Don’t Underestimate The Power Of Community Management

Source: Boston Media Domain

Most business owners have broken down and created social media pages as a marketing tool for their company. In today’s digital world, it is incredibly unwise NOT to have one.

While having a Facebook and Twitter for your business is wise, most companies don’t understand how to properly use them from a business/marketing standpoint. Just a few of the powerful impacts social media offers to a business include the ability to promote/boost certain posts to specific groups of people; posting daily specials, products and/or services and, most importantly, community management.

Community management is when an individual, typically referred to as a community manager, keeps watch over social media pages and responds to customers’ questions, concerns, reviews, comments, etc. They are responsible for building, growing and managing a particular business brand.

Check out a few key roles community managers should perform every day:

• Answer customers questions or concerns
• Share resources a customer requests
• Help customers feel special and part of the brand community
• Respond professionally to customer feedback (both negative and positive)
• Properly execute the voice, manner, tone and customer service of the brand

Source: HubSpot

Community managers have the ability to turn a negative situation into a positive with a timely, professional and caring response to a frustrated customer. These quick, kind responses can persuade any customer to learn to trust a brand again.

Writing simple apologies and promising to correct an error to offer a better experience in the future can change a customer’s mind almost immediately. I know that it works because it has been my personal experience, too, when I write a negative review or comment on a business’ Facebook page. Just recognizing that I exist and that I am being taken seriously is all most customers need to feel better about a brand.

Community managers are the company glue, keeping a business and their customers on the same page and ensuring that customers know they are a top priority whether they’ve visited a business’ location once, several times or never at all.

Remember, social media is NOT just a tool to share contact information and specials or discounts. Social media, along with proper community management, can be used as a very powerful tool to reel in a new customer, sustain an existing customer or damper a negative situation and turn it into a positive.

School’s NOT Out Forever

So, you finally graduated high school and college. What a relief to know that you will never have to read another textbook, listen to another lecture, write another essay or cite another source! While that may be true, don’t think you can remain successful without keeping your brain sharp. Yes, this may mean taking a continuing education course or join a networking group or event. Don’t view these opportunities as unpleasant as a college course. They can enhance your skills and knowledge in your field, even if you don’t think you need a refresher.

At a marketing agency like ours, it’s even more necessary to attend as many networking events and continuing education classes as possible to keep up with the ever-evolving rules of marketing and technology. Imagine if you’d learned how to type 90 words per minute in elementary school, but never had to type again. How long would it take for you to lose that skill? Probably not very long. As an adult, you’re more prone to lose your sharpness faster. The older you get, the less you’re apt to remember how to hop back on that bicycle and keep upright.

While the four years of high school and additional years of college can seem like a lifetime, they are really just a small moment of your life. Keep in mind that by the time you’ve finished paying off your student loans, your education could already be leaving you.

What are some of the simple ways you can keep your brain sharp?

Read a book. No, not a textbook; try a non-fiction book about your field. Make sure it’s been recently published and relevant to your interests. You may find yourself re-inspired to grow in your position, or you may learn new aspects of your job or company.

Take a class. These can be online or on a technical college campus. If you’re fortunate, you may even have a boss who will offer to help pay for your education. The classes are typically for a shorter duration than a typical school semester. It’s to your advantage to try taking at least one per year. It is worth taking, even if the class doesn’t focus on your field but on your personal future instead (e.g., finances, management, etc.). Bettering yourself can also help benefit your role at the company. It shows that you are a responsible, intelligent individual who makes healthy choices for themselves and will, therefore, be viewed as a long-term investment for a healthier company.

Get outside. Avoid finding more reasons to sit inside and play games to keep your mind sharp. Go outside instead! Do what physical activity makes you happiest, whether it’s gardening, walking, running, dancing, etc. Stay outside as much as possible and visit a park, or take a stroll downtown and window browse. In the bitter cold of winter, you can still get plenty of exercise by joining a gym, going skiing or ice skating.

Be social. Learn from others around you. Become a social butterfly in the office (at appropriate times, of course) to understand how each department works. This will give you a better perspective of how the entire office works as a whole. It will also help you increase positive co-worker relationships and train your brain to stay astute.

Join a networking group. There are an endless amount of business-related networking groups to join. These are a great way to meet new people in other businesses and stay ahead of the game in the office. Just a few popular options in the area include:

• Propel Oshkosh
• Pulse
• BNI
• Women in Management
• Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce
• Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce
• Leadership Oshkosh

How will you keep your brain sharp and advance your career?

