An Overview of Social Networking

Social networking sites are usually free to use and they can help you to raise awareness to your cause much faster than any other form of media. The social networking site Facebook even has an application to assist non-profit organisations to raise money and awareness.

In today's age, these sites have managed to add a new factor to the 'friends of friends' equation. By providing information about oneself and using blogs, email, chat rooms or instant messaging, it is possible to communicate within a limited community or with the world at large.

Networking

Social networking sites have become a mainstream medium for thousands of teens and adults from all around the world. These sites encourage and enable people to exchange information about themselves, share pictures or videos, and use blogs and private messaging to communicate with friends, others who share interests and at times even the world at large. Networking websites function like an online community of internet users. Depending on the website in question, many of these online community members share a common interest such as hobbies, religion, or politics.

An Overview of Social Networking

Social networking sites have received a lot of attention from non-profit organisations from all over the world because they align with such organisations desires to reach out to larger communities. For example, if your local animal shelter could tap into a network of cat lovers in your area, wouldn't that allow for them to find homes for many more pets?

As a result of public pressure, social networking sites are improving their privacy controls. There is a counterbalancing pressure at the same time from businesses to decrease privacy. Social networking destroys what libraries were created for. MySpace, Facebook and other such sites, don't belong in libraries anymore than libraries belong in MySpace and Facebook.

Social sites are fast become a mainstream and established communication platform. The last few years have seen social media propel itself as a platform to market services, deploy PR campaigns, for individuals to promote themselves and one of the best places to find a job. Social networking provides the ideal platform for employees to communicate, share information and discuss real issues affecting the business. Senior management can also use these platforms to create healthy staff communities, provide interactive company news and bring together the resources from former colleagues.

Networking sites are incredibly popular on the Internet. Online social networks have sprung up for business, hobbies, schools and religious groups. Social networking behemoth MySpace.com attracted more than 114 million global visitors age 15 and older in June 2009, representing a 72-percent increase versus 1 year ago. Facebook.com experienced even stronger growth during that same time frame, jumping 270 percent to 52.2 million visitors.

Social networking sites often connect people offline through individual meetings or group events. Just remember: A face-to-face meeting requires you to respond without the time afforded by email to craft your message.

An Overview of Social Networking

Mili Ponce

http://thetwitterqueen.com

http://www.businessinvestnow.com

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Communication and Networking

Communication and networking skills are very important in career development. Great careers do not happen accidentally, it requires persistence, introspection, with the right people to achieve this. Most people would benefit from knowing more about career development and the skills that one can employ to ensure that they are developing their career at a pace that is acceptable to them. Career development is not a one time thing that one does; it is a lengthy process that requires one to set milestones for each stage that they are in with regards to their career.

In today's competitive business environment, developing one's career requires more than just a good education and job experience. One has to have an edge over the thousands of other well educated experienced individuals that are after the same position or career path as you are. Communication and networking skills are some of the skills that one needs to learn if they are going to get this edge.

Networking

Effective communication skills form the heart of networking as well as career success. Most employers look for strong communication skills in their potential employees. Being able to communicate with clients, co-workers and upper management is of utmost importance. One has to be able to convey their thoughts if the job is to be done properly; ideas that are stuck in your mind are of no use to anyone even to yourself. Often, you will find that people that are promoted in the various jobs are not usually promoted because of the technical skills that they possess but because of the communication and networking skills that they possess.

Communication and Networking

Communication involves both listening to other people and getting people to see things your way. If you do not listen to other people's ideas or suggestions then it is unlikely that you will ever learn anything new. Furthermore, they will not be open to listening to what you have to say; people will usually give you what you dish out.

With regards to networking, one has to mix with the 'right people' in order to advance their career. Mentorship is one way to achieve this; find someone that is an expert in your field and learn as much as you can from them.

Always talk to your boss and ask her/him to tell you ways in which you can do your job better. Office parties are also a great place to network with peers and superiors. Such events provide an opportunity to make use of one's communication and networking skills to go up the career ladder.

Communication and Networking

EightHourJourney.com - Your guide to climbing the Corporate Ladder

[http://www.EightHourJourney.com]

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What Makes A Good Friend?

Good friendship counts!

Being a good friend is not just about having a good time with others, it's also about how willing you are to put your friends first or point out when they're doing something you don't agree with. Have a read through the following checklist and see how good a friend you really are.

Networking

Are you a good listener?

What Makes A Good Friend?

Part of being a good friend is about being willing to listen rather than just talk. This takes time and effort but if you can make time just to listen to others and respect what they have to say, then it's a sign of a good friend.

Are you approachable?

Do your friends often turn to you first to share a problem or seek help? Are you willing to make yourself available to friends at short notice and welcome them if they turn up at your door?

Are you trustworthy?

If a friend tells you something personal are you good at keeping it in confidence, or do you go and tell everyone at the first opportunity? People need to know that they can trust a friends with important information and you will only store up trouble for yourself if you are seen as unreliable. A good friend is both trustworthy and reliable.

