Social Media and Your Business

Facebook fans and ROI

2010-06-17T09:53:00.000-07:00

From The BE Daily- a free news brief service from the Business Examiner

Jun. 14, 2010 at 12:48pm

How much is a Facebook friend worth to your business?

According to research conducted by Syncapse, the average annualized value of an individual fan is $136.38.

However, fan value can vary widely by company and product. Factors influencing this variability include product purchase price, purchase frequency, product purchase cycle, product category and brand equity. And keep in mind that the fan base of a brand is unique and comprised of different levels of influencers and customers.

see full story

NY Times article urges small business to engage in social media

2009-06-04T09:23:00.001-07:00

Small Businesses Are Taking Tentative Steps Toward Online Networking

By MICKEY MEECE

Published: June 3, 2009

"BY choice or necessity, successful small-business owners are earnest networkers, gladly shaking hands, handing out cards and attending local meetings to find and keep customers, solve problems, seek feedback or support and bolster their bottom lines....."

NY Times article link

Thurston Forum a packed house

2009-05-14T10:58:00.000-07:00

Clay and Blaine spoke to a packed Thurston Chamber Forum yesterday.

There were several hundred Olympia business people in attendance and from my informal poll, most were not using social media for their businesses.

I hope they came away with a greater understanding of the tools available, and certainly the new BE Online Community!

New Format! Social Media and Your Business- Social Media for Executives Workshop

2009-05-13T10:21:00.001-07:00

The Social Media for Executives Workshop is part of the Business Examiner's series on leveraging social media tools to benefit business.

This seminar and workshop, presented by BE Online Community and Konnects, are perfect for those who are aware of social media tools, but are still determining how to best use them.

From blogging to Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, Konnects and Twitter - business people are bombarded with invitations and pressures to "get in the game." If you are questioning how best to do that, join us for this informative and valuable conversation.

Spend the morning sorting out the best uses for each tool and how they apply to you and your business. We will also share strategies for saving time and energy while making the most of new opportunities to connect and grow your professional network online.

Bring your laptop and put your knowledge to work! Whether you are a novice or pro - this workshop is for you.

Light breakfast and refreshments will be served.

LACEY

Date: Friday, May 29th, 2009

Time: 8:30-9:30 a.m. Seminar

9:30-11:30 a.m. Hands on Workshop
Bring your laptop- or watch and take notes- as we help set up or
optimize various social media accounts!

Where: Washington State Farm Bureau Building- Harvest Room
975 Carpenter Rd NE, Suite 301, Lacey WA 98516

Cost: $45
Register on-line

Thurston County Chamber Forum on Customer Focused Social Media – Is it for You?

2009-05-06T10:19:00.000-07:00

The Business Examiner is pleased to have helped coordinate Clay and Blaine, who have presented our last three Social Media for Executives seminars, to speak at next week's Thurston County Chamber forum.

Customer Focused Social Media – Is it for You?

Is embracing social media a choice or a necessity for your company? Are the barriers to getting involved real or imagined? And just what are the demographics of people currently using social media?

Answers to these questions and more can be found at the Thurston County Chamber Forum on Wednesday, May 13. It will be a great introduction to this emerging form of communications and it will help you become "conversationally competent" about the basics of social media, the terminology and its applications.

Our two presenters for this program – Clay Loges and Blaine Millet – are seasoned business executives interested in helping organizations gain a stronger, competitive advantage and increase their revenue.

The Forum begins at 11:30 a.m. and is $18 for members with reservations, $20 for members without reservations, and $30 for all others. Reservations are requested by Friday, May 8, at 360.357.3362 or online at www.ThurstonChamber.com.

Internet Privacy? Ethical Implications of Social Networking

2009-05-05T14:32:00.000-07:00

I sat on a panel discussion today that the Center for Ethical Development at Tacoma Community College produced. On the panel were myself, Jim Crabbe, founder, Konnects and Valerie Zeeck, partner, Gordon Thomas Honeywell.

The intended audience was students attending Tacoma Community College. The Center for Ethical Development's intent was to encourage conversation regarding internet privacy and the ethical implications of social networking.

