I came across a great social media posting guide for non-profit organizations. Click here to view. Feel free to share any other strategies that you use daily below!
Although it is still fairly new, plenty of companies have delved and completely excelled in the new social media channel of Pinterest. The online visual board has been predicted to grow measurably in the next few years. As such, brands all over the world are looking for ways to authentically connect with it’s current and potential consumers on the site.
As with any other social media channel, a well-thought out strategy is needed to excel. To assist you with this, I came across an article that details 5 ways a few brands have used Pinterest to authentically connect with fans.
Feel free to check it out here.
What tips and strategies have you implemented that have been successful on Pinterest?
Rosetta Thurman is definitely one of the women I have been blessed to connect with on Twitter. She is passionate, knowledgeable and entertaining! Such a good balance. 
I read one of her tweets about developing a personal mission statement and it definitely hit home. So I plan to dedicate some time to this over the weekend. Below is a quick excerpt as well as a link to her article:
There are three important steps toward developing a personal mission statement: 1) identifying your values, 2) envisioning your values in action and 3) writing your personal mission statement. For most people, it is truly an eye-opening process to write out your values for your life and then compare them to how you actually balance your priorities. But what, exactly, is a personal mission statement, anyway?
Personal development website Dumb Little Man offers this great definition:
Your personal mission statement should be a concise representation of what’s most important to you, what you desire to focus on, what you want to achieve, and, ultimately, who you want to become. In its purest form, it’s an approach to your life, one that allows you to identify a focus of energy, creativity, and vision in living a life in support of your inner-most beliefs and values. Also remember that your mission will change over time as you and your life change.
The Power of a Thank You is often ignored, but often holds great power. Leaders understand this. Check out this article about the essential traits of great leaders!
http://www.inc.com/damian-bazadona/great-leaders-essential-traits.html
Who do you consider a leader?
Well, that depends on your niche. If you are a blogger, it can be a great way to drive traffic to your website. If you are an artist, it can be a great way to showcase your work. I’m sure that Facebook, Twitter and Google+ has already spoken volumes for your brand but this new social epidemic is growing so rapidly, that it might be beneficial to stop and explore.
Now I’ve been aware of Pinterest for months, yet never contemplated joining the site until recently. I just didn’t get what the ROI would be regarding my, or my company’s, engagement. Like seriously, a pinboard-styled social photo sharing website?! However, the more I researched, the more intrigued I became. Here’s a little more about it’s purpose (via Pinterest):
Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.
Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.
Simply stated, Pinterest inspires action. You name it, people are pinning it. One quirky thing about the site is that you have to be invited to join the site. I guess it’s for the cool kids only! Don’t let that stop you though. There’s a lot of buying power on Pinterest, especially if you have a female-friendly product or service. Women currently represent 90% of the activity!
I found a great illustration that further outlines the potential branding & marketing opportunity behind this new social tool. Thanks, Mashable!
Are you on Pinterest? If so, what compelled you to join?
“There are two types of people in this world: those who blaze trails and those who trail behind the blazers…”
-Unknown
I wrote this article years ago for Socialtik Magazine. It’s amazing how things come into fruition. 🙂
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The world has truly become virtual. Plenty of companies, professionals, entrepreneurs and the like are investing in the power of developing a professional blog.
If you do enough research, you can find a blog for almost every industry that exists. In addition, plenty of professionals are establishing blogs to showcase their talents and expertise.
Having your own professional blog is another way to increase your online presence while connecting with other young professionals worldwide. However, as every other aspect of life, it requires dedication and attention in order for it to reach the magnitude that you desire. Below are a few tips that can help you to start your own professional blog.
Take time to find your voice and niche
There are a lot of blogs out there. What is it about your blog that someone should actually stop and read? What is your writing style? Are you informative? Then you could possibly have a blog featuring the current news of your industry. Are you a critic? Then your blog could feature product designs and reviews on them.
Also, spend some time writing some drafts. It will help you to find your beat and what your passion is. In the midst of your planning, be sure to visit other blogs to capture a sense of their tone and style of writing.
Search for different hosting sites and formats
WordPress and BlogSpot are popular hosting sites that have free services. However, like all products and markets, the blogosphere has its own set of existing products and channels. Be sure to do your own research and explore sites that are prevalent for professionals in your field.
As such, be very strategic with what type of format you desire to have. Will you update daily, weekly, or monthly? Will you have more of a casual tone or do you desire to be a primary news source? All of this should be properly assessed and researched.
Familiarize yourself with how to drive in traffic
Social media like LinkedIn, Twitter and Face book are perfect for this but there are a variety of other ways to drive in traffic as well. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a huge way to drive in traffic. They key to SEO is keywords. Creating your own is a sure way to increase readers and awareness.
Have fun!
This is not your full-time job. If you do not enjoy updating your blog, then stop blogging. Likewise, if you enjoy it, then be sure to connect with some paid bloggers and gain advice on how to make your goal a reality!
My “About” Page is still in progress. I’m sure i’ll update it periodically as I continue with my research. I feel like that is the beauty of blogging…constant updates, with no backtalk!
Came across this great article today that features 10 ways to create your “about page”. I think these are great points. Feel free to check it out here.
What are some pertinent factors that you believe should be included in an effective “about” page?
Joshlyn Ross 