September 10, 2010, San Francisco, CA: Join San Francisco trendsetters, world travelers and social media fans to celebrate Trendy Lime’s first anniversary with the special edition of JETLAG! Over the past year, Trendy Lime, a social media-driven producer of upscale events, has been creating events to suit the most discerning tastes by mixing Fashion, Travel and New Media. Among JETLAG partners: Mashable, Vator.tv, Bub.bliciou.us, 360 Fashion Network, Mesaic and others.

September 13-14, 2010, San Francisco, CA: APPNATION is the first global conference and exposition to focus exclusively on the burgeoning consumer applications marketplace. The event will cover social and mobile apps across all devices and platforms including social media platforms, smart phones, tablets, internet-enabled televisions and other emerging connected devices. Speakers include Adobe, Accel Partners, Getjar, The North Face, Marvel, Sequoia Partners, Smule, Time Inc., The Wall Street Journal and more.

September 13-15, 2010, Silicon Valley, CA: DEMO is the premier launch event with a 20-year track record of successfully identifying and delivering the world’s most innovative new products and services to the market. Companies like: VM Ware, Palm, Skype (), Google (), EA, Microsoft, IBM, Nokia and Citrix have launched new products at DEMO. DEMO Fall 2010 will showcase the top B2B, B2C and vertical innovations coming to market-innovations on track to evolve or disrupt the markets they serve. Don’t miss the chance to experience first hand the latest technology game changers in social and media, health and life sciences, clean and sustainable technology, cloud and enterprise computing and more!

September 14-16, 2010, San Francisco, CA: The social business event of the year, JiveWorld10, will bring together industry luminaries, customers, business executives and leading enterprise vendors to share social business thought leadership and provide a platform to network with peers. Jive CEO, Tony Zingale will keynote and unveil company news highlighting how to enable the social enterprise. JiveWorld10 includes 40 content-rich sessions featuring customer speakers from Alcatel-Lucent, Charles Schwab, CSC, EMC, Intel, Mattel, McAfee, MIT, Premier Farnell and SAP. These customers will share their experiences in adopting and implementing a successful social business strategy that has changed the way they engage with customers, employees and the social web.

September 15-17, 2010, San Francisco, CA: GSMI presents the Social Media Strategies Summit. We have researched the social media buzz to develop and present to you a top of the line marketing conference that you can’t afford to miss. With in depth case studies from the nuts and bolts to micro-blogging and sustaining online communities, you leave with a refreshed vision to take your marketing plan to the next level for 2010 and beyond.

September 17, 2010, San Francisco, CA: Social:Email is a one day conference that offers expert-led guidance on how to engage with customers via email and social media, including tips on how to maximize the impact of your campaigns, insights into new tools and services, how to monitor and measure the results, and trends to watch out for. This is the ultimate event for anyone interested in combining email with social media marketing. Speakers include Brian Solis, Kristin Hersant, Dan Martell, Chase McMichael, Luke Brynley-Jones and Murray Newlands.

September 21-22, 2010, Los Angeles, CA: PPC Summit Presents: Search and Social Media Success. This September, PPC Summit is launching its new conference, a comprehensive look at Search and Social Media marketing. The conference features 27 ALL NEW expert-led classes through three in-depth tracks. You’ll learn the latest techniques for leveraging search engine marketing, search engine optimization, pay per click and social media marketing. Learn actionable campaign techniques and tactics to maximize your campaign results.

September 23, 2010, San Francisco, CA: Mediabistro’s Think Mobile conference explores the broadening mobile ecosystem, the application marketplace and the innovation that drives the industry. Hear from visionaries that reinvented businesses by innovating with unique mobile offerings and gain an understanding of key mobile metrics. Speakers include Starbucks CIO Stephen Gillett, Microsoft Sr. Product Manager Anand Iyer, NPD Group Executive Director Ross Rubin, Evernote CEO Phil Libin and more.

