Melanie's comments

Hi Kirk,

Thanks for a great article! There are some great tips here, and I do have to say that the blogging/ social media/online networking takes a lot of time and energy--something that a lot of people don't realize.

I would like to add something I have personally found amazing results with over the last year--which is using Pay Per Post and paying folks to blog about my Listasaurus website.

You set your own price--and I usually run a campaign about every 6 weeks, which costs me about $150 with all fees--and make sure that the bloggers include links back to your website with particular keywords of your choice. My search engine rankings increased almost literally overnight--no joke!

So by doing this, I increased my SEO which of course increased visibility of my website. I went from being on who knows what page of Google results to the first page result and at one point the second actual result!

Also check your local newpapers for low-cost email blasting. We have the New Times here in South Florida, and it costs about $75.00 to be blasted out to about 20,000 people on their email list. They included a really nice image and about 200 words about the site.

Also, submit your press releases to local newstations/newspapers to try to get them to write a story about you, and of course, then you can promote your site. It can take a lot of time to get them to respond, but I have finally gotten one response (trying now to set up an interview).

I have some other ideas, but now I'm thinking perhaps I should write an article about it, lol.

Anyway thanks again Kirk!

:-)

Great article!

But easier said than done sometimes. I have tried many different angles when submitting story ideas to newspapers and TV stations--even as recent as a week ago, tying in how my website can help during this difficult economy (we pay users to list their ads and auctions, instead of charging fees), and still no bites--YET.

But I do like your concept of leading with something bigger. It's a concept I've tried to utilize, just haven't seen results yet.

Hopefully one day in the future...

Thanks again for a great article!

Great tips! Also don't forget that your video should be fresh, current and memorable! You want to get people's attention. I know that one of the scariest things for me is the thought of being in front of the camera, eeek!

I'm glad to see video is taking off finally, it's one of the features we offer on Listasaurus.com but it's taking a while for it to catch on. Video classifieds are relatively new, though, and I guess that's why. One nice thing about our site--if I may give a little plug--is you are not restricted to embedding video, you can upload directly to your ad. I'm also excited to check out Biznik's new video feature, I hadn't heard about that!

Dan, I'll keep you in mind if any of our businesses need videos made in NM. Right now I'm just partnering with someone here locally in South Florida.

Thanks again, Pamela, for a super article!!

Wow! Thanks Leif, for this awesome info. I'm going to check into this, I didn't know about this option!!

:-)

Great article!! Especially the examples. Video is definitely the way of the future...and for anyone who has taken the plunge for your company, just wanted to let you know my website Listasaurus.com now features video classifieds!

We have a Business Directory section where you can upload your video there...and we're looking to fill our directory so please contact me if you're interested as I'm open to bartering!

Oh boy, does this hit home!! I work full time as a consultant on-site and have been also "moonlighting" on my beloved website Listasaurus for the past 2 years, and my husband often gets on me for not having the balance....it's definitely more difficult to STOP working with everything so accessible from the Internet...and running a couple of websites actually makes it more 'round the clock.

I have a hard time not being online all the time even when I'm on vacation...sheesh!! But I like the concept of it being a "work in progress".

Also I wish there was something like Office Nomads here in South Florida. I don't think people have the same type of mentality here on the east coast...there is certainly not the same sense of community and I don't think there's as much of the "indie" thing happening. If anyone knows otherwise, do enlighten me...

:-)

Thanks for some great input!!

Great stuff! Especially about the free pr sites. I've used prweb.com and also like webwire.com, both with good results. Webwire just raised their fees a little (but it's still around $20.00 I think) but I found it to be just as effective as prweb.

Also...it's a great idea to submit your releases to your local news stations, business journals and newspapers directly. Most of them have websites these days that tell you who you can submit your PR to.

WOW. What an article! I especially like the info on Bloglines, I didn't know about that. Also I am one who can testify that the blog commenting DOES help improve your website rating...it's something that I have been doing for several months and it's unreal how it helped.

Steven, I love your idea about team blogging! Very nice.

It definitely takes some time to get things like blogs and forums going...but again, Elge, GREAT article. Thanks!!

Hi Bonnie! Love your last name. Welcome to Biznik! I'm also a webbie, actually a web developer, perhaps I can send some work your way sometime (since I'm not taking on any more clients at the moment)...Where is Quilcene located? You sparked my curiosity! In any case, look forward to getting to know you on Biznik!

