I’ve been looking forward to the release of this book since I was at his Expert’s Academy last September and he said he was going to take 4 weeks off to write his next bestselling book. He did, the book is out, and it going to be FABULOUS, I already know it!! I know it because all of his book are fabulous and this one is of particular interest to me since it’s all about High Performance!

For the past few years Brendon has been running this amazing academy called High Performance Academy to teach the public how to perform at our peak levels. Interested?? Me too!

Simon Leung, me and Brendon Burchard

I actually met Brendon, oh, five or six years ago I want to say at an event I was running in Denver. We got to hang out all weekend and I can tell you this for sure… Brendon is one of the most genuine, authentic, energetic, successful (not just financially) people I’ve ever met. I knew back then he was going to be a superstar and have been a dedicated follower of his work ever since.

So now, his new book is out and he’s giving away free copies. Click Here for the promo page to get your copy of The Charge

After I signed up for my free copy, there was a $197 promotion which I said “no thanks” to. I wanted more free stuff first! I knew it would be there since I am used to how he rolls out his academy events.

Beyond that page was a link to 3 incredible VIDEOS all about “6 High Performance Secrets of Multi-Millionaires.” It’s all about how to move on from feeling sluggish and always behind to feeling energized, empowered and ALIVE! How could anyone say no to learning that?!? So, I signed up and watched those videos. Amazing. As usual.

I AM FIRED UP and you know what it did? It gave me validation. It gave me energy. It gave me a focused plan. I have a big stack of work on my desk and I literally could not send another email or do another task on my list without writing this article. Why? Because it is NOT FAIR of me to just keep Brendon’s wisdom to myself and not share it.

You know how they say “word of mouth is the most powerful form of marketing”? That’s true and I genuinely believe that you will get some huge takeaways from watching these videos that I watched.

Click Here for the page where you can watch his free video content

Book? Check. Videos? Check. Well now I’m on Brendon’s list and what do I hear about today? That tomorrow he’s officially letting people register for his next High Performance Academy. I have been waiting months for this!

All I got was this link… Click Here

Right now it just says registration will open tomorrow but I know by the time most of you read this it will be open. I think he’s doing a live webinar which you won’t want to miss. Now, here’s what I remember from the last time he did an event launch for Expert’s Academy (which I’m going to this Fall!)… A bunch of you registered and I can’t wait to see you guys this Fall!! But… some of you heard about it too late or waited too long and registration is only open for a few days so the opportunity to get in was GONE. I pulled some strings for one client, but in general, you have to act fast with Brendon IF you have interest.

Only a few of you will be at a place in your life where you’re ready to explode with personal and professional growth to the point where you’re sick of waiting for “the right time” and just want to friggin go out there and MAKE IT HAPPEN! I’m soooo that person right now… omg. Most of you will not be at that place, and that is OK. In that case, it’s a great idea to sign up and get all the free content you can from Brendon and implement it on your own and your own pace. You can always unsubscribe from an email, so no harm no foul.

For me though, I’m taking the bull by the horns. If you’re going to the webinar let me know and we can chit chat during it via Facebook and email. If you end up going to High Performance Academy, let me know and maybe I’ll see you there.

For now, I mainly just wanted to tell you about it because I know that in a flash Brendon offers free content, and in a flash it’s GONE forever… pretty smart marketing guy.

Cheers on your journey to High Performance! 

How are you supposed to stand out? What can you possibly sell?

Even if you are still in the stage of dreaming what it would be like to have your own website, it’s important to actively think about what you can create that is of value to others. Each person has a unique view on life and their particular set of issues to overcome. So, yes, you too can create a product or series of products to sell online and feel good about it.

A list of product ideas:

1. Create an eBook and sell on Amazon, add to Google Books and submit to directories.
2. Record a webinar series, then package as a DVD set. Sell a downloadable version and a physical DVD Set version.
3. Offer coaching or consulting services in the forms of one-on-one calls, in-person meetings, weekly calls, monthly live group phone conferences, etc.
4. Make designs and graphics to sell at places such as GraphicLeftovers.com and iStockPhoto.com.
5. Run a monthly teleseminar training series for 6 weeks or 6 months for your focused elite followers.
6. Write a white paper on a system you developed to overcome a problem that your market faces.
7. Become a reseller or affiliate of almost any product or service of your choosing. From online shopping cart softwares to watches to baby clothes, most products online will give you 25-75% + commissions for selling their product/service. Check out sites like ClickBank.com and Commission Junction.
8. Start a paid newsletter and have users pay monthly or yearly to get training, tips and resources.
9. Sell email coaching and allow users to consult with you over email for a pre-determined amount of time. Even better, create a 52 week autoresponder email program where each week you sent training via email (but it’s all automated so you set it up once and let the program run on auto-pilot!)
10. If you have a pre-existing blog, find your top 25 posts and turn them into a hardcover book and an eBook. You could create this type of book for each 40 blog posts you write. Keep ‘em comin’.
11. Create a series of “how-to” videos. Use software like Camtasia for screen recordings, or a camcorder or webcam would be great for all other video. You could create four 15-minute videos, package them and bam! you have a product.
12. Internet Marketers aaaalways have a wealth of ideas and little time to pull them all off. Network to find these guys and ask if they have any projects you can complete for half the profit.
13. Home Study Courses are great! This could involve a video series with companion PDF guides and some sort of add-on support module.
14. Create and customize apparel, t-shirts, postcards, banners and more with sites like Zazzle.com.

There are TONS of creative ways you can take your knowledge and expertise, package it and offer it to others. Once you build an email list online you can sell to your following time and time again.

I personally like to keep a Brainstorming Journal lying around. It is consumed with my ideas and as I get time, I try to chip away at the projects on those sheets that are filled with potential. Give it a try! Creating online products is a really fun project and can bring income steadily if you have the right plan.

