Guest Post - Carrie Lumley "Does it Pay to Boost your Facebook Post?"

When I read this blog post, I knew I had to share it with ya'll.  Carrie Lumley is on my Networking Team and is rocking her blog.  This one is great.  

Does it Pay to Boost your Facebook Post?

Hey Guys!

All of us that have business pages on Facebook know that Facebook will boost the post for more to see it.  This of course comes for a fee.  These boosted posts come across the news feeds of many people as an advertisement.  Does any of us really pay any attention to these paid ads?  I know I don't.

I have tried boosting several different posts and have had no results.  Sure more people saw the post but nothing came from spending that money.  I set the limit low so it wouldn't cost much.  Sure I reached 500 plus people, but interaction on my posts was minimal if anything at all! 

From this experience I will not pay to boost posts anymore.

I can tell you that I have tried something different and it is FREE!  I get more exposure and people are

viewing my page on their own!  This is exactly how it should be!!!  I want people to see my business and my personal page on their own.  

I want people to see and connect with me, the person.

How is it, you ask, that I am doing this for FREE?

Well let me explain.  

I have an awesome networking group of people that share, comment and like my posts, whether personal or business related.  I return the favour by sharing, commenting on and liking their posts.   The more interaction you get on your posts the more Facebook will pick up on that and have it show up in others news feeds.  Pure genius right?  

Create for yourself a network of people that interact on each others posts!  Not only do you get to know those in your network better but you help boost each other!  You don't need to be in the same business or even the same type of business.  As long as all are willing to put the effort in, this will work for all of you.

Start interacting more with posts from your friends and family.  This will also get you more exposure! 

You don't need long and well worded comments.  Even just a sticker will suffice!  

Get networking!  Build relationships!  Relationships will last longer than the odd sale here or there.  Save your money!  Comment, like and share.  It's as simple as that!

Until next time ....

#makeupnnailsgal

#boost #postboost #facebookpost #post #free

Bad Tactics 2

This post is meant to be a warning for those who frequent Spam ad groups.  Have you ever seen the following type of posts?

• Name a good company
• I'm looking for a company
• What company are you with
• Need to know a good company that is not a scam
• I'm looking for a new business.  Post your company link below.

I bet you see hundreds of responses and I bet you might have answered a few too.  

This is called Reverse Recruiting.  The poster collects the information, after playing nice and playing a friend, to sell to Lead Dealers.  They also send the list to people in their own network.  In time, the people in their networks can identify their marks and thus showing them their opportunity.  The information being collected is along the lines of name, phone number, email and information on what the person liked.

Some quick money can be made, but it ruins reputations.  And isn't every business built on having a good reputation?  

Do not fall for these.  These types of tactics hurts people on both sides of the equation - the poster and the genuinely person commenting.  

Post only honest questions.  Teach everyone who comments the right way to network.  You are increasing their knowledge and

influence.  And you are growing your Network Team, while showing your leadership and knowledge in public.

Instead of getting a bad reputation, you will gain an increasingly good one.  You will be elevating your brand, be seen as a leader as you help others get established in the business.

Continue learning the right way to network, do the right way and teach the right way.  

Bad Tactics part 1

Almost every network marketer wants to see others succeed.  With their good intentions and lack of good consistent training, some things that seem like a good idea really are harming their chances.

One activity that new marketers are trained to do is to comment on each others posts.  While this will boost the post, these types of comments, to a casual observer, can be seen as comments from a potential customer, which is dishonest.  Commenting on each

other's posts requesting more information, asking for private messages, and posing as someone interested to generate more interest helps in the short run, but is very short sighted.

This tactic is used by people with no true leadership skill or understanding of business or a lack of training.

A stronger approach is one that builds individual posters' brand, not their company.  Your approach should be to make the individual more memorable, not the products.

Here are some tips.  

• Use their names sometimes.  For example, "Look at John Smith! I can't wait to see where this journey leads you."
• Mention something you know about the person.  For example, "A leader of value with a company of value!"  
• Mention if you are busy in a promotional way.  For example, "You should have told me sooner!  I'm busy with another team right now.  PM anyway so we can catch up."
• Inspiration.  For example, "You are rocking this promotion."
• Talk about how inspirational they are, how fast they are growing.  Highlight some of what that person teaches.  
• Share stuff from them. 
• If you are geographically close, have an evening out with them.  Take pictures with comments like "One on one leadership meeting with ______.  This is what happens when powerful people get together to discuss strategy."

These comments and activities build leadership credibility in the

public eye.  It makes your friend, the poster, more likely to be remembered.

Don't forget, this is what your Network Team is for, not always your Network Marketing Team.

Remember your Network Team is made up of people from different companies.  So when your Network Team starts promoting each other in this way, it brings more leadership credibility, since the comments aren't coming all from the same company.  If you can train your company Network Marketing Team to do this too, everyone is more likely to succeed.

Spam? What is Spam?

Spam.  It is more than canned meat.  I like to think of Spam as anything that a network marketer does that turns off a prospective customer or a friend.

There are several types.

• Posting so many ads that your timeline has very little of the real you.
• Posting ads that are just like everyone else, especially if you post it in the same day as the person you "borrowed" it from.
• Making friends just to send an introduction private message about your company instead of introducing you.
• Posting ads making fun of the people who are still undecided.
• Every time you connect with your potentials, you are putting in a plug for your company.
• High jacking some else's post by putting an ad or your link in the comments.
• Wishing someone a Happy Birthday on their timeline by giving them a discount at your business.  

