Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter. The Internet is full of social options to reach out and promote your business in addition to your Web page and your blog. But you have to use them wisely and carefully. Facebook is a good place to have not only a page, but also a site to collect fans. When you post info, all your fans get the post. LinkedIn is a site for business people to contact each other for business opportunities. Twitter can get a quick (remember, only 140 characters) message out to your database.

One important thing to keep in mind is that your personal accounts and your business accounts are not the same account. So, if you want to say you love going to Starbucks, do it on your personal account. Your business contacts don’t care.

Here are three guidelines for your business account:

1. Make sure what you post relates to your brand image.  A lot of people post nonsense like the Starbucks comment and then expect to get a prospect. This won’t work. Stick to business. Tell the site what’s new with the business or if you have a public image, where you’ll be for a meet and greet.

2. Is your post inspiring or tiring? Sometimes if you run across something that gives you a lift, you can share it with your media friends as long as it pertains to business. It’s not about a new way to fold towels unless it gives you more time for your business. Of course, if you really do find a better way to do something, by all means, shout it out.

3. Are you taking your conversations offline to get to really know, like and trust your social media friends? Make sure your Internet contacts truly do have common interests as you. The Internet, even the social media pages, is anarchy, and you have to be on the lookout so that your business isn’t dragged down by someone who does not wish you well.

Used properly, social media can be used to as a tool to really reaching out and touching someone.

Google Alerts is ‘email updates’ of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic. It distills the results from the first 20  pages of its search engine results and sends you the alert. The most important aspect of being on the web is your online reputation. Making sure that the information regarding yourself and your business is representing you in a Good and True manner. This is one way that you can monitor your online reputation.

As a business owner whose specialty is marketing, Google Alerts is a tool that I cannot live without. I get to find out about my clients and their competition, see if anyone is plagiarizing their content, and see who is searching for them. Google Alerts is the ultimate internet spy.

Here are some ways I use the service to save me lots of time and energy marketing in the wrong places.

Google Alerts allows you to take a keyword phrase (for example, your name or company name) and receive a notification each time Google finds a new page using that phrase. My Google Alerts has my name “Lucinda Cross” and my company name “Ultimate VA Support”, amongst other words and phrases that are in my industry that I use by doing a keyword search (www.freekeywordtracker.com).

Whenever someone mentions my name or company online, I know about it IMMEDIATELY thanks to Google Alerts – it sends me an email letting me know where the mention is.

Why should you know this information? If someone mentions my name, I can then comment or send an email to the webmaster regarding the page in question. If the mention was a good one, then I could thank him or her and make a connection. If it was bad, then I could ask why or try to change his or her opinions of me or see how the issue can be resolved.  Either way, I am aware of what is being said about my company, and me, which is VERY important! Since most of my business comes from online, my online brand reputation means everything.

So now, do you see why I had you stop what you were doing? Make sure you stay on top of your targeted keywords and phrases, set up through Google Alerts. When a mention is made, that is an opportunity for you to join the conversation and engage the webmaster, and hopefully generate interest in your website or blog. This is especially important in obtaining inbound links to your site. Here is a sample of what I get on a daily basis:

Google Blogs Alert for: “business baby shower”

susan theshowerdiva (theshowerdiva) on Twitter

Enter the Business Baby Shower Contest to win dozens of prizes http://budurl. .. . 8:48 AM Feb 22nd via web; @paulbarron is a social media mentor for …

Parenting

Join our Networking & Support Group! Business Baby Shower. The Business Baby Shower Contest has officially launched. Enter to win great prizes! …

Google Blogs Alert for: “lucinda cross”

Why am I so Happy? « The best in Nubian Lit

By Joy Farrington

Corporate Mom Drop Outs by Lucinda Cross. A Literary Diva’s Guide to Hosting a Fab Book Club Meeting. Nubian Lit Tweet. Make sure you use PROTECTION http://is.gd/8ybYI MyFreeCopyRight.com 2 days ago; Join us in just a few minutes. …

The best in Nubian Lit – http://bookclubcoach.wordpress.com/

Google Web Alert for: “lucinda cross”

The Phenomenal Women Group, Inc.’s Page – Soul Commune

Lucinda Cross is breaking the shackles that bind Moms to a life sentence of 9 to 5, keeping them away from the children who need them, and in exchange, …Google Web Alert for: “lucinda cross”

I must admit I love this thing.  My personal spy and it keeps me in contact with those who are looking for me or using my name. If you’re not using Google Alerts, I hope this article will motivate you to get started.

