I haven’t blogged since January 21st – so, it is safe to say it has been awhile. What have I been up to is everything BUT blogging. I have developed more sites and have done more consulting which I am always open just contact me.

There was a period of time when I did nothing but development and consulting. It was fun and built up a strong network but now it is time to get to the ‘next level’. While I am still accepting FREE Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Social Media Marketing (SMM) consultant jobs in respect to referrals to LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/in/ndriver).

I do plan on doing more with this blog – giving updates / tips and tricks / tutorials. In the meantime feel free to connect with me via twitter (@drivenmg) and let’s build!

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Why I haven’t Blogged

It has been quite some time since my last post. Since then I’ve been trying out The Google Wave and so far not too impressed with it. The possibilities I am but as it is still in “PREVIEW” stage still a downer. Too buggy.

Besides that I soft launched an encouragement site at MSSG.ME – this has taken off like crazy. I am surprised daily by the weekly emails I get regarding how people need to be uplifted and encouraged, on a daily basis. I say “soft launched” because I’m still developing it more.

I bought MSSG.ME a year ago for another purpose – a business I wanted to really start but since everything else in life has taken over and the domain was wasting away I felt like something needed to be done.

I’m always working with the ever-so-talented Sky 7th who amazes me with his lyrics. Trying to get a launch date of Christmas/New Years seems to be quite difficult but the movement never stops. We are wrapping up the editing of his second video off “Trouble On The Way” {which is free for download}. This following month we will be shooting MORE video’s which are still in development but I will say this. Get ready.

On the flip side I am working on a directory site that will blow some keywords out of the water. I will have about 75% up by Thanksgiving in time for Christmas shopping {online}. More on this as I develop it. I had to take a few days off after creating close to 1,150 pages…yeah, it’s like that.

While 2009 has been great the things that are set in motion for 2010 will be simply  AMAZING!

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Quick Status Update

Every year this time around I write a year in review – what I learned to what I accomplished by my birthday. So, it should be no surprise as to what this post is truly about. I got into the marketing game late in life but an early adapter when it comes to social media marketing. This year has proved just that taking on new clients who were great to work with and knew about my personal family and education plans had to come first.

Giving a client a head’s up I was able to be more productive and reach above and beyond expectations. In this I’ve found how other businesses out there have over-promised and under-delivered. If you are new to the business world it is suppose to be the other way around. Surprisingly I’ve seen this everything from local government to billion dollar companies.  How does this happen? Communications and honesty.

Another thing I’ve seen this year is just how an impact social media truly is. You can look over my blog and see how numerous companies have done some stupid things to making an ‘extra’ 3 million from tweeting alone. Yet…some people and businesses just.don’t.get.it – I have personally tried to help but alas talking to deaf ears. So, instead of becoming early adapters they ‘join the crowd’ and their voice get’s lost in the shuffle. In business no matter what field you’re in be on top of social media.

While before “googling” your name / brand / service was an “ok” way to judge your online market. The rules have changed. It’s time to get on top of this before it’s too late because in reality it can be too late.

The biggest part of the last 12 months have been more acquainted with my family. While my side work took a lot of time out of my schedule I’ve been able to cut it down – just by being honest with various clients and my own personal projects. Family should always be #1 when it comes between them and work. In this I give my wife A LOT of praise. The physical essance of patience and support. Along with that is my church family and pastor. They have truly come through in my time of need when I couldn’t tell where “up” really was. Get back to what’s important in life and everything else will fall in line PERIOD!

Where to go from here? Well, I got a lot of things planned and I have a things I want to test out so it should be rather interesting. In the meantime get at me on twitter at @drivenmg – keep an eye out because…well, I’m excited and hope to share it all with you.

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29 Years Later

Last week was an extremely long week – Katie was co-organizer for our church’s VBS (Vacation Bible School). It was her first and proved to be hugely successful with an average of over 140 children daily and saving over 40 of them. She was busy on that while I worked non-stop for my night class that I only have a few more weeks at.

I say all that to say this. Where do you put our time and effort in? Where do you try to be great in and how do you go about it?

As you know we have a 4 year old little man. He’s a awesome little guy and we are raising him the best we can. In the end I want him to be successful and happy. If he decides to be a hippy but happy. Then I’m good. If he decides to make millions and is happy. Then I’m good. In the end I want him to have three things in life:

1) A personal relationship with Jesus – I know I don’t speak A LOT about this on the blog because I try to steer from it since I try to focus on marketing in social media.

2) A loving family with a warm heart – that he pretty much already has but hope that can find someone like I did with his mother.

3) A passion in life. Once you find that passion either flipping burgers or running a fortune 500 company happiness is right behind it.

If he has those three things in life then I know he will be an outstanding man. This same thing I strive for daily and though we all fall short in one aspect or another I still get up dust off the slacks and keep on going.

How are you breeding your success?

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Breeding Success

Okay, I thought I addressed this earlier but after a quick search I was wrong so allow me to say this once and only once. When it comes to grammatical errors and/or misspelling of words (despite FF’s help) - I.DON’T.CARE!

Look around – I am not selling ad space. I am not even trying to sell my services on this blog. The point of the blog ranges from marketing items I might find interesting to personal status updates. If I was trying to sell my services via /blog then I could truly understand.

