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At this point, it's clear that social media is here to stay, but instead of asking what social media can do for you, let's consider what you can do with social media.
 
Our first natural instincts are to shamelessly promote ourselves with social media, and if you're in the selling business, you're looking for the best ways to market your product/client. Today we can get the word out quicker than we can get a cab, so this all makes sense. I get it. Recently, I’ve been thinking that maybe we should dedicate a week to doing good with our savvy social media skills. This week, let’s shamelessly promote a great cause to help those less fortunate in our community. And, I know just the cause: A Box of Love from Here’s Life Inner City.
 
Here’s Life Inner City New York is a non-profit organization we work with that is dedicated to helping the poverty stricken members of the inner city. From now until November 11th, they are hosting a campaign to sponsor Boxes of Love. What is a Box of Love? For only $36.71 a box of filled with all the trappings for a Thanksgiving feast is delivered to families in need just in time for Thanksgiving, and each Box of Love feeds a family of six!
 
In the past, this campaign has been wildly successful, but this year they want to make a greater impact – they want to reach 7,000 families. Seven thousand families means reaching 42,000 people - people you see everyday on the Subway and walk next to on the street. Just imagine, we could impact the same amount of people that it would take to fill Madison Square Garden twice!
 
So, together let’s use our amazing social media skills and make a difference. Blog about it, tweet about it, become a Facebook fan. Let’s make a difference! Donate a Box of Love today http://bit.ly/gBu8Q.
 

I am on hiatus this week due to the death of a friend.

See you next week.

In business there is SO much posturing. Everyone is worried about not appearing smart, or buttoned up enough or “on the proverbial ball.” Honestly, it’s just silly. NO ONE, I don’t care WHO you are, can be that “on it” all the time. 

My motto for the end of 2009 (and it’s been an interesting year, hasn’t it?) is: TRY to lighten up a bit and keep it real. We basically do this anyway, but I think it’s going to be more important in 2010. Now, this does not mean fall down on the job, get sloppy and throw caution to the wind. But if you read my blog from yesterday, I think it’s a good time to BREATHE, assess reality (as you know it) and keep it real.

Example: I got a deck yesterday from an associate that was a bit “over thought.” Totally understandable, she is doing Herculean things and is in a perfectionist mode. I get it. But I had just heard that my grandfather had passed away and I now had to leave town in the middle of fashion week. So, instead of getting bummed about an edit job that I wasn’t prepared to do, I took a deep breath, remembered what it was like to be sitting in her seat, thanked God for her commitment to my business and got down to it. We kept it real and we now have an amazing deck. I sure do hope I can do that more often. Just keeping it real!
 

I recently was put on the scent of a new online shop called “Not Just Another Label” and I am HOT on the trail.  It may be the coolest e-commerce concept I’ve heard of since Net-A-Porter (Same day delivery in NYC? Brilliance!).

As of May 2009, Not Just Another Label began offering one-off designer items that cannot be found anywhere else, and (get this) notable industry people select them each month. Brillzzzzz. So far, shop curators have included Robin Schulié, head-buyer of the iconic Maria Luisa store in Paris and Diane Pernet, editor of cult-favorite blog, A Shaded View On Fashion. P.S.—I love this cream sheath rose dress by Lisa Gibson. Rumor has it that supermodel and Brigette Bardot channeler, Lara Stone, is up next. I’m not convinced of her taste-making skills, but don’t worry, I’ll be logging in to sit in judgment.
 

Predictions are always tricky and often dangerous. But in our business, we make it our job to predict the latest and greatest trends and tools in the social media arena. Granted, we may have some missteps along the way, but why should that stop us?

So, here it is folks, the new up-and-coming social media space – TUMBLR! Although it may not be the newest platform, it is definitely the one with the greatest potential – the new “Twitter”, if you will. Tumblr has everything you could want in a social media platform: bookmarks to easily grab content from the Internet and post to your site, a popular iPhone application, audio posts, and the option for tons of free themes to personalize your space. It’s essentially Facebook, Twitter and MySpace all-in-one.

