Facebook Groups

By now it’s clear that Facebook can be a profitable platform for business networking online. Your personal page is a great way to expand your professional network. And business pages (fan pages) are a great way for you to promote your business, blog, or website.

But there’s another, less obvious, way to use Facebook to boost your business that I’ve been using over the last 6 months: Facebook Groups.

Chances are if you have been on Facebook for any time, you have been added to a group. In some cases it may feel like you have been hijacked into a group. When Facebook first rolled this feature out, people could add you to a group without notifying you, and then suddenly you would see a ton of postings in your stream from the Cupcake of the month club or some other group that had no relevance or value to you.

Finding your stream clogged with spam like posts from groups you never joined is an annoyance if you are strategically using Facebook to build relationships and promote your business. But when done right Facebook Groups can be a powerful way to create community and build long lasting relationships that expand beyond Facebook.

Three Signs You’ve Found a Good Facebook Group

While there are some groups that prove to be absolutely worthless, there are other groups that get it right: they provide valuable content, connections and opportunities. How can you tell whether or not a Facebook group is worth our time?

Here are three tell-tale signs:

• People are connecting: This can be tricky since it takes time to build a community, but even in a growing group you should see some exchange between participants where they are asking and responding to each other.
• Valuable content, not just offers are shared: The best groups that I am a part of provide lots of resource links and content links that are relevant to the group. These are communities where members are actively seeking, sharing and learning.
• The admin is an active facilitator: When you have a Group admin who is actively moderating the conversations (setting rules, starting conversations, welcoming new members, etc…) the group is usually successful.

How to Make Networking in Facebook Groups Profitable

Whether or not your participation in Facebook Groups is profitable is totally up to you. Here’s how you can ensure that you will not be wasting your time and energy:

• Choose the right group: This means you have to know what you want from the group. Are you looking to build your network? Looking for a Joint Venture partner? Is your goal to position you and your business as main resource?
• Participate: It’s okay to lurk in the beginning. But after you observe how the group interacts and identify who the influencers are, it’s time to roll up your sleeve and get involved. Share content (yours and others), respond to people’s comments and questions, ask questions, and “like” posts and responses that have value for you.
• Invite other people: Sometimes you find a group that is so good, you want to keep it all to yourself. But remember the goal of most groups is to create a community.
  It’s almost like church – when you find a great place you invite your friends or anyone you think may be helped by what the community has to offer. Take the same approach with Facebook Groups you are connected to.
• Extend: Once you start connecting with people in the group, hopefully you will find a few relationships where it makes sense to move beyond the group.
  Maybe it’s connecting via Facebook messages, maybe it’s a follow up phone call, or maybe it’s an invitation to a live event. If your group isn’t providing valuable connections or generating leads, it may be time to move on.

Recommendations: My Favorite Facebook Groups

I spend a good amount of my social networking/marketing time connecting via Facebook Groups. Here’s a brief list of the ones I find most valuable on a weekly basis:

• Social Media Swag – Group of people who are using social media and not just talking about it
• Christian Women Entrepreneurs – Great support system and sharing here
• Social Media Managers – One of the most helpful communities for anyone interested in developing their Social Media Marketing business
• Share Your Events Here – A group just for events, stated up front so everyone knows what to expect.
• WordPress for Business – Extremely active group that shares lots of resources
• Christian Women Bloggers Network – Good place to find like minded bloggers to connect with
• Fix My Site – Members share resources and links for generating revenue through their websites
• Launch While Working -The EmployedPreneur Network – (Shameless plug alert) Facebook community for people who are launching their business while working full-time or part-time.

Your turn

Are you a member of a thriving group on Facebook? Or maybe you’ve started a group and are looking for new members? Post the name, a brief description, and a link in the comments section.

Disclaimer: We will never share your email address with anyone, period.

Tai Goodwin

About the Author Tai Goodwin is a career and business coach who helps service-based entrepreneurs launch theirbusiness while working full-time. The founder of the Brilliant Network Mastermind, Tai is the co-hostof Small Biz Chat on Twitter and Your Brilliant Success on BlogTalk Radio. She offers business start-upplanning at www.careermakeovercoach.com.

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Facebook Subscribe Button

This guest post is by Richard Byrd of Church Brand Architects.

Over the last few weeks Facebook has been introducing a bunch of new features. My favorite feature to date has been the new Subscribe Button.

What is it?

The subscribe button has 2 specific functions;

1. It allows you to control the streams of people you have friended and vice versa – your friends can control what they see from you.

