What's Happening w/You & Your Business....

[Jim Turner]

Hi Friends,

This is an excellent forum to talk about your business. The purpose of us being here is discuss ways that we can build our businesses using social media or social networking.

So, if you would, tell us very briefly about your business - what you do, who is your target market, what kind of success you've seen, what are your struggles, how can members in this group help you and finally... what is your most pressing need at the moment?

I'll take a shot at it first:

I'm a copywriter and marketing strategist, which means, I don't just write copy for you, but I like to be involved in helping you with the development of your overall marketing plan. My target market is solopreneurs and small businesses.

I've found great success on using Facebook and twitter build relationships that have ultimately led to either client or JV relationships.

Members in this group can help me by making referrals to my services or by using them. One other area that I work in is coaching folks on how to use Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites to build their brand and subsequently get more clients.

My most pressing need is to find more people with products they're looking to market and want to sell them through JV's. I'm not a product developer. My strength is in marketing.

OKay, enough for now. Let's hear about your story and what you're looking for today.

~Jim

[Jim Turner]

Anne,
Very good question - where's the map? that's the same question the pioneers had when they decided to conquer the wild, wild west.

The map is still being developed. There are a few who know more than others about they map. They've learned a lot by trial & error. Some of it's written down and some isn't.

I currently conduct 1-on-1 coaching sessions with folks looking to explore the Social Networking scene. I've learned a lot over the last 9 months building my Facebook network to the maximum level, 5,000 and LinkedIn is currently at 7,200+ and on Twitter I have 1,362 connections.

In addition to that I've built my Facebook Fan Page to 1,918 and my Facebook group is currently at 1,679 members. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm now saying those things to brag... but to say, that's how I learned the ropes of SN marketing - hands on. Not everyone wants to take the path I did. That's where I come in.

There is a method to my madness, but I haven't been able to put it down in writing, but I know how to help others strategize and pick up on the short cuts that I've learned.

If you'd like to know more about my process and how I can partner with you - just send me at [e-mail]

Cheers!
~Jim


Anne said:

When you talk about 'using' social networking to build business - is it a matter of sending messages/replies to postings on an individual basis to people or are their forums already set up where people exchange ideas and info about each other. Also - how do you learn what the 'unspoken' rules are? Moving from 'in person' networking to this 'social networking' I recognize as important but 'where's the map?? :-)

Jim Turner said:

Ann,
Great to have you here. This is a great place to learn how to use social networking to build your business. It's different from email marketing and 'unspoken' rules are constantly changing. So you have to stay on top of things.
Let's continue the dialog.
~Jim

Anne said:

Hi Jim. I'm fairly new to using social networks in my busness. My background is primarily in providing consulting services related to community planning/deinstitutionalization for people with significant behavioural/offending risk issues. More recently I've decided to focus on something very different; marketing a marketing tool for businesses called Sendoutcards. Sendoutcards allows businesses to go into their sendoutcards account, pick a card, add images/gifts/messages (in their own handwriting) and then when they press 'send' it goes out (to one client or their entire database) in the REAL MAIL. Perhaps you have heard of it. You can certainly go to my website at www.sendoutcards.com/annecallander and send a free card to see how it works.

I found your site through facebook and am trying to learn how to more effectively use sites such as yours, facebook, LinkedIn to locate people or groups of people who can benefit from this great tool.

My target market is basically any business who is looking for a more affordable, convenient and creative way to meet their customer communication and marketing needs.

Wedding planners, marketing/sales managers, customer retention specialists........

Looking to connect and share ideas.

[Ziona Etzion]

Dear Jim

One of the few people who actually get it! We are all here to outreach and expand our horisons.

The invitation to showcase our business shows intergrity and self-confidence in our ability to expand; know that we are not in competition with one another ... there is enough to go around.

G-d Bless
Zee

[Jean-Paul AHOUSSI]

Hi Ziona,

I agree with you and it is a good idea from Jim to invite people talking about their business and what they expect from others.

Tkae care

Jean-Paul

[Ian David Chapman]

Hi Jim,
finally made it back to actually participate, I really like the way things are developing.

I am in the middle of writing a Facebook Made Easy Advanced Strategies Guide. Most of the writing is done, I just have to go through it and trim off the fat and make it more streamlined. I can't stand when you get training material and its just full of waffle and padding.

The course will have several ebooks, powerpoints and mp3 audio files and mindmaps.

My main issue is getting everything finished and deciding on the best way to present it. I want to add some pictures and graphics as I now realise from my recent facebook notes that a lot of people like to have a visual element.

With things moving so quickly and with the recent changes on Facebook the material needs constant updating. maybe I need to put it all on a membership website and make monthly updates.

