19Aug 2015 by Bob Cargill

How 10 Beer Brands Rock the Social Media Scene

Marketing, Social Media
As the number of breweries in the United States continues to grow rapidly, so does the number of beer brands that are establishing a presence on social media, especially craft beer brands. Beer. It’s not just for the barroom or the ballgame anymore. It’s not just for radio and TV anymore, either. Beer has never been more ubiquitous. People are coming together for a cold one or two in real life and sharing those same experiences with their audiences on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Vine. Talk about social drinking. But seriously, it’s only natural that beer is making such a huge splash online. Beer is part and parcel of so many happy occasions and celebrations, the good times of our lives that we can’t help but want to share with…
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06Aug 2015 by Bob Cargill

Happy 90th Birthday to You, Dad!

Miscellaneous
Today, August 6, 2015, my Dad is celebrating his birthday. But this isn’t just another birthday for him. This is his 90th birthday. That’s right, my Dad is entering his 10 decade of life here on earth. It’s hard to believe. Wow, Dad, so many memories. So many good times. So many accomplishments. So many games of Cribbage. You, Dad, are a modest, unassuming and relatively quiet man, but to me, your family, relatives, friends and colleagues, your character has always spoken volumes. You have always been someone others can trust. A real man of your word. You have always been caring and kind to not just those who know you, but to even complete strangers. You have always treated everyone with the utmost respect. And because of all that…
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07Jul 2015 by Bob Cargill

How 10 Nonprofit Brands Roll on Twitter

Fundraising, Nonprofits, Social Media
Branding. Marketing. Selling. There are countless reasons why you would use social media for business. And if you’re a nonprofit organization, one of those reasons would be fundraising. In fact, as direct mail, telemarketing and other traditional methods of acquiring and retaining donors give way to digital communications, nonprofits of all shapes and sizes are jumping on the social media bandwagon. And many of them are working the crowds on these online channels as well or even better than their commercial brethren. Not only are they on social media to ask for financial support, they’re on it to mobilize their advocates, recognize their volunteers, illustrate their needs, report on their progress and much more. Good for them. And good for the worthy charitable causes they represent. Here’s how 10 nonprofit…
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12Jun 2015 by Bob Cargill

10 Ways to Humanize Your Social Media Brand

Branding, Marketing, Social Media
A critical mass of brands, businesses, marketers and corporate executives may have a presence on social media today, but that doesn’t mean they have a clue what they’re doing on these online communication channels. Sure, some of them may be thriving in the space, attracting a loyal following and carving out a reputation for sharing timely, indispensable content that couldn’t be found anywhere else. However, an overwhelming majority seem to fall into one of two categories of still doing it wrong. Either they don’t know what to say so their collective silence is deafening, or they’re broadcasting the same old promotional messages over and over again so they sound like a cacophony of carnival barkers. Many of them seem at a loss on how to strike a happy medium with…
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23May 2015 by Bob Cargill

12 Social Media Posts That Are Funnier Than Yours

Marketing, Social Media
It may sound like a cliché, but it’s absolutely true. Laughter is the best medicine. Laughter is good for your health because it’s known to lower blood pressure and stimulate the release of endorphins, a powerful set of hormones that can actually get in the way of pain and may even lead to euphoria. Laughter is good for business, too, because if people are smiling, they’re usually less guarded and more agreeable. Of course, marketers who know this go to great lengths to develop campaigns that are infused with a strong dose of humor. In seasoning their ads with reasons to snicker and snort, they’re putting customers and prospects in the mood to buy without employing anything even close to a hard sell. You might say they’re laughing all the…
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19Apr 2015 by Bob Cargill

Social Media: 15 Ways You’re Doing It Wrong

Marketing, Social Media
Facebook was founded in 2004, Twitter in 2006. Even Instagram’s been around for almost five years. So you can’t say this stuff is new anymore. For some strange reason, however, more marketers and brands than not are still struggling to make heads or tails of social media. Whether they’re surprisingly misinformed or just plain lost, they’re wasting their time and missing the boat. They’re failing to take advantage of what may just be the biggest revolution in communications since the printing press. To say that’s unfortunate would be an understatement. After all, done right, social media marketing can be a big game changer. It can be an incredibly effective way to attract the attention of your target audience, engage with them and curry their favor. Far too many go into…
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22Mar 2015 by Bob Cargill

20 Types of Selfies to Ask Your Audience to Share

Marketing, Social Media
It was the word of the year in 2013, and last year it reached the tipping point. Yup. The selfie is more than just a thing now, it’s kind of a big deal. No, really, the selfie is more than just a fad, a superficial exercise in narcissism. The selfie has gone from a silly little trend to a mainstream phenomenon, something almost everyone has embraced, from astronauts to athletes, Ellen DeGeneres to Tom Hanks, the president of the United States to the Pope. Sure, the selfie is still mocked and subjected to ridicule by laggards and luddites, critics and curmudgeons. But most people get it. Most people see the selfie for what it is, a fun way to capture the moment up close and personal, and share it with…
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01Mar 2015 by Bob Cargill

5 Ways to Use Social Media to Make a Huge Impact in Real Life

Marketing, Social Media
As ubiquitous as social media in this day and age, more people are turning an apathetic ear to what brands have to say rather than hanging on their every word on these channels. That shouldn’t come as a shock to you, though. After all, like direct mail, email, print and broadcast, social media channels are far from immune to audience fatigue. Regardless of the medium, customers and prospects grow tired of a barrage of the same old marketing messages. They become skeptical, jaded and impatient over time. They turn off and tune out. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of ways to reinvent the wheel and take your social media program to the next level. Contests. Paid advertising. Bigger staffs. Better strategies. Those are just a few quick ideas. But what about…
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