Wordpress is a very powerful blogging tool for small businesses and nonprofits. It’s free and easy to use. But the true power of Wordpress can be found in using it with an iPhone. Now, with a simple app, you have the ability to update your site from anywhere.

To get started with Wordpress right now visit Wordpress.com. You can sign up and have a blog running in a few minutes.

For advanced features visit Wordpress.org. This option allows you to install Wordpress on your own website.

To download the iPhone application visit http://iphone.wordpress.org

.

Joel Mark Witt is the Publisher of Folk Media and author of 21 Days To Twitter Leadership and How To Use Social Media To Find A Better Job. He is a producer, author, and speaker who consults with businesses and nonprofits on how to use social media in marketing and communications. Get more from Joel on Twitter or Google Buzz.

.

Everyone has heard the old adage, “Money makes the world go ’round.”  Well, that’s only partially true.  Money does play a large part in making the world function but there would be no need for money if there were no products.  The development of a reliable product is critical to the success of any business and it’s essential to the success of your social media campaign.

What Is Your Product?

It might be tough for you to identify your social media product.  It’s not something that you sit around and ponder when you have nothing else to do.  In fact, you probably don’t even know what it is.  But, it’s important to identify your social media product because if you don’t, your social media strategies and campaigns will be unsuccessful.  You’ll be wondering aimlessly through Facebook Forest and Twitter Town without knowing what you’re doing.  We don’t want that, do we?

In order to understand your social media product, think about the content you are creating in your various social media outlets.  Do you retweet quotes or great blog links?  Do you post information about animals?  Do you dish the latest Hollywood gossip?  Your content is your product.  Let me repeat that – your content is your product.

Why Is Your Product Important?

Your product shapes your online reputation and how other people embrace your efforts.  It is human nature, whether we like it or not, to immediately judge or stereotype someone when we come into contact with them, even online.  Why do you think people follow you on Twitter or comment on your blog post?  They’ve judged you to be someone who knows what they’re talking about and they want more.  They want you and your product.

Your product determines the success or failure of your online presence.  Bottom line.  No questions asked.

How Do You Develop Your Product?

If you’re completely new to online media and social networking, congratulations.  You don’t have a product yet and there is a wide world of opportunities waiting for you.  If you’re a seasoned social media vet and don’t like the product you’ve created, you can change.  It might not be easy, though.

If you’re looking to develop or change your product, begin by thinking of things you dislike.  No, that wasn’t a typo.  Think of some things you dislike.  Now, write them down or put them in a text file under the category of “Non-Products.”  When brainstorming, it’s much easier to think of things you don’t like than things you do.  The world of possibilities broadens and more potential products can be recognized simply because you’ve thought about things you don’t like.

Next, list a few items or issues that generate a feeling of indifference.  You don’t care either way.  It could be socialism, sports, or Shakespeare.  After you’ve listed your indifferent items, jot down some things you favor or are interested in.  Make sure that you list the opposite of the things you don’t like.

You’ve just created a huge product catalog in a matter of minutes.  At this point, determine the ideas that you want to run with and do it.  It’s your product and your creation.  Make the most of it.

Remember that content is king and your content is your product.  Don’t be a salesperson for something you don’t enjoy.  Create and use content to develop the social media persona you want.  It’s your world; go for it.

Quick Tips for Products

Keep your list of products and non-products in case you want to enhance your product catalog at a later date.

Don’t be afraid to try new things or to become involved in unfamiliar areas.  This is what causes growth.

If you’re changing your product, make your followers and friends aware.  They’ll probably support you.

Whatever you do, keep it passionate and authentic.  Don’t create a product that doesn’t reflect the real you.

.

Eric Alpin is the Associate Editor of Folk Media and works for a telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast, blogger, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on Twitter.

*Photo by madstamper

I can remember the first time I met Chris Brogan. I thought the guy was a whackjob. He was speaking at Bootcamp Pittburgh (a Podcamp offshoot) in 2007. I was there also to speak and make more connections with others interested in online media.

Chris was sporting a “free hugs” T-shirt and showing us YouTube videos of people embracing. At the time I can remember thinking, “what a bunch of mumbo jumbo hippie crap.” But he seemed to be a leader in the new media/podcasting space, so I interviewed him for an early episode of our Folk Media podcast. Little did I know then that meeting Chris Brogan would change how I thought about new media and the internet, and ultimately my career. He had insights into the internet culture that made no sense to me then – but were downright prophetic when I look back on them.

