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Posts Tagged ‘twitter’

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Content is king, email is queen, TV is an Ace

Friday, May 31st, 2013

Facebook can be a good way to get the word out, but it’s just one tool in your tool belt.

Use this social media platform to drive traffic to a website that really means something to you, such as your blog or website. Of course, it’s not that you post on Facebook, it’s what you post on Facebook.

Video—particularly video that is uploaded to Facebook–will get you a lot of attention.

Of course, that same video can be posted to Linkedin, Twitter, Google+, and so on.

That’s why we say …

“Content is King”

When you share useful content related to your expertise, like-minded people will gravitate toward you, allowing you the opportunity to convert them to customers.

Of course, the magic is in the details of what you post, when you post, how often, etc.

But Facebook makes it difficult to do business on their platform for free. Currently, they make sure that only about 16% of the people who Like your Facebook Business (Fan) Page can even see your quote. This can be discouraging.

That’s why we say that if Content is King, then …

“Email is Queen”

Facebook relationships are considered casual and decidedly non-business oriented.

But the people on your email list have almost always opted in, which means they are presumably quite interested in your goods and services.

It’s true that a measly open rate of 14% is considered excellent when it comes to email. Remember that Facebook allows 16% of your business connections to see your posts. Coincidence? I think not.

I use Infusionsoft for my Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) and make money every time I send out email.

That’s why we say that if Email is Queen, then …

“Broadcast television is an Ace”

True, Nielsen has bemoaned the effectiveness of television for quite some time, but something about being on TV really gets peoples’ attention.

To quote my favorite philosopher, Ferris Beuller, “If you have the means, I highly recommend it.”

If you don’t have the means to buy airtime, then make yourself available for interviews so that you can sell by proxy.

And once you have the video file of that television appearance, you can re-purpose it on Facebook and your other platforms. And the marketing cycle repeats.

I just love it when things work out.

-Michael Angelo Caruso, Royal Oak, Michigan

www.MichaelAngeloCaruso.com

Tags: Ace, content is king, dvd, email, email is queen, facebook, ferris bueller, google, google plus, infusionsoft, interview, linkedin, michael Angelo Caruso, open rate, Present Like a Pro, presenting, Speaking, television, twitter
Posted in Career development, Communication, Creativity, Entertainment, Entreprenuers, Growing Your Business, Internet marketing, Marketing, Problem Solving, Sales and Marketing, Self improvement, Social Media, Speaking, Success | No Comments »

Make Firefox open your favorite websites automatically

Monday, May 27th, 2013

Here’s how to make Firefox open several start pages simultaneously.

This saves scads of time and will keep you from having to open your business website, Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, and all your favorite pages one at a time. Here are the three easy steps:

1. In Firefox, go to Tools, then Options, then General.

2. Under the General tab, you’ll see a window where you might normally type in a single URL or website address. Go ahead and type in that address. Then add a vertical pipe afterward. It’s the above the back slash on most keyboards. Then type in another favorite URL and so on.

When I did this, the string of URLs in the Home Page window looked like this when I was finished:

http://www.facebook.com/MichaelAngeloCarusoFanPage|http://www.infusionsoft.com|http://www.hootsuite.com|http://www.MichaelAngeloCaruso.com

3. Click “OK” to close that window.

Now, when when Firefox stars, it automatically opens all of these websites automatically! How cool is that?

The key is the vertical pipe between the addresses.

Yes, please share this Internet tip

You’re welcome to share this article on your website, blog or in your newsletter.

Please mention www.MichaelAngeloCaruso.com when you provide attribution.

More Internet marketing tricks coming to this page soon.

And watch for the announcement of Michael’s next Internet marketing class at his home. He usually lets people know via email, so be sure you’re on his list. Sign up at the website link above.

You’re welcome.

Tags: automatic, browser, facebook, firefox, infusionsoft, Internet marketing, linkedin, michael Angelo Caruso, michaelangelocaruso.com, twitter, websites
Posted in Communication, Internet marketing, Personal Development, Problem Solving, Success | No Comments »

The True Gentleman

Tuesday, March 26th, 2013

People are truly creatures of comfort.

