How To Use Social Media Networking For Multiple Jobs

Hi everyone ...

Using social media networks for multiple jobs!  How does that work?  Does it mean that being active via "social networking" will accomplish two or more jobs for your online marketing?  YES ...but only if you are active with direction, purpose, and pre-defined tasks.  Then you can use social media networking for multiple jobs successfully! 

Let's go back to comparing employees to online resources. Picture that you're working in HR at a company.  Your boss says, I'm short a person in shipping. I'm going to use you in shipping today!  You go over to shipping and work there for the day.  Or maybe you went back and forth during the day. OR ... maybe you are able to do both from one desk.  In any of these scenarios, different tasks are being done from the same source, YOU. Your boss is just using you in different ways.

Question is, did you just know how to do both tasks naturally?  Of course not.  You had to be made aware of the job expectations,  the purpose and the tasks needed to be done on the day(s) you worked each, correct?  Well, it's the same thing with your online resources.

Social media networks can by "hired/used" for advertising, marketing, prospecting, opening sales, cementing sales, post sale support, services, and more.
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BUT, can all of the above happen just by the fact that you post on a social network?  NO.  Simply being there does not get the job done ( just like with people).  AND the social network by itself does not make it happen either.  Do not think because you have a facebook account that "facebook" will make things happen.

When using social networks, each time you create a posting you must know your assigned job expectation, purpose, and the task you want to complete.  It's that simple.

Putting some thought into each post will create results.  Simply randomly posting and being seen ... well, how productive would an employee be who just randomly showed up to be seen?   It's the same thing with your online resources.

Thoughts? Questions? Comments? Would love to know your thoughts!

Keep your business garden growing,
margie
www.todaysway.net

The New Facebook Business Page Look

Hi ..

Did you upgrade yet? If you haven't heard, facebook business pages are getting some capabilities that lots of people have been waiting for! If you are a business owner you will really like the changes ... at least that is my prediction. Here are a few of the highlights:

• Now you can LIKE other pages and leave postings on other pages as a business! It's optional, via settings, but something I believe many of you will want. There is still a personal touch available as page administrator profile images are shown at the top right hand corner of the page. A simple click will take you to their personal accounts.
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• Another plus is that you can target post - per country, state, city and even language!
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• You will be notified via email when a posting is left on your business page. This will be the same as you've been experiencing on your personal page. One addition - you can block profanity! Not that "you" would get such a posting, but good to know!
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• You can choose via settings if first time visitors see only the page postings or all the postings. People who LIKE your page get the same options!

Take a look at a complete listing on my weekly mailing ....click here Take a look and tell me if you like these changes? What is your favorite? What don't you like? Would love to know ....
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Right now the upgrade is optional. You can preview and then go ahead and upgrade if you want ... however, once you do upgrade there is no going back. On March 10th everyone's business pages will receive this upgrade. I'd get myself ready now!!! Call with questions!
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Keep your business growing ...
margie

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Foursquare - Did You "Check-In" Today?

The word is out about foursquare ~ a web and mobile application that allows members to connect with friends and share where they are located.. People can learn about new places to go, where sales are going on and where foursquare is offering "specials!" It's becoming a fun game for users and a money maker for some businesses.

So, who's using foursquare? How are you using it? Share with us please!

Foursquare seems like a fun way for businesses to attract repeat business ... actually more than attract. They can actually "lure" clients to their venues. I would love to hear "live" actual stories of how people are using Foursquare as a business and as a user.

If you are not familiar with foursquare visit my newsletter this week. It explains it all: Click here!

Ok .. now I'm waiting to hear from you!

Keep your business growing,
margie

What's "Your" Purpose For Social Networking?

Hi ..

So what is "your" purpose for social networking? Do you have one? Hope so, cause it is the first step to take in order to justify your time on a social network.

It is imperative to have a purpose and/or intention if you are looking for business on a social network. Without knowing why you are there, how can you create any connections that will end up giving you new, repeat and referral sales? This is when people are wasting their time.


