DeDivahDeals

Fashion and Fun after Fifty

Posts Tagged ‘social media’

Can Blogging Break Up a Marriage

You do remember how innocently it all started out.  At first you were just writing a few hobby posts every week no big deal, a time filler just having fun.  Then you started getting followers who began to comment and so you started to take blogging a little more seriously.  Your audience was growing and so was your attention to them…your virtual family and friends.

blogging as a hobby

Perhaps after a few months you started to get the kids involved, asking them to pose and then asking hubby to take pictures of you with them in the store, the park or at the beach.  He reluctantly obliged but never understood why he nor the kids could eat anything that was on the platter before you took a picture trying to capture the perfect “Hero Shot”.  You set the table with fancy utensils, napkins, flowers and props for the blog post telling the family to dish out their meal from the pots sitting on the stove.

france_3

www.travelblog.goaheadtours.com

Then you start doing sponsored posts, sometimes getting a few hundred dollars deposited into your Paypal account or getting free products that the kids could use and free tickets to an event or for a weekend getaway that hubby enjoyed.

You became obsessed with seeking bigger pay days signing up for even more sponsored posts.  You take pictures at sunrise, at sunset, in the rain and snow while on vacation and sometimes even at work.  Selfies are taken in department store dressing rooms and out on the floor, with every purchase becoming part of an OOTD post and using hashtags for even more recognition.  sunset-home-office-working-with-laptop-on-the-garden-picjumbo-com

You’re signing up at even more blogging community sites, submitting pitches for product reviews and adding more and more to your content calendar.  Your photography skills are improving and your posting dates outnumber doctor and dental appointments highlighted on the family’s calendar.  You become more selfish with your time especially if you also have a job outside of the home.

social_fabric_logo

You can’t go anywhere without taking pictures and you began to schedule and attend events only if they are  opportunities for a blog post including the kid’s school field trips.  Leaving your business cards everywhere, on the grocery store and church bulletin boards, on the counters at the local liquor stores and blogging becomes more of an obsession.

sleep apnea

https://www.verywell.com

After homework with the kids and dinner with the family, hubby heads to bed while you toil away on your laptop until the wee hours of the morning.  Your sex life begins to wane because hubby can’t keep his eyes open until all hours of the night as you edit and re-edit the perfect post.

woman working in bed

Every shopping experience turns into an opportunity to promote a new product or service and you are proud to admit that you are a blogger with a major following on all your social media platforms.  An expert in the field either as a Lifestyle Blogger, Foodie Blogger, Travel Blogger or Blogger Blogger.

You are constantly reading Social Media Examiner, other blogs, joining link parties, upping your video game and enjoying every moment of it, however, hubby has been put on the back burner and your relationship is strained.   woman-shopping

He doesn’t understand why you have to attend a blogging event every week and why you can’t just sit and watch television without your Laptop or Smartphone, constantly checking Facebook stats, Twitter and Google Analytics.   checking Facebook and Twitter on an iPad

You want him to understand and you need him to know that blogging has become part of your life and you want him to become a part of it as well…but will he ever?

Are you allowing your virtual life to overtake your real life…and will blogging break up your marriage?


Social Media and YouTube Videos

Two weeks ago on Social Media Sunday with the Delaware Blogger we discussed Social Media and Videos and my special guest was Bryan Shelmon from Anthem Culture who is vlogging his vision on YouTube.

Anthem Culture

I am going to break up this blog post into two separate posts because I want to discuss YouTube and Facebook Live separately, however, you can head over to the Podcast to hear the full version now.

aau teen talk radio promo

YouTube

With an estimated 500 hours worth of video being uploaded to YouTube every minute, in August 2016 alone, videos uploaded to YouTube generated 127 billion views, both organic and paid. THAT’S A LOT OF EYES!

When I first started my YouTube channel I tried to make my videos perfect and trust me they were far from it, but some of you guys watched them and even gave me positive comments so I kept at it – still not perfect but it was fun nevertheless.

YouTube is the second biggest search engine online, and it gives businesses a gigantic platform to gain viewers. Users aren’t satisfied by physical ads or static marketing anymore, they want interactive and engaging material.  Uploading video content, that showcases your businesses views and ideas, gives you the aura of expertise and authority. By uploading videos with tips and strategies, businesses can not only get attention but also provide help and value to customers, which will build respect.