2. It allows people you have not friended the opportunity to see your “public status updates”. Think of this as the Follow button on Twitter or circles on Google +.

The purpose of the Facebook Subscribe button, is that now anyone on the Facebook platform, all 800 million people, can subscribe to your public updates. Although that sounds scary it is nothing new. As anyone could always see your public updates, the subscribe button now allows then a steady access to those updates. Almost like a personal RSS Feed or subscribing to one’s blog posts.

How Do You Get It?

First you have to enable the feature on your profile. After you have enabled this function your friends will have the option of clicking your subscribe button to receive your public updates.

What Does it Mean to YOU?

If you are a Business or brand then FaceBook has specifically told you to open a Page. But if you are the brand, then, now you have some options. Especially with the use of smart lists and the upgraded list features, which we will cover in a subsequent post.

The subscribe button is a hybrid of the business page and the personal profile. It is designed for “celebrity/personalities” persons, or more specifically those people who are “the brand”, i.e. Real Estate Agents, Consultants, Pastors, etc.

Subscribe gives you the ability to lock down personal information, while allowing you to share information with a broader group of people, all from the same profile. In essence you can now mix your “business” and “personal” personas on the same page.

What’s the Difference Between Facebook’s Subscribe Button and Business Pages?

According to Facebook:

Pages have advanced marketing features for managing your brand or business on Facebook. Pages can be maintained by multiple people on your team, have insights to understand who your fans are, and can target posts by language and location (e.g., tell only fans in New York about your show there). Pages can also be promoted with Facebook Ads and Sponsored Stories.

Profiles with subscribe are ideal if you want to personally connect with friends, family and other people who are interested in you. It’s fun to receive updates from friends and others that you want to subscribe to, and it’s easy to publish to your subscribers on the go. Anyone who subscribes to your profile can receive your public posts in their News Feed.

Here’s a brief breakdown to illustrate the differences.

In a nutshell

If you are a brand or you consult people who are brand personalities the profile with subscribers will definitely benefit you. We have several clients that have maxed the 5000 limit and we have been pushing people into the Fan Page. The subscribe button gives us the option of not opening another Fan Page and still continuing to build brand awareness through the personal profile.

There will however be some of your clients, where having analytics is important. In those a cases, you will have to go with the Facebook Page. Also another consideration, is whether you are using a team for social marketing management. You will have to use a Page, as the profile does not allow for separate login and multiple administrators.

Here is a quick video review of the subscribe button.

What do you think of Facebook’s changes as of late? Are they good for business or just confusing things a bit more? Let us know in the comments how you plan on using the Subscribe button in your marketing efforts.

About the Author

Richard Byrd is the Managing Partner of The RSM Agency – specializing in urban church marketing. He can be reached on his blog – Church Brand Architects.

 

Disclaimer: We will never share your email address with anyone, period.

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Facebook Marketing

Wow, the Facebook gravy train just keeps on going!

Last week Facebook announced a major initiative to revamp its profile pages. However, curiously missing from that announcement were any changes or additions to its Pages feature (its business page function for entrepreneurs & major brands).

Well, small and large businesses across the country are about to get a major marketing boost from the world’s largest social network. Facebook has “partnered with the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to invest, educate, and connect with small businesses.”

According to Facebook’s announcement, “We are giving away up to $10 million in free advertising. Each qualified small business will be awarded at least $50 of free advertising on Facebook (more details coming soon).”

This will no doubt be a major boost to small business advertising efforts on the social network.

In my opinion, it’s a no-brainer! If you’re chosen for the program then you NEED to do this for your business. Why? Because that’s where your market is spending most of their time! Jesus was a master marketer because he went where the people were. He didn’t keep his ministry closed off to the rest of the world in a church . . . and neither can you!

What do you think of Facebook’s “boost” to small business marketing? Is $50 in free advertising enough for you to make Facebook a permanent fixture in your marketing plan? How are YOU currently using social networks like Twitter and Facebook to market your business? Sound off in the comments below and don’t forget to check out the source links below as well.

Source: Techcrunch and Facebook

Disclaimer: We will never share your email address with anyone, period.

About The Author

Rod Kirby

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Facebook's New Timeline Feature

Updated 9/30/2011: I added a video from Richard Byrd which gives you a nice walk-through of the new timeline below!

Today, at Facebook’s F8 developer conference, Mark Zuckerberg announced radical changes for Facebook’s profile feature. The new shift is called, “Timeline.” With timeline people are able to get a snap-shot of all your photos, apps, videos, and other information for your entire life. That’s right . . . you’re entire life.

