Congratulations!

Jeff Wilke, co-founder and part owner of Jelecos, has made national news this week. Thursday he called the Omaha World Herald to submit a wedding announcement for his daughter, Kristy Wilke and her partner Jessica Kitzman but the request was denied. Jeff immediately began a campaign on Facebook to help encourage the newspaper to accept same-sex wedding announcements. The campaign ballooned in one weekend and on Monday, the newspaper released a statement changing the previous policy.

Jeff was able to achieve a victory for his daughter and we know his main goal is to see true change in our community. We applaud him for his efforts!

Congratulations to Kristy & Jessica!

Check out a brief synopsis of the coverage here:
Huffington Post
Media E Coder
HRC
Metro Weekly
KPTM
Passport Magazine
Advocate
Minnesota Public Radio

Media Matters
Chicago Pride
Channel 3
Jezebel

In terms of value, a dynamic and relevant website is nearly incalculable. With the additional options of integrating social media into your website, businesses of any size can produce significant ROI’s (Return on Investment) from online initiatives. Social media can help your company stand out and keep your products or services on the minds of your consumers in a way that wasn't possible even a few years ago. What many companies fail to consider, however, is that you should understand the do's and don'ts for reaching customers on social platforms, or your social media campaign can backfire in as little time as it takes to click ‘unfollow’. Your goal should be to create a sense of friendliness and transparency that makes customers feel comfortable. While your corporate website may be limiting in the amount of casual interactions it allows for, social media can be the perfect platform for customer service and friendly connections, showing your customers the more personal and down to earth side of your business.  
 
One of the biggest mistakes a lot of businesses make when it comes to social networking is developing a "look at me" complex. It's a common mistake and easy to make. The harsh truth is that your customers don't visit your Facebook page (or even your website) to read about how great your company is. They are primarily there to find out how your products or services can benefit them. No one wants to log onto their Facebook page to find a barrage of spamy posts from a company. They just want to interact with their friends. The companies that are most successful in the social media realm understand this and consciously work toward a friendly interaction with their customers rather than just a business relationship.
 
It seems simple, but it's easy to forget. I've seen countless Twitter pages with tweets such as: "We're now offering iced coffee," or "Our travel rates are cheaper than the competition." It makes the point, but fails to relate the message to the consumer. Something like "Our new iced coffee is a great way to cool down when the weather heats up!" or "Could you use a vacation? Our low travel rates make getting away easy," are much better ways to create content that is relevant to the customer. Throw in a few random-but-relevant facts or tips such as "Did you know that black coffee with no sugar contains no calories?" or "Our top fifteen must-see attractions in Chicago. What's your favorite?" and now you've got your audience coming back not just to hear about your products, but to hear what interesting thing you're going to say next. Nobody likes listening to that friend who loves to go on and on about themselves, so think of your fans and followers as friends, not dollar signs. Start asking questions and creating conversations, and suddenly you have an actual relationship with your customers on a personal level.
 
Integrating social media into your online presence can be an amazing way to relate to your customers, but you can't approach it as a way to make a quick sale. Successful integration means connecting with your customers and forming a sense of friendship and trust, providing them with relevant information that helps them make a decision, affects their daily life, or broadens their knowledge. If that leads to a larger bottom line in the long run, than you have a successful social media campaign, but you can't jump straight to the results without putting in the work. Keep it in perspective, and it’s easy to have a social media integration that really benefits your customers and your business.

Last week I wrote about my trip to Canda for the Asigra conference. Below are some other fun memories of our trip!

Our fun night out was a trip to the CN Tower.  The ride to the top takes 58 seconds.  To top that off, there’s a glass floor in the elevator.  Asigra spoiled us at the top with very delicious hors d'oeuvres and beverages.  Three hours later we all pile back into the buses for a trip back to the hotel.  Sitting in front of us is an Asigra partner from Memphis, Tennessee chatting to her colleague about her HTC Incredible.  Leon, being the relentless gadget guru he is, couldn’t resist to strike up a conversation about his experiences with the device.  He gave her a few pointers and ended up striking a great conversation about CEO-type-things and Nebraska Football.  Turns out she has family from Omaha and comes up every year for a game.  Small world!  She gave us her version of the Nebraska fight song.  Good times.

 

For further details on the other antics on our trip such as Trent’s magical quarter-pounder-with-cheese disappearing act and Leon’s philosophies on glassware, look one of us up at the next I.T. Matters or drop me a note.