Chris is at heart a community guy. He looks to bring people together from all walks of life and has been a mentor and cheerleader for me and countless others in social media and online content creation. When he shared with me that he would be starting a new membership community for online entrepreneurs I was very excited. I joined as one of the founding members of the Third Tribe community.

The Third Tribe is run by Chris Brogan, Brian Clark, Darren Rowse and Sonia Simone. If you are unfamiliar with some of these names – all four of them are full-time bloggers and internet entrepreneurs that have greatly influenced how businesses and individuals market online using social media and blogs.

Make no mistake that Twitter continues to grow as a platform for online communication. Here are seven reasons why it’s so successful.

1) Text based

Twitter can be scanned easily and quickly. No video and audio posting except through third party providers. Both video and audio require real time viewing and listening. Text can be decoded at the pace of the reader.

2) Short

140 characters are manageable. Limits are good for creativity and brevity. If you want to be a better writer – put limits on yourself. Limits are perfect for “to the point communication”

3) Public

There is something about knowing your twitter post can be viewed by anyone on the planet that encourages most folks to write differently.

4) Social and informal

Twitter has really changed how we see and use our social graph. We are more at ease with complete strangers. I will friend anyone on Twitter that I think is interesting. However, I probably wouldn’t make that same person my Facebook friend. Twitter allows for informality.

5) Current

Twitter IS the current conversation. It isn’t “old news.”

6) Instant

When you click update – your followers see your post immediately.

7) Democratization of fame

Take away all the above and when it really comes down to it – Twitter has democratized fame.

It could be argued that the history of the United States is the history of democratizing everything.

We have democratized publishing (desktop computers & blogs). We have democratized wealth (home loans, E-Trade and house ownership). We have democratized education (online degrees). We have democratized transportation (the automobile & cheap jet travel). We have democratized lifestyle (just visit Ikea or glance around the supermarket in the produce aisle).

And with Twitter we have democratized fame. Internet celebrity is now within everyone’s grasp.

Agree? Why do you think Twitter is popular?

And If you are new to Twitter, read some of our articles and resources to help you use the service.

.

Joel Mark Witt is the Publisher of Folk Media and author of 21 Days To Twitter Leadership and How To Use Social Media To Find A Better Job. He is a producer, author, and speaker who consults with businesses and nonprofits on how to use social media in marketing and communications. Get more from Joel on Twitter or Google Buzz.

.

A fair number of people tend not to do something unless they are rewarded in some way.  They want to get compensated for their efforts or at least get a small token of appreciation.  Unfortunately, Facebook and Twitter don’t hand out rewards to their subscribers simply for using their service.  Although nothing tangible is given, there are still a few reasons why embracing the Web 2.0 culture isn’t such a bad thing.

1.    Get connected.

Fact: In 2008, 1-in-8 married couples met via social networking websites. (Qualman, 2009)

Every human since the dawn of time has yearned to be part of a group and to connect with others.  Connections create communities.  Hoffman notes, “A community, whether virtual or real, is defined by the relationships that exist between its members.” (5, 2007) The components of Web 2.0?blogs, Facebook, iTunes, news feeds?are quick and easy ways to connect with others. (Barbaro, 2008) The world isn’t slowing down and it’s becoming tougher to create and maintain relationships.  Stay in touch using Web 2.0.

2.    Break loose.

Fact: There are approximately 37,500 new blog posts written each hour (or 10.4 posts per second) (LIS Education 2.0 Project, 2009)

Web 2.0 allows for a person to break loose from typical day-to-day activities and move into a different, and exciting, culture.  A person’s day no longer needs to consist of simply going to work, sitting in traffic, and grabbing McDonalds for dinner.  With the resources of Web 2.0, he or she can write about something interesting, read and respond to thoughtful articles, and participate in online videoconferences – all before bedtime.  Break the mold.  It’s easy.

3.    Stay up-to-date

Fact: Between 2:15pm and 3:15pm on June 25, 2009, the day of Michael Jackson’s death, CNN.com received over 20 million pageviews. (CNN)

Sharing information has never been so easy.  Most blogs display an icon that allows a person to share content with their friends on Facebook and Twitter.  Since content is constantly being recycled and passed on, information consumption is on the rise.  Breaking news spreads rapidly and social networking sites are often the first to report critical pieces of information.  Web 2.0 is a metropolis of data.  Embrace it.

4.    Become valuable.

Fact: Approximately 80% of companies use LinkedIn as a primary recruiting tool for new jobs. (Qualman, 2009)

Web 2.0 isn’t only for the people; it’s for corporations, too.  Companies have realized that social networking websites would be a great place to raise brand awareness and sales.  Although many companies want to embrace Web 2.0, they can’t because their employees don’t know the first thing about Twitter marketing or blogging.  Become a resource on all things Web 2.0 and it might lead to a promotion.

