Greetings!!

I'm delighted you're here. :)

If you're a frustrated and overwhelmed entrepreneur or small business owner, seeking support to figure out how to monetize all these new social media tools and platforms, I can help you.

I believe if you're not strategically utilizing Facebook and Twitter along with several other powerful platforms, you're missing out big time on huge profits.

However, social media requires a whole different approach to be successful in generating more revenue. You have to know the right approach. My motto is, "Relationships first, business second."

I'm Mari Smith, and I'm passionate about relationships! Everything I do revolves around people and relationships - fostering new ones, building and maintaining existing ones, helping others with their relationships.

In my consulting and training business, I help small business owners and entrepreneurs increase their revenue and grow their network. We do this with a variety of internet marketing strategies, information products, promotional campaigns, email marketing, buzz marketing, word-of-mouth marketing, and social networking strategies.

This leads me to WHY FACEBOOK? Facebook is a simple, yet comprehensive, easy-to-use platform where you can fully express who you are already and foster your unique personal brand.

You can reach out and connect with a worldwide community at the click of a button: family, extended family, current friends, new friends, quality like-minded professionals, potential joint venture partners, people you admire, paying customers!... the list is endless.

My intent with this blog is to share any and all tidbits, tips, strategies, techniques, tools and news about Facebook that may be of interest to you.

Join me on this exciting path and grow your own NET WORTH as you grow your NETWORK using Facebook as your vehicle.

I am available for hire as your internet marketing consultant and Facebook business coach. More details here. I also offer a complete multi-media program: Facebook for Professionals, along with a ten-session webinar: Facebook Masterclass.

Cheers,

Mari
P.S. - Make sure you add me as a Friend on Facebook, if you haven't already! Please do include a personal message saying where you first came across me. Thanks!

P.P.S. - My husband, Ty, and I currently live a completely mobile lifestyle, traveling the US and Canada in a motorhome. We were greatly inspired by Tim Ferris... and sold our beach home and all furniture in San Diego in the summer of 2007. For more personal info about me, feel free to visit Ty and Mari's Mobile Lifestyle Blog. Live reports from the road as I travel the country in a motorhome with my hubby. :)

• People are opting to provide massive amounts of information (intelligence) - their age, gender, location, interests, contacts.
• This provides the interactive marketer and business person tremendous opportunity to create more effective marketing, using a phased, flexible approach which may include:
  • Deploy a free group.
  • Create a sponsored group.
  • Contextual advertising.
  • Create a widget (application).
• Opportunity for viral growth, velocity - through word-of-mouth.

I've put together my top ten signs you could be addicted to Facebook. Of course, I'm not talking from experience here. <wink>

1. You log into Facebook before checking your regular email.
2. You check Facebook daily, multiple times a day, or all day.
3. Your brain filters everything through Facebook now. You think, ?How can I promote, or market, or share, or propagate this on Facebook??
4. You trawl your address book for who hasn?t signed up yet, or who you haven?t invited yet.
5. You get a bigger buzz from the number of new friends who accepted your add request than you do from a trip to Starbucks. (Yeah, I know, a tough one to beat!)
6. You update your status frequently to put a feed on your friends? profiles.
7. Hours pass before you realize you?ve done nothing but surf Facebook.
8. You carry your laptop with wi-fi wherever you go? just in case.
9. You find yourself thinking about Facebook when you?re away from your computer... Facebook even pops into your dreams.
10. Your usual bedtime has shifted by two or more hours.

Okay, I have to include a #11: You stop talking to people who haven?t joined Facebook yet. LOL. ;)

For more humor, be sure to check my bud, David McCandless' playful spoof site Crackbook.

Facebook is here to stay for professional networking, business building and profitable relationships. If you don?t have at least a basic profile up yet, or you want to optimize your Facebook participation, let me know and I can help.

Also, check out my intro course at FacebookFortunes.com and my multi-media system, Facebook for Professionals.

So far, I think Facebook Pages could well be a nifty feature for established businesses, bands, celebrities and the likes, as they can easily "migrate" their fan base over.

But, for the "small guy", hm, I'm not so sure. Could FB Pages be used to actually build up a fan base?

I created a Page for my Facebook Fortunes online class. But then it just gets confusing - where should we put our attention? We have websites, blogs, microblogs, and Facebook Profiles, Groups and now Pages. Yikes - that's overload!!

I'm also finding it tricky to navigate the whole Page system. I installed the Top Pages app recently which seems to help.

And, I added several pages to my collection. But, I have to confess, I'm not really paying much attention at all to the Updates. Oh, you did know that's how they're communicating with you? :) Click on the down arrow next to Inbox - see the new feature they slipped in without you noticing?

To me, it's just more data, data, data - my brain is swimming in TMI already. Hopefully, we'll start to see some useful information filtering through real soon!

I like Jeremiah Owyang - check out his Page here. Jeremiah always has good stuff to say and share. I'm looking forward to hearing him keynote at the Web Community Forum Facebook Conference in Seattle on December 4th and 5th. I'll be posting updates here for you to follow.

We talked in-depth about using Facebook to build community and grow your business.

As I say, "Grow your network and grow your net worth." And, I shared all about how Podclass works and the free intro class I teach there, Facebook Fortunes.

The clock is ticking 'til the Web Community Forum's Facebook Conference with Jeremiah Owyang as the main keynote. I just read they've sold out the main room, but you can still get a ticket for a secondary room they're adding. This'll be an excellent event to see and be seen, and to learn tons about the power of Facebook.

Can't make the live event?  Stay tuned, as I'll be posting updates on this blog.

Then, I messaged Matt to see if he'd be willing to share a few of his insider secrets as to how he's strategically using Facebook as a business tool. He agreed, and we set up a time through one of his staff members.

If you don't know Matt, you should know this dynamic young man is a mere 29 years old, already a multi-millionaire, owns and runs several wildly successful companies (one of which is among the top ten fastest growing companies in the world!), has his own plane, and much more.

Matt is also a genuine guy - a real family man, willing to share some of his personal life freely on Facebook.

