Talking and and Listening

drive social Media.

Combined you have what is called Conversation-both offline and online.

Conversation has been something that most of us have been very good at, and have found it natural to do.

Some are good at it.

Some are really good at it.

Until we go online and in the social media sphere.

It seems some folks whack out and lose all sense of conversation and communication. I saw someone recently send out numerous messages on facebook and twitter and all it was, was a big sales pitch. Eric Worre and i were facebooking back and forth about how new home business owners and online entrepreneurs throw up on their connections trying to get them to listen to them.

Then i remembered what we taught in a facebook class last year and wanted to share that with you. Hope this helps in understanding how to hold a conversation in the social sphere.

I did a consulting job with a company recently and found that there folks were like volcanoes throwing up in the social sphere “hurry hurry step right up-step this way” – and I just shook my head.

THAT is not how you communicate in the social sphere. It is a social CONVERSATION- where 2 flows of ideas happen that are related to one focus and that is what is being discussed. Seems that all some folks want to do is create a one way flow and then expect you to act on it.

NOT gonna happen.

Here are three very simple rules for social media conversation:

1) VALUE is the key to any conversation-so soak it with Value so the person you are talking to-will talk about your conversation to others.

THAT is a big secret.

You want them talking about YOUR conversation with them because of what they learned, felt, or experienced. Get people excited and wanting to talk to you again because of what they took away from the conversation.

2)  ASK what is important to people and what they are looking for online and in social media-and talk about that.

Many business as well as home business owners talk about what THEY are looking for in social media. Keep your eyes and ears off of you, and out them on the person you are talking with. Find out what they are really looking for in social media. Ask them about why they are on it and how can you help them obtain what they are looking for.

Then help them.

Talk is cheap.

Help them and become their hero.

3) ALWAYS tell them how much you have enjoyed this conversation and thank them for their connection.

People will remember more of the emotion they took away form a conversation then the words. Get them feeling good and warm fuzzies about talking to you. Thank them and tel them you know you appreciate their time and you enjoyed LISTENING to their communication.

Then the last word they should see and read from you- is their NAME.

“Thanks for the time- see you Nancy.” Or “Enjoyed it- lets chat later Tom.”

This will create a great emotional connection that they will take away from your social media conversation.

These are 3 little rules for social media conversation but will rock your world in social media marketing.

blessings…Doug Firebaugh
PassionFire Training
Follow Doug on Twitter

Editor’s note: this post was written by Doug Firebaugh of PassionFire International. If you’re passionate about social media, social media marketing and social networking lifestyle design, contact me about writing an article yourself.

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A few weeks ago when Gary Vaynerchuk @garyvee of Wine Library TV, announced that he was coming to Seattle on October 20th as part of this book tour for his first book, Crush It! I was really jazzed. Then when he asked me to rally the peeps in the Seattle area about him coming to town for Crush It…how could I refuse?

Gary Vaynerchuk coming to Seattle!

Gary was one of the first people I connected with on Twitter when I joined in early 2008. Why? Because Gary is PASSIONATE about what he does. You see it in his videos, you see it in his wine reviews, even his tweets on Twitter when he’s heartbroken after another New York Jets loss. He wears his heart on his sleeve. He has built an INCREDIBLE personal brand through that passion. Gary has been such a FORCE of passion in social media that he’s been all over TV. From CNN, to Ellen and Conan O’Brien, to the Today Show and many appearances across the country speaking about his passion and social media. His passion impacts people’s lives:

“Anyone looking to supercharge their career should beg, borrow, and steal to learn Gary Vee’s techniques. He reinvented the rules to build a $60-million business from scratch-on his own terms.” (Tim Ferriss, #1 NY Times bestselling author of The 4-Hour Workweek )

“Gary is a force of nature. His authentic, raw passion and caring touches everyone. His insights into social media & his message of opportunity could not be more timely.” (Tony Robbins)

Which is why it’s appropriate that Gary Vaynerchuk came out with his first book, Crush It!: Why NOW Is The Time To Cash In On Your Passion.

Here’s a video Gary made about why he wrote the Crush It! book:

Do you have a hobby you wish you could indulge in all day? An obsession that keeps you up at night? Now is the perfect time to take that passion and make a living doing what you love. In Crush It! Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion, Gary Vaynerchuk shows how to use the power of the Internet to turn your real interests into real businesses. Gary spent years building his family business from a local wine shop into a national industry leader. Then one day he turned on a video camera, and by using the secrets revealed in the book, transformed his entire life and earning potential by building his personal brand. By the end of the book, you will have learned how to harness the power of the Internet to make your entrepreneurial dreams come true. Step by step, Crush It! is the ultimate driver’s manual for modern business.

