I heard the comment today that Twitter is silly and wasteful and it's certainly not the first time I've heard it. While I regularly use Twitter and find great benefit from it, I also didn't find myself leaping to publicly defend the social media site or my regular use of it.
I like Twitter. It benefits me in a variety of ways and it helps me make money. In my book, that's a good thing. It has some bad points but it's also a free service so you can't expect much more than what is already provided.
However, none of these points pertain to the notion that it is silly and wasteful. When someone says that it is wasteful, I have to assume they mean a time-waster. This can in fact, be true. Spending hours a day telling people what you're doing or reading about what they're doing is a big time waster for most people. However, this is true about any social media site and not Twitter specifically.
The same can be said regarding the silly comment. Is it silly to post updates to people you may or may not even know in 140 characters or less? Perhaps... I say it all depends on if you have something useful to say or not.
I regularly tweet writing tips from my Twitter account and I find it helps me while also helping others who enjoy reading and following my daily tips. I don't see anything silly or wasteful about that. I also have clients on my Twitter feed that will send me quick messages when a project opens up or an emergency comes through. Isn't email just as quick? This is true, it is but often I get so many email requests in one day that it can take me a while to get to the backlog.
A Twitter message instead is like an instant nudge but without the invasiveness of an instant messenger because you can choose when and if you want to reply back. So these are just a few of the many reasons why I don't think Twitter is silly or wasteful. However, it all depends on how you use it.
My personal opinion is that a large majority of the people who use Twitter are doing so in a silly and wasteful manner. Most who try to use if for business purposes are not doing so properly and only lowering their credibility instead of building it. But this applies to the people who use the service and not to Twitter itself.
Lisa Mason is a freelance writer with a specialty in Internet content and SEO articles and the author of How to Earn a Living Writing for the Internet as well as two poetry anthologies and a how-to poetry book. She has written thousands of articles, hundreds of eBooks and thousands of website pages and related content.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Do Online Businesses Need Twitter?
I hear a lot of talk today about Twitter in the marketing world and how it's so important for a business to have an account. I blame this for the massive amounts of spam I get on my Twitter account on a daily basis. When I first signed up for Twitter, there was only a fraction of this type of behavior but now it seems to be taking over the place.
This is because everyone thinks a business, especially an online business, needs to have a Twitter account. You've probably heard all about the benefits to having a business account through Twitter and for the most part, I agree to these benefits.
However, the problem lies in the fact that not every business that signs up for a Twitter account knows how to execute it properly as far as marketing goes. If you're going to launch a fail Twitter campaign, it's going to have more of a negative impact than just staying away from Twitter in the first place.
Therefore, I don't believe online businesses need Twitter unless they know how to use it successfully and beneficially for them. If you sign up for a Twitter account just because you hear everyone's doing it and you should to, you're destined to fail.
Buying Twitter followers, using spam tactics and other inappropriate forms of Twitter usage will do more damage to your company's online presence than not having an account at all. If you don't have the time available to launch a successful campaign, you don't need Twitter and trying to run an account will only do more harm than good.
If you're a business who's going to use Twitter, get educated first and do it right. A solid, non-spammy business account will do well on Twitter. The former will get blocked or banned just like the rest that invade Twitter on a regular basis.
Lisa Mason is a freelance writer with a specialty in Internet content and SEO articles and the author of How to Earn a Living Writing for the Internet as well as two poetry anthologies and a how-to poetry book. She has written thousands of articles, hundreds of eBooks and thousands of website pages and related content.
This is because everyone thinks a business, especially an online business, needs to have a Twitter account. You've probably heard all about the benefits to having a business account through Twitter and for the most part, I agree to these benefits.
However, the problem lies in the fact that not every business that signs up for a Twitter account knows how to execute it properly as far as marketing goes. If you're going to launch a fail Twitter campaign, it's going to have more of a negative impact than just staying away from Twitter in the first place.
Therefore, I don't believe online businesses need Twitter unless they know how to use it successfully and beneficially for them. If you sign up for a Twitter account just because you hear everyone's doing it and you should to, you're destined to fail.
Buying Twitter followers, using spam tactics and other inappropriate forms of Twitter usage will do more damage to your company's online presence than not having an account at all. If you don't have the time available to launch a successful campaign, you don't need Twitter and trying to run an account will only do more harm than good.
If you're a business who's going to use Twitter, get educated first and do it right. A solid, non-spammy business account will do well on Twitter. The former will get blocked or banned just like the rest that invade Twitter on a regular basis.
Lisa Mason is a freelance writer with a specialty in Internet content and SEO articles and the author of How to Earn a Living Writing for the Internet as well as two poetry anthologies and a how-to poetry book. She has written thousands of articles, hundreds of eBooks and thousands of website pages and related content.
Do Writers Need Twitter?
I've heard recent controversy about Twitter and whether or not certain people need it and the services it can provide. While I can't speak for other businesses, I do have a good idea of what Twitter can do for writers. That being said, how do we answer the question, "Do writers need Twitter?"
I suppose it's not really an issue of whether or not you need it but instead of what it can do for you and how it can help your career. No matter what type of writer you are, there are many opportunities to be had with Twitter. Learning these will help you answer this question for yourself.
When you learn about these opportunities, you can decide for yourself if you think you need it as a writer. Here are some things that Twitter can do for you:
· Allow you to meet other writers
· Network
· Socialization if you work at home a lot
· Promote your books or articles
· Link to blog posts
· Drive traffic to your websites
· Create an online presence
· Spread word about upcoming events (book releases, book signings, etc)
· Look for writing jobs
· Stay in contact with clients
· Get ideas from Twitter streams
· Follow the news; get ideas from news
Now that you know what Twitter has to offer as a writer, you have to make a personal decision about whether or not you need and want it. In my opinion, maybe writers don't need Twitter but they can certainly benefit greatly from it when they learn how to leverage it properly.
Lisa Mason is a freelance writer with a specialty in Internet content and SEO articles and the author of How to Earn a Living Writing for the Internet as well as two poetry anthologies and a how-to poetry book. She has written thousands of articles, hundreds of ebooks and thousands of website pages and related content.
I suppose it's not really an issue of whether or not you need it but instead of what it can do for you and how it can help your career. No matter what type of writer you are, there are many opportunities to be had with Twitter. Learning these will help you answer this question for yourself.
When you learn about these opportunities, you can decide for yourself if you think you need it as a writer. Here are some things that Twitter can do for you:
· Allow you to meet other writers
· Network
· Socialization if you work at home a lot
· Promote your books or articles
· Link to blog posts
· Drive traffic to your websites
· Create an online presence
· Spread word about upcoming events (book releases, book signings, etc)
· Look for writing jobs
· Stay in contact with clients
· Get ideas from Twitter streams
· Follow the news; get ideas from news
Now that you know what Twitter has to offer as a writer, you have to make a personal decision about whether or not you need and want it. In my opinion, maybe writers don't need Twitter but they can certainly benefit greatly from it when they learn how to leverage it properly.
Lisa Mason is a freelance writer with a specialty in Internet content and SEO articles and the author of How to Earn a Living Writing for the Internet as well as two poetry anthologies and a how-to poetry book. She has written thousands of articles, hundreds of ebooks and thousands of website pages and related content.
Why I Use Twitter
When you start talking about Twitter in the community, it's common to see a controversy start. There are some people who think it's useless and others who claim to be Twitter-addicted. As with all things, there are good and bad signs but I've felt compelled to write about why I Twitter.
I'll admit that I was one who first signed up for Twitter and then left for many months without sending a single Tweet. I'd read about it online and wasn't thrilled to hear of another social networking site making its way up the net-popularity ladder.
When I first tried it, I wasn't really sure what the point was. But then I did come back later and give it a second try and I realized that the key to success with Twitter lies in finding the best way to make it work for you.
For me, Twitter is a way to build a brand name, advertise new books, promote my articles, meet other writers, find article ideas and even book ideas, contact people regarding interviews, be contacted regarding interviews, watch job boards in one single stream, advertise my services, help establish myself as a niche expert and much more.
I have met some friends along the way and the socialization can be fun and interesting but the bottom line is that if Twitter wasn't making me money, I probably wouldn't be using it. The spammers are annoying, I dislike the social networking groups and games (i.e. Join my Mobster family; I'm sending you a gift) but the benefits I get outweigh the downside and it's well worth the time I put into it.
Each person has to make their own decisions about whether or not Twitter is right for them. If you're not getting anything out of it, then obviously you shouldn't waste your time. However, I advise you not to judge until you've at least given it a full-fledged effort to see what it can do for you.
Lisa Mason is a freelance writer with a specialty in Internet content and SEO articles and the author of How to Earn a Living Writing for the Internet as well as two poetry anthologies and a how-to poetry book. She has written thousands of articles, hundreds of ebooks and thousands of website pages and related content
I'll admit that I was one who first signed up for Twitter and then left for many months without sending a single Tweet. I'd read about it online and wasn't thrilled to hear of another social networking site making its way up the net-popularity ladder.
When I first tried it, I wasn't really sure what the point was. But then I did come back later and give it a second try and I realized that the key to success with Twitter lies in finding the best way to make it work for you.
For me, Twitter is a way to build a brand name, advertise new books, promote my articles, meet other writers, find article ideas and even book ideas, contact people regarding interviews, be contacted regarding interviews, watch job boards in one single stream, advertise my services, help establish myself as a niche expert and much more.
I have met some friends along the way and the socialization can be fun and interesting but the bottom line is that if Twitter wasn't making me money, I probably wouldn't be using it. The spammers are annoying, I dislike the social networking groups and games (i.e. Join my Mobster family; I'm sending you a gift) but the benefits I get outweigh the downside and it's well worth the time I put into it.
Each person has to make their own decisions about whether or not Twitter is right for them. If you're not getting anything out of it, then obviously you shouldn't waste your time. However, I advise you not to judge until you've at least given it a full-fledged effort to see what it can do for you.
Lisa Mason is a freelance writer with a specialty in Internet content and SEO articles and the author of How to Earn a Living Writing for the Internet as well as two poetry anthologies and a how-to poetry book. She has written thousands of articles, hundreds of ebooks and thousands of website pages and related content
Top Tips to Make Your Social Networking Marketing Video Tutorials Red Hot
Isn't it great that social networking marketing video tutorials can generally convey information to viewers that just words could not do alone? Social networking websites promote and are so involved in marketing so many types and topics of information that one can basically learn how to do anything with video tutorials.
This may seem to be stretching it a bit, but more and more website creators, bloggers, and so many people that use social media today are posting more than just the standard text to inform people. It's great to see the combination of text, photos and videos on social networking websites that overlap in the various channels available to those marketing video tutorials but how do you make your videos stand out from the crowd and where should you place your videos to get the most exposure.
YouTube and Vodpod are the most popular social networking marketing video sites, yet so many other social networking sites have this capacity as well. Facebook and MySpace allow for it, as well as HubPages and Squidoo, and some of the specialized Web 2.0 sites that focus on particular topics such as sports, animals or other commonly held interests of the site holders offer a video sharing facility.
For a social networking website to be literally "social," that is, inviting participation, the video cannot be shared only in the form of tutorials, but should also invite sharing back, and what better response would be for viewers to comment or reply than with a video? One business that has effectively done this is Home Depot with a contest set up on a social networking channel with consumers instructed to develop their own video about why they should win a $25,000 gift card. The response was immense and Home Depot took it all the way through to the actual remodeling project. This was surely the case of a very social exercise in networking marketing with video in a tutorials type format, only the videos were presented by the consumers and not the company. Another aspect of this promotion that is a bonus is that the marketing channels on which the videos appeared will be on other sites than just the Home Depot channel for a long time, keeping the Home Depot brand awareness up, long after the contest is over.
But what is it that will attract viewers of your marketing video tutorials on a Web 2.0 site? First you must decide who you want to attract and develop any of your marketing video tutorials to that audience. Content is usually the most important factor. Content involves a creative social networking script with relevant language to the viewers. And, music or background noise are important, lighting, props and having everything you need in the shots to communicate to your audience are of utmost importance.
Finally, title your video tutorials with a subject or headline that will make it inviting to view just like this article.
This may seem to be stretching it a bit, but more and more website creators, bloggers, and so many people that use social media today are posting more than just the standard text to inform people. It's great to see the combination of text, photos and videos on social networking websites that overlap in the various channels available to those marketing video tutorials but how do you make your videos stand out from the crowd and where should you place your videos to get the most exposure.
YouTube and Vodpod are the most popular social networking marketing video sites, yet so many other social networking sites have this capacity as well. Facebook and MySpace allow for it, as well as HubPages and Squidoo, and some of the specialized Web 2.0 sites that focus on particular topics such as sports, animals or other commonly held interests of the site holders offer a video sharing facility.
For a social networking website to be literally "social," that is, inviting participation, the video cannot be shared only in the form of tutorials, but should also invite sharing back, and what better response would be for viewers to comment or reply than with a video? One business that has effectively done this is Home Depot with a contest set up on a social networking channel with consumers instructed to develop their own video about why they should win a $25,000 gift card. The response was immense and Home Depot took it all the way through to the actual remodeling project. This was surely the case of a very social exercise in networking marketing with video in a tutorials type format, only the videos were presented by the consumers and not the company. Another aspect of this promotion that is a bonus is that the marketing channels on which the videos appeared will be on other sites than just the Home Depot channel for a long time, keeping the Home Depot brand awareness up, long after the contest is over.
But what is it that will attract viewers of your marketing video tutorials on a Web 2.0 site? First you must decide who you want to attract and develop any of your marketing video tutorials to that audience. Content is usually the most important factor. Content involves a creative social networking script with relevant language to the viewers. And, music or background noise are important, lighting, props and having everything you need in the shots to communicate to your audience are of utmost importance.
Finally, title your video tutorials with a subject or headline that will make it inviting to view just like this article.
Mixing Your Marketing Video Tutorials to Create Social Networking Sparkle
A social networking marketing video tutorial is so easy to come by these days, just visit the online free site of Vodpod, or the infinitely popular site of YouTube, or any other social networking website that will host a video. Both of the two mentioned websites are popular sites where people may place a marketing or personal video tutorial about any one of hundreds and thousands of topics.
Vodpod is promoted as the place for social networking to "show the world your favorite videos." And as with many other Social networking video platforms, Vodpod is connected to other social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, WordPress and the all-encompassing Google that is everywhere now, marketing video applications and a tutorial on almost every site, instructing users what to do.
What we must remember about social marketing is that a video is not necessarily as powerful as we believe unless it has a space to comment on it or offers some sort of tutorial upon which a viewer may react. The key to success is audience participation. The beauty of video, however, is that a picture speaks a thousand words for some. A video can convey precise information in a tutorial format that is both instructional and can be entertaining. The entertaining part is important here because a marketing video should bring in the audience as a social networking function. A marketing video should not just talk at the viewer in the tutorial format, but involve him or her in some way to make it truly social. A simple commentary from a viewer of, "do you like this?" or "how would you do this differently?" can evoke a number of responses and posts.
A social networking marketing video tutorial is beneficial when offering instructional content to describe a complex process or operation, or augments written documentation found on a website, blog or even possibly ordered online and in print form in the users hands. A self-made video that is in a format that is easily passed around Web 2.0 websites can be quite beneficial to the company when shared.
Timing is important too, so your video should not be excessive, as in over four minutes, or about the length of a popular song, unless it is quite detailed. In this case, maybe it doesn't belong on a Web 2.0 site. There are plenty of other mediums such as direct mail, print, radio and TV to "talk to" customers besides using social networking, so don't overuse your marketing efforts with a video, even if it is just a tutorial.
Vodpod is promoted as the place for social networking to "show the world your favorite videos." And as with many other Social networking video platforms, Vodpod is connected to other social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, WordPress and the all-encompassing Google that is everywhere now, marketing video applications and a tutorial on almost every site, instructing users what to do.
What we must remember about social marketing is that a video is not necessarily as powerful as we believe unless it has a space to comment on it or offers some sort of tutorial upon which a viewer may react. The key to success is audience participation. The beauty of video, however, is that a picture speaks a thousand words for some. A video can convey precise information in a tutorial format that is both instructional and can be entertaining. The entertaining part is important here because a marketing video should bring in the audience as a social networking function. A marketing video should not just talk at the viewer in the tutorial format, but involve him or her in some way to make it truly social. A simple commentary from a viewer of, "do you like this?" or "how would you do this differently?" can evoke a number of responses and posts.
