LinkedIn is a great marketing platform for building your business and for making b2b connections.

digg_url = ‘http://www.melaniekissell.com/2010/02/linkedin-profile-seo-tips/’;
digg_title = ‘Two Quick LinkedIn Profile SEO Tips’;
digg_bodytext = ‘

LinkedIn is a great marketing platform for building your business and for making b2b connections.

‘;
digg_skin = ”;
digg_window = ‘new’;

Continue reading...

William Bernbach said, “An idea can turn to dust or magic depending on the talent that rubs against it.”

Here are 6 ways to give your inner being a makeover and increase your visibility and credibility:

1.)  Become an expert at “stating” your expertise – Step up and Claim it!

What problems do you solve?  Who do you help?  What real world training or life experience do you have?  What awards have you won or books have you written?  Have a sense of self-worth. Experts with sizzle share information “memorably”.  Draw upon your creativity, sense of humor, and energy.

2.)  Understand where your target market gets information

Start a “wish list”.  Identify three venues where you want to be known.  Become the Go-To person.  Don’t be ORDINARY.  Set yourself apart from others in your field.  Personally brand YOU.  Your personality and unique FLAIR are as special as your fingerprints.

3.)  Create an ROI (Return On Investment) Plan

Figure out what you want in return.  More web traffic?  Increased opt-in rate?  Increased credibility?  Publicity?  Fame leads to fortune.

4.)  Be a trend watcher

Open yourself to new venues, formats, and opportunities.  Follow the top ten bloggers in your niche.  What are they talking about?  Subscribe to a weekly ezine that will keep you updated on the latest trends in your industry. Utilize social media to stay informed – what are the  latest hop topics of discussion on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.?  Awareness is powerful.

5.)  Toot your own horn

Create some Buzz!  Create some Fans!  Exude confidence.  Find your passion and work with your strengths.  Share your accomplishments.  Get powerful testimonials to serve as social proof and increase your perceived value.  Accept invitations to do presentations, teleclasses, or seminars. Become a sought after, recognized expert.

6.)  Publish or Perish

Get seen by more people.  Publish articles in online article directories.  Blog, blog, and blog some more.  Take a look at the VALUE of the information you supply.  Through writing, you can bottle and sell your expertise.  Imagine your ideal visibility level and focus on CREDIBILITY- the quality of being believable, trustworthy, transparent, and authentic.

Travel Off the Beaten Path, Stand Out and Sizzle!

digg_url = ‘http://www.melaniekissell.com/2010/02/6-ways-to-boost-your-visibility-and-credibility/’;
digg_title = ‘6 Ways to Boost Your Visibility and Credibility’;
digg_bodytext = ‘

William Bernbach said, “An idea can turn to dust or magic depending on the talent that rubs against it.”
Here are 6 ways to give your inner being a makeover and increase your visibility and credibility:
1.)  Become an expert at “stating” your expertise [...]

Continue reading...

You can choose to bury your head in the sand or sweep the fact under the rug, but …

Social Media sites are here to stay.

Online visibility and credibility expert, Nancy Marmolejo, answers “Why Social Networking?” in her Free Action Guide. It’s a great read!

Take a minute to share your thoughts:

How are you incorporating social networking into your marketing strategy?  Which social media site do you use most?  Why? Post your comments below.

digg_url = ‘http://www.melaniekissell.com/2010/02/nancy-marmolejo-answers-that-all-important-question-why-social-networking/’;
digg_title = ‘Nancy Marmolejo answers that all-important question, “Why Social Networking?”’;
digg_bodytext = ‘

You can choose to bury your head in the sand or sweep the fact under the rug, but …
Social Media sites are here to stay.
Online visibility and credibility expert, Nancy Marmolejo, answers “Why Social Networking?” in her Free Action Guide. It’s [...]

Continue reading...

Social media marketing is absolutely necessary if you’re trying to build your business online.  You can’t ignore the fact, sweep it under the rug, or crawl into a hole of denial. Just take a look at television ads these days.  Social media sites are here to stay.

The last I heard, Twitter is growing in popularity by 40% a month!  If you haven’t figured out how to utilize Twitter as a marketing tool, let me help you get on board in the most effective ways possible.

Keep these guidelines handy for using Twitter as a marketing tool:

1.)  Provide Value

2.)  Create anticipation

3.)  Drive conversation

4.)  Showcase your biz

5.)  Announce something important

6.)  Build community

7.)  Be helpful

8.)  Brag a bit! You deserve it

9.)  Show a little personality

10.) Experiment with giveaways, discounts, and contests

As a general rule, less than 10% of your Tweets should involve any kind of selling or promoting.  So what should you be Tweeting about?

Re-Tweet information from your followers that you find useful, funny, or relevant. Share Twitpics – the most opened links on Twitter!  Communitcate newsworthy items and events and be sure to ask your followers to Re-Tweet the messages for you. Speak in your authentic voice and show why your biz and you are cool.  Send out welcome Tweets to new followers (no selling) and become the go-to person in your niche by providing helpful tips and resources and answering questions from your target market.  Promote what you want to promote, but make building relationships your highest priority.

