I know, I am using Spring as an excuse to write to you about all the things you should be doing online. Some of you may be saying, “Oh, gosh, I haven’t even finished getting online right, how can I spring clean it already?!”

Well, this is the perfect opportunity for you, then! Here are some EASY and SIMPLE steps anyone can take to boost their appearance on the web. And trust me, people DO look.

1. Evaluate.

Do you remember all of the places you are listed online? Heck, I don’t! When social media just came out, people signed up for everything. But obviously, we only use just a few online tools like Facebook and Twitter.

So first, start writing down all of the places that you KNOW you are listed in. Then, start searching for those you forgot. Look in your email box for welcome messages from accounts you may have opened. Do a search in Google for your own name, your “handle” (or whatever you may have used to identify yourself) and of course, your business name.

Look for a Google listing, yellowpages and other online phone books. Make sure you write down your website, blog and any other mini-website you may have had at one point, including Yahoo, Godaddy, or (God forbid) Microsoft.

Once you have a complete list:

2. Decide what you want to keep, and throw away what you don’t.

Since our bodies themselves cannot live online, the only thing people are going to know about us in the world wide web is what they see online. So, we want to try and do a good job at representing!

There are some things you may want to throw out… like an old Godaddy website that you don’t use anymore. Please, please throw it out.

But there are other things you may want to hang onto, even if you don’t actively use it. For example, I signed up for a Foursquare account some months ago, but since then decided it was too dangerous to use. So, I have this old Foursquare account hanging out there in cyberspace that I don’t ever use. So what should I do? I am going to hang on to it… I will explain what to do with it in Step 3.

So how do you decide what to keep and what to get rid of?

Use these simple rules. If ALL of them apply, keep the account:

• The account helps you get found on Google
• The account is up to date OR can be updated
• If you don’t plan to be active on the account, it will sustain itself
• It does not conflict with your current brand
• It makes you look good

How do you shut your accounts down? Well, that is the tricky part. A lot of services make it kind of difficult to shut down. Myspace, for example, used to be almost nearly impossible. In fact, for my Spring cleaning I have promised myself that I will find a way to take my old, decrepit, almost non-existent 10 year old Myspace account down.

Once you have a complete list of all the accounts you are keeping:

3. Write a standard bio for you and your company.

Gather the basic information about yourself. You want your accounts to be consistent and correctly branded across the board. What will you need for your standard bio?

• A professional picture (maybe a few versions and one with your family)
• A thumbnail version of your picture (very small copy for microblogging, etc)
• Your bio (who are you, what do you do, why do you do it)
• Your “tagline” (a sentence about what makes you … you)
• A couple of favorite quotes

Once you have all of this information compiled you can go to step 4:

Step 4: Update all of your accounts

Using the information you gathered, you can mix and match it to all of your accounts online. Easy, consistent, clean.

Consider yourself Spring Cleaned! Now… there is just one more thing you need to do:

Step 5: Keep track of all of your accounts.

Write them down with their user names and passwords, and the email address that is assigned to them. Trust me, this will save you a ton of headache in the future.

Check out these other articles on Spring Cleaning:

How to Clean Up Your Facebook >

Twitter Spring Clean Up >

An 8-Step Plan for Social Media Spring Cleaning >

Need to implement social media strategies into your business! Small group coaching is for you!

Read more here >

Or Signup:

In response to “Re: Stop Adding Me to Your Email List”

Justin Owen is director of The Good & The Brave, a digital consultancy company in Bath that creates online solutions to engage, win and retain customers.

“I think that the whole ‘permission email’ area is pretty grey and if it’s not policed properly by us, the implementers / guardians of online marketing, then the whole industry could end up with some serious problems.

