New Post April 26, 2011

To read today's new post, please visit our new blog address:

http://www.smittyboros.blogspot.com/

Thank you!
Smitty

We Moved.......

The new address for this blog is http://www.smittyboros.blogspot.com/  Please use this address rather than http://www.nofearmarketing.blogspot.com/. 

Please be sure to enter your email address at the new location, as well as to include yourself  as a Follower at the new http://www.smittyboros.blogspot.com/ address/location.

Thanks so much, and I apologize for the inconvenience!

A Re-Post of a Friend's Blog

With today being Good Friday, I encourage you to pause and consider a post from a blog that I regularly follow from my friend, John Ryce.  Click on the lettering below, and spend a few thoughtful, well spent moments.


The Truth Process: FOR YOU AND FOR ME:

The Great Equalizer

Many admire majestic birds of prey, like the bald eagle.  Some are avid bird watchers of all varieties.  I'm just a simple guy who occasionally gets a chance to take a walk and catches a bird or two in flight on a random glance upward.  Have you ever noticed a large, less agile bird in flight being harassed by two or three tiny birds darting around the comparatively clumsy larger bird?

I made a similar observation last evening.  Indoors.  In a sophisticated multi-media conference room.  Those representing large corporations looked clumsy and awkward while  those from family owned small businesses appeared agile, nimble, quick and adaptable.  Gathered together were sponsors of a major event in Pittsburgh, discussing the use of social media to promote the event.  The conversation was led by a consultant who now specializes in the new media, and he did a fine job.  I was participating as my client's representative.

The books that I have read, the information that I have studied and the blogs that I have absorbed by the social media gurus are correct.  Those with a deep background in traditional media and a committed stake in corporate culture are genuinely struggling with the implications of social media.  They desperately want to control their message and their brand, and resist the transparency and candor of the new media.  They resist or even refuse to let go of ingrained habits in the face of a radically changing environment.  They reminded me of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak desperately attempting to stop the overwhelming change as the people in the streets tweet and blog about their hope for a new society. 

To me they looked like the clumsy larger bird trying to fly while the more nimble smaller business owners grasp the opportunity that social media invites them to accept.  "We can't do that.  It's all handled at corporate headquarters."  "There are policies in our business that deal with that."  "Someone else in our company is doing this kind of thing."

I am more convinced than ever that social media is a huge blessing for family owned small businesses!  It is The Great Equalizer:  social media gives family owned small business owners the advantage in our competitive business environment during challenging economic times.  Forgive me for being selfishly prideful, but the success my client has achieved in a few short months was truly encouraging and affirming. 

From one Old Dog to another, let me encourage you:  You can fly circles around your larger competitors.  Leave the safety of your nest of old habits......and get tweeting!

Thanks for sharing 130 seconds of your day,
Smitty

You Thought the Roman Empire Was a Big Deal

Talk about an Empire in the making!  I'm thinking that the Facebook Empire may potentially be a modern day Roman Empire.

Take a look at the Best Buy Facebook page and click on the "Shop + Share" tab.  You're just a few clicks away from being able to make a purchase......right from your Facebook page.  I'm sure Facebook makes a profit from Best Buy for this capability. 

No big deal, right? 

Look up Facebook Credits on Facebook.  This page is About: "A safer, easier way to make purchases on Facebook."  The Company Overview is: "Facebook Credits is a virtual currency you can use to buy virtual goods in your favorite games and applications on Facebook."  With one click, you can purchase Facebook Credits with real money because "We accept credit cards, Pay Pal, Facebook Credit gift cards or mobile phone payments." 

Still no big deal, right?  This Old Dog doesn't participate in Facebook games, but millions of people do.  In order to play these games, people buy the Facebook Credit currency with real currency from all over the world.  I'm sure that Facebook makes a profit on the purchase of Facebook Credits.

Change the Facebook Company Overview by removing "virtual" and substituting "games and applications" with "stores and businesses": "Facebook Credits is a currency you can use to buy goods in your favorite stores and businesses on Facebook."  Marry Best Buy and uncountable numbers of businesses to this new currency. 

