Do I mix my personal friends with business contacts on Facebook?

The blending of your business brand as your personal brand is the secret to excelling in your marketing today. This allows you to be a savvy, innovative brand connecting with people worldwide and positioning you to have a global business. Sounds exciting, right?

It is exciting, but there's one challenge.

Many business owners are still of the mindset that personal and business are separate and truly don't have a clearly defined personal brand. No worries. No fault of your own. We all come from the same mindset and training. It’s those who step up and INNOVATE their brand to speak to the sophisticated consumer will progress.

In today's "Social Reward" economy, every business owner needs to think of himself or herself as a brand; it's no longer an option, it's a necessity if you are to succeed in your marketing using Social Media.

Why?

The abundance of savvy consumers today requires an authentic relationship online. They want to get to KNOW, LIKE, AND TRUST you before they consider hiring you, buying from you, or recommending you.

By delivering a well defined personal brand in all your marketing channels (website, blog, ezine, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube) you are poised to win. Then the quality of your postings and content become more compelling and "marketable."

Furthermore, when you build the right audience for your message with a clearly defined personal brand, you are now poised to thrive in our Social Reward economy.

Building the right audience for your social media requires a specific strategy of being very selective and clear who you will allow into your communities, especially on Facebook.

I have had several business owners comment they prefer not having their personal friends mixed with their business clients and customers. I recommend you keep them all in your friend community and just be very savvy in your postings (I coach specifically how to do that) plus know your purpose to using Facebook is business savvy more than personal. Remember, you are delivering the authentic you as a brand for people to get to know, like, and trust first which leads to business contacts and potential clients to serve.

This is personal branding style marketing in our Social Reward economy. It’s OK to be you in front of all people. That’s virtual networking and how SEO is now measured. The game of marketing has changed. Time for innovating.

However if you still prefer keeping them separate, here are two solutions:

1. Create another FB main account (Timeline) under a version of your name, perhaps add the middle initial so it’s easy for your friends to find you and use that solely for your personal friends.

2. Use the custom list option for each of those “personal” type postings by creating a “private friends” custom list and be sure to choose that list (bottom right hand corner of the update box) whenever posting.

To give you a sense of clarity why this style of branding today is so important, I’ve spelled out 3 of my 7 benefits to having a clear, compelling personal brand which makes you “client attractive.”

1. You are seen as an innovative business that is on top of their game thriving in our Social reward economy. (Impression of increase)

2. You will know how to implement the key strategy to capture public interest, tell a compelling story and convert that market into a loyal audience.

3. You will know how to clearly communicate in an authentic voice in ALL your marketing channels (website, social media, blog, ezine, and emails) to your existing community and potential new clients or customers so they FEEL connected to you before they choose to buy or hire you.

Learn the other 4 benefits and inspiration during our upcoming Spring evening “Beauty, Bling and Branding You Lifestyle event" – Networking, shopping, and guest speaking by Marla Dennis & Laura Weintraub for professional women. Date and location TBA. Sign up for UPDATES by clicking here..

Gratitude,



Marla :)

Glam, Bling, & Social Media Style for 2012!

I’m coming to you from my solo artist retreat nestled in a beautiful home in Los Angeles. I gave myself the gift of solitude to help create and begin planning my 2012 programs, goals, products and vision. I think I just created a ritual I will carry on for years to come! I’m loving this.

I found this lovely retreat via airbnb.com. What a great find! Homeowners offer up their homes, rooms, apartments around the globe for travelers wanting a more personalized place to stay. A few days prior to finding this, I sent a request out the Universe (Spirit) and clearly defined my vision for my retreat day. This was more magical than I imagined and certainly much more artistic.  My bed and breakfast host, Clara Berta, who owns “Villa Berta,” is a beautifully talented renowned abstract artist who opens up her home to film productions, photo sessions, travelers, and locals wanting a piece of heaven.

One of the several creative programs I am planning is

 a kick-off to 2012 with “Turn Up the Volume on Your Personal Brand with Glam, Bling, and Social Media Style for the New Year!!” An Evening of Make-up Artistry, Jewelry, and Social Media Savviness for the Woman Entrepreneur.  

