This leads me to my ultimate question:

Does “Going  Social” mean you have to broadcast every aspect of your life to the internet? Does it mean that you have to twitter or update every time you eat lunch, buy an mp3, or take a walk?

No! In fact, most people tend to be annoyed by these types of updates. Unless you’re a celebrity (the Hollywood kind), people really aren’t that interested in whether you’re talking your dog for a walk, eating dinner, or boarding a flight to Los Angeles airport. Updating, also known as lifestreaming, has becoming an integral part of social media. In actuality, most people aren’t looking for your life’s details, they’re looking for advice, a confidant, or simply a new friend they can meet for latte’s the next time they happen to be in your locale.

Being social really means  putting yourself out there. You should be in it to make friends first, and make business last. Social media users are getting smarter and smarter to even the softest marketing tactics, and they have voiced many times over that they want friends, not robots, sale posts, and business icons on their social sites.

If you don’t think people care much about “updates”, just look at Facebook’s controversial new homepage layout. It’s a lot like Twitter, right? Over the past few years, Myspace, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other prominent social media sites have integrated the “update” function into their layout. They have access to all of the stats that likely show how much users like this feature… especially if it’s now being utilized across all major social media websites.

And remember, “What Are You Doing” doesn’t only mean “what are you doing”.

It can mean:

• What advice do you have for your network today?
• What important lesson did you learn today?
• Did anything funny happen today?
• Is anyone in my area who wants to meet for lunch or coffee?
• I’m at a convention… anyone else here who wants to meet?
• How are you feeling, and why?
• Come across any good articles or funny photos you’d like to share?
• Ready to offer a helping hand to someone who perhaps need a Digg, Stumble, or other prop?
• Who can I help today? Let’s chat!
• What do you guys think of this product? I’m thinking of getting one…

Updates are so much more than trivial details. They are making friends, helping others, and a great opportunity to add value.

What is your favorite way to utilize site updates?

Many of of my colleagues have been asking me for advice on how to earn extra money to keep their marketing stable, or even to grow their overall marketing efforts, since others in their industry are seemingly decreasing their marketing spending.  We know sales and overall conversions are down, but these same sales would be stagnant without any marketing at all, which is why we shouldn’t roll-over and play dead because things are getting tough. It just takes a bit of thinking outside of the box.

While many of my suggestions may seem like they’re “below” some people, I argue that in this economy, nobody is below much of anything, short of working the streets (which I don’t recommend). I know a man who was just laid off of his $200,000 per year job and is now working as a bank teller for less than $12 an hour.  It is because of this, business owners may need to broaden their horizons when it comes to bringing in some extra working revenue into their business. I also see many of my entrepreneur friends dipping into their savings to market their businesses. This is very risky, and I always recommend having some cushion money to fall back on if you’re a business owner, and especially if you have a family.

While brainstorming with a friend, we came up with our list of:

Ways to Raise Money to Market Your Business in a Bad Economy

• Let go of Things that Don’t Matter: This is the first thing I ask clients and colleagues when they say they don’t have money… “Do you have “stuff”? Everyone loves stuff. You will likely sell it for less than you purchased it for, which is fine if it was something you didn’t use often anyways. If you’ve got a $5,000 pool table in your home that you never use, sell it! If you drive a newer luxury car that is paid for, why not trade it in for something a bit more practical? Unused office equipment? Sell it! These downgrades aren’t permanent. We all know that things will eventually get better. For now, every penny really does count.

• Make the Most of Your Client List: All of your old invoices are worth their weight in gold. Even if you aren’t the best record keeper, you should have some record of whose been purchasing from you over the years. If you have employees, put them to work calling or emailing old customers and simply asking how they are doing. Special “loyalty discounts” and other specials could do the trick.  Remember not to be pushy, and to keep the customer’s best interest in mind. You should be calling/emailing with “How can I help them?” in mind.

• Barter or Trade: Now more than ever, I’ve noticed that more and more people are willing to barter or trade services, expertise and even merchandise. Ask yourself what will help you raise money, and brainstorm it onto a list called “Things I Need To Barter or Trade For“. Post your barter request on local and regional classified sites, social networks, and of course on Twitter.  This will likely get you some good results. Do remember that your trades need to be relatively equal in value, and they should equip you with something to better your business by.

• Put Your Other Skills to Use: Outside of your business activities, what other skills do you posses that could earn you extra money? Are you a good writer? Many people make a good amount of extra cash doing freelance writing work, and with the internet, it’s very easy to find. Perhaps you are good at math? Tutoring local students could also earn you some extra cash. I know a local woman who works from her home office, and also watches a handful of kids (all over 9 years old) during the weekdays to supplement her income since business was down a bit.  She ended up making a bit more than she had thought she would, and used the excess to put towards more marketing that helped her immensely.

Besides smarter budgeting, what are some other ways you have found to raise money to keep your business going? Chances are, it required you to be resourceful, and to truly think outside of the box.

