Facebook always feels a bit challenging to me. Their rules are published nowhere you can find easily and most are pretty indecipherable. Often you won’t know you’ve broken one, until you get slapped. Yet, it is the largest social network globally and you certainly don’t want to ignore it. Now, if you are using it strictly for family and friends and catching up with old flames and older relatives, stop reading now. This isn’t for you. On the other hand, when you want to move business forward, keeping your friends clean on Facebook does matter.
The biggest task you can tackle is to get all of your friends into appropriate lists. This will give you awesome leverage when you create an event and want to invite a selected group. Without this, you are stuck going friend to friend and when you have several hundred or a couple of thousand, this is a major time zapper and ineffective. So do your work upfront. Before you accept anyone as a friend, check them out, which list can you tag them to (that you’ve created). Yes, you can put a friend on more than one list, great flexibility. The key is to get them onto at least one list that is relevant and pertinent.
Oh and while you are at it, when you are doing this, it is likely you are having to go to many of the profiles as you may not know the person well. Take a minute and write something warm and friendly on their wall. This will boost your visibility and show them you truly care. (You do care, don’t you?)
I’m giving you an out. This whole idea may overwhelm you. You can establish criteria for friends to be tagged on specific lists and hand the task off to a VA (Virtual Assistant). You can also script (you’d be surprised how many do this and no one knows it) a series of messages that your VA can post on friends walls. While I encourage you to do this personally, I am well aware that you may be already stretched thin but do care and want your peeps to know that.
And one more thing, when you go through your friends, you are likely to find that you may have been a bit careless (unless you are perfect, and you might be!) and accepted some folks that you are no longer certain you want to be friends with for a number of reasons. It is okay to unfriend them, they won’t be notified. You have a 5000 friend limit and if that matters then this is what you’ll need to do. You can also invite peeps to be a fan on your fan page (you do have a fan page don’t you?) There is no limit to the number of fans.
Social networking can be fun; it can also be a lot of work and time. I share time saving tips to drive your business forward. Next week is LinkedIN, and it will be on my blog!
Each teleseminar or webinar that I host, I am always most excited by the comments and questions I get from participants. What I see consistently is a huge relief from you when I deliver just great content, no pitch, no hitch, and no catch. So take this lesson and learn to do the same for your audience. One of the surest ways to grow your own Tribe is to go and give to them. Feeding your audience regular value content with a sense of humor, heart, and personality will grow your traffic and your business. (And for a shortcut to hordes of targeted traffic, check out the free www.theultimatetrafficsummit.com, February 8-22)
Now, I do understand that we all need to make a living, and I can share that by being what Bob Burg calls a Go-Giver, you are going to find your fee based events filling faster because you have created a strong foundation of KNOW, LIKE, and TRUST with your tribe. So here are 5 simple ways to give value regularly.
#1 On the social networks (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIN), share value content always, tell stories with a positive learning message, ask questions that make people think and engage them in a discussion, be a go-to resource for your industry. Remember you don’t have to know it all, you just have to be willing to direct to those that do. Being a gatekeeper is an incredibly valuable role to play.
#2 In an eBook or special report dish some real gold nuggets that will move folks forward. Don’t be shy about this or think you have to save it for your fee based clients. Know that most won’t move themselves forward without you. By providing consistently solid value, it generates greater trust and means these folks will be back to buy.
#3 On YouTube, create a series of short casual (think flip camera) videos that you can post with links (low tech, I promise) to provide nuggets of wisdom in your specialty. These are no more than 3 minutes each and can be true gate openers with those who don’t know you and cement relationships with those that do.
#4 In your blog give away the actual steps to do something that you know your audience is hungry for (like what I’m doing here!) Yes, some will actually go do based on what they read, and just as many others will wait for your next morsel, eager to learn more before they advance and ultimately they’ll likely invest when they realize that you give nothing but the best.
#5 On guest posts, support and nurture fellow bloggers in your niche and beyond with gracious guest comments. This builds a feeling of reciprocity and that means more comments coming to your blog and bringing new traffic with them.
This is about going farther together always. And when you are ready to shoot for the moon, register free for www.theultimatetrafficsummit.com. You’ll get over 14 hours of expert traffic strategies, proven tactics, time saving tips, all designed to move your business rapidly forward whether you are online or offline.
