Social media marketing has grown exponentially in the past few years and is continuing to change and evolve even as we speak. This is why it is so incredibly important to keep up with the latest techniques and happenings in the wonderful world of social media networking. It’s no longer just about Myspace or Facebook. Today, an increasing number of people have begun to realize the value of social media as it pertains to Internet marketing and overall business growth. Perhaps then, this is the reason that a man named John Reese has been so successful in helping hundreds (if not thousands) of entrepreneurs and business people alike generate tons of traffic to their sites with a little step-by-step program called Traffic Secrets 2.0.

Traffic Secrets 2.0 sells for $397 and is worth every penny.

There are so many social media sites out there as well as a plethora of information about social media programs, networking, etc. that if you’re just starting out in the social media world, all of this information can seem really daunting. The program consists of a total of 12 interactive cds, each of which provides in-depth explanations of how to create “maximum traffic results in minimum time”. The cds are broken down as follows:

1. CD#1: The Foundation
2. CD#2: Market Discovery
3. CD#3: Keyword Science
4. CD#4: SEO Dynamics
5. CD#5: Content Factory
6. CD#6: Video Marketing
7. CD#7: Social Strategy
8. CD#8: AdWords Mastery
9. CD#9: Advertising Methods
10. CD#10: Widgets & Software
11. CD#11: Affiliate Army
12. CD#12: The Master Plan

You can review more details on our static page Traffic Secrets 2.0 in our navigation.

The cds are just one part of the program. Also included in the course packet:

• a 377-page training guide
• a workbook for tracking your traffic
• 7 step-by-step action blueprints
• login for the community forum
• access to the first Traffic Secrets course that sold for $997
• TS2 Action Track & Resources
• & More… so it’s hard to beat for a ONE TIME $397 purchase

‘Social Strategy’ in Review

Being someone who utilizes social media A LOT, I spent some time with Traffic Secrets 2.0, specifically with Disc number 7, which deals with social media strategies and how to implement them. That being said, here is a breakdown of what I learned:

Social Media Marketing is Growing Fast!

Not only this, but Reese mentioned how 99% of marketers are using social media WRONG! Contrary to what most people think, social media is NOT for advertising your products, services or site. In fact, doing this might run you the risk of damaging your credibility. What social media IS for are things such as building relationships with other people, allowing yourself to be discovered as well as increasing the exposure of your business and services. Ideally, it’s about finding potential prospects in your niche market and then strengthening that bond with them.

Social media is typically used as a syndication and communications channel. Syndication simply refers to the process of creating content or information and then having it distributed, republished and reprinted all over the Internet. For example, you might make a blog post, and due to the process of syndication, as soon as your post goes live, it will automatically show up elsewhere- such as Twitter or your Facebook profile.

Hierarchy of Communication

There are three primary ways that readers subscribe to blogs. And as it turns out, e-mail marketing is at the top of the list. The common mistake that most bloggers make is that they rely more on RSS versus e-mail because most bloggers aren’t marketers. Part of the reason that e-mail is so popular is due to the sheer fact that is what most people spend time checking each day. Think about it!

Building Blog Relationships

When it comes to building blogging relationships, Reese suggests several things- some of which include the following:

• Find popular blogs in your niche
• Leave quality blog comments on other blogs
• Use your real name vs. a cryptic name because it will look more authentic = not spammy!
• Utilize trackbacks
• Start using Twitter
• Create a Facebook profile and start using it; it has value!

On Social Strategies

Using sites like Digg (and even StumbleUpon) is great for spiking traffic. However, it is way more valuable to target 1,000 readers who are more likely to subscribe to your blog versus the 200,000 people who check in and check out real quick. Writers should also take advantage of adding social networking widgets to their blogs. With regards to StumbleUpon (SU), this is an extremely POPULAR social networking site that tends to drive a lot of traffic to various sits that are “stumbled”. However, Reese strongly advises against stumbling your own stuff. If you do stumble your own sites, you should follow the 10:1 rule which says that for each site of yours that you stumble, you should be stumbling at least 10 other unrelated sites in the interim.

Review

In summation, here are some important things to keep in mind:

• Social media marketing is both important and valuable
• In order to increase traffic/sales, DON’T SELL
• Hierarchy of power in social media= E-mail–Twitter–RSS–Facebook
• Ask others to comment/Stumble/Digg your stuff- DON’T DO IT YOURSELF
• Look into syndication in order to put out new content in different places at once
• Always ask yourself, “What’s in it for the audience?” Why do people want to listen to you? The reason they listen is because of the value they feel they are getting from your content.
• Don’t be so one-minded to only think, “How Can I drive the most traffic to make the most money?”

Click here for more information about the program, Traffic Secrets 2.0.

Facebook Bumper Sticker

To the average 19 or 20-something year-old, Facebook is cool. It’s the more “grown up” version of Myspace. But for those of us who have been in the social media loop for a while, sites like these can tend to get a little dull if there’s not much else going on, which leads to the idea of sites like Facebook and Myspace becoming the perfect place for snooping around to see what your “friends” are up to.

If you’re like me, your typical login to Facebook goes something like this:

• Sign in.
• Check News Feed to see what friends are doing
• Click on “Friends” tab and then on “Recently Updated” to see who’s updated their profile
• Click on various updated profiles to see what comments have been left
• Go back to your page and change your status update
• Check out some other new applications to see if there’s anything new

Correct me if I’m wrong, but when it comes to your average user, this is pretty much the extent of what goes on each time. Now, there may be instances where you’ll sign in and perhaps upload pictures from a recent trip you took. There are also a bunch of neat Facebook applications such as the Bumper Sticker application, which allows you to put fun, sometimes humorous “bumper stickers” on your page for others to see. There are also games, and other interactive applications which may draw one or more people to your page.

But What is Facebook Really For?

The primary reason that most people in the college age group use Facebook is because of its intrinsic ability to bring people together. Why, I have found at least a dozen or so of my old elementary school friends via Facebook. Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean that I have added them, but at least it lets me know that they are out there. Sounds a bit crazy, doesn’t it? After speaking to a bunch of my friends who are on Facebook, most openly admit that all they do is check out other people’s profiles….just because they can. But is this what Facebook is really for – to add people to your friends list who you don’t even really talk to just so that you can see their profile and use it to somehow make yourself feel better? I thought that was what Myspace was for?

For more information about Internet Marketing, contact Create Business Growth today!