I really want my fan page to get to over 500 “likes”.

So, besides of giving what I think to be quality information and entertainment (infotainment)

It is giveaway time.

Please “Like” and join in on the conversation over at the DaveWoodson.com page

So, at every milestone of new “Likes” that we hit on the Dave Woodson page. We will be giving away the following

1. @100 – the Girl will pick one person to receive a free marketing review
2. @200 – the Girl will pick one person to receive the above plus a keyword analysis.
3. @300 – the Girl will pick one person to receive the above plus a keyword analysis and one of my “secrets” to get more out of your Youtube or Linkedin
4. @400 – the Girl will pick one person to receive the above plus a keyword analysis and one of my “secrets” to get more out of your Youtube or Linkedin plus a $25 Best Buy Gift card
5. @500 – the Girl will pick one person to receive the above plus a keyword analysis and one of my “secrets” to get more out of your Youtube or Linkedin plus a $50 Best Buy Gift card.

All ruling of the judges are deemed final, there will be no substitute and prizes may be gifted, unless otherwise deemed unworthy.

Dave

opening up your Local Marketing

You can win multiple times, prizes are prizes, no cash value substitute.

A lot of people look towards national companies for examples for guidance on how to market their business on the local level, and while that is OK to some extent. I think we can teach the big dogs a few things. What always bugs me a little is that we are oft over looked being referred to as the “fly over states”. We are more than that, we are the ones that buy the product, in some cases make the product or components of it and we may even be the one that delivers the product.

Hubspot featured 10 or 15 national companies using Facebook timeline cover photos. I searched high and low through the pages I “liked” and even those that I did not like to find some local businesses who have done some thing original to their cover photo. I wanted to get a real taste of what the rest of America that Hubspot does not see it.

1. Zing Pizzeria

Great local family owned pizza shop in Chesterton, Indiana. They have really used social to it’s fullest extent, and in a short time have been recognized locally as one of the best pizza shops. What I like about this cover photo it highlights their pizza, and if I know these guys this is not some pizza that they cooked over and over to get it perfect. This picture was snapped before it hit a customers table.

2. Tim Davis Online 

Perfect, Tim is great friend and a great coach. I have had him as a guest on the #Davecast several times. This delivers a powerful message that most of us take for granted. it is really more of a value statement.

3. Midwest Smoke Out

I love the way this one looks, like the smoke is coming from her stogie. I am looking forward to this event. I have not bought my tickets yet, but I need to get on that. A downside to this page is they they have not secured their name on Facebook.

4. Porter County Animal Shelter

I like this one a lot as well. The only thing I would have done different is changed the profile picture to be the paws in the main pic. This really tells me all that I need to know about them and what they do.

5. Ideas in Motion Media

The parent company of Life, you know @ValpoLife, @PortageLife, @NWIndianaLife and @LaPorteLife. Take a moment to read this cover photo, you will soon see they are all about energy and people achieving their potential.

6. Steve SchraderBachar 

Steve is a mortgage banker in Iowa. Wanna guess who he works for? What a great way to brand yourself with a billion dollar company and use their brand to back yours.

7. Mary Biever

If you do not know Mary Biever. Well, you are missing out on a lot. She is a teacher, a blogger and a giver. Whenever, I need an honest opinion I get hold of Mary, and if you are on in southern Indiana. You should call her.

8. Michigan City Public Library

If you are from the area, you know the Michigan City Public Library for one of several reasons.

1. award winning design

2. it is blocking a street that leads to the beach

This picture captures an essence of the downtown Michigan City area that many rarely see, many look at that building and are surprised that it is a library.

9. Da Bears

I know this is a national type of page, but it is the Chicago Bears and nothing scream “Chicago” better than Da Bears.

10. Dave Woodson 

I know this is a little self-serving, but really nothing captures me and my brand more than this cover photo that currently you will find on my personal page rather than my business page. I talk about the Girl, you will see my logo and where I hang my real estate license.

A good cover page should tell your fans, your friends, your subscribers what you do, who you are and what is important to you.

I think you will see that in the covers above.

What did shock me were some of the “professional” designers and social media “experts”, who lack cover photos that they had months to prepare for.

