Embracing Social Media: How it can benefit your business Jeff Mackey, SIX15 solutions March 11, 2015

Nice to meet you • SIX15 Solutions, LLC
 Website Design & WordPress Development • 20+ years experience in IT • IT in the D
 Networking events for IT professionals. Award winning blog series. Weekly podcast. • IT Advisory Chair for Oxford High School

What We’ll Cover • Why is social media important? • Which networks are right for your business? • How do you manage it all? • What is the ROI and how to measure it? • What are the First steps?

Why bother with social media? Is it important?

It’s important because… • Your competitors are using social networks daily • Your customers are using it right now • 92% of consumers trust word of mouth above all other advertising • Social is the new SEO • Social is a search engine (each have their own) • Drives traffic to your website:
 “All roads lead to Rome”

Speaking of Rome… Before you dive into Social Media…

Questions for your Website • What’s your business? What is the website’s role? • What Call to Action is there (if any)? • Does website structure & design serve role? • How does site rank in search (industry key words)? • Analytics: where are people clicking & coming from? • Start blogging. Respond to every comment. Share certain posts on certain networks

A Few Things About Social Media First…

Social is not a Video Game • The goal is not to get the most followers • Algorithms used by social networks will promote or bury your message based on engagement • Focus on targeted audience who will engage with your posts (i.e. Like, Share, Pin, Retweet)

They’re Not all the Same • Social media is all about connecting with people that care about what you do • Each network has a particular audience • Tailor message for each network • Facebook is your living room;
 LinkedIn is your office...

So which ones are right for your business?

Tailor for each audience • Twitter:
 Publications, B2B businesses • LinkedIn:
 B2B service providers • Facebook:
 B2C products, brands & software • Google+:
 B2B brands • YouTube:
 eCommerce • Instagram, Pinterest:
 Fashion, retail, food, eCommerce http://www.quicksprout.com/2014/09/05/what-social-media-platforms-are-best-suited-for-your-business/

How do you manage all these networks? Hint: it’s work

Managing social media • No such thing as social media “guru” or “ninja” • No “silver bullet” (it takes time) • What worked for “them” may not work for you • Routine involvement is key (some automation is okay, but don’t over do it)

Take advantage of tools • Use each network’s own website and tools
 
 or • Hootsuite: Manage social networks, schedule messages, engage your audiences, and measure ROI right from the dashboard. • Sprout Social: A management & engagement platform for social business

How can I tell if it’s worth the time? What is the Return on Investment?

How to measure Social ROI • Use Google Analytics to measure website activity • Set conversion goals (make purchase, download PDF, newsletter signup)
 These are all measurable • Track referring websites for social engagement • Use each network’s insights to measure Likes, reach, impressions, comments

Where to begin?

First Steps • Claim your brand on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, Google+, and LinkedIn • Create branded pages on all networks • Blog often, about relevant industry topics; link to blog posts from social accounts • Create editorial calendar • Respond to customers; social media is a two-way conversation, the key is engagement • Drive social media traffic to website

Tips and Tricks • All users LOVE pictures within posts • Space out updates • Don’t blast same message to every network • Post when your target audience is online • Be concise with your post • Leave politics and other taboo subjects alone • Pay attention to what works and what doesn’t

Thank You