Category Archives: News and Events

Living Life as an Adventure

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Team TLC

It’s time I share with y’all about some changes to this here blog.  I have been posting articles, tips and how to information relating to Facebook and other Social Media outlets and mixing in personal posts here and there.  Social Media will no longer be the focus.  There are so many people, experts and gurus writing about this and staying on top of it, I really don’t feel I have anything more to add to that conversation.

Now, don’t get the wrong idea, I WILL still be teaching, speaking about and training business owners how to effectively and efficiently use Social Media Marketing for their business with a heavy emphasis on Facebook.  By nature, I am a “digger”.  I thrive on sleuthing and figuring out all this Social Media jazz.  I will continue to do that, so my clients don’t have to!

Those of you who were here for Social Media tips may want to unsubscribe or remove it from your feed now.  When I feel I’ve got something to add to the conversation, I may throw in a post here and there about Social Media; but primarily this blog is about to open up and share my world with you in the hopes that it inspires those that may need it, motivate those who may want it, help some of us to think different and hopefully give you a good ole hearty laugh sometimes.

In addition, my goal is to take my Communication at Your Fingertips presentation and the Educate n Motivate Bootcamp to schools and conferences across the United States.  In addition, I will spend as much time as possible on the Turning Views Foundation, of which I am the Founder and President.

I will incorporate posts telling my story so as to qualify why one may be inspired or motivated by my and our lives.  This also means you will hear more about my daughter, Lillian Darnell, and my son, Thomas Darnell, and the roller coaster ride of being a Mom to a differently abled child (Lillian).  The thing is the three of us are a team – we call ourselves Team TLC.  We are by no means the perfect little family – how boring would that be anyway! And, yep, there are times when it’s downright not fun in this household!  We are on a journey and are darn well gonna give it our best shot at enjoying every single day and live our lives as an adventure.

I have just recently realized that my little family – Team TLC – is the core and foundation of all that I do. I must care for and nurture myself and my family in order for the structures that I, and we, build to be sound and sturdy.  My family, Team TLC, IS my business.  I hope that y’all stay along for the journey, have FUN with us and share with us too! We gonna have a ball y’all!!

{Press here if ya wanna share this with any of your Facebook Friends y’all or press that little ole like button below if you are so inclined! Thanks!}

The Evolution of Communication

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Have you noticed it?  Have you noticed the way in which we communicate and conduct business has fundamentally shifted?  We are no longer solely communicating with our mouths and voices as a society.  A GREAT majority of us are using technology and social networking sites to communicate, work, conduct business and stay connected.  We, as a society, have shifted our communication style.  It is my belief that this shift has occurred in such a way to literally wrap it’s arms around the segment of our population who communicate with sign language or who cannot articulate in such a way to be understood.  Our communication methods are literally evolving to include more of our society than EVER before.  There are 8 of every 1,000 people in the United States who have some sort of communication disorder.

To fully grasp this just notice throughout your day how often you are communicating using technology via email, texting or social networking sites.  If you still conduct many of your conversations over the phone or face to face, stop and think, “How would I be having this conversation if I did not have the use of my voice or if I could not articulate what I’m trying to say?”  There are options now that weren’t available years ago! I, for one, believe there’s more to what is occurring in our communciation style than meets the eye.  I can’t begin to imagine where this is headed.  What I do know is that this is a GOOD thing for my daughter, Lillian, and those like her.

This is the VERY reason I was driven to create the Turning Views Foundation, the Different iz Good movement and the Gift a Voice Project.  We began a recycling program through which we collect last generation iPhones, iPod Touches and (soon) iPads to be donated to those who communicate with sign language or who cannot articulate.  **Update** We now take ANY used/inactive cell/mobile/smart phones. We also have it set up so that schools, companies, churches, etc can hold a Gift a Voice cell phone recycling drive and pay NO shipping for mailing the phones!

We also just got our first media coverage about the iPhone, iPod and iPad recycling program.  You can read the article at Reno News & Review’s website and The Gift of a Voice in Sparks News Tribune.  Please visit the Different iz Good website if you would like to learn more, see how you can Get Involved, take a look at our Wish List or even browse our Different iz Good store!

