How to Turn Followers into Fans, and, Fans in to Client Leads

At least once a week someone asks me how I manage to stay so active on Twitter & Facebook. The question usually sounds something like “Do you spend ALL your time on Twitter? How do you get any work done?”

Well, one, I am on social networking sites A LOT – because it really works well for my coaching business to stay connected this way with my ideal prospects.

And, two, I’ve learned a few secrets of looking like I am more active than I a really am. Want to know where I learned these secrets?

Today’s Get More Business Show guest pretty much taught me the basics of what I know about social networking.

Nancy Marmolejo, of Viva Visability, is a PR, media, and social networking strategist who teaches entrepreneurs how to generate more money and attention by positioning themselves in the spotlight.

You know that social networking is THE place to be for online marketing, but how do you know if you using it effectively as a lead generation tool?

On today’s Get More Business show, social networking strategist Nancy Marmolejo will share with you her “magic secrets” of turning social networking followers into fans and fans into pre-sold leads.

Here’s what you will learn on today’s show:

• Expert tips on setting up a strong social networking presence so you stand out from your peers and competition
• The 4 Parts of the Social Marketing Cycle that turns followers into fans and fans into leads
• The truth on why people “Tweet” about coffee, food, snacks and how that can help your business
• Big mistakes social networkers make that cost you fans, followers, leads, and sales (you can’t afford to miss this part!)
• The 3 things to focus on that will drive pre-sold leads to you

Today Nancy has prepared a hand out for you to follow along with for turning Followers to Fans & Fans to Leads. Nancy always leads the way – she is the first guest every on the Get More Business Show that has prepared a hand out for my listeners.

P.S.  This is the second year that I have had Nancy on the Get More Business Show. I always learn so much from her. I’d really love to read your feedback on this show here in the comments.

As a coach, I think Nancy’s information on striking a balance between creating value and trust, and keeping up with the fast moving technological component is extremely relevant. What say you?

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Attracting Better Quality Connections by Making One Change on Twitter

I am sitting hear listening to Blog Talk Radio Host, Sandra Lee Schubert, interview with Rick Butts who just released his program Stardust Factor,  a social media workshop about how to create an authentic, attractive, persona for your and your business and I am reminded of something that I heard Rick Butts talk about last summer.

Here’s the idea as I understand it:

Everyday I “evesdrop” on Twitter conversations. I see one Twitter friend tweeting with someone I am unfamiliar with, but the conversation looks interesting so I click on their Twitter handle to open their profile, but it doesn’t end there. First thing I look at to decide whether or not I want to follow this person is if their Twitter background suggests that he or she fits the kind of person I want to follow. The very next thing I look at is whether or not this person has a url in their profile.

Here is one important thing – if he or she does not have a URL in his or her profile – I never, ever follow that person, but more about this at another time.

One of the things that Rick Butts suggested is to intentionally put a url that invites and encourages connection. So rather than just sending visitors to the home page of your blog why not create a landing page designed especially for those that discover you on Twitter?

I love this idea and I don’t know why it took me a year to decide to implement it. Okay, but realize I am not suggesting that I will, or should you create a landing page that is an email sign up – that is exactly the wrong approach, in my opinion.

I also just listened to The Fulcrum Effect by Rajesh Setty – where he defines your “personal brand” as the promise you make to the world and to the market. As Rick Butts so aptly put it on his interview with Sandra Lee Shubert, “a personal brand is a whole lot easier to pull off if it is authentic.

So with this interview and seminar processing in my brain, I am wondering how to present a friendlier invitation to connect and expand my circle of influence with Rick’s idea of a Twitter specific landing page. Here are some of my ideas:

• A video of me welcoming them as they arrive as a result of finding my Twitter profile.
• A short summary of some of the projects that I am involved in.
• A list of the books I am reading or listening too.
• A list of the different ways to connect with me including other social media & Get More Business Show

The only invitation is not to subscribe to my newsletter but rather to connect with me in my social setting if they believe I will add value to their circle of influence. What do you think? Do you have any other ideas?

