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!

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!

The Social Media Marketing Success Series: Build a Web Presence, Build a Brand, Build a Base, Ask for the Sale

Rod

Further Reading

• HOW TO: Build a Marketing Base for Your Business
• HOW TO: Build a Web Presence for Your Business
• What Would You Do if the Social Media Bubble Burst?
• 5 Things Christian Entrepreneurs Can Learn from Michael G. Holmes
• The Power of Storytelling in Social Media Marketing

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!

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.

Rod

Further Reading

• HOW TO: Build a Web Presence for Your Business
• 4 Easy Ways to Grow Your Business Online & Off
• Interview: Maximizing Social Media with Naomi Trower
• The Secret to Social Media Marketing Success: Asking for the Sale
• What Would You Do if the Social Media Bubble Burst?

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!

Part 2 – How to Build a Brand

Need to Build a Brand?

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. As you watch, reflect on each and come up with a plan to take your business and brand to the next level. Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments below once you’re done. Once you’re ready, head on over to the next lesson and learn how to Build a Marketing Base for your business.

Note: I recorded the video in a different format than usual – call me adventurous – There may be some audio sync issues. Sorry.

Rod

Further Reading

• HOW TO: Build a Web Presence for Your Business
• What Would You Do if the Social Media Bubble Burst?
• The Secret to Social Media Marketing Success: Asking for the Sale
• HOW TO: Build a Marketing Base for Your Business
• 5 Things Christian Entrepreneurs Can Learn from Michael G. Holmes

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 to get started? Let’s Go!

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!

Rod

Further Reading

• HOW TO: Build a Marketing Base for Your Business
• Interview: Maximizing Social Media with Naomi Trower
• 4 Easy Ways to Grow Your Business Online & Off
• The Secret to Social Media Marketing Success: Asking for the Sale
• 5 Things Christian Entrepreneurs Can Learn from Michael G. Holmes

This is a guest post by Ralph E. Plaskett

Are Your Marketing Dollars Going into the Trash?

Do you remember the last piece of mail that you received? Do you remember what it was about? If you are like most people, you don’t. You probably considered it to be junk mail because it didn’t pertain to you or your interests. In the online world, this would be called spam – unwanted or unsolicited mail (or email). This type of mail is what I like to call name, rank, and serial number mailings, otherwise known as traditional marketing.

Traditional marketing is far from being effective because it doesn’t appeal to the wants, desires, and interests of the people. As humans, we often think that something works when we see an abundance of it. Unfortunately, we see even more bad marketing because many businesses owners feel that because they see an abundance of a particular marketing piece that it must be effective. Well the secret is that they are often not effective for the reasons mentioned above.

So how do we turn from marketing that wastes money to marketing that provides a solid return on investment? The answer to this question is quite simple yet difficult for so many business owners and entrepreneurs to understand. If you have ever worked in retail, your manager probably told you “The customer is always right”. Although this isn’t always true, the philosophy behind this popular saying is true. ‘The customer is always right’ takes the focus off of self or
the company and raises the interests of the customer in the employee’s mind. People-focused marketing does just that; makes the marketing about the recipient, not the company or its products/services.

If you have ever spoken with someone that only talks about themselves or their interests, then you know how annoying it can be. Your marketing is no different. The challenge that small business owners face is turning their marketing from self-centered marketing to people-focused marketing. To accomplish this, small business owners need to understand who their customers are. Here are a few questions that will help you figure out who exactly are your customers.

•       What are their interests?
•       What are their fears?
•       What kind of periodicals do they read?
•       Do they have their own lingo?
•       What is their education level?

As you can imagine, this isn’t even close to a complete list of questions that small business owners can ask to gain a better understanding of their customers. Each industry, product, and service has its own questions that can be asked to become familiar with customers who may be inclined to purchase. Far too many small business owners do not do the necessary research to truly know their customers. It is much easier to put their name, rank (years in business), and serial number (street address) than to do the hard work of understanding who is the customer and how that relates to their product or service.

