UPWARD and ONWARD

OMG I don't follow my own advice!!

I tell ya, having a Blog can lasso you 

and whip you back around or narrow the road

back to a more manageable life.

As usual, I start writing about one thing and then 

veer off into a completely new direction.

I'm like that in person often and it can get

on your nerves because I could start one conversation

and swipe over to sidebars where you then have to

swerve back to the original tale when inhale before:

 "well, anyway....."

when I finally exhale to catch my breath, 

like a scuba driver without a tank.

There's been a jiggle and a jaggle of activity 

on OPTIONEERJM and

MEANDERINGSabout (LINK:  right side bar)

That's pretty reflective of what's going on in real life.

Then, like a nudge in the elbow to take a look.

There's been a jump in Word Press reader activity.

Alot of activity to my Blogs comes from Facebook.

Most of my Facebook Friends are those whom I engaged with on Twitter LIKE:

Calvin Lee​   Marcia Colliers    Grazy       and so many others I could go on and on

.... so I will, LOL, Libby first showed me how art therapy really works, complimented by a blog

she writes about mental health matters, and truly one of

 the first to pioneer mental health awareness on social 

media.

I realize I owe my blog about  just blogging and integrating social media and potentially valuable insights to this downsize and right size mentality

 that filters into personal lives as our twilight years unfold.

Maybe I'll segue into Career Advice on my blog.

  Who knows.

I do know that I want a semblance of order, 

actually crave it, since we're in the middle of packing boxes for movers who will be here in 36 hours or so.

Maybe I can help others, young men or women, veterans or leaders by giving a 

few pointers -- can't hurt.  I mean, I'm selling social

 media like my life depends on it these days.

Encouraging everyone, as an evangelist often narrates

 beautifully, to get on board.

Once I'm back to painting and writing and developing 

my ETSY store to sell my art, see right, I may have a 

few brain cells left and still a reign on sanity.

WHOLESALE blog advertising: a brave new www

Remember about a month ago when this blog was up for bid with the deadline all set for midnight New Year's eve, with the closest to the second would be deemed the highest bid? Then SOLD!  Well, that was a pretty basic idea for untapped potential to marketers:  where the steak doesn't sizzle out, the clouded crowded environment doesn't drown you out.  

I know, I didn't share a dollar amount so I could imagine folks would be skeptical.  I wasn't, my page views were still racking up, so folks were stopping in. 

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/OptioneerJM

I know it didn't work because I'm still here!!!  Almost sounds like a hoax to me.  Except I was the one spearheading it, so I know I was keen.   Yes, I did say it was an experiment, so I did do that: along with stepping outside my comfort zone.  Every once in a while on social media, you have to test the loyalty of your followers.  Not in a way that there are winners or losers, but in a way to see how one-sided my support of others may be.  There truly was a win:  I learned a lot and think it is worth pursuing again, another day, another time.  I have other fish to fry and cliches to come up with.

RENT BLOG SPACE here

Yes, I do have some assembled loyalty, perhaps founded upon curiosity.  Some visited.  Many more stayed away.

Now, what am I up to?  Well, the cup is half full and don't give up baby, when one door closes another one opens.. quality goes to those that wait.. all that jazz.  

What evolved from trying to sell a pre-packaged brand (of note, January 13, 2016 ~ this is a missed marketing opportunity) is this latest idea:  why would a brand place only ... or RESTRICT their product placement solely in the hands of GOOGLE ads?  Why not do the same as most advertising purchasing is done:  carefully researched market targetted media, usually traditional media such as television, radio and print -- instead, you find, or you're pitched to place an ad, your logo, or video on blogs that you find would reach your target audience or expand your brand?  

Serious inquiries only:  optioneerjm@gmail.com

I'm sniffing out any maverick spending out there that may want a big BANG for their buck: specific placement, aesthetic layout, established audience and so on in the world of ROI (return on investment).

Yep folks, less brazenly than this post, you can place an ad on this blog at "wholesale prices".  Cut out the middle man or woman as it may be.  

TRIBUTE TO:  David Bowie RIP January 10, 2016

You pay the big bucks for the imagination, why aren't they tapping into new avenues to get their message out?  Did someone say social media?  You be the judge, or the buyer, or a renter.