Tips and How-To videos are great ways to develop your company into becoming an expert on the topic. When viewers see the videos, they will recognize you as an expert for providing those tips and advice especially if it was good and that is definitely a win win for everyone.

When I did my first YouTube videos they were created to complement or be a companion to my existing blog, DeDivahDeals but I wanted my followers to see me and it did open up a wider audience.

My second blog, Blogging with Blake is a teaching blog so I basically took what I did in my workshops and put it on video, again widening my audience and making it appear as though I am authority in the field of social media and guess what I am…because here I am now doing Podcasts  – SOCIAL MEDIA SUNDAY WITH THE DELAWARE BLOGGER

Trust me it took a while before I became comfortable in doing them, but the more I ‘taped” the more fun it became

Blogging with Blake Header

YouTube Videos builds credibility and trust – uploading content on YouTube or  Periscope, Meerkat, Vine and Vimeo, businesses are able to give reasons for customers to take a closer look at their services and products.

Credibility comes from information and there is no easier or direct way which will be absorbed more quickly than through video content. 15 seconds of video content can be more engaging and provide more information than an entire page of ads, text or those throwaway flyers you get in the mail – we as humans are very visual creatures with short attention spans – less than that of a Goldfish!

5 tips to make your videos worth watching

youtube-logo

People aren’t going to click on your video to see a boring infomercial or stay to watch it in it’s entirety so…

1 – Create good content and be consistent for your targeted audience.   You want to create a channel which is more than just putting up videos.  Think about your audience where are they in the buying process? Trying to cold-sell to customers and prospects might not work initially because they may not be interested in your  products yet, Most people who find your videos on YouTube are usually in the discovery stage and aren’t ready to commit to a purchase.  They want to check you out first.

2- It’s important to choose keywords that are relevant to people who are looking for new information and to provide video content that educates them based on those keywords. Make sure to use keywords that people are looking for when searching for products, services or tutorials.  Think like the customer.  “How to boil and egg” which is a basic analogy but works.

The goal of your videos should be to search out and find those viewers who are interested in learning more about your products and services. You’ll have an easier time converting website visitors after you’ve warmed them up to your offers.

3 – Your videos should focus on providing video that engages and educates people, but leaves them hanging a little. Use the video to convince them that they need to visit your website to get the information they require or come back for future videos.

End your video by saying something like Please visit my website at blah blah blah.com or for more information” call us at, send an email to or find us on our  social media platforms.

4 – Optimize Your Channel Page to Drive Traffic

Always provide contact information for your company; include links to your website and other social media profiles.  Also make good use of your banner header, where you can insert four clickable links. Be sure to add appropriate calls to action there. Including your request to subscribe – using a statement like, “if this is your first time here, subscribe because…give them a reason for subscribing, give them the value or their subscription.

5 – Give your video a catchy title for the thumbnail and don’t spend a lot on fancy equipment because most people are watching videos at work from their desk with a their smartphone, not some major television production on ABC or CBS.

Remember the opening seconds of video must hook viewer and give them what the title states.  

Are you using YouTube to broaden your brand and expand your business online?

 


Social Media and Small Business

Monday’s blog posts will be recaps of Sunday’s Podcasts, which if you haven’t started following yet, can be found on Blog Talk Radio.   Social Media Sunday with the Delaware Blogger – AAU Teen Talk Radio is on every Sunday at 6 p.m.

aau-radio-with-the-delaware-blogger

 

On October 2nd, my special guest was Nikki Valentine and we talked about the re-launching of her business N.V.Me Designs, click this link to hear the interview. 

Nikki Valentine, owner of N.V. Me Designs

If you are a small business owner who is just starting out and are looking for ways in which to get customers inside your doors if you are brick and mortar or go online to buy a product or service, you do realize that you must have a presence on social media right?

Current and potential customers are literally walking around with your business in their hands.  A few weeks ago, I attended a networking event at the Chase Center on the Riverfront, and everyone there had at least one social media platform in which to connect, most if not all had a Facebook business account which is what we talked about on the Podcast.

Facebook for Business on a smartphone

Social Media is a numbers game, however, it’s not how many you get, but how many you keep and how many of them take action.

