Social Media, Free and Easy Advertising?

This idea that social media is a tool for free and easy advertising is a myth...to an extent.

Let's start off by saying that social media's main focus should be on the "social" rather than the "media". Not to say you can't be involved if you don't have communication skills and an approachable attitude, but it will definitely help.

In my personal experience with social media, I've seen two schools of thought on the subject of use.

1. Social media provides an opportunity to bombard and blast your marketing/advertising to hundreds if not thousands of eyes and ears all at the same time, and constant bombardment is sure to produce a return.

2. Social media provides an opportunity for a business to share in it's identity and interact with their target market as well as expose others to their brand by simply engaging in conversation and being human as opposed to a corporate suit.

These two schools of thought run in opposite directions and both have very different results.

Social Media is Easy

It is and it isn't. Every social network and tool that you can get your hands on is only as productive as the person using it. I personally use Twitter primarily as my platform to converse with a multitude of people and in my time I've seen discussions that I can only shake my head at. The lack of social skills is clearly evident for many, and plastering your product across the net without any social interaction and/or discussion is clearly not a way to attract people.

More often than not you create a name for yourself, but not in a good way. Users will turn a blind eye to your posts, your profile, and some will go so far as to report you as a spammer which can eventually get you banned from service.

Approach social media like you would a party. You want to the one that carries meaningful conversation, attracts all types of people, and fully engages others to be a part of the conversation; as opposed the name dropper who wheels & deals with a self serving attitude.

So yes, it's easy for you know how to approach and understand the use of the tools at your disposal.

Social Media is Free

There's no cost to be involved...at least monetarily. No contracts to sign, no warranties to fill out, no need to take out a loan to market and advertise in social media, but what you do need to invest with is time.

Cultivating an active community takes time, and that time is something you must be willing to invest. After you do research on which networks will best suit your purposes, you start to build the profile, and then build the follower base. These people that connect with you expect to be spoken with, involved in the day to day chatter, and most importantly made to feel important.

I've gone over the many businesses online that have succeeded in this foray, but it's also worth it to note that these companies hire individuals who will pour their time and efforts into socializing with the people for the sake of building community.

Final Word

Social media is not to be taken lightly. Once you've put yourself out in the open, interaction is key, and honesty is the code to live by. Critics of your ideas and business practices are not to be quieted, ignored, and forgotten, but rather spoken with, and heard. Learn from one another and build a better community, the results of a successful advertising & marketing plan in the world of social media.

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Personal Victories and New Additions

It's been four days since my last post, my apologies to all the readers who look forward to reading Daily Slackr.

It's been a full week of personal victories for me, and a new addition which I'll explain in a bit.

For starters my daughter and son started their pre-school on Monday, and it was an event. Sure it's just pre-school but sending them off with back packs and school supplies was a throw back for me because I vividly remember leaving home to spend all day in school. My daughter was excited, my son was just anxious to meet new people. I don't think either one of them understand how drastic going to school really is, since they will probably spend the next 15+ years of their lives in education.

That being said it's been a schedule adjustment for both my wife and I. We do our best to equip them for life, but their little, and the world is still so big to them. My wife and I are both working so incorporating their school schedule is an interesting venture, not to mention my daughter wants to start dance lessons, a dynamic that was not anticipated.

Finally, we have a new addition to our household, a 5-year old yellow Lab named Leo. Now if you ask my son what the dog's name is, since he can't say L's properly, he says "Neno". Actually "Neno" is starting to stick much to my dismay. It's cute, just not want I wanted to name the dog...oh well.

To all those who have kids returning to school, to all families with new additions, animal or otherwise, I wish you luck in the coming year, and hope all is well.

I'll be back to my regularly schedule posting starting this evening.

You can also follow me on Crenk for tech reviews and other related stories, and Bloggin-Ads which I will start writing for again this coming Tuesday with a blog review in mind.

