The Age of Social Media

Social Media Has Taken Over Our Lives 

Social media has evolved and taken over the lives of many young people who either seek false celebredom, perceived importance and awareness, created interesting networks for young professionals, driven a laissez-faire attitude for seasoned professional and developed into a new marketing tool for business owners, public officials, and corporate executives. But the tone and purpose of the message can be lost if the age of the viewer doesn't correlate. According to a recent study by the Pew Research Center revealed in Jessica Walrack's article, the breakdown of the social media age groups can be used to determine the type, frequency and focus of the message.

Promote, Promote, Promote 

If you want to promote a business or submit a highly publicized post aimed at a targeted demographic between the ages of 18 - 29. Focus marketing effort on:

• Facebook (87%)
• Instagram (53%)
• Twitter (37%)
• Pinterest (34%), 

To gain the interest of prospective buyers between the ages of 30-49, the efforts should turn towards

• Facebook (73%)
• LinkedIn (31%)
• Instagram (25%)
• Twitter (25%) 

63% of 50-64-year-olds are active on Facebook while those over 65 have a 56% Facebook usage rate.
There is no need to post new technology gadgets on Instagram for the elderly market because they won't ever see it unless their 19-year old grandson visits and sees it on his tablet. Offering after-work fitness boot camps with child care arrangements to 20 yr olds on Pinterest would generate less traffic than a Facebook ad that reaches the social media users from the ages of 30 - 49.

Know the age for the message and the targeted platform for them to notice. Welcome to the aging of social media.

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Posted in: Facebook,Instagram,LinkedIn,marketing,Pinterest,social media,Social Media and Business,sports psychology,strategy,Twitter

Power Down the Lights on Poor Customer Experience

TURN DOWN THE ATTENTION...

Whether a business owner or employee for a huge enterprise, it is quite humiliating when customers complain about the product or service offered.   Even if the complaints are warranted, it is even worse when customer service is so scripted that the customer cannot get the problem resolved.  This sparks frustration that can morph into bigger problems for the business – bad press through word-of-mouth and social media.

So how do you power down the big noise?

• Acknowledge the customer’s issue as a serious issue.  If it is ignored or downplayed, the frustration levels grow higher and the negative backlash will increase.  Set up a time for a chat session or discussion with a seasoned customer service individual with common sense.  Reaching out to the customer shows concern and willingness to resolve the issue.
• Have a senior customer service representative or manager respond.  Dumb questions from the junior person or overseas operator will only exacerbate the problem.   Senior personnel should know how to do the best research and also have the ability to override charges, provide discounts, or escalate where necessary for the quickest possible solution.
• Send a thank you letter/email/tweet from the business.  Appreciation speaks volumes to any customer, especially the one who has not had a good experience.  If a discount is available, offer it without being asked for it. 

Everyone learns from the misfortunes of poor quality in product and customer service.  However the difference in keeping the customer and having to put out bad publicity fires relies on the ability to quiet the complaints before they spiral out of control.  When in doubt, always remember – “A good paying customer of one company can easily move on to be a higher revenue customer of the competition.”

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Posted in: customer experience,customer service,Get A Clue,new business,quality service,Small Business Administration,small business expert,social media,Social Media and Business,Temeko Richardson

Best Read Fridays - Hashtags: The Best New Marketing

Repurposed # Sign...

Twitter users engage with one another to group conversations, hot topics, and trending ideas by prefixing words with the number sign, hashtag.  The hashtag is now used throughout all of social media as a norm.  But individuals are not the only ones that use them.  Marketing departments of companies have discovered that the use of a hashtag and encouragement of employees to use them in their social media experience increases awareness of the company and its products.  It is a cheaper marketing strategy that has a great awareness impact. 

Check out this article on how your company can make hashtag marketing successful:  http://onforb.es/14muzR3

Be sure to check back here for more weekly business tips and follow on Twitter @temekoruns.

