Twitter Names: @GiniDietrich,  @AngieSwartz

Twitter Talk Radio, hosted by Angie Swartz, is recorded live in the WSRadio studios in sunny San Diego! You can listen to the podcast by clicking on the links below and sign up for our RSS feed at the bottom of the page.

Each week on Twitter Talk Radio, we spend an hour broken up into four segments when we cover:

• Guests Offering Great Case Studies and Examples of How People and Businesses are Using Twitter and Social Media for Business
• Useful Tips for Listeners on Twitter for Business
• Twitter and Social Media Happenings in the News

Gini Dietrich on Why Spin Sucks

Host Angie Swartz interviews Gini Dietrich, founder and CEO of Arment Dietrich, Inc. Gini shares the different ways she utilizes social media. Listen in to learn more about her blog at spinsucks and how she quadruples traffic every time she posts a video!

Gini Dietrich and Is Twitter Dead and Over?

Host Angie Swartz talks to Gini Dietrich about making Twitter work for business. Gini answers the looming question, “Is Twitter dead?!” Tune into this segment to hear experiences with winning a twitter contest and her critiques of the process.

Gini Dietrich Asks How to Manage Rapid Client Growth

Host Angie Swartz and Gini Dietrich discuss how to manage a large customer base without resorting to automated responses. How do business owners maintain their personal philosophy without drowning in clients’ needs? Angie gives great advice on how to reach multiple clients at once without losing the personal impact.

Attention! Business Owners: Make Life Simpler with RSS

Host Angie Swartz and Gini Dietrich talk about how to be a great CEO. Gini reveals some of her own success secrets on how to manage content and coach her team. Listen in to learn more about how an RSS reader could simplify your business.

Check out Gini’s video blogs and tell us what you think! Post links of your own blogs to share with us, too!

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Everybody else is doing it, right?  All types of companies are turning to Social Media.  Large fortune 100 companies, big local companies, all the way down to your favorite coffee shop down the street.  Is everyone just jumping on the band wagon or is this social media stuff really working?

Is it because you do not want to be left behind?  The companies that are building their social media presence now, creating great content online, and attracting an online following, are the ones that will continue to grow at a rapid pace.  Those companies starting now will be far ahead of anyone jumping into the social media pool a year from now.

Maybe there are other reasons?  Maybe its because you see your competitors using social media.  Maybe you are interested in social media because it is all the rage…  Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and blogging are the current buzz words and you want to be a part of that buzz.

The reason why you see big brands using Facebook instead of their website is they want to create a presence where their customers are spending their time.   Everyone is doing it because social media works.  The companies with a strategy are attracting new business using social media as you are reading this.

The reasons why your business should get started with social media are endless.  The most important thing is to get started and figure out how social media can work for you and your business.  Take the time to listen to what is being said on Facebook and Twitter about your business, brand, or industry.  Research the web and read blogs that mention your business name.  Find out what your customers are saying about you and your brand online.  Use Facebook, Twitter, and blogs learn before you jump in!  And most importantly… get started now!

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Twitter is a potentially game-changing tool and one of the fastest growing Social Networks today. Still, the perception that “Twitter is just for kids!” or “Who cares what you are having for lunch?” have kept many business professionals away.  Others have created accounts and then can’t easily understand the mechanics so they stop using it before they invest enough time to understand its value. 

Can your business afford to ignore Twitter? Why do most TV news shows, newspapers and magazines continue to mention Twitter almost daily, capturing the eyes of many consumers?  Might you be one of the only businesses in your field to WAKE UP and give Twitter a second look?

Social Media Tip: Before you say no to Twitter, peform a pilot.  Investigate Twitter for your business for 30 days and judge it objectively for yourself.

Setup an account (using your name or your brand name), follow 50 or more people related to your business (competitors, customers and business partners are a great place to start), and just listen to what is being said.  Participate when you feel comfortable.

Want to read more about Social Media? Square Martini Media has plenty of articles with useful information for you and your business. Check out the links below and browse our website for more great advice!

