Showing Erica how to use WordPress

Carole Hicks — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:28:24 +0000

Showing Erica that wordpress rocks.

Holding up a Wall

Social Media Starter Package | Ltd Offer | $495 ($800 value)

Carole Hicks — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:54:44 +0000

Engage your customers…create a social media strategy now!

Word of Mouth - Powerful Marketing Channel!

With starting packages beginning at only $495, we will create a social media presence for you but most importantly, we will coach you and your staff on how to maximize and maintain your presence online. Dayton’s top social media consultant, Oh! Social, will coach you to maximize social media results for your business.

Signing up for social media outlets is not enough. You need to have a steady stream of information flowing out and a communication plan for engaging with your customers. We train you and your employees on how to cultivate and maintain your community.

Call 937 620 2320 to take one of the limited spots!

It’s a brave new business world! Join in now! Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, blogs and other sites are the new driving force behind successful, growing companies and vibrant communities. Don’t be left out of the action!

- Have you found yourself saying “My competitor is online and I’m not!”?
- Have you Googled your business name lately?
- Do you know what your customers are saying about you online?
- Have you empowered your customer to spread the word about you online?

You have heard the success stories about social media marketing. You even know some of your top competitors are already there. But you can’t seem to find the time to get started. Don’t let that stop you.
Online in One Month — and for under $500!

Call 937 620 2320 to take one of the limited spots!

Delegate this crucial task to the top Dayton social media expert—Oh! Social. In less than 30 days, Oh! Social can put you in front of your audience, where they congregate: on social media.
Oh! Social’s $495 introductory package includes:

- Initial ½ hour phone or in-person discovery consultation
- Half hour (1/2) strategy consultation
- Create skins and branding for Twitter or Facebook pages
- Announce your social media presence
- Organically grow followers, fans and community advocates
- One (1) hour training and coaching session to empower

Call 937 620 2320 to take one of the limited spots!

Social Media 4 Newbies — Tips for Getting Started

Carole Hicks — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 22:56:53 +0000

1. Determine what your purpose is for being in social media space. (Hint: Wrong answer is “because everyone else is.”)
2. Decide how you are going to measure your progress/success.
3. Begin creation of a Social Media Guidelines document to share with your employees/co-workers.
4. Listen: Spend time googling your company/brand and your competitors. Find out what conversation is going on already. Set up google alerts for your company/brand and your competitors. Set up a generic industry word. For example, if you sell pizza, set up a google alert for the word “pizza”.

5. Decide exact name you will use on Twitter for your company – limit is 15 characters. Use exact name for your Facebook page. Plan this out in advance for brand consistency. For example, Cassanos PIzza is CassanosPizza on Facebook as well as on Twitter.

6. If you are planning to begin with a personal Twitter page, use your real name, all one word with no spaces, underlines or numbers. (There are exceptions, of course, and this may not be an option if your name is taken already.)

SOCIAL MEDIA RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
• Be authentic
• Be kind
• Promote others
• Know that relationship is everything (my first social media mentor Liz Strauss drilled this in my head and she was spot on!)
• Give, give, give, give, give, give…then you may ask someone for a favor (thank you Gary V – author of “Crush It!”)
• Engage
• Offer original, creative and interesting content that adds value for your followers
• Listen and participate

TWITTER
• Sign up.
• Use a close-up photo of your face for your profile. If you use a silly cartoon image or close-up of your eyeball, people will be less likely to follow you back.

• Fill out your profile info fully. Be sure to include URL link to your company or blog.
• Begin tweeting! Don’t worry about being new. We were all new to this once. Fill up the page. The only people who will see what you tweet are those who are “following” you. So, if you have no followers, you are in effect talking to yourself.

• Follow people you already know IRL (in real life).
• Follow @Carole_Hicks
• When you want someone in particular to see your tweet, you must include the @ sign before their Twitter name, or they will not see it. Do not put any punctuation marks before or after the name.