FACEBOOK AND SMALL BUSINESS

Facebook now has 4 million advertisers and it’s being powered by more small businesses trying to reach customers, particularly on their mobile devices.

People are spending more time on their phones, more engagement on their phones, doing more things on their phones, because phones can do more. I remember the brick my hubby gave me as an engagement gift, it weighed about 10 lbs and it was attached to the car, then came the bag phone but all it could do was make and receive calls. 

car phones in the 90s

Now mobile phones can do practically anything, conduct searches, give map directions, promote sales, take pictures and record live video.  Businesses are beginning to understand that they need to be where people are, and that’s on their mobile device. 

Setting up a Facebook Business Page is easy but you must have a personal page first, and there are many sites with instructions , I also have a Slideshare presentation that you can download.  Leave a comment below if you would like me to email you a copy

Facebook is where you can virtually hang out with your family and friends but more importantly with your customers and/or potential clients and customers.  Facebook is for entertainment so remember the 80/20 rule and don’t post “buy me” posts constantly. 

Share content from others in the same niche or industry and remember that what you share is perceived to be what you believe so be very careful when posting because using a “like or share is not an endorsement” disclaimer doesn’t hold water – just don’t post it.

  Find Us on Facebook

Top 10 Benefits of a Facebook Business Page

  1. Everyone is on Facebook – need I say more?

  2. Increased Exposure to Potential Customers – everyone is on Facebook right?

  3. Gather More Leads – gather leads in the form of email addresses — so you can contact them outside of Facebook.  Promotion of contests, giveaways through newsletters

  4. Facebook business page costs you exactly $0. – but you don’t own it so start a blog!

  5. Insights and analytics – you can see where your audience is coming from (likes, reach, page views, engagement, shares, performance, etc.)

  6. Build Brand Loyalty – if you consistently provide valuable and entertaining content, your followers will stay loyal and share your message, product or service

  7. Increase Your Web Traffic – social media platforms are the wheels that drive the vehicle to your website or blog and eventually to your store or service

  8. Boost SEO – Search Engine Optimization – being found online – Google me

  9. Be Mobile Ready – Facebook is already built to be mobile friendly, so take advantage of it.  Facebook page on a mobile device it shows users:

  • Hours of operation – Address – Reviews – Phone number to call directly from the Facebook mobile app

  1. Check in on Your Competition! – Facebook makes suggestions based on competition in my area in my same (or a similar) niche. Choose pages by clicking “Watch Page” or search for pages in the search box.

Pavlograd UKRAINE - December 18 2014: Person holding a brand new Apple iPhone 5S with Twitter logo on the screen and twitter page on laptop. Twitter is a social media online service for microblogging and networking communication.

TWITTER AND SMALL BUSINESS

I have said it before and I’ll say it again, Twitter is by far my favorite social media platform.  Why – well for one, it’s quick, it’s happening right now in real time and I love hashtags. 

I liken FB to the friends you had in high school and Twitter are the friends you wish you had in high school.  It’s where the cool kids hang out and if you ever been retweeted, liked or followed by a celeb then you know how exciting that can be!

Hashtags are the best thing since slice bread!

Tweet that!

Twitter will display all other tweets with that hashtag – great way to search or find potential customers or topics to follow and share – great way to get your message and content out there. 

“I don’t get Twitter” is a common statement among small business owners. With more than 316 million active monthly users engaging in instant conversations, the social platform shouldn’t be ignored.  The main difference of Facebook and Twitter is on Twitter, following someone is not necessarily an admission of friendship, but an interaction and conversation in 140 characters or less.

If you already have a personal Twitter account and have been using it for your business, you may want to create a separate business account so that any personal information is not passed onto your business followers.  –  But remember that your brand is your brand not matter where it’s coming from.

Be as visible as possible, put on your Twitter handle on business cards, email address, flyers, etc.  Tweet only business info and not personal tweets on your business account.

Twitter is a great way to connect with your targeted audience and for your targeted audience to connect with you in real time – for example, two weeks ago I had to rebook a flight on a non-refundable ticket with Delta airlines and the customer service representative was amazing!  After I handled my business, I immediately posted my satisfaction to Delta Airlines and they immediately responded. 

