Syndicating Your Content
Show Notes: February 14, 2011

YouTube, One of Your Social Media Spokes [ 14:22 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (26)

In a previous episodes we discussed Your Social Media Hub and how WordPress Blogs are the heart of your hub. We talked about the first spoke of your social media hub, Twitter. We add another spoke to your social media hub, LinkedIn in this episode.

In this episode of Syndicating Your Content, we’ll talk about YouTube as another spoke.

Syndicating Your Content
Show Notes: January 3, 2011

Do You Have a Social Media Hub? [ 14:11 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (231)

Building your business brand should be one of the main goals you have for your social media marketing plan. What this means is using syndication to place your content on the internet as an extension of your brand, and it’s message. So let’s talk about your social media hub.

The Center of Your Hub – Your Website or Blog

Of course, you know that I advocate your website actually be a WordPress blog, and I can put you into a fully functioning wordpress blog for only $10 a month….but I digress

Your website and blog are the center of your social media hub. This is where you sell your products or services on the web. It’s your online representation of you and your business. People visit your blog, you talk to them through your posts, and or content, and they decide to buy from you because you’ve established a rapport with them.

Your Hub’s Spokes

Think of these as spokes on a wheel, where your blog is the center of the wheel and the spokes are those places where you go and create a second presence, another place where people can find you. This is where social media comes in. Each social media network you join is another place for you to meet new people and connect with friends and clients. Each network is an opportunity for you to build a community. You’re probably using some of them now, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Plaxo, and others.

Once you’ve created your profiles at your social networking sites, here are some strategies to consider:

1. Build and nurture relationships. When you’re spending time on your social networks, think about ways in which you can build relationships. This can be furthering relationships you’ve already established or forming new. For instance, when I have a new friend on Facebook, I put them into a list so I can look for them frequently, and easily, to see what they are talking about. As often as possible I try to join a conversation they have started, by adding a comment or sharing their information. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing your friend’s links, comments, etc. It’s a tremendous goodwill builder.I use my personal Facebook profile as a way to nurture my existing relationships as well as build new ones. Think of it as expanding your reach.
2. Syndicate your content. Once you have a blog up and running, you’ll want import it into Facebook with the Networked Blogs app so that you can immediately send new blog posts to Facebook. This allows new friends on Facebook to see your post, and click over to your blog to find out more about you. It’s also a social community itself. You can find and follow blogs through Networked Blogs that extend your online community.
3. Make new friends. I add friends in Facebook who I have never met. I may see something they said to one of my friends, or pulled them up through a search that intrigued me, so I send a friend request. When you do invite them to be a friend, make sure to add a personal message letting them know why you’re sending them a friend request. Again, having a common interest or two really helps break the ice. To expand your community, you need to feel comfortable reaching out to new people. Remember that common interests help us form those online relationships a bit easier. You never know who your online friends know. It’s expanding your sphere of influence.
4. Show who you are. Transparency is key to your social media strategy. Keeping in mind that all you post on the internet, stays on the internet, show a little personality in your interactions with others online. Don’t be afraid to talk about your interests, the stories that illustrate your point in a blog post.
5. Share info you think your friends would be interested in. You shouldn’t be broadcasting your marketing message 24/7. Sharing is one of the most expedient ways to create solid relationships. Be seen as someone who thinks of others.

Those are some tips on creating a hub for your social media using your blog’s rss feed to deliver your blog posts to your social networking sites and how you can create and build profitable relationships online.

What do you think? Let me know by commenting!

Syndicating Your Content
Show Notes: December 13, 2010

What is Content Syndication? [ 15:06 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (23)

In this episode of Syndicating Your Content I shared the definition of content syndication. I likened it to a comic strip cartoonist, who creates a single comic strip and that single strip is sent out to newspapers and magazines all over the world. Or, you could look at the spider web image and imagine that your blog is the center of the web, and your content flows outwards through the web strands.

With blogging and social media, we can share our passionate messages globally, through syndication. How do you syndicate your message? Please feel free to share by commenting.

Syndicating Your Content
Show Notes: December 6, 2010

Social Media for Visibility [ 13:38 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (193)

Using social media to elevate your visibility is an excellent way to be memorable as you’re out and about networking for your business. I’ll share a few tips on how I use my social media presence to leave a lasting impression on the small business owners I network with in North San Diego county.

Syndicating Your Content
Show Notes: November 29, 2010

Free Blogs versus Self Hosted Blogs [ 15:04 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (20)

In today’s episode I shared information on having a free blog at WordPress.com or Blogger.com versus having a self hosted blog like Syndicating Your Content.

