youtube

20+ Social Media Power Tips To Generate Leads

by Paul Joseph August 31, 2011 Featured

Social media has become the cornerstone of business marketing efforts.  It’s no doubt that this phenomenon will only strengthen over time.  And now with the new powerhouse Google+ on board, even more exciting times are upon us. But for many entrepreneurs and business owners the question still remains, “how do we effectively use social media as a part of our business model and generate more leads?” Here are 20+ Social Media Power Tips that if you implement into your marketing efforts may very well help you generate more leads! I will focus on the top five leading social media powerhouses – Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and the new yet quickly growing Google+. Twitter 1. Write something compelling in your profile; make me want to follow you! This can be as simple as what value you offer to others; or even something fun and unique. 2. Actually have a conversation with those in your network as well as reach out to those yet not connected with you. Sure you conversations are limited, but you’d be surprised how effective you can get your intended message across even with only 140 characters. 3. Market your business. Let me clarify – market your business on Twitter intermittently with adding value and thought knowledge. 4. Expand and maximize your reach by using sites such as Triberr.com or Twitterfeed.com. Facebook 1. Create a Facebook Business page and post regularly. I know it seems like common sense, but you’d be surprised how many small business owners and entrepreneurs are not taking advantage of this tactic and post only once a week or less! No one wants to be part of a virtual ghost town. 2. Use the @ symbol to directly link other people and Facebook pages to your comments. Your @ replies show up on their wall and have the potential of being seen by hundreds if not thousands of people. 3. Use a custom Welcome landing page to tell people why they should “like” your page. Use services such as FanPageEngine.com or PageModo.com . Both offer the first page free! 4. Use the photo slider on your business page to add advertisement-style images linked to URL’s you would like people to visit, such as your service page, programs, product information page or subscribe page. LinkedIn 1. In your profile section, add what value you can give your prospects. For example, what services do your provide that can help your target audience? 2. Add a Slideshare, video, or PowerPoint presentation to your profile page using LinkedIn applications such as Box.net, Google Presentations & Slideshare Presentations to share valuable content and/or promotional information. 3. Join as many groups as you can manage (max is 50 groups). The advantage of this is, as you connect with members of the groups, you can request to add them to your network via that mutual connection. If they see you are in a shared group, they may be more likely to connect with you further. 4. DON’T use the default ‘I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.’ Always personalize your message to increase your chances of making the connection. If you have not had any prior contact with the person, sharing with them a very good reason why you would like to connect would be helpful. Maybe you have a mutual friend. Maybe you’ve read something of theirs that you really enjoyed; feeding the ego always helps. YouTube 1. Utilize the use of teasers to give people insights to your products or services with your videos. For example, if you provide consulting, you can publish a small clip of you evaluating someone’s business (with their permission of course).  Just make sure you adhere to YouTube’s terms in reference to commercial use. 2. Make sure to use keywords in your title, description and tags so you can easily get found by your target market. If you have a local business, be sure to include your local area within these areas. For example, if you are promoting your wedding video marketing services, you can add a title such as ‘John Smith’s Wedding Video New York ’. How did I get this keyword? I just did a search on Google Adwords for searchable keyword phrases in that industry and in that location. 3. Have a call to action at the end of your video to let the listener know what the next step is. This can be done directly within the recorded video (verbally); or you can use software to add a title and credits clip to your videos. Most computers have free built-in software you can use for this purpose. Another option would be to create a customized video clip/intro for your videos. 4. Do a search in YouTube for your niche and start subscribing to other channels, make friend requests, and begin commenting and liking their videos.  Tip: assuming the host of the channel allows for it, consider adding a video response for a more impactful result. Google Plus 1. When setting up your profile on your About page, but sure to include keywords under your ‘Employment’ section on how you want others to search for you. For example, if you are a health coach, you may want to use this keyword and/or other relevant keywords in this area.  This is the first term that shows up under your profile picture when your mouse is hovered over it. 2. Utilize your About page to the fullest by adding all relevant links to other sites you are affiliated with, such as other sites you run or contribute to, to all your social networks. 3. Make sure to +1 other status updates. This great way to engage others and promote reciprocity. 4. Occasionally jump on Google+ and activate the Google Chat option. Allow others to connect with you on a more personal level using this option. Same applies with Hangouts. Be on the lookout for hangouts going on and jump in to add value to the conversation. Tip # 21 (Bonus) Use Hootsuite to upload a CSV file of all your status updates for the week across you’re social networks.  You will have to upgrade to do this ($5.99/mo), however you can schedule these updates manually as well if you prefer the free version. The benefit of the CSV file is that you can make minor changes to it week to week and continue to use it over and over which will save you tons of time. Tip: Marketing tweets, quotes and thought knowledge can be used over and over. However you many want to experiment with the days and times of your updates to see which give you the biggest results. There you have it – 20+ Social Media Power Tips to help you generate more leads.  Getting more leads is a process, much like anything else you do in your business. They key is to create a plan, stick with it, and evaluate over a course of time to determine whether or not adjustments need to be made. More importantly, is consistency with your social media marketing that will help you generate more leads. Michele Welch is a Personal Coach and Online Business Advisor . She shares online business tips with those looking to start their own online business ventures, through her blog.  Read more about Michele here .

