50 Expert Tips for Getting Started on Social Media

50 Expert Tips for Getting Started on Social Media

When you’re getting started on social media, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed…

So, we reached out to a panel of experts to get

some advice…

…and we asked them to

KEEP IT SIMPLE.

We talked to: business owners

marketers social media experts

bloggers entrepreneurs

authors journalists and more!

So, we reached out to a panel of experts to get some advice, but asked them to keep it simple.

The Question: “If you were to give a one-sentence tip to a small business owner just starting out with social media, what would you say?”

So, we reached out to a panel of experts to get some advice, but asked them to keep it simple.

Most stuck to one sentence. (Some cheated a little.)

But all provided helpful tips that any business can use when getting started on social media…

So, we reached out to a panel of experts to get some advice, but asked them to keep it simple.

Here are our favorite one-sentence tips for getting started on social media!

Every business has a story. What’s yours? Share it in a way

that attracts clients and encourages prospects to take

action.

Rebekah Radice Social Media Strategist

@rebekahradice

Go above and beyond on your original content and be consistent

with it. When it works, it's the gift that keeps on giving.

Melonie Dodaro,

Founder, Top Dog Social Media @MelonieDodaro

In social media, content leads to conversations, conversations build

relationships, and relationships result in ROI.

Robert Caruso

Founder & CEO, Bundle Post @fondalo

Social media is virtual networking. Take the time to build relationships just

like you would face to face.

Laura Cummins Owner, NineDotz Consulting

@NineDotz

Start small. Work to increase engagement with those who have connected with you and figure out

what types of content will get them to like, comment, and share.

Gail Goodman

CEO, Constant Contact @Gail_Goodman

Quality trumps quantity. Pick one or two social media

platforms, and devote yourself to learning about them and

using them well.

Joseph Cole Content Writer

Posted on Constant Contact Google+ Page

Find a trusted friend who also has a business that has

been using a social media channel, and start learning

from them.

Don Richardson Digital Popcorn

@DigitalPopcorn

…reach out to your best customers first (and worry about finding new

customers after you are established) and let their enthusiasm help catapult

your sustained success.

Lynette Young Founder of Purple Stripe Productions and

author of Google+ for Small Businesses @LynetteRadio

Be a lurker in social media before diving in to learn the ropes and create a strategy that will work for your biz.

Alyssa Gregory

The Small Business Bonfire @AlyssaGregory

Visuals are easier to relate to than text, so include images in your content that can be pinned to Pinterest and shared across

other networks.

Cynthia Sanchez Founder, Oh So Pinteresting

@OSPInteresting

Be honest, be warm, be authentic, and put yourself

in the shoes of your customers on social media.

Kim Garst

CEO of Boom! Social @KimGarst

Fight social media overwhelm by keeping it SIMPLE; don't be on every social media network —

only where your audience spends lots of time and help them.

Mike Gingerich

Co-founder of Tabsite @mike_gingerich

Pick one network and do it well first. Choose one that you like to

use personally and are comfortable using. Master it.

Julia C. Campbell

J Campbell Social Marketing @JuliaCSocial

Study your competition and watch where they

participate in social dialog. Don't reinvent the wheel.

Mike Stelzner Founder, Social Media Examiner

@ Mike_Stelzner

Start slowly with one or two platforms that your audience or

potential audience uses. Find content and conversation starters that resonate

with them, and post consistently.

Beth Kanter Beth’s Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

@kanter

As you're developing your overall social media strategy and goals, spend time on various social

media sites and get a sense for the best practices of each platform, plus the top conversation topics and

questions about your business and industry.

Jessica Gioglio Social Media Manager, Dunkin’ Donuts Author of The Power of Visual Storytelling

@savvybostonian

Be useful and indispensable.

John Haydon

Founder of Inbound Zombie and Author of Facebook Marketing for Dummies

@JohnHaydon

Don't take on too much. Focus on doing one thing

right on social media before moving on.

Lisa Kalner Williams Founder, Sierra Tierra Marketing

@sierratierra

Have enormous empathy for your audience — in other words, look at

things from their point of view. Be useful to your audience. Think: Would people THANK ME for this? Is it meeting their

needs, or just fulfilling my agenda?

Ann Handley Chief Content Officer, MarketingProfs

@MarketingProfs

Identify your goals, then make a plan!

Ashley Taylor Anderson

Marketing Manager, SinglePlatform @SinglePlatform

Be consistent and be yourself.

Sean D’Souza

Chief Brain Auditor, Psychotactics @seandsouza

You're not gonna break stuff, just

get started!

