Not sure that you need to use social media?

Here’s a story about Joe and Sue that might hit home for you.

Joe and Sue are both bankers who were laid off on the same day from the same company.  Times are tough and the banking industry isn’t as profitable as it used to be.  Jobs are now scarce and hundreds of thousands of previously employed people are without jobs to provide for their family.

When Joe and Sue find out that they have lost their jobs, they each take a different path to finding a new one. Joe is one of those people who never bought into the whole social media hype.  “Why do I need more friends?” he said. “It’s a waste of my time.” Sue, however, realized long ago the power of networking online. She’s amassed hundreds of Twitter followers, and has just as many Facebook friends and LinkedIn connections.  Not to mention her blog where she has a complete resume of her skills and full contact information. Read the full story

Think email is dead?  Think again.

Email Marketing is an extremely powerful tool right now for businesses looking to generate a better relationship with their current and potential customers.  In fact, according to a worldwide study conducted by Lightspeed Research 60% of consumers make purchases as a direct result from email.

However, email marketing is just one way to target your audience, but with all of the SPAM, junk mail, and pure volume of email users are receiving, a number of emails go unread.  Wouldn’t it be nice to know exactly where each one of your contacts was “hanging out” online?

This is where Flowtown comes into play. Flowtown can show you all the different social networks your customers are on including: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Myspace and more, and it allows you to tap into your network and connect with your audience where they spend time the most.

Pretty cool idea huh?  I thought so, and that’s why I had to hear about how powerful it actually was from Flowtown co-founder Dan Martell himself in this video interview below.

Have you been getting the most out of your email marketing list by connecting with your list on social media as well?  Are you a Flowtown user already?  If so, please share your thoughts on what it has done to maximize your email marketing efforts in the comments below and make sure to connect with Dan Martell on Twitter or on his personal website.

How “Zen” is your social media marketing strategy?

If you aren’t getting the results you are looking for, you may be going about your strategy all wrong.

Sometimes, all we need is a shift in our mindset to take our results from zero to hero.  As an athlete, I realized that I would never be as big, fast, or strong as some of the others, but I knew if my mindset was in top shape then I could compete with some of the top athletes in the world.

This is true with social media marketing as well.

You don’t have to have a huge brand or a lot of resources to spend on social media marketing.  All you need is to know how to use the tools the right way, leverage what’s available to you for free online, and get your mindset in the right place.

The Zen of Social Media Marketing by Shama Kabani is a book that shares with your the tools you need to get your mind right using social media.  Check out my thoughts in the video below, and make sure to grab a copy if you want to be more Zen-like online.

Also, be sure to say hi to Shama on Twitter, as she has a lot of great things to share on a daily basis.

I just got back from SXSW Interactive, and for those who attended I hope you were able to get some sleep because I didn’t get much.

Most people do business between the hours or 9am to 5pm.  Most people.

However, for those who attended SXSW (or who attend conferences in general) know that most of the business happens right around 2am.

Depending on the city, this is the time most of the parties are winding down, and the bars close.  And this is also the time people open up to others the most.

Here is common example of what would go down during a night at SXSW:

We all bond together and take our last drink or rush to the bar to order one last shot.  We pay for each others tab, stumble out the venue door with sore feet from the long day of walking at the conference and non-stop dancing.  We get really close when speaking to one another because our ears are ringing from the thumping techno beats, classic rock, and 80’s greatest hits.

We grab a slice of pizza from that shady street meat vender with crazy tattoos.  Then we share cab rides or walk back to the hotel lobby and tell tales of the nightlong journey to the other conference mates who missed out on “the best party of the evening”.

We rally the troupes and lounge around in smelly, sweaty clothes acting as if we have known each other our entire lives.  Then as the first person starts to fall asleep in the middle of the hotel lobby, we take our last picture of the night and post it to Twitter, and Facebook for everyone to see.

We watch as others rush to the bathroom to throw up their $113 bill of Coyote Ugly’s finest alcoholic beverages.  And after this, we realize it’s time to go to bed so we can wake up for another long day of panels, networking, and partying.

A mosh pit of high fives, hugs, and kisses take place as we say goodnight (like in the video below)

We tell each other how much fun we had, how much of a blast it was getting to know one another, and mention how we look forward to hanging out with that person in the future.

This is when business happens.

When we start having experiences with one another outside of the working mindset, and in an environment that breaks down walls and allows for a more light hearted connection.

Remember, we do business with those we know, like and trust.  One night with someone at a party gives you the best opportunity to get them to like you, know the “real” you a little better, and trust you even more.

I generate business deals all of the time at 2:00 am.  Do you?

Please share one experience where you connected with someone late at night and how it translated into a joint venture, new job, more sales, or more business opportunities.  I would love to hear your story.

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Image by Steve Hall