Why Writing Down Your Goals Helps You Achieve Them

I used to write all of my future plans on an 8 by 10 sheet of paper. By senior year in high school, my once short list grew into an 11 by 17 sheet. After college, I crossed off quite a few goals, including work as a barista; travel outside of my hometown, home state and country; lead a student organization; take dance lessons; learn a foreign language, etc.

A few years in the “real world” and lots of apartment leases later, I had packed my list away and forgot it existed. I thought I had them memorized. It hadn’t occurred to me how much its visual presence helped me in my daily routine.

Recently, I came across the list again, folded and tucked in my memory box. I sat down and read through them, snort laughing at some of my unrealistic and no longer relevant goals. For example, I once considered Colorado a good place to retire. But a more “realistic” retirement destination would be Hawaii, right? In my present state, I would only consider Colorado for the mountain camping and hiking to alleviate poor health in my thirties. Others I had accomplished only after mentally tweaking them to my current situation.

When I’d put my list away, I’d forgotten I had goals outside of searching for a career.

What made me write down my goals?

My dad told me once that successful people were more likely to reach their goals in life if they wrote them down. Plus, new year resolutions weren’t working for me (like they don’t for many people), so I decided to type up a lifetime worth of goals on a piece of flimsy paper. I taped the list onto my dresser mirror as a reminder to get through each day, no matter how much I wanted to go back to bed. Back then, it only took one tap of the snooze button to get out of bed every morning at 5:45 a.m.

What can you do to make your dreams come true?

Writing out your goals helps you visualize the words associated with your dreams. That’s why it’s important to have a physical copy visible somewhere in your living quarters or at work in a drawer.

Once you have a basic list, start conquering the items. Don’t wait until you’ve reached a certain age (unless required) to meet your goals. Start crossing them off the day you complete your list. Do not waste time daydreaming how you want your life to be; you are the only one who can make things happen and the more goals you accomplish, the easier it will be to complete the rest.

Look at your goals every day. Put them in a place that you will see each morning and/or night. As you grow and change in each stage of life, so do your goals. Therefore, it is also important to reevaluate your life and update those goals every month or at least once a year.

Whatever motivates you to write down your goals, do it. It will help you achieve your dreams.

Your Brain On Music: Why Bosses Should Allow Headphones At Work

Music in the Workplace

If you ask people why they listen to music, you might get answers like: “It helps me escape my current situation,” “It makes me happy,” “I feel more energized or productive,” etc. With responses like that, it’s not surprising that most people listen to music while they clean the house, exercise or sleep. But how many of us listen to tunes while we’re working? I don’t mean on the radio; I mean music from our own playlists with headphones to cover outside noise.

At my first journalism job out of college, I worked as a copy editor at a local newspaper. My boss recommended I bring my iPod and headphones to work every day. I was baffled. Had I heard him correctly? Did he seriously recommend I bring in a device of distraction that was normally restricted in the classroom and looked down upon in public?

It was his belief that music stimulates the brain. And he’s not wrong.

I was thrilled to have a leader who allowed me the concentration I didn’t realize I would need while working in a room full of people. The typical atmosphere of a newsroom involves people talking on the phone, asking each other editing questions, cracking jokes, turning up breaking news stories on TV, listening to the crackling static of the police scanner, etc. Since that job, I have shared this information with all of my bosses. Most leaders agree with my first boss and also allow their employees to listen to music for focusing purposes.

Music doesn’t just enhance concentration, it also brings out creativity, and with a career in writing, music devices are important to income!

There are many other benefits to listening to music.

Music Go-Tos

Now that you know music helps productivity, let’s discuss what types of music work for certain situations. For example, if you are editing, lyrical pieces might be more disruptive than helpful. When editing or writing technical pieces, my go-to music is strictly instrumental. It is still inspirational, but not cluttered with words.

Film scores are energizing and boost my creative wild side. One of my favorite pieces is the Alice in Wonderland theme song by Danny Elfman (from the Tim Burton movie). It does have lyrics, so I tend to avoid it when I’m editing, but purposely play it (sometimes on repeat) for writing assignments. I’m actually listening to it as I write this! 🙂 Some of my other favorites are Batman: The Dark Knight Rises, Slumdog Millionaire, The Lion King on Broadway and Across the Universe.

I also like listening to powerful classical pieces or theater musicals, such as Les Miserables or Phantom of the Opera, for meeting deadlines. I get type-happy and punch my computer keys in a stream of consciousness-style until I run out of ideas when these songs play. Even if the writing starts out subpar at first, I can switch to instrumental-only later for editing.

