Deborah Micek will be in Dallas to speak about New Media, Twitter, making money using Social Media and Boosting your brand’s ROI at The Gateway to Wealth Seminar – hosted by Gary Ambrose & Keith Wellman.

Meet Coach Deb in Dallas this weekend with VIP ticket that gets you in as her guest for FREE.

Guaranteed to discuss things about using Twitter and Social Media that have never been discussed publicly to date. Trend setting presentation by Coach Deb this weekend.

@CoachDeb

PS: There’ll be a Tweetup Thursday nite for all the Dallas peeps – even if you’re not able to attend this weekend’s conference. Send Deb an @CoachDeb msg on Twitter if you plan to make it & want details.

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On February 28, 2009 an American icon passed away. He left us with years of his wit and wisdom, but his most important lesson for business owners was hidden behind the veil of the new style of radio program he created.

This sales-boosting and brand-building secret was summed up in one simple statement. And in that statement is all you need to be focused on ALL day, EVERY day to sell and grow your business most effectively.

First… the man behind the wisdom

I’ll share the statement in a moment, but to fully appreciate and apply it you first need to know a little more about the man behind the wisdom.

The man was Paul Harvey, host of the famous “The Rest of the Story” radio show. With the unique format of his radio show, Paul entertained AND sold like none before. He had a strategy and system that perfectly complimented his “folksy” personal brand.

He was known for the catch phrase he used at the beginning of his programs,”Hello Americans, I’m Paul Harvey. You know what the news is, in a minute, you’re going to hear … the rest of the story.” The last item of his broadcast, which was often a funny story, would usually be preceded by “For what it’s worth.” And he always ended, “Paul Harvey … Good day.”

At the time of his death he was arguably the most famous radio personality in America with his show syndicated on over 1,200 stations. And right up until his death he was still doing his show and selling products… and even vaulting unknown brands into national prominence. (Think Bose)

Paul Harvey’s career was not without controversy though. He publicly took strong political positions, advocated for the Vietnam War, and was fiercely critical of political and other public figures.

The strategies

Yes, as you see — Paul Harvey practiced all the elements of Tribal Seduction:

A strategy and system built around his Personal Brand (Persuasive Selling Platform)

• He was transparent letting his persona and personal views shine through without shame (invaluable to gathering a tribe of true Loyals)
• Paul chose (and stuck with) the communication channel that best suited his Persuasive Selling Platform™
• He chose the communication channel that provided the best access to his Tribe (primarily Baby Boomers and older)

The “ONE THING”

But what’s that one statement that encapsulates all you need to be focused on ALL day, EVERY day to market most effectively?

It comes from a passing comment Paul Harvey made to Dan Kennedy backstage at a Peter Lowe event. it is this:

“Selling is simple if it’s proceeded by trust.”

This simple statement defined Paul Harvey’s position with his Tribe. they would buy the bed or radio or vacuum or vitamin or insurance he recommended simply because HE recommended it.

If there is a “secret” to selling, THIS is it. This is the position you must aspire to. To be so trusted that your Tribe will listen to your advice; to buy what you recommend.

What are you working on today?

With the power of Social Media and New Media we all have the power to reach our target audience easier and cheaper than ever before. And with the unfair advantage given to you with the Tribal Seduction Marketing-for-Life Program you have the ability to attract and grow your own Tribe of raving fans (Loyals) who will stick with you (and buy from you) for life!

But at the crux of the Tribal Seduction system is trust. It’s about honesty and congruence with a refined Personal Brand. And THAT is what so few business owners spend time on day-to-day.

So the question is; are you busy spending more time:

• Working on techie tasks in your business?
• Just going through the motions of “networking” because it’s what you’re “supposed” to do (or because “everyone else is doing it”)
• Or working to creating a bond of true trust, focused on building rapport (the precursor to trust)

Most business owners earning 7-figure incomes do it by becoming persons of influence with a specific chosen audience. The selling of an abundant quantity of products or services to produce the desired income is then — as Paul put it — “simple.”

