This is not based on some “shrink it and pink it” mentality that I’ve adopted. This idea comes from YEARS of working with (for the most part) only women business owners — and actually BEING a woman business owner myself. Call it generalizing or gender-based stereotypes (or any other politically correct label you want to give it), but women think differently and we LEARN differently. Period. I’ve seen it every single day for the past 13 years I’ve been self-employed.

Women invented social media. After all, who recommends more products and services than women? No one. If we’re the originators of “word of mouth”, shouldn’t our businesses benefit from it?

Here are a few reasons why women need to approach social media usage differently:

• Women don’t have time (or the inclination) to “poke around” or “figure it out”. We’re not crazy. We recognize the value of social media, but we need to use marketing tools that get a measurable amount of progress in a reasonable amount of time.
• From a time management perspective alone, women need to do the right things, at the right times for the right reasons to get the right results. No matter how much we’ve ‘evolved’, women are still responsible for the bulk of child and family care. We have friendships to maintain, lives to shape and lead and oh, there’s that minor matter of personal time.
• Social media lends itself to the way women naturally communicate and share ideas. Historically, most storytellers are women. Women exchange “secrets” to build trust, not men; and these nuances carry through online. (The good news is you get to define whether a “secret” is something marginally personal or soul-baring.)

So, I got sick and tired of reading blogs written by guys (and gals, but mostly guys) giving advice like:

• “Just jump in and get your feet wet.”
• “Send a note to your friends and connect.”
• “Just create a Twitter account – it’s free and easy.”
• “Find people to follow on Twitter and then talk to them.”

I don’t know about you, but I don’t have time to do stuff to “get my feet wet”. I want to know what the hell I’m doing right from Jump Street and if I can’t know that, I ain’t doing it. I also have NO desire to connect with my pals and family on Facebook. This is BUSINESS, not some crazy chips and dip get together. And, if you create the account, what then?? How do you know who the right people to follow on Twitter are? How do you talk to them? All of this advice is so GENERAL and AMBIGUOUS that it makes me ill.

After getting tired of ranting about the problem (and because I’m someone that doesn’t like people to complain without offering a solution), I started the Real Women Do Social Media Revolution – that kicked off this month with the Real Women Do Social Media Program. (You can click the link to visit that website to read all about the event that’s kicking off the revolution.)

Here’s what I know for sure: One-size-fits-all only works for baseball caps and t-shirts. Just as women need to examine their finances differently and we tolerate medicine differently, when we understand that if we approach social media differently, we’ll have much better results than using one-size-fits-all-guy-centric methods.

——————–

Lena L. West is the CEO of xynoMedia http://www.xynoMedia.com a company that helps growing companies profit from the power of social media & the Internet.

On my worst days I thank God I’m my own boss – I’ve experienced so many wonderful life-enhancing benefits by being a woman entrepreneur.

Freedom Rocks – even with pits!

Back in the Stone age… when I graduated college the first question that was asked in any job interview was “how fast can you type?”  The thought of being an admin or secretary horrified me, yet if you lacked a teaching certificate or doctor or lawyer’s degree, that was the expected starter job for many women. While I worked at some interesting places, I couldn’t seem to find my niche, and basically took whatever customer service or production job I could, to help support my family.

The retail business that started me on my entrepreneurial journey was created with my sister-in-law, giving us our first taste of creative and operational freedom – what a rush! Our new venture allowed us to do the mom thing while bringing in some bacon. And while we thought it was going to be the ultimate dream job – we shopped, we decorated the store, we sold lovely, unusual gifts and delivered friendly, fun service to a lot of wonderful customers – we did not have a clue about budgets, pricing, funding or inventory management. During the 7 years we were in business, I also learned about branding, marketing copywriting, art direction, PR, merchandising, hiring, delegating, and selling. We did not attend one networking event the entire time we were open and did not make the major bucks we envisioned. We also worked into the wee hours of the night many times, so we could keep up with our home/work lives. The freedom thing was a bit sketchy by the end…

Yet without this experience, I would not have realized how much I love consultative selling, how much I LOVE marketing, branding and creative communications… all of which helped me to develop my own sales and marketing systems that I use today. Without the journey – which began when I became a woman entrepreneur – I would have never gotten to develop my speaking or writing business, worked with social media, gotten on TV and radio, traveled to exciting destinations, or interviewed interesting, savvy business leaders, authors and celebrities from across the country.

