“Using social networks for holiday incentives” is my latest column for the Home News Tribune, Courier News and myCentralJersey.com, published on November 2, 2011 http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20111102/NJCOLUMNIST13/311020013/Using-social-networks-for-holiday-incentives
I briefly mention how businesses can use QR codes as a shortcut way for smartphone users to find their website.
This specific app is a QR code reader, generator and scanner for Android. I decided to create a new QR code for my blog http://www.evaabreu.com
It was pretty easy to do, just a few simple steps using the app on my phone. I emailed the newly created QR code to myself and opened it on my main computer so I could test it out. It worked fine.
Then I saved the QR code as a jpg file and decided to add it to my new business cards, which I was in the process of creating in Microsoft Word (I’m not a designer by any means, just wanted to print up a few business cards to have on hand before I place another order with the company that usually does my cards).
I printed a sample sheet of the new business cards to see how it would look (I used Avery 8871 Matte White Clean Edge Business Cards http://www.avery.com/avery/en_us/Products/Cards/Business-Cards/Two_Side-Printable-Ink-Jet-Clean-Edge-Business-Cards_08871.htm )
I tested the printed QR code from the business card by scanning it with my phone to make sure it worked. It worked.
Here is the final result, and although it may not be as picture perfect as a professional graphic designer would have done, I think it’s OK for now to use. What do you think?
So the idea is, if I hand out my business cards in real life, the person can scan the QR code and check out my blog without having to type in the actual URL or string of letters and symbols for the web address. You can do the same for your website or social media profile or YouTube channel or even a geolocation, calendar event or phone number.
Would you be interested in a having a business card like this made for you? Contact me and let’s talk. You never know who you’re going to meet in real life or what opportunities may be out there for you. I figured having a business card like this might help.
This one minute, 28 second video that I filmed while on board a NY Waterway Ferry between Port Imperial Weehawken NJ and NYC won the Grand Prize in the Video Category of a NY Waterway photo and video contest on Facebook last month (August 2011)
The original video was posted on the NY Waterway Facebook page. I’ll be uploading the video to YouTube some time this month as well.
Here is the original posting (contest entry) and comments:
Thanks to all who commented and supported the contest! Special thanks to Anthony Quintano who inspired me to enter the contest after he posted several photo entries, one of which was chosen as the Grand Prize winner in the Photo Category; congratulations!
* * *
On another topic, I’ve been working on several video segments for a new hyperlocal website http://www.EverythingEdisonNJ.com. Here’s a sample:
I think YouTube is the new Myspace, but with a twist. What do you think?
Baby Boomers are the Sandwich Generation, responsible for raising children and caring for aging parents at the same time. It is important to understand their specific needs and potential buying power. They all face challenges in today’s uncertain economy, with many going through the process of reinventing themselves. Some are computer savvy, while some have resisted new technology. As they continue to increase their online presence and search the Internet, you may be in the position to provide the answers they need.
We will review current statistics and case studies of brands using blogs and social media tools to connect and engage with consumers over 50. We’ll also investigate the attitudes of non-tech savvy consumers to help you have a better understanding of their love-hate relationship with technology.
In this dynamic session with social media marketing pro and creator of BoomerTechTalk.com, Linda Sherman and social media columnist and teacher, Eva Abreu you will:
- Understand the unique needs of the Baby Boomer generation, their buying power, and the current trends in online behavior
- Learn strategies and new ideas on how to reach the over-50 marketplace for your niche
- Get new ideas for content creation that will engage Baby Boomers and their parents
To register for the conference, visit BlogWorldExpo Registration Page ( or copy/paste URL http://www.blogworldexpo.com/2011-nyc/registration-travel/register-to-attend-2 ) and as my special gift to you, use Discount Code: DEB11 to receive 20% off Conference pricing.
Hope you can join us! I’m also planning to cover the event on all three days; let me know if you plan on attending Blog World Expo in New York maybe we can arrange to meet there and chat.
I’ve recently been trying to balance my offline life with my online presence and the scales are tipping…
Must stay balanced though… and grounded. Rock-steady.
March 2011 was one of the busiest months for speaking engagements, for both Organizing and Social Media.
Here’s a partial recap:
Warren Library, March 1 & 24, Decluttering & Organizing
ICEPN-TV Taping: Host of Jersey Talk
The Learning Channel airing of Hoarding: Buried Alive, multiple dates in March
National Association of Women Business Owners, Central Jersey Chapter, Media Panel, March 16
BlogTalkRadio, guest on Sandra Lee Schubert’s show, discussing Balancing your Life
Franklin Library, March 26, Decluttering & Organizing
Rutgers CELG Center for Executive Leadership in Government Workshop: Social Media and the Public Sector, March 29
North Brunswick Library, March 31, Intro to Facebook
Plus rehearsals and meetings for the St. Matthew Passion Play which I’m volunteering to help produce, and volunteer work with local seniors doing arts & crafts and a monthly intergenerational lunch program.
