Louisa Chan

Your Free Mobile Site Has A Price Tag

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Your Free Mobile Site Has A Price Tag

Free Mobile Site
Free Mobile Site

As a small business owner, you don’t have a lot of time and you don’t have a lot of start up capital.

You need to somehow make your dollar stretch and guard your time.

In a world of ever changing technology and consumer preference, small business owners are faced with ever increasing costs and investments.

You now need to be mobile ready as well as incorporate social media into their current marketing mix. Both making demands on your time and resources.

I manage to find tons of free tools for my online business. While they get the job done and give me relatively good results they generally take more work around and use up more time.

That’s why I would normally upgrade and pay for premium services after I have tried and found them to be good. Why?

Because nothing is really Free. If it takes too much of my time and effort to accomplish my goals then I am paying for it with time. The free version is really just for trial purpose, to test and see if I like the features and customer support. It is not meant to be used as a full-fledged tool.

There is no free lunch. Really, nothing is free. We know that although sometimes we forget.

– Do you see professionals using free blog site?
– How about free email marketing systems?
– Or free mobile sites?
– How about using a free Facebook Page instead of setting up an official blogsite with your own domain
– Free Facebook apps?
The list goes on, you don’t have to be too creative to fill a page with this.

Businesses don’t need to pay a cent for these and have things up and running relatively quickly, so why not?

Here’s why: You are trading something in return for the free service you use.

See the free mobile site above? I put that up very quickly. Literally plug and play but I will need to display the vendor’s name at the footer and promote them. And I think that is fair exchange. After all I get to use their service at zero cost. Businesses are not doing charity here so this is a win-win situation. However, if I do not want to advertise for the vendor then I could invest in a self hosted mobile website, like this one. It also allow me to brand and build my own online equity.
Mobi Site
Google mobile and many others offer similar free mobile sites too. In those cases you do not get to keep your own domain name.

If you are using your site for casual, personal use, that is probably fine. But if you are in real business then this may not be the best option.

The same goes for using free email marketing system.

There are many of these around. But do know that with these free accounts you pay in terms of lower deliverability rate (less of your mails are actually delivered to the audience), your mails and options are limited. That could mean that you may not be achieving what you have spent time doing and your mails are not reaching your readers! What wasted time and effort!

Facebook started off as a free platform for businesses to use. It still is. But the posts’ reach to fans are now greatly reduced. Facebook reports that in general only 16% of posts are reaching the business’ fans.

Do we then whine and complain? In a way I wish things would not change but Facebook is here to make money. They generate revenue with advertisement so majority of us can still use “free” stuff.

Twitter introduced sponsored tweets quietly and there is talk that Tumblr and Foursquare are also going in the same direction. We will soon see placement for promotion of personalized offers — and I think this is fair. We cannot expect free rides and take things for granted.

So if you are on a tight budget use all the help you can get but know that you are paying for these freebies in some ways. That price tag can sometimes be even more expensive than if you were to pay for the service itself.

For example, if you have been using free sites to host your blogs and if you decide to now build your own online equity (page rank), branding and authority, that would take a lot of time, cost and effort!

So weigh your choices. Businesses will only survive if there are healthy transactions and exchange of value. Enjoy the free tools and resources and be willing to pay for premium value and services. If you are the business owner, you too would want to justify your ROI!

Perhaps we are so “pampered” that we no longer appreciate the free resources and training offered to us?

Posted by Louisa Chan

Resources & Tips: May 06 2012 LinkedIn Training For Professional Business Building

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Campus - Networking with Professionals
Campus – Networking with Professionals

So how have you been doing? Seems so much happened since I last wrote.
I was at MKIS today and a big, tall 11th Grader said to me “Today is a Happy Day because Nayati is back with us.”
Perhaps I will write about this in a post because this is very close to my heart and we can learn many lessons from how social media was used in this case.
Ok, so back to our tips and resources. This coming Wed, I will be running a online training on LinkedInthat has a US friendly schedule.
I’ve received your emails asking if we will provide replay or if I will be holding a Training at a time convenient to you. And this is it!
If you are in the US or Canada and have not attended my training on LinkedIn then check this out.
I’ve had some great feedback on the training and if you wonder why I am talking about LinkedIn then here’s why:

If you are a professional and you want to promote your expertise, try LinkedIn.
If you wonder if you should promote or market yourself then read this post. 
If you want to join me this Wed, sign up here!  Ok then until next time, Take Care and virtual hugs!What Is You Core Business Value?

Core Business Values In Running A Profitable Business

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The Truth Can Change People

People can’t change the Truth,
But the Truth Can Change People.

