john {WEB}ster

In our current economic climate, small businesses have to work harder and smarter on the web to compete against King Kong Corporation, with a seemingly endless marketing budget. It also means that small business will have to be more creative and use many of the marketing opportunities the big guys have overlooked. And carve our marketing opportunities where none exist.

Let’s examine one opportunity few businesses are using: Flickr.

Flickr is a social media website owned by Yahoo which allows you to upload and share your pictures with prospects, registered Flickr users as well as the general internet audience. The main attraction of Flickr is its focus on the social sharing of images with their community of the interested viewers. Flickr’s social networking foundation, solid user base and its explosive growth has transformed it into a practical platform for marketing your business, organization or website. Last year one blogger Barry Schwartz started writing about how Flickr can be used as a traffic building tool for your website or online business.

5 Ways to Market with Flickr

Your Website address should be used as your Flickr screen name. Your screen name is used for everything you do on Flickr — it will be associated with every photo you upload and every comment you post in a Flickr group. Use your screen name to market, brand, advertise your website’s address.

Many people see social networking as a fun way to keep up with friends, family & coworkers, some savvy non-profits have created systems to leverage social media to accomplish so very lofty goals. These networks are increasing their visibility, helping their constituents improve their situation and quickly raising awareness of time-sensitive issues. To get the most from social networking, non-profits should start by focusing their attention on the “Friend Of A Friend” networks such as FaceBook, LinkedIn and MySpace that are suited to connect individuals and organizations with others who share similar interests and goals.

5 Popular Social Networking Tools

FaceBook: Currently the fastest growing social network of the group. FaceBook has jumped to the front of the line by being the clean and well organized “sibling” of MySpace. Techradar predicts that FaceBook will achieve 100 million active users by the first quarter of 2009. FaceBook has its greatest strength in its system of connecting members to each other.

I didn’t know Charlie well, however the few times I had the pleasure of being around him my life was lifted. In formal settings he was the most gracious speaker I had ever met, always making those around him the star of the show. Charlie was a master at making people feel wanted, appreciated and important — a true gift. It’s funny as he walked around a room sharing wisdom smiles always followed right behind.

One weekend last Christmas I was blessed to assist Charlie with a book signing. It was one of the most fun days in recent memory. From meeting him in the parking lot (being greeted with one of Charlie’s signature hugs) to walking him back to his car, my face was a permanent smile. He shared some words of wisdom with me on how to make my marriage the best it can be — Which was simple treat my wife as a princess and realize that I was nothing without her. And, that was indicative of his philosophy about life: Serve others with a smile.

To think of all the moments like that one, Charlie has created across this world makes you realize how impactful he has. The man may be gone but his spirit and wisdom will live forever through his books and from all those people he has touched.

As you think of a time you may have spent with Charlie Jones; at a speaking engagement, listening to him on a CD or from reading one of his books — remember to keep his family and those close to him in your prayers.