10 easy ways to grow your Facebook friends:

1. Use the Facebook tools!  When you first log into Facebook scroll down and look for the Get Connected section on the right.  From here you can find your friends using Gmail, Skype, Yahoo, AOL, and more.  This is a fast and easy way to grow your friends on Facebook.
2. Add a Facebook link or button to your email signature
3. Make a habit to send follow up emails asking to connect on Facebook after meeting someone new.
4. Add a Facebook link to your business card
5. Review the friends of your current Facebook friends and see who you know and connect with them.
6. Add your Facebook link to your website, blog, and contact page
7. Do you use Twitter?  Tweet to your followers asking them to connect with you on Facebook.
8. Review the friends your current Facebook friends are suggesting to you.  Many times you will know these people and if not it’s a good opportunity to meet someone new.
9. Look at all those photos!  3 billion photos are uploaded to Facebook every month and many of your current Facebook friends upload photos.   Take a moment to review a few photos from your friends and if they are tagged you can easily send friend requests to those you may know.
10. Check out Xobni - Xobni is add on program for Outlook that gives you great email tools and shows you the social network links for each contact.

Are you using any of these methods now to grow your Facebook friends?  Do you have another suggestion to add to the list?  Don’t keep it a secret!  Make sure to take a moment, leave a comment, and share it with all of us!  Remember to also become a friend of Square Martini Media by liking us on Facebook!

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The Social Media Kool-Aid Guzzler: For many businesses after taking their first step (sip of the Kool-Aid) in social media they tend to immediately jump all in or start guzzling.  Businesses try to drink the entire pitcher of Kool-Aid in one sitting.  They set up profiles on every possible social media network barely stopping to take a breath and not even considering how they will keep up with all these profiles.  Social media strategy is out the door but they are sure all these profiles will bring them business.  Eventually these businesses decide the Kool-Aid doesn’t taste all that great.  It could be within a few weeks or a few months but all the social media activity stops and these businesses will now tell you “I tried that social media thing and it does not work”.

The Social Media Kool-Aid Big Gulpers:  Have you seen these before?  The 44 oz, 64oz, wait that’s not big enough the 1 gallon jug people carry around with a big straw hanging out?  Picture this jug full of Social Media Kool-Aid.  These Kool-Aid Gulpers are social media super users.  They are similar to the Guzzlers typically not having a social media strategy but don’t seem to quit.  They are constantly drinking, updating too many profiles and are the types of users you always see iPhone or Droid phone in hand.  In the middle of a meeting, party, or conversation these users are trying to update Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.  They may be taking pictures and uploading to Flickr or even shooting video and trying to get it up on YouTube on the spot.

If you are one of these two users how can you possibly be losing business?  You are doing everything right… right?

For the Guzzlers they lose business by spending so much time learning and applying social media as fast as they can and then just let it all go.   A lot of businesses think they need to do social media and think they can do it themselves.  Business owners and executives step away from their primary roles and try to become social media experts.  By doing this their business actually goes down and then a few months later they stop using social media anyway.  All that time and effort goes to waste.

For the Gulpers they don’t realize they are alienating the people around them.  These could be prospects or customers who don’t understand why you have your phone out and in hand.  The perception is you don’t care about the meeting or conversation which creates a feeling of indifference.  This indifference can grow to the point of losing long standing customers or prospects that are ready to buy.

The moral of the social media Kool-Aid story is to be aware of what you can become.  You truly do not want to be a Guzzler or a Gulper in social media.  If you are a business wanting to get started in social media ask for help.  Seek out social media marketing firms within your network and find out how they work.  Create a social media strategy and implement it over time.  Social media works for all types of business but you must have a strategy and plan.

If you want to learn how you can work with Square Martini Media on your social media strategy please visit or contact us page and use the form, email, or call us today.

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Businesses are flocking to Facebook these days, and with more than 500 million users, it’s easy to see why. But we must be careful not to let Facebook become the wizard of our Oz.

Nearly everyone wants to direct your attention to Facebook. Small and large businesses are spending lots of money to get us all to their Facebook pages, stay awhile, and engage. Facebook, Facebook, Facebook. It’s where we all want to be, all the time.

Or is it?

Is Facebook so great that we don’t even need our own websites anymore?

That indeed is one approach. However, you must ask yourself one very important question.

Are you in business to make yourself money or are you in business to make Facebook money?

Without question, Facebook is a very powerful and valuable tool. There are many benefits to partnering with Facebook, and once you learn the mechanics, it’s fairly easy to start reaping benefits if you’re willing to time forming relationships. Of course, your prospects must be using Facebook, too.

Built-in analytics, customizable landing pages, and reasonably priced advertising are all great benefits and among the many reasons one should strongly consider using Facebook when designing any social media strategy. However, solely relying on Facebook without maintaining your own website puts too much control in the hands of Facebook.

Is Facebook Your Glenda or the Wicked Witch of the West?

