Another Facebook Secret … Moving Friends to Fans or “Likers” as some might say

February 24, 2011

Moving Friends to Fans or “Likers” as some might say

– I had to include this line, as I have had too many laughs about it with friends who also specialize social media marketing. When Facebook changed to the “Like” button for Fan Pages, which they now call Business Pages we all made lots of wise cracks.

At the end of last year, I shared One of My Facebook Secrets and I feel the need to share another one today.  Perhaps I should call this a Facebook Strategy verses a secret. I have many secrets still hidden away to share with you in my Facebook Training sessions.

I am inspired by the questions asked by my friends, fans, followers and well, you.  It motivates me to help you solve your problems, answer your questions to help you and others grow their network and brand strategically via social networking sites.

Last week on Twitter, Angela Shelton, after reading my blog post Are you a RULE BREAKER? Know Your Facebook Rights and Wrongs  she had lots of questions for me.  She wanted to know how to convert Facebook Friends over to her Business Page (Fan Page).  She said she had tried to move them over in the past, but they usually ignored her request, didn’t see it or were offended because she wanted to unfriend them of Facebook. 

What they didn’t understand is she was not trying to unfriend them, she was wanting to follow Facebook’s Statement of Rights and keep her Facebook Profile for personal connections and her Business Page for professional connections.  I had no quick answer to solve her problem in the 140 characters that Twitter allows. I decided to write a blog post giving suggestions how to entice them to “Like” her Business Page.

Here are the strategies:

• Post a status update on your Business Page that would get “Likes” and comments. Something about your business of course, not personal.  Perhaps a new client you landed or recognition you received for your business. Go to your Facebook Profile and say “Just posted some exciting news on my Business Page (link to business page)”. Make sure and go check it out. Don’t forget to click “Like”.
• Post a status update on your Facebook Profile that says “Friends, I truly love connecting with each and everyone of you.  I have recently been made aware of Facebook’s Statement of Rights regarding Facebook Profiles and Business Pages. I want to keep you updated on my business, but according to Facebook I must do this on a Business Page. Please go click “Like” (link to business page here) and let’s stay connected there also.  We’ll still have some fun on my Facebook Profile, but it will be focused somewhat different.”
• Post a status update on your Facebook Profile saying “I am having so much fun connecting on my Business Page, if you haven’t already checked it out, please do (link to business page here)”

These are just a few strategies to get your friends moved across to your Facebook Business Page.  I hope these ideas inspired a few other statements you can use to entice them.  You can repeat these statements of course from time to time (maximum once per week) at different times to catch all your friends.

As your friends click “Like” on your Business Page, assign them to a list (Read how here) on your Facebook Profile that limits the status updates they see on our Facebook Profile. They will get use to not seeing your Facebook Profile status updates regularly and gradually been communicating with you on the Business Page. Eventually, (wait several months), you can unfriend them on your Facebook Profile if you want and they probably won’t even notice.

Another quick something to know …. at this point Facebook Business Pages cannot communicate with Facebook Profiles, only other Business Pages, so if you unfriend someone from your Facebook Profile, the only time you would be able to communicate with your them from your Business Pages is when they comment/”Like” something posted on your Business Page or as you from your Facebook Profile via messages, etc…. (This will be limited based on how they have their Facebook Privacy Settings established.)

It’s your turn!  What tips did you come up with for moving friends to fans?  How are you going to entice them to “Like” your Business Page?  Look forward to hearing from you!

P.S. Special thanks Angela Shelton for the inspiration of this blog post! You should give her a follow on Twitter and check out her Facebook Business Page. Her background is quite interesting.

Are you really secure online? or Do you just think you are?

January 11, 2011

Are you really secure online? or Do you just think you are? In teaching social media training sessions, I discuss online security and safety. I especially discuss sharing personal information and privacy settings on Facebook and other social networking sites, i.e. LinkedIn and Twitter.

More often than not, clients and attendees are absolutely convinced their social media profiles are safe and secure. I immediately have them check a few Facebook settings. Then they start to listen closer and start making adjustments to their privacy settings. I haven’t found anyone that doesn’t have at least one thing they should be doing differently. A new set of eyes can provide a perspective and insight you hadn’t thought about.

