Attracting Ideal Clients

Secrets to Leverage LinkedIn Groups

LinkedIn is a great social network for connecting with your ideal clients. As much as I like Facebook, I think LinkedIn offers more of an ability to connect with a Person of Influence (POI).

One of the best places to find your ideal customers and clients is in LinkedIn Groups.

Here are 3 quick tips to leverage LinkedIn Groups:

1) Focus on adding value

Make sure that you share information that people want to read. One great strategy is to include a link out to your blog post. This will help to position you as an expert. It will also allow you to generate leads if you have an opt in box on your blog.

2) Connect with people you meet in groups

After you have interacted with people a few times in a LinkedIn Group, then send them an invitation to connect.

LinkedIn Groups also gives you the capability to follow people. This is similar to the way Twitter works. It's an easy to build a base of followers who read your posts and comments.

3) Send personal messages to people on LinkedIn

What good is a network unless you actually intend to communicate with people. Make time every day to reach out to someone on LinkedIn and send a personal message. Share a resource, congratulate them on a recent success or ask them for 5 minutes to chat by phone.

LinkedIn Groups is a great tool for making connections with powerful and influential people. Set a goal now to leverage this tool to grow your business.

Rick Cooper
Online Marketing and Social Media Trainer

How Meetup Was Started as a Result of 9/11

I received the following message today and thought I would share it. I have been a participant of multiple Meetup groups. I also launched a local networking group using the Meetup site called the Roseville Growth Network.

On the eve of the 10th anniversary of 9/11, I thought this was amazing story of how Americans grew in a positive way in the face of tragic and frightening events.

Rick Cooper
Online Marketing & Social Media Expert

Here is the message:

From: Meetup
Date: Fri, Sep 9, 2011 at 1:25 PM
Subject: 9/11 & us
To:

Fellow Meetuppers,

I don't write to our whole community often, but this week is
special because it's the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and many
people don't know that Meetup is a 9/11 baby.

Let me tell you the Meetup story. I was living a couple miles
from the Twin Towers, and I was the kind of person who thought
local community doesn't matter much if we've got the internet
and tv. The only time I thought about my neighbors was when I
hoped they wouldn't bother me.

When the towers fell, I found myself talking to more neighbors
in the days after 9/11 than ever before. People said hello to
neighbors (next-door and across the city) who they'd normally
ignore. People were looking after each other, helping each
other, and meeting up with each other. You know, being
neighborly.

A lot of people were thinking that maybe 9/11 could bring
people together in a lasting way. So the idea for Meetup was
born: Could we use the internet to get off the internet -- and
grow local communities?

We didn't know if it would work. Most people thought it was a
crazy idea -- especially because terrorism is designed to make
people distrust one another.

A small team came together, and we launched Meetup 9 months
after 9/11.

Today, almost 10 years and 10 million Meetuppers later, it's
working. Every day, thousands of Meetups happen. Moms Meetups,
Small Business Meetups, Fitness Meetups... a wild variety of
100,000 Meetup Groups with not much in common -- except one
thing.

Every Meetup starts with people simply saying hello to
neighbors. And what often happens next is still amazing to me.
They grow businesses and bands together, they teach and
motivate each other, they babysit each other's kids and find
other ways to work together. They have fun and find solace
together. They make friends and form powerful community. It's
powerful stuff.

It's a wonderful revolution in local community, and it's thanks
to everyone who shows up.

Meetups aren't about 9/11, but they may not be happening if it
weren't for 9/11.

9/11 didn't make us too scared to go outside or talk to
strangers. 9/11 didn't rip us apart. No, we're building new
community together!!!!

The towers fell, but we rise up. And we're just getting started
with these Meetups.

Scott Heiferman (on behalf of 80 people at Meetup HQ)
Co-Founder & CEO, Meetup
New York City
September 2011

Social Media Tips to Network Online

Social Media offers huge potential to market your business online. But, that doesn't mean you should just spam people. You need to connect, develop relationships and add value. In this video I share several critical ideas to help you leverage social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.

Watch this Video Now!

Join me for an upcoming teleseminar on May 28th
How to Use Social Media to Attract Clients

Click here to register:
http://TinyURL.com/SocialMediaCoolTips

Rick Cooper
Online Marketing Expert

Twitter Tip to Create Social Currency

Twitter is a great tool for people who want to attract clients and find joint venture partners. I’ve heard a lot of feedback that some people don’t really understand Twitter or how to use it. Are you clear about you can leverage Twitter?

One of the ways I use Twitter is to search for people in a particular profession. I work with small business owners to help them market their business online. And I specialize in working with Coaches, Speakers and Experts. So, I’m very clear whenever I go onto Twitter that I want to find Coaches, Speakers, Virtual Assistants, Professional Organizers, Graphic Designers, Web Designers and anyone who offers a professional service and wants to be positioned as an expert.

Use Twellow to Find Potential Clients by Profession

There are many third party sites that can be used in your efforts to leverage Twitter. One of my favorite sites is Twellow. This is like the yellow pages for Twitter. And it organizes people according to their profession. If you don’t have a profile on Twellow, go set one up. You can add yourself to 3 categories.

