tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31829801852698368342024-03-19T02:31:20.929-07:00The Social StageHelping you and your business advance to the social stage.Lauren Mikovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14269890701849202929noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3182980185269836834.post-55050530595054203682019-01-01T09:45:00.000-08:002019-01-01T11:16:27.730-08:00Five New Year’s Resolutions to Level-Up Your Social Media GameIt’s time to ring in the New Year! That means celebrations, maybe some vacation days, and time to set your intentions and resolutions for 2019. We’re here to make the resolution part a little bit easier, with these five social media resolutions. We hope they’ll help support you and your business to go from coasting to thriving in 2019!<br />
<br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-703ce419-7fff-977e-f744-b42534d9c5d9"><img height="266" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/ZH7QCl12Ex-yzahIH5j_mklms17PXKPq9bK_TN11GYzVv64zjyy_aB2wluh5-mVwJtBOItWlvNJdi3qSNmYx1rTPFvwvep95JbxJ3A3oZZqExK_PsuhOQCUEIMiCGPqW2uiH3QqY" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="400" /></span><br />
<br />
<b>1) Wake up and smell the routine</b><br />
<br />
“I posted on Facebook and Instagram twice last week, four times the week before, and I don’t think I’ve done any posts for this week...but next week I’ll try to get back into it and post- maybe three times…”<br />
<br />
Sound familiar? You’re not alone in this struggle, but it really is an easy fix that can yield solid results. So if you only do one thing to improve your social media presence, let it be this! Get into a consistent schedule with your posts. Decide how many times a week you want to post on every platform, then stick to it. To do this, follow whichever method works for you - maybe you want to use your Google calendar to schedule mini appointments and reminders to write and/or post the content, or use the old school method of using a paper calendar as a physical visual of your plan. You also could create a spreadsheet that includes all of your platforms and the dates that you plan to post for each. The point is, get into a routine of weekly posts, and you’ll make your followers happy with the steady flow of content, plus you’ll pick up new followers along the way!<br />
<br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-3ecc8660-7fff-f71d-3188-17c0b4bd471f"><img height="265" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/tjaWWtkhW4ggIiGS2Qg4bYSyLoxOLMWy893rN3EerTTO-hZstq_x-Syza2mZY66fWBTQrk02ygumEXAwAnbzTfZwSGdP_hevjqtOP4BzmVC2F-utUXviDOcBT2rDkt47VDOwAapb" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="400" /></span><br />
<br />
<b>2) So fresh and so clean </b><br />
<br />
It’s time to clean up your act! But we’re not talking about literal dirt or even bad language. We’re talking about cleaning up your messaging and staying on brand. If the tone of your posts changes often, if the focus of your content seems to always shift, and if you don’t have a clear message threaded throughout all your posts, then it’s definitely time for some cleanup and brand clarity. One approach is to think about your brand as an individual person, with a personality and story that is all theirs, completely unique to them. What would he or she say? How would they act? If you’re not sure how to answer those questions, get your team together and brainstorm, so that you all know precisely who your brand is, and are all on the same page. When you get specific on who your brand is, then all your messaging should be aligned with that voice and style. And your core values should be communicated as a thread through all your posts.<br />
<br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-47e05603-7fff-adff-165c-af0c3ea838e0"><img height="265" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/9PXHPP9KZdkirnlSEjGGv4BjilTOguHUR2uxBv0W4LOsH5M_jYc3rceaL2WAy3bHc5svRLP9l2qYqjM_7pXxq07htZAjh4cd2IelWgIgKtYK80P8UG3cv3pChJewoH5sv9l8SOoD" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="400" /></span><br />
<br />
<b>3) Engage! </b><br />
<br />
Many businesses make the mistake of focusing only on the content they’re putting out, and they forget about connecting and engaging with their audience and potential customers. Don’t make this mistake! If this has been you, let 2019 be the year of engagement. Go to your followers’ social media pages/accounts, like their photos, comment when appropriate, and do so regularly. Then go to potential followers’ pages/accounts and do the same, and you’ll see your own followers increase. On Instagram and Twitter, an effective way to find potential followers is to search using relevant hashtags. If you already know the "how to" and the "why it’s important", but have had trouble making it happen, then add engagement as part of your scheduled weekly routine, in the same way that you set up time to create and post your content.<br />
<br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-f4cb1349-7fff-3245-ea8e-9d8da11c9ccf"><img height="214" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/OUi-jx1CTSS61bJRjnWzK0AzukxedmQx3yNVs1gVo33ZsFmj6fVqiPcuLD2_vWM5TdPPd7c14GPW6j06U5IGe7avIfFs5FnvuSnmI1q2i6aLhzjb46tYZXx_e0u4Ym_QdTZ49hkg" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="400" /></span><br />
<br />
<b>4) Should auld acquaintance be forgot… </b><br />
<br />
Something we often see when we start working with new companies is that they’re following a multitude of accounts on their social media platforms, many of which aren’t connected to them or to their business in any meaningful way. If that’s you, then it’s time to let some people go, so to speak. Set up some time to go through the list of who you’re following, and unfollow accounts that don’t make sense. For example, if you’re a restaurant in Seattle and you’re following a national shoe company. Maybe you really like the shoes, or they had a fun post you liked so you randomly followed them one day. That’s fine for your personal account of course, but it doesn’t really make sense in terms of your business. So go ahead and click “unfollow” and keep on filtering out superfluous accounts.<br />
<br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-db5c807f-7fff-71bd-9158-8ce75e28e11c"><img height="191" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Yyov86nziVAS_4wX5F_cQYsLi1L5VFUhXGy6Fc_08njgvYoFw2RiISYRPIOGLO5kmmaE8YqOBH_Ng7P5PQZquerT-_xDlhfGVnWJFAhUm02YucB6E8OevxHTYg_eATgefgi2DSdu" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="400" /></span><br />
<br />
<b>5) We get by with a little help from our friends. </b><br />
<br />
If you’re managing your company’s social media by yourself and are feeling overwhelmed, or if you’re working with a team but are unsure whether you have the right expertise involved, then it might be time to seek some help. If you’re experiencing the first issue (flying solo), then talk to the powers that be about how you could bring on other employees with social media management experience to share the load. If that isn’t an option or you don’t think your team has the necessary skills and expertise in the field, there are plenty of outside options to consider. A designated part-time employee could work well for you, or you could contract with an outside company to have them manage your social media. We admit that we’re biased, but for the latter option, The Social Stage is a great solution! We’d be happy to chat with you to see if we’d be a good fit for your needs.<br />
<br />
Best of luck with your Social Media Resolutions, as well as with your other 2019 goals. From our Social Stage family to yours, we wish you a very Happy New Year!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Lauren Mikovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14269890701849202929noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3182980185269836834.post-29560020429642010492018-08-15T15:30:00.000-07:002018-12-31T13:10:37.575-08:00Don't Shoot for Perfection<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZDJHDJmjx1Q8_dQIB-Z_HOQ8dHqbnUVDDscHkv7tQRbyHD4iMJ7LHk9Keg55vhrql3JbkmBduVW5OdoaykhgN_Ue2-hDoVuWjugCO2xgjfDUvABFN6ZiUMqj_GPhYg5xqNcWwitHDiIS/s1600/bullseye-926864_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="640" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZDJHDJmjx1Q8_dQIB-Z_HOQ8dHqbnUVDDscHkv7tQRbyHD4iMJ7LHk9Keg55vhrql3JbkmBduVW5OdoaykhgN_Ue2-hDoVuWjugCO2xgjfDUvABFN6ZiUMqj_GPhYg5xqNcWwitHDiIS/s320/bullseye-926864_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">You’ve probably heard the saying that “perfection is the enemy of ‘good enough’”, and in terms of starting up your social media presence for your business, this has never been more applicable. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A friend of mine recently started her own therapy business, and when I asked her why she doesn’t have any social media set up for her business yet, she said, “I’m working on it, but I don’t want to push it out there until it’s ready. What I have isn’t perfect yet, and I still have a lot of preparation to do before it gets there.” </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">My response? Don’t let your high level goals hold you back! Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to set lofty goals for your business and for what you envision for your company’s social media presence. But waiting to get started because of those standards will only set you back. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instead of waiting until you have all your social media platforms decided on and you’re ready with great content for each, start with just one. Facebook is a strong option, since you’re probably already familiar with it, or maybe go even simpler and begin with Instagram, if Facebook seems intimidating as a first step. The first part, a short bio for your business, might be something you can pull from your website if you’ve already gotten that set up. Or if you’re really starting from scratch, set a deadline for yourself for when you’ll launch the platform with the bio. and your first post. Don’t prolong it! Set a reasonable goal, like one week ahead, and stick with it. Ask a trusted friend or professional for a second opinion if you like, then go for it! Even if it’s not exactly what you had envisioned, it’s a start. You can go back and adjust it whenever you need, but at least you’ll have that step checked off the list. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now that you have at least one live platform, set yourself up for success by creating a schedule for releasing your content. This can seem daunting when you’re new to it, but it’s really quite simple. Start with deciding what you can realistically do in terms of your own time and bandwidth, which might only be two posts a week to begin with, and that’s totally fine! Then set a time where you’ll write those posts in one sitting, and at the same time schedule when you’d like to post them in the upcoming week. If you struggle to know what to write when you’re starting out, check out other professionals’ pages for inspiration. For example, if you’re a jewelry designer, take a look at some other designers’ pages and see what images and messages you’re most drawn to and what resonates with you. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next, once you’ve created content for the first week, there’s a number of ways to schedule the posts to be published in the upcoming week. If you’re using Facebook, you can save a draft of a post and then schedule what day and time it will be posted. For Instagram and Twitter you can eventually use a program like Hootsuite if you like, which is a place for you to write posts and also schedule for them to be posted automatically at times you choose. Alternately, there’s the old fashioned way of setting a calendar reminder on your phone to take a minute and publish them manually! Again, rather than waiting until you have all the bells and whistles set up in terms of programs to automatically publish your content, it’s better just to start with the simple old fashioned approach. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the end, if you’re still feeling like your head is spinning at the prospect of setting up your social media, then it might be time to ask for help. You might have someone on your team who already has a strong grasp on social media marketing and would be willing to help, or you could always give us a call at <a href="http://thesocialstage.com/contact" target="_blank">The Social Stage</a>, to see if we would be a good fit for your needs. Whichever route you choose, there’s no time like now! </span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Lauren Mikovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14269890701849202929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3182980185269836834.post-50533438286188173892018-03-12T13:34:00.000-07:002018-03-12T13:34:15.234-07:00Social Media Marketing Doesn’t Have to be a Chore<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTu4jF41ridgnBOXn1Q6MMRKlJE9r_g1HHKM_u-HT0AGDMvnJ4LbXTrxSv6IU8wFdvQfp6omJhgCFF94hRIhpK59g2m7Ts9bCXiTICSr7cjkUboMSeQeQQrhBdFeHuWCBEgQGiO2hfpVJb/s1600/agreement-2642610_640.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTu4jF41ridgnBOXn1Q6MMRKlJE9r_g1HHKM_u-HT0AGDMvnJ4LbXTrxSv6IU8wFdvQfp6omJhgCFF94hRIhpK59g2m7Ts9bCXiTICSr7cjkUboMSeQeQQrhBdFeHuWCBEgQGiO2hfpVJb/s320/agreement-2642610_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We all have had “that” coworker, who is a literal chore to deal with, in almost every way. You cringe when they get in the elevator with you. And you certainly don’t want to be stuck sitting next to them at an all-hands meeting or company dinner.<br />