HOWEVER… it is NOT just about making money people!! The reason to make product is to ADD VALUE into the lives of others. If you focus on the value, the income will flow.

With so many FABULOUS entrepreneurs that I get to interact with in our Conscious Divas community, I would love to use this opportunity to not only share what I do, but inspire you to share your keys below for others to implement!

In a nutshell, let me try and explain why I think I *might* be qualified to write this article. As of this moment, today, I work regularly with 4 companies as their project manager, coach or online business development specialist (offering websites, coaching, social media branding and other services to authors, speakers and entrepreneurs around the world). This is in addition to the time and energy I spend developing my own company, NGNG Enterprises (standing for No Guts No Glory) offering the same types of services above. Within these, let’s say 5 companies, I am currently communicating with over 100 clients on more than 50 projects all with different timelines, details and progress updates happening close to daily. Just like any other entrepreneur I have multiple client calls throughout the day, my to-do list is long and somewhere in there I need to take short breaks. I work on average 8-9 hours a day and never work nights or weekends unless I absolutely have to.

But you know what? It’s fun and I love it.

I wasn’t born with some amazing ability to multi-task or be crazy efficient. It’s something I worked really hard at. Now, sure, it comes very easily which is why my first reaction to questions about how I pull it all off is, “I have no idea!” It’s a habit now and I want to share some keys with you of how I came to be super efficient, which allowed me to take on more client projects, which resulted in my company growing more than I ever expected.

Key #1: I get in the right frame of mind.

On Sunday nights I have that slight pouty face because the next day is Monday and I know my day will feel out of control as Mondays always do. I also know that exercise gets the blood pumping, makes me more alert and gives me a LOT more energy. So every single Monday without fail I wake up earlier than I want to and I force myself to workout hard. Once I’m done, showered, dressed and coffee in hand… I know that “Super Amber” has come out to play. You wouldn’t believe the energy and efficiency that comes out of me. Any time I need another boost during the week, I do the same process. Works like a charm! I suppose I should note too that I eat well and I sleep well – I think an overall healthy lifestyle does contribute to my work success.

Key #2: I survive by my to-do list.

I created a super simple to-do sheet in Microsoft Word one day because I couldn’t find a system I liked. It had a bunch of lines going down the page and a box to the right for meeting times and notes about what I need to accomplish during the week, but not necessarily “today.” I printed out 90 sheets and had the book spiral bound. I use one page every day and order a new book when needed.

In my mind I have a laser focus on where each project is at in its timeline so I know what has to be done and by when. For every project I have a “would-be-nice-to-get-it-done-by date” and a “hard-deadline-no-matter-what date.” If I’m absolutely slammed one week, I may need to push a project to the hard deadline (which is almost always earlier than the client’s hard date) – if I have a light week, I get it done early which makes my clients happy. Either way my clients are happy because I’m moving the project forward at a good speed. I always give myself a little padding.

So, knowing where the project is in its timeline is key to the to-do list. On my list I never write huge projects or things that aren’t due for 2 more weeks. Those are for separate “bigger picture” lists I keep off to the side. I want to see MAJOR progress every day so that I am energized to keep accomplishing big things. The goal is to cross everything off my list each day, or come dang close. For anything that I don’t accomplish, I have to write it out on tomorrow’s list. For little tasks, I get so sick of writing them down over and over that I just get it done so I can save myself the agony. (I’m human, wink.) I’m proud of my to-do list and I enjoy looking at it because of all I accomplish. It’s NOT something I dread or fear or dislike. It’s all in our attitude – even about the little things.

Key #3: I make rules and I follow them.

Rule 1, write my to-do list every day even if I don’t want to. Rule 2, get in my office everyday no later than 8:30am (I work from home; I hit this goal every day). Rule 3, leave my office everyday no later than 5:30pm (ok, I usually hit this, not always, but I scold myself every minute I’m working too late – balance is key, time to rest is key, time to have fun is key – p.s. when I’m not in my busy season I’ll end my day around 4-4:30pm). Rule 4, before I finish my work day I always clean off my desk completely so I have a fresh space to look forward to in the morning (your environment is SO important!!!), and this is when I write out my next day’s to-do list. I let the weight of the tasks fall on the paper, close my office door and leave it all behind me. I have more rules, but you get the gist. It’s essential for my success, especially working from my home office.

Key #4: I play tennis.

Metaphorically speaking, I play tennis every day. I am constantly batting the ball in someone else’s court. For example, when an email comes in with a client asking me to do something, I try to immediately do it or ask them for something I need in order to do the work. Most times, within 5-10 minutes of getting an email, I reply. Unless it is a long email with lots of questions, I send a reply right back to get it off my plate. You wouldn’t believe how happy this makes people! I do it for that reason, yes, but also for my sanity! I get well over 100 emails a day of people sending me tasks, asking for education or tips on topics – LOTS of my time is spent in communication (which I actually think is a lot of fun because I know I’m adding serious value to my clients businesses). I would quickly go insane if I let it build up so I reply to email all day long and I do my work tasks when email slows down in patches throughout the day.

I need to add that my business is probably MUCH different than yours, so I’m not suggesting all of these tips will work well for you, but I do want to get you thinking about how you can improve efficiency in your business. You deserve breathing room, fun and less stress!

Key #5: I work smarter, not harder.

I am always thinking of how to systematize something. I only need to do a task once before I’ve figure out the faster way to do it. If I do the task two or three times, I keep improving my time by finding shortcuts. NOT shortcuts that reduce the quality of my work – I’m way too much of a stickler for a quality job to let things slip through the cracks frequently.

