Some of the services that were already around include bit.ly, tinyurl.com, ow.ly and is.gd.

Now, other recognizable names are getting in on the act too. Facebook and Google both announced this month that they have their own URL shortening services (fb.me and goo.gl, respectively). YouTube also has added the service for sharing shorter video links (they start with youtu.be).

Who do you think will be the next one to add their URL shortening service to the mix? Or is this all a passing fad?

Shannon
New Media & SEO Specialist, Copywriter
http://www.facebook.com/keywebconcepts
http://twitter.com/keywebconcepts

Share information creatively – but make sure to stay on topic. Irrelevant posts, Tweets and status updates could turn customers off and leave them wanting more.

So, how can you use social media to reach out to customers and give them the best experiences possible? Consider …

Sales, Specials, Deals
Give customers the inside scoop on a special at your store, or offer them an exclusive incentive for being a Facebook Fan or follower on Twitter.

Example: A store offers 10% off any purchase for the first 25 customers who come in and say “I love [your store’s name] on Twitter.”

Company News
Share your excitement when great things happen with your company. Talk about a new hire, significant milestones, special occasions. Show how proud you are of your business. Invite people to be part of the celebration, but don’t turn them off by bragging too much.

Resources
Social media is about sharing with your community. Help them learn new things. Show them great resources for information.

Are you a roofing contractor? Post a link to a new article about tips for caring for a roof after installation. A green clothing retailer? Share your latest blog post about the newest “green” fabrics.

Research
Ask your customers what they’d like to see next at your company. Is there a new service or product they’re interested in? Do they want you to open a new location? Give customers a change to be heard, and take their input into consideration. That way, when your business makes its next move, you can be sure that you’re responding to people’s actual needs.

Feedback
Seek customer feedback! Give your customers enhanced support. You can use social media to answer people’s questions or address their complaints. Let customers know that you’re actively listening and eager to respond.

Shannon
New Media & SEO Specialist, Copywriter
http://www.facebook.com/keywebconcepts
http://twitter.com/keywebconcepts

But why? Getting involved sounds like a good idea, but what kinds of benefits are there to social media?

Increased Visibility
A presence on a site like Facebook could substantially increase your visibility on the Internet. There are millions of users looking for and sharing information across these platforms. By being there and providing engaging content, your company can gain more exposure…exposure that could drive more traffic to your website, or lead to new customers.

Business Networking and Collaboration
You can find and interact with other professionals in your field by:

• trading tips.
• recommending resources.
• offering advice.

LinkedIn’s Answers is a great place to talk to new people, as well as establish yourself as an industry expert.

Stronger Customer Relationships
Social media offers the chance to connect and work with clients to bring them better experiences with your company. By interacting with them directly, through media they like and use, you remove distance and bring the company and customer closer. People can put a face with a name.

You can also get feedback directly from your customers. Poll them about a new service or product they’d like to see – then act on it! You’ll show that you really do listen, and that you’re committed to meeting customers’ actual needs.

Shannon
New Media & SEO Specialist, Copywriter
http://www.facebook.com/keywebconcepts
http://twitter.com/keywebconcepts

Not only are people using social media a lot, but they’re starting to expect others (especially companies) to start using or already be using Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and other social media sites.

How many people use social media?

• 60% to 75% of Americans use some form of social technology
• 2/3 of the global Internet population visit social media sites
• Visiting social networking sites is the 4^th most popular online activity – it’s more popular than checking personal email!

“Cone Finds that Americans Expect Companies to Have a Presence in Social Media”
“What the [Expletive] Is Social Media: One Year Later”

Facebook Statistics

• Facebook has 300 million+ active users
• More than 5 billion minutes spent on Facebook every day, worldwide
• 40.2% of Facebook users are 35+ years old

“Statistics”
“Facebook Demographics and Statistics: 55+ Grows 25% in One Month”

Twitter Statistics

• Over the course of 1 year (February 2008-February 2009), Twitter grew by 1,382%
• 35 – 49 year olds make up the largest user group on Twitter
• The average number of Tweets per day is 3 million

“Twitter Now Growing at a Staggering 1,382 Percent”
“What the [Expletive] Is Social Media: One Year Later”
“SMX Sydney: Twitter Tips and Etiquette”

Other Interesting Numbers

• LinkedIn boasts 45 million users
• Over 3.5 billion photos are archived on Flickr (as of June 2009)
• It would take 412.3 years to watch every single video uploaded on YouTube

“About Us”
“What the [Expletive] Is Social Media: One Year Later”

New Media and Business

A study by Cone showed that

• 60% of Americans utilize social media

Of that 60%

• 93% believe a company should have a presence on social media sites
• 85% say a company should not only be present, but interact with its customers using social media

“Cone Finds that Americans Expect Companies to Have a Presence in Social Media”

Shannon
New Media & SEO Specialist, Copywriter
www.facebook.com/keywebconcepts
twitter.com/keywebconcepts

But what is this “social media” phenomenon?  Facebook, Twitter – what are they to us?  Why are they such a big deal now?

Social Media really defines what the Internet has come to look like.  It ranges from a blog or a video posted on YouTube to networking communities like Facebook and LinkedIn.  Nowadays, most everyone has heard of and/or uses at least one of these kinds of New Media.

People aren’t just “googling” information any more.  They’re turning to Social Media to find what they’re looking for since they feel more comfortable getting input from people in their personal and professional networks.  Social Media facilitates word-of-mouth in the digital world—it’s like an extension of the daily, offline conversations we’re already having with our friends, family, neighbors and coworkers.

Also, people are looking for more personalized experiences and interactions on the Web.  There’s a shift away from one-way communications.  Merely receiving information isn’t cutting it any more – people want to be involved.  They want to know their opinions count.  They want to contribute to the conversations they see happening.

New media is especially starting to change how companies and consumers interact.  Companies are starting to use Twitter, Facebook and the like to communicate more directly with their customers.  Businesses want to break down the wall between Company and Client, in order to form more of a community between the company and its clients, as well as between customers themselves.

So, what is social media?

Social Media Is:

• Interactive.
• Digital.
• Based around sharing and forming communities.

Examples of Social Media Are:

• Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace.
• YouTube Flickr, Vimeo.
• Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts.

Shannon Sullivan
New Media & SEO Specialist, Copywriter
www.facebook.com/keywebconcepts
twitter.com/keywebconcepts