Debbie Laskey's Blog

Welcome to Debbie Laskey's insights and commentary about BRANDING, MARKETING, LEADERSHIP, SOCIAL MEDIA, EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT, and CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES. Debbie has worked in high-tech, the Consumer Marketing Department at Disneyland Paris in France, nonprofits, and insurance. Expertise includes strategic planning, brand development, marketing plans and audits, competitive positioning, websites, communications, public relations, employee engagement, customer experiences, and social media marketing.

Showing posts with label social listening. Show all posts

Saturday, December 27, 2025

Why be a social media influencer?

Have you ever considered being a social media influencer? You know, the type of people who post on their social networks on a VERY regular basis — mostly with photos of them wearing colorful clothing or eating interesting food or simply talking to their smartphones. However, there are different types of social media influencers, and the Toronto Zoo in Canada invites visitors to be what they call "ZOOfluencers."

But first, did you know that today is VISIT THE ZOO DAY? The first public zoo was the Vienna Zoo, which opened in 1752 and remains one of the oldest zoos currently in operation. Some zoos use surprising animals as ambassadors. For instance, the San Diego Zoo features sloths, porcupines, and Madagascar hissing cockroaches to teach about conservation. And zoos in snowy regions like the Detroit Zoo create climate-controlled enclosures for tropical animals such as penguins and flamingos. And some species, like the Hawaiian crow, exist only in zoos with the aim of re-introducing them to their natural habitats.

Here's what the Toronto Zoo's website says:

_______________________________________________

Our hope is that as a “ZOOfluencer,” you will partner with us in being a "Guardian of Wild," where you’ll proudly share our mission of connecting people, animals, conservation science, and traditional knowledge to fight extinction.

The Toronto Zoo is Canada’s premier Zoo and home to over 3,000 animals representing 290 species. Our vision is a world where people, wildlife, and wild spaces thrive, and we are happy to partner with individuals who will work with us to proudly amplify our mission.

Whether you're a digital specialist passionate about wildlife and conservation, a family seeking adventure, or someone in the GTA (Greater Toronto area) looking for a fun day out — you'll find a story worth sharing at your Toronto Zoo.

Influencers who are chosen to partner with us each receive complimentary admission (details follow) and free parking. Please note that your Toronto Zoo is a not-for-profit organization that partners with the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy. Regretfully, our influencer opportunities are not paid. We ask that participants produce high-quality and engaging content highlighting their visit to the Zoo and, where applicable, their experience at special events that are hosted on site. The Toronto Zoo may use and repost content, with credit given where possible.

Specific instructions will be provided to each influencer, but general requirements for content are as follows:

Photographers: A minimum of 3 photos must be shared within 5 days of visit with tag @TheTorontoZoo on social media platforms.

Videographers: Footage must be posted within 5 days of visit with tag @TheTorontoZoo on social media platforms.

Bloggers: Content must include a detailed blog post, created on your website (500 words + photos taken during the visit). Blog posts must be published within 5 days of the visit. Content must be shared across social channels that writers maintain. Links to content must be shared with Toronto Zoo’s Strategic Communications team.

Influencers: Influencers must post 3 - 4 pictures/videos plus 1 to 2 stories/live updates on their social platforms highlighting their experience at the Toronto Zoo. All content must tag @TheTorontoZoo and use the specified hashtags determined by the Strategic Communications team. Vloggers must publish video content no later than a week after a visit. Links to content must be shared with Toronto Zoo’s Strategic Communications team.

THE TORONTO ZOO'S EVALUATION:

Lions Roar: 1 Million + = Complimentary admission for you and up to six guests + a Behind-The-Scenes VIP Tour

Grizzly’s Growl: 500k-1 Million = Complimentary admission for family up to six people + a complimentary Wild Encounter

Owls Hoot: 50-500k = Complimentary admission for family up to six people

Birds Chirp: 10k-50k = Complimentary admission for up to four people

The number of followers is based on Instagram and/or TikTok. A case-by-case review may include YouTube.

Thank you for your interest! If you’d like to apply, please fill out the form. Only those selected will be contacted for next steps. If contacted, please note that it may take up to six weeks prior to your scheduled work visit.

_______________________________________________

What a wonderful way to target young people who "live" on their mobile devices, to engage with people of all ages to promote the Toronto Zoo, and to increase attendance at the Toronto Zoo.

What branding lessons can your brand learn from this unique ZOOfluencer program?

Image Credit: Toronto Zoo.

Check out the Toronto Zoo's ZOOfluencer form:

https://www.torontozoo.com/zoofluencer/apply#start

Read about the Toronto Zoo:

https://www.torontozoo.com/tz/about

Read Toronto Zoo's Guardians of Wild Strategic Plan 2025-2027:

https://www.torontozoo.com/strategic

Visit the website for the world's oldest zoo:

https://www.zoovienna.at/en/zoo-and-visitors/welcome-worlds-oldest-zoo/

Monday, September 1, 2025

Best Social Media Post of the Month of August

How many social media posts do you recall? Do some go viral because they are for charity, like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge? Or do some go viral because they happened at the right moment in time, like the Oreo tweet when the lights went out at the 2013 Super Bowl? Or do some go viral and become memorable simply because they're funny?

In a new monthly series on my blog - appearing during the first week of each month - I am sharing the best social media post of the preceding month. The choice may appear on Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc.

According to Google, "The best social media post of the month is typically one that effectively combines high engagement with relevance to current events, holidays, or trending topics, while also aligning with your brand identity and authentically connecting with your audience; this could include a thought-provoking question, a relatable story, a visually appealing image, a timely meme, or a behind-the-scenes look, depending on your platform and target demographic."

Without further ado, the post that earns my recognition as the best social media post of the month from August 2025 was shared on August 9, 2025, by NASA's Johnson Space Center on Twitter/X.

The post read:

It's #NationalBookLoversDay!
We love how books transport readers to new worlds! Even 250 miles above Earth, astronauts curl up with good books during their free time.
See how reading and other hobbies help crews unwind on the Space Station. (And a YouTube video link was included.)"

With many bibliophiles' minds on the importance of reading and favorite books, this post definitely stood out among the noise on social media.

According to the Gates Foundation, "At the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, we are fueled by the determination to create a world where everyone can live a healthy and productive life. But how can we begin to connect with the lives of individuals whose shoes we haven't walked in? And how do we find the language to process our own trajectories, traumas, and triumphs? We believe the answer is through reading. Far more than a pastime, reading reinforces our humanity by helping us to see others and be seen. On August 9, we celebrate National Book Lovers Day to take part in the excitement around reading and literature."

Brands that can align their products or services to an event, holiday, or trending news that everyone is talking about have the potential to be memorable. And NASA's Johnson Space Center definitely succeeded in my book! (No pun intended!)

What brand will stand out during September, and why?

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Is Your Brand Overeating at the Social Media Buffet?

Recently, I read a memorable post by Anthony Gaenzle entitled "From Scroll Chaos to Channel Clarity in One Week."

But first, a few words about Anthony, Chief Growth & Strategy Officer at E&I Creative in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Anthony works as a personal brand consultant for executives, business owners, and others. He is a two-time published author, digital marketing influencer, and has helped brands both large and small grow and thrive across multiple industries through strategic marketing campaigns.

Anthony, who is also a fellow blogger, has appeared here on MY blog many times, most recently on May 9th as part of my Spring Leadership Series 2025. A memorable quote from that Q&A was this leadership tip from Anthony, "Listen to understand, listen to build trust, listen to empower your team."

