Business 101: What is Social Media Marketing & Why do I need it?

SMM (Social Media Marketing) is a huge arena of amazing tools that seem to grow and expand every moment. SMM is the hottest new way to market yourself and gain the much desired exposure to potential new clients. The amazing part of using SMM is the cost factor, SMM is virtually free to utilize, and it takes you world wide in a matter of minutes. Who would not want that kind of exposure?

SMM appears in a variety of forms from social networking sites to viral marketing sites.

Some of the common social networking sites include:
FaceBook (http://www.facebook.com/)
Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/)
LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/)
NING sites (http://www.ning.com/)

While the viral marketing sites are:
YouTube
Flickr
Google Video
JibJab
Kewego
Metacafe
Veoh

Then you have your Blog sites:
Blogger.com
WordPress
TypePad

The fourth area in the SMM platform is Internet Radio/Podcasts:
BlogTalkRadio
PodBean
Voice America Radio
iTunes
Podcast Alley

The final area we will touch on is Social Bookmarking or tagging:
http://www.digg.com/
http://www.delicious.com/
http://www.stumbleupon.com/
http://www.reddit.com/

Keep in mind I am only listing the top sites, there are many others that can be more specific to your niche market. The key is to begin to connect into each of these platforms offering advice, tips, quotes then the sale. Do not march into these social platforms with a hard sale, guaranteed they will “un-friend” or stop following you.

You want to utilize all of the various platforms for optimum exposure, do not find yourself sticking to one only or combining all together on one site. The key is exposure and linking on several sites, then you can upload/link your radio show & blog to your main website to drive more traffic to your home site, that is a whole different topic for later. To find out more and explore your options visit http://www.robinhardy.net/ or email at Robin@RobinHardy.net.

Business 101: What do I need to start my own?

Starting your own business today is much easier than it was say 10 years ago. It used to be all about physical location, in some case today it is still location. However, most of us can start a business right from the comfort of our living rooms. With the invention of the World Wide Web we can launch a business in our living room that reaches world wide!

So let’s jump into the basic essentials for creating your own business today:

1.) A great idea, something that will meet a need for the community. Something that you can

do better than others providing the same product or service.
2.) You have to really want to journey this direction, owning your own business is not a cake

walk or a get rich quick adventure. However, if you are ready this will be one of the most

amazing journey’s of your life.
3.) You have to create a RoadMap to keep you on the right path. This is like using your GPS to

take a vacation; it is much easier to get from point A to point B if you have directions. This

will allow you to enjoy the fruits of your labor quicker than a random direction with no

planning.
4.) You have to create a Business Plan with specific targets, keep in mind this plan can & most

likely will be modified as you move through the launch and growth of your business.
5.) You need a strong support system behind you. This support system can come in a variety

of packaging; hire a Business Building Coach, join a Master Mind Group, find a Mentor…

Keep in mind each one plays a specific role in your journey. The Business Coach is trained

and experienced in getting you where you want to go, while the Master Mind Group may

be more generic or what worked for them. Unfortunately, what works for one may not

always work for the next person.
6.) You must have a strong passion for the business you want to start. Don’t just jump at

everything or the first sales pitch you get, dig deep and see if you are passionate about the

business. If you are not passionate you will give up if you do not see instant income and

success. Those that pursue their passions make it work and stick to it in good & bad times.
7.) You need to count the cost, starting a business does not mean instant income. You have to

be prepared to survive for about 2 years while you are building. If you have a job do not

quit unless you can survive without that income.

It is so simple today to launch a business and the rewards are far beyond anything a job can provide, are you ready? Are you willing to commit?

Why people will not build a business today, Reason #8 Self-Sabotage

Sabotage; as defined in the dictionary is any undermining of a cause...



