Social networking online has come along way over the last couple of decades. Peter Lang dropped this fantastic infographic showing the social networking history.

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Over the last three years I’ve been on Twitter, it’s always fun to watch the evolution of people when they “get it” on why Twitter is such an amazing social media network. Though more often than not, these people are the exception, not the rule. So how does someone become a Twitter n00b to a complete Twitter addict? This infographic from the blog And Far Away will give you a great visual.

What stage do you find yourself on Twitter? Share your story about your tweet journey with Twitter.

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I have hundreds of friends (shocking I know) that actually DO NOT understand the why of Twitter. I found this video about Twitter that was so good…I had to post it.

Well? What do you think of the explanation of what Twitter is in plain English? Beneficial? Annoying?

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QuanSite is a WordPress based blogging platform for business. Comparing QuanSite to just an ordinary Wordpress blog, isn’t doing justice to the powerful tools that are built into QuanSite that are GENERATIONS beyond a mere WP blog. It is the only fully managed, SEO dominator, traffic explosion generator, easy video uploader & blaster and online conversion booster all integrated into one comprehensive pushbutton simple system.

Why QuanSite Instead of Wordpress?

In a previous blog post, I apparently made a controversial statement that “QuanSite makes Wordpress obsolete” for business in my post What is the Quansite Revoution. Based on the some of the comments I received, I touched a nerved on the power of QuanSite and EXPOSED Wordpress as not effective for business. I refuse to change my thinking and stand by my statement!

Read the rest of this entry »

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Drives Me crazy.

Many marketers today do NOT let people really know what their true intentions are.

Case in point: I get a call from someone asking me to possibly help them with their social media strategies. I have a particular consulting focus and it was within that focus and I said that we should discuss it.

Well…about 3 minutes into it, they start pitching me on a PPC
program that I know is not that good. And they pitched…and pitched..and
pitched. Finally, I said, “Why didn’t you from the beginning just try and sell me this versus wasting my time with a bait and switch?”

THAT would be refreshing.

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On the other hand, I received an email recently about a service that
actually gave a couple of things about it that may not be what I need
and was upfront about it. It did not put the product down, but simply
said that these features may not be necessary for you. I thought that
was refreshing. And the person also said that they were an affiliate
with the company with full disclosure. They would make a profit from it
and wanted me to know. Wow! Now THAT was Rocking Hot! I bought the
service and like it very much. And the reason I purchased it?

The person was transparent and REAL.

People are looking for REAL people today in New Marketing. They are tired of the hacks out there that are simply hiding their real intentions and focus and creating a bait and switch.

What about you? Do you have a transparent focus and actions when you
are marketing? Why should you bother? First off, it is part of the Social Media culture, whether facebook or twitter. But it is also just integrity, which many folks seem to be lacking.

Transparency is a GREAT Success tool for marketers. It can help you in three powerful ways:

1) It builds immediate Trust and Connection.

People like people who are upfront and say what the true deal is.
They respect the person that fully discloses that they are a part of
something, or on a board, or own part of something. I have seen this
many times with people like Chris Brogan, Scott Monty, and Valeria Maltoni.

If you want to really get a person’s attention, then become totally
transparent and show you have nothing to hide- you believe that much in
what your message says and what your product does. You will see a great
impact on your efforts and future customers and business.

2) It shows that you are are operating in full Integrity, not just part.

Integrity in Social Media is everything. I have noticed in Internet marketing,
which we do a LOT of, it seems to be somewhat lacking with some people.
Social Media seems to be different. Integrity seems to be more of a
focus.

That is HOT! Because no matter what people say, they want Integrity
from the person they are doing business with, reading,listening to, or
watching. Integrity also has an amazing impact on your BRANDING. If you
get known to be a person of integrity, your brand will increase
dramatically out in the marketplace.

Become transparent- and you will be known and Branded for your integrity.

3) People are DRAWN TOWARDS what they perceive as OPENESS and Truth.

That is all transparency is in marketing- a MAGNET. Transparency
draws people towards you, and into what your message says. I was
reading recently a post by Valeria Maltoni, of the Conversation Agent blog,
about what draws people towards you, and she mentioned that Truth
always works. Amen! And becoming transparent in a way that IMPACTS
people with the Truth of who you are and what your company is about and
doing in the marketplace, will SET YOU APART from the other marketers
who for whatever reason, do not operate with such transparency.

Transparency is a POWER that marketers can use to show that they
have nothing to hide- and are NOT fearful of the word NO. I started
this blog 3 months ago- and the only reason is that I wanted to provide
some unique content for the social media arena as well as the Home
Business professional- and also to see if there was a possibility of
meeting some of the “big names” through the blog posts.