Big Deal.

In this and in a much broader sense, Facebook is perfectly positioned to be the gateway, and the gate-keeper, of a tremendous volume of commerce from 600 Million (soon to be One Billion?) consumers.  Consider these possibilities, among potentially limitless others:

Perhaps Pampers agrees to pay Facebook a premium to be the only diaper company on Facebook.  Huggies, are you listening?

Suppose Facebook someday decides to charge $10 of Facebook Credits per month to Facebook users:  it doesn't "cost" Facebook users, really, they can use their $10 of Facebook money (that cost them $10 of real money) to buy anything online from Facebook companies.  Those using Facebook don't really mind, they are still using Facebook essentially for free.  As Facebook consumers become comfortable with this arrangement, perhaps Facebook evolves to charging an ongoing $10 per month user fee.  That is $6,000,000,000 income (soon to be $1,000,000,000) per month.

Eventually, Facebook develops their own Facebook Credit Card. 

Your purchasing habits through your Facebook is valuable information for those who wish to market to you.  Another potential profit center for Facebook.

The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

Still don't think this is a Big Deal?

The Roman Empire had its' own currency.  We all learned in high school History class that one of the crucial elements of Rome's power was the transportation system of Roman roads.

The roads of the Facebook Empire reach every corner of the earth.  All roads lead to Facebook?

Thanks for sharing 152 seconds of your day,
Smitty

P.S.   Perhaps this post has stirred a thought or two?  Click below and Post a Comment.  Share your thoughts - - I enjoy conversation!

Death

I was reading a sermon by John Wesley this morning and a very intriguing phrase that he wrote caught my attention.  He described death as that which "uncovers the face of eternity".  Think about that for a moment.  When our finite bodies cease to function, eternity will be uncovered directly before us.  Sobering thought.

Wesley goes on to say: 

For yet a little while, and "we will stand before the judgement seat of Christ."  "For, as I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God".  And in that day, "every one of us shall give an account of himself to God."  Had all men a deep sense of this, how effectually would it secure the interests of society! 

The thought of standing before Almighty God to give an account of my life, all the selfish and self-centered things that I have thought, said and done.... literally makes me shutter.  It also helps to shape my behavior daily.

7 Habits of Highly Effective People  by Stephen Covey may have had a greater impact on my life than any other book, with the exception of the Holy Bible.  One of these seven habits that Covey describes is "Begin with the end in mind".  In essence, decide where you want to end up or the result/goal that you choose to achieve, and begin immediately to align your daily choices and actions to achieve that result or end.  For me, death is the doorway that "uncovers the face of eternity" and that is the ultimate end I have in mind:  eternity.  This end causes me to, as well as I am able, live and work for the best "interests of society".    

When I originally began my company, my objective was to serve God by loving and encouraging others in their daily work.  This vision is still a portion of my tired, not yet revised website at http://www.theboroscompany.com/.  This is still my objective in my work life, which is an integral part of my life. 

I learned a long time ago that, if you help a small business owner with their business, you help them with their life, because so much of their time is wrapped up in their business.  As my relationship grows with a business owner and their business succeeds, we enjoy the opportunity to encourage one another to do our best for the "interests of society" along the way.  

Thank you for allowing me to share the "Why" and the foundation of this "Old Dogs New Tricks" blog.  My hope is that the information shared on this blog will be of some small encouragement for you and help you in your efforts to better serve the interests of society. 

Have a Happy Easter.  No, really.  Please have a Happy Easter.  It's a worthy celebration. 

Thank you for sharing 121 seconds of your day,
Smitty

The End of the World

Have you noticed that trends and fads from California and other areas of the world that sweep our country sometimes take a long time, maybe even years, to actualize in Western Pennsylvania?  Depending on the trend itself, this may not be a bad thing.  For this reason, when the end of the world occurs, I want to be in Western PA.......because it may take up to a decade before it happens here!