Its aimed at people who already know the basics of Facebook and want to understand and implement the strategies that the top social marketers are using and apply them to their own businesses.

I am a good writer and have a talent for synthesising information and making it easy to understand. Video and Audio presentations are new to me. and take much more time as I go through the initial learning curve.

I hope we can work together in a mutually beneficial way, I look forward to hearing your comments and advice

Ian

[Kelly Gomez]

Hello all! I am an advertising and marketing consultant for the past 12 years and currently work/live in Colorado. I work with all sizes of businesses and industries across the board to come up with a strategy for advertising and marketing an would like to be able to chat more with them about + and - of Social Networking as part of their plan. Some of the best sites, ways to reach out, etc. I have been utilizing several sites for the past 2 mos. and like others newer to the game and still learning the ropes. Any advise is appreciated and I am happy to do the same if you think I may be able to help you.

[CatchFriday]

Hi Jim,

Thanks for inviting me!

Building up Catchfriday!

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Kind regards,

Lawrence

[Gwen Collier]

Jim, help me out. The "language" is still new to me, what does JV stand for?

[Dave Saunders]

Hey there--I met Jim through Twitter and we have a book in the queue. :)

I love to bring fun an education to others and some recent events drove me to create a resource that teaches people personal branding and how to use that with social media to attract and build business online.

http://www.yoursocialbrand.com

I love the idea stage and I like the production stage. I'm very interested in finding other marketers out there who would like to promote this solution and there's an affiliate link at the bottom of the page.

I also love to support others by helping them find their own niche as well as opportunities in their niche which they may not yet realize. It's a real joy I have to get into bran storming mode with other like-minded people.

[Jean-Paul AHOUSSI]

Hi Dave,

I really love your last post about personal branding.You gave valuable tip with your own example.
Hope to read another one. I bookmarked you.

Cheers

Jean_paul

[Jim Turner]

Sorry about that Gwen... it's easy to get caught up using abbreviations and acronyms.

JV stands for Joint Venture... basically you work with someone else to do a project jointly and you share the proceeds generated. Usually it involves, at a minimum, a couple of people coming together with different things to offer. For example, I like to market, so I look for people who like to create things/products/services and we agree that I will market their 'thing' and for my efforts I will get a certain percentage of the sales generated from my efforts.

There's a lot more that goes into as well. But in a nutshell, that's what JV is all about.

Hope that helps.... JIm

Gwen Collier said:

Jim, help me out. The "language" is still new to me, what does JV stand for?

[Skip Weisman]

Jim and Everyone,
I really appreciate you opening my eyes to the world of Social Media and although I haven't invested as much time as I probably should I'm gradually seeing its benefits and will continue to increase the time I invest in applying it to my business.

I work with small-to-medium sized companies to help transform them into Champion Businesses. I've actually created my own coaching and consulting process to do that and I'm very excited about building a brand around creating "Champion Businesses With Champion Work Environments."

On Monday, Sept. 8th (tomorrow) at 2pm eastern time I'm launching a webcast channel with the first of a series of webcasts teaching business leaders the Champion Business model. If anyone is interested you can subscribe to the webcast channel by going to www.WeismanSuccessResources.com/webcasts . If you can't make it live it will be recorded and by subscribing you will receive notification as to when the recording is ready for viewing. I am committed to producing a webcast at least two times each month.

I've also created my own ning.com page after you invited to view your ning.com page and thought it had a great look and feel and wold compliment all the other things I'm doing to build my social media efforts. Thanks, and keep up the good work.

Skip

[Jeanette Fisher]

Hi Friends,

Thank you Jim for this community.

My life has taken many twists and turns and I haven't settled on just one business venture. Because of my online success selling my books, I started helping my friends create products and set up their Internet business.

My current projects include 100 websites on my server, an upcoming Bamboo Women Gathering, new books on interior design psychology, teaching at the local college, giving seminars at my home retreat on Lake Elsinore, helping @DrMani, Frank McKinney, Habitat for Humanity, and Unitus.

If anyone is in Southern California, I'm giving free seminars. This week I will teach "How to Write Right Now" on Thursday September 11 at 9 AM at my home. The seminar will be filmed for a product. Please email if you want to join us. jeanettejoy at gmail.com.

I am a product developer and can help you create DVDs, CD,s, MP3s, print books, ebooks, and more. I don't need clients. I only work with friends. If you want to be my friend, contact me.

We turned my daughter Sara's (http://www.savingsara.info) room into a studio. I am creating a darker background for myself. My friends with dark hair look great. Check out the first attempt: http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=3cktfEyzFrw

Joy to you,

Jeanette