BLOGGING THE SISARINA WAY

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CONTEST: What's the Best Thing You've Found with Social Media?

June 24, 2010

 

ENTER TO WIN:

Do you find a lot of interesting articles, resources and fun facts on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn? We find employees, projects, clients, friends, networkers, blogs to read, articles about business, and so much more. Sisarina is interested to know about the best thing you've found with social media.

Please comment on this blog post by July 16th, 2010 with the best thing you've found. Think really hard, go back in time and remember what that thing was that almost made you pee your pants laughing or made you shed a tear of joy. We're excited to hear from you!
 

PRIZE: A one-year subscription to Thrive, the easy-to-use social media software from Small Act.

You can sign up for a free 2-month trial now! Just tell them Sisarina sent you.

Thrive is a one-stop shop that simplifies, organizes, and measures your social media efforts. In one easy-to-navigate hub, you can:

Publish
Thrive makes it easy to publish to one or several social networks with one click. Currently, this includes Twitter, Facebook and Flickr, with YouTube and other social networks coming soon. You can even schedule posts to these networks in advance with our handy calendar tool.

Engage
With keyword searches, you can find people who are already talking about you and your cause or business, and engage with your most active supporters.

Track
Social media can be a tough sell. Show it’s worth your time with helpful, in-depth charts and statistics that calculate how many people are seeing and forwarding your messages, clicking on your links, and more.

Find out more at www.smallact.com
 

RULES:
To enter to win, please comment on this post below using our comments section. Must be a social media user of some form & enter the 'URL' as your most used social media account (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, etc). Contest responses must be received between June 24 and July 16, 2010. All posts will be reviewed by Sisarina staff on July 19, 2010 and the winner will be announced on July 21, 2010 on our blog, via Twitter & Facebook and via email to the winner. Small Act will present the winner with the account & walk him/her through setup. A one-year subscription will be awarded at that time.

Filed under: Tell Us - Tags: contest, discovering, recycle, searching, searching online, resource, social media, twitter, facebook
Comments (11)
My birthmother. She was a slight, but significant, presence in my life until the age of 8. My family moved away overseas and somehow I lost contact with her. Through the powers of Myspace, we reunited when I was 19. And through that, I gained 5 half-siblings! This also led to me meeting my birthfather for the first time, as well as his son and wife. Thank you, social media!
Posted by Jenn on 07/16/10
The best thing I've found in social media is confidence - not individual confidence or confidence about my appearance that many people (and sometimes myself) lack, but confidence in:

- the way I communicate online. Social media allows me to be myself and promote messages I care about in ways that are valuable to others. It also allows for instant reaction and communication about things that others are interested. Some of the best conversations I've ever had have been in messages of 140 characters or less.

- the way I communicate offline. Normally, I wouldn't attend Happy Hours or meetup events because the topics don't interest me. However, through social media, I've gained the confidence to go out and network with other nerds that I likely wouldn't have met with us sitting behind computers all the time.

- the projects I dream up in my head. I've now built and launched my own website with a strong and empowering message. Through my Twitter account, I quickly found more than 5 reliable contributors to my blog who are reliable and excited by the concept. After just four days of publishing, we've already received more than 1,200 page views on our site and have at least one person a day requesting to contribute!

There are a million other things I've found through social media (jobs, restaurants, and new hairdressers), but I think confidence is the best because it's led to really valuable things online and offline (close friendships, amazing projects, and more).
Posted by Nicole on 07/16/10
How about a job? Melanie's Twitter feed clued me into the fact that a local communications firm was looking for a Program Manager. I contacted the VP in charge of hiring, and started the ball rolling. I had lunch with the VP and another company executive, and we hit it off! I then had lunch with the CEO, and now I've adopted a larger role in the company than originally anticipated (or at least anticipated at this point). Of course, I was told that the main reason the executives wanted to hire me initially because I wore a bow tie, but I hope I've proven the value of making the right connections.
Posted by Brian Flores on 07/16/10
People. Because no matter what you're saying, doing, seeking or selling - it's all about relationships. Of the hundreds of connections I have made two stand out in particular, reconnecting with a family member through Facebook and meeting a new, wonderful friend through Twitter.

Last October, my older sister received a message from a girl named Lorraine through Facebook. Upon explaining this to my Dad and I we discover it is a long lost cousin from County Kerry in Ireland - one of my Dad's sister's children of whom we have not been in contact with for over 25 years. Through Facebook my family began building a new relationship with Lorraine and today she sits in my Dad's living room on a two week vacation to the US for the very first time. When I return to Ireland this August I have arranged to go meet the rest of her family, some are cousins I have never met but have followed through Facebook since Lorraine reached out to use last fall.

