In this time of Facebook, Twitter, email, iPads and iPhones, electronic messages are a no brainer. They take seconds to send and generally get the job done.
And while I think most people still remember the importance of traditional thank you notes for business, I think some people have forgotten the importance for personal thank you notes for people who are close to them, like friends and family.
I’m a huge proponent of social media and most modern technology, but when it comes to properly thanking someone, I think the thank you card (made of paper!) trumps all. The beauty of modern technology? You can now buy, personalize and send paper cards online. Sites like Hallmark and more make the excuse of “I have no time to get to the store” moot.
Here is a reminder of some occasions that should always be recognized with a paper card:
Professional:
-A business / client referral
-A significant purchase of a product or service
Personal:
-A gift for a very special occasion, such as a birthday, shower or wedding
The people who do this well stand out in the crowd. For example, my lifelong friend Rachel not only sends thank you notes for every occasion, she sends them in a timely fashion. She’s also the first one to get her holiday cards out every year. That overachiever! Her thoughtfulness (to name one of her many qualities) has made her a friend for life. And my client Diane is fabulous about not only sending hand-written cards after playing her harp for a client, but she personalizes them even further, by always incorporating a photo of her harp. These gestures make a difference!
Another example is a thank you tweet from a public figure like a celebrity. This is generally not expected and a is pleasant surprise.
Now before you tell me I’m being preachy, I’ll tell you about a thank you faux pas I committed not too long ago. (I never said I was perfect!) My wonderful Aunt Patti sent me cash for my birthday one year. And yes, I forgot to thank her.
Can you imagine how stressed she had to have been, thinking someone either stole the card or lost it in the mail? (For fairness and balance, I will note that while I am a massive proponent of snail mail, I know the postal service is not 100% reliable.) Aunt Patti naturally emailed me to apologize to ME for the mail being lost. Can you imagine how embarrassed I was?! I was mortified. But like any time I screw up in life, lemme tell you, I will NOT make the same mistake again!
On the professional side, forgetting to show gratitude just makes your competition look better than you.
On the other side with friends or family, it’s inconsiderate. This happened to me recently, and honestly, it really hurt my feelings because I felt taken for granted. When I do something kind for someone I’m close to, I absolutely do not do it for recognition. But by ignoring the gesture makes me feel like it was not worth the effort.
In summary:
Any thank you is better than no thank you. But anyone can send an email. It takes just a moment.
Anyone can send a thank you card as well. But it takes a few more moments, and therefore means so much more.
I started my blog here on WordPress a little over a year ago and my very first blog post was entitled “Lindsay’s Facebook Etiquette List.” Now I’ve been on Twitter for nearly 3 years, so this particular list is little overdue. Here’s a short list of my no-no’s (and a few suggestions for improvement). I was going to go with a “Top 10″ list, but I realized there are only seven that are really my BIG beefs!
1. Mentioning needing/wanting/having a certain number of followers
I think we’ve all done this at some point. But from my experience, not only is it irrelevant, it’s really boring for your followers to read. While I do believe in needing a critical mass of followers and accounts you are following to enjoy Twitter, there is no magic number for anyone. We’re not all Ashton Kutcher with his million+ followers though. So if you are looking for more followers, start following more people yourself. And if you hit a limit where you cannot follow anymore accounts (this happened to me once), just be patient. Asking for more followers is honestly…sort of awkward. Appreciate the followers you have, interact with them in a polite way and more will come your way. I promise. Twitter is growing at lightning speed.
2. Talking about how much you need/want a new job
Some people who appear to me to be very smart have done this, which honestly surprises me. I didn’t think I needed to remind people that no matter your privacy settings, you’re not REALLY private. One re-tweet and your news about “having a really great interview today” or “my boss continues to drive me nuts” will probably get back to him/her someday. (Hmm…Maybe that is what these people want!)
Instead of mentioning that you want a new job on Twitter, try traditional e-mail instead or reach out to folks on LinkedIn (again via private e-mails – not public status updates).
