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Digital Marketing Strategy, PR and Messaging

Soulati-'TUDE!

More SMB Chat Recap

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It’s been an exciting few days growing a community of SMBs (that’s small-t0-medium businesses) yesterday and the day before right here. To recap the heretofore in brief:

  • The news about health premiums rising to “pay for” health reform and targeting SMBs, individuals put me over the edge. In speaking with Neicole Crepeau   in a fabulous Twitter conversation detailed here, I asked how we bloggers could unite and create a larger voice. She suggested a Facebook page, and off we went.
  • By engaging my tier one tweeps (you can see their identities via links in this post), what resulted was the most rewarding exchange of social media brainstorming world-wide without speaking one word. (I am in awe and thank each of you for participating in this experience.)

The results are still unfolding:

  • Facebook was initially suggested as the forum for our SMB community to reach the small service businesses and others needing  information and peer group support we’d offer. Comments to the contrary said it was a “personal” place while LinkedIn was pushed as the first choice.
  • Comments about LinkedIn say it’s highly professional and peoples’ experience with its groups hold low regard. My sense is lack of familial exchange and inability to create a friendly forum in which to exchange commentary and free thought.
  • This blog, Soulati-TUDE!, is new. Its voice written by moi as a public relations practitioner is not theme oriented per se; it’s about social media, PR, teaching and observation about what impacts me. While some see this as not having direction, it is perfectly me — I thirst for knowledge and return it back strategically. The SMB audience is always a focus albeit not an emphasis.  
  • To grow the SMB community here, this blog’s backend needs work with new plug-ins, upgrades, and a general-take-it-to-the-next-level thrust; Facebook Like, LinkedIn button, e-mail comments plug in, and other things as advised by you. (I develop content; the tech stuff kills me until I learn, learn, learn.)
  • I’ve officially registered #SMBChat on What the HashTag. (Thanks, Jenn!) People asked for a Twitter forum to review issues easily and trend the topic, too. No official name as of yet for this; I like SMBChat, really. (How about you?)
  • Neicole suggested yesterday this blog would suffer SEO if some of it is devoted to SMB and the other posts to PR. Not sure I really care about that? As said earlier, my agency PR background pings me all over. Who has expertise to share on the importance of that, please?
  • On that note, differentiating a blog from others in the same vertical takes consistent effort. This emphasis would engage hundreds of tweeps in no time at all from across verticals and offer rich perspective for those with no voice at all.

And, so, away we go! Please suggest other thoughts to push us into the home stretch. Thank you!

Planning to SMB Facebook

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So great we can open source this discussion right here to determine what a small-to-medium business forum, community, partnership, etc. looks like. Yesterday, I invited several tweeps to join in the creation of this endeavor, and nearly all accepted.

To recap, Neicole Crepeau and I determined the need for a forum, place, community location to address issues of concern pertaining to SMBs. That’s us. I invited (and they graciously accepted) Michelle Quillin, Jon Buscall, Michelle Hellyar, and Jenn Whinnem.

Another questioned the choice of platforms and said “Fail” to Facebook although he agreed it was “easy to set up.” Am hoping Gregg Morris weighs in here to share  his expertise for the back end. I believe, Davina Brewer at 3Hats will come forth, too, right?

What never fails to frustrate me is the back-end tech requirements of all things social media. Folks not in the know believe it’s “so easy” to set up a blog and take off to the moon. Or, launch a Facebook page with nary a glance at its design or interactivity; or, set up a SMB forum only on Facebook because the knowledge about other platforms is non-existent (sigh).

As a public relations strategist, I am an idea person through and through. It’s these tech details that kill me (and mark my words right here, that I will master this dark tunnel), and that’s why having varying levels of expertise on board for this is fabulous. Without further ado, let’s collaborate on what this puppy looks like. Please weigh in and please also forgive my lack of plug in for “email comments to me.” (The house is not in order!)

Strategic Plan for “The SMB Forum” or WHATEVER!

Objective

  • Create community for SMBs frustrated with new and befuddling rules of engagement for businesses
  • Provide forum for collective opinion and determine ability for call to action oriented to issues
  • Invite SMBs from all verticals to share among peer groups, collaborate freely while supporting and learning one anothers’ plights

Strategy

  • Communicate issues of import to SMBs based on breaking news, state laws, and other items pertaining to general business administration.
  • Inform and educate all SMBs about news that affects us regardless of size or industry sector.
  • Collaborate with independents, solos and other really small businesses and create a familial community where all questions are respected and all comments delivered in like manner and in good humor.