5 Strategies for Brand Consistency

Whether you are an entrepreneur, small business, or corporate entity, the only face you have hundreds of miles away from your corporate headquarters is your brand's identity. This identity is what will tell a consumer who and what you are. Long standing traditions aside, nowadays customers support honest and loyal brands that provide not just a product but an experience to go along with their decision.

How can you expect someone to identify your product on the market if your brand is not consistent. If you confuse your target market, you create a disconnect and the customer will fulfill their need elsewhere. Having experienced this just recently on a small scale over the weekend, I wanted to share my strategies for brand consistency.

1. Logo: It sounds so commonplace, but the logo is the first connection your market will have in the relationship. This sets your brand apart and can create a sense of entitlement to the customer if they have strong emotions attached to the product. I recently walked into a small business where I saw three different versions of their logo around their store. When I inquired they were shocked and said that their company had gone through some changes and that the logo had changed over the last three months. They rushed to remove the older logos that were displayed, but for someone unfamiliar with their product, it could most likely cause confusion.

2. Relationships: As stated earlier before it's important for a business to build a relationship with their market. This relationship transcends the physical face to face scenarios, but includes treatment online, on the phone, and through standard mail delivery. Are you taking care of your customers? That ultimately becomes the question. Do not wait for bad press to then attempt to win back and maintain customer loyalty; if you start out taking care of your customers, any negative press can perhaps be absorbed through brand loyalty.

3. Employee Training: This topic alone could be written about for weeks on end. All of us have experienced bad customer service either in person, on the phone, and especially online. It is vital that all employees receive adequate training when dealing with customers. CEO's, Managers, Directors, etc, rely on their employees to be the face of their company, and few will ever know of the day to day interactions their company has, but all will certainly know if the experiences are negative. Already certain companies like AT&T, Comcast, and Grande Communications to name a few, have already built up such a negative mindset in the customer's mind that it's hard to overcome with simple assurances. Train your employees well, treat them well, and reduce the frustration of bad service.

4. Honesty: In the face of globally connected communities, it's becoming more important for companies to be forthcoming with the products they support. Now this does not necessarily mean that trade secrets are shared, but rather the company be open and accessible to their customer base. Note, this is not a requirement for businesses, nowhere does it say that a company must follow this trend, but the companies that have moved in this direction such as Dell, Starbucks, WholeFoods, Ford, Zappos, have seen a much more successful campaign. If you're interested in becoming a more open presence, don't flip-flop at your convenience, but stay the course and be open to all.

5. Don't Change the Message: In advertising slogans and jingles are what people remember from commercials, whether they are online, or through other avenues of traditional media. Unless something is not working, don't change the message. Stick with slogan/jingle that brought you to the dance. Your customers relate with what you put out, and if it works stick with it, again this separates you from your competitors.

Are you an entrepreneur or small business? What has worked for you? I'd like to see you share your experiences with your brand's identity and what you struggle with.

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Twitter Puts the Brakes on Spam

This is an update to an earlier post I did a few days ago regarding the spam "friending" that was occurring on Twitter.

It appears as of this morning that Twitter has dropped the hammer on those who are maximizing their exposure by following as many as possible and sharing a link to their site which undoubtedly leads to trouble. This "SixFigureTeam" has taken many forms in the last days to avoid detection, but for us savvy enough with socmed, we can pick them out in a heart beat.

How?

Take a look at the photo on the right. Notice how they are following approx. 1500 people, and only have one update. How is this an effective use of Twitter, much less a social network. Too many people feel like this is a numbers game and the quickest to rack up the followers is in some sense a winner. The question I have is, the winner of what? I shake my head at this horrible misuse of social media, but like anything else, there will always be those that feel they can game the system in order to achieve their agenda.

I commend Twitter on its efforts to stop spam across the network. On Wednesday there was a definite outcry from users who were being followed by the mysterious "SixFigureTeam" and some other pseudonym they chose to hide their identity.

Twitter's dedication to make as pure an experience on Twitter as possible is shown by dedicating personnel to specifically root out spammers on their network. With current filters in place, and community action alerts, this trifecta should be a much better barrier to those looking to litter the network with their propaganda. Now it's not 100% proof, but it's a darn good start.

