PR and Social Media Tips for using Facebook and Twitter – Part 2

PR and Social Media Tips for using

Facebook and Twitter – Part 2

Gaining Followers, Friends, & Rules of Engagement

Facebook

• Updated Stats as of June 2009:
• According to Nielsen, Facebook leads all social networking sites with 87.3 million unique visitors in June 2009
• Quickly growing its video reach from 2.4 million unique viewers in June ’08 to 12 million in June ’09.

How can you start using Facebook? Here’s how:

• Now that you have put together a simple and effective profile page (making sure you are descriptive and clear about you do and what you offer now what?
• After you have joined groups related to your business remember to reach out and connect to your friends and members of the groups
• Send direct customized notes and messages of introduction about your business and see if they would like to set up a phone meeting or a face to face one if they are in your city (Use safety rules by researching the company or individual prior to meeting or just set up a phone meeting first.). This should be the same thing you would be doing if you were following up with your contacts after meeting them at an actual networking function. Well this is Social Networking, and in order to really engage and connect with your Facebook, you have to follow the similar rules.
• Offer discount specials and/or free products or services to your friends on their birthdays by sending them a Happy Birthday note with a link to your website with a special discount or special information. You can also do the same thing seasonally or during special holidays or times of the year.
• Special Tip: Don’t forget to set up your own username on Facebook. It’s FREE and allows you to own part of Facebook’s digital real estate. Just go to http://www.facebook.com/username. You will be asked to login to Facebook first, you should then be guided through the steps of selecting a username (which should be the same as your current name in Facebook. You can use the url with your new username on your business cards, website, blog, etc.

I already use Twitter, now how can I REALLY maximize it?

• Updated Stats according to Nielsen as of June 2009: Twitter grew a massive 1,928 percent in the US from June ’08 to June ’09 reaching a total of 21 million monthly unique visitors!
• Twitter users spent an average of 31 minutes, 17 seconds on the site in June. You can use the Twitter Tools like TweetDeck and Seesmic Desktop which are more graphical free software interfaces that you can install. They allow you to navigate easier, tweet, direct message, etc.
• A “tweet” is a post in 140 characters or less that can be advice, info about an event, a product or service, etc.
• Tweet interesting stuff, please J (useful and relevant) that would make people want to follow you
• Build your followers base by following people or putting a “Follow Me on Twitter” link in your emails, business cards, website, etc.
• Make sure that you register your Twitter account into special Twitter Sites and Tools like wefollow.com and twellow.com (Twitter Yellow Pages). Using keywords that are relevant to your business, will allow you to be found by people looking to connect to your business.
• Look through your Twitter Followers for individual or businesses that you can connect and do business with. Send them a Direct Message or DM introducing yourself with a link to your website and see if they would like schedule time to chat on the phone or meet in person if they are in your city.
• Safety first, please….Unfortunately not everyone on Social Media Sites are who they say they are so perhaps you should do some research on the company or individual on google first or set up a phone meeting prior to meeting face-to-face.
• Special Twitter Tip: Geofollow.com allows you to connect to your Twitter account, follow people by location and city. Plus you can add and list your own Twitter Account (for FREE!) by the tags that apply to you, your business or profession and search for people that fit the same criteria.

About Light of Gold PR, Marketing, and Consulting LLC:

Light of Gold PR, Marketing, and Consulting LLC (www.lightofgoldpr.com) with offices in New York and Atlanta , specializes in Public Relations, Marketing, Promotions, Media Relations, Branding and Event Planning, Workshops, Webinars, Teleseminars, emphasizing New Media such as Webcasts, Podcasts, Social Media and Online Communities. Light of Gold PR is certified by New York City as a M/WBE, a Minority Woman-Owned Business

PR and Social Media Tips for using Facebook and Twitter

PR and Social Media Tips for using Facebook and Twitter – Part 1

 

                                               

                                                   Debra Dixon

                    Light of Gold PR, Marketing, and Consulting, http://www.lightofgoldpr.com,

                   e-mail: lightofgoldpr@gmail.com,

                 Check out our Calendar Events at http://www.lightofgoldpr.com/calendar.html! 

             Look for upcoming events, workshops and classes, webinars, and special promotions!

 Facebook

•  According to Compete.com, as of January 2009 has overcome MySpace as the world’s number one social network

• Currently about 1.1 billion monthly visits a number that continues to grow

 How can you start using Facebook?  Here’s how: 

 Put together a simple and effective profile page (making sure you are descriptive and clear about what you do and what you offer

• Import your business contacts and customers by connecting to your e-mail
• Remember to join groups related to your business
• If you have a company website or blog, a press release, or a flyer, link to it and incorporate into your notes
• Put a Facebook badge on your site (check out ours at http://www.lightofgoldpr.com)
• Create a Fan Site

 HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY TWITTER!  What is Twitter and how can I utilize it?

