Articles
Branding Your Event on Social Media with #Hashtags
Event planners and organizers are beginning to brand their events online using hashtags.
What is a hashtag?
Using the “#” sign and a word or phrase is a way for you to tell people and the social media searches what the theme of your content is. It’s a way for users to indicate that they are responding to or participating with, or even creating a new conversation or trend. They cover every topic from humor, to TV, business, politics, emotions, or even fans….you name it, and they exist! Watch this v…
What Does "Professional" Mean?
Buzz words here, there, and everywhere! Some think they make us sound smart. Others think they are overused and really mean nothing. Regardless of where you are on that spectrum, buzzwords are a reality that are here to stay though the meaning of them may change over time.
Having worked with businesses from all sectors and nonprofits in developing their brand, re-branding, or expanding their brand, I hear the word "professional" an awful lot! But what does it mean?
It could mean "showing the marke…
Customer Expectations at a Restaurant
I’ve been gluten-free for about a year now. In that time, I have learned to pre-screen restaurants to ensure that they either have a gluten free menu, they have gluten free options, or that they would be willing to accommodate. Living in Seattle also means that I am very spoiled—even if the restaurant doesn’t mention anything about gluten free options, the staff usually has enough training that we can make it work.A restaurant’s menu is perhaps their most valuable tool. Not only does it tell the…
The Pez Dispenser of Customer Service
To this day, I can’t figure out why pez dispensers are so popular. It’s a super cheap toy with some random head on the top of it. When you lift the head it gives you a less than average piece of candy. Is the excitement in moving the head or in receiving the candy?Clearly, I am not a part of their target market.
But that is ok. I don’t need to be. This simplistic view of what some consider to be a collector’s item is similar to that of a customer dealing with a company’s customer or tech support.…
Will You Do What is Necessary to Create Your Brand Movement?
It's been said that their perception is your reality.
Many companies believe that they have complete control over their brand. They believe that whatever they say, their customers, prospects and the market will blindly believe! Some of these companies also believe this to be true for their employees—as if it isn’t possible for them to discover the company's skeletons.
There was a time when that may have been true, but in the world of yelp, Facebook, and every other social media tool on the m…
Mel DePaoli is a RACE Exhibit Facilitator
You have probably heard about the “RACE: Are We So Different” exhibit at the Pacific Science Center (http://www.pacificsciencecenter.org/Exhibits/race) on display from Nov. 2013 through January 5, 2014. What you probably don’t know is that I am one of the facilitators for it! The exhibit has sparked conversation and contemplation in over 25 cities all across the United States.
If you go as a part of a group, you will have the opportunity to attend a pre-event and a post-event exhibit sessions fo…Saying Good-by to CIOs, Hello CMO!
I was reading the Accenture report, "The CMO-CIO Disconnect: Bridging the Gap to Seize the Digital Opportunity" (http://www.cmswire.com/cms/customer-experience/accenture-report-how-cmos-and-cios-can-play-nice-together-022230.php.) According to this report, by 2017 CMOs will spend more time with technology and analytics than CIOs. This trend has been wo…
Presenting the Business of Table Topics on Steriods
I have been a member of Toastmasters for two years now. I am well-trained and used to the fact that when I go to a meeting, I will be critiqued. And believe it or not, I actually like it because it helps me grow and improve.Last month, I was asked to present at my local district’s leadership training or Member Education and Leadership Expo (MELE). I was one of the breakout sessions and presented “Business: Table Topics on Steroids.” As you can tell by the name, I focused in on how Toastmasters n…
Corporate Culture Eras and What is Next?
Like everything else in life, corporate cultures change over time. They change because the company grows, changes, moves into new markets, offers new services, different locations, or because the staff has changed. They also change because of society’s expectations of companies and the work force. For example, there has been a lot of talk about employers being more flexible—allowing their employees to work from home or to not be so rigid in what time an employee shows up for work. Let’s take a l…Presenting to High School Kids on Developing a Brand
As you know by now, I believe in and practice continued self-improvement—or life experiences as they end up becoming. This is no different!I’ve volunteered for DECA for the last four-plus years and this year I was asked to present at Washington Business Week. “Sure I can do this!” I thought. I can present to what is considered the hardest audience! I saw it as a challenge. I saw it as a way to test how good of a speaker am I really and am I really able to change to fit my audience?
Having had no …