Social media is the pen pal of communications

I profess to have this inside scoop on social media.  Yet how can I be?  Especially, since I work full time and was launched among the sweat and tears of looking for work, five years ago.  (Yawn, you've heard it before:  it all started on Linked In where I met Sandy who guided me into Twitter, graciously introduced me to people on the clicking edge of social media.  The rest of us were soon to be groupies, drooling at the incredible talent this world we live in together is so talented!!  

Aren't we all so lucky that we don't have to rely on our TVs, newspapers, magazines, radio any more.  Well, certainly, we are an information consumption oriented folk who may eventually be considered the early adopters.  Long long after the visionaries sat around a library table, having a few beers together, deciding to join forces to prove a point to the rest of the world.  Passing notes is not disruptive, bad behavior is rarely found among day dreamers,

Yet, what is this world it has become?  You can't get into trouble for passing notes (unless you are Donald Trump, or a raging has been star), because there is this BIG THING called social media.  Where you can speak your mind, share what you know, share what you love, share what you consume, want to consume, whether anyone is listening really.  Well, at the start anyhow.

That is at its core:  it thumbs its nose at conventional discipline for doing what others perhaps expect you to do or be.  Good things happen to great people is its mantra.  Why there are people that become overnight sensational storytellers, photographers, authors, writers, historians, foodies, models, lonely hearts clubbers retired from the frump frumping of the you should be out doing something beat.  

Embarrassingly, there others that take to airing dirty laundry, opinionated beyond reason because they aren't being held to question .... often.  There are some that may have some fame, notoriety who won't settle to being a small number .... they want to have a very BIG ..... numbers represented by followers.

Heavens, a young lad in the middle of nowhere to most people (until the world finances crumble remembered its name) Canada, to get young tweens (pre-teen 9-12 year old) girls hearts to tremble with love and adoration, who could go off and actually achieve fame and fortune, if not always good.

It is a place where so many can share one shadey association by saying or doing some stupid things that can get you minimally laughed at, smirked about, quoted, replayed, rewritten, if not quietened to the hummmm and tsk tsk of a once adoring audience or group.


Social media has created a revolution of expression, artistry, music, events, global proximity that has never been seen before.  Imagine ... in just a few years, our kids will site library visits as a mandatory curriculum field trip, like we used to visit museums in our time.  

The most notable are honorees immersed and embraced by every form of traditional medias who are feeling overwhelmed driven into survival mode, clambering for funnel of advertising revenues that are being distracted elsewhere.  

 As a study on millinial short attention spanners dropping their parents methods of obtaining news.  Where anything called Daily news, Daily mirror, Daily anything falls into the background of THE NOISE.  The noise is created by individual people of all ages, all cultures, all races, all types of family dynamics, domestic arrangements, from the learning to the learned are the ones who matter now.  They can decide what is important by creating #hashtags that catch on like fire, drowning out some of the noise we need to hear on health, economy, poverty, bullying, violence.  

Are we creating a world that we are creating our own robotic existence?  Do we only pay attention to those that think the way we do.  Where the heck did guru come from?  Do we open our empathy or does it increase our apathy.  The scientists, not typically known for gregarious characteristics, may be drowned out by dishonesty, falsehood, scams, SPAM, and the loudest of all:  PICK me, SELL me.

Like children with a gift packaged in a gigantic box, we are only playing with the box:  the computer, and rapidly being overtaken by smart phones.  The complicated and cumbersome are being tossed for the aesthetic more pleasing, better working, customized, following partner that goes everything, asking for so little:  just read, like, share, write, communicate, post, blog that it has to give you.  So portable, easy to access, quick, painful, joyful or hopeful these little instruments allow us to read, look, watch, admire, visualize whatever we love.

Like masters, our behavior lends the devices our respect, finances, images, opinions, hearts, needs, and lessening humility.  

The real geniuses of social media are the ones that use it as a tool to communicate, teach, share, inspire, motivate others to want to be better.  Not just hope to be better.  We only get better when we interact with others.  The fact that we have such a great opportunity to gravitate towards those that tend to share our own ideals, visions, outlook, positions on important matters, or less important matters.   

Has an elementary child ever heard of the term of PEN PAL?  

Does anyone really have to wait for a music CD to hit a retail store anymore?  With iTunes, Spotify and the whole she-bang, their kids will never have heard of half of the things we have now?  How about a wallet (there's an APP for that), an album (you download a song, not an album, you silly), or wondering when their favorite author will publish their next novel (oh dear, um, sorry if you don't read from your smartphone or tablet).

