Are you trying to make a name for yourself in the online world? Do you know the best way to go about it? Do you know the importance of branding yourself, and getting your name out there everywhere you can? These are just some of the things you should be thinking about when you get started building an online presence. Whether you want to be known for your services, or for your products, becoming an online celebrity is a must for creating a successful business.

Many small business owners do not know where the best places to go to build their presence online. While there are the popular places such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, there are also tried and true ways to get the most from your time spent. No one has hours to waste just chatting, joining groups and trying to get to know people. If you learn the tricks and tips that can get you working in the right direction, you will begin to see the power of networking.

You will never know where or how far your networking can take you. There are specific steps you can take to achieve your goals much faster if you only learn the secrets.

If you want to learn from the best, you need to follow the leaders in your field. Search them out, listen to what they have to say, follow the steps they give, and create the success that they promise you can have if you work hard and follow their lead. Beware of so called leaders online today that are all talk and can’t truly back up what they say. They may want to mislead you by sugar coating things and paraphrasing other things to make themselves sound more important than they are. You don’t have the time to waste on these types of people.   You’ll know a true leader by their accomplishments and the quality of the information they share.

One such leader who has proven her worth in many ways, is Joanne Quinn-Smith, aka TechnoGranny. Joanne has four internet radio talk shows, and created a new media platform long before Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn were popular. She has been awarded the National Small Business Association (SBA) Journalist of the Year Award for her efforts in the new media. This marketing maven is searched out high and low for her remarkable speaking and teaching abilities.

Now for a limited time, you can grab a copy of her teleseminar “Becoming an Online Celebrity” and learn how to make your personality shine through the crowd, building a platform where people will soon be seeking you out for your skills and talents.

Grab your copy now for just $17!

“Becoming an Online Celebrity”

If you liked “Learn the Secrets to Branding Yourself Online! ” please share it with your online friends by clicking the links below.

Go Fish!

I’m learning about backlinks and how absolutely critical they are to your site ranking high in the search engines.  I even hired a specialist to help me with link building.

But it’s really just like fishing.  You look for the best pond, lake or ocean (blog, article or fan page) and you toss out your line (comment on existing posts, or offer to guest blog) and then wait for the fish to bite!  By commenting or guest blogging, you are leaving behind your url or link back to your website, blog, or even your Twitter or Facebook Page.  It’s up to you where you want to drive traffic, but I suggest you drive them back to where they can see what products and services you have to offer them.  (afterall, that’s ultimately what we want, right?)

Of course, I could do the link building myself, (and I do quite a bit) but in my opinion it’s all about leveraging your time and they are the expert, so why not let them do it in less time, while I focus on the things I do best. 

So I’d like to give you an opportunity to create a backlink to your site right now!  Just go to the bottom of this post and make a comment.  Be sure to put in your name, email and complete url (include the http://)  in the boxes below.  Your email will not be visible to anyone, but a link back to your site will definitely be there.  Then search for other blogs and do the same thing.  If you are using WordPress a great plugin is CommentLuv.  This plugin travels around with you and if the blog you comment on has this plugin installed (which I do) it will automatically pick up the title of your last blog post and place it at the bottom of your comment.  Sweet!

So go ahead, give it a try!

And here are some other backlink posts you might find helpful.

Related articles by Zemanta

• 7 Ways to Gain Quality One Way Backlink for your blog (shoutmeloud.com)
• Backlinks Strategies for Getting High Google PageRank (shoutmeloud.com)
• Article Marketing: A Way To Create URL Backlinks (ronmedlin.com)
• What is Autoblogging? (brighthub.com)

If you liked, “Do You Have Any Backlinks?” please share it with your friends by clicking on the buttons below.

