YouTube + Podcast + Nutrition Expert + Author = SEO Traffic

Embedded in this post is a video capture of a podcast by author, nutrition expert and wellness coach Erin Chamerlik and her discussion on diabetes (and much more) with author of “Sugar Nation” Jeff O’Connell. This is an example of how to use YouTube to gain traffic, but not only that. It’s the use of YouTube in combination with pre-existing content to maximize effectiveness.
This podcast, formerly in audio-only format, is on YouTube, yes, but it’s also on Facebook, all over Twitter, Stumble Upon, Digg, WordPress and more.
And it’s searchable like never before.
Why?
Because now instead of a podcast title and short description, it’s got tags, multiple titles, annotations, categories and captions. Yes, the YouTube auto-generated captions aren’t perfect (sometimes it says things like “George Clooney” instead of “lots of money”) but they’re still searchable text.
Since posting the video less than 24 hours ago it’s gotten over 30 hits and that’s just for starters.
Now, it would be enough on its own but the real kicker is that the podcaster, Erin, is a real expert with a wealth of knowledge to share. And her guest, Jeff O’Connell, is famous in his own right.
You could say that re-formatting this audio-only gem is like cutting and polishing a rough diamond.
I’ll agree that it’s not perfect because I only had 15 minutes, Macromedia Fireworks and video editing software to put it together and post it. But it represents a valuable concept – multiple format cross-linking to maximize return.

So, check it out and be sure to ask Erin about the topic.
She truly is an expert!

What to do when the Twitter “Fail Whale” pops up…

This one is just a release for my Twitter jones because… yep… Twitter is over-capacity and I c-c-can’t t-t-t-tweet!

Actually, I was in the middle of coaching someone and had to hold off because even the cached page is incomplete.
Oh the travails of being a geek.

Chris

Establishing a social media presence for a physical therapy clinic

There are certain fields still playing catch-up online, making it less of a challenge to stand out (in a good way). This one is more than another day at the office, however, because it’s for my wife’s physical therapy practice – Premiere Physical Therapy & Sports Rehabilitation – in the Metro Washington DC area. To put it simply… it’s an absolute blast!

Starting with a short, easy-to-remember url like PTMaryland.com, we’re ramping up @PremierePT on Twitter, her Facebook page, LinkedIn presence and YouTube channel.

Granted, each presence is simple (now), but they are all growing a little bit every day relative to content and optimization.  I’m just using this post as an opportunity to provide insight into the steps.

For a unique tour, check out my online Prezi demo.

All the best,

Chris

RockMelt… Ok, I’m Excited About A Browser For A Change!

I’m a tad speechless… ok, maybe not – RockMelt is actually pretty cool.

Why am I ready to hit the RockMelt pipe? It says it integrates social media and, honestly, that’s all I want lately. Let’s see how it rolls.

Social Media book release: The Social Media Equation – Get Your Team Involved & Use The “Big 4″ To Bring Your Brick-And-Mortar Business To The Next Level

Know what people are saying about you online… even if you’re not saying anything?
Would you like to?
Or, have you heard so much about “social media” but are afraid to jump in because you may give a competitor valuable information?
This is where solid business meets Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and blogs.
It’s also full of advice and each chapter comes with an Action Plan for each platform.
The Action Plans are packed with immediate-action tips to keep you from looking like a beginner, even if you are.
They’re also written from the perspective of an executive who has been successful in off-line businesses, but used the internet to augment lead generation.

One tip could save you or make you thousands… or help you combat cyber-squatting and other brand-damaging internet iniquities.
But the key to this book is that it gives you helpful advice to get your team involved and buying in to the concept.
Because if they don’t come along for the ride, you won’t enjoy it nearly as much as you could.

Click the image to order and you will be able to download it immediately. As updates hit, you will receive them automatically. You will also have access to my exclusive newsletter… and this is the only way to get access to it.

All the best,

Chris

The Enchanted Floorist – no mistake on the name, just a pre-speaking test for a Green Bay, Wisconsin flooring company

When I first heard the name The Enchanted Floorist, I laughed out loud at the fun nature of the name itself.
Then, I tried to find them online.
Like so many others in the flooring business, it was rough going.
First shot was Twitter… no good.
Then, Facebook… nope.
Then Google… ok, we’re getting somewhere, but it’s still tough sifting through actual florists. Take the name out and look for a flooring company in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and I can’t find them.
I did come up with a Service Magic number, but I don’t want to incur a charge to them by trying to contact ‘em.
Well, I’m going to give them a hand.
Tomorrow, I’ll add their brick-and-mortar information to this post, as well as a link to their web presence.
So far, I’ve put them in a status update on Facebook, Tweeted their name and now comes this blog post.
Then, I’ll use this post as my url and leave a few comments on some high-traffic blogs.
Let’s go to town with this one and see where we wind up.
Nowhere to go go but up!

All the best,

Chris

Picture this!

Twitter tips – lists can grab the attention of even the busiest – aka “Chris Pirillo caught this!”

Heard of Chris Pirillo? Well, besides having parents with fantastic taste in first names, he’s routinely the #1 result when you Google the word “Chris”

Am I jealous? Nah… ok, yeah… but he deserves it and the millions of hits his YouTube channel gets every month!
Am I a fan? Well, absolutely because after you watch some of his videos, you begin to realize that he’s just plain sincere.
And, one may say there is nowhere online worth going where you won’t find Chris, and that makes for a tough time getting his attention, probably because sincerity is a commodity in short supply these days.
So, I was not trying to get his attention when I put his name on one of my Twitter lists “http://twitter.com/#!/webmindset/wow-these-guys-really-get-it” but here is what happened.
He saw it and reposted it here:

I was definitely not fishing for attention because Chris and I are working on a project right now for his home and he and I are both incredibly busy. This was just serendipitous and I wanted to take a minute to show you one more way to stand above the crowd.

