Beginning my experiment with Hootsuite

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I am trying something new--for me.  It's actually been around for years.

I am using Hootsuite.

Hootsuite is an online application that let's you schedule posts on social media platforms.  Luckily, it only sounds more complicated than it really is.

What is Hootsuite?

Many people reading this already know about Hootsuite, but for those of you who do not, it is an online service that let's you create posts (Twitter Tweets, LinkedIn Posts, etc.) in advance.

Just like you can schedule blogs, you can schedule posts to social media platforms...hours before, days before, or even weeks before you really want them to become "public."

See Also: Internet Marketing Tip: How to Schedule Posts-WordPress, Blogger, and Tumblr

Why use Hootsuite?

Use Twitter to Gather Recommendations and Testimonials

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Twitter Tip: Great Idea

Do you ever wish that you could get more recommendations from other people, especially when you KNOW that you've earned them?

I read an idea that makes things SO much easier...using Twitter.  Stay with me!

The Tao of Twitter is a book written by Mark W. Schaefer, and it does a great job of giving Twitter tips and emphasizing the importance of using social media "socially," not simply as blatant advertising.

I got this idea from a book that I am reading,  "The Tao of Twitter: Changing Your Life and Business 140 Characters at a Time" by Mark W. Schaefer.

Marketing Idea: 3 Tips for Signs from a Passing Traveler

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Often, I look for ways to get new marketing ideas.  Usually, I get new ways to look at old marketing ideas.

For Thanksgiving, I went on the road to visit my parents, traveling from Michigan to North Carolina.  For those of you who are not good with geography, that's about 12 hours--with NO stops.  (Of course, I'm old, and I stop...a lot!)

Tim Hortons Donuts: I had to look really hard from the road.  Eventually, I figured out the one on the left while I was driving at night, but that's not good.  The 2nd sign is better, but it's not perfect.

See Also: Logos are Nice but Only Sometimes Needed

A lot of this driving came at night, which at this time of the year happens to fall around 5PM or so.  It seemed like I could go for hours without seeing anything, and then BAM...there would be a sea of signs.

A Marketing Idea for Thanksgiving

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Since this is a marketing ideas blog, it's only fair that I provide you with some marketing insight.

Garfield and Odie the Turkey (usually a dog) celebrating Thanksgiving (NOTE: This picture was taken from IconPerformanceOnline.com.)

Often we look for keywords, because that is good for SEO (search engine optimization).  It helps us get our websites and online marketing material found on search engines, like Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc.

Using good keywords for SEO is a good long-term marketing strategy.

However, sometimes you just want a shot in the arm to get you some results TODAY!

1 Overrated Email Marketing Method

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Here is one (1) overrated email marketing method.

Have you ever gotten any postcards, letters, or emails like any of these?

• Happy Thanksgiving from XYZ Company!
• The folks at XYZ Company hope you have a safe and great holiday!
• XYZ Company wishes you and yours a wonderful holiday!
• You are in the thoughts of the XYZ Company during this holiday!

I don't know about you, but I am not really filled with emotion after reading those "touching" statements.

I get the basic idea.  As a company, you are trying to find ways and excuses to stay in front of the customer.  However, to me this seems to scream "We want you to think that this is about you, but it's really about us."

Your Blog Posts: How you might be wasting your time!

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If you've spent any time trying to learn and understand online marketing, undoubtedly you've seen "reasons" why we should blog.

However, I have one question...but an important one.

Main Question: When you write your blog posts, are you making an impact or just completing a checklist?

See Also: Why My Blog Writing Stinks (Despite It Being Good)

What do I mean by this?

2 Reasons Why I Write Blog Posts - Now and Later

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Now that I have gotten into posting blogs, again, I am noticing two (2) reasons that I SHOULD be posting:

1. Now - I get almost immediate exposure.
2. Later - My website gets found via my blog posts later.

Blog Posting provides benefits today (Now) and tomorrow (Later).

It's as simple as that!

2 Important Things I Want in a Business Partner

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What is important to find when you're looking for a business partner?

There are lots of things, and entire books have been written about them.

What does a business partner need?  There are a couple of things, but it begins with a good idea.

However, as I am thinking through my past experiences, here are two (2) basic things that are important to me.

Speaking Tip: Do I make myself clear (to myself)?

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I have an important speaking tip, based on a realization that I just made.

When I first started speaking, I would get really worked up.  I'd be a wreck for days before speaking.

Important Speaking Tip: Make sure your point is clear to you, or your audience will not know what to take from your talk.

In the best cases, I practiced enough, and I did GREAT.  Other times, I did not practice enough...not enough to do well, anyway.

Marketing Tip: You Never Know What Will Work

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Most people reading this blog post know that I do not have any formal marketing training.  I do my best to use logic and what I've learned from different seminars I take and suggestions from people I meet.

