Casual conversations – Casual conversations on twitter start by just responding to the tweets from the people you are following.  You might respond to a question or make a remark about the tweet or possibly re-tweet something you liked.  All of these actions start a conversation and raise the awareness of the person you are engaging.  Over time your relationship will progress and parts of the conversation may take place through direct messages.

Direct Messages – Through direct messages or DM’s you can engage one of your followers in a private conversation.  In order to do this the person you are following needs to be following you back and most likely this has already happened from the casual conversations.  Direct messages allow you to have a one on one private conversation with the people you are following on twitter allowing you to take the relationship one step further.  At some point these DM’s will lead to the need or desire to have an actual phone conversation to explore additional projects, possibilities, or needs.

Phone Conversations – I am assuming you know how to use this!  If you have been on twitter for a long time you may need to freshen up on your phone skills i.e. talk in full sentences beyond 140 characters!  (it will be ok)  Phone conversations allow you to explore all types of possibilities.

Meeting face to face – Eventually someone you have been tweeting for months or even years will be in the same city or the same conference you are attending.  This is a great opportunity to take your twitter relationship to an actual live in person environment!  Many people I have formed relationships with on twitter feel like best friends, great clients, or huge contributors to my business.

At any stage you may acquire a new customer, prospect, referral partner, vendor, advocate, or friend.  I have had all of these relationships happen in each of the four relationship stages on twitter.  I would like to give credit to Delores Williams who stated me thinking about the four stages of the twitter relationship by mentioning it on Twitter Talk Radio with Angie A. Swartz.

Remember twitter is similar to any network.  People do business with people they know, like, and trust.  You can create know, like, and trust on twitter just like you can at a business network, association, Chamber of Commerce, church, or club.  If I still have not convince you to start using twitter in your business read 7,11, OK How about 11 Top Reasons Twitter is a Must Have for Your Business.

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Tamar has assembled 275 of the best posts of 2009 grouped in 30 categories.  Here are just some of her categories:

• Social Media: Small Business
• Twitter
• Video
• Reputation Management
• Search Enging Optimization: Strategy
• Everything Under the Sun.

This is a post you will want to bookmark and read at your leisure over the next month or so as you refine your social media strategy for 2010.  There’s so much good information here, I couldn’t share it with you fast enough! Enjoy!

Tamar Weinberg’s Best Internet Marketing Posts of 2009

Oh, and be sure to wish Tamar a Happy Birthday when you stop by her blog.  She wrote this post as a gift to everyone else on her own birthday!  Happy Birthday Tamar and thanks for sharing such great content with all of us!  Cheers to great 2010!  Can’t wait to see your list for next year!  We’ll do our best to be on it

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Twitter Talk Radio is recorded live in the WSRadio studios in sunny San Diego! You can listen to the podcast by clicking on the links below and sign up for our RSS feed at the bottom of the page.  

Twitter Names:   @MariSmith, @Aaswartz.

Each week on Twitter Talk Radio, we spend an hour broken up into four segments when we cover:

• A Guest Offering Great Case Studies and Examples of How People and Businesses are Using Twitter for Business and Social Media
• Useful Tips for Listeners on Twitter for Business
• Twitter and Social Media Happenings in the News

Podcast One: Angie Swartz and Mari Smith  discuss Mogul MC Hammer,  The IPhone BUMP Application and Pokens

Angie A. Swartz and Mari Smith discuss Mogul MC Hammer, his presentation at Gravity Summit, his use of Twitter, and the “bump” App.  Mari and Angie discuss how The Bump App and pokens make it so easy to collect contact information from everyone you meet.  Are we on our way to the end of business cards? There will always be a place for them. Think about your message before you start using the tools and how much time should you spend on social media?

Podcast Two:  Mari Smith on Personal Branding and What is the Proper Ratio of Marketing to Personal Tweeting?

Angie and Mari discuss Mari’s virtual b-day party, personal branding and what is the proper ratio of marketing to personal tweets? Everything that you do needs to be done with a strategic plan. Companies are worried about making mistakes but it is important to just get out there and start engaging. Educate yourself. Don’t compare yourself to how the celebrities are using Twitter. Social media is not finite.  The Facebook fan page now offers a Twitter app.   Hootsuite allows you to pre-schedule tweets.  Facebook fan pages are great for seo, unlimited fans and can send updates to certain target audiences. Static FBML allows you to customize your facebook fanpage. Volkswagen is a great example of what you can do with a Facebook Fan Page.

