Chamber members get social media lesson

Social media is a new and suspect concept to many small business owners. It is also the primary tool experts contend will prompt capital success now and into the future.

Responding to changes in how business is being marketed and conducted in the 21st century, the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce in concert with the Louisiana Technology Council, offered an introductory seminar to social media during their new Technology Tuesday session last week.

“It’s a new opportunity we are offering the business community that wasn’t offered before,” Chamber President and CEO Drake Pothier said. “We wanted to start putting together more seminars and education-related events as opposed to just our working events that we have been doing for years.”

“Our purpose is to educate the marketplace in technology,” LTC President Mark Lewis said. “In 2006, Louisiana ranked 49th in the nation for technology employment. In today’s world we are 25 of 50 states in technology employment [and] New Orleans is No. 1 in the country for technology job growth.”

The social media session was led by eMerge Vice President of Sales and Marketing Natalie Guess, who offered a basic introduction to Facebook, Twitter and Linked-in. “It is an eye opener what social media is and why it is important to be part of it,” she said.

According to collected statistics, social media accounts for one out of every six minutes spent online. Facebook has nearly 750 million users and Google handles more than 11 billion queries per month. Twitter has emerged from a conversation tool among teenagers to a viable marketing and research source. And Linked-in is respected as a network among upper level business professionals.

Guess opened her presentation with an overview and usage tips for Facebook. She identified its benefits as offering a resource to brand business, present information, direct viewers to web sites, offer a reputation resource, generate leads and assist in client retention, and provide a network in how people share information.

Facebook users, Guess said, are able to present images such as staff photos, virtual tours of their facilities and present events and contests to generate business-related activity. Video links can be used to educate or promote a business through testimonials.

Green said that while some Facebook users have this tool to direct customers and clients to their web sites, others use it in place of those formats. “Facebook also does advertising on a daily budget,” she said.

Linked-in has 65 million users, according to Guess. Connections are made individually, through discussion groups and by industry alliances. Historically, Linked-in has been known for a place to post resumes, but Green said it offers features beyond looking for jobs or employment candidates.

Twitter, Green said, has grown from being simply a site where teenage users would gossip, and today is a tool for promotion, outreach and research. Its search feature and follow list keeps users in constant contact with their chosen resources.

“Working with business I find that Facebook has given the biggest boost [to commercial users],” Guess said. She noted that presenting thought provoking and engaging material is how to best benefit from all social media.

To the surprise of many Chamber members attending the social media seminar, Guess revealed that the fastest growing age groups on Facebook are persons between 55 and 65 years.

“Learning about social media is a great help to anyone in my position or anyone who runs a business in general,” Charter Business account executive Danelle Atkins said. “If you are going to use Twitter or Facebook for business purposes you are going to have to funnel out [by blocking access] general daily activity as opposed to [postings from] someone who can help your business grow.”

“It is extremely important for small business,” Pothier said. “Social media is a huge aspect of marketing and you need to get out there.”