SMC Events

Ragan Workshop Followup: Finding Success with Social Media

October 27, 2009 | by Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt

Last week I spent a full day in a Social Media workshop presented by Mark Ragan, CEO of Ragan Communications. Though the social media arena is mind-boggling, it continues to gain momentum. And why not? The explosion of online tools (including Facebook and Twitter) make it so easy to connect with others.

    Some takeaways from the session:

    • If you’re not using social media tools — because you think it’s just hype that will eventually fizzle or because you don’t think you need to listen in on your customers — you better plug in ASAP. Wait too late, and you’ll never be able to catch up to your competitors. “Social media,” says Mark, “is survival.”
    • Right now, social media kinda feels like the wild, wild West. The rules are still being drawn up. Don’t, however, appoint yourself “Social Media Sheriff.” Allow people to use the tools that work for their individual businesses. “Social media,” adds Mark, “is all about being useful to your customers.”
    • Content is king. Want people to care about your business? Then produce great content on your website, blog, videos, or podcasts. Great content, by the way, benefits your customer.
    • Make use of Google analytics. “It’s the most amazing FREE tool out there,” says Mark, “and the more Google tools you use, the higher you rise in Google rankings.”
    • Create a hub to integrate all of your social media platforms. One example: make sure your blog posts feed to your Facebook page.
    The following links demonstrate how two companies, Mayo Clinic and Southwest Airlines, are excelling at social media — and pulling far ahead of their competitors.
    Worse, musician Dave Carroll has given United a black eye with his YouTube video, United Breaks Guitars, which bemoans the fact that United did just that! 
Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt is a freelance writer, editor, and social media trainer/marketer. Catch her online at www.Bell-Rehwoldt.com, http://www.facebook.com/SheriBellRehwoldt, and http://www.linkedin.com/in/sbrehwoldt

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Social Media Club of Salt Lake City (SMC of SLC) supports the central focus of the worldwide organization, which is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

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