Now small business owners don’t have the luxury of being online constantly like the bigger brands, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t check in first thing in the morning or right before going to bed in the evening to see if your brand or business was mentioned.

Speaking of which you can open an account at www.mention.com where you will enter the name of your business and then be alerted anytime someone mentions it it’s a social media monitoring and listening app that keeps you in the know.

Twitter is great for PR and networking, especially for event coverage and promotion.  Using a hashtag for an event and then getting attendees to tweet about using the hashtag gives you wider exposure.

Although you can’t own a hashtag you can register it for the event so that people can follow along at www.Twubs.com.  And if your hashtag is unique and you use it enough it becomes part of you and your business brand, i.e. #DelawareBlogger if you Google that you will find me all over the internet.

Businesses should have a Twitter account for several reasons:

  1. Consumers are frustrated with call centers –  Oftentimes, individuals will go on Twitter after they’ve already sought a solution by calling the company’s helpline.

  2. Instant gratification – Twitter allows customers to feel more in control of the timeliness of the solution. They can immediately go online, research a solution to try helping themselves or vent their problem in real-time, asking for help, whether from the brand or other customers.

  3. Airing dissatisfaction publicly is part of a solution – Some people just want to be heard, good, bad and ugly, and sharing on Twitter gives them gratification. Some people like to tweet, tweet, tweet like a duck at 3 o’clock in the morning!

  4. Hashtags allow you to Search for Terms Related to Your Biz – finding customers where they hang out and with whom – always check the followers of your followers and follow them if they are relevant.

small business owners

Top Ten Twitter Tips – from CatchFireFunding.com

1. Follow industry leaders.

First, find your industry leaders on Twitter and follow them, all of them. These people are vital to building the right follower base. 

2. Follow authors who write about your industry.

You probably have a few favorite industry experts whose books you’ve read. Follow them on Twitter, but also follow all of the industry experts who’ve written books in your field. If you don’t know who these authors are, go to Amazon and search out books in your industry. Find the author’s names and follow them on Twitter.

3. Follow other authors.

Who writes the articles in the magazines and trade publications on your industry? Find out who these people are and follow them on Twitter. When I became active on Twitter, I followed every author I could find who wrote about entrepreneurship. While not everyone has a Twitter account, I found that 9 out of 10 authors and writers do.

4. Know your target audience.

Like you need to know your customers, you need to know your audience. You can have 1,000 followers who will never turn into customers, or you can have 100 quality followers who will either convert to customers, refer customers, or add value by sharing quality, relevant content. It’s important that your Twitter followers have something to gain by following you and vice versa.

5. Follow your industry hashtags.

Twitter has this great tool where you type in a hashtag in the search bar, such as #smallbusiness, and instantly a feed pops up with relevant posts and articles. It’s important that you monitor your industry hashtags so you stay current on industry trends and technology. You also use these hashtags when you Retweet and share posts. When you use the appropriate hashtag, you ensure that your post is “seen” by your target audience. Go on Twitter and play with the hashtags in your industry until you know which ones apply to your business.

6. Share quality content.

Twitter is all about adding VALUE; it’s not the place to oversell products and services. Read articles about your industry trends and share them on Twitter daily. Not only will you be learning, you’ll provide value to your target audience.

7. Tweet about industry events.

Stay on top of industry events and Tweet about them, whether it’s a local tradeshow or a national convention. In your Tweet, include the event’s hashtags and a link to the website so people can click on the link themselves.

8. Be engaging.

Twitter is not a spectator sport. Actively participate, comment and like others’ posts and Retweet (share) them daily. Twitter is all about building relationships and ADDING VALUE. One great way to add value is to write and share informative blogs, and of course, include your industry hashtags when posting so your audience will be able to find and read your content.

9. Post daily and repeat.

For your small business to succeed on Twitter, you have to post daily. Post at least 3 to 5 Tweets per day with several Retweets, which is similar to the “sharing” feature on Facebook. If your followers see that you haven’t been active in a month, they’re likely to “unfollow” you.  Use images as they get retweeted far more than just text

10. Don’t go off topic.

Your Twitter page should be relevant to your business, it should not discuss anything controversial, such as politics, and it should not go off topic. Keep the posts relevant to your niche market.