It was an interesting discussion with great input from the students in attendance. The discussion was also broadcast live over TCC's website. Here is the recording of the session:

Internet Privacy? Ethical Implications
of Social Networking, May 5, 2009

Another great seminar

2009-04-24T14:33:00.000-07:00

We held another successful Social Media for Executives seminar this morning in Lacey. Clay Loges of Yodio lead a great session and discussion, followed by hands on experience in a workshop session with Karyn Whitacre of Konnects.
The BE community has been growing steadily since it's Monday launch. Some tips for creating a successful online profile-

1. Fill in the blanks- make your profile as complete as possible and add some personality to make it feel authentically you.
2. Upload a professional looking photo. If you do not want a photo online, at a minimum pick an image to replace the anonymous head outline.
3. Invite your friends. All social media platforms make it very easy to upload your address book or list of contacts from other sites.
4. Give recommendations and introduce business contacts- give and you will receive.
5. Stay current, update your profile with relevant information and keep it "fresh."

Social Media for Executives Seminar this Friday!

2009-04-22T10:25:00.001-07:00

If you are an executive who values your time, yet senses that you need to understand the basics of Social Media you owe it to yourself to attend this 90-Minute Briefing for Executives.

This fast-paced, information-packed presentation introduces you to the "low cost, high impact" Social Media tools popularized on the internet. It identifies specific, practical ways to use Social Media strategies to drive revenues and lead your competition.

This seminar was first held in Tacoma on February 24th, a second event was held April 3rd and has received rave reviews. Click here to read the Social Media and Your Business blog conversation and see reviews and comments here from the first seminar's attendees.

LACEY
Date: Friday, April 24th, 2009
Time: 7:00 a.m. Breakfast
7:30-9:00 Social Media Briefing
9:00-10:00 Questions and Conversation
10:00-12:00 Hands on Workshop (New!)
Bring your laptop- or watch and take notes- as we walk through
setting up or optimizing various social media accounts!

Where: Washington State Farm Bureau Building- Harvest Room
975 Carpenter Rd NE, Suite 301, Lacey WA 98516
Cost: $90
Register on-line

The BE online community launched today!

2009-04-20T15:58:00.000-07:00

The Business Examiner Newspaper Group launched an online community today to foster connections between small business owners, managers and supporters in the Sound Sound. Those who complete a brief registration process immediately access the BE network to find business leads, exchange ideas through interest groups, comment on stories, share their thoughts about the business news of the day, post events and share updates.

This social networking feature is a partnership between the BE and Tacoma-based Konnects.com. The BE is the second newspaper in the state to launch an integrated online community, joining the Wentachee World in the Konnect's pilot program. The online community functions similarly to LinkedIn or Facebook, but will be populated primarily with local business people who share connections to the BE.

The service is a free of charge and is the newest addition to the host of no-cost business resources and tools available through the Business Examiner.

http://community.businessexaminer.com

Domino's learns the power of social media the hard way

2009-04-16T14:25:00.000-07:00

This makes my marketer's blood run cold, but further reinforces the need to monitor and prepare to respond quickly using social media platforms.

“We got blindsided by two idiots with a video camera and an awful idea,” said a Domino’s spokesman, Tim McIntyre, who added that the company was preparing a civil lawsuit. “Even people who’ve been with us as loyal customers for 10, 15, 20 years, people are second-guessing their relationship with Domino’s, and that’s not fair.”

Video Prank at Domino’s Taints Brand
By STEPHANIE CLIFFORD
Published: April 15, 2009
The New York Times
Link to Story

Organize all your new online tools

2009-04-16T10:52:00.000-07:00

I'm a big Google fan because it makes life easier for me. I don't just mean Google search, but the host of Google applications that I use on a daily basis.

As I my list of bookmarks grew for different online tools and cool applications I use, I started to get overwhelmed with all the sites I had to check, monitor or update. When someone suggested I set up an aggragator for the blogs I wanted to monitor, I was excited to know I didn't have to remember to scour different sites for tidbits that interested me (http://www.google.com/reader). While I now had blogs and RSS feeds under control, I still had email accounts, Twitter feeds, my calendar, LinkedIn updates, Pandora, Facebook, Google Alerts for local business news and more coming every day.

