1. Social Media- Get the fundamentals right Image credit: Guido van Nispen a Melissa J Choo presentation

2. Let’s start with the fundamentals Image credit: Superrune Are you using social media first and foremost for marketing or communication purposes? Are you aware of what it entails to jump on the social media bandwagon and create an impact? Have you aquainted yourself with social media etiquette?

3. Social media is essentially about embracing conversations Lose sight of the communication factor and you debauch the social in social media Image credit: Pieter Muster

5. If you’re sincere about engaging , people respond. Image credit: ostergaardander Are you listening to your audience? If you’re more interested in selling outright, be prepared to be ignored. Social media platforms are not channles for direct sales solicitations.

6. Just as in a normal communities, there are formal/unwritten rules and etiquette in social media communities. Image credit: Enrique Mendez

8. Take Twitter as an example Observe and follow Style Rules Spell properly instead of using numbers in replacement of words Acknowledge the original author in a Retweet Avoid being a Social Butterfly Following lots of people in the hope that some will follow you in return Image credit: Kun530

9. Know what you’re getting into Social media may be cost effective because it doesn’t cost to use it Image credit: Josh Bozarth

10. However, Participation takes effort + (a lot of) time and it’s continuous. Image credit: hensever

11. It’s not a once off marketing campaign. It’s about engaging and enhancing your relationship with your audience over time . Image credit: rickz & Animesh Singh

12. Forecast the time required for your social media efforts and commit to it Attention is quickly lost with infrequent updates and mundane posts. You’re competing with steams of people producing valuable content. Prepare to scale your resources if your social media effort becomes successful Image credit: hensever

15. Get aquainted with different social media sites. Familiarise yourself with the features and possibilities

16. Strategise Focus on using appropriate social media sites that complement your objectives Image credit: Zebra Pares

18. on your website or blog if you do not have these social media accounts. Image credit: Ricky Romero But do not include Not only is it unprofessional, it creates annoyance to readers.

19. Give a comprehensive overview of your social media touchpoints Example 1 H&M’s Social Media Room lists the latest updates across its various social media platforms.

21. Example 3 Google (similar to many other companies) adds links to other social media sites below its blog posts. This helps to spread the blog posts and connect the company with its audience across other social media platforms.

22. Offer more valuable content by combining your usual topics with popular discussions on various social media sites Enhance efficiency for your readers by providing affiliate links to topics of their interest e Stretch it further Image credit: ndanger

23. Be the great resource with valuable content & engaging social interactions Image credit: Choconancy1 In essence