Module 3 | Tuning In
The real power in New Media comes from your ability to listen. In this module you’re going to learn how to use the tools to tune in to the conversations online. Tuning in is the key to getting attention. Watch this video to learn more about tuning in as a strategy for getting attention.
New Media Blueprint: Tuning In from Real-TechGuy on Vimeo.
Keywords
Keywords are the essence to our strategy online. You have to know what your target audience is searching for n order to listen to their conversations, right? You should be using keywords to search for conversation in your area.
We don’t have enough time in this course to teach you everything about keyword research, that would be a course all by itself. The point I want to drive home is that your marketing online needs to be centered around keywords. To learn some more about keyword research watch this video.
New Media Blueprint: Keyword Research from Real-TechGuy on Vimeo.
Action:
After watching the keyword video:
- Research 3 keywords for your niche
- Add those Keywords to a notepad
RSS
RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication.” This is the basis for the new web. RSS is used for listening as well as syndicating your content, so we’ll be using this quite a bit.
The main thing you need to know about RSS is how to get a feed, watch the RSS Video on this playlist.
Google Reader
Google Reader will be our main command center for listening in. Basically the Google Reader (GReader) will catch all the RSS feeds that we set up for tuning in to the conversation. This will save you time as well as keeping you in the loop of what’s going on. Watch the GReader videos on this playlist.
Action:
- Log in to your Google Reader
- Visit http://www.Real-TechGuy.com
- Find the RSS button (hint: it’s in the upper right hand corner of this page)
- Click on the RSS button
- Subscribe to the Real-TechGuy feed
Google Alerts
Google alerts is another great tool for tuning in. Basically, using Google Alerts you can set up a full time search based on your keywords. This is a way to keep an eye on everything new on the web without having to repeat the work of searching for it. The best part is that it integrates with your GReader to deliver the search results in one place. To learn how to use Google Alerts, watch this video.
New Media Blueprint: Setting Up Feeds from Real-TechGuy on Vimeo.
Action:
- Get your top 3 keywords from the “action” steps under the keywords section above
- Set up a comprehensive Google Alert for each word
- Send the results to your Google Reader