Here are three cool tools to fire up your business…

I take pride in sharing my latest web discoveries and online resources with my friends and close colleagues.  Disclosure: When I become a fan of these new finds, I usually sign up as an affiliate and receive a small commission on referrals.  I never promote stuff that I don’t test and use myself…

Still, with sooooo much stuff coming at us from every direction, it’s tough to separate the crap from the really useful marketing tools.  With that in mind, here are the web resources I’m most enthusiastic about recommending:

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If you’re like me, you’re getting dozens of new “friend” requests on Facebook every day.

At first, I quickly friended every random request, without even thinking about it. Then, I finally started being a bit more selective about who I let in…

Now, people on Facebook usually fall into a couple of different camps… You might be a quantity person, who has thousands of friends – or you might be a more discerning quality person, who carefully considers every friend request.

I guess I fall into the “quality” category. I’m not saying that there’s a right approach or a wrong approach – that’s a personal decision. But I don’t want to be known as a Facebook Ho! I’m not looking for a Facebook one-night-stand! Hey, that’s just me. I’m not gonna let just anyone into my Facebook family!

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The Flip Video camera’s brilliance is in its simplicity. Just click the on switch, point and shoot! To record, press the big red button on the back of the Flip (you can’t miss it!) To stop recording, hit the red button again. It really is that simple!

The interface is basically the same whether you’re using the original, early model Flip Video, the popular Flip Ultra, or the new Flip Mino. Of course, each version has gotten a bit smaller, slicker and a bit more expensive.

As of this writing, the original Flip Video retails for $129.99 (USD), though we’ve seen it as low as $89! The original has 1GB memory and holds 60-minutes of video. The colorful Flip Ultra, in your choice of five, bright colors, has 2GB space and room for 60-minutes of video. The Ultra retails for $149,99 (USD). The newest addition to the Flip family is the Mino, also with 2GB and 60-minutes of video recording time. The Mino runs $179.99, but is smaller and has an internal battery. Earlier models require 2 AA batteries. The new Mino also adds some increased functionality, such as pause, fast-forward and rewind functions for playback.

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What do megastars Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey and Jennifer Aniston have in common? They’re all flipping out over Pure Digital’s Flip camera! Other Flip fanatics include Rosie O’Donnell, Pamela Anderson and the Barack Obama campaign…

It’s not just celebrities who are flipping over the Flip… Rave reviews have come in from all corners of the media world, from Time magazine, ABC News and Extra TV to the Wall Street Journal, CNN and USA Today.

With product evangelists like that, perhaps it’s no surprise that Pure Digital just sold their one millionth Flip Video Camcorder! The Flip has been the number one best-selling video camera on Amazon since its launch, and the camera’s popularity shows no signs of abating.

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If you do business on the Internet, then you’ve seen the emergence of Online Video as a powerful marketing tool. But did you know that Online Video can also be your “secret weapon” in the battle to buck the recession?

Using video to build your brand and promote your business – whether on the now ubiquitous YouTube or on your own website – actually attracts new customers and accelerates the sales process. There are several strong arguments for adding video to your marketing mix, but none more important than the simple fact that video boosts your business.

When you share a video with your potential customer, you instantly increase your “know, like and trust” factor. Projecting your personality and authenticity cane take months or years with text or email, but video is immediate and personal. Your prospects can see and hear the real you and, the sooner they feel they know you, the sooner they’ll buy from you!

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Time for your best Dr. Evil voice… Why? Because YouTube is now streaming ONE BILLION videos per DAY! Want a piece of that incredible audience? Here are 5 easy ways to get a video on YouTube fast…

1.    YouTube “Quick Capture!” – Just below the “upload” button on YouTube is the cleverly hidden “quick capture” function, which allows you to record your video “live” and on the fly with just your webcam. Give it a try!

2. Phone it in – If you’re an iPhone 3G owner, you’re in luck. The new iPhone with video not only lets you record video, it gives you the option to send your mobile video directly to YouTube – again with one click convenience.

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In these turbulent and unpredictable times, you need every competitive advantage you can get to stay ahead. One powerful and low-cost tool is Online Video. Video has a small learning curve, but can create big results. In fact, video can become your secret weapon in the battle to buck the recession.

Using video to build your brand and promote your business – whether on the now ubiquitous YouTube or on your own website – actually attracts new customers and accelerates the sales process. There are many compelling arguments for adding video to your marketing mix, but none more important than the simple fact that video brings you closer to your customers and closer to the sale!

Read the rest of this post »

If you do business on the Internet, then you’ve seen the emergence of Online Video as a powerful marketing tool. But did you know that Online Video can also be your “secret weapon” in the battle to buck the recession?

Using video to build your brand and promote your business – whether on the now ubiquitous YouTube or on your own website – actually attracts new customers and accelerates the sales process. There are several strong arguments for adding video to your marketing mix, but none more important than the simple fact that video boosts your business.

Read the rest of this post »

Okay, I’ve stayed silent on this long enough… But as the branding guy, and the founder of our “Stand 4 Your Brand” Revolution, I feel I must speak out: What’s with you folks with no photo??? Invisible people, please, I implore you: Get a head shot and post a photo! Nothing says “ignore me” more than a profile with no photo… Same deal with Twitter, Facebook, your website, etc.

Your photo (or lack thereof) is the first impression your colleagues and clients will have of you. And, just like mom and dad said, first impressions are lasting impressions! Why would you want to be invisible and anonymous? If you’re brand is “the mystery entrepreneur,” then that’s one thing. Otherwise, post a picture, dammit!

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Time for your best Dr. Evil voice… Why? Because YouTube is now streaming ONE BILLION videos per DAY! Want a piece of that incredible audience? Here are 5 easy ways to get a video on YouTube fast…

1. YouTube “Quick Capture!” – Just below the “upload” button on YouTube is the cleverly hidden “quick capture” function, which allows you to record your video “live” and on the fly with just your webcame. Give it a try!
2. Quick Flip – If you’ve got a Flip Video camera (get one at www.GetYourFlip.com), then uploading to YouTube is as simple as plugging the Flip into your computer. Flip gives you a direct upload button for one click posting.

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