social networking for small business

Social Networking for Small Businesses

Nate Towne (@Fancy_Lad)natehtowne@gmail.com

What IS Social Media?

A medium for social interaction, using highly accessible and scalable publishing techniques. Social media uses web-based technologies to

turn communication into interactive dialogues.

Social Search & Marketing

• Google Places – start here and work your way

Social Media Networks

Facebook

Setting up a free Facebook account for yourself and creating a page for your business is a good way to enter the social networking space. You

can announce new product features and events, post pictures, and communicate directly to your fans. These people have

essentially "opted in" to receive messages from your company.

Twitter

To set up a free Twitter account, go to twitter.com, create a username and password, and begin finding people to follow – including your competition. A message sent via Twitter

is called a “tweet.” (Isn’t that sweet?)

LinkedIn

Establishing a LinkedIn account for yourself is a great way to network with like-minded

business peers in your area and nationwide. LinkedIn can help you find business partners, vendors and resources to help your business.

Blogging

• What’s a blog?• Is blogging right for you?• Quality, not quantity.• Promote your blog through social media– Facebook– Twitter– LinkedIn

Social Search & Marketing

• Geolocation Marketing– Have you heard of foursquare?– If your location is retail-based, consider it.– Yelp!

Consider Going Mobile

• Tablets and smart phones– Can function as credit card scanners– Can manage inventory– Can help you connect with customers on the go– Can let you quickly capture and share images,

news, product issues • They’re tax deductable too!

Social Media Management

• Social media *isn’t* free – it takes TIME• You need to invest in social media – it’s not a

cosmic cash machine (yet)• Baby steps! Start small and build as you can• Use tools like Hootsuite to be more efficient• Don’t pay an “expert” – do your own research

Measure, Measure, Measure

• It’s not just about “likes” and traffic• Measure what REALLY matters to your biz• What are you learning from social?– What do your customers really want? Ask!– What is your competition doing? Spy!– What are others in your industry doing that you

can take and make your own? Research!

5 Social Networking Tips

1. It is important for you to locate where your customers are most likely to congregate online.

2. Set aside a certain amount of time every day for social media activities.

3. Don’t pretend to be something you are not.4. Become an online expert in your field by dispensing

advice and playing a valuable role in online communities.

5. Listening is perhaps the most important part of social media.

Thanks!

• Resources– http://mashable.com/business/small-business– http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/socialmediaf

orbusiness.pdf– http://www.madisonsmc.org