Putting The Trust In Your Social Media Professional-Part Two

Yesterday, I blogged about establishing the trust in paying someone to do your social media marketing. Here is Part Two:

How do you know you picked the right social media marketer?

1.You trust them explicitly and heed their recommendations

2. You  start sending them information to them and they get it out in a timely manner.

3. They spell correctly

4. They engage with the customer and they answer questions and address complaints immediately.

5. They post short, not lengthy status updates about your business that aren't always about your lunch specials.

6. They aren't annoying and talk about dinner plates at 9am on a Sunday, a legal issue at 11p at night on a Wednesday or Ask you to come for Bicirdi Happy Hour (note: the typo is theirs not mine).

Social Media Responsibilities For You And Your Employees

Once you have established trust in your professional, what if you or your employees still want to partake in the social media process? Know that even though you have hired someone, you can post at any time, but this should be taken off your list of things to worry about. Just like you wouldn't stand behind your lawyer and whisper closing arguments to him in your case, why not just send them the information over and trust the process of what you are paying is taking place?

Once you have made this hire, talk to your employees or managers and make sure they follow the process suggested by the social media professional.

I am not trying to be a control freak, I promise..I am so thankful for the inside help/additional posting by my clients, I am only one person! I just hope your social media professional takes time with them, and go over their preferences and expectations when working together. The end goal is mutual for all parties: using social media properly and feeling comfortable that your money is being well spent by hiring a professional.

I have had some wonderful relations with employees and clients co-posting, and some really bad ones. I had a GM tell me if he waned to post on Facebook for the shop, he could just do it and then proceeded to ask the owner for the amount of money that they were paying me monthly because he clearly had it under control and the company could just pay him. Ha Ha!

How Much Should Your Social Media Cost To Outsource?

Speaking of money, the trust of your social media professional should come at a price that is comfortable for the both of you. You should expect to pay less for a  simple, even blanket of social media presence, someone who has his eye on the streets for any online chatter about your business and does all the things described above. Not the bare minimum by any means but you can cross off having a social media presence off your list of things to do at this level, Expect to pay a little more if your social media includes more of the creative process.

Think about if you treat your creative professionals in your life and ask if you treat them like you should. Is it because they need the hand holding? Let them prove themselves to you before meddling and you will be surprised how much more productive your business can be.

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Putting The Trust In Your Social Media Professional-Part One

This week, our air broke. I hired our A/C technician and patiently waited for him to come. When he arrived, I answered the door, put on my tool belt and stood behind him and inputted his every move, and when he wasn't looking did some duct work of my own. Then I paid for his services.

Then, my brakes went bad....rough week, right? I pulled into the auto repair shop, changed my clothes and met my mechanic in the bay. When the mechanic received a phone call, I jacked up the car and got to work, going in behind the mechanic and changing his every move. Then I paid the bill and went on my merry way.

None of these examples are true, obviously. Who in their right mind would waste the money hiring someone to do a service and then go in and do it themselves with no formal training? 

If the situations above sound ridiculous, why are some people meddling in the same manner if they pay for a creative service like social media? If you have the good sense to hire someone for your social media, or any creative job...graphic design, email marketing, etc. I would like you to think about giving them the respect to do what you are paying them to do. 

At the risk of being unkind, when it comes to social media-just because you have a Facebook account to update your daily status, a social media marketer you do not make. 

Here is my philosophy for hiring someone to do the social media for your business. First, congrats for having the kind sense to know that you need this form of new media to stay relevant in 2012. 

How To Choose The Right Social Media Marketing Company

It is blind faith to hire someone for this new marketing process but I bet you did for one of the following reasons:

1. You know you need to have social media for your business but do not have the time to do it consistently, all the while constantly looking for new trends that would improve your business using social media.

2. Your competition uses social media and you have no interest in being on the computer other than to check a seldom email.

3. You have a million things more to do than sit on Facebook and Yelp all day (like your business)

Think twice about hiring companies that offer more than social media if you just need this presence. There is a lot to be said for being good at just one thing. I am wary of these "PR firms" who do PR, web design, custom email news letters, graphics and logos, press releases, social media, your landscaping,your laundry- you name it. An all in one isn't very effective if they have spread themselves so thin that they are just a little good at all of these services instead of being really proficient in one of the fields.

A reminder: Do you not gage the success on your social media professional by your numbers. Social Media is used for branding NOT selling! Go buy some radio or consult an agency for a creative campaign if you need to sell something! Social means just that...social, non-invasive, act of the subconscious marketing.

Stay Tuned for Part Two Tomorrow! 

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Making Feedly Work For Your Social Media Content

I have obsessive compulsive disorder of the worst kind. As I lay here working in bed on a Saturday morning, there is laundry to put away, kitty litter to clean, etc....there is prob a dirty dish in the sink. So, when I claim that I have OCD, it is selective. The worst OCD I have is in my work life. I actually think that this is a good thing because it keeps me incredibly organized, and streamlined. I am constantly trying to find different ways to simplify my work process. If nothing else, prob a part of me wants to work smarter not harder. Who wants to wants to work harder, or more? Not this girl.

