Hello, Mark Schwartz here, And I can’t believe I am writing about Twitter. 

Twitter is a very popular micro-blog social site, where its users set up profiles about themselves and then network with others.

It is very similar to Facebook.  People “subscribe” to your profile, and then receive an update from you every time you make a post to your profile. Imagine, if you are selling something, how nice it would be to automatically notify everyone at once about a new product!  Well that seems to be the basic allure for most people.  It seems that 90% of all the tweets I receive are nothing but sales pitches.

My personal opinion of Twitter is that it’s nothing but a big SPAM festival.  But, there are many people that swear buy it so it deserves mentioning. I hate to say it, but I really only use Twitter to help me build my Blog and Social Networking Spider Web.  I have little use for all the Spam i get.

Here are a few things about Twitter that may be interesting….. You probably already have a twitter account, but I suggest using a twitter name that says who you are or what you do. Many social media experts suggest not doing this and using your own name so that you don’t seem like you are out to sell something. However, I have found that having a name that includes my profession, allows me to be found by more people doing their own searches. I have gotten many of my followers because of my name alone ( I have six Twitter accounts with differing names and purposes).

I have never minded if someone has a professional profile as long as they are not trying to sell me. I quickly unfollow anyone who is sending out updates that are constant sales pitches. Some people spend days following interesting links and even smiling at someone’s every tweet.  Personally, I don’t have time to read someone’s tweet that their dog just ate their kid’s breakfast, etc.

If you are an active Twitter user, load your tweets so that others can find you easily. One way I have found to do this is to be sure to add at least one tweet a day with hashtags for your key words. If you are tweeting about social networking, put #socialnetworking at the end. If you are tweeting about an event, put that there with a tag. When other people search those key words, your words will come up.

Here are a few Twitter related tools that I use. Again, I am not a big Twitter user, but these are kind of cool.

1. Social Oomph – Let’s you schedule tweets across all your Twitter accounts, send Direct Messages to all your followers. Vastly improve your productivity on Twitter.  The f*ree version is what I use and here is a link => http://www.socialoomph.com/86849.html

2. Twitbacks – Let’s you create free Twitter backgrounds in less than 2 minutes. (Well that’s what their website says, but you know how it goes – it takes me longer than 2 minutes).  You can help to brand yourself on Twitter by creating your very own Twitter background.  Here’s the link => http://twitbacks.com

3. Twellow – Twellow is a directory of public Twitter accounts, with hundreds of categories and search features to help you find people who matter to you.   You can set yourself up in their directory and hopefully people will find you.  Here’s the link => http://www.twellow.com/

Of course there are many, many more Twitter tools.  Do a search on Twitter Tools and you’ll find a zillion of them.

P.S. Twitter uses nofollow links so you will not get any SEO juice or backlinks from tweeting.

SOCIAL BOOKMARKING

Hello, Mark Schwartz here with another installment on building your Social Networking Spider Web.

It started with Myspace, then Facebook, then Youtube, and now its social bookmarking. All fall into the Web 2.0 genre. The use of these sites for SEO purposes and simply to get massive exposure to your websites and blogs has become the latest trend in internet marketing.

Too me, they are a fundamental part of building a Social Networking Spider Web and driving massive amounts of traffic to my core blog.

Have you ever bookmarked a webpage in your browser so you can go back to it later?  They allow you to save bookmarks online and Tag/Categorize them with keywords instead of saving them as bookmarks in the favorite’s list of your browser.  This is what social bookmarking is, except everyone can see what you bookmark.  Note: Social Bookmarking is different than Social Networking, which we will cover in the next post.

A big reason that savvy business owners and “seo experts” spend so much time and effort on social bookmarking is because of the power of Web 2.0. For instance, Google, Bing and Yahoo absolutely love all of these Web 2.0 sites.

Here is the main reason why you need to have a social bookmarking campaign. Google puts a lot of emphasis on one way back links to your website to help determine its page rank. Not only does Google look at the number of links but they look at the quality of the links.  There is a transfer of page rank that occurs from the higher ranking site to yours.  Social bookmarking is one piece of your overall campaign, is a simple traffic generation technique and is a very “low cost seo” tactic.

It is free to sign up at the popular social bookmarking networks, and it doesn’t take too long to bookmark your site. Bookmarking a site or blog is easy, but to consistently bookmark all of your new blog posts does take some effort.  Also, setting up the bookmarking sites for the first time does take an effort.  But, once you set them up you are good to go.