Podcast Three:  Mari Smith the Scandifornian Talks about Mark Zuckerburgs Goal to Connect the World Through Facebook

Angie and Mari discuss how Facebook Founder, Mark Zuckerburg hopes that Facebook will connect the World, how building your brand through conscious social media can cause a “ripple effect” and have a great impact on people all over the world.  They also discuss the death of DJ AM and how his partner tweeted his raw feelings over twitter and his reactions to the sudden loss.  Mari and Angie talk about how to get fans and once you have them how to keep them and the “stickiness” of your pages.  You should think of Facebook as an extension of your website and blog.  Mari shares loads of tips so be sure not to miss this one!

Podcast Four:  Mari Smith on the Merits of Facebook Groups versus Fan Pages

Angie and Mari discuss the difference between Facebook Groups versus Facebook Fan Pages.  When should you use one versus the other?  What are the benefits?  Mari shares some great tips and some news about “secret” groups! They also discuss how quickly the industry is changing, how to play to your strengths and different social media groups.  Angie and Mari also discuss the merits of My Space.

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Today is the third annual Blog Action Day where over 10,000 blogs and online media outlets are focusing on one issue that effects us all… climate change.  At Square Martini Media we decided to focus on one of our key missions: hiring remote workers.  Take a look at the below video and learn what Square Martini Media is doing to make a difference:

Take a look at a few of our favorite posts about Blog Action Day and consider what you can do to make a difference:

The Prime Misters post: Gordon Brown’s blog on climate change, Mashable’s Post: What Are You Doing to Reverse Climate Change?, and The Mother Jones blog: Fix the Climate, or the Kid Gets It.

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Twitter names: @BlogWorld, @Genuine, @Rieva and @aaswartz

You can listen to the Boost Your Business Radio Show on Blogworld below:

Podcast One:  Blog World Expo

Guest Info and Notes: Rieva and Angie discuss how Housing Starts are up for the 3^rd month indicating the Economy might be turning around while other factors are still uncertain, how you can benefit, focusing on what you do best, beefing up your skills and attending industry trade shows.  Additionally, we discuss the deaths of Ted Kennedy, Eunice Kennedy Shriver and the Kennedy family philosophy: you must do something with your life to better society.  They discuss the importance of karma of the universe and giving back via money, time or just helping others.

Podcast Two: What is Blog World Expo & How Did it Start?

Guest Info and Notes: Rieva and Angie interview Rick Calvert and Jim Turner from Blog World Expo.  Blog World Expo is the premier conference for bloggers and podcasters started by Rick Calvert after he started a blog as a hobby and found that there was no conference for bloggers four years ago.  Blog World expects 3500 attendees in October 2009 and offers some of the world’s leading authorities on the blogging industry as speakers.  We discuss how the event offers an atmosphere where everyone is approachable even folks like Mike Shinoda, lead singer for Lincoln Park (2008 speaker & attendee).  Additionally, we compare/contrast bloggers to traditional reporters and how the industry has changed.  Rick offers a 20% off discount code for attendees.

Podcast Three: Why Blog World Expo is a MUST-Attend Event!

Guest Info and Notes: Rick and Jim discuss their experience transitioning from corporate careers to full time entrepreneurs and offer advice to anyone making the same change.  We discuss how Blog World Expo 2009 will offer over 200 speakers including folks like Erin Swisher, Brian Solis & Chris Brogan. Tracts are offered for Bloggers and Professionals focused on the Business, Nonprofits, Military, Medical, Mommy, Real Estate Industries.  The conference also offers terrific networking opportunities.

Podcast Four:  The Truths in Business

Guest Info and Notes: The Truths in Business are Lessons for Business Owners.  1) It Takes Hardwork 2) There will be uncertainty 3) Only You will be truly passionate about your own business 4) The hardwork you Being your own boss is like nothing else and luck 5) Luck plays a part but you can only take advantage of luck if you put in the hard work 6) You must get involved in your community, the world and your business because it will come back to help you.  7) The economy is still unstable but focus on what yourself  If you product sucks, social media won’t change it.  8)  Social Media will expose your dirty laundry.  9)  People buy from people you like.  Social media allows you to present personality.  10)  Social media builds loyalty.