The experience has been even sweeter, because as a woman entrepreneur I been able to breach  many self-imposed boundaries – pushing the bar and achieving new goals. Today, I use all the skill sets that were developed along the way and nurture new ones. I structure my days as I like – make meetings, go on business trips, attend conferences, plan my annual agenda and tweak my goals and to-do’s as needed. Yes, along with the creative freedom I still have to deal with responsibilities, bills and budgets (things every business owner grapples with), but each day is a new adventure, another opportunity to learn, grow and advance.

Other perks:  I enjoy working with many different kinds of clients, covering diverse industries and markets. It’s also been really nice to be a part of many supportive women’s empowerment communities like WomenandBiz.com, NJAWBO, WICE and the Center for Women– folks that are eager to help career women as well as new and growth-track companies.

And the long hours that I still put in are done around family and “me” time – they are an investment in my business and my future.

So as we recognize feminine advances of all kinds during Women’s History Month – I celebrate my entrepreneurial life, with all it’s perks and pitfalls. I still relish the learning path I’m on, the opportunities I’ve been able to take advantage of, and the fabulous people that continue to cross my path because of the leap I made so many years ago!

#    #     #

Pattie Simone is a Viral Adventurer and Business Success Activist. As a Speaker, Writer and Consultant, she helps entrepreneurs and growth-track firms chart winning success paths via keynotes, workshops, PR, blogging, Digital Asset Planning & Management and other nimble marcom solutions. She has appeared on FOX 5’s Good Day New York and ABC TV’s nationally syndicated America This Morning program, has a sales & marketing column on WomenEntrepreneur.com and is an Ask Entrepreneur Expert. Simone is the thought-leader behind Write-Communications.com and Marketing-Advantage, print and viral marketing resources. She is also the founder of WomeCentric.net, a virtual directory of savvy & diverse women experts and authors, keynote and motivational speakers, and career & life advancement professionals.

I attended American University in Washington D.C. and completed both a

Carolyn Newman

Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and Communications in 1985 and a Masters Degree in Public Administration in 1987.   I have happily worked in the non-profit sector for 22 years, primarily for Jewish organizations.  I was a Vice President for the Jewish Federation of Broward County, Director of Development for the Jewish Community Foundation of Broward County, Miami Regional Director for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and Florida Foundation Director for AIPAC.

I retired in April of 2006 after my mother’s passing 5 months earlier from Breast Cancer.   One month after retirement, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer.

Warrior Wear Inc.

What inspired you to start your own business?

After completion of 6 months of chemotherapy, a 13-hour surgical mastectomy and reconstruction, radiation and severe shoulder issues, I became a warrior on a mission to educate women about risk reduction and living a healthier life, mind body and spirit.  One year after diagnosis I had to summon my warrior mode yet again as I got lymphedema, chronic swelling in my arm as a result of surgical removal and radiation of my lymph nodes

Did you want to have partners or do it solo? Why?

I needed to summon my Warrior mode and it was my girlfriends and now business partners, Lauren Aron and Jolene Paul who convinced me to do something about my ugly compression sleeve that I had to wear every day.

I needed to cover them and Jolene designed protective yet fashionable covers for my compression sleeves.  I wore them to all my speeches and even in my yoga classes. I felt confident, sexy and I didn’t feel like a cancer patient with lymphedema.

Lauren, Jolene and I started Warrior Wear, Inc. to produce Arm Candy, protective, fashion wear for compression sleeves.   As far as we know, we are the only company to manufacture covers for compression sleeves and we now sell Arm Candy to wholesale Durable Medical Equipment companies, Recovery Boutiques, Amazon.com, internet companies and lymphedema therapists in the U.S., Canada, Great Britain and the Ukraine.

How have any outside advisors made a difference in your company?

Many people have inspired us and have helped us grow Warrior Wear, Inc.  We have relied on lymphedema therapists to help us with design that doesn’t compromise the medical compression and the kindness of doctors and fabric manufacturers to assist us in providing the best product possible.  Our biggest inspiration comes from women like me who want to feel sexy and look good even with lymphedema.  They are truly our heroes.

Tell us about Warrior Wear Inc. and its mission.