Rounding out the mix is writing the bi-weekly business column for The Home News Tribune, Courier News and myCentralJersey.com, blogging, social media updates, and new client projects.
Last but not least: family and faith, the rock of my world.
That’s the foundation and the basis for everything that I do: Family and Faith
Today, I had the privilege of presenting an overview of social networking and social media at a membership meeting of the Appraisal Institute - Metro New Jersey Chapter (http://www.ai-newjersey.org).
There were approximately 80 people in attendance at the lunch meeting held at the Spanish Tavern in Mountainside, NJ (which everyone seemed to enjoy the food there, including shrimp and calamari appetizers, seafood paella, flan, cheesecake and chocolate mousse for dessert… oh, and the sangria too).
Before my presentation, two attorneys from the law firm of Davenport & Spiotti presented the topic “Business Communication & Gadgets for Today’s Appraiser.” Seth Davenport, Esq. and Robert Spiotti, Esq. discussed how the latest technology and electronics can help us save time and be more efficient in our work, but warned if it’s too fun to use, it may not be the best choice as a business tool.
The most important technology tool? The scanner, which can help us in our ultimate goal of becoming a paperless office. Mr. Davenport suggested doing the scanning yourself, rather than delegating it to a staff member, because it’s a more efficient use of time. I tend to agree, as it follows the principle of “handle it once.”
In my presentation, I did a high level executive summary explaining, in simple terms, what social media and social networking is.
Here is a slide that I custom-created for this particular group to explain how important it is to start with an up-to-date website first, to establish your “bricks and mortar” presence on the Internet.
Your website would be your main “storefront”, representing your business or service on the Internet. From there, you can start building up a base of satellite locations on social sites, such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, which would always point back to your website for more complete information.
We ended the presentation with lots of great questions and hopefully, the participants left with a better understanding of what social media is and how social networking can be used as a new business communication tool to connect with others in their industry.
How do you use social media for your business? What are your questions about social media or social networking?
Leave a comment below or connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn and let’s have a conversation!
One of the traits of a New Small entrepreneur is testing new emerging technology tools.
I’ve been testing a new platform for webcasts as an additional way to connect with folks like you who read this blog and to provide more in-depth training and helpful information.
I’d like to get your feedback about the following technology platform and what you think about it: (after reviewing the webcast, please email me with your comments: eva@evaabreu.com. Thanks!)
Archived playback of the Virtual Lunchcast Interview with Phil Simon is available here:
This was recorded live as a Virtual Lunchcast Discussion on Wed. Jan 05, 2011 at 12:30PM EST. It was offered free and was open to all to join in.
Background info previously posted about the Lunchcast Discussion:
Thirty minute virtual lunch discussion with New Jersey author Phil Simon about his new book The New Smallhttp://www.thenewsmall.com (Motion, 2010).
In The New Small: How a New Breed of Small Businesses is Harnessing the Power of Emerging Technologies, you’ll discover how companies are creatively and intelligently use technology to reach new customers, reduce costs, increase internal collaboration and communication, and create flexible work environments. Phil is also author of Why New Systems Fail (Cengage, 2010) and The Next Wave of Technologies (John Wiley & Sons, 2010). He is an independent technology consultant, author, writer, and dynamic public speaker for hire. Learn more about Phil at http://www.philsimonsystems.com
What are your thoughts? Are you a New Small business too? Do you have questions about using new technology for your business? Feel free to contact Phil Simon above or contact me via email: eva@evaabreu.com or leave a comment below, or connect with me or Phil on the social networks.
In the social media classes that I teach in New Jersey, I discuss the idea of creating content once, re-purposing it into several different variations, then spreading it out over different platforms.
Here’s a recent example:
1. I interviewed Dave Elchoness of Tagwhat, a mobile augmented reality application. Dave is in Colorado, I’m in NJ and we conducted the interview virtually using Skype on an early Sunday morning.
2. Recorded using Pamela Recording (a free application for Skype), saving the file as an mp3 file.
8. Wrote a column based on the interview, which appeared in the print edition of The Home News Tribune, Courier News and online on myCentralJersey.com
9. Created this blog post to add to my personal blog, to describe the behind-the-scenes and technical aspects of how one idea can be perpetuated virtually.
There might be a lot of technical information that you don’t yet understand in the description above, but this is the new reality of all the possibilities on the Internet, which allows us to…
Augment — or improve or add to — what is already out there.
Should we talk some more about this topic? Would it be worthwhile to schedule a workshop or roundtable discussion about this?
Leave a comment below with your thoughts, questions and comments or email me: eva {at} evaabreu {dot} com or connect with me through Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.
Talk to you soon,
Eva
Full disclosure: please note - I am not compensated nor receive any form of remuneration for any of the products or services described in this blog post. I’ve included the links above for reference only.
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