Learn more about Blog World Expo by listening to past Twitter Talk Radio shows.  Subscribe to Twitter Talk Radio:

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Twitter names: @rumford, @tweetphoto, @tweetphotosean and @aaswartz

Podcast 1: This week in Twitter News!

Angie Swartz, Sean Callahan and Rodney Rumford talk about Twitter account suspensions and how Twitter is not just an addiction but a “channel of communication.” Technorati releasing list of top 100 twitterers, ReadWriteWeb thinks Twitter should get a Nobel Peace Prize for the Iran elections coverage, new study says the 55+ demographic is the fastest growing one on Facebook, Twitter added to Collins English Dictionary, and Michael Jackson #1 trending topic.

Podcast 2:  Tweetphoto: Rocking the World of Uploading Pictures to Twitter!

Angie Swartz, Sean Callahan and Rodney Rumford discuss how Tweetphoto, a company only 6 months old, is providing “a better way to photo share.” In 3 easy steps users can share photos, vote, favorite and geotag. They welcome comments and suggestions from their users.

Podcast 3: Tweetphoto: The Best New Marketing Tool for Your Business?

Angie Swartz, Sean Callahan and Rodney Rumford talk about who uses Tweetphoto, how people can search for photos (even if they don’t have a Twitter account), and how Tweetphoto is a marketing tool for businesses.  Tweetphoto has users like Britney Spears too!

Podcast 4: Advice from Tweetphoto Founders on Getting the Most Out of Twitter

Sean, Rodney and Angie talk about listening tools (Google alerts and RSS feeds), ways to find people to follow (search.twitter.com, twellow.com and twittergrader.com) and tips for how businesses can make the most of Twitter.

Congrats to Tweetphoto on their recent write up in the Wall Street Journal!

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Twitter Names:   @bernierjohn, @bcarroll7, @Aaswartz.

Each week on Twitter Talk Radio, we spend an hour broken up into four segments where we cover:

• A Guest Offering Great Case Studies and Examples of How People and Businesses are Using Twitter for Business and Social Media
• Useful Tips for Listeners on Twitter for Business
• Twitter and Social Media Happenings in the News

Podcast One: Everybody’s Official on the TwelpForce (Best Buy’s Twitter Help Force)

Angie Swartz and Guest Co-Host Becky Carroll interviewed Best Buys’ John Bernier about Best Buys’ Twitter help force-The Twelp Force.  We discussed Best Buy’s revolutionary TV Commercial linking to their twitter account http://www.twitter.com/twelpforce in lieu of their website, how 1,800 Best Buy employees are using their personal twitter accounts to represent the Best Buy brand and how they rely strongly on the Twitter community to notify them when questions go unanswered.  We also discuss that Best Buy is not striving for perfect but “Really Really Good” is good enough, the risk of waiting to implement versus forging ahead.

Podcast Two: How does Best Buy Measure ROI and the Success of the Twelp Force?

Angie Swartz, John Bernier, and Guest Co-Host Becky Carroll discuss how twitter’s got an answer for everything…just ask.  We also discuss how Best Buy is measuring ROI, how most questions get answers on average 1.5 times, listening tools and how the word about the Twelp Force is spread virally by #FollowFriday, word of mouth, and in the blogosphere.

Podcast Three: What’s up with BestBuySucks.com?

Angie Swartz, John Bernier, and Guest Co-Host Becky Carroll talk about embracing all forms of press and using it to learn. “If you’re not listening, you can’t learn.” We also talked about Best Buy’s position on employees using social networks during working hours, how incorporating a policy for employee’s social media use is important, the impact it can have on employee morale and trust, and what IS appropriate on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter?

Podcast Four: Does Twitter Need Best Buy More Than Best Buy Needs Twitter?

Angie Swartz, John Bernier, and Guest Co-Host Becky Carroll discuss how social media is just one part of an employee’s toolbox.  We also talk about whether Best Buy jumping on Twitter adds legitimacy to Twitter. Does Twitter need Best Buy more than Best Buy needs Twitter? Does having companies such as Best Buy using Twitter add credibility to the tool?  We talked about how Best Buy has long demonstrated themselves as a forward thinking company and how Best Buy has 875,000 fans on Best Buy’s Fan Page. 

MORE Twitter Talk Radio!!!!!

September 30 Dave Taylor of http://www.askdavetaylor.com/

October 7  BJ Cook from Social Media Breakfast San Diego

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Twitter Names:  @prgully & @aaswartz.

Each week on Twitter Talk Radio, we spend an hour broken up into four segments when we cover:

• A Guest Offering Great Case Studies and Examples of How People and Businesses are Using Twitter for Business and Social Media
• Useful Tips for Listeners on Twitter for Business
• Twitter and Social Media Happenings in the News

Podcast One: Scott Gulbransen on Football, Mint and Loving Intuit

Angie Swartz interviews Scott Gulbransen of Intuit.  Scott graciously joins us this week despite his busy schedule as Intuit announces their intent to acquire MINT this week.  Angie and Scott discuss his passionate views about football (both Notre Dame and the San Diego Chargers), his love of working at Intuit, the NFL’s rules of Twitter, Intuit’s views on the personal tweeting for Scott as a Corporate Spokesperson,  Scott’s comment’s to Shawn Merriman regarding the Tila Tequila incident and Chad Ochocinco’s contest where the winner gets to tweet for him during NFL games.

Podcast Two: Intuit: Using Social Media to Listen & Improve the Customer Experience

Angie Swartz interviews Scott Gulbransen about what it’s like to be a Corporate Communications professional (i.e. one of the faces of Intuit) tweeting on his personal twitter account both personally and professionally, how social media is an integral part of his day, using TweetDeck and other listening tools to stay on top of what consumers are saying about the brand & his great team (@quickenchels and @turbotaxashley).  We also discuss how Intuit has long been a company to solicit feedback from customers for product enhancement opportunities.

Podcast Three: Intuit making taxes a little more Hip with partner MySpace & Secret Shows

Angie Swartz and Scott Gulbransen of Intuit discuss how Intuit partnered to use My Space Secret Shows for their Freeloader Nation promotion.  This campaign was designed to embrace younger users and to welcome them to the Turbotax product. The Secret Shows offered bands like Lily Allen and Tay Zonday and small venue concerts had a limited number of tickets.  Fans could friend Freeloader Nation on My Space to get tickets with 1^st 25 friends having opportunity to get VIP Seats!  Scott also discusses how all projects are measured to an ROI (return on investment) as Intuit is a for-profit company and other metrics they use to measure success.

Podcast Four: Impact of Employer Social Media Policy on Morale & A Little MC Hammer

Angie Swartz and Scott Gulbransen of Intuit discuss how a corporation’s policy on employee’s accessing the internet during working hours might have a dramatic impact on employee morale.  Could your policy of blocking the internet infer you don’t trust your employees?  We discuss  Intuit’s relatively open policy for employee’s having access to social media sites during working hours.  Additionally, we discuss MC Hammer, his speech at Gravity Summit at Harvard, his business savvy and astute insight into social media trends.  (We also discuss Scott’s not so friendly banter with MC Hammer about the Oakland Raiders .

MORE Twitter Talk Radio!!!!!

September 23 John Bernier Best Buy and Guest Co-Host Becky Carroll.

September 30 BJ Cook from Social Media Breakfast San Diego

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On Wednesday September 9, Twitter Talk Radio was devoted to folks doing great things to give back to the world.  Global Patriot, Mark Lovett, and Scot Chisholm, CEO of Stay Classy, and Host of Twestival San Diego join host Angie A. Swartz and Guest Co-Host Alan Underkofler, this week on Twitter Talk Radio.    Twitter Talk Radio is recorded live in the WSRadio studios in sunny San Diego!

Twitter Names:  @GlobalPatriot, @classyceo, @alanunderkofler & @Aaswartz.

Each week on Twitter Talk Radio, we spend an hour broken up into four segments when we cover:

• A Guest Offering Great Case Studies and Examples of How People and Businesses are Using Twitter for Business and Social Media
• Useful Tips for Listeners on Twitter for Business
• Twitter and Social Media Happenings in the News

Podcast One: 12for12K Challenge Supporting Doctors Without Borders

Angie Swartz interviews Mark Lovett about his September 12for12K(@12for12k) Challenges Supporting Doctors Without Borders.  Mark’s challenge includes events in San Diego, Stockholm, and London.  Angie and Mark discuss the fabulous San Diego event at Anthology featuring the fabulous Alphonse Mouzon Jazz Project, Michael Kiors painting on stage, and a Doctors without Borders Physician’s presentation of her work in Liberia.  We also discuss the Stockholm (9/9) and London (9/15) events.  Lastly, Mark discusses his partnership with Danny Brown who will be holding a sister event in Toronto later this month.