5.    Learn and grow.

Fact: There have been over 9 billion Twitter updates (also called tweets) to date. (Reed, 2010)

With all of the blog posts, Facebook updates, and tweets out there, it’s nearly impossible not to learn something new each day.  Web 2.0 is a great place for self-education, both formal and informal.  Maggiani notes that social networks in particular, “capture the essence of the community members and their backgrounds and expertise.” (20, 2009) The Web 2.0 world is full of things to learn.  As Einstein said, “Once you stop learning, you start dying.”

.

Eric Alpin is the Associate Editor of Folk Media and works for a telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast, blogger, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on Twitter.

*Photo by firehawk77

Tweet This Seinfeld

If Seinfeld were on the air today they would most likely write an episode in which the characters would bet each other on how long they can go without tweeting. Of course this would lead to hilarious dialogue and scenarios.

How long can you go without using Twitter? Are you an addict?

The five classes of Twitterland

As far as I can tell – Tweeters fall into one of five classes…

1) “I tweet therefore I am”

The issue: These folks identify so closely with their Twitter identity that they write only their @name on their name tags at conferences.

Key danger: You actually believe someone doesn’t exist if they don’t have a Twitter account.

2) “I am a compulsive tweeter”

The issue: These are the folks who just can’t stop Tweeting. Don’t have wifi or cell service on that long airline flight? Oh no – how are you going to tweet what you had to drink with your meal? Write 140 characters on the back of an airline napkin and then type it into Twitter when you land of course.

Key danger: Like any addiction – you tell yourself you don’t have a problem and this thing is manageable.

3) “I don’t have a clue what I’m doing on here. Someone said I should be using this so here I am.”

The issue: These people don’t know what they are doing and so begin to post without really understanding the toolset. They begin to post random complaints or thoughts that they think sound candid – but in reality – they sound very contrived.

Key danger: You look like a dork who doesn’t have a clue.

4) “I will post links to all my amazing and awesome offers and business opportunities and you will love them so much that you will visit my site and make me millions. Hehehehe.”

The issue: No one cares about you or your millionaire maker website. At least not until you engage us as humans and not masses of people who can make you rich.

Key danger: You give yourself false hope. You are building a reputation as “that guy.” What a sorry sap you are.

5) I am very manipulative with my tweeting by name dropping and hoping to be apart of the “in” crowd at conferences and events.

The issue: You are in need of friends and an ego boost. Instead of just developing relationships with people you come in contact with – you go after the big fish and expect them to reply to your @ messages every time. When they don’t – you are enraged.

Key danger: You are setting yourself up for disappointment.

My Advice For Serious Twitter Users

Be yourself. Be helpful. Be encouraging. Be interesting. A lot more can be gained by focusing on other people and their hopes, dreams, successes, and failures. It is rewarding and fun to help others succeed.

What are your thoughts on Twitter? Do you agree disagree?

.

Joel Mark Witt is the Publisher of Folk Media and author of 21 Days To Twitter Leadership and How To Use Social Media To Find A Better Job. He is a producer, author, and speaker who consults with businesses and nonprofits on how to use social media in marketing and communications. Get more from Joel on Twitter or Google Buzz.

.

Social media marketing is new and it can be tough – it’s a confusing topic, it takes a lot of time, and there are no definitive ways to measure results.  However, there are a few obvious secrets that go unnoticed but could make your social media marketing experience easier.

If you’re new to social media marketing and you think everything is pointless, it’s not.  If you’re an experienced social media marketing vet and you aren’t getting results, don’t worry.  It’s time for an adjustment.

These obvious secrets of social media marketing will make your life easier.  Trust me.

1.  Remember: everyone is new to social media marketing, not just you.
2.  Plan ahead (blog posts, tweets).
3.  Don’t manage everything on your own; create a team.
4.  Develop a routine and stick with it.
5.  Devote a block of time to social media instead of an hour here and an hour there.
6.  Connect in person with your social media fan base.
7.  Try something different at least once a week.
8.  Find someone who can help you with your weaknesses.
9.  Construct a content creation plan for your blog posts.
10.  Solicit feedback from your followers and friends.  They will tell you what they want.
11.  Don’t just post information, have conversations.
12.  Outline achievable goals and objectives for your social media presence.
13.  Attend a conference or tweetup.  It will inspire you.  I promise.
14.  Step away when you get frustrated.
15.  Market yourself and your brand wherever you go.

These secrets make a difference but each of these may not work for you or your company.  Find out what works and run with it.

