Social Networking: Twitter? Facebook? MySpace?

The answer to the question you see might be this:

"All of the above."

Let's presume you have chosen which of the myriad social networking sites suits you and you have carefully and thoughtfully filled out their profile fields. Maybe you have even made some posts and have acquired a following of fans.

As an internet marketer, have you used the power of social networking to your advantage?

The way to make social networking advantageous in your business is to be generous. Give your social networking contacts something of value. Give of YOURSELF. Take the time to build healthy relationships.

For example, you aren't likely to enter a wedding reception and propose marriage to the first single person with whom you dance. It works the same way on social networking sites.

What is more insulting than to "follow" or "friend" someone whose website you admire and have them "follow back" or "friend" you with a SALES PITCH to buy their product? We do business with those we like and those we trust. If you haven't built a relationship you don't know who you can trust and you have not learned to like anyone BEFORE a relationship is established!

Before you write on someone's "wall" you must remember to be prudent, practical and cautious. Be your best self.

A good way to build relationships online-or offline-is to ask questions. What do people need help doing? How can you add value to their experience? Noted internet marketer, John DiLemme is a respected social networker and he advises people who want to be successful in the social networking arena to be generous and give away mountains of information. Help others to solve their problems. Find answers to the questions others have.

John DiLemme wants to see people build trust in their relationships. Isn't that what everybody deserves?

The number of friends or followers on a social networking site is important for your exposure. But it's even more important to understand WHO those people are, in terms of your niche market. It's just fine to comment to a parrot enthusiast but if your niche is targeted to boaters or sportswear shops, that may not mesh when at some point you advertise your newest Big Thing.

There is no need to blow your horn about your Big Project or Best Product every time you log in to your favorite site. The ratio should be about 80% to 20%. No need to frighten people away. We are all fearful of "being sold."

Are you new to social networking? If you peruse your Twitter stream or look at the pages of Facebook or any of the many sites that are available you will soon see how the process works.

One of my Twitter devotees has managed to develop a handsome income from her Twitter stream, simply because she has developed her followers' confidence and when she suggests something, they know they can trust her recommendation. IF they are in the market for the idea she puts forth, they feel comfortable to follow her lead.

The relationship she has with her "fan club" did not materialize overnight. She has consistently and regularly shown up to offer value, share helpful information, solve peoples' problems and prove that she deserves unfailing trust.

She got that trust the old fashioned way. She EARNED it.

Connie Baum
Follow me on www.Twitter.com/motherconnie

Should Blogs Be Monetized?

I feel a little like the husband who came home too late. He fully expected to find an angry wife, poised at the door, holding a baseball bat...she might demand, "Where have you BEEN?"

Like that husband, I have an excuse: This blog has been severely neglected in the past few days because I have been diligently preparing a gift for those of you who declared, "Yes. I want goodies" and entered your info in the box at the upper right hand corner of this page. It's just lucky for me you've been so patient. It is in the works and should be available very SOON.

I've also been learning more about blogging; hence I've posed the question, "Should blogs be monetized?" I'm sure you have seen ads on this very page; they are on the pages of most of the blogs you have ever visited. There are banners, there are messages with text and there are links. AdSense Ads by Google are very popular and work with your niche and the material that is written on your blog.

There are gadgets, plug ins, themes and features to consider. Google's Blogger has one set of features; WordPress has another collection.

There are so many way to express your creativity, your products, your passions and your business with a blog. I am finding that some people still do not understand what a blog is, so I am happy to share with you that a blog is simply a WEB LOG. It's like a journal, of sorts. Blogs can be intensely personal; they can be political; they can be serious or comical. They can even instruct. SIDEBAR: Ahem, we hope this is one of those! END SIDEBAR

I was able to "eavesdrop" on a conversation not so long ago where there was a long discussion about "PLUG INS"-features to make a blog highly functional for both blogger and visitor. Here is a partial list I heard about:

1. Back Up for the data base. I can only imagine the devastation if one's blog suddenly vanished in cyberspace!
2. All-In-One SEO pack. This makes Search Engine Optimization easier for the Google spider. If nobody can find your blog, what good would it do anybody?
3. Google Analytics. A free program, this allows the blogger to better understand his traffic pattern.
4. Twitter applications. These are proliferating like newborn kittens! These are the social network connectors that assist people all over the web to enhance their messages and help them be connected to other people.
5. A statistics counter. I have a good pal whose visitor count has surpassed 11,000! She would not know this if it were not for her counter.
6. A spam detector to deter those cranky, evil messages designed to fill all of cyberspace with meaningless drivel, or worse. Everybody hates spam.

Blogging is a wonderful outlet for expressing oneself. It is a way of reaching out to others and there are so many other good things to be said for blogging. I do believe blogging has replaced the pot-belly stove at the general store and the water cooler in an office. With blogging there are no geographic barriers.

Blogging is certainly here to stay. And yes, by all means, you should monetize your blog.

Rapid Cash Marketing

Connie Baum

Are YOU Making Money Online?

I think we can all agree that anyone with a computer and an internet connection has received innumerable offers they "can't refuse" to surf cyberspace and make a fortune with this guru, that coach or this system, that program. "All you have to do is sign up, download the information"--you know the drill all too well.

There are many pieces to this puzzle we call internet marketing. It's important to identify all the pieces so you can proceed successfully. If you are intent on making money online in a home based business, you owe it to yourself and those you love to look carefully and objectively at the big picture.

Does the offer you are considering show you how to build a customer list? Do they explain why that's critical? Have they made support available to you if you need help with finding your niche, domain selection, hosting and making One Time Offers? Is someone assigned to help you with Search Engine Optimization, and do you understand why that is an important component to the whole picture? What is your would-be seller offering you in the way of online strategies in order to make money online? What claims, if any, do they make with respect to residual income? Do they mention affiliate marketing and the realities of working as a freelance writer or internetworker?

I was absolutely clueless-naive, if you will-about all these issues when an offer was presented to me. I could see the potential of an online career, but I had no idea there would be pitfalls or what those might entail. There were many meltdowns before I found THE program that met my needs, solved my problems, taught me the BASICS and served as my own personal cheering section.

I would admonish anyone who wants to launch their very own home based business and climb the ladder to success to follow their passion, their instincts, and the advice of people you trust.

There is a perceived sense of urgency about getting into programs, coupled with claims, promises, suggestions and glamour. TAKE YOUR TIME. Don't order the first thing that comes to your Inbox. And don't expect instant results once you get underway.

My own journey into cyberspace is still very much a work in progress. I have learned a great deal and there is more to grasp. Much more important to me, though, is that I am having the time of my life and linking up with talented people from all over the globe. I've made a few bucks and while that was my initial motivation, I have come to realize that it is more gratifying for me to help others along the way than it is to have a check. My own personal passions are people, health, food, people, and helping others. Oh, and did I mention people?

It is my fervent hope that this post has been helpful for you. Your comment would cheer my heart. You are welcome to look at the advertisements on this page if you are in the market for something to launch or boost your effort to make money online.

Connie Baum