I had the privilege of being a co-presenter with my friend Rosemarie Monaco of Group M at a recent Rockland Business Association Womens Forum. The topic of the day The Basics of Social Media. Our presentation reviewed the very basics of Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, LinkedIn, and YouTube. We reviewed what we consider to be the Top 5 Social Networking sites as they relate to business from a branding and public relations standpoint.


The event was held at the Comfort Inn and Suites in Nanuet, and the room was full of both men and women with a large variation of knowledge in social networking. Our presentation format was conversational and very open to audience interaction. In retrospect, I am not sure that was a great idea, because Rosemarie and I probably only got about halfway through our presentation when it was 5pm and we had to call it a day.


It is amazing to me how many people want desperately to know about social networking, but are apprehensive to dive in. They know that they should get involved in it for the sake of their business, but their instincts tell them to be cautious.


Then there are those of us who have adopted social media as a way of life. It is a part of our every day routine. We take pictures and upload them to our Facebook to share with family and friends. We have renewed friendships with college and high school buddies. We blog regularly about our passion. We tweet words of wisdom. We check out YouTube to stay current on recent events, our favorite celebrities, or the latest scandal. We text. We chat. We download apps. We write on walls.


There is often some fear or hesitation in the unknown, and especially when that unknown often receives such bad press. Fears of identity theft, Facebook scandals, Facebook stalkers, personal information being out there for the world to see. Questions about followers, networks, friends, privacy, comments on blogs, comments on walls ... the list goes on and on.


It is true. Social media can be a bit intimidating. It is a whole new world. But it is also fun. And, for many businesses, it is an essential element for growth and success.


So, I urge everyone who is apprehensive to put aside your fears and just do it. Spend the time necessary to become familiar with the networking sites I have indicated. Find and read blogs on topics that are of interest to you. Comment on the blogs. Get involved in the conversation. And once you become more familiar and comfortable with the process, start a conversation of your own.


Because when it comes right down to it, that’s all social media is. It is a conversation. It is a way to be social and interact on the internet. It is not scary. It’s fun! That is why so many people are doing it.

If you are interested in learning more about Social Media as it relates to your business, contact me at Insight@BBGGadv.com


By the way, if this blog seems very formal today, it is because it is being very finicky and has decided it does not like apostrophes. So I have been forced to remove them in an effort to remove html jibberish. If I have missed any, I apologize!


June Bisel is a founding partner at BBG&G Advertising and Public Relations in Middletown, New York. Follow her on Twitter

Labels: Hudson Valley, rockland business association, social media, social networking, womens forum

Many people still do not know what Twitter will do for online marketing in the future. Whether it will be a powerful online marketing tool, or become a passing fad, has yet to be realized.

There seems to be a divide between ad-folk and the average consumer over the future of Twitter. Advertising insiders are more likely to think that Twitter can amount to something big, while 70% of consumers surveyed said that they didn't even know enough about Twitter to predict how effective it can be. So that begs the question: How useful can an online medium be if 70% of consumers don't even know what it is?

Twitter is still very young, and there is the ever-present generational divide of the internet that must also be accounted for. Twitter is used and recognized most by younger audiences and 1 in 5 advertising professionals think it will stay that way. Even among industry professionals, those under 50 had the most faith that Twitter would grow quickly within the next 5 years.

If your tweets can be interesting and useful to others, I believe that Twitter has a future in the online world. If you are considering using Twitter as part of your marketing, remember that its usage is highest among younger age groups, so craft your tweets accordingly but make sure you don't talk down to this audience.

I twitter. Do you? Click on the link below to see my twitter page.

June Bisel
BBG&G Advertising, Inc.
junebisel@bbggadv.com
845-695-1880
Visit us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/BBGGadv
BBGGadv.com

Labels: advertising to teenagers, internet, internet marketing, marketing advice, marketing social network marketing web 2.0, relevant advertising, social media, twitter

There is a wave of social media marketing coming from colleges and universities seeking to market to teens. College marketing through social networking and other online media platforms is a great fit to the developing social marketing landscape. Teens spend a reported 31 hours per week online. They are active users of online media, downloading podcasts, reading blogs, and Twittering, Facebooking and Googling.

Colleges are already using social networking to communicate with and recruit high school seniors. Still, the question remains of how colleges will engage this hyperactive teenage market. Teenagers are hip to marketers' usual games. They expect to get letters in the mail. They expect emails. They expect banner ads. College bound teenagers will be receptive to colleges and universities who use the digital space in conjunction with traditional recruitment platforms to connect with them.

This means that using radio, TV, and direct mail are not obsolete, but integrating them with a smart digital engagement will bring the best ROI for recruiting colleges and universities. An online presence that really grabs teenagers attention and engages them will make your institution stand out from competing colleges.

June Bisel
BBG&G Advertising and Public Relations
Visit me on Twitter
845-291-7399
Insight@bbggadv.com

Labels: advertising to teenagers, college recruiting, internet marketing, social media

During this recession, consumers have been holding off on large, expensive remodeling projects in favor of smaller projects that add personal touches to their living spaces. I discussed this trend in a March post, and since then, I have found some very cool blogs where people show off some of their home renovations, share inspirations, and provide how-to's online.

The first post that stopped me in my tracks was a project that I stumbled upon on Designsponge.com. The project was a woman named Lori's painted sun room floor. This was just such a beautiful, fresh take on painting a floor that I had to share it. Most times you see a painted floor, it is done on the outside to bring some color to a boring wooden patio, but this one has made me think twice about the idea of a painted floor.

Some other great sites for great home decorating ideas that I've come across are Remodelista, and http://www.budgetdesigner.blogspot.com/. Remodelista is a website that I have found great inspirations from. The designs are more upscale, but they provide good ideas that can be emulated on a budget. Budgetdesigner.blogspot.com offers very helpful and insightful advice on making decor renovations on a budget.

I found these sites to be very helpful and inspiring. If your business caters to the home improvement sector, you should be sharing ideas like this. Do you have a web site? Do you have a blog? Do you see where you're missing out? Get on the social media band wagon now. You'll be glad you did.

June Bisel
BBG&G Advertising and Public Relations
Visit me on Twitter
845-291-7399
junebisel@bbggadv.com

Labels: blogging, blogs, home design blogs, home improvements, internet, social media, trends in home improvement

Salons and day spas have always been a great benefactor of word of mouth advertising. Spas become popular when we tell our BFFs about a particular spa. Word of mouth is an incredibly effective marketing tool within this industry.

Typically, hair dressers, nail technicians, and other salon workers are very social by nature. Most people in the business know how important socializing is to their success. Now, salons and day spas need to recognize the strength of socializing online. In a recent survey, 57% of 18 to 24 year olds and 48.5% of 25 to 34 year olds say social media influenced their choice of a hair salon/barber or day spa.

Find fun ways to get into the online discussion. Send clients 'friend requests' on Facebook. Keep in mind, however, that most social media is not for making promotional pitches. Your online friends will quickly begin to ignore you.

Come up with something interesting to talk about on Twitter and offer your clients to follow you. Make sure that your subject matter has legs and can last more than just a few tweets. Post photos of your salon on sites like Photobucket, videos of make-overs on YouTube. Keep clients up to date by uploading photos of different hairstyles that ladies can come in and try. Anything that can be personal to your salon or spa that will keep potential clients interested will help your business.

June Bisel
BBG&G Advertising & Public Relations
SmartStrategies@BBGGadv.com
(845) 695-1880

Labels: facebook, internet marketing, marketing opportunities, social media, technology, twitter, word of mouth