Tips for Beginners: #SocialMedia and Your #SmallBusiness #WorththeRead

Small Business and Social Media:

Finding a Social Media Strategy That Fits Your Small Business

I love reading interesting and informative posts and articles about business, social media, marketing and blogging. My Worth the Read posts are my way of sharing interesting or useful insights gained, giving you something to think about, and linking a few related posts or resources I think are worth taking the time to read. 

This week's theme is Social Media for Small Business. 

The transition for small businesses onto social media can be a tricky one. Being social requires a balance between engaging on a personal level and maintaining a professional brand image. Without some guidelines and a plan it's easy to make the mistake of being either too casual or automating everything resulting in existing and potential clients disengaging rather than engaging. 

Understand that there are expectations of immediate responses on social media. Be prepared for that and do it right from the beginning. 

It's one thing not to be on social media, it's another thing entirely to be there and not manage your engagement well. You will lose customers if they experience frustration about your social media accounts, and they will share this frustration VERY publicly. Figuring out a social media strategy that works within your available resources, budget and business vision may take some fidgeting to get just the right fit. It is better to take a bit more time and get it right then to lose existing and potential customers not because of your product but because of frustrating social media experiences. 

Social media engagement if not managed can easily become a time and productivity thief, and overwhelming. 

Start small and then add on if that becomes feasible and makes sense. First, do some research to figure out what social media platforms are out there, then narrow down your research to 2 or 3 platforms such as facebook, twitter or instagram that work best for your type of business. It's impossible to be on, and maintain every social media platform, nor should you try. Even if certain platforms are popular, it doesn't mean they're a good fit for you or offer a good return on invested time or money. 

In-House or Out-Source:

Remembering that existing and potential customers have social media expectations, and your bottom-line can be impacted by your social media engagement, do you have the expertise to manage this in-house? I'm a believer in doing what you're good at, and although managing your own social media, or delegating it to an intern may seem like a good cost cutting measure, in the long term it may be more cost effective to out-source it to someone or a team with social media expertise.   

Finding a social media person or team that's a good fit for your business: 

A good fit requires they understand and believe in your business' core values and are able to translate those values into consistent messaging on social media. Communicating those values in a way that generates conversations and inspires others to join in is a true art. For that reason some real thought should be given to what you want your business' social media presence to be, and who can best do that. Resist the urge to treat your social media as an after thought or punted off to inexperienced staff or interns. Instead have a look at my Worth the Read: The On-Line Community Manager, and Pam Moore's post about Hiring a Social Media Agency. 

Below are a few links and resources to get you started:

• A Beginner's Social Media Guide for Small Business via Megan Conley - Social Media Examiner
• 6 Uncomplicated Social SEO Tips for Small Business via Danielle Cormier - Constant Contact
• The Ultimate Guide to Using Social Media for Small Business via Alyssa Gregory - About.com
• 10 Small Business Social Media Marketing Tips via Ross Kimbarovsky - Mashable
• Social Media for Small Business: Choose Wisely, then Execute via Ian Lurie - Entrepreneur .com

Need some more Food for Thought? 

Social Media Best Practices for Small Business

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about what's worth taking the time to read.

Note: I have not been compensated in any way for this post. All opinions are my own, and the purpose of this post is merely to share with my readers information and posts that I find interesting 

Content is King (or Queen) - Should be easy now that you know...Right?!

You will hear it everywhere, from all the top social media gurus. Content is King, Everyone needs, wants, and must have good, unique, original, top grade, content. I see and read posts about how this "content" will drive more traffic to your blog, and increase readers, and followers. People say write what you know or what you are passionate about, and focus on that. I know lots of things, and I am passionate about many things. I don't want to write about a single area, or topic. Am I doomed to be banished to the island of misfit bloggers? 

I agree with the "gurus" content is important, and I do not want to read posts that are a rehash of old stuff, or page after page of promotions and sales pitches. I want to read a post that gives me insight, teaches me something, makes me think about a subject in a different way, or think about it at all. I want to read something that makes me laugh, or cry, or surprises me, and ideally calls me to action in some way. I also want that content to look nice with graphics, pictures, font choices, and borders, all without being busy, or distracting. It is a pretty tall order. 