Most importantly – Engage the Influencers in Your Niche – as you know, bloggers are on Twitter and we love to retweet and share – sharing is caring and we are also looking to connect with businesses for collaborations and brand ambassadorships.  We retweet each other’s posts and would do the same with yours so connect with us on Twitter.

I have a chart that I found online that is a great reference tool which I will send to anyone who may be interested in receiving.  It lists all the popular social media platforms as well as the audience and demographics who uses them – a handy little cheat sheet so if you would like a copy, please leave a comment and I’ll send it in an email. 

Do you have any Facebook or Twitter tips to share?  Don’t forget to check out my Podcasts which are on Sunday at 6 on Blog Talk Radio, AAU Teen Talk Radio.

social-media-sunday-with-the-delaware-blogger


Social Media and Seniors

I have decided to use Sunday’s Podcasts for Monday’s blog posts and on October 2nd, the topic was Social Media and Seniors with special guest Demia Avery a new author, you can hear the interview by clicking this link.

special-guestdemia-avery

On the Podcast I talked about how seniors can use the internet and social media to turn a passion or a lifelong dream into a reality, perhaps even a profitable one.   Whether it’s vlogging, blogging or conducting online workshops and even podcasts, seniors can share their knowledge and expertise with others as a way to supplement their income, to share words of encouragement or wisdom, keep in touch or to relieve isolation and loneliness.

  seniors and an ipad

I started my blog DeDivahDeals in 2012, and what started out as a way to fill a void after the death of my grandmother, turned into something much more. As a matter of fact, my blog was recently nominated as one of the Top Five BEST BLOGS in Delaware and I won’t know until Friday whether or not it was chosen, but if it is I will tweet it out!

Way before starting the blog, DeDivahDeals, I would post my outfits of the day or #ootd as well as deals found in and around the state of Delaware onto Facebook.  However, after a few months, I noticed that my family and friends which at the time was a small circle, wasn’t really feeling it nor was I feeling the love so I decided to head over to YouTube and check it out.

YouTube opened up a whole new world, because there were so many vloggers who also had blogs and they were sharing their daily deals and outfits.  When I saw the Goodwill thriftinistas, I was in paradise! 

After all, growing up in the projects in New Rochelle, NY my grandmother had us at the Salvation Army or Goodwill all the time!  I used to love those big bins full of clothing and I think that is where I got hooked on thrifting and have never been ashamed of doing so even before it become popular to do so. 

Goodwill logo

It was then that I decided to start and blog and have since connected with so many wonderful woman that that void was eventually filled – although I still miss my Nana everyday.  She was 98 years old when she transitioned in 2009, but she stayed active and involved until she the age of 97.  She read constantly, wrote excessively, went to the senior centers, church, shopping and loved talking on the phone.

Mama Midget going to church

She didn’t stop traveling via Amtrak to North Carolina until the age of 95 and when she did it was alone.  She definitely didn’t let any grass grow under her feet and I hope to stay just as active with the help of my family, friends and social media.

My grandmother like so many other seniors have a lifetime of experience which can be shared with the younger generations to make them stronger and more knowledgeable which can only help our future generations.  Believe it or not seniors have and use Ipads/tablets, computers and some even use iPhones to surf the internet, and to connect with family and friends so creating instructional videos is not a long stretch of the anybody’s imagination.

senior are online

You Tube is where people search when looking for tutorials or how to videos, so seniors can create videos of their hobbies, whether it’s crocheting, bridge playing, cooking, gardening, education and training…the sky’s the limit because there is a target audience for everything – trust me.  As a blogger, I have seen some niche blogs that would blow your mind.

Seniors may not be as social media savvy as their kids and grands but they can be assisted by them.  If they prefer to tread lightly at first, create a family Facebook group which is private and open to only the immediate family.  Invite the grandparents so they can keep up with the happenings in the family. 

They can log on anytime of the day or night to share a post whether it’s a family recipe, a poem, or a simple thought or birthday wish and they can also read what other family members have posted. 

Do you have an Uncle Joe that loves telling jokes at the family reunion, well the family Facebook group would give him a platform in which to tell those jokes.  Perhaps Aunt Patty makes a mean Peach Pie, she can post the recipe and even a picture of the finished product and remember everything on the internet ends up in the Cloud. 

