Social media is confusing for many, but for people interested in politics it is nearly essential.

After hearing presentations at the Defending the American Dream Summit (#DAD09 on twitter) about social media and it’s significance, I continue to be convinced that if you’re in business or politics, by NOT jumping on the social media bandwagon (more like a freight train at this point), you’re missing out on the incredible potential for networking as well as getting your message and brand out there!

Travis
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Hello All,

This weekend, my wife and I are in Washington D.C. to help with the grassroots efforts of regular, every day patriots here in D.C. for the weekend for the “Defending the American Dream Summit” put on by the Americans for Prosperity Foundation.

What is it about? Lower taxes, limited government, conservative politics and FREEDOM! Continue to come back to the blog for regular updates, if interested!

Travis
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Hey guys,

I’m just getting used to my new Camtasia software for the Mac (just came out, check it out at techsmith.com).  So, for my first project I decided to talk about something I love to make it easier on myself for developing the script/content and also to make it as enjoyable as possible.  Camtasia already makes the process really simple so you can pump out all kinds of professional looking content w/out being a professional.

Anyway, this is not a sales letter/promotion for Camtasia, by the way.  I just like their stuff.

Enjoy this short vid of me explaining why I love tweetdeck!

God bless!

Travis
Follow Travis on Twitter

Hey everybody,

Long time, no blog.  Anyway, here I am making a quick note about how twitter functions as a sounding board to many people.  Now, as I don’t recommend making use of twitter as a sounding board, sometimes this is the best way to engage people.

People, on a general basis and in my experience, have responded to me more often when I’m honest and open about what’s happening in my world.  For instance, when I got my wife flowers and announced my love for her via twitter, I got a lot of responses from women telling me that I did the right thing (Ok, I didn’t put that tweet up just to get pats on the back from women who follow me).

Also, when I discuss how I really feel about an issue and decide to share it on twitter, this is when, even though many may disagree, I really start to wake up my following and develop conversations.  This is the point of twitter; developing conversations, relationships, friendships, community and honest communication while providing fascinating content (at least that is my opinion).

So, use twitter as a sounding board (not all the time because you want to be a resource for people as well) and show people you’re human, not some robot who only tweets during meals to update someone on how great the cheerios may taste this morning.

Not necessarily because “everyone’s doing it.”  See, you thought that was going to be the no-brainer answer.

Social media matters because it’s the best way for most people to connect with each other.  If you are shy in person, you’re generally a bold titan online.  If you have trouble connecting and communicating with people, you generally become more adept at introducing your feelings while in the comfort of your own home.  If you can’t seem to find an old friend’s number, you can easily find their contact info on Facebook.  My wife and I invited a handful of our friends via Facebook (here come the “you insensitive, unthoughtful, cheapskate” comments) to our wedding.

Social media is one of the main ways we network today.  The long chats on cell phones have been replaced by wall postings about boyfriends, girlfriends, life, congratulations, “happy b-days,” etc.  Celebrity gossip in magazines has been replaced by celebrities letting the world know about their breakup via a “tweet.”  Also, breaking news is divulged on twitter as much now as on CNN.

It’s truly amazing that social media is starting to evolve into a system that you can basically run all your interests, relationships, schedules, iPhone apps, and life updates through.

So, when you mock your friend about being on twitter (like many of my friends are doing now, the same ones who were mocking me in 2005 when I got on Facebook, all of which have Facebook profiles now), understand that it matters not because he or she is jumping on the social media bandwagon, but because that person may desire the ability to relate to his or her long lost friend in a more honest and streamlined fashion, something he or she wouldn’t have been able to do by foregoing the opportunity to join one of the fastest growing networks on the internet.

This is the thing about social media, people of all personality types can connect, network and converse within a sphere of their own comfort level, that’s why social media matters!  People who have shining personalities, amazing experience and character, unknown inner beauty and integrity are given the opportunity to be themselves within the protection of their comfort zones.

By no means am I encouraging hermitism (I think I just made up a word, maybe it’ll go viral), what I am saying is that we have unlocked the opportunity to see the best in a lot of people who would have normally withdrawn themselves from our conversations based on the risk of the pain associated with relationships.  That’s why social media matters, and that’s why it’s so important to me!

