Results are in:

Rebtel, the world’s second largest VoIP company after Skype, today announced new results from a recent research study conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of Rebtel. The study was conducted from November 18-22, 2011 and gathered responses from more than 2,000 U.S. adults, with the intention of showing the frequency and means of communication between American adults and their family and friends living abroad during the holiday season.

According to the report, online women who plan to communicate with family and friends who are abroad over the holidays are more likely than men to use free services such social networking sites to do so (47% vs. 34%) and more than twice as many U.S. women indicated that they plan to spend less than last year (11% compared to 5% of men). Overall, the study shows that approximately 39% of Americans have family and friends living abroad, with nearly one in five (19%), or 44.6 million American adults planning to communicate with their family and friends who are abroad over the holiday season.

The survey focused on four specific aspects related to the means of communication between Americans and their family and friends living abroad during the holiday season (defined as the time between Thanksgiving and New Years Day):

• Expected number of people planning to communicate with family and friends who are living abroad over the holidays.

• The methods, programs, applications or devices used by those who are planning to communicate with family and friends abroad over the holidays.

• The amount of money Americans plan to spend on international communication over the holidays compared to last holiday season.

• The frequency of mobile application use to communicate with family and friends abroad this holiday season compared to last holiday season.

Are Women Smarter Than Men When it Comes to Holiday Communications Spending?

According to the study, women are much heavier users of alternative methods of staying in touch over the holidays compared to men, and more than twice as many U.S. women than men indicated they plan to spend less money communicating with family and friends than last year:

• Among the 19% of the U.S. adult population that plans to communicate with family and friends abroad over the holiday season, 8% plan to spend less than last year, with more than twice as many women (11%) indicating this than men (5%).

• Among the 19% of the U.S. adult population that plans to communicate with family and friends abroad over the holidays, 23% plan to spend more money communicating than they did last year, with U.S. men being significantly more likely to indicate this than women (30% vs. 16%).

• Among the 19% of the U.S. adult population who plan to communicate with family and friends abroad over the holidays, 69% plan to spend about the same amount of money as last year communicating with family and friends who are abroad, with no significant differences between women (73%) and men (66%).

When given the option to decide which types of communication methods would be used to stay in touch with family and friends abroad over the holiday season, men were significantly more likely to prefer traditional methods, such as home phone/landline (51%) and email (76%). Whereas, half (50%) of U.S. women indicated that they planned to communicate with family and friends via social networking sites, compared to only 41% of U.S. men; furthermore, one third (33%) of women indicated that they planned to use video chat on their personal computer.

Regarding VOIP calling services, like Rebtel and Vonage, nearly three times more online men (11%) than online women (4%) indicated that they planned to use this method to stay in touch with family and friends abroad this holiday season. In terms of communicating via mobile applications (e.g., apps for Facebook, Skype, Rebtel, Kik, What’sApp) on their smartphone, tablet, or eReader, it should be noted that while online men and women plan to use that method about the same (15% and 16% respectively), 45% of online women plan to use mobile applications more than last year, compared to 18% of men.

Among the 19% of U.S. adults who indicated they plan to communicate with family and friends over the holiday season, here’s a break down of their communication preferences, as well as how the responses differed between male and female respondents:

Methods American Adults Plan To Use to Communicate with Family and Friends Abroad Over the Holiday Season:

Email: 71% (Men 76%, Women 64%)

Mobile Phone (using minutes through cell phone provider): 43% (Men 47%, Women 39%)

Home Phone (i.e., traditional landline): 44% (Men 51%, Women 36%)

Social Networking Sites (e.g. Facebook, Twitter) on their personal computer: 45% (Men 41%, Women 50%)

Txt Messaging (through cell phone service): 33% (Men 35%, Women 31%)

Video chat (e.g.,Skype) on their personal computer: 31% (Men 30%, Women 33%)

IM (e.g., AIM, Google Chat,): 22% (Men 26%, Women 18%)

Mobile Applications (e.g., apps for Facebook, Skype, Rebtel, Kik, What’sApp) on their smartphone, tablet and/or eReader: 17% (Men 16%, Women 19%)

VoIP Service (e.g., Vonage, Rebtel) on their personal computer: 9% (Men 13%, Women 6%)

“Our findings show that almost two out of five American adults (39%) have family and friends living abroad, and while men tend to prefer traditional methods of communication when it comes to staying in touch, women appear to be opting for alternative methods like social networks. I think the larger trend is that women are making smarter communication choices, which has the reciprocal affect helping them save money during a time of year where almost everyone can benefit from a little more cash in their wallet,” said Andreas Bernstrom, CEO of Rebtel.

