Image via CrunchBase

Oh Facebook and all its glory.

With so many people now on the ever growing social media site, if you don’t have a profile of some sort you are officially in the stone age.  Might as well embrace it. With that said, if you are a company or an individual looking to promote your passion, how do you leverage it?

Starting at the very beginning, Set up:
Are you going to create a personal page or a business page?
According to Facebook pages policy, it depends on what you are looking to promote.  If it is yourself, keeping your personal page public will do.  You may be able to leverage this more than a business page anyway, due to certain algorithms put in place when it comes to the amount of people you can reach with your posts on a business page without paying for promotion or advertising.  However, if you do have a business and try to use a personal page, Facebook does have ways of figuring that out as well, and they will shut you down.
For business pages there are ways that your users can keep you at the top of their feeds by either viewing feeds only from the pages they have liked and by engaging with your page.  The more interaction between you and your friends or fans, the more your content will be put at the top of their news feeds as well.  Also, the benefit from a business page is that you are able to track how many people you are reaching with Facebook Insights.

Tips when creating your page:
Have a clear message of what you stand for as your cover photo and a consistent profile picture are essential for people to recognize who you are.  People who agree with this message will be more likely to follow through with engagement and looking through content, as well as like your page and continue to promote you.  These are two examples of clearly laid out pages.

Children’s book author Marcus St. Marcus has his brand message clearly written on his page along with a photo representing it.  His profile picture is also professional and consistent, representing the brand clearly.

Other brands like YouTube also keep a clear message on their Facebook page.

Through the set up process there will be other details to fill out from location, email preferences, phone number.  It is up to you how you want the people to be able to contact you, so remember that everyone and anyone who is on Facebook will have access to your page. Precise and consistent information is important and essential.

Content Creation
Once you have gone through putting your Facebook information together, you will want to add content before you begin to promote your page.  This way, the first time that someone lands on your page, they can look through what you have to share.

So what types of content can you put on your page?
-Photos
-Videos
-Infographics
-Articles
-Updates of past and upcoming events
-Sharing other people’s posts

*Rememeber it is important to make sure the content is connected with what your message is and what you stand for.

This is part one, part two will explain more.  In the mean time check out @TheDSilva on Twitter for more social media and marketing updates.

Happy FBing!

XO

Oh and the catch…
IT IS NOT GOING AWAY!

The truth is, we are communicating faster and more effectively than ever.  Think of Twitter and what it does with amazing headlines. A more recent example is Sandy, not only were people Tweeting, despite power outages, they were also making videos and sharing with everyone in the world, what it is that happened.  To top it off, not even two months later, there were a videos  made faster than ever which covered a lot of the hurricane through people’s phones and personal cameras. This is just one example:

Yes, we can stay and get connected faster than ever, so reach out!

Some of those who come into this  may think, “Ok this is weird, I don’t get to see the person or who they really are.”  What I say to that is that you didn’t know your wife or husband before you made them a part of your family, so take a chance. Those who have grown up with the internet, well maybe we just don’t know any better.  Either way, the relationships that are being built have potential to be amazing, and real.  E Harmony is a great example, and their new way of connecting people not only for love but for business proves this.

Now for some psychology! We all naturally want to be connected with one another because that is how we make things happen. Think back to intention.  We find ways to communicate, share ideas, learn from one another, and grow.  While social media may be a different and digital way to stay connected, it does work.  We have seen how first MySpace, and now Facebook how dominated and changed the way we communicate with others.  The reality is that we all need to adapt to the fact that the face to face touch and feel is no longer the norm.  Our offspring are going to build relationships and connect with others via the social networks. Whatever we want to say and who we are is going to candidly be shared and visible to whoever is curious enough to click on and find out more about us.  So while this interaction may not be what we are used to, it is more of a mental connection being made.  Just think of your different subscriptions to the daily newspaper and/or RSS feeds.

In the end, we have to adapt, and with technology, this will happen faster and more efficiently than ever.  So, lets continue to share the different things that we are passionate about on this internet. Those connections will be made in a different but great sense.

Since most people are now more likely to watch a video than read what I have to say, here is this enlightening video (you still have to read a bit, its just more entertaining). XO

Going into this new year I have had the word intention in the back of my mind.  There is something to be said about our personal intentions, our intentions for others, and their intentions. The different ways we handle situations and look to make things work always can be said to go back to this.

