Add and Automate Updates on Your Ning Networks

I hesitate to tell you how long I've been looking for a way to add and automate updates to my Ning profile pages. Several months ago I heard about Ping.FM and love the way it automates updates on a wide variety of social media sites - although there are some more I think should be added.

But, my biggest wish was to find a way to add these updates to my Ning profiles - and I have profiles on almost 40 Ning networks. So - that one little thing could add updates to 40 more social sites. Maybe that explains why I was so anxious to find a way to automate this.

Just a note - in case you're reading this and don't know what I mean by "update" - this is the short messages that we post on Twitter and that you see on other social sites like Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and MANY other sites. It is in that box that usually says something like - What are you doing?

So last night I was working on the social media package descriptions for a new social media setup that we will be offering in the very near future. I was creating a spreadsheet template for the full list of social sites that we set up for clients who opt for this service. I checked the Ping.FM site to be sure I hadn't missed any sites - and that's when I saw Shoutem.com. I'm not sure if its new or if I just missed it in the past.

I clicked on Shoutem.com to add it to my postings from Ping.FM and I set up my profile on their site. That's when I saw a note about adding ShoutEm.com to my Ning site. At that point - I stopped everything else and had to check out the post.

I will admit that I made a few mistakes in this setup - but it is working now. I'll even share the silly things I did wrong to save you all that wasted time :) So - here are my step by step instructions for this setup. As a quick bit of shameless self promotion - this is a small part of the new social media setup programs that my company Promo 101 Promotional Services offers --- more information about that when I finish designing the packages we will offer.

1. You need a Ping.FM account - www.ping.fm
2. You need a ShoutEm.com account - www.shoutem.com.
3. Set up your own network or join another network on ShoutEm. You will need the URL for your network and also your user name when you set up the Ning application.
4. You need at least one account on a Ning Network. If you don't have any, but would like to check it out - I invite you to visit one of mine http://readersstation.ning.com
5. Once these accounts are in place - log into your Ping.fm account and you will be on the dashboard. On the left side of the page you will see "Add More Networks". Click there and it will bring up the full list of sites that you can connect on.
6. This can be routed through ShoutEm (http://www.shoutem.com) and Laconia - (http://laconi.ca) PS - Do not sign up for both - or two copies of your pings will go to Ning.
7. I was unsure what needed to go in the "server" box - use your URL with the http:// and you do not need to include your username in the URL.
8. Go to your ShoutEm network page - this is mine http://promo101.shoutem.com/admin to see an example. At the bottom of the page, click on "widgets". This page will give you the URL to use on your Ning page and it also gives you the html if you want to add the ShoutEm.com widget to your own Ning network.
9. Go to your Ning profile page and on just about every network that I'm on - under my profile picture I see this link - Add Profile Apps
10. Click on Add Profile Apps and you will see a list of applications that you can add. In the left column - you will see a list of links, click on +Add by URL
11. Once you click on +Add by URL you will see a box - this is the URL that you need to add http://www.shoutem.com/apps/ning/1.0/ShoutEmNingApp.xml
12. Go back to your Ning Profile page and click "settings" on your ShoutEm box which will be at the top of the page. In the first box - put the URL for your network - mine is promo101.shoutem.com and in the second box add your username - mine is admin
13. Once that is done - you are ready to post. Add a new ping on Ping.FM and it should post on all your Ning profile pages where you added the ShoutEm application.

That may seem like a lot - but imagine all the time you will save once it is setup.

This is one small part of the social media setup that we offer. It is a wonderful and very useful tool to help you connect with people on your social networks. We can even set this up so that you can "ping" through your email account. If you would like more information, feel free to contact nikki@nikkileigh.com

Till next time - Look for more tips....

Nikki Leigh
Author of Book Promo 201: Harness the Power of the Internet with Web 2.0 and Social Media Marketing

Do You Have Questions About Twitter?

