Ning, Twitter, Blogger, Flckr, Facebook, and the list goes on and on. So, I have my favorites like Twitter, TwitterWahm.com, Facebook. But when listing your business, networking and making friends, what are the Top Ranking sites Obviously some social sites we visit are more because we like the nature and people of the site, rather than their popularity, but in our marketing arsenal we also need to know what sites get the most traffic.
ALEXA.com was my new best friend today as I researched the top social networking sites. While I was there I came across the top 200 most visited sites, in those 200 I found 15 social networking sites (english speaking).
(If you don't know what alexa.com is, it is a ranking website for websites all over the globe and it ranks each sites traffic.) Yes, I was totally intrigued....or bored, I really couldn't tell.
So here are the 15 sites in the top 200:
Youtube.com,
Myspace.com
Facebook.com
Blogger.com
Hi5.com
Photobucket.com
Flickr.com
Friendster.com
Skyrock.com
Perfspot.com
About.com
Bebo.com
Digg.com
Imeem.com
Linkedin.com
Now, we all know how popular Twitter is and with all the press lately, I am sure it will shoot up the list in the next 5 or 6 months.
So I would include Twitter.com a must.
Yes, I know no one would be perfect in implementing all of these social networks, but how about trying one network for each media source. A balanced portfolio for Social Networking would look something like this, Twitter (real time chat/party), Facebook, actual friends and associates, Youtube.com for how to's and webinars (invite friends to view), photobucket.com, post pictures and share with your old and new network, Imeem.com pick and share music, and Blogger.com (every good business and networker needs a blog). To recap, we have chat, video, photo, friends, and blogs, then include one specialty site like ActiveRain.com if you are in Real Estate, or TwitterMoms.com if you are focusing on mothers, etc.
I know this looks daunting, but some of these networks take more time then others, like for photos,videos, or songs, just post your favorites, then move on, Twitter and Facebook however are definitely time suckers, so you have to regulate your time spent on each site.
With each of these sights the goal is to make friends, meet more people and link, link, link to your blog and main website.
Are you not entertained? (I always wanted say that)
Ok so get ready..get set...GO OUT AND GET STARTED.
P.S. Often when businesses are started, or are just barely surviving, we make choices that are not always effective. Sign up for this free news letter to free yourself from the guessing game of social media, SEO, marketing and keeping your focus. Click here for your free Newsletter http://www.businesswomennetwork.com/ .
Business Women Network
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
What do you do when there is no one there?
So, as much technical and financial startup new businesses can require, there is also the emotional.
You may read this and think that this post is a little touchy feely. It may be. But, if you haven't experienced real disappointment yet, brace yourself, it will come.
In my varied background, I have experience as a realtor. Someone once told me, "Dont get in this business if you can't take it that your Grandma may list with someone else."
It's true. As it is with web, retail, design and any other business.
What do you do when your support system has let you down. When those you have trusted are no longer reliable, or worse yet, they try to sabotage your business in some way.
Hurtful? Yes. Life changing? Maybe. A sign to throw in the towel? No, definitely not.
There is nothing that knocks the wind out of you more than a little betrayal.
But, here is the solution to your new found suffocation...... So what? So what if your closest friend throws you in front of the bus. Who are they? Why do we care? Because we are human, women, and possibly emotional (totally, me), that is why we care. But, no one is your bigger advocate than yourself. Your friends betrayal.......(listen to me closely)...... it is their problem!
You need a confident sales person for your business, and that person should be you. Business brings about many obstacles and it is when we pass the first one, that we gain the courage to jump over the next. "Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again".
Really, no one can get in your way but yourself. Show those that doubt you, that they really are as stupid as they have acted. Remove them from your life and get going again.
You may read this and think that this post is a little touchy feely. It may be. But, if you haven't experienced real disappointment yet, brace yourself, it will come.
In my varied background, I have experience as a realtor. Someone once told me, "Dont get in this business if you can't take it that your Grandma may list with someone else."
It's true. As it is with web, retail, design and any other business.
What do you do when your support system has let you down. When those you have trusted are no longer reliable, or worse yet, they try to sabotage your business in some way.
Hurtful? Yes. Life changing? Maybe. A sign to throw in the towel? No, definitely not.
There is nothing that knocks the wind out of you more than a little betrayal.
