The post Marketing FAQ – Social Media ROI appeared first on Motivational Marketer's Journal | Online Marketing Muscle.

I recently had the distinct pleasure of lending social media insight for an article published in the leading financial news source, Investor’s Business Daily.  The article is titled “Financial Planners Further Innovate On Social Media” written by New York-based freelance writer, Gary M. Stern.  It’s a worthy read, so please check it out… not just because I was quoted in it.

The article focuses on Long Island financial expert Jon Ten Haagen.  Why?  Jon has managed to leverage the power of social media to grow his visibility, credibility, and reach with his target market using social media.

If you know me at all, you must realize that that stuff stokes me!

In the financial services sector, that makes Jon a bit of a pioneer.  Many in that industry still cringe at the thought of communicating and connecting via social media.  My guess… it has a lot to do with compliance regulations bestowed on the industry via The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).  The great part is those regulations (or dare I say restrictions) have been relaxed somewhat as of late… happy days for the financial services sector!

Now as a marketer through and through, I always want to know how each and every opportunity comes about… so here’s some back-story.

The Back-Story

How this opportunity came into fruition is a cool example how marketing and strategic networking works.  I met Jon Ten Haagen a couple of years back at a seminar I was conducting for the Long Island Advancement of Small Business (LIASB) on social media.  Jon was an attendee and when he approached me after the seminar concluded, I could tell he was fired up.  Jon immediately began applying what he had learned.  So much so that a few short years later, he was interviewed based on his effective social media technique… pretty cool ha?!  When the reporter asked him who influenced his social media strategy, Jon shared my name and I was interviewed… as I said, pretty cool ha?!

Now I do believe that I left a positive impression on Jon that seminar day years back.  However, I believe that what solidified this opportunity was the marketing strategy we use to “keep in touch” with our audience.  It was this that stimulated Jon to drop my name when it counted.  And yes one of the marketing tactics we use in our “Keep in Touch” marketing strategy is social media!

The post Dean Mercado Lends Social Media Insight To Financial Services Sector appeared first on Motivational Marketer's Journal | Online Marketing Muscle.

The post Strategic Networking – A 3 Phase Approach appeared first on Motivational Marketer's Journal | Online Marketing Muscle.

Video Transcription

Speaker: Dean Mercado – Online Marketing Muscle

Hi, this is Dean Mercado from Online Marketing Muscle. Today in this video segment we’re going to talk about the concept of networking. More specifically, two key criteria that you should think about when choosing where to network yourself and your business.

Nothing happens in business without people, let’s just put that out there. People tend to do business with people they know, like, and trust, and even as much as technology and social media are influencing what’s happening in business today, it really does still come down to people. As a matter of fact, it makes people want to do this even more, connect even more.

So knowing how to network effectively is critically important if you’re looking to use it to grow your business.

The first criteria that I suggest you look into, number one, network with your target market. Find out where they hang out, how do you get in front of them, attend their events, go where they go, do what they do, stay around them. This way they become familiar with you, they get to know you a little bit, they eventually get to like you and trust you and so on and so forth, very important that you go where they go, you network where they are. That’s the first key criteria.

If you’re analyzing a new networking group or something along those lines, ask yourself that question, is my target market going to be in the room?

Second key criteria, does that networking group or people that attend it, do they have influence over your target market? So not only do you want the room to be filled with your target market, if it can’t be a target market, you want it filled with people who influence your target market, and that’s the second criteria.

Do these people have a strong rapport with your target market? This way, if you’re intending on getting referrals, you want to grow your business that way, if the people you’re networking with have no rapport and no influence over your target market, that’s going to be very difficult for them to do. Again, go where they go and look for a room full of people who can influence your target market as well.

Those are your two criteria, enjoy them, be very strict with yourself because you could really spend a lot of time networking for very little result. If you do it strategically and apply these two criteria, your stars might change.

For Dean Mercado, Online Marketing Muscle, have a great day.

The post How To Choose Where To Network appeared first on Motivational Marketer's Journal | Online Marketing Muscle.

The goal of this endeavor is to “ease”  your way into the networking world, making a safe play to enter into the arena. I know it’s tempting to play it safe, and you might even feel that you “might as well try it there’s nothing to lose.”

The game of networking needs to be played at a high level. To succeed, the mindset has to be that of a seasoned pro. The big breakdown is that the average networker does not realize there is even a game being played.  Hint: The goal of networking is not to seek your own level; the goal is to connect and bring value with the networking superstars.

Knowing this, how would you change your game plan or networking mindset? Think of hitting the networking world as playing in the major leagues. The advanced networker already knows this. Hint: Your company’s past success is not a guarantee you will be accepted as a big-leaguer in a networking world.

The advanced networker has done their homework and paid their dues, they look for clues from you to see if you’re ready to play the bigger game with them.

Successful rainmakers have realized that networking is a fast paced game that needs to be leveraged with the best team players they can find. Be honest with yourself, are you one of them?

In the networking world time is money. We’ve got to understand this before we start playing the game.

A recipe for a new networking mindset:

• Think success- People want to do business with people they like and who appear successful. (Are you one of them?)
• Have a Game plan- Study and read up on the best networking insights out there
• Play hard- Time is money. Go all in or stay in bed.
• Connect- Find the movers and shakers, keep meeting and connecting with them
• Dress to impress-  A superstar LinkedIn profile with a killer headshot is a must!
• Refer- It’s the point of the game. Walk even a lukewarm lead right to your connection. No short cuts.
• Game time-  You may meet at a diner. If so, pass on the pancakes and bacon. Network. Play to win!
• Be strategic- Timely and targeted hits are what drive in the runs and ultimately win games!
• Play with honor- A lead is not a hot potato. Honor them all.

Limited Time Offer… Get your FREE copy of our 3-part Audio Seminar 
“Differentiate or Die – 3 Keys to Blowing Away Your Competition” Click here

The post Got the Networking Group Blues? Change The Networking Mindset! appeared first on Motivational Marketer's Journal | Online Marketing Muscle.

Expert marketing and business coaching firm Online Marketing Muscle announced the launch of a new Google+ Community called “Cleaning Business Coaching” design to bring together cleaning companies to prefect their marketing and business processes.

Click here to see the full Press Release…

The post Business Coaches Create Google+ Hangout Community to Unite Cleaning Companies to Grow Sales and Much More appeared first on Motivational Marketer's Journal | Online Marketing Muscle.

Marketing coaching experts make clear to residential cleaning companies that clarifying marketing strategies, exploring their own best tactics is the winning approach for meeting biggest challenge, finding success in the turbulent economy.

Click here to see the full Press Release…

The post Online Marketing Muscle Challenges Residential Cleaning Companies To Beat Economy By Finding Their Marketing Sweet Spot appeared first on Motivational Marketer's Journal | Online Marketing Muscle.

The post Web Site Success Cycle appeared first on Motivational Marketer's Journal | Online Marketing Muscle.

The post How Well Do You Really Know Your Target Market? appeared first on Motivational Marketer's Journal | Online Marketing Muscle.

The post How Much Time Should I Spend Marketing My Business? appeared first on Motivational Marketer's Journal | Online Marketing Muscle.