3. Asking for a “follow back”
This has not only happened to me with my personal Twitter account (@LindsayEWarren) but with my Supernatural Twitter account (@SupportSPN) recently. In both occasions, I did not follow the account back who asked me to follow them back…and not because I’m mean. In one instance it was because the person asking was a total stranger and did not mention one thing we had in common. In the other, the person did not Tweet in English (minus the tweet to me of course). So don’t ask for a “follow back,” especially if you are tweeting on behalf of a company! Good Twitter users will follow every account that has some relevance to them.
And while I encourage you to follow as many of your followers that interest you, you are not obligated to follow every single one (even when they are bold enough to ask). When you get to a certain point, your Twitter feed can be pretty busy, depending on the number of folks you follow and/or the amount that the folks you follow tweet. There’s no need to make your feed busier than you want with accounts that are of no value/interest/relevance to you.
4. Bad grammar / spelling
Oh this one really is my top “beef.” I say this over and over and over…And yet some folks still don’t pay attention to their grammar/spelling errors. (By the way if you find any in my blog, please don’t be shy. Tell me if I messed something up! I’ll appreciate the correction.) Bad grammar/spelling bothers me not because I’m want to be an English dictator, but instead because it shows a lack of attention to detail. And that in turn makes it hard for me to the offending party seriously. Just take a moment, slow down and read your tweet before you hit that ‘tweet’ button. A once-over will often save you from needless embarrassment. Twitter *does* have spell check that will catch many errors.
Believe me, the occasional flub up is OK. We’ve all done it. iPhones can be hard to type on! If you catch it early, delete the Tweet and fix it.
5. Copying others’ ideas/posts without properly re-tweeting
Do I need to say anything more than this is just a lack of class? Don’t copy/paste someone’s post without putting their Twitter handle in the tweet. It is just not good decorum.
6. Begging celebrities for their attention
While I think it’s fantastic that many “cool” personalities are on Twitter, do I think they have a responsibility to ever interact with me? Nope.
I have seen it all when it comes to this “Lindsay no-no.” I’ve seen people ask a celeb to wish them a Happy Birthday and I’ve seen people shame a celeb into talking to them because they were “So depressed that you have not replied to me.” Really people? REALLY?
A “Happy Birthday” tweet is boring to 99.9% of the people on that person’s follower list (unless it’s something cute like “Happy Birthday to my beloved cat Toonces!”) and it is not an obligation. If it was, then that it the only tweet you’d ever see from a celebrity and that would REALLY be lame. The reason why I enjoy following certain celebrities is to get a view into their lives, not the lives of the fans looking for attention. Many of the celebs I follow are really big into philanthropy like Richard Hughes, Ian Somerholder, Misha Collins and Sophia Bush. What they have to say about causes that mean something to them is FAR more interesting. If a celeb interacts with a fan, it’s a bonus, not a right.
I recommend you respond to a celebrity when he/she asks a question or says something that really speaks to you. But don’t feel bad if you don’t get a response. With thousands (or millions in some cases) of followers, that one person is not going to have time to reply to everybody. And there’s no reason to feel slighted by that.
7. LONG “Follow Friday” lists
I’m hoping that if I beat this topic to death, people will start listening. If you’re unfamiliar with “Follow Friday,” then you must be new to Twitter, because every Friday I’m very aware of it’s presence. I think it started out as a nice way to pay homage to some of the accounts people follow, but now in many cases it’s just become spam. Now before I go any further, let me make it clear that I appreciate anyone who mentions me in their “Follow Friday” recommendations. Thank you for including me in your recommendations. It does work to grow your Twitter network…sometimes…
But here’s the deal. By virtue of you following me, you’ve essentially already endorsed me and by listing me in your “Follow Friday” list, you’ve done nothing more than mentioned what anyone can already see – your “follow list.”
