Social Media | Moto Message

Friday, December 30th, 2011

When you tweet, post, blog, circle, email *send smoke signals* who are you trying to reach?

Are you trying to reach me? Well, not technically me, but the “me” in your audience. Do you talk to “me” in words “I” understand and follow things that are important to “me”?

There is this term in ad sales called “Spray and Pray”. It refers to throwing a bunch of things at people hoping one will stick. It assumes that you are not listening to your client and just trying to push something on them or sell them something. Granted not everyone is trying to sell online, many people just use Twitter or Facebook as a personal branding tool to express their individuality, and some might only hope that this will attract and lead people back to their primary business. For example, I am not selling a book, seminars or any product *yet* and my consulting specialty doesn’t really cater to the average person online. My business is niche media and to be honest, I don’t really get clients from Twitter or Facebook. My business has been 100% referral from past involvement in broadcasting as a Non Traditional Sales Manager (that’e what we called digital marketing back then) and speaking at a lot conferences; however I got there by proving myself and knowledge I have gained from using these platforms.

FingerCandyMedia.com Friday: Do You Have An Eggs or Bacon Social Media Plan?

Friday, December 16th, 2011

The other day, over my bowl of cereal, the ole Bacon and Eggs adage came into my mind; you have heard that one right?
In a Bacon and Eggs breakfast, the Chicken is involved BUT the Pig is committed.

The act of committing yourself to something is defined as pledging and/or completely engaging yourself in the endeavor. It can be very easy to mistake enthusiasm for a project, as dedication, often times we just ‘get involved’ in projects and fall short of seeing them through.

Over three years ago when I started Finger Candy Media, had no idea what I was getting myself into. I understood marketing, promotions and advertising just as much as anyone else who has been in the business over 15 years; but initially only courted the idea of a Mobile Marketing company. After doing the research and running the numbers it just didn’t add up to what I thought were my strengths.

FingerCandyMedia.com Friday: Social Media and the Seven Diminutives

Friday, November 25th, 2011

When I woke up this morning to my four and half pound, tail wagging, bundle of love, and constant source of inspiration, Sissy; I thought about how much it makes my morning to be greeted like she has not seem me in days…EVERY day. The smile on my face right now at recollection says it all.

It’s the little things that mean a lot to me, in real life, as much as online.

The post title was inspired by Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, although it is my understanding that the word “dwarf” is no longer politically correct. In the story Snow White is lost in the forest and found by seven uh “woodsmen”: Sneezy, Sleepy, Dopey, Doc, Happy, Bashful and Grumpy. They form an alliance to keep Snow White safe from her evil step mother and claim back her birthright. *True Story about the PC of Dwarfs, I even heard that people were petitioning Disney to change the name*

Now back to this story about the SMALL things aka diminutives.

We’ll start with pointing out the definition of the word Social Media. From the dictionary: Social means friendly gathering; Media, a form of communication. So there you have it: a *friendly* gathering to communicate.

FingerCandyMedia.com Friday- RGF Factor?

Friday, August 12th, 2011

An old boss of mine used to joke about the “RGF Factor.” The term came in handy selling FOX TV programming, especially during the changing years ie BAI (before American Idol). It was easy to watch a pilot and think, this is going to do well, but it was always another issue when it came time to sell these new programs to advertising agencies.

You could sell spots and dots, projections and programming trends for similar shows. But sometimes, you need some added value.

It was a joke that got bigger one day when I was on the phone with a Media Buyer from a very big national ad agency, I said something like “and then you have to consider the RGF Factor,” she never asked what that was. I laughed so hard when I got off the phone, that just thinking about it right now makes me giggle. She never asked me what the RGF Factor was, but she bought me. Maybe she just trusted my confidence…

R.G.F. Factor = Really Good Feeling

Losing Customers? Find Out Why

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011

Marketing to your existing customer base is the easiest and most cost effective way to retain customers and increase profits. These customers have already spent money with your business and are most likely to do so again versus someone who has never set foot in your door. A study by Get Satisfaction shows that it can cost 6 to 7 times more to acquire a new customer then market to your existing customer base and 63% of all businesses feel that acquiring new customers should be their number one marketing goal.

While we agree with other business owners that acquiring new customers is necessary for steady growth and to replace the natural attrition of customers away from your business, but we also know that marketing to a list of happy customers and providing them with the service that brought them to your business in the first place saves money and increases profits. Once you have a customer walk in your door the first time, what are you doing to keep them for life? In most small business markets, you do not have a monopoly on your product. The customer can probably find a comparable product within a relatively close proximity. Service is what sets your business apart in both how they are treated inside your business and how you treat the customer through your existing customer marketing methods.

Foursquare Pages for Brands and Organizations

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

Small brands, organizations and businesses can now create their own page in foursquare. Previously this was only available to very large brands and not on a self serve platform. You will be able to create your own page, complete with custom banner and information.

A great feature is the ability to leave tips and check-ins on your page and push these to both your business Twitter and Facebook page. Those with multiple locations can have more than one manager so all can post tips and updates to your community.

View examples of other pages here: https://foursquare.com/pages and after yours is complete, it will be listed among the 3,000 plus that foursquare created for the largest and most influential brands in the world.

FingerCandyMedia.com Friday- Feel Like You’re Going the Wrong Way Down the Social Media Road?

Friday, July 8th, 2011

Chris Brogan wrote a blog post awhile back titled You’re Doing It Wrong. If you have ever heard me speak on stage or in person, I almost always talk about how this post impacted me. It was a real ‘ah-ha’ moment back in 2009, when I first read it.

For me, it is as obvious online, as it is in real life that you can’t compare your insides to other people’s outsides. It just doesn’t work. SO if your goals aren’t the same as my goals, than I am probably doing Social Media wrong to you, right?