The other day, not for the first time, I heard someone utter the phrase that most of us here on the Interweb listen to in disbelief:

I think Social Media is a fad.

What. The. Hell.

I’ve heard and seen other Social Media enthusiasts Tweet similar conversations (because, you know, Twitter is the final frontier of the Over Heard). The Tweets are often laced with, on the mild end, amusement, and on the, er, less temperate end, disgust.

But I had to stop and think for a minute. Often, the people who are saying these things about Social Media aren’t idiots. In fact, I’ve heard it slip out of the mouths of people I’m pretty sure are smarter than I am (though they can’t dance like I can. BOOM. (Disclaimer: I am a terrible dancer).

And then it hit me: they don’t dislike “social,” they dislike “media.”

In other words, they’re skeptics about the tools.

Because I bet if you sat down with them and had a serious conversation about having real, meaningful conversations between companies and customers, businesses and buyers, famous people and fans…they’d be on board with that.

What they’re not on board with is the noise. Because that’s what Social Media can feel like to the non-habitual user (seriously, we heavy users need a support group or something. Let’s bring booze).

They’re averse to what I like to call “Digital Jizzery.” 

It’s a crass term, I know, but I made it up during one of the biggest shit-shows Social Media has to offer, South by Southwest Interactive.

Here’s why…

Everybody has a new idea, a new product, a BETTER WAY for you do use Social Media tools RIGHT NOW AND ZOMG, MY PORN CHECK-IN SERVICE IS GONNA TAKE OVER THE INTERNET. (Also, YOU’RE DOING IT WRONG.) And when you’re with that many people who are pushing their agenda down your throat, it can be exhausting. They’re the self-proclaimed gurus and experts, and probably the same people who’d shove their grandmother in front of a train if it meant they’d get an extra check-in on Foursquare.

Sorry. It’s gross behavior; it deserved a gross term.

The people who participate in digital jizzery have the opposite problem from our friends who think Social Media is a fad. They’re much less about the Social, and much more about the Media (and how the Media can potentially help them get rich). Yes, you can use Social Media to drive leads and sales and to market your latest whozit, but not at the expense of losing the human element that Social Media provides.

So what are the common traits among the people who get it right? Here’s my two cents:

1.  They never forget the human element of the medium

Not to kiss ass (MUAH!), but Lewis does this really well. When he first started on LinkedIn, he spent hours sending personalized, genuine messages to people he wanted to connect with. That’s human…that’s REAL, because you’d never walk up to someone on the street and say, “HI I’M SARAH. BUY MY EBOOK.”

Call ‘em what you will in your own lingo (e.g. customers, clients, leads), but the people giving you their email addresses? Never forget that they are human. And never forget that something as simple as a personalized DM or a quick email of thanks or acknowledgement can mean huge things to someone (and in return, may get you more customers, clients, and leads).

2.  They know the tools don’t matter, the conversation does

So you don’t have a Facebook Fan Page.  Or you do, and every blog out there says it sucks because it doesn’t have a custom landing tab. Who cares? Are you still having real, meaningful conversations with the humans surrounding you? Do you do it on Twitter instead of YouTube?  Or through a local networking site like Cbusr instead of LinkedIn? Sure, the tools should probably fit your intent, but if you’re rockin’ it out on the Bird Wire and that works for you?  Get it. (And once you start rockin’ it in your chosen medium, and see need for improvement, then read up on how you can do it better and more efficiently.)

3.  They’re honest and transparent (they fess up when they mess up)

There is no better example of this than the Red Cross.

You all remember this scenario, right? A rogue tweet went out on their national account that suggested one of their employees was having a great time getting hammered on Dogfishhead beer (and who wouldn’t? Try both the 60 and 90 Minute IPA. Noms). The Red Cross could have gone all Chipotle on it and lied, but instead they handled the situation with grace and humor. They were human to the humans who interact with them. The result? Dogfishhead was so impressed, they started their own blood drive campaign in support. Good vibes all around.

If I can drive one point home to anyone who ever asks me questions about the Interwebz and blogging and business, it’s that the Social is far more important than the Media. People always ask me, “But HOW do I start a conversation?” And that’s when I say, “Forget that it needs to be 140 characters or less, how would you talk to someone in the same line for coffee? Or how would you introduce yourself at a networking event? A birthday party? At church?”