TWITTER TIPS
• You won’t fully understand the value of Twitter until you have a decent “village”. We recommend aiming for 100 followers/following to begin. Having said that, this is NOT about numbers. Anyone can buy followers with software. No one is impressed if you buy 20,000 followers. Build your stream organically (naturally).
• A fast track to gaining followers is to click on @Carole_Hicks followers and follow everyone she follows. Many of them will follow back quickly when they see you are friends with her.
• Promoting others builds social media cred. When someone says something worth repeating, retweet (RT) their post by copying it and including an RT at beginning of post.
• You are allowed 140 characters per post, but if you have info that may be retweeted, only use 130 to allow someone opportunity to RT.
• Use Twitter to drive traffic to your Facebook page or blog. Most URL’s are too lengthy. Use a shortner tool like bit.ly (the website is just bit.ly and does not have a dot com at the end)
• Budget your time. SM can be a time sink.
• Use a free tool like TweetDeck or Hootsuite to manage your tweets and save time.

DO NOT set up auto-responses to new followers or you will receive this from me:

7 Steps to Creating an Online Community

Carole Hicks — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 22:40:31 +0000

Saturday I had the pleasure of teaching a group of students, parents, teachers and faculty from the Miamisburg Christian Academy an introductory session on Social Media. The age range in the group seemed to be about 15 to 50 (plus!). Quite honestly, I didn’t know what I was going in to. I had no idea how many of the group were proficient in social media and how many were novices. I am very comfortable teaching in a corporate environment but this was brand new territory.

CREATING AN ONLINE COMMUNITY — PHASE 1
1. Create a vision. In this case, I pressed them to answer the following question: “What will it look like six months from now if you find yourself very pleased and excited about your social media spaces…what is happening on your Facebook page, your Twitter page…how do you feel about what is happening?” What is your vision for how the online social aspect syncs with the offline social aspect?
2. Make sure you go all the way around the room and get input from the people who are being shy and reserved. Often, they say the most profound things. It was true in this case.
3. Make sure everyone in the group acknowledges who will be the Community Manager. The CM needs help and input, but ultimately they have to drive the ship.
4. Get buy-in from everyone in the group to support and give content to the CM.
5. Be open to the possibility of creating vertical spaces for different age groups or special interests. For example, we went into this thinking about one space on FB, one on Twitter and so on. As the meeting went on, excitement was generated around the idea of creating a uniquely separate space for the students. Why not a special FB page for the Art Department?
6. Walk away. After I saw the excitement levels building, I stepped away and let them talk without me there facilitating (a brilliant move on my part).
7. Give homework and set a date for follow-up. If you don’t establish dates and assignments, the momentum is likely to flatten.

I wish the event had been video-taped. It was electrifying, exciting, energizing. I think the most fun I had was recognizing and revealing that the students are going to be the ones who will rise up and champion the way. I suggested to the parents/teachers/faculty that instead of banishing the use of mobile devices, we have a space during the week — Friday at lunch for example — when we encourage and allow students to text, with guidelines of course. Why not give them a little room to be teenagers. They LOVE to text. Why fight change? Why not work along side them and use technology for good. One person suggested that we create a Facebook page designated JUST for the students. Cheers erupted from the two students who were present.

On the other end of the age spectrum, the adults in the room who were not as comfortable with technology as the younger people were clearly moved and inspired by what they saw and heard. At one point, U! Creative’s President, Ron Campbell, jumped up on a railing and took the photo you see above. Within seconds, it was downloaded and visible in the Facebook stream of one of the attendees. Most of us in social media are used to this kind of happening but it is still a joy to watch the faces of people who are being exposed for the first time.

Stay tuned. Keep an eye on this small, private Christian school. It will truly be interesting to see what they do with the new tools and methods of communication. I see a case study in the making!

MCA on Facebook
MCA on Twitter

Oh! Social has a DREAM! Listen up Business or Brand Owners!

Carole Hicks — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:22:57 +0000

We have a dream…and it’s a BIG one. One day every brand, every company, every business will have a designated Community Manager or a team of managers!

We tell our clients that we highly recommend launching a corporate blog that is updated daily, weekly, or even monthly. We know: It is difficult enough for a business to wrap their arms around how to fit in time to manage a Twitter & Facebook feed…create a two-way conversation with their clients…AND maintain a blog.

