visual: blog.bobbyrettew.com
Not too long ago, I vlogged (is that a rea word yet?) about how a company’s culture can affect the interest of it’s employees to be social on behalf of the company. Checking in ala Foursquare, sharing company Facebook posts, or Tweeting it up about the latest cool happening at the workplace.
So, if you find yourself having to ask or coax your employees to like your page or tweet at ya…ummm…yea…culture problem.
Lots of businesses still don’t get it. They try to use social media as an arm of their old-school marketing strategy or limit the resources so much, their networks resemble outdated e-billboards. And it all comes down to caring. The more you care about your customers, your message, your authenticity, the better the experience will be…for everyone. 
I’m no expert, but I do have oodles of respect for people like Gary Vaynerchuk, Brian Solis, Seth Godin, and Hugh MacLeod – just to name a few. Oh, and if you haven’t heard of them…yea…that’s a HUGE part of your problem.
Stop ruining social media. Start caring about it.
Organizations invest so much time, effort, and money into trying to make the workplace fun and happy. Please stop. It’s usually quite embarrassing. Adult sing-a-longs, funny shirt Tuesdays, and bring your pet to work Fridays are lame and often times, awkward.
I mean really, who doesn’t enjoy a dog crapping under their desk while the owner is cluelessly singing a horrible rendition of Celebration in a hideous Hawaiian shirt?
visual: jblpro.com
What organizations need to focus on is making work fun and happy. Give employees the freedom to get creative with customer service. Ask them to make fun, informative videos for customers. Ask them to create blog content about the company or industry and allow their personalities to shine through.
The workplace is the stage. The employees are the players. The work is the play. Have fun. Be awesome.
In yesterday’s blog, I wrote about ProjectSHINE. This is a group of creatives using art to help improve business, community, and and culture in Hazleton, Pa. The approach is also very interactive, because we believe everyone has something unique to contribute to their community. That’s the art of it.
visual: telegraph.co.uk
Clay Forsberg writes about five attitudes needed to succeed in a small town and I dig them…a lot. Number one atop the list the is the necessity of embracing change. But he also goes on to highlight how technology can be a great resource for small communities, to respect each other, create opportunities for the youth, and not to limit what the community has to offer to only those who reside in it.
Clay explains them in more depth:
1. Embrace change and be flexible.
Expect your life to be turned upside down tomorrow when you wake up. Strike the word security from your vocabulary. The only security you’ll have today, especially in a small town, is yourself and ability to navigate the inevitable changes that will “slap you in the face” when you least expect it. Don’t be pre-occupied with trying to hang on to “the way things were.” The only constant in life is change … so deal with it!
2. Embrace technology.
Technology and specifically the internet is everywhere, and embedded in everything. Technology will buffer you from the ups and down of a local economy. Become adept at social media – for social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) will widen your reach of contacts and ultimately the support when you need it most. The internet will also enable you to create income being a “location independent” micro-entrepreneur.
3. Embrace your community.
Your community, your neighbors, are your primary safety net and support structure. Don’t be a recluse. Lend a hand whenever you can. Be the “go-to person” in your town. Be the “help” leader that people will follow. Be the one that is the first one to rally the people to make things better for all. A positive, action-oriented attitude is contagious.
4. Embrace the youth.
Make your town the one that welcomes young people. For it’s the young people who will create the new opportunities, the opportunities that will keep your town’s death at bay. Don’t be part of a town that only tries to “hang to yesterday,” and tries to prevent any intrusion into this allegedly idyllic time … the time that is no longer and never will be. Business owners need to part of the solution also. Mentoring and internship programs do wonders keeping your young talent at home, rather than having them leave town for better opportunities.
5. Focus on businesses that serve out-of-town customers.
If you’re an entrepreneur, stay away from ventures that serve only your fellow community members, especially if the services you offer already exist locally. Don’t depend on revenue only generated from your community. Be responsible for bringing needed money into the community rather than cannibalize the existing businesses of your neighbors.
Thoughts? Ideas?
A conversation can…
Uplift your mood
Resolve a conflict
Begin a relationship
Clarify
visual: joe longo
Make you laugh
Expand understanding
Educate
Bridge gaps
Create opportunities
Provide comfort
Close a deal
Enlighten
Inspire
Spread love
Unite the world
This past year I organized a few social happenings centered around art. I live in the greater Hazleton, Pa area and socializing around art and igniting a creative culture have been inspirations of mine. I’m not alone. There are so many talented artists, social butterflies, and incredible people seeking inspiration who are helping make shit happen!
design: ali mckittrick
One such event is happening this Friday: pARTy
However, I tend to get poked and prodded about how to promote it – especially in the local newspaper. I get peppered with questions like: Are ya gonna put something in the newspaper? People still read the newspaper, ya know.
Here’s the deal. The newspaper is not something new. I don’t read the local newspaper. I certainly don’t read the newspaper to find out about local happenings. I recently asked approximately 60 college students if they read the local newspaper to discover things to do in and around the area. Guess what? Not. A. One.
The reason? The internet. Whether it be a website or a social network or even email, people have been getting their information faster, with greater convenience, and in a more interactive way online.
I’d like to focus on the interactive characteristic, because I feel it to be the most influential. The following questions refer to a physical newspaper.
When was the last time the design of an ad in your local newspaper really grabbed you?
Can you interact with the designer, author, sponsor of a newspaper ad?
Can you easily interact with other people who may be interested in whatever the ad is promoting?
Can you easily, quickly share the newspaper ad with others?
Are ads FREE in the local newspaper?
I created an event on Facebook for the above mentioned pARTy and have enjoyed watching people click “Going” and interacting with them too. I’ve enjoyed sharing little tidbits about the event and the artists as we get closer to the date. I’ve been blown away by the nice things people have been saying and how they have been sharing the event with others. It really is amazing.
visual: jennie lee allegretto
I also wrote an article for the pARTy and it ran in the local newspaper today (without a pic). Much to my embarrassment, I forgot to list an artist. Sorry Audrey. Can’t change that. Can’t do a rerun.
But guess what, I was able to head over to that Facebook event, apologize to the artist and her supporters, and share a post about her and her art within the event.
I didn’t change the game, but I am in it.
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