5 Websites that impressed me in 2011

Greetings Dear Readers.

Right about now you will be on holiday and maybe shopping for gifts for family or friends
for all of those year end parties you go to.

I feel a tiny bit sorry for those of you who have to work at this time of year.
Just a tiny bit.

Can you believe it 2011 is almost finished and almost time for 2012.

I thought I would share with you 5 Websites that impressed me in 2011.

Here we go:

1.  Twitter


http://www.twitter.com

One of my favourite sites.  So much on there from news, views, interviews,
useful links, people venting, amusing pics and videos and I could go on and on.
Not to mention it's a useful messaging site.  Will it replace email?  Only time
will tell.

2.  Podomatic


http://www.podomatic.com

Some people call this the wave of the future, podcasting, webcasting, having
your own shows on the net, from radio shows to tv shows to web seminars.
All of this for free.  Nifty hey.

3.  Visibli


http://www.visibli.com

For those of you who are big on social media and marketing this is the site for you.
It basically adds a bar above all your links, photo's blog entries and more for every
link you put out there on the interweb.   On that blog you can put up some wonderful things
like your social media profiles, your website and so much more.  A very powerful
marketing tool and the stats are fantastic.

4.  TinyLetter


http://www.tinyletter.com

For those of you looking to start with email newsletters this site is for you.
Very easy to use and it works.  That's right you heard me it works :)
Highly recommended.

5.  VibeDeck


http://www.vibedeck.com

A really interesting site for all you musicians out there.  It allows you
to sell your cd's, songs, ep's and more online and with the social media
integration you can decide if you want to give it away or use
the pay with a tweet or facebook message option.  Very slick site.

Well those should keep you busy for awhile at least till you decide to
hit the beach or try that game reserve or read a book.

Do you have any cool websites you have discovered in 2011?
Let me know.


Wish you and yours Seasons Greetings and have a successful 2012  :)

Yours in social media

Fred Felton
Speaker & Social Media Consultant & Author
email: falconscove@gmail.com

email to book Fred for your next talk or for a social media workshop.

5 Blogs Worth Checking Out

A warm welcome to all my readers.

Hope you are having a wonderful day.

Below are 5 Blogs that are really worth checking out.   They cover a
variety of topics and should keep you interested all year round.

1.  Project Me


http://jodene.co.za/projectme/

The blog is run by @Jodenecoza a wonderful lady who is very active on Twitter.
She blogs everyday and is actively involved in the #FollowSA initiative.
A wonderful blog to read daily if you can packed full of wonderful info.

2.  Quicksprout run by Neil Patel


http://www.quicksprout.com/blog/

This is the blog of Neil Patel.  Packed full of useful info and updated regularly.
On this blog you will find useful info which ranges from Twitter, to design,
to social media tips, to business tips and I could go on and on.
Really worth a read.   Find him on Twitter - @neilpatel

3.  Ask Ashe


http://askashe.wordpress.com/

A blog run by Durban based blogger Ashe.  Full of useful info about Durban, South Africa.
events about town, entries about fashion and so much more.  Really
worth checking out.  Find her on Twitter @AskAshe

4.  Laura Roeder's Blog


http://www.lauraroeder.com/category/blog/


A young entrepreneur with a very smart head on her shoulders.  She has some wonderful
advice in her blog.   Everything from social media advice, how to write blogs and now and
again you even get a webinar.  You learn so much from this blog.  On Twitter - @lkr

5.  The Fantasy / Reality World of a Writer


http://the-red-stone.blogspot.com/


This is the blog of writer Craig Smith  find him on Twitter - @CraigWFSmith
If you are interested in writing or reading fantasy writing check out his blog
you might just pick up some tips.  Full of #FlashFriday writing, writing tips
and even some videos check it out.

That should keep you busy for awhile dear readers.

Fly high, Fly free


Fred Felton
Speaker & Social Media Consultant & Author
Falcon's Cove
A Digital Media Agency
email: falconscove@gmail.com

email to book Fred Felton for a talk or seminar.

5 Marketing Tips For Your Business

Greetings readers

Welcome to this entry which is all about marketing today.
Here are 5 tips to help your business get known.

1.  Use Social Media


You are in the greatest time at the moment.   The time of Social Media.  There are so many
avenues for you to put your name out there.   So get out there and setup a Twitter Page for
your company and start telling people what you do.  Tell people about your specials.
Post pictures of where you are located.   Do a course to learn how to use social media for
your business.  Respond to clients on Twitter and build brand awareness.

Start a Facebook Fan Page for your business and build up a fan base of clients for your company.
Post useful links and updates and help others out.   People will soon find out who you are
and flock to you.

Start exploring Google +  and start a Google + Page for your business as well and add people to
your circles and network on their.