Why? I admire them and would love to be able to provide the power
they provide in this amazing social media zone. And- so far, I have had
numerous of what I guess could be considered the “big names” come by
and connect. Scott Monty. Chris Brogan. Shama Hyder (hi Shama!) Brian Clark. Valeria Maltoni. Carrie Wilkerson (this lady is one of the nicest people that walks this earth), among many others.

And that has made my writing more fun for me, as it shows that
although this blog currently has only a few subscribers-(NOTE: but
blessed with LOTS of readers on facebook, myspace, wetpaint, squidoo,
etc) it is getting folks to take a look at the content and hopefully is
helping some people. My goal is to have thousands of subscribers by the
end of 2009. We have a TON of subs on our training ezine- so hopefully
will here. Maybe the Lord will bless the efforts! What I just wrote- is
being transparent. And I hope that YOU as a marketer can see the power
in it.

4) Transparency carries with it IMPACT that people FEEL and are Moved by.

Marketers as a whole want to move people to think a certain way, and
to feel a certain way, and to act a certain way. In Social Media
marketing, that is the bullseye – if you can move people to do that in
the way that creates a success for you and the prospect. if you offer
full disclosure and are REAL with people, you will find that people can
FEEL that and are MOVED by that- instead of the same old pitch they get
a hundred times a day.

How about, “This is why that I am writing you, as I am a
marketer and believe very much that this product can help millions of
people. It is fairly priced and would love to get you to take a look at
it, and tell what you feel about it. Yes, I will profit from it, but so
will you with the Value that it offers.”

I wrote exactly that in a series of emails i sent out testing it
with a training product. I could not believe the response. I got a LOT
of emails back saying that the approach was refreshing and they
appreciated the honesty. Conversion rate? about 22%. Not bad for a test
on being transparent and open.

5) Transparency Lowers the Natural Resistance walls People often have.

If you want to reduce Resistance in your marketing efforts, become
transparent in your social media efforts. If you want to reduce the
number of Nos and increase the number of yeses, become transparent. if
you want to Connect with people in way that is immediate, become
transparent. If you want to reduce the number of visitors leaving your
site without purchasing anything- become real and let people see
through you and know who you are It will reduce the natural resistance
people have to marketers and marketing messages.

Does that go against the old ways of marketing? Yes, and I am sure
that there are some folks that will argue the point. But if you are
going to be in New Marketing, that is one of the foundational
principles.

Practice Transparency.

It will only work in your favor. One warning though- do NOT be
stupid about it and talk people out of the sale or message. I have seen
this before when it taken to an extreme and it works against you.   One
person made a list of all the bad things about their product- and made
not one sale. if you have to do that- find another product to market.

Just be upfront, and as a marketer, make sure that you operate in
full disclosure, and integrity with telling and showing you have
nothing to hide. And you will be glad that the Marketing Power of
Transparency will be adding fuel to your Social Media Marketing efforts.

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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My good friend, Doug Firebaugh, recently wrote an incredible piece about dreams and the home business life. I couldn’t keep his goodness to myself today, so I’m sharing it with you! If you haven’t been to Doug’s website, Passionfire.com, you are missing out!!!! So much killer training and personal development is found within Doug’s website, your business will grow and your leadership influence will continue to grow! Go check him out! Now…for today’s post…

The Success Power of the Dream in a Home Business

“What do you mean I have to Start Dreaming?”

After 23 years in this industry, I have come to know that the foundation of your Success is going to be the dreams that you want to bring to life in your future. Most people, even many of your friends, and family, do not dream like they used to, because we all have been programmed that “dreamers are not realists.”

Oh yeah? Who sold you on THAT?

We encourage you to dream again.

Why?

Do you know what happens when you DREAM?

You “Dare (to) Reach Extraordinary Altitudes (&) Milestones.”

That is what your company is about… helping people to:

1) DARE.
Dare to become someone. Dare to go beyond where your friends are. Dare to prove everybody else wrong, who says that you cannot succeed in Network Marketing!

2) REACH. Stretch every part of your mind, heart, and soul, and reach for what you want in life, not
what someone else wants to give you after they take their part.

3) EXTRAORDINARY.
Dare to reach for the Extraordinary Life! Walk in the Extraordinary! Think Extraordinary! Become Extraordinary! Live Extraordinary! Grow Extraordinary!

4) ALTITUDES. You MUST soar higher in life than you ever have with your dream! The higher the Altitude, the more Magnetic the Pull of your Dream to you and the world!

5) MILESTONES.
Reach for Extraordinary, Life Changing Milestones! Most people do not ever plan on hitting Extraordinary Milestones in their life let alone MLM. And because of that, they end up getting Millstones of Mediocrity hung around the neck of their future, dragging frustration and doubt all through their life.