Flipboard is a RSS platform that is gaining a ton of popularity. It has replaced many a Google Reader and has hit almost 90 million users. From Wikipedia, Flipboard is a social-network aggregation, magazine-format application software for Android and iOS.It collects the content of social media and other websites and presents it in magazine format and allows users to "flip" through their social-networking feeds and feeds from websites that have partnered with the company. It is primarily used for your iPad or iPhone but there is a Flip It widget that you can add articles from your PC.

As an information reading junkie, I found Flipboard to be a little overwhelming at first. I would really love the opportunity to put all my subscriptions into a magazine I choose and let it populate automatically instead of having to do it manually. This morning, with very little coffee, I found a good work around that will give me one magazine with all the sources that I want in it.

Using Twitter lists, I have created a list of all the Twitter accounts that I want to follow and then made a magazine from the account section of Flipboard. In hoping that the sources that I choose are savvy enough to push the content that they write to Twitter, I should be able to capture most of my information in one place. I also will be able to adjust my social feeds and weed out subscriptions that are not working for me.

What are your experiences with Flipboard? 

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Cheating on my Ipad with the Mini

I feel like I am cheating on my Ipad 2 since I bought the mini...because I haven't put her down since I got her. Last week, I saw my poor Ipad laying in the corner. A wave of guilt washed over me...because it has dust on it. And it was out of power because of non use! 

So, one of my plans this weekend was to spend some time with it and make sure it knew I still cared. After charging it back up  I went through and cleaned off some apps that I don't use any more. Like any hoarder with attachment issues, there are probably a couple dozen apps that I don't use. I took the advice of this article, if I hadn't used it in six months or couldn't remember what it did, it was bye bye. 

I made a promise to myself to use it all weekend. I am still reading Z:Zelda....its so good...I would love to live back in that time, wouldn't you? The fashion, the day drinking, the romance!  

Then I went over to Feedly, my new BFF since Google Reader and found this AMAZING article from Ashley at The Middle Finger Project! Sometimes I have to look at the browser bar to make sure I am not reading my own thoughts. To say her and I would be friends is not a stretch. But, everything she writes about is spot on! 

Finally, I made sure it was really clean. To do this, I used the ARTcloth, which I think you are really gonna like. I like the ARTcloth because its not flimsy like some of the other cleaning cloths. Plus, they have some really awesome designs. Look at the one I picked out! 

Credit:LYNKtec

The ARTcloth is an antibacterial microfiber cleaning cloth that is great for cleaning tablets, smart phones, eReaders, glasses, and all screens and lenses. It is crafted of deluxe, dual-textured microfiber which features a soft side for cleaning and a silky side for buffing. With multiple collections and designs, the ARTcloth is the perfect accessory for your touchscreen.

You can see a short demo video of the ARTcloth here:

The ARTcloth is one of many cool products from LYNKtec find them on the web, Facebook and Twitter.

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Sweet Salt Air-A Great Summer Read

I am really glad that the summer lets you slow down and do some quick, easy breezy reading. The term "summer read" makes me really happy...even if I am not laying on an island, toes in the sand....the permission to get away from those "heavy, makes you think" novels that keep you warm in the winter is a fair trade off.

One of those books that I had the pleasure of just finishing is Sweet Salt Air by New York Times bestselling author Barbara Delinsky. From the get-go the book held my interest for two reasons...it held two of my passions-blogging and farm to table eating. I really loved this book, I think because it hit home on so many levels. Nicole is a successful food blogger, which was inspiring to read about her process and how she blogs and answers comments. It was set in Maine, which is a place I would love to visit...and I read a good part of the book on my honeymoon in Cape Cod. The strength Nicole showed to support her husband during his illness was inspiring to me as a newlywed. I also resonated with Nicole and the loss of her father, which will always hit home for me.

The other main character Charlotte was equally complex. To sleep with your childhood best friend's fiance the night before their wedding doesn't give you the most brownie points, but to follow her along the book was very moving indeed.

It was nice to read a book with an interesting perspective on farm-to-table eating and the lives of locavores, a lesson of marriage and a story of lifelong friendship all in one.

About Barbara Delinsky

BARBARA DELINSKY has been published in twenty-eight languages worldwide. A lifelong New Englander, Delinsky earned a B.A. in psychology at Tufts University and an M.A. in sociology at Boston College. Delinsky enjoys knitting, photography, and cats. She lives in Needham, Massachusetts.

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WESH 2 Orlando MeetUp

Although my background for the last two decades (my entire adult life, I am not THAT old) has been spent in radio, I have always been an Uber fan of NBC. I don't know about your family but ours have stuck to one network, and it has always been NBC. We are very lucky that the local affiliate WESH 2 (Orlando) that is as great, and I have been watching it as long as I can remember.

