You know you are on the right track when topics you have been covering and discussing with others are now the HOT TOPIC for mainstream media, celebrities, and international corporations. I received such affirmation this week after discussing the power of Email Marketing Campaigns on a webinar on Tuesday morning (Internet Marketing verses Network Marketing: It’s a 2-for-1 Deal!).

I have visited an ENDLESS number of website recently that don’t have an Opt-in box, Squeeze Page, or “SIGN ME UP” section on their site. . . and I am wondering WHY? And, the answer is so obvious it is almost comical!

The reason many sites don’t ask for your name or email address or phone number is three-fold:
1) They don’t know their are tools available to do this at a minimal cost, maybe even FREE with the service they use.
2) They don’t understand the value in having this information.
3) They never knew how INVALUABLE asking can be.

So, in this blogpost, I am going to share with you a few TOOLS, explain the VALUE and define WHY you want to include the OPTION on your website. Let’s begin…in reverse order. LOL

WHY do you want to give visitors to your website the OPTION of joining your mailing list?

• It gives them a sense of control. They can say, “yes, add me, here’s my contact information.” or they can DENY your request and not enter their contact information but frequent your site whenever they wish for however long they wish, and not build a real connection to you…that is, unless –
• They want to connect with you beyond being a “website lurker” because they see the value in the information you share. They visit frequently because they enjoy your posts and therefore, DO want to build a relationship with you…virtually.
• They enjoy what they are reading online, and perceive that what is included in your mailings will be more of the same…even PERSONALIZED content they will enjoy learning from and implementing.

What VALUE can this bring to your business?

• The content of your newsletter can drive traffic TO your website, blog, events, promotions, affiliates, etc. For instance, you have a new eBook to promote! Announcing the completion of this ebook to your subscribers FIRST gives them the “inside scoop/track” allowing them to be the FIRST to receive a copy of the publication…maybe at a discounted rate, if they have been with you over a year then they get it for free, if they refer 3 friends they get it half off, whatever promo you decide to run. If they don’t go to your website, they won’t KNOW there is something new and exciting to check out. So, as you have updates to your site, post a new blog, etc. you can notify your subscribers (not just post it on Facebook or Twitter, but EMAIL your peeps).
• You can send Email Marketing campaigns that are TIMED and that are TIMELY. When emails are “timed,” that means you have setup a sequence of messages, often referred to as a campaign. This means, once someone SUBSCRIBERS they will receive their “Welcome” email first. You don’t want someone to join your mailing list and the first thing you do is SELL THEM ON SOMETHING. Which leads me to..
• Build trust – People buy from those they KNOW, LIKE and…guess what? TRUST!
• Get to know your subscribers. Send thought provoking questions. Ask for feedback and ideas. Challenge them and have them report back on how they are doing with the challenge. Lead them to your blog and encourage them to comment on your posts. Find out when their birthday is and send them a card…or for their anniversary…Christmas even! Think of what you can do to better understand your audience – who is attracted to your website, company, business, to YOU even…and why.
• Foster a relationship with them by sharing your knowledge, expertise and advise in a FREE MANNER so they are more apt to purchase your product or service down the road…but not on day 1 – unless you don’t mind having more people UNSUBSCRIBE than you have consistent subscribers. That is like shooting yourself in the foot – STUPID MOVE!
• Think before you take action. Most tools allow you to send a TEST email before it goes out to your subscribers. Don’t “assume” all of the links work, the layout is appealing, and you have crossed your T’s and dotted all the I’s…find a few people (even within your company) to be your “gophers” and get their feedback.
• Personalize your paraphernalia. Include their NAME a few times, at least. It is surprisingly easy to do so as the software has a tool that lets you insert it seamlessly!
• It is much easier to make ANOTHER sale to an existing customer than it is to recruit/find/sell to a new one. As you grow the number of subscribers on your list, and having an Opt-In section on your site will help you to do that, you are EXPANDING your ability and the OPPORTUNITY for you to sell, up-sell, cross-sell, and more!
• When someone BUYS on your website, you can automatically enroll them into your Email Marketing Campaign. No more searching for their contact information and wondering IF you sent them a Thank You or when, and what else they have purchased.
• Tracking WHO is subscribed, HOW LONG they subscribed for, and they are asked WHY they unsubscribed.
• Statistics can help you to adjust your emails, marketing, and advertising campaigns based on who your audience is. This has helped me to see who frequents my website, who the majority of my subscribers are for my eNewsletter, and also shows me the days of the week and hours of the day that I get the most hits and subscribers. GOOD ENOUGH TO HAVE, especially if you sell ad space on your website (hint hint – another stream of income for you…this site ALONE had hundreds of hits yesterday – and my last post was on April 5th!).

