I’m really into social media sites these days. Twitter has been a new one for me and I’m enjoying that…

One of the main questions I asked myself, though, was whether or not Twitter would be useful for me in terms of my business. Of course, you can’t totally use Twitter for the sole purpose of business marketing– that would defeat the purpose of its function. But it’s interesting to note, nonetheless, that there are some really savvy ways to use this platform to your advantage if you’re an online business owner.

What I’m liking about Twitter is that the main goal is to answer one main question: “What Are You Doing?” Throughout the day you post small snippets (one-liners) about your activities at the moment. You get to “follow” your friends and see what they’re doing. Post updates, get advice, invite others into your world…

In my opinion it’s much simpler than instant messaging since you don’t have to respond intermittently. However, it is very addictive and can leave some people with the feeling of being “out of the loop” if they haven’t updated in a while, or if they come back to the PC and find that so much has happened that they’ve “missed out on”.

But I’m finding that this phenomenon is leading to some business networking as I was able to connect and re-connect with business partners and create joint ventures through Twitter! There are also opportunities to get others involved or interested in your project when you let them in on what you’re doing at the moment. In all, you can use Twitter for business in some of the following ways:

• personal branding
• hiring people
• getting feedback
• direct traffic to your sites
• make new friends
• scope out prospects

Then there’s TeamSugar…

This site’s a little different in that you earn points for a number of different types of activities you perform on the site. After a certain amount of points you can redeem them for rewards.

It’s cool– but doesn’t lend to the business owner in the way of professional exposure online–a.k.a, getting the word out there about your business. ..

Twitter, on the other hand, is so viral in nature…once you get the word out (your link), it spreads…

So, do you use Twitter? Would you incorporate Twitter into your online marketing plan? Do tell! Leave your feedback below:

- Your Web Media Success Coach, Podcast Consultant, & Internet Marketing Strategist

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These days, getting your files and folders up on the web as not as difficult as it may have been just 5 years ago.

You have options such as social networking sites, web 2.0, membership sites, blogging and podcasting sites (such as Wordpress and Blogger.com)…and they all make it extremely easy for you to transfer files from your hard drive to the world wide web.

But what if you just want to transfer some web html, audio, or video files you’ve created to the world wide web, and you don’t use blogger or social networking sites? You have files on your computer and you simply want to place them on the web.

1.) Well, the first thing you’ll want to do is locate hosting space. You can find places online that will offer you free space, but it will come with a price tag — that of being unprofessional. If you’re in business for yourself, then you’ll want to consider purchasing hosting space especially for your business. It doesn’t have to be way expensive. In fact, I’ll have a video tutorial out soon about how to purchase hosting space.

2.) Once you’ve purchased your hosting space and your domain name, now you’ll want to download an FTP client. Again, you don’t have to pay a fortune for an FTP software program. In fact, there are many free ones out there. Just visit www.downloads.com and do a quick search for a free FTP program. I use one called FREE FTP Manager. It’s very easy to use.

3.) Next, you’ll want to connect to your server within the FTP manager. Your hosting provider will have given you a username and password to connect to your server. Use that information now to connect within your FTP client.

4.) Next, simply navigate to your directory file of choice within the FTP software and click on the file to highlight it. Find the menu item within your FTP software that allows you to upload the chosen file to the server (which is usually shown on the right hand side of the screen).

5.) Click “upload”. Now your files are on your server. To double check, just navigate out to the path which you uploaded your files to and you should see your file (image, audio, video, html document, or PDF document) uploaded to the web.

**To see this tutorial in full action, you can purchase the full video tutorial:http://www.wahmuniversity.com/ftphowtovideotutorial.html

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One of the things I am learning constantly is the need to manage my time. Now with a new infant and a 5 year old at tow, the management of every bit of my time is absolutely crucial. Not to mention, I also homeschool my 5 year old, run an online business, and work along with my husband in the ministry as new pastors…how do we do it all?

Well, to be honest, we don’t…and I’ve had to learn to discover what is truly important and what isn’t.

If you’re also a work at home mom, you’ll understand how critical this element is.

