Defining and Understanding How to Connect with Your Clients and

Colleagues Using the Latest Technologies

Calgary EntrepreneursAugust 5th, 2009

Introduction to Social MediaWhat is social media?

Is Social Media ready for business? Is business ready for Social Media?

The Pace of ChangeCan you keep up?

Where do you start?Feeling just a bit overwhelmed?

Why Social Media and Why Now?

Why is social media so important? Why is it important now?

The evolution of business The Industrial Age The Information Age The Participation Age

Change is coming

Are you ready for change? Changes in the way business is done Changes in the way customers interact with

us 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!

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!

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?

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, NewsradioAs quoted in “Groundswell” by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff

Managing the porous wall Keeping on top of what is said

Internal communications External communications What is being said How to keep on top of it Tips and Tricks

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?

What resources are available? Put into action immediately

Blogs Twitter LinkedIn YouTube Blogtalkradio Others

What is working and what is not?

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?

Getting recognized The 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

Become viral Start 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

Life can be shared in 140 characters Is 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

Business and Community using Twitter

What is on the horizon The 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?

Each of us is a teacher We 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!

Answer questions and provide value Blogs 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?

What is hot Stuff 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

You control your own PR We 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

Your own TV Channel All it takes is a camera and creativity

Online Radio do 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 upBlogtalkradio.com

Conclusion It just maybe too late!

Social Media is here to stay The old ways need to be blended in Be a coach and a mentor

You must start to use the tools now! Create a blog, share your insights Use LinkedIn daily, answer questions and provide value Start leveraging Twitter to promote your business Watch what is being said about you Become a Social Media coach

• Leverage video, radio and online tools

Most Importantly

QuestionsFollow me on Twitter, LinkedIn…

www.facebook.com/stuart.crawford.calgary.computer.service

www.linkedin.com/in/stuartcrawford

www.twitter.com/scrawforditmwww.twitter.com/bulletproofITwww.twitter.com/calgarybusiness