What a pleasant surprise to wake up this morning and see that I was able to round out the list of 115 Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses in today’s The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur! 

What tips might you have added to this list? Any good anecdotes? Enjoy!

I’ve spent a lot of time over the past several months learning about Twitter and more recently answering the slue of questions from those new to the platform or interested learning more about it. As a result, we have recently put together a simple 90-minute crash course called…Twitter 101 (go figure:).

Here is a quick overview of this session – I would love your feedback…are we missing anything, did we focus on the wrong things, etc.?

Social Media Facts

• Social Media are platforms for interaction & relationships, not content and ads (as with traditional “old media”)
• 5 Misconceptions about Social Media:
  1. Another fad
  2. It’s for kids or teens
  3. Used by tech geeks
  4. Not for businesses
  5. A BIG waste of time
• Social networks & blogs = 4^th most popular online activity ahead of email
• 67% of overall global online community now visit these sites
• The biggest increase in visitors during 2008 to “member Community” web sites globally came from the 35-49 yr old age group (+11.3 million)

What is Twitter?

Twitter is “The world’s largest cocktail party!”  With 11 million registered users, Twitter is growing 6X faster than Facebook.

Twitter is a social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read other users’ “updates” known as tweets. (wikipedia)

 Twitter Crash Course

• Create your Twitter profile
• Followers – see everything you tweet; Following – you see everything they tweet
• Search for other Tweeps – “find people”
• Tweeting:
  1. Begin engaging in conversations once you have some that you’re following
  2. Do tell people what you’re doing, but less than 50% of your tweets
  3. Share useful stories, blog posts, quotes or information – you want them to share with their followers
• @ Replies
• Direct Messages or DM’s
• Retweet or RT

 Time Management

Restricting your time on Twitter is important

• Block off three 15-20 minute blocks of time throughout your day
• When you’re on Twitter – don’t reply to email, answer phone calls etc. FOCUS on Twitter, ENGAGE
• If time allows, spend the evening catching up with your tweeps; especially if your time was cut short during the workday

 Useful Twitter Sources & Sites

www.tinyurl.com – shortens any URL allowing you to include it in your tweets, keeping it within the 140 characters

www.twitpic.com – allows you to share photos on Twitter

www.tweetdeck.com – helps you organize those you’re following into categories & makes it easier to tweet with each.

www.tweetlater.com – just like Google Alerts, it uses “keywords” to help you find others that are tweeting about things you’re interested in, allowing you to follow them.

www.twellow.com – allows you to search by category or industry + same functionality of Twitter Search

www.mrtweet.net – this is your personal networking agent that looks at your existing followers and following and lines you up with others that share similar traits.

As expected, I’ve heard a lot of buzz recently that Twitter is just a “fad”, “a waste of time”, “not for business”, etc. In fact, on Monday here in Chicago I had to laugh at the report from Bob Sirott at NBC 5 who completely misses the mark about the value of Twitter saying it is, “a place to tell other people what you’re doing.”  Such a one way dialog is quite obvious when you look at Bob’s Twitter page .

I’m not at all surprised about Bob’s reaction as this is bound to happen when you see such a surge of stories in the media. To validate this increase in media conversations, I did a quick Google News search on the top social media platforms including Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and YouTube.  Here’s what I found:

• #1 – 62,000 media mentions of Facebook
• #2 – 44,000 media mentions of Twitter
• #3 – 43,500 media mentions of YouTube
• #4 – 26,000 media mentions of MySpace

In fact, I’ve started doing a series of Twitter 101 sessions with individuals, businesses, organizations, etc. My goal is not to “hook” them in our wonderful world of Twitter…but to educate them about how they might be able to leverage Twitter as a valuable networking tool.

What do you think about Twitter? Is it hear to stay or just a lot of hype? Also, what are some of your best practices around using Twitter? Thanks!

How many times over the past several months have you been asked about social media (i.e., blogging, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc.)? Perhaps your family heard you talking about your Facebook page, a client overheard you mention something about your blog or perhaps a neighbor just learned about YouTube because a friend forwarded them a hilarious video. For whatever reason you have all of a sudden been singled out as an “expert” because you are participating across multiple social media platforms.

