Social Media Workshop for Small Business

Shashi Bellamkonda

Online Tools Used by Small Business

•Network Solutions – University of Maryland Small Business Success index http://growsmartbusiness.com

64%

53%

39%

36%

35%

31%

30%

26%

25%

21%

20%

17%

16%

14%

69%

65%

48%

41%

37%

42%

40%

35%

38%

25%

30%

31%

21%

19%

Online customer service by email

Company website

Online advertising in industry/public directories

Shared network

Ability for employees to communicate with each other online

Ability to demonstrate products/services online

Ability for customers to order your products/services online

Search engine optimization plan

Online advertising that places ads on various sites

Security features on website

Ability for customers to pay for products/services online

Social media presence

Online customer service using chat capabilities

Area of website where customers can get info on transactions with your organization

Have now2 Year Potential*

Use of/Need for Various Internet Business Solutions (n=500)

% ChangeHave now

from Wave 1

+4

+3

+1

0

+2

+2

+4

+3

+2

+4

+3

+5

+4

0

Social Media for Small Business

Small Business can utilize social media to level the playing field against bigger, stronger competitors.

Connect with Customers and Community

Improve chances of being found online – more results

Manage your brand and reputation online

Get more referrals and customers

Have you Searched for yourself lately

5

How Small Business can use Social Networking ToolsGet ideas, trends, buzz

Find peers and network

Easy distribution of content

Greater reach

New Clients

6

Listening Tools : Who is talking about you and what are the trends?

– Google Alerts

– Twitter– Friendfeed– Technorati– BackType– Buzzlogic– BuzzMonitor– Techrigy.co

m– Radian 6

Setup Google Alert

Blogging Basics

Blogging Basics: ROI of this Module

Learn what a blog is

What business and corporate blogging is

Who and why people are doing this

What to write about

Tips to Great Blogging

Blogging Basics: Definitions, just in case

A Journal, usually updated frequently, sometimes categorized

Usually links to other sites

Can support comments and some interaction

Provides ability to subscribe to site so reader gets updates without having to visit page.

Blogging Basics: Reasons to Blog

Improve Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Gain Visibility as a Thought Leader

Generate Real Conversations

Display Brand Personality

Perform Market Research

Improve Customer Service

Share Company Announcements

Blogging Basics: What to Publish

Commentary on mainstream media articles, other blogs, news, events and relevant trends

Company News

Case Studies

Ideal Blog Topics:Photos, Videos and PodcastsConference notesBusiness PhilosophyTools, resources, tips, ideas, listsAwards, honors, PR, new employee, new vendor, new

system

Blogging Must Do’s

Comment: Respond to blog post

Link Love: Link to other blogs/sites (online currency)

Tagging: Adding words to describe blog content

Troll: Mean commenters (IGNORE THEM!)

Blogroll: Links to favorite blogs

Embed: Copy/paste media

13

Blogging Basics: Getting Started

Take 15 minutes a day to write a blog postFind a topic

Keep it around 400 words or less if possible

Write in short paragraphs. Not more than six lines of text.

Write and embed any content (pictures, videos)

Check copyrights and licensing and give attributions

Preview Your Post

Publish or Schedule It

Blogging Tip #1 – Increase Linkability

1. Blogging2. White papers3. Thought pieces4. Flash demos5. 2-way dialogue

15

Remember, the key is to have content that “engages” others and makes them want to link to your site.

Blogging Tip #2 – Reward Inbound Links

1. Who is linking to you and what are they saying?

2. Track your inbound links

3. Allow display of trackbacks

4. Highlight people who write about you

5. Engage in conversations on blogs that link to you

16

Blogging Tip #3 – Engage Your Readers

Write in an authentic, human voice

Use meaningful titles

Publish on a regular basis. Target once a week at minimum.

Enable and monitor your comments

Link to other sites

Be Passionate

Give credit where it’s due (pictures, text quotes)

Syndicate and re-use text

Blogging Tip #4 –Tag and Bookmark

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A “tag” is just a word(s) that describe content.

Tags that describe the content

Easy to bookmark and add to Social Media Sites

Adding quick buttons to "add to del.icio.us“

Making sure pages include a list of relevant tags

Adding tags to pages first on popular social sites

Blogging Tip #5 – Put Policies in PlacePut together some policies and guidelines like the following

examples:

– Topics in which the Company is involved in litigation or could in the future: (i.e. policy, customer disputes, etc.)

– Non-public information of any kind about the Company, including, but not limited to, policies and strategy

– Illegal or banned substances and narcotics

– Pornography or other offensive illegal materials

– Defamatory, libelous, offensive or demeaning material

– Private/Personal matters of yourself or others

– Disparaging/threatening comments about or related to anyone

– Personal, sensitive or confidential information of any kind

Great Post on Policies and Guidelines http://wiki.altimetergroup.com/

http://blog.networksolutions.com/2009/sxsw-follow-up-corporate-social-media-guidelines/

Demo on Starting a Blog

Final Thoughts

Listen first

Conversation, not publishing or broadcasting

Be a useful conversationalist

Build relationships - one at a time

Take a Leap of Faith and Jump In!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fwp-dawson/2821182851/

Photo Courtesy Fred Dawson on Flickr freds-take-on-the-world.blogspot.com/

Built online relationships offline

Your Social Media PlanSetup Alerts

Join and setup profiles in 3 social networks

15-20 minutes a day tracing the alerts and responding

Choose 3 blogs on your field to read and comment

Converse, don’t sell

2 hours a week - Learn and write about the products you promote

Measure your efforts

How many times were you mentioned

How many people read your posts

Inbounds links

Are your customers evangelizing

Thank you

Shashi Bellamkonda shashib@networksolutions.com

Twitter: @shashib

Small Business Success Index : http://www.GrowSmartBusiness.com

Network Solutions Blog : http://blog.networksolutions.com

Women Entrepreneurs : http://www.WomenGrowBusiness.com

Personal Blogs:

Technology & Social Media: http://www.shashi.name

Digital Thoughts: http://readythoughts.blogspot.com

Restaurant Reviews: http://www.carryoncurry.com

Call 1-877-438-8599 and we can help you today!