Once a solid understanding of the customer is discovered, the creation of a message that is tailored to that ‘ideal customer can be created. This is known as message to market matching. What many small business owners don’t understand is that their product or service is a solution to someone. They also don’t understand that everyone isn’t their customer (which is a totally different article). Your product solves a problem that the customer is facing. The challenge of the small business owner is to discover how many solutions/benefits their product or service provides. This is why it is critical to understand who the customer is.

Making marketing that is centered around the customer and the benefits they will obtain from a product or service is admittedly difficult, time-consuming, but very rewarding. Not only are you providing benefits and solutions to your customers but your will also increase your revenue 10-fold.

Proverbs 13:4 (NIV) says The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. So which one will you be, the sluggard wishing and hoping for greater success in your business or the diligent who is fully satisfied and seeks greater achievements?

———————–
About the Author
Ralph E. Plaskett is known as the Peculiar Marketing Expert for peculiar people, the go-to resource for action-oriented information where readers can take the words right off the page and put them to work immediately! His effective strategies develop, grow, and expand businesses for Christians. Visit his website at
http://www.PushingKingdomBusiness.com

Further Reading

• Review: Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months by Melinda Emerson [Plus Video!]
• 4 Secrets to Small Business Success
• What Would You Do if the Social Media Bubble Burst?
• The Power of Storytelling in Social Media Marketing
• The Barack Obama Guide to Social Media Marketing Success

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You can check out the full interview here.

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

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

Rod

Further Reading

• HOW TO: Build a Marketing Base for Your Business
• HOW TO: Build a Web Presence for Your Business
• 4 Easy Ways to Grow Your Business Online & Off
• The Secret to Social Media Marketing Success: Asking for the Sale
• HOW TO: Build a Brand for Your Business

How private is your data online?

Social media superstar, Chris Brogan was in my neighborhood last month, speaking on social media marketing for small businesses. I remembered him saying, ”Privacy is dead because of the internet” and that statement really hit me. It’s not hard to see privacy go down the drain, especially with the transparency that social media demands and Facebook’s privacy woes as of late.

Small business owners have a lot to loose to breaches in privacy online. Social networks that keep photos, contact data, and other information on their servers even when you’re not active can be dangerous if stumbled upon by outsiders. (Imagine your client finding old photos of you partying in a chicken suit on New Years Eve on Facebook. Get the picture?)

How Can You Combat Your Privacy Concerns?

Chris did mention a way to combat the privacy issue. He said to “Win by having as much volume & value as u can” (paraphrased). My only issue with “having as much volume & value as u can,” is that it only covers up what’s beneath the surface. Barack Obama may have been the most “socially aware” presidential candidate in history, but his volume and value didn’t hide the controversy around the authenticity of his birth certificate (Wikipedia article).

In order to effectively combat the privacy issues of social media, online networks, and the world wide web in general I believe you have to take a more direct approach and fight them head-on. Here are some tips on how to secure your data across the web. Remember, the only way you’re going to get 100% privacy is by not using the internet at all. But, these tips should help you clean-up your tracks, protect your current data, and prevent further misuse of it.

Use Fancy Email “Ninjary” (Forms, Plugins, and other Useful Tools)

A couple of weeks ago, Facebook introduce new and simpler controls for privacy. According to Facebook your privacy settings weren’t changed, just how you access them. Here are a few tips and suggestions on how to maximize the new settings;

If you’ve made any previous privacy changes they’ll carry over to the new privacy page as Custom settings. If you would like to tweak these in a granular style click the customize settings link towards the bottom left-side of the page.

The big news for the new settings include more control over applications, games, and how they share your information. Here’s how to fully protect yourself while using the site;

1. Click the Applications, Games, and Websites link at the bottom of the page.

2. Check out the What you’re using section first. This section displays every Facebook app, game, and website associated with your account. Click the remove link to delete applications from your account.