One of Matt's special techniques for reaching out and connecting with his community and potential new friends, is to acknowledge them on their birthday. Simple, yet so powerful!! We all love it when someone remembers our special day, yes?

Be sure to listen to the interview and pick up many valuable tips and strategies from one of the internet's masterful marketers.

Plus, you might be interested in attending Matt's upcoming live event in Atlanta, GA on November 30 - December 2, 2007: Marketing Madness Live.

I think the furor is about the fact online consumers are being "forced" to reveal their shopping habits, not so much that the system exists.

We have to take action to opt OUT, vs. taking action to opt IN. This is counter to the entire permission-based marketing philosophy, in my opinion.

And yes, it sticks in my throat. It makes me cautious about buying stuff online. It makes me want to steer clear of the Facebook Beacon Affiliates - no offense to them, I just want to be more at choice.

Granted, retailers give us about a twenty-second window to happen to notice a small pop-up saying Facebook is about to publish a story. (Don't understand "stories" and "publishing"? The pop up might not make sense to you).

If you're not sure what the heck Facebook Beacon is, check out Dave McClure's excellent post Facebook Beacon & Privacy Settings for External Websites (ex: BustedTees.com) - complete with step-by-step instructions and screenshots. Thanks, Dave!

And, for more exciting Beacon blogging, I recommend these hot posts:

• The Beacon: Clever or Creepy? by Sarah Wurrey
• Close encounter with Facebook Beacon by Charlene Li (husband and wife buy the same coffee table online!)
• Beacon concerns, like News Feed concerns of a year ago, will fade by Justin Smith
• How to block Facebook Beacon by Brad Linder (for Firefox users, install BlockSite)
• Facebook Beacon isn’t in the user’s interest (that means you) by Jonathan Trenn
• FTC Complaint Being Filed Against Facebook by Nick O'Neill (hear, hear for the global opt-out feature!!)

Bear in mind, your privacy IS under your control on Facebook. Be sure to click on that teeny white link at the top right of any Facebook page that says "privacy". You'll notice a new addition to the settings - "External Websites". My only beef with that setting, however, is Facebook's Beacon partners have already done their tracking thang before you get a chance to go in and edit.

In other words, if you haven't yet made a purchase from one of the 40+ Facebook affiliate sites, you'll see nada, zip, zero on your External Websites setting. Facebook says, "No sites have tried sending stories to your profile." Er, yeah - emphasis on "tried", eh?

What do you think? Have you had experience (yet) of Facebook Beacon's stealth tactics?

Jeremiah provided some great information covering these four topics:

Facebook Offers a Ready-Made Marketing Platform

1. Why Facebook?

2. Facebook offers a bevy of opportunities

3. Challenges of Facebook Platform

4. Develop a Strategy

I took several pages of notes - which will be made available to all participants of my Facebook Fortunes free online class.

This was my favorite nugget from Jeremiah:

Use the POST method as your four-step method to groundswell

PEOPLE
OBJECTIVES
STRATEGY
TECHNOLOGY

People

Demographics, technographics
Is FB my audience, what are they talking about?
How do they use technologies?
What do they want?

Objectives

What is it you are trying to accomplish? Reach customers, work with existing ones?

1. Listening - Sponsored Groups, Profile Research – Earnst & Young,
2. Speaking – sponsored groups, ads
3. Energizing (viral/wom) victoria’s PINK, apps
4. Supporting (peer to peer), customer created groups
5. Embracing (the most sophisticated – only a few companies doing this: letting customers define and become contributors. Dell, Intuit)

Strategy

Plan for how relationships w/customers will change.
Gain market intelligence.
Learn how to use advertising efficiently.
Embrace & lead communities.
Deploy campaign.
Widgets, sponsored groups/pages, integrate.

Technology

Decide which social technologies to use.

MUST get in this order. Hear, hear. So many of us come to Facebook and go into overwhelm - the options (and rabbit holes) are abundant! Developing clear objectives and having a strategy are key! Be sure to review the free materials at my Facebook Fortunes class.

Listen to my interview with Jeremiah conducted in October where he shared lots of valuable nuggets, very similar to today's presentation.

UPDATE: Jeremiah posted the slides from his presentation this morning! :)

Be Santa has lots of really cool features: send your friends gifts, write letters to Santa, enter to win prizes. And, Santa is giving away $2,500 on Christmas Morning.

BTW, Be Santa is the first app to integrate Amazon Associates' real time data. Now that's cool!

However, I found the "Continue" button a tad annoying to say the least!! Cleverly created to blend in with what appears to be Facebook's navigation, when clicked on, it takes you to an ad. Hmph. As a user, I want to continue on with the app, not click off the page.

...and, try as hard as I could, I was not able to get past the "Skip" (friend invitations) feature. Is it just me? I had to dig around to find the App's page with Discussion/Wall.

Rodney Rumford shared the stage with Jason, and he'd just encouraged app developers to include a force friend invitation feature. Sorry, but I don't care for this at all. I want to fully delve into the app, THEN decide if I want to share it.

I wish app developers could/would message users to solicit feedback, and offer incentives for word of mouth marketing by influencers (being a "sneezer" as Dave McClure calls such peeps).

I'm a raving fan of affiliate programs and like to be rewarded for passing along details of products and services. BUT, I first have to review and experience for myself whatever it is I'm endorsing.

Have you tried Be Santa? Let me know if you have a different experience or perspective.

UPDATE: I just went back to the Be Santa app after a time lapse and noticed the "Continue" button is dynamic. Now it says "Try it!" - also in Facebook navigation style. Again, it goes to a sponsored ad. Grr, interesting tactics!

UPDATE: Okay, now I see other apps use this same tactic! Sorry to pick on your app, Jason! I just listened to Lee Lorenzen on Why Facebook is Worth $100 billion and he mentioned his son created the app Birthday Alarm. Huge viral effect - one million installs in 15 days! And then I see the familiar Facebook button - this time at least it goes to another app (Wink). :)

UPDATE: Now follow along with the audio recording of my presentation:

Over-friending can get your profile shut down in a heartbeat by the FB police (this happened to two of my buddies recently).

