Posts Tagged ‘Social Media’

30 Dec 2020
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Social Media New Year Pledge 2021

As we close 2020 and move into 2021 (can I get an “AMEN”?!), it’s time to meet the new year with a pledge for online safety & good social media etiquette. This is updated information for 2021! (See 2020’s Social Media New Year Pledge here.)

Take the Social Media New Year Pledge for 2021!

Social Media New Year Pledge 2021

For a deeper dive into each one of the bullet points of the pledge, read below.

I WILL:

Know Friends & Followers

Let me address your Personal Facebook Profile (this is not your Facebook Business Page) and your Instagram Account.

Personal Facebook Profile Friends:

I hope by now that you are NOT accepting every friend request that crosses your path without doing a little search about the person.

– Who are mutual friends?

– Does the Profile look real? How new is it? How often is it updated?

When in doubt, click the “Delete Request” button.

Personal Facebook Profile Followers:

Are you aware that people can follow you personally without a friend request? Do you know who is currently following you? My guess is you will be surprised.

On a computer (not the app), go to your Profile.

  • Click “Friends”.
  • Choose “More” and click on “Followers”.
  • Who ARE these people? If you feel uncomfortable with anyone following you, BLOCK!

Instagram Account:

BEFORE following an account back, click on it and determine if it’s real.

Red flags:

  • You don’t recognize the name or picture and the account is “Private” (block!)
  • For Women: the account is someone dressed in military uniform or scrubs; leaning against a car, plane or boat; shirtless and showing off his muscles/six-pack; OR with a child or animal etc. (I hate to tell you, but that isn’t the person following you!)
  • For Men: the account is a scantily clad woman. (Again, I hate to tell you, but that isn’t the person following you!)

You are putting yourself and all of your friends at risk when you accept requests from people you do not know. Take a look at the profile and make a better decision.

Refrain from Taking Facebook Quizzes!

Taking quizzes could put you at risk for identity theft. You do NOT need to know which Disney Princess you are or what color your aura is from Facebook!

Verify Page Information Before Engaging with Contests

When you see an opportunity to win something BIG by sharing on Facebook, you should think DANGER, DANGER! (Examples: RV’s, Vacations, Southwest Tickets, etc.)

Likely the Page is not the “real” Facebook Business Page for the Business. Look for these clues:

  • Does the Page have an official blue checkmark next to its name?
  • Have you checked to see when the Page was created? Newer Pages with big contests are always scams!
  • How many followers are on Page holding the contest?
  • Do a search on Facebook for the Page Name. My guess is you will find the real (blue check verified page).

If it seems too good to be true, IT IS!

PS: If you see a post that says something like, “Winner Jack Smith was underage, so you get a second chance”…please do NOT engage. This type of contest typically asks for you to click on a link and provide personal information to win. DO NOT click OR provide any information and report the page as spam!

Resist Sharing “Copy & Paste” Posts 

When you see something that everyone seems to be copying and pasting, do some research first to find out if what you are seeing is real or fake. These include posts about Facebook stealing your photos, charging for use etc. It also includes some of the missing persons, sick kids, etc. Do your homework before blindly passing on.

In addition, when you copy and paste, a hacker can search Facebook (or any social platform) for a phrase from the post and then find the people that shared it. This makes you a target for a scam or hack because you appear more gullible if you are one that will copy and paste something.

CANnonDo: When you see “copy and paste”, DON’T!

Research Before Sharing “Breaking Stories”

Before posting something showing “breaking news”, do a quick Google search!

  • Is the information from a reliable source?
  • Have you read the article/blog/news or just the headline? If just the headline, go back and read the information and then research for accuracy.

Stop Passing Along Chain Letters Via Facebook Messenger

You receive a message via Facebook Messenger that requests you to post something to your wall (like a heart) and/or to share with at least 10 or more of your friends or something similar. These are chain letters.

Chain letters can help spread links to phishing scams that steal online account credentials or malicious websites that infect computers or mobile devices with viruses, spyware, ransomware or other malware.

Receive Permission Before Adding Anyone to Email Lists

Having an email address does not give you permission to add anyone to any list. Neither does having a business card or making a LinkedIn connection. Adding without permission is considered SPAM. It also violates some laws that can carry with it some hefty fines.

If you have a list and want to add someone, ASK THEM!

Be safer online in 2021!