Podcast Two: What is Twestival?  You mean a Twitter….Festival?

Twestival was started by Amanda Rose (@amanda).  Angie, Scot and Alan discuss how Twestival was organized by a group of volunteers using Twitter, how the 2009 Twestival brought together 2009 cities around the world for the cause of clean drinking water and raised over $250,000.  We also discuss how the 2008 San Diego Twestival was organized in 4 days last year and still brought together over 60 people in a downtown setting broadcast live.

Podcast Three: Twestival San Diego is September 12!

Scot Chisholm, Stay Classy, Host of Twestival San Diego and Alan Underkofler, Square Martini Media, Sponsor of Twestival San Diego join Angie to talk about the upcoming event on September 12. San Diego’s 2^nd annual Twestival will be held at the Hotel Solamar’s rooftop bar on September 12.  All proceeds will go toward building a shelter for homeless young adults in San Diego.  Scot announced the entertainment line up and discussed how the event and all related supplies have been 100% donated.

Podcast Four: This week in Twitter News!

Alan and Angie discuss Ivy Bean, 104 year old woman who uses Facebook and Twitter and her large number of friends and followers check out the CNN report for more on Ivy,  two girls in Australia who were lost and found by updating their Facebook status from their phones and the controversy surrounding their use of Facebook versus calling, the NFL’s recent update of their Twitter policy for fans.

MORE Twitter Talk Radio!!!!!

September 16 Intuit Scott Gulbransen

September 23 John Bernier Best Buy

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Twitter Names: @Joelprice, @Bcarroll7 , @Chargers & @Aaswartz.

Each week on Twitter Talk Radio, we spend an hour broken up into four segments when we cover:

• A Guest Offering Great Case Studies and Examples of How People and Businesses are Using Twitter for Business and Social Media
• Useful Tips for Listeners on Twitter for Business
• Twitter and Social Media Happenings in the News

Podcast One: This Week in Twitter News!

Becky and I discuss the SEC Football League’s ban of Twitter & Facebook for fans at games (and subsequent reversal), how Blogger is celebrating it’s birthday-10 years-WOW! and how the exciting Twestival is coming up the  week of September 9.

Podcast Two:  Joel Price is the Face of New Media for the San Diego CHARGERS

Joel Price has been the Manager of New Media for the San Diego Chargers for 9 Seasons. Joel talks with Angie and Becky about how the CHARGERS’ message boards are one of their most popular tools. Joel discusses how he has seen “So much action and passion on our message boards” for years. The CHARGERS consider their message boards a “Virtual Tailgate” and have 8 moderators for their boards who are all FANS. He also adds a few lessons 1) Even though people tend to forget about message boards and they aren’t the sexiest social media tool, you must use what your fans want, 2) Don’t be afraid to switch platforms. The CHARGERS started out with another message board tool and realized the fans liked something else better so they switched, and 3) We allow “Trash Talk” and we don’t mind opposing teams coming on our boards. You want to foster the REAL experience.

Podcast Three: San Diego CHARGERS – 1st NFL Team on Twitter

Angie Swartz and guest Co-host Becky Carroll  interview Joel Price about how the San Diego CHARGERS were the first NFL team to have a Twitter account. Joel discusses how Pro cyclists and Lance Armstrong were the 1^st athletes to adopt twitter and a great inspiration to him. He also discusses the Charger players and how Shawne Merriman, a heavy twitter user, uses twitter to have a closer connection to fans.

Podcast Four:  Joel Price is @CHARGERS on Twitter!

Angie Swartz and Becky Carroll discuss how Joel Price manages the @CHARGERS account on Twitter and how he is the person tweeting for the CHARGERS. Joel feels being on twitter allows fans to be much closer to the team than in the past. Per Joel, “The CHARGER Team is trying to engage every form to engage our fans because we know we don’t exist w/o our fans.” We also discuss how the NFL is currently developing a policy on Twitter and how the CHARGERS use Wordpress VIP (a version of wordpress on available to VIP’s for the Chargers Blog.

MORE Twitter Talk Radio!!!!!

August 26 Rick Calvert and Jim Turner from Blog World Expo!

September 2 Mari Smith Relationship Marketing Specialist, “Pied Piper of Facebook”

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