Be on the look out for those that follow you, and if you see the message like in the picture below, then you've probably come across said spamming group.

Let this be a lesson to any brand that looks to build community on a social media network. This is a great example of how not to end up.

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Your Daily Dose of Spam

Image by Getty Images via Daylife Today has been an interesting day for those of us on Twitter. An interesting day because it appears that a spammer had an abundant amount of time on his/her hands and decided to spend it sending out "Now Following" messages across the Twitterverse.

Those of us with a well versed history of being online have had to deal with our fair share of spam. A number of us are even savvy enough to adjust filters in our emails to keep most unwanted messages out of our inbox. Nevertheless the endless stream of spam continues to populate the net with no sign of going way.

Today a group called SixFigureTeam has sent messages across Twitter following thousands of people. But wait, there's more. The so called "SixFigureTeam spammer" did not stop there, multiple accounts are created and then passed off as new followers of your profile, but all of them lead to the same link promising a huge six figure pay off if you follow their methodology.

Let me say once and for that the vast majority of those in social media and involved in social networks are not as blind as you might think. We are well aware of spammers and their invasion into new grounds when a new communication tool pops up. For those behind the scheme that think they are marketing a brand, and getting name recognition, what they fail to realize is that the attention they are receiving is negative, and not doing any justice for the brand.

Let's just say that the SixFigureTeam did indeed have a magic formula to make us all millionaires. Bombarding the social networks is not a way to garner attention. Your ruse by taking on many profile names is not enticing or believable. If you plan on building trust, start by being forthcoming and human, as opposed to taking on the habits of a bot.

Still I am sure my thoughts are falling on deaf ears. Already Twitter users are crying out for the developers to tighten the restrictions for spammers and find ways to identify them before they propagate their material across the web.

Just my rant for today!

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5 Rules for Social Media Entrants

Buzzwords!

Critics say that social media is a fad, a flash in the pan, that it creates the hot new buzzwords for today.

Social Media is real, it connects people on a global level and businesses are leveraging this new communication form to connect with the consumers, and everyday new blogs and new accounts on social networking sites are being created.

Are they all doing it right? After reading Buzz Networker's most recent article "Ben & Jerry's: Amazing at Ice Cream, Bad at Social Media," the answer would be "no." Buzz Network states that with all the good Ben and Jerry's does in all of its initiatives, it's a shame they do not capitalize on it via social media.

5 Rules
With that in mind, I reviewed all the sites that I personally follow and came up with five aspects they all have in common to be successful in social media.

1.  Choose your networks wisely: By that I mean choose the social sites you think will best fit the market you are trying to attract. Every site has it's demographics, and doing the right research will guide you to the networks you're willing to put your time into.

2.  Be human not a suit: Basically, talk with people in real terms, with real conversations and personalize your marketing. The idea is to bring value to your brand, not be a walking billboard. If people want traditional marketing they can watch TV or listen to the radio, but online people want to connect with people. If you're just a talking head you will find yourself alone in the virtual world.

3.  Interaction: DO NOT follow Ben & Jerry's example of having static posts from your supporters sit on a site. Open up the conversation by having someone responsible for interacting with the community. Exchanging stories, anecdotes, jokes, and firsts with flavors is a great way to keep your brand in the forefront of their minds and even reach out to new customers.

4.  Dedication: This concept will cover two points. First, it is important to have a one or more internal employees dedicated to supporting the community. It's usually someone who can evangelize the brand and create excitement about what his happening with the company and/or product. Secondly, dedication relates to time spent with the community. Don't leave your supporters waiting for days or weeks before they get a response. Make sure you cover as much ground as possible answering messages, emails and posting on other blogs that either criticize or publicize your efforts.

5.  Accountability: No business progresses without its fair share of ups and downs. Some choose to hide their mishaps and others choose to confront them. A successful business looks for solutions not excuses, and this same concept transfers over to the virtual world as well. Dell for example confronts even the worst of bad press situations with its community and does not attempt to sweep it under the rug. This kind of "transparency" creates a level of trust because the situation is in the open and is obviously being worked on.