By taking the Social Media New Year Pledge 2021 and following the guidelines, you are well on your way to protecting your reputation online. You are also protecting the people that follow you.

Here’s to a safe, healthy and successful New Year in 2021!

New Year 2020
26 Dec 2019
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Social Media New Year Pledge 2020

As we start a new year, it’s time for a reminder about good etiquette and safety when using social media. PS: Updated information for New Year 2020!

Take this Social Media New Year Pledge for 2020!

Social Media New Year Pledge 2020

For more information about the items pledged in the Social Media New Year Pledge graphic, below is a longer and more in-depth outline of the items.  

I WILL NOT:

• Take Facebook Quizzes!

Taking quizzes could put you at risk for identity theft (more information below). Do yourself and DO NOT do Facebook quizzes in the new year!

• Pass Along Chain Letters!

Facebook posts that ask you to post something to your wall (like a heart) and/or to share with at least 10 or more of your friends are chain letters.

Many times this will come to you in the form of a Messenger post.

As above, so it is true here: chain letters and quizzes can help spread links to phishing scams that steal online account credentials or malicious websites that infect computers or mobile devices with viruses, spyware, ransomware or other malware.

Pledge in the new year to NOT pass along Chain Letters.

• Share a Picture of a Plane Ticket, RV, Car, Jewelry,
etc. to Win!

See above AND know that hackers are looking for people that
“fall” for these bogus prizes so they can target them for another kind of scam.

• Copy & Paste a Post “Just in Case”!

When you see something that everyone seems to be copying and
pasting, do some research first to find out if what you are seeing is real or
fake. These include posts about Facebook stealing your photos, charging for use
etc. It also includes some of the missing persons, sick kids, etc. Do your
homework before blindly passing on.

In addition, when you copy and paste, a hacker can search Facebook (or any social platform) for a phrase from the post and then find the people that shared it. This makes you a target for a scam or hack because you appear more gullible if you are one that will copy and paste something which makes you more of a target.

• Accept Friend Requests from Strangers.

You are putting yourself and all of your friends at risk when you accept requests from people you do not know. Take a look at the profile and make a better decision. Profiles that are new or have only a picture of the person are usually clues that something is off. On Instagram, if it’s “private” I would block.

2020 Update: It was just announced that several recent fake accounts were generated by artificial intelligence. These accounts are used to spread false information. They use fake accounts to evade detection and funnel traffic to their websites full of fake information that is made specifically to add to the political propaganda. 

Here’s a link to an article for more info: https://www.wired.com/story/facebook-removes-accounts-ai-generated-photos/

• Post Celebrity Deaths without Verifying.

How many times has Betty White and Morgan Freeman died?

Do a Google search first.

• SPAM My Friends with My Business.

Get a professional business page on Facebook or other platform and use this to promote your business. If you want more friends involved, ASK THEM if they want to join a Facebook Group so you can share more information. On your personal profile, DO NOT constantly promote with product updates and sales. It’s against Facebook rules and frankly, you are alienating your friends. With your business page, an occasional share to your personal side is fine. More than once a week is pushing it!

• Add Anyone to an Email List without Having Permission.

Having an email address does not give you permission to add anyone to any list. Neither does having a business card or making a LinkedIn connection. Adding without permission is considered SPAM. You must ask permission before adding to a list (or have someone opt-in).

In conclusion: These are just a few of the regular items I see that are putting you AND your reputation at risk online.

Do you have any others you would like to add?

Here’s to a successful New Year in 2020!

Want to keep up with Social Media trends as well as learn more about social media for your business? Ask to join my Facebook Group!

Social Media Strategy
07 May 2018
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Stop Being Busy with Social Media and Get a Strategy That Works

You need a strategy for social media. Being busy isn’t a strategy!

You may have noticed that I have backed off posting as much on Facebook.  Actually, I have been posting less on most of my channels professionally.

The long and short of it is…posting on social channels for the sake of posting doesn’t work.

Let me explain. When Facebook introduced Facebook Pages in April 2010, the average page was getting 16% organic reach. Today it is less than 1%.

Why is that? There was a lot less content vying for our attention back then. Today we have 2000+ pieces of content coming at us on Facebook alone each day. EACH DAY! It’s getting crowded. AND, the algorithm continues to change.

