New Media Mavens Blog

How to Become a Video Super Star!

When it comes to new media, video is both king AND queen!

When it comes to thinking big about your business, you need to incorporate video in every way you can to connect to and continually nourish your audience. When thinking about what to make your videos about, we've always said the key word is VALUE. What will your audience find valuable?

How-To videos are one way to stand out and become memorable. One of the best new tools out there is Howcast. Launched by some of the good people from Google and YouTube, Howcast has created quite a buzz by creating a niche to help bring millions of eyeballs to their site. Howcast also integrates with all the other current video platforms that you know and love but their presentation, their branding and their outreach is quickly making it THE place on the web for how-to video. Best of all it's fun and FREE!

Take a look at this video on how to pick a lock. Now while it may encourage you to bring out your inner MacGyver, this is a great example of how the business owner created something interesting and compelling. If he lived in my neighborhood, I'd call him. And you never know when you need a locksmith. Last month, when Lena and I went to NYC to attend Mediabistro's Circus, I was scrambling and needed one when I left one of my apartment door keys in Charlotte. How did I find one? I called the first listing on Google. Just another example of why creating top-of-mind awareness is so important.

What will you create a video about?

Alison Woo, Chief Media Maven

Thinking Bigger about Your Business

As business owners we can get mired into doing things the same way we've always done them for the simple reason that it works. But it's not a bad idea to evaluate where we are now and challenge ourselves to reach new heights.

In this video, Donald Trump, author of Think Big among other books, gives 10 solid tips about how to think big in your business. Watch the video below:


As you market your business, using your website, e-zine, blog, podcasting or social media apply the sound principles from this video to supercharge your marketing.

For the rest of this month I'll be examining how to think bigger using each of your new media components. How big would you like to go?  Let us know in the comments below.

Regards,

Lena Claxton

Twitter is growing! What will it Mean for Entrepreneurs?

Psst....here's some secret squirrel news!

Tomorrow Technorati, one of the world's largest search engine directories for blogs, will anounce they are launching a Twitter edition. Read more about it today's Tech Crunch.

What does this mean for you entrepreneurs out there? It means it time to up your game. Are you on Twitter? It not, it only takes a minute to get on board. And as we always say, it's not about the tools, it's about strategy.

Twitter is an amazing tool to talk to and listen to your customers. The latter is probably THE most important tool you can use for gathering business intelligence.

What's the one thing you want to know from your customers? Click "Comments" below and share!

Alison Woo, Chief Media Maven

How to Use This Summer to Move Your Business Forward

I love summer! Just last week, I had the great opportunity to visit one of my favorite places, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and see the glorious roses in the Cranford Rose Garden. It looks like a Monet painting come to life! (For more pics, friend me on Facebook and see the whole album!)

And this weekend's holiday just cemented all the reasons summer remains one of the best seasons in the year. Life slows down. We get to remember what's important.

It's so easy to get caught up with the day-to-day practice of working in your business that you don't have time to work ON your business. That stops today.

Nine weeks from today will be Labor Day. That means if you commit yourself today, you can do something amazing so that by the end of the summer your business could be further ahead than before.

Here are some things that can move you forward that you might consider:

• Tackle a new market: create a whitepaper, a new landing page for your website, book speaking engagements to your new target, submit articles to industry publication.
• Grow your online presence: Join Twitter; go to sites such as www.whoshouldifollow.com and start following others in your sphere of influence.
• Give your website a facelift: Shift to wordpress.org and create a blogsite instead of a separate website or blog.
• Engage in conversations on a daily basis: Commit to blogging daily instead of 3-4 times a week; ask your customers to join you and ask the questions they want answered; direct message people on Twitter talking about what you specialize in; go to LinkedIn.com and answer questions.

The goal of all of this is creating a new thought process around your business. If you want more out of  your business, you're going to have to invest more. Make this summer more meaningful.

Life is not static, it's dynamic. Make sure your business reflects where and who you are right now.

What will you commit to this summer? Join us and let's make this summer the most impactful yet!

Alison Woo, Chief Media Maven

Independence is Happiness

Happy July 4th!

As I watch the Boston Pops on TV playing patriotic songs ... like "God Bless America" ... the crowd singing joyfully, and fireworks lighting up the night sky, it brings to mind a quote from Susan B. Anthony: “Independence is happiness."

