Sharing is Caring
Have you seen people blast their products and services constantly on twitter and facebook? Well, I just wanted to talk about my thoughts on promoting yourself.
I wanted to share some tips to help you promote without making it all about you. Remember Sharing = Caring
1. If you have built real connections on twitter and want your twitter friends to promote your info. I feel if you have had a connection with this twitter friend then it’s okay to send a DM and ask to Retweet for your promotion.
2. I think it’s okay to promote your own products or services at least 4 times a day on twitter. Figure out a schedule that works for you. Example: 6 am – 11 am – 4 pm – 8 pm.This way you will be able to cover all time zones.
3. If you’re interested in something a friend tweets or posts. Make a comment.This is always a nice gesture.
4. When Retweeting make sure you give credit to the person that found it first.
5. I’m a big believer in promoting others as you can see with my “What’s Your Social Style” Series. Think about the 80/20 rule. If you see that this does not work for you then you’re probably not being too sincere with your efforts.
6. If you find a blog post or message on twitter – share the information. The share buttons are there for a reason.
6. If you find information from a blogger – Let them know. Many people would love to hear feedback from you. It will only take a minute and it will bring a smile to their face.
7. If someone retweets your tweets or mentions you on twitter – make sure you say “thank you”. Most times the people that retweeted you – these are the same people who will do it again and you can start to build a connection.
What’s Your Social Style?
My interview with Brooke Randolph, LMHC
Tell me a bit about what you do: I am a licensed mental health counselor who encourages, equips, and empowers individuals, couples, and families through my private practice. I also work as a Parenting Coordinator, an advanced court-ordered mediator in conflictual cases of divorce or paternity. I am the mental health contributor at DietsInReview.com. In addition I am the Director of Adoption Preparation & Support Services at MLJ Adoptions, Inc., which quickly grew into more than a full-time job, so it truly takes up the majority of my time.
What is Your Social Style? I think my social style is informative and supportive – right along with encouraging, equipping, and empowering. Although, I do talk about football occasionally. I am concerned at times that joking with other Indianapolis professionals whom I know well could be misunderstood by others reading my twitter feed.
Tell me about your twitter handle: @ChoosingChange because my first and last name would not fit, and it is kind of a tagline for me “Choosing Change : Investing in Your Future”. I believe that in every situation we can either choose to accept it as is (or whine about it as is) or decide not to allow situations to have power over our lives. Also believe that ALL of us have room for improvement, none of us have it all figured out, and no one has it all together.
What is your favorite social networking site? The official answer needs to be twitter ChoosingChange. I’ve met some great people through twitter. It works well for me to use as a professional, and it has even brought me several new clients. While I have written about the negative mental health impact Facebook (www.facebook.com/BrookeRandolphLMHC) can have, I think Pinterest could be positive because exposing ourselves to more beauty is good for emotional health. I have kind of a love-hate relationship with blogs. I want my adoption clients to quit blogging because it can be dangerous to the children and the adoption process. I see the benefit in blogs, and I have been with DIR since 2008. Yet, often I do not update my blog at Brooke-Randolph.com because of my mindset of continual growth and learning, believing that my ideas now are only a stepping stone, and I am looking for dissenting perspectives to continue learning.
What makes you stand out on Facebook, Twitter, or any social networking site you use? That would be a good question for my followers.
What do you like most about social media? I like connecting to others most about social media.
What do you like least about social media? I think too many people don’t understand or think through the consequences of some of the things they choose to put online. There are so many ways to misinterpret or manipulate information online.
If there was one area that you think you need help in while using social media what would that be? I’d love to be able to download the blog outlines in my head onto paper, so I could shape them more easily into blogs. I used SIRI once while I was driving, and it worked out pretty well, but that doesn’t help with all the ideas I get in the shower.
What does Branding meant to you? Branding is a general understanding and public message of what a business or person represents; for me it is encouraging, equipping, and empowering.
What advice would you give to others trying to get started and noticed through these social media platforms? Be present, be real, and be kind.
What is your favorite blog? I have several adoption blogs that I enjoy reading (Our LIttle Tongginator, Debra Parker, If It Takes a Whole Life, the r house, and probably a few I’m missing). I read very few therapist blogs (mostly from people I know), but I do follow very nerdy research blogs. One of my favorite bloggers is Moosh In Indy, who is not only a wonderful person, but she writes with such honesty and encouragement about depression. Plus she has adorable kids and takes great photographs.