How many of us have the anti-social in our lives?  The ones who have discovered a text message (sms) is far quicker than an email, haven't quite caught on to an all persons in persons meeting without having to spring for flights, or hotels, or airport parking to join with their colleagues for an immediate and important conversation virtually personal appearances by all with 100% attendance.  The ones on a teleconference call are the cousins to the emailers.  

In all of this midst, it is confounding the advertising gurus and disgruntling the brands who want to be captured, not optionally, viewed or read.

Well, one thing is certain and obvious to me.  We're all adapting together and trying to draw in the outsiders and refusers to get on board.  A key board that is.

The #bestofeverything launch: September 20, 2015

Doing this was quite awkward.  Writing, being, expressiveness has been cloaked by the persona.  Creating a perception of someone between a fairy godmother and a twenty-something.  Full of charge-de-vive and anything is possible exhuberance.  At this quiet ponsive self-reflection.  Behind the mask of the sparkled green eyes, contently knowing that she is her own person.  

Gently casting aside any of the doubt, uncertainties she swallowed whole.  There grazed tiny bursts of wrinkles were like minute soft brushes of an artist's touch.  A rarity to see any pretty face to have light shadows in the precise right place at her cheek bone, eye brow, ski slope nose, with ski jump cut off to glide down to the lips.  The lips were neither unnaturally full or meanness thin.  

Businesses want unique and vibrant new approaches to win in the competitive environment.  It was not what anyone would have imagined.  Someone who could have been voted in as "least likely" could write without limitations.  Calm over reception, and patient on a growing following, she started to write for her heart.  Knowing that to glide gracefully into middle age, with a kinship of followers.  Those so many brilliant contributors to our world:  you deserve the #bestofeverything .  I have sprinkled #bestofeverything around the web and social media world.  

Without any doctorate, she was insightful and could burst forward and upward such incredible tales, art, photography bounced over into social media integrity.
Support good causes.  Promote the good things that the citizen's of the world who are kind, creative,, inspiring, knowledgeable and tuned in.  Landing firmly on instinctively what they craved.  To create a means to which the online or social media could decide for themselves what is popular, good, motivational, spiritual, inspirational so that readership grew.  

People everywhere turned their Twitter, their favorite bloggers, InstaGram to take the temperature of the world.  Breaths of fear on all opposing factions were felt in unison.  

UTOPIA.  Whether by history of occurrence, they forgot what it felt like to be able to ignore the mere harmless to hideous events.  

IRONIC.  As they paid less and less attention to the likes of violence, blood bursting cuts, civil unrest, boastfulness.  The immunity great to no longer watching anything violent.  It was no longer in their instincts.  Ideals to be violent or hate widdled away and became less and less.  If the world's brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, grandparents, teachers, security settled softly on what could ever have been anything but an optimistic world, where hate was suffocated out by soulfull humanity,  caring for health or those less healthy.

 

Education was a social gathering, embraced by the majority.  Families had fun, hugged neighbours, and heros were scattered around.  They embraced, financed, secured, flew up the pinnacle of learning and expanding knowledge.  In its dust lay particles of what was considered high IQs a decade past.

Science was the most distinguished occupation to aspire to which was sometimes, very few, could accomplish both science and computing.  Curiosity was boosted in the children's schools, Gliding in harmony with sports as the best adrenaline rush.  

Ignorance of the past worlds, or so shortly ago, was the way to go.  To get better, stay positive, set goals you find reaching within your sight.  The goals of tarnished pasts, were left aside, like sanitation fields in our lives. 

The governments did not create controversies and were respected and revered when honored with high office based on their unified vote.  The positive examples sliced carefully throughout their lives jolting us to chase corruption, dishonesty, self-serving power, violence or war.  Which found to be settling as such a fine dust, the family's dog brushes the minuet slivers out into the air, with a push of the wind, onto the lapping waters, the sunset orangely casting a glow to scent the fish to jump out of the waters, disarmed by the cleansing that catch and the water did.

The best leaders were innovators, genuine geniuses, information,  puritists,  void of gossip, sensationalism, horror, or violence.  Honor among thieves were only known by the tales of braveness, courage, patience, and love overcame the lost souls.

The network and telephony towers were dismantled only leaving one clear link:  the internet, world wide web.  The steel from the structures of the television stations, radio celebrity mics, and leftover wire donated to the creators of sculptures and statues that were never defaced, driven into, jumped on or marked in the slightest.  

