Social Media Edge Radio

* Because they are real. A couple of days ago I received a text message (SMS) to my phone informing me that my site was about to be de-listed from Google. It went on to say I needed to contact the sender within 3 days to keep my Google listing active. The good news is it would cost only $40 and they can assure me it won't happen if I hire them because they are Certified Google Search Partners. Yes, there are Google Partners. No, they do not have any special powers. Today Mike and Ken (that's me) will discuss these types of scams and how to avoid becoming a victim. Today's show is 30 minutes and you can either ask a question in the chat room or by calling in. Both require us to be live. Ken is @thekencook Mike is @mikemueller http://areweconnected.com Always a huge thanks to Kevin MacLeod of INCOMPETECH for most of the music used during the show.

Today we're talking about how to have your small business prepared for disaster.

It's true, Ken met his granddaughter on Facebook a week before he met her in person. Today Mike and Ken are discussing how deeply social media infiltrates our personal lives and how we can leverage that for our campaigns. While we never suggest hijacking someone's life for your business purposes, it is important to know and understand how weaving into today's framework of living can help all of use together.   Ken is @thekencook Mike is @mikemueller http://areweconnected.com Always a very special thank you to Kevin MacLeod for the use of his great music available at incompetech.com

So, you're going to launch a new website and dominate the market! Possibly. If you really are then I bet there already has been a lot of planning, consulting, and even hiring of professional development teams. Not all ventures are huge, multi-million dollar launches--but even a solopreneuer needs to follow some simple guidelines to help reduce the likelhood of early termination. Everything from message development to method of sharing the message can be critical for an early stage venture. Clarification and simplification of your message (you'd be surprised how many businesses I [Ken] have worked with over the years who cannot tell me in a short sentence what they do). Branding--colors designs--also is very important because it's the instant image of your message. Flow chart of how the process from interest to prospect to customer to referal agent progresses. And much more! Both Mike and Ken have many years of experience working in business development with small to medium organizations. What we've learned from our own mistakes and the mistakes of our clients in spite of our direction could fill a volume. Today we're sharing it in a few minutes of talk time. JOIN US LIVE and get in the chat room. Always a huge thanks to Kevin MacLeod of incompetech.com for his amazing music. Ken is @thekencook Mike is @MikeMueller - areweconnected.com

It happens. You leave a comment on a business's page and they promise to hunt you down and destroy you. Or, you own a business and another business stalks your social media and pokes at you constantly. Here are some things Mike and Ken suggest you may try. STARTING NEXT WEEK! Rapid Fire is going to become a "game show" segment. You'll be able to play along by Tweeting your answers to the Rapid Fire questions. We will announce the prizes sometime before that show on our Facebook page so be sure to LISTEN LIVE and have a chance to win! Ken is @thekencook Mike is @MikeMueller and http://areweconnected.com Always a huge thanks to Kevin MacLeod of incompetech.com for any awesome music we use from him.

Ken rates Mike's show idea 5 stars. Ken was going to talk about Business Bullying (like 1 star ratings for no apparent good reason) but Mike wanted to talk about the importance of and how to get Five Stars. It's going to be fun because Ken is going to confess his star rating criteria. Mike and I are both small business development professionals. Much of what we do revolves around public perception of our clients. We talk with them about things like Yelp and Facebook ratings. I have just completed a fairly involved online ratings system for real estate agents which has a couple of twists and curves. Last year I developed a pretty intense condo review site for Toronto which allows star ratings. Today we're going to discuss the importance of understanding the power of ratings, why the BBB is still in business, and what you can do to increase your likelihood of getting 5 stars. Not 4, not 2, but 5. So basically all of them. All the stars.

Whether you are using WordPress or any other Content Management System (CMS), a development framework, or just good old HTML, you're going to need a 24/7 on computer to serve it to your visitors. First we'll define what a server is--many people don't understand. Then we'll discuss how the HTML on the server you are using gets to the people who are viewing your pages and content. Then we'll discuss other attributes and services that come on the web server. Did you know, for example, there are mutliple "servers" on the one computer we call a server? Join us LIVE to get in the chat room or phone in your questions. Ken and Mike have been doing this show for many years and we, along with our core group of loyal listeners, welcome you to listen and participate. Ken is @thekencook http://thekencook.com Mike is @MikeMueller http://areweconnected.com ALWAYS! A very special thanks to KEVIN MACLEOD for his great music used in spots throughout the show. Kevin is at http://incompetech.com