September 24, 2010, San Francisco, CA: TEDxSoMa seeks bring the TED experience to a local level, bringing together innovative ideas and concepts through TED talks and inspiring speakers. TEDxSoMa is organized by members of the pariSoma Innovation Loft and other volunteers whose core beliefs are community, collaboration, innovation, openness, and sustainability. Join us in person or by watching the live stream on the day of the event. Learn more and register at www.tedxsoma.com.

September 30-October 1, 2010, Lake Tahoe, NV: Tahoe Tech Talk is NOT just about assembling an outstanding lineup of speakers (though we’ve done that, including Digg () founder Kevin Rose, Twitter adviser / investor Chris Sacca, and former Facebook strategist Dave Morin). It’s about creating an opportunity for true discussion. Each speaker will return to the stage for a massive interactive session, taking questions from the audience about the technology sphere in 2010 and beyond. Conference registration includes a complimentary night’s stay at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe Resort and Casino… all for just $399! Space is extremely limited, so reserve your spot today! For more details, visit www.tahoetechtalkconf.com.

A. Great question and thanks for asking it.  You are not alone in wondering what to do with all the social media options!  I am detecting a little bit of social media overwhelm, but that healthy skepticsm is very healthy actually.  It means that you are more likely to think first before you execute!  Amy Dunn, WMT’s Web 2.0 Fear Specialist did a blog post that has great social media marketing tips and my advice on how to use social media to maximize your efforts to best boost business is simple:

1. Go back to marketing 101. Ask yourself who is your target market, what does your audience need and how can you help them (translation, “help” does not mean push a bunch of sales propaganda in their face – ask what VALUE you can bring to the table.  Get clear on the value you can share then look at the various social tools like YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and see how that can help you accomplish relationship building.  You have to THINK FIRST BEFORE YOU DRINK THE SOCIAL MEDIA KOOL-AID.  Ask youself if a particular social media outlet will help you reach your current and prospective customers so you can connect and serve them better, focus your efforts on what can do that and start there.

2. I think of a blog as a social media nucleus. It is where valuable content can be typed out, links to Facebook, Twitter, Linked, Flickr can be shown and video can be embedded into posts.  Blog posts can be automatically set to link to Facebook (from NetworkedBlogs), Twitter (TwitterFeed) and Linkedin (in the Applications) so one post = 4 placements.  To maximize social media messaging, try a social media streamlining tool like HelloTxt so you can do one message and hit ALL your social media set-ups.

3. Measure and prioritize. Put your energy where it counts.  Your web statistics will show what social media drives traffic and sales but do not discount the power of Relationship ROI (watch this video on what Relationship ROI is all about!) If Facebook work equals more friend bombardment than client connection, BREAK UP WITH IT AND SEE OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA.  Put your energy where it counts.  All marketing has to be tested, optimized and re-evaluated.  Respect your time and put your energy where it counts.

4. Be ready to commit to social media. It does take work, I’m not going to deny that.  Think of social media marketing as a lifestyle.  Just like exercise and eating right, you want to engage in social media as part of your marketing mix…add it to your routine and it will become part of your routine.

5. Use social media marketing to give your existing work legs. So many marketing patients don’t realize how connected all the web marketing tools are (that IS why we call it the world-wide-web you know!).  You do email blasts, that same content can also live on your site.  You do a great educational blog post, then that can get messaged out to your readers via tools like twitter.  When marketers look at all the web marketing options as separate, unconnected tools, you better believe that overwhelm will hit!!  Use all your web marketing in unison for multitasking web marketing maximization!

Social Media can be an amazingly valuable marketing tool…if you keep your mind in a place of calm, quiet focus and invest in tools that matter and support one another.

If you have a question for the Marketing Therapist, email us at help@webmarketingtherapy.com, or contact us. You can also follow us on twitter @WildWebWomen and@WebTherapist and ask questions at @WebMarketing_RX. We’re here to support you!