It’s the same thing when using a Social Media tool. The tools only help us reach other humans in a speedier, more convenient, or more highly specialized way…but the people on the other side of that screen? Still people. They have problems, and triumphs, and need bathroom breaks just like we all do. So when in doubt, default to that human element.

It’ll work, I promise. No more digital jizzery for you.

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Sarah J. Storer is a blogger, speaker and storyteller who calls Columbus, OH home. Her internationally read blog, “The Naked Redhead” (www.thenakedredhead.com), is a quirky mix of life, love and relationship advice, sprinkled with the odd snarky musing. When she’s not writing for TNR, she enjoys helping businesses and entrepreneurs with creative social concepts.  She is currently looking forward to debuting both her new TV and radio shows in August, and one day, hopes to enjoy the simple luxury of a full night’s sleep.

Social Media Marketing

This is a guest post by Michael Cash.

People have grown accustomed to fast business transactions in the “real” world.

If you’re buying a coffee at a gas station in the morning, you just want the coffee quickly so you can move on with your day.

Business comes first – forming relationships comes second.

However, social media marketplaces rely on building relationships with your customers before they even think of buying your product.

A 2009 study by the Nielsen Company concluded that Americans were spending 17% of their Internet time browsing social media web sites. Social media sites are a powerful consumer pool that many new marketers ignore because they simply don’t understand them.

Make Sure People Are Convinced That You Know Your Stuff

One of the biggest mistakes that you can make as a social media marketing guru is publishing tips that only work with very limited application or that flat out don’t work at all. Aside from visiting a bookstore and stocking up on marketing literature, many serious Internet marketers earn a marketing degree in their free time. This isn’t so you can emblazon your site with your diploma; rather, it is simply to gain some of the skills that you will need to be influential in your niche.

Along the same lines, make sure you are either a skilled writer or have a trusted editor to rely on for nasty grammar and spelling errors. Just like a lack of knowledge, having a poorly written web site or social media space can spell disaster, even if you are giving solid tips.

Add Value, and Nothing But

One of the first mistakes that social media marketers make when approaching a site like Facebook or YouTube is assuming that they simply need to get their information out there for their potential customers. Of course, this is important. However, it is vital that your information is targeted towards your primary demographic and that it creates some discussion, or buzz.

Consider the marketing campaign of Blendtec, which hit its peak on YouTube in 2008. Using a game show style program, Blendtec created a feature called “Will it Blend.” During this show, they put different everyday items into a blender, including an iPhone and a copy of Halo 3. These videos featured the company CEO Tom Dickson and went on to get millions of views for each of the more than 100 videos. The videos became so popular that Steve Jobs even made a guest appearance when Blendtec decided to blend the iPhone 4.

Blending an iPhone 4

Before this marketing campaign, Blendtec was an unknown appliance manufacturer selling blenders at around $400.00 each. Perhaps the acting seemed a little hokey, but in the end, the videos attracted a lot of buzz about Blendtec – showing the power of their blenders in a humorous and relatable way. Best of all, the videos gave Blendtec a face and accomplished the all-important task of building a relationship before making a sale.

Give People What They Want

Whether you are running a marketing campaign yourself or want to educate others who are preparing to do so, focus on what your audience wants to hear – not what you think they should know. For example, you might be marketing a simple computer that is designed for the needs of senior citizens. While you might be impressed with the processing speed and other technical aspects of your product, your demographic will likely ignore such statements.

In fact, they will likely care about what the computer will allow them to do, or how it will change their life for the better. Rather than focusing on technological aspects, tell your readers how they will be able to connect with old friends, start their own web site, find faster routes to the grocery store, etc. Think about the problems that your product will really solve and focus on how they will appeal to your targeted demographic.

With a few successful marketing campaigns (and a few stellar before and after testimonials), you will be respected as a social media marketing guru in no time. Remember to keep your information simple and valuable. Focus on your consumers and give them value beyond exposure to your product. When people begin wanting your product (even if the product is your advice) without realizing that it was just aggressively pitched to them, you will know that you have reached guru status in the world of social media marketing.

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Michael Cash is a twenty something freelance writer and internet consultant residing in western Michigan.

There is a shift happening.

