Facebook Marketing: Personalize Your Business Page with a Link to Your Personal Profile

Have you linked your Facebook Business Page to your Personal Profile? If not, you might want to consider doing so to make it more personal and to make life easier for your fans.

The reasons that you want to do this are:

1. It clearly identifies YOU with your Page. Otherwise, people simply don’t know that there is a connection, i.e., there is no direct “link” for people.

2. People generally want to know easily WHO is responsible for a Page. After all, it is SOCIAL media. People want to know about and connect with People.

3. While people can use Facebook’s Search feature, it can be really difficult to find a particular person. Frustrating. Time consuming. Why put your fans through the trouble?

4. This makes it easy for your actual Friends to connect with you (in case they found your business page first).

5. It makes it easy for people to send you a private note. Otherwise, their only option to communicate with you is to write a post on your wall – or perhaps contact you via email if they can find your email on your Facebook page.

Now that this feature is available, there are only a few reasons I can see that you wouldn’t want to use it:

– you have a page that is really controversial (political, religious, risque), or
– you want to be able to comment on your page anonymously.

How To: If you want to add this to your page, here are three easy steps to follow:

1. Go to your page and choose the EDIT PAGE on the top RIGHT corner.

2. Choose “Featured” under the options on the LEFT side of the Page.

3. Choose “Edit Featured Owners” – Facebook will show you all ADMINs on the Page. Choose the one or ones that you want and press SAVE.

There you have it! Your page is now personalized and will provide a much better experience for your fans.

If you have any questions about this, please post them in comments or on my Facebook Fan Page at www.facebook.com/ginacarrfanpage

Good Begets Good – The Cycle of RAI

From the Awesome Women Hub Facebook page: April 4, 2011 http://www.fb.com/awesomewomenhub

Good news begets better people. That’s the conclusion of researchers at the University of British Columbia. In four separate studies, results showed a direct link between a person’s exposure to media stories of extraordinary virtue and their yearning to change the world. “If more attention was devoted to recounting stories of uncommon acts of human virtue, the media could have a quantifiable positive effect on the moral behaviour of a significant group of people,” says lead author Karl Aquino, who studies forgiveness and moral behavior. The more positive and powerful stories we put into the world, the more good people we may start to see.

My Response

This is so true! This was the unconscious basis upon which I co-founded and built my last business – a chain of community magazines. We focused on the GOOD news of what was happening in our community. I developed beliefs about what I called “The Cycle of RAI – Recognition, Appreciation & Inspiration.” That is, when someone doing something good for the world is noticed – recognized – by public/media, others appreciate the efforts and are inspired to do something else good. It is a beautiful thing.

What are your thoughts on this matter? Do you think that people are inspired to do great things when they read what someone else has done?

Should You Convert your Facebook Profile to a Page? NO!

NOTE: I just got word (April 4, 2011) that Facebook has removed this feature. I guess that a lot of people are pretty upset about it. Remember – you heard it here first (I hope!).

*******************************************************************************

Recently, Facebook rolled out a new feature that allows you to change convert your Facebook Personal Profile to a Page.

At first glance, this seems like a good idea if your primary purpose for being on Facebook is to generate business. However, there are two big things to consider before you take this action:

1. You will LOSE your Personal Profile – all messages, pictures, wallposts, etc.. Your account will be converted to a Business Account. Your pictures will be transferred and all of your friends will be automatically added as people who LIKE your page. However, no other content will be carried over to your new page. (There is a way to save it though.)

2. Without a Personal Profile, you cannot interact with someone else’ Personal Profile. So, anyone that you are FRIENDS with now, you will NO LONGER be friends with.

3. You can NOT undo this.
Once you convert, you cannot go back to a profile. However, Facebook seems to leave open the opportunity for you to create a NEW personal profile – using a different email I’m sure.

Although it initially sounded like a great idea, I’m going to wait a while on this one until Facebook works out some of the kinks. The KINKS are BIG.

Have you made the conversion? Are you thinking about it? I’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter.

