Remember these social media certainties:

• Quality followers are greater than quantity. In an attempt to raise Twitter and Facebook numbers, some businesses will run a few contests. While their numbers got up initially, many of the new followers will leave those pages once the contest period is over. Sure, some of them will stick around but not many interact on a consistent basis. A person who chooses to follow your business through social media channels, no strings attached, is one that is truly interested in you and what you are selling. It is okay to try to boost your numbers through things like giveaways, but look for meaningful ways to draw in quality, long-term followers too.
• It’s not (always) about you. Before you post anything in a social media sphere ask yourself this: how will this benefit my followers? Helping out your followers is not always about saving them money; sometimes it is simply providing them with valuable information. That expertise may not always come directly from you. Follow other social media accounts in your industry and monitor what they do right when it comes to statuses, tweets, images and other forms of social media outreach.
• Sharing is good. When other people share your status updates, retweet your links or repin your images, your Web clout goes up. Even social media shares that are not directly about your business put your name in the spotlight. Mentions on social media are digital word-of-mouth advertising that work to further the online credibility of your company. Make sure you have social media buttons enabled on your website and blog so that others can quickly share the things they like with others. You may also want to join LinkedIn Groups to find other people with similar interests that are likely to share your information with others.
• Visuals get attention. People respond more quickly, and with more enthusiasm, to graphics. Why is it that social media sites like Pinterest and Instagram have caught fire with followers? People love visuals. When you post a link to your blog, be sure to include a thumbnail photo. Even if you don’t think your business is a fit for Pinterest, sign up anyway and create boards that relate to you and your industry.
• Interaction is vital. Social media accounts provide businesses an opportunity to start informal conversations with their customer base. If a particular topic or type of post gets a lot of buzz, copy that style for future posts. When people do respond to a post, reply to them and keep the conversation going.

When it comes to social media, businesses can really get ahead by focusing efforts in the right direction. Keep your customers in mind every time you post new content to make the most of your social media influence.

What rules about social media guide your actions?

(Photo Source)

Megan Totka is the Chief Editor for ChamberofCommerce.com. She specializes on the topic of small business tips and resources. ChamberofCommerce.com helps small businesses grow their business on the web and facilitates connectivity between local businesses and more than 7,000 Chambers of Commerce worldwide.

The post 5 Social Media Truths appeared first on Influence Expansion.

On the right are a few examples of social media buttons you may have seen.

So why should you have these buttons on your site if you don’t already? Here are just a few of the reasons:

• Social media buttons are the easiest way to link people to your social media sites. With a single click, visitors to your business website or blog are connected to you in social media circles too. And the more followers you have on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+, the more likely your business is to be successful. Did you know that the Google+ button is pushed 5 million times each day? Those are numbers small business owners cannot ignore. Having people follow you on several social platforms makes it easier for them to see all the content that you post – keeping you fresh in their minds when the time comes to do business in your area of expertise.
• Social media buttons make sharing easy. Having social media buttons makes it simple for people who visit your site or blog to share articles or content that they find interesting with others. People can easily recommend your posts on their own personal social media pages as well. This is a great way to build consumer trust. The best type of referral, even in online terms, is word-of-mouth. A Neilson Global Survey found that only 14 percent of consumers trust ads and 78 percent trust recommendations from fellow consumers. Let other people brag about your brand and expand your influence on your behalf.
• Social media buttons add dimension. Forget the practical reason for social media – they just look good. Most are brightly colored and use easy-to-recognize icons that users are comfortable clicking. They are also concise and provide practicality while keeping your site uncluttered.

If you are going to add social media buttons to your webpage, it’s important that you keep your pages up to date and current. It’s not wise to direct people to your social media pages if you don’t post fresh content on a fairly regular basis. A person who visits your Facebook page, for example, and sees that the last post was months ago is unlikely to “like” the page. The same is true for all the other social media accounts you maintain.

Drawing people into your social media pages gets you more exposure. People are more likely to check out your business if you post regular updates and are on their feed, and on their mind, often.  Posting constantly isn’t the only thing that matters though, make sure you’re posting what your audience wants and that the content is quality and engaging to readers.

Have you had success building your social media following through social media buttons?

(Photo Source)

Megan Totka is the Chief Editor for ChamberofCommerce.com. She specializes on the topic of small business tips and resources. ChamberofCommerce.com helps small businesses grow their business on the web and facilitates connectivity between local businesses and more than 7,000 Chambers of Commerce worldwide.

The post GUEST POST: Button Bling: Why Social Media Buttons Matter appeared first on Influence Expansion.

Lots of people participated and chimed in on the simultaneous Twitter chat — you can check the hashtag (#SMMashups) here.

If you want to watch the video recording of the hangout, check it out below for some really innovative ideas for your social media marketing activities.

Comment and let me know what one thing you’re going to try in the coming weeks to step your social media game up!

The post VIDEO: What the Heck is a Social Media Mashup? appeared first on Influence Expansion.

1. Complete Your Profile

Make sure that your Twitter profile is complete. The goal is to have a full bio with information that will captivate people and tell potential followers who are you as an entrepreneur or business.  Avoid allowing Twitter to fill in the photo portion with that boring default egg -– a company logo or photo is a must! And take advantage of the ability to create a customized Twitter background by including branding elements like colors, logos and company contact information.

2. Follow Other People

This may seem like an obvious point, but never stop looking for high-quality, relevant Twitter accounts to follow. Don’t just follow others blindly, but determine which profiles will add value and credibility to your own network. Worst case scenario, you only add a number to your “following” list. Best case, these accounts follow you back in return and build your online clout. It’s a good idea to check out the followers of accounts that you admire or feel reflect your industry or business ideals. You can also find other Twitter chats or hashtags in your industry and follow accounts that are actively participating in relevant conversations. As you continue to build your following, keep in mind that after the first 2,000 accounts you follow, Twitter imposes a follow limit based on an unpublished follower/following ratio that varies by account, so choose your follows with care.

3. Watch Your Competition

It’s a good idea to visit competitor Twitter accounts from time to time to check out their lists of followers. You will likely discover some important profiles that are missing from your own lists. You can also see what sorts of tweets your competitors send out and gauge customer response and interaction. The rule of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer certainly applies when it comes to social media base building.

4. Stick to the 80/20 Rule

Tweeting should never be all about you. Sharing quality content in your area of expertise will show that you care about your audience and give people a reason to engage with your Twitter account. Quotes, links to industry leaders, cool infographics, fun photos, etc. are all great things to consider sharing so you aren’t just feeding your blog posts through your Twitter account. Make sure you take time to respond to the people who tweet directly to you, too. After all, Twitter (like any social network) isn’t a broadcasting platform. The site is built around conversation, so if you’re not taking the time to interact with current and prospective followers, the poor quality of your network will soon reflect your one-way philosophy.

5. Stay Positive

When possible, avoid negative tweets. If you’re in an industry that’s having a rough quarter, don’t further the damage by drawing attention to that fact. Instead, try a constructive approach like creating a blog post with innovative ideas for improving the situation.  This doesn’t mean ignoring what’s going on, but rather being proactive with what people can do in a positive way, not to mention seizing an opportunity to demonstrate your industry knowledge.

