I’m on the Wagon (Band Wagon That Is)!

Ok, so I am getting more than annoyed with my “friends” on Twitter who think Twitter is the latest place to broadcast like pirate radio.  I have un-followed so many people in the last week for yelling at me to buy their crap.

I also have been more than disappointed with the Social Media Experts who are not really wanting to be social other than to say “Hi thanks for the follow what can I do for you today?”  Like I just walked into J.C. Penny’s or Footlocker.

So with that in mind let me see if maybe I can repeat some basic ground rules for using Twitter from a business stand point.

1.  Community-  Be a neighbor not a nuisance.  I know you sell books and software and SEO secrets.  At the end of the day I don’t care.  I am looking to be part of the block.  Let’s talk about our kids in sports, our favorite beer, or TV show.

2.  Collaborate- If I have a question and you are an expert how about a hand?  I don’t necessarily want you to give me an answer to all of my problems, but hey a little direction is nice.  It builds trust in you.  Maybe an action like that will allow me to trust you enough to buy your last book on “Firing my Boss”.

3. Contribute- Have interesting and useful stuff to say.  Give me a reason to believe and “get” you and your message.  I do have folks I follow that know the value of having expertise and know about the karma of “Pay it Forward”  Actually solved a hardware issue with an expert pointing me in the right direction.

4.  Care- About someone other than yourself.  Today a real friend on Twitter needed help finding an important update for some software for a business machine.  I have some mad Google search skills. There is a post on here about that.  Anyway, I went to work and got that update located.  Not my problem really, but I made it my problem because I care.

5.  Consider- Everything you post is there forever.  The Internet NEVER forgets.  There are really only two types of people on the Internet those who give and those who take.  Where would you like to be weighed and measured?

So enough ranting and time for rest. I talk about products and services on Twitter and believe that it is very useful as a tool to promote my business, but I am so much more than the products and services, at the end of the day I am the guy who loves to talk about me and you and what a great sunset in that big old sky.

I Have an Opinion About That

During an  update on Facebook I made a remark about not knowing what to do before I had Wifi in public while visiting the hospital during my wife’s recent surgery.  On of the posters said I should read one of last years magazines on the table in the waiting room.  More interestingly though was the thoughts of my favorite designer Alex who had this to say about magazines, “Did Dan say something about a magazine? What are those? Are they anything like a blog, because if I can’t tell the world what I think about what I’m reading, I”m just not interested.”

I had to smile to myself and I must explain that Alex is a twenty something who obviously loves social media.  Alex “gets” social media and uses it as a regular part of his daily life.  He and I often swap ideas about the latest app that comes along that helps up better manage all of out various feeds, lists, and on line persona.

I also had to be a bit sad, as there are a great number of folks who don’t get social media much.  I have a marketing group I am part of and one of our members believes that social media is another channel to broadcast his message, my mom finds social media a waste of time, and others liken it to an evil cult that has brainwashed us into drinking the kool-aid of the worldly masses.

I have really gotten involved pretty heavily and even created a bit of business teaching or as I put it evangelizing the benefits of social media.  I am working to educate people in the various ways social media can improve, influence, empower, and even liberate.  Social media isn’t some passing fad, it is a main stream part of life.  A recent article in the New York Times found a large majority of us are checking email, texting, or on line socially even before we eat or have coffee.  Social media is the best way for many of us to communicate to a broad spectrum of people in an efficient way that was never before possible.

I blog, tweet, post, and text large amounts of information daily and in the midst of all of that touch the lives of at least 500 people.  I have found tools that are easy and I enjoy using.  Think about that for a moment tools that are easy and fun!  I overheard a conversation this weekend from a group of soccer moms that sat behind me at a sporting event.  They were chirping away about their new Black Berries and Smart Phones.  The killer apps that kept them all connected and on track.  How much they loved texting and tweeting from their phones.

Facebook me!  Get with me on LinkedIn.  Give me your value added proposition in 140 characters or less.  This is all on a personal level, I now have the ability to befriend and become a fan of a myriad of businesses I spend money with, I can contact the developer of software I use  or author of the last book I read and tell them how much their work means to me …or not.  And believe me I have and I  must tell you that some of these on line contacts have become off line friendships that would have never happened in the past.  Professionally I have be able to be accessible to my clients in a way that could or would not have happened as little as three years ago.  I love talking to my fans and clients one on one.  My relationships are just as important on screen as they are face to face.

