A Webinar can be  inexpensive to attend and to present, convenient for the attendee and the presentor, fill a need for a source of valuable information, and provide targeted contact information to grow your list.  There [...]]]>

Webinars – a Real Time Learning Experience -

Learning as well as teaching through a webinar, really makes a lot sense.

A Webinar can be  inexpensive to attend and to present, convenient for the attendee and the presentor, fill a need for a source of valuable information, and provide targeted contact information to grow your list.  There are instructional webinars and “sales pitch” webinars and some are a mix of both.

As an attendee, you get to absorb and learn from the comfort of your own home. No need to rush to get somewhere or plan what to wear. They are inexpensive and convenient.

With so many familiar experts out there teaching on trending topics, it is hard not to find one that helps as you grow your business. I’ve even experienced days when I had two or three scheduled at the same time and had to choose which topic I needed most!  (There is a great one on WordPress security that I will not miss today!)

As an instructor, the services available online make hosting a workshop very easy. (Most are very user friendly with instructional videos and on line help.)

Just select the service you will use, plan your topic that you will deliver and then send out an invitation – If you’ve listened to the needs people have and the topic is what they are asking for, your webinar may have to locate a “larger” room for an overload audience.

Because Webinars are so convenient for learning new internet applications, programs and general knowledge, we,  as attendees, willingly provide our contact information for the privilage of attending. Most often a presentation is free for the attendee with perhaps a fee to receive the recording.  If you are attending a “sales pitch”, listening to the end of the presentation often gives you a link to their “very special – limited time offer”.

An astute presenter realizes, when the content in the webinar is of value and fills the needs of their listeners, they are building not only a relationship with valued customers, but a targeted contact list that will serve them over and over again as they continue to market and grow their business.

Now I have attended many webinars and watched as many get “tripped up” by techie problems  (the sound doesn’t work, the recording doesn’t work their screen is blank) and I have learned much from their problem solving techniques and how the communicate with the attendees. With this in mind, I decided to try out a new, free system today for a planned, private webinar.

I carefully prepared and took steps to ensure that everything would go smoothly.

• Previewed the program yesterday giving myself lots of time to become familiar with the set up – It was straight forward and I easily got it all set up and working.
• I even did a test drive with only me present, clicking buttons, checking options and thought I was set to go.
• I created a time slot giving me lots of “before” and “after” time for tweaking things
• I sent out an email invitation and right before I was due online – a reminder message – We will be starting in 15 minutes.
• My PowerPoint was ready.
• I tested my screen capture software and my microphone.

Feeling a bit cautious and “over prepared”,  I woke up early and double checked the settings again.  I didn’t want anything to go wrong – smooth and easy.  Breath. I thought – “I’m ready. What could go wrong?”
Oh boy. Just a couple of things. Nothing too serious. Just embarrassing.

I was able to chat with folks as they arrived – that was good. They could hear me.

I started the slides, started the recording (forgot to select microphone ) and then
the chat box for questions stopped working. I continued on people still in the audience and me talking to myself.

Sigh.

Not sure what went wrong – I will make time to go back in and check. In the meantime I have a beautiful recording of my slides that I will need to “talk over” to put in the voice.  ;(

So – This was my first webinar experience. I will do more – it was fun sharing and teaching and working with great, patient, woman business entrepaneurs.

Next time…

Well, next time I will just need to have it figured out better. And I am off to do that now.  It is a good service. The problem was in the operator.

Have you tried doing a webinar? What are some of your stories? What is the service you find most reliable and easy to use?

Looking forward to your comments.

Terry

Breath – I will understand it soon AUTO DRAFT will disappear one of these days….

Thanks for visiting -

Terry

Mostly because I did not do my research. – I loved my Treo – and thought I needed something new. The provider was offering it “Free” at Costco. So I made a quickie decision. And now I am frustrated and getting used to it.

I’m going to sound “old” [...]]]>

Its an Android and I am frustrated.