What criteria do you look for in doing business with partners? 
When looking for a business vendor, service provider or even clients, do you look for
– Expertise?
– Credentials and Certification?
– Stability of Company?
– Proven Track Record? Or
– Authenticity?
I am sure you have loads of experiences of service providers, partners, clients and teams that you can write a books with.
All the factors listed above are used to evaluate who we will do business with. Without these, prospects and partners would not have the confidence to entrust their business with you.

The One factor affecting brand affinity

But what would be the one thing that you absolutely must have before you engage in sustaining business relationships?
If you have to choose who you work with, what would be the one acid test you use?
A business (or individual) that values truth and honesty is one that I will choose to work with. The image below depicts a principle so well I just want to share it here.

Truth does not change no matter how one manipulates it.

Integrity, Authenticity, Transparency

Someone else once said and I quote “Without Integrity You Have Nothing“. Without integrity and transparency relationship will not survive; whether you are using the latest technology or not.
When a business makes decisions in alignment with their core business values, you get authentic operations, clients and prospect see a consistency in the actions taken from business owners to customer support.
They know what to expect and the brand delivers on its promises.

Google looks for authenticity too

Google Panda and Penguin is good for genuine online marketers who show their “face” and expertise through posting quality articles, blog posts, videos, audios and who communicate with their readers.
The social media age enables the public; clients, prospects and everyone else with the ability to get to know and communicate with the person they want to do business with.

So do Human Resources personnel

Even employment agencies and Human Resource departments are using social media platforms to do back ground check on individuals and professionals before hiring.
So connect with your target partners and prospects but make sure you are open and transparent. This is the age of social proof and trust.
If you find that you are like a voice in the desert, the only one still holding onto this “unprofitable” principle, then remember that light shines brighter as darkness falls around it.

Business as a channel of good

Using business as a channel to bring value to community is a highly rewarding endeavor.
However, businesses that do not uphold integrity and ethics leave a less than desirable impression on us. And we have negative impressions of businesses or marketing and sales. That is so unfortunate!
It is my hope that more transparent and ethical businesses will abound so more people can benefit from healthy transactions or exchange of valuable goods and services.
Image credit: both images are taken from Follow Your Dreams To Achieve.

Use Social Media Responsibly For Your Professional Practice

Should Professionals Market Or Promote Themselves?

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Should Professionals Promote Their Expertise or Services?

Social Media for Professionals?


“If  you are a Professional and if you think you are good then you should not need to market or promote yourself. At least you don’t want to be seen marketing yourself“. That’s one school of thought.

“I am a professional, I don’t sell and I don’t solicit for business“. I hear this very often.

Do you agree?

As a Consultant in the corporate world I had to not only know my stuff but the higher up the ladder I go, the more I had to sell my services – to corporations. From a content expert, we are moved along the line to being sales person with Key Performance Indices tied to how much time we can charge out our own services as well as that of our teams. 

Few years back, I left corporate world. Having been certified as a Trainer and a Coach and armed with a Masters degree in Education, I applied for a Trainer’s role with an Academy. I was sort of interviewed for that job but was instead offered a sales job – selling coaching programs.


Initially a little confused and discouraged, I was thinking “Do you know how much content and expertise I have and you are asking me to sell?” (do you sometimes also think of sales in an unfavorable light?).  Yes, they were and they saw something I did not see then.


In the months that followed, I was consistently one of the top performing sales consultant breaking all sorts of record, surprising even myself. It was then that I saw sales and marketing in a new light.


As it turned out, it was perhaps one of the best things that helped me understand the importance of integrating content with sales – if I want to effectively impact more people.


You see, as front line sales or marketing person, I was giving my prospects a chance to experience the content (what I am selling). I was selling coaching program and services then and in the marketing of the program I was already offering my prospects the experience of being coached and trained through their interactions with me.


Many who signed up for the program with me thought that I would be their Trainer and Coach in the classroom since I was already providing the content to then. I was the Trainer in the Marketplace providing them the experience of the content.


The one with the subject knowledge who addresses the prospects’ concerns  is offering an experience of the content (or service / product).  In this case it was an experience of being coached during the conversations leading up to enrollment. I, the marketing person was the content they experienced.

Sales and marketing is not separate from content and expertise. Try selling without knowing the product and you will be turning people away. Try being a content person or expert without promoting or positioning yourself in the marketplace and you may be the best expert that no one knows of.

If you want to impact the masses, you need to let others know of your services whether it is through traditional marketing, word of mouth marketing or social media marketing. You will need to position your expertise in the market place.


If you want to be the go-to-person in your subject field then you will need to demonstrate your expertise through your content (writing or speaking or videos). Even Google is recognizing and rewarding businesses with content and expertise with their search engine algorithms.