I am relatively new to blogging with no formal writing experience, or training in social media. I muddle along trying to get Blogger to do what I want it to do with varying degrees of success, depending on the given day. None the less, I want to give my readers all the things I want when reading a post. I want to write posts that make people smile, or think, or respond. Now that I know I need excellent content, and what I like to read, and what I want to write, it should be so easy..... NOT. 

I know what I like when I see it or read it, but I am not so clear on how to write it. I am passionate about, and know about many things, so I write about them, but that has a tendency to make my blog look busy and unfocused. I simply cannot help it, I am a multifaceted person, with a variety of life experiences. The lighter weight content threatens to bury the more important messages I have to share; but it can't be all work, otherwise Cathy will become a very dull blogger. My eye for design far outweighs my abilities to make that vision materialize on my blog. 

Then there are the questions that whirl around in my head like a merry-go-round, about citing images, quotes, posts, within posts. Not to mention what seems to be endless and ever changing rules that it not followed threaten my blog's very existence. I constantly worry about pressing publish only to find grammar and spelling mistakes. With all that who has time to write content, far less good content.  

On that note, without a proper transitioning sentence, I begin the conclusion to this light weight content piece. I always aim for well written posts that make the reader happy they took the minute or two to read it, and hopefully inspire them to read more my other posts. If my content is not "King" it is not for lack of trying. My writing, my blog, and myself are all a work in progress striving to be the very best we can be. I like to think of my blog as heir to the throne.

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about content.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT FRIDAY FEATURE: WORTH THE READ MAR 14, 2014

I read interesting informative posts and articles about business, social media, marketing, networking, and the like all the time. I'm a bit of a junkie when it comes to this type of thing. So I thought I would share at least one said post or article every Friday, and maybe send you into your weekend with some food for thought. I found both of these were interesting, thought provoking, worth the read, and maybe worthy of some further conversation.

Do You Struggle to Make Conversation? A Menu of Options For Small Talk via LinkedIn.com - Gretchen Rubin

How Does Your CEO Treat The Janitor? via Forbes.com - Rob Asghar 

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about Friday Feature: Worth the Read.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT FRIDAY FEATURE: WORTH THE READ MAR 7, 2014

I read interesting informative posts and articles about business, social media, marketing, networking, and the like all the time. I'm a bit of a junkie when it comes to this type of thing. So I thought I would share at least one said post or article every Friday, and maybe send you into your weekend with some food for thought. This week is about Blogging. I stumbled across Blogging Basics 101  , where I found tons of posts and resources perfect for a newbie blogger like myself. Today I'm sharing three of those posts. Let me know what think, and whether you found these interesting or helpful. Be sure to leave a comment on Blogging Basics 101 too!

SEO: What are NoFollow and DoFollow Links: via Blogging Basics 101

How to Get Started with Google Analytics via Blogging Basics 101

Where to Find Pictures for Your Blog or Facebook via Blogging Basics 101

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about Friday Feature: Worth the Read.

LEARNING: LESSON NUMBER 2: I learned how to add labels & tabs to my blog.

My "LEARNING" for 2014 continues, today I learned how to add labels and tabs to the top of my blog home page. 

BEING GREEN, FOOD & BEVERAGE, MY OPINIONS,
 REVIEWS, TRIPS & TRAVELS 

I would love it if you would check it out. 

I can't wait for to see what is next!

Yep, just Cathy thinking out loud about my blog.

TAKE THE #BLOGCHALLENGEDONE CHALLENGE! EASY WAY TO SUPPORT YOUR FAVOURITE BLOGGERS WRITING EFFORTS

#BLOGCHALLENGEDONE....what the heck is that? Before I explain, I would like to give you some of insight into my reasoning for starting this challenge. 

Ask any blogger why they started blogging and I think most will tell you they started a blog to write. It may have started as a journal, or to educate and inform, and for others to share something they are passionate about like travel, or food. The focus might be different, but the motivation is generally the same, they blog to write. 

