The Brand Evangelist

I wrote a post in the past on DIY [Do It Yourself] approach to social media, what the social media experts won't tell you. There I stated that trial and error can help you design a unique social media marketing strategy.

But Is social Media Marketing LUCK?

 

NO. It has an element of luck.

You cannot determine when a campaign will go viral. You may initiate a campaign with the intention that it should go viral, but there is no guarantee. There are factors you can't control.
You can't tell people how to use Facebook or Twitter. People decide their own way. Even Facebook and Twitter are not telling people how to Facebook or Tweet.

 

Things you should not leave to luck

1. Social media marketing goal. The goals you set must be measurable and meaningful. Deciding to gain 20,000 likes (Facebook) or 10,000 followers (Twitter) is a goal that is achievable and measurable. However it is meaningless in marketing. I wrote a post on the value of building business relationships over accumulating numbers. Example of meaningful goal could be - gather insight for your brand or increase awareness.

2. Data Collected for analysis. You can use certain tool to collect and analyse data. The data you mine must be able to provide you with information that will help you in deciding if you're achieving your goal. To gather insight, you can ask your community questions on Twitter or Facebook. The information you gather could them be use to create more value for your customers.

3. Best time to engage. Through careful observation and direct questioning I was able to know that the best time to engage with my own community on Facebook and Twitter is 8am - 10am, 12noon to 2pm 5pm to 7pm, 10pm to 12am [Nigerian time] at other times they are either asleep or at work. You have to observe yours. What is the benefit of sharing information when the people who are to see it are not available?

4. Social Network Platform to use. Your service and the people you're targeting will determine the platform to use and how to use it. Most users of social networks in Nigeria access social network via their mobile phone. If you're targeting such people, it is obvious that they won't see adverts you place on Facebook [I typed the draft of this post from my usual Nokia E71 btw].

Don't just do trial and error, research.

A social media marketing strategy will help you save resources that can result from trial and error. Get yours drafted today and stop leaving your social media marketing effort to luck!
What challenges are you having in implementing an effective social media strategy? Let me know in the comments and I will share my experience with you.

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I was going to publish a post on benefits of being a multi-passionate Entrepreneur. I decided to break down the frequency of my posts to increase the quality.

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Having awesome marketing skills can add more business to you, but poor habits can make you lose in your business.

Have you been trying to learn new habits recently? Habits that will enhance your productivity. If yes, trying this few tips can help the habit stick.

1. Don't try to do too much. You're more likely to fail and be discouraged. Initially I posted once in a week on my blog. I decided to post daily between 300 - 500 words as a new habit. I am already feeling overwhelmed. So I have broken it down to two post a week. I will still write daily, but will post only twice in a week. Break down your goal into tiny bits, you can increase it as you get more comfortable.

2. Get a support system to be accountable to. In my case, I am part of a Facebook group started by Aaron Lee. I report my progress to them and get encouragement. You can join us or start your own group. You can decide to make your friend your support. It helps. If you can't find any, I am available to provide support for you. Reach out to me on twitter or email me.

Get support to enable your new habit stick - Image source

3. Record & track your progress. I record my progress using evernote application on my PC. I also do a summary on the group page on Facebook for the 30-day challenge. This will help you to know how you are doing and know what to adjust. You may record your progress on a blog or a note book.

4. Don't beat yourself when you fail at it. Start afresh the next day. You can't learn a new habit with ease, it's tough, it takes time and practice. Anyday you fail at executing the set task, you're not a failure. Just try again. If you're doing too much, reduce the task as I said above.

5. Reward yourself with an enjoyable activity or something you admire. I love to tweet, I wait till I get my task done & then go online to have fun.

This is my 4th Day in the 30-day challenge to develop a new habit with a Facebook group.. It's been fun and rewarding. I hope to keep it up till the 30th day as see how well I did.

Have you been trying to develop a new habit lately? How have you been going about it? I will love to hear from you in the comment.

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"Jack of all trade master of none."