The above images show that middle America can lead the way with some great original ideas and design.

I look forward to your ideas and comments. If you need help with your cover photo let us know and we will do what we can to help.

Dave

I met Bernie Borges last year when I was in Florida and Finn and I decided to crash a Tweetup. Well, the nearest thing we could find was a Chamber event, and Bernie just happened to be speaking.  I got a good chance to speak with him at length. He was handing out copies of his book Marketing  2.0 to anyone that wanted one. I read it pretty much cover to cover over the next few weeks.

Bernie and his digital marketing company, FindandConvert.com is about to experience 10 years in business. The funny thing is we both experience the same phenomena. He called the Jesus Phenomena; you will understand what he meant when you listen.

As always as it seems to be my interview style it is more conversational, but informative.  I started the call sharing with Bernie a “cease and desist” letter that I had just received via email.  Though no fault of my own, it is always best to know who you are working with and always check their work. It has since been handled, but that led me into talking about Facebook.

We hit upon:

-          Inbound Marketing

Can we give away too much?

-          Marketing 2.0

-          Marketing 3.0 – Social Business (something that IBM is getting behind)

I asked Bernie about his 3 –F’s video

1. Failure
2. Focus
3. Family

We got so comfortable with each other I really tossed out my questions. I hope you enjoy listening to Bernie as much as I enjoyed talking to him.  Also, check out his site BernieBorges and join his Career Central site it is chocked full of great free information.

Dave

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Last Thursday, I spoke to about 45 members of the Dyer Chamber of Commerce at Beggars Pizza. I rigged up my wireless mic to record the session for both video and audio posterity.

Some stats that I shared with those in attendance are pretty mind blowing to say the least. Yet, using video to market your business online is still in the early stages that surprised me since I started using video in 2007 find the SEO benefit of it in 2009, but not many have learned to do it to do it right, refuse to do it or just are afraid.

Here are some stats that should get you off of the bench

• over 60 hours of video every minute (yes, that is one hour every second)
• 78% of those listing a home for sale would do so with an agent that does video; less than 1% of agents do video (that gets a huge WTF)
• the “Charlie bit my finger” kids have made over $160K
• I made a video for my Dyer Chamber appearance and in one week was on the first page of google

Video helps you get that ISYOT affect that so many of want to have. ISYOT = I have seen you out there. I cannot start to tell you how many times I have had someone come up to me at a networking event and say I have see you out there. It does not matter if it is from some social network from Facebook to Twitter. It is that they have seen me on video on those sites.

I encourage you all to add video to your marketing budget in 2012, take the time to learn some easy to do edits on your editing software of choice from Magix (personal fave) to Sony Vegas to iMovie (I am learning it). A great tip is going to youtube and search for whatever software you want to use and see what kind of “how-to” videos are out there. Youtube has become my new go to learning resource on the web from folding a light deflector to my podcast software of audacity.

I created a getUnoticed Video Marketing Cheat Sheet that you can download by subscribing to my weekly email newsletter it comes with a Money-back guarantee*.

As, we  move forward into 2012, I urge you to reach outside your comfort zone and use video marketing to get more traffic to your site or your business. It will bring down that wall and let others see the person behind the brand that will build rapport and trust allowing you to get more leads and  thus increase your conversion rate. Sounds like a Win-Win-Win all around to me.

please take the time to leave me a comment down below or feedback on iTunes.

While you are at you if you can subscribe to the DaveCast on iTunes that would be great.

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have a great week and to get the Video Marketing Cheat Sheet please fill out the form below and remember I will always respect your privacy and never ever sell your information.

Dave

DaveCast #29

Why you suck online and socially?

First of all, my podcast schedule is off and I really hope to get back on track this week. In fact, spitballing a little her, I may actually do a podcast while I drive home from Indy Friday night.

But, this week I was hit with some ideas after seeing some blunders in others online and social media strategy. I am not saying I am perfect any or all of the above, but I am doing pretty darn well.  I am either making changes or willing to make changes.

