Blogs and Blogging Offline Business Online

Hema Netherlands

Store front business owners are, of course, quite diverse. First in types of businesses and then types of personalities between business owners, differences regionally, nationally. A diamond retailer is going to market his or her business quite differently than a local hardware store would. Of course it must, but in saying this opens up the possibilities to not only types of advertising, but the endless ways of using and tweaking these types of advertising to suit you and your business type.

Small business owners have built nations on repeat customers and the tips listed here are for the business owner who wants to spend time to gain some extra attention to their particular small business. By doing that “little extra”, it will draw new customers and by focusing on your service or offering only the products you would also purchase and are excited about, you will acquire repeat customers.

For instance, my focus on the Internet has been Blogs and Social Networks and finding viable, doable, free advertising alternatives to market successfully online. Creating free websites to house this information and get the word out to others is that “little extra”.

Answering visitors questions to the best of my ability or referring them to someone who has the answers would then be the focus and excitement. “Spend your time on your business and you will acquire a wealth of success”. This saying is all about focus, goal setting and goal attaining, and your personal definition of success. “There is more then one definition?” of course. Success means many things to many people and at times during peoples lives. The meaning of success can change even for individuals.

Success might mean becoming a millionaire, obtaining your dream boat, vehicle, or home, or it could be simply providing the best service and gaining happy customers which, in turn, will create a wealth of success.

With blogs and blogging and small business or free webs site building and small business marketing online, connecting with a “hub” site like your Chamber of Commerce or an individual small business site for your region or area will make a dramatic difference in your online visibility. Exchange links with that site by adding a link to it on your blog or free webs site and asking if they will also list your site on their page. Adding your business URL to the Yellow Pages online, Craigs List, blog submission sites (if you have a blog), and exchanging links with other small business owners who have sites in your area will also help in your online exposure.

If your small business does not yet have a separate blog site, give this some thought. A blog will offer you the opportunity to help your chosen keywords to rate higher and show up on the first search pages of Google searches for your keywords and terms. Linking your blog site to sites like Digg, Technorati, MyBlogLog, and other business style blog sites is not as time consuming as you may believe if you stay focused. A bit at a time, one step each day and you will be listed at your chosen spots. To maintain your blog, posting “before and after” photos of your work and How To snippets on topic. For instance, if you are a home builder, a how to on wallpaper application; if you are a lawn service business, photos and how to create a raised flower bed, types of grass, fertilizers; for restaurants, which spices to have in your home, specials of the day listings, how to sear beef, famous people who have eaten in your bistro, and photos of your featured dishes. Try to post something everyday but at least three times a week.

Add a blog roll, news features pertaining to your topic, videos, or similar businesses in other countries or states. Feature your own web sites on a post every month or so and create a Hubpage or Squidoo lens after about twenty or so posts using your favorite five posts from your blog, photos, video, an RSS feed from your blog, news sources on topic, and how tos and then feature that new site on your blog. This is just another way to gain more exposure and attention to your business.

For more examples: if you have a home and property maintenance business try posting on how to fix a faucet or which tools every homeowner should have; a local convenience store owner might have a static post (a home page of sorts that upon arriving at the blog all come to) with a basic listing of what they have to offer with sub posts featuring individual items and why people would want to purchase them.

Gaining exposure and attention with one lone blog site does not take an inordinate amount of time out of your day. With a possible log of sorts for yourself on pages you deem private (unpublished). These pages can be created on WordPress and FreeWebs just to name a few. Posting a picture blog with one or two sentences of explanation for each is an easy and interesting way to blog if text content seems a daunting task.

Using widgets that refresh automatically for news on topic (there are some for WordPress, Blogger, LiveJournal, and most of the major blog sites) will help with fresh content on your blog.

Everyones heard about flyers and business cards but getting out and about at the local flea markets and farmers markets is a plus. Get business cards and actually hand them out if you are sure, excited and driven about your business. Tshirts with your URL on them also are a great conversation starter if your website URL is easy to remember and cannot readily be misspelled, not many forget GoDaddy or Google.

Signs are not always cheesy, they work. Vehicle magnets from sites like VistaPrint are a given and quite inexpensive. Corner signs (you know like garage signs) actually do bring in new customers who did not even know you were there.