Now, back to Anthony's recent post about social media. His imagery about the social media buffet resonated with me while thinking about all the social platforms that have come and gone over the last decade and also about all the leaders I've encountered over the years who think having a digital presence on every social platform of the moment is the best idea. Who can relate?

As Lisa Masiello wrote back in 2015, "Your prospects and customers are out there. They're talking to each other, sharing information, getting advice and asking questions about your company and products before they ever share their contact information on your marketing form or pick up the phone to talk to sales. You need to be there too — interacting, communicating, and building relationships. They'll keep talking with or without you, saying positive things and maybe negative things about your business. It's important to be part of the conversation."

That is absolutely true, however, the social media landscape has changed in the last decade.

Anthony wrote in his recent post, "At a conference in 2013, I watched another attendee at a pre-event breakfast try to balance waffles, scrambled eggs, bacon, and a yogurt parfait on one flimsy paper plate. You know where this is headed, right? We've all been there. Predictably, everything slid off, directly onto his shoes. That's exactly what chasing every social platform looks like. Lots of shiny choices, zero nutritional value. Before you know it, you're cleaning syrup off your brand-new sneakers instead of closing deals. What's the takeaway here? Your brand plate is finite, and so is your time and energy. Pile on only what you can actually eat (and enjoy)."

Anthony advised that a good idea would be to use a "Choose Two Method" to MAXIMIZE your social media activity. "Instead of buffet-style overload, aim for a well-paired entrée and side dish. Two social media channels give you just enough surface area to show up consistently and experiment without feeling like you're speed-dating algorithms. For bigger brands, going beyond two makes sense. For a one-person show, a smaller business, or a lean startup, limiting your presence makes more sense."

Anthony called this his "Dinner-Party and Cocktail-Hour" approach:

"The Dinner-Party Channel: Choose a channel where your best stories live in long-form. Maybe that's LinkedIn articles, or maybe it's a weekly YouTube show. The vibe here is more cloth napkins, deep conversation, and everyone leaves full."

"The Cocktail-Hour Channel: This channel should be good for short, punchy posts that tease the dinner party and lure newcomers. Think X, Threads, or Instagram Reels. The vibe here is clinking glasses and quick laughs."

He also challenged readers to try this approach for a week to "measure conversations over vanity metrics."

So, what do you think? Is your brand overeating at the social media buffet? Or does your brand have just the right balance of social media platforms, activity, and engagement?

Friday, September 27, 2024

Let's Celebrate International SEO Day!

Do you know what today is? If you answered International SEO Day, then you're correct! On this day, digital marketers, web developers, and businesses worldwide recognize the power of SEO and its impact on the digital age. And on September 27, 1998, the Google search engine was launched.

According to Wikipedia, "Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the quality and quantity of website traffic to a website or web page from search engines. SEO targets unpaid traffic (known as natural or organic results) rather than direct traffic or paid traffic. Unpaid traffic may originate from different kinds of searches, including image search, video search, academic search, news search, and industry-specific vertical search engines. As an Internet marketing strategy, SEO considers how search engines work, the computer-programmed algorithms that dictate search engine behavior, what people search for, the actual search terms or keywords typed into search engines, and which search engines are preferred by their targeted audience. SEO is performed because a website will receive more visitors from a search engine when websites rank higher on the search engine results page (SERP). These visitors can then potentially be converted into customers."

To recognize the importance of SEO, I recently had a discussion with Lisa Sicard who's based in Maine, who I met on Twitter/X. Highlights follow a brief introduction. Lisa has over 25 years of experience and loves helping others with social media, blogging, and content marketing. She specializes in helping small businesses and bloggers to thrive and succeed online. She wrote a book, How to Tweet and Thrive on Twitter in 2020; and her blog was nominated as One of the Best Internet Marketing Blogs by Infinity Blog Awards in 2019, and also one of the Best Top Marketing Blogs in 2015 and 2016 by Fit Small Business.

QUESTION: Since you've been blogging for over a decade, what are your three best blogging tips?

LISA SICARD: Here are my three tips:

(1) Mastering SEO can make or break your blog. Start with thorough keyword and topic research before you write. This ensures that you're creating content people actually search for.

(2) Many bloggers miss out on the power of internal linking. Make sure to link your posts to each other. This not only helps with SEO, but it also keeps readers on your site longer.

(3) Lastly, your blog isn't a "set it and forget it" project. Update your posts every six months with fresh stats and new info. This keeps your content relevant and boosts your SEO rankings. Keep these tips in mind, and your blog will thrive.

Monday, August 5, 2024

Let's Celebrate Blogger Day!

Do you know today's significance? If you're reading this blog and/or write your own, then you probably know that today is Blogger Day.

Since 1999, each year on August 5th, Blogger Day is observed. A blog, a shortening of the word "weblog," is an informational website published on the Internet that consists of story-like text entries typically displayed in reverse chronological order.

According to Holidays Calendar, "Although blogs originally started out as the work of individuals, they have increasingly been used by organizations, universities, and media outlets to distribute information. Today, there are over 600 million blogs published among the 1.9-plus billion websites that currently exist on the Internet. Over 2 million blog posts are published every day. In the United States alone, there are over 32.7 million bloggers; and it's been estimated that approximately 80 percent of all Internet users read blogs."

So, to celebrate Blogger Day, I'd like to share my top ten favorite bloggers (in no particular order) who post regularly on their blogs - if you're not already familiar, check them out!

SHEP HYKEN - customer experience expert

https://hyken.com/topic/sheps-articles/

JIM JOSEPH - brand marketing expert

https://www.jimjoseph.com/new-blog

TIM CALKINS - brand marketing expert

https://timcalkins.com/

SUSAN FRIESEN / EVISION MEDIA - marketing expert

https://evisionmedia.ca/resources/blog/

BJ BUENO / CULT BRANDING - marketing expert

https://cultbranding.com/ceo/

MICHAEL MCKINNEY - leadership expert

https://www.leadershipnow.com/leadingblog/index.html

KEVIN EIKENBERRY - leadership expert

https://kevineikenberry.com/blog/

ERIC JACOBSON - leadership expert

https://ericjacobsononmanagement.blogspot.com/

ERIKA ANDERSEN / PROTEUS - leadership expert

https://erikaandersen.com/blog/

and

https://proteus-international.com/blogs/

KATHERINE SPINNEY - leadership coach

https://katherinespinney.com/coaching-blog/

Thursday, February 15, 2024

My Favorite Marketing Terms

While marketing may be a single bullet point in your regular leadership team meeting agenda, how much time does your team actually apply to marketing your products or services? With all the buzz surrounding social media, traditional marketing has taken a back seat, and that’s a shame.

All types of business – whether B2B, B2C, or non-profit – should spend the time and effort to understand all elements that fall within the marketing pie, and one important piece of the marketing pie includes the terms that appear again and again.

While marketing dictionaries exist in print and online, here are my five favorite marketing terms:

BRAND PERSONALITY:
With so many brands in the marketplace and so much noise as a result of social media, now marketers treat brands as if they had personality traits. When brands are given human personality traits, such as, creative, friendly, happy, etc., brands quickly stand apart from the crowd.

UNIQUE SELLING PROPOSITION (USP):
Years ago, people joked that if they had two minutes in an elevator with Bill Gates, they had to be prepared to articulate their company’s competitive advantage or their personal brand in two minutes or less in what became known as an "elevator pitch." The elevator pitch has gone the way of the Ford Edsel, and in its place, we now have the unique selling proposition. What makes a company unique? Why should a company stand apart from the competition? Why should a company be an industry leader? And for personal brands, for example, what makes Taylor Swift different from other singers?