 Twitter essentially is a micro-blogging platform (now the #3 social network, up from #22!)

• Ok, now what the heck is a “tweet”?  A “tweet” is a post and update about what you’re doing.  You have to be brief (140 characters or less)  You can tweet advice, info about an event, press release, news, a product or service, etc. 
• The number of active users has increased by 900% in the past year
• Create a complete profile with your company’s website or blog’s url (http://www.twitter.com/lightofgoldpr)
• Remember to import your contacts so that you instantly build your following
• Tweet interesting stuff, please (useful and relevant) that would make people want to follow you
• Build your followers base by following people or putting a “Follow Me on Twitter” link in your emails, business cards, website, etc.

 About Light of Gold PR, Marketing, and Consulting LLC:         

 
Light of Gold PR, Marketing, and Consulting LLC (www.lightofgoldpr.com) with offices in New York and Atlanta , specializes in Public Relations, Marketing, Promotions, Media Relations, Branding and Event Planning, Workshops, Webinars, Teleseminars, emphasizing New Media such as Webcasts, Podcasts, Social Media and Online Communities. Light of Gold PR is certified by New York City as a M/WBE, a Minority Woman-Owned Business Enterprise.

Reposted on March 22, 2009

Welcome to the New Normal….Excitement, Challenge, Collaboration, and New Hustles…

Hey, Everyone!  Happy New Year!

This is quite an Era we’re livin’ in, isn’t it? Just less than a week until the inauguration!  Whoo Hoo!  History is about to be made!  Go, Barack! A time I never thought I’d see in my lifetime.

But while we’re excited about this new era, unfortunately we’ve seen record numbers of people losing jobs (600,000 people in November, and a projected 500,000 people in December). This is also something I never thought I’d see in my lifetime. People are losing their homes, the car and banking industry are in a huge crisis, businesses are losing money in just about every industry, people who ARE working are struggling to pay their bills as the price of everyday living keeps going up.  Gasoline had gone down, but seems to be on the rise, again.

So here we are….in a time of great excitement and of great challenge. While this may appear to be a challenging time for a lot of people, the flip side of challenge is spelled OPPORTUNITY.

With so many people losing their jobs, I predict that this will be a great time for small businesses and people who want to start their own business, create multiple streams of income, side and new hustles….whatever you want to call it….make money!

But you have to be ready. Create a Business Plan. Learn new skills. Look at your existing skills and how you can transfer it to viable businesses or jobs. Embrace New and Social Media. And most of all, learn how to Collaborate and Partner with people, entities, and companies that have the skills that you’re weak in. You can’t do it all. And believe me….you don’t want to……There are only 24 hours in each day. So learn how to partner with people who can do what you can’t do, better than you can.

Don’t get me wrong. Everybody shouldn’t partner with each other. Be selective. When you find the right person or company, set up a contract and put stuff in writing so that you stay in your lanes and are accountable for your tasks and for your actions. And most of all, make sure you know how much you each get paid and how.

If people don’t learn how to partner, collaborate across the board….and I do mean across the board….everything from families learning how to get along, live together, and share expenses…..to business professionals learning how to work together who NEVER would have partnered in the past….we’ll make it easier on ourselves when we learn how to work together. From a business and personal perspective, 50% of something is better than 100% of nothing.

So let’s learn from the Barack Obama Campaign. All different cultures, races, and people from economic backgrounds worked together and rallied around Barack to help him win and make history. And You can win in this economy, too.

Welcome to the new normal. Let’s do this! Yes, we can!

Peace and Love! Stay Tuned and Stay Blessed!

Debra

Debra Dixon
Light of Gold PR
http://www.lightofgoldpr.com
Stay tuned for our networking events, classes, workshops, teleseminars, webinars and more!
View my footage on: http://www.youtube.com/lightofgoldpr
Follow me on:

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lightofgoldpr

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com Search for “lightofgoldpr”

Linked in: http://www.linkedin.com/in/lightofgold

Myspace: http://www.myspace/lightofgoldprandmarketing

Reposted on January 12, 2009

Networking Return on Investment by Debra Dixon

I participated in a Networking Event; Now What?

You’ve held discussions, exchanged some business cards and developed new business relationships.

Here’s the question: What are you doing after the event to ensure that you a return on your investment from your membership? Are you performing your follow-up, sending out e- mails, mailing out post cards, and making phone calls? Are setting up appointments to form partnerships and alliances with other attendees of the event?