3. Move to the Info accessible through your friends link. This section shows you what information your friends’ apps can access through their profile (that’s right, an app your friend uses can access your information). I recommend you deselect everything to keep other apps from getting, using, or abusing your data.

4. The Instant Personalization setting gives you the option to let Facebook partner sites use your data to “personalize” their websites for you when you visit. I recommend you deselect this option to keep your information secure.

Linkedin

What kind of privacy issues could the business networking site have? According to many users, plenty. If you’re using the site for your business then continue to use your business contact information. If you’re looking for a job you may consider setting up a special email and contact number (Perhaps a Google Voice number?) for job inquiries.

Once you’re logged into your profile click on “settings” in the top right-hand corner.

You’ll see the typical settings for your profile, email notifications, groups, and more. I would suggest tweaking your personal information first.Next, head over to privacy settings.

The most notable settings to tweak are Linkedin’s authorized applications, partner advertising, Nytimes.com customization, profile views, and research survey settings. Tweak each to meet your privacy needs, save your settings, and you’re done!

Twitter

Your Twitter profile is stripped of the exessive profile information of most social networks. This gives everyone the opportunity to get down to the “social” part in social media. However, this is the internet we’re talking about and in that regard nothing is 100% private. With that said . . .

• Be careful with what you share! Use common sense and don’t let people know when you’ll be away from home. Sure, it’s common sense, but you’ll be surprised how many people let their guard down and end up on sites like pleaserobme.com.

Rod

Further Reading

• Poll: Is Traditional Marketing Dead?
• 35 Keys to Social Media Success by Chris Brogan
• What Would You Like Me to Ask Chris Brogan?
• What Would You Do if the Social Media Bubble Burst?
• The Power of Storytelling in Social Media Marketing

Want to Present with Poise?

Speaking engagements are great marketing opportunities. To be a successful business person, you have to be able to clearly and effectively communicate about your offerings to potential clients, investors, and partners. One way to generate buzz for your business is to create and give presentations that highlight various aspects of your business. These presentations can help you seal opportunities for more sales in strategic areas.

I had the chance to see Ed Tate, the 2000 World Champion of Public Speaking, present at a Toastmasters conference recently. He said that public speaking is the only form of marketing where you can build an emotional bond with your potential clients. Are you ready and willing to give a speech about what you do and the services you provide?

Preparation and practice are the keys to a poised presentation, but there is much more to giving a speech than just presenting your information. To showcase yourself and your business in the best light, follow these 20 principles to prepare a powerful, polished presentation with poise and purpose.

Purposeful Preparation

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15, NIV)

1. Audience Analysis

DON’T: Give a canned speech without modifications.

DO: Consult the meeting planner/event coordinator to discuss your topic and tailor your presentation to a specific audience. You should consult with her well ahead of time to find out the audience’s needs, problems and concerns instead of just looking at things you can sell to them. Think of it as part of your ministry of service. If a group goes to a park for ministry to the homeless, they are likely to feed them and distribute supplies before talking to them about God, praying with, and reading Scriptures to them. Likewise, you have to meet people where they are, and speak to them on their level before you attempt to discuss any offerings. Once you build a rapport in this way, without a sales pitch, they will be more open to learning about your product or service.

A pre-event questionnaire is a great tool to gather information if you’re speaking to a company or organization. You can give the meeting planner the questionnaire to fill out well in advance. The details you learn from her answers will help you customize a speech, and build trust and credibility with your audience—the emotional bond that Ed Tate mentioned. Review their website, annual reports, newsletters, press releases, and brochures. Then check with the meeting planner to ensure that your stories and ideas are relevant to your points and not offensive. When in doubt, leave it out.

2. Figure Out Where You Fit

DON’T: Prepare your speech in a vacuum.

DO: Find out and consider the logistics of the event where you will be speaking. What is the specific purpose of the gathering? Will you speak from a raised platform, or be at the same level as your audience? How much time do you have to get your message across?

