SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING ..........................................
2
Contents:
Intro 3
Facebook 6
Twitter 19
Google+ 33
Pinterest 46
Wrap Up 55
About Skadeedle 56
Intro
Wrap
Up
About
Us
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If you’re a small business or
entrepreneur, chances are you’ve
dipped your toes in the social media
waters.
But have you really jumped in?
Social media is a wonderful and exciting world, and understanding each of
the tools available will give you the confidence to build a real following that
you can leverage to increase sales, expand brand awareness, or establish
a personal relationship with your customers. And best of all, these social
media platforms are free to use. As a small business you may not have the
budget to hire a social media manager or agency, but using social media
doesn’t have to be expensive.
Imagine going to an event and sending a piece of paper around with a
message on it. The message reaches 500 people in 1 minute. Out of those
500 people, 50 of them come over to your table because they’re interested
in your message. Out of those 50 people, 10 end up buying a product.
Was the 3 minutes (or less) it took to draft up that message worth it? Most
businesses would say, “Yes!”. Now imagine being able to have that same
result every single day. It’s not guaranteed that you’ll make 10 new sales
every time you send out a message via social media, but the reach you
have with social media is instant and effective. Once you have followers
on Twitter or Facebook, you then have a built-in audience right at your
fingertips! And, they’re all potential or returning customers.
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The chapters in this book will help you gain a firm grasp on using
Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest. Once you understand the
function of each platform, you’ll be able to navigate them with ease and
functionality, and you can start creating buzz in no time. Here are just a
few examples of ways in which you can use social media to expand and
promote your business:
•
Use Facebook and Google+ as a customer retention tool by personally
posting on clients’ profiles, thanking them for their business.
•
Tweet daily or weekly discounts to your followers on Twitter.
•
Post new product pictures or recommended items on your Pinterest
board, keeping your clients visually interested.
•
Make your brand a vital resource by posting business related advice or
tips on your Facebook page.
•
Keep customers informed of your company’s happenings, events, or
news via Google+.
•
Post photos of relevant info (products, events, happy customers,
everyday office happenings) on Facebook and Pinterest to give your
followers a glimpse into your real life.
•
Use all your social media platforms for sales leads. Potential clients may
start messaging you on Facebook or Twitter, so be prepared to interact
on these mediums as well.
Creating a fanbase isn’t just for rock stars. Your business, no matter how
small, can have fans. Social media allows you to go beyond just the services
you provide, by being a resource and a brand that people rely on. You can
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be a real person who shares real thoughts. You can be a team of people
that loves helping their clients and loves to show it off, too. Social media
transcends traditional ways of business. You are now visible, able to be
heard, and given the opportunity to interact with customers in a way like
never before.
Each chapter in this book is meant to provide you with a base to start from,
as well as best practices for each particular platform. You’ll also gain a great
overview of how to use each platform to your advantage. You don’t have
to dive into all of them at once either; start with one social media site and
become familiar with it until you’ve got it mastered. Here are a few things
you can do to get familiar with each social media network:
•
Look for other businesses that may offer the same products or services
you do and check out their profiles and recent activity. This will give you
an idea of some things you could, and should do, too.
•
Set up a test account either as a personal page or under a different
name. From here, you can play around at your leisure without worrying
about making mistakes in posts, or posting something on accident.
•
Identify features: On Facebook, this would be learning how tag people
or pages (this can be done by putting the @ symbol in front the person’s
name or page you’d like to tag.) Another great feature on a Facebook
Page is the customized tabs. You can add a tab for users to sign up
for your newsletter, to access specials or discounts, and to advertise
upcoming events you may have. On Twitter, identify how to reply to
other users, how to retweet, and when to create hashtags. Research
some apps and add-ons available that may be useful to your brand.
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Chapter 1
Facebook
Facebook
has become a global phenomenon.
You hear the social network being discussed
in everyday conversation, whether it’s in
an office, classroom, or home. It’s allowed
people to connect with each other anywhere
in the world and is now a vital resource for
businesses and brands too. Facebook is a
virtual and free way for businesses to promote
themselves, reach potential customers, and
communicate with existing clients. Once
you have a following, you can use Facebook
to advertise new products, offer discount
programs, and announce company news.
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Sure, Facebook may have been created by a couple of college kids for
college kids originally, but today everyone and their grandmother
is interacting, “friending” and “Liking” on the uber-popular social
networking site. More than one billion users are active on Facebook today
– including many in your community. Neighbors are chatting about the
takeout they just had. Parents are recommending kid-friendly excursions
to one another. Colleagues are sharing career tips and beach reading
suggestions.
As a small business, Facebook offers a convenient, and often free, avenue
to connect with potential customers, build relationships with existing
customers and become a fixture in your community, whether that’s a small
town or a worldwide virtual network of fans and aficionados.
When people Like your Facebook Page, they’re opening your message to
their own social network. When they comment on, or Like a status update
or post, it will appear in some of their friends’ Facebook news feeds,
sending your business viral – whether on a small or large scale. And when
they Like your page, there is an opportunity for them to tag you in their
own updates as well – again, opening you up to their friend list.
Getting Started
The Facebook Page: It’s like your personal account page, but instead of
having to approve friends, anyone can come along and click the Like
button, saying “Hey, I’m a fan.” Your Page contains information about your
business (as much as you want to add). On your Page you can update your
status, add links to interesting articles or webpages and receive comments
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– both privately and publicly. If Facebook users Like your page then your
updates have the ability to reach more and more people as those who Like
you interact with your Page.
The number one key to an effective Facebook Page? Engage your fans. You
want the people who Like your Page to read status updates, comment on
and even share your updates with their friends. This is important because
the way Facebook decides what to show users in their news feed is based on
whom they regularly interact with. If you want to be part of that – without
paying for the privilege – then you need to be worthy of their interaction.