What are your thoughts?

Leave your thoughts in some graffiti down in the comment area below.

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Happy Mother’s Day!

Whether you’re a mom or not, this video is guaranteed to inspire you to pursue your dreams! (or your money back!)

WARNING: Do not watch the below video unless you’re prepared to be moved and have a few tissues nearby. Be inspired by this 16 year old’s dreams, talent and jubilant spirit.

A few highlights I loved from this video was hearing Charice share her dreams and goals with pure joy – despite the lack of means to make them come true.

My favorite clip in this entire 6 minute video is the 4 minute mark when the talk show host asks Charice what she would say to those who didn’t believe in her talent. What she shares about her detractors is SO true! I’ve felt the same exact feeling throughout my life, growing up, when anyone told me I couldn’t do something, or told me I was crazy for having the dreams I shared.

Tell me if you can identify in the comments below.

Deborah Micek is a co-founder of the international business coaching company RPM Success Group ® Inc. She and her partner John Paul are authors of the hit book Secrets Of Online Persuasion. They are creators of the ONLY Web site system to put New Media to work marketing FOR you — BLOG i360™. Also known as “The Twitter Queen” she co-authored the first published book on Twitter, available now in bookstores everywhere: “Twitter Revolution” Grab your copy now on Amazon and get the edge on the hottest social network!

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Brand You!

Brand New You!

Are you ready for a Brand New You in the New Year?

Are you ready to go BIG TIME in ‘09?

When people see or hear your name, what instantly comes to their mind? Do you know? Do your clients know your niche/speciality and how you can help them best? If not – the time is now to get that laser focused message across in a big way for the new year. Who’s with me?

I thought it was easier to share my thoughts via video of a major distinction I made in 2008 that has catapulted me for going Big Time in ‘09. My wish for you is to make similar distinctions so you can go Big Time in ‘09!

I’ve met so many wonderful people this year on Twitter and all the different places I spoke throughout the year, that I wanted to set up something special for the followers/fans/friends who’ve asked me for a private coaching session to help them with their brand, their business and their goals.

Since I’m in the giving spirit – you get to take advantage of crazy low private coaching rates and grab them now before the New Year is up, and before the clock strikes midnight. I’m looking to Coach 12 phenomenal business women and a few good men who know 2009 is his/her year. If that’s you – you’ll especially love this video and this post, because you get the opportunity to lock up a consulting session (or two) at crazy holiday rates. (Yes, I’ll honor this special for current private coaching clients as well – since it’s a limited offer and time for these sessions.)

Normally I don’t do single 30-minute coaching sessions, but I’m in the holiday spirit, and wanted to give my followers what they’ve been asking for. So – you’ll find a quickie coaching session is available as an option along with a special 60 minute session rate, if you want to go long. I even included a special “6-pack” if you’re a heavy “success drinker“.

Grab these New Year Coaching specials now – before JP Micek discovers what I’ve done, and takes this post down!

NOTE: I can only meet with about 5-7 people from here to the new year, but you can still lock in the rate today, and then Deborah Carraro (our new business manager) will schedule your session for mid-late January – depending on when your order comes in. Just call her up after you’ve grabbed what you need using the links below and she’ll call you back when she’s in the office in the order the calls and orders are received.

Office line: (415) 723-9715

Deborah Micek is a co-founder of the international business coaching company RPM Success Group ® Inc. She and her partner John Paul are authors of the hit book Secrets Of Online Persuasion. They are creators of the ONLY Web site system to put New Media to work marketing FOR you — BLOG i360™. Also known as “The Twitter Queen” she co-authored the first published book on Twitter, available now in bookstores everywhere: “Twitter Revolution” Grab your copy now on Amazon and get the edge on the hottest social network!

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Go behind the scenes with Coach Deb at Splash Media Studio
in Dallas, Texas as she was getting prepped for a TV interview for
a new network: Elevision TV “TV that takes you to a higher level”.

