Social Media Series: Lesosn 5 – Facebook

Lesson 5: Facebook

Intro:

Happy Lesson 5! Here we are, onto a new topic, and onto a new medium. Hopefully you understand a bit of blogging and social media because we’re getting specific, our new topic: Facebook.

Lesson:

We’ve got a video from our archives about Facebook. This was recorded prior to Facebook’s most recent changes – though many of the concepts remain the same. So watch it if you need to become more familiar with some of the functions, but keep in mind some things have changed. Read more about the changes here.

http://vimeo.com/7334178

31539618 200 Social Media Series: Lesosn 5 Facebook

Facebook: Navigation
http://vimeo.com/7334178
Facebook Navigation

Next:
Read these two short articles below. We’ve written them to give you some basic to-dos for facebook.

FACEBOOK INTRO PART 1

There has been much written about how to use Facebook properly and effectively, and still many people miss the very fundamental items that make being on Facebook worth the time and effort. So here are the basics:

You must have a photo. If you don’t, you might as well not have a profile in the first place. If you don’t have a photo, you’re not even in the game.
Your main profile photo should be of you – not your significant other, your kids, your dog, your motorcycle, or your favorite sunset. There are other places in your profile to put photos of your favorite things.
Your photo should be of your face, not some long-distance shot where no one can even see your face. And no sunglasses, hats, other people or other objects in the photo.
If you can, having a professional photographer take a professional headshot is a fantastic idea, and very much worth the money.
There’s a text box in the left-hand column right below your profile photo – use it for a quickie synopsis of who you are, what you do, the name of your business if you have one, and your website or blog address. While your personal profile is not the place to actively promote your business, it’s OK (and a good idea) to mention your business in this space.
Put a lot of information in the Info section of your profile. Information about people is interesting to people. You want people to get to know you, and limiting this section to your basic contact info does not further that cause. They want to know your interests, hobbies, favorite things, affiliations, and so forth.
Be active. Posting once a week will not garner much attention. It doesn’t take long to make a short post. Do it at least once a day, maybe more.

FACEBOOK INTRO PART 2

The name on your Facebook personal profile must be your name, not your business name. This is perhaps the most egregious mistake that anyone makes on Facebook. If you are John Smith who owns ABC Company, then your personal profile must be named John Smith, not ABC Company, and the photo must be of you, not your company logo. Personal profiles are just that – personal. They are not to be used for your business. If you have already made this mistake, undoing it might be painful and awkward, but necessary.

Do not use your personal profile to actively promote your business. You can mention your business activities frequently, but not in a “sales” tone. Saying “I met with a client today and signed a deal for ____.” is different than saying “Call me for a quote on your _____!” The first is simply telling about your life and activities. The second is an attempt to sell. Facebook is not a place to sell anything.

Action Items:

Do you have a facebook profile or fanpage? If not, make one and send us your first friend request. Be sure to add to your business page us by inviting your friends below the photo on your new business page.
Make sure to pay attention to the following: A professional, consistent, easily identifiable picture.
Do you have information about yourself? If someone were to look at your page do they get a feeling of knowing you? Pretend you’re someone else looking at your page, what do you see?
If you have made the mistake of mixing your personal profile with too much business, see about fixing it.

Feedback:

If you have questions on these videos or any other social media topic email us at info@insights-group.com.com or you can search for answers on our website, InSights-Group.com or InSightsForDentists.com.

Social Media Series: Lesson 4 – Blogging – Advanced

Lesson 4: Blogging – Advanced

Intro:

Welcome to the last week of your first month, if you are a bit confused or lost or needing help from last week, we’re here again, going deeper in last week’s topic, blogging. Watch this quick video about RSS feeds first.

Lesson:

WordPress Lessons (Link to 7 Training Tutorials) If you are a wordpress user, you will find these tutorials especially helpful. They apply to the self hosted wordpress platform (installed on your domain). If you are using a WordPress site hosted at WordPress.com some of the functions will be different – and we HIGHLY recommend that you get wordpress hosted on your site, or purchase an additional hosting plan and move it over. If you need any help with this, please let us know!

Action Items:

Last week you were given the task to look up some blogs out there, to see what you like and what you don’t. This week, it’s time to prepare your blog. After watching the videos, you’ve heard some other people’s stories now it’s time for your own ideas. Think now about your blog. What do you want to say, what do you want people to know? Become the interactive writer. Start! Here are some content creation tips:

Content – Content – Content

Make sure that you use short headlines that will influence someone to click because they have to get the rest of the story.
The first sentence of your post is also critical. It’s what people will see when automation happens to the various social media sites.
Tell a story in your post with relevant keywords.
People like quick bullet pointed lists, it makes the content easier to skim.
Be positive and inspiring. That gets huge response and share rates.
If you have a new post, share with the words: “new post” or “this just in” to let people know that it’s not something they’ve seen before.
Share at the times of day when your audience is likely to see your content. Early morning, evenings and weekends.
Share appropriate content at appropriate times. Business news early in the business day, inspiration and entertainment evenings and weekends.
Inspire, inform, educate and repeat.
If you want comments on your post, ask for them. If you don’t ask we don’t answer.

Action Items:
1. Create your Gravatar
Create your Gravatar: Go to the site gravatar.com and using your email address (hopefully you have one dedicated to your social media engagement) set up an account, add your photo, list your website and save. Now, when you post comments on blogs, your photo will show up with it. We’ll know when you’ve completed this task as well, because our Mailchimp service will now show us your smiling photo. Way to go!

