Imagine Your Reality

Book Review: Understanding, Leveraging, & Maximizing Linkedin by Neal Schaffer

In this book, the author spends a lot of time focused on the strategy for using Linkedin for job hunting and networking. To some degree the book is focused on technology, but the author manages to also get the reader to examine how s/he will use linkedin as well as best practices for doing so. This is an informative book, and it’s only slightly dated in the sense that Linkedin has updated a few features. However the author also keeps his blog updated with the latest information about Linkedin. This is a useful reference guide for Linkedin.

5 out of 5

Upcoming Social Media Webinars

Social Media Webinar: How do I use Linkedin for my Business?

Think Linkedin is just for job hunting? Think again! Linkedin is a dynamic site for professionals that can help you reach out and connect with them. In this class I’ll discuss how to use Linkedin for your business, as well as what strategy you need to use to make it work for you.

• Learn how to optimize your Linkedin Profile with applications and other useful features
• Discover how to use the forums, groups, and other Linkedin features as a resource for your business
• Come away with an understanding of how to use Linkedin and what the do’s and don’ts are for it.
• When: Feb 3rd, 2pm to 3pm PST, 5pm to 6pm EST, From the comfort of your office or home

Cost: $45. To register, click the paypal button

Social Media Webinar: How do I use Twitter for my Business?

Are Tweets driving you crazy as you try to figure out how to use Twitter? Twitter is is an excellent site for keeping up to date on what other people are doing and what the latest news is in your industry. In this class I’ll discuss how to use Twitter for your business, as well as what strategy you need to use to make it work for you.

• Learn how to set up an effective Twitter profile, and use Lists and Search for your social media strategy
• Discover if your business should really be on Twitter or on other sites
• Learn about applications you can use to manage your Twitter presence.
• Come away with an understanding of how to use Twitter and what the do’s and don’ts are for it.
• When: Feb 10, 2pm to 3pm PST, 5pm to 6pm EST, From the comfort of your office or home

Cost: $45. To register, click the paypal button

Social Media Webinar: How do I use Biznik for my Business?

Did you know that Biznik is a dynamic small business social networking site that can energize business? Biznik is the best social networking site for a small-to-mid sized busienss owner, but a lot of people aren’t sure how to use it. In this class I’ll discuss how to use Biznik for your business, as well as what strategy you need to use to make it work for you.

• Learn what Biznik is and how to create an effective profile.
• Discover how to make Biznik a resource for your business through its forums, articles, other features
• Come away with an understanding of how to use Biznik and what the do’s and don’ts are for it.
• When: Feb 17, 2pm to 3pm PST, 5pm to 6pm EST, From the comfort of your office or home

Cost: $45. To register, click the paypal button

Social Media Webinar: Successful Social Media Behavior

Social Media isn’t just technology. Social Media is a medium of communication and conversation. But many people who us it don’t understand how to excel at social media. In this webinar I’ll discuss social media behavior and how to be successful, as well as what not to do.

• The value of following-up in social media
• How not to be a spammer, and how to recognize someone who is.
• What successful social media behavior is and how to start doing it consistently
• When: Feb 24, 2pm to 3pm PST, 5pm to 6pm EST, From the comfort of your office or home

Cost: $45. To register, click the paypal button

Social Media Webinar: Blogs and Social Bookmarking?

Have you started a blog, but not known what to do with it, or how often you should write a blog? Have you heard of social bookmarking and wanted to know what it is and how it relates to blogs and websites? Blogs don’t have to be complicated. You can learn how to use them to create a credible resource and also drive traffic to your website.

• Learn what blogging is, what good blogging platforms are, and how often to blog.
• Discover how social bookmarking can help you improve your search engine optimization for your website and blog
• Come away with an understanding of good blogging behaviors that will get you subscribers and visitors to your site.
• When: March 3rd, 2pm to 3pm PST, 5pm to 6pm EST, From the comfort of your office or home

Cost: $45. To register, click the paypal button

Introduction to Social Media

Feeling overwhelmed by Social Media and not sure why you should be using it? In this class you’ll learn what social media is, why you need it, and develop your strategy for getting involved in using it.