Before I get started, I need to recognize Michelle Ketterman of The Inventory Experts. Her company inventories residents and business property, furnishings, equipment and valuables. In case of theft, fire, flood, tornado, etc …. Her clients will be able to quickly get their inventory to their insurance company and get all their damaged inventoried items replaced promptly and at a the right value.  As Michelle says, “a picture can be worth literally a $1000.” Every time I hear her say this I snicker. What a tagline …. that is another whole blog post! LOL!

While Michelle’s focus is on offline security, she suggested I write a blog post about online security, specifically relating to social media because like many others, she thought her profiles security settings were configured correctly. Needless to say, she realized how unsecure her settings actually were after only 10 minutes of reviewing basic settings with me.  With the seemingly constant changes, as part of her normal business, Michelle now has me regularly double check her social media security settings. 

I couldn’t cover everything one post, but the following are the most common security threats:

Facebook

• Date of Birth.  Facebook requires your date of birth, and often people have it set to visible to their Facebook friends.  Change this setting to make the year of birth not visible. Several of my clients use a fake year making them a few years younger or older.
• Address.  Don’t list your physical address on Facebook and don’t share your real city if you live in a small town.  i.e. Frisco, Rockwall, Royse City, Allen, etc….  List a major metroplex area like Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, San Francisco. You get the idea. Yes, again, they could probably go out to Google and find your exact address, but let’s not make it easy on them for Pete’s sake!
• Information your friends are allowed to share about you. See One of My Facebook Secrets for details how to view and correct this issue.
• Friends. Restrict who can see your friend list to at those that are at least your friends already. You can even break this list down further and make it so they can only see mutual friends.

Passwords

• Check Microsoft’s website for a strength test on your password .
• Still want more on passwords – read this blog post - How I’d Hack Your Weak Passwords by John Pozadzides 

Do you need a Facebook Privacy Tune Up? In one hour I show you hands-on techniques to optimize your Facebook Privacy Settings (order the Social Media Evaluation). This social media consulting session can focus on what you choose to discuss from Facebook Privacy to content to share on Twitter. You can also get a Tune Up of your Facebook Profile and Privacy settings that I complete independently. Contact me for details Lissa@LissaDuty.com.

In my consulting sessions, the client tells me their needs and the training is focused on those areas. Yes, you read that RIGHT, a social media consultant that will teach you what you want to learn, vs. what they think you need to LEARN!

Now it’s your turn – share a tip below regarding something you learned about your online security and how you fixed it! Look forward to hearing from you!

Is this photo of you? Are you protecting your digital footprint?

January 4, 2011

Is this photo of you? Are you protecting your digital footprint?

When you post a photograph online do you realize how easy it is for someone to save it to their own computer? Do you realize that in the Terms and Agreement of Services for many photo sites like Flickr and Picassa, you are giving your rights to the photograph to the site? Do you know that when you text someone a photo of you they can email it to themselves and then publish it online?

Yesterday I was researching a client’s online presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and the other social networking sites, checking his completed social media profiles, photos, etc … I surprisingly came across a picture of him uploaded about two and half years ago.  Wow, was I surprised!  It was a very provocative photo, but not part of the image he wanted to portray online any longer.

I immediately removed the photo, and of course had several laughs about it with him! He was embarrassed and explained that it was uploaded as a joke several years ago and he  had forgotten about it.

I couldn’t resist explaining the importance of your online presence and digital footprint.  I saved the picture to my hard drive and emailed it to him. I wanted to show him how easy it was for someone to save and modify it; changing it to suit their needs.  Jokingly, I said that we should keep an eye out for it on a future ad for getting rid of belly fat! LOL! I believe I got my point across and he probably won’t upload those type of photos again, even as a joke.

Ask yourself these questions about your online photos:

• Are you willing to share it with the world?
• Would you mind seeing it at your high school graduation, wedding, etc…. on a video screen?
• Would you be embarrassed if your boss, client, or mother saw it?
• Would you have objections if your child shared a similar photo of themselves on or offline?