• Vertical Printing Raises the Bar of Success with Twitter

• The Four Stages to Twitter Relationships

• Twitter For Business Case Study: The Coffee Groundz

And if you’ve got a great example of inspiration for writing social media strategies, please share it here  in a comment or on our facebook page.

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Photo illustration courtesy of Flickr.com/Andrei Dimofte and Dana Harris

This continuing trend could very much be a result of celebrity influence. In 2009, musician Dave Carroll used YouTube to post his horrible guitar crisis with United Airlines. Kevin Smith, actor and comedian, tarnished Southwest’s name last February after being bumped from a flight for his body weight. He bashed the airline repeatedly on Twitter for his 1.7 million followers gaining the attention of fans all over the world.

So what does this mean for competing airlines? Or for any company that depends greatly on customer service and feedback?

Brice gives Delta a few pointers in the Bloomberg article, saying “Having that immediate attention from Delta on Twitter is one of the reasons I select them.” He also complained that they don’t have anyone working the Twitter account on weekends, something airlines and service-oriented companies alike should keep in mind.

Essentially, people value responses that are quick, convenient and helpful. If they can tweet or post knowing they will get the same feedback without the traditional waiting time of lines and phone calls, they will. Keep your eyes open for forward-thinking companies incorporating social media into their business relations. It is very likely that the next time you have a qualm or compliment about your bank or favorite department store, you’ll be talking to them via tweet!

What do you think? Would you reschedule a flight via Twitter if you could? What do you think of customer service representatives being available right from your favorite social media site? Tell us some of your experiences with using Twitter, Facebook and other networking tools to get in touch with the companies you’ve used in the past.

Note:  This post was written by Green Apple.  She is a Square Martini Intern studying International Business and English at The University of San Diego.  She graciously assists the Square Martini Team with all things social media.

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The top three questions I hear about Twitter are:

1. “How do I make money with Twitter?”
2. “Who should I follow on Twitter?”; and,
3. “Should I pay a service to grow my Twitter Followers for me?”

The good news is, if you are a business owner and you want to use Twitter as a business tool, you already know the answer to these questions.  You likely just aren’t thinking about the answers in the right context.  Twitter is a networking tool that allows you to connect with people, to form relationships and to get to know people.  Ask yourself who you follow around in real life to do this and you’ll know who you want to follow virtually.

As for question #3, “Should I pay a service to grow my Twitter Followers for me?”  In most cases, my answer is no.  Is there any way an automated service can know your business any better than you can?  You can pay for one, but you’ll likely end up with a bunch of robots and fake accounts following you.

Here’s my list of the Top 12 places to start following people on Twitter.  Starting here will help you created a list tailored to you and your business which should result in quality relationships and conversations.

1. Thought Leaders
2. Industry Leaders
3. Community Leaders
4. Your Competition
5. Suppliers and Vendors
6. Customers
7. Potential Customers
8. Employees
9. Great Tweeters
10. People You Enjoy
11. People You Know, Like & Trust
12. Power Business and Referral Partners

Follow this list and then participate in the conversation.  You’ll start to see other people you want to build your community around so follow them too.  Your network will grow just like your real life network does.

So, how do you make money on Twitter?  By forming relationships, helping others and offering a quality product that customers need at a market driven price.  The fundamental rules of business haven’t changed.

Feedback always welcome here in a comment or on Twitter.

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Watch the latest video of “The Social Media Minute” to learn how to use Twitter for your business:

Here are a few of the take away points from the video:

1. Get a Twitter account
2. Learn from Twitter success stories
3. Read the two books recommended in the video

If you understand how to use Twitter, the process is easy, enjoyable, and highly beneficial for your business.  If you want additional help with learning how to use Twitter for your business you might enjoy our Audio Guide How To Make More Money Using Twitter in Your Business or join us for an upcoming Twitter webinar Using Twitter to Grow Your Business.

Make sure to follow @AngieSwartz and @SquareMartini on Twitter for additional Twitter tips and resources.

I hope you enjoyed the Social Media Minute and I look forward to your thoughts and comments.  Please subscribe to the Square Martini Media YouTube channel and if you have a question you would like covered on the Social Media Minute, let us know by giving us your Social Media Minute Question.