To get a good return on your investment to any networking event or activity, the planning starts before you even attend the event. How many times have you attended an event or joined an organization and said “I keep going to these meetings and I’m not getting any business. I’m not getting anything out of it!”

If you were to do a little soul searching, you might realize that you might be part of the problem. I came to this realization myself. Are you setting goals for what you need to get out of attending this event or joining an organization? That all goes into part of your planning.

Here are some tips to ensure that you get a return on your networking investment:

1) Develop your 30 – 60 second commercial beforehand. Know who your target market and your ideal client is. Figure out who you need to meet and be realistic about how many contacts you will make during a 2 – 4 hour event.

2) Be pleasant when you meet someone, use good eye contact, and shake hands. Ask probing questions about their business, like “who’s your target market”? How many people are in your organization? How long have you been in business?

3) Realize that everyone is not going to be your client, but they might be a good resource. And you might be a good resource for them. Be willing to pass on information that might be helpful to someone else.

4) Send an e-mail and make follow-up calls setting up a phone appointment or a face-to-face meeting over coffee. Also, refer people that you’ve met to your web site so that do some research about you prior to meeting.

5) Attend the appointment in a timely manner and call if you are running late.

6) Find out more about that person’s business, their goals, and discuss your products and services and how you might be able to reach their goals.

7) Determine whether this might be a hot or warm lead. There might not be a need for your products or services right now, but you can keep in contact with your new contact via e-mails or future phone calls. If they are ready to buy, then you might be able set up another meeting or do a presentation in person, over the phone, or over your website to close the deal or meet with other decision makers who are part of that organization.

So remember. For the best return on investment, invest your time, energy, and resources to make networking work for you.

And believe me, it will! Happy Networking!

Reposted on August 11, 2008

7 Tips for Making Your Website a Hit (no pun intended) – by Debra Dixon

As the lightofgoldpr.com Website closes in on the 5 million hit mark, I wanted to share some tips to garner more hits to your Website. Look for a Webinar and classes on this topic in the future!

1. Join Social Media Websites and Blogs Can Help Your Business.
Social Media Websites like linked in, facebook, myspace and other social media sites can really increase hits to your site. Just remember when you set up your profile to ALWAYS list your website’s url. Also post your events, blog, videos, etc.

2. Learn how to harness the power of the social mediasphere tags – digg, del.icio.us, reddit, and many others – to get found by more potential customers, develop meaningful relationships with others in your industry, and position yourself as an expert in your field.

3. Register Articles on articles.com or any other Website that will allow you to post your articles. Most of the Social Media sites also allow you to post your articles there.

4. Create a Press Release on Your Business
After you create your press release, remember to post it not just on your website, but also to the social media sites, and e-mail it to your list or include in your newsletter.

5. Start a Blog.
If you have some timely advice or information that you’d like to share, then you should create a blog. Share it with your list, website, social media, etc. Remember to use RSS feed so that your subscribers can get your latest updates.

6. Put Media in your Website or Blog and Cross Promote
People love to see good content that is exciting and engaging. So remember to use Podcast, Audio Files, Photo, or a Webcast into your Website. It definitely will drive up the hits to your site. Incorporating sound, photos and video will bring your visitors.
Cross promote by including multimedia (videos, blogs, sound) in your website and also in your press releases, your blog, everywhere you can include it. Remember to link everything to each other.

7. Comment on other blog articles. Need ideas? Read other blogs in your industry, and then provide your own point of view on the issue at hand.

Incorporating these tips will ensure that your website is a hit! Congratulations!

Reposted on August 11, 2008

7 Reasons Why Your Company Needs a Webcast – by Debra Dixon

What is Webcasting?

Webcasting (also called streaming media) is a new technology which allows you to view programming on a computer – just as you would on a TV.

Webcasting is the transmission of live or pre-recorded video clips to computers that are connected to the Internet. Similar to TV or radio, webcasting provides the opportunity to broadcast content to many users. The flexibility of on-line access also allows for viewing of archived programs, when it is convenient for you, day or night, 24-hours a day.
Organizations today are discovering that webcasting is a powerful and cost-effective way to communicate with employees, customers, partners and students. In the past, creating a webcast was expensive and complex, but everyday it’s becoming cheaper to produce.

Here are some reasons your company needs to consider webcasting:

1. It becomes easier for your customers and employees to learn about new initiatives at your company. You can reach people you normally would not be able to reach. It’s an exciting opportunity to reach people globally as well.

2. You can use the webcast to gather data from prospects before, during, and after a webcast .

3. Webcasting has the ability to offer live chat (text) during an event. Use this to learn who attended, track their interests with assessments and survey results.

4. Save time and money from a production standpoint, lowering your cost per lead. (You can use your existing collateral to get instant results.)