Twitter is one of my favorite sites for social networking and it’s also great for sharing promotion and product offers. As with all social networking sites, make sure you take time each day to connect and engage people.

Social Currency happens when you create value for someone else. You can do this on Twitter with  retweet. You can post a link to someone's article or blog post. You can even acknowledge them on #FollowFriday. Think strategically about who you want to ackowledge and recognize. Do it sincerely and do it often.

Rick Cooper
Online Marketing Expert

Build a Community Online

Social media allows you to create a community online. Position yourself as an expert and you will attract people to you. People are drawn to experts. They seek knowledge and enlightenment. They want answers. And they’re excited to be around people who are up to big things.

There are several ways to build a community online. The most popular method these days is simply to use social media. There are so many websites where you can connect with people. Just remember people didn’t come there just to connect with you. They have other friends and interests. So, if they show interest in you, don’t take it for granted.

Another great tool for building a community is a blog. Your blog can showcase your talents. People can leave comments on your blog. Be sure to respond back.

3 Tips to Build a Community Online:

1) Provide Value

People will join your community and stay in touch if they think you offer something of value. So, don’t disappoint them. Share information, tips and resources. You have specialized knowledge that people want.

And, be sure that you provide value consistently over time. It’s easy to get on a creative run from time to time. It’s tough to create and provide a high level of quality content week after week. And yet, this is exactly what you need to do.

2) Communicate

It seems like a cliche, but to maintain an audience, you need to communicate with them. When someone posts something on your Facebook wall or clicks the Like button, be sure to pay attention and respond back. If someone tweets you, tweet back.

If someone sends you an email message, reply back. If they call you, then call back. It’s important to respond in kind. There was a reason they chose that medium to communicate with you. People want dialogue. And they like to see that you’re a real person.

3) Recognize and Acknowledge

People want to feel important. Even though you’re the expert, you need to take time out to acknowledge others. People like people who like them. They will be much more likely to come back and interact with you if you show interest in them.

Take a few minutes to think about your community. How many people are in your community?

Why not set some goals for your community. Set a goal for the number of people you want to reach through your community.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

-What are you doing to connect and develop relationships with people in your community?

-What events can you hold to attract members to your community?

-What can you offer people to encourage them to remain in your community?

Building a community can be a valuable activity. It can help you grow your business. And you can even monetize your community by launching a membership website. What a novel idea.

Rick Cooper
Online Marketing Expert

Drive Traffic by Commenting on Blogs

There are many reasons to become a blogger. One of the best is simply to generate leads. And yet, the challenge is always to get people to your blog. You can't generate a lead unless someone lands on your web page.

So, once you are in the habit of blogging and you have the ability to capture leads, then you simply need to send more people to your blog.

Here's a simple technique that people often overlook. Many people look for the more challenging or complicated techniques. I look first to do the simple things that will drive traffic and create backlinks to your site.

The technique is simply to comment on other people's blogs.

It's a simple idea in concept, but how do you actually implement it consistently?

Here are 3 simple tips:

1) Compile a list of blogs where you can post comments

It's not enough to simply post a comment once and you're done. To be effective, you should post periodically to different blogs. When you get started, post a comment on a site once per week. Then, later cut back to once or twice a month.

Engage Other Bloggers in Conversation

Why this often? First, you want to engage the other blogger in dialogue. It's just like connecting on a social networking site. If you post often enough, people will remember who you are and you will become friends.

In addition to that, if they like your ideas, they might actually feature you or their blog. Or, they might share a resource you offer.

2) Keep your comments short

Remember, this is their blog. Don't write a novel, keep it brief.

If you feel compelled to write more on the topic, write it on your blog. Then, link back.

Don't include a hyperlink in the body of the comment. See the next section for more details on how to send people to your blog.

3) Link back to your blog

When you post your comment, you have the opportunity to include a link back to a website. There will be fields for name, email and website. But, where should you send people? Should you send them to a lead capture page, a website, or a blog?

In general, the best approach is to send people to your blog. If a person is interested in reading blogs, then they will probably be interested in reading another similar blog.

So, should you send people to the home page of your blog? The SEO experts say that it's best to include a link directly to one of the posts on your blog. Pick a post that has similar content to the one you are commenting on. Or, write a new post and link to it.

Are you in the habit of commenting on blogs? Or, is this a new idea for you?

If you want more traffic to your blog, then try this strategy. And be sure to pick some high profile blogs to comment on also. Make sure the topics are relevant. If you're writing about organization tips, don't comment on a political blog. Different audiences, different interests.

Set a goal now to comment on 3 blogs in the next 2 weeks. And while you're reading this post, take a moment now to comment on this blog. Make it happen!

Rick Cooper
Marketing Coach

Social Networking Tips to Leverage Twitter

Twitter is an amazing tool which can allow you to connect with people across the world. You can attract clients, find joint venture partners and reach out to connectors and other influential people.

Many people have tried Twitter and given up. This is a mistake. It's a very powerful tool and one of its strengths is simplicity.

Here are some of the common complaints I hear about Twitter:
*Too much spam
*I can't follow conversations. It's too confusing.
*Why are people following me? Where are they following me to?