Our true intentions sometimes get lost in translation when we go out to do what we do because other’s intentions become part of our original ones through the process of making things happen.  We sometimes loose sight of what we really intend because of emotions, distractions, other more dominant intentions, or carelessness. That being said, this can become more complicated than intend for it to be.  (Get it, lol) With a strong resolution for what we really intend, we can keep our true intentions in sight.  

Also, others intentions can become a driving force for things to happen.  After all, working together has made great intentions true.  Just think of what has been built around us, from the chair you may be sitting in, to the town you are a part of.  Intentions combined make this world work the way it does.  

The truth is, without intention, we do not do.  It is a driving force for accomplishment.  Intention is a key to unlock the doors which we have yet to open. 

It is a huge part in how we make things true and real in our lives.  So going into this new year, whether you believe in new years resolutions or not, what are your intentions? What can you do with your intentions and others intentions to make a positive change in your life and others lives?  

I am still figuring it out, but I can live with intention or I can just do.  Its our personal choice.  

I came across this video in which Jim Carey gives some insight on intention and his perspective on it.  Makes you think. : )

We have 2 minutes, TOPS.

What are you doing to get attention?
We will tell our story and relate it to you.
We will make you laugh, smile, and cry.
We will compare ourselves to those who are better than us and worse.

How are we going to do that?
We are going to give you the most up to date and most relevant facts.
We will scare you with the latest statistic that someone else knows from that one person who knows about from that one expert.
We are going to… Oh shoot, my time is running out.

How will we get you to spread our message?
We will ask quickly and effectively.
We will give heartfelt incentives.
We will give no other choice.

All of this is done because you know you agree with me already.  : )

Here are some a great examples!

The NBA leverages the Holidays  with a jingle using some of their top athletes and their talent to make music.

We can learn from other top viral videos from 2012 and their properties as well.  Like these:

During his short talk with another prominent business leader, CEO of Salesforce, Marc Benioff, we all sat around and embraced their exchange in conversation about his life.  From jokes about drugs and music, to serious political views about world problems.

So what did I learn?  Well, not only did I learn a few things, others were confirmed as true.

Keep An Open Mind
Openminded people are able to take in and experience life and ideas in a different way than those who are first to judge and criticize. Sir Richard Brandson holds true to this when building Virgin Records.  His open mindedness to different music is what led in part to the success of the Rolling Stones.  Also to the coming together of Virgin America and the new  technical innovations it is now providing to its customers.
Open mindedness drives progress, which drives innovation, which is the catalyst for greater good and change.  See how that works?

Respect vs. Fear
He spoke about the way of work.  There is a lot of successful companies and people out there who have worked and become large when instilling fear in their employees and customers. Fear rules many and holds people back from accomplishing more because there comes the risk of loss or disapointment.
On the other hand, there is respect which like fear, can also drive for cetain results, however it does it with a positive twist. Respect towards others skills and abilities promotes growth by encouraging individuals and companies to promote and thrive off of those things that make them great to begin with.  The fact that he has dared to go where no other person has dared to go before with his vision of sending many people into outerspace and is making it a reality shows that he has used the abilities of those around him and respected their knowledge and expertise to drive the innovation forward.

Choose Your Cause
Sir Richard Branson talked about finding what you stand for and making something of it.  Taking a stand for what you believe in, truly embracing it and running with it is what makes so many companies and individuals great.  This includes that ridiculous vacuum cleaner that we all know isn’t necessarily worth the price or that handbag who’s real value is a mere fraction of what people value it to be.  What people have done is talked up the value of these things because they really believe in it, that is their cause. Think of the effect someone has on you who does not stop talking about how important the color green is.  Before you know it, the one thing you see about that person is the color green. Focus and passion are part of realizing your cause and what you stand for.  Sir Richard Branson emphasized how important it is to find your cause.  It is very important!

These are three examples of what can be done on our personal journey to our greatness.  They worked for him and if implemented, they can work for us as well in our own way.  Here is his TED video interview for others to learn more about this successful man.

Content marketing through social media channels is essential to the growth of one’s sales and brand awareness.  Building a brand name online takes time, effort, and creativity.  With that said, I have briefly and hopefully effectively (although I had way too much fun being silly), made some key points to help those who are looking to learn more about the topic through this short video.

