If you want to experience the power of social marketing right now – start using tools that filter out online noise to bring you relevant information.

Gist is a free social media and web monitoring tool that accomplishes this task. The Gist technology brings your online contacts from places like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Gmail and Outlook together in one place. The software that powers this fantastic resource scours the Internet to collect the most current Google search results, blog posts and tweets about the people and companies you are connected with online. When using Gist, you can easily track what your contacts are posting on social networks and what is being written about them online at a simple glance.

I enjoy using Gist because it combines information from across social networks and the Internet with my emails, links, attachments and Google calendar to create a streamlined profile of the people and companies in my database. In today’s socially connected world, while I can interact and connect online with friends, fans, followers, clients and prospective contacts from throughout the country and around the world in many different virtual spaces; it was difficult to see information about our company’s online contacts and my personal connections in one place until Gist.

As far as I’m concerned, Gist lives up to its slogan “Know more about who you know” by helping business owners leverage the power of social networks and the Internet through automating the collection and management of web based information. Best of all … it’s free!

Check out Gist at http://www.Gist.com to explore how this tool can help you grow your business.

Until next time … Play to WIN!

TC Coleman

A brand is “a unique promise of value.”   It is the sum total of what is expected when people come across anything that causes them to think of you or your company.  A brand is comprised of images, words and actions. It becomes “magnetic” when the brand connects with the heart and soul of its target market.   This connection results from an individual or corporate executive being crystal clear about (1) value; (2) target market(s); (3) core needs and wants of the target market(s) and (4) exactly how the value identified in point 1 directly impacts those wants and needs.

YOU have a brand, regardless of whether you are intentional about building and shaping it.  Your brand is the result of your personal image (e.g, appearance), corporate image (e.g., logos, brochures, website, images, etc.) and messaging (e.g., written and spoken words).

Listen to this short interview as TC Coleman, Esq., CEO of UpwardAction® shares tips for building a compelling brand that becomes magnetic!

One of the most effective ways to leverage the power of the social media and web technology to grow your business is to build a compelling and magnetic online brand online that shouts, “hire me” to prospective clients. Here are nine ways to get started.

1) Listen. Create a Google Alerts account and Tweet Beep account to monitor (i) your name; (ii) your business name; and (iii) keyword phrases related to your business solutions.

2) Develop a list of 15 keyword phrases that are relevant to your target market. Utilize the free Google keyword research tool and paid sites like Wordtracker to identify often used keyword phrases.

3) Create a profile on LinkedIn. Optimize your LinkedIn profile by including a professional photo, completing your employment history, listing your charitable activities and thoughtfully incorporating keyword phrases into your profile.

4) Establish a Google profile. Optimize your Google profile with keyword rich descriptions of your background, expertise and unique promise of value. To fully leverage the power of your profile, include links to your websites, blogs and social networks. Also, upload photos and videos related to your corporate and personal brand.

5) Create a Twitter account using your name or company name. At the start of every week, write a “Top 5” list of tips to solve a problem faced by your target market. Use Hootsuite (http://hootsuite.com) to automate the delivery of one tip from your “top 5” list each day of the week.

6) Establish a Facebook business page for your company or public personal brand. Share a client success story or an industry success story on your Facebook page each week. Use Hootsuite to schedule the delivery of your weekly success story.

7) Write reviews of your favorite books and products on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. This is an effective way to build relationships with authors while increasing the visibility of your online brand.

Use online press releases to promote events and share your views on current events that impact your industry. A few sites for distributing online press releases include http://i-newswire.com, http://prlog.com and http://briefingwire.com.

9) Establish a Flickr account to share photos. Upload photos that feature your core business offerings, charitable functions and industry events. Optimize your photos by including your name and/or company name in the title field when uploading photos.

Now that you know what to do, it’s time to make your online brand shout “Hire Me”!

Play to Win!

Coach TC

Tasha “TC” Cooper Coleman

Tasha “TC” Cooper Coleman, is an attorney, branding strategist and online marketing coach. She is also the CEO of UpwardAction®, an agency that helps professional service firms and growth stage companies develop compelling online messages and leverage the power of social marketing to generate business. She can be reached at WeCare@UpwardAction.com or 1 (800) 753-6576.

The Fourth of July weekend presents a wonderful opportunity to reflect upon the blessings of independence and freedom that I enjoy as an entrepreneur. I take this time to (i) think about what has bought success thus far and (ii) get clear about the exact actions I need to take for success in the second half of the year.

Here’s what experience has taught me to be true about entrepreneurial success. I hope you’ll find this short list informative and useful as your celebrate whatever independence means to you independence or work to make independence a reality in your life.

1. Faith in God is the foundation upon which all independence and success is built.
2. Mentors will show up in what appears to be just the nick of time.  Take care of them!
3. Know your value. If you do not demand to be fully compensated for your value, you will not be fully compensated for your value.
4. Do not be afraid to lose a prospective client who will not pay for your services, you are only making room for your ideal paying clients.
5. Build in time for pro bono work and gratis client development work.  It’s important to give back to the community and build relationships with prospective clients.  Refuse to do free work beyond your pro bono and gratis client development work time allotments.
6. Time is an entrepreneur’s most valuable asset. Do not waste it on things that do not add value.
7. Beware of “time drains” disguised as “opportunities.”
8. Acknowledge the fear and do it anyway.
9. Mentors and friends who inspire, encourage and share wisdom are to be treasured.
10. Family and friends who provide support and encouragement must be affirmatively thanked and shown appreciation.
11. Learn to live with rejection, so it doesn’t stop you, but work like heck to make accelerated success a reality.
12. It is not really about you; so, don’t take “it” personally. Keep taking UpwardAction®.
13. Every morning is a blessing that presents new opportunities for success. Stay inspired.