What is your favorite social media tool to use? I use hootsuite to manage twitter.
Do you think the number of fans or followers matter? Not really. I think we all find some validation in large numbers, but for me the point is more about real connection. If I have a 1000 followers and only 10 pay attention to what I’m saying or choose to interact with me than I probably have 990 too many followers.
What inspires you? I am inspired by joy and thoughtfulness.
What’s Your Social Style?
My Interview with Viveka von Rosen, Known internationally as the “LinkedIn Expert”
Viveka von Rosen started using LinkedIn in 2006 when she saw a presentation on the opportunities of Business Networking with LinkedIn. In one year she had doubled her own business with F2F networking and saw the immense potential of an online networking site. Almost immediately she was asked to teach a class on LinkedIn to an Office Business Center Industry Association (ABCN) and that was the beginning of her career as a LinkedIn speaker and trainer.
Now known internationally as the “LinkedIn Expert,” Viveka is a regular source for LinkedIn for prestigious news outlets such as Mashable.com, TheSocialMediaExaminer.com and The Miami Herald. She is the host of the biggest LinkedIn chat on Twitter: #LinkedInChat. Viveka is also co-moderator of LinkedStrategies, the largest LinkedIn strategy group on LinkedIn, she is constantly learning, sharing and transferring social media skills and strategies to her tribe.
Viveka has 22,000+ first level connections and a network of over 23 million people on LinkedIn. Her seminars, webinars and workshops have taught and trained well over 10,000 people.
She was also recently listed:
• Forbes Top 10 most influential women on Social Media
• 25 Women Who Rock Social Media in 2011? #44 in the 200 most fearless women on the web:
• http://bigmoneyweb.com/200-most-fearless-women-online-and-in-social-media/?
• Listed by Mari Smith as having the niche quality of a social media superstar
Tell me a bit about what you do?
I consult and train on LinkedIn – which simply means that when I find some cool new way to use LinkedIn I share it with my tribe.
What is your Social Style? Do you use Humor, Straightforward, etc.
Well, I try to use humor, but I find it doesn’t really come across in my writing as much as I would like it to. I try to impart my information in a straightforward useful way. I’m a big fan of actionable tips.
Speaking of Social Style – here’s a tip – know who you are writing to! I used to think my audience was professional entrepreneurial women 45 – 65 (since that is me) but when I actually looked at the analytics and statistics, it turns out my bigger audience was professional men 40 – 70. I changed my voice just a bit and almost immediately started getting more business. So know who your audience really is – not who you think or want it to be!
Tell me about your Twitter handle?
OMG – it’s a love/hate relationship! How did I become the LinkedIn Expert? I got the name first – and then spent the rest of the time trying to prove it was true. In a way I’m also showing women (and men) that its OK to call yourself an expert. That being said – there are a lot of self-proclaimed experts who don’t try and live up to their name – and that makes me cringe.
I as a bit concerned about niching myself into too small of a small network, but focusing on LinkedIn has worked out quite well for me. My client is B2B, so LinkedIn is a natural fit for me. Plus now I don’t have to learn Facebook!!!
If there was one area that you think you need help in while using social media what would that be?
Managing my networks and time. Tweetdeck and Hootsuite are a good beginning, but there needs to be something easy, intuitive and effective. I’m actually working on an app for that!
What does Branding mean to you?
I actually wrote an article on it: http://linkedintobusiness.com/2011/03/social-media-branding-finding-your-keywords/ Basically – its about being very clear on what you sell and who you sell it to so that your brand pops up top of mind whenever a solution is needed.
What advice would you give to others trying to get started and noticed through these social media platforms?
Pick one or two social media sites – based on who your audience is – learn them well, add others slowly. You don’t have to be all places just as you don’t need to be all things to all people. Even I focus mostly on LinkedIn and Twitter.
And get training. I can’t tell you how many mistakes I made because there was no training available. Now there is a wealth of free and paid training you can get to do your social media well. Some of the resources I like are: www.socialmediaexaminer.com, www.mashable.com. www.hubspot.com, www.socialmediabizschool.com
What is your favorite blog? Oh – I should have read this questions first. I think www.socialmediaexaminer.com . Mike Stelzner and Pals write simply amazing, digestible and applicable posts every day. They rock!
And of course www.linkedintobusiness.com
?What is your favorite social media tool to use? Eeek – I have to pick? I suppose www.tweetdeck.com, although I am constantly trying things out.
