The Daily Grind of a Work @ Home Mom...

How social media influences, well, everything

Social media here, social media there, social media everywhere.  Even as a person who loves, adores, and was an early adopter (Twitter since early 2008, yo!), the constant barrage of new sites! New apps! New social tools! even gets to me sometimes.

I don't get excited about every new popular domain name.  I'm not the first to set up an account of the latest and greatest.  I've been burned before (Google+ anyone?) and there just aren't enough hours in the day to devote time to every site Twitter says is cool.  Cuz now it's not 2008 anymore and everyone and their mother is giving opinions on Twitter (not that there's anything wrong with that, as long as you know how to properly manage your own account).   

As I write this post, I just clicked a friend's Pin and took in an inforgraphic that appeared on Mashable titled Pinterest Becomes Top Traffic Driver for Retailers [INFOGRAPHIC]. This article which appeared today, pretty much sums up what I'm about to talk about here, except I was going to apologize to Foursquare for being an early adopter-hater and then tell you how much I love Foursquare for its "Specials Nearby" feature and how I utilized it yesterday and felt soooo good about myself afterwards.

But wait.

In March of 2010. I wrote a post that I called To Foursquare or Not to Foursquare: A Cynic's View.  I was wholly unconvinced.  I even quit the location-based social networking site for a while.  Can't recall what brought me back but it was probably some little voice inside my head whispering, "go back, you've made a mistake. Second chances are for winners."

So I did.  While I don't "check-in" everywhere I go and I don't double-dip by posting my Foursquare check-ins to Facebook (which has its own check-in capes), I do use it sometimes to take advantage of retail deals.

Aaaaah.  There. I said it.  If you are an avid Foursquare'er, you've undoubtedly noticed the little box "Specials Nearby" feature at the top of your "places" page - and if you click over, you'll be privy to some retailers who are taking a chance on an unknown kid as yet unproven tactic for increasing sales.  Yesterday, I "checked-in at a large shopping complex and checked my specials.  I noticed that the kids store across the way was offering 40% off any purchase just for checking in.

SCORE.  Foursquare's stock just skyrocketed in my book.  If you have to outfit children, you know that it's a constant drain on the bank account and if you have two budding fashionistas like I do, hand-me-downs are not going to cut it.  So, Justice - nice job.  I hope others catch on to your genius.  Because yesterday, for the cost of 40% of a size 4 skirt and a size 8 dress, you got a mention on Twitter that may or may not have reached any of my 3400+ followers.  Worth it?  I can't say how it was for them but I felt like I needed a smoke after heading out the door.

Same seems to be true of Pinterest.  I only recently signed-up for the newish online pinboard.  The idea is to "pin" things that appeal to you in visual format to your board.  Of course, you have followers who see your pins and they may or may not be swayed by your influence.  Each pin, btw, automatically links back to its origins (etsy shop, online retailer, etc).  For me, I love to look at the pretty pictures and of course, one more spot to share my ideas - yay!  But in seriousness, I'm considering actually making a purchase from a pin I saw on the site.

So.  Where does this leave us.  We're moving beyond bloggers to real people.  And based on what I've seen coming out of the blogosphere lately, we're all the better for it.

One more thought - anyone have any ideas on how Pinterest might affect the B to B world?  (Not that anyone at work has tasked me to find out...)

Sometimes NO social media customer service beats bad social media customer service

This post is a long time coming.  I can't believe I'm just getting around to writing it now since I myself am a self-proclaimed online customer service junkie.  And by that I mean I hit Twitter before picking up the phone when I have an issue with a brand that needs addressing.

I've written about specific experiences here before.  I had an issue with a hard-up Toys 'r Us employee who used a credit card she created with my personal info for her Christmas shopping.  I posted about it - more than once - and finally received attention from the company.

I've utilized Twitter for customer service more times than I can count.  @ComcastBill and I are BFF's.  He has set-up appointments for me, reset my cable box for me without having to spend even one second on hold, and even sent me a new remote control - on the house - when I lost mine.  Comcast is one of the finest examples of the best of social media customer service. 