With the internet’s landscape forever changing, and the average internet user becoming smarter and more keen to blatant advertising every minute, how does one foresee which of the vast array of internet marketing tactics will actually hit home with their audience?  You could follow the lead of the big guys implementing newer tactics, such as social media… but does it really work? What about Pay Per click advertising? Isn’t it expensive? I bet you’ve heard a friend of a friend talk about how they were able to get some notable amounts of traffic using YouTube or Video marketing.

If you’ve ever asked yourself  “How can I really leverage internet marketing, without doing something that just doesn’t work anymore”, then you’re going to highly benefit from this post. The rules have changed, and they keep changing, so I cannot say that these rules will be 100% relevant in a year, or even in 6 months. With the internet, you never know! However, right now, they are relevant, and they will help you educate yourself what your local Search Engine Marketing firm probably won’t tell you about utilizing the Internet in your marketing efforts.
The Rules Have Changed! The New Rules of Internet Marketing

• It’s all About Your Audience: Focus on your USER, not yourself, your product, or your service. Build genuine relationships with your users, and focus on them at all times. Your campaign should be focused around what your product or service can do for your user… not simply about how great your product is.
• Implementing most Blackhat SEO Methods will get you Banned: Most search engines are catching on very quickly, and a variety of blackhat SEO methods are now being recognized much faster than they used to be. Once you are black listed, it’s tough to come back from.
• Implement A system of Testing: The only constant on the internet is change. It is because of this that yourself, or your internet marketer needs to be split testing all campaigns in any given area at least once a month. This includes targeted keywords for relevance, SEO, PPC, and social media efforts.
• Researching your Market is a MUST: You may think you know all there is to know about your key demographic, or you may think that your key demographic is “everyone”, right? Wrong. Broad marketing efforts are far less effective unless your budget is close to unlimited. Each product or service should have it’s targeted niche. Aimless marketing efforts will lose you more money than they will earn. Find out who you’re really targeting or who’s really buying your product. You may be surprised to find that it’s not who you thought it was.
• You will Pay for More When Hiring an SEO, SEM, or Internet Marketing Consultant: Not too long ago, any guy with a laptop and internet connection could claim to be a “good” SEO expert, and charge a few hundred dollars per month to head an SEO campaign. In all honesty, I believe you get what you pay for, and in the Internet Marketing industry this couldn’t be more true. So many people come to me (everyday) having absolutely no idea what to budget for a consultant or an SEO. It is alright to pay a few thousand per month to someone who knows what they’re doing.  You wouldn’t believe how many clients I get who have been burned with very little or no results from past consultants and “gurus”. Why? Because they were looking for a deal.
• Connect using Social Media: If you’re not already utilizing social media, then you should. Why? Because you will gain priceless insight into your demographic. I could list 1000 other reasons, but your main objective is to listen, help, and build genuine relationships. Sales are secondary. Trust me, you’ll get it once you’re involved.
• Video Is In, so start Creating!: If you can make it a more interactive experience for your users, do it! Furniture companies can opt to create weekly video shows on decorating and interiors. Jewelry companies can create a series on fashion, or even creative marriage proposals happening live and in real-time. No matter what industry you are in, there is always a way to integrate video into your brand. In fact, it’s a wonderful way to effectively get your brand out, in a more visual and non-pushy way. Simply try to add value, as you would in any other social media situation, and you’ll do well.
• Really Listen : Dedicate time and resources to listening to your target audience. Who are they…really? What are their daily struggles? Complaints? Rants? Common web surfing habits? Find out everything you can about them and make sure to implement a way to organize all of your data from listening.
• Implement Metrics on Everything you Can Measure: Because of all of the new avenues of marketing the internet now provides, there must be a system of measurement in place to find out exactly which of these methods produces, and in what ways. Install an analytics program or service on your site, and keep close tabs on who is coming from where, and what those users from sites like Twitter are doing on your site.  This will enable you to focus more attention on what works, and less on what doesn’t produce as well.
• Don’t Underestimate the Power of a Blog: This is a big one. Effective and engaging content can lead to many potential and frequent users on a site. The best way to feature engaging content is to display in blog format somewhere on your own website. However, it’s not limited to just having a blog. Being featured on a well-known blog can render tons of highly targeted traffic to your own site in a very short amount of time.  Not only is this great marketing, it’s cost efficient. It’s also like having a friend tell 10,000 of their own friends that they recommend a service or product. Word of mouth marketing is still the most powerful and effective tool in the world of marketing…even on the internet.
• Spam Gets you Nowhere: In the older days of internet marketing, spamming forums, messages boards, (and other countless methods) could get you quick and effective first-page rankings within a week or two. Now, spamming simply annoys everyone, and takes away your credibility as a company or a professional. Spamming is no longer a way to get to the top. Don’t do it.
• They Know What You’re Up to! Time to Up Your Game: Many internet users are now much smarter than before. (Yes, I was shocked to learn this too!).    They’ve learned that the clever pop-up inviting them to play a free game of poker is really just an ad that will eventually ask for their credit card information. They know that the free offer on the side of the screen is simply just a ploy to get their home address.  It is because of this that many internet marketers are replying heavily on social tactics. In our age, marketing has got to be even more focused, targeted, and tested. As your demographic wisens up, you’ll have to polish up your marketing tactics…and it will be never-ending. Remember, testing is key. Don’t spend a ton of money on a campaign unless you’ve tested it and have proof that it works and converts for your business, not just your competitor’s.
• Impressive Branding Now Includes Having a Multi-Layered Presence: A notable brand should be featured well beyond the limits of it’s office walls or it’s company website. It should be talked about,  blogged about, Twittered about, IM’d about, and contain a viable and traceable trail of footprints that potential users can easily find when searching for information on your company. Your brand should be everywhere, and this mindset should be woven into every aspect of the internet marketing initiatives.
• Marketing Tools are Now a Must: Marketing tools that are frequently offered SAAS (or Software as a Service) are becoming essential tools in any Internet Marketer’s box of tricks.  It is nearly impossible to run a smooth internet marketing campaign without utilizing the tools of the trade.  These tools include analytics tools, CRM solutions, email management accounts, site performance tools, accounting tools, and much more. The good news is that many are offered at a variety of different price ranges to suite every budget. Some are even free and others offer free trials to help you gauge whether their service is a good match for your business.
• Utilize Social Search: If you ever wanted to know what a good amount of the internet was talking about at any given moment, most people know that you could easily head over to Twitter’s search feature to see immediate results on any keyword. You can even be updated on what people are talking about by signing up to Twitter trending clients offered via certain twitter accounts and utilities. Internet Marketers will realize how important these tools really are,  given the rapid nature in which life-streaming tools are growing.

