10 Tips for Using Social Media for Professional and Business Development

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10 TIPS FOR USING SOCIAL MEDIA FOR
PROFESSIONAL + BIZ DEVELOPMENT
Flickr: Robert S. Donovan
A discussion with
WTS Boston Chapter
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Hi, we’re Mike and Bluma
We’re strategic communications
consultants at Booz Allen
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Download @ slideshare.net/MikeRobert
Flickr: Armend Krasniqi
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Roadmap for today’s discussion
 What is social media, who’s
using it, and why does it
matter?
 10 tips for professional +
biz development
 Best advice
Flickr: Shahram Sharif
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What is social media?
youtube.com/watch?v=sIFYPQjYhv8
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Who’s using social media?
19% of Fortune 500 companies
were podcasting in 2009 (up from
16% in 2008) and 31% were video

blogging (up from 21%)
The average professional uses 3-5
social networks for business use –
the top being LinkedIn, Facebook
and Twitter
51% of the Inc. 500, America’s
fastest growing private businesses,
are on Twitter
whitehouse.gov/open/around
Every major Federal agency met the most recent deadline for
President Obama’s Open Government Directive
-Information Week
-Society for New Communications Research
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There’s something for everyone
MBTA delivers customized
service alerts via SMS text
Caltrain shares PSAs on
YouTube
Metrolink, MTA, BART,
among others, announce
service alerts via Twitter
Washington State DOT
blog shares information on
programs and activities
Transbay Joint Power Authority
promotes new infrastructure on
Facebook
Washington State DOT
Flickr page shares

transit photos
International No-Pants
Subway Ride 2010 in Boston
was organized on Facebook
2008 Toronto
Transitcamp was
planned through a wiki
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Popular tools at a glance
Blog
A blog is a direct conversation between an
individual/organization and the public
Twitter
A microblogging site that allows individuals/organizations to
share brief messages
about news, what you’re doing or thinking
Facebook
The world’s most popular social networking site with over 300
million active users including organizations
LinkedIn
A popular social networking site for working professionals
YouTube
The world’s most popular video sharing site that allow
individuals/organizations to easily upload and share videos
Delicious
A social bookmarking site that allows individuals/organizations to
search, save, categorize, and share bookmarks of online content
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#1. Social media mirrors real life.
collaborative

participatory
transparency
honesty
authenticity
sharing
creation
Flickr: takomabibelot
community
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#2. Set your objectives before launch.
Flickr: Malenkov in Exile
What do you want to accomplish?
 CONNECT: Find those with similar interests and
develop personal relationships
 COLLABORATE: Contribute and collect
information
 COMMUNICATE: Promote yourself/organization
and control messaging
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Flickr: Dawn Endico
#3. Will you just post a sign or sell too?
Flickr: Robert S. Donovan
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#4. Know your audience.
Flickr: takomabibelot
Identify channels, influencers, and topics
• ACROSS CHANNELS: Keyword search at addictomatic.com
• BLOGS: Keyword search at Alltop.com and Google blog search
• TWITTERERS AND TWITTER LISTS: Keyword search at listorious.com
• REAL-TIME TWEETS: #Hashtag search at tweettabs.com

• PROFILES: Keyword search Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, LinkedIn, MySpace, among others
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#5. Blogs.
 A blog is a direct, unmediated
conversation between one person or
group and the public
 133+ million blogs exist and 22%
of the top 100 news sites are blogs
BLOGGING DO’S
 Be conversational
 Tell a story
 Write your own blog
 Be honest
 Write in first person
 Post often
 Have a thick skin
 Address controversy
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#6. Facebook profiles, pages, and groups.
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#7. Twitter profiles.
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#8. LinkedIn profiles.
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#9. Yammer profiles.
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#10. Measure your success!
Flickr: photon ℽ
 Positive/negative tonality of discussion
 Referrals, leads, conversions

 Comments, public @replies, direct messages, retweets
 Fans, followers, RSS subscribers
 Positive/negative press, online rumors squashed
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#10. Measure your success!
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Our best advice to you
 Use social media when it fits your
personal/professional schedule
 Focus your social media
adventures and pick the tools that
meet your interests
 Allot a set/specific time to do
social media during the day
 Star blog posts, favorite tweets,
and bookmark with Delicious
 Set those privacy settings!
 Have fun!
Flickr: gutter
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Questions?
Flickr: Shahram Sharif
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10 TIPS FOR USING SOCIAL MEDIA FOR
PROFESSIONAL + BIZ DEVELOPMENT
Flickr: Robert S. Donovan
Connect with us:
Bluma Sussman

@MikeRobert

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APPENDIX
Flickr: Shahram Sharif
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Some considerations for the tools
STRENGTH WEAKNESS
Blog
+ Conversational and personal
+ Direct line to agency/program
- Legal implications for inaccuracy
- Comments may require moderation
Twitter
+ Real-time and offers location functionality
+ Reaches mobile audiences
- Audience can sometimes be unclear
- Requires regular use and potentially
engagement
Facebook
+ Most popular direct line to stakeholders
+ Content is shared virally and ads are very
targeted
- Applications should be carefully selected
- Easy to sound corporate
LinkedIn
+ Most popular social network for professionals
and recruiters
+ Online, shareable resume
- Still gaining in popularity

- Not as readily accessed in comparison to
Facebook
YouTube
+ Easily shared and embedded
+ Contributes to Google rankings
- Comments may require moderation
- Video responses may require moderation
Delicious
+ Online library of easily shared resources
+ Indexed and searchable by keywords
- No click-through data on traffic
- Limited engagement with stakeholders
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Resources to get you started
 Social Media SmartBrief
 Mike’s social media bookmarks on delicious
 10 commandments of social media
 Facebook guidebook
 Twitter guidebook
 How to manage your social media goals
 10 musts for your social media policy