I was really pleased when I received an email from Kevin, WESH Digital Media Manager inviting me to a Tweetup that WESH-TV was hosting at their studios in Winter Park.

The invite promised a behind-the-scenes look at the WESH 2 studios during Sunrise and the chance to meet the people you see on TV.

Bob and I 

It made for an early drive in, but I was excited. We had a great time, an opportunity to ask a ton of questions and meet some of the people I have shared my coffee with virally for years.

I am sure I drove Bob Longo, WESH's News Director crazy with all my nerdy questions, primarily on the logistics of some of the national reporters and how they personalize each news report every morning. Nerdy things that only fascinate me for sure!

We talked about really cool ways that WESH lets their viewers help with the news via the U-Local platform. U-Local is a  place to share videos, audio, photos, and stories with the community.

After the studio tour, we had a chance to talk to Stuart Moore, who was out on assignment! He is a Seminole which made me like him even more! 

This was a great opportunity and I hope I get to participate in it again! See the feed of the Meetup here!

WESH Studios

Kimberly Williams, Traffic

Meredith McDonough, Anchor

Jason Guy, Anchor

Amy Sweezey, Weather

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#GivingVine Goes Green for Earth Day!

I am really loving the Vine application! Finding great ways to have fun with my friends on it, get a bird-eyes view of NASCAR week to week and finding ways to market events and clients. I am furiously waving my flag on this application and I really hope that it continues to take off!  

Turns out, I am in good company, the company HooplaHa’s shares my passion with a really cool way to use Vine to celebrate Earth Day! HooplaHa's mission, while a simple one, could not be more important: to make people smile as much as possible. Whether it be a bit of good news, an inspirational story, a fun video, a cute picture or a touching piece of music – they want to put a smile on your face!

Earth Day initiative called the #GivingVine Goes Green: 2013. HooplaHa.com is a good news website dedicated to spreading positivity and inspiration, and they developed the #GivingVine as a way to document acts of kindness using the Vine app for Twitter. 

For Earth Day, they teamed up with the Earth Day Network and their A Billion Acts of Green Campaign to do Earth-friendly acts of kindness. 

They have captured acts of green in Vine videos to add to HooplaHa’s  #GivingVine  and tally in the Earth Day Network’s A Billion Acts of Green Campaign.

You can check out these green acts of kindness by visiting HooplaHa.com/GivingVine, and find out exactly how to celebrate Earth Day with HooplaHa here.

We have had a lot of sadness this week. I think everything happens for a reason, and I am glad I have this release to share with you. Hope you spread the kindness around!

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Using Social Media To Internalize Your Own Narcissism In Time Of Tragedy

Human nature never ceases to amaze me. I promise not to to do what I saw all day long on many blogs I follow, and on all social media today.

Keyword keyword keyword. Everyone is going to be googling and hashtaging this terrible tragedy that happened yesterday. Let's jump on the boat so they will notice me and my blog! Think of the hits and impressions!

I will not accept  how some people on my social media yesterday and today are making this about themselves. Its hard to believe what is in peoples chemical makeup to somehow make it about them for the purpose of self promotion. I would imagine that this behavior is not new to any psychologist but unfortunately thanks to social media, now I have to read it and be amazed at the way people behave and don't try to hide it .

I also spent a good time unfollowing people yesterday who didn't have the common sense to take down all their automated tweets and Facebook posts during this time of dismay. In between all the news, updates and sincere outpour of sorrow, Hey Look! Check out the Spring trends that I found at TJ Maxx on my blog! Shame on you.

The whole running thing is new to me, but the feeling that you get from crossing any finish line is  the best feeling you will ever have. Even after my piddly first official 5K....to cross the finish line and have people that I didn't know cheering me made me smile and cry because of the deep sense of accomplishment I felt. To replace that feeling with a sense of fear, of insecurity and panic after what happened yesterday is what I feel is the real tragedy here.

So, I am upset and my heart is broken...and this may seem a little ranty but I am putting it where my heart is best spent.

Pray for Boston. Pin It

Foursquare Freshens Their App And Their Wallet

When I consult new clients, it is not realistic to suggest to sign up for everything and see what sticks. There are thousands of new apps released every day and that makes it really difficult to be effective when trying to market your business socially. I tend to stay to the main players (Facebook and Twitter), the major online review sites (Yelp, Google Plus, Urban Spoon and Trip Advisor) and Foursquare, the best Geo-locator to market for any business. I like it because it does some of the work for you. When you check in and you share it with Facebook and Twitter, you are helping the business market and brand itself. Plus they have badges and mayorships that are really fun at any age...yes, I am speaking to  my late thirty self.

Today, they received not only a nice update to their app but reported today that it has raised a further $41 million from investors.