It’s funny that usually you associate traffic with road rage, time lost, and general frustration and hassle, BUT online and offline it is targeted traffic that means the difference between a successful business and one that doesn’t make it. So I’m going to share just 5 easy and quick ways you can generate and capture more leads to your business today:
Create an Opt-in Page:
This can sit as a portal to your website or be a stand alone page but it is vital as a destination for your traffic. You see just getting visitors to your website isn’t very effective if you aren’t capturing their contact for follow up. And very rarely does anyone buy at the first visit so you need to get their contact and their permission for follow up. Your opt-in, often known as a "squeeze" page (you are squeezing their information out of them) needs to have a valuable gift of some format for them. You can provide a digital download (no inventory cost) of an ebook, a special report, a tip sheet, a white paper, an article. It needs to be something that they will have a burning desire to know and that is truly valuable information.
Your Signature File:
This is powerful and so simple to do. Every email you send or reply to has the capacity for a signature file to be attached. In your signature file you want to include your business name, a tag line about what you do, and the link to your opt-in page. You can also include your social media links like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIN but the most important is to drive people reading your email to your opt-in.
Tweet it on Twitter:
Be sure to put a link to your opt-in page in your twitter profile. You can also share it creatively in your Tweets and with selected followers (no spamming and no mass pitching!) Remember you are providing a valuable gift to followers and potential followers and simply want the opportunity to follow up consistently and persistently.
Get More Fans on Facebook:
Add your opt-in to your Facebook Fan page (aka business profile page) this is often done in the left hand column toward the top for easy notice. It is one way of giving a gift to everyone who expresses an interest in becoming a fan and ensures that you capture their contact when they decide they want your digital download.
Wear It on the Back of Your Business Card:
Print your opt-in URL (domain name) clearly on the back of your business card. You can even include the words Free Gift and provide a Value, so it looks like Free Gift ($47 value) or something like that. Adding the value gives the person curious a reason to check it out. So much is free that we question it’s value, state it loud and clear from $27 to $127 and beyond, you determine it.
These are just a few simple and effective ways to drive more targeted traffic to your business. Get the motherlode of winning strategies, proven techniques, and tested tools all for Free ($1197 value) at www.theultimatetrafficsummit.com. 15 Internet Traffic Generation Masters are going to share their favorite insider secrets to explode your business, register today!
Do you have traffic generation tips? Love to read about them in the comments.
I’ve noticed that a lot of you are struggling to juggle the surge in new business while still putting in place lasting marketing initiatives and strategy that will ensure your pipeline gets and stays full in 2010. The challenge occurs when you sacrifice your long term profit for short term gains by shelving business development, new equipment, a new hire, and continuing to tackle all of it yourself. So here are my Do’s and Don’ts for business growth and success in 2010. I learned the hard way so you don’t have to!
Do stay focused on profit activities every day.
Don’t get stuck in the details.
Do delegate tasks that are repetitive and not profit centered.
Don’t say you can’t afford it, you will get far more done when someone else does the things you aren’t good at and don’t enjoy.
Do make time to further your business education.
Don’t make the mistake of remaining stuck in old school ways, when new school is here to stay.
Do learn to leverage the power of social networking.
Don’t just throw up a profile and expect results; it requires consistent and persistent interaction.
Do include live networking in your marketing mix.
Don’t think you can retreat to life in your bunny slippers and fail to get out face to face.
Do invest in new technology and equipment (hardware and software) to grow you business.
Don’t forget you’ll have a learning curve, be prepared or you will tear your hair out.
Do create a plan, day by day, week by week, month by month and work it.
Don’t give up when you hit a hurdle, go around it, through it, over it, under it or redirect.
Do make time for yourself, your family, and your friends.
Don’t become a workaholic; it is an unhealthy addiction that can ruin your life.
Do take time for your health.
Don’t ignore those 5-10 lbs (or more) you packed on last year.
Do embrace life, all of it.
Don’t wait for tomorrow because the present is the gift in today.
Want to use this article? You can, just include the text here: Ready to take your business higher? Tired of all the hype and pitch? Pick up your free ebook, 7 Surefire Steps to Marketing that Makes YOU Money. And get on the fast track to business success!
What do YOU do to get ahead? Leave your ideas in the comments below!
I had an interesting response to my holiday ezine about no presents. My comment came from the heart, about making the season about more than buying gifts, and focusing on the people in our lives. In no way was it a commentary on the economy or a plea to stop buying retail and supporting retailers. But, as is always the case, one retailer saw it differently and I got blasted! I’ve given this a lot of thought and wanted to share the 5 reasons people buy from you whether you have goods or services or both.
#1 Superior Goods/Services
In today’s market this can be tough to do, competition is fierce. When your product or service can grab attention for being outstanding then you can grab business the same way. You may or may not have a well recognized brand. This is less about the label and more about the reputation of the company.