I just discussed 5 business reasons to use social networking for business in my weekly mailing. They are E-Commerce, Lead Generation, Branding, Research, and Customer Retention. You can read all about it by clicking my title here on my blog or if you are a subscriber, it should be in your inbox.
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My question in this blog is "what is "your" purpose? Is it any of the 5 listed? Other? Are you achieving your purpose via social networking? How are you doing it? Please share.
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Personally I have found all the power to be in the posting ~ knowing how to engage the reader with the benefits of what is offered so that the selling is almost transparent! It's powerful to experience. It's my "bait," as I like to say. ( click here for "Six Steps For Going Fishing On Social Networks )

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What do you find powerful? What works for you?
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Keep your business growing ...
margie

Facebook Security - Are We Expecting Too Much?

Hello ..

Just did a mailing on the new facebook security settings. The name begs me to ask if you think we are expecting too much from our internet resources in regards to "security?" What are your thoughts? Do you expect to have information you put on the internet be private?

It wasn't that long ago, and for many it still is, when we hesitated to use our credit cards online. So why now is the level of expectancy so high? We all "know" that encryption is required along with passwords for any type of true protection. Just because a company tells us all is private, are we that easy? How can we be so "trusting" or "stupid" .. which do you think it is?

I will concur that facebook had no right to lead us on .. but again I feel we each need to carry a personal responsibility. Basically it is lots more fun to just put data on the internet that we are comfortable sharing .. no worries!!

If nothing else, I for one, am changing my use of the word "security" to "control." What say you?

Keep your business growing ...
margie

Do You Like Facebook's New LIKE Button?

Hello to all ..

Just did a mailing all about the facebook's new LIKE button! I like it .. what about you?
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Need to find a moment or two to add it to my pages but if your website gets visitors and traffic it is the way to go for sure.
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Basically you can have people "LIKE" your business page the very same way you did it before when the pages were FAN pages. BUT now in addition, there are plugins that you can put on your website pages, blog, articles that you write, etc. The plugins allow your webpages to operate like a facebook business page without being one. Visitors can share them, recommend them, and what I like the most is visitors can write a comment that will go their live feeds ...i.e. taking your webpage to live feeds that stretch way beyond your own. How much visibility is that????
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If you are not on my mailing list you may want to join. I go over all in easy to understand detail .. http://www.todaysway.net/weekly/gardengrowingmay242010_facebook.htm PLUS ..my weekly special is a 90 minute facebook training and coaching session for $60 to the first 4 callers! Can't beat that!
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If you already know about the plugins, please share with me what your thoughts might be about the LIKE button. Would love to hear from outsiders just what you think facebook is up to!!
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Keep your business growing,
margie

Do You Ever Struggle When Creating Online Postings For Your Business?

Do you ever struggle with creating a social networking business posting? How many times do you head to your social network of choice and become clueless as to what to write and resort to something trivial from your day?

If this is you .... you are amongst many out there! There are so many telesminars on strategies for timing, types of postings, places to go to post, etc... but there is very little to help you actually create your postings.

There is no larger pond to fish in for new prospects for your business than the social networks ... so why is it that we don't know what to say about ourselves ( our businesses)? I would really love it if you would share what your specific thoughts are on this subject.

Social networking should be a core activity within our business marketing plan and we should have fun while we are doing it. I have some ideas of my own that I shared with my weekly mailing list to make it much, much easier for business owners. If you would like to get a copy you can subscribe to my mailing list at http://www.todaysway.net/welcome.htm#struggle. You can also find out a little bit more about what you will be receiving via this same link.

In the mean time I would still love to have your input on what "you" find challenging about creating social networking postings for your business. Leave me your comments, please!

Keep your business growing ...
margie

Branding Via Your Text Messages/Postings

There are so many ways to brand your business in addition to your logo and colors! What are some of the ways you have developed your branding? It is always interesting to see what people have discovered ... it also helps all of us in our own branding.

With social networking the "text" message is in many cases the first place a new prospect sees our business. It is important to start the branding process within these initial text communications. Branding "sinks in" upon repeat occurance and where else do you get such frequent visiblitiy than when social networking?

How do you do this, you ask? Text is text ... how do you apply a branding process with plain text? Here are several ideas for you to try "just" on your business postings. When being personal don't apply any branding ... it can negate the effect, I believe. See what you think.