I’ve recently had this exact thing happen to me and I typically respond by saying, “I’m certainly not an ‘expert’ but I consider myself and advocate.”  Unless you’re Chris Brogan or a small handful of others that have been playing in this space from the very beginning, you likely aren’t an expert. Plus since this space is evolving every single day, just by nature of participation, we are all learning as we move along.

I would recommend that each of you reading this post strongly consider how you are positioning yourself in this ever changing space. I think there is an amazing opportunity to advocate (specifically to the business world) the basics of social media so folks aren’t jumping into these platforms without a clear understanding of how they work & how they work to your advantage.  Here are 5 speaking points I use with anyone to educate them on the basics of using social media:

1. What is social media? – I like to tell folks that social media are platforms for interaction and relationships, not content or ads (like traditional media). Don’t get me wrong, content is very important but only in the context of adding value to the interactions & relationships;
2. The State of the Social Media Industry – I also like to tell people that if you’re willing to be (1) consistent & (2) transparent, you’ll likely do well in the social media space.  People also love stats, so it is important that they understand the reality of today’s social media landscape – here are some great industry stats from Mashable;
3. Common misconceptions about social media – In order to best relate to someone that hasn’t yet explored social media, it is very important to discuss the most common misconceptions such as: it’s just another online fad, it’s just for teens or tech geeks, it’s not for business or it’s a BIG waste of time;
4. Corporate examples of social media programs – I was recently introduced to the good folks over at Blog Council who work with the largest corporations currently leveraging social media. They have some amazing case studies from companies such as Walmart, Intel, UPS and The Home Depot. I think this answers the question is it right for businesses:);
5. Develop a social media strategy – If at this point they are interested in moving forward, this step is a MUST. Like any good business goals, you must also be able to measure what you are doing across these social media platforms. I like to help them develop a strategy with realistic goals and measurements before they even start experimenting across these platforms.

What do you say to people who ask about social media as a whole or these specific platforms? Do you consider yourself to be an advocate? Personally, anyone who is willing to share their best practices and has proven (measurable) success should be talking to everyone experimenting with social media. If we don’t, this space that we all cherish and appreciate could quickly be flooded by folks that DON’T get it…and that would suck:).

This past holiday season I conducted a pseudo study of all the holiday or Christmas cards I received. Much to my sjogren, I discovered that almost 75% of the cards received hadn’t one bit of personalization on them except for the handwritten address. And probably half of those that weren’t personalized at all didn’t even have a handwritten address…but a printed lable. 

Please don’t get me wrong, we had a nice family photo card made via Shutterfly this year, last and probably the year prior.  But my wife and I usually sit down and sign each card typically writing a little personalized note on each. Besides, for many, this may be our only interaction with them all year!

Unfortunately, I believe we’re in a new era of “Template Personalization.” The dichotomy of the phrase is on purpose as ”template” and “personalization” are as opposite as “night” and “day.” Yet we see examples of this being used across all mediums of communication today. Here are 3 additional examples of “Template Personalization”:

• Blast Emails – We see this one all too much within the business world and in particular within public relations as many PR firms and professionals see a need to blast a pitch and worse yet, a release to hundreds of journalists…hoping for something to stick.
• Evite – I’ve used Evite’s many times and will continue to do so as they’re a great way of managing a party or event. But when you have a small group of friends, family or even coworkers your inviting for an event…why not use print invitations and write a personal invite on each?
• Automatic Direct Messages on Twitter - When you start following someone on Twitter (kind of like your “friends” on Facebook for those of you not using Twitter) there are many services out there that allow for you to send a template response or direct message to those that started following you. I’ve recently started calling attention to these via my Twitter account (here is a link to these tweets).

What are some good (or bad in this situation) examples of “Template Personalization” that you’ve seen? I look forward to adding to this list as I definitely plan on tweeting & posting on this subject often…consider it a pet peeve of mine:)

Today I have to share a personal story with you & I ask each of you stop after reading this post and ask yourself, “how can I make a difference…today.”

