entertainment industry coach question 743:How can you get yourself known on the web, without seeming annoying or cheesy?

Sometimes the way y'all phrase your questions, cracks me up! Let me address the later part of that question since it's what's helping me fill my laugh quota for today...

If you are not annoying or cheesy, you will not be perceived that way. I'm going to go out on a limb, and guess that you're neither of those. Because if you were, you wouldn't recognize the annoyances and cheesiness of others, and therefore, you wouldn't recognize the need to NOT be like them. So, go easy on yourself, and don't do anything that you find annoying or cheesy.

Ways to get yourself noticed on the web that are professional, effective and a smart way to market:

1. Create a website that honestly represents what you do professionally, makes it easy for people to find the information on you that they want, and showcases your best attributes.

*NOTE: if you are not website building savvy, and will spend a lot of time learning as you build, I suggest what my mentor Loral Langemeier says, "Strengthen your strengths, pay for your weaknesses." It's better to spend money on a professional web designer, so you can spend YOUR time generating money with your professional strengths. I recommend Kathy Hoffman athttp://www.hoffmansites.com. Tell her you're my client. She's very reasonable and very reliable.

2. Get on Social Networking Sites like: Facebook, Twitter, Linked in. Make informative or inquisitive posts on people's walls.

For example: a camera operator needed an AC. He posted his request on my wall and on my Greenlight Coach Group wall, and found his AC through my friends network. (hint, hint, if you're reading this you should be friend requesting me on FB, joining my fan page, LinkingIn with me, and following me on Twitter.

3. Write an informative blog or create a podcast.

4. Post videos of yourself (demonstrating /teaching/ working) on YouTube. No dancing to a montage of music from the 80's... that's cheesy (the only exception is: if you're a professional dancer).

5. Post informative comments AND success stories on other people's blogs, like this one! Or www.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com. This gets you recognized as an expert in your field, in a community of like-minded people.

If you have more detailed questions about any of the above, post it on my comments section and I'll answer it as a separate question.

To stay current on The Greenlight Coach's speaking engagements, recommendations, and work success articles, sign up for her free newsletter at the top of the page and get a complimentary 1-hour MP3 on The 5 Fastest Ways to Get Work In Entertainment

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entertainment industry coach question 715: I've been in the biz for 35 yrs how can you coach when every thing's changed?

I imagine in your 35 years in the business you've seen many periods of change, including multiple strikes, runaway production, ever-changing technology. With all of these changes how can I not coach? You see, the new people breaking in, haven't been through what you have, so they are going after their careers like "this is the way it is." For them, I coach them on the basic business tools to grow their business that EVERYBODY needs, no matter the climate or changes of the industry.

I do my best to keep up with the changes by speaking to Centers of Influence in the Industry and communicating what I'm hearing and how you can prepare for changes. For people like you, who've been in the industry a long time, I must (pardon the expression) "teach old dogs new tricks." Most people don't like change and resist it too long, hoping that the "money-spenders" will come to their senses and keep things as they were. By the time they realize that's not going to happen, a new crop of ____________(insert your classification) have jumped on the "change" bandwagon, and are getting hired on the jobs that used to be yours.

So I coach people who want to embrace the changes, move with them, and keep working. I also coach people who are starting from right now, empowering them with tools that will help them through future changes which they will encounter. As a coach, I change with the times too. Do you think a decade ago I was coaching clients to market themselves with social media? No. The people who are resisting the change, "fighting joining Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, & YouTube" are losing out on massive opportunities and losing work because of it!

If you are resisting change, and frustrated that things aren't what they used to be, I suggest you change your attitude and start looking for ways to be a part of the change.

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For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

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entertainment industry coach question 710: Have people gotten jobs using LinkedIn?

According to Lewis Howes who wrote the book LinkedWorking, absolutely! No longer is LinkedIn considered an "online resume" site, it is a serious networking site. But I'm not the expert, Lewis is. So I'll be interviewing him this week and will share the interview with all of you. Coming from the Sports World, Lewis started out on LinkedIn, networking with sports professionals, and in a short time has become one of Details Magazine's

5 INTERNET GURUS WHOCAN MAKE YOU RICH
in other words, he's gotten very comfortable with speaking to all industries on how LinkedIn can help them.

Feel free to send me your questions in regards to LinkedIn and the Entertainment Industry!

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For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

To stay current on The Greenlight Coach's speaking engagements, recommendations, and work success articles, sign up for her free newsletter at the top of the page and get a great bonus 1-hour MP3 on creating powerful business partnerships when you do!

entertainment industry coach question 647: How do I react when 2 out of 80 calls I make per day are returned?

The question continued: "I've been in Europe for a few years where people call you back immediately. When I returned to the states, I found that people prefer to use email or social media. This is very impersonal to me. What do you recommend?"

I recommend giving the people what they want. A year ago, I was struggling to get people in our industry to set up a Facebook page. Now it's how people get to know each other. You can't fight the trends. I knew it was coming, so I teach people about it. I'm actually spending my holiday getting up to speed on LinkedIn after seeing a great young speaker talk about the networking benefits on it. I always thought it was basically an online resume. I was so wrong.