According to their announcement, four years and over 3.5 billion check-ins later, this brand new version of Foursquare can do a whole lot more. Whether you're traveling in a new city or hanging out in familiar territory, Foursquare helps you experience the world like a local.


Instantly see the best recommendations for you
When you open up the new Foursquare, they will  crunch their data to show you the best of what's nearby, based on the time of day, how familiar you are with the neighborhood, and what's popular at the moment.

Out shopping? They will show you more stores you might like, or nearby dinner recommendations. In a familiar city? They will tell you about a new cafe that just opened up in the neighborhood. In Paris for the first time? See top sights and attractions, approved by local check-ins.

Foursquare to the rescue. Find what you're craving with Explore.
Brunch too crowded? No need to scroll through long reviews to find another place. Use the Explore search bar at the top of the app to quickly get personalized recommendations based on check-ins from you, your friends, and local experts. Search for "eggs benedict" or "brunch," or simply browse "food" to find something great.


Find out more from Foursquare's blog Pin It

SXSW Fashion Brain Bar

I can't believe in all the years in I have been in radio and now in social media marketing, I haven't hauled my cookies to the infamous SXSW Conference, which is an annual music, film, and interactive conference and festival held in Austin, TX once a year. I think it may be because I would never want to leave, and that could be a slight problem.

So, instead I sit and watch it vicariously through sources such as Mashable and the SXSW website. While I was cursing on yet another year where I didn't just go..I came across the Darlynn conference if I ever did see one!

Fashion’s Collective hosted the first-ever Fashion Brain Bar on March 11, 2013, at SxSW. This was an uber cool discussion with the top professionals in the fashion industry.

Some of my favorites:


CANNON HODGE
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER, BERGDORF GOODMAN


AMBER VENZ
PRESIDENT AT REWARDSTYLE

RAMAN KIA

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF INTEGRATED STRATEGY AT CONDE NAST

JEN WONG

EVP CORPORATE STRATEGY, POPSUGAR

AMY COLE

BUSINESS OPERATIONS AT INSTAGRAM

SARAH ELLISON LEWIS

FOUNDER & CEO OF BOOTLEG MARKET

On Fashion's Collective website, there was an area to submit a question to one of the speakers. Guess which one I picked?? 

Cannon Hodge, Social Media Manager Bergdorf Goodman
Photo:Fashion's Collective

I follow a lot of PR fashion peeps on Twitter. One of my favorites besides @DKNYPR is whoever does the social media for Bergdorf Goodman. One of my favorite stores and a must stop on my NYC trips, whoever was behind the typing of their accounts humanized the legendary store and made it cool to us Tweeps...which is hard to do and separate when you have such an esteemed heritage brand. 

So I submitted the question I would like to ask anyone who has a high traffic account, what is your method of madness? Knowledge is power, right? I was hoping for some tricks from the trade of an account I respected so much.

My question was picked! Yay! AND for my time and trouble, they are sending me a little something from Swarovski!! Even Better!

Thank you Fashion's Collective, which is the resource for fashion + luxury brands covering all things digital through articles, storytelling workshops + innovation conferences. 

Subscribe to daily posts on Fashion's Collective here.

Here is the article with Cannon at the SXSW Fashion Bar. My question is the first one! 

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Socially Acceptable-NEW Kate Spade Saturday Tech Accessories

Last week Kate Spade Saturday has launched!!! Kate Spade Saturday has been created to channel the spirit of Saturday seven days a week. 

I am so excited. As much as I save for my Kate Spade luxuries, having a new brand that is a little laid back and affordable makes me very very excited! 

The new multi-category brand will offer apparel (including dresses, jackets, denim, t-shirts, sweaters, and swimwear) and accessories (including handbags, small leather goods, jewelry, watches, footwear, eyewear, and tech accessories), as well as beauty, tabletop, and home decor items. The approximate average retail pricing for all categories are expected to be as follows: apparel ($90), eyewear ($55), fashion accessories ($40), handbags ($130), home ($25), jewelry ($30), shoes ($85), small goods ($45), swim ($50), and watches ($50).

The tech division is especially exciting for this nerd!! They start at only $30! 

Some of my favorites below!!

IPHONE 4 CASE  IN FINE FELLOW

$25.00

FANTASTIC ELASTIC IPAD CASE IN SIGNATURE ZIG ZAG

$50.00

IPHONE BUTTON STICKERS

$15.00

The brand is now launched exclusively online at www.saturday.com in the United States. You can follow them on Twitter here.

