As a social media consultant, strategist & trainer I teach small businesses to keep an eye on what is happening in their industry. Staying current and informed is what helps you move progressively forward in your business.

Now, staying current is a big job as it requires your valuable time… not to mention the time it takes to find good blogs. Go to Technorati, click on the small business blogs and you will find over 1250 blogs in the small business category alone! That is a tremendous amount of information!

What happens when you finally find a few great blogs that give you great value and you want to know when they post new goodies? Do you go to their site every few days, checking for new information? Well, I suppose you could… but that would be extremely time consuming.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could get the most recent information from all of your favorite blogs sent to one convenient location?

Good news! Get a Google Reader and subscribe to your favorite blogs RSS feed!

Not sure what this is all about?

Here is a YouTube video that offers a very simple explanation…

Leave me a comment if you have any questions on how to set up your feed reader. If you want to learn more about Google Reader go watch this video !

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Put them on your Blog so your readers can find and follow you on Twitter.  Put them in your newsletter so your subscribers can find you on Twitter.  Put them on your Facebook profile and your Facebook Business Page so your followers and fans can find you on Twitter.

Twitter, along with other social media sites, is best leveraged when you integrate your sites. This allows people to find you on their platforms of choice.

Say for example one of your Blog readers loves to engage on Twitter….  by providing a Twitter button your reader can easily find you on Twitter. Everyone is very busy these days and it is much easier to click the Twitter button than it is to manually search for you on Twitter.

It is important to make it easy for people to find and connect with you.

I have compiled a list of ”free button resources” just for you!

Have fun! Some of these are really cute. For any men that may be here, cute may not be what you’re looking for so I’ve included some really nice “not cute”  buttons that won’t mess with your masculinity!

So here ya go……

TwitterIcon.com

Okay, for me this is by far my favorite. Lots to choose from and very cute! Sorry men, there’s that word cute again! Just go ahead and look anyway, okay? If you like golf, on page 15 there is a Twitter bird standing on a golf ball. If you are into blinking & animation they have some really fun icons! Note: I don’t recommended flashing or blinking icons for a business site unless your brand is less formal and all about fun

Design Reviver

Nice set of 6 designs for an assortment of social media platforms. I added these because I love the Twitter bird!

Vincent Abry

This site is in French. I am very impressed with these Twitter images, so I want to say, “Merci” to their creator! I crack myself up, I don’t really know French…I think I said, “Thank You.” If not, then I’m saying it now: “Thank you for these wonderful icons!” P.S. If you do a Google search for Vincent Abry and find the “31 Logos et boutons pour Twitter: link, right next to it, click on “translate this page.” You can then read the page in English.

Productive Dreams

Icons with a unique page peel look. They have done this particular design in several social network themes. The Twitter bird is different.

Iconspedia

Unusual block style Twitter birds. They also have many other icons that I thought would be fun to use for the holidays.

Limeshot Design

A few styles but a ton of colors to choose from.

Webdesign.fm

Take a peek at these very happy little birds. This site said you can use these for commercial projects but this icon set may not be distributed in any way including reselling, sub-licensing, renting, or transferring. Fair enough!

Graphic Leftovers

Enhance your blog or site with these fun Twitter eggs. Download the free PNGfiles or buy the vector file for just a $1. The vector file will allow you to customize your own eggs, change colors or add your own twitter link, text or graphics. Eggs! A very unique group of icons.

Smashing Magazine

This set was designed by the talented Mirjami Manninen, an illustrator from Finland. This set is available as a free download and can be used for any purpose without any restrictions whatsoever. You can freely use it for both your private and commercial projects, including software, online services, templates and themes. The set may not be resold, sub-licensed, rented, transferred or otherwise made available for use.

Poetic Pixel

This is one good lookin’ bird…but it says you can only use it for personal use.  Take a look though, he’s cute!

Twitbuttons.com

This site has some nice hearts and a cute (yep, I said cute…. sorry guys!) little Twitter bird along with many other choices.  Be sure to read the fine read print at the bottom of the page if you use these.

If you plan on using these icons for commercial use, there could be a fee, or you may have to ask for permission to use them on your website. Just make sure you check around on each site for the fine print.

Thanks for taking the time to come here and smile. Come on, some were really cute. You just had to smile

If you know of some other great Twitter button, leave me a comment!  Or drop me an email and I will add them to this list!

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You have an offline business and you’ve been brainstorming, trying to think of ways to increase business. Twitter comes to mind. You say to yourself, “How can I utilize Twitter to help me market my offline business?”

Well, Twitter is not the magic marketing pill or a get rich quick fix. Having said that, Twitter can work wonders for some offline businesses when used in conjunction with your website, blog, and any other online real estate you may have developed.

