Social Media and the Business Adviser provides 10 tips for using social media effectively in business. The tips include starting by using social media internally to communicate within the organization. Developing clear social media policies and guidelines for employees. Listening to what is being said about the business, competitors, and industry online. Identifying the target market and how to deliver services to them through social media. Creating strategic social media initiatives to engage clients and prospects. Measuring social media efforts using key performance indicators. Failing fast by testing ideas quickly and moving on if they do not work. Syndicating content across multiple platforms. Training staff and educating customers on social media.

1. Social Media and the Business Adviser 10 Tips for independent advisers and business advisory firms on how they can use social media www.symphony3.com/social-media 1

2. Introduction Fergal Coleman, 15 years experience in internet, IT industry Master of Business and IT, Melbourne Uni Mindshop Member for Four Years Assisting organisations across a range of industries with social media, including manufacturing, professional services, distribution, local government Developed a social media framework and methodology

3. Social Media is a Change Initiative Is social media for you? Have you embraced Web 1.0? Change is difficult – changing your own behaviours is often more difficult than changing clients’ behaviours Are you prepared to change your ways of thinking? Are you prepared to lose control of your brand? It’s about leadership, if you're not prepared to change why should your team?

4. 1. Start using the tools internally How can you communicate more effectively within your organisation? On projects and client engagements? How can you use to the tools to innovate and streamline processes and service delivery? Sharing Ideas and communication with Yammer and Central desktop 4

5. 2. Policy: What are the rules? How are employees expected to behave in a social media context? What are they allowed to reveal or not reveal? How are they expected to respond in different situations? Provide parameters not strict rules

7. About you and your products?

8. About your customers?

9. About your competitors?

10. What information can give you an edge?

11. The 5 Forces and PEST tools can helpHow do customers think your product or services compares? Monitor Competitors and Industry Leaders Where is your name appearing? 6

13. Who are they?

14. How niche ?

15. Who would have thought there was a market for a bagpipe tuner? www.bagpipetuner.com

16. Remember the Long Tail

18. 6. Create Your Own Initiatives Implement your own strategic initiatives. Create valuable content for your clients in a social media environment Invite them to contribute and comment Listen to their concerns Develop new content to deal with those concerns Remember: It takes time and effort

19. 7. Measure Social Media is Measureable Set clear KPIs Relate them back to the business – leads, prospects sales

20. 8. Fail Fast Do your research and make sure you have an aim and a goal, but Don’t procrastinate, create a prototype and test it out The Tools are cheap Use your metrics and if its not working move on

21. 9. Syndicate

22. 10. Train and Educate Train your staff Educate your customers Raise Awareness Remember the tools are easy changing behaviours is much more difficult

23. Get Involved! Change is happening very quickly Get involved early But think long term Questions?? www.symphony3.com/social-media