Larry Brauner

Not Ready for Social Media Marketing

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 23:46:36 +0000

There are two common reasons that you and your business might not be ready yet to take advantage of social media marketing.

It’s possible that you do not yet have a suitable website or blog site to be the hub of your social media marketing and to convert your traffic. Darren Rowse, the author of 31 Days to Build a Better Blog, in his video, How I Use Social Media to Promote My Blogs, explains why you’d want one:

It’s also possible that you haven’t yet created even a rough social media and web marketing plan to work with.

You’ll need to outline your marketing objectives, of course. You’ll also need to specify to whom you’re marketing and determine which subject areas are appropriate to discuss.

Then, you’ll plan a course of action that encompasses your websites, content and social sites prior to launching your social media marketing campaign.

Are you ready for social media marketing?

Why Social Media Doesn’t Work

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 01:54:17 +0000

Social media has reinvented the Internet, just as search had 15 years ago. We reflect, and we can perceive endless uses for social media. Nevertheless, social media is limited. Sadly, much of social media doesn’t really work.

The failure of social media has little to do with the technology underpinning it. The technology is exquisite and marvelous innovations emerge each day. If social media success depended entirely on technology, that success would grow exponentially.

Social media involves people. That’s why it’s called social media. Social media success depends upon the people who use it, and that’s a problem. People are socially very limited, and our ability to take instruction, do the right thing, and keep our word is poor, as confirmed by civilization’s track record.

To get more out of social media — and life — we must invest as much in ourselves as we do in technology. If we learn to use social media more correctly, interact more effectively, communicate more honestly and act with greater integrity, our success with social media — and our personal relationships — will transform our lives.

Until that occurs, we need to accept that social media doesn’t work, at least not nearly as well as it could.

Hyper Local Real Estate Marketing Program

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 04:17:22 +0000

Real estate brokers are facing very stiff competition, in part as a result of the subprime mortgage crisis and in part as a result of commoditization.

Real estate itself isn’t a commodity, but many of the brokers who sell real estate, especially residential real estate, have been losing their competitive differentiation in the market, as they are no longer the principal sources of listings and property information. Buyers can more easily obtain listings and detailed property information from online services.

What is Hyper Local Real Estate Marketing?

Real estate brokers have long recognized the importance of keeping a high profile in the neighborhoods they serve and of conveying their neighborhood expertise to prospective buyers.

This approach to real estate marketing, with its neighborhood hyper focus, is frequently referred to as hyper local real estate marketing.

Orchestrating a hyper-local marketing campaign is extremely challenging. However, social media, such as social networking sites, blogs and mobile are making hyper local marketing more feasible and more effective, as well.

I’ve given a lot of thought to the hyper-local real estate marketing concept and have sought ways to help brokers streamline their marketing, overcome technical obstacles and create value for both hyper-local businesses and their customers.

Real Estate and Small Business Marketing Program

I’ve developed an affordable hyper-local real estate and small business marketing program that satisfies all three objectives and creates a win for brokers, hyper local businesses and consumers. The program uses search and social marketing within a supervised online environment and includes marketing and technical support.

Real estate brokers can “own” their neighborhoods in that I will only license the program to one broker or salesperson per hyper local area.

If you’re a forward-thinking real estate broker or salesperson, you can benefit by participating in this real estate marketing program and increasing your influence online and offline.

Contact me to learn more about my new hyper-local real estate and small business marketing program or pose your questions in the comments.

What is Findability?

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 03:01:58 +0000

Findability is the ability of brands and all their associated content to be discovered and interacted with by people.

More simply stated, findability is people’s ability to find and connect with content on websites. To find content, people need to be drawn to websites, and once on those websites, they require guidance finding the desired content.

Web promotion deals with drawing people, and website design with guiding them. Web promotion and website design — or usability — are the principal elements of findability.

Brands can maximize their findability by fine tuning the promotion of their websites and optimizing their websites’ usability, both important functions of a web marketing team or digital marketing agency.

Needless to say, developing high-quality and relevant content is crucial, but without findability, content has no value.

See also my other findability piece: What is Findability Convergence?

Now that you’ve found your way to the end of this findability article, please find the wherewithal to leave a comment about findability and to subscribe to my blog.

Monetizing My Social Media Traffic with Ads

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 02:44:54 +0000

I consider traffic, along with time, expertise and influence, to be a basic element of social media monetization.

Traffic is monetized by placing ads or sponsored content on blogs, social networking sites or other types of websites.

For years, I have resisted the idea of monetizing my traffic with commercial ads. To a large extent, I regard my blogs as professional work samples. My concern, therefore, has been the possibility that monetizing my blog traffic with ads might to some degree sully my image.

Last week, however, I accepted an invitation from Technorati Media to join their publisher network and placed their ad tags on my blogs and my business networking sites. I was ready for this change and happy to be getting started with a company I knew and trusted.

Of course, I’m not going to get rich from my social media traffic overnight, but ads give me another income stream that I can grow over time.

I invite you to connect and network with me on my new business sites:

Small Business Networking – Networking and continuing education site for entrepreneurs and small businesses around the globe. Sign up there for free social media marketing training.
NY Business Networking – Networking site with a local flavor for Greater New York Area business.

You don’t need your own business to participate.

Free Social Media Marketing Training

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 03:07:21 +0000

I launched my two new business networking sites with several objectives in mind. One key objective was to make available free social media marketing training, as well as other free and low-cost training to a wide small business and entrepreneurial audience.

Subjects will include social media marketing, social networking sites, small business websites, blogging, SEO and web analytics.

There will be strong branding opportunities for expert instructors who wish to participate in this free social media marketing training initiative or others on the way. For free social media training, make Small Business Networking your training resource on the web.

Social Media Marketing Content

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 01:18:53 +0000

Social media and other types of media revolve around the findability and value of their content.

You could use a newspaper to wrap fish or fragile belongings (ideal), a book as a paperweight (sad), a radio or television program as white noise (even sadder) or a blog to switch to, so that the boss won’t catch you playing FarmVille at work (hopefully not my readers).

Kidding aside, media are published so that their content will be consumed, and social media marketing can only succeed if its content is findable, and if the people finding that content repeatedly consume it.

Am I stating simply the obvious? Perhaps, but consider for a minute the large number of web sites with little traffic and blogs with little traction. Do you not agree that my concern is somewhat justified?

Value and findability of content to and by stakeholders are prerequisites for social media marketing success, and the optimization of each must be at the top of our social media marketing content lists.