Like almost half of American families, my parents were divorced and my loving mother took on the burden of raising her two boys by herself ever since I was 3 and my brother 5. She worked two jobs for as long as I could ever remember & her parents (my grandparents) chipped in as much as possible to make sure we were raised with good morals and ethics while she supported us financially. Ultimately, my brother & I had everything any two boys could ever want throughout our childhood – more love than most kids could ever ask for, a stocked fridge, new clothes on our backs and a role model for the ages. My mother didn’t just support our family financially and emotionally, she was also a “serial philanthropist” and was always donating her time and effort to a new cause in the community, for area churches and families in need.

My life suddenly changed my freshman year in college as she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had a tumor removed the size of a volleyball. Doctor’s said she would be fortunate to live another 3 months given the magnitude of the cancer & tumor. Two years later she had another tumor removed the size of a medicine ball (I believe this is in the medical record books…or so we were told by the doctors). Through it all, she was planning the first festival of its kind in my hometown…which ultimately raised several thousand dollars for local charities. The summer after my graduation & almost 3 years after the doctors told her she had 3 months to live, the fight ended at the tender age of 53.

The reason I share this story with you isn’t for sympathy or sadness but to remind you that we are all put on this earth for a mission and purpose. Although we all have our specific passions in life, I believe that EVERY person has a desire to give back & help others in some way, shape or form. My mother faced adversity in the face – being a single parent, working multiple jobs to keep her family together, and constantly giving back to the community all while fighting the illness that ultimately took her life. 

In the spirit of my mother & belief in the power of social media, today I am making it a personal goal to recruit at least 250 people to join a cause that I know will make a huge impact on a number of people’s lives called 12for12K. The goal is quite simple:

• 12 months
• 12 charities
• 1,200 caring people
• $10 per person each month
• $12,000 per charity

We are all looking adversity in the face today with these challenging economic conditions. However, I would ask that each of you dig a little deeper to ask yourself if you could do without just one of the following each month to change someone’s life forever?:

• 2 Starbucks coffees;
• 8 gallons of gas;
• 2 Subway sandwiches;
• 2 Happy Meals from McDonalds;
• 1 ticket to the movies;
• 1 DVD;
• 1 CD;
• Etc……

Please take a minute to think about how you could support 12for12K…and pass on the legacy someone your life who has inspired you to do good for others. Thank you in advance for paying this message forward to others!

Before networking events, business luncheons, after-hours socials and our beloved social media platforms…there were three-martini lunches. I remember a story my grandfather told me soon after I first entered the business world. He talked about when he was an executive at WGN and would take a prospective client out to lunch. By the time they wrapped things up…several cocktails and stories later…they would undoubtedly have a new client (not to mention a killer buzz).

This story recently popped up in my memory this week as I was trying to pinpoint my feelings about why the “doubters” (specifically business folks) should join the social media party. I’d like to make a claim that social media can be a lot like three-martini lunches for the following 3 reasons:

• Let’s Just Talk: (Three-martini lunch) Grab a drink, relax, kick back and let’s get to know each other. We can talk about anything from sports & family to passions & interests. Ultimately, we hope to find a common ground. (Social media) We share many great conversations on Twitter, become friends on Facebook & find out that we have many things in common.
• Loosen Up A Little: (Three-martini lunch) After a drink or two we’ve loosened our tie, let down our business facet & seemed to forgetten that we were even here to talk business…and that’s okay. (Social Media) Although we all have information about our respective professions on our Twitter bios, blogs and LinkedIn pages, we find ourselves connecting with others because of who they are…not where they work.
• I’m Glad We Got To Know Each Other: (Three-martini lunch) When “lunch” is through, we’ve shared stories & laughes, advice & perspective, and stumble out of the restaurant with a new level of comfort and understanding for each other. (Social Media) We’ve shared pictures & links, posts & comments and at the end of the day we shut down our computers having made new connections…and friends.

So the next time you have someone poo-poo social media as a “new fangled technology” or any of the other “10 Most Common Social Media Myths,” just invite them to pull up a stool and allow you to pour them a drink:).

