There’s been a lot of controversy with regards to the implementation of it all, with many claiming Google is unfairly using its muscle (in search) to promote this new service – I differ on some of it, but heck…when it comes to marketing, I couldn’t care less – neither should you.

All it means is that things have changed, if you’re a business owner, love it (like me) or hate it, you’d be downright crazy to ignore Google Plus.

Crazy because if you hope to build a long-lasting and powerful brand on-line in Zimbabwe or anywhere else in the world, you can’t afford to ignore Google. Facebook is not enough, especially not in Zimbabwe, neither is Twitter or LinkedIn.

CLICK HERE to join Google Plus now.

Google plus is going to affect your on-line networking, your Search engine visibility, your brand relevance in ways that you probably can’t imagine if you haven’t been following the developments.

I could go into a really detailed account of why you should get on Google Plus and get active there now, but not today. For today I’ll just let you know this

The Worlds Most Powerful Internet Business (Google) had launched the fastest growing social networking site in History. They’re integrating it into the world’s top search engine, Google.com, the world’s top video sharing site YouTube, the worlds best email service, Gmail (350 million users) and many other popular online properties. They’re doing all this and your competitors haven’t even heard of it yet.

If there’s ANY entrepreneurial or marketing blood in you at all, you already know you need to take action early.

Here’s A Link To get Started.

For example, look at the 3 adverts in this post, they’re all exactly the same – zero creativity. I imagine in my head that this is how these advert was designed…

VOICE Of BOSS: “Oh, so they want an advert for school uniforms? I know what we’ll do, put of picture of school kids in uniform. Next, put a school black board in the background and of course, “Back to School” – oh and the company logo. – we’re done!!”

VOICE OF REASON: “But Boss, isn’t that what everyone always does, EVERY YEAR? Won’t it make our advert less effective if it doesn’t stand out, mentions no benefit, no call to action, a boring and expected headline? What if we try a different concept? I know, how about a picture of a teacher and dog that -”

Boss/ Marketing manager/ advertising ‘expert’: ”Shut up, let’s go with what everyone already expects. One more idea from you and you’re fired!”

I could be wrong, but then how else do you explain the fact that Barbours, Number 1 and Topics (there were more) all came up with exactly the same advert for their ‘back to school’ campaigns?

It’s not just these three companies either, it’s all over the place. Everyone copying everyone and no one standing out from the crowd.

BUT…

You can still subscribe to my public updates on Facebook and get in on the latest business tips and tricks and crazy conversations happening there.

If you really want to be a friend, in box me on Facebook when you subscribe to public updates. That way i can know who you are and am more likely to delete an inactive friend in your favor!

You can also connect with more on Google Plus , which is better than Facebook in my opinion, but that’s a post for another day.

These days I talk to him a lot about who he is and where he’s going. “Don’t get distracted or discouraged” I tell him. “No matter how high the mountain seems, you can climb it.” I remind him that no matter what forces come up against him, he’ll win through faith.

If I ever see fear in his eyes, I remind him, “chin up, chest out buddy”. I tell the man in the mirror how much bigger he is than the challenges he’s facing.

If I spot any bitterness, I encourage him to forgive others, after all, he’s been forgiven much.

I never let him let go of faith, to shrink back into the cowardly and selfish shell of a man others have accepted as their true selves.

I keep him focused on a life motivated by love, not money, power, fame or pleasure.

He’s a stubborn chap my man in the mirror, and I often have to say things more than once. I get irritated with the way he seems to make some of the same mistakes over and over again – but still, just recently, I’ve noticed he’s paying attention.

Maybe he just wanted to know for sure, that I was really committed to his success. I am. God is.

Let this truth sink in.

Businesses are designed to make profit. That means they’ve got to buy stuff for less than they can sell (use) it…including employees. Only the business owner can ever get paid his worth (or more).

That’s fact, now do with it as you wish.

Three days from now, you probably won’t even remember this sentence. Which sentence? The following sentence. Or the one I just wrote for that matter.The one about the sentence. You’ve already forgotten it haven’t you? Wait – you don’t even know which sentence I’m talking about do you?

Do You?

Ok, well at least try to remember the first sentence (or the very last one – same thing), it’s the most important one. It’s the one thing you should say to yourself before you attempt any sort of marketing. That’s the most important rule of marketing really –actually havingsomething to say, before you say anything.

My point is..

Having something to say, doesn’t actually mean you have anything to say at all. Like that stuff I just said. About the sentence, when you didn’t know which sentence I was talking about. Remember?

Enough said.

P.S. The first sentence was –“Boy do I have something to say.”