Social Media Change is Constant

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 01:30:05 +0000

I started this blog, because I wanted to refocus the content of Online Social Networking on social and business networking, yet I still wanted to discuss other topics, such as New York business events, small business, search and social media.

Now that I’ve launched two new business networking sites, and both have blogging capabilities, I’m setting up a New York business blog on one site and a small business blog on the other.

In case this post has sounded so far like an Abbot and Costello routine, here’s a simpler breakdown:

Small Business – Join me on Small Business Networking.
Search and Social or Online Networking – Visit and subscribe to Online Social Networking.

You might be wondering whether this article is merely a shameless plug for my new sites. Fortunately for me, there is a takeaway.

Although we might hope to build a web presence one time and then coast along, adding a blog post here and a social bookmark there, this online strategy isn’t at all feasible. Over time the world, technology and we too change substantially. These changes need to find expression in our web initiatives.

Therefore, since real world and corresponding social media changes are inevitable, we must expect them, accommodate them.. and grow with them.

We must grow with the flow.

Small Business Networking and Greater NYC Business Networking Sites

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 01:30:15 +0000

I’ve been working very hard the past couple of weeks and finally launched my two new business networking sites.

A unique aspect of these sites is that they’ll serve to connect offline networking groups, facilitating communication among their group members and attracting new group members online.

These are my new business networking sites:

NY Business Networking – Serving all business interests in the Greater New York City Tri-State area.
Small Business Networking – Serving entrepreneurs and small businesses worldwide.

You don’t need to have a business to join either site. You can join for getting business ideas, searching for a new job or whatever else might make sense.

If you’re interested in business social networking, I recommend that you subscribe to my other blog, Online Social Networking.

Should Every Small Business Have a Blog?

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 23:47:18 +0000

I asked on Facebook earlier today whether every small business should have a blog. My Facebook focus group provided eight responses of which six were affirmative.

Fortunately, I’m not obliged to side with the majority on such matters, and although I praise blogs in 6 Easy Ways to Integrate Search and Social on Your Blogs and elsewhere, I see a blog as one of a variety of marketing tools at our disposal.

Starting a blog requires a commitment that is inappropriate for many small businesses.

You and I can talk about thought leadership, but when an entrepreneur is already wearing five hats in his or her small business, and there’s a family at home requiring attention, starting a blog could be the very straw that breaks the camel’s back.

Outsource it? That could be pricey and, in any case, I don’t know if that is thought leadership.

Back in April, I asked: Is Going Blogless Really An Option?

My answer: “Going blogless is an option. [With some creativity] you can accomplish with a standard website most of what you’d hope to accomplish with a blog.”

If anybody says your small business must have a blog, send them to me with boxing gloves on, and the two of us will duke it out.

BDI Financial Services and Social Media Webinar Aug 12

Sun, 01 Aug 2010 19:43:28 +0000

The Business Development Institute is holding a free webinar on August 12, 2010 at 2pm ET that will discuss ways in which financial institutions are embracing social media to achieve their marketing and communications objectives.

The webinar will explain how major brands are connecting with customers, partners and employees through social media:

A.J. Bosco, SVP Compliance, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, will provide perspective on social media compliance issues.
Sarah Carter, VP Marketing, FaceTime, will share how financial brands are using technology and tools to effectively monitor and execute social media marketing strategies.

The Business Development Institute produces top quality events and training. I’m already registered for this one. Reserve your spot now.

10 F’s of Social Media Marketing

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 23:24:38 +0000

This is a fairly lighthearted post, but it nevertheless outlines many social media marketing essentials. If your online initiatives are weak in any area, you could be on the wrong track or missing key opportunities.

In the spirit of alliteration, and without further delay, here are the 10 F’s of social media marketing:

Fact-finding – Competitive intelligence and market research. Know your objectives and where you stand before you begin your social media marketing, even if the picture ain’t that pretty.
Forethought – Planning, market segmentation, positioning, keyword analysis, social media marketing landscape, etc. “The worst social media marketing advice is just jump in.”
Functionality – Web site design, navigability, the area above the fold, website widgets, lead capture, etc. Basic, right? Believe me when I tell you that most web sites are dysfunctional.
Findability – Maximize your use of SEO, SEM and social media marketing.
Follow-through – Building relationships and converting people into consumers of your content, customers and raving fans. Once you have your plan and your websites are up, this is where most of your social media marketing effort should go.
Fundamentals – Content, transparency, community, building trust, etc. Brian Kenny at the Harvard Business School says that we can’t connect via social media unless we understand the sociology of social media, which is different from the sociology of traditional media.
Focus – Cast a wide social media net, but when it comes to expending time and effort, live by the 80/20 rule.
Followers – Friends. Fans. People who adore your content. You need to love ‘em.
Facebook – Half a billion people log into Facebook each month, including me. You should probably be on Facebook too.
Friday – Have fun! Today is Friday, after all. Isn’t it? You can obsess about your social media marketing on Monday.

How to Cope with Google Friend Connect’s Untimely Demise

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:10:38 +0000

In case you haven’t heard, “Friend Connect will be retired March 1, 2012,” says Google. This is not pleasant news for those websites that have sizable Google Friend Connect communities and whose community members have opted to receive newsletters from the site.

Google recommends that you join Google+ and invite your community to join with you in order to keep in touch. Compared to Google Friend Connect, Google+ is a rather lame tool for staying in touch. Google Friend Connect newsletters permitted direct community contact.

Google Ploy

Google+ got off to a great start but seems to have lost much of its original momentum and engagement. Google probably hopes to give Google+ a shot in the arm by terminating Google Friend Connect and redirecting members.

If you have a community and wish to stay in touch, here are two approaches for creating email lists, are better than merely joining Google+ as Google advises.

If you have a small budget for an email contact list, I can use Aweber or Green Wave Email Marketing. I’m using both of them. Once you’re set up, ask your community to subscribe to your newsletter.

For a free email list, you can create your own group on a Ning social networking site, such as my Small Business Network. You will be able to email group members and to network with each other.

Invitation

I invite you to subscribe to this Online Social Networking blog and to join Small Business Network, so that we can stay in touch with each other. I’m also on Google+, Facebook , LinkedIn and Twitter.

I love to network, and I’m very accessible.

Did you enjoy this article? Subscribe to my RSS feed or by e-mail. Visit my About, Services, Media Buzz and Connect pages to learn about Building Your Audience and Brand on the Web. See also my Disclosure Policy regarding affiliations and compensation.


