Step 1 – Define why you think social media will work for your business and what you are going to use social media for.  Are you trying to create sales, leads, brand awareness, or customer engagement?  You must know what you want before you begin.

Step 2 – Commit to the process.  Social media is a community.  Too many companies use it as a broadcasting tool and think they are using social media.  This is like placing a bowl of candy at your front door on Halloween with a note that says “please take one”.  Sure a few kids may take one and be perfectly happy but eventually someone will empty the entire bowl into their bag and the other kids are left with nothing but a note.  This result closely resembles many business Facebook pages and blogs- a great start yet no commitment to continue the process.

Step 3 – Seek out help from a credible social media firm to create your social media strategy.  Yes, you can do social media on your own by having an intern or someone with no business experience set up your Facebook page, Twitter profile, and LinkedIn account.  But this is not a social media strategy and in the end can create a PR and branding disaster that resembles the graveyard scene from your local haunted house.

Using social media in your business is no trick and the rewards for your business can bring you treats for years to come.  I encourage you to think about how you are approaching social media in your business and don’t be scared to contact us at Square Martini Media to help!

Square Martini Media is a San Diego based Social Media firm which specializes in working with both local and national small to midsized business who what to implement social media strategies to attract new customers to their business.

Photo Credit: Jeff Siarto

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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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One of the most important benefits in creating social media profiles for your personal brand or business is the ability to control what potential clients learn about you when searching online.  The reality is with very little effort you can control the top 5 to 10 Google or Yahoo search results for your personal brand or business.

Here are the top 5 social media profiles you should consider keeping up to date:

1. LinkedIn - Known as the business social network yet many have no idea how to use LinkedIn to generate business.  The most common mistake I see with LinkedIn profiles is they are not complete or up to date.  Many times your LinkedIn profile is the number one search result for your name.
2. Twitter - A confusing social media tool for many but rest assured it’s really quite simple.  You can learn more about using Twitter for business from out past posts.  Twitter is the number two Bing search result for my name.
3. Facebook - Almost everyone has a Facebook profile!  But you must know that your Facebook profile is an extension of your personal brand and business.  What is shared and said on Facebook does not just stay on Facebook and many people are using Facebook as a reference tool.  My personal Facebook profile is the third result for my name on a Yahoo! search.
4. Plaxo - An online address book that is widely used by business professionals and also has a social network component called Plaxo Pulse.  My public Plaxo profile is the sixth listing in a Google Search.
5. Google Profile – Creating a Google Profile will allow you to control how you will appear in Google.  Your Google Profile will typically be the last result on the first page of Google.

You can create profiles on many more social networking sites but at a minimum take the time to create these five and keep them up to date with your current business and contact information.  Taking the time to do this will insure people will find you or your business when they are ready to buy!

And remember, I didn’t say you have to be actively participating on each of these networks to be found on search engines.  Of course, you’ll always get back what you put into each one.  But to ensure you’re solidly anchoring your personal brand, taking the minimal step of setting up a profile is an investment worth making.

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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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So, what does an April Fool’s Martini (see recipe below) have to do with your social media strategy?
Well, that depends on how you use it.  But, if you read our Candy Cane Martini Post in December, we got you started.  Periodically, we’ll offer you additional martini recipes to help you stop, take a pause and measure your social media campaigns.  Measure? Yes, measure.  We mean estimate the ROI and effectiveness of your social media strategies.

Social Media isn’t static.  If you’ve been active with social media long, you know what I’m talking about.  You have to try new things all the time, see what your customers like, keep what’s working and discontinue what’s not.  What’s working for your company?  When was the last time you reviewed your social media metrics? (Did she say social media metrics?  Hmmm…?)

Do you have any metrics that you’re tracking?  If you don’t , that’s okay, here’s your chance to create some and start tracking them now.  So, pause, make an April Fool’s Martini and sit back, relax and review your social media strategy and it’s effectiveness.  Drop us a comment and let us know how you’re doing!

Here’s a recipe to get you started compliments of MartiniLovers.com

April Fool’s Martini

1 tsp raspberry liqueur
3 oz block raspberry vodka
Splash of Vermouth
Fresh raspberries

Add raspberry liquor and black raspberry vodka to martini shaker. Shake well. Soak raspberries in vermouth. Strain raspberry berry liquor and black raspberry vodka into a chilled, sugar rimmed, martini glass. Garnish with vermouth raspberries.