We believe that you have to make the best of every situation.
That’s why we started Warrior Wear, Inc.  Our goal is to provide quality fashion products for women who are undergoing treatment for cancer and/or are survivors and have lymphedema.

We pride ourselves on providing customers with the best quality products and personal service. You can order from us using our online catalog, order over the phone, or visit one of the retail locations that carry our products.

What were the most difficult challenges you faced as a business owner?

Every business owner has a unique set of circumstances for starting their business.  Ours was to help women like me.  Our challenge is recognizing that Arm Candy is in demand and in order for us to continue, we need to make tough decisions regarding the expansion of our line, as well as creating and marketing new products that we will launch this year.  We have to decide where to allocate our profits and where it would be the best utilized for our customers.  30 % of women who had breast cancer will get lymphedema and it can strike at any time.  There is no cure and women like me want something better than what the market offers.  Our biggest challenge is marketing Arm Candy and educating women on how to lower their risk of lymphedema.

What are your plans for the future?

Warrior Wear, Inc. is testing new products for breast cancer survivors and those currently in treatment.

What do you find most rewarding as a business owner?

There is nothing more rewarding than seeing your product on store shelves and on the biggest internet sites in the world.  Knowing that you have created something others want and need is pure satisfaction.

Your journey is really inspiring, and you are a true warrior. What advice would you give someone, going through difficult personal challenges, who wants to start a business?

Winston Churchill wrote.  A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

You have a choice: to find the hero within, or to give up.  By choosing to uncover your own courage, strength and determination, you become a role model for others.

For more information about Carolyn Newman and her business, please visit http://www.warriorwear4u.com.

Thank you for our interview on your radio show Standing Out with Lauron Sonnier, and for posting the podcast at http://bit.ly/9SbS6G.

Could you share more about your background prior to starting your own business?

Lauron Sonnier

Marketing is all I’ve ever done, in one form or another, and I have been very fortunate to have numerous opportunities early in life and career to give me a foundation for being an entrepreneur. When I was in high school and college, I worked at a small newspaper and then at an advertising agency. All of that helped me to get connected in the community, and, while I was in college, I got offered a position with the local television station in a marketing position. It was a huge break. So, very early on, I was able to learn about business and to get some great hands-on experience in my field. (I graduated with a BS in Marketing.)

After a short while, though, I became very restless like I think most entrepreneurs are. I had tapped out where I was, so I headed to the big city of Houston, Texas, with high aspirations. I found very quickly that the world of television worked very differently there. I instead took a position as Marketing Director of a book manufacturing company. I was really naïve and didn’t even ask what their marketing budget was. It was a small but mighty business owned by two brothers who started the company in their early twenties. They became like family to me, and I got a terrific opportunity to learn about the inner workings of a business. I also learned how to make marketing magic happen without a lot of money. It was a terrific opportunity that paved the way for me to go out on my own. In fact, after four years there I became restless again. When I went to quit the job, the owners asked me what I really wanted to do. I told them I eventually wanted to go into business for myself. They came back the next day and said, “If you’re serious, we’ll help you.” After I picked myself off the floor, we started a company together, and that was my official foray into entrepreneurship. They were true angels and for me, it was true baptism by fire. You never know when or how your dreams are going to come to fruition! A few years later, I bought them out and I’ve been solo ever since.
When did you decide you were going to pursue a marketing career?

In sixth grade, I was the chairperson of the PR committee for my spirit club. I knew then that I liked promotion. Plus, it gave me a great forum to use my two best skills—writing and speaking. Then, in eighth grade, I anchored a show at the local television station called Teen Report. I absolutely love that, so I thought I would be an anchor. But, later, when I actually worked in television as an adult, I quickly decided that anchoring was not for me. I didn’t want to just be a talking head, and I didn’t want to have to spend years working early mornings and weekends.

I loved, loved, loved working in television though, and the marketing role that got me in the door solidified it for me. I think I love marketing because it’s about getting excited about the things we choose to do with our time and our lives. It’s about telling others how we can help them. How great is that! Today, part of my purpose is to get people more excited about marketing. Too many people consider marketing to be frustrating and overwhelming and they just can’t think that way if they want to reach their business potential.

As for me and my own marketing, I know that I must constantly expand the scope of what I do to reach more people. With more people than ever going into business for themselves, everyone absolutely needs to embrace marketing and learn how to be a good marketer.

