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Social Networking – Marketing Tool Or Friendship Killer? Part 1

Socail Media11 Social Networking   Marketing Tool Or Friendship Killer? Part 1
There’s never been a time for me when I wasn’t marketing something. It all began in 1972. Did the old biodegradable soap thing in my senior year of college as a way to earn some money. Of course, I failed miserably, but I have always been taken with network marketing of one form of another ever since. Anyone who knows me realizes that this is who I’ve always been. I try to look at it from the other side: if someone was always in my face with some new, hot, can’t-miss thing, would I be okay with it. Boy, I don’t know.

Network marketing, multi-level marketing, and all those types of business models have a really bad rep. Honestly, they deserve it. They’ve totally earned the disrespect that defines them. Just the other day, a company that I actually worked for at the corporate level a couple of years ago went under. I totally understand why it all happened, and left the company when I saw the writing on the wall. It just took 2 or so more agonizing years for this “great idea” to fold. And, as you all know, most of these types of things do, sooner or later.

So, why do I persist? I wished I could say “I have absolutely no clue.” But, I totally get who I am. I’m afraid it’s in my blood. While I am no longer involved in anything having to do with multiple levels, bogus claims of earning untold mega-millions from the home while working in my underwear (or worse), I will always be a player. It’s something I’m passionate about, and it gives me hope.

That’s something I’ve always craved, and always will. I just decided to ditch companies and opportunities spouting ridiculous claims that even I know have absolutely no chance of materializing. And, having had a brief fling with amazing monetary success once, way back when, I know there’s always a chance, albeit slim, that it can happen again. Just ask my son, who told me yesterday: “You did it once…”

We all want money (okay, maybe you don’t), but how to get our piece of the action is usually an exercise in futility. The only sure-cure way is to find a brick-and-mortar job that will pay you every 2 weeks like clockwork. The main problem is, of course, that you can’t make very much income this way. However, if it’s the only way, then you just have to accept it. I have a regular job. I actually like it very much. But, probably like you, it doesn’t pay all that much. Bottom line: it still pays.

But, with the Internet Age evolving every second, you have access to opportunity and possibility. But, how to make your way through the unending lot of it is another matter. Would you even know a good thing when and if you saw it? I can’t say I would.

But, I’ve had a little luck lately because a good friend decided to start up his own version of classified advertising and offering printable business coupons that his members can create on his site. Prospective customers can print them up on the spot. It’s a pretty cool innovation. And, I know this guy’s as honest and ethical as the day is long. When he asked me to become involved, the idea grew on me. He wanted me to do what I do best: write, edit and brainstorm. And, this guy is giving most of his profits back to members who feel like promoting his (our) business. No wild claims, no levels, just straight-up really high monthly commissions.

I am in love with the idea that a tiny “David” could become wildly successful among the “Goliaths.” If the whole enterprise ends up being just more pie in my sky, well that’s okay, too. You never know what can happen these days. Catch a lucky break, a little serendipitous mention at just the right time and place, and you can go viral. Ask Sarah Boyle, Google, Facebook or Twitter.

In “Social Networking – Marketing Tool Or Friendship Killer? Part 2,” I will discuss the risks and rewards of bugging your friends and followers.

Cynthia ~Social Cowgirl
www.SocialCowgirl.com

Facebook – A Surprisingly Effective Web Marketing Tool

Facebook Marketing9 Facebook   A Surprisingly Effective Web Marketing Tool
Facebook is becoming one of the most important social networks on the web. The company stated that it has now chosen Microsoft over Google to give a $240 million minority stake in a deal to expand advertising services on the network. This will ideally boost revenue for Facebook and increase Microsoft’s online advertising position. The Facebook-Microsoft deal will even further expand the business, which will help online businesses to reach more people and promote themselves through new forms of media.

It was founded in 2004 as a college student network and has grown into an international network for all people. Although it began as a college network, Facebook’s fastest growth demographic is in the 35+ age range. The network has near 49 million users 59% outside the U.S. and has 250,000 new ones registering on a daily basis, making it one of the fastest growing social networks on the web and is surpassing Myspace at lightening speed.