Would love to hear your thoughts in the Comments section! Thanks y’all!

Game Players and Business Owners ~ We Need Each Other

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To Us!

About a month ago I wrote a post about Social Networking sites being a waste of time.  I want to elaborate a bit on a piece of that post.

There are those of us who choose to play games on Facebook.  There are those of who choose not to play games on Facebook.  There are those of us who are business owners or entrepreneurs or founders of nonprofits even! There are those of us who are employees or students.

We have a nice balance going on here.  We all need each other! Those of who are networking online, who are business owners, need those of us who are “wasting time” on Facebook and other sites.  If one is approaching social networking properly by adding something to the online space you are occupying, giving value, sharing content and ideas that are useful and helpful then you are needed and liked by those of us who are online socializing, wasting time and/or playing games.

I believe we have a nice balance here. I’m happy there are people online just hangin out! I need them and I hope that I am providing them with some GREAT information! I could, however, do without those darn spammers!! But, I suppose there will always be spoilers and crashers!  Good thing it’s online!

What do you think?  Do we need each other?

Facebook Tip ~ Original Admin Can Be Removed

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Facebook made a change in regards to the original administrator (or creator) of Facebook Pages about two or three months ago.  It’s such a BIG HUGE change, I thought it warranted it’s own post!

Admins Section of FB Page

Business owners and entrepreneurs had been getting caught in some uncomfortable situations before Facebook made this change.  I can’t tell you how much chatter there was online about this problem; not including the number of business owners (or employees of large businesses) who came up and asked me about this whenever I spoke or taught a workshop.

The “old” problem: Whoever created a Facebook Professional (Business) Page (FB Page) was deemed by Facebook as the original creator and original admin for the Page.  Now, that in and of itself sounds innocent enough.  But, if a business had an intern, temporary employee or, as had happened, an employee who later became a {sometimes disgruntled} ex-employee create the FB Page through their personal profile; there was absolutely NO WAY to get them removed and they remained having total control of the FB Page.  This caused a huge headache for businesses.

Fast forward to the change.  The original creator (original admin) of a FB Page CAN be removed and changed. YAY!  This is fantastic news for businesses worried about using an intern, temporary employee, virtual assistant or anyone else for that matter.  Not to mention that FB Pages have become collateral when it comes to selling a business.  One must be able to transfer the valuable FB Page with the sell of a business!  Hoorah Facebook!  Much much much needed change!

CAVEAT!! One must still be very sure and trusting of whomever they assign as an admin of the FB Page as that person now has the power to REMOVE all other admins (including the owner of the FB Page)!

Happy Facebook Page Creatin Y’all!

Different . . . The New Normal

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I wrote a guest post over at “The Beauty Message Challenge” site.  Thought y’all might enjoy it!

It’s OKAY to be different. I’m not talking about being different to stand out, being different to fit in or even being different just to gain attention.  It’s okay to be YOU, the real YOU.

I’m talking about the different that lives within YOU.  It is OKAY to let that shine and to share your uniqueness and your differences with the world.  Let those differences radiate and glow from you.  You and others WILL benefit from it!

It’s taken me nearly 40 years to take this to heart . . . my heart.  I’ve been saying and thinking this since my special angel of a daughter came into my life.  But, it just now hit me that this message needs to be said and felt and lived by the little girl in me who was ALWAYS different and felt like she NEVER fit in.  My 9 year old daughter, Lillian, was born with a chromosome abnormality called 18p-.  This means a piece of the short arm of her chromosome number 18 is deleted.  This has rendered Lillian “different” in many ways from the typical child.  And, the main way this manifests is that she has speech impediments.

One of Lillian’s purposes as my daughter is to use my voice to spread the message to the world that Different is Okay, Different is Beautiful and Different iz Good. In addition, to help me learn this for myself and to accept and be okay with this for myself.  I can look back at all the scenes and times running through my mind and say “It’s Okay.  You were different, you didn’t fit in with the typical crowd, you looked different, your family was different, you were awkward, you weren’t stylish, It’s Okay.” And, it’s OKAY to let that go now.