Syndicating Your Content
Show Notes: November 22, 2010

Facebook Page Tips [ 14:59 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (13)

I just finished the Facebook Success Summit. It was 16 plus hours of webinar training on Facebook marketing strategies. I learned a lot of new tactics and confirmed that a lot of the information I’ve been sharing is, indeed, accurate. (It’s nice to know) Today i share a bit of the basics with you.

You may, or may not know, I have a niche blog North San Diego Business and an accompanying weekly internet radio show. Given all the new info I’ve learned about Facebook and social media, and my love for my Friday afternoon show, I’m resurrecting my weekly Syndicating Your Content podcast.

We talked about:

• your logo, what size and how to maximize your image
• Founded – why you may or may not have it, and how you leverage it if you do have it on your page
• importing your blog using Networked Blogs
• your events tab
• creating a custom page with Static FBML
• adding your email subscription form

Why don’t you share how you’ve customized your page, and the link to your Facebook page by commenting?

Last year I received a frantic message via email from a Facebook friend. She went to log into Facebook and found her profile gone. She was close to the 5,000 limit on friends and was devastated. What did she do wrong?

One of the most common mistakes I see that could cost you your Facebook profile is the creation of a second profile.  Here is the verbiage directly from Facebook’s Terms of Service:

4. Registration and Account Security

Facebook users provide their real names and information, and we need your help to keep it that way. Here are some commitments you make to us relating to registering and maintaining the security of your account:

1. You will not provide any false personal information on Facebook, or create an account for anyone other than yourself without permission.
2. You will not create more than one personal profile.
3. If we disable your account, you will not create another one without our permission.

At one networking meeting I heard a “social media expert” advise business owners to create a second fictional profile so they could stalk their children with that profile. YIKES!!! Today I found two “social media marketing firms” using their personal profile as if it were a business brand page. How can you be a social media expert or marketing firm and not KNOW how to use Facebook?

So you work hard finding friends, building your network and it’s all gone…..because you didn’t follow the rules. Is it worth it?

Here’s a tip….you can put your friends into lists. Create lists for your family, friends, business relationships, etc. That way you can adjust your privacy settings on your profile to separate what you share on Facebook.

I’m offering a free Facebook webinar on Monday, November 29th to answer your questions about using Facebook for business. I’d love to see you there.

WordPress Mastery, 101

Nov 3, 2010 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM PT
Nov 10, 2010 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM PT
Nov 17, 2010 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM PT

I remember when I first discovered WordPress. I had been blogging since Feb. 2005 at Blogger.com. I had been attending online expos at the time and, in January 2007 learned about WordPress and self hosted sites.

I programmed my first blog, moving North San Diego Business to a self hosted blog. Through the years I’ve chosen to focus just on WordPress blogs. To me it’s the heart of my content syndication strategies.

However, I’m sensitive to the budget issues facing the small business community and have found a WordPress blog service, Free Blog Factory. They fill a great need in having a self hosted blog, but not having the budget to have the blog custom designed and built.

Free Blog Factory is hosting a free webinar tonight, November 3, 2010, then again November 10th and 17th entitled WordPress Mastery, 101 to show you how easy it is to use WordPress as your website. If you have time, sign up and check it out.

If you check it out, let me know what you think? Is it a service that might benefit you?

Previous Post in an ongoing series on list building and email marketing: Constant Contact As Your Email Service

A popular way for companies to communicate directly with consumers today is to use email. One of the most popular email services is Constant Contact.

Email serves a variety of functions including sales promotions and being a means of education about products and services. Messages also can include branding with logos and / or tag lines, and they can offer direct response tools like reply links, emails, telephone and fax numbers.

Basic email message writing comes across much better with skill that can be learned. Main focus should be placed on the tone of speech and grammatical language in the body of the message.

Points which should be remembered for writing the email

• The subject line should be exciting, making the reader want to open the mail and read the further text.
• Keep the subject line brief.
• Make sure to include details about the sender to comply with spamming laws. Check Spamcop or other “anti-spam” sites in your favorite search engine for more info.
• Develop the body of the email; i.e. the message, with a good introduction followed by well-described paragraphs. Avoid hype and misleading readers.
• Use your email spelling and grammar check tools. And don’t “shout” or use all capital letters.

Practice and read emails that come your way. Learn to write messages that you’d like to receive and improve your communications.

Do you have some tips to share? Please feel free to comment.