Grand Sierra Resort Excels in Customer Service via Twitter

One night one of my friends tweeted to me and said “Hey Kristin, you should interview the @grandsierra because they do an excellent job with their social media.” Before I could even respond, Ian and I already had a response from Grand Sierra thanking us for the compliment! So of course, I headed to Grand Sierra Resort to meet the face behind GSR’s social media.

The Grand Sierra Resort towers 26 stories and 1,990 rooms over Reno, just 3 miles east of Downtown. You may have once known this property as The Hilton, prior to that as Bally’s Reno, or even before that as the MGM Grand Reno (Hello Hollywood Hello, anyone?). The GSR still has a preserved chandelier from the MGM. The Meruelo Group saw the great potential in GSR and bought it in February of 2011.

Today, the GSR is undergoing a $25 million renovation. Many customers expressed concern with the lighting in the building as well as a need for more nightlife, and GSR is responding. Changes being made consist of: brighter carpet, more lighting, vibrant colors, Wet Ultra Lounge, the casino floor, an enclosed VIP Lounge, and much more. The GSR is thrilled to unveil the changes, which have all been requested by their guests. The GSR staff prides themselves in their ability to respond to customer demand. GSR has even given each individual the power to receive virtually instant answers via Facebook, Twitter and Miss Sara Robbins.

Sara Robbins, Las Vegas native, UNR graduate and GSR’s Social Media Manager- is the bubbly voice behind the 23,098 fan-based Facebook and 2,853 following on Twitter.  Being a social media manager isn’t just any position at the GSR, it’s an around-the-clock voice for the cusomers. Just last week, Sara attended the Florence and The Machine concert at GSR. While she was enjoying her evening rocking out to one of her favorite bands- her IPhone never left her hands as she instantly responded to the over 50 tweets from guests at the concert. Always within reach for Sara: IPhone, IPad and laptop.

“If our guests have questions, we have to give them answers. We don’t have a Facebook and Twitter just to have one. We utilize these tools to engage with our fans and customers. It’s also a way to monitor what people are saying about us- good or bad, so we can respond accordingly. It’s part of our success!”

The importance of having someone monitor all of a company’s social media sites is so crucial- and often overlooked. The GSR monitors Mapquest, Yelp!, Travelocity, any and all review websites, Google, Wikipedia, Facebook, Twitter and blog…just to name a few! Sara has been designated the responsibility of assuring that each and every channel of info for the GSR is accurate, providing their guests with answers. Got a question or a comment? Tweet @grandsierra or post on their Facebook and you will hear back soon with an accurate answer.

As GSR’s Social Media Manager, Sara takes pride in her work. She can remember occasions when she would tweet to her favorite bands or Verizon- and they would reply instantly to her.

“It’s a great feeling when you get an instant response from an organization or business, it makes you feel so connected to that brand. I want to offer that to our guests. If I receive a question that I can’t answer, I will go find someone who can.”

The Grand Sierra resort is leading by example in the world of social media customer service. Hats off to GSR and Sara Robbins for providing a means for their fans and customers to get instantly connected with this resort and casino.

Top 5 Twitter Faux-Pas for Businesses

Many businesses are on Twitter now, and while this can be an excellent way to provide real time customer service as well as value to your followers- there a couple things businesses need to be cautious of. Is your business making any of these faux pas?

1.  Automated tweets- It is obvious when most of your tweets are automated. Now, I think automated tweets are useful- however, not when every single one of your tweets are just blasts to the world. Remember that part about engagement? Is your Facebook linked to your Twitter? Are every single one of your tweets automated from Facebook?  It doesn’t look very engaging.

2.  Your avatar is lame- Hey egghead! DO NOT tweet if your avatar is an egghead, many people will think you are a spammer. Also, (this is just a personal preference) I feel so much more comfortable interacting with people’s faces rather than a logo or some other sort of an animation. As soon as I see a logo I feel that I will only be hearing about deals and promotions for a business, #fail.

3.  You don’t follow back- This is just Twitter etiquette. If you have 300 or 3,000 followers, and you only follow 17 people- that’s rude! Remember that part about engagement…again?

4.  Not using your Twitter background- This is a valuable piece of real estate, utilize it! Have a graphic artist take your logo to fit your Twitter background. Add your contact info to create a little advertisement for your business. Many businesses are partaking in this and I think it looks great.

5.  Not providing value- Blah blah blah! Make sure what you are tweeting offers value to your followers! Don’t blast nonstop information about your business. Before you tweet, think to yourself: “Does this tweet help or engage my followers?”