<br />
Do not let social media marketing be that coworker! Unfortunately, so many professionals do. Many of the small business owners that we chat with about their social media work seem instantly fatigued when discussing it. It’s clearly a very unenjoyable part of their job. Perhaps it’s because they’re spread thin and they feel that they’re juggling too many responsibilities in too little time. Or maybe it’s because they are overwhelmed by it, since they don’t understand how to navigate the work. Either way, running your social media presence does not have to be such a chore.<br />
<br />
Our perspective on social media outreach is one centered on <i>connection. </i>We believe that following this principle can make the job a fun one.<br />
<br />
Let’s say that you’re the person running your company’s social media marketing. Chances are you also have your own personal social media presence. You probably like your friends’ photos, and comment on their posts and updates. This is all done in your free time, and is something you genuinely enjoy, right? So why does doing this exact thing for your company have to be such a heavy task? All that’s required is a perspective shift.<br />
<br />
Social media marketing isn’t only about creating content. It’s about engaging with your current customer base and with potential customers.<br />
<br />
Engaging with them is the same as what you do when you engage with your own friends and connections on your free time, but within the style and context of your brand. On Instagram, for example, you can start by liking and commenting on the posts of people who have already interacted with your posts. You should also interact with any posts or comments where you are mentioned. Another way to interact with your customers that can make a big difference is to repost their content. Two options for that approach would be to include their pictures in your posts (and credit them for the photo) or quote them in a post.<br />
<br />
These are just a few examples of fun, simple ways you can engage with your customers, which will help to expand your social media following.<br />
<br />
All that being said, if you feel like you’re already doing these engagement practices and you’re still feeling like the work is burdensome, then maybe it’s time to delegate. If you really enjoy the content writing, then divvy up the tasks so that you can continue to write while another staff member takes on the engagement piece. Or vice versa, depending on what part of it you like doing. Of course, if a perspective shift is a struggle for you or if you still feel like you don’t have the bandwidth to manage it, we at The Social Stage are also happy to help tackle any and all of your social media tasks. We love what we do, and we promise we won’t ever be that annoying coworker you don’t want to sit next to at the holiday party.Lauren Mikovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14269890701849202929noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3182980185269836834.post-45330787126060099722017-05-30T07:49:00.003-07:002017-05-30T07:49:56.465-07:00Measuring Social Media ROI in Real Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXeq-F1su1adTwG23QLvidVYG_BIr3tDYX05JYVM9hGoxBFAn2Oudrx3tlxCkkBFUkVCMNpGFygSx9dgbfam0GWT8hxXoVUgoPr2ZHmyeIvsRKqaOj1mNgrPpfFV2cqVO7eXKIxEs4FnJT/s1600/clothing-store-984396_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXeq-F1su1adTwG23QLvidVYG_BIr3tDYX05JYVM9hGoxBFAn2Oudrx3tlxCkkBFUkVCMNpGFygSx9dgbfam0GWT8hxXoVUgoPr2ZHmyeIvsRKqaOj1mNgrPpfFV2cqVO7eXKIxEs4FnJT/s320/clothing-store-984396_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The other day, someone impressed the heck out of me by doing something that few businesses do well: he asked how I heard about his company. This is an essential piece of the social media strategy puzzle, especially for brick-and-mortar businesses, and often a missing piece. When a retail client asks me how their social media strategy is doing, my response is usually, "Well, you tell me?" I can track and report from my end what kind of reach and engagement their posts are getting, but success for them is most often measured by an increase of foot traffic and physical sales. If businesses aren't asking customers where they are coming from, they will never know if their social media efforts are paying off.<br />
<br />
"But won't that seem weird?" No one is going to be put off by being asked how they found you. (Well, there are always exceptions, but they are few and far between!) If someone is browsing your small retail store, a simple "Hey, welcome in! How did you hear about us?" can work wonders. Another thing to keep in mind is that you don't have to wait to ask them until you close a transaction. But if chatting them up is out of place, your point-of-sale system may give you a short survey option for them to fill out as they're checking out.<br />
<br />
To make this process worthwhile, make it more than just anecdotal evidence. Create a way to track it systematically, whether it's a spreadsheet, a physical piece of paper, or a relationship management software.<br />
<br />
If it's overwhelming for you or your staff to work this type of tracking into your everyday business routine, simplify it. Try it once a week or once a month. Something is better than nothing, so even an occasional snapshot will give you an idea of how effective your social media efforts are.<br />
<br />
This post is an extension of a quote I gave to fellow Social Media Today contributor Steve Rayson for <a href="http://socialmediatoday.com/steve-rayson/2351396/how-use-social-analytics-improve-your-performance">his post about social analytics</a>. Kudos to Steve for getting my creative juices flowing on this topic.<br />
<br />
As always, if you have questions on social media best practices, I'd love to hear them. Please <a href="http://thesocialstage.com/contact/" target="_blank">get in touch via my website</a>.Lauren Mikovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14269890701849202929noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3182980185269836834.post-57276665033103761052017-04-28T17:17:00.003-07:002017-04-28T17:17:51.821-07:00Social Media is About InteractionsMy approach to social media is focused on social <u>networking</u>, not social <u>marketing</u>. Marketing and sales happen, but as a result of successful interaction and engagement with customers.<br />
<br />
I watched the <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/pope_francis_why_the_only_future_worth_building_includes_everyone?language=en" target="_blank">Pope's TED Talk</a> yesterday and was struck by one key point he made: "each and everyone's existence is deeply tied to that of others: life is not time merely passing by, life is about interactions." The same can be said for how people use social media. The endless streams of posts are not merely flowing through our news feeds; they represent moments of connection, both actual and potential.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgZojkyHqsX45HjzGoALUzYa-uJQRdGlJMzQktRpf9LsbQITBLITrE8IH0EAUn1TrICdYklOc36z4RjnxVsik4r9yorw2AM0bt0v8EVTtzjXJbv9sySejnaU9AlQj9PAxlMB28i_jNTdC/s1600/4-28.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgZojkyHqsX45HjzGoALUzYa-uJQRdGlJMzQktRpf9LsbQITBLITrE8IH0EAUn1TrICdYklOc36z4RjnxVsik4r9yorw2AM0bt0v8EVTtzjXJbv9sySejnaU9AlQj9PAxlMB28i_jNTdC/s320/4-28.JPG" width="312" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
When someone posts on their social media accounts, they are, whether actively or passively, seeking a connection, whether with individuals or with brands. They are sharing a bit of themselves with the world, with the understanding that by doing so, they open themselves up to connections with others.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojb0Ue1vRbUmYDMhllvHmpgOKVm1NlZO8WsGLlcVhUfDorZS8mBthP0Uxpuh-Wn-DHiFANJ0qe8YXLQiAcZ4wRuxC6L6wqd8d5wWRhNjqZFdn2ayaj0t_4mQ19707fW3erM_rVUosInu2/s1600/4-28+c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojb0Ue1vRbUmYDMhllvHmpgOKVm1NlZO8WsGLlcVhUfDorZS8mBthP0Uxpuh-Wn-DHiFANJ0qe8YXLQiAcZ4wRuxC6L6wqd8d5wWRhNjqZFdn2ayaj0t_4mQ19707fW3erM_rVUosInu2/s320/4-28+c.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>
<br />
Capitalizing on this element of connection is what the most successful brands (and people) on social media are doing right. The brands with the least effective (and most cringeworthy) social media presence are either ignoring the power of these connections, or <a href="https://www.recode.net/2017/3/26/15065644/a-meta-story-about-twitter-is-not-a-good-url" target="_blank">getting them completely wrong</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfIGIdl-V9gQGMrDqSp8hHXDw3hO_LVbAz3y2XQHZcyTWe7AKukKn645Pbgw_3HAWHkNqUIgKtzwK0bFd8ZdfcD0qJGQylFjhvZNmJrz9_G9xjkvcU8c1kHvzJFaOD89ZKGXfKnI25qyOx/s1600/4-28+b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfIGIdl-V9gQGMrDqSp8hHXDw3hO_LVbAz3y2XQHZcyTWe7AKukKn645Pbgw_3HAWHkNqUIgKtzwK0bFd8ZdfcD0qJGQylFjhvZNmJrz9_G9xjkvcU8c1kHvzJFaOD89ZKGXfKnI25qyOx/s320/4-28+b.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When customers and fans tag a brand in a post, they do so with the understanding, if not expectation, that the brand is listening and could potentially respond to them. Often, customers will turn to social media for customer service before interacting with a representative in person. Brand evangelists, as well as would-be influencers, engage with brand accounts in the hopes of elevating their own credibility and influence.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Whether social media user interactions are positive or negative, truly enthusiastic or self-serving, the best brands are listening and responding. Are you?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>If your business needs help listening and connecting to your fans, customers and prospects on social media, please <a href="http://thesocialstage.com/contact" target="_blank">get in touch</a>.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Happy Networking!</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Lauren</i></div>
