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2019- A Year of Growth and Many Firsts

2019 was a year of growth, both personally and professionally! I experienced many challenges including loss and rejection. I chose to focus on sharing the best parts of my life online. This is a choice and it doesn’t mean I don’t have bad days just like everyone else. It means I choose to highlight positive moments to inspire others and share my favorite memories so I can look back and smile at all that I’ve done.
I learned how to get through tough situations by both working hard and taking breaks to rejuvenate. 2019 also included a lot of significant firsts…
BUSINESS FIRSTS
  • My first full year of being a working mom. I’m proud of the fact that I have been able to grow my business while never missing a milestone and spending as much time as possible with my baby. This involves a lot of strategic planning, working late nights and patience.
  • Created, recorded and launched my first LinkedIn Learning course on Content Marketing. I worked so hard to create this resource and in just a few months, hundreds of people have learned from my knowledge.

LinkedIn Learning with Melodie Tao

  •  First time in 10 years since I launched my business that I chose to focus on marketing to a niche audience, real estate professionals. Not only has this allowed me to grow in my niche market, but it’s also allowed me to grow in other industries.

Speaking Photo Marketing Melodie

  • After being a Professional Speaker for over a decade, I finally launched my first Speaker Reel which has led me to book more paid speaking gigs.

PERSONAL FIRSTS

  • Celebrated my daughter’s first birthday with a family day to the Del Mar Fair, a DIY mermaid themed party and a Disneyland trip.
  • Celebrated my first wedding anniversary with my husband. I gifted him a traditional “paper” gift which was framed sheet music of the song he performed for me on our wedding day.
  • First time traveling to the East Coast with a baby! We visited family in Boston and took a cruise to Bermuda.

Cayley and Melodie in Bermuda 2

  • First time watching my baby crawl, talk and walk. Watching her milestones makes me so happy.
  • First time staying at the iconic Hotel del Coronado for a staycation. I’ve admired this place since I was a kid.

2019 is the end of a decade and I’m beyond grateful that I’m happy, healthy and alive to see the clocks turn 2020 at midnight tonight. I don’t have a “word” for 2020 but I do have a feeling that it will be another life changing year. I can’t wait to grow as a mom, small business owner, Professional Speaker, blogger (yes I’m finally blogging again) and vlogger so I can document my favorite memories.

Thank you to every single person who has supported me this year!

13 Fun Facts About Me on My Friday the 13th Birthday

Today is my birthday! Every year on my birthday I reflect back on memorable moments, milestones and I plan head for what I’d like to accomplish in this new year of my life.

This year I want to share 13 fun facts about me that you might not know to celebrate my Friday the 13th birthday!

1. My favorite dish to eat on my birthday is noodles! I love all types of noodles including ramen, pho, chow mein, pad thai, etc. Noodles represent long life and longevity in the Chinese culture and are a common birthday food so I make sure to have noodles every year on my birthday!

2. I get asked all of the time if I play an instrument because of my name. YES, I play the harp. I started playing when I was 4 years old. While I didn’t pursue it professionally, I still have a harp at home and it’s something that I play occasionally for fun.

3. I was born in Dallas, Texas. This is surprising to many since I have spent almost my entire life in Southern California. Even though I was born in Dallas, I only lived there for a few months so I don’t have any memories of it as a child.

4. I am an only child. I always get the question “do you wish you had a sibling?” but since I have never had one, I honestly don’t know what it would be like so I feel like this is a question I can’t answer.

5. I love to cook but I don’t use recipes! I always make up my own recipes and even if I use one, I completely customize it. My favorite way to cook is by using anything I have on hand and creating a dish from it, (yes I love the show Chopped too). I am a huge proponent of zero food waste and this shows in my cooking.

6. I’m a yoga teacher! I got my yoga certification in 2012 because I love practicing yoga so much and didn’t intend to teach, but I started teaching a few classes a week just for fun and now I still teach 1 Power Yoga Class every single Thursday! I can’t believe it’s been 7 years.

7. I graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a Major in Communication and Minor in Sport Management. I originally wanted to work in Sports Marketing and had a little glimpse of what it was like with a part time promotions job at The Padres and a part time marketing job at Active.com.

8. My favorite junk food is Flammin’ Hot Cheetos. I don’t get them often, but when I do, it’s hard for me to avoid eating the entire bag.

9. I am a huge Taylor Swift fan! It’s her birthday today too so I’m honored to share a birthday with the Woman of the Decade in music!

10. I dislike mint flavored things unless it’s paired with chocolate. However, I love chocolate mint flavored sweets like mint chocolate chip ice cream and Thin Mints.

11. I had a Siamese Cat named Misty for 11 years when I as a kid, but now I’ll never have a cat again because I am highly allergic! I developed an immunity to Misty. I was allergic to all other cats I came in contact with, but not Misty.