3. Start With a Bang

DON’T: Open your speech with something dull such as, “Hello everyone. Today I’m here to talk to you about…,” a long-winded thanks to numerous people, or an irrelevant story about what happened to you on the way there.

DO: Get your audience’s attention right out of the gate. Use a question, anecdote, startling statistic, paradox, or controversial opinion to draw in your audience and capture their attention. You want them to forget whatever is on their mind and focus on your message. You can also include an icebreaker to loosen up the audience and get them curious about what you will present.

4. Mix It Up

DON’T: Read to your audience or stick to one monotonous format.

DO: Use different elements such as humor, facts, quotes, and anecdotes. You can also engage your audience by:

· Telling stories. You can use a case study, a personal testimony that conveys how your business helped solve a problem or make someone’s life easier.  When you tell stories that involve more than one person you can make the scenes come alive by:

- Using dialogue (don’t speak in third person, speak as if you are each character)

- Using body language and gestures (make faces and relive the story)

- Varying your voice, tone, and pitch (don’t be like the teacher in The Wonder Years)

· Taking an audience survey by show of hands or applause, or use a white board, easel, or overhead transparency to write their responses.

· Doing a partner/small group exercise.

· Doing a skit using one or more audience members.

· Encouraging them to finish some of your sentences or repeat a phrase you use throughout.

· Use props. For example, you could toss an object around the room, and whoever catches it has to answer a question (and possibly gets a prize).

5. Beware of Information Overload

DON’T: Cram too much information into your presentation.

DO: Leave them wanting more. Consider your allotted time purpose when you design the breadth and depth of your speech. Is it a high-level presentation or an in-depth seminar? Do you have 15 minutes or an hour? Craig Valentine, 1999 World Champion of Public Speaking, advises that you discuss no more than one main point for every 10 minutes of your speech. This is one of the rules I’m guilty of breaking. Take it from me—your audience will get frustrated if you try to pack in too much information in the time allowed, or skip over information because you’re running out of time.

If you want extra “insurance,” you can have color-code your speech or mark your notes in a certain way so you know which elements to add or delete as you go along, to fill the needs of your speech. If you find that your time gets cut short, you’ll know which key points to make, and if you gain time, you know you’ve got relevant stories and exercises available to fill it up.

6. PowerPoint is Not a Crutch

DON’T: Read your PowerPoint slides or cram them with too many words.

DO: Create only as many slides as you need to make your points, or scrap the slides altogether. Choose a prop or other visual aids.

7. Leave Them With Something To Remember You By

DON’T: Conclude your speech with a question and answer period.

DO: Prepare an actual closing to your presentation. You want to make a powerful, lasting impact on your listeners, since they won’t remember most of your speech. You can have Q&A, just don’t make it THE ending. Instead use a story to drive home your core message, or just a summary that brings your points together. You could also choose to end with:

· Advice

· An anecdote

· A call to action (signing up for email updates, inviting people to make a donation, visiting your website, buying your product, or supporting a cause)—just don’t make it a pitch

· Asking volunteers to tell what they learned and how they will apply it in their life, or to voice their objections or concerns about carrying out the advice presented.

8. Practice!

DON’T: Skimp on rehearsals.

DO: Rehearse several times, even if you have given the speech before. If this audience has not heard you speak about this topic, and you tailored it for them, you need to incorporate your “tweaks”. Record yourself and/or speak in front of someone if you can so you can check your performance.

Beware of filler words, such as “um”s and “uh”s, which may come about if you don’t practice your transitions and pauses during rehearsal. Pauses allow you time to think about what you will say next, and they give the audience time to think about the last thing they heard, which provides emphasis to it.

9. Oration is Not Necessary

DON’T: Push yourself to memorize your entire talk.