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Posted in: hashtag,marketing,social media,Social Media and Business,Temeko Richardson

Best Read Friday - Scare Customers Into Buying What You Have

FRIGHTENED TO PURCHASE...

Most executives believe marketing is about building a brand and making people believe in the greatness of what is being offered because of the perks or advantages over competitors' products and services.  This article goes in reverse and points out how scare tactics can force potential buyers into purchasing what you offer.  

Read carefully to see how the marketing is deployed to keep customers believing "what if " they don't buy it.  http://bit.ly/17jwRoU

For more tips, be sure to pick up a copy of the book, Get A Clue - 10 Steps to an Executive IQ on Amazon.com (http://amzn.to/10Somc1) and make sure to follow me @temekoruns on Twitter.

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Posted in: Get A Clue,marketing,Social Media and Business,Temeko Richardson,The RLC Group

Social Media - Hard Work but Promising Returns

Pays To Know Social Media...

If you are like me, there is not enough time in the day.  For any business owner who also oversees clients' businesses, 80 hours is not enough in a week.  However social media is a must in today's society.  The rewards of recognition, notice for a great product or service, and Internet sales or interest can increase revenue for any business owner or show favor to corporate executives.  

So how do you handle all the social media needs to stay relevant in cyberspace?  

Here are a few tips to get you started:
Blog

• Make sure your blog has a short concise sentence about what readers should expect.  
• Every blog post should have some picture.  It is a visual society.
• The format of every blog post should be the following:  picture, short catch introduction, Read more button, the rest of the post, and a "don't forget to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and subscribe to my YouTube channel"
• Keep a strict schedule to post (MWF), (TH), Bi-monthly

YouTube Channel

• Keep a strict schedule to present videos and stick to it.
• Be sure to mention the video in all your social media platforms on the day it is published
• Aim for a new video a week.
• Every two weeks upload a video where you answer questions from your various social media platforms, or at your events, etc 
• In every description of the video, there should be a link to your Facebook, blog, and twitter accounts. 

Twitter Account Review 

• Utilize a scheduler like Tweetdeck or Hootsuite
• Commit to up to 5 tweets a day (3 business and 2 personal) 
• The business tweets should have a link that directs to your other social media platforms 
• Set a specific day or two to interact with others.

Facebook Account Review 

• Every facebook post should have a picture or at least a bitly link to your other social media platforms.
• Facebook is the best place to put up your Youtube videos.
• Also take time to interact on facebook too.

And if you thought you had no time before, you really won't have any left now.  I must say incorporated most of these tips and it has worked for me.  Of course, follow me on twitter @temekoruns or purchase my latest book, Get A Clue - 10 Steps to an Executive IQ on Amazon.com

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Posted in: business expert,social media,Social Media and Business,Temeko Richardson

Best Read Friday - 5 Ways Businesses Can Optimize Social Media

An Internet Society...

Social media is a big driver in helping consumers understand and desire the brand a company offers.  Timing is everything and content is king.  Do not waste time updating information that does not make your brand stand out from the rest.  Check out this article by Kevin Allen on 5 ways to optimize the social media drivers for your business initiatives.  http://bit.ly/11blckO

For more social media strategies, read Friday's article recommendation on how to transform your business with social media.  http://bit.ly/10MkFWt

And stay tuned for Monday's post where I write from experience on the best strategies to gain audiences in social media for business executive.

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Posted in: business expert,Get A Clue,Kevin Allen,small business expert,social media,Social Media and Business,Temeko Richardson,The RLC Group

The Not So Freedom of Speech Social Media

LEARN TO NOT BE SO FREE

Social media has become the norm for communication, job searches, entertainment and news updates, and opining differences in viewpoints. The Internet buzz has become so overwhelming that there are special tools to provide insight on every social media interaction, frequently used by businesses to track "brand" love but more often used by employers to track whereabouts and opinions of employees.
 
