Can you imagine setting up a booth at a convention where everyone gives you their business without having to make a single sales pitch? That’s the potential power of social media. It removes the mystery, hesitancy, and coldness of marketing and creates relationships where none existed before.

Many of you know how much of a Twitter-holic I am, but do you really understand why? It’s not because “it’s what’s hot right now” and I certainly don’t use it just to let people know “what I’m doing.”

It’s a conversation starter and engagement platform. By interacting on Twitter I generate targeted traffic to my website, quality business leads, and build relationships for life. Below you’ll find some ways you can do the same for your business.

5 Tips for Growing Your Business on Twitter

• Share High-Quality Links - the key to attracting targeted followers is to share information, news, and articles consistently. People are always searching for things on Twitter. If you can point them to a reliable source of information then you’ll become valuable in their eyes. The higher your value the greater chance you have at being retweeted and shared with their followers.
• Offer Advice to Newcomers - Whenever someone tweets, “Please welcome so-and-so to twitter” I immediately jump, introduce myself, and offer an article from my site that can help them get started with Twitter. Doing so positions you as “the go to” person that they’ll refer to when they need help. It’ll also start the basis of a solid follower relationship that will transform into site traffic.
• Share quotes and Retweet often - If you don’t know what to tweet find something good someone else has said and share that. Find quotes that enhance your brand’s theme or image. You can’t go wrong quoting the wisdom of others and you’re 10 times more likely to get retweeted as well.
• Start a Hashtag - “#Hashtags” allow people on Twitter to find and track conversations. Some examples are, #FollowFriday, #MusicMonday, etc. Create one unique to your brand and get people involved on your website and Twitter. Mine is #Successtip, where I share inspirational quotes. This keeps your message and brand consistent and easy to follow.
• Ask After Serving - remember to share more than you plug your website, product, or service. The last thing people want to do is engage with a salesman or woman. However, once you’ve shared over 50% of your tweets, feel free to throw out a link or promotional message about your business or website. This is the essence of social networking for business.

Follow these tips and you’ll grow your following in no time. The best part of all, they’ll want to know what else you have to offer or how you can help them in someway. It’s a win-win for all and you didn’t even have to make a sales pitch. If you’re new to Twitter or want some more power-tips, read my article, “Are you a Twitter Newbie or Power User?”

How do you grow YOUR business on Twitter? Share your thoughts – and your Twitter handle (so others can follow you) in the comments below.

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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Are You Maximizing Twitter for Delivering Customer Service?

Social networking sites like Twitter are excellent communication platforms, but what does that really mean for YOU? Well, if you’re a small business owner or entrepreneur . . . a lot actually. If you’re not making connections, building a community around your brand, or marketing yourself on Twitter then check out my e-book, The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Twitter Success for my best advice on how. Today, I want to show you how you can use Twitter to deliver excellent customer service in your small business.

Separate Business from Pleasure

If you’re a small business owner (less than 20 employees) and have a personal account I would suggest creating another account for your business. If you’re a solo-preneur then YOU are your business and you’re fine right where you are (people will want to identify with you, thus engaging with your business). Separating accounts gives you flexibility in the content you share. Whereas you can tweet about all things Apple and nerdery in your personal account, you’ll want to use the business account for just that . . . business.

Set-Up Your Customer Service Command Center

If you’re going to have multiple people have access to the business Twitter account you’ll need an easy way to manage things, this is where Co-Tweet comes in. It’s a great web tool that lets you manage multiple profiles, create assignments, schedule tweets, click tracking, and more. For my solo-preneurs I recommend using Hootsuite for managing multiple accounts (if you’ve got them), scheduling tweets, click tracking, and  etc. The big difference between the two is, Co-Tweet is intended for small businesses with multiple users and Twitter accounts so it incorporates a few extra features that will appeal to that market.

I, personally, use Hootsuite in conjunction with Tweetdeck. I like the desktop coolness (and monitoring ability) of Tweetdeck and the productivity awesomeness of Hootsuite. Together, they make up my customer service command center

We’ve covered a few ways you can use Twitter for customer service and I think it’s a viable option since it’s a communication platform. The essence of customer service is COMMUNICATING with OUR CUSTOMERS, so why wouldn’t it work? What would you add to this list? How else can we use Twitter to give excellent customer service? Chime in and share your thoughts below.

