Dennis Powell

Dennis Powell didn’t plan on being a television producer.  He likens it to “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”.  After studying theatre in school, he became a clerk in the ABC business office, moved on to Video Tape Editor at ABC News, and then advanced to Producer.  Over thirty years years later he is still in the journalism field.  During that time frame, Dennis was a Senior Producer for ABC’s World News, covering events surrounding the President, legislation on Capitol Hill, Department of Transportation & Department of Homeland Security.  Most recently he worked on ABC News ‘This Week with George Stephanopoulos’.  Dennis is currently the Senior Editorial Producer for Inside E Street, a public affairs show produced by AARP, airing on most PBS stations.

When I heard Dennis speak at a Social Media breakfast event in Mpls recently, I was immediately intrigued with what he and the ABC News team do regarding Social Media and the news.  It is this team’s mission to gather information for the news stories, to harness it, and verify authenticity.  This is often with pictures or videos that surface on Social Media sites. As an example, ABC’s Social Media team’s focus this week was the conclave in Rome, with the Cardinals voting on the new Pope.  As I write this today, Wednesday, March 13, having seen that the new Pope was just selected, I have no doubt that Dennis and the team are scouring the web for unique pictures and videos of first-hand accounts related to the story.

1.   Most businesses use Social Media to put their information out to the masses, onto their Facebook & Twitter sights.  How do you and your team use Social Media?

We mine sites like Twitter and Facebook for news. If a story should break about a shooting at a mall, or a let’s say a tornado hits a community we would start the search in social media for those who might be involved. We’re looking for first hand accounts and also content like photos or videos.

2.   Facebook vs Twitter for resourcing info – do you like one better?

Twitter is our number one go to place by virtue of it being an open platform. Facebook and Reddit are close second and third.

3.   Do any of your news stories start from something your team has seen on a Social Media site?

Sure. It would have been hard to do a story about the man who was strapped to his seat on board an Iceland Air flight recently had we not found a photo (and later video) of him. But it’s more often the case that we hear about a story first and find the content (eyewitnesses, photos, video) to go along with the story.

4.   Was it easy for you to adapt to using Social Media to gather information for news stories?

Easy? Nooooo! I like most of my generation of journalists came to social media kicking and screaming. I can even remember the story that changed my mind about social media and how we could use it for newsgathering. In 2009 a commuter plane crashed in Buffalo, NY killing all on board. Our intern at the time used social media to find eyewitnesses and photos of the crash site. I became an easy convert at that point. BTW that intern is now in charge of social media integration at ABC today.

5.   Do you think the divide between traditional media and Social Media is fading away?

Sure we all use social media today to push content in hopes of linking them back to the mother ship. Huffington Post is probably one of the best examples of using social media to push content. But let’s be clear good journalism is not done in 140 characters … it’s a tool. It’s a delivery system.

 6.   What is the biggest challenge your Social Media team faces?

At the moment we are a voluntary group that convenes for large planned events (election night coverage, the inauguration) or when big news strikes (a hurricane, earthquake, or mass shooting). Soon though the Social Media Desk will operate 1440 (the number of minutes in a day) and provide content and support on a daily basis.

 7.   What is the best moment your team has had regarding Social Media?

Hurricane Sandy was a seminal moment for us. The team worked for 48 hours nonstop curating tweets, photos, and videos along with the authentication process for all platforms at ABC (GMA, World News, Nightline, ABC Digital, and Special Events). We eventually sourced over 300 stills and videos with some of them used to lead a broadcast.

We also were able to use social media during this event to inform how we deployed resources. Where did we see flooding happen, where was the power out, we learned of an evacuation at a hospital on social media.

8.   Do you have any predictions in the “what’s next?” regarding Social Media, in general or professionally?

I’m not a good predictor so I’ll punt on this one. The one thing I’d like to see is better search engines for content to better see through the clutter!

9.   What is your best piece of advice to other news organizations utilizing Social Media channels to gather insights & info?