 
Laura Weintraub, South Bay’s renowned beauty expert and style director of Classy and Chic Make-up Boutique, is my co-producer for this inspiring evening event scheduled for January 26th. This New Year South Bay (Los Angeles) kick-off event is designed as an elegant evening of networking, make-up artistry education, and strategic social media training for the entrepreneurial and professional woman.

The purpose of our “Turn Up the Volume on Your Personal Brand with Glam, Bling, and Social Media Style for the New Year!!”  event is to inspire women to create a clear, compelling and powerful personal brand for business success to thrive in our Social Reward economy. 

One of the more brilliant tools for your brand delivery today is Facebook’s new Timeline. The basis of my personal brand coaching is the power of digital storytelling. Our Timelines makes it easy for you to do just that! I was thrilled when I saw the creativity of the new layout! I will be teaching more about that in the Jan 26^th event.

Laura will demonstrate her signature Airbrush Make-up design to enhance the inner and outer beauty of today’s dynamic, success-driven woman. I'll be delivering my signature creative personal branding/social media presentation inspiring women to be savvy, smart and strategic with their marketing for 2012.

So, as I dive back into my planning here at Villa Berta, please SAVE THE DATE and mark your calendars for Thursday, Jan 26^th from 6-9 pm at a "to-be-determined" location in the South Bay. Add magic, color and vitality to your 2012 goals by sharing the evening with Laura and I! Registration details coming next week!

In our “shareable” world, our clear, compelling personal brand is our best asset to thrive in our new economy; and what better way to refine that brand than to learn from the experts who can help illuminate that brilliance and beauty from the inside out!

Happy Fabulous New Year,

Marla 

7 Benefits to Having a Clear, Compelling Personal Brand Positioning You as Client Attractive

The blending of your business brand as your personal brand is the secret to excelling in your marketing today. 

This allows you to be a savvy, innovative brand connecting with people worldwide positioning you to have a global business. 

Sounds exciting, right?

It is exciting, but there's one challenge. Many business owners are still of the mindset that personal and business are separate and truly don't have a clearly defined personal brand. No worries. No fault of your own. We all come from the same mindset and training of past strategies. It’s those who step up and INNOVATE their brand to speak to the sophisticated consumer will progress.

In today's "Social Reward" economy, every business owner needs to think of himself or herself as a brand; it's no longer an option, it's a necessity if you are 

to succeed in your marketing using Social Media.

Why?

The abundance of savvy consumers today requires an authentic relationship online. They want to get to KNOW, LIKE, AND TRUST you before they consider hiring you, buying from you, or recommending you.

By delivering a well defined personal brand in all your marketing channels (website, blog, ezine, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube) you are poised to win. Then the quality of your postings and content become more compelling and "marketable."

Furthermore, when you build the right audience for your message with a clearly defined personal brand, you are now poised to thrive in our Social Reward economy.

To give you a sense of clarity why this style of branding today is so important, I’ve spelled out 7 benefits of having a clear, compelling personal brand that makes you “client attractive.”

1. You are seen as an innovative business that is on top of their game thriving in our Social reward economy. (Impression of increase)

2. You will know how to implement the key strategy to capture public interest, tell a compelling story and convert that market into a loyal audience.

3. You’ll have the skills to be an innovative digital storyteller creating raving fans for your business.

4. You will know how to clearly communicate in an authentic voice in ALL your marketing channels (website, social media, blog, ezine, and emails) to your existing community and potential new clients or customers so they FEEL connected to you before they choose to buy or hire you.

5. Your expertise & personality translates to savvy online content resonating with your target market profile.

6. Your Google rankings will be higher due to recent “content” requirements. Search engines are now seeking “emotionally based” content for priority ranking. This translates to SEO - (Search Engine Optimization)

7. Your personality is power. No one can duplicate who you are. As a result, you take yourself out of the competition. It doesn't matter if your competition is down the street; when you reach out to your market in a personal way OUTSIDE of the office and nurture that relationship online via your social media, blog and custom personality-driven ezine, you hedge the competition and build more loyal followers. In today's overly saturated market, you MUST be consistent with your online marketing to build the know, like & trust factor. (Even if you think it's not necessary).