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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Overwhelmed with Social Media?

Yesterday, in a poll, I asked, Do You Ever Feel Overwhelmed with Social Media? I can already guess a couple of the answers, but I’ll share the results with you all next week. The fact of the matter is, if you’re an entrepreneur and you’ve just created a Facebook account, started your first blog, and still don’t know what Twitter is . . . you’re probably overwhelmed with social media. There are probably a ton of things that you haven’t discovered and once you do you might feel like it’s all too much to handle. But fret not my friend! You’re not alone and it’s actually not as bad as you think.

Before we take a look at some ways to help you manage your social media activities, let’s explore why you’re doing it in the first place. I call it . . .

Square One

This is the cornerstone of your social media and networking activities. In order to make a return on investment one has to first understand why he or she wants to invest in it. I’m sure you’re thinking, “to make money, Rod, duh!” Money is fine and dandy, but what if I told you that by engaging with people online you could get something better than money? That’s right! What could be better than money? How about someone’s trust and favor? What about building a relationship that could net you the repeat business of that one person and all of their friends? This is the simple yet powerful truth of social media.

Someone’s influence online can be just as or more effective as a 30 second advertisement on Television. In traditional media you only have a limited time to catch a prospect’s attention and pitch them your product or service. By maximizing social media time becomes your friend and not your enemy. The longer you build a genuine relationship with people the easier it is for them to trust you which is the equivalent of gold and silver. If you want to learn more about building relationships and trust in social media I highly recommend Chris Brogan’s new book, Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust. For the uninformed, Chris is a rock star of social media and has built a loyal following through his blog and social media activities.

Now that you have a better understanding of why you’re engaging in social media in the first place let’s move on to . . .

Square Two

The first building block of social media is actually networking with like-minded individuals. That’s where Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Myspace, Ning sites, and other networks come in. I highly recommend Facebook for building deeper relationships, Twitter for instant communication, news, and sharing, and Linkedin for an overall professional web presence and business networking.

Tip#1 - Don’t join everything!

There are some that would disagree with me on this, but I believe you should only join a site that you’re going to devote time to actually being on. When people reach out to you on sites that you’ve joined but don’t maintain you’ll reach back too late and miss opportunities. I recommend that you choose 3 main sites that you’ll be able to update easily and maintain. My top three picks are Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin for the reasons specified above.

Tip #2 - Create a Social Media Plan!

Having a Facebook page or a Twitter account is great and all, but don’t forget that they’re still platforms for marketing yourself, blog, products or services. So include social media into your marketing plan. Go at it with a plan and set realistic goals like generating web traffic, increasing your email newsletter subscriber base, or sell X amount of product units per month.

Tip #3 -  Integrate social media tools!

No matter where you are or what you’re doing you’re able to update your blog, your Facebook page, or Twitter status in a matter of minutes. That could be via phone, computer, or even email. Learning to integrate tools on a regular basis is the key to maintaining your sanity with it all. Maximize web applications like;

