Inland Empire Cupcake Fair Announced

CUPCAKES FOR A CAUSE!

IEShineOn.com is proud and excited to present the First Annual Inland Empire Cupcake Fair at the Riverside Municipal Auditorium on Sunday, March 17, 2013, from 12-4 p.m..  The event will showcase some of the best Inland Empire professional and amateur bakers in a cupcake competition. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Foothill Family Shelter and the California Riverside Ballet.

Check out the details below and make sure you keep up to date with announcements, news updates, and more!  You can bet we’ve got a lot to share so don’t miss a beat!

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT AT THE EVENT:
- Cupcake tastings!!
- Vote for your favorite cupcake!
- Live Entertainment
- Spa Zone w/ complimentary mini-massages
- Kids Zone w/ complimentary babysitting from Seeking Sitters Inland Empire
- Complimentary photo booth from Shutter Cubby
- Lots of fun vendors!

TICKET INFORMATION:
Purchase tickets here: http://iecupcakefair.brownpapertickets.com/

EARLY BIRD SALE: Purchase your tickets before 3/5/13 and you get $5 off regular general admission price!
- General Admission $15, includes 6 tasting tickets
STARTING 3/5/13:
- General Admission $20, includes 6 tasting tickets
**Kids 3 and under are FREE!**

VIP & GROUP ADMISSION TICKETS:
- VIP $25, includes hour early entry and goodie bag
- Group Admission $95, includes 5 General Admission tickets

6 Pinterest Strategies for Small or Unconventional Businesses

For travel agents, artists and fashion brands Pinterest seems like an easy fit. What better way to show off exotic locals, new works of art and the latest trends and beauty secrets. But for many other businesses, out-of-the-box-pinning can be the pathway to new success.

The following strategy points are designed to help any business build and develop a strong Pinterest profile and develop boards that will make them shine.

#1 Create boards with your products. Create individual boards based on brand, type, function, theme or whatever makes the most sense for your business. You don’t need to feature every item, pick out your top sellers or highest profit-margin merchandise and feature. Make sure every pin links back to your website. You do have the option of adding a price so that it will appear as a tag on the actual image. To a price tag to your pin add a “$” sign followed by one or more numbers in the description field of your pin. However, before you place price tags on all your pins, experiment to see how pinners respond. If the pins without tags receive overwhelmingly more re-pins than those with price tags, consider not implementing the practice.

#2 Build boards with the Lifestyle of your consumers in mind. Your Pinterest profile should be more than products. It should be a reflection of the culture and values of you and your consumers. And it should be a profile people want to visit to find new ideas. So show off your creativity and have fun creating boards that you and your clients will enjoy. A great way to do this is with boards for inspiring quotes, your favorite books, humor and art. It can even be specific to your geographic region such as favorite local monuments, destinations or festivals.

#3 Create Themes around special events and holidays. People love themes especially when the themes reflect an upcoming event or holiday. Again, this is an opportunity to show off your creativity so go beyond product shots. You can show your product in use in original ways and mixed with pins that are complimentary that you find from other pinners and then mix that with your favorite recipes for the holiday.

#4 Engage. Social Media is not like traditional media where you talk at your audience (think radio and TV, your audience sees and/or hears you, but you can’t hear them). Social Media means you have an open forum for everyone to weigh in and share ideas and opinions. So go ahead and follow others, re-pin, comment, and ‘like’ other pins. Then monitor the comments, respond, and thank your followers for their engagement. It will build positive sentiment and give your business a more personable feel.

#5 Show Support for your fellow local business and create a board to feature them. Engaging with your fellow business community strengthens all of you. You might even want to consider a shared board as an opportunity to show how you complement each other.

For more ideas, I recommend you visit the following Pinterest profiles for inspiration.
Bevmo
Home Depot
HGTV
iEnhance
Bath & Body Works
California Riverside Ballet

If you need to know the basics on Pinterest account set-up and FAQ’s, please visit Pinning 101 or contact adgrlSu.