<br />Lauren Mikovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14269890701849202929noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3182980185269836834.post-50013780424864943992017-03-20T12:38:00.000-07:002017-03-20T12:39:16.852-07:00Are You Missing Social Media Opportunities?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59-4VUH4r8qdDgPYV7zeh123Lz5MmIcuDfRDAZo5u9x91lVhRJIUu_mr13e46j6j8mv0owwhB2pDqy5_LjR9NdhHbXjOAlfvRURG1Wq4upI8M4btwJyJ7GtNVWJ7yxgTGtkR7RE6Mp4MC/s1600/missed+opportunity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59-4VUH4r8qdDgPYV7zeh123Lz5MmIcuDfRDAZo5u9x91lVhRJIUu_mr13e46j6j8mv0owwhB2pDqy5_LjR9NdhHbXjOAlfvRURG1Wq4upI8M4btwJyJ7GtNVWJ7yxgTGtkR7RE6Mp4MC/s400/missed+opportunity.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">No one likes to be talked about behind their back. So, when it comes to social media, why are so many business owners okay with letting that happen? Here are four ways businesses miss opportunities to connect with their customers and prospects on social media, and what they should be doing instead:</span><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Ignoring Yelp Reviews: </b>"My Yelp reviews are almost all four or five stars. I don't need to respond to them, right?" I've heard this countless times from business owners who are only checking their Yelp listings once a month, or less. If someone was raving about you in person, you wouldn't ignore them, would you? Thanking someone for a rave review is a great way to keep them coming back to your business! Claiming your Yelp listing (another step many businesses miss) and monitoring reviews on a regular basis ensures that less positive reviews don't slip through the cracks. Responding to each review you receive, positive or negative, shows that you are responsive and on top of your customer service. This applies to other review sites as well, like Google and even Facebook.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Ignoring Facebook Interactions: </b>From check-ins and messages to wall posts and even simple comments, some businesses just ignore interactions from people on Facebook. They do so at the risk of damaging their relationship with people leaving positive interactions, and further angering those with negative interactions. Negative feedback can also have a snowball effect, with others chiming in when you don't see or respond to the first interaction. Following up on each interaction instead ensures that you will maintain positive relationships with happy customers and that you will control the conversation around negative interactions.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Missing Twitter Mentions:</b> Savvy Twitter users know that often the best way to reach out to an organization for customer service is by mentioning them in a tweet. A company that isn't monitoring their mentions closely risks the ire of people who can't get in touch with them. Instead, follow up on mentions with a response, like or retweet, and follow the user if appropriate. Following a user shows them that you care about what they have to say, and allows you to engage with them in the future, whether they're talking about your business or not. Creating a private list of users who have mentioned you in the past is another good way to keep track of customers for future outreach opportunities.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Missing Instagram Tags:</b> Especially if a business has a physical address and a Facebook Page, there's a good chance people have tagged their location in Instagram photos. Businesses, or their representatives, should monitor photos tagged at their location and follow up on these posts by following the user, if appropriate, and liking and commenting on the post. This also applies to mentions and hashtags using the business's handle and name. Regramming and sharing these photos on other social social media channels is also a great source of content for you!</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">These missed opportunities on social media happen for a few reasons. Sometimes it's because businesses are afraid of negative interactions, or don't know how to respond in general. Sometimes it's because they see social media only as a sales tool, and not as an opportunity to connect with current and prospective fans and customers. Most often it's because the business owners and staff don't have time to keep up with their social media interactions. If any of these apply to you and your business, I can help. Please don't hesitate to <a href="http://thesocialstage.com/contact" target="_blank">get in touch</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Happy Networking!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Lauren</span>Lauren Mikovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14269890701849202929noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3182980185269836834.post-59825832405183407032017-01-12T17:07:00.003-08:002017-01-12T17:07:54.942-08:00Your Business Needs a Social Media Checkup - Here are 5 Reasons Why<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn9OVdNrweJEmsNa2B05qZpd5WMEw0_TUUQohOjgcoCovREadaR24mOeJSUi72flAcNKcOUPJpOv9NrW2eQBBTotUM-7Gik_1v-fg_yA8qhkPRqKSFZAnLj7H_3HGI7F6Gdg2i-T8H_pth/s1600/office-594132_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn9OVdNrweJEmsNa2B05qZpd5WMEw0_TUUQohOjgcoCovREadaR24mOeJSUi72flAcNKcOUPJpOv9NrW2eQBBTotUM-7Gik_1v-fg_yA8qhkPRqKSFZAnLj7H_3HGI7F6Gdg2i-T8H_pth/s320/office-594132_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
January is a great time to review your social media strategy
and the content you’ve posted to make sure you’re on track. Review these items
to stay on top of your social media presence in 2017.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ol>
<li><b>Goals</b> – Your
business may have different goals now than it did last year, several years ago,
or whenever you got started on social media. Whether you’re trying to generate
walk-in business or to send people to your website, having clear goals in mind
will help you establish an effective social media strategy.</li>
<li><b>Target Demographic </b>–
Is your target demographic the same now as it was when you started? Your target may have
shifted, or your demographic’s favorite social network may have changed. You
may need to add a new network like Instagram or Snapchat to make sure you are
still reaching them.</li>
<li><b>Content Mix </b>– You
may have fallen into a pattern without realizing it, posting the same type of
content (photos, links, plain text) or even the same wording all the time
without realizing it. You may also be focusing too heavily on selling your
business rather than developing a relationship with your customers and
prospects. Reviewing your content mix will help you freshen up your content and
generate new engagement from your audience.</li>
<li><b>Industry Trends </b>–
Monitoring trends like live video as they gain popularity and assessing whether
they’re right for your business can help you make the most of your social media
presence. But be careful not to jump on trends right away. I’ve found the best
practice is to watch and learn from early adopters to see if the trend is a
good fit and how you can best utilize it to your advantage.</li>
<li><b>Consistency </b>– Review
your post frequency to see if your social media activity is consistent. It’s a
lot to keep up with! There may be long gaps between posts without you realizing
it, if you’re not keeping track. If you’re having trouble keeping up, it may be
time to bring in outside help. Consistency can also be an issue when it comes
to voice and tone. If multiple people are contributing to your company’s social
media presence, your audience may be confused by inconsistency in your brand’s
voice.</li>
</ol>
My best wishes for the year ahead and if you have any
questions or need any help with your social media presence, please <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://thesocialstage.com/contact/" target="_blank">contact me</a>.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Lauren Mikovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14269890701849202929noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3182980185269836834.post-79739843082656755672016-10-25T14:43:00.000-07:002016-10-25T14:43:04.639-07:00The Absolute Worst Thing a Business Can Do on Social Media<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXYKWoE0cSXDktgPCzCBXERWxOAnKtpPafs3RaCbU-X2kdoi3TGcu_cLk-m3EhxaTGSGSdSgbyvX_zBJ0a4yDcSIBNqKRsyff-qjv-YbOXBtWUtDa77933QRcm7tPr8X71qKdIrFgrcwb/s1600/road-sign-464641_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXYKWoE0cSXDktgPCzCBXERWxOAnKtpPafs3RaCbU-X2kdoi3TGcu_cLk-m3EhxaTGSGSdSgbyvX_zBJ0a4yDcSIBNqKRsyff-qjv-YbOXBtWUtDa77933QRcm7tPr8X71qKdIrFgrcwb/s320/road-sign-464641_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
If you were to ask me the number one mistake business owners make when trying to do their own social media, I might be tempted to say overselling their product or service. Social media is a networking tool, not a megaphone! Beyond that, there is one thing that is even worse: buying likes/followers. Here are my top four reasons why buying followers is a bad idea, and what business owners should do instead.<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><b>When you buy followers, they are usually FAKE. </b>When I go through the thousands of followers a new client has purchased before hiring me, they're often extremely obvious bots. That, or they're accounts like my client's: they've given a paid like/follow service access to their account, and therefore their account has liked/followed thousands of similar accounts. They may also be "click farmers" - real people who are paid to like/follow a client's accounts. For more on click-farming, check out <a href="https://youtu.be/oVfHeWTKjag" target="_blank">this excellent video by Veritasium</a>.</li>
<li><b>Fake followers drive down post reach. </b>Fake followers usually have absolutely no relevance to your business. Their only benefit is to drive up your overall follower counts. With social networks across the board implementing news feed algorithms, having thousands of fake followers who aren't engaging with your content often means that your post reach dwindles away to nothing.</li>
<li><b>Fake followers max out follow caps. </b>If you purchase thousands of likes or follows from a spam service, chances are your account will follow thousands of accounts to get there, and you will quickly reach your follow limit on Twitter and Instagram. That will prevent you from following other accounts that are actually relevant to your business.</li>
<li><b>Buying fake followers can open you up to hackers and credit card fraud.</b> <a href="http://thenextweb.com/twitter/2012/12/15/fake-followers-an-easy-game-but-not-worth-the-risk/" target="_blank">As explained here</a>, people who are willing to take your money to hook you up with fake followers may also be willing to sell your info to others. Stay safe! This aspect of the trade is especially troubling to me when I see my client's accounts followed real teens and even tweens who only posted a few times on Instagram and had clearly used the same follower purchasing company to drive up their numbers.</li>
</ol>
Instead of buying fans and followers from a shady service who tags you in a post or direct messages you, here's what to do instead:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Generate organic social media growth by following and engaging with legitimate accounts.</li>
<li>Create extremely targeted ads through native ad platforms to attract legitimate fans/followers. Yes, you may still get a few fake followers this way, but the more specific you are (think demographics, regions, interest keywords, languages spoken, etc) the more likely you are to find real people.</li>
<li>Instead of paying someone with questionable ethics to get a few hundred or a few thousand fake followers, hire a real social media manager to create both organic and paid social media growth.</li>
</ul>
