Social media allows us to do so much more than even a few years ago. It allows us to interact with people and businesses otherwise inaccessible. For me, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook are weekly play places and my fun turned into my internship. When I started on Twitter a few years ago, I followed a few of the local SEM and SEO companies who I was interested in working for. One of those was Anvil Media in Portland, OR. Their president and founder, Kent Lewis, was another person I started following and interacting with. I was using these tools to hopefully help me in the future, which it turned out, they did.

This all couldn’t have happened without some help from some friends, another part of social media. Kristy Bolsinger, from RealNetworks, came and talked with my marketing class at Willamette. I friend-ed her on Twitter and she infected me with Foursquare Fever. At that point I had a different marketing internship for a company who created cockpit awareness hardware and software. They had a tough first quarter and decided not to have an intern. I launched into action and the friendship that Kristy and I had really helped. She helped with boosting my resume and sent it off to a few people she knows, including Kent Lewis. She also told me to get involved with SEMpdx.

SEMpdx is an amazing networking and business organization. I wrote about my meeting with them Best of SEMpdx so I won’t go into that.

What I didn’t talk about was meeting Kent Lewis and introducing myself to him. I had asked him about what to wear on Twitter before the meeting, which he suggested “pants”. It was a great conversation starter! After talking with him I got connected with Hallie Jansen from Anvil, had a meeting and the rest is history. You’re looking at the Anvil intern. Without the friendships that I cultivated on Twitter and my enthusiasm for SEM, SEO and social media it could have never happened, but I am so glad it did.

THANKS INTERNET!!!

Recently, Kristy Bolsinger came and gave an awesome talk to my MBA marketing strategies class. For most professors it seems to be difficult to get real world experience in this field while teaching and with it being such a new field they normally have dropped the ball. Kristy rocked it and I just saw she is speaking in Portland again on Monday at Social Fresh Portland. I wish I could go, but I have four classes that day! Anyways, while explaining social media to the class she asked if anyone was on Foursquare. No one in the class new what she was talking about, but I checked it out on my phone. I’m now addicted!

Foursquare is a location based service (LBS) that allows you to follow your friends and compete to become the mayor of your favorite spots and give other users things to do and advise. I have now infected a few of my friends and the game is on. In looking up Kristy, she posted an entire article about her LBS Addiction on Wednesday. I’m afraid to try another one, but Gowalla looks sweet! In fact, I just downloaded it to my Droid.

If you are on either site search me and get connected!

Now the best part about using these applications is the funny look on people face when you explain the app. “Why would you want someone to know where you are at ALL TIMES?” My question normally back is why wouldn’t you? It comes down to what social media is about. Sharing yourself. If someone wants to stalk me, guess what…The internet already lets you do that. Now throw in some competitive edges and I’m all about it. Not stalking, but sharing for the betterment of human kind. As of now I am the mayor of 5 places and have 8 badges, but my empire is growing. Why isn’t yours?

Reasons to work from a marketing plan:

1. Track your goals and objectives-Many small businesses just do advertising when a local rep walks through the door or when they think about it…Never. By having a plan to review and work from, it gives you or your marketing team vision, check points and a light at the end of the tunnel.

2. Create a budget and spend it-Sit down and look into your crystal ball(Facebook)…Now stop stalking your X and focus on 2010. We need to be realistic. If you don’t spend any money on marketing and advertising how do you expect to create leads, donations or sales?

3. Start the conversation-If Noah had tried to build his Arc in a few days, his ship would have sunk. Sitting down with the decision makers can be a stressful and even aggravating experience, but you have to do it. Start explaining social media, the importance of marketing and how the people who increase their marketing/advertising budgets are the ones who will survive the coming flood.

4. Your competition is cutting marketing. If your competition cuts their marketing then it opens the door for you to their clients. If they are not willing to fight for each new lead, then it makes it that much easier to sway new clients to your company. Don’t give in to the dark side and use the force(marketing) already!

For the past few days I’ve been going over my favorite websites and judging them on the need to update or construct a complete overhaul. So far, about 50% of all the sites that I’ve rated have been acceptable. Some have broken links, horrible pictures and for the most part way too much copy. This led me to think about this post.

If you are a small business and can only afford to create your own website with free software it’s a good start. BUT…how many leads are you gaining from the site and how many people are turned away when they find you, but your site is broken. I’m completely for taking the reins of your business, but with so many people going to the web first to find businesses, people or information you have to have a strong presence. Hubspot has a great website grader that and they do it for free. If you don’t believe me check it out. My hope is that I can help one small business owner to create a new portal to its customers. With the economy starting to turn around, we all have to work a little harder to find more qualified customer and give a little more to keep the ones we have.

This is my blog grade from Hubspot:

Nick Footer