Social Media! This term is in the news, on the web, and just about everywhere you turn nowadays. But what exactly is social media, and what’s the big deal about it? Blogs, Facebook, and Twitter are just a few of the social media tools that have revolutionized the way the world communicates. In this seminar we will explore what social media is and how your retail or wholesale business can use it to increase your Internet presence and improve interactions with customers – and most importantly, look at how doing so can increase your sales both on and offline.

1. What is Social Media & How Can You Use It to Increase Business? Presented by Brian Linton Founder Sand Shack LLC Brianlinton.com Sandshack.com January 2010 © 2010 Brian Linton

2. What We’re Talking About Social Media Definition My Background and Why I am Here Social Media Benefits for Retail Stores Social Media Basic Uses with Examples What to do First and How to Get Started How Much $ and How Much Time Does this All Cost?

3. What is Social Media – A Definition Social Media is slightly different for everyone and how it is used may vary A few definitions… An umbrella term that defines the various activities that integrate technology and social interaction online. Social Media is a collection of tools and online spaces available to help individuals and businesses to accelerate their information and communication needs. Online technologies and practices that people use to share opinions, insights, experiences, and perspectives with each other.

4. A Definition for Our Industry Social Media is a collection of online tools (mostly free) that allow retail establishments to connect and communicate with their customers. Social media allows for instant communication and feedback about events, promotions, and allow retail stores to find out what their customers like and don’t like. Proper use of social media by retail establishments does not entail mindless self promotion, it is about consistent communication with customers and providing free, useful content that will influence customers to make a purchase from an online or offline store.

5. Forms of Social Media There are hundreds of forms of social media…Let’s start with these 4 Blogs Facebook Twitter YouTube

6. What We’re Talking About Social Media Definition My Background and Why I am Here Social Media Benefits for Retail Stores Social Media Basics with Examples What to do First and How to Get Started How Much $ and How Much Time Does this All Cost?

7. My Background Grew up in Singapore and Japan Founded Sand Shack while in college in 2006 Live and work in Philadelphia Girlfriend’s name is Joanna and Dog’s name is Zoey Speak Chinese, love to travel, write, and like to raise fish

8. Why You Should Listen To Me I am not a social media expert I grew up using forms of social media I successfully use social media for my business Most importantly, I am in your industry -Sand Shack is a brand of resort merchandise

9. What We’re Talking About Social Media Definition My Background and Why I am Here Social Media Benefits for Retail Stores Social Media Basics with Examples What to do First and How to Get Started How Much $ and How Much Time Does this All Cost?

10. Benefits It Pays to Be Social If you are not online, you will lose to those who are Having a website is no longer enough People will judge you based on your online, social presence

11. Benefits Build your web presence -when people search for your business or thing related to your business they find you Improve your public relations -get press coverage Be able to hear what your customers are saying about you and your company -If it’s bad you can improve it -if it’s good, you can focus on it

12. Benefits Connect with your customers Gain new customers Find out where your customers are both on and offline Build your brand All business, not matter the size, can benefit

13. What We’re Talking About Social Media Definition My Background and Why I am Here Social Media Benefits for Retail Stores Social Media Basic Uses with Examples What to do First and How to Get Started How Much $ and How Much Time Does this All Cost?

14. 3 Free Social Media Tools to Use Today There are 3 social media tools you can begin using today

16. Landing spot for all online, social activity

17. Static vs Dynamic

18. Personal vs Business – or both?

20. Business Blogging Sandshack.com/blog

21. Getting Started Host your blog on your .com website -don’t use ‘free’ domain names -integrate it with your existing website Use wordpress to manage your blog and content -visit wordpress.org -Use one of 1000s of free templates Online resources abound -wordpress.org tutorials -1000s of blogs on the subject (problogger.net)

23. Better communication

24. Comments

25. Build Community

26. Low Cost and Easy

27. Search Engine Ranking

28. You Must PROMOTE your blog – this can be done free

29. Create a blog of value

31. Blog regularly

32. Tag and categorize appropriately

33. Make your blog search engine friendly

34. Encourage comments, tweets, diggs, stumbles, etc.

35. Comment on other blogs

36. Be a guest blogger

37. Participate in forums and discussion boards

39. Blog Promotion – Guest blogging,

40. Understanding Statistics

41. Create a family of blogs that drive traffic back to your main website and store

42. Ie. Sandshack.org, Stop Overfishing, Stop Shark Finning, Save our Coral Reefs

44. Use Facebook’s Search function

45. Organize and host online and offline events using Facebook.

47. Facebook Search Find and connect with people or groups who have influence over your potential customers Search for what matters to your business Reach out and network with leaders of relevant groups Join groups and make friends Note: Only Leaders/Administrators can mass-message all members and fans about you

48. Some Benefits of Networking You get mentioned on a popular Facebook page You get listed on a website with link back to yours Sandshack’s $5,555 giveaway

49. Facebook Events Host online and offline events and promote them with Facebook Events Name our Lobster Competition -Over 100 name submissions -Brought polling back to our blog Tips Be creative Offer a prize Don’t spam The power of FREE

50. Twitter Twitter is more important for larger brands, but small brands are having success with it as well Use twitter to gain followers Great real-time search engine

51. Twitter for Business Address problems (bigger brands) Join a conversation Be human – not a robot Update Followers Don’t just self-promote Monitor conversations

52. Twitter Search Different than Google because you can monitor what people are talking about Join the conversation with @ reply

53. Twitter for Research Ask questions and get feedback Not just your followers can answer you – anyone can

54. What We’re Talking About Social Media Definition My Background and Why I am Here Social Media Benefits for Retail Stores Social Media Basic Uses with Examples What to do First and How to Get Started How Much $ and How Much Time Does this All Cost?

55. Where to Start Building a social media presence is a process and you can take it as slow or as fast as you want.

56. What We’re Talking About Social Media Definition My Background and Why I am Here Social Media Benefits for Retail Stores Social Media Basic Uses with Examples What to do First and How to Get Started How Much $ and How Much Time Does this All Cost?

57. What is Your Investment? If you own your .com a blog can be added to it for free -Wordpressvsblogger Facebook and twitter accounts are free Digital camera that takes movie and photos: $200 -Imagery adds a lot to your social media presence Largest investment is your time -2 to 20 hours / week -You get what you put into it Tip – Get interns from local university to help build your social media presence

58. Help me Be More Social 15 second video testimonial Good and the bad Seminar Review Sheet Business cards for Social Media Newsletter A video of this presentation and the powerpoint will be available on Brianlinton.com

59. Contact Information Contact Brian: Tel: 508-292-9427 or brian@sandshack.com