Social Media Overview: Strategies for Small Business

By Marilyn McLeod

A social media “how to” compilation of Vols 1-3 of Social Media for Small Business Series, includes Social Media for Beginners: Step by Step for Small Business, Social Media for Small Business: Tips for Using Your Time Effectively and How to Work with Your Web Developer: Asking the Right Questions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marilyn McLeod
• Release date: Feb 27, 2010
• ISBN: 9781452336626

Book preview

Social Media Overview

This book is written for small business owners and individuals who are non-techies, and who would like to either get started with social media, or would like to be more empowered in their interactions with their Internet and social media professionals.

Social Media Overview is a compilation of the first three volumes of my Social Media for Small Business Series: Social Media for Beginners: Step by Step for Small Business, Social Media for Small Business: Tips for Using Your Time Effectively, and How to Work with Your Web Developer: Asking the Right Questions.

Originally I had written one book encompassing all of these topics as well as social media strategy. My clients reviewed the book and urged me to break it into smaller books, treating each subject individually, which I did. For those of you who prefer to have it all in one book, or who prefer to carry around a book with a cover that conveys more of a business tone than the more fun covers of the individual volumes, I’ve compiled this book for you!

As I compile this book I’m still working on Volume 3: Social Media Strategy, and I plan to publish a new edition of Social Media Overview which includes that volume when it’s ready. In the meantime, join me online as we learn more together!

Marilyn McLeod

San Diego 2010

www.CoachMarilyn.com

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Overall List of Contents

Volume 1: Social Media for Beginners: Step by Step for Small Business

Volume 2: Social Media for Small Business: Tips for Using Your Time Effectively

Volume 3: How to Work with Your Web Developer: Asking the Right Questions

Additional Resources:

About the Author

Other Social Media Options

Universal Needs Charts

Follow-up

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Social Media for Beginners

Step by Step for Small Business

This book is written for people who are new to social media.

Quickest route to something usable in this book:

Chapter 2: Quick Startup Checklist

Are you feeling overwhelmed? Don't despair! Everyone is new to this at some level. Were all learning. I've distilled what I know into a small book you can start using right away, regardless of your level of expertise and how much or how little time you have to devote to this new venture.

The social media landscape changes very quickly. Some content in this book may change by the time you read this. To keep up with changes look for future editions of this book. You may also follow me on Twitter @marilynmcleod and find the social media book series Facebook fan page via www.CoachMarilyn.com.

Enjoy the book and your adventures in social networking!

Join me online as we learn more together!

Marilyn McLeod

San Diego 2010

www.CoachMarilyn.com

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Comments from some of Marilyn's clients:

I am moved to provide the highest recommendation for Marilyn. I have had the privilege of working with Marilyn for the past few years. She has done a wonderful job of developing my personal website. My site is highly complex involving many articles, interviews, and videos. She has done a great job of making it user friendly. I have received feedback from hundreds of people about my site. It has all been very positive! Marilyn deserves much of the credit for this success. Along with her great technical job in developing my site, Marilyn has been a pleasure to work with.

Marshall Goldsmith, Best-selling author

What Got You Here Won’t Get You There and MOJO!

www.MarshallGoldsmithLibrary.com

Marilyn McLeod is one of those rare people who has the ability to see potential beyond the obvious, and to bring seemingly unlikely factors together in unique solutions. She does this with a grace and respect for all involved, bringing out the best of the people around her.

Gary Ranker

The Corporate Politics Coach, Forbes Top 5 Coach

New York and Australia

Marilyn has turned the agonising process of developing my website into a personal growth experience far beyond what I had hoped for. Working with Marilyn has been encouraging, supportive and fun!

Gina Lawrie

London, U.K.

"There are coaches who will stir up your emotions, give you an assignment and make you feel as if you can accomplish anything, but when the work is in front of you, and the emotion is gone, you wonder where the power you felt went and you feel you are right back where you began. Not with Marilyn McLeod.

Marilyn is an excellent business coach. She listens to you, your vision for your company and then with her expert business knowledge guides you to fruition. She asks you the important business questions you may not have considered or overlooked because of the variety of actions you must complete. Her guidance, business acumen and insightful information sets you on a path from overwhelm to achievement and growth."

Victoria Medina

Professional Actor and Photographic Artist

Numina Images, New York, New York

Marilyn translated the instructions in such an attractive, lively and amusing way that she actually made it fun for me to install the software, taking me right through to testing the telephone link between my computer in Brussels and hers in California! I was amazed, not at my ability to do the impossible, but at her skill in enabling me to go through with the procedure enjoyably. I would readily recommend her services to anyone who feels apprehensive or even unqualified when it comes to building up the trust they can in fact perform a similarly daunting task.

Godfrey Spencer

Chairman of the Board

GITRACOM, Brussels, Belgium

"If you have the chance to hire Coach Marilyn, do yourself a favor and do it! I have worked with Marilyn on several large projects: the gala launch of a new organizational partnership, a hurry-up web conversion project, the rebranding of a website, and the development and organization of a partnership project. I found her technical skills to be superb; whether the question was about how to convert video, how to change a flash movie or how to track response to Google ads, Marilyn knows how.