• Ping.Fm – This site updates all your social networks and blogs at the same time. It really takes the hassle out of logging in and doing it all “manually.” Note: When update all your status at the same time, you loose the “engagement” element that makes social media work so well for business. You’re there in spirit but not there in presence. I only use this service for letting my networks know of new blog posts or universal messages. I stay active on my social networks beyond using it to keep my level of engagement high.
• TweetDeck – Excellent desktop application that allows you to manage your Twitter, Facebook, and now, your Myspace accounts at the same time. Each account is managed in a window all within the application. Very versatile tool that allows you go beyond the Twitter website’s functionality and keep the same functionality of the Facebook and Myspace sites.
• Google Reader – If you’re new to social media, you’ll be reading a lot of websites and blogs that can help you increase your wisdom, knowledge, and understanding in that area. Read them all in one spot via RSS (Really Simple Syndication). In short, RSS allows a website to send new articles to RSS reader programs. Which means, you’ll get new stuff without having to visit every website in your bookmarks! Visit Google’s Reader site, Subscribe to The Success Center, and you’ll instantly start receiving new articles when they’re published. Also, you can Follow Me in Google Reader where I share lots of articles that I find helpful and informative.
• Google Calendar – This is a great tool to help you organize your blog posts, web content, events, and life in general. I’ll explain more on it in Tip #5.
• Web Browser Extensions + Plugins:
  1. The Hootlet – Once you’re on twitter you’ll want to share news, articles, blog posts that you write, etc. instantly. Hootsuite is a browser based twitter manager with a twist, they actually track your tweets. So you’re able to see how many people click on a link you shared that goes back to your website. I don’t use Hootsuite’s website for my twittering (as I use tweetdeck now) but I do use their “Hootlet” browser plugin that allows me to share on twitter from my browser. It’s extremely useful.
  2. Facebook Share Button – Similar to the “Hootlet”, you can also grab the Facebook share button which works with any web browser as well. Just as the name implies you’re able to share any content with your Facebook network no matter what browser you use.
• Mobile Applications:
  1. Blackberry – I’m a “crackberry” user and abuser so when I’m out and about and I need to send a quick update, I use Ubertwitter. It allows me all of the functionality of the Twitter mobile website plus, retweeting, search, following, and unfollowing. Facebook App – The Facebook application has come a long way. It gives you access to your Facebook “stream” with status updates, pictures, etc. One unique feature is it syncs up your friends with your phone book so you’ll have numbers at the touch of a button plus their profile pic. Unfortunately, you can’t access your in-box, but you are able to send messages. Viigo – This priceless tool allows me to get all of my Google Reader feeds (or websites) on my phone. So I’m never disconnected or out of the loop when it comes to the blogs and websites I subscribe to. It also has a twitter client built into the app for easy updating, weather, news, and more. Give it a try. WordPress for Blackberry – I actually just found out that there’s a WordPress app for Blackberry in beta. I haven’t used it yet, but will definitely give it a try.

  2. Iphone – Tweetdeck – same functionality as the desktop version . . . smaller package. Facebook app – I hear that the blackberry and Iphone versions are a bit different, but none-the-less, a valuable tool for staying connected. WordPress for Iphone – yep, you can blog away while you’re on a long plane ride, at a meeting, or even live event.

Tip #4 - Invest a hour a day

If you’re a super busy entrepreneur, like most are, try penciling in a set time of day that you can relax and write a blog post, respond to comments on Facebook or Twitter, and share information that you find on the web. I’ve been a web junkie since I was born so I’m on the net “working” for hours at a time naturally. If you’re more strategic and structured than me then a set time might help you to develop good social media habits.

Tip #5 - Plan out your website or blog content

I can’t stress enough how important it is to create an editorial calendar for your website or blog. Most entrepreneurs create a “static business card” of a website and all this does is tell people who you are, what you do, and what you offer. If you really want to build relationships and earn sales, teach people something unique and share it with the world. This is the essence of blogging. Some of my clients take to it extremely fast and others are like, “how in the world do I fit this into my daily routine?” The answer is two-fold; first see Tip #4 and second, plan out your articles in a monthly calendar. This will keep you organized, on-track, and you won’t be stuck trying to figure out what to write. Here’s a short video explaining my process for creating The Success Center’s editorial calendar. I use Google Calendar to schedule my posts. This keeps everything organized and  I can also access my calendar on my phone while I’m mobile.

These 5 tips are a reflection of the strategies I’ve employed to help me manage and maximize social media for my business. Don’t feel overwhelmed by the amount of tools I’ve listed. A tool is only as useful as it’s handler makes it. Somethings will work well for you and some won’t, they key is to test, try, and try again. What tools do you currently use that should of been added to this list? If you have a handle on social media, how are you managing it? And if you haven’t already, don’t forget to cast your vote in the poll below.

Flickr image by Gary Hayes

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About The Author

Rod Kirby

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Yesterday, I had the privilege of interviewing social media expert, Naomi Trower. As mentioned in that interview she published a new e-book, Social Media Marketing for Real Estate & Mortgage. In the video review below I’ll show you what I like, what I don’t like, and give you a short preview of what’s in store if you decide to buy it. This is not a paid review, however, I am an affiliate marketer so affiliate links abound (I wouldn’t endorse a product or service unless I thought it would benefit you in some shape form or fashion).

Watch the review and let me know what you think in the comments below. Also, if you decide to purchase it I’d love to hear if any of Naomi’s strategies work for your business.