When using any new channel for information and content use good journalism standards and practices. Be skeptical and ask lots of questions.

Facebook: ABC News

Twitter: @ABCNEWSDC 

Twitter: @powelldennis

The Nanny Nine brought to you by the Social Networking Nanny

If you think Mental Illness doesn’t affect you, think again.  I would bet that each of you knows someone with a Mental Health Condition…and you maybe don’t even realize it.  This week we are tragically reminded of how Mental Health plays a part in every day lives, with the loss of Mindy McCready to suicide.  Her struggles were well publicized, but she was ashamed of the stigma.  For many people their conditions are not known, sometimes not even to themselves.

Dave Wellstone & Ken Barlow

This was the case of KSTP Meteorologist Ken Barlow.  For years he struggled with a series of symptoms, but it wasn’t until 5 years ago, at the age of 45, that a Doctor finally put all the puzzle pieces together that he was bipolar.  Ken then found out his late father had been bipolar, but was too ashamed to tell his 5 sons, only his wife knew.  In a very candid interview on the Almanac, Ken talks about how and when he made his condition known to the public, at a National Alliance on Mental Illness event last Fall.  It wasn’t anything he planned, but the pieces started to fall together after that, for the Wellstone-Barlow Mental Health Initiative.

One of the things Ken hopes to change is the discussion within a family, especially with the younger generations.  He says it’s like in the song ‘Teach Your Children Well‘ (Crosby, Stills & Nash).  Ken’s son Patrick, a 3^rd year Doctoral candidate in Knoxville, is already involved with Wellstone-Barlow Mental Health Initiative.  Patrick and his friend, Tiffany, gathered all the information necessary to come up with a Logic Model for the organization.  Logic Models include the key elements of a proposed program, including evaluation, statistics and measurements.

Founded by Dave Wellstone and Ken Barlow in 2012 the Wellstone-Barlow Mental Health Initiative seeks to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.   Fate brought Dave Wellstone (son of the late MN Senator Paul Wellstone) and Dave together at a NAMI event last Fall.  Dave  has been the key figure with the passage of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equality Act in Washington D.C.  Dave had his own struggles with PTSD, following the death of his father, mother and sister in a plane crash.  This was a passionate issue with his father, and it has become one for Dave.

Even in it’s early stages the organization has gained a foot-hold.  They have received thousands of comments, kudos, and requests for help in finding more information.  These have come via their website, Facebook account and Twitter account.  Actress Glenn Close (founder of Bring Change 2 Mind for her sister who is bipolar) sent an email of praise after reading about the new organization, and the two organizations are hoping to do a co-event.  Ken and Dave’s official website launch will be late April, early May, including a launch party, with involvement from Horst Rechelbacher, founder of Aveda.

1. Your website is fairly young, but your efforts have been active for a long time.  What made you want to start the site last year? ​​

We met at the NAMI walk in September and it just clicked…we each have our ‘stuff’ let’s do something together and use our names for good! The web site is still being worked on…I don’t know HTML or WordPress but we have a wonderful volunteer helping us…he just can’t spend a lot of time on it since he has a paying job…so it’s a work in progress!

2. How did you two meet? ​

NAMI walk, Ken was emceeing and Dave was the keynote speaker that Ken got to introduce.

3. What are your similarities and differences that make this a good partnership? ​

Dave knows a LOT of people in political circles and a different social circle than Ken…Ken knows a lot of media people and has connections with the community in  different way…100,000 people watch on any given night, so he is known…Dave is known nationally with the Wellstone name and by the fact that he is making his own mark in Washington.

4. What is your goal/vision for your website this year, 5 years from now? ​

We actually think that we only want to be an actual “initiative” for 3 to 5 years…hopefully the website lives on as a source for people with questions and concerns about mental health and addiction.

5. Will you be adding more areas to the website; adding a blog? ​

When we have enough $$ to hire someone (which will be soon) we will have a much better interactive website allowing for visitors to post their own stories of mental illness and addiction, either personally or with someone they love. We  would love to have a blogging area for us as well!