"You can't do that!" "That's way too difficult!" "If you try, you'll probably just fail anyway." These statements sound as if they're coming from someone with a cruel mission to destroy self-confidence. Unfortunately, we can be the “someone” and our target can be our self.
Negative self-talk or sometimes called Monkey Chatter is something we have all probably engaged in at some time. When it rears its ugly head on a regular basis it, it can lead to self-sabotage, and can stop us and in some cases paralyze a person from achieving their goals and dreams. The worse part is we usually don't recognize what we are doing to ourselves. Instead, we attribute our lack of success to inadequacy or being unlucky. This mind-set will strengthen the negative messages we tell ourselves, and we get caught in a self-sabotaging cycle that can be very difficult to break.
A simple way to tell if you are sabotaging your self is when you grind to a halt while you're trying to achieve your goals, for no rational reason. When you feel like you are stuck in quick sand and the only way is down, or you tell yourself to quit you are not capable of success. The skill, ability and desire are there just seems as something is stopping you from moving forward. When you begin to feel that you can't do something you should be able to do, or have done before self-sabotage is at work.
Self-sabotage behavior can leave you feeling frustrated, discouraged, and trapped in a situation you desperately want to change. Self-sabotage behaviors are irrational and illogical, and they will destroy your self-esteem and self-confidence!
Everyone sabotages themselves from time to time. Unfortunately, sometimes we sabotage ourselves to the point of not being able to live the successful, happy life we really want to live.
Here are a few questions you can ask yourself (honestly) to determine if you might be self-sabotaging yourself:
· Is procrastination a regular part of your day?
· Do you have a difficult time getting motivated to do the things you really want to do?
· Did you tell yourself that this would be your year to succeed, but despite this promise to
yourself, you are still not living the life you truly want to live?
· Do your love relationships seem destined to fall apart?
· Do people often misunderstand your intentions?
· Do you feel as if people in your life are constantly criticizing you?
· Do you ever experience depression, anxiety or panic attacks, even when there is no logical
reason for them?
· Do you ever feel resentment or anger over not having more control over the events in your
life?
Self-sabotage behavior damages your self-esteem and causes you to lose confidence in yourself, which is reflected to those around you by your attitude, comments and non-verbal communications. Self-sabotage can create feelings of frustration, discouragement, resentment, anger and panic. Most significantly, it stops you from doing and having the things you really want to have in your life.
So, let’s explore some ways you can overcome self sabotage. You have to let go, trust in the flow of life and begin to trust yourself. Do not allow other peoples opinions of you dictate what you believe and never do something to make someone approve of you if it’s not the way you would normally act, it is impossible to please everyone all the time.
In life we have to choose our battles we will fight and sometimes the best way to handle a situation if someone let you down either forgive them and understand that’s just the way they are or move on from them. Our actions will either lead to outcomes or consequences, you control your own life and no one else is responsible for the situations you find yourself in. You can not blame everyone else for what happens to you, if you do you are only sabotaging yourself.
Don’t be so hard on yourself, life is about learning and growing not instantly having the answer for everything. Self-sabotage needs to be recognized and addressed if you plan on moving forward as a successful business owner, because sometimes it is just you & the little mouse in your pocket that is moving in the same direction. Cut yourself some slack and talk kindly to yourself like you would talk to a loving friend, you will be surprised at the results you will experience. You may find you really like yourself!

Why People Do Not Start a Business Today, Reason #7 Laziness!

We have exposed 6 of the most common reasons we have heard recently on why people will not start a business today, reason #7 is a very blunt one, laziness! The case of the why bothers, why should I do anything or who cares. Some people have tried to use every excuse under the moon to not do anything to change their position.

This mind-set is a very dangerous one, however in today’s economy a very common one. If we focus on the entire crisis around us we will become paralyzed and complacent. Lingering in this mind-set for too long can create a position of laziness, if you have sat around too long you will loose your desire to move forward. The other issue is those that are genuinely lazy and just do not want to do anything to better themselves or their families. The strange thing about this person is they are the ones always complaining that life is hard, life is bad, I never get a chance/break and on and on.

If we really want change in our life we must get out of the mind-set of laziness and move into action. Consider this transition just like working out at the gym; take little steps to big rewards. If you try to change instantaneously you will most likely give up as you become overwhelmed. If you are in a position of really wanting to make the change in your life and launch out of “The Lazy Mind-Set” here are a few steps you can take to begin the process of change in your life:

· Place notes to yourself on mirrors, wallet, drawers that say “I can do anything I set my

mind to do”, these are called affirmations and they do work!
· Hire a Life or Business Coach to help you set some goals and keep you on the right path.

They will also help you through this tough transition from laziness to proactive &

productive.
· Find a Master-Mind Group in your area that meets once a week
· Read books that will empower you like; Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki or Think &

Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill or Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson
· Journal your progress daily, including emotions & feelings
· Just start today, do not wait until tomorrow, for tomorrow never comes it is always today!

Congratulations on your decision to be proactive and remember you can do anything you set your mind to do!

Why People Do Not Start a Business Today, Reason #6 Lack of Information

Lack of information is another top reason people don’t start a business today. Many may not be sure where to start while others may have had a business failure in the past and do not want to go there again. The other option is a family member may have lost a business as well do to lack of information, which scares the new potential entrepreneur.

The key to overcoming this reason is really simple with the invention of the internet; you have access to anything you want to know at the tips of your fingers. Any good entrepreneur will tell you it takes planning and goals to become successful. Becoming an entrepreneur requires the individual to think out the plan and direction they desire to head. This may mean taking classes at local colleges, attending tele-classes and hiring a Business Coach to keep you on track.

Ask around and you will see that most entrepreneurs do not do it alone; they may be a solo-entrepreneur however they have a support system in place. Let’s explore a couple of the ways to gather information and plan for this amazing journey.

1.) Hire a Business Coach: This is the simplest way to begin the process as they are knowledgeable about the process and details so that you are successful. Their number one objective when you come on board as a client is to determine your desires, then assist you in reaching your goals. They are your personal cheerleader! The program will be designed to personally fit you and your needs. The return on investment from anyone that has hired a Business Coach, even CEO’s of major firms, is currently exceeding 147% ROI. Not a bad return for your money!

