Social Media for Social Media for Business Business

from a VCU Student's Perspectivefrom a VCU Student's Perspective

Trevor DickersonTrevor DickersonOwner, RVA MediaWorks, LLCOwner, RVA MediaWorks, LLC

Background & BioBackground & Bio

22 year old VCU student22 year old VCU student

Editor & Publisher of Downtown Short PumpEditor & Publisher of Downtown Short Pump

Owner of RVA MediaWorks, LLCOwner of RVA MediaWorks, LLC

Downtown Short PumpDowntown Short Pump

Bought DowntownShortPump.com in 2004 for $8 Bought DowntownShortPump.com in 2004 for $8 as a freshman in high schoolas a freshman in high school

Began compiling information on area, forming Began compiling information on area, forming directorydirectory

Started posting news blurbs, then longer form Started posting news blurbs, then longer form articlesarticles

Grew from 100 to 35,000 page views per monthGrew from 100 to 35,000 page views per month

About to re-launch as a complete community About to re-launch as a complete community portalportal

Downtown Short Downtown Short PumpPump

RVA MediaWorksRVA MediaWorks

Incorporated in November 2008Incorporated in November 2008

Branched out of Downtown Short Pump following Branched out of Downtown Short Pump following requests to build websites similar to itrequests to build websites similar to it

First website built was for Richmond BizSenseFirst website built was for Richmond BizSense

Started doing graphic design, printing, light video Started doing graphic design, printing, light video production & aerial photography around Short Pumpproduction & aerial photography around Short Pump

Provided social media management services several Provided social media management services several well-known West End businesses for some timewell-known West End businesses for some time

RVA MediaWorksRVA MediaWorks

Elkin Sports Elkin Sports PerformancePerformance

Girls Can ClubGirls Can Club

Richmond BizSenseRichmond BizSense

Daily Grind Short Daily Grind Short PumpPump

Camelot Camelot EntertainmentEntertainment

Tobacco AvenueTobacco Avenue

What Is Social Media?What Is Social Media?

Utilizing & applying various forms of media to:Utilizing & applying various forms of media to:

Share informationShare information

Learn from othersLearn from others

Meet new peopleMeet new people

Gain, retain & reward customersGain, retain & reward customers

Solve problemsSolve problems

How Can My Business How Can My Business Benefit?Benefit?

Advertise specialsAdvertise specials

Create customer loyalty programsCreate customer loyalty programs

Generate buzzGenerate buzz

Respond to negative commentsRespond to negative comments

Provide product supportProvide product support

Stay on customers’ mindsStay on customers’ minds

Choosing Your StrategyChoosing Your Strategy

What type of business are you running?What type of business are you running?

What are the ultimate goals of your campaign?What are the ultimate goals of your campaign?

How much time and money can you devote?How much time and money can you devote?

What are others in my industry doing What are others in my industry doing successfully?successfully?

How can I best engage with my customers?How can I best engage with my customers?

The Good NewsThe Good News

Social media accounts are:Social media accounts are:

FreeFree

Easy to set up and maintainEasy to set up and maintain

Require less time than most think to runRequire less time than most think to run

Provide maximum return with minimum Provide maximum return with minimum investment when utilized efficiently and investment when utilized efficiently and effectivelyeffectively

Things to be Mindful of...Things to be Mindful of...

Portray your brand professionallyPortray your brand professionally

Be consistent with posting intervals & with Be consistent with posting intervals & with your voiceyour voice

Respond quickly to problems for maximum Respond quickly to problems for maximum valuevalue

Turn negatives into positives by solving Turn negatives into positives by solving problemsproblems

Social Media By The Social Media By The NumbersNumbers

Number of UsersNumber of Users(in millions)(in millions)

Facebook Game PlanFacebook Game Plan

Set up a Fan Page (business profile)Set up a Fan Page (business profile)

Ask fans to “Like” youAsk fans to “Like” you

Add Like/Recommend links to your website Add Like/Recommend links to your website contentcontent

Add a Fan Box on your homepage sidebarAdd a Fan Box on your homepage sidebar

Post photos, videos and regular updates to Post photos, videos and regular updates to FansFans

Twitter Game PlanTwitter Game Plan

Follow local people who have an expansive reachFollow local people who have an expansive reach

Post links to information you find interestingPost links to information you find interesting

Reply to users Reply to users (format: @UserName Tweet goes here)(format: @UserName Tweet goes here)

Retweet tweets you find to be beneficial to followers Retweet tweets you find to be beneficial to followers (format: RT @UserName Original tweet goes here)(format: RT @UserName Original tweet goes here)

Use and follow hashtags Use and follow hashtags (examples: #RVA, #SMCRVA)(examples: #RVA, #SMCRVA)

Respond quickly: tweets have shorter “shelf life” than Respond quickly: tweets have shorter “shelf life” than Facebook postsFacebook posts

Foursquare GameplanFoursquare Gameplan

Set up your business if you have a storefrontSet up your business if you have a storefront

Also useful for traveling businesses, food carts, Also useful for traveling businesses, food carts, etc.etc.

Set up free business account and manage Set up free business account and manage specialsspecials

Reward loyal customers for “checking in” to Reward loyal customers for “checking in” to your venueyour venue

Offer the “mayor” something extra specialOffer the “mayor” something extra special

Cross PromotionCross Promotion

Link your Facebook posts to Twitter (not vice-Link your Facebook posts to Twitter (not vice-versa!)versa!)

Link your website to social media and vice-versaLink your website to social media and vice-versa

Encourage visits to your social media platforms Encourage visits to your social media platforms with Facebook/Twitter/Foursquare-only deals & with Facebook/Twitter/Foursquare-only deals & specialsspecials

Add Facebook & Twitter like/recommend/tweet Add Facebook & Twitter like/recommend/tweet buttonsbuttons

A Good Next Step...A Good Next Step...

Attend Social Media Club of Richmond (SMCRVA)Attend Social Media Club of Richmond (SMCRVA)

Meet monthly and host a variety of topics & panelsMeet monthly and host a variety of topics & panels

Meet like-minded, social media-oriented Meet like-minded, social media-oriented businessmen and womenbusinessmen and women

Keep abreast of the ever-changing social media Keep abreast of the ever-changing social media worldworld

Meet new people and those you know from onlineMeet new people and those you know from online

Questions or Questions or Comments?Comments?

Facebook:Facebook:

Business: Business: RVAMediaWorksRVAMediaWorks

Personal: Personal: TrevorDickersonTrevorDickerson

Twitter:Twitter:

Business: Business: @RVAMediaWorks@RVAMediaWorks

Personal: Personal: @TrevorDickerson@TrevorDickersontrevor@rvamediaworks.com