You should know, I'm launching another blog! If you haven't already done so, subscribe now to my Social Media Marketing Tips newsletter. Of course, when you do, you'll also get access to my free eBook: Social Media Marketing Essentials Guide For Small Business Professionals.
What's Going On?
Just so ya know, when you click the video above, your browser will redirect to MelAclaro.com. That's where the rest of the "Taboo" series, will be posted moving forward. Don't worry, I'm not shunting you off to someone else. I'm the same guy at both sites. I just wanted to let you know about that before you clicked. It's a precaution in case you're like me and one of my two cats: move our food bowl and we become immobile with confusion. ;)
I'll post a follow up article soon about about the new site I'm hosting at MelAclaro.com. (a.k.a. VideoMarketingRoadmap.com)
Is BusinessCasualBlog.com Shutting Down...?
I'll explain more about what's up in a follow up article. Soon. I promise.
This video is one of the dozens of free social media marketing video training and "how to" modules on Jara University. It's packed with hours of free social media marketing training for business. It includes social media marketing tips for: LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Blogging, Content / eMail Marketing, professional/expert seminars, a whole videoBook, eBooks and much more. You can register now for free by downloading the (also free) Social Media Marketing Essentials Mini Course and newsletter.
I actually have a lot more to say about relationship-building than the 'lil bit of 2:12 I gave it in this social media marketing video. Feel free to join me and friends on Jara University to discuss it more. But, clearly relationships are the crux of social media activities -- whether those activities be related to business development or not.
"It's not so much WHAT you give..."??
One thing you'll hear me say in the video is something along the lines of "...it's not so much what you give, it's the thought behind it." (Really? I said that? It's at about time code 1:20.)
Well, I'd be curious to know what you think about that statement?
For my part, I actually wish I could re-record that segment. I mean, yeah, I meant it. But, the context didn't quite convey the intent of my meaning. The fact is, despite my having said it, what content you share with those in your community does also make a difference. (If there's any doubt about that in your mind, try sharing one of those cheesy viagra emails or some other similar spammy tweet with me and see how quickly our relationship-building comes to an end.) ;)
At the time of the video recording, I was still really focused on the whole "giving" theme. (Remember, this section was shot in the same set as the previous two vids on New Media Philosophy and Content Philosophy.) The thing is, my intent is really to say that you want to put some deliberate thought behind the act of sharing with those in your community. That's how you gain relationship capital in the economics of the social web.
But, like it is in the capital markets, the value of the financial instruments you keep in your portfolio is in part due to the type of instrument you hold. Some are worthless and convey little or no value.
In the same manner, I think part of the deliberate thinking that goes behind sharing content with others should also be a consideration about the "what" aspect of the thing you're intending to share. That, after all, will have an effect on the way you are perceived by others in your community.
What do you think?
This video is one of the dozens of free social media marketing video training and "how to" modules on Jara University. It's packed with hours of free social media marketing training for business. It includes social media marketing tips for: LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Blogging, Content / eMail Marketing, professional/expert seminars, a whole videoBook, eBooks and much more. You can register now for free by downloading the (also free) Social Media Marketing Essentials Mini Course and newsletter.
Heads-up: At about the 1:42 point in the timecode for the social media marketing video above, I mention a few folks whom I recommend you follow. These folks are great sources of content and knowledge sources. It's obviously not an exhaustive list. Here are a few more folks to follow from my Jara University Mentor's Twitter list: http://twitter.com/melaclaro/jarauniversity-mentors.
Original Content Creation vs. Content Redistribution
"Content is king," as they say. But just as kings come in different sizes and quality, so does content tend to differ from one type to the next.
I'll have more to say about the added value of being an original creator of what I call Consultative-type Content in a later video. But, for now, suffice to say that Consultative-type content creation is the kind that seeks to give guidance from your own business expertise--and which you create from scratch. It's a key component of any serious list-building/marketing strategy. But, when you're first starting off, it's also the type of content that can be most intimidating to create. That's why in this video, as we're just starting off, I like to make a distinction that you don't have to focus on being an original creator of "full-length" consultative content for now. Rather, you can be just as relevant and helpful to those in your community by becoming a distributor of content.
