Successful Business Strategy with Social Media
Club Service Program Chair Robert Robert introduced online marketing expert and Rotary District 5240 Communications, Social Media, and Website Czar Michael Boyer, who spoke on the topic, "Social Media – Seven Steps to Socializing Strategy".
Michael began with showing a short video, Did You Know 4.0, about the influence of the emerging social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube and the dominance of digital media vs. traditional media. Astounding!! Done in 2009, Michael said it needs updating, but it showed in easy-to-follow factoids how vast and quick the internet has become in acquiring information and connecting with people anywhere.
He addressed the 5 Myths of Social Media: 1. Don't have the time (It only takes 10 minutes); 2. It's a time waster (No, it saves time, and becomes much more productive the more you use it); 3. Social media is for teens (All ages have grasped it, with the fastest growing demographic on Facebook being women 35-50); 4. It's just a fad (Michael called it a fundamental change in everyone's lives); 5. Social media replaces my other lead generation activities (Doesn't replace, but enhances traditional methods). Michael also identified six types of Social Media - Social Networks, Blogs, Media Sharing Sites, Micro-Blogs, Bookmaking and Voting Sites, and Review Sites.
The importance of social media in business and knowing the rules is vital to its success, Michael said. Create specific goals and don't lose sight of them. Set-up a social media system and do it every day. Be consistent with your message. Mind your image, your business depends on it. Listen, observe and participate. Follow the best practices: DO brand yourself/Don't sell and/or use bots and automated software. DO regularly post meaningful content/Don't saturate with meaningless content. DO use captivating titles such as."How to.", "7 Steps to.", "The worst way to.". Pose questions to peak interest and use humor.
For Twitter, he offered Tips to Twitter: Ask for retweets, make tweets "retweet friendly" (120 characters), shorten links, don't use characters or numbers in your username, follow people from your industry (twello.com or search.twitter.com are effective places to find them), and use applications to make it easier.
In Facebook, create a fan page for your business, be professional, share your success! Share your troubles, be genuine, and create Facebook Events for all important, upcoming dates. For LinkedIn, the professional social media site currently used mostly for recruiting, Michael said you should connect with other professionals where you live and in your same business, post informative content regularly, and participate in the conversation.