A few minutes after I’d published this post, I checked Monitter.com and saw this:

I think I’ll add @TheCraigFisher to my list of smart guys who know a good post when they see it.
Oh, wait, it’s 5 minutes later and I need to add @TrishasTravels to that list.
Shoot, I better get off my tail and actually create that list!
Go for it, but don’t dilute the effectiveness by abusing it, and tell us about it.
I’ll blog it if it’s substantial.

All the best,

Chris… the other Chris
______

If you’d like to learn more about social media and real business, even if it’s just to check on your brand, check out the book The Social Media Equation. One tip from it could save you embarrassment or make you thousands!
Click the image to order and you will be able to download it immediately.

Pragmatic Social Media: An example of how to integrate social media into your off-line, brick-and-mortar business

Put your social media presence everywhere.
It’s so simple, it never occurs to many.
Look how long it took many businesses to get their website addresses on vehicles, business cards and ads.
And some still have yet to get with the program (very few).
In fact, I haven’t seen a sign like this yet… except at this business outside DC (a business very close to my heart!)

Of course, it’s bigger than this and there is other information on the door, but I know many clients both current and potential who’ve expressed delight at being able to contact this business in so many ways… especially since it’s closed on Sundays unlike many traditional retailers.

But, hey, who wants to be traditional?!

In fact, this business encourages people to friend them, fan them, tweet them, check in on foursquare, and anything else they can think of.
And they offer rewards like Starbucks gift cards, drawings and merchandise.

Give me your thoughts on this one because I humbly think it’s genius
If you’d like to learn more about social media and real business, even if it’s just to check on your brand, check out the book The Social Media Equation. One tip from it could save you embarrassment or make you thousands!
Click the image to order and you will be able to download it immediately.

All the best,

Chris

Followers, subscribers, fans and friends… to buy, or not to buy on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube

This is a tough one, not because it doesn’t work, but because it works so dang well.
That said, if you’ve got time, don’t buy.
Build a solid base and rock the house.
But there are benefits to multiple people being interested in what you have to say.
It comes from the psychological phenomenon known as “social proof“, and no one is immune from its effect.
If you want explosive growth and are willing to weed through the good, the bad and the downright fugly, by all means, buy away.
But how?
The only source I’d recommend as of today is SocialKik, and that’s because it gives you the option to upgrade to “targeted” fans/followers/friends.
You’ll get real people, but you’ll have to do some work.

After watching one business page explode after I set it up for a physician friend, I have to say my initial reluctance was unfounded. And he has continued to gain followers after a simple initial buy that cost less than a good meal for two. Not too shabby.
Here’s how the social proof phenomenon works:

Wikipedia: “Social value of unfamiliar people is ambiguous and requires a lot of effort to assess accurately. Given limited time and motivation, other people will often evaluate others based on how surrounding people behave towards them. For example, if a man is perceived to be in a company of attractive women, or is associated with them, then his perceived social value and attractiveness will be perceived to be greater. The implied cognition in this case would be “All those girls seem to really like him, there must be something about him that’s high value”.

You can capitalize on this because of one simple, unavoidable condition - the exploding field of social media is so new, it’s a mystery to many and they’re grasping for social proof.
Key points to remember about large numbers of followers/friends/fans:
- Identification of the surrounding group with self
- Possession of special knowledge
- Identification with authority
- Smart money
I’ve built thousands of followers on different social media presences without buying, but for my newer clients who want to hit the ground running, I couldn’t recommend anything better.

All the best,

Chris

Picture this!

The Social Media “Lone Wolf” – Thankfully, A Dying Breed In Concept Only

Maybe you’ve been there… the outside-of-the-box thinker who actually “got it” when it comes to social media -
aka the Social Media Lone Wolf.
Yep, you know what it’s like to look at a business’ Twitter posts and say, “Stop selling, idiots! It’s about relationships and branding first, business second… good, solid business.”
Or, maybe you’re less tactful -
“Cold selling on social media is like sex without foreplay, jackass!”
Guilty here on both counts.
Or maybe, heaven forbid, you share information with people in your field or those who may not know as much as you or be able or willing to pay you for that knowledge!
Mercy me.
Heck, maybe you’ve even brought your smartphone into the bathroom just to connect with your kind (yep, it’s more common than you think).
Hopefully, you’ve transitioned to a new industry and are welcomed among the understood of the pack, appreciated at last.
If not, you’re probably a masochist or you just don’t know how valuable you are.
Well, my friend, if you “get it” when it comes to social media, you’re valuable.
Just go to LinkedIn, Mashable, Monster, and any other employment site and enter “social media” into the search box.
Then hold onto your geeky hat and prepare to smile. 
Here’s a hint, do whatever you can to get “social media” added to your business card…
And when “they” finally come around and see how blasted wrong they were to:
- force brick and mortar metrics on you;
- bring up ROI within the first month of a “campaign”;
- sift tweets through a committee of ignorant suits;
just try to hold your fingers down and not smile too broadly… but smile!
You deserve it
Now, watch this video and enjoy, my fellow “new dork”:

All the best,

Chris

Yes, I’m smiling…