Lillian is also my daughter to help heal parts of me that I didn’t even realize needed to be healed until this VERY moment.  When I came across the phrase “different is good” from a fellow 18p- Mom about a year and half ago, I asked her at the time if I could use that phrase on t shirts.  {Thanks SM ~ you are a beautiful, smart and amazing Mom to IM.} It has since grown into the slogan for my 501(c)3, Turning Views Foundation.  I had no idea at the time that the reason was also that I needed to heal and tend to some very old wounds for myself.

And, for you reading this, it’s OKAY.  It’s okay to be different.  Let us please never use our differences as an excuse for failure; but instead use our differences as a reason to succeed and for success! Whether those differences are genetic, whether those differences are from disabilities or whether we are just plain different!

Different is Beautiful . . .  Different iz Good . . . Spread the Word Y’all!

Head on over, and check it out!  {I met the co-creator of this Message and this fabulous iPhone Application at the eWomenNetwork Annual Conference which I attended last July 2010 ~ Isabel Rasmussen).

Do I “Confirm” or Do I “Not Now”?

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Facebook Friend Request

Facebook has changed the language when you receive a Friend Request to “Confirm” or “Not Now”.  What is the thought process that goes into sending a Friend Request to someone?

I use Facebook personally and also networking for my business and 501(c)3 Foundation.  I know some people who use it solely for personal reasons and some who use it solely for business reasons.  We’ve got a wide range of how and why people are using Facebook.

Since I use it for business and personal, I am “friends” with people whom I have never met.  Whenever I send a Friend Request to a person that I have never met, I ALWAYS include a message with the friend request letting them know how I know of them or mutual friends or just plain and simple why we should be facebook friends.  Actually, even if I know the person, I include a message.  I believe I’ve only sent out about 1% of request without a personal message included.  If I receive a Friend request from someone I don’t know, I always visit their profile to see whether or not we would be a good fit for becoming facebook friends.

I am curious why people send friend requests to people they don’t know without a personal message included.  Let’s take two scenarios – one to apply to the personal arena and one for business.  First, imagine you are at a wine or beer tasting or socializing over coffee or tea.  You are having a good time, laughing with friends, sharing stories and pictures.  Someone walks over to you and says, “Let’s be Friends”, Let me join your conversation, let me see your pictures; without introducing themselves or without any precursor to “Let’s Be Friends”.  Would you do that in person?  I wouldn’t.  If you wouldn’t do it in person, why do it online? Second, imagine you are at a networking event.  You are listening to what others have to say about themselves and their business, you’re exchanging business cards, you may be talking a bit about personal stuff.  Then, someones walks over and says, “Hi, my name is Jane Doe.  This is what I do and this is why you should buy from me or use my services.  Let me tell you some more about me.”  Would you do this?  I wouldn’t.  I know there are some who do this; but, this isn’t true networking.  True networking involves listening. True networking would be something like, “Hi, my name is Jane Doe.  I see  from your name tag that you do this or I overheard you say you do this, that or the other.”  “I would love to hear a bit more about that because __________ (so and so suggested we connect, I see your connected to so and so whom I do business with, etc).”

Why do (or not do) things online that you would not do (or do) in person?

What do you think?  Do you include a personal message with your Facebook friend requests?  What do you do with friend requests you receive from people you don’t personally know; especially the requests without a message?  I would love to hear your thoughts.  Thanks y’all!

10 Keys to Nonprofit Social Media Marketing Success (Part 2)

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This is the second of a two-part series of “10 Keys to Nonprofit Social Media Marketing Success”.

Let’s review the first 5 Keys to Nonprofit Social Media Marketing Success from last week:

  1. Mission ~ Successes ~ Logo
  2. Social Media Marketing Goals ~ Strategy ~ Content Guide/Editorial Calendar
  3. Google: Places ~ Alerts ~ Trends/Insights ~ Google for Nonprofits
  4. Facebook: Page ~ Cause ~ Engagement
  5. Twitter:  Search ~ Texting ~ Hashtags

So, what’s the next key? Creating some buzz for those GREAT events all you nonprofits put together!

