Summary: Getting your offline business online can be overwhelming and confusing. You find yourself asking questions such as: Do I really need to be on Facebook? What’s the craze over Twitter and how does it help my business? Do I really need a blog and how do I find the time to write blog posts when I’m trying to run my business? These questions, along with many more, are common and important questions to ask when taking your offline business online. This episode is meant to help answer some of your questions and provide guidance for navigating the world of online marketing. Tip 1: The Internet is a Community Realize that the internet is a community and this concept will help you grasp the most important piece of mastering online marketing. You are not here to sell. You are a part of a worldwide community who has valuable solutions to offer your ideal client and prospect community. Tip 2: Keep it Real Internet users can smell “fake” a mile away. Sleazy sales tactics don’t work and no, people don’t care what you had for lunch. What people do want is valuable information and resources! Post free tips - provide links to additional resources like key tips and articles on your blog, podcasts, and videos - announce special promotions. Keep it real, keep it high-value. Tip 3: Social Networking No-No’s If you’re new to social networking, it’s very easy to make a mistake and lose the trust of your tribe forever. In the beginning, do more listening than talking. Think of yourself as the new kid on the block.... learn the ropes, observe, and take notes. Connect with people from various industries and pay close attention to those people who have huge followings (they’re probably doing something right). Model their successes, and steer clear of the social networking no-no’s. Tip 4: Your Website Isn’t Just a Website Just a few short years ago, websites were horrible to look at: flashing banners, hot pink backgrounds, hard-to-read text, and bad headshots. Today, your website isn’t just a website - it’s a presence. It’s your brand. It’s your business. It’s YOU. It must be engaging, informative and offer massive value without cheesy sales tactics. Tip 5: Consistency is Key Because the internet is a community, you must be willing to consistently participate. Tweeting once per month isn’t going to get you noticed. Online marketing should be part of your everyday marketing plan. A few minutes per day (at least 4 days per week) is the quickest, easiest and cheapest way to connect with over 1 billion people - some of whom I’m sure are your ideal prospects. Your assistant can help by taking existing information and consistently put it out there for you. Tip 6: Expand Your Market While you may not be interested in becoming the next Mari Smith, there are plenty of people, worldwide, who recognize the power of the internet to expand their market and grow their business. Why would you not access a resource that provides you with free or low-cost ways to reach more of your ideal prospects? Leverage the resources available to you! Tip 7: Get the Inside Scoop on What People Really Want The internet provides a perfect way for you to find out exactly what your market wants. It’s as simple as joining LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter - and then listening to what people are saying. What frustrates them? What products or programs are they raving about? Who are they following - and interacting with? You’ll find that people are generally brutally honest about their experiences - and that helps you help them. Tip 8: Find an Untapped Resource of Allies, Partners, and Clients You’ll quickly find that there is an endless supply of people who are willing to spread the word about high-quality products and services to their friends and family. If you have a great product or service, you’ll probably find people who are willing to sing your praises. You’ll also likely find unexpected joint-venture partners, affiliates and clients! Tip 9:
