Meet Featured Diva Sharon McMillian

What goals did you set for 2010?

To successfully launch my brand new business for women like myself who have little time but life experience, energy, and interest in running an online business. My new company is a service offering affordable on-demand, 24-hour access to marketing and online business management tutorials specifically for e-entrepreneurs. The company is called the Small Business Academy (www.smallbusiness-academy).

Are you carrying over any New Years Resolutions from 2009 into 2010?

I’m not carrying over any New Years Resolutions from last year. I’m a 20-year veteran of the marketing and public relations profession. I started a new business in 2010. I also ran a successful business writing service where I wrote speeches, advertisements and articles for small business owners. I closed that business in 2009 to direct my time to starting up the Small Business Academy and providing marketing services to one major client.

Do you have any unfinished business carried over from 2009? If so, what is it and how do you plan to handle it? If not, what advice do you give to others when it comes to completing tasks?

I have no unfinished business from 2009. The advice I would give to others in this regard is to break big projects up into small tasks, and short timelines.

When someone does business with you what are some things you hope they take away from the experience?

• That I made their business needs and concerns a priority
• That I produced the outcomes they were promised
• That I was pleasant to work with
• That I’m a proactive professional – I bring ideas and solutions to my clients
• That I or my team ALWAYS respond quickly to queries

Where can we connect with you? Website(s)? Blog(s) email address
You can connect in the following ways:

My business website: http://www.smallbusiness-academy.com
My personal blogs: http://www.newurbanmom.com and http://www.momsprimeyears.com
My email: newurbanite@gmail.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sharon.mcmillan
Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/smallbusinessacademy
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/sharonmc
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonmcmillan

How to Tackle Twitter as a Baby Boomer

No doubt about it, Twitter has become all the rave in social media.  It’s even popular among baby boomers.  That’s right.  Despite the fact that some of the research says about baby boomers are shying away from social networking, you’ll find plenty of blooming boomers “tweeting” up a storm on Twitter.  Here are a few of the better known baby boomers on Twitter:

Actress Demi Moore

Actor William Shatner

Actor Levar Burton

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley

Entertainer Penn Jillette (Penn & Teller)

Former Vice President Al Gore

If you’re a baby boomer still trying to figure out how to tackle Twitter, here are some suggestions:

Be a Lurker:  A lurker is someone who is logged onto a particular site and reads the discussions but rarely participates.  I’m saying be a lurker to follow the flow of conversations—then when you feel comfortable, jump in with both feet and start tweeting away.

Don’t worry about trying to follow everybody who follows you.  Only connect with people you are genuinely interested in learning more about or from someone who may be have an expertise in an area of your interest.  Keep in mind, all baby boomers are not alike and you just may not have anything in common with some of them, so why follow?

Check out your follower’s profile.  After you receive notification that someone is following you, click on their profile and read about them.  Also go to their website.  Normally, if they don’t have a website, I won’t follow them but if their profile is really interesting, I make an exception.

Be engaging.  This is one of the biggest mistakes many people on Twitter make.  They come onto the site and immediately start chatting about what they want you to do for them:  “Please read my blog and leave a comment.”  “Download my free ebook” (with a twist to purchase something).  “Buy my book,” “Enter my contest,” etc.  I use a different approach.  Once I log on to Twitter, I see who’s made the latest posts and I greet them to let them know I acknowledge their presence.  Then I start my sales pitch.

Respond:  If a follower greets you, asks you a question or makes a comment directed towards you, give them the courtesy of a response.  Because of twitter’s fast pace, you may miss a comment here and there but if you do see one directed specifically at you, you owe it to them to reply.  

Don’t Be Afraid to Self-Promote:  If one of your purposes for being on Twitter is to promote your business or product, then go for it.  Don’t just tell people to go to your website to learn more about you.  Tell them what you have to offer.  Now there is such a thing as OVERKILL but if you do it subtly while building relationships, you will find people will be more accepting rather than clicking the unfollow button.

Re-Tweet:  One of the nicest compliments you can give a follower is to “re-tweet” one (or more) of their messages.  If you read something you think would be of interest to your own followers, cut and paste the message and send it out.  It would look something like this:

RT (or Re-Tweet) @babyboomerbev “When the window of opportunity opens, don’t pull down the shade.”

You can also ask your followers to re-tweet something from you and be sure to thank them for doing so.

Join a Baby Boomer Tweet Chat.  The best one occurs on Thursday nights at 10pm EST.  You just go to:  www.tweetchat.com and type in #AgeOp.  The discussions are lively and even though the majority of participants are baby boomers, there are also some younger Twitter members who participate.

Always Sign-Off:  This is a courtesy to your followers.  If you are leaving the site, let them know instead of just shutting down.  Why? Because you may have said something and someone comments back.  If you leave the site without saying anything, that follower may feel they were being ignored.