Not quite sure how to “brag” the right way on Twitter? The biggest challenge is getting over the “fear” of bragging. After all, you don’t want to sound like a used car salesman. My friend and colleague, Cathy Goodwin, can help.  Just get her mp3 recording and 25-page workbook by going to:
BRAGGING 101 (This is my affiliate link and I give it my highest recommendation) Teeny-Tiny investment and Big results.

digg_url = ‘http://www.melaniekissell.com/2010/02/10-ways-to-get-the-most-out-of-twitter-as-a-marketing-tool/’;
digg_title = ‘10 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Twitter As A Marketing Tool’;
digg_bodytext = ‘

Social media marketing is absolutely necessary if you’re trying to build your business online.  You can’t ignore the fact, sweep it under the rug, or crawl into a hole of denial. Just take a look at television [...]

Continue reading...

The bottom line is that if you aren’t utilizing Facebook as one of your main marketing platforms, you NEED to jump on board. Service professionals, authors, consultants, and other small business owners are realizing revolutionary results on Facebook.  So why shouldn’t YOU?

I know I’m looking forward to making a big splash on Facebook and I hope you’ll join me and my friend and colleague, Jessica Swanson, the “Shoestring Marketer”, for a Free Profitable Facebook Marketing Webinar this Thursday, February 11th.

As an extra special bonus, you’ll receive a link to the video recording, a downloadable PDF workbook, and a step-by-step action plan.

Seats are limited so I suggest you RUN, not walk to register for this complementary event!

digg_url = ‘http://www.melaniekissell.com/2010/02/is-your-small-business-making-a-big-splash-on-facebook/’;
digg_title = ‘Is Your Small Business Making A Big Splash On Facebook?’;
digg_bodytext = ‘
The bottom line is that if you aren’t utilizing Facebook as one of your main marketing platforms, you NEED to jump on board. Service professionals, authors, consultants, and other small business owners are realizing revolutionary results on Facebook.  So why [...]

Continue reading...

If you answered “YES” to the question in my title, you’d be right!

digg_url = ‘http://www.melaniekissell.com/2010/02/is-social-media-marketing-really-necessary-for-your-business/’;
digg_title = ‘Is Social Media Marketing Really Necessary For Your Business?’;
digg_bodytext = ‘

If you answered “YES” to the question in my title, you’d be right!

‘;
digg_skin = ”;
digg_window = ‘new’;

Continue reading...

Marketing no longer means going to the grocery store. It’s a broad term used by businesses that can encompass everything from letterhead and logos to contests and tradeshows. Is it any wonder that people with great ideas for products or services often get tripped up or discouraged when asked about their marketing plan?

In a nutshell, your marketing plan is the strategy, or actions and materials, you use to attract new customers and sales. Ideally, you develop an ongoing relationship with your customer by building a foundation of trust in you, and in your product. The process can feel complex and somewhat overwhelming at its inception, but, once mastered, can yield amazing results.

The truth is if you have any successful friendships (which I know you do) you already know the basic premise behind building solid relationship foundations. It is that relationship that compels your potential customers to take action and purchase your products and services… again and again.

To help you develop a winning formula and create a successful marketing plan, follow these guidelines:

• Strategize your method of delivery. You have to get your message and your brand into the marketplace. When deciding how and when to deliver your materials, remember that people are busy, suffering from information overload and you have a limited amount of time to capture their attention. (Usually just a few seconds.) Once you pique their curiosity you can provide them with more material but don’t overwhelm them by asking them to digest it all at once.
• Understand your buyer and their needs. Take the time to research, listen to feedback and predict what your customers want and need. Flexibility is the key here. Your buyers might want more from you than what you originally had to offer… figure out how to get it to them and you’ve got a repetitive and reliable customer.
• Highlight your uniqueness. Let your customers know what makes you different and emphasize those differences in your messages. Small differences presented effectively can be the determining factor.
• Concentrate on developing the emotional connection. Invite your customers to get to know you on a personal level. People prefer to do business with other people rather than invisible corporations. Make sure you have a visible and personalized profile. Write about yourself in your blogs and newsletters and include photos of yourself.
• Monkey see, monkey do. There’s no need to start from scratch when developing a marketing plan. Analyze successful tactics from other businesses and mimic the strategies they utilize. Choose a method and modify it to fit the needs of your audience and the products and services you provide.
• Telling versus selling. Connections are easily established when people feel they have something in common. When you market your message by telling a story your audience can more easily relate to you. And besides, who doesn’t love a good story?

Think of your marketing plan as your roadmap to success. Figure out where your audience wants to go (understand your buyers needs), describe why they should go on this trip (tell them a story), emphasize why riding with you is the best option (highlight your uniqueness), select a comfortable and reliable mode of transportation (your method of delivery), find out what they hope to see along the way (give ‘em what they want), choose a route (no need to build new roads to get from point A to B), take some photos along the way (enhance the emotional connection), ask them where they want to go next and remind them of all the fun you had on your trip.

Until next time… happy trails and I hope to see you on the road!

