DESIGN BUSINESS ENGINEERING

2013

Authored by: Lindy Asimus

Social Media For Local Business

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Social Media Consulting

For Local Business Getting Online

Professionals | Retail | Hospitality | Cultural | Specialty

While much has been written on social media and how businesses are moving into the social media environment,

some traditional managers can find it all a bit of a mystery. For those without experience in using social media it

can seem a very strange place, where there are no rules and no clear way to gauge effectiveness or to control what

happens. For those who are using the tools of social media well, they have trouble understanding the reluctance of

others to get involved. Some are experiencing good results using social media, while some go into social media and

make a lot of mistakes and missteps and never get to see the benefits.

Pros and Cons

It could be tempting to think of social media as either a waste of time, or the single best thing that has ever

happened for small operators to compete with big companies in the marketplace. The reality is somewhere in

between and will depend on the approach that is taken in creating a sound strategy for using social media as a part

of business relationship management.

For Professional Services

There are some issues which some managers within professional services may find challenging.

Why Risk It?

The cat is really out of the bag now. Experience suggests that it is not realistic to ban adults from engaging in social

media, in one form or other, and the likelihood of employees using it without any clear objective, or management

oversight gets higher each week.

Just as we need to learn about the products we sell, to become expert in our field, so too, we need to know the

‘fine-print’ on social media marketing. Implementing a reasonable policy lets the company take advantage of the

opportunities, while limiting any unfortunate misuse.

How Do We Control It?

There really is no controlling social media. But you can control the context in which it is used, and monitor

adherence to the rules you set. When users are well-grounded in a sensible policy around what they can and

cannot do, with clear guidelines then they become quite ‘safe’ to be using new media to promote their business. It

becomes less of a risk for the business (and user), while opening up potential for promoting the good work that the

employees who are active on social media, can do.

And of course, the business can be supporting their users, through example and developing their own slice of the

social media world, with lots of content that the users can easily pass on to their networks.

Lindy Asimus 0403 365855 www.DesignBusinessEngineering.com Business & Social Media Coaching

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How Do We Measure It?

When businesses are proactive and have a strategy for nurturing clients and prospecting for new business, the

activity will always generate more new business than is the case for the business with no prospecting, a client base

that never gets serviced and where no effort made to engage with existing clients for years on end. Measurement

is really something for business to be tracking, and your overall business should increase in line with increase in the

activity of the business online in social networks following a scheduled program promoting their business on the

ground. But remember. Before you milk that cow, you better buy a calf and fatten it up!

What Do We Get Out Of Using Social Media?

It seems clear that the business with the best trained, most savvy people using social media well will be the big

winners.

Enhanced reputation

Known as keeping pace with change and relevant in today’s world

Better positioning in the marketplace

Respect from clients, and people of influence in the community

New business leverage as networks grown.

Remember

To do it r ight , then i t ’ s important to under stand:

It will require some time each week.

It will require some budget for training, setting it up and managing

It will require some new skills to be learned and

It will require some engagement and ownership by the advisor.

It will require building good social skills and consistency

Rewards

It will allow business to develop a good strong local community

Engage with customers and prospects in ways that they prefer

Give insight into life events and interests of the target market

Build credibility

Build relationship and sense of connection

Become known to extended networks of clients

Open opportunities to meet more centres of influence

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To understand the spoken and unspoken needs of clients

To be ‘visible’ and easily reachable when clients need help

Maintain ‘top-of-mind’ position with clients

Be easily accessible for clients and business associates to refer friends for help

To research into your target market

Stake your claim and position yourself as the ‘go-to’ person in your field.

Where To Start?

Getting started means applying some practical steps.

Start with a strategy.

It’s pointless to rush in and set up profiles without knowing what end you want to achieve. Know what you want to

achieve, work out what resources you need to get started, and what commitments you will need to make on an

ongoing basis. You’ll also have to be clear on sticking to the guidelines set for your industry, and learn how to post

good content and engaging with your developing network, but without posting information that could in any way

be construed as giving advice.

Starting and then doing nothing, isn’t going to work. Once you start, you need to keep going and slowly build your

presence online.

Incorporate:

Online contacts in your defined demographic

o Offline contacts in your personal sphere of influence

o Clients and family

Online and Offline methods

Remember Your Website!

Social media is a natural partner to your website and yet many people treat it as though it has no connection to

the business. Start with a complete review of your website. There are usually lots of tweaks and modifications that

will make it work much better in search. Build your strategy to integrate your business + your website + social

media to leverage your time and social capital and to be most effective in maximizing the opportunities to engage

and drive traffic to your business.

Don’t Forget – Free Resources You Can Link To

While Yellow Pages account manager is calling you to buy some new listing or other, ask yourself… When was the

last time you used the Yellow Pages to find a number? The chances are that you don’t use them (unless you have

an ad you might!), and more than that, most people don’t use that for finding numbers any more. People Google

it, or ask friends on social media for recommendations. So save your money. There are lots of free directories

available that will get you additional ‘juice’ on Search when you complete your profiles. We’ll help you do that too.

Lindy Asimus 0403 365855 www.DesignBusinessEngineering.com Business & Social Media Coaching

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What platforms wil l you use?

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook |Linkedin |YouTube

These are just a few of the online platforms available. Some may be more appropriate for you, and each has its

own culture and protocol for what’s appropriate and what’s necessary to get the best outcome. In order to use

social media effectively to build your online presence and gain trust, it is important that you understand how to

engage effectively, and diplomatically to share information and build interest in your brand online.

Get Started

Managed Social Media means that sharing relevant and interesting information on a regular basis will gain local businesses a following online. The social nature of networking sites allows people to freely share information provided on Twitter or Facebook with their friends - resulting in more eyeballs on the business! When done correctly social media marketing will increase traffic to the firm’s website or blog to help with site rankings and organic SEO.

