Slap me.

Oh wait, March already did. Can you believe March is here already? Just yesterday it was Christmas morning and I was opening up my brand new MacBook Pro. Now it’s March. Poof.

Where did the time go?

We could sit here hours pondering that question, but it would really be a waste of time because it would be June before we’d get around to solving it.

I see March as a yearly milestone. It’s a month for reflection: Where have you been and what have you been doing the first two months of the year? It’s also a month for contemplation: Where am I headed? Is it in the right direction? Am I meeting my goals, hopes, dreams, aspirations, expectations, and whatever else for the year?

What’s up with you?

Think about it.

When you’re producing videos for YouTube, make sure any music or pictures you use isn’t copyrighted. It’ll save you a lot of hassle down the road, especially if you gain popularity. YouTube has actually been known to remove videos due to copyright issues, so don’t put your hard work and dedication at risk.

As cool as it is to have a popular pop song in the background, there’s plenty of creative commons music available online. One great resource for creative commons music is a site called Jamendo.com. They have all types of tunes, so just be sure read the fine print before selecting the song for your video.

I’ve talked about how lighting is important for video, so I thought I’d share my favorite lamp for vloggers or wannabe movie directors on a budget.

Yes, Ikea is the place to buy kick butt lamps on a budget. The reading/floor lamp in the picture is only $14.99.  Buy a few of these, add a brighter bulb, and you’ve got a mini studio.

Amazon might be another good place to go lamp hunting. Just make sure the light is adjustable and you might want to invest in an extention cord or two so you can move the lights around to get rid of shadows.

Do you ever find yourself with either a manageable or unmanageable list of things to do? Why can’t you just get this stuff done and mark it off the list? I know why… you’re either too busy or too lazy. It doesn’t matter which, however, because they both have the same effect on your life– stuff doesn’t get done!

How do you prevent busy-ness and laziness from getting in the way of life? It’s important to plan ahead, create an organizational system that works for you, and just get off your butt and do it. Sometimes all you need is a 5 minute time slot.

Are you considering creating your own videos or show here on Twolia and/or on another site like YouTube? You might find consistency and frequent video posts are the key to becoming an online video sensation. Here’s why:

Humans are creatures of habit. They like stability and have a tendency to remember something if it’s part of their daily or weekly schedule. If you make it a point to post your videos on a regular basis (meaning daily or weekly), people are more likely to come back and see what’s new.

People want to feel identified with you. Why do you tune into your favorite television show every single week? Most likely because you either feel identified with the characters or are seeking entertainment. Use this same logic to get people to watch your videos.

People who have been successful in the online video world have mastered the art of giving people what they want. How will you give them what they want?

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Unless you’re a giant company or have lots of funding for a fancy web designer, marketing, and kick-butt SEO…

Why not use self-hosted Wordpress to build your business website?

Wordpress has everything you need– thousands of free templates (although I recommend paying for a premium theme), built-in SEO,  plugins, and ease-of-use. Most people think of Wordpress as being a bloggers-only platform, but that’s simply not true anymore. Wordpress actually has both blog and static pages, the perfect combination for your social media needs.

If you’re not into figuring out Wordpress on your own, it’s easy to find someone who can install a theme for a reasonable price. I’d recommend customizing the theme with your own banner and jazzing up the pages with stock photos.

When I first started networking for my business, I was positive I could keep all of my contacts straight and remember people. That worked really well for the first few months before it all went to hell.

It’s very important to keep some sort of contact database. Mine is very elementary as I can’t be bothered inputting information and spending another moment on my computer. Here’s how I do it:

1.   After I attend an event, I write all over the business cards. I note random facts about the person (traveled to Fiji, dog named Fido, etc.), what they’re looking for ($500k income for investments, looking to franchise, etc.), how they might be able to help me, etc.

2.   I keep a binder filled with plastic business card sleeves and simply slide the cards into the next available slots.

3.   If the contact turns out to be someone of particular interest, they get  separated from the riff-raff moved into my ‘special’ little Rolodex of love.

4.   In client files, I write down how they were referred and if they have made any referrals in the past.

That’s right, no fancy software or extra exerted energy. My ‘ghetto’ database (as someone once called it) works for me.

Have you ever walked out of a networking event and thought, “what waste of time”?  We all have at some point.

Here are a few tips to enable you never waste your time again.

• Be picky about the events you attend. I typically rely on word-of-mouth before I go to a networking event. I always ask who will be there and what types of businesses are represented. If I don’t think it’ll be a good fit for my purpose, I don’t go.

• Understand that networking is hit or miss. You might make five connections at one meeting and nothing at the next. It’s also important to realize that while people might not need your product or service now, you never know when they will. I have received phone calls and gained new clients more than a year after meeting someone at a networking event!

Networking to help others before helping yourself might seem counter-intuitive to some, but it’s not.  In fact, this works just like karma- everything you give will be given back to you and more. Supposedly.

When you’re in a networking scene and asking others to help spread the gospel about you….don’t forget to ask others: How can I help you?

Instead of always making everything about yourself, become a connector.

Check it out:

Juan’s Taco Palapa and Sally’s Salsa might not have anything to do with your company, UnderWaterBasketWeaving, but introduce them anyway. Trust me, when Juan’s customers drive 200 miles for that kick-butt salsa on his tacos, he’ll have to keep buying more of Sally’s Salsa and both will be happy you made the connection!

Now that you have created your networking goals, carved out time from your oh-so-busy schedule, decided upon the people to schmooze, and perfected your 20 second introduction…

It’s time to recruit others to help spread the gospel about YOU!

Think about the people who can help you reach your target audience:

• Who can give you a stellar recommendation?

• Is there a particular person whose testimonial would help you tremendously?

• Are there any reciprocal relationships that would benefit everyone involved?

Make a list of key people who are in front of your potential clients on a regular basis and keep in close contact with them. Ask if they’d mind keeping their eyes and ears open for you. Most people are happy to help and provide referrals if they know how great your work is and can rely on you.