I was very pleased to find that Jeff recommends the same thing that I’ve been telling clients and it works Without further ado – here’s Jeff….

Here’s what I found — http://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins

You can create a feed for your page, a way for blog guests to register through their Facebook account, collect fan page “likes” on your blog – and much more. Its not too hard – but you will need to be able to add “image” code into your site or FBML code. Take a look at the page, there are lots of instructions.

 Desktop Applications for Twitter

	Seesmic	allows monitoring of multiple accounts, both on Twitter and Facebook
	Twhirl	allows monitoring of multiple Twitter accounts
	Snitter	– for Mac and Windows
	Twitterriffic	– for Mac OS
	MadTwitter	– for windows
	Spaz	– open source twitter client
	Tweetdeck	– deck of tweets? haha

Twitter Organization 

• Tweet Deck
• TweetMixx – shows tweets and summary of links out
• Twitscoop

Manage Multiple Twitter Accounts 

• Splitweet

Twitter for Companies 

• CoTweet
• Twibs – Business directory
• GroupTweet

Firefox Plugins 

• Twitbin
• Twitterfox

Send Messages to Twitter using Voice 

• Twitter Fone

Blackberry Client 

• TwitterBerry

iPhone Twitter Apps 

• Tweetie for iPhone
• Twinkle for iPhone
• Twitter for iPhone
• Hahlo
• Pocket Tweets
• Tweetdeck

Twitter on any Mobile device 

• Tiny Twitter – phone needs java
• Twitter Mobile – only go here on your phone
• iTweet
• twibble

Twitter on Windows Mobile 

• Pocket Twit

Post via Mobile 

• Twitterscan

Send via eMail 

• Twittermail

Counter to show your twitter followers 

• Twitter Counter

Enhance your Tweets 

• Twitter Keys

Un-follow Someone for Just a Few Days 

• Twitter Snooze

Find out who Stopped Following You and Why 

• Qwitter
• Twitterless

Manage who Follows You and Who You Follow, Recommendations Also 

• Friend or Follow
• Mr. Tweet – Recommendations
• Tweepler – organize followers

Top Twitter Lists 

• Twitter Counter Top 100 List
• twInfluence Top 50 List

Visual Map of Twitter Posts 

• Twitter Vision

Share Files, Pictures & Videos via Twitter 

• Tweetcube – files
• Twitpic – pics
• Visual Twitter – pics
• Twixxer

Share Quotes and Bits from Webpages 

• Tweet All About It

Monitor Twitter for Keywords & Whats Hot 

• PeopleBrowsr – filter, sort, follow, post, repeat
• Tweet Grid – monitor keywords
• Monitter – monitor keywords
• Twitscoop
• Flaptor Twitter Search – search twitter for a keyword
• Twitspy – monitor twitter public timeline in real time
• Tweetscan
• CityTweets – follow tweets by City
• Tweet Cloud
• Tweetbeep

Monitor Conversations 

• Tweet 2 Tweet
• Twitalks – find out what two users are saying about you

Monitor Trends 

• Twist
• Tweet Cloud

Autoresponder & Setup Automatic Tweets 

• Tweet Later
• Future Tweets

Autopost your Blog entries to Twitter 

• Twitterfeed

Evaluate your Twitter Profile 

• Twitter Grader
• Twitter Ratio
• Tweet Value

Twitter Statistics and Graphs for a Twitter Account 

• Tweetstats
• Twitgraph

Twitter Dictionary 

• Twittords

Twitter Directory 

• Twellow – Twitter yellow pages
• Twibs – Business directory

http://www.longest.com/2008/10/28/top-twitter-tools/

Only a small part of a writer’s career, no matter what genre they focus on, is the act of writing – most of the writer’s schedule is filled with record keeping, office work and marketing. The first year after a book is published is often referred to as the “honeymoon period” because this is when the authors direct contacts have been exhausted. Typically, sales drop off and the author becomes disenchanted with the thought of facing more promotion activities for a seemingly “dead” book. Sadly there are only a few in the industry that seem to understand that a marketing plan should last the life of the contract for that book, sometimes longer.

Nikki Leigh has graciously put together a series entitled Book Promo 101 and the first book of this series has just been released. This first installment is an overview of the basic process and tools that are involved in book promotion activities. The author will go into each of these tools in more detail in the upcoming books in this series. This is a great way to have a brief understanding of what each of these tools are, why they are employed and some great tips on how to avoid using them ineffectively.

In total there are 16 chapters along with Appendices that offer extensive lists for review sites and best selling book sites. Book Promo 101 was released in March 2008 by Write Words Inc – an imprint of Cambridge books.

