BIG Social Media Meets small Business: AT&T

BIG Social Meets small Business: AT&T

Today, I feature AT&T in my series on how big companies are  engaging small businesses via social media. Big Social Media Meets small Business looks at the opportunities created, programs, initiatives and strategies undertaken, and lessons learned by big business. It’s a resource for big companies, but it will also explore ways that small business can learn from big companies to use social media more effectively. For insights, I turn to Trish Nettleship who is AT&T's B2B Social Media and Online Community Lead. … [Read more...]

SMB Social Media Makeover Takeaways: Olde Mecklenburg Brewery

Social Media Makeover Forum Takeaways: OMB

How can a small business use social media to create a stronger presence in their community and attract new customers? These were some of the questions raised at last week's SMB Social Media Makeover Forum. The first session featured John Marrino and Ryan Self from Olde  Mecklenburg Brewery (OMB). They received advice from a panel of  social media experts that included -- Lexi St Laurent, Director of Marketing & PR, Amelie's French Bakery, Megan Whiteside, Media Relations Representative, Hendrick Motorsports, and Samuel Sova, Director of Social Listening and Community Engagement, TIAA-CREF. … [Read more...]

Social Media Makeover Forum Charlotte Is in the Books: Thank You Queen City

Social Media Makeover Forum - Charlotte

The SMB Social Media Makeover Forum in Charlotte is in the books. In the coming days, I will distill the key takeaways, recap the key points and post them here. I wanted to thank our experts, sponsors, partners and attendees. I also wanted to recognize Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, Virtual Race Bags and Medichest for sharing their experiences with our panels of social media experts and the audience of small businesses and social media professionals. … [Read more...]

Social Media Makeover Sneak Peek: Medichest

Our final sneak peak video is Charlotte's Medichest - an ecommerce site focused on health and beauty products. They will be the third small business to receive a consultation at the SMB Social Media Media Makeover in Charlotte on May 8th. They will get advice from Becca Bernstein, Social Media Marketing Manager, Picaboo; Debbie Curtis Magley, Public Relations Manager, UPS; and Doug Caldwell, Vice President, Social Media Program Manager, Wells Fargo. The lessons learned from this session will focus on building a social media strategy and competing with larger better funded sites.  … [Read more...]

Social Media Makeover Sneak Peek: Virtual Race Bags

Today's sneak peak video is for any startup or small company grappling with how to launch a social media strategy with a lean staff and limited resources. It features Charlotte's Virtual Race Bags  They will be the second of three small businesses that will receive a consultation at the SMB Social Media Media Makeover in Charlotte on May 8th. … [Read more...]

Social Media Makeover Sneak Peek: Olde Mecklenburg Brewery

Next Tuesday, May 8th, Charlotte's Olde Mecklenburg Brewery (OMB) will kick off the SMB Social Media Media Makeover in Charlotte. Lexi Laurent, director of marketing & PR, Amelie's French Bakery; Megan Whiteside, media relations representative, Hendrick Motorsports; and Samuel Sova, director of social listening and community engagement, TIAA-CREF will provide expert advice as OMB seeks strategic direction for its social media. The lessons learned from this session will be helpful for any small business looking to use social media to engage customers and build community. Here is a short interview with OMB's founder John Marrino explaining his brewery's social media challenges and what he hopes to get out of the Forum.   … [Read more...]

Social Media Makeover Advice: LGA’s Chris Harrington

SMB Social Media Makeover Forum

Chris Harrington is the technology director for Luquire George Andrews, a leading advertising, public relations, and digital firm in the southeast. He has received national attention as a social media strategist while developing campaigns for businesses, celebrities, social movements, major sporting teams and events. His 12 years of experience in building and growing digital, social and emerging media teams will serve the makeover winners well as he offers social media advice at next week's SMB Social Media Makeover Forum in Charlotte. I asked him for his perspective on social media and small business. … [Read more...]

BIG Social Media Meets small Business: IBM

BIG Social Media Meets small Business

Today we look at IBM in the BIG Social Media Meets small Business series. My goal is to look at how enterprise-level companies are using social media to reach small and mid-sized (SMB) businesses. For some insights, I turned to Ed Abrams, vice president of marketing for IBM Midmarket. … [Read more...]

Social Media Makeover Advice: Michelin’s Steve Jones

Social Media Makeover Advice: Michelin's Steve Jones

Steve Jones is director of social media at Michelin North America and is deeply involved with their Twitter, YouTube and Facebook efforts and has almost 20 years' experience in communications and marketing. He will be one of the social media expert "consultants" at the SMB Social Media Makeover Forum on May 8th at the Mint Museum. I asked Steve to share his perspective on social media including the role that the Michelin Man icon plays in their strategy. … [Read more...]

Tap Social Media to Improve the SMB Sales Channel

Driving the SMB Sales Channel

Is your sales team effectively reaching small business customers? You may be surprised to discover that many SMBs feel ignored by the very companies that are trying to sell them products and services. That is one of the key findings of a new Inc. Magazine/Cargo study. True or not, perception is reality. And that's where social media can help small and big businesses work in concert. … [Read more...]