Since we turned off the TV, our household has because much calmer and more orderly. (See TV and ADHD.) And just when I got things under control, my ex called and asked to take the kids for 7 days over the winter holiday in December.
Never mind that the kids have never away from me that long. Never mind that their dad hates flying.
According to history, that means that my son, Clark, who has ADHD, will come home sleep-deprived and hyper, filled with junk food and acting disrespectfully. My daughter, Jessica, will also be sleep-deprived and filled with junk food and will whine for about 4 days.
In an effort to minimize the damage, I came up with a list--a guideline, if you will--of activities and suggestions for the kids' stay. I gave it to their dad and his mother:
1) Read 20 minutes every day
2) Only 1 hour of TV every day
3) No junk food
4) Spend time with at least 2 friends
5) Try to keep a schedule for bedtimes: Jess, 8:30p; Clark 10p
6) Do lots of exploring and learning.
I emailed it to Bobby and his mother and they both agreed that it is good list and they will abide by it.
We'll see.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Social media and digital marketing for large and small companies
Believe it or not, some of the major corporations haven't started using social media on their websites. Walmart doesn't do it. And, as a result, I get emails from them about gas grills and clothes I would never consider wearing. Exxon doesn't do it. Exxon probably gets its feedback from public surveys and focus groups--both, in my experience, are not accurate.
Safelite Auto Glass, a smaller company, is on two social media sites. You should see all the feedback they're getting--and with that feedback, they're able to attend to customer issues right away and adjust their products and services accordingly. I'm sure their customer satisfaction rating is well above 50%.
I don't know of a better way to get true, honest customer feedback than social media. Social media and digital marketing, when combined, create a powerful marketing tool. The two-way interaction between customer and company is a win-win situation for both. The company learns more about their customer and creates more goods/services accordingly; the customer thereby develops a trust for the company and consistently buys from it.
In social media and digital marketing everyone wins.
Safelite Auto Glass, a smaller company, is on two social media sites. You should see all the feedback they're getting--and with that feedback, they're able to attend to customer issues right away and adjust their products and services accordingly. I'm sure their customer satisfaction rating is well above 50%.
I don't know of a better way to get true, honest customer feedback than social media. Social media and digital marketing, when combined, create a powerful marketing tool. The two-way interaction between customer and company is a win-win situation for both. The company learns more about their customer and creates more goods/services accordingly; the customer thereby develops a trust for the company and consistently buys from it.
In social media and digital marketing everyone wins.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Good copy/bad copy on social media
The quality and substance of social media copy can make the difference between more visitors to a website and fewer visitors. Here are examples of bad and good copy.
BAD:
From T.G.I. Friday's "Woody" campaign. On Facebook:
"Shout out to all my fans that registered under the Last Chance tab this week! Time to BURGER DANCE cause you guys are getting your free burger coupons by 10/9. VICTORY TASTES SO SWEET...and so do burgers!"
GOOD:
On Twitter
"SEO Trainer Selection Tips http://tinyurl.com/yk2r84q"
The bad one is bad because
1) It is an all-out ad for a product and is self-promotional (social media no-no)
2) It has no links for more info
3) Who cares about Woody?
The good one is good because
1) It's message is simple
2) It has a link to a blog
3) It is informational and appears to come from a knowledgeable source
Any questions, contact soozy@soozy.com
BAD:
From T.G.I. Friday's "Woody" campaign. On Facebook:
"Shout out to all my fans that registered under the Last Chance tab this week! Time to BURGER DANCE cause you guys are getting your free burger coupons by 10/9. VICTORY TASTES SO SWEET...and so do burgers!"
GOOD:
On Twitter
"SEO Trainer Selection Tips http://tinyurl.com/yk2r84q"
The bad one is bad because
1) It is an all-out ad for a product and is self-promotional (social media no-no)
2) It has no links for more info
3) Who cares about Woody?
The good one is good because
1) It's message is simple
2) It has a link to a blog
3) It is informational and appears to come from a knowledgeable source
Any questions, contact soozy@soozy.com
Monday, October 19, 2009
TV and ADHD
We are now a TV-free household. And, as a result, my children are now sane.
