Another cool infographic. From SocialCast. The Hectic Schedule of a Social Media Manager.

Infographic from Socialcast

Here’s a cool infographic from Mashable and Postling showing how small businesses are using social media to engage:

Yesterday (2/10/2011), Facebook introduced a major set of changes to the Facebook Page layout. Everybody’s blogging about it so here’s mine. Rather than reinvent, here’s my collect of other worthy blog posts to read if you want to learn about this new change. The essential update (for me) is that, whereas before I could post on other Pages just as my individual profile self, now I (a Page owner) can post as my Page’s identity. It’s a bit schitzy getting used to it. As soon as we all do, Facebook will probably introduce another change.

An Upgrade for Pages
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150090729064822&id=10381469571

Facebook Pages Manual
http://www.box.net/shared/9e5jiyl843

Facebook Pages Get A Redesign (PICTURES)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/10/facebook-pages-redesign_n_821635.html

Facebook Launches Pages Redesign
http://mashable.com/2011/02/10/facebook-pages-redesign-2/

What the New Facebook Pages Mean for Users & Owners
http://mashable.com/2011/02/10/what-the-new-facebook-pages-mean-for-users-owners/

Facebook Unifies UI As It Rolls Out New Design For ‘Pages’
http://techcrunch.com/2011/02/10/facebook-unifies-ui-as-it-rolls-out-new-design-for-pages/

New Facebook Features useful for dentist
http://socialmediadentist.com/blog/?p=337

Big Opportunities for Small Businesses in Facebook Pages Redesign
http://socialmediatoday.com/suzannevara/269583/facebook-new-pages-redesign-comprehensive-step-step-guide

Pay Attention to These 7 Facebook Page Changes [Video]
http://socialfresh.com/pay-attention-to-these-7-facebook-page-changes-video/

7 Things To Know About The Facebook Page Changes from Social Fresh on Vimeo.

5 Ways You Can Make the Most of Facebook’s New Page Layout
http://blogs.constantcontact.com/commentary/5-ways-you-can-make-the-most-of-facebooks-new-page-layout/

Will You “Like” These Two Updated Facebook Features? (3/3/11 update):
http://blogs.constantcontact.com/commentary/will-you-like-these-two-updated-facebook-features/

Here’s a well-done stand-alone slide presentation — perfect for Social Media newbies and as an overview/review for anybody who cares about social media and business.

[This presentation is at the top of Slideshare's list of most popular presentations. For more on that, see http://www.slideshare.net/rashmi/slideshare-zeitgeist-2010.]

As a web consultant and SBDC Technology Advisor, one of my services is to provide web audits for small business clients. A web audit consists of a thorough website review including review of first impression, design, navigation, usability, content, SEO, etc. I’m always on the lookout for articles to share with clients. [Updated January 21, 2011, February 8, 2011]

Here’s my recent collection of Best Resources to Review before You Design (or Redesign) Your Small Business Website:

1. I heartily recommend these two excellent books as an easy way to learn and/or review some of the basics of web design and web content:
2. • Don’t Make Me Think, A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability (Steve Krug)
   • Letting Go of the Words – Writing Web Content that Works (Janice Ginny Reddish)
3. Here’s my collection of Best SEO Search Engine Optimization Resources: http://saraisenberg.com/2010/10/16/best-seo-resources/
4. Here’s my collection of Great Social Media Resources — LinkedIn, Facebook, Twtiter, Blogging: http://saraisenberg.com/2010/07/22/social-media-resources-linkedin-facebook-twitter-blogging/
5. 8 Best-Practices for Small Business Websites (DIYthemes):
   http://diythemes.com/thesis/best-practices-small-business-websites/
6. What Does Web Design Say About Your Small Business? (Mashable): http://mashable.com/2010/12/13/small-business-web-design/
7. 10 Questions You Should Ask Your Web Designer to Get Tangible Results (DIYthemes): http://diythemes.com/thesis/web-design-results/
8. The Anatomy of a Perfect Landing Page (Formstack):
   http://www.formstack.com/the-anatomy-of-a-perfect-landing-page
9. How to Choose – And Hire – a Web Designer (DIYthemes): http://diythemes.com/thesis/how-to-hire-a-web-designer/
10. Building an Online Marketing Plan: http://blog.hotdesign.com/2011/01/building-an-online-marketing-plan/
11. The Benefits of Wireframing a Design (SixRevisions):  http://sixrevisions.com/user-interface/wireframing-benefits/
12. (I’ll keep adding resources so check back later.)

I’m very pleased to show off my brand new custom Welcome page (under the Welcome tab) on my business Facebook Page. Check it out and let me know if you’d like to have a custom Facebook page, too.

Here’s the link:
http://www.facebook.com/SaraIsenbergConsulting?v=app_4949752878

Note: If you already “LIKE” my Facebook Page, you’ll land on the Wall and will need to click on the Welcome tab. If you don’t already “LIKE” my Page, you’ll automatically land on the Welcome Page. Then, click “LIKE” to follow.

