Workshop: Social Media Strategies for Restaurants

Generate profits by rewarding your loyal customers and attracting new ones.

Do you want to discover…
…how to generate traffic to your restaurant?
…how to present your restaurant online?
…how to use social media to your best advantage?

If you answered yes to any of the above, you will love this Action Workshop.

Date: Monday November 2 16, 2009 – between 2 – 4 pm
Location: downtown Fullerton

ONLY 50 ATTENDEES ACCEPTED, SO HURRY!

Booklaunch: Social Media Strategies for Restaurants

We would like to invite you to our presentation, this Thursday at the Anaheim Plaza Hotel:

Social Media Strategies for your Restaurant Business
Generate profits by rewarding your loyal customers and attracting new ones.

Although this presentation is geared towards restaurants, other businesses who want to learn more about social media and online branding definitely take away nuggets of knowledge.

Date & Time:
Thursday, October 22nd
7:30 am – 9:00 am

I would like to invite you as my guest at:
The Anaheim Plaza Hotel
1700 S. Harbor Blvd
Anaheim

The Hotel is located on the corner of Disney Way and Harbor Blvd, right across the Disneyland entrance. Let us know if you are able to attend, so I can put you on the guest list. Sign up by sending an email to fullerton@brandingpersonality.com or sign up on Meetup.

10 Things you should do to promote your business in a slow economy

Don’t accept lower standards because the economy is down. Yes, clients can walk away and make different priorities during slow times. But with this action plan you can steer your business towards growth.

Are you ready to work with new clients? Then I have an easy-to-adopt business strategy for you, that makes a big impression in your regular business.

I start off saying: Focus! You can’t do it all, so choosing a strategy that is easy to implement and doesn’t take much extra time helps you achieve your goals faster.

1. Get ready. Dress yourself representable and have ample business cards with you.

2. Pick and choose 2 networking events every week. These could be in the early mornings, during work hours or after work. Whatever suits you best. Find networking events where your target market is.

3. Make your appearance consistent. Not everyone was expecting your arrival at that networking event. So attend a couple of events in a row, so people can get to know you and see that you are reliable.

4. Talk to people, don’t be shy. You are making the best impression if you ask a lot of questions. People like to talk, so if you let them talk they feel they had a great time. ☺ The other good thing is, that you can always prepare good questions. Asking what they think about the weather, doesn’t steer you in the direction of potential business; therefore, ask them about business goals, how do you network, have you been to this event before and why have you decided to attend? Let’s hope its not just for the free snacks or drinks. ☺ Always end your conversation with a thank you and ask for their business card. Don’t take too long to talk with someone, you are networking, leave the good stuff for a next appointment to talk some more.

5. And then… you arrive home with a pile of business cards. The first thing you do, is enter your business cards in an address book on your computer (Outlook, Gmail, Hotmail, etc).

Before you are ready for step 5. I want to make sure:

A. Are you on LinkedIn?
B. Are you on Facebook?
C. Are you on Twitter?

You might have heard from one of them, if not, all of them. Make sure your profile is there and it’s a decent and filled out profile. You need to provide enough information so that it adds to your credibility, and so that people recognize you. Does your profile on these websites have the same information as is on your business card? Upload your picture, this is not optional.

6. Just to make sure you’re not skipping this: Set up your profile on the Golden 3!: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook.

7. When you have setup your profiles, you can go to each of these networks and import your address book. All these networks have a tool for it, and it will find the connections you have in your address book that already have a profile on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook. Find your connections and connect with them. This is a 3-step process. So you are done in 5 minutes. You are connecting with them, because they might be able to give you business, but far more important – they can lead you to the right sources that give you business.

8. Send each person you connected with a personal message on each of these networks. On Facebook and LinkedIn you can do this when you are making the connection with them. On Twitter you can send a separate message.

Normally the effect of visiting an event is over in 2-4 weeks. When you are connecting with people from events on online websites as LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, the effect is as long as you keep your profile active. In searches your name will pop-up. If you update your latest projects all your connections will be notified, even people you have met on events years ago.

