So, earlier this week I mentioned that I was going to give you a great analogy on how social media is just like nurturing your herb garden.  It was chock full of great cliche's and examples...but as I was writing it, I realized it wasn't what I really wanted to talk about.  So, I had a change of plans.

I decided that I would tell you a bit about how I realized the power of social media.  It was a very personal experience and had a great outcome.

It was Spring of 2007.  I was living in a beautiful, peaceful historic district in New Bern, NC.  I purchased the home about 6 months prior.  Neighbors were awesome, lawns manicured beautifully, diversity was welcome, and it was everything you would imagine a historic district to be in a great little southern town.

Directly across the street was the Maola milk plant.  They had been there for 50 years manufacturing and distributing their products, adding to to the income of the town.  There had always been a peaceful relationship with everyone.  Until.

I came home from work one April afternoon to hear a loud noise that I assumed would soon stop.  Several hours went by and neighbors started congregating outside trying to figure out what was going on at the Maola plant across the street.  Hours turned to days...days to weeks...

Turns out, Maola had switched management, and decided to move the trucks that kept the product cold from a docking area that had been designated for that purpose for over 50 years.  It was in an area that far enough from our homes, and we never even knew those trucks existed until they decided to move them 25 feet from our home.

After many failed attempts to meet with the managers and many days of staying at hotels because the noise level was excruciating, I decided to start blogging about it...documenting the noise levels, calling the news outlets, contacting city officials etc.  Whatever I did, I blogged about it.  Video, audio, pictures. 

This blog became a bargaining tool for peace.  That is how I knew that social media was absolutely priceless.  Maola got their big lawyers on the case, and the neighbors rallied. After the blog went public, it became a hub for information, hits on the site went up every day by the hundreds.  Maola executives were monitoring it.  News stations were following it, newspapers referenced it. This blog hit the emotional string on everyone who readi it...whether they agreed with me or Maola. It was laced with passion.  It IS what social media is supposed to do!,

Their executives told me in a meeting that they would meet with the public only if I took down the blog.  I told them that the blog would come down when there was a resolution.

The town meeting happened and after some long fights, and sound experts coming from NCSU to measure the decibel levels (which were at times above 80 inside my house) the end result came.  The offered to build a sound barrier so the neighbors would have their peace back.

I offer to you the said blog.  I hope you can take some time to go read it, watch those videos, look at the pics...  I would love to hear your thoughts.

For a brief sneak peak into the blog "Maola Mayhem...Corporate Bullies" here are two videos that kind of spell out what was going on.  Truth is powerful...recording it is even more powerful.

This was the sound on a "good" day
This was the sound on a "bad" day.

Thanks for reading.  Feel free to utilize the power of social media and share this experience with someone who wants to know how powerful telling two friends can be!!

I would love to hear from you.

How these herbs equate to effective social media marketing...


Have a great day!!!

One of the things to keep in mind as you are posting your video or audio is to find those moments that trigger an emotional response.  Your digital media should be no longer than two minutes (for the most part) and finding a way to captivate and engage your blog visitors is the whole goal, right?

Here is an example of of how video with no words...the right music...and natural elements can capture and make that emotional connection.


Chances are, if you feel some sort of emotion after you have hit play, mission accomplished. 

I love coffee.  I drink way too much coffee. If I could legally marry coffee, I would.

Everyday (sometimes twice) I like to stop and grab a cup of coffee from one of my favorite establishments during a self imposed break.  I have been going there for a really long time because it's convenient and they have what I need...in theory.

Unfortunately, what has been a reliable source for my needs is turning into a place that I am distancing myself from because of horrible service.  There has been 8 times in a row that I have gone in and the coffee is cold and I have to wait for them to make coffee.  As I stated in my previous paragraph, the two reasons I go there are convenience and coffee.  I am getting neither.

How does this scenario relate to social media?  Easy.
I love social media.  I spend way too much time on social media.  If I could marry social media I would.

I have several sources that I consider personal favorites and follow them daily.  And I have found that if I reach out, most people will offer a hand back.  If one of these sources started increasingly dropping off the radar and not delivering my needs, I would have to go somewhere else.  I would keep checking in every now and then, but my attention span is short and I just don't have time to coddle a relationship, be it social networking or otherwise .  Eventually, I would just find a new source.