All photos of me must pass the above screening process before I upload or allow anyone to take my photo.  You can’t control every photo or even know every time a photo is taken of you, but you can be aware of your surroundings and observe when others are taking photographs.  Ask the person taking the photographs to please let you see them before posting online, try and put your back or side profile to the photographer, it will be a little harder for you to be recognized online.

Being seen at social events is an important part of branding and your online presence, but the photos need to be photos you would share with the world. Not a photograph you would regret later.  Taking crazy photographs with your friends can be fun, but they can also have an impact later.

Try to limit being snapped in these photos:

• Drinking what would appear to be an alcoholic beverage.
• Talking with your hands making certain gestures.
• Photos with your tongue sticking out, making crazy eyes, rabbit ears, etc…

These are all fun for now, but I promise there is a very strong possibility that those fun pictures can be damaging to you in the future. Your client might decide you are not serious enough, or perhaps drinking is a NO-NO in their book.  I had a photo snapped of me where I was talking with my hands (as I often do) and it appeared from the angle of the photo I was grabbing the chest of the person next. Of course, I knew the photo was innocent, but everyone that would have seen it online would not have known that!

Here is your assignment, if you haven’t already done so:

1. Login to each one of your social networking sites, even the old ones (Myspace, etc…) that you don’t use anymore.
2. Read through your profile and remove anything that could be offensive, misleading or misinterpreted.
3. Check each photograph of you, ones you uploaded and ones you are tagged in.  Remove anything questionable; always play it safe when in doubt. If the photos of you aren’t ones you uploaded and you can’t remove them, ask the account owner to kindly remove them.  If they refuse, you could report the photo as spam on many social networking sites.
4. Think back to social events you attended and recall someone taking photos. Email the photographer and ask them to see the photographers.  Ask if the photos are stored online and ask for the link.  You want to see them online also.

Now, let us have some fun! Do you have a crazy photo story you want to share with the readers of this post? Tell us about a time when you had something happened to you online that you didn’t expect. Tell us how you resolved the situation.  We all need to make sure our online presence is top quality, and sharing scenarios will help all of us!

As always, looking forward to your comments!

Are you Influencing your Social Network?

December 30, 2010

• Are you their go to expert for your industry?
• Are you branding yourself effectively?

• Do I let my audience know I specialize in social media marketing?
• Do I talk enough about Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter?
• Do I talk too much about Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter?
• Do I share information that allows my audience to connect with with me on a professional and personal level?
• Do my connections recommend me to their network because of my expertise?
• Do those connections turn into emails, phone conversations and clients?

One of My Facebook Secrets

December 20, 2010

Do you want to know one of my Facebook secrets that I only share in my Facebook training class? First you are going to have to read some background and inspiration for this blog post before I give you my secret. I know . . .I know …. I am so pushy! LOL!

I teach Facebook using the phone/Skype and remote connection software to teach my clients how to use and customize their Facebook accounts hands on. I also teach Facebook in a classroom environment. Facebook users from all skill levels take my class and they always learn something new; even long-time users. I have to admit I love, LOVE, love it every time and it does good for my ego!

Last week I was talking with my friend on the phone, Jane Doe (she will remain anonymous in this blog post)! She is quite social media savvy, on Facebook and Twitter both. We were discussing Facebook lists, fan pages, etc … I asked her this simple question:

“Have you customized your privacy settings on Facebook?”

Of course, her response was yes.

I followed up with “Have you gone into Applications & Websites and customized the settings to limit what information your Facebook friends can share about you?”

She responded yes, but I could tell she wasn’t quite sure of the question I was asking.

I walked her through checking her settings and we found that she hadn’t tweaked this area. According to her current settings, her Facebook friends were allowed to share everything about her with third party applications (i.e. games, websites, etc …)

She hadn’t even seen this area before, just as many times in many other conversations I have had, others haven’t either. Of course, we fixed her settings and she is nice and protected now!

Have I tortured you long enough to share the secret yet? Here are the instructions and screen shots to show you how to check your settings for this area and fix them.

• Log into your Facebook account
• Click on Account on the right hand side
• Click Privacy Settings

Click Edit Your Settings under where it says Applications and Websites. It’s on the bottom left hand side.

