In the fifteen months since our launch on July 28, 2008, in addition to showcasing entrepreneurs, company founders, and business thought leaders on Handshake 2.0, we've showcased best practices in the business use of social media for our viewers.

Here are some highlights we hope will be of value to you:

Social Media

Populating the Top of the Sales Funnel Through Social Media
How Much Do I Believe in the Value of Social Media for Businesses?  This Much.
The Social Media Skateboard to Business Success
A Regional Social Media Initiative - How It Looks and Works
Social Media Use Drives Traffic to B2B Companies in Specialty Niches
Social Media Authenticity Policy
FTC Truth-in-Advertising Revisions - The Areas to Watch

Blogs

Anatomy of a Blog Post
Blog Post Content - No Secrets Are Hid
Definition of a Handshake 2.0 Blog Post
How to Publicize a Blog Post on Handshake 2.0
Every Regional Business Blogging
Web Site + Blog
Blog A+
It's Really All About the Blog Post

Twitter

A Formula for Business Results Using Twitter(.pdf)
My 140-Character Day
Elements of a Call-to-Action Tweet
Journalism 140:  The Creative Twitter Challenge
From "Follow" to "Follow Up" - Using Twitter in Business
Twitter for Business

Facebook

I See Your Company's Facebook Page
Avoiding Mistakes on a Company's Facebook Fan Page
Seizing Your Slice of the Facebook Pie
Face It - You Need to Be on Facebook

LinkedIn

Demystifying LinkedIn to Promote Your Business

YouTube

Marketing on YouTube: A Double-Edged Sword

***

Handshake 2.0 specializes in social media services for businesses.

I begin my day 140 characters at a time. My email inbox contains a digest of tweets either by, or mentioning, the people I've chosen to track through SocialOomph. TweetDeck is another lens that I use to see what's currently going on in Twitter-world. I use it to scan the tweet-headlines by the news organizations I follow, both locally and nationally, and to read what's going on in the lives my “tweeple.”

If I see something I want to know more about, I click on the link that appears in the tweet. If I want to share what I've read with my followers, then I retweet (RT) the original tweet and link. If, in the course of following links, I read something I'd like to share, then I create a new tweet. That's how the day begins.

As the day progresses, I transition from early rising citizen fueled by coffee and online news to work-from-home public relations writer and businesswoman/entrepreneur. My use of Twitter changes from passive to active as I move to promote the good work of the people I write about and the companies I  support.  It's here where creativity and knowledge of how to leverage Twitter comes into play.

Tweeting for SEO

With only 140 characters of Tweet real estate to work with, it should come as no surprise that the location of keywords brings value to placement in search engines. Here how it works:

Those first 26-40 characters play the role of a headline in a longer article. They not only catch the eye and make a person want to read the tweet, but also catch the attention of search engines. Canadian blogger Chris Burdge, founder of Candadian-based Bwest Interactive, explains this more in his post, “Seven Twitter Tips to Improve Your SEO” on StepForth.com.

I end my day reviewing tweets I've sent, wondering if any of them will resurface as news the next morning.

***

Graphic by Z. Kelly Queijo

Z. Kelly Queijo writes about business and technology, people and their passions.  She is a frequent contributor to Handshake 2.0.

From Christina Motley:

LinkedIn, the most widely used business-oriented social networking site, was founded in December 2002,  launched in May 2003 with $4.7 million in capital, and turned over $100 million in 2008. Especially effective for professional networking, LinkedIn offers businesses the opportunity to get their unique messages in front of more than 50 million registered users, across more than 200 countries worldwide.

Yet, LinkedIn remains a mystery to many.  Business professionals are invited by colleagues to join LinkedIn and they create profiles.  Then the questions begin:  Now what?  How and what do I do with LinkedIn?

For me, LinkedIn is invaluable. It has helped me:

• Build an online presence.
• Brand myself as a marketing expert and job seeker.
• Find jobs not listed elsewhere.
• Connect with fellow Virginia Tech Hokies.
• Solicit additional references.
• Keep an online résumé in front of others.
• Get new work posted online.
• Attract recruiters.

To begin to use LinkedIn, I established and completed my profile 100% and selected a unique URL. 

Now I:

• Update my status at least 1-2 times per week
• Add new connections weekly, building my professional network
• Ask others for recommendations frequently, keeping this section fresh and growing.
• Join industry-specific groups of interest. As I find new groups, I join them, again building my network.
• Start new discussions (for example, "How to successfully publicize a blog" and "Coaching software helps coaches worldwide") within the LinkedIn groups of which I am a member to establish myself as a thought leader and participate regularly in on-going discussions.
• Post anything I publish (for example, an article, a blog post) as a link and as a discussion topic for all relevant groups.

I hope learning how I use LinkedIn may help other business professionals transform LinkedIn from a mystery into an effective marketing tool to generate profitable business results.

***

Christina Motley is an award-winning writer, editor, marketing, public relations and communications professional. She is currently writing for Handshake 2.0, City Magazine and the Blue Ridge Business Journal. You're invited to follow her on Twitter @christinamotley.

