1. Social Media and Networking: What it is & why it’s important
Human interaction has not changed.
It’s where it happens that’s changed.
Kevin Woodward

2. Defining Social Media and Networking
Social Media is the content, tools and services created and used by people online … such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, blogs, groups, wikis and others.*
Social Networking is the act of building interactive online communities of people with shared interests through communication and sharing of information.*
* Wikipedia

3. What it’s about: The bottom line
It’s not about the tools, it’s about the relationships.
Somewhere, someone has something important to tell you. Listening isn’t a choice, it’s a strategy.
A recent study found that not only can you quantify and measure social media engagement for the business, there is a direct correlation with the bottom line. The most actively engaged companies reported revenue gains of 18 percent on average in the last year, while those who didn’t reported average losses of 6 percent.*
* ENGAGEMENTdb: Ranking the Top 100 Global Brands | July 21, 2009

4. U.S. monthly online activity usage
Social media and networking sites have more overall usage now than text messaging … and growing

5. Who’s using social media today
Boomers, Gen X are fastest growing user groups and may soon be largest, not Gen Y or Z

6. Reasons to using social media
Generational differences more pronounced between social media adopters and social media expectants

7. The Big 3 social media for business
Facebook – Biggest player with 250 million users, added 50 million in Q209. No. 1 for stickiness with average 4.5 hours time spent per user in June. Best for: Connecting with friends, public face for fans.
Twitter – Micro-blogging in real time. Fastest growing, reported 19% growth in July over June, nearly 2000% YOY. World’s biggest focus group. Best for: Consumer services and interaction.
LinkedIn – Grow your network exponentially. Not just for job seekers, 57% of employers registered and using. Identify key customer contacts, establish expertise and trust. Best for: Business services, brand.

8. Pros & cons: Facebook Huge user base Search tools Mashup apps
“True” friends, fans
Stickiness
Simple business model
Easy to create and manage targeted ads
CONS
Difficult to navigate
Time intensive
Opt-in requirement
Must log in, less immediate
“Thick” apps
Somewhat limited capabilities for business

9. Facebook: West Marine retailer

10. Facebook: Girl Geek organization

11. Pros & cons: Twitter Broad reach Research, prospecting capabilities
Immediate connection, direct engagement
“Thin” overhead
Hotness factor
Flexibility
Mobile phone options
CONS
Easy to abuse, spam
Smaller, but dedicated user base
140-char message limitation
Early stage of adoption
More business services coming, but undefined

12. Twitter: West Marine retailer

13. Twitter: Politician

14. Pros & cons: LinkedIn Considered “must have” in business today
Increase visibility and connectability
Research clients, prospect for new ones, insight into competition
Use your contacts for ecommendations and introductions
Search engine optimization
Controls, privacy features
Groups
CONS
Controls, privacy features
Must be savvy and use strategically
Some slow to recognize business value

15. LinkedIn: West Marine retailer

16. LinkedIn: Company search

17. Blog: Engage with a purpose
What is the message you want to communicate?
Best practice is to avoid hard sell, focus on helping, sharing.

18. Blog: Integration and consistency
Which is website and which is blog? Note cross links to other social media.

19. Other: YouTube, multimedia
Video presence and hosting expands reach. New tools enable anyone to tell a story with sound and pictures. Other sites: Vimeo, 12seconds.

20. Social Networking Rules of Engagement
A plan that includes measureable success criteria
Listen to your audience and what it is telling you
Define your brand and align with profiles
If you don’t know, ask (or tweet) someone
Focus and connect first with who you know best
Actively engage with your customers
Track and report on usage and results
Review , analyze, update … and repeat
Manage your time effectively
Don’t be afraid to get your feet wet

21. Points to remember
Everybody wants to be popular. While popularity can build share, you have to reach and engage the right customers to be successful.
Control your emotions and focus on persuasion, empathy, trust (PET).
Help don’t sell. Reach out and others will reach back.
Be authentic … be consistent … and have fun.
At the end of the day it’s better to have a great product than to be great in social media

22. Thank you … and stay connected
KEVIN WOODWARD Phone: (mobile, text), (landline) Social MediYeah! blog: LinkedIn: Facebook: Twitter: