Social Media Marketing Made Easy | Facebook & Twitter for Business

How to Get Someone Else to Write Your Small Business Blog Without Your Blog Sounding Like Somebody Else Wrote It

Guest Post by Monica Waugh-Benton

In an ideal world, we’d all have time to run our businesses and also have time to enjoy our families, friends, hobbies, health and relaxation. And on top of all that, we’d have time to blog. And our blogs would be packed with well-written, compelling content that attracts loyal readers and converts them into clients or customers.

But if you’re squeezed for time like most entrepreneurs, your blog might be suffering because of it.

Well, here’s the good news. It doesn’t have to be that way. You can actually get someone else to write your blog for you.

I know, I know… In some circles, this borders on blasphemy. At best, you’re lazy. At worst, you’re deceitful. But let’s get real. This isn’t a philosophical matter. Outsourcing some or part of your small business blog’s content is a matter of efficiency

Outsourcing simply means getting more done in less time. It means delegating the things that slow you down – the things that weigh you down – and focusing on that which you do best. If you want to maintain a blog for all the benefits it affords, but writing isn’t something that excites you, why allow it to drain your time and energy?

It’s true that blogging is a type of social media that serves to build relationships and community. This is why some people insist you – the small business owner – should be the one doing the blogging. If it’s not you people are connecting with, then who is it?

The trouble with that question is it assumes an outsourced blog is inherently inauthentic. – that you’ve handed it over, turned your back, and have nothing more to do with it.

But just because you’ve hired someone else to write your blog doesn’t mean the substance and essence of the blog can’t come from you. An outsourced blog should still be written with your knowledge, from your perspective, and in your authentic voice.

Keep in mind, however, that while outsourcing your blog may save you some time, it’s not completely effortless.

The trick is to get someone else to write your blog without your blog sounding like somebody else wrote it. You want to be able to confidently say, “Wow. This sounds just like me.” But this isn’t always easy.

Here are a few tricks I use with my clients:

Fill Out an Assessment Profile

If your ghost blogger doesn’t give you an assessment to fill out, create your own. The assessment should include your blog’s goals, audience profile, and information relevant to your overall marketing efforts.

It should also include writing samples to model and a word choice checklist. The writing samples you pass along should be examples of your casual writing, such as emails and social media updates, not formal reports or essays.

As for word choice, make a list of words you would and wouldn’t use. For example, in everyday conversation, I would never say “folks” in place of “people.” But I would say “awesome” instead of good. This exercise will take some brainstorming, and you’ll continue to tweak the list over time as you read language commonly used in other people’s blogs.

Avoid Starting From Scratch

If you want your outsourced blog to sound like something you’ve written, don’t just come up with a topic and expect your writer to channel your personality and whip up magic from scratch.

• Hammer out a super quick draft without concern for style, structure or grammar. Then pass it along to your ghost blogger to revise.
• Provide your writer with an outline, including the order in which you want to present the information and key sentences you’d like to include in each section.
• Quickly jot down some bullet points in your own words.

It might help if you consider your blog co-sourced, rather than outsourced. Taking an extra minute or two to share some of your own wording with your writer will go a long way toward making your blog sound more like you. A skilled writer will use the written fragments you’ve infused with your passion and personality as the foundation for crafting polished blog posts that are ready for the world to read.

Make Recordings

If writing isn’t your thing, but talking about your ideas flows quickly and naturally, send your ghost blogger an audio recording. Use a voicemail system or create an audio file using a tool such as Audacity.

Expect your writer to do more than just transcribe your voice, though. The recording will serve as a starting point. Ask her to incorporate your own wording as much as possible and weave your voice into the final draft.

Form a Relationship With Your Writer

If your blog’s purpose is simply to drive traffic and quickly convert, whether or not the blog sounds like you probably doesn’t matter. But if your blog’s purpose is to build trust and relationships with readers so they will become long-term customers and clients, authenticity and consistency matters. You’ll want to avoid dirt cheap, unreliable writers and content mills.

Whether you choose to delegate your blog to an employee, intern or professional writer, you’d benefit from building a strong, ongoing relationship with your ghost blogger. Before you get started, take some time to chat over the phone and hold a friendly conversation about your expectations. Throughout your working relationship, stay in touch frequently and keep lines of communication open.

Monica Waugh-Benton is on a mission to make content marketing easier for busy entrepreneurs. She offers content writing and content management services, as well as coaching, consulting and training at SteadyFLOW Content Marketing. Pick up a copy of her free 30-minute audio “How to Write a Steady Flow of Business-Boosting Content in 6 Simple Steps” at http://www.steadyflowcontent.com.

Monica is an award-winning writer, and when not working with clients, she’s finishing up a Ph.D. in public communication and teaching undergraduate speech and journalism courses. Follow her on Twitter and check out her Facebook page.

How To Change Facebook App Settings

The Death of The Fan: The Big Facebook Changes Every Entrepreneur Must Know About

Facebook has made some BIG changes recently, changes that could affect your business whether you currently use facebook or not!

They’ve made a fundamental shift in how it can be used for small business, in fact it’s now possible to integrate facebook into your marketing plan without so much as a facebook account!

These changes haven’t gotten as much press as the recent facebook privacy hoopla, but they’re much more important to the small business. I don’t want you to get left in the dark.

In this completely FREE one hour webinar we talked about:

- Why fans are no more and what has replaced them

- The new way to market on facebook without having to maintain a single profile or page!

- The new “community page” feature and why it could mean the end of your facebook marketing campagin

- The bottom line on pages versus profiles versus groups and which one you are supposed to be using to promote your business

Check out my upcoming program Zero to Facebook Page. You’ve been asking for a facebook training program from me for over a year now and I’m finally bringin’ the goods!

How to Approach Offline Networking to Build Relationships Online

Guest post by Trevor Turnbull

Many of us spend a considerable amount of time researching and implementing strategies to grow our networks and build relationships online. And, I’m sure most people would agree that building an online network can be a very rewarding experience, both personally and professionally.

If you are anything like me, and are actively involved in social media on a daily basis, you’ll know what I mean when I say that building an online network can be a very challenging and time consuming venture. After all, building an online network takes time, especially if you are doing it the right way by adding value and connecting with a targeted audience as opposed to spamming email in-boxes and growing a massive list of unrelated followers.

For all the hard work we put into building our online networks, at times, it’s easy to forget what we are ultimately trying to do….connect with other people and build relationships. And, with that being said, there really is no better way to build relationships with others than to meet face to face and have an actual real life conversation. And, thanks to social media, there are many ways you can proactively approach offline networking to build relationships online and grow your online network.

Offline Networking Doesn’t Have To Be Scary

For many people, the idea of networking offline is very intimidating. After all, there is nothing worse than showing up at a networking event where everyone you meet is trying to sell you mutual funds or an insurance policy. We’ve all been to these types of events and they are not fun!

And of course, if overcoming the fear of offline networking wasn’t enough, another challenge for many people is figuring out what to do with all those business cards you collect and understanding how you can possibly stay in touch with everyone!

Fortunately, in today’s connected world, we have access to all kinds of free social tools that make it easier than ever extend those relationships online and convert them into business opportunities. And, there are plenty of resources online that you can use to find events where you can connect with like-minded people.

Implement a Networking Strategy

In order to help you get the most out of your offline and online networking efforts, I’ve put together a short video that outlines ways that I approach offline networking to connect with like-minded people, build relationships and grow my online network.

By no means is this an exhaustive list, rather, it is just a few of the ways that I have benefited from offline networking. I’d love to hear what works for you and if there are any resources or tools that you use to connect with like-minded people, build relationships and grow your online network.

Trevor Turnbull is an online entrepreneur with extensive experience as a business owner, business development professional and social media consultant. Trevor is the founder of  Social Connect Blueprint, a social media training website that provides live, interactive training and educational webinars with thought leaders in the social media space.

Trevor is also an avid sports fan and the co-founder of Sport Fan Connect, a consulting company that works with sports teams, brands and events to help improve the connection between and add value for clients, their fans and sponsors.

Keep Track of All Your Social Networking Sites

Here’s a simple strategy that’s going to make your social media life a LOT easier!

I want you to start a spreadsheet to keep track of all of your social media website logins. If you haven’t already experienced this, those sites can add up FAST and keeping track of where you have accounts can get cumbersome quickly.

First create a spreadsheet with the software of your choice that contains columns for site name, URL, username, password, and any notes you want to add.

Then start going through your bookmarks (or your existing password-keeping system if you have one) and entering your info for social networking sites such as facebook and twitter, social bookmarking sites such as digg and delicious, any forums or private groups that you’re a member of, and any other sharing sites such as flickr or slideshare. (Don’t worry if you’ve never heard of any of these! Just write down the sites that you are on.) If you’ve lost your username or password on any of these sites, take a moment to use the “lost password” feature and grab it.

Better to take the time now than be frustrated when you need it!

Whenever you sign up for a new site, make sure to add it to your spreadsheet. When you want to update your profiles you now have one central document to go to – no more outdated info living all over the web.

Passion Blogging and Finding Your Tribe

Guest Post by Delfin Joaquin Paris III

What are you passionate about?  What would you spend more time on, if the all the bills were paid and you focused on that which provided you the most joy and satisfaction?  I’m going to show you how, by spending a little time on your interests, you can find and connect with others just like you using social media.

Years ago I used to work for a beer manufacturer.  I spent nearly two years on the road, 100% of the time, touring across the US.  I visited almost every state, and got to participate in some high-profile sports and entertainment events.  This was around 2000-2001, and I didn’t know anything about publishing content online.  But since I was meeting celebrities and getting into goofy situations, I wanted to write about it. So I would send “road report” emails to my friends.  Mostly funny stories of crazy things that happened to me while traveling.

After my contract ended, I got a “real job” in Chicago, and wore a suit and tie to work for years.  I had forgotten how much fun it was to send out funny emails, and to get positive responses from those who enjoyed reading about my adventures.  I had told myself that I needed to focus on my career, so I stopped sending out those email stories, and did normal business stuff.

For years friends had suggested that I should organize all my “funny stories” into a collection and publish it as a book.  I have some experience in the publishing world, and know how difficult it can be to get a book published, much less marketed effectively, distributed in stores, and sold. I also have two businesses of my own that keep me busy.  So, if I didn’t want to put the effort in to write a book, what could I do to share my passion?  Blog.

Earlier this year I launched a blog that is a continuation of my old “road report” emails I used to distribute.  Altogether, it cost me $20. That was the expense of registering a domain and paying for hosting.  Even though I had never built a website before, I learned how, and got it up and running within a week. Then, I started focusing on content.  Now again, my passion is writing funny stories.  So, that’s what I did.  I began publishing regular posts.  I had a bunch of content, but guess what?  Not a lot of readers.

So, as my friend Laura Roeder would say, “Start doing some social networking!”

I took to Facebook.  I have about 400 friends there, many of which I’ve known since my school days.  I basically sent out a few posts on Facebook and Twitter and announced that I had a new humor blog, and I would love their feedback.  And of course, since they’re in my social network, they ended up checking out my website.

Well, a few months later, I now have hundreds of regular visitors who show up every time I post a story, and over a thousand people on my list.  Because I focus on my passion – comedy – I have attracted new people who enjoy my niche.  And how did I build my readership? By focusing on my strong-suit, which happens to be writing funny stories – my passion! And doing minimal, yet impactful, social media.

With just one hour a week spent on doing something I love, my list continues to grow. It’s easy, because I’m writing about my passion!  Just think – if you spent one hour a week writing about your passion, who you would you attract?

Delfin Joaquin Paris III is an entrepreneur who specializes in online marketing and lead-generation.  If you’d like to visit his passion project, head over to his blog of funny stories for a good laugh.

Make Your Facebook Photos Friendlier

Photos are a big factor in allowing us to connect online – when we see a facebook photo of someone we’re able to put a face to a name and feel like we know them better.

So if your facebook profile only has one bad headshot from 10 years ago, it’s time to upgrade and get a little more personal!

It’s time to add photos to facebook or curate the ones that are there now. Make sure that your profile photo looks friendly and up-to-date, and add a few more snapshots that provide a glimpse into your life. They could be of your home, your office, your family, your spouse, your pet, childhood family photos, or you having fun at a hobby you love.

Don’t worry so much about appearing “business like” in your facebook photos, instead upload some (appropriate, of course) facebook photos that will make your friends feel like they know you. Remember that we buy from people that we know, like and trust (KLT). And silly as it sounds, that picture of you and Rufus can do wonders to increase your “KLT factor”!

Facebook photos are also a fun way to interact with your friends – your friends are notified when you upload a new photo and you’ll often notice people leaving comments on your latest snapshots. Just check your “Notifications” tab (the globe icon at the very top of the facebook interface) to see when someone has left a new comment on one of your photos.

Here’s how to add photos to your facebook profile:

1. While logged into facebook, click “Photos” on the left hand side
2. The click “My Uploads” on the sub-menu that appears
3. From there, click on “edit album” under the album name you’d like to add photos to
4. Then click the “Add More” tab at the top of that interface

OR if you’d like to start a new album, go back to the “My Uploads” page and click the “Upload Photos” button on the top of the page to create a new facebook photo album.

