vibrant creative: program b: "so you have a facebook account - now what?" - advanced...

Creating an engaging and interactive website with Social Media and RSS Integration

•  We don’t advocate specific tools - We do advocate this type of communication – it’s not going anywhere.

•  We’re not social media experts, we’re “what works” experts

Disclaimers:

Why should we care about Social Media and RSS?

Because 3 of 4 Online Americans use some form of social media.

• A way to position you as a leader in your market.

• Something that must be authentic.

• A way to connect to a younger and different audience – but not as young as you think (the average Twitter user is 41, Facebook 35).

•  A low cost, effective, trackable way to reach new people

• Something that requires dedicated empowered staff time.

Social Media Is…

Social Media is about Permission Marketing – not

Interruption Marketing. “Permission marketing is the privilege

(not the right) of delivering anticipated, personal and relevant messages to people

who actually want to get them.”

-Seth Godin, Marketing Guru

Establish yourselves as Thought Leaders

•  Using a combination of White Papers, RSS and Social Media your expertise can be easily disseminated and you can be recognized as leaders in your field.

The Benefits of Blogging

•  Positions you as experts in your field

•  Makes your site attractive to search engines

•  Allows you to engage your clients and customers in a conversation that is mutually beneficial

Active Blogging Actively telling a story and engaging in a conversation with constituents.

Passive Blogging Using a blog to store information you are already creating; News, PR, Events, etc.

Blogs use RSS Which means Using RSS (Really Simple Syndication) you can make your information subscribe-able, share-able and tap-able by other social media tools.

Get Viral - YouTube

Instead of investing in TV air time, invest in the production of a series of viral videos or video promotions which get your message out.

Have your website feature automatic feeds of the videos.

Connect with FaceBook

Facebook is another way to reach out to your constituency. Create constant opportunities for discussion.

You can tie your news and events blog to your facebook page

We can specifically target individuals based on age, occupation, location and interest to advertise to.

Let’s talk business - LinkedIn

You can create Groups in LinkedIn and invite your members to be a part of it, which means your logo on their LinkedIn Pages. Once you have a membership group we can reach out to the members with communications.

We can target specific industries and age groups with targeted ads on LinkedIn.

E-newsletters

E-Newsletters Affordable, user friendly ways to communicate with your constituents.

e-Newsletters •  Keeps you in regular contact with customer.

•  Permission – people have requested information so your marketing is targeted rather than scattershot.

•  Even if your open rate is low – they are still being branded.

•  It’s inexpensive – and it drives people to your website.

Are you a Twit?

Twitter is a way to keep in regular contact with your tribe and another way to be accessible to your constituents.

So what’s the catch with all this stuff?

Bad News It takes a little time, effort, consistency and patience. Good News

Social Media can be used to reach new audiences with little cost and high return.

Promote Your Social Media

•  Print ads •  Radio & TV •  Brochures •  Newsletters •  E-newsletters •  Business cards &

letterhead •  E-mail signatures •  Everything else!

If you build it, They most certainly will NOT come – Unless – you tell them to.

You have to invest to get the return

•  Recognize Web as a priority

•  Devote staff hours •  Find ways for users to

contribute •  Get creative •  Empower Employee(s)

Thank you.

Our website: VibrantCompany.com

Bijoy Datta, Director of Client Relations: bijoy@vibrantcompany.com