Barbara Casey's
"Messages from the Soapbox"

Vol 7, No 8 - July 7, 2008

In This Issue:

-  Making Friends on FaceBook - For Business
-  FREE TELECLASS: Your Divine Business Manager
-  Recession-Proof Your Business Audio & e-Report
-  Network for Inspirational Writers and Spirit Channels


Making Friends on FaceBook - For Business

The main reason for business owners to use social media sites such as FaceBook is to entice more and more people either to a sales page on your website or to your ezine signup box. You can do this by establishing your credentials as an expert in your field through the things you do and say on the various social media sites.

FaceBook.com is definitely worth joining, especially for spiritual entrepreneurs. Even though it has over 70 million members, you can still hobnob with some of the well-known people in your field. In marketing, for example, I've become "friends" with Alexandria Brown, the Ezine Queen, Seth Godin, author and founder of Squidoo and Joan Stewart, The Publicity Hound, whose newsletter I've been reading for many years.

A lot of people are still making their way to FaceBook, so I've become friends with a couple of my favorite mystery writers, too. If you join FaceBook and locate my profile page, you can see who these luminaries are.

But you'll have to become my "friend" first... and I hope you look me up!

The value of inviting the gurus in my field to become my FaceBook friends isn't just for ego. It's because these folks have something to teach me. I pay attention when they post things on their pages... or recommend another member's products and services. That's how it works. You become friends with people, you get to know them over time, you get to TRUST what they say and then follow their advice.

The same formula applies to you, too, as YOU become a trusted community member who offers valuable information... then people will recommend your products and services.

The bigger your friend base, the more people get to read these recommendations about you. This is one way you can create buzz for your business on social networks... by establishing your expert credentials.

If you know what you want to accomplish on a network like FaceBook - whether it's to send people to a sales page on your website, to create joint ventures or partnerships, to raise your reputation within a particular community - you'll first want to make a list of reputable and expert people in your field - both people you know and people you follow through their websites, ezines and blogs. Invite them to be a FaceBook friend. You'll be surprised to see how many say "yes."

When I invite people, I always add a note, saying how I have come to know them. It's polite and it lets them know you're not just trying to pad your friend numbers... although lots of friends on FaceBook is a good thing for business owners.

You can also join FaceBook groups on a variety of topics. Or create one of your own! I already found the Joe Vitale network; many prominent authors have groups and fan pages you can join; just about any subject area will have a few groups dedicated to it. I found a 4,600 member group of spelling fussbudgets... just like me! I was able to mention my spelling tutorial web page in a post, because the conversation thread was all about spelling mistakes that make them cringe.

By the way, there are public groups that anyone can join and private groups that you have to be invited to. That's how I first heard about FaceBook. A family member started a private group for a family cruise we were all taking. Nobody else could see our conversations. If you need a private business group, consider FaceBook as your
vehicle.

On the public groups, every time you post, everyone who is a member can see your contribution. And THAT's the value of FaceBook. Thousands of potential customers can see what you have to say.

And for that reason, there are a couple of don'ts I'll suggest if you're networking on FaceBook - or any other social network, for that matter. One is not to be too pushy about selling stuff. It's best to be a resource with good information that you offer freely (that helps solve a problem). You can post about a product or service if it speaks to someone's need on a group. Just don't make it sound like an ad; rather it should be an answer for a problem or a question another member posed. A lot of people get that wrong and lose credibility because of it.

Here's a "do." Do be generous.

I don't mean that you should pander to your FaceBook friends, but if you're reading one of their books, say so in the little status update that lets your friends and THEIR friends know what you're doing. If you give someone else a plug that helps their business, they might just do the same for you. Law of Attraction and good
manners. Plus, it's friendly!

Your profile page on FaceBook deserves thoughtful consideration. This page displays a lot of details about your life. Once you've joined FaceBook or any other network, you'll want to enter your profile details, so people can get to know you better.

I've created a tutorial that briefly covers the most important points when it comes to creating your profile for social media sites. Because the sites all ask for pretty much the same information, and because FaceBook is likely to be one of your main
networking places, I've used the FaceBook profile outline as a guide.

You'll find the FaceBook Profile Tutorial here.



FREE TELECLASS:
Your Divine Business Manager

Date: Wednesday, July 16

Time: 7:00 PM EDT / 6:00 Central / 4:00 Pacific

A change of pace teleconference for spiritual entrepreneurs, teachers and healers...

My first two teleconferences were jam-packed with information. This one will create a space for us to venture inward to receive guidance from our "inner business manager."

If you have ever "sat" in circle before, you'll know the power that can be created when a group of like-minded people join energies for a common purpose. That's what we'll be doing on July 16. Creating a meditative environment with enhanced energy to help us reach a higher level of wisdom on how to proceed in our business.

If you have specific questions about business direction, bring them with you... but the main focus of this teleconference will be to receive guidance on the next, higher level that your business wants to take.

We are undergoing some pretty significant energetic shifts on our planet just now, and these changes in frequency are affecting our physical and subtle bodies.

The shifts are also requiring us to revise our business vision to a higher frequency, too.

You may have felt the need to make a change already... or you may be wondering why things all of a sudden came to a standstill... or just got stuck and couldn't get released.

Welcome to the club.

My teleclass on July 16 is designed to help spiritual entrepreneurs see a bigger picture than they are used to... to get a glimpse of how the energy is evolving for their business.

I hope you'll join us!

Follow this link to register for Your Divine Business Manager:



Recession-Proof Your Business Audio & e-Report

The audio and e-report for the teleclass "Recession-Proof Your Business" is now available for a nominal fee of $4.99.

Here's what's included:

> A full hour audio presentation for recession-proofing your business using Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

(In recessionary times, people typically conserve their funds for needs, rather than spend them on wants or desires. My audio and e-report show you how to redefine your business offerings and marketing message to reflect this trend.)

> A 15-page e-report with the written text of the audio, plus additional tips and tweaks for bringing in cash quickly

> A resource list of 19 directories for listing your business online - with links

> A list of the marketing ezines you need to be reading

> Tips on pricing, finding free stuff for your business, where to post your articles online

I think you'll find the information in the audio and e-report both thought-provoking and useful.

Here's where you can find more info:
www.newradiance.com/recessionproofyourbusiness.htm

Network for Inspirational Writers and Spirit Channels

If you're an inspirational writer, automatic writer, spirit channel... or love to read channeled works, I hope you'll visit my brand new network at www.spiritwriters.com.

This is an online community for sharing our works, supporting one another, learning new publishing ideas, and for expressing the sheer joy that a close relationship with spirit and our inner Divinity brings.

NEED A WEB PAGE? If you're a writer or spirit channel, you're invited to set up a page on this network. If you don't have a website currently, you can use your spirit writers page as your "anchoring" Internet presence.

Readers are always welcome to browse the site, explore the different styles of writing and comment on what you read.

Here's the place for spirit writing: www.spiritwriters.com



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Barbara Casey's Messages from the Soapbox:
Bridging your inspirational work and the practical needs of the marketplace.

PO Box 86674, St. Petersburg, FL 33738 ~ (727) 397-2702
Copyright 2008 Barbara Casey