There won’t be a need to keep those handwritten recipes that get lost or faded through the years, you can leave your Legacy in the Cloud which is the title of one of my posts that I wrote for my other blog, Blogging with Blake.

There will come a time when your parents and grandparents can no longer travel safely as was the case with my grandmother in her 95th year, which brings me to another great thing about Social Media and Seniors, it can eliminate isolation and loneliness by keeping them in the loop.

According to statistics loneliness and social isolation have been linked to poor health outcomes.  Social Isolation among older adults or seniors who live at home rather than living in senior communities, may be as high as 43%.

Encouraging seniors to remain active in their hobbies and interests, and providing them opportunities to volunteer can help them maintain their sense of purpose and keep them from becoming isolated and lonely. 

So we can help our loved ones become more social media savvy, because you know that millennials, Gen X and Y as well as Teens and Tweens don’t need to leave the house to catch up with friends, follow current events, and find out what’s going on in the world.

seniors are online

E-mail and websites are one way to do this, but using a social media site like Facebook makes it even easier for an older adult to feel connected, simply by being able to see what others are posting.

Facebook also offers plenty of opportunities to participate in “watercooler” discussions of current goings-on and share recommendations for books, movies, and music.

Ask yourself: Don’t you feel more motivated to get out and see a movie or visit a restaurant if your friends are talking about it? The same is true for your parent or loved one.Smile

In prepping for this evening’s podcast I found a great post over at  www.seniornet.org/blog which listed 11 benefits of social media for senior citizens that I want to share:

1. Keep in touch

Social media is a remarkable tool for keeping in touch, especially for seniors who keep in touch with kids, grandkids, and sometimes even great grandkids, but it’s more than just family. Seniors are finding their college roommates, best friends from “the block” and elementary school crushes. The social networks enable us to view videos, read blog posts, share pictures and have conversations with people who we thought we’d never see again. Grandparents are friends with college-aged grandkids and keeping up with their accomplishments. To say social media has revolutionized the way families connect is an understatement.

2. Research

Seniors use social media tools to learn more about topics that interest them. In some cases it can lead them to cultivate hobbies and business ideas, and in other cases, such as with all the inaccurate health information available, it can be a confusing mix of resources. However, the Internet is enabling the over 50 crowd to learn more about new products, work on their genecology, and learn something new.

3. Ask questions

I don’t know about you, but I get frustrated navigating the phone menu to nowhere, so do so many others. By using the online tools available, many senior citizens can reach out via Twitter, Facebook, videos, blogs and live chats. Being able to talk to representatives and have all their questions answered, without being intimidated by voices, attitudes and a phone menu that doesn’t seem to lead anywhere, gives folks more confidence in a product.

 

4. Entertainment

Senior citizens can watch old television shows and movies, as well as find videos from “back in the day.” They can read ebooks, articles and blog posts, find song lyrics and find out what their favorite entertainers are up to. They can play games, either by themselves or with family and friends. Shut ins or those who can’t get out and around as well as they used to no longer have to feel lonely when they’re home alone.

5. Start a new business

Being online allows folks of all ages to start a new business. Perhaps they can sell crafts or give coaching advice. Or maybe they want to get into freelance writing or some sort of consulting. Many senior citizens would love to work but companies don’t want to hire them as they feel they’re “too old.” With social media and so many online productivity and networking tools, senior citizens no longer have to be forced into retirement.

6. Grow an existing business

Seniors who are still in business need to keep up with new programs and technologies. Social media enables them to stay in the game and compete with younger businesses. Use social media tools to connect and share. Answer questions, promote events and sales and more.

7. Learn

Just because one is retired or out of school doesn’t necessarily mean one wants to stop learning. Seniors are now taking courses online and reading online books, posts, articles and more to keep their minds active. Because seniors are now better able to keep up with emerging technologies, they don’t have to be considered “old and out of touch” and can hold their own in a conversation.

8. Share

Senior citizens aren’t merely people who are older than us. They’re also people who have been in the trenches. They have amazing stories and brilliant ideas. Through social media they can share all that good stuff with others. Seniors can blog about how life was when they were growing up or how things have changed during their lifetime. They network online and offer advices and mentoring to younger people and students and they can start Facebook pages to talk to others their age.