:-)

Melanie

Thanks Doug for a great list! I knew about a lot of the sites already, but you put together a very comprehensive and helpful list.

Thanks much!

Great lists! I haven't mentioned it before out of respect for Biznik, but since it seems to be the topic here to learn about other sites, here goes.

I launched a business networking website a few months ago called www.MyBizLoop.com, basically because I was already running local networking meetings and doing email dialogues in between with attendees, and needed a good platform to communicate in between the meetings.

We're based out of Ft. Lauderdale, where there's not a lot of Biznik activity yet as well.

As with anything worthwhile, it takes time to make something work...we're new and don't have a lot of activity yet, but we are somewhat different from Biznik in that we don't restrict to just indies; network marketing folks are welcome to participate. Also we have a revenue sharing program we are offering, and other features like IM, chat, etc.

So, Dan, not meaning to step on toes, I adore Biznik-it's a gorgeous site that's so feature-rich, and I admit, has given me a lot of inspiration. But again, since Jeff asked, and businesses can use all the help they can get...thought I'd chime in.

:-)

Hope it helps some of you out there, and I'm open to feedback and suggestions.

(Please don't shoot the messenger!)

www.MyBizLoop.com

There is also www.Ojeez.com and www.Apsense.com, but those are a bit overwhelming to me...

Hi Daniel! I recently discovered Yugma too. Haven't tried it though, couldn't seem to get it to work, yikes!

In any case, I hear you about starting up your business in order to work remotely or from anywhere in the world. That was one of the reasons I started Listasaurus.com, because my husband and I want to move to St. Augustine, Florida but there's not as much work there as in Ft. Lauderdale. Now if we can just get the site to start making some money! LOL.

I will take a look at some of your tools in more detail. Some great ideas!

I also use Groove, which has been a fantastic project management/communication tool for me being that my business partners are in Chicago and Port St. Lucie, FL and we all need ways to connect and communicate. It has some amazing task management, contact management, file sharing and discussion tools that have really been a life saver!

Anyway thanks for a super article!

These are great ideas, but easier said than done! I started my website Listasaurus.com back in October 2006 in beta.

We have fantastic branding--very unique and memorable...and while I agree it's important, it hasn't done anything to propel us further necessarily. Look at MySpace. Not much branding there.

As for looking to friends and family to help out, that was tricky too. Thought I could count on family and friends to help promote the site--heck, we weren't charging for anything--and still aren't!!) And only a very few really bothered to spread the word.

We've tried soooo many different things to create a buzz...blog campaigns, contests, business expos, press releases, email campaigns, stamping dollar bills, car magnets, etc etc etc. But buzz is an odd animal, and short of having someone run naked through the streets, it's a tough thing. Yes we've even tried YouTube. And we'll continue to try.

We even implemented a unique Pay Per Listing program, where we pay users just to list their ads. We thought for sure that would create some buzz. Still not.

Then we tried video classifieds...which is catching on slowly out there...but still no giant buzz.

So...not in any way knocking this article, just pointing out that the tips are the tip of the iceberg...and unfortunately there's no formula or way to guarantee results from any of these tactics. You've just got to try as much as you can to get things going and keep it going, I guess!

Ilise--I like what you have to say about the "Marketing Mindset"--I had to learn to get into that mindset, as it's really about quality, not quantity. Too many people run around at meetings shoving their business cards at you.

And I've found that getting in the mindset of "what can I do to help the other guy"? really helps cultivate relationships, and opens up for reciprocating with each other.

Also your points about the Follow Up is critical. I think that's where most people fall short. I try to send a follow-up email after each event where I make new contacts.

And about the nametags...I use "Listie" oftentimes, which isn't my name, it's my website character's nickname and that definitely gets attention.

However, I'm perplexed on how to use a big marker AND include a web address on a name tag...for instance, mine is WAY too long to include...so that could be kind of tricky.

But definitely some good stuff here! Thanks a bunch.

This is great stuff! Not sure how I can tie in everything we do, as there are different sides to it.

Here's my try for Listasaurus.com:

For the consumer side: The first classifieds website to pay users to list their ads.

For the business owner: Online advertising that won't break your bank account.

Our tagline: List it. Sell it. Find it. Fast!

Suggestions? Need to figure out how I can tie our video classifieds in somewhere. It's tricky because we aren't strictly video classifieds, but it is an option.