Being a distributor of content is important because, just like the capital markets, it aids in liquidity. Only in this case, it's informational liquidity that we're talking about. For the most part, online content creators want their creations to be re-distributed. And, provided you give proper attribution to its source (and barring specific copyright restrictions against redistribution), you're actually encouraged to spread the wealth so it gets in the hands of many people.
And, even though you may not be the originator of that content, your online reputation can still benefit by virtue of the type of content you choose to share.
So, before retweeting a post on Twitter or sharing a link on Facebook, make sure to vet the piece of information first. Take a look at it and make sure it fits with the type of information your community network will appreciate.
This video is one of the dozens of free social media marketing video training modules I created for Jara University. Packed with hours of free social media marketing training for business. Includes social media marketing tips for: LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Blogging, Content / eMail Marketing, professional/expert seminars, a whole videoBook, eBooks and much more. You can register now for free by downloading the --also free-- Social Media Marketing Essentials Mini Course and newsletter.
This social media marketing video is part 1 of Day 1 in a 7-day series I did for Jara University. The main points in this social media marketing tip Day 1 video series is to set the stage for beginners that, it's okay to think about doing business online. There's more acceptance these days of marketing and business / lead-generation through social media marketing than there used to be. But, that's not to say that we can all now do a "free for all" and start hocking our inventory online for a few bucks. There's still an underlying philosophy that you have to bear in mind. That philosophy is still based on principles of trust. (Not a bad way of conducting business, if you ask me.)
In this social media marketing video, I hit on the points under New Media Philosophy. In follow-on vids, I'll hit on Content, Relationship building, and Brand Building.
This video is one of the dozens of free training vids I've created for Jara University. The whole site is jammed-packed with hours of free training content, including: LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Blogging, Content / eMail Marketing, professional/expert seminars, the whole videoBook and much more. You can register now for free by signing up for my free newsletter: Social Media Marketing Tips. AND, when you do, you can also get the 133 page / 20-video mini-course on Social Media Marketing Essentials For Small Businesses. (Um, also free.)
When you first start off with a new account on Twitter, the number of followers you have initially can be a bit depressing. But, it doesn't have to stay that way.
In this video, I show you 6 steps we can all take immediately to begin getting visibility with lots of others on Twitter. These tips help you NOT have to resort to spammy tactics or blind automation to attract followers. In other words, you'll be building the best kind of followership: organically.
This video is one of the dozens of free training vids I've created for Jara University. The whole site is jammed-packed with hours of free training content, including: LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Blogging, Content / eMail Marketing, professional/expert seminars, the whole videoBook and much more. You can register now for free by signing up for my free newsletter: Social Media Marketing Tips. AND, when you do, you can also get the 133 page / 20-video mini-course on Social Media Marketing Essentials For Small Businesses. (Um, also free.)
I'm adding workflow guides, templates, swipe copy, presentations and other email and marketing sequences for our members on Jara University; they'll be added to a new section we're creating for a Jara University "toolbox." Why?
Camp A - broadcast-type information marketers ("...learn the 'system' I used to make $90,000 in 72 hours...!") Ick.
Camp B - social media purists ("it's all about free content, relationships and trust...").
Camp C - a growing group of folks seeking to overlay the core values and principles of Camp B with the "systems" used by Camp A to provide great content and build trust within the framework of a permission-based marketing/sales funnel.
That article suggests that I have since thrown my lot in with "Camp C."
A couple of weeks before that, I shared some frustrations about the tiring queue of social medians preaching to the choir about this "new paradigm." And yet, even as we're told about the many examples of the societal benefits of social media, I can't shake this ongoing concern that we're collectively failing in the department that offers guidance about HOW professionals leverage social media when it comes to profit-based goals. And of course, to do it while keeping true to the trust-based culture and philosophy of the social web. (Ref. The Four Overused Terms For Social Media.)
