Rejuvenate. Celebrate. Educate – Administrative Professionals Day

Owens Community College’s Workforce and Community Services, along with Trainco, Inc. and Zoup!, presents 5th Annual Administrative Professionals Day, Friday, April 25, 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Arrowhead Park Learning Center, 1724 Indian Wood Circle, Maumee. 

Participants will enjoy breakout sessions including: Social Media (presented by Sociably Cindy), Real Money Talk for Women, and Self-Defense Tips and massages provided by Owens’ Massage Therapy students. 

Alicia Wagner, certified Life Coach and executive director of Women’s Entrepreneurial Network, will be the keynote speaker during a luncheon provided by Zoup!. 

Cost is $20. To register, please call 567-661-7357.

Facebook Help

Well, Timeline has wiggled it's little head into our Facebook lives, and it's annoying the heck out of some people.

Over the next few weeks I'll be taking some time to help you walk through all your Facebook troubles.  To make sure I'm helping you with all your needs, please let me know what they are:

• Security Settings?
• Adding Pictures?
• Privacy?
• Groups?
• ???

Keeping you sociably connected,

Cindy

How 'Pinning' Can Grow Your Business

Well, unless you live under a rock and never check your Facebook or Twitter, you've probably noticed a new thing called "Pinterest."

So what is it?

Well, to put it quite simply, it's a collection of anything and everything you want.

• Favorite recipes, or recipes you want to try
• Clothes you love 
• Vacations you want to take
• Things for the home
• Activities for the family
• Books you've read or want to read
• The list goes on, and on, and on...

So for a business or a blogger, how does this affect you?  Well, if you've got great content with great images, you can get your products out to the masses.

Cascade Braid

For example, my daughters have SUPER LONG HAIR.  And I'm tired of putting it up in the same braids and ponytails every day.  So I did a search for fun braids and up-do's - and I found a couple of neat websites.  Instead of adding them to my bookmarks and forgetting that I've save them (we've all done that, right?)  I pinned them to my Hair Style board.  So taking what I found, this is what I did with Samantha's hair:

Sock Bun

So if you're a hair stylist, grab a friend and take step-by-step pictures of how to maintain my hair at home.  Put it out on your website/blog.  And then pin it.  Your friends will pin it.  And soon, your names is out there, getting people to your website to learn more.

OK, so if you're a business with a physical location, how does that help grow the business?  Well, if you sell products, sell them online.  In your step by step description, talk about the products that you are using, and put a link to where people can buy them.

So if you are a garden expert, teach me how to prep my garden for this year - step by step with images.  Show me how to start my seeds.  Be detailed.  Pin it.  Then sell some seeds or tools.

If you're a photographer, show me how to take a good picture with my cell phone; how to get my kids to sit still. Pin it.  Then sell some frames or prints.

Pinterest is becoming an activity for many people, just like playing games on Facebook.  To the business - they're looking for your stuff.  Be there for them.

Follow me on Pinterest, or for more information, contact Cindy@SociablyCindy.com

Blog and Event Sponsorship Opportunities

I am excited and eager to attend several Blogging Conference. 

I would love to have your partnership. 

I’m looking for brands to represent during these conferences. 

Funds from sponsorship will be allocated toward:

{1} Ticket to the Conferences  

{2} Travel to and from the Conferences 

{3} Food and Lodging during Conferences

I have several sponsorship packages available; I am available should you like to speak regarding any other 
sponsorship ideas you may have in mind.

Platinum Sponsorship {$1,000+}
{1} One year of advertising on my blog (Sociably Cindy or Sociably Surviving). 

Banner size and placement of your choice.

{2} One blog post per month for 12 months (Sociably Cindy, Sociably Surviving, or combination). 

Post will feature your brand/latest products, deals and/or specials. 

Included in the post will be any links back to your site.


{3} During Conference, I can wear clothing with your logo/brand.

{4} Posts of your choice can be tweeted out and placed on Facebook weekly during prime times for one year.

Gold Sponsorship {$500+}
{1} Six months of advertising on my blog (Sociably Cindy or Sociably Surviving). 
Banner size and placement of your choice.


