SubscribeMarketing Melodie Presents: Shit Social Media Experts Say!
I told you guys I had a Secret Social Media Video Project I was working on. Well… the secret it out! I couldn’t help myself with this video. While watching the popular video “Shit Girls Say” and all the spin offs (By the way my favorite spin off is “Shit Yogis Say” since yoga is my other passion), I got a great idea to create a video related to my love for marketing, tech and social media!
I didn’t want to play a race or gender card but I did want to keep it personal to my community. Alright I’ll stop writing and let you watch the video. Please, please, pretty please share this if you find it funny, compelling or can relate to it in any way. Leave comments and spread the word! I’m aiming for at least 1 million views and since most people reading this are extremely tech savvy and influential in the space, we should have no problem achieving this goal!
And now for the feature presentation: SHIT SOCIAL MEDIA EXPERTS SAY! (You know, the people who can run your Facebook and Twitter account)
Big thank you to @jennyjenjen for filming and editing the video, @robotfaith @iPodschun @ChrisKirkman for being a part of creating the video and @LoMagna for her ideas on writing the script.
Ringing in the New Year with List of 12s for 2012!
Happy New Year! 2011 was amazing! And I’m excited for what 2012 has in store. For my first post of 2012 I’m sticking with the “new year” theme!
I love making lists. To-do lists are the most common for me. I make these daily to stay on task with both my personal and professional life. In fact I’ve even added things to my to-do list after I already accomplished them, just so I can check it off. C’mon I know I’m not the only one who’s done this before! Fess up if you have!
Instead of resolutions, I shared with my network that 2012 means making “Lists of 12s”!
I’m working on lists of 12 new restaurants to try, 12 new places to go, 12 marketing goals for my business and first list I made is of course related to tech and social media: 12 tech/web/social media related things I’d like to accomplish in 2012!
1. Pinterest- We all know about my food porn addiction. I recently joined Pinterest and wow, it’s any food porn addict’s DREAM! I have 2 boards related to food. My Sweet Tooth is filled with gorgeous, mouth-watering sweets. Rather than just look at these images and drool, in 2012 I’m going to actually make at least 2 desserts I’ve pinned on Pinterest. (Give me food and I’ll cook but please note I have virtually zero experience when it comes to baking sweets so this is something new for me!)
2. Facebook- Part of what I do for my Marketing clients is work with them to create customized social media profiles that are cohesive with their brand and website. You know the old saying “The Cobbler’s children have no shoes”? I spend a lot of time helping clients create a marketing strategy that effectively integrates social media and Facebook is one of the main tools I use. However, even though I help clients with this, I personally haven’t had an opportunity to customize my own Facebook page. In 2012, I’m going to redesign my Facebook Page so it’s cohesive with my website and brand.
3. Yelp- Write a minimum of 12 new Yelp reviews in 2012
4. LinkedIn- I’m grateful that I’ve received so many positive recommendations from my colleagues, clients and partners on LinkedIn. I’m truly humbled by reading the things people who have benefited from my work. I’ve been meaning to create a “Testimonials” section on my website by transferring many of my LinkedIn recommendations. In 2012 I’m going to create a “Testimonials” section on my website based on my LinkedIn recommendations.
5. Gmail- I’ve created folders and filters for many emails, but not all. I have thousands and thousands of unread messages in my inbox. I’ve trained myself to skip over unimportant emails such as ones from newsletters I don’t recall signing up for or emails related to people connecting with me on a social network but this still means there’s clutter in my inbox. In the past few days I’ve already unsubscribed from about 15 email lists and removed over 4000 messages from my inbox. I have over 8000 to go! In 2012 I’m going to get my gmail inbox down to zero, for the first time ever!
6. Foursquare- I’m a total Foursquare lover! I was traveling internationally in 2010 on Foursquare Day (4/16) and still manged to organize and host Foursquare Day in Hong Kong! In 2011 I hosted Foursquare Day San Diego in America’s Finest City! I’m currently a Super User- Level 2. The highest Super User Level is 3 and I’ve read that it’s virtually impossible to become a Level 3 Super User but my wordplay mind gets turned on because in the word “impossible” I just see the words “I’m possible” so in 2012 I’m going to become a Foursquare Super User- Level 3!
