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?
   f
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?
   xd
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!
   x
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!
   x
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!
   x
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
   
   
   

Got Your Blog Up & Running Yet?

Hello all,

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

Is It Time To Add A "Live" Feed To Your Communications Platform?

Hello all,

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

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?
  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

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?
  x
• Who are you building relationships with ... targeted connections or just anyone who happens to follow, befriend. or link to you.
  x
• 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