Feedback Form
Home Features Mastermind Forums About Advertise Blog Network Contact Be An Author

How to Successfully Use Your Digital Footprint - Essential in a social media world

How to Successfully Use Your Digital Footprint - Essential in a social media world

Remember when you walked on the beach? You could see a trail left by those who had been there before you. Their footprints went this way and that. Some seemed to disappear into thin air. Whilst others were firm and clear in the sand.

You left your footprints on the sand too.

And others could choose to follow you, or not.

Now, in the online marketing world you also need a footprint.

It's called your 'digital footprint'.

And it's very important.

In fact, the topic of creating a digital footprint was discussed at the recent workshops I have given about using social media.

You see, when people 'see' you online, they usually only get a glimpse of you. Maybe they read an article written by you. Or maybe they see one of your blog posts. Or maybe they read comments on your wall at Facebook.

But that's not enough. They will want more... because they only have part of the puzzle.

They need to be able to follow your digital footprint to get the complete picture.

OK, so what is your digital footprint?

My definition of a 'digital footprint' is:
The combination of online information, links and interaction that will lead a prospect to your main marketing message.

Your digital footprint can include your website, blog, social network participation, PDF documents, audio recordings, online presentations, micro-blogging (such as Twitter), photo sharing, video publication and more.

Example #1

Let's look at a simple example. You publish a blog. And you have readers who receive updates when you publish each post. When your readers visit your blog and read your post, what do they do if they want to know more about you? Or if they want to find out details of your services?

In most cases they will visit your website. There will be a link on your blog to your website. That's pretty much standard practice now.

Example #2

Let's look at a more complex example. An example that reaches even more prospects. You publish your blog. But you also use Twitter and you also have a profile on a social networking website called LinkedIn.

Now when you publish your blog post you also send a Tweet mentioning the new post, with a short URL link to your blog. At the same time you are also participating in an online discussion at LinkedIn about a topic you are knowledgeable on.

Someone reading your comments at LinkedIn likes what they see. So they 'follow' you on Twitter - to see what else you might have to say or recommend. They are interested in your 'tweet' about your blog post and visit your blog. They like what they find there and
decide to visit your website for even more details on what you can offer.

See what happened?

Your expanded digital footprint in the second example (website, blog, Twitter, LinkedIn) encouraged your prospect to learn more about you at each step they took.

They followed your footprint.

It was easy for them to find out more about you.

And it was very easy for you to tell them more about you. In fact, you didn't push any information at all. They took it from you.

And the best thing is... by the time your prospect reaches your main marketing message (usually on your website) they have really gained a much stronger image of who you are and how you can help them.

Your digital footprint has done it's job of leading prospects to you.





How to Successfully Use Your Digital Footprint Essential in a social media world - To learn more about this author, visit Stuart Ayling's Website.

Like this article? Share it with your friends

Article Feedback
 Article Feedback No article feedback found.
  Leave Your Feedback
article feedback

Article Feedback
Kim Castle
With nearly two decades in the advertising and design business, with clients like Domino's Pizza, General Motors, Direct TV, Pedigree, Wolfgang Puck, Higher Octave Music, Hollywood Celebrity Products, Disney, and Paramount, as well as thousands of entrepreneurs around the world define, structure, communicate, and position their business for greater profits, BrandU(R) co-creators Kim Castle and W. Vito Montone discovered that entrepreneurs could experience the same power that big brands command for a fraction of the cost with the world's only process-based results-drive Integral approach to business creation. BrandU(R) is helping entrepreneurs grow with the power of extreme clarity from idea...to brand...to market(TM) and helping one million entrepreneurs become successful and whole so that they can make a difference in the world. Are you one of them? If you want to experience clarity all the way to the bank(TM), get started now at http://www.brandu.com. - Visit Kim Castle's Website

John Alexander
John has taught keyword research and SEO skills to small groups of business owners and Webmasters from over 80 different countries world wide since 2002. John is also the Director of Search Engine Academy ; Co-director of Training at Search Engine Workshops offering live, SEO Workshops with his partner SEO educator Robin Nobles, author of the very first comprehensive online search engine marketing courses at SEO Training Online and the SEO Workshop Resource Center.
I look forward to hearing from you! - Visit John Alexander's Website