Years ago, there was a social media guru that was promoting posting once every hour for 12 hours. She did it religiously and it must have worked for her because she has a huge following and turned many of those followers into buyers through her programs.

I will admit that I tried it for a few weeks but couldn’t keep up. I didn’t have time to work on anything but posting. PLUS, I found that people didn’t really like to see that much content from me. I found a rhythm of about 3 posts per day. At that time, I would do something inspirational first thing in the morning and later in the evening and then something social media related. It worked for me AT THAT TIME.

I then went to 2 posts per day, then 1 post per day. Now I post when I feel it is relevant.

There you go. I think when you post content (for business) it should be RELEVANT  to the audience you are most trying to attract. Throwing a bunch of content for the sake of content isn’t working. It is WEARING YOU OUT!

Additionally, with the algorithm changes and Facebook pointedly saying that personal profiles and groups will get more play in your newsfeed, posting a lot of content to hope that something gets seen can actually work against you.

Now don’t get me wrong. There are days I post more than one time. WHY? Because there is something relevant that my audience needs to see. Typically, it’s a safety issue that I want you to be aware of!

This comes back to strategy. Do you have a social media strategy? Have you updated it in the past year? Seriously, a LOT has changed online in the past year!  The types of content and what you should be putting your time into has changed.

If you haven’t made a change or met with a professional since January of 2017, you need to do it.

Of course, I would love to help you out. 😊

BUT, if nothing else…take a look at what you are doing online. How much time is it taking you? What kind of results are you getting? Are you putting your efforts to the best use? Could you be doing something differently with your time?

Stop being busy with social media and get a strategy that works. Then, fine tune it as social media changes.

Reach out if I can be of service! Don’t do things for the sake of saying you post on social media platforms. That is NOT a strategy!

26 Jul 2016
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Your Social Media Recipe

 

What is your social media recipe for posting? We all have one. Have you given yours any thought?

 

Let’s have a little fun.

 

Below is a list of different online persona’s. Go through the list and see if you can identify the people that you follow on social media.

 

 

Who do you know on social media that is:

  • Professional Sports Fan (Football, Basketball, Baseball, etc.)
  • College Sports Fan
  • Traveler
  • New parent or expecting
  • Grandma or Grandpa or soon to be
  • Meme lover
  • Dog person
  • Cat person
  • Parent
  • Parent of teen girl(s) or teen boy(s)
  • Loyal to their alma mater
  • Parent of a kid that plays a sport
  • Parent of kid that dances
  • Angry all the time
  • Complainer
  • Ranter
  • Spammer (always selling their product or service)
  • Political Left or Right – will fight to the death
  • Encourager
  • Up-lifter
  • Foodie
  • Drinker
  • Partier
  • Gardener
  • Book lover
  • Artist
  • Crafter
  • Renovator
  • Hippie
  • Health nut
  • Movie watcher
  • Information provider
  • Mom of the bride or groom
  • Over-sharer

How many were you able to identify? Did I miss anyone?

Ok, now go back and determine who people think YOU are online. Go ahead, I can wait…

Welcome back. What did you learn?

What you post online personally and professionally gives an impression. You may not think about what you are posting, but if you can identify others’ by the list above, you can probably be identified as well. It may be that you or the people you follow fall into more than one category.

Recently, I did this exercise in a group that I lead. At the end of the exercise, I could see the light bulbs going off and then someone said “I better relook at what I’ve been posting!”. Yes, you do need to pay attention to it!

This brings me to my original question, what is your social media recipe for posting? I think that many people bring a variety of different aspects of their personality to social media. We typically throw in a little bit of this and a pinch of that. Maybe though, we need to take a closer look at the ingredients and what we are making. You don’t want to be labeled as the spammer or someone that is constantly negative. This hurts your personal brand. What we see online is what we expect in-person. People are constantly observing what we do and we invite them to get a view every time we post.

My social media recipe for business is: encouragement, inspiration and humor, plus social media tips and information. For personal I have a more complicated recipe that includes my business ingredients plus family, gardening, food and sports.

When choosing your social media recipe…

  • Start with your goals for social media.
  • Add who you are talking to.
  • Mix in your expertise.
  • Fold in topics and information your audience can relate to and are interested in.
  • Be mindful that ingredients may need to be substituted from time to time with something fresh.
  • Check the temperature to be sure that your dish is not overcooked.