Facebook Pages aren’t for the lazy, but neither do you have to be an expert,
or post to your Page a billion times a week. In the next sections you’ll learn
how to create an effective Facebook presence and have plenty of time to
run your real-world business.
Setting Up an Effective Facebook Page
You’ve probably already
created your Facebook Page. But do you have
the right information on it? It’s not enough just to create a Page. You
need to create a useful Page that is regularly updated and managed in a
professional manner.
Start by making sure the information on your About page is up to par.
What to include on your About page
Your About page is where folks go to learn about your business. This isn’t
the place for selling, but rather for a friendly introduction. There are many
potential fields, but you should know that you don’t need to fill them all
out. Furthermore, you don’t have to write novels for the ones you do.
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For brick-and-mortar establishments, you’ll want to fill out the Basic
Info section (make sure your page is classified as a Local Business) with
your price range, attire, hours, services, products and payment options,
as appropriate. These are the things that customers – particularly new
customers – want to know before they check you out in person. Can they
use their debit card? Or will the trip require an ATM stop first?
You should also include your address phone number and website so
customers can find you.
Next, fill out the other About sections like Mission, Company Overview and
Description. Remember to keep your words succinct but evocative – and
remember that you are wooing customers, not petitioning for an award. So
speak to customers in these sections about who you are as a business and
what you offer.
Facebook Pages 101
Start by creating a Page. Go to your Facebook Settings page and click the
“Create a Page” link at the bottom of the screen. While this link is on all
Facebook pages, it’s easiest to get to here.
You will be prompted to choose from six identifying options for your page.
Choose the one that best fits your business. For instance, if you are a local
establishment, choose the Local Business option as it will automatically
set up your Page to include key business information like your business
address and operating hours.
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The good news? This can be changed. No matter what category and
designation you choose, you can always edit and change the selection via
your Admin panel.
Now, follow the prompts to fill out information and set your Page to “live.”
If you need more time to work on getting it just right, you can leave the
Page offline (others can’t see it or Like it) until you are ready.
How often to update
Be sure to keep your About page up-to-date. Review the page at least
quarterly to ensure its accuracy – and remember to update the listed
business hours as soon as you change them. It doesn’t make for happy
customers if your posted hours don’t match your actual hours.
Facebook Success Spotlight: eCreamery in
Omaha, Nebraska
Check them out:
www.facebook.com/eCreamery
Created in 2004, eCreamery is an ice cream shop in Omaha, Nebraska, that
also sells its ice cream and gelato for mail order via their website,
www.
ecreamery.com
. The unique business has been on Facebook for about five
years, says owner Abby Jordan.
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On the Page
On the Facebook Page, eCreamery shares pictures of their ice creams with
short updates about them. They also share occasional links and photos of
new mix packs available for mail order, as well as the custom labels that
customers can order. The updates and photos generate many Likes and
comments.
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“It’s just a really great way for us to talk about our new products and to
showcase some of the fun things people are doing with their customized
labels,” says Jordan.
And with more than 6,000 Likes, the page is reaching many people with
their creamy, dreamy mission while also finding new eyes.
“It’s a good place for people to go that don’t know about our business to
learn about what we’re doing. It’s been a great sounding board for our
customers to check out what others are saying,” says Jordan, who says
Facebook has been good for spreading the word about their new products,
press and other news.
eCreamery’s Facebook Strategy: Keep it fresh
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Jordan says that by sharing smaller updates about single flavors and
info about batches of ice cream, they are able to keep the content fresh
without always looking for the biggest thing to share. “We take pictures
one afternoon and then we use that for the next few weeks or months,” she
says, which makes posting a little easier. But don’t confuse that for easy. “It
definitely takes time,” says Jordan.
Posting on Facebook
Facebook isn’t like an ad or website that can be created and left alone. It’s
something that needs to be nurtured, updated and kept active regularly.
How often is regularly? That’s up to you depending on your time and the
availability of new content and ideas. A good rule of thumb is to try to
update every few days – at least once a week, though more is better. That
said, you don’t want to update too often or your message will be lost in a
sea of posts.
Updates 101: Writing posts that get responses
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If you are a business selling food or products, quality images accompanied
by one-liners that intrigue and enlighten make for great Facebook posts.
For instance, eCreamery recently posted a photo of a fresh batch of cookiesand-
cream ice cream with text that read, “A delicious standard. Cookies
& Cream.” That simple post generated 68 likes, eight comments and one
share. Just remember that when posting images they need to be either your
own images or ones used with the permission of the photographer.
So, how do you write posts that get responses? Keep it simple. Keep it
interesting and evocative (a mouthwatering photo of ice cream is both
of these things!). And don’t be afraid to celebrate successes – but not too
often. Much like in life, you don’t want to brag too much.
You can also share links on your Facebook Page. These may be links to blog
posts or specific pages on your website. Or you can share the love with
other local businesses or topics related to your business with links. Always
include a brief line or two of text so people know why and what you are
sharing.
6 Ideas for Good Facebook Updates
•
Photo with a brief description
•
One or two sentences about something happening locally
•
Good news about your business or the local community
•
Specials, promotions or sales (keep it brief but packed with info)
•
Links to relevant blog posts or website pages
•
Links to media mentions
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Paying for exposure on Facebook
Facebook now offers the ability to create ads and promote specific posts.
You pay for these services, setting a specific amount you are willing to
spend on each campaign. The cost of ads and promotion is directly related
to how many fans your Page already has. For instance, if you have about
100 fans, then your promotion could reach three to six thousand people
for just $5-$10. However, when you have thousands of fans, the cost of
promotion rises sharply.
