This is a repost for the upcoming Social Marketing series this week!
Ryan Travis here. I hope everyone is doing well.
I’m excited to let you in on some Insider Secrets about Social Marketing.
We’re all about helping you get a leg up on marketing strategies here at the Max Pro Blog. And nothing is hotter right now that Social Marketing.
Introducing…
Social Marketing Secrets... A 3 part series that will help you begin to use Social Marketing with your business to drive traffic and increase awareness and sales.
Expect 3 posts over the next week or so on these Social Marketing topics:
1- Intro to Social Marketing
2- The Where’s and How’s in Social Marketing
3- Strategies to Implement for Your Business
Look forward to this series, and be ready to leave feedback and comments. Ask questions. Get involved. After all, this blog is about you and for you. Plus we may bounce ideas off each other that will help all of us!
Expect Part 1 of Social Marketing Secrets in the next couple of days!
Stepping out into social media can be somewhat daunting for traditional marketers or for individuals new to marketing. However, it doesn’t have to be difficult to be successful. Research, and choose a few initiatives that will allow you to have incremental success until you are comfortable in launching deeper into social media applications.
Social media permits you to:
Gain prospects through customer outreach or evangelism
Share your expertise and knowledge with the world
Tap into the wisdom of other consumers
Enables customers to help other customers
It is time to try this marketing vehicle! Do not dismiss social media as a part of your marketing plan.
I’m excited to let you in on some Insider Secrets about Social Marketing.
We’re all about helping you get a leg up on marketing strategies here at the Max Pro Blog. And nothing is hotter right now that Social Marketing.
Introducing…
Social Marketing Secrets... A 3 part series that will help you begin to use Social Marketing with your business to drive traffic and increase awareness and sales.
Expect 3 posts over the next week or so on these Social Marketing topics:
1- Intro to Social Marketing
2- The Where’s and How’s in Social Marketing
3- Strategies to Implement for Your Business
Look forward to this series, and be ready to leave feedback and comments. Ask questions. Get involved. After all, this blog is about you and for you. Plus we may bounce ideas off each other that will help all of us!
Expect Part 1 of Social Marketing Secrets in the next couple of days!
Here is my next installment for the weekly Positive Thinking quotes. Often in life we can get a little down and sometimes even a simple quote can inspire us to push through to the next day. So while this might not be a life changing Blog post, it may give you a smile, or a burst of momentum on a slow day.
Roman Writer and Politician Cicero
This week’s quotes come from Roman Politician Cicero. You have probably heard the name before, if not details of this amazing man’s life. Or you may know his name from the Shakespeare play Julius Caesar, or the story of Caesar in general. You may know his name for a street or school in your town. Cicero’s legacy is among the greatest and most enduring of all time.
Marcus Tullius Cicero(106-43 BC) was born in the Roman Republic which stretched from Spain to the modern day Israel, including Ancient Greece, parts of Turkey, Egypt and most of the Northern African coast. In his adult life he became renowned for his speaking skill, his lawyer career and skill at interpreting the law, his term as Consul (or Head of State), and his philosophical writings. He is also known for being involved (on both sides) in the famous transition of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire, sparked by Julius Caesar’s history-changing crossing of the River Rubicon to take control of Rome. Cicero stood for Republic values and traditions and freedom and was one of many tutors of Octavian (Augustus), Caesar’s heir and the first Emperor of Rome. Cicero eventually lost his life standing for his principles and his life and teachings still impact people today. He lived in a time of Caesar, Augustus, Mark Antony, Brutus, Cassius, Pompey, and Cleopatra. Even Jesus was born within years of Cicero’s life. And Cicero’s legacy continues to this day just as strong as his contemporaries, if not stronger than most.
Ancient Rome - Similiar to today in many ways
Cicero’s writings on philosophy, law, government, ethics, and positive thinking have lasted for over 2,000 years and are a big part of the United States of America. The Founding Fathers nearly unanimously shared Cicero as an important inspiration for the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. His writings on Natural Law and the Rights of Man were integral to the founding of America. His teachings can be seen and felt in many countries around the world over the last few centuries. The concept of man being ‘endowed with natural inalienable rights’ is a personification of Cicero’s thinking, and much of thinking of Pre-Empire Rome. To quote John Adams, “As all the ages of the world have not produced a greater statesman and philosopher united than Cicero, his authority should have great weight.”