Audience

  • All SMBs who engage online
  • Bloggers seeking partners with whom to collaborate
  • Business owners seeking suppliers

Tactics

  • Assess rules of engagement for group leaders; determine topical interests and purpose for joining
  • Name the group!
  • Launch the group on a platform that is Facebook, ning, LinkedIn or elsewhere? What is preferred/why? (LinkedIn may be a great place to do this…?)
  • Develop some basic rules of engagement: i.e. comments on issues, welcomes to new group members, news articles that pertain to SMBs (many each day re laws and Congress) etc.

OK…your thoughts, please? Thank you!

Should We SMB Facebook?

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Twitter offers lovely surprises when you least expect it. I had no idea I’d banter intelligently with Neicole Crepeau (@neicolec) and invite her to a phone chat which resulted in both of us describing ourselves as SMBs frustrated with the health care reform situation. Nicole runs Coherent Interactive  and blogs on social media here.

My initial thrust in reaching out to Neicole was oriented to “what can we do as bloggers” to fight back?

Neicole, idea person that she is, suggested a Facebook page. That put the wheels in high gear. I’ve been avoiding starting a Facebook page for Soulati Media, Inc. because the Web site is still not where it needs to be (my designer is in la la land and not responding), and my blog pages need to be built with informed content. Why open yet another channel when my house is not in order?

Rather than Facebook about me and be so repetitive and boring, Neicole and I briefly addressed a Facebook fan page for small business owners struggling with high emotion about taxes, insurance, finance, and all other issues that form the backbone of our businesses.

Several years ago, I registered a domain name that would address the administrative inside of a business; the site would be a plethora of resources for all SMBs to tap and enable a smooth sail for these issues that plague us. My dream is still a dream, but this Facebook page is more a reality and easier implemented, too.

Here’s the invite…

We’re seeking SMBs (that’s small-to-medium businesses) to join us on this venture. Our aim is to create a forum for us in business to voice our concerns, share tales, and lend support to our peer groups. The role of those who engage would be to add links, content, comments and encouragement to anyone stopping by.

There’s no monetary gain here unless you get a lead from a prospect eager to engage in our conversation. The commitment is one of intellectual stimulation, some time, and the ability to freely say “I’m ticked off that SMBs continue to be gouged for more taxes, higher premiums, and more accounting demands…etc.”

As Neicole and I run successful ventures that keep us hopping (see above), we’re eager to find like-minded folks to launch this yet-to-be-named forum.

If you deem this cause and our mission agreeable, please join in. Just a note below is all we need to engage. If you think the Small Business Forum worthy and you’d participate, please also give me a nod here.

From the pod of a seed, big ideas come and a community is generated.

Cystic Fibrosis in the Workplace

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Today’s guest post is from a Twitter pal of mine, . There couldn’t be a more supportive person to my blog; you frequently see her comments here, and she’s always RT’ing my material. For that I’m forever grateful, and to show that appreciation, I suggested she pen a post right here at home.

By way of further introduction, Jenn is a corporate communications pro who enjoys sushi and social media, often at the same time.  Currently she is project manager and marketing specialist for , a Glastonbury, Conn. interactive design firm.

Take it away, Jenn…

My Twitter Pal, Jenn

I have cystic fibrosis.

I have so many stories I could tell you about what it’s like to grow up with a fatal illness, but the story I’m going to tell you today is about navigating the workplace when you’re a sickie like me.

First, the facts.  Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease. Specifically it is an autosomal recessive disease. This means my parents do not have cystic fibrosis, but they “carry” the gene, and when they made me, they hit the genetic jackpot, so to speak.  The disease is known for three things:

  • Thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs, scars them, and makes breathing difficult.
  • That same mucus clogs the pancreas preventing enzymes from aiding the digestive process. This makes absorption difficult, and a person with CF is typically underweight.
  • Salty sweat that for years was used to diagnose the disease.  A person with CF has sweat that is two-to-three times saltier than average.

The median life expectancy of the disease is, right now, somewhere around 35. When I was born, I think the life expectancy was 23. I never let CF get in my way, and my doctor informed me I’d outlive him!

Since the CF gene was found in 1989, great strides have been made in research in terms of new therapies, including genotype-specific therapies.  Although I am extremely healthy for a person with CF, I take pills and nebulizer treatments every day.  As a child I still underwent week-long hospital stays when I had pulmonary exacerbations and had a feeding tube in my early adolescence.  Compared to my CF peers, I have had it easy!