This “blog”’s intent is not to discuss Driven Media Group LLC’s services rather give updates on items I personally find. I am after all the Owner and Founder of Driven Media Group. I set up different databases for this exact reason. The main site: drivenmg.com is about what I can offer in which I am always constantly developing as much of the projects I work on come first.

While they are two separate things they do co-exist via the same domain and differ by extension (/blog).

That’s it – leave a comment about the article I might jot down but don’t use the contact form to try to get at me about spelling and grammar. It’s not the point of this. Now, if you have a question about something in-depth in an article that needs further explanation then can be mentioned via comments – then please do feel free to use the contact form.

Yet, please comment and rest assured I will respond promptly.

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Spelling In Blogz

Home...

Call it an epiphany or revelation but this week I have come to realization. One that has been on my mind, and heart, for quite some time. For those that don’t know I live / work in Dayton, Ohio which according to Forbes is listed as one of the deadest cities in the U.S. – talk about a pick me up, right?

I always knew why Forbes could see this – we are a manufacturing town. General Motors is (was) huge in this city with 3-4 plants around the town and employing thousands of people. Yet, when it under people got discouraged. Then various companies were leaving the area in the heart of downtown Dayton. The biggest being NCR. A company which started here and has offices all around the world. They are moving by end of the year to Atlanta, GA. Another thousand or so jobs: GONE!

Where I use to live on the North West end of Dayton it has gone down dramatically. The local mall is torn down with no ‘real’ plans to get anything up. The retail / restaurant industry in the part of town is a joke. I’m being honest for those that are local. Nonetheless the city continues to throw good money after bad idea (see the depleted water fountains downtown that aren’t working “properly”).

I say all that to say this: I love this town. It has a lot of potential. Wright Patterson Air Force and all the colleges are really the only thing keeping this town a float. Talks of putting in a rail road system could help – but more than likely hurt us. You could get a job in Columbus (1.5 hr drive) and not have to worry about paying outrageous housing cost. Seriously, how many people in Cincinnati would come up to see a minor league baseball team?

Bottom line is though I stay optimistic. I stay positive. I change my mind. I do blame a lot of our city leaders – they are our leaders in good times and in bad so with praise comes complaints. Now if they would just fix it from within then we could move on.

Change your mindset – Change your world!

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Change Your Mind – Change Your Life

Just wanted to throw out a quick note to those millions of readers out there {sarcasm of course}. I have been extremely busy as I’ve said before with new ventures in the works. It is true what they say – being productive spawns new paths in life.

I will be updating you all in the very near future as the one project I am involved in gets ready to “officially” launch. I will say this though that it does have to with music e-zine similar to hiphopremix {in its hay-day} that’s currently in hiatus.

Nonetheless I am still working and doing school but always eager to speak with people / companies that need help with understanding social media marketing.

More on that later.

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Quick Status Update

If you follow me on twitter (@drivenmg) you would’ve found out that I missed one my high school reunions over the weekend. I say “one” b/c I transferred my Junior year to a private school. Yet, I went to school with these individuals for a better part of my young life from elementary to 10th grade.

So, what happened? Well looking over the events I noticed the planning was pretty ‘laid back’. It’s not a dig on anyone but my expectations are usually pretty high on events like these. I noticed there was no “mailing” list just a group on FB. While I did receive a notice via FB in the shape of a ‘party flyer’ – which I get about 20 every other day. There was no distinction.

Then it hit me – this is how a lot of people / companies are doing things. They don’t stand out. They take the same business model and run with it – they don’t take the time to stand out and make a difference.

Nonetheless I tried to make contact to several people and while empty promises were made I was able to meet up with an old friend of mine since grade school. Now both married and with jobs/careers – having intelligent conversation over a few drinks. I truly wished a few others could’ve made it out bu in the end it was all good as I got all the ‘updates’ from my long time friend.

So it looks like another 10 years before I see all these people again which is amazingly funny because a large percentage live in the area – small area in reality – yet they can’t nail down a day to grab some lunch / coffee / etc.

10 years have passed and now what? Well…that’s up to you.

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10 Year Reunion – Missed

I would apologize for the delay of post but in reality it is a good thing. A great thing actually. I have been non-stop busy. I’ve been working with a photography site – something I’ve been wanting to do for quite some time. Also, redeveloped the Dayton Chess Club site which should be launched this weekend (if all things work out).

Not to mention working with Sky7th on his upcoming Trouble Man release which will be spectacular all around. Expect some big things from this guy – make sure you follow him on twitter as well.

Put all that in and mix in some night class and you got a busy schedule. It ends at the end of August so hopefully by then I can get back to a regular schedule of posting.

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Why The Lack of Post

Well I’m “officially” back from my family vacation and have to be honest it is quite tough getting back in the swing of things. While on vacation I made some observations I hope I’m able to bring to you all about marketing and social media.

Until then I’m going to catch up on all my emails and task I missed out on for the past week and half while I played with my 4 year old son in the Gulf of Mexico. There is nothing more enjoyable then sharing an experience like seeing an ocean for the first time. The smiles and laughter are priceless.

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Back From Vacation