The hidden and untapped potential in each of us needs to find the light of day, and if that means that you have to join twitter and grow your network to ensure the breaking of the proverbial social ice, by all means, join the community, we’re glad you’re here!

God bless,

Travis Fitzwater
Follow Travis on twitter

Many moons ago I asked this very question, why do people use Facebook and Twitter to get traffic?  I had the problem because I was wondering how in the world people would/could use these platforms successfully to get a steady flow of traffic to their blogs while maintaining friendships and professional relationships.

This question was answered on a personal level as I began to see how it affected my blog traffic, giving me a steady flow of new and return visitors to my site (stats to follow).

But first, I want to differentiate the two.  Or, even better, you can go to this article at Twitip to get a great run down on the differences between the two, and as they explain in much better detail and more thoroughly than I ever could or would, you should go there and skim it real quick to get a good grasp on the differences.

So, why do I use Facebook and Twitter so much to get traffic?  This is the down low, the bottom line, the proverbial nitty gritty – I get nearly 20% (19.16% to be exact) of my blog traffic from Facebook and 13% (13.08% exactly) of my blog traffic from Twitter.  That’s why I use these tools, because nearly one-third (1/3) of my traffic comes from these sources.

Not only do they allow me to more effectively network with my friends, colleagues and even MCHammer (both MCHammer and I will follow you if you follow us, find MC Hammer here and follow me here), but it allows me to easily update my status wherever I am.

Fortunately for me, I’ve figured out from smarter people how to use the tools effectively and efficiently.  As an internet marketer and business owner, you have to leverage your time and use it wisely.

This is what I did to ensure that my accounts were working together:

First, I actually signed up for a Twitter account.  I’ve had my Facebook account for years, but only under a year ago did I sign up for Twitter.

Second, I began following people I knew and commenting here and there on my status as well as commented on others’ statuses (was that an awkward sentence?).

Third, I had to learn and educate myself on what all the Twitter lingo meant.  It took me a while to figure out how to respond to people (using the @ tool), send direct messages (DM), and it took me a long time to figure out what a ReTweet (RT) was and why it was so important.

Fourth, I integrated my Twitter account with my blog and Facebook.  So, now every time I create a blog post a notice goes to my Twitter account and automatically updates my Twitter status (you can do the same thing by checking out this tool, TweetMyBlog).  Then, since I use the Twitter application on Facebook (go here to use it yourself), every time I update my Twitter account, my Facebook profile automatically picks up the update and applies it to my Facebook status (this stuff has added a lot of traffic to my site.

Considering I have nearly 500 friends on Facebook and over 500 followers on Twitter (as of 02/05/09 @ 11:15 a.m. CST), in an instant, over 1,000 people are informed of a new blog post or any new updates on what’s going on in my life.  THAT’S THE POWER OF FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

Why I use Facebook and Twitter to get traffic is very simple, it’s incredibly easy to integrate into my blog and social media outlets as well as it provides me the opportunity to be in contact with thousands of people in almost an instant.  Pretty sweet, huh?  You should try this!

God bless,

Travis Fitzwater
Follow Travis on Twitter

“Whatever the mind can CONCEIVE and BELIEVE, it can ACHIEVE.” -Alexander Graham Bell

You’ve successfully subscribed to my new, awesome and FREE TravisFitzwater.com newsletter, THANKS!  I hope it becomes a helpful resource for you in your business or personal life.  Let me know if there is something you want me to discuss and maybe I’ll use your suggestion!

God bless,

Travis Fitzwater
Follow me on Twitter

Hey everyone,

Travis here.  I just wanted to write a quick welcome to my new blog.  Here you will begin to find all of the info I’ve used to become an Online Business and Marketing Coach.

I am going to talk solely on the things I’ve done, the systems I’ve used, and the methods I’ve come across that have allowed me to begin making money online.  All the while, I’m going to show you how to enjoy it!

If you like social media, there will be a lot of that.  If you like videos, I make tons of them.  If you like hearing from a guy who likes what he’s doing and is on pace to live his dream of working from home (or working from wherever my wife and I may be in the world), come join the par-tay!

So, let the fun begin.  Also, if you get a chance, make a comment on what you’d like to see or hear about on here.  Friend me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, and check out my YouTube channel.  I think you will like it –> Find the links to all of these on my blog roll to the right.

May God bless you,

Travis Fitzwater