The endeavor is very radical and sounds like it’s prone hunting ground for stalkers and privacy advocates. However, I think it might prove useful to marketers and entrepreneurs.

For one thing, if you use Facebook for business, timeline will give you a beautiful way of displaying your entire “business life.” Photos of you at the conference you just spoke at, behind the scenes video of your company’s offices, status updates from a live event you attended last year, and so on.

Another look at Facebook's Timeline

There aren’t any specific features announced for Pages, Facebook’s profiles for businesses. But, maybe the new profiles will deem useful for entrepreneurs in the long run. Or, maybe they’ll just be another way we get trapped into “Suck-Face…”

I guess we’ll have to wait and see what Facebook announces next. But, until then, squeeze every ounce of value YOU can from the 800 million subscriber social network. That’s my advice. Don’t just take a new feature as it is – look for ways to maximize its potential for your gain.

The general consensus of Timeline, thus far, is that it’s another useful (or useless) addition to Facebook’s new changes. However, some are warning against it’s personal use such as this Twitter comment from Derek Halpern;

Derek Halpern's Comment

What do you think about Facebook’s new features? How will this impact your business use of the social network? Sound off in the comments below!

Source link and video below.

Source: The Facebook Blog & About Timeline

Disclaimer: We will never share your email address with anyone, period.

About The Author

Rod Kirby

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Are You on the Social Media Marketing Bandwagon?

If you followed along with the Social Media Marketing Success Series (links to the recap post) last week then you know that the final and most important part of social media marketing is asking for the sale.

Well, I believe I’ve put together an awesome service that will solve a lot of your social media marketing problems and I’m asking for your business. This package deal was put together for groups, organizations, bloggers, entrepreneurs, small business owners who are not maximizing social media for their business.

If you’ve already got a blog and are maximizing social media for your business, then you might give my success coaching or other services a try. I guarantee I can help you take your business, brand, or blog to the next level. Watch the video below and you’ll find the details of the package after it.

Note: Seems as though Vimeo doesn’t like my webcam at all so there are a few audio sync issues. My apologies, I’m working with tech support to see what quality of video I need to upload in the future. Thank you for your patience.

Having trouble viewing this video? Watch it on Vimeo instead!

Social Media for Business Launch Package

Need an “all-in-one” solution to maximizing social media marketing for your business? This package includes a new brand identity, web presence, and content creation to launch you into social media marketing success!

• Custom Logo Design
• Business Card Design (Print options offered once design is complete.)
• Domain Name
• Web Hosting
• WordPress Blog Installation & Set-up (includes plugins, social buttons, and more!)
• Customized Facebook Fan Page
• Customized Twitter Background
• Customized Email Newsletter Template
• 1 Month of Success Coaching Services (1 session per week – You’ll learn the ins and outs of social media marketing, how to maintain your blog, and more!)
• 1 Month of Blog Content Creation (Tailored for your business, industry, products, and services!)
• 1 Month of Twitter Content & Updating
• 1 Month of Facebook Fan Page Content & Updating
• 1 Month of Custom Newsletter Content Mail-outs

Investment: Only $495 (payment plans are available!) – Call 1-415-ROD-KRBY [763-5729] or Email me NOW for Details!

P.S. - Want exclusive discounts, deals, and specials on every service listed? Sign-up for my “Success Tips!” newsletter! Subscribers get coupons, news, and info before everyone else does – plus great tips for marketing their business.

Disclaimer: We will never share your email address with anyone, period.

About The Author

Rod Kirby

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Welcome to the Social Media Marketing Success Series! There are 4 things you have to do in order to be successful in using social media to market your business; you have to Build a Web Presence, Build a Brand, Build a Base, and Ask for the Sale. We’ll go over each of these this week and give you everything you need to succeed in social media marketing!

Ready?

Let’s Go!

Note: The series recap - 4 Steps to Social Media Marketing Success is now available!

Part 3 – How to Build a Base

Does Your Business Have a Market Base?

“If you build it, they will come . . . “ remember that line from the movie Field of Dreams? Unfortunately, this doesn’t ring as true when it comes to business. Well, unless you’ve got access to the piggy banks of Apple, Microsoft, and Google.

But, I digress . . .

Once you’ve established your web presence and brand what’s next on the social media marketing to-do list? Some think that having those things are enough to bring in new customers and clients, but there’s a little more work to do than that.