More Social Media Training Needed Around List Building and Profitability Goals
My friend Scott Schang and I had a little "paradigm shift" of our own a little while ago. During an excellent presentation he gave about list building and online lead generation (which he'll be giving again on Jara University in a couple of weeks, by the way), we were surprised to see how many people in his audience--practicing social medians and bloggers many of them--seemed to be struggling with the aspect of social media that leads to list building and financial pursuits.
I mean, sure, ask the average social media practitioner--or even some social media consultants and social media trainers--how to get set up on Facebook, how to build a better blog, the top 10 things to tweet about on Twitter, or the "do's and dont's of social media engagement" and they're all over it. But, ask them for a workflow about how to implement a lead generation engine, sell a product or service online without coming across as "that guy," or define a workflow for implementing a marketing funnel from their blog, and it seems clear that more widespread training and support is needed in the department of guided uses of social media marketing tools for small business profitability.
Jara University Plan-Build-Sell Framework(TM)
So, it was in that process of brain-noodling that I revisited the social media training content we have on Jara University. I wanted to make sure that we're supporting the top tier social media practices. That is, the levels above the first two in the Plan-Build-Sell(TM) framework diagram below.
As I've explained in an increasing number of my client-partner meetings, training sessions and presentations, the whole gamut of social media enablement for business spans a much larger dimension than learning the "how tos" of: getting set up on Facebook, learning how to start a blog, understanding the value of Twitter, and so on. After you're up and running on the "Big 6" social platforms (i.e., blogging, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and monitoring tools), business interests should quickly turn attention to best practice techniques for list-building, network growth, development of consultative content (e.g., eBooks, reports, training series, etc.) and product launch techniques.
But, not readily apparent in the diagram above is the "toolbox" we also want to create so that our subscribers can benefit from using some of the very copy, templates, presentations, workflow logic, scripts and training sequences we and our mentors have used for own businesses.
Social Media Marketing Toolbox
So, here are some of the upcoming changes to Jara University. I'd really value your feedback, by the way, about any additional tools or training content we should be adding:
This is an excerpt from Section 1.2 of the videoBook I published for JaraUniversity. It's based on the Social Media Field Guide For Real Estate Professionals, which I co-wrote last year.
The video above actually follows on the heels of Section 1.1 - Social Web's Connectivity Revolution, which I posted back in November. In Section 1.2 above I pick up where I left off and continue with a whirlwind of some of the major players in "Web 2.0" (and how's that different from "Web 1.0," anyway?) as the transition in the social web was switching from broadcast type media to social media.
Of course, in some of the downstream videos (coming later?), I drill down closer to some of the tools, platforms and efficiency behaviors that have emerged as "best practices" (which seems to be a continuously moving target, huh?) that we and others in this space have found to be really helpful.
If you don't want to wait for the slow unveil, by the way, then it'll help you to know that I'm making the entire videoBook series available for free on our new new-media training and support site at JaraUniversity.com. Click here. Register for free. And let me know your thoughts about additional topics you'd like to see on the site.
If you've been following this blog for at least a couple of months, then you're already aware of my having launched MindBridj.com early last month. The idea I had for MindBridj was to set it up as an online video-based training site to augment the information in a book I co-wrote last year about social media for those who are relatively new to it. (The book, itself, was written for real estate professionals, but it could just as well apply to professionals in other industries.)
No sooner did I roll out with MindBridj.com than did other interesting opportunities begin lining up. (Life is a little funny that way.)
Well, since the MindBridj launch, I'm pleased to announce having since expanded, yet again, the people I can potentially reach with the information I developed for MindBridj. Early this month, I began laying the foundation for a partnership with a leading real estate trainer in Orange County Southern California. (Update: Changed to SoCal b/c I was just reminded that he does a lot of seminars in the Inland Empire, as well). My good friend, Jacob Swodeck, also a pretty well-followed real estate trainer and Short Sale expert in Orange County SoCal, wanted to expand his own services to help student/customers from his live workshops (also in the real estate space) leverage social media for their respective businesses. It seemed a natural fit.
