Like many around the country, we’re dealing with some unemployment issues ourselves. Not directly online, but within our own family. With that in mind, and if you’re facing the battle of trying to make headway to secure a new position, upgrade a current position, or even sell your business ideas online to someone else (see below for further clarification), here’s information that may help you turn mountains into mole hills: (more…)

Yesterday I promised you a truly eye-opening and heartwarming story for this post, but first my recap (rant) of what went down last night during the Vice Presidential debate. As we gathered our pizza boxes and drinks and settled down with an atmosphere not unlike the Super Bowl, here’s my conclusions:

First off, my understanding ever since grade school (no earlier, ever since the first time your parents asked you a direct question), you answer the question. Only kids and people with something to hide dodge a direct question. Frankly, even in marketing, it’s best to say, “I do not know, but I will find out the answer for you!” then to pretend you are either answering it or worse yet saying, “I don’t want to answer that question, instead I want to talk about…”

I wasn’t expecting rocket science from Palin, (more…)

It seems a bit odd writing this post because as you read it, you’re already “doing it.” And, if you take the time to comment, you’ll even be putting it into practice (and getting some free marketing all at the same time).

Social media is huge, and blogging is one of the fundamental layers to using social media marketing to your advantage.

Being a blog reader - and again, commenting - also makes you a strategic part of the whole web 2.0 marketing hubbub. (Keep reading to get the stats AND find out what new “toy” is available online… for free!) (more…)

If ever there is a Gold Medal for blogging, Linda Rembowski of Forcedgreen would win hands down!

The August 16th edition of the WebProNews includes a quick (I don’t know what to call it… article? post? tidbit?) of information from their staff writer, David A. Utter. He writes:

The popularity contest of blogging and gaining links and traffic doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time and work.

And, of course, he’s not far off the mark. However, today we’ve got the great pleasure of taking our Sunday Fun Day to tell you about the huge success of (more…)

Everyone, everyday, has the ability to dramatically boost their positioning in the search engines. It doesn’t matter if you are a blogger, a website owner, or an affiliate homeless at the moment promoting other people’s products (though we recommend at least a redirected domain name to that product).

And, not so strangely enough, this marketing technique is completely free.

Today let’s really focus our attention on this one tiny marketing method with rock solid, gigantic benefits.

We speak of… (more…)

Or When Do You Stop “Learning” and Start Doing?!

Unless you are in a position to inherit money, get continuous cash gifts from relatives, or win by chance in Las Vegas (after parting with your own money first on that chance), nothing comes to mind where a person can sit still and rake in money (okay nothing legal that is).

Not offline. Not online.

Even the money making programs out there that tell you “no this” or “no that” don’t really mean it at all. The fine print, if they even bother to put fine print on the page, would read, “But the more effort, time, and money you put into this, the more successful you might be.”

End of story.

Same goes for the ever popular “guru following.” Now I am not slamming gurus, they are actually some of the smartest people on the internet. They know. They share some. They anticipate you will return to get the next piece. And the next, and the next, and the… well you get the picture. Granted, information. But will you ever really get going doing what you need to be doing or will you fear you need more pieces and do nothing (and nothing could be further from the truth).

Very few people on the internet say, “Here you go!” and give you everything you need. Very few people will continue to give you even more information to learn more or stay current with rapidly changing online techniques without some expectation from you.

Some would tell you that it is because one person cannot possibly want (or need) to “know it all at once.” (Pure fabrication)

Others will never tell you outright, but the truth is if “it” is given to you in bulk, will there be any reason for you to return? They fear your fickleness.

And, to be perfectly honest, people are fickle.

Witness the statement made at the top of this article. Where else in the world would you really think to yourself, “Oh good, I’m gonna get rich by not doing a thing!” Go ahead, re-read that. Sounds ridiculous because it is ridiculous.

That’s not to say there are not great programs out there to work. The emphasis, of course, lies on your willingness to become active and engage in the process to make it happen.

[A word of caution: If you are lazy and broke, do not exacerbate that condition thinking the internet will solve your problems.]

If you are able and willing, the internet can bring you wonders you never dreamed possible. No where else is it possible to meet and make friends with others from around the world. Friendships just as solid as if they were your next door neighbor (and maybe even more so in some cases).

There also are numerous methods to use when you’ve chosen a project to work diligently. Advertising and marketing online abounds, but again caution is in order. Throwing money at something, without a passion for that something, is no better than walking into a casino and handing your money to the doorman (if they had them), turning around, and leaving.

As you study your options online, all sorts of traffic-driving techniques may intrigue you. Many with (false) promises of the ease and viability with which it can happen. After a decade online, and in the marketing arena itself, I can with all honesty say there is nothing that does not require effort on your part - physically and economically - to make it happen. In particular - time and money.

Money is obvious, some services and methods are going to cost the green stuff. Time, however, and the concept of “I want it (or expect it) now” can be mind boggling. Ask yourself, do you get every job you apply for in the real world? Didn’t you have to prepare for the interview, dress the part, interact with others, and then wait for the phone call that might mean you got it? Time does not mean something else online, it’s just that… time. And being online means alloting proper amounts of it from all angles.

Okay, if you’ve made it this far (and I thank you!), then you deserve a reward. The key is to combine what you love with what you join and use both traditional and web 2.0 techniques to tell the world, “Hey here I am! Come visit me!”

Ah, there’s the rub. But it can be done in an amazingly short period of time - like visitors arriving today if you do it right.

Will they buy from you? Ask yourself instead, “Should they.” If you are willing to engage your visitor and give them a reason to come to you, really care that they do come, referencing to “time” above and the answer is yes.

Visitors arriving immediately. Staying and returning to talk with you. Yes the adage, people buy from people they feel they know is very true. You just need to help them discover who you are.

Yes, it really can be done and there are honest people out there willing to help you on the right road to doing something you love - now and forever.

Change fickle to “finally!” and learn the skills to get your job done.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Theresa Cahill and her partner Jeff Greer publish their OIMS blog under the pen name Diane Scott. They cordially invite you to see for yourself how to increase website traffic using a combination of how to strategies and you. Visit today, stay for life.

More wonders of the internet surface on a daily basis - heck almost by the hour! - and here’s a great resource to share (assuming you’re not ahead of us and already know about it).

Peopleized is a social circle where not only can you share information about who you are, what you do, your website, etc., but it also provides full functions for interviewing people and/or being interviewed.

From past experience, with the right interviewer/interviewee arrangement, we know first hand the far-reaching affects of a great interview posted for others to read.

Our good friend, Mert Erkal (of SearchForBlogging) has a post from the tail end of 2007, that explains the process and more:

How to Make a Peopleized(.com) Interview

Mert states, “Get interviewed by people and let other people know more about you. Interviews show “behind the scenes” of you and your blog/site/project like never seen before. Meanwhile, you will make new friends, gain links to your site and spread your message.”

And, what could be easier than a quick way to link to the exact interview with the click of a button (and a bit of copy/paste). After your interview is done and up on Peopleized, at the top of every interview you’ll find ready-made code to insert wherever you’d like. This code will pull in the entire interview! Use this method for fresh content updates on your website or blog - and of course to spread the word about your own “I’m famous!” interview(s).

So how can you pass up the opportunity for more exposure at the perfect price… free! Just requires your time and a well thought out interview process.

Personal name branding at its finest!

Extra Note: The site looks fairly “new.” This would be an ideal situation to be involved and be in the forefront of a “new” social media.