Using these techniques will enhance your online exposure. Potential customers who use search engines like Google will begin to visit your blog or FreeWebs site and in turn find your local business. If you have a lot to post and say, would like a way for you customers to register at your site, or need many pages, try a wiki at Wetpaint, a Ning, or FreeWebs. This will also give you the opportunity to have your customers post testimonies, comments, and questions.

Stevie and Stephanie Haile aka Blogheiress and Wavecritter Google Me

Social Media Marketing…

Have a Great Networking Day!!!!

Here are some extra tips for blog commenting…Basically the same
principle as commenting in a Forum or at a Social Network site.

Name Your Blog (First and Last Name), Or a Nickname (Wavecritter)
Or What The Blog Is About (Social Network Marketing).

Choose about 5 keyword phrases: here are 5 for this one: (my
first and last name), Social Media Marketing, Social Network
Marketing, Wavecritter, Advertise For Free or Free Advertising

Visit Blogs You Enjoy, Topics You Like…

Closer 2 Jesus

My favorite teacher once told me to “write what I know” Same

principle here. If you don’t know about surfing lingo, don’t try to

comment too much on a surfer site “Dude” LOL.

You have a lifetime’s experience with making friends…again, do
what you know…make friends on the blog sites.

Picture this…You wouldn’t bust into a Social Party and dance
about singing loudly about your fantastic business opportunity,
terrific product, or incredible service…

Make friends first…With Blogger, signing in first and then
finding blogs there of interest, will allow all your comments
posted a link right back to your blog!

No need to add another link, (the blog owner may not post your
comment), you just want back links to your blog.

Of course sign your name with Google Me. After it inside the
comment box. Your link back to your blog will get you more traffic.

Google Me Fast

Picture this One Blog is an Inner Tube on the Ocean…Many Blogs

linked together create an island.

The Lone Blog

Pursue Relationships, not profits. Find people with like interests,

so you have chatting material.

Put yourself in the comment receivers seat,…Would you want that
comment on your blog?

Most importantly…You cannot break a blog. If it’s totally messed
up…delete everything and start over if you want, or just delete
the things that you aren’t happy with and repost.

Stevie and Stephanie Haile aka Blogheiress and Wavecritter Google Us

Sign Up Now for Free and get a free website, online photo album, blog, and more, PLUS, gain access to millions of Freewebs sites within our network. What more can we say? Pretty Sweet deal if you ask me Blogs and Social Networks without FreeWebs dot com would certainly be missing something! Many templates to choose from, easy navigation side bar for editing and “fluffing your site. Photos, video, Blog, hyper links, HTML, and CSS editing capabilities (if you know a bit about CSS) for editing your layout! This site really is fairly easy, just take a minute to look at the controls, see what it is you want to accomplish, and complete it, no worries. Have fun at FreeWebs

Free Webs Wavecritter

Visit My FreeWebs Website

Stephanie Haile aka Wavecritter Google Me

Reverse Social Networking

GenericMLM.info

Blogs and Social Networks Move Over MySpace and Facebook

Move over MySpace and Facebook, people are starting to lose the “taste” for the really big Social Networks and want to “Have it Their Way”, you know, hold the pickle, a bit more ketchup, but in this case… Lets turn a “Huge Group” from MySpace or Facebook into a Social Network! Instead of visiting a Mass Social Network to find your group, you will either create your own Group Social Network or join an existing one centered around your interest!Sort of “Reverse Social Networking” but if you give it some thought, it is really the way it was going in the beginning. Take a look at how Forum sites got started, by topic, by a group of like minded individuals, seekers of conversation The Forum would usually cover a broad topic and each conversation or “thread” would then funnel the topic down to a more specific conversation title. Well, thats whats happening and with a Bang at the Blog Social Networks like Ning and Wetpaint!

People are gathering all of their chosen “colored blocks” from the Internet bin and putting them all in a handy sorting tank set up as a Blog Social Network. What am I saying about these bin blocks? Each category or “color” block, sorted out into music, sports, business, photography, art, beach lovers, snowmen, or any topic really is either kept as a large category or narrowed down even further into sub categories. All blue blocks for instance, or all sky blue blocks. Sub categories could include things like a specific band or music style, a type of health and wellness business, a site for marketing or a site for marketing home based businesses, computer software or software specific to learning.