It's the age old question: How to I get people to buy my ____? The Internet changed marketing forever. It will never be exactly like it was in cold-calling, post-card mailing, Yellow Pages days. Even that we had nearly 100 years to figure out and people still struggled with it. So let's talk about the carnival barker or the hot-dog hawker. You'll see a common thread there and it's plainly seen: Sell what you have and nothing else. "Hot dogs! Get your fresh red hots right here! Hot dogs!" That is *ALL* the hot dog hawker says. "Cold beer! Get you ice cold beer here! Cold beer!" That is *ALL* the beer hawker says. "Peanuts! Peanuts! Get your salty, crunchy peanuts!" "Step right up, step right up! See the bearded lady! There's no one like her anywhere else in the world. She's the real deal, a one of a kind. Step right up!" I think you're getting the point. Join Mike and me today as we discuss how these age old methods still work in the Internet age and why we've seen many people flop because they don't use them. We'll be talking about things like the 365 things to do that flopped for so many real estate agents. We'll be talking about major brands and how they succeed online. Then we'll be talking about how to use this method in Social Media without driving your *friends* nutso! Ken is @thekencook http://thekencook.com Mike is @MikeMueller http://areweconnected.com As always a big thanks to Kevin MacLeod for the use of his great music!

Most likely you have heard the acronym CMS. In case you did not know that stands for Content Management System. We're speaking about Web Content, of course, and really CMS - whether the big ones like WordPress, Drupal, Geeklog, Joomla, etc. or custom created ones as I do for many clients - are the rule instead of the exception today. We generally no longer need to have a web developer or content developer on hand to "make changes to our webpage" because it has become so simple to do so ourselves. In fact even though Mike and I perform a preponderance of services to WordPress users, we don't often get the chance to create many static websites. It does happen and we will discuss the why and what for about that. Join us today as we discuss more indepth what a CMS, how it works, why they are valuable, and maybe even if you should have one or not. Listen live and get in the chat room or phone in to ask your questions during the show. Ken is @thekencook thekencook.com Mike is @MikeMueller areweconnected.com

Today Ken and Mike will be discussing why we all need to disconnect; to step back and let things clear before re-engaging. We will address some of the fears of letting go of the control we believe connectivity provides us. We will also discuss how to deal with clients who expect you to be instantly available, 24/7 and how to prep all of your clients for your away time. Both Mike and Ken spent the past weekend disconnected from the internet and fully engaged with nature. We will talk about how we handled that with our clients and prospects and how it affected us not only in business, but emotionally. Ken is @thekencook Mike is @mikemueller http://AreWeConnected.com Always a big thank you to Kevin MacLeod for incidental background music used in the show and spots.  

Join Ken and Mike today as they talk about scenarios wherein something toxic has poisoned business relationships and caused a loss of revenue either for the short term or the long term. We will be discussing some real world happenings and some theoretical possibilities of what to do when it happens to you, how to avoid it happening to you, and a good reason for not doing it to yourself! We'll talk about "transparency", being "genuine", and simply being yourself .... with the appropriate filters! Ken is @thekencook Mike is @mikemueller As always, very many thanks to Kevin MacLeod for the great music used in the intro, outro, and bumpers.

Podcasting is Broadcasting! Ken & Mike are definitely veterans of the podcasting world. Today they will discuss why you must include a podcast in your marketing strategy and how to do it. Everything from tools, tips, and techniques. It doesn't matter what your business or line of work is, if you depend on getting information out to the public it's great to do it through a podcast. How do you pick a topic?Should you have guests?How do you find guests?Should it be live or just recorded?How should you distribute your content?What equipment do you need?Should you use a paid service? Join us while we're LIVE and get in the CHAT ROOM! Always a very special thanks to Kevin MacLeod for the great bumper and background music. Ken is @thekencook Mike is @MikeMueller