12. I was a basketball player! In Junior High I played basketball at the YMCA. Then I played on the Freshman team at my high school and even after I graduated from college, I played on a few recreational leagues just for fun.

13. I am allergic to shellfish and peanuts. I have also have eczema (very dry, itchy skin) and eating these items make my eczema flare up.

Do any of these fun facts surprise you? I would love to hear a fun fact about you too, so feel free to share it in the comments. I always love getting to know unique facts about people in my community and I had a great time writing these for you.

How I Became a Small Business Owner

Happy Small Business Saturday! I can tell you first hand that one SMALL purchase makes a BIG difference and today, I’m excited to share my story of how I became a small business owner.
As a kid, when I got the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I always answered “A lawyer or a News Anchor”.  I liked the idea of being in a profession that allowed me to speak my voice even though I was a fairly shy kid.
I had no idea what an Entrepreneur was and I didn’t know there was a job called Professional Speaker. Social Media also didn’t exist like it does now. So never did I imagine that I would become an Entrepreneur who is a Professional Speaker and Social Media Consultant.
Here’s how it all started…In 2008 I launched my website, yes the one that you’re on now. It was just a blog with no services listed. I was still working full time in radio sales. I loved my job because it was different each day and I was helping people grow their business, but I noticed a huge shift in behavior from consumers. Consumers were relying on the internet more and more for their purchases and people were spending more time on social media sites like MySpace, Facebook and Twitter.
I was an early adopter to social media. I had both an Asian Avenue and Xanga in high school (Who else used these sites?). I was one of the first to get Facebook in college. I understood the power of these tools to connect people and I was passionate about using them to help businesses. I decided to learn as much as I could about social media marketing and documented it all on my blog (yes this same blog that you’re reading now).
The more I shared, the more questions I got about how to use social media. I was invited to do radio interviews, TV interviews and to speak on stages, all to discuss the power of social media.
I left my radio job and worked for a few different digital agencies. My goal was to do social media marketing, but I never really had the opportunity to focus on my passion while working for someone else. I knew that in order to pursue my passion to teach and speak on social media, the only way to do it was to go off on my own. So I did! I didn’t “wait for the right time”. I just jumped in and overnight I became a small business owner. Yes, it literally happened just like that. I didn’t have a long thought out business plan (not recommending that you do what I do, just sharing my story), I didn’t have 6 months of rent saved up and I didn’t know exactly how I would make sure I earned more than I already did. One thing I did know though is that I was ambitious and passionate about creating my own opportunities and having a career that allowed me to do what I love.
I immediately got hired to teach college classes about social media and to speak on large stages all over the world. My dream that I didn’t even know I had was coming true. From my speaking, I was hired to manage social media for some large companies. Things were moving quickly and I was able to make a great income with my own business, right away!
A few years later though, things started to shift. More and more people decided to jump on the social media bandwagon and I was getting priced out with my services. Clients no longer wanted to pay me premium fees to run their social media, despite my marketing experience because college kids and new grads were offering the same service for minimum wage. I had to shift my business and I have continued to do this throughout the years. Now I focus on 2 main services that I do best, Speaking and Consulting!
As a Professional Speaker, I get to educate, motivate and inspire people to grow their business with social media. As a Social Media Consultant, I help people stay top of mind, when it’s time to buy through accountability and strategic plans in our custom one on one Laser Marketing Sessions.

10 years later despite all the challenges, long work hours, rejections, I’m still here and couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunities that my business has brought me. I’ve been able to travel and world, create my own schedule and my best perk is now being able to spend more time with my daughter while I work from home.

5 Easy Ways to Step Up Your Social Media Game in 2019

Is this really a blog post from me? Yes it is! After a long hiatus from blogging, I’m back with a post to celebrate social media in 2019. While technology keeps advancing, I am going back to basics with 5 simple things you can do to step up your social media game in 2019. These are things that everyone who posts on social media can easily execute.

  1. Be social on social media! Yes that’s right, social media is called just that because it involves engagement and interaction. How many of you post something and then get disappointed if no one comments? Many of us get wrapped up in our own posts, that we forgot to comment on others. Take 5 minutes each day to comment on at least 5 people’s posts. This not only helps boost someone else’s self-esteem but it also reminds people that you are available and active online.
  2. Sharing is caring. It’s easy to share something that we are personally selling and promoting, but it’s also easy to share something that a friend is selling and promoting. If you see someone share a product, event, blog or video they created, spread the love and show your support by sharing it to your own network. This way your own community sees you as an awesome resource and your friends will sincerely appreciate the support. Share at least one post from your own network every single week.
  3. Leave glowing reviews. One step beyond hitting the share button is going the extra mile to leave reviews for companies and brands that you love. Getting reviews is especially important for small business owners who rely on their local community and don’t have the same brand recognition as large brands. Your review means the world and can significantly help someone grow. Set a goal to reviews at least one company or brand that you love every week. Reviews can be done on Facebook, LinkedIn Recommendations, Google and more
  4. Create mutually beneficial collaborations and partnerships. Is there someone else who has similar goals as you to grow their business with social media? Partner and collaborate with them! You can get creative with this. Collaborations can include hosting a joint giveaway, filming a video together, featuring each other on your own pages. By doing this, you are both gaining new exposure to each other’s audiences. Create at least 1 collaboration each quarter.
  5. Consistency is key. You have probably heard me say this over and over again. Choose at least 1 day each week where you can post something that’s directly related to your business. For example, one of my real estate clients posts a “Wow Wednesday” update every single week. Every single Wednesday they consistently share a luxury real estate listing of their own or someone else’s. One thing I have done to help you be more consistent with your posting is create my Annual Social Media Content Calendar. It’s completely free and available for you to download now. Snag your calendar, HERE. Fill it out and start posting at least 1 consistent post every single week.

