Using Social Media to Market Your Business
The Blue Ridge Crossroads Economic Development Authority and the Blue Ridge Crossroads Small Business Development Center hosted two workshops during the month of April concentrating on the usage of social media as a new marketing technique for a small business.
On April 6th a total of 16 people attended an introductory workshop to learn about a variety of social media outlets. Presenter Sandy Ratliff with the Virginia Department of Business Assistance shared information about how social media is a dialogue with your customers, not just a monologue. Social media allows you to reach a new market and spread the word quicker about products and services. Presenters Cindy Greene from People Incorporated Financial Services and Kitty Barker with Virginia Tourism Corporation shared the necessary introductory knowledge to beginning the journey into various social media outlets such as FaceBook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Twitter. Sandy Ratliff completed the presentation by presenting ideas for content, tools to manage a social media marketing campaign, and answering questions from the audience. The participants provided excellent feedback and felt they were able to walk away from the workshop with information to begin using at least one new social media outlet for their business.
On April 28th, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance, People Incorporated, and the Virginia Tourism Corporation returned to the Crossroads Institute to host an Intermediate Social Media Workshop. Many businesses have started a Facebook site but now what? This workshop was designed for business owners who already understand the basics of Social Media Marketing, but want to delve deeper into more advanced and technical tools: producing relevant content as well as customer engagement and the building of an online community.
If you are interested in learning more about social media or when the next workshop will be offered please contact Mandy Archer at (276) 236-0391 or assistant@brceda.org.