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Then We All Flocked To Google+ Communities

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Google ?????Google Refrigerator?

Google ?????Google Refrigerator? (Photo credit: Aray Chen)

It’s been a fantabulous 10 hours since I launched my first Google+ Community, Bloggers Unite! in about five minutes yesterday (with 46 members as of 11 p.m. last night).  Didn’t check on a name or worry about what it was going to be for or about…just did it…you know Nike made me do it.

I had to jump in right quick as my peers were inviting me to their communities like crazy, and I saw one already had 150 members…so, there I was not to be left empty handed and voila…another social network, just like all the other holes in my head.

But, it was an exciting engagement sort of day – Google+ was hopping, and Facebook and Twitter were tres dead! Bloggers were posting articles about the new Communities all day, and everyone was joining (after I mistakenly sent an invite to an entire circle and didn’t know it)!

So, what is a Google+ Community?

It’s another place to post and engage and banter or be serious (I’m tired of being serious). Actually, no one really knows. The rules will get made as we go and grow; I’m no longer worried about it. People can ask the serious questions or pose the banter sillies I’m seeing a lot of, too.

I’m loving the feel of these pages much more than Facebook; in fact, it’s cleaner and more fresh.  Someone asked me on Twitter which community I thought looked good to join, and I said, “hang 10.” No one really knows what they’re doing yet and everyone is joining one another’s communities, so the jury is out until the content rolls in. My advice to most is to sit back, watch, listen and enjoy the fun. You can decide in about a week who’s on first.

Is it just another engagement platform?

Perhaps, but I want to see for those moderating a community how much link love and SEO juice they may get being all over the Community with responses and posts. There’s got to be some benefit with all that activity. My sense is that every morning someone can come post their blog link first thing in the community and then get more shares.

A few other folks said they wouldn’t accept my invite because they were feeling overwhelmed and didn’t want to do anything they couldn’t do well. Don’t be too worried about being serious about this until you have to get serious. I’m thinking some good stuff is going to come out of this, and you know why?

Google+ has not been peeps’ first channel of adoption. It’s cleaner without all the cousins, nieces, family members, ex boy friends and childhood voyeurs clogging up the stream. It’s about business, and it’s still new. Google did an amazing job creating this hub-bub, and people fell for it hook, line and sinker.

Still on the fence? Don’t be…flock to Google+ just like we all did within the last 48 hours. See you at Bloggers Unite!  Ask me for an invite; you’re already in!

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On The Street With A Special Wish Foundation

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Soulati Media On The Street chatted with David Seyer, executive director of A Special Wish Foundation, Dayton (not to be confused with that other not-for-profit brand!). We asked him about his mission and why he’d like people to send a little 2012 contribution to his 501(c)(3) charitable organization prior to year end. His group is all about granting wishes to children with  life-threatening diseases. Listen in, and then, please do open your wallet right here? I’m doing pro bono work for A Special Wish Foundation, and that’s another way to give, too.

 

Does Your Business Give Holiday Gifts?

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Please Send Me Lou Malnati's

Every year during the holiday season, I strive to send thoughtful gifts to all my clients. And, it gets tougher each year not to spend a fortune while being thoughtful. Gifts can be to employees, clients, bosses, or vendors/contractors. There are so many ways to acknowledge your business partners; while it doesn’t have to happen during the holidays; it’s the time of year for me when I do it.

The Internal Revenue Service only allows $25/gift as a deduction. At the end of the day, it’s because of your clients that you actually have any income, so staying within that paltry limit is not feasible or generous.

For my clients with whom I’ve had a long-term relationship (average 8-10 years), I spend about $100. I begin shopping months in advance, and when something strikes me in a catalogue, I tear out the sheet and keep the page until it’s time to send a gift.  (I also send a referral thank you gift to peeps who send me prospects who become paying clients.)

I like to send the deliveries to arrive any time in December so people can enjoy the foodstuffs or flowers or something prior to leaving on holiday.