{2} One blog post per month for six months (Sociably Cindy, Sociably Surviving, or combination). 
Post will feature your brand/latest products, deals and/or specials. 
Included in the post will be any links back to your site.

{3} During Conference, I can wear clothing with your logo/brand.

{4} Posts of your choice can be tweeted out and placed on Facebook every other week during 

prime times for six months.


Silver Sponsorship {$250+}
{1} Three months of advertising on my blog (Sociably Cindy or Sociably Surviving). 

Banner size and placement of your choice.

{2} One blog post per month for three months (Sociably Cindy, Sociably Surviving, or combination). 

Post will feature your brand/latest products, deals and/or specials. 

Included in the post will be any links back to your site.

{3} During Conference, I can wear clothing with your logo/brand.

{4} Posts of your choice can be tweeted out and placed on Facebook weekly during prime times for three months.


Sponsoring/providing an iPad
{1} Your logo will be placed on the item 
and I will be using it during Conference.

{2} Six months of advertising on my blog (Sociably Cindy or Sociably Surviving). 

Ad size and placement of your choice.

{3} One blog post per month for six months (Sociably Cindy, Sociably Surviving, 
or combination) featuring your brand/latest products, deals and/or specials. 

Included in the post will be any links back to your site.

{4} Posts of your choice can be tweeted out and placed on Facebook weekly during prime times for six months.

Upcoming Conferences: 

(**Conferences Sociably Cindy is planning on attending.  If you are interested in sponsoring a particular conference, 

here are other opportunities to share your business. Attendance is subject to sponsorships.)

SXSW 2012, Austin Tx March 9-13, 2012

SOBCon Chicago 2012, Chicago, IL May 4-6, 2012

**Gleek Retreat 2012  Holland, Michigan, May 19-20, 2012

SheCon 2012 Lake Buena Vista, FL May 25-27, 2012

Reviewers Retreat 2012 Charlotte, NC, June 3-5, 2012

BlogWorld Expo New York 2012 New York, NY June 5-7, 2012

Type-A Parent Conference 2012 Asheville, NC June 22-24, 2012

**Brands & Bloggers Summit 2012 Chicago, IL July 21, 2012

BlogHer 2012 New York, NY August 2-4, 2012

Lavish! 2012 Atlanta, GA August 24-26, 2012

**Bloggy Conference 2012 Cincinnati, OH September 27-29, 2012 

Do you want to sponsor me for one of these Conferences or have questions, please e-mail me at cindy@sociablycindy.com

You can't afford to NOT use social media

Someone posted something about you today.  And you don't know what they said.  They could be singing your praises to the high heavens.  They could be blasting you down into the dirt.  They could have just said that they were there.  But they said it, for all the world to see.

And you don't know about it.  But you should.

It's been almost 7 years since my first child was born.  And I remember opening up a brand new package of wipes, and there being black fuzz on the first dozen wipes.  Now, pre baby I would have just taken those dozen wipes, throw them out and used the rest.  But this was my brand new baby - there was no way I was putting those anywhere near her.  So I called customer service.  I got a $5 voucher and an apology.  It appeased me, but it was pretty annoying.  I mentioned it to a friend of mine at dinner that weekend, and we talked about weird product incidents.  That was it.

Now my kids are all potty trained, but I still use night-time pull-ups for my son.  Recently, a friend asked what brand I used (whatever's cheapest).  She told me to NOT use a particular brand because it was causing sever rashes on a friend of hers' daughter.  She saw this post on Facebook, to which over 40 of my friend's friends had commented that they were dealing with the same problem.

Now, if Diaper Company was paying attention, they'd be doing regular searches for their brand's name, and might have come across this.  Damage is done.  I know of at least 40 people who will not be buying that brand; and I've passed it on to several of my friends as well, and those other 40 people probably passed it on to theirs... BIG PROBLEM!

So, as a small business, what can you do?

Well, you'd better be monitoring your name. Set up alerts to notify you anytime your name is mentioned.  Be there to respond quickly.  Have an idea of how you're going to handle it.  You can't give away something every time someone complains, can you?  It's just not good business sense.  But you can offer them that you'll fix whatever is wrong, and guarantee that it won't happen again.