But then, so do a lot of tech consultants. What makes Marilyn so special is that her technical expertise comes bundled with superb interpersonal skills. She can help you think through both the technical and the human part of the problem, then help you implement the solution. Best of all, she’s a joy to have around as a colleague. She’s not only happy to pitch in and get the job done, she does it with it humor and compassion."

Nicolette Toussaint

Communications Director

Alliant International University, San Francisco, California

Since I’ve always considered myself a highly organized person, I was somewhat surprised and very pleased by what Ms. McLeod was able to offer me. She took ideas from a brainstorming session with about two dozen supporters and integrated that material into a coherent framework. She also made some very helpful suggestions for how I could improve my personal system of organization.

Gary Baran

Former Executive Director, CNVC

Bless you, Marilyn! You have succeeded in making this as easy as possible for me. It could have taken me years to come up with this kind of detailed plan, with so much taken into account! Truly, this has saved a lot of time and frustration, I’m certain. I feel so much gratitude and relief for this kind of support from you...wow.

Barbara Larson

Bainbridge Island, Washington

You helped me get off my you know what and get something done that was very important to me. I needed a partner I could trust, who had the skills to help me. Thank you for your support and encouragement.

Barbara Urschel

Orcas Island, Washington

Using Marilyn’s system, I never feel at loose ends. I no longer feel that I’m spending my valuable time getting organized, because I stay organized! When my desk and office become cluttered, I simply start dispersing items to the appropriate spot, or create a new spot and presto ... I’m ready to work! Thank you, Marilyn!

Rhonda Barnett

Senior Sales Director

Mary Kay Cosmetics, San Diego, California

I learned not to forget about what I love doing, and include it as part of my day in order to stay motivated.

Maria Contreras

San Diego, California

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Also by Marilyn McLeod

Nutrigenomic Diet for Weight and Fat Loss: One Consumers Journey

Conscious Networking: Finding and Creating Your Ideal Communities

Peer Coaching Reference: Extending Your Coaching Dollar

Recession or Plenty: 7 Steps to Success in Business & in Life

Social Media Series:

Social Media for Beginners: Step by Step for Small Business

Social Media for Small Business: Tips for Using Your Time Effectively

How to Work with Your Web Developer: Asking the Right Questions

Social Media Strategy: Navigating the New World Online

Social Media Workbook: Creating Your Master Plan

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Social Media for Beginners:

Step by Step for Small Business

by Marilyn McLeod

Copyright 2010 by Marilyn McLeod

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

DISCLAIMER:

This publication is designed to provide accurate information in regard to the subject matter covered.  The author is not engaged in providing legal, financial, investment, accounting or business advice.  Should the reader need such advice, the reader must seek services from a competent professional.  The author particularly disclaims any liability, loss or risk taken by individuals who directly or indirectly act on the information contained herein.  The author is an independent consultant and coach, and does not represent any of the websites or organizations mentioned herein.

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Acknowledgements

Thank you to Gary Ranker, who for the past few years has been urging me to continue my focus on Internet marketing while I was also focusing on Marshall Goldsmiths style of coaching.

Thank you also to my many fellow online travelers. Our interactions remind me of the musician culture I experience as I learn to play the guitar. Whenever we get together with other guitar players, were mutual fans as we share our knowledge. We pass around our instruments as we listen attentively to what our fellow artists have learned and created.

Thank you to my early teachers: Joe McGerald, Paul Richard, James Jaurez, Gini Pedersen and the many people who have shown me a keystroke or website over the past fourteen years that helped me take the next step. I think of you often as I use the various techniques you've shown me.

A special thank you to Anna Marie Valerio, Jeanell Innerarity, Pat Neagle, Scott Kelman and Victoria Medina for your feedback on the parent book to this series.

Thank you especially to my customers, my followers, subscribers and fans, who inspire me to give my best. And I hope you know I often learn as much from you as you learn from me!!

Marilyn McLeod

San Diego 2010

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Introduction

First let me assure you. Everyone is a beginner at some level when it comes to the Internet. Sure, I've been focused on Internet technology and online marketing since 1996, so I suppose I could call myself an expert. Does that mean I know everything about the Internet and computers? Not by a long stretch. My knowledge is broad, from how to run a web server to how to add video and optimize content for the web. Many of my colleagues focus specifically on one technical slice of the spectrum for their entire career. Does that mean they know everything about their small niche? I watch them continuing to study while their technology of choice evolves or gives way to something new, and as the technical or social landscape around their chosen field changes.

My point is were all still learning. So if you're new to this, have hope! Just take one small piece at a time, and even while you're still feeling somewhat lost and overwhelmed with the many possibilities opening up to you, you'll also be surprised at how quickly you become an expert in the eyes of people around you who know less than you did before you read this book and started playing with the ideas.

In this book I'll present a basic social media approach so you can get the lay of the land and decide where to begin. Some of the specific features I mention may have changed by the time I finish writing this sentence. If my instructions don't match your experience, look around the interface in case they moved the link, or step back and think of the general concept and see if there's another way to do what I describe.

This book can help you get started. If you need more support, check my website for webinars, teleclasses and coaching opportunities. www.CoachMarilyn.com @marilynmcleod

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About the Author

Marilyn McLeod began working with Internet technologies and online marketing in 1996, back in