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Twitter Names:   @VPG_Printing, @AngieSwartz, @AlanUnderkofler.

Twitter Talk Radio is recorded live in the WSRadio studios in sunny San Diego! You can listen to the podcast by clicking on the links below and sign up for our RSS feed at the bottom of the page.

Each week on Twitter Talk Radio, we spend an hour broken up into four segments and cover:

• Two Guests Offering Great Case Studies and Examples of How People and Businesses are Using Twitter for Business and Social Media
• Useful Tips for Listeners on Twitter for Business
• Twitter and Social Media Happenings in the News

Vertical Printing & Graphics Changes their Business Model with Social Media

Angie Swartz and guest host Alan Underkofler interview Laura Beulke of Vertical Printing & Graphics about how she used social media to refocus her business model when the real estate market slowed. Listen in to learn more about establishing an online presence for your small business.

Vertical Printing & Graphics on Success in Advertising a Small Business Via Twitter

Angie Swartz and guest host Alan Underkofler talk with Laura Beulke about expanding her business via her successful Twitter strategy.  Learn more in this segment about generating customer engagement and turning social media exposure into sales.

Vertical Printing & Graphics Attributes 18% of Sales to Twitter

Angie Swartz and guest host Alan Underkofler talk with Laura Beulke about her experiences with social media sites and her initial reservations about the effectiveness. She shares about her hardships as a small-business owner and how she capitalized on free social networking to re-strategize her marketing campaign.  Laura discusses how 15-18% of her total revenue last year came from Twitter.

Vertical Printing & Graphics on Yelp & Foursquare

Angie Swartz and guest host Alan Underkofler finish up the show by discussing Laura Beulke’s feedback and what she’s learned from experiences with customer review sites like Yelp.com.   They also discuss future plans with sites like Foursquare and what might be in store for the Mayor.

Leave a comment on Laura Beulke’s social media strategies for small businesses and share your own success stories!

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So how do you check or uncheck all boxes when using Tweepi or UnTweeps? If you are a Mozilla Firefox user I have a very quick solution for you!  All you need is a simple add-on program called CheckFox.  CheckFox allows you to check or uncheck checkboxes for any website.  (say that one fast 3 times!)

To add CheckFox to your Mozilla Firefox browser follow these steps:

1. Click on Tools at the top of the browser and select Add-ons
2. Once the Add-ons window is opened, click on the Get Add-ons tab
3. In the search box, search for CheckFox
4. Add to Firefox
5. Download and then close and reopen Firefox

The next time you are on any website with checkboxes you can highlight or select all and then right click your mouse and you will have an option to Check or Uncheck.  (with Tweepi is seems you have to have your curser above the old “check all” box by the ? in Follow?)

Are you confused?  If you do not use Twitter tools like Tweepi or UnTweeps to follow or unfollow twitter users this could be very confusing!  In the future I will write about the benefits of using Tweepi and UnTweeps to manage your twitter followers.  In the mean time for those who do use these programs I hope you find this helpful.  Happy checking!

(If you found this post valuable please consider sharing it with your facebook friends, tweeting it on twitter, or stumbling it on StumbleUpon using the ShareThis button below as this action is one of the best compliments we receive!)

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If you take a moment and ask your customers what they use their smart phone for you will hear all kind of answers.  Some may surprise you but many of these customers will say things like browsing the internet, sending tweets on twitter, and checking facebook.  You will receive similar answers when you ask what they are doing on the computer when they are not working.

With all of this focus on Social Media from your customers it creates a great opportunity for you to engage them where they are spending their time.  Going back to the original question here are 5 reasons why your company should be using Social Media.

