To Ning or Not to Ning?

To ning or not to ning? By ning, I'm referring to the Ning network, one of the largest social networks on the web, especially for online marketers. This social networking platform allows you to start your own networking community without having to start from scratch or having to know any coding or pay for any hosting to do so. You can also join many of the preexisting networks that interest you and there is an endless selection of topics.

Once a member of one network in Ning you can easily search for other networks to join or even start your own. It offers many convenient features such as your own built in blog, the ability to upload photos and video, forums and message capabilities. You can also post links and banners to your other websites. Another nice feature is your friends from one network automatically become your friends on the next.

Well,, with all of these features why wouldn't you want to take advantage of such an available and accessible place to network? Well, to put it simply, there is a lot of marketing that goes on within Ning. Like the countless other social networks you can plan on being pitched to and pitched often.

The thing I noticed with Ning however, is the marketing tends to be a little more on the aggressive side. Depending on which network you are in specifically, full out marketing seems to be the norm. This wasn't as apparent to me upon joining my first Ning group, as it was set up as a community and training area for a specific opportunity. However, as time went on and I was invited to join other networks, I began to see a pattern of aggressive marketing.

Don't get me wrong, I am an internet marketer myself and finding creative ways to promote your business is what it's all about. Just be sure you know what you're in for when joining a Ning group. If you can't handle the added influx of friend requests and opportunity pitches to your inbox, then I would think twice before jumping in, but if you realize this is just part of the process, then give it a try.

The Ning network does offer an excellent platform for existing businesses to meet, set up shop, share training, updates, and marketing strategies. In fact, I've gotten some of my best information through my Ning associations. It really depends on who is behind the group that is important. If you find the group you have joined isn't your cup of tea, you can always delete your account.

Overall, I would say it's a fun network to belong to. There are categories for about every kind of interest imaginable. Sure the marketing is aggressive but I'm at a stage where my descretion is pretty good when it comes to fielding pitches. The rules tend to be a little looser as far as the selling goes so be prepared to be pitched. It tends to taper off once you're a member of the same group for a while. I'm interested in your thoughts or experience with Ning. Leave a comment by clicking on "comments" and bookmarks are appreciated.

Identifying Your Market in Your Online Business

As online marketers we are so focused on generating leads and traffic that sometimes we develop tunnel vision. That is not to say that focus isn't important, it is. Not seeing the trees through the forest is a common mistake. Much of what happens in our efforts to generate business is overlooking the ones we can actually help the most.

First, consider your level of expertise, before considering who you're targeting in your marketing. I'm not going to sell Anthony Robbins a course on self improvement, he has reached the pinnacle of that field. However, I may be able to offer him discounted CD distribution, membership in a luxury hotel club for frequent travellers, or the inside scoop on a top company's need for motivational restructuring. These are just examples, of course.

There are plenty of people who want and need what you have if you can identify them. Don't try to hide your level of skill, this will only backfire in the long run. Instead embrace it and specify what your material is, who it is for, and what it can do for that prospect. Trying to cater to "everybody" is pointless. Your own materials may be specifically geared toward beginners, someone who can barely send an email, and that's fine. A top guru will not have the time to give the needed attention to bring a newbie up to speed.

There's a need for training and instruction at many levels that need filling; beginning, intermediate, advanced, and this should be your main concern. Who can benefit from my material? Then plan your marketing strategy accordingly? Marketing to beginners can be very rewarding and lucrative. Too often I see marketers presenting themselves as experts and coaches when their own methods are very basic. There is nothing wrong with not being an expert in all areas of marketing, especially on the internet which is so dependent on the technology itself.

So remember when you are planning your marketing strategy to make clear who the market is and speak to that crowd. I was lured into internet marketing from books and the magazine world. My curiousity was peaked by television and newspaper ads. My drive to succeed was reinforced by listening to the top mentors, but I sought out people more like myself, who had more knowlege than me but were more apt to share their information.

If you take anything from this entry, it would be, not to waste your time trying to sell ice to eskimos. Instead, think in terms of selling water to thirsty desert travellers. You will get much better results and enjoy more success by knowing who your customers are not and especially who they are.

Online Success Is Earned

The lure of easy money and fast fortunes are rampant on the internet today. People are seduced into believing all the hype simply because they want to believe it. Many internet marketers prey on hungry and eager consumers omitting the fact that it takes dedication and knowledge and certain skillsets.

Fortunes can be made online, in fact, they're made every day. The ones who succeed online understand what it takes to market online. Marketing is the number one skill that must be cultivated and within that skill comes another subset of skills to learn.

Gone are the days of having a replicated website that thrives on sheer luck and market demand. Now the buyers market is educated, aware, and selective. It's the responsibility of the marketer or would be marketer to offer value and be accountable for what they are offering.

People who don't grasp this concept early, are in for frustration and disappointment. The ones that do grasp it will be in that upper echelon of the online marketing community. What many opportunity seekers don't realize is that the company or person that they're buying from put the work in at some point in time. They may have acheived a status or position that actually does allow their business to run on autopilot now.