Season 9 Episode 21 Listen LIVE and get in the chatroom. That's where the "fun" happens. This week Ken and Mike will reveal their Tool Of The Week, cover the latest news and be joined by another excellent guest in a long line of top industry experts. Brian Meert is the CEO of AdvertiseMint and will discuss the latest features coming out from Facebook/Instagram and discuss best practices. Brian is an expert in digital advertising with over 15 years of experience. Three years ago, he founded AdvertiseMint and it has recently become on of the top Advertising Agencies specializing in Facebook & Instagram ads. Brian has been featured on Inc.com (https://www.inc.com/samira-far/top-20-tools-every-agency-needs-to-succeed.html) and was recently rated one of the top 20 advertising blogs by Feedspot.com. In addition to Facebook advertising, he is a seasoned entrepreneur and has been through an amazing journey of building and selling a business, then building and failing another. When he’s not doing Facebook ads, Brian enjoys CrossFit, mud runs, traveling and going to the beach with his Maltipoo Sophie. Remember you can ask questions or discuss the topic in the chat room, or you can phone in with your questions; But only if you're listening live. Ken is @thekencook Mike is @MikeMueller http://areweconnected.com As always a very special shout out to Kevin MacLeod at Incompetech for the superlative background music for the intro, outro, and Ken's spot.

Per normal Mike and Ken will be discussing their tool of the week as well as news relative to your online presence. Any small business, medium business, or enterprise can benefit from what we have learned and are learning. This is our 9th season and we're happy to have you join us. Please make sure to subscribe so you know what's coming up and also be sure to join us in the chat room if you're listening live! Calie Waterhouse is an accomplished speaker and owner of ProGen Agency providing training, social media classes, marketing and promotional support to locally owned companies who offer services/products that encourage healthy living, outdoor adventure, happy lifestyles.  ProGen is an earth conscious, locally focused company who strives to create awareness of a sustainable Earth for generations to come. It is our mission to work with locally owned companies who offer services/products that encourage healthy living, outdoor adventure, happy lifestyles. https://www.linkedin.com/in/cwaterhouse/ https://twitter.com/CWaterhouse https://www.facebook.com/ProGenAgency/ As always, thanks for listening! Ken is @thekencook Mike is @mikemueller Thanks to Kevin MacLeod for the background music in intro, outro, and Ken's teaser spot.

It's the perfect show for this episode because one of us will be on the road during the show. We all travel or have busy schedules from time to time so let's discuss how we keep connected to our clients when we are away from home base. Ken is @thekencook  Mike is @mikemueller This is our 9th season and we're stoked to still be around with you! As always, thanks to Kevin MacLeod for the great bumper music.

On Friday, 12 May 2017, a ransomware attack named WannaCry was launched. It began on a single, compromised computer in Europe and almost immediately spread to over 230,000 infected computers in 130 countries. Three things made WannaCry an especially successful infection: (1) it made use of stolen National Security Agency (NSA) technology called EternalBlue (2) it focused on Windows computers which had not been security patched and (3) in addition to the worm it also made use of automated Phishing emails. Although Microsoft had issued a security update on 14 March 2017 which would have stopped the worm, there were still enough systems which had not been properly updated to allow the attack to proliferate. It all could have stopped before it started if everyone simply followed the basic rules of personal cyber defense: (1) Always keep all software and your operating system updated (Mac, Linux, and Windows are all exploitable) (2) Use extreme caution when dealing with email    (a) Never open an attachment you did not 100% expect to receive    (b) Always verify links sent to you in email (hover your mouse to check their destination before clicking - learn how to recognize suspicious URLs)    (c) Make sure your antivirus includes email scanning (3) Keep a regular backup of all your sensitive data on a non-networked storage device (the cloud, a thumb-drive, a detachable external disk drive, etc.) Update and back-up immediately regardless of which operating system you are using. While this first round is defeated there is a high likelihood of a re-launch as early as today, 15 May.   Thanks to Kevin MacLeod for the great intro music! Ken Cook is @thekencook http://thekencook.com Mike Mueller is @mikemueller http://areweconnected.com

* sorry for the link bait but not sorry. There are links you are so compelled to click you either have to click them or move away from them to keep yourself from clicking them. They aren't all click bait. Some of them are simply great titles designed to play on YOUR emotions. Not everyone is compelled by the same words so a shotgun approach is used by link writers. Yes, there are link writers who get paid to write ... link titles. Ken is @thekencook and http://thekencook.com Mike is @MikeMueller and http://areweconnected.com As always, thanks to Kevin MacLeod for the great bumper music. http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/

Facebook Post Privacy and Sharing Changes - you may have notice the "Share" button on Facebook posts seems to have a mind of it's own. Here's how to understand a little better what is happening and how to make sure your posts can be shared. We talk often about Landing Pages but really, do you need them? Here's why you probably do, what they should do for you and how you should use them. Keyword Monitoring is still a thing, right? "Be number one on Google - call me now!" Riiiiiiight.

