FOOD 4 THOUGHT: WORTH THE READ May 2, 2014 How to Throw a Twitter Party People Want 2 Attend!

I read interesting informative posts and articles about business, social media, marketing, networking, and the like all the time. I'm a bit of a junkie when it comes to this type of thing. So I thought I would share at least one said post or article every Friday, and maybe send you into your weekend with some food for thought. 

This week is about the art of throwing a twitter party. Whether you are a brand or a blogger, twitter parties are fun, great exposure, and two way engagement without a sales pitch feel. Participants and their followers get a chance to know you, and engage in a positive fun way, with a few lucky prize winners to make the party exciting. 

Like anything else in life, if it is worth doing, it is worth doing right. For this you will need a plan, and to invest the time and work required to make your party run smoothly and look effortless. Note to reader: It is in no way effortless! It requires close attention to detail, and planning, it's just suppose to look that way.

So You Want to Throw a Twitter Party via Canada Blogosphere

So You Wanna Throw a Twitter Party? Here's How via Lisa Barone - Out Spoken Media

Keep Calm and Throw a KickA$$ Twitter Party via Rachel Seda - The Buzz Bin

Top 10 Tips for a TweetWorthy Twitter Party via Social Caffeine

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about Friday Feature: Worth the Read.

Note: I have not been compensated in any way for this post. All opinions are my own, and the purpose of this post is merely to share with my readers information and posts I find interesting.

Dear Anonymous,

Dear Anonymous, 

        I would love to respond directly to your comment "(brand name) experimenting with lil bloggers to push product. Cute.", but sadly you seemed to have forgotten to leave your name.  First I would like to say thank you so much for taking the time to visit Cathy Thinking Out Loud and for leaving a comment. I always like to take the time to thank both people and brands that provide me an opportunity, or take the time to comment. We all have busy lives, and therefore must be discriminating with how we choose to use our time. Clearly sharing this opinion was important to you since you took the time to share it.

        Having said that, I am struggling a bit, trying to understand the purpose of your comment. Was it a sarcastic jab at the brand? If so I am not at all sure it was successful, especially since it is unlikely they will ever see the comment. If your comment was to take a jab at me and "lil" bloggers, here again I think you have failed. I am proud to represent the "lil" people and bloggers and to call them my colleagues and friends. Also, I feel that your comment lacks the research required to make such a call about me, or my blog.

        So to set the record straight, and to save you some time, I will fill in some of the details for you. First, in regards to size, if you mean the number of followers, then I will give you that. I have been blogging for less than a year, and have not amassed a huge following. This takes time, and kudos to those bloggers who have accomplished this through hard work and dedication. I raise a glass to all of them! As far as content, I believe I am "big" on providing my readers with exactly what I claim to be "I'm Cathy thinking out loud about things that matter to me. Sharing is in my nature, and at Cathy Thinking Out Loud I share and link, information, ideas, and people." I am big on engagement, and interaction. I am big on travel, giving back, paying it forward, and green ideas.

        I "push" very few products for brands on my blog in exchange for product or compensation, although I have no issue with that. My experience is I am under no obligation to give a positive review, just an honest review of my personal experience with the brand or product. I am always happy to share an idea or product that I think my readers would like, especially if it addresses or solves a problem. Most times I purchase a product and like it so much I want to share. Occasionally I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to review a product, and be compensated for my honest feedback, and the considerable amount of time it takes to do the review, or post.

        My first reaction to your comment was to point out I was pushing nothing, but instead sharing information, and giving my readers an opportunity to win a giveaway. I wanted to respond that I bring to my blog years of education, work, and life experience that is anything but "lil". I wanted to suggest that people are free to read or not read my blog. That is the beauty of it. Then I realized you really don't care about such things, and maybe you need to make others feel "lil" in order for you to feel big. In the end I deleted your comment Anonymous, not because of what you said, but because I put myself out there and sign my name to it, and I have a policy of deleting comments when the person commenting does not do the same. On that note I wish you all the best in your big life.

Sincerely

Cathy Canton

Tips for Beginners: #SocialMedia and Your #SmallBusiness #WorththeRead

Small Business and Social Media:

Finding a Social Media Strategy That Fits Your Small Business

I love reading interesting and informative posts and articles about business, social media, marketing and blogging. My Worth the Read posts are my way of sharing interesting or useful insights gained, giving you something to think about, and linking a few related posts or resources I think are worth taking the time to read. 

This week's theme is Social Media for Small Business. 

The transition for small businesses onto social media can be a tricky one. Being social requires a balance between engaging on a personal level and maintaining a professional brand image. Without some guidelines and a plan it's easy to make the mistake of being either too casual or automating everything resulting in existing and potential clients disengaging rather than engaging. 

Understand that there are expectations of immediate responses on social media. Be prepared for that and do it right from the beginning. 