The bad news is you'll lose ALL your accepted friends, posts, emails, installed apps - the works. You gotta start from ground zero again. (To my knowledge, there is not yet a reliable way to back up all your FB data).

The good news? Well, you can pretty much restart right away. And, if you somehow manage to get Facebook to respond favorably, they might even reinstate your original account. Who knows.

Tripping someone's hot button can get you plastered all over their blog in a very negative way. Sorry to say, this happened to a good buddy of mine this week.

There really is a certain etiquette on Facebook. I believe I heard it called "fetiquette" once.

Here's the thing: you only have one reputation. I like to live by the credo, "do unto others as you would have done unto yourself." Also, "How you do anything is how you do everything." Everything counts.

I approach potential new contacts with a WIIFT attitude. (They're really contacts to me, not friends - unless we do personally know one another). You've probably heard of WIIFM - what's in it for me. WIIFT is what's in it for them.

I cannot reiterate this enough: whenever requesting a new friend, always, always use the "[add a personal message]" link.

When you click on the link, a text box opens up where you can insert a private message to this person. Best you can, write the note to include:

1. How you found, met, or know this person.
2. Why you want to friend them.
3. What's in it for them.

You might include a compliment as well, though keep it brief as you have a limited amount of characters.

Here's my own friending policy:

Requesting:

Do I personally know them? Are they someone I want to get to know better? Is this a person whose work I know, like and admire? Do we have similar interests? Is there some way we could collaborate? Do I have something that could help or benefit them? Are they offering a product or service I'd like to help promote?

Accepting:

Is their profile photo warm and friendly? Do I recognize their name? Can I view their Friends?* Do we have mutual friends? Have they included an acceptable personal message? Do I like their "vibe"?

*This is not always a prerequisite, as some Facebook members set their privacy settings to hide their Friends from non-friends which is fine.

By the way, something to keep in mind whenever you're unsure about accepting someone you don't know: there's always unfriend, see less of, and block altogether.

Also, be respectful of the fact some FB members only accept friends who they personally know and have met.

What's your Facebook friending policy?

UPDATE: Just wanted to let you know, Armand accepted my friend request. I'll be watching him and Alex Mandossian, among others (like Joel Comm), on their Facebook strategies over the coming months into 2008!

A participant in my Facebook Fortunes class recently posed this challenge to me:

"Hi Mari,

My name is Sara and I am a newbie :)

I just sent you a message from Facebook too. In fact that's part of my question. I'm on Plaxo, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, MSN Messenger, Gmail, Gmail Chat, MySpace, have three Outlook email boxes, a David Allen task manager, Google reader, Blogger blog, and now the Podclass. Is there any way I can consolidate all these (and different usernames and passwords)?

I'm 32 and am certainly not on even half as many sites whatever the kids are into. How does everybody get time to go into all their sites... and remember to?!!

Many thanks,
Sara"

Does this situation sound familiar? I'm sure many of us can relate to Sara's challenge!

As an increasing number of web tools, services, platforms, widgets, and gizmos flood the internet and tempt us, this type of situation will only become more complex and difficult to manage.

Is there an easy solution to social networking overwhelm? I'm not sure.

Here's my response to Sara:

"Hi Sara,

I believe it's a challenge that many people online today face. I know I do.

We only have a limited number of hours in the day - time is the great equalizer. So, as marketers, we're faced with the conundrum of "attention marketing." Equally, as users of all these interfaces, we need to experiment and find where our market hangs out most and where to invest most of our time.

Are you familiar with the 80:20 principle? A guy by the name of Pareto discovered that this applies to pretty much everything in life. If you look in your closet, you probably wear 20% of your clothes 80% of the time. 80% of your income comes from 20% of your clients.

I really enjoyed the book The Four Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss. He severely limits his time online ... and is still wildly successful.

So, bottom line, it really just depends on the individual. We each need to choose the top 20% of platforms that provide the 80% of results we want and ignore the rest.

Hope these ideas help.
Cheers,
Mari"

The key is to have a strategy - what's yours?

BTW, I just checked the My Links app I have on my Facebook profile:

If I add in Facebook, Gmail, and Outlook too, that makes 10 platforms. But I only use TWO every single day, several times a day: Facebook and Twitter. Indeed, 20%. AND, I'm monitoring my results. I'll keep you posted!

The idea behind Frozen Pea Friday is to donate the cost of a couple bags of frozen peas to a fund for cancer research. Read how the campaign got started and quickly flourished here.

Check out this screenshot to the right: the amount of support can be seen by the sea of pea-green avatars from literally thousands and thousands of Twitterers.

I chose this fun one:

I'm fairly new to Twitter myself, and am still getting the hang of this platform. It can be time-consuming. Yet, there's an art and science to using Twitter effectively. I believe we saw an amazing demonstration of Twitter's power today with Frozen Pea Friday.

• For additional creative (and socially acceptable!) ways to using Twitter effectively, check out Chris Brogan's Twitter Revisited blog post.
• I also particularly enjoy Caroline Middlebrook's Big Juicy Twitter Guide.

Do you Twitter? Feel free to follow me!

Looking at the toolbar screen shot above, from left-right, you can:

1. see a list of your friends in order of the most recent status update (I like this one a lot, though I had to widen the sidebar quite a bit to read properly),
2. search the entire Facebook platform,
3. jump to eleven different common features inside Facebook,
4. see how many pokes (ugh, I have a zero-tolerance poke policy - don't even think about it!), friend requests, email messages and group invitations you have, and
5. share web pages on Facebook (this replaces the Share bookmarklet).

On #1 above, the Facebook Friends Sidebar, you can adjust settings further at the bottom by clicking on the Sorting by... link (see screen shot at right).

Status Notifier

Now this IS a nifty feature! I'm assuming it's fairly real-time. As soon as one of your friends updates their status, you get a little pop-up at the bottom right of your screen. (If you use Gmail's email notifier at all, you're familiar with this feature).

Depending on what your friends' status says, you could immediately act upon it, send them a note, post on their wall, etc.

Of course, if you have a lot of friends, the constant notifications could become quite a distraction rendering your time at the computer unproductive (says she, oh great rabbit hole follower).