The author, Nikki Leigh, has been involved in marketing businesses, books and web design for over 15 years. She has 4 novels and 4 non-fiction business books that are available for readers to investigate through their favorite bookseller. She also runs several bogs, offers virtual book tour services to her clients and facilitates classes in character development.

ISBN#: 978-1594314985 & ISBN#: 978-1594314698

Rating: 5-out-of-5 stars

The author, Nikki Leigh, has been involved in marketing businesses, books and web design for over 15 years. She has 4 novels and 4 non-fiction business books that are available for readers to investigate through their favorite bookseller. She also runs several bogs, offers virtual book tour services to her clients and facilitates classes in character development.

ISBN#: 1-59431-497-7 (e-book)

Rating: 5-out-of-5 stars

http://renewcredits.com/list/v2519565393i/spaceid97684112

What is Different about Guerrilla Social Media Marketing

I have been asked by a number of people what the difference is between most brands and a brand that employs guerrilla social media strategies. Today I thought I would share an excerpt from my upcoming book that answers that question.

An excerpt from “Guerilla Social Media Marketing” by Shane Gibson and Jay Conrad Levinson

What is an authentic guerrilla brand?

• It makes promises and statements that can be backed up today, tomorrow and indefinitely.
• It is customer-focused and sells and markets to the customer what they need and want.
• It is consistent, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in any geography or language.
• It doesn’t take shortcuts for short-term gain; the guerrilla brand builds customers for life.
• It is, however, fallible; all brands have imperfections and weaknesses, and a guerrilla brand does not shovel these things under the rug. It takes feedback and improves the customer experience.
• It is accessible. No executives are in an ivory tower; no labyrinths have been built to keep out the unhappy customer.
• It is focused on a distinct area of true competency and expertise, and that is why people gravitate to the guerrilla brand.

Join our Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/guerrillasocialmediamarketing

Originally posted here – http://www.closingbigger.net/2010/08/guerrilla-social-media-marketing-tips/

I asked four book marketing gurus, all of which have catapulted books to the #1 spot on Amazon.com, to write formula that summarizes their secrets. The experts are Kathleen Gage, Nikki Leigh, Penney Sansevieri, and Carolyn Howard-Johnson.

I specifically asked the experts not to write any detailed explanations. The reason for this is that any explanation would be a book length response. In fact all the experts have written extensively on the subject in books, newsletter, blogs and articles.  I was really looking for a simple, bottom line equation that would summarize their basic approach to book marketing success—something that could even be put on a vision board, taped to the computer and stuck on the fridge.

The notion that if an author publishes their book readers will flock to buy it is a myth.  All marketing experts agree that the real work only just begins before the ink is dry and, actually, should begin well in advance of publication.  According to Bowker, U.S. book production alone is around 300,000 titles/ year or close to 6,000/week, (Worldwide the number is around 1 million titles). For some 90% of all titles, the average number of books sold each year, by title, is less than 100.  Clearly, if an author wants to have any kind of sales at all, something more is required than just having the title on Amazon.

Assuming you have a well written book and that there is truly an audience, or niche, for your title, how do you rise from the murky depths of that 90% well?  When you look at the following formulas, I think you will see that simple is best. By simple I do not mean little work, I mean that the way to book sale success is not complex, but it does require vision, determination and constant work. Here is what KATHLEEN GAGE has for her formula:

Desire + vision = success

Opt in list + online marketing = book sales

Bonus offers + opt in box = Subscribers and buyers

Passion + excellence = success

As both a writer and promoter of the conscious use of the Law of Attraction, Kathleen’s use of words like desire, vision and passion are near and dear to my heart. If an author is not passionate about their work, either fiction or non-fiction, chances are they will just end up with a book that sits in the dusty “no sales rank” category on Amazon. What does she mean by ‘opt in list’ and ‘bonus offers?’ My suggestion is to look at the contact information and ask her!

Kathleen Gage works with spiritually aware speakers, authors, coaches and consultants who are ready to turn their knowledge into money making products and services.

