Although, to give them credit, the ones who aren’t yet active in social networking are probably subconsciously aware that they don’t know why they should be.

But for everyone reading this article, please take note:

If you are going to spend any time using social networking/media in the name of business, you must know WHY!

There are many reasons WHY you might think you want to incorporate this popular strategy into your life and marketing. But I have narrowed all of these reasons to three categories: Visibility, Credibility and Cash Flow.

The most popular and easy-to-accomplish reason for social networking is to build your online visibility. If your target market and/or your potential affiliates and joint venture peers are seeking you out online, you need to be found.

From an internet search engine perspective, social networking can potentially dominate your search results. This means that you will be found easier and more quickly than without any social media presence.

This also relates to the second reason for jumping into Facebook LinkedIn or Twitter. To build your credibility. If the search engines rank you higher than your competition, you will inherently be conceived as more credible.

Also, when you are active in your social media/networking and sharing good information that YOU created, your content will also rank high. This, again, adds to your online credibility as an expert in your industry.

After all is said and done, everything comes down to money. And this is no different. The third reason for implementing a social media plan into your marketing plan is to build cash flow. This is much easier after your visibility and your credibility have achieved popularity. But it is do-able from the get-go, with a clear purpose and awareness of the “social media rules” that have yet to be written.

The number one rule that you don’t want to break is “pitching yourself”. Don’t do it. You want to share information with the 90/10 rule. This means that 90% of the time you are sharing OTHER people’s information.

So how do you make money when you are promoting everyone else? Well, quite frankly, you earn the right. Social media is a giver’s gain world. So if you give and share and help your friends, they will do the same for you when the time comes.

With a strategy in place and a step-by-step plan to follow, your visibility, credibility and cash flow will come crashing down your door!

Jacki Wojcik
The UpLevel Agency
866.615.8150
jacki@uplevelagency.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 22, 2008

Award-Winning Business Coach, Kelly O’Neil and Social Media Expert, MaryPat Kavanagh Team Up to Take BiztechDay By Storm

Expert Duo to Speak at Genius Desk During Small Business Technology Expo;   O’Neil To Moderate “How to Make Your Blog, Video, Podcast, Social Network Viral” Panel

Los Gatos, CA – October 22, 2008 – Kelly O’Neil of UpLevel Strategies and MaryPat Kavanagh of Strategic Results Marketing have come together to discuss hardworking marketing strategies with participants of BizTechDay.

The BizTechDay event is specially designed for small business owners and entrepreneurs to gain knowledge about using the Web and other technology tools to grow business.   In addition to participating in the show’s interactive Genius Desk by fielding questions from participant groups, the experts are exhibiting at the show.

Ms. O’Neil is also moderator for the expert panel focused on viral marketing entitled, “How to Make Your Blog, Video, Podcast, Social Network Viral.”

“BizTechDay is a tremendous opportunity for small business owners to counsel with business technology experts ranging from Service and Structure Support Providers to Marketing Strategists and Internet Mavericks,” states Kelly O’Neil.  “MaryPat and I are extremely excited and honored to be a part of and sharing our knowledge with this unique group.”

BizTechDay takes place on October 25, 2008 at the Hilton in San Francisco. Through interactive learning experiences and featured speakers, the event spotlights the knowledge necessary to succeed by leveraging the power of the Internet and Web 2.0 tools.  Over 500 participants are currently scheduled to attend.

“Social Media is the quickest and most cost effective way to create visibility and credibility within your target market for small businesses,” added MaryPat Kavanagh.

Kelly O’Neil is an award-winning strategic business and marketing coach who supports entrepreneurs and small businesses in rapidly accelerating their business growth and becoming known as experts in their field.  Kelly is the founder and CEO of UpLevel Strategies, Inc.

MaryPat Kavanagh is a social media expert with extensive experience in marketing and small business. She is founder and chief marketing strategist for Strategic Results Marketing LLC, an expert marketing firm specializing in entrepreneurial strategizing and planning.

To learn more about BizTechDay and Ms. O’Neil and Ms. Kavanagh’s participation, visit  http://uplevelstrategies.typepad.com/.

About UpLevel Strategies, Inc. and Kelly O’Neil

UpLevel Strategies™ provides strategic business and marketing coaching and training programs for entrepreneurs and small businesses.  UpLevel Strategies is a part of UpLevel Strategies, Inc. which includes The UpLevel Agency™, the first marketing agency that specializes in guerrilla and internet marketing for small businesses and entrepreneurs.  Visit the UpLevel Strategies website at www.uplevelstategies.com or contact with us directly at 866.615.8150.

Kelly is the founder and CEO of UpLevel Strategies, Inc. Kelly O’Neil is an award-winning strategic business and marketing coach who supports entrepreneurs and small businesses in rapidly accelerating their business growth and becoming known as experts in their field.

