Pretty amazing how 'customer service' has changed. When your guests are 'venting', are YOU prepared to respond?
Original Post from AdWeek: http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/data-points-social-faux-pas-142062
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Today's US Drought, Tomorrow's Higher Grocery Store Tab
Raindance begins now!
© Copyright 2012 The International Business Times Inc. All
Rights Reserved
By Angelo Young
July 13, 2012
Your corn flakes are going to be more expensive in six to 12
months' time. As will your ketchup, carbonated drinks and sweets. Your
hamburgers and chicken will also cost more, and cost more sooner, thanks to the
drought conditions that have parched the U.S. Corn Belt, forcing many farmers
to cut their losses, plow their fields under and sell what they can for
low-grade livestock feed. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reduced Wednesday
its forecast for this year's corn harvest thanks to a massive dry spell at an
important time in the plant's pollination process. The corn is smaller, the
kernels are underdeveloped and many farmers will be lucky to meet the latest
forecast of as little as 140 bushels per acre, down from a near-record high of
166 bushels predicted just a month ago.
"Without rain, I might be lucky to make 100 to 120
bushels," Scott Jorgensen, a farmer near Adair, Iowa, told the Des Moines
Register. The forecast calls for little or no rain in the near future in
regions that grow the country's No. 1 crop, which was valued last year at $76.5
billion. But this year's conditions are the worst seen in more than two
decades.
Food companies that depend on corn or corn-based sweetener,
such as Kellogg Company (NYSE: K), General Mills, Inc. (NYSE: GIS) and The
Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO), all opened modestly lower in Thursday trading, a
day after the USDA forecast was released.
Corn for December delivery was up Thursday above $7.26 a
bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade. On Monday the July-delivery price rose to
$7.77, coming close to last year's peak of $7.99. Barclays said in its
note Thursday that it expects corn to end the year at $6.80 per bushel, up from
$5.74, but that it would close the third quarter at $7.34.
Higher corn prices mean higher costs in livestock feed,
processed foods and ethanol, which means food price inflation. But the effect
is delayed because food and beverage companies hedge against unexpected price
spikes by locking in commodity prices with futures. "The key
question is just how hedged and protected these companies are," Jack
Russo, an analyst at Edward Jones & Co. in St. Louis, said in an interview
with Bloomberg. " The packaged-food companies would be the most
impacted."
It usually takes six to 12 months for grain prices to show
up on grocery store shelves, Kenrick Jordan, senior economist at BMO Capital
Markets in Toronto, told Bloomberg. Meat products, especially beef, tend
to be the first affected because ranchers, facing higher feed prices and
lower-grade feed, tend to cut their losses and send their stock to slaughter
earlier than they would like. Soon afterward, there is less fresh meat in the
market. "If you can't feed cattle because the price of corn is too high,
cattle go to slaughter," Scott Shellady of Trean Group, a Chicago-based
brokerage, told USA Today. "In six months' time, we won't have any cattle."
Beef prices have been increasing for months due to last
year's drought in Texas. The national average retail price for ground beef has
risen 12.6 percent to $2.99 a pound in the past 15 months, according to the
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Baggage... Dark Baggage
I, like EVERYONE else have baggage. Daddy baggage, ex-boyfriend baggage, college & financial baggage. I'm starting to think of this baggage as color coordinated, well planned baggage. I've reorganized and packed it all tightly and am getting ready to toss it... ALL of it.
With that being said, my EVERYDAY baggage is that of a a gal with lots of pigment... around the eyes. Undereye baggage!
There are many causes such as:
1. Allergies
2. Eczema
3. Heredity (BINGO!)
4. Stress/Smoking/Alcohol Use
5. Nasal Congestion
6. Pigmentation Irregularities
7. Rubbing or scratching your eyes
8. Sun Exposure
9. Thinning skin and loss of fat and collagen (aging)
For me, #s 1,3,4 & 7-9 may be factors but even as a teen #3 was clear (no pun intended)! My grandpa is where it all starts... as pictured below at my 8th grade graduation.
My the struggle has been between not-enough-coverage and so-white-it's-grey when applying undereye concealer. I've tried Avon, Almay, Mary Kay and just recently... Mac. And NOTHING works the way it should.
No worries though! I stumbled across the MOST interesting beauty tip I've heard YET and HAD to share. Deep brown corrector is said to be the 'secret'. "The bright pigmentation of the product works to even your skin tone before applying any foundation or concealer. What’s so great about it is it can be used for dark spots on any part of your face, not just under your eyes" as noted on Birchbox Blog.
Other products to note for this pesky little prob?