This is a link to a radio show I did to help people understand more about Twitter - how to use it, some things to avoid, learning your way around the page and settings and more ---

Blazing Trailers - New Site to Share Your Books and Trailers

Blazing Trailers
Books at the speed of fun.

Over 300 books strong and growing...

www.blazingtrailers.com

It's official. Blazing Trailers is now open for submissions. If you
have a book trailer, it's free to post. Instead of inviting readers to
view your trailer on a dead end url at a video sharing site, send them
to Blazing Trailers. Each video is accompanied by an excerpt, review,
blurb, author info and BUY LINKS! Blazing Trailers authors are also
invited to share their news, contests, reviews, etc on the home page.

The site is still in the first stages, but we're planning a launch
party soon. The next phases of Blazing Trailers will include
individual author pages and viewer comments, among other surprises.

To submit a trailer visit http://www.blazingtrailers.com/submit.php.
The submissions form is still beta testing. If you have any questions
or problems, please email me at kimm@blazingtrailers.com

Oh, and did I mention...it's FREE?

Kim McDougall

kimm@blazingtrailers.com

Let's Talk About How to Get Started on Twitter

Tuesday May 5th I'll be talking about Twitter on my radio show at - www.blogtalkradio.com/nikkileigh - we'll be on air at 4 pm EST. My guest will be Lizzie T Leaf - hear what she has to say about the call ;)


I always thought I have a face for radio and now I get to prove it. Nikki Leigh has invited me to be a guest on her Blogtalk radio show and she will strive to answer my questions about Twitter. Come share Nikki's pain as she attempts to educate a very non-techo author (that would be me) on one of the latest social networks available to all of us these days.

www.blogtalkradio.com/nikkileigh and the call is May 5, 2009 at 4 pm EST --- people can visit the page and click "reminder" on the show listing and BTR will send them a reminder about the call. Very cool service :)

Look forward to your support!

Lizzie

And - my response --

"Share Nikki's pain" --- wow - I better prepare really well for this show :) All right folks - I need support and the show will give you a chance to ask your questions too -- so definitely come visit on Tuesday. If you can't make it live - you can also download the show after it airs. I plan to share lots of great information to help people get started on Tiwtter, to learn their way around the site and to talk about some of the tools that make it easier to participate. I have a feeling we will even talk about why you should even be on Twitter. Is it worth the effort? You will have to tune in to hear more :)


Nikki Leigh
Author of Book Promo 201: Harness the Power of the Internet with Web 2.0 and
Social Media Marketing
http://www.nikkileigh.com
http://www.twitter.com/litekepr

Why Should You Consider a Virtual Blog Tour?

The simplest description for my idea of a virtual blog tour is: a cyber “tour” which includes various blogs, websites, radio shows, newsletters etc. The more effective sites usually contain themes or content from the book that is being promoted. This “tour” gives authors the chance to reach many people as they travel the world wide web.

A tour includes a series of appearances with blogs, website interviews, reviews or guest posts etc that are posted on various sites during a specific amount of time. Various site owners host you and may ask interview questions about your book or request that you write a piece about a specific part or element of your book.

Benefits of a Blog

Why would you do a virtual tour? Is it all about book sales? Selling books is only one of the reasons I encourage people to do virtual tours. The following reasons apply to fiction and non-fiction authors – however, some can be utilized more thoroughly by non-fiction and business authors.

• Build credibility
• Increase visibility
• Generate a buzz about your book
• Reach your target audience
• Get information to many people in a short period of time
• Generate additional links back to your site
• Let readers and potential readers learn more about you and your books
• Help blog readers get to know the person behind the book or other product
• Search engines love blogs and you get into search engines immediately
• Gives your target audience the opportunity to communicate with you
• Comments can give you the chance to see what people think about your topics

You can organize a tour for yourself or you can hire a professional. But, ask what the professional can do for you. There are many ways to describe a virtual tour and be sure the other person explains what they plan to do – and more importantly, that they plan the best approach for you and your book. When a professional coordinates your tour it lets you benefit from their promotional network to generate a much larger reach for you.