If you found these rules helpful, please Stumble, Tweet, Digg, or share this article!

When using Twitter for the first time, you can tell immediately who the big boys are, so long as you have them added to your “follow” list. Generally, people with tons of followers, ‘re-tweeted’ posts, and replies are the ones with the most pull on Twitter. However, there are many lesser-known people out there that have added just as much value to Twitter as some of the “A-listers”.

How Do You Add Value To Twitter?

There are many ways to add value to your Twitter stream. One of my favorite aspects of Twitter is that helping others is highly praised, and very encouraged. It has to be one of the few places on the internet where it’s not literally flashy signs and shiny logos that are all about the person who the profile belongs to. No, It’s about everyone.

* Although it asks “What are YOU doing?”, Twitter isn’t necessarily all about you, or your brand…or your service.

At least not directly.

Posting a friend’s link on Twitter to one of their more helpful blog posts can get them some well-deserved attention, in addition to shining a nice little spotlight on their helpful content that others on Twitter may find highly useful. Helping a colleague gain Diggs, Stumbles, or Sphinns on an article or post they worked really hard on is another way to help add value. Possibly bringing attention to a new charity, or even adding helpful content that may not necessarily be yours, but rather something you know your followers will find helpful in their everyday lives.

The best strategy you can start implementing today to add value to your Twitter stream is thinking of others.

I asked some of my Twitter friends the question “How Do you Add Value to Twitter”?

• LorenNason says: @Terra111 I wouldn’t say I add value but I strengthen and build the relationships I have formed offline.
• Voiceleaf says: @Terra111 One can add value to Twitter by simply being helpful and thoughful. If you see that someone’s struggling, give them a hand!
• AskBillMitchell says: @Terra111 I think the greatest value people can bring to Twitter, is to rid themselves the urge to abuse it.

What do you think? How do you add value to your Twitter following? How do you plan to add value in the future?

The Shorty Awards are currently accepting nominations from Twitter users to determine those that add the most value to Twitter. These “Top Tweeters” are people who are generally liked, and likely have a loyal following, whether it be small or large. Nominations are being accepted until midnight on December 31st, so things are definitely heating up.

Apparently CharlesTrippy is hilarious, because he’s currently holding the top spot in the ”humor” category and has over 439 nominations overall.  On the business side PawLuxury currently holds the #1 spot with over 180 nominations. Coming in second in the business category is GuyKawasaki, whom apparently also holds a good amount of nominations for being a douche, which I didn’t even know was a category.

I was also Nominated for a Shorty Award.   (thanks soultravelers3) ! <—- By the way, if you haven’t checked out this family’s amazing story and travels, along with their daughter’s epic YouTube video, be sure to do so…and nominate them! They are amazing, and they definitely deserve the travel nomination, considering they’ve been on an open-ended vacation for the last 3 years.

I can think of many Twitter users who would definitely be prime candidates for awards in multiple categories.

So my question to you all is:

1. How do you plan to add value to Twitter?
2. Have you changed your strategy as you’ve learned more about your Twitter Followers?
3. Who do you think should be nominated for a Shorty Award! (be sure to include category!)

Ah yes, and If you have Twitter, please do add me, and I’ll return the follow! I’m at http://www.twitter.com/Terra111