Enjoy!  and Drink Responsibly 

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Here are 7 steps to creating a great Linkedin profile:

1. Start by gathering your materials.  Pull out your resume, your bio, and your marketing materials to help you with your profile.  It’s important not to just cut and paste but let these materials guide you in your profile setup.
2. Who are the top people in your company or industry?  Take a moment to find them on Linkedin and “borrow” elements of their profile or look for things you might have missed.
3. Make sure to use keywords within your profile.  If you are a marketing consultant in the niche market of tradeshows make sure to use marketing and tradeshows multiple times within your profile.  This will help potential customers find you within Linkedin.
4. Take the time to complete your profile!  Linkedin has a profile completion percentage when you log in.  Completing your profile is essential in attracting business from Linkedin.  Don’t underestimate the value of adding your picture.  People want to do business with people they know like and trust and adding your picture is an essential part in this.
5. Creating your Linkedin URL – Linkedin will assign you a random url.  You want to change it so it has your full name in the profile if possible and make sure to remove any non needed numbers.  You can easily do this by just clicking edit by the assigned link.  When you are finished your profile link should look like this:  http://www.linkedin.com/in/alanunderkofler
6. Paid vs. Free Linkedin Accounts?  I am always asked should I pay for a premium Linkedin account?  For the most part the answer is no.  The main reason to have a paid account is it allows you to view more people in your searches and send more messages within the Linkedin system to people you are not connected to.   If you are a recruiter the expanded search capabilities could be huge for you but for most companies the free account works great!  There are a few other options you receive with the paid version so you should take a look at the added benefits and make a decision based on your Linkedin strategy.
7. Remember your Linkedin profile is often the first impression someone has of you and what you do.  Make sure this impression counts and correctly represents you and what you do.

Once you  have your profile updated make you to send Alan Underkofler and Angie A. Swartz a connecting request.  We would love to connect with you on Linkedin.  Join our conversation on Linkedin!  Leave a comment with your Linkedin profile thoughts and make sure to leave your Linkedin profile url in your comment so other readers can connect with you!

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1. Log on to facebook
2. Search for “extended info” in the facebook search at the top right of your facebook profile.  Extended info will be the first application listed.  Click on View Application to the right.  You will then land on the Extended Info facebook fan page.  Click on the blue Go to Application box on the top left.
3. You will now need to fill in some information in the Extended Info page.
   • Add the image url, you can create your own follow me on twitter image or you can use this one.  Just open the link in a new tab or window
   • Copy link and past into the Image url
   • Add the link url, my link url is http://www.twitter.com/alanunderkofler
   • You can add a header or caption if you want.  View my facebook profile to see how the header looks.
   • Dimensions:  You can change this if you want buy the default is set to add the follow me on twitter badge to the left sidebar on your facebook profile
4. Save the changes
5. The Extended Info application will then ask if you want to share this with your friends.  If you decide to share the news it will show up on your news feed and you may attract a few new twitter followers.
6. The next step is to add the badge to your profile.  To do this look at the top right corner of the Extended Info Facebook Application for the blue Add to Profile box.  Just click on the box, choose the Wall or Boxes tab, it will then show you where it will be placed on your facebook profile for your approval.
7. The final step is to click on the link and make sure it goes to your twitter account.

If you found these seven steps helpful please help other facebook users my sharing this post on your facebook wall, tweeting this post on twitter, or stumbling it on StumbleUpon.  You can do this with ease by using the share this button below.

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Casual conversations – Casual conversations on twitter start by just responding to the tweets from the people you are following.  You might respond to a question or make a remark about the tweet or possibly re-tweet something you liked.  All of these actions start a conversation and raise the awareness of the person you are engaging.  Over time your relationship will progress and parts of the conversation may take place through direct messages.

Direct Messages – Through direct messages or DM’s you can engage one of your followers in a private conversation.  In order to do this the person you are following needs to be following you back and most likely this has already happened from the casual conversations.  Direct messages allow you to have a one on one private conversation with the people you are following on twitter allowing you to take the relationship one step further.  At some point these DM’s will lead to the need or desire to have an actual phone conversation to explore additional projects, possibilities, or needs.

