Wednesday, October 28, 2009
The New Facebook Layout - What Do You Think?
So what do you think of the new facebook page? Do you like it? Wish it had never happened?
x
Personally I don't mind it that much. I like the Live Feed but what drives me crazy is that the News Feed ( which I have no use for) seems to always come up by default when you log in or return to your account after a bit of time. DO NOT LIKE THAT AT ALL!
x
Otherwise I like the new suggestions on the right side where you can reconnect with someone you haven't interacted with for a while. Also like the suggesting of friends for new friends or friends who simply do not have many friends ( on facebook :-) )
x
What do you "really" think? Let it all out!!!
x
Keep your business garden growing ...
margie
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
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!!!!
- First we must decide what kind of fish we want to catch?
When social networking:
Who are the people that buy what you offer?
f - 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?
xd - 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!
x - 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!
x - 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!
x - 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
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Got Your Blog Up & Running Yet?
Well, do you? Is your blog up and running yet? I hope so, as the time is rapidly arriving when your blog will be the hub of all your online communications. Your website, as you know it today will move to a supporting role.
Let's talk about what it takes to get a blog up and running. I think there are two "most" challenging pieces in the process of creating your blog. One is in creating the style and tone of your conversation within your blog. Two is in having people participate, write comments, ask questions and interact!
Do you agree these two areas are difficult? Do you have other areas of difficulty? What have you found works for you? I'd like to share your input with all.
Per my weekly mailing this week, I feel that the "just do it" approach is the best one for creating the style and tone that will make your blog work. Personally I don't see anyway that one can decide upon a "way" to write! You can begin with a thought .. try it and see what comes out. Then you can tweak and fine tune until you know what you need to do. To me, it is like a puzzle. The blog is one unique piece within the "whole" of your online communications platform. It should not duplicate .. it should enhance, add, and cement the whole of your relationship building.
Getting people to participate, I'm finding, is an ongoing endeavor of patience. I say, you must stay with it. People will read before they start to participate.... am I right- all you readers "only" out there?? One method that does seem to produce results is making a point to comment on other people's blog. Otherwise, keep inviting. Ask, like I am asking now :-) Anyone else have results they would like to share?
Blogs are important, so let's get the issues out. As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts, questions, ideas, and results!!!
If you would like to receive my weekly mailing please go to the side of my blog for the subscription link. I"d love to have you on my mailing list!
Keep your business growing ...
margie
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Is It Time To Add A "Live" Feed To Your Communications Platform?
Have you ever wanted to add a live feed to your website and/or blog?
You often see them with fianancial news, sports updates, and headline news! BUT, the time is coming where people want to be kept up to the moment on all sorts of subjects!
Make sure you visit http://www.feedzilla.com and in 3 simple steps you can have what you see here at http://www.todaysway.net/livefeed.htm I just put it up quickly on a page, but you can embed it within a page on multiple resources. Check out their site!
Lots of different topics are available. I chose to have a feed on social networking! There are many, many topics. You can even search by keyword. Sizing can also be adjusted.
This is where we are headed everyone! Live feeds are making their statements. What do you think? Will you use one ...if so why and where? Let me know!
Keep your business garden growing ...
margie
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Target Search Capabilities On Facebook & Twitter!
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
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Does Your Market Find You Or Do You Find Your Market When Social Networking?
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?
x - 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?
x - Does the tone, structure, message of the posting really matter?
x - 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