9. Meet others

The social networks allow us to meet others, for both business and pleasure. (No, not that kind of pleasure, I’m not talking Craigslist.) From online meetings seniors can plan offline meetups and networking events with like minded people and people their age.

10. Find work

65 is no longer the age of retirement for active seniors. Many would like to continue working, if not full time with an established business, they can also consult and freelance. Various networks enable them to find opportunities, post online resumes and view and apply for job listings.

11. Take advantage of sales and online opportunities

By following their favorite businesses and brands, seniors can save money by taking advantage of promotional opportunities. Many times freebies and discounts are only available via a Facebook page or for Twitter followers.

So like many of my fans, followers and even attendees of my blogging workshops who have either started a blog or are writing and teaching memoir writing classes these are other great benefits to consider when restarting or jump starting your next phase in life. 

Have you seen the commercial for Ford that comes equipped with WiFi and the grandmother in the passenger seat says to her grandson, “do you mean I can update my blog from here” and he looks at her in amazement and responds, “grandma you have a blog!”

And not only are some senior centers starting their memberships at the age of 50, there are very active seniors out there becoming Encore Entrepreneurs as I am one myself – at the age of 55, I am the owner of A.Blake Enterprises, Social Media Management and Consulting.   Head over to www.ablakeenterprises.com for more information. 

Do you have any tips for seniors and social media?


Tweet My Jobs

Tweet My Jobs

Hello friends, I hope all is well in your world. Did you know that the country’s unemployment rate recently hit another all time low of 5.7%?   According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the U.S. economy added 257,000 jobs in January, 2015.  For full-time workers there was a gain of 777,000 numbering more than 120 million for the first time since July 2008.

That may not mean anything in several communities around the country because people are still having difficulty landing jobs or obtaining a career in their field of expertise. There are several job-training sites located in and around cities and states, but did you also know that you could also locate employment opportunities right from your mobile device with www.tweetmyjobs.com

tweet my jobs logo

According to their site, “founded in 2009, TweetMyJobs helps job seekers find opportunities and receive targeted job recommendations by email, mobile or through Twitter and Facebook. TweetMyJobs’ technology, powered by its Social Network Interface (SNI) distributes company’s jobs across Facebook, LinkedIn and over 10,800 job channels on Twitter each one segmented by industry and location.[3] Twitter job channels allow followers to be notified of new job openings in their desired industry or location through their Twitter stream.”

twitter icon

 

Tweetmyjobs is geographical specific and recently Wilmington City Councilman Darius Brown helped bring the online resource to Delaware. The site began with 3,500 job postings but it quickly doubled in the first 6 weeks. The listings include everything from entry level positions with retail stores like Starbucks and CVS to highly skilled positions with AstraZeneca, and DuPont.

Tweetmyjob is free service for both job seekers and employers and people looking for work can quickly set up a profile, enter the type of position they are looking for and how they want to be notified.  If this sounds like something you or someone you know would be interested in check out their website www.tweetmyjobs.com and have a successful search!

New Year ~ New You


Top Jobs in Social Media for 2014

Hello Friends & Happy New Year Monday

By now you’ve probably read a Business Report that listed some of the top jobs in Social Media for 2014.  If not, here’s a list of just a few:

  1. SEO Specialist
  2. Social Media Strategist
  3. Online Community Manager
  4. Social Media Marketing Manager
  5. Social Media Coordination
  6. Blogger

blog world

So what does that mean to you and I – it’s GOOD NEWS!!!  We may be in a position to write our own ticket if we stick to the 3-P’s:

  1. Passion
  2. Patience
  3. Perseverance

Blogging is no longer just a hobby for many nor is it a get-rich-scheme. Advertisers are looking to put their money somewhere – so why not with you and your blog?  