How did your personal and entrepreneurial goals fit together?

I always felt uncomfortable being controlled by someone else. I’ve worked for several great bosses and companies, but I always knew that I needed my own show. Plus, I have a mission. I’ve struggled through the years to get clear on what that mission is. And, honestly, I think it’s only been in the last few years that I’ve figured out that my mission isn’t just about helping people create effective brochures, but to understand that they are marketable—that they stand out—and then give them some encouragement and skills to tell their story to those who could benefit from their gifts. At the end of the day, I have to feel like I’m doing something meaningful. I want to touch a lot of lives, and I have lots of ideas of how I want to do that. I could never pursue all of those dreams as an employee. Plus, I always wanted to have a family, and I am blessed to have two beautiful daughters. I love being an example to them. I love being able to involve them in my business, and showing them that they can make their own way as well. It’s also a heck of a lot easier to take time off to go to Disney World!

Could you tell us more about “Everything is marketing and everyone’s a marketer–even you.”?

I teach that marketing is about “making impressions and perceptions so that the customer decides that we are their best choice for the products and services we provide.” To me, this is a very practical way of looking at marketing. The slickest website or brochure in the world won’t bring back a customer who was treated with disrespect or indifference. To be truly effective—and to really think like a marketer—every entrepreneur and every company must understand that every interaction, every exchange, and every communication sends a message that moves a prospect or customer closer or farther away from choosing them, or choosing them again. That means we have to break down everything that makes an impression and creates a perception, and that answer is simply and undeniably everything and everyone. Everything makes an impression. Everyone makes an impression in everything they do every day. Therefore, it’s critical that all staff members everywhere understand that, no matter what they do, they are marketers too. What they do and how they do it—what they say and how they say it—sends a message that either helps or hurts a company’s marketing effectiveness. When a business owner understands this, magical things can happen. Southwest Airlines is my all-time favorite example of a company that really gets it—and it shows.

How did any outside advisors make a difference in your company?

Having the support of my previous employers-turned-partners was just an amazing gift. Also, as an advisor myself, I know how important it is to get outside expert help, so I have always sought out coaches and consultants to help me, and I’ve planted myself in organizations that could be very helpful. If someone can truly help me shortcut the path to success and make life and business easier for me, then I’m foolish to not listen to them. There is a problem, however, that I have encountered and that I think many women encounter and that is that others see us as strong and capable, so they don’t reach out to help. Women have to learn how to ask for help. People are busy trying to survive themselves. They don’t know you need or want help unless you speak up. There are times I should have spoken up quicker or louder.

Tell us about Sonnier Marketing, and Standing Out with Lauron Sonnier

Sonnier Marketing has evolved quite a bit over the years. Today, our focus is speaking and training to help companies think like a marketer, and marketing consulting to help companies identify and capitalize on all of the marketing opportunities inherent in their business every day. When we sum it up, we say that we help companies become marketing machines as we teach them out to “stand out, stir the pot, and put marketing into action.” My Stir the Pot formula for marketing is a five-step process that I think boils marketing down beautifully into specific, actionable steps. Of course, I’m a Cajun from Louisiana, so of course I put everything in terms of food.

Standing Out with Lauron Sonnier is an hour radio show that airs at 9 am Pacific, 12 Eastern every Friday on the Voice America Business Channel (http://www.voiceamericabusiness.com/). “Standing out” has become a theme for what I do, and I have declared that my personal purpose is “to help people be standout individuals, create standout companies, and create standout lives.” Doing the show has been thrilling, and I’m ecstatic about the caliber of guests we’re now having on the show, which are mostly authors and experts in a marketing or business topic. Of course we just had you, Elisa, on the show and you did a great job. That was a really good show. We’ve had Brian Tracy, and coming up we even have productivity master, David Allen, and marketing genius, Seth Godin. We’re also reaching out to organizations throughout the country to recruit standout business stories and to get companies of all types and sizes to participate in some on-air coaching from me. So, the show is finally getting its wings, and we’re looking to do some exciting and meaningful things with it. Right now we’re also looking for sponsors and partners to help us kick things up even better.

Who should read your book “Think Like a Marketer: What it Really Takes to Stand Out From the Crowd, the Clutter, and the Competition”, and what is the main message you’d like to get across?