What do you think? Are you doing any of these recommendations already? If not, do you plan to? Please share your own tips with me in the comments too.

Marketing Melodie’s Top 10 Favorite Things About SXSW 2017

My 6th SXSW is in the books and this event never ceases to amaze me. I left Austin feeling incredibly inspired by all of the creative technology advances and tools I explored, all the amazing people I met who are doing big things and the innovative ideas I learned to help me be a better marketer, entrepreneur and over all good citizen in our society. Some years I have attended many large keynote talks and learned from a far. This year, I decided to focus my energy on smaller workshops and meetups that allowed me a chance to create intimate, one-on-one connections with people.

SXSW Marketing Melodie Badge
It’s impossible for me to put in words everything I learned, so I’m continuing my annual tradition of sharing my top 10 favorite SXSW experiences.

1. SXSW Yoga for the Busy Body– I’m filled with gratitude for the opportunity to host the official yoga meetup for my 5th year in a row! I became a certified yoga teacher over 5 years ago because I wanted to deepen my personal practice and it was one of the best things I’ve ever done to grow as a person. The fact that I have a chance to share my passion of yoga with other like-minded, digitally savvy, technology driven people at SXSW is amazing. Thank you to every single person who came to this special class! I was able to surprise everyone by gifting each student who showed up a yoga mat, generously provided by Lululemon and Kind Bars to snack on that were kindly and lovingly provided by Kind Snacks.

SXSW Yoga for the Busy Body 2017
2. Organize the World- Design Your Life to Spark Joy with Marie “Konmari” Kondo- Konmari’s book, the Magic of Tidying Up has been recommended to me over and over again. Her book along with the Konmari method has gone viral! When I saw her on the schedule I decided to brave my way into the big conference room to hear her speak. I read her book last year and have been applying small bits and pieces of her organizing tips to my life but seeing her speak in person is the ultimate motivator to really tackle different areas of my life that I need to organize. I snapped a photo of my neighbor’s notes that visually summarize all of the tips we learned.

KonMarie at SXSW with Marketing Melodie
3. Power of Hello- Maximizing SXSW- This was a great meetup hosted by Thom Singer and it was the perfect way to kick off SXSW. Thom is a professional speaker, also known as the “Conference Catalyst”. He gave a motivating speech to kick of the session and encouraged us all to get to know each other in an authentic way by focusing on uncommon, commonalities. For example, once you find out you have a common hobby, geographical location or interest, explore that a bit further. Avoid “verbal vomit” which is essentially spending the entire time selling yourself. Networking can be very intimating and awkward at times. He encouraged us to invite people who look lost into the conversation we are having. I love that he gave us tools to make our SXSW networking experience valuable.

4. Mastermindfulness and You- I attended a small group session on the power of masterminds. It was essentially a mini mastermind session for all of the attendees. I learned about the power of having a mastermind group for accountability, keys to making a mastermind group successful and even ways to lead my own mastermind group. Since leaving SXSW I’m now in my own Mastermind group that I formed with another attendee in my session. We both work in the same space and can keep each other accountable for staying on track with our business goals. We are looking to add 1-2 more professionals who work in the digital space and I’m excited about having this resource to keep me accountable for my business.

SXSW Mastermind with Marketing Melodie

5. Points and Miles- Travel for Free: A Miles and Points Primer– Richard Kerr who runs the Travel Hacking 101 Facebook community with over 23K members and Dave Grossman from Miles Talk shared their expertise on this topic. I have always been intrigued by travel hacking. I’ve dabbled in it a bit by redeeming some points and miles here and there, and it definitely feels good to book a free flight! I also love traveling and exploring new places but the price does add up. Richard and Dave focused a large part of their talk on teaching businesses owners how to maximize points and miles for both work and personal expenses. I left with pages full of notes, new travel goals in mind and a wealth of knowledge on how to save money on my next trip. This session was one of my favorites and definitely gave me the travel bug!

