it
  • 15.
  • 16.
    Blog • #1 MostImportant Social Media Tool • Landing spot for all online, social activity • Static vs. Dynamic • Personal vs Business – or Both? • Transparency
  • 17.
  • 18.
  • 19.
    Blogging Benefits • Don’tjust publish, interact – Better communication – Comments • Build Community • Low Cost and Easy • Search Engine Ranking • Create a blog of value – Convert readers into customers
  • 20.
  • 21.
    Facebook Pages A Facebook Page is a public profile that enables you to share your business and products with Facebook users. Tips for Using Facebook Pages -Start the Conversation -Create a community -Converse – don’t sell -Post regular updates
  • 22.
    Facebook Search -Search for what matters to your business -Find relevant groups and pages -Reach out and network with leaders of relevant groups Tips for Using Facebook Search Build a relationship with the leaders of communities who have influence over your potential customers Leaders/Administrators can mass-message all members and fans about your promotion
  • 23.
    Sand Shack’s $5,555Giveaway Had numerous administrators send out promotion codes to their members Put the Sand Shack brand in front of thousands of relevant people 100s of orders came flowing in Multiple orders per minute!!
  • 24.
    • Use ofFacebook Groups • The power of FREE in social networks • 100+ New Customers • The importance of execution
  • 25.
    Facebook Events Organize and host online or offline events Use for competitions Send invites See who is attending, maybe attending and not attending Success Story Name our Lobster Competition
  • 26.
    Over 100 namesubmissions on Facebook
  • 27.
    Brought Polling andResults Back to Our Website www.sandshack.com/blog
  • 28.
  • 29.
  • 30.
    Twitter for Business? Update Followers Don’t just self-promote Monitor conversations Address problems (bigger brands) Join a conversation Be human – not a robot
  • 31.
    Twitter Search Different thanGoogle because you can monitor conversations – what people are talking about
  • 32.
    Search for YourTopic of Interest Join the conversation @ reply
  • 33.
  • 34.
  • 35.
    Part 6 What YouCan Accomplish
  • 36.
    Increase Traffic toYour Website Traffic on Sandshack.com over a 25 day period
  • 37.
    Gain More Followers Convert them to customers
  • 38.
  • 39.
    Part 7 How to Implement A Social Media Strategy
  • 40.
  • 41.
    Steps for Success 1. Plan your attack 2. Set up a blog 3. Set up a Facebook, Twitter and other accounts 4. Make regular blog posts and other updates 5. Reach out and communicate with people 6. Learn from your customers/research them 7. Build a reputation of expertise
  • 42.
    Successful use ofSocial Media is about COMMUNICATION And Consistency and Quality – Consistent Quality
  • 43.
    Be Transparent • Admit your shortcomings • Show your successes • Be Human – Be People, not a Company • Use video to show your personality
  • 44.
    Other Things toConsider Don’t just use text Use Pictures Audio/Podcast Shoot Video
  • 45.
    Questions For Moreinformation Cell: 508-292-9427 or brian@sandshack.com www.brianlinton.com www.sandshack.com