Big Changes on Facebook: What you need to know now
This week Facebook announced big changes to the way the site operates for users, pages, marketers and third party app developers. At the top of the list; a revamped feed with a mix of top and latest updates, the “ticker” to update you on EVERYTHING that ANYONE does, a new more pleasing profile dubbed “Timeline,” and expanded functionality for integrated apps. There have already been a few bumps in the road, and some users are grumbling about the new feed behavior, but overall the changes mark fantastic things ahead for both users and brands looking to drive increased user engagement. Subscribe The single biggest new feature for professionals looking to leverage personal Facebook profiles is the “subscribe” feature. Now you don’t need to encourage...
Read MoreNeighborhood Blogging Takes Off in DC
While many traditional print news outlets are struggling to stay alive, the blogesphere has stepped in and filled many important beats–and in some cases they’re doing a better job. It’s because successful bloggers write about what they love and what they know. Washington DC is fertile ground for bloggers who cover everything from high-minded urban planning policy to the best happy hours. Neighborhood blogging has become a great outlet for community members to connect with other readers in the area who share similar interests, opinions and ideas. From restaurant reviews, to detailed accounts of life in the city, to DC’s official cocktail (that’s “The Rickey”), neighborhood blogs cover a variety of topics and everyone can find at least one to keep...
Read MoreOn the 247th Day We Made A Website
It’s hard to believe that Influential has been in business for over 247 days, but it’s true. We’re getting very close to our first birthday and I thought it would be fitting to have something a little better than a holding page for a website. As Erik’s always reminding me, “the plumber’s pipes are always broken.” It’s true. We’ve been so laser focused on helping our clients reach their dreams that we forgot about ours. We’re getting there. Today I’m happy to let ya’ll know that the beta version of our new website is now live. Give it a quick perusal here: http://influentialdc.com/ We have several cheeky and whimsical features that we’re currently developing, but I just couldn’t...
Read MoreHow to schedule social updates without “phoning it in”
Once you make the step of regularly engaging on a few social networks, the thought of keeping your activity up DAILY can be daunting. There are a few things you can do immediately to increase your involvement without greatly increasing the effort needed to do so. We’ll cover sharing articles, scheduling updates, and touch on listening and responding to customer conversations and feedback. These are critical components to utilizing social media for business; because the only way you’ll break through to true engagement with your audience is by keeping your activity up, and by being relevant to the market that you’re trying to reach. First, to review from previous discussions here on the Influential Blog, whether posting from a business page or a personal...
Read MoreCrafting Content in the Social Web
There is a lot of talk about chasing search engines with ‘relevant’ topics to grab more eyeballs for your website or blog. What’s often missing in these discussions is the simple fact that you’re running an organization, and the goal is to reach people. So why are we crafting content as if we’re talking to dumb machines? The advent of the social web requires that content be engaging and part of an ongoing conversation. An attractive website by itself is simply not enough, it needs to be a living, growing entity, something that dynamically moves with the market. In short, your site needs to be social. Weigh your social content strategy at the outset, but don’t delay too much: If you don’t update key online channels your brand will read as ‘stale,’...
Read MoreOn Mental Toughness and Reaching Your Dreams in Business
Whether your business is a multinational conglomerate or a group of one, you have a vested interest in putting your best face forward. You want to communicate on many levels, and you want to reach the people who will champion your cause. It takes drive, it takes vision, it takes reaching for a goal and mental toughness to continue on. This week, I’ve been participating in an online summit on mental toughness hosted by Performance Strategist, Renita Kalhorn and bringing together top performance experts, thought leaders, coaches and authors. Having training as a lifecoach myself, I am always interested in what it takes to reach one’s personal and professional best. And here at Influential, besides building awesome brands, websites, and videos,...
Read MoreInfluential Weekly Roundup: March Madness
March rolls in like a lion this year, with plenty of activity to keep the tech and politically savvy up late. South by Southwest goes into full swing this weekend in Austin, TX. Meanwhile protests continue in Wisconsin as Governor Scott Walker and the GOP lead state senate finally passed legislation eliminating collective bargaining by public employee unions in an effort to close a massive budget deficit. This is sure to frame the debate in the 2012 elections, and in months ahead as the opposition weighs recall efforts. By the way, some of the creative folks at Influential produced great spots for Mr. Walker’s campaign while at the RGA (check out “Barrett’s Brew“) Facebook’s new web-wide, real identity-driven comment system is...
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