One of the most asked questions I’ve received from our Social Media Fitness Program participants is in regards to Twitter and how to optimize one’s Twitter page.  I’m glad many of you are taking the initiative to consider social media optimization as part of your strategy.

In this session of Tips from the Trainer, I will go over how to optimize your Twitter profile and your Twitter background. (more…)

A couple weeks ago, Marketwire launched its own Haiku contest to celebrate National Poetry Month and to give kudos to the CEO who brought new meaning to the term “letter of resignation.”  If you’re thinking of entering, we’ve listed a handful of submitted entries to give you an idea of what you would be up against. Can you do better? (more…)

Many of you may recall a rather non-traditional, yet wildly popular haiku from Jonathan Schwartz, former CEO of Sun Microsystems, who tweeted his resignation earlier this year.

Brilliant! So, on his coattails and in celebration of National Poetry Month, Marketwire is holding a haiku contest of its own for aspiring poets and social media enthusiasts alike. (more…)

Okay, I don’t mean just any mouse. I mean THE mouse — Mickey Mouse.

A few weeks ago, like thousands of others, I went to Walt Disney World, and the exceptional customer service and professionalism I experienced first-hand was remarkable. Disney is renowned for their high standards of service to their customers (Disney calls them “guests,” actually, regardless of whether customers are at the theme parks or shopping online),  and at every touch point, from hotel check-in to dinner reservations, I was astounded by the level of service afforded to every guest.

We don’t all work at companies as large and resourceful as Disney, but there are lessons to be learned by any size organization, in any industry or practice and by anyone who deals with people on a daily basis. Here are four essential customer service tips that Disney has perfected: (more…)

Many people involved in social media feel there is just too much information coming at them.  They feel overwhelmed, and that social media just doesn’t work.  This week, I received a question from an SM 10X30 participant about overexposure and information overload.

As a reminder, all questions are welcome, whether you are new to social media or are someone who is already very familiar. I love to help and chat about social media.  @ me on Twitter and let’s talk!

Q.  What are your suggestions in preventing overexposure and information overload when it comes to using all these social media sites?  Can you recommend a percentage mix of content and conversation to keep your fans and followers interested? (more…)

For this week’s SM 10X30 Q&A, I’ll answer questions about using LinkedIn for business. With all the attention Facebook has been getting for overtaking Yahoo!’s No. 2 position as most popular website in the US and Twitter’s announcement of 50 million tweets a day, LinkedIn is still one of the most relevant social media networking sites around.

As a reminder, all questions are welcome, whether you are new to social media or someone who is already very familiar. I love to help and chat about social media.  Join other social media gurus, ninjas, experts professionals on the Social Media Corner group. (more…)

I’m sure many of you participating in SM 10X30 – Marketwire’s Social Media Fitness Program — have had thoughts of using social media as a source of lead generation. Whether you are new to social media or a grizzly veteran, always be cautious of your mindset when using social media, especially if your main objective is generating leads. You can come off as spam and you will instantly lose credibility.  In this installment of my weekly Q&A for SM 10X30 participants, I answer questions about how to prospect for leads via social media, particularly Twitter and Facebook.

As a reminder, all questions are welcome, whether you are new to social media or already very familiar. I love to help and chat about social media. Check out our SlideShare presentations for exclusive tips.

Q. How do I create a list on Twitter and Facebook? (more…)

In this installment of “Tips,” I answer questions submitted by SM 10X30 participants about some more advanced topics involving Facebook.
As a reminder, all questions are welcome whether you are new to social media or are already very familiar. I love to help and chat about social media. Get exclusive tips, photos, and videos by joining our Facebook page.

Q. How does a (Facebook) fan page become a fan of another page? (more…)

Since the introduction of SM 10X30, Marketwire’s Social Media Fitness Program in mid-January, more than 3,000 people have registered and taken on high-intensity workouts to improve their social media skills and boost their confidence levels.  Folks are joining us from all corners of the globe: Canada, the US, the UK, India, Mexico, Guatemala, China, Italy, Spain, Israel, Kazakhstan, Puerto Rico, United Arab Emirates, Australia, New Zealand and many other countries. SM 10X30 participants represent Fortune 500 companies, government departments, non-profit organizations, media companies, colleges and universities, and PR practices of all scopes and specialties, from international and boutique agencies to private practitioners and consultants.  It’s clear that social media is important to communicators everywhere, regardless of geography and professional discipline. (more…)

In this installment, I answer questions submitted by SM10X30 participants about Facebook accounts for business.

As a reminder, all questions are welcome, whether you are new to social media or someone who is already very familiar.  I love to help and chat about social media.  Connect with hundreds of other social media enthusiasts on Marketwire’s Social Media Corner.

Q. How do I create a Facebook account for my business? (more…)