What is your favorite social networking site? Ummm – LinkedIn? Although I really love Twitter too – it’s been a great marketing tool for me. I love my tribe – especially the LinkedInChatters. When I find some time I want to devote a bit of it to Google+ as well.
What makes you stand out on FB, Twitter, or Linkedin, or any social site that you use?
I think it is because I have focused on LinkedIn – its pretty much what I talk about – although I am happy to share any social media information I think my folks will find interesting.
What do you like most about social media? Social media is the great equalizer. Lets face it – there is only so much you can do visually with a LinkedIn, Twitter , Facebook or Google+ profile. So the average entrepreneur or small business owner can easily compete with the big boys. In fact they might do better since they actually know how to listen and communicate.
The other thing I like is that most of the folks using social media well are very generous. If you need something, all you have to do is ask and someone will find the answer for you. Last week my friend’s daughter went missing in Bangkok and the American embassy wouldn’t do anything until she had been missing for longer than 24 hours. No one spoke Thai and the Thai government couldn’t understand her. I got on Twitter and LinkedIn and within about 20 minutes had a translator. We were able to find her daughter (she was fine thank goodness) but that just shows you how powerful Social Media can be!
What do you like least about social media?
The noise – and the fact that the different platforms keep fixing what ain’t broken. I think that’s another reason I like LinkedIn so well, they rarely change their platform. And it’s why I avoid Facebook like the plague.
I also can’t stand all the spam, but I guess that comes with any medium as powerful as social media.
Do you think the number of followers or fans matter?
Yes – I would never have been mentioned in Forbes if it wasn’t for my “influence” (Ie. Big network). That being said, you could have the biggest network in the world, but if you aren’t actually engaging with your tribe, then you are not going to be successful. You might as well rely on traditional outbound marketing. You have to listen, engage, help, provide value. Do that and you are 90% of the way there!
What inspires you?
Brilliant business people who have a heart. The folks who not only know how to create their own successful, but know how to reach beyond themselves to lift other people up.
Contact info:
Viveka von Rosen, CEO
Linked Into Business. “Making social media work for you…”
Personal Phone: (970) 481-8916
Office Phone: (970) 212-4711
Skype: linked.into.business
Email Me: Viveka@LinkedIntoBusiness.com
Gmail Me (Google+ and LinkedIn) Vivekavr@Gmail.com
Websites:
LinkedIn and Social Media Blog
LinkedIn for Legal Professionals
Social Media for Women
Connect with me on LinkedIn to add 1 million+ to your network
Social Networks:
Viveka’s LinkedIn Account
LinkedIn Company Account
Viveka’s Twitter Account
Viveka’s Personal Facebook Account
Viveka’s Facebook Page:
Viveka’s Google+
Viveka’s Slideshare Account
Viveka’s YouTube Account
Are You Using Videos?
As you may know by now the predictions for social media in 2012 is that video is the key to marketing. So, if you’re not on the video marketing bandwagon yet, you may want to get started. I have several clients that have a Youtube channel. I take advantage of the commercials they have created that are placed on tv and use them on their youtube channel. Even if they choose to run a contest I use that as well.
So you may not be big enough where you may run a commercial spot in your local area or nationally, but you can still utilize youtube for your business. Here some great examples to get you started!
YouTube Channel for Your Business
While it sounds like an obvious first step, I’ve come across many businesses that upload tons of videos on YouTube but don’t even create a channel for themselves. Having a dedicated channel gets your business a lot of exposure and provides an innovative medium for you to keep your followers updated on your new offerings.
YouTube offers a barebones channel so make sure to customize it to improve its appearance and include information about your business.
Tag your videos
It’s crucial to tag your videos with the right set of keywords. Spending a fortune on creating impressive videos is of little use if they don’t appear in YouTube search results. Judiciously choose your keywords based on your business product/ service offerings.
Soft sell your videos
YouTube videos should not be used as a substitute for TV advertisements. In fact, if you hard sell your business on YouTube, your video is likely to be flagged as Inappropriate. Use your YouTube videos as an input to your marketing funnel. Promote your videos through your business website, blog, Facebook and Twitter profiles and highlight how convenient it is to use your products and services.
Video Promotions & Contests
Launching video contests and promotional campaigns is a great way to gain traction for your business. Encourage your Twitter followers and Facebook fans to participate in these contests and reward them with discounts and goodies – it pays in the long run!