SOCIAL LISTENING:
Sprout Social has a wonderful definition: "Social listening involves analyzing conversations and trends related to your brand. These include conversations relevant to your company, competitors and industry at large. Insights from these conversations are used to make informed marketing decisions. Social listening is about more than tags and @mentions. Sure, listening involves acting on direct feedback from people. But it also involves reading between the lines."

Here's a breakdown of social listening:
(1) Who is your audience?
(2) What does your audience want?
(3) When is your audience engaging with you?
(4) Where is your audience active and engaged?
(5) Why does your audience talk about you?
(6) How can you better serve your audience?

CALL TO ACTION:
Everyone in a marketing capacity should always sing this tune and provide this reminder. For every campaign, initiative, strategy, you must always have a call to action to attract prospective customers. Here are some examples: Subscribe now. Download this case study today. Complete this survey now. Sign up to receive a free gift today.

KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS (KPMs) (also Key Performance Indicators or KPIs):
This term is so important that it should be on the mind of every business person each and every day. All marketing campaigns must be evaluated to determine the return on investment. How many click-thru’s to your main website or campaign-specific landing pages resulted from emails? How many leads came as a result of tradeshow attendance or telemarketing? How many likes appeared on your Facebook page? How many mentions and retweets appeared on Twitter/X? How many of your videos were uploaded on YouTube? How many sales resulted from your social media activities? Don't implement any marketing campaign without first knowing how you're going to measure it's success.

What are your fave marketing terms? Please chime in and share.

Image Credit: Stuart Miles via FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

To read more:
Glossary of Branding Terms:
https://brandsbyovo.com/glossary-of-branding-terms/

Branding Glossary - How Brands Are Built:
https://howbrandsarebuilt.com/branding-glossary/

The Ultimate Marketing Dictionary of Terms and Definitions
https://coschedule.com/marketing-terms-definitions

The Ultimate A-Z Dictionary of Marketing Terms:
https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/inbound-marketing-glossary-list

Monday, February 5, 2024

Review of ORGANIC SOCIAL MEDIA

I "met" Jenny Li Fowler on Twitter (now X) a few years back. Fast forward to the present. The covid happened, of course, I had to mention that since the pandemic impacted life for all individuals and marketing communications for all brands. Jenny appeared on my blog in a Q&A in April 2022, and recently, she became a published author. Jenny's commentary is always enlightening, so when I heard about her new book, I knew I had to read it. But first, a few words about social media.

In many of my previous roles as marketing manager, marketing director, and marketing consultant, I've also served double-duty as social media manager for nonprofits, large for-profit companies, and emerging brands. While responsible for social media posts, I have been the voice of strategy for my brands, meaning that I have always explained to senior leadership teams, boards of directors, and sales teams that the voice for all posts must be consistent with the brand, the theme of the posts must be consistent with all other marketing messaging, and above all, a social media strategy must be in alignment with the overall brand marketing plan.

With that in mind, what social media posts or campaigns stand out? To me, the most memorable posts took place during the Super Bowl on February 4, 2013, when there was a power outage at the beginning of the game's third quarter. The following Tweets, that appeared on Twitter, were posted soon after the power went off and demonstrated that these social media teams understood social media, marketing, and their brand positioning:

Oreo:
Power out? No problem. [Photo: You can still dunk in the dark.]

Lowe’s:
Hey dome operators at the Big Game, there are a few Lowe’s nearby if you need some generators.

PBS:
This might be a good time to think about alternative programing. #SuperBowlBlackOut

Now, let's talk about Jenny Li Fowler's book, ORGANIC SOCIAL MEDIA - HOW TO BUILD FLOURISHING ONLINE COMMUNITIES. First, a little about Jenny Li Fowler. She is the director of social media strategy at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is in charge of developing and executing Institute-wide social media initiatives and campaigns. She provides social media consultation and direction for more than 200 departments, labs, and centers; and manages the Institute’s flagship Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn accounts.

Jenny explained in the book's preface, "This book is for both rookie social media managers as well as seasoned social media professionals. It gives new managers a structure to build a social media strategy and tips to succeed in the position, and veteran professionals a unique perspective on navigating the challenges of the job and steps to advance the position."

Here were (what I considered to be) the stand-out questions posed by and written by Jenny:

What's the difference between strategy and tactics?

Why should your brand define your lane?

What are some reasons that people follow social media accounts?

What are Jenny's "Six M's of Social Media?"

Is your audience currently on that new platform?

Listening is a form of engagement.

Always explain the WHY behind your brand.

Don't plan content too far in advance.

Do you conduct a competitive analysis of your competitors' social platforms?

Since every member of the C-Suite wants to talk about metrics, Jenny wrote, "Numbers can't speak for themselves; it's the stories we build around them that are compelling or misleading...Just because a metric is large doesn't necessarily mean it's impressive or positive. The opposite is also true - just because a number is small doesn't mean it's not impressive."

An important section of the book explained the many roles comprising a social media team - since these roles are no longer performed by only one person: "Director of strategy; Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn specialist; writer; photographer; videographer; graphic designer; animator; and data scientist."

And Jenny reminded readers that when mainstream news stories become the buzz on social media, before your brand enters the discussion, ask yourself these important questions. If not, your brand may find itself in an unexpected crisis:
(1) Does it fit your brand's voice or tone?
(2) Does this content support your social media strategy?
(3) Have you posted similar content before? If yes, how did it perform?
(4) Is it related to your brand or organization in any way? Is it a stretch?

Saturday, July 15, 2023

My First Week on Threads

By now, everyone who uses social media (and who doesn't?) has heard that Meta launched a new social platform on July 6th intended to compete with Twitter as the social water cooler, where users discuss anything and everything ranging from the news of the day to cute photos of cats on Saturday, also known as Caturday.

The appeal of Threads (and I must say, what a great name symbolizing threads of discussion!) was the ease of creating an account if you already had an Instagram account. According to CNBC, there were 100 million signups in the first five days, representing one of the fastest debuting apps of all time. However, according to data from SensorTower and Similarweb, the platform has seen dropoff in growth and engagement following the first week.

While the platform is not being promoted as the place to discuss news and politics, there is no doubt that users will. In fact, many hope that hate speech and misinformation will not appear on Threads.

According to Anthony Bartollacci, managing director of SensorTower, "The backing of Meta and the integration with Instagram likely gives Threads a much higher flood (of traffic) than other services, but it will need a more compelling value proposition than simply 'Twitter without Elon Musk.'"

According to David Webb, senior insights manager of Similarweb, "While there was intense interest in checking out the app initially, not every user has made a habit of visiting Threads as often as they might other social apps."

Lastly, according to Jasmine Enberg, principal analyst at Insider Intelligence, "Meta only needs 1 in 4 Instagram users to use Threads monthly for it to be as big as Twitter."

So, have you created an account, and what do you think of this new platform?

Check out my link: https://www.threads.net/@debbielaskeymba.

Image Credit: Threads/Meta.

Monday, September 26, 2022

Storytelling, Connections, and Social Media

To quote Matthew Kobach (@mkobach), "Twitter is a key that unlocks thousands of doors, some of which you never even knew existed." As a member of the Twitterverse for 13 years, I always enjoy meeting new people and learning from them. I recently connected with Gail Robertson from Ontario, Canada, and invited her to appear here on my Blog in a Q&A format. Highlights of our conversation follow a brief introduction.