When starting any endeavor, all of us begin as “newbies.” It’s a fact of life and there really isn’t anything you can do about it, except learn from other people’s mistakes and plan your moves carefully. Podcasting exploded in recent years, perhaps due to the availability of inexpensive equipment and faster Internet speeds, and for a while it seemed everyone was doing it. But with the rise in quantity, quality went the opposite direction – the Net flooded with mediocre or poor quality podcasts. Now, many of these podcasts have dropped off the face of the earth, due to lack of audience perhaps. We looked around the world wide web and compared good and bad podcasts, and compiled a list for how to make a podcast without the newbie mistakes.  Enjoy!

1)     Reading from a script – it’s good to have a script, especially if you’re doing a prerecorded, fictional show. However, a good podcast should be more like talk radio – unscripted and free flowing. Of course, you shouldn’t go the other direction and completely do a show on the flow – an outline is what you need at the very least, to establish the direction of the show.

2)     Too long / too short – the exact time really depends on the type of show you have or the purpose of your podcast. If you plan to have a panel discussion or interviews etc, then an hour show is a good length. If your show is about tips, reviews, daily news, then 20 to 30 minutes should be enough.  Here’s a quick tip: most people listen to their ipods on the way to work. According to Gallup’s 2007 Work and Education survey, the average person’s commute is about 46 minutes. If you want to capture this audience, then you’ll want your podcast to fit in this timeline.

3)     No follow-up or tie-ins – your podcast should be a component of your web marketing campaign, rather than being a stand-alone being. You should tie it in with your website, have some sort of call to action at the end and provide your audience key information through an episode guide or notes. For example, if you were to discuss a certain website, it would be frustrating for your listeners to have to scramble for a paper and pen while you read the URL of the website.

4)     Irregular Episodes – let’s face it, it’s unlikely you’re being paid to podcast, so you may tell yourself some days that you’re too tired, lazy or busy to record on episode. Guess what? That doesn’t really work for your audience who may be anticipating a new episode on a regular basis. Having infrequent episodes can turn people off, plus they will stop visiting your site regularly to download your episode or participate in your post episode discussion.

5)     Quality – as mentioned earlier, good equipment is now fairly inexpensive. You don’t have to invest in the latest microphone or sound mixer, but if podcasting is something you’ll be doing often, you want good quality hardware which will last you a while. The quality of the audio is also something you’ll have to consider – no one wants to listen to static-filled audio – it’ll just give them a headache and turn them off from your show. There are also many good quality recording software which are available for free or cheap, so shop around before you hit that record button! (I have a freebie link on my Facebook Fan Page on the Free for you Tab)

So you don’t have to podcast from scratch! Learn from the mistakes of others and you’ll start producing some good podcast shows which will attract audiences.

If you enjoyed, “Make a Podcast without the Newbie Mistakes” please share it with your friends through the links below.

Whether you’re an Internet Marketing Superstar, or just feeling your way through the world on online videos, you’ve probably never heard of these following 10 top facts about one of the fastest-growing online marketing tools today.

1. 77% of adults have viewed videos online. About 33% of these adults are in college or have completed a degree.
2. YouTube has an average of 100 million unique visitors per day, viewing about 6 billion videos.
3. An average viewer watches about 273 minutes of online video.
4. More businesses have invested in online video ads in 2009, growing up to 45% in 2009
5. After viewing an online ad, about 46% of viewers take action, whether through visiting the company’s website, asked for further info or purchasing a product or service.
6. 65% of viewers watch online ads all the way to the end.
7. By 2011, it is expected that $4.3 billion will be spent because of online video ads.
8. Most people (about 65%) who watch online videos are between 35-64 years of age and 67% of these have middle to high incomes.
9. Online videos account for 60% of Internet traffic.
10. Of the Top 50 Internet Retailers, 68% have videos on their site.

The Internet is no longer limited to just text and pictures, or one way communication. Customers and potential customers want to see your product or service, not just surf around your website, looking for more info. There is a demand for videos, especially with viewers becoming more sophisticated and having short attention span. A well put-together, professional-looking video is a great marketing tool, and can increase your business without harming your bottomline.

