So how do you do it? Below are 3 tips that work on all social networking platforms.

1. Find people yourself. It’s as simple as it sounds. Go out and friend or follow people. Chances are they’ll eventually follow or accept your friend request, and you’ll build your list.

The downside: it’s time consuming. It takes more time than you might expect to search and check out profiles. (And you want to make sure the people you’re friending or following are in your target market or you waste your time and energy.)

Some sites have limits on how many people you can friend in one day, which makes the process take even longer.

This is a good strategy to get the momentum going, but I wouldn’t rely on it long-term.

A much better way is to get your target market to come to you. How do you do that? Well…

2. Be visible. Whatever social networking site you’re focusing on, log on and do stuff on it. Update, comment, ask questions, tweet. If people see you around, they’ll start coming to you.

You can also use automated tools to cross-feed different social networking platforms into each other. For example, you can feed Twitter into Facebook, your blog into Facebook and Twitter, and Twitter and Facebook into your blog. That cross-pollination means you can choose where you’re posting for maximum effect.

3. Be a friend. What does it mean to be a friend? Well, friends help each other out. Make sure you spend some of your time helping out your social networking friends. Promote one of your friends’ products or services or free teleclass. Give a testimonial. Answer a question or give some free advice with no strings attached. Provide great content. Think about how you can help someone else and do it.

Do these tips sound familiar? They should. They also work in the offline world.

This is really important: social networking is just like networking in the real world. Yes, it looks different online. The tools you use are different. The etiquette is different. If you come from a place of truly trying to be a good social networking pal, everything else will fall into place. If you come to social networking looking for a shortcut to building real relationships, then you’re probably going to be disappointed with the results.

Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a premiere direct response copywriting and marketing company that helps entrepreneurs attract more clients, sell more products and services and boost their business. To grab your FREE “Ka-Ching! Business Kit” with a FREE CD visit http://www.MichelePW.com/freecd

In the end, it catches a mouse – if you’re lucky.

Seeing how media has evolved reminds me of Mouse Trap. Get a mention in a newspaper article and find an online link to share on Twitter. Your followers retweet it to their followers, who post it on Facebook, where someone finds it and mentions it on a talk-radio fan page and, before you know it, you’re a guest on a show!

Of course, that’s a simplified scenario with a dream outcome, but it gives you the picture.

Connecting these different platforms integrates your publicity with social media. At EMSI Public Relations (www.emsincorporated.com), we have Jeni Hinojosa, our Social Media Campaign Manager, turning the crank. She writes and posts blogs and comments, and tweets updates, on behalf of clients to build a large, credible following for them. I asked her to share a couple of the ways she has spread our clients’ messages and to give you a few tips for handling your own social media.

Jeni, by the way, has a bachelor’s degree in anthropology with a specialty in social media. She studied the “socialsphere,” how it evolved into its own subculture and how we interact with it. In short, she knows how it works – and she knows how to work it.

Here’s what she wrote:

People who casually use social media may send a few Tweets, update their Facebook status and write a weekly blog post. They connect with people whose content they’re interested in: family and friends, co-workers, fellow hobbyists, groups with shared interests or causes.

If you have serious goals, however, such as building an audience for marketing purposes, you need to do all of that and more. One strategy I use for our clients is generating “third-party conversations.” Instead of simply postingon our clients’ own social networking sites, I visit blogs, websites and fan pages of people with similar interests. I comment on their content in hopes of engaging their audience in a conversation that ultimately brings new traffic to our clients’ websites.

Here’s a for instance: We have a client whose message involves maintaining healthy romantic relationships. I found a great article on this topic and shared it with a comment on other sites. The article prompted conversations and I stayed involved in the discussion. When it seemed appropriate, I shared a link to our client’s blog. In this case, she got new followers on Facebook and Twitter through that one action.

Another strategy I use is promoting our clients when they’re featured in traditional media, such as newspapers, radio and TV, which all seem to have an online presence. We recently had a client who was also on board for our talk radio campaign. I promoted her upcoming interviews to her friends and followers. Then I visited the stations’ websites for links to their Twitter accounts and Facebook pages. I joined their networks, friended their friends, and plugged the upcoming interviews there, too, e.g. “I’m so excited to be chatting with host’s name here on Friday about topic here.”

As a result, this client made lots of new connections among the stations’ listeners.

These are all strategies anyone can use; all they require is time and imagination. To help ensure your success, here are some tips:

• Don’t over-promote yourself. That’s the No. 1 rule. People are turned off by those who seem interested only in selling a book or product. A good rule of thumb is to make sure 80 percent of your content is light, interesting, informative or fun.

• Don’t bury your followers in an avalanche of content. Limit Facebook status updates and Tweets to three or four a day.

• People new to social media often regard those with similar content as rivals or competitors. Actually, these can be your new best friends. When you promote Chef Shane’s cooking blog, he’ll likely tweet about the great chocolate cake recipe on your website. Become a partner in sharing with online personalities where messages are similar to yours and you’ll soon have a vast support network.