17 Quick Tips for Successful Social Media

For some, social media is a black hole of possibilities and they don't know where to start. Having an organized strategy and social media plan is vital, but just keeping the following tips in mind can start you on the road to success.

#1 Engage with the local business community. Reciprocity can go a long way in building relationships and connections.


#2 Monitor your brand image and your competitors by subscribing to them via RSS feed. You'll be able to see their posts and tweets without ever having to "like" or "follow".


#3 Re-purpose content. By changing the positioning statement, you'll find that you content can be used on multiple platforms.

#4 Most tweeters are in the Eastern time zone. Align your tweets with this time zone for maximum effectiveness (for national accounts). If local, stay with your home time zone but still plan for the morning.

#5 For ideas on how to add value to your Facebook brand page, visit others for ideas and inspiration.

#6 Comment on popular topics on Facebook. Your post will be grouped with the others on the subject and appear at the top of people's walls gaining you more exposure and increased reach.

#7 Facebook helpful hint: Customize your tabs. There are many free applications that can enhance and add value to your Facebook page such as a Contact tab and Custom Welcome Tab. Once you add your tabs, you can change the order in which the tabs are displayed by clicking "EDIT" under the list. Missing a tab? Click on "edit page", go to apps, and "edit setting" to enable the tab.

#8 Have you ever participated in a tweetchat on Twitter? It's a great way to extend your network, learn new things and gain klout.

#9 Convert to Facebook Timeline and keep up with any future changes. It shows you are actively managing the page and staying current on trends. 

#10 Create a custom cover photo for your new Timeline Brand Page and implement sooner rather than later. 

#11 Add a monitoring policy on your Facebook business page. Protect your right to remove non-approved conduct.

#12 Use hashtags (#) sparingly yet purposefully to get noticed.

#13 Always let a true personality shine through. Accounts should be managed by real people not just bots. Consumers know the difference.

#14 Remember to be personal and respond to your fans and don't be afraid to upload a quick video of you and your team hard at work or hard at play!

#15 Don’t “post to all”. Not every message works on all platforms.

#16 Make your fans look good. Share their content, like it and encourage their participation.

#17 Let your fans talk to one another without too much interference.

Two Social Media Tools I'm Using Right Now

SocialBro:  SocialBro is a tool to help analyze your Twitter Community. Its has multiple features but my favorite is the Best Time to Tweet data.  The program analyzes your followers and provides a day-by-day hour-by-hour graph of the percentage of your followers who are actively online.  The tool also gives you a breakdown of people you follow, who's active, who's a influential and who's inactive and then allows you to bulk remove tweeters from your friends list. If you're looking to make the most of your tweets, this is worth checking out.  This is currently a free application but I suspect this will change.

Hootsuite: Hootsuite is a social planning tool that allows you to schedule Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other outlets in advance.  The program comes with a link shortening tool that ads a built in trackability function adding value to the service.  There are free and paid versions of this tool (I use the paid version) and it is a great way to control when and where your message posts without having to be live for a time-sensitive message.  When used with info from SocialBro, this can really add power to your message. The program can generate all-inclusive reports, although only the click report is free with a paid service.

I highly recommend implementing these tools especially if you're managing more than one social media profile.

Social Media Design Parameters

Since I seem to be constantly looking these up, I decided to compile a chart of the most used social media platform design dimensions and parameters.  These are constantly changing so consult the respective developer guidelines if you have any difficulty. Otherwise, enjoy!

Please visit http://www.adgrlsu.com/social-media-resources/social-media-design-parameters/ for a larger image.

For some, you may want to test at www.screen-resolution.com due to varying screen resolutions and settings.

INFOGRAPHIC: Multi-Network View of One Person's Social Presence

Ever since Google Ad Preferences came to my attention, I've been thinking about what my overall social media presence says about me and what I've concluded is that it is very misleading.

