Would you want the purchases you make on credit cards public for the world to see? Allowing friends and strangers to not only see what you buy, but share their thoughts and comments about it too? Well now you can if you sign up at Blippy.com, a website started in January that allows you to, “see and discuss what everyone is buying.” Most of us make credit card purchases on a … [Read more...]
Employee Brand Differentiation
Differentiating oneself in the workforce today may hold the key for many employees who are keenly interested and highly motivated to survive downsizing. While it may take extra effort, the payoff can be exponentially greater both short and long range; for the employee and the company. With discipline, determination, and drive, employees can make their mark strategically, … [Read more...]
10 Ways to Build your Web Effectiveness
Introduction: Maintaining content-rich web profiles are the most efficient way to market your specific services to your niche audience. I recommend you devote the bulk of your marketing budget to developing excellent content and lots of it, with some additional funds set aside for design, production, and maintenance. Your web properties include: websites, blogs, wikis, … [Read more...]
Lessons taken from big business for the benefit of small business
I love reading the morning newspaper. The actual get-your-fingers-covered-with-newsprint paper newspaper. I rue the day when it is just too financially unacceptable for the Fourth Estate to continue rolling the presses. I try to avoid my newspaper's new "Morning Edition" because all too often it is filled with death and disaster news. I don't want to fill my brain with this … [Read more...]
Conversation with an internet marketing student
I had occasion this past weekend to have an engaging conversation with a student studying internet marketing. He was interviewing me on a different topic as part of a class assignment and showed me one of his textbooks…about internet marketing. That led to our discussion. At first we talked about various types of online applications that are available to join or be a part … [Read more...]
Social Networking Cures All
When done right, a good status update or twitter post can make your day or the day of someone you call "friend." Instant karma, instant love, instant attention. This society loves instant gratification and I'm no exception. I've noticed over the months that one small inspiration, witty phrase or cry for help written between the lines of a friend or co-worker never goes … [Read more...]
Security and your Social Networks: Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter
In three separate incidences, three of my friends were infected by a computer virus which sends fake messages from their Facebook account. Because most social networks are built on a trust environment (if a link comes from your friend Angie or Ben or Juanita, you typically trust it) -- the spread of viruses is particularly exploitative. The most important thing for you to … [Read more...]
Why you want to consider a Facebook strategy
Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. Do you have a Facebook and Twitter strategy? Now is the time to start implementing your plan. Send me a tweet @monicadear if you'd like me to review your Facebook strategy. … [Read more...]
Find Out Who Your “Friends” Are
Country singer Tracy Lawrence has a great song that tells a story of a guy who's been at the top, and when he gets down on his luck he finds out who his friends are. Most of us have friended a friend of a friend (prior to Facebook that sentence would have made no sense what so ever). Then before you know it, you have 502 “friends” in your life. Well, with all the hype about … [Read more...]
Real Simple Magazine Wants to Know if Facebook can be Your Friend
A new article from Real Simple magazine asks, "Can Facebook be Your Friend?" As a marketing, branding and social media expert in my day job, I'm constantly writing about the social web, including Facebook, telling my clients they should be using it to build their brands, and citing it in my books and blogs. I constantly view Facebook as a business tool and forget sometimes … [Read more...]