What does a social media mentor actually do?
I take a different approach to many, but it is an approach that actually produces significant results. To boil it down to it’s most basic level I help companies to build their brands online and more importantly I teach them how to do it themselves. It’s not just a case of here’s a Facebook fan page or a Twitter account and this is how you use it. We work together to develop systems and process which ensure that the focus is on delivering real benefits to the business. Over time your business will have in place a self sufficient framework that is sustainable and produces a return on investment.
Why I do it this way
Because the nature of social media lots of information gets publicly shared all the time and the amount is growing by the day and to get the most out of the opportunities that the social web provides you don’t just need a ‘presence’ you need to be there listening and acting on the valuable data it provides.
Just take twitter for example, on their 5th birthday they announced that over 1 billion messages were transmitted through their platform each week which is an astronomical number. What this represents though is an environment that businesses can listen to and find out what people are really saying (it’s like getting 1000′s of customer feed back forms honestly filled in with out even having to ask). It’s an environment that businesses can and do learn from to develop a competitive edge. Most importantly though it is an environment that contains lots of potential customers.
I can show you where the business is in this environment and most importantly how to reach it. I have a four stage process that delivers results that will have an impact on your business.
This is a process of on an offline assessment
I work closely with the business to find out what the objectives are, determine how feasible they are and most importantly if social media is the best approach. We would work together to identify the key performance indicators within the business that would be used to determine the success of the project. These are measurable business benefits and not the hollow metrics of likes on Facebook or followers on Twitter (they are interesting but you can’t take them to the bank) .
I would explore a great deal of factors both on and off line that would include current the social media assets, website, marketing materials, staffing, departments and approaches to determine what could be achieved. I will look at what is being said about your company, product and services and where your most efficient route to market lies on the social web.
This is a process of planning and development
Once I have a broad picture of what resources exist and are needed I will work with you to deliver a detailed road map that outlines how to take the process forward. The road map will include what tools to use, ,which staff to train, what content will work and which tactics to employ.
This is where we take the plan and act upon it
When agreement has been reached in the planning and development stage. Training will be delivered to the key members of staff /departments to ensure the roll out and integration of social media communications into the existing business model. Support is provided and mentoring delivered to ensure that the road map is followed and that the company moves towards it objectives as set out in the landscaping stage.
Whats the point of doing something in business if you don’t measure it?
If you are of the opinion that you cannot measure social media in business then you are wrong. The issue is that the vast majority of marketeers and services selling social media don’t understand how to. This is why we set key performance indicators in the landscaping stage. That way we can determine if the process has actually worked, what has worked well and how can this information be developed upon. Likewise if the targets are not met we need to know why and what needs to be changed. Business is all about learning quickly and moving fast, the social web is no exception.
If this is of any interest and you would like to discuss how I can help your business integrate social media call me on 0117 905 9270
