Twitter Chats: Do You Participate? Are You a Host? We Want to Know What You Think!

Image credit: US Department of Labor

So, what do you all think about Twitter chats? These virtual chats are held on Twitter. Lots of companies hold these chats every so often to get customer feedback, answer client questions and to just generally get to know the people who are interested in the business’ products and services.

If you’re still a little murky on how your company can benefit from a Twitter chat we’ve gathered up a few ideas that may help you embrace the idea and get to chattin’:

1. Keep the chat name the same week after week, or month after month

When organizing the chat, make sure everyone knows what it’s going to be called. Pick a hashtaged name, such as #(your business twitter account)weeklychat and add the specific hashtag for the topic you plan on discussing, such as #samedaydelivery.

2. Select a trending topic

Chat about something that’s interesting and timely so people are excited to learn.

3. Use experts

If you know other people in the industry who know a lot about the topic you’re going to feature, make sure they’re involved with the chat.

“Brands and organizations have a slew of experts whose online and offline networks would flock to speak with them during Twitter chats. Employees, partners, celebrity spokespeople… these types of high-profile or knowledgeable people can be great assets for drawing in a large audience.” – “Hosting a Better Twitter Chat,” Lauren Dugan, Social Media Today

4. Promote the chat via other social media, email, etc.

Promote the heck out of this event via Facebook, Twitter and your blog, and don’t forget to include it in your weekly email blasts, too.

5. Try to respond to everyone’s questions: 

Pay attention and always try to respond to client questions or concerns. And don’t forget to favorite the tweets you really dig.

6. Follow up: 

After your chats are complete, don’t forget to write a blog post that details what went down.

Source: Social Media Today

HR Wednesday: The “Walk Around” Management Style

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What’s your management style? Are you a hands-on boss, or do you like to stay in your office and let your employees come to you? There are benefits and negatives to every type of management style. But there are some management styles that are not as prevalent as they once were. Sure, some styles are outdated, but some management tactics aren’t so bad. We’re going to focus on one of those almost-forgotten, but still swell styles today.

“Management by walking around”

This style has almost gone defunct because of today’s busy office environment, telecommuting and flextime. But there are ways managers can still “walk around” the office, even if many of their workers aren’t located in the same physical building.

The article, “The Lost Are of Walking Around,” by Sharlyn Lauby suggests the following interesting, and easy-to-follow examples:

“Take the walk: Stepping away from your desk can be a good thing. It’s exercise. Use some of those moments when you need to take a break to visit employees.

Wander around virtually: Really can’t get away? Is your team thousands of miles away? Check in using email or the social collaboration tools your company provides.

There’s a reason Management by Walking Around became so popular. It works: Managers building relationships with their employees is essential for business. Now, I will admit, technology innovation may have changed the “walking around” concept. But the idea is still the same.

Companies shouldn’t put managers in the position where they have to choose between reports and employees: Managers should be able to do both. And managers shouldn’t use reports as an excuse not to spend time with their employees. It’s time to rediscover the lost art of walking around.” – Source: HR Bartender, Lauby

Industry News Recap: Fuel Savings, a New Logistics Service, and a Quirky Delivery Service

Image credit: DaveBleasdale

It’s Monday, which means you’re likely looking for easy-to-digest news bits. We totally get that! We’ve rounded up a few fun (and interesting) industry news stories for you to read while starting your custom-made, early-in-the-week intravenous coffee drip:

Get potential fuel savings for your fleet with Eco-flap:

The Eco-flap is marketed as a fuel-saving product for smaller fleet owners:

“This new spin on the traditional mud flap cuts down on wind resistance and lowers fuel costs, allowing owners to operate a more energy-efficient fleet. The team at Chattanooga, Tenn.–based Anderson Flaps didn't set out to create a greener mud flap. They actually set out to create a cleaner one. The company hoped to revamp mud-flap design to allow for better passage of air through the flaps. The freer passage of air would help reduce the accumulation of grime by allowing water or mud from tire spray to drain on the flap, as opposed to piling up on top of it.”

