Why Connections are Better Than Promotions

These days, using social media properly is more important than ever when it comes to promoting our lenses, articles, or blog posts. 

Something I have to continuously remind myself is that sharing on social media isn't about spreading links around, it's really all about connecting with other human beings.

Speaking for myself but surely others can relate to this, I'm often always in a rush, trying to get as much done as quickly as possible. So it's easy for me to just drop a link on Twitter or do a quick pin on Pinterest.  What's important, though, is spending an extra few seconds (and really that's all the time it takes) to compose a quick comment to include on someone else's post or lens, or replying to a tweet that catches my eye with as little as two words: "Loved that!"  Do you have followers who do that on your posts?  I do, and I just love them for taking the time.

Repinning, re-tweeting, and leaving personal responses on social media sites are the things that set us apart from link-droppers and spammers.  "Thanks for the pin/tweet/comment" are words that we all love to read, and words many of us need to use more often.

Connections build reputations and good reputations build businesses. So don't just promote. Connect!

P.S.  I love the graphic, don't you? 

Marc Guberti's Squidoo Challenge

Lensmaster, Giant Squid, and boy wonder Marc Guberti (I use that "boy wonder" title in the most complimentary way) recently put pen to paper (well, fingertips to keyboard) to offer a solution to re-grow traffic to Squidoo.

Marc's only 16, but he's been a lensmaster for a couple of years now. In the same period he has established himself as a Twitter expert, has written several books and publishes a popular blog, and he's making his presence known on YouTube as well as spreading his wings to encompass other social media platforms.  I'm not privy to his master plan, but I'm pretty sure it includes becoming Guru of Everything.  Again, I use that title with the utmost respect; Marc is wise beyond his years and I respect him as a serious force in content creation, online marketing, and social media.

Back to Marc's Squidoo Challenge.  You can read it here, but to briefly summarize it's a seven-step plan that almost any lensmaster can follow to earn more traffic to their Squidoo lenses.  And, according to Marc, if large numbers of lensmasters commit to following the plan and follow through on their commitments, Squidoo's traffic stats should begin rising in no time with the goal of a million visitors a day in sight within months or even sooner. 

I like the plan.  In fact, a printed copy of the steps is hanging prominently from the bulletin board above my desk.  I've highlighted the three areas that I need to work on (the others I already do every day) and I'm happy to say that I've met my goals for this week including creating two new lenses, adding content to three old lenses, and pinging lenses that I update (a simple habit I'm not sure why I ever fell out of, but one I'm determined to reestablish). 

Whether the million visitors a day goal is reachable in the manner Marc lays out, I really don't know.  Whether tier payments will increase to their previous height, I don't know.  But I do know that my business can only benefit from following Marc's seven steps. And if I can help him spread the word and five, 10, or 1000 lensmasters follow suit, there's certainly nothing any of us has to lose - and there's plenty to gain. 

So what do you think?  Will you set a goal to follow Marc's plan for a month to see what happens?  If you will, visit his lens and let him know, and let me know, too, in a comment.  Then let's meet in a month and compare notes.

I'm in.  Are you?


Photo from Marc's Blog

How to Make a How-To Lens on Squidoo (tutorial)

Squidoo's own magazines editor, Stephanie Mangino, recently put together this video featuring one of the great how-to lenses on Squidoo, then breaking it down, step by step, to demonstrate how easy it is to put together a how-to page (or tutorial) on Squidoo.

If you have a talent and want to teach it to others, Squidoo is a great place to do that and the how-to format is the perfect tool to use.  Watch the video then, if you haven't already, sign up for Squidoo to get started on your first how-to lens.  Heeeere's Stephanie!

A Cookie-selling Lesson for Girl Scouts (and the rest of us)

Pssst, Girl Scouts, you want to sell twice as many Girl Scout cookies?  Then you really need to read the sales concept proposed by bestselling author and marketing superstar Seth Godin in this post.

What's his magic formula?  You'll have to read it (it's short) but I'll summarize the secret to the concept in Seth's words: "A question that avoids a 'no', a question that starts a conversation, a question that opens the door to emotion."

You'll benefit from this even if you're not a Girl Scout or a scout leader.  But definitely don't miss it if you are.

Photo attribution