“We were recently approached by an award winning PR/Marketing agency to do some email marketing work. Their client had a database of 20K+ contacts but they couldn’t tell us exactly how they’d acquired their details. Some had used their services (and in their admission, often over 2 years ago), some had left business cards at exhibitions / with members of their staff and some had been purchased. We said that LEGALLY they could send to these people, but ETHICALLY we couldn’t / wouldn’t send out to these contacts, as they had not specifically asked to receive email communication from them. We stressed to the agency that:

A) The response rates would undoubtedly be low
B) Unsubscribe rates high
C) Reports of the email as spam – possibly high
D) Damage to the brand likely to occur
E) A majority of email marketing platforms wouldn’t let them send out due to the integrity of the list

The result: The MD stamped her feet (no seriously!) and said that she just wanted the campaigns to be sent to these people. We declined the business and went on our way. They haven’t called back, but that’s the price we were willing to pay.

This isn’t the first time this has happened and it won’t be the last I’m sure. In the past, I’ve had a client blacklisted by Spamhaus because they were perceived to be spamming by repeatedly sending to contacts that weren’t opening their emails (av. 15% response from 15K database). In the end, so many people reported them for spamming that Spamhaus ordered all our servers be shut down. Our advice had been to properly manage and reduce their list to only openers and permission subscribers to increase response rates and effectiveness – they ignored us but continued to ask us for ways of increasing the open rates. They were so afraid of losing numbers off their database rather than increasing conversions from the people that actually wanted their information. In the end, it bit them on the ass if you’ll excuse my language.

Anyway, I reckon that sums up a fair few of the reasons why I would never ever recommend that people just add people to their newsletters without them asking specifically first.”

Thank you Justin for your honesty and integrity!

We had a huge discussion at Friday 2.0 this morning (a social media networking group) about Chris Brogan’s recent article “Stop Adding Me to Your Email Newsletter.”

In sum, Chris defines SPAM not just as “email that illegally comes from people you have never met or done business with before” but also “people you know who add your name to their email list without permission.”

OK, point taken. It can be annoying to get unsolicited emails – even from people you know – trying to sell you their product.

But are there situations when it is OK to send people unsolicited emails?

After discussing Chris’ post, reading some of the comments, and sharing our own stories, this is the conclusion we came to:

• Trust and Relationships are what matter. Period. So whatever decision you make should be based on this.
• There are many different types of businesses, targets, geographies and goals. So there may be some cases or businesses when it is perfectly legitimate to add people to your email mailing list. I live in a small city, for example, and everyone pretty much knows everyone… so in this case it might be OK to add people to your newsletter list.
• Getting email newsletters or email marketing is no different than getting a piece of junk in the mail… sometimes you read it, sometimes you don’t. Either way, you have the opportunity to throw it out.
• The kind of people who don’t want your information might be the kind of people you don’t need to know, anyway!
• If you aren’t sure, it doesn’t hurt to just ASK PERMISSION! Most email programs allow you to “double” opt in people, meaning that once someone subscribes, they have to confirm their subscription. SO, if you subscribe someone from a business card they gave you, they will have the opportunity to confirm their subscription.

Some other tips we came up with:

1. Make it easy to unsubscribe
2. Put a disclaimer on the top
3. Put the words “save money by_______” to catch someone’s attention

Thoughts?

I am not being sarcastic when I say that the first step in getting social on the web… is getting on the web. Before you can create engagement and interaction you have to create a virtual presence for yourself. Claim your virtual real estate!

Keep in mind that having internet real estate doesn’t necessarily mean you live there! In other words, just because you are listed on Blip.fm… doesn’t mean that you know what it really is, or even use it. The more places you are listed – the easier it will be for people to find you (even if you are kind of faking it .

So where should you and/or your business be listed?

1. The most popular social networking sites

✓ Facebook
✓ Twitter
✓ LinkedIn

2. Online Phone Books: 76% of people say they don’t use print phone books anymore. But what about the internet? The more places you are listed, the easier it will be for people to find you through Google or other search engines.

✓ Google Business
✓ YellowPages.com
✓ Switchboard.com
✓ Yelp.com
✓ Twellow
✓ eComplements.com

3. A website and/or blog: Websites are more effective if they are more than online business cards. What do I mean? Websites should be living things – able to interact with visitors, draw visitors back and offer them value. And of course they need to offer easy to find contact and service information. And, FYI, free services are less likely to be found in search engines.