This hybrid of popular social media outlets allows Tumblr enthusiasts to ‘reblog’ each other’s posts (in much the same way that retweets distribute content on Twitter), monitor ‘Tumbularity’ (follower scoring system), pull content from those they follow (similar to Facebook and Twitter), and broadcast a ‘Tumblelog’ (essentially a blog). Using Tumblr has been described as ‘lifestreaming,’ and with all these features it is easy to see why.

Over 7 million users worldwide have jumped on this band-wagon including Katy Perry, John Legend, and Josh Groban. Tumblr is near the tipping point – all it will take is a few news/tv/celebrity mentions to catch fire.

You heard it HERE first, now go out and become part of the next big thing!
 

Source: raincoastermedia.com

I just returned from a conference that wasn’t business related BUT when you own your own business it feels like EVERYTHING is related to business. I remember when we were kids in the 1960’s, flying then was a bit of a privilege. The food was served on real china (and tasted a lot like real food). You were expected to dress nicely (suits and hats) and if you were a little one, you were expected to behave yourself without any exception. My grandparents lived in Miami so we were often on an airplane. I have great photos of my mother with the three of us (a brother and a sister) deplaning by stairway. There was my mother, beautiful in a big brimmed hat and gloves with three little kids in matching sailor outfits (she was a MAJOR stickler for appearances). It was thrilling. I loved it.

Now, with an office in New York and LA I still spend a lot of time on airplanes, but oh how things have changed (no china and tracksuits reign as the uniform of the upper-class). American Airlines is my preferred mode of transportation. Preferred because they fly the most between my major destinations. And, they have pretty nice lounges. Because I fly quite a bit I have platinum status, which gets you upgraded fairly often. BUT, I tend to just buy the business-class ticket because you don’t want to get stuck in economy if you don’t have to. Now, I know I sound bratty, but flying is a bitch. So, I’m going to do what needs to get done to get there in comfort. And that’s really the point of the blog. Just how important is it to fly business if you are in business? Pretty darned important.  But honestly, it wouldn’t be so important if air travel was just a bit more civilized. So I say bring back the good old days (everyone says that, right?). But forget the outdoor stairs, the jet way is much better in bad weather!

Source: cynical-c.com

Remarkably this site was named the #1 site covering the social web—now that’s a pedigree. The site was launched by J.D. Lasica and CNET named the founder one of the top 100 media bloggers in the world after he launched Ourmedia.org—the first video hosting and sharing site. The site highlights news, trends, tools and resources around social media, social networks and Web 2.0. What is really exciting is the upcoming launch of their sister site Socialbrite.org. This site will work with nonprofits to help them achieve maximum impact with their social media strategy and campaigns (this is all from the horse's mouth, but I have no reason to believe this isn’t going to be the next big thing, so stay tuned).

All in all, a veritable smorgasbord of social media opportunity. Please do check it out!

Source: nytimes.com
 

For most of us in the communications/pr world, Cision is THE go-to destination for insider info, great media lists and a wealth of archival press placements. Look, someone had to do it, and Cision did. They have their own blog dedicated to helping communications professionals navigate the evolving media landscape. Honestly, this might feel a bit “insidery” (not a word, I know), but this blog is GOOD. Great writers, great insight, and great cross-section of viable references and resources. If you’re in my business, or anything vaguely related I strongly suggest that you check it out!

Kendra Foley Simpson was one of our associates for a time. Now, this woman is adorable, but she has fire. With her black hair and brown eyes, porcelain skin and perfect cupid doll face, Kendra has the looks of a gal from the 50s or 40s. But don’t let those sweet looks fool you. Kendra is a woman with ideas and she loves to share them. And does this woman have style! You should have seen the invite to her wedding (baby blue and red) and many of her fab little dresses (gingham or crepe) are handmade or reinvented by Kendra herself. LOVE THEM! When I read one of her tweets (basically she was shopping for her spring wardrobe on a crazy budget) I thought: “If anyone can do it this girl can!”

So, why am I writing about Kendra? Because she has just launched a new blog that you MUST check out: www.budgetretro.com. The blog features house wares, vintage goods and crafts. And though it offers up great concepts on a budget, you never lose style in the exchange.

We love your new venture Kendra. We think everyone else will too!