report. What's that?
In order to know if I'm on track, there must be something to
measure. For me, it means looking at where my business was six
months ago, what goals did I hit (or miss) and overall evaluate
various processes in relation to how effective they were.
Here's what I mean. Let's say the goal for the past six months
was to add another 200 subscribers to my blog list. The method
would be social networking and posting on 2 niche forums. Ok,
six months go by and the result - 50 new subscribers, 5 from
social networking and 45 from forum postings.
Was this a failure? To many of you, it would seem so since the
goal was 200 subscribers. In my opinion it isn't a failure
because I learned something.
so it will move down on my list of effective methods for getting
subscribers.
subscribers. So move this to the top of my marketing methods for
getting subscribers.
Finally, it tells me where to focus my efforts to reach my goal,
and gives me numbers to better estimate what the return should be
for the next six months. This isn't an exact science.
It's only meant to make me more effective as a solo business
owner. In this way I can gauge my progress and eliminate that
'deer in the headlights' tunnel vision that can set in when you
work on your own.
The Art of Reciprocity. While reading what others had to say on
the subject of social marketing, it occurred to me that social
marketing is no more than an old technique with a newy name -
reciprocity.
In simple terms - You wash my back and I'll wash yours. A
technique someone posted in a forum about using this online
was...interesting, to say the least. Here's the internet
equivalent (I guess) of reciprocity:
Go to my Blog which is in my signature.
1) Subscribe to my RSS feed
2) Leave a comment
3) Rate my blog at Blog Catalog
4) Add to favorites at Blog Catalog
5) Post a comment at Blog Catalog
6) Post a free add daily on my new forum.
Then let me know and I'll do the same for you.
Does it work? Don't get me lying, I have no idea.
It does appear if only 3 people were doing this, it would
seriously eat into the time you spend operating your business
But it does bring up an interesting question: How does this build
a business relationship?
Maybe I am missing the point here and being a bit 'old
fashioned'. Isn't all the talk of JV partners and networking
for your business about mutually cooperative interaction, even if
cyber enhanced?
Or is the whole Squidoo, Technorati, Chamber of Commerce thing
about ganking off other peoples time and efforts...who knows,
it's beyond my tiny universe.
My definition of reciprocity - I know or like what you
do/say/offer as a business owner and would recommend you to my
circle based on my having this knowledge of your business.
You, when the opportunity presents itself after having learned
over time what I offer/say/do in my business will also recommend
me to your circle.
Look, there's nothing wrong with what other people choose to do
in their business. You, me, and everyone else hopefully are
trying to get to the same place...earn enough to live decently
with our values intact.
You have to decide which methods you choose will get you there.
For those of you with no values...there's hope.
That's it for today and I leave you with this -
"What our country deserves from everyone who enjoys
its fruits and freedoms is a little more gratitude -- and a lot less greed" ~ Michelle Malkin
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