Playlists
Playlists are a great way to organize your collection of videos. For example, creating a separate playlist for each of your product offerings helps organize all your videos neatly. Moreover, it’s a great convenience for users as they can see all videos using a single click rather than having to search and play each video clip individually.
Call to action
People love to get involved on social networks and YouTube is no exception to that rule. A call to action inevitably gets people worked up to participate in discussions. There are a variety of ways in which your business can promote call to action for users such as Subscribe to my videos, Post your comments, rate this video, check out my channel etc. These can help drive traffic to your website and increase the overall reach of your offerings.
Customer Service
If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is surely worth a million keywords. People love to see things in action as it leaves little to imagination as compared to listening or reading about stuff. Create “how to” videos to help your customers use your product or service.
Have you used YouTube as a marketing channel for your business? If so, was it an effective medium? Please share your opinion by leaving a comment below this post.
My Top Followers in 2011
I must say that 2011 has come and gone so quickly. I’m so excited to see what’s ahead in 2012. isn’t that a familiar phrase when a new year rolls around? Well, I can honestly say that I am excited! I wanted to acknowledge some wonderful people that I talk to each day on twitter. Most of these people have brought smiles to my face, great informative information, prayers, jokes, and much laughter. Even though some I have not met IRL, it’s been fun! Twitter is amazing, meeting people from all over the world and there is still a connection. I just wanted to say to my followers thank you for being there in 2011. I look forward to connecting in 2012. May all of your wishes come true in 2012! Thanks again!
What’s Your Social Style?
My Interview with Laura Fuentes, Chief MOM at MOMables™
Bio:
Laura Fuentes is a MOM on a mission. She was born and raised in Spain and came to the US in her teens. Although her background is Global Economics and has an MBA in International Business; her passions are writing, networking, and helping other parents feed their families fresh food. In grad school, she met her southern man and the rest as they say, is history. Like many working parents, she struggles with the demands of taking care of the family’s needs and running a company. She has a personal blog, SuperGlueMom.com and runs MOMables.com. Her passion for life and everything it has to offer can be read between the lines in everything she gets her hands on.
Tell me a bit about what you do?
I am the Chief MOM at MOMables™, a company dedicated to helping busy parents make fresh school lunches through a weekly subscription. I manage all aspects of the company; some days I can be found in our test kitchen with one of our chefs, teaching healthy school lunch classes for local moms, writing recipes for other online websites and magazines, chatting away on Twitter and managing our Facebook page. I am a contributor and editor of the MOMables™ blog, write on my personal blog, and a regular parenting contributor for Voxxi.com.
What is your social style? Do you use humor, straight forward etc?
It really depends where I am writing; but the one thing that is most important is that the reader can get to know me through my writing. I like to tell stories that others can relate to. Even when I contribute a recipe I like to begin with a short introduction of why I chose it or why I think the reader might like it. I like being transparent and encouraging; there is nothing like reading a post and feeling uplifted!
Tell me about your twitter handle:
My personal twitter handle is @SuperGlueMom. Over two years ago, my kids super-glued my hair while doing a craft (it was an accident, of course) and I had to chop off over 12” of hair. If you have curly hair, you know that 12” takes a long time to grow! Did I get mad? Well… yes. But I didn’t discover that my hair was “stuck” until late that night when I got in the shower. By then, it was too late to get mad at the kids. I will say that taking scissors to your own hair and chopping that much off is very scary.
What is your favorite social networking site?
I love twitter. It’s simple, engaging and the amount of information shared is amazing.
What makes you stand out on FB, Twitter, or Linkedin, or any social site that you use?
I hope my readers get a sense that it’s actually “me” replying to their comments, tweets, and questions. I’m very passionate about fresh food for our kids, parenting, and living well. No matter how big Super Glue Mom or MOMables™ grow, it will always be me engaging with those who follow. I consider it an honor that someone would take an interest on what I do and want to engage with me. My staff handles other aspects of our social media at MOMables™ but never the social media end.
What do you like most about social media?
I like being able to “connect” with people I wouldn’t otherwise have a chance to meet in real life. I love being inspired by conversations, blog posts, and messages. I also love that I can make a difference in other people’s lives by sharing my passion for fresh school lunches. Social media is pretty amazing if you ask me!
What do you like least about social media?
That is difficult to disengage. We live in a technology driven world where it’s very easy to stay connected. I don’t like feeling the pressure to reply immediately to a tweet, email or message, even though I know that is one thing people really appreciate about me. When you are trying to be present around your children… it can be difficult.
