Brian Basilico started his first business - a recording studio - at age 18. After working for AT&T, he worked in recording and eventually worked with an agency in interactive marketing. 13 years ago, he opened his own business focusing on the trifecta of websites, analytics, and social media. Brian recently joined AMP UP Your Social Media’s host Glenn Gaudet to discuss social media marketing and how it relates to C-level employees. “Education is one of the best ways to get C-level people…[to use new social media techniques]. It’s even more powerful if you can show a competitor doing that!” Brian talks about ways to help CEOs and businesses understand how to develop a social media strategy: 1. Establish your market. Knowing how to sell your product and how to utilize your marketing platform is all based on who your market consists of. People want to connect with businesses, so developing a presence through content helps to put a face to your business. Even if your marketing team is posting on behalf of the CEO, take the time to connect with and establish your market. Look for opportunities to utilize social media components to improve upon your traditional methods. 2. Post in industry-specific groups. Even if your content is mostly informational, find content that creates a connection and engages your market. Build a reputation with skilled people in the industry in order to gain traction in the market and to gain a response. If you don’t have an industry-specific group to post to, create your own! 3. Plan ahead. When you attend conferences and industry-related groups, take the time to plan ahead and meet up with folks who plan to attend. Then, when you attend the event, you can solidify the connection and develop the relationship further. 4. Maintain the relationship. While many companies may be overzealous off the bat when it comes to their social media marketing, many falter over time and forget to maintain the relationships they’ve created. Partners, vendors, and clientele remain loyal to those who maintain and strengthen the relationship over time, so don’t let these efforts fall by the wayside.