Today’s big announcement from Facebook is Facebook Deals. Want to learn more? Below is my  collection of resources (videos, PDF, webpages) about Facebook Deals:

Facebook writes (from the PDF below):

We are now excited to offer Deals. Deals gives businesses the opportunity to reward customers when they check in on Facebook, and this helps generate awareness, encourage in-store traffic and build customer loyalty. Deals connects businesses with people and helps them become an even larger part of their customers’ conversations. And right now, deals are free for businesses to create. Read on to learn how to get started….

Videos:

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10100163028835713

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10100163069768683

PDF:

https://www.box.net/shared/static/i4i9aqk0yz.pdf

Web pages:

http://mashable.com/2010/11/03/facebook-deals-platform/

http://blog.facebook.com/blog.php?post=446183422130

http://www.allfacebook.com/facebook-hopes-to-end-business-as-usual-with-location-based-deals-2010-11

http://networkedblogs.com/a47P2

These days, using Social Media for marketing is a best practice. In my work with the SBDC TAP program and in working with clients directly, I’ve been helping businesses get started on using Facebook FOR BUSINESS.

Here are examples of some local Santa Cruz Business Facebook Pages:

Bookshop Santa Cruz
Cafe Delmarette (One of my favorites!)
Cruzio, internet provider
Downtown Santa Cruz
Good Times Santa Cruz Newsweekly
Karen Kefauver, sports and travel journalist and social media consultant
New Leaf Market
Santa Cruz  Beach Boardwalk
Santa Cruz Integrative Medicine
Santa Cruz Sentinel
Santa Cruz Weekly
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
Sara Isenberg Web Consulting & Project Management
Stone Soup Magazine
The Bicycle Trip
The Penny Ice Creamery
Think Local Santa Cruz

Thanks!
Sara
Website: http://saraisenberg.com
Blog: http://saraisenberg.com/blog
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SaraIsenbergConsulting
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/saraisenberg
Twitter: @saraisenberg

As you may know, I’m a Technology Advisor at the Silicon Valley SBDC TAP program. TAP serves the SBDC offices for the Northern California Region. Over the last 2-3 years, I’ve completed 70+ web audits for SBDC clients. Business and Technology advising services are free to SBDC clients!

A Web Site Audit is a strategic review of your company’s Web Site to ensure that it supports your company’s marketing and/or e-commerce activities.

TAP has recently added a new package called a Social Networking Strategy Review.

The Social Networking Strategy Review is a strategic review of your company’s use of Social Media for these most popular Social Media platforms:

• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Blogging

The Social Networking Strategy Review will result in a written report that contains a review of your current LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and blogging online presence, and will include recommendations and tips for improvement. The report will also contain general information on Best Practices, and for those who don’t already have accounts, detailed instructions on how to set up your accounts so you can get started.

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, please contact your nearest SBDC office.

[Note: Scroll down to see the great list of resources/links. Originally posted June 15, 2010. Updated with more resources July 22, 2010. Updated again on December 22, 2010, January 5, 2011, January 14, 2011, February 7, 2011, February 22, 2011, May 17, 2011.]

One of the things I do as a consultant is technology advising with the Silicon Valley Technology Advisory Program (aka TAP). TAP is a program that is part of the Silicon Valley SBDC (Small Business Development Center).

From the Silicon Valley SBDC website:

We’re dedicated to the success of entrepreneurs in the Greater Silicon Valley Area, which includes Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.

The Silicon Valley Small Business Development Center offers a wide variety of services for present and potential small business owners. Our services include no-charge expert consulting, low-cost training, information resources, events and seminars. All consulting services are confidential and free of charge.

I’ve been a Technology Advisor with the Silicon Valley SBDC TAP for two years. Most often what I do is review (“audit”) websites of TAP clients — they’re usually owners of small businesses — and create a written report with recommendations for improvement, and then we discuss the recommendations. I review a wide range of websites!

Recently I’ve been working on creating a Social Media Report with a collection of resources that will help Silicon Valley SBDC TAP clients learn more about Social Media. Note: It’s for Social Media newbies! One of the Appendices that I’ve recently created is chock full of great links for people getting started on Social Media, so I’ve decided to share it here. Here you go!