As we embrace our national independence today let's also take a minute to be grateful for the independence that our businesses give. Despite the down-turned economy and the obstacles that inevitably comes with the territory the ultimate goal is happiness.

What steps are you taking to maintain that feeling of freedom in your business?

Regards,

Lena Claxton

How to Increase Your Influence

Last night, Lena and I had a chance to do what we love best: Talk to entrepreneurs about how to become experts in their field. During our teleclass, we talked about why it's important to become and expert and most importantly how you can showcase your expertise.

This morning I woke up really thinking about quantifying it as a formula. And that's when I stumbled up on this blog post from a blogger who went to WordCamp Chicago. (Don't you love when you attract just what you need at the right moment?)

Amy Ravit Korin writes:

According to Micah Baldwin, founder of #FollowFriday, if you truly want to be influential online, just influence one person.  He even provided a formula to back that up:

• Influence = Reach [Brand*Expertise*Trust], where reach is a multiplier of influence.

Let's break down that formula.

Expertise: This is the place to start. You have to develop an expertise in your field. You do that by putting in the hours, logging the miles and doing the work. This isn't about instant gratification. I's about actually knowing what you need to know so you can become the trusted resource. Sorry, no short cuts here.

I also want to say that learning never stops. It's not enough to be THE marketing genius of 2000. That's over. What are you doing to increase your learning right now?

Brand:There are whole books dedicated to this topic. But simply your brand is what your customer thinks of you. That's based on their experience with your business, product or service. Let's take two companies that offer a similar product like Mcdonald's and Burger King. They both offer hamburgers, French fries and shakes. But chances are strong that when you think about each one of them, you think something different. It could be something as simple as BK's "Have it Your Way" tag line that reminds you that you will get the burger made the way you want it. But brands matter.

Trust: You have to earn trust. And you do that by delivering on what you promise over and over again. It takes time to build trust and it can take a second to lose it. I hate that, but it's true.

Put all these things together: Expertise + Brand + Trustand now you share that with every one of your customers, clients and prospects.

Reach: New media can help you extend your reach by attracting followers (Twitter), gaining friends or fans, (Facebook) or connecting to colleagues (LinkedIn).

All together that adds up to create influence.

Influence is the new currency. While you can't take that immediately to the bank to deposit it, you can leverage it to yield far more than just a monetary amount. Influence or thought leadership confers respect, status, and things you can't buy. Ultimately people will come to you because you have significant influence. You will attract clients and possibilities and books and speaking engagements and a whole host of things you never even dreamed of.

Isn't that why you went into business in the first place? To make your mark. To do things the way you believe they should be done and not march to someone else's drummer?

What do you think influence will do for you?

Alison Woo, Chief Media Maven

P.S. Want to learn more on the power of influence? Here are some other good resources:

Micah's article, http://mashable.com/2009/03/02/measuring-online-influence/

And Paul Worthington (looking like a scruffier version of Paul Rudd) http://mashable.com/2009/03/24/brand-influence/.

Michael Jackson's Passing Causes Technology Slowdown

The very unexpected passing of music legend Michael Jackson caused Google, Twitter and most of the Internet to come to a slow crawl when news broke Thursday afternoon. To see the extent of what happened and hear from one of Twitter's founders, click on the NY Times tech blog.

Interestingly enough, I think what happened underscores a basic human necessity and reaction to connect. We are social creatures, we humans. And when something shocking happens our first reaction is to reach out and tell someone. And share.

So much of what has been talked about in social media is about how technology is driving new behaviors. I disagree. I think technology is mimicking what we already do instinctively. And that's an amazing thing! In this way we can use technology to augment what we already do naturally. Technology should run our lives, it should help us.

What device did you run to first when you heard the news? Twitter? Text? Called someone? Click on the "Comment" link below and share. For me, it was text then phone.

Alison Woo, Chief Media Maven

Looking for a Place to Stop and Listen? Try NYC's High Line

As we come to the end of the month and our conversation about what's new, I felt inspired to share a fantastic video of NYC's newest urban space. It's called the High Line and it's the wonderful idea of community activists and donors in the meatpacking district. Elevated tracks were transformed into an oasis of calm. Every nook and cranny offers a stunning city or water view. And those delightful wooden chaise spaces and benches encourage everyone to stop and converse.