Then I heard about iGoogle, which is brilliant. It has allowed me to create a "dashboard," if you will, of all the various tools I use. Each tool has a small widget that you can link to from your dashboard that signs you in and automatically feeds you updates and links.

This idea of tech-overload is a common concern at our Social Media for Executives seminars. Already busy execs get glossy-eyed and a bit frantic when they are told that they, personally, need to engage in social media. They worry about keeping track of things, staying up to date and having an "efficiency tool" become very inefficient as they grapple with getting their arms around it.

So my message today is that there are so many efficiency tools for efficiency tools out there, and while I am a self-proclaimed fan of Google, there are many more coming online every day. Find one that works for you and put it to use, it'll make life easier for you too.

Even Sam Reed has a blog!

2009-04-14T10:01:00.000-07:00

Washington Secretary of State Blogs

Even elected officials are getting in the game! I pulled some interesting information from the Secretary of State Sam Reed's blog to share, although the Gov, Attorney General and even WSDOT have jumped in to the social media game. They are using tools such as Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and of course blogs!

"The Washington Office of the Secretary of State’s blog provides from-the-source information about important state news and public services. This space acts as a bridge between the public and Secretary Sam Reed and his staff, and we invite you to contribute often to the conversation here.
http://blogs.secstate.wa.gov/FromOurCorner/"

Blog Use Policy

The Office of the Secretary of State’s blog use policy states that posts and/or comments must not contain vulgar, offensive, threatening or harassing language or personal attacks. Outside comments must be on-topic only. Under state law, we cannot post political statements, such as comments that endorse or oppose political candidates or ballot propositions. We will not post any content promoting or advertising commercial services, entities, or products. Making a comment on this blog does not constitute giving official notice to the agency. For official communication, please contact our programs directly. This policy may be amended at any time.

Other Government Officials' Blogs

Unlock the business potential of Twitter

2009-04-14T09:42:00.000-07:00

I received this article today and thought it was worth passing on. - Emily

Putting Twitter’s World to Use

By CLAIRE CAIN MILLER
The New York Times

Published: April 13, 2009

SAN FRANCISCO — The first reaction many people have to Twitter is befuddlement. Why would they want to read short messages about what someone ate for breakfast?

It’s a reasonable question. Twitter unleashes the diarist in its 14 million users, who visited its site 99 million times last month to read posts tapped out with cellphones and computers.

Individually, many of those 140-character “tweets” seem inane.

But taken collectively, the stream of messages can turn Twitter into a surprisingly useful tool for solving problems and providing insights into the digital mood. By tapping into the world’s collective brain, researchers of all kinds have found that if they make the effort to dig through the mundane comments, the live conversations offer an early glimpse into public sentiment — and even help them shape it.

Click here to read the NY Times Article

Article on PC Tools- Beware the Landmines of Social Media Tools

2009-04-09T10:03:00.000-07:00

I decided to share this article, not because I'm interested in scaring anyone away from social media tools - but because I think it's important to remember that similar rules apply to using all technology.

1. Much like your parent's taught you about Halloween candy, don't eat/open it unless you know where it came from.

2. If something smells rotten it probably is. If you are uncertain if something is legitimate, check with the source before linking to, opening or accepting a download.

3. Watch out for wolves in sheep's clothes - again, if you are not expecting a file from a friend, check first to make sure they sent it.

A little skepticism can go a long way - here's more from PC Tools-

Article link

Great seminar with lots of energy!

2009-04-03T14:24:00.000-07:00

This morning we held our second Social Media for Executives seminar in Tacoma and had great feedback from all attendees. Blaine and Clay provided a solid overview of current communication trends, various social media tools and suggested ways for business executives to leverage them.

Several items I took away from today's meeting:
1. Social networking is not social media. Social media is an umbrella term for things such as social networking, blogging, Twitter and Yodio.