Facebook Ads:
This offers a way to gather a wide range of Facebook users.
On your Facebook Page, you can create ads by going to “Build Audience,”
and then clicking “Create an Ad.” From there, you can create an ad
designed to get more Facebook Likes, share your latest status in an ad or
create a custom ad. You can also choose to limit the promotion to a certain
geographical area – such as your town. And you can set a daily budget
and time frame. There’s also an “ongoing” option if you want the ad to run
indefinitely. What’s great about these ads is that you can really zero in on
the users you want to reach.
Facebook Share:
The Facebook Share promotion (seen as a small “Share”
link on the lower right of posts) is for specific posts on your Facebook
Page. Promotions last for three days, or until the budgeted amount for
the promotion is reached (whichever comes first). This option allows you
to reach all the folks who like your Page as well as their friends. The post
appears with a “sponsored” designation on Facebook news feeds. While
this option can lead to new Likes on your page and more interaction, it
should be used sparingly, with a focus on posts that contain an urgent
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message (think contests) or that you most want to be seen. What’s good
about these ads is that they are simple and fast to create and let you easily
promote specific messages.
Understanding the Page Admin Tool
Notifications:
In this section, you can see the latest activity on your Page.
It tells you who commented and Liked your status updates as well as those
who left messages on your Page.
Messages:
These are private messages from Facebook users. Keep an eye
out for new ones here, as they are easy to miss and should be responded to
(even if it’s just with a “Thanks!”).
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New Likes:
This section shows you who recently liked your Page and
when.
Insights:
This graph has a lot of info packed into a little section. Here
you can monitor the effectiveness of your posts. It shows how many posts
you’ve put up, how many people are talking about your page and how
many people are reached through your posts. Hover over the charts for
numbers and information. You can also download an in-depth spreadsheet
with detailed data about your Page followers and their engagement.
Invite Friends:
This handy little section lets you know which of your
personal Facebook friends haven’t yet Liked your Page. In a simple click,
you can invite them to do so, growing your audience easily.
Facebook Management in a Jiffy
Should you schedule Facebook updates?
Posts can now be scheduled in advance on your Facebook Page. Simply
go to the Page, create a status update and then click the timer icon in the
lower left corner of the status box. From there you can schedule the date
and time of your post. Using this option allows you to plan posts in advance
and consolidate the time it takes to manage your Facebook Page. Should
you use it? Yes, for topics that don’t change with time. However, be sure to
keep track of your future posts – and delete or move them if inappropriate.
For instance, in a time of tragedy, you shouldn’t have chipper pre-planned
posts going live as it’s inappropriate and your fans won’t like it.
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Planning techniques
Depending on your business, you can create a calendar of what to post and
when. Always add fresh, recent content or your Page will seem stiff and
dated.
Responding to criticism
In any open forum, criticism will happen. It’s how you respond to it that
matters most. First, don’t be defensive. Criticism of your business isn’t a
personal attack . Listen, respond appropriately and take it offline if it gets
too heated. Avoid deleting criticism (that always looks bad) unless the
attacks are personal or offensive to others. As eCreamery’s Jordan says,
try to make it right. “Everybody’s going to make mistakes. No business is
perfect,” says Jordan.
The Bottom Line
Facebook is a social media marketing tool that gives you many
opportunities for organic and paid promotions to spread the word about
your small business. Jump in and get started using the tips in this guide
and have fun.
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Chapter 2
Twitter
The word “tweet” may sound silly, but the
results of tweeting are not. Millions of users
on Twitter tweet updates everyday including
celebrities, media outlets, businesses, and
musicians – They’re all part of the mix. Using
Twitter is fun, easy, and it may take a few
tries to get your message into 140 characters,
but you’ll pick up some tricks along the way
(like using Bitly.com to shorten your links!).
Twitter is meant to be updated daily, so if you
aren’t active, it’s harder to gain followers and
create a presence. Writing quick tweets and @
mentions to customers is as simple as saying
thank you for a recent order or sharing a link
to an article you thought was a good read.
Twitter is conversational, so as long as you
have something to say, you’re golden!
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Twitter is a popular microblogging platform where users share short
status updates including links to webpages, photos and articles. Twitter is
a great way for smaller businesses to build a following, announce news or
promotions and respond to customer questions, or even complaints. Being
succinct in your tweeting is absolutely essential on this platform. Say what
you need to say in as few words and characters as possible.
Who’s on Twitter?
According to a 2012 poll by the Pew Internet and American Life Project,
15 percent of Americans who use the Internet are on Twitter, and eight
percent tweet daily. Additionally, those in urban and suburban areas are
more likely to use Twitter than their rural counterparts.
Those groups aren’t the only folks on Twitter, though. Mothers, young
professionals, media outlets and more all have a strong presence on the
platform. Twitter attracts small businesses who want to reach clients
through the fast-moving platform. For instance,
The Cupcake Truck
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of New Haven, CT, a mobile cupcake-selling food truck, announces their
location daily via their @cupcaketruck Twitter account.
The Value of Tweeting for Your Business
So, what can your business get out of a Twitter presence? Twitter allows
you to connect on a personal level with potential and existing customers.
As a small business, this is an incredible asset as you become a company
your customers know and trust. Because you can quickly respond to
customers’ tweets, you can build great rapport.
Getting Started
Twitter is all about conversation and making connections with others.
Thus effective tweeting begins with tweets that are interesting, informative
or useful. Don’t waste character space with unnecessary words or phrases,
and don’t bother sending out generic “Good morning!” tweets.
Instead, focus on interesting observations, links to webpages, blog posts
and articles (with a brief description beforehand) and responding to others
with useful insight.