Do you avoid gossiping about others?

This is one of the biggest signs of a good friend and really does stand out. Do you avoid speaking badly about others or spreading rumors in order to hurt them? Do you defend friends when you hear others gossiping about them? If you avoid gossiping others will notice how different you are and soon realize what a truly good friend you are.

Are you selfless rather than selfish?

Do you put your friends needs above your own? Do you try to find a compromise if you can't agree with a friend? Are you willing to do something your friend wants to do for a change rather than forcing them to do what you want? If you are willing to put your friends first in most things then this is a sign of a good friend.

Can you sensitively tell a friend what you really think?

Good friends don't just go with the flow, sometimes they have to be honest and tell someone what they really think. Sometimes your friends might want to do something that is morally wrong or illegal or just plain unfair on another person. Are you able to tell your friend honestly what you think about it, without just going along with it? The sign of a good friendship is when you can be totally honest with the other person, without them being offended because they know you have their best interests at heart.

What Makes A Good Friend?

This was written by J Dawkins who created Friends and Money in March 2007. His site is dedicated to providing reviews of paid survey, social networking, and cash back shopping communities.

His aim is encourage visitors to Make Friends, Earn Money online.

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Pure3x Review

Pure3x is a designer beverage club network marketing opportunity that operates in the health and wellness industry. The beverages were designed for specific health oriented needs. Here is my honest review.

The sports/energy drink market has exploded over the past decade to be a multi billion dollar industry in the US alone. Walk into any convenience store and you will find an entire cooler section dedicated to these drinks. This company manufactures and distributes the following 3 drinks through their Independent Distributors:

Networking

RENEW - The Energy drink

Pure3x Review

REVOLUTION - The Vitamin & Mineral health drink

PASSION - The Sexual enhancement drink for him & her

The company provides their ID's with the standard replicated website, back office to track their sales and down line activity, marketing materials and down line building training.

They fall short, as most MLM companies do, in not providing a comprehensive internet marketing training program to teach their members how to properly marketing themselves and the business online. They rely on the more traditional methods, such as word of mouth and handing out samples.

The cost to join Pure3x is to activate your account. A 0 monthly auto ship is required to remain active in the compensation structure. ID's earn commissions on all retail sales along with for every new ID they bring into the system. ID's can qualify for additional bonuses by increasing sales and recruiting volumes. The residual income is calculated by their 3x13 binary matrix.

This is a legitimate network marketing opportunity. There will no doubt be a few ID's who reach the highest level of the compensation structure and earn a substantial income. They will either have a large prospect list they will bring along with them into this business or are master marketers who have the knowledge and ability to utilize proven internet marketing methods to drive targeted traffic to their websites. To earn big in an MLM you will need to continuously recruit and increase your sales volumes.

Pure3x Review

Chris is a husband and father of 2 that transitioned from the corporate world to earn a full time income online. He now spends his time helping others to attain the same level of freedom. If you are interested to learn how you can earn 5 figures per month from home in your spare time check out Ultimate Wealth

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9 Tips For Speed Networking

Have you ever been to a speed dating event? If you have you'll understand the concept of speed networking.

At a speed dating event you get to meet an awful lot of people in a very short space of time and the idea is that first impressions count, if you hit it off with someone and feel that you have things in common then you can meet up again later and take more time to build a relationship.

Networking

Speed networking is the business equivalent in that you a given a set period of time (2 or 3 minutes for example) to make initial contact with other business people. Just enough time to exchange basic information about your business and the service that you offer as opposed to an in depth discussion

9 Tips For Speed Networking

The positive points about speed networking are that you get the opportunity to meet and exchange business cards with a relatively large number of other business people and at the same the time limit forces you to move on and eliminate the possibility of being stuck talking to the same person for a whole event.

For me, there must also be an informal networking session at the end of the event where you can take time to meet again with other people that you felt you were building a rapport with. In this way you can start the relationship building process rather than it just having finished with the exchange of a business card.

In these types of event it's vital to have mastered the art of effective use of business cards. When you finish a session you may well have a pile of cards and find it difficult to be able to put a face to the card at a later date. This is one reason why my business networking tips below are essential to making the most of speed networking and speed dating alike.

1. Before you decide to attend speed business networking events take time to understand the format. Is it all speed networking or is there free networking time too? If you understand the format you'll go better prepared and make more of the event.

2. Part of the above is about understanding how much time you have with every other person. If it's short then you really need to have a well practiced and fine tuned sixty seconds presentation. If you've got a bit longer you can maybe afford to go a little more in depth.

3. You may be required to follow a set agenda in your meetings such as your name, your business sector etc etc. Knowing this in advance will help you practice the right subject matter prior to the event.

4. Speed networking when there is a fixed agenda is a very comfortable way to meet new people so take time to identify those people that you don't already know.

5. Don't be in too much of a hurry to give your pitch, let the other person talk first, in this way if there are any "common areas" that you want to exploit, you can then adapt your pitch to suit.