Small business owners in Western PA who are early adopters of technology and innovation may have a distinct advantage over their competition, simply because other competitors may be slower to change their ways.  In March 2011, the "Small Business Search Marketing Survey" by American Express Open and the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO) indicated that nationally 44% of small businesses use social media to market themselves.  But what percentage of small business owners in Western PA are using these social marketing tools effectively? 

I see a tremendous opportunity for family owned small businesses to level the playing field against the "Big Box" corporations and other competitors.  Wise owners can gain a distinct advantage by capitalizing on the effective use of social media tools.  Those that embrace the opportunity provided by social media have an exciting future.  Those businesses that don't may rapidly be approaching the end of their world.  

The same survey mentioned above also indicated that 82% of small business owners believe that new customers use word of mouth to find their business.  Keep in mind that social media is word of mouth on steroids.  

Thanks for sharing 73 seconds of your day,
Smitty

Why?

The video below features Mitch Joel of Twist Media, one of my favorite social media gurus.  Rather than asking "What?", the important question can be "Why?".  

Why should you be on Facebook, or another new media platform?  Throughout the ages and in limitless cultures, people have sought more of two valuable commodities: More Time and More Money.  Social media will provide More Time and More Money for the "crazy-busy" family owned small business owner.

One-on-one communication with customers and potential customers is crucial to the success of a small business, but places ever increasing time demands on an owner and valuable employees.  The very nature of social media is that it is "social" or a person to person communication that permits numerous one-on-one conversations...........simultaneously.  Ironically, using a social media tool appropriately allows business owners to talk with many individual customers and potential customers at the same time, saving or creating More Time for the kajillion other tasks at hand for business owners.

More Money?  That's easy:  "Time is money" and,  More Time = More Money.  And success in marketing through social media in the long run is more effective and essentially cost free.  One can spend less on increasingly ineffective newspaper, yellow pages, radio and TV advertising when utilizing a successful social media strategy.  Remember also that social media is Word of Mouth (your best form of advertising) on steroids.  

More Time + More Money = Happy Family Owned Small Business Owner.  Enjoy the video.

Thanks for sharing 160 seconds of you day,
Smitty


 

Social media success is Retro

The Greatest Generation, the World War II Generation, would be champions in utilizing Social Media to obtain business success.  This generation knew:  

Rule #1:  The customer is always right!
Rule #2:  If you think the customer is wrong, see Rule #1.

The World War II Generation passionately believed that the customer is always right.  Before the self-centered 60's and the self-indulgent 80's, there was the self-sacrificing 40's, when The Greatest Generation crystallized their collective ego.  The ability to perceive the needs of others, and the humility to attempt to meet those needs, allowed The Greatest Generation to build remarkably enduring family owned small businesses by practicing a core value:  The Customer is King. 

This principle dovetails nicely with a fundamental reality of social media:  social media is Word of Mouth on steroids.  If you have the heart of a person from the Greatest Generation, and genuinely care about others, word of mouth advertising will be your friend in the wake of customer interactions.  Social media will cause your positive reputation to spread like wildfire.

Conversely, those who practice sloppy, self-centered customer relations will also have their reputations spread at the speed of light.  And this negative word of mouth through the new media vehicles will quickly cripple their businesses.

The new media tools are not a magic bullet.  Before employing these tools as a strategy for your family owned small business, you must take a very hard look at how you treat your current customers.  Oh, and if you think that ignoring social media will allow you to not address your customer relations and customer service issues, please think again.

Long before The Greatest Generation, King Solomon said "There is nothing new under the sun".  He was right.

The Customer is still King. 

Thanks for sharing 74 seconds of your day,
Smitty

People who live in glass houses....

One of the foundational characteristics of the new social media is transparency.  Today and into the future, who you are and that for which you stand can be as obvious as living in a glass house.  The new media is kind to businesses and individuals of integrity, those that are honest and authentically build trust, and truly care about their relationships with others.  The world of social media will harm those that practice duplicity, those that say one thing and do something very different.  Companies of all sizes are being forced to act with integrity, to be authentic to their core values in all areas and regardless of circumstances, due to the impact of social media.

