Interview on MurrayNewlands.com

Have you heard of Murray Newlands, famous blogger? If not, it's about time you did. Murray has been taking the blogosphere by storm and shows no signs of slowing down. If you've ever been to his site, MurrayNewlands.com, you'll notice that a majority of his content includes interviews with some of the most successful and inspiring people in the industry.

One of the reasons I love reading Murray's blog is because it always contains such great content and I always leave there learning something new. That's why when Murray hit me up and asked if he could interview me, I felt honored.

So without further ado, check out my interview with Murray here and feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think!


Related Links:

• Murray Newlands blogging competition.
  

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Facebook Vanity Url: Did you get one?

As most of you know, Facebook launched its Vanity Url feature last night, which created a lot of buzz online over the last week or so. Finally catching up to their competitors such as Myspace (who's been doing it for years) and Twitter, Facebook now allows you to create a url for your page, such as http://www.facebook.com/your-name-here, so that it's easier to direct people to your page. All I can say is, it's about time. I never really understood why this wasn't done from the beginning.

Regardless, last night people from all over the world waited anxiously by their computers counting down the seconds till the new feature went live, so they could snag a few of their top choice url's. 

According to Tech Crunch, "Within seven minutes of the service being available last night, 345,000 users grabbed one. Within 15 minutes, over a half million had one." 

Some were looking to lock down their personal name, others their company's name and/or brand, while a majority of others went for URLs they think will make them a nice profit in the future.  While I wasn't one of those half a million people waiting by my computer last night (due to an event I had to attend), I was still able to grab facebook.com/EricSchechter, facebook.com/socialmediaman, as well as a few others this morning. 

It will be exciting to see how people take advantage of their new URLs, as well as seeing if people can actually sell them and for how much. I guess only time will tell. What are your thoughts?

Check out Mashable's 15 Silliest Facebook Vanity URLs

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Why Did I Switch Domains?

Well, the reason is quite simple actually. The thing is, I’ve been blogging for the last two years, but there has always been one problem…it was for other people/businesses. For example, when I worked at Astonish Records I blogged for the record label, as well as the artists. At Endagon Innovations, I blogged for the majority of our clients (which consisted of small and large businesses). Now that I am the Social Media Manager at Clickbooth (a CPA Affiliate Network), I am the editor and main contributor to the company blog.

 Now don’t get me wrong. I loved blogging for the record label and my clients, and I LOVE running the Clickbooth blog, it’s just that I’ve never really blogged for myself (at least not consistently).

 Why does that matter?

 Well for one thing, by not having a space of my own these last couple of years, it has significantly hindered the growth of my personal brand, especially from an SEO standpoint. As it is right now, if you search for “Eric Schechter” in Google, the first result is a site owned by Eric Schechter, a math professor at Vanderbilt University, and none of my sites rank until the 6th or 7th result, which are my Brazen Careerist and Twitter profiles (totally unacceptable... I know!)

 That is why it is extremely important to me that I start doing every thing I can to help increase the exposure of my personal brand online, thus switching over to EricSchechter.com. My main goal right now is to claim the 1st spot on Google (for the term “Eric Schechter”) within the next 60 days (and I will make sure to keep all of you updated on my progress!). So you hear that, Eric Schechter, Math Professor at Vanderbilt University!?!? Better look out because I'm coming for ya! :-P 

 Another reason I switched the domain over is because, even though a lot of what I will be talking about on this blog pertains to social media marketing, it isn’t the ONLY thing I'm going to write about here. There are so many other things that interest me in the world such as music, technology, gen y marketing, psychology, and hell - even sports, that I wanted a place with no rules, only opportunities. With that said, I felt that branding this blog as The Social Media Man would limit myself as to what I could and could not post about. So I’m extremely excited to have this new platform where anything goes, and don’t worry…I have other plans for TheSocialMediaMan.com (which I will discuss in a future post). 

 So I know that building up my online presence is going to take a lot time, hard work, and patience, however, with passion comes perseverance, and that is one department I ain't lacking in ;-). So for now, I’m just going to take it one step at a time, and we’ll see how it goes.

 

 

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TheSocialMediaMan.com Gets A Complete Makeover!!!

That’s right! As you can see I’ve changed the look of my blog, as well as switched the domain from TheSocialMediaMan.com to EricSchechter.com. This is something I’ve been planning on doing for a while now and I will go into exactly why I made the switch, in the next post.

For now, I just want to say that I am very excited about bringing this blog back to life and I can’t wait to start posting on a consistent basis again. Before I go, I just want to give everyone a quick recap on what I’ve been up to the last few months.