Survey Methodology: Harris Interactive® fielded the study on behalf of Rebtel from November 18 – 22, 2011, via its Harris Poll QuickQuery(SM) online omnibus service, which interviewed a nationwide sample of 2,160 U.S. adults aged 18 years and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Eric Gonzalez at eric@vscpr.com.

* According to 2010 U.S. Census estimates, there are approximately 235 million adults living in America (119 million women and 116 million men). Total population is approximately 309 million, with an estimated 24% of the population less than 18 years old. http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-03.pdf

This special online event, a week of unique blog posts, is brought to you by Biba Pedron from

Today I introduce you to Mari-Lyn Harris a Relationship Marketing Specialist

How does or is Social Media networking/marketing working for you? Are your connections helping you? Most people like Artists and other professionals like to think that Social Marketing is a fad, or it’s too time consuming, they all have merits and need to be considered. However every person has a Social Net – whether it’s in a forum, a discussion group your friends on and off line, places that you can go for help, your co-operative or Business Association. Your Social Net, is wherever you go to be social, to use the tools that are made available to all of us. Here are seven people who share how their social net is working.

“The paradox for many artists is that they desire intensely to communicate and be understood but find the expression of this need through their work and not through more active, fluid and immediate channels such as live communication.

Perhaps the answer is that with indirect media such as this one, or blogging, or other social media, the artist has much-needed time to reflect, to write and edit, to experiment with one idea then change it — without the pressing need to be socially “interesting,” with all the pressure that entails.

What if there were a social media in which texting-level word babble were not permitted, and only those media capable of complex and subtle thought such as music, images and poetry were allowed? Would we end up talking to the choir or would we find a new level of interchange?” By Eric Olson

“The last 6 years I’ve used some form of social networking. It’s increase traffic to our web to over 1 million visitors a year. Now we’re working on our “Tribe” Love to talk more with you about it. After all my mission is to bridge the gap between art and commerce.”

By Scott Hull

“I use social networking like Twitter and Facebook to promote my blog posts and Etsy shopping cart. I think it helps bring people to my shows and to look at my blog but it has not helped with sales a whole lot. I am still plugging away at hoping people will buy a few photo prints on my site.” By Kerry Ann Hawkins

“I am a truly devoted fan of social media networking. I’m also a person who easily makes new friends, who loves to socialize, spend time with people all over the world, work on art project with others – and so on. For me – the social media networking just makes it even easier to connect, and stay connected, with people. It makes me feel that I belong to a larger society of artists. It makes our planet smaller in a way. I really like that. The main thing about successful networking, though, is to always remember this: The question should never be “What can you do for me? – but always “What can I do to help you?”

Do not expect people to help you, but be very grateful if they do. The network aSmallWorld is based on this: how can we help each other? I recently posted information about an up-coming art project I am doing in San Francisco. Immediately I got constructive and good response with suggestions to whom I could contact. Some days later I even got a mail from an investor who is a partner of one of the largest independent galleries in the Bay Area, asking if we wanted to have the exhibition there. Amazing!

Promoting my own art feels like holding my heart in my hands, hoping that someone won´t step on it. It was less scary to be in charge of a budget of several 100 millions than opening an exhibition. But the good thing about having this experience is that I know that I just have to do it! I have to be out there – I have to talk about my art – I have to visit galleries – and so on. But I also have to find a way of doing it that is in accordance with who I am. And in that sense social media networking is perfect. I can connect to a lot of people in an easy way. I make valuable connections that are fun and rewarding (hopefully) for both parts.” By Kristine Maudal

“Social Media is not a fad and has in fact made a great impact on the ability of artists to network, share resources, get advice and make sales. As for Twitter, like anything else it is a tool to be used judiciously. I only follow other professionals in my field who have useful information and can direct me to relevant content.