A social networking marketing video tutorial is beneficial when offering instructional content to describe a complex process or operation, or augments written documentation found on a website, blog or even possibly ordered online and in print form in the users hands. A self-made video that is in a format that is easily passed around Web 2.0 websites can be quite beneficial to the company when shared.
Timing is important too, so your video should not be excessive, as in over four minutes, or about the length of a popular song, unless it is quite detailed. In this case, maybe it doesn't belong on a Web 2.0 site. There are plenty of other mediums such as direct mail, print, radio and TV to "talk to" customers besides using social networking, so don't overuse your marketing efforts with a video, even if it is just a tutorial.
A Three Minute Guide to Finding the Right Social Networking Marketing Video Course
Building traffic on a site is the goal of most social networking marketing video courses, the few that are out there at least. To make a good social networking marketing video takes effort, knowledge and time and if you are intent on using video marketing as part of your online strategy you need to acquire the right level of knowledge before you begin.
First let's talk about the free social networking sites you can go to for information about marketing videos that might offer courses of a different type, maybe in a do it yourself format. One could go online and visit YouTube in the "Help" section where all kinds of details can be found about uploading a video, file formats to use, using the flash player and "how to" topics if the video won't play - all shown in a video format for easy understanding by people who want to get involved in social networking, marketing and video sharing without taking courses. There are also plenty of fun tricks to follow, editing and promoting one's videos and how to customize the site from which one is posting a video.
Once you're past the D-I-Y stage and feel ready to take on a little more knowledge in video marketing here are three things to look for when selecting a video marketing course online;
• Content creation - look for knowledge of keyword strategy and targeting as well as branding, audio creation, optimum video length and any other insider secrets that point to the course tutors knowledge in this arena.
• Content distribution - look for knowledge of video sharing tips and techniques, software to aid your marketing efforts and social networking strategy to keep you ahead of the competition.
• Video sharing strategies - video sharing sites have their own rules and etiquette and any experienced video marketing tutor will be fully aware of the ins and outs of each video sharing site.
Video marketing is growing rapidly online and is Google's food of choice. If you want to stay in the social media game get yourself on video today.
First let's talk about the free social networking sites you can go to for information about marketing videos that might offer courses of a different type, maybe in a do it yourself format. One could go online and visit YouTube in the "Help" section where all kinds of details can be found about uploading a video, file formats to use, using the flash player and "how to" topics if the video won't play - all shown in a video format for easy understanding by people who want to get involved in social networking, marketing and video sharing without taking courses. There are also plenty of fun tricks to follow, editing and promoting one's videos and how to customize the site from which one is posting a video.
Once you're past the D-I-Y stage and feel ready to take on a little more knowledge in video marketing here are three things to look for when selecting a video marketing course online;
• Content creation - look for knowledge of keyword strategy and targeting as well as branding, audio creation, optimum video length and any other insider secrets that point to the course tutors knowledge in this arena.
• Content distribution - look for knowledge of video sharing tips and techniques, software to aid your marketing efforts and social networking strategy to keep you ahead of the competition.
• Video sharing strategies - video sharing sites have their own rules and etiquette and any experienced video marketing tutor will be fully aware of the ins and outs of each video sharing site.
Video marketing is growing rapidly online and is Google's food of choice. If you want to stay in the social media game get yourself on video today.
Building Your Prospect List With Facebook and Twitter
Every business magazine tells you that you need to have prospects in your funnel to survive let alone if you want to grow your business. Some of your current clients and customers are not going to give you repeat business. Not all of your clients are going to refer your business to others. You need to have new clients and customers.
One way to get new clients is to have an inventory of prospects. Social networking, which wasn't available a few years ago, is one way in which you can grow your inventory of prospects.
The beauty of this social networking approach is that it won't cost you an arm and a leg. Previously, the only way you could grow your prospect list was through direct mail campaigns or advertisements. Both are very costly and time consuming. Besides, most of those leads from the ads and mailings weren't very good because they had no idea who you were and hadn't established a relationship with you. Social networking establishes relationships first.
First, the cost at these networking sites is minimal, except for your time and you'll learn how to control that. You can sign up for free accounts at Twitter and Facebook and other networking sites and begin connecting with others immediately. One of the better approaches to connecting to people who may be interested in what you do is to search by keyword for those who are interested in your niche and may eventually become prospective clients or customers.
Twitter is what is known as a micro blogging social networking site. You write your message in 140 characters or less. You can send links to other sites in your message, such as your webpage or announcement of a special event. You follow people to exchange information and people follow you while you promote your business by telling them what you are doing.
Facebook is similar except you are not limited in your message length. You collect friends on Facebook and can have up to 5000 friends. Make sure they are friends that you can use as a resource for information and they can use you as a resource for your expertise.
You can also join groups in facebook. Join groups whose focus is related to your niche and establish a relationship by providing group members helpful information. You can introduce yourself by letting your new friend know that you are also a member of the group.
You may even want to start your won group for people who are interested in what you do. Others may then join your group and you can tell them about yourself, what you are doing, and about your service or products. You may want to consider a secret group that is similar to a membership site. Secret sites have discussion boards which enable you and the members of the group to start threads on topics you want to discuss.
There are other avenues to use to build your prospect list. Social networking is but one of many and in today's world, my advice is to use them all.
One way to get new clients is to have an inventory of prospects. Social networking, which wasn't available a few years ago, is one way in which you can grow your inventory of prospects.
The beauty of this social networking approach is that it won't cost you an arm and a leg. Previously, the only way you could grow your prospect list was through direct mail campaigns or advertisements. Both are very costly and time consuming. Besides, most of those leads from the ads and mailings weren't very good because they had no idea who you were and hadn't established a relationship with you. Social networking establishes relationships first.
First, the cost at these networking sites is minimal, except for your time and you'll learn how to control that. You can sign up for free accounts at Twitter and Facebook and other networking sites and begin connecting with others immediately. One of the better approaches to connecting to people who may be interested in what you do is to search by keyword for those who are interested in your niche and may eventually become prospective clients or customers.
Twitter is what is known as a micro blogging social networking site. You write your message in 140 characters or less. You can send links to other sites in your message, such as your webpage or announcement of a special event. You follow people to exchange information and people follow you while you promote your business by telling them what you are doing.
Facebook is similar except you are not limited in your message length. You collect friends on Facebook and can have up to 5000 friends. Make sure they are friends that you can use as a resource for information and they can use you as a resource for your expertise.
You can also join groups in facebook. Join groups whose focus is related to your niche and establish a relationship by providing group members helpful information. You can introduce yourself by letting your new friend know that you are also a member of the group.
You may even want to start your won group for people who are interested in what you do. Others may then join your group and you can tell them about yourself, what you are doing, and about your service or products. You may want to consider a secret group that is similar to a membership site. Secret sites have discussion boards which enable you and the members of the group to start threads on topics you want to discuss.
There are other avenues to use to build your prospect list. Social networking is but one of many and in today's world, my advice is to use them all.
How to Do More With Your Facebook Business Page
Need ideas and inspiration for your Facebook Business Page or Fan Page? Not sure what to do next? Here is an outline that should inspire some fresh ways for you to inject new life into your page.
The MOST IMPORTANT first step you'll want to give some thought to:
* The name of your site - use keywords
* The type of your site - your selection will determine certain content on the Info tab
* These elements cannot be changed later. You would have to start another page.
* Creating a custom image to fit the space Facebook gives you:
* 200 x 600 max, create collages, be creative, similar to sidebar banner ads
Best applications for businesses to use - core applications you should be using and why:
* Static HTML - provides huge opportunities for custom looks, separate custom Welcome landing pages, etc. Can have up to 10 separate incidences of individual coded areas
* Facebook Notes - the only place to put blog rss feed where it updates the Page Wall. Extended idea: create Friendfeed account and create a combined rss feed for multiple blogs, twitter posts, youtube posts, etc.
* Ping.fm app for Business Pages. A bit tricky to set up, but the most beneficial app to eliminate unnecessary double work to post information.
* Links - provides a link to any url, including an image thumbnail. More visual punch. To activate, create a new Wall post and include a link to a webpage. THEN, it will be displayed on the Boxes tab and you can move it to the Wall tab if you like.
* If you have events, use the Events app
* If you do videos, use the Video app
* Adding an opt-in form for an e-newsletter or blog subscription (or whatever):
* Use the Static HTML app
* Techniques to use images throughout to create that visual punch:
* Images, images, images. Think banner ads. Use as front-end image links going to your website.
* Copy from website, paste into HTML editor, use tables to organize content if needed, copy html from code tab, then paste into Static HTML
* Image tools: Fireworks, Gimp, even Powerpoint can create an image out of a slide.
* Don't bother creating animated gif images. Facebook doesn't like them. Bummer, I know.
* HTML editors - I'm still using Frontpage (no laughing please), but another good one is CoffeeCup HTML editor. Of course if you're using Dreamweaver you are good as gold.
* Best ways to communicate with your Fans
* Link: Send an update to Fans - compose Facebook email, include links, etc.
* Ways to promote your page
* Link: Suggest to Friends
* Facebook Fan Box
* Link to FB page, link to specific tab url
* Mention it on Twitter
* Typical avenues: email signature, website, enewsletter, blog, email blast
* Facebook Page Ads - pay-per-click
* The true benefits of using Facebook Business Pages
* Are indexed by search engines
* Provides offsite community-building opportunities
* Viral-ability: The more valuable content you add, the more people will comment. The more that people comment, the more their own Facebook friends will see the link to your page. The more people that see a link to your page, the farther your brand reaches.
Settings to remember:
* Change View Settings - Default View for Wall >> Posts by Page and Fans
* Default Landing Tab for Everyone Else >> Custom Welcome Landing Page...or Boxes tab.
* Fan Permissions >> allow or disallow fan postings, depending on what you want for this site.
Ideas on how to create a crowd-drawing community
This is an outline I provided to a client who has a shoe store on EBAY. They wanted to do more with their Facebook Business Page but didn't know what to do next.
Promotional Elements:
1) Add pictures and galleries. This is a must for a site promoting physical product.
2) Add your ebay store RSS feed to the Facebook Notes application. Will populate your Facebook page automatically as you add new items to your store.
3) Create a custom landing page on the site and make it the first page people see when they come to it. Can use the Boxes tab or create a completely custom tab. Lots and lots of images - banner ads, etc.
4) Should include a link to your ebay store in all your posts.
5) Create a weekly/monthly video using images of new shoes/products you get in. Post the video on the Facebook page, as well as on places like YouTube, etc.
6) Provide value content. Ideas could include:
- shoe care tips
- announce/review shoe care products
- shoe storage ideas
- things to think about when purchasing shoes
- a different post on shoe ideas for every holiday, season, or special occasion.
- talk about shoe accessories
- do's and dont's of buying shoes
- gift ideas for the shoe lover
- the latest in shoe designs
- what's going on in the shoe industry
- do a series about kids shoes. Best fitting tips, etc.
- set up an FAQ page for questions you get asked most often.
- highlight the benefits of shopping on your site.
7) Have a Newsletter? Put an opt-in signup form on the Facebook page.
8 ) Depending on how you feel about it, you can add the Reviews application to your site where users review your business, products, etc.
Fun and Interactive Elements:
Contests - pick a winner, provide a prize.
1) Have people share their fun and strange shoe stories.
2) Have people share funny shoe pictures.
3) Post a picture and have people submit a caption. Selected caption idea wins.
4) Create monthly polls
5) Host periodic causes. Use www.chipin.com and use their widget to add it to your Facebook page.
6) Do a "Where Am I?" contest. Create pictures of the latest shoe in front of something recognizable, like a tourist spot,then give some clues and the first person who posts the correct answer wins something. Use Photoshop, or something similar, to create the doctored picture. Or, another twist on this is to get users to post "Where Am I?" pictures using the shoes they've purchased from you.
7) What about doing a weekly/monthly treasure hunt on your business website and use your Facebook page to provide clues to what visitors are to look for on your website? You could even do something where each week you give an additional clue but the prize gets smaller with the more clues you provide. <-game show inspired...plus it drives traffic to the various pages on your site.
Other tips:
1) Always respond to people posting on the page. If someone's question prompts you to write a new and expanded post, do it...and give credit to that person for asking such a great question. Use what people are asking you as inspiration for an expanded post by you. In a nutshell, give your visitors the content they are seeking.
Andrea Kalli Virtual Trainer and Assistant, LLC offers a wide variety of business services.
As a Certified Internet Marketing Virtual Assistant, she specializes in social media optimization to increase organic search rankings through brand awareness and community building strategies. Edit audio/video for podcasts, teleseminars, audio books. Create products to sell & teasers for marketing. She supports your internet marketing needs such as Website Analysis, Search Engine Marketing, Email Marketing, and Article Marketing.
The MOST IMPORTANT first step you'll want to give some thought to:
* The name of your site - use keywords
* The type of your site - your selection will determine certain content on the Info tab
* These elements cannot be changed later. You would have to start another page.
* Creating a custom image to fit the space Facebook gives you:
* 200 x 600 max, create collages, be creative, similar to sidebar banner ads
Best applications for businesses to use - core applications you should be using and why:
* Static HTML - provides huge opportunities for custom looks, separate custom Welcome landing pages, etc. Can have up to 10 separate incidences of individual coded areas
* Facebook Notes - the only place to put blog rss feed where it updates the Page Wall. Extended idea: create Friendfeed account and create a combined rss feed for multiple blogs, twitter posts, youtube posts, etc.
* Ping.fm app for Business Pages. A bit tricky to set up, but the most beneficial app to eliminate unnecessary double work to post information.
* Links - provides a link to any url, including an image thumbnail. More visual punch. To activate, create a new Wall post and include a link to a webpage. THEN, it will be displayed on the Boxes tab and you can move it to the Wall tab if you like.
* If you have events, use the Events app
* If you do videos, use the Video app
* Adding an opt-in form for an e-newsletter or blog subscription (or whatever):
* Use the Static HTML app
* Techniques to use images throughout to create that visual punch:
* Images, images, images. Think banner ads. Use as front-end image links going to your website.
* Copy from website, paste into HTML editor, use tables to organize content if needed, copy html from code tab, then paste into Static HTML
* Image tools: Fireworks, Gimp, even Powerpoint can create an image out of a slide.
* Don't bother creating animated gif images. Facebook doesn't like them. Bummer, I know.
* HTML editors - I'm still using Frontpage (no laughing please), but another good one is CoffeeCup HTML editor. Of course if you're using Dreamweaver you are good as gold.
* Best ways to communicate with your Fans
* Link: Send an update to Fans - compose Facebook email, include links, etc.
* Ways to promote your page
* Link: Suggest to Friends
* Facebook Fan Box
* Link to FB page, link to specific tab url
* Mention it on Twitter
* Typical avenues: email signature, website, enewsletter, blog, email blast
* Facebook Page Ads - pay-per-click
* The true benefits of using Facebook Business Pages
* Are indexed by search engines
* Provides offsite community-building opportunities
* Viral-ability: The more valuable content you add, the more people will comment. The more that people comment, the more their own Facebook friends will see the link to your page. The more people that see a link to your page, the farther your brand reaches.
Settings to remember:
* Change View Settings - Default View for Wall >> Posts by Page and Fans
* Default Landing Tab for Everyone Else >> Custom Welcome Landing Page...or Boxes tab.
* Fan Permissions >> allow or disallow fan postings, depending on what you want for this site.
Ideas on how to create a crowd-drawing community
This is an outline I provided to a client who has a shoe store on EBAY. They wanted to do more with their Facebook Business Page but didn't know what to do next.
Promotional Elements:
1) Add pictures and galleries. This is a must for a site promoting physical product.
2) Add your ebay store RSS feed to the Facebook Notes application. Will populate your Facebook page automatically as you add new items to your store.
3) Create a custom landing page on the site and make it the first page people see when they come to it. Can use the Boxes tab or create a completely custom tab. Lots and lots of images - banner ads, etc.
4) Should include a link to your ebay store in all your posts.
5) Create a weekly/monthly video using images of new shoes/products you get in. Post the video on the Facebook page, as well as on places like YouTube, etc.
6) Provide value content. Ideas could include:
- shoe care tips
- announce/review shoe care products
- shoe storage ideas
- things to think about when purchasing shoes
- a different post on shoe ideas for every holiday, season, or special occasion.
- talk about shoe accessories
- do's and dont's of buying shoes
- gift ideas for the shoe lover
- the latest in shoe designs
- what's going on in the shoe industry
- do a series about kids shoes. Best fitting tips, etc.
