Is the Power of Social Media Marketing a Myth

Is the Power of Social Media Marketing a Myth Are consumers and candidates by social media? Or is it all a myth? I spoke to Scott Monty of Scott Monty Strategies to find out what his thoughts are and what companies  ought to be doing to have real results from social media. Be sure to subscribe to the Employer Branding Podcast and never miss an episode. The Myth of Social Media study: It was a headline-grabbing title, and something that obviously interested me. I was the Global Head of Social Media at Ford Motor Company for six years. So when you see someone claiming that this is a myth, it doesnt work, etc., youre obviously interested in delving into it. And as I dug a little deeper, it made a lot of sense, at least from the way that I assume the question was asked. Gallup and Wall Street Journal  surveyed 18,000 people and asked them where they got their influence for making purchase decisions. And as you can imagine, the vast majority of people, 92% in fact said that they get their decisions from friends and family. And thats typical human behaviour. I mean, if youre going to buy something, whether its something as significant as a laptop computer or a smartphone, youre going to ask people that you trust, and trust is usually engendered with those that we know well. When it came time to getting their purchase decisions from social platforms Twitter, Facebook, etc. 62% of people said they did not trust those platforms. And I thought that was interesting. And its similar to a question that weve seen overall for quite a few years that people dont trust the platforms. Well, when you just finished asking them, Who do they trust? and they say, Friends and family, and then you ask a follow-up question, What are you on social networks to do? Its to connect with friends and family. So when you parse apart this question and when you dig down a little bit deeper, what theyre saying is they dont trust paid brand advertisements, paid brand placements on social networks. So in other words, the marketing that theyre getting from advertisers, from companies on social networks does not influence their purchase decision. How companies can acquire new customers/candidates on social: I saw a study last year that said 71% of customers have left a brand because of a poor customer experience. Seventy-one percent say theyve abandoned a brand. Yet at the same time, 63% of marketers say that the most important thing they can do is lead generation. Now, you have to wonder if constantly chasing new customers and taking your eye off of your existing customers is causing those existing customers to flee. Or if marketers simply recognise that they have a customer retention issue and their only solution is to go after new ones. But the bottom line is if you treat your existing customers well, if you give them a reason to stick around, and Im not just talking about discounts, if you make them feel valued, if you give them an experience that they want to talk about, that they want to share, thats how you engage your customers, and thats how you attract new ones. Because we always hear about get your customers to advocate for you. And its not as simple as going out and asking your customers, Hey, will you tell everybody about us? They have to be satisfied with what youre delivering to them first, and then the conversation would or should come naturally after that. And I think if more brands spent time on the customer experience and on their existing customer base, they would see additional customers come in. How companies can  become part of authentic and real human conversation on social: Well, when you look at the Gallup study that was done, they recommend behaving in whats called, and Ill use the acronym, ARC, A-R-C. A: They believe you need to be authentic, first and foremost, and that means acting as a real human being would act, and again being consistent with what you do, and not putting up corporate BS, so to speak. R: And then of course, the R in ARC is about responsiveness. In this day and age, people expect to be responded to in a timely manner. And when you dont, theyve got the power in the palm of their hand, with their smartphone, they can go on to another website, they can engage with another brand, they can use other mechanisms to get what it is that they want. And if youre not doing this 24/7 because, lets face it, people can interact with your brand whenever they want, not just when your store is open, then theyll go elsewhere. C: And then the C in ARC is compelling. Youve got to have compelling content. Youve got to have a compelling reason for people to want to engage with you. Its not just about shouting from the tree tops why youre the best and that youve got a sale and all the rest.  Are you doing things to improve the world? Are you giving them a chance to be the star for the day? Are you engaging them in a point of debate? Are you making them laugh? Theres a lots of different ways to be compelling and to engage peoples attention. @bguerns13 edible food Wendys (@Wendys) January 22, 2016 The  social media activities that worked best at Ford: Showing up in unexpected places  Certainly you have to be where people expect you to be, and in this day and age, bare minimum, its the big four Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook thats where people expect you to have a presence. But when you do things that are out of the ordinary on those platforms, when you do things that are out of the ordinary for your customers, I think thats when they start to pay attention. So for example, when we first started out on Twitter, when I was at Ford, I simply opened up the search capability on Twitter during American Idol  and Ford was, really, it was one of the first sponsors of American Idol  and you ran music videos, I think, that they made with the stars, and obviously put them in the vehicles.  And I would just monitor for mentions of Ford. Oh, Ford, your commercials suck, Ford, I love your Mustang. And then I would reply from the Ford account and people would not expect that. Because they would expect Ford to just be out there talking about itself, right? So that kind of engagement, that kind of dialogue and back and forth was completely unexpected, and yeah, it grabbed a lot of attention and got people to talk. And some of them would be stuck in their ways, would continue to hate Ford, and thats fine. Others would start to pay attention to the brand, and thats all you can ask at the end of it. Build a community And in addition to those platforms, we had our own site, our own community, and we would track people who were the most engaged and active members in the community, those that had commented the most, maybe had submitted photos or stories, or had shared our information the most. And then we would create a pool of these individuals and invite them to the media preview days of auto shows, and we would set them up with some of our top executives. And it was literally a surprise and delight program. @LanceTheDriver1 Thanks for the love, Lance! ?? No one wants dirty hands. Ford Motor Company (@Ford) February 16, 2016 Follow Scott on Twitter @ScottMonty  and dont forget to subscribe to the Employer Branding Podcast.