While we wouldn’t quite equate Facebook to Oz’s Wicked Witch of the West, we wouldn’t call it Glenda either. Facebook has much bigger goals than ensuring your bottom line profits continue to rise.

Facebook is racing to dominate location-based services, as evidenced by the launch of Places earlier this month. Additionally, Facebook has demonstrated its big business focus in the past by changing policies such as disallowing custom landing pages for businesses with fewer than 1,000 fans (subsequently reversed). Further, things such as inconsistent policy changes without much or any advance notice make relying on Facebook too risky. Lastly, Facebook retains the right to shut down your profile or your page at anytime.

And we’re back to our question. Are you willing to put the control of your business in someone else’s hands? What would Dorothy and Toto say?

Learn from Dorothy and Toto’s journey through Oz

It really is true…

There’s no place like home.

So, use Facebook to drive traffic back to your blog and website. And remember, once you get people to your site, you must make sure you’ve got the following:

• Great content! You want to offer content that answers questions for your customers, keeps them on your site, and gives them a reason to come back.
• Great sales conversions! An obvious path to your products and then to a sale.
• Great products! A catalogue of products that serves your customers’ needs or solves their problems.
• Great prices! Market-driven prices that make your customers know they are receiving great value from you.

Next time you are spending a few minutes on Facebook, remember why you are there. Consider cutting your time in half and going behind your own curtain, becoming the wizard of your own blog, and creating some terrific content for your prospects.

Photo Credit: Barry Smith

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A person can have only one personal Facebook account but unlimited business pages?

Facebook regulations require that each person have only one account that is listed in a personal name (not in the name of a business).  However, you can add Facebook “pages” for most businesses in addition to your personal page.  A facebook page functions much like your personal page.

Facebook calls this feature “pages”.

This feature is listed under “Advertising” at the bottom of all Facebook pages.

Example:

http://www.facebook.com/squaremartini

http://www.facebook.com/vw

We know you’ve seen lots of Facebook pages and “Like” buttons everywhere.  However, do you continue to see friend requests from businesses?  We do!  Those businesses that choose to use personal profiles versus business “pages” in facebook sacrifice many business benefits which facebook has built for businesses.  One of the biggest benefits is the ability to send an update to all of your fans/likers.

What are some of your favorite Facebook pages?  Have you visited our Square Martini page yet?  Join our conversation today and tell us your feedback!

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So dedicated followers of the Social Media Minute remember these two things:

1. More followers does not mean greater influence. What matters is quality connections and active correspondence.

2. Make sure that you too search for and become a follower of people and things that you are interested in and want to be known for.

I hope you enjoyed the Social Media Minute and I look forward to your thoughts and comments. Please subscribe to the Square Martini Media YouTube channel and if you have a question you would like covered on the Social Media Minute, let us know by giving us your Social Media Minute Question.

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Everybody else is doing it, right?  All types of companies are turning to Social Media.  Large fortune 100 companies, big local companies, all the way down to your favorite coffee shop down the street.  Is everyone just jumping on the band wagon or is this social media stuff really working?

Is it because you do not want to be left behind?  The companies that are building their social media presence now, creating great content online, and attracting an online following, are the ones that will continue to grow at a rapid pace.  Those companies starting now will be far ahead of anyone jumping into the social media pool a year from now.

Maybe there are other reasons?  Maybe its because you see your competitors using social media.  Maybe you are interested in social media because it is all the rage…  Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and blogging are the current buzz words and you want to be a part of that buzz.

The reason why you see big brands using Facebook instead of their website is they want to create a presence where their customers are spending their time.   Everyone is doing it because social media works.  The companies with a strategy are attracting new business using social media as you are reading this.

The reasons why your business should get started with social media are endless.  The most important thing is to get started and figure out how social media can work for you and your business.  Take the time to listen to what is being said on Facebook and Twitter about your business, brand, or industry.  Research the web and read blogs that mention your business name.  Find out what your customers are saying about you and your brand online.  Use Facebook, Twitter, and blogs learn before you jump in!  And most importantly… get started now!

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While I awkwardly got autographs from the actors that I didn’t know I tried to get in a quick word with Felica, both the creator and main character. She smiled kindly and asked me what I wanted to know. She told me that the show started out as being completely supported by its fans. This is pretty amazing, to have a successful television series or should I say internet series just from its fan’s donations! The show was posted on the WatchTheGuild website and their popular YouTube channel. Fortunately, YouTube was able to help “The Guild” reach its target audience online gamers.