7. Evernote- While Evernote helps me stay organized; my Evernote itself needs to be organized. Whenever I forward an email to my Evernote the email doesn’t get categorized into a folder immediately. This is the main ways I update my Evernote so I definitely have some cleaning up to do. In 2012 I’m going to clean up my Evernote account.
8. YouTube- I’m not a regular YouTuber but I’m currently working on an awesome Social Media related video that will be published soon. My goal is to get at least 1 million views on this video. I know that sounds extreme especially since my current YouTube videos have views only in the hundreds. I’ve got a good feeling about this video and in 2012 I’m going to get 1 million views on my social media related YouTube video.
9. Twitter- All of my Twitter followers were gained authentically through people finding my page and being interested in topics I tweet about. I’d like to continue being a resource on Twitter but also build up my Twitter following with more people who are engaged in conversation and content I post. In 2012 I’m going to grow my Twitter following to over 5000 while keeping in mind this must be done authentically through just being me!
10. Phone- My Droid 2 just isn’t cutting it! Rather than continue to complain about how my phone is slow in 2012 I’m going to get a new phone!
11. Laptop- My laptop and all the information it contains is literally my most valuable possession. It contains photos, music, confidential documents etc. It used to be backed up on the cloud but my subscription ended and I haven’t had a chance to renew. Whether on the cloud or on a hard drive, in 2012 I need to make sure I back up my laptop again!
12. Blogging- My last in my list of 12s is something that will keep me accountable for 1-11 on this list! And that’s to write a follow up blog post in 6 months and then right before on 2013 on what items have been checked in on this tech/web/social media list of 12!
Wishing everyone the best of the best in 2012! Thank you to everyone who reads my posts. I’ve really appreciate the comments, tweets, Facebook Likes, Subscribes and emails! It makes me happy to hear from you so please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time!
Here’s to a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous Year on my Birthday!
Today is my official birthday!!! I know I’ve been celebrating all month and I also know that I April Fooled many of you earlier this year about my birthday, but today is the real day! I love birthdays because they truly represent the very date that marks the arrival of someone into this world, and each individual comes into this world for a reason. Each person makes a difference and is significant in his/her own way so what better way to recognize this than on their birthday?! Every single year on my birthday I reflect back on everything that happened in the past year and I’m always so grateful for new experiences and lessons that make me a stronger person.
Celebrating my birthday in 2010
This past year has been filled with challenges, change and obstacles in both my personal and professional life but it’s also been filled with joy, fun, success and gratitude. I’m very grateful to everyone who’s been here to support me through difficult times, inspire me to be a better person and motivate me to continued success. Since it’s my birthday I’d like to share some fun facts related to my birthday!
13 is my Lucky Number- Since I’m born on the 13th, 13 has always been and always will be my lucky number. 13 has proven time and time again to be a lucky number for me! I only play Scratchers once and year when I attend the Del Mar Fair in the summer. Check out my only winning Scratcher for the year, notice the Winning Number? Also notice how I won with that number, not once but twice on a single scratcher! Winning with the number 13 happens to me quite often and this is just one example.
Friends who share my lucky birthday, December 13!
- My College Buddy Gary from UCSB is my birthday twin and every year since college we wish each other a happy birthday. Since graduating, we don’t get to see each other but we still give each other a Facebook birthday wish which has become a ritual! He pointed out that we only talk on this day!
- I also have a Birthday Twin on Twitter. A big happy birthday shout out goes to the lovely @mayaBY. We met at a @sdbloggers event last year where I selected her as my Secret Santa to discover she was also my Birthday Twin!
Famous people who share my lucky birthday, December 13!
- Mary Todd Lincoln, First Lady of the United States
- Dick Van Dyke, American actor and comedian
- Tom DeLonge, American guitarist (blink-182, Angels & Airwaves)
- Amy Lee, American singer/songwriter (Evanescence)
- Taylor Swift, American singer
Social Media Fun on my Birthday- Thanks to Social Media, I feel even more birthday love on this day! The birthday wishes are already flooding my Facebook wall and tweet stream. I’m so grateful for everyone who takes the time to wish me a Happy Birthday. I even got a few birthday wishes from some local celebrities!