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5 Web Strategies that Paid Off in 2011

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 04:09:01 +0000

While building my online presence and working on small client projects over a three year period, I devised, tested and evaluated a wide variety of web-based marketing, branding and communication strategies and techniques, and discussed them on Online Social Networking.

In November 2010, I seized an opportunity that arose to join a major luxury goods company and test my strategies and techniques in a competitive real-world environment. The results were outstanding. Not only was enormous buzz created, the business was able to dramatically increase its authority and credibility within the trade and with the media.

I credit just five very simple ideas with our success:

Building a core group of websites around which the company’s entire web presence was built.
Fully aligning web content with the company’s mission and message.
Creating a great quantity of top quality, expertly edited and search engine optimized content.
Using plenty of images and videos to enhance our written content.
Leveraging numerous online and offline sources, such as SEO, social networking sites, social bookmarking sites, email, print ads and word-of-mouth, to generate a flood of targeted traffic to the company’s web content.

Of course the details of implementation were far from trivial. They needed to be worked out along the way, and yours will too.

I shall elaborate on these five web strategies in future articles.

Please subscribe and join me on my Facebook page.

You may also leave me a comment.


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Facebook Smart Lists Work Around

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 04:20:20 +0000

In Why Facebook Smart Lists are Actually Dumb, I expressed my annoyance with Facebook for permitting their “smart lists” to interfere with our use of the lists we’ve deliberately created in order to manage our Facebook friends.

I wrote, “Try to use Facebook friend lists to selectively invite people to Facebook events or to ‘like’ Facebook pages. The only lists consistently available for such invitations are Facebook smart lists, even if those ’smart’ friend lists happen to be totally empty lists.”

I’ve devised a simple method to work around the Facebook Smart List glitch. All you need to do is temporarily rename the list you want to use. Append the numeral “0″ before the group name so as to push it to the top of the alphabetic list of lists that Facebook presents to you when you invite people.

Change “Cool People” to “0Cool People” or “Writers” to “0Writers” and don’t worry. Nobody but you can see these list names. Now, from your Facebook home page, go to the list you want to change. Select “Manage List” and then “Rename List” to revise the list name.

If only Facebook would allow us to view all our friends in a particular list and then click the link under their pictures to visit their profile pages without deleting them from the list. Unfortunately, that problem isn’t going to be solved in 2011.

Have a successful 2012!

Please subscribe and join me on my Facebook page. Your comments are most welcome.


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Why Facebook Smart Lists are Actually Dumb

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 03:24:21 +0000

Facebook friend lists may one day become much more useful than they are at present if the top online social networking site ever finds the wherewithal to implement Facebook lists intelligently and with flexibility in mind.

Admittedly, Facebook has some of the friend list details right. For example, you can create custom friend lists that make sense to you and your personal or business interests. You can (finally!) assign friends to friend lists without leaving their profile pages. You can also (once again!) select which lists of friends will see any particular Facebook update.

TOO Much Help from Facebook

Recently, Facebook created so-called “smart” lists in order to help us with categorizing our Facebook friends. Smart lists are an excellent idea. Unfortunately, however, Facebook went too far with smart lists and let them overshadow our hand crafted lists.

Try to use Facebook friend lists to selectively invite people to Facebook events or to “like” Facebook pages. The only lists consistently available for such invitations are Facebook smart lists, even if those “smart” friend lists happen to be totally empty lists. That’s especially dumb. Don’t you agree?

SMARTer Facebook Friend List Selection

For invitations, Facebook could provide a similar friend list selection mechanism to the one the online social network employs for directing profile updates. Then, optional use of Facebook smart lists would be - uh smart.

Facebook expects users to invite selectively and responsibly. Why shouldn’t Facebook help us by correcting their smart friend list oversight?


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Where Your Web Strategy Ought to Begin

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 03:06:49 +0000

Your social media and web strategy necessarily starts from your website, the one place on the the web that you own and control.

Social networking sites, such as Facebook and LinkedIn, are very useful and will likely figure in your online plans. However, the possibility that any given networking site will become unpopular, change its rules, cancel your membership, or even shut down entirely, renders such a website unsuitable as a hub and foundation for your web presence.

Your website doesn’t need to be intricate, although it can be. I tend to prefer simple websites. The Gevril Group website, for example, which I developed in concert with Ivo Jackson and John Sealander, uses the WordPress content management system, a very basic 3-column theme, an opt-in form and a Facebook widget.

Launched this past December, the Gevril Group website now receives in excess of 8,500 visits per month.

Our latest creation, the new Purple Umpkin children’s book website, is even simpler in design and implementation. You can compare it to the original Purple Umpkin website. In my opinion, the new version is easier to use, and it looks and feels more like a venue for a children’s book. What do you think?

Work on a Children’s Books umbrella website is underway employing equally simple design principles.

Every web presence needs a website that attracts and speaks to its visitors. Online, your website is your brand. That website must be secure, and the content on that website must be nothing less than superb.

Your thoughts are welcome.


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Facebook Has Its Cake and Eats It

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 03:53:02 +0000

Please prepare yourself for a small dose of cynicism. Last week, a Facebook sales rep tried to persuade me to buy ads to drive traffic to the Gevril page, in order to increase its number of fans. Neither the rep’s rational nor the outcome of our talk are important for now. However, I do wish to look at the implications of this one aspect of the Facebook business.

The Dark Side of Facebook Ads

You pay Facebook to drive people from unspecified Facebook pages to your fan page, hoping that once there, they’ll “like” your Facebook page. You also hope that you’ll benefit from building a Facebook fan base.

When a member clicks on your ad link and then clicks your “like” button, that activity is called engagement. Naturally, the more Facebook engagement, the more lively and profitable the Facebook site is for its owner.

Consider this: When you advertise your fan page using Facebook ads, you’re paying for the privilege of increasing Facebook activity. You’ll even bid against other advertisers for that privilege. Is that totally ingenious or what?

Is it any wonder that Facebook makes it so challenging for us to use our personal profiles to conduct business or to organically grow our business pages?

What do you think?


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10 Tips for Inviting People to Facebook Events

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 03:28:33 +0000

All media have the tendency to become over-saturated with intrusive commercial messages. There are too many television and radio ads, too much junk email and snail mail, too many billboards, and yes, too many Facebook notifications. When overload occurs, messages are perceived as noise, and people filter them or tune them out.

