Sometimes too many options isn't a good thing...

As this network continues to develop we're continually look for ways to provide Members with the best posssible ways to network and communicate without spreading Members time or our resources too thin.

The "Group" feature is very similar to the "Forum" feature. Perhaps in many ways better as it allows for more focused converstaions and much more member control.

Perhaps the biggest hindrance with having both is that it spreads our small Member base out too thin. Secondly, the Forums are a bit slow and cumbersome to use as compared to the rest of the network while taking more than five times the resources to manage.

We all hate change, but it might be much easier now with a choice rather than being forced to later.

For those that are active on the Forums and haven't used the Groups, please take a moment to view these two example to see how Groups might be a better way for you to invest your time and combine more Member talent, resources, and feedback here at CattleGrower.com

Lowline Angus Interest Group
http://www.cattlegrower.com/group/7/

Women on the Ranch
http://www.cattlegrower.com/group/12/

After reviewing how both applications serve basically the same purpose, and knowing that we would certainly allow plenty of time for those posting on Forums to migrate to their own new or existing Groups, please take a moment to vote on my Poll to help decide which direction we go from here.

Use this link to vote and/or provide any feedback:
http://www.cattlegrower.com/CheyenneOutlaw/polls/47/

Thank you!

Note: To receive instant notice on new Blog posts be sure and use the "subscribe" link under my picture while logged in.

1. To Connect with Other Ranchers

Blogging brings like-minded people together. Starting a blog can help you find those people and share your opinions and thoughts. Blogging helps establish acquaintances, which turn in to contacts that develop in to more more business opportunities.

2. To Establish Yourself as an Expert

Blogs are wonderful tools to help ranchers establish themselves as experts in a field or topic. We all have our own strengths and weaknesses.

By sharing things you are knowledgable about you'll attract others seeking that information - Who in turn may be inclined to learn more about you, what you do, and share this information with others. The end result is more people that know more about you and better business opportunities as your reward.

3. To Market or Promote Something

When done correctly, blogging is a powerful tool to help you sell. Without question, the biggest hesitation most have when buying is that they do not know much about who they are buying from. Through blogs this barrier will diminish as others learn more about you and your operation.

4. To Have Fun and be Creative

Many start a blog simply for fun. Perhaps a blogger is a fan of a particular breed of cattle and wants to share that passion. One of the most important keys to successful blogging is having a passion about your blog's topic, so you can write prolifically about it. Some of the best and most interesting blogs started out as blogs that were written just for fun and to give the blogger a creative outlet.

5. Blogs are Search Engine Friendly

By nature, the fresh content in a blog, coupled with being a part of a larger network such as CattleGrower.com, make blogs search engine friendly.

As others search on various topics related to what you have to share, the chances of them finding your post on a larger network such as CattleGrower.com are far greater than any smaller individual web site.

As you continue to actively post over time your content will continue to build, grow, and work for you.

6. Because it is Easy

A Blog is nothing more than a collection of writing such as mine here. Easy enough to do, with many potential rewards over time.

Members: To post on your Blog at CattleGrower.com simply log in and select "Blog" from the "My Apps" icon on the top menu bar.

The latest addition to CattleGrower.com is a "Chat" Application.

This application is a great way to interact with others and develop new and closer connections.

There are two ways to utilize Chat - Both of which you must be logged in to experience;

1. On the bottom right of your screen, you will see those of your connections who are online and you can privately chat with them there.

2. If more than one of your contacts are online and you want to bring the conversation together, each would need to select "Chat" from the "My Apps" drop down on the top menu bar to meet in a larger chat room.

Note: If you don't want to be contacted for chat while online, use the icon on the bottom right of the screen and select "offline".

Please feel free to post any questions, or feedback regarding this application below (must be logged in).

Ever wonder who did the best job of marketing last year?

Well before I tell you, it shouldn’t be a real stretch to come up with it. In fact most of you probably won’t guess who it is, and most of you will not recognize his name, but you will know who hired him.

To start this off, you have to know that the consensus was made by a national group study looking over all the major companies and players in the industry. The individual that is the top marketer did so by making the entire “social marketing” field his own tool.

He built up his marketing presence the same way that you and I can build up our marketing presence online; using "social marketing" tools like CattleGrower.com.