• Have a consistent "sign-off" from your business postings. I end my postings with "Enjoy!"
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• Have a consistent "opening" ... begin each posting in the same manner. Doesn't have to be a formal greeting, per se ...just same intro, i.e. "once upon a time," "a funny thing happened, " etc.
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• Use a consistent "tone" within your postings. Be positive, be negative, be inviting ... but be consistent.
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• Use the same" format" consistently. Maybe your business postings will always be in the form of a question, or an analogy, a story, etc..

If you haven't noticed "consistency" is the name of the game when developing branding. You don't want to overdue it ... subtle consistency, I believe, works best. I'd pick one of the above to begin with and see how it works for you!

You can easily expand this to your email messages and blog postings as well! Before you know it your business will have an "image" just from how you present it within simple text postings. How cool is that?

Let me know how it goes for you?

Keep your business growing ...
margie

Social Networking Friends Are "Real" People!

Merry Christmas! Even if you don't celebrate Christmas the spirit of the greeting is one of love, joy and fellowship. It is a wonderful to wrap all that up into one greeting and I extend it to you "all" of you!

Being that my last posting was about how impersonal a "pinged" message can appear ... it seems timely to remind you all that your social networking friends are real people. Stop and take note of the "new" connections you have made over the last year. I am sure there are at least a couple of people you feel a distinct "bond" with ... people that you met strictly via social networking, i.e. previously total strangers. Send them a personal holiday greeting!

Should a Christmas message not seem appropriate .. certainly a direct, 1-to-1 Happy New Year message should be comfortable. Just like in "live" friendships ("live" meaning offline friendships) .. your social network friends are real people. They appreciate being acknowledged as such.

If a direct message is "too much" ... you might leave at least a "comment" to one of their postings with a holiday hello or on twitter send a direct reply ... just to say Merry Christmas or Happy New Year!

Just a final point ... if you are not yet comfortable with social networking, just doing the above might bring social networking more into perspective as to what it is all about ... simply talking with people, making connections and forming relationships.

Merry Christmas!

Keep your business growing,
margie

To "PING" Or Not To!

So many people are saying to use "PING" for saving time when posting on social networks. Are you using it? Do you like it?

PING, for those not familiar with the term, is a webpage where you can enter a post and have it automatically go to as many social networks that you choose at the same time. It does save much time in terms of "writing" .... but does it gain you any time in relationship building and the final goal of generating new, repeat and referral business?

The only time I feel that PING is possibly appropriate is when you are providing an object that is, what it is, and just need blanket advertising. Not much can be said about this product .. it is something that everyone needs or could use, and only needs a lot of visibility in order to be sold. Most of us do not have this type of service or product.

So for the rest of us, here are my thoughts on postings and the use of PING. You may differ, I welcome your input. Basically I think the strongest asset of being able to post is to create online conversation and the use of PING defeats this! It's that simple!

Let's step off the internet and pretend we are at a networking mixer. You go around the room and meet lots of people and you use the same introduction but based upon the personalities and conversation syle around you at the moment, you may phrase your introduction differently in order to "fit in" better. It allows you to make a better connection.

Going back to the internet, if you look at various social networks, they each have their own personality and for that matter even conversation style! LinkedIn is all business, facebook can have a warmer family feel, etc. If you PING your messages you are speaking the same to each network of people. It works .. sure. But is it maximizing your effort?

I also like to strategize my use of the social networks. I like to find new contacts on Twitter and bring them over to facebook to further nurture the relationship. I will often use the same topic on a posting for each network but present the topic differently per network. My goal isn't to see how many contacts I can create, but how much new business I can generate.

Comparing Twitter and facebook brings up another point! Twitter only allows 140 characters. Facebook allows more! If you PING the same post ... someone loses out! Either the twitter message gets cut off ( I hate that!) or the facebook capabilities aren't maximized.

Also ... how do you react when you see the same post arrive twice or three times in a row because of automatic postings? Or ... when you go to different social networks you belong to and see the same communication, in the same format, from the same person. Do you feel like they are trying to communicate with you or just going through the motions? To me it's like the Christmas card with the printed name. Hand written signatures are much more personal and connecting!