Lauren Mikovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14269890701849202929noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3182980185269836834.post-42279181259442813512016-07-07T13:44:00.000-07:002016-07-07T13:46:07.237-07:00Don't Wait to Get Started on Social Media<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhYMgVvsjDTvwmSE6pq8qbm8xeW5LySfoxrMkAKSNCbUA233yHtyNW9_ZDMB2gh4SrfrOBMFycDzgIfnnBiT69WTCUEvVJTkrsuvDqcriBQrJDaTvLfH6yPHMfZctwjy19HSqAYOMFWJZG/s1600/beehive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhYMgVvsjDTvwmSE6pq8qbm8xeW5LySfoxrMkAKSNCbUA233yHtyNW9_ZDMB2gh4SrfrOBMFycDzgIfnnBiT69WTCUEvVJTkrsuvDqcriBQrJDaTvLfH6yPHMfZctwjy19HSqAYOMFWJZG/s320/beehive.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
One thing I hear fairly often when talking with business owners, especially small, family-owned businesses, is that they are so busy and that business is going so well that they don't need social media. And/or that they'll wait until their slower season to get started. Here's why I encourage them not to wait.<br />
<br />
If you haven't been on social media at all during your busy season, it's going to be a rough start during your slow season. That's because of the algorithm that determines whether or not people see your posts. Facebook has had them for a while, and Twitter and Instagram are getting started now too. One of the main factors that influence the algorithms is whether or not someone has interacted with you recently. When you haven't been online for a while, or ever, your posts are less relevant and have less of a chance of showing up in people's feeds.<br />
<br />
The busy season is the best time to capitalize on existing customer engagement. When you're busy, you can extend customer interactions to the social space, or find and celebrate existing social interactions that you may not even be aware of, and increase your visibility. Capturing those positive interactions with your fans now will keep them interacting with you during your slow season, and generate viral reach to their friends.<br />
<br />
So what are you waiting for? Get out there and socialize!<br />
<br />
If you need help, I'm always happy to answer questions.Lauren Mikovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14269890701849202929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3182980185269836834.post-24537548983521346392016-02-19T15:32:00.001-08:002016-02-19T15:43:48.731-08:00Like Facebook Pages as Your Facebook Business Page - Social Media Basics<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Liking other Facebook Pages with your Facebook Business Page is a simple business-to-business outreach and engagement technique. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Pages you like will receive a notification that your Business Page liked them, and hopefully they will like your Page in return and interact with your content.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPdl6OUqaPhwjSW7CBbukQSUD_mdTfnXJLfk9uN_tsxTTY73cBKUu8Rx-IQmORKlzbNybCzMC-nBnIFzblsv2ouv1D605UBuPUHNbvoWJbZspULYuRsj52iAEJyxjLzXMF2hHIYQPbizR/s1600/like+as+page.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPdl6OUqaPhwjSW7CBbukQSUD_mdTfnXJLfk9uN_tsxTTY73cBKUu8Rx-IQmORKlzbNybCzMC-nBnIFzblsv2ouv1D605UBuPUHNbvoWJbZspULYuRsj52iAEJyxjLzXMF2hHIYQPbizR/s400/like+as+page.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Pages you like will appear publicly on your Business Page under "Liked By This Page." </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPbN3i63XWJIUDnjU-rf999CzqPe6mDq3rpKqkAVfzTON2u6majmHrPh5NiY1-t2gT78IaCwjtYNRVChB3UufPxY5RmoyueXpfopm5aPpep5IDKcaVG17aWO-Gsbhnzuoaswwv7K9pkCH/s1600/liked+by+page.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPbN3i63XWJIUDnjU-rf999CzqPe6mDq3rpKqkAVfzTON2u6majmHrPh5NiY1-t2gT78IaCwjtYNRVChB3UufPxY5RmoyueXpfopm5aPpep5IDKcaVG17aWO-Gsbhnzuoaswwv7K9pkCH/s320/liked+by+page.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The few featured Pages will rotate regularly, displaying up to five Pages. If you want certain Pages to always appear on that list, you can choose them in the Featured tab of your Settings page.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEYefKuNewjXPNWzUzb9yTpblyXlLlMvXf0OiDHLRx92kPFhGT3-IPYrDs8l6rRVPicBxeO4PM_Tku6G09va2w7CBe2EOViPfAojGo-3S3fadHUD29XmvFf8gYx_93z5xJwoVrjYIrNn3/s1600/featured+tab.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEYefKuNewjXPNWzUzb9yTpblyXlLlMvXf0OiDHLRx92kPFhGT3-IPYrDs8l6rRVPicBxeO4PM_Tku6G09va2w7CBe2EOViPfAojGo-3S3fadHUD29XmvFf8gYx_93z5xJwoVrjYIrNn3/s400/featured+tab.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Clicking on the small "Liked By This Page" list will bring up the full list of Pages your Page likes. This list is also visible to the public. Clicking on the dropdown next to the Page name will allow you to get notifications from the Pages your Page likes, to see their posts in your personal News Feed, or to unlike them as your Page.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIym4-2sfioU-igdeS2SR8pff0Ln53y__7hyTZnwtOlBMU702iZy-ChRH_jYzGkmZp4o-i3eXM5d-TgZcHBbJQEAEMR9MueM5CEqg16gC6wfgAvaSgT-swc-MFuuZ_YpkD0ttjmjXXmy3k/s1600/Page+Likes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIym4-2sfioU-igdeS2SR8pff0Ln53y__7hyTZnwtOlBMU702iZy-ChRH_jYzGkmZp4o-i3eXM5d-TgZcHBbJQEAEMR9MueM5CEqg16gC6wfgAvaSgT-swc-MFuuZ_YpkD0ttjmjXXmy3k/s320/Page+Likes.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On the flipside, you can see the full list of Pages that like your Page under Settings - People and Other Pages - Pages That Like This Page. If you want to remove or ban a Page from liking your Page, click on the settings wheel to the right of that Page's name in the list.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuC0gEBpw6mrqQta5PVLMYQqFcr4G2ESUY130IMPpfItnLKCurLsJXmxktwxuHLSoZasHOPFh4OiBsUlncnaoweEnkUeRdJ2J6pHTrfWnuWy4LWlWaElx03r9F3Gg0nI5RCv3XUO6XEtto/s1600/pages+like+list.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuC0gEBpw6mrqQta5PVLMYQqFcr4G2ESUY130IMPpfItnLKCurLsJXmxktwxuHLSoZasHOPFh4OiBsUlncnaoweEnkUeRdJ2J6pHTrfWnuWy4LWlWaElx03r9F3Gg0nI5RCv3XUO6XEtto/s400/pages+like+list.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When you like Pages as your Business Page, their content will appear in your Page's News Feed. To view that Feed, visit the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bookmarks/pages" target="_blank">Facebook Business Page bookmark page</a> and click "Log In" next to the name of your Page. From there, you will navigate Facebook as your Page, and be able to like new Pages by looking them up in the search bar, and interact with content you see in the News Feed. The blue top navigation menu will show you that you are using Facebook as your Business Page. To switch back, click the dropdown arrow at the right of the top navigation bar, and click your Profile name.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDYmD2wz-5kSLGW9FlkkCKvIFXkbTQ4dsf4vShzTZL9yE1zc1a9Ep2IPOYS-AvGNgu6NPY5gZcP3MnWTWidn0mBXt8i2DSuWSIcmBNgo6cC9Eses7S5Ylf8nusrPE6Xyzj-b80l4A3vY0/s1600/use+facebook+as+page.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="40" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDYmD2wz-5kSLGW9FlkkCKvIFXkbTQ4dsf4vShzTZL9yE1zc1a9Ep2IPOYS-AvGNgu6NPY5gZcP3MnWTWidn0mBXt8i2DSuWSIcmBNgo6cC9Eses7S5Ylf8nusrPE6Xyzj-b80l4A3vY0/s400/use+facebook+as+page.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can also see the full list of Pages your Business Page likes, as well as the News Feed from those pages, anytime on your Pages Feed. To visit it, go to https://www.facebook.com/<span style="background-color: yellow;">[your Page username]</span>/pages_feed</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVchn3kpulyMtGLKOiTw13uatxV6UfHhqiZHb4nKfsC7cGDVAjAppg0GZEbiZewfQk-jU8MucmI1Zujo6r9Woh9L3N_LoCzCIktouFnsKtjt1q6okEOFX7AWmjRquj3-Ywm73E5Znl_g84/s1600/pages+feed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVchn3kpulyMtGLKOiTw13uatxV6UfHhqiZHb4nKfsC7cGDVAjAppg0GZEbiZewfQk-jU8MucmI1Zujo6r9Woh9L3N_LoCzCIktouFnsKtjt1q6okEOFX7AWmjRquj3-Ywm73E5Znl_g84/s400/pages+feed.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Have fun exploring Facebook and liking Pages as your Business Page! If you have any questions about this process or need help managing your Facebook Business Page, please <a href="http://thesocialstage.com/contact/" target="_blank">get in touch via my website</a>.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Lauren Mikovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14269890701849202929noreply@blogger.com79tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3182980185269836834.post-67764630346889792982016-02-08T15:53:00.001-08:002016-02-08T16:01:11.521-08:00A Quick & Simple Way to Generate Facebook Page Engagement<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHJNrXJ9Mq5L8tuqAt-Y1suv8lsHooVwQH1Bdqvk99C6ux8yjWX69qdgSNJjIjNThhcu1YibPoLnpeIleXoYfiSewrTbLc9st4bhMW7lmHpNkO6iRPH-88-4sf8F0VmQo74XDbmJWuJx-/s1600/2-8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHJNrXJ9Mq5L8tuqAt-Y1suv8lsHooVwQH1Bdqvk99C6ux8yjWX69qdgSNJjIjNThhcu1YibPoLnpeIleXoYfiSewrTbLc9st4bhMW7lmHpNkO6iRPH-88-4sf8F0VmQo74XDbmJWuJx-/s400/2-8.png" width="321" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Because of the way Facebook's EdgeRank algorithm filters the News Feed, Page managers need to be creative to generate authentic engagement. One quick and easy technique, especially for smaller businesses and solopreneurs, is to send individual Facebook post links to family, friends and customers to ask for engagement. If you're annoyed that people who might particularly be interested in a certain post aren't seeing it, make it happen by sending them the direct link to that post. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The timestamp to the post is the link. You can either right click on it and use your browser's dropdown menu to copy the link, or left click to open the individual post and copy the url from there. (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/thesocialstage/posts/978213138910617" target="_blank">Click here</a> to see what that looks like.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This technique works best when you choose a post that has particular meaning for the person or people you're sending the link to, and when you provide a specific call to action. For example, a skincare representative might send the link to a post about a particular product to a client who has used that product, and ask her to share her experience in a comment on the post. Or an auto mechanic might post a photo of a client's car and send him the link, asking him to like or share the post to his friends.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Since EdgeRank factors in a person's recent engagement with the Page to determine whether they should see more posts from it, this technique will also make the people you send post links to more likely to see your posts in the future. It's the engagement gift that keeps on giving!</span>Lauren Mikovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14269890701849202929noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3182980185269836834.post-87544407217145657172016-01-09T12:57:00.001-08:002016-01-09T12:57:39.099-08:00Need Help Updating Your LinkedIn Profile?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiweZFMEtiKY7IeWZBOs52EW-os4krb2_lcutjqOvrf8jj02-ZolbFRbplCTj7kpeWgn64M2XmFUsc-GBs8e7RhsLpbl4XEDKu8CmHayoihJPTkKOVPmpPm07MfQ5GY9v4bSQpJmXj6bdmr/s1600/linkedin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiweZFMEtiKY7IeWZBOs52EW-os4krb2_lcutjqOvrf8jj02-ZolbFRbplCTj7kpeWgn64M2XmFUsc-GBs8e7RhsLpbl4XEDKu8CmHayoihJPTkKOVPmpPm07MfQ5GY9v4bSQpJmXj6bdmr/s320/linkedin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
As a businessperson, you might have heard that LinkedIn is important if you're looking for a new job. LinkedIn is also an essential to build your personal brand in your current position! You can use LinkedIn as your online resume and as a professional networking tool to post updates, articles and photos, just like you would on a Facebook Page or Profile. You can also receive testimonials (called <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/recs" target="_blank">LinkedIn Recommendations</a>) from your LinkedIn contacts for work you've done in the past and in your current position.<br />
