In the latter part of 2009, an article in the popular “Entrepreneur Magazine” also alluded to the future growth of Social Media Specialists. Here is an excerpt from the article:

“Between blogging, tweeting, Facebooking and updating a LinkedIn profile, it’s a wonder how a business owner has any time to answer e-mails and phone calls, much less run a company. But the time invested in social networking is well spent in this age where maintaining a social media presence can be a necessary piece of a successful marketing strategy.

“Trouble is, as the number of platforms grows, so does the time it takes to feed and groom each account. Not to mention the front-end investment of setting everything up.

“For those caught up in a social media blitz–and those contemplating taking the plunge–why not consider outsourcing? A virtual professional can tackle those time-consuming tasks.”

It seems like the writing is officially on the wall: Up-to-Date Social Media Skills will continue to be in serious demand in 2010! However, like any skill, it is important that it is developed and updated on a consistent basis in order to effectively service your clients’ evolving needs.

This is why VAClassroom has launched a brand new 2010 edition of our Social Marketing Specialist Training Program. This program will equip you to deliver the cutting-edge, in-demand services your clients are desperately seeking in 2010.

VAClassroom has just released a special $50 discount on this program for the month of April, so here is the link for more details on the program as well as a $50 Discount Code:

Click here to enroll today: http://www.vaclassroom.com/socialmarketing2010

$50 Discount Code: SMAPRIL2010

This is a huge misconception! Assuming that your target audience is not out there in the Twitterverse tweeting, or Facebooking, becoming Fan’s of your competitor’s Fan Pages,  checking in on Foursquare leaving to do’s or tips, or leaving reviews on Yelp.

As a teenager everytime I told my Dad “I ASSumed” he would respond with “When you  assume, you make an ass out of yourself”  Yes this is a bit on the dramatic side even for me, just had to make sure you got my point.

This assumption that your clients are not participating in the social media channels  is a costly assumption.  Do you want to pay the cost?

Go to Twellow, Wefollow, Nearby Tweets, and Local Tweeps, then put in your location and see if your geographical location has an audience on twitter.   So where they there?

I don’t have time to Tweet, blog or Facebook – I am running a business!

Have you heard of  “Outsourcing”?  This is where a social media marketing specialist can be of value to you.   A social media marketing specialist can get your profiles in place, and customize them for you.  Set up a management system for you.  Coach and train you how to use this system.  But above all the most important thing a social media marketing specialist can do for you is help you “Define Your Social Media Marketing Strategy!”

I’ve tried it for a couple months and it doesn’t work – we haven’t seen an increase in customers through our doors since we started tweeting.

My dad also tried to teach me that “Patience is a Virtue”  I still have issues with this lesson, I’m all about instant gratification.  However, I had to get over my instant gratification when it came to participating in social media marketing and you will have to get over yours to.

You will need a long term brand engagement plan so you can connect with your community, share specials, and build your business over the long term.  After, all I am sure it’s not your plan to just try a month or two to  run a successful business.

“Patience is the secret sauce.” – Gary Vaynerchuck

I already advertise in the local paper and radio and that seems to be doing just fine for us.

How much are you spending on advertising in the local paper, purchasing radio ads, or ads in the local Yellow Pages?

Ok, let’s be honest here, do you use your phone book or call 411?  Yeah, I have this friend let me introduce you to him, his name is Google. I go to my friend Google and let my fingers do the walking….

Participating in social media marketing is “Cost Effective” the only expense you’ll incur is choosing to have a social media marketing specialist set your profiles up, train you to use the sites, set up a management system, and coach you by developing a strategic plan of action.

Any more objections?

online marketing strategy today?

COLLECTING EMAILS!!!!!

*Everyone* should be creating and building targeted email lists.

It is something that is overlooked by 99% of new marketers online
and even many larger companies, as well.

What are some reasons for creating email lists, beside the fact
that targeted email promotions CONVERT AS WELL OR BETTER THAN ALL
OTHER PROMOTING EFFORTS?

Hmm, collecting emails…

- Builds a Marketing Base of TARGETED LEADS
- Allows You To Be Intimate With Your Customers and Leads
- Allows You To Easily Share Valuable Information
- Gives You A Platform To Promote Your Products
- Gives You A Platform To Promote OTHER PEOPLE’S Products

Last, but not least…

- Generates Revenue and Profits for YEARS TO COME

It rarely gets any better than that in the internet business world.

So, how do you begin collecting valuable emails? One way is by building sales pages.

How do you build sales pages? By using UBD’s new “Sales Page Theme” The Sales Page Creation Tool For WordPress!

You just plug it into WordPress.

Sales Page Theme is the easiest way to create sales pages using WordPress!

WordPress is not only powerful, it’s easy to use.  AND Google loves it.  And now WordPress is the Ultimate Weapon for making money by converting visitors when used with Sales Page Theme! Just point-and-click and create SEO-optimized Sales Pages that look great for collecting emails for your email lists. Sales Page Theme automatically sets up WordPress to be optimized for the search engines.

Sales Page Theme also comes with an incredible Resource Center, including a step-by-step video tutorial guide, and a support forum.

UBD is offering a sale discount of 10% off their new product Sales Page Theme.  This is an exclusive offer that ends on 2/23/10.

Use this discount code: 7FE683C8B5

You can literally set up new sales pages in less than 10 minutes with the custom widgets feature. It’s by far the coolest interface they’ve been able to take advantage of!