Those are my thoughts on the subject. I personally have no use for PING. BUT many disagree with me. Here's your chance .. convince me I am missing something? Please share with us here :-)

Keep your business growing ...

margie

I Can Never Think Of Anything To Say On Social Networks!

Do you ever go to a social network with the best of intentions, read other people's postings and then go blank? It's a common experience, you are not alone!

Not knowing what to say, or post, is probably the largest reason people stop participating on social networks. Also a major reason that people feel social networking is a waste of time. If you are going through this I'd love to know your specific reactions and challenges. Please share. In the mean time maybe what I share with you here will help.

Try making it all more real. By that I mean keep the "likeness" of offline ( that monthly or weekly networking meeting you attend) to online social networking in mind. Take the same approach ... in both scenarios you have an opportunity to meet new people who might want to do business with you. At the same time you become friends with them as well as others who may not need your services but might know someone who does. You often also meet people who do the same thing. Keeping this in mind will give you a purpose for being on the social network and help your mindset.

HOWEVER .. all the above said, there is one major difference!! Online networking happens more frequently ... you can't use that offline 30 second commercial you use once a week or month over and over in online networking!! So the challenge of what to say begins!

I've discovered that you have to think small! Yup .. tiny pieces. Assuming you are on the social networks to generate business you want to create conversations around what you offer. It is important that you do not resort to hard core sales messages, but you do want to attract people to what you offer.

One of the best selling techniques "anywhere" let alone on social networks is to create conversation around the benefits of what you sell. People do not buy items or services, per se, they buy what the product or service provides them!

So where do you begin? Break down what you offer into its smallest pieces. What is the smallest item someone can buy from you? Build you list with each individual item and then whatever bundles of items you may offer. Go back and list what type of person would buy each item and "why?" The "why" is your benefit! You will be amazed at what you end up seeing on paper.

Each and every "why" on your paper is a posting! Combine with the openers from yesterday's blog and you have a wealth of postings. Saves you lots of time and makes you productive! Here is link to a blank form to get you started.

Go slow ... and all of a sudden you will catch the fever. Use these postings to attract and also to be "hooks" for the people out there who need the benefits of what you offer! And one last very important point ... have fun doing it!

Let us all know how it goes!

Keep your business growing ...
margie

10 Posting Openings That "Connect You!"

If you want your online social networking postings to initiate interaction you really have to write your postings with that intent in mind. You don't get many characters to work with on most social networks, so you have to give a bit of thought to maximize your results!

One simple tip that helps is to write so that you "engage” your readers. You want them to read, relate and respond to you. If this seems difficult, try pretending they are sitting at your desk and just start "talking" to them. Put what you say in writing! Really helps to get the ball rolling! Just make sure no one is watching you from a far! :-)

Also you want to talk “with” not “at” or “to” your readers. Here are some "openings" that will help make it easy for you ...

1. Do you know …
   Do you think …
   Do you have …
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2. Have you ever thought ...
   Have you ever said ...
   Have you ever been ...
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3. As you go ...
   As you think about ...
   As you read ...
   As you play ...
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4. What do you think ...
   What do you do ...
   What do you say ...
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5. What would be ..
   What would happen ...
   What would you say, think, do, be .. etc.
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6. Did you ever think ...
   Did you ever have ...
   Die you ever not ...
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7. Help me, I need ...
   Help me, can't achieve ...
   Help me, looking for ..
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8. Just sitting here thinking ..
   Just sitting here doing my ..
   Just sitting here creating ..
   Just had a client ...
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9. Am walking ...
   Am calculating ...
   Am doing ...
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10. Wondering if ..
    Wondering what ..
    Wondering who ...
    

Try them out and let me know if they help you! You might want to use them to present your information as a story ... something that happened that day with a client. Have fun with it ... and just be real! It works better.

As always, you are invited to share your experiences here on the blog ... good and bad!

Keep your business growing ...
margie

Why Do I Blog?

A basic question ...

I blog because I want my prospects and clients to have a backdoor to my business. Every business needs a "connecting" opportunity. In the old days clients did company visits or sales people went out and spent time over coffee and lunch with clients. I don't think I could ever have that happen with my prospects and clients today, but I can easily invite everyone to a blog where together we can:

• Engage in discussions on what I do - asking and answering questions.
  