5. Position your company as a more technically- advanced communicator. (This can enhance your existing marketing initiatives.)

6. Webcasting offers a way to communicate and save time. It improves sales and ultimately builds relationships and enhances face-to-face meetings and interaction.

7. Webcasting can ultimately make your life and that of your customers’ a lot easier.

Light of Gold PR can make it easy, too by consulting with our clients on how to incorporate webcasts to get the word out about their businesses. We can even help you create one. Check out our pre- recorded Webcast at http://www.lightofgoldpr.com/webcast.html. Click the link on this page. There will be a new webcast every Wednesday at 12 noon.

Here’s to Walking into your own greatness!

Carpe Diem! Peace and Blessings!

Debra Dixon

Light of Gold PR and Marketing LLC

http://www.lightofgoldpr.com

lightofgoldpr@gmail.com

Reposted on August 11, 2008

The Art of Re-Invention….By Debra Dixon

Honda did it. Texas Instruments did it. Most companies today do it. A lot of individuals who have been outsourced, laid off, and fired have definitely had to do it. Even Madonna did it. All have mastered the art of reinvention.

How many of you have had to re-invent yourself and how you do business? Or change fields all together? I know I’ve had to do this myself. Although my Degree is in Journalism and English, I’ve worked in the Technology field for over 18 years. At a cross roads about 5 years ago because I wanted to pursue more creative pursuits, I started my PR and Marketing firm, Light of Gold PR. Luckily my desire for this change happened just around the same time the Technology Market started to change. When I started my firm, I thought I had to choose between PR (and everything that goes with it!) and Technology. Over the past year or 2, I realized that I didn’t have to choose. Instead I found a way for PR and some parts of my Technology background to peacefully co-exist. Not only that, I had to re-invent my whole corporate identity, how I created partnerships, how I viewed networking, and look at doing business in other cities and in other countries.

People reinvent themselves for different reasons. Perhaps your priorities have changed or you’re no longer satisfied with the field you’ve worked in for years. For entrepreneurs, because of changes in our global economy and the technology revolution has caused an evolution in how you do business.

Look at Texas Instruments, for instance. According to Damon Darlin in a New York Times Article (July 9, 2006) a company that many investors had written off re-invented themselves by “abandoning ill-fitting product lines, focusing more on its core integrated circuits business and linking up with large, but underestimated companies to champion new uses for its chips.”

Texas Instruments partnered with Nokia to use their digital signal processor for Nokia’s cell phones, and with Samsung to use their digital light processor for Samsung’s high definition televisions. David Carey, chief executive officer of Portelligent calls this “focused diversity” an Austin, Texas firm that analyzes consumer electronic components. “Pretty much one basket, but a lot of different eggs.”

Here are 5 tips to help in your own re- invention:

Re-invent competition – Compete with yourself first and foremost. Try to stretch, grow, and learn as much as you can. Sometimes we compete against our former selves. And remember that your competition may not always be your “competitor”. I don’t know how many times I’ve told my students in my PR and Marketing Workshops, clients, and colleagues that who you perceive as your competition may not always be your “competitor”. You can partner and work on projects and even get referral business from your “competitor” in your industry.

Re-Invent partnerships and strategic alliances – I’ve partnered with companies in the same industry and have received referrals from them when they get too busy. I’ve hired them when I got overloaded. I’ve been a subcontractor of a “competitor” and I’ve subbed out work myself to a competitor.

Re-Invent what are assets and currency – Sometimes intangibles such as intellectual capital, resources, colleagues, employees, and partners can’t be assessed monetarily. You can’t put a price tag on a good database that has people with wonderful talents, resources, and abilities AND a great knowledge base. This creates an invaluable team for you.

Re-invent your own attitudes about work – In today’s busy world, it’s no longer about just working 9 – 5 and believe it or not if you are working on a job, you can still create business partners within your own company and globally in different departments and in other organizations by networking.

Re-Invent networking by creating global relationships that cross industries and cultures. All you need is a PC, a cell phone, and an Internet connection. And the world has just opened up to you. I learned this when I participated in the Crossing Bridges Women’s Conference in Nuremberg, Germany. I consulted with the planning committee on this conference for a year. All via e-mail and monthly conference calls, which culminated in me actually teaching a PR workshop in Germany. As a result of technology, the world has gotten smaller and the opportunities have increased. To re-invent yourself, you just have to challenge your own view of how YOU do business, go about accomplishing your goals, or network.

Remember the reinvention really starts with you.

Here’s to Walking into your own greatness!

Carpe Diem! Peace and Blessings!

Debra Dixon

Light of Gold PR and Marketing LLC

http://www.lightofgoldpr.com

lightofgoldpr@gmail.com

Reposted on July 12, 2008