Social Media Resources (general)

• Mashable’s 150+ Business and Marketing Resources From 2010: http://mashable.com/2010/12/22/business-marketing-resources/

• Mashable’s 10 of the Best Social Media Tools for Entrepreneurs: http://mashable.com/2009/10/26/socia-media-entrepreneurs/

• Mashable’s Social Media News: http://mashable.com/social-media/

• Social Media in Plain English (video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpIOClX1jPE&feature=player_embedded

• Hotdesign’s Getting Started with Social Media: http://blog.hotdesign.com/2008/12/getting-started-with-social-media/

• Hotdesign’s 5 Reasons for Social Media Marketing: http://blog.hotdesign.com/2009/03/5-reasons-for-social-media-marketing/

• Social Media Tune-Up: Tips to Strengthen Your Social Media Marketing Campaign: http://socialmediawithkaren.blogspot.com/2011/01/social-media-tune-up-tips-to-strengthen.html

• New! Monitoring Your Online Presence for Free: http://blog.hotdesign.com/2010/07/monitoring-your-online-presence-for-free/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

• New! 11 Free Services for Scheduling Social Media Updates: http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/technology/article/11-free-services-for-scheduling-social-media-updates-erica-swallow

LinkedIn Resources

• LinkedIn’s website: http://linkedin.com

• What is LinkedIn: http://learn.linkedin.com/what-is-linkedin/

• What is LinkedIn (video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVlUwwgOfKw&feature=player_embedded

• LinkedIn Learning Center: http://learn.linkedin.com/

• LinkedIn Webinars: http://learn.linkedin.com/training/

• LinkedIn Help: http://linkedin.custhelp.com/

• LinkedIn’s Timeless Guide to Small Business Success: http://blog.linkedin.com/category/linkedin-for-small-business/

• Mashable’s HOW TO: Build Your Personal Brand on LinkedIn: http://mashable.com/2009/07/27/linkedin-personal-brand/

• Hotdesign’s Getting Started with LinkedIn: http://blog.hotdesign.com/2008/12/getting-started-with-linkedin/

• LinkedIn for Dummies (video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV_7yAPnkFw

• HOW TO: Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile: http://mashable.com/2010/12/15/optimize-linkedin-profile/

Facebook Resources

• Facebook’s website: http://facebook.com

• Facebook Pages (with step by step instructions): http://www.facebook.com/advertising/?pages

• Facebook Pages Product Guide [PDF]: http://www.facebook.com/advertising/FacebookPagesProductGuide.pdf

• Facebook’s Help Center: http://www.facebook.com/help/

• Facebook Pages Help: http://www.facebook.com/help/?page=175

• Mashable’s Facebook Guide Book: http://mashable.com/guidebook/facebook/

• Mashable’s Facebook Privacy: 10 Settings Every User Needs to Know: http://mashable.com/2011/02/07/facebook-privacy-guide/

• Hotdesign’s Getting Started with Facebook: http://blog.hotdesign.com/2008/12/getting-started-with-facebook/

• 32 Ways to use Facebook for Business: http://webworkerdaily.com/2009/07/21/32-ways-to-use-facebook-for-business/

• Open Forum’s How to Set Up A Facebook Page: http://www.openforum.com/articles/how-to-set-up-a-facebook-page

Twitter Resources

• Mom, This is How Twitter Works (not just for moms): http://www.jhische.com/twitter/

• Twitter’s website: http://twitter.com

• Twitter 101 for Business – A special guide: http://business.twitter.com/twitter101/

• Twitter 101 (video): http://business.twitter.com/twitter101/starting

• Twitter Best Practices: http://business.twitter.com/twitter101/best_practices

• Twitter’s Help: http://twitter.com/help/start

• Twitter Search: http://search.twitter.com/

• Twitter for Business: https://business.twitter.com/

• Mashable’s Twitter Guide Book: http://mashable.com/guidebook/twitter/

• Mashable’s How to Make the Most of Your Twitter Profile Page: http://mashable.com/2010/05/10/organize-twitter-profile/

• What is Twitter?: http://webtrends.about.com/od/socialnetworking/a/what-is-twitter.htm

• TweetDeck: http://www.tweetdeck.com/

• Hootsuite: http://hootsuite.com/ (new to this list)

• Hotdesign’s Getting Started with Twitter: http://blog.hotdesign.com/2008/12/getting-started-with-twitter/

Blogging Resources

• WordPress: http://wordpress.org and http://wordpress.com.

• More on WordPress: http://learn.wordpress.com and http://wordpress.tv.

• Printer-friendly version of the entire Learn WordPress.com tutorial.

• Blogger: http://blogger.com

• Business Blogging Best Practices: http://socialmediab2b.com/2009/06/business-blogging-best-practices/

• Business Blogging Best Practices (video): http://everything.typepad.com/blog/2009/02/typepad-business-class.html

• Blogging Best Practices: http://www.echoditto.com/blogging

• New! 30 Tips On How To Make Your Company’s Blog Rock: http://www.jeffbullas.com/2010/02/21/30-tips-on-how-to-make-your-companys-blog-rock/

• New! 20 Blogs Every Business Owner Should Read:  http://www.businessinsider.com/20-blogs-every-business-owner-should-read-2010-7

• 9 Things to Do to Make Sure Your Next Blog Post is Read by More than Your Mom: http://www.problogger.net/archives/2009/09/03/9-things-to-do-to-make-sure-your-next-blog-post-is-read-by-more-than-your-mom/

• New! The Yahoo! Style Guide: http://styleguide.yahoo.com/