One of the Best Forms of Inbound Marketing Is A Business Blog

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Nancy Beth is an Entrepreneur & Small Business Owner, Founder of Sweet Spot Marketing Canada and a Motivational Speaker for Women & Girl Leadership.

As an Internet and Digital Marketing veteran, Nancy Beth has vast experience in Internet Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Online Safety and Protecting Your Digital Footprint. Since 2010, Nancy Beth has been highly sought after to share her message on being a Digital Leader, using the Internet & Social Media for good, and how to safely navigate the Social Web.

Keynote Speaker | Executive Coach | Training Consultant | Founder of Sweet Spot Marketing Canada (@sweetmarketing) |(@nbguptill) | Digital Leader | Women & Girl Leadership To book Nancy Beth for your next event, or to discuss your training needs Visit: http://sweetspotmarketingacademy.ca/contact

Think your teen is tech savvy because they spend hours on the computer? Think Again!

There is a false belief amongst parents, where they think their children must be tech savvy because they spend hours on the Computer, Internet and Smartphone. Sure they may be able to navigate their way on how to download apps, upload pictures, post video's to YouTube and write Twitter, Facebook and Blog posts, but if this is all they are doing, parents need to delve in and pay close attention.

Yes, it is true! With computers and the internet playing such a fundamental role in pretty much every aspect of our lives, especially within the work world, teens need to be digitally literate. However, spending hours upon hours on social networking sites does not mean teens are tech savvy. In fact, if this is all they are doing, chances are their technology addiction is having an adverse affect on their digital skills, education, literacy, and their overall developmental growth.

Today, approximately 80% of teens are living in the 'Cyber Bubble', and there are serious risks to this lifestyle. The fact is, the average teen in North America spends 8 hours per day being digitally connected with 2-3 hours per day on social networking sites and sending 80-100 texts per day to their friends.

So why should parents, guardians and educators be concerned? The bottom line is, if teens are hyper-connected they are likely experiencing the adverse affects of being trapped in the Cyber-bubble:

1. The Cyber-bubble warps a young person, making him/her less able to interact in the real-word. They hone their texting skills but may not learn the art of face-to-face conversation.  
2. Texting has resulted in 'Dummy Down' language: Teens tend to pick up bad grammar habits with simple syntax, phonetic spelling, and low diction, which is crossing over into their school work and education.  
3. The Cyber-culture gives rise to a relentless focus on the presentation of self in images and sound bites before the 'she' or 'he' has a chance of fully developing. 
4. Teens pretend to be impressed with things to fit in, creating a persona they think will be liked versus presenting their real selves. 
5. Over connection traps teens in a bubble. The ability to connect with any girl or boy their same-age at any moment of the day deprives them from any break, any breather, and any alternative perspectives. 
6. Teens are hyberconnected to their peers, while disconnecting from themselves. Teens need time to reflect on who they are and want to become; they need chill time. Technology Addiction steals down time from teens with their phone vibrating constantly. 
7. Spending too much time online generally means teens are neglecting their studies, practice, and chores, resulting in poor performance. 
8. Sleep Deprivation is on the rise while impacting attitudes and performance. Many teens are online late at night resulting in sleep deprivation, therefore they have a lack of focus and concentration at school and are super-sensitive. 
9. Girl-world / teen drama tends to cross from school-to-online and vice versa. 
10. Cyber-bullying is on the rise and has become a serious epidemic. There is nothing new to teens, especially girls, being mean. What's new is the technology that creates the 24/7 relentless attacking that has the potential to reach literally millions of people in hitting the 'enter' or 'send' buttons. 
11. Self objectifying! Teens, particularly girls, are focusing on how they look versus who they are, because they see themselves as an object first and a person second. Teens are choosing to evaluate themselves based on their appearance because they believe this is how others adjudicate them.  
12. Sexting – It ruins reputations. Teen girls, more so then teen boys, sext. In fact 20% of teenage girls in North America have committed the act of sexting, and that number is rising. Given the amount of pornography on the internet, and the depiction of women and girls as sex objects in mainstream media, many teen girls think this is what boys want. The reality is, if a teen takes a nude picture of themselves, they could be charged with the production of child pornography. If they, or anyone else, forwards that picture, they can be charged with the distribution of child pornography. Girls that sext or expose themselves on the Internet put themselves at serious risk for sexual abuse and cyber-bullying. 

It is important for parents to pay close attention to their teens use of smartphone technology, social media and the Internet. While teens are experiencing the many benefits each of these have to offer, they are also being exposed to the dangers and risks. As parents, we need to teach our children to set boundaries and limits in their use of technology. We need to education them on proper and appropriate use, how to play safe, and how to be a good cyber friend and cyber citizen.

