Public Relations Expert offers PR Tips and Communication Advice

Join my publicist, Lisa Elia, and I as we talk about how to incorporate Social Media and Video into your publicity and media campaigns! We'll be "live" via Ustream (which I'm loving, btw...) so you can either watch us on your computer or dial in on the phone.

Join us! Click below for details:

Public Relations Expert offers PR Tips and Communication Advice

HAPPY NEW YEAR! WELCOME 2010....We've been waiting.

What a year, what a year. I'm personally very glad to see 2009 come and go. It's actually felt like 2010 for a few months now as major shifts have taken place in my life both personally and professionally. I've been waiting for 01.01.10 to get here for awhile now and it's here. Ta-da!!!

How was your New Year's Eve? What plans have you made for the first quarter of 2010? Mine include the new launch of my new branding for Marketing Makes Me Smile! Fun new look and logo to debut. Stay tuned. :0)

Brands Using Social Media Marketing

Big brands are finally starting to get it and realize the need to connect with their fans using Social Media.

Not sure if this was the most efficient way, but I was definitely impressed with their effort:

I was shopping at Bath & Body Works yesterday grabbing their awesome day-after-Christmas sales and I just had to capture their credit card machine. Check out the Fan Page advertisement in the video! Very smart, although I would have included the Facebook URL underneath.

They also ran an ad for their text messaging promotion, although I don't believe that will have an an impact at all because the screen flashes too fast to even get a chance to write down or type in a text. Besides, when people are involved in the purchase process, the last thing they are thinking about is stopping that process and whipping out their phone to go find the retailer on Facebook. Especially if there's a line! (Ummm, hello, Christmas season in a mall....)

I was lucky enough to have my sister take care of my credit card purchase while I was able to grab this quick video of the machine next to us. There was a long line and I didn't want to keep them waiting behind us. But I thought it was important to share.

Brands are becoming aware that social media is key in their Marketing efforts.

What other brands have you seen use the credit card machine to advertise?

How are YOU using Social Media Marketing? Leave comments!

@garyvee's #crushit book tour

One of my fav social media experts and all around guy who "gets it." This was taken from my iPhone at a stop on his Crush It! Book Tour. We had just spoken at a conference for women entrepreneurs the week or so before. Good to see him again and good stuff for you to hear going into the new year. For more on him, check out his site: http://www.winelibrarytv.com :0)

How To Use Twitter Lists

Trying to get organized after following more than 100 people? Tada! Twitter comes to the rescue and gives us the ability to separate and organize those really special tweeps into our own custom lists. That way you are getting more targeted responses from people. TIP: Organize people into similar "types" so that your lists become a market research too, too. Birds of a feather usually flock together.

Whether it's your client base and specific target market, or your competition, or your mentors and coaches, Twitter lists gives you the option to keep a closer and more effective eye on them.

Go to http://www.twitter.com/keri_mellott to see some lists that I've created. And if you're an amazing woman I know - let me know to add you to that list if I haven't gotten to you already!

How To Use Twitter - Basics For New Users!

Watch this video if you:

- are using Twitter for your business
- are trying to figure out how/why you can make money using Twitter by inserting links in your tweets
- are new to Twitter
- are confused about hashtags (i.e. - #in2010, #followfriday, etc)
- are totally bored but want to watch me click, talk and teach!

P.S. - Excuse my voice in the video - I think I had a cold at the time. Technology stops for no one!

P.P.S. - More free Social Media Marketing tips are found at http://www.MarketingMakesMeSmile.com :0)

A hiatus, vids and $3,000

Do you think it's true when they say: "Time flies when you're having fun?"

I can NOT believe it's been since Oct that I last blogged here, although I've been having a daily blast micro-blogging over on Twitter. Are we following each other yet? If you tweet funny, valuable or interesting tweets, please let me know how to find you there.

I've also been making quite a few videos which I'll post here and share from my YouTube profile.

Since my last post, things have been crazy!! Good crazy (mostly) and myself and my business have taken some quantum leaps on many different levels.

Marketing still makes me smile and I'm smiling more and more and clients send me great feedback and testimonials about the success they are having using Social Media Marketing strategies I teach them. My fav is hearing, "Oh my gosh - this was actually FUN!" after their first phone session with me. Love it.

