This was the subject line of the email: “Can’t be first to reply? Then be the first to reply to the first reply.. if you know what I mean.. ”

..First!
A tip for getting your comments noticed

You’ve all seen those YouTube comments and popular posts comments where someone screams, “first!” right?.

As lame as they are, there’s no denying the power of a first position in a list of comments. Your comment (and link if the blog uses CommentLuv) has a much higher chance of being read and clicked if it’s the first comment people see.

But what if the first position is taken?

Easy! Just reply to the first comment.. this has 3 important benefits:

It appears higher up so people notice it. The blogger feels nice because their
post is generating a conversation.

The original comment author feels special because their comment got noticed.
Just remember to be relevant. The same rule applies with comment replies as with the original comments themselves, if it’s lame, it’s gone!

This is just one tip on how to get noticed on the internet, there is a free video course coming soon where you’ll get an entire strategy on how to get traffic by getting noticed.
(In order to get the free video course he is referring to I suggest you visit CommentLuv and opt in, grab the Free report he has and begin enjoying his tips as much as I am!)

It’s coming soon (meaning the launch of CommentLuv Premium), stay tuned for more comment tips and news of when it’s ready. – Andy Bailey – The geek behind the CommentLuv plugin (Love his tagline on Google Plus)

Watch the video below to see some of the benefits I am enjoying! I am not the only one enjoying these benefits, all of my WordPress clients are also enjoying using CommentLuv Premium since I have the developers license….hint hint

After you watch the video leave a comment and get a Little Link Love…

Click here to view the embedded video.

Are you like most people and wish you had an SEO Master holding your hand through the whole set up process? Well Kim Doyal met Lou Anne Mckeefery at the recent WordCamp in Northern California. and they have teamed up to bring this much needed training to everyone.

What I am most excited about this course is that we will be doing the work live during the class!

Kim can kill me later but  for those of you who missed the webinars and need a bit of a visual nudge I made a video ……  Don’t forget to register for WP SEO Mastery we can be classmates and Master the SEO of our sites!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Rachel Rofe and Wilson Mattos

I received an email from Jason Fladlien and Wilson Mattos about attending the 6in6coaching.com Live Event in Las Vegas.  Since, I Rapdily Crush on both of them (Ok me goofing off because their company name is “Rapid Crush”) but I have affectionately dubbed them “The Wonder Boys”  there is no other way I can think to describe my online heros.  I could not resist the chance to hang out with them for two whole days so they had me hook line and sinker.

Wilson Mattos and Dan Hollings

Thursday morning started out with speed networking after meeting the other attendees @WilsonMattos  started the session talking about the different types of partnerships that could be created and spoke about the benefits he and Jason Fladlien enjoy since they created their partnership / company Rapid Crush.

Some of the key points are:

1.  Jason and Wilson work independently, yet cohesively toward their common goals
2. The right partnership = GOLD
3. Your core skills must be complimentary

You must agree on the fundamental’s for example Jason and Wilson’s “They want 2 grow a successful sustainable and socially conscious company that will make a positive difference in peoples lives.  They want a business they can be proud of” meaning you must have similar work ethics.

Wilson Mattos and Connie Ragen Green

These two dynamos agree on the plan, do what it takes to achieve the goals and they never miss a deadline.  Partners must understand and value each other skills, they understand that each of their skills is an important part of the whole for their success neither part is more important.

Wilson also spoke about the importance of having an affiliate program.  Focusing on your affiliate program means planning ahead and empowering and giving value to your affiliates.  Integrating an affiliate program into your products will maximize exposure.

Me and Holly Kolman

Jason didn’t make it and we missed him, me especially I just love his laugh.   But @RachelRofe came in his place and discussed the benefits of outsourcing and how she goes about finding quality people in the US  to outsource to.  When she places ads looking for people she uses the words “Purple Cow” in the instructions to weed out potential prospects.  Simply put the words “Purple Cow” are part of the application instructions.

That was Thursday in a nutshell, Friday was a Treat! @Dhollings Dan Hollings talked about one of my Luvs @Twitter!

Wilson told us we where in for a treat even if we where seasoned Twitter users and he was right!  Let’s just say I took 13 pages of notes.  Don’t get to excited I am not going to transcribe my notes, lol I know that was rude of me but..