This philosophy comes out in small ways and big ways. An example of a big way – I noticed that a lot of people in my industry spend soo much time finding clients, writing proposals, proving themselves – all trying to get a single new client project. I realized that if I connected with a few companies that already had a client base, I could offer my services under their umbrella (or under mine, it depends) and save a lot of time in creating new work. I learned early on to have a strong focus in partnerships with companies that I believed in, who believed in me, and we could create more of a long-lasting relationship. Another example, when I find that my clients start asking the same types of questions I work smarter not harder by creating a video tutorial to give out anytime someone asks me about that topic in the future. Another example, if I keep writing the same email over and over, I save a copy and use that the next time and just change what’s needed. I’m always thinking of how to save time because those minutes sure add up in a day!

—

Like many of you, I really want people to have a good impression of me, see my hard work, recognize my values and want to work with me on a project (big or small). When I tell a client I will do something for them, I set a date earlier than what they would have expected usually, and I use that as a way to hold myself accountable. I don’t want to give the impression that I am a flake, unreliable and not to be trusted. Just the opposite! So I tell people my deadlines or goals, and allow that to be the accountability I need to get things done.

Since I tend to set fast turnaround times for projects, I have to be efficient with my time to get everything done in time. I am definitely a person that would rather be busy than bored. So I keep myself just busy enough before I get into an unhealthy situation of stress (been there). This is also a reason I set rules – to protect myself from burnout. I use the keys above to stay efficient and get things done so I can go play. I was raised with the mentality “Work hard, play hard” and life sure is a lotta fun when you have that focus.

Your turn.

So there you have it, 5 keys from an efficiency queen. I don’t want this journey to end here though. See the Facebook comments box just below this article? I’d love for you to make a comment in that box and tag @AmberLudwig, telling us what you thought of this article – what was helpful – what your keys to success are – and any questions I can answer. Also, if you felt these tips were helpful, please help me share it with others through our social media share buttons below.

Thank you all for your time!

Being an entrepreneur is very challenging and can get overwhelming quick. You must manage your existing projects well so you can increase retention and build a committed following, but then you must also have a strong focus on product creation and expansion (not to mention just maintaining the work you’ve produced so far).

So how to you manage the overwhelm you feel when you’re getting so many good ideas and you know you don’t have time to execute them all?

Below I’m going to offer you a few things I do that you are welcome to try:

Write it down.

Obvious? Maybe, but it really works! I have an ideas folder I keep close by which is full of good ideas (if I do say so myself). Entrepreneurs by nature are creative so expect those ideas to keep flooding in.

By writing all of your ideas down, you let the paper take the weight of the idea. You don’t have to stress about if you will remember, or how to execute this idea, or when because you know the idea is written down in a safe place and will be happy to see you when you return to it – whether in a few days or a few years. Write it ALL down even if it’s a tiny idea.

You wouldn’t believe how many ideas of mine seem to be bundled into a recent big idea I had. It is all relevant and writing down your ideas can serve your greatly in the future.

Create an Outline.

When I get an idea for a product or service, the next thing I do is create an outline for it. For example, one of my ideas is to create a DIY Guest Blogging Package where a business owner could have everything they need to setup a well-oiled machine of guest bloggers on their site to increase traffic dramatically and gain lots more subscribers. There are tons of benefits to this program and it’s a hot topic for 2012 and beyond.

Well, shoot, there’s TONS of ways I could produce this product – enter overwhelm. Before I think about all the success I’ll have, and ways to market, and the income it could generate, I stop. I know that the product is really all about the content I deliver so I create an outline of everything the product would need to be SUPER valuable for business owners who buy it. I am totally the type that wants to give away the farm to people who put their trust in me – I’ll give you everything I know and how I do it so you have the best shot at success.

The outline for this DIY Guest Blogging Package included things like: Promotion page content (what needs to be said on the ‘write for us’ page on your website), what the exact process is when someone wants to be a guest blogger (they need to send in a sample article with their bio and photo, I review to make sure they follow any guidelines I’ve given, etc.), in this product I need to create 5 emails templates that the customer can use (a rejection letter, approval letter, general inquiry response letter, etc)… Point being, I write down everything I can think of that would need to be included to make this product a success.

Honestly, it is at this point that I decide if I am going to pursue this idea aggressively, or when I get around to it, or never. I look at my material and evaluate if there is a gap in the marketplace, if this would be valuable to someone, if this would really work for people, etc. Getting the details of my idea on paper in this way reduces the overwhelm for sure!

Make a plan.

Obvious? Of course. But do you do it? gotcha. If I have an idea that I just can’t stop thinking about and one that I really want to pursue… I have my outline and I know it’s a ‘must’ to create… then it’s time to make a plan to make it happen.

Now, this is where the overwhelm really starts to come flooding in because now you actually need to execute. The fun creation part is generally behind you and now you actually have to carve out time, while managing your other projects, and make sure that you don’t NOT do this product idea like so many others that have since collected dust.

The truth is that YOU have a gift; YOU have a message. It is a complete waste of your talents if you don’t do something with it.

So you make a plan by taking your outline and breaking it up into 5 parts, or whatever. You make a commitment to yourself to do one part each week for the next five weeks. Caution: Look at your list and decide what you think you could pull off, then trim that list down by 30% and that is actually what you’ll be able to pull off.

A primary reason people can’t follow-through with their ideas is that they put way too much pressure on themselves upfront, they can’t deliver because they don’t plan for the unexpected, then they put it off once (“I’ll get to that next week”) and then you don’t come back to it, then you feel like a loser so you need time to recover, then before you know it, another 2-3 months rolls by until you feel the pressure that you need to create a product and motivate yourself to get serious about this next new idea. (Ew, too much accountability there?) I’ve been here, that’s how I know this is true.

Make It Happen.

So you have your outline, you have your plan on how many weeks it’ll take to get it done, hopefully you’ve exercised caution to not put too much pressure on yourself and you’re ready to really make it happen this time. Now, you just need to make it happen.