6. Make good use of business cards. When you exchange cards take time to read aloud what is on the other person's card. The other person will see this as interest on your part but most importantly it will help you remember the face and the name at a later date. You can also use the business card to make notes. This is an important point when designing your own cards - make sure that the background is a light colour so that anyone can make notes on your card.

7. Considering point 6 - don't forget your business cards and a pen!

8. Don't loose time searching through business cards to find your own. Make sure that you have a place for those that you have collected and for your own. I use two separate pockets in my jacket or coat.

9. Finally, if you feel you have something more to say to someone and that there could be a synergy - make it clear! Now is not the time for polite conversation, be direct and let them know that you would like to have a further meeting and propose a date and time.

9 Tips For Speed Networking

Louise Yates shares business networking tips and business networking advice for generating referrals and operates UK groups for business networking Lancashire

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How Can I Locate Someone at No Charge? - Just Do This

You may be asking, how can I locate someone at no charge? Well I know of several ways you can use.

Almost all of the people locator websites I know will try and get you to pay a certain price for accessing their database. This might be in the form of a small fee for additional content or profile information or in the form of getting your contact details in exchange. That is, you give them yours they give you the one you are looking for.

Networking

So essentially you should decide what you consider to be a charge based on what is important to you. What I mean is that, you can choose to give away your contact information and access the information you are looking or you can use the limited free information that is provided at the first phase of your search.

How Can I Locate Someone at No Charge? - Just Do This

By the way what I have just discussed above is relevant only if you decide to use a people locator and not other "manual" alternative, which I discuss briefly below.

Now my best answer to the question, how can I locate someone at no charge is that you need to search through some social networking sites. These carry millions of profiles on different people across the globe. The trick here is that you will need to register first - give away your personal details first.

My last option on how you can locate someone at no charge is through websites that source their information from a variety of people based websites online. It's like those comparison websites you go to before you shop online. In this case the sites focus on finding the best locator that has all the information you are looking for.

How Can I Locate Someone at No Charge? - Just Do This

Click here Locate Someone Free to see an example of an effective free people locator.

Start searching for someone at: http://www.findfree-people-friends.com/freepeoplelocator

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Social Network Benefits

Social Networking of course is in its infancy, at least to web site traffic generators, so what are the so far under-penetrated benefits of social networking?

Lower Costs

Networking

It is significantly cheaper to employ online social networking strategies than to pay for advertising. When you social network, you can prescreen potential customers. You learn what your prospects like and what they don't. That personal relationship you gain when you connect with your potential customer is more valuable than what you would get had you advertised. Advertising is impersonal: the "one size fits all" concept does not seem to work anymore.

Social Network Benefits

Credibility and Trust

Connecting with prospects on a personal level builds trust and credibility. A general rule of thumb is to offer your services, expertise or help before you ask for it. It is acceptable to promote your services when asked. If you're not careful, your attempts could be considered spam. Instead, wait for the opportunities to present themselves instead of forcing a situation.

It's Who You Know

When you socialize, you meet others who know others. How are you going to meet the president of a large corporation? You start by talking to his friends. You ask your associates if they know someone who is connected with him And on and on.

Social networking relationships are supposed to benefit both parties. Never take more than you give. When the opportunity presents itself, don't be afraid to ask your contact to introduce you to a prospect. The old saying rings true: it's not what you know; it's who you know.

There are many reasons to employ social networking as a marketing tactic. Ensure that you have extra time to spend. While it's true that the upfront costs are less, this method takes up a lot of time in research and building relationships.

Social Network Benefits

By the way, do you want to learn more about using articles like this to drive traffic to your website and increase online conversions?

If so, I suggest you check this out: article marketing traffic.

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The Top 5 Ways To Market A Medical Billing Company

Medical billing services are becoming more and more popular because these services save doctors a substantial amount of the time filling out forms, dealing with insurance companies and chasing payments. By outsourcing medical billing, doctors can see far more patients and generate more income for their medical practice.

Because of the growing popularity of medical billing services, many new medical billing businesses are opening their doors and creating a lot of competition. That is the bad news. The good news is that most medical billing services handle their marketing very poorly. This opens up a huge opportunity to those who are good at marketing, or at least willing to learn how to become good at marketing. This article will teach you step-by-step how to market your medical billing service to doctors and surpass your competition.

Networking

1. Create a mailing list of doctors in your area and send out a friendly sales letter or postcard to them every month. You sales letter should explain how your company can help the doctor save time and money while also increasing their profits. Your job is to make the doctor's life easier.

The Top 5 Ways To Market A Medical Billing Company

When you send direct mail to the doctors on your mailing list, it is important that you do everything you can to make your direct mail package look interesting so it gets opened. The best way to do that is to make your envelope lumpy by placing a free gift of some sort in the envelope such as a pen, post-it notes, or other type of inexpensive item. A second technique to get your envelope opened and your letter read is to make your letter look like a personal letter, not like junk mail. The way to do that is to not include your company name on the envelope and to handwrite the name of the doctor and the doctor's mailing address on the envelope. You want the letter to look like it came from either a patient or a friend of the doctor-not like it came from a business trying to sell something.