If you're on Twitter your DM inbox is probably hit regularly by people thanking you for following. Of course it is accompanied by a link to check out their special offer for Twitter friends. Likewise you probably get tagged or included in a group message on Facebook about someone's Open House...five states away. Or, someone has downloaded all of their LinkedIn contacts into email and sent out blasts about their job opening or the company they are recruiting for. Maybe you have WordPress or some other contact form on your website and you receive a constant stream of people who can get you into first position on Google. Yeah, we know because we do too. Some people are quite sensitive about getting unsolicited messages. Others may not be. Some even turn them around for marketing purposes. "You market me, I market you back." If you have a story to share or would like to voice your comment please join us in the chatroom or phone in. Well It Has Happened Again This time it's a landscape company out of Marietta, Georgia who didn't have the kindest response to a complaint. Allegedly, the owner of the landscape company didn't feel compelled to wait at an intersection so he drove over the curb to get around the other vehicles and went on his merry way. One of the people in the traffic texted the number on the side of the truck with a complaint. The texter did not know this was the owner in the truck (although many landscaping companies are very small businesses) and was surprised at the response. In fact, quite shocked at the response. The text screenshot then made it's way onto social media in a busy city group on Facebook. The admin turned off comments at 108. The text of the response goes something like this: "Boo hoo *itch... I don't need your business. Sincerely, (landscape company!" Ken is @thekencook http://thekencook.com Mike is @mikemueller http://areweconnected.com

Mega churches don't get that way for beating people up. Superior organizations aren't known for abusing employees or customers (and if it happens, they fix it). Amazon did not come to be a giant (THE giant) by making demands but rather by meeting demands. Today, Ken and Mike will be discussing methods they have used and seen used to successfully attract and keep customers and in return receive kind words and even successful referrals. While the term "social" is still the first name of "Social Media" it is possible for a business, your business, to positively impact the online community by brining knowledge, a peaceful experience, and generally "the warm fuzzies" to the stream. Especially at points of high turmoil, it is possible for even small business owners to make a big difference in how people feel about themselves and therefor doing business with that business person. Join us LIVE on Tuesdays at 11AM Eastern/8AM Pacific (virtually) every week. If you would like to be a guest or if you know someone who would make a great guest, please contact Ken or Mike Ken is @thekencook - icobb.com Mike is @mikemueller - areweconnected.com

Facebook, man! Facebook is hosting their first ever Community Admin event. This June 22 and 23rd in Chicago, Facebook founder and CEO "the Zuck" will be meeting with select admins to get down to the nitty gritty on how Facebook can empower us all to build better communities on the social media platform. Pyotr Levashov of Kelihos has been arrested - this should shut down some spam and brute force attacks on websites. Oh Pepsi! Wait, OH UNITED! Ken is http://thekencook.com and @thekencook Mike is http://areweconnected.com and @MikeMueller As always, a big shout out to Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com for the great bumper music!  

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Instagram .... what if they did not exist? If you're still not understanding what Social Media can do for you, your group, your business, your customers, your church, your election campaign, your mountain biking event, your high school reunion, perhaps you will after this discussion! You may be surprised what you can teach us, too. Plus: there are thousands and thousands of themes. Most are free. So how do you know which one is right for you? Is there a way to find out which theme a competitor is using? Word of caution: just because you see the theme in the demo look a certain way *never* means yours will look that way "out of the box". Many of them are highly customized. Some are customized well beyond the capabilities of even advanced users and require experienced WordPress coders to match the look. If you are listening live make sure to get in the chat room or call in to speak with Ken and Mike. Ken is http://thekencook.com and @thekencook Mike is http://areweconnected.com and @mikemueller

Did you Google OTA? Great experiences and horrible experiences stand out. But, we wager the memories of average experiences just fade with time. For example, Ken has had great experiences with Amazon; order something you need and it comes as soon as that day. While we do not intened to simply discuss experiences they may come up as examples. Rather, we intend to think like customers and discuss things from blogging to social, and even mobile experiences from a customer's view point. Join us in the discussio in the chat room or, if you have a relevant point of conversation, call the guest line and join us on the air. As always we will have Mike's and Ken's featured tool segment as well as playing a round of Rapid Fire. To join in on Rapid Fire you can either get in the chat room and log your answers or phone in for a chance to play along. Be sure to share this show with your social media connections. We know there is valuable information in here that many people would call a "webinar" and charge some crazy fee for. Hmmm, maybe we're doing it wrong! Ken is @thekencook http://thekencook.com Mike is @mikemueller http://areweconnected.com Thanks to Kevin MacLeod for the music you hear at the beginning and end of the show.

