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Archive for the ‘Blogging’ Category

Ever wondered about privacy issues with Facebook?   Or maybe you’re a Twitter fan and question Facebook’s credentials for doing business.    Have you tried Facebook only to say “I don’t get it”, or “This isn’t working for my business”.  Then this information might be just what you need.

This article from Mike Stelzner of Social Media Examiner gives 3 Reasons Facebook Trumps Twitter for Business.  In it Mike demonstrates, step by step, how to create lists on Facebook and how to set your privacy settings for who sees what posts. 

How about you, have you set your privacy settings or created lists on Facebook?

Technorati Tags: Creating Lists on Facebook, Facebook for business, Facebook for Lists, Facebook privacy, Facebook settings, Internet Marketing, Livvie Matthews, Mike Stelzner, Using Facebook Lists

Opportunities abound with social media.  Social media platforms, social media strategies, social media marketing, but often it’s hard to get your message noticed.

Brian Rice of Social Media Today says:

…the question is how business owners can get themselves noticed without getting themselves marked as spammers.

In his post 5 Things You Should Do in Social Media to Get Heard Brian gives 5 easy to follow tips for getting your message noticed and heard. 

My favorite is the 1st one: Keep Your Message Simple.  I’m a big believer in keeping it simple.  Never underestimate what your audience knows…keep it basic.

Brian ends by saying “Social media is an art.  And like any other art, the more you practice social media the better you will become!”

Which one is your favorite?

 Keep being social!

Technorati Tags: engaging social media, Get your message heard, Internet Marketing, Livvie Matthews, Social Media

With all the buzz about social media, social networking, and other social sites, it can get very frustrating not to mention distracting.

All of this with social media is good, but be careful.  This is about being social yes…but you must keep your focus. 

Facebook has many distractions.  Applications, games, surveys, sending cards and flowers, joining different groups…etc.  Twitter can be distracting as well with all the tweets coming through, applications, responses, direct messages… etc

I’ve witnessed this first hand since beginning about a year ago.  There can be so many things to try to do, applications to try, posting on Facebook and Twitter, creating a profile for LinkedIn and just the day to day “to dos” in addition to so much to learn.

This is one of the main questions asked, “How much time will I have to put into social media”?  The answer depends on what you want to accomplish and yes, you will have to spend some time with updates, responses, and blog postings.  But how focused you are can determine if it’s a lot of time, or just the time needed.

Here are a few things to try:

1. Determine your focus.  Always stick to your core messages and values.  Make sure your posts reflect those messages and values.  The general rule is 80%-90% business and 10%-20% personal. 

2. Make a list: Write down what you want to accomplish today, this week, this month.  Break it down into “doable” sizes and cross them off as you complete them.  There’s something about seeing a list with accomplishments marked off that keeps the energy flowing.

3. Set your timer: Allow specific items a specific amount of time to get accomplished.  When the timer goes off, wrap it up and move to the next item.  If you’ve timed it right, hopefully the item is complete, but if it’s not, it’s well on it way to completion when addressed the next time.

4. Allow times for breaks: This can be one of the most look over items.  Stop what you are doing, walk away from your desk and on to your porch or deck.  Take a few deep breaths of fresh air.  If you can’t go out at the moment, if there is a window near your desk, just turn away from your desk and enjoy the view outside your window.  All through the summer I enjoyed watching several humming birds flying around the hanging basket near my computer room window.

These are just a few things to help you keep your focus.  What can you add to the list?

Technorati Tags: Building Business, Copywriting, Internet Marketing, Livvie Matthews

2. Join several of the Social Networks, but only focus your time on 3 possibly 4: You don’t want to spread yourself too thin.  Again, social media can be quite distracting and overwhelming at times unless you focus your efforts and focus your time.

Technorati Tags: Blogging, Copywriting, Internet Marketing, Livvie Matthews, social media marketing

Thinking about starting or just starting an Internet business and finding it can become an overwhelming process?  Below are 7 steps to help guild you along the way.

1.  Start a blog:  Your blog is your prime piece of real estate.  It’s your hub in Internet and Social Media marketing and is used for producing value driven content which search engines love.  Most of your status updates from Twitter, FB, and LinkedIn should contain links back to your blog posts.   Blogs help establish you as a thought leader in your niche market and creates credibility and trust.  A good program to use for creating your blog is wordpress.org.  There are many free templates available, just do a Google search for free wordpress templates.

2.   Begin interacting with your market:  Create your profile on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and You Tube.  Also look for 1 or 2 groups to join and join in the conversations.  This is where you will begin building relationships and creating credibility and trust as you establish yourself as a leader in your area of expertise. A word of caution:  This is where it can become overwhelming, so set your own pace and always ask for help.  There are plenty of people online willing to help you each step of the way. 

3.  Build your list:  Many times we try to develop the products first, then try to “drive” the people to the products.  Instead build your list first,  create the product, then “draw” the people to the products.    One of the biggest benefits to interacting with your market first on your social media sites is having already gained your market’s trust.  The time spent building those relationships makes it much easier to gather the email addresses of your market needed for building your list.  In this new marketing arena, people are more likely to share their email with those they know and feel they can trust.

4.  Provide Consistent Value:  You must provide value…consistent value.  As you present your information, think about how it will benefit your readers.  What do they want to know?  What do they want to see?  How can you provide solutions for your readers?  Never underestimate what your readers know.  Some of the very basic information may be exactly what they are looking for.  We have a tendency to think if we know it, everyone else must know it also.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Include value packed, basic and advanced, information for your readers.  Remember:  Be specific, be informative, be approachable, and (very important) always be genuine.

5.  Find out what your subscribers want…Ask!:  You have something to offer, remember?  That’s why you are in business.  Ask your subscribers specifically what problem they are having. What’s their biggest challenge, their most frustrating problem, or their most pressing issue?  Provide solutions for your subscribers.  Let them know you not only have their solution…you are their solution!

6.  Stay in contact:  Another element in your Internet business is keeping your name and targeted marketing content in front of your clients/patients and prospects.  A question often asked is: How often should I contact subscribers on my list?   There isn’t a clear cut answer except to never spam or harass your list.   Contact them  with valuable content a minimum of one time a month, but more preferably, every two weeks or weekly contact is good.  The point is you want to keep your name in front of your market as the go-to person for the solution to their problems or to buy your products and services when they are ready to purchase. 

7.   Build relationships:   In all the above listed steps, there is one connecting element…building relationships.  Be personable and accessible.  Viewers need to know what you have accomplished, yes, but more importantly, they need to know who you are and that you are real.  It’s relationships first and business second.

Summary:  Through your blog posts; interacting with your market; building your list; providing consistent value; finding what your subscribers want; and staying in contact, you will be building profitable relationships while creating credibility and gaining trust as you leverage these 7 steps to build and strengthen your Internet business.

Technorati Tags: Building Business, Internet Marketing, Livvie Matthews, social media marketing