Here is a post from someone who did this and wishes she hadn’t. Read Christina Warren’s story:

http://mashable.com/2011/03/31/facebook-profile-migration-warning/

For more information on this, see Facebook Help: https://www.facebook.com/help/?faq=19691

How to use Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin

* How to use Linkedin to get business — and not irritate people!
* How to use Facebook to increase your business
* Hidden benefits of Twitter that most people don't know about
* How to use Skype for business to get a competitive advantage.
* Using technology to move ahead of the competition.

http://thecompletecommunicator.com/?p=1854

Social Media Marketing – How 9 + 9 = 99

Social Media has changed the world of marketing.  Marketing has changed because what used to work is outdated.  But what does work is a lot better.  Let me explain.

Social_Media_Marketing_-_How_9_+_9_=_99.mp4 Watch on Posterous

An old saying that many speakers on that proverbial “speakers circuit” used was, “If you keep on doing what you’ve already done, you’ll keep on getting what you’ve already got.”  Well, that seemed to be true at first brush.  However, if you’re in an environment that is shifting, changing and constantly morphing into something new, what got you to the level of success you have now might be so outdated that it not only doesn’t work — it can harm you.

A good example of that is the old model of “push” selling.  It used to be that the salesman with the loudest voice — the best shouter  won attention.  Broadcast more and you get business.  Scream louder on the radio and you sell more (Ugh!  Remember those repulsive commercials?).  This pattern of push selling became so prominent that it attracted a very negative phrase. If you didn’t like a particular salesman you’d say he was a “pushy” salesman.  Perhaps that label was appropriate.

Then there was the next evolutionary admonition to use “pull marketing.” The idea was that instead of pushing something on prospects, you’d entice them.  Sometimes this was with a free offer or an “ethical bribe,” as many Internet Marketers have said.  Pull marketing was a shade better than push but still had its share of problems.

Today, successful marketing is not push.

It is not even pull.

Today successful marketing is about “pairing.”  Successful Relationship Marketing is about bringing people together to pair them up for mutual benefits.  People want to be around others who share common interests.  People want to be around people they like.  People want to find out more about products and services that will help them.

Pairing hungry people with a great restaurant is a great idea for both parties.  Pairing business people who need a competitive advantage with a new technology that helps them leap ahead is great for business.  This is where 9 + 9 can equal a lot more than 18.  It is like Napoleon Hill’s Mastermind Group concept.  Bringing the right people together creates a new entity that is bigger and better than the sum of those involved.  Yes, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.  9 + 9 = 99.

Matching people who can help is what Relationship Marketing is all about.  It is not push.  It is not even pull.  Today, it is about pairing.

Dr. Tom Stanley, co-author of the best-selling Millionaire Next Door — and my favorite marketing professor when I attended Georgia State — said that we have to be the hub of our network.  Successful people often are the center of a hub to connect people.  You just like to be around them.  These “hub centers” seem to know everyone and if you need a particular banker, dentist, carpenter or whoever, that “hub center” is the person to know.

Move from “push” and “pull” marketing to pairing.  Find ways you can connect wonderful people with each other.  This is what Social Media is all about.  Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin all do this in many wonderful ways.  That’s why they are growing so fast.  As you pair others, they will naturally feel good about helping you.  This is what Relationship Marketing (I call it “R-Commerce”) is all about.  Find the needs of others.  Listen to their needs and desires. Then think about how you can match them with the resources to achieve their goals.

Amazing how you get more of what you want as you help others get what they want.  This is the beauty of life and business. Pairing precedes profitability.

Copyright (c) 2010, Terry Brock and Achievement Systems, Inc.  Terry Brock is an international marketing coach and professional speaker who helps businesses generate profitable results.  He can be reached by e-mail at terry@terrybrock.com or through his website at www.terrybrock.com.  Join the Twitter adventure with Terry through his Twitter address: @TerryBrock.  Join Terry’s Facebook Fan Page at: http://www.facebook.com/SpeakerTerryBrock

Facebook Tip – Profile Pictures Done Right

I know that a lot of people are frustrated with the new Facebook Profile. Here is a terrific marketer who is making “champagne out of lemons (not just lemonade)” as the brilliant relationship marketing expert Terry Brock likes to say.

Donna did two things to help build her credibility as a professional speaker and trainer by strategically placing pictures* on her profile that show her viewers the following:

1. Credential – she very smartly displays her NSA MEMBER (decal) – NSA is the National Speakers Association. Similar to walking into a store and seeing a “Better Business Bureau” on the door or a diploma hanging on an office wall, this shows the world that she is a serious player in her field of expertise.