Over the past couple of weeks, two local Dayton businesses have said YES to social media and have launched into the social media space. However, good looking logos, having some followers and an occasional industry-related post is NOT enough. You have to appoint someone, or several people to manage these streams almost full-time. This is what the social media expects. It will be interesting to watch and see how well these local Dayton companies rise to the occasion. (They are our clients so we will be cheering them on!) — 252 West Salon & MedSpa AND MyPilatesStudio.

If you happen to visit either of these wonderful places, please be sure to mention you heard about them via social media!

Have you thought about this: Next time a position at your company opens up, include COMMUNICATIONS skills as part of the skills set for the job. Make sure the person is fluent in social media, blogging (make sure they HAVE a blog), Twitter and Facebook. Have they ever hosted a podcast on BlogTalkRadio? Do they host events on LinkedIn and attend social functions? Hint:

We are coming to the conclusion that one day, every company, every entity, every brand will have a community leader or leaders. This person must not only interact and engage with the customers/clients in the community, but they will create communication flow within the company itself.

What do you think?

SOBCon2010 – The People Who Have Made a Difference For Me

Carole Hicks — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 13:14:49 +0000

Let me just lay it all out on the table. I want to attend SOBCon2010 with all my heart. However, being in the start-up phase of owning my own business — Oh! Social — the funds just are not available. So, in the hopes that my entry is chosen and that my trip will be fully funded, I am setting out to write a blog post about people who have made a difference in my life. I am so very blessed with a strong network of support.

Dr. Greg Goffe — Goffe Chiropractic
Less than six months ago, I found out I had breast cancer and had to undergo two surgeries within a 30-day time span. This situation turned my life upside down. The day before I got the first test results telling me I had cancer, I remember visiting my chiropractor, Dr. Goffe, for an adjustment. He asked me if I knew the results yet. I told him I did not know yet and said: Dr. Goffe, if they tell me I have cancer, I am going to completely reinvent my life! I’m going to choose what I eat more carefully, exercise regularly, and eliminate stress…I’m going to start my own company and be my own boss. I’m going to start living fully. Without blinking, he looked straight into my eyes and said, “No matter if you find out you have cancer or not, THAT IS THE LIFESTYLE YOU SHOULD CREATE!” This truth is what I already knew deep inside, but having someone that I trusted and respected say this to me, was just the extra push I needed to take a leap of faith. The very next day I handed in my resignation at my full-time job and began the journey of creating my own business — Oh! Social.

Liz Strauss
Okay, I know what you’re thinking. I’m blowing smoke up Liz’s skirt in hopes that this will somehow sweeten the deal. This is not the case. When people ask me how I got the courage and inspiration to start my own company, I always point back to the day I collided with Liz Strauss on Twitter. When I met her online and began chatting informally with her, I had no idea what a big deal she is/was. I was just a newbie on Twitter and Liz came along side me…told me my voice was unique and valuable…she said she saw something special in me…she warned against trying to be/sound like someone else. To top it all off, she asked if she could feature my blog on HER blog. She believed in me before I started waking up and started believing in myself.

Debba Haupert
Debba is the founder of one of the most successful online communities I am aware of — Girlfriendology.com Debba and I had met and became friends many years ago, before Facebook and Twitter became a thing. We lost touch but found each other again online which has blossomed into a IRL (in real life) friendship again. We traveled to both Blissdom and BlogHer in 2009 and shared hotel rooms and transportation. She has been a powerful influence and mentor. She’s seen me take risks, make mistakes, fall on my face…in summary, like any good girlfriend she has seen the good and the bad but she continues to focus on my better qualities and celebrated those. Everyone needs a Debba in their life.

Daniel Johnson, Jr.
Daniel Johnson is my friend. He is also the founder of New Media Cincinnati — Cincy’s most vibrant and fun social networking group. Last summer I asked Dan if he would mind if I started a group here in Dayton called New Media Dayton and pattern it after his group. Dan is very big-hearted and kind, and of course said yes. He has been such a wonderful encourager and supporter of my group launch. Thanks to his stepping out and creating community in Cincy, I’ve replicated this model in Dayton and our group is growing and blossoming which is really helping the Dayton social media community to come alive!