2. It is important that you follow up with a phone call no more than a week after your mailing is sent so it is still fresh in their minds. If you wait longer than a week, then the doctor may not remember who you are. It is important that you identify yourself and that you are following up on the literature that you sent. Office personnel and doctors will respond a little less harsh if they do know the purpose of your call.

3. Cold calling doctor's offices is another marketing technique that is effective, however it may take multiple calls to be able to speak to the person who makes the decisions. In some instance, it becomes bothersome to the person and they are more likely to not return your phone call.

4. Visiting the doctor's office and leaving your business card and literature at the front desk is also a very good marketing technique, especially if you have a small budget for advertising. The person who makes the decision will see who you are and you have a better chance of speaking to him or her if you are right there.

5. Networking is one of the most important ways that you can market your medical billing company. Referrals will be a big part of marketing your business and if you are just starting out, getting one client can lead to many more through referrals. Once you have established yourself with your client and proven that you are a capable of handling the work, you can ask the doctor to refer their associates to you.

Because of the competition in the medical billing field, you want to make sure that the services you offer are services that you can provide. This is important because you will be building your reputation on what you say you can do, and if you fail, your reputation will suffer.

Marketing your medical billing company is really quite simple. When you have a good business plan with skills that are needed, marketing it should be easy. It may be time consuming in the beginning, but once you get your first client, you will realize just how simple it really is.

The Top 5 Ways To Market A Medical Billing Company

Peter Geisheker is CEO of The Geisheker Group - marketing firm. One of the types of clients that Peter helps are medical billing companies

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Social Networking Disadvantages - This Could Save Your Life

Social networking disadvantages are mostly related to safety issues. Online social interaction has become a very popular activity online. Like most popular activities there is always a certain amount of danger involved. Social networking disadvantages will be minimized if you are cautious when you use it. Internet networking is the act of interacting and sharing information with others online. If you share the wrong information to the wrong person it can end in some dangerous results. If you are careful when giving out information and networking on social sites than you will most likely be safe and have a great time connecting with others.

Many social sites have upgraded their security to make it much safer for users. When social interaction sites first appeared on the market they were completely untested. Because of this there were many ways for predators and criminals to do harm to users. Hackers are always a concern with the majority of online sites. This is especially true for certain networking sites which promote tons of personal information about individuals. The social meeting sites have taken a lot of hits in the lack of security they provide. Young teens have been killed, forced to commit suicide, and abducted by child predators while using their social networking site. Although these incidents are horrible acts, they do not happen on a regular basis. Many such sites have raised their age limits and security to ensure better safety for networking users. Social networking disadvantages can be safely dodged if the sites are used properly.

Networking

Social networking disadvantages are lessened if you follow some common networking safety tips. The first tip to underrate social networking disadvantages is to utilize the privacy settings on your profile. One of the biggest dangers during socializing is having too much personal information available. You can use the privacy settings to screen incoming individuals and what they see of your profile. The second tip to reduce social networking disadvantages is to maintain your computer defenses. Always have virus protection and anti-virus on your computer. Networking sites can have a host of ads that contain virus code which can infect your computer.

Social Networking Disadvantages - This Could Save Your Life

The third tip to decrease social networking disadvantages is to review the network website's safety notifications, standards, policies, and learn how to report violating content. It can usually be found during the registration process. Make a copy so you have it handy if there is ever a security problem that you need to deal with. Another tip for curtailing social networking disadvantages is to remember to be cautious. Don't post it on your profile unless you want everyone in the world to see it.

Bad people are always lurking online waiting for someone innocent to prey on. People are not who they claim to be the majority of the time. Do not meet anyone from a social site unless you are sure that you know them or who they are. Even if you are comfortable with meeting that person still bring a friend and tell people about the meeting in case anything goes wrong. It is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to social networking disadvantages.

Social Networking Disadvantages - This Could Save Your Life

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Why is Networking So Important?

Networking today is vital for business and social health and well-being. When you are in a network it simply means you are in a group of like-minded people, interest group or that you share some other common denominator.

Computer Networking: This is where all the wires, leads, cables and couplings come together in one place. If these cables or wireless points didn't join up, they wouldn't be networked. Anyone today who has a wireless internet connection and more than one computer at home or in the office, all going through the one router, is networked. The joining point in this instance is the router that is the joining point of the network. This is called a LAN or Local Area Network.

Networking

This LAN is now routed through the router to your ISP or Internet Service Provider. This now forms a WAN or Wider Are Network. If you can visualise a group of small spider webs all joining at one point and going outwards to form other small webs, you will be able to understand why the Internet is called the World Wide Web.

Why is Networking So Important?