In  the transparent world of the new social media, companies who advertise "Go Green" and pollute the environment will be exposed.  Corporations that ignore valid customer complaints will suffer (see March 2, 2011 blog "United Breaks Guitars").  These inconsistencies and others will be highlighted by word of mouth that immediately becomes world of mouth through social media.  All this can be quite challenging for companies accustomed to carefully controlling their brand and image.  

Additionally, this transparency impacts individuals.  For example, companies can review a person's Facebook history before reaching out to initially evaluate a prospective employee.  Although a company must legally be very careful in refusing to interview a candidate based upon the new social media, we all realize that candidates have been disqualified by pictures and words shared on social media.  College students bragging about the big party and their behavior there, or crudely commenting on sexuality, can damage their careers before they get started.

Decades ago, my father initiated, developed and then led the cost analysis department of U.S. Steel.  Back in the day, if the corporation wanted to know the actual cost (including a multitude of factors) of a "pig iron ingot at Homestead Works", my father's department would come up with the answer for an upcoming Board meeting.  Believe it or not, at one time this was a new business concept.

I remember him telling me a story over 40 years ago.  He and others had spent the entire morning interviewing a very promising candidate for employment who had recently graduated from an Ivy League school.  Planning on making an offer to hire this individual in the afternoon, they continued the conversation over lunch.  When the candidate buttered a roll, and then stuck the entire knife blade into his mouth to lick it, my father explained to me that he immediately decided not to hire the individual.  "Why?" was my only response to Pop.  He explained, "If he was ignorant about table manners, we assumed that he was ignorant in other ways that an interviewing process wouldn't reveal.  We didn't want to hire him only to have these not-yet-known flaws embarrass what was once the greatest corporation on the planet."  The candidate's behavior was a transparent window exposing other potential weakness. 

Today, corporations don't have to spend the majority of a day interviewing and dining a candidate to streamline the selection process.  Ignorance and character flaws can be readily discerned within minutes through social media.  Today, the public can readily discern and spread the word about companies that say one thing, and then do something very different. 

Today, everyone and companies of all sizes live in glass houses.  Interestingly, the values of integrity, honesty, character and accountability are reinforced by the new social media.  

Thanks for sharing 159 seconds of your day,
Smitty     

Do Something!

Perhaps you've heard this advice:  Fail forward, fail fast, fail better.  In the world of social media, as in many areas of life, failing isn't the challenge.  Doing nothing is the real failure.  Failing, learning, adjusting and trying again is totally acceptable in the new media.

I've failed a ton of times in my exploration of social media.  Actually have made myself look foolish in a public forum.  Lots.  As I continue to learn, grow and experience success, those temporary stumbles are quickly forgotten.  I have always told my sons that smart people learn from their mistakes, because experience really is the best teacher.  But the wise person learns from the mistakes of others.  Be wise.    

If you're a small business owner looking to succeed with social media, consider these thoughts:

Don't reinvent the wheel.  Examine the success of others, and copy them.  One of my most successful ideas that I executed for a client's business was a totally original thought.  Later, I discovered his competitor had executed a similar idea without my knowledge.  By God's blessing, we actually performed better.  I quickly realized that others have exceptional ideas, and I am passionate about learning from them for the advantage of my friends. 

Decide specifically WHAT you are trying to accomplish through the use of social media, WHY you are doing it, and WHERE to best accomplish your goal and purpose.  There are potentially infinite goals or objectives that can be accomplished, for any number of reasons or motives, through a vast variety of social media platforms (blogging, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.).  You can not master every platform and accomplish all your goals and purposes at once.  With a very specific goal (WHAT) and purpose (WHY), select a specific tool or platform (WHERE) and put your toe in the water.