Nikki Leigh is an award winning fiction and non-fiction author with over sixteen years of promotional experience. Promo 101 Promotional Services offers online promotional options. Her new book will be available in May- Book Promo 201: Harness the Power of the Internet with Web 2.0 and Social Media Marketing. The most up to date information is posted at www.twitter.com/litekepr. Visit www.nikkileigh.com to download The Insider's Guide to Virtual Book Tours. Additional promotional information can be found at http://promo101articles.blogspot.com.

To be notified when Book Promo 201 is available - send Nikki your address --

Name: Email:

Book Promo 201: Harness the Power of the Internet with Web 2.0 and Social Media Marketing

To be notified when Book Promo 201 is available - send Nikki your address --

Name: Email:

A Plethora Of Facebook Links From Kathleen Gage

I got an email from Kathleen Gage over the weekend as a follow up to a program I was in with her. At the end of the message she included some great links to videos to help people learn more about Facebook and it seemed like great information to share here. So, I'm including the links below. Feel free to let me know which one you think helped you the most :)

Nikki Leigh

Below are the links to the videos. Well worth watching.

How to Register and Join Facebook 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSHxSlUuZxo

How to Use Facebook : How to Use the Account Page on Facebook
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28VYZCtfzIc

How to Use Facebook : How to Use your Facebook  Homepage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqK3NrmcyQ4

How to Use Facebook : How to Use the "Wall" on your Facebook Page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EGFXZaCBmQ


How to Use Facebook : How to Find, Invite, & Add Friends on Facebook
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMvQJNiGkEA

How to Use Facebook : Learn More About Facebook Through its Site tour
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myCkW7vlGAU

How to Use Facebook : How to Create a Slideshow on Facebook with your Photos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_UzmNma8EY

In success,

Kathleen Gage

www.KathleenGage.com

www.streetssmartmarketing.com

Nadene Carter of NorLights Press Shares Her Comments About Book Promo 201

I’m so excited about this book! When Nikki first introduced me to her Web 2.0 marketing ideas, it felt like learning a new language. Nikki assured me, a better analogy was that of learning a new dialect. This has proven to be true.

Nikki has years of marketing experience, which makes her ideally suited as author of this book. She provides lots of ideas and hands-on information. This allows the reader to pick and choose those ideas that feel right for the marketing of his/her book.

Some of the things I found especially helpful for me: I’d come to a point in my professional life where I knew I needed to step out of my comfort zone. Using Nikki’s information on social networking, I opened a facebook account and started reading other people’s posts: authors, readers’ groups, and people from many walks of life, and networking with other people. By actually doing the work, I gained an understanding of how useful social networking can be.

Also, some time ago I started a blog for each of my three published books. Now that I’m co-owner of NorLightsPress.com I recognized that I needed to create a blog for our company and make it a priority to post often and provide useful information.

That required me to step WAY out of my comfort zone to learn about twitter and other social bookmarking sites. Nikki goes into this in great detail in her book. I hope readers find it as fascinating as I do. It’s true what Nikki says about learning by simply jumping in and doing it. Experience really is the best teacher with this new technology.

If you’ve ever wondered how the pros create “buzz” for their books, you’ll find the answers inside the pages of this book.

Nadene R. Carter, published author and

Executive Publisher - NorLightsPress.com

For more information about Book Promo 201 Harness the Power of the Internet with Web 2.0 and Social Media Marketing - http://www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_201.htm you can also register to be notified when it is available.

Author Elena Dorothy Bowman Shares Her Review for Book Promo 201

Nikki Leigh's Online Book Promotion 201 is one fantastic book that will be a boon to any author, professional or novice. It is loaded with fact–finding information that will help any author who reads it to perfect their marketing techniques. The book itself reads smoothly, completely geared to those not heavily technically oriented and is easy to follow and understand. It is and will be a wonderful reference tool for any author who is willing to use it to its fullest extent. I recommend this book highly for all authors, including myself.

