I. Would you know who your tribe is online?

Artist:  Lars Tunebo SOURCE

written by 
Jeannette Marshall
@optioneerJM


I know I've touched on the advantages of knowing who your tribe is online.

That is probably when I started paying closer attention to the numbers.

Last week I shared who the typical follower of mine is based on the intelligence and data information capture it gives me for free so that I keep looking at it, and perhaps subconsciously have a pretty good grasp of who they are.  I've written with oodles of gratitude posts, thanking those for their educating me, supporting me and joined in the spirit of discovery together.  Intent on being uplifting, sharing advice, stopping bad things from happening, talk a lot when there are bad things happening.


After all the hoopla over the Las Vegas shooting this past week, and rightly so, there should be a lot of outrage, empathy, and plain humble prayers for anyone who was impact to speak up against it.

So I watch the news and in between tasks read a bunch of numbers.    Something set me off to blog about demographics and how many generations are distinguished by the world in which they were growing up in, the environment surrounding them, both threats and celebrations.   To evolve into YUPPYdom on Word Press - what an engaged group!  People who like blogging, like reading other's blogs and then have discussions based on something that grasps either party.  Very cool and productive.  Often hanging close in more and more platforms.  

It is really magical REALLY

By observing the analytics that I am getting from my active participation on Linked In, Twitter, Facebook, Blogging, Pinterest, Google Plus, InstaGRAM, Quora, I am getting a much better sense of who my online tribe is.

I have a number of folders on Desktop that I keep things organized, one being BLOG, others may be QUOTES, I have a FAMILY one and you get my meaning.  It shouldn't be surprising that I have my OUTLOOK organized and color coded with appointment types identified with colors.  Then I have rules running to nicely place emails in the number of file folders on there.

I am organized in some ways.

The only downside is seeing blogs that go into DRAFT mode, and I know I looking for the right push to right about it.  I've discovered that I'm pretty stubborn about it.  

I treat this optioneerJM blog 
as the business side of my brain.  Talking about sales, business operations, leadership and sprinkle in things that I've discovered on social medias.

The best interest to be talking about is MENTAL HEALTH.  That is my personal opinion and there is more evidence of it becoming a louder conversation.  The beat of the drum of causes is pretty loud on social media.

I'm mulling over in my mind, how I am going to use these numbers to tell a story about who I am and the tribe that I hang out with online.  It isn't that hard for some of it when you see someone you mutually share with someone a post or Tweet that you're both in.  I can attest strongly that you mindset and vibe is really going to attract your tribe online.  It can become a powerful tool and a marketing machine on steroids.

Since the beginning of the web and further along as social media emerged - you were no longer just clicking and moving your mouse around alone.  You were scanning something from someone you connect with and go read that.  

There has to be discipline for the amount of time you are going to spend online.  It has to be delegated to times that you would instead be flipping channels, or like in my case, the Hunkster Hubster has fallen asleep on the couch, sated from watching a classic 1963 Plymouth something restored.  To be sure, he has his tinker toy in the garage:  1964 Ford Ranchero.  No, we do not have extra money.  It is more like a car flip:  investing in a car, going the distance, letting someone else take it over to go further, and money exchanges hands.  It happened once.

Now after that very long meandering intro, I will show you where many of my creative, techie, smart, savvy, inspiring, funny, educational, hobby, interests are all nicely laid out in a bow:  on Pinterest.  I don't think I had numbers even 7 years ago, and the analytics are slowly coming out now.

I did write about data too.  There is a race on for information.  It is at an "almost at all cost" dire situation that is floating out there and worrying some companies:  everyone wants to gather and accumulate the most data.  There is a corporate technology cloud competition on fiercely aggressive.  Well, those that want to win the data race.  So they can sell a service to host that data, which is information.

Imagine having 48 hours notice that your mother-in-law is coming to visit you for 2 weeks to help you around the house (insert father-in-law for handyman chores, this is not a gender example) -- you panic.  You kick dust under the bed, and shine everything up in the shortest quickest way, squeeze everything into bulging closets and drawers ... the inevitable drunk drawer in every room.

So a person who likes numbers, adores them, I am seeing some fruits of sharing the numbers:  I am letting people get to know me.  The numbers from the sites show you hangs out with you virtually (clicks on something or tweets at you, like an image, write a comment, reshare ... you know what we do, I know!) 

