Social Media Management Tips - What would you like the world to know?

Need Marketing Assistance?

This month I have been assisting businesses with increasing their sales goals and market outreach.  But there is a problem, bad customer service and outdated funnel systems are killing business!  Without all-around good service, consumers will not share your business with others; therefore, no traffic, no money!  It sounds easier said than done, that's because it is!  Reach out today :)

My Thoughts on Online Marketing

Interviewing, writing, and posting material is something that I have been doing for quite some time on a variety of publishing formats.  From the early days of Twitter to newer sites around the web, content is king and everyone wants it, but everyone doesn't have the time to devote to it. 

I have read numerous articles about all things related to writing, publishing, video marketing--you name it.  One thing I consistently see is the lack of transparency with many of these so-called experts who claim to know how to increase traffic to our blogs and websites.  The information is obvious most often and redundant.  What I have learned is that you have to meet with a guru face-to-face (sometimes pay for his over-priced system), buy many books, and/or befriend a person who knows the tricks of the Internet world when it comes to marketing, building a social media presence and more.  Most successful, online businesses pay for specific tools and human labor to increase page traffic, build subscribers and more.  These "tools" can be quite expensive and confusing.  Use the wrongs ones and you will lose everything that you worked hard to build.

If you are like me, always seeking ways to improve your online products, services and other things you offer people, just take note of what is already being done.  You don't change what isn't broken.  I think many of these prosperous businesses remain that way, because they aren't changing just because everyone else is and if they don't see where something is broken, they leave it alone.  But for those systems that no longer work after they have tweaked existing strategies, analyzed results (or lack thereof ) they then rid themselves of them.

Another observation I have about online marketing and businesses is that they usually find sources of traffic in ways that most others don't.  They may link up with offline organizations to drive traffic to their sites.  They do things like become members of known groups in their industries paying top dollar to join, they will have online or offline meet ups, create a theme event addressing a specific community need, or partner with others while promoting their brands.  These are just some of the things that they do and that I have been a part of to help drive traffic. 

So when you think outside of the box when marketing your own business that is a good thing because wherever the people are, sooner or later they are going to get on the Internet, look you up and see what it is that you do.  Once they do that, they will make a decision whether to partner with you or not.  Therefore, be sure that you represent yourself well and if you need assistance, by all means reach out.

Nicholl McGuire

How to Promote Affiliate Products on your Facebook Page

Too funny!  Great information for newbies!

How to Promote Affiliate Products on your Facebook Page

Also, keep in mind the following:

Facebook blocking affiliate links?

What the!? EBates & McAfee stealing from Affiliates and Merchants!! - ABestWeb Affiliate Marketing Forum

EBates & McAfee stealing from Affiliates and Merchants!! - ABestWeb Affiliate Marketing Forum

Free Backlink Tool | Backlink Tool | Free Backlink Builder | Free Backlinks

I recently discovered that a site of mine had zero backlinks (had abandoned it for the kids--it happens).  Anyway, I came across this tool to help me with my backlinking endeavors.  You might want to increase your ranking online too.  Learn more below:


Free Backlink Tool | Backlink Tool | Free Backlink Builder | Free Backlinks

SocialAdr: Social Media Service: Automated Tool Submits to Social Media Sites

In my quest to get more back-links, I noticed that the following site frequently came up as one of the good ones to get free traffic.  This is an automated service that promotes your pages to various accounts.  Have you tried this yet?  

SocialAdr: Social Media Service: Automated Tool Submits to Social Media Sites

Addicted to Marketing!

Ever feel this way? You know the determined feeling, the kind that sometimes keeps you awake at night. Your mind is in overdrive reminding you that you must reach certain goals by a set time period. So you rush around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to get everything done! This is the way I feel right now.

There is an hour glass in my head that has been flipped over and if I don't get tasks completed, there are consequences like no money which means bills get left unpaid, no office supplies which means projects don't get done, and the worst of all is the demon of defeat will show up again and say, "I told you, you couldn't do it!"

So I became an addict to marketing and any business savvy mind can definitely relate! You know late night hours thinking of yet another way to get your product out to the masses. Outlines and more outlines of what more needs to be done. Rewrites of ad copy. Forum visits (looking for others' opinions to be sure you are doing everything correctly) and so much more!

As a child I started my first business selling tablets and drawings as a result of watching my grandmother hustle food, liquor, drink, and desserts from her home. She would send me to the front door with bags of product to give to a waiting customer. She entrusted me to take the money from the customer and place it in a Planter's peanut can. There were many times that I saw that can filled to capacity. She would then take the money out and either put it in her bosom or give it to one of her adult children to run an errand for her which was usually to get more supply. She always knew how to take a $1.00 and turn it into $5.00 -- I kid you not!

So when you see people like dear ole' grandma and others around you making a way when others see no way, you can't help but have the drive to make your own way. I can tell you many other stories of family members who did the best they could with what little they had, but I won't because I will be making this blog entry much longer than it needs to be, and besides I have to get back to marketing! God bless...

Forget about New Years Resolutions! How About New Years' Revelations

It's 2009! Another new year brings about change, for some good, for others bad. But whatever the case, it's all good. Because through change, people have a choice they can either learn from it or be beaten by it! I prefer to accept it and grow from whatever change that may come my way!

You see, I saw and learned alot in 2008. Some of which I never had to face and I learned who was my friend and who was my foe. For years, I thought that people would come through for me when I needed them most since I had a track record with some that said, "I can count on Nicky." But I was wrong and I am glad that change made me take off my rose-colored glasses and face reality.

So I am sharing a little bit of wisdom with you that I learned the hard way.

