Thanks to http://Mashable.com, I became aware of a great site that’s helping to make compliance with the new FTC regulations a bit more bearable.  Here’s the site ==> http://cmp.ly/

To quote CMP.LY:

“provide a simple and easy method for you to disclose material connections you have with the entity providing goods and services about which you publish content.

Cmp.ly disclosures follow a standard naming convention that is easy for readers to understand and can be used for disclosures in print, online, SMS, tweets or other digital communications.”

My disclaimer:  I am recommending this site because I appreciate the service they provide.  With that said, I am not saying that it will fully satisfy the FTC’s regulations.  For that, PLEASE consult your attorney!   I found CMP.LY to be very useful and helpful, and for that reason I am sharing it with you, my readers.

CMP.LY was created  in response to a continued push for transparency and honesty in blogging and within social media and digital communications.   Personal transparency and honesty are huge for me, and both strongly impact my associations and relationships.

CMP.LY has made the ease with which you can share these disclaimers both simple and varied.  And for now, this is a free site/service.

I hope you find this helpful.   Either way, I’d love to know what you are thinking.  Please let me know with a comment below.

~Kate

Yep, it’s another social media site – yet with HUGE differences!  With one post on SoKule, your “squeek”  or post (= a tweet on twitter) shows up on Twitter and 40 more huge social networking sites simultaneously!

It’s “nano-second” technology!  =)  Now that’s efficiency!

It’s like Twitter, but monetized, efficient, and able to interact with video, banners, clickbank affiliate opps and so much more.

You can join for free or opt for a premium membership.  Either way – fun, efficiency and great business tools are at your finger tips.

If centralizing multiple functions in one place with ease is something that will help you with your business, life, and online presence —> Check out SoKule now!

Then share it with others, and all your friends on twitter!

Best!   ~Kate

The credit for the information behind this post goes to Michelle MacPhearson of Crowd Mountain.  She is a very successful Internet marketer, an honest person, amazing woman, and an excellent coach. 

I’m writing this to share a FREE resource with some of the BEST information you will find on social media and how to drive massive traffic to your website.

Yes, it’s really FREE.

No “ONE thing” or ONE website can be, or should be responsible for
your traffic.

You will see many product launches, Warrior Special Offers and $7
script ebooks with promises of delivering “The Secret”, or other
Social Media websites making similar claims.

The truth?

There is no secret. 

The most effective way to bring traffic to your site?

Build a network – “a thousand points of light” leading
the way to your site.

Good content spread around the web pointing to your site
is all it takes to build a massive traffic network.

Michelle does not charge for “Social Media Daily”, and she didn’t
even put in a “Tell-A-Friend” request because she wanted it to REALLY be free.

With that said, part of the objective is to get the word out about how most
of the so-called “social media” marketing books out there are either:

1. Incomeplete and vague – very theory based.
2. Methods that will only last for 1-3 months (Especially in light of the
rate at which things change in our world today.)
3. Johnny-come-latelys to “social media”.
4. And/or dangerous to your site’s search engine rankings.

For a FREE copy of this incredible resource, visit http://www.socialmediadaily.com

We are all looking for information.  Solid information that provides
real value, that moves us ahead, and that provides more than “fluff”. 

Be forewarned that anything that promises a “quick fix” will not produce results.

Don’t fall for it.

Pick up your own FREE copy of Social Media Daily at http://www.socialmediadaily.com

You know the old saying, “Some of the best things in life are free.” 

Well, in this case,  it’s true.

Disclaimer:  I am NOT using my affiliate link in this post. Yes, I am a “student” in Crowd Mountain and yes, I think Michelle is one of the smartest, most successful and to-the-point women I know in this industry.  With that said, I do not want to cloud this information with my affiliate link because it’s being offered for FREE by Michelle. 

The only “reward” I’m looking for is to freely share some of the best information I’ve read on this topic, and hopefully save you some money in the process.

Cheers!

Kate

Creative Writing by default is not necessarily associated with business.  For that matter, do you remember your Creative Writing class from college or high school?  How many of us actually felt creative while writing for a grade on our paper?

I always thought creative writing could really only be done by people who love to write, because if you dislike something, it’s awfully hard to be creative in it.

Does creative writing belong in the business world?

 According to http://www.wikipedia.org, “Creative writing is considered to be any writing, fiction or non-fiction, that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic and technical forms of literature.”

A more contemporary understanding includes emotional expression, sharing experience, originality and free individual expression.

Based on this, the impact of blogging, social media, and a considerably less formal environment in the business world, has created a scenario where writing creatively is not only appropriate in the business world, it has become essential. 

The pace of our lives has increased exponentially, forced in part by the significant and ever increasing changes in technology.  I think we are less patient in some respects because we are accustomed to immediacy in our banking, communications, travel, and information flow, to name a few. 

Even with the strong movement toward ”being present in the moment” and slowing things down, we cannot help the fact that we take for granted the speed at which things take place in our lives.