The book is for anyone who owns a business, runs a business, manages a department, or just wants to be a smart marketer. It’s a highly practical guide to marketing. I just lay out what everyone needs to know about marketing in a direct, simple, and entertaining fashion. It’s not technical and it’s not boring. And, it’s absolutely chockfull of tips and specific, tangible actions. To me, it’s the marketing foundation that every single person in business needs to have. It’s the kind of book that you keep on your desk, not on a shelf.

One key distinction is that it addresses not just what people need to do in their marketing, but how to make marketing happen in the day-to-day operation of business. That’s a really big deal because that’s what I see people struggle with most. They like to use the excuses of no time, no money, nobody to do it. Well, if people want to build successful businesses, they had better put marketing very high on their priority list.

Another key point in the book is that marketing must become as common, natural, and routine as taking out the trash, paying taxes, and making payroll. It’s not just something you do “out there,” and it’s not just something you do when you feel like it. Marketing is happening all the time whether people know it or not. It’s happening in every interaction, communication, and exchange. Smart companies know that they need to capitalize on marketing in every moment, and for small businesses, this is exciting news because it means they have lots of marketing assets that can work for them with little or no money.

What are your plans for the future?
With my new book and new radio show, my goal is to continue getting the message to the masses. Today that’s through product sales and through speaking. I’m working on more products and I’d like to see a full Lauron Sonnier line of marketing tools available at a popular retail outlet to help people “keep marketing constant in thought and constant in action” and implement the many things I teach in the book. I’d also like to align myself with the right partner who can help me reach more people nationally and globally faster than I could do on my own.

In addition, I’m going to work toward creating a non-profit initiative where we uplift and encourage women and others in some way. That’s really important to me.

A few years ago, my husband at the time was involved in a terrible accident the last night of our vacation in Cabo San Lucas. It turned out that he was addicted to pain killers. He had taken our rental car into town, fell asleep at the wheel, and tumbled the car several feet off a steep shoulder causing it to catch fire. A large percentage of his body was burned and he suffered several other injuries. I received the proverbial 2 am call that my husband was in the hospital. I was asleep and didn’t even know that he had left the hotel. I managed to get him back to Houston that day. He fought for five grueling weeks, but the injuries were too severe, and he passed away on April 1 (ironic because he was a standup comedian in college and a very funny guy). From that experience, I am writing another book to share lessons on living. It’s called Just on Vacation, and while it tells the story of the tragedy, its focus is how my daughter and I picked ourselves up and the lessons we’ve learned about life and living. I have high hopes for that project, and I will put my marketing skills to work to help spread its important message to even greater masses.

What advice would you give an aspiring woman entrepreneur? Could you suggest the three most important lessons you have learned?

I would tell an aspiring woman entrepreneur the following:

1.       Go for it. Do what you know you must do and don’t let anybody stop you.

2.       Whatever you want to do, you can. It’s there inside you.

3.       Tap into people, programs, and resources that are readily available to help you. Don’t be a martyr and try to do it alone. There’s no reward in working harder and longer than necessary to do your good.

4.       Hire experts to do everything but the core function of your business. If you don’t know accounting, hire an expert. If you don’t know web development, hire a pro. Keep yourself focused on what only you can do.

5.       Learn everything you can about every aspect of business. While you might not be doing the accounting, you need to know everything about what someone else is doing. You must never be in the dark about anything.

6.       Love marketing! Learn how to do it, and constantly and consistently tell your story to the world. You never know who’s listening, and it takes a lot of repetition to break through the madness.

7.       Ask, ask, ask. Whatever you want, ask for it. You don’t get it if you don’t ask.

8.       Stay focused. It’s one of the hardest things for women to do, but it’s a key secret to success.

9.       Keep your perspective. Family must always come first. You can build another business, but you can’t replace loved ones.

Are there any other questions you wished I had asked, from which you feel Women and Biz’s readers could learn valuable lessons?

Just to remember that, like life, business happens in moments, too. One little email or phone call or decision can change everything.

Also, the success of marketing usually comes in lots of little things rather than one or two big things. Keep your eye on the details. The little things really do matter.

For more information about Lauron Sonnier and her business, please visit http://sonniermarketing.com/.

