Building a Global Resorts Network business, and the experiences I had with other home business opportunities leading up to working with GRN, led me to realize that I was wrong. Avoid this potential pitfall. Watch this video to find out why…

Personal branding, one of the most important strategies for developing an online presence, is not rocket science. It has been mystified and complicated by so many online “gurus” that many newcomers to network marketing avoid it completely, to the advantage of their competitors and the detriment of their own business.

Put simply, personal branding is using various technological and social media (Web 2.0) tools to develop a unique presence online and connect with prospective buyers. You might use video sites like YouTube (you can check out some of my videos here), or viddler to host short videos that present you, your personality, background and product reviews to potential prospects. Or you could use social networking sites like MySpace or facebook to connect with other entrepreneurs and people seeking new options for working from home.

The network marketing industry has had a bad reputation, frequently well-deserved, as being filled with spammers and scammers. If the new generation of online entrepreneurs using the network marketing model wants to break free from preconceived notions and judgments, it’s time to learn to attract rather than to assault prospective buyers.

Like all effective online marketing methods, personal branding takes focused time to learn. But any personal branding strategy that leaves out the social networking site “Twitter” is missing a great opportunity. Twitter is social networking…on steroids!

Twitter allows an internet entrepreneur, even one with limited experience, the opportunity to connect with people one normally might not usually meet on other social networks, many of them brilliant people with incredible passion for what they do. It’s also a very effective tool to reduce the sense of isolation many who work exclusively online can tend to face from time to time.

And Twitter is one of the best ways to attract the people you are looking for and to quickly learn how to interact effectively in a social networking environment.

Contrary to what some teach, Twitter is not just a bulletin board for you to announce every product you sell with every “Tweet,” promote your MLM with each post or what you are up to every single minute of the day. While it’s fun to post what you’re doing or promoting or writing about, and it’s interesting to know what’s happening in other’s lives between marketing events, Twitter is really a place to connect meaningfully with people. It’s a way for “Tweeps” to get a glimpse of the “real world” others are experiencing throughout a day.

But it’s also a place to share ideas, tips and encouragement to others…to give before you receive. Somehow, Twitter has managed to create a community that thrives on contribution and generosity.

But to discover the usefulness of Twitter, you really just have to try it for yourself! Here are a few key things to keep in mind.

Twitter is considered a “micro-blogging” site. In other words, all posts on Twitter require limiting oneself to 140 characters, including the @ symbol used to reply to specific “Tweeps/Twitterers/Twitter Peeps.” (Yes…there’s a lot of funny vocabulary peculiar to Twitter!)

Let’s get started with your first Twitter account.

1. Create a free Twitter profile at http://www.Twitter.com , then “follow” me at http://Twitter.com/stevieknight .

1. You will need to add at least 40 or 50 people that you “follow” in order to see how the conversations flow and how connections are made. So look through the panel on the right side of my profile and start looking through the profiles of the people I’m following and those who follow me.

“Follow” a bunch of them, but only if their profile and websites they link to resonate with you. Don’t follow “Tweeps” (Twitter people) who use a spammy name or don’t have a profile picture up. Also, look at their most recent posts and see if they are actively in conversation with others (notice the @ sign followed by Twitter usernames in front of the post) or if they only “Tweet” about themselves, their products and their promos. Skip those peeps…they’re not likely to contribute a whole lot to your understanding of the power of Twitter.

1. When someone follows you back, “direct message” them to thank them. For example, you might write: “Hey (real name)! Thanks for adding me to your Twitter stream! Cheers! (or whatever sounds natural to you)” People don’t have to “follow” you back, so show gratitude when someone adds you. It’s a good thing! Also, don’t feel rejected if someone doesn’t follow you back.

1. After you’ve done that, download Twhirl at http://seesmic.com/ . It will help tremendously to keep track of what’s going on. Install and start using it, setting notifications to alert audibly with replies and direct messages, if you like. (Edited 05/13/09: I now recommend using this best Twitter management software program instead of Twhirl because of its “grouping” features…a “how-to” video will be coming shortly.) (Edited 09/05/09: Twhirl was purchased by Seesmic. Seesmic also has a grouping feature…try both seesmic and tweetdeck and see which works best for you.)
   

1. OK, now that you’re set up (whew!), start watching the conversations going on and join in when you have a question or something to contribute to the conversation. Keep your posts about your stuff to a lower percentage than what you actually contribute in conversation with others if you don’t want to be labeled a spammer!

• Bonus Tip: Google spiders index Twitter all the time. If you want Google to find your Twitter posts, Tweet at least once a day.

This may seem like a lot of work, but once it’s set up and you start dipping in and out of the Twitter stream throughout a day, you will find it refreshing, enlightening, rewarding and perhaps even, enriching! Happy Tweeting!

Have an opinion, a question or do you have any cool Twitter tips? Leave a comment.