Q. What is the biggest mistake small business owners make with web marketing and how to avoid/get past it?

From: JW, Washington

A. Hi JW! Great question and happy to answer it!

The biggest web marketing mistake small business owners make is taking the “quick and dirty” approach to web marketing. Quick and dirty is always quick, but you always end up dirty.

Web marketing success does not happen overnight.  It requires clear goal setting, strategy, effort, investment (time, energy, money) and a CONTINUAL “one foot in front of the other” approach. The “I’m going to make money in my sleep with web marketing via three big steps” is not an approach that works for most small businesses.  Marketing is not a sprint, it is a marathon.  Running the distance is the way to successfully weave web marketing into overall business strategy!

The other mistake is not educating yourself on the future of marketing – ONLINE MARKETING!  Web marketing is the easiest, lowest cost way to make a meaningful marketing impact and small business owners need to self-educate whether they do the work themselves or hire help so they can strategically make marketing work to brand, build and boost business.

Understanding the suite of options that are available in the online marketing world is the *best* place to start.  My book on Online Marketing Strategy will be on shelves in January 2011 that will have lots of info that will get you started on the right path to web marketing success!  In the meantime, go to our SHOP THERAPY page on www.webmarketingtherapy.com for great free online tutorials, webinars and downloadable free eBooks (Free as in no strings, I have info online to help!)

Quick and dirty is always quick, but you always end up dirty.  Learning web marketing and realizing that small steps make the BIG difference will make you more moolah

If you have a question for the Marketing Therapist, email us at help@webmarketingtherapy.com, or contact us. You can also follow us on twitter @WildWebWomen and@WebTherapist and ask questions at @WebMarketing_RX. We’re here to support you!

We all need a spoonful of healthy web marketing advice, no matter what our experience in web marketing is.   Deep web marketing breath.  There is light at the end of the web marketing tunnel – and it’s in form of free audio therapy! You can get your paws on expert web marketing advice, tips and tactics with Web Marketing Therapy’s free podcasts! and listen while you work.

Take an audile “Walk on the Web Side” with Lorrie Thomas, Wild Web Woman and Marketing Therapist®! These audio interviews feature great marketing insight from Lorrie, the Wild Web Women and numerous guests like Misty Gibbs (of My Inspiration Lounge), Susan Bratton (of DishyMix) and many more!

This free audio therapy can help you overcome marketing anxiety, whether you’re struggling with search engine optimization, making your marketing multi-task for you, seek some social media empowerment or need a few basic marketing goals to stick with to make 2010 a year of healthy and holistic web marketing.

Rx Warning: These 22 podcasts can be addictive.

• Start Your 2010 Marketing on the Right Foot
• Facebook Marketing Tips with Amy Dunn and The Wild Web Women
• Ask The Marketing Therapist :: SEO Tips for Blogs – Search Engine Marketing Best Practices
• Web Marketing Intervention – STOP “Should”ing on Yourselves!
• Marketing Rx – Never Stop Learning

+ many more!

Learn ways to get your marketing healthy so you can get wealthy. At Web Marketing Therapy we live by this motto – we believe in sharing our expertise and educating. To get web marketing healthy, you need to think critically about your marketing – these podcasts are a great way to self-assess your web marketing diagnosis and consider your next steps.

*Web Marketing Tough Love:  It is not what we know but what we are open to learning.  Self-help as a start to success! Sustain healthy relationships with your customers, business partners and clients by building trust and loyalty.

Peruse the Web Marketing Therapy Tools (most of the resources are free) and remember, we all learn from each other, each and every day!

*Confession Session:  Web Marketing Therapy produces free podcasts to HELP educate and empower professionals.  There is no catch, no sales propaganda, just authentic advice to help get you on the path to healthy marketing!

The good thing about slumps is that the space created can help get professionals thinking in new and creative ways (not to mention efficient!). Take this as an opportunity to go through your network of contacts, geographic location and the advantages that come with it. And let’s not forget your online presence – especially your search engine visibility.

We’ve compiled 8 great SEO (search engine optimization) tips to help boost your online website visibility and generate buzz about your business.