About Kate Spade Saturday   

Kate Spade Saturday is a new global lifestyle brand created to channel the spirit of Saturday seven days a week. This younger, more accessible sister to kate spade new york shares the same DNA: it's colorful, optimistic and bold, but it expresses these values in a more casual way. Saturday offers simple shapes and go-anywhere silhouettes. Functionality and utility are key. The collection is crafted with honest materials like crisp cotton, canvas and natural vachetta, brightened with bold colors and strong prints. The line includes apparel, handbags, accessories and items for the home. The Saturday flagship shop is planned to open in February 2013 in Tokyo's Omotesando neighborhood along with an e-commerce site (saturday.jp). Saturday.com, the exclusive distribution point in the United States, is expected to launch in Spring 2013. Kate Spade Saturday is owned by Fifth & Pacific Companies, Inc. (NYSE: FNP).

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28K Wedding is the Average? How!

This week on the Today Show there was an article announcing that the average price of a wedding goes up to $28K. How is this humanely possible that people aren't being more budget conscious in the modern world of DIY blogs and Pinterest?? 

I would be interested to see the ages on the groom and bride on this study. I think it is a little different when Mommy and Daddy are paying. I don't say this to be condescending but since I am in my late (!) thirties, there is no parental dowdy waiting for me to feast my hungry bridal planning hands on! We are paying cash for our wedding, and I am coming in probably at 10K and trust me....there are NO corners cut because of lack of funds. I am just being very logistical in my thoughts on what needs to be paid for and what can be not a part of the process. I also am pulling this wedding off in five months doing most of the planning (by my choice) on my own. 

Some quick easy ways to keep your costs down-

Size of Cake-

At the end of the day, even tho my friend Erum dramatically disagrees people are gonna remember you, your wedding and the fun time...the cake?? Yes, maybe how pretty it is but unless you are having a non alcoholic wedding and this may be the focus (no judgement)...save yourself a lot of hassle and get a smaller two-three tier cake and have your caterer have a sheet cake in the back to be cut. Smart, huh! 

Etsy

Let Etsy be your friend-Oh Etsy, how I love you so! I had my invitations designed and personalized for near pennies! It was so worth it to take the time and do it this way! I have invites that people have never seen and the initial reaction (they went out this week). The time save having them addressed also is worth every penny.

No Champagne toast, what are you on Real Housewives? I got a great tip from my friend who has been catering for over two decades. And it comes in seven words: 

Ladies and Gentleman, please raise your glass

From My Pinterest File

Notice, I didn't say put up the champagne, bitches! (Oh, how I wish someone would say that!) If you think about it, how many people  boys really love champagne? In a puny glass that is flimsy and plastic? For a couple of sips, you will save hundreds of dollars by having champagne on hand but train your speechers to say Raise Your Glass

Get your booty on Pinterest- Dear God, what did we do before Pinterest? Single Ladies, dont feel guilty for having a fake wedding file for years! Pin away all the ideas you see that you like when your prince will come. Because when the day comes and the guilt of having this collection washes away...you will see a theme for your wedding and oodles of ideas you may never have remembered otherwise. And the DIY projects will save you quite the buck! 

Please feel free to leave your bridal money saving ideas in the comments

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Why Twitter Wins In Case of Emergency

Living in Central Florida, we seem to be on the nation's radar a lot...shark bites, Spring Break, the Casey, the Trayvon...not normally in the greatest of lights. 

The one thing that we have in Daytona that I am proud of is our NASCAR presence. In Daytona, we hold two race weeks, but today is the Super Bowl of them all-the Daytona 500. It has been touted in Forbes as one of the most valuable sports brand in the world. That is pretty impressive, and its great to be a part of that. 

Yesterday, at the Nationwide Drive4COPD race, there was a huge wreck...actually one of two red flags that had injuries. ESPN/FOX were really quick-making a game plan and executing great television coverage. Because I am the nerdy news junkie, and you don't think of this like I do...remember this is impressive because they aren't normally reporting on too many things tragic. It was great to see them really deliver. 

But if you were smart, you went to Twitter. NASCAR has been great partners with Twitter in its earliest stage. I learned most of what I know about social media when we had our Racing Fashionistas blog several years ago. It was a time where Twitter wasn't known to many, but in the NASCAR scene...it was the quickest way to connect and be informed in its earliest stages. It was beneficial for us  and for our blog as we watched races with other fans and grew our following. Soon the drivers were on board personally tweeting, then the crew chiefs, spotters and other key members of the sport began using Twitter as a platform and a way to communicate socially.  

While traditional media was limited to saying the same few things over and over awaiting confirmation from the Speedway and NASCAR....the social media coverage from people like Marty Smith (ESPN) and Tom Bowles (Frontstretch.com) was stellar. I am sure there was more that contributed but between the two of them, and my friends on the inside I had accurate information that I could help our radio station and MRN affiliate report on the situation. In time of tragedy, here is where Twitter wins. We took full advantage of these resources to become quick, real time and breaking where others failed. 

Even this morning, on my NBC local affiliate on the day of the area's biggest race of the year, I am listening to a taped report from last night speaking about the crash mentioning Reagan Smith, (incorrectly pronounced as Ray-gan), reporting on Danica Patrick and how she finished (because that is pertinent) and a report on Michael Annett's condition that was old..really old. 

