Instructions, Getting Started on ActiveRain Blog community, Google Ranking, Networking info

Hi,

Glad to know that you joined the ActiveRain Blog network.  If you have not joined yet please sign up.

Things to remember as you are getting started:

Make sure that the information you post is original.  Make every effort not to duplicate something else already available on the Internet.  The Google algorithm can detect copies and can tell if the material has already been indexed.  It will not help you with your ranking if you post something that already exists.  So contribute with new information to help yourself and improve the value of the network.

Concentrate on providing information that is unique to your area.  If you think about it, you will find an endless source of data to share, and that you only can bring from your location.

Contribute often and get points.  As you get more points, your profile will move from one page to another and will be featured on pages that have a higher value with Google.  The phone should start ringing at some point.   If that is your goal of course.

Here are a couple "insider" tips:

Tip # 1:  Learn from others 

How to Set Up Your ActiveRain Profile

How to Create a Link

How to Add Pictures to Your Blog

Getting started on the active Rain Community

Think About the Future...ADD VALUE

What are Blog categories, Where should I put my post?

What is Localism

How to Post To Localism  

How to upload photo on Localism

All the above and a lot more

Tip #2:  What's in it for me?  ... when you post something

One of the benefits of ActiveRain besides learning from others and expanding your own network is that it will help your website become more visible on Google.

To make sure that you optimize your benefits, always sign your posts using a signature that shows how to contact you and with links to your own website.

Always use keywords in your posts that are related to your area of expertise and that people using Google may use to find services that you offer.  This is important  to help increase your footprint.  So when you post something always include some keywords related to your business and keywords that you think customers use when searching on the Internet.

Here is an example to make this post "sticky":

If you are relocating to Tampa Bay, are looking for Homes for Sale in Tampa and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call.   Serving Tampa, Wesley Chapel, New Tampa, Lutz, Land O'lakes real estate in Florida.

Also, remember that what you post will be available to millions on the Internet for years to come.  ... Unless you come back and delete your post of course.  In general, remember that on the Internet your are always ON. When you write something, ask yourself,  Will this be good if still available for everyone to see 10 years from now?  If yes, click that "Post Blog Entry" button!

Tip # 3: On Networking 

Great Book to read

"Some Assembly Required: How to Make, Grow and Keep Your Business Relationships"
ISBN: 0976009501
Thom Singer

on Amazon: Some Assembly Required

Here is My Book Summary in point form:

• All things being equal, people do business with people they know and like.
• Place to do Networking on the Internet:

1.      ActiveRain.com
2.      linkedin.com
3.      ryze.com
4.      tribe.net

• Network with your competitors, you never know when they will be overwhelmed and will need to refer out to you.
• Try to help others before helping your business.  Bring people together, introduce people you know to each other.
• Be the "Go To" Person in your field.
• You are always "ON".  Be careful of what you say and act around people. Remember that you are responsible for your reputation and the reputation of the company you work for. This means always and not just from nine to five on weekdays.  It takes years and a sustained commitment to create a network. 
• No one can network for you, you have to do it yourself.
• Realize that other people are part of your path to success and go out there and discover them.
• Treat your interactions with others as an exploration.  Each day try to learn one thing new about someone.
• If asked about how business is doing, answer "It is great, and I look forward to it getting better"
• Make a list of all the companies you want to work with or sell products to. You can use the Book of List in your city,
• Without follow up, business rarely comes from networking. The easy part is meeting people.  The follow up and the building of a legitimate relationship is the most critical.
• A quick handwritten note has a powerful impact.

Example:
Dear John,
    It was a pleasure to talk with you at the .....[ event ]. 
    I enjoyed learning about your company and wish you much continued success. 
    Please let me know if I can ever be of any assistance.
Mario

• Enter every business card you collect into a database.
• When you meet someone:

1.   Dress well
2.   Have a firm handshake
3.   Keep the discussion informal and ask about the other person life.

• Join a toastmaster group.

http://www.toastmasters.org/

• If you want to meet the important people in a company that are difficult to reach, because of their level or their schedule but that will influence your business positively, you should establish contact with the people around them first and work towards an introduction.
  
• Have Professional Business Cards made,  Carry them everywhere,  Include them in your correspondence, letters etc.
  
• Use your own personalized letter head and Thank you cards rather than the ones provided by the standard and cold company logo.
• Record other people information in a database

  such as:  Birthdays, Anniversaries, Spouse and Children names,
                Where grew up, College, Former employers,
                Hobbies

• Send Christmas Cards, Send Birthday Cards,
• Send interesting articles to your network.

   "thought this may be of interests to you"
   "Thought you would enjoy this article"

• Also,  write to authors of articles and thank them for the nice article they wrote.
• Stock your library with extra copies of your favorite books and give them away.
• Invite people over after meetings, conferences etc or invite them to dinner.
• Give Wine bottle signed by the vintner.
• If someone writes an article, have it framed and give it back to them.
• If someone gets promoted send Congratulations.
• Host a wine tasting event at your home.  You can hire a professional sommerlier to come to your house and present the wine.
• Cultivate your network, keep in touch.  Here are some example on how to do this:  
• Hold One-on-One meetings  (coffee, lunch, drink, dinner)
    Create Newsletter  (include Biz Trivia Quiz, readers send in answers to win a certificate to a restaurant. Following month, print the winners)
    Hold seminars,  (invite other to speak)
    Conduct Surveys (in-person surveys, mail surveys, electronic, email, third party ) provide small gift
• Talk to reporters, invite them to coffee.
• Support people that are going through a crisis.  Bring food, give airline miles, send emails.
• Start a peer group with people from different industries help each other.   Set Ground Rules and establish confidentiality rules at the beginning.   Each other can take turn at sharing their problems and their concerns and get to know each other.
• Look for mentors
• Read the news headlines early everyday for 10 minutes.
• If you attend a seminar, write a short report when back at the office to show that it was not just an excuse to get out of the office and share your knowledge so they get something out of it as well.   Talk about the new trends and things that you learn about while at the seminar.
• Make it a habit to read books and always learn.  Read best sellers.
• Never bad mouth or say anything negative about a past employer or manager.

Happy Networking,

Mario

 Mario Levesque,
Engineer, Tampa Realtor , Broker Associate
People's Choice Realty Services,  Tampa, Florida
cell:  813-857-6918
fax: 866-252-9511
Web:  Wesley Chapel Realtor

Web:  Free Resources for Real Estate Agents

Friendly, professional services always