markdavidson @ShamaHyder Once my blog network is operational, you won’t have to ask if I have a site. You’ll just know. There’ll be no escaping it.

markdavidson Mostly, it’s been @DaisyAvenue who thinks I should develop a consulting company… Which I already do but only for those in my blog network.

tina_winslow @markdavidson When you say Blog Network can you define that a bit more…

markdavidson @JeannieGrrl Hits or unique visitors? 2 things I look for are uiques visitors and how much time the spend on the site once they get there.

markdavidson @JeannieGrrl Effective promotion drives the traffic but it’s compelling content that keeps them there. I also want to create repeat traffic.

markdavidson @JeannieGrrl SEO is important but it’s not nearly as effective as strong internet promotion, solid branding, and a loyal following.

markdavidson @JeannieGrrl SEO is only one tool. If given the choice between viral marketing or SEO, I’ll choose viral marketing every single time.

markdavidson @JeannieGrrl Because if you do one at a high level of effectiveness, the other will follow. Also don’t discount a trad marketing plan.

markdavidson @JeannieGrrl Many people have no concept or understanding of new media. The tech gap is still huge. Directing traffic offline is critical.

markdavidson @JeannieGrrl That will change completely in the next 2 to 5 years but for now, Oprah still has more influence than @ponzarelli.

markdavidson @JeannieGrrl Another important distinction to make is the difference between influence and traffic metrics. It’s all about having influence.

markdavidson @JeannieGrrl That’s why I often get frustrated by unqualified consultants who blurb about how to “monetize” Twitter. They just don’t get it.

markdavidson @JeannieGrrl As Twitter evolves, their ability to influence millions of people world wide is worth it’s weight in barrels of crude oil.

markdavidson @JeannieGrrl Any move to limit or impede parity between users in order to “monetize” the service is short sighted and dumb. Bigger picture.

markdavidson @JeannieGrrl Perhaps some of these consultants should do their homework before blurbing bad ideas.

markdavidson @JeannieGrrl There’s already an established precedence for their model that will make the founders very wealthy if they continue as is.

markdavidson @JeannieGrrl I’m not knocking SEO because it is very important but I’m pointing out that by itself, SEO has a limited value.

markdavidson @JeannieGrrl What are your traffic goals for the month?

markdavidson @JeannieGrrl Also, what actions do you want your visitors to take once they’ve visited your site? What outcomes do you want to produce?

markdavidson @JeannieGrrl BTW, if you’ve hired a consultant and they haven’t asked you these questions but instead made a lot of statements, fire them.

tina_winslow @markdavidson Those are great questions for @JeannieGrrl I tell those to clients all the time and completely forget them for me and my bus.

markdavidson @JeannieGrrl That’s something to be really proud of! You’re doing great! What are your goals and objectives for this month?

markdavidson @JeannieGrrl As do I. But I think having specific and measurable goals won’t detract from your fun or providing a valuable service.

markdavidson @JeannieGrrl I’m not blurbing that you should monetize anything. I love your site. I posted it to my FB. More people should know about it.

markdavidson @JeannieGrrl And that is exactly why I think you rawk and am a big fan of yours. You have integrity. Right intentions and right actions.

markdavidson @JeannieGrrl Please feel free to use me as a resource whenever you want. I’d like to double your traffic for the month. No charge for you.

markdavidson I was just offering free consulting to a friend who was asking me how many unique visitors one can generate to a new site…

markdavidson I’ve been donating services to TwitterTravels.com and it’s only been up for 3 or so weeks. I directed 10,000 unique visitors in one day.

markdavidson I’m pretty low-key about what I do. I’m a show me kinda guy. I don’t spend a lot of time talking. I try to focus my energies on doing.

markdavidson It’s a little frustrating sometimes when I talk to friends about the results produced by people who offer consulting “professionally”.

markdavidson I would caution people when seeking the advice and counsel of people offering new-media consulting to ask the hard questions before paying.

mbuckbee @markdavidson I’m not sure that advice should be limited to “new media”

markdavidson After several similar conversations with friends, I’m toying with the idea of writing a list of questions to ask consultants prior to sale.

BeckyMcCray @markdavidson - Stop toying with us, and write that list!

ActiveRich @markdavidson Example of a ‘hard’ question?

brendanb @markdavidson isn’t new-media consulting just a fancy name for Amway reps?

markdavidson Whoa. I just lost 2 followers! lol. I wonder if they were “new media” consultants?

selves @markdavidson i don’t worry about losing followers. it’s incredible i don’t lose too many even though i’m insane most of the time.