There are a few ways that I “make it happen” which work really well for me. First, I tell someone I really look up to about the idea and plan. I know that if I tell someone I really respect that it will create accountability for me. I want to be known for someone who makes things happen and gives tons of value to others – I would not risk taking that away just because I found eighteen excuses of why I couldn’t follow-through.

Next, I dive right in. I don’t waste time (because I know that if I delay on anything for too long, the idea will be lost and the product won’t be completed). I make damn sure I get that first week of to-do’s done, no matter what. That gives me momentum and confidence to go into week two of my plan. No matter what, I get it done… no matter what!

All we need is a little momentum and confidence. A big part of the overwhelm again is putting too much pressure on ourselves to “make it perfect” or “add more to the plate.” Once you have made the outline, made the plan, you just DO. Sure, you can add little creative twists here and there… but you do not deviate from the plan!

Entrepreneurs are creative minds – we can easily think for 350 cool ways to execute on something. Trust yourself and your original plan. You can always build more products as a spin-off of this one and try out one of your fancy ideas then. For now, stick to the plan and execute it. Every week you put this off is another week the world does not get your value, and another week you are not building your business, and another week you’re not making the income you need to sustain the message. This is bigger than you – make it happen.

The best path to success as an entrepreneur is to keep creating. I don’t mean create a dozen half-finished products. Create one product 100%, launch it, then immediately dive in and start creating your next product. Period – there is no other plan.

To manage this around your existing work load you just need a little discipline, a little accountability and you need to be organized. Don’t try to do too much at once. I’d much rather see you take 4 months to create a product then try to do it in 2 weeks, burn out, and never finish it. YOU put the pressure on you, so knock it off!

If you are serious, join me and make the pledge today. All you need to do is share this image on Facebook or Pinterest and in the description tell people what you want to create. Then go out and make it happen.

Simply right click this image and click "Save As" to download to your computer and then share on social networks. Tag me in your post so I can give you a virtual high-five!

If you thought this post was helpful, please help me share it with others on Google+, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

I appreciate your support! Even more, I’d like you to commit to making a product today and tell me what it will be in the Facebook comments box below. I’ll be your accountability cause I’d love to see your product when it’s finished!

Today’s training is shared from HubSpot and an article posted by Pamela Vaughan. It was just too good not to share. 

The Ultimate Facebook Marketing Cheat Sheet

Facebook’s social network domination may frequently get challenged by emerging social media platforms like Google+, but the facts remain. With more than 845 million members in its user base, it’s still the most popular social network around.

And yes, businesses are beginning to understand its potential to help them achieve their marketing goals. In fact, 41% of B2B companies and 62% of B2C companies using Facebook have acquired a customer from it.

That being said, learning all the nuances of various social networks can be a tricky and time-consuming feat, especially considering how frequently they add, remove, and modify features. To help you stay ahead of the curve, we’ve put together a handy cheat sheet that businesses and marketers can use to make the most of Facebook.

35 Tips and Tricks for Mastering Facebook Marketing

1) Create a Business Page, Not a Profile

First things first. To maximize Facebook’s business potential, you need to create a business page, not a personal profile, to represent your brand. Setting up a page is simple. Just visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php, and follow the step-by-step setup instructions. (Already created a profile for your business? No worries — Facebook now allows you to easily convert it into a business page.)

2) Claim Your Page’s Vanity URL

Once you’ve created your business page, make it more shareable and easier to find by creating a recognizable vanity URL (e.g. http://www.facebook.com/hubspot) at http://www.facebook.com/username.

3) Add a Creative Cover Photo

Facebook’s new page design enables you to feature a 851 x 315 pixel ‘cover photo’ at the top of your business page. Get creative with it to capture the attention of new page visitors. Just be sure to follow Facebook’s cover photo policies by excluding price/purchase information (e.g. “40% off” or “Download it at our website”); references to Facebook features/functions (e.g. “Like,” “Share,” etc.); contact information such as website address, email, mailing address, or information that should go in your page’s “About” section; and calls-to-action, such as “Get it now” or “Tell your friends.” Here are some awesome examples of business page cover photos to get your creative juices flowing.

4) Auto-Publish Blog Content

Start populating your page’s timeline with content! If you maintain a business blog, you can connect your blog to auto-post links to new blog content you publish. Many blogging platforms like WordPress and HubSpot automatically offer this feature within its software; you’ll just need to turn it on and sync it with your page. (Warning: Don’t put too much emphasis on automation. It’s okay to auto-publish some content, but make sure a real human is posting and engaging with your fans, too.)

5) Make Sure Meta Descriptions of Blog Posts Are Complete

Have you noticed that when you post a link to Facebook, it pulls in a brief description as well as an image? The description gets pulled from the page’s meta description, so make sure any blog content you publish has a complete and enticing meta description to optimize its presence if it gets shared on Facebook.

6) Pin a Post Every 7 Days

Another feature of Facebook’s new page design allows you to ‘pin’ or anchor one of the posts on your page’s timeline to the top for 7 days at a time. Pinning content to the top of your page will prevent it from getting buried by more recent updates. Use this feature to highlight specific posts about remarkable content, calls-to-action for your best marketing offers, or other events/promotions you want to feature. Update your anchor pin every 7 days once the old one expires. To pin an update, hover over a story, click on the pencil icon in the top right corner, and choose ‘Pin to Top.’

7) Star or Hide Posts

Modify the items in your page’s timeline to highlight certain posts more prominently than others. By hovering over individual stories, you can make them wider and more prominent on your page by clicking the star icon, or hide them from your timeline (or delete them entirely) by clicking on the pencil icon.

Leverage Your Most Visual Content

Facebook’s new timeline page design places more of an emphasis on visual content like images and videos, so use that to your advantage. According to an internal Facebook study, “posts including a photo album or picture can generate 2X more engagement than other post types.” Because these images will now appear larger and more prominently on your page, make it a point of posting your best visual content to your Facebook page, or make more of an effort to make the content you already create more visual. Think photos, charts, infographics, and other content visualizations. And hey — you can always use it on other visual-oriented social networks like Pinterest and Google+, too!