Are you using video in your online marketing plan?  Share your best video link below in the comments!   Here’s a link to one of mine – Best Social Media Guide

Sources:

http://www.bwcom.co.uk/web-video/benefits-online-video.php

http://www.internet-success-hub.com/online-video-marketing/online-video-marketing-facts/

http://www.jiffyspots.com/video-facts-statistics/

http://www.ronmedlin.com/traffic-generation/facts-about-having-an-online-video-traffic/

If you like, “10 Top Facts You Should Know About Online Video Marketing” please share it be clicking the links below.

Previously, we talked about the basics of video marketing, including some of the fundamental considerations when starting any project. That said, it’s time to move on to the next level!

Whether your video is simple and clean or has taken on Spielberg-like proportions (hopefully intentionally) your video can still benefit from some tweaks here and there. You may not have thought about it, but making a few small changes can make a world of difference!

1. Come up with a great title – not only can a great title attract eyeballs, but using keywords where your customers are likely to find you will help your rankings on search engines (especially considering YouTube is owned by Google!) Here is a link to SEO Blogger, a free keyword research tool that works with WordPress and Firefox.




2. Place your website address on the video – you can have it discreetly running at the bottom or have it flash (with a link) at the end of the video, but absolutely begin your description of the video with your complete url (including the http://)  – whichever way you do it, it will help your audience connect and interact with you.




3. Brand, brand and brand – don’t forget to place your logo and company name prominently (but tastefully) throughout your videos.




4. Answer questions – if you don’t know where to begin, think of the most frequently asked question your customers or other professionals ask you and try to build your script and your video around answering this question. (Check out one of my videos that I just answered a simple question and it went completely viral!  Here’s the link Terri’s Simple Question Answered on Video)




5. Describe a case study – another great way to show off what your business can do is through a case study, which showcases how you were able to help a client solve a problem through your service and/or product.




6. Pay attention to the details – is your music pleasing or annoying? Do your graphics induce seizures in small children? You want your video to appeal to the widest range of potential customers, so take that into consideration before you decide to use bright pink letters and heavy metal background music in your video.




7. Have a summary or transcript available as well – sometimes, people really do want to know more about your product, but for some reason they can’t play your video. Having a text summary or transcript will aid those who can’t watch your video.




8. Tag your videos – much like using proper titles, great tags and keywords will help your audience find your video.




9. Make it available in different formats – it’s hard to tell what type of software people have on their PCs, and many just can’t be bothered to download new software just to play one video, so make sure you have your video in different formats (.mov, .avi. fla) as well as sizes (high quality for broadband and lower quality for those who may not have fast connections or using their mobile phones.)




10. Measure results – you’ll want to know how successful your video is, to figure out what your ROI is, and if video marketing is right for you. Statistics like the number of views, play counts, subscribers are easy enough to track on even the most basic video sites, though there are more sophisticated tools available on the market that will give you a wealth of information on your viewers.

What are some of your tips for rocking your video marketing?

If you liked “Top 10 Tips to Rock your Online Video Marketing”
please share it with your friends by clicking the links below.

As a savvy small business owner and entrepreneur, you’ve got to use every low-cost marketing weapon in your arsenal.  And the most effective and dynamic, new marketing tool is Online Video.  As you know, online video is exploding in popularity, and companies large and small are using it to promote their businesses with amazing results.

Since the beginning of YouTube, marketing with video has become the best way to connect with customers and drive sales.  In fact, studies show that video is 600% more effective than text alone in delivering your message.  600%!

If you haven’t had the time or resources or know-how to jump on this trend, now you’re in luck.  Finally, you can harness the power of video for yourself with the help of my friend and colleague, Lou Bortone – The Online Video Guy!

Lou was my special guest in the Social Media “T” Room on Thursday, May 6th .  He share some incredible secret weapons about the “One-Two Punch” that will rock your brand!  Some of the things he shared were:

• A few simple tips and tricks for looking fabulous on camera
• 7 exciting (and easy) ways to generate new revenue with video
• How Twitter and Facebook can be your marketing secret weapon
• And MUCH more!!