Gail Robertson brings an unfamiliar and fresh outlook to the more traditional manufacturing industry. She has always been curious, which led her into journalism. She began her professional career as a journalist at the Toronto Star and has worked at The Hamilton Spectator, The St. Catharines Standard, and The Windsor Star. She now uses storytelling, developed as a journalist, in the manufacturing world as a social media strategist and keynote speaker, helping others to #ShowUP, tell their story, and exercise their curious brain. Her transferable skills have assisted her as she transitioned from being a journalist, to bed-and-breakfast owner, to fundraiser, to marketing manager at an insurance tech company and now, as “Chief Curiosity Officer” at GailNow.

QUESTION: What first attracted you to marketing, communications, PR, and storytelling?

GAIL ROBERTSON: Growing up, I loved to hear stories and was especially enamored by their development, one sentence at a time. To me, marketing, communications, and PR are related as they help a company or brand tell their story.

I also love to connect with people, and after years as a journalist and now Chief Curiosty Officer, I realize how many stories are not being told!

Meeting people and helping tell and share their stories is exciting and powerful as I believe we can change the world, one story at a time. I know far too many women who also are reluctant to own their power and step into the spotlight.

TWEET THIS: Meeting people and helping tell their stories is exciting...we can change the world, one story at a time. ~@GailNow #brandstorytelling #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: On your website, it says, "Gail's true joy and passion for networking and connecting with others is what makes her a top motivational speaker." What tips do you have for people who may share your passion for connection but lack your confidence in public speaking?

GAIL ROBERTSON: My tip for them would be to embrace their own story and speak from that. As American author and professor of literature, Joseph Campbell, once said, “You are the hero of your own story.”

We also need to look at our own individual comfort zones and not compare ourselves to others. For public speaking, it is also about taking baby steps and realizing we have a duty to “show up,” not just for ourselves but for others. We have a duty to share stories!

Some of the best speakers aren’t extroverts, but they had to start with the right mindset and decide to challenge themselves. Even the best speakers struggle with Imposter Syndrome and fear of failure, so it’s best to embrace failure and make it your friend!

Very few people find public speaking easy - even the ones who make it LOOK easy. It takes an incredible amount of time, hard work, and practice. The best tip is to just start. Speak up in a meeting or at your local church or school. Speak up online too. Join a video challenge! Get comfortable being uncomfortable, as cliche as that sounds. By just deciding to start, you are so much further ahead than others sitting on the couch. As a keynote speaker, I still get nervous; I worry and I stress about my content, which is normal. But the more I share stories and get feedback, the more supported I feel to Sign Up, Suit Up, and Show up!

QUESTION: What's your favorite social media platform, and why?

GAIL ROBERTSON: Twitter: it’s fast-paced, has a greater diversity of content, and is an excellent way to meet, get to know, and engage with people. It is also a place you need to curate content and embrace the scroll button. I have met phenomenal people through Twitter, including Nathalie Gregg who leads the #LeadLoudly Twitter Chat.

Along with great connections, there are some other top notch Twitter Chats like #USAMfgHour and #TwitterSmarter. You can find a chat for just about any topic. There is also audio. With Twitter Spaces, you can jump in, listen, and meet incredible people.

While Twitter still is a “favorite,” each social media platform has its own special place in my heart! I like a few others for different reasons and have also connected with cool people. For sure, LinkedIn is phenomenal, and I have even started enjoying the fun part of TikTok. Social media is what you make it, and with some engagement and sharing of content and ideas, each platform can deliver results.

TWEET THIS: Twitter is an excellent way to meet, get to know, and engage with people. ~@GailNow #connections #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: You wrote an excellent article on your Blog entitled, "When You're Ready for Your Close-Up, Mr. DeMille." (On a side note, I'm a film buff, so I really enjoyed the post.) Can you provide an overview that explains the tie-in between the film and marketing?

(Read the post here: https://gailnow.com/2021/when-youre-ready-for-your-close-up-mr-demille/)

GAIL ROBERTSON: In the film, Norma Desmond realizes she has to adjust to the times in order to continue making an impact. Similarly, in today’s world, we need to adjust to the times (for example, video is required to make an impact).

Video is extremely powerful when it comes to getting your message across. According to Oberlo.ca, 87% of marketing professionals use video as one of their tools, and whether they pop up on YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, or any other social media platform that allows more than just posting a pic, it’s a key way to sell your product or service through your most valuable asset – you.

So when we look at film, it is all about building relationships via the big screen. Today, we can use video and tell stories; showing a part of your personality AND building relationships by allowing people to get to know you. Films are still powerful, and now we can add to that power with social media, through video and sharing behind-the-scenes clips, by sharing insights about stars in a film. AND, social media posts with film and video content get 48% more views than those without them, according to HubSpot.

So, bottom line, video footage featuring your employees, customers, and/or volunteers is a great way to make them feel part of the action. And there is also great ROI: A single film/video can be repurposed for different lengths, platforms, and audiences. That ONE video can return a great deal back to you!

My thanks to Gail for sharing her digital marketing insights and for appearing here on my Blog.

Image Credit: Reuben Juarez via Wordswag.

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

Do You Speak Twitter? Check Out These #TwitterTips

To quote Matthew Kobach (@mkobach), "Twitter is a key that unlocks thousands of doors, some of which you never even knew existed." As a member of the Twitterverse for 13 years, I always enjoy meeting new people and learning from them. I've been connected with Madalyn Sklar for awhile and am honored for her to appear here on my Blog in a Q&A format. Highlights of our conversation follow a brief introduction.

Madalyn Sklar, based in Houston, Texas, is known for being a Twitter expert and tattoo-wearing social media evangelist. She is one of the early pioneers in the digital marketing space dating back to the mid-1990s. With her vast experience, she focuses primarily on Twitter, so by following her account, you'll know how Twitter marketing is done. In addition to speaking at events and providing online training, Madalyn hosts the popular #TwitterSmarter chat every Thursday at 1pm EST and podcast.

QUESTION: You've been an amazing Twitter expert for many years. In what ways have you seen Twitter evolve, specifically over the last couple of years?

MADALYN SKLAR: It definitely seems like a lot of people have rediscovered Twitter in recent years. And it’s perfect timing, because Twitter has been implementing some new and exciting features that make the platform more enticing. We have Twitter Spaces for live, audio conversations where we can educate, learn, and make new connections. Brands looking to monetize their efforts can use Ticketed Spaces to make money on Twitter, as well as the Tip Jar. Features like this give people a reason to come back to Twitter and use the platform seriously.

QUESTION: You host a weekly TweetChat and now also conversations on TwitterSpaces. How can these types of IRL conversations help individuals and brands with their messaging?

MADALYN SKLAR: One of the great things about Twitter chats and Twitter Spaces is that you can use them as tools to get to know your audience on a deeper level. Have conversations to find out what they’re interested in and what their pain points are. Then, you can find ways to address those things with your messaging and offers. The better you understand your audience, the stronger your content will be.

TWEET THIS: The better you understand your audience, the stronger your content will be. ~@madalynsklar #TwitterTip #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: From the perspective of a newbie on Twitter, what three pieces of advice would you offer? And from the perspective of someone who's grown a large following and engages daily on the platform, what advice would you offer?

MADALYN SKLAR: For newbies on Twitter, here are my three pieces of advice:

1) Post consistently. An active account is going to be more likely to gain followers and receive engagement.

2) Diversify your content. Don’t just post text tweets to your feed. Share videos, use Twitter Spaces, etc. Find the content formats that resonate with both you and your audience by experimenting with different ideas. You’ll likely reach tons of new people in the process.

3) Be persistent. You aren’t going to see growth overnight, so you have to stay committed.

As a bonus tip, make sure you’re engaging with other users. Social media is meant to be social and it’s important to have genuine conversations as a way to generate awareness for your brand and build relationships.

