Facebook changes daily, and so do the rules you have to play by to win. Here are 8 quick ways to kill your business' social media efforts (and a couple may even help you get rid of a few personal Facebook friends too!).
1. Over-sharing: We know you want every last fan to see each post… but guess what? They're not going to. And while you're busy flooding peoples' news feeds with repeat content, your fans who have seen it over and over are hiding your content… or unliking your page.
Similarly, if you share every update your page makes to your personal profile, your friends are going to get sick of your spamming, and think your page is annoying and that the product or service doesn't speak for itself.
2. Content Trumping: If you have awesome content that could potentially help grow your page, share it! FROM. YOUR. PAGE. Once the page shares it, feel free to share it to your personal profile (thereby directing traffic to the original source - the brand's page).
3. Impersonal responses: Automated responses make me feel so special! Said no one ever. People are on social media because they want to feel special. Use their names and answer their questions as if the brand were actually managed by humans. Oh wait, it is.
4. Delayed responses: Fans these days are expecting responses from brands' Facebook pages in hours (preferably less than one hour). If you can't keep up, hire help, or prepare to lose business.
5. Not responding at all: Imagine approaching a girl at a bar. You say hi and offer to buy her a drink and she just turns around and ignores you. You're left alone, looking dumb, thinking to yourself, "What a B*%$@". This is what it's like to fans when you don't listen to them. Social media is meant to be SOCIAL. Take part or people are going to stop talking to you, and soon enough, it won't matter how pretty you are... you'll be going to prom alone.
6. Not posting regularly: Social media strategies are built to be flexible because it's imperative to serve up relevant, timely content. However, dry spells can lead fans to believe you're shady and unreliable. Always have a strategy and content calendar in place just in case.
7. Don't share what you think is cool: Share what FANS will think is cool. If I shared what I thought was cool to every single page I manage, Catholic Churches, cowboy boot manufacturers, and retail stores would all be sharing the latest Justin Timberlake album and memes supporting the 2nd Amendment. Yeah...
8. Don't post just to promote: Make sure your posts are of value or your fans will leave you, simple as that. If you're sharing the page's posts to your personal page - what will excite your friends about it? Stop selling them, and start engaging with them.
Luckily, these 8 steps aren't punishable by death or we'd all be goner's. They are however punishable by unliking and de-friending, so I urge you to evaluate your social media efforts and see where you can tighten up a few screws.
Have any other pet peeves or suggestions for social media managers? Comment below to share!
“Toto, I have a feeling
we’re not in Kansas anymore.”
“Here’s looking at you,
kid.”
“You’re gonna need a
bigger boat.”
“I love the smell of
napalm in the morning.”
These famous and familiar
film quotes originated from films made in 1939, 1942, 1975 and 1979. Topics run
the gamut from a magical land to pre-World War II heartache, from man-eating
sharks to the Vietnam War’s effect on the psyche. Yet, no matter how different they
are, they all have something in common: They each have one line that is
synonymous with the film it originated from. These quotes have stood the test
of time – some as long as 74 years. Think about it: One sentence from a film
that is recognized in context 74 years later within pop culture? That’s
impressive.
Film quotes have become a
part of our everyday lingo. Here at Balcom, we love our film quotes. If someone
is leaving the office for a meeting, they’ll probably say, “I’ll be back” in their
best Arnold Schwarzenegger voice. If a client is five months behind on paying
an invoice, you’ll usually hear our accounting manager, Toni, shouting, “Show
me the money!” from her desk. You get the point – most people inject film quotes,
whether inadvertently or not, into their daily conversations.
But what makes a specific film
quote resonate with an individual? We asked the Bs to pick their
favorite film quote of all time, and after a lot of arguing back and forth about
the impossibility of picking just ONE, we were able to compile a list.
Find out which quotes
speak to the Bs, and please share your favorite film quote with us in the
comments below!
“Anything different is
good.”
– Phil Connors, “Groundhog
Day” (1993)
Rob: “Life is about change,
moving forward, and growing on a personal, intellectual, and spiritual level.”
“So it's not gonna be easy.
It's going to be really hard; and we're gonna have to work at this every day,
but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever. You and
me ... every day.”
– Noah Calhoun, “The
Notebook” (2004)
Audrey: “I’m a sucker for
love stories. It gives me butterflies every time I hear it. And, it’s true –
love takes work.”