Social media marketing doesn’t have to be a taboo subject any longer.  How can these obvious secrets change your social media marketing?

.

Eric Alpin is the Associate Editor of Folk Media and works for a telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast, blogger, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on Twitter.

*Photo by caz777

The personal brand

Charles Manson is a personal brand. He stands for something. When you hear his name you instantly associate him with murder, prison, psychosis and other negative things. But the one thing he has that you don’t…

world-wide brand recognition. He is known by more people than your small business. He has had more interviews and TV appearences than you. Charles Manson is a household name.

He is a brand. And he’s never made a dime from it.

The word BRAND has become meaningless. It’s a great buzz word but what does it actually do for your business? I guess if you’re Nike or Pepsi or Starbucks it matters…

But for you and your business trying to build a brand should not be your primary goal. I know I’ve just peeved off a bunch of people on Madison Avenue and basically gone against what some of my friends and colleagues believe at a core level.

What business is really about

But really … It’s NOT about branding your business. It’s about focusing on your customers. It’s about building products and services that solve problems and meet needs. It’s about making money as a business or making a difference as a nonprofit.

Branding puts the focus on you and your business. To grow, your business must focus on your customers and their needs.

Yes you need to stand for something. But that’s not branding – that’s character and core values.

I’m reminded of a daydream most of us have from time to time in life. We dream about being rich. But money isn’t really the end goal. It is what we think is nessasary to live the life we actually dream about on a deeper level. We think that if we only had millions of dollars we’d have less problems, more time and happiness. The problem with this line of thinking is that it leads us to put emphasis on the tools (money) and not the end result (happiness/freedom).

Brand is the same way. It’s not really a brand we are after, it’s what we think a brand will bring us… more business, growth, sales or nonprofit donations. While having a brand CAN bring all those things, it’s better for us to view branding as a function of marketing not the end goal.

If the end goal is to brand oneself, then Charles Manson would be wealthy and free. So would Hitler.

Don’t misunderstand…colors , logos, names, fonts, design, slogans and marketing materials all matter. But they should reinforce your marketing and sales strategy for getting new business. The goal of a brand is to be remembered as a trustworthy source of a particular solution or product. As you deliver a quality product you will being to gain authority, trust and … dare I use the word again … brand.

Just don’t forget during this process that brand is a function of the end goal … which is  S-A-L-E-S.

How to brand your business

I think Dockers did an excellent job with their 2010 Superbowl ad. It gave a clear call to action and continued their brand identity. But for a small business or nonprofit you don’t have millions of dollars to throw into a branding campaign. Instead of buying Superbowl ads, integrate branding with your response marketing.

You should help people remember you in the midst of giving them a call to action. Make branding part of your process. As my mentor Eben Pagan likes to say, “it’s not about communication, it’s about conversion.” You can communicate your brand all you want, but at the end of the day, conversions matter.

Action Step

Here is your action step for today. Rename one of your products or services.

Let me give you an example. I have a client who works with average looking people to teach them to become professional actors and models. He has developed an amazing modeling technique that he teaches to all his students. I recommended that he name his technique the ” modeling recall method.” I then urged him to add his name to the front of it. This is a simple way of “branding” something that he is already doing.

What are some ways that you can name what you do in a way that helps people remember your business? Spend some time today thinking about something you do in your business and how you can (re)name it. Then leave a comment below with your thoughts, questions or results. I’d love to hear what you come up with.

Now go take action and let me know.

.

Joel Mark Witt is the Publisher of Folk Media and author of 21 Days To Twitter Leadership and How To Use Social Media To Find A Better Job. He is a producer, author, and speaker who consults with businesses and nonprofits on how to use social media in marketing and communications. Get more from Joel on Twitter or Google Buzz.

.

Social media is a two-sided coin.

On one side of the coin are the hype peddlers who tell you that this stuff is hard and they have the secrets to guide you every step of the way. They obviously don’t want you to learn how to do this on your own.

The backside of the coin is worse. These people tell you to “jump in” … “try stuff” … “figure it out.”

That may work for you if you like to wander aimlessly in the dark. But it’s usually better to have some guidance.

I understand that 99% of professionals don’t have time to waste “figuring it out” by trial and error. But I also know that 99% of small businesses and nonprofits can’t afford to hire a social media consultant for thousands of dollars a month.

So here’s my five-part strategy for using social media.

PRESENCE => ENGAGEMENT => RELATIONSHIP => INFLUENCE => MAINTENANCE

1) Presence

Without presence you have nothing. This is the stage that you set up accounts and announce to the world that you are online. Most businesses have gotten to this stage already. If you’re business hasn’t developed an online social media presence, now is the time.

