A Social Media Policy For Business – 10 Key Areas
Published 30/04/2012 | 
“In time we hate that which we often fear” – William Shakespeare
Some businesses fear social media. This Net4wiseowls social media policy for business – 10 key areas will hopefully help towards reassuring the fearful
1. Negative Comments When a negative comment is posted keep calm. Always have the businesses brand reputation in your mind. Do not ignore any negative comments and remember there is an online audience watching. If you feel out of your depth seek support from a social media specialist.
2. Buy In This is the hardest part and requires excellent communication skills to engage employees and explain why and how the policy will be implemented. Few people like policies and even fewer like being told that the businesses social media policy operates 24/7. Training should be given to all employees. This includes employees signing they have read the businesses social media policy.
3. Productivity Business and social media are becoming more blurred so it is important to highlight that time on social media should not distract or interfere with work.
4. Participation The employee’s writing on the businesses social media sites praising the businesses products, services, fellow workers and positively engaging with customers etc. should be encouraged.
5. Respect Always respect your audience. Employees should not rant, swear, knock fellow employees or post derogatory comments about the business or competitors, etc.
6. Confidentially A billboard is similar to social media and is not the place for confidential information, i.e. classified material, revenues, potential innovations and tenders, competitor analysis, sensitive customer information, etc.
7. Humanise Don’t speak in a cold corporate politically correct voice. When you make a mistake admit it and deal with it. Do not post anonymously on social media sites.
8. Ownership Clarify to employees that the business owns the content posted on the businesses social media platforms and intranet sites.
9. Monitor The employers monitoring of social media must be consistent with the Data Protection Act and the Employment Practices Code. Existing business policies still apply regarding bullying, sexists / racist remarks, discrimination, harassment etc. These will be subject to the normal business disciplinary procedures.
10. Legal Its essential that your legal representative agrees your final draft policy to ensure best practice and compliance with the law. The impact on human resource, marketing, sales, and existing email, Internet policies, etc. should also be taken into account.
If you require a robust and concise social media policy please contact me.
Bill McCartney
Founder of Net4wiseowls – The Social Media Specialist
How to go viral on YouTube top tips
Published 23/03/2012 | Here is a video we shot at our latest YouTube Master-class in Belfast.
We shot the whole video on a smart phone and used a £7.99 clip on lapel microphone and edited it together using free video editing software.
Check it out and leave a comment on the video telling us what you think.
Using YouTube to Increase your Visibility and Sales
Published 20/03/2012 | 
Net4wiseowls Social Media YouTube Channel
3 billion page views per day, 48 hours of video uploaded every minute and the worlds second largest search engine makes YouTube a very important social media network. Video ranks high in search and is a powerhouse for marketing your business. Can you afford to ignore it?
Create your YouTube Channel.
Tip: Don’t link the YouTube account to your personal email address.
Go to www.youtube.com and sign up for a Google account.
Log into YouTube with the Google account you created.
Select your YouTube username and get started.
Tip: Remember you can’t change your YouTube username.
Add your social media sites and website to your channel.
Edit the channels design appearance/background, info/settings use key search words and featured tab(I use blogger).
Best Practice and Viral Videos
Most people dream of making a viral video and while few succeed most videos will benefit from:
1. Good content, educate, entertain, shock, evoke an emotional response.
2. Keep it short between one and two minutes.
3. First 15 seconds are critical so grab attention quickly.
4. Cover major events/celebrations/hot topics.
5. Good sound quality is critical while most people will forgive poor visual.
6. Make sure the title contains key search words.
7. The description area should start with your web site and include http://
8. Use tags that are optimised for key search words.
9. Strong call to action; subscribe, comment, like, share, etc.
10. Market with Google ad words www.youtube.com/ads for a fast start.
11. Share on your social media sites and embed on your website/blog.
12. Engage and build a powerful YouTube subscriber base.
13. Use YouTube analytics for feedback and areas for improvement.
Here is a great example of what can be achieved using YouTube
Note the number of views http://youtu.be/2hDOeHPQRcQ
Kit
iPhone4 http://apple.com
Tri pod gorillamobile http://www.joby.com
Lapel Mic http://www.micronic.co.uk
Soft ware Apple iMovie, Microsoft Windows Movie Maker
Useful YouTube links at our links page http://www.net4wiseowls.co.uk/links
Check out our Workshops http://www.net4wiseowls.co.uk/events
New Facebook Timeline Page – 10 Killer Tips
Published 10/03/2012 | Stories, which have now replaced posts, told through an infograph are the basis of the new Facebook Timeline Page. “Mission Control” for marketing is the buzzword for these new pages that will be automatically introduced on 30th March 2012. The emphasis as it always was is to tell your business story. Building deep relationships with your customers through regular rich content and importantly for Facebook more emphasis on the use of effective advertisements.