Being a good friend or relative, doesn't mean you have to share everything including your money and time. I thought that if I rearranged my schedule to accomodate folks that somehow it would keep them from talking about me. People are going to talk about you no matter what you do, so I have learned not to go above and beyond, do what you are most comfortable doing, plain and simple!

Don't allow others to dictate how you should behave. For example, if you don't have the money or time to return a favor, despite what others say, you can't do it. So be honest with yourself and others and just make a mental note that the person who anticipates that you will be able to do something for them will give you a hard time if you should ever need them for something. I usually pray for these people and God makes them my footstool.

Be encouraged even when those around you aren't. There will be those people who will tell you everything that is wrong with your life and will not say one thing that will make you feel encouraged. Don't rely on their comments to build you up; instead, look toward your faith, a stranger, read about how others make themselves happy, or seek out friendship with people who will help you see the positive within you.

These are just a few tips on the wisdom that 2008 brought me. For more articles by me related to relationships, family, health, and money, Click Here

How to Become a Mentor with a Heart of Gold: What Every Network Marketer Should Know

Another door slams, after an hour in a half of yelling, some of you are growing weary of trying to convince someone you love that the problem they are having with you is their problem. However, if you sit quietly and truly think about what is it about you that annoys them, they will be right and you will be wrong. This scenario is what seems to happen in the end with multi-level marketing businesses.

Someone brings you into a "slam bam thank you maam" relationship and when you call them out on it, they want to silently argue with you by simply not being available or answering you with useful information. Eventually you fall, because no one wanted to be in a long-term committed relationship with you they just wanted to take from you. You have now found an opportunity that makes you a mentor and you don't want to be taken advantage of or take advantage of others.

In order to do this, you must make a note to yourself that you are in the business for a long-lasting relationship and if you are not, then find another business such as direct marketing. With direct marketing, making a profit is your number one priority. The following tips will assist you with analyzing yourself and communicating with your affiliate or members of your team.

Feel free to utilize these tips in other areas of your life.
The most important quality a mentor must have is to be a good listener. When someone comes to you with a desire, a concern, an idea, don't start talking about yourself and what you would or would not do; instead interview them.

Find out how did they come up with the idea, what is his or her concern or where did their desire come from? A mentor, teacher, coach and counselor are one in the same. They are supposed to be servants to society-available to help those in need. They are not to criticize, humiliate, belittle or "talk down." Don't sell your affiliates on products; rather allow them to open their heart to you, later you provide the help, not the other way around.

Be people friendly. Learn how to relate to people from all walks of life on their level. Ask questions about their hopes, dreams, family and reason(s) why they would like to work with your organization. Tell them to post their "why" for joining the business somewhere in their home that they can see everyday. If they can't do this simple task, this is a clear indication they are simply not ready to be taught-move on...don't grab them by both hands and plead for them to stay.

Don't let money be your driving motivation for being a mentor. Yes, you need the money, but that is your reward for helping others be successful. Change your thinking while you're mentoring, tell yourself, "I will be available to someone today, not I am going to make $100 today or I am going to recruit three people."

Tell the affiliate the truth about yourself, why you do what you do. Share your experiences with the business. If there were obstacles, how did you overcome? How are you making money and what are you doing with the money you obtain (Re-investing it back into the business? Saving money for your children's education? Buying a new house? Helping grandma? Tithing?)

Be sure the person you are mentoring understands every facet of the business. Many people don't ask questions or the right ones, put your self in their shoes. Right down all the questions you would have asked about the business when you first joined and have comprehensive answers. Sometimes it is better to forewarn the one you are mentoring of the complications or confusions others may have had with the business and if they run into similar problems, remind them that you are available to assist them.

When you notice a problem with the organization or your affiliate questions things that appear to be "shady," address it with leaders. Don't find excuses to cover problems up when talking to your affiliates. Let them know you are concerned and have spoken to leadership about it. Follow-up with leadership to find out if anything has been done about the concern and notify your team about the changes. Praise your affiliate for making you aware.

Surround yourself with positive people that support what you are doing and encourage your team to do the same. Tell them who they choose to speak to about their goals will make a positive or negative difference in how they view the business. Some people will appear to support them, while others will find excuses not to.

When your team comes to you seeming as if they do not want to be a part of the business, although they are successful at it, be concerned and ask, more like remind them of why they joined. Refer to the note that they were supposed to have posted somewhere in their home listing why they felt they needed to join.

Some affiliates may talk about how lucky another person is and mention they wish they were more like Jane Doe or John Smith, ask he or she, "How are you managing to get to know more people?" It isn't how lucky a person may be; it is how many people, places and/or things he or she may be involved in to bring them that so-called luck.

For instance, if a person who hits a million dollar lottery played only once and won, we could consider that a super natural miracle, but what if someone else won for a few million, chances are they have been playing for years all sorts of lotteries spending thousands. The wider you extend your network, the better your results. Luck isn't random.

The last tip defines the various personality types you are mentoring. If they are very much into their family and friends, then they are caring and you will have no problem explaining to them why it's so important to build a relationship with people in network marketing. However, if you find that the person you are mentoring isn't really buying into relating with people and more concerned with making sales, you may want to remind them of the pros and cons of having that kind of attitude.

Then there is the detailed oriented person who asks many questions. Answer them with clear statements and provide illustrations. You will need to remind them often to get started, because at times thinkers can over think and get nothing done.

As for the fun people, they are open to anything, you just have to stay interesting and keep them going by allowing them to be creative; however, you will have to tell them about the rules in the business, because if you don't they may get you and the whole team in trouble.