What does Branding mean to you?
Branding is the emotional response or the image someone gets when they think of me. It’s the message I am trying to convey to my readers every time they read about me.
If there is one area you could use help in social media, what would it be?
I would love an organizing fairy to come help me keep track of it all. Facebook decides to change the way it does things all the time and it takes me a while to figure out why I see less engagement. By the time I figure it out and fix it; they change something else.
What advice would you give to others trying to get started and noticed?
Start a blog and write. You don’t have to be the best but you do have to be consistent. If you want people to keep up with you your twitter name, FaceBook page, and blog name should be consistent. Consistency is key for branding.
What is your favorite blog?
It really depends what I am looking for. I love Family Fresh cooking because Marla’s recipes and photography are truly inspirational. Ted Rubin’s has a great blog because he is fantastic at creating relationships on social networks and his posts are authentic and thought provoking. There are so many to list! I hate to admit that I have a dedicated email for reading blog subscriptions and that my first cup of coffee in the morning is savored reading posts.
What is your favorite social media tool to use?
Since I love Twitter, I adore my second computer screen that is solely dedicated to Tweetdeck.
Do you think the number of followers and fans matter?
I think what matters is not the number of people who “follow” you; but the relationship you have with that number. I constantly ask myself: am I engaging? Am I caring? Am I contributing? Or, am I just filling up the Facebook-twitter-sphere.
What inspires you?
My family inspires me. My husband is my best friend and the most supportive person. He is right behind me while I am living my dream. My children are a constant reminder of the important things in life and give me reality checks often on how I’m doing. As a busy working parent I struggle to manage everything I am involved in, but I constantly tell myself that I can do everything, just not at the same time.
Using Google+ to Promote Your Blog
I started Google+ when it was in beta, but I just recently started to use it more to become more active on the network. I know what you’re thinking, not another network to use. I always let people know to choose a network that works best for you and your target audience. Naturally I work in social media so I need to know about all of these networks to inform my readers on how to use it. So here is some info to help you get started on Google+ if you haven’t started using it yet.
We all know content is king so as with anything – unique, high quality content. Keep this in mind when setting up your Google+ profile page. Just like with any other social networking site (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) your profile is important so take special care of what you include. Invest the time to fill out your profile and make sure it portrays the image you want it to get across.
Pay attention to your introduction; write it so that people are willing to add you to their circles. Google+ also lets you add a picture to your description so use it. If you’ve written an e-book then put up a picture of the cover along with a synopsis and a link. Take a nice picture of yourself because once people add you to their circles, all they will see is that thumbnail of you in their stream. Google+ also lets you add links to other sites so take this opportunity to link to your blog, company website, Facebook, Twitter, and other worthy sites.
Set-up Google Circles – One of the neat things about Google+ is that it lets you set up “circles” to segment different groups of people. So for example, instead of having two Facebook accounts, one for business and one for personal use, you could opt to have two circles in your Google+ that separates your business acquaintances from the people in your personal life. The beauty of this feature is that it allows you to be very specific; Google+ is letting you create your target audience and then giving you a platform to market to just that audience.
Profile Set-up and SEO – Earlier I mentioned using the links on the right side of your profile to link to your blog and other external sites. Here I want to elaborate on how to properly set it up. Google adores anchor text and there is evidence in that Google+ allows you to “label” the links you place on your profile. Use this to your advantage. For example, if you have a blog that talks about “Coupon Clipping” or “Saving on Groceries” then you would set it up so that your label for your blog link would be either “Coupon Clipping” or “Saving on Groceries.” The reasoning behind here is that you are helping Google index you profile more accurately and your links could potential come up when someone searches “Coupon Clipping” or “Saving on Groceries.” Also do the same thing with your introduction. Link any keywords to your website if possible.
Let’s say your blog provides financial advice to those in the financial industry and also to those who just want to increase their financial literacy. The problem here is that if you put up something for people already in the financial industry, then your readers who don’t practice finance might find it too complex to understand. What you can do is create two circles that segment your readers into “industry advice” and “financial literacy.” Now you can share all your industry specific advice with only those who are currently working in the finance field and vice versa with those who aren’t.
Google Circles + Google Sparks = Content Management – One thing you can do is create a circle for your favorite topics and post all related content to that circle so you can read it later. So if you enjoy mountain climbing then you would create a circle called “Mountain Climbing.” You would also set up a Spark for “Mountain Climbing” and then share all relevant post to your “Mountain Climbing” circle only. This also works when you are doing some research on a topic for your blog. Using this “Circle + Sparks” combo allows you to aggregate all of your information in one place and quickly replenish it with real-time information.