2. Relationships – she also very wisely chose a picture of her with Mari Smith, arguably the most recognized thought leader today on Facebook after Mark Zuckerberg. Many people in social media will easily recognize Mari in the picture with Donna.

If you actually click the photo, you will see that Donna has a succinct caption: “Mari Smith and yours truly at the NSA 2010 Winter conference. A pleasure to meet Mari.” (Smart mention – Mari and an important industry event).

Cheers to you DONNA on a job well done with this new tool!

*How do you strategically select the pictures you want on your profile? Follow these steps:

From the awesome guide by @marismith Quick Guide To The New Facebook Profile Layout http://www.marismith.com/quick-guide-facebook-profile-layout/

The five photos at the top of your new profile are the last five you were tagged in – whether you tagged yourself or a friend tagged you. Note: anyone viewing your profile sees these five photos. (Though I have heard some users say they see different photos than the ones the profile owner sees).
To change the photos, mouseover each one and click the “X.” Another will automatically appear in its place.
To control the exact five photos you want, untag then retag (or upload new ones) and tag from right to left (left is the most recent photo). For a fun profile “hack,” see thistutorial/app and these examples on Mashable.com.

Tribe Building with Virtual Events – Tools for Twitter Chats, Twitter Parties

Tweet chats and twitter parties are a great way to build your tribe – bring like-minded people together to “chat” about particular topics. As the organizer (tribe builder), you are positioning yourself as the thought leader (authority) in your field.

The following is a quick list of some of the tools and websites that might be helpful for creating, marketing, and hosting such an event..

http://bit.ly/ChatSched – list your Twitter Chat event here

www.tweetchat.com – Good place to participate in a chat. Set REFRESH speed to 5 seconds.

www.tweetgrid.com – Another place to participate.

www.wthashtag.com – Good place to “register” your event hasthag. Get stats. Get transcript afterward.

www.storify.com – new tool I just saw recently. Use it to recap highlights from the event.

What other virtual event tools do you like?

Additional helpful articles on this subject:

7 Steps to Successfully Start Your Own Twitter Chat Event by Gina Schreck Synapse3Di http://ow.ly/48wTv

The Twitter Chat Schedule by Swan Future Business http://ow.ly/48x4G

How to Upload a Video on Facebook

I get this request a lot. Initially, I found the VIDEO share link on FB very difficult to use. Here’s my take on it…

Two ways:

1st way – if the video resides on the web ala Youtube (my preference and the easier method)

1. Go to the Home Page or the Profile Page.
2. Click the LINK button that is to the right of the SHARE button which is to the right of your picture.
3. Insert the link and click ATTACH.
4. Then you can write something about the link.


2nd way – if the video RESIDES on your computer hard drive (or mobile device) (more difficult)

1. Go to the Home Page.
2. Click the “Photos” filter on the left side of the page.
3. Click the “Videos” sub-filter.
4. Select which type of video you want to make. You can choose “File Upload” to upload a video from your drive, “Mobile Video” to upload a video from your mobile device, or “Record Video” to record a video with your webcam.
4. Follow the on screen directions for your particular upload type.

A successful video upload will generate a story about your video and store the video permanently in My Videos.

Please let me know if you have any questions or add any tips that you have discovered.

Facebook Tip: How to Change the Photos on your Profile Page

From Mari Smith’s awesome new guide to the new Facebook Profile: http://www.marismith.com/quick-guide-facebook-profile-layout/

The five photos at the top of your new profile are the last five you were tagged in – whether you tagged yourself or a friend tagged you. Note: anyone viewing your profile sees these five photos. (Though I have heard some users say they see different photos than the ones the profile owner sees).
To change the photos, mouseover each one and click the “X.” Another will automatically appear in its place.
To control the exact five photos you want, untag then retag (or upload new ones) and tag from right to left (left is the most recent photo). For a fun profile “hack,” see this tutorial/app and these examples on Mashable.com.