Writing a Good Volunteer Resume

Writing a Good Volunteer ResumeWhile it is not exactly unheard of, writing a volunteering unemployed resume is not the norm for people who are looking to be hired as volunteers. Rather, it is usually reserved for those individuals who are looking to be employed full-time by non-profit organizations, hospitals, schools, and other non-profits.Having time for volunteer work can be very limited in today's society. With the high costs of living, as well as the long working hours, it is not uncommon for those who seek volunteer work to seek out more reliable employment opportunities. This is why it is essential that you make a lasting impression with your volunteering resume. What this means is that you should not simply produce a one-page form, but rather produce a professional-looking resume that will be attractive to potential employers.When you are looking for the ideal volunteer resume, it is important to first decide which kind of volunteering is right for you. There are many differe nt types of volunteering, so you may want to check out the website VolunteerMatch.org to determine what type of volunteering you would be able to do. The site will also provide a list of types of volunteering and how they differ from each other.It is also a good idea to take the time to research the volunteer organization that you would like to be a part of. After all, you may have heard great things about the place and have formed some sort of a connection. This would be beneficial if you want to land that ideal volunteer job or even the right position for yourself.Volunteering can be a rewarding experience, but it can also be physically demanding. Many volunteer organizations require that you provide proof of appropriate health insurance coverage and that you are an active participant in the community in which you volunteer. This is vital, as many organizations have financial difficulties that they may be willing to work through if they know that you will be responsible for your o wn finances. Again, it is a good idea to take the time to check out volunteer organizations before you begin your search.Volunteering is a growing field these days, and it can be tough to find employment. For this reason, it is a good idea to take the time to research potential volunteer positions, whether you are looking for a full-time position or a part-time job.When you find a position that is appropriate for you, you will need to have some time for volunteering. To ensure that you have time to devote to volunteering, you will need to find a volunteer job that matches your schedule.There are many volunteer jobs available. To learn more about volunteering and how you can become involved, visit VolunteerMatch.org.