Stay tuned for cool stories and spotlights showcasing some amazing stuff - like how someone brought in within a few weeks $3,000 in sales using Twitter. Yep. It's true. And you can do it, too!

What's Going On In The Male Brain?!

Ever wondered what goes on inside the male brain???

Me, too. And for us women, it's something that we all long to know about. We know we're wired differently from men, and this comes across all the time - out in public, at home, and even in business. Our relationships with men are important, but sometimes we find ourselves so frustrated, we just don't know what to do. Wouldn't it be nice if someone actually told us WHY and HOW?

I'd like to welcome into your life and circle of friends, Keri Newell and her super cute mom, Dr. Sherie Zander.

I met them this year as part of a women's networking group and I love them. They are dating and relationship coaches who help women get the man they really want, and understand the one they want to keep.

They are giving away a free class, "What's Going On In The Male Brain?!??!" (valued at $149) where you can listen to the mp3 recording. You'll learn things like:


- The Number One cause of misunderstandings between men and women… (This single revelation alone will change your relationships forever!)
-The 3 “Magic Words” all men want to hear… and no, it’s not the three you’re thinking…
-Why men have such a hard time getting in touch with their feelings… And why you wouldn’t want him to…
--and more.

I took this class and learned so much so quickly, that I signed up for their 10-week Teleclass to learn even more. You can still get in on the deal of 50% off, by the way, if you mention you read this blog. Cool!

Click HERE to get access to that free class, "What's Going On in the Male Brain?!" I can't wait to learn more. I'm a SPONGE! Join me.

Meeting Gary Vaynerchuk - A Must on Your To-Do List!

One of the best speakers I've ever seen on stage is hands down, Gary Vaynerchuk, from www.winelibrarytv.com. Although he cusses more than the ordinary sailor, it's "because I get so passionate about what I'm talking about!" he later told us audience members.

We met for the first time this week at an event we were both asked to speak at to talk about Social Media.

Gary is a genius at using social media as a platform to build his business, and is one of the few people who still prefers to do it the "old-fashioned" way - no bots or automation. He spends hours and hours each day connecting with customers and fans online. He's all about the #1 key aspect of using social media the CORRECT way - to build relationships - and I want to acknowledge him for that. Kudos!

It was a real treat to get to see Gary live and in person. His passion for what he does and his unbelievable zest for life was so refreshing to see. (I learn a lot about wine. That's helpful, too...lol)

Here we are in the pic above (with the help of my Photoshopped notepad) totally ready to "crushit" in business and in life! Can't wait until his book "Crushit" comes out soon. Whoohoo!!

Are YOU crushing it in your life????

"Made In The Valley" - The Valley Girls Grew Up!

"Like, oh my God!"

"No way!"

"Duh!"

Remember the stereotypical "Valley Girl?" Well, guess what?

The Valley Girls Grew Up! And lots of them now have successful businesses here in the famous San Fernando Valley where the name was given.



Last night at a networking event, I met Gail Lara, owner of "Made In The Valley," a retail website that features exceptional women entrepreneurs who have exceptional products. Each women is featured with her story on how and why she began to create her products and has a section on the website. You can shop online and choose from homemade gourmet chocolates, beautiful handcrafted jewelry, bath and body products and much more. They even include local delivery!

"Made In The Valley" also cares about their community by giving 10% of its proceeds back to a local charity. What a great business! Gail is a super sweet and very caring woman who is on a mission to bring back the emphasis on shopping at your local stores to help them grow. Her motto is "Buy Local. Be Local." It's a great time to remember this concept - and of course, to support your hard-working women entrepreneurs!

Gail has plans to extend the "Made In The Valley" brand to other markets soon, too.

I had a great time chatting with Gail about Marketing and Social Media, and listening to her tell me stories of being in the boardroom of corporate America for 25 years when women weren't really "allowed" to have ideas. (FYI - I'm not sure how I would have survived if that was me. Trying to have me keep my mouth shut when I have great ideas is like taking away my oxygen. Kudos to all the women who hung in there and made the guys look good all those years. You're stronger than me!) It was a great night and I love meeting people who are making a difference.

For more info and to check out the products (I hear the lotion bars are amazing!) go to www.MadeInTheValley.net.