Then it came time to plan Foursquare Day Las Vegas with the Foodtrucks, I wanted her there and this would be the first conversation via phone that Marianne and I would have, it lasted about an hour.  It was like we where old friends, not like we where just talking for the first time on the phone.   I began telling her how Madeline my 17 year old could not find a job and the next thing I knew Marianne was hiring her. “Go get her a health card and she can work for me”-Marianne

Marianne had never met me in person, just tweeted with me, had no clue what my daughter looked like or anything.  Now my brat is her brat, they our (not that any of us are Hawaiian) Ohana, The Ohana Created by Social Media.  Marianne and Roxy have Dallice and Makenna my other daughters so spoiled with Shaved Ice.

Photo courtesy of  Ryan Shewchuck

Yeah sure, eventually I would of got around maybe to trying @SnOwONOShaveice, but with out Twitter or other social media outlets the Foodtruck Revolution that is spreading like wildfire would not of peaked my interest.  If Marianne would not of been paying attention to her brand #foodtrucks and joined in on the conversation with myself and Jolene from @Sloppijos my interest would not of turned towards her. Seriously, I live in the desert never been to Hawaiian, had no clue what shaved ice was..

Now time for me to go on my rampage!  Shaved Ice is not  and I repeat NOT a Snow cone, it takes time to shave the ice and Marianne is a perfectionist!  Your shaved ice is made to order and made with Love!  So what I am saying is it is so worth the wait.  If you are into instant gratification then I suggest a snow cone, but if you believe that “Good things come to those who wait” then you will value and appreciate your shaved ice the minute it starts it’s dance on your taste buds.

The best way I can describe it, is sticking your tongue out when it is snowing and catching snowflakes with your tongue. (like I would know what that feels like, living in the desert)

I hope you will share this Ohana’s story and get yourself some #ONOlicious shaved ice!

Almost forgot!  If you are one of those that doubt the “Power of Twitter”, ponder on this story for a while…

Craig Cannings Co-Founder of VAClassroom.com:

“I was recently reading a 2010 Predictions post from one of my favorite blogs, Social Media Today and they were forecasting what trends would take shape in the coming year. Interestingly enough, the 2nd prediction on this blogger’s list was that “The Social Media Specialist position will become mainstream.” In fact, a few months prior, she did a post on the “Responsibilities of the Social Media Specialist (AKA Community Manager)” and she mentioned that this particular post was the most popular one she did all year.

It seems like the writing is officially on the wall: Your Social Media Skills will continue to be in serious demand in 2010! However, like any skill, it is important that it is developed and updated on a consistent basis in order to effectively service your clients’ evolving needs.”

Needless to say, I’m very excited about this prediction.  Vaclassroom.com is rolling out a updated version of their Social Marketing Specialist Program  which I have enrolled in.  In 2010 it is my goal to continue to be “Your Go To Girl For All Your Virtual Needs!”

Eleanor

Your Virtual Girl Friday

For small business that are interested in the power of social media the following is accessable:  increasing referrals, develop trust, retain clients, be more available, and socialable

By participating in social media small businesses can build their online reputation no matter what type of business or professional service they are the above is an option for them.

Now that you know, social media is for your small business are you wondering where to start?

The first thing to do is define your social media  goals, have a strategy before you start.  How do you define goals or come up with a strategy when you don’t completely understand how social media marketing  works?  With an effective social media assessment you will be able to identify the appropriate starting point and direction for you and your business.  You will also be able to measure your ROI’s Return on Influence and Return on Investment.  This is where someone like myself comes into play, as a Social Media Marketing Virtual Assistant this is one of my favorite things to do.

Above all don’t let the fear of the unknown hold you back from participating in Social Media Marketing.  After all what is FEAR?  “False Evidence Appearing Real” – Ilene Meckely

- There are 30 billion online videos watch per month in the US.
- Almost 60% of all web traffic is video.
- 200 million users view online video each month in the US.
- Video Listings (You Tube) can show up in Google and other SEs in minutes.