6. It’s one thing to talk to someone one-on-one about a mental health issue, what changes when you are writing to a limitless number of people via the web? ​

Our reach grows exponentially with the web, especially when it is what we want it to be (see above)

7. You jumped right into Social Media with your website, having a Facebook page & Twitter ID.  What kind of feedback have you gotten so far?​

We have over 200 followers on both FB and Twitter and we haven’t even officially ‘launched’ we are still in the soft opening phase with Ken doing all the stuff on the sites until we hire someone who will do it full time…again the time is getting near!

8. What is your favorite thing about using Social Networking, personally and professionally, to talk about Wellstone-Barlow Mental Health initiative, or mental health in general? ​

The people who have come forward to share their stories and to ask “how can I help” has been so rewarding already and we are just starting!

9. What is your best piece of advice to others who are on the Internet talking about Mental Health issues, either as a patient, caregiver, or bystander?​

Be honest…we don’t profess to be medical professionals, so it is is really fine line… as long as we say we are not professional medical pros, but rather “care-givers” it’s very rewarding when we get a nice email back from someone we have helped or even inspire to either tell their story and/or seek help for a mental health related issue.

Facebook: Wellstone-Barlow Mental Health Initiative

Twitter: @wellstonebarlow

The Nanny Nine brought to you by the Social Networking Nanny

(photo credit – Teresa Hermes Photography)

It’s obvious when talking to Melissa Saigh that she absolutely loves being a Mom!  Her love for Linna also pours into her Minnesota Baby blog, and her social media sites. Writing has been a passion for Melissa since High School, at the college newspaper, and with her first blog, Missi Made.  On Missi Made she talked about fashion and then everything-wedding when she was planning her own.  She knew she had hit on something great when an Oprah producer contacted her for a referral on a stylist, after seeing her wedding day hair pics on Missi Made!

As many of you can understand, being a new Mom is wonderful, and there are so many wonderful moments you can’t wait to share with family & friends, near & far!  But it can also be exhausting, frustrating and confusing.  All of these are reason’s Melissa started Minnesota Baby. It was a great way for her to share the experience and changes during her pregnancy with family members and friends all over, plus the many adoring fans from her time as a Twin Cities Live Producer.

Doing her blog is akin to a physical scrap book or memory book, and one day Melissa would like to have a book created from it to give to Linna.  I have a very good feeling she will accomplish that

Melissa never shies away from topics, and her husband AJ is often featured in her posts, or in photos throughout the blog.  Sharing in this lovely young family’s journey has been enjoyable, and we look forward to the next chapter, and beyond!

1. Prior to having Linna, had you ever thought about doing a blog for anything?

I actually did have a blog called “Missi Made” before having Linna. I have always enjoyed writing, so three to four years ago that blog was an outlet for me to write about food, fashion, and wedding planning.

2. What was your goal/vision for your blog when you started it; has it changed (how)?

I started the Minnesota Baby blog as a way to connect with my family during my pregnancy. Since my husband and I have family all over the country, we wanted them to be able to follow my growing belly/baby, and feel connected to all the doctor’s appointments, nursery planning, and any hiccups along the way. It’s also a story of our daughter’s life that we’ll always be able to look back on. My blog has always been 100% honest and real, which can be TMI for some when I write about labor, breast-feeding, postpartum depression, etc. I write about things moms want to talk about, but don’t necessarily get brought up at the dinner table. I even blogged through my labor with my daughter! 17 months later, I’ve continued writing about the “real” side of parenting, marriage, and being a stay-at-home mom. I write about the products, services, and events that keep our family busy and sane, in hopes of others learning from our experiences. Since I experienced my first pregnancy while I was working at Twin Cities Live (KSTP), I grew a pretty big following on my blog after viewers would see me and my growing belly on-air. When I decided to leave Twin Cities Live to stay home with our daughter, that following continued, and even grew as we traveled to Singapore. Today, my blog continues to be all about the real life adventures of the Saigh family (two “new” parents and a toddler), as told by Mama Saigh (that’s me)!