I have an opinion and so do you.  How many times have you said,” I’d love to call that 800 number or I am going to write the owner and tell them off.”  Social media has now placed a great number of companies brands, mine included, squarely in the hands of you the consumer.  And those of us wanting to survive and flourish in the digital age will need to continue to meet you where you are.

Looking forward to serving you tomorrow and every day!

Michael Mock

Improving Your On-Line Image

I have been involved with the 30 Day Challenge presented by Internet Marketing genius Ed Dale.  I am very intrigued by the countless numbers of people who join in every August to participate.  It is a demanding and thought provoking 30 days of information to help you make a single dollar on line.

Now I know some of you are thinking just a buck?  Is that all he is going to help you do is make one measly dollar?  You are going to give up 30 days to get a single George Washington?  That’s crazy talk!  Yeah, I know.  But think about this.  What is always the hardest part of anything?  Doing “it” (fill in the blank here) for the first time.  And after you do “it” (once again fill in the blank) the first time and succeed, you want to do “it” over and over.

That is not the real reason for my post though.  I have seen a large number of posts about pen names and blogs.  I write this blog and use my real name.  I registered for a domain name and had to use my real name.  Some people are very uncomfortable using their real names   because of a number of other people who prey upon other both on line and off.

I have clients that wants to be a voice and a face to other potential businesses and clients.  The problem they experience though is a way to be themselves without revealing their identity.  Let me see if I can clarify this a little better.  We work with a non-profit organization.  The person tasked with the  administration of the website also wants to start doing some social media, but doesn’t want to be “herself”  My co-owner (wife) made a fabulous observation and suggestion.  You don’t have to be, but you have to be.  Huh?  She went on to further explain.  Is there a King in every Burger King?  How about a Wendy in every Wendy’s?  I don’t think so.  But everyone knows the icons of the businesses and relate to these characters as the persona or image.

Our local bakery is a hipster named the Breadhead.  He has a real name, but very few people know it.  His on line persona is an icon of a baker with a paddle holding a round loaf of bread that resembles a peace sign.  You can follow him BTW on twitter @breadheadbakery.  But he is successfully building a brand around that image.  He interacts on Twitter and Facebook.  It also acts as his “gatekeeper”.  To get to him you’ve got to go through the Breadhead.

I recently taught a class on Facebook for Business and we discussed how YOU the consumer are now in charge of a great number of things that I call my business.  My brand is in your hands if I really want to be included as a product.  NASCAR learned this lesson and epitomizes it.  No one is more brand loyal than a NASCAR fan.  My brother in law will only drink Miller Lite because his driver is sponsored by them.  He only drives Chevys because his driver drives one.  It makes me laugh, but NASCAR fans have an image in their minds and support the labels that ride around on the oval.

So to make my brand your brand I have to do certain things.  I need to be transparent.  I need to offer value.  I need to be courteous, kind, funny sometimes, helpful, and honest.  I need to really listen when you talk.  I need to work at being your friend and partner.  Overall I can be an icon or a label, but it has to be one you can trust and embrace as your solution.  You can find a content managed web site builder or a social media instructor pretty easy these days.  I can’t find clients that easy.

So I guess in short, if you want to be the voice of your business as an icon, a picture of a stuffed animal, or an animated movie clip that is fine.  but play by the rules of being a good friend.

• Be helpful
• Be nice
• Be honest
• Be cooperative
• Be constructive

People forget my name pretty quick, but my company name stays stuck in peoples heads. That has something to do with the fact I have made it a priority to be a friend long before I do business.  Sure easier to take help from a friend than someone you just found in the search engines.

Michael Mock

One Hour of Free Consultation

I just finished up an email to a businessman I  consult and do web design work for.  He asked me a few really good questions about using Twitter.  I recently finished an eBook (which you can get by signing up for it ==>HERE) that addresses most of it, but let me give you the conversation and let you see if it is helpful.

Michael,

I have started a Twitter for my lacrosse team I coach @greenhslacrosse. Will your book and/or presentation at TweetUp on August 10th address how I can build brand awareness more or less for that situation?