Recent surveys show that when it comes right down to it, most employees prefer a “comfortable” job over a bigger paycheck. Tweet This

Small wonder, really. Society has become much more casual in the last decade, right?

The examples are numerous:

/Written and verbal language structure has been compromised. Spelling isn’t nearly as important as it used to be; auto-correct or bust! Complete sentences? A thing of the past.

/Formalities are viewed as mostly superfluous. Few people address others by “Mr.” or “Ms.” Many of us don’t answer the phone or respond to email. RSVP deadlines are a joke.

/Casual Friday has become Casual Every Day. People wear blue jeans to funerals and guys wear pants well below their hips.

But a gentleman is still a gentleman

Recently, I ran across a bit of prose that addresses a concept that should never change–the definition of a true gentleman.

Hopefully, this reminds you of some men that you know. I’ve reformatted the text to make it a bit more reader friendly.

The True Gentleman

by John Walter Wayland

The True Gentleman is the man whose conduct proceeds from good will and an acute sense of propriety, and whose self-control is equal to all emergencies…

Who does not make the poor man conscious of his poverty, the obscure man of his obscurity, or any man of his inferiority or deformity…

Who is himself humbled if necessity compels him to humble another…

Who does not flatter wealth, cringe before power, or boast of his own possessions or achievements…

Who speaks with frankness but always with sincerity and sympathy…

Whose deed follows his word; who thinks of the rights and feelings of others, rather than his own…

And who appears well in any company, a man with whom honor is sacred and virtue safe.

Thanks for keeping the bar high

Fortunately, I meet the coolest people when I’m on the speaking circuit.

My customers and clients are usually true ladies and gentlemen who are into self-improvement and professional development.

The people who read my e-mails and blog posts are the best people on the planet. Of course, I’m referring to you. You’re welcome.

Good etiquette is habit forming

Aristotle said, “You are what you repeatedly do,” only he said it in Greek, wearing only a robe.

It’s never too late to create good habits such as being on time, using good grammar, displaying strong communication skills, being more organized, and dressing nicer.

One tip for changing your behavior is called “habit replacement.”

Learn more about creating success habits from my audio CD, Create Success Habits.

See you online!

Let’s connect on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter & Google+.

Oh, and I’ve posted new videos on YouTube!

Tags: blog, casual friday, facebook, google plus, infusionsoft, Internet marketing, John Walter Wayland, linkedin, michael Angelo Caruso, Rotary, the true gentleman, twitter
Posted in Blogging, Career development, Communication, Growing Your Business, Internet marketing, Leadership, Personal Development, Problem Solving, Rotary, Self improvement, Success | 47 Comments »

Want free article content for your website, blog or newsletter?

Tuesday, November 13th, 2012

I write articles so you don’t have to. Tweet this

Everyone that sells a product or service knows that it’s a good idea to post article content to promote your brand and drive traffic.

But who has time to write?

The problem is even more complicated for people who aren’t writers or aren’t interested in writing.

So, here’s an easy solution– publish other people’s content. And you can easily do it with their permission!

How to use other people’s articles

Most authors are pleased to grant re-purposing rights as long as you provide attribution. In other words, just make sure to include what’s called a “back link,” a link back to the author’s website or primary URL.

Focus on niche articles that would directly appeal to your preferred customer demographics.

You can also post “wide net” articles that appeal to everyone’s intrinsic desires such as time management, looking younger, being happy, etc.

Caveat: You probably want to avoid using articles written by your direct competition.

Here’s another hidden benefit to contacting established authors and requesting permission to use their content. You’ll be establishing connections with the brightest, most connected people in your industry. (more…)

Tags: article content, articles, back link, ezine articles, EzineArticles.com, facebook, michael Angelo Caruso, michaelangelocaruso.com, twitter
Posted in Career development, Communication, Creativity, Customer Service, Entreprenuers, Growing Your Business, Internet marketing, Leadership, Marketing, Personal Development, Problem Solving, Sales and Marketing, Selling, Success, Writing and Publishing | No Comments »

Speaking tips from Clint Eastwood

Friday, August 31st, 2012

It’s not that the convention was going badly. Tweet this

The 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa was chugging along thanks to its state-of-the-art technology, tight scripts, and slick production values. Then the special guest speaker walked on stage.