3. The blog is a reflection of who you are, but do you feel it has also changed you? If so, how?

My blog is all about my life as a mom, wife, and the adventures of our little girl. I feel like my blog keeps me honest, because I’m literally writing the story of our daughter’s life. One day, Linna will be able to read my blog, and experience her life through my eyes. Giving her that kind of a gift makes me feel like I’m doing my “job” as her mom.

4. Do you feel you get better reaction with blog posts on one Social Media site over the other (Blog, FB, Twitter, other)?

I love when my blog posts spark conversation, and most conversation happens on Facebook. When reading other people’s comments, it’s clear that each parents has a different philosophy on parenting. As parents, I think it’s so important to support one another’s parenting “styles”, and hopefully learn from each other, because parenting is by far the toughest, but most rewarding job out there.

5. What is your favorite thing about Social Networking?

The first week we had Linna home, I was totally unprepared for all of the questions I had as a new mom. During Linna’s nighttime feedings, I discovered a community of moms on Twitter that I could vent to, and ask questions about the things I was experiencing. I found other moms who were dealing with the same things I was dealing with… even at 4 a.m.! I call these women my fellow “Zombie Moms”. We were all clearly exhausted, and Twitter gave us a place to vent our feelings and questions to other moms who were eager to help. I miss those late-night feedings and Twitter sessions! Today, social networking allows me to start and join in on “conversations” that real parents are having. It allows me to learn from the “veteran” parents, and share my experiences with the “newbies”. It’s quick, it’s convenient, and some days I wonder what I ever did without social networking.

6. You are a natural on camera, and easily connect with people. Did you find it a hard transition having to write for your blog?

Thank you:) I’ve always felt very comfortable in front of the camera, because I literally imagine myself having a conversation with another person… except the person is actually a camera. Just like I am on-air, I’m “real” on my blog. I simply write from my heart and say what’s on my mind. I’ve been told by many people that I don’t have a filter, which is totally true! I don’t censor myself, which can be TMI for some people. However, one thing I respect more than anything about meeting another person, is their ability to be “real”, and not pretend to be someone they’re not. When writing on my blog, I hope I come across authentic, because I write as if I were speaking or thinking. It’s all the same for me.

7. You recently lived in Singapore for three months, and will be moving back for 2 years…did you find it easy to maintain your blog & it’s message; did you reach a broader International audience?

Living in Singapore was such an incredible experience, and my blog viewership actually doubled while we were overseas. When we’re in Singapore, I change the title of my blog “Minnesota Baby” to “Minnesota Baby in Singapore”. I learned so much while living in another country with my husband and one-year-old, and received so many messages and emails from people in Minnesota saying how much they enjoy reading about our adventures. I shared my blog with all of the friends we met in Singapore, and many of those people looked at my blog as the “go to” for family/parent-friendly events and things to do in Singapore. I found so many parents who could relate to having to travel with a one-year-old, raising a child in a new country, etc. The “message” of “Minnesota Baby” will always remain “the story of our lives”. Sometimes life takes us to another part of the world, with even more experiences to write about!

8. What is the best moment you’ve had regarding your blog?

When I receive emails or messages from other moms saying that I helped them get assistance with their postpartum depression, it makes me realize my blog is touching the lives of others. I dealt with postpartum depression in the first few months of Linna’s life, and was in such a dark and scary place. I felt so ashamed of my thoughts and feelings, but chose to write about them and get help for what was diagnosed as postpartum depression. One in every 10 mothers experience postpartum depression, and even more experience what is known as “the baby blues”. By writing about my feelings and thoughts during that time in my life, I have been able to help other moms realize that they aren’t alone, and they shouldn’t feel ashamed of their feelings.

I also have so many photos and videos of our little girl on my blog, that my husband and I are able to look back on and remember how it was. Babies grow up so fast, and it’s easy to forget all the amazing experiences.