Mari Smith was co-conspirator here and took some behind the scenes
footage while Bill Hibbler from eCommerce Confidental was in the blue
room with me interviewing me about Twitter & the Twitter Revolution
book.

Elevision is a new TV channel that will be on next year. I was
honored to be among the inaugural crew that was in the studio for
a series of business building interviews. Topics discussed in the
interviews for the different shows ranged from social media to growing
your business using best practices with some of the world’s best
business minds.

It was a blast, made brilliant connections for BLOGi360 among other things I’ll be excited to share with you in the New Year… but for now… I’ll give you a sneak peek at what Mari Smith and I were up to this month in Dallas.

You’ll see the panic they almost put me in… and I hope there are other Tweeters out there who share my pain. Afterall… how can you do an interview highlighting the power of Twitter and not be able to tweet about it. Right?! C’mon now – who feels my pain? (please stand up – and comment below if you felt my pain/anxiety in this video… just a lil’ bit? Or if you think I’m TOO much of a TwitAddict. I can take it. Really! I can

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Yesterday @TerryBean asked a question via twitter that many entrepreneurs worry themselves sick over (and thereby hamstring their success), not just on Twitter, but on many Social and New Media Marketing channels.

Terry asked; “Do you worry about losing followers? If so do you think you lose them from not tweeting enough or tweeting too much?”

My multi-Tweet reply addressed a core issue WAY more important than too few or too many updates. I answered Terry:

• Msg 1 “If your not strong enough to turn some people off, you’ll NEVER be strong enough to attract a Tribe of true Loyals (cont)”

• Msg 2 “You need to establish your Persuasive Selling Platform – then stand boldly on it. Too many/few Tweets is least of concerns. ”

My first statement there got picked up and used by Ken Burbary in a post yesterday discussing unfollow tools and their impact: “Twitter: Unfollow me, it’s not personal.” Ken correctly touches on the fact that Twitter has a “culture.” But that point has much larger ramifications to the way you do business. In fact; emotions and interactions tangled up in “culture” is the entire basis for Tribal Marketing.

Unfollows will never hurt you, but beating yourself with sticks will break your business bones

“Twitter culture” is no different than any other human interaction, online in New Media or off-line face-to-face. People with jobs dabbling in Social and New Media to gain friends and “converse” can afford to get sucked into a never-ending downward spiral of narcissistic analysis.

But for entrepreneurs, marketers and business owners; analysis of this type without a benchmark or platform against which to judge reactions creates a self-imposed profit killing death sentence.

Contrary to what you’ve heard? Not surprising when most Social Media “experts are corporate refugees with a worker mindset, brainwashed to “get along” at all costs.

Here’s the danger in that “careful not to offend anyone” approach…

If business people begin altering their behavior, words and statements to avoid “unfollow sting”, the ramifications are no different than trying to fit into a high-school clique. Even if the group accepts you, you will always be the outsider… the poser. NOT a good position for an entrepreneur who is (or should be) looking to be seen as a knowledgeable leader.

To attract and retain a Tribe of raving fans (Loyals) means taking strong positions. The stronger your positions, the stronger the bond between you and your Tribe… and among the Tribe members themselves. It’s human nature that the mundane and the luke-warm are either ignored or spit out.

Only in politics every two years do “moderates” get any attention. And when we look at their actual numbers (average only 2% of voters via Battleground Poll for the last 10 years) — we see the fact that the vast majority of people DO have opinions. They just may not have the kahonas to state those thoughts.

The entrepreneurs and business people who take strong stands in their niche or industry, who make bold pronouncements for the benefit of their Tribe — they will get the respect, loyalty and patronage that people are waiting to shower on a true leader.

The question is not “too many or too few Tweets.” It is “do you know your Tribe?”

YOUR Tribe, YOUR Loyals — they are ALL that matter!