6. More VR is NOW- When I attended SXSW in 2016, Virtual Reality was something that was new, it was up and coming and it wasn’t as accessible. This year, VR is officially THE NOW. More and more brands have now integrated VR strategies into their marketing and sooner than later, I anticipate that VR will become even more accessible to the small business owner and every day consumer. I’m excited to see what this technology has in store for us from both a marketing perspective and consumer view point. In the mean time, I’ll just look like a nerd as a play around with VR games. Is there any way to look cool wearing one of these things?!

SXSW Virtual Reality with Marketing Melodie

7. Netwalking around Austin– Catching up with Jessica Tunon, the creator of Netwalking is always one of my favorite parts of SXSW. Jessica is a dear friend and client who I met at a previous SXSW event and we really hit it off since we both are strong, ambitious, female entrepreneurs. I’m grateful for an opportunity to work with her company but even more appreciative of our friendship. I love going in to SXSW knowing that I’ll meet a lot of new people but also have a chance to catch up with old friends. We definitely did a lot of Netwalking to catch up and snapped awesome memories of Austin’s fine city along the way.
Netwalking with Marketing Melodie SXSW
8. Artificial Intelligence is the new norm– It certainly was the norm to see robots running around town. Talking to them as if they were real people didn’t seem odd at all. IBM’s Watson made a prominent appearance at SXSW this year (yes the robot who won Jeopardy), but even more popular was Pepper the humanoid robot made by Softbanks Robotics. Everyone wanted a selfie with Pepper who resembles a cute kid-like human. I don’t feel like the term “Artificial Intelligence” really describes these unique creatures to their fullest potential. AI machines/ robots/ whatever you want call them were very prevalent at SXSW and I expect them to continue growing in popularity with both big companies and brands and even smaller businesses as they are able to be more efficient.
Pepper at SXSW with Marketing Melodie
9. Getting crafty in Austin- The house I stayed at in Austin is a crafter’s dream home! Having an opportunity to stay where I did was an experience and treat in itself. The house is filled with creative inspiration, toys, arts & crafts supplies and more. My crafty side is definitely awakened after my stay. Check out the toy adorned dog house that catches your eye before even entering the home.

SXSW Dog House

10. Networking Sucks. Build Communities People Love- I really enjoyed this panel discussion on the importance of building communities. Building a community has been my top priority this past year for the Marketing Success Team. It was inspiring to hear from others who have experience with community building. The focus was on helping people communicate ideas, create lasting friendships, and empower others to break out of their comfort zone, rather than meeting people just to sell your services for them. I learned so much that I’m now applying to my own community

Well that’s  a wrap for SXSW 2017. If you have your own favorite SXSW experiences, please share them in the comments. Thank you to every single person who was a part of my Austin experience this year. See you in 2018!

*BLAST FROM THE PAST*– Check out my SXSW recaps from previous years below.

Marketing Success Live- Top 3 Social Media Security Tips with Skyline IT Services

On today’s episode of Marketing Success Live, I share: Top 3 Social Media Security Tips! This recap will give you a quick rundown of the tips, tricks, resources, events and other cool things mentioned. If you missed today’s episode, you can watch it any time over on the Marketing Melodie Facebook Page.

Marketing Melodie with Vanessa Miranda of Skyline IT Services

Our special guest for today’s episode is Vanessa Miranda from Skyline IT Services. Vanessa is their Account Manager and Social Media Manager. She has an abundance of knowledge on the most up to date technology and cyber security practices. She shares this knowledge on Skyline IT Service’s social networks to build a strong community of informed and educated digital consumers. Skyline IT Services has been serving San Diego County with premier IT Support for over 10 years. They specialize in managed IT Support and IT Services for small to medium sized businesses.

Main takeaways from today’s Marketing Success Live Episode- Top 3 Social Media Security Tips with Skyline IT Services

1. Make sure to update your browser- Most websites rely on having a modern web browser. If you run a web browser that’s out of date, it may contains security vulnerabilities and you risk having your computer compromised by viruses, spyware, malware and other security issues. Depending on the security exploit, your personal information (such as emails, banking details, photos and other sensitive information) could be stolen or destroyed. How do you know when it’s time to update? You will often see errors when opening new webpages because those webpages don’t support the old browser. To verify that your version of Chrome is the latest or to update manually, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Google Chrome browser.
  2. Click the Customize and control Google Chrome button in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.
  3. From the drop-down menu that appears, select Help, then select About Google Chrome.