ARTIST:  Wlad Safronow SOURCE

A lot of discussion goes on around the web, producing new best lists of new opinions on the same things and then some things that are really the best based on what they do, how they communicate, whether people want to be connected with you.  Some are the tricksters who add you then delete you afterwards.

I read every bio for every invite that I get online.  I am not dissuaded if they have a small following, I will scan their first few tweets:  what do they have PINNED to their Twitter profile (you MUST do this to show you know a little bit about what you are doing on there).

People like to follow winners.  Has that changed at all really from centuries ago?  I don't think so.  What has changed is the large reaches in the globe, to the noblest craft, gift, creation, music, writing, humor, takes on life ... that can be scooped up and scoped out.

Like my organizational calendar style, being color coded.  A bad habit that drives my husband a bit wild, is surf in the evening, click on 4 articles at most, to be hosted in my web browser.  I put my computer quietly to sleep and tuck it in, turn off the connection and put it to sleep.  So when I wake up, with my coffee, before I leave for work or appointments, I have read those 4 stories.  They can be from different platforms.

Usually I wander around Linked In as I seemingly gravitate towards business oriented stories.  I tend to be more about wandering around photography, quotes, creative elements in the evenings.  Sometimes I let it hang out with a blog.

There are so many more things that I want to try to do or experiment on.  One place that I know it is kept off site is on all places:  Pinterest.  Granted, I can skim around then and rePIN great stuff that catches my eye.  But it is my greatest offline folder organization system.  

Admittedly, when I first went on PINTEREST, I wanted to show off things that I liked, my taste in whatever.  If you look at the numbers that are shown statistically for Pinterest, this is what I found, effective this 5th day of October 2017:

This is what I asked GOOGLE:
What are the highest rated social media platform as of October 5 2017 users and data available?

Top Social
 Media Demographics
SOURCE

Be true to yourself

To pave the way 
whether it be sales or social media, the most credible authenticity finds warmth in an environment of nurture, nature and self-reflection.

Speak from the heart
is what I was often told, or reinforced continuously and consistently for the 10 years I was a devotee of Toastmasters' International.  The organization founded by the original Dale Carnegie, the master storyteller and wisdom dispenser.  

Whenever planned properly
wrote appropriately and prepared diligently, I could do a speech worthy of any TED TALKS program.  

I practiced and applied
what I was learning while pushing myself beyond my comfort zone.  Yes, I got cold feet more than a few times at a competition, unless I was the Area Governor, tasked with chairing and hosting the event surrounded by gifted orators.

I watched some take a leap
into the land of circuit speaking::... more commonly a target by the online influence set ::... as a keynote spokesperson at a global event.

A goal earned on my own steam
where I don't capitalize on anyone to build my reputation [ aka Guy Kawasaki for working "for" Steve Jobs ~ NOTE:  "with" was backspaced and deleted.

Developing a cynicism
that comes with age.  The right that you earn to be convincing, worthy of another's attention.   Of the high-end business traveler sect.  Which is a essentially a potpourri of information, credible education, and knowledge expounding in abundance.

Credibility is your's to grasp and gain
because if you are true to yourself, your likewise magnet to attract the like minded, developing your own tribe, of whom you warmly and safely belong.

Nobody likes impostors
from any historical reference in mind.  Held in contempt with the most devious and devil, shown as a weakness.

Where humility and humanity reign
in harmony with creating a universe of security, safety, love and peace.  When you are true to yourself, you can float into the essence of what makes you breath.


I really love this image:  
[ on a quest to discover the artist ] ::....

Communication rules

There are often repetitive messages in my blog writing and it is rewarding when someone of superior intelligence grasps the meaning behind the messages.

Mike and I began our Social Media journey at about the same time (2010) ::... I was nudged a little harder over the cliff into the abyss slightly before him, and became what I thought as an unlikely mentor to someone who was highly successful and brilliant in his own right -- a successful book launch being a key metric that I recognized early on as a method to delve into credibility online among the endless noise and self-promotion of many self-described "experts".

Steadfast still, I am firmly entrenched in the belief that nobody can define themselves as an expert, no matter how many followers one has.  It is derived from how others describe you:  what do others consider you knowledgeable about is one thing, being credited as an expert quite largely another.

Mike reached out to me a couple of weeks ago via email, one of the few entrusted connections online that have never been derived from a face-to-face meeting at an event, social or association.  Not even a telephone conversation.

Having a virtual or personal conversation with a man who is not a relative, business associate is frowned upon as it can lead "to other things".  However, you can still be disciplined in having rich conversations and exchange of knowledge and learning from others regardless of gender.   There is an invisible line that should never be crossed.  