Do you know why doctors, accountants and lawyers are connecting in BNI chapters? Word of Mouth marketing maybe? Do you know why LinkedIn has 150 million professionals? Why do you think they are on LinkedIn?  Social media offers you a digital Word Of Mouth platform that is not limited by geography or time. 


I hear this phrase from successful online marketers and I think they hit it on the nail. They say that “The marketing is in the content and to let the content be your marketing”. I can’t agree more.


So should professionals like doctors, lawyers, Coaches and Trainers be marketing themselves? And if so what is a way of doing that that is responsible and ethical? Love to hear your views! 

Make Social Media Work For Your Professional Practice

Chiropractors: Use LinkedIn To Distinguish Your Services From The Rest

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Online Video Training On LinkedIn For Chiropractors

Chiropractors Using Social Media

Do you know that your prospective clients are looking for you now? Although she may not know that you have the solution to her problems, she is actively searching for someone, somewhere to help her end her misery.
Problem is if you are not online or on Social Media platforms then you don’t exist to her. And if you do show up when she looks for you, you will need to compete with thousands of many others who offer similar services. 

The question then is why would she choose you over others? This training may hold the answer for you.

Here’s what may be happening to your ideal clients. Watch this 2-min video and then head over to get the full scoop – it’s an online free training (sometimes referred to as a webinar) that has the answer to your questions above.

So when you are ready with your coffee (or power drink), hit the play button.

Sign Up For Training Here
The original video on YouTube here

Make Social Media Work For Your Chiropractic Practice

Online Video Social Media Training For You?

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Online Video Social Media Training On LinkedIn 

On Line Video Training On Social Media
On Line Video Training On Social Media

A quick note to share my latest video creation with you. This one does not have me in it and I also did not need to rehearse any scripts. It’s about 45 secs long, so give it a go and let me know what you think.
You can sign up for the free online social media training (webinar) here.

If you are a corporate executive or an independent professionals and are interested to know how to use LinkedIn to get more of your ideal prospects, then this short training will help. Although I will tailor it to the chiropractors for this training, the principles applies to your professionals industry. You just need to tweak it!
It’s not just about putting up a profile. It tells you how to brand yourself and how to leave an impression on your contacts.
So dive in and feel free to share this with your friends (chiropractors or other health care professionals). The original video on YouTube is here.

About Louisa Chan

Resources & Tips: Apr 13 2012 Social Media Training and Workshop In Kuala Lumpur II

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Social Media Training And Workshops In Kuala Lumpur II

 

Climbing Social Media Ladder
Climbing The Corporate Social Media Ladder

I have taken down the complimentary LinkedIn For Professionals Online Training for my VIPS and look forward to speaking with you in either the “Subscribers Getting” Training or other free training that will be coming your way!


This past weeks I have had the opportunity of speaking with graduate students on local campus as well and high school kids at local school.


I noticed a shift in the questions asked.


Instead of asking “What is Social Media” the focus now seems to be “How do I run a successful marketing campaign?” or “How do I get myself equipped so I can be an in house Social Media person?”


Thinking of climbing the corporate ladder already?


The demand for local Social Media experts is rising as every business in every industry realize that this new media is a channel they cannot ignore.


Research shows that Generation Y is increasingly looking to choose working in these fields as they are digital natives and loves innovation and flexibility. And the quest for Training and Workshops in Social Media continues.


And Where do current main stream corporate employees get the needed knowledge and experience to begin using Social Media correctly?


What kind of training do they need to provide to the young and enthusiastic newly hired social media assistant? The recent KFC Facebook Message drew wide attention as the new dynamic platform is not used responsibly.


How does in-house Managers and Departmental Heads know if external Social Media Consultants and the newly hired Social Media Expert is recommending the right thing for the company at the right time.


How do they measure or know if the advice given is sound?


Here are 3 points you can use.

Training is the answer. Apart from getting yourself equipped, you will be left to guess work and chances and these do not typically produce good enough results for your board members or stake holders.
– But what kind of training? What topics to cover?
– How can you squeeze in time for the additional learning?
– And will you be able to follow if you have no prior knowledge of the subject matter?
– All valid questions. Consider these points!


About Louisa Chan

Social Media Training And Workshops In Kuala Lumpur

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Social Media Training And Workshops In Kuala Lumpur
 

Taking A Breather In Between Marketing Class
Taking A Breather In Between Marketing Class

 
As more businesses accepts social media into main stream marketing, the questions raised are shifting from “What is Social Media?” and “Why Social Media?” to “How to use Social Media?” and more recently “How to use QR Codes?”


Businesses are ready to embrace and implement this additional marketing channel to help boost awareness and sales!