Patrick is a friend of Mike and Ken through the social media world. He recently launched a new organization with a different perspective on some basic prinicples. What may be called a revival of business intelligence, Patrick has unleashed Prismana. Today we will hear from Patrick exactly what Prismana is, what it does, how it does it, and why you probably need it. Prismana can effectively eliminate the need for the following: expensive external call tracking servicescomplicated and expensive funnel serviceslanding pages (yes, no need for them anymore)asking the question "how did you find us?" and expecting a clear answer The big benefits of Prismana are that it's a) easy to implement, b) easy to use, c) cost effective, and d) doesn't require you to change your systems or process to use it. You are not shackled to Prismana so if you stop using it nothing changes except you go back to not knowing what's driving your sales. There's no migration. There's no extra systems or expensive add-ons. It just does its thing and frees you up to do yours.    Ken is @thekencook at http://thekencook.com Mike is @mikemueller at http://areweconnected.com

If you have been a listener since December of 2008, you'll remember the early days with Jason Crouch as co-host of Social Media Edge. Jason left the show a few years ago to focus on things that make better sense for his life, his family, and his service. Join us as we catch up with Jason and find out how he's using social media in his multi-faceted world.

Ah, sweet WordPress plugins! If it were not for the occassional need for a custom WordPress plugin their probably would only be a 15 minute Social Media Edge Radio show (because that's how the time gets paid for!) So Ken and Mike know that plugins can be a little confusing, may not do exactly what you want, can be "manipulated" and should be used by everyone who has a WordPress website. As you should know we generally discuss self-hosted WordPress but some of these skills are crossover to WordPress.com sites as well. If you have a question about a WordPress plugin this is the time to get in the chat room or call in to the show while we are on live. Essentially this is a 30 minute FREE WEBINAR about WordPress and WordPress plugins. Ken is http://thekencook.com Mike is http://areweconnected.com

Mike put Ken on the spot for today's show. That's okay because this needs to be discussed. Twitter is very much alive and doing very well for many people. Today we're going to discuss how Ken still uses Twitter (even more than Facebook or LinkedIn) and gets a few leads with very little effort. Obviously if it works with very little effort to get a few leads then it stands to reason that by upping the effort the return will also increase. You really need to listen live and get in the chatroom to get the full benefit. But, since most people do not listen live we will do our best to make sure you get what you need. What you'll need for this show is a Twitter account, about 30 minutes of your time, and the desire to act on what you learn. Take the 60 day challenge and if you do not see results you'll be fully entitled to a refund of your cost of admission. (The lawyers say to make sure everyone knows that cost is $0.)

So much for evergreen content! I bet you know what today is. Join Mike and Ken as we discuss many of the things we love about digital marketing, sales, community building, and more. Since we're both young at heart and have decades of experience at it, we're sure you're going to agree with many of these. We'd really like for you to join us in the chat room or even phone in and share some of the things you love about social media, blogging, eCommerce, data intelligence, and more. Ken is @thekencook on Twitter and at http://thekencook.com Mike is @mikemueller on Twitter and at http://areweconnected.com

News, news and more news! A lot of things are happening in the social network world right now and we don't have time to cover even all of the news. We're going to give you just the top news most relevant to you to get our day started. Then of course Mike and Ken will have our tools to share with you as well. The meat we're serving today is going to be about syndicating your content. Every blogger knows when you are first getting started building your community online it can be very difficult to get readers, shares, likes, and comments. Even if you've been doing it for some time it can still be very difficult. You really have to work it or have lots of bunny pictures. Syndication can help with that. By automatically posting your content to the social networks you can make a big impace. We're also going to talk about the need to do much more on those social networks than simply push your content out. Having nothing but automated posts can have a negative impact - so there is a balance you will need to find! Be sure to get to SocialMediaEdge.com and subscribe for Smokin' Hot Social Media News - the spam free - occasional email with crucial information about your online business.

