Do you actually have personal contact with those you “Like” or “Friend”? Do you continue that connection by being involved on their page providing your comments and suggestions? Do you “Like” without much thought and move on to the next thing to “Like”?

You’re a Facebook Fraud if:

• You only “Like” a company to get something in return (coupon, freebie, etc.).
• You have no intention of participating or commenting on their wall.
• You do not talk them up on your Facebook page.
• You find that you hide their notices instead of “unliking” them.
• Your only reason for Liking a page is to be listed as a fan to get yourself exposure.

You’re a Facebook Fan if:

• You selectively “Like” those pages that you feel deserve your kudos because you genuinely like their product or service.
• You post to your Wall about why you like a page encouraging your friends to do the same.
• You consistently post and participate on their Wall and “Like” updates.

You’re a Facebook Friend if:

• You actively comment and “Like” your Friend’s updates.
• You talk up your Friends products or services to your Friends.
• You send a private message (off your Wall) every once and awhile.

You’re a Facebook Anti-Friend if:

• You are an anti-Friend if do not have regular contact with your “Friends” and only remain a “Friend” so that you can have a “look at me” number of Friends or want to watch others lives without being involved. That isn’t a friend — that’s a voyeur. Creepy.

When I participate in social media, I am persnickety as to what I Like, Fan or who I Friend. I really mean it and do not hand out those Likes very often. I’m not impressed when I am Liked/followed by someone following thousands of others. I know there is no way they can follow me and everyone else with any meaning or intent. Nor am I impressed by followers who never contact me directly — even just to say “Hi!” or “thanks for all the great info!”.

Just think of all the clutter we could be rid of if everyone only connected those who they sincerely liked and were involved with both personally and professionally?

I’ve touched on this before [ Are Social Media Friends Really Friends and Social Media Privacy and Voyeurism ] — social media isn’t about numbers, or how many followers you have or how many people click “Like” without a second thought. It is about engagement and communication on a personal level. But that may just be me….

At your service,
Judith
Your WordPress Consultant

Facebook Friend, Fan or Fraud? is a post from: WordPress Consultant: Judith Kallos, At Your Service...

I no longer recommend static HTML sites to new clients. That makes me unpopular with those unwilling to embrace the current techno-environment. I find it uncomfortable to be paid to create something I know will not be effective, be taken as seriously or promote their brand as effectively as a WordPress site can accomplish with minimal investment.

vintage

-noun
the class of a dated object with reference to era of production or use
–adjective
old-fashioned or obsolete

Why wouldn’t you want to take advantage of the easy of use interface and ability to manage your own content and exposure that being on a CMS (Content Management System) like WordPress offers over a static, brochureware type site? The truth be told, only those who are not willing to embrace the technology of now still have static HTML sites. And, don’t think site visitors do not recognize that.

What is brochureware? Back in the day, that term applied to small 1-5 page type sites that had just the basic introductory blah-blah-blah but no substance. This was the info the site owner wanted visitors to know and nothing more. These site owners generally were so unwilling to embrace technology that they actually convinced themselves that glorified business card sites could produce results.

Now, I find I can’t help but include any static HTML site into that category. HTML sites do not offer the necessary interactivity, discussion, updates and social media that are the hallmark of companies who are embracing technology. Look like you are not embracing technology and that makes site visitors wonder what else you don’t want to deal with in the operation of your business.

If your comfort level does not allow you to be involved above and beyond e-mailing your “Webmaster” for inconsequential updates and tweaks to content that has not evolved since your site originally launched; then you really should question why you are online at all. No one is going to take you seriously in a day where customers expect so much more interaction and transparency on sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn (minimally!).

The online business environment has been heating up. Über competitive is an understatement! Online business has always been an interactive medium; but initially one that site owners could decide as to how much they wanted to interact and still do relatively well. That no longer holds true. If you want success or any quantifiable results you no longer have the luxury of having a Web site on your terms. Well, you do — but your competitors will thank you for staying in the last century.

You have to be involved, interact, sell online if apropos, network and be social or those sites (a.k.a. competitors) that do will get the traffic and new customers. See being social means engaging your site visitors and sharing your expertise and knowledge in real-time. Human beings are by their very nature social beings — as evidenced by all the online communities that now have everyone’s attention.

Sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, Stumbleupon, Twitter, Technorati, Sphinn, Digg and others, are changing how businesses are communicating with their market. If your competitors are properly embracing this environment and you are not, how can you honestly expect any weighable results? The answer is you can’t. If you still have a static HTML site — time to take things up a notch!

This is a movement, a shift, an evolution that serious business owners must embrace moving forward if they are genuinely serious about their success.

At your service,

Your WordPress Consultant

Static HTML Sites are Soooo Turn of the Century… is a post from: WordPress Consultant: Judith Kallos, At Your Service...

While your WordPress site makes this process a little easier by virtue of plugins, you still need to make the time to get your WordPress Site out there!

Step One: Get Your Profile and WordPress Site Info in Place/

That is why it is so important to choose those that work best for you and that you enjoy. If you think about it, if you don’t enjoy what you are doing it becomes more of a chore. And, when you are not enjoying yourself, you end up not doing as good of a job as you should.

For my sites/Blogs, I utilize about a handful of the list below on a regular basis. Even then I find that my time is pressed to do the best I can. The key is to determine what your goals are — what you enjoy — and do your due diligence to know which site/service would help you accomplish those goals (and have some fun in the process). Then make the time to take the time to stop in on a regular basis, engage and participate!

Most importantly, gratuitous efforts to just “be there” to push your products/services will be clear to the other participants of the site and be basically ineffective. Remind yourself of the definition of social:

–adjective

1. pertaining to, devoted to, or characterized by friendly companionship or relations: a social club.
2. seeking or enjoying the companionship of others; friendly; sociable; gregarious.
3. of, pertaining to, connected with, or suited to polite or fashionable society: a social event.

Always remember that genuine, quality, consistent participation are at the heart of any productive social media or networking efforts.

1. Digg
2. Technorati
3. YouTube
4. Stumbleupon
5. Twitter
6. Facebook
7. MySpace
8. LinkedIn
9. Plaxo
10. Sphinn
11. SelfGrowth
12. Flickr
13. Mixx
14. Reddit
15. FriendFeed

“The thing about Social Media that frustrates marketers to no end is that you can’t buy attention and that if you have no choice, but to think and act small, then you’ll try to say well here is a 100,000 person community, how can we buy it? What you’ll do instead if you’re just four people, how can we amaze them? That change in posture, that change in attitude is the single biggest shift, that’s going on the Internet right now.”
~ Seth Godin.

At your service,
Judith
Your WordPress Consultant

Top 15 Social Media & Networking Sites is a post from: WordPress Consultant: Judith Kallos, At Your Service...