I think a far more powerful way to promote accounts that you like on Twitter on “Follow Friday” would be to mention the Twitter account you particularly like AND also give me a reason to follow that account. So instead of just typing a long list of names, you could say “On #FF, I recommended @LindsayEWarren (or whoever!) because…” and fill in the blank. I’m much more likely to check out whoever you’re talking about if you put some value next to their Twitter handle.
So that just about covers my pet peeves and my possible solutions. What are yours?
Today I’m featuring a fellow Animal lover, Fellow Royal Oaker and (gasp!) a huge Wolverine fan. Her name is Erica Finley and like the other Metro Detroiters I’ve featured in my blog, has so many great things to say about our region and our state.
Erica Finley
LW: What city did you grow up in?
EF: I’m a transplant from West Michigan as of 2008, and have been in Royal Oak ever since. I absolutely love the city because it offers the safety, great eateries and the type of nightlife I was looking for.
LW: What was your first job?
EF: I was hired for my first job as a senior in high school, and I was a sales associate at Famous Footwear. I’m a people person, but I certainly lacked a bit in the sales department. And I never truly learned how to measure people’s feet. (Can you blame me?)
LW: Where did you go to college?
EF: I graduated in 2006 from Western Michigan University with a degree in journalism. I’m absolutely enamored with my alma mater, frequently returning for football games, speaking gigs and visits with old friends.
LW: Tell me about your business/company.
EF: I am a digital media strategist for The Urbane Way, based in Royal Oak, which is a cutting edge marketing and public relations lab, serving clients across the country. We blend proven social media strategies with traditional public relations techniques and innovative event marketing for clients in a vast array of lifestyle, retail and professional fields. I work primarily with Dale Carnegie franchises, the oldest professional development training group in the world.
LW: What makes it unique?
EF: The Urbane Way is unique in that we focus largely on blogging to help our clients increase their digital footprints. We find that online articles drive traffic to our clients’ websites, which translates into more conversions as it relates to their particular business.
LW: What do you love most about what you do?
EF: I have a lot of freedom in my role at The Urbane Way, which is really refreshing. I’m able to work from home, writing and interacting with people on social media — two things I love to do even when I’m off the clock.
LW: What is one thing most people don’t know about you (hidden talent, etc.)?
EF: This is a tough one! I have an irrational hatred for snaps, does that count? But seriously, don’t wear anything with snaps around me. Oh, and I won a beautiful baby contest when I was very little.
LW: Outside of work, what are some of your passions?
EF: I’ve been an animal lover and advocate for as long as I can remember. I’ve volunteered for many years with the SPCA of Southwest Michigan and try to help bring awareness to pet-related issues whenever possible. I plan to launch a website in 2011 that helps reunite lost pets with their owners.
LW: What do you think is the biggest misconception about this state?
EF: Like most people I know, I reject the idea that you have to leave to find opportunity. I know a lot of people that are making their own opportunities, and working to combat the “brain drain” we’re suffering from here.
LW: What things draw you to downtown Detroit?
EF: I’m not as knowledgeable about the city as a lot of my friends are, but Tigers games, special DIA exhibits and Campus Martius Park are all sure-fire ways to have fun in the D. I also like to head down for events like the Jazz Festival and other festivities that really highlight what this region has to offer.
Lighting Round:
MSU or U of M? I didn’t attend either university, but you’d be hard pressed to find a more hard-core Wolverine fan. I try to visit the Big House for a game at least a couple of times a year. (Sorry, Lindsay!)
Ford, GM or Chrysler? My Grandpa retired from GM, so I always grew up surrounded by its vehicles and when I was old enough, I was able to enjoy the employee discount on my own car, which is always a plus! However, I’ve really enjoyed watching Ford evolve over the years into a social media savvy company that has been producing some awe-inspiring automobiles.
Lions, Tigers, Pistons or Red Wings? Tigers, hands down! I’m not a big baseball kind of gal, but there is no better way to spend a lazy summer day than at Comerica Park: hot dogs, sunshine, and cheering on the home team.