2.) Register & Attend Tele-Classes/On-Line Classes: These are classes you can take from experts via your telephone. You can find classes that are a one day/one hour event to classes that run in a series. The free classes are usually set up to sell you the next program, so keep in mind you may get a few nuggets and not the whole content. They usually give you a workbook to follow along with and the information is generic so that everyone can gather some information.
3.) Register for local Community College classes: Usually Community College classes run from $29.00 to $149.00 and can offer great information. For these classes you must register on-line or early, if the college sees no one registered they will cancel the class. These classes are usually taught by experts in their field who are currently active with their specialty, they do not teach you text book theory you should receive practical real life application.

These are three of the many ways to gain knowledge about the business you desire to start before you launch the actual business. Start today discovering ways you can become knowledgeable about your business so you can launch yourself into success.

Why People Do Not Start a Business...Reason #2…But….Money??

You’ve been sitting at your desk worrying if your job is secure. You’ve been sitting at your desk dreaming about starting a business. You wake up wondering what it would be like to work in my PJ’s. So what is stopping you from exploring this what if?

I can’t start a business I don’t have any money to do that! This is one of the top 5 reasons individuals never pursue their dreams & passions of starting a business. So today we are going to expose some of the myths to the financial side of starting a business.

The concept of starting a business used to mean months of reserves in the bank, strong credit, a physical building and a lot of money out of your pocket. Today the opportunity is much simpler to obtain, less costly and much more fun. With the invention of the internet small businesses & corporations have been able to generate thousands of dollars without leaving their home or place of business. The most challenging part of launching a business today is determining what kind of service or product you will provide.

There are SBA (Small Business Association) Loans available to you if you qualify, however keep in mind those have to be paid back and can not be written off if something was to go wrong. It is harder today to qualify for a SBA loan than in previous years and in some cases the interest rate may not be worth the convenience. My suggestion identify places where you may be spending excess and apply those monies to your new business, for example; spending $200.00 on a new purse or shoes or adding $200.00 to your new business, your call.

The cost to start a business today can run as little as a couple of month’s worth of Starbucks & lunches! Yes you read it right if you spend $4.00 a day on a cup of coffee (x 31) and $8.50 a day on lunch (x 31) you could launch a business! This is basically the cost of a website to get you out in the web. Additional things you might want to consider:

Hiring a Business Building Expert Coach to help you move forward effectively & rapidly:

a. Cost around $1200.00 for 8 sessions

b. Banner or logo design for marketing

c. Product (E-Books & CD’s cost of production $50.00 per hour) or products such as consumables would vary depending on supplier.

d. Business Cards (Vista Print will give you 250 for free, you only pay shipping) or print them at home for the cost of toner & business card stock. Many printing companies will print simple one sided B&W cards for as little as $29.00

e. Be sure with your website you own it and can modify it
Email address: DO NOT USE A YAHOO OR GMAIL OR HOTMAIL email, you need to be professional. Most hosting sites for your website offer a free email package so your email will match your website.

You want to be sure you are presenting yourself in a professional manner even if it is just you working on your bed with a laptop! If you do it right up front you will not have to try and mend things later, build a strong reputation from the beginning and you will be amazed what can happen. Now you are ready to begin the amazing journey to being an entrepreneur! Even if you did everything listed above (which is strongly suggested) you would have only spent about $2,000.00 to start your own business (minus product), so where can you add this to your current budget and eliminate Reason #2 for not starting your own business.

Why People Do Not Start a Business...Reason #1…But…I am afraid!!

The top, number one reason individuals do not start a business is fear. As humans we are afraid of the unknown, we are afraid of failing, we are in some cases afraid of success. Fear is a very powerful emotion/feeling that can leave a person paralyzed, unable to move forward and at the same time fear can be an amazing catalyst to move you forward.
It is all about your perspective on fear, so how do you see fear played out in your life?

Let’s take a look at the common explanation of fear:

F= False
E= Evidence
A= Appearing
R= Real

I know we have all heard this before however; it is worth restating as we explore the reasons people do not step out and start their own business. 97% of the time these fears have been created in our own mind, 3% may be valid. Our minds have a way of stopping us from success if we allow it to happen. In our minds we create, especially as women, the worst case scenario filled with “what if’s” and “why bothers”. The key to overcoming fear is to move through it and change our perspective of the outcomes.

Outcomes; we tend to find ourselves creating “our expected outcome” instead of allowing the outcome to happen as a result of our efforts. The amazing part is if we allow the outcomes to happen they are generally more spectacular than anything we could have created or expected.

Attitude; this is the next area related to fear that we can change, if we are willing. If we look at the difference between where we stand today and where we want to be it is all a matter of time & attitude. Why are some people successful and others seem to struggle? Attitude! Let’s take a look at the word attitude, a little number exercise take the word attitude and write the number of the alphabet it is then add them up, what do you get?

A=1 T=20 T=20 I=9 T=20 U=21 D=4 E=5

100%

Let’s just say your attitude will affect your outcome 100%, what is your attitude like?

The number one objective today is to move through your fears, set aside the fear of the unknown and take a chance. The only things you will ever totally fail at are those things you never attempt to accomplish, leaving only the feeling of wish I would have tried. You can do anything you set your mind to do, if you are willing to step out and stay focused!