For non-newbies on Twitter:

1) Make sure you are taking advantage of all the amazing, little-known Twitter features like the tip jar, media studio, topics, moments, and advanced search.

2) Post a Twitter poll regularly. It's a great way to get instant feedback from your large audience.

3) When you have a large following, it can be challenging to reply to every tweet, but it's very important to connect with as many as you can. People do not like talking into the void.

QUESTION: Should brands offer a newsletter from their Twitter accounts?

MADALYN SKLAR: Absolutely! We need to remember that we don’t own the followings we build on social media. If these platforms were to disappear one day, we’d lose everything we’ve built. That’s why, it’s important to convert followers to email subscribers, as we actually own our email lists. Plus, newsletters are a fantastic way to stay in touch with people and continue nurturing relationships. Even better? There are no algorithms to compete with this way! Instead, you get to focus on delivering quality content to those who truly love you and what you do.

QUESTION: What do you think about the new Twitter Blue for $2.99 a month?

MADALYN SKLAR: I love Twitter Blue! If you're a power user, like me, you will find the features to be invaluable. I especially love that I can create folders for all my bookmark tweets. This keeps things organized and has been a big time saver for me. And while we do not have an edit button (yet!), with Twitter Blue, you can set a timer to undo your tweets which is great if you catch a typo or forgot to tag someone. Another great perk is early access to features being tested before they're available to everyone.

QUESTION: Lastly, Elon Musk has been in the news as he's attempted to gain control of Twitter. This brings to mind how a single individual can become the embodiment of a brand, for example, Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, Bill Gates of Microsoft, and Richard Branson of Virgin Atlantic. How could this help or harm Twitter in the long run?

MADALYN SKLAR: The more this drags on, the less positive I feel about a good outcome. When Musk first offered to buy Twitter, I felt this could be a great benefit to Twitter's long-term success. However, in light of his delaying the transaction and now changing his mind, I'm concerned it will become a legal mess that no one will benefit from.

My thanks to Madalyn for sharing her digital marketing insights and Twitter insights and for appearing here on my Blog.

Visit Madalyn's key sites online:
Website: https://madalynsklar.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/madalynsklar
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madalynsklar
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madalynsklar
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/madalynsklar

Image Credit: Tyler Callahan via Unsplash.

Tuesday, August 9, 2022

Communication is at the Core of Social Media

Today is Book Lovers Day and is celebrated each year around the world on this date. It is an unofficial holiday that celebrates reading and advises people to put away their smartphones and all other tech distractions, and instead, pick up a book to read (of course, people CAN read books on their tablets). Closely aligned with books is the world of communication, and thus, this appropriately-themed Q&A.

To quote Matthew Kobach (@mkobach), "Twitter is a key that unlocks thousands of doors, some of which you never even knew existed." As a member of the Twitterverse for almost 13 years, I always enjoy meeting new people and learning from them. I recently connected with Rich Perry and invited him to appear here on my Blog in a Q&A format. Highlights of our conversation follow a brief introduction.

Rich Perry is a Communication Strategist. He helps to build brands that customers will trust. He co-authored Bankroll Your Mind (an International #1 Best Seller) and was a contributing author in three books focusing on personal development. He is currently writing a book for Freemasons that will focus on leadership and personal development; and he's also a writer for Entrepreneur and other online publications.

QUESTION: What attracted you to the field of communications?
RICH PERRY: I’ve always been interested in communication, as far back as my teenage years when I was an active Boy Scout. I was the one volunteering to take speaking roles at camp, train the new scouts, or create a presentation. In college, I became active in the college radio station, which took on a different mode of communication. It has continued to grow from there.

I love being able to connect with people to share ideas, meaningful messages, or inspiring stories. I also like helping people to share their important messages with others. This could mean helping someone launch their branded business blog, provide tips that enable someone to rock their first podcast interview, or offer coaching to empower someone to deliver an impactful presentation in a professional setting.

There are so many forms of communication. There’s the spoken word or a message written down. We can communicate through video or podcasts. Plus, social media and its many new features allow us to connect and share ideas in ways that weren’t possible just a few years ago.

QUESTION: In a post for Entrepreneur, you explained five ways to build digital trust. Of the five, which do you consider the most important, and why?

(Read the full post here: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/379903)

RICH PERRY: I consider them all to be important, each for a different reason. But if I had to choose just one, then I’ll go with the first item which is to be trustworthy.

Spend a decent amount of time online and you’re sure to come across internet marketers and so-called gurus or experts who want to show you pictures of luxurious homes, fancy cars, and of course, snapshots of impressive bank accounts. But if you do a little digging or you’re in the right social circles, you learn that it’s just smoke and mirrors in many cases.

Being trustworthy is an important part of establishing and building healthy relationships. This is especially important in business. It’s the same whether we’re talking about relationships with customers, employees, colleagues, stakeholders, or viewers in the digital world. We should always conduct ourselves properly in word and deed to earn and maintain the trust of others.

QUESTION: What are your favorite brands, and why?
RICH PERRY: Here are two:

(1) Star Wars: This brand has not only created its own universe for fans to find enjoyment but its own culture as well. On the surface, the masses in the general public loved the movies. But below that, the die-hard fans had an ever-expanding world of content that included novels, comics, and games. Once acquired by Disney, the brand has been creating even more content for the Disney+ streaming service that has had fans sitting on the edge of their seats waiting for the newest installments.

(2) Marvel: Much like Star Wars, this brand has decades worth of content that has kept fans coming back after each new story and asking for more. One of the things I love about this brand is the amount of attention they put into their releases, the level of detail, and the fan service paid to their loyal supporters. Marvel knows what it takes to make their fans smile, and they’re willing to go the extra mile (and even farther!) to please the people.

QUESTION: What's your favorite social media marketing campaign, and why?
RICH PERRY: I’m not sure if this would classify as a campaign, but a few years ago the “ice bucket challenge” took social media by storm. It had everyone participating, and soon afterward, everyone was hopping on the bandwagon to create their own challenges. While they didn’t create the idea of online challenges or interactive campaigns to raise money, they absolutely made an impact, and everyone wanted to duplicate that level of virality and success. This is proof that you don’t need a huge budget to create a successful campaign or movement.

QUESTION: Which social media platform is best for brand-building, and why?
RICH PERRY: That all depends on the brand, where their audience spends the most time, and how they want to communicate information to the intended audience.

If you’re a B2B brand, then a good choice would be LinkedIn. But if you’re B2C or your brand is more fun and visual, then something like Instagram or Snapchat is probably the better option.

The most important thing is knowing where your audience is spending time online and understanding how they like to receive information. Then communicate your information accordingly and encourage them to join the conversation.

Remember the first word in “social media” is social, so it’s important that you create engaging content that your audience will want to interact with. Treat social media as a two-way conversation when you design and execute an online marketing strategy.

TWEET THIS: Know where your audience is spending time online and understand how they like to receive information. ~@CoachRichPerry #SMTips #DebbieLaskeysBlog

How will you celebrate Book Lovers Day? What book will you read today - and what is your fave book of all time? Chime in and share.

Image Credit: AbsolutVision via Unsplash.

Check out Rich's sites:
Website: https://richperry.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CoachRichPerry
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachrichperry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachrichperry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/richperrycoach
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachrichperry

Monday, August 1, 2022

How Do YOU Connect on Twitter?

Today is World Wide Web Day, a global celebration dedicated to web browsing and other online activities. Post a selfie, express your opinion with a Tweet, or share a photo of beautiful flowers. But whatever you do, make a connection and be social.