Basically, research is important because the more we understand the brand, live and breath it, love it, and obsess about it, the more easily we will be able to communicate its message and get past the details that hold us back. This also makes it easier to be creative and effective.
Knowing your audience is not only going to help you realize what platforms you need to focus more on, it is also going to help guide you in figuring out how to reach out to them.  Thinking of the different things they may like or dislike and all of the different interests and qualities they admire in a brand, or like in the video, who knows is going to appreciate what the art and other parts of the brand.  This will get you to the next level!
Lastly, in the video I talked about being dramatic so that you can stand out.  While my interpretation of it may be a bit premature, I hope you get the point about the fact that you have to stand out.  Some will love and embrace it, others will not.  In the end, you will sell and profit from both in the sense that you will have more brand awareness.  It really is a trial and error thing, but as a smart marketer, I do believe that you probably have a good sense of where you draw your limits for the brand you are working with.

There is more to learn on the topic.  While writing this I thought back to a book recommended by a friend called Zag by Marty Neumeier.  As we progress in learning about social media and marketing, we can look back at a book like this to get back to the basics, and apply!

Happy Marketing!

Yes, you only live once.  The ever so popular saying recently. If this is true then it makes me think, am I living how I want to, doing the things I want to do? While this changes as we grow, there are somethings we can keep in mind at all times.

Living in the moment. Sometimes it is easy to get caught up in fears, doubts, and uncertainties. Instead of worrying, we can make the most of the moment.  Whether it be visiting with family and friends, talking business, listening to your favorite song, or learning how to do something, forgetting all those things in  the back of your mind makes it so much more enjoyable and rewarding.

Living with purpose. For example, as I write this, I am writing with purpose to share what I see as true and reach out to others who are also interested in what I write about. Now that is a simple example, but it may even be something like doing lunges for ten miles not eight, or wanting to be the next president of the Academy of Research for Chemical Placebo (I wonder if there is actually an organization for such a thing).  Anyway, in the moment, if that is your purpose, what are you doing to fulfill it?

Staying true to yourself.  This is about you and I not letting go of what it is our purpose is because of outside things.  There is something to be said about the guy who will not give up on telling you he sees it green when everyone else sees it yellow.  Now, I understand that can be extreme, but to stand up and believe in what you know is true at that moment against what others believe is very powerful.  It will not  only teach us a lot personally, even if we are wrong, it will teach those around us something.  

Living for others.  While it is important to take care of yourself, once you are good, and can give to others, whether it be wisdom, love, joy, money, or socks (ok that was random), you are helping others live their purpose at that moment.  For example, when working on a project with people, then you are giving your knowledge, time, and effort to collaborate and make something better together, and hopefully for others.  Selfishness only helps yourself, and that will only work for so long.

Keeping these things in mind as you go about YOLOing to everyone, I think is at the heart of what it really means.  This is even if your Guido, Punk, Frat, and Teenybopper friends may use it in a differently.  (Yes, I’m generalizing.)

When you only live once, what do you do with yourself? Hmmm.

Oh and this song by Jesse J has some of those YOLO qualities, and its fun to listen to.

Search Engine Optimization 
In online marketing, it is one way to get more traffic to your website by making it one of the top ranked sites when people search for information that pertains to what your website has to offer through  search engines like Google, Yahoo!, or Bing.  It is one technique to get more exposure organically versus paying for advertisements.

Think of your brain that collects, classifies, then searches, and you working to make it better. How do you do that?
Here are a couple of tips and tricks that your website and brain can use to optimize!

#1 Keywords
Just like when you are trying to remember something, you think of that one word that makes you think of everything else. If I think molasses, it reminds me of foods that may contain it, or the fact that its a funny word.
Search engines think for us, so when you type molasses in your search bar it will come up with the highest ranked molasses sites to give you what molasses is. (Ok, that was random.)
When creating web pages you have the option of adding keywords that will direct spiders and ants (I know, that sounds creepy) to your page. The more the keywords match up with the search, the more likely your web page will come up.  BTW, this is just one piece of the SEO puzzle.

#2 Text Links
It is like the unexpected sent of someone passing by that registers that memory for you, but in writing. That makes sense, right?
When you include a link in a word on your page, it draws traffic to that page when people click on it.  Within the content you can create links to other pages within your site or to other sites.  This also is part of what we do on Twitter and Facebook when we send links out for our friends and followers to click on.
Like that amazing sent, text links take you back to that memory, online you just have to click on it.  This allows search engines to make connections from other sites to yours or vice versa.