Pros

• Easy to read
• Well Designed
• Well Organized
• Loved the diagram showing Naomi’s social media “calendar”
• Tons of great techniques to use for all small business owners, not just real estate professionals
• Voice of the book is written from a friend giving another friend advice
• Sections give basic and advanced strategies for maximizing social media
• Nothing too overly complex – great for beginners

Cons

• Wish it were a little longer
• Active Rain section wasn’t as extensive as the Facebook, Twitter, or Linkedin sections

Final Score – 4 out of 5

Great e-book with a ton of expert advice. Excellent for beginning and intermediate social media users. Advanced social media marketers will enjoy the SEO sections and advanced tips given for Linkedin and Facebook. Definitely worth the 19.99 price tag. Buy it today if you’re ready to take your business to the next level with social media.

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

About The Author

Rod Kirby

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Naomi Trower

I had the pleasure of chatting with real estate and mortgage professional/social media expert [and good friend], Naomi Trower. Naomi has a passion for writing and social media and has satisfied that desire with blogging and social networking.

She has been blogging for 1 year with her fitness blog and 2 years with her internet business blog which was transformed into her current social media blog for real estate and mortgage professionals. Naomi is a frequent guest blogger on The Social Media Examiner blog and a slew of other sites.

Today, we chat on all things social media marketing and her new e-book, Social Media Marketing For Real Estate & Mortgage (Aff link). Check back tomorrow for a full review of her e-book.

In this interview you’ll learn;

• Why your blog is critical to your social media marketing plan.
• How to use Twitter “the right way” and build a following.
• Strategies to create a “rockin” Facebook Fan-page.
• How to make your Linkedin profile SEO (search engine optimization) friendly.
• And more!

Have any questions for Naomi on maximizing social media for your business? Leave your thoughts, comments, and questions below. Don’t forget to check back tomorrow for a full review of Naomi’s new e-book, Social Media Marketing For Real Estate & Mortgage (Aff link)

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

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Last week you all gave me such an overwhelming response to my article, The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Twitter Success, I decided to put together an e-book based on it. This is definitely a labor of love for me, thanks to those who previewed it and gave me great feedback. I know it’ll bless you just as much as it blessed me writing it. Enjoy!

The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Twitter Success: How to Grow Your Business, Blog, or Brand with Twitter

What Will I Learn?

• Learn what Twitter is
• Why it’s Popular
• How to Find Followers
• How it Works
• Tools to Help You Do Your Best Tweeting
• My Secret Weapon to Marketing on Twitter
• Tips on Growing Your Network
• The Secret to Sales Success on Twitter
• How I got over 700 visits to this blog from Twitter Alone
• And More!

Who is it For?

This book is best for beginners who want to join Twitter, advanced users who have been on Twitter but want to learn how to really maximize it, and experts who want to see first-hand how I became a “Twitter Success” story.

What’s in it?

The guide is packed full of 20 pages that will show you how I use Twitter on a daily basis to grow my blog’s community, brand presence, and get business.

You won’t find any get-rich-quick schemes, a “system” of success, or any ridiculous claims like that here. I’ll show you step-by-step what I do and how I do it. Best part of all, it’s yours today absolutely free! No tricks, no gimmicks, nothing to sign-up for . . . free.

Why is it Free?

• I’m sick of people spamming me on Twitter, maybe if they really knew how to maximize it for business they wouldn’t.
• I believe it’ll genuinely help newcomers and advanced users alike.
• I want you to share it with your friends, followers, colleagues, and entire network.

Reviews

“I read fellow authors and nonprofits confusion about Twitter or they believe they do not have time to be “social.” I receive the questions on “how-to’s” and I believe The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Twitter Success EBook is the answer to their questiosn. It’s one of the best and easiest guides to understand for beginners and those who are advanced also.” – Brooks Young, Sole of a Woman Blog

Read the full review here . . .

Product Details

Format – Adobe PDF (Adobe Reader required to view. Get it here.)

Length – 21 pages

Size – 1.49 MB

Features – Navigate through the table of contents, easily through each section, and even Re-tweet it on Twitter.

Cost - FREE!

So, download it, read it, share with a friend or two, and let me know what you think in the comments below.

To your success,

Rod

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

About The Author

Rod Kirby

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