Scrappy Marketing Solutions Blog

Shameless Self-Promotion in 10 Minutes or Less

Some great ideas posted in the comments of this post: Ten 10-minute self promotion activities.

Some suggestions include:

• read and comment on blogs in your niche
• send a "how are you doing" email or call to a non-active client/customer
• update your online portfolio
• leave promotional bookmarks and hand them out throughout the day

My answer/comment on Ilise's post was this:

...answer questions in your niche posted on LinkedIn's Answers. I've answered only three questions, but two of my answers were selected as "Best Answers", which shows up on my profile. Nice visibility, and increases exposure for my expertise.

I'd love to get some similar comments on this post - geared toward scrapbooking business self-promotion, of course.  What can you, and *have* you, done to promote your business in 10-minute blocks?

Networking Tips: Your Personal Know, Like, & Trust Factor

Via Ilise Benun's Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor newsletter, a link to an article by Social Media Marketing Coach, Zita Gustin on one's "Know, Like, & Trust Factor".  Basically it offers thoughts on two styles of networking - the hunter and the gardener.

The hunter approaches networking (meeting/collaborating/referring people for mutually beneficial business alliances) as "going in the for kill (the sale)".  Gustin doesn't think of that approach as networking, but rather "salesmaking".

So what is networking?  It's about establishing a relationship with others based on your/their Know, Like, and Trust Factor - the idea that people do business with people they know, like & trust.  Gustin has this to say on that topic:

And yet, so many people want to skip past the parts about the knowing and liking ... they want to go straight to the part about getting referrals or sales without building to and through the trusting part.

She suggests that to earn trust in a relationship (networking or otherwise), "you must show your character, your integrity, your ability, and your kindness and concern for others."  Then she offers 12 thought-provoking tips on how to inspire trust by revealing your character.  Worth a read.

Internet Marketing: Tips from a Facebook Guru

Denise Wakeman has posted a summary from a recent teleseminar/interview on her blog, Biz Tips Blog: Internet Marketing Tips: Facebook Tips from Mari Smith.

I admit, there's not a lot on this list I didn't know already, but it's a good basics guide to "working" Facebook, or any social networking community/site.  There were a couple of suggestions I knew, but haven't put a lot of effort into developing yet, mostly as a matter of time.  So the list is a good reminder that you can't reap the benefits of that which what you don't work.

Facebook expert Mari Smith suggests setting up a Page for your business.  I have done that for Scrappy Marketing Solutions, but I'm not really "working" it.  Mari also suggests setting up Events for your business - these don't have to be events within Facebook - you could post about real-life events like crops or speaking engagements.  It's a way to spread the word to "Fans" of your business, and your Facebook Friends.

Mari Smith is the instructor for a free online class on Facebook marketing techniques called "Facebook Fortunes" via Podclass.com.  Free is good - you should check it out!

Digital Dimensions Column Discontinued

I just received notice from Craftrends that, effective immediately, my Digital Dimensions column has been discontinued due to "changes in their editorial lineup", though they are "open to occasional technology articles for the scrapbooking section", so I am welcome to submit proposals.

SO, if you know of anyone looking for professional editorial content on marketing in the digital age, particularly to a crafting audience, do let me know, or feel free to mention my name.