Creating a Digital Footprint: My Journey

“In the future, your digital footprint will carry far more weight than anything you might include on a resume.” -Chris Betcher

I was sitting in my kitchen with friends getting ready to leave for the Reno-Tahoe open when my phone alerted me that I had been mentioned in a tweet. I check it out; come to realize that a local business wrote a story about me and what I’ve been doing with the small businesses in Reno (through my blog).  Gah! The eCommerce Director for Dolan Automotive Group had been following my work via social media, and my attention was grabbed when they put together a blog about my work. I was honored, and reached out to them to meet face-to-face. Long story short… they end up offering me a position as an eMarketing Coordinator. I started on September 1^st.

Pinch me. I’m floored. I am getting paid to do what I love, and I understand the value of that. I did a post back in June (Oh Hello Voice, There You Are: The Power of a Blog), which reflects on my discovery of the power of a blog and my social media journey. I felt the need to add a second part to my journey-as it has taken another turn in the past 30 days. This has nothing to do with self-promotion, I am not boasting, I don’t care if you have never liked or even read anything I have pushed out in the past-but I want to inspire others. I hope that as I continue to share my journey, I will inspire others to understand the importance of personal branding.  Also, I hope I will inspire others to take advantage of the infinite space on the World Wide Web and start blogging. It hasn’t just been a rewarding experience professionally, but personally.

I made a commitment in February to be completely transparent on Facebook, Twitter and through this WordPress site that they call a blog. This is what I did:

• I cleaned up my Facebook page (would Nana be ok with seeing this? No. Delete)
• I made my Facebook profile public
• I made my Twitter public
• I accepted anyone and everyone that added me
• I developed content, which offered VALUE to others (this is the big one, this is a whole different blog post)
• I shared my hobbies, passions, interests…I shared my life
• I was transparent. What’s the big secret, anyway?
• I blogged my heart out.

It was uncomfortable at first. So many people have a fear of opening up on the Internet (whether it be personally or for their business), and I completely understand. If you open up those gates, you are opening up a huge opportunity for people to: hate, judge, copy, spy, intrude, embarrass, harass… all that Jerry Springer shit. But, it’s controllable. Now that I have opened up myself to all of this criticism, I wonder why I didn’t do it years ago. I have made more friends, created more connections and have fully exploited my voice more in the past 7 months than I have in my whole 27 years on this earth.

My journey is really just getting started and I am thrilled to share my adventure as an eMarketing Coordinator for the Dolan Automotive Group. I am going to start sharing my experiences out in the “real world” as a social media professional, and my experience as the voice of a big business in a small town. I have figured out what works for me in terms of personal branding. Now, I get to step up to the plate and see how “human” we can make a business. Also, I will be sharing some of my blog posts from Dolan Auto Group’s blog, as I will be continuing my journey experiencing the Biggest Little City.

What’s your personal brand? How are you marketing yourself online? What does your digital footprint say about you? Don’t ignore it, because I promise you- others aren’t.

Social Media and Tragedy

This blog post is way off of what I typically blog about. I usually veer away from blasting my personal opinions and I keep it semi-factual…But, this is also my blog and the beauty of this whole thing is that I get to do whatever the hell I want on here. I believe in the power of social media, and since I have become a proprietor of the subject, all things involving social grab at me.  This particular topic tugs at my heart as well as everyone else’s I am sure. In lieu of the event which took place in Aurora, CO, this morning- social media had an eerie role and I had to acknowledge. There are 12 people that didn’t get to watch the sunrise yesterday. This post isn’t about the “Batman Massacre,” but it’s about the incredible digital footprints that have been left behind by the victims. My sister text messaged me Friday morning and told me to go on Twitter and look for @jessicaredfield. I did. I have once again been inspired.

Tragedy strikes everyday, some stories we hear, some stories we don’t. This particular tragedy made national headlines as it was the “deadliest attack in Colorado since Columbine, in 1999″ (which, by the way- that wasn’t that long ago, I might feel a tad better if happened in 1699 or how about not at all). This whole “tragedy-strikes-again” is starting to feel a little redundant. We all know the drill. Media has the whole routine down, everyone knows what to say, the President will make a statement and visit the town, there will be a candlelight vigil the following evening… I’m not judging anyone at all but, it’s disgusting and saddening that our nation has this all down to a science. I hate it, but that’s how it is. The first words that came out of my mouth this morning when my roommate told me what happened were, “And then did the killer shoot himself?” Well, cause that seems to be the trend lately. We are so used to this now.