Good news: you can adjust the settings your way. Click on Quick Links on the toolbar once you've installed it, and click Toolbar Settings at the bottom.

BTW, apparently if you're an IE user, you can install the My FB Toolbar.

Enjoy! And, let me know of your own experience using this Toolbar - I'd love to hear any additional tips!

You set a goal (choose from a selection of preset ideas, or customize your own), then select three accountability buddies.

You can choose to have your goal public, only visible to your chosen buddies, or private. And, depending on your settings, your friends can send you all kinds of inspiration and encouragement!

There's a progress meter, and I'm assuming you get reminders as the deadline looms.

I saw a few other goal apps go by, but Goal Post caught my eye in particular. First, because I respect Keith's work. Second, because it utilizes the S.M.A.R.T. goal principle:

Get started by selecting one of Keith’s seven components to personal success, and then choose a goal within that category. Remember, Goals need to be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-Bound. (For example, “get fit” is not a well-defined goal; “go to the gym three times a week” is.)

And, third, because Facebook is the ideal platform to involve your friends and create built-in accountability.

Goals aren’t best achieved alone. Send one of Keith Ferrazzi’s encouragements, like "You are a rock star! or "You are the architect of your own life" to keep your pal fired up to hit their goals.

Reaching out to your community for support is one of the tenets of resilience - a topic close to my heart as it pertains to my Goal. I'll keep you posted!

Let me know if you add this app, what you think of it, and the goals you set!

Check out Keith's book here:

I've read so many posts on Facebook and blogs and elsewhere about social networking that seem to confuse social networking with what we do on sites like this. Surely social networking is what we do everyday of our lives, whenever we talk to someone, whenever we meet someone new, whenever we develop a business relationship? In this sense, the stuff we do here is an add-on to what we do in the real world, and should not be confused with the real social networking we do at a cocktail party.

I started to respond, but Facebook limits the character space. (They don't tell you; you just get cut off at a certain point!)

So, I'm posting my response here:

Great questions/points you raise, Nigel.

My two cents:

There are several types of "networking" that could all be lumped into two main categories: online and offline.

Social networking is just that - social. Business may arise out of the social connection, but the emphasis should always be on social first.

Facebook and MySpace provide online platforms that allow us to mix and mingle with people we know and people we don't know... yet. Parties, receptions, and the likes do the same thing in person... except that when we leave, we may or may not connect with those people again.

Then there's business networking. LinkedIn seems to be the leader in this online arena. And, there's an abundance of in-person networking groups, clubs, and events for professionals in every major city.

Chatting at a cocktail party could be either business or social depending on the nature of the event.

For me, I subscribe to the concept "How you do anything is how you do everything." I'm not one of those pushy, aggressive, speed-networkers. As a natural Connector (defined in Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point) I know an incredible number of people. However, I take time to nurture and maintain relationships with those I resonate with most and those who are strategic contacts.

During this past holiday season, I attended a slew of social events - each one was casual, social. However, I tend to listen to people and ask questions from the standpoint of who or what do I know that could help them get to the next level?

So, for me, the lines are very blurred between social and business... and between online and offline.

Here are a few excellent books to support your social and business networking!

The Millionaire's Handbook by Mel Kaufmann

It's like Zig Ziglar says, "You can get anything in life you want, if you just help enough other people get what they want."

BTW, writing Facebook Notes is a terrific way of inviting participation, sparking discussion, and introducing new contacts to one another... simply by saying/asking something interesting and tagging certain friends.

Access my free comprehensive 7-page PDF handout for this call here.

My compadres at the esteemed Money & You featured me on their Key Call on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at 5:00pm Pacific. My topic was: Using Facebook for Strategic Business Development.

I shared as much as I could all about using Facebook to grow your network and your net worth!

BTW, Money & You is a powerful 3.5-day program - I first attended in May 1999... and met my husband there! I continue to return to this fabulous seminar whenever I can. Grads enjoy a huge 60,000 strong global network! You'll hear a bit more about this program on the call.

Do you have what it takes to be internet famous? We live in a day and age where the world is literally at our fingertips..... The world wide web that is.

There are a ton of social media websites that you can participate in today like Linked In and Friendster, and they all have their good and bad. The best way to choose a community to participate in is to look at the people who have already joined. For me, Facebook is quite possibly the best sites for networking personally and professionally. I also use Linked In and Myspace. Of all the social networks, Facebook is the best place when it comes to all around marketing and networking.

Lennie Appelquist is the Owner of FreeMarket Media Group. FreeMarket Media Group is dedicated to helping individuals and small businesses generate leads, convert those leads in customers/clients and build a web presence that works for them. We can show you how to make your online business profitable.

I had a gut feeling about this character some time ago when we first friended. In a way, I've only myself to blame for having any interactions at all. I'd stepped in a couple times in the past on Facebook Notes to placate and defend other victims of this person's abuse.

Of course it occurred to me I should unfriend and block this bully. But, truth is, I was concerned about a possible backlash I might trigger. This person seems to have some psychological challenges causing erratic behavior. One minute they seem pleasant and helpful, the next minute they turned into an attacking pitbull.

Everything came to a head when I saw a Note the bully wrote with personal assaults on a fine young professional contact of mine, and I felt compelled to step in and show my support for the innocent person. Sure enough, the backlash I feared came with a vengeance. I immediately unfriended and blocked this harasser.

[To block someone, click on the Privacy link at the very top or bottom of any Facebook page, and enter the name of the person you want to block (see screen-shot). This pulls up the possible profiles, from which you can identify and select the individual to block. You can also write to abuse [at] facebook.com, and you can use the Report feature on Notes and Groups.]

Turns out this same person has been banned from several other sites (including Facebook a few times, apparently!) and blocked by at least two prominent bloggers that I personally know. Yikes! Something is clearly wrong with the security of Facebook's system if a banned person can keep showing up like the bad penny.

Now, let me just say, I'm always of the opinion that if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. I like to uplift, empower and praise people. I like to leave people feeling better about themselves after an interaction with me than before - whether in person, by email, on the phone, or my activities on Facebook.