TOOLS to get the job done…and it doesn’t take a Brain Surgeon to figure these out!

• The one I use is Aweber and here’s what I like about this tool:
  • It is an “auto-responder” – that means I can create multiple emails to go out, set the date and time if I want to or just the sequence (i.e., send immediately, send 3 days after previous message, etc.). So in a few short hours, I can create multiple messages that will be sent over the course of days, weeks, months, even the year…and then I can “set it and forget it”!!!
  • Email Newsletters can be sent as text only, HTML, or you can use one of their over 130 templates. I, personally, use a combination of text only, HTML and templates. My Monthly Newsletter is in the same format, same template every month. Holiday notes are in a theme, such as Valentine’s Day when I used a template with hearts and sent a gift to each of my subscribers…a FREEBIE!
  • When I have messages that need to go out ASAP I send a Broadcast Message. Depending on my mood, it might be just text or I might use HTML, and for the most part, these aren’t in a “theme” email. It is quick little, “I gotta tell you this ASAP” kind of notes.
  • Templates to generate the Web Forms make it WAAAAYYY too easy to ask people to subscribe! Want to see a few examples of these forms, check out http://TheNetworkingQueen.net and http://ThenetworkMarketingDIVAS.com. You just pick the template you want to use, add the wording you prefer, and then follow the steps at the bottom of the screen…WAH LAH!
  • The code is available to you in seconds and the steps tell you what to do to add it to your site, send it to your “web guru” or a link you can send out even! (You don’t have to have a website to use Aweber, though it does make it a bit easier to gain subscribers!)
  • Unlimited Lists make it feasible AND affordable for you to use this tool on multiple websites. I can send the SAME EMAIL to all 10 of my distribution lists (and if you think 10 is a big number, let me say that is actually a LOW number – I know many Internet Marketers who have 1000s! We will save that discussion for another day).
• GetResponse – I don’t use this one but know many who do…and I AM setup as an affiliate for them. I like to give THREE options and let others decide what they want to do and which they want to purchase. It is very similar to Aweber.
• InfusionSoft – Most popular with those who are using streaming video, regularly hosting online events, and don’t mind the higher price point. Is it worth the investment? I have yet to hear someone say it is not and, hey, if you refer 3 people then your subscription is free! (unless that has changed since last month…)

WOW – maybe I need to break the rest of this post into a 3 part article…Hmmm…stay tuned for more!
In the meantime, check out this post from Marsha Friedman regarding how this tool should be incorporated into your Social Media relationships!
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE…

I must say, this is one statement I do NOT agree with.

I find it refreshing to see that I am NOT alone. I chuckled as I read Joel Comm’s blogpost regarding the language used by a number of public speakers. He has attended events by some of the GREATS in the industry, yet what he shares resonated with me. Joel Comm is the author of Twitter Power, one of the books I recommend to clients and colleagues. It is a great read and very helpful whether you are new or not to Twitter. It was reassuring for me to read Joel’s take on this strong topic. By strong, I mean you are either FOR or AGAINST but not “on the fence”.

Think about it…and read on…

I was pondering this same topic recently and wondering why someone so successful felt the need to curse. Did this guy think it made him “cool”? Has he had a potty mouth his entire life and knows no different? Does he have a CLUE how offensive this is and how he is alienating himself from certain circles?

I sat in on a webinar with the guest being the Millionaire Network Marketer I am referencing (which I can happily share is NOT in Isagenix…though maybe if he cleaned up what was going IN his mouth it might help him to clean-up what is coming out of his mouth. I can dream, right?!). As I continued to listen to the LIVE call, I heard a number of words used that did not sit well with me. He talked in such a matter of fact way, not skipping a beat as he did so, that it seemed like he was just conversing with a friend. I had referred a few people to listen in on the call and was horrified! To me, it seemed this was part of his daily language. . . though none of his online videos I have watched included such trash talk. He must just be CLUELESS how offensive it is…or is he?

After I received a very BOLD email from him last week, I realized this guy is the type Joel refers to in his blog post. He makes so much money (a Millionaire) that he has become arrogant and care-free. Even if you told him his language was offense, he would say “Oh well,” and just delete you from his distribution list, fan page, etc.