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Twitter Terms:
Tweet
– A 140-character message sent out by a Twitter user. All tweets are
limited to 140 characters – including hashtags, links and mentions.
Hashtag (#)
– A hashtag is a subject or topic mentioned in a tweet and
indicated by a # mark. For instance, for Disney-related tweets, the hashtag
might be #Disney and appear in or at the end of a tweet.
At (@)
– The @ sign appears before a user’s name in a mention on Twitter.
For instance, if you want to mention your friend (with a Twitter account),
you’d use. @TWITTERNAME in your tweet (replacing TWITTERNAME with
their handle.)
Avatar
– The small picture that accompanies tweets. For people, this is
usually a headshot. For businesses, a headshot or logo could be used.
Connect
– This tab at the top of the Twitter page takes you to where you
can view your mentions (@s), messages and more. It shows you who has
interacted with you and how.
Direct Message (DM)
– A private message sent between two Twitter users
who follow each other on Twitter. Other users cannot see this.
Follow
– When you follow someone, their status updates appear in your
Twitter stream. Likewise when folks follow you, your updates appear in
their Twitter stream.
Handle
– An individual’s Twitter name.
Mention
– See At (@).
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Retweet (RT)
– Forwarding someone else’s tweet to your Twitter followers.
When you hover over the tweet, simply click the “Retweet” button and then
confirm that you want to send it.
Follow Friday (#FF)
– A weekly event where Twitter users simply tweet
folks they recommend others follow. This used to be quite popular, but isn’t
so much anymore. If you try it, be sure to include reasons why to follow the
Twitter users.
Twitter party/ Twitter chat
–An organized meetup held for a specific
time duration. Those participating in a Twitter party or chat are connected
by using a special hashtag. Users can follow the hashtag or use a thirdparty
application such as TweetGrid to follow and participate. All
participants must use the hashtag in their tweets during the party.
How Often Should You Post?
Like any social media outlet, it’s important to be a regular Twitter user.
You build relationships with your followers and those whom you follow by
being seen and heard on a regular basis. That said, you don’t necessarily
have to tweet every day. Several times a week (and several times on those
days) is fine.
What Should You Post?
Depending on your business, you may choose to post about daily specials,
spread the word about events in your town or share links that discuss
topics relating to your business or your customers’ needs. Remember
that you are trying to reach customers, so you want to keep it friendly and
interesting to them.
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When crafting posts, think about these two important things:
•
Focus on value, conversation and ease of use. If you are trying to point
out a really cool blog post mentioning your business, link directly to it
– don’t send them to it in a roundabout way. The more clicks it takes to
get somewhere, the less likely the follower will actually see it.
•
Write tweets that get people’s attention — in a good way. Tweets with
too many hashtags or only links look like spam and lead to “unfollows,”
lack of engagement and being ignored.
Retweeting 101
A retweet is sending a tweet from another Twitter user to your followers.
This allows you to share the love – making sure that your followers
see interesting or informative tweets from others. Retweets should be
interesting and relevant, just like your own messages. Be sure to maintain
a balance—too many retweets can seem spammy.
Because retweeting is effectively supporting someone else’s words, be sure
that you can get behind what they are saying as well. If you don’t agree, it’s
probably best not to retweet it.
Engagement on Twitter
This is so important to remember: Twitter is about conversation and
community. In order to be part of the conversation, you have to participate
through following and interacting with your customers, potential
customers and those interested in your business.
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Building your audience is a two-fold task. First, you need to follow
others – this populates your Twitter stream with tweets. Be sure to follow
individuals in your field and other businesses in your physical and
professional community. Each of these will have shared interests with you.
By following others, you will see others begin to follow you back. This is a
good starting point for building your audience. However, if you want to be a
Twitter success your reach has to extend beyond that group.
Once you’ve built a following, the number of people you follow shouldn’t
exceed the number who follow you. Also, while it’s important for you to
follow others, it’s not necessary to follow everyone (but you can, if you want
to). For a more curated list, follow only those who interest you the most. But
a hint: your list of followers should be substantial – even if it isn’t nearly as
long as the list of those who follow you. (This ratio should even out as you
gain a following.)
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One great way to reach more followers is through the use of hashtags.
When someone searches for tweets with a specific hashtag, they find
information relating to subjects they are interested in and can follow the
Twitter users who send those relevant tweets.
Hashtag Use 101
Using hashtags is an easy and simple way to have your posts seen by many
users. However, you need to be smart – and conservative – with your
hashtag usage. How?
1. Choosing Hashtags –
Only hashtag a tweet if it truly relates to the topic
of the hashtag. For instance, if you make an observation about a television
show, you might hashtag it with the name of the show or a popular
abbreviation. If you tweet about a new product for use in kindergarten
classrooms however, you’d want to hashtag it with popular education
hashtags like #edchat or #kindergarten.
2. How Many Hashtags? –
When hashtagging, limit yourself to no more
than three hashtags per tweet – and vary the number you use per tweet.
Using more threatens to make your tweet look more like one long link
rather than an interesting and useful statement.
3. Avoid Hashtag Spam –
Let’s say you find a Twitter party hosted by a
brand whose users are similar to your demographic and you think, “Hey, if
I tweet them, I can reach all those people.” While it’s okay to join the party,
tossing the party hashtag on an unrelated tweet is Twitter spam and will
garner you a bad reputation among other Twitter users.
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9 Things You Should Know about Hashtags:
1. Hashtags should pertain to the topic of your tweet.
2. Don’t overuse hashtags – it looks spammy.
3. Limit your hashtags to 2-3 per tweet.
4. Using hashtags can help you connect your business to others with
similar interests.
5. Anyone can create a hashtag at any time.
6. Hashtags are searchable on Twitter, helping people find interesting
tweets and users.