If you are new to Twitter, take advantage of these tips to maximize the quality and reach of your following. If you’ve been on Twitter for awhile, it could be time to assess your current following and clean house by unfollowing inactive accounts. Cultivating a large and effective Twitter following takes some work, but it can help establish the social media influence of your brand or business and give you a powerful resource that you can tap into for relevant information, conversation and opportunities.

(Photo Source)

Megan Totka is the Chief Editor for ChamberofCommerce.com. She specializes on the topic of small business tips and resources. ChamberofCommerce.com helps small businesses grow their business on the web and facilitates connectivity between local businesses and more than 7,000 Chambers of Commerce worldwide.

The post GUEST POST: 5 Easy Tricks to Increase Your Twitter Followers appeared first on Influence Expansion.

Someone once told me that although she recognized LinkedIn groups were an untapped resource for her business, she wasn’t exactly well-briefed on all the unwritten rules of online networking – particularly for LinkedIn groups. She wondered if I had some tips to help her find her way and I shared this list with her. Hopefully, you’ll find a gem or two that will help you, too!

Get ALL 26 tips after the jump, here… >>

The post 26 Quick + Easy Tips to Make the Most of LinkedIn Groups appeared first on Influence Expansion.

The ones I share with my clients and students most often?

Numbers 4 and 5.  Especially 5.

The post The Facebook Like Button, Your Silent Friend appeared first on Influence Expansion.

The themes come in all colors, are usually fully customizable and offer so many daggone options, you won’t know if you’re coming or going. Well, as usual, it’s Lena to save the day here’s a really helpful decision tree that will help you to make sense of it all — and make sure you don’t end up with a theme that looks rockin’, but doesn’t provide you with the functionality you’re looking for.

Happy planning!

The post WordPress Themes Gone Wild! appeared first on Influence Expansion.

Here are six tips to best utilize in-the-moment marketing at your company:

Prioritize. There is simply no way to comment or respond to every online item that has a direct connection to your company – let alone the marginal ones. Decide what areas of focus are most important to your business success and address those in real time first. Create a hierarchy that outlines what comes next after the most important online issues are confronted, commented upon and highlighted.

Double-check. Mistakes are inherent when it comes to quick turnaround of any material but try your best to keep them at a minimum. If possible, have another set of eyes look over every status, Tweet or other online posting before they are live. If time is of the essence, read your posting aloud to yourself in order to catch any mistakes in content or grammar. It is far easier to make a correction on the front end than try to address it once other people have seen the error.

Act professionally. Unfortunately much of the interactive content online is negative, even aggressive, in nature. It is tough to sit back idly and think ‘the customer is always right’ while a disgruntled customer or client berates your business, especially if it is in an anonymous fashion. Remember that your reaction to negativity online reflects upon your company philosophy and brand image. Sometimes the best comment is conveyed privately or not dignified at all.

Stay out of it. When there is a debate going on about your company or one of its products or services, there is no reason to involve yourself in the conversation. Most times, another customer will come to your defense against negativity anyway and that is a more powerful endorsement than any official company stance. Know when customers are looking for outreach from you and when it is best to stay silent.

Empower. If every form of communication must have the approval of a company leader, you are sure to miss real time marketing opportunities. Give other employees that are in-the-know permission to act when there is a chance to maximize timely company outreach related to posts on your business or industry news.

Plan ahead too. Real time marketing is not all running around putting out virtual fires all day long. There are some opportunities that you can plan for in advance. These include upcoming events in your industry or the predicted passage of legislation that affects your company. Get geared up to implement your real time strategy the instant that it makes sense to do so. Planning ahead in these situations means less room for error and strength of information that benefits consumers.

A strong social media presence is necessary for an effective real time marketing plan which means that a solid base of followers is also vital. The more people that see your statuses, Tweets and blog posts in a timely fashion, the higher your credibility. Find ways to build up your following online and then roll out a strong strategy for real time marketing.

Megan Totka is the Chief Editor for ChamberofCommerce.com.  Search the ChamberofCommerce.com directory to find local business providers and solutions.

The post GUEST POST: What’s Your Real-Time Engagement Strategy? appeared first on Influence Expansion.

It’s an answer to all those people out there who either:

1. Don’t want to do “the work” of leveraging web video (I put “the work” in quotes, because it’s really not that damned hard)
2. Mistakenly state that people “don’t watch videos anymore”. Hmmm…check out that last stat….4 BILLION HOURS of video is viewed each day on YouTube. Um, that’s a “B”.

When are you uploading your next video?

The post Do People Still Watch Web Videos? appeared first on Influence Expansion.

I’m a Ravens fan, but by the looks of the social media results, the 49ers won. I guess Tweets aren’t better than touchdowns.

The post The 49ers Totally Won the Super Bowl…the Social Media Super Bowl appeared first on Influence Expansion.

*drum roll*

FIVE CITIES : FOUR MONTHS

I’m AMPED to announce my Spark & Hustle EXTREME East Coast (+ Chicago) Tour. This year, I’ll be joining my biz gal pal @ToryJohnson in setting the East Coast (+Chicago) on FIRE.

Come check me in DC in April, Chicago in May, Atlanta and Boston in June and my backyard in NYC in July.

Get in where you fit in…would LOVE to see you: http://sparkandhustle.com/events/

The post ANNOUNCING: My Spark & Hustle EXTREME East Coast (+Chicago) Speaking Tour appeared first on Influence Expansion.

Apple: You are now chatting with Ashley W

Me: I need to find a replacement for my iPhone charger — the white square piece

Apple: Welcome to the Apple Online Store. How are you doing today? I’m really sorry to hear that.

Apple: My expertise lies here on the Apple Online Store. Not to worry, let me get you in the right direction here so you’re completely taken care of.

Me: Ok…the one that looks like this: http://www.amazon.com/USB-AC-Power-Adapter-White/dp/B0038HYPZS/ref=pd_sim_cps_16

Me: But, I want the Apple authorized part

Me: Is it this one: http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD810LL/A/apple-5w-usb-power-adapter

Apple: In order to get this authorized part, it will be best to speak with our AppleCare team and they will be able to assist you from here!

Apple: The number for AppleCare is 1-800-275-2273.

Apple: I haven’t heard from you for a few moments. Would you like to continue chatting?

Me: Hello?

Me: This is the store chat, yes?

Me: This item is the store…so what DO you help with?

Apple: My expertise lies here on the Apple Online Store.

Me: Ok, so the item that I’m looking for IS in the Apple Online Store, so why do I have to call someplace else?

Me: Hello?

Apple: In order to get this authorized part, it will be best to speak with our AppleCare team and they will be able to assist you from here.

Me: Ok, why?

Me: The part that I need you sell in the store and you’re an online store expert.

Apple: Just another minute.

Apple: Thanks for waiting. I’ll be right with you.

Apple: Thank you for choosing the Apple Store. If you have any additional questions, please chat us again.

A paying customer, CUT OFF during the middle of a chat while trying to buy something on their site. Wow, is this how Apple does it now that Steve is gone?  #FAIL

Why can’t Zappos run Apple? In fact, why can’t Zappos run EVERY company?

