Add Social Media to Your Marketing Mix

A year or two after I dropped out of college I started a business designing logos, fliers, and developing website templates for small business owners. I can remember walking around my neighborhood, from business to business, trying to sell my services. I passed out fliers, business cards, and made cold-calls from old business cards I collected. However, I generated  very few leads from my efforts and only scored sales from close friends and family.

Since then, I still pass out business cards and the occasional flier, but I also add social media to my traditional marketing efforts. As a matter of fact, I would happily say that 85% of my sales leads are generated online and the other 15% are referrals from friends and family.

It doesn’t matter how big or small your marketing budget is, social media is a great medium for building your marketing platform and generating sales. If you’re running television, print, or other traditional marketing campaigns, adding social media into your traditional marketing mix can grow your profits exponentially.

Here are 3 huge tips for incorporating social media into your current marketing plan;

Do Market Research

Every year I issue a general marketing survey to my blog readers, Twitter, and Facebook networks. And every year I’m amazed at the amount of feedback I get and the ideas I receive on how best to serve my target market.

In your survey ask for information such as;

• Annual house-hold income,
• Education level,
• Profession,
• What social sites they frequently visit,
• What problems do they currently face,
• Which of your products or services helps them solve those problems, and
• Ask for an email address for future marketing campaigns.

Start a Facebook Ad Campaign

With a network of over 800 million people, Facebook is positioning itself to be a lucrative marketing platform just like print and television ads. With their recent news of giving away $10 million dollars in free advertising, it shouldn’t be any surprise that they just might succeed with that notion.

With your Facebook ad campaign start by;

• Creating a free Facebook page and start an “outstation” for your marketing efforts. This should be a hub where Facebookers get to know your brand, receive valuable discounts, and engage with your company.
• Build “Likes” of your page by promoting it on other social networks, your blog, and company website.
• Use Facebook’s social plugins to generate engagement and sharing of your blog posts.
• Set a budget for Facebook ads and target people by their likes & interests, gender, location, and more. The best part about ads is you only pay for what’s in your budget. So, if you set a budget of $100 and that generates 1000 new likes to your page, that’s all you spend.

Bonus Tips!

• Include your top blog posts, Facebook page link, or an Introductory Youtube video in your email signature
• Add links to your social networks, your e-book download, or a welcome video onto the back of your business card
• Mention how customers can connect with you online on your business voice-mail
• Create a special page on your blog that visitors from your Twitter profile page are sent to – offer them links to your best advice, get them to sign-up for your email list, and more!

The return on investment with social media is tremendous if you play your cards right. The key is to always give more than you ask and you’ll always get more than you dreamed. What ways are you incorporating social media into your traditional marketing plan? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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

About The Author

Rod Kirby

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Social Media Marketing

Social media marketing has become the “buzz word” for internet marketers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners from around the world. If you fall for the hype, internet gurus will lead you to believe that you can get rich by blogging, sharing Twitter links, or advertising on Facebook. But, the truth is, you’ll only go so farwith this mind-set of “internet riches.”

What is social media marketing exactly?

Simply put, it’s one of the best ways to generate new leads for your business, get noticed online, build a marketing platform, and add sales to your bottom-line.  However, it doesn’t plant a money-tree in your backyard like many “marketing mavens” would have you believe.

What are the benefits of social media marketing?

Maximized to its fullest business potential social media can be used to;

• Position your business as a brand leader in its industry,
• Grow a loyal following & community of your brand online, and
• Boost sales through targeted advertising.

How can YOU get started marketing your business using social media?

There are many ways to build a following and profit from social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube. However, before joining those sites you should start a blog. Blogging for business can be your way of informing, educating, or inspiring your customers. It gives you the opportunity to share your story and build a web presence for your business.

Here are 5 of my best tips and advice for starting a blog and taking it to the next level;

1. 7 Keys to Blogging Success
2. How to Create an Editorial Calendar for Your Blog
3. 8 Magazine Strategies that add Value to Your Blog
4. Top 3 Reasons YOUR Business Needs a Self-Hosted WordPress Blog
5. HOW TO: Make a Mobile Version of Your Blog [iPad Too!]

Once you have your blog set-up and rocking, you’ll want to use Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks as marketing “outposts.” An outpost is a secondary position from your home base (which is your blog). The goal is to build a community across these sites, engage with them in new ways, and ultimately drive traffic back to your blog.