It requires self-imposed discipline to not speak (type) so freely in the following situations:

1). Human Rights Concerns: Gone are the days you can respectfully disagree with others' beliefs on certain topics. One statement that you don't understand a belief opposite than yours turns into imposed fines and sensitivity training. For those that believe in the topic, they can speak boldly with no consequence. Double standard, yes! But until you have Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, or Oprah Winfrey money, stay away from these public social media opinions.
2). Employer Related Woes: No matter how horrible the employer, manager, team, or vendor, it is in your best interest to not provide names or details that will cause others to quickly elude to who the culprits are. It is hard to not put unscrupulous or difficult people on blast to alert others who may think about working with them in the future. However defamation lawsuits are unnecessarily expensive legal battles. Trust me, they will be discovered by a much bigger entity than you, possibly one of those class action lawsuits that send penny checks in the mail.
3). Friend-to-Friend Banter: Sometimes casual tweets and posts turn into an interchange of profane or derogatory statements. Don't believe for a second that people who can possibly control your destiny are not paying attention. Your associations to followers and FB friends are oftentimes just as incriminating as if you made the statements yourself. I am sure your parents told you that you are the company you keep. So keep the wrong company at a far distance.
 
Social media used to be an open forum for sharing ideas but it has now turned into a way to police people's opinions and to punish for double standards when it fits the agenda of a particular company or employee. In essence, think twice before you post because freedom of speech may free you from some much-needed income.

For more business tips and motivation, follow tweets at http://twitter.com/temekoruns or posts on Facebook at http://facebook.com/execgetaclue

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Posted in: Internet etiquette,Internet usage,marketing,social media,Social Media and Business,Temeko Richardson

Best Read Friday - 6 Steps for Social Media Transformation

Companies jump head first into social media with no mission statement and no focus on expectations.  Not a good move to both gain and sustain momentum.  This article is a definite must-read for any new executive or entrepreneur who wants to focus on social media as a platform for awareness that ultimately results in revenue.
 
http://linkd.in/ZjeiMZ



For more tips, check out the following: 
Twitter: http://twitter.com/temekoruns
Facebook:  http://facebook.com/execgetaclue

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Posted in: Social Media and Business,technology,Temeko Richardson

Best Read Friday - Business Lessons to Learn from Reality Television

 

The Smoking Mirrors in Reality TV.  

You may not be a fan of reality television nor can fathom watching the unreality in the television shows like the "Housewives" conglomerates because of the smoking mirrors that are positioned as real to viewers that believe it.  However there are lessons that can be applied to the business world from this television era.

Read this article to find out what exactly can be applied to business for long term sustainability and maximized revenue potential.

For more tips, download the e-book Get A Clue from Amazon ( amzn.to/Ybf7Ca) or Barnes and Noble (bit.ly/YbfjkD).

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Posted in: Exec Get a Clue,Get A Clue,Kim Kardashian,program,Reality Television,Social Media and Business,Temeko Richardson

Tips for Secure Corporate Travel

SECURE BUSINESS TRAVEL TIPS...

Travelers can never be too comfortable in airports, hotels, restaurants, and lounges with confidential information or even their identity.  Business travelers, especially, tend to let their guard down and what can be deemed as trivial can lead to identity theft and corporate confidentiality breaches.

Don't let the "friendly skies" fool you.  Watch this video to include some important tips in your frequent travels to prevent being the victim of unnecessary fraud.  http://youtu.be/6t6hUA1gn2E

For more business and motivational tips, check out the following:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/temekoruns
Facebook: http://facebook.com/execgetaclue 
 

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Posted in: Business Etiquette,business travel,corporate travel,New Employment,productivity,Social Media and Business,strategy,Temeko Richardson

Best Read Friday - Catchy Words That Sold an App

Magnify the Use of Abbreviations for Words

In our Facbook posts and tweets, we use 3 letter abbreviations like LOL, LMBO, WTH, etc.  These catchy social media abbreviations have now turned into dollars for an application that was created to show why videos go viral.