As unlike any global change, some rebelled to the sudden outlook shift.  They had once been loved, idolized and up on top at almost anything they could do on the backs of the disadvantaged, single parents, poor, uneducated, sick outcasts.  They, unwisely, thought that shananigans and soap operas would win their dwaining audience followers back to play.  Not once not ever.  They faded and dwindled to a backdrop as brick, stones, wood -- surfaces that are never once the same, the same color throughout, a roughness to the touch so that one would remove their hand.  

The glory began to be celebrated not by any specific date by occurrence ... the freedom to create anything magical was the straw that catapulted meodicracy to the sublime.  They soon became known to be the gifted.

Writers, bloggers, journalists on the world wide web, internet, softphone, communication wire were tuned into and drifting unconsciously towards Utopia where the #bestofeverything would reside.  The want of choice floated away as the wanted to keep the feeling of happiness, peace and never a cause for forgiveness.  New children, born into the world did experience punishment, discipline, authority because they were surrounded by encouragement, love, gentle pushes to the always possible fulfillment of their dreams.  

An interesting world indeed.  A prima ballerina would surprisingly chose to be harvesters of orchards of fruit, seeds into nuts, with livestock that were free of any hormones or growth expeditors.  

Like most of humanity by then, cows and horses, herds of sheep, goats or flocks of eagles, chickens or budgies were peaceful.  They lived in harmony, sharing their eggs, milk without having to once donate any meat.   The fields of abundantly overflowing vegetables were there to nibble on, never encountering fences, no need for toxic pesticides that left with the rest of rejectful and harmful former occupants.  The balance of survival had been tipped so far on the scale beaming with life. 

One of the first known rebelious cult found were carnivores.  Rejecting any sense of smell, they purposely overfed themselves with the many animals, birds, organic beings to find, experiment or test with dishes where a trickle of blood on a brilliantly white plate, is the highest honor and defining chef celebrity.  They were called the Gorgers.

There was this most incredibly beautiful place on earth.  Selled by an organic group, surrounded by fortresses and family homes, with afield of flowers skipping across the meadows as the backdrop .......... 


________________________ you, the reader, can contribute the next sentence or paragraph in your comment.  Forming the authority on what truly is what we, the people, not the media, corrupt, lying, cheaters would want us to believe what they say, instead it is our testimony of what we believe is #thebestofeverything

Would you like to read more? Tweet, post, share, pin, search for #bestofeverything_story to be continued soon .... depending on you:  I need 1000 subscribers to get that going again.  
  

Networth, self-worth, share-worth

Have you ever noticed (with the exception of a very few  only share their OWN stuff, post, share, photo, info and rarely acknowledge others unless it is within in their own post, share?  

I'm discovering who those people are now and debating the worthiness of keeping them in my sphere of  people because selfishness, self-promotion and ego are not  I enjoy being associated with. 

 I wonder if those same people even will read this and a light bulb go off in their heads, so wrapped up in their own messages/images that they cannot see the trees due to the forest they are crowded in.  I guess social media has made me skeptical in a few instances.  Thankfully, there are so many endless possibilities that one can't help continue to be optimistic on one's quest for knowledge at their fingertips.

The perfect example that seems to be working is Donald Trump.  It appears that this approach is considered not arrogant but earned, met with optimism rather than skepticism.  Why would these people help others when they are so wrapped up in their own agenda of helping themselves?

Even if I don't unfollow because I may get a minimal like on my comment or share, I will continue to monitor this trend I've uncovered.  You, yourself, may have wondered yourself.  As a newborn social media enthusiast, not quite at the doorstep of deemed an influencer, you probably follow far more others than they follow you.  Don't worry, I "get" that you perhaps consider their posts, tweets, and the LIKE on the many platforms worthy of sharing with your own tribe on your own journey of self-discovery which often results in influence.  Almost by accident.  Ironically.

I am debating to shelve these people and put them back in the fold like so many others like us.  Taking the chance that their information will float into our sphere.  Certainly, the intuitiveness of Google, Facebook are starting to float them before us more frequently as we demonstrate a keenness in that particular topic or information trend.

I will tell you a BIG known secret:  these people are being told that they have merit.  Absolutely by volumes of followers, amount of shares and even invitations to write or use their talents for brands still behind trying to cope with this fantastic forum of freedom of expression.