There had been an interesting mix of professional politicians and average people at the podium. Most seemed sincere, although many were reading their lines on the teleprompter.

Something about reading aloud makes audiences think that the speaker doesn’t really mean what he or she is saying. Don’t you agree?

Anyway, this special guest speaker works in the entertainment business. He has a long and storied career as an actor and director. He’s the legend known as “Clint Eastwood.”

Mr. Eastwood is not new to the art of making speeches. He’s won a gaggle of important film awards that required him to address large audiences. His films Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, and Unforgiven have all won Academy Awards.

Clint is not new to politics, either. The actor served one term as Mayor of Carmel, California from 1986 to 1988. He did quite well, too, by all accounts.

So it was fun to see Eastwood stride to the podium. Most viewers expected a break in the regular rhythm of the convention, but what they got was one of the most unusual speeches in the history of American politics.

Most speakers are average

I’ve given over 2,000 paid presentations, including keynotes, training sessions, and other types of presentations, so I know a few speaking tricks. When I use the word “tricks,” I’m not referring to deception or manipulation. I never recommend deceiving anyone.

I use “tricks” in the way that a professional magician tricks audiences when making a rabbit disappear. Everyone knows that the rabbit doesn’t actually disappear, so no one is truly deceived.

The speaking tricks that Clint used caused no harm. They were only techniques that helped him deliver his message amidst a backdrop of average speeches.

Here’s another way to look at it. Most speeches are average, but you can deliver a better speech by employing techniques that are different than those used by other speech makers.

Here are the tricks Clint used

Eastwood’s primary motif for the speech involved an empty stool next to the podium. Clint asked us to imagine that President Obama was sitting in the chair so the actor could ask the President some questions.

He made us wait for the first question, creating anticipation among viewers and audience members.

Clint used questions that drew attention to Mr. Obama’s unfulfilled campaign promises including the closing of Gitmo and how this administration seems to approve one war more than another.

There was also a pointed jab at Obama for flying a private jumbo jet to visit colleges to talk about student loans.

Eastwood employed humor, pretending that Obama was telling him to shut-up.

Some of his most popular crowd-pleasers were based in personal sentiment, such as:

“I never thought it was a good idea for attorneys to become President.”

“You, we, own this country [applause] … politicians are employees of ours.”

“When someone doesn’t do the job, we gotta let him go.”

Not bad for an old man

Critics of the speech charge that Eastwood looked less than vital, that his content was inappropriate and too informal, and that hair was in disarray. In short, that he looked and acted like an old man.

Clint Eastwood, of course, is 82 years-old.

This was not the best political speech of all time. It was not even a “rah-rah” speech.

Low-key and laconic, especially for his late evening time-slot, Eastwood at times seemed to be struggling to find the correct words. It had the opposite effect of a prepared reading, which was probably just what the actor-director wanted.

I know that’s what I wanted. In fact, Eastwood’s terrific, unconventional convention speech made my day.

Judging by the amazing feedback on Twitter, most other Americans felt the same way.

-Michael Angelo Caruso, from Royal Oak, Michigan

This article is available for reprint

You can repurpose this article on your website, blog or in your newsletter free of charge.

Simply send us a message stating your intentions. Provide a link to the page and we might even help drive traffic your way.

Tags: clint eastwood, michael Angelo Caruso, michigan, million dollar baby, mystic river, obama, rnc, royal oak, twitter, unforgiven
Posted in Communication, Creativity, Entertainment, Funny, Marketing, Problem Solving, Sales and Marketing, Speaking, Success | 7 Comments »

Video makes using the phone fun, again!

Friday, June 1st, 2012

Telephone calls are so old-school.

Everyone’s talking about how nobody answers their phones anymore and how people would rather text than make a call. But they aren’t discussing this on the phone. Tweet this

What is this romance with texting? Some people text me to request that I call them. Um, why not just call me?