Facebook or Twitter? Facebook was my first love because I’ve been on it since it was first offered to college students only. However, Twitter has stolen my affection with its instant access to anyone from Kim Kardashian to PR pro Sarah Evans. I’ve had a lot of good fortune as a result of the site, and I can’t wait to see what the company does next!
Favorite local radio station? My radio dial’s usually set to 99.5 WYCD (country, I know!) or 95.5 with Mojo in the Morning. I love all kinds of music, so both stations satisfy my musical wants.
Favorite local TV station? WXYZ-TV, of course! I hadn’t really watched the local news since I left home for college and moved to the east side, but Stephen Clark has totally revitalized what it means to watch it. While his efforts have really propelled WXYZ into the spotlight, his desire to remove the barrier between news anchors and viewers is something I think we can all appreciate.
Favorite local brand? I’m a big fan of Biggby Coffee. We all know the story of how its CEO Bob Fish (@BiggbyBob) has used social media to reconnect with Biggby customers and enthusiasts alike, but in addition to that, I’ve just always had really positive experiences at their stores. The baristas are always super friendly and genuinely interested in the customers, and the coffee’s great!
Favorite restaurant? I’ve recently become a big fan of Maggiano’s in Troy. All of the food there is delicious, and if you order from a certain set of entrees, they give you an additional entrée free to take home and enjoy later. And if you want to make me a really happy camper, I’d also be thrilled with a trip to Slow’s.
Favorite place to vacation in Michigan? Mackinac Island — hands down. My family’s made a yearly trip up there for as long as I can remember, and I recently rode around the island on bikes for the first time (I know, right?) and loved it. It’s a gorgeous place to walk around and explore (if you don’t mind a little horse poop every now and then.)
Favorite place to take out-of-towners? I usually take out-of-towners to dinner at one of my favorite places in downtown Royal Oak, like Town Tavern or Monterrey Cantina, and then show them what the nightlife has to offer at bars like Oak City Grille and Woody’s. And if it’s December, you can bet we’ll be making a trip to downtown Rochester to take in the light display.
Metro Detroiters who are active on Facebook and/or Twitter have probably heard of Detroit Moxie’s Becks Davis. If you are not familiar with her yet, well now is your chance to get to know one of Detroit’s most enthusiastic cheerleaders! Even if you know Becks, read on. She is another example of a Detroiter with a great story to tell.
Becks Davis
LW: What city did you grow up in?
BD: I grew up in Warren and moved to Bloomfield Township when I was in high school. I went to public schools in Warren and one year they didn’t pass the millage. I didn’t know what that meant except that in Junior High we had a ‘nutrition break’ instead of a lunch hour. It was at that point that my parents decided it was time for private schools. For the record, I’d like it to be known that I went to Beer Junior High.
LW: What was your first job?
BD: I started working when I was 11; I was a caddy at Red Run Golf Club and loved hanging out in the caddy shack playing video games. We would sneak out to the McDonald’s on 11 Mile & Main and an arcade on Woodward. I also worked at a few other Michigan-based companies when I was in high school: Olga’s Kitchen, Little Caesars and Art Van.
LW: Where did you go to college?
BD: I went to Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I always have to add that it’s in Milwaukee or people think I went to school in the U.P. My degree is in communications, but I was a theater major with a theology minor. Yep, highly employable! I worked as a professional stage manager for 10 years before leaving the theater business.
LW: Tell me about your business/company.
BD: I’m the founder and writer of DetroitMoxie.com. I explore the people, places, and events of Detroit and encourage others to get out and experience Detroit.
LW: What makes it unique?
BD: It’s unique because it comes from my perspective. I moved back to Detroit in 1999 and for 5 years I didn’t break out of a 5-mile radius. If it wasn’t in Birmingham, Bloomfield or Troy, I missed it. It wasn’t until I moved to the UK that I realized that there were tons of cool things happening in Detroit. I wanted to be a part of it and make a difference. I moved from the UK back to Detroit in December of 2008. Oh, and my husband is English and he’s my muse.
