Why Use Social Networking?

I made a fun, short little video for my website (www.MarketingMakesMeSmile.com) and wanted to share it.

By the way, are you using YouTube to promote your business? Your competition is! Ask me for some tips or stay tuned to this blog and my YouTube channel for more to come.

Enjoy!

Twitter Tip Of The Day - Your Bio

Check out these easy tips on how to create a bio that gets people to read it and most importantly - remember you. Want an example? Check out: www.twitter.com/keri_mellott

For more info on using Social Media for your business, jump over to www.MarketingMakesMeSmile.com and sign up for more FREE and easy tips!

Twitter Exec Goes to Iraq

Interesting article. A handful of Social Media execs are traveling to Iraq. Your thoughts on bringing Social Media into Iraq to help them grow as a country? The main objectives are to "build upon anti-corruption efforts, promote critical thinking in the classroom, and scale-up civil society, among other goals."

I'm glad to stay over here and teach people how to use social media instead, thanks. Wow. That could be an intense job that would definitely take my "Smile" out of Marketing! Hope they're safe. I'm blessed and grateful to be typing from the safety of my home, and not in a war zone.

BUT - it is cool how "small" our world is becoming b/c of social media, though, isn't it?

Social Media - giving a loud and powerful voice to anyone who chooses to use it. How are YOU using Social Media?

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/04/21/iraq.twitter.technology/

From Zero to Hero in No Time Flat!

Here's a prime example of how powerful the Internet and viral marketing can be!

Susan Boyle was just a unknown single lady living with her cat, Pebbles, and she has now performed for more than 14 million people (as of this posting) and that's just from this one video channel.

I also love watching this video because it reminds us how we shouldn't judge a book by a cover. Talent comes in all shapes, sizes and ways. Further, NEVER give up on your dreams! Susan had been wishing to sing in front of a large audience since she was 12 years old. A big congratulations and hug goes out to a remarkable 47-yr-old superstar in the making!!

Twitter Founder Speaks

Co-founder/creator of Twitter, Evan Williams, is a genius. He also created this here very blog site, aka Blogger. Smart guy. He talks in this video below about following your hunches and starting side projects (good hunches he had, right?). He helped create the amazing microblogging site that I've been raving about lately, Twitter.

Which side projects are YOU starting on? I believe there's a $100,000 idea inside of everyone.

Evan speaks at TED seminar about how Twitter got started and why:

Twitter Words Defined

DM, #, twitpic, Fail Whale, microblogging, followers...

Wondering what all that Twitter lingo means?

They are very helpful to understand if you want to get the most out of your Twitter experience.

Check out this cool website to get all your answers. Your word not on there? They'll add it! Or you can ask your friendly Social Media Marketing Coach (that's me!) and I'll go to work for ya, too.

Hope this clears up any confusion. Resources are so valuable and cut down on your time and learning curve.

http://twittonary.com/

Tweet, tweet, ya'll!

Building Fans Early

One company that I'm very much impressed with on the Marketing tip, is Apple. Clearly I may be a little biased as I blog this from my new MacBook, but as a loyal fan way BEFORE the cool iPhone came out, I've been watching them build their brand pretty closely for over five years now. And who doesn't love those commercials with the Mac and the nerdy PC guy? Simple, honest, funny. Brilliant.

When I was debating on whether to get a Mac or a PC back in college, it was pretty clear that I would be the outcast from the Communications department if I were to even think about getting anything other than an Apple laptop. All the computer labs had Apples and all the PC-users resided in the Business and Math buildings. I can't tell you how many hours I spent completing homework assignments for my Advertising classes using my awesome white iBook. It was a great computer.

Fast forward to today and as I was visiting the Apple store this morning, I was greeted by a bunch of rowdy little children. So cute! They were all wearing yellow T-shirts (much too big for them) and they were all on the field trip of their lives - the Apple Store. Ok, that might be biased, too, but I know I would have loved it at 6 years old. They were laughing and giggling and chatting excitedly. Everything you would want your potential life-long customers to be doing at a very, very early age. :)

Their teacher was explaining to them how to use iPhoto, a super-easy software program for your pictures that comes on every new Mac. Literally, these little kids were doing it all themselves. (By the way, Mac is short for Macintosh. Which is a kind of apple. Brilliant, right? Branding. Love it.)

If these kids can do it, you can, too! Don't be scared of computers and technology. Embrace it and watch the success come to YOU! It'll be as easy as A-B-C! But don't forget to smile. ;)

My First Video!

I've been so busy helping other people grow their business that I'm just now getting around to promoting mine! Lots of people are asking for my help now, so here's the beginning of a wonderful adventure. I'll be giving FREE advice about how to use all these cool social networking sites.

Check out my YouTube channel "MarketingMadeEasy" and let's have some fun with Social Media Marketing!

Feedback is appreciated (please be gentle!)..haha.

At Last

Finally got my long-time awaited new laptop! I had been using my fantastic white Apple iBook G4 since my college days and although it is still a great computer, it's considered a dinosaur in my eyes for what I'm trying to do online these days. I needed an upgrade. Quick.

As a very loyal person, this also rings true in my computer choices. Once an Apple fan, always an Apple fan. Pretty much. I should buy stock...

Special thanks to my Santa, John, who came through and gave me my early X-mas present so I could get the ball rolling faster. :)

Above: me with my Personal Shopper, Charlie, and my loot! I highly recommend setting up your FREE Personal Shopper program before you go into the store. You can do this online at www.apple.com. It saves you time from waiting and waiting to ask a few questions if it's busy in the store. He even checked us out right there with his mini-cash register!

(This blog is brought to you by my new Macbook. I'm in love.)

Discovering Yourself

Last night I had the wonderful opportunity to meet a fellow Bradley University family member who was looking for some career advice and tips on how to break into the PR/Marketing industry. She is just about to graduate college and head off into this big, bad world of total responsibility and is considering the big move to LA. When her sister (a friend of mine and also a BU alum) contacted me to let me know that her younger sister was going to be in Los Angeles during her spring break and she wanted to meet up with me, I was so flattered. Have I really accomplished enough already to have a mentoree? Wow, apparently so, as I just received a wonderful email from her thanking me for my time and invaluable information that I gave her over dinner last night. We had a great time and I love seeing people go after their dreams.

It was only a few short years ago when this was me. I also took my Spring Break, Senior Year, to come out to Los Angeles for a second trip that year, to make absolute sure that this was where I wanted to start my career. I met with fellow BU alums, too, and picked their brains with my questions. After a resounding, but silent, "Yes!" came to me as I flew back to Illinois, I knew that opportunities would be endless in the the City of Angels. I could not describe the intense feelings of excitement and anticipation (ok, and a little fear!) that I was feeling, but I was ready to conquer the world.

Sacrifice, tears, joy, hard work and darn-near bloodshed have gotten me to where I'm at today, and it's only the beginning. Today I am so empowered to be given the opportunity to make a positive impact in other women's lives. I was born an entrepreneur, and know that it's so important to live your dreams and not just talk about them. I want my story to become one of inspiration and motivation. I believe I'll start writing a book to include all the details because it's no easy feat to be here every day. But as for right now, I'm happy to know that I've helped someone find direction and I look forward to paying it forward again as so many have done before me.

This was the quote at the bottom of her email. How perfect, don't you think?

"You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is yourself." - Alan Alda

You may not have to physically re-locate across the country, but do what you must to fulfill YOUR destiny.