Garrett Popcorn’s Alecia Dantico and Foiled Cupcake’s Mari Luangrath shared their social media strategies with host Angie A. Swartz on Twitter Talk Radio’s February 3, 2010 Valentine’s Show.  Although this interview is focused on Valentine’s day and pleasing your sweetheart, don’t forget that Garrett Popcorn and Foiled Cupcakes are great options for Easter and/or Passover!

Twitter Names:   @garrettpopcorn, @foiledcupcakes,  @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

Valentine’s Tweets: Angie Swartz Interviews Garrett Popcorn’s Alecia Dantico

Angie Swartz interviews Alecia Dantico from Garrett Popcorn, A Chicago Tradition since 1949.  Alecia discusses Garrett Popcorn’s social media strategy and how they use Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and Yowza.  Alecia offers that “Listening is the Cornerstone of our Social Media Strategy”.  She also discusses how social media allows Garrett Popcorn to bridge the gap between the corporations and the customer’s perception of their brand.

Valentine’s Tweets:  Garrett Popcorn goes to Twitter Jail?

Angie Swartz and Alecia Dantico from Garrett Popcorn, discuss the differences between interacting with her Facebook versus Twitter communities.  We also discuss Alecia’s times in Twitter Jail when she hasn’t been able to tweet and the power of using customer feedback from Facebook Insights to tailor your business.   We end with discussing what’s coming for Garrett Popcorn in 2010.  Watch for things like Groupon, Foursquare, a new blog, limited time only flavors and a new store in Singapore!

Angie Swartz Interviews Foiled Cupcakes’ Mari Luangrath

Angie Swartz interviews Foiled Cupcakes’ Mari Luangrath. They discuss Foiled Cupcakes’ social media strategy and how they use Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and their blog primarily to “connect people” and build community versus pushing sales.  Mari covers how even though the company launched their website in July, 2009 and stumbled on social media, it still brings them 95% of their business.  We discuss the differences between how they use the various social media channels.

Foiled Cupcakes’ Loves Their Facebook Family!

Angie Swartz and Foiled Cupcakes’ Mari Luangrath discuss the Foiled Cupcakes facebook fan page and how they interact with facebook fans.  Mari and Angie discuss how two people make up the Foiled Cupcakes social media team and Mari’s view on this invaluable tool for small business.  We also discuss the 20 delicious flavors of cupcakes that you can have personally delivered to your location in any Chicago area.

Leave a comments on the social media strategies for Garrett Popcorn and Foiled Cupcakes and tell us how you think they could be doing better!

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Mari Smith, The Pied Piper of Facebook, joined host Angie A. Swartz on Twitter Talk Radio on September 2, 2009.  This interview is filled with so much great information, we just couldn’t resist going back and writing about it!

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.  

Twitter Names:   @MariSmith, @Aaswartz.

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

• A Guest 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

Podcast One: Angie Swartz and Mari Smith  discuss Mogul MC Hammer,  The IPhone BUMP Application and Pokens

Angie A. Swartz and Mari Smith discuss Mogul MC Hammer, his presentation at Gravity Summit, his use of Twitter, and the “bump” App.  Mari and Angie discuss how The Bump App and pokens make it so easy to collect contact information from everyone you meet.  Are we on our way to the end of business cards? There will always be a place for them. Think about your message before you start using the tools and how much time should you spend on social media?

Podcast Two:  Mari Smith on Personal Branding and What is the Proper Ratio of Marketing to Personal Tweeting?

Angie and Mari discuss Mari’s virtual b-day party, personal branding and what is the proper ratio of marketing to personal tweets? Everything that you do needs to be done with a strategic plan. Companies are worried about making mistakes but it is important to just get out there and start engaging. Educate yourself. Don’t compare yourself to how the celebrities are using Twitter. Social media is not finite.  The Facebook fan page now offers a Twitter app.   Hootsuite allows you to pre-schedule tweets.  Facebook fan pages are great for seo, unlimited fans and can send updates to certain target audiences. Static FBML allows you to customize your facebook fanpage. Volkswagen is a great example of what you can do with a Facebook Fan Page.