So what is so cool about the Traffic Geyser tool is that it not only can take one video and mass distribute it through all sorts of video sharing sites and social networks, but it can also easily re-purpose the video as a blog post, article, social bookmark and podcast and mass distribute in those formats as well.. As Traffic Geyser continues to grow their community by the 1000s, there will be waves of projects their members will be outsourcing to of Virtual Assistants. This is a service that I will be offering in mid January upon completion of my certification course.
Visit Traffic Geyser to see how you can benefit from the services they provide.

Remember those commercials (ok I’m totally carbon dating myself here) where one person would be eating peanut butter out of the jar and then another would be eating a chocolate bar?  Then some how they became clutzy and the chocolate ended up in the peanut butter.   There was the moment of annoyance and then the moment of divine sweet discovery.  The Taste-sensation your taste buds experienced when the combo hit them..

Well,  Linkedin AKA the Chocolate has ended up in the Peanut Butter AKA Twitter!

Did I tell you I love Chocolate and Peanut butter everything.  Ok let’s get down to business because when it comes to my chocolate and peanut butter I don’t play.

Here are the Features:

1. Make your Twitter account visible on your profile
2. Use #in or #li to share posts from Twitter to your LinkedIn status
3. Add the Tweets app to share your Twitter activity on your profile

Linkedin has a great blog post on how to do put your chocolate in your peanut butter.  Plus if you are not following Linkedin on Twitter I suggest you do.  Linkedin is so much more then just a digital resume as alot of people assume.  But that’s several other blog posts….

Look! I have a Tweet Tree for my sweet little Twitter birds. Not to mention that it captures my branded custom Twitter page!

At the click of a tab you can check out all your sites….

Go set up your page and come share your new signature! (After you read the post at Mashable you’ll understand! They just explain it so well).
Tags ; facebook gizapage soc med twitter

Friend Feed is a great social network site to have a profile on. Besides being able to feed your friends by multi-tasking (yes, even if you suck at multi-tasking Friend Feed will make you look like a multi-tasking Queen or King)… it is a great service that allows you to keep up on sharing web pages, pictures, videos and music that your friends are sharing with you.

What makes Friend Feed so attractive? You can enter your user names from your different social networks and pull in your feeds from Twitter, add your Youtube profile, Flickr to share photos. But my absolute Fav is you can add your feed from your blog. The beauty of this is that all of your content is uploaded for you each time you add new content and it can be found in one place.

But, Twitter, Youtube, and Flickr are not the only social networks that Friend Feed allows you to feed your friends on. They have over 50 different social networks you can connect to.

Now if you are like me, and sometimes forget you are suppose to be feeding your friends, No Worries. Why? Because as long as you are tweeting, updating your Facebook profile, adding videos, photos, and blog posts you are feeding your Friend Feed.

So you see once you “feed” your stream by setting up a profile in this fab social network, (I suggest you use the same username you’ve branded yourself on your other social networks) your feeding your Friend Feed

I so luv getting Link Luvin and when you hook up all your feeds from your blogs, Facebook Notes, etc. . you are become a “multi-tasking” Queen or King because you are instantly and automatically feeding your friends on your Friend Feed page.

FriendFeed is a unique social network site, simply because you don’t have to baby it, it doesn’t demand your attention. It is truly that invaluable assistant (that everyone dreams of having), the one who already knows what you where thinking way before you even thought it!

I look foward to you feeding me on Friend Feed! You can visit their about, FAQ, and blog for more fabulous ways to feed your Friend Feed.

Here are a few questions to think about: Are you actively engaging your network? Are you a community builder, someone relationship oriented? Are you avoiding aggressive marketing tactics? Is you profile memorable? Have you established a regular schedule for participating? Are you presenting your self in a professional and personable way? Are you a “Social Leper” (a taker, all about you) or a Social Magnet (sharing your expertise, adding great content, and writing recommendations)? Are you spreading yourself to thin, trying to participate in every social network there is?

If you are actively engaging your network, then you are a contributing to your community and are a quite possibly a “Social Magnet.” By avoiding aggressive marketing tactics you are drawing people to you with your magnetic personality.

To make sure you are not spreading yourself to thin I would recommend reading
Social Media Marketing: An Hour a Day