Happy Birthday, Vonnie!

Yvonne celebrates her <insert politically correct guess at how old she is> today, we wanted to say Happy Birthday! To celebrate with our old pal, we dug through the WM archives to share this oldie by goodie (the song, not the gal).  Help us spread the word of this soon-to-be National Holiday.

Yvonne Rayburn is the Director of Online Communications at Columbus Internet Marketing Agency, Webbed Marketing (a Division of Fathom).  She manages all things social media, online PR, and promotion for WM. In her free time she is a wine enthusiast, personal training coach and enjoys the wildlife of Delaware, Ohio.

Tags: social media, social networking, social networks

The Importance of Managing Your Online Reputation

We hope you can join us for the June webinar! Remember, use the hashtag #WMwebinar if you’re participating on Twitter.

June 22, 2011
2-3 p.m. EST
The Importance of Managing Your Online Reputation

Whether you know it or not, people are talking about your business online. Social Media has turned your clients and customers into a critical part of your brand as they shape your business’ reputation instantly with each online thumb-up….or thumb-down.  What kind of rep is your business getting?

Join Webbed Marketing’s Director of Online Communications, Yvonne Rayburn, and Yelp Columbus’ Christina Christian to talk about the what and how of online reputation management. We’ll dig into what makes up your online reputation, what you can do to shape it and how to keep track of it all. Don’t miss out – you’ve got a rep to protect.

During this webinar we’ll discuss:
• What makes up your online reputation
• What your online reputation says about your business
• Top review sites and how to manage your reviews
• The importance of ongoing online reputation management

Tags: online marketing, online reputation, social media

Social Media For The Good Of The People

I sometimes hear people say that they are afraid to use social media. There are too many bad things that can happen. Their house will get robbed when that person just waiting on Facebook to rob them, sees that they have checked in at a local restaurant. (If you have your Facebook privacy settings configured correctly, the only people who are going to see your check-ins are people that you have allowed access to your profile and I sure hope they aren’t going to rob you!)

Still other people are afraid to post pictures of their kids or grandkids because that creep lurking on social networks will want to kidnap them. And of course don’t ever pay for anything online because you wouldn’t want to have your credit card number out there. Instead, be safe. Order by phone and give all of it, including your security code, to a total stranger located who knows where.
I tell these people it is like a hammer. Sure you COULD hurt someone with it, but when it is used in the way it was designed, there is no better tool for the job. That is why I was so pleased when I saw a story about a woman who found a kidney donor for her dying mother via social media! Now that is using a great tool exactly as it was designed.

So if you are one of those folks a little leery of using social networks, my advice is “do your homework first.” Find out which networks would most easily and efficiently fit into your lifestyle and connect you with friends and family in ways that are useful to you. And read the help files and make sure you are following the steps to secure your information according to that network’s best practices. You never know when you might need some special help for you or a loved one, and it just might come from a Facebook friend or a Twitter follower!

Tags: privacy settings, social media, social network security

The Times, They Are A Changin’

After attending the Ohio Web Leaders (OWL) breakfast earlier this week, I started thinking about the concept of how Social Media is truly changing our world.  I know this is not a new concept to those of you familiar with social media, but for those of you new to it or not totally convinced yet, here are some things to think about.