Birthday Wish from Weather Girl @NBCJodie
Birthday Wish from Sports Illustrated @SI_JimTrotter!
Here’s to celebrating the day you came into the world and here’s to a happy, healthy and prosperous year! Oh and since it’s my birthday, what better day than today to have you join my social media community!
I leave you with a quote from the very wise Abraham Lincoln
“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”
Learning the Benefits of Social Media with @AllisonSchummer!
I recently welcomed the lovely Allison Schummer to my team. As an aspiring marketer and SDSU student about to graduate and enter the work force, Allison’s ambition has positively fueled her to not only help my company grow, but also continue learning and educating herself about digital marketing and social media. Today Allison shares with everyone things she’s learned about networking, social media and marketing since we’ve been working together. These tips are great for both beginners getting into the space and anyone who could use a little refresher!
HIT IT ALLISON!
After working with Melodie for several weeks now, I have learned a lot about Social Media and all the benefits it has to offer. Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin are great Social Media websites that have allowed me to brand myself, network, and learn effective communication skills. Here are a few things I have found valuable from these three Social Media sites:
Twitter has taught me how important networking is. If it weren’t for Twitter, I would have never known about Melodie’s request for an intern. Through networking on Twitter, I was introduced to Marketing Melodie and the rest is history. Twitter has also made me a better communicator; it encourages me to become more concise, expand my vocabulary, and improve my writing skills to write a tweet within 140 characters or less.
Although I’ve been a Facebook member for about 5 years now, I’m still learning about what the site has to offer. Until recently, I was unaware that you could personalize your Facebook URL. This important because it’s another way to brand yourself on Social Media. Through Facebook, I’ve learned the importance of branding yourself by being consistent within your Social Media sites.
LinkedIn is a great site to appeal to future employers or potential people in your professional network. Through Linkedin, I find it valuable to be able to post my work and educational experience for people to seek out. Again it is important to present yourself as a professional on Linkedin while staying consistent with your brand.
Through Social Media sites, I am provided with up to date knowledge on the latest trends and have been able to build strong relationships, only expanding my social and professional network. I can’t wait to learn and blog more about Social Media!
Thanks for sharing Allison! If you’re reading this and you also want to learn the ins and outs of Social Media, I’m still seeking Marketing Interns, apply today! If you’re reading this and you know someone who can benefit from working with me, please spread the word. Stay tuned for more posts from Allison on things she’s learned and experienced from working in marketing. You can follow Allison on Twitter to learn more about her marketing adventures!
Embracing the Change on Facebook and Google Plus
Yesterday morning I posted an update after waking up to a flood of other updates bashing on Facebook’s new layout.
“How much do you pay for Facebook? It’s a FREE tool so rather than complain be grateful. EMBRACE the change, they know what they’re doing”
The purpose of my post was to merely put in perspective how we often forget to express our gratitude for resources provided to us free of any monetary costs. When we do express our feelings, it’s usually when we’re dissatisfied.
I honestly wasn’t thinking about much more than pointing out a reason to be grateful for all the opportunities Facebook has created for us. Because I wasn’t thinking beyond my simple post, I’m so grateful and appreciative for my community. Even though I teach people about marketing and social media, I learn so much every day from all of your social commentary and interactions. It’s because of my community; people who read my updates and most of all people who engage in conversation with me that I’m able to acquire so much knowledge and perspective on all the digital changes constantly being made. I received many passionate and heated replies to this post in particular. Here goes….
What’s everyone’s relationship with Google+? I jumped into it immediately but slowly went back to my regular Facebook and Twitter routine. I started posting less and less frequently. It was however quite the day for Social Media because Google+ made their network open to the public on the same day Facebook launched all their changes. The big blue arrow on my Google home page definitely reminded me to post a quick update on there.
I received a few replies on Google+ and was happy to see that everyone who commented on my post was quite positive! From being online yesterday and talking to all of you I definitely learned so much! If you’ve read all the social commentary/replies to my posts I trust you’ll also learn a lot from all the different viewpoints. Here are some highlights of great points and things I learned.
- Even though Facebook is a completely free service, meaning they require no monetary investment; many people feel that their personal information and data is more valuable and do feel that Facebook is receiving a lot in return for providing this “free” service.