While land lines have been disconnected all across the fruited plain, recent technological developments have made video–to steal Ma Bell’s old long-distance advertising slogan–”the next best thing to being there.”

Skype and various webinar platforms have “webolutionized” communication and are fast making phone calls so … yesterday. My Skype name is: michaelcaruso4

Here’s one of my early Skype calls; a recorded interview I did with the great Emily Hay. Our topic is how to use “image marketing” via social media.

Emily is one of the leading social media experts in Michigan and I like her style.

Now, Google+ Hangout is on the scene and the party has really begun. Video is adds a refreshing component to what might normally be a drab telephone connection.

Video communication is really fun!

I’ve been having a blast with a video through a Google+ feature called “Hangout.” It’s sleek, simple, and fun.

Here are the easy steps for doing your first video chat via Google+ Hangout

1.   Get a free Google account, including a gmail address.
2.   Go to http://www.google.com/tools/dlpage/res/talkvideo/hangouts/ and download the free plug-in.
3.   Watch the one-minute demo video.
4.   Go https://plus.google.com/ and start a profile
5.   To participate in a video chat just pull up Google+ and click “Start a hangout” in the upper right corner.

The above set-up process should take about ten minutes total and you only have to do it once.

After you’re set-up, just click the Hangout button and invite whomever you’d like to the call.

Find me on Google+ and we’ll Hangout!

Note: The above article is available for republication on your blog, website, and in your newsletter. Simply send a message stating your intent through the Contact form at www.MichaelAngeloCaruso.com.

___________

Want to learn more?

Use video to strengthen your brand and make the cash register sing. For more information, order Michael’s Social Media For Work, a 4-CD package that has tons of tips for using “image marketing” on Facebook, Linked, Google+, YouTube and Twitter.

Tags: emily hay, facebook, google, image marketing, linkedin, Ma Bell, michael Angelo Caruso, reprint, Skype, Social Media, twitter
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Want to add a “Tweet This” button to your blog post?

Tuesday, May 29th, 2012

One of the best promotion techniques I know involves getting others to spread the word for me. Tweet this

This means doing two things:

1) Post original content that people are inclined to share.

2) Make it easy for people to spread the word a la the “Tweet this” button above.

So, when I blog about speaking and presentation skills at MichaelAngeloCaruso.com, I almost always include a “Tweet This” button that allows reader to share that particular article with their Twitter following.

This is accomplished by simply pasting a simple snippet of html code.

[Note: You're welcome to republish this article on your website, blog or in your newsletter. Simply send Michael a message, stating your intentions.]

Paste a nifty “Tweet this” button into your blog post

Save this snippet in a place you can easily find it. Here’s the code for the “Tweet this” button:

<a href=”http://twitter.com/share” data-text=”Michael Angelo Caruso is worth a look.” data-count=”none” data-via=”MichaelACaruso”>Tweet this</a><script type=”text/javascript” src=”http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js”></script>

This is not “technical;” anyone can do it!

You don’t need to understand html, you just need to understand copy/paste, lol.

Be sure to paste the code into the “html” view of your WordPress site and not the “visual” view.

If you save the snippet to a Word document, remember to paste it into Notepad prior to inserting it into WordPress. This will strip out all the invisible Microsoft code that can wreak havoc with your WordPress formatting.

See you on Twitter at http://www.Twitter.com/MichaelACaruso and good luck with all your presentations online and offline.

Oh, and consider attending Internet Marketing Training at my home in beautiful, Royal Oak, Michigan on August 28. Again, online marketing strategies for non-geeks.

Tags: blog post, michael Angelo Caruso, microsoft, notepad, presentations, tweet this button, twitter, Wordpress
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Automated marketing will set you free

Monday, May 7th, 2012

As this blog post goes live, I’m not quite home from Thailand and back to work.

I should be back to work–it’s Monday, but my speaking/consulting/publishing business is on auto-pilot as I traveled in Asia.

During my trip, I used marketing automation to:

1) Share links to helpful articles on marketing via Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

2) Generate two keynote requests from people who saw my posts.

3) Process several orders for my my info products–the money was directly deposited into my bank account while I was sipping Singha beer poolside in Bangkok.