Do you have any other faux-pas to add to the list? What are you noticing businesses or people doing on Twitter that annoy you?

Mark Trujillo and The Hub Coffee Co. Do Coffee and Social Media Right

“It’s always just been about bikes. It’s always just been about coffee.” -Mark Trujillo

I was wandering down Cheney St. in MidTown Reno looking for The Hub. Owner Mark Trujillo saw me aimlessly looking around before pointing me to a small opening, a former 2-car garage, where I found Reno’s beloved coffee shop. Beginning from the small and discrete location, to the old bikes hanging on the wall and roll-up door on the outside, to the raw brick walls, modern art, and tiny service station on the inside; this place is one of Reno’s best kept secrets. A REAL and authentic coffee shop, The Hub offers the best cappuccinos and coffee in town. If you are looking for a quiet place to study, a low-key place to have private conversation, get a meal, or a sugary flavored non-fat-latte-macchi-frapp-a-what? Then do not come to The Hub. This place is busy, has a “Cheers” like atmosphere, it’s small, gimmick-free, and they are serious about coffee.

Reno native and avid cyclist, Mark Trujillo sold Walden’s Coffee House in 2009 to search for something different; a place, which solely focused on providing the best coffee around. In June of 2009, Mark opened The Hub Coffee Co. in Reno’s MidTown District. Businesses (Sup, Crème Café, Sushi Pier 2, Midtown Eats, etc.) in this district, often unknown to all the tourists, are tiny gems nestled right below the big buildings of Downtown. Mark and his son Joey, 22 and Jessica 20 have created an atmosphere, which depicts the personality of their coffee- raw.

“If I am going to provide a product, I want it to be the best and I want it to be as raw as possible. We do not manipulate our coffee.”

You will not find any blue, yellow, white or pink sugar packets in the building. Non-fat milk doesn’t exist. The only additive they offer is a homemade chocolate sauce for their mochas. Best chocolate I have ever had. Mark gets his coffee from small, intimate, culturally-sound farms that have processes which have been handed down from generation to generation. He receives the coffee bean raw, roasts the beans in-house, and serves his drinks with no fuss or over processing.  Watch Mark make yours truly a cup of coffee:

Mark and his son Joey are responsible for creating the buzz around town about their coffee on the expanding world of social media. With their location being so small and discrete, they rely on social media to help spread the word. Did you know that coffee has 300 more properties than wine, and that it’s the 2^nd highest traded product in the world next to petroleum? Facts like these can be found on their Twitter. Want to see a never-ending review list with pictures from all of their fans? Check out their Facebook. Want to know about the various coffee beans produced worldwide? We have bloggers on our hands, people! Check out their blog.

“It’s not about specials or sales. It’s about our customers, coffee, how it’s served, or our process. We use social media to excite our customers and depict what we are all about. We are a hidden, local hot-spot and we leverage that mystery and build it up with our social media marketing. I respond to every single comment or complaint, I am building relationships with my fans.”

Mark and his kids are running a business that profits pennies at a time from their coffee, and it has taken time for him to figure out what works best for him. He never makes the same mistake twice, and that he will not lose to competitors. Mark and Joey Trujillo are leading by example on the social media-marketing front; follow these guys to see what’s going on in that 2-car garage on Cheney St., and at their new location in The Discovery Museum.

Marc Digesti Displays PerformancEDU’s Community on Facebook

Marc Digesti, (I say it loud and proud) is a Reno, Nevada native. Graduating from Reno High School in 1999, Marc played baseball and football. Marc took his baseball career to the next level and represented the Wildcats @ Chico State University. It was during this time that Marc battled several shoulder injuries inhibiting his abilities to perform on the diamond. Marc’s interest and passion for athletic performance and injury prevention was piqued. It wasn’t long before he left Chico with a degree in Exercise Physiology- and headed to the mecca of sports training, Los Angeles.

Marc did an internship with Athletes’ Performance in Carson, CA. Up to this point, Marc’s experience and education had been related to a traditional athlete’s background, heavily involved with strength and conditioning training. All of this went out the door once he was introduced to the culture and methodolgy at Athletes’ Performance.  Marc’s internship dove into how to exploit movement dysfunction and how to implement it back into a training program.  One of the tools he was taught to administer was the FMS (Functional Movement Screen) to diagnose movement dysfunction.