Everyone got so excited a few years back when “social media” became the happening thing to do.

Men got pumped because it gave them an excuse to stay inside and play inside the Poker app on Facebook until 4 a.m., saying it was a way to connect with potential leads online.

Right.

In my opinion, the social media world has made a lot of people lazy.

Not everyone.  For some it has made them work harder in the offline world.  For others, it has made them lazy and it’s time we start shifting back.

The Online Shift

The online shift was fun at first.  Facebook was expanding rapidly to those that were outside of college, Twitter was emerging with celebrity status, LinkedIn became the online business networking resource, and everyone and their dog was blogging (literally, dogs are blogging with funny dog blogs like this one!)

We’ve gotten so caught up in the idea of being able to take away interaction with others (aka face-to-face) and instead just sit behind our laptops and connect with people online.

Man, were we wrong.

Now I’ll have to admit, I love networking online.  There is an entirely different element happening when you connect virtually, but it was exactly that mindset that got everyone away from the real world connection.

Things became easy because we could sit in the comfort of our homes and say exactly what we wanted to online without having to worry about the fear of actually talking to anyone in person.

We Forgot How To Be Personal

In a sense, we have forgotten how to be human.  Humans are supposed to interact with one another, not with computers… right?  At least that’s what I’d always thought.  It’s much more fun having the feeling of looking into someone’s eyes, sensing their body language, expressing your emotions on one another, and getting the true sense behind the genuine soul of another person.

Wouldn’t you agree that the online world takes all of that away from us?

I got an email from someone who said she had wanted to say hi at a recent event, but felt scared to approach me (and other people) in person.  She was so used to being behind a computer that her people skills had gotten rusty, so instead of taking advantage of the live event to interact with all the interesting people there who could help her build her business,  she attended only part of the event and spent the rest of the time in her hotel room doing what she had become comfortable with… being online!  Don’t let the online world make you a Shy Networker, get back offline and showcase who you really are.

It’s Time To Shift Back

Let’s shift back offline.

It so much more fun interacting with people live, in person, instead of via an avatar.  Wouldn’t you agree?

There is so much more good you can do when you shake someone’s hand, smile at one another, and interact like human beings are supposed to.  This is how business happens, and this is how life happens.

There are too many misconceptions that come to be online (both good and bad) that could easily be set straight in real life.  I’m not saying it’s bad to be online, quite the opposite in fact.  It’s more important now than ever to have an online presence to create awareness, generate leads, and increase your business.  However, as much of the energy you put to your online efforts, you want to put at least half of that to connecting with people face-to-face in the real world.

This is the shift that needs to happen, and is happening, and I hope you join me in the shift sooner than later.

I recently caught up with Chris Pearson, creator of Thesis Theme for WordPress, and he was the one who got this conversation started for me.  Check out what Chris had to say in a cab ride during a late night rally in Vegas during BlogWorld.

Those Who Shift, Win

Those who are already out there connecting with others at events locally and nationally are the ones who get it.  Chris Brogan, Scott Stratten, Brian Solis, Gary Vaynerchuk (and many more)…. they get it.  They understand that you CAN create an amazing amount of awareness and exposure online, but the real business and quality relationships start with a hand shake and end with a smile or a hug.  As sappy as the hug part may seem, you create a deeper bond with people even if you give them one of those “bro hugs” with only one arm and half a shoulder.  It brings the connection to another level of intimacy which enhances the relationship more so than any amount of interaction could online.

Next Steps

If you are feeling timid or fearful at all to attend local networking events, then you need to take action and do it.  If you feel scared to say hi to people you have never met before but would love to talk to, then do it.  Start attending more events locally and around the country where your audience or target market are attending.

Those who connect in person – win!

I’d love to hear about your thoughts on “The Shift”.  Are you finding yourself online more now then before?  Is the comfort of your own home and computer stopping you from meeting with others face to face?  What are your biggest challenges or fears you would like to overcome?  Please share your thoughts, suggestions, and ideas in the comment section below so that the others feeling these same things can all benefit.

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Image Credit: SNOWfactory
Image Credit: Patrick Haney

It’s that time of year.

The time of year just before Halloween where all of the nerds come out for one weekend in Vegas and party like rock stars.  That’s right, BlogWorld is upon us!

6,000 Nerds In A Room!

