The answer: anywhere. I recently was introduced to this video and I couldn’t help but share it. It’s a great reminder that creativity and innovation can happen anywhere. It’s a mindset. It’s a new way of looking at things. As we start yet another hectic week, let’s try to embrace the creative spirit that leads to great ideas and real change. Happy Monday!
Perpetually curious. Always questioning. Thirsty for knowledge. Unsatisfied with the status quo. This is what being an “explorer” means to me. I believe it is a trait developed early on in life, perhaps even innately. On some level, you either got it or you don’t. At Nuffer, Smith, Tucker, I’d like to think we all “got it.”
Earlier this year, we adopted a new value: Push ourselves, each other, our clients and our profession to explore. While we finally put pen to paper on this one, the value is one that I believe has always been at the core of NST.
In a dynamic industry, success isn’t possible by resting on your laurels. What worked in the past, may not work in the future. Change is a word we must be comfortable with. More importantly, we must embrace and push for it by continual exploration.
I recently asked our team to tell me what “exploration” means to them. Here’s how they define exploration:
Reading these thoughts from our team reminds me – once again – what makes Nuffer, Smith, Tucker so special, and why on Monday mornings when others dread going to work, I don’t. It’s this culture of exploration that unites and drives us.
NST's Young Influential Teresa Siles
She’s young. She’s influential. She’s NST’s very own Teresa Siles! Recently named a Young Influential by the San Diego Daily Transcript, Teresa was recognized for her knowledge in social media and her efforts to ensure our agency plays a leading role in the industry.
Teresa joined NST more than 10 years ago as an intern and worked her way up to become a vice president of the firm. In fact, she’s the youngest vice president in NST’s history! Through the years, Teresa has developed a well-deserved reputation of being a leader in public relations and social media. She is creative and is constantly pushing not only her clients, but also her colleagues, to try new things and stay on the edge of change.
In addition to managing client accounts, Teresa leads NST’s social media practice. In 2009, she created the San Diego Social Media Symposium, which is now an annual one-day conference that brings together leaders in public relations, marketing, academia and the business community from across Southern California to talk about social media and how it is impacting our respective industries. The most recent symposium was held March 1, 2012 and drew more than 200 attendees.
Teresa is also a two-time graduate of WOMM-U or “Word of Mouth Marketing University,” and received her bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University (SDSU).
In her spare time, Teresa also finds time to give back. She leads a monthly social media workshop for SCORE San Diego, and serves on the marketing committee for LEAD San Diego and the advisory committee for the Digital and Social Media Collaborative at SDSU. As if all this was not enough, Teresa has also recently returned to SDSU as a student in its Executive MBA Program.
Please join me in recognizing Teresa for all her hard work and dedication not only to the profession and her clients, but also to NST and her colleagues. She is a true influential leader.
LEAD San Diego Vice President Sherrie-Lyn Thompson started out the recent LEAD IMPACT session acknowledging something we all knew to be true: there is something sensational about going into a high-security detention center, which was on our day’s agenda. The purpose, she assured us, was not entertainment but something much more significant. By the end of the day, I knew she was right.
It was a glimpse at a life that many people will never see. As we stood in the guard area looking out at the incarcerated men, I overheard someone from the LEAD cohort say he felt strange looking at them “like they are animals.” It was a no doubt an odd experience.
From the safety of the guard’s quarters, we received an explanation of the different colored wristbands worn by inmates. Men who committed among the most disturbing of crimes (sex crimes or crimes committed against children) wore yellow bands.
While many – myself included – may find it difficult to have compassion for the men behind bars, a more thoughtful look would reveal the situations that put many men there are complex and varied. Further, the solutions for what to do with them are far more complicated than what I’ve heard proposed many times: lock ‘em up and throw away the key. It’s this thinking that has caused many to dub America the “incarceration nation.” And while many people prefer to think of the situation as “not my problem,” the reality is as taxpayers, it is our problem. For some, it’s a fiscal problem; for others, it’s a moral one.
“It’s a sad commentary on our society when people don’t care about what happens to inmates,” said San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore.