P.O. Box 551, Pleasant Hill, OR 97455 (1.541.654.0426)

http://www.kathleengage.com, http://www.themarketingmindset.com

http://www.dailyawareness.com

NIKKI LEIGH’s approach is a bit different. She says, “Authors and Any Other Business People — Yes, authors are business people. They created a product and offer it for sale – that’s a business.  There are many authors who, and rightfully so, see themselves as artists and not businesspeople.  To some, the mechanics of selling a book is to be left to the business agent.  Okay, that may be fine if you are a proven NYTimes bestselling author, but I do not think that the vast majority of authors travel in those circles.  So, if you want more than just seeing your book in print, an author must become a businessperson if they want sales.  Nikki says, “I like to focus on the online opportunities for authors and businesses, so a formula I recommend includes:

Start by offering a high quality product

+ effective and consistent blogging

+ utilizing the internet to build your brand and credibility

+ consistent and targeted social media and Web 2.0 interaction

+ reaching out to the right target market

= Getting your quality product or service in front of the people who need and want what you are selling

I love the product side of the equation because it hits at the heart of the matter and is something that we at All Things That Matter Press stress: get your book in front of those who need or want what you are selling. I am constantly amazed at how many authors do not even begin to put together a web site or blog until after their book is published.  Most marketers tell authors that if you can start pushing even a year ahead of publication that is not too soon. In fact, it takes at least a year for anyone to know that you exist.  Building a credible presence on the internet is not an overnight process, especially since every week that goes by, 6,000 new authors add their pages to the search engines.  Further, some authors might think that these types of efforts only apply to non-fiction. Well that is fiction! Any novel worth reading has some kind of message and there are those who need and want what you have to say.  If you do not believe that, then why write at all?

To see more about Nikki and her approach to marketing, visit the following:
Book Promo 201: Harness the Power of the Internet with Web 2.0 and Social Media Marketing
Follow Me on Twitter – www.twitter.com/litekepr
Promotional Services – www.bookpromotionservices.com
WE Magazine – 101 Women Bloggers to Watch for 2009

You can reach Nikki Leigh at Nikki@nikkileigh.com

PENNY SANSEVIERI offers several additional elements to the success formula. She says, “So, in my view there are a few things. First off, it’s consistency. Whatever you do, be consistent in your communication. So often authors get weary of their campaigns, or impatient for results so they change messages, focus, whatever – before the other direction has a chance to launch or get lift off. I predict that in an age of media coming at us from every direction, consistency of message will be what sets us apart. Then, it’s persistent – so whatever you do, keep doing it. It’s the long runway of promotion. Often it can take a while to get lift off.

Finally, authors need to know how to harness inbound marketing. It’s not about being on Facebook, Squidoo, Twitter or YouTube and keeping folks there, it’s about bringing them back to the author’s website. Then, on the website—author’s need to spend some money on this. Don’t design your own site or cut your own hair two must-never-dos for sure. For example, we just had our site redesigned – in 24 hours it quadrupled in conversion rate, meaning that folks who land on the site are doing something: signing up for the newsletter, requesting a consult. Frankly, since the site has been launched it’s been like drinking from a fire hose. All sites should be like this. The site must work for you otherwise all the work you do is a bit wasted.

So what is Penny’s formula?

consistency of message + persistency of the author + understanding and managing your inbound marketing campaign + a website that works for you = success

Penny C. Sansevieri, Adjunct Instructor NYU
Author Marketing Experts, Inc.
http://www.authormarketingexperts.com, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/penny-c-sansevieri

Office: 858/560-0121 Hotline: 619/808-BOOK
Listen to The Publishing Insiders on Blogtalkradio

In a way, Carolyn Howard-Johnson sums much of this discussion very nicely. Her formula is:

marketing = marketing = marketing > learn from other industries

She adds, “I like it because I think authors often think, Oh, that’s for big business, not me.”  The scenario goes something like this:

You have a desire and vision that must be marketed

You have a quality book and brand that must be marketed

You have a consistent message that must be marketed

Marketing is not a dirty word! There is probably very little in your life that is not there due to marketing.  Let’s face it; even your spouse or life partner is there because you marketed yourself as being someone worth spending time with.  Carolyn also points out that authors should learn from the success of others.  Why are some authors campaigns very successful and others not?  Why does one product catch the consumers’ attention and the other fades to oblivion?  Authors can learn from those who successfully sell their books and adapt those techniques to their own efforts. You can also borrow from the success of any product.  Perhaps the right logo, a good sound bite, phrase, or proper niche effort is what makes a product a success.

Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Instructor for the renowned UCLA Extension Writers’ Program  
Web site: http://www.HowToDoItFrugally.com
E-mail: HoJoNews@aol.com

Award-winning author of the HowToDoItFrugally Series of Books for writers, including USA Book News’ award winners
The Frugal Editor http://budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor
The Frugal Book Promoter http://budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo
Blogs for Writers:http://www.SharingWithWriters.blogspot.com ,
http://TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com ,
http://www.TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com

Does all of this imply that only authors with big budgets can have a high sales ranks and numbers?  Not at all.  In fact, so much can be done for nothing, or with minimal expense, in this day of instant information access.  You just have to know how to do it and hopefully, the above formulas will set your marketing efforts in the right direction.