If you missed the call – No Worries!   We recorded it and it’s available for purchase.

The One-Two Punch That Rocks Your Brand with Lou Bortone.

Also, Lou made a very generous offer during the call and I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if I shared it with you!  You can get his Online Video Rock Star program, regularly priced at $197 for only $147 through this link – Online Video Rock Star.  It’s an amazing package that will have you producing top-notch videos in no time! Get yours now!

So, you’ve created your LinkedIn profile and started adding connections. Now what? Is it enough to just make connections in LinkedIn? The adage “out of sight, out of mind’ is very applicable on LinkedIn. Unless you are utilizing your contacts, not only will you be forgotten, you’ll also be defeating the whole purpose of business networking. Want to maximize your LinkedIn connections?

What is the purpose of networking in real life? To promote business, make new deals and reach out to people who can be potential customers or partners. Similarly, LinkedIn connections are also there to help you promote yourself, reach out to the right people, find a new job etc. To use your LinkedIn connections to their full potential, here are a few tips.

More the merrier

The best way to use your connections is to use them to build even more connections. Just like you would do on Facebook and other social networking sites, you can also look into the connections of your connections. Since LinkedIn keeps users updated on new connection of their existing contacts through emails, take a few minutes to see who they are. You might find people you want to connect with via them. Your shared connection can then introduce you to each other.  Be careful, not to jump past your connection and request a second or third degree connection.  The “linking” of each other is what makes LinkedIn so powerful and you can run the risk of getting a “Do Not Know” from that second or third degree connection and those can be fatal to your LinkedIn account.

Give and Take

Networking is all about building relationships. You can’t have anything unless you give something in return as well. With LinkedIn, giving translates to making recommendations and introductions. Everybody wants a recommendation. A recommendation can boost your career scope, get you noticed and makes it easy to network with big bosses. So, if you start recommending your colleagues, you are bound to make them grateful. In return, they will surely start recommending you back on LinkedIn. If you have your previous manager or boss in your LinkedIn network and leave him a good recommendation, imagine how good it will look on your profile to have a recommendation from the boss.

Introductions are icebreakers in LinkedIn. After all, you are trying to connect with people you don’t know personally. However, when you introduce one of your connections to another one, be sure you are confident that both are on the level. Any negative incident between these two will reflect back on you as you were the go-between. So when someone asks for an introduction, consider carefully. Also, see if that person is well connected enough to return the favor.

Socialize

So how do you socialize on LinkedIn? You join groups and contribute to discussions and threads. LinkedIn is full of groups that bring people with similar positions and fields together. You will not only find good connections by joining the right group but you will also gain a lot of information. Group members are always sharing tips, information and news. It is like having free access to a hotline.

Share your two cents by writing articles, features, and starting discussion threads, asking and answering questions. This will also allow other group members to understand you better and many will come forward to connect with you. If you are having doubts or facing problem in your business or career, you can post relevant questions in your group. You will most likely find help from experts on the field and it is the perfect way to find these knowledgeable people.

If we’re LinkedIn, let me know if I can help you.  If we’re not, “let’s connect!”

If you enjoyed, “Want to Maximize Your LinkedIn Connections?”

please share it with your friends by clicking the social media icons below.

Social networking site Facebook, aside from personal profiles, allows for Fan Pages as well as Group pages as networking tools. Do you know the difference between Facebook Groups and Fan pages?

More specifically, did you know you have the option to create a Fan page or become a fan and create a Group or join one yourself? Being networking tools, the aim of both is to help you connect with more people. Which one is more powerful, is an open question.

They are two very different networking tools, each with their pros and cons. In this post we’ll discuss some of the big differences in this two. Let’s start with Group Pages.