Definition of Internet Marketing and Social Media Marketing:

1.  A process of discovering an existing conversation already underway in the mind of your target prospect and entering that conversation with a strategy that builds a bond sufficient enough to move them into and through your sales funnel.

2. Finding them and then flipping them into the funnel and turning them into your happy customers into viral evangelists through social media reviews.  Flipping the funnel means they become your sales personnel.

Couple of fun things Dan said about Twitter:

Twitter is the paperclip of the internet

Twitter is the waiting line not the cash register

Make sure to choose the questions you want to answer carefully. When picking a question make sure that you truly know the answers to, like you know the back of your own hand. If you’re not sure about something skip it  and move on to a different question, don’t take the chance of not posting a  correct  answer.

Let your fingers do the typing on Google and research your answers to ensure accuracy if you’re not 100% sure about something. It’s okay not to know something but it’s not really okay to post incorrect information.

To make sure you can check your grammar and spelling use open office or word to type out your response.  When answering questions on LinkedIn.com  don’t view it as posting in forums and discussion boards because it is a professional network.  LinkedIn commands a higher standard than what is expected  many other places online. Using good grammar, correct spelling, and answering as truthfully and as factually as possible, you will find success participating in LinkedIn.com’s Answer section.

Try to spend about 15 minutes per day answering questions on LinkedIn.com.  In addition, you can use the system to ask questions that are designed to get participation from group members. You can use questions as a way to help you know what to blog about, write about, and even help you create new information products for your online business. The best products are the ones that your clients and potential clients wanted you to create.

Automate some of the process on LinkedIn.com by putting a LinkedIn widget or button on your website or blog. Connect your LinkedIn.com account with Twitter and share your blogs by including a feed on you home page on LinkedIn.com.  A really helpful way to do this if you have multiple blogs is to create one more website that simply feeds all your blogs into one page, then put that feed into your LinkedIn.com profile.

A quick easy way to do this and I only know how to do this via WordPress I created a new installation of WordPress in a folder. I named it http://yourvirtualgirlfriday.com/blog and then I posted for help in the StudioPress Themes for WordPress forum and @Nick_theGeek suggested I use this Plugin http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/feedwordpress/. Now when you go to my LinkedIn profile and look at my WordPress Application it has all my latest posts from all three of my websites and it clicks straight through to that respective site.

Don’t forget to grab my free ebook Demystifying the LinkedIn Files.  Also, I’m an open networker and my profile states this, I’d love to accept your connection!

In order for you to use LinkedIn successfully your profile will need to be completed all the way, if it isn’t no one will really know what you can offer them. They won’t be able to access the value of connecting with you. Your profile on LinkedIn.com has every aspect of your business, your education, current and former employment listed. When you open a LinkedIn.com account, fill out a complete profile. Include your education, your experience, and very importantly, a professional profile picture. I suggest having your resume near by for referring to important dates. Or consult with a social media specialist like myself to walk you through your profile and set up a strategy for LinkedIn. Yes, you will want a strategy and by having one you will be able to measure your return. I can not stress the value of your profile on LinkedIn.

You will need and want to use keyword to describe what you do. By using keywords it will make it easier for others to find you in LinkedIn’s search engine. Being found is the whole point! Include links to your website and examples of your work. Include as much as you reasonably can and most importantly, be yourself. Do not try to be incognito on, if you are and do not have a good picture with a completely filled out profile you will not be taken seriously. Would you hand out a blank business card? Think about it, who do you want to do business with? Someone who hides who they are, or someone who is open about who they are? Who are you going to trust?

My suggestion is that you sit down and select 5 people you are willing to write a recommendation for before you ask for them in return. People are very likely to reciprocate with a recommendation for you. Having recommendations will help your complete your profile and make you more interesting to people who are searching profiles for possible business partners. Side note, when you give recommendations and they are accepted they show up on your recommendation’s profile with a link back to you the one who gave the recommendation.

Adding connections to people on LinkedIn is very important. The more impressive your connections the more impressive your profile will be to potential clients or JV partners. As an online business owner LinkedIn.com is one of the most useful of all the “social media” marketing channels that you can use because it is so professional in nature. You will be taken seriously if you make LinkedIn.com the hub of your social media marketing.