-Rory

Here was my response.

Rory,

In Twitter is it a matter of following people when you get started.  These days most folks are attempting to garner followers and don’t care who they are.  You are seeking quality people to follow such as players, fans, and probably other coaches.  The Twitter book that Dani proofread for me has some tools in the last few chapters that talk about getting people to follow you as well as finding people.  I found that having a good profile and making some tweets that are relevant to the subject will get you found and followed.

For example, post a few tweets about lacrosse with say a link to an article.  Do this a few times.  Add a link to your team site.  Mention the school.  Others are using automation tools that are watching twitter for keywords that are of interest.  They then will follow you.  You just need to follow back.  The other thing is branding your stuff.  Every email should contain a link to your twitter account.  I also found that I have had an increase in followers in how I word that call to action.  I used to just say:

“I’m on Twitter @mmmock”.

Now I say, “You need to follow me on Twitter @ mmock”.  Much more compelling.

Perhaps you could suggest, “Love lacrosse? Follow me on Twitter @mmmock”.

I just searched twitter for #lacrosse on TweetDeck and pulled 72 post.  I would check the profiles of those twitter accounts and start following them. They would more than likely follow you right back.  Instant audience.

Most online marketers are hosed for business because they don’t have an audience.  In a matter of days you will.  One caveat social media is about conversation.  Don’t strictly use it as a place to be the “used car salesman”.  Be helpful, offer material of substance and on occasion make a pitch about fund raisers or team sales.  Good ratio is 1 to 2  in every 10 posts.

Check out my blog: www.mmock.wordpress.com  for some great material on social media and social media marketing.  I also am finishing up another ebook on “How to Get 1000 Followers in 30 Days”.  I will ask for proofreaders for that too so you might want a copy.

Also feel free to email me with questions or better yet, post questions and comments to my blog as it will help me keep active writing and answering.

There you go one hour of free consultation I hope that answers your questions and I will make an effort to address this either en masse or at round table discussion at our TwwetUp on August 10th @ Breadhead Bakery in Dover Ohio from 5Pm to 7PM.

Michael

If you have an other suggestions Rory would love to hear them.  Post them here so he can check them out!

Thanks,

-Michael Mock

HELP WANTED: I Have a Book That Needs Proofed

Good morning!

It is Monday and it sure feels like it.  I had a full and challenging weekend, but I don’t feel recharged and ready to go.  Despite the fact that I have created a bit of margin in my morning by running some of my regular Monday morning stuff last night.

My wife and I as Technology Workgroup, are prepping for a Tweet Up that is to held next Monday night in Dover, OH.  We are meeting at the Breadhead Bakery in downtown and even lined up some local business folks to talk and lead discussion.  We are slated to run from 5 PM to 7 PM and that is when Breadhead has his caffeine happy hour.  Specials on drinks and fabulous baked goods.  We have some shirts to give away courtesy of CDTees, and I want to offer my eBook on Twitter for new users.

Here is my challenge with the eBook.  I need it proofread.  I have been pretty busy and would like to see if some of my fans could give me a hand.  Would you sign up to be a proofreader?  Just follow the link and sign up. In the registration process you will find a link to download the eBook.  Pretty good arrangement as you get to criticize me, and get a free book.  I also will send anyone who lends a hand and send corrections and suggestions a pack of Twitter backgrounds that you could upload to your Twitter profile.

What do say?  Give me a hand, get a free book, and some twitter backgrounds for your time?

Sign up to be a proof reader here:  PROOFREADER

Thanks again!

-Michael

Social Media and the Balance of Power

Today my company (that I co-own with my wife) Technology Workgroup taught a class on Facebook for Business.  We love being social media enthusiasts and evangelists.  We are big believers in the “new” way of sharing information and exchanging ideas.  We also are enjoying sharing the things we have learned and allowing people to achieve better ways to promote their ideas, products, and businesses or organizations.

One of the biggest stumbling blocks I have found for most people though is their belief or misconception that social media will drive business to their door.  They have bought into the freemium model of marketing.  Facebook is free, Twitter is free, LinkedIn is free, YouTube is free, you get the picture.