"After
all, tomorrow is another day."
– Scarlett O'Hara, “Gone With
the Wind” (1939)
Lynne: “As someone who lives and dies by the
deadline, it's good to have some perspective.”
“Worrying is like a
rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere.”
– Van Wilder, “Van Wilder”
(2002)
Jennifer: “As someone who
notoriously worries, this quote reminds me that sometimes you just have to let
things go. Some things are out of our hands. Write that down.”
“You know, I have a friend
who works at the crime lab at the police station. I could give him your
toothbrush and he could run a test on it ... to see if you actually brushed
your teeth ... or just ran your toothbrush under the faucet."
– Buck Russell, "Uncle
Buck" (1989)"
Lesley: “It clearly
demonstrates how awesome it would be to have John Candy as your uncle!”
“Heed! Paper! Now! Move that
melon of yours and get the paper, if you can. Hauling that gargantuan cranium
about. I’m not kidding that boy’s head’s like Sputnik. Spherical, but quite
pointy in parts. Well that was offside wasn’t it? He’ll be crying himself to sleep
tonight on his huge pillow.”
– Stuart Mackenzie, “So I
Married an Axe Murderer” (1993)
Holly: “It's just one of
those stupid-funny movies with memorable lines that still rattle around in my
head.”
“A
man tells his stories so many times that he becomes the stories. They live
on after him, and in that way he becomes immortal.”
– Will Bloom, “Big Fish”
(2003)
Chip: “I've never let the
truth get in the way of a good story. For me, the facts are a lot less
important than the feeling. That's what people want in life – they want a good
story.”
“Well, I believe in the
soul, the small of a woman's back, the hanging curve ball, high fiber, good
scotch, that the novels of Susan Sontag are self-indulgent, overrated crap. I
believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. I believe there ought to be a
constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter. I believe
in opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve and I
believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days. Goodnight.”
– Crash Davis, “Bull Durham”
(1988)
Toni: “I agree with most of
the ideologies in this quote, especially the part about opening your presents
on Christmas morning! 'Bull Durham' is one of the greatest baseball movies ever
made, and this quote is a great philosophy to live by.”
“All cowboys
ain't dumb. Some of 'em got smarts real good, like me.”
– Bud Davis, “Urban Cowboy”
(1980)
Spencer: “This movie is
greatly under-appreciated! It has witty dialogue & an excellent
soundtrack!”
"Sewer rat may taste
like pumpkin pie, but I'd never know 'cause
I wouldn’t eat the filthy mother*****!"
– Jules Winnfield, “Pulp
Fiction” (1994)
Trey: “Pulp Fiction is one
of the greatest movies of my generation. It revolutionized the way stories are
told in film through the use of metaphors and by doing what we expect in an
unexpected way. The entire film is actually an allegory of the American music
scene, specifically rock & roll. Jules (the character) is one of the most
badass characters in the movie. In this particular scene, he and Vincent are
discussing animal consumption – which animals are or aren't edible based on
taste vs. charm. It’s a brilliant conversation and this quote is one of the
most memorable of the entire discussion, not to mention funny as hell.”
Sherriff Jeff Lord: “Any
trouble here, Mr. McLintock?”
George Washington McLintock:
“No trouble, Sheriff.”
Sherriff Jeff Lord: “How
about you, Douglas.”
Matt Douglas: “Douglas. Just
plain Douglas, eh. And you call him Mr. McLintock. Why?”
Sherriff Jeff Lord: “Well,
Douglas, I guess that's because he's earned it.”
– “McLintock” (1963)
Ali: “The BEST movie of all
time. So many good quotes, but I like the underlying theme of earning respect –
something a lot of the world (young and old) forgets these days.”
“Life moves pretty fast. If
you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
– Ferris Bueller, “Ferris
Bueller’s Day Off” (1986)
"The past can hurt. But
the way I see it, you can either run from it, or learn from it."
– Rafiki, “The Lion King”
(1994)
Victoria: “I love this
quote because while it comes in a moment of humor (after he smacks Simba on the
head with his walking stick), Rafiki's statement is applicable in the real
world, not just to the lions who inhabit Pride Rock. This moment is truly
reflective of why Disney is so universally loved – the mix of humor and
shockingly simple truths that people carry with them far past childhood.”