Below are a few guidelines to time management for the work at home mom:

1.) See the overall picture. It’s so important with children to know that not every day is going to go as planned.

In one of my free audio courses, Plan Your Work and Work Your Plan, I discuss the importance of having your details outlined for the day. Although I believe having some sort of plan is important to running your online business, when you’re a mom you have to give yourself some slack when it comes down to planning the details of your day.

Your business needs a plan, but your days need some wiggle room. You need be able to enjoy your life and make room for errors, or even just plain old unplanned fun! It may be kinda tough at first if you’re a control freak like me…but believe me, you’ll get used to it!

So, at least have an overall plan for your day. Keep a calendar or planner with potential to-do items. If you get to them, GREAT!! Give yourself a party. If you don’t, move it up a day or two. You’ll have to juggle and rearrange your schedule sometimes and that’s okay. Something unexpected will always happen with young children at home with you, and you won’t always be able to finish up your projects when you’d like.

However, when it comes down to client work, be sure to stick to your guns.

2.) Never glue yourself to deadlines. If you offer to do something for a client by a certain deadline, be sure to stick by your word.

Otherwise don’t give a deadline…oftentimes it’s best to work by ball park deadlines (ex. - “we should be finishing up by the week of, or the month of”, etc.) Just bill for the time you’ve worked, but don’t offer any specific dates. If you’re a mom of young kids you know exactly what i mean by biting off more than you can chew in business.

The contract may be drawn up, and the project sounds great…you even feel awesome about it!! But once you start working on the project, you may find that you’re in over your head. AFter all, you’ve got dishes to wash, dinner to cook, laundry to throw in the wash, kids to shuttle back and forth from activities– maybe you have elderly parents to look after, a husband to support, a church to attend, organizations to volunteer with, and perhaps a long, long list of things you want to get to in order to increase your business. Let’s face it — life gets BUSY!!! So, never overestimate your time for business projects. Be realistic. Give estimates, not specifics. Which leads me to the last point…

3.) Be true to yourself. What is it that you can TRULY do for your clients that you have the TIME, the ENERGY, and the PATIENCE to accomplish for them? Why are you in business? Ask yourself that pertinent question. Perhaps it’s time to re-evaluate business ventures at this time in your life…or maybe you still feel that your business is important enough to keep going despite your busy life. If you’ve decided to stay in business, the be true to yourself about what you can or cannot do.

If you feel that you are unable to do certain things, perhaps it’s time to look into hiring a virtual assistant. Or maybe you should actually hire a nanny to help assist you with your children during your office hours.

I make these suggestions and have never done either of the two listed above (hire a VA or nanny)…but I know that if the day should come where I just couldn’t balance it all and needed the extra help, I would shoot for it in a second.

4.) My final business decision…how do I balance it all?
As I mentioned in the beginning, I’m a stay at home mom, and I’m running a business, an online ministry, homeschooling, and I probably didn’t mention of host of other things. I also just had a baby. So how do I manage it all?

I’ve decided that my best management tool was to decide what I DIDN’T need to manage anymore.

What I have resorted to was streamlining my business and narrowing down my specialties so that I no longer offer the services that would be too time-consuming to me at this moment in my life. I also have placed phone coaching on hold for some time until my newborn is older. I know that when I coach via phone, I need uninterrupted time with my client who has paid for the hour and it would be unprofessional of me to interrupt that time, even for family business…so either I hire a babysitter, or I don’t offer the service. That’s my take.

And at this moment of my life, it’s more important to me that I drop the service and spend the time with my children because they need me.

My way around this, though, so that I don’t drop my services altogether was to evaluate what it is I actually CAN do.

I can still offer coaching…by email. Not only is it more convenient for me, but my clients have often liked this method much better also. Receiving pages and pages of my personal coaching any time throughout the month for one low fee seemed more feasible to them financially and put less pressure on them…and less on me too! They could also print out the pages to study and ask questions, pick my brain, and pretty much count on me to be available 24/7 since I stay at my computer so often. See more info on this at http://wahmuniversity.com/coachingprograms.html

For me…this is important. On a personal note, I can nurse my baby in a sling, and help my oldest daughter with her math while working at the PC …neither of which I could do while on the phone!