The post Apple’s Big #FAIL appeared first on Influence Expansion.

But, what I will say is that things have changed in advertising for sure. We’re not paying attention a lot of the time and as a result, the ad creators resort to more and more exaggerated claims — and, as you can see from the infographic below, they’re selling, but not many are buying it.

I find it interesting that men don’t think beauty ads are exaggerated — that’s a whole other conversation!

One of the things I love about digital and social media is that they help you to bypass the need to obsess about trying to get people to buy and really put the focus on how real, approachable and genuine your brand can be. It’s no longer about who’s got game — it’s about who can keep it real. And, I’m definitely with that program.

The post Do Ads Add Up? appeared first on Influence Expansion.

What stands out for me from this infographic is how many search results are now tech-related. Seeing what people search for in aggregate really helps you to have a finger on the pulse of what’s going on.

Enjoy!

The post An Internet Decade appeared first on Influence Expansion.

However, I am interested in how and why companies track, compile, confer and leverage my data. Perhaps you are interested in the same?

This infographic gives you some insight into the world of online tracking without being overly technical.

And, oof! Those social sharing buttons are a bit scary, eh?

The good news is there’s a potential remedy with the Zone Alarm Do Not Track software. I haven’t used it, probably won’t and am not getting a dime by mentioning it or sharing this graphic, but if you’re worried, why not give it a whirl and come back here and let me know how it worked for ya?

BONUS: Blast from the past: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YvAYIJSSZY

The post Digital Big Brother: Who’s Watching You? appeared first on Influence Expansion.

You guys know how I  like to share infographics with you and this one stands out for me for a couple of reasons:

• Ok, so a mere TWO years after the Internet started, the first virus was created? So, were we hosed from the beginning or what? I mean couldn’t they have just waited a bit on that? Gotta start ruining what was just created?!
• Then look at the jump in number of Internet users between 2005 and 2011. Mobile anyone?

The post 1969: The Year the Internet Was Born appeared first on Influence Expansion.

The Internet has made it possible to gather a great deal of information very quickly. Search engines have shown themselves to be useful in gathering this information, but they are not necessarily the best method. This is where a special type of social media tool, known as social bookmarking, comes into play. However, many people don’t understand what social bookmarking is really all about.  >>read more…

The post Latest Article: Social Bookmarking – Your Next-Level Marketing Tactic for 2013 appeared first on Influence Expansion.

E-mail is not dead. Just ask TechCrunch king, Michael Arrington. At one point Arrington revealed through his blog that he had over 2,400 unread e-mails in his inbox and another 721 unread messages in his Facebook inbox—well over two thousand unread messages. What is the world coming to if the technological elite can’t keep up?

Arrington is not alone. Every day entrepreneurs carry the weight of thousands of unanswered e-mails and the problem takes its toll on them professionally and emotionally. Not only are they are missing out on untold opportunities by not being responsive, they are in a constant state of heightened stress, panic and guilt.

Donald Rubin* is the CEO of a software firm and a venture capital professional and an e-mail hoarder—14,651 unread messages to be exact… >>read more…

The post Latest Article: Three Ways to End Email Overload appeared first on Influence Expansion.

As you think about expanding your social media influence in the coming year, focus your energy on these trends and tasks:

1. Spend more time on LinkedIn. With over 150 million users, it is more important than ever to log in often on LinkedIn and expand your network. Each major social network serves its own purpose. Facebook helps reach a customer base, whether you company is B2B or B2C based, in fun, non-selling ways. Twitter is more of a “quick hit” atmosphere where people that are interested in your business can see who you interact with and see what links you find valuable. Think of LinkedIn as a digital resume, business card and “who’s who” all rolled into one. Make new connections often and ask your clients to endorse you for different skill sets. Include your LinkedIn information wherever you tout your Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest accounts and keep your profile up to date. Many sole proprietors and small business owners severely underuse LinkedIn but that dynamic is shifting – and quickly. Make 2013 the year that you maximize all that this networking site has to offer your business.
2. Value information over flashy stories. People are increasingly becoming weary of shallow, un-researched information in favor of more thorough reporting. You do not have to be in the media industry for the general public to expect more from your own information gathering and distribution. Take the time to present research-rich findings and business news to your customer base and double check all of your facts. Establish your business as an expert that has all the right answers, especially during this critical time when people are beginning to look for validation behind online information.
3. Become more visual. All people are drawn to visual storytelling, whether in the form of a picture, infographic or chart. The addition of one simple graphic, like a stock icon, to text-based material can mean the difference between a person that skims your information and someone who commits to it before reading the first sentence. You do not have to be a graphic expert to improve your content with visuals. Make it a point to add a piece of art to every article or blog post you create. When you post a link to Facebook, ensure that the thumbnail option is utilized. Use Twitpics. Upload photos that relate to your business in your LinkedIn account, or any profiles that you have on freelancing or contractor sites. Get in the habit of always thinking about how to add visual items to everything you write and release and capitalize on the human desire for information via visuals.

Megan Totka is the Chief Editor for ChamberofCommerce.com.  She specializes on editing business news and writing small business tips across the web.

The post Guest Post: Three Ways to Maximize Social Media Influence in 2013 appeared first on Influence Expansion.

A fresh 365 days provides a clean slate for many activities that relate to your small business. Like individual resolutions, business ones should be realistic and have benchmarks toward overall achievement. If you choose just one area for business improvement in the coming year, expanding your influence by using social media should be it. Here are four things to resolve to boost your social media credibility and effectiveness in 2013 and beyond:

1. Gain fans and followers. This seems like a no-brainer, but set some attainable goals as far as numbers are concerned. It is not enough to simply sit back and let the follows and “thumbs ups” roll in alone. Set attainable goals for each month of the year and the ways that you plan to reach them. Consider inviting people to like your Facebook page, following and retweeting other Twitter accounts or cross-promotion with other blogs or websites. Come up with hard numbers then get to work translating them into reality.
2. Be more generous. While social media IS all about promotion, the best way to gain loyal followers is to put their needs first. Plan ahead for a year of promotions via social media. Include things like coupon codes, free services and giveaways – something you may already do through an email marketing company. Make sure you are giving enough to fans and followers before thinking of your own needs. Just like personal giving, what you give out you will get back. In the case of small businesses, the benefits reaped include increased brand awareness, higher customer loyalty and a better bottom line.
3. Get an education. Do not simply rely on what resides on your small business website to share with your social media following. Make a point to read more in the coming year and to share that knowledge with your client base. Consider adding one industry blog to your regular reading list per month and then sharing the links that you find helpful with your own readers. You should also add several Twitter accounts to your “following” list per week and keep track of what links they find helpful. Take the time to seek out reputable, informative places on the Web that can help your own business ventures and benefit your customers.
4. Have more fun. Social media is not all hard work and no play. It costs nothing to post a link that is funny, heartwarming or just plain silly to your social media accounts. If something makes you laugh or smile, go ahead and pass it on. Oftentimes, these items will have nothing to do with your actual business but will encourage people to click on your account and increase the chance that they see your future posts that have to do with your business.