News of the massacre traveled like lightening via social media. Victims were tweeting as the gunman unleashed his fury on a sold-out movie theater. Unreal. I can’t wrap my brain around how instantaneous the news travels. Because of social media, the term “real time” has taken on a whole new meaning. Twitter’s instantaneous updates have created a whole different dynamic to major events, especially when tragedy strikes. If you Tweet, check out the trending topics #RIPJessica and #RIPAlexSullivan, see how the Twitter community is coming together to honor these fellow “tweeters.” @sully_2003 (Alex Sullivan) was celebrating his 27th birthday.

Sports journalist and social media enthusiast, Jessica Ghawi (@jessicaredfield), “Yankee born, Texas raised, and Colorado blooming,” was one of the victims. She tweeted right before the movie started, and that was her last interaction with Twitter world.  Jessica was a blogger, her last blog was about her near-to-death experience during the Toronto Eaton Centre’s shootings in June. Yeah, she was there…and she wrote about it.

 “I can’t get this odd feeling out of my chest. This empty, almost sickening feeling won’t go away. I noticed this feeling when I was in the Eaton Center in Toronto just seconds before someone opened fire in the food court. An odd feeling which led me to go outside and unknowingly out of harm‘s way. It’s hard for me to wrap my mind around how a weird feeling saved me from being in the middle of a deadly shooting…”

I didn’t know her. But she was one hell of a journalist, and the world has been robbed of a beautiful and intelligent mind. Jessica’s blog has finally gone viral and has been shared over 14k times as of Friday via Facebook and Twitter. Consider it shared one more time today.

The victims…what happens to their digital footprints? Yes, can their loved ones delete evidence of existence? Yup. But often, they will live on. And I love that. Their writings, thoughts, feelings, pictures, memories, friends, and family…will have a place in this big cloud we call the Internet forever. They will remain the way we always remembered them. One of my high school friends died of cancer a couple years ago and his Facebook page is still up. We post on his wall all the time. It’s like he’s still there hangin’ with all of us. It’s an incredible display of continuing love, it’s comforting, and he will always live on.

This is just a side of social media I have never really thought about until now, when I read how many millions of times Jessica’s blog has been shared in less than 24 hours. She’s not here anymore, but her wit, sarcasm, and beautiful writing is still here for everyone to enjoy. Just a thought I wanted to share. My condolences go out to all affected.

“I say all the time that every moment we have to live our life is a blessing. So often I have found myself taking it for granted. Every hug from a family member. Every laugh we share with friends. Even the times of solitude are all blessings. Every second of every day is a gift. After Saturday evening, I know I truly understand how blessed I am for each second I am given.” #RIPJessica

Oh, Hello Voice! There You Are: The Power of a Blog

When it comes to blogging, I am about four months old.  Prior to these four months, I had never even conceived the idea of publishing MY own thoughts and opinions on the World Wide Web. Who cares what I have to say? I had a Facebook, I had a weak LinkedIn profile (this is still debatable), and that’s it. No Twitter to microblog, and no blog. This all changed in February when I was forced to step outside of my box, jump in headfirst, and start cranking out some content on this nifty site they call WordPress. Now, there are a lot…a lot…of bloggers out there.  I just wanted to post something today that reflected my experience, thus far, as a “blogger.” Being exposed to the world of blogging has been one the most empowering experiences of my life.