Blog Social Networks or group topic Social Networks are growing by leaps and bounds and are quite on fire these days, where about a year or so ago they were usually smaller sites interactive with existing reality groups, meaning teachers and their students, sports teams, hobbyists in the here and now who get together regularly to meet but needed a site to communicate through when they were apart.

The Wikis at Wetpaint and the Group Social Ning Networks are varied and cover many topics. Over one million Wetpaint Wikis today and growing and many Ning sites as well. Most sites like this have a discussion or forum area, messaging between members, friending capabilities, a personal profile area, community home page, a page to keep you up to date with the sites “Whats New”, pretty much the same sorts of set ups as the MySpace and Facebook mega sites.

The drawbacks are minimal at this point, but some of these drawbacks to the “Minor” Social Networks can be devastating. What if the owner of the site suddenly decides to shut it down? Yes, delete it off the Internet. Well, it happens but this leaves you with the choice to then create your own. This particular drawback does not and will not readily happen with the MySpaces and Facebooks of the net.

The “Have It Your Way” Blog Social Networks are cool to join because you are focused upon attendance. For instance, at a “Major” Social Network like MySpace, you are generally on different discussion topics with many different types of friends. Some may be business type friends, some are in the gardening group you belong to, some talk to you about photography, others you met through Twitter or through blogging. So, you are faced with many topics and many people all at the same time instead of talking about only one or two subjects and focusing on the issues. After about an hour or so (maybe less), you may feel a bit scattered with the larger Social Networks.

With the smaller “Have It Your Way” Blog Social Networks, there is a given discussion line. You visit these sites to see whats happening on that particular topic, not scattered through a realm of topical discussion at a “Major” Social Network. Are you planning to visit New York, New York City, or Central Park? Are you going to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida or the Magic Kingdom? A much more narrow spectrum where you can usually find the information you seek quite readily with the Blog Social Networks.

I have found a few very good ones that I will list below:

http://www.LearnMarketingSuccess.ning.com

http://www.GenericMLM.info

http://www.SantaLiveNow.ning.com

Blog Nut Community

Stay Tuned For Profile Halloween at Kids Zone at the Blog Nut Community

Blog Nut Halloween Room Google Lively

CU At The Beach!

Stephanie Haile aka Wavecritter Google Me

Hi Guys, actually just checking a sites code for my show tonight Blogs and Social Networks at 11pm Eastern time. All the shows are also recorded for your listening anytime

Check out MySpaceJunks.com for some awesome Graphics and Comments for MySpace and More! Tonights show is on MySpace HTML Graphics and Comments and which sites you can use them on, what to look for, which sites are best for what type of comments and more

Stevie and Stephanie Haile aka Blogheiress and Wavecritter Google Us

Myspace Graphics

Silvia Richardson, an awesome lady has posted this on a site we both visit and thought I should post it here as well. It is a great guideline for Blogs and Social Networks, Life, and in general Find out more about Silvia by visiting her blog: http://angelamongstus-bleuet.blogspot.com/ “Keep this philosophy in mind the next time you hear or are about to repeat a rumor. In ancient Greece (469 – 399 BC), Socrates was widely known for his wisdom. One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance, who ran up to him excitedly and said, “Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students…?” “Wait a moment,” Socrates replied. “Before you tell me, I’d like you to pass a little test. It’s called the Test of Three.” “The TEST of THREE?” the man asked. That’s correct,” Socrates continued. “Before you talk to me about my student let’s take a moment to test what you’re going to say. The first test is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?” “No,” the man replied, “actually I just heard about it.” “All right,” said Socrates. “So you don’t really know if it’s true or not. Now let’s try the second test, the test of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?” “No, on the contrary… “ “So,” Socrates continued, “you want to tell me something bad about him even though you’re not certain it’s true?” The man shrugged, a little embarrassed. Socrates continued, “You may still pass though because there is a third test — the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?” “No, not really . . “ “Well,” concluded Socrates, “if what you want to tell me is neither True nor Good nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?” The man was defeated and ashamed and said no more. This is the reason Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem.”

Stevie and Stephanie Haile aka Blogheiress and Wavecritter Google Us

A new Ning Social Network has opened up to the Internet and since we have been discussing the cool new trend of the “Have It Your Way” Social Networks, all centered around a certain topic of interest, I thought I would show you guys some of the ones I have found that caught my eye, have outstanding people as members and great individuals as creators. I have mentioned the Blog Nuts Before Yes? They are too cool and also have a Ning Social Network, Visit The Blog Nuts Ning As Well.

