Worksheet to accompany this is at www.tinyurl.com/mysocialmediaplan. Getting started in social media can be overwhelming for consultants. This presentation lays out a staged process for dipping your toe into this wonderful marketing channel. Workshop delivered to the Institute of Management Consultants New England Chapter.

1. IMCNE: Social Media
Oh where to begin?
Mary Adams
I-Capital Advisors
Blog/web: i-capitaladvisors.com
Blog: icknowledgecenter.com
ICA-1

2. Path
Agenda
• Focus
• Intro • Listen
• My story
• Comment
• Your story • Contribute
• Our story • Engage
Opener:
• 30-second introductions
• Group’s current social media profile
ICA-2

3. Intro – social media for consultants
• Personal development
– Forces you to fine tune your ideas
– Forces you to engage with your field
• Marketing tool – it’s all about SEO
– Create conversations to get recognized
– Recognition gives you SEO
– Clients can find you through search
ICA-3

4. My story – 1.0
• 1999 Simple website
• 2004 Rebrand, pretty website, start
Trekking newsletter, writing articles
• 2006 Second site: IC Knowledge Center,
new content-site/newsletter-Google Alerts
ICA-4

5. My story – 2.0
• 2008 ICKC blog, SEO analysis new
practice, new website/blog (WordPress),
book contract
Smarter Companies
• 2009 Start tweeting, write book, start site
maryadamsICA
ICA-5

6. Your story: getting started
• Prerequisite: LinkedIn page or website
• Set a time goal per day/week:
Starting weekly goal = time for one face-to-
face call (2 – 2 ½ hrs./week)
• Ease into it
ICA-6

7. 1 – Focus:
What is my interest/expertise?
• ID subject areas
• Do lots of keyword searches
• Find the right keywords for your business
• Try to think about what prospects will type
into Google
• If geography is important, include place
words
ICA-7

8. 2 – Listen:
What are others saying?
• Get Google Alerts for your key words
• Get Twitter RSS feed for your key words
(or searches in TweetDeck)
• Explore Technorati
• Consider using a blog reader (lots of
options, I use BlogBridge)
Check at least once a week
ICA-8

9. 3 – Comment:
What do we have in common?
• Agree
• Congratulate
• Disagree (politely)
• Contribute new ideas
• Pass on things you like
Comment forms ask for your email and
website—this is the start of the
conversation
ICA-9

10. 4 – Contribute:
What can I add?
• Start blogging (plan 10 posts up front)
• Start tweeting (plan posts, link a lot)
• Articles
• SlideShare
• YouTube
Add content at least once a week
ICA-10

11. 5 – Engage:
What can we do together?
• Email people you respect
• Set up phone calls/meetings
• Market/sell like you always do
My results:
– Huge increase in network
– New work, speaking, partnerships
– Book contract
ICA-11

12. Get Started!
Develop plan:
1. Focus
2. Listen/comment
3. Contribute
4. Engage
Use attached worksheet, available at:
http://tinyurl.com/mysocialmediaplan
ICA-12