When your site receives a bookmark, it shows the search engines that people are talking about, and interested in your site. This is a great way to get a ton of high quality backlinks and get “top rankings”.

Here are just a few of the top social bookmarking sites:

•    http://del.icio.us
•    http://digg.com
•    http://furl.net
•    http://simpy.com
•    http://redditt.com
•    http://kaboodle.com
•    http://netvouz.com
•    http://fark.com

And the list goes on and on……..

Hi, this is Mark Schwartz, Builder of Blog and Social Media Spider Webs for businesses and internet entrepreneurs.

Throughout my life I have spent years working on some type of marketing endeavor. I must say, that I thoroughly enjoy all the challenges and thrills of being a professional marketer. Most of all, I appreciate all the many great friends I have made throughout the years.

It is my belief that every business owner needs to develop a strong presence on the Internet in order to promote their brand, prosper and maintain profitability. If you are a business owner, it is a matter of survival for you to get your web site and blog in the “top rankings” of the major search engines like Google, Bing and Yahoo. If you are not on the first page of the search results you do not exist.

Primarily, I build Blog and Social Media Spider Webs for business

In the past, I have worked with numerous companies in product marketing, product development and in launching a number of start up businesses. My view and passion is that technology is the great business enabler and it allows any business owner the opportunity to successfully compete in this crowded world. There are opportunities everywhere, and magic happens to those who take action.

I have been blessed with a wonderful wife and three girls and live in the foothills of the Cascades, just east of Seattle.

And while you are surfing around, please check out my Megarich Blog for Internet Entrepreneurs for more articles on marketing your Internet based business.

Magic happens for those who take action.

The use of this Social Networking Spider Web site, by Mark Schwartz, is subject to the following terms of use:

• The content of the pages of this website is for your general information and use only. It is subject to change without notice.

• Neither we nor any third parties provide any warranty or guarantee as to the accuracy, timeliness, performance, completeness or suitability of the information and materials found or offered on this website for any particular purpose. You acknowledge that such information and materials may contain inaccuracies or errors and we expressly exclude liability for any such inaccuracies or errors to the fullest extent permitted by law.

• Your use of any information or materials on this website is entirely at your own risk, for which we shall not be liable. It shall be your own responsibility to ensure that any products, services or information available through this website meet your specific requirements.

• This website contains material which is owned by or licensed to us. This material includes, but is not limited to, the design, layout, look, appearance and graphics. Reproduction is prohibited other than in accordance with the copyright notice, which forms part of these terms and conditions.

• Unauthorized use of this website may give rise to a claim for damages and/or be a criminal offense.

• From time to time this website may also include links to other websites. These links are provided for your convenience to provide further information. They do not signify that we endorse the website(s). We have no responsibility for the content of the linked website(s).

• Please note we are not associated with Companies mentioned on the site and that we acknowledge that products, company names and logos mentioned on this site are trademarks of their respected owners. The markvschwartz.com website is a resource containing details and price comparison information for My Site.

Affiliate Disclaimer

http://markvschwartz.com is a website created so you can get the very best deals for My Site. Here you can read the review of My Site.

All recommendations and for products presented on this site are based on our own research and findings. There is no compulsion to go with the product or services that we’ve recommended.

However, some of the Companies, of which product/services we recommend, offer affiliate commissions for referrals. This simply means that http://markvschwartz.com will receive a small commission on any business that is referred to these companies

Again, there is no compulsion to go with the products or services that I’ve recommended should you decide to look elsewhere..

Is your social networking strategy working for you?

Do you even have a social media marketing strategy?

Social networking and blog spider webs work to brand your company and act as a giant lair to draw traffic to your business, websites and blogs.

Savvy internet marketers know that blogs, social networking and bookmarking are important tactics for building a web presence and getting top rankings with the search engines. You need to know how social media fits into your overall marketing plans and come up with a plan to get noticed on the web.  After all, if your site is not on the first page of the search engines – you don’t exist.

Social media and blogs have changed the way marketing is done. Customers, potential customers and competitors share information every day through different Social Media channels to create advantages for everyone.  Many people—from start-ups and individuals to well-established companies—are creating sizable returns through the use of Social Networking.

What do these people share in common? They use social media tools to generate the kind of exposure that converts relationships to prospects and prospects to sales.

This can be your success story, too.