Tagged as: business, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, facebook, google plus, internet marketing, linkedin, twitter, youtube

0 comments Read the full article →

How To Turn Social Media Into Your Own News Channel

by Paul Joseph August 30, 2011 Featured

What We Have Learned From 2011 There is no doubt that 2011 is the year when Mother Earth has been incredibly active, with the most notable results being earthquakes/tsunamis in New Zealand and Japan , cyclones and floods in Australia , and hurricanes on the East Coast of America . I found it very interesting that for each and every one of these major events, the source of information for me and many others has not been the television, radio or newspapers, but social media . Admittedly, this comes as no great surprise considering that so many of us now live our lives on and through social media. This is where we interact with others, socialize, spend our money, gather information and do business. So why would it not be the place where we obtain up-to-the-minute updates on global events ? My Experiences Of Sharing And Obtaining Critical News Updates Via Social Media Before we look at some tips at using this realization to work for you professionally, I just thought I might share my personal experiences in both being caught up in a natural disaster and observing from the outside, concerned for loved ones. In January this year, my home city of Brisbane and surrounding areas flooded. Many people lost homes and possessions, while a few tragically lost their lives. The enormity of the flood was not known until literally a day before it hit, as is the case with so many other natural disasters. But even then, many of us did not take it seriously, still heading to work like any other day. While I had heard reports of a flood coming our way (via television and radio reports, I think), a phone call on the morning of the flood from my parents made me realize that it was real and my home was in the disaster zone. What followed over the next 12-24 hours is something I will never forget, and I don’t really want to go into it in detail because it still causes an emotional reaction for me. But in general terms, my husband and I evacuated, and had just about two or three trips back to our home to gather important belongings while the water was rising around our ankles. We watched the creek behind our home surge and floodwaters engulf our beloved home, suburb and the homes of our neighbors and friends. Electricity was cut for days while authorities waited for water to subside and for it to become safe for them to switch on the mains again. We were without television and only had a portable battery operated radio, but I couldn’t bear to listen to updates because it was just more of the same. While my phone battery lasted, I used Facebook on my cell phone (via status updates) to notify friends and loved ones in other areas of Brisbane and around the world that we were safe. I was also able to read relevant status updates by others as to conditions near my suburb that might affect transportation. Receiving News Updates Via Social Media On the other side of the coin, very literally the first I had heard of the other natural disasters around the world was via status updates on Facebook. Friends of mine had posted about them. One of my best friends was in Tokyo, and I wasn’t sure if she had been affected by the tsunami. I also have friends and acquaintances in New York and was concerned about them during both the earthquake and Hurricane Irene . When I asked for more specific information, either they or someone else on their page replied immediately. I found this to be a great benefit, because my specific questions were answered directly , and I didn’t have to trawl through news reports on public news outlets for information I was looking for. I thought the other benefit was the information I received was so much more relevant to me . I wanted to know if my friends were OK, and how various places around the world I had come to know and love were affected. This is not necessarily information I would have received by tuning into a radio or television broadcast. Furthermore, friends added photos and video content that was so much more personal than what a journalist might record. It was real and I could be there with them during the event. It goes without saying that everything I have described also applies to positive events , such as the birth of a baby to a loved one, a celebrity wedding or an awards ceremony. If you are following a celebrity on Twitter or Facebook, this may alleviate the need to rely on traditional news or entertainment media to ‘get the goss’ (especially because this is exactly the same source journalists will use!). Whether social media will replace all or a part of the need for traditional media remains to be seen, especially as it bleeds across into disseminating news in the areas of politics and business too. So, how can you use social media to effectively disseminate your news? Here are my top tips: Firstly, make sure you have a presence on the various social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google Plus . When you have news, post it there. Facebook and Twitter don’t allow room for your entire news broadcast, but they are perfect to provide links back to your blog for the full report, or even brief updates on news you have previously shared. Make sure you collect an audience across these channels. No point sharing news here unless you have people to consume it. There are plenty of tips to gather your audience specific to each platform, but generally, be active in relevant groups on Facebook and invite relevant people to “add” or “like” you. Hash tag relevant words in your Twitter updates and follow others so they are more likely to follow you. Post regularly and make sure it’s interesting and relevant. Whether your posts are all news oriented or personal as well depend very much on your publicity strategy, the nature of your industry of work, and the posts themselves among other factors. But the golden rules are regularity and relevance to your audience. Have an end goal in mind. Always! What are you hoping to achieve? This could be to build your profile as an expert in your area with the view to gaining a reputation, or to sell a certain product or service. But an end goal will help you develop your news posts accordingly. Your social media platforms could become your very own news channel! Kerry McDuling Get your bonus copy of my book “How To Start An Internet Business & Make Your First $1,000 Online” Download Here