Tip 1 – Define Your Optimized Key Phrases

The equation to SEO success: Your Business or Service + Location or Region = Optimized Key Phrase

You should make use of optimizing page titles, meta tags, internal and external links, all of which will help bring the right customers to your website.

Tip 2 – Educate. Build Trust and Credibility

As a small business owner, you are passionate about what you do and the products and services you offer. Use online content to transform your passion and knowledge into an authoritative voice. Offering educational materials, content and tips will make you a credible source, from whom consumers would be keen to learn from.

Tip 3 – Craft Valuable Content that Communicates Location

Content is King. Your content can fuel search indexing, build indexed pages for your web site, serve your consumers and boost your visibility.  Adding geo-specific key phrases (if you are a geo-specific business!) to your press releases, blogs and social media platforms helps maximize search visibility.

Tip 4 – Build Internal and External Links

A simple way to boost search engine visibility is to create internal links within content to link back to other pages with your website. To boost external links, take advantage of your contacts and local community to request links in local directories, blog roll of local bloggers and non-competing local websites.

Tip 5 – Low-Cost/No-Cost Local Search Opportunities

Add your business listing on local sites for little to no charge. You should consider Google Maps, MSN Live, Yahoo Local, and Yellow Pages among many more.

Tip 6 – Place Contact Information in Visible, High-Sight Places

This tactic is easy-peasy and will help boost your search visibility. Add names and addresses, even a short geographical description where it fits on pages (doesn’t only have to be the contact page!).

Tip 7 – Re Purpose Your Marketing Assets and Collateral Online

Share your videos, photos and great content on free websites such as eHow.com, blogs and newsletters. When writing your own press releases, make sure you re-post them on free PR wires online. Reuse and recycle your marketing collateral to increase exposure and gain that buzz.

Tip 8 – Web Marketing is NOT About the Tools – it is About HOW you use the Tools

Blogs, social media platforms, banners and ads are great web marketing tools – but the point is not having these tools under your belt, but HOW you use them. Your small business strategy should focus on how to build awareness, maximize relationships and boost your business. Web marketing collateral is a brilliant part of your strategy as it’s low-cost to no-cost and lives online forever (or until you remove it!). Invest in your website and ensure your web marketing builds trust by communicating who you are, what you believe in and what you can offer the consumer.

Read the full (and FREE) eBook “Eight Great SEO & Web Marketing Tips For Business Owners” for details on these 8 tips and lots of helpful web therapy examples!

Follow Web Marketing Therapy’s healthy doses of web marketing tweets at  www.twitter.com/webmarketing_rx

Good news, you’re in luck!

When it comes to web marketing the Wild Web Women are huge fans of the EFFECTIVE, FUN and FREE! (Who doesn’t love freebies?!) We know that as a web marketing professional (or someone aspiring to be one!), you have a lot on your plate. This is why we bring you 8 powered-up 30-minute tutorials addressing the various needs of your online marketing. From discovering the power of web analytics to making that captivating privacy policy – check out these bite-sized tutorials and boost up the web tools you already have in your pocket (OR get back on the wonderful web marketing track, if you feel you’ve strayed from it)!

Check out the webinars by clicking the links below – they are all 30 minutes to give you the puzzle pieces you need to think critically about healthy web marketing:

Consider these 3 FREE tips:

1. Share your news AND increase communication
Use tools you already have (and are best of all, FREE) to boost your credibility. Find out how adding a straightforward news section to your existing website could accomplish this. And for the icing on the cake: increase your search engine rankings!

2. Write Your Own Press Releases to Generate Local Buzz
You can get your share-worthy news out by writing your own press releases. By using keyword-rich content (i.e. strong local key phrases) you will boost your local search engine visibility. Learn how to to boost your business with easy local PR tips.