Google is perhaps the most misleading, after all it had determined by my search history that I must be a middle-aged man who enjoys fishing and investing, neither of which I spend any time doing.  They get some things right, I do like online gaming, advertising and travelling.  My Google profile consists of Google+, Reader, Gmail and YouTube so I'm quite surprised that the computer analysis wasn't closer to the real me. A human looking at my Google+ would easily determine that I am a woman and that I am involved in marketing.  I'm not a heavy user of Google+ yet, so it really isn't the best look at who I am and what I enjoy.

Foursquare is a bit more telling but it amuses me none the less.  I am the mayor of 16 places, a third or which are fast food or quick service eateries and I check into these types of places often. This may lead some to believe that I would be a bit overweight.  While I don't consider myself thin, I also don't consider myself fat or overweight.  I just happen to have a lifestyle where I seem to be eating on the run more than I am able to eat at home or at healthier options.  But I do love fast food.

I have 81 Foursquare badges.  I have driven out of my way to try to earn a new badge. I secretly hope to be first in points everyday even though they mean nothing.  I am competitive and all of this supports that.

I am new to Pinterest but by all accounts my account is pretty sad which either means I am not the least bit creative or am not easily inspired. I hope this isn't true. But what little I have pinned reveals that I love to travel, read and watch science fiction/fantasy, cook sweets and want to remodel my home.

LinkedIn, the professional networking site, is, by nature, going to be quite accurate.  After all, it is an online resume.  Reading between the lines, I have 177 connections.  LinkedIn has not disclosed the average number of connections but most people speculate it is around 50 when considering all users and closer to 500 for the active user.  Being an active user below 500 connections, I either don't make business contacts easily or I don't connect with people I don't know very well.  The truth is the latter.

Twitter is one of the least personal social networks in my opinion.  Sure you can show your personality off in your tweets, but there isn't a lengthy profile to complete, 160 characters doesn't say much.  But if someone were following me closely they would know that I am deeply interested in advertising, marketing and social media, that I check in via Foursquare and that I love to read and share articles.

Finally, there's Facebook.  I have both personal and a professional business page.  This is probably the closest to the "real" me.  I've switched over to Timeline showing that I'm an early adapter, I have populated this timeline with photos and events from my childhood, I share videos, I talk with friends and I play some of the games.  I also enact as many privacy controls as I can find ans stay aware of.  But I've used this network longer than the others and share the most on it.

I hope you enjoy the below infographic contrasting the real me with the social me.  You can also find this on my official website www.adgrlsu.com.

Job Seekers: Is Having the Wrong Social Presence Better Than Not Having One at All?

It might be hard to believe but there are still people out there who have not given in to the temptation and joined the social universe. These people don't have Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or blog or any other type of social account. I've met them as students in my college classroom and as colleagues and fellow community members. On the other hand, there are many more that have joined the assorted social networks but are "over-sharing".  I've also had these in my classroom and as friends and acquaintances. Members from both these groups are currently looking for work or will be very soon. The U.S. Unemployment Rate is 8.5% and with new job seekers entering the picture each month, competition for jobs continues to increase.

So I ask the question, is having the "wrong" social presence better than not having one at all?

More and more frequently, Human Resource Managers and Hiring Managers are reviewing the digital identities of their top applicants to learn about their character as well as their attitude. Posting photos of yourself in compromising positions, posting about "risky" behavior or ranting about negative experiences will certainly put a damper on your job prospects, but posting nothing at all may be worse. Developing within the business world is an expectation of social connectivity. More and more brands are actively engaging in social media campaigns and monitor daily news and discussions on the topics that are relevant to their business.  They expect this same level of engagement from their employees and potential employees. Not being socially savvy may translate to not being web savvy or engaged in a continuous learning process. Not having any social profile also leaves your identity up to speculation or interpretation.

For those out there who do have active social profiles, here are my top 5 Tips for a Successful Job Seeker.

1) Clean up your act. Delete any photos that show you in an unflattering light. This includes photos of you out with your buddies at the bar, revealing or tacky Halloween costumes and even some pictures you're not even in but show content that not everyone will appreciate. And it doesn't matter if you have your profile privacy setting at high alert (which I recommend); there are still ways to get to those images.