Image source

Can one be equally good to the same degree when doing so many things at thesame time?

You're familiar with that opening quote. If refered to as a jack of all trade, how will you feel? I won't like it if it were me. But, the truth is, we have Jacks of Multiple trades around us. Such people may be seen as a missfit in the society. I don't think it shout be so.

I once wrote on this blog, about slahers vs specialists. Those who are passionate about different things and feel the urge to purse them are called scanners. They are sometimes called slashers since their bio may look something like this - Writer/ photographer/ blogger /webdesigner /Musician.

The Specialists school of thought see such people as a misfit. This, however, is doing damage to a lot of scanners who can hardly settle down and engage in a single career for the rest of their lives.

There is room for specialists and scanners alike. It's better to help scanner understand their skill and maximise it. I see most entrepreneurs having the scanner trait. Trying to label themselve into being specialists may be their greatest challenge.
I belong to the scanner tribe. I never knew all along. It's a special kind of trait, just like Peter Parker [Spider Man] who had to learn how to use his special powers. I am learning to use Mine as well :-)

image source

If you are an entrepreneur, and you find yourself to be multipassionate, don't despair, help is available. There is a whole community at puttylike.com, you see people with same trait there and you can share and learn how everyone is applyiing this unique trait.

How is being a Multi-passionate entrepreneur and advantage? I will share that tomorrow. Make it a date.
Do you find youself in this category of people, who have multiple-interests and pottentials? How have you been managing the trait?

If you're a specialist, what's your thought about scanners, are they Jack of all trade master of none?

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I will like to hear from you in the comments.

P.S it is day3 in the 3Oday challenge to develop good habits. You can still join us. [Since I am composing this with My Nokia E71, I can't put the link, use the search box or @ me on twitter @JesseOguns] we are now about 30 in the group, it's free and it's an interesting community.

I will also appreciate your feedback on my new blog design if you're a regular. Thanks!

“Long-term couple rely on each other to act as one another’s memory.” – Daniel Wegner

 

 

This sounds like something I did when I was in high school. My mum always knew where things are, so I don’t bother remembering where I kept my things. I simply ask her and she produces it. She’s awesome.

According to a research study by a group of researchers presented on BBC online portal, we seem to be relying more on the computer and the internet to help us remember things than our own memory.

 

 

Do you think we are becoming dumber?

The researchers pointed us to the quote in the opening. If long-term couples can depend on each other to store things and remember them [Transactional memory], Depending on our computer or the internet to aid us in remembering does not make us dumb, does it?

We seem to develop another set of skill of knowing where and how we store information on the web and on our computers. The web and our computers are therefore serving as out transactional memory.

Do you think we are becoming dumber in this computer and internet age?

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Let’s discuss it in the comment section. I will love to know what your thoughts are. Thanks!

Image source for the first photograpgh

Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net for the second photograph

He was born in 1974. He had a good job and Family. But, he just passed away. I knew him.

Seeing his Obituary, I was nudged to think about live in a digitally connected world.

Technological inventions push different services at us all the time. Engaging and interesting services. They make us more busy and more connected. Have you thought of the cost of being always connected?

I am thinking of it now. I am connected 24/7 as I have a phone that is connected to the web. I wrote an article a few days ago on Why Every Blogger Needs a Smartphone. If these devices get the best of us, they can distrupt our lives and cost us a few of the things that should matter to us.

What is more important, things or people? When we love gadgets and use people, what does that make us? We sometimes want our family to understand that it's work. Finding the middle groud between our virtual/business relationships and people we care for is vital.

As I continue my participation in the 30 day challenge to pick up a good habit. I want to include one more; Live a richer life by limiting the number of times I am connected to the virtual world and connect more with people in the real world.

How do you balance being connected online and spending time with people in real life? Someone could make use of your approach.

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Be part of the conversation and leave a comment. Thanks!

P.S. Logging off now. I need to make some vegetable soup. It's been a while I used the Kitchen.