TANSTAAFL (there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch)!  Social media takes time to become a useful and powerful tool for promotion.  It also takes effort and focus.  As I said yesterday, forget yelling at the crowd, put down the bull horn, pull up a chair and sit at the table and talk to me, smile at me, thank me for being your friend.  Let me learn about the ways you can help me solve a problem.  Tell me a joke, share a little about who you are and what you are.

I also can appreciate the free idea, in this economy who can’t.  I just think that it is unrealistic to believe that putting up an on-line presence and expecting it to solve all of your problems is just naive.  There is no cruise control for social media, it is alive and will flourish,only of it is watered and feed.

During class today I did point out that a Fan page or profile for you business is only part of an effort to reach your clientele or prospective customer.  Facebook is HUGE and getting bigger every day, but just as a good marketing company, it is NOT the only venue.  I recently asked who owns the billboards, newspapers, and the radio and television stations in our area.  Not hard to believe that they are some how related to each other.  Imagine that!  All of these are enticing me to buy or engage.  The radio comments on a newspaper story and in turn the local tv station talks about the radio and newspaper coverage.  Billboards tout the best of all of those.  See the pattern here?

The same is true of using social media, Twitter points to Facebook, which in turn points to blogs and other sites.  LinkedIn and Plaxo get business together in cyberspace to collaborate.  It all brings us around the table.  Think about that and don’t see if like me some of your most fond memories have evolved from dinner time.  We laugh and share at our dinner table.  I have entertained perfect strangers at dinner that became friends and some even clients.

Think of it as a table with four legs, you need all of those legs to keep the table up and level.  Otheriwse it is a lopsided wobbly mess.  Kind of like thinking a Fanpage will save your business or get your message out effectively.

Watch in the next couple of weeks as Technology Workgroup is getting ready to release an eBook by the same title as the post “Social Media and the Balance of Power”.  It will be available both here on the blog and on the website www.technologyworkgroup.com you can also go over to the website and sign up for our newsletter and get on the inside track on how to get the book by helping me proof read  it before release!

Keep spreading the word and see me soon,

-Michael

Do You Have an Audience?

I am a big fan of movies and I even like the old medieval black and whites where the knight or knave requests an audience with the king.  I always found that line so funny, “I would like an audience with the king.”  I guess I just slip into Monty Python mode and start thinking of the Knights that say nee!”

Anyway, the place I am going is I have been blogging, tweeting, and posting for some time now.  I just watched Perry Belchers’  video on YouTube and he made a couple of statements that really hit me.  First if you are getting into social media marketing today for the first time you are screwed.  Secondly Oprah can sell Frito’s and Fords, not a problem.  Do you know why?  She has an audience.  Millions of viewers who just hang on her every word and recommendation.  Used to be Carson, now the endorsement lies with Oprah.

So that being said, I know I have an audience because the analytics tell me so, but I have many clients that want to sink all of their money in a website and then just wait for the leads to come rolling in.  Marketing on the Internet is not a set it and forget it kind of thing.  More than 75% of your efforts are outside of your site.

Working for a point of purchase display manufacturer I know we can make the the coolest display but if the end users doesn’t unpack them, set them up, place product on them and open the doors to the store what good is marketing at retail?  Imagine your web page as a product display and the store is the size of freaking Russia!  Good luck getting noticed pal.  Every firm we make displays for is just a small part of the “total package”.  It take print, radio, television, product placement in the store, and word of mouth.  We have the audience and get the clients product noticed.

All of that being said, think of it as this; Twitter is a news flash, Facebook is your scrapbook (thanks to Perry for the analogy), your blog and web site are the heart and soul of your business.  Kind of like meeting a pretty girl, it starts with a little conversation, a little hand holding, a little flirting, long walks and more conversation and then you move on to bigger and better things like serious life long relations.  But if you are not willing to engage in the conversation then you are standing at the dance along the wall watching all the pretty girls dance with other guys.