As an adult with CF, living in the United States, my biggest concern is having health insurance coverage. My best bet for health insurance coverage is either through employment or a spouse’s employment. Since I’m not married, it’s critical that I have a job and have benefits.  One of my drugs (taken every other month) is $6,000 without insurance.

Early on, I was cautioned by another adult with CF not to reveal my disease to my employer.  She said she had been passed on promotions because of the concern she would get sick and not be able to handle the workload.  I took this to heart.  So, I started off every job (since I finished my degree) not telling employers about the CF. Inevitably, I had to tell them, because of the coughing.

I didn’t cough so much as a kid, but CF is progressive. I cough quite a bit now, and I get a lot of questions about it. Some people are concerned for me; some are concerned for themselves and the germs I might give them. The short version of the story is that I’ve tried to lie and say, “I have asthma.”  Believe me, this doesn’t work – people with asthma just don’t cough this much.  I still get questions.  As long as I’ve already got the job and I’m not in the interview, I’ve found it’s easier to cut through the BS and say “I cough because I have cystic fibrosis, I’m not contagious, you can ask me any questions you might have.” (So much for privacy.)

Enough about me; let’s see if I can offer any tips for sickies.

  • Tell your immediate boss. If you’re reading this, you’re probably not the kind of person who uses his/her illness to get special favors. The point of telling your boss is to get understanding and cooperation if you have a problem. For example, I need my boss to know I cough, I have frequent doctor appointments, and sometimes I run late in the morning because my therapies are time-consuming and/or I’m having symptoms.
  • Tell your immediate co-workers. Same reasoning.
  • Don’t be a hero. Sometimes you’re just having “the usual” problems.  And other times, you need to work from home (arrange it so you can do this if need be), or even take the day off.  Don’t make it worse on yourself to prove something.
  • Take care of yourself. You’ll be pretty shoddy at work if you’re not taking good care of yourself.  Pulling the odd all-nighter? Not great, but okay. Doing that regularly?  Find another job, period, or else your body will come after you.

I’m a little embarrassed that my list doesn’t contain earth-shattering revelations, but if you want those, here’s the list of jobs I considered but then realized I couldn’t pull off due to coughing:

  • Spy. I wanted to be Nancy Drew as a kid. My ability to eavesdrop is pretty much nil.
  • Physician’s Assistant: I’ve always been drawn to healthcare. But would you see a doctor you thought was always sick?
  • Actor: there just can’t be that many TB-patient roles.
  • Food service / Waitress: you want some cough with your fries?

Got more questions about CF? I recommend the .  You can also ask me.  I clearly don’t mind, since I just told the entire Internet all about it.

Who is Today’s Entrepreneur?

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My 8-year-old announced she wanted to have a store (after the failed lemonade stand two years ago), so I commenced setting her up with the glass jars I’d been saving for rainy-

For Sale By Jayme's Daughter

day crafts. Her pencil jars are a hit; she’s pocketed $13 plus $.50 for two hand-made magnets.  She has an order for six more.

Now, that’s entrepreneurship.

A client of mine in 2008 declared that no one is an entrepreneur who doesn’t manufacture goods. I took that to heart; in fact, that ruined my impression that I, too, am an entrepreneur.

I’ve been launching companies since 1990; some with employees, health benefits and real office space and others, like Soulati Media, Inc., a virtual public relations firm that hires independent contractors and of which I’m an employee.  Alas, I deliver professional services in public relations, social media and marketing.  I am organized as a corporation and pay appropriate business taxes for my company and my person. I conduct my own business development to make money, and I do the work — you know, chief, cook and bottle washer.

Is that entrepreneurship?

Jobless claims jumped 12,000 to 500,000 last week, according to the U.S. Labor Department. This is the highest level in nine months. The Wall Street Journal (darn, if I can find that piece) recently wrote a story about the link between unemployment and lack of education suggesting a college degree is a must-have.

That said, how many people are starting home-based businesses to find alternative means of earning? This story suggests somewhere in the range of 38 million home-based businesses now exist according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or the U.S. Census Bureau.

Those who launch home-based businesses…are they entrepreneurs?

I don’t much like the definition of entrepreneurship in Wikipedia (and, neither does Wikipedia, if you open this link). How do you define entrepreneurship? The definition is no longer cut and dry.