Gary Vaynerchuk also made a video blog post about the Crush It Book Tour Street Team that he was talking about the book tour. Gary mentioned me and Seattle while looking for other peeps to spread the word when he comes to their town. Here’s the video in case you missed it:

So I’d really love to see a BIG turn out from the Seattle Social Media Club community since Gary Vaynerchuk really is the definition of social media branding. As well, I’d love to see Seattle people who love wine and/or entrepreneurs who are looking for the path to cash in on their passion!

Where Will Gary Vaynerchuk Be In Seattle?

You can RSVP to any of the 3 Seattle “Crush It!” book signing events below.

Tuesday, October 20
Elliott Bay Bookstore

12:30 PM
101 S Main Street
Seattle, WA 98104

(800) 962-5311

Tuesday, October 20
The Wine Outlet

5:00 PM
946 Elliott Avenue West

Book signing
Seattle, WA 98119

Tuesday, October 20
Cost Plus World Market

8:00 PM
2103 Western Ave

Book signing
Seattle, WA 98121

(206) 443-1055

I look forward to FINALLY meeting Gary Vaynerchuk in real life and look forward to seeing you at the Elliott Bay Bookstore where I’ll likely be.

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CONNECTION is the Secret!

The base of Social Media Marketing is about Conversation.

No Doubt. But the platform the base is hosted on I believe is CONNECTION. Conversation does not happen without Connection, and without a reaching out on someones part.

Connection is the START of where it all happens in Social Media.

First comes the Catalyst, then the Connection, then the Conversation. Whether it is tweets on twitter, friends on facebook, and users on youtube – it still starts with Connection in the Social zone.

Are you Connecting on a regular basis? And if you are, how are you doing it?

Connection, according to the dictionary, is “when 2 things come together and meet.”

Cool.

That works as far as social media. Connecting with folks that you have something in common with is all part of the social media marketing process. But if you think about it, there are different types or levels of Connection, and social media really demands a higher level of connection in marketing.

All Marketing is, (no matter if you are a traditional marketer, or a home based marketer, or an online marketer,) is the process of exposing your message or product to a prospect in some way. Yes, tht is a simple definition, but within it, you must CONNECT your message with someone. There must be a CATALYST to make it happen, like an advertisement, phone call, squeeze page, or an article online. But something MUST start the process of marketing.

Here is the process : Catalyst- Attention- Connection- Conversation- Collaboration.

Hence, the 4 levels of Connection in social media.

1) Attention.

This is the weakest form of Connection in socialville. No matter whether it is on LinkedIn, or Facebook, it is the weakest. This form of Connection many people make the mistake of thinking they have Connected here and immediately start bombarding folks with marketing messages. That is a HUGE no no. Attention means that you have Connected their eyes, mind, or curiosity with something, but it is NOT enough to start the marketing process effectively. Yes, you can start here, but rarely does it prove to be effective. This Connection is only where someone NOTICES you message.

2 Connection.

This is where a person in the marketing process, is hooked” by something in your message or offer. It could be a phrase, video, free giveaway, download, image, or color. But SOMETHING has not only gotten their attention, but has Connected their mind to a further look. the psychology of this is to switch in their curiosity, and desire for more information. They have “plugged in” enough to Connect to your message and consider it.

3) Conversation.

This is the third level of Connection, This is where the Conversation has moved beyond curiosity, and now has elevated to communication. They may want to know more about the message or product. They may want to know more about you.  They may want to know more about the benefits and value of the product. But Conversation does take place and can take place many times over the course of time before you move to the 4th level of Connection.

4) Collaboration.

This is where you both agree that you will Collaborate in some way and is some fashion to work together. This may come in the form of a sale or purchase, an appointment, a referral, a new person in your business, a new customer, or even a partnership or Joint venture. Collaboration is something rhat has many possibilities.

The ultimate goal is marketing is to make something happen that creates a win/win situation for both the marketer and customer.  And these 4 levels of Connection can create a LOT of profit if you are consistent and relentless.  Many marketers never get past the Attention stage as they are more interested in RESULTS then a Relationship. They have it backwards. Relationship is a much better catalyzer of Results. Since you have taken the time to Connect on a higher level, they have learned to TRUST you, and trust more of what you suggest or say.

Do nto make that mistake in social media marketing. Take it to the highest level every time, and see your results increase dramatically in your social media marketing zone.

blessings…Doug Firebaugh
PassionFire Training
Follow Doug on Twitter

Editor’s note: this post was written by Doug Firebaugh of PassionFire International. If you’re passionate about social media, social media marketing and social networking lifestyle design, contact me about writing an article yourself.

