I still remember my first time like it was yesterday. I cringed in horror at the thought, let alone the act, in which I was about to partake. It repulsed me to think I would be joining the youth culture in what would surely be their demise. And what would my parents think? But they were young once too, they must’ve experimented. So I sat back, reached out my hand and let the journey begin.

It started slowly at first; once a week, then twice, but before I knew it I was doing it daily, even multiple times a day, spiraling completely out of control. I’m talking, of course, about social media.

The more invested I became, the more useful I began to find these tools, each of their own accord. And now, as a self-proclaimed junkie, here are my reasons:

Why I Like LinkedIn:

LinkedIn is by far and away my favorite tool. It’s a working resume that allows you to connect with companies as well as individuals. You can add events, a reading list, even link your Twitter account. If you do ONE thing in social media, this (in my opinion) is the way to go.

Why I Like Twitter:

I will be the first to admit, Twitter used to overwhelm and annoy me. I was the person like, “Who wants to know what I had for lunch today?!” I completely did not understand its purpose. But the more I immerse myself in it, the more I love it. The list function is perfect for following specific individuals or topics. And it’s a great way to get current events without having to visit a bunch of websites. Finally, if you write a blog, Twitter is an absolute must.

Why I Like Quora:

Again, Quora used to overwhelm me. I’m still scared to ask a question, but it’s a phenomenal resource for getting answers. Quora is my go-to resource for answering my own questions.

Why I Like Google+

So far, the only reason I like Google + is because of how much I dislike Facebook. I haven’t really used it much, aside from sharing a few pictures, but I see its potential.

Not all tools are for everyone or every business.  Get to know your audience, engage them and watch your business grow!

We often talk in great detail about social media and best practices, but it’s not often we see companies embracing social media with engaging campaigns. And when we do, it’s definitely worth sharing.

Chobani Yogurt’s campaign using real-life customers from the social-sphere caught my eye a few months ago. Now Audi has taken a safe driving pledge, combined it with a sweepstakes and added the social media component to boot.

Check it out and let us know what you think!

With the social media landscape changing daily, it’s hard to keep up… For some, more than others. The introduction of Google+ has Facebook running for its money, which in turn sent MySpace packing that originally pulled the plug on Friendster. (Are you following?) Recently it’s been reported that both Yahoo and Hulu are for sale. So what does that mean, not only for these companies, but their customers as well?

According to this article in the Washington Post, Yahoo’s controversial CEO, Carol Bartz was fired over the phone, causing pandemonium amidst standing chaos. Hulu is currently run by the parent companies of NBC, ABC and Fox, which contribute their own shows to the site. Now, with sale signs on the doors of these multi-million dollar companies, what, if anything, can Hulu and Yahoo bring to the tables of their respective buyers?

Yahoo has been accused of “living in the 90’s”, a content-heavy site with no core business focus (e.g. Facebook for photos, Google for search.) Hulu would also lose leverage if the content providers remain unwilling to contribute their shows post-purchase. Advertising has been the main driver and perhaps the main draw of both sites. Bidders, however, include Amazon, Dish and Google.

Will it be the end of an era for Yahoo or Hulu?

I rushed to work this morning, all atwitter about posting a new review on Yelp:

Avanti Cafe on #Yelp: It's Costa Mesa restaurant week and if you can get to Avanti Cafe before it's over, go immedia... http://t.co/kIlXdZE

August 24, 2011 10:07 am via YelpReplyRetweetFavorite

@aliciamfranks

Alicia Franks

And then I got to thinking…  I was SO excited about writing my review because I couldn’t WAIT to exclaim to friends, family and colleagues that I had discovered the impossible: a healthy, delicious AND affordable meal, right around the corner!!!  In turn, when I’m extremely ANGRY about a product or service, I take to social media as well to proclaim my plight.  So it dawned on me that people typically write reviews when they are moved, in one direction or another; thereby making it a bit more difficult to take their advice at face value.

Hence, the law of averages was born.  I figure, if people only write a review when they are extremely satisfied or extremely dissatisfied, then the majority of patrons are moderately satisfied and not moved enough to express their opinion.  Furthermore, the average of the good and bad reviews equate to a median score.  This is just a general formula, of course if all the reviews are poor, the law of averages wouldn’t apply and vice versa.

As more customers become critics, it’s essential to keep a few things in mind:

1. As a business owner, use this as an opportunity to listen to your customers – acknowledge the bad reviews, offer incentives to change their mind and thus change their opinion.
2. As a customer, use the law of averages – people typically only review something when they are emotional.  Take reviews with a grain of salt and seek several sources of information.
3. Utilize social media yourself – write and read reviews to help others.

Are you moved enough to review?

Playboy is one of the most recognizable brands in existence. The sales from their magazine and radio station alone are staggering to say the least. Now add to that a Las Vegas nightclub and you’ve solidified success.

With the launch of this social media campaign, featured here on Simply Zesty, Playboy has taken interactive to the next level indeed. Smart, savvy and still controversial, Playboy is positioned as a leader in the industry (and with over 13 million views worldwide, this campaign is no exception;-)

With bated breath, I await my Google+ invitation.  I am curious as to whether or not Facebook will have real competition with this “project” (apparently they are leery to call it a product since most of their social networking attempts, like Buzz, have flopped.)

