What’s Next Now

Today is my one-year anniversary on Twitter! Yay!

BT (before Twitter) I had been engaged in what has come to be known as “social media” through blogs and discussion groups for several years. I hand-coded my first blog (now defunct) in 2002, really before there was any server-side software for it – even before I was aware of the term “blog.”  Frequent posting of new content to a web index.htm page was a real challenge, but I enjoyed it a lot!

Since then, I’ve created and maintained several blogs at Blogger.com and using Wordpress (like this one). I’ve also helped  others create personal blogs.  Lately, I’ve been answering lots of questions and giving free advice to friends (and friends of friends) regarding what social media tools might work best for what they are trying to accomplish in business.  I’ve got 25 years experience in various PR, marketing and advocacy roles and I have some solid technical certifications, too.  I have a great mix of skills and experience to help folks with this stuff.

I had meant to go full-bore with developing this side of my business last summer, but Tropical Storm Fay got in the way.  Fortunately, most of that mess is past and I’m ready to offer my social media skills to clients.  Toward this end, I’m going to take on three demonstration projects at no cost to my customers.  I already have one commitment in hand, and I’m writing a plan for it.

I want to put two more demonstration projects under my belt before I’ll start formally soliciting business.  I see all the people out there using the “social media expert” banner who don’t have the track record to back it up.  That’s not the way I work.

This morning, I seized up an idea and as soon as I post this, I’m hitting the send button on an email to Madlibs‘ marketing department:

Hi [name of person who reads this],

You don’t know me from Adam, but I have a quickie idea for using social media to increase your sales.  I loved Mad Libs as a kid and think you have a real opportunity to become trendy for a new generation.

Here’s my idea in short form:

• Get a Twitter account (I don’t know if @madlibs is registered by you or not)
• Create an “official” Facebook Madlibs fan group (there are some, but none appear to be by your company)
• Create landing pages on your web site specific to Twitter and Facebook
• Use the Twitter and Facebook APIs on those pages to create interfaces to the services
• At those pages, allow visitors to fill in random blanks (just like Madlibs) and auto post their Madlib results
• Visitors can select a topic, but can’t see the results until after they have posted their results to Facebook or Twitter
• Every auto tweet should end in the hashtag #madlibs
• It seems like a no-brainer to me that you’ll get a ton of followers that you should follow back and connect with to build interest in your publications
• It seems to me that most social media users are in the age cohort that would be likely to engage with you (and develop/rekindle an affinity for Madlibs)
• I believe that if you [verb] this, Madlibs’ sales will [verb] [adverb] through the [noun]!

If you would like to discuss developing your social media presence, I’m available for calls – no charge.  I’m currently doing some demonstration projects for my services and would be happy have your product in my portfolio as proof of concept.

Thanks for taking the time to read this brief proposal.  I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Regards,

Bob Finch

Social media is in its infancy. Few have the depth of experience in this that I do.  I’ve built a successful business from my avocation before and regardless of the economic environment, I believe I can do it again!

Stay tuned.

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