2. How to spot spam links (Even when they come from friends)– Many hackers take advantage of using your friends and network to get your personal information. This is done by sending you a message directly from their social media accounts or email with a fishy/ phishy message like “Did you see this video of you?” or “I am in trouble, I need money.” Many people don’t think twice about opening emails like this and respond to them because it’s coming from a personal and trusted connection  If  you suspect a suspicious email message, message your friend in another email chain and ask! You can also check on your own if a URL they sent is legitimate. Move your mouse over the top of the URL, you should see the actual hyperlinked address. If the hyperlink is different than the address displayed the message may be fraudulent or malicious. People who launch phishing scams often depend on their victims not knowing how the DNS naming structure for domains works. The last part of a domain name is the most telling. For example, the domain name info.brienposey.com would be a child domain of brienposey.com because brienposey.com appears at the end of the full domain name (on the right-hand side). Conversely, brienposey.com.maliciousdomain.com would clearly not have originated from brienposey.com because the reference to brienposey.com is on the left side of the domain name.

Marketing Success Live Juice Jacking Tip3. How to prevent data from your smartphone getting “Juice Jacked” Don’t charge your phone in public charging stations! By plugging in your phone to a compromised power strip or charger, your device can get infected. Public charging stations and wi-fi access points are found in places like airports, planes, conference centers and parks, so people can always have access to their phones and data. The cord you use to charge your phone is also used to send data from your phone to other devices. For instance, when you plug your iphone into your computer with the charging cord, you can download photos from your phone to your computer. It only makes sense that by plugging your charger in an unknown port your data can also be downloaded. If a port is compromised there’s no limit to what information a hacker can retrieve- this is called juice jacking. Instead of using a public charging station, Vanessa and I recommend purchasing your own portable charger. We are loving this one from Jackery Titan. At around $35, it’s cost effective and a life saver. I brought this with me to Disneyland and it kept 2 iphones charged for an entire day.

Connect with today’s Marketing Succcess Live special guest Vanessa Mirand from Skyling IT Services

  • Click here to Like Skyline IT services on Facebook
  • Click here to Follow Skyline IT services on Instagram

Mentioned in today’s Marketing Success LIVE Episode: 

  • Marketing Success Team- The Marketing Success Team is your GO-TO place to turn any time you have marketing and social media questions. The Marketing Success Team is an online community and resource designed for busy professionals who want to stay motivated and inspired with marketing their business.  You’ll have someone to keep you accountable for being consistent with your marketing efforts. You will be on the cutting edge of the latest social media updates that affect your business and you will get answers directly from the experts who have years of experience with digital marketing. Vanessa is a valued member of the Marketing Success Team and I was honored to hear her share her positive experience with with collaborating with other team members in our group. Click here for more info on the Marketing Success Team.

Marketing Melodie Marketing Success Team

  • Marketing Success Power Breakfast- Sometimes, it’s hard to set aside time for networking events because you don’t want to take time away from getting actual work done. This is why I created the Marketing Success Power Breakfast! It’s a networking event where you’ll have a chance to connect with up to 9 other business professionals, learn about social media topics, and best of all get work done! The next event is Friday March 17th from 8am-10am. Claim your spot here.

Marketing Success Power Breakfast with Marketing Melodie

 

  • Markting Success Happy Hour- I host a monthly happy hour that’s filled with marketing inspiration for your business! Enjoy the best view of San Diego while we discuss important social media topics. We’ll participate in a fun, interactive marketing activity for your business. Then we will have time for networking so you can connect with the other business leaders in the room. The Marketing Success Happy Hour is once a month and has been selling out every month! The next one is Thursday March 23rd, 2017, 4:30pm – 6:30pm. Make sure to purchase your ticket before they sell out!

Marketing Success Happy Hour January 2017

Tools mentioned/ used in today’s Marketing Success LIVE! episode:

1. Jackery Titan Portable Charger- I brought this with me to Disneyland and it kept 2 iphones charged (that were being heavily used!) for an entire day.

2. Audio-Technica ATR3350 Omnidirectional Condenser Lavalier Microphone- This mic allows you to have quality sound in your videos no matter how far way the phone is from your face.

3. Arkon iPhone Tripod Mount- This is how I keep my phone from wobbling around when I’m filming! This tripod is very portable and has durable legs that claspses on to other equipment.

4. Neewer Camera Photo/Video Light Ring- I use this light ring so you can see me more clearly, no matter what the lighting in the room looks like.

5. CowboyStudio Aluminum Adjustable Light Stand with Case– The light ring I use, goes on this stand!

That’s a wrap for the recap of Marketing Success Live- Top 3 Social Media Security Tips with Skyline IT Services. Make sure to tune in on Facebook Live again next Wednesday from 11am-11:30am over on the Marketing Melodie Facebook page.

Marketing Success Live- 4 New LinkedIn Tips for 2017 Recap

On today’s episode of Marketing Success Live, I share: 4  New LinkedIn Tips for 2017 ! This recap will give you a quick rundown of the tips, tricks, resources, events and other cool things mentioned. If you missed today’s episode, you can watch it any time over on the Marketing Melodie Facebook Page.

Marketing Success Live with Mary Fain Brandt

Our special guest for today’s episode is Career Consultant & LinkedIn Strategist, Mary Fain Brandt. Mary systematically advises women in transition and work-minded people who are shifting in their careers by teaching them to improve market relatability towards target industries. Mary’s well-trained skills guide clients to gain a clearer sense of their talents, skills, passions, and purposes.

