This book to show you how to grow your business could not come at a more perfect time. As more and more companies begin to hire freelancers to fill roles that may have gone to full-time employees, many of us cannot expect to rely on landing traditional jobs for our entire careers. This is a challenge most are not prepared to tackle. The solution? You must identify opportunities to create new income streams and learn how to self market or face being eclipsed by people who do.

Social Networking for Business Success provides exactly the information you need to succeed in today’s economy, whether hanging a shingle and running your own business has been a life-long dream or an idea you’ve never considered.

Social media and online tools make it easier than ever to create a profitable business selling goods or services. When used to their potential, these networking resources can help you:

• Demonstrate your expertise.
• Grow your network.
• Learn new things.
• Sell your goods or services.

Grow Your Business

Social Networking for Business Success teaches you how to:

• Connect with people you don’t know and convince them to reach for their wallets.
• Inspire trust, build partnerships and make more money.
• Market and advertise your business without spending a dime.
• Leverage small details that make big differences in online searches.
• Look smarter than your competition and make the best use of your limited time.

Do not get left behind the eight ball; act now to prepare to market your ideas and to run an independent business  to enhance your income opportunities and earning potential. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or a business owner who hasn’t ramped up online, yet: this book will help you overcome obstacles to your success and get you on the right path.

Don’t take my word for it! See a sample of reviews from others in the business community about Social Networking for Business Success:

“Starting and running a business is hard work, but never in history has it been so easy to connect with an audience, find a customer, or market your brand. Social media allows anyone to connect with the entire world given a little work and very little money. This book shows you how to do it right.” – David Linton, Owner, Arobase Group, Highest Certified Apple Computer System Expert

“The entire book is filled with common sense easy to apply ideas…if you’re in business you need to get and read this book.” -  Bud Bilanich, The Common Sense Guy, bestselling author

“Filled with strategies and tactics, recommended resources, and helpful tips–this book is a must read for aspiring entrepreneurs.” – Shawn Graham, Small Business Marketing Consultant

If you’ve ever thought about running a business or think it’s time for some new strategies to ramp your existing business up online, we hope you will buy a copy of Social Networking for Business Success. Please help us meet a sales goal by purchasing it from Amazon on our “launch date,” September 3rd — the day after Labor Day.

As a special bonus, we are offering a free Q&A call-in for anyone who purchases the book on September 3rd via Amazon AND a free checklist to help you create a branded bio! All you need to do is order you copy on that day, then click here and fill out the form to access this special offer.

We hope you’re curious enough to check it out. Remember to wait until September 3rd to buy your copy to take advantage of the special free offers. 

So mark your calendar and head over to Amazon on September 3^rd and then sign up for the bonus offers; it’s our special way of saying thank you and celebrating the day after Labor Day.

Join our Small Business Google+ community here.

Or just bookmark our book’s site here.

Please help us spread the word about Social Networking for Business Success! Click here to tweet the news to your community.

The post Grow your business: new book helps you get started online appeared first on Keppie Careers.

In an era in which every job is temporary, what skills does the worker need to thrive? What does it take to succeed in this “gig economy”?

What does it take to succeed as a freelancer?

1. Know your audience.

It’s crucial that you know what skills you’ll need to compete in your field. This means keeping a keen eye on market trends and keeping ahead of the curve when it comes to knowing how to provide exactly what your industry needs from someone with your expertise.

How can you keep your finger on the pulse of what’s going on, while you are busy doing the work? Subscribe to industry publications, read blogs and follow social media streams created by thought leaders in your field. Identify the “gurus” in your industry and keep an eye on what they are saying online. Track conference conversations from other experts in your field, even when you don’t attend, by following hashtags for the events on Twitter. Many professional conference planners will list the hashtag — a keyword with a # sign, such as #SHRM16 representing the Society for Human Resource Management — right in the advertised materials. Hop on Twitter during the conference and track the hashtag to find out what information is hot in your field. If you are really savvy, you’ll respond using the hashtag and communicate with people at the conference, even if you’re at home.

2. Assess and update your skills.

Are some of your skills a little dated? Is there a new software program everyone is flocking to use, and you’ve never even tried it? It is up to you, as a freelancer, to maintain your own professional development standards. You can be sure you aren’t likely to get hired for a gig if you don’t have the organization’s desired skills. (It’s not much different from finding a job.) Make a list of skills you need to improve and decide which ones are worth investing your time and money.

3. Learn to market yourself.

To succeed as a freelancer, you’ll need to be an expert in your field, but you’ll also need to become an expert self-marketer (or hire someone to help you). Start now to take steps to be able to effectively get the word out about your skills and expertise. Social media is a terrific, and free, way to demonstrate what you know to a broad audience and to expand your network. Like traditional jobs, many freelance opportunities will be won via networking.

How can you get started? First: be sure you know what you offer. What is unique and special about you, your skills and your accomplishments? Once you know what you offer, it’s much easier to market yourself to potential clients.

Once you know what you offer, jump online and market those skills. Create a website for your business, and include a blog so you’ll be able to showcase your expertise. Begin a Twitter feed to connect with others in your industry and become a resource of information and news relevant for others in your field. Set up a business Google+ page and incorporate targeted public updates so Google will associate your name with your expertise. Optimize your profile on LinkedIn and take advantage of its social features, such as Answers and Groups, so it’s easy for people looking for consultants to find you. Take advantage of these and other social media tools and you’ll put yourself in the strongest position to succeed as a freelancer.

The post How to succeed as a freelancer appeared first on Keppie Careers.