Click Edit Settings

I recommend deselecting all boxes, except your Website, Education and Work.

I figure if third party apps want to know my website and share it somewhere, more the power! I also welcome them to share the name of my business, since I am self employed.

Of course, click Save Changes! This is important!

I recommend you look through each of the areas on this page and customize your settings. It is important you understand what you are sharing with Facebook, but also with all social networking platforms I pay close attention and detail in all my training sessions what each item means and how to determine what you want to share.

Now that I have shared one of my Facebook training secrets with you, share with me! Ask yourself these questions:

1. Do I really understand Facebook? Do I know the difference between a Status Update, Wall-to-Wall update and a private message? Do I feel vulnerable when I am online?
2. Do I know how to customize my status updates by targeting lists? When I share something personal about my family am I sharing it with everyone? What kind of risks am I exposing myself to? Also, what about your friends & family? What are you allowing others to know about your Facebook friends?
3. Do I have my photo album settings set so that I only share what I want and with whom I want?

If you answered NO to any of these questions, check out the details for my Facebook training session. I am extending some #BlackFriday special offers on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn trainings through December 31st. You can buy the training sessions NOW and use them through February 28, 2011.

Get the social media help you need TODAY …. Before you REGRET it in the FUTURE! You might not even realize you need it until we talk! Feel free to email me any questions.

Friends, I would ask one last thing: Please share will me if you feel comfortable, did you have this setting already adjusted properly? If so, did you find it on your own or did someone tell you to look for it? Do you have a Facebook secret you want to share? Comment away …..

Is your Social Media in the RED or the BLACK? #BlackFriday

November 23, 2010

Is your Social Media in the RED or the BLACK? #BlackFriday

Every year I go shopping on Black Friday and I have been planning my route and purchases, it got me thinking about my clients’ social media and what I do to help them get out of the RED and into the BLACK. I decided I am going to share some information to help YOU get out of the RED and into the BLACK, I am going to be offering some BLACK Friday specials for social media coaching sessions. First, let me give you a little background on BLACK Friday.

BLACK Friday has many meanings. The one that triggered this blog post is the one for retailers.  The Friday after Thanksgiving is known to be one of the largest shopping days each year and many stores run huge sales and open extra early to encourage extra foot traffic. It got the name BLACK Friday because many retailers that were running in the RED often sell enough merchandise to put them in the BLACK on this day and throughout the remainder of the holiday shopping season that follows up to Dec. 24^th.

I want to ask you to read the following and consider is your social media in the RED or the BLACK?

1. Do you log into your Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn account because you feel obligated? Do you think to yourself I have to go in and post a status update/send a Tweet because I haven’t done it today, this week or this month? Are you only doing enough to get by?

If you are using social media as a strategy to grow your business, consulting practice, sell books, websites, whatever your business may be and you are posting status updates because you feel obligated – STOP! If all you are doing to work your social media is an obligatory daily, weekly or maybe even monthly update DON’T bother.  For social media to work for you and your business you need to have a presence ONLINE on a repeat basis. Remember, customers do business with those they “Like, Know and Trust”. You are not achieving this goal with your obligatory updates. You are wasting your time and energy. (Sorry to be so direct, but part of my relationship with my readers is based on honesty and forthrightness!)

You need a structured plan, great content, ideas and a presence that one update will not get you. You need to be using groups, discussion boards, chats, conversation and comments to establish a relationship with your connections and a rapport that you can not achieve with an obligatory update.

2. Do you tweet on Twitter, post status updates to Facebook, or LinkedIn, etc…. on a regular basis, but only have 20 people following/friends/connections? Do you get any “Shares”, “Likes”, “Comments” or “Retweets”?

Part of social media is a numbers game.  I am not saying you need to have 10,000 etc… connected to you online for social media to work, but you do have to have an audience, i.e. when on Twitter your Tweets are seen by those following you. A new person to Twitter doesn’t always understand/realize that if you only have 20 followers only 20 people are seeing your Tweets, maybe.  If they are not online when you send the Tweet they may never see it.  I will see many times someone on Twitter sharing great content, but have no audience. I immediately realize (1) they don’t understand this concept or (2) don’t know how to get more followers.