About Strategic Results Marketing and MaryPat Kavanagh
Strategic Results Marketing LLC is a marketing firm specializing in helping entrepreneurs and small businesses accelerate their business success through social networking strategies and tactics. For more information about Strategic Results Marketing’s programs and services visit www.queenofconnections.com

MaryPat Kavanagh is the founder and CEO of Strategic Results Marketing LLC.  She is a social media expert who helps entrepreneurs and small businesses increase their online visibility to achieve bottom line business goals.

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•  Adopt an attitude of self-confidence and start with a positive attitude.
  • ¨       “Meet the people, meet the people, and meet the people.” In other words, mingle; don’t spend all your time with just one or two guests.
  • ·         ONLINE: In social networking, if you aren’t having conversations with your new connections, then you are just standing in the corner. If you wouldn’t do that in a live networking event, then don’t do it online either.
• The number one rule is “Attraction vs. Promotion”.
• ONLINE: Set yourself up to “attract” the right people. You do this by “wearing the right clothes. Oh yeah, we are online. So you do this by sharing the right information. Share info about YOU, not about what you do.

• Bring enough business cards for the event and have them readily accessible,
• Arrive on time.
• ONLINE: : is this necessary online? YES! When you are clear about your purpose for social networking, then you will know what to say and when to say it.

• Wear something distinctive which might be a topic of conversation.
• Commenting on others “signature pieces” of clothing is a good conversation opener.
• Show that you are more interested in the other person than you are in doing a “sell job” on you or your company.
• Pay attention to your grooming.
• ONLINE: Topic of conversation will be about your profile. Make sure to include that information about YOU—how many kids do you have, what books do you read, what do you do when you are NOT working. THESE are the online conversation starters.
• ONLINE: ALWAYS check profiles of your connections to discover what you have in common. Then connect and listen.

• Decide in advance why you are attending the event
  • ¨       To socialize?
  • ¨       To learn about the industry?
  • ¨       Are you looking for a new job?
• Realize that each person may be interesting to talk to but you only have a limited amount of time and energy.
• ONLINE: this is the MOST IMPORTANT ITEM in your social networking. If you don’t know what you are here for, you are going to waste a lot of time and energy. KNOW YOUR PURPOSE!

• Have an effective handshake.
• ONLINE: Your handshake is your hello. Be strong and inviting.
• Make positive eye contact and have a pleasant facial expression.
• ONLINE: Your eye contact is your connection. Peruse the new friend’s profile to find something of interest. Use this information in your message.
• Be able to describe what you do in fifteen seconds or less using everyday language not cyber babble.
• ONLINE: In fifteen seconds, you cannot read a sales letter. DO NOT direct people to your web site when you first meet them. IF THEY ASK what you do, then be able to describe your business and your clients in 10 words or less. If they are still interested, they will let you know.

• ONLINE: your link to your site is not appropriate until someone has asked you. It is more appropriate to direct people to your profile and/or to a group or business page, because your friends can learn more about you in a non-threatening environment.

•  Validate what the other person is saying.
• Maintain eye contact—OK, this one is not necessary for online. J

• Don’t send the wrong message.
• Don’t gaze about the room when in conversation.
• Maintain an open stance.
• Don’t approach two people who are facing shoulder to shoulder.
  • ¨       It is likely they are engaged in a private conversation.
• Make direct eye contact.
• Offer a warm smile and be approachable.
• Don’t fold your arms or put them in your pockets.
• Light up your face.
• Lean into the conversation.
• Don’t touch another unless you know them well.
• ONLINE: Your body language online is your tone of conversation. Make sure to use complete words (don’t abbreviate, unless you are micro-blogging), use proper salutations, don’t add fluff—stick to real conversations, be approachable!

• Always save face.
• Be gracious.
• If you have many people to meet, after two or three minutes, disengage from the conversation and move on to meet another person.
• Give the other person “unconditional positive regards” …In other words, your undivided attention.
• Don’t just walk away if you see someone more interesting. Always make a closing statement before moving on, e.g. “Please excuse me. I see someone I’ve been looking for all night.” Or, “It was really a pleasure meeting you. I’ll look forward to seeing you again soon.” Summarize what was said.   “Oh, it looks like you have a fascinating job. Good luck on your project.”
• ONLINE: Most people simply do not respond when they are ready to disengage. The better approach is to kindly let people know you are not interested if they are selling something or end the conversation appropriately as you would face-to-face.

• ONLINE: This is SO important. If you tell someone you are going to share a resource, don’t forget! Also, continue to engage with people. As the relationship grows, take the conversation to the phone, or even to a face-to-face meeting.

Read this NOW!

read more | digg story

Take 2 minutes to read this great article about these 5 types! Simply click on the link and then post your thoughts! Let Michele know how cool this is!

read more | digg story

I love Tom’s categorization of social media sites (although I have some different opinions about the “better” ones) and he does a slam-dunk explanation about the benefits (visibility and credibility) of using and monopolizing the search engine rankings when you use social media strategically.