Facebook has proven in recent times to be a viable marketing tool, providing a free and easy way to promote products and services. Facebook users can add tools such as Stumble Upon and Digg to vote and bookmark favorite sites. Posted Items allows users to post company or client blogs and links to drive traffic to your homepage. On the Events page, businesses can promote teleseminars, webinars, workshops and a variety of other events to friends and networkers.

By joining this and other social networking websites, a business can increase their viewers and potential customers all over the world. Because Facebook is an Identity Platform and a closed network, it limits many of the search engines (Yahoo, MSN, Google). Therefore, joining this social network permits a business to access new information on potential clients. This should be used to benefit online marketing since the company has stats on what the users are doing. You can also post a poll to find more about your target demographic on the adverting page on the site. Facebook also has classified ad space on the left hand side and other areas of the site for online business to promote products and services.

In this modern age, people tend to stray away from business home pages. So businesses need to find new and innovative ways to drive traffic to their sites. Social networks are one of many direct response marketing techniques that can help your business flourish.

Cynthia ~Social Cowgirl
www.SocialCowgirl.com

4 Benefits To Using Video With Internet Marketing

Video Marketing5 4 Benefits To Using Video With Internet Marketing
The face of online marketing and advertising is a constantly evolving game. New technologies are changing the way that we market online. Never has there been a better option than video marketing to introduce yourself and your company online. In this article we are going to show you just how much of a positive effect video marketing can have for you and your business.

1) It’s FREE!

Who doesn’t love FREE? This can have a huge impact on your business as the cost of online marketing is soaring. Learning to utilize free advertising methods such as video marketing can have a profound effect on the success of your company. Oftentimes, a company rises or falls based alone on their advertising campaigns and budget. If you have a free method that is proven to be effective, how could you not use it?

2) Gives A Face To The Product

It is true that people buy off of emotion. By putting a video of yourself on your website, introducing yourself, your company, and product, you are giving the customer some reassurance that you are worthy of doing business with. The internet takes away that personal touch that you have when purchasing in a store, but video marketing adds that element back into the online selling process. It is a great way to gain trust from your prospects.

3) Get Your Message Across

Video is a great way to put your ad copy into motion. It is a lot easier to get your point across in video than through written text. Video brings your company and product to life online.

4) Keeping Up With The Times

It really is true that if you do not keep up, you will get left behind. Incorporating videos into your online marketing strategy is a great way to keep up with the times.

These are just a few of the many benefits that you will receive from using videos to help market your product or service online. Thankfully, the process does not have to be difficult either. There are many software programs and conversion techniques that can get you started with online video marketing today.

Cynthia ~Social Cowgirl
www.SocialCowgirl.com

Network Marketing – Is Your Internet Business on Facebook?

Facebook Marketing21 Network Marketing   Is Your Internet Business on Facebook?
In recent years, Facebook has expanded beyond the college dorm to a valued opportunity for advertisement and promotion. Can your Network Marketing Internet Business utilize this social media?

Users on Facebook can interact in a number of ways with other Facebook users such as hosting events, use of social ads, and even send virtual drinks.

The hosting of the 2008 political presidential debate with Charlie Gibson and Facebook was the marking of yet another social marketing opportunity online.

Facebook tips and tools for some sophisticated advertisement opportunity are limitless. Can these advertisement possibilities assist you in expanding your network marketing internet business?

There are multiple blogs, ad pages, posts, and articles available online to help you choose and apply the various Facebook techniques of advertising to your marketing plan. One opportunity is a feature on Facebook referred to as news feed.

What is new feed?

The news feed based upon privacy settings allows for members activities to be chronicled and then have them broadcast to their friends. Not all members enjoy this feature for various reasons but for advertising a person or cause it can be a great feature. In some ways this interaction with friends creates a type of credibility for the individual, organization or cause.

If this sounds interesting to you, check out how to leverage this tool to peddle your product or cause to others

Steps to utilize news feed

1. Create a profile: Anything you want here

2. Host an event and post it: Anything you want here

3. Share pictures or video:

4. Post a picture: Pictures of products would work and if users of Facebook are in the pictures they can be tagged and included in the news feed

5. Post a news article: Perhaps an article that mentions our company name

6. Write a note: A great way to communicate.

Check out other opportunities awaiting on Facebook to give your network marketing internet business some additional exposure.