There are many causes such as:
1. Allergies
2. Eczema
3. Heredity (BINGO!)
4. Stress/Smoking/Alcohol Use
5. Nasal Congestion
6. Pigmentation Irregularities
7. Rubbing or scratching your eyes
8. Sun Exposure
9. Thinning skin and loss of fat and collagen (aging)
For me, #s 1,3,4 & 7-9 may be factors but even as a teen #3 was clear (no pun intended)! My grandpa is where it all starts... as pictured below at my 8th grade graduation.
My the struggle has been between not-enough-coverage and so-white-it's-grey when applying undereye concealer. I've tried Avon, Almay, Mary Kay and just recently... Mac. And NOTHING works the way it should.
No worries though! I stumbled across the MOST interesting beauty tip I've heard YET and HAD to share. Deep brown corrector is said to be the 'secret'. "The bright pigmentation of the product works to even your skin tone before applying any foundation or concealer. What’s so great about it is it can be used for dark spots on any part of your face, not just under your eyes" as noted on Birchbox Blog.
Other products to note for this pesky little prob?
- M.A.C. Lipstick in So Chaud
- YSL's Touche Eclat
- Smashbox's Photo Op Under Eye Brightener
- Benefit's Ooh La Lift
Monday, June 18, 2012
What an incredible infographic & starting point for start-ups. We may still be motivated by the same desires & emotions to buy...but now it MUST be done digitally & socially. Thank you Udemy!
Original Post: http://www.udemy.com/blog/social-media-marketing-for-startups-infographic/
Source: Udemy Blog
Source: Udemy Blog
Monday, June 11, 2012
I found this INCREDIBLY helpful, because we ALL think we know, but do we really? Original story is at the link below, but for the fear of this article dying at some point... scroll down for a copy/paste version.
http://business.time.com/2012/06/08/10-things-you-should-tweet/?iid=biz-main-mostpop1
And unlike when you tweet as an individual, it means no random thoughts, photos of your last four meals, political rants, or too much information about your digestive issues, sex life, and drinking binges.
Hopefully you already knew that.
So what should you tweet?
If you become a respected member of the Twitter community, you can throw in messages directly related to your products or services, but those need to be counter-balanced by tweets completely unrelated to your sales efforts. There is no single formula that is guaranteed to work, but here are 10 things you should try:
1. The “I found this amazing article I think you’d love” tweet:
These are not direct plugs of your business, but links to articles that would be of interest to your target audience. If you sell health-related products, then link to news stories or tips on wellness. If you are a podiatrist, link to stories about marathons, hiking, etc.
(MORE: Which Advanced Economy Has the Most Debt?)
2. The “there are human beings behind our brand name” tweet:
These are tweets designed to humanize your company. Links to photographs of your employees, offices, celebrations, etc. remind your followers that you are the kind of people they’d like to do business with.
3. The “twitter-only promotion” tweet:
Everybody loves a deal. By giving discounts or other benefits to your Twitter followers, you give them a reason to follow you and you get a captive audience for other business messaging.
4. The “promote our favorite charity” tweet:
Remember, social media is social. We are all part of a greater community. If your business donates or is otherwise involved with a charity, use your Tweets to promote it. If your business doesn’t have a direct relationship with a charity, pick one and use Twitter to promote it.
5. The “we’re listening to you” tweet:
Twitter is an amazing tool for customer service. If you fail to monitor what is being said about your company on Twitter you’re making a huge mistake. Simply monitoring the messages and taking no action is a mistake, too. Only when you monitor and respond appropriately will you get the full value of Twitter as a customer service tool. This doesn’t mean that you have to respond to every negative statement, but when there is a real issue or if a person has a specific question, you need to address it quickly and honestly.
6. The “sharing our great content” tweet:
If you have a company blog, if you’ve written article or white papers, use tweets to link to your content. If you are a thought leader, an expert, or just have some unique thoughts or perspectives, tweeting is a great way to get your expertise in front of a large audience.
7. The “we’re proud as hell” tweet:
So your company has won an award, gotten a great review, garnered some major press or has a killer testimonial; don’t be shy about using Twitter to broadcast the great news.
8. The “we found this to be hilarious and hope you do as well” tweet:
While Twitter is a fantastic place to do business, the compelling thing about it is that it’s not all business. If visitors think you are just trying to sell them all the time, they will unfollow you or, worse, complain about you on Twitter. There’s a lot of funny content on the Web, whether it’s on YouTube, in The Onion, or on any number of humor sites. Sharing humor with your target audience (via links) not only humanizes your company, it gives your followers a reason to seek you out.
