Getting someone to do ANYTHING these days can be a challenge. Think about how many times you’ve asked your kids to turn off the TV or clean their room? And how many times it took to get them to actually do what they were told? My guess is it probably took a bit of persuading (and maybe even some bribing) to get what you wanted.

The same can be said for getting people to do what you want online. Knowing how to use online persuasion effectively can really make a difference in your customer relationships – and how you communicate.

Lend a helping hand. Addressing customer concerns on your social media page or passing along information are great ways you can do something nice for someone online. Being helpful to others will ultimately strengthen your relationships, and chances are they’ll be more than willing to return the favour. You’d be surprised at how much of a difference having a good attitude can make.

I came across this article on Yahoo which features a YouTube video of Katy Perry on Sesame Street, singing a duet with Elmo. The headline read “Katy Perry Skit pulled from Sesame Street” and I automatically clicked on the article link to see what the issue was. I couldn’t believe that a show that (In my opinion) has been educational and morally responsible for over 40 years could actually display something that was even borderline “questionable”. I had to click on the link and see it for myself.

When you consider that just a few years back there was no such thing as YouTube, it’s amazing how useful online videos are now. YouTube, (which is the #1 video sharing site online) has hundreds of “How-To” videos where you can learn practically everything in 15 minutes or less. Combine that online power with the new iPad or smart phone and you are free to learn anywhere you go.

This weekend we had family over for Thanksgiving, and rather than doing the traditional type of turkey this year, we thought we would change things up a bit. We have a wood smoker from Traeger that we use for ribs and fish, but I wondered if anyone has ever tried smoking a turkey. Sure enough there were several websites and YouTube videos all about the subject. After a few forum posts and videos I was set to start the process.

Just a few days ago the world stood by and watched as 33 trapped Chilean miners were lifted from more than 600m below the earth. Do you think the world would have reacted with such interest and support had it not been for Social Media or the web? Information about the accident had been read and watched by millions almost instantly through Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. The amount of information that is now being created and submitted online is staggering. There are now over 2000 videos about the mining disaster on YouTube and some have over 300,000 hits. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR8mTntp5Jw

In the world of Twitter you learn to do three things. Tweet fast, tweet short and tweet often. Everyone who’s on Twitter wants their information fast. For those of you who aren’t on this social network yet, you should sign up today! It’s like having your own information drive-thru that only offers the stuff you [...]

Person of the Year. That’s quite a prestigious title. Being the 2nd youngest person ever to receive it? That’s pretty impressive. Since 1927, Time Magazine has selected a person of the year who has in some way made a significant impact on the world. Martin Luther King Jr., Bono and Barak Obama have all received [...]