• What social media is: It isn’t just Twitter or Facebook.
• Why social Media isn’t going away and why you need to adopt it.
• How to create a solid social media strategy.
• When: Jan 20th 2pm to 3pm PST, 5pm to 6pm EST From the comfort of your office or home

Cost: $30. To register, click the paypal button

Social Media Webinar: How do I use Facebook for my Business?

Puzzled by Facebook and all the raving about it as a way to get business? In this class I’ll discuss how to use Facebook for your business, as well as what your strategy needs to be if you want to succeed in using Facebook for your business.

• Learn what a Fan page is and how to use it to promote your business
• Discover if your business should really be on Facebook or on other sites
• Come away with an understanding of how to use Facebook and what the do’s and don’ts are for it.
• When: Jan 27, 2pm to 3pm PST, 5pm to 6pm EST From the comfort of your office or home

Cost: $45. To register, click the paypal button

Social Media Webinar: How do I use Linkedin for my Business?

Think Linkedin is just for job hunting? Think again! Linkedin is a dynamic site for professionals that can help you reach out and connect with them. In this class I’ll discuss how to use Linkedin for your business, as well as what strategy you need to use to make it work for you.

• Learn how to optimize your Linkedin Profile with applications and other useful features
• Discover how to use the forums, groups, and other Linkedin features as a resource for your business
• Come away with an understanding of how to use Linkedin and what the do’s and don’ts are for it.
• When: Feb 3rd, 2pm to 3pm PST, 5pm to 6pm EST, From the comfort of your office or home

Cost: $45. To register, click the paypal button

Social Media Webinar: How do I use Twitter for my Business?

Are Tweets driving you crazy as you try to figure out how to use Twitter? Twitter is is an excellent site for keeping up to date on what other people are doing and what the latest news is in your industry. In this class I’ll discuss how to use Twitter for your business, as well as what strategy you need to use to make it work for you.

• Learn how to set up an effective Twitter profile, and use Lists and Search for your social media strategy
• Discover if your business should really be on Twitter or on other sites
• Learn about applications you can use to manage your Twitter presence.
• Come away with an understanding of how to use Twitter and what the do’s and don’ts are for it.
• When: Feb 10, 2pm to 3pm PST, 5pm to 6pm EST, From the comfort of your office or home

Cost: $45. To register, click the paypal button

Social Media Webinar: How do I use Biznik for my Business?

Did you know that Biznik is a dynamic small business social networking site that can energize business? Biznik is the best social networking site for a small-to-mid sized busienss owner, but a lot of people aren’t sure how to use it. In this class I’ll discuss how to use Biznik for your business, as well as what strategy you need to use to make it work for you.

• Learn what Biznik is and how to create an effective profile.
• Discover how to make Biznik a resource for your business through its forums, articles, other features
• Come away with an understanding of how to use Biznik and what the do’s and don’ts are for it.
• When: Feb 17, 2pm to 3pm PST, 5pm to 6pm EST, From the comfort of your office or home

Cost: $45. To register, click the paypal button

I took a holiday this last weekend…a few days away from social media, from running a business, from all the other things I’ve focused on. I really needed it and when I came back I didn’t feel like I’d really missed anything, though I’ll admit I do feel a little behind on a few projects. But I’m also ready to work on those projects and don’t feel burned out. What I learned is that I need to give myself time off. I like what I do, but if I’m doing it everyday I start to become a technician doing a job, instead of a business owner. So I took a holiday and my business didn’t crumble around me. It’s still here and so am I.

On February 11th I’ll be presenting a 4 hour talk and presentation on social media automation for government. If you mention my name and register for the event by Dec 16th you’ll get a 50% discount for the event!

Latest Radio Shows

The latest Social Media Coach and Imagine Your Reality Radio Shows are available for listening.

