Cool Tools Social Media Marketing workshop, facilitated by Nancy Beth
Guptill of Sweet Spot Marketing, and Maureen Keer, introduces 10 cool
tools that business, associations and non-profits can use to brand, market
and promote their organization.

"Well presented - do it" Steve Reaman, Innovation PEI

Cool Tools Social Media - November 16, 9 AM - 12 Noon, Charlottetown

There was such a wonderful response to the Cool Tools Social Media workshop hosted in September, we had a wait list in Charlottetown for those eager to attend.   For those who couldn't make it or have heard the buzz about the great value of this workshop, come join Maureen Kerr and I on November 16, from 9 AM - 12 Noon.  

HOW TO CREATE A MARKETING PLAN USING SOCIAL MEDIA
'Cool Tools' Social Media Workshop
November 16, 2010, Charlottetown, 9 AM - 12 Noon
http://tinyurl.com/CoolTools-Charlottetown-PEI 

"For anyone trying to figure out which tools to use for online presence, this workshop was very helpful. The seminar/workshop accomplished exactly what was advertised: A discovery of Cool Tools to use for Social Media" ~ Paul Allan, Magic 93 Radio

"A lot of information with very useful bits embedded. Very useful introduction to the use of social media for business, regardless of the type of business you have." ~ Denise Lockhart, Family Service PEI

"Very well presented - Do it!" ~ Steve Reaman, Innovation PEI







ABOUT COOL TOOLS SOCIAL MEDIA WORKSHOP:

This 3-hour workshop will introduce you to some of the most popular (and easy to use) social media tools and web applications that you can use to create your marketing plan. You will learn how to use these 'cool tools' to market, promote and brand your business.

Social Media has exploded into our world and from a marketing perspective, it is unprecedented. Never before have there been so many ways to connect to customers, clients and communities. Every second of the day, more and more people are engaging in conversations online and companies that are not paying attention to this glaring trend are missing out. Making connections, building your brand, getting referrals, creating value, advertising for significantly less – are all attainable through using social media and incorporating this phenomenon into your marketing plan.


WHAT WE WILL INTRODUCE:
  * What social media actually is
  * How to make a social media presence
  * How local companies are using social media
  * What web-based technologies are out there
  * How to use social media for research
  * How to use social media in your marketing
  * How to extend the personality of your brand online
  * How to build credibility and strengthen reputations through the use of social media
  * Potential funding for your social media ideas


 

TO REGISTER: Visit Our Event Registration Page  http://tinyurl.com/CoolTools-Charlottetown-PEI

Here's what others have said from September 2010:

"Perfect balance of portraying existing and new types of social media"
~ Ellen MacPhail, Vessy Seed's

"Informative, Great Speakers, Eye Opening"
Tracy Corrigan, Vesey Seeds

"Great Eye Opener - very knowledgeable. Lots of new apps that are out there" ~ Marsha Doiron, Holland College

Facebook Statistics for PEI & Canada

Facebook Statistics for PEI & Canada:  

Based on July 1st,  2010 population counts, approximately 42% of PEI's population and 45% of Canada's population is using the Social Network - Facebook.  

I get asked all the time by businesses, associations, non-profits, government and independent consultants if they should create a facebook business page or group for their organization. With statistics like this, coupled with a proper Facebook For Business Strategy, how can you NOT have a presence? 

At Sweet Spot Marketing, we can help you use Facebook for Business.  Based on your current business purpose, we will review your business marketing plans and strategize on how you can use Facebook to help you accomplish your overall business goals and objectives.  

We can create custom Facebook Profiles, including custom Facebook Business Pages and Groups.  We can help you publish meaningful information, plus show you how to interact with your audiences so you are engaged in two-way conversation.  We can show you how to build an online community, while creating positive, talkable experiences that will create raving fans.

Always Remember - your online social media presence provides an opportunity for your different target audiences to experience the personality of your brand online.  It's important to allow for engagement and relationships building through two-way conversations, while setting the expectations of what it is like to do business with you.

Facebook provides a wonderful opportunity for you to build online relationships and networks, you just need to know how to effectively build a proper business page that engages your different audiences, and we can show you how.

If you are ready to start building a Facebook Community of raving fans for your organization, email nancybeth@sweetspotmarketing.ca

The power of Google Tools blows me away! Sitting here in my Gmail account
chatting with people across North America at no cost. Now this is a really
cool tool! I love skype as well, there's lots of branding features,
however, free calling exists only between skype users.

Looking forward to sharing this information tomorrow at our Cool Tools
Social Media workshop.

Avoid Being A Chatty Cathy With Pointless Tweets, Peeps and Updates

Since 2007 I have been teaching small business owners how to use Social Media for business.  One of the most common misconceptions I have come across is people thinking that Social Media Marketing is as simple as 'Just Talking' on online networks.  This is a very limiting view of how to use social media for business.  In fact, restricting your use of social media to 'just talking' can wind up as you being perceived as a Chatty Cathy ... and pointless chatter will annoy and bore  most of your followers and friends when you use it as just another 'water cooler'.

Learning to harness the power of the internet takes time.  Having a Twitter profile and a Facebook page are good places to start, but once you get your feet wet and feel comfortable with using these platforms, you need to take a more strategic approach to using social media for business.


Like any other marketing medium, Social Media is a platform for you to get your message out.  For this reason, you need to look at building content rich, education based information that educates your market place about the goods and services you have to offer, and the value you bring to the market place.

The foundation to your social media marketing program is your ideal customer.  It is critical for you to understand how your ideal customer uses the internet and social media to seek out goods and services so you can be found when they conduct searches.

Social media provides the opportunity for your ideal customer to experience the personality of your brand while setting the expectations of what it is like to do business with you.  With this in mind, you need to consider your online persona, the information you want to share,  and the type of conversations you want to have online with prospective buyers, existing customers, strategic partners, and business colleagues.  You also you need to ensure your online persona matches that of your offline personality.  There needs to be complete integration of your online and offline strategies so they are seamless.

Being strategic also means having clear goals and objectives as to why you are using social media for business.  There are a number of good reasons to use social media for business.  You could use it for customer service, promotions, recruitment, brand management, online sales, and so much more.

It's a matter of learning where your ideal client hangs out online, how they are searching for your goods and services, populating the social media platforms with content rich education based information, developing a marketing funnel so you stand out from your competition, having list building strategies that includes lead capture at different customer touch points, targeting your efforts towards your ideal client, creating positive (and talkable) online experiences, and integrating your social media program into your overall business marketing strategy.

Remember - in marketing, the number one rule is Strategy Before Tactics - Always!  and that includes your use of Social Media and Social Networks.  To be successful at Social Media for business, it takes a lot more than 'just talking'.  It takes building a strategic social media marketing plan and then executing on that plan.
 
If you are interested in learning how to use social media for business, I invite you to attend an upcoming workshop I am hosting with Maureen Kerr of Kerr Consulting called  Cool Tools Social Media Workshop.  To learn more about this workshop and to enroll please visit:  http://tinyurl.com/CoolTools-PEI

Video Resources:

1. Social Media for Business Success:  http://tinyurl.com/Be-Strategic
2. Social Media Revolution: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFZ0z5Fm-Ng

Blogroll
     1. Seer Interactive - http://tinyurl.com/GroupieChattyStrategist