To be honest, there is no telling what will happen when 6,000 or so nerds… *cough* I mean bloggers, will do when you mix Vegas, alcohol, gambling, strippers, and social media – it may be the most epic weekend of the year for all I know!

I’ve been lucky to attend and speak at BlogWorld before, and I’m even more excited to attend and speak again this year.  I can guarantee you this – there will be madness, a ton of familiar online personalities everywhere, and it will be a blast!  I would add that you would learn a wealth of information from the sessions, but I’m not sure you will be able to make any of them from the late night party frenzy.

There is an actual skill to getting through the chaos of this three day mad house.  You can actually make it a time you will never forget in the fun department, and also meet enough people to help your business grow for years.  Since a top 10 list would be too much for you to remember during your drunken state, here are my 3 simple points you should focus on to get the most out of this years mayhem.

3 Focus Points At BlogWorld

1.  Be Yourself

I hate it more than anything when you go to a conference and you get the sense that people are acting fake.  Please don’t do that this time around.  This is freaking BlogWorld!  A place where you can let loose and have some fun.  You don’t have to dress up in a suit, or act super professional.  You can be yourself and show your true colors.  We are all friendly at BlogWorld and want to connect with the real you since we’ve been stuck looking at your 125×125 thumbnail head shot on Twitter for the past year.  Be yourself, and you will meet a ton of new connections, and your old friends will love you even more.

2.  Have *Some* Plan

I’ll admit, I really don’t have a plan when going into this weekend.  Like I said, it’s a huge room full of really cool nerds and smart people who spend a lot of time online (I use the word nerds in a good way… let’s face it, I’m a nerd myself ).  I don’t circle which sessions I want to attend, or have my night full of all the best parties.  I take each hour as it comes to me, and I make the most out of every second.  That said, I do have *some* plan.  I have a number of speeches, meetings, radio/T.V. interviews, and and a few key parties I plan to attend.  Make sure that you have some things sorted out during each day, but leave room for “up in the air” time as you will want to be flexible and connect with people in the halls, jump from session to session, and more.

3.  Make Your Connections

The most important part about coming to BlogWorld is building relationships.  That’s it.  If you don’t come away by connecting with as many quality people as possible, and helping connect others, then you may have an amazing time, but will have missed the point.  If you want to get completely trashed and lose all of your money, then come back to Vegas another time.  You can still *sort of* do that during BlogWorld, but only if you are building quality relationships on the black jack tables.

Don’t worry about running out of business cards (I’m already out, so don’t ask me for mine) but make sure you gather peoples information in a way that works best for you.  If you want to create a pile of cards, just make sure you mark the key ones you want to connect with and send them personal emails on the flight home.  Out of cards?  Create a digital card with your iPhone notes and add your email, website address, social media info, and email that note to people right as you meet them so you have a record of who you met.

It’s important to collect this information, but it doesn’t matter so much how you collect it, as everything is a blur towards the end of BlogWorld and you will be lucky to come home with half of the underwear you brought with you.

I look forward to saying hi, connecting with you, and having a blast during this years BlogWorld, and if you can think of an extra tip to add to this article, then please add your suggestions to the comment section below.   Bring on the madness!

photo by Incase

Not sure that you need to use social media?

Here’s a story about Joe and Sue that might hit home for you.

Joe and Sue are both bankers who were laid off on the same day from the same company.  Times are tough and the banking industry isn’t as profitable as it used to be.  Jobs are now scarce and hundreds of thousands of previously employed people are without jobs to provide for their family.

When Joe and Sue find out that they have lost their jobs, they each take a different path to finding a new one. Joe is one of those people who never bought into the whole social media hype.  “Why do I need more friends?” he said. “It’s a waste of my time.” Sue, however, realized long ago the power of networking online. She’s amassed hundreds of Twitter followers, and has just as many Facebook friends and LinkedIn connections.  Not to mention her blog where she has a complete resume of her skills and full contact information.

The first day after Joe loses his job; he heads out to grab the morning newspaper and begins to scan the classifieds.  He also calls a few friends who might know of something, and he even calls a professional recruiter.  Then he goes online to look for openings. His job search has begun.