But, here is the solution to your new found suffocation...... So what? So what if your closest friend throws you in front of the bus. Who are they? Why do we care? Because we are human, women, and possibly emotional (totally, me), that is why we care. But, no one is your bigger advocate than yourself. Your friends betrayal.......(listen to me closely)...... it is their problem!
You need a confident sales person for your business, and that person should be you. Business brings about many obstacles and it is when we pass the first one, that we gain the courage to jump over the next. "Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again".
Really, no one can get in your way but yourself. Show those that doubt you, that they really are as stupid as they have acted. Remove them from your life and get going again.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
3 things you need if you want more customers
So, while thinking of content for my blog I do a little research, and one of my favorite blogs to read is Seth Godin's, he is a marketing genius. So, I thought I would share some of his thoughts with you:
"Three things you need if you want more customers
If you want to grow, you need new customers. And if you want new customers, you need three things:
1. A group of possible customers you can identify and reach.
2. A group with a problem they want to solve using your solution.
3. A group with the desire and ability to spend money to solve that problem.
You'd be amazed at how often new businesses or new ventures have none of these. The first one is critical, because if you don't have permission, or knowledge, or word of mouth, you're invisible.
The Zune didn't have #2.
A service aimed at creating videos for bestselling authors doesn't have #1.
And a counseling service helping people cut back on Big Mac consumption doesn't have #3."
- Seth Godin
"Three things you need if you want more customers
If you want to grow, you need new customers. And if you want new customers, you need three things:
1. A group of possible customers you can identify and reach.
2. A group with a problem they want to solve using your solution.
3. A group with the desire and ability to spend money to solve that problem.
You'd be amazed at how often new businesses or new ventures have none of these. The first one is critical, because if you don't have permission, or knowledge, or word of mouth, you're invisible.
The Zune didn't have #2.
A service aimed at creating videos for bestselling authors doesn't have #1.
And a counseling service helping people cut back on Big Mac consumption doesn't have #3."
- Seth Godin
Sunday, February 15, 2009
It's never the right time to start.
So, when you have an idea in your head, but can't seem to shake it. What do you do from there? It never seems like it is the right time to start. But, it always seems like that, with every major decision. Never the right time for a baby, or change your job, to ask for a promotion.
The only thing holding us back is fear. So, lets squash that fear. Whatever it is you are trying to accomplish, what ever business you are trying to start.
It is the time..... if you find yourself too busy to get a hold on your business, first make a list of the top 10 things you need to do to get started. Then schedule 10, 15, 20 minutes a day towards each task. Once you get going and hopefully a little addicted you will find a little more time each day towards the beginning of your business.
Have you ever known a homeschool family? I know quite a few. It amazes me how quickly they get their work done during the day. How is that possible? My kids are in school 7 hours a day and still accomplish the same thing.
It is all about effeciency. There is more time wasted in a day then most might suspect. Don't provide your business with the excuses to fail.
Now is the time to start.
Life needs to either progress or regress but it never stands still.
The only thing holding us back is fear. So, lets squash that fear. Whatever it is you are trying to accomplish, what ever business you are trying to start.
It is the time..... if you find yourself too busy to get a hold on your business, first make a list of the top 10 things you need to do to get started. Then schedule 10, 15, 20 minutes a day towards each task. Once you get going and hopefully a little addicted you will find a little more time each day towards the beginning of your business.
Have you ever known a homeschool family? I know quite a few. It amazes me how quickly they get their work done during the day. How is that possible? My kids are in school 7 hours a day and still accomplish the same thing.
It is all about effeciency. There is more time wasted in a day then most might suspect. Don't provide your business with the excuses to fail.
Now is the time to start.
Life needs to either progress or regress but it never stands still.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Cool Applications for Your Iphone
It sometimes seems a little daunting to hunt and find that applications for your Iphone. The BWN has found a few that are genius in helping us balance their life a little better. Here are a few tools to aide you in all of the aspects of juggling your life.
Women Calendar: This application from Apptism tracks your monthly visitor. No more guessing or being unprepared for that time of the month.
Emergency Info: The ICE iPhone application provides emergency personnel or EMT's vital information that might save your life.
Here's a really cool application for the iPhone: Heart Monitor uses the iPhone microphone—especially the one built into your headphones—to record and track your heartbeat from your chest, wrist or neck.