Even if you are among those who “don’t care,” Gore shared with the LEAD cohort a fact that may pique your interest. It’s also one that many people would prefer to ignore: more than 95 percent of inmates are released back into society. Then what? Many are lacking basic skills such as reading and writing. Many others struggle with addiction. Unfortunately, California has among the highest recidivism rates in the nation, which are estimated by some to be as high as 80 percent in our state. Without skills for integration with society, many return to their former lives that got them in trouble to begin with.
After touring two detention centers and the San Diego Regional Firearms Training Center, and hearing from several experts in rehabilitation, I left the day still a little unsure of what to think of it all. Later, I realized that in many ways, the people behind bars represented a culmination of societal problems and issues the LEAD cohort had been exposed to in earlier sessions. The most obvious tie is to our discussion of behavioral health issues, including mental health and substance abuse disorders, which put people at greater risk of ending up behind bars. But ties can also be made to our education session and our discussion of developing 21st century leadership skills.
The incarceration system has problems with no easy answer, and it’s critical we think beyond simple solutions. While undoubtedly there are incarcerated men and women who should never be allowed to walk the streets again, there are others who – like it or not – will. These men and women are someone’s child, mother, father, sister, brother, aunt or uncle. As a society, we need to be more compassionate and not take the easy way out by sweeping it all under the rug.
Facebook is rolling out its new Premium ad product and the content of the Facebook ad is now pulled directly from the brand’s Facebook page. Facebook wants ads to be more about storytelling so that brands can grow their relationship with consumers.
Sponsored Story Ads
The content of Sponsored Story ads is what brands are already posting in their Timelines. The ads can be a status message, a poll, a link, an image or a video. The ad will first show consumers which friends like the brand page and then the ad will show the content of a recent status. Fans of the brand page can comment, share and like the ad unit.
Examples of Facebook's Sponsored Story Ad Types
Also, advertisers can still run Facebook campaigns that drive to third-party tab applications, even though pages lost the ability to designate a default-landing tab in the latest redesign. So if a brand is running Facebook ads to announce a contest or other promotion, the ads can still direct people to the app highlighting the promotion.
Facebook hopes these new ads will discourage brands who were not providing engaging content on their pages, or who are simply using Facebook as an advertising vehicle, from advertising on the platform. Facebook is focused on the user experience and it feels advertising should mesh with that philosophy. A study from Nielsen showed that, on average, people are 68 percent more likely to remember seeing an ad with social context than without, twice as likely to remember the ad’s message and four times as likely to purchase.
Types of Facebook Ads
Premium ads: require a $25,000 per month ad buy and will provide privileged access to certain aspects of the Facebook marketing experience.
Premium ads will be located in four places on the platform:
Facebook is also offering a new product called Reach Generator for Premium Ads. Reach Generator broadens the scope of an ad’s message by increasing the overall percentage of a brand’s fan base who will see the Sponsored Story.
Marketplace ads: (also known as self-service ads) can also created Sponsored Story ads. Marketplace ads do not have the $25,000 minimum ad spend and will only be located on the right side of the Facebook page/newsfeed.
Finding the right Facebook ad for your brand can be tricky. Have you used a certain Facebook ad that worked well for your brand, or do you still have questions on all the elements available to you? Leave us a comment here.
This blog post is the third in a three-part series. The first and second blog posts can be viewed here:
Facebook Timeline for Brands: Creativity Above the Fold
Facebook Timeline for Brands: Organic Content and Engagement
Besides the Timeline’s obvious two-column feature that pulls in content chronologically from the left and then the right, there are a few new features to be aware of in regards to where a brand’s content now lives on Facebook’s revamped pages. Emphasis is now placed on communication within the Timeline wall. However, there are a few ways brands can highlight important posts. It is widely believed that Facebook made these changes in an attempt to keep brands’ communication with individual users as organic as possible.
Here are a few of the features:
Not sure what type of content your brand should highlight or pin? We’re happy to talk strategy with you to make sure your optimizing Facebook’s Timeline features, or even a larger social media strategy, in a way that makes sense for your brand.