#2 Cheapest Pricing
There is very little in the middle these days, it is either at the top or the bottom. You are either the perceived Walmart of your industry or the Tiffany of your tribe. Being the cheapest doesn’t necessarily ensure you sales except with those who don’t place a value on quality. There are those shoppers that price is their only hot button, in which case if you are the cheapest, they will belong to you.
#3 Superior Value
This means best quality and least cost, it doesn’t mean cheapest. For me, this is where I generally buy. If you aren’t concerned about brand names, or wearing a label, but you want the best product at the best price, then you are a value consumer.
#4 Exclusive Cachet
This is about the label and the brand that has been built around it. Goods like this are bought as much for their perceived quality as for the label they carry. Think Gucci, Armani, Nike, Henredon, Lilly Pulitzer, Polo, Ralph Lauren and others. The cachet is such that they are often imitated. Their name is prominent and evident always.
#5 Best Relationship
This is where you can truly shine regardless of whether you are big or small, luxury or dollar-wise. Forming a winning relationship with your customer and client is the surest way to a lifetime of demand and "world (not just word) of mouth" referrals. Take the time to get to know, like, and trust your consumer and give them the same chance with you. Great examples include Gary Vanyerchuk, Zappos, and CD Baby. Whether you are a company of one or one hundred you can form relationships that last and prosper.
What do YOU do to be the BEST? As always, your comments are appreciated!
You are your biggest and most valuable asset, without you there would be no business, no family, no kids, no house, none of it. So I want you to think about yourself as an investment and write down if you have taken good care of your investment this year or not. Answer the following questions, YES or NO (okay you can say SORT OF if you must) Score at the close.
- Did you regularly sleep through the night, confident in your business plan and success?
- Did you take care of your health with exercise, eating right, and fun?
- Did you enjoy at least one two week vacation in to decompress and recharge?
- Did you take the family time you wanted and your family needed?
- Did you escape with friends and indulge in your hobbies (whether that’s shopping, traveling, golf, bridge, gardening, or a spa day)?
- Did you build deeper relationships with clients and customers?
- Did you create upsell opportunities to harness repeat buyer patterns?
- Did you participate in teleseminars, webinars, and live trainings to take business further?
- Did you join a mastermind and become an active participant?
- Did you work with a coach or mentor?
- Have you learned at least 10 simple and low cost ways to move your business forward?
- Did you start a blog?
- Has your website been search engine optimized?
- Are you an active and valued presence on at least three social (aka success) networks?
- Did you launch your ezine?
- Are you writing articles?
- Have you built a winning team either virtual or real time?
- Have you mastered technology or become a slave to it?
- Are you taking online connections and building them into real time business relationships?
- Did you accomplish what you set out to in 2009?
While these are past tense for 2009, they are present tense for the year ahead. Score yourself as follows: 1 point for No, 2 points for Sort of (see I know you), 4 points for Yes
Under 20 Points, You skipped a question or two!
20 – 40 points, You need a coach/mentor and a plan to make 2010 a lot better than 2009. You are likely suffering a serious lack of focus and prone to chasing bright shiny objects. STOP! You must get clear on your target, your talent and the transformation you offer. Proceed with caution, you can turn it around in 2010 but only by making an about face!
40-60 points, You are on track but struggling a bit. It is likely you need to delegate, reprioritize, and focus on revenue producing activities as well as eliminating a propensity for perfectionism that is standing in your way of success. You can turn it around in 2010.
60-80 points, You are on path and on purpose with passion. You don’t get derailed by challenges but keep going and redirect when necessary. You would benefit from a mastermind and a coach if you don’t already have them. You want to evaluate your team members and replace any weak links. 2010 is going to be your year!
Take the quiz, and comment your results below!
This can be a crazy time of year for any kind of networking but the social networks particularly are blowing up with special offers, last minute sales, and super discounts. Amidst all the noise and clutter, when you really want to be heard, consider these easy ways.
#1 Share your holiday decorating photos! From trees to wreaths, tabletop to outdoor snowmen, we want to see what you are doing.
#2 Share your holiday traditions! We always love to know how other people celebrate their holidays. There is nothing more interesting than unique cultural customs at special times of the year.
#3 Share your recipes! This is easy to do in blog style with a link. I got a great one at Thanksgiving for Cranberry Ice, yum. Imagine being able to grow your holiday treat file by just a couple more this year.
#4 Share your resolutions! You are much more likely to stay on track when you have a whole tribe of us ready to support you and hold you to your resolutions.
#5 Share your holiday funny moments! My favorite was the year that I set the sweet potatoes afire and the fired department showed up, big red engine and all. Yikes, embarrassing but we laughed all the way through it.
Start sharing–comment your favorite holiday moments now!