Using Twitter and following the correct people if you are either interested in real time accuracy or want the actual story is pertinent. It moves quicker than the traditional sources and it is more of an insider's perspective with real people that are reporting personally-not from a prompter. I don't wish to take away from that traditional platform, but it sure would be beneficial for them to embrace this form of reporting and mix it in while they are waiting for something more official like this:  

Credit: The Cletus Carter

You would think you would get this from your traditional sources that report all day every day (NBC, CNN, etc) but I am thankful for ESPN, Jayski and FOX Sports to lead the way by using social media resources as a method of reporting. Recognizing that the public could benefit from a Twitter or Facebook perspective makes me wish they could report on all the non sports related stuff. 

Marty spoke us back with the Racing Fashionistas in 2010 about his initial experiences with Twitter, I am so glad that he stuck with it...wondering if he still has a Blackberry tho!!! Read that article here.

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Au Cabaret -Keegan Theater Review

When I was in DC last week, I had the pleasure of going to see Cabaret in Washington DC. This was amazing thing to wrap my head around, because it is one of my favorite musicals and my friend's most talented cousin Alison was performing. I could barely stand the wait.

To see such a magical performance in such a place like The Keegan Theater was something I will not soon forget. I will echo the Washington Post's review and say the location made it intimate and emotionally involving...I don't think I  would have been so moved at a larger venue. They also announced at our performance that they are renovating, how exciting!!

If you are in the DC area, please make a point to go see Cabaret through March 2nd. But, more importantly follow them on Twitter and Facebook so you can keep up with their progress! 

When I was in the theater, I thought this would be a cool place to do my first Vine, (follow me @littleblogdress), its my new obsession.

Admittedly  it was terrible but here is the actual video that I took before the second act started.  I am always a little nerdier when it comes to social media when I travel...prob because I have a little more downtime to play!

Last week, I came across a cool article on some ideas how Broadway can use social media to reach those billions of internet and mobile-connected people around the world.

Here is the article from Randi Zuckerburg's new website dot complicated on social media and the theater. 

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Social Media in Triumph and Tragedy

It has been a whirlwind end of 2012 and start of 2013. For the world to see on Facebook, I have celebrated and mourned. It has made me realize how much I value this platform. 

It is an understatement to say I am overwhelmed with the unbelievable amount of love and well wishes we have received since announcing our engagement. I told my beau last night when we were at an event and everyone was so sweetly STILL extending well wishes that I almost don't want to get married because eventually this will stop!! I know that it is like the second coming of Christ, but really my heart is so big and warmed at the congratulations. It is unreal.

I really don't want to be that girl that plays it out on Facebook but it is really hard not to...now that my Save the Dates are out and about, people are posting pictures of THOSE, and Steve FINALLY clicked confirmed that yes, we are indeed engaged and the love fest starts over again. I hope I don't sound like I am complaining but I really am so surprised that everyone is so gracious. And cares that much...But, mostly I am glad that there is a platform for it all to take place on such as Facebook! Its a documentation, I hope to have for quite some time! 

I know my best friend is having the same kind of thoughts. She is not as nerdy as me, but I know her phone is going nuts with notifications since she posted about the amazing arrival of her son Crosby. Overwhelming sweet words that validates the struggle and the long road they traveled to have this miracle in their lives.  Facebook was also an easy way to share the wonderful news on a massive scale for both of us.

Crosby and I

So that is the triumph, where is the tragedy? A courageous battle with pancreatic cancer was lost when a friend of ours Sammy Gonzalez passed away last week. I didn't get to see him often, but my heart is broken for my friends who will suffer through this loss on an daily basis. It questions my faith, because there are so many pieces of dirt in the world...to rob this world of such a good guy makes me feel a little helpless.

The only positive was the Power of Facebook. Through his Facebook page, his wife and family and friends took the time away from their own grieving and gave us daily updates. I can only speak for myself, but I was so grateful that I had this consistent update to his progress. When he had good days, it gave you a little hope and when he didn't have the greatest of days, you said a little prayer. 

This Facebook page was watched and commented by all, and it is hard to believe with all those people so openly pulling for you, his life was still lost. Even my friend who (God Bless Him) was so against the intrusion of social media started his own Facebook page, because in his words: "I wanted to tell everyone in the world about my friend Sammy G". So this sad time has its benefits (and miracles, haha). 

Towards the end, I was going on his Facebook page pretty regularly because it was my easiest connection than bothering my friends who were grieving. I am sure I was not alone.The last post to announce the unthinkable, I had the sad misfortune to see it seconds after it was posted.

To leave this on a positive note, I hope like our triumphs-Sammy's family can use this Facebook page as a way to heal, to know that so many people loved and cared and was pulling for him till the end. 