Here are 5 of my best tips and advice for maximizing social media & networks for your business;

1. The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Twitter Success
2. 7 Ways to Deliver Excellent Customer Service Using Twitter
3. The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Awesome Social Media Etiquette
4. 5 Tips on Managing Social Media for Entrepreneurs
5. The Barack Obama Guide to Social Media Marketing Success

Remember, social media marketing is an excellent way to build a marketing platform for your business online. It’s not to be confused with internet “get-rich-schemes” or wealth systems. Yes, some people do exploit social media in those ways to make money, but their success is temporary and never long-term.

I’d love to share more ways to maximize social media marketing for your business, so sign up for free updates from The Success Center to learn more.

- Rod Kirby, Editor-in-Chief, The Success Center

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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Get Success Coaching Today!

Have you ever tried to put together a 1000 piece jig-saw puzzle by yourself? You’ll either find it extremely relaxing [and fun] or extremely frustrating [and painful]!

Starting a business, marketing your brand online, or taking a blog to the next level can be the same way.

Coaching is your ultimate GPS tool when traveling on the road to success. When we meet, I’ll show you the best route [not just the fastest!], teach you how to make the most of your current tools, and guide you turn-by-turn.

So, what are you waiting for? Get the help you need and let me become your personal Success Coach!

About Rod Kirby

Rod helps entrepreneurs, small business owners, and organizations take advantage of social media marketing and new media through his company, Kirby Media Productions.

Learn more about Rod and his story on the about page. 

Success Coaching for Aspiring Entrepreneurs, Small Business Owners, & Brands

By working with me you’ll;

Success Coaching for Bloggers

By working with me you’ll;

2 for 1 Holiday Special

2 Hours of Coaching for Only $100! [You get one session, FREE! That's a savings of $100! ]

Valid until 2/29/2011

Have a question?

Give us a Call!

Monday – Friday 10-5 pm [CST]

1-415-ROD-KRBY [1-415-763-5729]  

Email me today!

Testimonials

We’re in the midst of the holiday season and you’ll be buying gifts for grandma, the kids, the wife, and others. But, don’t forget to buy something for yourself! What better way to treat yourself than by investing in tools and resources your business will need to succeed? The 2 for 1 deal won’t last long, so take advantage and sign-up today!

2 for 1 Holiday Special

2 Hours of Coaching for Only $100! [You get one session, FREE! That's a savings of $100! ]

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

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Social media marketing is more than simply having a blog, Facebook fan page, and blurbing out your latest products on Twitter. It’s about building and nurturing relationships and community beyond your brand.

I’ve talked a lot about maximizing social media to market your business on this blog, but I’ve never given you a “sequence of events” before like I have in this series. If you’re a small business owner or serial entrepreneur here’s what you have to do in order to be successful in social media marketing;

Step 1: Build a Web Presence for Your Business

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.

Read More . . .

Step 2: Build a Brand for Your Business

Social media marketing gives your business the opportunity to carve out a unique niche across the web. How are you going to represent yourself, business, services, or products? What image, feeling, or emotion do you want to convey whenever someone thinks about you and your business? This is the basis for branding. In this short clip I’ll show you the 5 elements to building a brand for your business.

Watch Video . . .

Step 3: Build a Marketing Base for Your Business

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.

Read More . . .

Step 4: Ask for the Sale

When it comes to social media marketing many entrepreneurs either;

• Ask for the sale too often – Aggressively pitching a product or service over social networks.
• Don’t ask for the sale the right way – Come across as “pitchy,” forced, or non-caring.
  or,
• Are too scared to ask for the sale – Constantly giving but scared their market base will rebel against them if they offer a product or service.

Hopefully, after this post, you’ll be empowered to ask for the sale and never again fall into one of those three categories.

Read More . . .

Series Wrap-Up

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this series as much as I have putting it together. I would love to get your feedback on it in the comments below. Over the weekend I’m going to work on producing an audio book based on this series so you’ll have access to all of it whenever you want it.

Call to Action

If the series has your spirit stirred, fired up, and ready to take your business to the next level contact me for help! I’m launching new services next week that will help entrepreneurs, small businesses, bloggers, and anyone else that wants to take advantage of social media marketing. Here’s a sneak peak at what’s coming next week;

Web Presence Building Services

• Domain name registration
• Web hosting
• WP (WordPress) blog set-up (theme customization, plugin installation, blog logo design)
• And more!

