how to use social media to market your business

Using Social Media to Market Your Business

Gail Kent

The Buzz Factoree, LLC

What is Social Media?

What’s the big deal, anyway?What’s the big deal, anyway?

►http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ILQrUrEWe8&feature=related

Social media is a set of internet-based tools that facilitates interaction among users and the sharing of content, images, audio and videos. It is sometimes referred to as Web 2.0 or PR 2.0.

It’s still all about forming one-to-one

relationships – NOT mass marketing!

Social media marketing (SMM) is a form of internet marketing that relies on social media to achieve marketing communication goals.

Important! • Social media is a tool, not

a miracle.• Not a substitute for a strategy.• The tools may be free or cheap, but takes know-how, time and money to do well.

What can social media marketing do for your business?

Done well, it ….

• Increases Web site traffic, page views and ad exposure (SEO)

• Increases conversion and helps track sales

• Enhances brand awareness (“soft” vs. “hard” advertising)

• Creates positive relationship with your brand and helps to manage your reputation

• Enhances business development and reaches more customers

Done poorly, it can . . .• waste resources• damage your brand

Where to start: Developing a social

media plan

1) Listen1) Listen

• Google AlertsGoogle Alerts• AlltopAlltop• TechnoratiTechnorati• Yahoo PipesYahoo Pipes• TrackurTrackur

2) Develop your strategy2) Develop your strategy

• Set rules of engagementSet rules of engagement• Set goalsSet goals• Define targetDefine target• Choose the right toolsChoose the right tools• The “what if?” testThe “what if?” test

3) Engage3) Engage

• Comment on blogsComment on blogs• Upload images on Flickr/YouTubeUpload images on Flickr/YouTube• Build a community on Twitter, Build a community on Twitter,

Friendfeed, Facebook, etc.Friendfeed, Facebook, etc.

4) Go Offline4) Go Offline

• Trade showsTrade shows• Networking eventsNetworking events• Phone callsPhone calls

5) Measure success5) Measure success

Pay attention to analyticsPay attention to analytics

Ask questions – of yourself, Ask questions – of yourself, employees and customers: What employees and customers: What did customers learn? What did you did customers learn? What did you learn about customers?learn about customers?

Are you ready for what’s Are you ready for what’s next?next?

►http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL9Wu2kWwSY