The Distinctive Coaching Blog has Moved…

Yes, that’s correct. Due to a site reconstruction, we’ve moved.

For more informative, riveting, fascinating, thrilling articles, posts and general know-how on achieving your ideal business, sales, marketing, networking, social networking, productivity, motivation and all things that go into YOUR successful business, please see:

http://www.DistinctiveCoaching.com/Blog-posts

We’ll be waiting there for you . . .

Biz Coach Jason

Online Communication Tips For — Communicators

“Online Communication Tips For — Communicators” 

It’s all about image, communication, relationships and style.  Especially for us business owners.  Remember that people are looking to you and will decide if they want to buy from you, do business with you, or network and help you connect with others.

Richard Laermer provides some very good points here about what you’re posting on Facebook, as well as how you are emailing to your audiece.  Everything you communicate reflects on you and your brand.

“… By now, we’ve all received the message that our online reputations and images are as important, if not more important, than their off-the-Web counterparts.

So here’s how to rise from the ground floor to a higher level…”

Read more here:
http://badpitch.blogspot.com/2009/05/online-communication-tips-for.html

Jason’s additional comments:

This is very sound advice!

I would add that if you are writing marketing copy (webpage, newsletter, etc.) think of your audience as they are reading a note from you specifically to them specifically. At times it’s appropriate to write in a “personal” voice. The grammar doesn’t have to be perfect in these instances; it should sound “natural” and even a touch conversational. But it still needs to sound intelligent, respectful and thoughtful. 

All the best,
Jason

Website: http://www.AchieveYourIdealBusiness.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/BizCoachJason
Facebook Profile: http://profile.to/BizCoachJason
Facebook Business Group: http://groups.to/IdealBusinessCommunity

Why your Facebook account will be disabled

http://contactdubai.com/tips/why-your-facebook-account-will-be-disabled

Great summary!

I was once, too, temporarily suspended for unknown reasons, and for an unspecified period of time. But I was definitely told not to do “it” again, or else! lol

I couldn’t find in the terms of service what I had violated, and to this day have no idea what happened.

Thanks for sharing these tips. They are more specific and give an idea of what to watch out for and avoid in terms of being Facebook terminated.

All the best,
Jason

Website: http://www.AchieveYourIdealBusiness.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/BizCoachJason
Facebook Profile: http://profile.to/BizCoachJason
Facebook Business Group: http://groups.to/IdealBusinessCommunity

10 Ways To Stay Safe On Facebook

This is a great short read from Mari Smith for anyone that wants more info on how to use Facebook, especially for business, when you might have some concerns about privacy.

I agree with them, except maybe one (for business marketing reasons). But I’ll let you decide which are good for you. 

All the best,
Jason

Jason E. Rosado
Business Coach

Helping entrepreneurs, home-based & small biz owners, and sales professionals achieve your ideal business in 12 months or less.
Want to get started?  Sign up for your FREE “Business Success E-Series”!773.829.1276
Jason@DistinctiveCoaching.com

 

Website: http://www.AchieveYourIdealBusiness.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/BizCoachJason
Facebook Profile: http://profile.to/BizCoachJason
Facebook Business Group: http://groups.to/IdealBusinessCommunity

Online marketing, Social networking and Client attraction for Sales success

I have just read several blogs that deal with all these topics. Some were suggestions, some were rants, and others were just ideas to help others with sales.

I am a huge believer in networking and “mutually beneficial marketing”! I write articles, give teleclasses and live seminars. These are all forms of marketing and gaining exposure, but the goal isn’t to sell someone on something, but rather to provide useful, insightful info from my own experiences.

And now I am benefitting from the social networking arena – mostly Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Meetup and Ning – where they can all come together. So here is my take:

Successful online networking is not much different than in-person networking: Build your personal and business brand into a cohesive message and attractive experience.

The key to great networking is to develop relationships by:
• Connecting
• Finding common ground
• Being service oriented
• Providing great value – resources, content, ideas or connections

By doing all these, people can get to know you and at the same time enhance themselves and their business, while you expect nothing in return.

And the key to turning people off right away and therefore NEVER being able to make a sale:
• Beat them over the head with your sales pitch

People need to know, like and trust you.

Helping others without expectation is the easiest way to get that accomplished. Plus, others will be drawn to you as you truly are, not as some marketing guru wrote webpage copy to “spin” the real you. This starts off the relationship on the right foot, as people will know what to expect from you.