Thing is, EVERYTHING on the internet could potentially be found by the public. By attacking other people, it says more about the attacker than it does their victims. And, every single time we write a blog post or a comment, or participate in activities in social networking sites - we not only reveal more of who we are and allow ourselves to be transparent, we may also leave ourselves vulnerable to having our postings used against us.

On that note, I'm eagerly awaiting Andy Beal's new book Radically Transparent: Monitoring and Managing Reputations Online - due for publication on March 4, 2008.

My attacker is still out there spreading rubbish about me. And, I'm not sure that, inside Facebook, it's possible (yet) to track postings about yourself from a person you've blocked. Blocking makes both parties practically invisible to each other. (I say practically, because I'm still seeing the occasional email in my Facebook Inbox from this harasser, in response to previous threads with multiple people).

Any suggestions? How can Facebook tighten up their system to prevent situations like this? Is it just a matter of Facebook members being vigilant about who they accept as friends? (After all, Mark Zuckerberg's intent with Facebook is for members to stay connected with people they already know). Even so, there's nothing to stop a "non-friend" from launching personal attacks. Ay-yi-yi... sure leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Caveat emptor.

However, I'm finding it a challenge to keep up with responses - 114 unopened emails last count, oh - strike that, now 115 since I started writing this post! I just can't get to everyone, sorry. (If you've written to me and I haven't responded yet, please do send me another note to let me know you'd like a response.)

I gotta say though, Facebook's email system is soooo broken:

• I can't forward, blind copy, or archive to folders.
• There's no way to search emails for key words or people.
• I can't unsubscribe from Group emails, unless I leave the Group.
• And, here's a kicker: If I'm part of a previously existing thread of multiple recipients, even after BLOCKING one of the people in the list - their responses STILL show up in my Inbox. Arrrgh. C'mon Facebook - that's a loophole in the blocking system.

As I wrote in my last post about Facebook abuse, when you block someone you become almost invisible to each other. Now, with this ongoing thread continuing to land in my Inbox - I see no way to get rid of it!! Darn annoying.

I need to dig out my copy of Getting Things Done by David Allen again. I just checked and have 27 pages of emails, totaling 525 threads. Ugh!! Truth is, I never go back beyond the first couple pages, so I may as well delete the old ones. But, my Inbox is doubling as my archives. Yet I can't search. Hm, maybe I'm a hoarder?! ;)

How about you - what do you love and hate about Facebook email? Have you found any secret tricks to managing the volume or filing for reference?

BTW, I gotta share - one of the *main* things I love about Facebook email is when I contact a well-known successful person, I get a response right away. It's like fellow (most) Facebook members feel a rapport, a trust, an instant connection as if we're members of the same club, so to speak.  I got to interview internet multi-millionaire, Matt Bacak, and he told me point blank we would not have had the discussion had I tried to reach him any other way. Now that's powerful! Kudos to Facebook.

Here's how NOT to set up your subscriber options:

I get emails from Mike Filsaime. I want to change my email address that I'm subscribed under (in an attempt to streamline all my incoming email!)

However, when I scroll to the foot of Mike's latest email... I see there is NO link for me to change my subscriber options. Just a place for me to UNSUBSCRIBE FOREVER. Hmm. Or, I can go to the trouble of clicking through to Mike's blog, support desk or whatever.

I could unsubscribe, then go find where I subscribed and re-subscribe... ay-yi-yi, sorry, takes too much work on my part!

Here's HOW TO set up your subscriber options:

I wanted to also change the email address I'm subscribed under for Ed Dale. With a simple click, I made the change easily and quickly. Yay, Ed!

So, take note - if you have an opt-in subscriber list yourself, do check the default link at the foot of all emails. You could be losing subscribers!

Email marketing isn't as powerful as it used to be with the constant demands on our prospects' attention. Be sure to check your settings regularly for autoresponders and broadcasts.

Thanks heaps to these fine folks on Twitter for the suggestions - I thought I'd share the love on my blog too. I feel like a kid in a candy store! Now I'll add intro/outro music to all my Facebook Interviews.

As you may know, adding music to your audios sure makes a difference. If you have any other hot suggestions, please do make a comment!

BTW, I ended up choosing a clip from RoyaltyFreeMusic.com and I used Audacity (free software) to record and edit the audio and Audio Acrobat to stream.

Elisabeth McLaury Lewin
podcastmama : @MariSmith look here http://tinyurl.com/27bmvg for podcast legal music (2008-02-02 15:12:47)

Eric Weaver
Weave : @marismith: try http://podshow.com - I've found great stuff there. But make sure you credit the artists. :) (2008-02-02 13:54:27)

Roy Blumenthal
royblumenthal : @marismith http://www.jamendo.com/en/ (2008-02-02 13:42:02)
royblumenthal : @marismith http://podsafeaudio.com/ (2008-02-02 13:40:43)
royblumenthal : @marismith http://magnatunes.com (2008-02-02 13:36:53)

Scott Kingery
techlifeweb : @marismith you could try http://tinyurl.com/pv7vw (2008-02-02 13:31:08)

[Why the peas in the avatars? To support Susan Reynolds with Frozen Pea Friday!]

If you're open to Joint Venture marketing, please do check out my invitation! I wrote a chapter for a book coming out on March 14, 2008 called UPPING the Downside, all about how to create resilience by design. My chapter is about relationship resilience. There's a big opportunity for increased exposure and profits for our JV's. :) Any questions, let me know!

Greetings!!

I'm delighted you're here. :)

I'm sure you've heard all the buzz about online social networking giants like Facebook and Twitter. If you're a confused and overwhelmed entrepreneur or small business owner, seeking support to figure out how to monetize all these new social media tools and platforms, I can help you!!

I've been active on Facebook and Twitter since early 2007. FastCompany.com dubbed me "the Pied Piper of the Online World." I'm a Relationship Marketing Specialist and Social Media Keynote Speaker, Trainer and Consultant. I help independent professionals, entrepreneurs and business owners to accelerate their business profits using an integrated social marketing strategy, with particular focus on Facebook and Twitter.