7 Ways To Use Twitter To Boost Your Business

1. Build a targeted following on Twitter. This is very important. Twitter is not a numbers game no matter what some will tell you. The game is getting your customers and potential customers to listen to you. You need to build your following based on people who are potentially interested in your products/services and industry. Have a clear idea of who your potential market is and build your following accordingly. There are several tools and strategies business peeps use to locate their targeted customers (followers).

2. Post tweets using captivating copy that contain links to the bigger picture on your blog or website. Twitter is used to point your followers to the bigger picture.

3. Tweet links to other people’s information that is relevant to your targeted followers. This builds trust and demonstrates your willingness to share. People trust that you have their best interest at heart because you are willing to share other people’s valuable information as well. You’re giving them more value beyond what you can provide. There are more than enough clients or customers to go around, don’t horde your followers.

4. Tweet promotions and special offers only available to your followers. This is a great way to show them they are important and exclusive and you appreciate them. It’s a very powerful way to cherish your existing customers who have become your followers. This works very well for local offline retail and restaurants.

5. Ask questions. This keeps you in tune to your market and your followers. Asking questions can accomplish a couple of things. First, you will be able to identity your markets most pressing issues or concerns and address them in a timely manner. The second would be the advantage of having greater insight. The majority of your clients or potential clients do not realize why things are not working or that you can help them with a particular issue, so when you ask questions you can uncover the underlying issues or problems. These areas of concern can go unnoticed due to lack of communication. Something as simple as asking questions can unveil treasures and add tremendous value and overall impact to your business

6. Answer questions. By answering questions you are giving a voice to your company. By supplying answers and solutions you are revealing your knowledge which increases your credibility. Your followers will see that you really know what you are talking about. Once you have their attention and trust, you have your foot in the door. In turn, this gives you the opportunity to work on the rest of their issues as a paying client.  Use Twitter search to find the people who are asking questions.

7. Conduct market research. Surveys’ and polls are a perfect way to figure out what your followers need and want. Address those issues in future posts and tweets. People will come to see you as their solution provider.

These are just the tip of the iceberg, but you now have an idea as to how Twitter can realistically function for you. It is fast, free (unless you hire someone to manage your social marketing), efficient and powerful.

Share with me the ones you have used or if you have an idea not listed here!

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A few weeks ago I had a Business Consulting Firm ask me how online networking could help them market an offline business.

Before I address the “How”, I need to explain the “What” & “Why” of social networking as well as how it works in conjunction with other marketing methods. So, stay with me to the end and you will absolutely see how building an online audience can realistically grow your business.

I know of many businesses that conduct business offline but maintain an online presence for exposure and marketing purposes. I even know a few who maintain a site because they were told it was the thing to do.

Most business websites display the basic pages; About Us, Missions Statement, Contact Us, and features of their services or products that they provide.

Basically, they have created an expensive online brochure.

A lot of businesses either are not aware of or forget to talk about the benefits they provide to their customers or clients. This particular firm does have a website, which, by the way, says it serves customers worldwide. It also touches briefly on some benefits in a section labeled…

What you will experience with us/What you won’t experience with us

This section should be expanded upon if they are maintaining an online presence for the purpose of attracting more clients. This in itself is a whole other topic of conversation. I do need to first touch on some basics to demonstrate how online networking can aid in your marketing plan in a very powerful way.

If this firm wants to attract more clients, they should implement a couple of low cost methods right now. It would help them extend their reach and develop greater credibility.

Honestly, I do not know who these people are or how far their reach is, but I do know that what I am about to share will benefit any business that wants to use the internet to market & network their offline business and expand their reach beyond traditional marketing.

So, for you small businesses that want to grow, please consider …..

• … a  Blog.  A blog should be your main hub.  You should use it to demonstrate your expertise and engage in 2-way conversations with your market, customers/clients & potential customers/clients.  Unlike the other social platforms you communicate on, you actually own your blog.  This is not the case with Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites that could disappear tomorrow.  You don’t have any control of these platforms like you do your own blog.

• … an Ezine as an extremely useful marketing tool.  It gives you constant contact with your niche.  An Ezine can be as simple as offering a valuable tip of the week or revealing helpful resources to your readers.

When you blog and publish an online Ezine, this is your way of paying it forward. By providing valuable information you are helping your followers achieve a level of success. It is the quality of your content that will get you noticed so the key is to make it meaty information, not a bunch of fluff.

Blogs and Ezines are just 2 ways to drip on your subscribers and readers. These readers are your  existing and potential clients and customers.  They read your blog and sign up for your Ezine because they want help, and solutions to their problems and challenges.  Because you are communicating on a regular basis with them, you will be the first one that enters their mind when they are ready to take the first step  in solving their problem(s).  They will trust you and be more inclined to purchase from you because you have been supplying them with useful information for free. When you take the time to “pay it forward” you are showing them you care about there success.