Muadgib @markdavidson Rigorous questioning is the kryptonite of the New Media Consultant.

davedufour @markdavidson Is this as if YOU”re not doing it professionally that they talk to you? I’ve gotten that from family sometimes. Weird.

zemote @markdavidson When things get popular, it’s amazing how many so called “experts” come out of the wood work

chieftech @markdavidson what kind of thing are u buying from consultants? (having a list of questions is a good idea BTW)

markdavidson @mbuckbee lol. No. That advice should not be limited to new-media consulting. However, I’m seeing and hearing a lot of worthless strategies.

markdavidson @BeckyMcCray HAHAHA! I think I will. The first thing I would write is that before buying SEO, review the source on your consultant’s site.

markdavidson @ActiveRich I once saw on Twitter, someone posted the question, “There’s so many people offering SEO, how do I know the real from the fake?”

markdavidson @ActiveRich I answered, “By the results they produce.” You do this professionally, so you already know who’s real and who’s fake.

markdavidson @ActiveRich Since I don’t seek consulting and this is one of my more random blurbing sessions, I’ll need a few minutes to think about it.

markdavidson @ActiveRich But, I just had the 15th conversation this week where I was left scratching my head and wondering, WTH?

markdavidson @ActiveRich I think that part of the problem is that people think there is a shortcut. There’s no shortcut. You can’t fake success.

markdavidson @ActiveRich So probably the first question I would ask is, “Show me.” I want to see specific and measurable results. Don’t talk, do it.

markdavidson @brendanb Is that where all the Amway people have gone? Into new-media consulting? That theory actually makes a lot of sense.

markdavidson @rstudd lol. I’ll look at my tracking later and see who I lost. I’m always curious as to what attracts people or repels them. Go figure.

markdavidson @selves I definitely don’t worry about losing Followers. However, I want to know why. I like to understand the cause and effect. That’s me.

markdavidson @Muadgib You Sir, win a star for excellence in the field of Twitter blurbing!

markdavidson @davedufour lol. I’m fortunate because my friends have watched what I can do over the years. I often cross-trade consulting and expertise.

ActiveRich @markdavidson we get that constantly on our network, ActiveRain. So many selfproclaimed SEO experts hawking their wares…

markdavidson @zemote No kidding. I’ve been online and a geek since 1983. I’ve been a promoter since 1986. I do this for fun and because I love it.

ActiveRich @markdavidson Unfortunately, so many get easily duped and pocket picked

markdavidson @chieftech I don’t hire consultants. Ever. I cross-collateral my expertise with the expertise of others. I do this instead of golfing.

markdavidson @chieftech Yeah, I think I’m going to ask the help of my core group to assemble a list of quality questions to ask consultants prior to.

markdavidson Live from AIM: “Social media isn’t about numbers, it’s about influence.” — @markdavidson.

JackiePeters @markdavidson yes, yes and yes

markdavidson IM’ing with someone in my core group right now. She actually feels the same way I do. That’s because she is made of AWESOME!

markdavidson BTW, if you look at TwitterStars.com, I openly admit that every mistake that could be made, is made. It’s a personal blog and it’s for fun.

markdavidson And quite honestly, I don’t care. lol.

markdavidson @JackiePeters I’m awarding you a star just because you are good for my ego. lol. But seriously, people know the truth when they see it.

markdavidson @ActiveRich I recently steered a friend away from buying SEO just by providing them the tools. Teach a person to fish kinda thing.

ActiveRich @markdavidson That was kind of you…my friend does the same

markdavidson @ActiveRich I would tell everyone that if they have the time, the information is out there. It’s not difficult, it’s just time and work.

ActiveRich @markdavidson exactly. Like you say, most just want the shortcuts

chieftech @markdavidson hmm, I’m a consultant (or so my biz card says) - should I be cross-collateral’ing my expertise? and will it hurt?

markdavidson Hmmm. Google for SEMPO and Danny Sullivan. Google itself is a great resource for SEO. They give it all away for free. Seriously.

markdavidson @chieftech I’m not a professional consultant although a probably consult a minimum of 2 hours a day. I would and I do. It’s been a blessing.

markdavidson @chieftech I can’t see the downside to strategic relationships. I can’t be an expert in all things. There’s not enough time in the day.

markdavidson @chieftech So, what I do is to trade my strengths and expertise for the strength and expertise of people whom I like, trust, and respect.

markdavidson @chieftech I’ve never felt burnt or taken advantage of. I personally feel that having a solid-core group is a massive key to success.

chieftech @markdavidson I agree. beware of “guru” consultants who claim to see and know all

markdavidson @chieftech True. I think I have an advantage because I don’t consult for a living. I’m simply seeking to execute knowledge and strategies.

markdavidson @chieftech I know a lot of really smart people. So far, none of them know everything but they really know what they know at a high level.