Yes, Twitter is fast-paced and sometimes it can be hard trying to keep up with all of the conversations.  If you start out slowly until you get the hang of it, you’ll be tackling Twitter in no time. 

Twitter Isn’t For Everybody

This week I reached a milestone when I picked up my 800^th follower on Twitter.  Now for me, that’s a big deal because my initial goal was to have 100 when I first signed on several months ago.  One hundred friends seemed like a manageable number.  Although I never expected all of them to be on Twitter at the same time, I felt confident I could follow the different conversations and offer valuable feedback as necessary. 

But here I am now with all of these followers and I have to admit, some of them have fallen by the wayside.  That, to me, is the danger of twitter networking.  What good is it to have lots of connections if you aren’t creating some type of win-win situation for each other?

As a woman in business, I definitely see the value of a site like twitter.  Case in point:  Forty-eight hours ago, I promoted a Valentine’s Special for my book, Whatever! A Baby Boomer’s Journey Into Middle Age.  As of this writing, I’ve sold 36 copies.  My goal is 100.

Why have I been able to make these sales?  I believe it’s because I provide a balance in my business and social networking.  I’m not constantly on the site trying to sell anything.  As a matter of fact, the Valentine’s Promotion is the first thing I’ve actually attempted to sell because I spend the majority of my time on the site promoting my blogs.  I also make it a point to promote others through “re-tweeting” and am always looking for guests for my radio shows.

Here are some of my reasons why I believe twitter networking can do more harm than good:

1)  Too Over Zealous:  I have seen some Twitterers who have literally thousands of connections.  I wonder why.  What is the point?  How can one effectively communicate with that many followers—unless all they’re doing is promoting their business and trying to sell their products or services.  It’s a turn off for me—especially when you don’t give me the respect or courtesy of responding to a simple question or request I may put out—like, “Do you mind stopping by my blog and leaving a comment?”

You can be assertive in getting your message out there to the masses but if you never acknowledge your followers on a level they can identify with, then you’re really defeating your purpose for being on Twitter.  

2)  Connecting with the WRONG people: When I first joined Twitter, I was told I should follow everyone who follows me.  That was considered common courtesy.  I tried that for awhile but soon discovered that everyone who was following me wasn’t necessarily interested in me—but rather in what they could sell me.  That was a turn-off! 

Before you decide to follow a follower, take a few minutes and check out their profile and the website attached.  See what they’re all about and then determine if that’s the kind of person you really want to be connected with.  While I am a firm believer that you can learn something from everybody, I also believe not everyone is necessarily meant to be connected.  I’ve even gone as far as to ask some followers why they chose to do so.

3)  Alienate some connections:  Having too many followers may cause you to alienate some connections.  At any given time, there are dozens upon dozens of conversations going on and some conversations get overlooked. 

I’ve also noticed there are some people who only respond to certain other people so no matter what you put out there, you just won’t get a response them.  Are those people you really want to be associated with?   

5) Inactivity:  Every now and then it’ a good idea to check and see what your followers are up to.  When was the last time they were on Twitter?  If their last post was two weeks ago or longer, maybe you may want to drop them or at least send a message to see if everything is OK with them.  Their response (or lack thereof) will help you determine whether you should have one less connection.

5)  Twitter isn’t for everybody:  Unless you’re willing to make an earnest effort to be engaging with your followers, offer more than your product or service, and be able to keep up with the fast pace, then maybe you should try another social networking site. 

Once you’ve clearly determined why you want to be on Twitter and who you’re trying to reach, then actively seek those people out.  There are some people there who are strictly about business and that’s OK if that’s where you’re coming from.  But, on the other hand, don’t expect those same people to ask you about your day or share their dinner menu with you.

Website Marketing Ideas

If you’re a woman with an online business, you undoubtedly know the challenges you face in getting the word out about your product or services.  One of the best resources I have found is Social Networking sites like Twitter and Facebook.  Some people do tend to overdo it when it comes to their business promotions, however, if you draw them to your website, that’s the first step in turning a prospective client into a keeper. 

Here are some tips on marketing your website

1.     Broadcast your website like a phone number .

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   • Include your web address on all printed material (brochures, stationery, business cards, and press materials).
   • Include your web address in your email signature file.
   • Include your web address in your Yellow Pages listing and in other advertisements.

2.      Entice customers and prospects to visit your website again and again.

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   • Update your site regularly.
   • Add new features to your website regularly.
   • Revise your site’s Meta tags; to make it easier for search engines to find. (Your website developer can embed codes that the search engines use when indexing your web page.)
   • Offer Internet specials, such as discounts for orders placed online.
   • Host a discussion group on your website with customer comments and questions.
   • Add small photos on opening pages that expand to full-size pictures only when clicked. (This saves loading time.)
   • Tailor your choice of web features to your target market – just like you would with any other form of communication.

o        Regularly view your competitors’ websites. Learn from what they do right and from their mistakes.