The show itself is about several “gamers” or “guild members” that play on online multi-player war game. Some of its players even go so far as to make a living off the game they play. This does actually mimic real life, as thousands of people sit down to play games like World of Warcraft or Runes of Magic for hours on end and then sell valuable items such as gold or potions to other players for real money. While this is not the typical way people think of business through social media- it is an interesting concept to grapple with. Meanwhile, “The Guild” is a great example of a small business that made it to popularity by social media. “The Guild” was picked up by Sprint who sponsors the show and by Microsoft and XBox who now distribute it. Fecila Day has won “Best Actress” by the Streamy Awards, while “The Guild” won “Best Comedy Web Series” and “Best Ensemble” this last year (2009). Other awards include “the SXSW”, YouTube and Yahoo Web Series Awards in 2008. Felica Day can be learned from as someone who put together the three things she loved, acting, gaming and social media into something successful. I encourage those new to the social media scene to follow Felica Day and “The Guild” on Twitter and YouTube to see how these social networking websites can help you and your business!

One last thing to note about the business of social media is how willing people involved in it are willing to connect and share ideas with others. Felica was happy to speak with me, despite how busy it was at Comic-Con. The show’s website was also willing to share its success story in a way that was helpful and inspiring to other people who want to use social media to help their own businesses succeed. For me as a writer, it really helped show me how much impact it can have to put my work online, to use a blog and to have my own website. It was also further evidence how much having an active Twitter and Facebook account could help boost my popularity by trafficking my fans to my own website, or simply giving them a reason to trust me because they are familiar with my style and attitude. “The Guild” inspired me and I hope that it can for others as well!

Note:  This post was written by Lemon Drop.  She is a Square Martini Intern studying Communications and Literature Writing at the University of California, San Diego.  She graciously assists the Square Martini Team with all things social media.

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For Facebook users you now have the ability to check in and share where you are at in real time with your Facebook friends.  Each time you check in to a new location your check in is posted on your wall for all you friends to see.  You can also view any of your Facebook friends that may be in the same location as well as tag friends that are with you in your check in.  With Facebook Places you can also view where all your friends are checking in and add comments to their check ins.

The big debate that continues to go on surrounding Facebook is privacy.  With the addition of Places this becomes even more of a concern for some users.  If you are one of these users don’t worry, you can disable Facebook Places if you choose.

Location based applications are not new to smart phones or Facebook users.  We have seen dramatic growth and acceptance in two similar applications Foursquare and Gowalla.  Both of these networks are very different then what you currently see in Places.  In fact Facebook Places has already been called totally boring by Foursquare co-founder Dennis Crowley as well as many Facebook users we have discussed Places with.  As a business active in social media you should be aware of these networks as they provide you with valuable customer information and interaction.  Recently we gave you reasons why your business should be participating on Foursquare and many these reasons will eventually carry over to Places.  Until now Foursquare has been the leading check in location based application and only time will tell if Foursquare and Gowalla can survive against Facebook Places and it’s 500 million users.

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Watch the latest video of “The Social Media Minute” to get ideas on how to use twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin to promote your next event:

Let’s recap on how to use Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin for your upcoming events:

1)  Use status updates on Facebook and Linkedin leading up to the event. Many of your followers, friends, and connections will  spread the word and promote for you!  New connections will learn more about you and possibly attend the event.

2)  Link the event before it happens with ALL the  people and businesses associated with the event (anyone hosting, being a guest, or sponsoring the event). The more people that are linked in this event, the more traffic and awareness will be directed to it.  We all want more buzz right? (You can link to other people in facebook simply by using the @ symbol. You must be facebook friends with them for this function to work.)

• If Square Martini Media was part of your event, you could include @SquareMartini in your tweets about the event.
• On facebook, you could include our facebook business page in your updates by using @squaremartini. This would link our business page to your update.  You might also write on the Square Martini Media Facebook wall about the event.
• On Linkedin you can add the Square Martini Media founders as attending or presenting at your event.

3)  “Tweet” to or “Invite” all your friends on twitter, Facebook and Linkedin. It helps spread the word and gives people time to plan to be there. The more people that commit to attend your event, the more virale buzz you create.

I hope you enjoyed the Social Media Minute and I look forward to your thoughts and comments.  Please subscribe to the Square Martini Media YouTube channel and if you have a question you would like covered on the Social Media Minute, let us know by giving us your Social Media Minute Question.

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Facebook is the #1 website online.  More people are on Facebook then any other website, it’s where people are spending time.  As a business owner you want to position yourself and your business where people spend their time.  This makes Facebook a very important tool which could generate a huge amount of referrals for you and your business.

Take a look at this week’s Social Media Minute focusing on using your personal Facebook profile to generate new referrals, customers, and business.

In case you missed the update examples I used in the video here they are with a few more examples:

Talking about business on your Facebook profile:

• Updating with this video
• Updating with your current business blog post
• Updating with industry news, something you think your network would enjoy while educating them about what you do or what you are about

Talking about personal events on your Facebook profile:

• Hiking on the beach
• New family additions
• Your favorite social or charitable cause
• A simple picture of a beautiful sunset

I hope you enjoyed the Social Media Minute and I look forward to your thoughts and comments.  Please subscribe to the Square Martini Media YouTube channel and if you have a question you would like covered on the Social Media Minute please let us know by giving us your Social Media Minute Question.

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