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Social networking on Facebook for business is a really hot topic.

There seems to be a near limitless myriad of ways on Facebook to build brand exposure and sales for home business and small business entrepreneurs. From creating games & applications, to developing groups and fan pages. That doesn’t even cover being able to advertise on Facebook too based on targeted demographics.

So many people struggle with understanding why and HOW being on Facebook can be beneficial to building business whether they’re a brick & mortar business, network marketer, a restaurant or bar, affiliate marketer, eBay’er…and what is possible through this whole “social networking thing on Facebook”.

I went through my old bookmarks and wanted to be able to share with you some cool Facebook stuff I found when I was first looking for Facebook how-to’s, articles and blog posts that I benefitted from checking out when I first started using Facebook for business.

Inside Facebook – a great blog that is all about Facebook.

Facebook’s Ads Page where all the reasons are given by Facebook as to why advertising your business on Facebook will benefit your small business branding.

Five Ways Small Business Can Benefit from Social Media/Networking Sites

Networking: Use Facebook as a Marketing Tool This is a fantastic article on Lifehacker on utilizing self-promotion to take social networking to a professional networking level.

How to Create a Successful Facebook Group

Top Five Viral Facebook Techniques Some great tips on using giveaways, referrals and a couple of other apps. Allfacebook.com is a great site BTW.

Entrepreneurs Need Both Facebook and LinkedIn

How to Use Facebook Status for Marketing Purposes Eye opening piece for people to understand the value of status updates on Facebook.

Social Networks Find Ways to Monetize User Data

Top Ten Ways to Use Facebook to Promote Your Business for Free

Facebook, a Marketer’s Friend A great piece in the Wall Street Journal that follows a small business owner and using Facebook for business.

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I know.

Comparing THE 10 Commandments to Social Media could be considered a bit of a stretch as I am a HUGE fan of THE 10 Commandments from the Good Book.

But WHAT IF- you could take a look at Social Media marketing and say,“Ok, if there WERE 10 Commandments, what would they be?” And let’s get creative here, and see what we can come up with that would make sense to the masses. Now again, this is PURELY an exercise of social media creativity along with some heavy duty research, but lets see what we can come up with.

Our team has been researching the past 5 months over 250 popular social sites, which also included news and personal blog sites, such as mashable.com, chrisbrogan.com, socialmediatoday.com, jasonfalls.com, scoblelizer.com, marketingprofs.com, hubspot.com, problogger.net, copyblogger.com, whyfacebook.com, conversationagent.com, techcrunch.com, joelcomm.com, jackhumphries.com, doshdosh.com , socialmedian.com, Briansolis.com, socialmediaclub.com, and many other sites that are too numerous to list here. We wanted to see what each were saying about Social Media. We have looked at the posts they have that were applicable, (most of them I have read before) and compared each post with commonalities of all of the rest of the posts on all the other sites.

We found some interesting things.

There were HUGE commonalities in a lot of the posts. We kept spreadsheets to see the common threads as far as word count, phrase usage, idea focus, tactic suggestions, applications mentioned, news items, story lines,  new software, Social focus, among many other factors. We even looked at the keywords used on all the sites and what posts were showing up on the search engines, and what posts were most linked to. (We had help of course from a lot of folks for this project.)

Then we listened to what seemed like endless podcasts, and took notes on the talking points, as well as watched endless videos explaining social media, and put that data in the spreadsheets as well.

Then we looked at what was contained on the social sites themselves, like  twitter.com, facebook, blogger.com, wordpress.com, myspace.com, LinkedIN.com, Activerain.com, stumbleupon.com, as well as many other social sites. We compared the trainings on social media with what we found on a lot of these other blogs, podcasts, and videos. Then we looked at the Search Engines (Google, yahoo, MSN, and Ask.com) It was really eye opening as there were some things that I saw that I was not aware of that people were writing about.

Then we put it all together and looked at the summary of the research, and saw a pattern that was quite evident in the data. We saw that there were what we call the 10 “Commandments,” “Focuses,” or “Concepts” that absolutely ran across the whole social media spectrum in some format or way-constant-and continuous by just about everyone that we researched. This gave us a starting platform that we felt was accurate-and scalable- to write from, with these  ”Commandments.”

What are Commandments? They are not “suggestions.” These are MUST DOs in order to obtain a result or a position in the social media zone that you desire. In Social Media, most people want to create certain results in their efforts that can either be profitable, brand-able, or just enjoyable. These 10 things that we found in our research will help guide you and direct you to a stronger and more powerful social media experience or even more powerful results in your marketing.