• Map out new plans ... requests from both clients & myself are heard.
  
• Have industry discussions where all viewpoints can be shared.
  
• Be real.
  

I often compare it to going backstage at a theater and sometimes I also call it water cooler conversation! It serves as a unique place within my entire communication strategy ... again, it's my backdoor. Come into my kitchen everyone .. this is my home!

Why do you blog? Your reason might not be the same as mine. It is a basic question and one in which you need to have a clear and defined answer. Like anything else, your basics need to be solid if you want you blog to be successful. Ever hear about an athlete who goes into a slump. When asked how they come out of it they will always say, "I went back to the basics!"

Please share with me why you blog ,,, OR ... let me know if you are struggling with the "why!" That usually is what keeps people from blogging. They feel it is an exercise they have to do and are just not sure "why." Is that you? Would love to hear from you.

Keep your business growing ... .
margie

4 Pointers For Twitter Business Success

Hello everyone,

By now you have to realize that Twitter is here to stay. And, I am sure most of you have an account on Twitter ... the question is how often do you use it and simply "how" do you use it? Have you had success?

I got on Twitter when it was still pretty much a whisper and have watched it grow and change, sometimes for the good and sometimes for what I thought was bad.

My first success in meeting new people and acquiring new busines came early on.. and then the spammers and advertisers arrived on the scene. Instead of opportunity for interactive connections, to me, Twitter became an information center. I got bored ... has anyone else felt this way on Twitter in the last year or so??

Well things have changed and I am once again totally excited about Twitter. Guess, like all things, it is growing up and finally evolving through "ugly" adolescence into something I feel is great! I have taken a new control of Twitter and started to use "it" instead of it using me! Walking my own talk you might say.

Here are 4 simple steps I implemented to reacquaint myself with the joys of Twitter: (1) I tailor my list of who I follow to "only" those I want to follow. (check out the new list feature - really helpful here ) (2) I make a daily goal to reach out to three new people a day (already in my feed) and leave comments to set the stage for more future interactivity and a true connection. (3) I think about my postings ... what I say and how I present what I say in the 140 character limitation. I try my best to be conversational and speak in terms of the benefits of my business. .. making it fun by relating my activity to fly fishing ( see my recent posting on this under social networking) (4) I am consistent.

There is still nothing like creating a new "real" connection on the internet. Hopefully these 4 pointers will put you in the right direction for the same success.

If you think you would like more guidance and instruction in making Twitter work for you, I have put together a fantastic 1-on-1 hand-holding training that we implement at "your" pace! I guarantee that at the end of it you will own your use of Twitter! It is being offered at a fantastic "roll-out" fee this month only.
Check it out here: http://www.todaysway.net/rollout/1on1twittertraining.htm

Otherwise, make sure you follow me on Twitter at: www.Twitter.com/margiehanson. I can't wait to tweet with you!

As always, please leave your comments and thoughts. What success have you had on Twitter? Have you experienced the numbness with it that I went through? What do you love about Twitter?

Keep your business garden growing,
margie

Six Steps For Going Fishing On Social Networks

Hello all ...

Is social networking a bit confusing for you?
Are you wondering how you make it work?
Are you just not "getting it?"

Well, here's an approach that I hope will be fun, helpful and believe it or not, productive for you! It's my six steps for "Going Fishing" on social networks.

Put a "GONE FISHING" sign on your door and let's catch and cook some fish!!!!