To quote Matthew Kobach (@mkobach), "Twitter is a key that unlocks thousands of doors, some of which you never even knew existed." As a member of the Twitterverse for almost 13 years, I always enjoy meeting new people and learning from them. I recently connected with Jennifer Montgomery and invited her to appear here on my Blog in a Q&A format. Highlights of our conversation follow a brief introduction.

Jennifer Montgomery is the Managing Partner and Director of Learning & Development at Blue Door Group in Nova Scotia, Canada. An award-winning educator, strategist, and development expert, she is a champion for life-long learning and proficient in guiding strategy and policy development across sectors. Her unique combination of business development, entrepreneurial, and teaching experiences help her clients implement meaningful and lasting growth strategies that impact all levels of business - transforming businesses into dynamic and innovative learning organizations. In addition, creating meaningful connections is at the core of Jennifer’s personal brand which she has leveraged to create and co-found the "40 Cups of Coffee" community; a network of professionals that has now spanned North America through online engagements.

QUESTION: Since we met through a TweetChat, and your Twitter profile includes "Follow to learn: how to network with purpose," what's your favorite thing about Twitter?
JENNIFER MONTGOMERY: Twitter is the most community-oriented social platform in my experience. The engagement there is a lot higher which means you get to build more meaningful relationships than on other platforms. The Twitter community I have experienced has been educational, supportive, and inspirational while also being a fun way to get to know others from around the world.

QUESTION: How did you come up with your Twitter handle: @40CupsofCoffeee?
JENNIFER MONTGOMERY: 40 Cups started as a joke when my business partner @StephClarkBDG and I had our first coffee meeting. I went home, wrote it on a sticky note and then put it on my vision board. I knew it spoke to the experience I wanted to share with others about how Networking With Purpose (having those 40 Cups of Coffee) can inspire your growth through connecting with others. Think: 6 Steps to Kevin Bacon only career focused - if you want to land a new job or score a particular contract, who do you need to have coffee with to get introduced to the people who will help make that happen for you? Each “coffee” is a actually just a metaphor for connection; a part of your 40 Cups of Coffee Journey. After 40 Cups, aka 40 connections, you literally can trace your growth through the power of each of those connections, if you are willing to be open to learning from them.

Now, 40 Cups of Coffee has become our second business journey together and we are working on bringing the teaching and resources of 40 Cups together to help more professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders achieve their goals through building meaningful relationships through effective networking.

QUESTION: Who are your some of your favorite people to follow on Twitter?
JENNIFER MONTGOMERY: I don’t like to categorize my favorite people to follow because there are so many. What I can say is that the 5 best characteristics of my favorite accounts to follow are those that are community-focused, positive, supportive, educational, and of course, love to share coffee GIFs, jokes, and quotes. You can find these people by searching for these hashtags: #launchandfounders, #ginnsquad, #leadloudly, #tweet100, and #Ship30.

QUESTION: I'm from California and have been on Twitter since 2009. You're from Canada and have been on Twitter since 2020. There is no question that Twitter makes the world smaller and brings people together. With this in mind, what are some of your favorite uses of Twitter?
JENNIFER MONTGOMERY: Building and contributing to communities with the goal of learning from one another has been my favorite part of twitter. I’m an extrovert and love to meet new people and learn about their superpowers! Twitter has been a great tool to expand my network globally and has helped 40 Cups of Coffee grow to include community members from around the world and not just where I live.

QUESTION: Lastly, thinking about the famous OREO Tweet during the Super Bowl back in 2013, what is your favorite Tweet?
JENNIFER MONTGOMERY: It's hard to think of one Tweet that's a favorite, but I think Tweets from Wendy's are pretty funny. I love Tweets that provoke conversations as well.

TWEET THIS: I love Tweets that provoke conversations. ~@40CupsofCoffeee

My thanks to Jennifer for sharing her social media insights and for appearing here on my Blog.

Image Credit: Joshua Coleman via Unsplash featuring quote by @ValaAfshar on Twitter.

Check out Jennifer's links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferamontgomery/
and
https://bluedoorgroup.ca/
and
https://40cupsofcoffee.com/

Monday, June 20, 2022

A Tale of Marketing, Storytelling, and Community

To quote Matthew Kobach (@mkobach), "Twitter is a key that unlocks thousands of doors, some of which you never even knew existed." As a member of the Twitterverse for almost 13 years, I always enjoy meeting new people and learning from them. I recently connected with Christine Johnson and invited her to appear here on my Blog in a Q&A format. Highlights of our conversation follow a brief introduction.

Based in Vancouver, Canada, Christine is a strategist who helps young marketers get comfortable promoting themselves by creating marketing portfolios that supercharge their careers. As a marketing leader, she's rebranded companies, launched new SaaS products, written sales copy, and developed long-term strategies. She loves sharing insights that help people open new doors and showcase who they are.

QUESTION: In your pinned Tweet on Twitter, you provide a great thread of nine things to include in a marketing portfolio. Can you provide a quick recap?

(Check out the full thread on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CJ_250marketing/status/1348785605430296576)

CHRISTINE JOHNSON: In 2015, I met someone during a layover at an airport and was offered a job at a marketing agency because I had a marketing portfolio published/ready to go. Early in my career, building my portfolio was really difficult because I didn't know how to position myself or my accomplishments. There were no guides to help me navigate. Flash forward a few years/career moves, and I'm now confident on what I need to showcase for clients to want to hire me.

In early 2021 (with an audience of 500-ish), I shared a Twitter thread with tips on what to include in a marketing portfolio and realized that other people are struggling with the same problems I struggled with (this thread has been viewed 250k+ times). I want to be able to offer them support/guidance on how to create a great portfolio to make it easier to land an interview and find new clients because this is an industry-wide problem that both hiring managers and celebrities struggle with.

We're all taught to keep a win folder, but no one is really taught WHY they need to continue to build their portfolio. I see this as an industry gap and want to help change things so that it's easier for people to find their next opportunity.

QUESTION: What exactly is a WIN FOLDER?
CHRISTINE JOHNSON: A win folder is where you keep emails or snippets of work that showcase success from your projects. This could be a nice accolade from a client or someone in a different department. Or, it could be a screenshot of analytics data that shows what kind of results you generated (page views from Google analytics, click-through data from Twitter analytics, etc.). It's nice if you have something visual, but it doesn't necessarily have to be a piece of creative such as a graphic, video, poster, etc.

You want to keep this current and continue to look for things to add to it over time (you're trying to showcase your own growth.) Having this info on hand can help leverage new positions or brighten a bad day.

To create a folder for your wins, start by going through your inbox and message history (anywhere you can find notes/feedback on your work), and take screenshots. Write down any compliments you remember. Go back and look through projects you are proud of. It can feel a bit intimidating to get start,ed but once you get going, it's a fun project that pushes you to reflect and think more about where you'd like to go.

QUESTION: What's your favorite aspect of marketing?
CHRISTINE JOHNSON: My favorite aspect of marketing is storytelling. I love finding new ways to capture people's interests and showcase their passions.

QUESTION: What three marketing books should every marketer read, and why?
CHRISTINE JOHNSON: Here are three:

(1) Contagious: Why Things Catch On by Wharton marketing professor Jonah Berger: There's something about the storytelling that really draws me to this book over and over again. I loved reading about the restaurant in New York called 'Please Don't Tell.' I can't bring myself to find out just how much their secret location was rumor or real for customers, because I like the whimsy of the whole thing.