What is the value of these 7 benefits for your business? PRICELESS.

The more savvy your brand and content – the stronger your SEO allowing people to find you online easier and more efficiently. Remember this: the more online content and “online real estate” you have – the easier it is for people to find you; hence your business growth and bottom line.

The 7 benefits set you up to win by BUILDING MOMENTUM and converting to revenues when used with an effective marketing system.

As the "new" breed of entrepreneurs today, we are being rewarded by being social and personable in our marketing style and content. We are bringing our conversations online to make friends and fans in a casual but respectful, savvy manner. Hence, Social Reward economy.  

The end result: Up to 3-6 months of consistently implementing the strategies and tools learned, you will experience a more quality email list, a growing online and offline community of loyal clients converting to more revenues.

How can you INNOVATE your business for today's economic climate? Find the solution in my 

Home Study program, "Innovate Your Marketing with a Compelling Personal Brand!" Click here for details.

Gratitude,

Marla
Your Personal Branding and Social Media Savvy Muse!

 

Personal Branding Expert, New Thought Speaker, Creative Strategist
Step into the Spotlight!
Marketing, Mindset & Money Mastery coaching programs
www.eCreativebiz.com

 

Monetize your personal brand! Get your FREE branding, online marketing and social media savvy tips with Step into the Spotlight monthly ezine for Creative & Lifestyle entrepreneurs and Dentists at www.eCreativebiz.com

Gratitude Giveaway!

Happy Thanksgiving week!

How did you like the 5 Smart Tips and Tools for the NEW Facebook I posted last week?

Did you implement any of the applications, read the non-profit Facebook tips, download the fan page storefront app or download my NEW eBook excerpt from, Quick-Start Secrets to a Compelling Personal Brand, Now!" - How to INNOVATE your marketing to THRIVE in our SOCIAL REWARD economy?

In the spirit of GRATITUDE and THANKSGIVING, I am kicking off a week long GIVEAWAY campaign starting Monday Nov 21st that requires a few simple steps for you to be a possible winner!

Since my mission is to elevate business owners with innovative technologies and strategies in order to THRIVE in our "Social Reward" economy,  I want to give you a running start! There is one requirement I have for you. Are you willing to partner with me on contributing the energy of GRATITUDE throughout Facebook?  Let's have fun, ok? Come on - play with me!

Here's what's happening Thanksgiving week Nov 21-27 (Midnight PST):

1. I want to help THREE eager entrepreneurs begin to elevate their business for 2012, so I am GIVING AWAY 3 copies of my "QUICK-START SECRETS to a COMPELLING Personal Brand" eBook! Curious what the eBook is?  Click here BUT come back to the details here.

2. All you must do is "Like" my fan page, Social Media Savvy, if you are not a fan yet, by clicking here. Once at the page in order to qualify to be one of 3 possibly chosen for a GIFTED COPY of my eBook, you MUST post something you are GRATEFUL for on the wall at my fan page. Make it compelling!

3. If you are already a fan, awesome! All you need to do to qualify is you MUST post something you are GRATEFUL for on the wall at my fan page. Make it compelling! Click here

4. My team and I will choose 3 COMPELLING gratitude posts to be the 3 winners! The winners will be announced and acknowledged on my fan page and personal page on Monday, Nov 28th after the holiday weekend. You will need to give us your email if you are a winner. The 34- page HIGH CONTENT eBook is an easy digital download we will email you.
   
This GRATITUDE GIVEAWAY accomplishes several things:

a. We get to spread the energy of gratitude to all our Facebook communities because gratitude is a multiplier of good. The more you are grateful the more you receive things to be grateful for!

b. I am able to generously enhance and gift the lives of three chosen entrepreneurs who see the value in learning how to be INNOVATIVE in today's SOCIAL REWARD economy.

c. You just might receive a very unexpected surprise from "left field" because of contributing gratitude energy!