10 important points to help you:
1. Cover Photo
Use a cover photo that helps tell your story but is not overtly selling. I used a photo from my last workshop. It engages people, shows what I do and is continually refreshed with a new photo from each workshop. Size 851 x 315 pixels with a minimum width of 399 pixels.
2. Profile picture
The profile picture is now a square with minimum size 180 x 180 pixels. Use a logo or image that represents your business.
3. Pin
Pin important stories to the top left of your timeline for more exposure. Just click on the pencil icon in the top right hand corner of the story. Click on pin and it will allow you to pin your story for a week.
4. Star
Star important stories and shows video and photos in full. Hover over the top right hand corner of your story and click star. This will resize the story to a full format.
5. Apps
Apps replace the term tabs and are shown at the top of the timeline. They have bigger profile 111 x 74 pixels and can be renamed and insert your own image. The top four are shown with photos being a default and the other three chosen from a maximum pool of 12 apps on a page.
6. Landing Page
Your landing page app is still there but not a default for your pages new visitors. The new Facebook ad message can still direct people to your existing landing page app as does the url address which you can post on your website, etc.
Net4wiseowls Social Media Landing Page
7. Milestones
Use milestones to note your companies key moments in history, recognitions, successes etc. Builds your story and furthers engagement.
8. Adverts
Use Facebook adverts including the new ad message. Excellent cost effective way to engage and promote your business. This is a key area for Facebook and will see continued development, Reach Generator, etc
9. Messages
Messages allow fans to contact admins directly. Admins can return 2 messages to each new message they receive from fans. This offers excellent customer support and keeps the timeline on marketing
10. Newsfeed
While the page is important, the newsfeed is absolutely critical. You are competing with other stories to reach your audience. Remember people spend most of their time in the Newsfeed and not on the pages. Therefore make sure you post stories regularly with rich content, video, photographs, links, etc.
Instructional Videos
Watch these excellent Facebook instructional videos that cover the new page timeline features. http://www.learnfacebookpages.com
Workshops
For details of Net4wiseowls Social Media workshops please click link below.
http://www.net4wiseowls.co.uk/events
Questions
Any questions please ask them on my Facebook Page so everyone can learn.
https://www.facebook.com/net4wiseowls
10 Social Media Sins Video
Published 04/09/2011 | Want more out of Social Media?
Then avoid these 10 social media sins.
I made this video 10 Social Media Sins in March 2011 and the advice is still very relevant. Below are the 10 social media sins.
1. Build it and they will come.
2. The numbers game.
3. Automation.
4. Ignoring your fans/ followers.
5. Absenteeism.
6. Broadcast only.
7. Me, me, me.
8. Monetise immediately.
9. Not authentic.
10. Not an addition to your marketing.
Now listen to the video and tell me what you think.
The Growth of Social Media: An Infographic
Published 01/09/2011 | 75% of Brand Facebook ‘Likes’ come from advertisements!!!
Bill McCartney Founder of Net4wiseowls
This and many other fascinating facts are covered in this excellent info graphic by Search Engine Journal. There is no sign from these stats that we are suffering from social media fatigue. In fact I feel it is just the start of a fascinating journey.
The social media space is rapidly becoming more sophisticated. Apps, F-commerce, M-commerce, gamification, etc. The train has left the station and it’s important you are on it. Love to hear your views. Bill
Source:
Social media experience of guest blogger Deirdre McLaughlin founder of Sign2Music
Published 21/08/2011 | 
Reflecting on the huge transformation I have made in the past couple of years from someone who didn’t own a computer into someone for whom Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, etc. are very important and an integral part of my daily activities. What I have realised though is that social media is by no means a free or easy option. While it doesn’t cost money it is costly in terms of a more valuable commodity – time!
To develop Sign2Music’s social media strategy to its current level hasn’t been easy for a non-computer savvy person like me. I have spent an inordinate amount of time, and many many late nights and early mornings, in front of my computer, getting to grips with how it all works. A lot of this time has been productive. However, if I am honest some of it hasn’t been. It is so easy to get distracted. Farmville on Facebook was almost in danger of destroying my social media strategy for a while, as I kept getting sidetracked when my crops needed harvested!