The most common reaction of marketers is to raise the volume in one way or another. Marketers send more messages or create snazzier headlines. Raising the volume can help, but only for a short time. On Facebook, when the noise gets too loud, the top social networking site acts to tone it down or turn it off. Behavior that was once unrestricted becomes restricted.

As examples, we used to blanket our friends with invitations to Facebook events, but now Facebook forces us to be selective. We used to add friends haphazardly if we wished, but now Facebook deters us from adding people we don’t know. Raising the volume on Facebook isn’t a satisfactory option.

Inviting to Facebook Events

In response to Facebook Page Events Rock, readers asked for a Facebook page event how-to. I’m not ready to write a comprehensive guide. However, I offer you here ten tips for successfully inviting people to your Facebook events:

Create a Facebook event that people in your niche will naturally desire to attend. Provide a clear explanation and instructions.
Line up influential supporters to help you promote the event.
Give yourself enough lead time before the event to invite people and clear up unforeseen problems that arise in the process.
If you plan to invite your Facebook friends, categorize your friends beforehand using Facebook friend lists.
Only invite friends from relevant lists. Be prepared, in any case, for a disappointing number of responses. Not only are people overloaded with event and other types of notifications, many are also confused by Facebook and don’t get that they should read all the particulars and click on I’m Attending if they wish to RSVP.
Post the event or an article that you write about it on your business page, your personal profile and in Facebook groups catering to your niche.
Post your Facebook event related links several times during the period before your event and even during your event. Just don’t overdo it and become obnoxious.
Promote your event on your blog and on social media sites such as Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.
If you have an email list, send one or more messages to your list inviting contacts to join you at the event. I like to use Green Wave Email Marketing, because they allow me to directly upload my contacts without requiring them to re-opt in.
Last, but not least, send individual messages personally inviting Facebook friends to attend. No only does this work if done right, it can help build relationships.

The key isn’t raising the volume. The key is better targeting and better diversifying your contact methods.

Please subscribe and like my Facebook page.

Comments are welcome.


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Fascinating Social Media and SEO Case Study

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 04:22:56 +0000

The four-day International Watch Fair on Facebook, which begins Tuesday, is a free Facebook page event that’s open to the watch industry, the media and the public. Several hundred will attend this unique event at which luxury, fashion and sporty watchmakers will display a wide variety of timepiece collections. You’re welcome to join me there.

The objective of this Facebook watch fair is to increase Gevril Group page membership and member engagement. Importantly, however, the fair is just one of many web-based strategies and techniques I’m using to build the company’s brand. My strategies include search engine optimization, social bookmarking, business networking and email campaigns, as well. It’s the synthesis and synergy of all these strategies that create an ever-growing buzz around the brand.

Since launching the Gevril Group website this past December, the company’s online presence has grown considerably. During the nine-month period since the launch, there were 53,128 visitors to the site and a healthy number of inquiries from consumers, job applicants, the trade and the media. At the same time, I’ve drawn conclusions I shall share with you.

Overall monthly visits grew from 2,221 in December to 8,572 in August as illustrated below:

Gevril Group Website Visits Months 1-9 - All Traffic

Website Visits Months 1-9 - All Traffic" title="Gevril Group
Website Visits Months 1-9 - All Traffic" border="0" width="440"/>

Click to Enlarge

Initially, there was substantial traffic from social media, particularly StumbleUpon. However, during the nine month period, social media traffic failed to increase:

Gevril Group Months 1-9 - Social Media vs. Non-Social Media Traffic

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Facebook traffic grew from 113 to 338 monthly, but while a remarkably useful networking tool, Facebook hasn’t yet become an important traffic source for Gevril Group:

Gevril Group Months 1-9 - Facebook vs. Search StumbleUpon Traffic

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Unlike social media traffic, SEO traffic grew exponentially from 119 to 4,979 monthly and now accounts for 58% of all monthly visits:

Gevril Group Months 1-9 - Search vs. Non-Search Traffic

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Search traffic for Gevril Group related keywords grew from 51 to 343 monthly as the company became better known. However, search traffic for other keywords grew much faster from 68 to 4,636 thanks to the ongoing addition of rich content to the website:

Gevril Group Months 1-9 - Gevril Group vs. Non-Gevril Group Search Traffic

Click to Enlarge

Since the inception of the Gevril Group website, 19,591 visits were from SEO; 16,894 from social media; 8,548 from browser bookmarks, links in emails, typed in URLs and untraceable social media; 8,095 from referrals from other non-social websites:

Gevril Group Months 1-9 - Traffic Types

Click to Enlarge

These data are consistent with something I’ve known for a long time. The greatest source of website traffic is search engines, and if a site’s pages are optimized for relevant keywords, search visitors will find those pages’ content relevant. Social media helps to build and solidify relationships, but SEO will attract more traffic in the long run.

Hope you’ll join me at the International Watch Fair on Facebook this week.


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Facebook Page Events Rock

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 03:21:33 +0000

I love to experiment with SEO and social media strategies for small businesses. I’m ready to admit that many of my experiments are flops, but there’s no need to discuss those right now.

One of my successes, however, is with Facebook page events. These aren’t merely events created by Facebook pages, as you might think. Rather, they’re virtual events that take place entirely on the walls and in the discussion areas of Facebook pages. The objective of Facebook page events is to increase page membership and engagement.

My First Facebook Page Event

My first such event, the 4+ Day Blog and Website Promotion Event and Social Media Party, took place January 2010 on my Facebook page in celebration of my 58th birthday. This Facebook event went viral and attracted well over 300 participants. As a result, I added many new fans and generated a momentum for my Facebook page that has continued even until today.

I have since organized other networking events on Facebook pages, including Books I’m Reading on the Purple Umpkin page and What I’m Grateful For on my Facebook page, that were modestly successful.

International Watch Fair on Facebook

You may recall that I wrote in My Social Media Mission Abroad about attending Baselworld 2011 in Switzerland earlier in the year. The Baselworld Watch and Jewelry Fair was the most marvelous business experience I have ever had, and I dare say for most other people in the trade, as well.

My Baselworld experience is the inspiration for my latest Facebook page event, the 4-Day International Watch Fair, taking place next week on the Gevril Group page. 76 people have already RSVP-ed “I’m Attending” as of this writing, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if attendance at this first of its kind event reached several hundred Facebook members.