Read the full article to learn about forums, wiki’s, bookmarking, networking and more!

read more | digg story

http://wemagazineforwomen.com/101-women-bloggers-to-watch-
fall-2008/

read more | digg story

A great question came through my last survey asking for a TOP 10 LIST for social networking—kind of a check-off list to see if you are doing it right or not. So I created one. Let me know what you think!

1. Set up your profile with information about you as a person! Let your personality shine!
2. Include work/education/experience as it directly relates to your expertise. ALSO include experience that relates to who you are as a person. Include information about your activities and interests when you are NOT working.
3. Manage your virtual “noise” level on your profile! Don’t add too many extras and make sure the applications/widgets you do add are reflective of who you are (do you see a common them here?).
4. Always include a comment in your friend requests/connections.
5. Make sure your friend request comment explains why you are connecting. Don’t expect to much if your comments reflect a “list building” effort, as social networking is about creating connections based on real relationships (quality) and not quantity.
6. Use keywords: Your profile should have your keywords sprinkled appropriately if the site is publicly searched. However, even if the profile is not searched publicly, know that people are searching for you and your topic. Make it easy for them to find you!
7. Update your status regularly (at least 3-5 times/week). If you are not accessing your social networking platforms that often, then use an integrated status update tool such as ping.fm.
8. Connect with people who you would like if you met them in your neighborhood. THESE are the people who will become your raving fans! Check them out, visit their profiles, google them. Then connect because of what you have in common and mention that to them.
9. Create your own group and provide valuable information, resource-sharing and content of interest to your members. Interact with the members and be involved.
10. Use the 90/10 rule for social networking: 90% of the time, you are sharing great resources/content to help your members/fans/friends. This can include blog posts, comments on videos/notes and answering questions. You must also be conversational and answer people when they respond to you. 10% of the time you can share your own resources/opportunities including affiliate relationship opportunities.

Let me know what you think of this list. It is fairly general and relevant to most social networking platforms. If you are active on some of the more specific, topical, or content-sharing sites, then this list can be tweeked. But here you go. You asked for it. And here it is!

I have three simple answers to this question that you can start using now. First off, however, let’s be clear these are not the ONLY benefits of using social networking as a strategy for your marketing plan. But these three reasons will start making you money!

As you have heard me say before, social media is a virtual environment based on two premises: the premise that the internet offers information and that it is a place to connect and build relationships. Social networking is the activity of building relationships. And great relationships are often built upon the sharing of information and providing great advice.

Reason #1: Start creating great relationships. Start connecting with people who could potentially develop into joint venture partnerships, who provide great information that interests you, or who have a similar purpose or mission to your own.

These all provide great reasons for you to connect, and you must let your new connections know why you are connecting. However, do not tell them you want to create a joint venture in your first note. Wait until your relationship has developed before suggesting a working relationship.

Notice that I didn’t tell you to connect with your target market. If you are active in social networking the right way, your target market will seek you out and find you! The combination of these relationships and the information/resources that you share will create a group of raving fans who love you and your purpose and want to help you become more successful.

And isn’t it great when your “friends” do all the promoting for you so you don’t have to? Ka-ching! THAT’s a great feeling!

Reason #2: Increase your web site traffic. Traffic is the term used for the “visitors” to your web site. Traffic is WHO is going to your web site and checking you out. How much traffic do you currently have? Are those people signing up for your list? Purchasing your products? Sharing your information with other peeps?

Ideally, more people going to your web site will result in more people purchasing from you. This brings up two points: 1. You want/need MORE people going to your site, and 2. You want BETTER people going to your site—people who are your favorite targets in your market, and people who buy.

Your social networking activities, when done properly, will drive more traffic to your site. This is done when good relationships are created (People want to know more about you and find your website.), when regular activity in your social network increases your search engine rankings, and when your content-sharing activities include back-links to your site. Stay tuned for more information about how and why this strategy builds traffic.

Reason #3: Start making money now. Before you have your own list, and before you have your own products to sell, you can start funding your business now.

Once you have some quality relationships in your social networks (and it doesn’t take that many), start sharing resources/information. This information can come in the form of blog posts, events, and even products and services.

These resources should be relevant to your market and compliment your expertise. Remember that your friends and followers are depending on you to filter all of the information coming at them. That means that when something good comes along, you need to let them know it’s good.

You can make money sharing resources using the affiliate programs that internet marketing experts have in place. So when you are ready to share a resource, make sure to sign up as an affiliate, get your affiliate link, cloak your affiliate link using tinyurl.com or snipurl.com, and then share your resource in your Facebook group, in your twitter updates or even your LinkedIn questions/answers.

So to recap, you don’t need to wait until you have a huge list or lots of products to start making money. Jump into social networking and start making money through successful joint ventures, driving quality traffic to your web site, and using your affiliate relationships to start making money now!