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It’s simple! Build your brand and grow your business.

Social networking defies conventional advertising. It takes away the forcedness of advertising by making your message “alive”. It brings a human element to the web. It’s good news for business owners out there because it fits right in with how customers buy. People buy from people they know, like and trust. So building relationships using social networking techniques is a fantastic marketing strategy.

There are really three reasons to include social media into your marketing plan. If you do your social media activities well, you should expect an INCREASE in one or more of these areas:

1. Visibility
2. Credibility
3. Traffic and Revenues

Blogging, video, podcasts, tweeting – make them part of your long term strategy.

I received the following from Alan Weiss, PhD. at www.alanweiss.com or www.summitconsulting.com. Alan Weiss is one of the most insightful people I know. I may not always agree with him, but there is no doubt in my mind that he never fails to challenge my thinking and point of view. He has been an invaluable resource to me.

Just the other day, I started working on my plan for 2010 and the first two books I pulled off my shelf were the Million Dollar Consultant and the Million Dollar Consultants Tool Kit.

Both books are authored by Alan Weiss. To continue my unsolicited endorsement of Dr. Weiss, my library has 4 other books from him.

From Alan Weiss:

“This week’s focus point: Every day, hotels and conference centers host some of the most respected authorities in the world who address groups on their property. Yet very few hotel managers ever request that their own staffs be permitted to participate, so that they can also learn from the best of the best. They ignore this huge resource on their own turf. Are you supporting or hosting experiences for others which you should be taking advantage of yourself?”

I’ve been in the meetings industry for over 15 years and I have often wondered the same thing. One of the greatest fringe benefits I get from producing corporate meetings is the opportunity to hear some of the worlds best speakers and thinkers.

Last summer, I held a workshop series on Social Media Marketing. I did offer complimentary seats to the hotel in exchange for the room fee. I did not ask for complimentary catering or audio visual, just the room fee. They were not interested. Maybe it was the content, more likely they did not have the time or some other valid reason.

I am not slighting hotels in anyway. I would imagine hotels are constantly asked if they would be willing to barter meeting fees for participant seats. I would not be surprised if the hotel policy is an automatic “no”. But Alan brings up a great point about the incredible resource most hotels have at their finger tips.

This is just an example of a crucial question for all of us to consider: how many times are we an automatic “no” when a new opportunity presents itself to us? What opportunities have you missed – even to learn something new by being an automatic “no”?

Thank you Alan Weiss for all you do to help others be their best.

Happy New Year To All!

Robert Grossman
Chief Message Architect, Founder and President
Focus Creative Group