Plant the Right Seeds

Social Networking:

Can it help your business grow?

“I don’t need to know what my ‘friends’ had for breakfast.”

“LinkedIn is a glorified Rolodex - I already have my contacts in Outlook.”

“ is great for reconnecting with my college buddies and sharing pictures, but it

serves no business purpose.”

“Movies are a fad. Audiences really want to see live actors on a stage.”

- Charlie Chaplin

Some other “fads”…

What do you want to accomplish?

What social media can do for you

• Build your brand • Gain insight into your clients and industry• Position you as an expert• Promote your services• Connect you with referral sources, leads• Increase traffic to your Web site• Bring in new business

What tools should you be using?

Start with the basics

• Keep track of competitors

• Keep current on industry

• Monitor news about you

Google Profiles – Control Your Message

Brief bio

Photo Your links

Getting down to business

What’s lurking beneath the

surface of your relationships?

LinkedIn: Benefits

• Grow your network• Cultivate prospects• Give others a way to find YOU

Who is using LinkedIn?

• 50 million users• $100K+ household income• 80 percent are college grads• Average user age is 41• One new user every second

25 percent have a portfolio value of more than

$250,000

Let people know what you’re doing

Easily add people to your network

Your groups

It all starts with your profile

Start building your network!Connect on LinkedIn with:

• College friends

• Former clients

• Referral sources

• Former colleagues

• Neighbors and friends

Join GroupsThis is a question from a CFO seeking advice on handling exchange rates during bank fund transfers.

Your response??

Next step…

Look them up

Who do you know that they

know?

Facebook – It ain’t just for kids

Facebook Statistics

• 300 million users • 8 billion minutes spent on

FB every day• 10 million users become

fans of Pages each day• Fastest growing population

– people over 35.

•Create a Fan Page•Advertise•Keep content fresh

Facebook: Target Your Market

•‘Juicy’ content

• Be passionate

• Update often • Link to your site

Blogs – Sweeten Your Story

Twitter – is it for the birds?

How Twitter Works

• Search for people, companies to follow• I.D. thought leaders in your specialty• Read, click, absorb, learn• Retweet• Cut through red tape to decision-makers• Post links• Join the conversation

“Conversations among the members of your marketplace

happen whether you like it or not. Good marketing encourages the

right sort of conversations.”– Seth Godin

The business benefits of social networking

Social networking etiquette

• Be professional• Seek to give rather than

receive• Engage, interact• Don’t hard sell• When in doubt, don’t

Plant Social Media “Seeds”

• LinkedIn

• Facebook

• Twitter

• Blogs

• Reconnect with contacts, gather new ones, expand your network

• Leverage its popularity to create a fan base, target market, showcase your talents

• Follow thought leaders, research prospects, join the conversation

• Share your passion, create a dialogue

Watch them Grow!

Plant the seeds

Choose tools Start listening Participate

Watch

Monitor your brand

Pollinate

Encourage dialogue and sharing

Repeat for success

Continually nurture for best results

Feed

Contribute Content

http://www.linkedin.com/in/traceysegarra http://www.twitter/com/newsucnusehttp://www.mwellp.comtsegarra@mwellp.com516-240-4391

Tracey SegarraDirector of MarketingMargolin, Winer & Evens LLP

*With deep appreciation to Jenny Hertzig of BCG & Company for creating the original presentation that served as the basis for, and inspired, this one.