Bill McCartney, from Net4wiseowls, facilitated an excellent workshop for the Sign2Music teachers at our annual Sign2Music Conference recently. It did make me realise I should have done this much earlier, rather than jumping into social media without a clue and spending so much time stumbling around trying to find my way!
I am certainly not a social media expert but have been able to use social media to grow my business and hope to continue to do so. I have made many many mistakes along the way! If I was to give advice to anyone starting a business who wants to dip their toe into social media I would say:
1. Put the time into developing your strategy before jumping in. If you can get the advice of an expert such as Bill it is worth doing so.
2. Do not think this is a panacea and will be the making of your business. It can help enormously but requires a significant amount of time and effort to make it work.
3. If you work within a team have a shared strategy and approach.
4. Do not spread yourself too thinly between various social media platforms. Concentrate most on the one that works best for your business.
5. Support other businesses, who in turn will support you.
6. Be genuine with your business connections. It is easy to spot someone who is trying to get something out of you for nothing!
7. Spend the time making your page or updates worth liking or following you for.
And Finally 8. Do not go near Farmville!!
If you require further information contact deirdre@sign2music.co.uk 07874742704
or see:
www.youtube.com/user/Sign2Music1
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/deirdre-mclaughlin/28/98/577
10 Facebook Business Page Tips
Published 19/07/2011 | Bill McCartney Founder of Net4wiseowls
1. Username / vanity URL
When you have at least 25 fans setup a username to make it easier to find your page and show it on your business card and email signature. http://www.facebook.com/username
2. Like box / Badge
Excellent way to promote your page on your website.
https://developers.facebook.com/docs/reference/plugins/like-box
https://www.facebook.com/badges/page.php
3. Insights
When you have at least 30 fans, Insights will kick in and is an excellent analysis tool and will clearly show your fans demographics. Will also help to target adverts.
4. Violation
Do not use your personal profile for business.
5. Photographs
Facebook was made for photographs. Using photographs will increase the number of comments and likes you receive.
6. Comments as a Page
Comment on other pages as your page name and raise people’s awareness of your page.
7. Ask Questions and Never Stop Listening
Engage with your fans through questions and listen to their needs. Reply to all comments good or bad promptly and fully.
8. Be Open, Honest and Authentic
Trust is a key enabler in social media and is the building block for deep and meaningful relationships with your fans.
9. Share Knowledge
Continually prove your expertise and credibility by sharing your product / service knowledge. Give your best information away for free.
10. Be Real!
Tell your story. Have your own voice and let your personality shine through.
Winning at Social Media
Published 19/07/2011 | Bill McCartney Founder of Net4wiseowls
Knowing your customers and your target audience should form the bedrock of a sound business strategy. It’s also the starting point to building a winning Social Media business strategy.
Pareto Analysis the 80:20 rule. Information overload is an easy trap to fall into with so many sources of information available. The fear of being left behind is compounded with the anxiety of not knowing exactly what Social Media platforms will work best for your business. The challenge is to separate the vital few from the trivial many. Remember 80% of your business sales are probably generated from just 20% of your initiatives.
Don’t put all your investment into your website and expect your customers just to turn up. Social Media lets you play where your customers are, not necessarily where your website is. However Social Media allows you to drive the right traffic to your website. People who are engaged with you because you are authentic, transparent, and useful. People who value, trust and understand that your business provides the products and services they require. Intelligent leveraging of Social Media sites as part of your overall business strategy will open up the possibility of viral campaigns. They will deeply engage with your customers, strengthen your brand and ultimately increase sales.
Hard work is required to be successful in Social Media and as Gary Player the golfer once said “the more I practice the luckier I become”. The Social Media sites are free, the time to exploit them is not and requires considerable commitment and time. Though avoid being the hamster in the wheel, busy going nowhere. Develop a strategy that is focused on your customers and works in a cost-effective manner.
Word of mouth. Just remember those three little words when you start to wonder is all the effort and time invested in social media going to give you a return. The fact is that people buy far more readily from a word of mouth recommendation than an advertisement. That is the powerful advantage that Social Media brings to the table. Word of mouth through social media will drive up your sales and profits, put you ahead of the competition and make you a winner.
Can you afford not to be in Social Media?
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