As a JV expert and someone who cares about the relationships, I like to know what drives you in different situations. So here is my quick question of the month:

What’s your #1 motive for sharing someone else’s promotions? 

This survey is only one question so it will only take 15 seconds of your time and will really help me out! Feel free to answer here or click through the link above and answer anonmously!

Thanks a bunch!

Now that we have covered the top 2 goals that most entrepreneurs have set this year for their social media activities, what’s left?

Goal #3: Leverage my relationships to build my business!

If you are like most of my friends, you completely understand that building relationships is the #1 key to success. You know that one relationship can increase your visibility, build your credibility, drive tons of targeted traffic to your site, and even bring you happy people who buy your services-over and over again. 

But you have reached out, created some partnerships, and left feeling like you got the short end of the stick.

It doesn’t have to be that way. When you have the right pieces in place, have the right conversations with the right people, you can create wonderful relationships with people you love and who love you-even after your “promotion” is completed.

Wouldn’t that be nice?

Here are three tips to get you on track for creating happy, profitable relationships:

1. Make sure the partnership and the opportunity “feel” right. I don’t know how to say it any other way, but use your gut! Even if you love the person, it may not be the right opportunity at this time. Trust yourself!
2. Get your entire agreement down on paper. A conversation is not enough when something goes astray. You need to discuss all the “what if’s” before you start building a product or promoting an event.
3. Communicate! Yes, this may be basic, but when partnerships start to go haywire, people quit talking. Don’t fall into this trap. Make time for your partner and always be respectful. This is like a temporary marriage of sorts.

For more information about JV management and consulting, including JV Crisis Management and Mediation, let’s talk. Call or email me at (877) 716-1469 or marypat@queenofmarketing.com and we can schedule a quick consultation.

The first goal that many people active in social media right now have is turning your network into revenue-generating traffic. For tips on how you can achieve that goal in the next 10 weeks, catch our last post.

And here’s the #2 Goal:

Goal #2:  Spend less time social networking and more time making money!

Here are five tips to save tons of time on your social networking:

1. Block out 15 minutes each day for this activity
2. Know what you are doing: posting on walls? Making new connections? Sending birthday wishes? This will help you target your time and not get distracted.
3. Create a system for what to do and when: accept friend requests on Mondays & Thursdays, respond to messages on Tuesdays & Fridays, build new friends & post on walls on Wednesdays.
4. Don’t do it yourself! If you have a system, why can’t your VA or even your teen help out?
5. Turn your virtual friends into real friends! Pick up the phone at least twice each week to talk to some of your new friends. Build those relationships now before you need to sell something. Promotions will be much easier later on.

For more assistance with your social networking to save time, build relationships and start making money, check out the KickStart Coaching program. This program dives into a different topic each month to help use social media to build relationships and even offers private coaching as well.

Did you set goals for 2009? Where are you at? Here are 3 popular goals with some tips to help you achieve these goals in the next 12 weeks!

Goal #1: Turn my social networking friends into buyers.

Here are 5 steps to social media success that work for everyone, no matter your business or your personality!

1. Build a profile that ATTRACTS the right people.
2. Build your network with quality, not quantity. Make sure you know who you want to connect with. It’s about strategy and it’s not random.
3. Build your visibility through activities like wall posts and comments and having conversations.
4. Build your credibility through sharing good information-yours and others.
5. Build traffic by blogging, integration and good conversations (yes, conversations warrant being listed twice)

It’s not too late to participate in my “30 Days to Create & Automate a Traffic Generating System” This is a 4 week bootcamp where I teach you my step-by-step proven system that takes your social networking, builds relationships and drives massive traffic to your site to buy your products and services.

Yes, this program started last week and we are recording all of the calls, so you won’t miss a thing if you can’t clear your schedule! For more information, check out the sales page now!

Blogging is a foundational tool in your online marketing campaign. And you should be blogging everyday if you can. This will build quick visiblity, credibility & traffic to your site. It can also drive traffic from your social networks into your marketing funnel when you do it the right way. In fact, if you need a kick in the pants for your blogging, it’s not too late to jump into my good friend, Sandra Martini’s 30 Day Blog Challenge–and it’s free!

But are you using your blog to build relationships?

Here are 3 simple ideas to take your blogging to a new level:

1. Live on the edge! Ask pointed questions that will inspire people to respond to your thoughts and your topic. When your readers respond, always acknowledge their responses–even when you don’t agree. These conversations may be the first steps in new connections.

2. Talk about others in your posts! I don’t want you spamming, but feel free to share other experts opinions on your blog. Add your own commentary, of course. Make sure to include a link to her original post or social media page for quick reference and then let her know you just mentioned her on your blog (sent her a Tweet or post on her Facebook wall/page).

3. Invite upcoming experts to be “Guest Bloggers” on your site. Make sure they are either writing original content for you or repurposing at least 30% of the content for your readers. Allow them to incl ude a small bio box and their photo at the end of their articles with a link. Quickly, you will have other experts promoting your site and thanking you for the opportunity to build their own audience! And we haven’t even gotten into the time-savings opportunities…

Do you see the win-win-win in each of these ideas? When you are leading from a place of “shared abundance” and you value your community and relationships in your business, great things will come!