9. The “we are on top of industry trends” tweet:
If your business is based on being on the cutting edge of your industry, show the world by providing links to the latest studies, trends, breakthroughs and advances. This serves the dual purpose of providing interesting content and proves to your audience you are serious about staying ahead of the curve.
(LIST: The Top Ten Fastest-Growing Industries in America)
10. The “none of the above” tweet:
As you become a regular participant on Twitter, you will find unique ways in which Twitter works to deliver messages specific to your business. Twitter is all about being creative, useful and engaging. Utilize the specific talents, interests and strengths of your team to find a way to use Twitter to the best advantage of your business.
As with any other marketing efforts, pay close attention to how your followers respond to you tweets. Which ones are getting positive feedback (retweets, etc.)? Which ones are being ignored? Which ones are getting you negative feedback?
The answers to these questions might surprise you, so be prepared to tweak your tweets.
Jon Gelberg is the Chief Content Officer at Blue Fountain Media, a leading Web design, development, and marketing company based in New York. @JonBFM
Read more: http://www.inc.com/jon-gelberg/10-things-you-should-tweet.html?nav=pop#ixzz1xWRpIBRp
http://business.time.com/2012/06/08/10-things-you-should-tweet/?iid=biz-main-mostpop1
10 Things You Should Tweet
There’s a real etiquette to doing business in 140 characters.And unlike when you tweet as an individual, it means no random thoughts, photos of your last four meals, political rants, or too much information about your digestive issues, sex life, and drinking binges.
Hopefully you already knew that.
So what should you tweet?
If you become a respected member of the Twitter community, you can throw in messages directly related to your products or services, but those need to be counter-balanced by tweets completely unrelated to your sales efforts. There is no single formula that is guaranteed to work, but here are 10 things you should try:
1. The “I found this amazing article I think you’d love” tweet:
These are not direct plugs of your business, but links to articles that would be of interest to your target audience. If you sell health-related products, then link to news stories or tips on wellness. If you are a podiatrist, link to stories about marathons, hiking, etc.
(MORE: Which Advanced Economy Has the Most Debt?)
2. The “there are human beings behind our brand name” tweet:
These are tweets designed to humanize your company. Links to photographs of your employees, offices, celebrations, etc. remind your followers that you are the kind of people they’d like to do business with.
3. The “twitter-only promotion” tweet:
Everybody loves a deal. By giving discounts or other benefits to your Twitter followers, you give them a reason to follow you and you get a captive audience for other business messaging.
4. The “promote our favorite charity” tweet:
Remember, social media is social. We are all part of a greater community. If your business donates or is otherwise involved with a charity, use your Tweets to promote it. If your business doesn’t have a direct relationship with a charity, pick one and use Twitter to promote it.
5. The “we’re listening to you” tweet:
Twitter is an amazing tool for customer service. If you fail to monitor what is being said about your company on Twitter you’re making a huge mistake. Simply monitoring the messages and taking no action is a mistake, too. Only when you monitor and respond appropriately will you get the full value of Twitter as a customer service tool. This doesn’t mean that you have to respond to every negative statement, but when there is a real issue or if a person has a specific question, you need to address it quickly and honestly.
6. The “sharing our great content” tweet:
If you have a company blog, if you’ve written article or white papers, use tweets to link to your content. If you are a thought leader, an expert, or just have some unique thoughts or perspectives, tweeting is a great way to get your expertise in front of a large audience.
7. The “we’re proud as hell” tweet:
So your company has won an award, gotten a great review, garnered some major press or has a killer testimonial; don’t be shy about using Twitter to broadcast the great news.
8. The “we found this to be hilarious and hope you do as well” tweet:
While Twitter is a fantastic place to do business, the compelling thing about it is that it’s not all business. If visitors think you are just trying to sell them all the time, they will unfollow you or, worse, complain about you on Twitter. There’s a lot of funny content on the Web, whether it’s on YouTube, in The Onion, or on any number of humor sites. Sharing humor with your target audience (via links) not only humanizes your company, it gives your followers a reason to seek you out.
9. The “we are on top of industry trends” tweet:
If your business is based on being on the cutting edge of your industry, show the world by providing links to the latest studies, trends, breakthroughs and advances. This serves the dual purpose of providing interesting content and proves to your audience you are serious about staying ahead of the curve.
(LIST: The Top Ten Fastest-Growing Industries in America)
10. The “none of the above” tweet:
As you become a regular participant on Twitter, you will find unique ways in which Twitter works to deliver messages specific to your business. Twitter is all about being creative, useful and engaging. Utilize the specific talents, interests and strengths of your team to find a way to use Twitter to the best advantage of your business.