9) Create Custom Page Tabs

While Facebook’s new page design eliminated the ability to create a designated ‘Welcome Landing Page’ for new visitors to your Facebook page, you can still create and leverage custom tabs which are accessible via the ‘Views & Apps’ section of your page (see tip #17). Think of these as landing pages within your Facebook page. Learn how to create custom tabs here, which you can use as calls-to-action to feature anything from case studies to marketing offers to other promotions you’re running. (Note: With HubSpot, you can take this one step further by installing HubSpot’s Facebook App. While it can no longer support ‘welcome’-style landing pages, you can use it to create custom tabs containing lead-gen forms so you can convert page visitors into leads … right within Facebook!)

10) Add Milestones

Another feature the new Facebook page design supports is ‘Milestones,’ which allows you to call attention to significant events in your business’ history. Use the feature to highlight some of your business’ biggest accomplishments, such as fan growth, award wins, product releases, major events, or other accolades. You create a new (or past) milestone via the status update box, which will prompt you to input information about your milestone such as its name, location, date, story description, and an image, which is set at 843 x 403 pixels.

11) Use Facebook Insights

Facebook Insights is Facebook’s internal analytics tool right that helps you measure and analyze your Facebook presence. The tool provides Facebook page administrators with analytics data about page visits and engagement and can help you understand which content is and isn’t engaging to your fans. Access your page’s Insights at http://www.facebook.com/insights or by clicking into the ‘Admin Panel’ on your page. We’ve also published an informative blog post and video that walks you through how to analyze Facebook Insights to improve your content strategy.

12) Tag Other Users and Business Pages

Although you used to only be able to tag other users on Facebook, you can now tag other pages, too. Make your page more engaging and interactive by enabling others to post content on your timeline. Enabling this feature will also automatically publish posts to your page’s timeline that are from other users who have tagged your page in their posts. To enable this, check off “Everyone can post to HubSpot’s timeline” and “Show the box for ‘Recent Posts by Others’ on the top of HubSpot” in ‘Manage Permissions.’

13) Connect Your YouTube Channel

Does your company have its own YouTube channel? Add the YouTube App to your Facebook page so your fans can view your YouTube videos directly within Facebook.

14) Add the SlideShare App

Similar to the YouTube App, you can also add a SlideShare tab to your page that will also pull in your SlideShare presentations.

15) Connect Your Flickr Account

While you’re at it, why not pull in your Flickr photos with the Flickr App, too?

16) Create an Open Graph App

With Facebook’s new Open Graph applications, you’re not just limited to other people’s apps — you can also create your own apps that support your very own marketing initiatives! The new and improved Open Graph allows third-party developers to create ‘frictionless’ apps that, after a user provides permission once, automatically share users’ engagement with the app on Facebook. Furthermore, users’ friends are easily able to join in on this shared activity. Furthermore, the new Open Graph apps support customizable calls-to-action, which you may have already noticed in apps already floating around Facebook like Spotify, Hulu, and the Washington Post, which prompt Facebook users to  “read,” “watch,” and “listen.” Creating an app for your business will obviously involve a developer’s time, but if you’re interested, we have a list of ideas to get you start brainstorming here, and Facebook has published guidelines on how to get your application integrated with Facebook here.

17) Organize Your Views & Apps

After you’ve added new custom tabs and apps to your page, organize them! Facebook’s new page design features photos, likes, and apps at the top of your page below your cover photo. Photos are automatically featured in the first spot, but page admins can rearrange the rest to highlight the most important ones first. Overall, a total of 12 apps can be shown here. Four are visible at the top of the page, and the rest can be viewed when page visitors click the dropdown arrow (highlighted in orange in the image below). Admins can also customize the images that get shown for each app in this toolbar using the ‘Manage’ >> ‘Edit Page’ dropdown via the ‘Admin Panel,’ which is accessible at the top right of their business page.

18) Use Links & Calls-to-Action to Generate Leads

Start generating leads from Facebook! Optimize your page for lead generation by posting links to landing pages for content behind forms, and add calls-to-action (CTAs) to the custom tabs on your page. [Bonus! Research suggests that links shared on Facebook have a high impact on SERP (search engine results page) rankings.]

19) Use Questions/Polls for Fan Feedback

In the status update bar on your page, you have the option of posting a question or a poll (click on ‘Add Poll Options’). Use this to ask your fans for feedback about your products/services or the content you post to your timeline. The possibilities are endless, and it’s a great way to engage your fans and increase participation on your page.

20) Experiment With Interest Lists

‘Interest Lists’ are a feature that allows users to organize updates into separate topics from a collection of fan pages and/or public figures who have the subscribe button enabled on their profile. For example, a user could create a “Recipes” Interest List, adding to it fan pages like Betty Crocker and the Food Network, as well as the profiles of their favorite food bloggers to which they subscribe. Users can also subscribe to Interest Lists created by other people, as Facebook suggests popular lists and make it easy for users to discover lists created by their friends. Consider experimenting with Interest Lists by creating awesome lists in your industry; promoting the ‘Add to Interest Lists’ button on your Facebook page; creating content about industry news so your updates are the first to show up in any lists your business is apart of; and creating a must-subscribe, content-rich Facebook presence.

21) Customize Who Can View Your Posts

Facebook’s response to Google+’s Circles feature was a feature that enables users to customize who can see their Facebook posts. For your Facebook page, this means you can limit posts to only display to fans in a certain location or language.