Does he know his stuff? Yes.
Will I continue to promote his products? No.
And he is now “unfriended” on Facebook, too, because this is a SURE-FIRE way to have me “drop you like a hotcake”!!!

How many speakers have you witnessed who have presentations that are “slang-driven,” or complete with 300 fillers, like “um” or “uh”? I start tally-marking them because the PROFESSIONALS have learned and pride themselves in learning the fillers they use and consciously working to REMOVE those from their vocabulary so they are not used during their presentations.

If you can get rid of the fillers, then you can clean-up your language! Those that care enough about the preferences of their audiences will, at least. More speakers than not will select to not offend or unnerve because they seek to build rapport and create lasting connections with everyone they meet.

When I hear profanities in a presentation, my mind says, “DELETE” or “BEEP”! This is a technique I have implemented to safeguard my mouth, thoughts, and what I am exposed to. “What goes in must come out,” and this is talk I once used but made the choice a number of years ago to end. I realized it doesn’t serve me and I have no place for it in my vocabulary. I find it offensive and distracting from the true message being shared.

I have been a public school teacher, corporate trainer, and worked in Human Resources for a number of years. Now, as a national speaker, I can tell you that I have NEVER used such language on the stage, nor in my classroom. With over 1000 presentations/classes/trainings and countless hours before audiences of 1 to 1000 plus, I have found there is no need. You can get your point across without such words. BELIEVE IT OR NOT!

Let’s take this to the next level.

I do not feel it is very professional to include cursing within a Tweet, Post, or Status Update. Whether you write out the ENTIRE word or use symbols to replace letters, here’s a tip: The MIND fills in the blanks so you actually read it just the same. I posted on Facebook last month out about my irritation with a few “friends” who did this in their posts. As a result, I removed them.

I believe there are too many knowledgeable, wise, and relevant speakers/trainers/professionals who may not be as “famous,” but have the same information and insights to share…WITHOUT using expletives.

I would rather give my time, money, and support to people who make a conscious effort to appeal to every audience. Choosing so will not alienate your or limit your audience as it does when you choose to use such language. Prime examples, Jim Rohn, Joel Osteen, Susan Sly, and hundreds of others if you stop to think about it.

If a speaker is THAT arrogant to say “Who cares?” I venture to say their words will fall on deaf ears and their message will not yield the highest reward given to man. I would rather be BOLD in my faith than to so bold as to use offensive language and not care who I disrespect because the stardom achieved is not worth the ultimate price.

These persons should also be sure their events, webinars, books, teachings, websites, and online posts are labeled “NOT SAFE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY” or something that would enable a parent to be conscious of who hears or sees it.

If you want to lose me as a client, customer, friend or fan, use 4 or 5 letter words. Choose to post or tweet words that include “symbols” as your “attempt to not offend.”

I have people “unfriend me” every day because they don’t appreciate my overly happy and eternally optimistic attitude.

Does that sadden me? YES.
What I have come to realize is that my personality resonates with some, is tolerated by others, and repels yet another group. When your positive vibration hits one that is overly negative, there is a push back and you can either decide to embrace it and allow that to settle within you, or you can run the other way…sadly, this is what many have done their entire life.

As some read this post it will either cause them to comment below while others will bookmark this blog and another group will read and ignore, choosing in-action (not to act).

Life is filled with decisions. Today I am sharing my opinion and my stance. I want to hear what your thoughts are and encourage you to check out Joel Comm’s blogpost as well. I think you will find it enlightening…and probably a few messages that will have you thinking more in-depth about your stance, be it for or against profanities online or offline from professionals.

Like I stated in my comment on Joels’ post:

If more believers take a stance to BE BOLD and call out these persons we follow on their language selection, and to request they “CLEAN UP THE TRASH TALK,” maybe we would see a change…and if not, we know that, Joel, you have someone else to add to your arrogant list.

Language is a choice. “What goes in must come out.”

I prefer speakers, trainers, posts, tweets, and colleagues with a “safe for the whole family” message!

In closing, let me share a recent conversation I had with my Business Coach: “Denai, do you ever use profanities or do you find them offensive?” “No I don’t. You will RARELY, if ever, hear me cuss, and that includes saying hell.” He then replied, “Then I will clean this statement up for you…” I view this as an act of respect. He took time to ask, listen, and then act.