Tagged as: branding and publicity, facebook, google plus, kerry mcduling, natural disasters, news updates, social-media, social-networking, young, youtube

0 comments Read the full article →

How My Facebook And YouTube Profiles Led To An Invitation To Become A High Paid Speaker

by Paul Joseph May 2, 2011 Featured

Greetings once more Entrepreneurs! I’m going off on a tangent today about engaging in the world of social media to build your profile, build your brand and grow your business . This is a topic we’re all pretty savvy about as online entrepreneurs, because we’re all doing it, and most of us will have experienced some success with it. I’m writing this post to share with you just how extraordinary the power of social media has been for me in my own business, and specifically to let you know that if I can do this anyone can ! In regard to the above statement, I have to explain, I’m not an expert in social media, and my computer skills are questionable . I don’t have huge numbers of followers on Twitter or friends on Facebook , and none of my YouTube videos have gone viral. But I’ve still been able to use it to launch me to a level of connection and communication with people who I would LOVE to be associated with and do business with! These are individuals I consider to be the best in the world in my field. To me, the power of social media is mind blowing! Even more exciting is, as aforementioned, if I can do this, anyone can . What Are These Results, And How Did I Get Them? Let’s start with Facebook and YouTube . I was asked recently to be represented by a speaker’s bureau. This business books speakers around the world, with the lowest fee bracket being 7,500 Euro. But most of the speakers are in the “more than 30,000 Euro, or the, ‘better pm the bureau, it’s going to cost you a fortune’ bracket” – aka, Sir Richard Branson, Lance Armstrong, Jimmy Carter, Sir Bob Geldoff, Nobel laureates, Spice Girls, Supermodels , etc. To be offered an opportunity to be represented by this bureau is pretty exciting for me, and it came through social media. A representative of the bureau saw my videos on YouTube, checked out my website, befriended me on Facebook and the rest is history. I couldn’t have imagined this simple sequence of events in my wildest dreams…Well, maybe that’s not true, because all of our creations come from our intentions, so I guess I did dream it on some level…getting esoteric and off-topic, quick, back to business! What this does for my business in both financial terms and profile building is incredible. I’ve asked to put my presence on the speaker’s bureau on hold until July, after I’ve completed some intensive speaking and presenting training. I have plenty of speaking and presenting experience, and I love it, but if I’m playing at the level of their other speakers, I need to make sure I can be in the game with some professional training and tweaking. Astounding Outcomes From Twitter And Facebook The other astounding outcome from my social media adventures was being interviewed for an upcoming book on creativity, but this is not just any book as far as my work is concerned. The author, Sir Ken Robinson , is considered the world’s foremost expert on creativity . I’ve referenced him plenty of times before in both my book and my posts . This opportunity came via Twitter and Facebook . I responded to a tweet then followed through with a facebook message. I was contacted by his co-author for an interview a day