2. It is never a good idea for businesses to just "jump in" to social media. Effective use of the tools can be very powerful, while ineffective use can erode a brand rapidly. Create a plan and monitor the effectiveness over time.

3. Businesses need to identify their master plan for using social media and communicate that throughout the ranks. The example of how the company is represented should be set from the top down - the CEO absolutely belongs in the social media space and should be using tools that help differentiate them from the competition.

4. Social media is as accessible to small business as it is to large corporations. It is the first online tool that helps to level the playing field - and may actually provide an advantage to the little guy who can be far more nimble in using real time communication tools.

5. Comments are your friend. Don't be afraid to get feedback through the web. Look at it as an opportunity to respond publicly to criticism and dispel rumors before they spread.

I know our attendees left with their heads swimming with ideas and questions, we hope they continue the conversation here!

BtoB Story: Combining e-mail with social media

2009-04-02T10:40:00.001-07:00

Great article on using Social Media tools!
By Karen J. Bannan on B2B Online

Story posted: April 2, 2009 - 6:01 am EDT

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Story Link: http://www.btobonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009904019958

How to Use Facebook for Business: Social Networking 101 for Entrepreneurs, Authors and Speakers

2009-04-01T12:09:00.000-07:00

By Stephanie Chandler

It seems the most popular question lately is, “Are you on Facebook?” Launched as a way for founder Mark Zuckerberg to connect with friends at Harvard, Facebook has exploded into the mainstream. With nearly 200 million users, and a million new members joining each week in the U.S. alone, people are paying attention.

One of the biggest benefits that social networking platforms like Facebook provide the business community is the ability to get repeat exposure with the people in your network. Clients, peers, and prospects can make up your network, and you can promote events, sales, special offers and more through your Facebook profile.

Not only is Facebook a tool for your business, but it can be fun to connect with old friends, family and coworkers. There is something about sharing an old grade school photo that can create an instant bond with those from your past. Even personal connections have the potential to become new business opportunities.

Ready to get started? Here are some ways to maximize Facebook for your business:

Create a Powerful Profile
There is no cost to create a profile on Facebook and based on site policies, it must be tied to a human name, not a business name. Use the “About Me” section to describe your business and what you do. In the “Information” box on your main profile page, you can feature links to your website, blog and other business resources. Be sure to include your photo so that others can recognize you online.

Build Your Contact List
Facebook is based on the concept of connecting with friends. You can send and receive friend requests and once accepted, your friend can view your profile and you can view theirs. To begin connecting with people that you know, you can either import your contact database or you can search Facebook for individual people.

You can also view the friends list for each person you are connected to. As an example, once you have accepted a friend request from your peer, Mary, you can view her list of friends. If you know any of Mary’s friends (or you would like to know them), send a connection request.

Communicate with Wall Posts
Each Facebook member has a “wall” where friends can post messages. This is a great place to post a quick note to those in your friends list. In the business networking world, this is the online equivalent of picking up the phone to say hello.

For example, if you are connected to a CEO who you saw at an event recently, you could post a note on her wall that says, “Loved your presentation at the XYZ event – thanks for the great ideas!”

Update Your Status
At the top of your Facebook home page is a status box. When you post a status update, everyone in your friends list can see your update on their home page. Those using Facebook for social purposes might update their status to say, “Jenny is putting the kids to bed.” For business purposes, this is a place to share tips, promote events and even boost sales.

Effective business updates could include: “Jenny found a great article on social networking: www….” or “Joe at ABC furniture is hosting a special event! Check out www….”

Participate in Groups
Online groups allow you to network virtually with potential clients and peers. To access groups, start from your Facebook home page, view the list of applications and click on “Groups.” You can browse through thousands of themed groups with topics ranging from business to politics and everything in between.

You can also search groups to find topics related to your industry. For example, if you own an office supply store inSacramento, you might search for general business groups based in Sacramento. If you are an auto parts dealer, you might join the Honda Civic owners group along with other auto-related groups.