Cursing ISN’T COOL!

TIP: Gauge your audience. When you do, you will benefit and be blessed. When you don’t, you may pay a price you have not yet realized…but will one day. Do you want to maintain rapport or break it?
CLEAN UP YOUR POTTY MOUTH.
As you network offline or online, giving presentations, during one-on-ones, a 30 second Commercial, Elevator Pitch, etc. you will also want to KEEP IT CLEAN.

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!!!

We have all seen the emails, wall posts, and messages with a link to some YouTube video that was actually BOGUS and downloads a VIRUS to your computer instead, right? If not, then you need to check your inbox on Facebook and click DELETE!!!

DO NOT OPEN THE EMAIL.
DO NOT CLICK THE WALL POST.
DELETE BOTH!

CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD to include letters, numbers AND symbols.

Run VIRUS SCAN & Anti-Spyware as well. If you don’t know if you have this or not, then contact your network to ask for AT LEAST THREE companies or people they would recommend you connect with and potentially hire to assist you with this. There is a virus going around that will wipe out your hard-drive…and that is NOT GOOD!!! Another reason I have an external hard-drive.

But, all of that is just a WARNING before we get to the heart of today’s Blog post…

First, let me tell you that I was THRILLED to see the article CBS News posted following their interview with a family who was robbed while they were gone. Yes, BURGLARIES are on the rise and if you SHARE that you are on vacation without someone watching your house, it may be YOU who is next on the hit list. There are ways to lock-down your profile so only friends can see it (if you need help with this, let me know and I’ll walk you through it). Yet, you have to be sure that who you FRIEND is really a FRIEND and not a phony…keep that in mind.

This is also posted on the ABC site. I’m sharing the link to BOTH stories with you:

CBS’s Report
ABC’s Report

So, after having read these articles and looked at the video, can I just say WOW!!!

Here’s the deal, as I have been chatting with connections on Facebook about it today, if the family computer is in an OPEN location, and not a bedroom, yours or your child’s (ages 4 to 24 – hey, if they live at home, they are endangering ALL OF YOU! If they don’t live at home and post you are are visiting them at college for the weekend then HELLOOOO!!! Someone can STILL rob you just the same…they know you aren’t there!). People are DESPERATE and doing some CRAZY things these days. It is smart for you to be prepared, take precautions, and BE APPARENT and A PARENT!!!

Listen up friends of all ages – People don’t KNOW what they don’t know. It is YOUR responsibility and mine to share OUR knowledge, new and existing, with others so they are EDUCATED and EMPOWERED. This is messing with people’s livelihood!

If you see someone’s post about being gone, TELL THEM TO DELETE IT! I have posted things before and had people call me on it. AND I AM GLAD. Look, I’m not perfect and I am still learning, too. Here’s the deal, though, when we are gone, we have some staying at our house. WE AREN’T STUPID…and we also have a GREAT alarm system with fast response time for the cops in our city, too. THAT IS A BLESSING!!! And not one we take for granted.

Second, I want to share something ELSE I read about Facebook…it is being BLAMED for Britain’s rise in syphilis.

Yes, REALLY? Okay, you have to read this one for yourself…I mean WOW!!!:

Facebook blamed for rising STD rates in Britain

Add to that, the IMAGE associated with the article “Facebook helps you con the people in your life.”

This is SERIOUSLY the image on the page!

Now THIS I would expect to see as an image associated with the BURGLARY article but not one about STDs…wow, talk about a mixed message! Did you notice that, too, or was it after I pointed it out? I bet they get an earful because of THAT screen print.

Well, back to the news story they posted:

If it isn’t via social media that this was happening, people would find another way. So again, that takes us back to EDUCATION!

You were created FOR a purpose and ON purpose. Every time you give yourself away, a piece of you is gone…so then, what is left of you to give to your spouse? Does the man or woman you decide to devote the rest of your life to deserve what is left over? Don’t give them “the rest of you” – give them THE BEST OF YOU!!! I have found America to be more focused on SAFE sex than ABSTINENCE. I think that is SICK and WRONG!

It is the PARENT’S responsibility to educate their children and not that of the internet, TV, radio, or their friends or other family members. Coming from someone who experienced a jacked up perception of sex for many years due to abuse and neglect from neighbors & other kids, I can tell you FIRST HAND that if every parent would make it their MISSION to educate their own children on what is right vs wrong, and how a “real date” should be, then many of the issues our society is faced with today would be overcome…they would END.

