Taking Your Business “Social” Can Be Simple, Fun, and Affordable
Social Media for Small Business Workshop Coming to Cowerks this June

On Saturday June 23rd, Cowerks, the Asbury Park co-working community, will be hosting a workshop on “Social Media for Small Business”. This half day workshop will give attendees all the tools they need to create and execute a social media strategy for their business or brand.

Individuals who attend this course will:

• Learn how to create brand identities on major social media websites including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Foursquare, YouTube, and Pinterest
• Learn how to use social media to send traffic to a brand’s blog or website
• Learn how to leverage accounts on each social media site in order to interact with other members and convert them to customers
• Learn how niche social media websites may be more useful for individuals and companies than the major platforms
• Learn the impact social media has on customer service
• Learn how individuals of different backgrounds view social media, and how to tailor social media campaigns to specific demographics
• Learn the implications of privacy and transparency when using social media

Attendees will take away the following with regard to specific forms of social media:

1. Blogs
1. Elements of a well written blog post
2. How to incorporate underlying goals into content
3. How to engage readers and convert them to customers
4. How to generate traffic to a blog using social media
   
2. Social Commerce
1. Understand how purchasing decisions are affected by social media
2. How to conduct sales through social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest
   
3. Privacy and Transparency
1. Learn how much information potential customers are willing to provide
2. How to gather information regarding potential customers
3. Appropriate ways to market to customers who have provided contact information beyond the traditional email blast

4. New Media Marketing
1. How to turn customers into advertising channels
   
5. Location-based Social Media
1. Understand how to use a site like FourSquare to attract and retain customers through examples presented in successful LBSM campaigns
   
6. Social Media Plan
1. Understand that a company’s social media plan determines what channels to use, what people to engage, and what conversations to join
2. Understand that the process begins by examining what platforms are in use or could be used, what conversations already exist, what’s important to stakeholders, and what resources are available to create the plan.
3. Understand that, ultimately, the social media plan is the playbook for a brand as it launches it’s marketing campaign over the next 6 to 12 months via social media and must provide as much detail as possible to those individuals responsible for following through with the elements of the plan

This workshop will run approximately 4 hours with a 1 hour follow up session.  It is geared towards all levels and is perfect for retail business owners, small businesses, bar/restaurant managers, freelancers, home-based businesses, and anyone looking to expand their “online” presence. 

Attendees should bring their own laptop or tablet as this will be a hands on workshop where you will set up and engage with your business, brand, or bands's social media outlets.

Cost: $49.95 (early bird through 6/1/12), $59.95 (standard registration). Tickets can be purchased at http://cowerks-SM101.eventbrite.com.  For more information please contact us at info@cowerking.com.