Groups

The concept of groups existed even before social networking became popular, for example Yahoo groups. They were and are easier to set up with most networking services. While the requirement slightly differs from site to site, basically you need to have a name for your group, file it under some category if necessary, write a small description about the group’s objective and you are on the way.

Members can join with a click of a button, subject to the administrator’s approval. Updates and messages are either emailed or made visible on the member’s social networking page. In most cases, group members can message each other through the groups’ messaging service, without being directly connected as well. Group pages also generally allow members to invite people into their mailing lists in bulk, making it easier to add members. However, groups are not accessible to non-members. Group pages are also not visible on internet search either.

With a Group Page you have the option of making it a Private Group, allowing access to only those people you want as part of the group, or it can be completely open.

Fan Pages

Fan Pages on the other hand are accessible to anyone. However, they generally require more effort to build. Facebook has recently announced that the new term for Fan, will be “Like” so that there is not so much pressure to “Become a Fan” of a Page, you will be able to click the Like button to join in the conversation.  Page owners/administrators will still have the responsibility to keep their page engaging and conversational so that visitors will “Like” their page and come back regularly for information.

Since a fan page is less restrictive in its access, it also allows for additional applications, like Polls and Quizzes as add-ons. Fan pages are generally more interactive allowing for discussions, video sharing, blog feed etc.

Since fan pages are accessible and searchable, many websites promote fan pages on their sidebars. Status updates and messages from fan pages are viewable on blogs, other social networking sites and websites.  Unlike group pages, fan pages generally don’t have bulk invite or mailing options. Invitations are sent individually to friends asking them to Become a Fan (or Like your Page)  or fan page URLs can be included in an email newsletter or signature.

So there you have two very different networking tools – fan pages and group pages. As mentioned before, each has its positives and negatives, and which one is better really depends on what your requirements are. If you want to start a page with the minimum of hassle and to limit it to an exclusive audience, a group page may be the better option.

On the other hand, if you want to promote your favorite singer or favorite event or your business, a fan page will allow you to build a snazzy and interesting page. Check out some of the custom Fan Pages we designed at Fabulous Facebook Fan Pages.  Generally, you can delete any pages you create. Trial and error is the best way to go. May the best tool win.

If you enjoyed, “Do You know the Difference Between Groups and Fan Pages?”

please share it with your friends by clicking the social media links below.

In both our business and personal lives, etiquette holds lot of importance. However, on the Internet, the rules of etiquette tend to blur. The impromptu abbreviations and slang that we often use on social networking sites may not be the language that’s proper for the professional world. When you become part of the website LinkedIn it becomes even more important that you follow the rules of etiquette that define the world’s only professional networking site.

What makes LinkedIn so different from other networking sites is that people you are networking with can be your next boss or colleague, people who can make or break your career. So, all those good manners that you carry into your interview should be applied here. Of course, formal etiquette translates into more than “avoid Capital letters” or “do not spam.” Here are the top LinkedIn etiquette rules to help you make the most of your LinkedIn profile.

1. Presentation

Presentation translates into creating a polished profile. In the virtual world of LinkedIn, your profile is how you first appear to other people – your first impression. A crisp, polished profile is the same as a crisply ironed business suit. Upload a complete profile before you start networking. Incomplete profiles make bad impressions, like mismatched socks. Casual language will make a casual impression. Build your profile like your resume, putting your best foot forward. Your skills, assets, accomplishments – present everything clearly to make the best impression.

2. Networking Protocols

Unlike networking in other social websites, LinkedIn networking has its rules of conduct to follow. First of all, the purpose of LinkedIn isn’t to socialize. While your goal is to connect with professionals who you have worked with and those who want to work with or get help from, unsolicited networking requests are bad manners in LinkedIn. Network carefully, extend your handshake first to known people and then to unknowns, but selectively and with the help of your current connections.