It is true that outgoing people pick up social media pretty quickly. That is why they put me in charge of internet marketing and social media three years ago. I’ll talk to a telephone pole if it will stand still long enough. In the beginning I thought it would be laborious and time consuming, and it was for the first two weeks or so until I got the hang of what worked, who was a waste of time and where the smart people hung out. Now I spend two hours a day or less keeping up with and making new contacts, leaving comments, but remember, I am doing it for a company, not just for myself.

Social media, can absolutely have an impact on how to connect to the “average person who hasn’t a clue”. Blogging is one of the best ways I know to get information out to a broad audience. Buying original art online or otherwise isn’t the hip, hot thing to do but I guarantee you, if Oprah talked about it, encouraged it, or wrote about it in her magazine, the whole world would start buying art.

We can’t afford to be elitist about anything anymore. Do we want people to buy art or don’t we? WE have to be the educators, the communicators, the marketers and the advocates. In order to reach people we have to go where they are, and that is on the internet.

Social media is a way to determine your audience, generate interest, get valuable feedback, connect with other artists and professionals and get your work in front of millions of eyeballs.” By Mary Lawler

“I see the value in social networking, but my biggest problem is that there are only so many hours in my day. I believe in the whole concept, but it so much of a time investment. If your business IS social networking, then yes, this is great to be able to spend hours and hours talking about it. But if you’re a solo entrepreneur who has to create your own work and then manage all the other aspects of running a business, it gets very overwhelming!

I fit more into the introvert category; I force myself to go to networking events because I know I need to.” By Debbie Viola

“ Social networking should be about creating relationships. That is hard to do when you are all over the social networking map. It takes time to cultivate relationships online. How do any of you create the time to devote to one forum, one Linkedin group, enough to create relationships which are meaningful enough to enhance your art related businesses?” By Kirstie Bennett

How do you get your social net to work for you?

1. Ask questions, answer other peoples’ questions in forums or groups

2. Engage the members by sharing an article or post or resource, not just to your site but to other things that are relevant to the groups needs.

3. Do a poll

4. Put yourself out whether it online or offline, if you don’t show up know one will have an opportunity to know and like you

5. Start loving people, guide them, mentor them

6. How can you help someone else? Ask them.

7. Be your own friend and think about how you can be a friend for someone else

8. Be positive, update your profile

9. Be friendly, encourage others

10 Share your ideas

Mari-Lyn Harris is a Relationship Marketing Specialist in customer retention. Get your FREE report on why you need a customer retention program. http://heartatworkonline.org. http://XeeMe.com/Mari-LynHarris

“Distinguishing the Impact of Social Commerce in an Organization”

Social Commerce Conference

July 27-28, 2011 ~  Sir Francis Drake Hotel ~ San Francisco, CA

With a program packed full of industry leaders including Sears Holdings, Yahoo!, Napster, Ebay, Best Buy and Zappos Development Inc, over two-full days, including a conference workshop by Microsoft, this is a conference you surely won’t want to miss!

Attending this conference will enable you to:

• Hear from 11 industry leading Social Commerce experts, from the top Fortune 500 companies in 2011

• Learn how to create brand awareness while generating revenue through social campaigns

• Deploy cutting edge mobile strategies to improve your social media ROI

• Network with your industry peers in a highly intensive, content-driven type of environment

• Create brand value through social channels to drive customer and follower community growth

• Convert ‘Like-gating’ into actual sales

• Discover proven strategies to promote brand awareness and establish an effective trading infrastructure

Register by July 21st for 50% Off Your Registration Fee! Book your spot HERE!