Have a Linkedin Page and network with other business minded individuals and companies.

Write a blog and tell people what you do everyday.  

2.  Network like crazy


If you are starting out well then nobody knows about you and you have to get out there
and find some people who might want your business.  How do you do this?  Well you start
going to networking meetings.  Most cities worldwide have networking meetings regularly.
They range from business networking events to art shows to openings of new shops.
There are many places one can go to network.  So set out to do at least 3 networking
meetings a week if you can and collect those business cards make those connections
and stay in touch.  Follow up with emails and meet for coffees.

3.  Make a YouTube Video


No matter what your product is make a video of what it is you sell.  Whether
it be a product or training course or book, whatever it is make a video and
upload it to YouTube.   Millions of potential customers are on that site.

4.   Brand yourself and your car


If you have a car consider putting your brand and contact details on your car.
Many people sit in rush hour traffic starting at the car in front of them.
Have your business  name on your outfits or on a label so people can see
what you do.

5.  The Business Card


One of the most effective marketing tools is a business card.   Get a professional
to design one for you and make sure it has all your relevant details.  Keep it in
a nice business card holder and give it out to all your prospective clients
and people you meet.  You never know, they might want your service
or someone they know might want it.

Fly high,  Fly free


Fred Felton
Speaker & Social Media Consultant &  Biz Analyst
Falcon's Cove
A Digital Media Agency
'Social Media Is Our Biz'
email: falconscove@gmail.com

Email to book Fred Felton for your next talk, conference or workshop.

5 Tips For Entrepreneurs

Greetings dear readers.

Last night I was invited to the Fnb #BizNetwork Event and it was wonderful to hear all
the speakers and to look around and see all the business owners and entrepreneurs.

It got me thinkin about all the entrepreneurs out there.  If you have an idea of
being an entrepreneur here are 5 tips to get you started:

1. Find The Gap

Take yourself off to a coffee shop and sit down with a pen and paper and write

down all those fantastic ideas you keep to yourself stuck in your head.  You know

those ones that are going to make you millions well write them all down.

Look around you in your area and think hard, what gap can you fulfill?

What service can you provide?  What can you provide that nobody else can?

Can you corner a market?  Write down 10 ideas and cut them down to 3

and then choose the one that interests you the most.

    2.   Write a business plan

Once you have your idea get a good business plan in place and work out 

if you can afford to do this.  How much will you charge?  Where will you sell?

Are you going to be in one suburb, one city or the whole country?

How will you get financing, banks, friends, family where?

    3.  Set goals for your business

Put your goals down on paper or on your computer or tablet or cellphone.

What do you want to achieve with this business.  Where do you see it in 1 year,

5 years, 10 years?   Is your aim to sell it for profit or carry on till you pass it on to your

children.  What is your aim, think it through.     Have a checklist for your business.

What are the things you will need? Stationery, business cards, marketing what else?

Write it all down and keep pen and paper nearby in case you forget anything 

and write down all your idea's for your business as well.  

   4.  Prepare for long hours ahead

As a business owner you must be prepared to work long and hard.  You might

have to cancel meetings, lunches, weekend plans etc.  Will you be able

to commit to this?  The more you put in the more you get out remember that.

   5.   Love what you do

When you start this business remember it has to be something you love doing

because you are going to be doing it for a long time.  You have to be 

passionate about your business and if you are your business will get bigger

and bigger.  

Now get out there, start that business and get your first client.

Fly high, Fly free

Fred Felton

Speaker & Author & Social Media Consultant

Falcon's Cove

A Digital Media Agency

email: falconscove@gmail.com

5 Speaking Tips

Greetings readers.

Hope you are all having a wonderful week so far.

Last week  I was invited by the wonderful people of SOCAPSA to give a talk
at their conference in Johannesburg on Twitter 101.  The Conference had a wonderful
Social Media theme and I came back with some wonderful idea's and have met some
amazing people.

Along the way listening to all the speakers I came across some amazing tips
for speakers that I thought I would share with my dear readers so here they
are just for you:

1.  Being funny helps


As I watched the various speakers I became aware that if you add a bit of humour it helps
and people love it when bits of your talk are funny.   They laugh and at the same time
they learn about your topic and at the end of it come away with a smile on their face.

2.  Have your contact details on the first slide


Now this I noticed from @staffordmasie a wonderful speaker.  Put your Twitter
username on the first slide of your talk and leave it there for awhile.
A wonderful tool to create awareness of who you are and where people
can find you.

3.  Contact details


At the end of your talk leave up a slide of your contact details and where people
can find you and get hold of you.  Give as much as you can so people have
a variety of options.

