One of the questions I ask people every time I begin a conversation with them about social media is Why did you sign up for these networks? 9 out of 10 times the response I receive is: To make money of course! But, unfortunately with the ever changing amount of networks and new networks being birthed almost weekly it seems, many become overwhelmed almost instantly. Then comes along the friend requests from your fellow colleagues who asked you to join and you find your resting place.
Once this happens, many begin to lose their focus and reason that they originally joined this network in the beginning and it turns into a cocktail party and fun for you. Now that you have found that comfortable place, you begin socializing with your friends & associates and completely lose focus of the original reason you joined.
If your remember, I wrote two weeks ago about The Importance of Listening with Purpose To Your Consumers and how listening to what consumers are saying on social networks like Twitter and Facebook can lead to increases in business. I mentioned how each network has certain applications available to assist you in tracking what consumers are saying about their needs of your services or goods. The two that I talked about in that post were TweetGrid and Facebook Search.
I decided that today I would share a few other must have tools that I have found to be beneficial in Cashing In On Your Social Media Investment. Of course, a solid blog is before any of these items, as that is your foundation to any social media marketing strategy.
1. Google Alerts- I have Google alerts at the top of my list for a reason. In case you aren't familiar with what it is, let me first explain. Google alerts is a notifying program produced by Google. You can set up an alert to be notified of any keyword/search term you wish. For me, one of the terms I use is my name. Why? I want to know every time Google is picking up my name. It 
first lets me know if someone has either re-blogged a post of mine, mentioned something good or bad about me, and allows me to know what is being said about me. I have this alert set to notify me immediately. The other day when Jason Crouch wrote about our first webinar, How to Chug Google Juice & Get 15 Years of Fame, I received an alert in less than 8 minutes. In fact, it came so quick, that I received that before Jason's email stating that he had included my name in the post!
Some other ways you could use this is to set up some alerts for the keywords you are trying to dominate in the search engines. That way, you will know when your posts are being indexed for those keywords, and also know what your competition is saying on the same type of terms. Google Alerts are a must have for any business you do.
2. A Solid Twitter Application There are plenty of different platforms available here. I am not going to say one is better than another, but I will say that you need to be running some sort of program other than just the web version. The reason for this, is that applications like Tweetdeck, Seesmic, & Hootsuite are some of the most popular ones and they allow you to filte
r your lists into different categories. For example, I have an entire column just for closest friends, another for local people, and several others. With these, you can set up different columns for your target audiences and for those who can supply you with great valuable content to enhancing your business or with content to relay onto your clients.
3. A Mobile Photo Blog Normally when I start talking about this one, I begin to lose people. I actually have two mobile photo blogs. Both bring me a ton of traffic as well as some really great connections & Google juice. One photoblog, currently has 490 email subscribers to it. My other photo blog which is hosted on posterous, is currently averaging around 800-1000 views per photo. This is HUGE! One of the beautiful parts of a photo blog like this is that it takes virtually zero effort to post to. Once you have things set up properly, you simply shoot the picture with your mobile phone and email it to a specific email address with the subject line being your photo title. The rest is automatically handled as your photos will automatically be re-sized & formatted to fit well on your post.
Speaking of mobile phones, that leads me to my next point.
4. A Powerhouse Mobile Phone If you are seriously considering taking your social media strategy to the next level, a good smart-phone is essential. I am not going to get into what is the best to use, in the past I have used an Android platform phone, an iPhone, and several Blackberries. Currently, I am back on a Blackberry. All of them though are going to be more than sufficient and offer the same basic features, phone, camera, web, email, and the main social networks applications. The key is to pick what you like. For me, touch screens are hard to use, especially while trying to concentrate on other things. I am a button type of guy, so I like the blackberry more for that simple reason.
Once you have a good phone, it will allow you to begin to participate on the social networks when you have the time waiting at a vacant home for a client, or when standing in line at the Walmart to check out. Also, the ability to connect with consumers quickly & efficiently is priceless. I had someone once tell me that most consumers want to be responded to in less than 2 hours or they will move on to someone else. Having that ability to respond quickly and painlessly, even if it is just a response of: "I am out with clients, let me call you later this afternoon" can do wonders for your business.
5. A Video Camera While this does not seem like a big deal, this one can be so crucial to a social media strategy. Did you know that YouTube is the second most searched site in the world? One of my favorite choices is a simple handy Flipcam. It doesn't have to be a hi-tech machine or anything. These are fairly affordable at under $200.00 and by far are the easiest video cameras to use. Simply shoot the video, flip out the build in USB and connect to your computer. To give you an idea of how popular video is, I have 25 videos uploaded to YouTube that have received a combined 71,000 views!