Key Sessions Include:

Achieving Greater ROI and Branding Prosperity to Serve the Enterprise with Successful Social Marketing Techniques

Roni Karassik, Senior Marketing Analyst at Microsoft

Rachel Weiss, Assistant VP, Digital Strategy & Interactive Marketing, L’Oreal

Rob Talbot, Former President Marketing, Napster, Best Buy

Creating a Social Commerce Strategy to Convert ‘Like-gating’ Into Actual Sales

Tom Hale, Chief Product Officer, Homeaway.com

Identifying and Implementing the Right Social Channels to Enable Social Marketing and Service Models

Rajiv Narang, Director, Social Media & Marketing Optimization, Dell

Privacy vs. Security: Striving for a New Productive Measure to Regulate Behavior and Overcome Regulatory Impact

Jamie Punishill, Global Head Wealth Online, Thomson Reuters

For a full list of speakers and sessions, visit the event website.

Attendees will leave the conference with a much stronger understanding on the hidden value of promoting brands online and establishing trading infrastructure through e-commerce environment to manage online social commerce.

Past Participants of the marcus evans Social Media Strategy Events Include:

AOL Inc., AON Corporation, Best Buy Company Inc, BNA Inc., Capital One Services Inc., Cephalon Inc., Chevron Corporation, Coca Cola Enterprises Inc, Dell, Eastman Chemical Company, Eli Lilly & Company, Fisher-Price, Ford, GlaxoSmithKline, GoDaddy.com Inc., IBM Corporation, Intel, Panera LLC, Pfizer Inc., Radio One, Scotia Bank, Statefarm Insurance, Timberland, T-Mobile USA, Verizon Communications, Volkswagen America, Walmart, Winn-Dixie and many more!

For further information on the marcus evans Social Commerce Conference, please contact:

Michele Westergaard – Marketing/PR Coordinator

Phone: 312-540-3000 ext. 6625

Email: Michelew@marcusevansch.com

Seriously, How Different Are You?

By Kristina Jaramillo

Lots of people are “different” these days. But are they really thought leaders?

1. In most cases, you can’t tell one coach, consultant or expert in a particular industry from another. They practically use the same language to describe themselves and what they do.

2. If you look at the articles on their blog and those they distribute within the different groups – you’ll notice that they provide the same old information as everyone else.

Now, look at your profile. Look at the content you provide. Now, take an even closer look. Then go into LinkedIn and view others in your industry.

So how different are you? Are you ready to differentiate yourself

5 Ways to Differentiate Yourself On LinkedIn

1. Create a headline that…

a) Grabs instant attention

b) Proves to me your value

c) Makes me want to know more about you.

For example, check out these headlines…

* From Skip Weisman’s profile: Client Admits Losing 5 Million Dollars Because of Poor Workplace Communication! Could You Be Making the Same Mistakes? Notice how this headline makes you stop and think – “Wow, if Skip uncovered the reason why a client lost 5 million dollars, I wonder how much money he could stop me from obliviously losing.”

* From Judith Lindenberger’s profile – Discover why Bristol Myers Squib, American Express & AstraZeneca invest in this WSJ featured HR expert, & Consultant – Notice how Judith sets herself apart by mentioning the large company names she works with and by showing that she is a Wall Street Journal featured expert. She is adding credibility elements.

2. Stop making your summary sound like “An About the Author” section. For example, I recently completed a Live Video Profile Review for an immigration lawyer and this was his summary…

Carlos Batara is an attorney who specializes in immigration law. A large percentage of his practice is focused on immigration trials and appeals.

Carlos was the former chairperson for the American Bar Association Solo and Small Firm Division, Immigration Law Committee. Throughout his career, he has served on many local, state, and federal government boards and commissions. He speaks professionally on a variety of immigration and political issues.

This sounds like it should be on the back of a hardcover book in an about the author section. The only thing missing is “Carlos lives in New York City with his wife and two dogs.” It does not make me want to learn anything more about him as an individual or businessman. It’s even in third person which does nothing to help the reader relate to him on a human level. How can you make a connection with some like that?

3. Stop making your experience section sound like a resume. Use this area as a way to show prospects exactly what you can do for them. For example instead of just saying HR Consultant (which resembles a boring resume that no one wants to read), here are some of the positions we created for Judith Lindenberger…

* HR Expert Specializing in Helping Companies & Global Corporations Avoid Million Dollar Lawsuits

* HR Expert, Consultant and Trainer Now Offers 25+ Training Solutions for HR Executives & Leaders

We didn’t just put a listing of current and past jobs along with a basic description of some accomplishments. We made sure that the position headline and the copy that followed it drew in the reader and enticed them to read more about her. We focused on what Judith is doing right now to help clients – because that’s what your prospects want to know.