Whatever your personal or business goals for the coming year, remember to set both specific short-term goals and long-term goals. Even if you do not reach all of them, by the end of the year you will be closer to those achievements than you were before making the resolutions.

Megan Totka is the Chief Editor for ChamberofCommerce.com.  ChamberofCommerce.com helps small business grow their business on the web.  Add your business to ChamberofCommerce.com’s business directory.

The post Guest Post: 4 Ways to Expand Your Influence in 2013 appeared first on Influence Expansion.

Take a look at the infographic below, there are 300 million mobile photos uploaded to Facebook EVERY DAY. That’s just unreal to me.

But, if you think hard about the photos vs. videos stat it does make sense. People are used to dealing with images. Since the Internet because a popular way for the masses to communicate, we’ve been sharing pictures of our families and friends. I can remember hardware that was created specifically for grandparents who didn’t want to “deal with all that Internet stuff, but do want to get pictures of their grandkids”.

Videos? Well, they’re a bit more complex and then there’s the issue of storage, etc.

But, you would think that moving pictures, videos, would trump in terms of garnering interest — but they don’t.

So, for this Tuesday’s Tip — just for this week I challenge you to find 12 pictures that you love and post a new one three times a day for the next four days on your Facebook page. Be sure to give appropriate attribution for art or photos that are not owned or created by you. On Friday, hit me up on Facebook and let me know what your results are. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

HINT: The photos don’t have to be related to you or your business. Let the pictures tell a story about who you are and what your brand represents.

The post TUESDAY TIP: Mobile Photos Gone Wild appeared first on Influence Expansion.

This blog post first appeared on ChamberofCommerce.com

Last month, I unraveled Twitter for you. This month, let’s drill down on Facebook.

It has been my experience that in order to be successful in any environment, you must understand the underlying drivers of that environment – you know, what makes it tick. So, when my students and clients ask me about the best way to get real results from their Facebook pages, the very first thing I feel compelled to share with them is this: Facebook users are not primarily there to learn anything about you or your business.  They are there to socialize, share (read: brag) and sell their own stuff. (Just for good measure, read those last two sentences again.) If you understand this, everything else will be easy.

Read more over on the Chamber of Commerce website…

The post 5 Painless Steps to a Rockin’ Facebook Page appeared first on Influence Expansion.

1. Discount codes. People love a good deal – so pass along an exclusive discount code to your social media followers and fans. To make the most of this gift idea, consider a variety of deals over the course of several days (think the 12 Days of Christmas – but with discount codes).
2. Contests. This is a fun way to get customers to interact with you and each other. Consider running a Thanksgiving recipe or a holiday photo contest with several prizes for winners. If you do not have “goods” to give away because of the nature of your business, spend a little on holiday-themed prizes or reward the winners with free services.
3. Giveaways. Instead of buying something for everyone, spend a little bit on one nice giveaway option. Use a widget like the ones found on Rafflecopter to give your followers several chances to win. You could even consider approaching a different company and asking for a giveaway donation in exchange for free promotion.
4. Targeted “thank you” posts. If you have a small client base, this should not take long at all. Give them some social media love by tagging them in a “thank you” post or mentioning them in a Tweet. If you have a lot of customers, a blanket “thank you” is acceptable but infuse it with some heart.
5. Referral bonuses. Offer cash, prizes or a discount to clients that refer new business to you during the holiday season. If you already have a referral program in place, sweeten the deal for the months of November and December.
6. Free services. Come up with a specific service that you offer and give it away for free (in a limited capacity). For example, if you normally charge for a 30-minute project consultation, advertise them free for the holiday season. Remember that this is a step toward securing work for the coming year and gives your present and future customers a “nothing to lose” option.
7. Charity matches. If you plan to give some money away anyway, reach out to social media followers with a charity match option. Set up donation accounts associated with your business at popular holiday charities like the Salvation Army, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or your local charitable organizations – or allow your customers to pick out their own eligible charity. Set a maximum limit per customer and in total before advertising this. Customers will see your beneficent side and feel satisfaction in knowing that their own donations are making a bigger difference.
8. Free advice. Your expertise has value and people probably pay you for it. Develop a series of helpful hints to disperse throughout the holiday season either in the form of Facebook statuses, Tweets or blog entries (promoted through social media). Making a video “how to” is also a great way to show off your skills and help out your customers at the same time. Not only will your client base benefit, but you will strengthen your position as an expert in your industry.

Megan Totka is the Chief Editor for http://ww.chamberofcommerce.com which is the most trusted business directory on the web.  ChamberofCommerce.com helps small businesses grow their business on the web and is the largest Chamber of Commerce online. 

The post 8 Great Social Media Holiday Client Gift Suggestions appeared first on Influence Expansion.

And, if I must say so myself, that blog post is being shared like hotcakes with over 100+ retweets. (Thanks for the support y’all!)

So, I thought you might be interested in this little tidbit, as well.

Pinterest now has BUSINESS accounts and now you can “port” your personal account and turn it into a business account! And, if you’re new to Pinterest, but have avoided it because you didn’t know if you could use it for your business, you can join Pinterest and create a business account right when you join.

I have to say the folks at Pinterest are completely clued in with what’s going on and they are really paying attention to how businesses use their service.

So, what do you need to do to convert your account? Here are a few easy steps:

1. To make sure creating a business Pinterest account is for you, take a look at this quick case study.
2. Then, if you’re digging it, head here: http://business.pinterest.com/
3. Login with your existing Pinterest account information or create your account.
4. Verify and/or edit your profile information and that’s all!

The only bummer, is Pinterest doesn’t allow you to change your vanity URL for your Pinterest account so if you already have an account, your dedicated Pinterest URL won’t change.

And, while you’re over there, let’s connect: https://pinterest.com/lenalwest/

The post 4 Easy Steps to Convert Your Pinterest Account into a Business Account appeared first on Influence Expansion.

“Secret boards give you a place for things you’re not quite ready to share yet, like a surprise party, special gift ideas, or even planning for a new baby. “

Somewhat similar to Twitter’s private lists, Pinterest’s Secret Boards are going a great tool to  leverage to plan and market your business.  Since the Secret Boards announcement was made, many people have shared some ideas on how to use them. They’ve suggested using them to plan private or “stealth” events like bridal showers, weddings and even Secret Santa. And, those are probably all good uses, but I’m focusing on the BUSINESS use of Secret Boards. Here are a few ideas for ya:

1. Long-range business planning. You might be wondering how you can do long-range business planning with images. Allow me to explain…let’s say you’re a life coach and you want to expand your marketing over the next year. Maybe you’re planning a series of monthly webinars or teleclasses to do so. You can create 12 boards, one for each month of the year, and pin pictures around the topics and ideas you want to cover. I have found that using right-brained approaches (pictures) for left-brained projects (business planning), helps you to be more creative and inventive in your planning process.
2. Targeting ideal clients. If you’re a consultant and you’d like to start doing business with larger companies – some large businesses and some smaller companies, why not create two secret boards? Use one to pin the logos of the top 5 mega-corporations you’d like to work with and create another board to house pictures of the founders of the smaller companies you’d like to consult with! BONUS: You can take a screen capture of your boards, print it out and make a Dream Board out of your print out!
3. Expanding your offerings. Let’s say you’re a high-end jewelry designer, and you’re looking to add some items to your line. You can source pictures of semi-precious stones and jewelry configurations that you like and model them in creating the extension of your line.
4. Team engagement. Ask your team members to create a board that they feel visually represents the company in its current state and then ask them to create another board that they feel represents what your company/brand could be in the future. You’ll be surprised at their submissions!