LW: What do you love most about what you do?
BD: I’m passionate about Detroit and Michigan so writing about it and sharing it with others is a dream. People reach out to me from all over the world and I find that fascinating.
LW: What is one thing most people don’t know about you (hidden talent, etc.)?
BD: That’s difficult. Definitely not singing or dancing! I do have mad memorization skills. Give me a paragraph or a list and give me a few minutes; I’ll repeat it back to you verbatim. And, because that’s not very impressive, when I was young I was the best female bowler in metro Detroit for my age.
LW: Outside of work, what are some of your passions?
BD: I love photography, design, and typography. I’m not good at any of those things but I appreciate when they are done well.
LW: What do you think is the biggest misconception about this state?
BD: I think that the rest of the country, and the world, assume that everyone that lives here is miserable and wants out. That’s SO not the case.
LW: What things draw you to downtown Detroit?
BD: That’s like picking a favorite child! The Guardian Building is magnificent and a great place to hang out. The Belle Isle Ice Tree is also one of my most favorite things ever. In winter, I visit it often to watch it grow and then melt.
Lighting Round:
MSU or U of M? U of M.
Ford, GM or Chrysler? Ford.
Lions, Tigers, Pistons or Red Wings? Red Wings.
Facebook or Twitter? Twitter.
Favorite local radio station? 96.3
Favorite local TV station? WXYZ (Channel 7)
Favorite local brand? Better Made.
Favorite restaurant? Roast for happy hour.
Favorite place to vacation in Michigan? Traverse City.
Favorite place to take out-of-towners? The patio at La Dolce Vita for brunch.
If you would like to suggest a Metro Detroiter for me to feature on my blog, do not hesitate to e-mail me at lindsay@lindsaywarren.com today!
It’s my favorite time of the week – the time when I can share with you another wonderful Metro Detroiter! I’m honored to bring you this particular interview because this man is doing many positive things for our city. Not only does he connect to his viewers in a more interactive way than any other TV news anchor in town, he truly wants to cover more positive stories AND he’s asking US to bring the news to him!
Of course I’m talking about Stephen Clark from Channel 7. His interaction on Twitter with the #backchannel is just plain fun and it empowers us to find good news! Here we go…
Stephen Clark
LW: What city did you grow up in?
SC: I grew up in the Air Force—all over the country. I moved to West Bloomfield when I came to Michigan…then to Commerce Twp.
LW: What was your first job?
SC: Besides mowing lawns—my first job with an actual paycheck was after school in the 9th grade—I watered plants at a commercial nursery behind my Junior High School.
LW: Where did you go to college?
SC: University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO
LW: Tell me about your business/company.
SC: I work for Channel 7 / WXYZ-TV.
LW: What makes it unique?
SC: It is such an ingrained brand in Detroit with so many long-time employees. Hard to find that kind of longevity in the broadcast business.
LW: What do you love most about what you do?
SC: The ability to connect with so many people outside my “circle” and being in the middle of events that become our city’s history.
LW: What is one thing most people don’t know about you (hidden talent, etc.)?
SC: My singing/songwriting is pretty much public knowledge…but most people don’t know I’ve completed one novel and written bits and pieces of others and screenplays.
LW: Outside of work, what are some of your passions?
SC: Besides music…I love to build…I do a lot of remodeling.
LW: What do you think is the biggest misconception about this state?
SC: I hear people putting Michigan down for all kinds of reasons—the economy, the weather. But the people putting it down are from here and wouldn’t even think of leaving. I think they’re trying to keep people out.
LW: What things draw you to downtown Detroit?
SC: I’m generally drawn by specific events…like games at Ford Field, Comerica or the Joe… or by concerts.
