Mike Sansone

Two instruments we use in navigating uncharted travels are a compass and a map. We can do likewise with social media, too. Our compass can be our strategy, our purpose (a good compass lasts a long time).

Our Map? What’s our next step. Sometimes we get wandering while wondering what to do next. The acronym MAP might quicken your pace in the right direction.

M.A.P. = Meaning. Announcements. Personalization.

Make Meaning (70% of the time): While you should use other tools of social to “make meaning” for your information consumption (infosumption), when publishing or sharing content, look for ways to “make meaning” for your reader. We both know in our heart of hearts that your business can help them, but more times than not – share things with them that will improve their life/work/bottom line. Things that aren’t about your business – but their lives.

Make Announcements (20% of the time): By sharing and writing most often about stuff that helps your readers,  you quietly earn the right to promote your work, your sale, your event. Be a resource twice as often as being a bullhorn – but don’t neglect the bullhorn either.

Make Personalization (10% of the time): This is the “chit-chat, hey how’s your cat?” type of chatter that personalizes social media.  Remember that this process of MAP is a guideline. There will be some days you chit-chat more, and some less. But as a business, 10% is a gauge for personalizing your professional platform.

This is a variation on the 70-20-10 guideline we practice on Twitter, and it works across the landscape of social media. So get your compass (your purpose) and your MAP (your plan) and enjoy your journey.

MAP: Charting a Journey in Social Media is a post from: ConverStations

Find Your Social Media ROI

I hear it from a lot of business owners: "Where is the ROI with all this Social Media?" If this is a question you've asked, maybe we should work together a bit more. We can work together solo, or via a professional learning community. Find and increase your ROI. There is a "there" there.

To show our appreciation of small business owners and solopreneurs, Dialing 8 is giving away three annual (full access) memberships to The Dialing 8 Project.

You can nominate yourself, your local small business or independent, or even a friend or family member just starting out. Just have them (or you) fill out the form below.

Winners will be notified by email on Friday, February 17th.

Nominate Your Local Business for a Dialing 8 Membership is a post from: ConverStations

Find Your Social Media ROI

I hear it from a lot of business owners: "Where is the ROI with all this Social Media?" If this is a question you've asked, maybe we should work together a bit more. We can work together solo, or via a professional learning community. Find and increase your ROI. There is a "there" there.

How many of you have a camera on your phone, raise your hand …

Whether you have a smart phone or not, the opportunities for taking your own stock images are plentiful. Additionally, improvements and growth of mobile apps such as Photoshop Express and Instagram make capturing, editing, and sorting images a breeze.

I’ve seen a lot of folks invest 20 minutes writing a blog post, then spend another 20 minutes looking for the right image. Better to take a few minutes here and there to be prepared.

Create some stock images of your own. Have a library ready to help tell your story. Just as you should Listen to Your Day in writing your blog, Watch Your Day for capturing great storytelling images.

Watch Your Day: Create Your Own Stock Images is a post from: ConverStations

Find Your Social Media ROI

I hear it from a lot of business owners: "Where is the ROI with all this Social Media?" If this is a question you've asked, maybe we should work together a bit more. We can work together solo, or via a professional learning community. Find and increase your ROI. There is a "there" there.

Are there times you grow a bit weary of the memes of Th*ings People Say, Funny Cat posters and looping mini-movies in your social streams?

Don’t Be. It’s a learning process. And we’re all in beta.

Some of these messages are probably not intended to entertain or inform you – but they don’t have to be a complete waste of time either.

As you see these items scroll by over and over again, recognize patterns of popularity and sharing and SCAMPER your findings into your own content.

In many ways, these creations of clatter can be an example. Allow these experiments of non-critical content to be a research project of what might be.

A tweak here, a substitution there – and maybe you’ll find a gem of your own.

Tired of LOLcats, Animated GIFs, and Th*ngs People Say? is a post from: ConverStations

Find Your Social Media ROI

I hear it from a lot of business owners: "Where is the ROI with all this Social Media?" If this is a question you've asked, maybe we should work together a bit more. We can work together solo, or via a professional learning community. Find and increase your ROI. There is a "there" there.

Fans are Fanatics.

Searchers Find.

Shoppers Discover.

Trekkies Trek

Ask the sports fans … the crafting hobbyist … the thrift store shopper. Watch the Trekkies.

Is there just one place, one site, one convention?

Or is it all of them?

There’s always room for one more good one.

That baseball fan getting ready for her fantasy league draft? She’s not looking at just one site or one magazine. She’s got them all. That quilters in your life? They don’t just go to one store, they know them all.

Before you doubt yourself or change what you’re good at because someone else is already doing that …

There’s always room for one more good one.

Next time you go to the book store, check out your favorite section. Not only are there many titles to choose from, there are more coming.