Expect success!

Stevie Knight

I wrote yesterday about how I’ve been using Twitter for my network marketing company, Global Resorts Network and its luxury travel membership. Today, it’s been 12 days since I signed up for Twitter. Now lest you think that I’ve turned into a Twitterholic, I have to say that I try to dip in and out of Twitter throughout the day, as time and focus allow, rather than staying there all day long, watching the Twhirl screen (a program that helps keep track of all those you are “following” and contribute to conversations rather conveniently) roll by like a slot machine.

Twitter, like most social networks, takes a few hours/days of intense focus to get a feeling for what is acceptable, appropriate and welcome so that you don’t trash your reputation like a loud drunk crashing a party ! So I have spent considerable time there in the last 12 days, but having some experience with forums has made the transition to Twitter fairly easy.

So, to the question at hand…should you be using Twitter for your Network Marketing business, especially with Global Resorts Network? It all depends on you and your goals.

If you can take a “big picture” approach to Twitter (and any other social network for that matter) and understand that its primary benefits are personal and business branding, professional networking and relationships, you can have a blast with Twitter, and grow your business in the process. Marketing on social networks takes time. It’s an investment in tomorrow and the future, not usually today. It can also be a opportunity to develop communication skills and contribute to others in ways you might not think of at first glance.

If, however, you are looking for instant results, immediate sign ups and loads of product sales today, you (and Twitter! LOL!) would be better served by focusing your time learning pay-per-click or other forms of lead generation. Twitter won’t ban you for spam, but people who are following you can un-follow very quickly, and those you follow can block you so that they don’t have to read what you say. It’s a self-policing community whose rules (mostly unspoken but quickly learned be the observant) you must be willing to abide by if you want to really enjoy its benefits.

Regardless of your perspective, I’d like to share a couple more things to help you consider Twitter as a valuable portion of your online marketing efforts for your Network Marketing business.

Today I was looking for a new solution to record some upcoming (very cool…watch for them) telephone interviews that I’ll be doing with some top internet marketers whose perspective I really value and would like to share with you. So I tweeted, briefly requesting some suggestions from other tweeps (tweeps=Twitter+peeps!). Within 2 minutes I had a reply with a great suggestion. Within 5 minutes, I had several more and was able to quickly decide which solution best fits my situation! And these suggestions came from people who really know what they’re talking about. Amazing!

That was a great surprise for someone so new to Twitter. But there was something more important that I observed, even experienced, today. It took me a while to really notice it, though when I did, it did make me wonder for a moment if I had stepped into the Twilight Zone (or in this case, the set of the Waltons…an old TV show about a small community and a large family). Throughout the day, there are people coming into the Twitter stream and saying “Good Morning…getting a cup of coffee and checking in” and, simultaneously, others saying “Good Night…off to bed. See you all tomorrow.” Twitterers (or Tweeters, or Tweeps, as they are also called) are from all over the world. Tonight, as I left (saying goodnight…not required but fun in a slightly goofy, slightly fabulous way!), people responded with their own “goodnight” and “see you in the morning,” like one might experience going in and out of a coffee shop or the local diner or friendly bar in a small town.

Tonight, I let it all sink in and I let it truly amaze me. As I tried to explain my Twitter experience to my dear husband, it was a challenge figuring out how to explain how all these strangers/friends/followers/followed people interacted in such a way that I saw the evidence that deep needs were being met, those cravings we all have for meaningful connections with people who matter, if we’ll allow ourselves to acknowledge the need in the first place. Cynics will say that community is dead, but I know better. I see it on Twitter every day!

Follow me on Twitter: @stevieknight

Have something to say? Leave a comment!

Expect success!

Stevie Knight

“Isn’t Network Marketing a scam?” is a question I’m asked from time to time when I mention what I do. I write on various topics, frequently not even business related. So some, finding value in spite of what I’ve written , are surprised to find that one of the business models I use and even promote is Network Marketing. (You can read an overview of which business models I use to put together my “multiple streams of income” right here. The specific businesses are linked throughout the blog.)

My first answer is generally to laugh and say, “Yeah, right! I’m a scammer now!” To which they respond uncomfortably that of course they know I’m no scammer but they’re wondering what’s the deal with network marketing. Am I maybe involved in a pyramid scheme and just don’t know it?

So of course, the first concern some people have about network marketing is whether or not it’s a scam. Is it really legal?

Secondly, I guess some people have known way too many fanatical “mlm-ers” and are afraid I’m going to start drawing those ubiquitous “circles” (you know what I’m referring to! ) people used to draw on white boards in living rooms and country club meeting rooms all across America, and asking them to sample some laundry detergent or super-duper vitamins! Frankly, there’s an unspoken skepticism about the value of most Network Marketing products, especially when dealing with most of those I promote, which are high-ticket products and services. So people wonder, “Even if it’s legal, are the products a scam?”

