Most Engaged Brands -- good report

ENGAGEMENTdb: Most Engaged Brands On Social Media -

Mr. Rogers -- The First Social Media Evangelist

I normally don't blog about work, other than my lameass struggles as a mom trying to work and visa versa. But talking to an old friend today, got me thinking about Mr. Rogers and social media -- my entire industry became clear to me. Mr. Rogers was the first-ever social media evangelist.

When I was a kid, I was a Mr. Rogers fanatic. I never liked cartoons (too fake), but with Mr. Rogers Neighborhood I could learn, share and -- with all the transparency in the world -- enter a world of make-believe.

What Social Media Can Learn from Mr. Rogers:

1. If you invite someone into your world, address them as personally as you can and let them see more than the front door.

2. Learn something. Listen to someone. Teach something. All the time. The synchronicity of these things working together that Mr. Rogers does with such ease is what marketeers investigating social media cannot seem to grasp.

3. Pick a topic other than ones you are interested in. Even toilets are interesting (I stopped being afraid of falling in after seeing that episode with Mr. Rogers). Mr. Rogers was best known for engaging in real conversation with people of all walks of life. Does your social media strategy do that? Do you care? Are we just numbers?

4. Engage in make-believe, but let your audience know that you are. No fakes allowed in social media. That's a big stretch for the PR industry (although my best client is doing great at embracing the idea) whose world is about spin.

5. Be human. When my mom took me to see Mr. Rogers Live as a kid, I was star struck. My brother crawled right up on the stage and sat on his lap. I gave him flowers. I knew him already. I know his world because he let me see it.

6. Be honest. I had no fear of Mr. Rogers, not one single episode. I don't have a fear of anything he addresses with my own children. I trust him. Over time, he and I built trust for one another. He trusted I'd show up to watch his show and I trusted that he wouldn't frighten me while still showing me a new world.

7. Move slowly. Mr. Rogers' ability to let us learn as he slowly drew us in was always mesmerizing to me. We have the ability with social media today to blast out emails, slam opinions down a Comment field at the speed of light or Tweet our frustrations so fast, even auto-fill can't keep up. Move a little slower. Remember to unplug (that means even ones without plugs) and walk away every now and then. The web is a crazy index -- careful not to get caught up in using the megaphone too quickly because it'll be out in the sphere forever.

8. Stick to your convictions but never, ever, be disrespectful. Mr. Rogers was a vegetarian, Presbyterian minister and conservative. However, his lifestyle never encroached on anyone else's. He was always courteous. Social media can be a breeding ground for disrespect. Respecting our consumers, our readers, our fans, friends and colleagues (however different their take is) is an absolute foundation of our industry. I've seen CEOs mouth-off on blog comments like they were in a combat zone. We can, and should, do better.

9. Let technology pave the way, however frightening. Mr. Rogers spoke before Congress during the time when VCRs were becoming household items. He was a strong supporter of the home-based technology and its potential. He spoke on behalf of parents, children, as an educator and television producer. Afterwards, his show had a short feature each day called "Picture Picture" where a video tape, delivered by the mailman, would play, teaching us all something new. Social media's current darlings like Twitter, FB and mobile video (yes, honey, that one is for you), are only precursors to what is next. What is next? Who knows? But Mr. Rogers knew enough to stand on the bleeding edge of technology.

10. Stick to it. Come on, seriously. The Internet (don't give me that grandfathers of the internet thing) has been mainstream for 14 years. That's nothing. Social media has been popularized (although by so many other names) for two years. Mere infancy. If we have the stay power of Mr. Rogers, we'll be the luckiest industry around. His show aired from 1968 until August 2001. Through that, he managed 33 years of consistency and longevity -- two qualities social media needs to survive.

What NOT Going to BlogHer Meant

I pouted. I wasn't going to BlogHer. I had the go-ahead from work. I had the go-ahead from clients. I could have gone. Except, I couldn't find a fricking ticket last minute and was too shy (yeah, I can be shy, believe it or not) to ask any of my contact for entrance.

I should have been there.

I never cared before, truly, about any conference. I've spoken on so many panels it's no longer exciting to me; I've worked so many conferences that it's more of a chore than a thrill. But somehow, *this* BlogHer, *this year* got to me. I did a few stunts for clients for BlogHer this year, I followed my buddies on Twitter as they boarded planes, got in taxis and stumbled through San Francisco. I was there, but not there.there.

On Friday I did a presentation for work, kids in tow, ready to go pull a favor somewhere to wiggle myself in to the conference at the Westin St. Francis.