You can create Facebook page events too but to achieve favorable results, I recommend that you or your client build a solid web presence — on and off Facebook — before giving this approach a try. Your web presence will help to fuel your Facebook page event.

Please subscribe and like my Facebook page.

Comments are welcome.


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Can You Back Up Facebook Relationships?

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 02:47:59 +0000

Last week, in Whether Hackers from Anonymous Bring Down Facebook on November 5 as Threatened or Not, I suggested that you find ways to reduce your risk of loss should Facebook go away.

I asked you, “How can you protect your interests by diverting or diversifying your networking and marketing efforts starting right now?”

Some readers recommended that we back up our data, but I pointed out that we can not back up our relationships like pictures or profiles.

Sal made a couple of very good points:

“I think there is no real way to mitigate completely against the damage that losing Facebook would mean, any more than you could mitigate against losing Google.”
”On the Internet, you always have to see it coming and mitigate against it by having as many, diverse, independent sources of prospective customers as possible.”

While I agree completely with Sal’s remarks, I ask, how can we at least partially mitigate against the damage? What practical measures we can take?

Just as an example, we might start groups on LinkedIn and invite fellow Facebook group members to join these groups. Unfortunately, LinkedIn groups don’t have the same functionality as Facebook groups, and not all of our fellow Facebook group members will join us on LinkedIn, but this is nevertheless a practical partial solution.

We might instead choose a Ning social network or a Ning group within a particular Ning social network, etc. You get the idea.

Now it’s your turn again. What are your ideas? I would like to hear them, and I’ll share mine.


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Whether Hackers from Anonymous Bring Down Facebook on November 5 as Threatened or Not

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 01:19:12 +0000

Last Tuesday, Ellis Hamburger relayed what seemed to be a highly credible threat to permanently bring down Facebook on November 5, hardly an auspicious date, in Hacker Group Anonymous Vows To Destroy Facebook On November 5.

The following day, Ellis posted an update that slightly mitigated that threat in Hacker Group Anonymous’ Leadership Disowns “Operation Facebook,” Only “Some Anons” Are Involved. He reported that the threat was issued only by a minority of the hackers within the Anonymous group and not by the group as a whole.

Ellis cautioned, however, that “nothing changes the fact that there are some talented hackers part of Anonymous that want to take down Facebook, even if the organization’s leadership does not condone it.”

Crafting Your Facebook “Plan B”

Whether hackers will actually succeed in destroying Facebook on November 5 as threatened or not, this is probably a good time to ponder the following three questions:

How critical is the role that Facebook plays in your business or personal life? After all, the existence and viability of Facebook is far beyond your control or mine.
What would you lose if Facebook were to close down permanently without or even with prior notice? Consider the ways in which you use Facebook, the many contacts you’ve made and all the social capital you’ve accumulated.
How can you protect your interests by diverting or diversifying your networking and marketing efforts starting right now? This question, while the most important, is also the most difficult to answer, since Facebook offers numerous and unique benefits; the popularity of Facebook is much more than accidental.

What do you think? Comments are welcome.


*Sharing is Caring! Use the handy SHARE widget.*

New Secret to Gaining Followers on Facebook

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 02:49:05 +0000

I stated in How to Benefit from the New Facebook Groups that “you don’t need to lead a group in order to benefit from it.” In other words, there is value in joining other people’s Facebook groups. That value can be enormous, as I’ll explain.

Facebook Group Members Become Followers

Every new Facebook group has members who follow that group and all of its conversations by means of the Facebook notification system. Not every member will monitor or engage in discussions, but some will. Therefore, each time you become a member of one of the new Facebook groups, you acquire potential new followers.

For each subject that interests you, join as many relevant new Facebook groups as you can find using the Facebook search function. Once you’ve joined the group and can browse its discussions, if you find that they’re in a language you don’t understand, or that the group is overrun by spammers, leave the group.

Examine the list of new Facebook groups to which I belong. You’ll find that they fall into a many categories, and that most categories contain more than one group. I suggest that you follow a similar approach, and if you wish to join some of the same groups as I, don’t hesitate.

Here are three very important points:

Don’t use the new Facebook groups merely to push out your own content, since that’s spam. Group members will see through your approach and ignore you. Not only that, the group moderator might even reprimand you or expel you from the group.
Share content with each Facebook group that’s relevant to that group. Group members will appreciate you, enjoy your participation and become genuine followers.
Don’t just post. “Like” other people’s posts too and comment on them when appropriate.

As I browse the web, I keep my eyes open for content worth sharing. I then share it in a variety of places including the relevant new Facebook groups to which I belong. When the time comes to share my own content, I follow the exact same procedure, but because I’ve played fair, my posts aren’t viewed at all as spam. Consequently, I receive lots of traffic from Facebook and other social websites.

Go now and acquire some Facebook followers. The relationships you build in the new Facebook groups can easily grow into meaningful social or business friendships.

Before you go, however, please do subscribe and leave a comment.


*Sharing is Caring! Use the handy SHARE widget.*

The Gevril Story

Larry Brauner — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 14:00:00 +0000

I'm now heading up social media and web marketing at Gevril Group, situated northwest of New York City, about 10 miles from my home.

Gevril Group is exclusive distributor of 20+ European watch brands in the US, Canadian and Caribbean markets.

Gevril and GV2 watches, are handmade limited edition timepieces, expertly crafted at the Gevril factory in Tramelan, Switzerland, for the enjoyment of watch aficionados world over.

Join our Luxury Watches group on Small Business Network and follow the Gevril Facebook page.

The following short video will tell you a little more about Gevril Group and the Gevril watch brand.

Top Keywords for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs

Larry Brauner — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 18:30:00 +0000

Top Keywords - Installment #1

This is my first installment of free top keywords for small businesses and entrepreneurs. I hope you'll find these keywords very useful. If your favorite business topics aren’t covered in this keyword list, you may suggest additional keyword topics in a comment below.

Copyright © 2010 Larry Brauner

This article is copyrighted. Copy my lists of top keywords only for your personal use or the use of your organization and its clients. This article may not be republished in its entirety nor quoted outside the realm of that which is considered fair usage.

Disclaimer

In conducting my research, I used the Google AdWords Keyword Tool and the Web CEO suite of SEO tools to the best of my abilities.

I provide these keywords to you as a courtesy and do not guarantee that they’ll help you achieve your marketing objectives. I claim no responsibility for success with these keywords, nor do I accept responsibility for lack of success. In using these keywords, you accept my conditions and release me from potential claims.

