How To Make Your Brand Stand Out Online? 3 Secrets from a Former VP of Brand @ Virgin Julie Cottineau

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Marina Kostina

Are you a professional establishing yourself as an expert in your field? Are you running a small business trying to build your online presence and creating buzz about your company? You need to start paying serious attention to your brand! The ability to portray the right image and communicate ideas with crystal clarity can bring customers, projects, and job opportunities your way, as opposed to you running after them. Today, I am super excited to have a special guest, a branding guru Julie Cottineau (former VP of Brand @ Virgin, current CEO and Founder of Brand Twist www.brandtwist.com), who will share her secrets on how to make your brand stand out online. Continue reading →

How to Be Persuasive Online? 3 Psychological Triggers to Transcend Distances with Words

Posted on November 14, 2012 by Marina Kostina

Michael Fishman, the word guru and business coach once said: “The business you have is a function of the words you choose to describe it, and if you change the words on a particular day, the business changes. “ Therefore, the words that you choose to communicate with your audience online are incredibly important, especially in this context, as there are no other cues to support your statements. As a result, you need to choose your words carefully!

Today, I will give you 3 strategies that are based on the psychology of language and persuasion that will help you transcend distances with words.

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How To Get Retweets? 9 Strategies to Maximize Your Online Influence

Posted on November 6, 2012 by Marina Kostina

Getting retweets is a sign that you captured the attention of your audience online, and that followers find your tweets interesting. Retweets are posts by your followers based on the original tweet posted by you or someone else. They usually start with “RT” which means retweet followed by the twitter name of the person it originated from.

Your influence increases exponentially when someone retweets your post because your original tweet will be shown on the feed of the person who retweets you, and all those that follow that person will also see your tweet. If your content is something of interest to them, the chances of them following you are very high. And as such, the ripple effect begins… Continue reading →

7 Twitter Tools to Increase, Manage and Measure Your Online Influence

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Marina Kostina

Influence is difficult to determine online. Is that lady with 25,000 Twitter followers an influencer? What about if you have 15,000 RSS subscribers, are you an influencer? Many people mistakenly think that the more followers you have, the more influence you have, and some go to extremes to even buying fans. If you want to please your ego, you can certainly do that. However, in order to have a very effective network you need to concentrate on the quality not quantity of the followers.

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How to Increase Your Visibility Through Linkedin Recommendations

Posted on August 29, 2012 by Marina Kostina

Today’s “Hot Topics Wednesdays” episode reveals the second secret of how to increase your visibility on Linkedin and create a stronger connection with your perspective employer or client. Continue reading →

The Psychology of Generation “NET”

Posted on August 8, 2012 by Marina Kostina

The term “generation Net” is often used to refer to the people who were born between 1980 and 2000. This is the largest generation in American history (100 + million). These “N-Geners” possess a “digital DNA” and their intuitive use of technology and peculiar characteristics are quickly changing the landscape of education. Continue reading →

10 Free, Must Have Web 2.0 Tools for Your Teaching & Training Needs

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Marina Kostina

Today’s post is inspired by several email messages that I’ve received from my readers who have asked me about my favorite Web 2.0 tools. It seems that many of us are really trying to break the digital divide and engage with the various free tools available on the net. However, it is not about how MANY tools we use, but the WAY we use them. This blog is devoted to 10 commonly used Web 2.0 tools, and provides some creative ideas that might spark your imagination and inspire you into adapting them for your unique environment. Enjoy! (Each image is linked to the site for your convenience). Continue reading →

The Flip Side of the Flipped Classroom

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Marina Kostina

Today’s “Hot Topics Wednesdays” episode is dedicated to the concept of a flipped classroom that is still buzzing in the world of education in general and distance learning in particular. Simply speaking, flipped classroom is a classroom in which students watch instructional videos, listen to instructional podcasts or read instructional materials for homework, and use their class time to practice what they’ve learned (aka, “flipping” the traditional activities). Continue reading →

“The Golden Climate in Distance Learning”: Increase Connection, Engagement, Performance & Enjoyment Online!

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Marina Kostina

Drum roll please… FINALLY I am excited to present to you a new book, “The Golden Climate in Distance Learning” that I co-authored with Dr. LaGanza.

If you are just considering teaching online or if you already teach online but feel stressed out and overwhelmed- this book will help you become successful in this environment. The book can help to improve your online interactions, even if you’re not a teacher. Who knows, one day you might have to teach online? Continue reading →