2) Limit the amount of profanity you write if you're a potty-mouth. Excessive foul language is a red flag to potential employers. It is a sign that you may have anger management issues or might be a harassment risk.

3) Don't be negative all of the time. This just shows that you can't be pleased and are likely to create a negative vibe in the workplace.

4) Add value to your relationships. Be encouraging, share useful information and be a part of the conversation.

5) Just be you. Don't create a persona you think a potential employer wants to see, they want to see you and they can spot a falsified account a mile away.

For those out there that still don't have a single social profile. Get one. LinkedIn.com is probably the best place to start. LinkedIn is a professional networking site and a source for job leads. The importance of having a social profile will vary by industry, but don't let the lack of one stand between you and your career.

Find Your Sound

As I watch the 2011-2012 NCAA College Bowl Season I am inspired by Nelly's "The Champ", the soundtrack to this year's season.  This anthem will forever mark these events for these young athletes and forever be a reminder of their joys and triumphs.  I'm sure many of us upon hearing a song or a sound are reminded of events long past.  For instance, for me "Eternal Flame" is a reminder of my 6th grade Spring Dance in my school's gymnasium and Extreme's "More than Words" also reminds me of my Middle School Days.



Music and sound sparks a strong response from most people. It's why football teams travel with their marching bands and so much is put into the sound effects and scores for movies and television shows.  As marketers we have an opportunity to include a music bed behind most electronic media.  Put care into making these decisions.  Make sure the sound matches your message, evokes the desired emotion and compliments the products/services.  A great example of one brand doing this is Corona in the "Find Your Beach" series. The beach sounds transport the viewer to...the beach.


So think about your sound choices and don't wast a great opportunity to identify with your consumer and make an impact.

Ahhhh, the holidays

Holiday ads have started airing and its only November 8th.  It is hard to predict if consumer spending will increase or decrease this season.  What about holiday event ticket sales for The Nutcracker, Christmas Jubilees and other special presentations? Anyone out there have any thoughts?

9-11 Commemorative Commercials: Classy or Tacky?

On Sunday, September 11, 2011, State Farm, Budweiser and Verizon, among others, aired 9/11 tribute commercials.  I found these ads to be very genuine and moving homages to that historic day.  Some people will argue that creating and airing such commercials is taking advantage and seeking financial gain off a tragedy.  I couldn't disagree more.  I was sitting watching NFL and fiddling on my laptop when I heard the children begin to sing "New York State of Mind."   It made me pause, look up and take a moment of reflection on what was lost ten years ago.  And I believe that was the sole intent of State Farm.  At that moment I posted the following tweet:

Today I received the following response:

This has made me curious as to the opinions of the masses. Do you support the creation and airing of these 9/11 tribute commercials or do you believe they are in bad taste?

Oddly enough, I believe the point my responder was trying to make was negated by the fact that he was doing exactly what he is accusing others of doing.  Looking at his twitter feed, he seeked out posts to which he could respond to with links back to this one site, no doubt as advertising to build page views for his own agenda.

The State Farm, Budweiser and Verizon ads may be viewed at http://www.tvguide.com/News/911-Tribute-Commercials-1037241.aspx.

2011 Ace Get Your Weekend Back

Clever...

Announcing Official Website

It's official, I'm in business.  Please visit my new website at www.adgrlsu.com.  AdgrlSu Social Media Management is an agency devoted to digital media and more specifically social media.  If you need help organizing and managing your social media marketing, contact me for a consultation.

Eathquakepocolypse

On Tuesday, August 23, 2011, a 5.9 earthquake hit the east coast and within minutes, and perhaps seconds, various social media platforms were abuzz with the chatter.  