<br />
If you need help updating your LinkedIn profile, learning how to post updates, and managing LinkedIn Recommendations, I am available for hourly consulting. Here's a LinkedIn Recommendation I received for this type of work from a recent client:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>"Lauren was a great help in helping me update my LinkedIn profile. I was able to add 10 new testimonials to my profile. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>What she accomplished in 30 minutes what it would have taken me days. She is extremely knowledgeable and a great resource that I would highly recommend." - Brad Hunt, American Pacific Mortgage </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If you need hourly consultation to clean up your LinkedIn profile, please <a href="http://thesocialstage.com/contact/" target="_blank">contact me via my website</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Happy networking!</div>
Lauren Mikovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14269890701849202929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3182980185269836834.post-924301733435618662015-10-23T17:41:00.001-07:002015-10-23T17:58:16.162-07:00How and Why to Use Facebook's Save FeatureWhenever I see someone post something with a caption like "saving this for later" I cringe. You see, last summer Facebook introduced a feature that should have done away with that type of post. The problem is too many people are oblivious to its existence.<br />
<br />
Facebook's "Save" feature allows users to save any type of Facebook post (link, photo, video, etc) for later viewing or sharing, or just for posterity. It organizes saved items according to category. For social media managers especially, the Save feature is a handy way to collect ideas and items to use later, since Page shares can't be scheduled in advance. For regular users, saving items saves your friends the headache of seeing yet another "For later" post in their News Feed. Because of the <a href="http://edgerank.net/" target="_blank">EdgeRank</a> filtering algorithm, it also means that they'll see more of the things you want them to see, like and comment on.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7p5HFbhca8cl1d-6vBUpcy0JPQqT9DyB-mjjF_6PVfG9-IcHohLOPv7UYcsd0V3QustVsDAyrMXuyeSBwQNnJLrzLxQwbuKF511bk9ZfLheQDG9S0KqHPYC1M7jlbuu-ovTziUxJRMvT2/s1600/10-22+save+for+later.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7p5HFbhca8cl1d-6vBUpcy0JPQqT9DyB-mjjF_6PVfG9-IcHohLOPv7UYcsd0V3QustVsDAyrMXuyeSBwQNnJLrzLxQwbuKF511bk9ZfLheQDG9S0KqHPYC1M7jlbuu-ovTziUxJRMvT2/s400/10-22+save+for+later.png" width="290" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's what not to do. The original post even contains a call to action that the save feature is intended to replace: "Share to save this to your timeline!!!" This type of call to action can actually decrease the reach of posts by brands because of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/business/news/update-to-facebook-news-feed" target="_blank">last November's news feed changes</a> to discourage promotional language and "click baiting." </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhOrNyiWZ_n6OXjEa3IAfAC0KnpqaIFHX9ly-MA0jPysK2X27Fcmf9dvJOBrGjxBAg1tsjsqraxjRVdrfaicKJFOdojCyjIY7Y_oBsVctpVs98uixWfL0BYMp4-IDOhP5PAtxIIjKjXmi/s1600/10-22+Save+Link.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhOrNyiWZ_n6OXjEa3IAfAC0KnpqaIFHX9ly-MA0jPysK2X27Fcmf9dvJOBrGjxBAg1tsjsqraxjRVdrfaicKJFOdojCyjIY7Y_oBsVctpVs98uixWfL0BYMp4-IDOhP5PAtxIIjKjXmi/s400/10-22+Save+Link.png" width="352" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click on the dropdown arrow at the top right corner of any post and then click "Save." </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyUwwLZv9zHTl2uB6JXpSoBhYugKcW8ckpLy8-nHkdohbbDBeeFm_SF66KAZon5EuwH71CI_vpjq4eb550e9KjN7oy-n2_O7ehdrDWO2sNJm4xRHRXS2ormmY9y5L2-20k4HrLAeoXvbht/s1600/10-22+save.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyUwwLZv9zHTl2uB6JXpSoBhYugKcW8ckpLy8-nHkdohbbDBeeFm_SF66KAZon5EuwH71CI_vpjq4eb550e9KjN7oy-n2_O7ehdrDWO2sNJm4xRHRXS2ormmY9y5L2-20k4HrLAeoXvbht/s320/10-22+save.png" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You'll find your saved items by clicking on the "Saved" link in the left-hand menu on your homepage, or at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/saved/" target="_blank">facebook.com/saved</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOl_RIr0FoVjv7rKeL9bjvYn0sgFbtsRgJ5RE-frlBsHN-cIlYeEHartx9Q7zBCMZ9-A3btPWWM-3OO6OPcy-rCqHJPPH95aJWBtjOuz7pqlIX-TfbsplNiGRRg9wS5MLhT2ZrUQXQq6Pa/s1600/10-22+Saved+Links.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOl_RIr0FoVjv7rKeL9bjvYn0sgFbtsRgJ5RE-frlBsHN-cIlYeEHartx9Q7zBCMZ9-A3btPWWM-3OO6OPcy-rCqHJPPH95aJWBtjOuz7pqlIX-TfbsplNiGRRg9wS5MLhT2ZrUQXQq6Pa/s400/10-22+Saved+Links.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Your saved items are organized by the date you saved them under All, or according to the type of post.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
Happy saving!<br />
<br /></div>
Lauren Mikovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14269890701849202929noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3182980185269836834.post-39185084914561852112015-08-26T17:45:00.000-07:002015-08-26T17:45:23.653-07:00Yes, You Can Hire Someone to Manage Your Twitter Account<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNgxMim8XiMSmvp18IGMLz68WQi6Uqq6pprLORNcYKrowfayJSecMQRPNNYptKqJ_TGlnqPUBnxMEkgbUFRe55xTeEpmXNVf_F5MRW2kgBPy8jjhDO-BW4bpEnFYfdcjnRg9eeL8zA3qJ/s1600/tweet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNgxMim8XiMSmvp18IGMLz68WQi6Uqq6pprLORNcYKrowfayJSecMQRPNNYptKqJ_TGlnqPUBnxMEkgbUFRe55xTeEpmXNVf_F5MRW2kgBPy8jjhDO-BW4bpEnFYfdcjnRg9eeL8zA3qJ/s320/tweet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
When people ask what exactly a social media manager does and I explain it to them, one of the most common responses I get is: "You mean I can hire someone to tweet for me?" Yes, you can! "But how do you know what to say?"<br />
<br />
A good social media manager is a chameleon. To determine what to tweet on their behalf, I soak up all the details of my client's business and create a custom content strategy. I then develop their voice and tone down to the smallest detail. Are their hashtags practical or whimsical? Would they use periods at the end of sentences or ellipses? Do they use contractions? What about slang? When you only have 140 characters to work with, these tiny elements make a big difference. They are what creates authenticity and prevents tweets from sounding corporate or canned.<br />
<br />
Managing a Twitter account for a brand also means curating and developing their online community. Retweets, follows and favorites further express the brand's identity and help it connect with the right customers, partners and prospects. I once took over a local business' Twitter account and discovered that the agency who theyd worked with previously had followed nearly 2,000 Twitter accounts of peope all across the country, in an effort to build their community. The problem was, a vast majority of those people would never visit the city the business was in, let alone shop there. A good social media manager will develop a Twitter community that is relevant to your business.<br />
<br />
One of the most important things that a social media manager provides on Twitter is a high and consistent volume of posts. If you're posting only once a day, no one is seeing your messages. Opinions differ on exactly how many posts per day is effective, but no matter what your goal total is, boosting the volume of posts gives you more opportunities to be heard throughout the day.<br />
<br />
Long story short, it is entirely possible (and highly recommended!) to find someone to tweet for you instead of trying to do it yourself. Hiring someone to manage your Twitter account will give you a more consistent, engaged, effective presence and free up your time to focus on the work of your business.Lauren Mikovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14269890701849202929noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3182980185269836834.post-69824838292587094922015-08-10T07:49:00.000-07:002015-08-10T07:49:39.505-07:00Reason 257 Why You Need Social Media: Your Customers Are Passive-Aggressive Jerks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGlnJkl7PaWRQoucYw2fjokDWwHcyDeBvNo0DEHS-wnNq15ZQmwpSDLzaPk3de2id1Zmz_T2xnxsK1_0_Z1BqZ7p5Hftfb5uZ0r1RVd7BYYUrVLFI_7TWA1nrtFKw1Gq1iL-ANmg7EcKr/s1600/tomato+slice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGlnJkl7PaWRQoucYw2fjokDWwHcyDeBvNo0DEHS-wnNq15ZQmwpSDLzaPk3de2id1Zmz_T2xnxsK1_0_Z1BqZ7p5Hftfb5uZ0r1RVd7BYYUrVLFI_7TWA1nrtFKw1Gq1iL-ANmg7EcKr/s320/tomato+slice.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We have officially reached the stage in our cultural development where customers would rather whine about issues on social media than address them in person. <a href="http://thesocialstage.blogspot.com/2015/07/empowering-employees-with-social-media.html">In my last blog post</a>, I shared a social media customer success story. This time, I will share a few real life examples where customers have reached out through social media about issues that could, and probably should, have been addressed in person or through traditional customer service channels. Each example details suggested responses for similar scenarios.<br />
<ul>
<li>"The tomatoes on my sandwich were sliced so thin it was like there were no tomatoes at all!" There are two main issues with this type of interaction: too much time has elapsed to solve the issue, and the issue is subjective. This is a good time to remember that the customer is always right. Your staff member may have thought that the thickness of the tomatoes was fine, or may have been trying to save you money, but the customer is unhappy. It's probably too late to do anything about the sandwich in question, so apologize and find a way to make it right. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>"Ugh! The product broke on its way to me!" This is a typical case of people not knowing how or taking the time to find traditional customer service channels. Apologize, direct them to the right place (and a location where you can get their info without exposing it to the public), and make it right.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>"Your staff person was SO RUDE!" This offended customer simmered about the in-person interaction they had with your business until they had to say something on social media. Maybe they felt uncomfortable asking to speak to someone in person, or maybe they just wanted to rant online. Whatever the reason, apologize, take the interaction out of the public eye, get the details from both sides of the story, and find a way to make the customer walk away happy. </li>
</ul>
Notice a theme here? The customer is always right. Handling social media complaints with tact and care can turn a negative interaction into a positive relationship. Responding quickly and effectively via social media makes you look good to other customers and prospects as well. And directing confused customers to the proper customer service channels will help prevent future confusion.<br />When you hire someone to manage your social media accounts, ask them about their experience with and approach to customer service. These days, social media is a customer service resource. Monitor it and treat it as such, or suffer the consequences: even more annoyed customers.Lauren Mikovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14269890701849202929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3182980185269836834.post-43459121593092160072015-07-21T21:29:00.000-07:002015-07-21T21:34:04.362-07:00Empowering Employees with Social Media Customer Service: Case Study<span style="text-align: center;"><b>"Someone once told me that every customer complaint is the best possible opportunity to build brand loyalty. On that front, Hawaiian Airlines has succeeded with me."</b></span><br />