Final Thought
Every business that looks into any marketing venture should have a PLAN. Give yourself goals for 4 months, 8 months, a year, and watch your brand succeed. A good plan will reap great rewards from the community and all it takes is a little time and respect.

 Photo Credit, annamatic3000
 

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Online Etiquette A Must!

I've written previous articles on line etiquette both with your networks and in virtual communication situations. Now Chris Brogan has listed his "rules of engagement" across various communication forms online in his post titled "Etiquette in the Age of Social Media."

Seems like this is a hot button in the online communication world. Take heed, and share some of your personal rules either here or on his site.

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Top 5 Blogs for Women

Just recently I wrote a post discussing the Top 5 Blogs for Women on Crenk.

I encourage my readers to check that post out and support it by giving it a digg. I really want to share this article with as many people as possible because the information is useful for both women and men. Women can find information written by other women who go through similar experiences, but also find some really interesting health information.

Men! Reading these sites will definitely give you insight into our female counterparts. Don't run the other way, open yourself up to some truly amazing writing, discussion, and definitely get involved in the conversation. I've not seen more active and engaging discussions then I have on some of these sites.

Stop by and enjoy!

Photo Credit, ChrisDigital

Social Currency in Social Media

If your network was money, how much would it be worth?

An interesting question in a time where serious value is placed on our virtual contacts. The true value of our contacts is priceless for some, and cheaper than watered down Mexican beer for others.

In a recent post I discussed the importance of virtual ettiquette and it's importance as we rely more on social networks and virtual communications. The question now becomes, what are these contacts worth to me now that I have them?

If you truly spent time developing your network, then you will be amazed at what you can leverage from it. If you're looking for a job, perhaps you're looking for advice, or if you're looking to meet up for an event or project, your network will more than likely be filled with people you find a close connection with both personally and professionally.

As your networks grows you can then become a hub for others to utilize when they in turn need assistance finding direction. Your ability to network for yourself and connect others establishes a sort of currency within the social networks. True understanding in the value of your networks can make you "profitable" in your relationships.

Chris Brogan, a marketing guru in his own right (but don't tell him I said that, he might think guru too big of a compliment), as written articles on this same topic here and here. You can even place an actual price tag on your network by using My Network Value.

No matter the value of your network, respect it. Like money, your social currency can make or break you.

Photo Credit, Thomas Hawk

Expectations of Immediacy

Global societies are connected 24/7 thanks to the progressive nature of social media and various social networks. Having access to people around the clock to start conversation and exchange ideas is the addictive draw to these mediums. Receiving news when it happens makes nightly news obsolete, and we depend on it.

In a post on Alexander van Elsa's weblog, he looks at a society that has expecations when it comes to information. Supporting this idea, This Week in Media podcast shared a story where companies were receiving backlash due to lack of "timely" response to problems, queries, and other demands made by users (followers). Note that by "timely" I don't mean real world time frame, but instead virtual world time frame.

Expectations of Immediacy

When negative press hits it's a sure thing that at some point the company or group's spokesperson will address the situation, typically in a timely manner using traditional media methods (radio, tv, newspaper). Transfer this concept to the speediness of the virtual world, where society expects an almost instantaneous return to their requests.

It is perceived that the lack of a quick response in the virtual world equates that a company is hiding something. Is this really fair?

This immediacy for information can turn into a chronic problem. Alexander van Elsa states it quite accurately in saying that today's connected society experiences a "fear of not being there when it happens."

Have any of you experienced an incident where you were on the opposite end of demands made form individuals that follow you on social networks?

Take a look at your communication methods and try not to jump to conclusions if information is not shared with you in a blink of an eye.

Photo Credit, Caucas'

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Barcamp Houston

Hello readers!

Just to let you know that I am currently in Houston and will be attending Barcamp Houston at the Houston Technology Center tomorrow, Saturday August 9th.

I look to provide a detailed run down of the event similar to what I was doing at Social Media Camp Austin. If you're interested in getting the 4-1-1 on the event, you can add me on Twitter, @pandaran.