22) Schedule Posts in Advance

Using a third-party Facebook application like HootSuite or HubSpot’s social media publishing tool, you can schedule Facebook posts in advance. However, just as we advised against too much Facebook automation with blog auto-posting, the same holds true for scheduling. Don’t get caught in the trap of turning your page into a robot, and make sure you’re actively engaging with your fans, too.

23) Understand the Impact of EdgeRank

EdgeRank is Facebook’s algorithm for deciding what gets shown in a user’s news feed. It’s important to understand that not every post published to your page’s timeline will be visible to every one of your fans. A post’s engagement level factors into your content’s ability to spread across Facebook. Interactions with a post such as a Like, share, comment, tag, etc., create what Facebook calls an “edge.” The more edges an object has, the more likely it will be displayed in a user’s News Feed. This means it’s important to post engaging content so your fans are more inclined to interact with it, thus increasing its reach.

24) Add Facebook Social Plugins to Your Blog/Website

Promote your business’ Facebook presence and help your content spread on Facebook by adding Facebook Social Plugins to your website and/or blog. This will encourage visitors to your site to also interact with you and become your fan on Facebook as well as spread your content and expand its reach. Social Plugins include ‘Like’ buttons, ‘Share’ buttons, and more.

25) Encourage Your Business’ Execs to Add the ‘Subscribe’ Button

Encourage the public-facing executives and thought leaders in your business to add the subscribe button to their personal Facebook profiles and share your business’ content. This will help extend the reach of your business content. Furthermore, individual people can only be added to the Interest Lists we mentioned in tip #20 if they’ve implemented the subscribe button, so doing so will enable users who are creating new Interest Lists to add your business’ thought leaders to their list, increasing the chances of exposing your business’ content to people who subscribe to those lists.

26) Subscribe to Facebook’s Official Blog for New Feature Announcements

Give yourself a competitive edge. Stay on top of the latest announcements from Facebook such as new features and tools by subscribing to the official Facebook Blog.

27) Monitor Activity on Your Business Page

Don’t neglect your Facebook presence. Use social media monitoring software like HubSpot or a third-party app like HootSuite to monitor activity and regularly participate in your Facebook page. A page that is engaging and updated regularly will be much more successful than a static one.

28) Switch Your Posting Identity Between a Personal Profile and a Page

As a page administrator, within your page’s settings you can choose to always post to your page with that page’s identity (i.e. If I post to HubSpot’s page when I’m using Facebook as my personal profile, it will show as posted from ‘HubSpot.’). Furthermore, if you want to use your page’s identity in general, you can switch that as well. Doing so will enable you to receive notifications about activity on your page, see stories from the pages you Like in your news feed, and interact with other pages as your page. Just click on ‘Account,’ then choose ‘Use Facebook as Page.’

29) Experiment With Facebook’s Ad Platform

Test the effectiveness of Facebook’s advertising platform for your business. Here’s a complete ebook on the subject to help get you started. Then become well versed in Facebook’s ad metrics so you know how your ads are performing.

30) Use Group Chat for Collaboration

Facebook recently introduced Group Chat into its mix of features. In the Facebook chat pane, click on a user you want to chat with. Then click on the icon between the video icon (oh yeah — you can do a 1 on 1 video chat, too!) and the ‘x’ icon, and choose ‘Add Friends to Chat.’ Think of it as a chat room that can enable you to collaborate with teammates or conduct a small, live focus group with prospects or customers.

31) Enable Messages

With Facebook’s new page design update, page admins can now allow users to send them personal messages. This makes it much easier for admins to engage in private conversations with their fans. Use this feature when you need to discuss a topic or customer service issue in more depth, and when you’d prefer the conversation not be made public for all page visitors to see. We don’t recommend limiting methods of communication available to your fans, but admins can also choose to turn off messaging capability by accessing the Admin Panel, choosing ‘Manage’ >> ‘Edit Page’ >> ‘Manage Permissions,’ and unchecking the ‘Messages’ box.

32) Integrate Facebook With Google+

Download the Google+Facebook extension (currently available for Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, and Firefox) to add an extra tab to your Google+ account, which accesses your Facebook news feed. The tab also enables you to Like, comment, or post status updates to Facebook from your Google+ account.

33) Take Advantage of Facebook Keyboard Shortcuts

Use Facebook at the speed of light with Facebook keyword shortcuts for Google Chrome, Firefox, or Internet Explorer. Access Facebook’s keyword shortcuts here.

34) Launch Contests

Contests can be a great way to increase engagement and attract new fans for your page. Be aware of Facebook’s contest/promotion guidelines, and consider using an application like Wildfire, which works closely with Facebook to make sure its guidelines are followed appropriately. Here’s a helpful blog post on the subject if you want to learn more.

35) Add More Page Administrators, Engage, and Be Social

As we mentioned before, although there are a lot of tools available to help you maximize the effectiveness of your Facebook presence, remember that social networks are based on the concept of being social. Make sure there is a member of your team devoted to managing your business’ Facebook presence and that they’re committed to participating using a real, live human voice. You can also add more than one administrator for your page when you’re editing your page under ‘Manage Admins’ to help you split the responsibility among team members.