If you don’t know your Persuasive Selling Platform well enough to know what may have turned someone off, (and to know that, in many cases that unfollow is a good thing) — then any “tool” like Qwitter http://useqwitter.com/ that lets you know what words triggered an unfollow will only serve to further shake your confidence and throw you off track.

If you have your Loyals Profiles and Tribal Factor firmly established as two of the four foundation stones of your Persuasive Selling Platform, the ability to keep your focus allows you to be in total control of your emotions.

That control for you can mean ignoring, or even celebrating unfollows as you continue on a profitable path of New Media Marketing. But YOU are in control… not some tool or technology.

What’s your take?

• How do unfollows on Twitter or friend drop-offs on FaceBook or MySpace impact you?
• Do you just ignore those unfollows, or do you revel in the fact they’ve occurred?
• How do you know when an unfollow is a good thing vs. a “learning opportunity”?

Leave your thoughts in some graffiti down in the comment area below.

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Saturday night Deb and I stopped at Ala Moana mall before heading out to dinner in Honolulu. As Deb was doing her “shoppinnnng” thing I was on the hunt scouting for examples of Tribal Marketing. I found it at our second stop — the Jimmy Choo store.

With my shoe fetish in control I “dragged” Deb into the store. (Yeah, kicking and screaming. lol) And within two-minutes I was struck by a Tribal Seduction marketing principle I failed to pick up on in previous visits. The profit-producing power of story.

Why is that Jimmy Choo shoes command $400 to $4,000 and more?

Sure Jimmy Choo shoes are hand made (first in London by Choo himself, then after 96′ in Italy.) And yes Jimmy Choo Ltd. has a team of four designers who’s only job is to create to-die-for shoes and handbags.

But what’s the real profit power behind the Jimmy Choo brand? It’s something that as a Jimmy Choo lover you might not have realized, because it’s something that is never said. It just is. (A key in effectively using Tribal Seduction marketing.)

Ultimately the Jimmy Choo brand is not only the story of the man behind the name, but also the fortuitous linking of his story with the greatest real-life fairy tale of the 20th Century.

Jimmy Choo was born in Malaysia in 1961 to a family of shoe makers and made his first shoe when he was 11 years old. OK, authenticity. Good start for a story.

After attending college in London he opened his own workshop in 1986 and gained international fame when his creations were featured in a record eight pages in a 1988 issue of Vogue magazine. Public recognition of passionate pursuit of excellence. Another good element of the story.

But the real boost in the Jimmy Choo story comes with the loyal patronage (and vocal sharing of passionate love for hand made Jimmy Choo shoes) by Princess Diana. The real-life fairy tale Princess became the catalyst for dozens of other celebrities to become Jimmy Choo Loyals as well; spreading the story, passion and love of shoes even further.

Jimmy Choo = beauty, elegance and sexiness… protected by price

Today the Jimmy Choo philosophy, as stated on jimmychoo.com is:

… to create exclusive shoes and accessories that are both luxurious and practical for all occasions, while at the same time creating a look that’s instantaneously recognized as “Jimmy Choo”. The understated distinctiveness of the brand, and its integrity, is controlled with the limited distribution of the products to a few select retailers.

Jimmy Choo shoes are void of obvious labels and logos. Yes, you are marketing and reinforcing the brand when wearing the shoes. But with a Tribal Marketing approach it’s subliminal and seductive, not in your face. It takes a true shoe lover to know and recognize Jimmy Choo’s. You know you’ve met another member of your Tribe when someone recognizes your Jimmy Choo shoes.

The story behind the brand is protected and kept intact by the unique use of materials and exclusivity of both pricing and distribution.

Sure customer service and the experience of buying Jimmy Choo shoes is part of the aura. But the true profit-producing power of the brand remains the authentic story of the founder imperceptibly linked with the fairy tale stories of the rich-and-famous Jimmy Choo Loyals. It happens when you first slip your foot into the shoe… or watch your lady slip her’s into a pair.

What about you?