Social Networking: Years ago it used to mean (and in similar fashion still does) your group of peers that you socialise with. That is, your drinking buddies, your girlfriends, your mates, your friends. Now if you belong to a chess club or a sporting club, they are your physical social network that you as an individual depend on. When we use the term "to depend on", we mean that it is from this group of people that you get your persona from and your sense of self. Your mental health will be affected if you have a falling out or disagreement with this group of people. Your emotional health will suffer. Everyone needs friends and these are found in your social network group of friends.

This concept has now been extended to include a social network of friends and like-minded people on the internet. It has seen the massive growth of social bookmarking sites, and micro blogging sites, so that everyone can "chatter" to their group of friends in a series of short messages. The longest these micro blogs can be is up to 140 characters long. Some micro bloggers just say to their friends what they are doing now. Some people micro blog what they are going to have for dinner, while others use the blogosphere for less mundane notices.

Politicians even micro-blog to their members what is happening when they are electing a new leader for their political party! I have seen Tweets to their followers from Parliamentarians sitting in Parliament and supposedly making important decisions that will govern our lives. Personally, this disgusts me as I consider it a self-serving, irresponsible approach to setting new rules for me to live by. Worse still, is when these people pass laws that will cost me and you (the tax payer) millions or billions of dollars.

This kind of social networking is an unforeseen outcome to the ease in which everyone can micro blog today so there will no doubt be some lines drawn in the sand soon enough. I hope, anyway.

Business Networking: This is still based on what it originally was and still is, today. This is where business people come together to explore areas of common interests and to see where their common interests lie. This is why Associations like Unions, Master Builders, Master Plumbers, Small Business Associations etc form a specific group in which they invite like-minded, similar or complimentary businesses to join; because they all share some common area of interest that they can benefit from.

It is important for all businesses, both on the Internet and those that have a physical street address, to join a business network group in their community where they can socialise with like minded people, and get more business from those that they in turn can pass business on to. This is the basis of a good network.

Why is Networking So Important?

Learning how to create online and off-line social networks leads to happier and more prosperous results.

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Committing to Your Success in Network Marketing

Each day people join network marketing (MLM or multi-level marketing) companies in the hopes of making some extra income to supplement their current earnings or to earn a life changing amount of money to be able to quit their jobs. The dreams are alive, and the possibilities are still there to earn money from home.

Many products are available for purchase through these home based businesses. Starting decades ago with soap and cleaning supplies, Amway distributors may now buy almost anything they could want through their business. Health and wellness is involved with numerous nutritional supplements and energy drinks available. Long distance phone service and travel arrangements may be made through MLM. The food industry is also using this method of distribution.

Networking

With the economy so bad for so many people, the network marketing industry offers a glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak existence. It is a chance to get into a business for a minimal financial investment with the promise of brighter days. However, it takes a lot of work and effort as well as a financial commitment in order to find success in network marketing, a business where you are able to be paid on the efforts of people who you bring into the business as well as people they recruit.

Committing to Your Success in Network Marketing

It seems to be a generally known fact that 98% of people who start out in network marketing will fail. However, most people believe in the concept so they may try company after company trying to find a good fit along with financial success. It is an industry which is still making millionaires of ordinary people..

Some of the advantages of getting into network marketing are:
• Start up costs are generally low
• Your time is your own, and you can make your own schedule
• It can be started on a part time basis and moved to full time later if successful
• You may make new friends
• You can buy products at wholesale prices

Some disadvantages are:
• You must get on autoship and buy overpriced products every month
• You may be required to buy more product than you can use
• You may lose friends by pestering others to join you
• You may feel discouraged at the rejection

To find success in network marketing, it takes real determination to not give up. Committing to your success can make it work.

Committing to Your Success in Network Marketing

Irene Mori is involved with a company which offers discounts on everyday purchases and cash back for online shopping. FREE training and marketing tools are furnished. Get more information on this business by visiting: http://www.moremlmsuccess.com. Check out http://www.preparedforlife.net for information on a business and products in food storage and emergency preparedness.

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Selecting Channels - Which Ones Are Right For Your Business?

There are many different channels and options for companies to interact with customers, but which ones are right for you, and why is a multi-channel strategy better than a multiple channel strategy?

It seems that every month there is a new channel of opportunity to communicate with your customer. With all the different options, how does a company select which one(s) are right for their business, and how do you put a strategy together to maximize the effectiveness?

Networking

First, there are way too many channels to review each one, but there is an understanding that can be applied to each that should be a part of your overall Marketing and Channel Strategy. The important factors are: what are you trying to say, how you want to be perceived, who is the customer that you are looking to reach, and when should you engage certain channels.

Selecting Channels - Which Ones Are Right For Your Business?

Before I address these questions, let us look at the difference between a multi-channel and a multiple channel strategy. Understanding the difference will be very important as you move to select different channels to promote your message, sell your products, and connect your brand with prospective consumers.