Make sure you use PROTECTION: My Free Copyright

Today I was asked by my accountability partner about protecting my materials.  This is something I have not thought about or even phantom someone using my brand without permission.  Well today was a great wakeup call where she pulled up one of my blogs written by me, authentically being used on someone else’s site with no credit to me and all credit to them.  My name and my company name were taken out of the blog but the content was the same.  Not only did this make me sick to my stomach, it made me think about protecting my blog and my content without spending an arm and a leg.

I searched for a tool as usual and BINGO I came across MyFreeCopyright.com.  It took me less than 10 minutes to protect my blog and my content.  Check it out its free and worth your time to stop what you’re doing right now and get your business in order.

“Wouldn’t it make you furious if someone stole your creation?”

Would you like to have Indisputable Proof of your Copyrights to fend off would be thieves?

3 Easy Steps to Protect your original creations that nobody is telling you about.

How does MyFreeCopyright.com protect my creation? Click here to find out more

Great Expectations Quiz: Lucinda Cross

Posted by Nicole Feliciano on Friday, February 12, 2010

It’s baby number three for author and blogger Lucinda Cross. Lucinda’s writing (www.corporatemomdropouts.com) focuses on Moms that have left behind corporate jobs for motherhood and are in the process of reinventing themselves. Let’s check in to see if she’s squared away in other matters of motherhood!

Click here for the her answers to the quiz

When is the last time you put your vision on paper. I am not talking about a 30-page business plan or the hottest self-improvement seminar that you went to and had to fill out a questionnaire or assessment. I am talking elementary school. Taking glue, pictures, colors and phrases and placing your vision on a board. This concept known as a Vision Board is a visual explorer.

It is our thinking, more than our surroundings, which determines our level of happiness. Hold a thought and you will create an emotion. That emotion drives a behavior, which in turn creates an event. To change your events you must first change your vision.

I was up one Sunday morning watching Joel Osteen and he was talking about visions and he stated that we must change our vision in order to change our lifestyle…he used chickens and eagles as an example. Chickens vision is limited, they only go after more of the same thing that is placed in front of them and they are always pecking down, they never look up for other things to eat. Eagles on the other hand uses his vision and soars, he chooses to get his food from afar, his vision is expanded and he uses that to survive. Which one are you? The chicken who just accepts what’s in front of him and continues to look for more of the same, or an Eagle who soars and reaching far to get what he wants?

The challenge, for most of us, is to move from pessimistic thinking to a place where your thoughts create feelings of hope and joy. So how do you do it? Simple, no secret, you create a Vision Board or better yet do what I do, have a Vision Board Party where you get a group of friends together with magazines, books, anything visual, and you cut out pictures that represent how you envision your life/business in the future. This whole process helps you turn your visions into reality and watch your goals come to fruition right before your EYES.

The concept of vision boards has been around for years; I actually started researching this concept last year and have conducted a Vision Board Party in Feb 2009. As a living testimonial, I was able to accomplish 80% of my goals for my life and business that I had on my vision board for 2009. Most people have a hard time creating a life plan or business plan and a hard time believing in the success of accomplishing their goals, but this visual process will give the motivation you need to go after “What’s been holding you back”.

Here are some tools you will need:

1) Create a vision board that includes pictures of things that you would like to have in life. Include things that you know you cannot afford right now, but if money were not an option you would have it right now. Items could include a vacation, a new house, a husband, wife, kids and of course more money and health. The pictures can come from anywhere such as magazines, computer printouts, and newspapers.

2) Place the vision board in an area where you’ll see it throughout the day.

3) Look at each picture on your vision board at least daily, and daydream about having that thing in this present moment. Allow yourself to be fully engaged in the daydream, and have fun with it.

Enjoy your visual creation and please keep your eye on the prize.

If you are in the NY area on January 26th you are invited to attend the Empire State of Mind Vision Board Party: click here for more information

We got featured again, this time Lucinda Cross was invited for an interview on “Money Matter”. Check it out.

When was the last time you updated your rave reviews?

I do, and today I received a wonderful testimonial that I will use to close a few open ended deals. This testimonial is fresh, credible and speaks of the value and benefits of working with me.  Some people are still surviving on decade old testimonials, some times people want to see some fresh results, I know I do when it comes to working with someone.  What you did for “John Doe” back in 1990 is not as credible for what you have done for “Jane Doe” in 2008 or 2009.