The independence of entrepreneurship is a privilege that results from focus, hard work, determination, diligence, passion to the point of obsession, faith and favor.  To endure the test of time, our independence must be treasured, nurtured and defended.  True entrepreneurial independence may require extreme sacrifice and is not for the faint of heart; however, it bring a joy that feeds the heart and fuels the soul.

Thanks to the power of social media and online marketing, UpwardAction® continues to enjoy the fruits of entrepreneurial independence.   To learn how you can incorporate social media and online marketing into your business, check out our online business blueprint. It will transform your business and quite possibly your life.

I’d love to hear what you know to be true about entrepreneurial success.  Share your comments below!

Play to Win!

Coach TC

Tasha “TC” Cooper Coleman, is an attorney, branding strategist and online marketing coach. She is also the CEO of UpwardAction®, an agency that helps professional service firms and growth stage companies develop compelling online messages and leverage the power of social marketing to generate business. She can be reached at CoachTC@UpwardAction.com or 1 (800) 753-6576.

I recently read “Driven to Distraction” –> a really good article in the April issue of INC. magazine by Jason Fried. Jason is co-founder of 37signals, home to my favorite project management tools – Basecamp and Backpack. Click here to learn more about this fantastic company via our affiliate link..

Jason ended this article, which is all about staying focused on what matters most in your business, with 5 key questions I know are ESSENTIAL for lawyerpreneurs, business owners and entrepreneurs. Take a few minutes to answer the questions. Then, review your answers and adjust your business actions to transform all answers NO to YES!

1) Are your customers thrilled with your service, TODAY?
2) Is your inbox flooded with word-of-mouth referrals, TODAY?
3) Can people find what they are looking for on your website, TODAY?
4) Do your employees love their jobs, TODAY?

Invest time improving what is important to your business … TODAY. When you make this a daily habit, you will be amazed at the phenomenal cash-positive results that will follow.

Expect the Best!

TC

TC Coleman, Esq.
CEO of UpwardAction® | Business Coach

PS – If you need help maximizing the power of online marketing, TODAY – click here to invest in our Taking UpwardAction® Online Marketing Blueprint.

The Power of Keywords in Locating Business Opportunities with Social Media

Social media provides amazing insight into what is on the minds of your ideal clients and customers. Here’s how to get started …

1. Invest time conducting keyword research (or hire an agency like UpwardAction®) to get clear about exactly what your target market is searching for online as related to your industry and practice areas.
2. Utilize this information to develop a list of about 15 power keywords.
3. Use your power keywords to create GoogleAlerts and TweepBeeps to monitor online conversations that include your top 15 keywords.
4. Now that you know where conversations involving your keywords are happening, listen by reading relevant blogs and articles + following key people on Twitter (aka Twitter) and becoming a Facebook friend or fan.
5. Once you have engaged in the “art and science” of targeted “listening” – join the conversation with an intent to add value to the conversation.
6. To add value, always seek to (i) engage, entertain, educate, inform, motivate or inspire those with whom you are interacting.

Following is an excerpt from a presentation about using social media for business.

Now that you know what to do, it’s time for your UpwardAction®.    Let us know if we can help.  We are here to serve you!

Expect Excellence!

Coach TC

Tasha (TC) Cooper Coleman | UpwardAction® CEO

Social Media is not only here to stay, it has revolutionized the way an increasing number of entrepreneurs and executives communicate and engage with each other. It is critical for both executives and entrepreneurs to understand that this revolution has created a fundamental shift in the way people access information, form opinions about the quality and value of professional services (such as legal and financial services) and process hiring decisions.

The entrepreneurs and executives of both large brands and small companies who will be successful in expanding their market share in the 21st century, will be the ones who use social media and online marketing to (i) develop a magnetic personal brand; (ii) build a compelling online presence that resonates with their target audience and (iii) meet and engage clients in the online communities in which they spend their time.

Social media tools such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Plaxo, Facebook and private communities like 85Broads.com and private Ning communities, among others, allow entrepreneurs and executives to listen, share and engage in substantive online and offline conversations with prospective clients. Strategic use of these tools enables us to leverage expertise, build trust, attract business opportunities and increase our “Google currency.”

When people look for information, Google is most often the first stop. What clients and prospective clients find when they “Google” your business name will influence their perception of your brand and your expertise. Regardless of whether you like it, the existence and depth of your company’s online presence makes an increasing significant statement about how relevant you are in today’s global society. This can and often does influence hiring decisions and buying decisions.

Now that you know the social media revolution has changed the landscape for business communications, it’s time for your UpwardAction®!   How will you transform your business communication systems?   Need help?  Let us know.  UpwardAction® is here for you.

Expect Excellence!

Coach TC

Tasha (TC) Cooper Coleman, Esq. | UpwardAction® CEO