In the digital world, you’re putting “content” out for all the World to see, literally. Not only can they see it when you post it, but even when you change your webpages or social media work, trust me, there are places that the dedicated can find the “old” versions, be it for good or bad purposes, or worse yet, bad legal purposes.

Via link chasing, I came across this this article “Social Media Marketing: Why You’re Better Off to DIY”, which says what I have mentioned in several meetings or talks.

My view has always been to help you understand why it’s so important that you are the one to be your voice. I can, as many others who work in this field, show you where to put the material you generate, but we don’t know your business like you do.

If you need coaching, I specialize in actually teaching people how to become proficient in managing their own content, to include how to save time while doing it. Get a hold of me if you need some direct, focused, customized help in this area!

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Social media is here for a while.  Just as email is now considered for most, don’t be alarmed by doomsayers who bemoan the “graying” of Facebook.  Of all the email transmitted, about 97% is SPAM, but…we’re still using it to communicate.

Below are some questions that may help gauge your current use of social media, and tune up your attention to this form of marketing for your business:

• What’s the plan for your social media presence?
• Is your plan integrated into your marketing plan?
• What social media are you presently on?
• Which ones get you contact with others, who may be viable, qualified prospects?
• Which ones are you spending your social media input time on (and for how long)?
• How many entries involve your business/product/services?
• How many entries discuss your experience as a professional?
• How many entries involves non-business related (humor, local events, charity support)?
• How often are you posting?
• Are your social media sites/names visible on your business materials (business cards, brochures, website)?

Take a few minutes and answer these questions to help see if you’re effectively using social media to your benefit.

Feel free to contact me to help tune things up if you find you’re not doing as well as you should be.

Now, you can stop that world and get off, unlike the real one.

Over at TechCruch:  Wipe The Slate Clean For 2010, Commit Web 2.0 Suicide:

Web 2.0 Suicide Machine.

Consider it your own digital version of Dr. Kevorkian.  Oh, and it will let you leave your last words, too.

Yes, pretty extreme, but it’s now a way off the social media merry-go-round. Oh, and once you start the process, it’s a done deal.

Caveat:  It only handles this for Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

So, if you’re in the mood to “opt out” of what you got into, go and take yourself out of the game.

Sound extreme?  For some, it’s not.  This article discusses how major sites, get you in, then your data becomes theirs.

Now the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is looking into regulating things such as product endorsements found online…anywhere.

Certainly, as consumers, who now have a worldwide reach via comments on Facebook, Twitter, blogs and a variety of other platforms, we would want to know that a personal endorsement of a product of service is either unbiased, or a benefactor of the item of recommendation. Look in the mirror: Will you be upfront in your comments online?

Consider your recommendations carefully. If you’re getting a piece of the action, or residuals, or product for use to generate the endorsement, it’s reasonable and fair (not to mention an FTC requirement) to let readers know your interest. After all, you’d want to know, wouldn’t you?

And, if it’s your own product or service, ask your recommenders to be upfront to keep everyone knowing the real score.

Some people are putting their heads together trying to figure it out using WordPress.

Hmmm…there’s the mention of that free blogging software with a very large user base, and a very active user forum, and a very active group of theme and plugin in developers….and iPhones…they’re all around. How many of your clients/potential clients are going to be using them?

Walt Morey of Core Business Solutions will be presenting his seminar on the reasons you should get yourself into the digital world using social media tools (Twitter, Facebook, Plaxo, LinkedIn, blogs, etc) to market your business.

I attended his last presentation and it was an excellent discussion of why you need to become involved this way, or you’re market will leave you behind.

Details:

What kinds of Marketing methods are you currently using?
Are they effective?
Are you reaching your desired customers?

The Baby Boomer Generation is now retiring. This means fewer customers for your business unless you are trying to reach those who were born in 1964 or later (Generation X, Generation Y, the Nexters, or the Millennials.)

These younger consumers get their information about products and services from Blackberries, the Internet and TV rather than magazines, newspapers, direct mail, etc. If you want to reach them, you must learn how to use Social Media: Facebook, LinkedIn, Plaxo, and Twitter, and others.

The Pinellas Park/Gateway Chamber of Commerce is pleased to invite you to attend an introductory workshop on “The Use of Social Media in Marketing” on August 27th.
This workshop will be conducted by Walt Morey, Business Advisor and Owner of Core Business Solutions.

In this introductory workshop, you will learn what each of these types of Social Media is and how they are used. A small fee of $20.00 per participant covers the cost of training materials and a light lunch snack.

Please Note: Demand for this information is high and seating is limited to the first 20 individuals for this workshop so those interested need to call Donna at 727-544-4777 to register and reserve their seat.

You must be registered to attend.

Call Now To Avoid Disappointment

20 seats are avaialble! I know at least 4 and a possible 5th are filled already. Make the call.

Go and check this out:  eCompliments.  How about that?  A place to go and say nice things about people and businesses and institutions you interact with!  The best part?  Instead of pointing your prospective clients at your own set of posted testimonials, you could send them here, where a question of “is this biased in your favor?” goes away.  for that reason, this site is certainly one you should consider for integrating with your social media exposure plan, but….more importantly, use it to let others know the good experiences you had, and with who or where that occurred.

I was introduced to this site by Joy Fitzpatrick through the Free Networking International (FNI) meeting I attend weekly, during our “1 on 1″ time.  She certainly is enthusiastic about bring this new concept to the West Coast area of Florida.

The site is free for basic use to take the time to compliment someone or something.  More information about the site is available at the blog, too.

I spent a little over 1 and a half hours at the Pinellas Park, FL Chamber of Commerce Office last Thursday morning.  I have been blogging for years, and have used many blog tools, but thought I’d go and hear the Socail Media presentation by Walt Morey of Core Business Solutions.

It was some of the best spent time for me in the last 8 months.

My review:  Walt Morey, who I’ve met through the Free Networking International meetings locally is a business consultant with significant experience i helping small and medium companies and business individuals take their business up a notch.  He has researched the why you need to get into the social media (SM) world and why you need to do it now, or, better yet, yesterday.  He definitively explains that’s how it is working ow, and will become more of the way business is being done, like it or not.  Top it off with is clear analysis of where the money is (and isn’t).

He’s not scheduled the next time he will do this presentation, but I recommend you contact Walt and let him know you’d like him to get it on the schedule at somewhere soon near you.  Even if you already have a blog and FaceBook and Twitter, you need to see what eles you need to know to put those to work effectively for you and your business.

Get some good advice for free from Walt at his blog, too!