Automate Your Business Teleclass
When: DEC 10 2-3pm PST  and DEC 14 Noon to 1pm PST
Register at Taylor’s Schedule page or by email

Social Media Webinar: How do I use Facebook for my Business?
When: Dec 11th, noon to 1pm PST, From the comfort of your office or home
Register, go to http://www.imagineyourreality.com/Events.html

Social Media Webinar: How do I use Linkedin for my Business?
When: Dec 11th, 2pm to 3pm PST, From the comfort of your office or home
Register, go to http://www.imagineyourreality.com/Events.html

Social Media Webinar: How do I use Twitter for my Business?
When: Dec 18th, Noon to 1pm PST,  From the comfort of your office or home
Register, go to http://www.imagineyourreality.com/Events.html

Social Media Webinar: How do I use Biznik for my Business?
When: Dec 18th, 2pm to 3pm PST, From the comfort of your office or home

Register, go to http://www.imagineyourreality.com/Events.html

Imagine Your Reality Radio interview with David Tuck of Anvil Tax about taxes and how your business can be compliant.

Review of Tribes by Seth Godin

Like the rest of Seth’s books there’s a lot of ideas here, but not a lot in the way of really useful practical ideas. The concept of tribes, of creating a following isn’t really new, but what Seth tries to do is present a new perspective to it, and to some degree he succeeds in that he does show how one or a few people can motivate many people to follow  in the mission of those one or few people. What he doesn’t really do is provide more than some examples and rants on what not to do and even the rants aren’t articulated very well. What Seth’s really managed to do is notice a trend that’s already occurring and tried to present it as something new and novel, without really exploring how groups dynamics work.

3 out of 5

How to Turn your networking from me to WE
When: 3 hours 6-9pm PST, December 6th
Where: Whole Foods Market NE Fremont
Register: Mindglo Website

Automate Your Business Teleclass
When: DEC 10 2-3pm PST  and DEC 14 Noon to 1pm PST
Register at Taylor’s Schedule page or by email

Social Media Webinar: How do I use Facebook for my Business?
When: Dec 11th, noon to 1pm PST, From the comfort of your office or home
Register, go to http://www.imagineyourreality.com/Events.html

Social Media Webinar: How do I use Linkedin for my Business?
When: Dec 11th, 2pm to 3pm PST, From the comfort of your office or home
Register, go to http://www.imagineyourreality.com/Events.html

Social Media Webinar: How do I use Twitter for my Business?
When: Dec 18th, Noon to 1pm PST,  From the comfort of your office or home
Register, go to http://www.imagineyourreality.com/Events.html

Social Media Webinar: How do I use Biznik for my Business?
When: Dec 18th, 2pm to 3pm PST, From the comfort of your office or home

Register, go to http://www.imagineyourreality.com/Events.html

Earlier this week , I taught for the first time, a webinar on social media marketing. I’d never used a webinar before so I realized upfront that I needed to plan for that by offering a second date for the class. And while I already knew the material and was comfortable with it, I also knew that because I was presenting it for the first time, it was better to do what I call a dry run, where I’d simply do the class without putting pressure on myself to record it.

I did get asked by participants if I was going to record the webinar, and as I told them, I’d record the one on Wednesday, but not Monday. And I was glad I didn’t record it, because there was one or two technical issues that I had to deal with, which I didn’t really want recorded. So now, I know these issues, and I’m more prepared with presenting the class, because I’ve done it once. Now I can record the class, because I have a better idea of what will happen.

A dry run of a class, basically just doing the class for the sake of seeing what will happen is always essential, in my opinion, for making the class successful. It allows you to see what is working without worrying about what others beyond the attendees will say if they happen to see the information. It can also give you some good perspectives on what to improve for the next time you teach the class. I do a dry run really to help me improve myself.

To be fair, having a recording can be useful also. You can listen or see yourself and from that learn what mistakes you made. Some people will benefit from doing a recording, if they especially want to focus on the talk itself. In this case, because I was dealing with technology, I decided I wanted to go without the recording and focus on making sure I had a good handle on the technology, before taking that next step and recording the talk.

Regardless of what you do, if you’re going to use something you’ve recorded for commercial purposes, make sure you only do so after you have done a few trial run and feel comfortable with the product you’ll be providing to people.

The latest episode of Social Media coach asks What is social Networking? Next week’s episode is on blogs.

Upcoming Events

I have two upcoming events.

Social networking for Businesses 101

Already have your social networking profiles setup and optimized to market your professional identity? GREAT!

Then PLEASE forward this message to your colleagues who are overwhelmed by invites to social networking sites and have only the bare bones of a profile set up on the sites they are on.