• What’s your story? Have you given thought to how it relates to your business?
• Do you agree that the Jimmy Choo story teamed with the fairy tale is a big part of profit-producing power of the Jimmy Choo brand?
• Are you passionate about Jimmy Choo or any other brand because of the story behind it?

Share your thoughts in some graffiti below.

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Many “Social Media experts” spout the talking point that if you “align your personality with your brand” you’ll sell like gang-busters. But is Social and New Media marketing about revealing your personality? Or is this advice a recipe for disaster?

Personality and a personal brand are two very different things. And once again, as we discussed with Social Media Profit Killer #1, understanding the difference will either rip the heart out of your business, or put more money in your pocketbook.

The Personal Brand quagmire

Marketing with New Media relies on a strong personal brand. No getting around that. In fact, it’s a requirement to win in today’s marketplace; online or off-line.

Everyone knows:

• If you don’t stand out
• If you ride the middle of the road
• If you don’t create a strong presence

… you’re doomed to mediocrity at best.

But many of the same people chanting the “authenticity is a currency” mantra are also advising that you align your brand with your personality. And by doing that you’ll magically “maximize your every social media interaction.”

That may be true for those who have a naturally magnetic persona. But what about the rest of us? What if we have “flaws” in our persona or personality?

The fact is that everyone has personality flaws. To be perfectly honest, some people’s personalities just plain stink.

So if we were to follow the logic of these Social Media experts, and people were to align their brand with their personality without knowing what to magnify and what to suppress — they will lose! Big time!

They’ll flail away blindly trying to use New Media channels to market. And when they fail to achieve monetary gains, they’ll give up. And worst — they’ll think it was the channel’s fault, not their own. And so they’ll go on to keep making the same fatal mistakes elsewhere, over and over again.

To solve this problem, you can start with chapters 11, 12 & 13 in Secrets of Online Persuasion. And if you’re serious about making not just friends using New Media, but money (and lots of it) — just reading a book on it’s own will not do the job.

You need to dig deep into YOU!

First identify your strengths in three areas:

• Communication (How you naturally behave, react and connect)
• Motivation (What motivational values drive you from the inside)
• Learning Style (How you best take in and absorb information)

Second identify the key aspects of your persona. In addition to the above this includes your:

• Natural skills and talents
• Experience and education
• Interests and passions
• World view and beliefs
• Physical attributes

Third create your Personal Brand Declaration by comparing, adjusting and combining the factors above with:

• Your lifestyle goals
• An analysis of the marketplace (including the Squatters and Seekers)

Once you have completed these steps you’ll have the cornerstone for your Persuasive Selling Platform. A platform that will attract raving fans literally for the rest of your life — no matter what changes in the marketplace.

Sound like too much work?

Think you can just buy the latest product pitch by a hot internet marketing guru and get the monetary results you want? That’s fine. The truth is, you might “get by” for a while.

Just know that when you finally realize that you’re still struggling while your marketing heroes keep making millions (because they already have what you’re still refusing to focus on,) the answer will be there waiting. Because no matter what technology, tools or strategies you use — the answer is in YOU.

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What’s the secret to attracting attention and winning over people’s hearts, minds and pocketbooks? It’s the ability to influence and persuade. It’s what all business owners, sales pros and politicians want — but most start from the wrong place

Persuasion start with Self-Influence™

Mention persuasion to the average person and ask them where persuasion is focused — outward (on other people) or inward.

99 out of 100 will say "on other people." After all, isn’t the idea to win friends and influence people? Isn’t that what we should be focused on?

Yeah, sure – that’s the ultimate goal. But unless you master Self-Influence™ your persuasion skills will always come across as mechanical, un-natural.

Think about it. If you can’t influence and motivate yourself to take action — how can you ever effectively motivate anyone else?

The fact is you won’t. People’s perception will immediately be one of suspicion. Not a good place to start a relationship, I’m sure you agree.

Have you ever heard of Harry Houdini?