I have a strong background in the world of relationships and internet technology, making social media my ideal arena! I'm passionate about showing fellow professionals how to develop powerful profitable relationships using social media. I currently have well over 9,000 friends and fans on Facebook and a loyal following of close to 43,000 members on Twitter.

Facebook and Twitter are simple, yet comprehensive, easy-to-use online platforms where you can fully express who you are already and foster your unique personal brand.

You can reach out and connect with a worldwide community at the click of a button: family, extended family, current friends, new friends, quality like-minded professionals, potential joint venture partners, people you admire, paying customers!... the list is endless.

After applying my proven Social Marketing methods, my clients typically experience a significant increase in traffic, subscribers, clients, affiliates, lucrative strategic alliances and targeted media attention. My clients and I have been known to land $30,000 single contracts and earn as much as $40,000 in one week, even $16,000 in one hour, directly from Facebook and Twitter.

I'm also an in-demand speaker and travel the United States and internationally to provide social media keynotes and in-depth training. I recently had the sheer pleasure of sharing the stage with Yanik Silver, Bill Glazer, Tony Robbins, Les Brown, Joel Bauer, Brian Tracy, Joel Comm, Joe Polish and Paula Abdul.

I believe if you're not strategically utilizing Facebook and Twitter along with a wide array of other powerful platforms, you're missing out big time on huge profits.

However, social media requires a whole different approach to be successful in generating more revenue. You have to know the right approach. My motto is, "Relationships first, business second."

I'm passionate about relationships! Everything I do revolves around people and relationships - fostering new ones, building and maintaining existing ones, helping others with their relationships.

I am available for hire as your relationship and internet marketing consultant and social media business coach. More details on my services here and my keynotes and workshops here.

Canadian by birth, Scottish by heritage, I currently live in San Diego, California.

I look forward to meeting you soon! See ConnectWithMari.com for various sites to find me. Also, my contact page here.

Cheers,

Mari
P.S. - Make sure you join my Facebook "fan" page if you haven't already!

Feel free to browse my own products and ones I highly recommend and use in my own business.

You're also welcome to sign up for my generous affiliate program and earn 40% (four times industry standard!) commission on my signature products!

==> Register here to be an affiliate and get your unique links: PartnerWithMari.com

Mari's Products:

  Quick Start Social Media Kit

Includes everything you need to know to get started on Facebook and Twitter in particular, along with a wide selection of top tools and ancillary platforms ideally suited to accelerate your social media success! The Quick Start Social Media Kit is both an online virtual product with PDF download, streaming webinars and video tutorials as well as a physical 8-video-CD set shipped to you!

 Social Marketing Method - INTRO program

For a very limited time, you can access a comprehensive online starter package of social media resources, including archives of 12+ live Q&A recordings. Currently one-time fee of $47 then $27 per month thereafter. This is the MOST affordable way to access me and my trainings!!

Mari's Social Media Training Programs

 Mentor With Mari

Social Media Certification program - current iteration (April 09 - October 09) closed for registration. Next program dates to be announced shortly.

 Social Marketing Mastery

Six-week intense mastermind. Next program dates to be announced shortly. Current iteration underway (June 11, 2009 - July 16, 2009).

Must-Have Resources For Your Online Business

Kick Start Cart - complete shopping cart and online payment service.

The only system you need for selling your products and services online via your own secure server. Accept all credit cards, PayPal, e-check. Plus, do unlimited email broadcasts, autoresponders, e-zine, your own affiliate program - the works!

Audio Acrobat - add audio and video to your website.

Ultra-simple system to instantly upload any audio file from your computer or phone, have your own testimonial hotline, record teleseminars and teleinterviews. Weekly free training. 30-day free test drive! This system is the best there is!

...tons more to follow. I've been testing and testing a ton of tools and resources over the years and I know for sure many folks out there struggle to know what choices to make. Let me help you!

Training Programs

...coming shortly! I've been attending the best of the best for the past decade and would love to share with you!

Books

"Read books, listen to tapes, attend seminars… they are
decades of wisdom reduced to invaluable hours."
~ Mark Victor Hansen

...coming shortly! I'm an avid reader with a library into the thousands! I'll be listing here my top picks to help accelerate your emotional, spiritual and financial growth!

Twitter is the fastest growing social network: traffic has grown over 600% in the past 12 months. An estimated 5-10 thousand new accounts are opened per day. And yet, even with its 140-character simplicity, Twitter can be infinitely more complex than Facebook to understand how to use effectively. There’s a right way and a wrong way and you need to know the difference.

Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites are extremely powerful marketing mediums through which to exponentially grow your business, in particularly through quality joint ventures.

Regardless of what you read in the news, online or what your kids tell you - Facebook is an incredible platform to connect with quality, like-minded professionals, find joint venture partners, attract TOP paying clients, gain media attention and establish yourself as the expert in your field. And, despite its relative simplicity, Twitter is a super powerful platform for instant visibility.

I'd love to join your marketing team and support you in creating a step-by-step strategic integrated social media plan, incorporating Facebook and Twitter among other platforms, to explode your business.

Ready to Fast-Track Your Social Media Results?

THE *most* affordable way to access my materials: Social Marketing Method - basic introduction program. Just a one time fee of $47.00 and then $27 a month!!

My signature program, Social Marketing Method - lifetime membership: an online self-study multi-media program, with a 200 page e-book, video tutorials, audios of dozens of interviews with active Facebook users, webinars, additional PDF guides and active forum, updates for LIFE, plus complimentary strategy session. It is by far the best way to jump-start your Facebook, Twitter and social marketing strategy. Click here to find out more.

NEW: Social Marketing Method QUICK START Program - includes three LIVE 90-minute webinar sessions. By popular demand, I put this program together specifically to help with more hands-on training. You get three sessions for much less than the price of one individual session with me!

One-on-one Social Marketing Consulting:

There's a science and an art to using Facebook, Twitter and other social media to create significant profitable results - let me show you how with my Social Media Coaching services. With three different options to choose from, plus customized services, I'm here to support you in creating and implementing a proven social marketing strategy. You're welcome to contact me directly and we'll set up a time for a strategy session to discuss your company's specific needs.