You’ve got to build a base which will become the foundation for your business’s success. Think of having a base as the same as having a marketing list. However, instead of a random list of people who don’t know you, you’ve got a list of people who trust and want to buy from you.

So, how do you build a market base for your business? Let’s start with your blog and email then work our way down to social networking sites.

Ready?

Let’s Go!

Blog & Email Subscribers

Your blog is the hub of your social media marketing activities. It’s where your community thrives and should be the first building block of your marketing base. The most valuable point-of-contact for everyone online is their email address. There’s no escaping that fact because everybody and their mama’s got one.

There are 2 ways people can subscribe to your blog, either through a RSS feed or email. Both allow people to receive your blog updates easily and both grows your market base tremendously.

What is RSS?

RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication.” Wikipedia defines it as a family of web feed formats used to publish frequently updated works—such as blog entries, news headlines, audio, and video—in a standardized format. In a nutshell your blog content goes out to people automatically instead of them having to frequently check for the latest post.

Check out this short video that will explain RSS in Plain English.

What About Email?

Tons of people still prefer to receive their blog updates in their email inbox than a feed reader or visiting the blog. The most important thing you can do is offer your blog readers a choice of either RSS or email subscription. The easiest and best way is to sign up for a Feedburner account.

Feedburner is a web feed management provider. The service gives you the tools you need to offer a customized RSS feed and have people subcribe via email. Check out their Feed 101 article for help on all things RSS feeds.

Ways to Build a Marketing Base on Your Blog

Now that you have a basic understanding of how people subscribe to your blog, let’s explore some ways to build a marketing base on your blog;

• Create consistent quality and content by using an editorial calendar.
• Start contests, giveaways, and online events with subscribing to your blog as the entry requirement.
• Create an e-book. E-Books are easy to produce, easy to distribute, and have a lasting appeal to recipients if they’re rich in information. Read 7 Lessons Learned from a Successful E-Book Launch and 10 Steps to Success with E-Book Publishing for help.
• Market your blog through Guest Blogging. A well received guest post on a high traffic blog can generate new readers, subscribers, and fans.
• Create a newsletter. Newsletters are great for offering exclusive content separate from your blog to readers hungry enough to subscribe to it.
• Use the Subscribe Remind Plugin – Give your readers a little reminder to subscribe to your blog’s feed at the end of each post.

• Use Constant Contact’s (Aff link) email marketing tools. I’ve been a constant contact customer for years and continue to enjoy their service. They make it easy for you to create a newsletter, add email capture tools to your blog, and generate new leads.
• Don’t want to use Constant Contact? Try the Subscribe2 WordPress plugin. This plugin sends a list of subscribers an email notification when new posts are published to your blog. Not as cool as a newsletter, but definitely a start.
• Offer a free gift for subscribing such as an e-book, white paper, MP3 download, and more. Be creative – some of the best giveaways are free (information)!
• Build your market base by becoming a part of someone elses – get into the comments section of other bloggers. Trust me, they’ll love you for it.

Ways to Build a Marketing Base on Social Networks

The key to building a market base on any social network is to share, engage, and offer quality content in order to earn trust. Once you’ve earned people’s trust you’ve earned the right to ask for the sale (more on that tomorrow).

Here are some tips to help you build a marketing base across social networks;

Twitter

• Give to Get – Share quality content and don’t just advertise. Read my article, “What’s Your Value Proposition?” to get a better understanding of “giving to get.”
• Follow quality people in your niche, industry, or field.
• Include your Twitter handle – mine is @RodKirby – in email signatures, on presentation slides, on business cards, and other printed materials.
• Start a contest or giveaway – Read Twitter’s Contest Best Practices for advice and help.
• Use Twitter Counter to track your Twitter statistics as your base grows.
• Use #hashtags at events that are online and off. Hashtags provide a simple way for people to follow the same conversations. Using them typically result in new followers who are interested in the same things you are. Check out Mashable’s hashtag guide here for more ways in maximizing them.
• Don’t just tweet all about you, your business, products, or services. Respond to others using @ replies and DMs (Direct messages for one on one conversations).

Facebook Fan Pages

• Use the “Suggest to Friends” link to have your Facebook friends “like” your page.
  
• Encourage fans to use the “suggest to friends” link as well. (Mention it in wall postings, notes, and updates)
• Promote your page with a “Like box” on your blog. Try Facebook Social Plugins for WordPress to incorporate a like box, like buttons, and more!
• Promote your fan page in your email signature, printed materials, and on your blog.