Read this inspiring article on how LOL and WTF was used in analytics to create a successful application:  http://bit.ly/X1hVpS


 

Follow on twitter: http://twitter.com/temekoruns
Like on Facebook: http://facebook.com/execgetaclue  

For more guidance on using the right words to empower employees as an executive, download the ebook, Get A Clue - 10 Steps to an Executive IQ today.
Amazon - http://amzn.to/Ybf7Ca
Barnes & Noble - http://bit.ly/YbfjkD  

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Posted in: Entrepreneurship,Social Media and Business,technology

Best Read Friday - Rebuilding Lance Armstrong

The Journey to Lance

The ultimate question still remains about Lance Armstrong's future - will he be able to rebuild a brand around a likeable image after his forced and seemingly rehearsed unapologetic confessions?  I don't think anyone is denying that cycling is a sport that has decades of history of doping. But will the way that Lance Armstrong went about adamantly refusing to take responsibility for years hamper any brand comeback?

In this article, the process of rebuilding a brand for Lance Armstrong is dissected but we will see if it can work on the once most decorated cyclist of all time.  http://bit.ly/13b3ov1



Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/temekoruns
Like on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/execgetaclue

For more tips on how to avoid a downfall on your own executive destiny, check out Chapter 2 in the ebook, Get A Clue - 10 Steps to an Executive IQ today.
Amazon - http://amzn.to/Ybf7Ca
Barnes & Noble - http://bit.ly/YbfjkD  
 

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Posted in: Exec Get a Clue,Get A Clue,Growth Opportunity,Making Mistakes,Social Media and Business

Best Read Friday - Social Changes to Increase Corporate Bottom Line

The Internet is A Braintrust 

Social media, community involvement, and the brain-trusts of the new and innovative are major factors in the revolution of the bottom line.  This article defines how we can use social innovation to increase corporate revenue.  http://onforb.es/WfCoDq




Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/temekoruns
Like on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/execgetaclue

For more guidance on successfully thriving a business, download the ebook, Get A Clue - 10 Steps to an Executive IQ today.
Amazon - http://amzn.to/Ybf7Ca
Barnes & Noble - http://bit.ly/YbfjkD  

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Posted in: Entrepreneurship,Exec Get a Clue,Get A Clue,Leaders,Social Media and Business,technology,Temeko Richardson

Collaboration or Smothering

UN-Collaborate & Work Together

Teamwork is about cooperation and buy-in for a common goal based on on individual and group contributions. Teams are made up of people with different personality types and work styles. The best teams have members who learn to work well together without coercion; collaboration comes naturally. But when does this become smothering?

1). When people are forced to participate in team building activities on their own time, relationships are attempting to be forced. Lets be honest.  It's work for the purpose of paying bills. If the personalities don't blend naturally, forcing relationships will only cause resentment and push-back. 

2). Oftentimes at work, there is a specific room, also referred to as a "war room", set aside for fast-paced or critical assignments.  The real purpose is to have a central location for necessary parties to meet and sort through issues and resolve problems. It should NEVER be the centralized workplace for the team because of potential frequent discussions and distractions. It further stifles people's freedom at work, fostering a captive mindset. 

3). When team members are not clearly assigned tasks or are simply contributors to others' work, they will get in the way. They will interrupt and intercept ideas to make themselves look smart even when they know absolutely nothing about the subject. It is no longer collaboration but mass confusion and chaos for the skilled people. 

In general, standing over people as they work, watching what comes across their computer screen, interrupting other people's conversations, and coercing people to spend time together is SMOTHERING not collaboration. Confusing the two can cause people to seek to be a committee of one - totally opposite of your intended goal of teamwork. 