I am proud of the man I married who GETS IT! He takes our daughter on “daddy-daughter dates” and is teaching her what dating means. She is only FIVE!!! But she is already learning how a man treats a woman he loves, what it is like to go on a date. How the man opens the doors for her. He will take her to dinner, a movie, dancing, and praise her as well as compliment her…and she sees that he does the same with me during our “Daddy-Daughter-Denai Date Nights”. Role modeling is POWERFUL!!! Our children need to learn PROPER love and affection. It is VITAL to our children’s existence and their success in life as long as they are on this earth.

So, what does this have to do with NETWORKING and BUSINESS? Well, if you can’t figure that one out, then go back to my first blog post. . . you have some catching up to do!

Yes, WAY!!!

PC World raged on the scene with interviews, the inside scoop, graphs, charts, and commentary on this whole “overtaking” earlier this week! If you are a subscriber to this BLOG, then you were the FIRST TO HEAR!!! Congratulations, my friends. It PAYS to be in the know.

Today, we see another TOP HITTER magazine covering the same thing, but this time with a different twist. Yet, the end result is the same. The popularity of FACEBOOK is passing that of GOOGLE! The company’s attempt to capitalize on the Social Media Circuit resulted in the launch of BUZZ (which, you know I am LOVING as the owner of Bee the Buzz Promotions – hey, it goes GREAT with my company name!). There are talks of additional tools, platforms, and websites that Google will soon launch to “reek havoc” across the internet by pulling committed users/subscribers from their bookmarked and frequently visited sites into the new realm of Google…will you be one to convert or resist. TIME WILL TELL!

As a small to medium-sized business owner, this should get you JAZZED UP!!! I mean, think about it! How many dollars have you spent on Pay-Per-Click ads (PPC), and wondered how long it will take until someone finally clicks on your ad? With over 400 million users on Facebook, it is obvious to see that you can expand your brand more easily using Facebook. Once you know who benefits most from your product or service, you can use tools like Google search engines and Facebook ads to promote your product, service or company.

Don’t make it any harder than it is! Online marketing and advertising can be free, as long as you know where to go, what to do, and the tools that are available to you. PS, you should still use Google ad words and keyword searches to determine what phrases, words, and word combinations are the most searched terms. If you’ve never done this before, when Google or being can help you locate keywords, phrases, and word combinations just test the capabilities of the search engine. If you don’t like what you get, then search again. Keyword research is powerful! If you don’t get anything else from this article, I hope you will take it upon yourself to begin to use this amazing tool that will help you grow your business, expand your brand, and increase your income all with the click of a few buttons. Yes! It is that easy.

With that in mind, I went to share with you a link to the article from and both magazines sold you can read up on how Facebook’s numbers are flying and Google fans are falling…

Read INC Magazines article here!

Read PCWorld’s BREAKING ONTO THE SCENE article here!

Before you dive right in with your ads on Facebook, you might consider some of the information shared in this article as well. Looks like Facebook is cracking down! And if you ask me, it’s about time. I’ve seen lots of ads, lots of repetition, and lots of irrelevant information that I wasn’t sure how it ended up as an ad, or why. Looks to be the end of that for now…

That ad is not actually targeted…

So, based on what you read, what did you learn and how are you going to implement these new ideas into your business? That is really what it’s all about. Finding new ways to network, implementing ideas that enable you to get where you want to go, to achieve what you desire, and to exceed the goals you’ve set for yourself not just this quarter but this month!

Who do you know do need to be aware of these staggering statistics? What clients are you going to share these numbers with? How will you use your new-found knowledge to make a difference in someone else’s business that day?

Knowledge is power, but as they say, wisdom comes from sharing…

And here’s bad news for Google again, as they stop censoring Internet Searches Results in China.

P.S. On a lighter note, here’s one way to NOT use Facebook! I hope all reading this realize what a NO NO this is! Granted, it will probably make Jay Leno, George Lopez, or some other talk show in America soon enough . . .

Teenager Fired from Cafe’ Job via a Facebook Message

I can see it now…the poor girl will have more job offers, will be asked for interviews by TV and radio shows and her mum won’t know what to do. Oh, and add to that, the HUGE GROWTH of her profile page on Facebook that she’ll need to start a FanPage as well. Laughing as I type these hypothetical scenarios, but really, it could happen.

Just remember, you heard it FIRST from “The Networking Queen.”