<br />
By now, you've probably heard the story of how <a href="https://youtu.be/5YGc4zOqozo">United breaks guitars</a>. Here's a story you haven't heard, about how Hawaiian Airlines broke some paddles and then made it right via the perfect combination of social media and customer service.<br />
<br />
Luke Evslin, a college friend of mine, is a competitive ocean paddler. (He's back at it after the sport <a href="http://archives.midweek.com/content/columns/currents_article/a_near_tragedy_in_the_molokai_hoe/">nearly took his life</a>, but that's another story.) Since he lives on Kauai, he often takes inter-island flights to get to competitions, requiring him to check his paddles. When several paddles were broken on one such flight, he went on Facebook to express his frustration.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHYxy6DuAce4tdI2aeI-SPKHGpHXLNDuazGnK3IFwLR4YzywN1v3el4PW-pg6pANkOKiIEbtnswlpshFRz8uJ9kq5iz25PshrHRCmwbKUTrXBF3wM1ugPDY0NFkazklPX1VsStOUbKQVl/s1600/broken+paddles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHYxy6DuAce4tdI2aeI-SPKHGpHXLNDuazGnK3IFwLR4YzywN1v3el4PW-pg6pANkOKiIEbtnswlpshFRz8uJ9kq5iz25PshrHRCmwbKUTrXBF3wM1ugPDY0NFkazklPX1VsStOUbKQVl/s320/broken+paddles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-9Duc2SAI2dsC2eRiszWURPbdVPhy-6_dONeulu_6o8_tdVBbz9KT9wavckqS5tJyYDA0yzbgHeXyhPuPEVh6TfztLNVKvOT1tWUDl3AmZKyeIfCCldnYoTDrqF8qPIEABIUhGOI4dbp/s1600/luke+paddles.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-9Duc2SAI2dsC2eRiszWURPbdVPhy-6_dONeulu_6o8_tdVBbz9KT9wavckqS5tJyYDA0yzbgHeXyhPuPEVh6TfztLNVKvOT1tWUDl3AmZKyeIfCCldnYoTDrqF8qPIEABIUhGOI4dbp/s400/luke+paddles.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
As Luke was going through the claims process, with Hawaiian, the airline reached out to him through an email address he lists on his Facebook profile. They agreed to pay the full cost of the paddles, about $1,100, without going through a claims investigation. How was he so lucky? He has a few friends who work for Hawaiian. They saw the conversation happening on social media, realized the public relations impact it could have on the company, and addressed it with their employer. They didn't wade into the conversation, they didn't even let Luke know what they were doing. They simply helped make it right.<br />
<br />
So what's the lesson here? It's simple. Empower your employees to take action when they see conversations happening about your company on social media. Encourage them to be good ambassadors and then make it clear how they should get involved. Luke's follow up message, and the subsequent stories and goodwill in the comments section, show how beneficial such a policy can be.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mbBjxuzi9B7c6KS5_ECFwIQ2At3851DWMajtydUkdW3wQMbsABx__wOA34S57K9w2TM0z36DDiyoqT_tBxI976P4Z8cFah3R_oDic8Rd9-zoBNKULUQcZLGQaFolHRdbsiChQt5QCcI8/s1600/luke+follow+up.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mbBjxuzi9B7c6KS5_ECFwIQ2At3851DWMajtydUkdW3wQMbsABx__wOA34S57K9w2TM0z36DDiyoqT_tBxI976P4Z8cFah3R_oDic8Rd9-zoBNKULUQcZLGQaFolHRdbsiChQt5QCcI8/s400/luke+follow+up.png" width="358" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
To learn more about Luke and his commitment to living off the grid, check out his blog: <a href="http://kawaehawaii.blogspot.com/">Ka Wae</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Lauren Mikovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14269890701849202929noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3182980185269836834.post-42835096705512687612015-03-02T14:56:00.000-08:002015-03-02T14:57:02.909-08:00Do Your Social Media Homework: 3 Ways Clients Can Get Involved<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjessAxYkks-KrVHeQ35iIUhmMzxZFYZaB-o2myI-Xip9DUAGV-FydgPyPYemXasgGKyVa-CUhoL6X2RFmoEGaAgqGgO_bCAbjS9F37-GjLFYO4Vr5ShHU7FqAR8rwojrQb-uBBkZQPJF-0/s1600/homework.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjessAxYkks-KrVHeQ35iIUhmMzxZFYZaB-o2myI-Xip9DUAGV-FydgPyPYemXasgGKyVa-CUhoL6X2RFmoEGaAgqGgO_bCAbjS9F37-GjLFYO4Vr5ShHU7FqAR8rwojrQb-uBBkZQPJF-0/s1600/homework.jpg" height="249" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes when I manage a company's social media accounts, my client will ask for homework. "What can I do to contribute to my social media presence?" They want to get involved beyond the tasks I include in their contracts: sending me anecdotes, info, and photos related to their business. Here are three "extra credit" assignments for clients who want to supplement the work of a social media manager without getting in the way.</span><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Research: </b>A good social media manager will of course do extensive research on your brand and industry. You can help with this by researching what your competitors and comparable businesses are doing on social media. What accounts do you admire? What accounts are getting it wrong? Who do you want to emulate? Who do you want to engage with? The more information you can give your social media manager, the better. It will help her hone her social media strategy and the look/feel/tone of the social media presence she is developing for your company.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Network Engagement:</b> As your social media manager represents your company's brand, you can support her work by developing your personal brand. LinkedIn is a perfect platform for this. Connect with people and comment on their posts. Join groups and discuss topics relevant to your industry. Ask for and give recommendations. If you need guidance on how to make the best use of LinkedIn, just ask your expert! You can also talk to your social media manager about what other networks you can use to develop your personal brand (i.e. Twitter and Instagram.) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Personal Engagement:</b> This is an area where you can have a significant impact, because it can't be duplicated by a professional. You can make a major difference in the success of your social media campaign by personally engaging with customers and partners about your social media presence. Send personal notes via email with links to your accounts, asking people to connect. In person, mention your social accounts to customers and partners and ask them to engage with you. Train your staff, if you have them, to ask customers for social media engagement. The perfect example I always use is if you see a customer taking a photo, thank them and ask them to tag your accounts! </span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These are just three of many ways you can build on your social media manager's work. By taking the initiative and doing a little more, you will increase the reach of your social media presence and ensure that it best reflects your brand.</span>Lauren Mikovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14269890701849202929noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3182980185269836834.post-44157601459085221982015-02-02T17:56:00.001-08:002015-02-02T18:10:09.926-08:00"What's your motivation?" Applying acting theory to social media strategy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLEznduAsibsD2SGkv4WnzP2Ivc4ishLE4glxuLJGCLZzC3Mh_QCcu_lcs-RYcNYieQb-wVd8ZbzBFpG3U0_97ftY7f9ZcYnVx9S0H0wJptzhUUU8fEDC7p2yI0jgn7M7yGkWbVyWK8xG/s1600/theatre-96714_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLEznduAsibsD2SGkv4WnzP2Ivc4ishLE4glxuLJGCLZzC3Mh_QCcu_lcs-RYcNYieQb-wVd8ZbzBFpG3U0_97ftY7f9ZcYnVx9S0H0wJptzhUUU8fEDC7p2yI0jgn7M7yGkWbVyWK8xG/s1600/theatre-96714_640.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="-ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space;">
One of the keys to finding and engaging a community on social media is understanding and satisfying their motivation. I first learned about motivation in an acting context. When playing a character on stage, it's my job as an actor to understand my character's motivation in that scene and in the play as a whole.</div>
<div style="-ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space;">
A character's motivation is the driving force behind his or her words and actions. It's what gives them meaning and weight. The same goes for social media users. In order to get a fan to engage with them on social media, a business needs to understand their motivation. All too often, businesses structure their social media strategies around satisfying their own motivation, which is usually to drive sales, rather than focusing on the motivations of their fans.</div>
<div style="-ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space;">
To understand your fans' motivations and use your knowledge to maximize engagement, ask yourself the following questions:</div>
<div style="-ms-word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space;">
<ol>
<li><b>Why did fans like or follow me in the first place? </b>This question is similar to an actor exploring her motivation in the play as a whole. Potential motivations here could be because they need information, they genuinely like your business and its products or services, they're curious about your business, they were/are bored, or because you provided an incentive, like a discount promotion.</li>
<li><b>Why have fans engaged with me in the past?</b> Just as an actor might research or create a back story for her character, diving into your statistics will give you a good sense of your fan base's motivations as you see what types of post they have interacted with most.</li>
<li><b>Why would fans interact with a new post?</b> In addition to understanding her overall motivation, an actor must work to find her motivation in each scene. Similarly, a social media manager must explore why a fan would want to interact with each post she writes. It could be the same as the overall motivation or it could be different. For example, a fan who likes a Facebook Page to relieve boredom might like a funny video post because it fulfills the same purpose. But he also might like a post because he is provided an incentive to do so, such as a product discount.</li>
<li><b>What should I do now?</b> An actor uses her understanding of her character's motivation to successfully perform a scene. A social media manager should therefor use her understanding of her fans' motivations to create a post that will satisfy those motivations. Doing so will increase the potential for engagement.</li>
</ol>
No matter what your fans' motivations are, working hard to understand them will help you increase engagement on your accounts and ultimately satisfy your own motivations.</div>
Lauren Mikovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14269890701849202929noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3182980185269836834.post-56402502856083779772014-12-08T14:24:00.000-08:002014-12-08T14:24:10.377-08:00Connecting with Cameras: Social Media and Artistic Performance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmSspcTE-7YKB_LQ47vsC4SMLjrBfFthWnZYeukkNKOpmbxbeNPnEpgFurrttX0VUgwR5nmZn1MNNb3B6kJXgL-WPXVYnYTOAUolL9yOgJjVi8NKG2ozosGEMMZANQZgqsCpMyg-nJC4b/s1600/644307_10100189646833154_1575076136_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmSspcTE-7YKB_LQ47vsC4SMLjrBfFthWnZYeukkNKOpmbxbeNPnEpgFurrttX0VUgwR5nmZn1MNNb3B6kJXgL-WPXVYnYTOAUolL9yOgJjVi8NKG2ozosGEMMZANQZgqsCpMyg-nJC4b/s1600/644307_10100189646833154_1575076136_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
In addition to owning and managing my social media business, I also perform with a professional Christmas caroling organization during the holiday season. This year, I have noticed that we are performing more and more for electronic devices than for the people who own them. Since coming across a quartet of Victorian costumed Christmas carolers is such an anachronism for most people, it is understandable that they want to share the experience on social media. But I can't help but wonder if our audiences might enjoy the performance more if they were seeing it real time. In fact, <a href="http://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/improve-photographic-memory-study-suggests-putting-camera/">studies have shown</a> that people remember experiences more when they do not record them. <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