Lighting Round:
MSU or U of M? Neither…I send a daughter and my money to Western Michigan University
Ford, GM or Chrysler? I have one of each.
Lions, Tigers, Pistons or Red Wings? Tigers (I love baseball.)
Facebook or Twitter? Twitter (with a big side of FB)
Favorite local radio station? WYCD (sorry Mojo)
Favorite local TV station? Channel 7. (What did you expect?)
Favorite local brand? Ford
Favorite restaurant? Rojo in Novi
Favorite place to vacation in Michigan? At home
Favorite place to take out-of-towners? Tiger’s games
On Wednesday, October 20, 2010, I attended the 140 Characters Conference at the Fillmore in Detroit. The 140 Character Conferences are put on by Jeff Pulver, the co-founder of Vonage. Since the inception of the #140conf, as they are dubbed, conferences have taken place in New York City, LA, London, Barcelona, Tel Aviv…and now Detroit!
As the name reflects, the conferences focus on Twitter (For those of you not on Twitter, you have 140 characters to post your updates) and the good it is providing both for-profit and non-profit business, as well as connecting people worldwide.
In a similar fashion the TEDx events, this conference features very quick presentations, generally 5-10 minutes long max. I took copious notes and want to share with you some of my favorite speakers and the takeaways I got from this FABULOUS event.
Before I go on, let me emphasize one thing. If you are not on Twitter yet, get there and get there fast. Not only can it help your business, but it can help the world!
My Takeaways from #140conf
(Each bullet point refers to a new speaker or panel)
-If you live anywhere in Michigan, you need to get to know Erik Proulx. Erik is going to create a wonderful documentary about all the GREAT things happening in Detroit and how the city WILL make a big comeback. That documentary is called “Lemonade: Detroit.” (Get it? Make lemonade from lemons, people!) He noted only 1/3 of the land in Detroit is occupied and instead of viewing that as something scary or negative, it is to be viewed as a sense of possibility. The goal with his film is to reverse the fixation of people viewing “ruin porn” and instead have the fascination turn to viewing “hope porn.”
Erik has a very unique approach to getting his film funded. ANYONE can sponsor it and become an IMDB.com credited producer of the film! For $120, I’ve sponsored 5 seconds of the film. You can do that (or more!) here.
-One of my favorite Detroiters, Stephen Clark of WXYZ-TV, spoke about the birth of the “Back channel” – his unique connection to his viewers who watch and tweet with him during his live television news broadcasts. He summed up Twitter and the #backchannel with this statement, “Strangers all gather to work together to create change.” Well said, Stephen!
-Speaker Becky McCraw comes from a town of 27 people! She is an entrepreneur who does not need to be from a big city to “get it.” She explained that limited resources simply equals tough, creative people. If that statement alone does not illustrate that we are all the same no matter if we’re from a rural area or a big city like Detroit, I don’t know what does! She also said something that more businesses need to listen to, which was, “Customer service is all you’ve got.”
Lastly, she coined a fantastic new term – “hybrid vigor” – which speaks to the hybrid always being stronger than the individual. Amen, Becky! I’m certain we will hear more from Becky in the near future.
-If you work in advertising, marketing or public relations, you’ve probably heard of Hajj Flemings. Hajj is the founder of Brand Camp University. Hajj showed this amazing video to illustrate the importance of improvising and not killing our dreams as we get older:
As I write this blog, this video has close to 3 million views. Clearly, people from all over the world identify with dreamers. Take a moment to watch this video as I’m certain you’ll be thoroughly impressed!
-The first panel of the day was about how entrepreneurs are reshaping Detroit. As someone who has successfully started and runs her own business, this panel really spoke to me. They reminded entrepreneurs to do two things: FOCUS and NEVER QUIT!Todd List said, “Surround yourself with people who are farther down the road than you.”