Now you can control your computer from your iPhone or iPod Touch. Install a VNC server on the one you want to control and setup the details in your device by downloading VNsea.
Do you find yourself in dark allies or like me walking out into pitch blackness with no light source? This easy application for a flashlight is a great way to ensure that you don't do what I do and literally run into my car in the dark.
Are you a Twitter Geek. Great news! Iphone has made an application to help you in your social media experience. Now you can Twitter from anywhere!
Women Calendar: This application from Apptism tracks your monthly visitor. No more guessing or being unprepared for that time of the month.
Emergency Info: The ICE iPhone application provides emergency personnel or EMT's vital information that might save your life.
Here's a really cool application for the iPhone: Heart Monitor uses the iPhone microphone—especially the one built into your headphones—to record and track your heartbeat from your chest, wrist or neck.
Now you can control your computer from your iPhone or iPod Touch. Install a VNC server on the one you want to control and setup the details in your device by downloading VNsea.
Do you find yourself in dark allies or like me walking out into pitch blackness with no light source? This easy application for a flashlight is a great way to ensure that you don't do what I do and literally run into my car in the dark.
Are you a Twitter Geek. Great news! Iphone has made an application to help you in your social media experience. Now you can Twitter from anywhere!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tools for Twitter
Social media is the new frontier to marketing and advertising products...with this new phenomenom comes MANY applications. One of the most used and successful tools which help you to microblog and "feed" your many other social networks is Twitter. So if you hear things like "I tweeted it" or "retweet" rest assured that these things do exist. And, yes you heard them correctly.
The best way to look at Twitter is as "group texting". You sign up for an account and "follow" people with the same interests and businesses. As you begin to follow people they in turn will follow you back. What does this do for you? Well it provides you with a social network of people who want to hear what you have to say. The number one pointer when using Twitter for marketing is to make sure that you have a balance of personal information to business information so that people feel a personal connection to you and your company.
As you become more familiar with Twitter you will learn that there are MANY applications within in this one corner of social media. Below is a list taken from mashable.com to help you use Twitter effectively. Be sure to follow us and we will follow you back!
Good Luck and happy Tweeting!!
Brabblr - With Brabblr, you can post to all your micro blogging services including Twitter, Pownce, Jaiku, Tumblr, Jabber, Frazr, and more.Autopostr - This service lets your friends in Twitter know when you post a new picture on Flickr.
EmailTwitter - With this service, you can send tweets to Twitter from your cellphone without incurring SMS charges.
GroupTweet - Allows you to post private message to a group of Twitter friends.
Hashtags - You can add tags to your Twitter posts with this service.
HelloTxt - This service enables you to update Twitter, a host of other micro blogging sites, and social networking sites with one click.
LinkBunch - Need to share more than one link in a tweet? LinkBunch puts together all the links and provides you one link that you can share on Twitter. As you might have understood, this can be used not just with Twitter, but also with emails, IMs, SMS, etc.
LiveTwitting - Helps you cover a conference live on Twitter. Similar to liveblogging, only cooler.
MicroRevie - Post reviews on twitter accs and this service will turn them into microformats.
Mobypicture - A service to post to your blog and micro-blogging sites like Twitter through your mobile phone.
OutTwit - A tool for Outlook that will send the latest tweets from your friends as incoming email messages.
SecretTweet - Post to Twitter anonymously. If you really need to.
SnapTweet - Allows you to post your Flickr pictures to Twitter.
Snitter - an Adobe AIR based desktop client for Twitter compatible with Mac and Windows. The Linux version is in testing.
Twhirl - Twhirl is a popular desktop client based on Adobe AIR. It has a lot of impressive features including multiple Twitter accounts, connect to Friendfeed, post image to Twitpic, post to Pownce and Jaiku simultaneously, and search using Tweetscan.
TweetCube - This service allows you to post files on Twitter. Files that can be shared include .zip, .rar, .pdf, .jpg, .png, .gif, .mp3 and .txt.
Tweetr- an AIR based Twitter client for MAC and PC. You can use this to send files upto 100MB.
Twibler - posts your ebay listings to Twitter automatically.
Twideeo - You can post videos to Twitter using this service that lets you upload the vid to their site and then generates a link to your video.