@Lexus is another example of a company that came to my rescue.  Long story short, I was facing a very expensive repair on my car (that I shouldn't have needed at all) and after letting me know that it would be $5,000 and there was nothing I could do about it and that they were "very busy", I tweeted for some help and the situation was rectified within hours.  I'm still not sure if this was a result of timing - it came on the heels of the Toyota PR Fail that garnered LOTS of attention - or if they decided to cover my repair as a result of an error on their part (as they said).  Bottom line is, I was taken care of and spent not a moment on the phone with the company.

Seems airlines are not as adept at responding to customer complaints.  Could it be because people are constantly cranky when traveling?  I have beared witness to insane people barraging agents with questions, comments and complaints when a flight is delayed or whatever. 

"WELL, WHEN WILL IT STOP SNOWING????"

You know, it's my contention that if your plane isn't taking off because it's not safe to fly, it might be annoying, but hey, at the end of the day you're not a story at the top of the hour.  Right?  Alive beats dead.

But anyhow.

Recently I tweeted @SpiritAirlines because I was annoyed by a charge I saw on my credit card.  They never responded.  When I checked out what was up with other people using Twitter to talk to Spirit, I saw a lot of angry tweets like these:

But when I checked Spirit's timeline, I see not one @.  They tweet out their sales and their news, but they don't respond to customer queries, positive or negative.  This is just TERRIBLE customer service.

Spirit Airlines either has a very dumb or very annoyed PR team. 

Spirit isn't alone in their Twitter fail.  Many brands take to Twitter simply to use it as a platform for screaming their latest news but what they don't get is that Twitter actually functions as a conversation.  When used correctly, Twitter is meant to engage with others, whether you're a blogger, a brand, a PR agency, or a regular person.  If you don't engage, you will not have Twitter success.

My advice, quick and dirty style: if you're not going to do it right, just don't do it at all.

So even though Twitter is all the rage right now, if you're going to ignore me when I talk to you, I'm taking my ball and going home.

 

Social Media Explained

Special props to EPICponyz.

2010: Social Media Re-Visited

It was a crazy year in the world of Social Media.  In 2010, it became crystal clear just how relevant Social Media is, not just to re-connect with old college buddies and kindergarten playmates, but the power it has to build or break brands, to spread viral buzz, and to change the landscape of marketing and communications as we know it.

Read my post at Blogger University, The Year in Social Media: the good, the bad, and the ugly.   See my thoughts on the best and worst that Social Media offered this past year.

What really caught your eye in 2010?

 

My Official Pre-BlogHer Post (minus any "squees!" or "woots!")

BlogHer 2010 is in two weeks from today so consider this my official pre-BlogHer post.  But this post won't contain any "squees!" or a hundred !!!! points because really, that's just not who I am.

Don't get me wrong, I'm totally excited for this trip to NYC.  I look forward to seeing my friends who I just don't see often enough, I'm excited to see how the brands present themselves (and by presenting themselves I mean how they fall over themselves to become BFF's with bloggers), the parties, the downtime, and most of all, the amazing conversations that organically occur simply by putting a bunch of smart women in a hotel together for three days without husbands or kids.

Last year at this time, I got sucked into the pre-BlogHer sqeeing and wrote posts like this and this.  Then I actually attended the event, and came home and wrote this post: BlogHer '09 - The Good, the Swag, and the Ugly which seemed to resonate among many attendees.  And this year, I expect much of the same (x's 1.5 since I think they've opened it up to waaaay more people).

So far in the Twitterverse I've seen lots of moaning about having no time to attend all those swanky parties people are being invited to.  Sure, it's the same 300 people being invited over and over again and sure those of us on th b-list are feeling the effects of receiving invites two weeks after initial invites went out but who cares?  Those attendees with a clear schedule (as mine was last year, don't kid yourself) are free to explore NYC, put together impromptu dinners (just tweet "Anyone want to go to dinner? Meet in the lobby in 10mins. I'm the one wearing orange." and I ASSURE you, there will be 10 people waiting in the lobby to dine with you in 10mins. 