Sometimes the marketer fails to reveal how much work came before their success and when the new prospect does not get instant or similar results, they feel ripped off or cheated. There are so many variables to grasp when starting any enterprise. Learning and applying the basics are crucial in developing a foundation to build upon. This doesn't have to be a painstaking and long process either, as long as you're open to learning and mastering certain skills.

Keep in mind that if you want to acheive a higher level of success you will be offering or selling a product or service just as it was offered to you. In order for you to succeed you've got to be able to pass some of what you've learned down the line. Your success level depends on just how much you are willing to offer. If you try to skip over learning the basics or if you didn't have a good guide to begin with you may end up wondering why your not making your fortune.

Just remember to be prepared to put some effort into whatever business it is you decide to take on. Look for coaches, mentors, and support communities that share your vision and this will excellerate the learning process. Make your mistakes early, then it will get easier and with some effort you to will be on your way to your fortune.

Blogger Basics and Key Features

Here's a video tutorial I posted on YouTube on the basics and advantages of blogging. Particularly this blog service right here - Blogger.com - A free blog platform that allows you to create multiple blogs, update them as often as you want, and add an array of features and gadgets.



Blog is short for weblog and is a way to keep a journal or log online about your goings on, activities, interest, or business. Blogging is an excellent tool for business promotion and a great way to network with other marketers and potential clients.

Gaining a readership to your blog or a following is no easy task and comes with consistency and offering content that is of value. That content may be of an informational nature or entertainment value. There really is no limit to what can be done with your blog.

Blogging not only is a great form of sharing content on the web, informing others about yourself, and networking; it also can be used to link to your other websites, create valuable backlinks, and get you high page ranking through organic or natural page ranking.

The are many blog services available on the web and most of them are free. Some people choose to host their own blog through their web host or on their own server. This provides even more flexibility and features, although the principles remain the same.

Animoto: Video Marketing Tool That's Edgy, Fun, and Easy to Use

Here is a Press Release available on the new Animoto slide/video creation site animoto.com. I can already see the value in a resource like this. It took me all of ten minutes to create my first test video. Be on the look out for more videos. I will also post a few vids here, my test was just some photos I had on file so I'm not posting it, but wanted to go ahead and get the word out about this awesome site.

Animoto allows you to upload photos and your own music or music from their library. The music is offered by artists that allow to have their music publicly played without royalty fees. Then there is a cadre of features as far as what to do with this video. For example, uploading it to Youtube, Facebook, Myspace, your website or blog, etc.

I highly recommend this site to anyone looking to enhance their video making skills and especially for internet marketers. I still recommend simple videos that reveal who you are, but this is just another complement to your arsenal of tools to market online.

Animoto Press Kit Material:
With all that's possible with TV & film these days, how is it that we are still in the "next slide please" stone age of image presentation? This question prompted the guys at Animoto Productions, a bunch of TV/film producers and techies, to lock themselves in a room and nerd-out. Their mission? To make the type of stuff they did while producing shows at MTV, Comedy Central & ABC available to everyone.

Their first release, Animoto, does just that. Animoto users simply choose which images they'd like to display and a song. Animoto then produces a fully customized & unique video to them. Produced in a widescreen format, the result is a video that has the visual energy of a music video and the emotional impact of a movie trailer. Welcome to the end of slideshows. Best of all, no two videos are ever the same. Ever.

Even videos generated with an identical set of images and music selection will each have an entirely distinct set of motion design. Sharing them is easy too, as they can be emailed, downloaded, and embedded on websites including social network sites like Facebook and MySpace. The heart of Animoto is its newly developed patent-pending Cinematic A.I. technology that thinks like an actual director and editor. The technology takes into account every nuance of a song - the genre, song structure, energy, rhythm, instrumentation, and vocals.

Whether it's punk, pop, hip-hop or a classical Mozart piece, every Animoto video is totally customized. Animoto is inspired by the digital camera revolution where taking dozens, even hundreds of pictures at a time gives people the ability to think more like a video producer capturing an entire experience, not just individual moments. As users are discovering the limits of traditional photo services, the guys at Animoto are innovating new ways for people to share their stories and express themselves through media.

Animoto is also dedicated to supporting new artists and music. So while users can upload their own music, the guys at Animoto also proudly feature a regularly updated selection of fresh music that they truly dig. No stock music, no cover bands and no elevator music. Animoto's front end is built on the open source web framework Ruby on Rails, facilitating rapid "Web 2.0" (Ajax, etc) application development.

Animoto has partnered with Amazon to leverage multiple offerings in their Web Services (AWS) platform which, in conjunction with Animoto's own render farm, constitutes the Animoto web infrastructure. Based in New York City with an office in San Francisco, the founders of Animoto have worked in the entertainment industry, studied music in London, and played in indie rock bands. They share a passion for helping people better share their stories and express themselves through online media by innovating technologies in the field of video production.
End of Press Release