These are just 5 of the tools I use on a regular basis to cash in on my social media investment. Implementing these tools into your social media plan will definitely help you to achieve your ultimate goal and turn these networks into income producers for your business. If you want to learn more about how to use these tools & many others, feel free to register for our next webinar which will be on Monday February 1st at 1PM Eastern 10 AM Pacific time. To register, click here.
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I am the Co-Founder of 210 Consulting- Social Media Advisors. If you would like more information on any of the topics discussed in this blog, please contact me directly. Also, please visit my other online consulting blog for more social media tips, tricks and enhancements.
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Jeremy...
I am a bit behind on some of the mobile social networking techniques. So much to do, so little time.
Hi Jer! WOW, now THIS is some GOOD stuff! I heard you on Jason's show this week and wondered how you are getting along--looks like you're busy, busy, busy!
Take care and have a great evening...
Jer - Good stuff, my friend. I look forward to teaching more people how to use these tools effectively. Talk to you soon!
Jeremy, that is quite the list and I hope to learn to use them all well some day soon.
Thanks for sharing about Posterous. I think I will give it a try!
Great stuff, keeping an eye on what you are up to.
Priceless info!!!
I love your suggestions. I use a lot of them, a lot. (Forgive my Minnesotan!) Google alerts keep me on my toes...when they don't show up in the morning, I worry. Keep up the great work!!!
Hi Jeremy -- I bookmarked this one. Exceptional post, chocked full of good ideas to implement and explore, thanks.
Hi Jeremy ~ Happy New Year! Awesome post and I am still trying to get more to join the Rain!
Wish you much success with 210 in 2010. I can't make your class, but would love to catch a replay of it, if you distribute it at a later date. Always good to see friends doing well.
Very cool stuff.....if my schedule is free I'll be there on the 1st. Bookmarked for sure!
Amazing so many tools out there. I think I need to hire someone. Everyone has a fancy name for their hires.......I think mine will be a production manager.
Jeremy, I'm going to have to look into some of your suggestions. Good ideas.
Jeremy, Wow I will have to look into the mobile photo blog. Does Twitter Lists work like Tweetdeck, Seesmic or Hootsuite?
In honor and inspiration of JB, I am going to start a mobile photo blog on my city tomorrow. I just have to check and see if I have the ability to tag and optimize my images on my phone. Otherwise it will be an immobile photo blog, lol.
Jeremy, Well I'm working most of your list, but I've far from maximized their potential. So much Rain and so ...
Steve
I'm so glad that there is so much to this social media. I know that it take time to integrate and one must continue to stay abreast. To that end it will be difficult for most who even venture into social media to do a consitently good job. That should make those who are dilligent outshine the pack. I hope to be dilligent.
Jeremy: So much information!!! I had to bookmark this one. Too late at night to comprehend everything you said. Thanks.
Jeremy: So much information!!! I had to bookmark this one. Too late at night to comprehend everything you said. Thanks.
This is a great post. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Jeremy,
Thanks for the information. I am trying to incorporate some of the social media into my business.
I use Agent Office so I called to find out which new phones work with the contact program. None. The Treo. Boy, is this missing the boat. Then, to my surprise, it's the same with Top Producer. We're glued to the older phones and no iphone integration on the horizon. The apps on the iphone are awesome.
Thanks for the info Jeremy. I have to check out Tweet Deck more thoroughly.
I love posts like these. I like to hear what's working for everyone. Thanks for the info.
I love my posterous blog, on Wednesday I went to a lunch and learn in Ann Arbor.
The speaker was speaking on her 5 Posterous blogs. I was surprised how many folks are not using this platform.
After the meeting I met with a local artist who wanted some coaching on setting up a blog.
I sent her to Posterous to get started. I even got my daugher blogging there.
Looking forward to meeting more local folks on Posterous.
Looks like I still have a lot of catching up to do! thank you for all the great tools and the links. :)
Great information and have a lot of room for improvement in this area.
Jeremy,
Thanks for this post. I'm coming back to it over the weekend. A few weeks ago, there was a post on Google alerts and I've done that. Now, on to twitter. Like Richard, I just haven't had time.
Brian
Jeremy, great post and i really enjoyed and learned from the webinar. I saw Brad in Austin recently and he turned me on to posterous so will add that to my ever growing arsenal too. Thanks!
Jeremy - All great stuff to have in your arsenal! I, thankfully, am covered in all of those areas. Why is it that our mobile photo blogs are more often than not about food? ;)
Always tons of great information from you! Thanks. I've got to get my phone set up ... I depend on my camera and Flip, but sometimes it would be nice to just use my BB. I love Posterous!