We spend a lot of time talking about how important it is to share and listen to your customer. We don't just mean using your computer and technology only. You need to find places to do so face-to-face, too. As Coleman says in their ads, this is the ultimate social networking. If you're a NYC business, The High Line is the perfect place to go. Make it informal. But most of all, have fun!

Ah, the High Line! Just another reason why I adore this city.

Alison Woo, Chief Media Maven

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Building a Community: Why Belonging is Important

In my copius free time, I like to take quizzes. You know those little apps you see on your friend's Facebook profiles or the ones on website that tell you how smart you are or who you should marry. Killing some time on a lazy Friday afternoon, I took -Time Out NY's "Do You Belong Here?" quiz. Being an ardent New Yorker, how could I not?

Good news! I aced it. See!

DO YOU BELONG IN NYC?
Absolutely.
You would never dream of moving anywhere else, and we've insulted you by even suggesting you might leave. You love every single thing about this town, right down to its adorable water-bug infestation. Click here for suggestions about how to really enjoy NYC.

Do you belong in New York City?

Apparently I do belong here in the town I grew up in and love. New York City is a tough town. And while I love it more than any other city than even my other favorite, (wait for it...) Paris, it's not the kind of place where the living is easy, for a myriad of reasons. But you get used to it. When I come here from being in Charlotte (where I also live, crazy, yes!) I have to give myself a day or so to ease into being back. The pace, the attitude, the no-smiling, no-look anyone in the eye thing takes getting used to again. But I wouldn't trade this city for anything in the world.

Taking the quiz reinforces how important belonging is to us humans. We like to belong. Dare I say, we need to belong to something, someone, someplace.

Do your customers feel like they belong to your brand? To your business? To your vision? That cannot be overlooked in the total brand experience. Customers who feel like they belong become your most passionate brand evanglists.

Using technology you can create a number of places where you let your customers know that you want them to feel like there's a place just for them. For some customers that could be your Facebook page. Or maybe it is your blog. Point is you need to have a place just for your customers to let them bask in your love.

Remember, it's not just about the cash transaction. You're building something bigger.

Where do you let your customers know they belong?

Alison Woo, Chief Media Maven

Get Recognized As an Expert In Your Field - Using New Media

It's no secret that experts get paid more. But what really constitutes an expert? According to business dictionary.com an expert is a:

Professional who has acquired knowledge and skills through study and practice over the years, in a particular field or subject, to the extent that his or her opinion may be helpful in fact finding, problem solving, or understanding of a situation.

So how does one become an expert? Experts write books, articles, they speak to groups and much more. Now you can use new media (your website, e-zine, blogs, and social networking sites) to get recognized ... and get paid.

Find out how you can get the recognition you deserve for all your knowledge and skills. Learn more

What:  "Get Recognized as An Expert and Get More Clients" Teleclass.
When:  June 30th, 2009 @ 7 p.m. EST
Where:  Virtual
Cost:     $20 (early bird extended until Friday, June 26, 2009 @ 11:59 p.m

REGISTER HERE

What makes you an expert?

Regards,

Lena Claxton

Why Everything Old is New Again

We've talking this month about what you need to do to move forward. But remembering where you came from, is just as important. I LOVE Mike Fruchter's post on remembering the basics. It covers much of what we based our book on, "How to Say It: Marketing with New Media."

I think we all know what to do, the question is why don't we do it? I think it's because the whole thing seems so overwhelming. So I suggest breaking it down in little pieces. Get your calendar out. Schedule one thing you can do for ten minutes in right now. Then do the same for tomorrow. And the next day.

I know it's not glamorous. Grunge work rarely is. But what it will do is move you forward.

What did you put on your calendar today?

Alison Woo, Chief Media Maven

What's the Next Big Thing? Semantic Web

It hasn't been that long that the Web in its infancy was called Web 1.0 where information flowed one-way -- from business to consumer.

Today, Web 2.0 is here and business owners are using videos and social media tools to create a user-generated, collaborative environment engaging their customers and building community. 