Over the next day or so I'll be doing a more comprehensive write up on the event itself.

Stay tuned!

Are Companies Really Paying Attention to Us?

Image via WikipediaWhile I can't vouch for a lot of the business community, I know that there are some very active companies on various social media platforms. With regards to Twitter a few that come to mind are @zappos, @wholefoods, and a ton of employees from Dell, but another company popped up on the radar not too long ago, and I was surprised.

Popeyes Chicken is probably the last company that you think of when it comes to forward thinking and tapping into social media to reach their customer base. Well it's true, they exist, and I'm happy to see that they are taking an active roll.

@popeyeschicken fully engages with the Twitter community, and thanks for them for the word of mouth advertising that is shared on the network.


Stats

• Following 404
• Followers 256
• Updates 742 

Citing the stats above, it's encouraging to see that they are actually following people and keeping the conversation going. This level of transparency for a company like Popeyes probably does them a great benefit because they are tapped into the pulse of their customer base.

Now a question for the community. Are you taking full advantage of the companies that are on the social networks. They have real people on the other end that are looking to hear what you have to say. With the popularity of social media, it's revolutionary that these brave businesses are deciding to interact with their customers in such an open forum. Look up some of your favorite brands, see if they have a presence online and if they do, FOLLOW them!

Learn From People Watching...Some Would Say It's Stalking...

Tonight I once again sit in my office as our building is being used for an event. This event is in no way tied to our daily operations, but with 200+ people here, it's hard not to be sucked into the socializing. But sometimes I go into my office and look out the large glass window to observe the social interactions of my guests.

Every now and then it is important to stop and just be, take in  your surroundings, and observer the mundate, trivial, often overlooked aspects of our daily lives. Everyday people are moving from one place to another, on their cell phones, conversing with others as they walk, driving through busy streets, delivery drivers making their rounds; life is always happening.

Everyday life has lessons for us if we stop and become aware from time to time.

Things to look for:

• watch how people talk with one another
• observe drivers as they talk on their cell phones, react to traffic, or sing to the latest hit on the radio
• witness the body language of those around you
• observe how people laugh, joke, or play with one another
• if you happen to see an argument, watch how they display their emotions
  

Now don't be a stalker, but sometimes watching how people communicate or how they react to internal and external stimuli can give you some interesting ideas for blogging or discussion.

Next time your sitting at a restaurant, in the lobby somewhere, or waiting for a flight, just stop to watch people. You can witness some pretty interesting things.

Photo Credit, cuellar
 

Let Us Seal This Deal With A Virtual Handshake

"Sup? Thanx for stoppin' and readin' my post. I really <3 what I do, it's gr8t!"

Hold the phone! Is that how you communicate online with professional contacts? Perhaps it may seem natural to speak in "IM" language, but professional communication should never be taken for granted.

Scott Allen, author of The Virtual Handshake expresses his frustration with a community that is obviously unable to transfer the ettiquette of professional face to face communication to professional online communication. He believes that many of us simply toss the rules of conduct out the window because in the virtual world you don't see the other person.

Both he and I agree on this point. Too often in virtual communication we forget the soft skills that become so vital in personal relationships. In actuality the importance of soft skills increases because with virtual communication we do not have the ability to see facial expressions, hear tone of voice, bare witness to body language, all of it is masked behind 1' and 0's displayed on our computer screen. Scott impresses upon us that being courteous is important, writing intelligently is important, and sharing information must be done appropriately as well.

We've been building our personal relationships for thousands of years, but virtual communication is relatively new. Over the last few decades we've increased our communications via technology and as such, we seem to have forgotten that relationships start with conversations; strong, intelligent conversations with others is what keeps us bonded together. For example, if you are sending an email and you put a link to your work, or your resume, some feel that is adequate for the relationship. WRONG! The link is simply a reflection of you, but not you specifically.

Rather than drop links to your body of work, try carrying a conversation via email, or a social network of your choice. These tools can be functional for business, but it is the person that determines the effectiveness.