Jeremy, great tips! I use most of these but there are a few I still need to get used to. I am never sure what to film with my Flip Camera though. Also, I hope AR gets to the point where we can access their site and blog from our Blackberry. Thanks again!
Jeremy, great tips! I use most of these but there are a few I still need to get used to. I am never sure what to film with my Flip Camera though. Also, I hope AR gets to the point where we can access their site and blog from our Blackberry. Thanks again!
Jeremy, great tips! I use most of these but there are a few I still need to get used to. I am never sure what to film with my Flip Camera though. Also, I hope AR gets to the point where we can access their site and blog from our Blackberry. Thanks again!
Hi Jeremy. I like Posterous and have an account there but I get most of my clients from my blogs. I don't want to spread myself too thin doing so many things and be the master of nothing.... ~ Lana
Hi Jeremy - The photo blog concept is interesting. Can or do you ever use this resource for Google juice, like using targeted keywords in the title?
Awesome blog, thank you for all the helpful information and tools to really get into social media!
Thanks for all these information. I will have to read some of the links that you have in the blog. I am in Twitter, but I still don't feel comfortable with it.
Jeremy, love Posterous, but thanks for the heads up on a photoblog. I hadn't really thought about that.
Anna- I hope you will be able to make it to the webinar on the 1st! It should be awesome! If not, we will have it recorded & available for purchase.
Sherry- There are a ton of tools out there to use. I would suggest signing up for this webinar to learn how to use the best tools & to learn how to use them without them consuming your entire days! Sign up here: http://budurl.com/cash210
Eva- Twitter lists do not work like that. The lists allow you to group your friends together, but you still have to click into each list to see what is going on. On tweetdeck, you can run different columns of info at the same time.
Frank- Consistency is key.
Cheryl- I wouldn't get hung up on the agent office/top producer stuff that much anymore. I believe TP now has some sort of Blackberry add on, but nevertheless, if they do not, most of the programs they run can be now integrated into the computers basic OS.
Missy- Posterous just makes it so stinking easy!
Joyce- I hope they become mobile soon too!
Lana- One of the great things about posterous, is that if you get the right person setting it up, you can have it as a subdomain of your regular website.
Bookmarked!! Great Post
Wow, I am impressed at your views on Posterous. That is one place I really need to put more into, and it's so easy it should be no problem. Also I need to use my Flip more often and take advantage of YouTube......didn't realize it is the 2nd most searched site.
Good good stuff -- thanks for taking the time to post.
Way cool... Thanks for your thoughts on all....
Thanks Jeremy for the valuable information. I am learning so much here!
Al good suggestions Jeremy. Got any multi-blog snydication tools in that bag?
Jeremy,
Awesome list. I need to get some of these going! Thanks for sharing.
All the best, Michelle
This is great information Jeremy. I'm going to pass this on to my business partner. He handles this end of things for us. Thanks.
Great info Jeremy - I have all of these tools, minus the photo blog. Going to look into that. My problem now is finding the hours in the day to keep up with it all! (plus work)
Thanks for another great post.
Patricia /Seacoast NH
Great information, I'm setting up a photoblog right now!
Marc Iafrate, MBA
Jeremy - It looks like I have a lot of work to do. This is great information and I appreciate you sharing it.
Never thought about the mobile photo blog. Great idea!
Some great Information here thanks Jeremy!
Bill
Thanks for all the suggestions, Jeremy. I hadn't heard of mobile photo blogs before.
It looks like I need to look into getting a mobile photo blog. That sounds intriguing.
Jeremy... great list of tools I couldn't live without. I'll check out TweetGrid, this one I haven't used. Thanks. Nice logo by the way for 210...
Jeremy,
Thanks for the great info. I really enjoyed your webinar on Chugging Google Juice, and I'll see if I can swing the admission to the social medial webinar.
Never heard of posterous. I'll go check it out now. How many platforms can we do and still be realtors?
How do you upload photos when you're on the go and label them for google juice?
Hopefully, others have these questions too. Maybe this will be part of your next webinar?
Hi Melissa! These are a lot of points that we will cover in our next webinar. While you cannot specifically label the photos, you can get excellent google juice though by the title & content you place in the post.
Great information as usual. Miss you
I've had the Posterous photoblog on my to do list since our Rain Camp. You've reinspired me! I'm going to get it done!
Hey Jeremy ~ Thank for the graet post. Being snowed in allows for me to read more of your powerful post. The next band of snow/ice is coming, so I will work on mobile photo blog on posterous,