The brains behind this video is Erik Qualman of Socialnomics. Erik is a seasoned social media expert who was a guest on Indie Business Radio a few weeks ago. On the show (you can read a summary, watch a video and stream the audio of the whole show here), Erik shared lots of tips and insights into how small and independent business owners can use social media to their advantage. Erik’s book, Socialnomics
, is a must read for anyone who wants to leverage the power of digital media for the benefit of their business and their customers. This video pretty much says it all. I hope you enjoy it.
Question: Do you agree that this video does an incredible job of showcasing the power and potential of social media?
This is a momentous time in American history for small and independent business owners. That may seem like an overstatement to some, but it’s not. We are in the midst of en economic transition that is creating new opportunities for tiny businesses nationwide. There are many reasons for this transition, and one of them is the continuing decline of newspaper circulation in this country. Look at the graph, reprinted with the permission of Choire Sicha of The Awl, then scroll underneath it to learn 3 reasons why this is good for you and your small business.
You may not have time to study the chart in detail, but one glance reveals that circulation trends are decidedly downward. Even the Wall Street Journal, which the graphic shows “gets it” experienced a positive increase followed by a downward trend. Here are 3 reasons why these trends, which are such devastating news for traditional media, are awesome news for you. [Continue Reading…]
When I quit my corporate job to start my business, the first thing I did was call the vice president of public relations at the company I was leaving and ask her how to get good PR. She referred me to a veteran in the industry who broke the devastating news that my business was not newsworthy. I had great ideas, she said, but in order to appeal to the media, I had to back them up with some substance that was worthy of an appearance between their very expensive pages. That was then. This is now.
Question: If print magazines are dying, how are you planning to get the word out about your products and services to the masses? Do you believe that The Media Is Y-O-U?
In a day and time when “social media” is just a word I’ve heard when things were being said, I think it is vital that anyone saying they are qualified to teach you how to use social media should be able to validate the depth of their experience as a successful user of new media and technology as a business tool. After all, we invite you to part with your hard-earned money in exchange for our experience. Honesty and transparency are important to me, so I want you to know exactly what you are getting when you trust me with your valuable time and money. “Social media” is not a new or passing interest for me. It’s how I built my 10-year old business.
I thought a time line with screen shots going back to 2000 would be the best way to showcase my background in this area. Since some of the websites, social media and social networking sites I once used are no longer active, I scoured the Way Back Machine to document the progression of my social media experiences. I used screen shots in cases where a site is no longer operating. [Continue Reading…]
Last year, I met Leesa Barnes, author of Podcasting for Profit
. Leesa graciously accepted my invitation to be a guest on my radio show, and you can stream or download the interview with here. (Jamila White hosted that show for me while I was away speaking at a conference.) While I hope to meet Leesa in person one day, for now, I am delighted to accept her invitation to join the faculty of her 2010 Social Media Telesummit!
Like Leesa’s past Telesummits, this one promises to be engaging, fun and informative! Other faculty members include PR strategist Shannon Cherry, social media devotee Nancy Marmolejo and many more! [Continue Reading…]
I am delighted that longtime IBN member Kaila Westerman will join us at The Media Is You – San Francisco! Kaila is the owner of TKB Trading, LLC, a San Francisco-based supplier of cosmetics colorants for use in toiletries, soap and cosmetics. Kaila also sells waxes, lip product bases, containers, lipstick molds, and associated products. Kaila is a sought after speaker at cosmetics related events. She is also the author of Gel Candles: 40 Creative Projects
and Melt & Mold Soap Crafting
.*
The photo is of Kaila and I at the 2008 Beauty Business Boot Camp at The Nova Studio outside San Francisco where I taught a series of social media workshops. [Continue Reading…]
Earlier today, I suggested that social media is just media. Today, I want to share proof that, whatever you call it, it works! According to comScore, a digital marketing intelligence company, the graph below shows a marked increase in the number of discounts and special offers made by retailers on Black Friday (and ten days before and ten days after Black Friday) this year, as compared to in prior years.
According to comScore, retailers’s desire to lure shoppers early in a lousy economy explains this increase. For example, last year, online holiday sales spiked on Cyber Monday. This year, they spiked 3 days earlier on Black Friday.Not only was there a spike, there was an 11% increase in online sales on Black Friday, as compared to a 1% increase on the same day last year. [Continue Reading…]
I am pleased to announce that the venue for The Media Is You: Atlanta has been confirmed! The social media training event of the year for Indies will be held in the southeast at the American Management Association’s Executive Conference Center at The Proscenium located at 1170 Peachtree Street, NE. A short drive from Hartsfield International Airport, it’s the perfect venue for our event. We have reserved comfortable meeting tables and chairs, state of the art audio visual equipment, WIFI, and high speed Internet access.