The anxiety. What am I going to write about? I like to do yoga, I was bartending at the time, a former college athlete…what can I write about that will offer people valuable information? My first 10 blog posts nearly sent me to crazy town. What if people don’t like what I have to say? What if my grammar is terrible? What if no one reads my stuff? Traumatizing. But, I got through it. In three months, I spit out 25 posts, consisting of 18 interviews I had with small business owners in Reno, and produced a 5-minute slideshow of all the businesses I featured. It was stressful, but I now have a voice that I never knew I had. Here’s the video I put together:

Still being fairly new to the blogging world, I have seen results. Doors have been opened for me. I have been offered jobs, I have landed an internship, I started my own business, I have found a new career, I have been asked to speak about my experience, I have reconnected with friends, I have made so many new friends, I have built an invaluable network underneath me, and I may have even gotten a date or two (hey, this is my blog, this is real life). I have met some of the most AMAZING people, and I have seen a side of this town that has just blown me away. The picture to the right is of myself with the talented chef and owner of Campo, Mark Estee. I wouldn’t have experienced any of this, if it weren’t for my blog, if I didn’t position my voice in front of the world. The power of taking thoughts and ideas, creating them into a post, and publishing YOUR voice on the Internet has an insurmountable amount of potential.

We all have information in our minds that will offer value to someone else. I don’t care what it is that you write about. I have witnessed individuals writing about do-it-yourself, self-esteem, tough motivation, “mommy blogs”, quality control…I can go on for days, there is brilliance everywhere. Point is, all of these bloggers are producing groundbreaking content because they are passionate about their topic and they understand that what they are producing is offering value to people. Challenge yourself. Step out of your comfort zone and put your thoughts out there for everyone to enjoy, or hate! I promise you that there is someone out there that cares about what you have to say, and you never know what it could lead to. Is it a lot of work? You betcha’. Does it take time to see results? Ugh, yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely. The power of a blog is insurmountable.

What kind of value can you offer to people? I challenge you.

Burger Who? Burger Me!!

Finally, the burger-goodness of Truckee, Calif. has been introduced to Reno. Burger Me is now located in the Northwest, in a facility that was once occupied by Tahoe Burger. Owners Mark Estee, The Spenella Family (Jim, Debra and son, Jordan), and Tom Farina proudly introduced their burger restaurant to Truckee, Calif during the summer of 2008. The all-natural, all-organic, and locally sourced burger joint was placed in an old garage-style building, which was formerly an organic supermarket. This community-minded restaurant will not compromise on ingredients. Receiving their produce from Habeger Produce, bread from Truckee Sourdough, and meats from Sierra Meat and Seafood, you can taste the freshness of their burgers and fries. It truly makes a difference.

Mark Estee was once the owner of Moody’s in Truckee, Calif and is now the owner of Campo Reno and Burger Me. Mark’s biggest influence with Burger Me is being the “food guru” and managing any major menu and product decisions. The Spenella Family consists of Debra, Jim and son Jordan Spenella. Debra is a real estate agent, Jim has been a general contractor for 35 years, and Jordan is the General Manager of Burger Me, Reno. Jordan was once a prep cook for Mark back in the day at Lone Eagle Grill. Tom Farina was the last partner to join the team and complete the puzzle. Tom is from Chicago, and was formerly the Food and Beverage Director at the South Lake Tahoe Hilton. Tom was excited to escape the corporate world and is now the General Manager of Burger Me, Truckee. This great team’s restaurant was featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, hosted by Guy Fieri in June of 2010.

On September 15, 2011, the doors of Burger Me, Reno opened. Burger Me prides itself on three things: the freshest food possible, being part of the community, and customer service. Burger Me is also assisted by The Abbi Agency for their marketing, public relations and social media. The Abbi Agency has been an integral part of Burger Me’s involvement with the community when it comes to reaching out through social media. For

example, Jim Spenella is assisting Lion and

the Lamb preschool in building a garden for the youngsters to enjoy- the build can be experienced via Facebook.  Pictures of families enjoying a meal together, kids chomping on chicken tenders, and businessmen on their lunch breaks biting into a bison burger is all shared through Facebook and Twitter.

The assistance of The Abbi Agency has allowed Mark, The Spenella’s, and Tom to focus on what they are really good at-running one of the best burger joints in town. Check out their Facebook page for insane pictures of their awesome burgers, and follow them on Twitter to get updated on the latest and greatest of the burger-goodness!

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?