If you are little shy, even hesitant about the whole idea of social media, then really look at getting some guidance in getting started.  Drop by my website, sign up for our mailing list and I will send you some free ebooks to get you started!

www.technologyworkgroup.com

-Michael

The Buzz on Social Media

Social media is online content created by people using highly accessible and scalable publishing technologies. At its most basic sense, social media is a shift in how people discover, read and share news, information and content. It’s a fusion of sociology and technology, transforming monologues (one to many) into dialogues (many to many) and is the democratization of information, transforming people from content readers into publishers.  – From Wikipedia

Unlike traditional forms of media such as television, radio, and print; social media is dependent upon the interaction of those engaged in it.  Traditional forms of media messages talk to us not with us.  Social media is a two way conversation.  Social media is all about word of mouth. The things you are trying to say might be different if you are looking for personal or professional recognition. The thing is the conversation is what puts the social in social media. Without it you have just media. Social media is all about two-way communication, never forget this. Being part of the social media community means you must participate, contribute, and when necessary add to conversation.

Social media means becoming a good neighbor.  It should be an objective to share and work with anyone, anywhere to achieve a community online. Your customers and followers could be anyone. Who better to get and give feedback and ideas about your product and services than the ones who are already using it? Looking past that, the social web allows us to work with basically anyone that’s connected to the internet. Collaboration breeds creativity and innovation. It would be crazy not to tap into this. Imagine eliminating expensive research, surveys, and marketing committees. Work with your employees to build your brands. Like your clients, they are the ones who know and work with your product every day.

Imagine you are having conversations and presenting your ideas, products, and services online.  You begin to garner a following.  There is this community formed from conversation you are now having, not the one way shout of you or your company advertising. This is where people are talking. You have begun a group that is bound by interaction.  These communities may vary across all the social networks out there.  You need to be looking to where your current and future customers are talking and make new friends.  Social media is a party, find out where it is happening.   It could be on Twitter, Facebook, Yelp , there are literally more than one hundred social media sites out there.  If your desire is to launch a new product, you should be creating a community around it and for it.  Fan pages, groups, and postings to blogs and forums generate that kind of viral following.  Ask Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore as they now have teamed with Kellogg’s to fight hunger in this country.  All by having a simple conversation on social media web sites.

Let’s now say you are part of a community that is centered on like minded goals and ideas.  You need to be offering your input on the conversations that are going on.  This goes right along with community and conversation. You need to comment on conversations happening in the community spaces. If you have an opinion say it, otherwise you are just lurking in the background. Speak up only when you have something constructive, or positive to add to the conversation. Commenting just for the sake of saying something doesn’t add any real value; it just adds more junk to the conversation. Commenting also is a reflection on you as the individual or brand, so always beware of that fact. Choose your words wisely, think before you speak.

Finally give of yourself.  This means being helpful. No one likes a jerk.  Don’t be mean, even when being honest.  I have a rule that I don’t say things that would upset my mom.  What you give to social media, is what you will in the end get out of it. It’s really that simple. You need to give before you can ask for something back. On Twitter (a micro-blogging platform), re-tweet valuable information from those who follow you.   Add to the conversations going on around you. Every aspect of social media allows you to contribute and participate in some way.  Share your knowledge with others.  Knowledge is power, and by giving knowledge to others, you are equipping people with power. Share quality content whenever and wherever you find it. The knowledge you share either through blogging or news feeds is the rock that social media is built upon, conversation with others.

10 Ways to Effectively Self-Promote Using Social Media

Here are 10 ways to effectively self-promote on social media channels.

I am sure there are more and I would welcome comments on other ways to self promote on social media without sounding like a used car salesman.

1. Create a series of educational videos, put them on a YouTube channel. How-Tos are powerful expertise marketing tools.  And are easy and fun to do.  PowerPoint slide decks can be made into movies with Windows Movie Maker.  I also use Wink, an open source product that does screen captures as you are working. It creates Flash movies that you can post to your website or offer for download.

2. Put up lots of blog posts that show you know more than others in your field. It helps if you are a specialist, rather than a generalist.   Tell about your experiences solving problems for clients. Contribute to the media, such as newspapers and magazines and republish that content on your blog or website. Print still is still a respected form of information and is still seen by many to be the “sacred soil” of experts.

3. Create a detailed LinkedIn profile and ask friends, clients, and colleagues for recommendations. Link to your profile everywhere in your digital correspondence (i.e.,  mail signature, blog and elsewhere). LinkedIn is the #1 tool of professional, self-promotional social media.

4. Create PodCasts.  Once again there is free software to help you with this and a here is a link to a tutorial “Hot to Podcast“. Do a some on-line interviews or monologues on your area of expertise. Put them on your blog or website and publish it on your YouTube channel (tag and syndicate).