9. Follow up on those: “I need to make an appointment with him/her” by email or phone. If there is potential business, take care of it.

10. A great way to not only keep the relationship in tact, but see if there is more (potential) interest in your company (maybe later on) is in offering to send a newsletter. Send that request out about a week later and you have another contact moment with your new connection. If they like you or are interested in your business/services, they want to sign up and stay updated.

Marketing is all about relationships: having enough connections with the right people while making the right impression. Online networking websites give the leverage to networking events that you are already attending.

These 10 tips get you the best of local networking events and give a great introduction into online networking. A combination of using local events and online networking websites adds to your credibility, it makes you approachable and gives you more impressions with people you meet than you would otherwise have.

Marieke is an international published author on How to Attract your Target Market Online (Collaborative book: BusinessWise). Businesswise is the second best selling Business book on Amazon.co.uk in May 2007. Marieke is the founder of Branding Personality, which sets up profiles for clients on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn and produces daily content for clients resulting in new business generated through these new media.

How to find a venue in Europe with social media sites

I was interviewed by Elaine Pofeldt from One+, a meeting planner magazine. She was writing an article on how to utilize social networking websites to find suitable venues in Europe. It was in the February 2009 issue of One+:

ONCE YOU’VE BUILT a presence on the sites with the biggest worldwide presence, you may find that local networks can add depth to your networking. If your goal is to connect with professionals in Europe, popular sites such as U.K.-based Ecademy, Xing in Germany or Hyves in the Netherlands can be good resources. Targeting an Asian audience? In Japan, Mixi is the most popular.

“Facebook has a lot of equivalents in other countries,” said Marieke Hensel, founder of Branding Personality, who started out in Internet marketing in the Netherlands and now runs her business in Los Angeles. “Usually people who are into social networking use their local languages instead of going to Facebook.”

Unlike LinkedIn, which many professionals use to stay connected to those they already know, the culture of some sites fosters meetings between professionals who don’t already know each other, Hensel says.

“Ecademy, for instance, is about connecting with people worldwide and making new, random connections,” she said.

One of her clients recently asked her how to find an event location in Copenhagen. She suggested he contact the “country leader” on Ecademy for Denmark, who directed him to local sites that he included in a proposal now under review.

“She hosts events and knows exactly which places are available,” Hensel said.

Read full article on One+

What does your business look like in 5 years?

I’m rich beyond my wildest dreams
… unfortunately my dreams weren’t very wild.
- Author unknown

Do you have goals for your business? Do you have goals for your life?
Or are you getting further away from your glory and personal success?
One thing can be said: if you are waiting, hesitating…
you can miss getting out of business what really helps you improve your life.
What will give you energy and inspire you to shape your future?
Do you have dreams to fulfill?

I loved the internet since the first time I saw it. And when I started making good money online in 2001, when I had an e commerce shop and made $1500 in revenues, and still being a student. I sold Hello Kitty products online, that I imported from Asia, and 75% of my clients were in the US. I woke up every morning and saw all the closed sales that were done while I was sleeping. Really, that was the best start of my day. And I would like you to have that too!

Do you like to grow your business with 50% in 2009? Tell me, how much money do you want to earn?
More and more people want to be on the internet to grow their business, as it does not matter where you are and when you are. It’s just there, 24/7. And everybody has access to you and your services whenever -they- feel like it.

What does your (business)life look like in 5 years?
(choose one or the other)
1. Self-employed <-> employed
2. Work by yourself <-> Work in a team
3. Steadily grow my business <-> take risks that could pay off (or not)
4. Hire people <-> be on my own
5. Work at home <-> get/have office space
6. Local clients <-> national clients <-> global clients
7. Work routine <-> work whenever I want to
8. Work more <-> work less
9. Keep doing what I do and get better at it <-> change my products/services
10. I grow my business according to the inflation rate <-> I triple my business income

While thinking about each of these, just focus on the business that you have right now. You might want to add new things to your life that might eat up time to focus on your company. And that’s not bad at all, as long as you consciously choose to slow down your current business and make a decision. There could be all different reasons for this, getting kids, hobbies, education, new large clients, or other new interests that you develop.