Today’s “how to” is all about writing content for the web. Below I have several tips that will help keep your readers engaged in what you have to say:

General Tips for Writing on the Web:

• Short paragraphs are best. When people look at big blocks of text they get overwhelmed and don’t want to read it.
• Stay conversational! It’s great to write how you talk because people feel like they can connect with you, that you are authentic, and they will want to work with you as a result. Writing for the web is not about being a crazed perfectionist. The online world is a forgiving one so just write and get your message OUT!
• It’s good to break up text by use of attention-grabbing headlines and sub-headlines (an example: content formatting example)
• Always think about where you’re leading the reader – Just like in writing a book or story. You want to keep them engaged and clicking from page to page in your site OR lead them to contact you. I always suggest coming up with a list of “Calls to Action.” Pamla does this best by telling people all the things they can and should do with her (http://pamlawhorne.com/start/). I don’t suggest you do this as a page on your site so much as just make the list and when you write each page of content, make sure you add a call to action and lead people to sign-up for your mailing list, contact you, comment on your blog, order your product, connect with you on social media etc.
• Image use is great! … as long as it is NOT clip art, distracting or pointless. If it helps sell the point, then it’s great! Plus, with the huge buzz going on right now with Pinterest, it could lead to more website visitors!
• Testimonials are amazing and help people trust you. It’s wise to sprinkle these throughout the pages of your site, and also include them on one general testimonials page.
• In blogging, it’s great to also lead people to other content within your content. This is less subtle than a call to action. So for example, notice how even in this blog post I am linking to other articles I’ve written to help educate you on a variety of topics. This is key to showing you that I know a lot about how to build and market your business online. If you feel this content is valuable then you’ll want to stick around by signing up for my emailing list or sharing this content on your social networking sites so you are looked at as more of an authority. See how it all works?
• Write from your heart with the priority and intention to add value to people’s lives. This is KEY and what writing content is all about. I am writing this blog post because I genuinely want you to feel more comfortable about writing. Writing is key to getting your message out through your website, blog and social networks. The more that you write, the more that people will hear about you and the longer-lasting your message will be. Don’t stop writing.

So tell me, what was the tip that struck you the most? What content tips to you have that I didn’t mention? I’d love to hear your thoughts (or get your help sharing this article if you thought it was helpful) through the Facebook comments box below.

However, your email list is STILL your #1 online asset! You can market to those people again and again, they will stay loyal to you (assuming you have good email practices) and they will buy from you down the road. The key is to offer a free incentive that showcases your expertise and value, that people WANT.

Do NOT make a free report in an hour or two and throw it up there as a Microsoft Word doc that is not formatted, and then expect that to boost your credibility and sales. Yuk! This is a critical part of the public’s first impression of you. You want to spend the time to come up with a great idea, produce it the best you can, get it professionally formatted and designed – in short, spend the time to do it RIGHT.

Below I have a lot of really great keys to a successful free introductory product incentive that you can offer on your website in exchange for people to signup for your mailing list. Note to Self: You may way to print this puppy out. 

Do the brainstorming work:

• What are the top 3 problems your audience faces? (depression, weight gain, bankruptcy, etc.) In a free gift, people want an answer to their biggest problem in a formula or process that they can start today. Examples can be, “3 Steps to Triple Your Energy Levels,” or “5 Ways to Dump Depression and Gain Gusto,” etc.
• People will want to instantly download your free gift (not have it sent to them a week later) so I suggest the format you consider to be video, text (like an eBook) or audio. There are reasons behind which format to choose and why. To give you a taste:
• Video is great for giving off energy that transfers to the listener. It creates a longer lasting impact, can go viral, plus they can watch it again and again. Video is ideal for emotional topics. If you are a personal or life coach for example, this is for sure the format to select.
• Text is great for writing out a technical process so someone can pint out the document, paste on their mirror, or just review easily. It’s probably the easiest format to share. You MUST get your eBook or workbook professionally formatted and designed to make a visual impact which is necessary for getting readers engaged and excited to share with others. (If your topic is not technical or in a process, I do not suggest creating an eBook – I would suggest you to create video, period.) For example, my free product incentive right now is a 23-page eBook titled, “Share My Message! 7 Key Steps to Social Media Integration.” I show lots of examples of how to brand your social networks and I explain how to do it ALL! So I for sure had to choose an eBook format so my readers could print it out, refer back to it again and again, etc.
• Audio is “ok,” but video is for sure a preferred format by the majority. Audio is good for meditations and technical personal development/motivational/how-to content. Audio can be uploaded to an iPod so people can listen in the car, while working out or taking a bath, etc.

More Key Tips:

• By now we’ve identified the top 3 problems our audience face and we’ve selected a format for the product.  Next I would start working on an outline of what you’re going to discuss. Another KEY to this process is that people will want to download something they can start TODAY. No one wants to go to a website in search of a problem they are facing, get all jazzed about a free product, sign-up and realize that the author is telling them how to ‘repair their credit in 6 months.’ That subscriber needs a solution NOW. So let’s give it to them. If it’s a topic that gets them on the road to success TODAY then people will signup for it.
• The higher the monetary value of the bonus, the more people will want it. So if you have an eBook and a video as a package deal, more web visitors will download it. If you give away an event ticket or teleseminar call series – since a higher value – more will download (Note: These two ideas are more if you have an opportunity to give a bonus away during a book launch or product launch).
• As you create your product, always be thinking, “How can I make this so good that it goes viral?” I want people to share my eBook with as many people as possible! I don’t even care if they signup for it! If I produce a high-quality product that is of great value to others, I know they’ll come back to me anyway. They will come and check out my website, signup for my mailing list to get more great training, hire me for website development or social media branding, etc. I’d love nothing more than people to think my product is so good they send an email out to 100 people saying “Here, thought this could be a useful resource for you.” Goosebumps! Since we’re on the topic, a great read is, “6 Ways to Make Your Video Go Viral.”
• Always, always, always, always, always, always(!) end with a “call to action” by suggesting to the reader or viewer what to do next. Offer a discount on becoming a member, invite them to join a free teleseminar call, ask them to follow you on social networks, etc. Tell people what you want them to do with this material or next in general.

So what do you think, some good tips in here? Did it get you to evaluate your online marketing efforts and make a decision to step up your game? I bet it did and that rocks!

If you thought this article was helpful, I would love to hear your feedback and help me share it on Facebook, Twitter and Google+. If you are interested in writing for InsightfulDevelopment.com, click here to learn about out Guest Writing program.

If you do not have a YouTube account, then first, I need to urge you to get on this wagon by setting up an account and taking the video plunge today.