Twit+ - You can tweet pictures, videos, and files using this service publicly or privately among your friends on Twitter.
Twitxr - Another neat way to post a picture on Twitter, Facebook, or Picassa.
TweetChannel - You can add TweetChannel as your friend in Twitter to help you channel your various posts.
TweetLater - An useful service to schedule your Twitter posts for the future.
Twitpic - Share pictures on Twitter using Twitpic.
Twitsay - You can tweet an audio recording to Twitter using this new and popular service.
Twits Like Me - You can use this service to find people on Twitter who share your interests.
TwitterCal - This service allows you to post events from your Google calendar to your Twitter accounts.
Twitter Feed - This tool allows you to send your blog atom or RSS feed to Twitter.
TwitterGram - Post an mp3 on Twitter using this service.
Twitteroo - This is another popular desktop client for Twitter.
TwitterIM - Using this tool, you can tweet from Windows Live Messenger and ICQ.
Twitterlights - This tool allows you to highlight snippets of text from any webpage and send it to twitter. The url of the page also gets converted into a tinyurl and gets included in your tweet.
Twitter Reply - With this tool, you can send your Twitter updates on a secret email address, or through Windows Live Messenger or ICQ.
Twittershare - This desktop/web application also allows you to post pictures on Twitter. Works on Mac as well.
VisualTwitter - Allow you to post pictures on Twitter.
Reading
TopTweet - This site provides you updates from the top Twitter personalities. Yes, it took us a lot of tries to take a screenshot without Scoble in it.TweetWire - TweetWire grabs the freshest links posted on Twitter and displays them Yahoo News page style.
Twitter100 - Just like in your personal start pages, this tool will allocate a box to each of the people you follow on a single page and display their latest tweets.Twitterator - Twitterator enables you to follow a group of people at one go.
Twitter Digest - This tool allows you to subscribe to a message stream from a Twitter user of a group of users on the web or through an atom feed.
Alpha Twitter - This site provides you with the top links on Twitter.
EmailTwitter - With this service, you can send tweets to Twitter from your cellphone without incurring SMS charges.
GroupTweet - Allows you to post private message to a group of Twitter friends.
Hashtags - You can add tags to your Twitter posts with this service.
HelloTxt - This service enables you to update Twitter, a host of other micro blogging sites, and social networking sites with one click.
LinkBunch - Need to share more than one link in a tweet? LinkBunch puts together all the links and provides you one link that you can share on Twitter. As you might have understood, this can be used not just with Twitter, but also with emails, IMs, SMS, etc.
LiveTwitting - Helps you cover a conference live on Twitter. Similar to liveblogging, only cooler.
MicroRevie - Post reviews on twitter accs and this service will turn them into microformats.
Mobypicture - A service to post to your blog and micro-blogging sites like Twitter through your mobile phone.
OutTwit - A tool for Outlook that will send the latest tweets from your friends as incoming email messages.
SecretTweet - Post to Twitter anonymously. If you really need to.
SnapTweet - Allows you to post your Flickr pictures to Twitter.
Snitter - an Adobe AIR based desktop client for Twitter compatible with Mac and Windows. The Linux version is in testing.
Twhirl - Twhirl is a popular desktop client based on Adobe AIR. It has a lot of impressive features including multiple Twitter accounts, connect to Friendfeed, post image to Twitpic, post to Pownce and Jaiku simultaneously, and search using Tweetscan.
TweetCube - This service allows you to post files on Twitter. Files that can be shared include .zip, .rar, .pdf, .jpg, .png, .gif, .mp3 and .txt.
Tweetr- an AIR based Twitter client for MAC and PC. You can use this to send files upto 100MB.
Twibler - posts your ebay listings to Twitter automatically.
Twideeo - You can post videos to Twitter using this service that lets you upload the vid to their site and then generates a link to your video.
Twit+ - You can tweet pictures, videos, and files using this service publicly or privately among your friends on Twitter.
Twitxr - Another neat way to post a picture on Twitter, Facebook, or Picassa.
TweetChannel - You can add TweetChannel as your friend in Twitter to help you channel your various posts.
TweetLater - An useful service to schedule your Twitter posts for the future.
Twitpic - Share pictures on Twitter using Twitpic.