When I’m writing fiction, I listen to different genres of music depending on the type of story I’m writing. Naturally, darker stories tend to draw me to listen to dark music, such as heavy metal or modern rock; lighter stories require folk or oldies; action stories need classic rock or film scores; thought-provoking, literary stories push me in the direction of concept albums like Pink Floyd’s The Wall.

For those of you who don’t find music helpful at work, but are interested in trying sound-related motivators for other reasons, visit Soundrown. It is a website where you can find white noises: blowing fans, rainstorms, rushing water, TV static, nature sounds, etc. There are also handy phone apps, such as the iPhone’s Sleep Pillow app for sounds and combinations you can create to make your environment as comforting and creative as you need. There are many other great options for free music like Pandora, Spotify (my personal favorite, even though it makes my computer slow) or SoundCloud.

Genre and Personality

While headphones are great for jobs that require concentration, not all of us have the luxury of working in an office setting. Some of us work in factories, build houses, educate children, buss tables, etc. So how can you listen to music in a classroom setting or at a machine? And if you find time to listen, what do you listen to?

Obviously I do not recommend dangling headphone cords around a machine for the sake of drowning out background noise, nor do I think teachers should plug their ear holes and ignore a classroom full of children to get a little peace and quiet. But there is always the option of listening to music during breaks, whether you leave your work site or not. Utilize music to get you motivated for the next part of your shift.

A perk to not working in an office setting is you can listen to any type of music that fits your personality — lyrics or not. Studies show that your favorite genre of music is based off your personality. Does your personality match your favorite music genre?

What music do you listen to at work?

Tips To Be Comfortable And Healthy At The Office

While dressing fancy for a long day at the office keeps you motivated and puts you in a professional light for clients, it isn’t always the most comfortable dress code.

For men it’s the suit and tie with shiny dress shoes and fun socks.

For women it’s the skirts and silky dress shirts with high heels.

Over the years of working in many office settings–sometimes for up to 90 hours per week–I’ve learned how to be relaxed and cozy at my desk. Luckily, we humans are easily adaptable to our surroundings!

If your work space requires a lot of sitting and staring at a computer screen, consider the following steps to keep you comfy:

Dress Code Tweaks: I know you feel obligated to wear those high heels to match height or fashion with other co-workers, but remember that you are sitting for most your shift. Bring an extra pair of shoes, preferably some cute flats, to give your feet relief.

Is your office as cold as mine? Consider always having a dressy sweater or cardigan on your chair or in a desk drawer so you have something every day to thaw your frozen limbs. If you’re lucky, your boss will store blankets in a closet!

Take a Real Break: Don’t use the excuse that you brought your own lunch so you can’t leave the office to get food. If the weather is nice, consider walking to a nearby park or cafe to eat. Otherwise, take a quick stroll around the block and catch some rays before you open that lunch box. Sunlight and fresh air is key to revive you for the second half of your shift!

If you’re stuck inside due to bad weather, consider doing yoga stretches in an empty office or pace in your office while you eat. Keep those legs moving!

Be open minded to ways you can relieve stress. When you find yourself anxious about deadlines and workloads, take a few minutes to learn deep breathing meditation practices. There’s now scientific proof that breathing practices and mindfulness can improve anxiety and depression symptoms and lower stress levels!

Offer suggestions to your bosses to hold meetings outdoors or on a walk.

Satisfy Oral Fixations: Admit it, oral fixations are not just for smokers. We all crave something to drink or nibble on while we’re working at our desks. Don’t be afraid to take mini breaks to refill your water bottle or coffee/tea mug. Also, provide portioned snacks to nibble on during your shift.

This list wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t mention making wise choices on your snacking habits. Be as healthy as possible: organic, fresh, GMO-free, portioned, etc.

Be Health Conscious: Visit a chiropractor every couple months. They can correct your sitting posture; give you simple, muscle-building stretches; or just crack your bones/relieve any tension in your spine and hips. My chiropractor once requested I ask a co-worker to take a photo of how I sit at my desk to correct any bad habits or request a different chair. Every detail from the angle of your feet flat on the floor to the position of your computer screen is important for staying comfortable and pain-free at work.

I also recommend meeting with a massage therapist once or twice a year if you still feel tension in your muscles after seeing a chiropractor regularly for more than four months since it can take a few months before your body trains itself to stay in the right position.

Also, see an eye doctor at least once a year or as soon as you start to feel eye strain. Catching this early is important to work at a computer for an extended period of time.

What do you do to keep your sanity at the office?