We know - the guru told you back in 2012 that SEO was dead, dead, dead. They probably also charged anywhere from $29.95 to $3000 for that info. Chances are some of them even told you blogging was dead, dead, dead. Well, we're here to tell you that they are both more alive than ever. Sure, the SEO landscape has changed many times. There's one thing that remains: Google (et al) want to deliver the very best search results they can for their customers. Their customers are anyone who types a search phrase in that search bar or who visits a page containing an AdWords campaign. You? Oh, as the publisher - your'e the product. Today we're going to discuss something that is more maligned and falsified than just about any other topic relevent to online marketing and especially content marketing. Join Ken and Mike as we discuss how to use combinations of keywords both in content and in purchasing online ads to make the best of your dollar. Learn how to cast a wide net and how to hunt with a spear. Learn the difference and why the cost/reward ratio can change drastically. Most of all, learn how to learn more about this topic because there is no way in 30 minutes to have you become a Master Guru!

Show Notes Jan 17 Season 9 Episode 3 Engaging and Tracking the RIGHT way   Advertising and inbound tracking Facebook Pixel Google analytics Bing analytics   Socially responsible adults Facebook Open Graph Twitter Cards

On last week's episode, Season 9 Episode 1, we talked a little about the sales funnel, the sales cycle, and what to do with leads once you have them. Mike new right where to go for a great follow up so he invited Chris Drayer of Revaluate to join us for a segment this week. Revaluate is a real estate lead assistant program which helps you do more than "just stay in touch" with prospects. The idea does not have to end with real estate agents, though. What we learn today about the process can cross industries. Listen in as we discuss other hot topics, online marketing news, and chat with Chris!   From Revaluate: Beer, Big Data & Real Estate Sales Cycles Everybody moves - but the sales cycle can vary by decades. If they keep in touch with them, agents know when people are thinking of moving. Previously, the best way to stay in touch with people is probably to grab coffee or beers with them every so often. However, these days real estate agents typically have about 2,000 contacts comprised of friends and family, past customers, networking contacts and leads they've purchased.  That's too much caffeine and beer for a mere mortal - plus, it's time and cost prohibitive. Revaluate layers in big data intelligence and tracks your contacts to tell you who's most likely to move in the next 3-6 months - so you can grab a beverage with those prospects that are most likely to move. Revaluate sorts out the prospects from your contacts - helping you focus on the shortest sales cycles possible.

Welcome to the beginning of our NINTH year. Yes, 9. We started in 2008 and we're still here. Today we start out with the Tool of the Week. Mike and Ken will each share their pick of a tool this week. It may be a tool they use, one they recommend, or just one for fun. Get in the CHAT ROOM and share yours! Have you subscribed to the Smokin' Hot Social Media News? DO it! Subscribe here. No Spam Ever. Our topic today is your leads. We talk regularly about how to get leads and not so regularly about what to do with them once you have them. Whether they are self-generated leads, referals, or purchased leads - they are all valuable. How do you keep them interested long enough to close the deal with them? It's a topic for the ages and we're kicking of season 9 with just this topic.

Yet more feux pas have gone into the records this year. It seems some folks will never learn -- which is great show fodder for Ken and Mike as we look for entertaining yet relevent information to discuss on the show. As we look back at past shows we'll re-cap things we have learn from our guests and while researching the show. Of course we'll also discuss current and relevent news to help us all be better users of social media for marketing, sales, personal, and doing so safely. Ken is @thekencook http://thekencook.com Mike is @mikemueller http://areweconnected.com

Like it or not, 2017 will be here in less than 2 weeks. Now that this episode is no longer evergreen, let's see how we do with our projections! Virtual Reality is already on the scene and during today's episode we're going to discuss how it can impact online marketing and social media. Coupled with the continuing exodus of desktops and even laptops, we're sure the changes being ushered in for 2017 will dramatically impact your online activities: both business and personal. Join us live and get in the chat room. Co-hosts are Ken Cook and Mike Mueller Ken is thekencook.com and Mike is areweconnected.com

We all read blogs and we all watch videos. When is it best to use one instead of the other? Today we will discuss the power of video, the power of text, why one may be better than the other, and in which circumstances. YouTube is huge and other video repositories are growing constantly. But is video any better than text? Are there times when both should be used in the same post, article, or page? Ken is @thekencook on Twitter and thekencook.com Mike is @mikemueller on Twitter and areweconnected.com