Multi-channel strategy involves selecting channels (ex. print, direct mail, television, online media, social networks (Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, etc.) that are based on creating awareness of your product or service, driving the customer to the procurement phase with a consistent message across channels, and most importantly using the different channels to complement each other, as well as maximizing the different channels value-added proposition to align the message and engage the customer. This form of marketing opens the doors to different formats to engage a prospective customer using a consistent message with the understanding that the strength of a multi-channel strategy is only as good as its weakest link, thus no channel should be engaged independently. The focus is on communications with the knowledge that customers jump across channels to obtain information, and that no single channel will be the panacea, but by selecting targeted channels with messages that complement each other your chance of moving that customer to the procurement phase increases exponentially.

In addition, each channel should be supported by analysis with regards to return on the investment for that channel. Though measurements will vary per channel based on its form of communications, this is a critical step as you move forward with additional communications while determining which channels offer you the best value and opportunity to connect with your customer.

Multiple Channel Strategy is typified by the term 3E's (Everything to Everybody Everywhere). This is a scattergun approach where you shoot nuggets of information across many different channels, but there is no focus on creating a targeted message that maximizes the value of the different channels. You are not utilizing what the new channels of communications bring to the table with regards to engaging customers on their terms.

It is important to remember that the customer selects the channel and format that they like to use, so it is critical to determine which channels the customers use and engage them on the customer's terms, not Everything to Everybody Everywhere.

The major difference between Multi-Channel and Multiple Channels is that with a Multi-Channel Strategy you are aligning the customer's characteristics and communications format with a brand, product, or service promise, thus you can focus what are you trying to say, how you want to be perceived, who is the customer that you are looking to reach, and when should you engage certain channels.

Let us take a look at a few of the different channels and how they complement each other within a Multi-Channel Strategy. Example: I was hired to create awareness for a very exclusive event that will be attended by many different prominent figures in a location that is not readily accessible to all prospective customers. For this example, I set up a Multi-Channel Strategy using direct mail, email blasts, select website communications (highly positioned and prominent websites only), Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. The reason I selected this specific group of channels for my Multi-Channel Strategy is that I know my customer base with regards to which channels that they use, thus I am in a position to create the overall strategy to be layered onto the select channels with designated timing for each.

With a lot of lead time, I will send out direct mail to start the word-of-mouth going on the event. Next, I will engage select email blasts closer to the timing of the event knowing the dynamics of email versus direct mail. In addition, I will start the buzz going online by engaging complementary websites that hold a prominent position and high ranking within the major search engines as well as have a strong following to ensure that the pre-message reaches the right audience; this is critical when managing your investment in time and money to maximize your return by working with only progressive, prominent websites that have a powerful Internet Presence. The message will be consistent, and will be channel specific in nature to create enough interest that the customer will delve into additional channels for more information. Depending on the event, there may be prior experiences I could share with people via Facebook or YouTube that could be launched simultaneously with the direct mail and/or email blasts.

Timing on this step varies by product, access to information, and the ability to manage the message to meet your needs, thus if there is not enough streaming video available to complement my message then I will wait until after the event when I will have the communications to meet my needs. If the information is not available or does not complement my overall Multi-Channel Strategy then it is better to wait on this step and not engage it just because everyone else is using streaming video. Control of what you say and when you say it is still in your hands while the medium of choice is controlled by the customer, so utilize the Multi-Channel Strategy to its maximum and control the process.

So, where does a tool like Twitter come into play, well I will use it to drum up excitement for the event as it draws near, but remember that Twitter is a dynamic communication tool that is only as good as its last Tweet. This is a powerful communications tool to use during the event to draw in customers from the controlled direct mail, email blasts, and website communications who were not able to attend. After the event, I will utilize a new round of direct mail and email blasts to complement the online streaming video postings in Facebook and YouTube as I build towards future events.

This was a simplistic example, but if you draft the overall message that you want to communicate against your customer base layered on top of the Multi-Channel Strategy you can then develop a discrete message that is aligned to your customer per channel.

Selecting Channels - Which Ones Are Right For Your Business?

Edward F. Nesta is President of Luxury Experience Company http://www.L-E-Company.com.

Luxury Experience Company works with progressive companies looking to expand their brand, product presence, and increase revenue. We target brands and products in the luxury segment who are confused and/or frustrated with internet positioning, Internet Marketing, and concepts such as Web 2.0 and Search Engine Optimizing. Services include International Operations (B2B, B2C, Supply Chain and Distribution Management), Marketing (Experiential, Internet, Relationship, and Strategic Marketing), Web 2.0, Demystifying SEO by turning it into business and marketing terminology, Mergers, Acquisitions, and Brand and Product Placement.

Luxury Experience Company is a team of high-energy professionals who bring a broad and extensive international background to every assignment.

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Top 10 Salon & Spa Promotions and Marketing Ideas

1. Networking and Connecting to gain the Leading Edge.

Getting out and making a name for yourself is important. It's not enough to place a sign out front and run an advertisement in the paper and wait for the phone to ring. You are more likely to get business from people who have made contact with you or know you. Participate in your community and join groups where you can network with people in your suburb or town, you'll be able to make connections, get the word out about your salon and spa and bring in some new clients. Get out, meet people and increase your business visibility.