-- “These Mud Flaps can Help Trucks Slash Fuel Costs,” via Popular Mechanics

Sterman Masser Inc., a Penn. potato company, is getting into logistics:

“Sterman Masser Inc., an eighth-generation potato growing company, has launched Masser Logistics Services to provide delivery service to its customers as well as those of Keystone Potato Products and Fresh Solutions Network. Masser Logistics Services, like Sterman Masser Inc. and Masser Potato Farms, is based in Sacramento, Pa. The company owns 15 trucks, and all are equipped with auxiliary power units to reduce fuel consumption and extend engine life, according to the news release.” -- “Pennsylvania Potato Company Launches Logistics Firm,” via The Packer

 

And a bit of fun delivery news that’s local (at least to the Courier Magazine team):

The Birdfeeder LLC, a new small delivery business, will deliver almost any convenience store product to Lawrence, Kan., students:

“Birdfeeder is geared to students and the late-night crowd. For the moment, its delivery area is between Massachusetts and Iowa and Ninth and 19th streets. Hours are 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays. Customers place an order by calling, texting or tweeting. His info is available on the Birdfeeder LLC Facebook page.” -- “Late-night convenience store delivery service begins operations in student neighborhoods,”via The Lawrence-Journal World

How Small Businesses Benefit Communities (and why Small Business Collaboration is Great)

Image credit: Key Foster

Bill McKibben, environmentalist, broadcaster and environmental justice advocate, and Mike Brady, social entrepreneur, recently discussed how small businesses could help each other while revitalizing local communities.

The discussion occurred during a panel after the screening of the documentary Fixing the Future, by David Brancaccio. The documentary is about finding innovative strategies to create sustainable businesses and stable local economies. The following small-business-collaboration ideas were discussed during the panel and reported in the article “5 Steps For Small Businesses to Revitalize Local Economies,” by Alice Groesbeck, film and video production student at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, and visual communications intern for Ashoka USA.

Small businesses should discuss social responsibility (even with the competition)

Businesses in a similar, local marketplace should see each other as possible collaborators. “Partnering with other businesses offers you an opportunity to learn new ways to foster a sense of social responsibility within your community,” said Groesbeck.

Organizations, such as The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, can help connect local businesses with each other and can help businesses create sustainable economies, said Groesbeck.

Businesses should develop accountability with customers

“According to a 2010 University of Toronto study published in Psychological Science, people aren’t just buying products based on how much they cost,” Groesbeck said. “Customers also consider how the things they buy reflect their personal beliefs and impact their environment. Since communities have been devastated by the economic downturn, Americans are now shifting away from being isolated consumers and coming together as contributors.”

Businesses should try to build accountability by building natural and respectful business interactions between people in the community.

Local businesses should have a global impact

When local businesses work toward having a global impact, the business can reap rich resources that can, ultimately, help the community.

Small victories are still victories

Work in increments and celebrate the small things. Trying to tackle everything at once can leave you tired and unable to help the community – or your business.

Easy Ways to Stay Fit at the Office

Image source: Fey IIyas

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle while keeping a 40-hour-a-week job is not an easy task. Every day, you get to work pretty darn early and many days you leave the office late. And whether you’re sitting behind a desk taking client calls, or sitting behind the wheel of one of your company’s trucks, you’re sitting. A lot.

Luckily, there are a few ways that you (the employee) can still maintain your health while working long hours. And manager: There are a few things you can change (and add) at the office to help your employees keep fit and healthy, too.

For employees

Invest in fit-boosting technology

While technologies, such as television and video games, can make a person more inclined to recline, some innovations (think fitness apps, health websites, etc.), can help people stay healthy.

Use technology to track your health

If your days are packed and you can only fit in random runs in your day (aka you don’t have a particular “running path,” and you just run whenever you can), you can track what you’ve done (and a lot more) by using technologies, such as the UP by Jawbone wristband, to store your activity.

Bring your fitness routine to your desk

Use a fitness ball instead of a chair to improve your balance and strengthen your core muscles. Also: Keep small weights at your desk, and stretch through the day when you can. And take time to go for a daily walk outside -- the sunshine will do you good!

For managers

Offer fitness classes during lunch (or at other times during the workday)

Small businesses often can hire an independent contractor who teaches an aerobics class, or a yoga class, to teach a class -- in the office -- once or twice. Employees can pay a small fee to participate in the class.

Keep healthy snacks in the office kitchen

You don’t need to go overboard or anything, but stocking the office kitchen with healthier options, such as whole-grain oatmeal, natural juice, organic coffee, and fresh fruit, can influence employees to eat healthier throughout the day.

 

Consider adding a standing desk

Granted, this may be a bit pricey, but it may be worth offering a standing desk to employees who are in the office a lot. Or just add a few standing desks throughout the office, and allow people to use them as an option throughout the workday.