During a isolated time in my life when I was a regular church attendee, I still recall a message that resonates today from a wise Pastor:  do not be afraid to create friendships or be asked for advice from the opposite gender.  However, there are some areas to stay far from to keep it from falling into a downward, unethical spiral:

1. Include others in the conversation so that it is not isolated, clustered by only two (the Pastor suggested that he invites his wife to any meeting or event that he wants to avoid falling into the trap of questionable conversations, particularly marriage counselling).
2. It is okay to sprinkle in nuggets about your life partner, spouse, wife or husband, children, as a distinct flag that you are if not always happy, happiest with the person you are with and have no intention to stray.  Cheating is not at your core values.
3. Keep it professional so that at any given time, the conversation may be shared with a sibling, friend, child, parent, spouse, partner without any guilt.
4. Keep the topic off of relationship radars:  particularly complaints about your partner's shortcomings, dissatisfaction with your relationship in any shape or form.  That should be with your church minister or mosque elder or mentor (sibling, parent, etc).
5. You can have a respectful, fruitful relationship with a person of the opposite sex, when your radar clearly signals "in a committed relationship with not a sliver of disregard or disrespect of your life partner".
6. Any of these apply to anyone with leanings towards same sex or transgender relationships.

You CAN have helpful, rewarding relationships with anyone so long as you know your boundaries and it is clearly communicated by not so much by what you say but how you act.

FORECASTING revitalization and SOCIAL MEDIA thought provocation

I was wandering around social media, as I often do.  Living a country song in real life:  married to a Hunkster Hubster, my faithful companion Buddy [my Border Collie]; a productive week of sorts [battle my demon of "anxiety" caused by the realization that BULLYING is alive and well in some toxic corporate cultures that are so cloaked in manipulation and a play on words, causing it to be very difficult to prove::... EUREKA!  After a great deal of reading, researching on a potpourri of organizations, help associations, evaluations, discussions and distinguishable by authentication by psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists or medical practitioners ] they all basically agree that IF YOU THINK YOU ARE/HAVE BEEN BULLIED you likely are/have. ]

Take a look at this YouTube post by my content source favorite:  MASHABLE [which I reSHARE their content on Twitter faithfully, with never an acknow- ledgement of even a #RT never mind a #ThankYou hashtag on the feed.  Once, I had someone who was very observant that I tended to share @Mashable content consistently asked whether I belonged to Mashable.com or an affiliate of a compensated kind:  aka Brand Ambassador ].  


HEREIN is my comment, nestled among three really stupid ones ::... which makes me ponder if only gamers pay attention to Mashable.  Here I am a white, 50something, Canadian, Lady [how unique can one get on Social Media eh?] a solid follower of Mashable's since I can't remember when?  Likely, far at the beginning when I just grooved to the beat of their vibes from their posts:  unique, coolio, informative, positive or bizarre [pick your own perception of this really cool e-zine online!! ].  It is my intent to become a Brand Ambassador of sorts:  which usually include:

1.  Informative, helpful, unique, inspiring, bizarre content under one umbrella
2.  A cache of intellectually stimulating content
3. Attractive to a distinct, talented crew of writers, assemblers and ensemble 
4. Provides a wealth of information to sop up and absorb
5. Has created a groove and a beat that resounds among a hipster or yuppy
6. Is unrelated to race, country, politic, faith, color, educated or economics
7. Has the gift of the spirit of sharing by creating share-friendly buzz
8. Is more about the name "Mashable" than any singular contributor, artist, writer, innovator, video, mainstream oriented - NOT - material
9. Eye catching wording or visuals, it begs to be clicked on 
10.  Appeals to the curious, knowledge junkies, innovative, creative types.

Have a look with my comment after you take a look at the video link:

Brilliant!!  [ HEY! Who are the Bozos commenting here? ] I noticed the clear tribute to Hyatt which is signifying that this was "sponsored by" Hyatt ::.... which in social media terms means:  "PAID for by" .... I think that authenticity and credibility would go a far longer way if every Brand Ambassador, Blog, Website or Social Media Brand [ think:  instaGRAM as what I consider "the universal endorsement" social media site ] ::.... if it was REQUIRED to show in Profile that u are paid by a Brand 4 what U tweet or share.  