#3 Content
I will put it this way, if you are like me and enjoy a quality movie, you will notice that certain films are being optimized now for 3D versus quality content.  It is more just about 3D instead of the message that is being sent to through the story told.  I am no critic, but content is key, and yes then there is presentation, but it will not spread if there is not enough good content for your brain to be stimulated. The more and more content you put into your site pertaining to your preferred topic, the more likely it is to get registered higher in search engine rankings.
In our brains, the more we learn about a specific topic, the more we can make other connections pertaining to it and be more understanding of it.  With that said, it is important that the content you put out has quality information that pertains to your text links and keywords. Our brains also have the ability to read books, then translate them into images, which is what content can be for keywords and text links.

#4 HTML Text
Based on my research, web crawlers will identify content that is html versus Java or Flash because of the text attributes.  While it is important to have images and videos, for SEO there must be html text attributes to go along with them for them to be recognized.
Now how do I translate this to optimizing your brain? Translate. Get it?
When reading, watching, or listening to something we can translate what we have learned into our own words for us to better register it in our brains.  The information is then more likely to be easier to reach later on when we think of searching for it.

Now these are a few of the ways we can optimize our sites and brains.  It is important to keep in mind that search engine algorithms and our brains are always changing (getting older with more updates needed).  In the meantime there are sites like SEOMOZ.org that will help guide us through how to optimize. Also here is one of many videos by Maile Ohye from Google, that gives some more SEO tips.

I’m not talking about the gap that there is becasue we connect in the online world where you read this, think, and wonder why I think the way I do and then then realize something I may or may not.  That physical and mental gap is inevitable.

I’m talking about the gap between the masses who veiw the world a certain way, and those who question and make something else of it.

We hear people say that you are only as strong as your weakest link.  Well this is true because lets say we are running a team marathon together and you are a viper who can go a million miles per hour and I am like a snail who is taking its time to figure it out carefully. Where in the race can we finish?  As the viper, you could be selfish or help close that gap because that will get you further than if you leave the snail behinid.  As the snail, I better be so hungry to be as fast as you that I will push myself to become better and better.

You could always leave the snail and run a team marathon with other vipers, but there will always be one who is slower and one who is faster.  As the snail, I can run with other snails and figure out what strengths you have going for you that the vipers don’t, like the turtle and hare story.  How did I end up writing about vipers and turtles? I could have used
pigeons and alligators, or tarsiers and opaki, even weeds and fruit. Well, maybe not.  

In the end, the gap is there for a reason.  It is our personal responsibility to help close it if we want to finish further in the race.  The knowledge you have can do well for others who also want to better themselves.  You may be the viper in certain situations and the snail in others.  We all have different strengths and weaknesses.  What are you going to do?  Will you leave the snail behind or will you try to catch up to the viper?  If you understand, it is up to you.  : )

BTW, I looked for more information on this to share with everyone, however, I did not find anything specific.  Through my interest and research I have come to understand that TED shares insight and information that can benefit us all.  So, if you decide to look through what they share and come across something that may relate, please share with me! 

So, getting away from online advertisements, what is trending?

Of course, through social media sites it is about engagement. However, there is more to it than just sending out a simple tweet or post that says, “Hi, I’m awesome and a rockstar!”

On Twitter, hashtags ###### (cowbells) and @@@@ all who you follow and are following you is great to connect and continue conversations.

Example:  @thisperson @thatperson @thatcompany You guys are #awesome #rockstars #awesomeness! Because (link goes here)

Now, some might say, stay away from doing things like that, but what is the point of Twitter if not to connect with others?

On Facebook, putting out content like short videos, pictures, with minimal text is what people are taking time to look at. See the response this post had.

Also, likes, tagging, commenting on others content, and starting personal conversations through messaging is what is also going to make others want to engage back.

Google+ has hangouts! Yes, this is the chance to be face to face with others who really want to engage in real time.  What is more effective than being able to be personal on this level with not only one, but multiple people at one time.  Like minded people can and will join and you can ge the word out more about what it is that you want to accomplish.  Mike Delgado from Social Media Examiner explains how this is done in his artice Google+ Hangouts On Air: What Marketers Need to Know.

It is about the personal interaction that you have and build with individuals that will get more attention in the long run because unless it is personal, people don’t pay as much attention to you!

Lastly, I do have to point out that now that everything is being optimized for mobile, people are no longer taking time to sit down and read something. They are more likely to scan through something quickly, if it catches their eye and interest, that is when they will pay attention, but only for a little longer before they get a text message or email notification.  Content needs to be brief and to the point so pictures, quotes, and short videos work best.
Which means that if you got this far in reading this post, then congrats! You care. Lol.