Yes, I know that was actually 4 tips and not just 3. Don’t hate on us over-achievers.

The post 3 Smart Business Uses of Pinterest’s New Secret Boards appeared first on Influence Expansion.

Before you start creating Facebook ads and viral videos and other page elements, you first need to understand the difference in social media language.

Facebook, being a world all its own, has a language all its own. The vernacular and connotations of certain words are very different than what someone outside of Facebook may realize. Facebook users create language; new words, new meanings for existing words. The end result is a different frame of reference, one which you must familiarize yourself with if you’re attempting to build a popular brand.

Facebook Language Lessons

• Like: Liking something is a special form of language on Facebook, if only because it doesn’t take any thought or explanation; it only takes an action. Shooting a thumbs-up on a piece of material says it all.

• Poke: Still a common term on a lot of sites mean to denote a private message occurring between two or more parties, a “poke” is like calling someone and hanging up before they answer, or dropping an empty text message. You’re poking them. You want their attention. Don’t worry; there’s no negative connotation as it may appear.

• Wall: When scrolling down your page, Facebook makes it clear that this is called a “Timeline.” But that’s their name for it; that’s not the name Facebook users give it. A person’s page is simply noted as their wall. For those of you using Qwaya or other ad-management tools, remember that “wall,” and “Timeline” can be synonymous with one another in a user’s context.

• Friend: It’s important to understand that a Facebook isn’t necessarily the place where you talk about your deepest feelings. When you look through the list of people you’re connected with, there are probably friends who you haven’t met or spoke to for years. Friending someone can be a tit-for-tat, colloquial way to say hi and to play the social game. Remember that when you make updates. Friends in real life may not be the same as friends on Facebook.

• Tag: To “tag’ someone isn’t like playing freeze tag as a kid. This means pointing them out in a photo or tagging the photo yourself so that it’s shared via your network. It’s also a way to send a shout-out in a photo.

•  Share: This is self-explanatory. To share something on Facebook is to pass it along to
other friends within your network or even outside of the network to other social sites.

• Subscribe: Subscribing to someone takes a lot more commitment than friending someone. Hitting that subscribe button is a one-way thing. This means the person subscribing really enjoys something and they’re looking forward to more of it.

• Stalk: The one thing you never want to be accused of doing, to “stalk” someone on Facebook is to visit their profile consistently or to send them numerous messages.

• Vaguebooking: Meant to be a play on “Facebooking,” Vaguebooking is essentially the practice of being vague in your description of anything – a person, product, place, event, etc.

Some of the language is easy enough to figure out if you don’t already know it, and some of the language might cause you to scratch your head. Irrespective of how tightly you toe the grammar line, it’s important to play by Facebook’s rules when you’re attempting to market via social media.

Stan Johnson is a writer for Qwaya – a Facebook Campaign Tool. She writes about the latest social media trends, to be updated visit Qwaya’s blog.

The post Your 9-Point Guide to Facebook Lingo appeared first on Influence Expansion.

Right after #Sandy, like 6 million other people, I was waiting to hear from family and friends to make sure they were OK.

I had been waiting to hear from M. because their local cell towers were down, they didn’t have power to charge their phones and their local landlines were down, too.  So, of course, I’m in queue in Walgreen’s and the phone rings and it’s M. By the time M’s call came in, I was at the cashier’s and I had a choice to show proper etiquette and not answer the phone and be slightly rude and talk on the phone during check out. I chose the later — and promptly apologized and explained to the cashier.

This was a total outside case, but if I’m truly honest there have been more times than not that I have been NOT as mindful and respectful as I could have been — the ’round-the-barn way of saying that I’m guilty of talking on the phone while checking out in the store. Rude. I’m workin’ on that.

So, when I saw the infographic below, I wasn’t really surprised until I got to the stat about 16% of cell phones having FECAL matter on them, paired with the following three stats of…wait for ‘em…

• 3 out of 4 college students sleep with their phones in or by their beds
• 10% of people under 25 will text during sex
• among all adults 15% will answer a call mid-sex

Putting aside the disturbing social implications of this, the bigger problem is:

Poop is in your bed. NO BUENO.

Let’s try to…ahem…clean things up, shall we?

The post NSFW MONDAY: Cellular Jerks appeared first on Influence Expansion.

I talk a lot about “social media spaghetti” – a term I use to describe the ball of entanglement that has become social media. There are so many tools and so many different permutations of use that it boggles even the most organized and compartmentalized of minds.

Whether you know exactly what do to with it or not, by now, you’ve at least heard something about Twitter. And, chances are, you really want to be involved because secretly (or, not so secretly) you think a) it’s cool and b) your market would love to hear from you on Twitter. But, first things first…when dealing with our clients who want to learn more about Twitter, it’s helpful to start with the basics – the logistics of Twitter.

Read more over on the Chamber of Commerce website…

The post Twitter: Unraveled appeared first on Influence Expansion.

I recently received an email from a woman who wanted my help on developing a social media strategy. I was really looking forward to speaking with her because she had an interesting way she wanted to use social media — to collectively promote a group of underestimated experts in her industry.

Read More over on the Chamber of Commerce website…

The post Three Reasons You Need a Social Media Home Base appeared first on Influence Expansion.

And, while some services allow you to login using your Facebook or Twitter credentials, I will be the first to admit that some of these sites are suspect (o.O) and I end up creating a new ID specifically for that site anyway.

End result? All these dang passwords and who can remember them all? So, what do we do, we rely on either the same passwords for all these sites (a disaster waiting to happen) or we only pick two or three different passwords and use them across a whole bunch of sites (not good either).

Take a look at this infographic and in particular, look how long it would take to break your password if it contained some combination of 9 letters, numbers and symbols! And, I mean, who uses “password” as a password? Apparently a LOT of people. It’s time to uplevel your password structure, guys.

The post WEDNESDAY WISDOM: Get your password on! appeared first on Influence Expansion.