20 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Use Social Media

Social media marketing for business is new and not for everyone. It is being implemented by the innovators and the early adopters that love to lead the pack. It is also a very different way of communicating your brands message and with that comes challenges, opportunities and threats.

There is also the joy of learning new ways of marketing, with that there is often the accompanying pain of mistakes that comes along for the ride.

So maybe you should not use social media because it is not for you just yet!

Here are 20 reasons not to use social media

1. You are a traditionalist and value the “good old days”
2. You don’t want to be found
3. You don’t want to be heard
4. You have shares in the “Yellow Pages”
5. You like spending thousands on media you can’t measure
6. You highly value your perceived privacy
7. You don’t want to hear what your customers are saying
8. You don’t want any new customers as you are already too busy
9. You’re afraid people might say nasty things about you
10. You want to give your competition a head start
11. Its a waste of your valuable time
12. Because its only a fad and it will go away
13. I like to keep things simple and it’s all a bit complex with Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn and all that stuff
14. I am a real person and I don’t believe in those fake online social networks
15. Social media sites are largely populated with people who have nothing better to do with their time
16. Social media is at an evolutionary stage I will wait until it is more mature
17. I don’t want to be overexposed
18. If I subscribe or join I will be spammed
19. There is something better around the corner, I can afford to wait
20. Social media will reduce real face to face opportunities because I would waste my time online

Are there any other reasons you shouldn’t use social media?

http://www.jeffbullas.com/2010/08/10/20-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-use-social-media/

But for anyone who wants to use a blog platform as their primary website — I highly recommend that you bite the bullet and buy a custom domain name – and its great if you get a domain that contains your primary keyword.

If you use a free WordPress blog – it is very easy to add a custom domain and its less than $15 a year. Your business or your book is worth $15 a year.

These are detailed instructions on how to add a custom domain -

I went through the process and these are step by step instructions on how to register the domain – fill in “www.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.com” — with your chosen domain. If you try to register an address that someone already owns, the site will tell you that there is a problem – so its not a bad idea to have several possible ideas.

Directions to Register a Custom Domain

Go to www.wordpress.com and enter your log in info. That should bring up your dashboard – if it doesn’t — look at the top of the page and you should see “my dashboard” – click there and click on People Side of Business – that brings up your dashboard. The reason I’m not sure is that I have so many blogs, I get a couple of different pages when I log in, so I don’t know what you will see — but I think you are on the dashboard when you log in. Or if this is complicated I can enter the credit card info – but I’d prefer not to do that.

You will see a long list of links in the left column, scroll to the bottom and click on “settings” – then click on “domains”. Then in the box near the top of the page enter “www.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.com” — that must be exact. Click add domain and enter all contact info – click ‘register domain” and it will ask for a paypal account info or a credit card number. Follow all prompts and when its done -

I can change the “primary domain” to that address and you’re ready to go Or, if you all want to do it, you go back to the “domain” page and click on the primary blog URL — this needs to be the primary address and save it. BUT — anywhere you listed the other address is still fine. It can be changed – but that is not necessary. BOTH addresses will take people to the correct page.

You can add -

• Business Description
• Business Logo
• Business Banner
• Link to Twitter and/or Friendfeed
• Add multiple promotional videos
• Add a link to a free ebook download to promote your business
• and more….

I just learned about their new Company Profile pages – which include great information. This is my company page – that took me less than 5 minutes to create.

My page – http://www.ecademy.com/companies/Promo_101_Promotional_Services

If you would like to take a look around, you will find details here – http://www.ecademy.com/node.php?id=148754

Company Profiles | Ecademy Sponsorship

Company Profiles

Company Profiles are a new service for all Ecademy members which consolidate all your social media everywhere on the Internet, and presents your company expertise, products and services to prospects, customers, suppliers, employees, associates, partners and to the millions of visitors to Ecademy each year.

Why Publish and Advertise a Company Profile?

Leverage Social Media

Increase visibility and save time by linking all your company social media elements (blogs, articles, videos, twitter etc) from top sites such as Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, Linkedin, Friendfeed and Ecademy in one place, with your own company profile web site address

Marketing and PR

Get your company brand noticed with prominent placement in rotation on all Ecademy pages

*Built in search engine optimization (SEO)

Your company will get higher up the Google rankings. *For subscribing members >

More sales leads

With unique call back requests, company profile hits, auto responders

Retain customers

Share news and information about new products and services, innovations, expertise or hot topics

Get found in supplier searches

When others search for solutions to their business needs

Cost