I think the majority of bloggers will also tell you that writing, and researching, and maintaining a blog takes time, a lot of time. As the saying goes time is money, and if you are spending hours of your day writing, then you are probably not making money from it. So in order to continue to be able to write, and finance this time, many need to "monetise" their blog. It may be by brand ambassadorships, giveaways, product reviews, ads, or hosting twitter parties. This is a compromise of sorts, meaning no matter the way you monetise a blog, it generally means at least some of the focus will move from the writing to the monetising efforts. Sometimes the very necessary process of making an income, and supporting the blog crowds the posts that motivated one to start the blog in the first place. 

Hey, no judgement here, it is a necessary evil, and the events, twitter parties, conferences, and giveaways can be a lot of fun. I'm just saying it would be nice if readers read and commented on the posts that are personal, and meaningful, and reveal to the reader something about the blogger as well. Won't it be great if people commented not because it was a requirement for an entry into a contest, but because they enjoyed the post and they want to acknowledge the time and effort required to write and publish a regular stream of posts. 

So in that spirit I have started something I am calling BlogChallengeDone. The challenge is to read and comment on at least one NON-GIVEAWAY blog post everyday. Ideally from a blog you haven't visited in a while, and then tweet the link of the post, tagging the blogger, using the hashtag 

#BLOGCHALLENGEDONE.

EG: 

"I just read a fantastic post by @cantoncathy about travel  http://cathythinkingoutloud.blogspot.ca/2014/01/travel-tips-tidbits-tuesday-post-1.html?spref=tw #blogchallengedone "

I hope you will join in this daily challenge to support the writing efforts of bloggers, and in return I hope someone else will take the time to read and comment on yours. I ask that if someone shares your post in the #blogchallengedone hashtag, don't just say thanks, return the favour. Pay it forward and read, comment, and share someone else's post. Maybe we can get a movement going.

HAPPY BLOGGING AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about blogging.

I'm Part of the #YMCCommunity

CATHY THINKING OUT LOUD

Cathy Thinking Out Loud is a mix of opinions, knowledge sharing, and blurbs about great products that work for a woman approaching mid-life. Cathy has moved passed the busy messy baby parenting stage into the busy messy teen parenting stage. With that comes a change in focus, rethinking of retirement, finances, relationships, health, and life goals. That thinking is done out loud on Cathy Thinking Out Loud Blog.

Cathy Thinking Out Loud - YMCCommunity

The Many Sides of Me!

Dear Blog:
I know it has been ages since I've posted anything to you dear Blog. It may appear I am ignoring you, but I am not. I am struggling with the many sides of me. There seems to be so many sides of me: The Mother, Wife, Daughter, Crafty Type, Pro Party Planner, Expert Lunch Maker, Used to be a Banker, with a Political Science Degree me.
What type of relationship do I want with you Blog, and with social media? I am trying to define our relationship, while understanding it's a work in process, as am I.

• Do I want to enter contests? Because let's face it winning is fun. 
• I love to retweet and share information that I think is of interest. This may be a news story, event, travel, parenting tips, a contest, the list goes on. So I share and retweet a lot. I participate in twitter chats and parties a lot. I know that this impacts my image and how people see me. I know some think I spend all day entering contests, but the truth is many chats have no prize. I rarely win anything over $50 in value, and I often share a contest for others to know about, but do not enter myself. I believe this untargeted sharing habit I have is bad for business, but good for my soul.
• Do I want to share my inner most feelings about life? No, I would like to share some of the insights and things I have learnt along the way. I definitely would like to share tips, ideas, info and products I have discovered. 
• Do I want to try to be brand ambassador, and host give-aways? To be honest this scares me. 
• How do I get brands to give me products to review? How do I do a give-away? What are the laws and rules regarding a give-away? (maybe no one will want me to review their products, so might not be an issue) 
• How do you manage a review or post so you share all the important information, without it becoming a novel?

These questions swirl around in my head day after day, and almost paralyse me from actually doing anything, or posting to you Blog. 

This post is the first step towards doing something. I am hoping my putting it to paper (virtual paper works too!) and thinking out loud I might find some clarity, and figure out how to manage the many sides of me.

Till next time Blog,

Ciao Cathy