About two weeks ago, my kids were up to 3-4 hours of TV per day. I always let them watch after homework and before dinner so I had some time to myself. Trouble was, when they were watching, I didn't really have time to myself; my daughter always wanted me to sit with her and the kids would be quiet during the programs but wild and at each other during the commercial breaks.
On weekends, they watched more. So that I could have a little peace in bed, I let them watch 1-3 hours in the morning and it was never an easy time. Again, during the commercials, they would pick on each other or run crazy around the room. I found myself going in there several times to talk to them. Not peaceful.
My kids were difficult children. Jessica whined constantly. Clark has ADHD, and I believe all the action and flashing lights stimulated his hyperactivity; he back-talked, refused to listen to me or my mother, and would run around the house screaming. The kids constantly fought and yelled at me. They begged and begged for new toys. My mother and I were at our wits' end.
Then my mother got a glimpse of what they were actually watching. Characters (even on Disney) were hitting each other and saying mean things. There was a lot of violence (even on Tom and Jerry) and even though the main character learns something socially important (i.e. be a team player, get along with others, etc) during the episode, he or she often gets to that conclusion via fighting.
So, my mother suggested that we do something drastic: turn off the TV. Completely. With only pre-picked movies for Friday and/or Saturday night. And I watch with the movies with the kids.
The moment we turned off the TV, an amazing transformation happened. The kids became calm. They found other activities to do--they started playing with toys they hadn't touched in months. They got along better with each other. They were respectful and good listeners. They seemed relieved.
And now I spend more time with them because they are more fun to be with. There are still times--usually around 5 pm Jessica get cranky and Clark get mouthy--when I want to put them in front of the TV so I don't have to deal. But then I remember what they will be like afterward and instead I sit down and pay more attention to them.
You would not believe the difference unless you live with us.
About two weeks ago, my kids were up to 3-4 hours of TV per day. I always let them watch after homework and before dinner so I had some time to myself. Trouble was, when they were watching, I didn't really have time to myself; my daughter always wanted me to sit with her and the kids would be quiet during the programs but wild and at each other during the commercial breaks.
On weekends, they watched more. So that I could have a little peace in bed, I let them watch 1-3 hours in the morning and it was never an easy time. Again, during the commercials, they would pick on each other or run crazy around the room. I found myself going in there several times to talk to them. Not peaceful.
My kids were difficult children. Jessica whined constantly. Clark has ADHD, and I believe all the action and flashing lights stimulated his hyperactivity; he back-talked, refused to listen to me or my mother, and would run around the house screaming. The kids constantly fought and yelled at me. They begged and begged for new toys. My mother and I were at our wits' end.
Then my mother got a glimpse of what they were actually watching. Characters (even on Disney) were hitting each other and saying mean things. There was a lot of violence (even on Tom and Jerry) and even though the main character learns something socially important (i.e. be a team player, get along with others, etc) during the episode, he or she often gets to that conclusion via fighting.
So, my mother suggested that we do something drastic: turn off the TV. Completely. With only pre-picked movies for Friday and/or Saturday night. And I watch with the movies with the kids.
The moment we turned off the TV, an amazing transformation happened. The kids became calm. They found other activities to do--they started playing with toys they hadn't touched in months. They got along better with each other. They were respectful and good listeners. They seemed relieved.
And now I spend more time with them because they are more fun to be with. There are still times--usually around 5 pm Jessica get cranky and Clark get mouthy--when I want to put them in front of the TV so I don't have to deal. But then I remember what they will be like afterward and instead I sit down and pay more attention to them.
You would not believe the difference unless you live with us.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
How digital media has changed the news
News reporting lag times have decreased dramatically from the '70s with the development of digital media.
Years ago, I heard an NPR interview with ABC newsman Ted Koppel. He explained that, while he was reporting from Vietnam, there was an approximate 5-day lag time between the field and actual airtime. He would record his report on tape, the tape would then be driven to the airport, where a plane would transport it--along with other things--to the US. There it would go to the ABC newsroom, where it would be edited and then aired. About 5 days.
In the interview, Koppel then went on to explain that his daughter had become a reporter. Her lag time was about 24 hours. She would report and send the audio/video file into the station (via email, probably) and then it would be aired within the day.