“Most of us have the same types of dysfunctions, but each person requires a different process to increase their  movement quality.”

During his time in So Cal he also trained the US Disabled Ski Team and was mentored by  big names in the industry like: Todd Durkin, Mark Verstegen, Omi Iwasaki, Darcy Norman and Anthony Slater. Marc fell in love with the Ski culture and has created a niche in his training for these types of athletes. In 2010, Marc took his 3 years of experience working with some of the best trainers and athletes in the nation and moved back to his hometown, in an effort to start training in the Reno area.

On October 18th of 2011 Marc and his wife Jenny Digesti opened PerformancEDU.

“This place is me. I have taken my experience and philosophy for performance and I am exuding a culture which people can adapt to, that’s what I want to do here at EDU.”

Have you ever trained barefoot before? Me neither, but I did when I worked out with Marc. It’s unreal how much more you pay attention to your movement when you have no protection on your feet. Ideas like the barefoot training are examples of Marc’s philosophy on the attention he gives to the body’s movement.

How has Marc been getting people through the doors of PerformancEDU? Word of mouth through social media! Marc began his social media marketing journey on Twitter, then Facebook was soon to follow for PEDU. Marc believes that social media is huge for businesses especially for start-ups. Here is Marc’s daily social media strategy:

Marc utilizes Facebook as a hub for live updates, and he loves the idea of being able to virally get his messages and health tips out about his business. PEDU also hosts an informative blog that offers valuable information. Visit PEDU for more information, and like their page! Tweet on Marc!

Lee Brothers Create Facebook Buzz for Beach Hut Deli

In 1994 Scott and Todd Lee moved to Reno, NV from Granite Bay, CA. Scott attended UNR earning a degree in Digital Media and brother Todd worked at Cope & McPheters. Prior to moving to Reno, the 2 brothers thought this place was all lights, casinos, and hotels.  They instantly fell in love with the Biggest Little City. After college Scott soon joined his big brother and helped Cope and McPheters launch their Internet sales; they were soon swimming in success. The brothers’ knack for business combined with technological skills were the perfect formula for success. In 2003, Scott and Todd purchased a home in Northwest Reno. What they didn’t know at the time was that the purchase of this home would be the key to opening their own business 3 years down the road.

Growing up, the boys frequently enjoyed lunches at Beach Hut Deli. They were close friends with Beach Hut founder and franchise owner Troy Feist. Scott explains:

“You know when you go back to your hometown and you have that one place you have to visit every time? For me it was Beach Hut Deli. I remember being 10 years old and running around that place!”

Scott had turned to Feist during one of his Christmas vacations, and mentioned to Feist that he was looking for a change, he wanted to do something more than what he was doing. Feist slid his business card across the table and told Scott that when he was ready- he would be happy to help him. Months later, Scott was ready. Scott and Todd refinanced their house, which provided them with the means to open up Beach Hut Deli, Reno. Scott and Todd rounded up friends and graffiti artists Ernie and Neal; they also hired on a general contractor, “Butch Hut” to assist in the very cool and unforgettable design of their sandwich shop.

Beach Hut Deli opened on February 5, 2006 in Northwest Reno and these 2 brothers instantly hit the ground running. Scott attributes a big part of their success to their prized employees. Scott and Todd are very meticulous in whom they bring on to their team. They look for driven people who understand the importance in teamwork. They also attribute their employees to their Facebook success. Here are the numbers:

Facebook Business Page:

Likes: 4,819

Twitter:

Followers: 269

It was a slow day for business on President’s Day 2009 when former employee Devin Noe suggested that Beach Hut Deli create a Facebook fan page as a means to drive business. Their Facebook presence was created, and from there Devin requested that all of her 700+ friends “like” the cool sandwich shop where she was working, so did Carrie Potter, so did Miranda Montejo and so did Kinslee Scamaldo. Before Scott and Todd knew it, they had a whole slew (1,000+) of followers on Facebook- Scott even compares it to a cult! Here’s his strategy:

“It’s all about timing. You can’t post a picture of a sandwich at 8 am, or announce your happy hour specials at 9 am…we have to strategically plan each of our posts. I do about 11 posts a day which consist of pictures of sandwiches and beer specials. I utilize Facebook and Twitter to set-up our day for the lunch and dinner rushes. When it’s really slow, I will have all my employees go on their Facebook pages and post something about Beach Hut to bring some business in.”