I told you I would share my success stories as of late I have two. The first one is a new client I landed through posting, messaging, basically being active in LinkedIn. He was in the process of interviewing other social media specialists in our area and because I was consistently in his face on LinkedIn, not physically of course but on the screen, this prompted him to reach out and set up a meeting.

My second success was responding to an 8 day old post in a LinkedIn group that was looking for a “Social Media Diva” I landed a speaking gig! I’m the only girl, check out my speaker bio. So not just having a profile that is 100% complete but by actively participating in LinkedIn you will find success.

By the way I’m an open networker on LinkedIn, visit my profile and let’s connect:

http://LinkedIn.com./in/yourvirtualgirlfriday

I have been to a few Internet Marketing Live Seminars and there is always a “Pitch Fest” just enough information to make you feel like you just had to buy what was being sold, and that it will be the golden ticket to your internet fortune!  Yeah that doesn’t happen at Practical Profits it is totally free of the “Pitch Fest” or I am so cool and so is my product and you want to be just like me so give me your credit card number….blah blah blah

We actually got digital gifts… from some of the speakers, so let’s get to my overview of the event.

First Batter up was Wil Mattos   – The Formula for Success @WilsonMattos AKA “One of the Wonder Boys”

He covered:

• The Facts about Internet Marketing
• The “Myths” of Internet Marketing
• Why Most People Fail In Internet Marketing
• Building a Successful Internet Marketing Business
• How to Jump Start Your Success
• Things Successful People Know and Do

- Success Strategies for Creating a Social Media Monitoring System
- Creating and Promoting a Compelling Facebook Contest
- Tips and Tactics for Building an Effective Social Media Measurement System
- Discovering the Fine Art of Setting Rates and Building Packages for Your Services
- Creating an Effective Mobile Marketing Campaign for Local Businesses
- Setting up an Ecommerce Platform with 1ShoppingCart
- Mastering New Tactics for Increasing Your Search Engine Listings
- Maximizing Productivity and Enhancing Communications using Google Tools.

Watch this video for a more in-depth view of what to expect.

Visit VAClassroom to get more information on this years Summer Skills Camp!

Then it came time to plan Foursquare Day Las Vegas with the Foodtrucks, I wanted her there and this would be the first conversation via phone that Marianne and I would have, it lasted about an hour.  It was like we where old friends, not like we where just talking for the first time on the phone.   I began telling her how Madeline my 17 year old could not find a job and the next thing I knew Marianne was hiring her. “Go get her a health card and she can work for me”-Marianne

Marianne had never met me in person, just tweeted with me, had no clue what my daughter looked like or anything.  Now my brat is her brat, they our (not that any of us are Hawaiian) Ohana, The Ohana Created by Social Media.  Marianne and Roxy have Dallice and Makenna my other daughters so spoiled with Shaved Ice.

Photo courtesy of  Ryan Shewchuck

Yeah sure, eventually I would of got around maybe to trying @SnOwONOShaveice, but with out Twitter or other social media outlets the Foodtruck Revolution that is spreading like wildfire would not of peaked my interest.  If Marianne would not of been paying attention to her brand #foodtrucks and joined in on the conversation with myself and Jolene from @Sloppijos my interest would not of turned towards her. Seriously, I live in the desert never been to Hawaiian, had no clue what shaved ice was..

Now time for me to go on my rampage!  Shaved Ice is not  and I repeat NOT a Snow cone, it takes time to shave the ice and Marianne is a perfectionist!  Your shaved ice is made to order and made with Love!  So what I am saying is it is so worth the wait.  If you are into instant gratification then I suggest a snow cone, but if you believe that “Good things come to those who wait” then you will value and appreciate your shaved ice the minute it starts it’s dance on your taste buds.

The best way I can describe it, is sticking your tongue out when it is snowing and catching snowflakes with your tongue. (like I would know what that feels like, living in the desert)

I hope you will share this Ohana’s story and get yourself some #ONOlicious shaved ice!

Almost forgot!  If you are one of those that doubt the “Power of Twitter”, ponder on this story for a while…