1. “You’re Linkedin-Now What? Using Social Networking Sites to Get More Business” Speaker: Wayne Kessler, President
2. Accelerated offers dynamic and innovative consulting and coaching services, which have been developed for small business owners looking to improve and grow their small business by discovering the best combination of offline and online marketing strategies for their target market. We offer: STRATEGIC MARKETING • Email Marketing, Blog and Newsletter Creation and Set up Media Kit Development, Press Releases & Presentations Branding materials: Logos, Business Cards, Stationary, Promotional Items Website Promotion Set up on Social Media Sites, Forums, Message Boards Local Business and Internet Directory Listing Registration Media Buying & Planning New product launch/Special Promotions Brand Development/Viral Marketing Marketing Plan Development and Strategy based on industry research WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT New Website Copy, Design & Development • Ecommerce Site Planning/ Content Management • Add/Review Site Analytics Membership Subscription• Password Protected Pages SSL Certificate Setup /Secure Authentication • Custom Forms & Lead Collection Social Media Integration/linking • Web Hosting Setup Custom Database Development • Domain Name Registration
3. Why Use Social Media? More people are using the web to research and purchase goods/services
4. Why Use Social Media? The use of online communities/ social media is expanding. In the US, 37% of online adults and 70% of teenagers participate in social networks. By 2011, 50% of adults and 84% of teenagers will have joined active social networks. Source: AGC (Academy Graphic Communication) Sept 2008 Business use of social networking is growing fast Currently a $200 million market. Expected to grow 40% a year for the next five years. $2 billion market by 2013. Source: Wainhouse Research, July 2008
5. Why is Social Media Effective? A recent study found that Twitter, blogs, LinkedIn and Facebook - in that order - are the top four social media tools used by marketers. Respondents report that the #1 benefit of social media marketing is gaining attention for the business, and 81% say their social media efforts generated exposure for their businesses. Improves traffic to company website by using links. More than half of participants say a major benefit is the resultant rise in search engine rankings that often comes with increased efforts. Can help in growing your marketing lists and qualified leads. One in two found social media generated qualified leads Builds new partnerships. At least two in three participants found that increased traffic occurred with as little as 6 hours a week invested, while those who have been doing this for years reported better results. Owners of small businesses (2 - 100 employees) are more likely than others to report benefits. One in three said social media marketing helped close business, though this percentage was higher (61.6%) among those who were using social media for longer periods of time. Source Media Buyer Planner 4/15/09
6. SocialMedia-Is it right for your business? Who is your target market? Call or survey your customers and ask if they are online and ask what sites they use? Register on and use the sites they use Add and use a blog/newsletter w/link to website to give information Use Groups to get or give information about your company/product Do you need to generate leads and build lists? Use polling, contact forms Do you need to find qualified employees?
7. Wayne’s Tips for Social Networking Create accounts on Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and internet search directories, e.g. Google business,Superpages, Biznik. Take the time to fill out your profile as completely as possible. Be consistent; Use the same username, company name and logo in each site. And be sure to link sites to each other. Correspond often w/people in your industry, and w/ the same interests. Use a multi-media approach-upload pictures,audio and video about your business, services, products, employees, stores, customer service. Submit them to all of your social media sites-use links to youtube, facebook, myspace.
8. Wayne’s Tips for Social Networking Start a blog (Wordpress) and/or newsletter. Add an RSS feed. Provide an incentive to subscribe. Provide some information for free, and charge for your knowledge, experience and services. Join forums, and discussion groups. Visit, read, post comments. Get involved in online conversations. Create quality links by posting in discussions, participating in forums, blogs, getting
9. Social Media Outcomes By using Social Media you can: Build relationships w/customers & prospects Better brand your company as expert Better assess customer’s needs Better meet customer needs Develop joint venture partnerships Grow your customer base