My last three presentations were actually me leading roundtable of up to 15 people. The topic of the roundtable was the title of my upcoming  book, “Who Gives a Tweet?” I spoke with them about tactics and strategies that can help them get the most out of Twitter. I answered their questions and addressed their concerns about what role Twitter should have in their lives and in their businesses. It really was amazing. Here’s a picture of yours truly leading one of those roundtables:

But, during my first presentation, I spoke to a room of 300 women (5,000+ attended the conference), about what influence REALLY is, why it’s important to expand your influence and four steps to actually start doing so. I shared these four tips with that group of 300 women and so I’m going to share them with you here:

• Mind State + Commitment – The first order of business is to get your mind state in alignment and then make being more influential a priority. That means eliminating distractions, removing negative influences from your orbit, drilling down to focus and make all your decisions with the goal of becoming more influential in mind. Every time there is a decision to be made, ask yourself: “is doing this going to expand my influence to support my goals”?
• Tool Selection – Very successful influencers leverage one or two influence-building tools – they don’t try to do everything. For example, I speak and write a lot…other people might leverage Facebook and direct mail or email and Twitter. The point is, pick one or two things and do those really, really well. Stop trying to do it all. You’re making yourself frustrated. And, that doesn’t serve anyone and it certainly doesn’t make you any more influential.
• Influencer Engagement – In order to be influential, you have to know who to influence. This is what got me on CBS This Morning with Gayle King. Figure out who are the people who are ALREADY trust agents with the people you want to work with — who already has their trust? And, once you know that, you can start to figure out how to genuinely reach them so they trust you and either directly or indirectly endorse you and your work.
• Growth – You need to figure out EARLY ON how you’re going to support your growth – even if you can’t see the growth potential now.  If you don’t plan for growth, how can you actually grow? I can say for sure that my business did NOT grow until I had two things: accountability and the support of other entrepreneurs like me through a mastermind group. I’ve heard many, many other successful entrepreneurs say the same thing. Find a coach or join a mastermind group of like-minded people…it’s the fastest path to where you want to be.

The post 4 Real-Life Ways to Expand Your Influence appeared first on Influence Expansion.

Perhaps the most common misconception about the art of blogging is that there are no rules. Anyone with something to say can plaster it all over cyberspace and call themselves a “blogger.” While this is technically true, it takes more than a domain name to garner a following and turn it into a lucrative business. Here are some MUSTS for operating a successful blog:

• Update often. How often? Once each week at the very least. Three to four times per week is even better. If you want to garner any Google love, you need fresh content on a regular basis.
• Toughen up. Allow comments on your blog – even if they are negative. If you are writing about anything even remotely controversial (and even if you are not), you will find your fair share of dissenters. Realize that is part of the blogging culture and take all the comments in stride. Often negativity in the form of the comment section leads to more interaction with all of your readers.
• Think in SEO terms. Hardwire your blogging brain to know where to place key words and phrases to help your post get better traffic. A great practice is to write your entire piece with no thought for SEO and then go back through and edit for SEO purposes.
• Read other blogs. Follow industry blogs and check out the design elements on others. Formulate your own blogging ideas based on creativity from other sources.
• Cross link. Once you find other blogs that you like, look for opportunities to promote each other. This could be as simple as your link in the “favorite” list on another blog, or could mean trading guest posts from time to time. The more sites that you have linking to your blog, the better your page rank.
• Use social media. Perhaps a better way to state this point is by saying “use social media effectively.” Set up separate accounts in places like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn for your business blog. It is okay to link from your personal accounts, but too much can lead to annoyed friends and followers. Invite these friends to your blog profiles and include easy “follow me” tabs in your blog design.
• Resist the urge to talk about yourself. You are awesome. Everyone knows it. So use the space in your blog to discuss things other than your business or self endeavors. Keep up on the trends in your industry and discuss the news in your posts. Talk about what other people are saying or doing, and present yourself as the authority on those topics.
• Above all, stay professional. When the aforementioned blog dissenters do their worst, it is tough to sit idly by. Keep your retorts well-developed and be the “bigger” blogger. Sometimes (online) silence in golden.

Remember that your blog is your brand – more so than an official business website. The tone of your blog can build up or break down your business ventures so take the time to do it right. Planning and smart execution is needed in order to stand out in a saturated blogger environment.

Megan Totka is the Chief Editor for ChamberofCommerce.com. She specializes on the topic of small business tips and resources for the best business directory online. ChamberofCommerce.com can help connect you to over 7,000 Chambers of Commerce worldwide.

The post GUEST POST: 8 Savvy Blogging Musts for Entrepreneurs appeared first on Influence Expansion.

For those of you who are looking to take your businesses internationally AND in the market for a challenge, you might want to consider Russia. No, that’s not typo, Russia.

I mean, look at the infographic below, practically the whole country (adults and youth) is online and mobile. Now, if we can just do something about those pesky government rules and tendencies.

The post MONDAY MADCAP: Vodka anyone? appeared first on Influence Expansion.

“I first learned the power of social media after hearing Lena West command the stage at the American Express Women’s Conference over 2 years ago. She made #Social #Media more relatable to my business as not just a hobby, something to do, or a waste of time, but as a tool to expand my brand, gain clients, and show my talents. She also helped me and many other business women, understand how to incorporate several different new digital mediums into our entire #marketing strategy. Fast forward to today- Lena is an author in addition to a very successful business owner and well-known speaker. She also created a unique system to make social media management more accessible to the busiest entrepreneur on a limited budget.”

WOW. Thanks, Kristi!

The post ELATED PEEPS: Don’t take my word for it… appeared first on Influence Expansion.

She’s not a violent person by any stretch of the imagination. She was talking about establishing her brand cornerstone. Let me explain…

The chief reason women entrepreneurs don’t get the results they want and need from social media is because they don’t have a SYSTEM. And, absent a system, people tend to do anything. Well, one of my claims to fame is my 9-step Social Media Marketing System.

Systems give you a beginning, middle and an end. They help you know where you are and how much more you have to go. Systems give you peace.

Step 2 in my 9-step system, is when I have my Academy students and Private Clients, distill their brand and create their brand cornerstone. Part of how you determine your brand cornerstone is to figure out what everyone else in your industry is scared sh*tless to say — and be willing to shout whatever that is from a mountain top.

Sometimes this can be hard. Many people aren’t willing to do what it takes to fix what’s broken…and others still won’t even TALK about what it would take. It is rare that people take a stance. No one wants to offend. But, the people who do…become the thought leaders, gatekeepers and trusted advisors of their industries.

So, in talking with this Intermediate member, I asked her: “Are you willing to take a stand for what’s NOT being said in your industry? And, are you willing to speak about it even if no one else is willing to do so? Are you willing to take the BIGGEST misconception in your industry, turn it on it’s head and make the new approach the undercurrent of all your marketing?”

She said: “You know what I want to do with that misconception?

I want to kick it in the teeth!”

And you know what, she’ll win. She’s already winning, in fact.

Unless and until you’re willing to take the biggest myth in your industry, kick it in the teeth and use all your social media marketing power to do so, you’ll always be saying things everyone else is already saying and you’ll never rise above the noise. This will guarantee you a perpetual ride on  horse named Mediocre. And, NO ONE bets on a horse named Mediocre.

The post “I want to kick it in the teeth!” appeared first on Influence Expansion.

This is a real coup for my WordPress peeps out there.

Remember when if you wanted to embed a Tweet, you had to do a screen grab and then crop the image and then upload the image and then embed it?

Well, no more my weary WordPress wizards!

Provided you have upgraded to WordPress 3.4 and above, all you need to do is take the link for that specific tweet (found by clicking on the timestamp) and copy and paste the link into the body of your WordPress page or post (no need to even switch to HTML mode), like this:

https://twitter.com/lenawest/status/255629992522838016

And, tah dah! WordPress will auto embed the Tweet you’ve specified.