As a performer, I know that I connect better with audiences when I see their faces than when I see the backs of their devices and I want them to fully experience the holiday cheer we bring. On the other hand, I am excited that audiences rush to record their experiences and I try to encourage them to connect with our organization on social media whenever I can. It can be difficult to find opportunities to do so, however, without affecting the Christmas magic that we create. When it works, it is the best-case scenario of social engagement: user-generated content that the company can share, generating very positive engagement and encouraging more content from other fans.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
No matter how many <a href="http://youtu.be/9s0ukQGLXQ4">viral videos</a> go around admonishing us to put down their phones and experience life, we will always be driven to record our experiences for our own enjoyment and to share with others. Those of us on the other side of the lens just have to put on the best show we can and find ways to access and amplify our audience's memories on our own social media channels.Lauren Mikovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14269890701849202929noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3182980185269836834.post-72074760317932454382014-10-29T21:35:00.000-07:002014-10-29T21:37:15.285-07:00Facebook Mythbusting - Copyright Disclaimers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIhTENrCzu03p5L5BQPksmyzrzEdHUltxM9RY5V8hOwMlHDrQrFZqSH2aTsUrd065XN5Cy9O4cIa77ELihOmxMirKUbf-0tXhu125vd-dprXT4wsCiRkxS662UICj_zpVGgTR7Kj4um81Z/s1600/Copyright-_all_rights_reserved.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIhTENrCzu03p5L5BQPksmyzrzEdHUltxM9RY5V8hOwMlHDrQrFZqSH2aTsUrd065XN5Cy9O4cIa77ELihOmxMirKUbf-0tXhu125vd-dprXT4wsCiRkxS662UICj_zpVGgTR7Kj4um81Z/s1600/Copyright-_all_rights_reserved.png" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Maybe it's because I'm a professional social media manager or maybe it's just because I find chain-letter posts incredibly annoying, but I often find myself playing the role of mythbuster on some friends' Facebook posts. One chain-letter type post stands out as a particularly frustrating repeat offender: copyright disclaimers. In this post, I will explain this myth and how you can help keep it from spreading.<br />
<br />
(Disclaimer: While I am a social media consultant, I am not a lawyer and this post should not be construed as legal advice.)<br />
<br />
<b>Myth: </b>By copying and pasting a legal-sounding disclaimer from a friend's post, you can claim and maintain copyright to your content. Here's one example (via <a href="http://www.snopes.com/computer/facebook/privacy.asp">Snopes</a>):<br />
<br />
<i>In response to the new Facebook guidelines I hereby declare that my copyright is attached to all of my personal details, illustrations, comics, paintings, photos and videos, etc. (as a result of the Berner Convention). </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>For commercial use of the above my written consent is needed at all times! </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>(Anyone reading this can copy this text and paste it on their Facebook Wall. This will place them under protection of copyright laws, By the present communiqué, I notify Facebook that it is strictly forbidden to disclose, copy, distribute, disseminate, or take any other action against me on the basis of this profile and/or its contents. The aforementioned prohibited actions also apply to employees, students, agents and/or any staff under Facebook's direction or control. The content of this profile is private and confidential information. The violation of my privacy is punished by law(UCC 1 1-308-308 1-103 and the Rome Statute). </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Facebook is now an open capital entity. All members are recommended to publish a notice like this, or if you prefer, you may copy and paste this version. If you do not publish a statement at least once, you will be tacitly allowing the use of elements such as your photos as well as the information contained in your profile status updates.</i><br />
<span style="background-color: #c7f2b1; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<br />
<b>Mythbusting Proof: </b>Here's the relevant excerpt from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms">Facebook's terms</a> that disproves this myth.<br />
<br />
<i>For content that is covered by intellectual property rights, like photos and videos (IP content), you specifically give us the following permission, subject to your privacy and application settings: you grant us a non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use any IP content that you post on or in connection with Facebook (IP License). This IP License ends when you delete your IP content or your account unless your content has been shared with others, and they have not deleted it.</i><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Why It's Bad: </b>This type of post is harmful because it leads users to believe that by posting a privacy disclaimer they automatically have some right to the content they share on Facebook, which is absolutely incorrect. As much as it might bother you, by agreeing to Facebook's terms and conditions (which you do by using or even just logging into the site,) you automatically waive all rights to your content. Spreading this myth is particularly harmful to artists or others for whom copyright is literally valuable. Leading people who make money off of their content to believe that posting a disclaimer once gives them copyright can lead to financial consequences if their content is then used without their knowledge or consent and without generating royalties for them. An example might be a photographer who uploads an image to Facebook, thinking that because they posted this disclaimer, they maintain the copyright. Under Facebook's terms, Facebook can use the image on ads and elsewhere, or transfer rights to another entity, without paying the photographer any royalties or even giving credit. Knowing that Facebook has the rights to any content they upload might prevent the photographer from uploading valuable content. The more we can educate ourselves about Facebook's terms of service, the more careful we can be about what we share.<br />
<br />
<b>Do This Instead: </b>If you are truly concerned about maintaining control of your content, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/help/delete_account">delete your Facebook account</a> and track down any content shared by your friends, or anyone else, and ask them to remove it from Facebook. If you, like me, can't imagine life without a Facebook account and you see a version of the copyright disclaimer in your Timeline, you can stop its spread by pointing out that it is a myth. Often simply posting a link to <a href="http://www.snopes.com/computer/facebook/privacy.asp">Snopes </a>works just fine. And finally, the most important step you can take in being a Facebook mythbuster is to read Facebook's terms, a.k.a the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms">Statement of Rights and Responsibilities</a>. If you're going to be a user of a site that owns your content copyright, you might as well be an informed user.Lauren Mikovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14269890701849202929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3182980185269836834.post-33958207567639796862014-09-30T21:32:00.000-07:002014-09-30T21:32:31.270-07:00Scheduling Social Media Posts in the Quest for Work/Life Balance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvq3pXdxeLkmZP8SMIE_g2wCyrfJWtbViDxWuJLKtkTbo-Rq13EbRgALDkmOmbhu3wa86tEDU_ATafgprlhscd6gD8x-Oz5pe95OG-lGvFo_uiguE63gdz0FwN_YNT5YRkD21WiPtQ012/s1600/scale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvq3pXdxeLkmZP8SMIE_g2wCyrfJWtbViDxWuJLKtkTbo-Rq13EbRgALDkmOmbhu3wa86tEDU_ATafgprlhscd6gD8x-Oz5pe95OG-lGvFo_uiguE63gdz0FwN_YNT5YRkD21WiPtQ012/s1600/scale.jpg" height="295" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's terrifyingly easy to let your work consume your life when you're a social media manager: to check Twitter and Instagram on your phone at social events and have everyone excuse your behavior because it's your job. ABC is even taking the "social media manager with no social skills" stereotype to the mainstream with its new show Selfie. But with all of the tools at our disposal, there is no excuse for a social media manager's work to take over his or her life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Below are my top five reasons why social media managers often tip the work/life scale towards work, including a few commonly cited as arguments against advance scheduling.</span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Procrastination</b>: When you leave everything to the last minute, you're forced to rely solely on live posting. As you work frantically to get all of your posts out at the right time for numerous clients, ask yourself: could this post have been scheduled in advance? Most of the time, the answer is yes. Eliminating procrastination for posts that can be drafted and perfected in advance leads to more consistent, more professional work, and gives you more time to focus on community management and engagement.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Lack of Advance Planning/Strategy</b>: As Yogi Berra once said, "You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there." Reliance on live posting is often a sign that a social media manager doesn't have a long-term content strategy or schedule. Developing an overall social media strategy, a content strategy, and a marketing plan/schedule will provide the framework for advance scheduling.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Belief that Scheduling Hurts Authenticity</b>: Pre-scheduled posts don't have to be (and indeed shouldn't be!) any different in tone or content than live posts. They are still your (or your client's) thoughts and words - they are simply executed at an earlier point in time. In fact, pre-scheduling leads to more authentic engagement by giving a social media manager more time for real-time community management and engagement.</span></li>
<li><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fear of Missing Out: </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The dreaded FOMO argument comes from people who think advanced scheduling means "set it and forget it." This idea is reinforced by the ineffective social media managers who do just that, often with disastrous results - see #5. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The answer isn't scheduling OR live posting, it's scheduling AND live posting.</span></li>
<li><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fear of Being "That Guy": </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've all seen him and bemoaned his behavior - that guy whose inappropriate pre-scheduled, usually self-promotional, messages appear in our feeds during a breaking news event. A prepared social media manager whose advance work gives him or her enough time to monitor live events will see them happening and can cancel or reschedule pre-scheduled messages accordingly.</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the right combination of scheduling and live work, a social media manager can be a relaxed, in control, functioning member of society and have a healthy work/life balance.</span>Lauren Mikovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14269890701849202929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3182980185269836834.post-2317953189649686022014-09-23T13:04:00.000-07:002014-09-23T13:05:18.464-07:00Being a Social Media Manager - Not a Social Media/SEO Specialist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3fF_OvUrYCdnR7luK4YSQjgYrWhvm-7GhaqDIrRyD3Ib7OAWj098OdZrRqEUAZitroSOiJWzU-n4ZP8se5kXjhq9FyX5BaBOL52jqJHhnEoDLA_vLdp7ezNxdchZG_ue-J_tqd-mzqH9/s1600/whistle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3fF_OvUrYCdnR7luK4YSQjgYrWhvm-7GhaqDIrRyD3Ib7OAWj098OdZrRqEUAZitroSOiJWzU-n4ZP8se5kXjhq9FyX5BaBOL52jqJHhnEoDLA_vLdp7ezNxdchZG_ue-J_tqd-mzqH9/s1600/whistle.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
