The arrival of spring is becoming more evident. The trees are all abloom and the bees, all abuzz. Today it's almost scorching in the desert (spring for us, summer for most).  It hit over 100 today.  It's the time of year that we start looking for shade when parking outside and projecting where it will be when we leave.

As the trees and flowers begin to perk up, I'm hearing more optimism and sensing the economy is perking up as well. 

I mentioned in the last video, that I've been cooking up some delicious resources for you to perk up your business.  I'm lining up an all-star cast of experts for a series that you'll be hearing about shortly. These are the very people that I've been learning from over the last few years. 

One of the hottest topics around now (besides the economy) is social networking and I've got a few masters at this who will help demystify this snarl and help you get started and get going in a productive way. 

I've compiled a few tips to get you start in this week's article.

Follow me:

 on <-- Click

One of the most effective ways to increase sales is by increasing the amount of business that comes to you by referral. It's a known fact that referred sales close faster, with less effort and for more money than non-referred business.

I've pulled together concepts, tips and tricks I've learned & discovered along the way and produced a 2-hour program that will leave you empowered, confident, skilled and ready to ask for AND GET more referrals.

Buy it now!  Only $97

Get Clients Now preview call, May 12, 2009, 4:30 pm. To register, click here.

Leadership without Limits: Inspiring the Best in Yourself, Your People and Your Organization, The Awakening Conference: A Voice for Change, May 15- 17.  Call 602.347.7799 or visit: TheAwakeningConference.com to register. 

Get Clients Now teleclass, 7-sessions, Wednesdays, May 20 - July 1.  Sign up here.

I Want More Clients, City of Chandler Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Development Workshop, Wednesday, May 25.  Stay tuned for details.

I Want More Clients, Empowered Women of Wealth, Friday, August 28. E-mail Michelle for more information.

I Want More Clients, Get Clients Now!, Power Women's Conference Luncheon Series, Thursday, September 24. Stay tuned for registration details.

Do you tweet?  Are you on Facebook, LinkedIn, Plaxo?  Does the thought of having yet another networking venue send shivers up your spine? 

Are your tweeting and linking the hours away, but not seeing any results? Here are some things to keep in mind that will help you remove the mystery, reduce the madness and ultimately make money from your social networking efforts.

1. Remove the mystery - Starting a profile on most platforms is relatively easy.  Four of the ones I use the most are shown right under my Greeting message above.  I also use Plaxo. So if you're just getting started, connect with me.  Just click on the Plaxo link above or any of the icons below my greeting. 

   Start simply.  Enter both business and personal information.  The key to social networking is leveraging the 'social' aspect.  People want to know you, not just your business.  Once you're in, look for people you know who are already on that platform.  Most sites make it easy for you to do that.  Once you're connected to others, you can connect with their friends and associates.  (You'll probably know some of them. If you can customize your introduction, a personal note will help 'grease the slide'.

2. Reduce the madness - As in real F2F (face-to-face) life, you could spend hours every day networking online.  Don't let yourself get consumed.  Don't feel compelled to join every site that people invite you to.  I have profiles on 16 sites, but don't use them all. Set aside 15 minutes a day to tweet or update your profiles.  Just pick a few to start with.  

   What to say in your updates?  Share a great idea you heard, your plans for the day, a success you had, a success someone else had, an inspiring quote, a triumph for your child.  Make comments on other people's profiles.  Again, use a good mix of business and personal.

   Also consider automating the process.  There are tons of tools & resources to make the whole social networking thing less labor-intensive.

3. Monetize your efforts - Ultimately, that's what it's all about for us business owners, isn't it?  Don't expect to put dollars in your pocket immediately though.  Social networking is about building relationships with people, getting connected on a deeper level.  It is through building solid relationships with people first, that you'll be able to later on, introduce items or services that you think might help them...but only after you've gotten to know them. 

    

   Consider it a little like dating - you probably wouldn't 'pop the question' on the first date would you?  Don't do it on the social networking sites either.

That's just a primer (or reminder) for those of you who are relatively new to this arena.  Stay tuned.  As I mentioned in the video and the welcome greeting above, I've got tons more resources on this topic to share with you, so pay attention and don't miss out, ok?

Leave a comment on this article on my Dream Leader blog (click here)

4.x