Sparkatopia

I was asked to be a guest today on Buzz Live, the Appleton Post Crescents weekly retail business program.  Such a treat!!!

I was joined by host Maureen Wallenfang as we talk about how businesses can profit from social media, and answer your questions.

Are you listening to your customers? If they say something bad about your business in real time on Twitter, would you confront them in person?

Tom and Sara discuss recent stories of PR agencies getting fired after negative tweets went out. A member of the Chrysler team inadvertently posted a highly controversial tweet from the corporate account instead of his private account. The Redner Group intentionally posted a negative tweet on behalf of their client 2K, causing the agency to be let go from the gaming corporation. Lesson learned: quadruple-check your tweets, especially if your job depends on it!

Join the conversation by commenting below or using hashtag #redshoesspeak on twitter!

Jess shares the heartwarming story of the loss of a dear relative and how she turned to blogging and social media for comfort. Your support network shows up in the most unlikely places and with the advent of social media, another channel for support is born. People grieve in different ways and sharing with your social network is one way of coping.

Jess & Tommy talk about an article in INC magazine on the online home made / vintage selling site Etsy. Anyone can launch and sell on etsy.com but if you grow too large and have to outsource the production of such goods, you can not sell on the site any longer. Jess then turns the discussion to social selling and the “sell at home” marketplace. Makes you think how important social media and relationships are to the selling and buying process. Do you take recommendations for friends and family before you make purchasing decisions? Please be part of the discussion. Use #redshoespeaks in twitter or comment below!

Lisa and Tommy talk about a tradition that Lisa learned at her first PR job called March FORTH. A time to stop and reflect with fellow co-workers on the past year, set goals both personally and professionally and look forward to the future.

We discuss how Klout works, brands going directly to consumers for reviews and if consumers will provide honest feedback to a company’s products or services.

Tommy and Lisa talk about the Superbowl (Go Pack Go!) and how a few companies are integrating social media campaigns with the excitement.

Does a being a celeb and having a big following mean big influence? Not so much.

Red Shoes Speaks No. 51 Celebrity Influencers from Lisa Cruz on Vimeo.

What’s your sign-off? How you close your emails can win or lose you friends. Take care to use words carefully! Jess and Tommy took about the different ways to conclude an email and their personal preferences.

Red Shoes Speaks No. 54 Email Closings from Lisa Cruz on Vimeo.