Her precise knowledge as a LinkedIn Expert educates clients on building spotlight profiles to enhance visibility and effectiveness during career searches or business launches. Mary is also the creator of LinkedIn Labs, a live, monthly event where she motivates individuals to take action on their LinkedIn in order to reach their career and business goals.

Main takeaways from today’s Marketing Success Live Topic- 4 New LinkedIn Tips for 2017

1. Save your profile as a PDF– Read your LinkedIn profile printed out as a PDF. This will help you catch errors and get a new perspective on how your profile looks to the reader. Make sure it reads similar to a resume. Having a PDF version is also helpful if you accidently delete something on your profile. Now you have a back up so you can easily refer back to. Save LinkedIn Profile as PDF

2. Get an archive of your data- We back up the most important things we own such as our computer and our phone. LinkedIn is one of the most valuable resources we have for growing our careers, so it only makes sense that we back this up too! Archiving your data saves everything from your contacts, posts, account data and more. To get an archive click on “Privacy & Settings”. Stay in the “Account” tab which shows up by default and scroll down to “Getting an archive of your data”.

3. Turn OFF “Viewers of this profile also viewed”– Stay on the “Privacy & Settings” section. Scroll to the “Privacy” tab in the middle. Then scroll down to “Viewers of this profile also viewed” and make sure it’s turned “OFF”. You want to keep people on your own profile. When this option is turned on, it’s easy for people to navigate away from your page. The less distractions people have when they are on your profile, the more likely they will be to focus on your LinkedIn highlights.

Marketing Melodie LinkedIn Privacy Settings

4. Monitor your LinkedIn Analytics- This helps you track your activity and attribute it to how many leads and sales you’re getting through LinkedIn. You can discover prospects and partners based on who’s viewing your profile.  This also allows you to understand how your activity can help you rank higher in your network and what you may want to improve in the future.

LinkedIn is making big changes and they are already rolling out a new profile format for many users. It’s important to have a personal back up of your profile in case things disappear with the new updates. These 4 simple tips will take you no time to execute yet they will provide you with peace of mind and help you attract new customers! Let us know in the comments if you take action on any of these tips!

Connect with today’s Marketing Succcess Live special guest Mary Fain Brandt:

  • Learn about Mary’s LinkedIn programs and her upcoming LinkedIn Labs on her website.
  • Click here to Like and Follow Mary on Facebook!

Mentioned in today’s Marketing Success LIVE! Episode: 

  • Marketing Success Team- The Marketing Success Team is an online community and resource designed for busy professionals who want to stay motivated and inspired with marketing their business. You’ll have someone to keep you accountable for being consistent with your marketing efforts. The days of starting a blog, campaign or new profile, only to abandon it a couple weeks later are no more! You will be on the cutting edge of the latest social media updates that affect your business and you will get answers directly from the experts who have years of experience with digital marketing. Mary is a valued member of the Marketing Success Team and I was honored to hear her share her positive experience with the 20 minute Power Marketing sessions I offer complimentary for members. Click here for more info on the Marketing Success Team.

Marketing Melodie Marketing Success Team

  • Marketing Success Power Breakfast- Sometimes, it’s hard to set aside time for networking events because you don’t want to take time away from getting actual work done. This is why I created the Marketing Success Power Breakfast! It’s a networking event where you’ll have a chance to connect with up to 9 other business professionals, learn about social media topics, and best of all get work done! The next event is Thursday February 17th from 8am-10am. Claim your spot here.

Marketing Success Power Breakfast with Marketing Melodie

 

  • Markting Success Happy Hour- I host a monthly happy hour that’s filled with marketing inspiration for your business! Enjoy the best view of San Diego while we discuss important social media topics. We’ll participate in a fun, interactive marketing activity for your business. Then we will have time for networking so you can connect with the other business leaders in the room. The Marketing Success Happy Hour is once a month and has been selling out every month! The next one is Thursday February 23rd, 2017, 4:30pm – 6:30pm. Make sure to purchase your ticket before they sell out!

Marketing Success Happy Hour January 2017

Tools mentioned/ used in today’s Marketing Success LIVE! episode:

  1. Audio-Technica ATR3350 Omnidirectional Condenser Lavalier Microphone- This mic allows you to have quality sound in your videos no matter how far way the phone is from your face.

2. Arkon iPhone Tripod Mount- This is how I keep my phone from wobbling around when I’m filming! This tripod is very portable and has durable legs that claspses on to other equipment.

3. Neewer Camera Photo/Video Light Ring- I use this light ring so you can see me more clearly, no matter what the lighting in the room looks like.