Scott and Todd will feature a couple sandwiches for the day, and sure enough during their lunch rush several will mention that they saw a picture of the Surfin’ Bird on Facebook and it looked so good, they had to have one. I will vouch for Beach Hut Deli- the pictures of the sandwiches are exactly what you can expect when you order. What? A restaurant that serves the food as advertised? Yes! Beach Hut Deli will also give you a free cookie if you “check-in” upon arrival.

I asked Scott if he has had complaints about his service on Facebook and he said yes. He said he will handle complaints utilizing the direct message feature on Facebook and invite them to come back in so he can fix his error. On one specific occasion there was a complaint on Beach Hut’s Facebook page, and their fans immediately responded to the complaint and supported the sandwich shop. The Lee brothers feature events on Beach Hut’s page such as Nerd Friday Nights, Thirsty Thursdays, Happy Hour, Aloha Fridays. Check them out!

Beach Hut Deli will be opening another location in Downtown Reno’s Comm Row mid-April 2012. This location will be smaller and will serve more as an express stop. Stay tuned on their Facebook page for more details!

Sales Guru Talks Social Media Marketing: Alice Heiman, LLC.

I was first introduced to Alice back in 2005 as an under-grad student. Alice taught a sales (what else?) seminar and her class was probably the most useful course I have taken to date. Alice Heiman owns and operates Alice Heiman, LLC as a nationally recognized sales consultant. She had success leading corporate teams as well as start-ups. She spends most of her time mentoring small businesses and also provides online sales training. I want to enter this blurb from her website cause I can’t say it any better:

“A consummate networker, she is the author of the eBook Connecting Your Way to New Business and the developer of The BizTalk Blender® a business networking event that connects people to others they can do business with directly, develop as a referral source and collaborate with to get results.  She’s appeared on radio and television, and been featured in print publications including Entrepreneur’s Startups and Selling Power magazines.  Her work has earned her numerous awards including Saleswoman of the Year, Marketer of the Year and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Blue Ribbon Award…”

Ok, I think I made my point- Alice knows a thing or 2 about business. I wanted to get Alice’s perspective on social media marketing, and also learn about her social media strategy for Alice Heiman, LLC. Here are the numbers:

Facebook Business Page:

Likes: 904

Twitter:

Followers: 941

Alice first expressed a concern for most people who are using social media.

“Social media should be used to connect, brand, and if you are a business- generate leads. Too many people are connecting with others on these sites and them tossing them aside. Only connect with people you know, and if you don’t know them, get to know them. Your network is your most valuable asset. Develop relationships with your connections by interacting, don’t blindly connect with people just to get your numbers up- social media is not effective when used this way.”

Great advice. It does need to be known that NOTHING on the Internet is private. I don’t care what your privacy settings are, do not trust it. You shouldn’t post anything that you wouldn’t want your boss, professor, Mom, Dad, Grandma and Santa Clause (naughty or nice?) to see. How many times have you heard people say “Ya’ know, I don’t know her but we are friends on Facebook.”  Remember that you are creating a brand for yourself on these sites, and whom you connect with can help or hurt your credibility. Social media is for connecting, interacting and building a network.

Here’s Alice’s strategy for social media when it comes to business:

“Don’t utilize social media to make a sale to your connections, you will bug everyone- you can’t sell outright. Utilize these social mediums to share your expertise. Develop good content, get people’s attention, converse with others, connect and offer good info.”

Simple example of useless vs. useful info:

“I am eating lunch.” Nobody cares; I get so many posts like this on my newsfeed.

“I am eating a Sharkbite at Beach Hut Deli on Mae Anne and Robb Dr (insert picture of messy Sharkbite).” Perfect, that’s cool- I will remember to go there when I am craving a sandwich.

Create value in your messages on Facebook and Twitter!

Alice has seen success in her business because of her utilization of Facebook and Twitter but would like to utilize these platforms even more. Just the other day she received a lead on Facebook, on another occasion she was connected to do business with St. Mary’s, and she has landed 3 speaking engagements- all through Facebook. Alice offers great content on her pages and is continually engaging with everyone.

“Don’t negate the power of these tools. Pick 1 platform and master it. There are so many social media mediums to choose from and it can be a time-sink. The audience you want to target is on Facebook, and from there you never know who they know and so on…that’s the beauty of social media.”

Alice can see social media as a way for her to directly connect with her customers and potentially cut down the amount of time she spends on the road. She has ideas up her sleeve, which will leverage social media to add a completely new dynamic to the way she consults. What is Alice’s home base for social media? Facebook.

