How to get better traffic results with forums and groups by Rex Harris

Here are a few of the strategies I use to improve the results and traffic flow from groups and forums.

1.) Participate in the threads: If you go through the MySpace forums right now, you will see that most of the threads are just advertising and self promotion, in which no one participates. Chances are, you have found the forums here to be ineffective if you are using them for mere self promotion. Participating in relevant threads will bring more traffic through your profile, and it’s through your profile that you can direct traffic accordingly.

2.) Share information, techniques and pointers. When you share information with people that they can use to their benefit, and it works, they’re going to come back to you for more.

3.) When participating in a forum, don’t be afraid to let people know who you are. Introduce yourself to people, talk to people, get involved and be consistent.

4.) When doing business, a picture is worth a thousand words. I’m a firm believer in using a professional, legitimate image. A first impression is a lasting impression. You will find it difficult to attract money if you are dressed like a bum, have an angry look on your face, or are using a picture of pixies and fairy dust. Professionalism is huge so use it to your advantage.

5.) Don’t be overly critical. It doesn’t matter what people are doing online, even if they aren’t doing something perfect, there’s something that you can find that they have done right, or at the very least, are moving in the right direction. You’ll get much further pointing out something people are doing right than what they are doing wrong.

Forums and groups are great for driving traffic provided they are used correctly.

If you’d like to learn more on how to use forums, all over the Internet, to build your business, contact me through MySpace or Skype ID swimwithus.

Cheers!

Rex
RexHarris.Ning.COM

Spam! Is your reputation in the world of Web 2.0 in jeopardy?

This has been addressed more times, in the MySpace forums, than I can even count now. It appears that people still don’t understand how to use a forum (any forum) the correct way.

If you are posting anything about your business opportunity in the forums, it can be considered spam. For those that haven’t been paying attention, MySpace is laying the smack down on people who do this.

Advertising your business opportunity in the forums is a great way to kill your reputation and find yourself on the receiving end of being ignored, or even worse, getting your account closed or even banned, so make sure you are doing things the right way.

1.) Share information – if you want to build trust with people and build relationships, share! If you have a hot marketing top or trick that’s working, share the wealth. When people take it from a forum, group or blog, and it works… guess who they are coming back to for more? Remember, YOU are the product!

2.) Participate in legitimate threads – if you want to win influence here, get involved. Most of the people using these forums come once in a while, spam us, and run. If you’re going to use the forums, then participate and offer something of value.

3.) A picture is worth a thousand words – keep your profiles and pictures professional and clean. You are only going to attract at the level you project. If you want leaders who are going to help you build a quality organization, be a leader!

Rex Harris

Why SPAM will destroy your reputation online by Rex Harris

The further I delve into the world of Web 2.0, the more I see the spam issue for what it is.  It’s an epedimic of ignorance, fear and the inability to allow ones mind to understand that there is more than one way to accomplish and objective.

Most of the people I find using spam are people who don’t know any better.  They are being educated by people who don’t know how to market… thus… an industry of people looking for answers simply does what they believe is right… tarnishing reputations, losing momentum and, essentially, killing their marketing career before they even get started.

Spam, in it’s simplest definition, is providing ANYONE who has not ASKED with information concerning your business, opportunity or commercial interest.  If you are sending messages, posting blogs, or participating in forums with content as described here, you are wrong, and you need to stop.

I see so many people come so close to doing things right on the social networks, only to blow it by including some long affiliate link at the end.  If you believe that a real entrepreneur is going to click your link and join your opportunity simply because you “think” it “might” be great, think again.  If you are lucky, you are going to get a program hopper or two, at best… who will join you… generating false enthusiasm (making you think you did right) only to watch them quit 30 days later because you lacked the communication skills to empower the person who joined you to become successful.

Twice today I have been contacted by people who call themselves “business people” with message like “I don’t know if you are looking or not, but I think that “so and so” is going to be huge and thought you would want to take a look.”  NO!  I don’t want to take a look!  I don’t care!  I am 100% focused and dedicated to my business, my mentors and coaches, my team, my students and my mission… anything else is a distraction and I am not interested, and neither should you be.  You should be spending your time educating others so they will be attracted to you!  That way, you can use your knowledge to leverage people into your organization/company and educate them correctly.

Think about how dumb this would be.  Imagine that you owned a deli offline.  Your deli is the doing very well… you are sellling more sandwiches and salads than anyone else on the block.  The next thing you know, someone selling hamburgers and fries opens up down he street, comes to you and says “hey, how would you like to take the focus off of your business and join with me… it’s going to be big and great!”  You would think that person was a lunatic!  Does it really make anymore sense to do the same thing online?

I know this sounds harsh, but it’s the truth.  I want to see people succeed and that’s not going to happen by publishing bullsh** information that isn’t going to instruct others as to the correct way to do things.

People don’t care abour your business, opportunity, product or marketing system.  That’s why you are sitting there, at your computer, scratching your head and wondering why no one is signing up with you.  If you can’t lead people to the promised land, they aren’t going to join you and stay.  You have to empower others and lead by example.

When you understand how to meet the emotional needs of others, and what they are, you will then hold one of the keys to success in the home business industry.

This type of leadership requires education.  When you have the ability to take someone into a community like MySpace, Direct Matches, Wowzza, NING… or any of the others, and show them how to generate traffic, leads and sales, then you will have the power to build an organization that will help you become successful as you empower them to do the same.

Don’t advertise where advertising isn’t welcome… and don’t spend any more money on advertising until you have taken the time to find a mentor who is qualified to help you do things the right way.

For more information on how you can use Web 2.0 and social marketing to become financially free visit www.rexharris.net or Google rex harris.

Cheers!

Rex Harris