I am currently the Social Media Manager at Clickbooth.com (a CPA Affiliate Network) where I'm responsible for the company’s overall Social Media Marketing strategy and I also work hand in hand with the company’s top publishers. My experience at Clickbooth has been an amazing so far and has given me an entirely new outlook on the world of Internet Marketing and the future of online business. I can’t wait to start sharing my experiences there, and add this booming industry (affiliate marketing) to my arsenal of topics for this blog.

So I hope you like the new design and are as excited about the new EricSchechter.com as I am! :-) If you have any questions, feedback, or you just want to say hi, feel free to email me at EricS9876@gmail.com, AIM me at EricClickbooth or connect with me on Twitter.  

 

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Networking Online: Is it enough?

"Its not what you know, its who you know." We've all heard this statement hundreds, if not thousands of times, and as bloggers and people involved in social media, no one networks better than us! Why? Because we all know, that by establishing relationships, and getting to know as many people as we can, doors start opening up and opportunities start presenting themselves. 

So why am I telling you something most of you already know? Well, the purpose of this post isn't to show you why you should network or what the value in it is, but rather, why networking offline is just as important (if not more) than networking online. 

Sure its great talking and listening to really successful people in your industry via Twitter, reading their blogs and learning how they approach business, but the truth is, it isn't enough. Although you can find people to talk to and interact with online, nothing solidifies a relationship between two people more, than interacting face to face. There's just a certain energy there, that you can't find anywhere else (which is also why most salesman have a better closing ratio face-to-face than online or over the phone.)

This is why I want to stress the importance of not only getting involved in your community, but getting to know your community. Try and learn what businesses are around you and figure out how you can help each other. Whether its establishing partnerships, trading contract work, or collaborating on new ideas, getting to know the businesses in your city (and the people behind them) is a MUST DO. It only fuels the possibilities. 

Running a new media marketing agency, I'm constantly looking to meet new people and businesses in the Orlando area, and figure out ways we can work together. Whether its iPhone development, video production, or web designers, the more people I know, the more options I have, the more value I can provide for my clients. 

That being said, here are some ways/places to network (off-line) that can really expand your reach and make an impact with like minded people. 

1) Tweet-Ups - Tweet-Ups are essentially "meet-ups" that are put together and promoted for on Twitter. What's great about Tweet-ups, is that they are usually in a very casual, fun environment (like a bar or restaurant) and attract tons of local professionals who are all looking to network and see what everyone is up to. Not only that, but its a great place to meet all those people you've been talking to on Twitter! While each Tweet-Up is a little different, almost every city has them. If they don't, plan one and promote it on Twitter! (You may be surprised at the response.)

2) Associations - Associations are not only great for meeting like-minded professionals in your area, but many of them also provide excellent education and mentoring opportunities. If you live in the Central Florida area, a great association to check out is Doterati. They are a great organization that has been working really hard to create a community in the Central Florida area, where digital innovators can connect, learn, and share. They are playing a big part in helping Central Florida establish itself as a leader in digital innovation.  

3) Conferences - Tech Conferences are like the SuperBowl of networking.  This is where you get to meet your favorite internet gurus, hear some amazing guest speakers, and at one conference, even take part in a crazy pie eating contest.  With that said, if you haven't been to a conference yet, you need to. Depending on the conference, there is more value packed in those 3 days, then a lot of people get in a lifetime. 

Here are some really cool conferences to check out:

IzeaFest 2009

Elite Retreat 2009

So what are your thoughts on networking? With the growth of the Internet, can people just get by on their online relationships? How important do you consider face-to-face networking? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comment section. 

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The Twitter Sales Pitch

Twitter has always been an amazing space for building networks, having great conversations, learning and establishing relationships with all kinds of people. But what I love most about Twitter is that it's real. It connects people. It put's faces in front of brands, and relationships before business. It opens doors, and eliminates gatekeepers. But what happens when people and companies start to take advantage of the purity of Twitter and turn it into something evil?

 I'm saddened because I really feel that Twitter is heading down this dark road. Over the last few weeks, I've been overwhelmed with TWAM. What is TWAM you ask? Its basically a word I use for companies that only use Twitter to shove their brands down our throats and pitch us every second they get. Its also the DMs I get right when I follow someone and they tell me to 1)recommend them to my followers 2)Check out their new SEO marketing tool, 3) read their new post, or 4) they respond with any other type of spammy marketing message. 