7. Clicking on a hashtag brings up all the recent tweets that used that
hashtag.
8. Hashtags can be used to tie together posts in a Twitter party or chat.
9. Hijacking a hashtag with an unrelated tweet is bad form.
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Being an Active Participant
Tweeting doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all approach. To be a good and active
participant, you have to mix up the types of tweets you send – including
links, statements, RTs and interactions. Sending too many of one can
make your Twitter stream less interesting. And sending only links and RTs
lacks the authenticity of voice Twitter users find most valuable about the
platform.
Twitter Success Spotlight: The Hop Ice Cream
Cafe in Asheville, North Carolina
The Hop Ice Cream Café in Asheville, NC, is a popular spot that is active
on social media. Greg Garrison, owner of The Hop, says that the business
has been on Twitter since December 2009. An employee of a neighboring
establishment suggested it, and Garrison and his wife decided to give it a
try. They haven’t looked back since.
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On Twitter
The Hop’s Twitter account (
@hopiceream) includes a variety of tweets
that promote local events and businesses, respond to others and things
that are happening at the business – like new ice cream flavors.
“It’s been amazing. We’ve taken orders – several orders – on Twitter. We’ve
been asked to scoop at events by people who we haven’t yet met,” says
Garrison. “Twitter is kind of like a high school cafeteria. There are always
people fulfilling all sorts of roles.”
Garrison sees his business’s role on Twitter as that of a helper. “[I] try and
help out as many of our fellow local businesses as we can,” says Garrison.
“Spread the love, without ever expecting anything in return.”
One of Garrison’s key strategies on Twitter? Responding to every mention.
“I am quick to respond. Communication happens a lot from the customers
as well. They’ll say ‘I’m at The Hop’ and I will say thanks for stopping in,”
says Garrison.
Twitter Management in a Jiffy
Scheduling tweets:Through third-party applications, you can schedule
tweets in advance. This can be helpful for spreading the word about certain
promotions or upcoming events. However, since interaction is key to
Twitter, you need to also respond in real-time and cannot rely on scheduled
tweets to manage your account. Furthermore, it is important to stop
scheduled tweets in times of crisis or you may risk appearing insensitive to
others.
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30
Setting limits:
It’s easy to spend a lot of time on Twitter. However, you
can’t let it take over your day. Instead, limit yourself to a few short checkins
as often as you choose. You can also set up alerts for when you are
mentioned, which makes it easier to passively monitor your account
without constantly being present.
Planning techniques:
When you know a special promotion or season
is coming, you can plan ahead for some tweets. But since active response
matters on Twitter, stay alert and engaged to make sure you appear
authentic, not canned or pre-written.
Twitter Advertising
Twitter now offers advertising options for business users. Twitter
advertising can build your fan base and engagement – though it may not
be as effective as organic community building. It should also be noted that
Twitter advertising can be expensive.
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31
Promoted Tweets –
With this option, you pay to get your tweet in front
of more eyes. It stays at the top of the Twitter stream (unless the Twitter
user chooses to minimize it). It’s a way to have your tweets reach a larger
audience.
Promoted Trends –
Want your hashtag to be a trending topic? While that
can happen organically, you can pay to have your hashtag appear at the top
of the trends list. This can get more folks interested in, or participating in,
the topic you’re tweeting about.
Promoted Accounts –
Looking for more followers? This option puts your
Twitter handle into users’ “Who to Follow” box. It’s essentially buying
followers – but Twitter’s algorithms mean that you’ll be shown to users
who are more likely to be interested in what you have to say.
Get Involved: Twitter Chats
Many industries and companies hold Twitter chats, which are regular
discussions linked with a hashtag and held on certain dates and times (for
instance, Monday from 7-8 p.m.). This is another good way to reach more
people. Participate, share your knowledge and learn from others.
Do it:
There are literally chats for every interest. The best way to learn
more about chats is to try attending one. One of interest to you could be
the weekly Small Business Chat. The details: #Smallbizchat – Wednesdays,
8-9 pm, EST – The discussion focuses on small businesses and lets owners
come together and ask questions.
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32
10 Twitter Mistakes to Avoid
1. Not having an avatar –
This is a rookie move that will make people
distrustful of anything you say.
2. Not including your website URL on your profile –
You want people to
find your business beyond Twitter, don’t you?
3. Tweeting irregularly –
Regular tweeting keeps you relevant.
4. Only tweeting links to your website –
No one likes a braggart.
5. Using too many hashtags –
It looks spammy and people won’t pay
attention.
6. Not using hashtags –
You’re missing the opportunity to broaden your
reach!
7. Not following anyone –
Twitter is about the conversation. You have to
be a part of the conversation.
8. Not replying to @ mentions –
This is like being at a cocktail party and
ignoring those who want to talk to you.
9. Having a private Twitter account –
If your account is private, people
can’t see your tweets unless you allow them to follow you. You’re a
business. You should want people to see and interact with you.
10. Tweeting unkind or rude thoughts –
Really, no one should do this.
But especially not from your business’s.
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33
Chapter 3
Google+
Much like Facebook,
Google+ allows you
to post announcements and company
news, but one major added benefit to
using Google+ is that it can increase your
search engine results just by using it. And,
the more you use Google+, the more likely
you’ll increase your company’s website search
results. Google+ also specializes in multimedia
and sharing tools. For example,
Google+
Hangouts
is a tool you can use to host, stream,
broadcast and record video chats. Need to
have a meeting or a call with a few team
members and a client? Want to invite current
or potential customers to chat about a new
product or service? You can do that through
Google+ Hangouts. Jump in there and use all
that Google+ has to offer!
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34
What is Google+?
Google created and launched its own social network in 2011 called
Google+.