Donna Kozik is a two-time award winning author who has been featured in Woman’s Day, Women’s World, Teen People, The L.A. Times, The Baltimore Sun, NPR’s “Marketplace” and other media. She now shows others how to write and publish a book fast and easy to use as a “big business card.” She does this through “Write a Book in a Weekend” live and virtual events.

To find out more —> GO HERE

digg_url = ‘http://www.melaniekissell.com/2010/01/marketing-can-be-a-trip-post-by-donna-kozik/’;
digg_title = ‘Marketing Can Be A Trip – Post by Donna Kozik’;
digg_bodytext = ‘
Marketing no longer means going to the grocery store. It’s a broad term used by businesses that can encompass everything from letterhead and logos [...]

Continue reading...

Babies are soft and sweet and gentle. But sometimes they can be really loud! Those are the moments they will instantly and effectively grab your attention, awaken you from a sound sleep, call you away from the dinner table, or even cut your shower super short.

What can you learn from babies that will help you market your business online?

Babies are great at taking center stage, tooting their own horns, and getting someone to take action. And that’s exactly what you need to do as an online marketer in order to reach your business goals. Pardon the pun, but you can’t take “baby steps” and be shy about it. Many service professionals I’ve met would rather do a root canal on a Rottweiler than promote themselves. They’re afraid of coming across as sales-y and no one likes a pain-in-the-patootie sales person.

I’m not suggesting you annoy your target market by pitching, pouncing, prodding, and pestering (loud and obnoxious never wins any awards). Instead, learn how to become an expert at Bragging — the right way. Your clients and potential clients want to work with a winner, someone who is skilled at alleviating their pain and solving their problems. They want you to brag and they want to brag about you.

Ask yourself these questions as you put together your marketing messages: “Why would someone want to hire YOU? What are your strongest selling points that set you apart and make you stand out? If someone were to brag about you, what would they say?”

Friend and colleague, Cathy Goodwin of Copy Cat Copywriting, has an mp3 recording and 25-page workbook called Bragging101 for under twenty dollars that is a phenomenal tool that teaches you how to market confidently without sounding like a used car salesman. I use it in my own business and refer back to it often. If you have a fear of bragging, check it out.

If your current marketing strategy and self-promotion resembles that of a sleeping baby, it’s time to wake it up!

digg_url = ‘http://www.melaniekissell.com/2010/01/what-can-babies-teach-you-about-promoting-yourself-and-marketing-your-services/’;
digg_title = ‘What Can Babies Teach You About Promoting Yourself And Marketing Your Services?’;
digg_bodytext = ‘
Babies are soft and sweet and gentle. But sometimes they can be really loud! Those are the moments they will instantly and effectively grab your attention, awaken you from a sound sleep, call you away from the dinner [...]

Continue reading...

Can you see a need for using PLR as an integral part of your marketing strategy?   Nicole Dean offers the Best Original PLR on the planet.

digg_url = ‘http://www.melaniekissell.com/2010/01/what-in-the-world-is-plr/’;
digg_title = ‘What In The World is PLR?’;
digg_bodytext = ‘

Can you see a need for using PLR as an integral part of your marketing strategy?   Nicole Dean offers the Best Original PLR on the planet.

‘;
digg_skin = ”;
digg_window = ‘new’;

Continue reading...

There you sit, week after week in front of your computer screen, banging out blog posts and 140-character Tweets.  What’s the use? Nothing happens. Your blog is gathering moss and no one on social media sites seems to know you exist.  Pretty frustrating.  You’ve got talent, skills, and expertise (out the wazootie!) to share with your target market. But there’s a big problem.  Your audience seems to be far away in a distant land on a perpetual vacation. In other words, they’re absent and you may as well be invisible.

You begin to recognize that working online can be a very lonely business and you’re feeling stuck in a rut.  Not a good feeling.  How can you break out of this hum-drum routine and start making a profit?  Joint Venture with someone! But play it SMART.  After all, this is YOUR business we’re talking about so know exactly what to look for. Take just one minute to watch this free video and learn the “3 Biggest Mistakes To Avoid” when looking for a Joint Venture partner.

I’m pleased to say I found a fantastic partner recently.  She needed some original content for her blog and newsletter and I needed some online visibility.  We’ll be doing some internet radio show broadcasts together soon, as well. Can you see the mutual benefit here?  As the saying goes, it’s not rocket science.  Now I’m not feeling so alone and we’re working jointly to help one another experience and enjoy the success we deserve.  Doesn’t get any better than that.

Flying solo in your online business can leave you feeling isolated and lonely and ready to throw in the towel.  Instead, have some fun and start looking for someone to collaborate with today!

digg_url = ‘http://www.melaniekissell.com/2010/01/ever-feel-like-youre-marketing-to-nobody-2/’;
digg_title = ‘Ever Feel Like You’re Marketing To Nobody?’;
digg_bodytext = ‘
There you sit, week after week in front of your computer screen, banging out blog posts and 140-character Tweets.  What’s the use? Nothing happens. Your blog is gathering moss and no one on social media sites seems to know you exist.  Pretty frustrating.  [...]

Continue reading...