NOTE: Social Media is NOT limited to the following 10 Concepts. But these are the 10 things that after researching, showed up stronger and more often in our data than any other concepts, ideas, or “Commandments” we found. These are what were talked about the most, focused on the most, and agreed on the most as critical for social media success for the average person.

Here they are:

1) Thou Shalt know that Social Media is not just about CONNECTION – but the Connection Network.

In Social Media, it is said to be all about CONNECTION- but in Social Media Marketing, it is more about what is CONNECTED to that Connection.

It is called the Social Network. And that Network has proven to be Golden with many respects. This Social Network can open up doors and introductions for marketers, bloggers, and social participants to a vast group of people that were never available to them before. But of course, the quality of the Network is a factor as well.

It IS about CONNECTION- but more also about the Social Network the person you are connecting to has behind them. Consider every Social Connection a potential doorway. It’s what lies behind the door that makes Social Media work. The True Value for Marketing is what lies behind that door.

That is what drives the enormous numbers behind Social Media- the Second Layer of Connection that exists with people.

2) Thou shalt know that Conversation is the platform that all social media rests upon.

Whether it is called “Cafe Conversations,” or “Capsule Conversations,” Conversations are critical in Social Media. And that includes Talking AND Listening. You talk to folks in many ways, including blogging, tweets, writing on walls, personal videos, direct messages, joining in a conversation on a micro blog like tumblr, as well as social email and “audio utterz.”

But you LISTEN as well. You do this with tools that are available with many Social sites. You can listen to twitter with “twitter search.” You can search what people are talking about with many applications, including Twhirl and Tweetdeck. You can also use social search engines as well to Listen to what is being said. And you can also hire great companies that do that for you, like Radian6. But Conversation is about BOTH Talking and Listening. You MUST know what is being said out in the social sphere.

And here is a tip: Make the person GLAD THEY TALKED WITH YOU. Make them the star of your conversation- not your ego. There are way too many one sided conversations out in Social Media. Keep the conversation focused on who you are ‘talking” to and encourage them, as well as guide them to larger possibilities.

Change the Size of their Conversations and you will change their life.

3) Thou Shalt know that VALUE is the Magnet in Social media, and reigns supremely.

Value is King in Social Media. But not just average Value or expected Value. I am talking about Unexpected Surprising Value. Value that is so much that people talk about it and virally market it like crazy. This is how a new “buzz” starts. By creating a Huge Value with a blog post, free giveaways, new ideas, new software applications, discovery of little known information , news stories, and “how to’s” and the list is almost endless of the Value you can bring.

The amount of Value you bring to Social Media will always equal the amount of Impact you have with people. And that Impact either moves people TOWARDS you, or keeps them where they are. Either they become your friend and “follow you,” or they do not see any reason to. That is up to the Value they perceive in what you send out as your message and intentions.

4) Thou Shalt Know the Three R’s of Social Media.

Social Media is pretty simple. It is mainly about 3 things:

Reaching Out. This is critical to Reach Out  to people and let them know you want to Connect and befriend them.

Relationships. Once you have Reached Out, you start building a Relationship of Trust and Value.

Respect. Respect in Social Media is earned, not just given. And you earn that Respect with consistent and powerful content with Value, great conversations that move folks, Integrity and ethics above all, encouraging others, offering solutions, and helping people to larger and more powerful possibilities in their life and business.

5) Thou Shalt BRAND Your Message, Product, and Yourself Consistently, Visibly, and Uniquely.

Everyone talks Branding as that is a must to do in Social Media. But here is where it can get tricky. You brand multiple things all at once. YOU are the brand- sort of. The first thing you need to brand is your Image and who you are, and you do this with a picture or avatar of yourself that shows who you are on your profile. This can also include a corporate logo for a company as well. Chris Brogan has branded a picture of who he is on his blog. The second thing you need to brand is your Message. This is what you want to become known for, and people think about when they think of you. Scott Monty has branded Ford Motors as part of his brand effectively and powerfully. The third thing you want to brand is your product and what Value it has that makes it UNIQUE and One of a kind. The product can be information that you market, actual products that are shipped out, services like consulting or accounting, or any other type of product that you have to market that people will see a need for.

All a Brand is, is Image + Message + Impact + Consistent Visibility = Perception.

Your Image is what people SEE in their minds, Message is what people HEAR in their memory, Impact is what people FEEL in their hearts, and Visibility is what reminds people that you are there. Perception then becomes your Brand.