  

themediaisdying Thanks for following us Eric! Can you retweet your followers and recommend us to them / let them know about us? Have a great day! about 18 hours ago

PeterSantilli Nice to meet you! Please be sure to visit my world famous blog: http://www.petersantilli.com 12:22 AM Dec 10th

I was reading Mark Drapeau's post on "Banning brands on Twitter" today and it really got me thinking. On one hand, I agree. I think that too many companies are forgetting why Twitter exists and what it's purpose is: To connect people, foster relationships, and provide a place where people can share information with other people. It wasn't made for selling. Yes, sales do come from relationships built on Twitter, but that's not its main purpose; and a lot of companies are forgetting that. It's a scary thought that one day my Twitter feed will be filled with tweets from SEOs trying to throw keywords and marketing messages in my face, and the opportunity to meet a "real person" (who I can learn a great deal from) will become harder and harder. So before that happens, the social media side  of me says "Ban them all!"

B_E_X @EricSchechter I hate stuff like that. Or "check out my website" As if before I follow I don't check them out. Very annoying. about 17 hours ago from web in reply to EricSchechter

However, then I start to think about those brands that are doing it right and don't deserve to be banned. Brands like @pancheros, @pawluxury, and @izeainc. They aren't on Twitter to get you to buy a burrito, try new dog food, or signup for their service...They are there to meet people, share their thoughts on things other than their company, and help their current customers with any service issues they may be having.  These are the kinds of brands that get it and in turn are the brands I WOULD buy from, recommend to friends, and talk about in my posts. 

So if you are a company that is only on Twitter because you've heard its a great place to sell your product, and that is all you care about, feel free to follow me, but don't expect a follow back. If I do follow you and see this kind of activity expect an immediate Unfollow. I'm not here to listen to how great you are and why I need you so much. If you want my attention, try talking to me like a human being. Until then, you can take your Twitter Sales Pitch and shove it. 

-Eric

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Trust: The foundation of selling Social Media

As we all know, most people in the United States, especially small businesses, are going through a tough time right now. Business has slowed down, expenses continue to increase, and not enough money is coming in. That being said, most companies have either shrunken their marketing and advertising budgets, or they've gotten rid of them all together. Most of them know it's not a smart move, but they have no other choice. Others have the money to continue to market themselves, but are afraid to spend the money they have. So how do you show these businesses value in something they've never heard of and has no direct ROI attached to it, such as Social Media?

Well...it starts with trust. How do you get their trust? It comes down to a few things... 

Don't over-promise. This is where I think a lot of social media firms can get into trouble. They meet with a potential client and the only thing running through their head is SELL, SELL, SELL!  They will say whatever needs to be said in order to come away with the check. They promise guaranteed results and say things like "Traditional mediums such as newspaper, TV and radio ads are outdated..You need to take your money out of there and put it into a strong Social Media campaign." That couldn't be further from the truth. While it is true, that social media should be an integral party of every company's business plan, it can never replace those aforementioned mediums.  Social Media is only a supplement to a business's overall marketing and communications plan. TV, radio, and newspapers now act more as a promotional tool than a marketing one, but is still an integral part of their overall campaign. Why? Because it gets the word out. That funny commercial I saw on television, or that great jingle I heard on the radio, is what got my attention. It gets me to notice the brand. Once that takes place, thats where social media can make a huge impact. It's turning those potential customers into brand advocates for your company and as we all know, there is no stronger marketing tool then Word of Mouth. 

Talk in Lamens Terms. Most businesses have no clue what Social Media is, let alone SEO, or the importance of starting a blog or Twitter account. Some of them are very interested in learning about it, while others just want to know how it will affect their bottom line. Whatever the case may be, try talking to them in terms they understand. When you come at them with terms like SEM, link baiting, and micro-blogging you are likely to get a blank face. If they can't understand you, chances are they won't trust you. Everything to them will feel like a sales pitch, and nothing will sink in. Try relating Social Media to their business with personalized examples of how they can use it, and what they can expect from it. The more they understand exactly what you will be doing, the more they will trust you. 

Expose yourself. Depending on your company, you either charge by the hour, sell monthly packages, or do both. When presenting these options to a possible client, they might be skeptical as to whether or not things actually take as long as you say it will. At Endagon Innovations, we realized this and looked into a way that would solve this problem. We came up with Basecamp. Basecamp is a web-based tool that allows you to manage and track all of your projects, assign to-do's and milestones, and most importantly show your clients what you are up to. They can login to their own project, see everything we plan on doing, and track it's progress everyday. By implementing this, our customers can now rest assured that we are doing everything we said we would, and that is what builds trust. 

So just remember that there is a huge market out there for great social media firms to thrive in, and by being open and honest you will start seeing your business grow ten fold. Businesses are made up of people, and people talk. If you work hard, live up to your word, establish trust, and create success stories for your clients, be ready to receive a lot more work you can handle. Where I come from, that isn't such a bad thing. 

- Social Media Man

           

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