Another thing you can see from the list, is that there are so many more things important than just a monetary goal. Making money is important and without it – a business is less fun, but that can count for many other items on the list. What would you do if your work time is out of balance? Or when you are a teamplayer and you work at home with no-one around? Motivate yourself and make sure your environment is stimulating for you to perform at your best.

I am excited that you are still here with me! Now you have started the thought process about your goals and maybe already defined goals. To reach your goals, its time to look at the product, the services and the core of all that is *you*. We will cover this in the next issues. Stay tuned!

What to do if your name is not unique

One of the challenges in online personal branding, is that some people share their name with others. Sometimes for the good, others for the bad. A great story about Brooke Allen who is sharing name, city and profession with another Brooke Allen.

Many people share their name with someone else. If your real you has the best online reputation, do not change a thing, and keep building your name. If you do find someone else using your name to shame, you can try the following things:

1. Boost your reputation, say you have used your name as Joseph Rapsody, but another Joseph Rapsody came along and posting rubbish in forums, really work on your personal brand and get your name to fame on the internet.

2. Enhance your name, if your name is Joe Smith, you stand a good chance that there is not just one other Joe Smith to beat, there will be many. By using an initial in the middle, or always using your title in your name you will differ your name from the crowd of Joe Smiths. While there are 193.000 listings in Google for Joe Smith, none exists for Dr. Joe G. Smith.

3. Choose a new name that stands out, when I started my ways on the internet, I really did not like my name as it was, long and difficult for any non-Dutch speaker to repeat. A great moment was it that I married and could choose for my husband’s name, which I did, and I changed my last name from van der Graaf to Hensel. Other people choose for an entirely non-existing name that reflects what they do or make it easy to remember. Trade your own last name in for a last name that reflects your ambitions, i.e. Marieke Gates – Bill Gates or Marieke Branson – Richard Branson.

Change your first name into a name that is powerful or international can help to enhance your personal brand as well.  What is it that you want your personal brand to be.

It is not easy to change your name. You will only see the full effect, if people use your name like that and you feel confident if you feel you are that name.

Jelly Coworking in Fullerton – Wednesday October 22

Meet other locals from all industries to discuss your Business Ideas and Strategies. Gather to discuss current events, share experiences, and to network with other people interested in Business.

“Jelly Coworking” in Fullerton – Network and mingle at this exciting event!

Jelly is an every-so-often casual coworking session. Anyone is welcome to come, bring your laptop, art supplies, or whatever, and work alongside other creative, fun people. We hope to see you!

Where?
Coworking location in historic downtown Fullerton. Plenty of seating, wifi, free Starbucks coffee, spring & purified water. More than 60 restaurants within walking distance.

Address:
Branding Personality
122 N. Harbor Blvd, Suite 110 (we’re around the corner on Amerige Ave)
Fullerton, CA 92832
1.877.747.FAME (3263)

From Harbor, turn into Amerige Ave and you”ll find ample free parking space on both sides of the street. Most parking spaces are 2 hours spots. All-day-for-free parking spots can be found on the Northwest corner of Chapman & Harbor. Its a 2-minute walk.

It is only a 1 minute walk from the Downtown Fullerton trainstation, both the Metrolink and Amtrak trains stop there.

When?
Hours are from 9am to 5pm

Wednesday, October 22nd – FIRST JELLY!!!

Next Jelly’s:
* Wednesday, November 12, 2008 9am – 5pm
* Wednesday, December 10, 2008 9am – 5pm

We build your name to fame

Branding Personality is the first full service online personal branding company. We make people known on the internet by their expertise.

A strong personal brand is mainly dependent on two factors: credibility and visibility. If you have a large network, but people do not exactly know what your expertise is, we can help you brand your strengths and let people know what you do.

If people really trust you and love working with you, but only a few people know you are there, we can really enhance your visibility.

Visibility + Credibility = Personal Brand

The website is coming soon!

The website is coming soon!

Email for more information: m@brandingpersonality.com

In the mean time you can read more about Online personal branding.