And here is what we have taught for nearly 20 years: Branding is not about just being remembered, or becoming known. It is about becoming totally UNFORGETTABLE. THAT is a powerful brand.

6) Thou shalt Expand your Experience Through Social Site Applications.

Applications are developed softare and are what Social Sites have available that make your experience more fun, useful, and productive. The most applications are generally found on the most active sites and usually are free. Twtter has over 150 applications, facebook has hundreds of applications, as well as many other Social sites out there. Many applications are very useful and written by outside people for the Social sites.

Learn what applications are available on each site that you are a part of, and choose the ones that you believe will work for you the best and increase your exposure, conversations, and productivity.

7) Thou Shalt GIVE freely, and be willing to Lose Control of your Information.

Giving is what Social Media is all about. Many folks are talking about ‘Influence” and what it takes to create it in Social Media. That one is simple: GIVE.

GIVE stands for “Gain Influence Very Easily.” And when you give, and then give some more, the power of Influence that develops is amazing.

And losing control of your information is part of it as well. Most folks want to CONTROL their information, their marketing strategies, as well as their results. That is part of traditional marketing. But what if you could blend traditional with the non-traditional? Let some of your information go. Give it away freely and let it be virally marketed by others. Give a free ebook away. Give a free mp3 away. Give a free product away. Give a free download away. Give some of your best content away free. Control the rest. See what happens with both sides of the equation- controlled and Social Media. You will like what you find in the Social Media side.

The New Marketing Stars of tomorrow in Social Media will not come from those who are great marketers, but from those who have a LOT of people marketing FOR THEM- without asking them to. Would that be called Marketing Nirvana? That would be close to it. Be willing to Lose Control, and Gain a Massive Advantage.

#8 Thou Shalt Build Relationships that are based on a Platform of TRUST.

Relationships are the building blocks of Social Media. Trust is the Concrete. You must build powerful relationships with people to market to them. But a wall that is built with bricks and no concrete will fall with the first strong wind.

Build TRUST and do it everyday. Be honest. Be a person of integrity. Be a person that people can feel good about and know you are there to help enlarge their life. Be a Leader that people are willing to follow. And build Trust in your message, actions, conversations, branding, videos, blog posts, and any other form of exposure that you take in Social Media.

The Rule of TRUST: Relationships are the tiles for the platform of Social Media. Trust is the glue.

9) Thou Shalt become Tribal, and enroll in groups, attend events, and empower the Community.

There is a reason it is called SOCIAL Media. being part of what is called a “tribe” or community is what Social Media is about. This is one of the CORE powers of web 2.0

Connecting, Relating, Reaching, and Conversations are ALL a part of building a Community in Social Media, as well as “Niche sites’ that can be that much more tribal. What you have in common with people helps build the Community.

What you bring to the table to grow that community is GOLD.

10) Thou Shalt Have a Host Mentality with a Permission Focus.

In Social Media, it is much like a party you hold in your living room. I did a post on that a while back called “Social Media is your Living Room.” If you were in your living room, you would be playing HOST and inviting people in, talking with them, being social, making recommendations and giving advice, showing photographs off or watching videos, and introducing the crowd to each other. That is much what Social Media is about- HOSTING.

With a small twist. You need to ASK PERMISSION to give them advice and make recommendations, as well as introduce them to the others in your living room. That is not hard to do. And if you have permission to do this, it is much easier to get them Comfortable with you, Connected with you, holding a Conversation with you, if it feels like your Living Room.

Play the Host, and ask Permission. That is being Powerful and Polite at the same time.

These are the 10 Commandments for Social Media Marketing. Yes, there are more than these, but these are what came up with the hard data we had, and formed the basis of this post, to help you improve and understand more Social Media and Social Media Marketing.

blessings…Doug Firebaugh
PassionFire Training
Follow Doug on Twitter

Editor’s note: this post was written by Doug Firebaugh of PassionFire International. If you’re passionate about social media, social media marketing and social networking lifestyle design, contact me about writing an article yourself.

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Over the last 4 years, I have been quietly observing a lot of different folks in social media, from Chris Brogan, to Robert Scoble, Brian Clark, Darren Rowse, Mari Smith, Shama Hyder,
and the list is almost endless. How they operate. what they say and do.
And of course there are hundreds more that could be listed.

But I have learned an immense amount of good stuff from each. It is like going back to University.

I have found though that psychology plays a HUGE part in the social
media marketing world. It plays a bigger part them most people realize
due to the newness of social media and the power behind it’s
capabilities.

There are what I call “Tier One” social media rock stars, (The term used by everyone today)  and the “Tier two” participants. These 2 “social media zones” are interesting to observe from a marketing process, and also from a human standpoint.