Follow on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/temekoruns
Like on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/execgetaclue 

For more information on how to build and lead a real team to put an executive vision into place, download the ebook, Get A Clue - 10 Steps to an Executive IQ today.
Amazon - http://amzn.to/Ybf7Ca
Barnes & Noble - http://bit.ly/YbfjkD  
 

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Posted in: Get A Clue,Impressing People,Leadership Skills,management consulting,project management,Social Media and Business,teamwork,Temeko Richardson

Video Series - Who Are You & What Do You Sell?

ONLINE MARKETING

It's not enough for your friends and family to know about your business. It should be announced to other potential buyers. 

Here's a video on how you can quickly get started:   
http://bit.ly/UjP62W





Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/temekoruns
Like on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/execgetaclue

For more guidance on starting a business or maneuvering through work with an executive mind, download the ebook, Get A Clue - 10 Steps to an Executive IQ today.
Amazon - http://amzn.to/Ybf7Ca
Barnes & Noble - http://bit.ly/YbfjkD  
 
 

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Posted in: Entrepreneurship,Social Media and Business,Temeko Richardson

Best Read - Social Media And Your Reputation

INTERNET PROOF YOUR CAREER

Don't let poor taste in Facebook Posts and Tweets hamper your career path or business deals. Do not let what your friends post about you affect your promotion or obtaining a new job. 

Use the Internet to rebuild credibility with tips from this article...http://bit.ly/10L5eBE



Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/temekoruns
Like on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/execgetaclue

For more guidance on starting a business or maneuvering through work with an executive mind, download the ebook, Get A Clue - 10 Steps to an Executive IQ today.
Amazon - http://amzn.to/Ybf7Ca
Barnes & Noble - http://bit.ly/YbfjkD  
 
 

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Posted in: career change,Exec Get a Clue,Get A Clue,Making Mistakes,New Career,Social Media and Business,technology,Temeko Richardson

Mini MAC or Maxi Productivity Jack

I just purchased my new mini iPad with no wait in line and I have not seen an increase in productivity.  In fact, it has jacked my productivity namely because of 4 reasons:

1). I am a fast keyboard typer and the lack of a keyboard is extremely limiting to my speed of getting things done. 

2). I do more than put together presentations, documents, and spreadsheets.  Therefore the AppStore applications that can be used to create these documents are not enough for my technical work.

3). I don't browse the Internet and read email all day. Setting aside time to answer emails makes for a more productive day rather than allowing intermittent interruptions that thwart my focus. 

4). Mini is better than the full device because of convenience but the lack of ability to save on a thumb drive, charge other peripheral devices, develop code, create or edit graphics, or read advanced documents in Visio is beyond limiting for those that are on the go and need to transfer data between devices.

In summary, it does not make me more productive. It is great for watching video but that is not my purpose in any area of my life but I at least look cool.

Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/temekoruns
Like on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/execgetaclue

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Posted in: Impressing People,Leaders,productivity,Social Media and Business

Business and the Social Media

It is now just as important to have a Twitter, Facebook, or Linked In account as it is to have a cell phone and an email address.  The times have changed where society has us believing it is important to stay connected and know everyone's business.  In our personal lives, this may be okay for the small circles we have.  However, being too social in the Internet media can hurt future business if caution is not taken.

Protect Your Personal Space.  Do not mix business with pleasure.  If you do business with someone, only connect through LinkedIn or other professional websites.  Personal is just that, personal!  It is none of their business what is done in your personal life because you excel in the business area.

Leave Problems At the Door.   Since Twitter, Foursquare, and mySpace are easily accessible over the Internet, be careful how you expose circumstances and personal dilemmas.  Employers, business partners, and potential clients watch these postings to determine level of mental stability, professionalism, and personal traits.  Take caution when posting out of emotion to the public profiles.

Think Before You Post and Friend.  If you know you are supposed to be in the office but you are having fun in the sun, don't post a picture or mention it on social media sites that are available to review by leadership or business contacts.  Remain prudent about exchanging information or associating with shady characters online.

Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/temekoruns
Like on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/execgetaclue

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Posted in: Get A Clue,Social Media and Business,Temeko Richardson