You never know what works in marketing - until you do it.  Then again, next time, it might not work.  Just keep trying!

So far, the biggest teacher has been EXPERIENCE.

Marketing Tip: 10 Ways to Be a Better Marketer

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This is a guest post presented to us by Longhorn Leads (http://www.LonghornLeads.com).

A marketer’s job is demanding.  Because of the high pressure nature of the job, it can be easy to get stuck in a creative rut. In order to keep your content and brand fresh you need to constantly stay on top of the newest marketing trends so that you can continue to learn and get better at what you do.

Here are ten(10) different ways you can become a better marketer:

Twitter: Followers vs. People You're Leading

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How do you measure your online leadership?

An Interesting but Misguided Idea about Leadership on Twitter

I went to a mini-seminar about leadership, and the speaker mentioned something that did not settle well with me.

Amongst other things, she started to ask how many people are following us on Twitter.  She explained that you are leading your Twitter Followers.

Related: Twitter - The Combo Punch - An Effective Way to Use It

Honestly, I think that she is onto an intriguing concept.  However, there is something missing here.

Internet Marketing: Using LinkedIn Productively - Not Wastefully

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At one time, I spent a lot of time trying to market myself using LinkedIn.

See: Over 7 Ways to be More Effective Using LinkedIn

However, I realized that there was a fatal flaw with my approach.  I did not have specific goals from using LinkedIn.

It is really easy to waste our time on LinkedIn.  How can we make LinkedIn a more productive tool for us?

I realized that I was focused more on the conversations than I was my overall goal.  I would--more often than not--provide thorough answers that reflected thought.  I tried to personalize things.

Internet Marketing: 1 Opportunity We're Missing in Our Blog Posts

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I've been missing a HUGE internet marketing opportunity most times I've made a blog post.

Certainly, I cannot speak (or write) for many other people.  However, there is something that I notice almost EVERY time I check my blog or website analytics.

This is an example of using a picture to attract readers to your blog or website.  People respond to visual things!

Perhaps, more people find my blogs through my PICTURES than any keyword search phrase.

See: Easy Way to Create an InfoGraphic (Using MS PowerPoint 2007)

We can draw inspiration from the election (without being political)

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Wow!  It's amazing how much of a difference there can be in just four (4) short years.

What a difference four (4) years makes!

4 Years Ago: Barack Obama was CLEARLY going to win the presidential election.  It was also clear that he was a better choice than George W. Bush--not necessarily his opponent John McCain.  (4 years later, that is still unclear.)

The US was in shambles.  Banks were terrified of giving ANY loans, because so many people were losing their jobs and defaulting on those loans.  Nobody could buy anything requiring a loan, meaning that hardly any BIG purchases could be made.

Some HUGE banks were terrified of failing.  Many of them went on to fail (Washington Mutual, Bear Sterns, and Lehman Brothers being amongst the largest of those.)

We were looking at the possibility of having all three (3) big US auto makers become bankrupt and non-defunct.

The world was looking pretty bleak.

Why My Blog Writing Stinks (Despite It Being Good)

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A Lesson about Blog Writing I Should Have Learned Long Ago

I've been blog writing on and off for a few years.  I'll write about different topics.

More often than not, what I write is good quality, presenting points with value.  It often offers a unique viewpoint and offers a friendly yet professional, conversational tone.  It all combines well to make a blog that avoids that dreaded "me-too" tone that so many other blogs carry.  (Those blogs stink!)

Yet, despite the fact I write well within my blog, my blog writing STILL STINKS!

What's wrong?  How can that be possible?

I've been reading blogs for years, and I notice something about my own habits as an article or blog reader.  I don't make it through the REALLY LONG posts, if I begin reading them at all.

Hey, wait a minute!  I tend to write REALLY LONG posts.

How many people tune out what I write, because it's just simply too long?

Blog writing is not supposed to be formal.  It's supposed to inform EFFICIENTLY.

That is my challenge and my goal when I do my blog writing for future blog posts.  Keep me honest, everyone!  I don't want to write STINKY BLOGS!!!

Do YOU enjoy reading LONG blog posts?  If you're writing a blog, are YOU scaring YOUR readers?

Like this post?  Other recent posts are

• An Old but Overlooked Form of Social Media
• 1 HUGE Mistake Business Owners Make
• Twitter - The Combo Punch - An Effective Way to Use It
• Social Media Marketing - 1 Benefit Discovered (Unexpectedly)
• Small Business Tip: 1 Definite Time to Delegate
• Political Branding - 2 Videos - No Answers - Just Laughs and Entertainment
• Video Marketing Tip: How to Create a YouTube Playlist

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