Be you. Be the best you that you can be. And remember …

There’s always room for one more good one.

photo credit: wvs via photopin cc

Why There is Always Room for One More Good One is a post from: ConverStations

Find Your Social Media ROI

I hear it from a lot of business owners: "Where is the ROI with all this Social Media?" If this is a question you've asked, maybe we should work together a bit more. We can work together solo, or via a professional learning community. Find and increase your ROI. There is a "there" there.

This weekend, I turned my Facebook profile into a Business page.

Most of the connections I had on Facebook were from business contacts, most of what I shared was about business. I was most of the way to a business page already.

I had been thinking about making the move for awhile. When Tracy Sestili said Bye-Bye to Facebook, I started making my move by following her lead. (By the way, Tracy is a solid-state, straight-shooting social media strategist – one to follow).

Tracy’s steps and reasons are sound. While Facebook is a closed system in many ways, it remains a confusingly open system in other ways. From a privacy perspective, Facebook has pieces in place – but good luck for the average user to find and use them.

So, I decided to create a “stealth” personal page, following the first six steps Tracy outlines in her exiting post. On the last step, rather than delete the account, I transferred to a business page.

The only real difference in  converting my profile rather than cancelling creating a new business page is those who were either “friends” or subscribed, become “likes” on the business page. My messaging still is part of the stream (and since most of what I posted was business …).

For me, I still want a presence on Facebook for “Mike Sansone”, though the only parts I want public and searchable are business postings. My personal page is for a very small group of people (mostly family).

I know a lot of business owners who want the same. To keep business separate from personal. To be able to maintain focus and balance. Many are just not comfortable with “transparency” on Facebook at this time.

My Facebook: Business Page Public and Personal Profile Private is a post from: ConverStations

Find Your Social Media ROI

I hear it from a lot of business owners: "Where is the ROI with all this Social Media?" If this is a question you've asked, maybe we should work together a bit more. We can work together solo, or via a professional learning community. Find and increase your ROI. There is a "there" there.

“If we must claim an ROI for social media, it will be found in the very fuzzy edges of the inventory we place with care and craft on our social media shelves”

- Gerard McLean in Stocking Your Social Media Shelves

Slide Sunday: Blog Posts are Part of Your Inventory is a post from: ConverStations

Find Your Social Media ROI

I hear it from a lot of business owners: "Where is the ROI with all this Social Media?" If this is a question you've asked, maybe we should work together a bit more. We can work together solo, or via a professional learning community. Find and increase your ROI. There is a "there" there.

The greatest running backs in the NFL seem to have one element in common. It’s a practice rarely seen on highlight reels or still shots.

It’s not so much the fancy stuff. Not the stiff arm, the high-leg, or the spin. The one trait all the greats share is one that does NOT stand out. But it’s the one that kept moving them forward.

Even when they hit a brick wall of defense, the greatest running backs keep pumping their legs.

Short steps. Rapid pace. One after the other.

They keep their legs moving.

Jerome Bettis was one of the best at this, especially near the goal line. Legs always moving. His strides weren’t long, his legs kept moving. Even when it seemed he wasn’t going forward anymore, his legs kept moving. When he was tackled, he’d get back up and … his legs kept moving …

When it comes to your blog, bring your fingers to the keyboard like Jerome Bettis near the goal line. Your fingers keep moving.

When it seems no one is reading your blog – your fingers keep moving. When it seems you don’t have anything to write about – your fingers keep moving. If you make a mistake or someone disagrees with you – get back up and make sure your fingers keep moving.

Can you drive this thing?

Blogging Like Jerome Bettis Drives is a post from: ConverStations

Find Your Social Media ROI

I hear it from a lot of business owners: "Where is the ROI with all this Social Media?" If this is a question you've asked, maybe we should work together a bit more. We can work together solo, or via a professional learning community. Find and increase your ROI. There is a "there" there.

Written by Joe Pawlikowski

Sometimes simple phrasing can make a huge difference. A while back Mike asked the question, should every business blog, and concluded that no, it’s just not for all businesses. That’s a fair enough answer. But allow me to add an amendment.

Everyone should blog about his or her business.

This doesn’t necessarily mean blogging for your business. But anyone, excepting people with strict non-disclosure agreements, can blog about a business. It can provide plenty of benefits.

Blogging to learn

All fledgling bloggers stand to learn plenty from the experience. Here’s what anyone stands to learn in the first few months of blogging:

• How to research. Specifically, this refers to reading about the industry.
• How to structure thoughts. So many people lack argument skills. Blogging builds them.
• How to write in English. Another skill that many inexplicably lack.
• How to use the Web. This could be the most valuable skill in the world right now.

Blogging to connect

Blogging naturally connects us to others. Whether it’s from people leaving comments or other bloggers stopping by, there are plenty of opportunities to build relationships. And you know what they say…

It’s not what you so much as who you know.

When I first started blogging, someone advised me that you never know who’s reading. Many bloggers get invited to conferences and other events, which we’ll cover in just a tick.

Blogging to advance

Once you’ve gotten into the blogging groove, you could become influential in your field. Employers like that. So do conference organizers. A well-written blog can earn you a speaking gig. Grab a cheap flight and you’re ready to spread your influence further.