• Buy targeted advertising on Facebook’s platform. You can read more about advertising on Faceboo through their official hub, here.
• Update your fan page frequently with exclusive content such as announcements, events, videos, etc.
• Use FBML (Facebook Mark-up Language – similar to HTML) to create blog or newsletter subscription portals. Check out this How to from Mashable for more.

Youtube

• Upload video tutorials, your best advice, or tips on a frequent basis and ask for subscribers after each video.
• Include links to your blog’s RSS feed, newsletter subscription, or sales page after each video.
• Watch, rate, and comment on videos related to yours, your business, field, or industry. Doing so will bring new subscribers to your account.
• Offer short preview videos on Youtube and offer the full video via a special blog page if they subscribe to your blog.

Disclaimer: We will never share your email address with anyone, period.

About The Author

Rod Kirby

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Welcome to the Social Media Marketing Success Series! There are 4 things you have to do in order to be successful in using social media to market your business; you have to Build a Web Presence, Build a Brand, Build a Base, and Ask for the Sale. We’ll go over each of these this week and give you everything you need to succeed in social media marketing!

Ready?

Let’s Go!

Note: The series recap - 4 Steps to Social Media Marketing Success is now available!

Part 1 – How to Build a Web Presence

Need to Build a Web Presence?

If a potential client looked for you online what would they find? Embarrassing Facebook pictures, a negative article written about your business from the local paper, a website that hasn’t been updated since it launched, or nothing at all? Of course, no one wants to fess up to any of those answers, but a lot of people fall into these categories;

A. Their web presence consists of their personal social media accounts,

B. Their web presence consists of what other people say about them,

C. Their web presence consists of a website that still has a “splash page” back from 1998,

or

D. They don’t have a web presence at all.

If you subconsciously raised your hand then you’re reading the right article.

Having a web presence is defined as having an Internet footprint. It’s more than just having a website where people can read about your company, see your services, and order from you. It’s how a person finds, follows, and fellowships (connects) with you online.

There are 4 things you have to do in order to build a web presence for your business. You have to secure a domain name, get online with a web host, launch a blog, and get social!

Step 1: Secure a Domain Name

Domain Name

The web address of this blog, The Success Center, is www.rodkirby.com. Why did I choose my name for a domain name? Because, I wanted people to find me when they looked for success (It’s a part of my brand – we’ll talk more about branding tomorrow). Here are a few tips in helping you choose a domain name to start your web presence;

• Keep it as short and simple as possible!
• Don’t include numbers.
• Use your real name, nick name, stage name, or pen name.
• GoDaddy.com is a pretty good place to secure a domain name.
• Be sure to select private registration. This keeps your personal information safe from data miners.
• Securing your domain for multiple years in advance rates well with search engines. It shows stability and let’s them know that your site will be around for a while.
• Some web hosts such as Fused Network (aff link) will register your domain name for you if you get a hosting package.

Step 2: Get Online with a Web Host

Web Hosting

Web hosts come a dime a dozen, but great ones offer excellent customer service and give you more for your money. The Success Center is hosted through Fused Network (aff link) which I have had for over a year now. Needless to say, I love their service. Here are a few things to look for in choosing a web host;

• Shared Hosting – A shared host refers to a web hosting service where many websites reside on one web server connected to the Internet. You’ll find the most bang for your buck with these services.
• Dedicated Hosting –  A type of Internet hosting in which the client leases an entire server not shared with anyone. More expensive but is great for sites that get extremely large amounts of traffic.
• Shared Hosting vs. Dedicated Hosting – My advice is to start with a shared account and as your site grows, scale it to a dedicated account.
• If you already have a website up, look for a host that offers free data and email migration services. It’ll save you tons of headaches in the future.
• A host that offers free WordPress installation and theme set-up is definitely a plus.Speaking of WordPress . . .

Step 3: Launch a Blog

Blogging

The key to building a web presence is to have a hub where everyone can receive updates, news, content, and other information about you and your business. This is where blogging comes into play. For most people a blog is simply an online diary with a couple of pictures chronicling their recent trip overseas. However, for the successful, a blog is the pulse of their online community. I could cover blogging for days alone, but for now, I’ll just hit the “high notes;”