Mostly because I did not do my research. – I loved my Treo – and thought I needed something new. The provider was offering it “Free” at Costco. So I made a quickie decision. And now I am frustrated and getting used to it.

I’m going to sound “old” in my complaints -
- I can’t read everything – No way would I watch a movie on it!
- I can’t get to the key pad fast enough before the screen goes blank
- Oh – it won’t import all of my contacts… so I keep missing calls from people I know.

Whine whine whine – no more whining!

Mashable came out with their app and now I am happy! The social media piece is why I thought I needed it and why I bought it. Mashable is my source for all things Social.

Maybe this won’t be so bad after all!

Terry

http://facebook.com/smallbusinesswebsolutions

Listening Inspired Marketing

The amount of time people are spending on line interacting with sites like Facebook and Twitter has [...]]]>

“Knowing I need to listen and how to listen is not enough. Unless I want to listen, have the desire, it won’t be a habit in my life.” Stephen Covey 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Listening Inspired Marketing

The amount of time people are spending on line interacting with sites like Facebook and Twitter has increased exponentially in just the past year. Businesses are discovering that by listening to and interacting in the conversations, they are able to tap into the pulse of their market.

According to emarketer.com in a study completed in 2008, 77 % of internet and mobile phone users ages 15 – 17 use instant messaging, 76 use social networking sites, and 70 percent communicate using text messaging. This is a global phenomena and offer “instant” influence in the branding and buying power among this age group.

Recent reports show that Facebook viewers spend an average of 55 minutes a day interacting on that site alone, sharing information, commenting on friends status and sites that they “like” as well as visiting recommended pages. On Facebook alone, one Page owner can influence all of their thousands of followers with one click. Add into that the factor that most people active in Social Networking participate and link many accounts such as Twitter, YouTube and more extending their circle of influence even further.

How Businesses can “Listen”

1. Listen by observing the influencers – Locate those who have the highest number of followers or friends and join the page or follow the influencer. Then study their approach. Many have a strategy of communication that has attracted their followers and keep them loyal. Determine what that strategy is that works and duplicate it.

What are they saying? How are they involving people in conversation? How do they recognize the loyal contributors? What are they offering that is of value?

Often an influencer builds momentum by being helpful, providing valuable tips and answers to questions. They are interactive and communicate in an engaging way.

2. Listen by gathering data – What are the topics that are receiving the most attention? Which topics get repeated and passed on? Learn by example. Customize the message into a style that works for your business. Are people talking about items in the news, recent purchases or problems they need to have solved? What are the feelings being communicated – frustration, excitement, confusion? Respond to that in conversation.

Notice how those who report information tend to not be as interactive. They insert a quote or a link and leave. Those who ask questions or respond to status updates interact & generate additional responses which build relationships.

3. Listen by following selectively in areas that relate to your business – Make choices about the people you wish to listen to therefore cutting out the noise and data that isn’t meaningful for your business focus.

Large numbers are not necessarily your goal. There is something chaotic about the Herd mentality of random followers. By being focused and purposeful in how you manage your social media accounts, you will find you are listening to meaningful conversations that you can use to monitor and adjust details within your business.

4. Listen because you want to participate – Consciously become active in the conversations. Genuinely offer your help and services, solve problems offer solutions, provide quality information and be of value to those in conversation with you.

As a business person, this may mean not selling or promoting your product but gathering information to improve your service, be more helpful, assist is making a transaction go more smoothly. It has been said that at Zappos – the CEO tweets on a regular basis and he is a friend who happens to sell shoes.

5. Listen to discover signals and trends – By paying attention, one can see the slight changes in direction, the newest trends and be a part of the wave. Recently a blood bank in Texas took advantage of a “Tweet Up” scheduling a blood drive using Twitter that was very successful. By watching the trends it is easier to be on the front side then lost in the out flow of “too late” when it shifts again.

Social Media has become the core of communication on line. Knowing that you should be listening and how to listen is not enough. Listening to conversations on line demands that you have a desire to participate. If you personally don’t, enlist an employee who does – it will make a world of difference. With a focused Social Marketing listening plan, your business has advantages over those who do not.