If you do have a YouTube account, you must, must get it branded, otherwise you are literally wasting the opportunity. Every single time someone views your video, they should be staring at your website URL, photo, logo, tagline – or testimonials, a service list – anything that will drive people back to your website to learn more about what your message is.

See below for my YouTube background and examples of a recent YouTube channel backgrounds we designed: (click to zoom)

I just got off the phone with one of my most trusted and and respected contacts in the author and publishing world who told me that Mike Michalowicz, author of the “business cult classic,” The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur and The Pumpkin Plan (Penguin, July 2012)… is offering a rare insider’s look into how he leveraged the success of his first book to go from an unknown to industry authority in less than four years.

I’m telling you this because a large portion of my readers are authors and you NEED to know about what’s happening here…

In two weeks Mike will be hosting a 2-hour teleseminar (a birdie told be to plan longer because of some extra education planned for the end). The call is called “Anatomy of a Perennial Bestseller.”

Mike has asked his editor and his publicist at Penguin to join him on the call (UMM… this just doesn’t happen! ever!!), as well as his top-secret ghostwriter who has worked with bestselling authors around the world and knows what makes a book great. (And who happens to be one of my closest friends!)

What are these top minds in the publishing world going to talk to us about (yep, I’ve already registered for my seat!)? Straight from Mike’s info page:

Brooke Carey, my editor at Penguin – the person who authorized my six figure (as in, hundreds of thousands of dollars) advance payment for my book – will be sharing the exact steps YOU need to take to sell your own book for hundreds of thousands. Not only that, she will be walking you step-by-step through my book proposal (Yes, you will be getting a copy!) & tell you why it worked and why others don’t.

Then after you hear from Brooke, and ask her any questions you want, you’ll hear from Tiffany Liao. She’s my publicist at Penguin and knows every trick in the book to what makes books sell. She will explain why following “standard book marketing protocol” is the sure-fire way to failed launch, and the exacts steps you need to have a best seller right out of the gate. Oh, and talking about marketing… I have an AMAZING bonus surprise (but I will hold off on telling you about that for a minute).

After Tiffany shares the secrets to marketing success, you will hear from my ghostwriter. My ghostwriter’s name? Sorry… he (or maybe a she) is a ghost. I won’t reveal their name…yet. In fact, my ghost is one of the most sought after ghosts for non-fiction writers in the world. She (or maybe a he) was the magic written voice behind The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur and my new book, The Pumpkin Plan. The ghost/author relationship is the most critical relationship you will ever have. And during this part of the tele-conference you will learn everything that is required to make a book that sells itself. One that people thirst after. One that is epic. Oh, and my ghost may just reveal his/her name and tell you exactly where the pool of the most talented ghosts is(you’ll never guess).

Then, it will be my turn. The story of how to become a significant author. And industry leading author. Possibly, like you, I had never written a book before. I dreamed it. I had tried here and there…but it never really happened. I was a computer guy. No one knew me. I was, for all intents an purposes, a nobody. But then on January 2008, I decided to change it all. I had knowledge to share. I committed to writing a book that changed the world and put me in the forefront of entrepreneurial experts. I will teach you how to build your brand. How to build your book and your persona. How to be the expert for any industry…for your industry.

What really blows my mind is Mike is sending all of the participants a copy of the book proposal that earned him a six-figure advance, AND his editor is going to walk us through why it worked!!

Is my enthusiasm too strong?? Impossible! In all my years in the author circle, I have NOT heard of this kind of an opportunity!

I also got notice that Mike is doing a follow-up call on July 23rd, after The Pumpkin Plan launches, to debrief about his marketing plan and tell us about the wins and the mistakes – and we get the marketing plan, too.

This guy deserves a major applause for being willing to share how he wrote a book that Business Week called a “cult classic,” sold nearly 30,000 books on his own, increased his hourly consulting rate to $350-$500/hour, landed numerous television gigs and his own pilot, became a columnist for The Wall Street Journal and leveraged all of this to get a sweet deal from Penguin, is amazing.

Can you see where my enthusiasm is coming from now??

Mike is doing this for one reason only – he wants pre-orders. So to get one of the 200 slots available, you have to pre-order 10 copies of The Pumpkin Plan and send Mike the receipt.

And, if you’re wondering, I do NOT get a cut. I am truly just promoting this because it’s an unbelievable opportunity for authors or any entrepreneur, really. No hidden agendas here!

All of the details are here:

http://www.toiletpaperentrepreneur.com/tpe-me-sq/best-seller/bestseller.html

I signed up, and I booked some slots for my clients as well. No way I’m missing this. If you get on the call let me know and we’ll be call pals.

We choose our destiny. We take each step when walking down the road of our career. Make each decision as if it were the single decision that could be a game changer for you. Rock on!

What does the new Timeline look like?

What is the greatest addition for Facebook pages?
The Facebook Cover is by far the greatest because we now have an 815px X 310px header that sits at the top of our page which we can use to further our brand messaging!

Get Your Facebook Page Timeline Cover Header Designed »

Important! There are some critical points of information to note about the Timeline for Pages. Some include:

• Facebook no longer allows you to set a default landing tab for your business page.
• Your Facebook Cover can not be a space to promote any call to action (including your URL or free product offer – don’t worry, our covers will still promote you and your brand in a very effective way).
• Between milestone images, your apps bar and offer ads, businesses will have much more freedom to effectively promote their products and services (yay!). See the resources links below to read up on these additions.

I encourage you to take a half hour and fully read up on the do’s and dont’s for this exciting new change. If you’d like to get a head start and get my help in setting up your new Facebook Timeline for your company page you can view our social branding packages or contact me for support.

Resources to Read:

• The Complete Guide to Setting Up the New Facebook Page Design
• Interactive Course on Facebook Timleline for Pages
• Facebook Timeline Complete Guide