4.) Use time management tools. I use a few simple time management tools as well as a little dose of comment sense. As for basic tools, I use Microsoft Outlook for my email management. And so I don’t waste time deleting and reading through old emails, I take a quick scan of my “Unread Mail” folder of all the “from’s” and a quick scan of the subject field. If I don’t recognize who the emails are from and have a feeling they are spam, I do a quick CTRL- highlight on my keyboard to highlight all of the emails, then quickly click “delete” on my keyboard. Then I do the same for my spam and junk emails. I also read through emails from friends that I need to get back with right away. If I have the time to answer the email at the moment, I do. If not, I flag it red for important and get back to it within 3 -7 days. If it’s a client, I get back usually within 24 hours.

I also use the calendar function in Outlook and set it up to send me reminders of important dates. But as for my daily schedule, I use a good old fashioned desk planner/calendar. I like the planners that have a monthly and weekly layouts. I use the weekly layouts to write down my plan for the week day by day. This way I’m less likely to miss an important deadline, be it business or family related. I place all of my to-do items on this one calendar rather than separating my business from family functions on 2 different calendars (which I know some people do). To me, it’s just easier to include them both on the same calendar. After all, my family life and work do tend to intermingle…that’s why I’m a work at home mom!

Heard of Brian Tracy? For more ideas, tips, and suggestions on time management tools and products, check out this site: http://www.time-management-tools.com/

As for common sense strategies, If I have time for a project, I commit to it. If I don’t have time, I decline. I don’t look at the bottom line money-wise, because I’ve learned that time is more valuable than money. As much as we need money, time has more value. If you take away the time, money goes away too. If you can squeeze more time out of your 24 hours, and be a happier relaxed you as a result, then your money will flow more easily (because now you actually have the time to create wealth!)

Well, that’s all for now. Remember to enjoy your time, manage it well, and do what’s best for you and your family!

- Your Web Media Success Coach, Podcast Consultant, & Internet Marketing Strategist

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It’s easy to set up a website for your organization, but takes some planning to make sure your website is set up for marketing online. One of the most important facets of online marketing that must be considered when you first put up your company site, and before you even consider an internet marketing plan, is creating a virtual environment for your website that will thrive in the business of internet marketing. Many organizations make the mistake of focusing their time and energy on internet marketing without first setting the groundwork, or laying the foundation, for their websites to thrive in the online environment. Below are some tips you may find useful in making sure your website is œinternet marketing ready.

Re-Discovering Your Niche Market:

In clearing the path to your internet marketing strategies, your organization must have a website specifically developed for the purpose of giving information, advice, products, or services to a community of online visitors. Notice, I said œonline visitors. You are now developing your site to serve the online community, so be sure to include them in your niche market analysis. This is an important first step toward online success. Once you know who your target market is, internet marketing becomes substantially easier. You may need to re-evaluate your target market, or re-discover who they are. Your target market online can be different than your target market offline. Whereas, your current marketing strategies may be geared toward your local community and offline marketing endeavors, it is first important to realize the necessity of thinking of your online site visitors as your new market.

Keeping In Touch With Consumers:

You’ll first need to consider your target market, and develop your website with your market in mind. If you will be selling products or services, consider your e-commerce solutions, such as shopping carts or other 3^rd party e-commerce vendors. Think about how your potential clients may contact you, whether by email or web form. Also keep in mind that you will want to keep in touch with your online visitors, giving them an opportunity to subscribe to a newsletter or mailing list. All of these things should be taken into consideration during the build of your website, so be sure to address these issues with your web developer.

Branding Your Company:

Purchase a first level domain name so that your site visitors know they are visiting a legitimately professional company. You don’t want to send your web visitors to a subdomain such as Bravenet, for example. Although there are many options for free hosting online, be aware that these free subdomains may cost your business in the long run, when visitors are chased away because of the various banner advertising and annoying popup windows. This is where branding is especially important. Brand your company image so that it stands out professionally head and shoulders above your competitors. Purchase your own domain name and professional hosting account, and always keep your email addresses under the domain name of your organization (rather than using free mail accounts such as Hotmail or Yahoo).