Aside from being “just another social media platform,” Google+ also
integrates Google products, services and search engine features all into
one easy-to-navigate page. As a business, you can create a Google+ Page
and build a community around it. This not only gives you the benefit of
connecting your business with potential customers, but also boosts your
website’s placement in Google-powered search engine results.
Why Google+ Matters
It’s no secret that Google is the most popular search engine on the web. In
fact, the term “Google” has gone from a company’s name and product, to a
verb used to describe the act of searching on the internet. When someone
“Googles” your business, you want them to find you easily, right? Using
Google’s products to boost your search results, and increase your sphere of
influence, is an effective way to do just that.
Rumor has it that websites with verified Google+ Business Pages get some
good search engine karma from Google. Google+ content indexes well with
Google’s search robots, so websites that post often appear higher in search
results. Active use of Google + can lead more potential customers to you –
Good news!
What You Can Do with Google+
Like other social networks, Google+ allows members to connect and share
text, photos and links. But Google+ also offers some unique opportunities
to connect via video chat, multimedia content and more.
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35
On Google+ you can:
•
Create “Circles” of people and companies that your business interacts
with – such as customers, vendors and partners.
•
Schedule and host video chats via Google Hangouts.
•
Post photos, videos, links and statuses – either to the public or to
specific Circles in your network.
•
Create and participate in interest groups.
Quick Glance Google+ Glossary
Circle:
An organization system for the people and Pages you follow. This
allows you to create targeted lists of your audience so that the right updates
go to the right folks and brands.
+1:
The Google+ equivalent of Liking something on Facebook. By clicking
the +1 icon on a Page or post, a user is saying, “This is good – I like it!”
Tag:
To mention a person or Page in a post. This is done by putting a “+”
before the name of the person or Page in a status update. The person or
Page will receive a notification on Google+ when you do this and may
receive an email, depending on the settings of their account.
Hashtag:
A Word or phrase (without spaces) that is preceded by the #
symbol. Hashtags are used to keep related content grouped so that those
interested in a certain subject can easily locate it.
Hangout:
A video chat between up to 10 Google+ users. These can be
streamed live for more folks to watch, and the video can be saved to
YouTube.
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36
Should Your Biz Be on Google+?
Yes! Though it might feel like juggling yet another social network, this
is not one to miss. Because of the search engine benefits and the Google
connection, being on Google+ is necessary for your business. It’s also easy.
If you’re a small brick-and-mortar business, claim your
Google+ Local
listing
, which is a business listing with Zagat information that is
automatically created by Google.
Convinced? Then it’s time to tap into the power and benefits of Google+.
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37
Getting Started
To join Google+ as a business, you must first join as an individual using a
Gmail account. Start by creating your Google+ personal profile, then you
can use that to set up your Google+ Business Page and claim your Google+
Local listing.
Creating a Google+ Page for Your Business
•
Click on the “More” link at the bottom of the left sidebar to find the
Pages section.
•
Click “Create New Page.”
•
Choose the category that fits your business.
•
Fill in the necessary information.
•
Upload your logo, and a cover photo if you have one.
•
Start posting.
Make sure to add the Google+ chicklet (widget) to all pages of your website
or blog so that those who come to your site can +1 your pages and share
them with their networks.
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What’s Google+ Local?
When Google users search for your business, a Google+ Page comes up
containing location, hours and other information – and if you’ve claimed
that Page, you can revise the information and make changes. “I think one
of the most overlooked areas of optimization for a small business are their
local results. Many small businesses are local in nature, so optimizing their
Google+ Local Page [is] very important,” says John E. Turner of Postali.
com. “Often times people don’t even claim these listings, leaving it up to
everyone else to decide what is being reported about their business. Local
optimization is not the same as traditional search engine optimization, so
make sure you get out there and claim, complete and optimize all of your
business listings.”
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39
Effective Use of Google+
Because Google+ is a more robust service, it takes a little more effort than
other social networks to set up and run. As you follow people and other
companies for your business, you’ll want to add them to Circles so that you
can keep your contacts organized. For instance, you may want to create a
Circle for local customers and another for online customers. You may also
want to create a Circle for vendors or businesses with whom you’d like to
work.
By organizing those you follow into Circles, you have the ability to tailor
what content goes to each group, increasing the effectiveness of everything
you do.
When folks in your Circles follow you back and you send updates to the
Circle they’re in, an option appears at the bottom of the update box that
says “Also send email to CIRCLE NAME.” If you check this, then everyone
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40
in that Circle will receive an email about your update. Sounds good, right?
Not always. Use this feature sparingly so only your most newsworthy or
important posts send an email
Creating Share-Worthy Content on Google+
Twitter is for conversations. Facebook is for community building. Google+
is for information. Think of it as the classroom or manual of social media
sites—and treat your postings as such.
What should you be sharing? You’ll want to share new content from
your website so that the links get that search engine boost from being
mentioned on Google+, but that’s not all. Google+ is the perfect place to
post tips, brief how-to items and articles that are more relevant to your
business. The more useful the post, the more likely it’ll be commented on
or shared. Basically, you want to inform and enlighten your audience by
being an expert in your field.
How Often to Post
While there are lots of people and businesses signed up on Google+, not
many are regularly participating. Do you know what that means? More
opportunity for you!
Since there is so much opportunity to make a name for yourself and
your business on Google+, you should try to post at least once a day—if
not a few times each day. Also, if you’re mentioning a specific person or
business, tag them in your posts by putting a “+” and type their name. A
list will come up, and you can click the right person to add. Interacting
with other users sparks engagement with your followers.
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41
Engagement on Google+
Your Google+ presence is only as strong as your engagement with other
Google+ users. Why? Because the more your posts get liked, commented
on and shared, the more powerful they become in Googleland. But how do
you get seen, heard and shared?
