Lee Hopkins was my guest on my podcast this week. He shares with us his insights into social media marketing and how to leverage it as a small business. He talks about how he started blogging ( over 15 years ago!!) and then started publishing in many mediums.

Key take aways:

1. Start with twitter. It is easy to get your social media feet wet here.

2. Facebook page is a simple thing to do and allows you to enter into the conversation with others

3. There is a difference between a Facebook profile and a Facebook Fan Page (for business). Visit Mari Smith for great Fan Page set up tips or my how to video links on my website for more info.

4. Give good information that is of good value. You will have people coming back for more. Large corporation use the social media channels as "blast channels". This is not effective. Be real, be authentic.

5. Spend time listening first. Understand your competitors, see what people are doing in your world first by observing.

6. As the owner of the business you need to tell your story. Only you can speak with passion, authentic and with authority and connect with others including potential customers and partners.

7. Make your contact form personalised. Have the names and photos of your staff and give your site some context and build relationships between your staff and potential customers.

8. Play to the strengths of the individual when picking social mediums. There are all different channels to get your messages out there and to brand yourself.

9. You have to make a strategic decision of which social media channel to choose and how often to contribute to this medium.

10. Set your Facebook profile up for Business.Step 1 You need a Fan Page. Step 2. You need to get 25 likes to own your own Fan page. 3. Step Advertise to get likes or promote for a very low cost and Facebook ads are very targeted.

11. Facebook is great for advertising your small business at a very low cost. It gives you pin point targeting around demographics, interests and location information.

12. Traffic Grab – Great education tool from James Schramko

13. Put a How we work with you or This is how we do it here on your website.

Lee is a charismatic guest and it is easy to see how he got into radio earlier in his career. Lee was kind enough to give my show a plug on his own website.

Thanks Lee!