WarWraith @markdavidson “long form sales letter”

WarWraith @markdavidson “Where have all the Amway people gone?”

markdavidson @WarWraith Hmmm. Good question. You know what, everyone please forget everything I’ve blurbed tonight. MLM SEO opportunities ahead!

mark1davidson @nbostic Back in September, I made one of my best decisions. I won’t do business with people whom I don’t like, trust, and respect. Period.

mark1davidson @Beady_Eye_Anita Life has taught some important lessons. 1: Be careful with what you spend your time doing. You’ll probably get good at it.

mark1davidson @Beady_Eye_Anita Life has taught some important lessons. 2: You’ll never become great at doing something you don’t love doing.

mark1davidson @nbostic I’m a nerd/geek who got into the mortgage business when I was 19 so I could afford computer equipment. Been online since 1983.

mark1davidson @nbostic Been in the mortgage business since 1986. About that same time, I started producing and promoting live events, up to 3,000 seats.

mark1davidson @nbostic BBS, private-commercial networks; 2600 baud, lol. I haven’t done event production and promotion since 1992 but yes.

mark1davidson @nbostic When I’m not at my office during the day, I’m at my home office mornings, nights, and weekends getting quality computer time in.

mark1davidson @nbostic Recently I’ve been developing my media company… It’s fun because it’s opened some great doors and because I love computing.

mark1davidson @nbostic In high school, I started learning programming but quickly discovered that I’m way too social to be coding… so, I don’t code.

mark1davidson @nbostic Which is awesome because truth be told, I’d be doing it anyway. If I had unlimited time and money, I’d still do what I’m doing.

mark1davidson @nbostic You are service based so, I think the monetization is built in. The more people who know who you are, the quicker you’ll succeed.

mark1davidson @nbostic No budget. I’m self-funded and I’m supplying time, bandwidth, and web space to those I believe in. Proof of concept first, then $.

mark1davidson @nbostic Even if I never make a dime, this is still what I do. I don’t play golf, not a drinker, I don’t follow sports. It’s what I love.

mark1davidson @nbostic I know *exactly* what you mean. I tend to get excited and get ahead of myself. I’m learning to temper my enthusiasm. Max my time.

mark1davidson @nbostic SEO is kind of funny. A lot of “experts” seemed to have popped up. To me, it’s been a given with every web project since AltaVista.

ResPres @mark1davidson you need to come to our TweetUp on May 2, 12pm in Sherman Oaks at Maramalade Cafe.

mark1davidson @nbostic There’s no need for black-hat tricks. Besides, who wants to get black holed? With social networking alone, you can drive traffic.

mark1davidson @nbostic Content is and will always be king. Getting eyeballs to your site is just an “at bat”. You still need to create value and trust.

mark1davidson @nbostic Now depending on your business, that may not be quite as true. For people offering RL services, establishing FACT is critical.

mark1davidson @nbostic “What can social media do for you? A FACT-based marketing strategy: establish Familiarity, Awareness, Comfort, and Trust.”

mark1davidson @nbostic I agree, Twitter is amazing, much more so than the others. Twitter promotes dynamic, real-time communication. Not passive like FB.

mark1davidson @nbostic The other benefit to Twitter is it’s like a RL conference. Others can “listen in” and get a feel for what a person is about.

mark1davidson @nbostic Twitter does a very good job of establishing FACT. You are getting to know me as a person, not as a company. It’s direct.

mark1davidson @nbostic Thanks. One day I sat down and asked myself, what are the barriers between the sell and the close. What triggers people to buy?

mark1davidson @MarkMayhew Yeah, poor choice of words on my part. What I really mean is marketing, selling, and closing… and getting paid.

nbostic @mark1davidson 5 methods - information you’re willing to share?

mark1davidson @nbostic Yeah, I’m willing to share but Twitter isn’t the best vehicle. I really should write an ebook or even better, demonstrate.

TwitterStars.com’s interview with TwitterTravels.com

This podcast was originally recorded March 20th, 2008. [23:55m]