If you really want to maximize the potential with groups, consider starting one of your own. Once again, there is no cost to do this and the visibility can be great. For example, if you are a business broker in Dallas, you could start a group for Dallas business owners. You do not need to promote your business at every turn. Instead, make it known that you’re a broker, but provide value for members by sharing interesting tips and engaging with them in the online forum.

Build Your Friends List
For business purposes, the one with the most friends on Facebook wins. Okay, not exactly, but the point is to connect with as many potential clients as possible. One way to do this is to join a group and send connection requests to fellow members with a note: “Hey, we’re both members of XYZ group. Let’s connect here on FB!”

Just as you would with an in-person business introduction, take a moment to learn about new people you meet on Facebook. Networking always works best when there is a two-way exchange. If you can help a new Facebook friend, they will likely want to return the favor.

Create Fan Pages
Because Facebook requires that a profile be designated to a human, not a business, they have instead provided the ability to create fan pages. You can create a fan page for a business, product, book, author, speaker, celebrity or just about anything you want.

To create a fan page, scroll all the way down to the bottom of Facebook and click on “Advertising” (don’t worry, it doesn’t cost anything to set-up). Next, click on “Pages” at the top of the screen. You will find some helpful explanations about how pages work, along with a link that will allow you to create your page.

Pages function a lot like profiles so you can add links, events, discussion boards and other features that make them interactive. Facebook will also post updates from your fan pages back on to your profile so others know about them. And instead of sending friend requests out, you can invite others to become a “fan” of your page. You will also have the ability to send messages to all of your fans, allowing you to cultivate a community online.

Manage Your Time
The biggest complaint most have about social networking is that it takes a lot time to manage. I recommend designating time in your day for Facebook activities. You can login once or twice a day to view messages and manage your connections. Just be careful not to let time get away from you (it’s easy to do!). Also, remember that the more time you spend on Facebook, the more ways you will find to use it to your advantage. Be creative, show your personality and have some fun. That will all be reflected in your success.

About the Author
Stephanie Chandler is an author of several business and marketing books including “The Author’s Guide to Building an Online Platform” and “From Entrepreneur to Infopreneur.” She is also founder and CEO of http://AuthorityPublishing.com, which provides custom book publishing and author marketing services for business, self-help and other non-fiction books, andhttp://BusinessInfoGuide.com, a directory of resources for entrepreneurs.

Seminar update and a fine example

2009-03-27T09:13:00.000-07:00

The BE rescheduled the Lacey Social Media seminar for April 24th and added a hands on workshop component in partnership with Konnects. We hold the Tacoma seminar next Friday from 7am-10am for those that can't wait!

I also wanted to share what I think is a fine example of a small business using social media tools. Three Chicks Catering has a blog that promotes their business as well as provides value to other businesses in the form of marketing tips and tools. They are utilizing a Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Smilebox and more to promote the business - and are hosting seminars to help other businesses leverage the same tools. Hats off to owner Nems Scarim and her crew of Chicks.

We're looking for more examples of local businesses using Social Media tools- send them to me directly or leave a comment with the info-

Great tips for getting started on your profile

2009-03-12T22:11:00.000-07:00

For months I have been encouraging colleagues to "jump in" and set up a profile on one of the various social media applications. There seems to be a mental block in tackling the task, and I have a couple of tips that might help those who are apprehensive get started. In this post I will address a professional profile such as LinkedIn or Konnects.

1. Create your basic profile offline. Open a word document and start with these basic headings:

Key words that describe your business
Products or services you or your business offers
Industry experience
Honors/Awards
Education
Affiliations/Professional organizations
Work history
Client description or list
Personal interests

Beg, borrow and steal content from your resume, company website or colleagues sites. Keep the descriptions of your company consistent with what is already out there. Put some personality in to your personal information, but use your best judgment on the photos and interests you post on professional profiles. Your profile may be your only opportunity to make an impression, provide information or set yourself apart from the competition.

2. Fill out each section to the best of your ability. Set it aside for 24 hours and re-read it from the perspective of someone visiting your profile for the first time. Eliminate jargon and abbreviations in your descriptions. Make your content clear and as timeless as possible, too much time specific information and you set your self up to be outdated or have maintenance demands. There are other features that allow you to be time specific, the basic information should be just that, basic.

