Why I Promote Others and You Should, too!

***After you read this post, be sure to visit me at my new                                        home here.***

I'm a giver. I play from a place of win-win. If something is good for me, I really want it to be equally as good, if not better, for you. That's how I'm wired.

As I've built my platform and found my audience online and off, I've done my best to connect the best of the best with the rest. I think it's the least I could do, plus I believe I can't out-give the Universe. I do book reviews, talk about others I admire, and even make recommendations of products and services I can't live without. Why? Because I can.

But I've noticed everyone is not so generous. They promote promote promote themselves ... but others, well, not so much. I think they're missing the boat, the real and amazing benefit of having an audience and helping them to live a better life, save time or money, or even find business.

Here are the key reasons I promote others and why I think you should, too:

1. Aren't the best people and products you've found been introduced to you by someone you trust? I recently read two books that are life-changing, Hal Elrod's The Miracle Morning and Pam Grout's E-Squared: Nine Do-It Yourself Energy Experiments That Prove Your Thoughts Create Your Reality. I've told everyone these are "must-put-down-what-you're-reading-reads-and-start-reading" books. Are they my books? No, of course not. Do I receive compensation? Nope, not at all. Am I building goodwill and better friendships and perhaps changing a life or two? Yes, and that's my main goal.

2. The more you give, the more you get. As I've introduced other authors and bloggers on my single mom blog, I've gained new followers and readers, too. Some would say a shrewd marketing move? No doubt. But for the good of all concerned? You betcha. Win-win, remember?

3. The richness of life comes from relationships. My relationships with my friends are based on a mutual "I want you to do well," and I do everything I can to help them. I tell my daughter, "To have a friend, be a friend." So I give first. When I read a book I love, I reach out to the author and offer to help. No, not as their coach, just as someone with a voice and people who listen to that voice. You know what happens? I make a new friend, connect with a like-minded person, and sometimes, even bigger and more amazing things result. Hal Elrod and I have had some pretty amazing conversations about some pretty awesome possibilities. Pam Grout gave me advice on becoming a travel writer, i.e., how to travel like a rock star on someone else's dime and write about it. But I didn't reach out for something, I reached out to give something. 

4. It feels amazing to give something with no agenda. I absolutely love doing something for someone that benefits them without even a tiny little stake in their success. If my only reward is a thank you, that's more than enough. But very often I receive so much more, including the personal satisfaction I get from doing something just because I can. 

If you have a platform, followers, or an audience, you could introduce them to all of the cool peeps and stuff you know about you've been keeping to yourself. Wouldn't you want them to do the same? Who do I need to know or what do I need to be using/doing you haven't shared with me yet?

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Who's Your Ideal Client?

I meet new people all the time, and one of the first questions I ask is, "Who is your ideal client?" The response I hear, too many times: "Right now, I'm just taking what I can get, I just need the money, the cash-flow."

I'll get straight to the point: if you get what you settle for, you'll very likely be very unhappy with what you get. 

Your very next activity, before you meet with another person or attend another networking event (or tweet even!) is to create an Ideal Client Profile. This profile is a fully-comprehensive list of the qualities and characteristics of the person or people you want to work with. To go deeper, it's the person, if they were to walk through your door right now, that would light you up like a Christmas tree. It's the person you get the most joy from helping. It's the person you can work with effectively and efficiently, meaning, your time is valuable and you're making good use of it. It's the person you do your best work for and with, and it's the person that provides the most profit for your bottom line. (You can substitute "company" or "people" for the word "person.)

Let's review:

• least/best amount of time spent
• most amount of joy
• best work
• most profitable

If you're not entirely clear how to define any or all of these points for yourself, it's time to dig deeper and you'll need to define these, too.

You may be so busy you can't see straight (and then it's time for you to get a coach!), so the thought of more work seems out of the question. The question is, how could you possibly not take the time to do it?

Once you've got your list and you're clear about who you're looking for (and darn excited about it, if I do say so myself), then and only then can you resume your marketing activities.

Coach's Note: Once you have your profile, only engage those that fit the profile. You'll get "rich in your niche" ... specialists always make more than generalists. Be clear about who you are, what you do and who you serve -- and remember to have fun with it! From here on, you can build your brand around that profile. You'll be delighted to watch your joy and your bottom line soar.

LinkedIn is a Goldmine (Are you on it? Using it?)

LinkedIn seems to be overlooked in the social media realm in favor of other more popular sites, such as Facebook and twitter. LinkedIn is literally a gold-mine of potential connections for the forward-thinking professional. Consider this:

• All 500 of the Fortune 500 are represented in LinkedIn. In fact, 499 of them are represented by director-level and above employees.
• People with more than twenty connections are thirty-four times more likely to be approached with a job opportunity than people with less than five.
• LinkedIn has over 85 million members in over 200 countries.
• A new member joins LinkedIn approximately every second, and about half of our members are outside the U.S. 

 While most people who are using social media visit their other sites every day, LinkedIn is the one I hear they are not on "very often." After using LinkedIn to find valuable connections in cities across the U.S., I think it's time this changes. Here's why and how:

Increase your visibility.

By adding connections, you increase the likelihood that people will see your profile first when they’re searching for someone to hire or do business with. In addition to appearing at the top of search results, they will be able to read your recommendations. In truth, people would much rather work with people who their friends know and trust and are willing to put it in writing.

Improve your connectability by creating a full profile.

Most new users put only their current company in their profile. By doing so, they severely limit their ability to connect with people. You should fill out your profile like it’s an executive bio, so include past companies, education, affiliations, and activities. You can also include a link to your profile as part of an email signature. The added benefit is that the link enables people to see all your credentials, which would be awkward (if not downright strange) as an attachment.

Enhance your search engine results.

In addition to your name, you can also promote your blog or website to search engines like Google and Yahoo! Your LinkedIn profile allows you to publicize websites. There are a few pre-selected categories like “My Website,” “My Company,” etc. If you select “Other” you can modify the name of the link. If you’re linking to your personal blog, include your name or descriptive terms in the link, and voila! instant search-engine optimization for your site. To make this work, be sure your public profile setting is set to “Full View.” 

A full profile tells a lot.

When someone takes the time to fill out their job history, interests, education, non-profit and volunteering efforts, that allows you to see possible points of rapport. You may have a city, school or cause in common. This can be the basis of a great conversation. 

Find new work and even make your interview go more smoothly.

You can use LinkedIn to find the people that you’re meeting. Knowing that you went to the same school, plays hockey, or shares acquaintances is a lot better than an awkward silence after, “I’m doing fine, thank you.” 

Ask for advice, give advice, start a discussion.

You can use your status box to ask a powerful question to get the input of your fellow professionals, tell them something valuable they might not know, or even start a discussion. Search for a join groups and then use those platforms to the start conversations that ultimately can be the start of some valuable relationships. 

Find Valuable Connections.

Connecting to your connections is one way to expand your network. People will most like link to someone with whom they have a connection. When sending your invitation, be sure to note those connections and ask to link. You can do a search for categories of professionals across LinkedIn in it’s entirety, or in a specific area. If you are in search of marketing directors, do a search, ask to link, and begin a dialogue. Some won’t bite, but some will and those conversations can be the start of something big.

I hope you'll begin to use LinkedIn to do all of the above!