Author Archives: Ash

Starting Your First Blog

November 2, 2009 – 1:01 pm

Often times, having a business blog is misunderstood. The social understanding that bloggers waste time complaining about things they don’t like and feeling the freedom to voice their opinion. Although, this is true in some cases, there are many business blogs that focus on speaking to their audience about products and services that are relevant.

Using a blog can also bring about information on new products, ideas of new products that could be released, share pictures or videos or processes (non-private) that viewers would be interested in. In the end, there are hundreds of reasons to build a business blog. There are thousands of ways to implement the messages and media around each post.

Here’s an example of a typical corporate home page. It looks good and references many offerings throughout the site. But you’ll notice the content is pretty light and could take advantage of additional content. This is where a business blog comes in to play; to promote their main product , church chairs, and gives so many opportunities to add in text content, audio and video content and branch out into social media as well.

church chairs

Posted in Blogging, SEO | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Building Schools through TweetsGiving.org

December 28, 2008 – 6:00 pm

Several things are accomplished through online communication; currently known as social media, including branding, networking, direct sales, etc.

Another accomplishment includes raising money and awareness for causes like building a school in Tanzania; where over $10,000 was raised in just 48 hours.

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Where The Hell Is Matt?

November 30, 2008 – 6:12 pm

The subject of Internet celebrities has come up in several of my latest discussions. Maybe it’s because we’re seeing more and more of these people rising up without the traditional media support or maybe it’s just timing. Either way, it’s obvious that traditional media is changing. Even social media is changing as it matures into a much more obvious choice for socializing.

Not to be confused with the infamous Matt, co-founder of Wordpress, Where the Hell is Matt? has carved his niche in travel, video and dominating the search engines for the keyword Matt. He’s sponsored by Stride gum.

His videos have also been downloaded million and millions of times. Who’s gonna argue with that kind of media attention?

Posted in SEO, Social Networking, Videos | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Women’s Entertainment Network Embraces Branding Through Current Events

October 9, 2008 – 10:48 am

This is a great example of using current events to promote your brand. It doesn’t matter what you believe or which candidate you prefer. The Women’s Entertainment Network isn’t taking a position here, but they’re using the election to promote their brand and unite their viewers on the importance of voting. It doesn’t hurt that they’re building incoming links to their site as well.

I took a screenshot to archive the page, should they decide to take it down after the election. You can click on the image to visit their page and grad a badge for your site.

Posted in Social Networking | Tagged , , , , | Comments (1)

Comcast Extends Customer Service Through Social Media

October 6, 2008 – 9:07 am

Comcast has been very smart to use social media services to not only make friends with it’s customers but actually make a difference after doing so.

Customers who can’t seem to get a problem solved or a question answered have been going online and lashing out for years. It’s become so much easier to find people to tell about a bad experience and the younger generation is taking full advantage.

Being aware, at least two guys at Comcast have created Twitter accounts and reached out to their customers complaints. They reach out to customers and solve their problems as quickly as possible. They get raving reviews from customers and it spreads from customer to customer that Comcast Customer Service is available on Twitter.

If you’re not on Twitter, you can sign up for a free account.

If you’re a business experiencing customer backlash, you can consider following Frank and Scott into the online customer service field.

Nice job Comcast.

Posted in SEO | Comments (1)

Damn I Need A Job

September 15, 2008 – 4:07 pm

I first heard about Larry Dinsmore from Jibber Jobber, a Career Management Toolset, when they blogged Damn I Need A Job (dotcom).

Dinsmore has since found a job and created a business as well as inspired many others to stand out from the crowd while looking for employment. He scored tons of media coverage for being catchy and found his way back to employment.

You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video

Think of the media coverage the company that hired him could be getting from this, if properly arranged. Of course, I’m not sure I’d give up my idea to a corporate contract but it’s an idea.

You can use his site to:

  • Search for jobs (I’m not sure how extensive this is)
  • Network with others in the forum
  • Read his blog

It seems Dinsmore has been too busy to keep up with the job search, forum and blog, probably because he’s working again, but maybe he’ll return to his roots eventually.

Lessons he learned and wants you to know:

  • Make your t-shirt message short
  • Wear it everywhere; all the time
  • Get attention by any means possible
  • Be creative

Ultimately, a social media mindset; mixed with local News PR and lots of standing around landed Dinsmore his job. But because he was thinking outside the box he continued to get media coverage, add sections to his blog and promote his idea online.

Posted in Social Networking | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (2)

Evolution of Dance

September 5, 2008 – 9:59 am

This is what happens when seemingly normal people decide to share a personal talent with others, take video and share it online and then everybody passes it around. Over 97 million times!

You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video

Judson Laipply has danced his way to the top spots on YouTube with:

  • #1 Most Viewed All Time Video
  • #1 Top Rated Video
  • #3 Most Discussed Video

He’s created a personal brand for life and been featured on TV and all over pop culture including Inside Edition, The Today Show, Good Morning America and Rolling Stone.

Check out the Evolution of Dance website for all the details.

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Nie Nie Day Auctions

August 29, 2008 – 11:48 am

A young couple, with four young children, survive a plane crash with third-degree burns on over 50% of their bodies and the blogging community came together to raise money, participate in a balloon launch (a family tradition) and support in any way the extended families who are helping house their children, enrolling them in school and becoming their interim parents.

Follow their progress here.

Thanks to Design Mom for hosting several auctions and listing 300+ auctions for Nie Nie Day to spread the word and raise as much money as possible. I’ll update here when it’s complete and we know how much has been raised. Totals are topping $100,000 so far. Amazing!

This is where blogging becomes more than just a bunch of people talking about opinions and arguing over their views of the world; and into the hearts of people to bridge communities.

Press:

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From Boston Fan To Lead Singer On Myspace

August 25, 2008 – 11:23 am

You may have heard about Boston, the band, and how they found their new lead singer after losing Brad Delp. It was all by mistake really and never could’ve happened without social media sites such as Myspace.

Tommy DeCarlo, a credit manager at Home Depot in Charlotte, North Carolina recorded a karaoke-style mp3 and uploaded it to his Myspace page as a tribute to Brad Delp. Along came the wife of Boston’s founder, Tom Scholz, who was surfing around Myspace and stumbled onto Tommy’s version of their song. Amazed, he flew Tommy and family up for an audition and resulted in a Delp tribute show and tour invite.

Having rapped the summer tour, Tommy will appear on Boston’s new album due out in early 2009 along with Stryper frontman, Michael Sweet.

Source

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Have You Seen Fred?

August 23, 2008 – 10:40 pm

In my first example, I introduce you to Fred. He’s an Internet celebrity with over 76 million Youtube video views as of the writing of this post. I don’t know anyone who couldn’t find a way to capitalize on 76 million viewers.

I’m not asking that you watch all of his videos, or even finish just one. In fact, I’m warning you that it’s extremely annoying but when I see my older children spend an hour online with Fred after dinner I realize there is power in Fred. A quick Google search of Fred turns up financial stats from Google Finance and then Fred’s Youtube page.

This is the power of social media to capture your audience as an introduction to your company, product, personal blog or brand.

Check out this example of Fred Goes To The Dentist:

You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video

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