(2) Marketing Outrageously by Jon Spoelstra: This book was recently recommended to me by Brett Rudy (@BKRUDY on Twitter). The lessons are both memorable and simple. I'm not a sports marketing guy, but I can't stop thinking about how the author gave out jock straps as part of a guerilla marketing campaign and the way he shaped sports marketing in general. The lessons are great for any and all types of marketers. Even the packaging of the book stands out. I mean, how can you forget the cover when you see a sumo wrestler slam dunking a basketball mid jump?!

(3) Junior: Writing Your Way Ahead In Advertising by Thomas Kemeny: This is a copywriting book that is one part story, one part lesson, and (if you're brave enough), one part writing exercise. It pushed me to rethink how I approach writing.

QUESTION: What's your fave marketing buzzword or term, and why?
CHRISTINE JOHNSON: Community. It feels like we're moving in the right direction by focusing on community and how to bring people together around a common problem/goal. The olden days of marketing, where everything was exaggerated or gimmicky, seem to be falling behind us (thankfully). I still like guerilla marketing campaigns that capture your attention, but can see that focusing on the audience and how to build a community is what will have more impact long term. The Internet is evolving (some are calling it WEB3) and that means our expectations are getting higher for when and how information is delivered to us as consumers.

TWEET THIS: Focusing on the audience and how to build a community is what will have more impact long term. ~@CJ_250marketing #MarketingTip #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: What's THE marketing buzzword or term that annoys you the most, and why?
CHRISTINE JOHNSON: Growth hack. There are no shortcuts. You have to do the work.

QUESTION: Who do you admire in the marketing arena, and why?
CHRISTINE JOHNSON: Seth Godin is a great writer and I admire that he's consistently putting out daily blog posts; and Christina Garnett revived a hashtag on Twitter, and over the past year, has helped me learn about the value of community (and how that can shape your entire marketing strategy).

My thanks to Christine for sharing her marketing insights and for appearing here on my Blog.

Image Credits: Debbie Laskey and Twitter.

Check out Christine's links:
Article referenced in first question:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/complete-guide-getting-your-first-remote-job-christine-johnson-bba/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CJ_250marketing
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-johnson-/
Website: http://250marketing.ca/

Monday, June 6, 2022

Social Media Is a Way to Lift Up Others

To quote Matthew Kobach (@mkobach), "Twitter is a key that unlocks thousands of doors, some of which you never even knew existed." As a member of the Twitterverse for nearly 13 years, I always enjoy meeting new people and learning from them. I recently connected with Noel Davila from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and invited him to appear here on my Blog in a Q&A format. Highlights of our conversation follow a brief introduction.

Noel Dávila has been writing for online publications since 2008. Before moving over to editorial, Noel had a decade-long career in the advertising industry. Currently, Noel is finishing up work on his first novel. Visit his website at www.noeldavila.net and connect on Twitter @noeldavila.

QUESTION: You describe your strengths in your Twitter bio as "copywriting, content, storytelling, and professional growth." What are your favorite things to tweet and why?
NOEL DAVILA: I love to tweet anything that will resonate with my audience. That may seem simplistic, but it’s a constant challenge. After finding my niche, I’ve stuck mostly to copywriting insights, stories from agency life, and platitudes about growth and development. Threads are also a big part of my content strategy, and they’ve served me well. I also love to include photos I’ve taken with some of my tweets; I find that adding a visual component makes the content stand out in people's timelines.

QUESTION: Your pinned tweet on Twitter is "Lift up others around you. Their success is your success." Who inspired that quote? A boss? A family member? Please elaborate on the inspiration for that amazing quote.
NOEL DAVILA: The inspiration for that thought came from legendary ad man, David Ogilvy and his quote: “If each of us hires people who are smaller than we are, we shall become a company of dwarfs. But if each of us hires people who are bigger than we are, we shall become a company of giants.” I feel that by helping other people, I grow in the process as well. Also, since I’ve had help from mentors through the years, it’s incumbent upon me to pay it forward.

TWEET THIS: Lift up others around you. Their success is your success. ~@noeldavila #SMTips #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: What’s your favorite social platform, and why?
NOEL DAVILA: Twitter! Without a doubt. I’ve been tweeting since 2009, and during that time, I’ve made great friends on Twitter. I’ve also learned so much because the platform gives me access to some extraordinary thinkers and writers. Fortunately, I’ve been able to leverage my social media presence to further my career, so it’s been a win-win.

QUESTION: Many CEOs and leadership teams question how to track ROI when the topic of social media is raised and marketing teams pitch moving forward with the implementation of a social media marketing strategy. What social metrics do you measure - why, and how often?
NOEL DAVILA: I measure impressions and engagement. With impressions, I see how many people were exposed to my content and whether I’m leveraging the algorithm successfully to my advantage. With engagement, I can gauge the quality of the content. If the engagement rate drops off, I know that kind of content is not resonating. Once I find something that works, I double down on it. I’m still learning, so it’s essentially a work in progress.

QUESTION: Many people remember the famous OREO tweet during the 2013 Super Bowl. With that in mind, what's your favorite social campaign?
NOEL DAVILA: I’m a big fan of Apple, mostly because they’ve transcended the brand designation and become a lovemark. Also, I just love their products. With that said, I’ve always been in awe of their advertising, a lot of it spearheaded by Lee Clow. Their ‘Shot on iPhone’ campaign was beyond brilliant, mostly because it empowered consumers and gave them a sense of belonging. If you manage to do one of those things, it’s extraordinary. But to do both? That’s phenomenal advertising right there.

Read more about Lovemarks here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovemark.

My thanks to Noel for sharing his inspiring social media insights and for appearing here on my Blog.

Image Credit: Pawel Czerwinski via Unsplash.

Monday, May 2, 2022

Social Media Is a Great Tool for Personal Branding

To quote Matthew Kobach (@mkobach), "Twitter is a key that unlocks thousands of doors, some of which you never even knew existed." As a member of the Twitterverse for nearly 13 years, I always enjoy meeting new people and learning from them. I recently connected with Jerry Jose and invited him to appear here on my Blog in a Q&A format. Highlights of our conversation follow a brief introduction.

Jerry Jose is a passionate digital marketer specializing in LinkedIn and Twitter, and is based in India. He's a LinkedIn Specialist by profession and a traveler by heart. He enjoys working with teams and consulting leaders on how to utilize the power of digital marketing to reach out to their audience in the digital world. Jerry strives to help people build their personal brands on social media. As he sees it, "the power of personal branding is tremendous as it allows us to take control of the narrative and offers multiple opportunities to grow and build credibility in our niche." Connect and follow on Twitter at https://twitter.com/jrryjs and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerry-jose/.

QUESTION: You created your own hashtag: #socialjj. (Incidentally, I have one for this blog: #DebbieLaskeysBlog.) Why do you recommend that individuals create and use their own hashtags?
JERRY JOSE: I believe if you are working on your personal brand, it's imperative to create a customized hashtag. I always recommend creating a unique personalized hashtag to help users identify your brand and improve brand recall.

LinkedIn allows users to follow the hashtag. The audience can view all your content on one page on LinkedIn instead of scrolling through multiple pages to read all content formats. Add these hashtags to your Twitter bio, and it'll help users identify your Tweets and content quickly.

QUESTION: What social media platform do you think is best for personal branding, and why?
JERRY JOSE: The best social media platform for Personal Branding totally depends on the goals and objectives of each individual's brand. I'll take my example here: I wanted to connect with marketing professionals and help people build their personal brands. As I was comfortable with text format, I chose LinkedIn and Twitter to start my personal branding journey.

In the beginning, identify the content format that you're most comfortable with, then choose the social channel. Focus on one track in the initial days and master the features before exploring new social channels.