This blog post is the second in a three-part series. The first blog looks at Facebook Timeline cover photos and above the fold features.
How many times have you heard someone say, “I don’t want to be on Twitter. I don’t care what you ate for lunch or that you’re brushing your teeth.” Countless, right? While most marketing professionals understand the impact social media can have on a business or issue, the general layman may not.
This week’s “Kony 2012” campaign, created by San Diego group Invisible Children, may change that perception. The nonprofit organization produced a video highlighting the travesties committed by Joseph Kony, the leader of Uganda’s Lord’s Resistance Army, who has led the organization as it has kidnapped tens of thousands of children and forced them to commit heinous crimes in African countries.
As we witnessed with Libya and other uprisings in the Middle East, social media has become more than a platform for communicating with friends, but a tool for social change. These technologies have the ability to break down geographic barriers and help us create human connections.
A lot more interesting than what I had for lunch, huh?
Read More:
“I live a charmed life … I try to honor it by reaching out to people who don’t live the life I live,” said Kim Bond, president of Mental Health Systems (MHS), at a recent LEAD San Diego IMPACT session dedicated to health and human services. I reflected back on the LEAD session recently when I received an email from a commercial tenant in my condo complex seeking solutions to the “homeless problems” in the building.
While reading the email – which noted the “problem” erodes our enjoyment of our properties and property value – I couldn’t help but feel compassion for those homeless individuals who end up sleeping in our building’s stairwells or commercial parking spaces. I took off my hat of condo owner and dutiful HOA-dues payer, and instead wore one of concerned community member, and thought back to the discussion recently facilitated through LEAD.
The LEAD session centered mainly around “behavioral health,” a term that, according to MHS, includes both mental illnesses and challenges, and substance abuse disorders – things that are common in our community. Some estimates say as many as one out of every four people suffer from some form of mental illness, which – like substance abuse – can happen on a continuum and includes everything from anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder to depression and schizophrenia.
“What does mental health issues look like?,” said James Lepanto, senor vice president, mental health division of MHS. “Hold up a mirror. That’s what it looks like. We often think of it as ‘other’ people, but it’s not. It’s us. It’s our community.”
The LEAD cohort discussed not only how behavioral health issues affect individuals and families, but also the impact to the workforce, economy and quality of life through problems such as homelessness and strains placed on our health care and incarceration systems.
So what do we do? LEAD attendees were reminded of the words of Mahatma Gandhi: “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
Ways you can help include:
By doing these things, we are playing a role in the solution, and removing the stigma around mental illness. According to MHS, every day in San Diego someone commits suicide. Others who suffer from behavioral health issues sleep in our public spaces and on our streets. We can’t – and shouldn’t – ignore the issue.
The transformative power of art has long been known to people whose lives have been touched by it, but the ability of arts and culture to transform not only individuals, but communities at large hasn’t been given nearly as much attention. This was the focus of a recent LEAD San Diego IMPACT session, and Councilman Todd Gloria beautifully captured the theme of the day.
“Art is not elective … it’s essential to a vibrant city,” said Gloria.
Gloria — along with other speakers, many from Balboa Park’s museums and other institutions — spoke about our city’s arts and culture offerings, and about the upcoming 2015 Balboa Park centennial celebration.
With a mission to “Celebrate a ‘year of creativity’ that brings together innovative experiences with art, culture, nature, technology and science,” the celebration is aimed at reinvigorating and elevating the park for San Diegans and visitors alike. While specifics are under development, enthusiasm for the event is palatable, and you can’t help but feel the celebration will be something big; something defining not only for the park, but also for us as San Diegans.
“2015 is going to be the coming out party for San Diego’s creative class,” said developer David Malmuth, whose vision for arts and culture stems well beyond park boundaries.
In addition to discussing the park, Malmuth spoke to the cohort about his vision of merging art, culture, commerce and place with the I.D.E.A. district, a mixed-use district driven by a Design jobs cluster, nourished by Education, enriched by the Arts and focused on Innovation. In addition to creating “more ideas per square foot,” Malmuth says the district will not only inspire creativity, but spur economic development.
