Posts Tagged "social networking"

What Does Social Media Mean to You?

Posted by Erin Blaskie on Dec 18, 2009 in blog, Social Media | 11 comments

I thought typing “social media is…” in Google provided some interesting responses.

What is social media to you?  One word answers are fine!

Bruno: The Movie with Important Lessons… Really.

Posted by Erin Blaskie on Jul 17, 2009 in Personally Speaking, Social Media | 6 comments

Last night, I went to see the movie “Bruno” and when I Tweeted out the fact that I was going to partake in this activity, I was met with mixed reviews.  People had heard crazy things about it, some had seen it, some thought it was funny and well… others were just plain disgusted by it.

I had also heard that Twitter bombed Bruno’s opening weekend at the box office.  Not sure the validity to it but even a search done on Twitter provided mixed reviews.

I have to say that I didn’t love it but didn’t hate it either. Here’s why…

The movie has a very surface level vibe to it.  The jokes aren’t “deep” and the humor borderlines on somewhat disgusting BUT (and there is a but) I think Sacha Baron Cohen is a genius.  Yes, I realize that’s going far but let me tell you why.

* SPOILER ALERTS –> DO NOT READ IF YOU WANT TO WATCH MOVIE **

In the movie, Bruno (a flamboyant Austrian fashionista), takes his show to America and visits with many different groups of people.  The idea behind the movie is really sort of elementary but it’s what he does with his interviews that matters.

Here are a few of my favorite examples and I’ll explain why I felt they were poignant:

Casting a Child for a Family Photo Session:  Bruno interviews these parents who are trying to get their child a starring role in this faux photo shoot.  When he is interviewing them, he is asking them a series of really odd questions about what he, as the photographer/coordinator, could do with their children.  He asks if it’s okay for them to be around lit phospherous (the parents agree – “Oh yes! Absolutely, my child actually likes that very much”) and other really, really far reaching examples.

At a “Straight Dave” Event:  Bruno, during the movie, realizes that maybe his being gay has something to do with him not becoming famous in America.  So, he creates this Straight Dave persona that resembled a WWE or UFC event.  He dressed up in camoflage, sported a mullet and went in front of the crowd cheering about being straight and such.  Then, his previous personal assistant comes in, comes up on stage and they begin to make out and such. People boo, throw chairs, throw drinks and leave.

So, why are these great examples?

I feel like Sacha wasn’t just making a movie about stupid, disgusting humor.  I think he was spreading the message about our intolerance and showing just what that looks like on the big screen. I think he was using a platform that could relate to different groups that may not otherwise see that sort of message and I think he did it cleverly.  There was shock value there and there were things that were totally unexpected.

Let’s look now at why this matters on a business scale.

In Dan Heath & Chip Heath’s book “Made to Stick” they talk about what makes some ideas stick and what makes others die.  There are key components to this.  The key components are:

• Simplicity
• Unexpectedness
• Concreteness
• Credibility
• Emotional
• Stories

Bruno, the movie, invoked all of these things.  In doing so, he was able to spread stories around bigger ideas like careless parenting, intolerance to homosexuality, religious extremes and many more issues. He did it in a way that many could relate to and in a way that had shock value.

I am sure he knew that in order to talk about some of these stories, you had to make people talk about the platform. The platform here being a movie with really dumb humor.

Some of you may disagree and see his movie as simply dumb humor and you may refuse to ever see it and that’s totally fine.  The movie isn’t for everyone.  However, the people who DO see it are getting these messages in a way that lets them go, “Huh… That’s really what it looks like from this end” and maybe… just maybe, that’ll change some mindsets.

If you saw it — what did you think?

Stats: How Much Money are Facebook and MySpace Making?

Posted by Erin Blaskie on Jul 9, 2009 in Social Media | 0 comments

via mashable.com

Interesting stats about a few of our favorite social networking sites.

Posted via web from Erin’s posterous

The Dream Social Media Assistant

Posted by Erin Blaskie on May 11, 2009 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

I imagine a lot of people would have this if they could. Thanks to Warren Whitlock who posted this link on Facebook!

PostClick from Christopher F. Smith on Vimeo.

[tags]Social media, vlogger, vlog, vlogging, blog, blogging, blogger, social networking, assistant, personal assistant, virtual assistant, Erin Blaskie, Warren Whitlock, Facebook[/tags]

Free Teleseminar: How to Turn Followers Into Fans (and Fans Into Leads!) With Social Networking with Nancy Marmolejo

Posted by Erin Blaskie on Feb 19, 2009 in blog | 0 comments

How to Turn Followers Into Fans (and Fans Into Leads!) With Social Networking

You know that social networking is THE place to be for online marketing, but how do you know if you using it effectively as a lead generation tool?

This call is now over but register below
for the FREE audio download!!

In this teleseminar recording, social networking strategist Nancy Marmolejo will share with you her “magic secrets” of turning social networking followers into fans and fans into leads.

You will learn:

• Expert tips on setting up a strong social networking presence so you stand out from your peers and competition

• The 4 Parts of the Social Networking Lead Generation Cycle that turns followers into fans and fans into leads

• How to create a profile that passes the “10 Second Test” and skillfully targets your ideal contacts

• A 3-part strategy to turn a total stranger into a lucrative business prospect without ever having to sell or apply pressure

• The big 2-part strategy  you need to stay consistent and memorable

• Big mistakes social networkers make that cost you  fans, followers, leads, and sales (you can’t afford to miss this part!)

• Cutting edge techniques to connect authentically with your market and the tools to get that done

DOWNLOAD YOUR AUDIO BELOW!

About Nancy Marmolejo

Nancy Marmolejo is the award winning founder of Viva Visibility, a coaching and consulting company that helps entrepreneurs get known. A gifted strategist with a heightened sense of intuition, Nancy’s specialty is raising the visibility level of entrepreneurs so they can market themselves as recognized, credible experts.

Her company provides visibility strategies for individuals and companies wanting to take their messages to bigger audiences. Her clients include thought leaders in business, the arts, niche markets, and personal development.

Nancy has been named one of the Top 50 Most Influential and Powerful Women in Social Media, ranks as a Twitter Elite user,  and is the recipient of numerous business achievement awards.

A recognized expert herself, Nancy has shared expert commentary with several media outlets including SmartMoney.com, Hispanic Business, Latina magazine, Univisión TV, KPBS radio, Redbook, The Fresno Business Journal, The Orange County Register, Orange Coast magazine, the Arizona Republic, and many more.

Known for her creative and spirited style, Nancy is all over the web as an avid social networker and trend watcher in the area of visibility for entrepreneurs. She lives in Southern California with her family.

[tags]Nancy Marmolejo, Viva Visibility, social networking, social media, teleseminar, Erin Blaskie, BSETC, internet marketing strategy, internet marketing support[/tags]