Are you a business owner still trying to grasp the concepts of Web 2.0 to effectively boost your business? Well hold onto your hat because this tech train is zooming by and it's pulling into the next station! 

Welcome to the world of the Semantic Web or Web 3.0.  As we've seen since the beginning of the World Wide Web, 1.0 evolved into 2.0 and it continues now to 3.0.

At the 2009 Semantics Technology Conference, presenter Thomas Tague states:

• "...We're overwhelmed with input, yet still can't find the one thing we need. . . now. Semantic technologies – and the content interoperability and Linked Data connections they beget – offer new hope. ..."
  

In a nutshell, Web 3.0 or Semantic Web is the intelligent Web where information is accessed according to meaning and relationships with other content as well as 'knowing' user preferences. Many forward thinking companies like Amazon are spearheading this technology. When you search for a book's title it offers you more interesting suggestions in the same genre or subject matter luring you to buy even more. It's powerful. I bet you have succumbed to the lure. I know I have. Quite often the suggestion is better than my original pick!

Don't think that this Semantic Web is a big shift? Consider the way the Web works now. It thrives on keywords not context or meaning. A search on the word 'patent' will spit out information as the shiny coated shoe as well as a legal document with exclusive rights. It doesn't understand relevancy.

Now Web 3.0 will not only search for the keywords but also the context, meaning and relationships to other content while plugging into user preferences.

So do you think Semantic Web (Web 3.0) is coming in quiet like a lamb or is it going to revolutionize the Web?  What about privacy?

Regards,

Lena Claxton

New Media Marketing Maven

What's New in Productivity?: The Power of Focus

As we begin to talk about what's new in technology this month, it seemed like the right place to start was to talk about how to streamline your business day.

We all have way too much to do. Too many responsibilities, to many things on our "to-do lists" and it all can feel endless and overwhelming. But summer is here and it's time to pare down.

What can we do this summer that will make a tremendous change? Accepting that we are only going to do one thing at a time. That's right. Just one.

And if we can do that well, then we are on our way. We can always add later.

To read more tips on how to use the power of focus in your business, sign up for our e-zine by visiting the New Media Mavens' homepage.

What's the one thing you will focus on this summer? Click on the "comment" link and let us know.

Alison Woo, Chief Media Maven

What's New on Facebook? Vanity URLs

Beginning Saturday, June 13, Facebook users can now have their own url instead of the current, cumbersome one i.e. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?&new_box_added_id=2558160538#/profile.php?id=1212264627&ref=profile

Now your profile will look like this:  www.facebook.com/yourname. Much cleaner don't you think?

Read what Facebook has to say:

From the beginning of Facebook, people have used their real names to share and connect with the people they know. This authenticity helps to create a trusted environment because you know the identity of the people and things on Facebook.

Your new Facebook URL is like your personal destination, or home, on the Web. People can enter a Facebook username as a search term on Facebook or a popular search engine like Google, for example, which will make it much easier for people to find friends with common names.

So on Saturday click on http://www.facebook.com/username/ and you'll see this form:

Select the name that Facebook suggests or choose your own then click on "set username".

You can do the same for your Facebook Fan Page however right now Facebook is only allowing pages with 1000 fans to obtain a vanity url. This seems to cater to the big brands and not to the small business owner. There are ways to get around this though -- you can do what we did -- purchase a domain and point it to your fan page. Example:  www.MavensFanClub.com points to our book page.

What do you think of the idea of having a vanity url? 

Regards,

Lena Claxton

New Media Maven

Relationships - The Key to Success in Business

One would think that attending a conference on new media would be all about technology - learning the quickest, the fastest and best way to accomplish any given task. However, it was quite refreshing to hear speakers like Keith Ferrazzi speak about how relationships are the lynch pin to a person's success in business. 

In his talk, he emphasized the importance of bulding strong and mutually sustaining relationships.In essence creating a lifeline group. Make the choice to connect with another person (1) be more vulnerable (2) be more generous (3) have more candor (4) who can you be more accountable to?

I'm looking forward to reading his new book:

Who's Got Your Back: The Breakthrough Program to Build Deep, Trusting Relationships That Create Success--and Won't Let You Fail

Do you have a lifeline group? Who's got your back?

Sincerely,

Lena Claxton

New Media Maven