Shares, Likes, Comments and Retweets: This is a great way to know and see if (1) people are actually seeing your updates and (2) see if you are sharing the kind of content  your followers/friends/connections are interested in reading.  If you don’t know what I mean when I say “Shares”, “Likes”, “Comments” or “Retweets”, or ever get them, your social media is in the RED.

3. Are you still logging into Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc… via a web browser? i.e. Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox, etc…. to view and post status updates.

Using the web browser to access your Twitter account is good for some things, however there are better tools available to help you manage your social media accounts. Tweetdeck is my favorite! Hootsuite is another popular tool for this purpose. There are many to choose from. You can actually use Tweetdeck to view Tweets of those your are following, and the Facebook and LinkedIn updates of your friends/connections.

You can use a Tweetdeck to post updates to your Twitter, Facebook Profile, Fan Page and LinkedIn accounts.  You can select which accounts get which updates and you can even schedule them in advance. It’s important to have activity on your social media accounts throughout the day at peak times, not just when you have the opportunity to be online.

I hardly every log into Twitter through the web browser, Tweetdeck has integrated all most all of the features available on Twitter through the browser to work with the Tweetdeck.  You still will log into your Facebook and LinkedIn for important aspects of social media.  I actually just teach/coach on using the Tweetdeck to schedule updates to Facebook and LinkedIn.  Everything else within these social media networks you will do through the browser for the most part.

4. Have you heard of the tools I mentioned above and you keep thinking to yourself I need to learn about them and be using them more? Or are their names Greek to you? Have you tried to use these tools and they confuse you?

Ask for help!!! Ask friends using these tools to teach you, go to YouTube and search for tutorial videos others have made on how to use them. You may find the best and most cost effective route in the long run, when you consider your time, energy and frustration is to hire a social media professional to teach you.

As part of the social media coaching services I offer training on Tweetdeck. I coach my clients on how to create a presence on social media, how to use each social media tool and understand whatever thing means. We focus on marketing strategy and maintenance, which can be performed mostly through a Tweetdeck, one centralized area.

5. Have you claimed your business listing on Yahoo Local, Google Places, Bing Local, etc …? Are you using Ping.Fm, Google Reader, Social Oomph and Twellow? Do you even know what these sites/tools are?

If you aren’t REGISTERED on them this is a sure sign your social media is in the RED.

Does this blog post trigger more questions for you? I am going to stop here and close with this advice:

Learn the best way!
Increase your followers/friends/connections!
Stop with the obligatory updates!
Share tips, content and resources!
Ask for help!

If you want to get your social media out of the RED and into the BLACK use the acronym above as a guide! Learn more about the BLACK Friday social media coaching packages I have available!

I look forward to your comments, feedback and tips! It’s an important part of learning for all of us! So comment away!  Thanks in advance for “Commenting”, “Liking”, “Sharing” and “Retweeting”! LOL!

#FollowFriday or #FF – What does it mean to you?

October 25, 2010

What does #FollowFriday or #FF mean to you?

@VANetworking shouted out to me several weeks ago on Twitter and asked “Why so many #FollowFriday recommendations?” and I have been thinking about this every since.

I do give quite a few #FollowFriday recommendations because it has several meanings to me:

1. I recommend people that share great content.
2. I recommend people that have a great business model.
3. I recommend people that are my friends.
4. I recommend people that have a service I highly value.
5. I recommend people that to me – are just plain great for one reason or another.

#FollowFriday was started originally as a way to help our friends grow their Twitter following, especially the new Twitter users that were getting started and didn’t have any followers yet. Over time, as we have all grown our followings and it has turned into the above Items #1 thru #5. Some quit giving #FollowFriday altogether.

Do you even have time to click on the Twitter ids that your friends are recommending anymore? I know for myself I try to, but between giving all the #FollowFridays, Tweeting content and RT’ing, plus thanking everyone for the mentions and RTs it is quite hard to keep up and I am a social media professional. I can imagine who overwhelming it can be for everyone else out there.