Terry Loving
Owner of http://www.Lovingvisions.com Terry provides Internet Marketing and Social Media solutions to Local Small Businesses – taking the “Local” out of Small Business. In today’s fast paced world marketing online has become critical for the success of your business. Find solutions to your marketing questions when you visit http://terryloving.com (FaceBook). Invite Terry to talk to your business and provide Social Marketing Solutions that can be implemented immediately. Let her help you succeed on line today.

There are many famous stories being repeated over and over as examples of business successes using the Twitter platform. The nature of Twitter allows for innovative and [...]]]>

Twitter –
Please add your success experiences to the discussion below.
Have you been successful using Twitter for your Small Business?
What is your Twitter focus? How do you measure your success?

There are many famous stories being repeated over and over as examples of business successes using the Twitter platform. The nature of Twitter allows for innovative and creative marketing uses that happen in real time.

To begin the success discussion this article starts with some of the more “famous” examples. The Twitter mantra of the companies listed below generally follows the guideline of “Build Relationships with the right audience”.

Kogi Korean BBQ http://kogibbq.com/

Located in LA, Kogi BBQ has become a lunch time phenomena. The owners of Kogi post their scheduled menus, times and locations on Twitter. Each of their trucks has a name and updates are followed by their hungry Tweeps. With only a sign on each truck exclaiming “Follow us on Twitter”, the Taco stand gone Korean has grown an extensive mobile business.

They’ve since established a single restaurant location for those fans that need a dependable schedule. Trucks do get delayed by traffic and unforeseen problems but you can stay current by watching the Tweets.

Moonfruit http://www.moonfruit.com/

Full Story

http://www.blogtrepreneur.com/2009/08/03/moonfruit-a-twitter-success-story/

Moonfruit, a UK web hosting company used Twitter for a successful marketing campaign that drew a lot of attention. For a period of time their Tweets were about giving away a MacBook Pro laptop computer every day for 10 days. To be entered, all you had to do was to send a message through Twitter, known as a “tweet,” using a hash tag #moonfruit.

Moonfruit demonstrated a social networking etiquette of no“hard sell”. They invited people to
participate and rewarded them to do so. Twitter followers react to something which is entertaining, socially positive and fresh. In this situation, the reward was significant and the advertising campaign went “viral”.

The Blood Center of Central Texas YouTube video of the success
http://www.bloodandtissue.org/

Full story

http://www.connectioncafe.com/posts/2008/08/twitter-success-story.html

Using a “Tweet Up” the blood drive attracted donors from all over the local area to give much needed blood. Their marketing team broadcast on Twitter that they wanted people to meet at the Blood Center at a certain day and time and then linked them to a sign up form so the Blood and Tissue center knew we were coming. It was a huge success.

Comcast Cable @comcastcares

Comcast learned early that Twitter, among other social media formats, can build customer relationships, handle problems and administer customer service quickly and effectively. They hired a full time Director of Digital Care in 2008 and have grown the service with customer care accounts on line serving more than 21,000 requests (official tickets) through social media.

Best Buy @twelpforce   YouTube video

Full Story

https://twitter.com/twitter101/case_bestbuy

“Twitter Strategy: Instant Connections
Best Buy empowered the “blue shirt” members of its Geek Squad tech support service and corporate employees to staff their @twelpforce account on Twitter. People use their own Twitter account to ask questions directly to @twelpforce, and any Best Buy employee, working on company time, can provide answers using an @reply to the customer. By tagging their tweets with #twelpforce, the answer is sent through the @twelpforce account, allowing anyone to search the feed for topics they are researching.

As of 1/11/09, @twelpforce has provided over 19,500 answers to customer inquiries. They’ve had a tremendous response from employees as well, with over 2,300 signed up to answer questions.”