And, last but SO NOT LEAST…the many, many people who I’ve met at conferences this past year: Blissdom, BlogHer and SummitUp. Here are pics of a few of the many people who have fed into my life and encouraged me to live life to the fullest!

Twitter Basics — What is a Hashtag Campaign?

Carole Hicks — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 21:49:01 +0000

To: New Media Dayton – Thank You Letter

Carole Hicks — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:56:12 +0000

Carole,

I just want to thank you and all of the wonderful people in the New Media Dayton community for providing the clothing that we just delivered to the Dayton Gospel Mission through your Pajama Drama. You absolutely made a difference in some needy lives. I sincerely appreciate the synergy of combing your efforts with our Thanks for Giving program to make a very special delivery downtown this week.

I have posted a quick note and video with some pictures of the mission on my FB page. Thank again giving to our community, and Merry Christmas to all!!

http://www.facebook.com/DrGoffe

Dr. Gregory A. Goffe
“From Pain Relief to Wellness Care”
www.DrGoffe.com
www.Facebook.com/DrGoffe
www.Twitter.com/DrGoffe

New Media Dayton Gives Back – “Pajama Drama” Project

Carole Hicks — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:04:01 +0000

New Media Dayton launched last Saturday with a meetup at The Pub (at The Greene). Overwhelmingly and enthusiastically, it was decided that while it is all well and good (and FUN) to have get-togethers to share info and network…we really need to find a way to harness the power (the gift!) of social media and give back to our community. (Huge thanks to Leigh Caraciolli for putting into words what has been brewing into many of our hearts!)

I woke up the next morning wondering how to bring this idea into being. Ideas are a dime a dozen, but making them a reality is a different story! I wanted to find a project we could jump into that already had legs and not try to invent something new…in other words, find a worthwhile community project that was already established.

Later that day I found myself at the chiropractor — Dr. Goffe — in Centerville, looking at a flyer on his wall that said “Thanks for Giving to our Community…Dayton Gospel MIssion is in need of the following items…” and I thought PERFECT! I told Dr. G that New Media Dayton is looking for a project to jump into for Thanksgiving holiday time and he volunteered to let us join in on the drive and use his office as a drop-off point. Another reason this seemed perfect to me is that years ago I visited the DG Mission and wanted to find a way to get involved but ended up being pulled in another direction. This downtown Dayton Mission has been around for a long time and is a light in our community.

Allison showing pajamas purchased at Target

A couple of years ago, Chaplain Ken gave me a tour of the soup kitchen and the warehouse where they store food to give out. They have been hit especially hard this year with needs from families and children as our economy shifts and the cost of food only goes up and jobs have been harder and harder to come by. (Besides food, they also give new hats, gloves, pajamas and other items to families in need.)

So here’s where YOU come in. I challenge you to round up support from your co-workers, your family and/or your church community to round up as many BRAND NEW PAJAMAS FOR CHILDREN — I’m calling it “Pajama Drama”. (Click here to read the story behind the project.) Using social media tools round up as much drama and support to amaze and encourage Dayton Gospel Mission with NEW PAJAMAS.

WHEN: December 10th is deadline for collection of pajamas.

WHERE (several options):
(1) Drop off during business hours at Goffe Chiropractic Center, 387 Regency Ridge Dr., Dayton 45459
(2) Bring with you to the Dayton Connect Happy Hour at Madison’s on Thurs/Dec 3rd at 5:30 PM
(3) Drop off during business hours at Lucid Salon — 35 E. Mulberry, Lebanon

Note: Contact me if you want to volunteer your place of business for a drop off location.

WHAT: Brand new (not used!) childrens’ pajamas for kids ages 1 through 16.

If you have ideas on how to make this project even better, please let me know. Please be creative! Use all your social media skills and tools to make this a success. I can’t do this myself…and I don’t want to! Come on and shine…make this first give-back project AWESOME!

New Media Dayton -- Thanks for Giving!

Robin Gentry McGee dropping off warm, new pj's at Goffe Chiropractic

New Media Dayton Event 11/14/09 – My Two Cents

Carole Hicks — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:34:12 +0000

HUGE THANK YOU TO Paula Ivins — owner of Lucid Salon in Lebanon, Ohio — for sponsoring the event! Also huge thanks to The Beavercreek Pub at The Greene — you made us feel welcome and treated us like British royalty. You rock!