As with any other marketing efforts, pay close attention to how your followers respond to you tweets. Which ones are getting positive feedback (retweets, etc.)? Which ones are being ignored? Which ones are getting you negative feedback?
The answers to these questions might surprise you, so be prepared to tweak your tweets.
Jon Gelberg is the Chief Content Officer at Blue Fountain Media, a leading Web design, development, and marketing company based in New York. @JonBFM
Read more: http://www.inc.com/jon-gelberg/10-things-you-should-tweet.html?nav=pop#ixzz1xWRpIBRp
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Friday, April 13, 2012
Check out the
Nike Free Run iD Running Shoe
I designed at NIKEiD.com
Oh, you know... just dreaming of a new pair of Nike Frees. Current Pair?
Monday, March 12, 2012
Sunday, Sunday
What's NOT to love about the month of March in San Antonio?! There is SO much going on with Contemporary Art Month (Unfortunately Luminaria was postponed this Saturday due to weather) & SXSW overflow...
Today, we could NOT miss one of my fave events... CLOGGED CAPS!
[thanks to instagram for making these iPhone pics a little more pleasing to the eye. ; )]
I've never been good at deciphering graffiti words, so I only shared pieces with graphics- regardless, high HIGH 5's to ALL participating artists!
I WILL pick a bone with the 'event coordinators' one day though... I won't dare say that I'm an expert, but I'd definitely love to be a part of the planning & logistics of the event. Also... made me wonder what my friend Dmise is up to (the artist behind my very first piece of art) and of course, the incredible Banksy.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
#throughthejuicer: Day 7- We did it!!
Not much else to say except WE DID IT!!! We are so blessed that this opportunity has taught us so much about our health and truly LOVING ourselves and our body. Although 99% of our friends think we're crazy, it's ok because one day they'll 'get it' and be asking questions!
Here's our breakfast from our last day...
Here's our breakfast from our last day...
Saturday, January 28, 2012
#throughthejuicer: Day 6 .... Ginger & Kickboxing
With only one meal (juice) in my system for the day we tried a new ingredient today! Ginger Root!!! When juicing Ginger Root it's best to use 1/4 of an inch, skin on as the taste is very strong and distinctive. At the grocery store, they can be found for less than $1 p/lb. and a little lasts a long way.
Why use Ginger Root?
I haven't been working out as often or intensely as I'd like to, but as mentioned in a previous post... the change in diet has really changed my physique and I've lost just about 1 lb. a day.
April is shaping up to be a CRAZY month.... on April 20, Shelby & I are going to bust out the Diva Dash as mentioned in this post and then the very next day- Sal & Vic are putting together a team for Warrior Dash in Roanoke, TX! I'm beyond stoked for both!!! Never heard of Warrior Dash? I'ts 3.24 'hellish miles' of obstacles finishing off with beer & live music. Costumes are a must and we all know how Vic & Sal roll...
Here's the Training Schedule for the first 3 weeks.... More to come on this!
Signing off for now to hit the shower and yup... you guessed it hit the juicer!
Why use Ginger Root?
- It's an excellent carminative which means it relieves gastrointestinal gas... nobody likes a tooter! : P
- It's WAY more effective in fighting motion-sickness than Dramamine or other remedies
- It relieves nausea & vomiting during pregnancy
- It aids in pain relief of those that suffer arthritis because of its anti-inflammatory effects
- It induces cell death in Ovarian Cancer Cells
- Annnnnnd boosts your immune system! Who LIKES being sick? I sure as heck don't!
San Antonio weather is extremely windy today so instead of my usual 2-3 mile run I opted for an awesome kickboxing video I found via Pinterest. Amy (the instructor) moves pretty quickly so I don't recommend this video to someone whose never done kickboxing, but overall... very effective and had me panting and sweating!
Check it out!
I haven't been working out as often or intensely as I'd like to, but as mentioned in a previous post... the change in diet has really changed my physique and I've lost just about 1 lb. a day.
April is shaping up to be a CRAZY month.... on April 20, Shelby & I are going to bust out the Diva Dash as mentioned in this post and then the very next day- Sal & Vic are putting together a team for Warrior Dash in Roanoke, TX! I'm beyond stoked for both!!! Never heard of Warrior Dash? I'ts 3.24 'hellish miles' of obstacles finishing off with beer & live music. Costumes are a must and we all know how Vic & Sal roll...
 |
| Halloween 2009 |
 |
| Temper Tantrum 2010 |
Here's the Training Schedule for the first 3 weeks.... More to come on this!