So, for the past 4 to 6 weeks, I've been somewhat sequestered while we worked out details of building out a new site that merged elements of MindBridj with another venture Jacob founded early this year, formerly called LetsJara. The result is JaraUniversity.com.
Jara-U is still in its early launch stage but we've already begun taking both free registrations and paid subscriptions. You can get an overview in the short video above (also on the JaraUniversity.com home page), but the gist of Jara-U's offerings will initially include:
Full access to all chapters of the videoBook version (i.e., "vBook Online") of my book
Full access to a perpetually growing online library of social media skills training videos (i.e., "Success Library")
Full access to online coaching discussion forums
Audio seminars with business professionals who are making successful use of social media in their businesses today
Downloadable video files of all Success Library modules (MP4 format; playable on PCs, Macs, iPhone/iPods)
Downloadable audio files of all audio seminars (playable on MP3 players, iPhones, iPods)
Full text transcripts for all seminars
"Action steps" following each seminar to guide members on next steps to follow for implementing the tips discussed in the audio seminars
What Does This Mean For My Existing Subscribers on MindBridj.com??
It means that you are likely (again) getting a free upgrade to an online campus with even more features than what I currently have on MindBridj. (I'll lay out details in an email I'll be sending later today to all existing MindBridj.com members.)
A Shameless Request
But, if you're not currently a member, I'd appreciate you taking a looksee and consider registering under the FREE plan. THEN--and only if you see value in it for some of your friends--I'd love it if you saw fit to let your friends know via your own social and live networks. But, if you do pass it along, let me know. I think I can talk the bosses into a discount. ;) It's okay, I know people.
In the world of social media we often talk about the "wisdom of the crowd." But, how often do you see brilliant examples of using social media to literally capture the VOICE of a crowd?
The video below is the finished product of Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir project. Participants were invited to submit a voice entry through YouTube. But, no. This wasn't an American Idol type competition where participants would simply sing from whatever sheet of music they chose. Rather, each participant was given specific instructions about the musical track, along with basic guidance about web cam placement, microphone and headset usage. It also cleverly used a sync tone. That's basically the aural equivalent of those "clappers" you've probably seen used on movie sets. It helps editors later sync up the timing of all the video/audio clips they receive. The end result is the wonderful piece you see below.
Success Tips
After viewing the instructions Mr. Whitacre gives via web video to participants, it probably isn't lost on some of you in the workplace learning and performance profession that the basic guidance follows an effective sequence of Preview-Instruct-Demonstrate-Activity-Review.
1. Preview - start with the big picture. Mr. Whitacre created a video segment that first provides an overview of the musical piece that participants would have in hand, along with some tips about success criteria for different "milestones" along the musical track.
2. Instruct - give concise, clear instructions. After the big picture overview, a short series of slides were presented with audio overlays to visual cues that concisely communicated what the participant was to execute at different times.
3. Demonstrate - As the instructions were delivered, each step was presented in precisely the pacing that was later required to complete them.
4. Activity - After demonstrating each step, a slight pause: "Ready?" "Let's Begin." Following an appropriate pause to get prepared, the same steps that were previewed were presented in sequence, with the appropriate amount of pause to actually allow the participant time to perform the activity. Each step was visually and aurally simple. And visual cues were given along the track in the form of Mr. Whitacre himself leading with silent hand gestures to guide and pace the activity.
5. Review. Though this phase wasn't specifically carried out for the project submissions, it is worth mentioning that, had this been a structured training environment, it would also be necessary to include a segment that allowed the instructor / facilitator to review the activity and its results with participants.
What else did I miss? What would you add to this list?