Image courtesy of:  slidehunter.com

Upward Sloping Curve Template for PowerPoint

With social media still in its infancy, the cycle or the curve is still on the upswing.  History has proven that the most successful are at the early stage of the upswing and others written about and studied to learn from as they plummet on the inevitable downswing.  Staying relevant will determine the speed of which you decline.  It may take you much longer to get to the top of the curve, but the odds are the longer it takes you to climb the mountain, the more likely it will be that you will float behind those nose diving downward.

I would say those unaware will get caught offguard like the forefathers of vision who end up on the cutting room floor of education, documentaries and so on.  Books, accolades and history will bare witness to the ones who stayed hungry and humble without losing sight of their beginnings as a lingering taste to remind them.

Donald Trump, for President? Does net-worth, self-worth spell vote worthy?

You don't have to follow those people that boosts their positions, egos and fame.  You will see them enough as they cloud the web waves of domination.  Like Trump, they are always there as a continuous reminder that they are.  

I've decided to remain humble and hungry.  I want to climb strongly, steadily and float when the curve declines to be on the ready for the next force to be reckoned with.  I thank you for allowing me to be your captain as you read my blog, to be your guide.

SIDEBAR:  Do you ever happen to notice that whatever press con-ference or media opportunity Donald Trump is pounding his importance on, his wife doesn't walk beside him like she is his partner, but behind him.  It may communicate that he considers few men or women are worthy to walk beside him.  That is a fairly predictable personality pinpoint that foreshadows what his true character may be.

BATTLE of wills: Marketing and Sales

"I have never worked a day in my life without selling.  If I believe in something, I sell it, and I sell it hard."

Estee Lauder

 

 



 

I read an article today on Linked In by an author whom I respect and often read articles by:   Daniel Newman.  He had some great insight when the Marketing and Sales departments don't mesh Linked In PULSE.   

 

 

Good on Daniel Newman for bringing this to light.  Organizations should pay heed to his advice.  They are often not aligned, in my opinion, because they don't have the same accountability metrics.  Marketing generates leads and sales complain that they're weak.  There are multiple branches under each organization, or should be, so that the strengths of each or highlighted.  i.e. Sales are looking for high valued customers that takes focus and commitment to win while Marketing brings brand awareness and the leads generated could be pre-qualified before being handed over to sales. 

 

I'm always thankful when more prolific authors write about something I have a long time ago (without the clicks or attention). 

 

I wrote in October 2011 on everyone needing to get on the same page:  I had written succinctly:  It all comes down to hunting (catching), farming (sowing) and then cooking (customer service) and delivering (operations).

 

I am going to side with sales on this debate simply because "sales" seems to be a catchall title Responsibilities evolve depending upon who the person is selling for, what the organization's definition of sales is, or who is selling.

 

Why?  Because I have found across the years, that most people in organizations consider "anyone who talks to a customer is in sales".  That is just wrong - everyone in every organization should be talking to customers. 

 

To reason why this attitude is fragmenting companies and scattering the focus of its sales professionals.  A really cold lead generated from an inquiry from your website is not something that you automatically hand over to sales.  If you want your sales to increase, they need to focus.  You can't expect them to be running around like a dog chasing its tail following up every single slip of napkin with a name on it as sales lead. 

 

To help this debate, everyone needs to get at the table (again) with a flip board.  If you're the business owner, don't delegate this to someone else.  If you end up refereeing between marketing and sales, it is your own fault for not clearly outlining what is expected from marketing and sales. 

 

What is marketing's job?

• branding
• sales material
• direct mail
• website
• generating leads
• social media
• communications with customers
• promotions or programs to create sales leads
• increase awareness
• advertising campaigns
• telemarketing campaigns
• email campaigns

What is sales' job?

• hunting for new business
• visiting/servicing existing customers
• following up ALL leads
• following up pre-qualified leads
• solving issues by customers
• chasing past due accounts
• networking
• communications, writing, proposals
• securing and responding to RFPs (requests for proposals)
• solving billing issues
• cold calling
• completing weekly, daily call sheets for management
• scheduling appointments with decision makers
• forecasting revenue from accounts, prospects, suspects
• projecting new sales opportunities
• keeping CRM (customer relationship management) systems up to date

I hope you get my drift ... if you bombard sales with so much on their "to do" is it any wonder that they're unfocussed, scattered and unable to plan carefully where their next activity will be.  Depending on the company, the frequency of responsibility can vary as well. 

 

 

 

If you want sales to focus on driving new sales from high valued customers, why would you have them pulled in so many directions at the same time and by so many people?