Friday, January 27, 2012
#throughthejuicer: Day 4 Complete!
As 'they' say (who's 'they' anyway)... 'time flies when you're having fun! Please note... I'M awake at 2am. I don't remember the last time I was ABLE to stay awake this late.
With day 4 complete (also my favorite number), I've NEVER felt better. I'm full of energy, allergy & headache free and have dropped 4 lbs.!!
Juicing for only 4 days has also allowed me to surpass a goal that I never thought imaginable... running a mile in under 10 minutes. To most that's an easy task, but it's been since high school that I've been able to really push myself past that. My handy-dandy Nike Plus app even had the awesome ass Lance Armstrong congratulate me.. cheesy I know, but hey- it's the simple things. :)
Anyhow... one of my fave parts of juicing has been how much time I've spent in the kitchen. I realize that sounds silly, but the truth is I've never had a huge interest in cooking or anything kitchen related, but now I'm definitely the one that preps & cleans before and after juicing and I like that.
The most INTERESTING facts learned between day 1 & today are:
1. Beets are awesome!
Seriously tho! These bad boys may look strange, but they taste amazing in juice and have a color that I swear one day will be on a wall in my home.
Why are they so very awesome you ask?
Anyhow... one of my fave parts of juicing has been how much time I've spent in the kitchen. I realize that sounds silly, but the truth is I've never had a huge interest in cooking or anything kitchen related, but now I'm definitely the one that preps & cleans before and after juicing and I like that.
The most INTERESTING facts learned between day 1 & today are:
1. Beets are awesome!
 |
| who doesn't love these guys? c'mon you gotta remember doug funnie!! |
- Beets are a GREAT & rare source of phytonutrients called betalains. Betalains give off antioxidant, anti-inflammatory & detoxification support. (ding ding ding! detox me baby!)
- Beets promote eye-health, specifically help eye problems that come with age! Maybe if I eat enough I can toss the 4-eyes, eh?
- Beets protect against heart disease & birth defects
- Beets lessen tumor growth & even decrease chances of cancer... most significantly colon cancer.
How could I work beets into my diet WITHOUT juicing you ask?
- Look for small/medium beets in the produce section that are smooth and firm. The smaller, the more tender & easy to prepare... or put through the juicer.
- Cut beets into quarters... skin on and steam for no longer than 15 minutes. Heat diminishes the health benefits of these bad boys, so if you can eat them raw, even better! Add 'em to your fave salad as cubes or by running them over a grater. Yum!
2. Cabbage does not go well in the juicer. I wish we would've taken video, but it has been the only item we've purchased and not been able to run through the juicer. Cole slaw it is--- on day 8 that is!
So... the next time you're in the grocery store... what are you gonna buy?
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
#throughthejuicer: Day 1
Last night Paul and I went for a 4 mile run which was AWESOME and exactly what we needed. We both expressed feeling less fatigue and achy- Score!! : ) Shortly thereafter we ran to HEB and filled our basket with greens and yummy fruits!! We usually spend $100-$120 a week on groceries (to include lots of seafood, salad stuff, cold cuts/cheese, bread, tortillas, and can't leave out the DiGiorno!!!
Our total bill last night on 'food' was $70... what do you think?
One of my followers on twitter, Miss @shrinkingfoodie (who also has an AWESOME BLOG! http://shrinkingfoodie.wordpress.com) made a funny about this concoction even!
Side
note... Have you ever tried a 'Black & Blue'? It's a beer mix...
Blue Moon & Guinness, aka my reason for being! On day 8 if you need
me, search your local bar-- I'm sure I'll be slamming those bad boys
down.
So far, so good for Day 2. I'm actually starting to not really crave solid foods. Let's continue to hope I don't know how to sleep-walk...
A quick note on 'juice fasting' as read from Total Body Fitness Inc...
Juice fasting is a
multidimensional
experience in which total
body transformation
occurs. There are a wide
range of metabolic changes
and experiences. The blood
and lymph are detoxified.
When juice fasting,
the release of toxins from
the colon, kidneys,
bladder, lungs, sinuses,
and skin clears out
complications that have
arisen from a bad diet and
unhealthy lifestyle. The
benefits of following a
juice fast include
heightened spiritual
awareness and relaxation
of the body, mind, and
emotions. Many people feel
a sense of letting go of
pain from the past and
developing a positive
attitude towards the
present. During juice
fasting, the body is able
to clean out its system
because it is not
expending energy towards
the digestive organs.
After
three days of just
ingesting raw organic and
fresh juices, broth and
tea, you will lose all
cravings for solid food.
Your mind might tell you
otherwise, but your body
is very content.
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