Jet Blue

Full Story

https://twitter.com/twitter101/case_jetblue

“From this experience, Johnston hit on what he calls the Twitter “kernel of truth”: be receptive to what your followers want. How do you know what that is? You can gauge their responses to your tweets, and—as it turns out—you can also ask them.

When JetBlue faced dead air after pushing out new route announcements, Johnston started wondering what people wanted from the account. So he asked. The responses surprised him. “People said simply, ‘This is what we want. We want to see you asking.’” He adds that people even went as far as to say that they wanted the company to see them as a resource for helping JetBlue deliver a better product.” Twitter search

Zappos @zappos

Full Story

http://mashable.com/2009/02/06/social-media-smartest-brands/
A good fit with the company’s core values, Tony Hsieh CEO did not hire a digital manager, rather he encouraged employees to open accounts and participate. In doing so he builds bonds internally employee to employee and gives people on the outside a window into Zappos’ unique culture as they interact. Employees answer product questions and help with customer service. Zappos does not offer coupons or specials through Twitter – only conversation.

“The reason why Zappos stands out on Twitter is because of their ability to bring the company to life. The Zappos CEO has lent his personality to the company brand, a personality that is friendly, helpful, funny, and trustworthy. They use Twitter to highlight interesting facts, and to talk to their consumers. Talking to Zappos is like talking to a friend that happens to sell shoes.”

And the list goes on – Mashable
40 of the Best Brands on Twitter

* Whole Foods
* Souplantation
* Dell
* Walt Disney
* Celebrities
* SouthWest
* Airlines
* Marriot International
* Carnival Cruise Lines
* US Geographical survey
* CNN News Shows

Add your success story below -
Have you been successful using Twitter for your Small Business?
What is your Twitter focus? How do you measure your success?

To our success!

Terry

I don’t know about you but I do get annoyed by the constant bombardment of emails attempting to coax the money out of my pocket ….

Many of the people out there selling are doing a very good job.  I know - I have purchased a lot of stuff over time and today [...]]]>

Sunday’ Broadcast What was I thinking?

I don’t know about you but I do get annoyed by the constant bombardment
of emails attempting to coax the money out of my pocket ….

Many of the people out there selling are doing a very good job.  I know -
I have purchased a lot of stuff over time and today I am resolved to
buy less and make better use of what I have.

How about you? Does it get hard to sort out the REALLY good products
from the “this sounds good” product that doesn’t deliver what it said it would?

Have you ever felt scammed by any of this?

Sorry to admit it but I am a willing victim – most of the time.  Most of the things I buy are good.

It is me that is the problem.

Like the disclaimers say – They can’t guarantee it will make you money because You (me) are the key factor. It’s like watching the exercise program sitting on the couch. And yes I haven’t always taken the action outlined.  My hard drive is full of The next magnificent thing that is just begging  for me to put it into action. I keep saying I will get to it!

And then I get another email…. *grin*  only this time its from another person selling something that sounds like it will do just a little bit more – make my job a little bit easier – bring in a little more cash!  and I am back into my pocket again….. going after the new shiny model.

Last night I watched Dateline NBC  http://bit.ly/90ZnT5

The topic was “What was I thinking?” and it demonstrated and explored  why humans do what they do in social pressure or sales situations. I found it interesting. They repeated some of the experiments I learned  about in Psych 101 – things like what happens When we blindly listen to authority figures, when we do not listen to or trust our gut, and why we act like sheep at sometimes just following the people around us.

It made me examine some of my own behaviors – how people can get me to purchase something I really don’t need or want.  There truly is a legitimate “Science of Sales” – and good sales people make the sale well.

I found it very interesting and internalized many of the lessons – I just thought I’d see what you were thinking about all of this!

Are you easily persuaded by the sales copy people send your way?  Are we gullible? Are they manipulating us or are we participating in the game?

I look forward to your comments. Tell me what you’re thinking.

Terry

PS  I invite you sign up for my newsletter & submit your articles and reviews on the http://LovingMarketing.com blog. It is for internet Marketers to provide recommendations and access to helpful products that work.