TWEET THIS: The best social media platform for Personal Branding totally depends on the goals and objectives of each individual's brand. -@jrryjs #socialjj #DebbieLaskeysBlog #personalbranding

QUESTION: Other than social media, how else do you think individuals should implement personal branding initiatives?
JERRY JOSE: Building a Personal Brand is a consistent effort for everyone. We discover new aspects about ourselves each day and present them to our community through various mediums. Social media is the prominent one, but it doesn't mean that you need only social media to build your Personal Brand. You can create blogs and make followership or an email list for a newsletter series.

One of the best initiatives for me is community meetups. The credibility improves tenfold when you physically meet someone and interact with them. Offline meetups and events are the best ways to establish your Personal Brand, and for the audience, it's the best place to validate your brand.

TWEET THIS: Building a Personal Brand is a consistent effort for everyone. -@jrryjs #socialjj #DebbieLaskeysBlog #personalbranding

QUESTION: In a Forbes article entitled, "10 Golden Rules of Personal Branding," which rule stands out to you as the most important, and why?

(Read the article here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/goldiechan/2018/11/08/10-golden-rules-personal-branding/)

JERRY JOSE: Goldie Chan is one of my favorite Personal Branding practitioners. One of my favorite points from this article is about "leaving a legacy." One can leave a legacy behind only when they are clear about their "why." The "why" acts as a motivation and helps us show up every day and improve our work for the community.

QUESTION: Which five people, who you've met through your social media activities, have developed admirable or inspirational personal brands? Please provide brief bios as well as the social platforms where you first met the people.

JERRY JOSE: I've provided some on both LinkedIn and Twitter below. All of them are an inspiration to me and help me every day build a solid personal brand on social channels. The content they share helped me overcome the fear of posting content on social channels. Check them out!

My favorite personal brands on LinkedIn:

Luke Matthews: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukematthws/
Luke, is an amazing marketer where he never talks about the usual marketing stuff. He creates unique content in form of videos, reels, carousels to engage the target audience of the brand. The unique type of content delivery is something that always inspires me and makes me follow his content and learn from him.

Claire Parsons: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claireparsons01/
Claire is one of the best copywriters I've seen. I love the way her content engages the community and provides quality content with a twist. Lately, she has authored a couple of books that help content creators on social media platforms like LinkedIn. Following her content has helped me experiment with my content and become a confident gif poster on LinkedIn.

Shreya Pattar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreya-pattar/
Shreya is one of the best inspirations for agency owners. She talks about her freelancing journey and always inspires the community to do well. Her IG Live, LinkedIn posts and now Twitter spaces have helped freelancers plan and communicate better with their clients.

My favorite personal brands on Twitter:

Mustafa Khundmiri: https://twitter.com/mkhundmiri
Mustafa is one of my inspirations on Twitter. He is one of the most humble people I've met on the internet. Even though he has a huge following, he interacts and communicates with small accounts and guides them with their journey on Twitter. It's rare to find such selfless people on the internet

Udit Goenka: https://twitter.com/iuditg
Udit has one of the fastest-growing accounts on Twitter. It really inspirational to see the way he provides value to his community and always focuses on giving. The Twitter spaces he hosts is always focused on giving back to the community and helping them in their journey. Udit shares content revolving around startups, marketing, personal branding and business.

My thanks to Jerry for sharing his amazing personal branding and social media insights and for appearing here on my Blog.

Image Credit: OI Global Partners.

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Social Media Is All About Connection, Trust and Strategy

To quote Matthew Kobach (@mkobach), "Twitter is a key that unlocks thousands of doors, some of which you never even knew existed." As a member of the Twitterverse for almost 13 years, I always enjoy meeting new people and learning from them. I recently connected with Deb Coman and invited her to appear here on my Blog in a Q&A format. Highlights of our conversation follow a brief introduction.

Deb Coman is a content conversion strategist who empowers service-based business owners to create trust-building content that generates sales, referrals, and collaborations. Deb hosts a weekly Twitter Chat called #SocialTrust Mondays at 3pm Eastern time on Twitter and was featured by BuzzSumo in its Top 100 Content Marketers to Follow Right Now. Deb’s Content Conversion Lab and private services help clients simplify their marketing with actionable steps that build trust and create alignment, consistency, and connection. Visit her website at http://www.DebComan.com, at www.LinkedIn.com/DebComan, and on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram @DebComanWriting.

QUESTION: You begin your Twitter profile as follows, “Meaningful connection thru trust-building content strategy." Can you please explain?
DEB COMAN: Content is an outstanding way to connect with people. When we understand how it builds trust, we create content that brings value and meaning that establishes and nurtures relationships. It’s only through these relationships that we create opportunities for sales, referrals, and collaborations. Engaging with and creating meaningful conversations is step one in the process.

QUESTION: You talk about the “4C Method” for creating email content. Can you please elaborate?
DEB COMAN: My 4C Method for creating content has four trust-building steps:

(1) Clarity: Start with CLARITY about your message: who it’s for, what they need, and how you provide the solution.
(2) Connection: Create content with an intention of CONNECTION, not a sale. Be of service. Add value. Build trust.
(3) Consistency: CONSISTENCY builds trust and relationships. Be consistent with your content in frequency as to how often you post, blog, and send emails. Be consistent and aligned in your message.
(4) Conversion: Move conversations from social media feeds, blog comments, and email campaigns to a one-on-one conversation to explore what’s possible for CONVERSION in the way of collaborations, referrals, and sales.

QUESTION: What is your favorite social media platform for your personal branding, and why?
DEB COMAN: I love Twitter where you can find me at @DebComanWriting because it’s the easiest platform to create connection and build trust with content. I’ve been hired, referred, featured as an expert, and made long-term meaningful (and profitable!) business connections that started with a single tweet or reply. (Connect with me there to see how it’s done).

I host a weekly Twitter Chat called #SocialTrust Mondays at 3pm Eastern time featuring guest experts and topics to help service-based small business owners and brands stand out and build trust online. This Twitter Chat is designed to be an easy way (even for Twitter newbies) to participate and gain visibility and connections. It’s followed by an audio conversation on Twitter Spaces.

QUESTION: If a business brand were going to dedicate all of its attention and resources toward ONLY one social media platform, which would you recommend, and why?
DEB COMAN: With over 211 million active daily users, your ideal audience is likely on Twitter. If you have a presence there or are able to quickly get up to speed with the basics, you can create opportunities for your business on Twitter.

If you’re not comfortable learning how to use Twitter, it’s important to find the platform where your ideal audience not only hangs out but engages and where you are not only comfortable, but have a strategy.

Success on social media requires these 3 things:

(1) Your ideal audience is present and active.
(2) You’re comfortable creating high value content that suits the platform.
(3) You have a content strategy like the 4C Method that leads to conversion.

TWEET THIS: Find the platform where your ideal audience not only hangs out but engages. ~@DebComanWriting #SMTip #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: What three tips would you give to a business brand to conduct an effective and successful email marketing campaign?
DEB COMAN: For an email marketing campaign (and any other content) to be profitable, you need to:

(1) Define a specific intention or outcome for the content.
(2) Choose a topic that demonstrates you have the solution to a problem they’re ready to solve.
(3) Establish your credibility and trust by sharing stories, results, and client outcomes.

With all your content, strive to be yourself, share as much of your personal story as you’re comfortable with, and seek to connect and engage with your audience as you build trust and deepen relationships.

TWEET THIS: With all your content, strive to be yourself. ~@DebComanWriting #SMTip #DebbieLaskeysBlog

My thanks to Deb for sharing her social media insights and for appearing here on my Blog.

Image Credit: Daniel Olah via Unsplash.