DO: Familiarize yourself with the speech enough that you don’t have to rely heavily on notes (although it’s a good idea to have them close by in case you lose your place). Rehearsing and practice will help you memorize most of your talk, but you can still flow naturally and not feel pressure to remember your speech word-for-word.

10. Consider Evaluations

DON’T: Underestimate the importance of feedback.

DO: Create speech evaluations that people can fill out anonymously to gauge your effectiveness and make improvements for your next presentation.

Poised and Polished Presentation

“You are the light of the world… In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14a; 16 (NIV)

11. Let Your Light Shine

DON’T: Wear clothing or flashy jewelry that detracts from your presentation, however nice it may look on you. Image and first impressions are important.  Clothes that are wrinkled, too big, or too tight are not right. You don’t need to create any distracting visual barriers for the audience to overcome. And ladies—if you would find it questionable on another woman, then don’t wear it yourself. Modesty is never offensive. You are representing yourself, your business, and Christ.

DO: Dress for success. When you look good, you feel good, and your confidence will help you shine.

12. Stay Alert to Logistical Changes

DON’T: Assume that all your technical requirements will be good to go when you arrive.

DO: Arrive early and bring your own equipment. Stuff happens. Even if you requested specific equipment to be set up for you, arrive with ample time to set up if you are using PowerPoint slides, handouts, or other props, just in case “Murphy” shows up. Chairs may be set up differently than you’d like, or you may have to move to a different room. If logistics change, be flexible, and make do the best you can and work with what you’ve got.

13. Relax

DON’T: Be too serious.

DO: Smile. Regardless of the topic, there will be a time to smile.  Show your personality. If you’re nervous, everyone doesn’t have to know. Sometimes you have to fake it ‘til you make it, and besides, smiling is contagious. Let your light shine!

14. Pace Yourself

DON’T: Talk too fast.

DO: Take your time as you speak. It’s easy to talk too fast if you’re excited about your material or nervous, but try to keep a poised and relaxed or energetic composure—depending on what your topic calls for. If you’re concerned about time, keep a timepiece on the lectern or have someone signal you.

15. Keep Your Composure

DON’T: Get off track or get discouraged if something goes wrong during the presentation.

DO: Recover gracefully (or make a tactful joke) and keep it moving. It’s OK if you mess up or lose your place. The audience is on your side—they really want to see you succeed! They’re giving you their time and attention, hoping to get some important insight and information in return. Don’t let them down!

Powerful Presence

“Let all things be done decently and in order.” (1 Corinthians 14:40)

16. Move Around

DON’T: Stay in one spot or favor one side of the stage for the entire presentation, pace, or turn your back to the audience.

DO: Move naturally from time to time, with purpose, but not from nervousness or an abundance of energy.

17. A “Know-It-All”? Not!

DON’T: “Talk down” to your audience or position yourself as a person who has “made it” without any struggles.

DO: Demonstrate your expertise in a way that engages the audience and answers the question, “What’s in it for me?” Be relatable and show your commonalities. Why do you believe in your product or service? How has it helped others?

18. Take Charge

DON’T: Ignore a heckler or disruptive audience member, or respond with a rude or coarse remark.

DO: Stay in control of the room. Once you start your presentation, you are in charge. Ignoring disruptive audience members is not usually the best way to handle them. Address them tastefully without embarrassing anyone. People will respect you for taking control, and for your calm, cool attitude.

19. Hang Out for a While

DON’T: Do not make a long or pressured sales pitch. Once you turn off the audience, they’ll shut down and there’s no coming back.

DO: Remain accessible and approachable after your speech. Let people know a little about your business and how they can reach you. Give them just enough information to leave them wanting more. You can negotiate with the meeting planner to offer a service such as coaching sessions or back of the room sales for your products after your presentation has concluded. If you educate the audience and provide them with value, you can convince them why they need your services and convert some of them into paying clients.

20. Keep At It

DON’T: Let too much time elapse between speaking engagements.