I haven't planned/stressed about/laid-out my wardrobe yet because my feeling on this topic are really very much in line with the way I felt about it last year.  Only difference is that this year I will not just be representing myself, but I will be among a wonderful gaggle of women from my office in Boston so I will need a somewhat professional look.  I might go shopping later today.

My goals for BlogHer are this: represent my company in a way that makes them proud, make sure many of you receive a pair of awesome Baby BanZ, hang out with my old friends, and meet some new ones.  Maybe an impromptu session or two.  ;)  Drinks, meals, chats, laughs, learning, networking and everything else that comes with BlogHer territory. 

Only thing not allowed at BlogHer '10?  Stress.

And I hope the same goes for you.

Looking forward!  See you in two!!

Some of my favorite images from BlogHer '09:

 

(note the melted chocolate was indeed one of my fave moments... sad but true.)
 
 
Special thanks to the folks at Baby BanZfor helping to send me to BlogHer 2010 in NYC!

Other pre-BlogHer posts worth reading:

Mom-101, Uppercase Woman, Motherhood in NYC - please add yours in comments!

To Foursquare or Not to Foursquare: A Cynic's View

So I finally caved as I sat in an NYC diner enjoying breakfast by myself yesterday, where I was spending the day to work.  I downloaded Foursquare to my Blackberry.  If you're unsure as to why this makes news when, in October there were already 60, 000 Foursquare users, I'll tell you.  I'm the one who replies "so what?" when you check in somewhere and it shows up on your Twitter feed.  I'm the one who congratulates you with my tongue stuck in my cheek when you publicize your newfound mayorship status on the Internet.  Admittedly, I've been anti-Foursquare since I became aware of it, because, at least on the surface, it seems like yet another annoying passing social media fad.

But I might be wrong.  Because Foursquare is now not just showing up in my Twitter followers feeds, but my social-media savvy friends are doing it too.  And in an Internet where there's a lot of shit to sift through, anything that sticks is worth at least a peek.

Soo I'm peeking.  I created my account, but other than a few rest-stops and my own bed, I haven't been anywhere in the past 12 hours worth noting.  But here is what I have noticed during my preliminary look:

It's not simply about telling the world where you're at, in essence, begging your neighborhood burglars to pay you a visit while you enjoy pizza at the local Bertucci's (which is still a possibility).  Once you "check-in", or allow the program to grab your location (by GPS, I assume), it tells you what else is around your location.  It also gives you tips about your location, like "order the mozzarella sticks - they're divine" or "ask for Bryan at the bar.  He's hot."  (I made that up but wouldn't that be good?)

I've also noticed that once you check-in somewhere enough times, you earn status there and can earn yourself free stuff like drinks, coffee, whathaveyou.  But of course, I'm not even the town jester yet since I have barely used it.  But I will.  And you know I'll be back with a full report.

If any of you have tips, tricks, comments or anything regarding Foursquare, I'm listening.

Updated on 3/13: Well, two days and one check-in later, Foursquare quit on my BlackBerry and refused to "load."  Since I was no closer to being sold on the idea of providing the general public with my whereabouts (no matter how boring), I gave up.  now how to uninstall this app... 

Last Night a Twitterer Saved My Life

Oh Twitter.  How did we survive before you.  Sure there was Facebook, MySpace and Friendster, but none seemed to cause the stir that you have brought into our lives.  It's true that some of us are using Twitter for the reasons it was intended by co-creator Dom Sagoll: to update others on our real-time moves.  Others use it to disseminate info about their product or service (often called SPAM).  But like all things happy, there are always those that take a happy thing and make it sad.  In other words, Twitter has its share of rotten apples.