But if you want to leverage your social networking profiles on Linkedin, Twitter, and Facebook, and other social networking sites to market your business, this message is for YOU:

Join us on Monday October 26th, 2009 at 1pm for a special 4 hour class on how to set-up and optimize your social networking profiles, where you will learn the following:

• How to claim your personalized url for Linkedin and Facebook, and why it’s important to do it.
• How to optimize your social networking profiles for search results and as a way to market your business.
• How to connect your social networks to each other.
• The key to developing effective connections on different social networking sites.

And that’s not all!

Social Networking for Business also teaches you how to write profiles that get you noticed.

You’ll learn how to:

• Organize your thoughts, pick a key message
• Use current events to keep your status updates relevant.
• Write DREAMY, attention-grabbing copy

Social Networking for Business: One half day delivers killer writing and optimized social networking profiles!

For more information and to register please visit the Events page for IYR.

Eight Steps to a Successful Social Media Marketing Plan

This is a 12 Week Webinar for Business Owners who are great at what they do, but feel overwhelmed when it comes to Social Media Marketing

If you’re like most business owners you’re frustrated by social media technology and having to fit it into your already busy schedule. Additionally having to learn how to market yourself on social media can be intimidating because it also involves learning the correct social media etiquette as well as the tools.

You feel discouraged because you know social media is becoming more important for marketing a business but don’t how to use the technology or you do know how to use it, but wonder why no one ever responds to your posts.

How does the Eight Steps to a successful Social Media Marketing Plan webinar work?

We meet twelve times over four months and will go through the 8 steps to a success social media marketing plan. You’ll work on setting up your social media presence and gradually develop a successful social media marketing plan.

You’ll be part of a powerful group of entrepreneurs who own businesses, just like you, who want to get unstuck with social media. You’ll learn the technology AND the marketing together.

The sessions will be a very focused combination of teaching, sharing, feedback, and support.

At the end, everyone will have a completed social media marketing plan and presence to take into 2010!

Begins October 30th and ends January 22nd (no class December 25th and January 1st) We meet Fridays 11:30-1 PST on the phone and website. Every class will be recorded, but you can call in from anywhere and access the website from any place with an internet connection.

This seminar includes:

• Training on the technology for the social media sites. You’ll learn how to optimize and automate your social media presence.
• The Social Media Marketing Plan handbook.
• One individual 30 minute coaching call with me.
• 12 group sessions over four months.
• Seminar Discussion Blog where you can share information and ask question with each other.
• Feedback from other professional, motivated business owners.

You know you need help with your social media marketing presence, and you are also smart enough to know that all successful people get help!

For more information and to register for this class, please go to the Events page on IYR.

The latest episode of Imagine Your Reality is a radio interview with Lynn Gray from priority payment systems, about credit card rates, and also in-person networking.

The latest episode of Social Media Coach focuses on Social Media Etiquette

I’ve been meaning to update this blog for the last week, but I’ve been really busy. I suppose that’s a good thing, but I don’t want my readers to think I’ve forgotten about them.

Upcoming Classes and Events

Introduction to Inspired Social Media Marketing Webinar

Already have your social media marketing strategy planned out and in place? GREAT!

Then PLEASE forward this message to your colleagues who are struggling with social media and how it can be applied to their business.

But if you want to leverage twitter, biznik, Linkedin, Blogs, internet radio, and video for marketing your business, this message is for YOU:

Join me on Monday, October 5, 2009, at 5 p.m. Pacific or on Wednesday October 7th at 4 p.m. Pacific for a sneak preview of my Inspired Social Media Marketing Strategy Success 12-session workshop. This information-packed class will introduce the concepts covered in the virtual sessions of my inspired Social Media Marketing Program!

Want to learn more? Please visit Imagine Your Reality for more details.

Last week, as an experiment, I listed my latest social media webinar on different event and social networking sites and didn’t invite anyone to the webinar. I wanted to see if posting without invitations would get me anybody rsvping. I would, in the case of Facebook share the event every so often. What I found was that nobody really seemed to notice the event. It was only when I invited people that the event got noticed. My lesson from this was that while I might sometimes feel self-conscious about inviting people to my events, unless I tell people about those events, no one will likely sign up.