Elena Dorothy Bowman -
Author of The Sarah's Landing Series, The Legacy Series, Time-Rift, The Odyssey and The Imposter

For more information about Book Promo 201 Harness the Power of the Internet with Web 2.0 and Social Media Marketing - http://www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_201.htm you can also register to be notified when it is available.

Author and Promo Guru Yvonne Perry Reviewed Book Promo 201

The world of online promotion can be confusing, especially for first-time authors who are unfamiliar with the technical aspects of blogging and the new frontier of social networking also known as Web 2.0 technology. So, why do so many people use the Internet to promote books? The exposure an author can have is virtually unlimited, most of the options are free or cost very little, and an author can reach people around the world without leaving home—that’s if you know where to connect with readers and what sites and activities bring the best results both financially and personally.

Nikki Leigh has taken the guess work out of online promotion including Web 2.0 technology. She starts with the basics of online promotion and expands by presenting a variety of promotional options. She gives examples to help you Identify your target market and create a brand, write for your target audience, and know your competition. Then, she defines Web 2.0 and tells what it takes to utilize the technology without spending all day online. She carries her instruction a step farther and deals with viral marketing–what is it and how can it help an author—and includes tips for joining social sites that focus on books and authors. There is even a list of sites that offer free or low-cost services where authors may upload book videos, get book reviews, start their own podcast, or be a guest on a radio show.

Book Promo 201 is a must-have toolbox for authors who need a quick and easy map to locate the best-kept secrets of online promotion.

Yvonne Perry, Owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Services http://writersinthesky.com

For more information about Book Promo 201 Harness the Power of the Internet with Web 2.0 and Social Media Marketing - http://www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_201.htm you can also register to be notified when it is available.

Book Promo 101 Review by Gurutej - The Energy Guru

Who can benefit from Nikki Leigh’s latest book – Book Promo 201: Promote Using the Internet and Web 2.0? Everyone who needs and wants to learn more about that mysterious sounding technology – Web 2.0, should read this book. I have been blessed to work with Nikki and I can tell you she makes those who are slow to grasp web 2.0 feel hopeful. Trust me she has seen me through what felt like treacherous waters and made them calm and inviting. Nikki is very knowledgeable and a very clear web 2.0 teacher. Her book takes this big weird world of Web 2.0 and makes it friendly and understandable. This book is her gift to the world and like her private teachings it is clear, simple and a steal at this price. Be smart buy your copy now and it is a great gift for your friends that are struggling to get a handle on social media, social networking and Web 2.0. I consider this to be the Web 2.0 bible and I keep it close to my computer for easy reference.

Gurutej, Owner and Founder of The Energy Gurus and The Blessings Center

www.theenergygurus.com and www.gurutej.com

For more information about Book Promo 201 Harness the Power of the Internet with Web 2.0 and Social Media Marketing - http://www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_201.htm you can also register to be notified when it is available.

Book Promo 101 Review from Author & Publisher Philip Harris

Nikki Leigh’s latest book, Book Promo 201 brings together the ‘best of the best” in book marketing. If you want to be an author, or already have books in print, this book should be a permanent fixture by your computer. From Web 2.0 to blog tours, branding, on-line promotion, social networking, internet radio, trailers viral marketing and tons more, this book shows you how and where to market your book. It will be a constant reference for both novices and pros.

Philip F. Harris, ALL THINGS THAT MATTER PRESS

For more information about Book Promo 201 Harness the Power of the Internet with Web 2.0 and Social Media Marketing - http://www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_201.htm you can also register to be notified when it is available.

My Book Was Called - Book Promo for Dummies

That was a side comment - this is the review -- thank you to Shobhan for taking the time to do a review for me :)

“In today’s cyber world, Nikki Leigh’s BOOK PROMO 201 is a beacon of hope for technically challenged authors who want to make optimum use of the Web to promote and market their books. Leigh’s primer is the most comprehensive yet easy to follow book marketing tool I have come across.”

