Let's Talk about Social Media.

Most of us are using a combination of LinkedIn, Facebook, Biznik and Twitter to do this. Is it working? How could we be more effective?  Can these platforms lead to sales?  Partnerships?

Ksenia, CEO of Lilipip, and I are interested in discussing social media with other entrepreneurs, so we've organized a Social Media Roundtable.

At this roundtable discussion, we'll discuss our efforts and successes in using these tools. We'll put our heads together and share our experiences to learn what's working and how. If you're an entrepreneur embracing social media, join us!  You can read more about this event and RSVP on Biznik.

When: Thursday, May 7 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Fee: Free

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We're also having an Online Video Roundtable this Thursday, April 30 from 4p-6p.  If you are thinking of creating an online video to market your product, this is the meet up for you. We'll give you tips on creating your own videos, avoiding editing nightmares, and help you choose between animation and video.

New Directions

As entrepreneurs, we rarely take the time to stop, and if we do stop, it's not without checking our Blackberrys every ten minutes.  Earlier this month I went on my first "no technology" trip in 6 years!  I traveled through Tunisia, riding camels in the Sahara (Douz) and bargaining with rug dealers in Kairouan. 

This trip was perfect timing.  Five months before, I made the decision to close my first startup, TheSecretIngredients.com.  These last five months have been a mixture of freedom, sadness, curiosity, relaxation, worry and excitement, and this trip helped me with the process to move on to my next phase.

This phase that I'm beginning is going to be busy, but not in the same ways that Secret Ingredients was.  I will continue my consulting work, helping businesses embrace social media and grow their brands through websites.  I have also accepted the position of Director of Sales & Marketing at Lilipip! Studios, a company that specializes in doing cheap, fast, and outstanding (yes, all three) animated marketing videos.  I have also launched a market test for a new startup, GetYourChick.com where men can ask their dating questions to a panel of women.

Over the next several months, I will be performing some marketing tests through all of these endeavors, and I will share the results with you. In the meantime, feel free to ping me if you're in Seattle and want to talk about marketing, video, dating, social media, or anything else!

Social Networking Etiquette & Tips: Facebook

As I mentioned in my Social Networking Cocktail for Entrepreneurs, Facebook is an important tool that you can use to connect with your professional and personal networks . Because you are connecting to old high school friends and business colleagues through the same profile, it can be a little tricky. In this article, we'll discuss Facebook etiquette, and how to connect with everyone you know without experiencing an embarrassing "incident" (aka unfortunate wall post).

FaceBook Etiquette

When using Facebook, "The Goal" is to stay connected with your contacts, both personal and professional, and to give your friends a glimpse into your personality and life while keeping your professional class and cool.

• Your Profile-
  
  
  • Photos- Yes, it's true that Facebook is more casual than LinkedIn; however, it's a good idea to choose a pretty neutral photo for your main profile pic. Stay away from photos of drinking beer with the boys or partying it up with the neighbors at last year's 4th of July picnic. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't upload these photos to your profile at all.
    
    Photos with the spouse and kids are fine. They show that you're family-oriented and responsible. Avoid using photos that question your character. Also, friends may tag you in photos that they have uploaded. Visitors to your profile will be able to see these, so please feel free to remove your tag on these photos. It's not rude.
  
  
  • Personal Info- Topics that can become awkward at a dinner table can also be awkward online. I suggest leaving Relationship Status, Political Views and Religious Views blank, unless these are very important to your work and you. Remember that Facebook announces any changes you make to these fields to your entire network.

• Adding Friends- Be careful who you add to your network. I believe in quality over quantity, so I only add people that I know well. I'll consider adding someone I don't know well, if I want to build a business relationship with them.
  
  This may sound cold, but be weary of adding family members- especially parents. The same common sense applies when choosing not to live next door to your parents. You don't want them to have instant access to your life. The last thing you need is "remember when" or "where are you" comments left on your profile!

• Status Updates- It's very easy to get carried away with Status updates. They make us feel cool, hip, and proud of ourselves. Don't post anything that you wouldn't say in a conversation with a business contact. Asking questions is fine, as is telling people small snippets about your life. Just keep the tone positive. (See Facebook Don'ts below.)

• Writing on Walls- If you need to catch up with someone, it's better to do this by sending them a message than to post full life updates on their wall. Also remember that inside jokes are fun, but can leave a weird impression online.

• Posting Content- Articles and links should compliment your professional expertise and some of your personal interests.  Viral videos are often funny, but send those via email instead of posting them for your entire network.  What you think is funny may be considered inappropriate to someone else.

Facebook Do's

• Ask questions through your Wall/Status. Examples: iPhone or Blackberry? Wordpress or Blogger?
• If testing a market or idea, ask your network for feedback on your Wall.
• If you're launching a new product or business, tell your network and ask them to spread the word. Just don't do this too often.
• If your website or product is doing well and is established, add a Facebook page.

Facebook Don'ts

• Drop the sarcasm and ego. (Social networking has a tendency to bring these out!)
• No swearing or sexual content.
• No finger pointing or angry words.
• Do not use Facebook under the influence! You'll regret it.
• If you wouldn't say it in front of your momma, don't type it.
• If you wouldn't say it to a business colleague, don't share it.