With the gap between where we stand as communicators and how we use technology ever expanding, it's surprising that we do not have a "Virtual Toastmasters" set up to educate people on how to communicate effective and professionally online.

What A Man With A Toe Tag Taught Me

No. I was not looking at cadavers, nor was I spending time at the local mortuary. I had the pleasure of hearing a presentation by John Moore with Brand Autopsy, a company that looks not just outwardly, but inwards on ways to better your brand.

Companies spend millions of dollars to establish their brand. They focus their efforts on logo design, advertising & marketing, public relations, and media tools. A company’s image is all it has, and once established relies on it to expand their new customer base while maintaining loyalty from their current customers. The formula works for the outward appearance of the company.

Is this the final step for a company?

John says that a company should never put its sole focus on the outward because plenty of inward focus can change the little things that we overlook everyday. Take for example, business cards, a simple yet vital part of our business communication. John goes against the norm, and uses toe tags as his design for cards. This unique approach establishes his brand, and keeps his identity separate from the dozens of competitors out there.

Other simple changes can include website design, office location, office layout, day to day operations, these overlooked aspects can make your company even more successful by giving it a look and feel all it’s own, and at the same time increase customer and employee happiness.

Take a look at what your business does. What changes can you make that will put it heads above your competitors? Leaving an impression is what businesses look to do. Can you be sure people remember you?

Photo Credit, JasonRogers

5 Things I Learned From Batman

I. Confront Your Fears

Facing your fears will perhaps be the biggest challenge we face in our lives. More often it’s easier to take the path of least resistance and avoid what we define as difficult. Fears can be psychological, physical, inward, and/or outward, but all can have debilitating consequences.

My own personal fear for many years was public speaking. I avoided all public speaking engagements. Overtime I overcame this fear thru proper training, joining speaking associations like Toastmasters, and networking events.

As our lives change, new fears may arise, but all must be overcome in order to preserve our well being and push us to new heights of possibilities.

II. Dedication Provides Results

Growing up in a military household, it was not uncommon to hear my father talk about quitting and it’s effects to a person’s success. It was quickly instilled in me that quitting was not an option and in order to achieve your goals, it was vital that we stay the course.

By committing yourself to goals, no obstacle will hinder you from achieving your desired results. Dedication takes time, it takes patience, but most importantly it takes heart. Achievements do not happen overnight, but are a result of steady work and proper execution.

III. What You Do Is What Defines You

Too often we hear people talk about what they will do one day, or perhaps what they would do if they had… I don’t pay too much attention to lip service without action. Talk is cheap as they say, but actions speak louder than words. This couldn’t be more true.

If you see a problem, and have a solution, be the one that takes action and leads the charge for results. It’s easier to talk, complain, and point fingers, but others will see a leader if you look for solutions.

Look into your life and determine what you think needs fixing. Define yourself by your actions and make those changes, you won’t regret it, and others will support you.

IV. We Fall To Learn To Get Back Up

So none of us are perfect. We won’t always land on our feet as we attempt to take charge of our lives. But what kind of person are you?

Do you stay down for the count, or do you fight your way back up?

Failure is a part of life, but few of us actually learn from it. Rather than quit, instead of becoming satisfied with the status quo, give yourself over to the failure and analyze where you went wrong. By learning from the failure you not only recognize it in the future, but you are also able to share your experiences with those looking to follow the same path.

V. Always Be Aware of Your Surroundings

Nothing hurts us more as individuals than being ignorant of our surroundings. Too many of us are blind to the temperaments of our relationships, we stumble through situations without knowing the facts, office culture is completely overlooked and we find ourselves alone at work.

In life, knowing your surroundings can greatly benefit you and your decision-making. Your surroundings can provide you information like hierarchy, mood, atmosphere, and body language. All of these become vital to avoid “stepping in it.”

Open your eyes, take in what you see, and make the best choice possible. Nothing says you will always choose correctly, but at least you’re giving yourself a fighting chance.

Photo Credit, TCM Hitchiker