The Love Diet

The Love Diet Spring has officially sprung, which means it’s that time of year again it seems like every woman Ive talked to lately has just started or is about to go on a diet (on Monday, of course). As I wrote about in the last Fed Up blog post, I myself am on a mission to get myself healthy. One aspect of that includes losing a significant amount of weight. However, there are a few things I’m not going to do. I’m not going to crash diet. I’m not going to count a single calorie. I’m not going to punish myself at the gym for 2 hours every day. I’m not going to give up my social life and become a hermit for the sake of getting in shape. So what exactly is my plan? I’ve decided that this is the year I fall completely, head over heels in love with myself. The war against my body is over. The war against food is over. I’m done fighting cravings. I’m done stressing out over things and people I can’t change. I’m done binge drinking on the weekends to help me forget the week that I spent doing things I didn’t truly love. That was the old me, this is the new me, and she’s going to be making some changes. While there isn’t a specific set of rules I’m going to follow this year, there are a few general guidelines I’ve gleaned from various experts in the health wellness field. Most traditional diet plans focus on the what and the how much of eating, which is important, but they fail to include the why, when, where, and with whom aspects. All of those factors combined make for a much easier and much more pleasurable weight loss process. So, here is my guideline list for the year: Eat real food, when it’s in season. That means I’ll be at the various Chicago farmer’s markets a lot, stocking up on fresh, local produce. If it was made in lab, has 10,000 ingredients and 5 health claims on the front, it’s not for me. Happy food makes for a happy Samantha. Conventionally produced produce is loaded with pesticides and chemicals, which my body then has to detox. No thanks. I’ll get my food from local farmers who lovingly tended their fields. The same goes for animal products. Factory farmed food has no place on my table. Eat only when I’m hungry + the kitchen closes at 6:00 PM. So often I find myself eating because I’m supposed to, I’m stressed out, or I’m bored. No more. And, the kitchen closes at 6:00 PM to give my body a chance to rest and properly digest and absorb the food. Exercise is my friend. Anyone who knows me knows that I hate to exercise. I could eat kale 24/7/365 but getting me to move my body is like pulling teeth. I’m going to start slow, with a daily walk and stretching and yoga a few times a week. That’s it. I hope to someday do a triathlon, but I’ll build up to that. That’s my list, and I’m much more excited about this strategy than any other diet I’ve ever been on. No calorie counting, no deprivation, no guilt, just straight up loving and lots of good food. It’s time to stop dieting and start living! How will you fall in love with your body and yourself this spring?

The Improv Effect

The Improv Effect To succeed, planning is not enough. One must improvise as well. Hari Seldon I spent some time with Jessie Shternshus, the owner of the Improv Effect, which helps people become better listeners, team players, leaders, and communicators through improvisation workshops and classes. Improvisation has been around for years as a method for actors to “stay in the moment;” it helps them listen intensely and react to the other person(s) on stage.   Jessie Shternshus has been studying and practicing improv since she was 11 years old; she’s a professional actor and performs regularly at the Comedy Zone.   But she insists that you don’t have to be a professional actor or comedian to use the skill; you already use it every day in conversation.   “You don’t walk around with a script as you interact with people at home or at work,” she says.   “You listen and react on the spot.   So this is not a new skill â€" it just isn’t one you might have consciously   worked on before.” Jessie’s workshops help future performers and ordinary business people sharpen their listening skills and gain confidence in their ability to react quickly in a social or business situation.   She works on body language, vocal tones and, of course, what’s actually being said, although that’s just a small part of the communication process.   Improv exercises are fun and interactive, which helps people forget that they’re working on important concepts.     Jessie compares improv skills to athletic skills: “It’s like any sport; you have to practice to get good.” Her clients work on making their partners in the exercises look good through a technique she calls “Yes, and.”   A typical exercise might consist of two partners (strangers) assigned to take turns describing the great vacation they just took together.   One partner starts: “We got into Cancun on Sunday night.” The other partner says, “Yes, and then we took the local bus to our hotel.”   Each speaker in turn validates the other’s line before adding to the story.   Jessie says this is a great technique for conversation in real life as well.   “It gets you out of the ‘Yes, but’ mode and helps you connect to other people quickly,” she says. If you’ve been in a job search for a while, it’s easy to lose your confidence. You may be starting to edit yourself too much â€" to be timid about meeting new people.   Jessie will be bringing the Improv Effect to the WorkSource Professional Network on April 22.   If youre a member, be sure to attend.