Podcast Three:  Mari Smith the Scandifornian Talks about Mark Zuckerburgs Goal to Connect the World Through Facebook

Angie and Mari discuss how Facebook Founder, Mark Zuckerburg hopes that Facebook will connect the World, how building your brand through conscious social media can cause a “ripple effect” and have a great impact on people all over the world.  They also discuss the death of DJ AM and how his partner tweeted his raw feelings over twitter and his reactions to the sudden loss.  Mari and Angie talk about how to get fans and once you have them how to keep them and the “stickiness” of your pages.  You should think of Facebook as an extension of your website and blog.  Mari shares loads of tips so be sure not to miss this one!

Podcast Four:  Mari Smith on the Merits of Facebook Groups versus Fan Pages

Angie and Mari discuss the difference between Facebook Groups versus Facebook Fan Pages.  When should you use one versus the other?  What are the benefits?  Mari shares some great tips and some news about “secret” groups! They also discuss how quickly the industry is changing, how to play to your strengths and different social media groups.  Angie and Mari also discuss the merits of My Space.

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Facebook is a free-access social networking website.  Users can join networks organized by city, workplace, school, and region to connect and interact with other people.  Currently the number one Social Network with 26 million users in the US alone!  So why should you and your business be active on Facebook?  Here are my top 7 reasons:

1) Reconnect
With so many users on Facebook it’s become very easy to connect with friends, clients, and co-workers both current and past.  With each connection (friend) you have the opportunity to let people know what you are currently doing and possibly turn this connection into a new client.  It’s amazing the amount of new business you can create with old friends.

2) Expand your network
Meet new people in your target market within your target area.  This can be very local or you can expand your Facebook connections globally.  Members of a network like Facebook are open and want to network!  Just keep in mind accepting friend requests without engaging them will not expand your network…  Becoming part of the conversation is the key.

3) Personal Branding
Facebook allows you to promote yourself and your company.  The info tab within Facebook can be very detailed allowing your connections (friends) to learn more about you. Adding your websites and additional Social Media sites is highly recommended.  Facebook also allows you to update your status or what you are currently working.  This helps create conversation within your network, conversation creates relationships, relationships bring new clients and referrals.

4) Advertising
Facebook has a powerful advertising engine that enables businesses to specify a specific demographic target, see how many people that demographic will hit, and advertise to that demographic.  This is very similar to Google Adwords but targeted in the Facebook network.  Advertising success within Facebook will be different depending on your company but should be tested especially if you are currently advertising on Google Adwords.

5) Visibility
Staying top of mind with clients, prospects, and friends leads to more business and referrals.  By updating your status, adding pictures, and letting your network know what you are doing you are creating stronger relationships with very little effort.  I cannot express how valuable this is!  The more people you have in your network the more potential you have to create top of mind awareness with your connections.

6) Fan Pages
Pages give your business or brand an identity on Facebook.  With a Page, those interested and following your brand can become “fans”, and when they do so, all their friends will see this.  These Pages also add to your website SEO as they are indexed by Google!

7) Groups
Groups on Facebook are similar to Pages, but are meant to be built around a group of people rather than an individual business or brand.  Becoming part of a group helps you expand your network with potential clients.

Hopefully these 7 Top Reasons Facebook is a Must Have for Your Business has opened your eyes to the potential of Facebook for your business.  For those of you still deciding if it’s worth your time investment spend a moment digesting a few of the current Facebook demographics:

• 35-54 year old demographic segment continues to grow the fastest, but it accelerated to a 276.4% growth rate over the past 6 months This segment is doubling every 2 months!
• The 55+ demo is not far behind with a 194.3% growth rate
• The 25-34 year population on Facebook is doubling every 6 months
• There are more females (55.7%) than males (42.2%) on Facebook
• Over 26 million users on Facebook are living in the US

So the question for you is how many of your customers or potential customers are in Facebook and are you going to reach out to them?

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