later. I was so shocked, I nearly feel off my chair! Sir Ken’s co-author, Lou Aronica has interviewed people all around the world for the upcoming book. It’s due out in July, and it’s about how different people access their creativity or find their Element . If you can imagine your own level of excitement at being interviewed for a book by the one person in the world whose work you love the most, and who is the biggest name in your niche , then you can probably get how buzzed I was about this. Being a writer though, I’m aware that passages can end up on the editing room floor, so fingers crossed this doesn’t happen to mine! Creativity And Social Media As far as how this post is related to creativity, I’ll be very brief on this because it’s covering old ground. When you look at the play personalities that guide us to how we express our creativity , there is one in particular that loves to connect and communicate with others , it’s the Director. I’ve got a fairly strong Director element in the way I love to play, and I’ve noticed a lot of women do. It’s an intriguing correlation to observe the amount of women who use social media and get amazing results from it , and I’m pretty sure this is due to social media being a perfect platform for the Director play personality to get their groove on in myriad ways to connect and communicate with others . Getting active in social media has been one of the most amazing ways to make contacts, build business and public profile for me. There’s no silver bullet needed to get similar results in your own business. But there is one thing I know for sure that helps, it’s congruency, consistency and being in the right place at the right time with the right information . Those last three things might sound like impossible aspects to have any control over, but the truth is, you create that for yourself. When you are congruent and consistent with who you are , and what you offer to the world, you magnetize opportunities to you like some kind of master alchemist in full swing. I said before there was no silver bullet, I take it back. There is, it’s got Facebook, Twitter and YouTube written all over it, and anyone can do it? Many thanks for reading and I’d love to hear of your own social media adventures or insights. Cheers, Neroli. P.S. All of these opportunities happened in the last three months. For me, social media has been one of the fastest, easiest and cheapest ways to build my profile , build my brand and grow my business . I hope you find ways to make this as fun and useful a tool in your own business. P.P.S. Terry, Kara, Rob and any other readers who have expressed particular interest the creative process, I’ve posted an article on my site that goes further into the element of the unconscious or superconscious role in the creative process. I was writing it for Entrepreneurs Journey, but I realized it’s getting a bit off the topic of creativity in business and it also gets a bit left field and esoteric when we start journeying into the unknown. I decided I’d better not subject the E-J audience to an entire article on this, so if you’d like to see what else I’ve dug up on the more unusual aspects of creativity, pop over there to have a look Get your bonus copy of my book “How To Start An Internet Business & Make Your First $1,000 Online” Download Here

Tagged as: book, creativity, entrepreneur profiles, game, internet, mindset, power, social-networking, youtube

0 comments Read the full article →