Networking

2. Stealth Marketing

Top 10 Salon & Spa Promotions and Marketing Ideas

Use Viral Marketing to build your brand awareness and enhance your marketing efforts. By using pre-existing social networks like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter you can get the word out and create buzz for your salon and spa. Stealth marketing can encompass social networks, text messages, blogs and blog posting all with the purpose of gaining visibility and increasing your marketing objectives.

3. Email Marketing

As a day Spa, Beauty or Hair Salon owner your client list is a precious asset. Consider the lifetime value of a client. How much does each of your clients spend on average per month, per year and over a lifetime? It costs anywhere from 5 to 8 times more to gain a new client as opposed to retaining your clients. Therefore, you need to place a strong emphasis on keeping existing clients. Keeping in touch with your clients to stay top of mind is important to gain repeat business. Email Marketing is a highly effective way to build and maintain relationships.

4. Praise from Happy clients

The marketing giants use celebrity endorsements (testimonials) to expose their products and give their products credibility and appeal. You too can get testimonials from your happy clients. Identify people who can influence your target market and get them to endorse your treatments and techniques. Get key leaders within your community to try your products and treatments for free and get their feedback in writing. Get their permission to use their feedback, comments and photos in your promotional material.Endorsements can come from friends, the most powerful endorsement is when friends and clients recommend your product or service to another friend. This is powerful word of mouth advertising and more believable than any other form of endorsement.

5. The Power of Free!

We all like getting a little bonus, a gift, a little something extra. Your clients do, too. The acronym "GWP" stands for "Gift with Purchase". As the name suggests, a GWP is an item that is given to your client when she spends above a specified amount on beauty treatments, hairdressing or skin care products. The Gift with purchase (free item) could be anything from cosmetics, skin care products, hair care products, salon voucher, product samples, etc. Free offers for example Buy 10, Get One free, Buy a Facial and Pedicure and Get a Free Manicure adds transactional value and enhances allure. Free introductory offers entice clients to trial a product.  Free offers help with the buying decision and increase sales. 

6. Referral Programs

Getting clients through referrals is one of the best ways to build your business. Have a referral incentive program in place to encourage clients to refer business to you. Having a specific referral program gets people thinking about who they can refer to you. A referral program encourages word of mouth advertising. Make it a habit to ask your clients for referrals. Tell them you would really appreciate it if they could recommend you to anyone who would be interested in a cut/colour/any service you provide." And of course tell them about your referral incentive program - let them know what's in for them. 

7. Effective Words that Sell

Copywritingis the use of words to promote your salon and spa. You know the saying, "It's not what you say, but how you say it. You can tell clients we cut hair, do facial and waxing. Or you can start defining your product or service in a whole new light. Literally turn the spot light on what you say.

Before: We sell xyz products

After: The Best Clinically Proven Anti-ageing Formulation for Fine Lines and Wrinkles.

Before: We do Facials

After: Our Facials will Rejuvenate your Skin, Leaving it Looking Radiantly Healthy and Feeling Absolutely Fabulous.

Every word in every single message, advert and presentation forms a perception, either good or bad. Choose your words wisely. Too many salon and spa owners study what the competition is doing and do and say the same. Make you words count, make them unique, succinct, persuasive, enticing, juicy and delicious.

8. A Niche Strategy to Focus your Marketing efforts

Don't try to be everything to everyone. Focus on your specific niche. Know what makes you different from your competitors. Analyse your competitor's strengths and weaknesses. Offer more value by differentiating your specific treatments and results. One of the biggest niche strategy advantages is the ability to quickly become a dominant player your specific area of expertise. There are salons that cater specifically for rejuvenation, slimming, tanning, hair design, waxing and massage. Niche marketing can be a focused strategy at a niche group such as pregnant women, teenagers, couples, men. A massage and relaxation niche may encompass Yoga, Shiatsu, Meditation and an array of Massage techniques such as deep tissue, Swedish, aromatherapy and Thai massage. Spas are increasingly offering unique services and products to differentiate themselves from the usual facials and body treatments. A new spa niche may be carved out with Asian healing practices and rituals.

9. Win them over and Build relationships

Treat each client like they are special. Listen sincerely to their concerns. Communicate with your clients, what are their interests, likes, dislikes. Educate your clients on the many benefits of your service and products. Have promotional tools such as educational Pamphlet/Flyer/Email/Booklet/Blog/eBook which includes interesting and useful information. Make sure your clients are pampered, comfortable and give them your full attention. Recognise that you serve clients, that client relationship is part of your job. Be helpful, friendly and courteous at all times.

