This document discusses the importance of social media for communications professionals. It notes that social media can be used to build relationships, identify trends, find brand ambassadors, and more. Popular social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and YouTube are outlined. The document provides tips on using each platform, such as posting engaging content, monitoring conversations, and being consistent across sites. Golden rules for success with social media emphasize creating a strategy and engaging audiences authentically while focusing on relevant content.

1. social media for
communications professionals
thinkcreativegroup.com

2. > Why social media is important
> Is your target market online
> Facebook
> Twitter
> Other tools
> Monitoring the conversations
> Golden rules for success
agenda

3. why social media
is important

4. > Build relationships
> Identify new trends
> Find + engage brand ambassadors
> Branding + top of mind awareness
> Keep an eye on competitors
> Community-based public relations
> Low cost option for extreme word of mouth
why social media
is important

5. > Visiting social sites in now the 4th most popular activity
> 93% of social media users believe a company should have a presence in
social media––85% believe they should interact with customers
> 3 out of 4 Americans use social technology
> Time spent on social networks is growing at 3x the overall internet rate
> Every minute 13 hours of videos are uploaded to YouTube
> 1 million YouTube videos are viewed everyday
> On average, there are 3 million tweets per day on Twitter
why social media
is important

6. 2009 Study
how social media
is used

7. 2009 Study
social media
for marketing

8. 2009 Study
social media
for pr

9. While Twitter and Facebook get the headlines, the social media form
organizations are turning to most as they look to the future is blogging.
Some consider blogging “old” social media, but it has proven itself an
effective communication tool. The ability to reach a mass audience
With a personal point of view and invite comments is very powerful.
old or new trend?

10. Nearly nine out of ten journalists (89%) say they use blogs for online
research. Only corporate websites (96%) are cited by more journalists
as a source of online information.
Blogs (64%) are the most frequently used social networking tool to
publish, promote, and distribute what journalists write, followed closely
by social networking sites (60%), and microblogging sites (57%).
2009 Social Media & Online Usage Study from George Washington University and Cision
how social media
impacts pr

11. The walls between PR and the media are coming down.
In one click you can:
> find the most relevant reporters to the story you’re pitching
> obtain a better understanding of what they like and what they’re
interested in by reading their feed
> get a direct link to their blog or website
> and network with them via @reply or DM
how social media
impacts pr
11

12. 2009 Study
social media
tools trend

13. is your target
market online?

14. U.S. Internet users by age between 2005 and 2008
30-34 increased 83-87%
40-44 increased 76-83%
45-49 increased 73-80%
55-59 increased 68-71%
60-64 increased 55-62%
70-74 increased 26-45%
75-plus increased 17-27%
(Pew Internet & American Life Project, "Generation Online in 2009,” January 28, 2009).
target market

15. facebook

16. > Viral marketing on steroids
> A second “website” on a network with a great number of users
> A mass communications tool
> A way for small businesses with limited budgets to reach the masses
> Build strong brand loyalty
why use facebook

17. > More than 300 million active users
> 50% of active users log on to Facebook in any given day
> The fastest growing demographic = 35 years old and older
> More than 10 million users become Fans of Pages each day
> More than 8 billion minutes are spent on Facebook each day (worldwide)
> Average users spend 5 hours, 46 minutes on Facebook a day
why use facebook

18. facebook users
want you online

19. > Personal profile
> Official page [for business]
> Community page
> Group
> Ads
> Applications
> Polls
> Contests
> Coupons
> Cross-platform promotions—pull in other social media
about facebook

20. > Keep your personal profile separate from your business
> Set a strategy and stick to it
> Set up your official page for business—get a vanity url once you reach 25
followers [facebook.com/thinkcreativegroup]
> Install applications to your page that are relevant
> Get creative + make your page a resource—utilize polls, contests, coupons
> Make sure you pull in your other social media—YouTube,
blog, etc
> Post a link to find you on Facebook on all of other tools
[email signature, website, blog, Twitter, LinkedIn]
using facebook

21. twitter

22. > Position yourself as the expert
> Gain strategic partners
> Stimulate thought and conversation by posing questions
> Drive users to your blog, website, facebook page, etc.
why use twitter

23. > Microblog
> 140 character “tweets”
> Followers + Following
> Main goal - gain followers
> Hyperlinks are the key [can condense]
> Follow the right people
> Retweets [RT]
about twitter

24. > Start by following
> Search on keywords and conversations
> Tweet interesting, valuable + relevant information [not self-serving info]
> Commit to tweeting frequently
> Say nice things about people’s posts and publicly thank your followers
> Hold contests
> Post a link to find you on twitter on all of your other tools
[email signature, website, blog, Facebook, LinkedIn]
using twitter

25. > Blogs
> LinkedIn
> YouTube
> HARO [Help A Reporter Out]
> and many, many, many more!
other tools

26. monitoring the
conversations

27. > Find audiences who care about your brand and products
> Understand customer attitudes toward your brand and offerings
> Identify passionate, authentic brand Influencers + activists
> Generate awareness + build brand loyalty through customer engagement
> Assess share of voice for your products + brand
> Drive influential peer-to-peer, word-of-mouth promotion
> Measure marketing + media campaign success
> Cost-effectively resolve customer service issues
> Uncover new product and feature opportunities
why monitor the
conversations

28. Listen. Compare. Adapt.
> Free alert tools—Google Alerts, Google Blog Search, socialmention
> “Freemium” + “Lite” options— Alterian SM2, trackur, BrandsEye
> Paid+ advanced options—Radian6, BrandWatch, truVOICE
how to monitor
the conversations

29. golden rules for success

30. > Create a strategy—start with your end goal
> Be authentic and transparent
> Be true to your brand and value proposition
> Consistency from site to site
> Listen first
> Post relevant content
> Engage your audience—be interesting and creative to get users involved
golden rules for success

31. > Always ask “what do my customers want and how can I engage them”
> Become viewed as an expert
> Tie it into other social media + traditional marketing/advertising efforts
> Stop thinking campaigns and start thinking conversations
> Be careful what you post
> Measure progress and results
> Don’t get sucked in
golden rules for success
31

32. > Define your Purpose
> Answer “How does this fit into my overall marketing/branding strategy?”
> Define your goals
> Create a strategy
> Select your tools
> Determine how you will monitor + measure success
> Get started!
get started

33. This presentation will be available online:
> facebook.com/thinkcreativegroup
> blog.thinkcreativegroup.com
thank you
33

34. questions?