Yeah, I never heard of you and neither has Google

You don’t have a blog. You don’t know how to blog and you do not have your site set up to be found. I know blogging and being on social media is not easy, setting your blog is not easy, it will cost money and it takes time. Staying up to day on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Google + is not a set it and forget it, and if anyone ever tries to tell you that they do not know what the hell they are talking about.

Unknown Comic

Hey he was funny on the Gong Show, but I am sure you own a digital camera or someone you know owns one, take pic and put one up on your profile. What I have done is create folder on desktop that has all my social media platform pics, my “about” and other pertinent items in an easy to grab, no excuse for me not to fill out a profile format.

become a fan

Lurking Stalker

You are on all of the major social platforms, but you are not branding yourself there. You do no t engage with others either in your field or anyone that would benefit from your expertise.  Do not be afraid to engage, they are not going to bite you.

Create lists – I do my best to add every new follower or friend in a list on Twitter and Facebook. It makes them easy to track and engage down the road.

Not Original

• cookie cutter website (hello real estate and mortgage people)
• never an update on your blog or socially
• nothing is every “FREE”
• you buy content and you do not rewrite and make it SEO friendly

Ads and Social

You do a PPC campaign and or facebook ad and you send people back to your main part of your site – Think Landing Page

Break the Rules of Engagement

• don’t follow back or acknowledge anyone
• don’t engage
• little to no follow-up of any bloody kind
• you never return a call or an email in a timely fashion at all

GeekEstate Build 2012 I am working with some other agents and the guys from GeekEstate to build my real estate website for my ne real estate venture in NW Indiana.  More information to come soon

90Dave, I started my 2^nd 90 Day Challenge for more information check out my 90 Day Challenge page.

Tool of the week - Noom

it is what I use to track my workouts and food intake

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Have a great week

Dave

This week on the #Davecast, it is just me, but that does not mean that it is any less informative.

Well, a few weeks ago, I skyped it up with Harrison Painter and Ricky Lee Potts about QR Codes, but somewhere along the line it was deleted and lost to the digital world.  I did my best to recreate the talk and post some of the highlight here.

Scan Me to Down the Davecast

QR Code: the Who, What, Why and Where

Who?

Created QR Codes – a subsidiary of the Toyata Corp called Denso in 1994. They have never exercised their patent rights on them.

What?

They are called quick response codes, QR for short. They are a 2 dimensional barcode, a barcode on steroids. QR Codes can store vast amounts of data and trigger a response out of the scanning device most likely a cell phone like launch a video, v-card application, a website or launch a mp3.

Why?

QR Codes can really be used in all aspects of your business from inventory to marketing.  We mostly will talk marketing here on the #Davecast.

Here are some statistics from June 2011

• 14 million scans
• 58% from home
• 39% from retail stores
• 53% were men ages 18 to 34

Among the battle of the sexes it is

•  Males – 60.5%
• Female-= 39.5%

Where are they using QR Codes?

• Home – 57%
• Work – 22%
• Outside – 20%
• Retail – 17%
• Supermarket – 17%
• Restaurant -5%

A grocery store in Korea set up a virtual store in a subway station and it allowed people to avoid going to the grocery store and shop online so much easier.

As far as I can tell using a QR Code is free, you can them online, and if you use the google url shortner you can even track it for free in analytics.

Where?

Almost anywhere from billboards (USAF in South Bend), Real Estate Agents on using them on sale signs, tracking of shipments, and last year when I attended a Verizon event they scanned the back of the name badge to check me in.

QR Mistakes:

1. No mobile landing page
2. No data signal where the QR code is displayed
3. Not testing the code
4. To fancy – t-shirts, reflective surfaces and alike
5. No value, not giving me a good reason to scan the code.

What Content to offer?

1. Video or video tour of a home
2. V-card
3. Mobile enabled sites or blogs
4. Contests
5. Coupons
6. Free mp3

Where you can use them

• TV, magazine, newspaper (some believe that qr codes make some print advertising relevant)
• Product packaging
• Storefronts
• Business Cards and Brochures
• Posters
• Websites and email

Tips & To Do’s:

• Test and retest
• Use a URL shortner (use google and QR on the back to track)
• Make them easy to scan, avoid reflective surfaces and at least 1x1inch

Please leave any questions or comments down below.