Be polite in your requests to strangers. While people in a relevant field should not have any reason to decline your request, phrasing your request incorrectly can get you into trouble. Repeated requests or requests to people who are not even remotely related to your field or your friend circle are also no-nos. A “best practice” is to use your current network on LinkedIn and find one of your 1st Degree connections that is also connect to the individual you hope to connect with and ask your 1st Degree for an introduction.

If you are asking anyone to forward your profile to someone in his or her network, then remember your profile will reflect on your friend’s credibility as well. So, along with a good profile, word your request politely as well. Don’t lie or give false impressions. Networking with someone on the premises of sharing ideas and then trying to sell him or her product will be seen as bad form.

3. Social Etiquette

Of course, there is a social aspect to LinkedIn. Just like in any social gathering, there should be politeness, small talk and some give and take.  For instance, if someone recommends you, return the favor. If you are introduced to a new contact by someone, send a thank you message. Make a good impression with your entire network and it will automatically fetch you more good contacts.

Good manners also apply to handling requests and messages that are sent to you as well. If you receive a request from a known person that you do not want to connect with, you might not want to reject the request outright. Simply archive it. People tend to forget over time or understand that you do not wish to connect with them.

Similarly, if you are sent a networking request from a stranger from an unrelated field, reject the request with a polite message stating your reason. If a friend extends the profile of a third party contact that you do not want to entertain, reply to your friend stating clearly, but politely, why you are hesitant. However, if you get too many such requests from a known person, you might want to consider if your friendship is worth that hassle.

4. Don’t nag

LinkedIn is not like Facebook or Orkut, where people spend hours chit chatting. Professionals hardly get the time to spend on networking and they don’t like wasting time over unnecessary updates or messages. Since most people on LinkedIn have their daily updates mailed to them periodically, constant activity or buzzing people with profile updates hourly will definitely irritate your contacts. Try to limit your activity to once per day, and keep it professional.

5. Don’t Lie

You’ve heard it all your life, “don’t lie,” and that applies to LinkedIn too.  Even white lies and half-truths can come back to bite you. Just like in job interviews, it never pays to lie about your work history or skill. Since this kind of networking is without any boundaries, if at any point you lose the trust of any one of your contacts, it will filter down to all your contacts.

6. Read the fine print

In case you haven’t already, go through the User Agreement you accepted when you registered with LinkedIn. There are certain obligations on your part that LinkedIn expects you to follow and you should be clear about them. LinkedIn is not a market place where you can make a profit. It is more like a gathering of like-minded people where you can develop ideas. Understand the LinkedIn mission and you will be able to understand what is the right etiquette for such a place.

Remember, your online presence can be the first impression you make, so make it a good one! By following these steps, you’ll be on your way to connecting with those important people in your field.

Do you have other “etiquette tips?”  List them below.

If you enjoyed “Top 6 Things You Need to Know About LinkedIn Etiquette” please share it with your friends by clicking the links below.

Are you facing social media challenges.  What are your biggest social media challenges?

My biggest challenge as a social media consultant for small business is keeping current with all the new stuff!  I typically find new platforms through great sites like the Social Media Examiner, Mashable and others, then I test them out before I offer them to my clients and online community as new social media resources.

The time spent “testing” is sometimes lengthy, but usually always well worth it for great new resources.  I want to provide good quality information to my online community and be a resource for them to find the platforms and systems that they need to enhance and grow their online business.

So what are your social media challenges?  At our Social Media T Room, free online training center, we provide experts to help with your needs.  So let us know how we can overcome your obstacles, post your challenges in the comment section below.

P.S. Oh, and one I’m testing right now is called Dyyno Broadcaster. You can share your personal videos, broadcast an event, or Dyyno enables WebEx users to instantly share video during their online meetings.  So far – I think this system is great, and you know how big video is in online marketing.  I’m still in the testing phase, but if you want to check it out, the link is above.  And it’s not an affiliate link.

If you enjoyed “Biggest Social Media Challenges” please share it with your friends by clicking one of the links below, or “reblogging” it on your blog, by click the “Reblog” icon to the right.