What do women business owners need to know and do to be wildly successful? Elisa Balabram, founder and editor of WomenandBiz.com discusses that very issue every day. She also addresses it head on in her book, Ask Others, Trust Yourself: The Entrepreneurial Woman’s Key to Success. Tune in as Lauron and Elisa discuss the mindsets and actions that women business owners must employ to be crazy successful including how to ask, when to ask, and what to ask for. Not a female entrepreneur? No problem. These business tips will serve you as well—and teach you how to collaborate better with the women in your company, workplace, and life. Get ready for an exhilarating conversation and lots of helpful tips to catapult your confidence and success.

Learn More >>

At some point I thought it was best to move on to the next project, but through the support group I’ve developed over the years, I realized that I needed to put more effort into promoting Ask Others, Trust Yourself: The Entrepreneurial Woman’s Key to Success.

The articles posted by our guest writers have actually given me more ideas into how I could do it. One of them is becoming more active with my social media efforts.

Here is my own new recipe for “When all else fails”:

• Brainstorm with your support group what can be done;
• Try a new strategy;
• Re-examine your goals;
• Create a new/revised plan of action;
• Stay focused;
• Take daily action towards reaching your goals;
• Revise your strategies and,
• Keep going!

If you have anything else to add to this list, feel free to post a comment below.

To your continued success,

Elisa Balabram

Editor, WomenandBiz.com

Author, Ask Others, Trust Yourself: The Entrepreneurial Woman’s Key to Success.

There are loads of adages to help you commemorate the exact moment when things go left, but if you’re anything like me, you’d rather focus on the best, most effective way to get out of the mess you’ve found yourself in.

A portion of the title of this article is a bit misleading. Social media doesn’t fail people, people fail people; and many times people fail themselves because their expectations are skewed. Additionally, because most people are not social media “experts”, they’re not quite sure what it takes to extract themselves from certain situations and it’s at that point it becomes really convenient and easy to hang the blame on social media. Does, “I hate Facebook!” sound familiar?

To help you avoid that blame-infused scenario, here are some solutions to common sticking points to help you get back on track if you feel like you’re not getting the results you want from your social media activities.

1. Are you clear about why you’re using social media? This is the source of many, many problems. People just start using Twitter or Facebook…or they just start blogging and the end-game isn’t clear. Once you determine where you’d like to go, the exact action steps will stand out from the fray a bit; making your next step less dubious.
2. Are you being consistent? You get out what you put in. If you’re not blogging at least three times a week and using some sort of viral vehicle to connect with other people, you shouldn’t expect any results at all. Yes, three times per week. The average blog post is 250-300 words. You needn’t write a tome. If you don’t have 900 words of advice or insight to offer about your business over the course of a week, then you should consider another line of work. Yes, I said it.
3.  Are you connecting? I mean, really connecting? Are you taking time out of your schedule at least twice a week to pop into Twitter or Facebook and “show your face”. It doesn’t have to be for hours, but take the time to connect. People do business with people they like. And, if you say you don’t have time, then don’t expect results. That’s a simple solution.
4. Do you genuinely like your social media activities? If you don’t like to blog, stop doing it. Do something else. There are hundreds of social media activities you could be doing and some you’ll probably like. I don’t care what anyone says, when you don’t like what you’re doing, it comes through in the end product.
5. Are you organized, on-purpose and focused? If you’re not getting results, it might be because you’re all over the place. One minute you’re on Facebook and the next minute you’re tweeting. Social media connections should be authentic (there’s that word again!) but the use of the tools should be nothing short of methodical, pre-meditated and laser – especially if you’re a woman business owner – you just don’t have time to waste.

Take some time to sit down and get real with yourself about whether your expectations are in alignment with your efforts and approach, then adjust what isn’t working in a way that resonates with you.

——————–

Lena L. West is the CEO of xynoMedia http://www.xynoMedia.com a company that helps growing companies profit from the power of social media & the Internet.

Innovate

Whether you need to get control of your records, institute better account management or client service systems, update your hardware or spring for new software, chances are you can improve productivity and trim your overall costs using a range of affordable or free solutions. For database management, client projects, calendars, sales notes/tracking and a whole bunch of other great functions, check out Zoho.com, which offers lots of freebies as well as paid options. For more professional branded email marketing, including jazzier networking or sales follow-up notes as well as monthly newsletters using art, document links, art and multiple layout options, look into MyEmma.com. Break down and get a net-connected phone, so you can retrieve and send emails on the go, as well as surf the net. Verizon has three dynamic 3G options – the Blackberry Storm II, the HTC Eros and the Droid – for easier mobile surfing and more robust apps, in case you’re not ready to switch networks for an iPhone.

