social media marketing for small business Get Your Vision Board Iphone/Ipod App and start moving toward your dreams today! Books by this Author 20 Ways To Boost Your Online Credibility Without credibility, believability and trust, your online business is doomed. Ebook is transcript from radio show covering 20 ways to boost you online credibility.   Feature Articles Compassionate Business in Action... Fast Track Your Journey to Home Business Succ... Simplify Your Holidays,Stuffing is for TURKEY... Money Can Be Made on the Web... How To Use The Socratic Method To Create And ... How Does A Business Goddess Make Decisions?... Rebrand Your Company to Boost Your Bottom Lin... Cinnamon Rolls, Breast Cancer and Your Busine... Click here for more >>

Expanding upon an idea I got from a friend, I now host a free weekly networking and brainstorming teleconerence for my clients and ezine subscribers. The calls are structured to encourage caller/group members to give each other feedback. They are also structured to allow ample opportunity for networking.

While these calls were started partly out of frustration with email filters... and the need to stay in touch with subscribers and clients, they have had some surprising results. In fact, once you see the preliminary, results you might want to think of doing something similar with your subscribers.

First, let's look at how the calls are structured. Each week prior to the call, I ask list members to submit their website url for possible review. We pick 3-4 sites a week and I send out an email to all who have signed up through my autoresponder asking them to review the site and make notes prior to the call.

The feedback provided from seasoned group members is phenomenal and many callers have completely restructured their websites following one of these calls. The feedback provided is the stuff that you wish your website visitors would provide you, but that they won't. It's feedback on: what doesn't feel right about the site; where does the copy not "flow," and how could the site be improved. Numerous suggestions are offered based upon group members' personal experiences.

After the website reviews, we answer questions that were emailed in by group members during the week. I say we, because even though the questions are sent in to me, I toss them out to the group after giving my opinion. With members of the group who have been online since the early 90's, the tips and information shared is like nothing you've ever seen before. So many resources are shared, and concepts clarified that it feels like you're listening in on a high level think tank.

After the Q&A, dealing with the questions that were emailed in, I generally open it up to questions that weren't emailed in. This continues the insights, tips and resource sharing until it's time to end the call. These are calls originally scheduled for 1 hour that have often gone over 2 hours! And the time was filled with stuff any serious webmaster/internet marketer would not want to miss.

The other aspect of the calls is the networking. I actually encourage callers to share their website urls and a little about their businesses. The intent is to allow my clients and subscribers to connect with others that they might be able to someday work on projects with. Frequently, phone numbers or email addresses are exchanged right on the recorded phone calls.

Yes, I announce at the beginning of each networking and brainstorming call that it is being recorded. Some day I will turn this "content" into a product in addition to archeiving it in a "members-only area." So I am actually generating a product as I chat with my subscribers. Isn't that great.

Why am I sharing this with you? Well, if you are an ezine publisher, maybe it's something you'd like to try. We all have communities built around our websites, our ezines and perhaps our products. Group phone calls are nothing new, but using them as a tool, just for connecting with your subscribers is. It allows you to understand and be understood by you audience like nothing else short of an actually face-to-face meeting can accomplish.

Don't consider doing these networking calls instead of your ezine - consider doing them along with your ezine. You can even use the calls/ezine to cross-promote each other...thereby increasing interactivity on both.

Believe it or not, hosting these calls is no more difficult than putting out an ezine. That's because your caller provide the content. You only need to provide a bridge line, moderation, and maybe arrange to have the calls recorded. I use the service provided by good friend Gary Knuckles at: http:// E-teleconferencing.com I have a dedicated 24/7 bridge line that I use for these calls, teleseminars, and small group sessions with clients.

I've just shared with you another networking, brainstorming and marketing tools that far surpasses any I have tried before. Even though it's a tool older than the internet, I consider it very cutting edge. Give it a try and you will see why. The short-term results have totally amazed me. I can only begin to imagine the longterm benefits accrued to everyone who joins these calls.