Or what if someone is having trouble with one of your competitors?  You'd love to gain their business, right?  Set up a search, and be up on it.

Ok, you're probably thinking "but that takes time away from what I need to get done".  Yes, it does.  And there are a few options.

1)  Do nothing.  Continue doing things they way you already are.  If you don't know about it you're not missing it.

2)  Do it yourself.  Create time in your daily schedule to devote to social media and brand awareness

3)  Bring in outside help.  That's what we do best - so you can focus on what you do best.

So, if you're thinking options 2 or 3, I can help.  If you'd just like a run down of what to do and how to implement it into your daily schedule, I can help.  If you'd like to put it all in my hands, well, I'll gladly take it off your plate.

Whether you do it yourself, or bring me in to help, use the tools available to you.  They really can help.

Staying Sociable: Sociably Cindy Spokes-pet Search!

So, I've had this idea in my head for a while, but I've just not implemented it.  I think it's time.



I remember when I was working at YES FM, we had a Happy Meal toy that we were passing around to each other's desks.  It was really funny.  You'd walk into your office and there it was.  THEN we had the purple frog that would find it's way to random places in the halls and studio.  So much fun.

About a year ago, my friend Marion created a 'spokes-puppet' for her business "Fibre Moo w/ Fibrenew".
It made us all at the networking event talking about what our 'spokes-pet' would be.

So these thoughts have made their way back into my mind over the last few weeks, and you know what - I'm just going to do it!

I'm looking for 2 things:

1 - suggestions on what my "Spokes-pet" should be
2- would you be willing to take your picture with it and pass it on?

I'd thought about a teddybear with a butterfly shirt/dress, and then put my logo on it - thoughts?

Then I was thinking of either just going around with it and taking pictures of it at my client's and friend's businesses.  Or do I get a few and pass them out saying "take a pic and pass it on"?

So what to you think?

My Morning With Tim & Jeff

Tim and Jeff In The Morning

I'd consider Star 105.5 to be one of my favorite radio stations, has been for as long as I can remember.  Great selection of music, I'm comfortable playing it around my kids (there are a few songs I'll turn it down for [never off, I promise]... but that's just my personal preference).

My husband usually would claim the radio before me in the morning - usually podcasts on his iPod.  I don't remember exactly when I regained control of the remote, so to speak.  I remember turning it on, and just cracking up over something they were discussing.  And as I continued listening, I remember being very thankful that they topics of conversation were not of content that I'd have to turn the radio off when my kids were in the room

Over the summer I was incredibly impressed by the City of the Week outings they were hosting.  Working with small businesses, it's important to me to see the 'hidden gems' that drive our communities highlighted.  I looked forward to the pictures each week, and hearing the stories of many businesses that I never knew existed.

Along the same line, "Free Plug Friday" has been a joy to participate it.  Several of my clients have had events over the last few months, and there's nothing like getting a text from a client saying "OMG! We were on the radio."  (Thanks again guys!)  I love hearing small businesses, and local events put on the forefront.  Sometimes it seems that we don't know about these until it's too late.

I remember "Liking" their Facebook page, that first day I heard them.  As social media is my field of expertise - these guys are rawking it out!  When I look at other 'local celebrity' profiles, I don't see nearly the interaction that these guys get.  And it's not just one sided - they are actually conversing with their listeners throughout the day via Facebook or Twitter.  And the conversations are always interesting - there's nothing like when your page gets hijacked and the conversation lasts for days!

I was able to finally meet the guys after months of social networking interactions.  I totally thought they were joking when they invited me to the studio, but there I was.  Super cool, super nice guys.  I spend so much time promoting my clients, that it was actually weird to be talking about myself and my business.  And again there's nothing like getting a text from a friend "Um, was that you on the radio?".

We sat and chatted for about 20 minutes off air, and honestly, these guys are awesome.  

If you aren't already listening to Tim and Jeff In The Morning - you should be!  And if you are, join in on the conversation!  Like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter (@r8dioTim and @JeffNtheMorning).

