Choosing your Social Media Moniker is harder than it sounds. You need a name that is broad enough to encompass all you do, yet narrow enough to properly serve your niche. Rushing out and picking a name without giving it careful thought can bring havoc on you later when you find that the name you’ve chosen is already being used, or otherwise no good. I’m writing this article to help you figure out the right name that will serve you long term.

- Choose a name no one else has.
- Choose a name that is no more than 12 characters.
- Don’t try to do too much with your name.
- Use your name if no one else has it.
- Check your name in Twitter, Digg, Facebook.
- Make sure the domain is available for your name in .com and .net.
- Get approval before you use trademark related names or concepts.
- Make your name stand out.
- Use a call to action if possible, ie: “getmoving”
- Use the thesaurus to look up words you want to use.
- Brainstorm different name ideas.

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The open web is turning traditional systems such as publishing, music, television and film eschew. The hyper ability to network is enhancing the sales and marketing process for every type of business and industry. Still, there are many small business owners and real estate agents who don’t see the value in using social media for marketing their services. This is understandable. On first glance, social media may seem useless and mundane–for many this is the case. Not always. Those employing persistence, creativity, drive and intuition into their social media efforts can revolutionize their business and reach their target market like never before in the history of mankind.

This article is written to debunk the common myths believed about social media for marketing real estate or small businesses. If you have any other myths, questions or objections, please leave a comment in the comment section below this article.

1. Busy people do not have time for social media.

Social media is all the rage, and for good reason. It opens up networks in unprecedented ways. We can reach just about anyone and everyone through social media, be it through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Ning. Social media is a tool for connecting people, just like a phone, fax machine or email. Everyone with a computer will eventually be involved in the social media world, due to the communication efficiencies it provides. Those who don’t take time for logging into social media sites now are merely behind the curve; and will soon create accounts of their own. (Remember when email first started?)

2. My client is not on Facebook.

You would be surprised to learn that the demographics on Facebook are more diverse today than ever. Facebook is the number one photo sharing website in the world. Celebrating their 6th birthday in January 2010, the world’s favorite website boasted 400 Million active members, up over 1/2 from the year before. This number is astounding in the web world, and shows that there are more people interested in social media, and the numbers are still increasing. No longer just for teens, Facebook has seen a rise in the number of seniors and baby boomers.

Granted, some of your prospects may not be on Facebook, but they will be somewhere on the web, engaging in some capacity with the communication opportunities inherent to the open web. If you hire a good social media strategist, he or she will find your target market, just wait and see.

Social media can be done by anyone.

Social media is an art. The social marketing process combines a number of important skills and more than a little talent to get the job done effectively. Sure, your teen nephew can set-up your Facebook page, but there is more to it than that. A successful social media campaign requires that you:

1. Build an audience;
2. Brand yourself properly;
3. Develop content strategies to add value to your network;
4. Engage with your audience without offending through direct sales;
5. Turn friends and fans into customers.

Social media requires expertise in the areas of sales, writing, web marketing, general marketing, branding and genuine human interaction. These skills are not found in your typical “techie.” You need a professional to kick-start your social media campaign and set a pattern for you and your staff members to later follow.

3. Social media sites will not sell my homes.

Granted, you may not sell all your wares directly by posting them on Facebook or Twitter, but that’s not the point. The point of using social media to advertise your business product and services is to help you gain name recognition in your marketplace. We’re talking buzz. Networking online allows you to distribute positive information about your company to more people, for less money than ever before in the history of the world. Granted you may not sell one home directly from social media, but indirectly, your whole local area, your farm area can know who you are–and what you ate for dinner last night.

4. Social media is a waste of time.

I disagree! Social media is a relaxing activity that can be quite addicting. The process is fun, social and highly enjoyable if you know what you’re doing. Used effectively, social networking allows you to be social while advertising your products and services. Social media also enables you to listen to your target market and your clients, and get a front-row seat into what they are thinking and feeling. There is no better way to analyze market data than by becoming friends with your prospects. People will do business with those they know and they like, social media helps you to get to know your prospects. Waste of time? Think again. Facebook helps you sell and socialize at the same time–now that’s efficiency.

5. Social media content is worthless.

Granted, there is lots of noise on the most popular social media sites. Who really cares what John Smith ate for dinner? While much of the content doesn’t seem valuable, it’s actually solid gold. What better way to bond and connect with your target market than by discussing the best ways to cure a head cold, or commenting on their new baby girl? None! Social media sites like Facebook give you a front row seat into the lives of your prospects and they into yours. Such websites make you become friends with your target market, as together you share aspects of life from the tragic to the mundane.

We’ve Only Just Begun

Social media has valid uses for marketing that are so grand, we have only begun to envision the potential of its power. Now is the time to start marketing your business online, because things are not getting any easier, but more complex as they are building upon one another. Granted, our tools are getting better, technology is getting better, but that just means there is more for each of us to know.

Take time to educate yourself on web marketing and social media, and hire a trusted professional who can not only build your profiles, but consult with you on branding, web content, audience building and engagement. Contact dotJenna today at The Marketing Shop.com for a free consultation. 866-697-7638.