9. What is your best piece of advice to other people blogging about their passion?

Do it! Don’t just think about documenting your thoughts, experiences, photos, etc., DO something about it. Anyone can start a blog, and the “well-known” blogs were started by people who put their thoughts into a public format. Don’t just think that someone else has already started a blog about your idea. If everyone thought that way, we wouldn’t have any good blogs to read! Also, be consistent and authentic. You need to be committed to your blog if you want it to be “successful”, and you can’t write what you think other people want to hear. Most people want the truth, they want to read your honest thoughts, and they want to get to know you through your words. So, COMMIT and BE AUTHENTIC!

Blog: Minnesota Baby

Facebook: Minnesota Baby

Twitter: @MNBaby

The Nanny Nine brought to you by the Social Networking Nanny

As I was researching items for a new client, I was getting quite frustrated at how many organizations have their Social Media icons “below the fold”, and at the bottom of their main website pages.  Some don’t have them on their landing page at all, but on another page.  Almost all of these situations make it seem like the business is saying “We know we have to have these on here, but they really aren’t that important.”

On the contrary, I think they are very important to not only be (at minimal) on the main page, but they also need to be “above the fold”, and easily found.

It was very frustrating, as well as time consuming to scroll down, down, down to find some of them.  Or I had to go thru other pages on their site to try and find them.  Remember…frustration leads to EXITS!

My suggestions for Social Media icons/badges:

• Keep above the fold.  Above the fold is a newspaper reference, for items you see in the paper that is above the fold of the paper…what catches your eye first.  If your page is extremely long, also put them below the fold, near the bottom or in the side bar, near bottom.  You want to make sure and give your visitor a quick, easy option to become a Fan &/or Follower.
• Make them easy to see– not too small, not too blended.  Making them blend in, like camouflage, may look pretty, but could hide them at quick glace.
• Make them static to show on every page.  Don’t hide them in your Contact area or Media page.
• Make sure the link opens in a new window – do not take readers completely off your site by having the link replace the page you are on.
• keep the icons consistent with each other…all squares, all circles, all banners, etc.
• Check you links!  A dead link doesn’t do anybody any good.
• If you’re going to use the social media Share buttons…have social media business sites of your own. Don’t expect people to share your website without you putting in the efforts of having Social Media sites for your business.

Elizabeth Ries, host of Twin Cities Live, has piqued the interest of many fans, friends and family members with her passion for Urban Farming.  Twin Cities Live viewers often get updates on her passion, but so do followers to her Home to Homestead blog and Facebook page.  The topics vary, including gardening, recipes and her three chickens…Roz, Suzie Q and MaryAnne.  Note that their names were carefully chosen:  Roz for her boyfriend Jay’s Mom; Suzie Q for her own Mom; and MaryAnne for her two sisters, their middle names.

Not only has her passion influenced her fans, but also her family.  Her sister in New York grows herbs on her fire escape in New York City, and her mom is now thinking of new uses for the posts of the pergola on her deck.  After our talk Elizabeth even has me thinking of doing squash in our large garden next year.

Her passion for cooking started when she was younger, with her Mom’s homemade meals from scratch.  It continued while she was in college, doing a lot of cooking for, and with, her roommates.  She shares recipes on her blog, along with beautiful photos (a newly discovered passion of hers) of the process and finished product.  Her  family enjoys the recipes, and shared food items, and Elizabeth enjoys sharing them….including her Grandmother, who loved the eggs!

1. What was your goal/vision for your blog when you started it?

My goal was really just to have a place of my own to write. I mentioned my worm composting on Twin Cities Live one day and received dozens of emails and Facebook messages from people asking me about it. I realized, there’s an audience out there that’s interested in my urban farming adventures. A week or so later I was walking my dog in Minneapolis and the name “Home to Homestead” just came to me. It was like a lightning bolt and I knew I was ready to go.

