A few weeks back, Pat was invited to speak at the Kentucky Tourism Industry Annual Conference.  We had some great sessions, and got a chance to meet some really heads-up marketing folks from across the state.

As promised, here’s a rundown of some of the questions that were asked after the sessions.  Thanks to everyone that we got to meet from the Commonwealth- we look forward to seeing you again soon…

1. What’s the business side of Facebook?

Facebook has different kinds of profiles. For marketing, you need to be using a Fan Page and not a user profile. Fan pages have, among other things, tools to measure traffic, customizable tabs, and can be seen by anyone on the web (not just “friends”). Once you sign up for a Fan Page, there are several built in features and tons of customizable features for you to modify, brand, and track the use of on your page.

2. Is Twitter just talking back and forth? What is it?

Wow. Loaded question. One simple explanation is that Twitter lets you create little micro updates that everyone can see. Also, you can read the micro updates of anyone else on Twitter (and help them by answering your questions). If your tweets (140 character messages) are helpful, friendly, and not spammy, you can get in touch with thousands of people that are interested in what you’re doing.

3. What happened to Myspace?

Here’s what happened: Myspace got spammed..and became filled with glitter ponies. There aren’t many useful ways to filter out the noise on a Myspace account, and we generally leave Myspace out of our social marketing strategies. Exceptions should be made for music related businesses and those with a younger demographic.

4. Does social media have staying power?

Yes. Social Media is like the printing press- it has changed the way the world communicates forever. The power to connect and be heard is now in the hands of anyone with an internet connection. The tools will change. It won’t always be Facebook and Twitter, et. al. But now that marketing is a two-way street, it will never go back.

5. How do you find niche social networks?

Finding niches around the internet depends on how well you can listen and match. You can cross-reference your demographic profile with the profiles of social networks (linked on the presentation page) to find where folks like your customers are spending time. Also, be sure to ask your customers where they spend their time online, you might be surprised.

6. What’s a basic social media strategy?

Here’s a basic strategy in 3 parts: First, listen to what’s going on by finding the people that lead conversations you want to be a part of, wherever they are (blogs, Twitter, podcasts, etc.). Second, introduce yourself, and remember that social media is like a cocktail party (We highly recommend Jim Tobin’s book!), so take it easy and don’t start shouting. Third, be helpful by providing answers to people in ways that make it all about them, not you.

7. What are the security risks of using social media?

A couple of security situations you should be aware of deal with how social media accounts work. First, make sure that you register your user name on all the social media tools you can. That keeps others from impersonating you, or holding your usernames hostage. Also, there are scams and hacks in the social media spectrum just like everywhere else online, so keep yourself updated on what’s happening. Finally, don’t click on anything that seems odd- trust your BS meter.

8. How do you create separation between your personal and business social media profiles?

One of the interesting things about social media in general is how close the two are. You want to put a human face on your work when you use social media, so be yourself, not your brochure. Also, consider the social networking sites themselves- some are for friends and some are for business. Linkedin, for instance, is a network for business professionals- think of it as Facebook with a tie. The takeaway? Organizations that leverage social media best are those that encourage personality, not just presence.