Can you think of any other Social Media Myths, or reasons why people won’t engage with new media online? I would love to hear your comments! Please post them in the comment section below. Thank you for reading!

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How to Choose Your Social Media Moniker

by dotJenna ♥ Revised February 15, 2010

Your Social Media Moniker is the name that will represent you throughout the web, expanding to all social networks of which you are a member. Much like a domain name, your unique name for social media will be used to help people find you quickly and easily. It should describe who you are and what you do or what you believe in–all within 12 characters or less. If you follow my advice, you will use this one Social Media Moniker all throughout the web on all the social networks you will be joining — YES! You’re going to be joining lots in the future– we all will.

Your Social Media Moniker can serve as a business card and will also be on your business card like an email address. When you’re out “socializing” face-to-face, you can simply spout off your unique Social Media Moniker and viola! Instant name recognition–even without a pen. Pick the right social media handle, and anyone can find you–especially if it’s memorable.

Your Unique Web Moniker is like your domain name, only it’s the part of you that goes out and about to places like Twitter, YouTube, Digg, FriendFeed, Gmail, Google Buzz and many, many more. It’s best to have a Moniker that stays the same, so people can find you all over the place, and you don’t have to worry that your name is already taken. I’ve compiled some tips for picking a Social Media Moniker that will help you increase your name recognition online and off.

1. One Name
You need one name to carry you through all the social media sites, otherwise it will be hard for people to remember.

2. Your Name
Your Unique Web Moniker should be some variation of your real name. If your name is super-unique, then you’re lucky. Go and register it in the main social sites to secure it for later, even if you’re not using those networks yet. (ie: JaneZeel)

NOTE: Do not use your real name if it is hard to spell–unless it is already very well known in your market. Example: Since Sandi’s name is spelled weird, I recommend that she use the mispelling of her name that is more common. I think she should do this to make her page more easy to get to for people who don’t know how to spell it.

Either that, or if your name is too hard to spell, you may not want to use it at all. Find something easier. Think simple, simple, simple. You want to be able to shout it out in the grocery line and have the other person remember it without having to write it down.

3. Short (12 Characters or Less)
The smallest character allowance so far among social media websites is Twitter, which only allows space for 11 characters. Your Unique Web Moniker needs to fit on Twitter because Twitter is a very important site for social media.

4. Characters Only
Avoid strange characters and underscores. These are very hard to convey when you’re in a hurry, and will be even harder for your followers to remember.

5. Memorable
If you are not using your name, pick something that is memorable, since the goal of social media is to increase notoriety, you need a name that rolls off the tongue.

6. Descriptive
You may also want to add something that reflects what you do such as: “jimmyrealtor.” Just make sure it’s available on the major sites.Your Unique Web Moniker should relate to what you do, while also giving you room to grow and expand. It should also

7. Company or Industry
If you already have a popular name that is on the web, such as your title or your company name, you may want to use that throughout your social networks instead of your own name.

7. Not too cute.
Think of a name that matches your business.
Search for that name on the web (without spaces) ie: “RobPaulRealty”

8. Domain URL available.
Try to get a name that is also available in the domain name format, if possible. Check GoDaddy.com to see if your chosen name is already taken.

9. No Trademarks
Do not use major brand names or trademarked names, unless you own full rights, or else you may be forced to give your name upo later and waste your hard-work. It’s not allowed, for example, for a Realtor to use the word “realtor” in her name because the term realtor is owned by NAR. Likewise, you shouldn’t use your company name if you’re an agent of say, “AFLAC.”

Social Media URL

Your Unique Web Moniker will serve as your URL for the many social media sites out there, such as:

Look at the following list to see how your Unique Web Moniker will be incorporated into your social media domains.

• http://www.facebook.com/dotjenna
• http://www.youtube.com/profiles/dotjenna
• http://www.twitter.com/dotjenna
• http://blip.fm/dotjenna
• http://www.google.com/profiles/dotjenna
• http://picasaweb.google.com/dotjenna

Even if you’re not active on these sites yet, you should check to see if it is available in the major social sites, just in case.

• Twitter - Allows you to change name later.
• Gmail - Makes receiving email way-easy.
• YouTube - Gives special URL page.
• Facebook - User Name granted if over 200 friends.
• GoDaddy - Register the domain, if available.

Unique Web Moniker Examples

Here are a few Unique Web Monikers I found on Twitter to give you an idea of what to name yourself. Please don’t copy! Think of your own original, unique name using your own fresh ideas.

• dotJenna
• briansolis
• michaelgonline
• kibler
• RobPaulRealty
• McKinneyTexas
• unmarketing
• ThomasKish
• iJustine
• RealScottBaio

The list goes on, but you get the point.

Tools for Checking Your User Name Availability

Here are tools for checking the availability of your brand as the user name on hundreds of popular social media websites:

1. Knowem.com
2. Namechk.com

You should immediately register your user name on every social media site you can think of in order to secure it from squatters.