When you share and communicate consistent meaty, valuable information on your blog and in your Ezines, you are building trust and credibility.  This is why it pays to take the time to respond to their needs, even if it was only in a small way.

You are building and should continue to build and nurture these valuable relationships. They are gold. I have heard it takes exposing your business or services to a potential customer or client 8- 9 times before they will even consider buying from you. This tells me that marketing is not an event, it is an ongoing process.

Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and other social sites are simply tools to help you create awareness for your business, products and services.  You use these tools to direct your potential clients and customers to your main hub, which is your blog where your readers have the opportunity to sign up for your Ezine.  All of these tools combined allow you to spread your reach and visibility beyond traditional marketing methods.  It’s time to tap into the power combining social media marketing, blogs & Ezines!

Stay tuned for my next post where I will give you 7 Great Ways to Use Twitter to Boost Your Business!

Please share your thoughts…I’d love to answer your questions!

Above Image: renjith krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Some of our Tweets are not relevant to Facebook and should not be cluttering up our Facebook wall. Many consist of fragmented conversations which are useless to our Facebook friends.

We certainly do not want our Facebook to turn into a Twitter stream look-a-like. But, there are times it would be advantageous to post a link to a new blog post simultaneously to both Facebook & Twitter. Anything to save me time and make my day more productive is my motto!

To start you need to go to Selective Twitter App and enter your Twitter username.

Add your Twitter username as instructed….  and your done.

Now when you are in Twitter and you want to add the same information to Facebook, but don’t want to take the time to log into Facebook, you just add  #fb at the end of any Tweet and it will show up on your Facebook status update. Be patient as there can be a minute or two delay after you post on Twitter.

It also works with Fan Pages… But it will not work if your updates are protected.

Try not to overwhelm your Profile Page or Fan Page with too many updates, be selective.

Do not allow  Twitter to update your Facebook automatically.  If you are currently using the  Twitter application or other app to update your status, be sure to remove or disable it so that it doesn’t keep updating all your tweets.

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Jing FREE Video Capture Tool

Video Marketing is an easy, effective and proven method of reaching out and attracting a broader audience.  Social networking and marketing is about increasing your visibility and putting you, the person, back into your business.  Video does this by giving people a voice and a face to go along with your words.

I always tell my students and consulting clients  to try FREE tools (if they are available) when they’re starting something new.  That usually takes care of the “I don’t have the money” excuse and at the same time takes care of the procrastinators!  After all, the sooner you start, the sooner you’ll see results!

If you have been thinking about dipping a toe into the vast waters of video marketing as part of your social media marketing  plan, then Jing is a great FREE starter tool you should use.  The free version gives you up to 5 minutes of video.  It captures still shots too!

Snap a picture of your screen to record a still shot photo. This will enable you to do a plethora of things…

• Slide shows
• Power Point Presentations
• Training Materials
• You can also add captions, arrows or highlight specific areas on your still shot for further detail and explanation
• Take some still shots off of your website or blog and create a free 30 second or less video on Animoto with music and captions. It’s a snap and fun to do!  Take a peek at My Introduction Video I did with Jing snap shots in Animoto…
  

  Record video of onscreen action.

  • Have you ever been talking to your VA and said, “Sure wish I could show you what I mean!”  How about a client or business associate? Now you can!
  • It’s a perfect training tool.  Now you can demonstrate training steps through video, and then upload it to a video hosting site such a YouTube.
  • How-to Videos are popular and highly effective in conveying your expertise.  Short, helpful How-To’s will attract and encourage viewers to check out your site! Don’t forget to put a “Call to Action” at the end of your video for better results.

  Share instantly over the web, IM, email etc…

  • Post your video on YouTube, Slideshare & Screencast, just to name a few.
  • Save it as a file.
  • Share it on Facebook, Twitter and other social sites.

  Here are a few other things you can do that Jing has shared.

• Collaborate on a design projects
• Share snapshots of a document
• Narrate your business conference photos
• Capture that pesky computer bug in action
• Show Clients how to use or sell your product
• Comment verbally on your clients projects
• Comment on your student’s  homework
• Post tidbits from your business on Twitter or Facebook

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Upload your Avatar to Gravatar!

My day is filled with a million and one things to do! One of those things to do involves commenting on other people’s blogs. A good social media plan mandates that I participate in other people’s business lives. When I write a comment on another blog, I like to leave a link to my blog and a picture, which is referred to as an avatar.

One way that I increase my visibility and reach across the Internet is to post the same photo wherever I comment. Now, I no longer have to waste time uploading my picture on several different platforms because I have discovered a resource that does it for me.  It’s called Gravatar.

Take a peek at this video to see how it works and how it can help you implement one piece of your social marketing plan more efficiently!

Take a moment right now to go to Gravatar.com and set up your universal avatar and make your life a little bit easier!