----Shobhan Bantwal, author of THE DOWRY BRIDE and THE FORBIDDEN DAUGHTER.

For more information about Book Promo 201 Harness the Power of the Internet with Web 2.0 and Social Media Marketing - http://www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_201.htm you can also register to be notified when it is available.

Reviews for Book Promo Are Starting to Come In and The Title

I'm starting to get early reviews for Book Promo 201 and I'm going to post some to share them.

We also decided on the official title today -- for some reason I have an easier time naming my novels. But, after tossing around different ideas for far too long, this is the official title -

Book Promo 201 - Harness the Power of the Internet With Web 2.0 and Social Media Marketing


Its long, but it says everything that I want the title to say ---

Any thoughts about the title?

For more information about Book Promo 201 Harness the Power of the Internet with Web 2.0 and Social Media Marketing - http://www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_201.htm you can also register to be notified when it is available.

Use Library Thing To Promote Your Books and Yourself

Are you using Library Thing to promote your books? If not, you should take a look around.

I just discovered that you can add links to your social networking profiles and even your Twitter page. I found this out because I'm following Library Thing on Twitter - @LThing

This is my Library Thing page http://www.librarything.com/profile/litekepr in case you'd like to see what they include. You can add all your books to your profile and you can even update your book listing page - in case anything is missing or to include any details you want to share.

Here is some more information about Library Thing - an excerpt from my new book - Book Promo 201. This is just one of the many author specific social sites on the internet :)

Library Thing (Free service – paid upgrade options)

Location on the internet - www.LibraryThing.com

My profile on Library Thing - www.librarything.com/profile/litekepr

My author pages on Library Thing (note the additional details that I added)

www.librarything.com/author/leighnikki

www.librarything.com/author/henkelshri

www.librarything.com/author/henkelshril

www.librarything.com/catalog/litekepr - My catalog of books on Library Thing

Each of my books have their own page and I can make any needed changes on these pages.

The information displayed on the Library Thing site comes from Amazon, the Library of Congress and 80 libraries worldwide. Members have the opportunity to list the books they own or just the books they have read. The site gives you the chance to connect with other readers who like the same sort of books. This is done through book recommendations, tagging books, placing books on your blog. Membership is free, but free members can only list 200 books. Members can upgrade to list any number of books for $10 a year or $25 for a lifetime.

Site Features

· Meet others who like similar books

· Post a reading list

· Search books by author, title and tags

· Correct or add additional information to any book listing

· See what members have marked your books

· Include author events to LibraryThing Local (www.librarything.com/local)

· Your events can be posted on your author page

· Author chats are available

· Add links to your author page

· Add links to your website

· Use the “common knowledge” area to give personal information

· Publisher can add books to “early reviewers” program (www.librarything.com/er/list)

· Bookstores can add their links on the book pages with a link to their site. The frequently asked questions for bookstores is located at www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/Bookstore_integration.

One of the best features I see is the possibility to search our author and book listings with the ability to make necessary changes and updates. We can tag our books, just like we do in Amazon to help interested readers find us easier. The site is called “MySpace for books” and “Facebok for books”. If you are interested in checking to see if your books are available on any of the online book trading sites, you can also find that under “Swap” on the book listing page. If you do not see “swap”, it seems that book isn’t listed on any trading sites.

Each author has an author page as soon as one of their books are listed in a library. So, if you don’t see an author page for your books, simply add them to your library. Once the page is created, you can add:

· Author Photo

· Blog Link

· Fan Sites

· Interviews

· Publisher Information

· Website Links

Any author can become an official LibraryThing author. That include your links and name on this page - www.librarything.com/librarything_author. This is sorted with the most popular authors first and they probably aren’t the authors you would expect to see. By creating and updating your author page, readers can see what you like to read and learn more about you. To become a LibraryThing author, you need to be a member and send an email to abby@librarything.com with your username. She will send you a yellow ribbon to show you’re a LibraryThing author.