I don’t have a head-count yet, but the group of people that attended last night’s New Media Dayton event at The Beavercreek Pub filled up the patio room. I was shocked. You know how sometimes you plan something but you don’t really know until the event takes place if anyone will actually come. To see all photos from event, view Flickr photo stream located on the right-hand side of this page. Go to my Twitter page and view “NewMediaDayton-IRL” list to view complete list of people who attended (who are on Twitter).

New Media Dayton 2009 packs the patio room at The Pub / The Greene

Why was the turnout so spectacular? I think the reason is a word we use a lot in the advertising/marketing world — BUZZ. There was a lot of buzz leading up to the event. The base of the buzz has been going for two years now, started by Community Manager & Leader for New Media Cincinnati — Daniel Johnson, Jr. This awesome, humble guy has been selflessly dedicated to community building for two solid years. As someone who likes to chase “shiny things” I am in awe of him for sticking with this, all this time WITHOUT PAY. Someone really ought to hire this guy! Any company looking to get involved in social media needs to start with a Community Manager and this guy is doing a bang up job. (Climbing down off soap box now.)

Secondly, the people of Dayton who are the power-players in Social Media — Chris Celek, Gina Kay, Duane Myers, Jeff Zaret — all enthusiastically promoted the event and never once did I hear any of them ask “what’s in it for me”. All of them “get” it. People like Kelley Tibbs, Mike Cornett and Bryan Suddith gave selflessly of their time to meet/talk and help plan beforehand.

Bryan Suddith (Guest Host) and Jeff Zaret

I’m hearing lots of great feedback…people telling me what a great time they had…telling me that they felt it was a huge success. I’m super pleased myself and I’m so encouraged by the sheer number of people and the fact that people I admire and adore (but haven’t met IRL until last night) showed up — Amanda Hite, Leigh Caraciolli and Nicole Walls. When they walked in the room they lit up the place!

Amanda Hite, Leigh Caraciolli, me and Nicole Walls

Take-aways:

- What can we do to include more variety of people…more hipsters…people living in urban areas…people of all ages and backgrounds? Thanks to PreppyDude for bringing this up. (Would changing up location help or is keeping location static going to create consistency?)

- What are we doing to help our community? Leigh Caraciolli (FleurDeLeigh) spoke to this beautifully. So we get together and have a good time and congratulate each other and toss a drink back but what are we doing with this gift to give back?!

I’ve saved the “what went wrong” and “what I’ve learned for next time” for last:

1. A huge screw up was the U-stream thing. We were supposed to be streaming live and inviting people via Twitter to watch the event while it took place and we would read their tweets and answer questions live. I COMPLETELY FORGOT. I forgot. I was so caught up in the moment and giddy with excitement that this thing was really happening that I lost track of the technical stuff. Would someone please step forward and take ownership of this important piece?! I am an airhead and a socialite. My strength does not lie in technical stuff, unlike my hero, Daniel Johnson, Jr. Here is link to partial ustream video.

2. Have a full tank of gas in the car BEFORE the event. No one knows this, but as I left my house with NO TIME budgeted for getting gas, I seriously envisioned myself running out of gas on the side of the road on the way to The Pub, explaining to everyone that I had run out of gas. Very mature. That would have been horrifying for my “personal brand”.

3. Sound issues. Make sure we have a microphone that we can pass around that is not a very pricey and delicate, tiny, did I mention EXPENSIVE piece of equipment. I’m sure Mike was having a heart attack as it got handed to people over and over.

4. More sound issues. Dedicate a microphone and amp specifically so the people in the room can hear. It was often hard to hear some soft spoken individuals.

5. Face the camera when I talk. I totally had my back to the camera. Doh!

6. Assign someone to be the go-between to the out-side world. Someone to watch Twitter stream and U-stream comments and bring them to light so that we have interaction with those listening in.

All in all…what an awesome event! Can’t wait to do it again. We’ll take the month of December off. See you second Saturday of January. Same time/place. Be warned ahead of time…if you complain about anything, you will be put in charge of that area to make it better for next time! Ha!