Have great week and sorry I was delayed

Dave

Steve Dahl

Ha, this week. I got to talk to one of my favorite people in the world. Yes, there is a fair amount of ass kissing in this podcast, but when you get a chance to talk to Steve Dahl. I mean radio legend Steve Dahl. You must pay homage to all of the things that he has done in 35 plus years of radio and podcasting.

From Disco Demolition to playing the audio of his first born to having his vasectomy done live on the air. He was one of the first radio personalities to have his own website; he has had his finger on the pulse of his many fan when it comes to social media from being on Twitter and Facebook very early on.

Disco Demolition

He owns all of his past shows, and now includes them as a part of the monthly subscription package on Saturday’s. In recent weeks, he has added Kevin Mathews and James VonOsdol. Kevin does a twice weekly show and James will be doing a weekly or bi-weekly show. (I think there is room for me)hint hint…

Steve and I talk about his being an early adopter from setting up a tv and vcr for his kids to watch, to his website, I remember him being on AOL in the early days. He was offering his shows almost as soon as he could as a free download on his site. I was working in South Bend at the time and I would miss part of his show. So, I would often listen to it a day later or catch the first half when I got home.

Chicago radio in recent years had really gone downhill. I remember up through my mid-30’s I hated not being able to ear Chicago radio. Now, if you go to any American city it all sounds the same like going to McDonald’s they all taste the same. In McD that is good in radio that kind of sucks.

What led to the downfall of Chicago radio? The people meter…Steve personally went from #1 in 25 to 54 age range to 29^th. The people reader listened to what you were listening to, if you were in an elevator. Yeah, it registered that.

Steve thinks and I agree there is not much that can be done to fix it. I mean for crying out loud Johnny B. is on WGN. As more and more stations continue to act like they are a TV station and continually “tease” what is coming next and never really do it. We will have to learn to live with drivel like and Eric and Kathy, and I am afraid that there is not a whole that can be done.

Well, there is you can subscribe to the Steve Dahl Show, it is a mere $9.95 a month. As, I said while I was talking to Steve, he is as funny as he has ever been, and as his network grows. It is only going to get better.

You can listen to the Dahl Show from 02/08/12 by visiting the Dahl Show by clicking here

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Burnin’ Boats

Dave

This is not your daddy’s podcast. This week I got a little bit of rant in me.

Dave throws a rant

I talk about domain names, and the importance of owning your own name. I find it funny when I see or hear about real estate agents that do not own their own domain name.  I know of several local companies both real estate and others that incorporate, but do not buy their name or were never able to get their own domain.

I picked up that we are using for a local training blog. Well, within a day or so of picking it up on auction at GoDaddy. I got an email requesting to buy the domain for $250. I thought nothing of it, but I wanted to see if they would match my counter. So, I shot them over $10,000 counter. I really did not think they would match it, but what the heck. I had nothing to lose.

Yeah, they did not go that high, but they did counter my counter with $1000. I did not accept it, but I speculated how they came to lose this 10 or 12 year old domain. They had an outside person buy the domain and when it came time to renew it they never renewed. Maybe there was an invoice not paid. Whatever it was, they lost a aged domain and I picked one up for $20 bucks.

I offer a tool of the week. I am a huge fan of gmail. I do not use outlook or any other mail client preferring to run all the email through gmail. So, I rely on some tools like rapportive and boomerang.

Rapportive is a tool that lets you see what social networks the senderis on. Here you see I got an email from @CoachLee.

my favorite gmail tool

Boomerang allows me to send an email and if I do not hear back, it will resend the email. Plus, it will allow me to send an email later. I really like that option as I

another great gmail tool

work a little late at night, and I do not want them to know that I am up that later and/or since that a lot of people have smart phones. I do not want to wake them up with an email.

Speaking of smartphones, I just read that over half the people used a mobile device for shopping over the Christmas. Does your business have a mobile stategy?

Here is where I go on the rant

I am getting back into real estate. I explain why I am getting back into real estate. I think that some agents local or not do not do enough to market their homes. They simply drop a sign in the yard and walk away, hoping and waiting for that phone call.