Here are three ways to swag this functionality out for your marketing benefit:

1. When someone is singing your praises, why not blog about it and thank them in front of all your friends and fans? (Don’t underestimate social proof!)
2. When your client posts a smart Tweet, why not highlight their Tweet on your blog? You’ll be their hero!
3. When you want to reference a Tweet in your post and you need a graphic to set the text of the post off. Why go scrambling for a graphic, when you can embed a Tweet?

The benefit of embedding the Tweet as opposed to making a graphic? All the links, retweeting, replying and favoriting buttons are live. ‘Cause it’s all about the share, baby!

The post TUESDAY TIP: 3 ways to swag out with Tweets appeared first on Influence Expansion.

#FOCUS100 is an event created and hosted by Digital Undivided, which was founded by my long-term pal and business visionary, @KathyrnFinney. Kathryn is the kind of friend who I don’t chat with all the time, but when we call each other it’s like time has never passed AND we’re down to help each other launch anything. LOVE friends like that. So, when she called and asked me to speak at her inaugural event, I was totally D.

The event was in a word PHENOMENAL. I had as many tweets as the Mayor (!!) and in one tweet someone actually pondered who was the funniest, me or the Mayor. Cool beans. I’m sure there will be video and audio forthcoming from the event, but we came together to do important work and we did that and then some.

So, I’m at this wonderful event and Kelly Virella comes up to me and says, “I just saw you featured in the United in-flight magazine!”

Me: Really? Are you sure it was me?

Kelly: Positive!

Me: Wow, ok! I didn’t know anything about that, but I’m honored! Thanks for letting me know.

And, I thought that was the end of that. Until I got this Tweet over the weekend from Kelly and she sent me the picture you see in this blog post (how cool is it that I’m next to David Bach?) Apparently, it’s part of the advertising of the event where I’m speaking later this month on Wednesday, October 24th, the Texas Conference for Women. You have no excuse not to be there…JetBlue flies into Austin! Be there or be a rhombus!

The post MEDIA BLING: “I saw you in the airplane magazine!” appeared first on Influence Expansion.

These two things have happened in the past 30 days (probably less time, the days all run together now):

• I started working with a new Private Coaching Client and when my team completed her website audit, we realized that with a few exceptions almost every bit of technology she had embedded into her website was pointless. It was just a bunch of plugins, embed codes and distractions put together to make it look like something was going on, but there was NOTHING happening from a marketing perspective — and that’s the only angle the matters, really! Marketing is the part that generates leads — you know like paying clients?! Here’s the sad part: she’s brilliant AND she told me that her “techie friend” put the website together for her. The way she communicated that fact made me believe that this person had led her to believe she was getting some sort of deal because she wasn’t being charged for work. I wish the person had done NOTHING or put up a single Launch Rock page.

The thing is I’m getting SO tired of seeing this scenario.Women entrepreneurs being short changed if they’re not technologically inclined. They assume the person helping them means them well, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I released a video about this called “Are You Fed Up Yet?” a couple of weeks ago and I’m planning my follow-up because this has just. got. to. stop.

• Someone recently asked me a question on one of the Academy’s Q+A calls. She wanted to know how she could become a “rock star” in her field. She went on to tell me about a nonprofit effort she has put her heart and soul into that has taken off, but her social media consulting business isn’t bringing in the money she needs to make ends meet. She hosts a tweet chat, she’s go a lot of likes on Facebook yada yada…yeah but are you making MONEY!?

I asked her: do you send out a weekly newsletter? do you ask for testimonials to build your social proof? do you market your testimonials when you do get them? do you announce your new client relationships (with their permission)? do you announce your media coverage? do you have a coach? do you require that people work with you outside of an hourly arrangement? Her answer was no to ALL of these questions — actually, it was either “No” or she said she had done so a few times. Bleh. She she’s got all this Twitter and Facebook action happening, and that and $3 will get you on the subway. And, on top of all that, she’s splitting her attention across two different companies. Bad idea. Another brilliant woman entrepreneur who’s a best kept secret at what she wants to do and be in the world.

What does all of this mean to you?

1. You get what you pay for. You pay nothing. You get nothing.
2. A crappy web presence will hurt you more than no presence at all.
3. Stop being placated with shiny objects. Just because the widget exists doesn’t mean it needs to be on your website.
4. Get the basics together before you even think about trying to be a “rock star”.
5. Stop trying to build two businesses at once. YOU CANNOT DO IT. In the words of Jay-Z at his recent concert at the Barclay Center this past Saturday (yes, I was in the building!), “Everything in this world is meant to distract you. Keep your focus. Everyone has genius ability.” (I paraphrased.)
6. And, oh yeah, get a daggone coach.

The post A social media ADD solution via Jay-Z appeared first on Influence Expansion.

But, seriously, we DO hear a lot about the magical, mystical “cloud” and based on the infographic below, far too many of us are stuck in a cloud of confusion instead.

So, to set the record straight, here’s what the cloud is and what it ain’t, as defined by digital oracle – wikipedia. And, for the rest of us, “the cloud” is simply the digital storage “area” of the Internet. (No flame mail from tech types about the oversimplification, please.)

And, for the 80% of you who think the cloud has something to do with the weather, this too shall pass.

The post A Storm of Confusion appeared first on Influence Expansion.

If you do an online search for tips on how to be successful in social media, you will find list after list of advice from people proclaiming to be experts. While many of these suggestions do have some merit, a better way to up your social media cred is by learning from the best. Here is a short list of companies that do social media right and can teach businesses of all sizes a thing or two:

• Just have fun – via Allstate Insurance. You have probably had a few chuckles at the latest, greatest marketing creation from this insurance giant – Mayhem. Maximizing on the success of this lovable reminder of all the everyday reasons that good insurance is key, Allstate began a Facebook page dedicated solely to Mayhem. Nearly 1.4 million Facebook users have “liked” this page and his tongue-in-cheek status updates garner thousands of thumbs up each. The page does not actually promote the insurance services of Allstate in any way and Mayhem’s official page categorization is “public figure.” So while the purpose of this page is not to sell insurance policies directly, it shows fans that there is more to Allstate than boring statistics and stuffy salespeople.  The “about” section of the page reminds visitors that the“Mayhem Facebook page is a fun community.”
• Fan recognition – via Skittles.  If you think Mayhem has a lot of fans, check out the page for the delicious fruity candy Skittles. Over 22 million fans have liked this page and its quirky updates. Unlike the prior Allstate-sponsored page, Skittles does promote itself through its posts but in creative, colorful, visually pleasing ways. The brand’s motto is “taste the rainbow,” after all. Perhaps the thing that the marketing experts do the best is recognize fans on a regular basis. Once a week, Skittles posts a bright fan-submitted photo, declaring that person the “greatest fan in the world.” Followers are considered for the title based on the creative way they display the Skittles in the shot. Not only do fans get a chance to shine, but the product is promoted in a non-traditional way.
• Direct response options – via Burt’s Bees. People who simply hit the “like” button on Facebook gain instant access to money savings coupons. The company uses the Facebook page to introduce new products and prompt consumers for feedback. According to the company’s social media manager, visits to the e-commerce site linked directly from the Facebook page doubled in one year. The line of natural lip balms, cleansers and lotions offers customers instant access to the products they want to purchase, and makes fans feel special with insider information.