As a social media consultant, prospective clients often ask me if I do search engine optimization (SEO) as well. (Or more accurately, they ask "Hey, can you mess with my website so I show up on the front page of Google?") The short answer is, no I don't. Here's why.<br />
<br />
In high school, when I asked for more playing time on the varsity volleyball team, my coach told me flat out, "If you try to do everything, you'll never be good at anything." At the time, I was on extra-curricular overload. I was captaining the Junior Varsity volleyball team, singing in two school choirs, regularly starring in drama productions, and competing in equestrian events up and down the West Coast. My coach's words shocked and devastated me. I subsequently dropped out of volleyball and took up several more extracurricular activities, but her words have stuck with me in my professional career.<br />
<br />
Here's the difference: high school is a time to have fun and try your hand at everything in order to develop diverse skills and find your passions. Participating in so many different things back then shaped who I am as a person. Trying to do the same now, in my career, would mean sacrificing the quality of the services I provide, and I am not willing to do that.<br />
<br />
When clients ask if I do SEO as well as social media management, I explain that while social media activity can have SEO benefits, SEO is an entirely different specialized field. In theory I could do both social media and SEO, and many people do, but I prefer to focus on social media and make the work I do for my clients the best it can be.Lauren Mikovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14269890701849202929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3182980185269836834.post-32055145500955275172014-05-05T21:52:00.000-07:002014-05-06T18:55:42.882-07:00Social Media & Life Lessons from Mom<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHCSUPuSB8HkZK4AlaBOEB8CaPm-gcZbsRYZjSMzUoj5xOKEzxaIQscoj9FZWyKIpB8pvDTh4MuhLRhCKYMsI5mMvB2MaV9pF0z1ltZnQTFQ-w_g-64pjrmW8UChZGrUZ0QU3Fmk4BdU2/s1600/80s+Mom+Portrait-page-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHCSUPuSB8HkZK4AlaBOEB8CaPm-gcZbsRYZjSMzUoj5xOKEzxaIQscoj9FZWyKIpB8pvDTh4MuhLRhCKYMsI5mMvB2MaV9pF0z1ltZnQTFQ-w_g-64pjrmW8UChZGrUZ0QU3Fmk4BdU2/s1600/80s+Mom+Portrait-page-001.jpg" height="320" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Recently, a friend posted a list on Facebook of life lessons he had learned from his mother. I loved the straightforward wisdom of those lessons and instantly recognized their applicability for social media managers. Since Mother's Day is this Sunday, here are those motherly lessons, accompanied by a few of my thoughts on how social media managers can apply them:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1) When given a task, do it silently and do it well. It takes less time to roll up your sleeves than it does to find ways around working.</h3>
Let's face it - the networks that give us a reason to exist as a profession aren't perfect. Most of us are guilty of ranting about this latest UI change or that lack of functionality or customer support. The flaws inherent in the social networks and tools we use are not an excuse not to get work done.<br />
<br />
We are communicators by nature, so another common issue for social media managers is the "do it silently" bit. Many social media "experts" are so busy talking about how to do the work of social media, in blogs, tweets, white papers and eBooks, that they couldn't possibly be practicing what they preach and actually doing much social media work. Roll up your sleeves and focus on clients first before writing that next blog post.<br />
<br />
<h3>
2) "Sir," "Ma'am," "Please," and "Thank You." Courtesy is everything.</h3>
Given the frequently informal nature of social media, it can be easy to forget that we are often providing customer service when interacting with fans and followers. Depending on the context, a name might be more appropriate than "Sir" or "Ma'am," but a "please" and "thank you" should accompany most interactions. Courtesy becomes especially important when receiving negative feedback and criticism!<br />
<br />
<h3>
3) If you don't have time to do something right, when are you going to have time to do it over?</h3>
Take the time to research who you are interacting with or get full details on the situation. In the fast-paced, busy world of social media, speed often seems more valuable than quality. Taking the time to research an individual or situation helps you address them more professionally and effectively and will save you time in the long run.<br />
<br />
<h3>
4) You are entitled to nothing in this life. You must earn all you have, and appreciate that which you have earned.</h3>
Entitlement is a common complaint from those of us engaged in customer service. It is easy to recognize or perceive a sense of entitlement in others. We must turn the lens on ourselves when it comes to the systems we use and the clients we serve. Is 24/7 customer support a right or a perk? Are you billing a certain rate because you earned it or because you think you deserve it? Key words to reflect on here are respect, humility and gratitude.<br />
<br />
These four life lessons are just some of many common sense principles that can and should be applied by social media managers. What other ways could the industry apply these lessons? What other life lessons might be relevant to the social space?Lauren Mikovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14269890701849202929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3182980185269836834.post-62577845756062457602014-04-22T10:08:00.004-07:002014-04-22T10:15:34.239-07:00Earth Day: The Global Impact of Social Media<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXXS5kndmvK3obLPn2fmzi8Uw_hp1H5rc5jlzx_R_8OdGvUlkh0fVG6FjwOiuU58bDFtPbPURaNJE88Q7HkWCQqX_Qj2CfCoG4sogtDRSf5H6yiCdfz2gOQ4ToEvmCGcUb7r3q5hV3IuG/s1600/earth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXXS5kndmvK3obLPn2fmzi8Uw_hp1H5rc5jlzx_R_8OdGvUlkh0fVG6FjwOiuU58bDFtPbPURaNJE88Q7HkWCQqX_Qj2CfCoG4sogtDRSf5H6yiCdfz2gOQ4ToEvmCGcUb7r3q5hV3IuG/s1600/earth.jpg" height="205" width="320" /></a></div>
This Earth Day, let's pause for a moment to appreciate the global impact of social media. On any given day, I scroll through my various news feeds to see posts from coast to coast in the United States, and from friends and connections around the world in countries like the UK, France, Canada, Mexico and Australia. I have clients in Houston and Hungary and colleagues everywhere in between. Social networks are more than just tools to keep us in touch. They have created a global network of connections - a digital manifestation of the "six degrees" concept.<br />
<br />
It can be easy to focus on the negative, but today let's look at some of the amazing things social media is doing for the world:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Cause Awareness & Fundraising</b>: Since Earth Day is all about environmental protection, let's first take a look at the impact social media can have on causes. It provides us a platform to talk about causes we're passionate about, gives us a way to contribute, and encourages the viral spread of information and contribution. From small-scale Indiegogo projects to major awareness efforts by organizations like Sea Shepherd, social media gives people a platform to create change.</li>
<li><b>News</b>: Whether you're watching breaking news unfold on Twitter or reading an article posted by a trusted LinkedIn connection, social media has put news in the hands of the people.</li>
<li><b>Personal Connections</b>: Social media allows us to stay in touch with friends, coworkers, acquaintances and others around the world. Taking full advantage of social media's original intent as a networking tool means our networks aren't just social - they're global.</li>
<li><b>Family Reunions</b>: After seeing her mother's plea for help reposted on Reddit and Twitter, <a href="http://blogs.seattletimes.com/monica-guzman/2014/04/05/how-facebook-found-hailey-why-this-seattle-parent-shared-her-search-for-her-teen/">a runaway Seattle teen was reunited with her family</a>. Personally, I have several friends who have connected with birth parents and long-lost family members via social media.</li>
<li><b>Health</b>: You may have heard<a href="http://www.today.com/health/facebook-post-saves-girls-vision-glow-eye-raises-alarm-2D79484677"> the story of the little girl from Tennessee </a>whose rare eye condition was caught due to a Facebook post. This is just one example of social media's health impact. Whether it's grassroots, like a friend recently posting to ask friends for their favorite natural allergy remedies, or global, like tracking the spread of disease through online posts and searches, social media helps us stay informed and connected on health and medical topics.</li>
<li><b>Positive Stories</b>: From funny cat photos to heartwarming tales of human kindness, social media can make our day with positive, uplifting content we may not otherwise have seen.</li>
</ul>
These are just a few of the global benefits of social media. What others have you experienced?Lauren Mikovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14269890701849202929noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3182980185269836834.post-25740489604684560732014-03-11T13:51:00.001-07:002014-03-11T13:51:54.449-07:00Alternate Meanings of a Facebook Post "Like"<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_1N4WvGkkq6Z4D7xVvk56yxj_KfAayrR6QqTT9i1xoZLStgyaxG_4771Zpwq5OQxaLgoprR0J6ujEMxq5H-gd8PNLAWhmYubKMQZlEs9a7dkAwdkqA-z_WTSi-mtD2x7KimRZBLDUhwv/s1600/chemical+explosion.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_1N4WvGkkq6Z4D7xVvk56yxj_KfAayrR6QqTT9i1xoZLStgyaxG_4771Zpwq5OQxaLgoprR0J6ujEMxq5H-gd8PNLAWhmYubKMQZlEs9a7dkAwdkqA-z_WTSi-mtD2x7KimRZBLDUhwv/s1600/chemical+explosion.png" height="220" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">15 people like chemical explosion injuries?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Chances are you understand the basic intended meaning of a Facebook post "like" when it's used to give a pat on the back, a thumbs up or a high five. Things can get tricky, however, when the original post is not something fun, funny, informative or interesting. Here are six common alternatives to the standard Facebook post like:</span></b><br /><ol>
<li><b>Agreement</b>: Whether a post is positive or negative, sometimes a thumbs up is a form of agreement rather than an enthusiastic validation.</li>
<li><b>Saving for Later</b>: People who are familiar with how their activity log works often like a post so that they can come back and see it later. </li>
<li><b>Sarcasm</b>: When a friend is <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Vaguebooking">vaguebooking </a>or whining, likes can convey sarcasm or mockery.</li>
<li><b>Sympathy</b>: For posts conveying bad news, a like can indicate sympathy.</li>
<li><b>Confused Page Like</b>:<b> </b>Often when people post an update to ask their friends to like a Page, their friends who don't know better will like the post instead.</li>
<li><b>Call to Action Response</b>: "Click like if you hate being asked to click like all the time!"</li>
</ol>
The trick to identifying these alternative meanings is to look at the context of the original post. What other meanings do you see in your Facebook News Feed? Leave a comment below.Lauren Mikovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14269890701849202929noreply@blogger.com0