So embrace the trends, and you can still get very personal with people via social media. Everything ebbs and flows. Eventually people will get tired of spending so much time at their computer and want to have human contact again or hear a friendly voice on the phone. But until then, give the people what they want. And as far as those 2 people who call you back... THEY are your "people." They are like-minded and enjoy phone contact. So those are the people who you deepen relationships with in your preferred style. The rest will be contacts whom you're not as close with, but still contribute to your career path.

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For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

To stay current on The Greenlight Coach's speaking engagements, recommendations, and work success articles, sign up for her free newsletter at the top of the page and get a great bonus 1-hour MP3 on creating powerful business partnerships when you do!

entertainment industry coach question 587:I'm just wondering what you think about actors being on linked in? something I need to do?

It can't hurt to be on LinkedIn, but so far, it's more the "suit" version of social media, whereas Twitter is for Flip flops and Facebook is a Gap sundress that can be dressed up or down. I'm on it, I'm also on Plaxo, but so far the only thing that has come out of LinkedIn is my ex boyfriend finding me and turning my life upside down for about a month ;-)

To really create relationships go with Facebook, set up a profile on LinkedIn just in case someone on it is looking for you, but I wouldn't spend too much valuable time on it, unless you learn of some new way to use it that is of value to freelancers. One thing you can do if you're on it, is join some of the entertainment industry groups and comment on the conversations. Again, that is a strategy used in the business world, I don't use it because it's not where I choose to focus my time. IF their were three of me (not as in multiple personalities but more like Multiplicity), I'd have one of my "me's" commenting on blogs all day long.

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For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visit www.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

To stay current on The Greenlight Coach's speaking engagements, recommendations, and work success articles, sign up for her free newsletter at the top of the page and get a great bonus 1-hour MP3 on creating powerful business partnerships when you do!

entertainment industry coach Question 486:I'm brainstorming ways to meet more people in the business in NYC, since I don't live in LA. Help

First you have to research the NYC market. Who lives there? Who works there? You can start by seeing if the NY Union branch offices have directories. Then research the local filmmaking organizations like IFP.org. They will have info on working NY residents. Once you have a target list of New Yorkers...

1. Social media: You have to decide what level of contact you want. LinkedIn is the more professional network you may find more executives to connect with there. Facebook is where the relationships are really happening in our industry (for now).

To make the most of social networking, you want to target the specific people whom you want to get to know. Instead of sending a lone "friend request," FB gives you the option to send a message with your request. Tell them a bit of your story; that you're a screenwriter in New York and would like to follow his/her posts to stay up to date on his/her work.

Once you are friends you can see the personal side. Does this person have kids? A sports passion? A hobby like photography? Anything you can connect to and comment on. That's how people get to know you. If they ask questions, answer them. If you are a Rangers fan and they are an Islanders fan stay away!!! Kidding... sort of.

2. Get mentors! I've written about this in my blog before so check the archives. Once you've built up your social network and know the people you have commonalities with and they would know who you are from Facebook (etc.), reach out for a business advice and guidance mentorship.

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

To stay current on The Greenlight Coach's speaking engagements, recommendations, and work success articles, sign up for her free newsletter at the top of the page and get a great bonus 1-hour MP3 on creating powerful business partnerships when you do!

Question 15: How can you get yourself known on the web, without seeming annoying or cheesy?

Sometimes the way y'all phrase your questions, cracks me up!  Let me address the later part of that question since it's what's helping me fill my laugh quota for today...

If you are not annoying or cheesy, you will not be perceived that way.  I'm going to go out on a limb, and guess that you're neither of those.  Because if you were, you wouldn't recognize the annoyances and cheesiness of others, and therefore, you wouldn't recognize the need to NOT be like them.  So, go easy on yourself, and don't do anything that you find annoying or cheesy.  

Ways to get yourself noticed on the web that are professional, effective and a smart way to market:

1. Create a website that honestly represents what you do professionally, makes it easy for people to find the information on you that they want, and showcases your best attributes.

*NOTE: if you are not website building savvy, and will spend a lot of time learning as you build, I suggest what my mentor Loral Langemeier says, "Strengthen your strengths, pay for your weaknesses."  It's better to spend money on a professional web designer, so you can spend YOUR time generating money with your professional strengths.  I recommend Kathy Hoffman at http://www.hoffmansites.com.   Tell her you're my client.  She's very reasonable and very reliable.

2. Get on Social Networking Sites like: Facebook, Twitter, Linked in, Plaxo, etc. For me, Facebook is the priority (this week). Make informative or inquisitive posts on people's walls. 

For example: a camera operator needed an AC.  He posted his request on my wall and on my Greenlight Coach Group wall, and found his AC through my friends network.  (hint, hint, if you're reading this you should be friend requesting me on FB, joining The Greenlight Coach Group, and following me on Twitter.  

3. Write an informative blog or create a podcast.

4. Post videos of yourself (demonstrating /teaching/ working) on YouTube.  No dancing to a montage of music from the 80's... that's cheesy (the only exception is: if you're a professional dancer). 

5. Post informative comments AND success stories on other people's blogs, like this one!  Or www.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com.  This gets you recognized as an expert in your field, in a community of like-minded people. 

If you have more detailed questions about any of the above, post it on my comments section and I'll answer it as a separate question. 

For more tips and articles by The Greenlight Coach, visit www.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com