Integrating publicity and social media takes some thinking, some effort and, as Jeni says, some creativity. But isn’t that always true when you’re trying to build a better mousetrap? And this marketing costs nothing – not with free Wi-Fi available almost everywhere you turn.

Marsha Friedman is a 22-year veteran of the public relations industry. She is the CEO of EMSI Public Relations (www.emsincorporated.com), a national firm that provides PR strategy and publicity services to corporations, entertainers, authors and professional firms. She also co-hosts “The News and Experts Radio Show with Alex and Marsha” on Sirius/XM Channel 131 on Saturdays at 5:00 PM EST.

I love the internet and everything about it. I read everything I can on social media marketing and watch tons of videos and attend webinars. Some things just strike me when I see small business owners and entrepreneurs struggling with the idea of presenting their businesses online. I do know that not everyone has the time or the desire to invest in learning how to market their business using social media marketing (that’s where I come in) so understanding a few basics is vital.

1. When I mention social media marketing, I get the all too familiar glassy-eyed stare and comments like “I have a facebook.”

Social Media Marketing is so much more than a facebook page. Yes, most businesses have a facebook page, but that is only one little baby step. Facebook may be a good way for you to start learning about social media or a good step in the right direction, but it’s really only one step.

2. You have a private listing on LinkedIn where only the first initial of your last name is given or someone must have your email to connect with you.

LinkedIn is about finding business connections. Those valuable NEW CONNECTIONS that can lead to a new job, more sales or promotion of your company. How can you accomplish these things if no one can find you or connect with you? I don’t know about you, but I joined LinkedIn to network and get my name out there.

3. You tweet the same thing over and over and follow no one.

This tells me that you really aren’t interested in new connections and that you really just want to spam the world and hope something sticks. This also tells me that your twitter is on autopilot and finding that one person who will rocket your business really doesn’t matter to you.

4. You only talk about you.

You post about you and you and you and you. You don’t really care what I have to say, and love talking about yourself. Sorry, but with my connections I hope to hear about other things. Yes, I do want to know about you, but I also want to know what goes in the world around you. A good rule of thumb is 9 posts about other things and one promotion about yourself. That’s an excellent rule to follow. Remember the Toby Keith song “I Want to Talk About Me.”

5. Your profiles are incomplete and you use only an avatar.

Maybe you are in the witness relocation program and really don’t want anyone to find you or to try and reach out and connect with you. This totally defeats the concept of social media marketing.

Social media is about being social. About making those valuable connections that can take our business out of our own little box and move it to something bigger and better. I hope you’ll join me on the big highway.

Kim Tranter is the owner of ULearnSocialMedia.com, teaching small businesses and entrepreneurs how to grow their businesses using social media marketing. She is the author of The Ultimate Social Media Success Guide available on amazon.com and teaches social media marketing at Herkimer County Community College.

… on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIN by Michele Scism

Do you know the power of a few friends? If your a mother, a friend can save your sanity by watching your child for a little while.  If you get ill, a friend will bring you medicine and soup, like my friend Peggy did for me last time.  If you have a death in the family, a friend will sit with you while you mourn and if you get married, a friend will dance the night away with you and then drive behind you honking her horn as you leave for your honeymoon.

But what does it mean to be a social media friend?

If you have been paying any attention, you know that I preach the necessity of building your network of friends on social media.  Whether that be adding friends on Facebook, connections on LinkedIn or followers on Twitter the key to creating success using social media is through your connections.

I know that a lot of times these are just shallow relationships; acquaintances that we know online but have not taken the time to get to know.  What I want to talk about is how you can pick a handful of key friends on social media and make a big splash!

Your Social Media Safe Circle

Here is a simple way to turbo-boost you’re the reach of your content – with a little help from your friend.

You create, what I call, a Safe Circle simply by gathering a small group of your colleagues and friends, who are willing to truly support each other. I would recommend 5 or 6 people.

Then you just start sharing each others information using your social media options.  If they have created an event on Facebook or LinkedIn you click the “attending button”.  When you do that their event is shared with your personal friends in their news-feed.  When you see them place an update on Facebook you click the “like” button or comment – both of these things will put that in your news-feed for your other friends to see.  You re-tweet them on Twitter. And they are doing the same thing for you.  You visit their blog and share their posts on Twitter and Facebook.

In return they are doing the same thing.  If each of you has an average of 1000 friends on Facebook then instead of your blog post being in front of your personal 1000 friends it will now be in front of the combined 5000 friends (your 4 friends and you).

This is a really easy way to get your name out using social media.  This is one of the things that I did so I know it works.  Start making your list and make sure they understand that it is reciprocal.

Are your online strategies getting you massive visibility, credibility and profitability? Michele Scism and Decisive Minds partners with business owners that are tired of being the best-kept secret on the web. If you are ready to get the word out about your business and really start making money online Michele and Decisive Minds are here to help. For more information go to http://decisiveminds.com

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

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

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