Once you have considered rediscovered your target niche market, determined how you will keep in touch with your site visitors, and re-branded your company for a professional image, you are well on your way to clearing the path for a successful internet marketing plan that will propel your organization to the next level!

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Demetria Zinga, M.S. is an internet marketing strategist, podcast consultant, and web success coach whose goal is to help the woman entrepreneur and work at home mom with web consulting needs. Visit http://www.wahmuniversity.com to find out more!

 

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Have you seen the website with the black background and navy blue text? Oh, yeah I’m sure we’ve ALL seen that website, and I hope the last time we saw it was 10 years ago when web design was in its infancy.

By now, we all know that visual appeal is a must when it comes down to website design, and that NOBODY (and I do mean nobody) wants to stare at a red screen with yellow text and blinking blue dots.

A website’s design should be easy on the reader. Think of your audience. Think of yourself for a moment! After all, would you want to spend countless hours designing a site whose colors you can’t even stare at for longer than 30 seconds?  Remember who your audience is, and think of some colors that will bring them into your website without reservation.

1. For your design elements, think: clean, crisp, and appealing.
2. Try to use darker text on a light background. If using light text on a dark background, just be aware of the color clash and that this can be harder on the eyes.  To promote easy visualization of your text, it is better to stick with dark text on a light background.
3. Clutter is very distracting.  Try to minimize the usage of flash or gif animation, and use only when there is true function and purpose for it.
4. Create proper alignment of pictures and text.  Text is read better in the left alignment as opposed to the center alignment. Pictures work well with text when left aligned in the body of the text.
5. Navigation should be consistent throughout each page. Take advantage of template abilities in programs such as Dreamweaver, to create a structured template and navigation scheme that is consistent for each page of your website. Check to make sure that none of your links are broken. When adding new links to the navigation, make sure it is added on each page.

 These are all steps that can help you create a well-planned design. Remember, visual appeal is very important and plays on the five senses of your site visitors.  If you can greet your visitors with a snazzy design, you have a higher chance of retaining that visitor for a longer period of time (even if you have little or lousy content)!

Content definitely has its place, and actually has far greater weight than design, but if you are trying to reel in those passersby and catch them on the first visit, first impressions always matter!

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Demetria Zinga, M.S. is an internet marketing strategist, podcast consultant, and web success coach whose goal is to help the woman entrepreneur and work at home mom with web consulting needs. Visit http://www.wahmuniversity.com to find out more!

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Podcasting is a buzz word circulating the web, which is becoming increasingly popular by the minute. Many people are listening to podcasts on a daily basis, and some even go so far as to create their own podcasts for others to listen to.

Podcasts are similar to internet radio shows. A podcast is audio content delivered to portable media players such as Ipods, that can be downloaded automatically at a listener’s convenience.

Before podcasting, blogging had become a popular phenomenon. Blogging delivered textual content to RSS aggregators and news readers on portable devices such as Palm Pilots, at a viewer’s convenience. Soon afterward, the syndication of audio was introduced via the same medium. Adam Curry, who is the former MTV media entrepreneur, created an Apple application script to automate the downloading and syncing of audio files to the Ipod.

Podcasting is based on a backbone of code called RSS, or real simple syndication. Think of RSS as a newsfeed. RSS is a standardardized way of publishing information on the way and uses XML format. The way RSS works for audio content is that it contains enclosures, which are essentially URL references to web content. When an audio clip is uploaded to one’s server on the world wide web, and this URL is indicated in the RSS code associated for that podcast, the audio clip can now be synced automatically as part of the information which is downloaded to a listener’s portable device or podcast aggregator.

According to PodcastingNews.com, the podcasting process works in 4 easy steps:

1.) Publishers create content and post it to a web server in mp3 format

2.) A publisher will then create and publish the RSS file, which will contain meta information on the audio file such as the name and description, and will also contain the URL enclosure of the audio file location on the web

3.) An end user will then check for new updates on the newsfeed, either manually, or will have their podcast aggregator such as Itunes automatically check for the updates on a schedule. The updates can then be synced to an mp3 player or portable device.

