This document provides tips for using social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter for business purposes. It discusses setting up business pages and profiles, customizing them, engaging with connections and followers, and promoting content consistently across platforms. The key recommendations are to maintain a consistent brand presence, engage with your audience, and use various social media suited to your business goals and target markets.

1. Social Media TipsRotary ClubJuly 21, 2010

2. Getting startedFacebookLinkedInTwitterChoosing the right social mediaAgendaSome slides show how-to steps that you don’t need to write down. The presentation will be made available on Facebook at MarketingBizTalk or contact me at thekrws@gmail.com.

3. University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business found that the social media adoption for small businesses in the U.S. doubled in 12/2009 survey of 500 owners.Small business social media usage doubles

4. Keep it consistent - Consistency doesn’t mean repetition. Customize profiles and updates to align with the uses of each social platform, but maintain a common theme throughout.Bio page, profile picture, tone of voiceNaming consistency across platformsPromote your brand – Think about the image you want to project build toward that. Real name or business nameOwn your name for SEOGet some help – social media maintenance takes timeUse tools to help you update such as Tweetdeck, Hootsuite, Google alertsHire someone to help you develop relevant and consistent contentBe human – sure what want to provide valuable content, but make sure it comes across as personable.Be yourself as you connect with people and build online relationshipsInteract with your audience4 ways to improve social media

5. Consistency/availability of names across future platformsFacebookTwitterBlogYouTubeEtc.Branding individual or businessCompany nameFreelancerNaming social media

6. Google adwords tool helps to understand the words people use to search the internetExample: I want to talk about plastic water bottlesUser search frequency is higher for reusable water bottles or sports water bottleshttps://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternalIdentifying keywords upfront

7. Shorten URLs is sometimes neededBecause text in social media is limitedTo customize URLs so they are easily rememberedTrack hitsMultiple free sites that shorten URLs and track hitshttp://bit.ly/Shortening URLs

8. Site to store and share presentations Reviews and testimonialsBest practice tipsIndustry statisticsCustomer/training presentationsSlideshare – www.slideshare.net

9. Getting Started with Facebook

10. No. 1 social networking siteIf there were a Facebook nation, it would be the world's 6th largest countryEveryday half a million people join Facebook.The fastest growing group on Facebook is people over the age of 30.Facebook is the #1 photo sharing siteFacebook facts

11. Always create the page from your personal account so that you control the destinyIf another person creates the page for you, you can not remove them at this timeAdd people as admins if someone will help maintain itCreating a Facebook Business Page

12. Choose a name you like: Names can’t be changed today, so think long-termin 75 Characters or less, including spacesUse your company name when you own the company and it is a unique name Add a qualifier to your company name if it is not unique, it is a franchise, etc.Use your personal name if you are branding yourself. Use keywords in the title that others search so that Google and others can find your page Naming a Facebook business pageCreate a solid foundation and then build upon it

13. Go to ads and pages to select Create a PageCreate a Facebook Business Page

14. First things firstAdd photo or logoAdd basic informationAdd detailed information on Info tab

15. Wall – The center of your profile where all the action takes place. Photos – Upload, share and comment on the pictures you upload. Notes – Notes are another way to communicate with your friends. Videos – Upload your mobile videos, link to YouTube videos, or other videosEvents – This feature allows you to plan an event and invite your friends. Choose your initial tabs

16. Easy applications that meet business objectivesLinkedIN profile (search applications | linkedIN | add to my page)SlideShare(search applications | slideshare | add to my page)Poll (search applications | poll | add to my page)Import a blog (application settings in upper right corner | select Notes | import a blog | input your URL)Choose applications

17. Information for your wall

18. Add contactsAccount | Edit Friends | Upload contact fileCreate ListFriends | Create ListMessages | New MessagePromoting your page

19. Promote with an ad | Create an ad

20. Landing pages are effective ways to get your message across to your audienceSet as defaultAvailable on pages; not personal profilesPurchase pre-built templates or hire someone to codeCreate a special landing page

21. Social media isn’t stand-alone marketing. Promote it through traditional channels.E-marketing E-mail linksBusiness cardsWeb sitesFlyers and brochuresEventsNetworkingWord-of-mouthTraditional and social media

22. Getting Started with LinkedIN

23. Current positionTwo past positionsEducationProfile summaryProfile photoSpecialtiesAt least three recommendationsCompleting your personal profile

24. You need a registered, company-owned email domain to create a business profile. Click on "Companies“ under "More" in the top navigation.Click on "Add a Company" link in the upper right area.Type in your company's official name and your email address.If your email address is confirmed, you will be taken to the "Create a Company" page.If your company email address is not a confirmed email address on your LinkedIn account, a confirmation email will be sent to the company email address. If you do not have a registered company owned email address to create a Company Profile you may still create a group to promote your business. Developing a business page

25. Posting an update is optional and can be done at any time. Content is text and/or a URL to share ideas and other websites with others. Posting an update can automatically generate Network Updates (based on your settings). Updates remain at the top of your Profile until a new one is added. Update your network activity

26. Search for people you knowImport your desktop contacts (contacts | add connections | import your desktop email contacts)Add email addressesExpand your connections

27. SlideShare for presentations, customer testimonials, etc.WordPress or BlogLink to connect blogsCompanyBuzz to follow specific topics in Twitter conversationsTweets for Twitter following and tweeting from LinkedInHuddle is a private workspace to collaborate with your teamUseful applications

28. Review questions/answers that are relevant to your businessAnswer questions that establish you as an expertUnderstand problems facing your industryQuestions/Answers

29. Develop new groupsParticipate in existing groupsDon’t lead with a sales pitchGive more than you takeGroups

30. Getting Started with Twitter

31. Note-taking, jotting down ideas or bookmarking websitesBlog posts and other interesting information with your audience of followers.Receiving answers to questions posed to your followers – but remember, the conversation is two way. Establishing business connectionsPublishing updates of news, product releases and other informationUses of Twitter

32. Go to twitter.comClick “Get Started – Join!”Enter your details (Remember your personal or business branding for consistent naming)Click “Create my Account”.Establish your account

33. Choose settings and complete your account informationChoose profile to upload your picture and complete your bioCustomize Notices and Mobile for your needs Setting up Twitter

34. Search for industry magazinesSearch for your gmail, AOL, etc. contactsInvite via emailBrowse suggestionsSearch names on TwitterFind Followees/Followers

35. A hashtag (#) is a way to unite global Tweets around a topic. These are tags that that help those who seek similar content discover your Tweets (#iphone)Find relevant hashtags at hashtags.orgRT @username is used to reply to or reference another Twitter user, put the @ symbol in front of their username shows that you are retweeting a message to your followersLeave messages you retweet intact as much as possibleUse a URL shortener such as bit.ly or tinyurlTwitter basics

36. On your home page, search for tagsSearch for tweets

37. LinkedIn is exclusively for business to build contacts – a place to reach out to experts in your industryTwitter is a place to make quick contact with your sources and to ask general questions of those in your network. Short tips, specials and links to articlesFacebook business page is used to relay a business message, tips of the industry, establish expertise and credibility Should we choose?

38. Social media works differently for each business. There are no silver bullets.You choose social media engagement based on:Target audienceMessage contentTime commitmentNo silver bullets

39. The one sure thing is that social media will continue to grow

40. Make sure you establish the right social media balance

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