Dreaming also is the basis for the WHY!

WHY are you doing Network Marketing anyway?

“WHY” stands for “What Has You?”

Whatever has your heart, focus, passion, dreams, and desires, is your WHY.

It could be your children, your family, yourself, your church or faith, or even making a difference in other’s lives, or all of the above. Your “WHY” is the driving force behind your business, and your dreams.

What Dream has your heart for your family and future?

Dreaming is simply the Art of Painting a VIVID Picture on the canvas in your mind, and letting that become the MASTERPIECE of Change in your life and Network Marketing business.

Here are some thought provoking questions:

“If money were not an object…what would your life be like? Describe it!”

Think about this, and complete it.

What would your PERFECT DAY be like?

Next, complete the list below:

The 10 Things I would like my company to bring into my life that currently doesn’t exist:

(This could include a New House, New Cars, Vacations, College Money, New Wardrobe, Charity and Church Giving, Private Schools, Boats, Lake Place, etc).

1.  ____________________________________________
2.  ____________________________________________
3.  ____________________________________________
4.  ____________________________________________
5.  ____________________________________________
6.  ____________________________________________
7.  ____________________________________________
8. ____________________________________________
9.  ____________________________________________
10.  ___________________________________________
11.  ___________________________________________
12.  ___________________________________________

WHY I want these things is simple: (HOW would your life change for the better?)

Turn your “DreamLight” on… dust off your dream machine in your Network Marketing business, and crank it up, and let that DreamLight shine on your future once more.

Your Dreams CAN and WILL come true… but first the Light of Hope and Possibility must shine in your heart! And then you shine that light on your friends and family and get them dreaming with you! THAT is Power in Network 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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EVERYONE has been talking about needing more money, the recession, getting laid off, hearing about more layoffs, the mortgage crisis and it just continues. My wife was even the casualty of being laid off. Several million people and counting have been DEEPLY impacted by what they call an economic crisis that is worse than the Great Depression!

The financial crisis, the economic condition are making the headlines by the moment it seems…

Layoffs Spread to More Sectors of the Economy
Layoffs can cause family stress
Recession Can Change a Way of Life
US says recession is worst in 26 years

BUT…Today’s blog topic shows you the positive benefits of this economic period of time for those who are sick of being at the financial will of someone’s bottom line and those who are entrepreneurial minded and work at home moms:

The 4 Biggest Reasons Why Your Home Business is Getting Ready to Explode

The Home Business Marketplace is looking better everyday- regardless of the talk about Recession.

Recession has always worked well for home businesses and always will. NOW with the high price of Gas skyrocketing, you have 4 reasons why your business is getting ready to be like a bottle rocket on the 4th of July.

Many people have complained openly that their business is slowing down. No-it is not. YOU are slowing down and it is wreaking havoc on your business. But with these 4 reasons, you can motivate and empower your team to go out and truly build the business they desire- with the understanding that it is working in their favor.

Ok- what are these 4 reasons?

1) People are starting to look for more income.

If you look around and ask people, 99% will tell you that they are going to need more money because of the price of gas and everything else increasing in price because of it. The world has not seen this scenario before, and it is going to get a whole lot more serious.

“Ask, “Are you planning on getting a second job, starting a business, or what — to battle this increase in gas?”

Then LISTEN.

2) People are talking RECESSION.

Recession (if there really is one) has always been a great thing for home business recruiting. It seems to work highly in the favor of the network marketing home business industry. But here is a revelation:

You can REFUSE to participate in the recession if you choose.

“I have decided that I am not participating in this recession – if there really is one. I am going to work my business and find people that want more income too and choose NOT to join this business slow down. How about you? What are your plans?”

3) The Media.

The media is scaring people into thinking about doing something more to bring in income. And it is working. There are reports of some network marketing distributors taking advantage of what the media is saying and using it to their advantage.

Get a copy of a Newsweek or business magazine and find some articles on slow down in business. Then find an article on the price of gas. Then include it in your presentation. You will be soooo glad you did.

4) Companies are cutting back and laying off.

All you have to do is take a look at any report in the Wall Street Journal and you will find what I am talking about. It is not a pretty picture in some industries.

Talk to people about a “recession proof- lay off proof- and boss proof” part time career and show them
how that works. You will be glad you did and so will they.

“Let me show you how some people are fighting the cut offs and lay offs with working from their home. It is amazing the results they are seeing…”

It is an exciting year. And it will be a GREAT year for those who GET IT.

And a not so good year for those who don’t.

I pray that you do in your MLM and Network Marketing home business.

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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