Your online presence is more important than ever.  Facebook, Twitter and Blog presence is a must for any growing business. 

If your company has a social media presence – be sure they are all linked together. Link your facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and blog accounts together.  Just be sure not to use the same post on each networking site, as if you have followers that follow you in different areas, you don’t want them to get the same message everywhere.   

FACEBOOK

Types of posts to make on social networks:

• Tips
• Specials
• What’s new with your business
• Your thoughts on an issue in your line of business
• Showcase of your work
• Referring other businesses you work with

Community Coffeeon facebook is a great example of different ways to communicate with the public. 

If you have a facebook fan page – they have badges to put on your website and blog that will link people to your facebook page. 

Connect with clients on facebook and twitter – say Happy Birthday, congratulations, happy graduation, or just to touch base and say hi.

Don’t be shy – ask you clients and fans on your facebook page to recommend your page to their friends.

Connect with facebook fan pages of similar type businesses as yours.  See what types of social media they are participating in and network with them. 

No matter how big or small your business is – facebook is a great place to have a presence – what are you waiting for?  Here is the link to create your own facebook fan page:  www.facebook.com/pages/create.php

BLOGS

Don’t have a blog yet?  Check out www.wordpress.com  for free blogs, or if you want to self host a blog (get your own .com) use www.wordpress.org   they have so many templates to customize the look you are going for. 

If you have a blog – register it at www.networkedblogs.com and www.technorati.com there are others out there – but these are the two big ones to get listed on – it will help your blog get found!

Import your blog onto your facebook fan page http://www.facebook.com/notes.php#!/editnotes.php?import   Now you will have a log of your blog posts on your facebook fan page and your personal page in the notes section!

Digial Biz Card

If you are on Twitter – be sure to get a Digital Biz Card from www.twtbizcard.com  – so cool and free!

What types of Social Media activities do you find helpful for your business?

-Make It Happen – specializing  in small business marketing to help you stand out in a crowd!  www.makeithappen.biz

Is your life the same old – same old? 

Do you need to be reminded to get out of your comfort zone?  Take a look!  I attended a Get Motivated seminar – with speakers such as Terry Bradshaw, Rudy Giuliani, Zig Ziglar, Gen. Colin Powell, Tamara Lowe and Laura Bush!  What an inspiring and motivating day that was!  Each speaker had some excellent points about getting the best out of yourself and I want to share a few of their pointers with you. 

Terry Bradshaw

Terry Bradshaw – NFL Hall of Fame Quarterback 

 Terry Bradshaw’s speech was full of humor and I totally agree on his tips.   He said, “Have a good time while you’re alive – smile & laugh.  Be thankful to be alive.  Practice being happy!”  I never thought of it that way – needing to practice being happy.  But what great advice, as it is so easy to get stuck in a bad-mood rut, but if we practice being happy I bet it’s a lot easier to get out of – or even stay out of that rut! 

Rudy Guilanni

Rudy Giuliani – America’s Mayor 

Everyone was so excited when Rudy Giuliani came on stage!  He had some very encouraging words to say, “You need to have relentless preparation, as if you are always getting ready for the big performance.”  For his tips about working with others he said, “It’s not a weakness to ask for help.”    And my favorite quote of his that day he said, “Funerals are more important [than weddings or parties], you’ve got be there for others when things go wrong.”   I love that, as it is not always about being there in the good times for people, but to be there for them when they are down also. 

Laura Bush

 Wendy & Derek  meeting Former First Lady Laura Bush 

I was so excited when Laura Bush came over and shook hands with my husband and I!  She is such an inspiration, so graceful and elegant.  She spoke a lot about the 8 years she spent in the White House and that time during American history.  She has a strong passion for literacy.  And she encouraged us to “Live in the moment” no matter what is going on.  Regarding some bad press her family received in the White House she said, “It didn’t get to me – I know who I am!”   Well said! 

Tamara Lowe 

Tamara Lowe – Author of “Get Motivated” 

Tamara Lowe is a true rags to riches success story!  Tamara is my cousin, but I am not gossiping about her – as what I am saying is in her ”Get Motivated” book and she spoke about it on stage.  She is a former drug addict and dropout who completely turned her life around!  Here are just some of the people she has worked with: Six United States Presidents, including George W. Bush,  British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, George Foreman, Billy Graham, and Mother Teresa.   Her message is about knowing yourself, she said, “You are wired to be inspired.  Excuses are inexcusable!”   She also said, “Don’t worry about what people think about you – it’s only between you and God.”   That is a great tip, as so many times we do worry about what others think – and that can only hinder us! 

During her presentation she called for a volunteer.  This was not something I knew about beforehand, but I jumped up to do it! 

Tamara Lowe & Wendy Marcello (photo: Parker Young) 

I am so glad I did – it was so exhilarating being up there!!

Gen. Colin Powell

Gen. Colin Powell, Soldier-Statesman 

Again the crowd went crazy to see Gen. Colin Powell arrive!  His speech was very inspirational for leaders – as he is a phenomenal leader!  As much as he enjoyed his Secretary of State position in the White House he said, “I keep my eyes looking out the front windshield.”  Not looking back, but being present and moving forward!  He encouraged businesses to “Put leaders in the best environment to get the job done.  Inspire your people and they will do anything you ask of them.” 

Zig Ziglar

Zig Ziglar – America’s #1 Motivator 

Since 1970 Zig Ziglar has been motivating us all!  He is a true inspiration and has endless quotes of how to motivate yourself.   He has written tons of books over the years and just released “Embrace the Struggle” after an accident he had at home.  In a few days he will be turning 83 years old, and he’s still got it – that amazing Ziglar motivation.  During his presentation he said, “Learn something new everyday to help you.  Be a constant student.”  And one of my most favorite quotes of his, “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.”  Amen to that – if you help others – others will help you!   Going to Get Motivated was fantastic!  The seminar travels around the country with these and other amazing speakers.  You can see it on the faces of the attendees – they are so excited to be there and truly do feel motivated from attending the seminar!   So business men, college students, working moms and homemakers – if you are in a rut – get out of your comfort zone.  Find something to shake you up, and get yourself out there – what are you waiting for?

- Wendy

Article originally posted on www.domesticsucces.com

Every morning or evening, as the case may be, take a note pad and jot down the things you NEED to get done during the day, then the things you want to get done. It may seem like the things you want may outnumber the things you need. Well I use a (wait for it) THREE step process or key if you will. I look at my list and say to myself “Health, Peace and Prosperity” in that order.  It’s quite simple, you see. If you don’t have Health (physical or mental) you haven’t anything and you won’t really have Peace.  You can have Prosperity but what’s the point if you don’t have the others. 

I then move the items around on my list, adding and subtracting based on this process. Choose things that add value to your life and that of loved ones. Park the things that take away from it. I put the list in my pocket and refer it during the day scratching items off.  Remember, this is just for the day. You can do the week but keep it simple otherwise you’ll waste your time planning instead of doing.

Here’s another way to look at it, can you remember what you did yesterday, a week ago, and a year ago? I don’t mean big stuff like birthdays, trips, births, etc. I mean what you spent your time on during the day? Now think of this, a human lives to be about 78 years on average. That’s about 28,500 days give or take. Now take your age and multiply (yes math) it by 365. Don’t forget subtracting for sleep estimated at 9400 days.  Wow big deal, I know how old I am in days.  That’s not the point. The question is how many days left do you have and how are you going to spend them?  

I’m not trying to be a downer but the point is made that we don’t know, so Live for Today! Do the things and spend the time with the people that matter most to you and remember them.  Don’t get caught up in the noise of modern life, and remember to breathe.