I'm writing this post to answer a question my friend, Jennifer, asked about how I formatted a custom signature on my Mac (via Mac's native email client called Mail). And to be able to do it in such a way that doesn't distort or otherwise get discombobulated on the receiving end. The snapshot below is what we're shooting for.
The snapshot below is what we hope to mitigate as much as possible on the receiving end of your email.
Rather than keeping the process a secret between Jennifer and me, I figured some of you might have the same question. So, I thought I'd share it with the rest of ya'll, as well. To make it easy, I included both a video (below) and then also summarized the steps in a procedure list (further below). By the way, you can also watch the video in HD directly on the YouTube server. (Just double-click the video.) That'll give you a bigger video to see all the details. Let me know if you find it helpful.
First things first.
The steps to follow presupposes the following:
A. You have access to a web or FTP site to which you can upload your images and reference them over the web.
B. You have the basic skills to create a simple html page. (Or, at the very least, you have access to such knowledge via the skills of a friend.) It will help to have a software package like Dreamweaver or Microsoft Frontpage.
C. You are trying to create your custom signature for Mac Mail.
D. You have the Safari web browser installed on your Mac.
(Double-click it to watch it in HD.)
Steps to follow.
Assuming you have the above three conditions locked, here are the steps I follow to create a signature like the one at the top of this post such that it shows up in your Mac/Mail email signature:
The Preamble. (Do this in your html software package.)
1. Take all the graphics you intend to use in your signature and ftp them to a folder on your website.
2. Use an html software package like Dreamweaver or MS Frontpage to create the look and feel of the email signature you want to have. Use the software's features to display the email graphics via "IMG" references to the file on your web host.
3. Save your email signature design as an html file. (For purposes of this exercise, I've given my signature design the name "myemailsig.html"
The Crux of the Matter. (Do this in the Safari web browser.)
4. Now launch the Safari web browser. From Safari, select File/Open File from the menu bar.
5. Navigate to the location on your computer where you saved the html file for your email signature. Select the Open button. Your email signature will appear as a web page in your Safari browser.
6. Now, save your email signature as a webarchive file. To do this, select File/Save As... on the menu bar of your Safari web browser. Make sure to select "Web Archive" in the Format picklist of the Save As... window. (For my example, I've assigned the name "myemailsig.webarchive")
Make a "placeholder" email signature in Mac Mail.
Summary: In the next steps, we're going to use Mac Mail to create a new "placeholder" for your email signature within the Mac Mail file structure. We'll then copy the system-generated filename for this placeholder and then use it to rename the webarchive file you created in Step 6 above. As a final step, we'll copy the renamed webarchive and replace the system-generated signature file in Mac Mail. (Got it?)
7. Open Mac Mail.
8. Create a new "placeholder" signature. To do this, select Mail/Preferences... from the Mac Mail menu bar. The Preferences window will appear.
9. In the Preferences window, select Signatures from the list of menu icons. The Signatures list window will appear.
10. From the Signatures list column, select the email for which you want to create a new signature.
11. Beneath the second column, select the "+" button to add a new signature. Enter a name where prompted.
12. Now close the Signatures (Preferences) window and Quit out of the Mail program. (Mac Mail needs to restart as you complete the final steps.)
The End Game. (Do this in Finder.)
13. Using the Finder (file browser) application, navigate to the following folder:/Library/Mail/Signatures
14. Inspect the "Date Created" column for the files in the Signatures folder. (Notice these signature files are webarchive files!)
15. Find the webarchive (signature file) with the most recent date under "Date Created". (This will be the signature file you created as a placeholder in Step 11 above.)
16. Select the webarchive file with the most recent creation date and then copy the filename. (Note: This step requires you to copy the name of the file; not the file itself.)
17. Now, find the signature file you created earlier in Step 6. (i.e., myemailsig.webarchive) and replace its filename with the filename copied from Step 16.
18. As a final step, copy the file from Step 17 and replace the "placeholder" file in the folder under /Library/Mail/Signatures.
Your custom email signature will appear as a selectable item the next time you try creating an email message.
I hope this and the video helps!
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