Visit Alice’s business Facebook page and “Like” what she is doing!

Trainer Goes Viral: Camie Cragg Fitness meets Facebook

2 weeks ago these words came out of my mouth “Camie Cragg is a Facebook beast.” I mean that in the utmost respectful way possible…really.

Camie is preparing for her Grand Opening of Camie Cragg Fitness on February 25^th. Her business is brand spankin’ new. But what isn’t new is her reputation as a personal trainer throughout the greater Reno community. How you ask? One word= Facebook. Here is her Facebook story:

Personal Facebook Page

Joined: 2008

Friends: 4,814 (192 friend requests pending as of today, she will get to you guys.)

Business Facebook Fan Page

Likes: 2,374

Views per Day: 1,500

In 2005 Camie was utilizing Myspace to reach out to her friends and family, she was also beginning her career as a personal trainer. Camie used Myspace, Big Nickel (newspaper ad), email and Craigslist to gain her whopping 10 clients in Reno. As any entrepreneur understands, building the clientele in the early stages of business development is extremely frustrating. She admits that she didn’t really get it, she didn’t quite understand how to reach out to people and get their attention. She posted constantly under the “Health/Beauty” section on Craigslist and she did get a lot of leads, but it wasn’t enough. It was in 2008 that a close friend of Camie introduced her to Facebook.

When Camie first started her Facebook journey she made it a priority to never “add” people; she would only manage her traffic by accepting or declining friend requests. She never wanted to push what she was doing on others, but if they wanted in- she would accept. In the early stages of her Facebook presence, Camie received a lot of grief from friends and family because of her frequent posts and status updates.

“People would make fun of me, they thought it was just too much. They would ask me if I had a life! A lot of people thought I was being too exploitive with my personal life and of my feelings. They also thought I was providing way too much “free” information in regards to my training and nutritional information. ”

Today Camie claims that word-of-mouth is her #1 source of referrals, #2 is Facebook and Twitter.

“Anything that inspires me, I put it on Facebook. At 4:55 am today I posted an article on low-glycemic carbs! When I am in the car and I hear something I like, I write about it. When one of my clients does something that inspires me, I write about it.”

The strategy: Camie started out by “checking-in” everywhere she went. Going to the grocery store to buy fruits and veggies? Check-in. Dining at a local restaurant to try out their new salad? Check-in. Coffee? Check-in. Going to work-out? You betcha’, check-in! She said it was exhausting, but it has been worth it. This is how the ball really got rolling. Locals were seeing all the places she was visiting, and soon she was creating a small buzz within her community of friends.

People are attracted to optimism, hope, and success. Camie’s Facebook page exudes this.  Camie tells a story of an incident where she wanted to get her son (Bodie) a skateboard. Camie turned to a skateboarding professional and asked him on his Facebook what was the best kind of skateboard to get for a 3-year-old. No response.

“I didn’t like it. I knew that I never wanted to be like that. I have made it a goal to respond to everyone, and to interact with as many people as I can on a daily basis on Facebook.”

Bingo! The attention Camie is giving to her consumers is continuously bringing them back, as well as attracting others. When you add Camie on Facebook, she sends every single one of her new “friends” an invitation to “like” her Camie Cragg Fitness Fan Page, and to visit her main website to check out all of the various products she has for sale. Her Facebook is FILLED with success stories. Before and after pictures of past and current clients, pictures of individuals training, testimonials fill up her wall, and YouTube videos of her boot camps are how Camie is utilizing Facebook to tell a story of what kind of shop she is running.

“I use Facebook and Twitter to show the “now.” I have an instant connection to show my community what I am doing right now, how I feel, or what I think is really cool and inspiring- at my finger tips (she picked up her phone).”

Camie also utilizes Facebook to literally run a part of her business, called Online Challenge. She forms Facebook groups and provides them with workouts, a meal plan, and support all via Facebook. The group members are able to interact with each other through discussion forums so they can turn to each other for support. This is a great option for people who are not in the Reno area or don’t have the financial means or time to completely commit to her boot camps. Recently, Camie leveraged the capacity of Facebook to raise $7,050 in 6 DAYS for local mother, Amada Curtis, 31 who is fighting brain cancer.

There are 2 huge points to be made with how Camie is using social media marketing: 1. Be you, be real. People don’t want to talk to robots; they want to interact with someone who cares about them. You can’t do that with commercials, radio, or emails. 2. Pull these people in and get them to buy into your product or service. Remember that bit about Camie offering free health and fitness tips on her Facebook? This is an example of a tool she is using to convert consumers into clients on Facebook.