On that note, I'm grabbing my travel mug, and instead of turning right on New Garden Rd., I will be turning left and heading to another coffee place where I hope the vanilla creamer is stocked and the coffee is hot.  I may have a new source.




Thanks for reading my blog!  Let's connect on  Twitter and Facebook

I've given the old question "what makes you tick?" a makeover.  I think we need to ponder instead, the question "what makes you click?".  In today's world of 140 characters or less, creating an effective message that will create response (whether it's someone sharing your link, discussing it, or clicking it) is crucial for your social media communication.  Here are just a few suggestions to help make those updates "sexier"

• Create catchy headlines - What would make you click a link more:  "Call us for an appointment today. We can take care of all your needs....or...."This roach infestation video is GROSS!  Take a look and then call us...we can help"?  Bring it to life!
• Benchmark!  Create some weekly/daily features that happen at the same time every time. This way you can promote it, post it, and then backsell  it  (ie: "if you missed our interview with The Gummy Bear, here it is again!") and give the link again.  This is a great way to measure what tactics are generating traffic and which ones aren't.   
• Create interactivity.   Anytime you can create enough interest to generate a click, you've done good.  But, don't stop there.  Keep your followers engaged with target appropriate videos, audio, pictures, polls etc.  

All of that being said, I have decided to create a new feature on the Social Glue blog called "5 in 1", where I will interview a social media expert (via audio or video) and they will  answer 5 social media questions in 1 minute.   We already have commitments from some well respected social media players.  If you have suggestions for interviews, please shoot me an email.

Thanks for reading my blog!  Feel free to join my networks.  Twitter and Facebook

This topic has been making its way through the social media networks for awhile now, and it's a question that I can relate to on a personal level.

If you don't know what I am talking about, when someone follows you on Twitter, you can utilize a special feature to send a pre-written, direct thank you message, most times soliciting your site or product. Before I get to how I feel about these canned responses, I would like to share how I can equate this to my 20-year radio career.

My background is in radio/radio programming, and about 15 years ago, there came this great invention called "voice-tracking".  It was a way to be on the air without being in the studio!  Just record your tracks ( a typical 4 hours shift could be done in 30 minutes) and you're done.  As a personality, I did not like the idea of trying to fake everyone out...it just seemed to take away from the spontaneous, purity factor.  As a manager, this was an effective way to save money, and I liked it for that reason. And I utilized it.  As a matter of fact, most shows on the radio are now voice-tracked.  You'd be hard-pressed to get an answer on the phone at your favorite radio station between 10a-3p and 7p-5a.  Try it out.

Here is a an example of a not so personable DM:


I, personally, take the time to sift through my new followers on Twitter and Facebook and thank them with a personal note.  I try to do it within 24 hours, because I want to connect quickly and effectively.  And yes, I do promote my blog in my messages.  If I don't promote me, who will?

Yesterday, I had the great opportunity to catch a webinar with two of my favorite social media experts, Jay Baer and Chris Baggot. I try to catch a good webinar at least once a week just as a great refresher, and even a great learning tool from some of the best.

Yesterday's webinar was titled "Should Blogging be the Hub of your Social Media Strategy".  I love a good analogy and Jay and Chris Baggot had one that resonated with me.  The comparison was in essence treating your social media strategy like a wheel.  Choosing which platform is going to be the hub or the wheel, and the other platforms acting as spokes to your networking.


I like to look at is as driving on a major freeway.  You have your main artery that serves as a center point for all of your other destinations.  Let's take the 101 (also known as Ventura Highway)
The freeway is where you decide where you are going, what you're going to do when you get there, etc. Downtown...East LA...wherever you are going, The 101 is your center point.  Just as in traveling traveling the Ventura Highway, you have to choose what avenues are going to best suit your needs in social media, and more importantly what your "101" will be in your strategy. 

So, for Social Glue, our "101" is our blog.  Its the main artery to the other ventricles and and capillaries in our social media marketing.  Thank you for taking time to read!

I would love to hear from you! email me, follow Social Glue on Twitter and Facebook!