 

Successful sales organizations have a structure and tiered system on which to handle incoming inquiries, issues, soft leads, etc.  They understand that their sales funnel has multi-levels and should be handled by the right people, with the right skills, at the right time.  Distinguishing deal seekers from customer relations is critical.

 

I wrote this so you can begin the conversation.  Whether you are launching a new business with a sales arm and marketing arm, carve out the expectations and responsibilities for each activity.  Don't just have sales forecast revenue, have marketing predict leads to be generated.  Have them assign a dollar amount but don't just have it as an amount in a column in a month.  Do follow up on a quarterly basis to monitor who is blowing smoke up everyone's hinds.  Far too many fall for great numbers without comparing with actuals. 

 

 

 

Don't fall into the trap that a sales pro who generates a lot of activity is doing you any favors.  That is done so that you will be distracted and think they're doing amazing work for you, until you look at your actual revenue graphs.  Show them who's the boss in a way that you lead in a way that gives your team to perform while you hold them accountable.

 

 

 

WTF is SEO?

Be a yardstick of quality.  Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected.

 ~Steve Jobs

A guest comment on my Linked In post, bluntly asked:  "WTF is SEO?" What a great question!  You see it everywhere on pretty much any social media site and fairly often as an attribute by a company or individual professing to be an expert.  "WTF" is right!  Although that is best avoided in polite language (most people can probably guess what it stands for) .... or it could possibly mean:  "W-ith T-rue F-ondness". 

FYI (For your information): SEO = Search Engine Optimization 

My apology for getting caught in my own trap by using the SEO acronym.  What it really means is persons or organizations who can bump up your results in search engine query results.  Often they are ones who specialize  in web analytic.  

According to Wikipedia:  Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of affecting the visibility of a website or a web page in a search engine's "natural" or un-paid ("organic") search results. In general, the earlier (or higher ranked on the search results page), and more frequently a site appears in the search results list, the more visitors it will receive from the search engine's users. SEO may target different kinds of search, including image search, local search, video search, academic search,[1] news search and industry-specific vertical search engines.

As an Internet marketing strategy, SEO considers how search engines work, what people search for, the actual search terms or keywords typed into search engines and which search engines are preferred by their targeted audience. Optimizing a website may involve editing its content, HTML and associated coding to both increase its relevance to specific keywords and to remove barriers to the indexing activities of search engines. Promoting a site to increase the number of backlinks, or inbound links, is another SEO tactic.

SEO is often linked with advertising, marketing, events, blogs, promotions, email campaigns, social media -- whatever it takes to drive traffic to an organizations website.  

The top in the craft of SEO is when there are key words commonly linked with that organization or web site, is set to attract the web crawlers or virtual robots who scroll through millions of content to determine who/what/where you appear in  ranking results.  i.e. Page 1 or page 10 (not including paid banner ads).  

  

Design is a funny word.  Some people think design means how it looks.  But of course, if you dig deeper, it's really how it works.

 ~Steve Jobs

  

 Most consumers today will not buy anything without first doing research:  reviews, media, etc.  How they do it, is typically by random searches by product, name or questions that lands them on a website to navigate around to find what they came looking for.  In fact, according to Hubspot:"55% of visitors spend fewer than 15 seconds on your website." 

Savvy web masters, have laid the trap to snag those searches on behalf of their organization or clients website.  This potentially leads to more inquiries, calls to actions, limited time deals, generated by the website.

There are other ways to get around the crowd and get in front -- quick fixes for those who don't have the time to wait for organic results.  Organic results, are from slow, steady, concentrated, consistent messaging out in the social media world.  Quick fixes, are paid banner ads through Google ad words or Facebook campaigns, keyword manipulations, buying followings, likes and the works.

Before you seriously consider hiring an SEO, marketing or content guru, ask yourself, what makes them so special?  I know I'm pretty darn tired of reading a bio or boast by someone wanting to take your money to "help you" increase your results, then go to Twitter and they only have a few hundred followers or even better, look them up on KRED or KLOUT to see how they rate among peers and it is dismal, not even noteworthy.

I would suggest you leave those "selling ice to eskimos" SEO, web analytical and Social Media self-proclaimed TOP of everything to their fooled customers who believe they are spending money to gain some hidden holy grail.   The truly gifted and ones you should be hiring are actively participating in it, not just talking and blowing steam at everyone.  They have results on KLOUT and KRED and have their own following.

Do your homework before you part with any money.

Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.  ~George S. Patton