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Part 2: Social Media for Your Business
You count on ANLA to help you navigate trends. We’re here to tell you that whether you choose to jump in with both feet or just dip a toe in the water, regardless of what segment of the industry you’re in, you absolutely need to raise your awareness level of social media in order to consider how your business can benefit today and in the future.

A lot of these particular tools are changing quickly, but if you don’t get started now it will just get exponentially harder as the train picks up speed. Because we’re here to tell you, friends, that the Social Media train has most definitely left the station.

Part 1: We examine the basic question of “what is social media and does it make sense for my business?” Then we provide a primer to help you get started on the most popular sites.

Part 2: Join us for a look at how to start using social media for your business, along with some expert tips on optimizing your efforts.

Special thanks & recognition goes to Spring Meadow Nursery – one of the industry’s early adopters of Social Media technology, blazing a trail by example. They’ve not only funded the distribution of this guide, but they’ve helped out by sharing some of their examples and knowledge throughout.

All Aboard! Let’s get started, shall we? The articles in Part 2 of the social media guide are listed on the right in the "table of contents." Just click on them and begin watching/reading.

* This issue of ANLA Today requires that you complete a free registration on the ANLA Knowledge Center. To begin the brief (we promise!) registration, just click on the link in the upper right hand corner.
Feature Story
featureA social media campaign looks great on paper, right? You've watched the tutorials, read what the marketing gurus have to say, but what does a social media effort look like in practice? Learn how two of your peers are making social media happen every day in their own businesses (and finding new success!).
FEATURE: With so many options, what tools are your green industry peers choosing?
Sara Tambascio, of Today's Garden Center, leads a discussion at the Management Clinic on popular social media tools for green**MORE**
FEATURE: Personal, professional? You or your staff? Two decisions to make BEFORE you get started.
Sara Tambascio, of Today's Garden Center, leads a discussion at the Management Clinic on what "voice" panelists are using when**MORE**
FEATURE: Without an audience, your efforts make all the noise of one hand clapping.
Sara Tambascio, of Today's Garden Center, leads a discussion at the Management Clinic on how to build an audience for**MORE**
FEATURE: Real efforts. Real success.
Sara Tambascio, of Today's Garden Center, leads a discussion at the Management Clinic on how garden centers are successfully using**MORE**
Advanced: Now What?
AdvancedNow you are all signed up and friending on Facebook, networking with LinkedIn and tweeting away on Twitter. With a little experience under your belt it is time to begin leveraging these new tools for your business. We'll start with a broad look at how to establish your strategy for integrating social media into your marketing and communications plan, then we'll get back to Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn and how to apply each of them to your business, with some examples of how other green industry businesses are doing it.
NOW WHAT? Social media may be the hot new thing, but is it right for you?
Like any investment in your business, here a few cautions before jumping into social media marketing.
NOW WHAT? It's just playing around online until you have a strategy.
What should your strategy be for launching a social media marketing plan?
NOW WHAT? What's the big deal anyway?
Graden Center MagazineEllen Wells provides an overview of several social media tools and how to get started with them.
NOW WHAT? Without a social media policy you could end up over-exposed!
Social media activity is exposed to the world making a use policy an important part of your strategy.
This sample policy can be easily incorporated into your staff handbook to address the question of your team members personal**MORE**
NOW WHAT? Deep thoughts, big thoughts and even some small ones. This is where you start sharing.
Blogging can be the foundation for your social media efforts. Learn how to start an effective blog.
NOW WHAT? The easy way to talk to your hordes of raving fans!
A Facebook Page is the face of your business on Facebook. Learn how to create one and start getting your**MORE**
NOW WHAT? Tweet, Tweet! Never has so much been said in 140 characters.
How to use this powerful tool for both market research and marketing.
NOW WHAT? Posting your resume is so 2009. This is your new professional presence online.
Using this professional networking tool to build a customer base and develop your professional reputation.
NOW WHAT? A picture is worth a thousand words, but video is priceless.
Images are worth thousands of words and several tools are making it easy to get your video message out to**MORE**
NOW WHAT? Drinking from the firehose? Make your blogroll manageable with this easy tool.
Keeping track of multiple blogs and other websites can be daunting. RSS feed readers help you stay on top.
Expert: How to Optimize
ExpertYou've got your Facebook page up and running. You are tweeting, posting videos on YouTube and LinkedIn to your professional network. Now your problem is keeping up! We're going to look at tools that help you manage multiple social media platforms, talk about how to take your social media efforts mobile (as in your phone) and where to look for continued learning so you don't suddenly discover yourself falling behind the social media curve. And rest assured, as the tools change and evolve we will be posting updated resources for you here in the Expert section - check back frequently!
OPTIMIZE: Art Parkerson is creating a new voice for Lancaster Farms with innovative video.
Art Parkerson, Lancaster Farms (VA) is a leader in using video to connect with his customers with innovative messages.
OPTIMIZE: Remember when you used your cell phone to make phone calls? Not anymore!
Social media is the most popular use of smart phones. How can you use social media away from your desk?
OPTIMIZE: Keep up! Social media gurus to keep you current.
Social media is evolving quickly. These resources will help you stay current.
OPTIMIZE: Too much to handle? These tools can lighten your social media load.
With so many social media sites out there, it can be hard to stay on top. There are several tools**MORE**
 
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