Learn Marketing Success

Michael Currys Learn Marketing Success is a site loaded with Internet Marketing Strategy, Friendly Marketers to network with, Your own Profile area, Blog section, and Forum. Michael Curry is a knowledgeable strategist and Internet Marketer who takes the time and effort with his Ning Social Network.

The Ning and Wetpaint Wiki Social Networks are sprouting up on every topic imaginable! If there isn’t one on your topic, create one! Or just join an existing site to meet some great people and network with some awesome social networkers. Blogs and Social Networks keep expanding into newer, smaller, unique, and different topics. Each site, Wetpaint and ning, allows you to do a search of the Ning or Wetpaint Topics. They make it easy for you to find the sites you will enjoy

Whereas before the Social network was centered around the “Social Network”, the new cool Social networks seem to centered around a large or smaller based specific idea! Visit The Santa Live Now Ning for some Christmas fun

Stevie and Stephanie Haile aka Blogheiress and Wavecritter Google Us

Sites like Club Penguin, Ogre Island, imbee, Meez, BarbieGirls, and more are creating such a huge draw because they are simple. Most of the cooler online worlds for kids (and adults even) are running on Flash, which means “No Download” Woohoo to most parents here. Many of the Flash sites have options to upgrade but allow participants to play for free without the perks of the upgrades just to get a feel for the site and to see what the upgrades will gain them. Blogs and Social Networks For Kids

Club Penguin

Ogre Island

Barbie Girls

Most have a handle on regulating the language, and moderating the activities well, so many of the “tuned in to the kids” sites have great safety features and just are a load of fun

Stevie and Stephanie Haile Google Us

Blogs and Social Networks Kids Social Networks Part 2 Neopets

Neopets

Free sign up Just fill in the forms, Choose your species from Aisha, Quiggle, Lupe, Acara, Peophin, Flotsam, Korbat, Scorchio, Gelert, Ogrin, and more, then choose the starting color of your Neopet (Red, Yellow, Blue, Green).  Decide where your Neopet lives, in the forest, town, river, jungle, etc and then choose what they like to do, how they greet other Neopets, their stats (strength, defense, and movements).

Your sign up gifts may include (this is what Stevie was presented;) 1000 Neopoints, $150 in Neocash, Newbie Pack, and a Players Guide. Purchase Neopet stuff and accessories at the NC Mall (Neo Cash Mall). Click on Inventory to get your Newbie Pack located under Shops.

The Neo Homes have really spruced up, so if you have not visited Neopets in awhile, you will be quite surprised by the updates

My Account tab gets you to your NeoHome, Neo Friends, redeem codes, edit profile, and creating new Neopets. Be sure to check the Adoption Center first before you create to see if there are any critters in there you would like to take home Only create the pets you know you can take good care of so they remain happy and healthy.

Pet Central will get you around with its calendar, daily puzzle, how to draw, Neopets Stats, Contests, and Activities.

Explore the Map of Neopia, Neopedia, and the pronunciation on Neopia verbage at the Explore tab.

The Games tab will take you to key quest, the games room, top rated, high scores, and favorites. Some of the coolest games at Neopets are Peanut Dash, Merca Chase II, Fairy Bubbles, Snow Muncher, Spell or Starve, Destruct-o-Match, Cheat, and Potato Counter, with many, many others and the wheels of Mediocrity and Excitement are fun too

Boards will let you check out the Neoboard index, preferences, and forums. The news tab brings you to the Neopian Times, new features, merch news, and whats coming soon. The Video tab has Neovision and check out the submitted videos by some of the Neopet members, great stuff Link to the Nick arcade (the Nickelodean Studios with Sponge Bob . Finally, the NC Mall tab will get you to the shop for Neopets real life items, get Neocash or Neocards here too.

With Neopets, you can join guilds and make Neo Friends and learn in safety how to get going on the Internet. Neopets was one of the first “Kid Specific” Social Networks Enjoy,

Stevie and Stephanie Haile aka Blogheiress and Wavecritter Google Me

Come and Listen Into Our Online Radio Show on Kid Social Networks