So if your teen is spending hours on end on their computer, smartphone and the Internet, we strongly recommend you become a Computer Cop and find out exactly what they are doing, and what activities they are engaging in. If you have concerns of their technology use and habits, it may be time to establish Computer, Internet & Smartphone Rules, which includes you and your teen signing an Internet & Smartphone Usage Agreement. Breaking the rules and violating the agreement results in loss of use and privilege of using these technologies.

You must establish within your teen that the Computer, Smartphone and Internet is a privilege, not a right!  They have the responsibility in using these technologies properly and appropriately. Be sure to set the stage by being a good example and practicing what you preach because more often than not, teens model the behavior of adults, more so when that adult is their parent(s).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author: Nancy Beth Guptill,Founder of Sweet Spot Marketing Canada
Digital Marketing & Social Media Training Consultant / Women & Girl Thought Leadership


http://www.SweetSpotMarketing.ca
http://www.SweetSpotInternetAcademy.ca
http://www.SweetSpotMarketingAcademy.ca
Twitter: @SweetMarketing
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SweetMarketing

Complain About Others Online Much?

You Could Be Guilty of Internet Defamation & Cyber Bullying

Libel and Slander on the Internet is a Crime in Canada.

Photo Credit: @stickyJesus

There are many people who have a hard time managing their emotions and conducting themselves in a professional manner when they become disgruntled. With the internet right at their finger tips, they 'loose it' and feel the need to go online to use social media to harm others. They take all their anger and frustration online and loudly shout it out across their social networks and blog to complain and bad mouth their victim – whether their victim is a person or individual, a group or organization, or a business or brand.

Despite there being any truth in their complaints or not, it is now a crime in Canada to publicly bash and humiliate others online for personal gain, and to commit libel and slander online. This crime is called Internet Defamation.

It is important for Canadians to understand the internet was never meant to be used as a tool to harm others. It goes back to proper education. For some reason certain people think that they are entitled to behave this way - using social media to harm - when in fact they are committing a criminal offence

Take stock of your online behaviour and answer the question: Am I using social media for good, or am I using it to hurt others?

To narrow things down even further, ask yourself these questions .... are you:

1. someone who has written something spiteful, malicious or untrue about another person or entity online?
2. a consumer who has made public complaints on social networks or blogged negatively against a supplier because you were upset or mad at them?
3. Someone who rallied fans and followers against a person, a company or brand, encouraging negative behaviour of your fans and followers to participate in making negative derogatory comments?
4. Someone who rewards a fan or follower for making the `best` comment against the person or entity you were talking badly about online?
5. Someone who brags publicly online that you are posting negatively against a person or business on your social networks and blog to draw attention to yourself ?
6. someone who hops on the bandwagon - when seeing negative posts, you jump in to make negative comments yourself, or you re-tweet, share and re-post?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you have committed Internet Defamation and Cyber Bullying - both of which are criminal offenses.

On the flip side, if you are a business, brand or individual who is on the receiving end of someone’s malicious, spiteful comments, you do have rights under Canada’s libel and slander laws. While at one time it was believed there is nothing that can be done, that is no longer the case here in Canada.

I have taken the following information from a Toronto Law Firm Website that may be helpful to those who are victims of Internet Defamation:  http://zvulony.ca/portfolio/ask-a-defamation-lawyer

The internet is a powerful communications tool. It gives us the unprecedented power to communicate a message instantly to our friends, family, and the world. The internet also empowers us to quickly reach a mass audience at a relatively inexpensive cost. Unfortunately, this power of communication can be abused all too easily.

Internet Revenge Victims

Is your business being ruined by a malicious consumer complaint or someone seeking on-line revenge? Has someone accused you of being a scam, a rip off, or a fraud. Are Google results ruining your reputation?

Defamation Law Issues
Are you a victim of a malicious consumer complaint? Has someone written something malicious or untrue about you online? Are you a blogger being silenced? Are search engine results ruining your reputation? Has someone accused you of defaming them? Are you an ISP or website owner concerned about the actions of your users? Do you have a question about Defamation of character?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then it is possible someone has committed Internet Defamation and you are entitled to seek professional council and take action against the person committing the crime.

On the flip side, if you are thinking `Gee, I have done these things – I am the person complaining about poor customer service and making spiteful comments about people and businesses online` or 'Yikes, I re-tweeted, re-posted and shared someone's complaints, I even threw in a few of my own complaints' ... you may want to re-think your online behavior and digital footprints.