I myself have stopped doing all the “Thanking for each #FollowFriday & Retweet”. I do my thanking on Sundays or Mondays for the #FollowFridays and do my RT thanking about three times a week. It gives me more time to have the real conversation that is so important and the reason for Twitter in the first place.

I often write blog posts to get myself back in line on what I should be doing or want to do differently. I am still going to do my #FollowFriday’s as I have been in the past (so don’t worry – I won’t forget about you), but I am going to add in throughout the week a #SoloShout to new friends and businesses that I want to introduce you to.

Why don’t you help me out with this mission? Commit to sending one #SoloShout Tweet per day. (Or maybe for your schedule it will be once a week.) Don’t send hundreds – pick one person or business and help get the word out about them that day! Perhaps you could send the same Tweet out three times that day – to hit the morning, afternoon and evening users. Just think – if you focus on helping your fellow man/woman grow their business and spread their brand, they will want to help you in return!

Please comment below your thoughts on this idea and your commitment! Looking forward to seeing and reading your #SoloShout recommendations in my stream in the coming weeks! Adding a search column in my Tweetdeck right now — #SoloShout!

P.S. Here is to my first #SoloShout to @VANetworking – Thanks for your question about #FollowFriday & your inspiration!

The Why & The How to using Facebook Lists to customize your Facebook experience!

September 3, 2010

Want to target your Facebook Status Updates & Customize your Privacy Settings? If you don’t you will soon! 

When dotJenna shouted out on Twitter and asked me to co-write a blog post on Facebook Lists, I immediately responded yes. I have to admit for three reasons:

1. Guest Blogging on someone else’s website is great exposure.
2. I have to be motivated to write and since she gave me the topic, it’s only right to do it with her.
3. I love, absolutely love Facebook lists and highly recommend everyone use them.

This post is going to focus on reason #3 and give you The Why and then The How to set them up and use them.

This is an introduction to The Complete Guide to Facebook Lists, click here to read the rest of the blog post.

Please make sure and comment here and on dotJenna’s site! We love your feedback.

I spent the weekend working for @MariSmith! What did you do?

July 19, 2010

Wow! What a great weekend! I spent the weekend working for @MariSmith at a business women’s conference in Dallas, Texas. She hired me to work in her booth at the business expo. I spent the last three days greeting professionals, discussing and selling her book, Facebook Marketing: An Hour a Day, and assisting with the logistics during her two presentations and the book signings afterwards.

I know you all are curious how I landed this gig, and I’m going to tell you exactly how, but first you need to read about my experience with @MariSmith this weekend.

Mari Smith is as big in real life as she is online! She had the fans coming at her from all directions. She was very patient and gracious with each one. Many came and asked her social media advice about growing their fan page, strategy, etc…. She happily provided FREE advice to anyone that asked. She was a star to me before, I admire her even more now. She is a great person and I have to say without a doubt, quite humble. As we all know, some well known social media experts have grown incredibly large egos to go along with their large following, which is not an admirable quality.

It was great to have affirmation from a top notch pro like @MariSmith that the social media advice I have been giving to my clients is right on track. Hearing her tell the attendees at her presentations to use the same tools and strategy I recommend was totally exciting!

I knew many of the women attending the event, some of them were @angiestrader, @kymglass, @divatoolbox, @adayva and @minetter. I actually got to introduce most of them to @marismith, which was really cool! (P.S. Guys, you owe me big! LOL!)

Anyway, my whole point with this blog post is to express to you:

1. Mari Smith is as awesome in real life as she is online.
2. Not all social media pros are full of themselves.
3. It’s not always who you know, but who you are that gets you  opportunities.

Enough about that – I think you get my point! Now, on to how I landed this opportunity. First, I would like to say I have been connected to @MariSmith online via Facebook and Twitter for awhile, however, until this past week our conversations has been limited.

When @MariSmith decided she was coming to Texas and going to hire a local assistant to help her out, she went to Twellow, after all it’s the Twitter Yellow Pages, and searched assistant Dallas. I was lucky enough to come up #1.