Dr. Steve Jacobs is an optometrist and a photographer.

He's also a philanthropist, supporting numerous civic, arts, cultural and charitable organizations throughout the New River Valley of Virginia.  His photos grace many a local non-profit's silent auctions.  Two groups close to his heart are the Valley Interfaith Child Care Center (VICCC) and NRV Cares.

Patrons who purchase eyewear - discounted 20% to 50% - at his 2nd Annual Trunk Show & Local Charity Fundraiser, will find that if they donate a small (or larger) portion of the discount they receive to either charity, Dr. Jacobs will match the amount.

Dr. Steve Jacobs's 2nd Annual Trunk Show & Local Charity Fundraiser is on Friday, November 13, 2009, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, at his office in Blacksburg, Virginia.

If you'd like to see the Dr. Steve Jacobs way, please call for an appointment, 540-953-0136.

***

Handshake 2.0 was delighted to make donations to each charity in exchange for the opportunity to premier two of Dr. Jacobs's photographs on Handshake 2.0.  We look forward to letting you see the next one!

As my son and I approached the Blacksburg Skate Park, he craned his neck to see who was skateboarding and if he knew anybody. Then he exclaimed, “Hey, that guy's on YouTube!” The skater-boy was instantly catapulted from a local kid to Rock Star. “He's good,” my son added.

I watched while my son donned pads and helmet and headed over to join the small crowd of 10 or so boys ranging in ages that spanned elementary school to high school. A small group of teen girls sat under the shelter talking while the guys took their falls in their attempts to defy Newton's laws of motion over and over again. Amidst the falls and the sounds of spinning wheels grinding across steel rails and concrete, I could not help but think that a business which has not yet embraced the power of YouTube should definitely give this medium serious consideration.

From a business perspective, YouTube worked to enhance the image <brand> of  the Blacksburg skater-boy. My son <the consumer> found a resource <through social media> that appealed to his interest in skateboarders <the market>. Because the skater is good at what he does <as demonstrated in the video>, the consumer sees him as an expert and a trusted source of information. And, not only that, the subject was recognized because the medium <YouTube> increased the awareness of his brand.

One can learn many lessons at the skate park.  That my son is learning to stay on his feet is certainly a good one.

From Anne Clelland, founder of Handshake 2.0:

And to me, this story is not only about the brand.  Or the medium by which the brand was conveyed.  Kelly's son said the equivalent of, "I know him!"

It's still who you know.  The medium is simply the means to knowing and being known.  YouTube, and other social media channels, offer multiple ways to get known.  If social media channels are used with best practices, they work a synthesis of  trust-engendering, risk-reducing, deal-enhancing "who you know" + who you are + publicity of people, products, services and companies.  And that can launch us to our feet to shake hands on deals.

***

Photo credit: Z. Kelly Queijo

Z. Kelly Queijo writes about business and technology, people and their passions.  She is a frequent contributor to Handshake 2.0.

When guitarist J. Andrew Dickenson, a native of Christiansburg, Virginia, and wife, soprano June Suh, founders of Midnight Moon Ensemble, completed production of their new CD, Angel in the Mist, they wanted to make their music available in the two most popular online stores for downloads and CD purchases: iTunes and Amazon. Rather than learn how to work with each individual e-tailer, they turned to CD Baby, known as the largest online distributor of independent (indie) music to reach their audience.

“CD Baby is incredibly easy to use,” said Dickenson. “Everything can be done comprehensively online, from setting the price of your album to choosing what digital distribution options you desire. If you do need human contact, however, the staff replies promptly and is friendly and professional.”

Located in Portland, Oregon, CD Baby lists more than 270,000 CD titles and has sold over 5 million CDs online. Music sold as downloads is channeled through top-named download retailers including Amazon,  iTunes, Rhapsody, and eMusic. In addition to making it easy for the musician to sell music through these popular online channels, other benefits to working with CD Baby are cost and payout. The company pays musicians between $6 and $12 per album sold and pays them weekly.

In addition to selling their music through CD Baby, Dickenson and Suh have created an online presence through their web site where all of their online retail outlets come together, including mobile entertainment company Thumbplay, which makes "Angel in the Mist" ringtones available for download, and CafePress,  which sells Dickenson's book series on Guitar Fundamentals. 

Dickenson gives CD Baby a thumbs-up. “Making an album always takes longer than you anticipate. There are numerous delays because of scheduling, budgets, or simply being a perfectionist. Working with CD Baby was the easiest - and quickest - part of the process.”

***

Z. Kelly Queijo writes about business and technology, people and their passions.  She is a frequent contributor to Handshake 2.0.

by Preeti Singh

It is often said that effective and timely communication is the key to successful businesses. Skype  video and voice calls software, helps one stay abreast in a fast-paced environment along with enhancing one’s business towards a competitive arena. Let us see how.

Skype is cost-effective.