• Establish a solid presence and become recognized as a leader in your industry
• Stand out from the crowd while creating long-term partnerships that establish and reinforce your expertise and further strengthen your brand among the millions of prospects available to you
• Come up with a success oriented Social Media Marketing map with a few simple steps – you’ll know where to start, what options are available, and which ones are a good fit for you

Can you imagine how much business you would get if your website was on the first page of Google’s search results?

Please contact me to discuss how a  social media and blog spider web will benefit your business.

We have created this privacy statement in order to demonstrate our firm and continuing commitment to the privacy of personal information provided by those visiting and interacting with this web site. We hold the privacy of your personal information in the highest regard. The following discloses our information gathering and dissemination practices for this website.

We recognize the importance of protecting your privacy and our policy is designed to assist you in understanding how we collect, use and safeguard the personal information you provide to us and to assist you in making informed decisions when using our site. This policy will be continuously assessed against new technologies, business practices and our customers’ needs.

What Information Do We Collect?
When you visit this web site you may provide us with two types of information: personal information you knowingly choose to disclose that is collected on an individual basis and Web site use information collected on an aggregate basis as you and others browse our Web site.

Personal Information You Choose to Provide

- Email Information

If you choose to correspond with us through email, we may retain the content of your email messages together with your email address and our responses. We provide the same protections for these electronic communications that we employ in the maintenance of information received by mail and telephone.

- Web Site Use Information
Similar to other commercial Web sites, our Web site utilizes a standard technology called “cookies” (see explanation below, “What Are Cookies?”) and web server log files to collect information about how our Web site is used. Information gathered through cookies and Web server logs may include the date and time of visits, the pages viewed, time spent at our Web site, and the Web sites visited just before and just after our Web site.

How Do We Use the Information That You Provide to Us?

Broadly speaking, we use personal information for purposes of administering our business activities, providing the products and services you requested, to process your payment, , to monitor the use of the service, our marketing and promotional efforts and improve our content and service offerings, and customize our site’s content, layout, services and for other lawful purposes. These uses improve our site and better tailor it to meet your needs.

Furthermore, such information may be shared with others on an aggregate basis. Personally identifiable information or business information will not be shared with parties except as required by law.

Occasionally, we may also use the information we collect to notify you about important changes to our Website, new services, and special offers we think you will find valuable. You may notify us at any time if you do not wish to receive these offers by emailing us at the link provided on the newsletter.

What Are Cookies?
A cookie is a very small text document, which often includes an anonymous unique identifier. When you visit a Web site, that site’s computer asks your computer for permission to store this file in a part of your hard drive specifically designated for cookies. Each Web site can send its own cookie to your browser if your browser’s preferences allow it, but (to protect your privacy) your browser only permits a Web site to access the cookies it has already sent to you, not the cookies sent to you by other sites. Browsers are usually set to accept cookies. However, if you would prefer not to receive cookies, you may alter the configuration of your browser to refuse cookies. If you choose to have your browser refuse cookies, it is possible that some areas of our site will not function as effectively when viewed by the users. A cookie cannot retrieve any other data from your hard drive or pass on computer viruses.

How Do We Use Information We Collect from Cookies?
As you visit and browse our Web site, the site uses cookies to differentiate you from other users. In some cases, we also use cookies to prevent you from having to log in more than is necessary for security. Cookies, in conjunction with our Web server’s log files, allow us to calculate the aggregate number of people visiting our Web site and which parts of the site are most popular. This helps us gather feedback to constantly improve our Web site and better serve our clients. Cookies do not allow us to gather any personal information about you and we do not intentionally store any personal information that your browser provided to us in your cookies.

IP Addresses
IP addresses are used by your computer every time you are connected to the Internet. Your IP address is a number that is used by computers on the network to identify your computer. IP addresses are automatically collected by our web server as part of demographic and profile data known as traffic data so that data (such as the Web pages you request) can be sent to you.

Sharing and Selling Information
We do not share, sell, lend or lease any of the information that uniquely identify a subscriber (such as email addresses or personal details) with anyone except to the extent it is necessary to process transactions or provide services that you have requested.

How Can You Access and Correct Your Information?

You may request access to all your personally identifiable information that we collect online and maintain in our database by emailing us at the usual address.

What About Legally Compelled Disclosure of Information?
We may disclose information when legally compelled to do so, in other words, when we, in good faith, believe that the law requires it or for the protection of our legal rights. We may also disclose account information when we have reason to believe that disclosing this information is necessary to identify, contact or bring legal action against someone who may be violating our Terms of Service or to protect the safety of our users and the Public.

