#socialauthority - CrowdChat

Social Media Boot Camp Week 6

#B2B #SMBootCamp refresher: Activating SMEs in Social Media for Marketing Success

#socialauthority @profitecture @paulkrappman b2b socialmedia

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#socialauthoritySocial Media Boot Camp Week 5#B2B #SMBootCamp refresher: Best practices for SME social media engagement

#socialauthorityBuilding Social Media HabitsTips & tools for #B2B #SMEs to build habit of participation in #socialmedia

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What are appropriate topics for SMEs to cover in #socialmedia?

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A5: Topics that are industry specific and that engage their customers as well

Sandy Adam #WearaMask

A5: trending news, high-level industry article insights great topics depending on expertise

Important to explain to the #SMEs that it's not always about what they want to talk about, as much as it is what is currently buzzing with their audience

victoriabsocial

A5: Focus on your area of expertise and aim to be helpful. R u a mobility expert? Security geek? Share what u know.

reserach and their opinions of findings

@sharonhds Amen. Many ppl aren't instinctively tuned in to the interests of the audience/customer.

A5: Trends, insights & good questions that are coming from your customer base are all good fodder.

I think if @JimCahill were able to be here, he'd say let #SMEs get down and dirty on tech topics.

.@PaulKrappman Great point! #SMEs should pose questions too as part of #socialmedia engagement

Sandy Adam #WearaMask

A5: I watch news & trends and feed my SMEs topics .. can't expect them to do it all the time

A5: How do millenials impact their industry?

Mimi Murray Meagher

Leverage #SME's to hit on those topics that apply to their customers most. SME's are good for new #B2B opportunities, but don't forget to nurture your exisitng customers.

Connect your SMEs to your #custsvc people and make sure they are answering questions #b2bsocial

victoriabsocial

A5: Tie into current news and events. Talk about industry reports, stats. Report live from events. :)

.@VictorBSocial what tool are you using to spot trending events and news?

Make it easy for #SMEs to participate. As @SandyAdam said, offer ideas. Even ghostwrite, if necessary.

agree with @VictorBSocial about current trends in news. Great speaking points for #SME's

@denisebahs I feel millennials are more "real", authentic. Digital natives don't seem to have the same editorial fears

victoriabsocial

Search Google for the terms and then choose "news" to get the latest.

victoriabsocial

A5: Marketing Managers like @fayecaldwell do a great job of keeping their #IBMPartners armed with content.

What steps should marketers take to help boost participation of #SMEs through #socialmedia?

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A3: Come up with a strategy on how to engage the market you're looking for, thus what kind of conversations need to take place

I'll toss out the first step is to show #SMEs the business value

A3: Tactically, get the SMEs on @HootSuite so they can tweet on the run!

A3: You can take two paths - require it or incentivize it - make it important for SMEs to be #social

victoriabsocial

A3: Agree with @sharonhds - and also show examples of colleagues and peers.

Step 2 is sharing the online opportunity cost with the #SMEs (query results that show competitors attacking their territory)

Also, some basic training from @profitecture about the platforms will help them engage and participate easier.

Mimi Murray Meagher

Head over there and go talk to them, #SME's don't bite!

@sharonhds Agree! They need to b inspired!

@sharonhds Oooh. Hadn't thought of that one. Good point.

Step 3 should be train #SMEs to use #socialmedia for business purposes.

Sandy Adam #WearaMask

Step 1 - educate them on the WHY

Actually, #social can make an #SME's job easier by giving a direct pipe to the market.

victoriabsocial

A3: Yes, and like @GilbBrian says, make it relevant/compelling for them to share their perspective.

And Step 3 is to show the #SMEs how their specific action got results - like a zillion impressions or engagements etc. Something that makes a mark

Make it easy for them. If you have to interview them and publish a Q&A, so be it.

Sandy Adam #WearaMask

Step 2 - provide content to get them started and comfortable - they're still learning #socialmedia

A3: also coming up with a particular set of topics to speak about that excites them will get #SME's talking

Mimi Murray Meagher

Gain a #B2B competitive edge by leveraging their knowledge.

A3: Inspiration eliminates the "void" between U wanting them to do it and THEM wanting to.

@sharonhds Exactly. Response is a drug.

Sandy Adam #WearaMask

A3: Try to use a KPI they can relate to and share results with them... pride encourages further action

@PaulKrappman or do both and add some competition to it

@GilbBrian totally agree it's the basics that get them moving!

Sandy Adam #WearaMask

I also use gamification ;) feature my top 5 contributors in internal messaging

Ghostwriting, is that acceptable for getting #SME engagement in #B2B #socialmedia?

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A6: Absolutely! Prime the pump for your SMEs to engage.

A6: In my opinion, no. People are very good at seeing what content is authentic and which seems stretched. Better for SME's to write their own

A6: with ghostwriting, sometimes there is no choice, however, I prefer transparency.

Bullet points= yes. Ideas= yes. Analytics on trends = yes. Ghostwriting = no.

A6. You want to preserve the #SME's voice, but there's nothing wrong with polishing up their words. Make them look good!

Why no ghostwriting, @sharonhds ?

@sharonhds Great tweet!

Interesting the differences of opinion on this question!

victoriabsocial

A6: As a dog, I have no choice, :) but my preference is to have someone edit my scribbles than put words into my mouth.

@pgillin As you mentioned, preserve the SME voice, style, nature, authenticity

Sandy Adam #WearaMask

I will edit for others, but won't ghostwrite, they need to learn the skill

A5: perhaps a great way to lure them into going it on their own.

I agree with @sharonhds and @pgillin on this: Preserve the SME voice and authenticity

@sharonhds Sometimes actually showing them the value through a few ghostwritten posts can help.