I have spent much of my time training individuals and businesses on how to get the most out of social media tools and how to develop a marketing plan and strategy. Many of you may not know that I also offer Monthly Social Media Maintenance Program. I am now offering this program at a 50% discount. This means, you will get my services for $150 per month. (Open to the next 10 individuals that sign up)

Here is what you get for that $150 per month with a 3 month minimum commitment.
• Customized Social Media Policy (one-time)
• 1-2 status updates/day on 2networks (M-F)
*Facebook Page
* Twitter
• Set up of LinkedIn profile
• Deleting of unwanted spam,
• Accepting friend requests/following back
• Basic profile management includes set up if needed
• Monthly status report

I would also appreciate you forwarding this on to your database and network. Contact me at Nicole@buzzsensemedia.com

Get started on your program ASAP!

Public Relations is a full time gig for any company, and to add to that laundry list of chores to do as the PR professional you are, you and your company ought to be participating in the social networking sites, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter, to name a few. This article will briefly explain how to use LinkedIn, as well as some of the benefits of using the site.

A social networking site to utilize your real life network connections from business and education, LinkedIn allows you to connect with classmates, professors, coworkers, employees, and employers. This is a great tool to utilize your networks already in place and to increase the size of those networks by seeing the networks your peers have. This enhances the potential one has to find employment, employees, or advice from industry professionals or others who have experience in a field you may be looking to enter. In addition to advice, there are many groups that can be joined for students and professionals alike, such as the PRIntern Group.

Once you’ve signed up to become a LinkedIn member, which takes just a few minutes, filling out your profile takes a little longer. Having a resume to upload will save you time; LinkedIn takes your resume and updates your profile with the information therein. Voila! Work Experience: done. Education: done. Though it may get some things wrong, it’s easier to change once the information is already uploaded, rather than starting from scratch.

Then, once you’ve created a profile, start searching for people you know. You can search by schools you’ve attended, places you’ve worked, even by industry or location. Creating these connections keeps you in touch with past colleagues, professors, or other peers who may be able to help you find a job in these tough times. If anything, it’s a great social tool.

For prospectives looking to enter the PR industry (or any industry, for that matter), remember that your online presence represents you to millions of people, including companies that you may have applied to or are currently working for. Filter your content, make things private, and exclude things you wouldn’t want your mom to see, because she’s probably your friend on a number of these sites as well. More often than not, companies will screen your online accounts to see if you’d be a good potential hire. If your profiles make a bad impression, you may be cast out of the interview pool.

Ashley Wirthlin is the author of http://PublicRelationsBlogger.com. Visit Public Relations Blogger for more PR resources, including hundreds of original content articles, a 450+ term glossary, a list of useful PR Videos, and a blogroll of useful PR Blogs.

Ashley is a Marketing Associate of the H Media Group and writes, edits, and manages the blog daily. You can email Ashley at a ashley.wirthlin@gmail.com.

Author: Ashley Wirthlin
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Today business owners are expected to be up to date and in the know when it comes to using social media tools like Facebook, Twitter and  Foursquare.  Usually a business realizes they need to utilize these tools to increase engagement and build customer relationships. Most businesses jump on board thinking this is a great FREE marketing tool, but soon after get frustrated by the amount of time it takes and the lack of engagement and response.  The biggest problem is; businesses do not have a strategy in place.

Every business needs to consider social media as another branch in their overall marketing  strategy.  In working with many small businesses I have found, most do not have a marketing strategy let alone a budget. Although social media is a FREE tool, it takes time and commitment. As we all learn in business, time is money.

If you want social media to work for you, you must take the following steps:

1)      Market Research – know who your customers are, what drives them and where they hang out

2)      Develop an overall marketing plan for your business

3)      Develop an overall social media strategy that is in line with your overall marketing plan

4)       Start off with a few social media tools. Focus on the ones that reach the majority of your target market.

5)      Stick to it and be consistent. Social media takes time and consistency to get the results you want.

These steps can be overwhelming for many individuals and businesses. I recommend you consult with someone who can assist you with these steps to make it less overwhelming and increase your success rate. Do not hire just anyone. Anyone can set up social media profiles and post content. Not everyone can help you create a successful strategy. It may cost you a little bit of money to start, but in the long run you will decrease wasted time and see an increase in revenue if done correctly.

This is a great article written by Ryan Hicks explaining how Social Media will benefit your business an the importance of  SEO…..