4. Get testimonials that show specific results – Yes, you should get happy when you get testimonials like:

“You guys are my secret weapon and you deliver BIG results which is why I keep coming back.” — Robert Smith, Author of “Million Dollar Press Releases: Guide To Boosting Profits Using Free Publicity”

However, does a testimonial like this differentiate you? No! It doesn’t describe the big results. It doesn’t get specific. When you get testimonials and LinkedIn recommendations like the one above, you need thank the client and then ask questions that lead them to a more specific recommendation. This way, you can get testimonial like this:

“150 New Subscribers, Four New Coaching Clients, $6,259 In Immediate Profits, And Two Media Interviews!” Leveraging the full power of LinkedIn® has been the “secret ingredient” that has, in just the past 5 months, taken me further toward achieving “authority” status as a website conversions expert than I moved in three years PRIOR.” Adam Hommey – Founder, Help My Website Sell

5. Create content that sets you apart. For example, you’ll find controversial articles on Skip’s LinkedIn profile and blog like:

Debate 1: Teamwork Is A Myth And That There Must Be A Focus On “I” In Team

Debate 2: The Communication Model Taught During The Last 40 Years Is A Bunch Of Crock!

Notice how Skip is not following the generally accepted model. He’s differentiating himself. If your want to be a thought leader then you need to stop following every one else and make yourself stand out from the rest. You cannot be afraid to do something different or go against common thoughts, philosophies or mindsets. You have to let loose and share information that others keep hidden from others unless they pay thousands of dollars.

Now, start differentiating yourself and make yourself the thought leader in your industry. If you need help, check out these new Instant LinkedIn Marketing Templates and Instant Article Writing Templates at http://www.InstantLinkedInMarketingTemplates.com

LinkedIn Marketing Expert Kristina Jaramillo creates online marketplace opportunities for small business owners and executives who want to become the trusted source in their industry. Now, you can learn how with her new free special report revealing the top 14 mistakes professionals make on LinkedIn and the opportunities they are missing. Get this information for free at: http://www.GetLinkedInHelp.com

10 Reasons for “Showing up” in Social Media by Heidi Richards Mooney

According to Woody Allen, “Eighty percent of success is showing up.” I absolutely agree with that statement – and it could be closer to 100% – Why? So often people put their name on a list, join an organization and then never “show up.” If it’s an offline organization, they seldom, if ever attend an event -if it’s online they don’t participate in discussions.

Showing up is the easiest way to stand out in the crowd – especially if your competition decides not to. And thinking about the other 20%, I believe that what happens when you do show up, will determine whether or not you will be successful. When you show up and participate, the universe responds in a way that almost guarantees your success.

Here are my 10 reasons for “showing up” online or off!

1. Showing up gives you the opportunity meet other successful people

2. Showing up gives you the chance to expand your mind and your circle

3. Showing up helps you to find out what the “competition” is up to or not.

4. Showing up helps you to learn about the organization and the community of people involved.

5. Showing up helps you develop personal skills.

6. Showing up helps you develop your own leadership skills.

7. Showing up allows you to share your expertise with others.

8. Showing up helps you stay focused on your road to success.

9. Showing up assures that you’ll be recognized.

10. Showing up also means investing time in developing yourself.

It is important to remember that in order to get ANYTHING out of these groups virtually or in person you have to participate at whatever level is comfortable to you! And when you Show UP, people notice. Sure, you may get asked to do things, to volunteer, to lead a group, and if you do, consider yourself lucky!  Otherwise you are just that wall flower at the 8th grade prom no one notices or asks to dance with.