It’s not just Facebook either. Twitter, LinkedIn, Google Plus, Yookos, Sha (Zimbabwe’s own), the list goes on. Everyday, a little more of your target audience starts using these platforms. You can’t afford to miss out…

Here are a few simple steps to get you started in Social Media Marketing

1. Who is Your Audience? What do they do online and where? Where ever that is, your brand need representation. A sure bet for almost everyone is Facebook. In Zimbabwe, it’s said that almost a million accounts are active on Facebook. Twitter and LinkedIn have been growing steadily too. I’m also excited about Google Plus, Yookos and Sha too because over time they will represent fantastic online destinations and hangout spots for many a Zimbo.
2. Create Killer Content. Boring is marketing suicide, this is EVEN more true in social settings. What does your audience find interesting? If you’re into real estate, then you need to be more creative than simply posting “House for sale”. No one remembers that, no one shares (spreads it). Try “Is this house better than Phillip Chiyangwa’s House? type discussions. Try Would you pay a million dollars for this (show pictures). Get the idea?
3. Integrate Your Marketing. Make sure your Facebook page or Google Plus brand page is on your business card, in your press adverts etc. Drive traffic to these places with your email signature, and your brochures. The idea is to use one medium to make the other stronger.
4. Stay Fresh – The idea with social media marketing is that you’re opening up communication lines with your audience. Here, they can get to know, trust and love you more by interacting with the personality of your brand in new ways. That means it’s different from a typical website. Your content needs to be continually updated and fresh to keep people coming back and referring their friends.
5. Experiment. Look, Social media isn’t like a pretty brochure that tells what you want to say. It’s interactive. That means you need to be open to the opinions and ideas of your audience. Sometimes they agree with you, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes they like your ideas, others times they won’t. You’ll learn what works over time, experiment. This isn’t something to shrink back from, embrace it, it comes with the territory.

Over time, if you do your job well, you’ve got an online social circle that’s regularly talking about you, referring you and pushing your brand. They feel like they know you, like you’re a real friend. And everybody loves to do business with people they actually like.

Max, “What kind of business can I start in Zimbabwe?”

It’s one of the business questions I get almost daily. “And what if I only have a start-up budget of $1000? Or $500? Or $300?” Throughout 2011 I’ve offered a few answers, and usually I make it clear that no industry guarantees success…it comes down to a few factors, not least of which is your marketing. Today though I want to show you what I believe is one of the best small business opportunities available in Zimbabwe and how to get in while there’s still money to be made!

Forever Living Products – Network Marketing

First, here’s what you DON’T NEED to make this business happen for you;

1. A big budget – you can get started with as little as $240
2. A full day – You can start off part-time and gradually ease into it
3. Years of business experience – Even if you’ve never run a business before
4. Any impressive qualifications – You need ANY academic qualifications at all
5. A fancy office – Work from home…or your car if you want to!

It’s the beauty of some of the network marketing (multi-level marketing) opportunities that have become available in Zimbabwe in the last 2 or 3 years. They’re all easy to get into and Forever Living is the easiest.

Now to be clear, You do need to work, hard and smart. There is no success for the lazy in ANY business.So what is Forever Living and how does it work?

First you should understand that it’s designed to function with in a Network Marketing structure. Network marketing is the kind of marketing that relies on you building a network of people to sell product for you – a sales team. In the case of Forever Living, you’re selling some really extraordinary Health products, proven world-wide to produce excellent results.

Now your sales team could consist of your friends, family, co-workers – whoever. Each person joins your network and the Forever Living family as a business owner and a sales person and You are rewarded with a percentage of profits from any sale made by one of your sales recruits!

Over time, as your Forever Living sales team grows, you start to build a source of semi – passive income, because you’re making a profit off of their efforts. This together with the money you make from your own sales can eventually add up to a decent, even extraordinary income, far above what most jobs and some small businesses in Zimbabwe could ever offer you.

Interested in joining Forever Living? Use the form below to get more information

Interested? Contact us immediately, use the form below.

But, if not…

If you’re looking to explore your full potential, and get the highest rewards life offers…you’ll need to pursue your own vision – your own business. Is it risky? Of course, that’s why the rewards are so massive when you succeed.

We’re rounding up the year 2011 now, often the way you exit one door is the way you enter the next. Finish strong. If you’re planning on starting a business of your own, start it. Register that company, write that business plan, get that branding designed, that strategy formulated – do something! The first step is the most important step you can take, if you haven’t taken any yet. You don’t need to know the whole map to get going, just a little bit of boldness.

Don’t let fear, stop you…you’re bigger than that. Could be that millions of people, your family, your friends…the whole world is waiting to see what is inside you.

Oh, unless you’re waiting for 2012? The new years resolution hype season? One of procrastination’s favorite mind tricks…getting you to wait for some some ‘grand feeling’, ‘new season’, ‘fresh start’. The only time you have is right now. Tomorrow is for dreamers, today is for takers.

Need help to get started? Get in touch