Resources

Mashable.com, “Live: Chat About the BestTech for Health and Wellness,” by Dani Fankhauser

Mayo Clinic, "Workplace Exercises: How to Burn Calories at Work," by Mayo Clinic Staff

Forbes, "What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Standing Desks," by Steve Mullis

Blogging for Your Business Part 2: Make Your Blog Better

Image source: SEOPlanter

If you and your business started blogging a long while ago, you’ve probably built up a decent readership. Your readers dig your voice and you’re able to guess (with reasonable accuracy) what topics will garner likes, shares and comments. Or maybe you kinda tried to start a blog and maybe – just maybe -- attempted to forget the fact you began that blog out of frustration, etc.

No matter if you’ve an active blog, or merely an existing dead-as-a-door-knob blog, you can still wring success out of what you’ve already created.

Keep and entertain current readers:

Know your target audience: Don’t scare away current readers by changing all of your content. Add in new types of blog posts (photo, or gif-centric posts, or fun employee Q-and-As) along with your currently covered topics. If you think you’ve lost touch with your current audience, ask your readers what they want to see on the blog.

Use free keyword research tools:

Before you begin to write your next blog, stop and do keyword research. Most keyword research tools are free and all keyword sites are relatively easy to use. After you’ve searched for relevant keywords, make certain to pick keyword phrases that rank as a “low,” or “medium.”

 

“Once you have a few keywords chosen, make sure that at least one fits into your headline, as close to the first word as possible,” Verrill says. “Try to have it appear again in the first few sentences, and your other related terms somewhere else in the copy. Only do this if it seems natural within context of the blog.”

 

Take advantage of social media:

Promote your posts on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you mention a particular industry service, or person, make sure to tag the company, or person in your tweet. Including people in the conversation will help you get more clicks and shares.

Source: Improve Your Blogging and Increase Traffic: 3 Tips,Jonathan Payne from Social Media Today, and Ashley Verrill from Social Fresh

Blogging for Your Business Part 1: How to Build a Useful Blog for Your Delivery Company

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You have a slick business website and have taken the time to create a few social media accounts for your company. All of these things are marvelous! But do you have a business blog?

 

You may have never started a blog because you thought creating and writing posts would be too much work. And as a blogger I understand that -- blogging is difficult and at times it’s time consuming. Also: No matter how great of a blog manager you are it can take a long time to find your audience and for your blog to find its voice.

But there are many benefits of business blogging:

• Blogging allows your employees to discuss the aspects of the company they enjoy.
• If you’re blogging (and if you’re the president or owner of the company you should be), the research for future blog posts allows you to easily stay current with trends in the industry.
• The more true and fact-filled things you write the more authority you give your business.
• Blogging allows your customers to easily interact with you and your business associates.

-Source: “5 Reasons Your Business Should Be Blogging,” by Marcus Sheridan, from Social Media Examiner

So, just how do you successfully start your company’s blog? According to the article, “How to Plan Your Business Blog,” by Amanda DiSilvestro, it’s important to plan your blog before you begin writing or promoting your services via your new, shiny blog. To make an effective blog, consider the following:

• “Who is my target audience, and what do they want to read?
• Am I going to allow guest bloggers on the blog?
• How often should I post to the blog?
• How can I track its success? What will I consider success?”

-Source: DiSilvestro, Social Media Today

DiSilvestro also provides some easy-to-follow steps that will help new bloggers plan their blogs:

Know your readers: You need to know who your audience is before you start to create content. Attract new readers (aka customers) to your blog by conducting some simple SEO keyword research. “Utilize keyword research to determine what a lot of people are searching for on Google,” DiSilvestro said. Learn more about keyword research over atCopyblogger.

Choose a snappy name: Name your blog something that will make your current customers smile and also will attract new readers. Also: Make blog titles intriguing. Starting titles with, “5 Ways to…,” or “How to,” will make your blogs more clickable.

Easy communication: Link to related articles and to your company’s social media sites often. Also: Include an “opt-in offer that readers can fill out if they want to contact you about more information,” DiSilvestro said.

Update often: Recruit employees to write blogs and come up with blog topics. And if there’s no one at your company who wants to write, consider hiring a freelance writer, or asking guest bloggers to contribute to your content. “Generally you should try to produce most of your content in-house at the start so that readers can see you really know your stuff. When you do allow the occasional guest blogger,” DiSilvestro said.

Don’t push yourself too hard: Posting once a week is enough, but two to three posts per week is ideal. “The more content you have the easier it will be to promote that blog; not to mention the more chances you have to really ramp up your SEO (blogs are an excellent way to improve the SEO of your website),” DiSilvestro said.

Part 2 of this discussion will examine how people with existing business blogs can improve their blogs and attract more customers.