2. Write 3 Blog posts, 100-250 words and email them over. We’ll give you some feedback and you’ll be ready to post!

Feedback:

Social Media Series: Lesson 3 – Blogging Explained

Lesson 3: Blogging Explained

Intro:

Welcome to week three! How are you liking this? After two weeks do you think you understand the basics and benefits of social media? Well even if not yet completely, keep leaning into the process, and in later lessons we’ll revisit these topics. This week, you’re going to test the waters with “blogging”. We are continuing on with our lovely videos, this week discussing the whys and how-tos of the become your own writer world of “blogging”. Here’s a quick video explanation of blogging to watch before you get into the longer lesson below.

Lesson:

1. Watch the Blogging Explained Video

Blogging
http://vimeo.com/7242859

Blogging Explained

Alternate Link: Blogging Explained
2. Next, head over to this cool article: What does web design say about your small business
3. Here is a discussion of wordpress themes, and a few free wordpress themes to browse.
4. Here’s a great article about blogging, of course it’s awesome!
5. Let us know if we should talk about the design of your website. We can help!

Action Items:

Having watched the video, what did you learn? Is it all new information, have you heard some of it before? Your task this week is to look up some blogs for topics you’re interested in, or pertain to your business. What do you see that you like, that you don’t like? Notice the styles of different people out there. If you think a blog might be for you or your company, think like your consumer at these blogs. How would you make them different?

Send in your responses to the following questions:

Determine your target audience. What is the demographic? Is there more than one? What are they interested in? Segment your audience as appropriate.
Then make a list of categories of content you would like to share with each of the target segments.
What are some important keywords about your business that you should keep in mind?

Feedback:

Trending terms thanks to social media: Legendary Escapes and the Hybrid Pool (TM)

Saline MI Vinyl Liner Gunite Hybrid Pool Legendary Escapes 2009 (361)

It’s a pretty neat thing to see ideas that you start begin trending in the marketplace. At least that’s what Allan Curtis of Legendary Escapes tells us about the new trending topic of Hybrid Pools (TM), which is a term he coined to explain his building process of combining both vinyl liner and gunite building into one amazing finished product in his swimming pools.

Curtis got his start in the vinyl liner pool building industry, just about two decades ago. He started working for Ernie Pietila when he was still in college, learning the ropes of the industry, building and servicing inground swimming pools. The focus was on building vinyl liner pools, in the era when just about every home in metro Detroit was looking to have one installed. Curtis then purchased the Pietila Pools Swimming Pool store and installation company from Ernie in 1994, and began his own journey of creating unique and interesting projects of his own. He was introduced to the creative side of gunite pool building when Jack Roberts, a long time local builder, relocated to Florida and had a few pools that needed finishing up. Jack chose Al to turn his remaining customers over to, and the rest is creative history.

With his love of pools, background in physics and math as well as a love for art, Curtis began pushing the designs of his vinyl liner pools as far as they could go. Once they were as creative as they could possibly be, Curtis again contemplated how to make them even better, and creative to suit more homeowner’s needs. Enter they Hybrid Pool (TM) a term that Curtis has trademarked to explain his newest process of building pools, a combination vinyl liner pool and gunite pool. To this point Curtis is not aware of any other builder in the US market that has created pools quite like these.

ask the pool guy allan curtis 285x300 Trending terms thanks to social media: Legendary Escapes and the Hybrid Pool (TM)

Ask the Pool Guy, Allan Curtis, and Hybrid Swimming Pool Creator

“It’s the best of both worlds.” Curtis explains. “By combining a vinyl liner pool and gunite pool in a unique way, you get the very best in features and design of both. Homeowners love having something unique and different, and I get to push the envelope of pool building in both design and function. It’s a win-win all the way around.”

The Hybrid Swimming Pool (TM) has come from a love of swimming pools, creative design, and the desire for the best form, function, and artistic presence possible. The Hybrid Pools (TM) that Curtis is building are being sought after from homeowners across the country, and luckily for the residents of Southeastern Michigan, they are the first in line to be able to choose a trend setting process for their backyard swimming pool installation.

Social Media has also played a big part in the swimming pool industry. Just check out his facebook page, Al Curtis is also known as Ask the Pool Guy, as a long time industry leader and industry advocate. He builds and services pools in the Metro Detroit area, as well as acts as a consumer advocate, and is known nationally for his work with manufacturers, suppliers, and eduction in the swimming pool industry.

To schedule a design consultation with Curtis, please call 248.478.4978.

Ask the Pool Guy, Allan Curtis, is a lifelong member of the swimming pool industry. As an award winning swimming pool builder he has pioneered the hybrid swimming pool design and installation process, and has been servicing swimming pools in Michigan for over 25 years. He is an industry spokesperson, consumer & product advocate, and all around fun guy. You can reach Ask the Pool Guy or a capable member of his team on Facebook, or with your questions, comments or inquiries by calling 248-478-4978.

Sandra Maki First LadyInSights Group, Brighton, MI 10355 Citation Drive Brighton, MI 48116 US		Work: 810-623-5839 Mobile: 248-798-0239 Email: smaki@insights-group.com http://www.linkedin.com/in/sandimaki
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