As I walked down Powell street I saw my kids skipping and laughing and holding my hand. They were laughing at mommy being all dressed up and acting silly and full of questions and true wonder about everything from homeless people to the "Lego looking" houses they saw stacked on top of each other. Turn toward Union Square where my people were, I turned around.

I took the kids straight to good old cheesy Pier 39. We walked all the way to the Ferry building and ate shrimp cocktail sitting criss-cross-applesauce on the pier watching the boats go by. We watched street performers, did a bungee jump trampoline thingy and shopped for goodies from strung-out-tchachke-selling ladies. We ate eclairs and danced disco. At one point, staring out at the Bay Bridge a girl rolled up in a wheelchair. The name of the back of the chair said, "Westin St. Francis" -- my jaw dropped.

God was speaking to me. I thought then, cotton candy was in order.

This Breaks My Heart

http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/05/05/yahoos-house-of-cards-falling-down/

Defending Spam Satan

I defended the Spam Satan tonight. A little startup company that's been around a few years. I mean, "Start Up company around a few years" is an oxymoron in itself.

I've got this buddy, an ex-boyfriend, turned friend, turned acquaintance by necessity who runs a startup that's well funded and doing okey dokey. Their schemes of helping out small business owners is a little sketchy, but hell, so are most things that have a sexy storyline. How is this company going to help small business owners get publicized online? It's a great need to fill, a great question to answer, and moreover, a great obstacle to tackle because small business merchants lack a few things: money, time, power and influence.

If you're not trying to shop at your local ditty instead of at Target for everything, then you've got the spirit all wrong. Creativity lies in small businesses. And marketing small businesses takes creativity too. So this company has got some schemes. Real down and dirty 'Bama-esque schemes. But what the hell? They just got a second round of funding for another $10Million which is a shitload more than a lot startups I've seen go belly and ass right up.

So I made a post to Valleyfag...ooooh, big mistake. Never, ever challenge satan's critics. I feel like an idiot for going up against them, but seriously, WTF with messing with the little guy on every fucking level?

Me 101

I'm a freakish mommy kidaholic, work my ass off as a consultant, running a snall Internet company side-by-side with my partner in an office about 750 square feet. I've got a gaggle of extraordinary friends that mean the world to me and a mom that is my sunshine. I'm known for thrusting wine in your hand at the front door, and for giving a gazillion spontaneous dinner parties for whomever needs a good meal and a great hug.

I've got it really good.

Today's a bit of a shitty day as we just got home from a short 4-day holiday alone without the kids (four-year old twins, Thing 1 and Thing 2) and frankly it just was not long enough. I came home pissed off at our clients because the iPhone (amazing gadget) kept ringing with their calls the entire trip. One client in particular, I'm ready to punt. I've never punted a client...

In anycase, I've got a stomach virus that is putting my fatt tanned ass locked right in the toilet for the past two days. And today, when I finally went to get myself some soup, I got stung by a bee. Fucker. In the meantime, my partners are in L.A. for a new client meeting that seems to be going really well while I'm sitting here on the pot. At least the WiFi works.

Bastard of a Client

Shit. Fuck. Mother fuckers. I cannot stand this client. I seriously hope they go down in a blaze so small that my kid could pee on it and douse their lameass fire

I am so angry at this client I want to scream. But alas, instead I just blog. :)

Unprofessional, disorganized lying...run by a madman until a (very cool) ElCEO jumped in to save them. He damn well might do it too. He's had a bunch of good hires, phenomenal vision and passion. I believe the guy...his intensity is convincing.

One CEO is not enough to keep a gaggle of confused staffers from chomping on us like a pitbull on a baby. And we, for the first time as a company, are completely fucked. There is nothing positive we can do except wait it out...and get out.

We counted down the days until the end of the contract, then, five days after our contracted ended, they called us non-stop on our vacation with demanding, conflicting requests from various people, pissed enough to treat like their whipping bitches. We've never had a client that is so out of control.

It's over in nine days finally. I literally cannot wait and have removed myself the best I can. At some point we had to rock the boat and you never want the chick rocking your boat to stick around with an oar. I was furious today to find that they are looking for a different interactive agency. But I'm the fool: we are the ones who didn't renew the contract! It's like dumping a lame boyfriend and then getting upset when he dates someone else. Ah well. they are still a shipwreck waiting to happen unless ElCEO can pull it off.

Whew, rant done. I feel better and I have go to finish making dinner for the kids and La Gringa.

p.s. fuckers. mother fuckers rat bastard worst client in history dickwits.