- set up an FAQ page for questions you get asked most often.
- highlight the benefits of shopping on your site.
7) Have a Newsletter? Put an opt-in signup form on the Facebook page.
8 ) Depending on how you feel about it, you can add the Reviews application to your site where users review your business, products, etc.
Fun and Interactive Elements:
Contests - pick a winner, provide a prize.
1) Have people share their fun and strange shoe stories.
2) Have people share funny shoe pictures.
3) Post a picture and have people submit a caption. Selected caption idea wins.
4) Create monthly polls
5) Host periodic causes. Use www.chipin.com and use their widget to add it to your Facebook page.
6) Do a "Where Am I?" contest. Create pictures of the latest shoe in front of something recognizable, like a tourist spot,then give some clues and the first person who posts the correct answer wins something. Use Photoshop, or something similar, to create the doctored picture. Or, another twist on this is to get users to post "Where Am I?" pictures using the shoes they've purchased from you.
7) What about doing a weekly/monthly treasure hunt on your business website and use your Facebook page to provide clues to what visitors are to look for on your website? You could even do something where each week you give an additional clue but the prize gets smaller with the more clues you provide. <-game show inspired...plus it drives traffic to the various pages on your site.
Other tips:
1) Always respond to people posting on the page. If someone's question prompts you to write a new and expanded post, do it...and give credit to that person for asking such a great question. Use what people are asking you as inspiration for an expanded post by you. In a nutshell, give your visitors the content they are seeking.
Andrea Kalli Virtual Trainer and Assistant, LLC offers a wide variety of business services.
As a Certified Internet Marketing Virtual Assistant, she specializes in social media optimization to increase organic search rankings through brand awareness and community building strategies. Edit audio/video for podcasts, teleseminars, audio books. Create products to sell & teasers for marketing. She supports your internet marketing needs such as Website Analysis, Search Engine Marketing, Email Marketing, and Article Marketing.
How to Improve Customer Lifetime Value With Social Networking
Customers want so much more than just a good product. Don't kid yourself. Never ever fall for the idea that it is enough for your legal advise to be top of the class, for your engineering solutions to be tailor made, or for the car you sell to make them look like a million bucks.
You know it, everybody knows it. The real money from a customer is in the second sale, the third sale and so on. Getting a new customer is exiting, hard work and expensive. Keeping a customer is much cheaper, and ...
much more valuable.
Yet, too few businesses actually focus their marketing activities on keeping customers. All the attention is on getting new customers. When I look at marketing blogs, read marketing books, I have the same impression, that I need to keep working on getting new customers all the time.
Ask yourself this. Is your marketing budget entirely dedicated to getting new customers? Your efforts to keep your current customers happy, how do you budget for those costs?
I suggest that you rethink this position. First of all, remind yourself that every interaction of someone in your company with the outside world is a form of marketing. Your customer service person on the phone, she or he is a marketer for your company.
So far nothing new for you, right?
What more can you do to keep your customers engaged and interested in buying from you?
Social Networking is all the rage these days. First, what is social networking? Here is one good definition from Wikipedia:
"A social network service focuses on building online communities of people who share interests and or activities, or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others."
Usually marketers talk about social networking tools as a way to get new customers, to get people to talk about you, to go viral. Some new marketing experts suggest you twitter and magically, your short messages will be retweeted and thousands of new people will hear about your brand.
You can create LinkedIn profiles and Facebook fan pages. And you have heard all about email marketing.
The basic idea is all the same. You go where your customers are. And if you focus on getting new customers, that is an excellent idea.
Keeping Customers
But to keep your customers, there are other strategies for you to consider. Here you really want to focus on the interaction with your existing customers. How do you treat them when they call you? How quickly do you offer a solution to their problems? Are they delighted to interact with you, or are they afraid somehow.
Do your customers feel special? Do you treat your customers as if they are a special class of citizens? They are, you know.
Here is where social networking makes the difference.
You customers want to feel that they are special. They don't only pay you for your products and services, they want to be recognized and pampered.
The Exclusive Club
What would it be like for your customers if you invite them to join a special group of people that meets online in a space exclusively for them? There they can share in their experience with your product, with like minded people. There they have the shortest route to customer support of anybody in the world. There they can hear from others about the next version, version 2.0 of your product, which they will need to have.
This online space is filled with information that is immediately relevant for their lives. Perhaps even relevant advertising, as long as the products you advertise are really important to your customers.
What are some examples?
You have a health club, and you need to have a place where you can host relevant discussions. Recently a Time Magazine article suggested that exercise is not all that good for you. Can you imagine the confusion of your customers, when such an article appears? Would you not want to talk with them about it, and reignite their passion for working out in your club?
You are a lawyer who helps people with serious injuries and trauma. This can be a place where your customers can get updates and resources about healing. You can help them find groups of survivors.
You are a luxury car dealer. You know how motor cycle riders greet each other on the highway. Your customers may not be so ostentatious, but they have that same recognition of each other. There is another one who knows what car to drive. You can bring them together and learn what interest they actually have in common? Now there is a marketing research tool for you. Free!
The trick is to bring your customers to a social networking site you own. Don't chase your customers all over the internet. Instead create a site so compelling that it is in your customers' interest to keep coming back. Then you can sell again and again. And your customer will love you for it.
Of course, you need a tool that will let you do just this. LCS Websites is exactly that tool and the good thing is that you don't need any experience running websites to use it. That means you can focus all your attention on keeping your customers happy. LCS Websites is the platform that will keep you focused on your customers and your business.
You know it, everybody knows it. The real money from a customer is in the second sale, the third sale and so on. Getting a new customer is exiting, hard work and expensive. Keeping a customer is much cheaper, and ...
much more valuable.
Yet, too few businesses actually focus their marketing activities on keeping customers. All the attention is on getting new customers. When I look at marketing blogs, read marketing books, I have the same impression, that I need to keep working on getting new customers all the time.
Ask yourself this. Is your marketing budget entirely dedicated to getting new customers? Your efforts to keep your current customers happy, how do you budget for those costs?
I suggest that you rethink this position. First of all, remind yourself that every interaction of someone in your company with the outside world is a form of marketing. Your customer service person on the phone, she or he is a marketer for your company.
So far nothing new for you, right?
What more can you do to keep your customers engaged and interested in buying from you?
Social Networking is all the rage these days. First, what is social networking? Here is one good definition from Wikipedia:
"A social network service focuses on building online communities of people who share interests and or activities, or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others."
Usually marketers talk about social networking tools as a way to get new customers, to get people to talk about you, to go viral. Some new marketing experts suggest you twitter and magically, your short messages will be retweeted and thousands of new people will hear about your brand.
You can create LinkedIn profiles and Facebook fan pages. And you have heard all about email marketing.
The basic idea is all the same. You go where your customers are. And if you focus on getting new customers, that is an excellent idea.
Keeping Customers
But to keep your customers, there are other strategies for you to consider. Here you really want to focus on the interaction with your existing customers. How do you treat them when they call you? How quickly do you offer a solution to their problems? Are they delighted to interact with you, or are they afraid somehow.
Do your customers feel special? Do you treat your customers as if they are a special class of citizens? They are, you know.
Here is where social networking makes the difference.
You customers want to feel that they are special. They don't only pay you for your products and services, they want to be recognized and pampered.
The Exclusive Club
What would it be like for your customers if you invite them to join a special group of people that meets online in a space exclusively for them? There they can share in their experience with your product, with like minded people. There they have the shortest route to customer support of anybody in the world. There they can hear from others about the next version, version 2.0 of your product, which they will need to have.
This online space is filled with information that is immediately relevant for their lives. Perhaps even relevant advertising, as long as the products you advertise are really important to your customers.
What are some examples?
You have a health club, and you need to have a place where you can host relevant discussions. Recently a Time Magazine article suggested that exercise is not all that good for you. Can you imagine the confusion of your customers, when such an article appears? Would you not want to talk with them about it, and reignite their passion for working out in your club?
You are a lawyer who helps people with serious injuries and trauma. This can be a place where your customers can get updates and resources about healing. You can help them find groups of survivors.
You are a luxury car dealer. You know how motor cycle riders greet each other on the highway. Your customers may not be so ostentatious, but they have that same recognition of each other. There is another one who knows what car to drive. You can bring them together and learn what interest they actually have in common? Now there is a marketing research tool for you. Free!
The trick is to bring your customers to a social networking site you own. Don't chase your customers all over the internet. Instead create a site so compelling that it is in your customers' interest to keep coming back. Then you can sell again and again. And your customer will love you for it.
Of course, you need a tool that will let you do just this. LCS Websites is exactly that tool and the good thing is that you don't need any experience running websites to use it. That means you can focus all your attention on keeping your customers happy. LCS Websites is the platform that will keep you focused on your customers and your business.
Twitter Might Yet Help You Build Your Business, But You Can't Wait Around
When Twitter hit the scene a few years ago it was dismissed as yet another 'fad' that wouldn't last long due to a particularly poor feature set. All it allowed you to do was to say what you were up to in 140 characters or fewer. Even SMS allows for more and so this limit was seen as a mistake, I mean, the Internet has limitless amounts of storage so why restrict anyone?
Well, it soon transpired that Twitters restriction was to eventually set it free as one of the fastest growing social networks ever and it has take the Internet world by storm. It was as if Facebook and MySpace had never existed. Suddenly, these darlings of the web were 'so last year' and if you weren't constantly 'tweeting' on your Blackberry or iPhone, you were nobody.
Obviously nobody expected it to take off as well as it did, not least Twitter themselves who suddenly found that they had to invest a fortune in new hardware in order to keep the service on its feet. But this was all down to celebrity and the power of the media, business is still slow to pick up on these things, indeed some wish they would never get involved, but as with everything - without business it would probably fail.
So how can business make the most of Twitter, indeed, how can it use any social networking site in order to further its brand or promote its services?
The most important thing is to take part. In fact, that's all you need to do. These are social networks after all and they are there so you can promote yourself whether you are a business or an individual. Many see it as a hurdle and require courses and manuals before even trying it out, personally I think this is crazy, you don't need a manual to learn how to have a drink with friends in the pub, do you?
Business can take part by simply taking part. By its very nature, social media and especially Twitter is extremely easy to use and be a part of. You don't need a manual or a training course, you just need to do it.
Well, it soon transpired that Twitters restriction was to eventually set it free as one of the fastest growing social networks ever and it has take the Internet world by storm. It was as if Facebook and MySpace had never existed. Suddenly, these darlings of the web were 'so last year' and if you weren't constantly 'tweeting' on your Blackberry or iPhone, you were nobody.
Obviously nobody expected it to take off as well as it did, not least Twitter themselves who suddenly found that they had to invest a fortune in new hardware in order to keep the service on its feet. But this was all down to celebrity and the power of the media, business is still slow to pick up on these things, indeed some wish they would never get involved, but as with everything - without business it would probably fail.
So how can business make the most of Twitter, indeed, how can it use any social networking site in order to further its brand or promote its services?
The most important thing is to take part. In fact, that's all you need to do. These are social networks after all and they are there so you can promote yourself whether you are a business or an individual. Many see it as a hurdle and require courses and manuals before even trying it out, personally I think this is crazy, you don't need a manual to learn how to have a drink with friends in the pub, do you?
Business can take part by simply taking part. By its very nature, social media and especially Twitter is extremely easy to use and be a part of. You don't need a manual or a training course, you just need to do it.
How Much is Too Much Social Networking?
How Many, How Often, How Come?
One thing that I always hear when it comes to social networking sites is how much time should I spend on this? People get caught up with the fact that there are technically hundreds of social networking sites out there and simply do not know where to begin, much less how to begin.
How Come?
Let's kick off with how come you should be on social networks in the first place. Well for starters social networking is the future and present of the Internet. Everything revolves around social media and is is the most efficient way to market anything today.
Also, social media has brought us into this world of "new school" marketing methods or simply put, marketing with Web 2.0 sites. Compared to old school marketing - which revolved around very faceless and impersonal direct business pitches - new school marketing is all about generating leads by forming personal relationships. If this sounds foreign to you then I suggest you view my video breakdown on "New School vs. Old School Marketing" located at the bottom of this post.
How Many?
There are literally over a hundred of different types of social networking sites out there, many more known than others. But just because there are over a hundred or even a dozen social networking sites that you know of in existence, doesn't mean you should be spending time on all of them. Trying to be a part of every site out there can actually be counter productive.
Let's re visit the main goals of social networking.
#1)Establish yourself as a leader: You want to become known as someone who provides value to others. There's no point in being a jackass in social media. When you provide value, people come back to you as a resource and this is exactly what we want to happen.
#2)Become popular: This isn't a joke, you want as many people as you can to know your name and face. The more exposure you get the more money you will earn - this is a proven formula with social networking. No matter what type of business you are in and no matter what type of sales funnel you are working - the more exposure you get the more money you will see.
#3)Form relationships: Form real relationships, I am talking about mutually benefiting relationships with like minded people who share similar goals. This is why you want to be constantly reaching out to everyone because you never know who you may team up with to start the next Google with. One thing to realize about these three goals is that it takes considerable time and effort to accomplish them. It isn't a hell of a lot of work by any means - you just need to develop a routine of effective sessions that you bust out periodically.
Since it is going to take some persistence and dedication to become well known as someone who provides value and ultimately form relationships you don't want to overload your plate. Do not go out and sign up for every single social networking site you can as you simply won't be able to be active on all of them. You will see more reward from establishing a good reputation on a handful of sites rather than mingling on 20 different ones. There is no money in the gray area, you don't want to just blend into the background.
I highly recommend sticking to a few social networking sites, personally I am on 3 - Twitter, YouTube and BetterNetworker (Facebook is my personal site and not really for business). Now this is just my preference and yours may be different. Do not be afraid to try something new and sign up for new sites - just don't feel obliged to be a part of a ton of sites thinking it will help.
How Often?
As often as you can. No need to overload your plate again but spend as much time as you can when you first come on new social networking sites. As you progress you will develop your own routine. Some people make an effort to spend 30 minutes a day with social networking while others come on whenever they can.
Be aware that it is inevitable that you will burn yourself out. Everyone does this and everyone experiences a burn out. Basically when you have had enough of all this and feel discouraged, this is natural. What's important is to come back after your burn out and develop or alter your routine to prevent yourself from being over loaded.
Have goals, be efficient and keep your chin up...
Number one rule on social networking sites is to be yourself. Not everyone is going to agree with you and because of this not everyone is going to like you either. Do not worry, the last thing you want to do is alter or compromise your actions in order to try and please everyone - this is a rookie mistake. Be controversial! There is no such thing as bad publicity/attention. There is no money in the gray area! Be yourself, be positive (no one likes a jackass), have goals and keep an open mind.
One thing that I always hear when it comes to social networking sites is how much time should I spend on this? People get caught up with the fact that there are technically hundreds of social networking sites out there and simply do not know where to begin, much less how to begin.
How Come?
Let's kick off with how come you should be on social networks in the first place. Well for starters social networking is the future and present of the Internet. Everything revolves around social media and is is the most efficient way to market anything today.
Also, social media has brought us into this world of "new school" marketing methods or simply put, marketing with Web 2.0 sites. Compared to old school marketing - which revolved around very faceless and impersonal direct business pitches - new school marketing is all about generating leads by forming personal relationships. If this sounds foreign to you then I suggest you view my video breakdown on "New School vs. Old School Marketing" located at the bottom of this post.
How Many?
There are literally over a hundred of different types of social networking sites out there, many more known than others. But just because there are over a hundred or even a dozen social networking sites that you know of in existence, doesn't mean you should be spending time on all of them. Trying to be a part of every site out there can actually be counter productive.
Let's re visit the main goals of social networking.
#1)Establish yourself as a leader: You want to become known as someone who provides value to others. There's no point in being a jackass in social media. When you provide value, people come back to you as a resource and this is exactly what we want to happen.
#2)Become popular: This isn't a joke, you want as many people as you can to know your name and face. The more exposure you get the more money you will earn - this is a proven formula with social networking. No matter what type of business you are in and no matter what type of sales funnel you are working - the more exposure you get the more money you will see.
#3)Form relationships: Form real relationships, I am talking about mutually benefiting relationships with like minded people who share similar goals. This is why you want to be constantly reaching out to everyone because you never know who you may team up with to start the next Google with. One thing to realize about these three goals is that it takes considerable time and effort to accomplish them. It isn't a hell of a lot of work by any means - you just need to develop a routine of effective sessions that you bust out periodically.