Sue, on the other hand, started the job search minutes after she was laid off.  She immediately told all of her followers about it on Twitter, possibly using her smart-phone to update her status.  Minutes after that, she updated her profile on LinkedIn and notified every contact there that she was available and looking.  Then she updated her Facebook status and wrote a blog entry about her experience and what kind of work she was looking for.

So who got the job quicker?  Of course, it was Sue.

The power of social media enabled her to sneeze her message out to more people, faster than Joe could. Her associations with “friends” also enabled her to be recommended personally by someone who might have a connection inside a company she is hoping to work for.  Joe, on the other hand, is still checking the classified ads.

Do you want to be Joe, or Sue?

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For over 15-years, Jim Kukral has helped small businesses and large companies like Fedex, Sherwin Williams, Ernst & Young and Progressive Auto Insurance understand how find success on the Web.  Jim is the author of the book, “Attention! This Book Will Make You Money”, as well as a professional speaker, blogger and Web business consultant.  Find out more by visiting www.JimKukral.com. You can also follow Jim on Twitter @JimKukral.

Image by dragon

Think email is dead?  Think again.

Email Marketing is an extremely powerful tool right now for businesses looking to generate a better relationship with their current and potential customers.  In fact, according to a worldwide study conducted by Lightspeed Research 60% of consumers make purchases as a direct result from email.

However, email marketing is just one way to target your audience, but with all of the SPAM, junk mail, and pure volume of email users are receiving, a number of emails go unread.  Wouldn’t it be nice to know exactly where each one of your contacts was “hanging out” online?

This is where Flowtown comes into play. Flowtown can show you all the different social networks your customers are on including: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Myspace and more, and it allows you to tap into your network and connect with your audience where they spend time the most.

Pretty cool idea huh?  I thought so, and that’s why I had to hear about how powerful it actually was from Flowtown co-founder Dan Martell himself in this video interview below.

Have you been getting the most out of your email marketing list by connecting with your list on social media as well?  Are you a Flowtown user already?  If so, please share your thoughts on what it has done to maximize your email marketing efforts in the comments below and make sure to connect with Dan Martell on Twitter or on his personal website.

How “Zen” is your social media marketing strategy?

If you aren’t getting the results you are looking for, you may be going about your strategy all wrong.

Sometimes, all we need is a shift in our mindset to take our results from zero to hero.  As an athlete, I realized that I would never be as big, fast, or strong as some of the others, but I knew if my mindset was in top shape then I could compete with some of the top athletes in the world.

This is true with social media marketing as well.

You don’t have to have a huge brand or a lot of resources to spend on social media marketing.  All you need is to know how to use the tools the right way, leverage what’s available to you for free online, and get your mindset in the right place.

The Zen of Social Media Marketing by Shama Kabani is a book that shares with your the tools you need to get your mind right using social media.  Check out my thoughts in the video below, and make sure to grab a copy if you want to be more Zen-like online.

Also, be sure to say hi to Shama on Twitter, as she has a lot of great things to share on a daily basis.

I just got back from SXSW Interactive, and for those who attended I hope you were able to get some sleep because I didn’t get much.

Most people do business between the hours or 9am to 5pm.  Most people.

However, for those who attended SXSW (or who attend conferences in general) know that most of the business happens right around 2am.

Depending on the city, this is the time most of the parties are winding down, and the bars close.  And this is also the time people open up to others the most.

Here is common example of what would go down during a night at SXSW:

We all bond together and take our last drink or rush to the bar to order one last shot.  We pay for each others tab, stumble out the venue door with sore feet from the long day of walking at the conference and non-stop dancing.  We get really close when speaking to one another because our ears are ringing from the thumping techno beats, classic rock, and 80’s greatest hits.

We grab a slice of pizza from that shady street meat vender with crazy tattoos.  Then we share cab rides or walk back to the hotel lobby and tell tales of the nightlong journey to the other conference mates who missed out on “the best party of the evening”.

We rally the troupes and lounge around in smelly, sweaty clothes acting as if we have known each other our entire lives.  Then as the first person starts to fall asleep in the middle of the hotel lobby, we take our last picture of the night and post it to Twitter, and Facebook for everyone to see.

We watch as others rush to the bathroom to throw up their $113 bill of Coyote Ugly’s finest alcoholic beverages.  And after this, we realize it’s time to go to bed so we can wake up for another long day of panels, networking, and partying.