Embed ‘What is your favorite social media management tool?’ in a web page | Poll Everywhere

Embed 'What is your favorite social media management tool?' in a web page | Poll Everywhere: “

Innovation – Inspiring America’s Comeback – Interview with Gary Shapiro, President of Consumer Electronics Association | Terry L Brock, Professional Speaker, Marketing Coach

This is a great interview by Skype’s Chief Enterprise Blogger, Terry Brock, of the President of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), Gary Shapiro. The CEA puts on the world famous Vegas-based Consumer Electronics Show. Gary is also the author of a recent book, Comeback: How Innovation Will Restore the American Dream.

It’s clear why the Consumer Electronics Show continues to be such a big success with Gary Shipiro at the helm. My big takeaways from Gary are:

1. “Broadband is important because that is what access for information and education is all about for everyone in the world.”

2. “The only way to grow the economy is through innovation.”

3. “Politicians are stealing from our future – democrats and republicans.”

I can’t wait to read Gary’s book Comeback. Thanks for giving us an up close and personal interview with someone who is actually bringing about significant positive change in the world.

Here is the link to Terry’s interview…

http://terrybrock.com/2011/01/garyshapiro-2/

Join 23 Blogging Experts at Web’s Largest Blogging Conference

See http://bloggingsuccesssummit.ginasentme.com)

Blogging Success Summit 2011 is a special online conference designed to help you master business blogging (brought to you by BlogWorld and Social Media Examiner).

Join Technorati CEO Richard Jalichandra, Scott Monty (head of social media, Ford), Brian Clark (Copyblogger), Darren Rowse (author, ProBlogger), Debbie Weil (author, The Corporate Blogging Book), Douglas Karr (co-author, Corporate Blogging for Dummies) experts from Sony, McDonald’s, Cisco, Southwest Airlines and Procter & Gamble; Jay Baer (author, The Now Revolution) and Michael Stelzner (Social Media Examiner)–just to name a few.

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Linkedin Basics – 3 Quick Tips to Make Better Connections

The following quick tips will help you with Linkedin:

1. Check to see that your profile is up-to-date with everything that you want it to say. Remember Less is More. Better to leave them wanting more than to bore them to tears.

2. Follow the steps to “Link in” with more people using your email database – personally and we can import from 1shoppingcart

3. Look for GROUPS that are your target audience. Join several. Then “lurk” around to see how they work – who is posting on the discussions, what sorts of things? If there are questions you can answer or comments you want to make, go ahead. Just don’t post anything until you are comfortable.

Attract More Customers with Twitter Hashtags & RSS feeds

Social Media Magic – Advanced Twitter – Here’s a quick video (about 6 minutes) about how to make your Twitter posts more viral by combining RSS feeds with Hashtags. What do you think? Warning – if you are not really familiar with Twitter, hashtags, RSS feeds, and Hootsuite this is NOT for you. #twittip #some

Three Quick & Easy Ways to Make Your Facebook Posts More Viral (10)

Three Quick & Easy Ways to Make Your Facebook Posts More Viral (10)

Faster Horses – Why Most Market Research is a Bunch of Bunk – Part 1

“If I’d asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.” Henry Ford
As I was listening to a podcast this morning, I heard some very powerful points that reaffirm my “theory” that most market research is a bunch of bunk.
At the Open Source Business Conference in 2004, Harvard Business Professor Clayton M. Christiansen, explained his theory of disruption and how it relates to success in business.  Although it is a few years old, his explanations about theory and market research in this keynote hit me with a big dose of reality:  managers of business are constantly making decisions based on theories.  
However, most managers don’t regard their “theories” as “theories” if the theory stems from “evidence” or historical data.   In that case, managers seem to think of their theories as fact. Not so.
When a decision is based upon historical data, why is it deemed to be much more valid than a decision based on speculation about the future?  In this presentation, Professor Christiansen confirms what I have believed for a long time – that decisions based upon historical data are likely to be highly inaccurate.  I would go so far as to consider them dangerous for most business decision making.  
This excerpt from Professor Christensen’s presentation explains his take on the concept of “theory.”
“The word “theory” gets a bum rap amongst some managers because it is associated with the word theoretical which connotes impractical. But a theory is actually a very practical thing because it is a statement of causality – a statement of what causes what and why.   It’s like gravity is a theory and it allows you to predict that if you jump out of a window of this hotel, you are going to fall.  And you don’t have to collect experimental evidence on that question.
And what this means is that every time a manager takes an action, it is predicated on a theory in her head that if I do this, I’m going to get the result that I need.  And every time you put a business plan into place, you are actually employing theories in your mind that if you do these things, you will be successful.  It’s just you don’t know quite often what the theories are that you are employing and whether they are good or bad.”
In a future post, I will share an example that Professor Christensen used about the Harvard Business School that further illustrates how looking at the “data” is a very dangerous thing to do in business.
The link to this recording and other related information is posted here:

Get More Presence by Giving Presents in Social Media

One of the most effective ways for you to build your “presence” (visibility)in social media is by giving “presents” (social “gifts” of gratitude).

Imagine the following scenario:  David is at a birthday celebration for Cindy, one of his friends from college.  Everyone is seated around a large dinner table in a back room of a restaurant.  John, Cindy’s husband, has just given her a beautiful necklace. 

Everyone is ” ooh-ing and awe-ing” over it.  David looks on from across the room. 

Much to David’s surprise, John looks across the room and, in a voice that every one can hear, says, “David, you probably don’t even know it but I got this from your store.  I was in there the other day when you were out to lunch. I never knew you had so many beautiful things.   The prices were excellent – much better than the mall stores.  The quality was better too.  Your staff was friendly, informative and not the least bit pushy.”

Although the party goers heard John’s compliment clearly, he adds, “Friends, if you need to find a unique gift for someone special, you’ve got to go to David’s jewelry store.”

David is stunned. Not stunned by John’s assessment of his store.  David prides himself on the fact that he has great prices, excellent quality and selection, and friendly, knowledgeable, low-pressure staff.

David is stunned by the fact that John would give you such an incredible unsolicited 
endorsement in front of so many “qualified” potential customers. 

Said David, “ I can’t believe I just spent $3000  on a newspaper ad.  I bet I get more business from this totally free, unexpected endorsement from John that I get from that newspaper.  I wonder how I can get more of those types of endorsements – in front of the right crowds.”

The beauty of social media is that you can get – and give – “shout outs” like this with ease for free with just a few clicks on a keyboard. Similar to this example, your compliments are likely to be seen by a number of other people who are friends with the person you compliment and by YOUR friends – friends that are likely to also be good potential customers.

Where and how should you help someone out with this technology-enhanced word of mouth advertising, aka “social sharing”?  Here is my recipe for getting the most “presence” out of your “presents” – for you AND the person you are complimenting.

Facebook – The best way to give a compliment on Facebook is to “Brag and Tag” from your OWN wall.  Use the box at the top to write your compliment and use the @ symbol to TAG the Profile or Page that you are complimenting. Add some TAGS to mutual friends and relevant pages as well.  Before you press SHARE, make your post SHARE-able by adding a direct link to a relevant website or facebook page by typing the URL in the address bar of your browser.

Linkedin – Write a “recommendation” for a colleague or friend.  Make it short & sweet – three to five sentences is all you need.  Don’t ask for a reciprocal endorsement.  It is entirely appropriate to end your comment with your name and title – plus a link to your webpage.

Twitter – In Twitterville, we call it “sharing some Twitter luv.”  Send a public @mention to someone – even someone you don’t know.  This is a great way to get on the radar screen of someone that you want to develop a relationship with. 

Youtube – record a short video explaining what you enjoyed most about your personal buying experience. Place it on your youtube channel & then “share” it on twitter and facebook by tagging the relevant parties – personal profiles or business pages.

For those of you who are saying, this sounds great but what is this really going to do for MY business?!

This is where Gina’s Law of Social Media Reciprocity kicks in:  People have a natural inclination to reciprocate – to return a favor when one is extended to them – in social media as well as in face-to-face situations.

So, one of the best ways to GET a compliment is to GIVE one.  Give it a try.  I think you will be pleasantly surprised with the reciprocation you receive. 

In addition to adding a few coins to the relationship account of the person to whom the compliment was paid, you are showing the world that you are a kind, appreciative person that shares goodness with others.  People are likely to click on a link to your page to find out more about who you are and what you do.

In essence, you get “presence” by leaving “presents.”

People want to be around other positive, goodness-giving people.  It is human nature.

So, go spread some “presents” around today and let me know how it affects your “presence”.