Have you created your 2012 marketing plan yet? Do you know some of the specific steps and strategies that you are going to implement this year to achieve your goals?

And where is social media fitting into the picture?

In the last week, I have had three highly respected business owners ask me about creating a social media strategy. And my response is simple: social media is a tool, not a strategy.

“What do you mean?” they said.

What I mean is simple, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter and a boatload of other platforms have the potential to garner new visitors to your ideas and even convert the viewers into raving fans and customers.

So if social media can do all that, then why isn’t it considered a strategy?

Social media is what you do to help you achieve the results that you want in your business. You want more visibility for your business online? You want more attendees at your next event? You want to be able to quickly shift complaints into testimonials? Then social media can help you do all these things and more.

It is a tool that can help you achieve:

• Online visibility
• List building
• Increased credibility (and even instant credibility)
• More speaking opportunities
• More qualified web traffic to your site
• Search Engine results (have you “googled” yourself lately?)
• Networking
• Promotional partners to help you sell your services
• Joint venture partners to help you build your business
• Build a team to help you grow your business
• Customer support
• Increased publicity & recognition
• And so many more results!

So if you have speaking, networking, SEO and advertising as your top strategies for your marketing plan, social media can help you get better results in each of these. Is this starting to make sense?

Now that you have a new awareness and understanding of social media, how are you going to use it to achieve your goals in 2012? Please post a comment below.

Happy New Year!

I love that we get to celebrate the Chinese New Year toward the end of January. It’s about the time that we are reconsidering some of our goals for the year and more importantly, after the hub-bub of the holidays have cooled off, I have the clarity to think again.

That picture is from my own adventure to Las Vegas after Christmas when I discovered how much I LOVE to see Broadway musicals. My daughter and I got the opportunity, thanks to a dear friend, to see the Phantom of the Opera AND to sit in the front row at one of the last shows of The Lion King.

Right now, I am completing my marketing plan for 2012 which includes some reorganizing of my business model as well as some very different commitments to myself.

One of these commitments that may or may not surprise you, is my commitment to focus on collaborative partnerships. I love working as a partner in people’s businesses–whether I am coaching, consulting or stepping up as President in my local NAWBO chapter, I am committed to working as a partner and an advocate for those around me.

And in this commitment, I will be sharing some tools that I know can help you achieve your goals for 2012.

You know the struggle and frustration of trying to break the barriers to achieve the income and the lifestyle that you deserve; the uncertainty and confusion. But you may not have figured out the specific steps to achieve that success for you!

That’s why, my friend & colleague, Annette Pieper, has brought together 10 leading-edge, heart-centered entrepreneurs to share their wisdom so you can accelerate your success. The Soul Power Success Summit takes place January 30 – Feb 3.

Save your seat right now for this F*R*E*E* Summit

Each successful business owner has been handpicked based on their expertise in:

- Marketing

- Sales

- Mindset

- Speaking

- Success Systems

- Making a Difference in the world!

You will discover at the Soul Power Success Summit how these leaders of thriving six and seven figure businesses make a big impact and how you can apply their strategies to make more money right now!

This is a gift from heart-centered entrepreneurs who want to help you learn exactly what they do to make money today. They will share the golden key to increased freedom, financial independence, and inspire you into action.

When you sign up today, you will be one step closer to using YOUR Hero’s Journey and making your dream a reality. It’s your turn to soar!

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Go here to register and get all the details

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