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Over the last 3.5 years, I also have been studying the Psychology of
Social media and why people are into it, what their goals and reasons
are, what they are looking for, and many other focuses just for myself,
as being a marketer.

I found some interesting things during this.

Today, I want to quickly go over what I call the “7 Psychological A’s of Social Media”
and the different needs that are a part of this growing social venue.
It is what I have observed, and consistently found as part of this
awesome new online world.

Ok …what are they? What are people LOOKING for in Social Media from a psychology standpoint?

1) To be Acknowledged.

I have observed that the first thing most people want and need are
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. They want to be acknowledged that they are now on the
social media scene, and simply, ‘Hey I am here!” There hand is raised
and they simply want to be noticed and felt welcome. No one does this
better than Chris Brogan,
who really is a prince and powerhouse in the social media zone. He
acknowledges EVERYONE- as busy as he is. That is why folks really love
this guy. He is REAL In social media marketing, and being REAL is one
of the 7 anchors of social media-some call it AUTHENTIC.

Simply letting people know that they are welcome and acknowledged
makes a HUGE difference to people that are new in social media. Take
the time to acknowledge…it will bless the other person immensely.

2) To Gain Attention.

People once acknowledged, desire some form of attention-as simple as responding to a follow on twitter , or a post on a blog, or friends on Facebook.
Simple. To the point. But when attention is given to someone beyond
“hello”, it really does make a lot of potential conversation down the
road. And if you are a marketer, conversation is critical in the social
media zone.

Conversation rules. So does acknowledging folks new to the party.

3) To Be Approved Of.

People LOVE to be approved of-especially when they have put
themselves out in a world they know nothing about, and trying to
contribute to the conversation. A simple “Thank you for the message” or
a “great share!” will go a long ways to drawing that person into your
sphere of influence and world.

Most people have not so good self images, and we can help them in social media
by approving, encouraging, and letting them know that we not only
approve of them, but “thumbs up” to their efforts in the contribution
to the conversation. Darren Rowse is
really good at this on his blog. He will simply mention some one’s
efforts on his blog, and that shows the person that they are on the
right track, and keep up the good work. Again, this is critical to
marketing online today if you are going to be a social media marketer.

Approve of what your prospects are doing and saying. Build the relationship.

4) To Be Appreciated.

People in social media love appreciation. Who in this world does
not? We all do! There are those rare individuals though that give an
immense appreciation to the party. Take Zna Trainer.She
has got to be one of the most appreciation showing people I know out in
the social world. She takes the time to let people know that they are
appreciated for their work, and for their tweets, and for their
facebook notes, and again the list is long what she does.

The same thing with Carrie Wilkerson.She
is a breath of fresh air when it comes to letting people know she
appreciates people’s efforts. She is a rare person, like Zna, and both
bring an immense value to social media, not only in their
ideas, writings and posts and tweets, but just who they are.

Appreciation also must go to prospects as well. Let them know you
appreciate their social media efforts and also them as a person. This
is what being REAL is about.

5) To Be Acclaimed.

People love to see their name in lights- and there are 2 different ways that can happen.

a) Being answered or featured in a conversation.
b) Being retweeted, featured, or talked about in a conversation.

Acclamation is important to people that are getting their brand out
in social media. Being acclaimed-even slightly says, “GREAT JOB!” and
“KEEP IT UP!” Who does not love that type of acclaim? And again, there
is no one better who acclaims others than Mari Smith.She
really puts people in the spotlight-even unknowns, for a job well done.
She is so good at it, as well as being the facebook maven!

That is why she has been blessed with success, along with so many
others. Psychologically, people love acclaim, and when that happens,
they have a tendency to also acclaim the acclaimer! (Is that a word?)
Find good stuff and share it. Good posts on blogs. Good notes on
Facebook. Good tweets on twitter. Good writings in journals. Good articles found in directories. Good attempts at sharing. All these are critical in the big plan of social media.

6) To Feel Assured.

People today in social media want to be Assured that they are doing
the right thing, being the right person, and taking the right actions.
As simple as this seems, people need it. In this social media zone,
assuring people that they belong, they are needed, and they are
growing, is another critical factor. It may or may not mean much to the
person that doing the assuring, but in marketing, it is one of the most
critical factors in the process. Assuring people that you are going to
be there for them if they do business with you, that customer service
is there for them and you will be there for whatever reason-if they
have a challenge.

Now THAT is reassuring the prospect of a good decision and good move. Brian Clark,
“copyblogger” fame is GREAT at reassuring his readers. He does it
often, and does it well. “You can do this,” is a simple but yet
profound message in all his posts. THAT is also a reflection of the
character that he and so many others share in the social media zone.