-Jeremiah Staes spoke about “Telling the story of Detroit in real-time: How do you deal online with a brand where some people mistakenly think you’re going to get shot?” He told the audience, “Don’t hide behind anonymity online!” Sound advice, especially when it’s easy to say something ignorant like “I don’t want to go to Detroit because I might get shot.” (Eye roll.)
-It was fascinating to see how some forward-thinking teachers are connecting with their students through social media and the huge benefits these teachers are seeing by reaching out to students where they already are. Nicholas Provenzano, a high school English teacher and education blogger, said, “Teachers need to be open to change or education will fail.” Provenzano has found success in using Twitter for transparency. All of his assignments are posted on Twitter, so students and parents alike can see what is due tomorrow! Talk about simple and effective. Good on you, Nicholas.
-The real-time news gathering panel also proved to be very useful to me. A public relations professional in the audience posed an extremely relevant question. He wanted to know what was the best way to pitch stories to the media, given all the changes in distribution. The media professionals on the panel agreed that picking up the phone or sending a personalized e-mail was still the very best route. They reminded PR professionals to ‘get to the point’ and asked everyone to participate with your local media. Also, one new way to share positive stories in Metro Detroit is by sending e-mails to dogood@freepress.com.
-Yisrael Pinson, a Rabbi serving the Jewish recovery community, taught us that Twitter is tremendously helping recovering addicts. (Who knew?!) He said, “Social media and recovery are a match made in Heaven.” Is there anything Twitter can’t do? It is so inspiring to see all the good this new technology is providing!
-Charlie Wollberg really struck a chord with me when he spoke. I’ve been utilizing social media for several years now to fundraise for charity. He said, “Click does not equal care. There is no substitute for real action.” He meant that hitting the ‘share’ button on Facebook or the ‘re-tweet’ button on Twitter was good, but not good enough. I could not agree more. Social media is amazing for spreading the word about non-profits and the amazing work they do, but we must do better. We need to donate our time and our money to causes that mean something to us. (And I’ll step off my soap box now.)
-Anissa Mayhew was without a doubt one of my favorite speakers at #140conf Detroit. Anissa talked about the human side of social media and how what some might consider total strangers (Facebook friends, Twitter friends, etc.), she considers real friends. Anissa witnessed the power of social media after she had a stroke. Her family kept the world abreast of her progress while she was in a coma in the hospital. When she came home, she found thousands of cards, e-mail and other forms of support waiting for her from these friends. All these people had never met her in person, but they rallied for her online.
She stated, “Friends are friends.” As someone who has been making wonderful friends online for a while now, I agree with you 1000%, Anissa. I met one of my absolute dearest friends, Kathy through MySpace (back in its heyday), and I’m incredibly thankful to have her in my life, not to mention countless others.
-Another person you have to get to know is Nelson de Witt. Nelson is from El Salvador and was separated from his parents at birth. He is creating a documentary film about his amazing life story – and his family that he finally got to meet! Despite his very struggles, Nelson always remained positive.
He had a perfect message for Detroit: “Pick up the pieces and keep going!” He also said, “Recognize the opportunity we all have to change the world.” I absolutely loved his enthusiasm!
-Chris Brogan had a bunch of useful takeaways for Metro Detroiters. A few quotes from him:
“No one is coming to save you.” This was not meant to be a negative statement. I viewed this as a reminder that WE Detroiters are the key to our success and how great will it be when the city does turn around and we can all take the credit for it?!
“Discomfort is an investment.” This said to me that if you want to grow, you must get outside of your comfort zone. Thank you for the reminder, Chris!
“Tithing is alive and well. For every project, find a cause.” This is a man after my non-profit loving heart! ;)
-Fred Jacobs spoke about one of my favorite things -music!- and how Twitter is ‘pulling back the curtain for music fans.’ Jacobs is the creator of the classic rock format. He said, “Social media re-creates a grass roots dialogue for classic rock artists.” I definitely agree with Fred and I’ll add that I think that if artists are genuine on Twitter, every musician/band have the opportunity connect to fans in a more intimate way, creating even more loyal fans! It seems like a no brainer win/win for the music industry, which is no stranger to the economic challenges that have occurred over the past decade. Jacobs emphasized that Twitter provides authenticity and personal engagement. Where else can an artist or band communicate with fans like that once they’ve become popular?