Ready to jump into the Gratitude Giveaway?  Click here

Grateful,

Marla

5 Smart Tools and Tips for the NEW Facebook

Recent research told me there are three simple primary reasons people go online:

1. To be entertained, inspired, or educated.

2. To find a solution to a challenge.

3. To look for instructions or advice. 

Given that, I have gathered 5 smart tools and tips I found online to meet the NEW entrepreneur's needs. "New" meaning - a new breed of entrepreneurs who are open to change, innovation, and building community vs. remaining private and secluded. (Yes there are still many business owners who have not innovated their mindsets to align with our "Social Reward" economy strategies.) 

This list is chock-full of progressive advice, solutions to challenges, and can be entertaining, inspiring and of course educational. :) Would enjoy your feedback here by posting a comment!

5 Smart Tools and Tips For the NEW Facebook:

1.  Are you a non-profit and can't figure out how to make Facebook work for your fundraising efforts or how to find donors?
Click here - 10 ways non-profits can benefit from Social Media

2. Your personal brand is so crucial to your success on social media channels due to building the know, like, & trust factor. It's not just about your fan page. You are building relationships first. This one tool (custom and smart lists) will save you time and make your efforts much more effective in getting your posts to the correct audience!  Click on the title here for an excerpt from my NEW "QUICK START SECRETS TO A COMPELLING PERSONAL BRAND: How to INNOVATE your marketing to THRIVE in our SOCIALL REWARD economy!" eBOOK (read through first few paragraphs of the directed page for the download link)

3. Terrific report from HUBSPOT, " How to Master Facebook Marketing in 10 Days" Click here

4.  Want a storefront for your fan page? Sell your products to your fan base? Click here for payvment application.  

 
5. Excellent article on "How to Humanize Your Company with Social Media." Click here    

Keep me posted on what you implement and how it works for you. Wishing you prosperity and progress.

Gratitude,

Marla

May the Joy Rise Within You. Thanks Oprah!

Where have I been? I had no idea of the depth of Oprah's impact on people's lives. My inner world has changed noticeably in the last two weeks since making my living room into a life class with Oprah from 11 pm - 1 am Mon-Fri.

Given that Oprah's daytime show for 25 years was on at 4 pm daily, I rarely had the luxury to watch the show. Either my work as a publicist had me watching her a few times for clients or I would grab snippets here and there on YouTube or late night repeats, but never a consistent diet of Oprah.  I admit, I am an Oprah believer and student now.

This blog entry is far from my branding topic and more about what makes my heart sing in a bigger way. 

How my life could have been different had I embraced her long before this, I don't know. 

But, I do know I am seriously grateful for becoming an Oprah Life Class student 5 nights a week. Her Life Class is now part of my personal development/spiritual practice. 


I had no idea to the depth of her influence in people's lives until this past few weeks. I was brought to tears last night more than once in watching just how much joy she gives to others. I was in awe as I watched Oprah last night demonstrate her true meaning of JOY RISING when she took an entire audience (several 100) to the magical country of Australia last year and how they paid it forward to many in their lives once back home due to her gracious gift. 


These several hundred people had major life changing experiences as a result of their Australian experience with Oprah. During the Life Class show she recorded interviews of several people today who attended that trip and how the experience changed their lives. Remarkable. Talk about paying it forward! Many stepped into non-profit work, gave back to their communities, and forged new relationships that never would have occurred had they not been graced by Oprah's generosity. Now that's a movement like I have never seen before.

Her life lesson last night  - "May the joy rise within you and pay it forward to others." Her vision is to see a joyful world where we give to one another. She lives her life on purpose and that is incredibly inspiring.  

Another "Joy Rising" example she shared from a past show concerned two men in her an "after the show" segment. They were huge Mariah Carey fans and stood up asking to see her. Oprah granted that wish and brought them to her concert.  That day while at the concert, they were asked to be in Mariah's video. So not only did they get their wish but it was even better than they could dream of! Oprah observing their "joy rising" is what she lives for. 

Then the next part of their story is incredible.

These two men changed their lives dramatically as a result of being on her show back then. When they watched themselves once the original show aired, one realized he was heavier than he realized and lost 60 lbs months by disciplining himself to run marathons. The other man noticed a strange lump on his neck while watching himself on TV. He went to the doctor and found an advanced cancer in his neck! He's cancer free today. Had these men not asked for what they wanted and Oprah had not honored their wish, their lives would have had a very different look and feel today. Pay it forward.