3. Distribute, Distribute, Distribute for FREE
Now that you have a great press release, don’t let it get stale by sitting in the file cabinet or to-be-lost-forever in one of the many folders on your computer. Get your news out there! Submit press releases to local newspapers, stations and other local channels, like online event calendars. This is a healthy win-win media relationship: you get your news out and papers get to hear from you (you’re doing them a favor, they’ll love you). Consider all your options – like local TV or community services websites.  WMT has a free eBook with tips on how to distribute your press releases for free or read an easy blog post written by The Marketing Therapist on how to distribute your press releases for credibility and visibility.

For more info and examples, read our “Boost Your Local Business with Free Online PR” FREE eBook or take a 6 minute video journey where Lorrie Thomas talks about how PR can attract traffic to your website!

Follow Web Marketing Therapy’s healthy doses of web marketing tweets at www.twitter.com/webmarketing_rx

Remember, social media is a low-cost marketing tool! Low cost is Web Marketing Therapy’s favorite use of the “F” word (F meaning, all this for FREE!):

It is prime time for email marketing rejuvenation!

The POWER of email marketing is in HOW you use it! Sending out mass amounts of e-newsletters will not drive your business forward and could actually be quite harmful. Email needs to be relationship-centric.  Does your email strategy serve your customers and support your sales message? Do you know the ‘Three Ps’ of e-mail marketing? Are you a victim of ‘me-mail’ marketing? It’ll be worth your time to check!

Take a few minutes and read The Marketing Therapist’s “How to Avoid Critical E-mail Marketing Mistakes” article.  This very insightful eBook concisely explains what you can do to build a successful email marketing campaign, such as:

• Being concise in your subject line and what not to include
• How to avoid being deemed a spammer
• Why sharing is caring (for your recipients and your wallet)
• Ideas for thinking outside the box (or outside the body of your e-mail)

Make sure your emails are as effective as they could be! Take a breather to perfect this simple web marketing tool you can or are already using.

Follow Web Marketing Therapy’s healthy doses of web marketing tweets at www.twitter.com/webmarketing_rx

Read the “How to Avoid Critical E-mail Marketing Mistakes” article for email marketing rejuvenation!

If you don’t have tons of time to thoroughly research on the latest internet trends and online markets, we recommend Joanna Ciolek’s 7 brief pointers on how to ensure your small business web marketing is not operating in the dark times. We summarized Joanna’s points below.  You can also click to read the full 7 internet marketing mistakes to avoid article.

Mistake #1 – Not having a website

Today, arguably one of the best ways to advertise yourself and your business is online. This means you NEED a website. Websites are great not only for attracting new customers and maintaining your current base, but you’re creating great awareness for your business. You may be a small or local business, but you’re letting the world know you’re out there!

Mistake #2 – Having a poor quality website

When you invest in creating a website, you need to do it right. There is no point in having a website if it’s unmanageable, overloaded with content and confusing for people to navigate. Ensure you have a website worth having by hiring a professional developer who will apply the right marketing tactics in making your site work for you.

Mistake #3 – Not hosting a blog on your own domain

In the words of Joanna, if you want to be taken seriously you must host your blog on your own domain. This allows you to make use of search engine optimization benefits and be in total control of your content!

Mistake #4 – Not promoting your website

Again, what is the point of having a great, quality website, up and running, if it doesn’t attract new business opportunities and clientele? Follow Joanna’s tips on what you need to do to ensure your website is successful.

Mistake #5 – Not running a localized marketing campaign

KEY if you’re a small, local business! Make sure you’re listed on local sites and local business listings (Google Maps, Yahoo Local, etc) if that’s where your customers are.

Mistake #6 – Not investing in social media marketing

You’ve heard of social media, you’ve seen it BUT make sure you’re using it too to build your reputation and brand in the online world.

Mistake #7 – Not monitoring & analyzing results

If you have a website, make sure you’re making the most out of it – data shows you what people do when they hit your site and show you how people got there!

Check out Joanna’s full article, “7 Internet Marketing Mistakes Small Businesses Make” for more insightful details! Joanna Ciolek is a freelance web & graphic designer, working with small business in optimizing their online presence.