Twitter and Blogs - Gravity Switch

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Twitter & Blogs

MSBDC: April 22, 2010




Overview

01. Introductions

02. Twitter

03. Blogs

04. Tips and Tricks

05. Questions



Who I Am / What I Do

derek allard [email protected]

Website designer / programmer

Website marketer (SEO / Social Media / PPC)

Maximize value of website

Return On Investment (ROI)



Who Are You?

What do you want from this workshop?

Do you have a website?

Do you use Twitter?

Do you have a blog?

What has your experience been?



This Workshop Will Help You

Get started with Twitter / Blogging

Understand potential of Twitter / Blogging

Define strategies for Twitter / Blogging

Setup Twitter and related tools

Understand Blog options



Workshop Materials

Presentation is posted at

http://www.gravityswitch.com/msbdc

1



Twitter



What The Heck Is Twitter?

Microblogging service

Launched in March 2006

105 million registered users

Exponential growth 2008-2009



Why Would I Use Twitter?

Connect with customers

Meet new people and markets

Promote your goods and services

Become the expert



How Do I Set Up Twitter?

Create account (username)

Add avatar

Write bio

Add background



Screen Capture



How Do I Use Twitter?

Follow

Tweet

Reply

Retweet

Direct message



Screen Capture



Twitter Strategies

Use search

Converse (don’t broadcast)

Mix personal and professional

Hashtags and Trending Topics

Use a tool to simplify and track



Twitter Clients (Tools)

TweetDeck

Tweetie

Twirl

HootSuite



HootSuite

Simplifies management of twitter posts

Shortens and tracks URLs

Post / monitor other SM platforms

Schedule posts for future times



Screen capture



BloggingBlogging



Blogging Defined

Articles (posts) about a particular topic

Allows users to comment

Posts added to archive (SEO benefit)

Broadcast / subscribe via RSS feed

Think online journal



Why Would I Blog?

Connect to customers informally

Encourage community via comments

Provides another marketing channel

Become the expert



Blogging Tidbits

Best to blog on your domain

Devote time to writing posts

Plan posts in advance

Monitor comments (or turn off)



What To Post

News

Top 10 lists

How-To’s

Controversy



Hosted vs. Self-Hosted

Easier setup with hosted

Less technical with hosted

Negative SEO implications if blog is

separate from website

More flexibility with self-hosted



Hosted Blogging Options

Wordpress.com

Blogger.com

Typepad.com ($)

Squarespace.com ($)



WP capture



Blogger capture



Typepad capture



Squarespace capture



Self-Hosted Options

Wordpress

Moveable Type

Drupal

Joomla

ExpressionEngine ($)



Tips And Tricks (Twitter)




Think personal rather than business





Use search to find people / customers






Ask questions






Ask questions

Be judicious about who you follow






Ask questions


Try anything once and be creative






Ask questions


Try anything once and be creative

Use a Twitter client



Tips And Tricks (Blogging)




Devote the time needed to succeed





Think through hosted / self-hosted






Think through SEO implications







Keep posts focused in your niche








Stuffy = bad / Informal = good








Stuffy = bad / Informal = good

Promote your RSS feed



Takeaways

Remember, above all, social media is a

conversation

Your website will be the hub of all social

media efforts

Offers new channels for you to become

the expert in your field



Additional Resources

The Social Media Marketing Book by Dan Zarrella

Web Design and Marketing Solutions for Business

Websites by Kevin Potts

The Social Media Bible by Lon Safko and David K.

Brake



Thank You!

Derek Allard

Gravity Switch

[email protected] | 586.9596

twitter.com/derekallard

facebook.com/gravityswitch

linkedin.com/in/derekallard



Ask me Questions

Ask Me Questions

Technology

Twitter and Blogs - Gravity Switch