• Install a WordPress blog for maximum stability, support, and functionality.
• Purchase a high quality WordPress theme to give your blog a unique look. I highly recommend Woothemes (aff link) as their themes are custom made and give you great support as well. If “free” is best for your budget then check out Smaching Magazine’s 100 Free High Quality WordPress Themes collection.
• Enhance WordPress with free plugins. Among my favorites are;
  Disqus Comment System – Great commenting system that adds user avatars, sharing, and more!
  FT Signature Manager – Adds an “about the author” box at the end of each post.
  GD Star Rating – Lets readers rate articles with stars and more!
  Page Links To – Links any page to any website. So you can have an “About Us” link directly to your Facebook fan page as an example.
  WordPress Mobile Edition – Generates a beautiful mobile version of your blog. Perfect for smart-phone readers.
  Sexy Bookmarks – Adds beautiful social bookmark and sharing options to your blog.
  Tweetmeme RT Button – Allows readers to share your posts on Twitter.
  Facebook Share Button – Allows readers to share your posts on Facebook.
  Note: Get more of my WordPress plugin recommendations from my Resources page.
• Define your blog’s niche – Start with your industry, break it down into categories, then topics, and get your creative juices flowing from there.
• Create a Plan – You’re not going to get very far unless you have an idea of where you want to go. Start with a name for your blog, niche, topics you want to blog about, who you want to read your blog, how often you’re going to update your blog, and what kind of content you’re going to create (articles, videos, podcasts, or all of the above).
• Create an Editorial Calendar – It doesn’t matter how often you update your blog . . . as long as you do it consistently. Having a schedule is a great way to keep content fresh and updated on a regular basis. Watch this video to learn how.
• Want to take your blog to the next level? Watch my PowerPoint presentations; Treat Your Blog Like A Magazine and Take it to the Next Level! and 4 Pillars To Building A Successful Blog.
• Check out the “Best Of” page for more of my best advice on blogging.

Step 4: Get Social!

Social Media

If your blog is the hub of your web presence then Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube are your outstations. The greatest marketer in history was Jesus Christ. He didn’t give salvation to only those that were in a church, he went where the people were! You have to do the same. Potential clients and customers are waiting to connect with you outside of your blog and that’s where you have to go. Here are some tips on maximizing social media to enhance your web presence;

• Facebook – A Social network with over 500 million users. Great for building deeper connections with blog readers, followers, and potential customers.
  - Create a Facebook Fan Page to centralize your customers and help them engage with your brand, business, and content in new ways.
  - Customize the look of your fan page to keep your brand consistent and unique (more on this tomorrow).
  - Share exclusive content on your Fan page such as videos, podcasts, and etc.
  - Install the Networked Blogs app to automatically share your blog posts on Facebook.
• Twitter – Twitter is a social messaging utility for staying connected in real-time. It’s great for sharing useful content (news, articles, special deals, etc.), generating blog traffic, and building community.
  - Start by searching for keywords related to your niche and “listening” to conversations.
  - Follow thought leaders, influential types, bloggers, and others who are related to your industry.
  - Engage by sharing related content, commenting, and promoting others.
  - Share what’s happening in real-time at events, conferences, and other places of interest.
  - The more you share the more followers you’ll build up!
  - Don’t forget to download a free copy of my e-book, The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Twitter Success!
• Youtube – YouTube is a video sharing website on which users can upload and share videos. It’s an excellent network to reach customers, generate web traffic, and have content “go viral.”
  - Search for videos related to your industry, product, service, or blog niche. Use these to start a “video hub” of content.
  - Upload videos of tips, best practices, advice, and how-to’s.
  - Create your own web TV show and upload video interviews of people related to your niche.
• Tip: You don’t have to have an account with every social network. Only the ones you know you’ll be able to update consistently. There are many more social sites you can be a part of, just remember to go where your potential customers are!
• Use tools such as Hootsuite or Tweetdeck to update and manage your social media accounts at the same time.
• Create a Social Calendar – similar to an editorial calendar, except, include when and how often you’re going to update your social networking sites.
• Be sure to check out the Best Of page for more advice on maximizing social media.

Your web presence is the sum of your digital footprint that leads people from your hub (blog) to your outstations (social networks) and vice versa. The domain name and web host are only the formalities permitting it all to be found and branded in a unique way. Come back tomorrow for part 2 of the social media marketing success series as I show you how to build a brand. What do you think of the series thus far? What tips or advice would you add to building a web presence for your business? Leave your comments below!

Disclaimer: We will never share your email address with anyone, period.

About The Author

Rod Kirby

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If you haven’t heard the tech news, Google TV (video explanation) is coming to a set-top box or HDTV near you in the fall. Think of having the search power of Google plus a full web browser in your TV and tell me if you’re not excited (oh, and the service is free!). If you’re note excited yet, take a look at some of these quick facts that Mashable put together.