3. Get online and get started. Choose a social networking application and create an account. With your Word document already prepared this will literally take minutes. Cut and paste the information in to your new or updated profile.

4. If you are ready to share your profile you can upload your contacts from Outlook, Address Book Yahoo, Gmail or other email clients and send out invitations to connect. You can also search those already using the social media application and ask to connect. Once you are up and running there are so many features to explore!

Have fun, and get started!

Second Tacoma seminar - Friday, April 3rd!

2009-03-12T09:50:00.001-07:00

Social Networking for CEO's

Friday, April 3rd
7:00 a.m. Breakfast
7:30-9:00 CEO Briefing
9:00-10:00 Questions and Conversation
The Hub - Event Meeting Space
203 Tacoma Ave S, Tacoma WA 98402
$90- tickets available here

Social Media seminar coming to Lacey!

2009-03-11T10:51:00.001-07:00

We've got the second seminar date set! Pass the word!

Friday, March 27th, 2009
7:00 a.m. Breakfast
7:30-9:00 CEO Briefing
9:00-10:00 Questions and Conversation
Where: Washington State Farm Bureau Building- Harvest Room
975 Carpenter Rd NE, Suite 301
Lacey, WA 98516
$90
Register on-line

More information here

Social media hitting Tipping Point

2009-02-27T10:53:00.001-08:00

Published Feb 2, 2009, Business Examiner

When I read Malcolm Gladwell's book The Tipping Point several years ago, I was fascinated by his theories about the drivers of social change and the powers ? or people ? that create it. He defines people behind change in three categories; Connectors are those who influence others; Mavens are those who are information specialists, and Salesmen as those who persuade. When these three groups work together, momentum builds and the general masses follow. Gladwell terms the moment where mass adoption or social change happens as a Tipping Point, or the point where "the levels at which the momentum for change becomes unstoppable."

It is my estimation that we have reached a Tipping Point in the adoption of social media tools such as FaceBook, MySpace, LinkedIn and our own local Web2.0 company, Konnects. I had scoffed when Konnects co-founder Jim Crabbe explained to me several years ago that he believed all business cards in the future would list an individual's social networking site as prominently as their e-mail address.. I was not an early adopter of this new media. Upon urging from Jim, I put my general profile up on Konnects and forgot about it for several years.

Three years ago, I reluctantly created a MySpace profile when I realized it was the only way I was going to reach my 16-year-old stepsister. It worked. I followed her life and interactions with friends, her music interests and stayed current on her ever-changing hair styles and colors. I also discovered that many of my friends and acquaintances were on MySpace, sharing photos, thoughts and current events in their lives.

Then I was persuaded to join Facebook because in one week's time, more than 10 people referred to their sites and the information that I would already know, if I was connected. Amazingly I found Facebook was populated by people from all stages of my life, current and in the distant past, and have passively kept up with all of them.

Professionally, I am on both LinkedIn and Konnects, and receive valuable information about colleagues long before I would, if I wait to run into them or hear through the grapevine of their promotions, career changes and even layoffs. These are powerful tools for checking references, affiliations and staying in contact.

I sit on the advisory board for the Center for Ethical Development at Tacoma Community College and the most recent campus forum we coordinated was around the ethical implications of social media ? how is it used, what information is accessible to whom and how the generations view accessibility of personal information. What you probably already know is that the generational gap regarding privacy is vast, as is the way social media are used and regarded.

The fact that we have reached a Tipping Point in adoption of this media does not mean that it is used universally the same way, and that means, for those of us who are late adopters, that we have a pretty steep learning curve.

There is still a lot of fear, trepidation and frank dismissal of social media tools by many business persons. And I, the early skeptic, am now saying that those who don't get with the program and demystify this powerful communication tool for themselves, will be left in the dust. Social media sites are free to set up with your profile and you determine what information is published on it. You have control regarding your privacy settings and those with whom you are affiliated. Take the plunge, and while you are at it, Google yourself. You might be surprised to find what is already out there free for the world to know about you.