Misty Young, Thrilled to have Squeeze In Involved in the “Sogital Revolution”

“I am a true believer and user of all things Sogital, I think and KNOW this is the phase shift we’ve all been creating, that social media is an important tool in the consciousness changes we’re anticipating, delivering and participating in. It’s awesome because we’re writing history and observing it at the same time; in a way humanity has never known. It’s terribly exciting and fun to be part of the Sogital Age. I dig it.” –Misty Young

Misty Young was born and raised in Southern California; her family lived above their restaurant, The Souper. Misty and her 6 siblings were raised peeling potatoes, washing dishes and mopping floors. Misty never thought in her wildest dreams she would eventually be a restaurant owner. She left CA to attend UNR, where she earned a degree in Social Psychology and Speech Communications. Misty chose a career in politics and public relations. But, something was missing…

The Squeeze In, in Truckee, CA was once owned by Nevada’s former Homeland Security director Jerry Bussell. Bussell passed away in 2010 due to a short battle with kidney cancer. Misty and her husband, Gary Young were very drawn to the atmosphere at The Squeeze.

“It’s a place of love and peace. It was very palpable, and you can just feel the love when you walked through the doors.”

Bussell sold Squeeze to the Young’s in 2003, and before Misty knew it- she returned to her youth and was mopping floors, peeling potatoes, and washing dishes. The first couple years were crazy busy and the Youngs did a tremendous amount themselves, serving, shopping, cleaning up, books, payroll, setting up systems — they needed help! In 2006, Misty and Gary brought their daughter and son-in-law, Shila and Chad Morris, aboard as full business partners. Shila and Chad opened the Northwest location in 2008, and the South location in 2011. Sparks Squeeze In will be open this Summer!

On Facebook, Squeeze has over 4,000 fans. Misty has truly embraced the power of social media marketing and leveraging it to its fullest potential. Misty created the business’s Facebook page in 2008, with little strategic thinking. Soon, many of Squeeze’s customers were on Squeeze’s Facebook talking about them and Misty realized she needed to step up her social media game.

“It was finally clear to me that it was ‘the thing’ to do. Facebook and Twitter are a public means to show people who we are. We are a family business, we have amazing associates, and we love our community. People will pull me aside at the grocery store and ask me how the family is. They aren’t asking cause they know me, they are asking cause they’re a fan on Facebook and they see what we have got! Reno/Tahoe/Sparks, this is our hood.”

In 2009, Misty made it a goal to hit 10,000 Facebook fans, and she is well on her way. She has 2 other ladies helping her keep up with the Facebook and Twitter, beloved daughter Shila and the amazing, talented, diligent, strategic, super cool-Eva Lipson, Communications Manager. It has been a coordinated effort and it has been done in a way that meets diverse needs. Whether you are the type of person who likes to visualize, read, hear, research, or click through links- Squeeze has it covered. Misty has her business on Google+, Flickr, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube. Check this out!

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!

F.A.S.T Looks to Facebook to Help Spread the Word

Jeremiah “JJ” Milan and Carlos Madrid are Reno natives, former UNR athletes and now local business owners. In 2010, Milan and Madrid combined their vision and dreams, which created F.A.S.T Functional Athletic Sports Training. JJ was a football player at Wooster High School; then he represented the Pack at UNR from ’02-’06, and then continued on to play in the NFL with the Raiders, Bears and Colts. Madrid was a baseball player at Reed High school; then represented the Pack at UNR from ’01-’05, and then continued on to play pro ball for various minor league teams including the Reno Silver Sox.

F.A.S.T started in June 2010, training their first few athletes at the WB (a local indoor baseball/softball facility) in the evenings. As the ball really got rolling, F.A.S.T finally opened their own doors in November of 2011 as a full-time business. The once dream is now a reality for JJ and Carlos.

Facebook Numbers:

Likes: 226

Twitter Numbers:

Followers: 72

From the beginning Carlos has been utilizing Facebook to help spread the word of what they’re trying to build. A friend of JJ and Carlos’, Cristy Leck introduced the networking powers of Facebook to the 2 business owners in 2010. Another big contributor was Marissa Milan- JJ’s wife.

“Cristy, Marissa and all of our other clients would mention FAST in each of their posts, they would check-in each time they came in to train and before I knew it- friend requests from people who wanted to just check out what we were doing started to trickle in.”