Moderately Competitive Top Keywords

These are among the top keywords for getting traffic. However, the list is relatively short:

best mlm
business school rankings
car loans for bad credit
cheap desktop computers
cheapest laptop
cheapest laptops
computer geeks
consolidate loans
consolidation debt
debt elimination
debt negotiation
debt settlement program
debt solution
earn extra money
fast cash loan
fast cash loans
franchise opportunity
free government grants
instant payday loan
instant payday loans
lap top computer
lap top computers
laptop repairs
mba ranking
mcdonalds franchise
mini laptop computer
mlm business
payday cash loan
payday loan lenders
poor credit loans
printer repair
sba loan
stuffing envelopes
subway franchise
telecommute jobs
telecommuting jobs
typing jobs
work from home stuffing envelopes

Highly Competitive Top Keywords

These are top keywords, but they are very competitive. Unless your website is an authority site, you might not obtain more than related but less focused long tail-search visitors:

bad credit car loans
bad credit loan
bad credit loans
best laptop
best laptops
business brokers
business for sale
business ideas
business loan
business loans
business opportunities
business opportunity
businesses for sale
businesses
cash gifting
cash loans
cheap laptop computers
cheap laptop
cheap laptops for sale
cheap laptops
cheap new laptops
computer diagnostics
computer hardware
computer monitors
computer notebooks
computer repair
computer repairs
computer software
computers monitors
computers
consolidate debt
consolidation loans
consolidation
consumer credit counseling
credit card consolidation
credit card debt consolidation
credit card debt relief
credit card debt
credit counseling
data entry jobs
data entry
debt advice
debt calculator
debt consolidation loan
debt consolidation loans
debt consolidation
debt counseling
debt management
debt reduction
debt relief
debt settlement
debt solutions
desktop computer
desktop computers
desktop pc
desktop pcs
desktop pc's
desktops
discount laptops
earn money online
earn money
entrepreneur
entrepreneurs
entrepreneurship
executive mba
franchise opportunities
franchise
franchising
gaming laptop
gaming laptops
get out of debt
government grants
grants
home business
how to make money
international business
internet business
lap top
laptop batteries
laptop computer
laptop computers
laptop deals
laptop for sale
laptop notebooks
laptop repair
laptop reviews
laptop
laptops for sale
laptops notebooks
laptops
legitimate work from home jobs
lenovo laptop
lenovo laptops
loan consolidation
loans for bad credit
loans for people with bad credit
loans
make money from home
make money on the internet
make money online
make money
mba rankings
mini laptop computers
mini laptop
mini laptops
mini notebooks
money
mortgage loan
network marketing
no credit check loans
notebook computer
notebook computers
notebook laptop
notebook laptops
notebook review
notebook
notebooks
online jobs
opportunity
paid surveys
part time job
pay day loan
pay day loans
payday loan
payday loans
pc notebooks
pc repair
refurbished computer
refurbished computers
refurbished laptop computer
refurbished laptop
refurbished laptops
refurbished
sba loans
small business administration
small business grants
small business ideas
small business loan
small business loans
small business
small businesses
starting a small business
tablet laptop
tablet pcs
toshiba laptop
toshiba laptops
toshiba notebook
toshiba notebooks
unsecured loan
unsecured loans
used laptops
work at home
work from home jobs
work from home

Top Long Tail Keywords

These are top keywords for medium and long tail website traffic. Once again it’s a relatively short list:

affordable laptops
auto loans for bad credit
bad credit payday loans
bad credit student loans
cheap computer monitors
consolidate credit card debt
credit card debt settlement
credit counselors
credit repair companies
data entry employment
debt consolidators
debt settlement companies
eliminate credit card debt
faxless payday loans
fitness franchise
franchising opportunities
freedom debt management
freedom debt relief
homebased business
kfc franchise
laptop motherboards
laptop rental
lightweight laptops
mini notebook computers
minority business grants
mlm training
motels for sale
payday advances
payday lenders
payday lending
quick cash loans
refurbished desktop computers
refurbished desktops
second hand laptops
unsecured business loans

Top Long Tail Keywords that are More Competitive

These are top keywords for medium and long tail website traffic that are more competitive than those in the previous group:

bad credit cards
bad credit debt consolidation
bad credit financing
bad credit home loan
bad credit lenders
bad credit mortgages
bad credit payday loan
bad credit unsecured loan
be your own boss
best desktop computer
best franchise
best franchises
best laptop computers
best mini laptop
best notebooks
bill consolidation loans
business debt consolidation
business financing
business for sale by owner
business grant
business laptops
business loan rates
business opportunity leads
business school ranking
business startup
businesses for sale by owner
buy a franchise
buy a laptop
buy franchise
buying a franchise
car wash for sale
cash till payday
cheap desktop pc
cheap desktop
cheap desktops
cheap gaming laptops
cheap lap tops
cheap laptop computer
cheap laptop deals
cheap laptops uk
cheap notebook
cheap notebooks
cheap pcs
cheap refurbished laptops
cheap used laptops
china business
christian debt consolidation
coffee franchise
collateral loans
computer cpu
computer data recovery
computer monitors for sale
computer repair companies
computer repair jobs
computer repair shop
computer speed test
computer technical support
computer troubleshooting
consolidate bills
consolidate debts
consolidating debt
consumer debt
consumer loans
consumer reports laptops
credit card debt elimination
credit card debt help
credit card debt management
credit card debt reduction
credit card debt solutions
credit card settlement
credit debt consolidation
credit loan
credit loans
custom built computers
custom built pc
data entry home work
data entry jobs at home
data entry operator
data entry work at home
deals on laptops
debt consolidation advice
debt consolidation calculator
debt consolidation companies
debt consolidation company
debt consolidation help
debt consolidation non profit
debt consolidation program
debt consolidation programs
debt consolidation services
debt consolidator
debt counselor
debt loan
debt loans
debt management advice
debt management companies
debt management company
debt management plans
debt management program
debt management programs
debt management services
debt reduction services
debt relief programs
debt settlement company
desk top computer
desktop computer packages
desktops computers
diagnostic software
discount laptop
downline
earn cash online
earn easy money
earn extra cash
earn from home
earn money from internet
earn money on internet
earning money online
earning money
easy money online
easy payday loans
educational grants
eliminate debt
emergency loans
executive mba program
executive mba programs
extra money
fast payday loan
federal government grants
federal grant
financial assistance
fix computer
food franchise
franchise agreement
franchise information
franchisor
free debt consolidation
free government grant
free grant money
gaming pcs
gas station for sale
get a loan
getting out of debt
gov grants
government assistance
government business grants
government education grants
government funding
government grant
government grants for individuals
government grants for small business
government loans
grant applications
grant money
guaranteed loans
high risk loans
home based business opportunity
home based data entry jobs
home based job
home grants
home typing
how to earn extra money
how to earn money fast
how to make fake money
how to make fast money
i need a loan
income opportunity
instant cash loans
instant loan
international executive mba
international mba
internet business ideas
internet business opportunity
internet businesses
laptop computer deals
laptop computer repair
laptop computer reviews
laptop computers for sale
laptop on sale
laptop price
laptop processor
laptop processors
laptop ratings
laptop specials
laptops deals
laptops for cheap
laptops reviews
legit online jobs
legit work from home jobs
legitimate home based business
legitimate home business
legitimate online jobs
legitimate work at home jobs
legitimate work at home
legitimate work from home
lightweight laptop
loan company
loan for bad credit
loan with bad credit
loans for poor credit
loans till payday
loans with bad credit
low interest loans
make easy money
make money on internet
make money online surveys
make money taking surveys
making extra money
making money fast
mba finance
mba marketing
mini notebook computer
minority grants
mlm business opportunity
mlm opportunities
mlm opportunity
money from home
money making opportunities
money making opportunity
need a loan
network marketing company
network marketing leads
network marketing opportunities
new business loans
new business opportunities
new franchises
newsagents for sale
no credit check loan
no credit loans
no fax payday loans
non profit debt consolidation
non profit grants
notebook laptop computers
notebooks computers
online business degree
online business opportunity
online computer repair
online earning
online money making
online typing jobs
part time data entry jobs
pay off credit card debt
pay off debt
payday cash advances
payday cash loans
payday cash
payday loan companies
payday loan store
paying off debt
pc benchmark
pc maintenance
pc repairs
pc troubleshooting
pc utilities
poor credit
quick cash loan
quick ways to make money
reconditioned
reduce credit card debt
reduce debt
refurbished desktop
refurbished laptop computers
refurbished notebook
refurbished notebooks
refurbished pc
same day payday loan
second hand laptop
selling a business
small business consultant
small business consulting
small business financing
small business franchise
small business funding
small business grant
small business idea
small business internet marketing
small business lending
small business loans for women
small business owners
small business resources
small business startup
small business web design
small business website
small laptop computers
small notebook computers
stay at home mom jobs
stay at home moms
student laptops
successful business
tablet laptops
tax debt relief
tenant loans
top franchises
top mba schools
top mba
toshiba computer
toshiba laptop batteries
toshiba laptop computer
toshiba laptop reviews
toshiba mini laptop
typing job
typing jobs from home
typing work from home
ultraportable
unsecured business loan
unsecured debt consolidation loans
unsecured debt consolidation
used laptop computers
used laptops for sale
used notebooks
ways to make extra money
website maintenance
wholesale computer
wholesale computers
work at home employment
work at home jobs for moms
work at home opportunities
work at home scams
work from home employment
work from home envelopes
work from home moms
work from home scams
work from home typing

Medium to High Volume Keywords with Low ROI

These keywords can generate good to great traffic but provide a low return on effort invested. Use them with extra caution:

acer computer
acer desktop computer
acer desktop computers
acer desktop
acer desktops
acer laptop computer
acer laptop computers
acer laptop reviews
acer laptop
acer laptops
acer mini laptop
acer notebook computer
affiliate business
at home business
bad credit auto loans
bad credit business loans
bad credit home loans
bad credit mortgage
bad credit personal loan
bad credit personal loans
bad credit refinance
bad credit
bank loan
best home based business
best home business
best laptop deals
best laptop to buy
best online business
best ways to make money
business advice
business broker
business coach
business coaching
business computers
business degree
business education
business entrepreneur
business finance
business for sale uk
business from home
business funding
business grants
business laptop
business list
business management degree
business marketing
business sale
business sales
business start up grants
business start up
buy a business
buy business
buy computer
buy computers
buy laptop
buy laptops
buying a laptop
cash advance loan
cash advance loans
cash advance payday loan
cash loan
cheap computer
cheap computers
cheap mini laptops
cheap pc
check advance
closeout
commercial loan
commercial loans
compaq laptop
compaq laptops
compare laptops
computer deals
computer geek
computer laptops
computer maintenance
computer performance
computer repair and maintenance
computer repair services
computer reviews
computer services
computer support
computer tech support
computer test
computer tools
computer work at home
computer work from home
computers desktop
computers laptop
computers laptops
consolidate
credit consolidation
credit debt
credit services
data entry at home
data entry from home
data entry job
data entry jobs from home
data entry work from home
data entry work
debt free
debt help
debt management plan
debt problems
debt services
desk top computers
desktop computer deals
desktop deals
desktop pc computer
desktop reviews
diagnostics
discount computer
discount computers
earn at home
earn money at home
earn money from home
easy loans
easy money
easy way to make money
easy ways to make money
education grants
entrepreneurial
fast cash advance
fast cash
fast loan
fast loans
fast money
federal grants
financial freedom
financing
franchise business
franchisee
franchises
free government money
free grants
free home based business
free laptop
free laptops
free money
free work at home jobs
free work at home
free work from home
funding
gaming computer
gaming computers
gaming desktop pcs
get paid
good business ideas
government grants for women
government grants to start a business
government loan
grants for small business
grants for women
guaranteed personal loans
hard drive diagnostics
help with debt
home based business ideas
home based business opportunities
home based business
home based businesses
home based jobs
home based work
home business ideas
home business opportunities
home business opportunity
home businesses
home employment
home internet business
home job
home jobs
housing grants
how can i make money
how make money
how to earn money from home
how to earn money online
how to earn money
how to get money
how to get out of debt
how to make easy money
how to make extra money
how to make money at home
how to make money fast
how to make money from home
how to make money on ebay
how to make money on internet
how to make money on the internet
how to make money online for free
how to make money online
how to make money quick
how to make more money
how to make quick money
how to start a small business
how to work from home
ideas for business
ideas to make money
income from home
instant cash advance
instant loans
international business jobs
international business news
international business school
international trade
internet business for sale
internet business opportunities
internet home based business
internet home business
internet money
job at home
jobs from home
lap tops
laptop comparison
laptop computers notebooks
laptop notebook computers
laptop parts
laptop pc
laptop prices
laptop review
laptop sale
laptop sales
laptop shop
laptops on sale
loans for the unemployed
low interest personal loans
make cash online
make easy money online
make extra money online
make extra money
make fast money
make money at home
make money blogging
make money easy
make money fast
make money free
make money from
make money internet
make money now
make money on ebay
make money on line
make money online fast
make money online for free
make money online free
make money online now
make money quick
make money today
make money with google
make more money
make real money online
making money at home
making money from home
making money internet
making money on the internet
making money on the web
making money online
making money
mini computers
mini lap top
mini laptop notebook
money at home
money fast
money loan
money making
monitors computer
need cash
need money now
need money
network marketing business
network marketing training
new business idea
new business ideas
new business opportunity
new business
new franchise
new laptop
new laptops
new small business
notebook laptop computer
notebook pc
notebook reviews
online business ideas
online business opportunities
online data entry jobs
online home business
online job search
online job
online jobs from home
online jobs work from home
online loan
opportunities
part time jobs from home
part time mba
part time work at home
part time work from home
part time work
pay day
payday advance loans
payday cash advance
payday
pc check
pc computers
pc desktop
pc desktops
pc monitors
pc repair software
personal grants
personal loan
personal loans for bad credit
personal loans for people with bad credit
personal loans poor credit
personal loans with bad credit
personal loans
quick cash
quick loan
quick loans
quick money
real online jobs
refurbish
sager
same day loans
secured personal loans
sell a business
sell business
sell laptop
sell my business
short term loan
small business advertising
small business advice
small business finance
small business grants for women
small business health insurance
small business help
small business information
small business marketing
small business opportunities
small business opportunity
small business server
small business services
small business software
small business solutions
small business start up
small business web site
small business websites
small laptop
small laptops
small loans
start a business
start a small business
start your own business
starting a home business
starting a new business
starting business
starting small business
starting your own business
stay at home jobs
surveys for money
toshiba laptop battery
toshiba laptop computers
unsecured personal loan
unsecured personal loans bad credit
unsecured personal loans
used computer
used computers
used laptop
way to make money
ways to make money online
ways to make money
website business
website management
wholesale laptops
work at home business
work at home businesses
work at home ideas
work at home job
work at home jobs
work at home mom
work at home moms
work at home opportunity
work at home work
work form home
work from home business opportunity
work from home business
work from home businesses
work from home ideas
work from home india
work from home job
work from home online jobs
work from home online
work from home opportunities
work from home part time
work from home uk
work home
work online from home
working at home
working from home jobs
working from home