4. CowboyStudio Aluminum Adjustable Light Stand with Case– The light ring I use, goes on this stand!

That’s a wrap for the recap of Marketing Success Live-  4 New LinkedIn Tips for 2017. Make sure to tune in on Facebook Live again next Wednesday from 11am-11:30am over on the Marketing Melodie Facebook page.

Marketing Success Live- 6 Free Tech Tools for Marketing Your Business Recap

On today’s episode of Marketing Success Live, I shared 6 free tech tools for marketing your business.  This recap will give you a quick rundown of the tips, tricks, resources, events and other cool things mentioned. If you missed today’s episode, you can watch it any time over on the Marketing Melodie Facebook Page.

Marketing Melodie Marketing Success Live Tech Tools

Running a business in today’s digtal age can be overwhelming. There are so many tools and resources out there for marketing that sometimes you might not even know where to start. Since January is coming to an end, I know a lot of you already feel “behind” with your marketing and social media goals. It’s my intention to share these resources with you to help you be more efficient with marketing, get ahead with creating content and overall establish a more professional presence for your company.

With that said, here are my top 6 favorite tech tools that help with marketing you business (Some of these are “Freemium” programs, meaning they are free to use, but have upgraded/paid versions):

  1. Evernote– I have been using this since they launched in 2008. Capture anything and everything in one place. This is great for saving random content ideas you may get and want to remember to use for your marketing material later. Check out Evernote for yourself. 
  2. Calendly- Streamline your appointments and have a professional presence with Calendly. You can even schedule your appointment with me right now! Remember, part of marketing your business is establishing yourself as a professional who makes it easy for other people to meet with you. Avoid the email and phone tag with Calendly.
  3.  Docusign- The days of sitting by the fax and waiting for an important contract to come in are over! This tool alone has significantly helped me grow my business and increase my close rate 10X+! Once someone verbally agrees to work with you, make it easy for them to sign an agreement. Sign up here for a free 30 day trial and 10% off if you decide to join. They always allow you to have a free accout to receive documents and refer to old ones.
  4. Facebook Scheduling- One of the most frequently asked questions I get is, “What scheduling tool should I use?”. When scheduling on Facebook, use the Facebook scheduling tool on Facebook! It may be an extra step but your post will get more visibility because Facebook loves keeping you on….you guessed it, Facebook!
  5. Nextdoor- It’s the “Can I borrow a cup of sugar?” from your neighbor concept for the digital age. Get to know your neighbors, help each other out, learn about cool things happening in your community. It’s not a network where you can directly promote your business, but I have personally received business from using this program because when I connect with neighbors, I have discovered that they are interested in working with people right in their own backyard. Join your local Nextdoor community. 
  6. Wayback Machine- This internet archive allows you to rediscover old content and repurpose it for current posts. It’s a history of the evolution of your business. It shows humble beginnings, successful launches, and it’s great throwback content! Enter your website on the Wayback Machine.

Mentioned in today’s Marketing Success LIVE! Episode: 

  • Marketing Sucess Happy Hour- ONE SPOT LEFT for tomorrow’s happy hour. You don’t want to miss out on a chance to learn more about social media, leave with action items to implement for your business and network with some amazing folks. Snag the last spot!

Marketing Success Happy Hour

  • Marketing Success Team- The Marketing Success Team is an online community and resource designed for busy professionals who want to stay motivated and inspired with marketing their business. You’ll have someone to keep you accountable for being consistent with your marketing efforts. The days of starting a blog, campaign or new profile, only to abandon it a couple weeks later are no more! You will be on the cutting edge of the latest social media updates that affect your business and you will get answers directly from the experts who have years of experience with digital marketing. Everyone on the team helps each other, so not only will you have access to me, but you also have access to other business professionals to collaborate with. Click here for more info.

Marketing Melodie Marketing Success Team

  • Marketing Success Power Breakfast- Sometimes, it’s hard to set aside time for networking events because you don’t want to take time away from getting actual work done. This is why I created the Marketing Success Power Breakfast! It’s a networking event where you’ll have a chance to connect with up to 9 other business professionals, learn about a social media topic, and best of all get work done! The next event is Friday February 17th 8am-10am. Claim your spot here.

Marketing Success Power Breakfast with Marketing Melodie

Tools mentioned/ used in today’s Marketing Success LIVE! episode:

  1. Audio-Technica ATR3350 Omnidirectional Condenser Lavalier Microphone- This mic allows you to have quality sound in your videos no matter how far way the phone is from your face.

2. Arkon iPhone Tripod Mount- This is how I keep my phone from wobbling around when I’m filming! This tripod is very portable and has durable legs that claspses on to other equipment.

3. Neewer Camera Photo/Video Light Ring- I use this light ring so you can see me more clearly, no matter what the lighting in the room looks like.