What is your recipe? What does it include? Please share in the comments or on Facebook or Twitter.

12 Jul 2016
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Do You Have a Social Media Action Plan?

What if I told you that Social Media Action Planyou don’t need to be on social media 24/7 for it to work for your business? It’s true! In fact, with a social media action plan, you can have impact in as little as a few hours each week.

Keep reading…it IS possible!

When entrepreneurs and small business owners are frustrated and/or overwhelmed by social media, many times it is because they haven’t created a social media action plan. They think that posting something every day or once a week or whenever they have time is a plan.

I am here to tell you, that is NOT a plan. That is a wish and a prayer that someone will connect with you.

plan = focus

Focus provides you the direction so you aren’t wasting a bunch of time.

Let’s talk about what goes into a social media action plan. In a previous blog, I talked about social media mindset. In a nutshell, who is your audience and what matters to them? You can read the blog post here. Once you have answered these questions, you can move onto the ones that go into a social media action plan. Here are a few:

  • Which social media platforms do my peeps (ideal client) use?
  • What content is relevant to my audience?
  • When should I post this content?

How often should I post on each platform?

Each of these questions is really an entire blog, but I will give you at least some direction to get you started.

It has been my experience that too many times business owners think they need to be on every platform. This tends to overwhelm them and then they don’t actually end up “doing” any social media. My philosophy is that you should choose one or two social media platforms that are best for connecting with your ideal client, do them really, really well and then see if you want to add another platform. When it comes to which platforms, I found this blog and infographic from Social Media Today very helpful. As you study it, you should be able to identify where your ideal client likes to hang out on line.

When I work with my coaching clients on creating their social media action plan, one of the exercises involves deciding what kind of content you could post for each day.

This is a simplified version, but for example:

  • Monday could be the day you share a #MotivationMonday post
  • Tuesday can be your blog
  • Wednesday…

Each client is a bit different and we brainstorm over the kind of content that works for them and their audience. Keep in mind that you always want to be adding value. (Value can be encouragement, laughter, tips, education…)

Frequency of posting and the best time to post really depend on you and your audience. In order to stay current with most of the social media algorithms, a daily post is typically the minimum. The time of day depends on when your audience is most likely to be online. To start, try early morning or after 6pm during the week and then adjust from there.

If you just started to panic because you don’t think you can post every day… TIME OUT! Take a pause and breathe.

I am all about making things simpler for you. If you haven’t been posting consistently now, look at posting three times per week. Then work up to four times per week, etc. It’s not an all-or-nothing deal. Stop running around like a crazy person or being overwhelmed by social media; create a social media action plan that works for you and your business.

Vicki’s Social Media Action Plan Process:

  • Each week I set aside time to plan what I am going to post on each day and to each platform.
  • I then schedule my posts.
  • Each day, I check-in to my platforms and engage with the people that make comments etc. and then I go about my day. (This can be a 5 to 10 minute deal a few times a day.)
  • If I find something relevant that I want to post immediately, I then add it to my mix.

You may find it easier to schedule your posts the night before or for several days in a row instead of a week in advance. It doesn’t matter how you do it, it just matters that you do it. The biggest part is setting aside time each week to plan out your content.

Here is something to think about. You fuel your body everyday with food and water. You need to fuel your business with marketing. You must take the time (schedule it every week as an appointment you cannot miss) and then use your social media action plan to create and schedule your posts.

In social media, consistency wins. Get consistent with your updating. As mentioned before, if everyday seems daunting, start with three times per week and then work your way up to daily. Once you are consistent and things are working for you, decide if you want/need more content or another platform to share with your ideal client. By putting a social media action plan into place, you will find that keeping your social media platforms current and connecting with your ideal client isn’t that difficult.

Hey – before I sign-off, I have a gift for you. Here is a training that may help you with your time management. I have a recorded webinar that you can watch for FREE (it’s a $47 value). All you need to do is sign-up with this link: Time Management and Social Media Webinar.

Until next time…

PS: We went from social media mindset last week to social media action plan this week. The first step in my coaching program, Social Media MAP – Mindset and Action Plan™ is Clarify. If you would like to delve much deeper into creating a personalized social media plan that will work for you, contact me for more information & availability.

 

05 Jul 2016
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Social Media Mindset

Social Media MindsetWhat is your social media mindset? If you Google “mindset”  you receive this definition – “the established set of attitudes held by someone”. So, what is your mindset when it comes to social media?

