If you haven’t already gone through part 1 of the series, go read this first: Marketing with LinkedIn – Harnessing The Full Power of LinkedIn.

Now let’s pick back up with…

Marketing With LinkedIn

2) How to use LinkedIn Groups (a very powerful, one of the most powerful social media channels) effectively.

1. Network with others in the industry

This is the core function of LinkedIn, and even the most basic networking function of an employer reviewing the resume of and then connecting with a potential new team member, or X vender looking for X supplier, is still pretty incredible when you think about the time it took to put that thought together and follow through with it. Minutes. Boom.

LinkedIn Marketing Strategy – Harnessing the Marketing Power of LinkedIn 

Marketing With LinkedIn

Why you SHOULD, and how you CAN harness the marketing power of LinkedIn to connect with industry professionals, engage and attract new fans, and build valuable contacts.

This guide will empower you with the expertise to use LinkedIn like a pro.

It will go a bit deeper than what you’re already familiar with,  and will uncover insight into the primary social networking properties everyone must be on, where LinkedIn connects to the puzzle, and why it is so powerful. I will probably have to break this up into a two part article series because we’ll be covering so much stuff.

In regards to Facebook pages, a recent update now says you no longer have to have 25 likes prior to choosing your vanity URL, or, your “username.”

this is what shows up as facebook(dot)com/yourbusiness

So if you have a Facebook page with that long string of characters, or you haven’t even set up your Facebook page, you have no excuse not to go and get yours.

This makes it easier for people to find you, share your page, like your page, and be found in the search engines.

Be cautious tho, and think it through before you pick yours, because it CANNOT be changed.

I hear your questions…

1. what should i choose… keywords vs. location vs. business name

Most artists and musicians have heard of linked-in, yet aren’t aware of its purpose as a social networking platform, nor do they understand how to use this tool.

Here is great primer article on the key tips and crash course in using linked-in for independent artists.

http://indieconnectmagazine.com/2011/10/indie-artist-tip-day-linkedin-boost-career-indie-artist/

www.simplesharebuttons.comDon't be shellfish...

Those involved in the building their audience, connecting, and networking through social media channels are already bogged down enough with their primary platforms… Because as social media and SEO pro’s understand, its not about thinly spreading yourself across MORE channels for exposure…
Its about consistent activity in a FEW “primary” places…

Google+ seemed a bit of a latecomer, an “Extra,” a “google’s attempt” to desperately establish a bit of the “social network pie.”

Despite google’s almost annoyingly large reach and influence on the web already, and there track record on products like this… I almost want to say… c’mon google… give it a rest. But i wouldn’t write google+ off just yet…

If you've spent any time using twitter and composing tweets, then you are

aware that timelines are a dynamic "wall" of scrolling updates. The platform is much

more "up to the minute," and given a healthy and growing list of fans and followers

you know that just because you post something you know your fans may be interested in,

does NOT mean that they will see it. This means that in order to reach your fans and

deliver the content their interested in. You not only have to DELIVER the content THEY

are interested in... But you ALSO have to get it in front of them at the right time.

Here's a list of some great tools that you can use to calculate metrics and determine

the best times to tweet.

http://mashable.com/2011/10/28/best-time-to-tweet/ 

SEO tips for Facebook.

There is so much, often bad-information on SEO, and especially when people start talking about social media…

Social media is NOT about SEO. But just like all things done online, we want to be smart about what we’re doing.

Our goal in creating and sharing content, first and foremost, is to build an audience of people that enjoy and value the content we are providing them.

Similar to our social media efforts, we are more about building community than we are “pleasing” the search engines.

Obviously, the best approach is the one that satisfies and grows our audience, and is also well optimized from an SEO point of view.

There’s enough to know and deal with for building your social media following and overall online footprint… The over hundred thousand and growing facebook apps is overwehelming especially when there are only several key applications.

To save you time sifting and sorting, here are four key fan building facebook apps…

As a rule of thumb, it is best to only install an app based on there being a specific need for a specific function or purpose that you are lacking.

www.simplesharebuttons.comDon't be shellfish...

Social Media Conversion Mistakes - Case Study

Social Media Conversion Mistakes Made By Bands – KISS Case Study

Driving traffic to your website, getting new subscribers on your email list, making music and merch sales constitute how well you’re online presence is converting. From a business standpoint, this should be understood and woven into your strategies and goals.

While fan engagement, consistency, and adding value are the factors for social media success, don’t overlook the simple sales funnel flowchart for how you are linking all your web 2.0 properties together.

The goal of Twitter, Facebook, Myspace isn’t just go there, have them hang out, then leave… Is it?