Make Your Resume Communication Skills Stands Out

Make Your Resume Communication Skills Stands OutYou might not be aware of it, but your resume communication skills are one of the biggest things that will help you get the job you want. There are many different skills that need to be on your resume to make sure that they get through the first few rounds of interview calls and that can be a bit daunting if you do not know what to put on them.To start off with, it is best to always try and spell your name as clearly as possible when making your job description. Make sure that you only list your skills and qualifications as they are listed in the job advertisement. It is always important to understand that employers will most likely ask you to explain how you can be of assistance to them and if there is anything you can do for them that they are not sure of, then make sure that you add that in there.The next thing to consider when it comes to this is writing your work history in a way that makes sense and does not create confusion. Try and leave out things like dates and times that do not really mean anything so that they will not be a hindrance when someone is interviewing you. Also try and remember that all of the details you write down here should be correct and should not be being re-written any time soon. Writing it down can be a hassle when you forget the dates and times and it is important to remember that in your job advertisement.Another tip when writing about your work history is to remember that the amount of experience you have worked in a certain field is very important. Make sure that you take care to list the exact number of years that you have worked in your field. This can help you when trying to make a case for why you are an ideal candidate for the job that you are applying for.The next part of this is describing your skills. Again, if you remember what you listed as skills, this will be easier. List all of the skills that you have as carefully as you can and try to make sure that your resume co mmunication skills are very clear and that they can be understood by the employer when they are reading it.Being able to convey a positive image of yourself and setting up a resume communication skills profile that makes you stand out is an important element in the job market these days. This is also the one area where many people get confused. It is important to know exactly what to put on your resume and when so that you do not have to re-write it at the end of the job interview.When doing this, make sure that you write it all out carefully so that you are sure that you will not miss anything. Being well prepared will go a long way towards getting you through the interview process. The more detailed you are when writing your resume, the better your chances are at getting hired.Knowing what you should not include when it comes to your resume communication skills are something that will help you get through the interview process and the hiring process with flying colors. This is the section that can set you apart from the rest of the applicants.

10 Bad Decisions Made By Job Seekers

10 Bad Decisions Made By Job Seekers Youve heard of IQ, Intelligence Quotient; EQ, Emotional Intelligence; Now I want to introduce you to SI, Situational Intelligence! This is awareness of your situation. Are you equipped to make the soundest/wisest decisions during your job search? When I saw this posted yesterday, I laughed out loud. Ive said this before! As a job seeker, you will face numerous new situations. If you havent been faced with some of these before, how will you know you are making the best decision?   Here are some examples of decisions that I probably wouldnt have made: 1. Turned down second interview because the head of the department was a jerk. 2. Didnt follow up to get more information about networking contact 3. Failed to ask what the time-frame was for making hiring decision. 4. Insisted upon making as much, if not more, than he previously made in his last job. 5. Refused an interview because the commute was longer than 20 minutes. 6. Followed up after the interview by showing up at the business location. 7. After 99 weeks of unemployment, turned down a job because it was below her. 8. Refused to fill out any online application that asks for social security number. 9. Wouldnt talk to recruiters, contract houses or temp agencies because they are a rip off. 10. Refused to get on LinkedIn because she wanted to keep her life private. I strongly believe that there are multiple ways to handle situations. The WORST decision for most job seekers is to opt out. However, in order to land a job, you need options.   Dont eliminate yourself unnecessarily.   This is one reason why job search should never be done alone. You need other peoples insight and opinions, because, sometimes you lack situational intelligence!

If others are living their dreams, why not you

If others are living their dreams, why not you In the quest for the ideal career, many people find it inspiring to read about others whove achieved this seemingly impossible dream.My question is always, If others are living their dreams, why not you? Rather than getting angry or frustrated or jealous because someone has an interesting job, the perfect schedule, plenty of vacation time, great compensation; why not instead see it as a signal that this is a possibility for you too?In a new book called, Howd you score that gig? Alexandra Levit interviewed more than 100 people in their dream jobs to see what got them there. She found persistence was a very important trait.I would add belief in their dreams as another key trait of people Ive coached whove made it to their ideal careers. No matter what naysayers or even their own inner critic told them, it was their own belief in the dream that kept them persistently focused on achieving it.I count myself as one of those people in their ideal career. And still Believe in your dreams is the message that I put on my mobile phone so that everytime I turn it on, thats what I see.We all need to be reminded that dreams do come true, if for others why not you?