Since it is going to take some persistence and dedication to become well known as someone who provides value and ultimately form relationships you don't want to overload your plate. Do not go out and sign up for every single social networking site you can as you simply won't be able to be active on all of them. You will see more reward from establishing a good reputation on a handful of sites rather than mingling on 20 different ones. There is no money in the gray area, you don't want to just blend into the background.
I highly recommend sticking to a few social networking sites, personally I am on 3 - Twitter, YouTube and BetterNetworker (Facebook is my personal site and not really for business). Now this is just my preference and yours may be different. Do not be afraid to try something new and sign up for new sites - just don't feel obliged to be a part of a ton of sites thinking it will help.
How Often?
As often as you can. No need to overload your plate again but spend as much time as you can when you first come on new social networking sites. As you progress you will develop your own routine. Some people make an effort to spend 30 minutes a day with social networking while others come on whenever they can.
Be aware that it is inevitable that you will burn yourself out. Everyone does this and everyone experiences a burn out. Basically when you have had enough of all this and feel discouraged, this is natural. What's important is to come back after your burn out and develop or alter your routine to prevent yourself from being over loaded.
Have goals, be efficient and keep your chin up...
Number one rule on social networking sites is to be yourself. Not everyone is going to agree with you and because of this not everyone is going to like you either. Do not worry, the last thing you want to do is alter or compromise your actions in order to try and please everyone - this is a rookie mistake. Be controversial! There is no such thing as bad publicity/attention. There is no money in the gray area! Be yourself, be positive (no one likes a jackass), have goals and keep an open mind.
The Power of Social Networking - How You Can Use Social Networking to Develop High Quality Leads?
Have you ever heard of MySpace? Have you ever heard of Facebook? Are you using these websites to generate high quality leads on total auto-pilot for your business? If you are still going out and handing out cards, harassing friends and family, trying to strike up pointless conversations with total strangers, than you MUST learn the science of using social networks to generate leads for your business.
I'm betting that you probably already have a Facebook, or MySpace, or maybe a Twitter. There are millions of people on these networks, and you can reach thousands of them at one time with the five minutes it takes you to update your status.
Here is a test...
You go out tomorrow and try to hand out a thousand cards to a highly target group of social networkers in 5 minutes. It's just not going to happen.
The greatest thing about marketing on social networking sites is that it is totally FREE! That is right, you can generate leads on total auto-pilot all day long, and never spend a dime advertising. MySpace alone has over 212,000,000 and is continually growing.
How Easy Is It To Get Started
It's simple really, all you need is an account then you need to educate people. Tell them your story! Tell them the benefits of network marketing over going out and getting a job. (Just Over Broke) Once you lead with valuable content you will start making friends and business partners that are going to work with you for the rest of your life.
So make sure you go out there and learn the science and leave your upline wondering what you are doing, and how you passed them so quickly. But always remember to share your secrets of success with others.
I'm betting that you probably already have a Facebook, or MySpace, or maybe a Twitter. There are millions of people on these networks, and you can reach thousands of them at one time with the five minutes it takes you to update your status.
Here is a test...
You go out tomorrow and try to hand out a thousand cards to a highly target group of social networkers in 5 minutes. It's just not going to happen.
The greatest thing about marketing on social networking sites is that it is totally FREE! That is right, you can generate leads on total auto-pilot all day long, and never spend a dime advertising. MySpace alone has over 212,000,000 and is continually growing.
How Easy Is It To Get Started
It's simple really, all you need is an account then you need to educate people. Tell them your story! Tell them the benefits of network marketing over going out and getting a job. (Just Over Broke) Once you lead with valuable content you will start making friends and business partners that are going to work with you for the rest of your life.
So make sure you go out there and learn the science and leave your upline wondering what you are doing, and how you passed them so quickly. But always remember to share your secrets of success with others.
Using Social Networks Effectively to Drive Traffic to Your Website
The goal of Search Marketing is to be sure that Google sees your site clearly, NOT a way to trick Google about the contents of your site. Proper search marketing will help you get better traffic and will also serve to make the Google search engine results more efficient. If you try to trick Google into thinking your site is something it is not, their quality assurance team will find out and could possibly remove you from Google for violating their usage rules. Many strategies used by amateurs, such as white words on a white background, pretending you have twenty sites because you have twenty web addresses or gratuitously repeating words, could get you removed from Google!
The Three Main Components of Search Engine Optimization, a.k.a. Search Marketing:
1. Train yourself using Google research tools. Get bench marks.
2. Search optimize your Website, blog, and links from other sites like social networks.
3. Train Google how to see your site and drive traffic to it.
Look at your website like Google Does! Then, train Google how to look at your site. Google is very receptive to your help on how to refer people to your site. You have to train Googlebot how to put your site into Google, BUT also remember, that at some point, a human being at Google, YES they do have humans still, will look at your listing to validate its pertinence. Do NOT try to trick Google!
Since we know most of you do not have the ability to properly optimize your Website for the search engines, we created a highly search optimized Website to help you do it yourself. You can also pay somebody else a smaller amount of money to do the Search Optimization for you. Through the proper use of social networks you can reduce marketing costs significantly.
Many social networking marketers use existing news content and new content, optimize it, add highly search optimized links to your site to accomplish the following:
1. Drive direct traffic from the social network/Website.
2. Train Google how to send more traffic, and more highly qualified traffic, to your site. The result will be more sales per dollar spent and more Google traffic in the long term. This traffic is sticky traffic and, unlike Pay Per Click traffic, will result in years of traffic from the natural search within Google.
Top 6 Quick Tips to Get More Traffic From other peoples sites/social networks:
1. Make Titles very descriptive.
2. Text, or body in blog posts, matches Title.
3. Add Titles and Alt Tags to links and images that MATCH the title of the image or blog post.
4. USE the TAGS effectively. Use quotes a LOT.
5. Post things regularly to get to the top of the Latest Activities, images, blogs, etc.
6. Link to your site EVERYPLACE you are allowed to enter HTML. Don't forget Tip 3!
More detailed ways to use social networks to drive traffic AND tell Google how you want to be found in their search results.
1. ASK GOOGLE what key-phrases are best for your site! Do some research on what key-phrases are best for your business, industry, region and niche products? You will be surprised how people find your site. Look at your website stats and use Google, ask Google, what phrases are best.
2. List all your data, even stuff from your Website, in social networks. More content is better and as long as we don't completely recreate your Websites main content, Google has no problem with this. PLUS, ALL your information you add to social networks is highly search optimized.
3. Use the titles better. When you are asked what the title of your image, blog post, etc. is, don't just say Picture 1 Blog Post 2, etc. This is a horrible mistake. Use MORE text that is based on your Key-phrase strategy.
4. Put as much in the description that you can fit. Remember, you are writing for Googlebot, FIRST, and for human readers second. Sometimes a well optimized sentence looks a little awkward to human readers, but when Google recommends you as the source for your information, they are likely to click to visit your site.
5. USE ALL social network features! There are applications in social networks that you have to add. One very handy app is called Shopit. This is a very low cost, starting at $10 per month, ecommerce plugin to sell products online. Test a product, etc.
6. USE the tags effectively! Tags are one way Google will look at your content you add into social networks. If you sell health care products online, then one of your key-phrases might be "Buy Mattress Pads Online." When you add tags, you add one in quotes such rather than adding single words like: buy, mattress, pads, online.
7. MATCH, MATCH, MATCH. Match content, titles, tags, descriptions, image names, etc. When your information matches up well, Google assumes that you actually know what your key-phrases should be. If you don't know, then why should Google take your recommendations? This goes back to a well defined key-phrase strategy. IF you don't know the best way for people to find you, then Google will assume it is better off guessing, rather than following your advice.
The Three Main Components of Search Engine Optimization, a.k.a. Search Marketing:
1. Train yourself using Google research tools. Get bench marks.
2. Search optimize your Website, blog, and links from other sites like social networks.
3. Train Google how to see your site and drive traffic to it.
Look at your website like Google Does! Then, train Google how to look at your site. Google is very receptive to your help on how to refer people to your site. You have to train Googlebot how to put your site into Google, BUT also remember, that at some point, a human being at Google, YES they do have humans still, will look at your listing to validate its pertinence. Do NOT try to trick Google!
Since we know most of you do not have the ability to properly optimize your Website for the search engines, we created a highly search optimized Website to help you do it yourself. You can also pay somebody else a smaller amount of money to do the Search Optimization for you. Through the proper use of social networks you can reduce marketing costs significantly.
Many social networking marketers use existing news content and new content, optimize it, add highly search optimized links to your site to accomplish the following:
1. Drive direct traffic from the social network/Website.
2. Train Google how to send more traffic, and more highly qualified traffic, to your site. The result will be more sales per dollar spent and more Google traffic in the long term. This traffic is sticky traffic and, unlike Pay Per Click traffic, will result in years of traffic from the natural search within Google.
Top 6 Quick Tips to Get More Traffic From other peoples sites/social networks:
1. Make Titles very descriptive.
2. Text, or body in blog posts, matches Title.
3. Add Titles and Alt Tags to links and images that MATCH the title of the image or blog post.
4. USE the TAGS effectively. Use quotes a LOT.
5. Post things regularly to get to the top of the Latest Activities, images, blogs, etc.
6. Link to your site EVERYPLACE you are allowed to enter HTML. Don't forget Tip 3!
More detailed ways to use social networks to drive traffic AND tell Google how you want to be found in their search results.
1. ASK GOOGLE what key-phrases are best for your site! Do some research on what key-phrases are best for your business, industry, region and niche products? You will be surprised how people find your site. Look at your website stats and use Google, ask Google, what phrases are best.
2. List all your data, even stuff from your Website, in social networks. More content is better and as long as we don't completely recreate your Websites main content, Google has no problem with this. PLUS, ALL your information you add to social networks is highly search optimized.
3. Use the titles better. When you are asked what the title of your image, blog post, etc. is, don't just say Picture 1 Blog Post 2, etc. This is a horrible mistake. Use MORE text that is based on your Key-phrase strategy.
4. Put as much in the description that you can fit. Remember, you are writing for Googlebot, FIRST, and for human readers second. Sometimes a well optimized sentence looks a little awkward to human readers, but when Google recommends you as the source for your information, they are likely to click to visit your site.
5. USE ALL social network features! There are applications in social networks that you have to add. One very handy app is called Shopit. This is a very low cost, starting at $10 per month, ecommerce plugin to sell products online. Test a product, etc.
6. USE the tags effectively! Tags are one way Google will look at your content you add into social networks. If you sell health care products online, then one of your key-phrases might be "Buy Mattress Pads Online." When you add tags, you add one in quotes such rather than adding single words like: buy, mattress, pads, online.
7. MATCH, MATCH, MATCH. Match content, titles, tags, descriptions, image names, etc. When your information matches up well, Google assumes that you actually know what your key-phrases should be. If you don't know, then why should Google take your recommendations? This goes back to a well defined key-phrase strategy. IF you don't know the best way for people to find you, then Google will assume it is better off guessing, rather than following your advice.
Keyword Research - How Important is it - Is it Expensive?
Firstly, lets talk about why keywords are important, and why keyword research is critical to your website. or blog, or page being found on the vastness of the Internet.
The best way to "visualize" this concept is to take an analogy from the non cyberspace world. Let's suppose you had the most wonderful blue widgets on the whole planet and you decided for economic reasons to set up your store smack bang in the middle of the Sahara Desert!
OK...You realize that after things have been slow for some time, that you really do need to do some radio advertising. That happens, but still your sales are zero, apart from the widget collector who could afford the air fare and the RV rental, and the three days away from their job. The radio ads were fine, but the people looking for blue widgets just couldn't receive the radio signal from the Sahara.
Setting up a website without doing your keyword research is just the same as having a store in the middle of the Sahara.
No one will see you, no one will find you and more importantly, no one will buy your blue widgets. They will buy their blue widgets from the website which appeared on the first page of the search engine. Not because they were better widgets, not because they were better value, but because they never got to see your widgets.
Then you decide to target your audience, and broadcast on Widgets FM..a station dedicated to the survival and design of Blue Widgets. You have made a crucial step...you have not only found the people who are looking for your product, you can supply their wants and needs.
Get the drift?
Having good keywords linked to your website is like a multi million dollar advertising campaign to let people know you have the best blue widgets, and you are located in the Sahara! If your product is good, then they will come.
Now we have people looking at your site and your widgets. To get them to drop by your store is all about your website content! ..but we digress, that is another subject!
The point is, with good keyword use and research you will be found. even in the Sahara Desert.! Much like good , target radio advertising.
The best way to "visualize" this concept is to take an analogy from the non cyberspace world. Let's suppose you had the most wonderful blue widgets on the whole planet and you decided for economic reasons to set up your store smack bang in the middle of the Sahara Desert!
OK...You realize that after things have been slow for some time, that you really do need to do some radio advertising. That happens, but still your sales are zero, apart from the widget collector who could afford the air fare and the RV rental, and the three days away from their job. The radio ads were fine, but the people looking for blue widgets just couldn't receive the radio signal from the Sahara.
Setting up a website without doing your keyword research is just the same as having a store in the middle of the Sahara.
No one will see you, no one will find you and more importantly, no one will buy your blue widgets. They will buy their blue widgets from the website which appeared on the first page of the search engine. Not because they were better widgets, not because they were better value, but because they never got to see your widgets.
Then you decide to target your audience, and broadcast on Widgets FM..a station dedicated to the survival and design of Blue Widgets. You have made a crucial step...you have not only found the people who are looking for your product, you can supply their wants and needs.
Get the drift?
Having good keywords linked to your website is like a multi million dollar advertising campaign to let people know you have the best blue widgets, and you are located in the Sahara! If your product is good, then they will come.
Now we have people looking at your site and your widgets. To get them to drop by your store is all about your website content! ..but we digress, that is another subject!
The point is, with good keyword use and research you will be found. even in the Sahara Desert.! Much like good , target radio advertising.
7 Free Tools to Getting a Huge Following on Twitter
1. Bit.yl.com this free tool Allows you to Shorten, share and track your links. This is very useful as it allows you to fit your own personal URL into your twitter message (as you can only have 140 characters). Following you straight back to your website. Once registration is complete you will then be provided with your "bit.yl" API key. This is the key you need to register with tweetlater.com along with the username you selected at bit.yl.com.
2. Tweetlater.com - Auto Responder This is a free auto responder for Twitter. You will then you have to fill in the general who you are questions. But at the bottom you will be asked to enter your "Bit.yl login & API Key" This is the username name you signed up with and the API provided by bit.yl.com, from step one.
So you're now registered. Once inside click on the blue "Accounts" tab. Then click "Add Accounts". Then you it will give you a selection of four different accounts you can upload, select "Twitter". Now you will have to enter your Twitter "Username & Password", and immediately below the red writing you will see this "Auto Welcome" click this box. This is important. Then below this you can enter your personalised auto follow message. Remember do not sell anything! Make it about them (the reader) and the possible future relationship you want to have with them. I great tip here though for when you are creating your auto response is that, on twitter you can only post 140 characters, so either write your responding message in Twitter then copy it and paste back into the tweetlater.com or vice versa. After filling out the message section scroll down the page and click "auto follow" and "auto unfollow".
The reason you want to click auto unfollow is because if someone decides to unfollow you, it will automatically do it for you and allow you to keep you followers ratio's in check. Then click save at the bottom of the screen. Having done that, go back up to the blue tab click on "List Accounts" here login and you can view your account. Now you want to put some automated content on Twitter to boost those tweets so you can use twollo.com.
3.Go to twitterfeed.com and register an account there. This tool allows you to update your Twitter using feeds.
But before I move onto to how you use this tool, I want you to go to
4. Search4rss.com .
Here you can search relevant feeds in your niche e.g. making money online. It will search the web for relevant feeds (Blogs/websites writing about making money online topics). This is based on your search terms so you can use any relevant keywords related to your niche. **Key point #1 here you want to be providing free value so select the right RSS in regards to this! **Key point #2 do not flood your Twitter account with more then 1 RSS update every 2 days, Twitter will flag you as a spammer. You will notice a blue search bar under the internet browser. Click on this and enter the relevant feeds you are looking for. You then will be provided a list of results click on one that interests you. It will open up a description of the website etc. In the yellow bar up the top there is the title and directly below this is the "Website followed by "Feed URL".
You now want to right click and copy the "Feed URL" Now you want to go back to twitterfeed.com and if you haven't already registered, do that now. You will then be asked to login in using your OpenID. If you signed up at wordpress you already have one. If you have signed up to Google you will have one also. For example your Google email can be used: makingmoneyonline@gmail.com.