"And we must remember
that all these things, the nuances, the anomalies, the subtleties, which we
assume only accessorize our days, are effective for a much larger and nobler
cause. They are here to save our lives. I know the idea seems strange, but I
also know that it just so happens to be true."
– Karen Eiffel, “Stranger
Than Fiction” (2006)
Stephanie: “It's a movie
about a man who discovers he's the main character in a tragic novel, and goes
about trying to avoid his imminent death. And it's about finding meaning in our
lives the way we find it in literature: this quote kind of sums that up.”
Mary: “Bread ... that this
house may never know hunger.” [Mary hands a loaf of bread to Mrs. Martini.] “Salt
... that life may always have flavor.” [Mary hands a box of salt to Mrs. Martini.]
George Bailey: “And wine ...
that joy and prosperity may reign forever.”
– “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946)
Kim: “This is my favorite
movie of all time, but this quote also reminds me of my best friend's wedding
nearly 20 years ago. Her dad gave a toast and presented the couple with these
gifts.”
Annie Reed: “Now that was when people KNEW how to be in love. They knew it! Time, distance ...
nothing could separate them because they knew. It was right. It was real. It
was ...”
Becky: “A movie! That's your problem! You don't want to be in love. You want to be in
love in a movie.”
– “Sleepless in Seattle”
(1993)
Ashley: “We have to allow
people to be human, normal, flawed and such. I love to quote this funny and
true reminder when thinking or talking about expectations – even though this is
about romance just about any life situation or relationship applies. Life and movies
are, graciously, not the same.”
"…In Italy for thirty
years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but
they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In
Switzerland they had brotherly love - they had 500 years of democracy and
peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock."
– Harry Lime, “The Third Man”
(1949)
Jamie: "This quote is
such a perfect distillation of the mentality of the character (who steals
penicillin from military hospitals during WWII, dilutes it, and then sells it
on the black market), but it also reveals how easy it can be to rationalize the
very worst of human behavior, which makes me think of another quote from
the 1983 film 'The Big Chill': 'I don't know anyone who could
get through the day without two or three juicy rationalizations. They're more
important than sex.' And Orson Welles' delivery of the 'cuckoo
clock' line is brilliant."
Abbreviations can be a huge PITA if you don't know what they mean. Here are a few common ones to help even the least techy peeps know what's going on, and when they're appropriate to use.
The second-to-worst message to ever receive (the worst of course is, "k").
IDK: I don't know
What women say when you ask what they want for Valentine's Day (WHICH I STRONGLY CAUTION YOU NOT TO TAKE LITERALLY).
IDC: I don't care
If you asked a girl on a date via text and left it with this, her response will (or should) be, "NO."
LMK: Let me know
Probably the most annoying of all time. I hate even including it on this list, but so many people use it that I had to.
ROFL: Rolling on the floor laughing.
This should be a filter on Facebook.
TMI: Too much information
The most common one-word response to anything. I find it ironic that this response could be shortened at all, but ta-da! Thank you 14-year-old's everywhere.
B/C: Because
How my Dad refers to the truck. Also a term for Spykids.
POS: Piece of s***, or more commonly in instant messaging: parent over shoulder.
Used to insert your deviant opinion without looking like a complete a-hole.
IMHO: In my humble opinion
Use frequently, as everything said online (or not F2F) is true.
JK: Just kidding
Most often used by creepy people-watchers at the airport (yes, I openly include myself in this group).
OH: Overheard
Commonly used at the end of an email when the sender needs a quick turnaround on a project, but is afraid to ask for it.
BTW: By the way
Because you never know if the other six letters may lead to carpal tunnel...
TY: Thank you
If he didn't type it all out, by golly, why should you?
YW: You're welcome
Interchangeable with the term above in case you really want to spice things up.
NP: No problem, not a problem
Should probably be accompanied by a blonde girl emoticon (I can make that joke because I am a blonde girl). Also appropriate to use if someone breaks up with you via text message. B/C… I mean… what else would you say?
OMG: Oh my God, gosh, goodness, golly, you get it.
90s shorthand salutation, also important to know if you live, work, or talk with individuals with memory loss
CYA: C (see) ya, or also: cover your a**.
When something is funny, but not THAT funny. Never send in relation to bad news, like the woman below did.
LOL: Laugh out loud, no longer: "lots of love"
Have more to add? Share them in the comments below!
