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Slide 1: SOCIAL MEDIA TO BOOST SALES 12/16/08 1
Slide 2: Why social networking? • • • • • • Increase your visibility online Improve your professional network Find hidden connections Make first meetings go smoother Deepen relationships with customers Find new prospects and make them customers 2
Slide 3: Top social networking sites • • • • • Myspace Facebook Flickr LinkedIn Fastest growing: Twitter, Tagged, Ning 3
Slide 4: • Social media even more important in the travel, tourism and hospitality business! 4
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Slide 6: Today’s focus • • LinkedIn.com Facebook.com Others to explore on your own: • • • Myspace.com Twitter.com Various travel related socnets 6
Slide 7: Social networking fundamentals • • • • Profile Content Contacts/friends Search – Understand your key words/search terms – Know where to search (e.g., Twitter searches on Summize.com) • Other functions vary by socnet 7
Slide 8: Maximizing LinkedIn • • Make the most of your profile Showcase your professional expertise and personality Upload your address book contacts to expand your network 8 •
Slide 9: LinkedIn profile tips • Be concise, interesting and informative Use key words people may search on, such as safety or PPE Add every new contact you meet to your network 9 • •
Slide 10: More LinkedIn profile tips • Recommendations add interest to your profile Add hobbies and interests to uncover hidden connections with existing or new contacts • 10
Slide 11: Advanced LinkedIn tips LinkedIn Answers • Post questions or answers • Showcase your expertise • Search answers to find and make new contacts LinkedIn Groups • Search for keywords such as meetings, travel, tourism, meeting planning • 375 groups on “safety” alone • Join groups to make new contacts 11
Slide 12: LinkedIn groups search 12
Slide 13: Facebook search 13
Slide 14: Niche social sites • • • • • • Tripadvisor IgoUgo Virtualtourist.com Chowhound Guidespot GoSeeTell • • • • • Yelp MyTravelGuide RealTravel Epinions DontGoThere.org 14
Slide 15: Online reputation management • Show your best face online – How are you connecting? – How much is too much? – Define role and value of social media for you as well as your brand • Know that what you say online to one person, one time… you’re saying to everyone, all the time 15
Slide 16: GETTING STARTED 16
Slide 17: Joining the conversation: Listen • Observe online communities where your brand is actively discussed • Participate in conversations as if with someone in real life whom you respect • Pay attention to how community members interact with each other • Reach out to people as a human being, NOT as a marketer or salesperson 17
Slide 18: I. Listen II. Participate Joining the conversation: Engage III. Contribute IV. Evaluate 18
Slide 19: Contribute to the community • • • • • • Create content Make it easy for people to connect to you Participate in larger conversations Integrate into social networks Provide a valuable application Build relationships on and off-line 19
Slide 20: Benefits of social media • • • • • • Deeper relationships with visitors/guests Increased awareness for brand Better communication with audiences Broadening of professional network Search engine prominence Increased web or blog traffic 20
Slide 21: QUESTIONS? Lara.Kretler@Fahlgren.com @LaraK on Twitter Blog at www.larakretler.com 614-383-1618 (w) 937-271-9151 (c)