Marketing MADNESS in May? It is a good thing! Is it time to \"blast off\" with a new look?

Michael Hillebrand, owner of InterStark Media, joins me on “Only3Degrees” for an information packed hour on ONLINE MARKETING.

No matter your business or length IN business, this show will include ideas you can use, information you can rely on and content you can chew…and really SHOULD implement.

Located in Kansas City, Missouri, InterStark is positioned perfectly to communicate and do business whenever and wherever needed…and they do JUST that as their business has expanded so much in the past 9 months, they are looking to open additional office across the U.S. – WOO HOO!!! In addition to Internet Marketing, their Marketing Research has them breaking records, and making “labels,” so to speak. Strategic Solutions are here as they also provide YOU with research on the COMPETITION. Would that be of value to you? CHECK THEM OUT: http://Interstark.com (they are also the PLATINUM SPONSOR of Only3Degrees)

If Applebee’s, Sprint, and a few other “big names” have hired this company then, needless to say, they are worth taking a look at…add to that, this is the company who designed MY website (TheNetworkingQueen.net)!
Gotta love it.

Enjoy the replay of this show from May. As school begins for the kids, it is also a GREAT TIME to “re-school” yourself on new ideas, strategies, and techniques. These will catapult your business to the next level! As we look upon the onset of fourth quarter, which is really approaching faster and faster this year, it’s also time to ACHIEVE and EXCEED our 2010 goals!

Can’t wait to read your comments below about this show…

I am one of those people who is an INFORMATION JUNKIE!!!

On this week’s episode of Only3Degrees
it was all about Dishin’ Out More Dollars…
and getting MORE in your pocket!

If you have a website AT ALL, then you need to listen to this broadcast…and if you don’t, the info will be helpful to you also, so BASICALLY it is for everyone.

The show shares FIVE Money-Making Ideas to add more “dough” in your pocket…but in reality, there are MORE Ideas shared that just 5!!!

Here’s some of what I shared today:
1) Masked Domains with a redirect
2) Freebies with Opt-ins
3) Monetizing Newsletters

If we are linked on Facebook, you have seen my posts about this, and you have probably figured out I AM an Information Junkie!

If we aren’t connected there yet, then here’s SHORTCUTS to get to the multiple pages I post to on a regular basis and RARELY will you read the same posts on each page…
unlike other marketers I know (many of whom outsource their pages, too but this is one of my PASSIONS so you won’t see that happening).

* http://Facebook.com/TheNetworkingQueen – my profile is maxed out, but you can still read my posts.

* http://Facebook.com/Only3Degrees – for my Internet Radio Show

* http://Facebook.com/DenaiVaughn – FanPage for my main website

OH, and that doesn’t include the GROUP pages I have created and also admin. See, I am an info JUNKIE – I need multiple pages to post the overload of information I am taking in everyday…
I WANT TO share it so others can benefit!!!

And yes, the list DOES include YOU!

But the REAL reason for this email is to share with you an article I came across today that talks about how small to medium-sized businesses are spending on MARKETING vs. ADVERTISING and the role Social Media plays…which will really get you PUMPED!!!

http://www.flowtown.com/blog/social-media-and-small-to-medium-sized-businesses

Are you ready for some of the STARTLING STATS in the article?
* Forrester estimates $716 Million will be spent on SOCIAL MEDIA this year …
* This number will grow to $3.4 BILLION by 2014…
* SEARCH advertising = $31.6 Billion
* DISPLAY advertising = $16.9 Billion

So, as you decide WHEN and WHERE to spend your dollars, if you are like me, there is a CLUE in these statistics that is powering my decisions…EDUCATED decisions at that!

Also note the statement that, “In light of the Recession over 53% plan to INCREASE spending in Social Media.”

So, when you consider the opportunity this presents for YOU and YOUR business, I would say this has some “staying power”. That as you connect, relate, and refer on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn, Plaxo, YouTube and beyond…
YOU are creating “Media Mania” around your product, service, and/or company! You are AHEAD of the competition and RACING to stay there because you have TAKEN ACTION!!!

(hint hint…if you haven’t done so yet, I wouldn’t delay another day!)

If you LOVE being in the know, like I do, then you might consider adding the following sites to your bookmarks & RSS feeds:
Mashable, eMarketer, BetterNetworker, and, of course, the NEWS stations (CNN, FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS, CSPAN, ESPN, etc.) [had to add ESPN for my hubby - LOL]

WHEW!!!
Are you on Information Overload yet?!?
It is pretty PACKED…
and you haven’t even clicked the link to the story I recommended!

Get ready for more…
WOOHOO!!!

Believing in the power of YOU!
You are WORTH IT!!!

When many see the term “Video Marketing” they think it is about THEM being in front of the camera. Their face on the screen. Their voice being heard and and and….AH!!!

Is that your first reaction, too? Maybe…maybe not.

Some cringe at the idea of being on camera while others LOVE the limelight! (maybe THAT is you instead)

Would you rather be the one BEHIND the camera? Would you rather there be NO camera at all?
YES!!!

Well, no matter where you would rather be standing…or sitting…or hiding, I have some FAB news to share!!!

You can do either, neither, or you can do something completely different!

This post is going to share a few insights with you on video marketing, and it will really get you THINKING (and hopefully DOING).

In addition, I am sharing a FREEBIE with you – a link to my recent interview on Only3Degrees with videographer, Mark Neace. He has been in the industry for OVER 20 years; commercials, corporate events, national networks, personal events and more.

Needless to say, he knows his stuff, right?!