DO: Continually seek out places to gain more exposure for your business. Get in where you fit in by checking out your local Chamber of Commerce meetings, Rotary clubs, Kiwanis clubs, and other associations and nonprofit groups related to your target audience.

Find Your Rhythm and Put Yourself Out There

As you can see, much of the work that goes into presenting with poise is due to preparation. You have to find a rhythm when presenting information and it helps to start preparing BEFORE you see an opportunity to speak. Experts in their fields are often asked to speak at conferences and special events, but it’s better still to create your own presentations and opportunities as you network.

If you want to get more comfortable with public speaking on a regular basis and build confidence, join a Toastmasters club near you. It’s the most economical professional organization I’ve ever belonged to for the value I’ve received (it’s about $30 for a six-month membership at my club).

Who needs your products and services? I encourage you to share your expertise with them because no one can tell them about it better than you. The more you often speak, the better you will become, and the more personal success and business growth you can realize.

About the Author

Daree Allen

Daree Allen is a technical writer, freelancer, and motivational speaker. She is currently writing a self-help book for teen girls.  You can reach her at her website, “D.elivering A. R.ich, E.mpowering E.xperience” at http://DareeAllen.com, and her personal development blog, “Daree’s Insights” at http://dareesinsights.wordpress.com.

Further Reading

• 4 Pillars to Building a Successful Blog
• The Secret to Social Media Marketing Success: Asking for the Sale
• HOW TO: Build a Marketing Base for Your Business
• HOW TO: Build a Brand for Your Business
• HOW TO: Build a Web Presence for Your Business

Mike Holmes

Mike is the author of I Shall Raise Thee Up: Ancient Principles for Lasting Greatness (Amazon aff link). He’s a chronic blogger and speaker that teaches business and leadership development from a Biblical perspective. He lives in Queens, NY with his wife and young son.

You’ve read many of Mike’s guest posts here at The Success Center. Here’s a list of his “greatest hits,” if you’ve missed any of them;

• Why Business is not Bad but Good
• 6 Reasons Why the Early Church was the Greatest Startup in History
• What Christian Entrepreneurs Could Learn from Andrew Carnegie
• The Barack Obama Guide to Marketing Success
• The Jesus Christ Guide to Master Marketing
• The Importance of ‘Purpose’ for the Christian Entrepreneur
• 6 Things Christian Entrepreneurs Could Learn from Steve Jobs

Today we’ll discuss what it means to be a Christian entrepreneur, how one can apply Biblical principles to business success, social media marketing, and everything in between!

In this interview you’ll learn;

• What it really means to be a Christian entrepreneur,
• Guest blogging tips for success,
• Mike’s secret technique called, ‘drug dealer marketing’ (trust me, it’s a good one!)
• Newbie tips for self-publishing,
• How to maximize social media for business,
• Mike’s 5 tips for Christian entrepreneur success,
• and more!

P.P.S. – my apologies for my the low audio coming from my end. Next time I’ll use my “big boy” voice

Rod

Further Reading

• HOW TO: Build a Web Presence for Your Business
• Interview: Maximizing Social Media with Naomi Trower
• The Secret to Social Media Marketing Success: Asking for the Sale
• HOW TO: Build a Marketing Base for Your Business
• What Would You Do if the Social Media Bubble Burst?

Are Your Speaking Your Success?

The Bible says that the power of life and death are in the tongue (Proverbs 18:21) so I have to believe that success and failure are there as well. Simply put, everything we want to achieve in life, on the job, in our business, and etc. is determined by what we say.

The Power of Words

I believe that our words form the atmosphere around us. Whenever I keynoted a seminar I always started out by having attendees repeat a “success mantra.” It goes like this;

“As I develop my business I will build it by wisdom and it will become strong through good sense. Good advice and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine. Success will follow me because I choose to lead with integrity, good planning, wisdom, understanding, and knowledge.”

Here’s video of me explaining the concept to a journalist that filmed the beginning of my keynote at the 2008 African American Leadership Conference (skip ahead to 2:08 for the good stuff!).