4.  The magic of weaving


When I listened to Clem Sunter I noticed he is a past master at this.
Find a way during your talk to weave into your talk all the types of services
you do and where you have recently spoken, what workshops you have just done
and where you are going after this.

5.  Show people what you do


Some of the wonderful speakers also showed people what they do and the
services they provide.  They also showed who their clients are and what they
do for those clients.

It is also polite to thank your hosts when you start and the speakers before you.
Hope that helps you out in your speaking career dear reader.

Fly high, Fly free


Fred Felton
Keynote Speaker & Social Media Consultant
Falcon's Cove
A Digital Media Agency
'Social Media Is Our Biz'
Talks, Workshops and Consulting
email: falconscove@gmail.com
cell: 076-977-5788

my new book on Twitter is out now and you can buy it here on the blog!

call or email to book Fred for your next talk, conference or workshop.

5 Tips To Make Your PowerPoint Powerful

Good day Readers

Today I am focusing on the PowerPoint and how to make yours powerful.

So the boss has asked you to give the team a PowerPoint and you are dreading it.
Relax.

Here are 5 tips to make yours stunning.

1.  Use the 6-6 Tip


It's been said before that if you use the 6-6 Tip your PowerPoint will be stunning.
Well what is the 6-6 Tip?
Basically all it means is only have 6 points on each slide.
After 6 slides of writing have a picture or video.
That helps to break the monotony and make it stunning.

2.  Use topical pictures or videos


If you are going to use pictures or videos make sure they are relevant to the PowerPoint topic
and try to keep them updated.  See what is happening around you in the news and in your area.
Use pics or videos that reflect that.

3.  Use interesting statistics


If you are going to use slides that have statistics makes sure people can understand them.
They must be visually alive and easy to take in.

4.  Not too long now


Make sure your PowerPoint is not the new Tv series on the television.  In other words you don't want it to be too long.  You want people wanting more.  Also leave time for questions.

5.  Use slideshare


When the PowerPoint is finished make sure to share it on  www.slideshare.net

This is a site where you can upload your PowerPoint's and share them with everyone.
A great networking option and somebody might like it and want you to give a talk at their conference.

Also on each slide put your company details and on the final slide give your contact details.
Where else can you advertise your business to so many avid fans?

Fly high, Fly free

Fred Felton
Speaker & Social Media Talks, Workshops & Consulting
Falcon's Cove
A Digital Media Agency
web: falconscovesa.blogspot.com
email: falconscove@gmail.com
cell : 076-977-5788

Book Fred for a Keynote Presentation At Your Next Conference.

3 Black Days For Blackberry

Greetings Readers.

Today I am looking in detail into what exactly happened with Blackberry.
Like millions of others I have a Blackberry and was in the dark, no red light, no emails, no BBM,
no Internet, no Social  Media.  Nothing.  Just a very expensive timepiece.

So what exactly happened?

Here is what we do know.  Blackberry is made by RIM (Research In Motion) based out of
Canada but now a huge world player.   Under pressure from shareholders for not performing
and not very good results with their new Tablet the Playbook.

This could not have come at a worse time for RIM.

What we do know is the fault apparently happened at one of RIM's communication hubs
in Slough, England.  A core switch failure occurred and the backup failed as well.
As far as we know RIM has multiple communication hubs that we know of one in Canada and
one in England, others in Europe, Asia and the USA.  Beyond that RIM keeps very quiet about if they have any other hubs.

As a result of the failure a huge backlog of data, emails and messages were created and it took a great deal of time to clear that backlog.  RIM managed to fix the problem for a short while then it crashed again and finally it is back up fully restored.

RIM has been signing on a huge amount of new subscribers who love their BBM and BIS services around the world.   RIM did not anticipate that so many people would sign on so quickly.

What can RIM learn from this:

• Avoid keeping your customers in the dark
• Nobody knew what was going on
• There was no real communication between the networks and RIM, so communicate, keep your customers informed.
• Reply to your customers who comment on Social Media platforms, keep them informed.
• RIM Eventually started to put up status updates on the problem on the social media sites other companies can learn from that.
• Plan better, it's a bit like Eskom, they were warned to build more Power Stations, they didn't and South Afrca experienced Power Problems.  
• A good sugggestion for RIM would be to build new communication hubs in each continent to handle the huge load and new clients.

If you are still experiencing problems with your Blackberry do a hard reset, which means 

take your battery out and put it in again and that should rectify any problems.

However one thing  I do appreciate is what the Co-CEO of RIM, Mike Lazaridis did and I leave the last word with him.

Fly high, Fly free

Fred Felton

CEO

Falcon's Cove

A Digital Media Agency

'Social Media Is Our Biz' 

Speaker - Social Media Consulting, Talks & Workshops

email: falconscove@gmail.com

cell: 076-977-5788