Social Media Overload, Part 1.

In the quest to master all that encompasses Social Media, it's easy to get lost in what's already been said and done. Even in the most generous of thought sharing communities...it's inevitible that we're always one step behind. As technology continues to evolve, it can be difficult to decipher a successful process from outdated material. Point being, if you are looking to make a mark in the Social Media game, you better have a good process in place.

I’m a runner. Social Media is a race. I can train all I want, but if I’m not mentally prepared to capitalize on those efforts when the gun goes off, I lose.

It’s the Internet, of course, but it’s no longer as simple as having a good website. Now, you better have an ever-changing, content driven website that’s picked up by the ever elusive search engine (let’s face it, Google) crawlers to boost your ranking so that your target audience sees it. Urban or rural doesn’t matter anymore. Everyone is accessible, and everyone has access. Oh, and one more thing…I would highly consider a strong, smart, presence within Social Media intertwined with your website, or no one may notice it at all.

Is your company prepared? Who’s coaching you?

Let’s recap. Where before, in the dark ages, you could get away with just a http://www.thisis ourwebsite.com/, now I’m telling you to master search engines and present your company in Social Media? Yeah, ok. And we’re going to do all that how? And we’re going to track that this is working, how? And, who are we going to trust to make sure our brand stays consistent throughout all of these Internet marketing channels and our other marketing efforts as well?

Have you set out to run a marathon as if it’s a sprint?

The game hasn’t completely changed. The basic Marketing process is the same. It’s simple marketing: be where your buyer can see you. And your buyer is knees deep in blogs and social networking sites like Facebook, You Tube, and Twitter.

When done with the proper E-etiquette, any business can enter into Social Media successfully. The hitch is time consumption. Although a simple Facebook profile for one user doesn’t take more than an hour a day to maintain diligently without a personal assistant, keeping up with and ahead of the ball game on multiple profiles on multiple networks takes a good process.

I’ve been up to my ears in Social Media for years, and it still takes an enormous amount of gusto to stay at the cusp of it all. See, what might have been an informative training video on You Tube last year, or 6 months ago…or even 2 weeks ago, could be outdated material. It’s crucial to the modern day business to have a process that will not only capitalize on the current trend, but the many to follow as well.

The people and the tools for success in Social Media might be within your company already. You might just need to instill a good process and adapt with some good coaching for success. Or, you might need a complete start up or reboot from the outside in. Create and maintain a Social Media presence to stay consistent with your brand message…and maintain an honest message.

Holy New Direction, Batman..

Social Influence Marketeer.



No, I didn't disappear into a black hole without Internet access. Breathe easy, I'm here to grace your eyes with my positivity for another blog.



Reflecting on my journey the past couple of months, I'm really proud of myself for putting my daughter in front of my career and my paycheck.



Job eliminated, I embarked on a mission to inform the uniformed, and organize the unorganized in all ways Social Internet Marketing. Rather than abandon the auto industry when they needed me the most, I really wanted to help in some small way make that turn out of the realm of disaster. Not planning to be the victim of a time clock, I was really looking forward to a more active part in raising my daughter. That was my plan...



In the midst of buying a vehicle to replace my dealer car, I came across an opportunity to work at a local credit union. Realizing this would make some laugh as if I'd kissed my career good-bye, and some chomp at the bit knowing they had a chance to pick my brain...I just couldn't pass it up. So here I am, Social Influence Marketeer...part time teller.

It's freaking awesome, too. Eye-opening how nice everyone is... Instead of someone berating me, I have someone who's a little frustrated about their account balance. To think, I almost forgot how genuinely nice most people are.



I decided to stop pushing myself to consult dealerships right away, and just let go and ride this wave for a little bit to see where it goes, and where the demand for Social Marketing is. Less than 2 months later, I'm still being sought out by car peeps. Not only does that feel awesome, it builds my confidence. It's directing me back to what I love to do. And thank God, because I miss it!



Feeling like I'm about to bust into a pretty cool opportunity, my dream of bossing myself around seem within my grasp. The hard part of all this...the monumental pay cut. My paycheck makes me laugh and think...OMG...am I insane? One look at my daughter and that's dubbed foolishness.



I really miss my BDC peeps. Hopefully I provided a good enough example for them to lead them into the right direction in order to fulfill their own destiny with success. If you are reading, my peeps, thanks for the memories (especially someones mom whom I won't mention in particular.)

Here's to our "cackling" haunting that office forevermore....he he he.



Onward and Upward...

When a Burger Comes Along, You Must Flip It.

"When a burger comes along, you must flip it."

Elmo's voice rings in my ears long after my daughter is asleep. Her favorite show is Sesame Street, as was my favorite (along with Fraggle Rock) when I was her age. The lessons are simple messages that everyone can relate to. This one being, "If an opportunity arises, run with it." So here I am, at another great turning point in my life, and all I can here is Elmo telling me to flip the burger.

I imagined that sooner or later the auto industry would have a direct effect on me, and now as the office I've poured my tears, anxieties, dreams, goals, frustrations, and heartaches into for the last 6 years unravels before me I'm ...excited? Liberated? Jacked up for the next big adventure? As Will Ferrell said in Zoolander, "Am I taking crazy pills?" Is the ether going to wear off and leave me in tatters eating bugs off the ground?

