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Are you confused about how best you can use social media sites Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to grow your business? These social networking gems have evolved into sophisticated lead generation and branding tools, and with the right approach, using them is a fast and inexpensive way to promote your business.

Following are some quick and easy tips you can use to get the most out of these social media sites.

Facebook

Don’t have a large advertising budget? Facebook offers several solutions for promoting your business, and most are free!

For starters, you can create a Facebook page that serves as your “launch pad.” From there you can expand your business promotion activities by using the “connect” feature (on the advertising page) to connect your website to your Facebook account.

You can also create an online group about your business topic, and invite members to join. The content is created by members, which is a fantastic soft-sell tool, as well as a great way to build an online community of people who want to “see” and hear more from you. As members interact with your page, they can send links and stories to their friends, so news about your business can go viral.

Facebook also offers paid-for premium advertising, which allows you to target individuals who are a match for your brand. To find out more, click the advertising link at the bottom of any Facebook page.

Twitter

Twitter is a “mini blog,” where posts are limited to 140 characters. Members share with followers what they’re doing right now. Each post or “tweet” can be done by computer, cell phone or desktop application like Seesmic (seesmic.com).

Tweets have an extremely short shelf life, so don’t expect them to drive sales like a website or blog. But, Twitter is perfect for posting announcements (like the launch of a new product), advertising promotions that link to your sales pages, sharing useful information about your topic, or conducting polls of followers.

Always include a strong call to action in your Tweets. To get started with Twitter visit Twitter.com. To add a Twitter button to your website that links to your Twitter URL, Google “twitter button” to find a good selection!

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a more traditional business-to-business platform for networking. It is best used to develop business relationships, and companies use it to seek and harvest new talent. Individuals can also use LinkedIn to find the “right companies to work for” and “do business with,” as well as connect with others who already have a connection within those desired companies.

Action Steps to Make Social Media Work Better for You

From these three social media and business promotion tools, decide:

1. Which one(s) you want to use

2. What type of information you will post

3. How often will you interact with your audience (post)

Doing these steps will put you on the fast track to quickly and easily promote your business!

Have you ever felt that the people you are marketing to don’t “get you” or understand you?

Or, maybe you know you’re not communicating the “right” message to your target audience, but you’re not sure how to change your message, or what it should be.

The problem in both instances above could be your’re not harnessing and using the power of ancient archetypes in your personal branding strategy.

To help explain the concept of ancient archetypes…

Have you ever noticed certain brands, advertisements, movies, or celebrity personalities seem to instantly resonate with you? Without you even realizing it, these brands are communciating a story and meaning to your soul it is already deeply familiar with.

Research in the marketing field indicates that the most powerful brands consistently embody the persona of ancient archetypes. Which ancient archetype you embody is the first thing you must do before you begin developing a personal brand identity.

So, what is an ancient archetype?

Archetypes are believed to be universal, mythical characters that live within the collective unconscious of people all over the world. By symbolizing our core human desires, archetypes can evoke strong, deep emotions that everyone can connect to, and understand.

Examples of powerful brands that stir our emotions are Coke, Nike, Marlboro; movies such as Star Wars, and E.T. The Extra Terrestrial; and personalities like Jackie O., John Wayne, and Lady Di. These “brands” have captured and held the imagination of the public. Why? Because they represent something soulfully and deeply familiar to us.

The twelve ancient archetypes are:

1. Creator
2. Caregiver
3. Ruler
4. Jester
5. Regular Guy/Gal
6. Lover
7. Hero
8. Outlaw
9. Magician
10. Innocent
11. Explorer
12. Sage

Each of these archetypes possess powerful identities that signal the fulfillment of basic human desires and emotions, and releases deep emotions and yearnings within us. Scientific research signals the missing link in successful marketing and branding is a lack of understanding of archetypes, and the power they possess.

During the recent development of my own personal branding strategy, I focused on researching and studying the twelve ancient archetypes to determine which one resonated with me most. After my study, I determined the ancient archetype that best describes me is the Ruler. Well-known Ruler brands are Saab, Ralph Lauren, Fortune, and Microsoft.

The Ruler archetype is known as the leader, and seeks to create prosperity and success, and to make order out of chaos. The ruler identityis right for a brand if it is:

• A high status product
• A product to help people get more organized
• A product at the moderate to high price range

Knowing this type of information helps to create a personal branding strategy that is consistent with the attributes and values of the brand, as well as identify the words to use to market the brand.

By using the ancient power of archetypes when branding your business, you will immediately make your marketing easier, and you’ll feel more confident because you’re authentically communicating who you are. This message of individuality and expression is so powerful, your ideal client will intuitively understand you, and be attracted to you.

A branding strategy, using archetypes, allows your audience to dive deep into the heart and soul of who you really are. Whether you are developing your personal branding strategy the first time or rebranding. It is what will separate the ordinary brands from you — the extraordinary brand. Use the power of ancient archetype to tell your brand’s story.

Yesterday was a day of “cleaning house.” Let me explain…

Over the last two years, I’ve been building my list of subscribers, and some of them are from the beginning days of my online activities.

The truth is, some of those people that signed up to be on my list aren’t my ideal clients. But, how would they know? My brand wasn’t established. And, even now, it’s morphing to reflect who I really am, and what I have to offer. (I am launching a new website sometime this month, and updating the look of my products, and photo.)

So, yesterday, I deleted everyone off my subscriber list who has not opened an email from me since June. Let me tell you, this took courage, because we all like to grow our list of prospects, right? Seeing 1/3rd of my list evaporate into thin air made me gulp, but then, I felt relieved.

In order to grow, we have to be willing to let some things go. Having people on my list who were not opening my emails was a spiritual drain to me…as it was to them, as well, because my emails were showing up in their inbox every week, or so

So, think about what can you do today to “clean house” to free your spirit, so you can be ready to achieve more. Taking this action will liberate you, and make room to bring new things into your life, that you value more.