In support of their set-top box, the Revue, Logitech has launched the “Host with the Most” contest for a gig as a spokesperson once Google TV launches in the fall. Being the uber-gadget geek that I am, I entered the contest and could definitely use your help.

Here is an excerpt from an interview I did with the editor at GTVhub.com;

What initially attracted you to the “Host with the Most” contest?

It’s a real opportunity for me to: A. get some exposure, B. get my hands on a Logitech Revue device (for free!), and C. be a “brand champion” for a company whose products I genuinely love to use!

What excites you about Internet TV, and what do you think Google TV and Logitech Revue will bring to the table over other platforms?

In a way, the Internet TV revolution started with Youtube and Web 2.0, now we (consumers) want a better user experience (watch what you want on your HDTV!) and that’s a part of what Google TV will offer. Having Logitech as a hardware partner is just the icing on the cake. They make PC peripherals that are durable, of high quality, and “just feel right” in your hand. So, in short, Logitech Revue + Google TV = Pure Awesomesauce.

Finally, if you are selected, how will you help Logitech promote the Revue and spread awareness of Google TV?

I had the idea of starting some kind of web-TV show. One where I’ll review tech products, do interviews, etc. I have a unique ability to connect with people, especially those in the social media community. So, I’m confident that they’ll respond with their support of Logitech’s Revue and Google TV.

If all else fails, I’ll stand outside with a sign that reads, “Will Work for You if You Check Out My Revue!”

You can check out the full interview here.

So, please, if you’ve got 2 minutes, vote for me and help me win the opportunity of a lifetime. If you love me, and I know you do, then click this link, log into your Facebook account, and vote. Best part of all, if you really think I deserve the job, you can vote for me once a day until the 20th!

So, thanks for your support in advance. It’s a great opportunity for me to get some national exposure, connect with even more people, and generate new and exciting content for you here.

Disclaimer: We will never share your email address with anyone, period.

About The Author

Rod Kirby

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Need Help Growing Your Business?

In April 2009, Facebook, the social network of choice by over 300 million users, became cash flow positive. After 5 long years Facebook, Inc. finally turned a profit. Twitter is poised to finally make a profit this year with the launch of it’s @anywhere platform only 4 years after its debut. How long will it take for your business to become “cash flow positive?” . . . only time will tell. It’s what you do before that time that prepares you for success.

My Blogging Short Story

I’ve been blogging for a year now and I have yet to turn a profit from my online endeavors. Yes, I’ve made a little money here and there from Google Adsense and success coaching specials that I’ve run, but the fact remains; I don’t make enough to cover my expenses and go full-time. However, that’s definitely something I’m working towards.

You may not have the capital you want, the cash flow you desire, or that downtown office by the ocean you’ve dreamed of, but neither did the founders of Facebook or Twitter early on!

Today, I want to share a few things that I’ve done, am doing, and think you should do before your business generates a sizable return on investment. Here are 4 easy ways to grow your online business. . .

Establish Your Brand

A brand is what a potential customer thinks of before they dial your number, sends you an email, or requests your services. It’s not just a slogan or eye catching logo, it’s the problem the customer thinks you can solve for him or her before they meet you face-to-face. Facebook’s brand is that which connects you with people you care about [or don't know for that fact] and Twitter’s objective is to help you share what’s happening anywhere in the world. How can you establish your brand? I’m glad you asked!

Offline – Web 2.0 is flourishing and web 3.0 has its foot in the door, but don’t forget about “old fashioned” methods of branding that will never retire.

• Create a Logo – Your logo should be your business incarnate [Figuratively speaking]! It’s an image of what your business represents. A custom logo is best for trademarking and a “template” [or pre-designed] logo is cool for temporary use. I hear, Logoworks does good design work, so check them out if you need one.
• Nice Business Cards – Yes, people still pass out business cards so, yes, you still need them. It’s a snapshot of who you are, what you do, and what you have to offer. Try having yours printed double-sided and include where people can find you online such as Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, etc. Add a picture of yourself and make it harder for people to toss your card into the trash.
• Google Voice Number - I used Google Voice to secure my own name as a phone number—> 1-415-ROD-KRBY Is it because I’ve got a big-head? Not at all! It’s simple, if you stick your name everywhere, people will remember it [and you] easier than any catch phrase you can come up with. I’ve got friends that can’t remember my local phone number, but they remember my business number at the drop of a hat.

