• How to Start a Mastermind Group

    November 29, 2008 // No Comments »

    If you are new to masterminding you might be wondering how to start a mastermind group .

    I call myself a "mastermindress" on Twitter .  I love sharing and exchanging ideas with other strategic Internet marketers and social media consultants.  I’m a big collaborator and team player.  When you collaborate or partner with other online marketers, you really get your creative juices flowing and can achieve more with less effort.

    Starting a mastermind group is easy and quite FUN!  Before I show you how to start your own mastermind group, let’s recap and define the term:

    A mastermind group is a group of like-minded people who are helping each other achieve their goals and dreams. The term “mastermind” comes from Napoleon Hill , who authored the classic self-help book “Think and Grow Rich .”

    How to Start Your Mastermind Group

    It all starts with some social media networking on your favorite social networking sites.  I have found tight communities such as those created on Ning to be great for meeting mastermind-quality folks.  However, it all depends on how you like to network and where you are most comfortable.  I love meeting new people on Twitter and have found several mastermind friends and Joint Venture partners on Twitter and via blogging as well!

    My mastermind is a free mastermind group.  There are paid mastermind groups out there, and there are many that are very much worthwhile.  One example is Yaro Starak’s Blog Mastermind .

    I will focus on creating free online mastermind groups - A small group that will serve like your "intimate board of directors."

    Prequalifying Mastermind Group Members

    Connect with others by engaging them in conversation.  Learn about them before you talk about yourself.  You don’t want to come across as very self-centered.

    I recommend the following online mastermind-attracting recipe:

    • Check out the person’s social networking profile, blog or website
    • Leave an encouraging comment on their blog or via direct message/email on the social networking platform
    • Invite to connect (as long as you have very similar interests)
    • Engage them in conversation - ask questions about THEM - don’t go on talking about yourself until they ask you to (people love to talk about themselves - just LISTEN)
    • If you REALLY find common ground and have connected with them, invite them to connect on a more frequent level via mastermind group

    It really is that simple.

    Setting a Mastermind Groups Meeting Schedule

    My mastermind group meets every other week and we usually have a topic to focus conversation around.  We also take turns talking about a particular subject, while the others members chime in and ask questions.

    You can set the rules.

    However, in order to have an effective mastermind group, all members must

    • understand the purpose of the mastermind group
    • understand the VALUE in meeting (every week, every other week)
    • all contribute equally to the group discussion
    • feel like they are free tol communicate about topics of discussion.

    Topics to Discuss with Your Online Mastermind Group

    • Social Media Marketing
    • Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
    • Google Pay Per Click
    • Web Design
    • Information Product Marketing
    • Email Marketing
    • Traffic Conversion
    • Web Copy Tips
    • Whatever you all agree upon!

    Happy Online Masterminding!

    P.S. If you are at the intermediate/advanced level in the above areas, contact me on Twitter!  I am always open to meeting, connecting and collaborating with other passionate, strategic Internet marketers!

    Your Partner in Online Marketing Success,

    Dali Burgado

    Posted in Internet Marketing Productivity

    3 Ways Online Entrepreneurs Can Use FriendFeed Effectively

    August 29, 2008 // No Comments »

    FriendFeed is a social media and RSS feed aggregator that tracks your every move and activity across 43 social networking sites and makes your activity visible to your followers.

    In a nutshell, it allows you to share blogging activity, books, news, photos, music, video, and other random social networking activity to family or business contacts.  Some of the social media services include, Linked-In, Digg, delicious, Google Reader, and Twitter.  You can use it for personal/family or business purposes.

    It definitely is made for the advanced/serious social networker and online entrepreneur and can most effectively be used to:

    1. Be a part of an “inner circle”
    2. Mastermind with your business partners/peers
    3. Build communities

    I am presently using FriendFeed to follow friends with similar interests (some of whom are in my Internet Marketing Mastermind group) as well as some Internet Marketing and Blogging Gurus.   Every time I log in to FriendFeed I can see what my contacts are bookmarking, sharing and talking about.   I am also using it for my consulting clients as well.

    Please add to this list and let us know how YOU are using FriendFeed and cutting out the “noise” so you stay productive.

    1) The Inner Circle - Using FriendFeed to Stay Ahead of The Learning Curve In Your Niche:

    You can follow the gurus/experts in your niche.  If you’re connected on FriendFeed you’re the first to know what they are working on before the masses.  Additionally, there may be some cool resources you gain access to before they put it out on their email list (or maybe they don’t and you get that “insider” access).

    FriendFeed also allows you to engage in online conversation and interact with your contacts by replying to their posts.  You also don’t have to be approved as a “friend” to follow someone - like Twitter.

    A really nice feature is that there are “rooms” that you can subscribe to where members can post tools and tips to add value in that particular category.   It’s like an online classroom!