Your business can not afford to be without Social Media. Depending on your business or service, on the internet, Social Media or Social Networking starts with a good SEO compatible website then selecting the best forms of Social Media.

Examples of Social Networking would be online communities such as MySpace and Facebook; these are very popular social networks of personal profiles, groups, blogs, photos, music and videos. Flickr is also commonly used today to share photos and YouTube is extremely popular for video sharing. There are other different forms of Social Media or Social Networking such as, internet forums, message boards, weblogs, podcasts, linking and blogging.

Social Media has different characteristics from traditional media such as newspapers, television, books and radio. The bottom line, social media depends on interactions between people or groups of people. An audience can participate in social media by adding comments, bookmarking or posting links, sharing files (websites, photos, videos, etc.), collecting connections or even just reading and following links. Content in social media can be text, graphics, audio or video. Several of the formats can be mixed and usually available via feeds, enabling users to subscribe via feed readers, and allowing other publishers to create.

Social Media Optimization or SMO is a process where content gets more widely distributed across all available Social Media networks. SMO refers to professional services that can improve a website by including or adding links to various services so webpages can be easily saved and submitted. Social Media Optimization includes good content writing that is unique and informative. SMO services can popularize your website via multiple social media outlets and off-page work can include getting involved in other blogs, forums, and niche networks or communities.

Search Engine Marketing or SEM involves utilization of all Social Networking platforms to brand your product or service website using techniques of effective mechanics and communication to the end user and consumer. By getting your website well-known on all the different social media networks, you are spreading the word about your company to all the search engines as well seeing as they crawl through all those social networks.

Social Media Marketing or SMM is marketing to achieve branding and internet marketing using Social Media or Social Networking. Social Media Marketing would be lost without effective and proven Social Media Optimization. This usually involves a campaign which differs for every business or organization but will build brand awareness, increase visibility and get feedback with dialog to possibly sell a product or service with measured results.

There is an old business adage that says; you either get a seat at the table, or you’re on the menu.

There are thousands of business deals being conducted through social media platforms each day.

How are you reaching your current and future customers?
Are you aware of the conversations that are being spread through the web of connections?

Use of social networking sites like; Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Yelp and Foursquare (just to name a few) enable companies to market their brand more assertively with greater effective reach than ever before.

Is Social Media a foreign language to you and your marketing professionals? Should you have a blog or use Facebook? No, Twitter, right? Do you believe it too time consuming and expensive to learn? Do you wonder is there is true ROI and how it’s even measurable? Is your view that social media is simply a fad; too much hype?
Your competitors don’t.

◦ 3 out of 4 Americans use Social technology
◦ 2/3 of the Global Internet populations visit social networks
◦ Visiting social sites is the 4th most popular online activity
◦ Time spent on Social Networks is growing 3X’s the overall internet rate, accounting for 10% of all internet time.
◦ Social Media is Democratizing communications

Social media is Word of Mouth on Steroids

If you are not setting up Social Media Strategies and participating in YOUR CONVERSATIONS, you are not at the table.

If you are not connecting with your current and future customers, your competitors will find you on the menu.

Buzz Sense Media is here to assist you. If you are committed to learning how to use social media to add success and value to your business or organization we will walk you through the entire process in an educational environment designed to teach you and your team how to participate, interact effectively and WIN.
We’ll get to the bottom of what YOU should be doing to create your “social media trifecta”. We won’t just talk about the benefits or tell you how to do it….We will work alongside of you, assisting you and educating you every step of the way; one-to-one training tailored specifically to your industry and needs.

◦ Receive a customized social media strategy and social media policy
◦ Have our experts help you set up optimized profiles and analyze those you are currently using

Learn how to:
◦ Build connections and gain new customers
◦ Boost brand equity and a stronger reputation
◦ Establish and build quality customer relationships
◦ Position yourself as a leader in your industry
◦ Learn how to monitor your business, brands and competition
◦ Use proven tools to measure success and ROI
◦ And much more!!!

Enroll Today and discover how you and your company can reach out and tap into this rapidly growing audience using social media for Public Relations, Customer Service, Networking, Loyalty Building, Collaboration, Thought Leadership and Customer Acquisition.

We will train you individually or your team/employees.

This customized, individualized program is yours for only $350.00. Limited spots available , so sign up now!!

Email Nicole France at Nicole@buzzsensemedia.com to schedule your one on one program.