For many, their social media mindset is, “I’ve got to do this because everyone else is” or “I have to be on Twitter (or Shapchat or Instagram, etc.) because my friend’s- second-cousin’s-boyfriend has thousands of people following them”.

Maybe your social media mindset is about ignoring social media. You hate it on a personal level, it seems like a big time-suck, you don’t want to learn it and no one is going to make you. Besides, eventually it won’t be relevant anymore and everyone will go back to do things the old-fashioned way.

There are so many different ways that we think about social media, but one thing I see with my clients, self-employed professionals and small business owners, social media is mainly misunderstood. When it’s not understood from the start, how can you have a healthy social media mindset?

Social media is first and foremost about being social. If you are attacking social media as solely an advertising platform to get your message out over and over again, then you are missing the beauty of this connective tool.

Here are some of the social media mindset questions you need to be asking:

  • Who are your peeps? (Or if peeps is too girly for you, who is your ideal client?)
  • What do they like to learn about?
  • What interests them?
  • What makes them tick?
  • What makes them laugh?
  • What encourages them?
  • How can you be of service to them?
  • What are their biggest worries?
  • What can you do to make their life or business easier and/or better?
  • How do you not add to the noise of social media, but provide something of value?
  • What trips-them-up in their day-to-day life?
  • What will make them want to have a conversation, like and/or share your content or recommend you to everyone else?

These are just some of the new social media mindset questions you should be considering.

You see, you need to make it about THEM. When you understand your audience and learn to serve them, social media becomes so much easier and has a much bigger purpose. Yes, I know you have a widget or service you are providing, but until you understand your audience, learn to talk with them and earn their trust, what you have to sell is of little relevance.

This is very simplified for a much deeper conversation I typically have with my coaching clients but, starting down the path of understanding your ideal audience and what their needs are, will give you more success in all of your marketing. You can then amplify your message on social media and make the use of your time more successful.

New Mindset =  New Results

What is YOUR social media mindset? Has it changed (even a bit) since you read this article? I welcome your insights and thoughts.

Until next time….

Hey, friend! I have a FREE download for improving your LinkedIn Profile. You can grab it here. If you accept the link to go into my newsletter, I promise to not spam you! I have some exciting things to share and hope you will be part of my community. You may also follow me on Facebook or Twitter. Stop by and say “hello”!

29 Jun 2016
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16 Best Social Media Tips for 2016

 

Social Media Tips for 2016Are you looking for the latest social media tips for eliminating overwhelm while marketing your business? Look no further than these 16 tips for creating your social media mindset so you can take action on what works.

1 – You Don’t Have To Do Everything

I see business owners burn-out on social media very quickly when they think they have to be on every platform and update 24/7. Give yourself a break. It is good to claim the real estate on each platform for your name and/or business, but then choose the one or two platforms that your ideal client uses and learn to communicate with them there. Once you mastered these, decide if you want or need to add another platform. Doesn’t that feel better already?

2 – Know Your Ideal Audience

We all like to think that our products or services are good for everyone, but in reality there is a select group of people that resonate best with us. It’s okay to niche your business. In fact, it’s better than spreading yourself way too thin trying to be everything for everyone. Who is your ideal target audience? Where do they hang out online? As mentioned above, work with the platforms that they use the most. This way you don’t have to be on Snapchat when your customer is mostly on Facebook.

3 – Build Relationships First

Social media is like a big party. When you walk into a party, you don’t go up to someone and immediately ask for them to buy something. That would be weird. On social media don’t immediately start selling to people you just met. Ugh, I hate when I connect with someone and their very next message is to a sales page.  Twitter Direct Messages or any kind of message with links back to your website that ask for the sale is considered SPAM. Just don’t do it. Work on getting to know the person first.

4 – A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words

Have a good, professional picture to use on your social media profiles. Be sure you are looking at the camera and have a nice, warm smile. Use the same photo on each of your profiles for better recognition.

If using a logo for a business, be sure that it’s clear and sized correctly. It is worth paying someone to give you multiple sizes of a good quality logo than to use something that is fuzzy and/or doesn’t fit in the space provided. It’s the little details that make all the difference.

5 – Branding

Each of your social media platforms should be named the same. This is true if it’s a business name or a personal name. This allows for ease of searching and identifying your name or business. It also adds to your search engine optimization.