A few more notable quotes from the 140 Characters Conference in Detroit:
“There’s always been hope here. There’s always been hard work,” Ron Levi
“This city can be a renaissance…Your life is not just about you. Everything that you do inspires others.” Ja-Nae Duane
“The art of listening is suspending your mind,” Geo Geller
“Social media is causing people to look up,” Mandi Mankvitz
And lastly, Ryan Doyle said, “Throw out probabilities. Focus on possibilities!
To sum up my conference experience…
A never give up attitude, an openness to change, interactivity, transparency, accountability and good customer service are paramount to being successful on Twitter and other social media. It is best to view social media as not the ‘new, hot technology’ but as a tool used to create a stronger connection to each other.
I’ve been a member of Facebook for quite a while now. I think I joined when it was still only open to folks with a university e-mail address. I spend a good amount of time on the site, both for fun and for my clients. So as you can guess, I enjoy the site! And most of my friends know what an upbeat and positive person I am. But despite me being a “glass is half full girl,” there are a few pieces of bad etiquette that drive me nuts that some folks do over and over. Here are some examples:
-CONSTANT negativity
Some Facebook friends of mine have nothing positive to say EVER. They hate their job. They cannot get along with their mom. Their kids are driving them nuts. Life appears to suck for them.
While I understand that many of these people are simply looking for someone to reach out to, there has be a point when these people curb the negativity. Facebook is not meant to be a soapbox to complain about aspects of your life that are not perfect. Why you ask?
Well, no matter how private you think your settings are, SOMEONE is reading your status update. It does not matter if you have 5 friends or 500. Your updates get broadcasted to them, whether you think they are paying attention or not.
Remember, just because someone did not comment on what you posted, does not mean they did not see it! So if you complain about your fiancé not being the perfect man you want him to be, guess what? He’ll find out what you posted. And bitching about your job will very likely get back to SOMEONE at your company.
Oh and by the way, someone in this world has it worse than you. Keep things in perspective folks!
-Bad grammar / spelling
We don’t all use Facebook as a way to network professionally, but if you want to be taken seriously, take a look at what you post before you post it!
A couple of common mistakes that drive me to want to break my laptop in half when I see them include:
-“To” vs. “too” – “Too” means ‘also’ – nothing else!
-“Your” vs. “You’re” – “your” implies possession, while “you’re” is a contraction for “you are.”
Get ‘em straight! This is stuff most 5th graders understand.
-Cryptic Posts
This I will never understand. Why would you post something like “Wow. So much has happened in the last week. Not sure I can handle it” and then not tell anyone specifics when they ask how they can help? If you are not willing to share, don’t write something so obscure. This type of ‘stream of consciousness’ post is unnecessary.
-Copying others’ ideas/posts
While imitation may be the highest form of flattery, don’t steal an idea from one of your Facebook friends without giving proper credit! The quote “Do onto others as you would have them do onto you” is so apropos on Facebook. Enough said.
-Speaking of ‘Do onto others’…not so nice comments
Don’t post something on someone’s wall if you would not want someone to post something similar on yours. If you’ve had a bad day, perhaps it’s time to log off. Debates can certainly be fun, but they are better in person. Emotion and intent can be easily misread online.
Like mom always said, “If you have nothing nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.”
So there you have them – Lindsay’s no-no list. This is not a complete list of Facebook blunders, but these are the things that get to me the most. Have something that bugs you? Leave a comment!
Her thoughtfulness (to name one of her many qualities) has made her a friend for life. And my client Diane is fabulous about not only sending hand-written cards after playing her harp for a client, but she personalizes them even further, by always incorporating a photo of her harp. These gestures make a difference!