In the corporate world, social media world, and even within our families, time has become a commodity that we seem to have less and less of.   This has impact on every form of communication.

The result?  Our attention spans are shorter.  Our expectation of the content quality is higher. 

Less is more.

The uniqueness, creativity and value that we bring to our communication in the business world is perhaps more important than ever before. 

Cut to the chase?  Absolutely.   It’s essential.

Just don’t forget to do it with flair, and all that’s uniquely you. 

That leaves a lasting impression…even in our fast-paced world.

Don’t miss out on the Mom Bloggin Event of the year!   March 20-29, 2009

The Ultimate Blog Party 2009 is just around the corner.  If you want to meet new friends, grow your network, or promote your site ——- get ready for the Ultimate Blog Party 2009!  This Virtual Party is the perfect event to have some serious blogging fun! 

It’s a great opportunity to introduce your blog to the masses, find new blogs for your blogrolls, create new friendships and partnerships, and even win prizes.  With record breaking “attendance” at last year’s event – over 1,500 bloggers participating and UBP related pages with over 72,000 views – this is an event you won’t want to miss.

Visit http://www.5minutesformom.com/5654/ultimate-blog-party-2009-instructions for details.

I hope to see you there!

Kate

 I joined Crowd Mountain on day one of the launch, and within 24 hours Michelle was already delivering implementable content that made a difference in my site.  Michelle’s site hasn’t even officially opened yet (the first call is Friday, March 6th), and yet already there is information and pre-steps to prepare for Friday’s call.

Who is Michelle MacPhearson and what does Crowd Mountain offer that others programs don’t?   Well, here’s a quick summary.

Crowd Mountain is a complete A to Z Niche marketing system based on her own successful system. The very same system that has her at the TOP of the search engines, and getting all the social media buzz.  She’s one of the top people in Internet Marketing and Social Media and I love her style – she’s a straight shooter.   What you see is what you get and what she promises – she delivers.  And, the information will always be current and updated.

Crowd Mountain is built around Four Cornerstone Components that create One Cohesive Niche Marketing Blueprint System.   As a member, we have access to all the same information, tips and techniques she’s currently using.  Whether you are a “newbie” or an experienced internet marketer, within a few weeks everyone can be on the same page with the same information and training to implement a successful platform from which to build.  She’ll cover basics (and even if you are experience but not at the top of the search engines, this information will be useful for you, too), and move on to more advanced techniques with 6 different training modules covering everything from:

• Brainstorming and Investigating Promising Niches
• Tweaking your website so that it becomes a Search Engine Magnet with an affiliate profit generating and SEO Enhancer plugin.
• Next comes Content (“YUCK”, you say?). Well, we’ll get a custom-tweaked plugin to make finding and publishing that content as easy as a few clicks.
• Monetization methods that will help generate the MOST revenuw.
• “Search Engine Assault”
• Social Media “Power Networking”

But don’t just take my word for it.  Check out Crowd Mountain for yourself!

And please, let me know what you think.

Kate

Twitter’s popularity and growth is nothing short of incredible.  With millions of “Tweets” each day and the subscriber base growing exponentially, it’s important for businesses to appreciate the power and impact Twitter can have on a company’s marketing plan, customer satisfaction, and yes, even increased sales.

Twitter conversations happen in real time.  It’s a “real world” conversation, and contrary to what many think, relationships are forged and established in a uniquely satisfying way for today’s Web 2.0 focused market.  People are looking for and attracted to a “tribe” and community.  For many in our fast-paced society, this is found online.

Twitter is unique in that each “tweet” can only be 140 characters.  Pefect for the short attention spans and instant gratification we are all becoming accustomed to!  =)  

The speed at which information is shared and transferred is remarkable, and recently some “late breaking” events were reportedly tweeted on Twitter before hitting some of the major television networks!   Now that’s fast and speaks to both the popularity and the power of social media.

Are you still wondering if Twitter will make an impact on your business and bottom line?

Our world is changing.  People are now becoming accustomed to the opportunity to interact with the brands and companies they “consume” and identify with.  Articles are being written about the top companies that are not participating on Twitter, and whether you like it or not, it is perceived negatively.

Through Twitter Search, Twitter Troll, and TweetDeck, it’s possible to stay in touch with target markets, people in your geographic area, people discussing topics that are relevant to your particular interests and business, and yes, it’s even possible to keep an eye on what your competitor is “tweeting”!

I have offered my service as a “Tweetster” to a few select companies that do not currently have the resources to decidate to social media.  I can only provide this to a few companies since it involves significant time commitment from me to understand a company’s culture, product and message in addition to the actual daily “Tweet” time.

If that’s something you’d like to discuss, please feel free to comment below or visit my “About” page for contact information.   Or better yet, follow me on Twitter!  I will follow you back and you can “DM” or direct message me for details.

@kate_saunders