I could give examples that would make your head spin.  The hot topic that's making its way from the social media sites to the traditional media is the story of the mom who allegedly tweeted her way through her 2 year old son's horrific fall into the swimming pool straight through to after he died, about 5 hours later.

One moment she was tweeting about the weather, the next she was asking followers for prayers.  Hours later she was memorializing her son on the popular social media site.

Bloggers and journalists from the US to Israel to Europe and back are judging this mom for everything from who was watching her son while she was busy tweeting for hours prior to his fall to why wasn't she holding his hand as he died instead of tweeting to how could she function adequately to coherently form a sentence and hit the update button.

I'm not judging this woman.  In my mind, it's just another family suffering my own worst nightmare and I feel compassion.  I'm sad that during such a horrific moment, this family has to endure public scrutiny over anything. 

But this situation aside, I am questioning if Web 2.0 has invaded our private lives to an extreme and whether the intense relationships we are fostering with our electronic devices are healthy.  And I'm just not sure.

I get both sides.  Get a life, people!  Disconnect from your computer, get out into the real world, meet a friend for lunch (IRL), enjoy a pat on the back once in a while.  A hug.  A mall.  A real-live relationship.

And then I hear the opposition.  People living in rural areas have been craving more extensive networks and through the Internet this is now available, simple.  Moms who stay home with kids who were formerly lonely and isolated now have friends who are doing the same thing.  People who cannot get out of their houses to work can now receive an income by way of their computers.

But it's my opinion that we might be over-sharing just a tad. 

I read lots of blogs.  Blogs about everything from relationships to the latest and greatest to fashion and celebrities.  I'm mostly drawn to blogs by people who write personal stories, who take the reader on their daily voyage through their life even during their most personal crises.  I currently am following the blog of a woman who is going through a tough time in her marriage and is documenting all for everyone - including her husband, mother and mother-in-law - to read.  So while I wonder how anyone could put so much information out there for all the world to see, I'm drawn to it at the same time.

I've said publicly how I wish in many ways that I trusted the world at large enough to spill my secrets out into it and see what comes back.  I am a writer by nature.  What better way to receive support when you need it most than to write about your troubles and get support in return?  Trouble is, the more you spill into the world, the more you'll get back, and not always in the form that you hope.

Just ask celebrities.  

So do I think this mom need be burnt at the stake for tweeting her way through a tragedy?  I don't.  And in a perfect world only those with something nice to say would say anything at all and those with nothing nice to say would keep quiet.  But it doesn't work that way.  I'm just sorry that we are learning this at some other person's expense.

It's a Small Blogosphere After All

I took some time away from my computer over the long holiday weekend to spend some good time with my girls.  We did all kinds of fun things, including eating, shopping, eating, going to the park, eating, taking walks, and eating.

Last night once they were in bed, I returned to my desk to catch up on my reader and see what I'd missed over the weekend.  Seems I'd entered back into the blogosphere just after all hell had broken loose stemming from an unpopular post written by a controversial blogger.  Since this mama-drama means nothing more to me than sideline entertainment (much like a very low-end cat-fight), I won't bore you with details, but there is a point to this story.

So I was following all these links to blogs and message boards to see just how wide-spread this blog-fire had gotten, when I happened upon a link to a blog I'd never read nor heard of.  With no real reason or explanation as to why, I clicked the link and started reading this new post about this blogger's thoughts on the bloggy shit-storm as well as her thoughts on mommy-bloggers in general.

You see, this blogger is not involved in the day-to-day dramatics that seem to encompass many bloggers.  She simply took a chance and joined the blogosphere, and as such, won herself a trip to BlogHer last July.  In her post, she talks about her shock and awe at many of the attitudes that surround blogging and that were present at BlogHer.  For most of us, we are so entrenched in the bad that comes with the good in blogging, the ubiquitous "bad apples" that seem to try to ruin the whole bunch.  Most of us know who we are interested in learning from, who we wish to keep our distance from, and who we might like to form relationships with.  In all, it is a very convoluted business.  (Sounds crazy, right?)