Additionally, people are tired of hearing a lot of hype about income potentials and they’re tired of being hounded by high-pressure salespeople who just don’t understand the word no…the kind of people who, because of their pushy tactics, are part of the NFL club…”No Friends Left” club…not a club anyone wants to volunteer to join! So people wonder, “Even if it’s legal and the products are decent, isn’t it a pretty scammy choice of profession?”

So, over the next few posts, I’m going to address these questions related to whether or not network marketing is really a scam.

Of course, you can figure that my perspective will be overall positive, but I hope you’ll take the time to read how I navigated my own season of skepticism and concern and why I am comfortable with and confident about one of the choices of industries I’ve chosen to use as a vehicle for multiple streams of online income…the network marketing industry.

You might also already be involved in Network Marketing and frustrated from time to time that you’re misunderstood. I hope you’ll check back for suggestions on how to avoid being part of that “NFL club” I mentioned above!

More often than not, people are simply curious. So whether you’re a skeptic, a convert, or you’re just curious, I hope you’ll check back for this series.

And please, if you have something to contribute to the conversation, positive or negative , please comment. (Please no bitter rants or blatant spam comments on “the only good opportunity in the world” ! LOL! Comments are moderated! Be good!)

Expect success!

Stevie Knight

“Is Web 2.0 Marketing really for Network Marketers and useful for Network Marketing or is it just more hype?”…is a question I get all the time. Just today, I was frankly amazed when a network marketing acquaintance of mine stated that “web 2.0 marketing” was just not duplicatable as a marketing method and really, truly, offline face-to-face would always produce the best results in a network marketing business. Now this guy is a pretty savvy network marketer. I had to wonder how many people think like he does and are missing out on the greatest opportunity in the last 2000 years to tap into the global marketplace?!!

So what’s the deal with “web 2.0″? Is it hype and a scare tactic thrown out by Internet Marketers to finally get Network Marketers to buy all their stuff?!! LOL!

I just had to break it to this guy that, longterm, anyone who is not getting familiar with Web 2.0 marketing will be left in the dust by those who take the time to understand and go through the learning curve. I can guarantee that!

It’s not about hype…it’s about technology and trends and the strengths of marketing online. Anyplace (even on the other side of the world from where you are), anytime (even while you’re cozy in bed sleeping), the internet can connect people with you whom you’d otherwise never get to connect with.

My friend’s statement against the use of web 2.0…”The most duplicatable system is face to face”…is exactly why web 2.0 is so powerful! These web 2.0 methods give people a sense of “face to face” that is certainly not exactly the same as seeing you in person, but it’s frequently more powerful and more persuasive! For marketing, especially for growing your Network Marketing business, web 2.0 marketing is like “face-to-face”, “belly-to-belly” marketing on steroids that Network Marketing gurus and hotshots have been emphasizing forever, making your marketing efforts even more effective and efficient online, using “New Media” marketing tools.

Through videos, pictures, interactive dialog on one’s blog or on a social network site or a myriad of great tools evolving more and more usefully each day, web 2.0 marketing allows you to share who you really are with people so that they can “know, like and trust” you. People will be far more interested in what you promote when they feel informed and confident about who you are. For example, my myspace site hasn’t been updated lately, but if someone wants to know “Who is Stevie Knight?”, my myspace site will give them some insight, a starting point for getting to know me.

I’ve been offline for about a month or so due to my father’s illness and subsequent death. In that time, however, people have still seen my myspace page, have still seen a few videos and some contacted me to connect further. Now my myspace page is not even current, nor is there much content on it yet that would be helpful to others….(but that’s about to change!..stay tuned!) but it’s far more info than most people would get from me over coffee at Starbucks! It allows people to connect authentically and that’s what this business model is all about.

Take a myspace or other social network or blog and present yourself for who you are and you’ll be surprised who can’t stand you and who can hardly wait to work with you. Either way, people who encounter you in these ways first quickly disqualify themselves, or you, from a further business relationship or, because of the feeling of familiarity they now have, they may want to get to know you better.

Online “face to face” is just as easy to teach your downline, though not as familiar, as offline “face to face”, only far more powerful and wide reaching. It simply involves using the various new online marketing mediums to present your authentic self and the value you bring, including your products and services, to others and attract leaders into your business. It’s the ultimate application of “attraction marketing.”
Web 2.0 is not some vague concept in the future. It’s where you should be now.

While I’m not an expert in Web 2.0 Marketing, I’m an enthusiast who has spent a lot of time studying this over the past year and I’m enjoying implementing it. So watch what I’m doing…check out the articles I’ll be writing on this subject…use the tools I recommend…and see what happens to your business!

Disagree or have an opinion to share? Leave a comment…

Expect success!

Stevie Knight