Please let me know what you struggle with! I just might have the answer….and if I don’t, I bet I can get it!

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1.   Click on the Application title under the update on your wall as indicated in the photo below.

2.   This takes you directly to the application page where you can block the application.  Just click “Block Application” and a pop up box will appear to confirm your action.

3. Reconfirm that you want to block the app by clicking on “Block Fish World “(or whatever app you’re blocking) and this will ensure that this App no longer shows          up in your feed.  That way if your friend decides to leave Fish World or Farm Ville long enough to participate in real conversations, you’ll still be able to see                what they have to say!

If this helped you or someone you know, please hit the ReTweet button at the top right of my post and tell your followers. Leave a comment and let me know how you like your new uncluttered look!

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You’re working hard to develop your brand and increase your business visibility.You’re developing relationships & gaining credibility. People are starting to talk….

• How are you keeping up with the buzz you are creating?

• Do you know who is talking about you?

• Do you know where your articles are being posted?

• Who’s saying positive things about you?

•  Who’s saying negative things about you or your products and services?
  

• Who’s linking to your online real estate?

As a solo business owner it’s critical that you manage your online reputation.

It is perfect social manners to thank anyone who gives kudos to you, your business or services. If anyone bashes you, it is important that you are on it by implementing damage control immediately!

Let me introduce you to one completely free “Reputation Management” tool.

Google Alerts: http://Google.com/alerts.

Google Alerts are delivered via email or RSS feed and contain the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic.

• Your Domain Keep an eye on your blog or website. Just type in your sitename.com leaving off the www or http. If you have a specific link from your blog posted someplace else that points back to your blog, Google should pick that up.

• Your Name, Business Name,  Products & Services These are critical alerts to implement into your social media reputation management system. Setting up an alert for your product names, your business name and your personal name will uncover additional buzz.  If you have a service that is listed as a named “system”  such as “How to Close Every 5 out of 6 Sales Blueprint System” you need to set up an alert for it as well.
  

• Your Articles If you write and distribute your own articles to various directories, you can set up an alert for each article title.

As a solo business owner you can set up this monitoring system to help you stay on top of the buzz you are creating as you strive to build long, healthy relationships by keeping the 2 way conversation going.

Sign up for my Free Step By Step Social Media Weekly Newsletter full of advice and tips on how to expand reach and visibility while eliminating overwhelm associated with social media marketing.  I focus on creating a simplified “Step By Step Social Media” plan that include automated, easy to manage processes & systems!

You’ll also receive my free Twitter 3 in 1 Bonus Report

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Image: Danilo Rizzuti/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

As a business owner I use social networks to build relationships. My main objective is to build stronger, deeper and more meaningful relationships. I want to connect with my audience in order to find more prospects, clients, customers and business partners.

I leverage Facebook to connect with people and spread my expertise beyond my local market. It’s pretty simple really….I post an update and someone may post a comment to my update. Any comment I receive confirms that I’m being heard.

Are you trying to leverage Facebook for business?

If you are, you want to be sure to acknowledge everyone who interacts with you. Your social networking success will depend on it. It’s crucial that you respond to comments if you want to find & grow strong relationships that have real substance and value to both of you. For this to happen you must open the door to every possible relationship relevant to your market.

When a friend or fan reaches out and leaves a comment, it opens that door a crack. When you respond it gives you an opportunity to open the door wider and engage your new friend or fan deeper into conversation.  It also shows them that you care about what they have to say.

1. If a friend or fan compliments you, thank them.

A compliment is a great way to start a conversation. Thank them for the compliment and then turn around and ask a question about them! If you want other people to be interested in you, you must show interest in them.

2. If they ask a question, answer it.

Questions provide the perfect opportunity to demonstrate your expertise to an interested person.  Sharing your knowledge will build credibility and give value to your Facebook community.  The more value you provide the more likely they will come back for more.

3. If they have an opposing view, respect it.

If there is one thing I know, it is this…. not everyone thinks like you do. If we want to build relationships with existing and prospective customers and clients, it’s mandatory that you respect what they think and believe. I’m not saying that you need to agree with them. I have close, personal friends that I don’t agree with 100%, don’t you? I still try to respect their opinions and they respect mine as well. By simply stating,”I can appreciate your opinion, thank you for sharing that with me” lets them know that you heard and acknowledged them.

4. If they have a complaint or problem with your product or service, fix it immediately.

Never, ever, ever let negative comments or complaints about your product or service go unaddressed!  That is business suicide. Either fix the problem or let them know that you are working on it and will get back with them.  It is counter-productive to put yourself out there as the trusted expert and then not respond when they need you the most.

Using the social networks to expand your reach requires that you BE social! Don’t waste your time on Facebook if you only want a one-way conversation.    Turn it into a 2-way conversation by giving your fans and friends a voice too!

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