I cringed when I saw that subject line in my inbox a few days ago. It was sandwiched between “HOT deadline” and “Urgent meeting,” but I knew I would read “Sad News” first. It took me a few seconds to click it open.
Bob Howald had died.
The kind, charming production manager I had worked with at Witherspoon was gone. Passed away at home, unbeknownst to a busy world for days, until his old friend Jim Stuart went by to check on him. “Sad News” had become even sadder.
In the potent cocktail of urgency and arrogance that advertising can be, Fort Worth has had plenty of high balls. Bob, however, wasn’t one of them. As a production manager he simply made things happen, quietly and delightfully. He played classical music in his office and walked around in his sock feet after hours. If you ever talked to Bob, you remember his signature end to nearly every sentence, “…and everything.”
“Gentleman” has always seemed like an old fashioned word to me -- a manner of carriage and methodical thoughtfulness that has simply disappeared over the years. But when I think of a gentleman, the first man I think of is Bob Howald. The second is Jim Stuart. So it pains me to imagine their last encounter. That’s not how gentlemen say goodbye.
And last week, Van Cliburn passed away. I never met Van Cliburn, but as a young copywriter at Witherspoon, pulled in to do research on Fort Worth luminaries, I saw a photo of him I’ll never forget. He was riding through a ticker tape parade in New York City, back from his victory in Russia, sitting tall, head back, waving to the crowd with the longest, most elegant hands I have ever seen. Piano hands.
So when the days would wind down at Witherspoon, and the sunlight would flare and then fade along the back windows, and I could hear the classical piano music coming from Bob’s office, I always imagined those hands.
I imagine them today, too. And I imagine Bob sitting in the sweet light, with his shoes off, listening to Van… and everything.
Mark your calendars! The 85th annual Academy Awards (the Oscars) are scheduled for this Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. This could be a record-breaking year for the Oscars, as this year’s Best Actress category includes the nomination of Quvenzhané Wallis, 9, the youngest actress to ever be nominated for the Best Actress award. If Wallis wins, she will be the youngest person to ever win an Academy Award for acting, beating Tatum O’Neal’s record set in 1974 for her Best Supporting Actress win at 10 years old for “Paper Moon.”
Interestingly, although Wallis is now 9 years old, she was only 6 when “Beasts of the Southern Wild” was filmed. Wallis is also from Houma, La., the same part of Louisiana as Lesley’s in-laws!
We polled the B team to find out their picks in the top six categories of Hollywood’s biggest night. See our picks below and let us know who you think is going to win!
I attended
the ADDY® awards program of the Advertising Club of Fort Worth (now American
Advertising Federation – Fort Worth) for the very first time in 1987. I was a young professional going to my first
industry gala. This important moment in
my career required the perfect dress.
Jan
Blanchard (later of Blanchard Schaefer Advertising) and I went shopping on our
lunch hour at a chi-chi boutique on West Seventh Street that is long-gone. I
found a perfect turquoise silk dress that nipped my waist in perfectly and
accentuated my eyes. It was love at
first sight – until I saw the price tag. This gorgeous confection cost more
than my wedding dress. I was prepared to put it back and go find something at
Casual Corner. But Jan convinced me that
I was worth it and I made a charge purchase that took months to pay off. I don’t think I ever told my husband what I
had spent!
As I
reviewed my closet this weekend to find an outfit to wear to the 2013 edition
of the ADDY® awards, I found that dress hidden in the back among other
cast-offs and forgotten items. It hasn’t
fit in years, but I can’t bear to part with it.
It was my first ‘grown up’
purchase; an investment in my professional personae. It reminds me of a young
woman who was so happy to be in an exciting career.
I now have
dozens of awards and galas tucked into my portfolio of memories. And there have been many pretty dresses, along
with some killer shoes. This dress,
however, is the symbol of them all.
Best of
luck to all of my colleagues in the awards races this season. May the best-dressed win!
Today, February 14, 2013, will go down as the worst day EVER for a guy named Steven at ProFlowers.
It's hard to manage a brand's reputation online, especially when their product or service has substantial flaws or is generally of poor quality. Today, my heart goes out to one guy typing away furiously and cursing his employer - ProFlowers (more like HellNoFlowers).
Allow me to elaborate in picture form...
He admits the flowers "fell short."
Oops - now things are getting "far below our usual quality."
Thinking quickly, Steven stalls for time here, asking Mr. Chen to wait a couple of days and see if things buff out.
