Here are a couple of reasons to want a vanity URL:

1. It makes it easier for people to find you and if you have a common name like “John Smith” you will want to jump on it early.

2. It’s easier to add to a business card — many of us have been adding our Twitter ids, now we can add our facebook profiles as well.

3. Fan Pages will be powerful for businesses, especially businesses that use their keywords in their name. — You have to have an existing fan page to be able to access this right now.

What are your thoughts?

Doug

My mentor, Simon U Ford, refers to it as going “an inch wide and a mile deep.” Too many people get caught up in trying to be everything to all people. I’ve done it too, but once you focus on what you are the best at then  you can become truly successful.

Here’s a video a did last year that helps you understand and discover your Unique Selling Proposition:

When submitting your success story:

1.Include: The business name — and industry if not obvious

2. Twitter account name

3. Website address

4. Percentage or $$ amount of increase in sales

5. Business location

If you send me any creatives, sales copy, direct mail pieces etc It is assumed that you want me to share them when I write the story and do the interview. If you do not want to share creatives do not send them to me. I’m looking forward to seeing your success stories Thanks, Doug

Here are my favorites — leave comments below if you have other free resources that you like,

Follow Me Buttons

This one’s in French, but the designs are in English

http://www.vincentabry.com/31-logos-et-boutons-pour-twitter-2480

She has some fun buttons

http://siahdesign.com/archives/150

This one’s great if you don’t understand code very well.

http://www.twitterbuttons.com/

Twitter Backgrounds

Some fun ones — I was tempted by Batman

http://twittergallery.com

This one just has patterns

http://twitterpatterns.com/

Not my style, but cute graphics

http://twittertreats.blogspot.com/

Here’s a rgeat way to annoy someone on Facebook. Try it I’m sure it will work every time Sarcasm intended.

I’m on Facebook today making a post and someone uses the chat function to pop up and say “hello.” Normally I ignore them, but for what ever reason, temporary insanity? I responded and said “Hello”

Here’s how the rest oif the conversation went:

They said “how are you”

I said, “Busy” Then felt a little bad for being rude so followed up with “how are you?”

They responded with “how do you going”

I responded “?”

They responded “Where are you located?”

I responded “Billings, Mt like it says on my profile, have a good day” and closed out of Facebook.

Here’s what they or anyone interested in being successful in Social Marketing should have done:

1. Read my profile before sending me a message.

2. Commented on something that I had posted, vote on a link etc… to engage in a conversation that I had already started and so that I would recognize their name

3. Found something in my profile to comment on when they messaged me. Then they would have had a reasonable chance of getting my attention and not ultimately annoying me.

You have to remember that people are inyerested in themselves first, then they may become interested in you. So always discuss them, their profile, their interests first, then they will be open to hearing what you have to say.

Hope you enjoyed the rant — let me know your thoughts and/or what else they could have done. I need to log in and remove them from my friends list before I forget their name…

Doug

The tidal wave is beginning to build momentum and if you understand how to use social media for marketing you will be able to ride this tidal wave. That sounds like there’s a commercial coming. It wasn’t meant that way, but most of readers know that I’m passionate about social media marketing and am involved with Social Traffic and the Earth Day Birthday campaign. If you’re unfamiliar with them please check out the links it’s the best social marketing training available anywhere