1. News - traffic updates, breaking news, weather updates, stories coming up later that day…we no longer have to wait for the evening news or the newspaper to be delivered.  We have all of these things at our fingertips.  Literally!
2. Job Search – whether you are an employer or a person in search of a job, wake up and smell the coffee!  Social Media is certainly the latest trend in employment and has replaced much of the old traditional resume formatting and printing on nice paper as well as reading the classifieds on Sunday to see what new jobs are out there.
3. Restaurant Reservations & Updates – never before have we had so much information about restaurants and bars available to us in real time.  From that day's special to the beer just being tapped to making your reservations, tools like Twitter and Facebook have it all covered.
4. Networking – someone mentioned at the OWL breakfast that Twitter is a way to start a conversation and get to know someone before you actually meet them.  Interesting concept, huh?  Getting to know someone before you meet them?  It sure works though.  You can walk into any networking event where you have never met anyone face to face and talk to many folks you have "already met".  Oh yea, and whoever would have thought I would be introducing myself as "@yrayburn" and people would really know what I meant!
5. Competitive Research – never has it been easier to know what your competitors are up to.  Become a fan on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.  Sooner or later you will find out some good info that you otherwise never would have known.
6. Hobbies – I can connect with other runners, folks who like to cook and those who simply like to eat! 
7. Sports – Our own Columbus Blue Jackets, Ohio State Buckeyes, Cleveland Browns, Cavs and Indians…info on ALL of them via Facebook and Twitter.  More groups "than you can shake a stick at" as my Mom would say.  (Never was sure what she meant by that).  And as I was typing this, I just got updated on March Madness scores via Twitter. 
8. Travel – From lowest airfare to car rental to AAA….never been easier to get travel info.  Local or abroad.
9. Shopping – One of my all time favorite hobbies (hmm, guess I could have listed this in Number 8 as well!)!  The best deals and coupons are sent right to me…I don't even have to go to their website.  I can even get the "deal of the day" from Amazon!
10. Replaced the water cooler?? – In the presentation at OWL, Katie McCartney said that Twitter is "the world's biggest water cooler".  I think there is certainly some truth to that.  Now not only can I rehash last nights game with my co-workers, I can rehash it with all my Tweeple and Facebook Friends.

As a final thought, just like we couldn't have imagined the changes that have come about in the Social Media world over the last 5 years, we can't imagine what it will be like 5 years from now.  As a matter of fact, my 19 year old niece (freshman at Ohio State) who is trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up, asked me if I knew I wanted to do what I am doing now when I was in college.  I simply said, "Honey, when I was in college, the job I have now didn't even exist!"

We are in for an exciting ride so keep your arms and hands inside at all times! 

An Old Dog is Grateful for New Tricks

At Webbed Marketing we all share the blogging duties/privilege. I think it is a great way for us to come together as a team, yet share our individual thoughts and voices. I have been given (or earned…?) the honor of writing the Thanksgiving week post and I couldn’t be happier. Having an attitude of thankfulness is one thing I try to focus on each day but it is even more prominent to all of us at this time of year. So I am sure this post will have a less analytical, business feel than some other WM posts, but…hey, this is my individual voice, right?

So, what are the top 5 things that I am thankful for this year in the world of Webbed Marketing??

1. The team at Webbed Marketing. (Of course, I will disclose that I am part of that team, but this is an honest, from the heart post, not a plug for Webbed and you already knew I was part of the team since I am writing this post!) If you know any of the folks at Webbed personally, you will know what I am talking about. If you don’t know them personally but have worked with them in any capacity, you still know what I am talking about.  If you haven’t done either of the prior but have heard Bill Balderaz speak, you also know what I mean. Quality minded, service oriented, smart folks…who really have a heart and care about their colleagues, clients and the community. I am truly thankful to be part of this great team!
2. Twitter. This interesting micro-blogging tool has introduced me to a lot of really cool people, helped me get a couple of business contacts and even allowed me a behind the scenes tour of the OSU stadium aka the Horseshoe!
3. My reverse mentor . And how did I learn about Twitter and every other cool social networking tool/site that I use? You guessed it, my reverse mentor. What is a reverse mentor you ask? Well a mentor is defined as an influential senior sponsor or supporter. So basically a reverse mentor is a JUNIOR sponsor or supporter.I guess you could say she is helping an old dog learn new tricks!
4. Google Sites. Any one who knows me knows that organization is a big hot button for me! As the WM team grows, it has become more and more of a challenge to keep things organized in a way that makes us even more efficient! So recently I became the overall Project Manager for Webbed, aka Big Picture Officer. Google Sites has offered us a great way to organize our project timelines, internal tasks and communicate those to our clients.
5. Great Lakes Christmas Ale. This one has nothing at all to do with the world of internet marketing…or does it? After all, I am creating a little more buzz around this fabulous seasonal offering from our own Ohio brewery. This brew is only available in November/December and is one of my very favorite things about the season! It gets me through crazy Friday afternoons at the WM, family gatherings, Browns football games, playing drums on Rock Band…well, you get the point. This is truly something for which I am thankful.

So in my own voice, and the collaborative one of the WM, I wish all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! (What are you thankful for?? Any of the same things on my list?)

- Yvonne Rayburn

Tags: google sites, great lakes, mentor, osu, thanksgiving, twitter, webbed marketing