Change is almost always heartbreaking at first. It's Scary. It's Hard. It's New. It's Uncomfortable. But it's also most definitely unforeseeable and unavoidable.

It's a testament to my personal growth that today, change has breathed new life into me.

See, even though 'times are tough,' don't sell out your moral center. That fear that you feel in your gut is meant to scare you into silence. Don't let the scared drag you down with them. People were not intended to live small. Don't ever be afraid to do the right thing. My old mentor, Father Abbot Jerome, is up in heaven going..."I told you to be a leader, and you will be a leader." My Dad would say, "it's destiny." So I let the chips fall where they fell.

My burger came along, and I flipped it.

Time to melt the cheese.

Car Dealerships and Facebook. Looking out for the Customer. A Message to Dealers.

I recently read a post that encouraged car salesmen to create a Facebook account and friend request everyone they knew and those associated to who they knew in an attempt to sell cars. Even if you didn't get a long with that person in high school...friend request them anyway...you want to sell them a car, don't you?

I've been watching this type of bullying in the car biz for 8 years now. Social networking will be, for some car dealers, the same vain attempt that E-mail campaigns are/were for those that just don't get it.

Why are dealerships getting involved in social marketing? To make money. They can reach a lot of people at a low cost.

So how do you accomplish this without being a bully? Start with a stark realization that it will take a lot of patience and effort to master a good social networking presence.

1. Get Educated.
Before you create a process get educated on what you are about to dive into. It's really important to know proper etiquette, or you'll end up with less loyal followers than you started with. Good buzz spreads fast, but bad buzz spreads like wildfire. Start your own Facebook or Twitter account so you know first hand how it works.

2. Get Connected.
Become a part of the community who's goal is not to abuse the social networking privilege. Good places to start are websites like Mashable, and by joining communities like Automotive Digital Marketing Professional Community. Remember, no one person or source has the magic road map to social networking success.

3. Create a good process.
Map out what your customer or owner's journey looks like out there. Couple that with your new education on what's kosher etiquette out there. Then, add good content that is valuable to them and worth them sharing with their friends.

4. Dive in.
Get started. Create a fan site on Facebook. Here's an example. From there, add as you feel comfortable. Don't try to sell things on these sites. Be patient, genuine, and consistent in your message, and add good content.

How-to-buy-a-car Brainstorm...heads up busy moms!

OK, so when times get tough in the car business, customers become even more intimidated to walk onto a dealer's lot. I would be, too. Any salesperson that wants to keep his/her job right now is ready to tackle the first person that walks onto the lot. Can we blame them? They want your business. DON'T walk onto a dealership's lot unprepared. First, try my 5-step brainstorm.

Meg's 5-Step Brainstorm:

1. Your Top 5

Write down the top five cars that you like and the top 5 'must have' features the car must have.

2. Get Smart

Look up each vehicle on the manufacturer's site, and make sure the 5 cars on your list have the 5 'must have' features.

3. Let's Review

Online reviews. Google the remaining vehicles for reviews, etc. kbb.com and edmunds are great places to start.

4. Support your local economy

Local Dealerships. Find them first. There's no sense driving out of town to find the 'best deal' when your local dealer is probably dying to do the same for you. Support your local economy.

5. Find the best deal

Contact your local dealership. If you can Instant Message them from their website, that's the best way to start your inquiry. There is someone well-trained on the other end to find your answers for you. Have them E-mail you a price quote that you can print out and bring to the dealership....and set an appointment! That way, someone is expecting you. You avoid the whole "attack of the salesperson in the parking lot" nightmare. Plus, that person that has just helped you find your best price most likely gets paid based on how many appointments they make.

How do you determine which local dealer to do business with? Who has made it the easiest for you? Dealers know better than to mess with customer's on price. They should answer your questions upfront, or know where to get the answers for you. If you feel like you are being bamboozled, than you probably are.

Good Luck! Let me know how it goes!

Cars Cars Cars

OK!OK!OK! I will blog! I've been nudged a zillion times and finally cave!

I'm a 3rd generation car career lifer. My grandfather worked for General Motors for 30 years, and so did my dad. My husband, a finance manager, is in his 12th year in the car biz, and our 1 year old has a battery operated vehicle. I think cars might just be in my blood.

8 years ago I started out at Enterprise Rent a Car after graduating from Ashland University, and ended up here at the Kasper Auto Group as Business Development Manager. What does that entail? A little bit of everything and a lot more than you think.

Instead of waiting for my 'dream job' to find me in my sleepy lake town, I choose to apply what I wanted my career to be to what I already did in order to live in the town I dreamed of raising a family in. It's sounds a lot more confident than I really am...Gen Y to the core, I guess. But, I suppose if others are clamoring for me to share my thoughts, I'm off to a good start.

If you are part of the automotive or other type of social influence marketing scene, I hope you value my thoughts. I sure do value your feedback. I've learned everything I know from others in the community. For those outside of the biz, I hope the information I share helps give you a birds eye view of our industry.

Sunny and 80!

Megs