Well he wasn’t like today’s magicians, only interested in filling a theatre in Vegas. He was an artist. He could make an elephant disappear in the middle of a theatre filled with people, and do you know how he did that?

By controlling people’s perceptions.

Until you control people’s perception of you, your brand, your persona, and who you really are at your core – you will never attain the levels of influence and persuasion that you want.

And yes! That applies online too because there is NO hiding behind your screen. Not anymore!

Online persuasion

It’s easy to see influence and persuasion at work in the off-line world. You meet people and immediately begin either building or breaking rapport with your first face-to-face meeting. You’ve got all five senses working for you.

At first glance online persuasion of that same level may appear to be a near impossible goal. At best, most people see online persuasion as a process of mechanical manipulation; tricks and black-hat triggers used to induce people to hand over their cash.

If we were still living in the online world of Web 1.0, true online persuasion would be difficult. That was an online world where conversations were limited, and being a Marketplace Molester was the bastardized definition of begin “persuasive.”

But have you noticed that going online is a different type of experience today?

With the New Media marketplace powered by people and participation, a more natural form of persuasion can be employed. Audio and video along with instant interaction and ongoing conversations simply make online persuasion another dimension of the off-line face-to-face world.

“The catch”

Online or offline — you can’t just jump in and start trying to influence others. That’s like building a pyramid from the top down.

(For a full-size printer-friendly version, download the Tribal Seduction Power Pyramid™ PDF here.)

Far too many people start from the wrong place and fail to establish the foundation that will support their successfully persuading an ever growing Tribe in today’s marketplace.

You need to start from the bottom up, inside out.

Here’s why…

If you want people to trust you and fall under your spell, it’s not about “making up” a persona or image. You need to take your strengths and the magnetic aspects of your persona and make them larger than life.

To maximize your ability to persuade in marketing, sales, management, or any area of life – that means starting with understanding your natural communication style.

We each have our own unique Communication Code™. That code determines how we communicate with the outside world, how others perceive us, and how we talk to ourselves. It’s an essential element in the Self-Influence formula. And it’s the easiest place to start.

The good thing is that, when it comes to your natural communication style, you can adapt. And that ability to adapt gives you control. Control over how others perceive you, and control over how you manage and motivate yourself.

The better you understand yourself, the better you will be at getting what you want. In fact, what you don’t know about yourself could keep you from getting what you want.

Today’s New Media Marketplace isn’t Romper Room

Focusing on Self-Influence first takes patience and maturity. It’s not for everyone. It’s a matter of doing things a little differently to make a LOT more money.

Some people are still looking for the easy way to riches. The magic bullet or secret potion. And that’s ok for people who want to end up struggling and eeking out a living waiting for that pie-in-the-sky payday.

But if you’re serious about achieving the wealth and lifestyle you want, sorry – playtime is over!

Houdini used Self-Influence to survive his life-threatening illusions and win over the world. Moguls like Oprah and Trump have mastered it. Branding power-houses like Gene Simmons and thought leaders Seth Godin know it, live it and profit from it.

They all know their practical strengths, Communication and Motivation Codes™. They mastered Self-Influence long ago and excel at persuading though perception… the reason they are where they are today.

How are you doing?

If you’re trying to persuade your Tribe and influence groups of people, have you worked your way up the Power Pyramid™; constantly working to improve your Self-Influence™ and Personal Persuasion?

• If not, what’s holding you back? What is your greatest challenge in creating a persona and packaged perception that will persuade your Tribe?

If you’re not happy with the results you’re getting at the top of the Power Pyramid, what are you doing about it?

• Are you willing to focus on influencing yourself BEFORE trying to win the hearts, minds and pocketbooks of millions?

• Have you identitifed your practical strengths; the abilites and skills that will add value to other people’s lives?
• Have you broken your Communication Code™ to determine how the stress of challenges, interaction with people, details and even day-to-day tasks impact how others percieve you?
• What about your Motivational Code™? Do you know exactly what gets you jumping out of bed in the mornign ready to roll without any coffee?