4. CowboyStudio Aluminum Adjustable Light Stand with Case– The light ring I use, goes on this stand!

5. Selfie Light Ring- I use this when I’m on the go.

That’s a wrap for the recap of Marketing Success Live- 6 Free Tech Tools for Marketing Your Business. Make sure to tune in on Facebook Live again next Wednesday from 11am-11:30am over on the Marketing Melodie Facebook page. I will be featuring a special guest, Mary Fain Brandt of the LinkedIn Bakery and we’re going to share what you need to know about succeeding with LinkedIn in 2017.

Marketing Success Live- How to Attract Customers Who Love You- Recap

On today’s episode of Marketing Success Live, we discuss how to attract customers who love you so much that they’ll be raving fans! This recap will give you a quick rundown of the tips, tricks, resources, events and other cool things mentioned. If you missed today’s episode, you can watch it any time over on the Marketing Melodie Facebook Page.

Marketing Meodie with Love Coach Sylvia Chavez- 1-18-17

Our special guest for today’s episode is Love Coach Sylvia! While Sylvia usually works with individuals on finding love, we’re going to apply the principals she uses to create a love affair with your clients! Sylvia Chavez is a happy Wife, mom of 5 and a grandma, originally from Buenos Aires, and known Internationally as the LOVE Coach. Passionate about helping people discover their excellence, Sylvia has dedicated a majority of her life to guide them.

Main takeaways from today’s Marketing Success Live Topic- How to Attract Customers Who Love You

  1. Your mindset plays a big role in attracting positive, loving clients– Your mindset dictates the type of clients you attract. If you are desperate, you will attract desperate clients. Love Coach Sylvia recommends that you treat business relationships like personal relationships. Start by loving yourself, or else you won’t attract clients who love you. Even if you are coming from a mindset of lack, take the time to say to yourself, “I’m going to be of service” and really focuso on your valuable offerings. If you put that intention out into the world, you will attract clients who are excited to work with you, rather than clients who have a negative perspective about their own business.
  2. Clients who love you will help take your business to the next level– When your clients grow to love you, they become your greatest advocates, your brand ambassadors and your raving fans. They will refer you business and sell for you! Wouldn’t you love to walk into a room and then have someone else introduce you in such a positive way, the person you’re being introduced to is already interested in working with you?!
  3. Tips on marketing your business with passion and love– Before you market your business, be clear, concise and confident with yourself about what you are selling (yes we all work in sales!). Love Coach Sylvia says that sometimes you can come across as unintentionally being fake because you don’t feel comfortable in your own skin. She recommends that you start by loving yourself and getting the passion back into your own life! Your love and passion will start to reflect in the way you share your buisness with prospects. Be confident in the fact that what you have to offer really is valuable and people will be attracted to the positive vibe you’re putting out into the world.

Connect with today’s Marketing Succcess LIVE! Special guest Love Coach Sylvia:

  • Receive interesting news and updates, and stay in touch with Love Coach Sylvia! Sign up now at http://tiny.cc/lovecoach
  • Click here to Like and Follow Sylvia on Facebook!

Mentioned in today’s Marketing Success LIVE! Episode: 

  • Marketing Success Team- The Marketing Success Team is an online community and resource designed for busy professionals who want to stay motivated and inspired with marketing their business. You’ll have someone to keep you accountable for being consistent with your marketing efforts. The days of starting a blog, campaign or new profile, only to abandon it a couple weeks later are no more! You will be on the cutting edge of the latest social media updates that affect your business and you will get answers directly from the experts who have years of experience with digital marketing. Sylvia is a valued member of the Marketing Success Team and everyone on the team helps each other, so not only will you have access to me, but you also have access to other business professionals to collaborate with. Click here for more info.
  • Marketing Success Power Breakfast- Sometimes, it’s hard to set aside time for networking events because you don’t want to take time away from getting actual work done. This is why I created the Marketing Success Power Breakfast! It’s a networking event where you’ll have a chance to connect with up to 9 other business professionals, learn about a social media topic, and best of all get work done! The next event is this Friday, January 20th from 8am-10am. Claim your spot here.

Marketing Success Power Breakfast with Marketing Melodie

Tools mentioned/ used in today’s Marketing Success LIVE! episode:

  1. Audio-Technica ATR3350 Omnidirectional Condenser Lavalier Microphone- This mic allows you to have quality sound in your videos no matter how far way the phone is from your face.

2. Arkon iPhone Tripod Mount- This is how I keep my phone from wobbling around when I’m filming! This tripod is very portable and has durable legs that claspses on to other equipment.

3. Neewer Camera Photo/Video Light Ring- I use this light ring so you can see me more clearly, no matter what the lighting in the room looks like.

4. CowboyStudio Aluminum Adjustable Light Stand with Case– The light ring I use, goes on this stand!

That’s a wrap for the recap of Marketing Success Live- How to Attract Customers Who Love You. Make sure to tune in on Facebook Live again next Wednesday from 11am-11:30am over on the Marketing Melodie Facebook page. I will be sharing the top tech tools I use for marketing and business.