How about your boss? Think he or she might like knowing that the company employs a knowledgeable resource on an industry? Do good work, and people will notice.

No, not every business is equipped to blog. But every individual is. No matter what your industry, as long as your company doesn’t expressly forbid it you should be blogging. It can amount to writing your own career ticket.

Joe Pawlikowski edits blogs of various stripes, including his new work from home blog.

Why You Should Blog About Your Business [Guest Post] is a post from: ConverStations

Find Your Social Media ROI

I hear it from a lot of business owners: "Where is the ROI with all this Social Media?" If this is a question you've asked, maybe we should work together a bit more. We can work together solo, or via a professional learning community. Find and increase your ROI. There is a "there" there.

Tis the season of “Re” for many

Re-Invigorating; Re-Purposing; Re-Freshing … Re-Acting

As we transition, I believe it’s important to recognize (another
“re” in a way) what our own CORE is, and has been, throughout our life.
What common thread or pivot point has been existent through changing
seasons.

Here’s the acronym I’ll be working with:

Compass
Oomph
Repeat
Essence

It’s a process, a working model I’ll introduce during the Re-Launch of IDLFO show on Des Moines Amplifiied this morning (Monday mornings, 8 AM CT).

Compass is your true north, the where you’re heading. Oomph is about giving it your all, either fully in or fully out. Repeat is about getting back up if you get knocked down, pivoting and changing course (not starting over from scratch) if you face turbulence. Essence is who you are by your very nature (not your job title or porch pitch — but who you are).

What’s your core?

…well, on Monday we will be.  Have a listen?

We’ll do some fun stuff here and elsewhere too.  Big globe and getting smaller:-)

In light of recent personal developments, I’ve decided to discontinue my short-lived talk show on WorldWideLocalLive.com

I believe there is still much potential there, and that publishing multi-media content (especially if able to capture and reproduce in various channels) is going to be a natural progression for those who have a desire to capture a larger and long-lasting audience.

This decision is strictly based on my own current capacities to continue (or in this case, not) with such a show.

The I Dunno, Let’s Find Out site will continue. Thanks for experimenting with me:-)

Some of the best ideas get thrown away way to early. This also happens a lot with Social Media tools. Glad it doesn’t happen with our young children:

This was taken from a post I did on ConverStations awhile back

Picture this. Sicily, 1876… well, not Sicily (but I love how Sophia starts a story)

Truly, on this day in 1876, Alexander Graham Bell makes the first telephone call in history. Little known is that less than a month earlier, both Bell and another chap had separately applied for patents on the phone.  When the other chap (do you remember his name?) was notified that his caveat was in conflict with another patent, he decided to abandon the project. Oops.

Bell went ahead with a “Let’s Find Out” attitude and the rest is history. The other chap’s name?  Elisha Gray. Nope, I hadn’t heard of him either.

Photo on Flickr by Science Museum London

Perfectionism < Perfectionish

And everything got better because of the mistake!  Everything-ish anyway…

I like “perfectionish” a lot better than “perfectionism”

Great read – Ish by Peter Reynolds. Should be on the Business Bestseller Lists every year

Related:

• It’s the Way Things Have Always Been
• FableVision Learning
• Can-Doozle

Here’s a slide deck by a lifelong learner and teacher, Darren Kuropatwa. You can follow him many ways, including his prolific slide publishing. As you go through this presentation, notice the absence of a “Hear it and Hold it” learning model:

Here’s a wee bit of a promo for my new talk show on World Wide Local Live, Monday – Friday from 6am-7am CST.

We’ll be talking about Learning and Applying, Imagination and Curiosity (Imaginosity), and the science of experimental failure (which will probably happen a lot the first few days of the show).  Join in via livestream to chatter up. Soon, we’ll be able to do video interviews — hopefully using Skype or ooVoo — to hear about what you’re doing.

Hope you’ll join in the conversation!

Learning is a verb.

Living is too.

Let’s Find Out? Verb-ish

Let’s Find Out is a movement, an in-motion notion of taking action on ideas. With an experimental, enthsuastic eye towards success, sans fear of criticism or embarrassment.

Whether you call it Embracing Your OS!M, Safe is Risky, or give it the Oh What the Hey, Go For it Anyway, Let’s Find Out is forward movement, not stay stuck in your status quo.

I’ve never had my own radio show, but don’t touch that dial – it’s coming to a corner of the globe soon. I’ve yet to write a book without sharing authorship, but I have two coming out this year.

And here’s what I’m hoping for from you:

Your future not as important
as the present is now
But don’t get stuck in your status quo
New worlds get discovered
with both feet off the beach
Don’t wait for your ducks to line up in a row

Have a story of your own Let’s Find Out vision or vent? Need to build on an idea or gather strength from others?  Drop me an email to mike@idunnoletsfindout.com and we’ll take action together.

Photo on Flickr by Cayusa