Social Media Tools for Small

Business
For yoyomama – February 12, 2009
 MyNameIsKate.ca – blogging about the intersection of
LintBucket Media (LintBucket.com) is a boutique marketing marketing, technology and design, plus other juicy bits.
agency headquartered in Vancouver that focuses on social
media marketing and community building.

OneDegree.ca is one of
Canada's leading online
publications about digital
marketing, online
communications and social
media -- penned by some of
Our Services: Canada's bright lights and
Social Media Marketing & Communications rising stars in these areas.
Blogger Outreach Programs
Community Development
Internal Social Media Implementation
SEO-driven Copywriting
http://mynameiskate.ca/yoyomama.html
 Social Media is all about PEOPLE

But, first things first …

People Figures: David Armano - Logic + Emotion Blog http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmpalmer/99806770/
Do you own your own name?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/71894657@N00/916718299/
Do you own your own name?
Does Your Email Address look like one of these?
elaine@shaw.ca

honeybee@gmail.com

creativemarketing@telus.net

professionallawfirm@rogers.com

WHY?!?
Do you own your own home?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/96221617@N00/308791590/
Do you own your own home?
Do you have a website?
With a real domain?
Can you update your website when YOU want?
Are you running website analytics?
Do you review your analytics on a semi-regular basis?

Don’t get involved in social media

until these are taken care of!
And have you weather-stripped it?
Findability is Essential to Doing Business!
Optimize your site for search engines
Optimize your content for search engines
Consider testing Google AdWords programs

SEO is beyond the scope of

this talk but there are a lot
of big wins to be had via SEO!
What’s your handle?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lwr/38960136/
 What’s your handle?
My Handle Variations Why Important?
katetrgovac
• Findability – most social media sites
ktrgovac
•
are being indexed – user names and
user profiles are starting to show up.
mynameiskate
•

katicus
•

queenkaticus
•

Psst … do as I SAY, not as I DO 

http://www.usernamecheck.com/
 Profile

Conversations

Personality
Your Professional Profile
Where should you have a professional profile?
LinkedIn

Facebook

[Plaxo – not as popular, but some people got into it]

Really, Facebook?
Yes – use the “group friends” and privacy settings!
http://www.allfacebook.com/2009/02/facebook-privacy/
Your Professional Conversations
Where should you be having professional conversations?
Twitter

[plurk, identi.ca – not as popular]

[yammer – “internal” twitter – good for companies]

Tip: you don’t have to “follow” back everyone who follows you
Tip 2: Don’t use the web interface – use an application like
Tweetdeck, Twhirl or Twitterfox
Your Professional Personality
Where should you show off your professional personality?
A blog (your own OR a group blog)
Flickr [could also use Picasa]

Blogging scare you?

Try “mini-blogging”: tumblr or posterous

What about video blogging or podcasting?

Let’s discuss!
 That’s YOU professionally.
Same drill for your BUSINESS.
Your Business Profile
Where should you have a business profile?
LinkedIn – Company pages
Facebook – Fan Page
[I’m not a fan of Facebook’s “groups”]

Tip: save a file with boilerplate descriptions of you and your

company: 1 line, 2 line, 1 paragraph, 100 words, etc. Will come
in handy!
Your Business Conversations
Where should you be having business conversations?
Twitter

Different account for your business

Can be a group effort using tools like BrightKit

What to Tweet about?

Your business’ news | industry news | “internal” news | partner
news
On Business account – follow back everyone
Your Business Personality
Where should you show off your business personality?
A blog (seriously – every company needs a blog)
What to blog about?
•A little about you
•A LOT about your customers
•Some about your partners
•Some about your industry
Good examples? http://tombihn.com/blog/ & http://laptopbaglifeline.com/
Tip: Group blogs are a good thing! Engage employees or partners!

Flickr (show off customers loving your products)

Your Connections: Prof. & Biz
Where can you connect?
There is a social network out there for every interest!
Or you can start your own with tools like Ning
Also, topical recommendation sites like Yelp or Chow
Monitoring Your Buzz
How do you find out what people are saying about you?
Review your web analytics!
Set up Google Alerts for your and your business name
Set up search feeds (RSS feeds)
Your name and business name
Links to your website
Links to other profiles
Monitor these searches using tools like an RSS reader (e.g.
Google Reader or Bloglines) or a personal homepage (e.g.
MyYahoo, iGoogle, or Pageflakes)
Social Media Promotions
How do you get the word out about your business?
Blogger Outreach programs
http://www.slideshare.net/mynameiskate/blogger-relations-presentation

Facebook Ads
http://www.doshdosh.com/facebook-marketing-resources/

Blog Network Ads

http://www.blogherads.com/

Social Media News Releases

Resource: http://www.lintbucket.com/smr-help.html
Email Newsletters
Example: http://www.boxcarmarketing.com/underwire/
 http://www.flickr.com/photos/monkeyc/322654818/

How Much TIME?!?!

How Much TIME?!?!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarahbelle1/2363974644/
IMPORTANT: Social Media Principles

http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbyladybug/2152179077/
IMPORTANT: Social Media Principles
Measure Everything
Be Human
Be Transparent
Make Sure Your Content is Portable
Social Media is a Long Term Prospect
Make It Easy for People to Talk About You
Questions?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/calavera/65098350/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vernhart/1574355646/
 Photo Sources and Links
Any Questions: http://flickr.com/photos/calavera/65098350/
Thank you M&Ms: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vernhart/1574355646/
Suitcase Handle: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lwr/38960136/
Paper Homes: http://www.flickr.com/photos/96221617@N00/308791590/
Dollar Heart: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmpalmer/99806770/
Birth Certificate: http://www.flickr.com/photos/71894657@N00/916718299/
Clock: http://www.flickr.com/photos/monkeyc/322654818/
Uhaul: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarahbelle1/2363974644/
Ten Commandments: http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbyladybug/2152179077/