Library Thing (Free service – paid upgrade options)

Location on the internet - www.LibraryThing.com

My profile on Library Thing - www.librarything.com/profile/litekepr

My author pages on Library Thing (note the additional details that I added)

www.librarything.com/author/leighnikki

www.librarything.com/author/henkelshri

www.librarything.com/author/henkelshril

www.librarything.com/catalog/litekepr - My catalog of books on Library Thing

Each of my books have their own page and I can make any needed changes on these pages.

The information displayed on the Library Thing site comes from Amazon, the Library of Congress and 80 libraries worldwide. Members have the opportunity to list the books they own or just the books they have read. The site gives you the chance to connect with other readers who like the same sort of books. This is done through book recommendations, tagging books, placing books on your blog. Membership is free, but free members can only list 200 books. Members can upgrade to list any number of books for $10 a year or $25 for a lifetime.

Site Features

· Meet others who like similar books

· Post a reading list

· Search books by author, title and tags

· Correct or add additional information to any book listing

· See what members have marked your books

· Include author events to LibraryThing Local (www.librarything.com/local)

· Your events can be posted on your author page

· Author chats are available

· Add links to your author page

· Add links to your website

· Use the “common knowledge” area to give personal information

· Publisher can add books to “early reviewers” program (www.librarything.com/er/list)

· Bookstores can add their links on the book pages with a link to their site. The frequently asked questions for bookstores is located at www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/Bookstore_integration.

One of the best features I see is the possibility to search our author and book listings with the ability to make necessary changes and updates. We can tag our books, just like we do in Amazon to help interested readers find us easier. The site is called “MySpace for books” and “Facebok for books”. If you are interested in checking to see if your books are available on any of the online book trading sites, you can also find that under “Swap” on the book listing page. If you do not see “swap”, it seems that book isn’t listed on any trading sites.

Each author has an author page as soon as one of their books are listed in a library. So, if you don’t see an author page for your books, simply add them to your library. Once the page is created, you can add:

· Author Photo

· Blog Link

· Fan Sites

· Interviews

· Publisher Information

· Website Links

Any author can become an official LibraryThing author. That include your links and name on this page - www.librarything.com/librarything_author. This is sorted with the most popular authors first and they probably aren’t the authors you would expect to see. By creating and updating your author page, readers can see what you like to read and learn more about you. To become a LibraryThing author, you need to be a member and send an email to abby@librarything.com with your username. She will send you a yellow ribbon to show you’re a LibraryThing author.

Web 2.0 – What is It and Should You Care?

Web 2.0 – What is It and Should You Care?

By Nikki Leigh

Web 2.0 – it isn’t as complicated as it sounds and it is very beneficial for you to learn more about it. Let me start by saying that you are probably already using Web 2.0, but you don’t know it. Web 2.0 is a term that is being heard more often each day. These are great new options that we have on the internet and they can be very beneficial to you and your promotion.

What is Web 2.0

The simplest definition of Web 2.0 is “any option that gives you the opportunity and ability to interact with others”. Interacting with potential customers is something that should be important to any author or business person that wants to get information out about their product or service.

In the past, we were limited by how much and how easily we could communicate on the internet. Think back a few years ago when only people who knew HTML code could post information online. However, with the arrival of Web 2.0, almost anyone can post content online to share with other people.

This is the biggest difference between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 -

· Web 1.0 – Webmasters could post content and basically had control of what was available

· Web 2.0 – The general public can post content and has control of what is available

Below are questions to give you examples of Web 2.0 options on the internet.

· Have you posted a video on YouTube?

· Have you watched a video on YouTube?

· Have you read or posted information on a blog?

· Have you listened to or recorded a podcast?

· Do you have a profile page on MySpace, Facebook, Linked or other social networking sites?

· Have you posted pictures on any picture sharing sites on the internet?