We at the BE are in discovery mode as to how to harness the power of social media for the dissemination of news, connecting our readership, and sharing ideas and information. You can expect to see new tools and seminars in the coming months to help our readers to do the same. Together, we will demystify and make these tools work for all generations and business applications.

NWEN ThinkTank Event

2009-02-25T08:59:00.000-08:00

The Northwest Entrepreneurial Network's ThinkTank event at Seattle University last night included our own Web 2.0 business owner, Nick Huzar, co-founder and CTO of Konnects.com, in a panel discussion with Ian Lurie, President and CEO of Portent Interactive and Nathan Kaiser, founder and CEO of npost.com, talking about social media's business application.

The panel offered advice and information consistent with our morning seminar. Each group of presenters supported the notion that the CEO or business founder must be engaged in online media, particularly blogging, or even Twittering. The conversation lead online by the business leader brings fresh content to their company's Web site, driving up search engine listings, as well as personalizes their brand.

The entrepreneurs in the room were particularly concerned with the time demands that staying current in social media circles puts on a business owner and leader. Nathan suggested that "you just have to arbitrarily draw the line" on where you choose to devote your energy. Blogging was identified as one of the easiest ways to begin - starting simple, engaging with others offering similar content and linking to them when it makes sense. Ian advised to begin with "cornerstone" content, or the "biggest, toughest issues facing your audience" and to answer those questions first. All panelists urged patience with a social media strategy, and said that success is incremental. Companies looking to leverage these new resources need to give their efforts time and know that consistent and relevant content will generate a following over the long term.

There was much discussion about content, and the appropriateness of personal vs. professional information posted on CEO blogs, twitter feeds or social media sites. The litmus test the panel seemed to agree on was "don't post anything online that you wouldn't want your mother or children to read." Advice from Ian also included "don't blog angry, or drunk, or drunk and angry," and "Don't make it personal, it's just not worth it" saying that it is never a good idea to engage in personal attacks or criticisms.

The Business Examiner recently provided some guidelines to our staff regarding social media, adapted from a policy I found online written for Edelmens PR agency. Other sites I liked that addressed the same issue were from Bryon Person, a self-proclaimed social media evangelist, and Fast Wonder Consulting's blog. The BE thought it necessary to create a written policy because, although much of the rules are common sense, the reality is that not everyone's definition of "common sense" is the same. As these tools are becoming more integrated in our business, it just seemed prudent to address the issue head on.

The panelists were asked to provide three things they would like attendees to take away from the discussion. Nathan offered this advice "Get online, be active and don't offend your mother or children." Ian suggested that all company execs should tune in to the conversation already happening out in cyberspace by learning to use Google Reader, or another feed reader. The reader allows them to monitor and respond to many relevant feeds without making it overwhelming to sift through all the posts. He also said that it's important to "demythologize this stuff," and to get engaged in the conversation.

On a final note, the panelists urged CEO's not to be afraid to open themselves to comments or feedback. As Nick pointed out, whatever it is, it is already being said - you just may not be hearing it. They all agreed that the best way to approach social media is not to try to control the conversation, but to be a part of it.

Social Media for CEO's seminar

2009-02-24T11:17:00.000-08:00

We at the Business Examiner were pleased to bring Social Media for CEO's, presented by Clay Loges of Yodio and Blaine Millet of Customer Experiences, Inc., to sold out room of business executives at SeaGrill in downtown Tacoma this morning.

Thank you to those who attended, we hope the information and conversation were valuable to you and your business.

We've been exploring for some time how to leverage social media for the purpose of disseminating information to the business community we serve. It is amazing how much has changed and how quickly it is affecting our business and our clients. We hope to bring more information to our readers and partners and will be updating this blog over time with new media announcements and more.

We welcome attendees to continue the conversation started this morning here, on the Social Media and Your Business blog.

We also welcome comments to our general readership regarding your experience or feedback on the BE Daily blog. Also, check out the full spectrum of news and information available at BusinessExaminer.com.