Why YOU are your own best social media 'expert'

Crown courtesy of Clker.com

I realize the title of this post might elicit some scoffing, followed by thoughts along the lines of "How can I be a social media expert? My background isn't in marketing or advertising!!" And rightly so; knowing how to best use social media for your business may not be your forte, but that is only part of the social media equation.

The other key part of social media is content; RELEVANT content. Relevant content is what makes Tweets, posts, updates and pin boards resonate with your audience. So what is relevant content? It is the bit of news, the photo, the thought of the day, the link to an article that will seize the attention of your audience. It is what makes them click instead of scrolling, read instead of scanning, notice instead of ignoring. It provides value and in doing so, makes the time they spend engaging with your business worthwhile to them. That is what will keep them coming back, thereby keeping your business top of mind. Content has the potential to affect the overall experience with your business and it contributes to your business's overall image, otherwise known as your brand.

So, going back to my initial statement, I'll ask now: who best to guide the content part of your social media presence than you? After all, you know your business, you know what your customers value, and the keys that guide your business inside and out. Embrace that knowledge and utilize it to your benefit.

Cultivating the knowledge

The key is knowing how to harness the knowledge you hold about your business and developing a sixth sense of sorts to be able to recognize what can be turned into valuable social media tid-bits. It does take a bit of practice, but once you start looking for things in this light, the more easily you will recognize them. Not all posts or Tweets will be zingers, but take heart: one of the beautiful things about social media is the ability to experiment, adjust and keep trying different things until you hit your groove and see what resonates most with your audience.

Summary: Sit down and think about what news and information is valuable to your customers that is related and complements your business. Start scanning blogs, news sources and online magazines for ideas that can add value to your social media presence.


If you would like to learn more about how to manage social media for your business, The Rogue Pea Marketing offers a combination package that includes a 1-hour consultation, a 1-hour personalized training session with training guide, and a custom strategy for your business. Contact me at info@theroguepeamarketing.

Nancy

UPDATE Learn & Work session: July 31

THIS SESSION HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO THE END OF SEPTEMBER 2013. A DATE WILL BE POSTED AS SOON AS IT IS CONFIRMED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST. IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE IN THE MEANTIME, DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME!

UPDATE: Topic selected

The topic for the Learn & Work session on July 31, 2013 will be:

Social media: I have a social media account; so what's next? 

The session will discuss developing a social media strategy, different ways different businesses can benefit from using social media, and how to keep it manageable. In the workshop portion, participants will discuss their own businesse's social media presence and we will work towards establishing an outline for a plan and cover the essentials for managing your brand online.

If you are interested in attending, please register in advance by emailing info@theroguepeamarketing.com

Cost: $40 + HST = $45.20. Receipts will be provided.
Date: July 31, 2013
Location: boardroom, TD Canada Trust at Huntmar Road and Hazeldean Road, Stittsville
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m  OR 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. is preferred. Please indicate your preference when registering.

Please note that there is a maximum of 12 spots available for this Learn & Work Session. 

New! Learn & Work sessions for small business: July 31: Postponed

UPDATE: SESSION POSTPONED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2013. PLEASE CONTACT ME DIRECTLY IF  YOU ARE INTERESTED IN CUSTOM TRAINING IN YOUR WORKPLACE: info@theroguepeamarketing.com

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UPDATE: TOPIC SELECTED
The topic for the Learn & Work session on July 31, 2013 will be:
Social media: I have a social media account; so what's next? 
Please refer to this post for more details about this session.

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Part of the reason I started The Rogue Pea Marketing was to work with business owners who are as passionate about the vision for their business as I am about mine. It gives me such a sense of purpose to help others on their way to achieving success by doing what I enjoy most: problem solving with creativity!

One of the things I have learned  from speaking with small business owners is that there is a glaring lack of available training options that address the unique marketing challenges that face small business owners, namely ones that are affordable, relevant and not too time consuming. Alas, the idea for my Learn & Work Sessions was born.

Starting in July 2013, I will be offering a series of 2-hour sessions. These sessions are a combination of training/education followed by a one-hour workshop. By completing a questionnaire in advance, attendees will come prepared to discuss some real issues they are facing in the marketing of their business that relate to the session topic, so that we can have productive discussions and apply what was covered in training.

The first Learn & Work Session will be held in the Kanata-Stittsville area at the end of July 2013:

Cost: $40 + HST = $45.20. Receipts will be provided.
Date: July 31, 2013
Location: boardroom, TD Canada Trust at Huntmar Road and Hazeldean Road, Stittsville
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m  OR 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. is preferred. Please indicate your preference when registering.

Please note that there is a maximum of 12 spots available for this Learn & Work Session. If you are interested in attending, email info@theroguepeamarketing.com to reserve your spot.

Right now I'm looking to find out what topic/area has the most interest for this inaugural event. Please indicate your preference in a your reservation email:

1 = Branding to grow your small business: how to do it and why it matters
2 = Target market connections: staying in touch with your customers and the valuable information they hold
3 = Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest: determining the purpose of your presence and making the most of it

Each participant will receive a PDF training guide for the session topic covered.

Note: Participants will also receive a 20% discount towards The Rogue Pea Marketing services within 4 months of the date of the session.

From the back burner to front and centre 2.0

So the very last post on here was heralding a new step in my professional career with the launch of my freelance writing business, Simple Communications. That was a definite momentum changer and step in the right direction however, fastforward a year, and now I'm in a whole new place, facing a new challenge - one that I'm so excited to embark on. I am launching my own consulting business that combines my passion and expertise for branding and marketing communications strategy-  The Rogue Pea Marketing. My niche is helping small and medium-sized businesses thrive by offering a combination of training and educational resources along with customized strategic advice to address branding, marketing communications and social media management.

In speaking with small business owners, I've come to realize that there is a glaring need for trustworthy and affordable advice that addresses the unique challenges small business owners face when it comes to marketing and 'getting the word out' as one such owner put it. These businesses face very different challenges and I'm very excited to meet these entrepreneurs, to learn more about what it means to own a small business and to help them achieve their goals and reach the success they envision for their companies. I want to help them become The Rogue Pea that stands apart from the pod!

My approach is based on the philosophy that better understanding and knowledge leads to better decision-making. As such my services offer a combination of education and custom consulting. In the near future (hopefully as soon as the end of July), I will be offering 2-hour training sessions/workshops for small groups of business owners. The first half of the the session will consist of a presentation I will give on a specific topic of interest, (ie. branding and why it is important for small business). During the second half I will moderate a workshop to discuss issues and questions that attendees bring to the table about their businesses, relating to the presentation topic that day. I feel this approach promotes a friendly and comfortable exchange of ideas - ideal circumstances to foster creativity and problem-solving.

My website will be up and running in the next month or so but for the time being, I will be posting regularly on this blog. Posts will include my take on a particular aspect of branding or marketing, or maybe a link to a valuable resource with a bit of information as to why it is useful.

All this to say, I hope you will stick around, subscribe to my blog by submitting your email (at right) to be notified of updates, and share your comments as we go along. Thanks!