Introduction to Social Media - presentation given at Let's Do Business Show in Brighton, May 2012

1. 7 Top Tips to Make
Social Media Work
for Your Business

2. Why is social media the current buzzword?
★ “Free” marketing for business
★ Network (potentially with millions) without leaving
your desk
★ Develop your brand online
★ Build the “know, like, and trust” factor
★ Beware: it’s not the “magic bullet” of marketing...

3. The Big 3: A few facts
★ 131 million people on LinkedIn (15 million
joined in the 3rd quarter of 2011)
★ 500 million people on Twitter (10 million
in the UK)
★ 901 million people on Facebook monthly
worldwide (241 million in Europe)
★ ...are you missing out?

4. Tip No. 1: You need a strategy!
★ Why do you want to use social media?
★ Who do you want to connect with?
★ Where do they “hang out” online?
★ Which platforms will be best for you
★ What will you say?
★ How often?

5. Tip No. 2: Know which platforms work best for
your audience
★ LinkedIn: Business to business -
professional network
★ Twitter: All businesses - developing
conversations, building relationships
★ Facebook: Business to consumer - building
your brand, engaging community

6. Tip No. 3: Being authentic: people do
business with people
★ Social media gives you the opportunity to show more
than just your professional side
★ What else do you want to share with people?
★ Social media is about connecting for the sake of
connecting not “looking for business”

7. Tip No. 4: LinkedIn - not just a static CV
★ Your Profile - take time to write a professional
business
★ Recommendations - trusted testimonials
★ Groups - share your expertise and learn from
your network
★ Answers - key research tool
★ Keep in touch - your online database...

8. Tip No. 5: Facebook - a picture says more than a
thousand words
★ People love photos - add to 90% of posts
★ Make the most of your Cover Image - your prime
real estate (change it often)
★ How people view your Page - understanding the
importance of the Newsfeed

9. Tip No. 6: Twitter - conversations that matter
★ The 80/20 rule - how to avoid “me, me, me”
★ Content is king - tweets that add value
★ Engagement is queen - the art of conversation
★ Sharing the love - the art of re-tweeting
★ The hashtag (#) - what it means, and how to use it

10. Tip No. 7: Avoid the time drain - or how you can
“do” social media in 30 minutes a day
★ Automated content
★ Posting between clients, or on the move?
★ Social media in 3 x 10 minute bite-sized chunks
★ Timesaving Tip: Hootsuite - http://hootsuite.com/
★ Little and often...

11. Connect with me
★ Twitter: @KateBacon
★ Facebook Page: KateBaconCommunicationsGenius
★ LinkedIn: KateBaconLtd
★ Website: www.katebacon.com