Social Networking Etiquette & Tips: LinkedIn

Last week I wrote about The Social Networking Cocktail for Entrepreneurs. I think it's important to discuss things you should keep in mind when you're using these sites. I'm going to focus on LinkedIn today, followed by Facebook and Twitter (coming this week). Keep in mind that the etiquette discussed in this article is applicable to the other professional social networking sites that you use.

LinkedIn Etiquette

This site is used strictly for professional reasons. Therefore, you should use a professional tone while showing your personal flair. You don't want your profile to be as formal and stuffy as a resume, but this is not a Facebook or MySpace page.  Don't get too comfortable.

• Your Profile Photo- Make sure your photo is a professional headshot and that it looks like you do now... not ten years ago. Enough said.


• Your Summary- Yes, it's important that your Summary reflects your interests, passions, and experience, but please don't write a book. Keep it down to three paragraphs, and be succinct yet personable.


• Adding Someone to Your Network-
  
  
  
  • Do you know this person?
    
    Do not add someone to your network unless you have a relevant connection! Add someone if you know them, if you met them at a networking event, or if their website says they would like to connect with visitors on LinkedIn. Don't add them if you don't know them. If you want to meet someone who is a 2nd or 3rd degree contact, get introduced by someone in your network who knows this person.
  
  
  • Personalize your invitation.
    
    When you add someone to your network, LinkedIn sends them an email. LinkedIn automatically fills in the Personal Note section of the email for you with this message, "I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn." Please take the extra minute to personalize this note. Remind the person how you know them, the last time you saw them, or something you have in common.


• Accepting Invitations- Don't accept an invitation from a contact you don't know unless you plan on building a relationship with the person or if they're in the same industry. It's quality over quantity when it comes to building your network.


• Recommendations-  If someone writes a recommendation for you, should you reciprocate?  Yes, you really should unless you don't feel as if the relationship is worthy of a recommendation on your part.  You should only write recommendations for people you have worked with and know well.  Protect your reputation. 
  
  Recommendations are like a pat on the back or a good high five.  It's a great way to pubicly praise someone who has done great work for you. Feel free to ask for recommendations from colleagues you know and trust. 

If you want to learn more about LinkedIn or stay up to date, be sure to check out their blog. 

The Website Litmus Test & Lilipip! Studios

You literally have 2 seconds to impress visitors that come to your website. In these 2 seconds, you must pass requirements #1 and #2 of The Website Litmus Test...

The Website Litmus Test

#1 Aesthetics: Your website must be visually appealing. Think pleasing color combinations, smart logo,
and you must look "official."

#2 Purpose: Visitors have to get the purpose of your website, and it's got to match their needs.

If you pass these two steps, visitors will give you a little more time to pass requirement #3...

#3 How It Works: Visitors must quickly understand how it works and what's required of them.

If you meet these three requirements, you're on your way to a new user/customer. So, how do you do it? Let's break it down...

#1 Aesthetics-

Design is too important. Don't try to wing it and create a logo in Microsoft Word. Similarly, don't launch a website that looks like you bought a cheap template or built it in Front Page five years ago. Hire a graphic designer.

Things to check: Make sure your site is easy on the eyes. Don't use too many font faces or colors, and keep it simple. You can use this tool to help you choose a color palette. If you're building a consumer site, keep the text to a minimum. Talk to your SEO guy/gal about this, so you're still optimized properly.

If you are a programmer, please find a graphic designer too. Yes, this is a generalization, but for the most part, good programmers do not create the most visually appealing designs. I'm not trying to be rude. It's science...These abilities come from two different sides of the brain.

#2 Purpose

Your website should clearly indicate its purpose. Choose a slogan that spells it out. Make the main content and graphics on your site reflect your purpose, and make sure it's not misleading.

One helpful exercise is to think of the verb that best describes your business. For my last venture, Secret Ingredients, users were creating their own cookbooks. "Create" was my verb, and let users know that they were building something and that it was a process.

#3 How It Works

Your model should be simple enough that you can explain the process in 3 steps. If you can do this with images, even better. If you're providing a service or you're creating a web 2.0 site, make a "How It Works" page or something similar. Leave the details for an "FAQ" page (i.e. shipping options, customization questions, or user interface details). If you're a simple retail store (order, pay, ship) , just do "FAQ".

Lilipip! Studios & Videos

One way to achieve #2 and #3 is to tell your story through an animated video.  Not only is this a great marketing piece that you can share with your current customers, but you can upload your video onto your blog, social networking sites, and video sharing websites (i.e. YouTube).  Most visitors are more inclined to watch a short video than to read a bunch of text.  I recommend doing both text and video, then everyone is happy.

Lilipip! Studios is a Seattle "animation branding service" that specializes in these videos.  Not only do Lilipip's videos explain your purpose and how it works, but they have an emotional factor that will resonate with your visitors.  Their animations are hip, smart, and incredible quality.

How does it work?  Call the Lilipip! team and tell them your story and your ideas.  They'll create the concept behind the video and write a script.  Then, they'll create the animation and voice-over.  Next, they'll marry the two together and add sound and music.  What a fun process!

Need help making sure you pass The Website Litmus Test?  Hire me.  I'm reasonable, and we'll turn your visitors into customers.