For committed professionals only:

Mentor With Mari - a brand new protege program designed to help you add social marketing consulting on to your existing business model.

Social Marketing Masterclass is a small-group training. Join a small group of fellow committed professionals in my private Webinar room for six intense weeks. This program is intentionally kept very exclusive for extreme hands-on support. Only those serious about exploding their business with social media should apply to see if you qualify. More details here.

Join my Facebook Group:

I'd love to include you in my Group on Facebook called, Facebook Fortunes. Come learn valuable tips about using Facebook, connect with like-minded professionals, and discuss social media strategies.

Join my Facebook Fan Club:

Hop over to my Facebook Page and click Become a Fan. Be sure to add your Twitter URL to the discussion thread about Twitter. I share content on my Page not shared elsewhere and I encourage you to do the same. There are many reasons you should have your own Facebook Fan Page.

Subscribe to my Facebook Blog:

Stay up to date with Facebook and social media on my blog by subscribing via email or your favorite RSS reader: Why Facebook? Social Networking for Fun & Profits

I'm maxed out on Facebook friends :(

I'd love to stay connected with you via Facebook. I've hit the 5,000 friend ceiling, however. Good news though - Facebook will be lifting the limit later in 2009!

Follow me on Twitter for valuable Social Media Tips:

Are you active on the fascinating "micro-blogging" site Twitter? I frequently tweet Facebook, Twitter, social media and internet marketing tips!

(Please know that if I could wave a magic wand and have super human powers, I'd have all the time in the world to personally speak with every individual in my community. However, with the sheer volume of emails and phone calls, I've had to implement various systems to help me be of better service to you.)

I look forward to connecting real soon!

Email:	Customer Support: customercare@marismith.com All other inquiries: mari@marismith.com  [Note all emails to these addresses are screened by my main assistant, Christina, in order that I can be informed of urgent & important matters].
Toll-free:	888-316-4338  To set up an appointment for a phone chat, please send an email to mari@marismith.com and my main assistant, Christina, will help schedule your call.
	Follow me on Twitter: @marismith. I auto-follow all my followers back and you're welcome to DM (direct message) me anytime. Please know that I am not always able to personally reply to all DMs though I certainly do my best!
	Access my Facebook Profile. Join my Facebook Fan Page. Please note, I am often unable to personally reply to all Facebook email. My team will alert me as to any urgent and important matters emailed via Facebook email.
Mailing address:	Mari Smith 11956 Bernardo Plaza Drive, #201 San Diego, CA 92128
Please also see:	ConnectWithMari.com
Fax:	858-348-2552

I look forward to connecting with you soon!

Cheers,

I'm all for revealing information about my personal life, my personal thoughts and opinions. I think it does my business good; my community gets to see (most) all of me. They get to know me on a deeper level, and see my habits, interests and quirks.

However, here's what I also know for sure: just because personal spills into professional, doesn't mean we can't also have a third element - and that is private. Each of us has a private life too and that's where the line should be drawn.

Thing is, even in password protected, membership only type sites and communities, I'm of the opinion that anything you don't want the whole world to know about you should not be posted online. 

So, it's up to you, but I think you can let your hair down a bit and choose to be as transparent as you wish, yet not be in fear of totally exposing yourself online!

On my next post, I'll share a short how-to guide on adjusting your Privacy settings.

In my experience, most Facebook members don't know how to properly adjust their privacy settings. Or they don't understand the implications of all the settings.

For me, I choose to have most all of my profile page viewable by anyone for the very reason my Twitter friend is pointing out: how will you know you'd like to connect with me unless I let you see at least some information about me?!

HOW TO PROPERLY ADJUST YOUR PRIVACY SETTINGS.

First, know that the navigation on Facebook is the same on every single page. The top, left, and bottom links ALL relate to your account.

So, click on privacy at the very top right (also appears at the very bottom right), and on the page that comes up click on Profile as shown in the screenshot below:

On the next page, click on the dropdown menu next to Profile and make sure the setting is All my networks and all my friends. This should hopefully be self-explanatory.

However, you also need to tweak the settings to override this one for everyone outside of your network. Otherwise, you're not visible to millions of potential new friends in all the other networks. 

So return to the privacy page and click on Poke, Message, and Friend Request, as shown in the screenshot below:

On the next page, you now have the option of selecting any or all of the various portions of your profile that you'd like to temporarily allow anyone to view.

As I've highlighted in turquoise for you below, you'll see what this does is help people identify who you are before they respond.

As you can see, I've chosen to select all the categories. If you deselect all of them on your settings, people who are not your friends and who are outside your network (depending on which setting you chose under Profile), will NOT be able to see anything about you except your name and profile picture. That's it. (I actually helped my mom set up her profile like that so she could feel confident with the highest level of privacy).

Need help with other how-to guides on Facebook? Be sure to join my free online class for professionals at Facebook Fortunes.

The book is out now and I give it 5 stars! I also recommend Jason and Jesse's blog for tons of valuable Facebook tips: FacebookAdvice.com.

Jason is the creator of Jibber Jobber, a career-related service. However, I wasn't fully clear on how the service works and noticed Jason's email signature block says Career Management || Personal Relationship Management, which piqued my interest. I asked Jason to elaborate on what this means. Here's his response:

You can think of JibberJobber as a Salesforce.com for an individual.  So, where Salesforce is a Customer Relationship Management, heavy on the “sales” stuff, JibberJobber is heavy on the personal and professional relationships. 

It was inspired by career experts and networking experts, and so what you get is a website catering towards you and your career.  Whether you are happily employed and looking for that next promotion, cautious about a downsizing, an entrepreneur, or a mix of any of those, JibberJobber provides you with CRM-like tools. 

The key is, if I work at a company, and they give me Salesforce, once I leave that company I leave my database.

JibberJobber is yours for life.  No company owns it – since it’s your career, you take it with you.

Now that's powerful!!! Go register for a free account, and you'll also enjoy a 14 day free trial of Jibber Jobber's Premium Services.

