Stuart Crawford from Bulletproof InfoTech, Red Deer leader in Microsoft Small Business solutions shares tips and tricks on Social Media with the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce.

1. Social Media 101Red Deer Chamber of CommerceDefining and Understanding How to Connect with Your Clients and Colleagues Using the Latest Technologies Stuart R. Crawford VP, Business Development Bulletproof InfoTech 403.340.1011

2. About Bulletproof In business 22 years in Red Deer Expanded into Calgary in 2009 16 staff members Serve small business community in Alberta Nominated for 3 Microsoft awards in 2009 Nominated for Best Small Business IT solution in Canada 2009 We love to have fun…

3. Before we begin What social networking/media sites you use today Facebook LinkedIn Youtube Twitter Blogs Other

4. Introduction to social mediaWhat is social media? Is social media ready for business? Is business ready for social media? The pace of change Can you keep up? Where do you start? Feeling just a bit overwhelmed?

6. The Information Age

9. Remember this… Information is a commodity If you search hard enough, someone has posted something online for free Information we previously charged for! Everything is free! Don’t believe me, just do a bing search for “setting up a computer network” We need to change and change to survive!

10. It is not a technology…It is a way of being! Haven’t we been doing this all along Telephone Letters Interaction between people Rumor mills Coffee clubs Email Hasn’t the tools just become more sophisticated?

11. Do you think you are in control? “You can’t take something off of the Internet. That’s like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.” Joe Ragan, Newsradio As quoted in “Groundswell” by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff

12. Managing the porous wallKeeping on top of what is said Internal communications External communications What is being said How to keep on top of it Tips and Tricks

13. What is being said about you?How do you keep on top of things? Why is monitoring your business online important? What are others saying about you? What are your employees saying? Why is monitoring your business important?

14. What resources are available?Put into action immediately We can you start Blogs Twitter LinkedIn YouTube Blogtalkradio Others What is working and what is not? This is where your community can help

15. Should you start a blog?What would you say? Why a blog, what is so important about blogging? Many industry thought leaders blog daily They are viewed as an expert Communicate with clients and prospects What is working and what is not? What are your competitors doing? What are they not doing?

16. Getting recognizedThe thought leader in you is born Talk about everything around you Build a following Offer real advice Build relationships Follow events Add commentary Act as if… Demonstrate daily - you are a leader

17. Become viralStart the spread of you Interesting stuff is spread Make your information easy to share Be interesting Have you thought about video What about audio Pictures say a thousand words

18. Life can be shared in 140 charactersIs Twitter in you? Start the viral spreading Share interesting stories and ideas Promote others, clients, colleagues Engage with your community Follow Red Deer Chamber at @reddeerchamber Remember your hash tag “It’s 140 characters... If you need a ghostwriter for that, I feel sorry for you.” @The_Real_Shaq, New York Times, March 26, 2009 When Stars Twitter, a Ghost May Be Lurking

19. Business and Community using Twitter

20. What is on the horizonThe only thing for sure this year is change will happen What can you do now? What can you do tomorrow? What about your marketing plan? Have you considered your peers Where do your clients fit in? What can you do to promote them?

21. Each of us is a teacherWe also need to educate Are you? Ready to embrace the old, new and future Can you talk about the tools? Can you coach your clients? Being a recognized expert on the tools Sharing your knowledge The time for real leadership is now!

22. Answer questions and provide valueBlogs and LinkedIn – More than just networking! Do you have a blog? Is it a sales tool? Is it an educational tool? Are you attracting the perfect clients? Linkedin Who is in your network? Are you answering questions? Where do you hangout?

23. What is hotStuff you must do now! Just when you felt overloaded From Press Release to Social Media Release Video, Video, Video Be your own Radio Star! Can you create social media games? What can you do differently than the competitor Who dares wins Better is not always better

24. You control your own PRWe are all our own media outlet Create and distribute your own press releases prlog.org pitchengine.com wireservice.ca Leverage social media to distribute what you do new solutions new products new clients

25. Your own TV ChannelAll it takes is a camera and creativity http://www.youtube.com/bulletproofIT

26. Online radio Do you have a face for radio? Online radio is freeand fun Reach new audiences Share easily with your clients Promote your partners and your clients Start small and work your way up Blogtalkradio.com

29. Now what are you going to do? What are you going to do next? Start Blogging Create a linkedIn account Use Twitter to promote your business Create a YouTube channel Host your own radio show Nothing at all other

30. QuestionsFollow me on Twitter, LinkedIn… www.facebook.com/stuart.crawford.calgary.computer.service www.linkedin.com/in/stuartcrawford www.twitter.com/scrawforditm www.twitter.com/bulletproofIT www.twitter.com/calgarybusiness

31. Q & A