Who Is He?

Our winning marketer’s name is Chris Hughes. Recognize him? I didn’t think so. Maybe you would recognize the company he co-founded . . . Facebook.com. But that is not how he won this award. This marketing savvy actually was built off of the knowledge of Facebook and then used by all the other Web 2.0 tools to rally millions of others.

The quest was a campaign. A particular Presidential Campaign. Okay, now you know. The historic victory of president elect Barak Obama is the largest event of 2008, and perhaps of the century. Mr. Obama ran such a successful campaign because he relied on connecting with people by any means possible. The campaign relied heavily on “social media” outlets to reach out to potential voters, increase their knowledge of Mr. Obama and rally their votes.

Chris Hughes was at the heart of that campaign.

"Social Marketing" Creates "Grass-roots"

Chris took his intimate knowledge of social media to create My.BarackObama.com, The Obama’s campaign's official online social networking website.

They mobilized supporters and organized communities. Registering 1.5 million volunteers through myBarackObama.com and raising $600 million from 3 million people. 

How Can This Affect Your Ranching Operation?

These tools used to elect the nation’s first African-American President can be used to market you as well. Done on the right scale, anything is possible.

You might also re-call that Obama had millions left over after running his successful campaign. Not only is social networking highly effective when done right, but its cheap. For most, all that's really needed is a connection to the Internet, a desire to reach out to others, and a nominal investment of time.

There are not many ranchers involved in this form of networking - But mark my words, it won't be long. While CattleGrower.com is the first professional online social community that brings all types of livestock producers together, many others will be soon to follow.

Get your toe in the water now and become a Charter Member of CattleGrower.com.com if you haven't already. It is a pleasant and non-intimidating community where there is much to learn from others and many ways to create exposure.

If your already a Member here, congratulations! But know that you'll only get from giving. While logged in use the "My Apps" icon on the top menu bar to post a video, create a Blog like this one, add an event, or post a classified.

Most important... reach out to others here and invite your friends to join. As your friends invite their friends to join, and you connect with them, you'll grow your sphere of influence fast.

Over time it will pay off and you and your business will be far better for it.

Members: To receive instant email notice on future Blog posts of mine please use the "subscribe" link underneath my picture.

It's been said that everyone in this world is connected through just six relationships (six degrees of separation).

For example... you know someone, who knows someone, who knows someone, etc., and through just six relationships we all know each other.

The "Friend Explorer" is a powerful application available to you at CattleGrower.com that was built on this idea and will help you to rapidly increase your networking reach, build your sphere of influence, and help you to realize more friendships and business contacts.

The application does several things for you:

1. It will randomly select 20 people, who are friends of your friends, that you might know.From there you can discover more about them, send them a message, or request they add you to their contacts.

It is important to note that the quality of recommendations the program makes is only as good as your initial list of contacts. So, you might want to consider removing people from your contact list who you haven't really connected with first.

To see your friend/contact recommendations, use the drop down on the "My Apps" icon and select "Friend Explorer" (you must be logged in to do this).

2. The Friend Explorer will search your Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, AOL, and any email list file you might have to find people you already know here at CattleGrower.com.

After accessing your Friend Explorer using the instructions in #1, simply select the "Find Friends" tab to use this feature.

3. While logged in, when you select the "What's New" icon a few people will be recommended to you that you may know on the bottom right of your screen. Again, these recommendations come from friends/contacts of those you are already connected with.

It is worth repeating that the quality of contact/friend recommendations the system makes for you is only as good as your initial contacts are to begin with and you might want to first consider removing anyone from your contact list who you really haven't connected with.

Not to worry... If you remove someone from your contact list, or deny any friendship/contact requests, the other person does not receive any notice of this. Your simply removed quietly on their end.

Separately, if you haven't had a chance to comment on the Poll about how your best enjoying CattleGrower.com, or if you have but would like to offer new comments, it would be appreciated.

Please feel free to use the comment section on this poll (while logged in) to share any successes you may have realized at CattleGrower.com - Here is the link:

http://www.cattlegrower.com/CheyenneOutlaw/polls/11/

To receive immediate notice of new Blog posts, please use the "subscribe" link below my picture while logged in.