I adapted that mantra from a scripture in Proverbs [I can't remember which one due to the gray hairs on my chin, but if you can figure out which one, I'll send you a gift - seriously].

The Bible and Our Success

As Christian entrepreneurs we believe that the Word (Bible) is our final authority and has everything we need to succeed. It’s easy to forget that the Bible also gives us a way to receive the success we want for our business through speaking it out loud.

Speaking the word empowers us, gives us hope, and moves God on our behalf. The Bible says that God is not a man that He would lie, so He has to do what His word says He will do!

What does that mean for us? It means that we can go to God when our business isn’t producing the fruit we’d like to see, speak the Word, and get the help we need. That help may be unexpected income, favor from our peers, God expanding our territory, and etc.

Speaking the Word brings together God super abilities with our natural needs to create supernatural blessings in our life and business!

Christians around the world always wonder why their prayers aren’t being answered – it’s because they’re not putting God in remembrance of His word. I promise, if you include the Word of God in your prayers you’ll see an immediate shift in your situations!

A Scripture to Remember

Let me share with you one of my favorite scriptures that deals directly with God’s promise for our prosperity. It comes from Deuteronomy 28: 3-13 and it reads;

³ You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.

⁴ The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.

⁵ Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.

⁶ You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

⁷ The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.

⁸ The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.

⁹ The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your God and walk in his ways. ¹⁰ Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will fear you. ¹¹ The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your forefathers to give you.

¹² The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. ¹³ The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.

The key to Speaking Your Success

So, how do you manifest your success with by the power of your words alone? It’s as easy as 1, 2, and 3!

First – Make the Scripture Personal!

I love the scripture above because when you make it personal it speaks directly to any financial or business situation you can possibly face.

Let’s start with verse 3. Instead of “You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country” say, “I will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.”

Now, verse 11 – Instead of saying, “The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your forefathers to give you,”

say,

“The LORD will grant me abundant prosperity—in the fruit of my womb, the young of my livestock and the crops of my ground—in the land he swore to my forefathers to give me.”

Pretty simple and straight-forward right? That’s how it’s meant to be!

Note: This scripture comes from the old testament so wealth back then was the equivalent to livestock. Continue to speak it as it is and just know in your heart that God understands what YOUR livestock is.

Second – Thank God in Advance!

Once you’ve spoken the scripture out loud thank God for His word, for him performing His word, and for His word coming to pass. This is called, exercising ”faith muscles.” Since we know that God can not lie, and we’re speaking “His words,” then it’s got to happen, right? Exactly!

Be patient, wait on God to move on your behalf, and know that He’s already dispatched the Angels since you spoke it!

Third – Repeat!

Don’t just stop at speaking one scripture, get a ton of them and speak them out loud. This is called “applying the Word” to your situation. You have to repeat the process until you KNOW in your heart and spirit that what God said He’ll do for you HE.WILL.DO!

The Ball is in Your Court

So, are you going to sit in defeat and have a pity party because your business isn’t making the kind of money you want it to make? Or, are you going to take God at His word, speak it out-loud, and watch Him work on your behalf? Give it a try, I promise you won’t regret it. Here’s a great post from Christian Personal Finance Blog on 24 scriptures about business that you’ll enjoy.

I highly recommend purchasing a copy of Prayers That Avail Much the 25th Anniversary Edition. It includes hundreds of prayers on various topics (including business and financial needs) already personalized and ready for you to speak. The ball is in your court – What do you think about speaking the Word to manifest your success? Let me know in the comments below.

Note: Also, for the first person to let me know what scripture was referenced (from the book of Proverbs) in my success mantra, I will mail you a free gift!

Rod

Further Reading

• The Ultimate Key to Business Success
• Does God Want You to Succeed?
• 4 Secrets to Small Business Success
• My Secret for Proven Business Success
• How to Stay Focused on THE Main Thing