8 Steps You Need to Take to Rock LinkedIn Like a Pro

At over 300 million users in over 200 countries, it’s no wonder that LinkedIn is becoming the first stop online for many business professionals. It not only helps you to expand your network online, but it also allows you to form closer relationships with those that you network with offline. With the ability to connect, endorse, recommend, comment, and share all things business related, it’s a must-have for any professional business person or company.

That said, if you’re wanting to learn more about how to be a LinkedIn rock-star, look no further. We have created a fun video for you that outlines the 8 Steps You Need to Take to Rock LinkedIn Like a Pro.

We hope you enjoyed!

5 Amazingly Simple Blog Post Ideas Every Overworked Business Owner Needs to Know

Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.

And when it comes to digital marketing, working smarter means taking full advantage of what’s already working.

Whether you’re just starting to write blog posts, or you’ve been doing it for awhile you may need some help to come up with topics for your blog posts. 

This post will show to come up with an unlimited supply of blog post ideas based on the premise that you’re going to imitate that which is already working.

5 steps to writing blog posts in your sleep:

  1. Find out what blog posts are already going viral
  2. Improve upon the existing blog post
  3. Be inspired by powerful headlines that are already working
  4. Adapt the headline to fit your blog post
  5. Publish & spend the rest of the day in the hammock, lavishing in the attention from your adoring fans. 

Sure, that sounds easy- but where to start?

First, the research portion. Finding out what posts are trending is easy, if you have this Top 5 Trending list:

Step One:

Find out what to blog about.

  1. Check out alltop.com for posts that are trending
  2. Search Google Keyword + Best + Top 50 + Best 2014 for great blog post ideas.
  3. Go to the Reddit home page 
  4. Go to BuzzFeed.com
  5. Check out medium.com

Step two:

5 Stupidly Easy Ways to Improve Upon Successful Content

Once you’ve found an article that would provide value for your audience to you, spend a few minutes and think on how you can improve it. 

We’re not suggesting you copy the post. Simply use it as a basis from which to start. Then, ask yourself these 5 questions:

  1. If it’s a top 10 list, can you make it into a top 15 list?
  2. Inversely, if it’s a top 10 list, can you make it a top 5 list?
  3. Can you improve upon the image used?
  4. Was there any information missed or outdated?
  5. Can you make it easier or more fun to read?

Step Three:

Creating the best headline for your blog post

Again, we’re going to be inspired by the masters. Check out the headlines on websites like these and make note of one or two exceptionally powerful ones

  1. Mashable.com
  2. Buzzfeed.com
  3. Techcrunch.com
  4. FastCompany.com
  5. The Onion

Step four

Create the best headline you’ve ever not written

Take the most compelling headline you’ve found and modify it to fit your subject matter.

Step five

Publish & revel in your glory.

BONUS Advanced Blogging Manœuvres:

  1. Instal Feedly.com and begin compiling a Google Reader Style aggregate of other industry specific sites that may have great content
  2. Instal the Scrape Extension & Use the “Scrape Similar” feature to get even more hot articles and topics
  3. Opensiteexplorer.com will tell you the most popular pages on any given site– ie- your competitors!

How to write blog posts

This article would not have been possible without the amazing presentation by James WD Anderson at Social Media Camp 2014.

Thank you James!

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Please share it ! Or, if you have a minute and are procrastinating right now, leave me a comment below.

Here’s What You Missed at Social Media Camp

Social Media Camp is an annual 3 day event that takes place in Victoria, BC each spring.

3 main salons and multiple additional spaces at the Victoria Conference Centre bring together presenters and delegates alike to network and share information on the latest & greatest in Social Media today.

At any given time, there are 3 speakers presenting simultaneously, making it Canada’s largest social media conference 5 years running.

Here are my key takeaways from the event.

StoryTelling In Social Media:

In contrast to last year’s emphasis on tactical and practical implementation techniques, this year was very much about the stories we tell on social media.

3 of the presentations I caught were focused on this theme.

How to incorporate stories into your brand and culture, the stories you tell to go viral and the parables used to close the deal were all brought up.

Stories can help alleviate the paradox of disconnect so many people experience in their connections on social media.

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Presenters such as Tod Maffin explained how to build a killer viral marketing campaign.

Steve Dotto explained how to grow your YouTube channel exponentially through the use of visual storytelling.

April Dunford discussed how to incorporate stories into your sales pitch.

Facebook Makes Marketing Challenging:

Facebook’s new algorithm change has dramatically decreased visibility of Facebook pages.

This move makes it clear that marketers and businesses are now expected to pay in order to reach their audience.

The topic of how to maneuver in the new Facebook landscape was another underlying theme.

James WD. Anderson highlighted the strategic imperative of sending Facebook fans to your website or other web property to help convert.

Matt Astifan’s entire talk was based on how to manage Facebook Advertising effectively and Amber Osborne & Sean Smith discussed whether 100 customers or 100,000 likes is better for business.

Content, Content, Content:

As expected, most speakers and attendees stayed obsessed with content.

Attendees took photos of themselves with hashtag signs, and many speakers discussed how to create & curate content that converts.

If you missed Social Media Camp, and would like to learn more about attending next year, click here to visit their website. 

To get more information on this past event, search #smcamp on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & Google +

 

 

 

Winner of the Social In 17 ; Vancouver Business Network Event Announced

An enthusiastic crowd of business owners gathered at the Vancouver School of Music, April 22 to attend my 60 minute presentation of Social In 17- Successfully Market Yourself on Social Media in Just 17 Mins a day

The presentation is on the subject of my new book, and is intended to give business owners the exact practical and tactical tools they need to successfully market themselves on social media.

Hosted by the Vancouver Business Network, the seminar was a great success.

Networking followed my presentation, and I got to interact with almost all the attendees!

Door Prize Winner Announced! Congrats Mila Herenda!

Mila Herenda- winner of the doorprize!

Mila Herenda- winner of the doorprize!who won a “Get Your Toes Wet” Internet Marketing Assessment Valued at $1997:

“Get a complete assessment of your online performance, complete with competitor analysis.
 
Learn where you stand in the online marketplace; what your organization is doing well and 
 what it needs to change. Get an understanding of the opportunities for growth and under 
 serviced niche markets.
 
Assessment includes:
 
● Website 22 Point Checklist- how well is your 24/7 sales tool performing?
 
● Search Analysis- can you be found where your customers are searching for you?
 
● Social Media- complete network assessment- where are you online and is it working? 
 
● One Hour- One on One consultation and Question and Answer period with Laurel
 
Congrats Mila!
For more info:
What people say about the Social in 17 Presentation
Learn more about Social in 17 the Book