4) I’ve “automatically” sent you this message to promote today’s webinar on how you can automate your business (details below).

All of the above are automated processes that were put in place before I left the United States. Best of all, I can tweak the processes a bit and repeat the entire sequence whenever I like.

You can use similar strategy to take an extra vacation this year!

What biz wouldn’t benefit from automated marketing?

Marketing automation has become all the rage lately as businesses try to find the best ways to take advantage of drip campaigns, e-commerce, and auto-responders.

Think about it. How can a prospect or client ever forget about you, if they are regularly being reminded about the benefits of working with you?

Plus, referrals, almost always the result of good timing, are much more likely to happen for you when customers and partners are always buzzing about you.

It doesn’t matter if you work for a small business or a Rotary Club. Automated marketing is your ticket to a more vital organization and a brighter future.

You can do this!

Today, May 14 at 2PM ET, I’m speaking on a free webinar with a few of my marketing buddies.

We’ll tell you everything you need to know about automating your marketing and growing your great business.

Michael Angelo Caruso ipad head shot Bill Cowger Acacia Photography Detroit Michigan

We’re all using a nifty piece of software called Infusionsoft.

As a satisfied customer and affiliate, I can’t say enough about how this great automation system has improved my business and my life.

There is no obligation and no hard sell, I promise. Just tons of great info on how you can automate your biz and get more time off.

I look forward to talking with you or someone from your team at 11 PM PT, 1PM CT or 2 PM ET time today.

Again, to get more info and to register for the free webinar, click on this link:

https://crm.infusionsoft.com/go/3keyscaruso/macaruso/

Your work life will never be the same again.

Guess I should get back to work now.

Tags: automation, bangkok, CRM, facebook, infusionsoft, land of a thousand smiles, linkedin, Marketing, michael Angelo Caruso, Rotary, Speaking, thailand, twitter
Posted in Career development, Communication, Creativity, Customer Service, Entreprenuers, Growing Your Business, Information products, Internet marketing, Keynote, Marketing, Personal Development, Problem Solving, Sales and Marketing, Self improvement, Success | No Comments »

Top 13 ways to build your list

Thursday, April 26th, 2012

Google guru, Steve Holt and I recently discussed the art of list building on a Google Hangout.

I hold this free call every Monday from 4 to 4:30 PM ET. The call-in codes are posted on my calendar.

As usual, it was a fun call! I took some notes, too. Tweet this

13 top ways to build your list

1. Offer of a free report on your website. Make sure the opt-in window appears “above the fold” in the upper-left corner. Just ask for the person’s first name and e-mail address if you want the maximum number of people to sign up. See how I do this on my website.

2. Collect emails at presentations. You might have to give something away to get audiences to play with you. But this kind of permission-based marketing is very lucrative, providing the business cards you collect actually end up in your data base and you don’t chase people off by sending bad content. By the way, legitimate bulk e-mail platforms such as Constant Contact and Infusionsoft only tolerate one spam complaint per 1,000 e-mails.

3. Advertising opportunities. People surrender e-mail addresses for tons of reasons. Honor the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 and most business associates won’t mind you adding their name to your newsletter distribution list. The CAN-SPAM law requires that people sending bulk e-mail include a physical address and an unsubscribe link at the bottom of all e-mails.

4. Social media is a free way to build your list. Stop thinking in silos. Be clever about getting Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, and Google + friends to give you their e-mail address. Again, the trick is to get them to opt-in.

5. Buy or rent a list. Neither Steve or I recommended this. Even if the list contains good e-mail addresses, solid prospects for your business, these poor people will have no idea why you are contacting them. Since they haven’t opted in, you’ll seem like a spammer, so they will report you as one. I know I would.

6. Give people opportunities to share your info. The easiest ways to do this involve sharing via social media buttons and such. It doesn’t hurt to encourage people to share, unless you constantly pester people to Like, Share, Add, etc.

7. Directly ask for additional contacts. This assertive technique can be fun for everyone if you do it right. I teach presentation skills, so a lot of my messaging and content is geared for leaders and salespeople. “Share this with the most successful salesperson you know,” I request. And people do! Somehow, it’s easy and fun to identify such a person and comply.