Phone Conversations – I am assuming you know how to use this!  If you have been on twitter for a long time you may need to freshen up on your phone skills i.e. talk in full sentences beyond 140 characters!  (it will be ok)  Phone conversations allow you to explore all types of possibilities.

Meeting face to face – Eventually someone you have been tweeting for months or even years will be in the same city or the same conference you are attending.  This is a great opportunity to take your twitter relationship to an actual live in person environment!  Many people I have formed relationships with on twitter feel like best friends, great clients, or huge contributors to my business.

At any stage you may acquire a new customer, prospect, referral partner, vendor, advocate, or friend.  I have had all of these relationships happen in each of the four relationship stages on twitter.  I would like to give credit to Delores Williams who stated me thinking about the four stages of the twitter relationship by mentioning it on Twitter Talk Radio with Angie A. Swartz.

Remember twitter is similar to any network.  People do business with people they know, like, and trust.  You can create know, like, and trust on twitter just like you can at a business network, association, Chamber of Commerce, church, or club.  If I still have not convince you to start using twitter in your business read 7,11, OK How about 11 Top Reasons Twitter is a Must Have for Your Business.

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I attended Gravity Summit at Harvard University on August 31.   Thanks to Rodney Rumford and Beverly Macy for another terrific multimedia learning experience! This was the 3rd Gravity Summit I’ve attended and they just keep getting better every time! I promise to write another post covering the entire event in detail but I just had to write my first post about one of my all time favorites, Gary Vaynerchuk, who shared the Keynote stage with MC Hammer (yes, THAT MC Hammer! Mr. “Can’t Touch This” Himself).

In the short 30 minutes that Gary spoke, he covered social media strategy, passion & doing what you love, personal branding, the New York Jets (his goal is to buy them), the New York Jets Social Media Strategy (they are his client), his family (he has a new 3 month old daughter Misha), his new book “Crush It” (coming out in the fall), his business (Wine Library TV), business and how every entrepreneur deserves the right to hit bottom so they can have the opportunity to sell rocks.

If you haven’t ever heard Gary speak, you’re likely wondering how it is possible Gary covered all of these topics in such a short time.  Gary is passionate about everything he does.  He starts talking and leadership and business principles start spewing out like he’s a machine.

Gary focused on the importance of gaining buy in from the top decision makers when implementing a Social Media Strategy.  He always gets straight to the point,

“You can’t do social media ½ pregnant.  You’ve got to reach the CEO and keep talking about the importance of social media until they hear you. So yap and yap and yap until they fire you.”

Brilliant. Poignant. Well said. Tweetable.

I think what he meant was if management isn’t listening and they never hear what you’re saying about:

• The importance of social media,
• How effective social media is,
• How old media and marketing methods are no longer as effective as they used to be

Then you might as well just walk out the door, because:

• They aren’t going to support you theoretically,
• They aren’t going to give you the financial budgets, and;
• The support from their staffs

That you need for your social media campaigns to be successful anyway.

So, why am I choosing to write a post about this?  For those of you business owners who are thinking about whether you should stick your toe in the water and work on a Social Media Strategy, there’s a message here for you.  Don’t do it until you’ve done some homework.  There is so much information available on the web about social media.  After all, most good social media companies should be using social media strategies for their own businesses.  Thus, they should be sharing information on social media sites.  If you can’t find answers, contact us and we’ll be happy to talk to you about whether social media is right for you.

I’ve met Gary in person and listened to him speak via livecast many times.  It’s quotes like the one above that keep me coming back.  Additionally, Gary keeps me thinking long after we’ve parted company.  I love that about him.  His ability to keep my creative energy moving is a true talent.  It’s a great honor to host Gary on both Boost Your Business Radio and Twitter Talk Radio shows on October 14 so tune in to hear him!

A little  more on selling rocks…

Yes, Gary said “I’ll sell Rocks to make a comeback if I lose everything I have taking time out to be with my wife and my baby girl.”  I’m sure it isn’t Gary’s wishes to lose everything he has.  However, he was making a point that balance and his family are uber important to him.  He was talking about being a guy who’s super focused on what he does at every minute.  If he’s gotta wait 45 minutes to see his daughter smile-so be it.

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