Well, you are going to get a kick out of this interview! Let’s just say…technical difficulties can happen with the most techie person. . . listen for yourself and see how you think I did during the, well, you’ll just have to listen…(and laugh)

CLICK HERE FOR THE REPLAY

Now, back to video marketing and growing your network!

Here’s a SEVEN ideas to get you started on WHAT you might make a video about:

1) Who do YOU want to attract as a client, contact, customer, or new connection?
2) What new tool, trick, or technique have you recently learned about and will share FOR FREE with the viewers?
3) Testimonials from customers work great, even if you just have the email, better yet, the voicemail, or put THEM on video.
4) Share “The WHYs”: Why are you in business? Why are you passionate about what you do? Why do you want to help people with…? Why are you different from others in the same industry?
5) Who has influenced you the most?
6) What have you overcome to get where you are today?
7) Share the SPECIALS or PROMOTIONS you are currently offering.

Think about it and then, VIDEO ABOUT IT!

If you want to stand in front of the camera, go for it.

If you want to be behind the camera, then find someone to be in front of it for you.

If you are okay with VOICE but not with PEOPLE, then create a slideshow like the ones you can setup with MY favorite tool, http://OneTrueMedia.com – LOVE IT and the price!

The other option is to do what more and more Internet Marketers are doing…more on that option TOMORROW – stay tuned!

As you ponder the seven ideas from above, you might look at a few videos on YouTube to get some ideas of what TO and what NOT to do. I have a few videos loaded – some are using the tool mentioned above. I am sure you will enjoy the music, transition, and slides they provide FREE! Now, to get them to start an affiliate program – the topic of yet another blog post. LOL

The Seventh Commandment – Thou Shalt Use Signatures in Forums with Do-Follow

Another tip from the “SEO MASTER”:
Focus your signature around the main keyword string for your home page. Try to be the first response to new posts and participate on long discussion threads that will consistently be pushed to the top of the main discussion page.

Here is a list of major forums with Do-Follow signatures:

http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/- SEO
http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/ – music
http://forums.seroundtable.com/ – seo
http://www.submitexpress.com/bbs/
http://www.startups.co.uk/ – business
http://www.v7n.com/forums/ – seo, webmaster
http://www.webmaster-talk.com/ – webmaster
http://www.webicy.com/ – Webmaster, seo
http://forums.comicbookresources.com/ – comic books
http://bzimage.org/ – photo
http://www.earnersforum.com/forumsindex.php – ecommerce, advertising
http://www.acorndomains.co.uk/ – domains
http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/ – books

For the complete list of Do-Follow Forums go here.

Check out the other “commandments” shared in previous blogs and let me know what YOU think of the information he boasts. Agree. Disagree. Not so sure. COMMENTS WELCOMED!!!

If you enjoy networking then you must enjoy socializing! (If you are thinking, “no, not really,” then get ready for a new way of thinking!!!)

That’s good because the next commandment for SEO focuses on you being social….Social Bookmarking, that is!

Remember, the tips you are learning here should not just be applied to your BLOG but also to your wall posts, notes, status updates, tweets and more. As you read on, don’t forget to think long-term, future-focused, and GROWING your network. After all, if you are about networking for more business, then you need to embrace the power of the internet to assist you in this voyage. I guarantee it makes things MUCH more easier, enjoyable…AND PROFITABLE!

The Third Commandment – Thou Shalt Submit Daily Blog to Social Bookmarks

The exact keyword string that you identify for your blog’s title will be used in each submission. Change up the description for each submission.

Here are the angels of Google that will help you ascend in the rankings and find a home in Google Heaven:

For the complete list of Social Bookmark Sites go here.

MY TAKE ON THIS: TRUE!!! (are you beginning to see a pattern here…?)

When I first looked at this list I was overwhelmed! Did you get that, too…and then to see there were MORE?!? I mean, who has the time to bookmark every single one of these sites with the blog I just posted or note I created, or or or…ANYTHING!  I am an entrepreneur in business by myself and would love to have an army of Web gurus at my beck and call to assist me with Search Engine Optimization, Keyword Searches, blogging, Bookmarking…and all of the things I know I SHOULD BE doing but just don’t have the time. I mean, WHO DOES???

WHEW – now that I got that off of my chest, let’s take a step back and look at what IS possible…

If there are a few of these that work best for you, then commit to using those. With each site you have to create a profile, setup your website, add the links and do hours of work, right?  Well…sort of. You could do it yourself or, again, you can do what you love and pay someone to assist with the minor details, like bookmarking (I will reference oDesk.com here again in case you missed it in a previous post talking about how you can outsource the things you need done but don’t want to or can’t afford to spend hundreds or thousands on finding someone locally to assist).

Why does he reference CHANGING the description with each submission?  Can you guess?

It will be seen as duplicate data and the additional posts could be ignored. You don’t want that to happen as it would be a waste of your time then, had you used multiple social bookmarking sites with the same content. A tip I learned from Nitro Marketing is to change every 3^rd word. HOW EASY IS THAT?!? If you want the post to be relevant and for your content to be noticed and bookmarked (duh), then try this easy approach and see how it works for you!  If you want to commit more time and energy to each social bookmarking site then go ahead and redo the entire description.  That takes a creative person with many hours of time available for the devotion of “practice” content. (LOL) For the rest of us, more power to the third WORD approach, right?!?

Next, we visit The Fourth Commandment…I hope you have already considered some of the tips shared here and MAYBE EVEN implemented a few of the ideas. If you are looking to be a master networker online (or offline), sometimes you have to embrace new ideas! (Okay, not sometimes, we ALWAYS need to look at ideas with an open-mind and see which are applicable to us…now and/or in the future).

Until then,…happy bookmarking and networking!!!