These are my philosophies, and they have worked very well. Here are two recent articles about online and offline networking strategies and skills here:

“10 Holiday Networking Tips”
www.tinyurl.com/Networking10Tips

“How can I use Twitter to draw business to my website?”
www.tinyurl.com/7dpqrm

Good luck, and please feel free to connect so we can help each other.

All the best,
Jason

P.S. If you ever want to check out what free teleclasses and workshops I have coming up on these topics, just go to www.DistinctiveCoaching.com/events.htm

Jason E. Rosado
Business Coach

Helping self-directed and self-managed professionals achieve your ideal business in 12 months or less. Ready to start? Sign up for your FREE “Business Success E-Series”!

773.829.1276
Jason@DistinctiveCoaching.com

Website: http://www.AchieveYourIdealBusiness.com
Blog: http://blog.DistinctiveCoaching.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/BizCoachJason
Facebook Group: http://groups.to/IdealBusinessCommunity

Q: How can I use Twitter to draw business to my website?

From the Facebook Discussion: “Who’s Using Twitter?”

Q: Jason, I have a question about Twitter. How can I use it to draw business to my website?

A: Great question.  There are several different ways to use Twitter for business.  Here are ten off the top of my head:

1.) Have conversations over Twitter by replying to other postings to build your network and relationships so people get to know you better – Type “@TheirTwitterName” at the beginning of the post to indicate who you are talking to, or click on the reply icon from their original post.

2.) Make announcements about your services, specials, etc.

3.) Provide helpful links to info, articles, blog posts, videos and other resources that are of interest to your target market.

4.) Ask others to “Re-tweet” important messages that you want to be spread “virally”.

5.) Use it synergistically with Facebook, LinkedIn, Ning, Meetup, etc.  When you connect to someone on one platform, see if they are on Twitter.  The more familiarity they get with you, the faster the relationship is built.

6.) Post questions that you have about anything at all.  If they have the answer, someone will generally try to help out.

7.) Announce networking events or ways to facilitate more in-person or virtual interaction.

8.) Give testimonials and recommendations to support your network.  I have done this when I had a great customer experience, and others have gotten business from it.

9.) Post some personal stuff once in a while, so people get to know not just your business, but you as well.

10.) Promote BizCoachJason and DistinctiveCoaching.com, because I rock   (Just kidding)

I have had people sign up for my E-Series and teleclasses from posts I’ve made, and others have retweeted for me on Twitter. 

Just aim to share the love, and it will work well.

All the best,
Jason

Jason E. Rosado
Business Coach

Helping self-directed and self-managed professionals achieve your ideal business in 12 months or less.
Want to get started?  Sign up for your FREE “Business Success E-Series”!

773.829.1276
Jason@DistinctiveCoaching.com

Website: http://www.AchieveYourIdealBusiness.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/BizCoachJason
Facebook: http://profile.to/BizCoachJason

A social networking tip from my soapbox ;-)

Hello Distinctive Networkers!

I just received another friend request from someone I don’t know. This time on Facebook.

That’s great! I’m happy that somebody out there came across my profile and decided “Hey, this guy isn’t too bad. I’m going to ask to be friends.”

How nice!

WELL…. I believe that we are all mostly on these networking sites to network (radical idea, I know) either socially, businessly (yeah, I just made up that word), etc., and networking is about creating great, useful relationships. So why not start off by giving the poor soul a clue as to why you wanted to connect?

Please, when you request to connect to someone on LinkedIn, Facebook, Ning, Plaxo, Pulse, whatever… If it isn’t completely clear already – like you’re married to them or mugged them on the bus this morning – please spend the 10-20 seconds to pound out a sentence to let them know how you happened across their profile and why you think it would be a good idea to connect.

It makes the relationship so much easier to move forward, as well as positions you as someone that is good at relationship building and has some courtesy.

Ok.. now I have step off my soapbox and get back to other demanding things.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone!

All the best,
Jason

Jason E. Rosado
Business Coach

Helping self-directed and self-managed professionals achieve your ideal business in 12 months or less.
Want to get started?  Sign up for your FREE “Business Success E-Series” at http://www.AchieveYourIdealBusiness.com

Website: http://www.AchieveYourIdealBusiness.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/BizCoachJason
Facebook: http://profile.to/BizCoachJason

Q: How do you expand your professional network?