2. Has that goal/vision changed, and if yes, please explain?

It’s just expanded. Because of the blog, I’ve been asked to do cooking/speaking events related to urban farming and it’s been great to expand my media horizons.

3. Facebook vs Twitter for talking about your blog – do you like one better?

I post links to my blog posts on both.

4. Do you feel you get better reaction with blog posts on one Social Media site over the other?

I prefer Facebook, mainly because I think the attached photo on the post makes readers want to check it out more. Compare that to Twitter, where it’s just a link. Plus, my Twitter followers tend to be fellow members of the media where my Facebook fans tend to be viewers/listeners.

5. What is your favorite thing about Social Networking?

I love the immediate response that Social Networking provides.

 6. You have a natural ability for communicating verbally.  Did you find it to be an easy transition when doing so in writing for your blog?

I’ve always loved writing. But I’ve spent my career writing for television, which is very different than writing for a blog or print. When I started putting together articles for a local food magazine, my love of print writing was totally reignited and that was a huge motivating factor for me to start Home to Homestead. Writing for the blog has been invigorating and challenging.

7. Pictures can be very captivating in Social Media, and you have amazing photos on your blog.  Do you take them yourself?  If yes, have you unleashed another hidden passion?  If no, who helps you out with them?

Thank you! The photo component was very important to me! I love to read food blogs, but — I’m going to be honest here – there are a lot of them out there featuring some pretty bad photos. I think beautiful photos are the key to engaging readers, even more than the writing. Before I started Home to Homestead, I invested in a great camera and did tons of research on photography. I’m definitely an amateur and it’s a work in progress, but I’m proud of the photos on my blog. Photography is definitely becoming a passion I never knew I had.

8. What is the best moment you’ve had regarding your blog?

Reading the comments is the best part of having a blog. I’m just so delighted that people take the time to read it and are enjoying the stories I tell about my little plot of land.

9. What is your best piece of advice to other people blogging about their passion?

My best piece of advice is to make sure you have a unique perspective and niche. Also, be consistent. It’s sometimes tough for me to find time to blog, but I’m committed to getting at least one new post a week up there. I want my readers to look forward to new content and trust that it’s on the way!

Blog: Home To Homestead

Facebook: Elizabeth Ries

Twitter: @ElizabethRies

The Nanny Nine brought to you by the Social Networking Nanny

My review on Amazon: “Carrie has written a wonderful book, sharing great ideas that people can act upon, and also bringing a personal level to it. She is speaking words of wisdom, having experienced many of the situations herself, and sharing what worked, and what didn’t when trying to overcome debt situations. Carrie is a very good communicator in person, and on television. She did the same through her book…she speaks to the reader. I highly recommend this book!”

It’s a new year and time for many of us to get a firm hold on our spending habits!  How many times have you asked yourselves “Where has all of our money gone?”  Do you have a budget you follow?  What excuses do you come up with to go off-budget?   Luckily, my friend Carrie Rocha has written a great new book to help!  She is graciously letting us give away a FREE copy of her new book, Pocket Your Dollars: 5 Attitude Changes That Will Help You Pay Down Debt, Avoid Financial Stress, & Keep More of What You Make

Carrie and her husband paid down $60,000 in debt over 2.5 years. After getting out she and her husband figured out how they had gotten into debt in the first place and why they hadn’t changed their path sooner. In this book she teaches you to make the same attitude adjustments that transformed her family’s financial situation.

The book is 5-star rated on Amazon with 9 reviews so far; one of them is mine, please give it a Yes if it helped you SheKnows.com says it is one of the 3 best self-improvement books for 2013. It’s already been featured on Forbes.com and US News & World Report Money.

Now’s your chance to win a copy of your very own!

How to Enter
To enter, leave a comment at the end of this blog post telling me one of your resolutions or goals for 2013.

Rules
This giveaway is open to all U.S. residents 18 years or older. Each person can enter one time; those with multiple entries will be disqualified. Entries must be received via the official entry rules on or before Sunday, January 13, 2013 to be eligible; entries received any other way or outside that time parameter do not qualify.

