Social Media Connects Even the Remote

October 11, 2011 Leave a Comment

Autumn Corn

Gotta say, days like today I feel like queen of the world!

I get to do work I love and I get to do it out of an eclectic, old house. When I need a break, I simply step outside and immerse myself in God’s wondrous nature. And, like today, when the thermometer reaches the high 70s and autumn colors are peaking, life just doesn’t get any better!

Not long ago, working in a remote location such as mine wasn’t feasible. My neighborhood is rural (my closest neighbor is actually further away than this photo depicts) and in the old days I would have missed out on all the action.

Nowadays, of course, that’s all changed. We conduct business from anywhere and the continuously advancing internet enables us to stay in touch with everyone. Nothing emphasizes this more than social media.

Last month I participated in Brazen U’s Social Media Strategy Bootcamp. I’ve been promoting my business via social media for several years with a pleasing degree of success. The tips I learned from the bootcamp, however, are sure to increase that in so many ways—how I organize my social media time, how I make the most of my online presence, and how I measure what’s working and what’s not.

Most importantly, the bootcamp course enforced what I’ve heard over and over: “Marketing hasn’t changed, but the tools have, and social media has become the tool.”

Looking for measurable proof?

I recently sat down and did some 3rd quarter calculations for my business. After nine months of decided efforts to ramp up my social media, I’ve seen a 20% increase in client base and a 46% decrease in advertising expenses. That’s a pretty good ROI, wouldn’t you say? Especially for me, since my only investment is time and I love my time marketing with social media.

Here’s the social media I’ve been participating in so far:

  • Facebook: Check out my page, leave a comment, and leave a “Like!”
  • Twitter: I used to think Twitter was stupid. Now I know better.
  • LinkedIn: My favorite social media. Its groups are the best.
  • Google+: Still figuring this one out. Hey, you can only do so much!

 

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Filed Under: Creative Thinking: Good Business, Where I Work
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Gen Y, Social Media and Chocolate

June 20, 2011 1 Comment

Le Boulanger des Invalides Jocteur, photo by Jordan Ferry, Oh Happy Dayphoto by Jordan Ferney: used with permission

Maybe it’s because I have Gen Y kids. Or maybe because, as a late bloomer in the academic arena, my fellow collegians were Gen Y. Anyway, I think this age group is pretty impressive.

Gen Y officially consists of those born between 1982 and 1995, give or take a few years. They’ve ambled into adulthood with the most unprecedented ideas, and, with their 24/7 technology connection, they’ve completely transformed the rules of doing business. Interestingly, they’re proving quite successful.

Here’s an example.

Jordan Ferney is an entrepreneurial party planner, letterpress printer and writer. She’s also a blogger who captures up to 600,000 readers a month on Oh Happy Day, a lifestyle and design blog.

Right now Jordan is celebrating her blog’s fifth anniversary by giving away a trip for two to Paris. As in Paris, France. Linking to her site means I’ve entered her contest, and if I win, I’m definitely taking her suggestion for hot chocolate. Really, is this brilliant marketing on Jordan’s part, or what?

And what does this brilliance and faithful readership translate into? How about advertising dollars, exposure to her businesses, and marketing benefits many of us oldsters just can’t seem to fathom.

What’s with us oldsters?

Should we be paying attention to these kids? (I know, they’re not really kids…) Should we, like them, be using the internet and social media to bring awareness to our business?

You bet we should. We should be looking at what they’re doing and think how we can apply it to what we’re doing. If you’re a numbers person, here are stats affirming that social media has become our marketing mainstream. The link is to an over-a-year-old YouTube, which by today’s standards is way outdated—all the more reason your business needs to act now to get with the times.

Blog, e-newsletter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and more…need help understanding all these social media and how they can grow your business? Drop me a line. I’ll bring you so up-to-date you’ll feel like a kid again.

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Filed Under: Creative Thinking: Good Business
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Linked in with LinkedIn

September 17, 2009 Leave a Comment

I recently attended St. Paul’s Business Builders meeting to learn more about using LinkedIn. I came away very impressed by the networking opportunities of this social media.

Remember the joke about the six degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon? Well, LinkedIn narrows this down to three: direct connections, second-degree connections and third-degree connections.

Okay, I admit Kevin’s not one of my direct connections; but click here anyway to check out my business profile. And if you’re not currently using LinkedIn for your own business, get connected today. To date, there are 45 million registered users!

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Filed Under: Creative Thinking: Good Business
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Reaching Out with LinkedIn

September 16, 2009 Leave a Comment

puzzleYesterday, I attended a St. Paul’s Business Builders meeting and came back really pumped. The featured guest was Wayne Breitbarth, who spoke on using LinkedIn to stay connected. My purpose was for business, but I came away in awe of how this technological brainstorm can benefit churches.

LinkedIn, like Facebook, MySpace and many others, is a social networking site. Unlike others, it’s a business site and, for the most part, is without the worthless banter you’ll find elsewhere. LinkedIn’s purpose is for users to maintain a list of business connections they know and trust. As of July 2009, there were 43 million registered users.

What makes LinkedIn so fascinating are its “degrees of separation.” Remember the joke about the six degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon? Well, LinkedIn narrows this down to three: direct connections, second-degree connections and third-degree connections. While your direct connections are those you know and trust, their direct connections become your second-degree and their second-degree become your third. I know, it sounds a little complicated, if not pyramidal. But compare it to the old-fashioned ideal of gaining introductions to distant people via a mutual, trusted friend.

So, how can churches gain from this? Well, how limited is your creativity?

For starters, LinkedIn users are allowed three website listings on their profile page—the page viewed by your connections or the public, depending on your choice of settings. What a great way to direct millions to your church’s website! Be sure to click “edit” and give the link a name other than “My Website.”

LinkedIn has powerful search features. Businesses use this feature to seek resources for their bottom line. Churches can seek resources for their heavenly goal. Are you looking to build a new building and want to hire a contractor affiliated with your beliefs? Are you looking for a graphic designer for your congregation’s identity? Search LinkedIn’s people, jobs, companies, business, answers, inbox or group options.

LinkedIn’s Groups feature is exciting. It’s comforting. It’s welcoming. Groups are communities based on common interests and affiliations, where members can communicate via forums and LinkedIn messaging (email). Users can easily join one of the thousands of groups already formed (I searched the “church” category and came up with 1,749). Or users can create a group of their own. Imagine a group for your congregation and exchanging encouragement, prayers, schedules and news.

Perhaps LinkedIn’s greatest feature is one I should reiterate: 43 million users. Even if this is a passing fad, it currently has the attention of forty-three million people. Talk about going out into the world with the message of Christ!

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Filed Under: Communicating Christ
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