Explaining Twitter to a Non-Techie

November 18, 2009 by Doug Mcisaac

Explaining Twitter to a Non-Techie

Have you ever had to explain witter to someone who has heard of it, but doesn’t know what it is? I dread it, because saying that it’s like texting, but people follow you and you can make lists… goes right over many people’s heads. It can be difficult to get a frame of reference. In the video below Kevin Spacey explains Twitter to David Letterman. It’s pretty funny. Enjoy it and let me know what you think of the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z1aZ7Gs46A&feature=player_embedded

4 Ways to Create Value Through Social Media

November 6, 2009 by Doug Mcisaac

One of my pet peeves is people who leave comments on content or share share content with comments that show that they didn’t read the article. I had a situation a couple of days ago where I saw an article posted by someone who I used to respect. I read the title and his comment and then read the article. The first paragraph proved that he had not read the article and was commenting solely on the title which showed me he has no respect for his audience.

I think this happens for many reasons. In today’s market far too many people are trying to put themselves out there as experts. Most of these self proclaimed experts have been told that they need to leave comments and add value. But that takes too much effort so they leave short, no value, cut and paste comments or comments simply based on headlines. They don’t realize that they are doing more damage to their brand every time they leave a bad comment.

Too many people are seeking shortcuts and much of the training that is available focuses on those shortcuts. The way to earn respect and followers online is to create value. Creating value differs by your audience and who you want to attract. You attract one audience through thought provoking in depth analysis and a different one by sharing the latest funny YouTube video.

Here are my thoughts on creating value more or less in order:

Create unique content that others will want to share

This takes far more work, but it delivers the most long term value. You are seen as the expert because you have proven yourself through your content. Before you say I can’t do that you need to understand that everyone is an expert at something. Trust me you are. But it’s not always what you want to be an expert in. We’ll explore that in more depth in another post.

Add value to others content.

Take short snippets of someone else’s content and add value. With a blog post you could use a trackback. You can add value providing more in depth analysis of the subject, you can extend the article, you provide your opinion, you can even disagree with the original article, but you need to add value and extend the conversation.

This shows you as the expert and is easier than starting from scratch. This is a good way to get started on those mornings that you just can’t get focused on a topic. If you use a trackback you will attract some attention from the original post and may even get the original blogger/author to come over and start a discussion on your blog.

Commenting

Adding value through comments is a great way to get noticed both by the content producer and by their audience. What you want to do is read the post. Find one or two specific things that you can comment on where you can provide unique value. Then I like to scan the comments and see if there is a good comment addressing the same points. If there is I reply to that comment with my thoughts. If there isn’t I leave my own comment.

Do not leave comments like “Great post” or comments that prove that you did not read the post. Also use your name, don’t be “Montana SEO” keyword stuffing your name in comments is spammy and makes you look like an idiot.

This is valuable because it can help you get noticed by the original content producer and their audience. I know people who have built followings simply by being the top commenter on one or two of the big names in their industry.

Sharing on Facebook on other social networking sites

This is good because it provides an opportunity for you to share great content with your audience. When you do it you want to make sure that you add value to the post even if it’s just one or two sentences. “I liked this post because, I found this part interesting etc…”

Do not share content with comments that prove that you didn’t read it. It proves that either you are an idiot who can’t read or you have no respect for your audience. Either reason is more than enough for someone to quit following you.

If you don’t have time to leave a good comment either don’t share it or at the very least just share it without a comment . There are many times that I read an article and share it without a comment, but I rarely share anything that I haven’t read.

The key component is that you need to add value. While there is some value in being an aggregator of information, if you don’t add value to that content why do people need you?? Reading Chris Brogan and sharing all of his posts does not make you a social media expert.

Seven things you must do if you want to be successful in Social Media Marketing

October 17, 2009 by Doug Mcisaac

Seven things you must do

if you want to be successful in Social Media Marketing

1. Control your schedule

Too many people allow themselves to get buried in the fun social aspects of the social media sites and forget that they are there for business. You need to schedule a block of time every day to spend on your social media marketing efforts and stick to that time. Ideally first thing in the morning so you don’t miss it.

2. Limit your number of Social Media Sites

People jump into dozens or hundreds of sites and try to maintain their profiles on all of those sites. It doesn’t work because it takes too much time and dilutes your focus. Stick to the 2-3 sites that provide the most benefit and automate or forget all of the rest.