A mosh pit of high fives, hugs, and kisses take place as we say goodnight (like in the video below)

We tell each other how much fun we had, how much of a blast it was getting to know one another, and mention how we look forward to hanging out with that person in the future.

This is when business happens.

When we start having experiences with one another outside of the working mindset, and in an environment that breaks down walls and allows for a more light hearted connection.

Remember, we do business with those we know, like and trust.  One night with someone at a party gives you the best opportunity to get them to like you, know the “real” you a little better, and trust you even more.

I generate business deals all of the time at 2:00 am.  Do you?

Please share one experience where you connected with someone late at night and how it translated into a joint venture, new job, more sales, or more business opportunities.  I would love to hear your story.

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Image by Steve Hall

LinkedIn is better than Twitter.  Isn’t it? In my mind LinkedIn is one of the most powerful business networking resources on the planet.  However, my good friend Sean Malarkey believes Twitter is more powerful.  Who is right and who is wrong?  It’s like saying which team is better in the Michigan vs. Ohio State rivalry.  Both teams have great tradition and are two of the most successful college football teams of all time.  Luckily, Sean and I both agree that Ohio State is much better, and since they won 8 our out of the last 9 meetings with “the school up north”, there isn’t much to debate about which team is better (Go Bucks!).

Seeing that we could not come to an agreement as to which site is better (Twitter and LinkedIn), I thought I would duke it out with Sean to show you that LinkedIn is more powerful for your business.  Sean, being the competitive guy that he is, accepted my challenge.  Make sure you watch this brief video below to see how YOU will decide who is the winner.

Sean and I will be giving away our best content, and sharing with you how you can maximize some of the latest tools that both Twitter and LinkedIn have recently released.  Register Here for this content packed web show, take notes, and get ready to choose your winner in the Twitter vs. LinkedIn rivalry game!

I’ve recently seen several people say they would like to see the meaning of PR change from public relations to people relations. Whatever you call it, teams and athletes are better for using it in their professional arsenals.

As we take in the U.S.(tennis) Open these next two weeks, we’re reminded of the added value that “up close and personal” provides between athletes and fans. After most matches at the USTA Billy Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y., you will find players stop to sign large tennis balls, programs and tickets for fans who gather near practice and in the front rows of match courts. A few years ago, the United States Tennis Association instituted a tradition that asks winners of each match in all rounds sign three new tennis balls and swat them into the stands. Fans hoot and holler at players so that they might hit balls their way. At a time when it’s tough to find big-name football, basketball and baseball players sign anything unless there’s a fee involved, professional tennis players seem to sincerely enjoy the 30 seconds it takes for them to connect with their fans in ways other sports cannot.

Golf is another sport that finds its athletes more open to fan engagement by signing tickets, caps and in at year’s PGA Championship, golf balls.

“This helps sports like tennis and golf, possibly because they are individual sports, not a team sports, which helps to connect athletes with fans personally,” said Ryan Knapp, PR Director at the National Premier Soccer League. “Anytime there is autograph signing and interaction between athletes and fans it’s a benefit, but only if it is genuine. If it’s forced, there is no benefit.”

Knapp said one exception is when tennis pros launch the post-match balls into the stands.

“I think that’s pretty cool actually, but the benefit? Someone gets a cool signed ball and tells a story,” Knapp said. “It’s unique to the Open. If every sport had its athletes sign balls and launch them in the stands, I don’t think it would be as effective.”

Among the best signers in these sports that come to mind: Andy Roddick (tennis), Serena Williams and Venus Williams (tennis), Phil Mickelson (golf), Hunter Mahan (golf). I know there are others, so please feel free to add those you know who spend their own time signing for fans.

I can also tell you that having worked with Dick Vitale for ESPN and ABC Sports broadcasts, he signs as many autographs as time allows at the dozens of venues where he provides basketball analysis. Many years ago, I also had to drag former U.S. Gymnastics Olympian, Bart Conner, from a throng of fans for whom he spent at least 20 minutes after a telecasts because he had another commitment. These are people who won fans throughout their sports careers and grew those fan bases when they switched to broadcasting just because they took extra time to interact, face-to-face. It’s “person relations” that promotes stories and often endears fans for lifetimes.

Photo Credits: Tennis Ball ; Autograph