You've probably heard the term "SSL". Today we talk about how it impacts your future, and your today. Because today we discuss SSL - what it is, why it is important, how we're basically being herded into it, what to do about it. We'll discuss the what, why, and how, as well as the reasons Secure Socket Layers should, and soon *must*, be a part of your web presence. While we don't intend to get too "techy" for the average user, there is plenty to be learned about SSL outside of this short show. If you have questions about SSL, your website, your visitors, and how all of those could impact your activity, results, and business, don't hesitate to get in the chat room or call (if you're listening live) or to contact Ken or Mike outside of the show. Ken is @thekencook on Twitter and at http://thekencook.com Mike is @mikemueller on Twitter and http://areweconnected.com

Everyone knows it's impossible to read every post, tweet, and comment.  So how do you get the information you want? Or maybe more importantly, how do you get the information you need? Today, Ken & Mike will discuss just this topic. We will look at ways we have used and perhaps ways we will discover during today's episode to filter, cull, group, list, and compartmentalize information. With several thousand followers, readers, and viewers, it becomes very imoportant to "sniff out" the information that needs a prompt response. Likewise, when looking for information, it helps to know how to filter out the noise.

Ken & Mike are both web developers who work completely independent from each other but on similar types of projects. Today they will discuss which technologies and tools they are most thankful for and why. They will also include short discussions about how they use them in their daily work and how it improves their services. Ken is @thekencook and http://thekencook.com Mike is @MikeMueller and http://areweconnected.com If you're listening live, get in the chat room. Otherwise feel free to browse through the hundreds of episodes available here on BlogTalkRadio and in iTunes. We have been on the air almost every Tuesday since 2008 and there are no plans to quit this well paying job anytime soon ;)

*almost Knowing when to post which means time of day, day of the week, special days of the year, and more can boost results by large numbers. Today, join Ken and Mike as we discuss this topic, some tools used to help, and add your ideas by calling in or joining use in the chatroom (if you're listening live - because in this case, timing is everything!).

Whether blogging or advertising you have a target audience. Sometimes we set very wide horizons hoping by the number of exposures we reap some results. At other times we set a very narrow horizon and aim for specific needs or desires. But, how do you determine your audience and then how to you decide on what to write? Mike and Ken will discuss this evergreen topic today on the show. Be sure to get in the chat room if you are listening live. Ken is @thekencookhttp://thekencook.com Mike is @mikemuellerhttp://areweconnected.com

Ken & Mike have probably discussed this topic as much as any other: When something is posted about your business or you, whether it is true or not, how do you respond? Fortunately we know a professional who can really bring some light to this topic. We'll be joined today by Brandie Young of Marketing TBD and her Twitter profile says it: Co-Founder, Marketing TBD. Marketer striving for work/life balance. Rich in friends, fun & opinions. Think mean people & shoddy reporting suck. @Brandiel Join us LIVE if you can and get in the chat room. Ken Cook is thekencook.com and @thekencook Mike Mueller is areweconnected.com and @MikeMueller

Have a presence online? Is it mobile ready? If not you may as well be driving a steam powered car to the office. Mobile ready is something everyone should have been by 2008. If you are not, this is time to play catch up - and quickly. Here are the answers (and more) to points like: What is “Mobile Ready”? What needs to be Mobile Ready? Why should content be Mobile Ready? How do you know if you’re Mobile Ready? Does Google care about Mobile Ready? How do you get Mobile Ready?   Maybe you would feel better if we asked them in Latin? Just kidding. But for real, it's time to catch up. Now.

Violence Against Women? Bullying? Threats? On a real estate event bus? Rob Hahn is a well known and respected management consultant to the real estate industry. He is also known for plain talk and not pulling punches when a direct hit can save people from myths, misconceptions, or themselves.  Rob recently published a blog post titled The Biggest Pile of $#!7 I’ve Stepped In: A Followup and it started a little conversation firestorm that soon became hot! He'll be joining us today to continue the conversation and we hope you'll pipe up too. We've even extended today's scheduled episode time to accomodate. Part of this ongoing saga Ken would like to focus on are found in these two paragraphs: "Second, since I posted, Lab Coat Agents has gone on a censorship spree. Dozens, if not hundreds, and possibly more, people have been kicked out of the Facebook Group for raising the issue. Entire threads have been deleted. One person reported that comments are being deleted as fast as they’re posted. They have every right to do whatever they wish with their Facebook Group, but as a third party who offered them a chance to recount their version of the Conversation, this doesn’t look good for their credibility." I recommend you read the post(s) then listen to the show. Don't say TLDR because this is critical thinking fodder at its best. Yes, it's over the top but it emphasizes all of the components of the self-destruction cycle seen in textbook style social personality flubs.  