Branding – Face to Face to Face – nother neat feature that Google+ offers is Hangouts. A Hangout is an interesting video conferencing platform which creates rooms for you to hang out with your friends, coworkers, or any of your social circles. Currently you can only have up to ten people at any one hangout. It is a useful feature for building deep connections with your readers and vice versa. Let’s say your blog is about home improvement. You can create a hangout for your readers where you actually get to see the projects they are working on and provide sound advice on things you normally have to see, like what paint mixture would match their kitchen cabinets.
Utilize Google’s +1 feature - The Google +1 button is a way to publicly show what you like, agree with, or recommend on the web. Google has taken the Facebook “like” button and made it almost universal online. You can like things you’re searching, websites you’re visiting, videos you’re watching, products you’re buying and the list goes on and on. The really cool thing is that the people in your social network get to see the things you “+1” when they make similar searches. This will definitely be a way to measure page rankings in the future.
This little +1 feature can help you reach a wider viewer range. Let’s say you write an article on your blog about how to automate your banking process so you are never late paying bills again. Jim reads it and thinks the content is amazing so he +1’s the blog post. Now all of Jim’s friends can see the blog post and when someone from Jim’s list, let’s say Sarah also +1s it, the cycle repeats. Also, whenever one of Jim’s or Sarah’s friends search for something that is related to automating the bill payment process, your article will stand out because it has a nice blue Google +1 button letting them know that your article is worth the read (obviously!).
Utilize Suggestions – If you look to the right hand side of your Google+ homepage, you will notice a “Suggestions” column. This column is a list of people who Google thinks you might know or might want to add to your circles. I am not sure how Google populates this column but my guess is that they either do it based on mutual friends, similar interests, or a combination of the two. Either way I recommend reaching out to these suggestions. The reason for this is that Google has already done the grunt work and has brought you a slightly targeted audience based on your interests and the interests of your mutual friends. This is a quick and easy way to get new readers for your blog with little effort. Worst case scenario, if Google is completely wrong with their suggestion then you simply remove that person from your circle.
Leverage Videos - Google owns YouTube; because of this I am assuming that Google likes videos. Videos build a stronger relationship over written content even if they are providing the same amount of value. Also, from an SEO standpoint, the chances of your video being indexed are higher.
With that being said, I recommend shooting a couple of videos and sharing them with your relevant circles. Videos can be uploaded to your Google+ account the same way you would a picture. Substitute a blog post in favor of video or do both and see which one gets indexed first. Bonus: Unlike Facebook, Google+ also recognizes GIF images!
Make Friends with Google – In WordPress you are given the option to block your blog from search engines. Google+ gives you the same option. Here is why you DON’T want to block yourself: because it’s Google and the #1 search engine. If you are going to play the game than make sure you are playing it with the top player, right? If you’ve set up your profile correctly then you’ve just dramatically increased your chances of showing up when somebody types in your niche in the Google+ Sparks feature, but if you can’t be seen by search engines then it’s your loss.
To fix this you hit the blue “edit profile” button and scroll to the very bottom of the page. There you will see the very last item which reads “Search Visibility.” Click it. Make sure you have the box that says “Help others find my profile in Search Results” checked. Once you’re done, click the blue “save” button.
If you just started your account or are looking for a beginner tutorial, check out this in-depth Google+ guide for newbies.
How are you utilizing Google+ for YOUR blog?
What’s Your Social Style?
My Interview with Nick Lagante, Social Media Specialist with TimeDog.com follow him on Twitter @TimedogNick
Tell me about what you do?
I’m a Service Specialist – Social Media for Tampa, FL based startup TimeDog.com. We’re a virtual assistance service focused on saving our customers time, effort and money by helping with their daily to-do’s.
What is your Social Style? Do you use humor, straightforward, etc.
I think it depends on who I’m writing for. I tend to write with humor instinctively, so I try to mix that in with my business writing when its appropriate. Every client, company and industry has a different appeal. Like blending anything, sometimes you’ll make a mess before finding a sweet recipe that satisfies your audience’s tastes.
Tell me about your Twitter handle.