It's one thing not to be on social media, it's another thing entirely to be there and not manage your engagement well. You will lose customers if they experience frustration about your social media accounts, and they will share this frustration VERY publicly. Figuring out a social media strategy that works within your available resources, budget and business vision may take some fidgeting to get just the right fit. It is better to take a bit more time and get it right then to lose existing and potential customers not because of your product but because of frustrating social media experiences. 

Social media engagement if not managed can easily become a time and productivity thief, and overwhelming. 

Start small and then add on if that becomes feasible and makes sense. First, do some research to figure out what social media platforms are out there, then narrow down your research to 2 or 3 platforms such as facebook, twitter or instagram that work best for your type of business. It's impossible to be on, and maintain every social media platform, nor should you try. Even if certain platforms are popular, it doesn't mean they're a good fit for you or offer a good return on invested time or money. 

In-House or Out-Source:

Remembering that existing and potential customers have social media expectations, and your bottom-line can be impacted by your social media engagement, do you have the expertise to manage this in-house? I'm a believer in doing what you're good at, and although managing your own social media, or delegating it to an intern may seem like a good cost cutting measure, in the long term it may be more cost effective to out-source it to someone or a team with social media expertise.   

Finding a social media person or team that's a good fit for your business: 

A good fit requires they understand and believe in your business' core values and are able to translate those values into consistent messaging on social media. Communicating those values in a way that generates conversations and inspires others to join in is a true art. For that reason some real thought should be given to what you want your business' social media presence to be, and who can best do that. Resist the urge to treat your social media as an after thought or punted off to inexperienced staff or interns. Instead have a look at my Worth the Read: The On-Line Community Manager, and Pam Moore's post about Hiring a Social Media Agency. 

Below are a few links and resources to get you started:

• A Beginner's Social Media Guide for Small Business via Megan Conley - Social Media Examiner
• 6 Uncomplicated Social SEO Tips for Small Business via Danielle Cormier - Constant Contact
• The Ultimate Guide to Using Social Media for Small Business via Alyssa Gregory - About.com
• 10 Small Business Social Media Marketing Tips via Ross Kimbarovsky - Mashable
• Social Media for Small Business: Choose Wisely, then Execute via Ian Lurie - Entrepreneur .com

Need some more Food for Thought? 

Social Media Best Practices for Small Business

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about what's worth taking the time to read.

Note: I have not been compensated in any way for this post. All opinions are my own, and the purpose of this post is merely to share with my readers information and posts that I find interesting 

It's My Job! If you won't work for free don't ask me to! #Blogging #BloggerIssues #WorthTheRead

I feel like a Blogger Sandwich:
Stuck Between Two Sets of Assumptions About Fair Compensation.

(And by assumptions I really mean judgy, entitled and misinformed by choice. STOP! Before you get offended I concede, not everyone makes these assumptions, but a surprisingly large number do.)

I love reading interesting and informative posts and articles about business, social media, marketing and blogging. My Worth the Read posts are my way of sharing my take on a given topic, with a few related links I think are worth taking the time to read, and ponder. 

Myth Busters ...
For this post let's pretend we're on the show Myth Busters and attempt to bust the myth on one hand that bloggers just sit around waiting for tons of free stuff to be delivered to their door, and on the other hand some (not all) brands and PR firms believing blogger content isn't worthy of the same compensation as other work and forms of brand engagement and promotion. Time after time we are asked to use our voice, reach and blog to create content for free, or in exchange for products which total value equates to compensation far below minimum wage. As my friend Paula from Thrifty Mommas Tips says "On What Planet is Toothpaste Compensation for Work?"

Blogs, Blogging, Bloggers and the topic of fair compensation ...
It's a Saturday and I'm working. Yes writing blog posts is work, and hard work. I have yet to complete a post in under an hour, and most take several hours to write. If there is an event to attend, research, food preparation, crafts, photographs, templates and or instructions to accompany the post, then it can take many hours. The majority of Bloggers I know put a great deal of time into planning well written, interesting and informative posts for their readers. They often bring to their blog years of relevant education and work experience, not to mention continually striving to improve their skills and craft. 

Things I do when I'm not sitting around waiting for free stuff ... 
Let me assure you I know of no blogger who just sits there waiting for things to drop into their lap, mailbox, or inbox. I challenge those who judge, assume, are misinformed to walk a mile in my shoes, but be warned, you're gonna need comfy ones! And just an FYI, there are actual out of pocket expenses related to blogging. Certainly for the first several years it's a full time job hunting down contacts, opportunities and growing your reach enough to even be considered for sponsored content. That means engaging and pitching ideas, or the digital equivalent of cold calling. It's time consuming and takes it's toll on your ego and self confidence. Add time required for blog administration and up keep, emails, invoicing, and social media sharing so people know you exist. Blogging isn't a matter of if you write it they will come, there is no field of dreams here. Juggling those responsibilities and the time required to create blog posts is a constant challenge. Even if opportunities and brands are coming to you, many are offer "toothpaste" or no compensation at all, spun to read as a favour for providing brand specific sales pitch information they're sure my readers want to know about. 