Decide in advance what success will look like at the completion of your efforts and try to anticipate any potential challenges you may encounter along the way.  It's difficult to hit a target if you don't know where you're aiming.  Potential pitfalls may be avoided if you take the time to think prior to acting.

Listen, and then select a limited scope for an initial test.  Explore the available social media tools or platforms, choose only one, and simply LISTEN.  Don't say anything or try to sell your product or service, simply observe how others effectively communicate and behave within social media.  Then try a test model or limited area for your ideas, and continue to listen and learn.

Do something.  And do me the honor of learning from my mistakes.  Be wise.

Thank you for sharing 109 seconds of your day,
Smitty

Excuse me, do you have the time?

After a couple of decades of working for and with family owned small businesses, there's one thing that I know, for sure: 

Small business owners are way too busy!  

They are trying to simultaneously juggle numerous tasks and wear too many hats.  Where in such a hectic life and overwhelming schedule can the owners of a small family owned business find the time and opportunity to figure out the world of social media, let alone apply this tremendous opportunity to their business?  The small business owners that I talk with all the time want the benefit and results that the new media can deliver, but they simply don't have enough hours in the day to engage these tools for their own benefit.

Where does an Old Dog find the time to learn New Tricks?

This is a recent version of an old challenge that was clearly explained in Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey (1989).  (Aside from the Holy Bible, this book has probably had a greater effect on my life than any other - I highly recommend it to any Old Dog looking to improve).  Covey described this challenge as "the tyranny of the urgent".  We are so busy dealing with the urgent that we rarely have an opportunity to do that which is important.  We spend our lives and our work days doing what is unimportant in value, or short-lived, because the current situation is urgent or immediately demanding.  Sadly, if we continue in this manner indefinitely, we never address that which is important, and we suffer the consequence. 

Other challenges that I hear from business owners who have not engaged social media for their benefit include:

It's all still really new, let someone else figure it out and we'll copy them.

It's just a trend, it'll pass and the next "new thing" will come along.

I don't have the time and money to invest, and neither do my employees.

How can you measure bottom line success of  such a long term effort?

We already tried it and it didn't work, we're sticking to what's always worked for us.

The other members of the family business just aren't interested and I can't do it all myself.

I genuinely empathize.  Family owned small businesses are one of the things that make America great.  I admire those who work hard, endlessly, and create a better life for their families and employees.  Although the big corporations tend to make the national news, small businesses employ more Americans than the big corporations.  It's difficult and plain old hard work to own and run a small business.

As the once-new personal computer of the past continues to help small businesses to succeed and be more profitable, social media is already making small businesses more successful and profitable, and will continue to do so in the future.

Don't be an Old Dog left behind, fast asleep on the porch.  Or so busy chasing your tail that you miss something really important.

Thank you for sharing 127 seconds of your day,
Smitty

You decide

According to eMarketer.com, there were about 135 Million Social Media users in 2010 (based upon the use of any social media device at least once per month).  This is roughly 60% of Internet users.  In the 45-54 year old group (the home of this Old Dog at age 53), a 53% majority of Internet users were also Social Media users. 

Social Media isn't coming, it's here.  Are you participating?

You can:
1) Run with the Big Dogs
2) bark with the little dogs
3) or sleep on the porch

Your call, but as this shorter version of an earlier favorite video reminds us, don't wait too long to decide.

Thanks for sharing 148 seconds of your day,
Smitty

"Don't be that guy!"

People have been doing business socially for generations:  over dinner, at cocktail parties, on the golf course and in numerous social settings. 


Suppose you're chatting at a party, and your friend is sharing about the recent loss of a loved one or a serious concern about their child.  Someone you know casually walks boldly into your personal space, interrupts your friend's heartfelt communication mid-sentence, and blurts out:  "Hi, I'm Bob.  You may not have enough personal life insurance in the event of an unexpected tragedy.  Can we set an appointment to discuss your insurance needs?" 