5. Create Slideshare presentations and post them on all of your social media. Encourage your friends to add the application to thier linked in profiles so they can easily find and view your presentations.  Again, illustrate that you know more (or something different) than others that do what you do.

7. Make intelligent, insightful, and helpful  comments on other folks’ blogs, forums, and even Twitter and LinkedIn. As best you can, make sure to reply to comments made on your blog, even those that disagree with your point of view.

8. Answer questions posed on social media sites such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Plaxo.  Social media is about having conversations not just talking at people.

9. Write a White paper or eBook and offer it free to your readers, subscribers, followers, friends, everyone.

10. Create a Wikipedia page for your business or yourself. No, you don’t have to be famous or notorious.  The same goes for an About Me page. It may stink of the  smell of  self-promotion but people are OK with it. To balance out the self promotional pitch, add the personal side of  about yourself, such as your personal interests, hobbies, and your pet tarantula.

I’ll even toss in a bonus:  “The Old Transparency Trick”. Just tell folks you are selfishly self-promoting. Works  almost every time. Just do it in moderation, because most folks won’t mind you blowing your own horn, they just hate blow hards.

Michael

Use the Internet to Find a Job – A Free eBook for Job Seekers

So this morning I was talking with the youngest of my offspring while making coffee and oats for breakfast.  She will soon be 12 and yet she at times posses the Wisdom of Solomon.  She has an affinity for food, all things about it, the smell, the color, and the feel. I asked her this morning, “What is it about cooking that you love so much?”  She tells me, “I like seeing my hard work come together, a sense of accomplishment that I created something.” Not eating it I thought to myself?  She went on to say, “I have a passion for it.”

I asked her what it meant to have passion for something.  She crossed the kitchen to stand close to me like she does when she want to make a point to her hard of hearing dad.  “I love the way people react to what I make.  Most people look in a magazine and say, “I would like to eat that.”  Me, I say, “I want to make that.”  That is what passion for food is to me.  I enjoy that moment when people put the food I made in their mouths and say, “OH MY GOODNESS!”

So I then asked her, “Where does it come from, this passion?”  She looks at me and smiles, “You and mommy.  Your love of food and skill in the kitchen makes me want to do the same.  My friends get jealous when I tell them my mom makes homemade French onion soup or my dad can make me crepes.  They tell me there dads can only make macaroni and cheese and hot dogs, maybe grilled cheese.”  I tell her for me the best part of cooking a meal is that moment of real quiet after the food is plated and the guests start to eat.  She adds, and all of the happy noises and things the people say.

I tell you this because everyone has a passion for something.  Mine is cooking, but even still it is to share my knowledge of all things technology related.  I have spent many years in the information technology field and love it all; computers, the Internet, networking, website building, and hobby programming.  The thing that really gets my juices flowing though is teaching and helping others use technology.   I was a chef, maître‘d, bar manager, dish washer, restaurant manager, waiter, and even a bus boy.  The thing I loved the most was sharing the things I know.  I am a bit of a ham, and am very comfortable in front of people.  I have made money at many jobs and have done quite a few, but I never really found myself as happy as I do when I am teaching.

Technology Workgroup, my business that I co-own with my wife has spent the last few years building websites.  We have now found ourselves teaching social media for marketing.  This got me to thinking about my passion to teach and peoples need to learn.  I want to send out to anyone who signs up for it an eBook on “Using the Internet to Find Employment”.  I am going to give it away; I don’t want anything from you.  I want to teach you what I know and share the things I have found, and let you pursue your passion.  In this time of economic challenges people are reinventing themselves and I want to give you more tools to go after what you want. Follow this link: free job eBook leave me your name and email address, confirm your information, and I will send you a link to the book.  That’s it.  From time to time I may send out some other tips and tools, but hey everyone likes free stuff and I promise no spam, HATE the stuff myself.

If you need someone to come to your location and teach about social media, how to use the internet to market your business or organization, or maybe you need a website makeover or a whole new online persona please contact us.  We build content managed solutions that you own and control.  Technology Workgroup believes that you should own your website, you should not be held up waiting for a designer or your internet service provider to make changes and updates to your site.