Twitsay - You can tweet an audio recording to Twitter using this new and popular service.
Twits Like Me - You can use this service to find people on Twitter who share your interests.
TwitterCal - This service allows you to post events from your Google calendar to your Twitter accounts.
Twitter Feed - This tool allows you to send your blog atom or RSS feed to Twitter.
TwitterGram - Post an mp3 on Twitter using this service.
Twitteroo - This is another popular desktop client for Twitter.
TwitterIM - Using this tool, you can tweet from Windows Live Messenger and ICQ.
Twitterlights - This tool allows you to highlight snippets of text from any webpage and send it to twitter. The url of the page also gets converted into a tinyurl and gets included in your tweet.
Twitter Reply - With this tool, you can send your Twitter updates on a secret email address, or through Windows Live Messenger or ICQ.
Twittershare - This desktop/web application also allows you to post pictures on Twitter. Works on Mac as well.
VisualTwitter - Allow you to post pictures on Twitter.
Reading
TopTweet - This site provides you updates from the top Twitter personalities. Yes, it took us a lot of tries to take a screenshot without Scoble in it.TweetWire - TweetWire grabs the freshest links posted on Twitter and displays them Yahoo News page style.
Twitter100 - Just like in your personal start pages, this tool will allocate a box to each of the people you follow on a single page and display their latest tweets.Twitterator - Twitterator enables you to follow a group of people at one go.
Twitter Digest - This tool allows you to subscribe to a message stream from a Twitter user of a group of users on the web or through an atom feed.
Alpha Twitter - This site provides you with the top links on Twitter.
Multi-tasking
So here we go again, 4:30 am let dogs out, 4:35 let dogs back in, go back to sleep, 6:30 get up, shower, breakfast for 3 kids, feed 3 dogs, get kids ready for school, makeup, carpool, morning hot chocolate, work 8:30 am.
Recently, my husband had to take a job out of town, he is gone 4 days out of the week, this makes things tough. Don't get me wrong. I know there are a lot of single moms out there and all I have to say is.....great job! But, for me, my 3 kids, 3 dogs, my 3 businesses, (apparently I like 3's), and my community involvement, my lack of husband is taking a toll.
Anyway, this brings me to my topic on multi-tasking. I really am a "fly by the seat of your pants" girl, but lately my seat has been getting smaller and smaller ( only in a metaphorical sense, sadly).
So, I am needing to schedule, actually writing things down in my calendar at the beginning of the week and not forgetting it by Tuesday. Of course we schedule, the obvious, School, Work, Doctor, but do we schedule the Gym, American Idol, Meal planning, Bunco, Bills, Schedule time for scheduling?
Of course, women are better at multitasking than men, but at some point the straw breaks the camels back. (wow, metaphors are hot today)
Do yourself a favor take the time, promise yourself you'll stick by it for two weeks, see how it works, there is really more wasted time in a day than you may suspect. I know it doesn't seem like it.
The best blessing you could give yourself, your spouse, your children, is your clear and focused mind. So, don't lose it by cutting yourself and time short. Start your calendar today.
Recently, my husband had to take a job out of town, he is gone 4 days out of the week, this makes things tough. Don't get me wrong. I know there are a lot of single moms out there and all I have to say is.....great job! But, for me, my 3 kids, 3 dogs, my 3 businesses, (apparently I like 3's), and my community involvement, my lack of husband is taking a toll.
Anyway, this brings me to my topic on multi-tasking. I really am a "fly by the seat of your pants" girl, but lately my seat has been getting smaller and smaller ( only in a metaphorical sense, sadly).
So, I am needing to schedule, actually writing things down in my calendar at the beginning of the week and not forgetting it by Tuesday. Of course we schedule, the obvious, School, Work, Doctor, but do we schedule the Gym, American Idol, Meal planning, Bunco, Bills, Schedule time for scheduling?
Of course, women are better at multitasking than men, but at some point the straw breaks the camels back. (wow, metaphors are hot today)
Do yourself a favor take the time, promise yourself you'll stick by it for two weeks, see how it works, there is really more wasted time in a day than you may suspect. I know it doesn't seem like it.
The best blessing you could give yourself, your spouse, your children, is your clear and focused mind. So, don't lose it by cutting yourself and time short. Start your calendar today.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