Let me address the questions one at a time.

Too Much Spam
Yes, there is more spam and promotion on Twitter than on most social networks. That's okay. If you know how to filter tweets, you can avoid most of the spam.

I can't follow conversations. It's too confusing.
Twitter can feel a little like walking into a crowded room and trying to listen to all of the conversations at the same time. If you go to a library, do you feel overwhelmed? Or, do you simply look for one book to read? Twitter is the same way. Take a deep breathe. First, you do not need to read everything everyone posts. Second, you can use lists to filter people into categories. For example, you could create a Friend List so you can read tweets just from your friends.

Why are people following me? Where are they following me to?
This is one of the most unique qualities of Twitter and one of the most powerful. On most social networks, you have to ask someone's permission to connect with them. And once you connect to them, that gives you access to their network and to information about them. Twitter works the opposite way, anyone can follow anyone, except in certain situations like someone protects their profile. This makes it possible to build a large network quickly.

Make a Short List of People You Want to Communicate With

Now, let me share 3 ideas to help you leverage Twitter as a powerful social networking tool:

1) Build your network

Invest some time in following people. The larger your network, the better opportunity you will be able to connect with influential people. It will also increase your opportunities for lead generation.

2) Focus on communication

Forget about trying to chat with everyone. Make a short list of people you want to communicate with. Create a List on the Twitter website of people to communicate with and focus on them. You can also use tools like TweetDeck which improve the communication process.

3) Add value

Make every tweet count. Post quotes, tips, and link to blog posts that add value. Limit promotion to one out of every 10 tweets. This will prevent you from being labeled a spammer and being blocked or unfollowed by other people.

If you implement these simple tips, you will be well on the way to getting better results on Twitter.

Sign up for a Free Teleseminar April 13th:

How to Use Social Media to Attract Clients

Click here to learn more

Rick Cooper
The Attraction Marketing Expert

The First Step to Attract Clients

One of the simplest steps you can take to attract clients is to simply identify your ideal clients. Yes, it's important to identify a niche market. You're going to be so much more successful in your professional services business if you choose a specific market to serve.

Here are a few of the benefits:

1. You will be able to craft a more compelling message

Don't settle for a plain message that targets everyone! Write a compelling message that speaks to your audience. People pay copywriters thousands of dollars for a compelling sales letter. Start now and use the same principles.

2. It will be easier to get referrals

Would you like to have referrals coming in every day? You're going to attract more referrals by clearly identifying and communicating who your ideal clients are. I call it planting a seed.

3. You can become recognized as THE expert for your market

Experts get paid more. Need I say more? Okay. You will attract the best clients by demonstrating your expertise. Write, speak, and get publicity. It all helps!

Craft a Compelling Message that Attracts Clients!

What's your next step in identifying your ideal clients? This is not a one time activity. You should evaluate your client base a few times a year and make sure you're on track.

Attract your ideal clients and build the business of your dreams!

Rick S. Cooper, MBA
The Attraction Marketing Expert
Entrepreneur Success Coach
http://www.RicksCooper.com

Seize your Social Media Opportunities Interview with Rick Cooper

Social media creates many opportunities to grow your business. I love the ability to build relationships in my home town and across the world.

Social networking is similar to networking at events. It's just faster and easier. It takes a little longer to develop good, strong relationships. But, it's nonethelesss possible to create outstanding, mutually beneficial relationships.

One of the relationships I have developed is with Social Media Expert Brian Adrian. Brian and I connected through Twitter. We initially connected by replying to messages we had posted publicly on Twitter. That led to a few direct messages and then email exchanges.

I will talk to Brian for the first time April 1st by phone as I'm being interviewed on his BlogTalkRadio Show. That is the power of social media!

One of the reasons that became possible is that I am very transparent on the internet. I put myself out there as an expert. I share information daily that helps create value for people. I am honest and sincere and I strive to do my best.

Share Information and Create Value

I follow a simple rule in marketing my business. I make my messages are 80% informational and 20% promotional. I look for ways to share information and create value and as an aside, I promote my business. I think you can be successful by being of service to other people. And I get a lot of positive feedback from people because of that.

What opportunities do you have to leverage social media?

Listen to the Interview: Seize your Social Media Opportunities

I invite you to listen to my interview with Brian Adrian. The topic is Seize your Social Media Opportunities. Click here for more details.

Do People REALLY Care What You Twitter About?

Social media is all the rage. Everyone is connecting and networking online. And Twitter illustrates the unique nature of social networking, that millions of people are simultaneously twittering to the masses.

This humorous if not biting commentary on Twitter demonstrates how silly the whole process is. Yet, you can't deny the value of being able to develop contacts across the globe. It's a good reminder, though, of the importance of taking online relationships offline. Conversations create opportunities.

Twitter is addictive!

I have found new clients and booked interviews through Twitter. Yet, at times, it does feel a lot like shouting into the Twittersphere. And, yes, Twitter is addictive. If you're not twittering yet, you can start by following me.

Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/RickCooper

Watch this short 5 minute video, "Twouble with Twitter", and make up your own mind.

"Twouble with Twitter" sous-titré
Uploaded by LePostfr