#6:  Buzz-worthy Events:  Event Pages ~ Twitter ~ Live Video Stream ~ Photo Gallery

There are several Event Management sites that are feature rich.  Eventbrite even has a nonprofit program.  These sites can take payment for you AND they integrate with social networking sites so that supporters can “share” with their community that they will be attending your event.

Twitter can be used to create scavenger hunts and/or contests leading up to the event.  As well as during the event.  Live video stream will create buzz during an event and setting up a photo gallery on a site like Flickr after the event can create buzz for the next event.

#7:  YouTube:  Nonprofit Program ~ Call to Action ~ Video Volunteers

YouTube has a nonprofit program available that gives access to a feature rich YouTube channel for your nonprofit.  You have the ability to overlay a call to action to your organization’s video.  Also, available to nonprofits are video volunteers.  If you qualify and participate in this program you will be paired with an experienced individual to assist with video creation.

#8:  Blogging:  WordPress ~ Engage ~ Expert ~ Ease of Use

WordPress is my choice and favorite for blogging (and for a website for that matter).  Your blog gives you another layer and venue to connect and engage with your supporters.

Since you are in complete control over the length of your blog posts you use your blog when you have more to share than will fit or work on social networking sties.  Your blog is THE place to establish your organization’s expertise in regards to your cause.   WordPress is user friendly and after a slight learning curve is very easy to use.

#9:  Focus: Engaging ~ Connecting ~ Creating ~ Building

Don’t lose your focus by getting caught up in the Followers, Likers, Connections count.  There are also a GREAT deal of distractions when online and on social networking sites.  If it helps create a poster to hang on the wall with your Mission and Social Media Goals as a reminder that you are there to engage, connect, create content and grow your supporters.

#10:  Analyze:  Analytics ~ Comments ~Likes ~ Shares

How will you know your Social Media Marketing efforts are working if you don’t take the time to analyze.  Install Google Analytics to your website so you track the amount and origination of traffic to your website.  Review how many comments and “likes” you are getting and on which types of posts and how many times and what type of information are your connections sharing or retweeting?

Whew! Now you’re thinking that I’m absolutely bonkers as there’s no way in heck you have the time to do all of this.  Remember that none of this is set in stone.  Use this as a generic blueprint to guide your organization to Social Media Marketing Success.  And, don’t forget this, “I choose to make the time to build our organizations brand, gain support for our cause and market our organization online.”

What are your thoughts? I would love to hear some success stories.  Please share if you have the “time” . . . .

10 Keys to Nonprofit Social Media Marketing Success (Part 1)

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Are you suffering from Social Media overload? Tired of the same old line, “Your nonprofit should be doing this!”?  If so, let’s move past all that right NOW! This article will give you a blueprint from which to build your organization’s Social Media Marketing Success.

But first, let’s clear some dust before we begin piecing together our blueprint.

The Dust ~ Are Our Supporters Looking For Our Organization on Social Networking Sites?  And, I Don’t Have Time For This!

The majority of people on social networking sites are NOT there to find places to spend or donate their money.  They are there to socialize.  It just so happens that we users of social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and blogging DO end up finding causes, products and services to which and to whom we want to give our money.

It’s not simply one or two people engaging with one or two other people.  It’s family members, experts and influential people talking together from all over the world out on the wide open world wide web!  These people trust one another and “see” when one of the others is supporting a cause, service or product.

That’s not to say that there are times when people specifically go online looking for your organization.  Most likely, they will use a search engine, like Google.  So, when supporters DO go online looking for you, you want to “SHOW” up!! Participating in the conversation on social networking sites has the added benefit of helping your organization to show up more in search engine results.