Joey C Creator, GoodMorningGloucester.com

@Joey_C

Share something small every day. Small things over

time get big. (And read my book, of course:

http://showyrwork.com)

Austin Kleon Author of Show Your Work!

@austinkleon

Hire a professional (like my company) to manage it if you are unable to put forth the time and

effort to run it effectively.

Manage Your Media Posted on Constant Contact Facebook Page

All good things come from focusing on who you’re trying to

reach and how you can make them successful.

Dave Charest Sr. Manager, Content & Social Media, Constant Contact

@DaveCharest

After creating your accounts, follow like minded businesses, then watch and observe to get the tone of the platform, then

begin to engage.

Pam Wood Owner, Ballroom Made Simple

Posted on Constant Contact Google+ Page

Don't talk to people, talk with them.

Catherine Russell Content Writer

Posted on Constant Contact Google+ Page

Watch your spelling!

Tammy Weaver

Posted on Constant Contact Facebook Page

You don't have to create all original content, just be a

good source for trending content in your industry.

Shannon Faulkner CEO, Delphis Creative Marketing Solutions

Posted on Constant Contact Google+ Page

Learn from the experts and never pass up a social

media class or seminar.

Charles River Running Posted on Constant Contact Facebook Page

Provide value and don't expect immediate results.

Rick Bannerman Digital Marketing Consultant

Posted on Constant Contact Google+ Page

Don’t worry about being on every social network — focus on the ones that your audience uses because they’ll be more likely to

engage with you and see your messages there.

Azure Collier

Social Media Education Developer, Constant Contact @AzureCollier

Let your personality shine through. It's your biggest

differentiator and will attract the right people to your business!

Jonathan Cooney

Co-founder, The Bridge @TheBridgeSpot

Try to be informative and share some useful

tips.

Robert Connell Posted on Constant Contact Facebook Page

The key is to focus on the right conversations that are meaningful to your business, like replies

on Twitter, posts to your fan page on Facebook and to look for the local, targeted conversations

you can become a part of.

Tammy Kahn Fennell

CEO and Co-founder, MarketMeSuite @TammyKFennell

Get professional advice on how to use it. It’s not

the same as your personal page.

The Dinner Daily

Posted on Constant Contact Facebook Page

Choosing the most relevant social channel for your business is the key to making it work effectively for you

and getting the best return on investment possible.

Matt Ward President/CEO, inConcert Solutions

@inConcertWeb

Be authentic. Be yourself. Don't try to copy someone else's game plan.

Every company is different and your unique content must come from the heart and soul of your

company. Be you.

Leslie Fishlock Founder and CEO, Geek Girl Camp

@geekgirlcamp

Forget what you know about traditional marketing, use social

media to focus on getting to know your customers.

Danielle Cormier

Social Media Community Manager, Constant Contact @dcorms

Start out right by being consistent on the platform that you own — begin by creating content on your blog that solves the problems of your ideal

customer, include a shareable image in each post, and then share that post on just

1 or 2 social platforms to begin with.

Donna Moritz Founder, Socially Sorted

@SociallySorted

If you're using Facebook, make sure you've got a Facebook PAGE and not

a profile!

Kim Walker Leader of Social Media Management, 5 Stones Media, LLC

@5stonesmedia

Start with one channel and become consistent.

Todd Smith Director of Marketing, Catamaran Marketing

@catamarketing

Approach social from the eye of the buyer and write or curate

content that improves their life or business.

Karla Williams

Success Strategist, Karla Williams Speaks @KarlaWSpeaks

Figure out which channel works for your industry

and focus on it first.

Carlos Scarpero Founder, Mr.Leads

@DaytonSEOservic

Don’t over think it! Be authentic, be real,

be you.

Kristen Curtiss Social Media Content Developer, Constant Contact

@KristenCurtiss

Find out what platform your customers and potential customers

use and focus your efforts there rather than trying to be everywhere.

Anne Siri

Owner, Iris Web Studio @iriswebstudio

Be strategic and focus on one platform that seems most

promising for your brand and be awesome at that, rather than being mediocre at a bunch of

different platforms.

Matt Steele Social Media Planner, San Diego Zoo

@mattofsteele

Identify the correct social media platform(s) and then post with some consistency, commit to at

least once per week.

Matthew Service Founder, Service Internet Solutions

@mattservice

Choose the social media platforms that work for your

business and reach your target market.

Jenneil Peters

CEO and Founder, Modern Working Woman @ModWorkingWoman

Don’t push, engage!

John Hinnant Posted on Constant Contact Facebook Page

Thanks for sticking around. We hope it was helpful.

If you’re interested in more social media advice, flip to

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If not, thanks again and best of luck with your social media marketing!

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