Brand Building Services

• Custom logo design
• Business card design
• Custom Twitter background design
• Facebook Fan Page customization
• And more!

Market Base Building Services

• Twitter updating (unique content) & follower build-up
• Facebook fan page custom content & fan build-up
• Custom newsletter content creation
• Custom blog content creation
• Video production services (includes shooting, editing, effects, etc.)
• And more!

If you see a service offered that meets your need, please, use my contact form and let me help you take your business to the next level! I’ll reveal pricing and other details next week, but, contact me today if you want a project quoted.

Rod

P.S. –  Subscribe to my “Success Tips!” newsletter for a special one-time introductory offer that will go out next week! I’ll also offer discounts and other freebies through the newsletter periodically as well.

P.P.S. – If you’re a “do-it-yourself-er” and don’t need the services mentioned above but still want to learn how to maximize social media for your business, contact me! I offer success coaching, consulting, and training at unbeatable prices. Sessions can be held over the phone, via Skype, or even in person no matter where you live in the U.S.! (That’s right, I can come to you and be your personal coach for the day! It’s cheaper than you think . . . trust me!)

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 4 – How to Ask for the Sale

A couple of years ago I worked as a technology specialist in Officemax. It was my job to sell the latest computers, printers, and other gadgets to meet customer needs. I remember an older lady coming into the store needing help finding a printer. After about 45 minutes (yes, 45 mins!) of explaining the different features of my top printers she said, “Young man, you’re a good teacher but you’d be a great salesman if you’d just ask me to buy one already!”

I didn’t realize it, but I spent so much time explaining the different features of each printer I never really “sold” her either of them. The mark of a great salesman is asking for the sale. Explaining the feature set of my best printer then asking her, “would you like to take this one home with you today?” could have saved me 45 minutes of my time and hers.

What Category Do You Fall Into?

When it comes to social media marketing many entrepreneurs either;

• Ask for the sale too often – Aggressively pitching a product or service over social networks.
• Don’t ask for the sale the right way – Come across as “pitchy,” forced, or non-caring.
  or,
• Are too scared to ask for the sale – Constantly giving but scared their market base will rebel against them if they offer a product or service.

You CAN make sales with social media marketing!

Hopefully, after this post, you’ll be empowered to ask for the sale and never again fall into one of those three categories. Keep these things, about social media marketing, in mind and you’ll be on your way to success;

a. The Bible says, you have not because you ask not - James 4:2 (King James Version),

b. Social media marketing is all about “giving to get,”

and

c. What’s the point of building a marketing base if you’re too afraid to market to them?

There are 3 steps to asking for the sale in social media marketing, you’ve got to warm-up your market, lead them into your sales funnel, and ask boldly for the sale. Let’s review each step and I’ll share some power tips with you along the way!

Step 1: Warm-Up Your Market

Is Your Market Warmed Up?

You can’t just ask your Facebook fans, Twitter followers, or blog readers to buy your product or service if you barely engage with them on a regular basis. You have to “wake them up” if their asleep, give them more reasons to share your content with their friends, and get their friends to follow you if they don’t already. Here are some ideas on how to do it;

• Consistently share articles, news, podcasts, videos, and tools related to your product or service across your social media channels.
• Create a blog, video, or podcast series that addresses a common problem for your followers.
• Start a guest blogging contest to get some interactivity going on your blog.
• Use giveaways and sweepstakes to generate interest in your blog and get people ready for “what’s next from you.”
• Guest blogging is a great way to bring awareness to your blog and generate new life blood.

Step 2: Lead Them into Your Sales Funnel

Do You Have a Sales Funnel in Place?

Once you’ve got people’s attention and the traffic is flowing on your blog, then it’s time to drop a bomb and get them into your sales funnel. Before executing any of these ideas, be sure to have your payment automation system in place. If wouldn’t make sense to have a market ready to buy but you’re unable to accept payments now would it? I recommend starting out with Paypal’s business merchant services. The fees are small and the service is great. You can even get a virtual terminal for taking orders via phone, fax, and mail! Ready for some sales funnel ideas? Here you go!

• Launch a free e-book and include links to a product or service sales page at the end.
• Offer a free seminar or workshop based on your most popular content. This is an excellent way to position yourself as a “thought leader” and expert. Be sure to sell a product or service at the end of each session!
• Launch a webinar and provide your best advice for free and offer an exclusive 1-on-1 session afterwards.
• Did you create a video series of “How-to’s?” Put them together in a DVD package with a “special offer” at the end.
• Conclude your blog series with a final blog post that offers a product or service to solve your reader’s problems.
• Promote your “sales funnel project” via email, newsletter, blog, and all your social channels.
• Offer exclusive coupons and discounts to your newsletter subscribers or Facebook fans.
• Announce your project at peak times throughout the day and remember to engage, share, and connect while you do it!