What About Other Web Sites Linked to Our Web Site?
We are not responsible for the practices employed by Web sites linked to or from our Web site or the information or content contained therein. Often links to other Web sites are provided solely as pointers to information on topics that may be useful to the users of our Web site.

Please remember that when you use a link to go from our Website to another web site, our Privacy Policy is no longer in effect. Your browsing and interaction on any other web site, including web sites, which have a link on our Website, is subject to that Web site’s own rules and policies. Please read over those rules and policies before proceeding.

Your Consent
By using our Web site you consent to our collection and use of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy. We reserve the right to amend this privacy policy at any time with or without notice.

Our Commitment To Data Security:

Please note that your information will be stored and processed on our computers in the United States. The laws on holding personal data in the United States may be less stringent than the laws of your Country of residence or citizenship. To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the correct use of information, we have put in place appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online.

Choice/Opt-In/Opt-Out
This site allows visitors to unsubscribe so that they will not receive future messages. After unsubscribing we will discontinue sending the particular messages as soon as technically feasible.

Surveys & Contests

From time-to-time our site requests information from users via surveys or contests. Participation in these surveys or contests is completely voluntary and the user therefore has a choice whether or not to disclose this information. Information requested may include contact information (such as name and shipping address), and demographic information (such as zip code, age level). Contact information will be used to notify the winners and award prizes. Survey information will be used for purposes of monitoring or improving the use and satisfaction of this site.

A Special Note About Children

Children are not eligible to use our services unsupervised and we ask that children (under the age of 14) do not submit any personal information to us. If you are a minor, you can use this service only in conjunction with permission and guidance from your parents or guardians.

Acquisition or Changes in Ownership

In the event that the web site (or a substantial portion of its assets) is acquired, your information would be considered part of those assets, and may be part of those assets that are transferred.

Policy Modifications
We may change this Privacy Policy from time to time. If/when changes are made to this privacy policy, we will email users who have given us permission to do so. We will post any changes here, so be sure to check back periodically. However, please be assured that if the Privacy Policy changes in the future, we will not use the personal information you have submitted to us under this Privacy Policy in a manner that is materially inconsistent with this Privacy Policy, without your prior consent.

Having a blog is the center piece in building your own social networking spiderweb. After all, we need to have something to drive all your web traffic to. This is a Detailed video that shows you how to set up a WordPress Blog.

If you have always been challenged in how to create your own WP blog, this video shows you every step. I also made a powerpoint slide version of this with the same name, but I called it Step 13p (hey, people learn in different ways).

It really is easy to set up your own WordPress blog using a tool called Fantastico, provided by your hosting company. Have fun!

Does Setting up a WordPress Blog scare you?

If you’ve never set up a WordPress blog before it can be a little  intimidating. I was afraid to touch the keyboard on my PC the first time I tried it.  It really is easy – so give it a try.

This is the slide version which also shows how to set up your domain name on your hosting account.  There is  a companion Video to this titled  “Step 03p Setting up a WordPress Blog” that goes in to more detail than this video does.

Having a blog is the center for building your own social networking spiderweb. After all, we need to have something to drive all your web traffic to. This video shows you how to set up a WordPress Blog, so get out there and set one up. And, don’t be intimidated – you won’t break anything.

Here’s the video.  Remember to go build a blog when you’re done watching it.

Getting a Domain Name – Building Your Social Networking Spiderweb

Another major step in building your own “social networking spiderweb” that will drive massive amounts of traffic to your blog, is you need to have a domain name on a hosting account.

This video will show you how to get a domain name.  If you are an internet pro, move on, this is for the millions of people out there that have no idea how to get a domain name.  The next video is on getting a how to set up your domain name on your hosting account and create a WordPress blog.

Many of us that have been dorking around with technology for a long time forget about the trials we faced when we first started out.  I remember how terrified, or just plain clueless, I was when it came to doing things that now are second nature to me.

So, these next three posts are going to be targeted directly to those of you that are just starting out.  Hopefully, you will see how easy some of these things are to do – IF you just have someone to show you how.

Let’s cover getting a hosting account.

To begin building your own social networking spiderweb that will drive massive amounts of traffic to your blog, you need to have a hosting account that you can install your blog or website on. This video show you how to get a hosting account. If you are an internet pro, move on, this is for the millions of people out there that have no idea how to get a hosting account. The next video is on getting a domain name.

Here’s the video…..