For the man who coined the phrase “Swan Song”, Cicero’s Swan Song is his impact on Modern society. He reminds us that we can do something special with our lives and leave our own legacies, no matter our station in life. He should know: he rose from near obscurity to the top tiers of power in Rome.
US Declaration of Independence- partially inspired by Cicero's works
Cicero is also a wealth of practical inspiration and positive thinking.
Now for some Cicero quotes:
What one has, one ought to use; and whatever he does, he should do with all his might.
- Cicero
A home without books is a body without soul.
- Cicero
Confidence is that feeling by which the mind embarks in great and honorable courses with a sure hope and trust in itself.
- Cicero
A happy life consists in tranquility of mind.
- Cicero
A life of peace, purity, and refinement leads to a calm and untroubled old age.
- Cicero
A mind without instruction can no more bear fruit than can a field, however fertile, without cultivation.
- Cicero
Advice is judged by results, not by intentions.
- Cicero
Live as brave men; and if fortune is adverse, front its blows with brave hearts.
- Cicero
If only every man would make proper use of his strength and do his utmost, he need never regret his limited ability.
- Cicero
As I approve of a youth that has something of the old man in him, so I am no less pleased with an old man that has something of the youth. He that follows this rule may be old in body, but can never be so in mind.
- Cicero
Ability without honor is useless.
- Cicero
Some very wise words from so long ago. Cicero’s words still ring true. And his life and writings are definitely worth further reading.
To see the last Positive Thoughts (09/14) from Robert Schuller, go here: 09/14 Positive Thoughts.
Did you know that podcasting is a great way to market your site and drive traffic?
It’s very effective, very simple and best of all a nearly free marketing method.
First of all did you know that Itunes is the number 1 music retailer in the world? It is. It easily surpassed Walmart to claim the top spot.
Did you know that you can upload your podcast for free to Itunes? You can. And it’s a great free marketing tool.
What you need to do is check your keyword list. We already went over how to generate keywords in a previous post so you should have this list handy. Start by choosing a keyword to work with and then create an outline of a podcast around this term.
Your podcast should be about 20-30 mins. Think of the podcast as an informercial where you are educating your audience with valuable info and then encouraging them to check out your site (drive traffic.) Solve their problem. How can you help them… that sort of thing.
Then what I want you do is record your podcast and sign up for an account with Itunes. It’s free. The only expense that you might incur comes in the form of creating a branding graphic for your Itunes account. If you can’t do this yourself you may have to pay someone to do it for you. But don’t spend over $50.
If you really want to apply yourself and get an A+ in free marketing methods try for a weekly podcast. A podcast audience is better and more loyal in terms of opt-ins and conversions. Build up a loyal listenership.
Here is a low cost, effective email marketing strategy that is a lot of fun. The “Magic Box” is a plexiglas box used for collecting contest ballots. When using email marketing, the box can convert ballots into sales. The following steps will assist you in setting-up a campaign:
1. Create a contest for your niche market located in a very high traffic area like a trade show, retail store or even a busy flea market.
2. Purchase an inexpensive $100.00 prize that has audience appeal. It is amazing how many people just love to enter contests.
3. Design your ballot with an email address section wherein you give an ebook or a list of tips that will help your targeted audience accomplish a goal. Most people will prefer getting a useful email newsletter instead of having a sales call.
4. Create your own email newsletter program for follow-up or utilize a company that outsources said products.
5. Collect all the ballots with email addresses and send an introductory email explaining the newsletter they will be receiving. Include a privacy notice statement and make sure you do not send promotional emails as trust will be broken.
6. Distribute the newsletter on a monthly or bi-weekly basis. Include links back to your website or blog where the generated leads can check -out your company further and buy your wonderful products.