In order to monetize a blog not only do you have to stick with the 3-P’s, you also have to remember the 3-C’s:

  1. Content
  2. Communities
  3. Collaboration

No man is an island and neither is a blogger – we can’t survive alone. Our content must be great – ABC (Always Be Creating).  Advertisers are looking for blogs with good numbers, check your ratings, use analytics, email marketing, social media and keep current with your stats.

social media info

Share, comment, meet and greet and join a community – ABC (Always Be Creating). My experience has shown that bloggers are very willing to share their knowledge, we are all experts in our own niche.  Join a community like Sverve, be active, participate, hangout and share.  Respond to your comments and comment on other blogs, learn, read and stay current, it will help to increase your numbers. You don’t need to join every social media site out there, just pick one or two but be very active on them.

blogging congrats Collaborate, support each other, follow up don’t just comment and run, stay paired up and shared up. Blogging is not a sprint, it’s a marathon and the pot is big – envy and jealousy has no place!  “Congratulate ~ Don’t Hate” when others get opportunities, follow them to learn how they did it.

 

There is no magic bullet…no one size fits all or only one way way to monetize your blog.  Try out different methods – do what works best for you – mind your P’s and C’s but remember to have fun – everything else will fall into place.  

What have you done to successfully grow your blogging business?

Stay Blessed – No Stress in the New Year!

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Get Sverved Sunday

sverve

Sverve is a social media site designed to connect influential female bloggers with major corporate brands and new readers.  It’s like “LinkedIn for mom bloggers.”  Sverve is set up a la Pinterest style which gives you access to other bloggers AND companies that are looking to hire them.

If you’re like me, a mom blogger who is active in social media here are 3 easy breezy steps to take that will gain you more influence and upgrade your status in the blogosphere:

Sign up for Sverve and connect your Facebook and/or Twitter accounts; look around and follow other influential bloggers; then share Sverve with your friends.  Easy as 1 – 2 – 3

How to make money with Sverve:

  • Add up to 5 areas of influence on your profile

  •  Ask your followers to endorse you

  •  Share quality information on the Sverve platform i.e. blog posts and tips

  •  Share frequently

Your Influence Score is based on the real endorsements that you get as well as the type of content you create. The score increases the more people like, favorite and share your tips.  As you get more endorsements your number starts to rise and the higher your score the more likely you are to be hired if you meet the job requirements.

The best thing about Sverve other than the possibility of being chosen an an “Influencer of the Week” , like I was, but it’s all the sharing of helpful hints and tips that you get from other wonderful bloggers.

Sverve is currently rolling out more exciting programs so sign up today as to not miss out on these wonderful money making opportunities.

 Have a fantabulous Sunday – Smooches!

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The Money School of Delaware – August Events

chasing the dream

Chasing the Dream Market Day!

Thursday, August 1st 
11:00am-1:30pm
Rodney Square in Wilmington 
Campers are open for business…come shop over your lunch break!
Turn Up The Heat… 

August Money School Classes! 

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Money Smart Series

Wed., July 31, Aug. 7, 14, 21 & 28 Time: 6-8pm

Bear Library

Nicole Henry, Citizens Bank

Participants must attend all sessions to receive certificate.

Lunch and Learn: Social Media and Business

Wed., July 31 Time: 12noon-1:30pm

Claymont Community Center

Stacey Schiller, Stacey Ink

Strategic Ways to Get Out of Debt

Thurs., Aug. 1 Time: 5:30-7:15pm

Dover Library

Rod Hausmann, Primerica

How to Start and Finance Your Small Business Dream

Thurs., Aug. 1 Time: 6-7:30pm

City of Dover Economic Development Office

Tim Reid, SBA

Protecting What’s Important

Tues., Aug 6 Time: 1:00-2:00pm

Kirkwood Hwy Public Library, 6000 Kirkwood Hwy, Wilmington

Steven Lucas, Edward Jones

Lunch and Learn: Award-winning Customer Service

Wed., Aug. 7 Time: 12noon-1:30pm

Claymont Community Center

Dinette Rivera, Rivera Business Development Group

 Light lunch provided

Foreclosure Prevention

Mon., Aug. 12 Time: 6:30-8:30pm

Newark Library, 750 Library Ave., Newark

Mary Rammel, CCCS of MD and DE

Foreclosure Prevention

Mon., Aug. 12 Time: 6-7:30pm

Georgetown Library, Job Center

Lisa Spellman, Department of Justice

A Mortgage Acceleration Review

Mon., Aug. 12 Time: 6:30-7:30

Rosehill Commuinty Center

Jenine Mills, AGLA

Click here for more information & to register… 

  or call toll-free 877-307-6858