Watch for revisions to this top keyword article, new installments with top keywords and a special opportunity soon to be announced.

If you're not yet a member of Small Business Network, please join us now. :-)

How Important is Making a Good First Impression Online?

Larry Brauner — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:00:00 +0000

You'll agree that people tend to make quick judgments based on their first impressions. You've probably heard the saying that you never get a second chance to make a good first impression. It’s true.

For a first-time meeting with people, we want to look special. We carefully choose our clothes and spend extra time on our grooming. Additionally, we rehearse in our minds some of the things we might say during our meeting.

Don’t you think it's also important to make a good first impression online? I believe that it's just as important as making a good first impression offline. Online just as offline, you never get a second chance to make a good first impression.

You make a first impression online through your social profiles, your writing and your comments.

Many people carefully craft their profiles and everything else they post online. They choose a flattering picture cropped just right, they carefully fill in their profile information and they check their writing for spelling, grammar and usage errors. They never resort to spam.

However, many other people do not. They sabotage themselves by showing up for a virtual meeting sloppily dressed with messy hair and a mouthful of chewing gum. What a horrific sight!

I look around social sites and read blogs. I often ask myself, "What is this person thinking? Doesn't this person care about how he/she appears? Why doesn’t this person take the steps necessary to make a good first impression online?”

Please consider the type of first impression you make. If you don’t like it, fix it. Help your friends too -- in a constructive way by providing suggestions and non-judgmental feedback.

Free Advertising - Limited Time Offer

Larry Brauner — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 22:00:00 +0000

Grand Opening Special - Free Small Business, Non-Profit, Blog or Niche Social Network Listing in Our Directory

For a limited time, I'm offering free small business and blog listings on both Small Business Networking and NY Business Networking to members of each site.

Here are the details:

Membership Requirement - Only members of Small Business Networking with complete profiles (including pictures) may take advantage of this offer. To advertise for free on NY Business Networking, you must be a member of that network as well, and your business must be located within 75 miles of New York City.
Reciprocity Requirement - Blogs must have a Small Business Networking or NY Business Networking badge on their sidebar including its dofollow link. We need link love too!
Method of Application - To apply, simply reply to this post with a link to your website and a brief site description, as well as anything you wish to add. You should receive a notification in your Small Business Networking in-box within about 10 business days. I probably will not accept what are known as self replicating websites.
Limitation of Rights - I reserve the right to arbitrarily and capriciously determine which ads to include and the right to change any of the terms and conditions at any time without prior notice -- but never retroactively. Hey, free does have its price. :-P

I also have a special offer for real estate agents, especially those operating in the Greater New York Area.

Free Small Business Social Media Training

Larry Brauner — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 04:30:00 +0000

I launched Small Business Networking and NY Business Networking with two important ideas in mind.

Create a site that would bridge the gap between offline and online business networking. That objective will certainly take time to achieve, but I'm working on it daily behind the scenes.
Provide a base level of free marketing instruction that would be as good as or better than the training so-called gurus sell for thousands of dollars. I wanted to line up free and low cost education in other subject areas, as well.

How Can I Offer Free Instruction?

Simple, I'm not at all in the training business, and I don't earn my income as an instructor. I've been giving away information and advice since 2006 via tele-seminars and more recently through blog article writing. I plan to continue doing that.

Potential for Collaboration

My plans includes an easy way for you and me to collaborate: I share my knowledge with you, while you help me build my sites. Fair enough.. right? However, if you want to learn but not help spread the work, that's okay too; there aren't any strings attached at all, and there never have been in the years I've been speaking and writing.

Enroll Now

I'm now offering marketing training to help grow your business online using social media, blog sites, SEO, web analytics, etc. Enroll now in Free Small Business Social Media Training on this site. Be prepared for an interactive learning experience.

My training begins officially once enrollment reaches 500. And as I already mentioned, the training is entirely free.

Click here and join the group to enroll.