Leveraging the Online Social Graph to Accelerate Your Local Business

Discovering the Potential of the Social Media Community and How it Can Enhance your

Marketing Strategy

6/16/2011

Many Businesses Have NO Social Media Strategy in Place

Do not use22%

Use Social Media

78%

78% of Businesses Surveyed Use Social Media

Has a Social Media

strategy41%

No Social Media

strategy59%

Only 41% of that 78% Has a Social Media Strategy in

Place

SOURCE: DIGITAL BRAND EXPRESSIONS - 2010

Do Not Use33%

Very Bene-ficial27%

Somewhat Beneficial

30%

Not Very Bene-ficial10%

The Majority of Businesses Who Use Social Media Say It's Beneficial

Social Media Can Have a Huge Impact on Your Business

SOURCE: HUBSPOT - AD-OLOGY RESEARCH, NOVEMBER 2010

Advantages of online communication and branding within the social media community.

Tactics to maintain and communicate your business’ voice.

Strategies to keep your following updated and engaged…and coming back for more.

The Agenda…

Leveraging your “social graph” to dominate competition and brand your business.

• More than just Facebook and Twitter…

• Most everything online is ‘social’

• Forums, blogs, article and local directories, etc. are also social media

• Requires staying in front of YOUR audience, consistently.

Putting the “Social” in Social Media…

Get Your Local Business ‘Out There’!

500+ million users on Facebook

2 billion videos streamed on YouTube every day

175+ million Twitter accounts have been opened

120,000+ new blogs are created every day

You Have a Pre-Established Network at Your Fingertips!

Social Media Gives All Businesses a “Boost”

Social Media Generating the Most Conversions for B2C

FacebookCompany BlogTwitterLinkedIn

Social Media Generating the Most Conversions for B2B

FacebookCompany BlogTwitterLinkedIn

Establish a “Voice” Around the Social Media Community…

• Identify intended audience and what your business stands for– Write it down!

• Keep tone and style consistent

• Maintain a “human presence” vs. “organizational presence”

• Don’t promote, add value

• Events & Engagements*– Industry Events– Company Webinars

*Use Hashtags on Twitter

• Industry News– New Products/Services– Announcements

• Share Knowledge– Tips and Tricks – DIY and “How To” guides– “Best Practices” from your

business

• Customer Appreciation – Special Promotions for

‘Fans’ & ‘Followers’– Coupons/Limited Offers

Keep Your Following “In the Loop” with Great Content and Perks…

• Share your knowledge outside of your businesses social networks:– LinkedIn Answers– Forum Questions– Comment on External Blogs

• In your industry

– Guest Blogging• Look for Opportunities to

Help and Provide Guidance

Leverage Your Expertise in Other Online Networks…

GOAL: Attract, Retain & Engage Prospects & Current Customers with Social Media

Take Wiggly Wigglers for Example…A small, local gardening business.

Blog: Shared gardening tips, events, and special offers.

Podcasts: Every Monday, they hold a live podcast with thousands of listeners.

Facebook: Over 2,000 members through constant activity and updates.

What Businesses (LIKE YOURS) Are Doing to Leverage the Social Graph….

What Businesses (LIKE YOURS) Are Doing to Leverage the Social Graph….

•Blog On and Off Your Website• Regularly posting on your own blog• Find relevant guest bloggers to add posts

to your blog• Ping posts to social networks and web 2.0

pages• Identify other blogs your target

customers read and become a guest blogger for them

• Tools: Google Blog Search, linksalpha.com

•Stay on top of the News• Clip, comment and post other blog posts,

articles and tweets• Update social networks and web 2.0

pages• Be a dependable resource for followers in

your industry• Tools: Utility Poster, Google Reader

Tips and Strategies YOUR Business Must Be Implementing…

•Create Incentives and Promotions• Run regular specials/promotions to

your Facebook Fans and Twitter followers

• Retain current customers and followers, while attracting new ones

• Advertise on your blog, other social networks, and web 2.0 pages-CROSS PROMOTION

• Tools: Facebook Deals, myzerr.com

•Throw Some Multimedia into the Mix• Take pictures, produce videos• Share multimedia content by

uploading to your social media networks and company blog

• Tools: YouTube, Flickr, BlogTalkRadio

MORE…Tips and Strategies YOUR Business Must Be Implementing…

What did we learn?Recap…

Now, Let’s Recap…

• Being online and participating in discussion puts the “social” in social media

• Great content to keep people engaged: industry news, events, promotions, best practices

• Establish a “human” voice for your businesses social media engagement

• Attract new followers and engage current fans by consistently participating and communicating

Maintain Consistency and Accuracy All Around the Web…

www.surefiresocial.com/identity-audit

Visit the URL Above and Sign Up to Evaluate Your Businesses Current Online Marketing Efforts.

…Don’t forget to visit our blog:surefiresocial.com/our-blog

888-804-8685 info@surefiresocial.com