Not sure exactly what I will do on this landing page for new Twitter friends but as you can see I have a couple of ideas. I will experiment with different things to see what will encourage quality connections. I need your help and would love to hear your ideas.

If you were to visit my, or someone elses Twitter profile, and click on the link in the URL – what would make you smile and encourage you to follow? What would encourage you to connect and not send you clicking on the back button like retreating from a snake pit?

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Get More Business Show – Jason Kintzler, Press Release meets Social Media

So easy to spread the word with PitchEngine! I love this tool and expect to submit many more press releases because of the enhanced ability to add other social media tools, particularly the audio & video tools to each press release. Pure genius!

Listen to Jason Kintzler and I on Blog Talk Radio – Live on Friday 9 am pacific or 12 pm eastern. And, as always the show will be archived for your convenient listening on demand. It’s a beautiful Web 2.0 world that we live in!

Please stir up some conversation here – What? I can’t hear what you’re saying? SAY SOMETHING! MWAH! Love Ya!

P.S. It’s extremely important to create a Media Plan – Joan Stewart is THE best in the business. If you take your business seriously enough to get free press, Joan’s the gal to teach you how to create a comprehensive plan.

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Twittering for Business: Developing a Follow Strategy for Relevant Connections on your Twitter List

Many Social Media Experts, as well as successful Internet marketers and coaches have come the conclusion that  Twittering for Business can no longer be ignored. In fact, it is being touted as a social media revolution.

I absolutely love and hate Twitter.

I hate it for the amount of time using it has the potential to waste. It is so easy for me to lose focus and just tweet my day away. It’s bad enough to be an mental illness if I didn’t have a Twitter Strategy.

The Small Business Guru Twitter Strategy

Twitter is my give zone. My strategy is to be sure that every tweet some how gives something of value to my community of twitter following. Following is a list of how I give

• Inspiring quotes
• Retweets of helpful information, posts, articles and quotes from the amazing people in my circle of influence
• Connections. If someone that I follow has a need that I cannot fill I tweet it to those that follow me to see if they can help make a connection for someone in my community.
• Encouragement. When someone is having a bad day and the tweet about, I look for ways to help or encourage in 140 characters or less.
• Virtual Applause – When someone in my following has acheived something they’re proud of I help them to celebrate with a tweet  and share the news with my followers.

The Small Business Guru – Who Do I Follow Strategy

First of all I do not follow everybody that follows me. No offense, but I am seriously applying a thought out plan for who is a part of my Twitter Community.  And, I do block followers that hi-jack “celebrity” names and tweet spam.

Oh, and if you follow me but have protected tweets…I might block you unless your Twitter page and profile are intensly of interest to me. Twitter is not meant to be a private instant messaging system, but a public stream of conversation.

Okay, so who do I typically follow and why:

1. Masters: The group that I call masters are people that I consider to have something substantial about their message that I want to learn – They know much about their topic and have lots of experience. An example of would be @ProBlogger, @JoelComm, or @DuctTapeMarketing - there are too many more for me to put in this post. And my masters might be very different from your masters.
2. Peers: These are people that I perceive to be about where I am on the learning curve of using the Internet and social media. I learn a lot from this group in observing how they communicate to their followers. I also watch who they follow, I read the posts in their public stream not only to read what they are saying but who they are saying it to. I find some really wonderful connections this way.
3. Prospects: These are people that have a need for my services and are in the right kind of business that I believe I am suited to provide solutions. Really important, although I follow possible prospects I don’t use Twitter to initiate a conversation about what I have to offer. There are subtle approaches to providing them with my coaching message without a direct sales approach.
4. Providers: Just like what it sounds. These are people that I have evaluated as being a great provider of product, services or information that I need directly or might be needed by my Twitter Community. What I learn from the Providers helps me become more valuable my Twitter Community.

These four categories and my give strategy helps me to stay focused on why I am using Twitter for business. That and I do have to watch the clock just to make sure I don’t stay on Tweetdeck all day!

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