If you're a kind, patient person, you think "What a jerk" but say, "No thanks.  Would you please excuse us?"  If you're like me, a sinful person and less than patient with such a  #?*@!#  idiot, you react stronger and think something that would make a raunchy, foul-mouthed comedian blush.


It's no different in the world of Social Media than it is at a party.  In fact, social media has been compared by many to a social party.  Be sure not to behave like "Bob, the Insurance Guy" and be known by those who are listening on social media as "That Guy".  The video below, featuring social media guru Chris Brogan, speaks directly to avoiding this error of ignorance.  Chris is the kind of guy who can definitely teach an Old Dog a few New Tricks.


Advice to Old Dogs: pick a type of social media to explore and just LISTEN to what others are saying on that forum before you try to speak.  Don't make the mistakes that I initially made.


(My apologies to my friends who make their living in the insurance world.  It is an honorable profession when practiced with integrity.  I should know - I was an insurance salesman a long time ago when I was a Young Dog.  Be sure you have sufficient life insurance to cover your loved ones.  Really.) 

Thanks for sharing 223 seconds of your day,
Smitty
   

How did this happen?

Shortly before I left employment with a national radio broadcast company, where I was selling national advertising on stations and programs across the country and previously was a sales manager for a local Pittsburgh station, I began to notice kids walking around with white earphones connected to some kind of pod.  I thought:  "The latest fad for kids .... adults will still listen to radio.  Heck, every car in America has a radio."

After I left this national radio broadcast company, the company stock dropped 90%.  Along the way, I found out those white earphones were attached to something called an "iPod".  Strike one.

When I received my first text message, from a friend of mine who recently created an Apple app that attracted 1.2 Million users in less than 2 months, I didn't even know how to open it.  I actually didn't even care to open my first received text.  I thought:  "This won't catch on - I can talk way faster than I can type on those little buttons.  Another fad for kids."

Wrong again.  Strike two.  According to Guy Vaynerchuk, in his book The Thank You Economy:

"Though girls ages fourteen to seventeen can still out-text anyone, averaging about a hundred texts per day compared to boys of the same age, who text about thirty times per day, texting isn't just for kids anymore.  As of May 2010, 72 percent of the adult population were texting, at a rate of about ten texts per day.  What do you think the number will look like by 2013?" 

Look around you.  People of all ages are walking around (and driving around) with their heads down, thumbs flying.  They are texting, for sure, but many on smart phones are communicating with friends through Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and other social media of which you've never even heard.  In their homes they are doing the same on computers and iPads, regardless of age.

I am a trusted advisor of a friend of mine who owns a luxury retail business.  He had his most successful year in 2010, which exceeded his most successful year ever in 2009.  Think about the implications of having your best two years in this economy, while other luxury retailers closed their doors.  Most definitely the blessing of God.  Yet, in 2010, I was telling him, "Even the big companies are still trying to figure out how to make social media work for them.  Forget about wasting time there.  We'll get on board when someone else figures it out and we can copy them."  

Strike three.  If you own a small business, it's time to figure out how to communicate with all those people who have their heads down, thumbs flying.  My friend's business success before we got on board with social media only makes me excited about his future success.

Old Dogs + New Tricks = $ Bling $

Thanks for sharing 131 seconds of your day,
Smitty

Things Change

Earlier, I expressed a concern that Old Dogs who fail to learn New Tricks may get run over by a vehicle with the license plate "FUTUR".  A friend of mine emailed that he wasn't worried about getting run over, but rather, being left behind.  He said it better.


The video below is a wee bit dated.  But the information is so exceedingly thought provoking, I'm betting you won't bail out until it is completed.


Things change.  Don't get left behind.


Thanks for sharing 305 seconds of your day,
Smitty

Word of Mouth

"Word of Mouth equals World of Mouth."  Erik Qualman in socialnomics


Ask any small business or family business owner what is the best type of advertising, and the answer will likely be "Word of Mouth."  Not only is word of mouth the cheapest form of advertising, it is also the most effective.  Why?  Because of relationships: 78% of consumers trust recommendations of their peers, and only 14% trust advertisements.  