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Randi Zuckerberg Welcomes You To Dot Complicated!

Welcome to Dot Complicated said my email this afternoon! YAY! Dot Complicated is the new brainchild of Randi Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Zuckerberg Media. It will be a biweekly newsletter and website for techy busy people like me and according to the website promises to help  navigate and “untangle” your complicated, modern life.

Sounds like a plan to me. At the risk of being annoyingly obvious, I think she may have a good track record. Way to go Randi! 

For more information, head over to the website to request an invite. Here is a link to most of the text in her video below. 

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Why It's Important To Only Be Good At What You Do

When I meet with someone for the first time to discuss their social media, what comes up once we establish a relationship almost every time is if I can help them with some of the other internet based issues they are having: 

Do I do websites? Do I do email newsletters? Do I do graphic design? 

One of the most important lessons I have learned as an entrepreneur is to not let greed and dollar signs spread myself too thin. It is incredibly important as a new or nearly new business owner to spend your time on one, two, maybe three areas of expertise until you grow enough to have the staff to handle such volume. 

If it is just you, how on Earth would you feel comfortable selling your ability when you claim to handle 6, 7, or even 10 areas of expertise? What exactly are you good at? Will you come mow my lawn in addition to all these skills?? It is very easy to say yes, yes, yes to get the deal, but what kind of service are you providing if you are doing a little in a lot of different areas? Wouldn't it make sense to hone your skills in only a couple of areas you enjoy the most? It is a really important lesson.

My business proudly only offer a handful of social media services at a reasonable price. Because it is very important to be THE person your client turns to and asks for your opinion when making advertising (or your field) decisions-I have a list of people that I trust that are in similar fields that I can recommend. 

Spend some time when you start your business networking with like minded individuals that will be good referrals when you are asked. Do not view them as competitors. If you choose wisely, these will also be a great source of leads and new business for you! 

For the first time or two, I would oversee slightly. At the very least, you want to make sure that when you refer them, they contact your client in a timely manner. In the same manner, when you are referred business in the same manner, please make an effort to contact them as close to immediately after you are referred. It is the right thing to do. 

Some of the referrals don't work out but it is beneficial to keep an open communications with these like minded businesses...I promise it will lead to new leads, more accounts and good karma. 

An added bonus, by referring someone responsible to help your client does them a huge favor and the trust they have for you and your business has grown.   

PS-As a business, be weary of the one to man operations that offer you tons of skill sets, especially in the area of social media and internet marketing. Bravo on their tenacity but its best to work with people who spend the time making themselves the best in ONE area, i.e. social media, email newsletters, web design...not all three. It is great to try to be an all-in-one stop, but make sure they have the staff to handle it.

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Manilla Launches 'Get It Together Challenge' to Help Consumers Get Financially Organized in 2013

Very excited for my friends at Manilla, that are encouraging us to Get It Together in the New Year!

Manilla, the leading, free and secure service that allows consumers to manage their bills and other personal accounts on desktop, tablet and mobile devices, launched today the Manilla Get It Together Challenge, a quarterly promotion that will help people across the nation become more organized in 2013.

The first round of the Get It Together Challenge will kick off with a New Year's theme, encouraging challengers to use Manilla to simplify and organize their lives. Challengers will be competing to win the I Got It Together $2,500 Grand Prize and other partner prizes, including shopping sprees at home, sports and clothing retailers. People can enter the Challenge on Manilla's Facebook page and share their progress with friends by posting badges on their Facebook walls. 

They can also enter directly at www.manilla.com/together.

"We like to engage both our existing users and prospects to provide them with new and exciting tools, like the Get It Together Challenge, to help support their financial goals for the new year and beyond," said Marc Karasu, VP of marketing for Manilla.

The Challenge's launch syncs up with New Year's to help consumers keep their organizational and financial resolutions. The launch also coincides with Manilla's milestone of delivering 5 million transactional emails since it came out of beta in 2012, which further establishes Manilla as the nation's leading digital mailbox service.

"The milestone of delivering more than 5 million transactional documents is another proof point of Manilla's customer value," Karasu said. "Customers are becoming more deeply engaged because we are making it easier for them to stay organized, feel empowered and use Manilla as part of their daily account management routine. The Get It Together Challenge will help take that interaction to the next level in 2013." 

