It’s Time to “Get Social”

Why Social Media is Important

by

Marc MandtCarolinaMoneySaver.com

What is Social Media?

•Social Networks

•Blogs

•Twitter

•Podcasts

•User Generated Content

Social Networks

Social Networking Explained

•CommonCraft presents

•Social Networking in Plain English

•www.CommonCraft.com

www.CommonCraft.com/video-social-networking

What is Social Media?

•Social Networks

•Blogs

•Twitter

•Podcasts

•User Generated Content

Blogs

•Short for Web Log

•Publish news, information, photos etc.

•Variety of topics & interests

•Free & easy

•Over 70 million since 2001

What is Social Media?

•Social Networks

•Blogs

•Twitter

•Podcasts

•User Generated Content

•A “Micro-blog”

•Kind of a social network

•Following & Followers

•Over 9 million regular users

•Evolving into a new method of search

http://www.twitter.com/

What is Social Media?

•Social Networks

•Blogs

•Twitter

•Podcasts

•User Generated Content

Podcasts

•Been around a few years

•A way to distribute / syndicate broadcasts or recordings

•Audio or Video

•Variety of topics like blogs

•Used by independent podcasters, bloggers and mainstream media

Podcasts

•Available as a subscription or on demand

•Played on computer or portable device

•Very inexpensive to create & distribute

•Deliver your message to anyone

What is Social Media?

•Social Networks

•Blogs

•Twitter

•Podcasts

•User Generated Content

User Generated Content

•Things that enhance current sites

•Comments on blogs or articles

•Content added by your users

Why Social Media is Important

•Why is it important to you?

•Why it’s important to our industry

Important for You•Your Customers will ask you about it

•A way to stay connected

•With Customers & peers

•Another way to help your current Customers (Fan pages, WOM)

•A way to generate new business

•Referrals, build your personal brand, be an expert

Important for You

•A great resource for lead generation

•Connect with peers (old & new)• Exchange ideas

• Follow up from conference

• Hear what’s going on in other places

Important for You

•YES! Your Customers should be on Facebook!

•Become a Fan of their business on Facebook & spread the word.

Conversational

•Web 2.0 & Social Media have changed the way information flows

•Changing from 1-way to 2-way or Multi-way

•Engage with Readers & Customers & have them engage with each other

Facebook Done Right

NoHo Bistro - Tampa, FL

Twitter example of @SubGuy

•Sub shop in Rock Hill, SC

•Uses Twitter to promote specials

•17 redemptions in ONE day!

•Steady flow for the rest of the week

Twitter example of @SubGuy

•Connecting with his customers

•Conversational

•Not blasting a bunch of promos

•Talks about employees, fellow business owners & current events

•Nice personal touch

Important for Our Industry

•Everyone can be a publisher

•Extend our brand online

•No limits on space or content

•Conversational

Important to Our Industry

•Use print and Social Media to drive traffic

•Use both to get our Customers’ phones ringing and get people in their stores

Now what do I do?

•Just do something

•Start with Facebook

•Watch others

•Ok to make mistakes

Now what do I do?•Twitter can be fun

•Can start with people you know• @AFCP (http://twitter.com/afcp)

• @AFCPconf @MACPA09 @IFPA

• @CaroMoneySaver @FreePaper

•Other interesting ones that also have blogs• @GuyKawasaki

• @ChrisBrogan

•http://search.twitter.com

Now what do I do?•Don’t be afraid to ask questions

•Still very new stuff

•Watch the AFCP & other industry sites for more info

•Sessions coming up on social media

•Email newsletters

•Blogs coming soon

What else can I do?

•Join some Facebook groups

•AFCP has 2 groups

•IFPA & SAPA have a groups

•Join Linked In

•Look at profiles of people you know

What else can I do?

•If you see something good online, Share It!

•With your Teammates

•With your Customers

•With Colleagues

•Have Fun!

Follow Up Links•Find this presentation on

•SlideShare.net • AFCP site

•Links to my collection of articles on Delicious

•http://delicious.com/MarcCMS

Thanks.email: marc@carolinamoneysaver.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/CaroMoneySaver http://twitter.com/marcmandt

Facebook: Marc Mandt

FB Fan Page: CarolinaMoneysaver.com

Free Paper Blog: http://www.FreePaperBlog.com

CMS Blog: http://blog.carolinamoneysaver.com

end