A word of caution:  word of mouth advertising in the age of social media spreads like a nuclear reaction (as the video below demonstrates).  If the restaurant serves cold food delivered by a cranky server followed by an overpriced check ..... word of mouth through social media will destroy this business.  The transparency of communication today forces businesses to pursue excellence.  One might argue that this is not only good for the consumer, but also good for society as a whole.


Customers strongly expressing an opinion, positive or negative, is the crucial element of business success.  Care not only about, but for, your customers and have no fear that your business will explode like an atomic bomb.


Enjoy the video!


Thanks for sharing 147 seconds of your day,
Smitty 

Ever felt Old?

Our eldest son, Greg (age 25), had a successful heart transplant this past Thanksgiving night.  We are blessed:  Greg continues to recover, and Jesus Christ has carried us through some difficult months on the prayers of many faithful, caring, loving individuals.  It is hard to articulate how much family, loved ones and faith mean when you are in the proverbial "eye of the storm".  My son is one of my closest friends whom I admire deeply and respect immensely.  His courage and belief in Almighty God continue to be an inspiration to me.  As you can imagine (and as some of you reading this may well know) due to Greg's situation and other  struggles, 2010 was a challenging year for my family and me. 


This calendar year is certainly a vast improvement over 2010 in many ways, but at the outset of 2011, I was feeling  really old.  Like about 93 years old rather than my soon-to-be 53 years.  One would think that I would have been elated and energized by Greg's miraculous, life-saving surgery.  Although profoundly grateful, I'm a little ashamed to admit that I began the New Year just kinda worn out.  This malaise carried over a bit to my work, where I genuinely enjoy (and feel called to) helping family owned small businesses succeed.  Hence, part of the reason for calling this blog Old Dogs, New Tricks when I started it earlier this year - - I was feeling a little old and worn out.

At the same time, my lack of knowledge concerning new technology was overwhelming and also was making me feel old.  Actually, to a thumbs-flying, texting young adult, I am old.

In a world of escalating Social Media, I was experienced in the old ways of successfully communicating.  The stock price of the broadcast company for which I once worked dropped 90% within one year.  Radio and TV advertising joined newspaper advertising in rapidly spiraling effectiveness.  The old ways of helping my friends succeed and feed their families were deteriorating.  It was painful watching small business owners struggle in a tough economy. 

Until recently, I knew next to nothing about things like Facebook, blogs and YouTube.  I was, and continue to be in many ways, an Old Dog in need of New Tricks.  I have chosen to learn about these new technologies with the hope of helping my friends to succeed in the Social Media arena.  Having learned a deeper level of being personally vulnerable in 2010, I am willing to be transparent and appear naive (and just plain ignorant!) in an effort to encourage those who are intimidated by the new technologies of Social Media.

Old Dogs, New Tricks is an exploration of the blooming Social Media phenomena, and how these evolving tools may benefit small business owners, for whom the vast majority of Americans daily work.  If you find this information terrifically useless, I genuinely apologize.  Forgive me, please (life really is too short).  If you own a small business or know someone who does, something in this blog may one day inspire you with a "New Trick" that may save you marketing dollars, give you a competitive edge and improve your bottom line.  I learned back when gas cost $1.39 per gallon that helping business owners with their business actually helps their lives, and every life that business touches. 


Life continues to change at an ever increasing pace, whether or not we choose to participate in this change which surrounds us.  I'm ready for some New Tricks.  Maybe we'll learn one or two together.

Thank you for letting me share my heart and for sharing  159 seconds of your day,
Smitty   

Does President Obama owe his place in history to Social Media?