✓ Interactive
✓ Informative
✓ Valuable
✓ Marketable
✓ Search Engine Optimized

4. Up and Coming Social Media Tools: Foresquare.com, for example, is all the buzz. If you know anything about social media, you should be on Foresquare… right? MYTH. Using any and all social media tools can dilute your efforts! As a general rule, LIST yourself on all social media tools, even the small ones, but don’t waste your time trying to make rain out of an empty cup.

Here are some sites that have either been around a while, or are new, that you should be listed on and keep your ears open for:

✓ Foresquare.com
✓ FriendFeed
✓ Bolt.com
✓ Friendster
✓ hi5
✓ Google Buzz

5. Media-Specific Social Sharing Sites: Depending on your industry and your target market, there are some other sites that may be useful to you. You can share video, photos and music! Keep in mind that you can list yourself in these places without being active, which is better than nothing.

✓ YouTube
✓ Blip.fm
✓ Flickr
✓ Myspace

6. Other Social News or Bookmarking Sites: People share more than media files… they also like to share information. The following sites are places where people share links to websites, news and their blogs:

✓ Technorati
✓ StumbleUpon
✓ Delicious

7. Niche-Specific Social Networks: Ning.com for example allows people to create their own social networking sites (like mini Facebooks) for niche-specific topics. So presidential historian Doug Wead has a Ning network for students of history, and there are networks for Women Who Love Cigars, and Working Moms… you get the point!

✓ Ning.com

Here is why it should be:

“We opened a Facebook Account about two weeks ago and have over 130 friends. We share educational events, post pictures of community events, and we post things about out service. It has been great to see all the positive comments about the services we provide at BMH from the people who have befriend us on Facebook. We feel this is a great way to put a personal face or image of the hospital.” – Anita Lowe, BSW, BS, Community Health Service Advisor, Bedford Memorial Hospital

“I joined fb with the thought that I wanted to develop relationships with clients and customers. Within a short period of time, I found that many old friends and acquaintances were registered and it became fun to socialize by adding them as friends. I added a few fellow Realtor friends, again, just to socialize, but after months of growing my client base, re-connecting with old friends, keeping up with fellow agents, I found that by adding MORE Realtors, I could communicate easily through email, chat and receiving text FB messages which allows me to communicate quickly for appointments, respond to urgent situations needing my attention, and allows my secretary to keep up with me throughout my day. In addition, by creating groups and/or adding events, I am able to invite my “friends” to be part of whatever I am doing. In essence, the more “friends” I have on fb, the more exposure I have and the more relationships I am able to build, maintain, and solidify.” – Karen W. Hall, Realtor, John Stewart Walker

After teaching a social media crash course workshop yesterday with the Bedford Chamber of Commerce, I realized how confusing Facebook really is for business owners who just want to open an account for their company! (Or nonprofit)

An educational nonprofit “Safe Surfing” – a safe internet education program was there learning how to create a business page for the cause. But when they went to Facebook.com and clicked on “Create a Page for a Celebrity, Band, or Business” it wouldn’t allow them to create just a business page.

“You must have a personal profile before creating a business page,” it said. After adding your business name, it asks you if you already have a Facebook account or would like to open a new one.

Another participant had a business profile that was created like a person. He used the first part of the business name as his “first name” and the last part as the “last name.” It let him created it and everything was fine. You could become a “friend” of the business.

But when his business name changed, he went to change it on Facebook and it told him he could not create a profile for his business, that he would have to create a personal profile and create a page for the business.

Page… profile… friends… followers… UGH!

Now he has to shut down that account and open a new account under his personal profile, just to change his business name. He will have to regain “friends” … or this time “followers.” and repost all of his information.

What a mess.

So, what’s the purpose of having a Facebook Business page, anyway?

Facebook Business pages are not to “sell” your product. In fact, if you do, Facebook will shut down your page. Not only does this keep social media a “social” tool but it also takes the pressure off of businesses to try and sell their products.

Facebook Business pages are setup by category, so they act more like online directories or phone books than anything else. Of course, the owner of the page can send its fan’s updates which – if done right – can lead to product sales. Business pages are important for business owners to make themselves available through. Do a search for “restaurant” in your Facebook search bar, then click on “Pages” on the left hand side, and all pages related to food will come up in your area!