Selecting Your Own Web Moniker

Take time to think about your Unique Web Moniker. Decide who you want to be and how you want to be represented. Consider who you are today, and who you may want to be tomorrow. Choose a name that is easy to remember, represents your business and helps people recognize you quickly. Make sure the name is available across the major social media sites of today, and chances are good it will still be there when new sites crop up tomorrow. Be careful in what you choose–once you get started, it’s hard to go back!

(c) dotJenna ♥ All Rights Reserved ♥ http://www.dotJenna.com/

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dotJenna Event: The Lead Top

Small Biz Web Lead Generation Strategies by dotJenna

Topic: Generating Online Leads for Small Business
Date: Thursday 11th, 2010
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Spaghetti Warehouse, 1517 N Central Expy, Plano, TX 75075, (972) 516-8903

Agenda:
6:30pm - Sign in, order dinner and Network with others
7:00pm - Meeting begins, 30 sec short intros
7:15pm - Speaker: dotJenna - “The Lead Top” Generating Web Leads For Small Business
8:00pm - Q & A
8:15pm - Announcements, Misc
8:30pm - Meeting ends, Continue Networking with others (for those that wish to)

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Click Here to learn more about hosting a cutting-edge Social Media Event with dotJenna!

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Twitter Most Popular Among Working Adults

Twitterers (a.k.a. Tweeters) are not primarily teens or college students as you might expect. In fact, in February the largest age group on Twitter was 35-49; with nearly 3 million unique visitors, comprising almost 42 percent of the site’s audience. We found that the majority of people visit Twitter.com while at work, with 62 percent of the combo unique audience accessing the site from work only versus 35 percent that accessed it from home only.

Nielsen Wire

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10 Reasons Real Estate Agents Should Use Twitter

1. Twitter gives you exposure to the marketplace and the media.

Have you been on Twitter lately? If you’re a skeptic, I think you’ll be surprised to find
the gobs of people experiencing success while tweeting away to thousands of followers. When used correctly, Twitter can give you fast exposure to your target market and to the media like no other platform can.

2. Twitter is a relatively cheap way to reach your target market with your message.

When it comes to getting the word out about you, your business and services, there is no easier, faster and inexpensive way to do it than Twitter. This content aggregator gets transmits information in real time to your audience, and keeps record of your posts for the world to see tomorrow, and the next day, and the next. Twitter is free to use.

3. Twitter is a great way to build your audience.

While many complain about Twitter being too “fast,” or too impersonal, it is still a great way to build an audience. You can connect with people more quickly through Twitter than other social media platforms–a click of a mouse follows someone–so you can meet people faster than ever. Building your audience on Twitter takes a bit of skill, but it’s not hard to learn.

4. Twitter is easy to use and easy to learn.

Twitter has a low barrier to entry because it’s simple and easy to use. Using it is simple, you merely share what’s on your mind, but using it skillfully takes a bit of time to learn. Overall, the benefits received far outweighs the time it takes you to get into the groove. If you stick to it, you’ll heap followers and start buzz about your business faster than you can imagine.

5. Twitter posts and your Twitter profile shows up in Google search results.

Twitter is indexed by Google, so this is another great way to get SEO exposure in search engine rankings. It’s crucial that you optimize your Twitter profile with keywords, and that you do the same in your posts. The words you use in your posts will be the words your posts show up for when people search them.

6. Twitter helps to drive traffic to your web content

Once you build your audience, you can post links to quality content on your site, and they will likely visit it. Twitter is a great way to display your latest blog post, or awesome informative web page, or new MLS search tool. Twitter helps get the blood flowing by driving traffic to the places you suggest.

7. Twitter is a good marketing tool for Realtors on listing appointments.

Showing your followers, friends and fans through social media is an impressive way to show your prospective listings how you will market their properties. It is one more way to beat the competition and stay competitive in a tough real estate market.

8. Twitter is a great place to get information pertinent to your industry.

Think you know everything there is to know about your career? Your target market? Your industry? Think again! There are super-smart people out there, tweeting away on Twitter, offering valuable insight and information about topics that are important to you and your audience.

9. Twitter is a great place to listen to what your clients are saying.

Shhhhh… Hear that? It’s the sound of your target market, chatting away with one another. Twitter gives you a front row seat into the minds, thoughts and concerns of those in specific groups. Want to know what moms are thinking about? Find the mom groups. Want to know how business men think? Look for CEOs and executives. The opportunity for listening is great because people are talking loudly–and publicly–about what is important to them. Listen!

10. Twitter is essential–not having a present can make you seem out of touch.

Someday soon being on Twitter will be expected by home buyers and sellers alike. If you get started now, you won’t be too far behind to catch up. Wait much longer and there will be agents amassing thousands of followers, and you will be starting from scratch.

Twitter is here to stay. If you’re not using it, it’s just that you’re not using it yet. This nifty web tool offers a remarkable way to get your name out there, spread information, attract and build a targeted audience, and listen to what the world has to say. If you’re a Realtor, don’t wait another day. Get your TWEET on!

I am dotJenna, a Social Media Coach for small business and real estate agents based in the Dallas, TX area. If you are interested in discussing how I can help you with your social media campaign, please call me toll free: 866-697-7638.

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