Wedding MBA riffs on Social Media Detox and Avoiding Weddings of Mass Destruction from Andy Ebon.
Category: Online Marketing
Online Marketing
Hashtags and Ham Sandwich Marketing
As I was reading every possible book and resource on blogging, I came across the great title: No One Cares What You Had For Your Lunch: 100 Ideas for your blog.
Now, we add the posting of nonsense hashtags to Twitter and Facebook to a long list of pointless activities. And not just nonsense hashtags, but many, on a single post. Don’t think it looks hip or smart, momentarily, but there is no upside impact, particularly on Facebook. In fact, the reverse is true.
Each HASHTAG should have a purpose…
The essence: In all forms of advertising, marketing, social media, and networking you are vying for people’s attention within brief and/or limited time constraints. It is important for your words and images be pithy, crisp, motivational, interesting, and memorable.
To rambling about topics which don’t pass the ‘Who cares?’ test is not just a waste of a reader’s time, it increases the likelihood they will tune you out in the future.
Facebook offers many options for people to lessen your presence, including demoting you to acquaintance status or turning off the appearance of your updates in their news feed. So, with those choices (and others), to unfriend or block someone and likely offend them; you can simply silence them.
Just what is Ham Sandwich Marketing? It is my buzzword phrase, inspired by the aforementioned book. It is my notation of meaningless posts and status updates that are useless and annoying to everybody but the person who initiated them.
Example: “Just had lunch at Wolfgang Puck with Susie, Johnny, and Big Al.”
My response (Either mentally or actually, by Direct Tweet, Direct Message or Public Facebook Wall Post): “Did you have a ham sandwich?”
It’s my not-so-subtle sarcastic way of nudging the poster or blogger with the subtext: “I read your item. Am I supposed to know who Susie, Johnny and Al are? Am I supposed be impressed you lunched at Wolfgang Puck. Why don’t just tell me you had a ham sandwich. That would be equally unimpressive and unnecessary?”
If you’re lunch was outstanding, take a picture of the ham sandwich. post about the freshly made Dijon mustard, the soft fresh-baked roll, and what variety of ham was involved. Then there is possibility of being entertaining. Otherwise, you’re just engaging in Ham Sandwich Marketing.
In today’s fast and furious world of communications, being boring is a big crime. Being irrelevant is a felony offense.
Don’t waste people’s time. Be interesting or be gone!
Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Authority
The Wedding Marketing Blog
Invited to BranchOut on Facebook? Maybe you should just say no.
Originally posted February 2012 – BranchOut.com is now on Hiatus
Those two magic words… You’re invited! “Are you in or you out?” (to quote George Clooney‘s character in Ocean’s 11).
What is BranchOut, exactly? It’s a Facebook App for Career Networking…
- Do I need that?
- Do you need that?
- Does it duplicate other online services you already have?
- Does it perform better than other online services you use or might choose instead?
- Would it be wise to be a participant in BranchOut, as well as other services?
Being self-employed rather on a employer-employee career path makes it a different decision. In advising others, I do my best to try things out and offer my opinion.
In short, if you’re self-employed, you don’t need it. If you work for someone else, BranchOut duplicates LinkedIn, in a big way. For most people, it’s unnecessary to do both. My preference would be LinkedIn.
The philosophy is this:
“In a land of unlimited social media and networking choices, it’s important to actually MAKE CHOICES. More is not necessarily better. That’s not to say BranchOut isn’t for some people. However, if you’re not using the least number of services offering the greatest amount of leverage, you’re wasting precious time and personal energy.”
That’s the word!
Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Authority
The Wedding Marketing Blog
Facebook On Fire: Sometimes the Best Reaction is Muted Reaction
Opinion, News Analysis, and Social Media
Facebook is a lousy place for a group discussion. There are no debate or discussion guidelines. Reading a Facebook rant is like watching a coyote howl at the moon. Surely a message will be heard, but it’s likely misunderstood and won’t change anybody’s mind.
Depending on one’s vantage point, events and outcomes of the past week or so generated wildly different reactions. The biggest matter at hand was/is the SCOTUS Ruling on marriage equality.
“Facebook is the public square for the digital age, and thunderous array of posts, observations, and opinions has caused it to short-circuit.” ~ Andy Ebon
Forming Perspective
People see virtually everything through experience: Geography, neighborhood, country… the politics of our parents and relatives, the sophistication of our schools… the brands and products used in our household, music influence from an older sibling or friends… the religion practiced in one’s family, teachers who taught the process of critical thinking, dinner tables discussions which allowed for differences of opinion.
Enter, The Bell Curve
In any set of polling numbers, there tend to be 3-5 distinct segments of opinion. Using the simplest set of three opinions, there are two extremes. each with roughly 20%. The middle segment is the remaining 60%. The extreme opinions tend to be rock solid, whatever their reasoning.
The middle group is more likely to shift with discussion and debate. And somewhere along the line, a majority opinion is formed.
Don’t quibble about my suggest numbers. It could be 30% – 40% – 30%, but the personalities still apply. There is also another segment defined by frustration. In election and proposition politics, these people can become disenchanted and choose not vote.
Public Opinion is Evolutionary and Slow-Changing
,,, and the politicians are usually the last to figure it out.
- in 1920, our country was almost 150 years old, when women were ‘granted the right to vote.’ (19th Amendment) In five years, celebration of women voting will reach one full century. Many developed countries, worldwide, have elected Prime Ministers and Presidents, yet the USA has barely tapped the potential of its female citizenry for the Senate, Congress, and Presidency.
- In 1969, came the tipping point for the America’s gay community. “The Stonewall riots were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations by members of the gay community against a police raid that took place in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn, located in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. They are widely considered to constitute the single most important event leading to the gay liberation movement and the modern fight for LGBT rights in the United States“ – source Wikipedia
- And this past week, marriage equality became the law of the land in the United States, 48 years after interracial marriage became a reality.
A Key Historical Note
The United States was built on two key platforms (among others): Freedom of Religion and the separation of Church and State. (note: see this detailed explanation of Freedom of Religion in the United States).
Extreme Facebook
These last few days Facebook has been a torrent of aggressive pontificating, in part lacking specific knowledge of the events and symbols of history, that led up to these landmark changes.
It’s reasonable to understand the celebration and jubilation of oppressed citizens as blue skies began to appear.
It’s also fair that people who hold longstanding religious practices or skewed social outlooks immediately shout ‘Hell, no!’.
“The fact that the Supreme Court has decided (in a 5-4 vote) for reasons of law, with the current beliefs of 60% of the population does not wave a magic wand over the remaining 40%. Getting more closely aligned will take more time.”
~ Andy Ebon
Facebook: In the present tense
How about calling a timeout on projecting extreme opinions on Social Media? You know… let’s all take a chill pill… for maybe a week or two. Don’t make awkward attempts at sexual humor or people who are different to you. What’s funny to you may scare away some of your closest friends in business.
People who were MIA during the run-up to the marriage equality by SCOTUS are experiencing backlash, being labeled as bandwagon jumpers and opportunists; suddenly the alleged low-hanging fruit in a windfall LGBTQ marriages.
The nature of Social Media begs us to pop off. Let your thoughts marinate… then edit them, and see what social media platform they belong on, IF ANY.
Search for Empathy
It wouldn’t hurt any of us to develop a feel for empathy; understanding another person or group’s perspective through their eyes and context.
Combining empathy with being somewhat slower to react to events, large or small, makes for better collaboration, decisions, and middle ground.
Hope to meet up with you on the middle ground of reaction… It’s a calmer, and more thoughtful place.
Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Authority
The Wedding Marketing Blog