Once your inside the members area click on the Highlighted Blue section that says "go to my twitter feeds (or create a new one)" Here you want to click "create new feed". The first thing you now need to do is click on ">>Authenticate at Twitter" Then below this, using the copied Feed URL from your desired source paste it in the "RSS Feed URL" Now select one every 24 hours, otherwise Twitter might think you're a spammer. Also your followers will not enjoy seeing the same repetitive message over and over. Then click create.
Now you have an automated feed that will be updated to your blog once per day, again I recommend not sending multiple messages that are the same, so I usually change it every three days or so, or rotate them with others.
5. Twollo.com - Automatically Follow People With Twollo
1. Log in using your Twitter username and password 2. When inside under "Daily Summary" enter your email address you would want to receive your daily summaries, then click save. 3. Now you want to set up your campaigns. 4. You will see three Fields where you must enter this specific info: 5. Follow - Select "up to 500" 6. English Speaking 7. Then there is a section "Twitters talking about" you want to enter key words related to your niche, e.g. affiliate marketing, making money online etc 8. Then directly underneath click the "add" tab.
So then what this tool will do is search the internet and automatically follows related people from the keyword campaign you created. It will most of the time say it "Found 0 interesting new people" So what you need to do is: Click on the "(Quick Run)" tab it is highlighted blue and is usually sitting to the direct right of the search term e.g. making money online (Quick Run)
This will now do a quick search and auto follow people writing about making money online topics.
So now you have set up one campaign, which will you too automatically follow related people in the making money online niche. Why don't you try some of these key terms and make them campaigns on their own, now just also add as many other keyword campaigns as you can think of related to you. Some key word suggestions: Making money Online, Blogging, Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Traffic, Twitter Traffic, Blog Traffic etc
Remember every time you do this it will likely come up with the term ""Found 0 interesting new people" but again all you need to do is click on the (Quick Run)
Add as many Key words you can think of related to you, and keep clicking (quick run) allowing it to generate a lot more followers per key word. I recommend that you use this to follow double the amount of followers per day. Then after 24 hours use this tool too bring your following/follower's ratio down.
6. Huitter.com/mutuality/
I personally love this tool, it allows you to apply numerous bulk applications. We want to use it for unfollowing members who are not following you back. Sign in using your twitter details, select "unfollow all who do not follow you back" Then click go.
A good reason for using this tool is because Twitter has just recently put a limit to how many people you can follow vs. how many you having following you. This will ensure that you do not get suspended or deleted from twitter.
7. Tweetdeck.com/beta/ - Allows you to connect with Twitter and Facebook member's in One Central Location Up to the top right of the website click on "Download now, it's free" When installation begins you will be prompted to either open or save. Save it to your desktop.
2. Tweetlater.com - Auto Responder This is a free auto responder for Twitter. You will then you have to fill in the general who you are questions. But at the bottom you will be asked to enter your "Bit.yl login & API Key" This is the username name you signed up with and the API provided by bit.yl.com, from step one.
So you're now registered. Once inside click on the blue "Accounts" tab. Then click "Add Accounts". Then you it will give you a selection of four different accounts you can upload, select "Twitter". Now you will have to enter your Twitter "Username & Password", and immediately below the red writing you will see this "Auto Welcome" click this box. This is important. Then below this you can enter your personalised auto follow message. Remember do not sell anything! Make it about them (the reader) and the possible future relationship you want to have with them. I great tip here though for when you are creating your auto response is that, on twitter you can only post 140 characters, so either write your responding message in Twitter then copy it and paste back into the tweetlater.com or vice versa. After filling out the message section scroll down the page and click "auto follow" and "auto unfollow".
The reason you want to click auto unfollow is because if someone decides to unfollow you, it will automatically do it for you and allow you to keep you followers ratio's in check. Then click save at the bottom of the screen. Having done that, go back up to the blue tab click on "List Accounts" here login and you can view your account. Now you want to put some automated content on Twitter to boost those tweets so you can use twollo.com.
3.Go to twitterfeed.com and register an account there. This tool allows you to update your Twitter using feeds.
But before I move onto to how you use this tool, I want you to go to
4. Search4rss.com .
Here you can search relevant feeds in your niche e.g. making money online. It will search the web for relevant feeds (Blogs/websites writing about making money online topics). This is based on your search terms so you can use any relevant keywords related to your niche. **Key point #1 here you want to be providing free value so select the right RSS in regards to this! **Key point #2 do not flood your Twitter account with more then 1 RSS update every 2 days, Twitter will flag you as a spammer. You will notice a blue search bar under the internet browser. Click on this and enter the relevant feeds you are looking for. You then will be provided a list of results click on one that interests you. It will open up a description of the website etc. In the yellow bar up the top there is the title and directly below this is the "Website followed by "Feed URL".
You now want to right click and copy the "Feed URL" Now you want to go back to twitterfeed.com and if you haven't already registered, do that now. You will then be asked to login in using your OpenID. If you signed up at wordpress you already have one. If you have signed up to Google you will have one also. For example your Google email can be used: makingmoneyonline@gmail.com.
Once your inside the members area click on the Highlighted Blue section that says "go to my twitter feeds (or create a new one)" Here you want to click "create new feed". The first thing you now need to do is click on ">>Authenticate at Twitter" Then below this, using the copied Feed URL from your desired source paste it in the "RSS Feed URL" Now select one every 24 hours, otherwise Twitter might think you're a spammer. Also your followers will not enjoy seeing the same repetitive message over and over. Then click create.
Now you have an automated feed that will be updated to your blog once per day, again I recommend not sending multiple messages that are the same, so I usually change it every three days or so, or rotate them with others.
5. Twollo.com - Automatically Follow People With Twollo
1. Log in using your Twitter username and password 2. When inside under "Daily Summary" enter your email address you would want to receive your daily summaries, then click save. 3. Now you want to set up your campaigns. 4. You will see three Fields where you must enter this specific info: 5. Follow - Select "up to 500" 6. English Speaking 7. Then there is a section "Twitters talking about" you want to enter key words related to your niche, e.g. affiliate marketing, making money online etc 8. Then directly underneath click the "add" tab.
So then what this tool will do is search the internet and automatically follows related people from the keyword campaign you created. It will most of the time say it "Found 0 interesting new people" So what you need to do is: Click on the "(Quick Run)" tab it is highlighted blue and is usually sitting to the direct right of the search term e.g. making money online (Quick Run)
This will now do a quick search and auto follow people writing about making money online topics.
So now you have set up one campaign, which will you too automatically follow related people in the making money online niche. Why don't you try some of these key terms and make them campaigns on their own, now just also add as many other keyword campaigns as you can think of related to you. Some key word suggestions: Making money Online, Blogging, Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Traffic, Twitter Traffic, Blog Traffic etc
Remember every time you do this it will likely come up with the term ""Found 0 interesting new people" but again all you need to do is click on the (Quick Run)
Add as many Key words you can think of related to you, and keep clicking (quick run) allowing it to generate a lot more followers per key word. I recommend that you use this to follow double the amount of followers per day. Then after 24 hours use this tool too bring your following/follower's ratio down.
6. Huitter.com/mutuality/
I personally love this tool, it allows you to apply numerous bulk applications. We want to use it for unfollowing members who are not following you back. Sign in using your twitter details, select "unfollow all who do not follow you back" Then click go.
A good reason for using this tool is because Twitter has just recently put a limit to how many people you can follow vs. how many you having following you. This will ensure that you do not get suspended or deleted from twitter.
7. Tweetdeck.com/beta/ - Allows you to connect with Twitter and Facebook member's in One Central Location Up to the top right of the website click on "Download now, it's free" When installation begins you will be prompted to either open or save. Save it to your desktop.
Facebook For Marketing Your Financial Planning Business - 4 Strategies
Facebook is an internet marketer's dream, if used properly. This article focuses on financial advisers who may be starting out or who want to expand their online marketing strategies.
If you're wondering how to become a financial adviser, the info at the end of this article will help you evaluate your business options.
Note: I'll assume that you already have a free Facebook account. If you've been living under a rock somewhere, and don't have a Facebook account yet, head on over after reading this article and set up your account. It's free and it's a no-brainer for any business owner. I'll also assume that you'll begin searching for your existing client base on Facebook, and that you're actively inviting them to be your friends.
Another note: Make sure you check with compliance about your company's rules for online client interaction. If your compliance department is anything like mind was, they've got a book on it.
Let's get started:
Strategy #1: Start a Facebook group. The advantage of starting a group is credibility. Set up a group that's relevant to the area of being a financial adviser, that would appeal to clients. Make it a Getting Wealthy Club or an Investing for Great Returns Club.
When you set up the group, clearly state your 'credo', which is a statement of purpose for what this group is all about.
Once you start the group, invite your clients to join the group.
Then, visit the group daily, posting your comments, ideas and/or wealth building strategies. You'll gain credibility and your clients will gain knowledge and a closer connection with you...which means more money. Financial planning success is built on relationships.
Strategy #2: Comment daily on your own feed with your meaningful thoughts. That means to go daily to your own Facebook page and post a meaningful thought for the day-one that will appeal to your clients.
As a financial adviser, you want to stay top of mind to your clients. This is a great way to interact with them, without selling something or seeming pushy.
Important Note: Do not post what cereal you're having for breakfast or any of the other minutiae of life you'll find on Facebook. That's not effective marketing. You want to make your posts meaningful to your clients.
Strategy #3: Keep your clients on a separate list on Facebook and respond meaningfully to selected posts. Creating a list is easy, and it means that only those who are on the list will see the feeds for that list. You don't want to mix your friends.
This is very important!
Keep your clients separate from your friends/family! Business is business and play is play. Keep this boundary in place. Then, when your clients post things that are going on in their lives, take note. Comment when you feel inclined too. Otherwise, keep the info in mind, for instance, a kid's graduation, or a client who's preparing for a marathon.
People share all kinds of personal info on Facebook with their friends, and you can use that info to create deeper bonds, because you care.
Strategy #4: Search for people in your niche market and invite them to be your friends. Facebook folks don't seem to mind who invites them to be friends, it seems that most people on Facebook are open. There are some who are picky about friends, but they are by far the minority.
Facebook is one big party, so invite people who are in your target market to join your party. That way, they're being exposed to your skill and expertise as a financial advisor on a daily basis. Sooner or later, they'll connect with you personally.
Hint: you can find people in your niche market by the droves by searching the existing groups on Facebook.
So there you have it, 4 Facebook marketing strategies that are easy, and the best part is, you can begin today!
I wish Facebook had been an option in the days when I was getting started as a financial adviser. It wasn't. But today, you can use this powerful medium to market yourself effectively, for free, and add to your client base, while solidifying existing relationships.
Good fortune to you!
If you're wondering how to become a financial adviser, the info at the end of this article will help you evaluate your business options.
Note: I'll assume that you already have a free Facebook account. If you've been living under a rock somewhere, and don't have a Facebook account yet, head on over after reading this article and set up your account. It's free and it's a no-brainer for any business owner. I'll also assume that you'll begin searching for your existing client base on Facebook, and that you're actively inviting them to be your friends.
Another note: Make sure you check with compliance about your company's rules for online client interaction. If your compliance department is anything like mind was, they've got a book on it.
Let's get started:
Strategy #1: Start a Facebook group. The advantage of starting a group is credibility. Set up a group that's relevant to the area of being a financial adviser, that would appeal to clients. Make it a Getting Wealthy Club or an Investing for Great Returns Club.
When you set up the group, clearly state your 'credo', which is a statement of purpose for what this group is all about.
Once you start the group, invite your clients to join the group.
Then, visit the group daily, posting your comments, ideas and/or wealth building strategies. You'll gain credibility and your clients will gain knowledge and a closer connection with you...which means more money. Financial planning success is built on relationships.
Strategy #2: Comment daily on your own feed with your meaningful thoughts. That means to go daily to your own Facebook page and post a meaningful thought for the day-one that will appeal to your clients.
As a financial adviser, you want to stay top of mind to your clients. This is a great way to interact with them, without selling something or seeming pushy.
Important Note: Do not post what cereal you're having for breakfast or any of the other minutiae of life you'll find on Facebook. That's not effective marketing. You want to make your posts meaningful to your clients.
Strategy #3: Keep your clients on a separate list on Facebook and respond meaningfully to selected posts. Creating a list is easy, and it means that only those who are on the list will see the feeds for that list. You don't want to mix your friends.
This is very important!
Keep your clients separate from your friends/family! Business is business and play is play. Keep this boundary in place. Then, when your clients post things that are going on in their lives, take note. Comment when you feel inclined too. Otherwise, keep the info in mind, for instance, a kid's graduation, or a client who's preparing for a marathon.
People share all kinds of personal info on Facebook with their friends, and you can use that info to create deeper bonds, because you care.
Strategy #4: Search for people in your niche market and invite them to be your friends. Facebook folks don't seem to mind who invites them to be friends, it seems that most people on Facebook are open. There are some who are picky about friends, but they are by far the minority.
Facebook is one big party, so invite people who are in your target market to join your party. That way, they're being exposed to your skill and expertise as a financial advisor on a daily basis. Sooner or later, they'll connect with you personally.
Hint: you can find people in your niche market by the droves by searching the existing groups on Facebook.
So there you have it, 4 Facebook marketing strategies that are easy, and the best part is, you can begin today!
I wish Facebook had been an option in the days when I was getting started as a financial adviser. It wasn't. But today, you can use this powerful medium to market yourself effectively, for free, and add to your client base, while solidifying existing relationships.
Good fortune to you!
Twitter Tips
1. Smile. Everything on Twitter is public.
2. Tweet only. Twitter is not a substitute for personal or business email. Everything on Twitter is public.
3. Tweet regularly, so followers have something to follow.
4. Get to the point. You have only 140 characters, so say what you have to say, period.
5. Blow your own horn, but softly. Followers want to know who you are, what your are doing, even what you are selling, but followers will turn off blowhards.
6. Twitter is a social networking site: anyone can find you and see who you are following and who is following you. Everything on Twitter is public.
7. Tweet. This is not Facebook, Linkedin, Plurker, or any other website. Unlike Facebook, for example, Twitter does not ask your permission before establishing links between users (for the exception, see number 12 below). Everything on Twitter is public.
8. Any message containing @yourTwitterID is a "mention" that appears in your replies (your Home; at right of your Home page, click @yourTwitterID to see just where you have been mentioned). This means that your staff, customers, family, and friends can increase the visibility of your Twitter page, provide a link to your Profile page, and you can see how they are working you into their tweets.
9. If you use your real name at Settings/Name, people searching by your name can find you on Twitter, and your name would appear on the Profile page open to the public; this enables people to find you by name, in addition to your username (business name).
10. Yes, you may tweet through your mobile phone; set it up at your Settings/Devices page.
11. Protect your copyrights and trademarks by remembering that everything on Twitter is public. You post it means you release it to the public, publish it online.
12. Using the privacy protection option limits who can view your updates to those people whom you approve. This option omits your updates from the public timeline, and this keeps your updates out of search results. This is not a marketing strategy.
2. Tweet only. Twitter is not a substitute for personal or business email. Everything on Twitter is public.
3. Tweet regularly, so followers have something to follow.
4. Get to the point. You have only 140 characters, so say what you have to say, period.
5. Blow your own horn, but softly. Followers want to know who you are, what your are doing, even what you are selling, but followers will turn off blowhards.
6. Twitter is a social networking site: anyone can find you and see who you are following and who is following you. Everything on Twitter is public.
7. Tweet. This is not Facebook, Linkedin, Plurker, or any other website. Unlike Facebook, for example, Twitter does not ask your permission before establishing links between users (for the exception, see number 12 below). Everything on Twitter is public.
8. Any message containing @yourTwitterID is a "mention" that appears in your replies (your Home; at right of your Home page, click @yourTwitterID to see just where you have been mentioned). This means that your staff, customers, family, and friends can increase the visibility of your Twitter page, provide a link to your Profile page, and you can see how they are working you into their tweets.
9. If you use your real name at Settings/Name, people searching by your name can find you on Twitter, and your name would appear on the Profile page open to the public; this enables people to find you by name, in addition to your username (business name).
10. Yes, you may tweet through your mobile phone; set it up at your Settings/Devices page.
11. Protect your copyrights and trademarks by remembering that everything on Twitter is public. You post it means you release it to the public, publish it online.
