Melanie Kissell started this. She wrote a post about her favorite tools, the ones she uses to market her business, and a lot of us really liked that post. From that came her idea for the Pink Ladies of Online Marketing, where those who commented and were lurking around from Connie Ragen Green’s 30-Day Blogging Challenge would do the same, listing some of their favorite tools.
So these are some of mine — nothing fancy here, just some good old standbys plus a boost for my day*:
Google Adwords Keyword Tool Fascinating, and every time I use it I learn something new. I keep working at this and one day I’ll get it right. Connie has a great video on how to use it.
Google Analytics A must for tracking web statistics. I keep thinking if I check my stats more often, they’re bound to go up. Maybe a different tactic is in order?
InstantTeleseminar Love this service for broadcasting teleseminars. Participants like the fact that they can listen to the webcast as well as via telephone. Lots of ways to personalize, update, and share recordings.
Dictionary.com I have a shortcut to this page because I’m here so often. Dictionary and thesaurus from the same form, and I need ‘em. I’m a grammar and spelling weirdo.
Bit.ly Love this link shortener because it tracks and graphs my clicks.
AudioAcrobat For recording client coaching sessions and teleclasses. Couldn’t live without it.
Skype Love love love this for intercontinental communications — and it’s free. Also great for seeing what my grandkidlets are up to.
Google Alerts I’ve got one set on my name and my business name, so I can see when the search engines index my blog posts, when someone publishes one of my articles online, or when someone’s talking about me.
*Everyday Manifestations Fabulous way to start my day. Short (5 minutes or less) guided meditations with the business person in mind, delivered daily via email, by Bonnie Hutchinson.
Maybe there are more, but that’s all I can drum up for tonight.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
What do you mean, “nothing fancy”?!
This is a great list and, right off the bat, I’m going to check out Everyday Manifestations! Sounds like exactly what I need. And I’ve never gone to Dictionary dot com and, believe me, we perfectionists (Ouch! I hate saying that word) are forever looking up words and their meanings and, of course, the correct spelling. :-)
And another thing …
I use Google Alerts BUT I never thought to also set up an alert with my business name. That’s a wonderful tip.
Thanks, Marcia!
Melanie
Hey #blog30 Pink ladies: We can collect all the resources/links into a single pdf that we can all share as give away…with links to our pals too! We are each others’ secret weapons!
XO
Bobbye Middendorf
The Write Synergies Guru
Ooh, Marcia … Bobbye’s on to something here! Sounds like a splendid idea.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been in search of a secret weapon!
Let’s do it,
Melanie
Love this, Marcia. I’m going to have to do one of these posts. Melanie had mentioned that I should do one, but I must have gotten distracted as I totally forgot about it.
Thanks for sharing your tools!
Melanie, Bobbye, and Deb,
Don’t know how I missed these comments, but I love the idea of a single document with all of our tips!! Let’s do one in our “spare time.” We can each have it as a download or gift for our peeps. Maybe we update it every so often — somewhere I have a list of sites that are very useful and my brain fog won’t even let me find it now, but it would be great to add to the thing, too.
More ideas, more ideas, more ideas . . . .
We never really did let this idea “percolate” long enough. Well, it’s not too late. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since the inception.
We’re all crazy busy right now but I’m not giving up the notion that we could end up with something magical. So allow me to continue holding on and hugging on to this “it-will-happen-cause-we’re-good-enough-to-make-it-happen” project. :)
I still love it too, Melanie — let’s line up the ladies and do it! I’ll email you, I think the time might be right!