2012 -Time to Renew with Social Media

December 25, 2011

Happy New Year!  Here we are with 2012 just a week away.  Time just goes by so fast!  Happy New Year!  My calendar just seems to be on Steroids and my life! Do you relate?

With another year upon us we have so much to be thankful for yet our economy is not looking to well these days.  More than ever one needs to market their business as competition is stiff out there.  People are expecting to pay less while still getting more.

It is a great time to renew your Social Media business plan for the upcoming year and take a look back on this previous year in business.

About Social Media:

Social Media – The Next Best Thing to Being There in Person

While meeting with your clients and prospects in person is always the best way to build relationships, you might also consider Social Media.  Facebook is a wonderful place to get to know your clients and engage with your audience.

It has created an opportunity for anyone, anywhere, to have a voice.  Getting a message out no longer depends on how large a marketing budget is; in fact, it’s forced many companies to be creative; many have even hired social media consultants like myself to manage their social media campaigns. The good news is that anyone can learn how to benefit from social media.

You can Blog, Tweet, Facebook or create videos to draw in your targeted audience. What ever you do, you MUST jump on the social media wagon because Internet marketing has never been more necessary for small businesses that want and need an online audience.

Announce new products, post coupons, get to know your clients and their needs.  Don’t just sell them, get to know them!

If you want to brand yourself online please contact me. 

Visit my portfolio by clicking here.

Happy New Year!

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Posted by Jude Hodge

Jobs & Social Media Privacy

September 11, 2011
Пирсинг_тоннели_медуза_бридж_лабрет

Image via Wikipedia

Just how private should your social media profile be?  Social Media like Facebook and others have taken over our lives, all around the world.  Now more than ever it is easy for a potential employer to find out more about you when looking through their applicants.  This can work in your favor or against you, depending on the image you portray in your social media pages.

A few months ago in a public group I saw a young stay at home mom seeking a part-time job.  She said she was willing to work any hours, had child-care for her child, that she just wanted to get out part-time and work.  I clicked on her photo to learn more about her as I knew of a few available jobs locally.  Her profile was not private and I saw that she liked to drink a lot of beer, and that her house was filthy as the carpets that her baby were crawling around on were filled with pet hair and crumbs. I also saw that her hair was purple and pink, she had large gauged holes in her ears that hung low, (like the photo above) her nose, lip, eyebrows and chin were pierced, she had tattoos on her neck and arms, her husband had just been released from jail…no I am not kidding as she had chatted about it on her profile page.

So personally I am sure she probably a nice person, but I know that 50% of the public would judge her, so as an employer I would think she would be a great applicant for a tatoo parlour, a hair salon that was trendy, and a place that does piercing, maybe a trendy young cafe etc…but she has narrowed her choices considerably or even the chance of getting an interview based on her profile.  Tatoo’s can often be hidden, piercings can come out and hair color can change.  The chat about jail and her husband made you wonder.

So I bring this all up not to judge her, as there is someone and something out there for everyone.  But I also know that she limits her possibilities having a page that just anyone can look at anytime, even a potential employer as if they are conservative like most then she missed out on ever getting an interview.

The message here…if you are looking for a job, who do you want your employer to know?  The professional you, or the friend, wife and mother trendy girl you are?  Choices?? You may want to reconsider your social media privacy choices.

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Posted by Jude Hodge

The Circle of Fear

September 8, 2011
Circle Of Light (Lens Flare), Wisley

Image by flatworldsedge via Flickr

 

Why can’t some people change even when they know that they know they need to change?  What holds back some people from ever doing something new?  Why some in a dead-end job won’t venture out and try something new that has more potential?  We all know that any change can bring its counterpart–fear.  A fear to change what is comfortable.

 

There is a painting called “The Circle of Fear”.  It shows this beautiful little girl within a large circle.  She is happy and holds a rose in one hand. Outside the circle are evil-looking monsters.  The painting shows that as long as this little girl stays where she is there is nothing to fear, all is well but–but–to go outside that circle of change invites all kinds of negative things. It is interesting that outside the painting are words like NO and DON’T and CAN’T.   This painting was for those who cannot change because they live within the circle of being good, doing exactly what their parents tell her to do, to never question anything outside of ones own experience.