This year, I’m torn about what to gift my clients. I’m looking at:

  • Heifer International – I can purchase a few chickens or a lamb or even a quarter sheep or cow so people in underprivileged regions in South America can use the animals for their livelihood.
  • Wolfermann’s – I gave these astonishing muffins last year, and everyone snarfed. For families and larger offices, this is perfect.
  • Coffee, wine and cheese – I always look at these types of baskets, but I have to say, I received one once, and it was done up so prettily with a lot of empty colored boxes and tape. The items inside were cheesy.
  • Fruit from Harry and David – In the past I’ve ordered these (Fruit of the Month), but I was disappointed because the fruit didn’t match the order form. They were forever switching out the really good fruits for pears.
  • Kiva – I have been on the receiving end of Kiva, and what a great gift. You put money into micro-loans around the world, and the business owner slowly pays back the money with interest and you reloan the money. I have probably financed 10 business owners across the world. It’s a really cool service.
  •  Personal items – If you really know your client well, you can get a little more personal. I know one of my colleagues loves good tequila. She is also a fanatic for Himalayan salt. So, I found Himalayan salt tequila shot glasses; she thought they were candle holders and when I told her what they were, she nearly dropped the phone in excitement! That was worth it!

What do you gift your clients? Anyone have any good ideas, please?

 

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How Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Teaches Social Responsibility

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Region 1 DVD cover (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ever watch it…”” How many times? If you’re over 30, you better tell me about a dozen. If you haven’t seen it in awhile, crank it up…’tis the season.

My dear best BFF Jim Faris inspired this post, and he was struck by how significant the themes coursing through this were akin to today’s lifestyle moments.  Let’s see, how many lessons and teachables can we glean from this 45-minute program produced by innovators Rankin/Bass in 1964?

  • Anti-bullying
  • Heroism
  • Friendship
  • Love and family
  • Athleticism and popularity
  • Misfits or unique individuals who don’t fit the mainstream
  • Teamwork
  • Career pathing

Bet you didn’t realize just how many of those themes were buried in this “children’s” movie, did you? Good thing there’s a happy ending as this little program is chock full of in-your-face mean to anyone who doesn’t conform.

Now that we’ve grown up, we can see deeper into hidden meanings within these scripts and still watch alongside our innocent children. When you write and add hidden meaning into your works, do you think readers get it?

Next time you’re sitting in front of a show your kids pick out (or a young person) and you really don’t want to watch it, try to change up your viewing experience.

Look at the set; listen to word choices; look at hair styles and accessories; watch for fashion faux pas; determine whether they have the blonde acting dumb or the heavy-set kid being clumsy.

When your kid laughs, tune in to what makes them howl and join in the fun for a bit of ‘raderie.

Same goes for blog writing — stick a bit of humor and fascinating stuff in the post and impress the community…or, just be yourself and let the you shine through. Just like the writers of Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, the creativity and hidden message are yours.

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How Do You Listen?

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Conversation by Patrick Bohnen

Conversation by Patrick Bohnen (Photo credit: Kraemer Family Library)

Those without hearing impairment can hear, but are they listening? Ear buds allow the outside world to be ignored and an entire new world of escape to tune in.

When you speak with someone face to face, you can tell if they’re listening or distracted. It’s pretty easy, and then when the phone vibrates in the pocket, that instant intake of breath and dart of the eyes take focus from a conversation and onto a device. Onlookers can see the internal question posed by brain waves — who’s calling, emailing, texting, pinging?

How do you listen?

Can you hear a conversation on the phone and tune in without multi-tasking? Do you focus entirely on the caller and give him or her undivided attention? How do you listen to your kids’ stories from school — the drama among BFFs or the playground battles that are so critical to the kidlets?

Listening to clients means you can provide better services and deliverables and work product. Listening to conversation means you can create blog fodder like this (inspired by a phone conversation). Listening intently means you listen with purpose, and what that breeds is respect.

Next time you’re having a meeting or gathering with anyone and you’re face to face, please give that person your undivided attention. They deserve that courtesy and you deserve to be respected.

Listening is the product of communication. We’re creating a society of non-communicators especially amongst millennials and teenagers. Parents are to blame, and today’s youth are this nation’s business future.

When you listen, do this:

1. Shake hands to get the tactile going. If you’re not IRL, then ask a question about the caller’s well being to personalize.

2. Look people in the eye when speaking.

3. Keep all hands on deck and out of pockets or purses; that iPhone is not going to sprout legs and run away.

4. Hear what people are saying by tuning in.

5. Respond in kind and with meaning; and I mean FOR REAL.

6. Erase all invasive thoughts from that moment and focus.

7. End with a smile and a thank you.

What think? Resonate?

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