Another gem I uncovered while letting the content follow through on the headline after garnering a click:

It's no wonder the most prolific personalities or brands online are actively followed and sought.  There is so much abundance of information that allows you to discover a deeper insight to your own being by what attracts you and then ultimately you attract in kind.  

A giving bunch who belong to the inner sanctuary of the giving kind.  Not of financial means, more often abundance thin by monetary value but rich beyond imagination by having something in common:  helping others or helping the world become a better place.  

By observing your own stats with some sort of frequency, if not any kind of regularity, you can reach and get in touch with what others want to hear from you about.  Mine have been sitting there as plain as day or the sparkle of sunshine.  Understanding what it means is a great discovery.

Take a look at the numbers.  My consistent mass hails from Brazil.  Maybe a sign that this is the place where my soul aligns.  Or, if more pragmatic, objective observation is where you're inclined, the simple fact that Google's blogspot features easily translation, that removes restriction of reach by language distinction.

Brazil loves and keeps on giving the love to "Build a 30-60-90 Day Plan".  More instructional than philosophical, it lays out how to do just that.  Even to this day, Google is often my best online friend.  As it gets to know me, successful results abound.  Closer to what I have had in mind then my mind knew.

Taking a queue from my faithful crowd:  what is the content they most enjoy or find of value?  The ingredients to a successful sales path.  Less philosophizing and more educational.  You have a feel for what you are looking for whenever you are creating the content, the report, the analysis, the research, yet until you see it emerge does it create a spotlight.

I will proceed in the coming days on writing a more instructional blog on how to forecast accurately and consistently ::.... primarily geared towards the sales professional or those that aspire to be.

Get all your ducks in a row: ONLINE SHOPPING

I'm not exactly a beginner online shopper, but I'm a buyer or customer offline.  Like any new restaurant you want to try, you are apprehensive about trying something new.  Online shopping is kind of like that.  One's age and comfort with computers and navigating online are far outweighed by safety, security, privacy or hacking being a real threat.

I set up Pay Pal to be on my blogs so that maybe a few souls who have read my blogs, extrapolated some value, may want to donate a few bucks or even $1 to compensate for the value of what you read.  Unfortunately, some place I've never heard of had taken $15 from me.  Not very convincing as a hesitant first step you reckon, eh?

Online buying is a patient affair isn't it?  Many companies hitch up their website and start selling way too soon.  Long before they're ready or have process or infrastructure in place.

Fortunately, unlike a store, you don't have to be concerned with whether the owner or manager has to come to the front to see you because the likelihood of you telling that person that you will never go there again, will tell all those willing to listen about the shoddy service.  A public relations nightmare.  So you may get a coupon for 10% off your next visit (to guarantee you will revisit ... or maybe not with only 10 percent off).

We're not buyers or shoppers really anymore.  We are consumers.  How apt that is, no longer customers.  Yet all the brands clamoring and competing online are trying to get that magic reaction hit, when keeping up with demand and managing growth becomes a very large accomplishment to achieve.

Remember, your earliest customers, or consumers or buyers or whatever it is you call them, they are your first critics.  Pay attention to them.  They are helping you get better.  [ find quote from Bill Gates on customers to insert here ]

Here's an annoying experience recently from somewhere I've shopped before.

* * * 

I N T E R A C T I O N

* * *

The security answer is the order number.  Should I re-order again?

I entered a 30% coupon code of "samsbirthday" or something like that which was a pop up when I logged on.  Unfortunately, when I entered it on my cart page, I received an error message that "the coupon had expired".  

I can be your customer service thermometer if you would like.  Sharing customer experience and how you are doing from my perspective or what went wrong.

That would be worth the same as any affiliate discount.   Whoever manages your social media Twitter account is sluggish.  That is usually a sign of someone who is hungover or too busy with their smart phone.  

Now is the time to get your act together.  Make your mistakes.  Iron the kinks out of the system.  Put customer service advocacy your most important goal.  Create a culture that because you genuinely like the people you work with, you don't want to let them down, you step up to do more of your share.  That resonates with the customers they serve.  Without customers, you have no business which equates to less for people to do, followed by less people required to do what is declining.    

Start a recognition program:  my most favorite was getting a plastic OSCAR statue where we started the first day of the week, Monday, at 9 am huddle with someone holding the KUDOS trophy, telling the group what spectacular or thoughtful thing one of its members did the week before.  How they helped the team achieve some pretty big goals, their part in it, but more of how they did more than what they had been asked.  Then the significant emblem of team work and respect is displayed where they work for that week.

Sincerely, 

Jeannette