6 – Do a Social Media Audit

Over the past 13 years, social media sites have frequently popped up. When was the last time you had a thorough look at your total social media presence? Are you named the same on each platform? What is the profile picture? There are a lot of areas you should be evaluating. If you would like to have a professional take a look, go here to sign-up for a Social Media Audit with me.

7 – Content is Still King and Queen

Providing high-quality content for your audience and potential customers is key to having social media work for you. Great content attracts people organically and creates trust in you and/or your business. Create consistent, relevant content that illustrates your expertise, approach, culture and core values. This will help to keep you top of mind whenever potential customers are ready to make a decision. 

8 – Video, Video, Video

Create more video content. Video is the most important strategy in content marketing. Whether it’s on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube or with Periscope, Blab, or Facebook Live, be sure you are adding video to your updating plan. By the way, don’t feel like you have to use all of these platforms. Choose where your ideal customer likes to connect with you.

9 – Be Real

Social media should be an extension of what it’s like to meet you in person, or for a business, should convey the culture. Don’t be afraid to show the human side of the business. Give a peek inside. Endear your customers to you.

10 – Be Useful or Educational

Too many times I see businesses that are using social media like it’s a commercial or a big ad. Instead of that approach, think of this medium as a way to provide education or to be useful in some manner. There are many thoughts out there on how much to sell on social media, I like the 80/20 Rule where 80% of the time is all about education, entertainment and being helpful, and 20% is selling something. No one likes to be spammed!

11 – Have a Plan

I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to have a social media marketing plan. When I hear of a business owner or entrepreneur that is struggling with social media, at the core is that they don’t have a social media structure, strategy or plan that aligns to their goals. The lack of a plan causes overwhelm and frustration and then social media gets put on the back burner. If this is you or someone you care about, I have a proprietary system that will make everything so much easier. Ask me about Social Media MAP – Mindset and Action Plan. 

12 – Consistency in Updating

You do not need to be on social media 24/7. However, you do need to show up consistently. Once a month is not considered consistent (and the algorithms won’t be your friend). I recommend daily connection in most cases.  Also, there are many tools you can use to pre-schedule your content so that you can: plan it, schedule it and then check-in daily for engagement. For my scheduling, I use Hootsuite and the Facebook scheduler, but there are lots of other options available.

13 – Hashtags

Using hashtags to help identify the topic or keyword in a social media update can be helpful, but choose the correct platform. Hashtags work great on Twitter, Google+ and Instagram, but they have very little use on Facebook (although they are searchable). They are not necessary for Pinterest and on LinkedIn they are not searchable at all.

14 – Social Media Tools

One of my favorite tools for creating graphics is Canva. It’s a great site that provides you the proper sizing for creating social media images and has lots of different formatting options. I call it the “photoshop for dummies”.

15 – Personalize Connection Requests

When asking for a connection to someone on LinkedIn, use the feature where you can send a personal message. Mention where you met, what you talked about and ask for the connection. If you haven’t met the person before, tell them why you wish to connect. This starts the relationship. (This feature IS available on the app. When looking at the profile of someone, in the upper right corner should be three dots, click on the dots and this should bring up a menu of options.) Don’t skip this step, it’s important in establishing rapport.

16 – Facebook Advertising

I typically hear a collective groan when I mention Facebook and advertising together. Then the whining starts, “I don’t want to pay to play….”. Well, you are missing out on one of the best and least expensive advertising opportunities available. Consider the sheer size of Facebook and the information that is available to them, Facebook ads have a high success rate at targeting a specific audience of potential customers for very little money.

There you have it, 16 social media tips that can help focus your social media efforts. Did you learn something new that you can take action on? As always, if you have questions, reach out to me.

Until next time….

21 Mar 2016
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Coffee and a Post

Coffee and a Post  When I poll a group of entrepreneurs or small business owners about what their biggest challenge is for social media, I hear time and time again, “it takes so much time.” I can already tell you are nodding “yes,” with that answer as well. I get it! Social media does seem to be one of those time-traps.

Last weekend I was discussing with my husband, Gus, the topics I was going to speak about in some upcoming keynotes and workshops. I told him that time management seems to be a very hot topic. He mentioned that he sees lots of people having a cup of coffee while scrolling through social media on their phones. We talked about if someone used that time to actually post, wouldn’t it seem like it didn’t take as much time? He then said, “Coffee and a Post”. (Have I told you yet, that I married a brilliant guy?!)