AANNYYWWAAYY...

I continued reading her post until I came to a story of an experience this rookie blogger took away with her:

'...I stopped at one break-out where one Mommy blogger was complaining that she had been told that she would be test driving a new dishwasher but after waiting for almost a month the sponsor asked if she would please accept a new washer and dryer instead. She sighed that sigh of those who feel they have been incredibly inconvenienced and said, "I agreed but I think they should give me the dishwasher too for the inconvenience I have suffered." WHAT?'

I stopped in my tracks.  This anecdote sounded eerily familiar.  Hadn't I had an impromptu meeting outside of a conference room about the status of my Frigidaire appliances for review and hadn't I casually mentioned to the PR person I was working with that the company should throw in an extra something for my trouble?

But see here's the kicker - I WAS JOKING.  

And unfortunately, this blogging newbie had to walk away from what was a wonderful conference experience for some of us, with this distaste for bloggers.  And I had contributed to this.

I subsequently sent the blogger an email, letting her know that I was completely joking around with the PR rep and that I was incredibly grateful for my role in the Frigidaire Test Drive.  And as "uncool" and unpopular as my attitude might be - I am grateful for any and every opportunity I choose to accept to participate in.  Sure, there are many frustrations that come with this gig, but for the most part, I feel really lucky to be part of it.

There will always be crap and ugliness associated to everything, every job, every gig, but there is also good.  I've met some AWESOME people in my bloggy-travels and am sure there's more to come.

Oh, and this seems like a good time to reach out to my readers and say - THANK YOU. 

XOXO

And Sometimes We Do Use Our Powers For Good...

On Tuesday, November 17th, a fellow blogger, mom, and woman named Anissa Mayhew had a stroke that sent her to the ICU.  Anissa has 3 kids and a family and, clearly, has had a very strong impact on this community.

Because everywhere I click, whether it be a blog in my feed or Twitter, there's something about Anissa's condition or someone inquiring about it.  It's apparent Anissa is not a person who lives in a bubble because everyone knows her.  And, it seems, everyone cares.

Hundreds of bloggers are directing readers to Anissa's CaringBridge.org page where they can read updates on her condition as well as help out her family.  A Paypal account has been set-up so people can give a little to her family, if they want to.  The bottom line is, bloggers are using their powers for good.  Just when I'd about given up hope.

I had the pleasure of meeting Anissa a few weeks ago, when she and her Aiming Low team visited Boston and spread some good cheer by throwing a party and inviting local bloggers.  Thanks to Anissa and her party, many bloggers, who are otherwise chained to their families and houses, were treated to a fun night out.  Thanks to Anissa, I won an awesome HP printer that night!  Thanks to Anissa, I had a few great laughs that night, during a time in my life when great laughs are not as frequent as I'd like them to be.

So here I am, jumping on the blogwagon as I like to say.  I'm directing you to the CaringBridge.org page where you can follow Anissa's progress and support her family in several different ways.  Or, you can leave here thinking about a woman who is laying unconscious in ICU today, while her family exists in a what I can only imagine to be a state of terror as they wait for their loved one to wake up. 

Today is a great day to give an extra squeeze to your kids, your spouse, your mom, or whoever it is you love.  Because this woman, who was cracking joke after joke on a stage in front of a hundred or so people a few weeks ago, today lays in a coma. 

BlogHer '09 - The Good, the Swag, and the Ugly.

So I'm back.  After almost 5 months of like OMG, what should I wear, I'm finally back from BlogHer '09 and if nothing else, I met some very cool people, some moderately cool people, and some people that I'm sort of embarrassed to share oxygen with.  But whatever.  Here goes.