    2) Mastermind with Your Peers: You can utilize FriendFeed to share information with a tight-knit group or mastermind.  The sharing will allow you to stay connected more closely and have an opportunity for your group to share Internet marketing breakthroughs and resources to further your collective Internet marketing goals.

    3) Serve as a Place to Add Value to Your Client Base: If you offer consulting services you can use FriendFeed “rooms” to provide valuable information to your clients.  Offering value is what strengthens relationships.  Instead of having satisfied clients you will develop raging fans who will share your business, products and services with others.  That’s free marketing for you too.

    The downside of FriendFeed is that it can become quite “noisy” if you subscribe to too many people.

    Remember, FriendFeed gathers every single move the person you are following has taken on the social media sites they have specified FriendFeed to track.  Therefore, I highly recommend you utilize FriendFeed to stay in touch with a more intimate group than you would on Facebook.  If not you’ll get information overload!

    In addition, you want to make sure you are posting quality information and always delivering value.

    If you are not yet on FriendFeed and would like to learn how to get connected Maria Reyes McDavis (the Web Success Diva) has a great video that shows you how to register for a FriendFeed account and cool tips on how to maximize its use.  Check it out at:

    http://ca.video.yahoo.com/watch/2876144/8259875

    If you are a blogger using FriendFeed I also recommend reading:

    How Bloggers can Use FriendFeed Effectively by Joel Falconer of Lifehack.

    Again, please share how you are using FriendFeed here too.

    I appreciate you!

    Your Partner in Online Productivity,

    Dali Burgado (Follow me on FriendFeed)

    Posted in Internet Marketing Productivity, Internet Marketing Trends

    Ping.fm - The Ultimate Online Productivity Tool

    August 21, 2008 // No Comments »

    I recently became of aware of the latest ultimate online productivity tool.  It’s ping.fm

    In fact its so new that Internet Marketing Guru, Ed Dale, just now asked for a beta code to get access to it, and I immediately sent one over to him via Twitter!

    How cool is that!?

    Ping.fm allows you to post “Twitter-like” posts or “Tweets” across a multitude of social networking sites including, Facebook, Twitter, Friendfeed, Linked In, Myspace, Plurk, Plaxo and even across Instant Messaging services and your ipod.

    Complete leverage and online productivity with one simple tool.

    Ping.fm says on it’s site that it’s a “simple service that makes updating your social networks a snap.”

    AND that IT IS!

    Not only is it making it easier for you to reach out to all your various networks, but it also makes your Internet Marketing more effortless and leverages your time on social networking sites so you can work on other marketing projects.

    You can register at Ping.fm on the top right.  Once you register, you will receive your beta code to fully subscribe to the service and you can post updates on many social networks.

    It’s your complete online productivity solution!

    Happy Pinging!

    Your Partner in Online Prosperity,

    Dali Burgado

    Posted in Internet Marketing Productivity, Internet Marketing Trends, Internet Viral Marketing

    Twitter for Beginners

    August 18, 2008 // No Comments »

    Out of the thousands upon thousands of social networking and web 2.0 sites on the web, my personal favorite happens to be Twitter.

    It has a Google Page Rank (PR) of 8 and is a very viral form of marketing!

    Not to mention…

    It’s Easy,

    It’s Effective

    AND

    You get to easily brand yourself and stay in front of others.

    And what’s really nice is you can develop a very quick following on Twitter compared to other social networking sites.

    Twitter is considered a micro-blogging social networking and content sharing site.

    Twitter allows you to post short 140 character comments to your Twitter friends updating them on your daily whereabouts. You can update your friends with anything relating to your business or personal/leisure life.

    Twitter enables you to keep your face in front of all those following you with your “tweets” (micro blog posts) so you brand yourself.

    Word of caution…When you post, you want to strike a balance of personal and business related posts so that you are not perceived as a spammer!

    What makes Twitter so viral is that you can include a URL linking to whatever you are promoting (i.e. blog, capture page), and someone who follows you may very well be interested in what you have to offer. Your followers can also potentially post a tweet with YOUR URL in their post spreading the word to their followers.

    In addition there are several other social networking sites, such as Facebook, that allow you to connect your Twitter account to it so that your other social networks see your last “tweets” and possibly begin following you on Twitter. You can even have Twitter hooked up to your blog. There are several Wordpress plugins for Twitter.

    Twitter is viral marketing at its best!

    For a very basic understanding of how Twitter works sign up for a free account at Renegade University. Once you are logged in, click on step 3 towards the bottom “Become a professional Attraction Marketer” and on the far left click on “Introduction to Twitter” webinar.

    Happy Twittering!

    P.S.

    Follow me on Twitter. :-)

    Posted in Internet Viral Marketing