Improve your Online Action

Any growth-focused business must get some serious skin in the game – in THE biggest brand and sales building portal there is – the internet. First – you will need to invest some time and a bit of money to update your 24/7 sales machine, your website. Working with professionals, make it an intuitive experience (well organized content and easy-to-understand menu tabs) so that browsers can easily find what they are looking for. Fix the content the consumer sees as well as the coding (metadata) they don’t, with strong, targeted keywords, descriptions and titles, as these are some of the primary elements the Search Engines use to rank your site. Next, get a strong business profile up in the most active social networks, including facebook and LinkedIn, as both are easy ways to help drive new, organic inbound traffic to your website. If you have not started a blog, do it this year! Tap into a freebie using Blogspot.com, or have your webmaster add a blog function to your existing site. Institute an overall Digital Asset Management plan, which should include regular (strategic) weekly updates, whether on your website, your blog, your online social networking portals, as well as bi-yearly tweaks by an SEO (Search Engine Marketing) expert. Post a few videos on YouTube, as well as on your website. Videos can work for you on various levels, whether they introduce a brand or product, focus on the benefits of your product(s) or services or feature happy feedback from clients. Submit editorial to several sites like EZineArticles.com, with valuable information that can help your current or prospective clients, while positioning you as an expert. Take a hyperlinked tile or leaderboard ad on the websites of several trade associations and/or your local Chamber of Commerce, whichever is a better fit for your geographic footprint. Trade links with other strategic partners, as inbound links also help to boost your “Google Juice” (giving your site a better ranking with the Search Engines). Get advice and do a 2 month PPC campaign, to drive more “hot” leads to your site or a special landing page. Measure the results of all your campaigns as well as your daily website traffic stats via Google Analytics, a free tool that details lots of critical data.

Reach out and Leverage Human Connections

While there’s no denying we are swiftly becoming a “net-centric” society, people still do business with organizations and people they feel comfortable with. So tap into your existing network, ask for referrals and advice. Act as a connector and facilitator in your own backyard, by helping another business owner, by supporting a community group or attending local charitable fundraisers. All of these are thrifty ways to get meaningful face space with business leaders and decision makers, which can lead to multiple open doors and new opportunities.

Honestly – I’d love for you to get everything in motion as soon as you can, because all these initiatives can help you achieve momentum and growth. Realistically, it won’t be possible, so don’t make yourself nuts by trying to do everything at once. Take on one major to-do a month so you’ll avoid burn out and have a manageable investment distribution plan! Use this 11 Month Business Growth Checklist as your guideline. Though I’ve ordered them in what I think is the most sensible agenda, do what you can, when you can, as each one of these will help keep you focused and moving forward in 20-10….

February – Address and fix website issues, using a webmaster, web copywriter, graphic designer, and SEO expert as needed. Get Google Analytics up and running, so you can begin to track the traffic on every page and link on your site.

March – Adopt better systems re account management, client and prospect databases, update hardware and software as needed. Seek out a good VA (Virtual Assistant) to manage tasks that are wasting your time or diverting your attention from more profitable tasks

April – Institute a Digital Asset Management Plan, after doing research about your industry, your competitors, your objectives and your strategy.

May – Investigate and create a business profile in one or more Social Networking sites, participating 2-3 times a week (total 1.5 – 2 hours per week). Additional social networking platforms include Twitter, Squidoo, and FastPitch.

June – Start sending out a monthly e-newsletter, or make improvements to an existing one using guest writers, new data, advertising specials, etc. Attend 1-2 new networking meetings and/or community fundraiser. Follow up with all new leads within 2-4 business days, with a targeted, special offer or incentive.

July -  Start a blog (posting interesting valuable information that your clients and prospects can benefit from) and post some responses on other blogs or on Twitter and LinkedIn. Aim to post 150-200 words at least once a week.

August – Produce and post at least one video on YouTube and on your website. Announce it via a Press Release in an online mass distribution site, as well as to all your trade and membership groups.

September – Assess where you are – do more SEO work on your site and start a 2-3 month PPC campaign.