Winner Notification
Winners will be notified via email to the email address provided in the entry form. We are not responsible for mis-typed addresses or email lost in transit. Winners must respond within 24 hours of notification email to claim their prize or an alternate winner will be selected.

Prize
(1) Pocket Your Dollars: 5 Attitude Changes That Will Help You Pay Down Debt, Avoid Financial Stress, & Keep More of What You Make

You can also purchase Carrie’s book on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Pocket Your Dollars Blog – more info on Carrie’s book and Book Signings

Facebook: Pocket Your Dollars

Twitter: @CarrieRocha

Naturally I happily took note of all the Social Media use amongst the vendors.  My husband did a great job capturing many of them in photos, so we could share them with you, and give them a *shout out* for a job well done.

Starting even before the event, Biz Bash did a great job with using Social Media to promote their event, and keep people informed, including a hashtag.  They followed up by having this large scale sign greeting everyone at the entrances to the event.  It was evident they see the power of Social Media!

The most yummy booth was The Chocolate Swirl, with owner Lisa Bracigliano.  The Chocolate Swirl… has an established Facebook page and Twitter accounts.  Lisa was proudly talking to people about them, along with getting people to sign up for her newsletter.  I had a great time chatting with Lisa!

Cort Furniture Event Rentals had the largest booth area, but as you can clearly see on the photo, they had great placement with the Facebook logo, with the info to get there.  Their designs looked very similar to what I’ve seen at a few eBay on Locations events.

The reps at Keshot were a lot of fun!  Their portable photo booths promote sharing on Social Media sites, as you can see in the photo of their specially designed photo machine.  Take your photo, edit it on the screen to make it fun, and share!

*Shout Out* to the terrific PayPal team I was a part of for this event!  To speak with PayPal reps, visit them on their PayPal For Business Facebook Page.

Additional picture are shown so you can see some of the other companies using Social Media, some in very unique and creative ways:

Events Linked Live

The Statue of Liberty

Interactive Party

Check In Tech

Buzz Bands

Heather Barranco DreamCakes

The Salvation Army North did a wonderful job with preparation for the morning’s event.  This began with a brilliant theme and logo to match – Bacon, Eggs and Hashtags!

It also included putting together a team of hard working, fun volunteers; giving each person a specific Social Media venue to focus on; a dedicated Hashtag; and a dedicated bitly link that pointed to The Salvation Army North donation page on GiveMN.org.

They also invited in myself, the ladies from Fork in the Road (food) Truck, and asked me to invite my Social Media friend Sam Broberg (Full Throttle Design Studio).  This was the first time Sam and I had met IRL (in real life)!  We’ve known each other on Social Media sights for two years.  You can connect with Sam on Twitter @SamBroberg

Many thanks and kudos to Jeff, Annette, Craig and Nicole of The Salvation Army North, for a successful Live Social Media Event…it was a pleasure to be a part of it!

Connect with me Thursday, Nov 15 from 5-7:30 a.m. as I do Live Social Media posts with a team of 10 from the St Paul Salvation Army location, in the presence of volunteers preparing breakfast for hundreds of people in need.  Our goal is to help raise awareness to what the Salvation Army does to help people, and to raise awareness of what your donations help them to do.  Did you know they serve a hot breakfast to hundred of peoples, every weekday morning?  We will be learning and posting more details from the morning.

You can chat with me on Facebook – Facebook.com/SocialNetworkingNanny

Tweet with me on Twitter – @SocialNetNanny

Salvation Army Northern Division Facebook:Facebook.com/SalvationArmyNorth

Salvation Army Northern Division Twitter ID: @salarmynorth

You can also join in on the chat with my Twitter friend:  Sam Broberg (from Full Throttle Design Studio)- @SamBroberg

Follow the complete @GiveMN day tweets with Hashtag  #GTMD12

To give directly to the Salvation Army’s Give to the Max Day – http://givemn.razoo.com/story/Salvation-Army-Northern-Division-2

I recently attended a local Social Media event, and sat in on Kevin Hunt’s presentation.  I’ve been a long time user of General Mills brands, and was very curious about their Social Media Manager, and how the brand was utilizing the various Social Media venues.  By the end of his presentation I was very happy with what I had seen and heard, and I also could tell Kevin is very passionate about what he does.