I have to say that my experience was mostly good.  I really liked the opening remarks and the stats on bloggers and women made me feel proud to be part of this community.  The sessions I attended were engaging, if not all a variation of each other.  Some highlights included Liz Gumbinner of Cool Mom Picks encouraging bloggers to know their passion, and Jessica Bern's hilarious story about calling her dentist to complain of vaginal itch (ya, it related to blogging. At the time.).  Oh, and I laughed like crazy at Danielle Henderson's rendition of her blog post entitled stuck in the middle with you.  Read it.  You won't be sorry.  It's about her vagina and it's funny.

I met some awesome people.  But perhaps my favorite meeting was that of Jozet of Halushki fame.  Why?  Because on Friday night she was the strict scary "bouncer" who wouldn't let me in to the MamaPop party because my name was mysteriously omitted from "the list."  Then on Saturday night she became one of my new favorite people as she inadvertently took the seat beside me (sucks for her!) at an intimate dinner for 6 people.  Seriously, this girl started on my shit list and ended up my new bff.  There goes my bitch sessions about her.  (Don't worry, many others to take that spot.)

But almost as shocking as the total turn-around made by @Halushki was the fact that I actually was totally unimpressed with many of the people I was looking forward to meeting.  Girls who are typically fun to tweet with, others who I've worked with on Alex Casey Baby who I thought might be interested in meeting me were tripping over their own egos as they headed in the other direction.  WTF!!  Ladies (and you know who you are), GET OVER YOURSELVES, K?  Seriously girls, you're running blogs, not the world, so take it down a notch.  And you're not that skinny. 

Speaking of taking it down a notch, I'm so not into all this debbie-downer drama about the swag.  My opinion is this - these companies rely on swag to promote their products.  They are at these events because we are their target market.  It actually matters to these companies that we try and hopefully talk about their stuff.  Now, I'm not talking about those ridiculous bitches who stood in line at the fab TypeAMom party, walked in, grabbed a swag bag and left.  No, those are really icky women who do deserve to be banned from the free shit.  And I'm also not talking about those classy ladies who knocked over pregnant women and children in search of a free pen or laundry detergent sample.  I mean people like myself, who walked the expo floor and was happy to pick up free shit that I thought I or my family might enjoy.  ALSO(hold on, I need to climb higher on that soapbox o' mine), these sponsors who are handing out evil swag are also helping relieve some of the financial strain of getting us to the conference.  I mean $200 for a ticket is not a huge deal (I got earlybird ;) and $199 for a room that can be shared is also do-able so you know, think before you tweet, people.

Stuff that sucked.  There's not too much to moan about but since you're here... The food was god-awful.  While I'm typically a fan of Ragu and did enjoy the upbeat decor in the buffet area, I don't know if I'm alone in the fact that I would've loooved a vegetable or two to go with my heavily sauced chicken and my hearty meat upside-down pie thing.  However, I'm grateful for their support, yada yada, and actually do buy their products (seriously, I do).  Once I glimpsed the Mexican fiesta going on on Saturday I hit the door for some actual protein (which I got but not before almost having it out with a restaurant manager, the waiter, and due to a monstrously hungry stomach, my lunch-mates).  But hey, a little scurvy never killed anyone.  ;)

The parties were fun.  The free crap was a treat.  I even didn't mind seeing cute little babies here and there (as long as I'm not the one getting up to feed 'em, we're all good).  The down-side to any event featuring 1400 women?  DRAMA.  A drama-free zone it was not.  Obv.

I wasn't on the guest list for most of the little corporate soirees but I'm totally fine with that.  I don't need a list of names above and below mine to feel part of something and I don't need brands to covet me in order to feel good about myself.  While I felt that these private parties interfered with the general feeling of community surrounding the weekend (like, if you bother to travel to a networking conference, why spend so much time with peeps you already know?), I really have no strong opinion on this. 

But the real event after my own heart?  CheeseburgHers and fries at 10pm.  I mean really, as a girl with a weakness for junk food and fast food, McD's sure don't have to buy my love with a sponsored event.  But I'm sure glad they did.  :)

NOTE: I reserve the right to update, add to, or even publish additional posts about BlogHer as my memory allows...