1. First we must decide what kind of fish we want to catch?
   When social networking:
   Who are the people that buy what you offer?
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2. Identify the waters the fish you want swim in ... fresh, ocean, stream, lake, etc?
   When social networking:
   Which social networks do the people who buy from you use the most?
   Strictly Business - LinkedIn
   Fun & Business - Facebook - Twitter - Plaxo
   Maybe they are found on blogs?
   Maybe on YouTube? Maybe MySpace?
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3. What kind of hooks/flies will the fish you want bite?
   When social networking:
   What are your buyers looking for?
   What do they crave?
   What are your hooks?
   What connects you to a buyer?
   Break your services/products down into individual "luring bites."
   Create a hook per bite.
   Create lots of these "bites" .. the more you have, the more prospects you will connect with!
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4. What casting methods will place your hooks where the fish you want will bite?
   When social networking:
   Pay attention to how your "hooks" are presented!
   Communicate "with" your readers as if they are right in front of you!
   Have a conversation. Engage - Relate - Be With - Share
   Speak with .. not at!
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5. Reel your fish in!
   When social networking:
   Sometimes your prospect comes in with one try!
   Sometimes you need to "play" with the line a bit.
   Whatever you do, don't let it get off the hook!
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6. Catch and Cook!
   When social networking:
   Yes .. . now your prospect can be cooked into a sale. Sometimes it's a one-step cooking procedure. Sometimes you need to cook in stages...
   You might "hook" your prospect in Twitter but have to bring them over to Facebook for them to really get to know you. Facebook can sometimes create a more bonding community of fans and friends depending on how one has built out their fan and/or friend base.
   
   
   So grab your gear.. keep it simple and have some fun!
   Put a "Gone Fishing" sign on your desk for at least 30 minutes a day.
   Let me know what you catch! Keep me updated by posting comments here!
   
   Keep your business growing ..
   margie
   
   
   

Target Search Capabilities On Facebook & Twitter!

Hello all ....

All of a sudden there seem to be more and more ways to do targeted searches on Facebook and Twitter!! Do you think they finally realized that people had begun to go in circles???

Have you found them yet? They really are useful and allow you to be quite creative and targeted!!!

On Facebook you can now search for any keyword of your choice and see where it is used in your friend's news feed, everyone's postings ( yup, all of facebook), fan pages, events, and groups! Did you know Facebook has over 500 groups about healthcare? Don't worry, you can apply filters to your searches so you can narrow down your results.

Twitter has 3 great resources for searching. My favorite is tweepsearch where you can enter any keyword of your choice that is found in a person's Twitter bio. It also targets cities, etc. A very targeted and cool tool. Came up with over 3,000 target contacts who like to fly fish for my client who sells fly fishing equipment. He was a very happy man that day!

Two other resources for Twitter are the twitter search ( found right on the home page). Here you can enter any keyword of your choice and see where it has been used in recent tweets. A similar searching resource on Twitter is the ability to search via hash tags. This is found on the right side of your Twitter page.

All of these will bring you targeted contacts! Contacts you can "connect" with based upon specific interests, needs, location, etc. There's room for lots of creativity here and that's what I want to hear about!

Share your ideas on how these great resources for targeting your conversations can work for you. Have you used them already? What have you discovered? Are you making more solid connections? Maybe we can come back to this topic in a couple of weeks and talk about your creative ideas. Let me know all!

Keep your business garden growing ...
margie

Does Your Market Find You Or Do You Find Your Market When Social Networking?

Happy Wednesday ...

Just posted on facebook the value of asking questions in creating conversations and developing relationships. It got my mind wandering in several directions as I continued on with my AM rounds of social network check-ins.

So here goes! As you do your social networking are your "posts" geared more towards your market finding you ... OR .... you finding your market? Think about that carefully.

The truth is you are probably doing a little of both, at the same time even! But is one better than another? How do you differentiate?

What say you ...

• What do you think would differentiate your postings in order to achieve one or the other?
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• How much extra effort is involved in "posting" for you to seek out your ideal "connections?" And, along the same line ... do you think it takes extra effort?
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• Does the tone, structure, message of the posting really matter?
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• Which do you prefer and why?
  

Let me know your thoughts!

Also, as you visit your social networks today and tomorrow, pay attention to the posts that "you" best relate to. See if you can tell if they are waiting to be found or if they are reaching out to find?

See what you discover! Would love to know that also!

Keep your business garden growing ...
margie

Online Marketing Resources - Who's Using Who?

Hi ..

I'm seeing it and hearing it everywhere .. and so ok, you've created your goals, formulated a vision, developed a plan .... have a website, are doing a blog and a newsletter and your are out there creating relationships on the social networks. Whew .... it gets exhausting just typing it!! It's a lot of time and work.