Online – The web is a breeding ground for success simply because you can create your own opportunities. Establishing your brand online is no different. Here are a few tips on what to do.

• Secure Your Name as a Domain – Remember the last offline tip I gave? The same rule applies here as well. My domain name is rodkirby.com because when people look to be successful online [or off] I want them to find me. Get it? To brand oneself you have to be consistent in your delivery.
• Start a Blog – Blogging is a great tool that can reinforce your brand by helping you to expand your message, start conversations, and grow community. Of course, you can start a free WordPress blog. But, I highly recommend dropping a few bones and self-host your blog. When you spend money on your site you’ll be more serious about it becoming successful. Check out the guys at Woothemes for awesome WordPress blog templates to get you started [proud affiliate link - where do you think the Success Center's look came from?!].
• Set-Up Outposts - You’ve got a blog – and that’s nice – but, where are your readers? An outpost is where you go to reach blog readers, potential customers, and make connections. Get on sites like Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Youtube, Digg, Delicious, etc. Don’t go over-board and join every site, but pick at least 2 that you’d be willing to invest some time in developing relationships there. I highly recommend jumping on the twitter band-wagon for connecting, sharing, and building community.
• Need Help? Download my free e-book, The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Twitter Success, for help maximizing Twitter for your business. Are you a real estate professional and new to social media? Download Naomi Trower’s e-book, Social Media Marketing for Real Estate & Mortgage (aff link) This book is actually pretty awesome for real estate professionals and social media newbies alike. Check out my video review for more information.

Generate a Marketing List

Why tire yourself out going door-to-door asking for sales when you can build a list of people that want to hear what you have to say? Marketing lists aren’t new, but the way you build them determines how successful you’ll be with them. You could buy a list from a marketing company that will deliver you one based on your target market (sales results will vary). Or, you can start your own. Here’s how;

• Start a Newsletter – Establish a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly newsletter and give your best advice, tips, or “how-to’s.” I use Constant Contact (aff link – signing up will get you and me a $30 credit added to our accounts.) as my email marketing provider of choice. They even have a tool that lets me capture contact info from my computer when I’m at events.
• Create an E-book – It’s super easy to do and you can gain new email contacts by offering it at the point of subscription for your newsletter. Read 7 Lessons Learned from a Successful E-Book Launch for my best advice on creating one. Also, check out 10 Steps to Success with E-Book Publishing from my bi-weekly newsletter.
• Host a Seminar or Workshop –  Feeding a man by teaching him to fish has always been more valuable than simply feeding him. Feed participants knowledge, wisdom, and understanding and they’ll gladly give you their contact information.

Build Credibility

When I transitioned from being a graphic designer to speaking and coaching I didn’t have any clientele. So,I built credibility by volunteering my time, energy, and resources and I was paid in testimonials. Twitter didn’t become a credible service until it debuted at the SXSW conference in 2007. By the time, Oprah sent her first tweet the service was a credible global phenomenon. But they did it by offering the service to the public for free and letting users make it their own. Follow Twitter’s example and build your own credibility before your business goes before the global spotlight.

Quick Tip #1: If your clients or customers are signed up with Linkedin have them write you a testimonial after using your product or service.

Quick Tip #2: Record video testimonials for greater effect and to use Youtube to post them on your website or blog.

Create buzz

Become your own PR and marketing machine and get some “buzz” going for your business. It’s not hard but it’s not easy either, here are a few suggestions;

Offline

• Reach out to the Local Media Outlets – Contact radio stations, TV stations, newspapers, magazines and offer your expertise on specific subject matters. Become a valuable asset by offering story ideas and becoming a credible source for information.

Online

Reach out to Your Networks – Writing guest blog posts or being interviewed on blogtalkradio can extend your reach, generate traffic, and win you new fans. These activities increase your credibility and are viral forms of word-of-mouth marketing.

Quick Tip #1: Don’t save your best work for your own blog, offer it to other blogs (big ones and small ones). The more links that point to you in a search engine the easier it is for others to find you.

Quick Tip #2: When being interviewed relax and be yourself, stay on topic (no rambling!), and speak in sound bites. These are the keys to a great show and will get you more interview requests.

Final Thoughts

Facebook and Twitter weren’t always house-hold web 2.0 names, but they stayed in the trenches before they became profitable. You’re going to have to do the same with your business. Did I miss anything in this guide? What would YOU add? How are you maximizing online social networks and offline tools to grow YOUR business? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Disclaimer: We will never share your email address with anyone, period.

About The Author

Rod Kirby

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