10. Bold & Beautiful Business.

Who gets the attention? Attractive men and women, the loud mouth and the exceptional offer. Start attracting attention to your salon and spa. Have attractive staff with flawless skin, well groomed with full make-up. You think I'm joking, but its fact that good looking people attract more business. And as a salon and spa, you are in the health and beauty business, so your people need to look the part. Would you go to an overweight personal fitness trainer, or would you want the lean muscular trainer? Who gets the attention? The budget salon with posters on the wall or the salon with a gorgeous reception, water feature, glossy magazines, top notch furnishing and finishes. We know that packaging is everything; clients pay big money for professional skin care because the marketing messages tell us its special and the packaging supports the message. Is your salon and spa supporting your marketing message? Attractive people, places and objects are attractive because they literally attract attention and interest. Is your salon and spa attractive and attracting attention? Attractive refers to everything: your marketing messages, the way you answer the phone, answer questions, the way you present yourself, your advertising. It all needs to be bold, beautiful, attractive, and appealing to draw people in.

Top 10 Salon & Spa Promotions and Marketing Ideas

For more Free Salon & Spa Tips, Strategies and Ideas, go to http://www.salonprofit.net

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The Advantages of Social Networking

It's great to have friends but you have to admit that there are certain interests you or they have, which neither is not interested in. When this happens, it is time to expand our circle and that is just one of the advantages of social networking.

Social networking enables people who share the same interests to hang out together and this simply means that you are able to make new friends. If for example you are interested in basketball, no one there will get tired of talking about the players or the game which occurred last night or several years ago.

Networking

Since most social networking is done over the web, you get to meet individuals from other countries and learn about their culture. How many people do you know keep in touch with someone across the Atlantic or the Pacific? Given that you share something in common, you get to communicate with that person regularly that is very similar to hooking up with your friends after work or school.

The Advantages of Social Networking

From a business point of view, the first two advantages of social networking enable you to meet new clients and expand your business because most of these sites allow you to customize your webpage and provide links to your personal website.

Just to give you a few examples, there is Multiply, MySpace, Friendster, FaceBook and Classmates. With so many around, you won't have a hard time looking for a social network that you like. You can even post ads here so you can inform other members of an event that you are hosting.

The best part about becoming a member of a social network is that majority of these is free. This means that you don't have to pay any fees. All you have to do is sign up by filling up the form and then activating the link when this is sent to you via email. Now that you are a member, you can invite other friends to join and look at other profiles.

The advantages of social networking will allow you to make new friends, promote your business and best of all, won't cost you a thing. But there are some social networking sites that will require you to pay a fee. Before you sign up, consider if this value for your money.

Will social networking sites ever replace meeting people in social events and other gatherings? Of course not because all this medium does is give you more exposure. It allows you to put your best qualities out there especially when first impressions last.

When you join a social networking site, never post any private information about yourself unless you are ready to have people get in touch with you. You shouldn't also put anything embarrassing about yourself because some people have been denied employment because of the information posted.

If there are "privacy" settings in your social networking site, you are advised to use it so you can control who has access to your personal information.

A lot of experts say that social networking is here to stay so we have to take advantage of it. When you do join a social networking site, keep an open and see if this is exactly what you wanted. If not, cancel your account until you find the one that you like.

The Advantages of Social Networking

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Networking - Making a Good Email Introduction

Networking can mean many things to many professionals depending on the nature of the networking. It can equate to giving and expecting nothing in return. Etiquette and manners are useful tools for networking for success. Professionals can build great business relationships, expand their networks and help their business grow by referring others rather than themselves. An effective means for offering referrals is through emails. Emails are a subtle form of communication that allows the recipient to respond during any time of the day and give the proper and accurate information and resources to their business counterparts. As the middle man, you can properly introduce friends and colleagues and build your clientele/referral base.

Listed below are some important tips to consider when making business or personal contacts.

Networking

Spell Check

Networking - Making a Good Email Introduction

When a professional has agreed to introduce two or more colleagues for business or social purposes, the business professional should draft a concise and meaningful message and proof-read. Grammar should be correct and all names of persons should be spelled properly. This can build your credibility and show that you pay attention to detail as well as respect others.

Background Info.

The person making the introduction should set the stage for how all parties know of each other. Be specific and give details about personal and professional associations so that everyone can feel comfortable with each other. Another good idea is to include educational backgrounds or professional and social interests of your business counterparts. This information can be helpful for future reference or later business and social opportunities.

Company Info.

The professional should then describe the business, company or organization of each person. They should make sure to provide the most useful information for making the right connection for business success. New initiatives, new products, training programs, latest technologies which can be of interest to their business counterpart should be highlighted in the email message. Your business counterparts should be able to identify the significance of working and collaborating together for profit or growth.

Sealing the Deal

After the introduction via email has been made, the professional should encourage both parties to connect or reach out to one another. The professional should provide the proper and appropriate contact info for all parties as well as their own information. Also encourage both parties to follow up and ask for assistance when needed.

Networking - Making a Good Email Introduction

Chi Chi Okezie is owner/producer of SIMPLEnetworking, LLC in Metro-Atlanta, GA. Newly published author of "SIMPLEnetworking: Creating Opportunities ... The new form of success!" View excerpts of the book and polish your professional approach: http://www.snseminars.com

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