Don’t miss out on the benefits of a Managed Social Media campaign. Get help to manage social media sites like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube for your financial services firm so you can start out on the right foot to encourage engagement and focus on closing business and winning cases. As part of our Local Business SEO Marketing Package you’ll have a dedicated contact to work with you to develop a plan that fits your firm’s needs. Once you have a clearly defined game plan in place you can start building your network and watch website traffic increase, generate leads and get your message in front of more people to grow your case load.

Social Media Starter Package

Lets you get set-up and started in social media with all the handholding you need! Delivered over 8 scheduled sessions Package $2200 payable in advance.

Includes:

Background to social media

Understanding your role in your social media program

Program tailored to your objectives

Social media program schedule for posts and updates

Setup training for staff, of your Facebook Brand Page, Twitter or other social media platforms

Insider tips on using Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin

Develop your social media plan

Incorporate program Offline to drive traffic

Topics for developing content in line with compliance requirements

“Communicating Online” training.

Help available online or by phone all hours.

Learn how to use email marketing safely with your social media

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Need help with content or a video to showcase what you do?

Social media is just another part of your business now. Ask about our extended social media options and business

coaching products.

Lindy Asimus

Design Business Engineering - Business Coaching | Telephone 61 + 403 365 855 |Email: lindyasimus@gmail.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/lindyasimus

Websites:

www.designbusinessengineering.com

www.lindyasimus.com

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Business Coaching

Business owners can get help with Business Review, Business & Personal Goals, Operational Policies and Procedures, Business management, Staff and Sales training; Social Media Coaching. Not sure what a coach is? You might think of them as a business advisor with special skills to help you see your business with fresh eyes, and techniques for finding solutions to long-standing issues that have been holding you or the business back. And a great set of tools and resources to enable you to do those things you want to do but don’t know how. When we work together, I ‘rent you a room in my brain’ and those things that bother you – become my worry too, so we can find a solution that works.

Social media marketing is a new field and we can help you find your way through the maze to make the most of your business and personal experience using Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms and integrate it into your overall business strategy.

What They Said:

“What can I say about Lindy? She has turned my life upside down (in a good way) so that I am beginning to see the world in a different way. Her knowledge of social media and marketing keeps astounding me but she is patient enough for me to keep up with her. Lindy is genuinely interested in helping us to succeed, she is very

personable and I am sure that she will be a long time colleague and friend.” Top qualities: Personable, Expert, High Integrity March 10, 2010 ~ Wayne Lennan

“Lindy has a deep understanding of what it takes, to take a business from a dream to a complete & successful business, All the aspects that go to make up a fully functioning business, I'm sure that the more I go over the details, there are dozens of little details that I will have to implement, the way that she coaxes you along at your speed. It’s well worth the effort to have someone put the hard questions to you for you to answer Thanks Lindy :-))” Top qualities: Great Results, Expert, High Integrity October 5, 2009 ~ James Owens

Lindy Asimus        0403 365 855        www.DesignBusinessEngineering.com    

COACHING PACKAGES 

Coaching is available in a range of packages to suit all budgets.  

BUSINESS & EXECUTIVE COACHING   

Life & Executive Coaching   Get on track, plan your goals and develop your leadership potential and communication and people skills.  

Business Coaching   Review your business,  get control using better processes and strategy to deliver the changes you want to make your business more professional, more profitable and have more fun while  you increase its value and your profits!.  

Single & Casual Session  Just buy one for an occasional use or as you need.  No lock‐in, $295  

10 Session Program  Get started with a block of sessions, and add more sessions as you need them.  $1980 (Best Value)  

 

 

  NEW BUSINESS & START‐UPS 

   

New Business Kickstarter     Just starting out? 3 Sessions to get you started and at a price you can afford. $550 

SOCIAL MEDIA 

 

Starter Social Media  Using social media but have not strategy? Or just starting out and not sure where to begin? This is for you. Get set up, understand how your business can use social media and online tools to promote your business the right way. Learn what you need to develop a working strategy tailored to your business.   8 Sessions $2200 

Also available: From $300  

Blogging For Business | Linkedin For Business | Twitter For Business | Pinterest For Business | Copywriting | Social Media Marketing & Management | Workshops Also Available For In‐House Trainings 

Business Checklist 

Lindy Asimus ‐ 0403 365 855 ‐ Design Business Engineering  lindyasimus@gmail.com 

 

I Have This Or Do This Now

Yes I Do No I Don’t Don’t Know

Policies and Procedures documented

Managing Client Relationships system

Employee manual and New Employee induction procedure

Client Profiling & Management Strategy

Marketing Strategy and Plan

Customer Service Training &/or System

Business Plan I work to

Focus &/or Vision written down

Business Review

Strategic Direction

Performance Management & Appraisal System

Organization Hierarchy & Report-To Chart

Business or Personal Coaching Executive Coaching For Myself Or Staff

Systems for my business to Get Paid, Safety Procedure, OH&S

Goal Setting - Designing Well-Formed Outcomes

A Corporate or Business Profile

Written My Business Story

Written Marketing Letters

Write Content For Brochures etc

Website Content

Working Out My Unique Selling Position

Social Networking Strategy; Referral Strategy

Customer Capture Program – Active Marketing Database

Email Marketing Implementation

Need help? Please have these details handy and contact Lindy by email or phone to discuss your business needs.

Name:_______________________________________ Company Name:____________________________

Type of Business: ____________________________Mobile:____________________________ Date: ___________

Address:____________________________________________________________________________

Email:_____________________________@_______________________

Website: http:// www.___________________________________________________________________

Best time to call:___________________________________________________________________