I am absolutely empathetic to the “I don’t have the time to maintain all these sites” statement.  Let’s change that statement a bit and say, “I make the time to build our organizations brand, gain support for our cause and market our organization online.” In the nonprofit setting, having a presence, engaging and sharing on social networking sites IS a marketing tool.

Let’s look at this for what it is.  As fundraising professionals and nonprofits our INTENT for being on these sites is “To Increase Donations and Support”.  There, we’ve said it.  Now, my suggestion is to reprogram our thinking on this and NOT think of our intent.  Think, plan and strategize with the GOAL of Building Relationships, Giving and Trust.

So how do we even begin to know where to start?  It all starts BEFORE creating and setting up even ONE social networking profile!

This is the first of a two-part series of “10 Keys to Nonprofit Social Media Marketing Success”.

#1:  Mission ~ Successes ~ Logo

Does your organization have a clearly defined mission?  What are the main goals of your nonprofit?  This must be determined, be solid and sound, and be embraced by your organization as it is THE first and main key before drafting the rest of your Social Media blueprint.

Do you have success stories to share and do you have permission to share them?  Your supporters and potential supporters want to see real life examples of the good that your nonprofit has accomplished.

Do you have your logo and the look and feel of your organization prepared?  This will be carried into all aspects of your online presence and your social networking sites.

#2: Social Media Marketing Goals ~ Strategy ~ Content Guide/Editorial Calendar

The social media marketing goals for XYZ Foundation are _________.  Each organization will have different goals for participating on social networking sites.  You will have a much easier time and see better results if you take the time to determine your goals before jumping into this.

Having the strategy well thought out and planned is a must.  Otherwise, it’s like throwing a handful of darts at a target and hoping some of them hits the mark!  Who in your organization will be responsible for maintaining, responding and interacting with your connections?  What’s their level of understanding regarding technology?  Have they been briefed on etiquette in regards to engaging, having conversations and customer service out in the OPEN?

The difference between approaching social media marketing with or without a  content and editorial guide is like the difference between night and day.  Have a plan for where your organization will get content and a system for how often and how much gets posted to your social networking sites.

#3:  Google: Places ~ Alerts ~Trends/Insights ~ Google for Nonprofits

Google has an entire section devoted to nonprofits ~ Google Nonprofits. Make sure to check this out and determine if any of their offerings is a right fit for your organization.  If your nonprofit has a physical location, create a Google Places account (or claim it if it’s already listed).

Create Google Alerts for your name, your organization’s name and any other relevant keywords.  Google Trends and Google Insights are used for keyword research. You need to know what people are searching for in regards to your cause so that you can build some of your updates and blog posts around those keywords.

#4:  Facebook:  Page ~ Cause ~ Engagement

Create a Facebook Page for your organization. Put a great deal of thought into who creates the account for you as the Page is tied to the original creator (original administrator) and CANNOT be changed.  You do not want an intern, temporary volunteer or an employee whose time is limited to create the Page.

Facebook created the Causes Application specifically for nonprofits.  This is a perfect way for your supporters to help spread the word about your cause as they can share it with their friends and post the Cause Badge to their personal profile.

Your Facebook Page is a venue to connect, engage, converse and share with your supporters.  Make sure to do that.  If someone takes the time to comment on the Page Wall or share a photo or video on the Wall, respond to their comment or shared information.

#5:  Twitter:  Search ~ Texting ~ Hashtags

Twitter is highly overlooked as a phenomenal research tool.  When using Twitter in conjunction with a website such as Hootsuite you can create columns for specific search terms and keywords.  You also want to use this feature for brand monitoring.  Create columns monitoring the mention of your name and organization.

Donating through text messagesin conjunction with Twitter has proven highly effective.  Twitter’s hashtag feature (and go here for more hashtag information) can be used with a fundraising campaign and with events to track the “conversation”.

Next 5 keys coming your way in a few days.  Until then, remember this, “I make the time to build our organizations brand, gain support for our cause and market our organization online.”

(Go HERE for Part 2 ~ Thanks y’all!)