Join the discussion at http://tinyurl.com/65nm74

I borrowed this question from a LinkedIn group discussion board (http://snipurl.com/53kna).  Here is my posted answer:

I like the question as a way to start a good discussion.  Here are several actions that people can take to expand their professionals networks:

 - First, you have to be in the presence of someone – physically, virtually, etc.
 - You have to meet and connect with people
 - Go to networking events such as Linked n Chicago, BNC or Meetup http://www.meetup.com/ChicagoBusinessDevelopmentForum
 - Follow up with people you meet
 - Create relationships based on common interests, goals, causes, or philosophies
 - Join online groups (such as http://snipurl.com/4zcvf)
 - Introduce yourself both one-on-one and also to a group discussion board
 - Tell people about how you can help them
 - Be of service without expecting anything in return
 - Don’t just try to sell people. Networking isn’t about sales (but the sale will come if you do the other things)
 - In addition to offering help, also ask for it when you have a need; allow others to be of service to you and share their expertise.

There are many more ideas. These are some of the big ones that I help people plan out and execute when they are building their businesses.

What are some other thoughts from the group members?

All the best,
“Biz Coach” Jason Rosado

Website: http://www.AchieveYourIdealBusiness.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/BizCoachJason
Facebook: http://profile.to/BizCoachJason

LinkedIn: The Debate Continues…

Are you a LION? Are you uncertain if you
should be concentrating on getting
connections of quantity or quality for your
best business results?

I just received ANOTHER invitation that used
a canned text. And I can almost recite it verbatim.
It was the third or fourth time this person with
500+ connections has invited me to join his
LinkedIn network.

I joined LinkedIn in early 2006, and I have enjoyed
the use of this business networking site for
multiple purposes – finding old colleagues,
strengthening relationships with quality people
that I have recently met, getting ideas and helping
others through the “Questions & Answers” feature.

But, I have become more and more selective
about which invitations I accept.

I feel quality is better than quantity. I almost
cringe when I receive an invitation in which the
default text hasn’t been changed at all. If you
really think we should be connected to help
each other grow our networks, why not type in
something that let’s me know:

• Who are you?
• How do we know each other, or how did you
come across my profile?
• Why do you think that you and I specifically
would make good networking partners?
• How can I help you?
• What’s in it for me, other than having another
connection that I can’t confidently refer people to?

The basic tenet of relationship building (think
sales skills) is normally absent from the volume
of invitations. Focus on the other person, not
yourself. No one wants to be friends with
someone that’s all “me, me, me…” You don’t
need to write a book, but write something to
make it personal. Refer to something unique in
my profile that lets me know this isn’t a canned
invitation.

“I know the value of having a ridiculously large
network, so let’s connect” doesn’t sound like
someone with whom I can pick up the phone,
or email to, and get together with for lunch,
get support or ideas from, or give a
recommendation to.

If you add people at random and have no intention
of getting to know them, you are not building a
network, you are building the Whitepages. I threw
my last published phone directory out years ago,
and I don’t need another one.

But I do accept invitations from sincere, caring
professionals that REALLY want to help each
other and can show me why they, and why I
should, value this special, potential connection.

After all, that’s why I am a big believer in the
power of networking and helping each other.
Have a fantastic Friday, and a Happy Easter
to those of you that celebrate!

All the best,
Jason

P.S. Chicago, 4/19/08 – We will be delving into
this and other networking topics to help you
supercharge your networking and sales!
Please see http://www.DistinctiveCoaching.com/Supercharge.html

And the online networking onion begins to peel…

I admit that I am a big fan of online networking sites, using LinkedIn, Meetup, MySpace, Urbanmelt, Facebook, Yahoo groups, Ning, Google Groups and other sites for social and business networking.

I also have found that some are very easy to use and others are very difficult.  This will obviously differ with the skills of each user.

But what I read today about Facebook makes me really wonder about the negatives of online networking.   It brought me back to when I was trying to cancel an old AOL account, and how truly difficult that was.  But that was just AOL making you jump through hoops so they can retain a customer.  This new issue goes much deeper into corporate responsibility and obligation with your personal information.

Times have changed since my go-arounds with AOL, and online corporations have figured out how to really make you think twice about what’s going on behind the scenes.  So without further ado, here is the NY Times article:
How Sticky Is Membership on Facebook? Just Try Breaking Free

I would love to hear what thoughts any of you have on this privacy vs. capitalism vs. useful tools vs. …, well, you get the idea.

Best,
Jason

P.S.  Speaking of networking, please check out an upcoming seminar that is absolutely outstanding for entrepreneurs, small business owners and sales professionals: http://supercharge.eventbrite.com

See you there!!