People also want to know that they are relevant and needed. Assure
people that what they are doing, writing, saying, or sharing is helping
you. Go out on a limb and say it. “Great job and thank you for sharing
this blog post- it really helped me.”

Goes a long way.

7) To Be A Part Of.

People in the social media zone want to feel a PART OF something
that is happening and bigger than they are. Marketing to these folks on
social media is simple.

Include them.
Invite them.
Impose upon them.
Engage them.

They not only will be feeling a part of something, but also wanting
to contribute to the whole that will help everyone. Yes, I know there
are exceptions, as there are everywhere else. There are always those
slimey types that try and break the system.

But you be the person that people want to be around and connected to
because they like how they feel about themselves when they are
connected to you and your company. When they read your stuff. When they
are on one of your  sites. When they see you constantly bringing Value
to the conversation.

Make people feel a part of what YOU are doing, and they will spread
the word-and quickly. isn’t that what marketing is all about? Not just
people talking about you-but people talking FOR YOU?

These are the 7 A’s in the Psychology Social Media Marketing Zone. Hopefully this helps explains some things that impact your efforts in your social media marketing.

blessings…Doug Firebaugh
PassionFire Training
Follow Doug on Twitter

Editor’s note: this post was written by Doug Firebaugh of PassionFire International. If you’re passionate about social media, social media marketing and social networking lifestyle design, contact me about writing an article yourself.

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Doug Firebaugh has just released a new eBook on the revolution of doing business at home through social networking also known as social media marketing. This eBook is the precursor to the long awaited social networking project Doug and I will be leading that changes the game on using attraction marketing or PPC search engine marketing as the main thrust of building an online home business! In the meantime, read on…

Social Media Marketing-Brand New FREE eBook from Doug Firebaugh-”The New Rules of Home Business”

Business is business-whether traditional or non-traditional. Here is a Free eBook explaining the Transformation occurring because of Social Media.

We all are looking for SUCCESS in many ways and in many forms.

Whether you have a traditional business, profession, or a non-traditional like a home business- it does not matter. Social Media is profoundly impacting the work process and dynamics in the marketplace.

I wanted to give you a gift that will help explain how Social Media and web 2.0 are changing the dynamics of business-in and out of the home-and how to take advantage of that.

This eBook is Free and I hope and pray that it is a blessing to you in all that you do. It does not matter if you have a home business or not- this eBook will open your eyes to the social media transformation that is occurring today in a very unique way.

Here is the download link:

The New Rules of Home Business

Let me know what you think!

blessings…Doug Firebaugh
PassionFire Training
Follow Doug on Twitter

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Social Media Marketing.

There is no mistake that the last word in this phrase is MARKETING.

SSSHHHH! Keep that a Secret!

Many people in social media market products, messages, ideas, books, CDs, trainings, ebooks, audio books, member sites, health products, travel products, legal products, and many other things.

We all are marketing something.

And in every business strategy, there is some form of a process.

A process is a step by step PATH that you can follow and it produces the RESULTS or destination that you are looking for. Many folks in social media follow a process whether on twitter, facebook, youtube, flicker, and any other social site. Just check their online tutorial. It shows you for the most part, a step by step process on how to use the social site.

But what about Marketing?

Most people that are marketing in social media have a message that they are marketing.

Timothy Carter does.

Carrie Wilkerson does.

Chris Brogan does.

Seth Godin does.

Joel Comm does.

Marco Carbajo does.

John Fogg does.

Chris Widener does. They all have a message and want that message to get out as all have great messages.

Yes, I have a message as well, and it is about Home Business and Social Media Marketing Success as part of it.

Ok. Let’s get REAL.

A message without an audience is nothing more than a great conversation with yourself.

You MUST get it out and in front of people. THAT is how you create a business. Exposure-Exposure- Exposure.

How can you create Exposure for your Message or Products that will MOVE PEOPLE to want to know more and to possibly purchase your program, product, or message?

A billionaire told me this once: “The average marketer moves products. The highly successful wealthy marketer MOVES PEOPLE.”

Amen!

HOW can you start a “People Moving Process” that will help insure your marketing efforts are not in vain?

We developed a while back the “4 I’s of Social Media Marketing.” The last 3 years we have been blessed to increase our online revenues by an incredible seven figure amount — by using this process in social media, and in other online marketing efforts. We cannot go into detail the minute details of the process due to lack of time, but we can overview this powerful process.

What are the 4 I’s?

1) INFORM.