From Typical CPA to Super-cool Online Biz

Guest Post by Rebecca Tervo
To hear more about rebecca’s story watch her case study in this video

When I started my business about 2 ½ years ago, I had this vision of an organized home office, flexible hours, lots of income, and more time with my family.  I had been working off and on part-time over the years as an auditor, bookkeeper, business manager and cost accountant.

I thought about owning my own business for many years…especially during the times when I had babies at home.  The kick in the butt came when I had a daughter who was seriously ill, and we had to go to a hospital 8 hours away for treatments for several days.  This was stressful for my boss at the time, which made it even more stressful for me, since I was in charge of the month end closing of the books.

Taking the plunge

What I needed was more flexibility, and I quit my job within 6 months.  I enjoyed bookkeeping and accounting and decided I’d take on my own small business bookkeeping clients.  In fact, I found more of a niche when I became a Certified Quickbooks Proadvisor.  I got several clients right away through word of mouth.

Those first months were hectic.  I had no systems or intake paperwork in place!  It was busy figuring out a name of my business, setting up my own bookkeeping system, getting a logo done, and putting up a website.  As I got more clients, I got more paperwork.  Working at home without a separate office was really difficult.  I started overtaking the dining room table, and finally decided to make the move to a rented space.

I figured out which clients are my target market, as well as what types of jobs I wanted to do.  I especially liked training my clients on Quickbooks…how to set it up properly, and how to use it in a specific, easy way for their business.  I started a workshop in my area that I hold on a regular basis.  I noticed that the more people that attended my workshop, the more I got paid per hour!  And, I really enjoyed the interaction with several people at one time.  The comments about the workshop continue to be great, and more people sign up every time I offer it.

My interest in the internet grows

It was because of my workshops, that I started searching around on the web to find out how to get traffic to my workshop page on my website.  I believe my interest in internet marketing and social media started when I attended a Quickbooks Proadvisor training which talked about social marketing.  One thing led to another, and I got signed up for more than my share of free content and e-newsletters.  I also got setup with a Twitter account, Linked In account, and Facebook account.

The more I learned about online marketing, the more excited I became that this could be a way to get my workshops online (as well as build my reputation as an expert)!

Finding Laura

During my search for more on how to use social media, I came across Laura’s “Creating Fame” program.  It was just what I needed at the time to really understand how I could spread the word about what I do online.  Her course gave me a total understanding of how my blog, twitter account, website, and other online presence works together to build an online brand.

One step at a time, I learned how to use WordPress, use twitter effectively, and use my blog and Youtube to deliver online videos to my target audience.  I started seeing success with this little bit I was doing.

I wanted more.  I started noticing many membership sites, ebooks, and online information products.  I was intrigued with the content as well as the business side of the products.  I knew my expertise could be packaged in that way too.  That’s about the time that Laura announced she had openings for private coaching sessions.  I was on the bandwagon immediately!

The change in my business model

If I look at my business now vs. my business back then, it’s a whole new ballgame.  I now use the following tools in my business: WordPress, Twitter, Facebook Fan Page, Linked In, Snag It, Aweber, Camtasia, Youtube, Stumble Upon, Digg It, Audioacrobat, and Gotomeeting.com.  I didn’t know how to use any of these tools for my business before I took Laura’s first class.  I jokingly call myself a “techie” since there are few (if any) business owners in my area that know how to use all of these things for their business. In fact, I’ve been asked by colleagues to share how to use Twitter…very unexpected and fun!

I now have an at-home study workbook available for sale, and an outline of a 6 week Quickbooks online course that will be launched in the fall.  Since learning to use Twitter properly, I’ve come across four new online clients, and started coauthoring a business book with a New York Times Bestselling author!

Valuable lesson learned

I have truly learned that my time is more valuable than I ever realized before…which has helped me to prune my client list to those who know the value of my services.  I simply know that I am on my way to having an extremely lucrative online Quickbooks training business! Being online, and serving online clients can be done with just my computer and an internet connection from anywhere!  I love it!

Rebecca Tervo is the woman behind Tervo & Co, Financial Fitness. She is a Certified Quickbooks Proadvisor, author, teacher and mom entrepreneur who is passionate about teaching small biz owners and solopreneurs how to organize their finances. You can find her on twitter @RebeccaTervoCPA