What and Why I Write...
As bloggers, we all must make decisions about what to write, which paid opportunities are a good fit for our blog, and what is fair compensation for the content we create. The majority of my post are not paid or sponsored. There are a number of reasons why I might write a post: to inform, to entertainment, support a person, place or thing, or share an experience, and sometimes if it's a good fit for money. Occasionally I'll write a non-compensated post about a personal experience (both good and bad) with a product or a brand, for which I'm under no obligation to include specific content or messaging. That is a very different thing than being asked to create content around a specific campaign or message, and that type of post I will not write for free. Even if paid minimum wage for my work, most of my posts, would require compensation of at least $100.00 to cover my time investment. This amount doesn't take into account intangibles, or out of pocket expenses associated with the post or blogging. Brands and even larger charities have far deeper pockets than I. They have a marketing and campaign budgets. If they can afford to pay a marketing team or PR firm they can afford to compensate me for my work. 

"Bottom" line - it's free my ass!
So four things: 1) I will not work for free unless the brand, marketing team, and/or PR firm are also working for free. So safe to say unlikely I'll be working for free any time soon. 2) I support brands by buying their products, which I think is a big deal. If they want more than that they'll need to support me by buying my product ... as in my blog and content I create. 3) You get what you pay for. You get far better blog for your buck if you offer fair compensation and relationship building. 4) It's my job people! I'm always confused when people judge assume bloggers get tons of "free" stuff. We're required to claim both the value of product or payment as taxable income. Yep, even the toothpaste has to be claimed as income, so not free, and as far as I know toothpaste still is not an accepted form of currency in which to pay one's mortgage or orthodontist bills. 

"Look I got another "freebie" pay cheque!" ... said by no one ever! 
Just in case further clarification is needed; No one considers a pay cheque a "freebie", and neither should a Blogger's income, regardless of the form in which it's paid. Opportunities for paid work don't magically appear, they are the end result of hard work, and relationship building. Like those seeking potential employment in other fields, bloggers must present their resume or Media Kit with relevant education, experience, skills, and reach, to potential clients. Their blog is a portfolio of their work. 

Blogging is not contesting ...
Although both require time and effort, one is about odds and chance, and the other is a job with deadlines, and commitments, and leaves very little to chance if one hopes to have a successful business, and a blog people want to read. 

Worth the Read ...
On that note below are a few posts I think make this point and are worth the read. Although not necessarily directed at an average reader, they do give some excellent insight into what a Blogger does, for what, why they're being compensated and some of the challenges encountered all in a day of blogging. Hopefully these posts will have you looking at the job of blogging, and bloggers differently, and with new insight and understanding.

• Before You Ask Bloggers to Blog for Free via Thrift Mommas Tips
• Five Reasons Your Outreach Program Failed via Thrifty Mommas TipsGiving me FREE stuff? This is NOT a Review via Tales of a Ranting Ginger
• Stop Undervaluing other Bloggers via Tales of a Ranting Ginger
• Dear Social Business and Brand Leaders Value My Time and I Will Value Your Brand via Pam Moore - The Marketing Nut

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about Friday Feature: Worth the Read.

Note: I have not been compensated in any way for this post. All opinions are my own, and the purpose of this post is merely to share with my readers information and posts I find interesting.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT FRIDAY FEATURE: WORTH THE READ MAR 14, 2014

I read interesting informative posts and articles about business, social media, marketing, networking, and the like all the time. I'm a bit of a junkie when it comes to this type of thing. So I thought I would share at least one said post or article every Friday, and maybe send you into your weekend with some food for thought. I found both of these were interesting, thought provoking, worth the read, and maybe worthy of some further conversation.

Do You Struggle to Make Conversation? A Menu of Options For Small Talk via LinkedIn.com - Gretchen Rubin

How Does Your CEO Treat The Janitor? via Forbes.com - Rob Asghar 

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about Friday Feature: Worth the Read.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT FRIDAY FEATURE: WORTH THE READ MAR 7, 2014

I read interesting informative posts and articles about business, social media, marketing, networking, and the like all the time. I'm a bit of a junkie when it comes to this type of thing. So I thought I would share at least one said post or article every Friday, and maybe send you into your weekend with some food for thought. This week is about Blogging. I stumbled across Blogging Basics 101  , where I found tons of posts and resources perfect for a newbie blogger like myself. Today I'm sharing three of those posts. Let me know what think, and whether you found these interesting or helpful. Be sure to leave a comment on Blogging Basics 101 too!

SEO: What are NoFollow and DoFollow Links: via Blogging Basics 101

How to Get Started with Google Analytics via Blogging Basics 101

Where to Find Pictures for Your Blog or Facebook via Blogging Basics 101

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about Friday Feature: Worth the Read.