Social Media is a very hot topic.
Is it for you? That's for you to decide.
Here is our (short) journey down this path.
"Either you get it or you don't.
" That's what my consultant told me six months ago.
I, um, didn't get it.
Sure we had a website.
I got on to LinkedIn and made a few contacts.
Once in a while we would send out a blast e-mail.
What were we getting for this? Not much.
Then one day I visited my colleagues website.
I said, "This is pretty cool.
Where did you get this?" He told me who to contact.
I met with her and she spelled out what we needed to do: 1) Update your company website.
For us, mission accomplished.
2) Start a blog.
We have committed to publishing once a week.
Even at only once a week, this has been the most work for us.
3) Expand your contacts on LinkedIn.
This has, and will continue to be, a work in progress.
4) Set up a company Facebook page.
Gulp.
I really didn't want to do this, as evidenced by our lack of "friends".
They seem to have issues with privacy that, well, gives us pause.
5) Have a 'simple' marketing piece that talks about your process.
This is hot off the press.
We are using this with our clients, prospects and centers-of-influence.
6) Have your e-mail campaign tie back to your website.
We are currently using Constant Contact for this.
7) Make use of video and add to the website.
We have engaged a vendor to assist us with this.
We hope to have this project wrapped up soon and can share it with you then.
To get started, ask your friends and colleagues who they use as vendors.
Interview them and check their references.
If you are comfortable, start off with a small project with them.
Our vendors have been very easy to deal with and do what they say they are going to do.
What more can you ask? Expect some curves in the road.
Change (for many) may not be easy.
Projects may take longer than you expect or may go over budget.
Think about what your goals are and stay on course when the challenges arise.
Thomas F.
Scanlon, CPA, CFP®