Intro to social media
28
Introduction to Social Media For Small Business Owners River Jangda NSBDC • SCORE
-
Upload
riverjangda -
Category
Documents
-
view
1.115 -
download
1
Transcript of Intro to social media
Introduction to Social MediaFor Small Business Owners
River JangdaNSBDC • SCORE
Socialnomics93% of marketers use social media for
business53% of people on Twitter recommend
products in their tweets90% of people trust online
recommendations from people they know
The ROI of social media is that your business will exist in 5 years
Source: Socialnomics, 2013
What is social media?Merriam-Webster: forms of electronic communication (as Web sites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (as videos).
Or simply: a collection of online platforms that allow people to express themselves while creating relationships, connections, conversations, interest, and trust.
How can social media help my business?
Social Media can be used as a:Communication channelInformation channelCustomer service channelAdvertising channelReferral channel
Information channelInform your customers about
your businessProvide them with value (as
content, information, etc.)Prove to them that you are an
expert in your fieldBest platforms:
◦All!
Communication channelGet to know your customersBuild relationships (customers, business
partners, professional, competitors, etc.)Learn from your customers and your
competitionAsk questionsEncourage communication with yourself
◦ You are just a normal person, not a large corporation
Best platforms:◦ Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Blogging
Customer service channelAddress customer complaintsResolve issuesPromote praiseAnswer questionsHelp your customers outBest platforms:
◦Facebook, Twitter
Referral ChannelUse social media to drive
customers to your website/storeGive them information that will
make them want to visit your website/store
Best platforms:◦All!
Advertising channelWhat can you offer your customers?Why do they want what you have to offer?Give them deals/discounts, etc.Many different advertising options on
social mediaCan be much different from traditional
print advertising, howeverNot free!Best platforms:
◦Facebook, Twitter
Platforms To Cover
YouTube
Google +
Yelp
Bonus• Blogging • Google
Analytics
FacebookBy far the largest social network (1 billion+
users)
Fastest growing demographic: 30+ age group
Facebook helps explain who you are, who you know, where you are, and what you like
A great platform to share photos, news, articles, quotes, and other bits of information that will be valuable/entertaining for your audience
You can spend a lot of $ advertising
Must have a business page
500 million+ usersA platform that allows users to broadcast
news or information in 140 characters or less A great source for breaking news, articles,
opinions, and also connecting w/ peopleFollow your customers and influential people
in your industry◦ Geo location search: search for hashtags used in a
certain area, i.e.:
“#pizza near:reno within:25mi” will provide all tweets within 25 miles of Reno that use #pizza
LinkedInThe “professional Facebook”200+ million members2 new members join every secondGreat for networking, making
professional connections and introductions
Can also help to meet and network with possible clients/customers
Can be used to generate leads if you are a service business
Second largest search engine after Google
72 hours of video is uploaded every minute
500 years of YouTube video are watched on Facebook every day
700 YouTube videos are shared on Twitter every minute
How-to, DIYS videos, and informational webinars are very popular
YouTube
PinterestAbout 68% of users are women ages 25-45Basically a visual bookmarking site that
has a strong social component built inAllows users to show the world what they
want, where they want to be, etc.Tell your company’s story in visually
engaging ways◦ Create a stronger brand image
◦ Launch products
◦ Drive traffic to your website
BloggingEstimated 31 million bloggers in US
42 million blogs on Wordpess, 500K posts per day
60% of businesses have a business blog
◦ 65% of these businesses haven’t updated their blog in over a year!
Blog about subjects that are valuable to your customers
Easily broadcast new blogs on your website and social media platforms
Google +
400 million+ users (only about a 1/4 are active)
Now integrated with Google Places, making it necessary for all local businesses that have a physical location
Features Zagat reviews and reservations through OpenTable for restaurants
Important to have a profile for SEO reasons
Yelp
78 million monthly visitors30 million reviewsBusinesses in every categoryEssential for any local brick and
mortar businessesPrepare for both positive and
negative reviews of your business
Google AnalyticsNot a social platform, but a tool for your
websiteAllows you to see how many visitors you
have, where they came from, what pages they clicked on, how they used your site, etc.
A very powerful tool that can help your website, but can take a while to learn all the features
If you have a website, Google Analytics is essential
What social media platform is for me?
Choose 1-3 platforms at first
Platform choice depends on:◦Your customer/audience◦How much time you have◦Your social media goals
Creating a Social Media Plan1. Decide what your goals are
Get followers/fans? Create business relationships? Increase customer engagement? Increase sales?
2. Choose a platform that aligns with your goals and target audience What platforms do they spend the most time on?
3. Decide how much time you have to dedicate How often will you post/update?
Can you do it yourself or will you hire someone?
4. Decide how much money you want to spend Advertising or hiring help
How to measure social media ROI“The ROI of social media is your business will still exist in 5 years”
-Socialnomics
ROI depends on your goals and can be measured in different ways◦ Amount of new followers/fans◦ Amount of new relationships created◦ Amount of new comments/posts/reviews◦ Amount of new traffic to your website◦ Amount of new sales
Social media does not create sales, social media creates relationships that can lead to sales
Next stepsWhere do I go if I need help
creating my social media campaign(s)?
◦Internet (YouTube videos, articles, guides)
◦Nevada SBDC (www.nsbdc.org)◦Marketing/PR firms (local and
national)
Internet ResourcesHubspot.com
◦One of the best free resources for utilizing social media platforms
YouTube◦Hundreds of useful videos for all
social media platforms
Thousands of other free resources out there, just do a Google search
Nevada SBDCMarketing interns that can help
you with a social media plan◦Sit down with an intern for a free
consulting session
www.NSBDC.org775-784-1717
Marketing & PR firmsLocal or national/worldwide firmsCan do all the work for you
depending on how much you’re willing to pay
Local Options:The Abbi Agency (PR/social
media)Big Like (Facebook
resources/apps)
In Closing…
Social media is not a fad, it’s a fundamental shift in the way we communicate.
Please utilize the resources and videos below for
additional information and training