8. Provide a “Flinstone” sign up list. Yep. A clipboard with a piece of paper still works for collecting email addresses. I urge retail clients to give customers access to a computer so they can do their own data entry or Like my clients’ Facebook page.

9. Provide quality content and audience will find you. Athletes use the phrase, “put the ball in play.” Amazing things happen when you create, post, and distribute original, high-quality information. The right people find you. See how I generate keyword-rich articles for my blog.

10. Get your articles into existing customers’ newsletters. When you bother to create short, useful articles people will fall over themselves asking you for permission to publish them. Be sure to request attribution, which will help you build your list.

11. Put a connection offer onto all physical products. Retail establishments are now putting a “Like our Facebook page” sign on their front doors. A law firm in Royal Oak Michigan has a bunch of QR codes on their windows. I spent 15 minutes one cold morning walking around the building scanning the damn things, curious about what info awaited me.

12. Article swaps and guest blogging. Remember those articles I mentioned in #10? Offer related, non-competitive companies a chance to swap articles. Offer to give them one of your articles even if they can’t reciprocate and you still win!

13. Place a subtle offer in your e-mail signature. People forget that your e-mail signature file gets viewed thousands and thousands of times in a single year. True, many of the people you e-mail are already on your list, but the people they forward your message to are not. See how I do this. Click here, then type “Sig file” into the Subject line and I’ll send you my current signature file.

—–

You’re welcome to publish this info!

The above article is available for republication on your blog, website, and in your newsletter. Simply send a message stating your intent through Michael’s website at www.MichaelAngeloCaruso.com

Tags: can-spam, constant contact, email signature, facebook, Google Hangout, google plus, infusionsoft, linkedin, list building, michael Angelo Caruso, steve holt, twitter
Posted in Blogging, Career development, Communication, Creativity, Growing Your Business, Internet marketing, Marketing, Problem Solving, Sales and Marketing, Selling, Seminar, Success, Writing and Publishing | No Comments »

Jack Nicholson on customer service

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

Happy birthday to Jack Nicholson, who turned 75 this week.

The great actor is an ardent advocate of customer service, as evidenced in this classic scene in Five Easy Pieces. Tweet this

How many times have you been in a customer service situation when the “policy” made no sense whatsoever?

Perhaps you have one of those policies in place at your business today.

The best way to know if your customer service program needs an upgrade is to establish systematic dialog with your customer so feedback is readily shared, evaluated, and when necessary, acted upon.

You can open up communication using real-time conversation with customers and through online channels, such as I do via my website or through various social media platforms such as Facebook, Google Plus, and Twitter (my personal links).

You can also do “defensive marketing” via Twitter, for example, by searching #YourCompanyName to see what people are saying about your business.

Urban legend has it that Comcast used to intercept people waiting in their customer service telephone queue who were ranting on Twitter after being place on terminal hold.

Use Twitter even if you don’t like it

I find it fascinating that so many people refuse to become active on Twitter because they personally don’t care for it. The above search technique alone can save a business owner thousands of dollars in damage control.

So here’s a toast–and some singed bread, too–to Jack Nicholson and everyone in favor of giving the customer what he wants.

Happy birthday, Jack!

————–

Want more great customer service tips?

Listen to Michael Angelo Caruso’s Teaching Remarkable Customer Service audio CD.

All of Michael’s products and programs come with an unconditional, money-back guarantee.

Bad news travels fast these days, so it’s time to sharpen your communication. When customers have a positive customer service experience, they’ll talk about it both online and offline, which creates loyalty, and referral business for your company.

Remember, it’s easier to re-sell an existing and happy customer than it is to convince a new prospect to buy. If you’re a leader, the ability to teach remarkable customer service skills to your team is critical to your success.

Tags: defensive marketing, facebook, five easy pieces, google plus, jack nicholson, michael Angelo Caruso, twitter
Posted in Career development, Communication, Customer Service, Growing Your Business, Internet marketing, Marketing, Personal Development, Problem Solving, Sales and Marketing, Social Media, Success | 2 Comments »

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