So where do you find training on these topics? A simple Google search will bring back many different options both, off line and online. You may have a hard time trying to decide which event or training to attend.


3 Questions to consider before signing up for any Social Media Training.

1 – Know the results you want at the end of the Training – do you want an overview covering the different platforms and how they can feed off each other? Or do you want to focus only on one area and be good, really really good at that one platform only? 

2 – Know the content and structure of the Training you are signing up for – do you know what topics will be covered and how lessons will be delivered? It is going to be some intensive 2-day crash course and you may not be able to appreciate, understand nor absorb? Or will it be taking you through step-by-step over a period of time with opportunity to take action and implement as you learn? 

3 – Know the approach (marketing, business and training) of the Training Provider – is it going to game and manipulate the system with “killer” tactics and automated tools? Will the training teach you how to “crush it” and give you tens of thousands of followers or some short term results? Or does it work with sound fundamentals and principles of a sustaining business model?


The last one is particularly important. Although it is natural that anyone would want results, you want to make quite sure that the kind of approach introduced builds from the foundation, is ethical, not spammy and produces results that may sometimes be slow but builds over time and gathers momentum for sustainable growth.


You may have heard that Google has been rolling out changes to its search engine algorithm and has been cracking down on sites that do not have genuine quality content. The emphasis is on quality content and transparency. Google Panda is at work.


If you subscribe to tactics that manipulate the system through loop holes then don’t be surprised to find your site de-indexed by Google or your fake or multiple Facebook Accounts shut down.


So do check out the different workshops by
– Attending training previews and
– Talking to those who have taken the course
– Getting to know the Trainers and the approach they use
– Opting into their lists and observe their approaches before you make any big moves


Although technology is rapidly changing, the fundamentals of doing business do not change overnight. To build a solid Social Media Marketing Campaign, start with the fundamentals and work with the system. Unfortunately there is no short cuts or silver bullets.


Training Provides who deliver on what they promise and provide value with transparency will draw a crowd of loyal followers. These will stand out from those who are here for short term quick results.


As you begin to us Social Media Marketing for your business you will need to be equipped with new knowledge and skills. And you will want to enroll into credible Social Media Training and Workshops to give you a good solid head start.


Watch this space as we will be releasing a professional Social Media Training that will take you from newbie to an action learner with sustainable results to show.


Louisa Chan – Make social media work for you!

Resources & Tips: Mar 30 2012

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Facebook Timeline Change and Tips On  Knowing Your Clients And Getting Them 


Social Media In Health Care, Kuala LumpurSo are you ready for the big Facebook Timeline Change?


Here’s our page. I cant decide which profile picture to use.  Perhaps you can help me choose.


If you click on profile picture you will a bunch, I just picked one.


During the week, I spoke at a seminar with some doctors, pharmacists and nurses at the Sime Darby Convention Center and here’s what I talked about: Social Media For Doctors and Pharmacists: Ethical?


And that got published in SM In Healthcare.


In the coming months I will be doing more in person seminars, conference talks and work shops as more professionals, institutions and corporations awakens the critical need to get social media savvy (getting a social media page up does not guarantee that you have optimized the page or set it up correctly in the first place).


And that means I will need to look for help with some of my online work as demand for setting up social media presence ramps up in Kuala Lumpur!


In the mean time, look out for some great training I will be sending your way this coming Wednesday.


If you have not yet subscribed to my newsletter list, you can still do so now. This free training is only for those who are on our VIP list (and of course you will be our VIP once you join our Newsletter list. It is free, you get tips about once a week and you can un-subscribe anytime).


Tips an ResourcesOK, so here are the resources for this week.


We have tips on knowing what your customers think, how to have more clients, how to stop wasting time and about dreaming BIG.


If you want more regular updates and tips sent to your Inbox (comes out about once a week and you can unsubscribe anytime), you can let us know where you want us to send the emails to.


Marketing and Social Media
6 Ways to Acquire New Customers via Social Media
4 Simple Ways to Find Out What Your Customers Really Think
Stop Talking About Social and Do It


Weekly Does Of Inspiration
4 Critical Ways You Can Stop Wasting Time Today
Dream Big and Work Hard


Feel free to post your thoughts, questions or comments in the comment section below or at the Facebook Page. That’s where we can engage and discuss “stuff”..


Ok then until next time, have a great weekend!
Remember to watch out for my free training this Wed …


So if you have any questions, feel free to post them on the page or at the blog comment section or tweet me! I look forward to hearing great news from you!

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About Louisa Chan

Louisa is an Author, Content Strategist, Coach and Trainer. She helps you build rewarding businesses so you have the time to serve bigger purposes.

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Get in touch anytime if you would like to find out more about having public or in-house corporate training or for for coaching for online teaching or content creation.