1. Top of Mind Awareness - Once you have a customer why not make sure they always think of you before anyone else?  There many ways to do this and Social Media is one way that you cannot ignore!  By connecting with your customers in Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter you maintaining top of mind awareness every time you update your status or send a tweet!
2. Creating stronger relationships - Social Media tools like facebook and twitter are used in the office as well as home.  This allows you to create stronger relationships where your customers are comfortable and where they are more likely to talk about you!  Social Media makes it really easy for your customers to give you referrals to potential new clients!
3. Listening - Your customers are most likely already talking about you, your brand, or your competitor’s brand.  Social Media allows you to listen, engage, and create conversation.  Conversation leads to new customers and new sales.  If you are actively blogging and adding content to your website as well as active on Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter it will lead you and your company to new sales.
4. Building Customer Loyalty - Let’s face it people are moving so fast they forget what they did yesterday let alone who they purchased a product from last month.  Increasing customer loyalty and retention is about creating and nurturing the buying relationship.  This really gets started after the purchase has been made!  Social Media make very easy for you to keep that buying relationship going for months and years after the sale.
5. NEW FREE BUSINESS – What do I mean by new free business?  With Social Media tools you can create a base of loyal customers, users, and fans.  These customers, users, and fans will send you business.  They will think about you and talk about you!  The easiest business to receive is from prospects that have already been sold by your current and past customers or fans.  Giving your customers the tools to do this is the key and Social Media is currently one of the best tools you can use to make this happen!

Are you using Social Media in your business?  Please let us know by leaving a comment and sharing with everyone why you are and how it is working for you.

(If you found this post valuable please consider sharing it with your Facebook friends, tweeting it on Twitter, or stumbling it on StumbleUpon using the ShareThis button below as this action is one of the best compliments we receive!)

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Twitter Names:   @ajbombers, @steffanantonas,  @AngieSwartz.

Twitter Talk Radio is recorded live in the WSRadio studios in sunny San Diego! You can listen to the podcast by clicking on the links below and sign up for our RSS feed at the bottom of the page.

Each week on Twitter Talk Radio, we spend an hour broken up into four segments when we cover:

• Two Guests Offering Great Case Studies and Examples of How People and Businesses are Using Twitter for Business and Social Media
• Useful Tips for Listeners on Twitter for Business
• Twitter and Social Media Happenings in the News

Hamburger Joint AJ Bombers IS all the Twitter Rage in Milwaukee

Angie Swartz and Guest Host Steffan Antonas  discuss the famous AJ Bombers story. Steffan met AJ Bombers’ Owner Joe Sorge after viewing Chris Brogan’s You Tube video made while visiting the Twitter Graffiti covered walls of AJ Bombers Milwaukee Hamburger joint.  Steffan and Joe tell the story of their Twitter friendship, multiple phone interviews, Steffan’s miraculous blog posts viewed over 3,000 times (in less than a week) and much more.

AJ Bombers Founder “Social Media: Megaphone to All Your Bad Processes”

Angie Swartz, Guest Host Steffan Antonas and Joe Sorge discuss AJ Bombers philosophy of running the best restaurant business/experience in town.  Joe offers that Social Media is a megaphone to all your bad processes.  Thus, you must have your processes in order.  He also talks about engagement and how customers want to and will talk to businesses if you open up the channels.  We discuss expensive versus free listening tools and Joe’s use of Hootsuite to manage everything including multiple twitter, facebook, and four square accounts.

What’s an AJ Bombers foursquare Swarm Badge Party?

Angie Swartz, Guest Host Steffan Antonas and Joe Sorge discuss AJ Bombers “ridiculously popular” foursquare Swarm Badge party, how they did it, who came, who didn’t, what worked, what didn’t, who sponsored, etc.  You gotta listen to get the deets of this one folks but I promise you it’s a podcast not to be missed .

Joe Sorge Authors New Book  #TwitterWorks

Angie Swartz, Guest Host Steffan Antonas and Joe Sorge’s upcoming book #TwitterWorks (Amazon.com May, 2010).  Joe talks about writing a book about his customer driven experience in the restaurant business at AJ Bombers and with other owners in Milwaukee like Streetza Pizza.  He also discusses giving back to the fans with events like private book signings and getting their input to craft future direction of the business.  Look for more info at http://www.twitterworks.tv launching soon.

Leave a comments on the social media strategies for AJ Bombers and tell us how you think they could be doing better!

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