*****

It was a sad day on March 12th when they announced that they were leaving the Toledo area.  I'm going to miss listening to you every day - the listeners of 105.7 in Fayetteville, AR are very lucky (thank goodness for internet radio!)

Thanks for all you've done for Toledo guys, on the air and off!

The Power In An Email

We all get emails.  A lot of emails.

Sometimes we don't remember signing up for the newsletter.  Sometimes we get email forwards from friends (or people we've only met once).  Sometimes we get 5 emails a day from 1 person/business.  Sometimes it's only a few times a year.

An email can be a beneficial tool to your marketing plan - if done properly.  I find myself some how subscribing myself to email newsletters and then getting bombarded with emails.  Now, I signed up for it because I did want to hear something from you, but not all day every day.

So here are a few tips that I've learned about email marketing:

• Consider how many you get from any 1 company.  If you think that's too much, do less.  Unless you have a lot to say, don't send more than 1 or 2 a month - if that.  If you have a lot to say - write a blog. 
• Know your audience, and what will get their attention: What key words or phrases will encourage them to open the email, but not be deceitful and cause your contact to unsubscribe
• Include links - lots of them!  Usually, your e-newsletter provider will track the clicks; you'll know what got the readers attention for next time.  
• Don't make it all about you, make it about them.  Offer up a great piece of information (suggesting they follow you on Facebook or Twitter to learn more), promote a giveaways, etc.
• Be a person, not a machine.  Add some personality to it, this is Social Networking, so stay social!
• Don't get upset if people unsubscribe - you've done it too!

There are several great services available.  I've been using MailChimp to send my messages, and WuFoo for my opt-in forms.  I'm very pleased with it so far - if you're looking to start with an email campaign, start small, and try it out for free!  If you need help, Sociably Cindy is here for you!

I hit "search" and couldn't find you...

While reading the June issue of 'Inc.' Magazine, I came across the "Crunching The Numbers" feature.  A few of the statistics really stood out to me.

In 2009, only 27% of small businesses had a Facebook Fanpage.  In 2010, this number grew to 41%.  It seems more and more pages are being created every day.  But the problem is: how are people finding these pages?

It's hard enough for businesses to get their websites found, and it's fairly well accepted that to increase traffic to your website you need to have a presence elsewhere.  In today's internet savvy society, while we want to believe that just having a website is enough, that someone enters what they want into their favorite search engine and we'll be found.

GET THAT IMAGE OUT OF YOUR HEAD!

You are competing, not only with your competitor down the street, but across town, in the next county, the next state and across the world.  Seriously.  If there is a business that could possibly be doing business remotely where you are physically located, they are seeking out your current and potential customers.

Google Ads and Search Engine Optimization are paid services being employed by your competition.  Have you checked out their social media profile... Do they have a Facebook or Twitter?  Are they up-to-date with it? Are they interacting with their fans/followers?  Do they have images of their product/services? Do they link back to their website?

Whether the answer is 'yes' or 'no', YOU need to be doing the exact same thing (but better, and local)!

Your social media should be an extension of your website, and your website should be an extension of you.

Take a look at your website - do you know what it's doing for you? does it represent who you are and what you do? do you know where you come up in a search?

Now look at your social networks - how many fans/followers do you have? are you giving them information? are they interacting? do you use location marketing?

I by no means can help you build your website, but I know several AMAZING website designers/developers that I can put you in contact with.  And I'm not saying that you need to hire me to do your social networking... not every business needs me, but everyone business needs someone to do it properly!  I encourage you, take some time and really look at your internet presence, is it who and what you want it to be.  Sociably Cindy is available for training, assessments, and maintenance.

Highlighting Local Businesses

If you are a small business owner and would like to grow your reach by being featured in local blogs - here's your opportunity.

Business reviews can assist in your search engine optimization, can reach out to new individuals who can become fans/followers/customers, and can educate your current customers about things that they maybe forgot that you do.

I'd be honored to write something for your business!  My goal for the next year is to feature at least one business per week.  

Your review will be featured on:

sociablycindy.com

sociablycindy.blogspot.com

sociablycindy.wordpress.com/

tumblr.com/blog/sociablycindy

@Sociably Cindy

Facebook.com/sociablycindy

Would you like to be one of them?