All of these are examples of Web 2.0 and many people are already using Web 2.0 technology without knowing it. But, why is this important to your promotion?

Why You Care

Authors, artists, and other business people benefit when they get their message in front of their target audience and when they can interact with potential customers. Web 2.0 gives you many ways to do that. One advantage is that you can reach a worldwide audience if you want. A second advantage is that you can do targeted marketing to reach only the people you choose. This targeted marketing gives you the best chance of making a sale because it gets your message in front of the people who want or need the product or service you want to sell.

Below are some social media and Web 2.0 examples and the benefits from each. The ideas I share here are just some of the ways to use these websites to promote your work. The options are only limited by your creativity. One of the things I love about my work is customizing a promotional campaign for business people and their products or services. There are unlimited ways to do this with Web 2.0.

Facebook – Facebook gives you the opportunity to network with new people. You can search to locate your target audience and then present your product or service through your profile page, various applications, groups and fan pages you can easily create to promote your work. Facebook also offers targeted advertising on their site.

My Space – This site offers the chance to meet new people and network with them. Searches for your target audience are possible on MySpace. Your profile page, bulletins, blog posts, comments, videos, pictures and discussion groups provide opportunities to present your information and to communicate with other people.

YouTube – YouTube is a great place to post videos or promotional trailers about you and the products or services you offer. This is a great opportunity to literally speak to your target audience. There are also tools to get your videos in front of more people. You can comment on videos that attract your target audience to get your name in front of them.

Amazon – People with items on Amazon have many ways to build up a presence on the Amazon website, their sales pages, through a blog on Amazon, submitting ratings and comments – to name a few. I’m working on an e-book to help people increase the effectiveness of their Amazon presence.

Linked In – This website is a great place for business people to network. It is different from MySpace and Facebook, but it provides extensive business information and background for members. You can connect with others, write testimonials, share details about your professional background and much more. An interesting area of Linked In is the “answers” section. It’s a great way to boost your online credibility.

Online Credibility

We’ve all seen and heard about scams on the internet. It’s a great place for people to establish and promote a business, but that also attracts people who want to make a fast buck and who cheat people. That is one reason why it is important to build online credibility. Through the internet, you can network and do business with people around the world, if you want. That distance makes it important to prove your expertise and help potential clients see you have something of value to offer. You can do this through the information you share, answers and comments you post, examples of your work, testimonials and references from past clients and much more.

Use Blogs to Promote

Anyone who wants to promote on the internet needs to have a blog. Having an effective and active blog is no longer an option. A blog gives you the chance to get yourself in front of people who need your product or service, share useful information, stay in touch with potential clients, and more. However, once you start a blog, it is critical to keep it active. Search engines love blogs. This means that you and your information will be in search engines almost overnight. When people are searching for something – the vast majority start with a search engine. They need to be able to find you there.

Virtual blog tours are a great way to utilize Web 2.0 options. In the tours I coordinate, I use blogs, podcasts, radio shows, and any other avenues that I can find to get the word out about a client’s product or service. Your information gets into the search engines right away and is archived so people can find your details long after they are posted.

The internet is a gift for people who want to promote their business, products or services to a small or large audience. There are many free promotional options on the internet that we can utilize. Who you target is up to you, but either way, the internet is a gift that you need to unwrap and dig deeper into the opportunities that it offers.

Nikki Leigh is an award winning fiction and non fiction author. She has over fifteen years of promotional experience. This background has been helpful with her book promotion and her new promotional venture, Promo 101 Virtual Blog Tours which offers many online promotional options. Her book -Book Promo 101 lets her share many of the things she's learned. Her latest book (coming soon) – Book Promo 201: Learn to Promote on the Internet With Web 2.0 delves into much more detail about these topics. For details about the Book Promo 101 series and your other promotional options, visit www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm. For detailed promotional and virtual blog tour information, visit - http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/. The most up to date information is posted at www.twitter.com/litekepr