Now, to make your posts valuable content and simple to do while sipping your coffee, you have to know what to post ahead of time. That is where a simple social media content plan comes in handy. I truly believe that not having a plan is the biggest issue, but also finding a way to slip in the time to work the plan is the second largest issue.

Today I am introducing, Coffee and a Post™.

Each day when you have your morning beverage (whether it be coffee, tea, soda, juice, water, etc.), pause, then get your phone out and make your social media post. You CANnonDo it! This also works for later in the day, so consider doing, Wine and a Post™. It doesn’t matter what the beverage is; what matters is that if you are pausing to check your phone during a brief break anytime during the day, you have time to maintain a consistent social media presence for your business. That presence may be posting new content, sharing content from peers, or responding to follower engagement (comments, likes, replies).

If you want help with a simple updating plan, reach out for a coaching session with Vicki.

14 Feb 2016
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11 CANnonDo Facebook Security Tips For You

Vicki S. Cannon - Social Media - CANnonDo - Privacy and Security

Facebook security is important. There are so many different ways that your account can be placed at risk. Use these CANnonDo Facebook security tips to protect you and your account.

1. Turn On Login Approvals
Require a security code to access your account from unknown browsers by requiring login approvals.
– Click in the top right of Facebook and select Settings
– Click on Security on the left side
– Choose “Login Approvals”: Require a security code to access my account from unknown browsers

2. Don’t Do Facebook Quizzes
Examples: personality tests, friend comparison, most liked photos, most used words, TV Mom you are most like, etc.
– By taking these “fun quizzes” you may be unwittingly providing these app companies with a ton of your personal data
– Some of this data may be used to guess your passwords, hack accounts, and even steal your identity
– Some apps are malicious. They contain viruses, worms, malware or some other way of harming you. They might steal things like your personal information, others’ contact information, or passwords and share them with others

3. Do Not Accept a Second Friend Requests From People That You Are Already Friends With
Scammers send friend requests out from a fake profile that looks like yours.
– Your friends may think it is you and accept when in fact, it’s a cloned account
– The scammers can then post messages that your friends may think were written by you.
– Private messages are then sent to the new friends of this cloned account (which still looks like you). Typically the message gives a story that you are in a dire situation and need money wired immediately
– If you receive a request from someone you think you are friends with, search their name and double check
– Report the cloned account to Facebook and warn your friend
– See how to protect your account in item #4

4. Hide your Friends List
This protects you from having a cloned account created as mentioned above.
– Go to your profile
– Click on “Friends”
– Click on the pencil
– Edit Privacy
– “Friends” or “Only Me”

5. Don’t Like, Comment, Share To Win Prizes
This is how this works: A fake name brand account has been created. Posted to the page is a contest for a giveaway. You are asked to share, comment & like the page to win.
Examples: SouthWest AIR instead of Southwest Airlines (that has a verified check beside it)
– If the post promises prizes for liking, commenting and sharing, it is a likely a hoax/scam
– By engaging with these activities, you are showing scammers that you are gullible which can make you a target for future scams

6. When You Go Out of Town, Don’t Post Until You Get Back
Posting pictures while on vacation is providing an advertisement that your home is empty and can be easily robbed.

7. Posting Pictures or Updates to Social Media, Should Always be Considered to be Public
Anything online could get spread wider than you intended, so make sure you never share anything too specific about your child or his/her location.

8. Don’t Accept Friend Requests From People You Don’t Know
Attractive women (many times they are scantily clad) reach out to men.
Attractive men (with cars, boats and sometimes children) reach out to women.
– Delete the request

9. Hide Your Birth Year
Providing this information makes it easier for your identity to be stolen.
To change:
– On your profile click on “Update Information”
– Contact & Basic Info
– Birth Year
– Edit
– Only You

10. Do Not Share Personal Information
Reminder that placing your address and phone number on your profile or in a message makes that information public.

11. Block Apps or Games
– Click in the top right of Facebook and select Settings
– Click Blocking in the left column
– In the Block apps section, type the name of the app or game you want to block. To unblock an app or game, click Unblock next to its name

If you need additional assistance with your Facebook security, reach out to me on Facebook with your question.  ~ Vicki

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