Whether talking about the upcoming Balboa Park centennial, the I.D.E.A. district or a particular museum exhibition, IMPACT attendees couldn’t helped but be moved. After all, being a San Diegan is about more than where we live and work. It’s about where we play and enjoy our lives. It’s about where our interests lie and where our sense of curiosity and wonder can be sparked, and arts and culture make San Diego what it is today.
With this perspective in mind, the message to current and future leaders is clear: advocating for arts and culture shouldn’t be something left to the “arts community” alone, but rather something we all support. And, with 2015 just around the corner, I can’t help but ask, will you join the party?
What is Google+?
Google+ is Google’s foray into social networking, but it’s more than that. It’s Google’s attempt to figure out sharing and why people go to different sites. And, oh yeah, it’s also indexed by the No. 1 search engine in the world. Google+ is already integrated with YouTube, Blogger, Gmail, Picasa Web, Reader, and Google Music, so it’s worth paying attention to.
Who’s On It?
Google+ already has more than 62 million people signed up and an estimated 625,000 people are added each day. If Google+ continues to grow at this rate, the social media platform will have 100 million users by the end of February. While not nearly that many people are active users yet, there’s a collective feeling that users are “waiting for the party to start.” If you want to see who’s on the social network, search for individuals on FindPeopleOnPlus.com. Some brands already using Google+ include Diet Coke, Volkswagen and Intel.
Where Do Brands Fit In?
Because public posts go quickly to Google search results and more people are joining everyday, it’s worth considering setting up a Google+ page for your business. If you do, don’t forget to add a Google+ button to your website too because not only will the content posted your page end up in Google’s search results, Google also adds up all the “+1” clicks your brand receives on Google+, on your company website and in search results to determine your brand’s relevancy.
Therefore, Google+ could be beneficial to increasing a brand’s visibility and providing an audience that is likely to share the content. For example, it could be a good place to direct people to watch video content (since it’s shareable) or you can use your account to search for people asking questions related to your business. You can even conduct a Hangout (video chat) with up to 10 people for meetings.
How Will People Find Your Brand’s Page?
Google has released Google Plus Direct Connect that allows Google users who add a “+” after the name of a company to be sent directly to the business’ page for Google+. Your company will be added to the directory once you create the Google+ button for your brand page and company website. Be aware, however, that, just like Facebook brand pages, Google+ won’t allow you to add people – your fans must find you first. A brand cannot add a person to its page’s circles unless the person has added the brand to his or her circles first.
Of course you’ll want to make sure Google+ (and social media in general) is an appropriate tactic to support your marketing, communications and branding strategies, and you’ll want to ensure you have the resources to properly build and manage the page. For example, did you know Google+ doesn’t currently allow contests and promotions on Google+ pages? The platform is brand new so it’s important to stay current on the latest information. See what others are doing, stay up-to date on social media changes and trends by reading the NST Blog and sites like Mashable, and then begin brainstorming ways you could use Google+ to build your business.
How Do You Use It?
Once you determine you have the resources to manage a page, it’s time to determine who will be a part of that team. As of Monday morning, Google announced you can now delegate up to 50 managers as administrators for your page, but you’ll want to make sure those able to access your page can communicate within your company’s guidelines. Also, a new notification flow will ensure that these managers stay in the loop on all the activity that takes place on a page, giving managers the ability to stay involved in page conversations. Google+ will also show an aggregated count of users that have engaged with your brand page, either by +1’ing it or by adding it to a Circle. This way, both you and your brand page’s visitors can get an at-a-glance summary of who is interacting with your page. For more details, check out the Google blog.
Google has launched a pilot program that has granted a few companies early access to third-party apps like HootSuite, Involved and Buddy Media to manage their Google+ brand pages, but until these apps are rolled out to all companies and personal users, you’ll have to regularly spend time within the program (which we’d recommend doing anyway).
If you have questions about Google+, would like help drafting your company’s social media guidelines, or want to determine if Google+ should be a part of your marketing plan, please let us know and we’d be happy to help.
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