Fees to be featured are reasonable - all I ask is that I'm able to experience your service or products for myself.
Email Cindy@SociablyCindy.com for details - special gifts for the first 10 who respond.

Why I'm glad there wasn't social media 10 year ago, and why more parents need to be online...

I don't know why some kids just seem to be mean. Why someone would actually take time out of their day to write rude notes and put them in lockers, openly make fun of people in large groups, spread awful lies and rumors, and even threaten or cause physical harm. I don't know why, but I know it happens - it happened to me.

Of it all, two things stand out the most after all these years. The first being the lies about me regarding a so-called-made-up boyfriend. Steve is 3 years older than me and was in college when we started dating my junior year (Spring 2000); so even though he went to various school events with me then, and we've now been married for over 8 years - oh yea, I totally made him up.

The other, and most prominently, were the notes and threats. I have clear memories of these: notes in my locker, notes in my choir book, notes in my softball bag. Hurtful words, lies, threats. I'll never know who wrote them, but I've always had my suspicions. 

But in today's world of technology, bullying comes in the form of cyber bullying - and it doesn't go away as easily.  It's hard enough on kids to handle the bullying at school; home should be a sanctuary.  

Today's teens deal with random texts with insults and threats. Comments on Facebook or Twitter.  Blogs dedicated to how much "Kid A" hates "Kid Z".  All happening at any time day or night, in a medium that is very hard to be controlled.

As a parent, I would recommend that you set up Google or Twitter Alerts with your child's name. If anything is said about your child, you'd know, possibly before they do. Sites such at Twilert give you a mile radius to search by, so you can limit your search to where you live, incase your child shares their name with someone on the other side of the Earth.

Computer monitoring systems are available for you to install into your computer to track your child's online activity, and can be monitored from your own computer. Even if they think that they've deleted the history, you've seen where they've gone. Having this will give you the opportunity to see if your child is being bullied, or is the bully.

The hardest thing to monitor are the cellphones, because we can send a text then delete it and there's no record of it. Or is there? I'm assuming, if you're paying a cellphone bill, you look at the report. Look at the numbers being used to call/text in and out, and then compare them to your child's phone. If you're seeing a large number of text from a particular number, but there is no phonebook listing in your child's phone for it, it may be coming from uninvited sources. If this is the case, call your provider about blocking numbers, or change it and encourage them to keep it private.

My personal suggestion would be to not give them a phone until they are driving.  They don't need it at school (and I know many school officials REALLY don't want your kids to have phones).  But they may need something if they are having car trouble or running late.  If they are in school, the office has a phone if you need to get a hold of them or they you.  If they're at work, their employer probably has a phone, too.   (I mean, who doesn't hate going somewhere and seeing someone who should be working on their cell phone or texting?)

If you are giving your teen a phone - do they need internet? do they need a 8 mega pixel camera? do they need unlimited texting?  Probably not.  They just need to be able to call you if they need you. 

If your child is being affected by cyber bullies, understand that it still can happen even if they don't have a phone or a Facebook page. It can still happen if you're not monitoring it. It can still happen offline as well. You can tell them 500 times a day to ignore it, and that in 20 years it won't matter any more. And that's true.. but the pain is here now. Love them, be patient with them, help them find ways to get it out of their mind.

Being bullied can affect all aspects in a young persons life, and changes in behavior should not go ignored. If you suspect, or know, that your child is being bullied, get the school involved, get other parents involved, and if threats of physical harm are given, get law enforcement officials involved.

For all the young people who may read this - yes, it hurts now, and there will be times over the next few years where those memories will creep up on you. But after graduation, you DO NOT have to see them again; continue to grown and be yourself. The hurtful words do not dictate your life - you do… Be who you are, surround yourself with the people you love and who love you, and you will succeed at whatever you put your mind to.

Here I am, (after I was told I wouldn't do anything with my life) owning two businesses, happily married to my high school sweetheart, and raising three kids. Amazing things can happen. I wish I had the answers, but I don't. But as I'm teaching my young children: smile, keep your head up, and be kind to everyone you meet.