In this day and age of diminishing (or zero!) job security, I believe it's critical each of us take full responsibility and control of our careers.

I understand many people stop using Facebook (like the droves of my fellow Brits) because they simply get overwhelmed with the app invites, poke wars, and daft requests from complete strangers.

Well, I highly recommend you keep using Facebook - hang in there, it can only improve over time!! Just apply this nifty new ignore all link liberally! Here's how:

When you open up Facebook, you're on your Homepage (with your News Feed). Over to the right, you see the various Requests awaiting your attention.

Click on any of the Request links and you'll be taken to the main Requests page with Friend Requests, and Group, Event and Application invitations. That's where you'll see the small "ignore all" link - at the top over to the right, next to the word Requests. 

Now, when you click on this link - unlike the Ignore All bookmarklet (made by a third party) which instantly zaps app invites - Facebook's own ignore all link brings up another window where you can choose which Requests/Invitations you wish to ignore. That includes Friends, Events, Groups and Apps. See - Bill Gates should've hung in there!

I'd say this is a welcome new feature - would you?

(If we could just get some email improvements now, pleeeeeeease!!)

This call is a crash-course in how to optimize your Facebook experience and your Facebook activities to build a truly global network. Perfect for Money & You grads... and all others too!

Access the information-packed handout with 27 slides (in PDF format) along with the streaming audio/MP3 download in my Facebook Guidebook for Professionals.

Do you have any gaps in your Facebook knowledge? What's missing that would make all the difference?

However, now there's a new feature from Facebook: Friend Suggestion.

Here's how it works:

How do I suggest a friend to someone?

• After you confirm a friend request from a new user, you can suggest to your friends that they also send a friend request to the user.

• Clicking "Suggest friends that [Name] may know" will bring up a window of all of your confirmed friends.

• You can use the search bar to find a particular person, filter all of your friends by network or simply scroll through your complete friends list.

• Clicking a friend’s picture will add them to the “Selected” tab.

• Once you’ve made all of your selections, click “Send Suggestions” to send a suggestion to each user that they add the new user as a friend.

• The suggestions will appear on your friends' home pages, and will allow them to quickly send a friend request to the new user.

• Please take note that you currently cannot suggest friends for users who have been on Facebook for some time.

I'm a tad disappointed at this last point about not being able to suggest friends retroactively. This feature only applies to NEW Facebook users. Still, I can just use the Introduce Me app for "old" Facebook members! (Though I believe the introduced parties have to install the app. Bah.)

So, what do you think? "So-and-so is new on Facebook. To welcome him/her... suggest friends that he/she may know." Is that really to help new users get started on Facebook... so they keep using it and get excited about it and don't leave? ;)

I do recommend writing a warm greeting on new friends' Walls. Look for something in their Profile that you can make a positive comment about. Often the person will respond back and you can begin a new personal or professional relationship that way.

I'm going on a wee rant here! Sure, it's true you don't know what you don't know. But sometimes I think people are chancing their luck.

See, I just received my umpteenth friend request... from someone who set up a Facebook Profile in their business name. Actually, worse, it's in the name of a huge international MLM company. I'll bet you a dime to a dollar this account has been set up by an independent rep. BIG no-no. Probably in breach of the company rules too, not just Facebook's.

I totally get it's not all that clear!!! However, Facebook PROFILES are for your own personal account in your first and last name. In order to represent your business on its own "profile" in Facebook, you must set up a Facebook PAGE. Yep, confusing! However, that's why I'm writing this post - to hopefully educate those folks who aren't clear.

See Facebook's Terms of Use - emphasis added by me:

If you're in business for yourself, I highly recommend you set up a Facebook PAGE. You may already have a Group as well. And, that's okay. One of the primary reasons I recommend getting started with a Facebook Page is you'll enjoy high Google ranking! Facebook currently has an Alexa ranking of 7.

Facebook used to create Page URL's with your Page ID#. Now, they include the keywords from the title of your business. Good or good?

That way, more people can find you online. You're welcome to be a Fan of my Page.

By the way, if you receive friend requests from Businesses, I recommend you ignore them. If you're feeling helpful, you could take the time to send them a message and point them to the Facebook Terms of Service (or my blog post here!).

And, in case it's not obvious, you don't want to do something against Facebook's Terms of Use, and build up an active high-trafficked Profile in the name of your business... only to have it torn down by Facebook, right? May as well start on the right footing with a business Page.

Got a Facebook Page? Include the URL in your comment here!

However, now you can post your Page (business) to your Profile (personal) and/or invite specific friends to come check out your Page and Become a Fan.

Go to your Facebook Page, and click on the Share with Friends link at the top right. This familiar window pops up:

You can Post to Profile (that's your personal profile) which goes into your Mini Feed and pushes out into your Friends' News Feeds.

Or, the default is Send a Message where you can insert Friend names, Friend Lists, and/or for those contacts not yet on Facebook just type in their email address.

Be careful not to overdo the inviting though. Facebook frowns upon heavy messaging and you could receive a warning. I recommend just inviting a few people at a time over several days or even weeks.

See my post here for more on Facebook Pages and why need one.

Here's what to do:

1. Register for your place on the call here.
2. Then, sign up for your affiliate link here.
3. Once you're registered as an affiliate, log in, (1) click on Links & Tools at the top, (2) under "Choose a Program" select "Facebook TeleSeminar with Mari Smith" and (3) click on "Display Links."*
4. Copy and paste your affiliate link [looks like this: http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=xxxxxxx] to your blog, website, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, ezine - wherever you wish. And/or use the pre-written email.

*Here's a screen shot of the affiliate center once you're logged in:

Thursday, March 13, 2008 at 10:17PM PST

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Technorati is an Internet search engine for searching blogs, competing with Google, Yahoo and IceRocket. Technorati currently indexes over 112 million weblogs!

• Wrote on her Facebook Profile Wall.
• Emailed her through Facebook, asking why she'd taken my material verbatim.
• Emailed her through Podclass.
• Emailed her via the contact form on her main website.
• Called her and left a voicemail message.
• Removed her as a Facebook friend.