Facebook and Twitter are convenient and FREE for this young business in terms of marketing- these social platforms are also responsible for 60% of F.A.S.T’s current clientele. Carlos is the main administrator of the facility’s Twitter and Facebook page, and his strategy is to promote as much as possible to his followers and friends. If you check out F.A.S.T’s page you will see YouTube videos (these are great, and often funny) displaying the various workouts one can expect from F.A.S.T’s boot camps. Carlos also constantly promotes and praises his clients for their continuous hard work and dedication.

F.A.S.T caught my attention because they are small business, which started out barely crawling; they were constantly “tweeting” updates and posting videos of what was going on in their building. Carlos was continuously engaging with his Facebook fans and/or clients. Fast-forward 20 months later, they’re up and running in the right direction. I am looking forward to returning to this business in about 6 months to see where they are at! F.A.S.T is looking forward to future growth, and they are taking the necessary steps to get there- especially with social media.

Tweet on boys!

Contact F.A.S.T

“Like” F.A.S.T

Social Media Humbles Mark Estee @ Campo-Reno

Once upon a time there was this restaurant called Moody’s in Truckee, CA. It was run and operated by a gentleman named Mark Estee for 10 years. Mark was more concerned with cooking great food and staying in the kitchen then he was with his reputation out in the public. He admitted that he was younger, maybe naïve, not nearly as polished of a business owner as he is now.

“I always understood the value of public relations and marketing. But I just figured if these people want to come in, they’ll come in. I will cook great food, provide a great atmosphere and people will come in. If they don’t that’s their problem. I did not see a value in truly connecting and interacting with the public especially by using Facebook or any other kind of social media for my business.”

Mark also admitted that social media intimidated him. He didn’t know anything about it, he didn’t want to put the time in, and he feared the negative feedback he would possibly see from opening the social media flood-gates. He was very hesitant and continued to avoid the opportunity.

Fast-forward 10 years, on November 17^th 2011 Mark Estee opens Campo, Reno. When mark was sitting in his bedroom creating his mission statement and business plan, he committed himself to getting involved with social media marketing. His first step was hiring Abbi Whitaker with The Abbi Agency to help provide him with the tools he would need to begin his social media venture. Mark committed to Abbi and this is where the magic began.

The Facebook Numbers:

Likes: 1,395

Twitter Numbers:

Followers: 264

“When I first started I told myself that I CAN NOT be scared, and I knew I just had to jump in. Social media marketing is a whole new playing field.  It is extremely time consuming; you have got to stay on it. It takes time to be yourself and make sure you get in touch with everyone who is taking time out to support your business. I am myself. I am consistent. I can’t reply instantly to every message, I try! But I am human and I am running a business- this is me.”

One of Mark’s fears of social media soon became a reality- a couple complaints on these social media platforms caught his attention.

“I am providing great food, I have built this beautiful restaurant, I had just donated $10k to a charity- but we had one small error on our webpage and it came back to me ten-fold. I remember thinking to myself ‘who even looks at that?’ “

I asked Mark what his strategy is with handling these public complaints:

“I tell my crew that if we don’t make mistakes- we aren’t trying. I am expecting mistakes, and I know I have to deal with the consequences after-even if it is as small as our hours of operation on our website. The nice thing about social media is that I am able to immediately contact these customers directly. I investigate the situation to see what happened on our end and then I will call, email, engage, apologize, listen, and move forward- I will fix it. I won’t discuss the matter on the Web, I will take care of it privately.”

Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Yelp, Open Table, and his personal blog on Campo’s site (which is my personal favorite, check it out) have proved to this restaurant owner that social media marketing DOES have a huge impact on his business. His customers are able to connect directly with Mark as well as help him make changes to be more appealing to his clients, and that is so important to him.

“People can see that I am funny, I am approachable, I am serious about my restaurant, and they can get a feel for our presence. Social media affects my business daily.”

Once upon a time this restaurant owner didn’t believe in the use of social media to help his business grow. Fast forward 10 years (with some help from The Abbi Agency), customers can now enjoy “Minute Mondays” with Mark, where he discusses what Campo will feature this week. Also “Back of the House Fridays” where Mark will introduce a new member of the Campo team to his friends. Where can you view these weekly features you ask? Facebook, where else?