From Facebook:

"I thought I was just imagining an earthquake until I just logged onto Facebook and everyone is talking about our earthquake!!!! I have never felt anything like that before!!!" Angela Roberts

"Freaking EARTHQUAKE!! We lost stuff off our top shelves and it scared the hell outta the cats! HOLY CRAP!!!!" Christopher Carothers

From Twitter:

"#BreakingNews: 5.8-magnitude #earthquake strikes #Virginia, with tremors felt along the east coast" @Foxnews

"Yup! We felt it here. RT @ariannahuff did you feel earthquake in ny? It started in richmondva! #nyc #earthquake" @Forbes

And my favorite:

"And right at 10 minutes for the earthquake to reach Epic Swarm status. That's absolutely insane. http://4sq.com/pH90eQ" @aboutfoursquare

Almost immediately a venue was created for Eathquakepocolypse.  Check-ins at this freshly created venue were quickly in the thousands, the fastest swarm in foursquare history. Dozens of photos were also being uploaded.

Visit Foursquare for more about the record-breaking stats.

What can we learn from this?  We are addicted to our social media.  Even in the face of a natural disaster we want our twitter, Facebook, Foursquare and everything else.  I would venture to say it helps us feel safe and comforted to still be able to connect, even if its with virtual strangers.  

It is important to note that minimal damage was reported in connection with this earthquake.

New Posts coming soon!

I've been super busy, but will be writing again soon!

California Riverside Ballet Site Re-Design

In the spring of this year, the California Riverside Ballet entrusted its website re-design project to students at the Art Institute of California-Inland Empire in San Bernardino, CA.  The students had just 11 weeks to create new branding for the ballet.  Their work included a new logo, stationery, website and twitter background.  The image to your left was the existing site.  The image below is the newly re-designed site.

During the course of the project the students were able to meet with Artistic Director, Mario Nugara, and Executive Director, Janet Rose, to receive direction on the project.

The result is a much more dynamic site that shows off the beauty and artistry that the ballet offers.  The re-design also allowed for a more prominent placement of calls to action, including ticket purchasing and donations.

Remember to pay attention to these attributes in the design of your own sites.

New Media Distribution & Execution of Content

Great piece from Jon Burgess of RedFusion Media.

Check out all their videos at

http://www.youtube.com/user/redfusionvideo

or visit them at

http://www.redfusionmedia.com.

Recycled Creative Ideas

I have spent the majority of my career in advertising.  And during that time I have seen a few agencies recycle creative from one client to the next and within the same designated market area (DMA), to the same type of client while using the same mediums to deliver the message.

There are so many things wrong with this practice that I don't know where to begin.  Clients are paying these agencies for creative.  Fresh, new, effective creative.  If it's been done before (especially in the same DMA), it will lose its effectiveness.  It may be confused with the prior, original ad.  Lending more effectiveness to the first client, thus making it a waste of dollars for the others.

Plus, the first client to have paid for it should be upset as well.  If they have paid for the creative service, don't they now own it?  I would consider it an infringement for others to use the same concept.  It is understandable that common themes will be shared throughout every small business' creative concepts. But what I have seen are exact matches sold to everyone who will buy.

I would like to urge small, local business to demand fresh, new creative from your advertising agencies.  If your agency is trying to advise you to sign on to a recycled idea, drop them.  They are only there to make a quick buck, not to support your business.  In fact, these are typically the agencies that use one business as a pawn in a game to get better rates for another, larger client.  I've seen that happen as well.  Personal politics do not have a place when marketing decisions need to be made on behalf of small businesses. But that should be another blog post.

What are your thoughts on recycled creative ideas?

Riverside Arts Walk Logo Re-Design Contest

Direct all question and comments to the Riverside Cultural Consortium.  Please note there is an official entry form.

SNL Skit: Paid Product Placement?

Ever since I saw this skit on SNL I've been wondering if this was paid product placement on behalf of the new Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides movie. If so, it was brilliant. This piece has all the components of a great viral post. Its funny, its contagious, its an innovative approach to product placement and this is something I want to share. My husband has it saved on our DVR and watches it every few days. If Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer (the Lonely Island) weren't paid by Disney, they should be.

Talking m&m's: Cute or Disturbing