Twitter was big but now it’s HUGE. CNN and even the CDC are on twitter – apparently this has proved to be an effective way to keep everyone updated on swine flu! Some entrepreneurs have been quick to jump on this new form of communication while others are dragging their feet.

I understand, I’ve dabbled in Twitter but it’s hard to find the time… That is until the last two weeks, I’ve been stuck at home with sick kids so I’ve invested some time in Twitter. (I also reorganized the closets which was long overdue.)

The results have been interesting. I’m getting followers on a daily basis, I’m getting web traffic and I’m making new business connections. I was even contacted by a marketing firm that’s looking for copywriters – interesting thing is that even though they’re a local firm, they heard about me for the first time on Twitter.

I want to share tips for fellow entrepreneurs who would like to dive in to Twitter but are short on time. Here are three tools that will make it much easier to leverage your time effectively:

·         TweetDeck – This tool will help you stay organized. It’s your personal browser for connecting with your contacts on Twitter and Facebook.

·         TweetLater – This tool allows you to schedule your tweets out. This made a huge difference in my ability to tweet regularly. I can sit down for a few minutes once a week and set-up my tweets for the whole week.

·         Twollo – If you’re just getting started and need to build a base of followers quickly this automates the process.

If you need more tips read Nine Twitter Tips for Business, a great article posted at PCWorld.com.  I appreciated the balance between automating your tweets and keeping it personal. Please post tips you’ve found helpful or your own success stories using Twitter.

One more thing! You can follow me at www.twitter.com/jenodear.

I’m really excited to be one of the speakers at the upcoming Metromom Online Success Telesummit. I’m one of 18 experts sharing information on how to maximize your time and energy with knock-out internet marketing strategies. There will be so much great information about blogging, press releases, social networking, SEO techniques and much, much more.

My talk is about Leveraging Your Knowledge for Profit – How to Confidently & Quickly Create Compelling Content. I will share the following tips:

- How to determine you area of expertise so you can share your information with confidence
- How to be (and stay) inspired so you never experience writer’s block
- How to get it out of your head (or your hard drive) by capitalizing on your style of communication
- 3 shortcuts on recycling content into various forms - articles, newsletters, blogs and even info-products

This is a virtual event that takes place on May 1st and 2nd and the best part is that there’s no cost to sign-up! You can go to this page to learn more about it and watch a great video by MetroMom Founder, Kim DeYoung. (If you can’t make it on May 1st and 2nd sign-up anyway so you can learn about various packages that include MP3s or CDs for all 18 calls.)

Thankfully the internet gives us options! According to Kim DeYoung (AKA the Metromom) there are five steps you MUST know in order to grow your business online AND maximize your time and energy:

-How to Create Effective Design & Motivating Content
-How to Increase Visibility, Buzz, and Revenue
-How to Streamline Your Digital Back Office
-How to Put It All Together With the Right Mindset
-How to Get the Support You Need to Keep Moving Forward

A lot of us are feeling pressure to generate the income we need but we’re not sure the best way to go about it. Kim and marketing expert Laura West will be share how to use the internet to take control of your income and how to do it quickly during their one-time-only FREE teleseminar!

 ”Take Charge of Your Economy - 5 Steps on How to Use the Internet to Prosper and Profit,” will be April 21st at 2 PM Eastern. All you need is a phone. Reserve your space here: http://metromom.infusionsoft.com/go/call/jenodear

This is a FREE preview call for the Metromom Online Success Telesummit, taking place May 1st and 2nd; learn more http://metromom.infusionsoft.com/go/summit/jenodear. I’m one of the speakers that will be participating in the summit so stay-tuned for more details.

It’s tricky isn’t it? If you’re too professional, you’re not taking advantage of the “social” aspect of Facebook by forming “friendships” with others. But if you’re too personal you risk damaging your image as a businessperson.

Here are some tips to help you “walk the fine line”:

Use your real name. People won’t trust you if you hide who you really are. So even if you’re using a “stage” or “nick” name like “Marketing Queen” make sure your real name is available.

Provide contact information. You can use your own discretion when it comes to cell phone numbers and mailing addresses. However, you should always list your website and an email address. This information not only helps establish your legitimacy, it also allows potential clients to contact you directly.

Use the right photo. If you want to play it safe go with a professional headshot. However, there’s nothing wrong with a nice candid shot, as long as your face is clearly visible and there aren’t distractions in the background. I know people who decide to accept or reject friend invitations solely based on the photograph so make sure it’s a good one!

Keep your profile interesting. Write your profile in the first person in a natural, conversational manner. Let your personality shine through because the whole point is to start building relationships. Get personal – but not too personal. If you go on and on about the mundane details of your life, people will lose interest so keep it simple.

Visit my profile on Facebook to learn more about me!

If you have a hard time writing about yourself you can ask a copywriter to help you with your Facebook profile. Just make sure you provide the writer with enough information so that the profile is personal. Nancy Marmolejo provides great social networking tips on her blog so check it out if you want more ideas.

I don’t need to share the statistics with you. Everyone now knows how important Facebook is to marketing yourself and your business on the Internet. I had a few clients that were holding out but they’re starting to see the light!

If you’re a newbie here are a few links that will help:

Facebook Help Center: www.facebook.com/help.php?ref=pf

Tips on finding friends: www.facebook.com/help/new_user_guide.php?guide_section=find_friends

Setting up a profile: www.facebook.com/help/new_user_guide.php?guide_section=set_up_profile

Exploring Facebook: www.facebook.com/help/new_user_guide.php?guide_section=exp
lore_facebook

Safety Tips: www.facebook.com/safety

I’ll continue to share more advanced tips on how to maximize your presence on Facebook. Let me know if there’s a particular topic you’re interested in learning more about.