Step 3 – Ask BOLDLY for the Sale!

Are You Asking for the Sale?

You’ve established a web presence, built a solid brand, established a marketing base, warmed-up your market, lead them to your sales funnel, and now the moment of truth is upon you. It’s time to ask for the sale. You’ve come this far so you might as well go all the way! Here are some tips to help you succeed;

• Make it easy to buy your product or service. Use “buy now” buttons versus links, large and bold type, and visible “calls to action” in your sales copy.
• Make your case! Don’t just explain what a product or service is, illustrate the benefits of using it, and the value of having it.
• Show the quality of your work with testimonials. If you don’t have any from past clients offer a limited free trial or sample in exchange for freshly written testimonials.
• Make sure your sales copy is tight! That means; no typos, grammatical errors, and etc. Edit like you want to make a sale.
• Make a simple offer and don’t ask for the whole world. Offer between 1-3 products, services, or package deals at a time. Giving too many options confuses people, overwhelms them, and they’ll just leave your sales page.

If you’ve warmed your market up and got them into your sales funnel with a helpful project, then you’ve earned the right to ask for the sale. Don’t miss your opportunity to make the money you’ve always wanted to online. It’s not hard and it definitely isn’t easy, but it does take a little work. I hope you’ve gained a better understanding of social media marketing and what it takes to truly be successful.

Don’t go too far, because, tomorrow I’ll be making some major announcements (what kind of success coach would I be if I don’t follow my own advice?). It’s something that I think will bless your business tremendously so stay tuned. I’d love to get your feedback on the blog post and the others in the Social Media Marketing Success Series. What did you think? Did you learn anything? What will you take away from this series? What would you like more information on? Sound off in the comments below!

Note: Read the series recap – 4 Steps to Social Media Marketing Success here!

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

About The Author

Rod Kirby

Continue Reading

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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What if the Social Bubble Burst?

What if Facebook decided to shut down and close shop on all of it’s 400+ million users? What if Twitter could no longer serve up it’s 50+ million tweets a day? What if YouTube’s servers were shut down and could no longer host over 120+ million videos? What if the social media marketing machine finally stopped because the social media well ran dry?

Good-Bye Free Social Web

Ning, the social platform that lets anyone create their own social network, announced that it was shutting down it’s free operations to focus 100% on paid accounts. That’s thousands and thousands of social networks, videos, forums, conversations, photos, and blogs that will be shut down. I’m sure it wasn’t an easy business decision to make, but a business decision none-the-less.

Note: If you have a free account with Ning and want to back-up your network give SaveMyNing.com a try. They even have a few suggestions as to where you can migrate your network to.

Hello New Web

What if this current social media bubble we’re in burst much like the “dot-com bubble” of the early 90′s? Many would argue that we’re not in a “bubble” because of the stability of dot-coms like Amazon, Ebay, iTunes, Facebook, etc. But, like everything in life, no one thing lasts forever.

I find it interesting that major corporations are finally jumping aboard the social media marketing band wagon after seeing it’s small business counter-part’s success. Marketing online has never been as open, easy, and more valuable than it is now [mainly since people want to share, engage, and are less concerned about privacy online].

But, what if the unthinkable happened and this entire social media “thing” died and millions of people migrated to a different online ecosystem. Hypothetically, what if the system was more akin to China’s where the government controls what its citizens interact with online? No Facebook, no Twitter, no blogs to keep us all connected and engaged online. As a small business owner, what would you do?

Scary thought?

Sure.

So, What Would You Do?

I’ve got some ideas as to what I would do, but I want to open this discussion up first before we explore it more in a later post. Imagine, if you will, starting a business in this new closed internet economy – how would you market your products or services? How would you reach the masses? Remember, you don’t have access to social networks like Facebook, Twitter, or Linkedin. YouTube is shut down and so are many of the social platforms/tools that you would of had access to prior.

The ball is in your court. Let’s explore some ideas in the comments section below and share this with as many people as you can so we can get some great feedback. I’ll compile as many suggestions as possible and use them for a follow-up post.

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

About The Author

Rod Kirby

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