Dave Kurlan
Dave Kurlan is the founder and CEO of Objective Management Group, Inc., the industry leader in sales assessments and sales force evaluations, and the CEO of David Kurlan & Associates, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in sales force development. Dave has been a top rated speaker at Inc. Magazine's Conference on Growing the Company, the Sales & Marketing Management Conference and the Gazelles Sales & Marketing Summit. He has been featured on radio and TV, including World Business Review with General Norman Schwarzkopf, in Inc. Magazine, Selling Power Magazine, Sales & Marketing Management Magazine and Incentive Magazine. He is the author of Mindless Selling and Baseline Selling – How to Become a Sales Superstar by Using What You Already Know about the Game of Baseball. He created and wrote STAR, a proprietary recruiting process for hiring great salespeople, and he writes Understanding the Sales Force, a popular business Blog and is a contributing author to The Death of 20th Century Selling and 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life, Volume 2. - Visit Dave Kurlan's Website


To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us.

About The Author


Stuart Ayling
(Visit Stuart's Website) Stuart Ayling runs Marketing Nous, an Australasian marketing consultancy that specialises in marketing for service businesses. He helps clients to improve their marketing tactics, attract more clients, and increase revenue. For additional marketing resources, including Stuart's popular newsletter, visit his web site at www.marketingnous.com.au

Stuart Ayling is a Platinum author on EvanCarmichael.com
About The Author

View Author Blog
View Author Blog

View Author Video
View Author Video

Free Downloads


Stuart Ayling's

Complete
List Of
Marketing
Articles

Name
Email
If you enjoyed this article, get Stuart Ayling's Complete List of Marketing Articles For FREE!

More Stuart Ayling
Using the Media to Your Advantage
Are you a Guerrilla
What do Your Customers Want you to do
Get Smart Offer a Proposal
How to Spend Your Marketing Money
How to Use a Service Delivery Model to Win More Business
The Easiest Marketing Plan Ever
Why Great Sales Skills Aint Enough
Too Little Too Late Too Busy how to avoid marketing stress
Online Marketing For Service Businesses
Free Downloads


 
 
 


Evan Elite Authors
Casey Gollan  
David Barr  
John Alexander  
Evan Elite Authors

Become An Author
Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details.
Become An Author

Evan's Latest Video
Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media
Evan's Latest Video

Business Opportunities
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"

How to Start An Online Business

Click Here To Learn More
Business Opportunities



Evan's Newsletter
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Evan`s Newsletter

Free Downloads
Canadian Leadership Icon Canadian Leadership
Start-Up Capital Estimate Icon Start-Up Capital Estimate
How To Select Keywords Icon How To Select Keywords
Boomers & Zoomers Icon Boomers & Zoomers
Take the Lead Icon Take the Lead
Free Downloads - Complete List

Entrepreneur Tools and Guides
The Top 10 GTD Times Posts - Best Posts for Productivity
The Top 10 GTD Times Posts
Best Posts for Productivity
 
Fortune Hunters - CBC Entrepreneur TV
Fortune Hunters
CBC Entrepreneur TV
 
Entrepreneur Tools and Guides

SEO For Africa
SEO For Africa
Adzo Adjovi Adéta, Togo,
Adzo Adjovi
Adéta, Togo
SEO For Africa

If I Were A Startup...
Gord Hotchkiss, $113k to $1.5 Mil in 5 years
Gord Hotchkiss
$113k to $1.5 Mil in 5 years
Razor Suleman, $143k to $5.4 Mil in 5 years
Razor Suleman
$143k to $5.4 Mil in 5 years
If I Were A Startup... - Complete List

Famous Entrepreneurs
Ingvar Kamprad, IKEA
Oprah Winfrey, Harpo
Famous Entrepreneurs - Complete List

Entrepreneur Advice
Tom Peters, In Search Of Excellence
Tom Peters
In Search Of Excellence
John Jantsch, Duct Tape Marketing
John Jantsch
Duct Tape Marketing
Entrepreneur Advice - Complete List

Popular Articles
(Premium Authors)

     What are Some Best Practices in the Area of Sabbatical Leave
By Jennifer Loftus
     Back to School Pt. 3: Work & Parenting...Can They Coexist Harmoniously?
By Jennifer Loftus
     Halloween At Your Place of Employment
By Jennifer Loftus

Have A Suggestion?
Toronto Salsa Classes / Toronto Salsa Lessons Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
Have A Suggestion?

More Evan Carmichael
More Information