In addition to the offering the Get It Together $2,500 Grand Prize and shopping sprees, Manilla's partner companies and content experts have provided prizes for the challengers that will help them get it together in a variety of ways. The list of prizes includes:

• Prizes from select partner companies
• Five Marketing for the Chic CEO e-Books from Chic-CEO.com
• A toolkit from retail savings site Hukkster (includes a portable iPhone charger, disposable flats, umbrella, NARS lipstick and more)
• $100 pre-loaded debit MasterCard from online and mobile banking service Refundo.com
• Hot Mamalah: The Ultimate Guide for Every Woman of the Tribe, a book by award-winning author Lisa Klug
• $25 Target gift card from GoMommaCoupons.com
• How Hot Is Your Product program from Tamara Monosoff of Mom Invented (includes a book, DVD and workbook set and a free Mom Inventors Handbook)
• 20,000 Shopcade bonus points to use on shopping site Shopcade.com
• 2013 inspirational calendar from Kesha Brown of UncommonChick.com
• $100 to use at Sweet Stella's Etsy shop from designer Shannon Moyer-Szemenyei
• $25 American Express gift certificate to use at the store of your choice on retail savings siteHipiti.com
• 60-minute phone consultation on home or office organizing with professional organizer Monica Ricci and a copy of her book, Organize Your Office In No Time
• Diva Mama Aromatherapy set from Shira Adler of Diva-Mama.com

Manilla's platform provides convenient, secure online access to all household accounts and services for more than 3,500 businesses. The free service helps consumers manage all of their household accounts, including financial accounts, utilities, subscriptions, daily deals and travel rewards programs, as well as personal accounts, like rent, babysitters, dog walkers or even the local dry cleaner, making Manilla's account coverage for customers complete through Manilla.com or via the Manilla Android or iOS mobile apps. 

About Manilla
Manilla organizes and simplifies people's lives by providing one secure access point to all household accounts and services. The free service helps consumers manage their household accounts, including financial accounts, utilities, subscriptions, daily deals, and travel rewards programs, all through Manilla.com. Consumers can also use all of the Manilla features on the go by using Manilla's 4+ star customer-rated Android and iOS mobile apps. Under a single password, Manilla gives customers an automated, organized view of all of their account information, text and email reminders to pay bills, renew expiring subscriptions, and manage soon-to-expire daily deals, all with unlimited storage and seamless document retrieval.

Manilla is a company incubated within and backed by Hearst Corporation. Manilla is the recipient of the 2012 Webby Award and People's Voice Award for Best Banking/Bill Pay Service, was chosen asABC News' App of the Week, and was named one of PCmag.com Top 100 Websites of 2012. For more information, please visit www.manilla.com.

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Guest Post-Leslie from AndGeeks

Empowering Your Mobile Employee’s Productivity

Four efficiency tips for female entrepreneurs

As a woman who owns her own small writing business, I’m often dependent on mobile technology to keep me attuned to my day-to-day business. For instance, I often work from cafes on my laptop between client meetings, I use my smart phone to connect with remote staff and potential business partners on a daily basis, and I use my tablet to touch base via email, Skype, and to share knowledge in cloud-computing type programs.

In this current mobile business environment, we don’t need to be in the office every day. In fact, most days myself and my staff don’t need to be in the office at all! I depend on the following mobile tools and processes to wire me into the day-to-day office stuff. This way, I’m confident that I can hire and source work on a remote basis, and know that I’m working with those with the best experience, and not hindered by location.

Here are four tips that I use as a female entrepreneur to empower the productivity of my mobile employees…

1. Develop a sense of community spirit

The more and more remote workers that I added to my staff; the more I realized how important it was to develop a sense of community—from a distance. Remote employees will typically feel a sense of isolation if they constantly work alone. I find the most efficient means to keep them productive and communicating with me and each other is via engagement. And I use tools like Linkedin, Facebook, and even Liquidspace for weekly check-ins, virtual meet-ups, show and tells, and Q&A’s to increase the remote community at my company.

2. Trust the security of the cloud

Cloud-based programs are great if you’re looking for a secure, accessible program to keep all of your business files. I use tools like Google Drive and DropBox, where my team of remote workers can access the files, images, and tools they need to do their jobs at a distance. These cloud sync storage programs allow me to share a project with a team and a client and manage all types of files—such as word documents, photos, spreadsheets, video, slide share, etc. Cloud storages offers the most efficient and secure way to collaborate and access documents from anywhere, from any device.

3. Supporting staff from a distance

Affirmation is absolutely necessary—even for remote employees. Not only does it ensure your remote staff feels valued; it also increases productivity and urges them to surpass deadlines, project specs, quotas, and knowledge sharing between workers. I find that rewarding remote staff for their accomplishments—with employee of the month or a monthly gift card for the best producer—keeps my staff invested in my company and its success!

4. Urge collaboration with communication

Working remotely can tend to weight on business communication. However, just because staff is cut off physically from each other, doesn’t mean they can’t use tools on laptops and tablets to bridge communication from a distance. I use Skype for instant text and video messaging throughout the work day to facilitate quick chats, team conference calls, and project meetings. It’s the regular communication that keeps my employees sharing knowledge, pushing the creativity envelope, and supporting each other from a distance.

About The Author

Leslie is one of the bloggers at AndGeeks who specializes in all things mobile and electronic. She’s an avid gadget geek and can often be found playing with the newest apps or testing Lenovo laptops and other electronic gadgets.

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