They say Kim Kardashian was taped up and tossed into a bathtub before being robbed because of her activities on social media. If true, this is a dramatic representation. But the reality is you may become a victim as a result of posting to social media. Today we discuss possible ways to avoid you or your family members becoming a victim. I just returned from a 5 day deployment to help with the response to Hurricane Andrew. On thing I did when I had time was scour the social web for people who said they had evacuated. The list was extensive. Fortunately there are no stories of homes being looted in my area of operations, but there certainly was plenty of opportunity! What are your experiences? Do you have any advice? Call in and let us know! Talking Points: Facebook Safety Check Status updates Current location Future plans Photos from travels Photos of friends/family Children's names and school names "We never miss going to ________"

Join us this morning as we talk about redirecting efforts in social. We will be joined this morning by Randy Barnes who has poked at direction and branding many times and has enjoyed good success while he moved others to the back burner, or the round file. If he joins we'll be discussing a recent success that he had with a project called Hamburger Square. Some years ago we had a "Guru" from the real estate marketing world on the show and he and Ken had a little on air battle royale over "re-creating yourself (or your brand) in Social Media". That was some 6 or 7 years ago and Ken's version is alive and well. When something is not working, change it. That change may even include a re-branding of your services, a re-direction of your personal focus, or even a new "identity" for your business or yourself. The idea that we cannot re-label the things we do is absurd. "There are many reasons why a professional services firm might consider rebranding. Most of them are firmly rooted in a need to reposition the firm in the marketplace." - hingemarketing.com  

Italina helps the Real Estate Community’s Top Realtors and Mortgage Professionals upgrade their presence online through LinkedIn, Facebook and Email Newsletters. Her work as an Online Presence Expert, is vastly different from her study of the law. Nevertheless, once Italina graduated from law school, she opened her Online Branding & Marketing Firm.

You may be thinking one of two things: (A) What is Flipboard? (B) Why do we need Yet Another social marketing channel? You're in luck because today's guest Janette Speyer is going to answer those questions and more! I first heard of Janette on Twitter (shocker) and began to pay attention to what she was saying about Flipboard. Admittedly, I had not quite thought of the use she is going to present to us today. So for all of our marketing and Real Estate listeners you will not want to miss this episode.  Janette Speyer, V.P. Web Success Team https://flipboard.com/@websuccess - By day: Social Media, Blogger, Designer, Traveler, Foodie. I Flipboard all night! Janette  was born in Manchester, England, but was raised  in Venezuela. She worked at the international advertising agency Young & Rubicam de Venezuela as art director. Janette put her creative and tri-cultural talents to work designing  print and broadcast campaigns for GE, Proctor & Gamble, among others. In 2003, Janette joined WST where she is responsible for the creation and execution of online marketing campaigns. She also oversees creative web development and offline design projects for Team clients. Janette is also fluent in Spanish, French and a little Italian. Ken Cook is a web programmer specializing in Custom WordPress Coding http://thekencook.com Mike Mueller is a builder of beautiful sites using WordPress (among other skills) http://areweconnected.com  

All the news that's fit to discuss! Join us to discuss the hottest topics in social media and online marketing. Be sure to get into the chat room or call in with your questions and comments.

From sponsored posts on Facebook, to sponsored stickers on Twitter, and lots of things in between. Mike and Ken will be discussing theory, cost, application, and expectations about using paid marketing (and free marketing) on social media to help get your point across. Have you ever wanted to have your own promoted sticker on Twitter? You'll need a bigger checkbook; let's talk about who this is for and who it is not for. How about Geofilters on SnapChat? You've seen those Geofilters that pop-up when you're in a specific city or at a venue. Are those affordable? Are they for you?

Storyteller. SM consultant. Journalist now turning PR on its head at @DriveWestComm. Lover of animals, travel, good ppl, good stories. Creator/Host of #ChatSnap Kristy Gillentine's career as a communications professional includes more than 13 years of combined experience in print journalism, broadcast journalism, news radio, public relations and social media management. More than half of her career has been devoted to digital communications, including website and social media management, strategy development and implementation, content creation and performance metrics. She loves using her extensive experience and ongoing research in social media and storytelling to help people and brands tell their stories using new technologies and platforms to expand their reach, increase their impact and grow their communities of engaged supporters. [Read More] Vist the ChatSnap page on krisgillentine.com that has a description of the chat and a selection of recaps from past chats.