I am going to say, I am sorry now, but this has irritated me for more than a few years and then to see, but we will see if I am going to succeed or whether or not I will crash and burn.

Dave

#DaveCast 25: CoWork Spaces and Live Event Coverage

@AndreaCook

This week on the #DaveCast I skyped it up with @AndreaCook, owner of The Midas Center a co-work space in Plymouth, IN. Yes, Plymouth Indiana, a small town in north central Indiana of about 12,000 people, and they have a vibrant business solution of professional office space that could meet the needs of many of us who work remotely.

What is CoWork Space?

It is an emerging trend that is catching on more and more everyday across the United States and the globe in urban and rural locations.

A cowork space brings together likeminded professionals to a shared work space environment allowing for flexibility and cost-savings for an office while gaining the benefit of synergy from working side by side in a collaborative professional community. It’s perfect for small businesses and solopreneurs who are looking to stretch their marketing budgets and benefit from the social interactions found in a professional community

Some cowork spaces offer an open floor-plan with no walls. If you want improve communications with in your office, open up your area, tear down your walls and your people will start learning and thriving from each other.

The Midas Center offers a wide variety of amenities from:

The Midas Center

• Coffee bar
• Message center
• Gig board
• Super fast WiFi
• Whiteboards
• Green (environmentally friendly) environment

Live Event Coverage?

Another one of Andrea’s business offerings is live event coverage which covers trade shows or conferences. She tweets, live blogs in a way that brings additional attention to you, your company and your brand.

I have seen examples of her work and how it increases of traffic and attention paid to a conference or event that it might not have gotten otherwise. It frees up the event coordinator to focus on the event rather than jumping around on Twitter or other social platforms.  It also gives them an extra set of eyes to help avoid any issues that may arise, but most of all the marketing efforts before, during and after are unbeatable.

For more information on Andrea and her Live Event Coverage company visit her site.

I want to thank the #DaveCast sponsor SimpleNexus.com the makers of branded mortgage and real estate calculator apps.

click here to listen to the #DaveCast on iTunes

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A #90Dave update, I have maintained the last few weeks. My issue is night eating. I need to focus on my “Why”, but the Body by Vi system offers a great meal replacement drink. I just need to know when to say when at night.

Till next week – burn boats

Dave

Why I Podcast?

I think I have wrote and written and am re-writing this post.

I am actually typing this one out and I have not done it this way in a long time.

Why do I podcast? Most of you have heard me talk about Steve Dahl. I went to college to be the next Steve Dahl. Well, I guess you all can figure out that did not happen. But, I have always wanted to entertain. I, even, did a radio show for free for with one partner for over a year and then another show for nearly as long.

I started my first podcast which was about mortgages and that did not last all that long. No one really cares about mortgages…

I chose to do a podcast for several reasons

1. I want to share my knowledge

I have an opinion and I really want to share it. I am pretty well versed and know more than the average bear in video marketing, SEO, local SEO, Google products, mobile applications, SMS marketing and marketing in general.

2. I want to make more money

This is really a two parter –

I would like to make more money doing the podcast and that is why I got a sponsor. SimpleNexus was the first to do become a sponsor and it is an affiliate relationship, and if you sign up then you will get a 10% discount by the using the code “Daver”.

I think it is a good way to be recognized as a speaker and be invited to speak at events from real estate and mortgage to marketing and even as a keynote.

That sums it up that is why I podcast.

I love listening to podcasts. They are a narrowcast. I can just about listen to anything that I want. I can just about find it on iTunes. I have even heard a sex show done in the voice of Jimmy Stewart.

I can listen to a podcast anywhere and anytime. In the car, the gym, working around the house, mowing the yard, etc…the list is endless. The downside seems to be is laughing out loud in the grocery store.

I called up Coach Lee again. I tossed it out on twitter and facebook and she was the one that responded first. We talked about how little planning do and I think I suffered from this on this podcast today. But, I had heard recently that the United States ranks eleventh in the American Dream. Needless to say, I was shocked to say the least, ten other countries rank higher that we do in the American Dream. How the heck did that happen?

I am still out to make mine happen

Dave