Cynthia ~Social Cowgirl
www.SocialCowgirl.com

Why Video Marketing is the Ultimate Way to Business Success

Video Marketing16 Why Video Marketing is the Ultimate Way to Business Success
Everywhere you turn, you see video these days. Now I know that there has been a phenomenal amount of hype around the use of video marketing to boost your sales or service. Though you may still be very skeptical let me explain why the hype is not just talk. Let me first preface with a bit of history.

For many, many years, video has been making inroads into our lives. It first began with the silent movies. You may not have been able to hear the words, but if you could see the actors and read the words you were able to feel the emotion that the actors were trying to convey. This was a great boon for the artist at the time as the only way prior to silent movies an actor could be seen was live theater. Though all the rage of the era, it proved to be somewhat limiting as far as reaching a wide audience and generating more income was concerned. After all, a person can only be in one place at a time.

In 1922, there was quite the controversy over the silent film versus the phono film or talking movies. As a matter of fact there was a widespread belief at the time that the talking movie would never replace the silent film and that if indeed it did become popular many present day actors would lose there jobs.

An excerpt from an article courtesy of the New York Times written in 1922 provides insight into the thinking process of the time in regard to then modern day movie.

” At Will Hay’s if was said that the students of film generally felt that ” speakies” would never supersede the movies. Tony Sage said that thousands went to the movies because they were restful and would stay away from speaking films because they would put too much strain on the attention and would, therefore, be tiring. Robert Ellis thought the silent film would always hold its place and that the speaking film might be an utter failure because the illusion created for the eye would interfere with the illusion created for the ear, confusing and bothering the audience.”

We now know of course that this out dated thought process was completely wrong. Not only has the talking film averted confusion between the eyes and ears, it has all but been eliminated. Our talking films of today provide us with pleasure, excitement and stimulation most of which are based in emotion.

We as a viewing audience are quite accustomed to watching a romantic comedy that makes us laugh and cry. On the other hand, we watch an action adventure that elicits emotions like excitement or pulse racing drama.

Each time something happens to our favorite movie star in real life we tend to “feel” for them as if we know them on a personal level

A few more notable examples of this are the untimely death of Elvis Presley, Princess Diana, John Wayne, or the latest tragedy Heath Ledger.

An enormous sector of the viewing public cried and mourned each ones death on a very personal level as if they were close friends instead of fans that were completely unknown to the decedent.

Consequently, now the obvious question becomes; how can we produce the same emotional attachment in a customer base?

Thus far, marketing mediums for print required a talent for writing. The least of which is the deceptively simple 3 line ad. The seller must cleverly learn to produce an ad which is eye catching and conveys the benefits of their products to the reader. It must also generate excitement in the prospect to induce the prospect to purchase. In order to accomplish this feat, a home based business owner must either learn extraordinary copy writing skills or empty their pockets to the more talented writers for hire. Good ones are not cheap.

There are however, alternatives for today’s internet marketer.

In 2008, Studies show that people only remember 10% of what they read, 20% of what they hear; 30% of what they see, and 50% of what they see and hear together. Obviously, we can conclude from the study, if a marketer can present his business or service in all three modalities a much stronger and memorable message will be delivered to their potential or existing customer base.

At present the only medium that satisfies that criteria is video marketing. No one can explain a product or service better than the business owner himself.

While the owner may struggle to hopefully find the right words to put in print, there is little doubt when placed in front of a web cam with digital capability, the same owner can usually give a more than adequate performance of demonstrating and explaining the product or service which he represents.

It is during a video session the owner is most able to convey his trustworthiness, sincerity, excitement and enthusiasm. These are the qualities that will convince a customer to purchase.

A number of studies have shown that a person will actually pay a higher price for a purchase if they like and trust the person they are dealing with. This, in the short term, can result in repeat business. In the long run it just may significantly enhance the business owner’s profit margin.

Cynthia ~Social Cowgirl
www.SocialCowgirl.com

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