Heidi Richards Mooney is an internet marketing and  social media expert who specializes in helping clients get their Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and blog on. Heidi and her team employ a variety of organic search strategies to help her clients get VISIBLE online. Heidi is the President of Redhead Marketing, Inc. and Founder & CEO of Women in Ecommerce™ ~ an organization that empowers women with the tools, resources and skills to create a thriving online business.  For more information, visit: Redhead Marketing, Inc

It appears, from studies conducted over the past few years that women are more actively involved in using Social Media Networking then men. They have more Facebook and Twitter pages, and they are blogging away!

Not a big surprise – women have been “natural-born-networkers” since the beginning of time and when social media became available it was an opportunity to connect – not only in the local community but to reach out to a global network of women (and men, of course).

With women running 70% of home-based businesses out of the 34.3 million home offices in the U.S. that is talking about a lot of outreach and power. So, it may have been the men who started social media networking, but it is the women who are using it to their fullest advantage.

In this tough job market it is necessary for everyone to use the same types of resources and networking to find employment as they have always done – only this time the reach is expanded by social media networking.

The majority of all jobs (70-80%) are found through “networking.” So women (and men) must revert to the best ways to get a job in 2011 and that is to get out there and network, network, network. This means spending a certain amount of time on Facebook, Linked-in, or Twitter – every day. But, it is a mistake to rely solely on social media to find a job. The problem is that recruiting and finding jobs through social media is still in the early stages of development.

Supplement your search by attending as many live events as possible. Connecting in-person is still the most effective way to connect with other people. And connecting with people is still the #1 means of getting a job.

Where? Everywhere – meetings, classes, job fairs, open houses, social events, association meetings; anywhere that people gather. There are a million success stories from these types of events. Your story could be the next one.

Who should you network with? Find old friends and colleagues through social media networking, but don’t exclude the people around you – family, friends, neighbors, ex-bosses, former co-workers, vendors you worked with in your last jobs, competitors of your last job — anyone and everyone.

This is about numbers – get out there and get contacting. Get the word out that you are searching for leads for job openings. Do NOT ask for a job – ask for leads. The following rules apply whether you are networking online, on the phone, or in-person.

1. Always be gracious and professional. Never be tenacious or pushy.

2. Ask for LEADS and referrals. Ask permission to use a person’s name.

3. NO resumes allowed while networking. Offer to send it if asked.

4. Do your research and be prepared.

5. Listen, listen, listen. You are asking for information – let them give it to you.

6. Ask Intelligent questions. Show an interest.

7. ALWAYS follow up – and thank the person for the information or advice.

When you do get an opportunity to connect with a person, either through your social media connections or through a personal or business contact, it is very important that you be prepared to speak intelligently about what you are looking for and what you have to offer. If someone gives you a lead, you should be able to make a call and introduce yourself. If the person who has given you the lead has agreed to let you use his or her name, begin the conversation by explaining how you happen to have the lead’s information. This can be a great way to break the ice.

It’s a good idea to script and rehearse – not memorize – what you are going to say when you do follow up. If you feel unsure of what to say, get feedback from someone who can be honest and helpful.

If you’re posting resumes on the Internet and are just waiting for something to happen you are making a big mistake –that is the passive way to search for a job and in today’s competitive job market you are hoping against the odds of getting noticed. Get out there and network today – through social media networking or social connections. If you are able to use traditional and new media networking for your job search you will at least double your chances of succeeding!

The Interview Coach, Carole Martin, is a celebrated author, job coach, and speaker on the subject of interviewing and recruiting. Contributing writer at Monster.com and featured on talk radio. Carole is using her proven methods for coaching job seekers on competitive interviewing skills in technical and non-technical industries. http://www.interviewcoach.com

Follow The Interview Coach on

Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/TheInterviewCoach

Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/CoachCaroleM

Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/e/fpf/381863

Recently I read a LinkedIn article for small business owners that stated, “You should think of your profile as an online resume.” I could not disagree more. And, when you are done reading this article, let me know what you think!

Now, while you think whether or not your LinkedIn profile should be regarded as a resume, let me ask you: When was the last time you read an interesting and intriguing resume?

Most resumes tend to be boring and bland. Now, how is this going to help you attract viewers and prospects? Simple, it can’t.

As a small business owner or a business development executive, you have to start thinking of your profile as a marketing tool and not a resume.