You have to build your community—that means adding folks and
businesses of interest to your Circles, interacting with them and keeping
your fingers crossed they follow you back. You can also add a Google+ link
to your website or blog so that fans can easily find and follow you.
Encouraging G+ Sharing
The more your Page and posts are shared on Google+, the more valuable
your Google+ account becomes. That’s important for the search engine
aspect of things. Encourage your followers to interact and share whatever
you’re posting by keeping your statuses, photos and videos informationrich
and interesting.
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42
Who Are You trying to Reach?
You’ll want to connect with influencers. Tag them in your posts, when
appropriate, comment on their posts as your business, and add them to
your Circles.
Hashtags on Google+
A hashtag is a keyword or keyphrase (without spaces) that is preceded by
the # sign. This transforms the word into a hyperlink that groups the status
or post with others using the same hashtag. When you type # into the
status box on Google+, it’ll automatically generate suggestions as you type,
allowing you to see potential hashtags to choose from.
Dos and Don’ts of Hashtagging
Do:
hashtag all your Google+ posts.
Don’t:
just post a link and include tons of hashtags (spam alert!).
Do:
use various hashtags to capture several themes within the post.
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43
Don’t:
use multiple variations of the same word (overkill!).
Do:
use the hashtags that Google+ suggests as you’re typing.
Don’t:
use acronyms that you’ve made up as a hashtag (no one will find
you!).
Why Hashtags Matter
Your goal with social media is to expand your audience and increase their
engagement, right? Hashtags help you to reach more people. Simply put,
hashtags allow more users to find your status updates and Google+ Page.
More eyes for your business on Google+ can translate into more followers,
and ultimately more clients.
Choose your hashtags wisely, selecting only those that directly relate to
your industry. Don’t be afraid to use 2 or 3 hashtags at once (too many can
look spammy).
Google+ Management in a Jiffy
Adding Google+ to your social media repertoire doesn’t have to be stressful
and time consuming. With good planning, managing your Google+
account could take mere minutes each day.
So, how do you do that? Here’s a simple three-step plan for keeping your
Google+ work easy, fast and effective:
1. Post something new—
whether it’s a tip for your customers, a link to a
new blog post or page, or a photo that shows something neat about your
business. Post something straight from your website and don’t forget to
hashtag it.
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44
2. Read and respond to other posts.
This is where organized Circles come
in handy. You can select whose updates to see using your Circles, rather
than viewing everyone’s posts simultaneously. This also lets you target
posts for specific segments of your audience.
3. Respond and share.
When someone tags you in a post, respond. When
you see something that’s a great fit for your own audience, share it. These
are the things that will take your Google+ posting from talking at people to
talking with people—a good thing for your business.
Automating Google+ Updates (yes, it’s possible)
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45
There isn’t yet the breadth of options for automating Google+ that other
social networks have, but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible. It is! If
you use the Chrome browser, you can download the Do Share plugin
and schedule some of your posts in advance. However, it’s important to
remember that some degree of management does need to be handled
manually—especially since responding to others is such an important part
of Google+ management.
When you follow the tips in this guide, you should be on your way to
Google+ success. Simply posting new and interesting info, effectively using
hashtags and conversing with people is all it takes to make an impact on
this social network. With a small investment of time, you too can build
up your business profile for the search engine giant, resulting in more
customers – always +1 in our book!
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46
Chapter 4
Pinterest
Looking to increase traffic to your website?
Pinterest is a must, especially if you’re
a business looking for new customers.
Pinterest has business-specific pages
and it allows you to pin everything from
product photos, to services you offer with
pricing, and fun or informative content.
Pinterest is all about visuals - You can create
boards with themes, or organize boards
into projects. Whatever you decide to do,
remember to keep the content interesting
and engaging (and don’t forget to have fun)!
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5 Steps to Getting Started on Pinterest
You may be wondering how pinning pretty pictures on a virtual board can
help you grow your business?
With 11 million users and counting, Pinterest is the third most popular
social media site in the U.S, according to Mashable. It’s also right behind
Twitter and more popular than Google + in driving website referral traffic.
And website visitors means more opportunities to convert prospects into
paying customers. Plus, with the addition of Pinterest business-specific
accounts, this ought to tell you there’s a heck of a lot more on the site than
felting techniques and bridal eye candy.
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Bottom line, it’s time to give Pinterest (for your business) a serious whirl.
1. Create your Pinterest business account
To create a free Pinterest business account, go to
business.pinterest.
com
. (You can also convert your Pinterest personal account to a business
account).
Choose a business category, enter your business name and website URL.
Filling out the ‘’About” section of your profile is key. Make it inspiring and
thoughtful. Use keywords your ideal customer would use in a search. For
example: Marin County native plant landscaping or native plant landscaper
in Marin; or Mac repair in Grand Haven, PC repair in Grand Haven, etc.
Now, upload your logo or a pic of yourself. For ideal results, use a square
image that’s at least 165x165 pixels.
Next, verify your website so that people see the full URL on your profile and
in search results.
When you log into your account for the first time, you’ll be asked to choose
five boards to follow. Choose categories and boards that relate to your
business and interests. These are fellow pinners and potential followers.
It’s all about building your Pinterest tribe—and your business.
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49
2. Pin to turn followers into customers
The cool thing about Pinterest is that your boards are what you make them.
Create a board for any topic, categorize it and give it a cool name.
Install the Pin It bookmarklet (get it at
https://pinterest.com/about/
goodies/
) onto your browser. This button lets you quickly pin content
from your site and other sites directly into your boards. You can also pin
images from your computer, by clicking “Add” on the top-right toolbar on
Pinterest, and follow the instructions.