When you do update your business page, it will come up in your fan’s network updates on their home pages.

Well, here are the rules and some tips on opening a business page on Facebook, to help you avoid a mess in the future:

• You cannot create a profile for a business, you can only create PAGES for businesses
• A business page must be attached to a personal profile
• Nobody will know – except for you – who’s personal profile is associated with who’s business page.
• If you need to associate your business page with a business email address which is separate from your personal account and email address, then you can create a secondary personal account if it is static and blank. Just know that when people search for you, they may find your secondary static account and wonder if it is you.
• A business page has less functionality than a profile
• People can only become “fans” of your business
• You should offer people something of value on your business page
• The purpose of a business page is NOT to “sell” people on it
• People can “review” your business using business pages
• Start some “discussions” on your business page that make you a credible expert

Tips to Help You Market Your Business Using Facebook Business Pages:

• Use it as your online portfolio, posting pictures or descriptions of your most recent work
• Offer coupons or discounts
• Give people a trial service through your Facebook page
• Write articles so people know you are a credible expert
• Give away tips
• Have video demos
• Link to your website where you CAN sell your product!

Questions?

A hands-on training on the use of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube

Social media isn’t new, it’s just an acceleration of what we already know how to do: build relationships!

I will take participants step-by-step through creating accounts for, and using, the four most popular social media tools. Join other business owners in the computer lab at CVCC-Bedford Campus and leave confident that you can build new
business relationships using the internet.

· What is social media?
· Creating a Facebook account
· Facebook wall, news feed, lists, events, groups, pages and more!
· Creating a Twitter account
· Twitter posts, following, gaining followers, re-tweeting and more!
· Creating a LinkedIn account
· LinkedIn status updates, groups, connections, recommendations and more!
· Creating a YouTube account, creating videos, posting videos and more!
· Connecting all of your social media platforms together

Requirements for participation:
· Participants must have some experience using web browsers
· Participants must have an email account (i.e. AOL, Yahoo, Gmail, etc.)

DATE: Thursday, February 18, 2010
TIME: Two sessions available! Class size limited to 23 participants each session!
(1) 9:00 – 11:00 AM
(2) Noon – 2:00 PM
COST: $25 Chamber Members
$35 Non Chamber Members

ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED!
Contact the Bedford Chamber office at 540-586-9401 to register! Deadline Tuesday, February 16.

A new infographic by Focus shows us exactly who is using the internet and how often, as well as who is blogging and why.

What sticks out to me:

• Men and women are using the internet equally.
• 38% of 65+ uses the internet
• 59% of internet users use it two or more times a day
• 28% of bloggers are 35-44 years old.
• 35% of bloggers are 45-64
• 25% of bloggers are 25-34.
• 41% of bloggers say they are “journalistic.”
• 54% of bloggers say they are “Expert.”

On February 5th Goddesses from all over Lynchburg will be joining me on a trip to Scoopville. Wait… goddesses? Scoopville? That’s right. Amazement Square’s annual women’s fundraiser, the ‘Gathering of Goddesses‘ has graciously invited me to teach the women all about social media.

But I am not just going to teach the ladies about social media. I am going to take them on a trip to Scoopville – where, (according to Lee Lefever from the Commoncraft Show), everyone makes ice cream:

The truth is that no one goddess makes ice cream the same way. Some make it creamy and soft, and others pack it full of swirls and candy drops. Some can make the best, to-die-for chocolate ice cream around, while others might try something more adventurous like pickle ice cream.

But no matter what ice cream each of the goddesses are going to make… I know it is going to be special and unique.

Well, as it turns out, making ice cream is just like social media. We each have a chance to share something unique about ourselves or the things we love. But… how are we going to stand out among all the other goddesses?

Join me at The Gathering of Goddesses on February 5th at 8:30 p.m.  for ‘The Social Media Secret’ … how to release your inner Goddess through social media.

Get info from Facebook about the Gathering of Goddesses >