Stuart Crawford from Bulletproof InfoTech shares his knowledge with Calgary Entrepreneurs on how to leverage social media and define the strategy needed to go online with your business today. Stuart Crawford Bulletproof InfoTech http://www.bulletproofIT.ca

1. Defining and Understanding How to Connect with Your Clients and Colleagues Using the Latest Technologies Calgary Entrepreneurs August 5th, 2009

2. Introduction to Social MediaWhat is social media? Is Social Media ready for business? Is business ready for Social Media? The Pace of Change Can you keep up? Where do you start? Feeling just a bit overwhelmed?

4. The Information Age

6. Are you ready for change? Changes in the way business is done Changes in the way customers interact withus Changes in the way prospects find us Changes in the way people share information Changes in the way people talk about us Changes in the way we approach the market Change is coming, change is here and the old way doesn’t work!

7. Remember This… Information is a commodity If you search hard enough, someone has posted something online for free Information we previously charged for! Everything is free!

8. It is not a technology…It is a way of being! Haven’t we been doing this all along Telephone Letters Interaction between people Rumour mills Gossip Email Hasn’t the tools just become more sophisticated?

9. Do you think you are in control? “You can’t take something off of the Internet. That’s like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.” Joe Ragan, Newsradio As quoted in “Groundswell” by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff

10. Managing the porous wallKeeping on top of what is said Internal communications External communications What is being said How to keep on top of it Tips and Tricks

11. What is being said about you?How do you keep on top of things? Why is monitoring your business online important? What are others saying about you? What are your employees saying? Why is monitoring your business important?

12. What resources are available?Put into action immediately Blogs Twitter LinkedIn YouTube Blogtalkradio Others What is working and what is not?

13. Should you start a blog?What would you say? Many industry thought leaders blog daily Become an expert Communicate with clients and prospects What is working and what is not?

14. Getting recognizedThe thought leader in you is born Talk about everything around you Build a following Offer real advice Build relationships Follow events Add commentary Act as if… Demonstrate daily - you are a leader

15. Become viralStart the spread of you Interesting stuff is spread Make your information easy to share Be interesting Have you thought about video What about audio Pictures say a thousand words

16. Life can be shared in 140 charactersIs Twitter in you? Start the viral spreading Share interesting stories and ideas Promote others “It’s 140 characters... If you need a ghostwriter for that, I feel sorry for you.” @The_Real_Shaq, New York Times, March 26, 2009 When Stars Twitter, a Ghost May Be Lurking

17. Business and Community using Twitter

18. What is on the horizonThe only thing for sure this year is change will happen What can you do now? What can you do tomorrow? What about your marketing plan? Have you considered your peers Where do your clients fit in? What can you do to promote them?

19. Each of us is a teacherWe also need to educate Are you? Ready to embrace the old, new and future Can you talk about the tools? Can you coach your clients? Being a recognized expert on the tools Sharing your knowledge The time for real leadership is now!

20. Answer questions and provide valueBlogs and LinkedIn – More than just networking! Do you have a blog? Is it a sales tool? Is it an educational tool? Are you attracting the perfect clients? Linkedin Who is in your network? Are you answering questions? Where do you hangout?

21. What is hotStuff you must do now! Just when you felt overloaded From Press Release to Social Media Release Video, Video, Video Be your own Radio Star! Can you create social media games? What can you do differently than the competitor Who dares wins Better is not always better

22. You control your own PRWe are all our own media outlet Create and distribute your own press releases prlog.org pitchengine.com wireservice.ca Leverage Social Media to distribute what you do new solutions new products new clients

23. Your own TV ChannelAll it takes is a camera and creativity

24. Online Radiodo you have a face for radio? Online Radio is freeand fun Reach new audiences Share easily with your clients Promote your partners and your clients Start small and work your way up Blogtalkradio.com

26. QuestionsFollow me on Twitter, LinkedIn… www.facebook.com/stuart.crawford.calgary.computer.service www.linkedin.com/in/stuartcrawford www.twitter.com/scrawforditm www.twitter.com/bulletproofIT www.twitter.com/calgarybusiness