BlogWorld Presentation: Social Media Marketing for Small Business
Yesterday, I presented at BlogWorld Expo ‘09 on Social Media Marketing for Small Business. I talked about keys elements to social media success for businesses and brands and some practical steps to achieve the success that you are after.
You can download my power point presentation below (click on menu in the bottom left corner and select Download Presentation option).
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5 Tips to help you manage your time on the social web
I was recently interviewed by Gwen Bell for the Unconventional Guide to the Social Web and one of the questions Gwen asked me was how I manage to get all the many things done that I have on my plate!
My answer….you have to develop great time management skills and stay disciplined about them…and you have to manage technology instead of it managing you.
One of the biggest problems of the social web is the ease with which one can lose track of time. We are having so much fun connecting with friends & colleagues on Twitter, Facebook, and other social networks that we end up not getting any work done during the work hours and end up working ALL THE TIME.
Another problem is multi-tasking and interruptions. Research shows that it takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to get back to the task when interrupted on an unrelated topic.
Here are some tips on managing your time on the social web:
- Schedule Everything and stick to the schedule
I use the Entourage calendar to schedule EVERYTHING…meetings, responding to email, social network presence, day-to day tasks. But it’s not enough to schedule things..you have to stick to the schedule!
- Schedule your most important tasks when you feel like you are most productive
The most productive time is different for each person…some people are sharpest in the morning, some are later in the day. Figure out what your magic time slot is and schedule your most important task during that time. Sprinkle your social interactions & email management throughout the day but make sure it’s not during your most productive time. - Use a timer
Using a timer will allow you to set an alarm to notify you when your current scheduled task/activity is supposed to end. Let’s say you are alotting 20 minutes for social media interaction at 1pm…before you begin the task at 1pm, set your alarm to let you know when the 20 minutes has passed.ÂThe application that I use to achieve this is Apimac Timer (mac). You can also use Xnote StopWatch if you are on Windows (there are many more you can choose from).
- Close down the applications that you are not using
Human nature is to respond to stimuli…so if you hear a notice that you have a new email or a new response from a friend, you have to go see what it is. That is why if it’s not time to check and respond to email, I close down the email application…if it’s not time to interact on Twitter, I close down the Twitter application…the point is…only have the application that you are currently working in open. - Set and manage expectations
Managing everyone’s expectations is the key to time management. I think a lot of the time, the immediacy to respond is in our own head. Training your clients, colleagues, friends, and online connections that you are not available 24×7 will allow you to respond on your own time. And because we are all going through this information and task overload…they will more than undertand!
Did I miss anything? Share your time management tips in the comments!
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The Advantages of a Virtual Workplace
While the recession runs its course around the world, it is good to know that companies are taking advantage of the virtual workplace. For many industries, it makes sense to have people work from home for at least part of the week. It saves companies money and helps retain their employee base at the same time. As a contractor myself, I wonder about some of the companies I worked for in the past. While I am glad that my assignments with them are complete, I know there are those who would have liked to continue with our past employers on some level. Instead, they call people to come in for a short period of time, let them go, and then call them back several months later, if they are still available. I understand the need for seasonal contractors, but when I have observed how much some of these companies have lost money on completely superfluous expenses, it boggles my mind at how willing they are to let go of talented people as a consequence.
Companies like IBM and Sun Microsystems seem to know how to make their virtual workplaces work for them and their productivity. What I see as the ideal virtual workplace is one in which the employer and employee have trust in one another, and have no desire to abuse that trust. It is where an employee works hard, but knows when to stop each day, and the employer gives freedom to the employee to have a personal life, without compromising the work flow. I also see a good virtual workplace as one that allows employers and employees to have face time with one another, and that doesn’t include web conferences. It is easy to feel disconnected from others you work for or work with if you never see them.
So while some people might think being in a virtual workplace lacks structure and growth for a company, I saw they are wrong. Virtual workplaces are here to stay, and will continue to grow throughout the economies around the world.
What are your thoughts on the virtual workplace?
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Enter to Win Full Pass to BizTechDay in San Francisco
Webgrrls International often receives tickets to industry events and we have three FREE full passes to attend the BizTechDay in San Francisco that we want to offer to our members. The dates for the Conference are October 22-23. The value of each pass is $595.
If you are interested in the opportunity to attend the conference, please let us know by clicking on this link and entering your name and membership id. You must be a member to participate…so, if you are not a Webgrrls member or your membership is not current, please Join or Renew your membership now.
We will randomly determine who receives the ticket for the conference at 3:00PM on August 21. Please note that if you are selected, you will be responsible for your flight and hotel accommodations and other personal expenses.
See Conference Overview
Enter to win
Also, all Webgrrls are eligible to receive a $100 discount to attend the event. Be sure to enter discount code: Webgrrls812 when registering.
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Small Business and Social Media
A friend of mine has a small fashion business based in Brooklyn, where she makes clothes, accessories, and bags from recycled items. She is very talented, if I do say so myself, and I feel for her and others who are in business for themselves and trying to stay afloat during these difficult times. Before the recession hit, she had three full-time employees; now she has only one part-time seamstress. My friend has designed for several fashion shows, but she has not garnered any significant business, or even been paid any sum of money for her participation in them (the latter, I hear, is commonplace). I cringe to think of the money and effort she has put into making her vision a reality, and the continuing drop in sales.
The situation is far from hopeless, because she continues to build relationships with designers and boutiques in New York City and beyond, using traditional networking and marketing methods. Even with the economy being what it is right now, I know that more can be done to help boost her profile, reputation, and overall sales. While I am no expert, I have learned (along with millions of others) how important an online presence is for small businesses. My friend is also aware of this, and even though it is an overwhelming feat for her, she is learning the more about the power of social media for business. For example, she has a Twitter account for her business, but she has not spent enough time finding and following other users and replying to their posts. When I told her that this was necessary to help expand her networking and marketing possibilities, she was both surprised and intimidated by the process.
To help my friend overcome her micro-blogging fears, I encouraged her to attend the Webgrrls Workshop: How to Use Twitter for Business on July 29 in New York City. I know there are many entrepreneurs like her who are unaware of the power of social media, and its networking and marketing advantages. Some are so overwhelmed by other aspects of their businesses that they have given up, or won’t even attempt to enter, the world of social media. My friend knows she cannot afford to be afraid anymore, so I know she will soak up as much as she can from the upcoming WG Workshop.  It may be cliché to say it, but “knowledge is power,” and we all need as much of it as we can get.
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