Testimonials are crucial for your business.  Make sure that you get your testimonials in written or video format and DISPLAY them.  Testimonials are not meant for you to keep in your document file on your computer. Testimonials serve several purposes in a business owners life, and the main purpose is for open opportunities. Prospects will begin to knock down your door when you have the right testimonial advertised.

Here is a tip: Make sure your clients testimonial tells a short story about where or what your client was looking for, or what position your client was in  before they started using your product or service, and then make sure it tells the outstanding results they have received based on your product or service.

After obtaining permission to use their testimonial in your marketing efforts, post it everywhere and use it to your advantage to obtain more prospects. Place it in your promotions and marketing material, bottom of your email signature, any place that you can think of, wear it as a name tag at networking events if thats what it takes.

Testimonials is one of the no-cost, high impact marketing tactics you can use to get ahead.

Here is a recent testimonial that I will be using to solidify other speaking opportunities.

December 21, 2009
To Whom It May Concern:

As the Program Director of the Queens Women’s Business Center, I am always searching
for innovative and inspirational speakers who can provide practical and action?oriented
business development guidance to women entrepreneurs. As a highlight speaker at our
December Power Networking Breakfast, Lucinda Cross exceeded my expectations by giving so
much of herself to the audience and providing them with real world business advice that helped them to refocus their energies towards growing their business in the New Year.

Lucinda’s presentation focused on project management and business goal setting and
provided a clear set of steps that entrepreneurs can take to stay motivated and on top of their
businesses. More impressively, she was able to tailor her presentation to address the diverse
needs and levels the women entrepreneurs at the event, which was not an easy task
considering that the event had nearly 60 participants. She was also able to answer a variety of
questions from how to make sales in today’s slow economy to how to market one’s services as
a diversity training consultant. I receive great feedback about Lucinda and her presentation
from countless participants who described her as “Dynamic and Brilliant,” “Inspiring” and “Truly Helpful and Fun to Watch.”

Additionally, as an event planner, Lucinda was everything that you would want in a
speaker. She was punctual, friendly and approachable. She was patient with all of the
participants, and even stay after the event for almost an hour to give personalized advice to
many of them who were still hunger for more.

I enthusiastically recommend Lucinda for other speaking engagements and hope that
she can provide your organization with the same level of professionalism that she provided the Queens Women’s Business Center.

Warmest Regards,

Johanna Maynard
Queens Women’s Business Center Program Director

With all of the major holiday feasts we undertake this time of year, it may seem easiest just to make the kitchen “off limits” to kids during meal prep. Much more fun is to assign a special dish that kids can do themselves as a contribution to the table.

This year my young daughter and son were my official “potato mashers,” and did a great job with both regular and sweet spuds. Not only did they free up my hands for other tasks (should have made the pie crust earlier – drats!), but they enjoyed a sense of pride, ownership, and accomplishment as we presented our family’s offerings to the communal table at Thanksgiving.

Making dinner together is one of our favorite things to do. While they are still too young to be left unsupervised at five and seven, they both beg to help out in the kitchen. Even though it often stretches my prep time for dinner, I encourage this because I find they can be more interested in eating things they have participated in making than if it were just set on the table.

I designed this recipe in particular so that they could assemble and cook an entire meal as a surprise for Daddy, and do so safely and easily. Since there are no knives needed, it’s easy for them to put this whole meal together for me to pop in the oven.

Feel free to use your favorite steak sauce, teriyaki sauce, bbq sauce, or Worcestershire sauce for a variation on flavors. It works great with hamburger or veggie burger patties instead of steak, too!

Dinner for Dad

3 cups frozen hash browns (shredded potatoes)

sea salt & pepper to taste

12-15 frozen pearl onions

1/2-3/4lb. boneless steak, well trimmed

2 Tbsp. steak sauce (A-1 or other brand)

1 cup sliced mushrooms

1 1/2 cups baby carrots (halved, if desired)

2 1/2 cups frozen green beans

1-2 sprigs rosemary

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray inside of cast iron 2-quart Dutch oven and lid with canola oil. Shake hash browns loosely into pot and lightly season with salt. Scatter pearl onions and set steak atop. Spread steak sauce on meat and sprinkle with mushrooms. Distribute baby carrots around the pot and fill rest of the way with green beans. Tuck rosemary sprig into crevices.

Cover and bake for about 28-35 minutes or until about 3 minutes after the aroma of a fully-cooked meal escapes the oven.

Find this recipe and more than 100 others that use my patented infusion cooking technique in Glorious One-Pot Meals: A Revolutionary New Quick and Healthy Approach to Dutch Oven Cooking.