Still wondering if you are guilty? Here`s a good list taken from @stickyjesus - if you`ve posted or seen posts like this - you`ve committed cyber bullying at least, and quite possibly Internet Defamation: http://stickyjesus.com/2011/02/count-to-10-before-you-hit-send



You’ve seen the posts (and just maybe even shared a few): The service @____ is horrible

• The waitresses @____ are clueless
• Some people don’t deserve to _____
• _____ customer service rep is______
• That idiot at _____ figured my bill wrong
• I will die of old age just waiting for service @____
• The pastor at ______ is preaching on ______ again
• My husband / wife is _____
• My kid never____
• That teacher is_____
• Our (insert government leader) is an _____

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD OF USING SOCIAL MEDIA FOR GOOD:

Some people reading this post may be wondering why we are so passionate about this topic.

The bottom line is we work with local, national and international organizations that promote the responsible use of digital media and being a good cyber friend and neighbour. In this line of work, we educate others on Internet safety, creating positive digital footprints, and protecting your online identity, reputation, image and brand (Reputation Management) amongst many other things.

We work with many Government organizations, industry groups and corporate clients on how to use the Internet and social media for marketing, promotions and business communication. We help companies and individuals realize the benefits of using digital technologies as communications and productivity enhancement tools.

We also work with women and girl organizations on Internet Safety. With the amount of online cyber bullying, we stress the importance of adults being good role models in responsible online behaviour and using social media for good, not to use it as a tool to harm and hurt others.

Naturally, in both realms, we need to keep a pulse on Canadian legislation as it relates to Internet Defamation.  Quite simply, many people are not aware that when they complain online about others, they are putting themselves at risk of committing criminal offences known as Internet Defamation and Cyber Bullying.

We encourage everyone to use the Internet and Social Media responsibly, and to be a good Cyber Friend & Neighbour. Lets lead by example and be good role models for responsible use online behavior.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author: Nancy Beth Guptill
Founder of Sweet Spot Marketing Canada
Digital Marketing & Social Media Training Consultant
http://www.SweetSpotMarketing.ca
http://www.SweetSpotInternetAcademy.ca
http://www.SweetSpotMarketingAcademy.ca
Twitter: @SweetMarketing
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SweetMarketing


ABOUT SWEET SPOT MARKETING:

MISSION:  We help companies and individuals realize the benefits of using digital technologies as communications and productivity enhancement tools.  Our goal is to encourage and motivate our clients to: Do, Act & Experiment.

DESCRIPTION:  We are Marketing, Digital Technology and New & Social Media training consultants. We live by the motto "It is better to know than to think you know - there is power in knowledge". Our goal is to share information on a variety of business development topics including digital technology, new and social media, marketing automation, creativity, commercial innovation and entrepreneurial thinking.

PR Equals Free Publicity

There are three key areas of public relations you can use to boost your advertising results ten-fold over your paid advertising.  The key to public relations lie in:

• Public relation or publicity
• Merchandising
• Promotions

With a solid plan in place that encompasses all these areas, you’ll have a great approach to use public relations in the best way possible.

Public relations include all that is the media. Don’t limit yourself. The attention of newspapers, television, radio, magazines, bloggers, ezines and more are all equally powerful. Online marketing is just as, if not more, important as conventional media.

Here are the steps to get noticed by the media:

1. Put together a press release for your company. The press release should be relevant to your target market and address consumer interest, not just announce your business.
   
   
2. Compact your press release to include one hook and one angle. Choose the most attention-getting to make sure the media person you are sending it to is interested in reading it.
   
   
3. Put your press release in professional formatting. With press releases you need a dateline, the most important information at the top, facts, figures and wrap it up with contact details including who and how. Print the press release on your letterhead.
   
   
4. Send your press release to all television and radio stations, local and metro newspapers, national newspapers, industry magazines, and any other form of media that reaches your target market. Don’t forgot to include relevant blogs, ezines, press release submission sites and to industry professionals.

More importantly than a perfect press release is to make sure you have addressed the needs of your target market in the products/services you offer and made that clear in the press release. If you are provided people a solution to a problem, a way to avoid a problem and an opportunity to enhance their life the media and public will be interested.

If you have a connection (or the ability to get a connection) with a celebrity, this can practically guarantee you’ll get attention. Make sure you are offering newsworthy information, and then follow up with media outlets to make sure they are publicizing that information.

“One of the most powerful techniques every business should use is free publicity. As the name implies, there is no cost, just the time and effort required to attract attention to your business.” Jay Abraham

Our FREE test drive of www.SweetSpotMarketingAcademy.ca can show you how to put together press releases that work! Check out how the pro’s do it and craft the perfect press releases for your business.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author: Nancy Beth Guptill
Founder of Sweet Spot Marketing Canada
http://www.SweetSpotMarketing.ca
http://www.SweetSpotInternetAcademy.ca
http://www.SweetSpotMarketingAcademy.ca
Twitter: @SweetMarketing
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SweetMarketing