Being free to install and use, Skype is a favourite amongst many due to its low cost calling rates, globally. With an ability to communicate via mobiles or landlines all over the world, Skype is very easy on the pocket.

Skype saves precious time.

In this fast moving world where time is of the essence, Skype, with its reliable features to stay connected anytime, anywhere, is indeed useful. Whether one is stuck in traffic or travelling overseas, Skype helps the user make those important business decisions on the move, thus saving time.

Skype has brand awareness.

Since its inception, Skype has gathered an international reputation to be a reliable source of communication. Often business houses are chosen to promote a business simply because they use Skype to communicate with their clients.

Skype is configured for PCs.

To enhance their employees' performance day by day, business houses prefer using PCs which have collaborated with Skype. Leading manufacturers like Lenovo have begun configuring Skype in their products to enable a high quality performance.

Skype binds teams together.

Most businesses are spread all over the world, expanding by the minute. With the advantage of Skype, business heads can stay connected with their teams, globally. With instant access, the team members can be contacted individually for specific tasks, anytime, anywhere.

Skype links chats to email.

The multi-faceted features of Skype make it popular and user-friendly. The Skype chats can be easily linked to emails and sent, ensuring no relevant business information is lost.

Using a reliable, effective, and free communication tool like Skype ensures a platform where businesses flourish and reach dizzy heights.

***

Preeti Singh is a freelance creative/content writer with 15 years writing experience and a zest to live life to the fullest.  Based in Chandigarh, India, she can be reached at www.writingnaturally.com.

Caption credit of self-proclaimed  icanhazcheeserburger.com Lolcats quality:  Anne Giles Clelland

Purrfect timing photo credit: Z. Kelly Queijo

From Christina Motley:

Coaching, a 20-year-old concept that really began taking off over the last decade, is a fast-growing industry with an estimated 40,000-50,000 coaches generating a global revenue of $1.5 billion (pdf) . 

The International Coach Federation (ICF) defines coaching as "partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential."

A Roanoke, Virginia-based Software-as-as-Service (SaaS) company, Interface Advantage Systems, Inc.,  developed a unique cloud computing software - Coaches Console- that allows coaches to focus on their practices and let technology manage the backend office needs (calendar, billing, communications and marketing) required to operate profitable businesses.

Coaches’ clients also utilize the software to increase their accountability. Coaches Console is a unique Customer Relationship Management (CRM) concept that is catching on, serving 600 coaches in 17 countries since its 2002 launch. Just this year, a competitor, Coach Accountable, has entered the marketplace. The only other coaching CRM software is Client Compass, a long standing desktop-based solution from Wiley.

As part of a global trend, (.pdf) corporations provide coaching to employees to develop their leadership pipeline and increase employee retention. ICF reports (.pdf) that “93% of managers believe coaching should be available to all employees.”

"My vision," said Kate Steinbacher, co-founder of Coaches Console's parent company, Interface Advantage Systems, Inc., "is to provide coaching to women worldwide.”

***

Christina Motley is an award-winning marketing and communications professional and writer. She is currently writing for Handshake 2.0, City Magazine and the Blue Ridge Business Journal. You're invited to follow her on Twitter @christinamotley.

From Elizabeth Parsons:

Production, paperwork, prospecting and pandering - talented contractors are out there managing this constant juggling act with seemingly effortless agility.  I imagine that within their pristine, cerebral office spaces, Marketing, Accounting, Sales, Operations and IT Departments interact with seamless efficiency. 

Accounting does not pound at Sales’ door demanding last month’s expense report. Marketing - that creative, zany group down the hall - does not bad mouth Operations for insisting on all those darned rules. For career freelancers like Sarah Cox, Mark Ching, and Peg McGuire, folks I’ve had the pleasure of working with in my last position, I imagine the Creative in them (the CEO, if you will) feels always at liberty to create, comforted by the knowledge that her cohorts have it under control.

My “internal office” isn’t there - yet.  Recently I spent two days battling Microsoft Word in an attempt to create business cards.  Finally, exasperated, I called up Susan Cousins, a fellow casualty of reorganization, for help.  Susan, my former Office Manager, is enraptured with all things order-making.   She handed me a flawless mock-up within an hour.  “It’s just a matter of making tables,” she said grinning, as if it were, indeed, just that simple.

Next up: technical disaster-relief. In exchange for a bottle of Malbec, two friends, Suzanne Dillon, an IT higher-up with Wachovia/Wells Fargo, and her husband, Jim, a technical whiz with Magnets USA, heroically revived my laptop’s Blue Screen of Death into a thriving virtual workplace.  

The back office in order, I'm ready to create. And while I don’t think I was intended to be a career freelancer, I’ll embrace it for now - and gratefully so. For it’s being part of a team that brings out my best. And while I’m pretty happy with my internal resources, it’s the external human ones that unshackle this muse to do her thing.

***

Elizabeth Parsons is a seasoned editor, writer, and communications professional.  You can follow her on Twitter at @e_claire_p.