- While Google+ has been put on the back burner for a while, it seems that the Facebook changes are now driving more people to check out Google+ and embrace this new network.
- Social Networks are all communication tools that we don’t “own”. But we do have the freedom to customize our use of each one in ways that benefit us most.
- Facebook Privacy concerns. Any improvement on this? Nope!
- Google+ Innovations- Screen Share, multiple video chat which integrates with your phone and SEARCH!
I appreciate each and everyone person who takes the time to reply to me and teach me something new. I take your comments and apply them to my own insights which allows me to have an even broader perspective when I teach others. And now I leave you with this inspiring quote:
If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude” ~Maya Angelou
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How To Encourage Authentic Yelp Reviews for Your Business
In honor of my newly awarded Yelp *ELITE* status I’m inspired to share insight on how your business can use Yelp as an effective marketing tool and increase the chances that you’ll receive reviews from your customers.
Many businesses make the mistake of getting all of their friends and family to write positive reviews in order to boost their ratings. It’s important to keep in mind that this strategy is inauthentic and won’t work because of Yelp’s Review Filter. Yelp strives to provide a forum with real reviews and experiences that’s a true resource for consumers. Here’s how to encourage authentic Yelp reviews from customers who are already avid Yelpers.
1. Reward Yelpers- Show Yelpers that you acknowledge and appreciate their reviews but rewarding them after they write a review. This isn’t something you need to promote. In fact promoting that your customer will get something for a reviews is, bribery therefore does not earn you authentic reviews. I have two examples of how I’ve seen this done.
Burger Lounge- In October 2009, Burger Lounge announced that if you previously reviewed their business on Yelp, they wanted to thank you with a free burger on a specific day. This promotion was for those who already reviewed Burger Lounge, so even if you hadn’t reviewed them yet you still heard the positive buzz which may have encouraged you to try them out and write a review to possibly benefit from future promotions. I was one of the lucky reviewers, happily claimed my Yelp Burger (Veggie) and definitely shared this news with my entire network optimizing Burger Lounge’s exposure even more.
Dr. Grant McGann Oral & Reconstructive Surgery- After going to Dr. Grant McGann for my wisdom teeth, I wanted to share my positive experience with others. I submitted my Yelp review and to my pleasant surprise received a Thank You letter from Dr. McGann a couple weeks later. He enclosed two movie passes to show his appreciation. Of course after I received the letter, I took a photo and shared it with my entire network which resulted people not only being aware of what a great surgeon he is, but also praising him for being Social Media savvy.
2. Include Yelp Links Everywhere- I’m seeing many people include links to their Facebook and Twitter in various outlets but noticed many are forgetting Yelp. Include a link to your Yelp page on your email signature, website, email newsletters, Facebook page, etc. so your customers will start associating your business with Yelp.
3. Post Events on Yelp- Many businesses create Facebook invites to promote their events but most don’t know you can list your event on Yelp. Adding your event to Yelp provides you exposure to new customers who are Yelpers. If someone finds out about your event on Yelp they’re most likely an avid Yelper who is more likely to review your business.
4. Highlight Positive Yelp Reviews- Positive Yelp reviews can be used as testimonials for your business. Include a Yelper’s quote in your newsletter, website or Facebook update. You can also tweet portions of reviews with a link back to your Yelp page. This will remind people that you’re on Yelp and provide more credibility to your business as customers see other validating your company.
5. Address Yelper’s concerns- While we would all love to have 5 Star reviews 100% of the time, this won’t happen. Accept this and receive negative Yelp reviews as constructive criticism that will help you improve your business. If you read a review from a customer who has a real concern, take the initiative to reach out to them so they know you care about their experience. Depending on the concern you may want to offer them something to encourage them to try your business again. Perhaps a gift certificate or a refund. How you handle the situation can really make a difference in how that person talks about your business in the future. Many people will even go on and write an updated review after trying your business again.
What is your experience with Yelp? Are you an avid Yelper? Do you use it to find services or products? Has your business benefited from being on Yelp? Please feel free to share your insight in the comments below. Feel free to also follow Marketing Melodie’s Yelp Reviews.