The marketing process starts with informing folks of your message or products. This is a result of creating an exposure of YOU and your message. You first must connect with people, and build that bridge of trust, and then you can start informing them of your message of VALUE.

You can do this with many vehicles, including free ebooks, white papers, articles, and podcasts.

You can inform people how your message will help transform their life and future. You can see people like Zna Trainer doing this with some amazing health tips she sends out and info as well as Timothy Carter. And you can see GREAT information on many social sites and blogs as well.

Giving out HOT information for all to use freely is one of the great secrets of social media marketing. Lose control of your information and watch it virally market like crazy. Inform people of who you are, why they should listen to you, and what you or your product can do for their life to take it to a radical new level.

Once again, do this with videos, blog posts, mp3s, notes, tweets, pictures, direct messages, social email, free ebooks, and other social tools for exposure.

2) IMPACT.

Your message must IMPACT people.

It must MOVE THEM on the inside so they will take action on the outside. (READ THAT AGAIN!)

This is how you get people to move towards you to learn more about your product or message.

Stir them Emotionally with NEW information that they can apply, or move them with:

a) HOPE of solving a problem.

b) A HOW TO they have been looking for and seeking.

c) NEW POSSIBILITIES for their life.

e) LITTLE KNOWN INFORMATION but applicable and highly useful information.

d) A DISCOVERY of a new website, new podcast, or video that will MOVE THEM emotionally and give them something that they find valuable.

Become KNOWN that YOU are a deliverer of Practical, Powerful, and Unique information, that points to your message or product. Example: if you market a nutritional product- give out GREAT nutritional tips that
will help people via blog posts, articles, videos, or any other media that works for your message.

I call it “Sample Results.” Give them some “samples” of results they can achieve by listening to you and
purchasing your products. You do this with great, valuable information they can use.

STIR THEIR EMOTIONS with IMPACT. If you do this, your power to move people will explode.

3) INVITE.

There is a powerful tactic that is all part of social media marketing. We call it the “TIO Factor.”

TAKE IT OFFLINE.

To really market to people in social media, you must Take It Offline. You want to establish a more personal and trust soaked relationship. You rarely can do that by just being online.

You do this, by inviting people to special conference calls, training webinars, live online seminars, and local meetups. This is where you can EXPAND YOUR MESSAGE and EXPLODE your INFLUENCE on a more
personal and face to face basis.

Whether facebook or LinkedIn, you can invite people to offline events that will create a more intimate and powerful CONNECTION with them, and you provide even MORE POWERFUL and USEFUL information to the prospect base on the call or webinar. This will POSITION YOU as someone that is worthy of being listened  to, and will dramatically increase your perceived expertise in your industry. And You can do the offline event yourself, or do it with multiple guest speakers. Adam Urbanski is a master at this. You can find his events with 4 or 5 people that are the speakers or trainers that bring amazing value to anyone that attends his online events.

Take It offline to MOVE PEOPLE even closer to you and your message/product.

4) IMPROVE.

This is THE PEOPLE MOVER.

Show people how YOU, YOUR MESSAGE, or YOUR PRODUCTS can IMPROVE, INCREASE, MULTIPLY, or ENLARGE people’s lives and interests, and they will beat a path to your door, and multiply your message all over the internet.

To IMPROVE someone’s business, life, health, knowledge, faith, Success, or income – will dramatically MOVE PEOPLE towards you which will MOVE PRODUCTS for you. (Did you GET THAT?)

Quit just trying to move products in social media. That is how people that mostly fail do it.

MOVE PEOPLE and LOTS OF THEM on the inside and outside through the 4 I’s. This is a powerful social media marketing secret that can help you create results that most only dream of.

blessings…Doug Firebaugh
PassionFire Training
Follow Doug on Twitter

Editor’s note: this post was written by Doug Firebaugh of PassionFire International. If you’re passionate about social media, social media marketing and social networking lifestyle design, contact me about writing an article yourself.

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Another week in summer has gone by with another top 5, er, I mean…three social media faves from me that has poured through my RSS feeds this week. There are definitely some great ones out there (share yours if ya got one…or three) so it’s always hard to narrow it down to five of them…but these are the ones I thought y’all would be interested in and benefit from reading if you didn’t already!

And here we go!

Twitter 101 For Business by Twitter

How to Treat your Blog Like a Business at Problogger

10 Ways To Jump Start Your Social Media Thinking by Jason Falls

and now I’d like to leave the last two up to you this week.   What did you read that made an impact on you that you tweeted or shared on Facebook. I know there had to be a great article or five that you read this week that you think other people might find valuable to read too. Share, share, share!

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