Social Media & Your Business

What are you waiting for?

April 4, 2011

Georgianne Brown Co Founder & Managing Partner Big Couch Media Group 

 Agenda

• Big Couch Media Group• What is Social Media?• The Social Media Landscape• Why is Social Media Important? • Getting Started – The Basics • Other Social Media Channels • Tracking & Analysis • Industry Resources • Q&A

 

Big Couch Media Group • South Florida based full service digital strategy and solutions

company.

• Company principles, former senior digital executive leadership in publicly traded and large organizations in online retail, leisure travel, financial services, technology, and health/wellness.

 • Extensive experience in assisting emerging entrepreneurial

growth organizations develop, implement, and optimize results oriented digital solutions.  • Strategic Consulting• Website, Development, Design, and Hosting • Interactive Marketing • Social Media Marketing • Mobile Strategy

My Personal Goal For Today…..

….. You learn something new, and implement one thing…..

What is Social Media?

  “Social media is the use of web-based and mobile

technologies to turn communication into interactive dialogue.”

  

- Wikipedia.com

The Social Media - Conversation

The Social Media Landscape

Social Media is Device Agnostic

Why is Social Media Important? • Ability to Bring Your Products & Services to Where Your Target

Constituents are Gathering – Content Distributiono Facebook: 600 million users; 250 million joined in 2010o LinkedIn: 100 million members, conducting over 200 billion searches in

2010

• Brand Reputation Management  - Be In the Conversationo It is now very easy to see what people are saying about your company and

you can quickly respond 

• SEO - Rank High in Search Engines o Google LOVES social media – Social media must be an integrated aspect

of ANY successful SEO strategy

• Cost Effective Channel – Cast a Wider Net • Connect and engage with associates and potential customers

• IT’S NOT A PASSING FAD……

"Getting Started" – The Basics

 • LinkedIn • Facebook • Twitter   • YouTube • Company Blog • Google Places • Other Social Media Channels

…..Why?

• The largest social network dedicated to business networking.

• Cost effective way to introduce your business and services, acquire new customers, make new business contacts, and connect with past customers and business associates.

LinkedIn – Company o Company profile (recently

enhanced):o Products & Services -

descriptions / images o YouTube Videos o Offers o Company Address o Twitter Integration o Blog Integration o Request Recommendationso Solicit Followers o Target Audiences o Link to Website o Encourage associates to link

profiles to company o Analytics now availableo Potentially test targeted paid ads

(PPC)

LinkedIn - Personal  Profiles• Create a robust personal profile • Aggressively reach out to build

your network through past and present business associates, colleagues, and clients  • Personalize message in request

• Request recommendations • Join related groups  • Engage with status updates• Link Twitter & Blog• LinkedIn “Skills”, ability to

highlight skills, certifications, languages, and patents

LinkedIn Optimization • Applications

– Portfolio Display– Slideshare – Polls – Events

• Authoritative Leadership– LinkedIn Answers – Post articles – Start groups– lead

discussion

Facebook • Create Facebook Fan Page 

o Robust description o Contact information  o Photos o Videos

• Build Fan base o Employees o Associates o Clients o Related groups

• Engage in conversation o Regular updates, i.e. tips, articles,

photos, news, PR, etc.  o Monitor and respond to all inquiries

• Fan related and partner businesses • Consider targeted paid ad campaigns  

Facebook Places • Facebook’s entrée to

Location Based Services• Information and / or

entertainment available via mobile that leverages GPS

• Claim your business on Facebook Places

• Leverage Facebook Deals as appropriate

• New feature, ability to import lists and invite contacts to join

• Coming soon: Group buying capability, i.e. Groupon like

Facebook Deals – Case Study

• The Gap launches nationwide promotion

• Check in through Facebook Places in store

• Chance to win one of 10,000 free pairs of jeans

• Results: Gave away the jeans in just 15 minutes

Facebook “Like”

• Link your website / blog to Facebook : • Facebook Connect – Single

sign on • “Like”

Twitter

• Optimize Twitter page  • Build Followers  • Integrate Twitter as a

method for short and immediate messages:o Customer Service o Announcements o Press Releaseso Promotions o Reputation Managemento Industry News & Trends

 

YouTube

• YouTube is the largest online video community boasting over 60 billion videos watched each month

• Build company YouTube channel

• Will integrate with your other social media

• Optimize descriptions and link back to website / blog

Company Blog

• Establish Company Blog

• Blog Platforms:• Blogger • TypePad • WordPress

• Tips for a successful blog:• Helpful expert content • Original content • Lists • Updates

• Link to your other social media

Google Places

• Secure listing on Google Placeso Verification will be required 

• Optimize Google Places description • Add images - photos & videos • Promotional messaging • Encourage clients & associates to submit reviews • Consider Google Tags (paid)

Other Social Media Channels

• Location Based Services

• Review Sites

• Article syndication

• Webinars

• Mobile

Connect Your Social Media • Link your social media, as they

all work together.

• Leverage services i.e. OnlyWire or HootSuite to automate and schedule messages across all your social channels.

• Integrate company social media on your website or blog.

• Add your social media to your email signature.

Tracking and Analysis

• Make sure you track and analyze all your efforts, establish quantitative goals / KPI’s (key performance indicators).

• Implement Google Analytics (free) to monitor:– Traffic & visitors to your website – Where visitors are coming from

• Establish Google Alerts for your company to monitor online media mentions or activity.

• Consider Social media monitoring services, i.e. SocialMention.com.

Resources

Social media is evolving and ever changing, therefore it is important that you try and stay current.

•“My Favorite” Daily Newsletters: 

o Mashable (trends)o eMarketer (statistics)

•Several great Social Media Groups on LinkedIn.

Georgianne Brown Co Founder & Managing Partner Big Couch Media Group 

Today’s presentation will be available on my LinkedIn profile and the 1800Lighting.com website / social media channels.

www.linkedin.com/company/big-couch-media-groupTwitter:  @BigCouchMediaFacebook: www.facebook.com/bigcouchmediagroupBlog:  www.bigcouchmediagroup.com/blog

georgie@bigcouchmedia.com LinkedIn:   www.linkedin.com/in/georgiannebrown Twitter: @georgiannebrown

Summary• Embrace social media as a key strategy for your business…

your competition is already doing it.

• Lead by example within your organization.

• Allocate resource (internal or outsource) to make sure you are monitoring and engaging in the conversation. 

• Integrate the concept - "casting a wider net". 

• Measure your results.

• Stay educated. 

• Have FUN!