So what exactly is Google+?  Simply put, it’s Google’s answer to Facebook (and I for one have been counting the days!)  This Pocket-lint article delves into the details, but the basic premise is set around a stream, or news feed, where your “circles” and “hangouts” can respond and interact.  But where does this network fit exactly?  Furthermore, will loyal Facebook users be willing to switch, despite Facebook Fatigue?

The major differences are increased privacy, multiple-user chat function and the “real-life sharing” component. Google wants to fix what is broken. Can they do it? The answer is yet to be determined, but I for one am anxious to explore the possibility!

Have you tried Google+?  What are your thoughts?

If you have flown anywhere in the US recently, you know it’s not pleasant. First they took our amenities, then our dignity. Aside from being starved, strip-searched and charged for everything from legroom to luggage, any human help has basically been eliminated in the event of an emergency, such as a delay or missed connection. According to this CNN article, however, Twitter might be just the solution to the airlines’ problems.

I am a fairly patient traveler and have a great deal of respect for airline industry jobs. I also appreciate this country taking the necessary steps to ensure our travel safety. All things considered, it could be worse… But it could also be MUCH better (and having just flown Qantas to Australia, I can indubitably make this statement!) TSA regulations aside, the airlines themselves have deteriorated tremendously in customer service. Which strikes me as slightly odd since they are, in fact, a service industry…

Qantas, on the other hand, made flying economy feel like first class. Now granted, the fact that this was an International flight may account for some of my phenomenal experience, but not all of it! So if Twitter can be used to address passenger concerns and help alleviate some of the chaos, I am all for it! Delta even has a dedicated staff @DeltaAssist just for Twitter questions.

So will Twitter make flying a breeze?  The evidence isn’t conclusive, but the bottom line is – it can’t hurt.  Now if only Twitter could get me to and from the airport…

So, you created a Facebook profile ages ago…  You have 1,264 friends (half of who you don’t even know personally) a quarter you’ve had only a few conversations with, but haven’t talked to in months and the rest are family or friends you mostly connect with via email or Skype.  In fact, you haven’t uploaded any pictures or posted an update in days…  Come to think of it, when is the last time you actually USED Facebook (other than just receiving an annoying message alert.)  Not only that, but you’re still harboring resentment towards Mark Zuckerberg for taking away your privacy rights behind your back!!

If you’re suffering from any (or all) of the above, don’t worry; you’re not alone.  What you may be experiencing is Facebook Fatigue and it seems to be sweeping the nation….  At least Great Britain, according to this Science & Tech article.

I recently watched, “The Facebook Obsession” a CNBC documentary that raised a lot of interesting questions.  It took a hard look at the good, the bad and the future of Facebook.  On the one hand, it reunites long lost friends, family members, colleagues and the like.  It allows photo sharing and provides intimate details about the lives of those you can’t be close to.  On the other, it has actually destroyed lives; people have lost jobs, or loved ones, to the mass exploitation of demographic information that is Facebook.   In the middle, you have those who simply use it to keep in touch.

So, where does that leave Facebook?  There are a lot of pieces to this puzzle, particularly based on your feelings about Facebook and Privacy.  We all know, when we go online – we’re putting it out there, so to speak.  No matter WHAT you say, you’re assuming a certain amount of risk.  Therefore, necessary measures must be taken on your part to ensure privacy.  But Facebook went beyond that by falsely alluding their customers into believing their information was completely safe.  Another theory is the “novelty” factor, which the aforementioned article addresses in depth.  Perhaps it is merely leveling off and becoming commonplace.

In any event, the honeymoon appears to be over, and whether or not Facebook will join MySpace and Friendster in going the way of the Dodo is still TBD.  No matter what you’re feeling about Facebook, fatigue is just one possible side effect created by Google’s biggest competitor.  As for me, I’m still waiting for the next big thing;-)

Are you suffering from Facebook Fatigue?

Popularized by the Oscar-winning movie, social networking is fast becoming the standard of networking today.  LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter allow you to forge business relationships from the comfort of your home or office, and suddenly your world is opened up exponentially!  Although that’s not news, the IRL (in real life) component of social networking is new to me and, as I’ve pleasantly discovered, it’s the critical piece of the puzzle!

Taking your social network offline and into real life is like pulling back the curtain on the Wizard of Oz.  What you will discover is the person behind the avatar… And – as real people in real life – you will gain invaluable insight into your followers/friends that social networking just can’t provide.  This doesn’t mean you need to schedule meet-ups with all 2,000 of your connections but what it does mean is once your online conversations start piling up, make time outside of Twitter to sit down and network in-person.  Although the breadth online is vast, the depth of traditional networking is key to building lasting business relationships.

Just remember, not every follower needs to be a friend and not every friend needs to be a follower.  Also, if you don’t have time to meet on an individual basis, tweetups or workshops are great ways to connect with a group of people at once.

Are you socializing IRL?

***A big thanks to my new Tweeps IRL @alexjvasquez, @edwardlawrence, @oakleyOC, @lorennason, @HealthOC and @thebigdebowski (for teaching me the acronym;-)