What to pin, what to pin…
If there’s a rule of thumb for what to pin it’s this: Make your pins fun,
inspiring and informative. (Jpg, png, and gif files only, though).
Try this:
•
Pin product images. If you offer a service, pin pictures of people using
your service. Include a call to action, i.e., “Learn how to do this.” Pins
with a call to action have an 80% higher engagement rate!
•
Pin or repin. This is when you share pins from boards you follow which
includes relevant third-party content, not just your own.
•
Be trendy. Pins relating to trending topics on Pinterest have a 92%
click-through rate. Search Pinterest’s “Popular” category and tailor your
pins according to the hottest trends. Also pin random stuff you just
think is cool!
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50
•
Price your pins. Don’t hold back; pins that include prices (for products
or services) get 36% more likes. And, if you mention the price in your
pin description, Pinterest automatically generates a price banner.
•
Have a contest. Create a “Pin it to Win it” contest that challenges
entrants to create boards around themes that relate to your business
(have them pin products from your own site as well). Are you a top
bridal consultant? Conducting a “Dream Wedding Pin It To Win It”
contest might do the trick to promote your top package. Check out
pinterest.com/pinchat/contests-on-pinterest/
for tons of Pinterest
contest ideas.
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51
•
Be a resource. Do it yourself (DIY) and tutorial pins have a 42% higher
click-through. If you have how-tos, instructional tutorials, or DIY
content on your site, blog, or YouTube channel, pin it!
Repins are where rubber meets the road.
When Pinterest users re-pin your images to their own boards, or “like” your
pins, your business and brand start to make a real mark.
Pinterest is made up of 80% re-pins compared to Twitter’s 1.4% in
re-tweets. So, before you decide what to pin, consider what’s most repinnable.
3. Follow the rules of the pinning game
•
Be real and be inspiring. Pinterest is an expression of you and your
business. Don’t be afraid to show your personal side. Pin your passions
and interests along with the business stuff.
•
Link pins back to their original source. The “Pin It” button
automatically grabs an image’s source link, crediting the original
publisher. If you repin something from another board, click the pin to
make sure it links back to a legitimate website. If not, report it or leave a
comment.
•
Pin in a timely fashion. Conventional wisdom says to pin between 2-4
pm or between 8 pm-1am (perfect if you tend to burn the midnight oil).
Bit.ly, the URL shortening company, swears by the success of Saturday
morning pins. Experiment with your own pinning timeframes. Use the
Pingraphy bookmarklet
to grab images and schedule your pins during
different times.
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52
•
Build your brand with your words. Write concise and conversational
pin descriptions. And, use humor—researchers say it boosts learning
and info-recall.
•
Pin on popular boards (if they’re open to everyone). These boards
tend to have high subscriber numbers, and will expand the reach of
your brand.
4. Show us the SEO love
Search engines love unique content. Pinterest, with its massive following
and original content, is the place to practice good search engine
optimization (SEO).
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53
•
Use the Pin It button (get it at pinterest.com/about/goodies). The
Pin It button is a must-have for your website or blog. It lets people share
your content on their Pinterest boards, linking their followers back to
your site.
•
Build backlinks into your pins to boost your SEO rankings. Backlinks
occur from links included in captions and other info on your Pinterest
posts.
•
Use keywords in your “About” profile, content and pins to help
increase your Pinterest page rank when your prospects search.
•
Build community. If someone follows you, follow them back.
Comment on, like, and repin their images. This will encourage them to
like you back. The bigger and more active your Pinterest community,
the more exposure for your biz.
•
Integrate. Add Pinterest social sharing buttons to your blog, email
campaigns and/or website. Ask Facebook, Google+, Facebook, Twitter,
Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn fans to follow you on Pinterest. Tweet
your pins and share them on Facebook.
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54
5. Do the numbers
Like any social media platform, Pinterest has metrics: Number of repins,
likes, etc. Want to see what people are pinning from your own site? Just go
to your Pinterest source page (pinterest.com/source/yourdomain.com).
Pinfluencer
, Pinreach and other third-party tools give you a slew of data,
such as the number of referrals and your business influence.
All of this juicy info can help you plan strategic pinning campaigns!
One last final tip to keep you and your followers engaged:
Download the Pinterest app onto your iPhone or Android. When you’re
running around town and see something cool, snap a pic and pin it!
Wishing you and your business mega-pinsuccess!
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55
Wrap Up
It’s time to dive in and make a splash! To begin, pick one or two of the
discussed platforms and set up an account. Jot down some ideas or topics
you want to post about online. This could be anything from upcoming
specials on products, a membership program you’re launching, a big event
coming up, or photos of happy customers. After you’ve got some ideas, start
adding content to your profiles. You’ll want to have a nice profile/company
photo to use (or multiple ones), and an interesting, but short description of
your company and services including links. Fill out each area of your profile
until you’re satisfied with the way it looks and flows.
Once you’ve got the swag to back it up, start posting, tweeting and/or
pinning. Suggest your page/profile to friends on Facebook, follow clients
or other businesses on Twitter, and put important users in your Google+
circles. Once you begin updating your social media sites regularly, you’ll
find that building an audience and a following will come. The more people
or pages you tag and users you tweet, the quicker you’ll become visible to
others. Posting engaging and resourceful information is more likely to
gain new customers for your business. Don’t be afraid to be bold; if you’re a
small business, give your followers a glimpse into your daily operations by
posting office photos or by telling others about a recent goal you met. If you
establish a connection with your followers, you can turn that connection
into a sale.
Using social media will boost brand awareness, help generate more sales,
recruit new clients, and assist in retaining customers. You’ll see all the
possibilities available at your fingertips, and we encourage you to use them!
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56
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