This document provides an overview of social media and how to engage with different social media platforms. It defines social media as collaborative online communities that allow sharing of information through blogs, networks and conversations. The key platforms discussed are Facebook for personal and professional use, LinkedIn for professional networking, Twitter for sharing short messages and ideas, and blogs as a backbone for social media presence. Guidelines are provided on setting up profiles on these sites and how to engage and measure effectiveness. Tools for analytics and monitoring social media are also mentioned.

1. Social Media Crash Course Presented by Amani Channel http://www.visualeyemedia.com http://www.myurbanreport @urbanreporter

2. What is Social Media? Social media is the collaborative community of people who share information, and media through conversations that usually involve blogs, networks, and communities. It's a way to engage in conversations, share content, and build community.

3. Why Social Media? Personal Viral You can influence your network Create niche content You are the media

4. Social Media 101 Social media is about conversations, listening, and building relationships (2-way). It doesn’t replace face-to-face interaction, but it can enhance and increase your potential reach exponentially. You must learn the language and culture of the social networks you engage in. The NLC has uses social media as its primary marketing tool.

5. Where do we Engage? Facebook: Personal/Professional LinkedIN: Professional Twitter: Watercooler MySpace: Music Flickr: Photosharing YouTube: Video Blogs

6. Facebook How do you Facebook? Events Pages Groups Politics Nonprofit Other ideas?

7. LinkedIN Profile Groups Questions and Answers Events Job Leads Other

8. Twitter Twitter is called a microblog and allows 140 character messages that generally include links, hashtags, and comments directed towards other users. Twitter handle: Can be your name, or a handle related to your brand. Example Tweet: @jacquichew Thanks for helping me on the @NLC_Atlanta presentation #NLC

9. Twitter RT stands for Re-tweet and is essentially a quote of another persons tweet. EX RT @urbanreporter @jacquichew Thanks for helping me on the @NLC_Atlanta presentation #NLC < I enjoyed it. Tweets are generally public A private tweet is a direct message or DM You gain followers by sharing valuable information to your network.

10. Exercise Register and logon to Twitter. Create a Tweet and include the #NLC hashtag. Search the #NLC hashtag and follow at least two NLCers. Send a “hello” message to a NLCer (use @NLC_Atlanta & #NLC

11. Blogs Blogs should be the backbone of your social media presence. (Web-log) Easy to update websites that can be used to share a variety of information. Inexpensive if not free. Great way to brand, market, or share niche content.

12. Blog Platforms Blogger (free Google) WordPress (free wordpress.com) WordPress (wordpress.org + url, hosting, template) Tumblr free blogging/content aggregators Posterous

13. Social Bookmarking Social Bookmarking allows you to save links online and share them with the greater community. www.delicious.com www.digg.com www.stumbleupon.com www.reddit

14. YouTube YouTube has changed the way we watch video Video can be an important part of your social media strategy Affordable Relatively easy All videos are shareable Vlog, cover events, interviews Share niche content regularly

15. Social Media Strategy How do you develop a social media campaign? What are your objectives? How to you measure? What is your influence?

16. Tools Google analytics Twitter Search Bit.ly (urlshortnerw. analytics) http://takemetoyourleader.com/2009/03/24/free-social-media-monitoring-tools/

17. Other Thoughts? Thank You Contact: Amani Channel info@visualeyemedia.com