Kevin, Corporate Social Media Manager for General Mills, has been with the company just under two years, and launched their blog “A Taste of General Mills” in May of 2011.  He does planning and developing (content) for the blog, and also monitors social channels for mentions of General Mills, engages with people, and measures the GM programs. In addition, Kevin has a role in global social media policy and training, and assists the brands with guidance on their channels and campaigns.

A Minnesota native, Kevin’s career started in TV news, as a newscast producer in Eau Claire, Green Bay and as an executive producer at KSTP-TV. He previously managed social media for the Legal division of Thomson Reuters in Eagan.

1. How long have you been using Social Networking for your business?

As a company, General Mills has been using the popular social media platforms in some way for several years.

2. Is your business using Facebook &/or Twitter?

All of the above. The corporate channels that I manage include our company blog, “A Taste of General Mills,” as well as official company accounts and pages on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Google+, Flickr, Pinterest and Instagram. Our brands also are quite active across many channels, but primarily on Facebook.

3. Facebook vs Twitter – do you like one better? If yes, why?

For my day job, I love blogging on behalf of the company. I enjoy finding and telling interesting stories about our people and business. I also look for ways to highlights fans of our brands, through their stories and photos. Personally, I enjoy Twitter the most – likely because of my background in journalism and TV news – because we all instantly share in the news as it breaks. I’m also a podcast junkie, I catch up on new episodes of my favorites on my daily commute. I also produce my own podcast, featuring interviews with people who work in corporate social media. It’s on iTunes and on my personal blog at http://StrungOutOnShinyObjects.com

4. Do you post daily?

Yes, we typically publish one blog post each day.  We’re also posting updates and replaying to people on Twitter several times a day, as well as on our other channels.

5. What is your favorite thing about Social Networking?

I think the notion that total strangers can forge a connection, whether brief or long-term, through these channels is a remarkable way to bring people together. We all have access to interacting with people we otherwise would never have met. Each day brings a new opportunity to “meet” someone with similar or different points of view.

6. What do you think is the biggest benefit of Social Networking?

I think from a business standpoint, it’s really valuable to be able to tell our stories through our blog and elsewhere, and establish ourselves as a news source. Social media also allows us to easily understand what’s important to consumers at any given time. The feedback cycle is instant. The connected consumer is not afraid to share their opinions. Social tools also allow us to build relationships with people who are passionate about their favorite brands.

7. How do you measure Social Networking, & explain

We measure many aspects of our corporate channels, but we are primarily focused on building awareness of our content and inspiring people to interact with us and share our stories and news. That said, we realize our the interactions we have through our corporate channels also can indirectly inspire loyalty to our brands that translates into the shopping cart.

8. What is the best moment you’ve had on a Social Networking site?

I enjoy every time that I discover a photo or video a consumer shares online about one of our brands, and turning that discovery into a blog post that we can share with others. It’s been fun to see and hear their reactions to what we posted. It says we care about our consumers and how General Mills products impact their lives.

9. What is your best piece of advice to other businesses about Social Networking?

You can’t “do” social and just check it off your list. You have to “be” social and willing to accept the realities and consequences of today’s digital world. If you’re thinking of blogging for your business, don’t blog unless you have someone behind it who is curious and passionate about telling stories. Also, don’t expect significant traffic or thousands of followers overnight. And, not every piece of content you put out there will explode in popularity. Celebrate the small wins, get people interested in what you’re doing and they will reward you by coming back for more.

General Mills

Blog: A Taste of General Mills

Twitter: @GeneralMills

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