October – Place several online ads in targeted industry or networking portal for 2-3 month campaign. Reach out to a variety of strategic partners, or tap existing networking or industry/trade memberships for online linking and business profile posting opps.

November – Submit expertizing and informative editorial to various online portals… check out revenue generating sites like Suite101.com and ArticlesBase.com

December-  Buy more online ads in new venues (if you’re marketing to well-educated women try a venue like DailyWorth.com) and continue to expand your inbound link building activities by Tweeting, trading links with strategic partners, and taking advantage of as many free listing/linking portals as you can.

So if you want to join the ranks of well-performing, growth-track firms – get up to snuff with the latest technology and use a range of online and face-space marketing tools. Take strategic baby steps, pursuing multiple initiatives and you will see happier results in 20-10!

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Pattie Simone is a Viral Adventurer and Business Success Activist. As a Speaker, Writer and Consultant, she helps entrepreneurs and growth-track firms chart winning success paths via keynotes, workshops, PR, blogging, Digital Asset Planning & Management and other nimble marcom solutions. She has appeared on FOX 5’s Good Day New York and ABC TV’s nationally syndicated America This Morning program, has a sales & marketing column on WomenEntrepreneur.com and is an Ask Entrepreneur Expert. Simone is the thought-leader behind Write-Communications.com and Marketing-Advantage, print and viral marketing resources. She is also the founder of WomenCentric.net, a virtual directory of savvy & diverse women experts – keynote and motivational speakers, and career & life advancement professionals.

1. Social media – You’ve heard about it but are you using it at its maximum? Maybe you already have profiles on Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin. Are you using your exposure on the sites to promote your product or service? Post daily and communicate to your network about your business, participate in discussions, join groups, answer questions and don’t forget to always include a link to your website. Over time, your participation will show you as an expert in your field and adding your link on each entry your will drive traffic to your website and help you build your list with targeted people. Be careful not to overwhelm yourself or get stuck socializing the whole day away. 15 minutes a day can be enough to get an effective edge via social media. Don’t waste your time spending hours to get the same results you can get in just a few minutes.

2. Blogging – Do you already have a blog? Check blogger.com or wordpress.org where you can create your blog in less than 5 minutes. You can even customize your blog to fit your business image and branding. Try to post every day if possible or at least a minimum of 3 times a week if you want to attract customers and get a high ranking on search engines.

3. Write articles – Write 300 to 500 words to give valuable information to help people solve a problem while show casing your expertise. Post your writing on articles directories for a better exposure and use your articles in your newsletter, blog and on your post on Facebook and Linkedin profiles.

4. Create partnerships – Contact people that you know and trust, who have the same target market as you but are not your competitors to create partnerships. You promote them, while they promote you and you both earn money by doubling your list of potential targeted people. You can organize a seminar or teleclass together, this will expose yourself as an expert to their list!

5. Follow-up, follow-up – You probably have a bunch of business cards somewhere on a drawer or on your desk from people you met last year at networking event. Did you use those cards in anyway to build your network and grow your business? For sure if the cards stay in your drawer you won’t get any business or referrals from those people. Pick–up the phone, call them to learn more about their business, ask them how you can help them. Give them advice, resources or referrals. Meet them for a coffee, contact them on a regular basis with a phone call, a greeting card, send an article of interest, send them your newsletter, or connect them with other people. Track what you do to make sure you are always in communication with them.

Done on a daily basis just these 5 strategies, which only take a few minutes a day, will help you build your network, grow your business and won’t cost you a dime. The key to success is consistency. You will have to repeat these steps throughout your days. Create your marking plan for the year and stick to it. Fasten your seatbelt and watch the results, because 2010 is a new year , a new decade AND a new you.

If you like this article, and want more networking tips, get my free e-course “15 Ways to Maximize Your Networking Secrets” and Free Audio “Networking Made Easy” at http://www.networkingmasterysecrets.com

Biba F. Pedron, Business & Marketing Consultant, founder of Biba4Network, also knows as “The Connection Queen”, helps solo-entrepreneurs to maximize their networking results and reveal proven strategies to attract more clients and double your business with simple but effective networking system. Biba is the author of “Start Your Dream Business Today! The Proven 11 Steps to Start and Grow Your Own Business”. And “Power of Networking Secrets” a program teaching you step-by-step how to turn more networking contacts into business boosting clients in 7 simple steps.
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