12. Using the privacy protection option limits who can view your updates to those people whom you approve. This option omits your updates from the public timeline, and this keeps your updates out of search results. This is not a marketing strategy.
Non Profits & Twitter - Social Networking - Build Your Tribe
Before I got started in Internet Marketing, I worked many years for a non-profit organization in the development / fund raising world. I remember the passion that I felt about the organization, I remember the distinct passion that many other's felt for the organization as well. When it comes to development / fund raising work, people GIVE for a few reasons.
1.) They are so passionate about the mission of the non-profit that they feel compelled to be a part of it financially. 2.) They want to BELONG or be a valued member of the organization.
3.) They love to see their name and gather recognition. Anyway you look at all three of these factors, there is one common bond. BELONGING. People love to belong, people need to belong, people are passionate about belonging.
I was reflecting this AM on the way to work about how amazing it WOULD have been when I was in development if I had Twitter or LinkedIn, or Facebook. Think about how quickly I could have built a TRIBE around the non-profit, I could have reached out to all of those folks on Twitter who had been touched in some way by the organization. I could have located EVERY alumni of the summer camp rapidly and then discovered more about them. I could have taken a poll to see what these folks value the most instantly, the bottom line, it would have revolutionized the way that fundraising and development work got done. Here are some suggestions for your non-profit:
* Use search.twitter.com to find people who are interested in your organization's cause and start following them.
* Use LinkedIn and it's advanced search feature to start finding individuals who have been touched by your organization or know of someone who has.
* Use Facebook to start gathering fans of your organization and spread the word rapidly about upcoming events, fundraisers, etc.
* Inspire people on YouTube with a video on your cause.
* Start blogging about the many lives that your organization has touched.
* Use online press releases to inspire and start reaching out to a whole new audience / segment of the population.
* Learn about your followers / tribe members and utilize that research in development.
* Use Twitter to share quick stories (under 140 characters of course) about the lives you continue to touch.
Bottom line: non-profits tend to be the last to embrace technology and new ways of doing things. Transform your Church, your College or Institution, your health care organization, whatever your cause may be by reaching out and building a tribe. Help your prospects belong by a few keystrokes.
Thomas Jelneck is owner / president of On Target Web Solutions, Inc, an Orlando based Internet Marketing web design and SEO marketing firm. Thomas has over 11 years of Internet Marketing experience and is an avid blogger on all things Internet Marketing.
On Target serves small to medium sized businesses seeking to grow their companies online and is passionate about providing targeted results to their clients.
1.) They are so passionate about the mission of the non-profit that they feel compelled to be a part of it financially. 2.) They want to BELONG or be a valued member of the organization.
3.) They love to see their name and gather recognition. Anyway you look at all three of these factors, there is one common bond. BELONGING. People love to belong, people need to belong, people are passionate about belonging.
I was reflecting this AM on the way to work about how amazing it WOULD have been when I was in development if I had Twitter or LinkedIn, or Facebook. Think about how quickly I could have built a TRIBE around the non-profit, I could have reached out to all of those folks on Twitter who had been touched in some way by the organization. I could have located EVERY alumni of the summer camp rapidly and then discovered more about them. I could have taken a poll to see what these folks value the most instantly, the bottom line, it would have revolutionized the way that fundraising and development work got done. Here are some suggestions for your non-profit:
* Use search.twitter.com to find people who are interested in your organization's cause and start following them.
* Use LinkedIn and it's advanced search feature to start finding individuals who have been touched by your organization or know of someone who has.
* Use Facebook to start gathering fans of your organization and spread the word rapidly about upcoming events, fundraisers, etc.
* Inspire people on YouTube with a video on your cause.
* Start blogging about the many lives that your organization has touched.
* Use online press releases to inspire and start reaching out to a whole new audience / segment of the population.
* Learn about your followers / tribe members and utilize that research in development.
* Use Twitter to share quick stories (under 140 characters of course) about the lives you continue to touch.
Bottom line: non-profits tend to be the last to embrace technology and new ways of doing things. Transform your Church, your College or Institution, your health care organization, whatever your cause may be by reaching out and building a tribe. Help your prospects belong by a few keystrokes.
Thomas Jelneck is owner / president of On Target Web Solutions, Inc, an Orlando based Internet Marketing web design and SEO marketing firm. Thomas has over 11 years of Internet Marketing experience and is an avid blogger on all things Internet Marketing.
On Target serves small to medium sized businesses seeking to grow their companies online and is passionate about providing targeted results to their clients.
Can You Really Get Leads From Facebook by Just Adding Friends?
There are many people that think that you're able to get leads from Facebook by just adding friends. The truth is that Facebook and any other social site similar to it just don't work to promote your business. The honest truth is that you may get some people to be interested in what you have to offer but is not going to be an effective way to promote your business. If you decide to utilize Facebook as your main promotional method you're really not going to see good results.
If you want to achieve the success that you are getting to your business the best way is going to be to utilize article marketing. The way that I handle my businesses is to simply use article marketing as my main promotional method and doing it consistently on a daily basis. By doing this you're going to be able to see real leads come into your business. The good thing about article marketing is that is completely free and all your investing is your time.
Once you are utilizing article marketing as your main way to promote your business then you can go head and use Facebook, MySpace and even twitter for building your Internet presence. When people start to notice you they are going to be interested in what you have to offer and know simply ask you if you want to get started. You honestly do not have to force anything to go get them signed up.
The big mistake that many people make is that they spam everybody in the social site in order to get them involved in the business. As I mentioned before if you use article marketing as your main promotional method and just focus on that there is not going to be any need for you to start looking for leads in Facebook or any of those sites.
If you want to achieve the success that you are getting to your business the best way is going to be to utilize article marketing. The way that I handle my businesses is to simply use article marketing as my main promotional method and doing it consistently on a daily basis. By doing this you're going to be able to see real leads come into your business. The good thing about article marketing is that is completely free and all your investing is your time.
Once you are utilizing article marketing as your main way to promote your business then you can go head and use Facebook, MySpace and even twitter for building your Internet presence. When people start to notice you they are going to be interested in what you have to offer and know simply ask you if you want to get started. You honestly do not have to force anything to go get them signed up.
The big mistake that many people make is that they spam everybody in the social site in order to get them involved in the business. As I mentioned before if you use article marketing as your main promotional method and just focus on that there is not going to be any need for you to start looking for leads in Facebook or any of those sites.
How to Build Your Internet Presence Using Twitter
In order for you to build your Internet presence using Twitter there are just a few simple steps that you must take. The first thing that you must understand is that you should never spam your link to anyone that is on Twitter because they are not going to respect you. Just like with any social site you want to be able to build a relationship with the people in Twitter and gain their trust. By doing this you're going to be building your Internet presence and they're going to know you as a person who is real.
There are going to be many people on Twitter that are going to be spreading their link all over the place and those are the people that don't get any respect. So by being unique and actually being a real person and talking to them and even giving them advice you're going to set yourself apart from the rest.
As I mentioned people are going to know you for who you really are and they're going to respect you. It is going to take some time for you to build the relationship with these people but as I mentioned before you don't have to put in too much time into it as long as you do it consistently on a daily basis.
If you stay consistent and build the relationship with them by communicating on a daily basis even if is a little bit you're going to be successful in building an Internet presence. But keep in mind that this is just building an Internet presence it is not promoting your business. You're actually going to be promoting yourself and people are going to be interested in what you have to say and what you are about.
There are going to be many people on Twitter that are going to be spreading their link all over the place and those are the people that don't get any respect. So by being unique and actually being a real person and talking to them and even giving them advice you're going to set yourself apart from the rest.
As I mentioned people are going to know you for who you really are and they're going to respect you. It is going to take some time for you to build the relationship with these people but as I mentioned before you don't have to put in too much time into it as long as you do it consistently on a daily basis.
If you stay consistent and build the relationship with them by communicating on a daily basis even if is a little bit you're going to be successful in building an Internet presence. But keep in mind that this is just building an Internet presence it is not promoting your business. You're actually going to be promoting yourself and people are going to be interested in what you have to say and what you are about.
Define Social Networking
Define Social Networking. It's easy, isn't it? It's because if you've been an Internet user for the past few years, you've probably done this at least once in your life. But if you have been living under a rock for the past years, let me define it for you. It is the grouping of individuals. The grouping is usually defined by common interests, hobbies and affiliations. I'm sure we're guilty of doing that ever since we were young. We often have our own social groups. That's why the saying "birds of the same feather, flock together" is extremely popular because we've been living it.
But how does that affect home business owners and Internet marketers? Define Social Networking and home business together. It's harder isn't it? While it's a common practice for home business owners nowadays, it's unfortunate that not a lot of business owners experience success using this strategy.
Why is it important to home business owners? We rely on advertising to be successful in business. That's a fact. While it's necessary that we spend on advertising, what's stopping us from trying to avail of free advertising? Memberships to these sites are usually free. If we have an hour or so of free time each day to spend on these sites and to advertise for free, then I say that's an efficient way of spending your free time. Define Social Networking and what it means to us home business owners and you get marketing.
Social Networking sites are extremely viral when it comes to marketing. If you are in the home business industry, you want to get as much quality leads as you can. The beauty of Social Networking sites is we get the chance to group with people who we think can be quality leads. That means if we have 500 connections that we got from properly choosing who to connect with based on the probability of them being future customers, we have 500 people who can see the marketing efforts that we do in our Social Networking site. Then the connections of the 500 people that you're connected with will also get the chance to see it. It cannot get any viral than that.
But in order to maximize its effects, it will still depend on you and your business. Users can be snobbish if what you are offering isn't interesting at all. Define Social Networking and you get success if you have the right business. It's just a matter of checking out all the legitimate opportunities that you can in order to find the right one. You can start and end your search by visiting SixFiguresPro.com. You can find a lot of helpful information about how to succeed in home business. You can subscribe for free to get helpful information on what to do to maximize your strategy. It is supposed to be fun. Make it more fun by succeeding.
But how does that affect home business owners and Internet marketers? Define Social Networking and home business together. It's harder isn't it? While it's a common practice for home business owners nowadays, it's unfortunate that not a lot of business owners experience success using this strategy.
Why is it important to home business owners? We rely on advertising to be successful in business. That's a fact. While it's necessary that we spend on advertising, what's stopping us from trying to avail of free advertising? Memberships to these sites are usually free. If we have an hour or so of free time each day to spend on these sites and to advertise for free, then I say that's an efficient way of spending your free time. Define Social Networking and what it means to us home business owners and you get marketing.
Social Networking sites are extremely viral when it comes to marketing. If you are in the home business industry, you want to get as much quality leads as you can. The beauty of Social Networking sites is we get the chance to group with people who we think can be quality leads. That means if we have 500 connections that we got from properly choosing who to connect with based on the probability of them being future customers, we have 500 people who can see the marketing efforts that we do in our Social Networking site. Then the connections of the 500 people that you're connected with will also get the chance to see it. It cannot get any viral than that.
But in order to maximize its effects, it will still depend on you and your business. Users can be snobbish if what you are offering isn't interesting at all. Define Social Networking and you get success if you have the right business. It's just a matter of checking out all the legitimate opportunities that you can in order to find the right one. You can start and end your search by visiting SixFiguresPro.com. You can find a lot of helpful information about how to succeed in home business. You can subscribe for free to get helpful information on what to do to maximize your strategy. It is supposed to be fun. Make it more fun by succeeding.
The Who and Why of the Top Ten Social Media Sites
It's hard to believe, but email is starting to become a thing of the past. Social Networks are continuing to dominate online communication. Why spend time attaching a photo in an email when you could just post it to your Facebook page? Why have an email address when you can have your own personal URL? Why email one customer about your businesses promotions when you could tell thousands at once? Why? Why? and more Why's? The list goes on and when you think hard you may start to wonder...dare I say it...Why even use email? While that question may be a stretch now, soon enough it might be a question you find yourself asking others. Statistics show that Facebook is by far the most popular service for sharing content online. 24% of all content being shared is through Facebook. That easily towers over email's 11.1%. Even Twitter, which was only started 3 years ago, is as popular of a sharing service as Email.
My point is, if your not in the loop, jump in! You may ask yourself, am I too far behind? or am I too old to start sharing on social platforms? or will the whole world constantly be tracking me? The answer is No. Social media can be utilized by all age groups and you can personally choose what you want to share and who you want to share it with. Below is a list of the top 10 social media sites that I suggest using and why.
Who? Facebook
Why? With over 250 million users, Facebook can connect you to pretty much anybody or anything. Use Facebook to get in touch with friends from all over the world and stay up-to-date on their lives. Also promote your business and brand using Facebook Pages to engaging with "fans" and showcasing resourceful updates on your wall. If you're already familiar with Facebook, I suggest diving into many of the advanced features and functions Facebook offers, as they can surely help you gain an even larger presence for yourself or your business. Start with these Facebook Essentials and then check out these tips on Facebook Fan Pages.
Who? Twitter
Why? "Nice to Tweet you!" is becoming a common phrase these days. Twitter has absorbed close to 10% of all content shared online. Using Twitter to engage with others and provide frequent updates about your life and business can prove to be extremely beneficial. For example, let customers know via Twitter that you just opened a new office, or discounted product, even share a new home for sale. But don't forget to interact with others...this is not a one way communication tool. If used correctly, Twitter can get you networking with large amounts of people...quickly! For more info, see great tips on how to build a following on Twitter or read about using Twitter to grow your business.
Who? StumbleUpon
Why? Known best for its "Stumble Tool Bar" which leads you around the web, StumbleUpon is great for discovering websites and sharing them amongst the community. Use StumbleUpon to find websites you never knew existed that may be useful to you. Also use stumble upon to add and promote web pages that the community can rate and review while stumbling the web. The more ratings a web page gets, the more likely StumbleUpon will send traffic in the form of new Stumblers. For more StumbleUpon tips check out Writing from StumbleUpon & How to build traffic with StumbleUpon.
Who? Digg
Why? Similar to StumbleUpon, Digg.com is a social news site that gives users the chance to share any kind of web content by submitting websites that people can vote on or "digg". Digg can be used to promote your website or blog postings by submitting it to the community and if enough users happens to digg your site, the traffic will flood in. Read more on how to use Digg to generate traffic to your site.
Who? YouTube
Why? Now I know everyone has heard of YouTube...so no need to reiterate that its the best place to upload, share, discover, and view videos. However, if you're trying to promote yourself or a company, video is the way to go. Now, it's becoming a necessity to have a web video for your business, local area etc. For more information, start with these tips on promoting your brand or business on YouTube.
Who? Linkedin
Why? Use Linkedin for professional networking purposes. With over 170 different industries covered and over 40 million individuals signed up, Linkedin is an awesome place for making contacts. It is also a great social network for recommending job seekers to employers through the use of your Linkedin contact list. For more info, read this list of 7 great tips for Linkedin beginners.
Who? YahooBuzz
Why? Lately Yahoo Buzz is generating a lot of buzz of its own. Link up to everyone! Yahoo buzz allows you to publish news online and link your story to many other websites. Vote, share, and comment on stories to generate buzz around them & they will gain more traction on the site. You can also use the Yahoo Buzz button to promote your Stories on the web. Here is more on using and installing the Yahoo Buzz button and some quick Yahoo Buzz tips.
Who? Reddit
Why? Use Reddit to get user rated news from all over the web. You can search using keywords to find news on the subject of your choice. As a social news site, Reddit also allows you to post news stories that can then get rated by the Reddit community & gain exposure. For more explanation, read how to use Reddit to generate traffic to your site.
Who? ActiveRain
Why? ActiveRain has become the most popular social network for Realtors to interact. ActiveRain aActiveRainLogollows real estate agents and others in the real estate industry to create a profile and share stories with the rest of the community. ActiveRain has over 150,000 professionals as of now. If you are a real estate agent and don't have a profile on ActiveRain, trust me, you want to get one started! To learn more, start with the official ActiveRain Guide.
With Social Media on the rise, getting connected through different social media networks is a must. Connecting and sharing with others online will improve your chances to grow your business, grow your own online presence and even your trust. I suggest starting on or improving on the social platforms above. Get Going with these 50 do-it-yourself marketing ideas for your business.
My point is, if your not in the loop, jump in! You may ask yourself, am I too far behind? or am I too old to start sharing on social platforms? or will the whole world constantly be tracking me? The answer is No. Social media can be utilized by all age groups and you can personally choose what you want to share and who you want to share it with. Below is a list of the top 10 social media sites that I suggest using and why.