Camie made it loud and clear to me, that it is her sheer desire and drive that has motivated her to stay involved with the social networking. It’s a lot of work to constantly stay connected. But she loves what she has created, and loves every single person who is apart of what she has built.

Facebook beast? I think so.

 

Social Media Marketing for Dummies

I really don’t want to leave anyone in the dark here. I am going to take a moment to give a brief over view of the different social networking platforms that I will be discussing in future blog posts.

Here’s an extremely simple example of traditional marketing:

“Buy Toms.”

Here’s an extremely simple example of social media marketing:

“I love my Toms, look at how cute they are on me (insert picture here).”

Who are consumers more likely to listen to? The billboard sitting on the side of the road telling them to buy the Toms? Or to their friend who just posted about their recent Toms experience, all over their Facebook page- where all of their friends have now told them how great they look? Basically, social media marketing has given us the ability to set up a free booth, marketing ourselves, our product or service in front of millions and millions of people. During this time, we also get to witness everyone’s reaction and interact with the consumers. Did I mention it’s free? Here is a brief break-down of some of the social media platforms available to us:

Myspace: Once upon a time there was this networking tool called Myspace. I once referred to Myspace with my 9-year-old cousin this past year, and she looked at me in disgust and scowled, “What. Is. THAT?” Well my dear, it’s Facebook’s very old and tired big sister. However, Myspace is nothing less than a cultural phenomenon. Myspace was the first time I witnessed a personal media-hosting site where I could create “my own space” on the World Wide Web. It ‘s still very much apart of the social networking world, but in 2008 Myspace showed a major slowdown.

Facebook: Whether you buy into this social-networking-craze or not, please go see the film The Social Network. It’s a great story of how Facebook was born into the hands of Mark Zuckerberg. Facebook has +300 million users. Everyone is on Facebook for their own reasons, but either way- everyone is on Facebook, and they all want to talk. It’s not just for college students anymore. This social site is made up of 4 components: profiles, groups, pages and events. Each of these components can be utilized to market who you are, and/or what your business has to offer. I solely blame Facebook for reconnecting me with all my childhood and high school friends, if you don’t have a Facebook you aren’t cool.

Twitter: I am new to Twitter, I was not cool. I will admit, I thought it was juvenile. The only exposure I have had to Twitter is listening to my 19 year-old sister giggle every time Kim Kardashian or Joe Jonas “tweeted” something useless about their lives.  I gave in, and now I kind of love it. This is all it is: You get 140 characters to announce or “tweet” to your followers anything you want. When you hit the send button, your followers have your words right in their hands via text. I personally select to follow people who offer valuable information to me; it’s like an infinite blog roll of things I actually care about.

LinkedIn: Is a social networking platform for professionals. LinkedIn is your profile on steroids, with a lot less capabilities than Facebook.  LinkedIn definitely lacks that “now” affect which most of the other sites have, you could update your info on this site once every 6 months and still be current. Be careful, your past, present and future bosses ARE on LinkedIn, be good.

Google+: I am very new to Google+, however so is everyone else. I haven’t decided how I feel about it. Google+ does have the “now” effect. You can connect with others and form circles- it is very clean and professional. According to my professor, Dr. Bret Simmons, Google+ will dominate Facebook in a couple years, as Google+ has more capabilities.

Pinterest: This site cracks me up. Everyone has the ability to “pin” to their categorized profile. You would pin pictures you take, a cool quote you read, maybe a great idea for a bride, or a tasty recipe you just saw in a magazine. Others can look at your profile too and “pin” your ideas to their wall, everyone can leave comments and thoughts. User be aware: Pinning is addicting. Can’t. Stop. Pinning.

Blog posting: The wonderful world of blogging is a MUST. If you have a passion, interest, or great idea- tell the world about it and blog. Simple sites such a WordPress.com offer free (there’s that lovely word, again) hosting capabilities where you start with a cool little template and you can turn your site into whatever you want. Look at my blog, looks ok right? I had no clue what I was doing, I still have no clue what I am doing, and this is what happened! It’s foolproof really. You want to utilize the “now” platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Google+ to direct people to your blog. This is the ultimate goal for everyone, especially business owners- DRIVE THE TRAFFIC TO YOUR MAIN SITE. The blog is your home base where you give away the bread and butter, and pull people in.

That’s social media, for me- in a nutshell.