The life changing stories just go on and on with this woman. I have since jumped into her online Life Class on her site and even entered her contest to be a chosen audience member (Hey, that's where it all happens!)  for the airing of one of her Life Class shows. She moved her production company out to L.A. (yeah!) and films the show out here. I am putting it out to the Universe to be chosen! 

All of this has led to some very inspirational ideas that will soon be revealed. Let's just say it follows the same theme of "Joy Rising." My inspired idea was born out of giving that which you want. I have always wanted a loving family that was very involved in my life, a true sense of belonging and worldwide travel. So, the theme brewing centers on families, a sense of belonging, travel, joy, and giving back to families who otherwise would not have the ability to vacation together or travel.  More to come. Stay tuned! 

For now, I ask you to inspire JOY for others in some way, some how. Then find the JOY in your own heart and soul and nourish it.

Blessings,

Marla

Entrepreneurs are a rare breed fueling our economy

Entrepreneurs are a rare breed, do you agree?

 

It takes a certain mindset to continue to believe and have faith in our business vision on a daily basis. We are like the warriors of the economy who create jobs for others and create our own income when others are having a challenge finding jobs.

In times like these where the worldwide protest, "Occupy Wall Street," gives voice to higher education graduates seeking jobs but can't make their dreams come true because of the state of our economy - our contribution as entrepreneurs can give hope to others who can do the same if they looked for new, innovative ways to serve humanity with their brilliance.  

I consider myself an advocate for the small business entrepreneur by helping people bring their talents to the world (via online marketing and social media systems) to change lives. We have an obligation to serve humanity. 

Don't keep it a secret by lacking in your marketing consistency.

My value to you is I help you design your savvy authentic personal brand and an online marketing system for today's Social Reward economy in order to reach more people whose lives you change through your expertise.

 

In being that advocate, I also focus on your mindset to inspire you to keep moving in the direction of your dreams. The entrepreneurial journey always begins with mindset.

Given that, I have a unique no-gimmick gift for you from one of my mentors. I am paying-it-forward today with high content information and how-to-mindset-tools that will help you attract new clients.  

I share in her success mindset that if we have expertise that will expand life - be sure to market and offer those services and/or give it away as a gift.

 

One of my lead multi-million dollar mentors, Fabienne Fredrickson, is allowing us to pay it forward with this very unique business guide for FREE, but there is a time limit to its availability.  So don't delay. She won't have it available for free very long.  

Her 34-page pdf download is based on her personal techniques as a multi-millionaire entrepreneur using Universal Law and mindset that helped get her to the million dollar mark and beyond. I learned these from her 2 yrs ago and this stuff works! I'm on the path to my dreams as I do with my clients. 

I know some of you are skeptical about Universal Law, but trust me – Fabienne and plenty other mentors who are consistently earning 7 figures, use mindset and Universal law techniques OFTEN. And that means using it like a well-oiled machine – integrated into their daily work with no negotiation. It's about breaking FREE from a set of beliefs that are not serving you and using the unseen energy to partner with you (with faith & trust).

In 2009, while I was being mentored by Fabienne in her group program, I watched her go from $350,000 revenues to over $1 million in revenues inside of 9 months (yes!) while being mentored by David Neagle, another master mindset and Universal Law coach who earns well over multiple millions coaching others to do the same.  

Now don’t be fooled. There is a ton of action to go with this, but mindset is critical FIRST to your results. 

I know you have heard that many times from me and you will continue to because you can never be the success you really want (and beyond) without integrating mindset into the equation. 

I just implemented several of her techniques for the umpteenth time. I'm excited to see what comes of it. It always works.

Below is the link to her FREE download, “Quick-Start Guide to Attracting 3 New Clients this Month.”  She writes, there is no catch, no opt-in, nothing. Just plain giving. 

It's up for a limited time, so don't delay. This guide normally goes for $39 on her site. I have used the techniques in this guide over the last 2 yrs with great results. I would never recommend something that is a waste of your time or has limited results.

Try something new this week, actually read the guide, and let me know what happens by commenting here on the blog, ok?  Enjoy it... Click here for Quick-start-3-clients-mindset-techniques

In gratitude,