Who? Facebook
Why? With over 250 million users, Facebook can connect you to pretty much anybody or anything. Use Facebook to get in touch with friends from all over the world and stay up-to-date on their lives. Also promote your business and brand using Facebook Pages to engaging with "fans" and showcasing resourceful updates on your wall. If you're already familiar with Facebook, I suggest diving into many of the advanced features and functions Facebook offers, as they can surely help you gain an even larger presence for yourself or your business. Start with these Facebook Essentials and then check out these tips on Facebook Fan Pages.
Who? Twitter
Why? "Nice to Tweet you!" is becoming a common phrase these days. Twitter has absorbed close to 10% of all content shared online. Using Twitter to engage with others and provide frequent updates about your life and business can prove to be extremely beneficial. For example, let customers know via Twitter that you just opened a new office, or discounted product, even share a new home for sale. But don't forget to interact with others...this is not a one way communication tool. If used correctly, Twitter can get you networking with large amounts of people...quickly! For more info, see great tips on how to build a following on Twitter or read about using Twitter to grow your business.
Who? StumbleUpon
Why? Known best for its "Stumble Tool Bar" which leads you around the web, StumbleUpon is great for discovering websites and sharing them amongst the community. Use StumbleUpon to find websites you never knew existed that may be useful to you. Also use stumble upon to add and promote web pages that the community can rate and review while stumbling the web. The more ratings a web page gets, the more likely StumbleUpon will send traffic in the form of new Stumblers. For more StumbleUpon tips check out Writing from StumbleUpon & How to build traffic with StumbleUpon.
Who? Digg
Why? Similar to StumbleUpon, Digg.com is a social news site that gives users the chance to share any kind of web content by submitting websites that people can vote on or "digg". Digg can be used to promote your website or blog postings by submitting it to the community and if enough users happens to digg your site, the traffic will flood in. Read more on how to use Digg to generate traffic to your site.
Who? YouTube
Why? Now I know everyone has heard of YouTube...so no need to reiterate that its the best place to upload, share, discover, and view videos. However, if you're trying to promote yourself or a company, video is the way to go. Now, it's becoming a necessity to have a web video for your business, local area etc. For more information, start with these tips on promoting your brand or business on YouTube.
Who? Linkedin
Why? Use Linkedin for professional networking purposes. With over 170 different industries covered and over 40 million individuals signed up, Linkedin is an awesome place for making contacts. It is also a great social network for recommending job seekers to employers through the use of your Linkedin contact list. For more info, read this list of 7 great tips for Linkedin beginners.
Who? YahooBuzz
Why? Lately Yahoo Buzz is generating a lot of buzz of its own. Link up to everyone! Yahoo buzz allows you to publish news online and link your story to many other websites. Vote, share, and comment on stories to generate buzz around them & they will gain more traction on the site. You can also use the Yahoo Buzz button to promote your Stories on the web. Here is more on using and installing the Yahoo Buzz button and some quick Yahoo Buzz tips.
Who? Reddit
Why? Use Reddit to get user rated news from all over the web. You can search using keywords to find news on the subject of your choice. As a social news site, Reddit also allows you to post news stories that can then get rated by the Reddit community & gain exposure. For more explanation, read how to use Reddit to generate traffic to your site.
Who? ActiveRain
Why? ActiveRain has become the most popular social network for Realtors to interact. ActiveRain aActiveRainLogollows real estate agents and others in the real estate industry to create a profile and share stories with the rest of the community. ActiveRain has over 150,000 professionals as of now. If you are a real estate agent and don't have a profile on ActiveRain, trust me, you want to get one started! To learn more, start with the official ActiveRain Guide.
With Social Media on the rise, getting connected through different social media networks is a must. Connecting and sharing with others online will improve your chances to grow your business, grow your own online presence and even your trust. I suggest starting on or improving on the social platforms above. Get Going with these 50 do-it-yourself marketing ideas for your business.
How to Separate the Personal From the Professional in Social Networking
The professional/personal divide for social networking is a big deal for a lot of people. It's a question we've been asked at just about every single event, presentation, or workshop on social media we've delivered, during in-person networking sessions, and heard as attendees at other social-media-related soirees.
Personal privacy concerns play into it. A company's legal liability and reputation also play into it. And the media highlights incidents of people who either aren't using common sense or don't know how to control their privacy settings properly.
You may have heard about the Philadelphia Eagles part-time employee who complained on Facebook about a trade the Eagles didn't make, and was fired as a result. D'oh! Or the person who lost a job offer from Cisco for tweeting about the choice of taking a good paycheck but hating the work and the commute.
Things like this happen all the time, and happened well before social media ever came along. Stupid emails accidentally sent company-wide, inappropriate remarks in meetings, bad behavior at office parties...the list goes on and on.
So rather than limit the professional/personal conversation to social networking, let's look at it in terms of networking in general.
When you go to an "offline" networking event, do you ever, only, and exclusively talk about business? Of course not! You talk about the weather, baseball, traffic, kids, movies, and all the other water-cooler-type topics that ultimately become fertile ground for creative collaborations, engaging services, and even striking business deals.
It's an open secret that, at its core, business is not about "business." It's about people and relationships. People want to create relationships, and do business with people who they enjoy, respect, and feel comfortable with. For that to be at all possible, mixing the professional and the personal - in a way that feels comfortable for you, demonstrates professionalism, and respects the tenets of respect and human decency - has never been easier, or smarter, for your business success.
As a result, when asked about "professional versus personal," we add a third category to the conversation - "private."
You don't talk about the unexpected blemish that's developed in your bathing suit area. You don't talk about how you want to tell off your boss with every four-letter word you can think of. You don't put anything online that you would be embarrassed to see on the front page of the New York Times.
In fact, asking yourself that gut-check, common-sense question, "Would I be okay if this was read or seen by millions of people, including my neighbors, colleagues, and grandmother?" before you share your thoughts online is all you really need to do to manage the professional/personal/private divide.
Your clients, prospects, partners, and allies all want to know there's a savvy business mind at work when they connect with you. They also want to know you're human. As business becomes ever more competitive, the personal connection becomes ever more vital.
Social networking tools allow you to mix the professional AND the personal with confidence and your own unique flair, for maximum value. So dive in and start sharing!
Personal privacy concerns play into it. A company's legal liability and reputation also play into it. And the media highlights incidents of people who either aren't using common sense or don't know how to control their privacy settings properly.
You may have heard about the Philadelphia Eagles part-time employee who complained on Facebook about a trade the Eagles didn't make, and was fired as a result. D'oh! Or the person who lost a job offer from Cisco for tweeting about the choice of taking a good paycheck but hating the work and the commute.
Things like this happen all the time, and happened well before social media ever came along. Stupid emails accidentally sent company-wide, inappropriate remarks in meetings, bad behavior at office parties...the list goes on and on.
So rather than limit the professional/personal conversation to social networking, let's look at it in terms of networking in general.
When you go to an "offline" networking event, do you ever, only, and exclusively talk about business? Of course not! You talk about the weather, baseball, traffic, kids, movies, and all the other water-cooler-type topics that ultimately become fertile ground for creative collaborations, engaging services, and even striking business deals.
It's an open secret that, at its core, business is not about "business." It's about people and relationships. People want to create relationships, and do business with people who they enjoy, respect, and feel comfortable with. For that to be at all possible, mixing the professional and the personal - in a way that feels comfortable for you, demonstrates professionalism, and respects the tenets of respect and human decency - has never been easier, or smarter, for your business success.
As a result, when asked about "professional versus personal," we add a third category to the conversation - "private."
You don't talk about the unexpected blemish that's developed in your bathing suit area. You don't talk about how you want to tell off your boss with every four-letter word you can think of. You don't put anything online that you would be embarrassed to see on the front page of the New York Times.
In fact, asking yourself that gut-check, common-sense question, "Would I be okay if this was read or seen by millions of people, including my neighbors, colleagues, and grandmother?" before you share your thoughts online is all you really need to do to manage the professional/personal/private divide.
Your clients, prospects, partners, and allies all want to know there's a savvy business mind at work when they connect with you. They also want to know you're human. As business becomes ever more competitive, the personal connection becomes ever more vital.
Social networking tools allow you to mix the professional AND the personal with confidence and your own unique flair, for maximum value. So dive in and start sharing!
Are Your Social Networking Skills Killing Your Website?
Social networking is hands down the hottest thing on the Web right now. If you want targeted traffic, the social networks: YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter are the place to find it. While social networks are popular among users as a place to, well, socialize and make new friends, these Internet hotspots are also ripe with business opportunity.
To make the most of social networking from a professional perspective, you have to take a unique approach. Blindly spamming these networks will not earn you any new traffic, nor will it make you any friends. If you post a message or engage in any interaction that remotely resembles SPAM, you will be largely ignored by your fellow users and could even be banned ban from the network. If you want to market to the people on a social network, you have to make friends first and focus on building relationships.
Try these tips to get the most from your social network marketing efforts:
• Post unique links, information, and insights. People value your opinion, and embrace the opportunity to explore areas of the Web that their friends recommend. You can promote your site occasionally, but provide your followers and friends with interesting tidbits and articles from other websites too.
• Look for conversations where you can answer a question or solve a problem. Do not hesitate to share your expertise when the opportunity arises, but avoid blatant self-promotion. In other words, if you run a scholarship website, you can get a of points by offering tips and guidance to students looking for help. Just make sure that you are actually providing them with valuable information, not just trying to promote your product or services.
To make the most of social networking from a professional perspective, you have to take a unique approach. Blindly spamming these networks will not earn you any new traffic, nor will it make you any friends. If you post a message or engage in any interaction that remotely resembles SPAM, you will be largely ignored by your fellow users and could even be banned ban from the network. If you want to market to the people on a social network, you have to make friends first and focus on building relationships.
Try these tips to get the most from your social network marketing efforts:
• Post unique links, information, and insights. People value your opinion, and embrace the opportunity to explore areas of the Web that their friends recommend. You can promote your site occasionally, but provide your followers and friends with interesting tidbits and articles from other websites too.
• Look for conversations where you can answer a question or solve a problem. Do not hesitate to share your expertise when the opportunity arises, but avoid blatant self-promotion. In other words, if you run a scholarship website, you can get a of points by offering tips and guidance to students looking for help. Just make sure that you are actually providing them with valuable information, not just trying to promote your product or services.
How You Too Can Become a Twitter Viral Expert
Communicating online took on a new twist when a micro-blogging site by the name of Twitter entered the scene. Whether you have been surfing the web for sometime now or have just entered into the social marketing world, you have no doubt heard of the power of Twitter marketing. This free service has now become a past-time for executives, online marketers, students, politicians,entertainers and even stay-at-home-moms. Recently, Twitter has become a great place to propagate messages about your product, organization or website. You too can become a Twitter viral expert.
"Viral" is a world many marketers love. It means the process where a message, a link, an article, a blog post or even a sales page is spreads over the Internet by being passed over from one website, blog, forum, word-of-mouth and so on. The viral power of the Internet has been well known for some time now especially by these marketers who make a living selling products and services online. Twitter, is one website which lends a new meaning to the term viral.
Many have not tapped into the viral power of Twitter
While Twitter now has millions of users, only a very select percentage of people are maximizing on its power. Posting a message or two every now and then does not tap into the viral capabilities of Twitter.
Twitter's social marketing craze can earn you big time!
The sheer viral nature of Twitter can radically transform whatever you are doing online. This is because it is the latest social marketing craze and many people are visiting and using the site daily. While Twitter sometimes tends to resemble a huge instant messaging service, it is much more than that. It is currently one of the best way to generate social awareness for your business, organization entity or hobby.
Unique Twitter features
One way to make Twitter work for you is to first of all search for your particular niche. You can easily do this by way of the Twitter search. This will unearth topics of your particular interest, a cause that you are promoting, a businesses or a niche. Twitter offers multiple URLs on its search feature that allow for multiple search requests that can be narrowed to individual topics and even geographical area.
After narrowing down on niche and even geographical area, you can then embark on using the viral power of Twitter to promote your cause. Some people get discourages when they see few followers but this can be remedied in a very short time.
Are you looking to maximize on the viral power of Twitter and quickly accrue over 10,000 followers in no time at all?
"Viral" is a world many marketers love. It means the process where a message, a link, an article, a blog post or even a sales page is spreads over the Internet by being passed over from one website, blog, forum, word-of-mouth and so on. The viral power of the Internet has been well known for some time now especially by these marketers who make a living selling products and services online. Twitter, is one website which lends a new meaning to the term viral.
Many have not tapped into the viral power of Twitter
While Twitter now has millions of users, only a very select percentage of people are maximizing on its power. Posting a message or two every now and then does not tap into the viral capabilities of Twitter.
Twitter's social marketing craze can earn you big time!
The sheer viral nature of Twitter can radically transform whatever you are doing online. This is because it is the latest social marketing craze and many people are visiting and using the site daily. While Twitter sometimes tends to resemble a huge instant messaging service, it is much more than that. It is currently one of the best way to generate social awareness for your business, organization entity or hobby.
Unique Twitter features
One way to make Twitter work for you is to first of all search for your particular niche. You can easily do this by way of the Twitter search. This will unearth topics of your particular interest, a cause that you are promoting, a businesses or a niche. Twitter offers multiple URLs on its search feature that allow for multiple search requests that can be narrowed to individual topics and even geographical area.
After narrowing down on niche and even geographical area, you can then embark on using the viral power of Twitter to promote your cause. Some people get discourages when they see few followers but this can be remedied in a very short time.
Are you looking to maximize on the viral power of Twitter and quickly accrue over 10,000 followers in no time at all?
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Viral Twitter Secret Review - Twitter Marketing Software Review
Do you want to know more about the Viral Twitter Secret marketing software and how it works? This social networking website has become very popular for helping people get more visitors and customers to their businesses. However, people are getting very different results from it even though they have similar numbers of followers. This is because it is not really the number of followers that is important. Rather, it is the content that you deliver to them that determines the traffic and sales result you get from the site.
1. The Situation about Twitter Today
Twitter's popularity has increased significantly over the past months and more marketers are becoming aware of its potential. Many online courses and systems are also being designed to teach people how to earn more money and get more leads by generating more followings from the website.
2. How Do You Get More Followers by Using the Viral Twitter Secret System?
The key to getting more out of your followers is to provide them with better content than others. By providing them with the right information and content, you can be assured that they will keep following and visiting whichever sites you promote to them. This guide has taught me how to understand what others say and what they want on Twitter to build new and lasting relationships with others. I now know exactly what the needs and desires of people on the site are and how to create campaigns to benefit them and in turn benefit from them.
3. How Does the Viral Twitter Secrets System Work to Generate More Traffic?
This guide will teach you more strategies on how to produce engaging and interesting updates. They do not include marketing and sales pitches which most people will find irritating and unwelcome. Rather, you will learn how to interact more and get others interested in your sites by using the strategies in Viral Twitter Secrets.
1. The Situation about Twitter Today
Twitter's popularity has increased significantly over the past months and more marketers are becoming aware of its potential. Many online courses and systems are also being designed to teach people how to earn more money and get more leads by generating more followings from the website.
2. How Do You Get More Followers by Using the Viral Twitter Secret System?
The key to getting more out of your followers is to provide them with better content than others. By providing them with the right information and content, you can be assured that they will keep following and visiting whichever sites you promote to them. This guide has taught me how to understand what others say and what they want on Twitter to build new and lasting relationships with others. I now know exactly what the needs and desires of people on the site are and how to create campaigns to benefit them and in turn benefit from them.
3. How Does the Viral Twitter Secrets System Work to Generate More Traffic?
This guide will teach you more strategies on how to produce engaging and interesting updates. They do not include marketing and sales pitches which most people will find irritating and unwelcome. Rather, you will learn how to interact more and get others interested in your sites by using the strategies in Viral Twitter Secrets.
What is a Social Networking Website
Social networking is a cultural phenomenon that has taken over the lives of many people. It has shaped the way that people communicate with each other, socialize and live their lives. Many people don't go without tweeting or updating their profile for more than a few hours. So exactly what is a social networking website?
A social networking website is where people from all over the world, or even people who know each other already communicate. They can leave messages for each other on their profiles. These messages can either be made public, or kept private. It has become a novel way for people from all parts of the world to communicate. They can talk to each other via this platform, and perhaps even become life-long cyber-pals.
Sharing their lives with potentially millions of people around the world is a great way to attract new friends, but it also poses very obvious safety issues. Social media sites have at many times come under scrutiny for being unsafe. Many people don't use common sense when they are online, and often are very careless about how much information they are putting out there into cyberspace. This is how things such as online stalking can happen.