Actually, it wasn’t luck at all that I came up #1. I have worked diligently to grow my brand on Twitter and increase my followers organically. Since I had the right SEO words and the most followers in Dallas with the keyword assistant in my bio, I came up first. When I logged into my Tweetdeck and saw her Direct Message to me I almost fell out of my seat. I was so excited I had to call my mom, Ana (@CyberDivaVA) and Patty (@PattyFarmer) before I even responded. They all know quite well who she is and were excited for me. Anyway, back to the point ….

I want my experience with this great opportunity to teach all of you the importance of:

1. Registering your Twitter ID on Twellow.com.
2. Having your bio completed with the right SEO keywords for your target industry and client.
3. Working diligently to grow your brand on Twitter by providing quality information, content and establishing relationships with others.

I would like to end this blog with a big Thank You to all of you, my Twitter friends! After all, if you hadn’t followed me, and recommended me to your friends, I wouldn’t be where I am today and might not have came up #1 on Twellow.

All of you ROCK and I deeply appreciate each and every one of you! Now go register your Twitter ID on Twellow and get busy spreading the word about who you are and what you represent! Remember, it’s about quality relationships and content, not just quantity!

P.S. @MariSmith Thanks for searching Twellow for your assistant Dallas! You hold the title Queen of #socialmedia in my book! Now, off to read your book, Facebook Marketing: An Hour a Day. I have to work on getting my Facebook fans up for the next big opportunity coming my way!

(Special Thanks: Robin Moss @robinatribit thanks for proofing this blog post for me. As always you save me many embarrassing typos! I really appreciate it!)

Are you tired of reading blog post after blog post about personal branding, providing value and content?

July 8, 2010

Are you tired of reading blog post after blog post about personal branding, providing value and content? I know I am sick of it. They all start to read the same after awhile. All of them, don’t get me wrong are great blog posts, and I will continue to share them on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn with you. However, I would like to see something for a change more focused on how to find your brand, provide value and where to locate all this great content that you need to be sharing on social media.

Here’s my take on it:

To find your brand you need to sit down in peace and quiet, and think about what your purpose is for using social media. Do you want to sell something? Educate? Expand your connection base, etc…. If you are an individual providing a service you need to establish your personal brand first, which is what I needed to do!

When I started using social networking sites my goal was to let everyone know who Lissa Duty was and what I was about! I needed to brand myself first and foremost, then focus on growing my business. I went out and established connections with those that are influential in the areas and industries that I focus on. i.e. Small Business Owners, Consultants and Social Media. I identified @BillHurlbut, @PattyFarmer and @LinkedInQueen.

I learned all I could about them, who they were and how I could connect with them. I joke and say “I made them my best friends”. Not literally! I made sure I got to know them on a personal level, which was who they were, what they represented and the value they provide in the social networking community. I soon learned how smart and connected they were. I didn’t ask them – “Please tell your connections about me on social media”. I instead focused on developing a relationship and rapport with them, so they would want to tell their friends about me.

How to provide value? First you need to determine what kind of information would be of interest to those following you. Keep in mind it does need to be related to your industry for the most part, after all you are using social media to sell your services/products right? Think about what you know that is essential to your industry and your clients. Share tips that would help your ideal client make important decisions. Of course, don’t share company secrets or give away the milk for FREE. (I’m sure you all have heard the phrase “Why buy the cow, when they can get the milk for FREE”.) Share enough to make them want to connect with you in a more personal way. Perhaps they’ll message you a follow up question.

Content – the biggie! This covers two areas:

• Finding industry related articles that would interest your followers. Start using a RSS reader like Google Reader and every time you find a blog that someone else has Tweeted or shared on Facebook/LinkedIn that would interest you and your connections subscribe to it in Google Reader. This is a quick and easy way to find great content for you to share on social networking sites. (Watch videos on eHow – How to use & setup Google Reader.)

 

• Writing content yourself to share on your blog. Ask your connections on social media what they would like to learn more about related to your industry. I often find questions that people ask me about social media turn into some really great blog posts! Share success stories of your other clients. Get your readers interested in reading and learning more about you. (Read more about blogging.)

I trust this post gave you some ideas on how to build your personal brand, provide value and content, instead of just all the whys! Give me your feedback and let me know what you think needs to be added or you would like to read more about in future blog posts!

Thanks for reading!

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