What do I mean? Have you ever wished you had the foresight to see how big Microsoft or Google would be. How about Coca Cola or Walmart? While timing isn’t everything, it sure does help! Even Jim Cramer, host of CNBC’s Mad Money, is bullish on direct selling, especially during a slowing economy. On a recent TV show he said, “Direct selling is a great model…with high gross margins, low capital intensity, lots of free cash flow,” It’s a fragmented industry with gigantic room for growth.” This is a good time of the year to do a pre-holiday marketing campaign – the timing is right!
How many of you are currently using Twitter to market your business?
Think of yourselves as the CEO of your very own Max Pro company. It’s up to you to keep in touch with your public. Twitter is a great way to do that.
To get started, go over to Twitter and register an account. It’s free!
Then start typing. Each Twitter update has to be less then 140 characters. When you update keep in mind that your attempting to establish a relationship with your audience (your potential customers.)
So how do you get an audience? Simple. Search for people to follow. When you follow them they’ll usually follow you in return.
Social Marketing Is A Big Giant Black Hole Monster!!!
It’ll destroy time and space and leave you wondering if you can market with a Blog and Facebook.Agh!
Well… it’s not really.
Social Marketing Is Awesome!
But that got your attention right? (If not, blame it on the writer having a cold… boo at flu season!) But why did I say those things?Well other than a cheap way to get attention, I did it to mix it up things a little bit. Life needs a random odd moment or two from time to time to keep things… less serious. Whether you laugh, dance, paint, play Wii-Golf, or listen to motivational speaker tapes- we all do things to feel better, relax, and be… well… less serious.
But this isn’t really a mindset blog post. It’s about…
One Simple And Easy Tactic To Help You Socially Market!
Be you. If you’re using Social Marketing with your business (Blog, Facebook, forums, media, articles, etc.) and you’re out in the trenches or on the benches (more positive than trenches and makes you think of a mall courtyard doesn’t it?) you’re going to be communicating with people. People like you. Potential customers. Potential fans. Potential critics. Potential naysaying critics who could bruise your web-rep. So if you’re writing a Blog… if you’re commenting in forums… if you’re on Facebook or Myspace in groups… be you. Whatever your product or niche, you’re talking to someone just like you… but in a different situation. You might be talking to them about MaxPro or How To Golf Like A Pro, but tomorrow that same person may be trying to get someone to buy a copy-machine. People like people, so be you.
Three Key Ways “To Be You.”
1) When you’re talking about your product or service, be casual without losing the professional. If context allows, discuss the broader subject or other subjects, but stay on track. Think of a good Customer Service Manager or Greeter that was laid back, cool and informative that you’ve met. Like that.
2)Switch it up a bit! I’ve tried to a bit in this post. If you have a blog or you’re on a social network like Facebook, be personable at times. Throw a little variety into the mix. You’ll have to be careful with this as you’re a business but the ever-evolving world of Web 2.0 (what they call the ‘new’ internet today) likes originality. All that could take is a funny or witty or random post now and then. Or an informative relaxed string of comments on a forum.
3)Get You.. Out! Whatever your niche is, and the broader subject as well, get out there. Forums, Blogs, Profiles and Groups on Social Networks, Media sites like Youtube, sites like Digg, etc. Find other people out there and talk to them. Whenever you can provide good information, a tip or two, a suggestion, a story. Once in awhile share something amusing as well, especially if it relates to your niche. Just get out there. You may find a lot of dialog already started and you can jump in. You might not find much at all. If that’s the case, you can start the dialog!
-AND- Never forget that when you’re out in the Social Networking world… don’t oversell! Spam and Web 2.0 do not get along. Now you can talk about your product or service if the conversation is ready to. But if you just post links and nothing else all over the niche sites, people will not like you or your product. Upset a few the wrong way and you could earn a bad reputation. -Best bet is to offer information or advice and casually mention your product or share a link at the end of your otherwise non-selling comment or post.- Take Sam Walton’s (founder of Wal-mart) old saying, “the customer is always right.” With that somewhat included in your social marketing mindset, you’ll understand how to talk with potential customers and supporters on blogs, forums, and groups. It’s a lot of fun really!