4.) Users can now listen to the podcast at their own convenience.

The technical aspects of podcasting vary, as the number of equipment, mechanisms and tools available for podcasting are numerous. Once a podcast is created, however, it gives back one more piece of creativity to the world of online media, gives online users an opportunity to listen to brand new rich content, and provides the publisher with an undeniable sense of pride and accomplishment for sharing his or her interests with the world.

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Demetria Zinga, M.S. is an internet marketing strategist, podcast consultant, and web success coach whose goal is to help the woman entrepreneur and work at home mom with web consulting needs. Visit http://www.wahmuniversity.com to find out more!

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If you need a web designer, but have no clue about the typical web design process, I am quite certain that you must be feeling a bit overwhelmed about what to expect. As web designers, we oftentimes have a myriad of roles to fill when working with our clients. However,t as the client, you always have a right to know the complete design process up front. Let’s talk a bit about what questions you may want to ask a design firm before they get started on your website.

1.) How much is this going to cost? Of course you want to know that! Be sure the designer gives you a consultation, which allows you a sneak preview on what they will be able to do for YOU. You want your designer to be personal with you, not general.

2.) Your designer needs to know the general PURPOSE of your site. What is your main goal? Who is your audience? Will there be interactivity, collaboration, or e-commerce on your website? You should ask the designer if he or she has the capabilities of designing a site that would suit your purpose and mission.

3.) Ask for a contract to review. Take a few days to look over the contract before signing.

4.) Does the designer ask you what you like? Your designer should ask you about your favorite colors on the web, what websites you do or don’t like, and why. Also they should make sure they discuss with you any features that you find unappealing and take note of your opinions.

5.) Who will own the copyrights to the finished product? Make sure you find out whether or not your designer takes full copyrights of the website. Many times designers will also want to use your website designs as part of their portfolio. They should let you know this in advance.

6.) Will your designer also host your site? Make sure you find out how your site will be published and which company will provide your hosting services. How often will you need to make hosting payments and when? Who will secure your domain name, and does this come with hosting?

These are all questions to consider when working with a web designer. As you become familiar with the person you are working with, it will become easier to detect his or her style, and be able to communicate effectively with them.

As a web designer, I can tell you that we wear many different hats and work with many different people on a daily basis, but as the client you will ALWAYS have a right to ask questions and expect reasonable answers. In your search for a trustworthy web designer, be sure to ask the questions above, and I’m certain you’ll locate the designer with the right answers for you.

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Demetria Zinga, M.S. is an internet marketing strategist, podcast consultant, and web success coach whose goal is to help the woman entrepreneur and work at home mom with web consulting needs. Visit http://www.wahmuniversity.com to find out more!

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Everyone knows internet Radio is big these days…just do a Google search on œinternet radio, and you’ll see what I mean.

So let’s say you have an interest in producing your own internet radio program!

How do you go about doing this?

1.) Your first step is always to determine the purpose of your show. What are your interests, hobbies, skills, and passions in life that will drive you into a real commitment to offer valuable information to your listeners? Please, whatever you do, don’t start an internet radio program on a topic that you aren’t interested in. Not only will you bore your listeners, but it wouldn’t be long before you got pretty bored yourself. No matter how unpopular the subject may be, if it interests you and you have a real passion for it, go with it! I guarantee there is someone else out there who is looking for a radio program on the topic you’ve chosen. Who is your target audience?

2.) You should also determine the format of your show. How many segments will you have in your program? Will there be sponsors and ads?

3.) Along with determining the format of your show you should develop an outline for production. As a producer, you are in control of how your program flows from one clip to the next. Arrange your program in such a way that makes sense to the listeners.

4.) Next gather all your media for the radio show. This could be audio clips, narration, promotional ads, interviews - whatever you desire to include in your program.

5.) Arrange your audio clips within your sound editing software program in the order as you wish for them to appear in your program.

6.) Add any special effects between audio clips such as fade-ins/fade-outs.

7.) Once you’ve mastered the whole show to perfection, you’ll want to export the final product as an mp3 file, which is one of the most compressed sound file formats you can use on the web.