3.     Use your site for sales and customer service.

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   • Use shopping cart software that allows customers to shop and order online. The software also provides instant feedback of total costs, including tax amounts, to your online customers.
   • Have a secure website for Internet sales.
   • Provide a street map to your business location on the Web. (Customers can print it out.) If you have multiple locations, find a way to let customers know which location is most convenient for them.
   • Provide forms on your web page that can be completed and submitted online for customers’ convenience. (If inquiries are allowed in the forms, respond to them promptly. Most web users expect a response within 24 hours.)
   • Create a link to your email on every page in your website. That way, if something on the page sparks a customer’s response, you’ve made it easy for them to “talk” to you.
   • Make sure your customers can find you by searching with keywords. Check how easy it is to locate your site using various search engines.
   • Check your website using various versions of browsers and types of computers to be sure it loads quickly and correctly. Get business associates and friends to access your site and tell you how it looks.
   • Provide a variety of ways for online customers to contact you: by email, phone (800 number), fax and mail.
   • Offer an online newsletter. This could be an electronic version of a printed newsletter you already publish, something entirely different, or a combination of the two.
   • Feature some interesting history or suggestions about your area of business.
   • Offer to include photos sent by your customers showing them using your business.
   • Create a sense of family among your web page readers.

Too Much Social Networking Isn’t Good For You

At last count, I was a member of MySpace, Ryze, FaceBook, Ning, Fabulously40, Inside919, Tagged, Gathers, Black Writers with Purpose, LinkedIn, Eons, Vibrant Nation, Women Etc., and Boomer Diva Nation (Founder/Moderator). Oh, and let’s not forget about the time consuming site known as Twitter.

I want to be connected. I want people to know who I am and what I do and I want to know them. I’ve read plenty of articles that say you have to develop “relationships” BEFORE you jump into the “buy my product” business. While I agree with that, I also believe there comes a time in everyone’s life when you have to say, “The buck stops here!”

Social networking definitely has its advantages. I became a best selling author on Amazon.com because of some wonderful women on the Ryze Network. My media consulting business has also done very well. But somewhere in the course of being connected online, I have lost part of myself. I would rather be on the computer spending idle time than be out in my own community making new contacts and even visiting old friends.

If you find yourself in a similar situation, here’s what I suggest:

Practice Time Management: Allocate certain times of the day that you will spend on the computer for social networking and stick to it. It may be hard at first but once you develop a routine, you will find it’ll get easier.

Learn to Walk Away: One of my favorite songs by Kenny Rogers is “The Gambler.” He says, “You gotta know when to hold ‘em—know when to fold ‘em—know when to walk away…”

Out of all of the networks I mentioned above, I’m really only active on three. Sure I contribute from time to time of all of the networks but there is no consistency on the majority of them. I’m sure you know people who only pop onto the site when they want to promote their business or product. That’s a non-no. If your friends on MySpace haven’t seen you in months and then all of a sudden you show up to promote your book, how do you think they will respond?

Do some Research on Social Media: Not every site is necessarily for everybody. Do your homework and find out which sites will serve your best interest. If you’re a baby boomer, why would you want to be connected to women who are all twenty-something? If you’re strictly about business, find like-minded sites, instead of wasting valuable time doing social networking.

Cultivate Real Relationships: I have never understood why some people insist on boasting about having thousands of friends in their “inner circle.” Use part of your networking time to get to know people. Twitter is a one of those places where people will chat about almost anything. Follow their conversation and chime in from time to time. Show others you are more than just your business.

Too much social networking can have you spinning your wheels and failing to meet your overall objectives. But, of course, you must know what that objective is.

Get Connected in Business

Just about anybody you talk to today will tell you they are a part of or know something about Social Media. Facebook, which was once the popular hangout for high school kids, is now gaining popularity among adults. There are even communities within the website to suit your particular interests. You also have MySpace, Ryze, Plaxo, Ecademy, Twitter, LinkedIn, Squidoo, Eons, Ning and the list goes on and on.

As someone who networks heavily online, I am continuing to learn which sites are of most value to me as a woman in business. But I also realize there is nothing that takes the place of face-to-face networking.

Joining business organizations or networking groups allows you to interact with like-minded people who can be invaluable sources of information and support – and increase your business success. For example, many networking groups offer members the chance to present their business to the group, or get specific business advice. Business organizations with Web sites often allow members to list their businesses in their online directories for free, or advertise without cost on their sites.

Besides the support and camaraderie, belonging to business organizations can increase your business’ credibility. Many potential clients or customers view membership in relevant business groups as a sign that you’re an established business and accepted by your industry.

I’m a member of my local Chamber of Commerce and glad to be connected to these fellow businesses:

Insurance Center of Durham

Rapid Results Fitness

Always Remembered Mailing Services

Leon Bullard—Health and Vitality Specialist

Geeks on Call

La Tropicale Catering

Thrifty Office Furniture

Durham Crisis Response Center

Comfort Inn

Swedish Nannies