2) Engagement

Having a presence is good, but the next step is to begin engaging people online. You do this through listening and helping others. Your goal at this stage is to spend time developing a dialogue.

There are two ways to really make this work for you. First, target people geographically. There are people who live in your town or region already using social media tools like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr. Reach out to them since they are in your backyard.

Second, engage with people in your industry or area of interest. These folks may live half way around the world, but they share a common bond with you.

3) Relationship

As you begin to engage people natural relationships will form. Author Seth Godin calls it Permission Marketing. But I’ll caution you…

If you use social media for the SOLE purpose of marketing and only engage with people to ultimately market to them, you will  be seen as a smarmy dishonest person.

Instead, look to truly connect with folks for the sake of connecting. It’s okay to market and share products and services, but do it in a genuine way.

4) Influence

When you spend time building relationships with people by engaging them online, you will naturally build influence.

Influence is how businesses ultimately grow. But you only achieve influence when you spend time with a relationship.

5) Maintenance

Ask any divorce lawyer about this stage. Obviously all married people were in a relationship with influence at some point during their married lives. But they failed to maintain a relationship over time.

Don’t let this happen to your social media relationships. Continue to be helpful. Offer value. Be passionate and keep the lines of communication open.

People are not levers to pull. Social media is PEOPLE media. Be aware that each person you interact with could one day be your customer, advocate, investor, donor or friend.

Treating people like actual humans is, by far, the best strategy for social media.

.

Joel Mark Witt is the Publisher of Folk Media and author of 21 Days To Twitter Leadership and How To Use Social Media To Find A Better Job. He is a producer, author, and speaker who consults with businesses and nonprofits on how to use social media in marketing and communications. Get more from Joel on Twitter or Google Buzz.

.

*Photo by pshutterbug

It feels kinda weird to say that most relationships today are solely virtual.  From friends to bosses and everywhere in between, relationships have gone virtual because of the Internet.  The Internet, and social networks, make relationships easy, less time consuming, and fun.  Although social media is a great way to build up your quota of friends, in-person interaction is still needed to be successful.  What’s the secret?  Authenticity.

What You’re Missing

I think it’s safe to say that you have an online friend or two, someone you have never net in person.  That’s fine.  Like I said, the Internet connects people and that is a good thing.  But do you ever wish that person could be next to you and you could hold a face-to-face conversation with them?

Online relationships lack the benefits of a face-to-face interaction.  First, when you’re chatting online, you can’t determine an individual’s mood or body language.  Did they like the joke you just made or were they offended and are just playing it off?  You could probably tell that if you were chatting in person.

Next, you’re unable to do what you want in an online conversation.  If I am chatting with you on Facebook Chat, I need to be near a device that is connected to the Internet.  If I’m not, I can’t talk to you.  If we video chat, I need to be in front of my webcam.  If I’m not, I can’t talk to you.  But, if I’m talking with you in person, we can move together and do a variety of different things.

Believe it or not, these two things are essential to solid relationships.  They produce character and conversation.  Most of all, they produce authenticity.

Where Did That Come From?

You’re probably thinking, “Where did authenticity come from?”  It’s not out of left field, though.  It’s a critical aspect of relationships.

When you engage in a strictly online relationship, there is little or no authenticity.  Sure, the words you’re saying are a reflection of your character (at least they should be) but there is no way to tell if someone if being 100% authentic with you – down to Earth, caring, genuine.  Online personalities can differ from in-person characters.  Trust me.

Action Steps

If you’re someone who has a lot of online pals and wants to meet, at least once, in-person, here are some action steps for you.

1.  Discuss the idea – Make sure that he or she wants to meet up, too.  If not, there is no pressure.  But, I wouldn’t recommend forming a deep business relationship with someone you have never met.  Be cautious.

2.  Make time – If you’re really serious about connecting face-to-face, make time for it.  This will let your friend or possible business partner know that you mean business and actually want to have a meaningful relationship with them.

3.  Attend an event – A great way to meet people is through events, like tweetups.  I recently attended my first tweetup and was able to interact with quite a few people I had been following on Twitter.  It was good to build an authentic relationship with them.

Authenticity is a critical part of any relationship.  If you’re looking to find a new business partner, sign another contractor, or just want to connect with some online friends, I advise you to go fro it.  It will really help your relationship and it can lead to great possibilities than you can know.

.

Eric Alpin is the Associate Editor of Folk Media and works for a telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast, blogger, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on Twitter.

*Photo by gratsy