Since you have to change your mindset about this, I have developed six distinct reasons why your profile should not look like a resume.

Why You Should Not Think of Your LinkedIn Profile as Your Resume

Reason #1: A resume is not personal enough.

The goal of LinkedIn is to connect with people and build relationships.

The only way you will connect with prospects is to personalize your profile. To do this you need to tell stories and share information that gives a better scope of:

* Who you are.

* What makes you tick.

* How you can help the prospect.

* What new and exciting information you have to offer them.

Make viewers want to learn more about what you and your business can do for them. Be creative and use all the applications that LinkedIn provides you can show videos, presentations and documents.

Reason #2: Remember LinkedIn is a social human network.

Most resumes lack that human touch that LinkedIn can provide if used correctly. You need to make your profile interesting and enjoyable to read. You have to keep in mind that if you want others to read it, you should want to read it too. Here is an excerpt of my summary to give you an idea of what I mean.

With over 80 million professional members in over 200 countries, LinkedIn offers small business owners and internet marketer’s unlimited opportunities to build, and nourish profitable relationships online.

However, out of the 80+ million people on LinkedIn, only a FEW successful companies and internet marketers are using LinkedIn to its’ fullest profit-making potential.

Do you want to know some of my top secrets on how to get more business using LinkedIn? As a Social Media Expert (not a self-proclaimed expert, the New York Times called me that) who specializes in LinkedIn, I’ve uncovered…”14 Underground Secrets to Making Money And Taking Complete and Total Control Of Your Industry and Niche on LinkedIn” Here I reveal mistakes that other LinkedIn experts are even making.

Reason #3: The goal of LinkedIn profile is to get people to connect with you so that you can funnel them back to your website.

Your profile is a way to tell prospects what you and your business can do for them. Your LinkedIn profile allows you to show the different areas of your business and then lead prospects to the appropriate webpage to get even more information. The goal of a resume however, is to list accomplishments, achievements and jobs held. It simply lists your job descriptions, past and present. A resume does not mention the kind of person you are and why someone should connect with you. And, a resume doesn’t allow you to focus on the here and now and what you can provide your potential clients today like your LinkedIn profile should.

Reason #4: Resumes are usually limited to 1-2 pages while a LinkedIn profile is not.

While it’s usually not a good idea to submit a resume that is more than 2 pages long, you don’t have that kind of restriction with an online profile. You can include more information, more details, more accomplishments, more strengths and more keywords. The more information you include the more credibility you will gain, the more connected to your prospects you will become. Once you gain their trust, it will become much easier to sell your products, services or even the idea of joint venture relationship.

Reason #5: A LinkedIn profile enables you to brand yourself much better and much easier than a resume ever could.

Everything from yourself, your company to your products and services can be branded on your profile. For example, if you are the best at selling widgets, then make sure your profile clearly articulates that – and reinforce your brand throughout the profile. LinkedIn recently added some new sections that will further enhance your ability to sell yourself to potential clients. What resume will allow you to include postings about your publications, certifications or skills. Those sections usually get edited out due to space.

Now, do you think of your LinkedIn profile as your online resume?

Do you now realize the marketing potential LinkedIn gives you – if only you’d change your mindset?

Great! Now, I invite you to check out what other LinkedIn marketing mistakes you are making and opportunities you are missing. Grab my free special report at: http://www.GetLinkedInHelp.com

LinkedIn Marketing Expert Kristina Jaramillo creates online marketplace opportunities for small business owners who want more website traffic, prospects and profits. Now, with her free special report, you can uncover how you can become “the trusted source for your industry on LinkedIn” fast plus learn how to avoid the top 14 mistakes. Get this information for free at: http://www.GetLinkedInHelp.com

The #1 Reason Why Your LinkedIn Profile Fails to Attract More Prospects By Kristina Jaramillo

Right under your name, does your LinkedIn profile headline look like this…

* CEO & Founder at XYZ and Associates?

* Business Owner at ABC Consulting?

* Speaker at YourName.com?