8.) Now using your FTP client, simply upload your show to the web

9.) Check the URL to which your file is uploaded to make sure the sound file is audible and is playing back on the web.

10.) As you become more adapted to these first 9 steps, you will later begin to see how that “streaming” your show is important and you may also want to learn more about the power of podcasting.

But for now spread the word about your radio show to family, friends, and the whole world and give yourself a round of applause!

You’ve produced your own internet radio show!

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Demetria Zinga, M.S. is an internet marketing strategist, podcast consultant, and web success coach whose goal is to help the woman entrepreneur and work at home mom with web consulting needs. Visit http://www.wahmuniversity.com to find out more!

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If you have a website you need to let the world know about it. This is called internet marketing. Ever since I committed myself to learning about the ins and outs of online marketing, my sales have dramatically increased. Marketing online is a completely different challenge than off line marketing but it has its benefits. If you want to take your website to a different level, drive more traffic, and increase your sales, you need to consider the benefits of marketing online.

1.) First of all, with internet marketing, you will dramatically increase your world of potential customers and clients by simply having a web presence. With a contact email or web form, you have also proven to site visitors that you are reachable.

2.) Online marketing allows you to network with people you would not be able to meet otherwise. Joining newsgroups and networking communities allow opportunities for sales that just would not have been likely to happen offline.

3.) You have complete control of your web image without your potential customers ever needing to see you in person. If you are concerned about maintaining a professional appearance, you won’t have to worry about this online. You can slip over to your computer in pajamas, chat with your clients who live clear across the world, and never have to worry about ruining your business profile.

4.) Online marketing offers a vast variety of ways to add clientele to your business. With all of the many proven marketing techniques available, you are bound to find one or several that fit your desired level, and you can tweak these strategies and implement them any way you see fit.

5.) Last, but not least, marketing online can become very automated, and require less of your time, focus, or energy, depending on the techniques you use. Not only is there software out there that can automate your marketing processes for you, but there are a world of marketing freelancers who are available for outsourcing, and can dramatically help your business.

I’l have to admit, when I figured out how to market my business on the internet, I was ecstatic! These are just a few of the benefits of internet marketing. I am certain that as you begin to market online, you’ll soon be able to add to this list.

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Demetria Zinga, M.S. is an internet marketing strategist, podcast consultant, and web success coach whose goal is to help the woman entrepreneur and work at home mom with web consulting needs. Visit http://www.wahmuniversity.com to find out more!

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Podcasting suddenly came on the scene in 2005 and has been rapidly changing the world of communication and media as we know it. Sort of like an underground mass mania, podcasting has a viral affect and spreads from computer to ipod to mp3 device, and who knows what’s next?

I predict that within the next two years, podcasting will become more of a business communications vehicle. Managers of large corporations are starting to look into this form of communications as a way of reaching target audiences for their product or services Educators will use podcasting as a distance learning tool. Professional speakers will podcast to give potential clients a taste of the great time they’ll get to hear if they choose to book the speaker for a speaking engagement. Churches and ministries will use podcasting to spread the messages of their faith. Last, but not least, small businesses will use podcasting to mass market their products and services to an audience that would otherwise have never heard of them.

There are podcasts on every subject imaginable: business applications and development, computer concepts, family and life management, education, religion and spirituality, health and nutrition, society and culture- you name it, and there’s probably a podcast somewhere out there on that subject.

So why is podcasting HOT?

The next time you enter a college campus, take a look at the students who are walking to class. The majority of them are wearing ipods and listening to music, and probably podcasts also. The next time you’re on a subway, train, or airport, look around to see how many people are listening to mp3 players. Mp3 players with podcast download capabilities are on the rise, and if you just happen to have your very own podcast out there on the web, you may be one of those fortunate enough to be listened to by a large audience around the world! Imagine the power of one podcast on our global network! Don’t you think it’s time you created your own podcast?

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Demetria Zinga, M.S. is an internet marketing strategist, podcast consultant, and web success coach whose goal is to help the woman entrepreneur and work at home mom with web consulting needs. Visit http://www.wahmuniversity.com to find out more!

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