To prevent misuse of their personal information, users should be very careful when filling out their profile. There have been cases of identity theft via the medium of social media. Private information, should be kept just that; private.
Social networking has taken the internet by storm, and has become a real revolution and has shaped the way that people communicate and live their lives all over the world. It has and will continue to thrive in this age of cyberspace.
A social networking website is where people from all over the world, or even people who know each other already communicate. They can leave messages for each other on their profiles. These messages can either be made public, or kept private. It has become a novel way for people from all parts of the world to communicate. They can talk to each other via this platform, and perhaps even become life-long cyber-pals.
Sharing their lives with potentially millions of people around the world is a great way to attract new friends, but it also poses very obvious safety issues. Social media sites have at many times come under scrutiny for being unsafe. Many people don't use common sense when they are online, and often are very careless about how much information they are putting out there into cyberspace. This is how things such as online stalking can happen.
To prevent misuse of their personal information, users should be very careful when filling out their profile. There have been cases of identity theft via the medium of social media. Private information, should be kept just that; private.
Social networking has taken the internet by storm, and has become a real revolution and has shaped the way that people communicate and live their lives all over the world. It has and will continue to thrive in this age of cyberspace.
Maximizing TweetDeck For Twitter
One of the absolute best tools for Twitter in my opinion is TweetDeck. This is an excellent AIR app with more new ungraded features than ever before. The developers are constantly adding new features and upgrades to keep up with the demand and it's one of the only AIR apps for Twitter I can find that works well with Vista OS.
This tool can help anyone, no matter how large or small your following and it allows you more freedom in when and how you use Twitter. If you're trying to connect with a large number of people, TweetDeck will be even more useful to you.
Some of the best features of TweetDeck are:
· Search via keywords, name, hashtags, etc
· Ability to create groups and add people you follow to those groups
· The ability to filter out certain words
· Share photos and weblinks more easily
· Automatically shorten URLS
· Manage @s and DMs
· Save searches and follow topics in real time
· Avoid Twitter spam with the new SPAM button
· Add multiple accounts and manage together
· Sync your account
· Sync with Facebook
· View photo thumbnails directly from Tweetdeck
· It's free!
Now that you know more about how Tweetdeck can help you with Twitter. You can choose which features you want to make use of and which ones make your Twitter experience better. My last bit of advice is just not to rely completely on Tweetdeck. Don't forget to log in from the web from time to time.You can see new updates and features to the theme when you do.
Lisa Mason is a freelance writer with a specialty in Internet content and SEO articles and the author of How to Earn a Living Writing for the Internet as well as two poetry anthologies and a how-to poetry book. She has written thousands of articles, hundreds of ebooks and thousands of website pages and related content.
This tool can help anyone, no matter how large or small your following and it allows you more freedom in when and how you use Twitter. If you're trying to connect with a large number of people, TweetDeck will be even more useful to you.
Some of the best features of TweetDeck are:
· Search via keywords, name, hashtags, etc
· Ability to create groups and add people you follow to those groups
· The ability to filter out certain words
· Share photos and weblinks more easily
· Automatically shorten URLS
· Manage @s and DMs
· Save searches and follow topics in real time
· Avoid Twitter spam with the new SPAM button
· Add multiple accounts and manage together
· Sync your account
· Sync with Facebook
· View photo thumbnails directly from Tweetdeck
· It's free!
Now that you know more about how Tweetdeck can help you with Twitter. You can choose which features you want to make use of and which ones make your Twitter experience better. My last bit of advice is just not to rely completely on Tweetdeck. Don't forget to log in from the web from time to time.You can see new updates and features to the theme when you do.
Lisa Mason is a freelance writer with a specialty in Internet content and SEO articles and the author of How to Earn a Living Writing for the Internet as well as two poetry anthologies and a how-to poetry book. She has written thousands of articles, hundreds of ebooks and thousands of website pages and related content.
How to Be More Engaging on Twitter
If you use Twitter, whether you follow 5 people or 5000, it's helpful to learn to be more engaging. When you become a more engaging Twitter user, more people will want to follow you and communicate with you. This also makes it possible to find who you are following or that is following you whom you have things in common with or that you can benefit from.
Being more engaging will help you get more followers and also help you increase the quality of the followers you already have. One of the best ways to do this is to reply to other Tweeters. You don't have to be following a person to "@" them (unless they have a private timeline).
You can use hashtags (#) and Trending Topics to find what people are talking about and converse with people on these topics without following. Then if you meet someone you are conversational with, you can follow them or they may decide to follow you.
Another way to be more engaging on Twitter is to ask your followers questions that entice them to answer you. Some examples are:
· What's your earliest childhood memory?
· Do you know what your first word was?
· Do you have tattoos or body piercings?
· Should nudity be allowed on Twitter?
· How do you feel about the President?
· Is Canada superior to America?
You can ask any question you choose. If you're using Twitter to market, asking questions related to your niche or business is most helpful. Asking controversial questions is a great way to get attention and spark debate (but be ready to handle the backlash that could come). Personal or family related questions are a great way to get to know your followers better.
Pick random people from your Twitter stream and say hello each day. I go down my list and click to "@" people and one at a time (not mass at once), I message to say "hi", "How are you doing today", "Have a fun day!" or other greetings. Even business accounts should take time to be more engaging since this is really what Twitter is all about.
Lisa Mason is a freelance writer with a specialty in Internet content and SEO articles and the author of How to Earn a Living Writing for the Internet as well as two poetry anthologies and a how-to poetry book. She has written thousands of articles, hundreds of ebooks and thousands of website pages and related content.
Being more engaging will help you get more followers and also help you increase the quality of the followers you already have. One of the best ways to do this is to reply to other Tweeters. You don't have to be following a person to "@" them (unless they have a private timeline).
You can use hashtags (#) and Trending Topics to find what people are talking about and converse with people on these topics without following. Then if you meet someone you are conversational with, you can follow them or they may decide to follow you.
Another way to be more engaging on Twitter is to ask your followers questions that entice them to answer you. Some examples are:
· What's your earliest childhood memory?
· Do you know what your first word was?
· Do you have tattoos or body piercings?
· Should nudity be allowed on Twitter?
· How do you feel about the President?
· Is Canada superior to America?
You can ask any question you choose. If you're using Twitter to market, asking questions related to your niche or business is most helpful. Asking controversial questions is a great way to get attention and spark debate (but be ready to handle the backlash that could come). Personal or family related questions are a great way to get to know your followers better.
Pick random people from your Twitter stream and say hello each day. I go down my list and click to "@" people and one at a time (not mass at once), I message to say "hi", "How are you doing today", "Have a fun day!" or other greetings. Even business accounts should take time to be more engaging since this is really what Twitter is all about.
Lisa Mason is a freelance writer with a specialty in Internet content and SEO articles and the author of How to Earn a Living Writing for the Internet as well as two poetry anthologies and a how-to poetry book. She has written thousands of articles, hundreds of ebooks and thousands of website pages and related content.
Twitter Tools to Help You Manage Your Following
AIR apps are great for Twitter management. I have heard complaints that some of these don't work with Vista OS. As for AIR apps that work in Vista, I prefer TweetDeck. Once you learn all that it can do, it's awesome. You can sort people according to groups that you create yourself. You can search by keywords, filter by keywords and even filter out words, set your API and more.
There are also useful webtools such as those that put conversations in a forum-thread type format for you and archives them for longer periods of time. (Ever had someone Tweet you "I know, right? That was so funny!" and you have no clue what they're talking about so you search your timeline but it's been so long now that you can't find it? This resolves that problem.)
Twittangle lets you rate and tag your friends and filter them on a timeline. Untweeps lets you unfollow people who have not tweeted in a certain number of days. You can choose what you want to set it to.
TwtrFrnd lets you compare common followers. For example, I can see that Leanne and I both share Kathy as a follower. This can help you find new people who share your interests.
It's also important to know that not everyone I follow Tweets every day but this doesn't make them a useless follow. I have at least 20 clients on Twitter that message me when projects come up. They'll @ or DM and say "Lisa, are you available this week?" or "Have time for a rush article today? I'll pay extra."
I like to follow quotes and tips Tweeters as well and when I am looking for inspiration or a quote for an article, I go to "HealthQuotesTweeter", "ParentingQuotesTweeter" or whichever account applies and look through all their feeds for something useful to my need. Removing them would make it more difficult to find them later but I don't necessarily read and reply to every Tweet they put out daily.
You have to make a personal decision about which follows you want to keep, which are important to you, how many are too many and how you will manage them. It's a personal decision for each and every Twitter user. Hopefully these tips will make it a bit easier for you, however.
Lisa Mason is a freelance writer with a specialty in Internet content and SEO articles and the author of How to Earn a Living Writing for the Internet as well as two poetry anthologies and a how-to poetry book. She has written thousands of articles, hundreds of ebooks and thousands of website pages and related content.
There are also useful webtools such as those that put conversations in a forum-thread type format for you and archives them for longer periods of time. (Ever had someone Tweet you "I know, right? That was so funny!" and you have no clue what they're talking about so you search your timeline but it's been so long now that you can't find it? This resolves that problem.)
Twittangle lets you rate and tag your friends and filter them on a timeline. Untweeps lets you unfollow people who have not tweeted in a certain number of days. You can choose what you want to set it to.
TwtrFrnd lets you compare common followers. For example, I can see that Leanne and I both share Kathy as a follower. This can help you find new people who share your interests.
It's also important to know that not everyone I follow Tweets every day but this doesn't make them a useless follow. I have at least 20 clients on Twitter that message me when projects come up. They'll @ or DM and say "Lisa, are you available this week?" or "Have time for a rush article today? I'll pay extra."
I like to follow quotes and tips Tweeters as well and when I am looking for inspiration or a quote for an article, I go to "HealthQuotesTweeter", "ParentingQuotesTweeter" or whichever account applies and look through all their feeds for something useful to my need. Removing them would make it more difficult to find them later but I don't necessarily read and reply to every Tweet they put out daily.
You have to make a personal decision about which follows you want to keep, which are important to you, how many are too many and how you will manage them. It's a personal decision for each and every Twitter user. Hopefully these tips will make it a bit easier for you, however.
Lisa Mason is a freelance writer with a specialty in Internet content and SEO articles and the author of How to Earn a Living Writing for the Internet as well as two poetry anthologies and a how-to poetry book. She has written thousands of articles, hundreds of ebooks and thousands of website pages and related content.
E-mail Writing and Social Media - The Missing Link
E-mailing is one of the single-most important forms of communication between businesses and their clients today. Whether you need to quickly correspond in a short, informal way or if you desire a large space to sort out your thoughts - e-mail writing is the perfect medium. However, e-mail is capable of working much harder to promote your business. Are you taking full advantage?
Even if you are simply responding to a client's e-mail, you should have a preset signature at the bottom of your message. This will have your name and company, and perhaps a link to your company's Web site. Don't stop there, though. Use this opportunity to integrate your social media platforms into your message. Provide icons or links to your Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook accounts. (This doesn't need to be anything fancy, just a simple, non-obtrusive link or icon.) This provides a great way for your current and future customers to get a broader scope of what you are about, as well as another option for communication.
Incorporating social media into your e-mail writing also allows your company to be remembered more easily. These days, most everyone is familiar with social media platforms. Remembering to visit a Facebook page may be easier to remember than someone's e-mail address.
By putting your social networks in your e-mail signature, you are also showing your recipient that you are "in tune" with today's trends. You can involve your e-mail recipient more in the entire scope of your business online, as well as having more media to post updates on your company.
Finally, letting your customers know you are on Facebook or Twitter will encourage them to add you to their social networks online. Long after your e-mail correspondence is finished, they will still have you in their networks online, allowing them to stay updated on what your business is doing.
Even if you are simply responding to a client's e-mail, you should have a preset signature at the bottom of your message. This will have your name and company, and perhaps a link to your company's Web site. Don't stop there, though. Use this opportunity to integrate your social media platforms into your message. Provide icons or links to your Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook accounts. (This doesn't need to be anything fancy, just a simple, non-obtrusive link or icon.) This provides a great way for your current and future customers to get a broader scope of what you are about, as well as another option for communication.
Incorporating social media into your e-mail writing also allows your company to be remembered more easily. These days, most everyone is familiar with social media platforms. Remembering to visit a Facebook page may be easier to remember than someone's e-mail address.
By putting your social networks in your e-mail signature, you are also showing your recipient that you are "in tune" with today's trends. You can involve your e-mail recipient more in the entire scope of your business online, as well as having more media to post updates on your company.
Finally, letting your customers know you are on Facebook or Twitter will encourage them to add you to their social networks online. Long after your e-mail correspondence is finished, they will still have you in their networks online, allowing them to stay updated on what your business is doing.
Make Your Online Business Personal
Most likely your business is already online if you are reading this. This means that you are a savvy business owner who understands that the majority of this country runs their business dealing through online and the majority of the populations spends a considerable amount of time on the internet doing various things. Because of this, now more than ever, it is important for businesses to be online.
If you business does happen to be online but you don't feel like you are getting the most out of the online experience, there are a few things that you can do in order to boost your online visibility. The best techniques that people are finding these days are by joining social networks so that you can interact one on one with people all around the country and hear what they have to say about your business. Even big corporations like CNN are taking to the social networking sites, making them more aware of the general public.
A couple of the best sites out there for social networking happen to be Facebook and Twitter. Both of these sites allow users to comment and leave messages to companies and individuals. If you happen to be a business, you can sign up for free on one of these sites and make a page all about your business. You then can add friends to your site so that they will see your page and notice what sorts of things your business is up to. This is an excellent way to find out what the people think about your business.
If you business does happen to be online but you don't feel like you are getting the most out of the online experience, there are a few things that you can do in order to boost your online visibility. The best techniques that people are finding these days are by joining social networks so that you can interact one on one with people all around the country and hear what they have to say about your business. Even big corporations like CNN are taking to the social networking sites, making them more aware of the general public.
A couple of the best sites out there for social networking happen to be Facebook and Twitter. Both of these sites allow users to comment and leave messages to companies and individuals. If you happen to be a business, you can sign up for free on one of these sites and make a page all about your business. You then can add friends to your site so that they will see your page and notice what sorts of things your business is up to. This is an excellent way to find out what the people think about your business.
Facebook Lite - Faster, Simpler and Better
No, I don't use Facebook, but I know that it is very important for a lot of people. Also, this one kinda made be into that thing.
So Facebook lite testing just started. This morning, some users received message that they are selected to beta testing.
Beta testers received this message:
"You have been selected as a beta tester for Facebook Lite!
We are building a faster, simpler version of Facebook that we call Facebook Lite. It's not finished yet and we have plenty of kinks to work out, but we would love to get your feedback on what we have built so far. Check out Facebook Lite now."
One of testers described Facebook-Lite:
It looks like a "FriendFeed-esque" version of Facebook.
The stream appears to be reduced to just status updates, likes, and comments - no activity stories, application stories, or embedded content appear. In addition, profile page tabs have been moved to the left side of the page, all basic info and small profile boxes have been removed, and the publisher is not open by default.
Facebook spokersperson said:
"FriendFeed-esque" version of Facebook. The stream appears to be reduced to just status updates, likes, and comments - no activity stories, application stories, or embedded content appear. In addition, profile page tabs have been moved to the left side of the page, all basic info and small profile boxes have been removed, and the publisher is not open by default.
Maybe it is right time to start using the Facebook?
So Facebook lite testing just started. This morning, some users received message that they are selected to beta testing.
Beta testers received this message:
"You have been selected as a beta tester for Facebook Lite!
We are building a faster, simpler version of Facebook that we call Facebook Lite. It's not finished yet and we have plenty of kinks to work out, but we would love to get your feedback on what we have built so far. Check out Facebook Lite now."
One of testers described Facebook-Lite:
It looks like a "FriendFeed-esque" version of Facebook.
The stream appears to be reduced to just status updates, likes, and comments - no activity stories, application stories, or embedded content appear. In addition, profile page tabs have been moved to the left side of the page, all basic info and small profile boxes have been removed, and the publisher is not open by default.
Facebook spokersperson said:
"FriendFeed-esque" version of Facebook. The stream appears to be reduced to just status updates, likes, and comments - no activity stories, application stories, or embedded content appear. In addition, profile page tabs have been moved to the left side of the page, all basic info and small profile boxes have been removed, and the publisher is not open by default.
Maybe it is right time to start using the Facebook?
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