Its pretty straightforward. I wanted all of the staff Twitter handles to pair the company brand and our first name so customers can personally reach out to us daily. We’re very transparent with our staff’s visibility and encourage them to connect with our audience. I think it makes a big difference in the customer experience; plus we all get to showcase our wacky personalities.
What is your favorite social networking site?
I love Twitter. Following streams of conversations, making new friends; its just plain awesome.
What makes you stand out on FB, Twitter, LinkedIn on any social site that you use?
When writing social content, for anyone, its easy to get caught up in the tone of that particular industry. I think by injecting a little piece of yourself into your creative you’re inviting your audience get to know you as well as your brand. Time Dog does this by producing 5 videos of unique content daily that covers a variety of categories: Amazing Blogs, Tech & Mobile, Lifestyle, and more. We like to have fun while remaining educational, warm & inviting.
What do you like most about social media?
Honestly? My favorite part has to be the fact that its social! I get such a rush out of meeting new people, making friends and most of all learning from others (I’m a huge nerd). It’s the ability to connect with people who I would otherwise never be able to using traditional communications. Never ceases to amaze me.
What do you like least about social media?
Social media changes as rapidly as technology does, so keeping up can be a challenge! Every few months there’s a new type of social network that’s fresh and exciting, but you never know its longevity passed the initial buzz. Which reminds me, I need to use G+ more!
If there was one area that you think you need help in while using social media what would that be?
Staying consistent with content. As a startup company we have our hands in a bit of everything; we’re very involved in all of Time Dog’s processes. There are times during meetings or calls when I can’t Tweet or share. I would love to work with a small social media team that focuses on different aspects (such as copywriting, relationship management, cloud monitoring, etc) so we can stay on top of our strategy more consistently. First step… interns! We’re taking applicants… hint hint.
What does Branding mean to you?
A brand isn’t just colors, fonts and a logo- it’s a promise; what will you do for people and how you will do it. Just like storytelling, it’s an ability to paint a clear, creative picture of a company’s ideology, values and purpose. Many organizations will be quick to tell you the how behind their offering; successful branding showcases the why, delivers your promise and captivates audiences with passion, knowledge and inspiration.
What advice would you give to others trying to get started and noticed through these social media platforms?
Don’t wait- get started! Its a slow and steady process. First figure out what industry you’d like to grow in. Then, pick your audience. After that its all about listening, sharing and giving. Social media is a community in every sense; build relationships genuinely the right way and don’t go for the kill with a pitch the first time you tweet someone. Be honest, be yourself and be humble. It will pay dividends over time.
What is your favorite blog?
Gosh there are so many! For marketing I love sites like Copyblogger, Social Media Examiner and Mashable. At Time Dog I’m diving into blogs that focus on women, moms and parenting. We review these types of blogs every day and I’m learning a great deal from the many I’ve read so far (such as 30 Second Mom, Zannaland, Mom-101 and many others). I’m really looking forward to learning more at the Blissdom and Mom 2.0 conferences this year.
What is your favorite social media tool to use?
Hootsuite Pro changed my life. I’ve used other management tools in the past but Hootsuite Pro takes the cake. Super affordable and has a slick interface. I also love their built in analytics tool; very convenient for producing reports and tracking metrics.
Do you think the number of followers or fans matters?
Sure its nice to have hundreds (even thousands) of eyes paying attention to you and your brand daily, but I’m a strong believer in quality over quantity. Having 5k Twitter followers doesn’t do you any justice if nobody is engaging with you daily or has a desire to grow a relationship. I’d rather have a smaller number of real, genuine relationships who care than a thousand who don’t.
What inspires you?
I draw inspiration from a few sources. My family and friends are my rock. Faith keeps me strong. I look up to our founder Matt Cherry as a business leader and role model. I’m lucky to work with a great team who challenge me daily. Also–jazz music, charity and being able to help those around me.
What’s Your Social Style?
My Interview with April Bowers, Photpgrapher
Bio: April Bowers is a former English & Literature teacher turned photographer and custom cosmetic color specialist/freelance makeup artist. She is a mom to two, Tyler (7) and Mollie (3) and the wife to the world’s best dad (he has the tees and the mug to prove it!). April loves photography, yoga, reading, all things Shakespeare, and crossing things off her never ending to-do list! She used to love to write for fun, however since becoming a mom, she has a hard time putting more than 7 sentences together; which is why she now tells stories through pictures using photography and is also why she loves being a contributor for 30secondmom.com, a social media site that focuses on concise “30 second” tips for busy moms.