Consider these facts about the 2008 Presidential Election, taken from socialnomics by Erik Qualman:


* Obama raised a record amount of money for a Presidential campaign
   The total was $660 million, allowing him to outspend McCain nearly 3-to-1
   92% of the donations to the Obama campaign were in sums of less than $100


* Obama had over 3.1 million fans on his Facebook page
   Add "Pennsylvania for Obama" and the top-20 pages: the total tops 5 million fans
   McCain had 614,000 fans on his Facebook page
   The next highest fan page was only 1,700 fans on a page for wife, Cindy McCain

* Consider the total views for Obama via YouTube:
   Over 110 million views
   An estimated 14.5 million hours of viewing on YouTube
   Estimated cost to purchase in commercial time?  $47 million


Interesting.  See polling question to your right or add your comment below.


Any Old Dog looking to learn New Tricks will find Erik Qualman's socialnomics interesting reading (see Blog Archive - in the Doghouse video for February 22, 2011 blog post)


Thanks for sharing 71 seconds of your day,
Smitty

What are THEY saying about you?

Talk about a creative way to complain to 10,000,000 "friends"!  The video below is incredibly clever, and has been viewed over ten million times.  You don't have to watch the entire video to realize how badly this airline wishes that they could roll back the clock and have a "do over".  But you'll probably watch the whole thing anyway - - it's just that stinkin' creative!


If you own a small or family owned business, truly care about your customers and have no fear your business will suffer this kind of damage.  Shame on United Airlines! 


Thanks for sharing 311 seconds of your day,
Smitty

United Breaks Guitars

VOTING RESULTS: "When will email become obsolete?"

Here are your results to the question,  "When will email become obsolete?":


12%   2013
23%   2015 or later
0%     next year
64%   never


Never?  64% responded never?  Really?


There's a reason that the name "Henry Ford" has such high name recognition today, and hardly anyone can name the top horse carriage and buggy manufacturer from a century ago.  Somehow, things change - - whether we want them to change or anticipate the change.  You remember having to stand by a telephone mounted to a wall of your home to have a phone conversation, don't you?  (Probably the same year that you purchased the stock of that company that serviced pay phones!)


64% responded never?  Never is a long time.


I'll bet the individuals who responded 2013 know more about Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, etc) than I do.


Thank you for your responses!  And for allowing me to tease those who responded "never".  Please Facebook me in 2015 if you're still mad at me, and I'll try to make it right.


Thank you for sharing 67 seconds of your day,
Smitty

Don't Chase Your Tail In Circles

You're busy.  Everyone's busy.  Truth is, deep in your heart, you honestly believe your life is busier than most other people. 



So why would an old dog like you want to waste time reading about someone on Facebook who is tired of ironing clothes, or thinks their grandchildren are perfect or is still mourning the Steelers' Super Bowl loss (have you been talking to my wife)?  Even if you could wade your way through such trivial information, where would you find the time in your overwhelmed schedule to be a participant?  Why would an old dog like you chase your tail in meaningless circles by reading this stuff?



If you're in the dark about how Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In, etc) can actually save you time through networking on steroids, perhaps the less than 2 minute video (see Blog Archive - In The Doghouse) will begin to open your eyes.  Who knows, it might even improve your professional and personal life.  But why would you want to do that, when you can chase your tail the way you always have?



Thanks for sharing 168 seconds of your day,
Smitty

Social Networking in Plain English

Don't Get Run Over

"You can't teach an old dog new tricks."  I'm afraid that, if that statement is true, this old dog could get run over by a vehicle with the license plate "FUTUR". 



Fortunately, you can teach old dogs new tricks.  Living proof is my new Facebook page and this blog, neither of which existed three weeks ago.  With this blog only minutes old, I'm following my own advice of not fearing failure and being sufficiently transparent to allow others to benefit from my mistakes as well as my successes.  My hope is that you will have no fear in embracing the future that is upon us.



My inspiration?  In early February, my good friend Mark Helgerman took me to a University of Pittsburgh Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence event that featured speaker Erik Qualman.  To say that I was impressed with Erik would be an understatement.



See why by viewing this powerful 4 minute video by Erik (see Blog Archive - In The Doghouse), and don't get run over by the future.



Thanks for sharing 324 seconds of your day,
Smitty

Social Media Revolution - Socialnomics.net