Today, thanks to digital media, all of this is instantaneous. News companies regularly show live news reports with embedded reporters on their websites. And anyone with digital video camera or cell phone with video can post to Google News or YouTube.
With increased speed comes increased content. Is speed necessarily a good thing?
Years ago, I heard an NPR interview with ABC newsman Ted Koppel. He explained that, while he was reporting from Vietnam, there was an approximate 5-day lag time between the field and actual airtime. He would record his report on tape, the tape would then be driven to the airport, where a plane would transport it--along with other things--to the US. There it would go to the ABC newsroom, where it would be edited and then aired. About 5 days.
In the interview, Koppel then went on to explain that his daughter had become a reporter. Her lag time was about 24 hours. She would report and send the audio/video file into the station (via email, probably) and then it would be aired within the day.
Today, thanks to digital media, all of this is instantaneous. News companies regularly show live news reports with embedded reporters on their websites. And anyone with digital video camera or cell phone with video can post to Google News or YouTube.
With increased speed comes increased content. Is speed necessarily a good thing?
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Why a writer does social media
As a freelance writer for over 25 years, I see social media and blog entries as merely marketing and business copy in another format.
1) The writer still has to come up with a pithy, catchy way of attracting the public's attention to a product or service. Blogs and social media entries are not just for the entertainment industry and finding old friends. Written right for a company, they are proof that the company is an authority in its field. The company is confident enough in its product/service to be transparent and invites customer feedback.
2) The company still has to spend its advertising dollars wisely; social media just helps narrow the target field. When the writer uses a lot of industry-specific buzz words and posts to niche sites as well as the big hitters, the writing will attract the appropriate crowd that will respond to ads.
3) Use of all social media sites is free. So companies get their customer feedback, find their target audience, and market their company for free. Theoretically, this means they have more money left over to pay the writer.
1) The writer still has to come up with a pithy, catchy way of attracting the public's attention to a product or service. Blogs and social media entries are not just for the entertainment industry and finding old friends. Written right for a company, they are proof that the company is an authority in its field. The company is confident enough in its product/service to be transparent and invites customer feedback.
2) The company still has to spend its advertising dollars wisely; social media just helps narrow the target field. When the writer uses a lot of industry-specific buzz words and posts to niche sites as well as the big hitters, the writing will attract the appropriate crowd that will respond to ads.
3) Use of all social media sites is free. So companies get their customer feedback, find their target audience, and market their company for free. Theoretically, this means they have more money left over to pay the writer.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Why do social media?
These days, you have to look beyond traditional marketing tactics. So, think of social media as a big cocktail party. No soliciting, no advertising. Just people talking about their field and seeing how they connect with others.
Why should a company get involved in social media?
1) Loyal customers and stronger business partners
Social media provides a two-way street for interaction between company and customer. Learn what your clients are interested in and get feedback while clients looks to your company for their products and services. Interaction leads to greater client/customer retention because it's based on trust. Interaction also leads to more solid, more productive business partners.
2) Visibility on search engines
The more you post, the more links you have, the more hits your site gets, the more visibility you will have on search engines. If someone searches for "wallpaper," you want your site to show up at the top of the hit list.
3) More effective advertising
Social media and traditional advertising are linked. You will create more targeted advertising by developing a community of interest (buzz) around your product or service and then advertising to that community.
Customers want transparency and companies want feedback. It's a win-win proposition.
Oh, and it's free.
Why should a company get involved in social media?
1) Loyal customers and stronger business partners
Social media provides a two-way street for interaction between company and customer. Learn what your clients are interested in and get feedback while clients looks to your company for their products and services. Interaction leads to greater client/customer retention because it's based on trust. Interaction also leads to more solid, more productive business partners.
2) Visibility on search engines
The more you post, the more links you have, the more hits your site gets, the more visibility you will have on search engines. If someone searches for "wallpaper," you want your site to show up at the top of the hit list.
3) More effective advertising
Social media and traditional advertising are linked. You will create more targeted advertising by developing a community of interest (buzz) around your product or service and then advertising to that community.
Customers want transparency and companies want feedback. It's a win-win proposition.
Oh, and it's free.
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