You Can’t Sell That on Facebook

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I was recently teaching a Facebook Workshop for a group of fabulous realtors.  One of the participants asked me the same question 3 times (just worded a bit differently).  Her question . . . “How do you know people are going on Facebook looking to buy real estate” and then “You mean people are using Facebook to search for real estate”?

My answer to her each time was this . . . “No, absolutely not!  People are not on Facebook or any Social Media or Social Networking sites (Twitter, YouTube) to buy ANYTHING; much less real estate!!”

Are there business owners and entrepreneurs out there that think this about their product or whatever it is they sell??  Oh my goodness!  I hope not! You will be much much disappointed in Social Media if you jump into these Networks with that frame of mind.  We must absolutely turn this thinking upside down, throw it in the garbage, jump up and down, stand on your head, whatever it takes to get those thoughts outta there!!

People (and potential clients & consumers ARE people) are NOT using these online networks and hanging out in these online sites to buy stuff.  They are there connecting, engaging, researching, having fun, being influencers and collaborating like you wouldn’t believe!!

Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, YouTube are networking sites that assist you in establishing yourself as an expert in your industry.  These are NOT a broadcasting tool.  They are not a one way street! These are two way streets!!  If you want to broadcast about what you sell or your service, you most likely want to look at traditional advertising methods ~ radio, television, print ads, billboards ~ these are all ONE way venues!

I would suggest that as business owners our goal on these sites is not to sell anything (that may be our ultimate intent; but can’t be our goal).  We are there to connect, engage & converse with potential clients (or referrals) and to build our community!  How do you do this . . . .

Think what you know how to think, Say what you know how to say and Do what you know how to do!  Earn the attention of those you are attempting to “hang out” with.  But, don’t stop there, you must then earn their Trust.  You wouldn’t want to abuse the privilege of earning someone’s attention by then broadcasting over and over and over and over what you sell or the service you provide.  Give people Awesome-Not-To-Be-Missed Content and Interaction and you will be well on your way . . .

I’m just sayin . . . Do you have any thoughts to share?

Facebook Fan Page and Non Profits

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I was recently asked for my two cents worth on developing a Facebook fan base and getting the word out about an upcoming event for a non profit.

This cannot be viewed any differently then growing one’s fan base for a for profit business.  The same rules apply.  You have very different content and material to work with; but you still must give people a reason to become a fan and allow the Page’s status updates into their News Feed.

Depending on the non profit, it may be easier growing the fan base.  People feel good about and love supporting others who are doing good!!  I would say you definitely want to include in the content of the page real stories of real people being helped (or whatever applies to the non profit) so that fans can see the good the group can and does make happen.  The non profit would want to steer clear of having the Facebook Page only be a place to continually ask for donations.  That should be a part of the page, but, should not overwhelm the page.  Ask fans to share their stories on the Wall or using the Discussions tab.  Get creative in thinking of how to boost fan engagement just as a for profit has to be creative.  The more fans are interacting with the page the more it will grow organically through viral methods.

The non profit should make use of the “Causes Application” on Facebook also.  Fans can post this on their personal Facebook  Profile.  Another great one for growing through the viral method.  Donations can be accepted through the application, too.

As for the upcoming event, I would make use of all local online calendars, Facebook event, Eventbrite.com and online local forums.  Make sure the Facebook Page is mentioned in EVERY marketing & PR venue.  Make sure the Facebook Page address is included in all print materials about the non profit.  Don’t forget to let potential fans know WHY they would want to become a fan.

Once the Facebook Page is created (and this goes for ANY Facebook Page), the administrator of the page might do well to exercise good etiquette when it comes to “Suggesting” or “Sharing” the page with their Facebook friends.  I will leave this up to your judgment ~ just think about the times you have gotten a Page suggestion from someone for the same Page about every 2 days.  Let’s not be in such a hurry and risk losing some Fans. I’m just sayin’ ~

What do y’all think?  Have any additional thoughts or questions?  Would love for you to comment or post them on my Facebook Fan Page Wall & I will answer them.  I also share tons of tips, articles and how to videos.  Come on over and Become a Fan (click here)!!