Tell me a bit about what you do? I am an on-location photographer specializing primarily in families, high school seniors, engagement photos, musicians and artists. I am just beginning to add boudoir photography to my services. I am also a custom cosmetic color specialist/freelance makeup artist. I create liquid and powder mineral blends (foundations, blushes, bronzers, eye shadows, etc) that are based on my clients’ unique skin tone and skin care needs. There’s nothing like having your makeup made especially for you!
What is your Social Style? Do you use Humor, Straightforward, etc.
I am still trying to “find myself” with social media. Although I love humor, I tend to gravitate toward being more serious most of the time. I am really trying to let my funny side show, and am also trying to incorporate my life as a work from home mom into my social media style. That usually means a lot of random or straight to the point thoughts.
Tell me about your Twitter handle – My Twitter handle is just my name and the number 23. That was Michael Jordan’s number, you know. My birthday is also on the 23rd of December. It’s a really great number. 
?What is your favorite social networking site? I think that it has to be Facebook. Facebook is much more visual than Twitter, making it easier for me to grasp the information I want or ignore the information I don’t want, quickly. As a busy crazy-chaotic mom, that makes all the difference for me. ?
What makes you stand out on FB, Twitter, or Linkedin, or any social site that you use?
I hope that my readers sense that what I write is pretty real. It’s me. I am also a very passionate person and I share the things that I love most. Although I can be verbose at times (blame the English major in me) I also try to make my points simple and obvious.
What do you like most about social media?
I love being inspired by others. Social media makes it so easy to find inspiration and motivation for just about any aspect in your life, from business to weight loss. I also like how easy it is to connect with others who can have such a positive impact on your life.
What do you like least about social media?
The drama . For example, I really do not like reading a bunch of negative things on my Facebook wall. I can understand if you need a little positive encouragement after having a bad day, but when you are one of those people who are constantly writing about how miserable your life is, how broke you are, how sick you are. . .you are just spreading your negativity around. Try to use social media to improve your life, not bring others down with you.
?If there was one area that you think you need help in while using social media what would that be? The one area that I would really like help with is improving the interaction between me and my social media following. I want to inspire conversation and also build quality social media relationships with those who subscribe to my social media outlets.
What does Branding mean to you?
Your brand is that first impression that people have of you from your tangible materials (brochures, business cards, etc.) as well as from your website and social media. What message are you trying to convey?
What is your target clientele?
It is the difference between people seeing you as a Target or a Saks Fifth Avenue. And there is definitely a need for both in this world! But are you branding yourself for the clientele that you are trying to attract? Things to consider: your logo and image, your price points, your circle of influence (networking in the real world and online), and how you present yourself in these worlds. I don’t have all of the answers, as I am just starting to build my brand. After making many, many mistakes I finally have a sense of who I am and what I want to become in the world of photography and makeup. I definitely know what doesn’t work and what I don’t want anymore!
What advice would you give to others trying to get started and noticed through these social media platforms?
The most common piece of advice we hear is to “Be Yourself.” That is great advice – to an extent. I also think that writing with a purpose when it comes to social media is even more important. It reflects your branding and image! Your purpose can change with each post, but overall make sure that what you write is reflecting the goal image you want to convey. Don’t consistently be negative or complain on your social media platforms if that is not how you want the world to view you.
What is your favorite blog?
It all depends on what I am looking for at any given time. For fashion advice I always go to My Fashion Cents by Loren Ridinger. She is truly a mentor to me as far as business, fashion, and goal setting. For photography, I am in love with Evoking You and Go 4 Pro. There are so many more blogs I love to visit, but these are the ones that I currently visit most.
What is your favorite social media tool to use?
Right now it is Pinterest! I am so addicted!
Do you think the number of followers or fans matter?
Since I am just starting to get a little bit of a following, YES! I don’t like sharing my thoughts or my art with nobody. I like to create interaction and dialogue. That is probably why I became a teacher. I like people to listen to what I have to say (even if they are a captive audience of middle schoolers who have no choice but to listen to you ramble on!). Ultimately, the more of an audience you have, the more lives you can impact.
What inspires you?
I know this is going to sound all deep and philosophical, but I find inspiration everywhere, and at times, nowhere. Sometimes I have to inspire myself. But usually my kids inspire me, as well as others who are passionate, driven, and not afraid to share their mistakes. I will never stop learning and pushing myself in all aspects of my life. That’s just who I am – sometimes it’s a good thing, sometimes it’s a bad thing.
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