But, are you beginning to scratch your head and wonder "why" all of the above? You just might have good reason to scratch your head "if" while doing all of these activities you have taken your eye off the ball ... meaning, in the midst of all, are you staying focused on finding the "need" you provide a solution to? I am not seeing enough guidance "out there" for keeping this one thought in mind as you take on all these activities. I believed it is assumed you will do that ... but one should never assume .. isn't that the rule??

It all comes back to the basics. If you are using online resources for business you must remember that business, in most cases, is about developing ... new, repeat and referral clients.

Relationship building plays a huge role today In fact relationships are more important than ever today because the strength of your relationships is your competitive edge. BUT when online ...

• After initial rapport building .. are you at a loss as to what to do with it? For example, you have 5,000 followers, now what?
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• Who are you building relationships with ... targeted connections or just anyone who happens to follow, befriend. or link to you.
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• Are you using the many resources that are available to you ... or are the resources using you?

Please share with me what some of your challenges might be. Are you having a "What's it all about?" moment? If so, what specifically is bothering you?

I am beginning to think that after setting up some great strategic online "platforms" people are at a loss for "what" to say or "how" to say it! Is that you? Let me know.

If this posting hits home and you are not on my weekly email list ( different from my blog) please sign up on the right side of my blog. or click here http://www.todaysway.net/contactus.htm#join

I am going to expand on this topic in this week's mailing as I feel many businesses are not getting a good ROI on time spent online. I hope to help you fix that!

Keep your business garden growing ...
margie

Building Relationships Via Social Networking

Hello all,

Many of you know that I am a true believer in the value of building relationships on line. I was a pioneer in how email can strengthen your relationsohips when it is used correctly. Social networking just magnifies all my previous messages concerning the effective use of email.

How is this so? Well you basically have the same circumstances. You are sending short distinct messages, basically one-to-one, in a medium that is extremely intimate and hypnotic. When you make your message clear, eliminate any need for the reader to think, figure out, wonder... and are polite ... you have a winning online communication.

Winning communications are welcomed and bring on positive interaction. Positive interaction creates trust, loyalty and relationships that lead to new, repeat and referral business!

My favorite social network right now is Twitter. Here you can only deliver short distinct messages and the relationship building opportunities are endless! You can imagine my disappointment in seeing how the marketing hounds are coming in and jamming Twitter with chatter that talks "at" us, not "with" us. Promos that just appear and do not relate nor connect.

If this wasn't disturbing .. the contests to see who can gather the most followers is the end all. Didn't we learn a long time ago that it is not the number of contacts but the quality? Alas it is social network spamming at its finest. Just like our inboxes got ruined, so may our social network groups unless you pay attention. Don't be afraid to block those who abuse. You won't miss out on anything, trust me!

It is good that we live in a free society where these resources are out there for all of us to use as best for our individual purposes and THAT is a major message from me. Don't think that because one person or several people have had success using a social network, or any other online marketing resource, a certain way that it will work for "you" the same way. Each method is dependent upon the people at both ends of the communications going on. If nothing else .. take that to heart as you create your online networking groups and develop your personal relationships.

I welcome your thoughts, comments, experiences!!!

Keep your garden growing ..
margie

Interactive Conversation Is The Way To Market In 2009

Hello ...

KNOW that in 2009, Social Networking, which includes blogs, networks, local message boards, and anything that exchanges conversation, is here to stay! It is not a fad, not for kids, and not temporary. It is a serious marketing technique that if you don't implement will leave you and your business very far behind.

It is simply marketing via conversation and it is important for you to know that each social network has its own personality and type of conversation. Make sure you check that out before committing yourself to the wrong conversation for your message to be appreciated.

What has happened to make this burst of "being" happen? There are multiple reasons for this "burst" of acceptance. Number one, by my way of thinking, is that social networking is a great diversion, plus it is a great way to expand your circle of prospects and a great way to economically market your business! Add that it is fun.. and you've got your answer!

Do whatever you need to do to become a part of this new world of communicaitons. I do advise that you begin slowly... one network type at a time. You'll see.. it won't take long for you to be able to juggle a bunch of different conversation groups and thus be able to ......

Keep your business garden growing!
margie