How is the best way to avoid being spammy?  Instead of thinking of new ways to promote your

business, think of what irritates YOU in how others promote.  If something irritates you, then it probably irritates your friends, which is not what you want to do. Treat your friends as friends, not as your next meal ticket.

Finding Your Network

Did you know that your network is not necessarily your company team?

It could be. But finding others, who know how to network, that you can work with is the skill that will grow your influence and in turn grow your sales in the long run.

Let me tell you my little story about how I found my network.

When I first started Network Marketing, I saw a video that put a bee up my rear end.  It caused me to run through my warm market in a month.  Sure, I had a very good month and some loyal customers, but now what?  

Then I saw another video which encouraged me to go to different Ad sites, not necesarrily to post ads, but to comment on other people's ads.  I saw this as counter productive, but I started commenting on a few a couple of times a day.  I tried to pick out the ones that looked real (these didn't only have picture of money) and I commented on what I liked about the ad, that I liked the products, how well they were representing their company.  Never did I post a comment saying I wanted to jump in their business opportunity.  And I never posted an ad.

  

I became friends with many.  I started recommending their products and services on my facebook wall.  Many, not all, returned the favor.  Some quickly added me to their events and groups without ever contacting me first.  Even back then I knew this wasn't a nice thing to do and I would remove myself from the events and groups.  If people started to be repeat offenders,  I would unfriend.

Once you see who are true good people, not just somone out to make a buck, start chatting with them.  Find out if they have a blog, if they have brand or company pages, find out what is working for them.  Ask for advice on how to make your ads better.  Find out who is great at graphics.  Find out who is great at ad copy.  Find out about them, their likes, their families, their lives.

And.Learn.From. Each.Other.

There is a wealth of information in your developing team and most people do not mind sharing.  If they do mind, scratch them from the team and move on to the next person.  

Do not sell to your team!  If someone is interested they will ask.  You could possibly lose some great team members if you seem too pushy.

Now start building your long term team.  Start empowering and uplifting others!

When Honesty Can Kill a Team

Wanting some motivation recently, I plopped down on the sofa to watch a few YouTube documentaries of some the leaders in our company.  The interviewer asked the question that is always on people's lips.

"How did you do it?  How did you rise through the ranks so fast?"

The answer was so honest it shocked me.

"I don't know."

She went on to explain some of the things she did, but she didn't know which actions were important.  This is one thing that can kill a team in no time. Since she honestly doesn't understand her own success, her team will probably fail because she doesn't know how to duplicate her path to success.

Sometimes you need a timeout before continuing the race.

So many times in conversations I have heard people say that they don't know how they achieved their success.  Even if your team is enjoying an explosion of growth, it would be good to slow down and verify that the new people are being trained, not just with your products and company info, but how to network and not be spammy.  

Don't rush to climb the ladder of success because if not trained correctly, the team can crash at anytime. There is a group that helps train network marketers, encourages them, provides a safe place to learn and is completely FREE.  If you are interested, please leave a comment and I will hook you up!

Lessons from Oak Island

  

I am totally hooked on the History Channel's show "The Curse of Oak Island".  The two main stars, brothers, became enthralled with the chase of treasure after reading an article in Reader's Digest about the island and its secrets.  Life went on, they grew up and built a name for themselves in their respective professions. The elder, Marty, is an engineer who has made his fortune in the energy business.  Rick, the younger, is a retired postal worker.  

Lesson 1:
Each has a reputation in his profession as being the best, not a treasure hunter.  That is their brand.  The Oak Island treasure hunt is part of their brand.

They never gave up their treasure hunting dream, doing small things working toward the end goal while building their expertise in their brand.  In the last few years, Rick and Marty decided it was time to start their new venture. They started networking to get funding to start the hunt.  The network is working together for the treasure.

Lesson 2:
The network is there to help them achieve the treasure.  It is not the treasure.  

They grew a network of people from various backgrounds to help with the last greatest treasure hunt.  These are professionals in the diving (who knew there were different type of diving specialties?) and drilling profession, engineers, and a slew of others.  I have seen divers do their work in wells, mud and ocean, each one top of their profession.  I have seen experts work their magic with metal detectors of all kinds.  I never knew there were so many types of detectors!

Lesson 3:
Their network includes people of all kinds of different professions because Rick and Marty know they don't have the expertise in all areas to achieve their goal, the treasure.  

During the interview parts of the show, the stars always talk about the how the professionals are experts in their fields and they are positive they can work with them.

Lesson 4:
Rick and Marty are never afraid of new people who can bring a needed speciality to the network.  But all the time, they are making sure that everyone has the same goal.  

This is a perfect picture of how branding and networking goes hand in hand.  You always want to brand yourself and not make your product your brand.  You want people to trust that you know what you are marketing - whether it is your company or referring customers to another Network Marketing representative.

In review:

Are you skipping over the foundational building of your brand for a get rich quick treasure?
Do you look at your network as people who can help you in your business or do you view them as just customers?
Are you always looking for people who have specialties that will propel your team to the top or are you just adding people who contribute nothing to the team and may be a hindrance just because you think they will get you to your treasure quicker?
Do you add friends to your friends list just to get a bigger list of people to sell to or do you research before hand to make sure you have the same beliefs, work ethics and especially the same end goal?