3. Learn to write…or speak…or do video

Ideally you do all three, but you must produce content on a consistent basis. The more you write the better you will get. The more you hear yourself speaking the better you will get, the more you see yourself on camera the better you will get…trust me. You should read my earlier material or watch some of my videos. Some of those are really bad 🙂

4. Have an easy to remember, consistent username

Ideally your real name, your brand name or your keywords. Some sites like Facebook, frown upon keywords in your username. Use the same username on all of your sites.

5. Develop a thick skin

The more you build your reputation the more likely you are to have someone come after you. Sometimes they do it in the open and to your face most times they do it when they don’t think you’re listening.

Always be listening and respond appropriately without overreacting.

6. Control the searches on your username

The easiest way to do this is to have a blog your name and profiles on a number of the big social media sites.

If you Google Doug McIsaac everything on the first page is from me and there are only a couple of results in the first four pages that aren’t mine.

Obviously this is easier for me than if my name was John Smith, but there are ways to have a unique username without resorting to luckylady73. Your business username shouldn’t be like your Match.com name.

7. Know who you are and what your goals are from social media.

Too many people get online and just spin their wheels because they didn’t start with a plan. If you’re struggling to figure out where to start go read my mentor Simon Ford’s great post called “Who am I? Who am I not? Who do I want to be? What am I doing about it?” http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=136734128482

What other items do you think are MUSTS that I missed?

Innovative Affiliate Marketing

October 1, 2009 by Doug Mcisaac

As a marketer I’m always intrigued by other people’s marketing and try to learn from what they are doing. This gives me ideas for my clients and my own companies.

I found an innovative company in an unlikely place today. In an industry that I had not expected to see it happen in; school fundraising. My daughter is selling a catalog of products from a company called Innisbrook.

They have their physical catalog that she brings around to show everyone. But they also allow them to order online and to send out emails from the website to friends and family. My ex-wife was asking how that worked so I explained that

have the schools set up as affiliates and the students as sub affiliates.

Here’s the email I received from my daughter. Of and if you’re interested in some great gift wrap or some choicolates feel free to click the link an order it’s for a good cause 🙂

Hello!

I am Deborah McIsaac’s daughter (if you have not met me yet…). My school’s annual fundraiser with Innisbrook has begun. Innisbrook Wraps has beautifully designed gift wrap printed on quality recycled paper, coordinating gift wrap accessories, gourmet foods and fine Helen Grace Chocolates that make great gifts, Time Inc. magazine subscriptions, and more.

For every item that is purchased, Innisbrook donates up to 50% of the purchase price to my school. We are going to buy playground equipment. I also earn a prize credit for every item purchased except school supplies. The more prize credits I earn, the more prizes I win!

Please consider visiting the Innisbrook website and making a purchase on my behalf. A link is included below. Our sale will be over Monday, October 5, so don’t wait. Place your order today.

Thanks for your help!

Seller: JACQUELINE Seller ID# R332979E
School: ELYSIAN SCHOOL
School Number: 118751

Click the link below to visit Innisbrook.com and they will recognize me and my school automatically.

http://www.innisbrook.com/index_students.cfm?id1=R332979E&id2=&id3=

If the above link does not work:
1. Click below
2. Enter the Seller ID# R332979E
www.innisbrook.com/id.cfm

One of the main points here is that you need to ask yourself the question. Am I being creative enough in my marketing? and Am I exploring enough channels to build my business?

Are You Willing to Put in the Effort?

September 19, 2009 by Doug Mcisaac

I decided to share this video from Gray Vaynerchuk because it reminds me that effort really does pay off. Too many people let themselves get caught up in their concerns about not being smart enough or not having the skills to do something. Skills matter far less than effort and implementation.

One thing you will learn when you reach out and surround yourself with successful business owners is that most of them aren’t any smarter than you are and most of them don’t know as much as you do BUT all of the successful business owners I know share on trait. They have put in the effort necessary to be successful.

The most successful have modeled other successful business owners and reached out for the best coaches because they understand that value that can be found when they implement that one new distinction and one more idea. Notice I bolded implement, that’s because no amount of raw talent and no amount learning has ever made anyone successful. It all comes down to puting in the effort and implementing.

Enjoy the short video from Gary V. If you haven;t heard of him before go to his blog and review some of his other videos. He is one of the thought leaders that I follow and learn from.

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