3 Reasons Why Your Profile Should Not Be the Same as Your Position

1. Think of your headline as your first sales pitch to people who want to connect with you. If I am unfamiliar with you or your company, how does mentioning your company name and your position show me what you do and why I need to connect with you? It doesn’t! These headlines are too general, simple and straight forward. They are too vague and too broad. In order for your headline to be effective, it needs to grab my attention. It needs to make me want to read the rest of your profile. As a potential client or potential referral source, I need to see right away how you can help me or my clients.

2. When I am invited to connect with someone, I view their profile before I choose to accept. The first thing that I look at is their headline to see if there is any possible synergy between the person who wants to connect with me and my business. By doing this I can see if it is worth my time and energy to view the rest of their profile. Make your headline enticing so I will want to read your profile and connect with you.

3. If someone is going through people search or through the groups to see who they should connect with, they are looking at hundred to thousands of opportunities. You need to make your business stand out to entice others to want to click on your name to read your profile and learn more about you.

Now that you know that you need to drastically improve your LinkedIn profile headline in order to attract more clients, the question is, how do you fix it?

4 Questions You Must Ask Yourself When Creating Your LinkedIn Profile Headline

1) What can you say in your headline that will give your instant credibility?

One of the easiest ways to gain that instant credibility is to use any media attention. For example, I was recently called a “Social Media Expert” by the New York Times. Look how I use this media mention in my new LinkedIn profile headline to give me instant credibility:

“Read my profile now and discover LinkedIn secrets from the woman the New York Times called a social media expert”.

2) Does your LinkedIn profile headline command action?

The best way to get someone to read your profile further is to tell them to do so. Just look at my example above. Notice I’m giving you a call-to-action. By stating read, view or learn more by reading my profile, you are instructing the reader to do so. And, guess what – chances are they’ll listen. You just have to tell your prospects what to do – and why they need to take the action.

3) Does your LinkedIn profile headline show why you are different?

Go to people search on LinkedIn and type in your career description. Look at how many people match your description. For example, when I type in “internet marketing consultant” into people search it gives me 139,041 results. The phrase “life coach” gives me 83,847 results. The phrase “business coach returns” 224,274 results. In your headline if you show how and why you are unique chances are your prospects will explore your business further than that of your competition.

For example Article Marketing Experts Eric Gruber’s profile headline was:

See how we can get you published on websites like About.com – instead of just article directories like our competition.

4) Does your LinkedIn profile headline show a benefit to the reader?

By implying there is an advantage to your reader by viewing your profile you are telling them that there is a benefit of using your products or services. The reader needs a reason to accept a connection with you. By giving them a benefit you are instilling confidence in your business. For example:

* Help My Website Sell Founder Adam Hommey’s headline is: Top internet marketing consultant and expert webmaster reveals how to make your website sell more products and services

* The Global Institute of Visionary Executives Founder Carrie Jacobs has this as her headline: Read my profile and learn from a champion visionary executive coach how you can profit from your own brand of success

Just by fixing your LinkedIn profile headline, you will begin to attract more prospects and referral sources. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. In fact, in my free special report, I reveal 14 mistakes that most internet marketers and small business owners make – and the opportunities they are missing. I invite you to get this free report at http://www.GetLinkedInHelp.com

How Using Each Can Help With Social Marketing

By Sean Rasmussen

Unless you are a brand new internet user, you have certainly heard that Twitter and Facebook are two of the most popular social networking sites on the World Wide Web.

Their influence is one of the most powerful tools you have in your internet marketing arsenal. More and more, they are being used by entrepreneurs, small businesses, and major corporations across the globe as a means of social marketing.

But do you understand exactly how this concept works? Let’s take a look at each of these huge social sites and some of the ways you can use them to attract new customers and create a buzz about your business.

Read the rest of the article on SeanSEO.

Download this FREE Report: Engaging Online Communities ~ . Engaging Online Communities takes a look at how the modern enterprise must set up the right systems so it can keep track of the gestures that people make and perform analytics on the data. You can download and view Engaging Online Communities

Have you seen PaperLi? You can create your own digital Newspaper built from all the articles, blog posts, videos and photos shared on Twitter or Facebook. And it’s free! Check it out at: http://paper.li

Need free social media buttons? Check Out MySocialButtons today.