Do you have a good analogy that you use when educating the “doubters” or “skeptics” about this social media experience I like to call the world’s largest cocktail party? Cheers!

Today, TIME published a story by Jay Newton-Small called, “Congress’s New Love Affair with Twitter, for Better or Worse.”

I encourage you to read the story for yourself, but here is a quick summary…the story begins by sharing a story about Representative Pete Hoekstra from Michigan (@petehoekstra) and how sent tweets about his recent trip to Baghdad. Congratulations Rep. Hoekstra! Here’s to a new generation of political leaders truly engaging with their constituents – transparent, engaged in conversation & readily available!

Following this pattern (next generation of politicians), the story leads into President Obama’s remarkable use of social media during his presidential campaign. Surprisingly, the story suggests that there are a total of 65 Representatives on Twitter but most have various staffers managing these profiles (perhaps more of a one-way conversation than preferred).

The story continues on to share the various ways that Twitter is being used by various political entities and politicians. During the recent closed meetings with President Obama & Congress to discuss our nation’s stimulus package to the recent Alfalfa Club Dinner attended by Gov. Sarah Palin, President Obama & SC Chief Justice John Roberts. Such a great story concluded by this paragraph:

“Of course, if you’ve ever spent any time on Facebook or Twitter, you know that much of what people post is simply the boring minutia of daily life. Did we really need to know what Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley was doing for New Year’s? (“I didn’t stay up to see Ball drop. I will watch Hawkeyw ftball. Otherwise read. Not a very exciting new year celebration but tradition for me.”) Or that McCaskill broke her diet on Saturday and had a chocolate mousse with raspberry sauce? Probably not, but if Americans really want an unvarnished look at their elected Representatives, perhaps such mundane details are the price of admission.”

I applaud each politician actually leveraging Twitter & encourage each of your to ask your Representatives to join the party:)

Every since jumping on the Twitter train (my first tweet) the one ongoing question I’ve continued to hear is, “how do I leverage Twitter for my business?” In fact I recently wrote, “Mixing Twitter & Business – Congrats Dell!” Also, here is an awesome post from Chris Brogan (@ChrisBrogan) entitled, “50 Ideas on Using Twitter for Business.”

Like with any other business initiative, I would always recommend that you define your goals – in this case how you will be using Twitter or social media in general. In the spirit of being transparent, here’s why I’m here:

1. Engage in the social media experience to increase my knowledge and understanding of each platform;
2. Establish and foster relationships with individuals who might be able to add value to myself and my business;
3. Assist others and their business or clients in any way I can.

As a result of this ongoing question, I’ve spent some time asking many of my friends and followers which businesses they admire on Twitter. I’m following each and I plan on pulling this conversation into this blog and other social media platforms as I see great examples of businesses using Twitter (and other SM). Here is my shortlist:

@Zappos
@ComcastCares
@1800Flowers
@TheHomeDepot
@Threadless
@JetBlue
@Nordstrom
@CarlsJr

Also, Chris Pitre (@ChrisPitre) provided me with this awesome site that is an index for all different businesses and resources on Twitter – http://www.socialbrandindex.com/ (NOTE: just because a business is on this list it doesn’t mean they are doing a good job utilizing Twitter – i.e., following 6 with 20,000 following them).

Which businesses might you add to this shortlist? How do YOU leverage Twitter for your business or clients? I’m looking forward to your input as I’m treating this as a little side project/experiment:) Thanks!

I’ve constantly been impressed with President Obama’s marketing and PR savvy.  From David Axelrod to his new Commerce Secretary, Senator Judd Gregg, President Obama has coined a new term in marketing called, “poli-marketing” (or at least the first time I’ve heard of the term).

FOX News (The FOX Forum Blog) & John Tantillo came out with a great story yesterday about just this topic entitled, “THE FIRST 100 DAYS: Look Out, Washington, There’s a New Brand In Town.”

I’m continuing to read more on his various marketing tactics but I’ve really been enamored by his leverage of social media techniques throughout his campaign and now the various other marketing/PR moves he’s made in his role as President of the United States.

Proud to be an American. Proud to be a marketer:)