 

When we “cross that line” with change we recall all past experiences of our life–we ”see” what happened when we disobeyed or starting something new that did not work out.  The painter had a goal–to enlarge our circle and grow.  This is why William James the father of American psychology said there are only two emotions–fight or flight.  When we “cross that line” with change we then have to make a decision–do we draw back within our circle of change and accept everything as it is or do we enlarge our circle and enlarge (CHANGE) our life.  WE all decide which path we are going to take.

Author – Tremendous Bill Pike

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 Comments | Brick and Mortar, Motivational | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Jude Hodge

CHANGE

September 5, 2011
Spare Change

Image by Spring Dew via Flickr

Even at the store - 

IT TAKES CHANGE TO MAKE CHANGE.

We are told  that life is a journey and you have detours, obstacles, distance, etc but they don’t tell you the foundation to this trip—CHANGE.  As a kid, we are told to change.  We go to work and are told, if you don’t change you will lose your job.

We seek security–don’t change, but it is change itself that makes the difference.  I have spent my life building companies and/or sales organizations.  I talk to people who see the opportunity but–they don’t want to change.  They love the opportunity to become wealthy but they can’t afford the $100 or $200 it takes to get started, or they don’t have the time, or or or or.  I then ask them why they are broke/busted/and disgusted.  Now it gets interesting—they won’t quit doing what they are doing but they want a better life.  They tell me they have been at their dead-end job for 10 years and are totally broke — so I ask them–who’s fault it that?

35 plus years of helping people improve their lives has shown me how we all hate to change.  They may not make it with a new company but the real factor is they love the security that has them broke. To be able to be home at 5:30 to watch the news, then their favorite program, then bed  when their TV programs are over just to start the next day exactly the same.

I have heard over and over “The only constant is change itself”.  If you don’t believe this get out your yearbook.  Watch the news and see what change is going on all over the world.  Talk to someone who has retired at age 65 and can’t pay the light bill. Ask this age group if they would have done something different when they were younger.

My point???  To improve ones life they have to stop doing what they are doing and find a better vehicle for their journey of life. They have to be willing to make a change to change the end result of their journey.  How does one do this?? The answer is really simple–they make up their mind to change and do it with all the fear that comes with that change.  They want a better life for their family so they are willing to pay the price.

I still remember the story of the big league baseball player who was just getting by.  He stood at the plate and the umpire cried strike one.  He was just standing there again when the umpire yelled strike two.  The manager yelled from the dugout “what in the world are you waiting for” and the player yelled back “the 15th and the 30th.

Want a better life?  Then throw away that security blanket and go for it.

Author : Tremendous Bill Pike

Leave a Comment » | Brick and Mortar, Facebook Marketing, Marketing Online, Mobile Marketing, Motivational | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Jude Hodge

Social media – and the fine line betweeen SPAM and Promotion

August 27, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And we are not talking sandwiches here , hold the mayo!  Social Media can play an important role in self and business promotion.  But if you are spamming your way around without adding the right content then no one is buying into you anyways! In fact they are deleting you or just plain ignoring you.

Social media is a great way to promote yourself or your business but there is an art to successful shameless promotion.

If I just show up everyday and post junk on your wall, group or business page it is considered SPAM!  However it I put up a post with an interesting photo and a call of action of some kind, you will most likely not be bothered by it!

BAD SPAM PROMOTION EXAMPLE:

Look closely at the first example it is a recommendation, many who love hummingbirds will go there.  The one below with an X through it is a no no…it says nothing from me, it is a spam with no recommendation.  The whole idea of Social media marketing is to “Connect with your audience”…to give them a reason to LIKE your page and want to see and know more.  It is a turn off to just get crazy links that say nothing.  An advertisement!

Social media is a way to bring people together, to build relationships, to promote specials, to engage with your customer.  Just my 2 cents on a fragile subject.  Besides I never liked Spam!  :)

Leave a Comment » | Customer Service, Facebook Marketing, Marketing Online, Mobile Marketing | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Jude Hodge

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