Since this post was published Google reader has been retired. However, due to the value of this post and the potential to help you and your business, we have not removed the post entirely.
Instead, we recommend utilizing email alerts as a replacement option to your RSS aggregation. Additionally, if you wish to replace your Google Reader RSS Aggregator for other blogs and online information that you’re capturing, we suggest Feedly.
Note: Although email adds to your inbox volume, having the online information pushed to you is still a benefit over not knowing or being forced to search out the information.
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Have you ever noticed that surfing the web; although can start out with the right intentions, often leads to hours of evaporated time? I know that as part of your online strategy you need to engage in social media, you need to be aware of what the market is saying about your products and services, you even need to spend time seeing what your competition is doing.
However – with all this needed online information, pretty soon you have no time to actually run your business!
The key here is to leverage technology where possible and streamline tasks for the most effective and time-efficient results. This is where Google Reader comes in. In this video, I go over the basics of Google reader and how to tap into some quick tips that just might save you hours a day.
Take a look and leave me some comments on ideas you incorporate to save time with online information from the web.
Hi Gill, I just happen to be surfing the youtube as you put it and came across your video. I am very overwhelmed by a lot of the techniques for marketing on the web. I have a facebook, twitter, and linkedin acct. But here’s the thing, while I have contacts on all of them I don’t think I’m reaching the folks that really are interested in the services I provide. I’m loss in trying to find out how to reach them. I’m a small business entrepreneur and therefore have no revenue to spend on marketing on the web or outside of the web for that matter. If I could only reach the those who ARE interested in the services I offer I WOULD be able to afford marketing the way I want to market on and off the web. I don’t know if you can help but I am will to find out about training with you for the Google reader marketing method. Let’s face it, I need help, and I’m a worker so its not that I’m lazy I just lack the knowledge. When I try to get started with learning it all I get overwhelmed, Please let me know your thoughts on how I could improve this rut I keep seeming to get stuck in regarding getting my business exposed to those who really are interested in my services and products.
Hey Charene, thank you for your question. First let me say your not alone. Most (although few admit it) are in the exact spot your in now – throwing as much paint against the wall as they can and hoping something sticks. The challenge is there is a lot of noise on the web, and very little focus.
So ideally start with 1 or 2 maximum channels to focus on. Since you listed social media (and not seo, or sem) I would suggest based on your site, making Twitter and Facebook your targets to start (not linkedin – more b2b). Create some good content on your blog, and start sharing it & other resources with your following. In order to expand that following search out those who are talking about what you offer and get involved in the conversations where you can add value. This is not a fast route but very effective over time. Most important – measure everything using analytics. Know where your efforts are paying off and increase your efforts in those areas. I wish you great success.
Hi Charene. Thanks for your comment/question. Many entrepreneurs start on shoestring budgets today, so it’s not unusual to have the frustrations your facing. Very few ask the questions your asking, rather follow the crowd (right or wrong) – so hats off.
Couple of points which I hope help. Marketing is not free online or off. The cost is either money or sweat, or ideally a combination of both. Remember sweat is worth more than money because its key component is time. So the sooner you can share the burden with money, the better.
Second – it’s critical to focus. You can’t be effectively everywhere. So measure every idea you try (offline and online). Identify best ROI. Then drop the rest (for now) and laser focus on the best performer.
Hope this helps, and good luck.