Megan Totka is the Chief Editor for ChamberofCommerce.com. She specializes on the topic of small business tips and resources. ChamberofCommerce.com helps small businesses grow their business on the web and facilitates connectivity between local businesses and more than 7,000 Chambers of Commerce worldwide. She has spent time working for major media news outlets in the Bronx and Brooklyn

The post GUEST POST: 3 Tips from Social Media Greats appeared first on Influence Expansion.

I recently came across the infographic below called “The Business Marketer’s Guide to Instagram”. No, Instagram isn’t just collections of pictures of people’s pets. There really is away to get results from leveraging pictures via Instagram.

Are you familiar with the saying, “Success leaves clues”? Well, Facebook purchased Instagram earlier this year for $1 billion. That’s billon with a B.

<3 the fact that this infographic is long on the info and short on the graphic…enjoy!

The post Instagram – it’s not just for cats anymore appeared first on Influence Expansion.

It is possible, heck, I do it everyday, but most people don’t have a system to follow that can reliably and painlessly get them there so they flounder and continue to stay on the hamster wheel. That does NOT have to be their story.

This is just one reason why I’m really excited about my upcoming participation in the Mom to Mompreneur online telesummit on Tuesday, October 16th @ noon, EST.

I’m going to be debuting my latest training on social media monetization:

Get to the Money Behind the Media: How to Leverage Your Social Media Influence to Drive Real Business Growth

So, if you’ve ever wonder just how the HECK you can generate REAL business from all your social media marketing efforts, you’ll want to register for this event. Now. Acting now means you’ll get the free preview event on October 2nd for free.

But, don’t take my word for it, take a gander at the blog post that telesummit co-host Jennifer Covello wrote about her first encounter with me some years ago at an event where I spoke.  I must have done something right because she didn’t forget me in all this time and she’s asked me to speak at her event. See what I mean about INFLUENCE?

The post Get to the $ behind the (social) media appeared first on Influence Expansion.

But, if you didn’t get a chance to actually be in attendance at #TribeUpNYC, you’re in luck, my biz pal Andi-Roo wrote a really good recap  of all the lessons she learned.

I have to say it was really interesting to read this post and to see how other people absorb and understand my presentations.

Oh, and my tips are #6-12.The first ones are from corporate marketing dude, Goeff Livingston.

Is there a tip in this article that directly stands out to/for you? Which one?

The post MEDIA BLING: Seeing myself as others see me appeared first on Influence Expansion.

I’ll be speaking about – surprise – Expanding Your Influence and I’ll have 20 minutes to scorch the stage and leave it in ashes – which I fully intend to do.

In preparation of the event, I had a great conversation with Carol Lynn Rivera (@CarolLynnRivera) over at Web.Search.Social. The zany, affable Dino Dogan (co-founder of Triberr) put her in touch with me for an interview and I have to say, it’s one of my most revealing interviews to-date. How she got some of that stuff out of me, I’ll never know, but it’s ALL good.

You can check out the interview here. Tweet it, Facebook it, +1 it. Go tell it on the digital mountain!

(On a total side note, in a few days, I’ll be posting a video where I’m interviewing Dino about Triberr and how I think the app is a complete difference-maker for the social media potential of women entrepreneurs….be on the look out for it.)

The post MEDIA BLING: My most candid interview to-date appeared first on Influence Expansion.

It is  my passion. My fuel, my fire.

For far too long, women entrepreneurs have come up short when it comes to being on the winning side of technology — whether online or off — and I’m making it  my personal business to address this disparity head on, from now on.

In this video I go deep into sharing my belief system as relates to YOU and your future. Yes, you.

Although I released this a couple of days ago via my newsletter list (you’ll see me make mention of that), I wanted to share  it via this blog, too.

Heads up: there will be another video coming out later today that is a direct follow-up to this video.

Share these videos with your friends and colleagues – especially other women entrepreneurs.

What time is it? It’s shift time.

The post NEW VIDEO: Are you fed up yet? appeared first on Influence Expansion.

Chris Lighty, rock, rock on.

The post The Light of Chris appeared first on Influence Expansion.

This particular graphics is interesting because it links the world of finance to social media. The first half of the infographic speaks to the unfair targeting practices that some credit card companies have engaged in when it comes to targeting young people. But, as you move further down the graphic, you’ll start to see the role that social media is playing on the finance side of the major credit card company’s businesses.

I’ve been saying two things for a long time:

1. Everything a company does is marketing.
2. Social media isn’t just about marketing.

After looking at this infographic, do you agree or disagree with my above two statements?

The post Money + Social Media appeared first on Influence Expansion.

I’m sharing this infographic because it’s interesting to see the history of the humble servant – the caps lock key.

I’ll admit that when someone sends me a text or an email in all caps, I’m annoyed. Not because I think they’re shouting at me, but because they’re making it too hard for me to read what they’re writing

And, of course, I’ll share with you what I think is the most interesting stat from this image: in at least THREE instances, the caps lock key has been sacrificed in favor of other key functionality.  Have we fallen out of love with our caps lock friend?

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But, I will admit that I used to look at napping as a guilty pleasure – one that I had to hide from other people. That is, until my friend and former client, Tereza Nemessanyi, told me about Arianna Huffington’s (of Huffington Post fame) keynote that was all about getting proper rest. If I recall correctly, Arianna was sleep-deprived and she was rushing around and she either she tripped and fell or passed out and hit her head on the edge of a desk or table — a potentially fatal fall.

Then, Tereza treated me to a LARK. If you don’t have one and you are AT ALL concerned about your sleep habits, then get one. It’s the best 90 bucks you’ll ever spend. What I learned about my sleeping habits was not a surprise per se, but it wasn’t pretty. I needed course correction immediately.

After I started getting back on track, I realized the benefits of getting to bed earlier. I was less cranky. I had clearer skin. I could focus and stay on task. I got better results. Hence the title of this blog post. The stats I like the most in the infographic below?

1. quality of interactions increased by 10% (this may not seem like a lot, but trust me, 10% is the difference between getting the client and not also…”quality of interactions”? Social media anyone?)
2. increased stamina increased by 11% (increasingly the top companies in the world are taking their CEOs health and stamina into account when they’re considering the health of their companies – why shouldn’t you?)

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Many of you have heard me say that I’m an introvert. ‘Tis true. I didn’t say I’m SHY, I’m an introvert, which means that I get my energy from spending time alone, as opposed to spending time with people. I’m what’s called a “social introvert”, I just think I’m me.

What I find most interesting is that every time I mention being an introvert, someone chimes in and “comes clean”. Then come the questions about how they can be successful at social media marketing as an introvert. That is a HUGE topic to cover in one blog post, but I think the infographic below is helpful. It breaks out the MBTI types based on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Find yourself, see where you “fit” and see what your fellow “types” are up to!

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