• How are you packaging those together with your Persona to create a Personal Brand that creates the perception you want people to have?

Spill your mind. Share your thoughts in some graffiti down below.

>> To see how Self-Influence translates into the power to persuade crowds and create raving fans, download the Tribal Seduction Power Pyramid™ PDF here.)

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Plurk, Jaiku, identi.ca. All New Media marketing channels. Services that are trying to topple the king of the micro-blogging hill — Twitter. But they’re all falling short. And understanding why they’re failing will help you attract, grow and protect your business — no matter whether you’re selling widgets in Peoria or downloads worldwide.

See — it’s not just the Twitter API or its coding that is insulating Twitter.

Nope! Far from it.

And it’s not all the cool apps that have been built around Twitter (like Summize, Twemes, Twhirl, etc.) They help solidify Twitter’s position. But they’re all actually a RESULT of Twitter’s leadership, not the cause of it.

The reason Twitter still stands as the top choice for the #1 choice of micro-blogging for New Media marketing goes much deeper than coding, apps or APIs.

It’s all about seduction…

Three Tribal Seduction™ principles keeping Twitter at #1

Let’s take a look at the real reasons for Twitter’s current ability to fend off all comers, and see how you can apply these lessons in your own business.

1) Fantasy (or “story”)

Twitter, Tweets, the Twitter Fail Whale and the entire cast of cartoon-like characters in Twitterland — they all make using Twitter fun. It’s engaging and entertaining.

It’s a fantasy land where you can make up your own stories.

2) Insider language

If you use Twitter you’ve probably grown accustomed to using terminology like Twemes, TwitCast, TwitAholic, follow, @, DM’s, and more.

It’s an environment we can escape into using a language that “outsiders” just don’t understand. That’s key in Tribal Seduction for the same reason it’s key to the power of cults. It makes members of the Tribe “insiders.” You’re in-the-know and everyone else is on the outside.

But most importantly…

3) The Tribal Factor™

The Tribal Factor™ is something that’s bigger than you, your product or your service.

• It can be a movement (like the “green” movement.)
• It can be an ideological-based loyalty (like Apple / Mac users.)
• It can be a life-enhancing value that’s accessed and reinforced by subconscious social beliefs. (Like Twitter, where connection and attention are attained AND retained by popularity. Much like your high-school days.)

Of course it can be all three blended together, which is even more powerful. Event then the Tribal Factor™ is much deeper than these individual approaches, but they at least give you a good idea.

The bottom line is —

Seduction trumps function every time!

Benefits. Functionality. Value.

BLAH! Fagedaboudit!
Go flush that crap down the toilet!

Listen, true value only comes when you take a core function (open source or proprietary), add a human interface that leverages embedded psychological triggers and wrap it all in a blanket of Tribal interaction.

At a quick example to really bring it home

A service like identi.ca is the result of the typical left-brain dominated techie-geek mindset of the open source community. Plurk tries to be different, but its interface looks like the result of a night coding by some drugged-up hippie programmer. Jaiku, well we won’t even go there.

The bottom line is in all the cases of Twitter wanna-be competitors, they’re missing critical Tribal Marketing principles. The story, the language, the Tribal Factor, the embedded social triggers — they’re all missing!

Why loyalty is king of the hill

All three of these Tribal Seduction™ principles have more impact on loyalty than you can imagine. Twitter has attracted, seduced, and gained the loyalty of a Tribe.

And that’s pretty powerful when you consider the fact that users of Twitter experience regular downtime and frustrating “Fail Whales.”

The Twitter Twibe may have many bands and clans within it. And many will test competitive services as they come along. But they’ll only leave Twitter when the rides at another amusement park are more fun and exciting.

The question you have to answer for yourself is —

how will you seduce your Tribe and turn your marketing, brand and business into an amusement park your Loyals will rave about for life?

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