Occasionally I wonder if I’m being intrusive by promoting my events. I know that sometimes when I get events I feel annoyed, but at other times also grateful I got the event notice, so I think it’s a really shady area that isn’t easily defined in terms of when to do it vs when not to do it.

As a rule of thumb I don’t send out an invitation more than once to the same person, for the same event. I also do my best to try and send the event to people who I think will benefit from it or people who will share it with others they know who could benefit from it. In the latter case, I ask people to pass on the event to other people.

I do think it’s important to promote your events by inviting people, but I also recognize that people will ultimately sign up for an event that they feel is relevant to them. A good example of that was my networking class last week. I promoted that close to possibly 500 or 600 people using social media networks to invite people as well as posting on event sites such as upcoming.yahoo.com. I ended up getting 5 rsvps, with two canceling…so in the end I only had three people show up. Two of those people came from a networking group that I posted my event to, which I attend on a semi-regular basis, and one came from a networking leads group I regularly attend. In other words, the people who came were people who knew me somewhat already and either felt the topic was really important, wanted to see how I taught the material, or both.

What that tells me is that the people who come to my events will generally be people I already know. They will be people who are interested in coming to the events because it will help them out…but I’m also willing to bet that if I never mention my events no one will come. So I invite people to my events, but also recognize they might not come or rsvp. But at least by mentioning my events I can tell people who I am doing and hopefully catch their interest.

The Latest episode of Social Media Coach asks if Social Media is Narcissistic. Next Week’s episode focuses on when it’s a good time to a break from social media.

The Latest Episode of Imagine Your Reality interviews Patrick Galvin of Galvin Communications about Word of Mouth Marketing. Next week’s interview is with Lynn Gray about Credit Card Payment Processing and Networking.

Upcoming classes

Tomorrow is your last chance to register for Friday’s class on becoming a better in-person networker!

The stereotype of the networker is a person who has a drink in one hand, business cards in the other, and an elevator speech at the ready, and ready to move on once s/he has gotten your card. But is that what networking really is?

Networking is creating meaningful, and helpful relationships where everyone wins. Forget all the hype about social networking or chambers of commerce or the stereotypical networker. Networking isn’t just about online social networking sites such as twitter and linkedin. And it doesn’t just involve going to a chamber meeting or other type of in-person networking event. Networking involves learning how to create relationships with all the people you know, so that you can help all of them, even as they help you!

For more details or to register, please go to http://www.imagineyourreality.com/Events.html

Why Do I need Social Media Webinar

Two Different dates on the 14th and 22nd of September

Social Media is a hot topic in businesses today. Many of us are not sure how it helps grow our business or get us clients, and where do we have the time to add one more thing to our hectic lives?

In this webinar, Taylor Ellwood will explain what social media is and why it is important for your business. He’ll also explain why setting up a marketing strategy for your social media use is essential for your online business success.

For more details or to register please go to http://www.imagineyourreality.com/Events.html

The interview with Susan Lannis of Organization Plus is up. In it we discuss time, space, and organization. Next week’s interview is with Patrick Galvin at 4pm PST on September 9th.

This week’s radio show on social media coach focuses on why social media needs to be explained. Next week’s episode asks when social media becomes narcissistic.

Upcoming Events

Are you networking effectively? How to turn your natural network into your referral system

The stereotype of the networker is a person who has a drink in one hand, business cards in the other, and an elevator speech at the ready, and ready to move on once s/he has gotten your card. But is that what networking really is?

Networking is creating meaningful, and helpful relationships where everyone wins. Forget all the hype about social networking or chambers of commerce or the stereotypical networker. Networking isn’t just about online social networking sites such as twitter and linkedin. And it doesn’t just involve going to a chamber meeting or other type of in-person networking event. Networking involves learning how to create relationships with all the people you know, so that you can help all of them, even as they help you!

For more information about this event, please visit the Events page.

Why Do I need Social Media Webinar

Social Media is a hot topic in businesses today. Many of us are not sure how it helps grow our business or get us clients, and where do we have the time to add one more thing to our hectic lives?

In this webinar, Taylor Ellwood will explain what social media is and why it is important for your business. He’ll also explain why setting up a marketing strategy for your social media use is essential for your online business success.

For more information about this class, please visit the Events page.