Through Twitter I met Robin Karwowski, an amazing woman and friend. I have met so many people on Twitter and have generated many great friendships and networking opportunities, but Robin takes the biscuit :)
Posted by Lisa Byrne on 07/12/10
The best thing I've found with social media is a calling. Really, I'm not kidding.

Although I am part of the "over 40" set, as social media has become more prevalent, I was naturally drawn to it due to my social nature. I was an early adopter especially in my age bracket. People tell me all the time I am a natural connector so social media was right up my alley.

I could see the power of social media and quickly knew that I could harness it to help small nonprofits. I am working with a friend who is an amazing software engineer. Together are working to help small nonprofits utilize these powerful tools for good. We want to take the mystery out of the internet and social media for these agencies who often don't have the time, skills, or resources to focus on these fantastic opportunities.

We are in the process of establishing a nonprofit aimed at fulfilling this mission thru educational lectures, direct training, and more. Every small nonprofit I talk to is beyond excited about this opportunity and can't wait to get started.

Funny how something I started using for fun has turned into something that helps me to really make a difference. It feels fantastic!
Posted by Lori Shipulski on 07/12/10
This is a great question! I, like many others, have found numerous benefits to using social media. I've gotten writing offers and found out about incredible events. I was offered the fabulous opportunity of being an official blogger for DC WEEK which opened up additional doors to me. I've been able to share and engage with people whom I never would have met otherwise. By far, though, the greatest thing that I've found via social media is friendships. Through Facebook, I've reconnected with people who were my closest friends before the days of bills and babies - I'm talking 20+ years ago. Had you told me a few years ago that I would be hanging out today with people I hung out with in middle school, I'd have thought you were crazy. All thanks to Facebook! Twitter is in a category by itself. I have "found" some of the most amazing, intelligent, funny, down-to-earth people on Twitter - many of whom I can now consider friends. Without a doubt the best thing that I've found with social media has been friendship.
Posted by Tamara Rasberry on 07/08/10
Through social media, I have found information on my industry, gotten new clients, and met new business associates, been interviewed by the Wall Street Journal (twice) and by a national magazine, but the best thing is the real friendships that I've made. I wouldn't have met most of these people without social media and it's a really wonderful thing. I've had the pleasure of meeting a lot of these people in person too.

Business revolves around relationships, and social media has allowed me to get to know people at a much deeper level. They people have added to my life both professionally and personally, and I'm very grateful for it! (yeah Melanie - I mean you!)
Posted by DianaK on 07/08/10
The coolest thing that came out of social media for me was connecting with classmates that I had not spoken to in 40 years. It just so happened that my 40th high school reunion precipitated a lot of emails back and forth encouraging people to attend the weekend celebration. I couldn't be there as I had already made vacation plans with my family. I was disappointed and in the missing being with old friends, it occurred to me to look for them on Facebook. Not a one was there. I then started inviting the ones whose email addresses had been circulating. I didn't get any takers at first but one. And from that one along with a little nudging from both of us now, it just kept growing. As a member of our class joined Facebook I would add them to an album i created by including their graduation photo along with a current photo. I would then ask them for an update on what they had been doing for the past 40 years. Cut and pasted that in the caption and the end result is that we now have 25 members out of 125 and we are dialoguing back and forth on all sorts of subjects. In fact, I realized that one classmate was only 1.5 hours away and we have met for dinner several times. The messages, wall posts, best wishes and words of encouragement between us all have been remarkable. And all because of Social Media.
Posted by Valasie August on 07/06/10
Being fairly new to social media, I was excited about embracing its potential. I've always been receptive to technology and the constant change it inspires. Now I exist prominently on several of the largest social media sites, Twitter, Facebook, Linked-In and others. So, when I discovered She-Blogs.com out of NY, I was thrilled. The site was originally introduced to me by a dear friend and business partner. Subsequently, my organization, TheGirlfriendGroup was recently featured on the blog. Being featured on a blog of this kind (they promote female empowerment) for the first time, I wasn't quite sure what the results would bring. I can proudly say because of social media, doors that otherwise would have been closed are now open. I've connected with the most daring, inspiring, brilliant people and look forward to utilizing social media to its fullest! Shout out to Ally Leak, She-Blog's creator!
Posted by Vanessa Maddox on 06/28/10
I have found several wedding vendors using social media sites. I was most excited about my wedding photographer. I found her via an ad on Facebook, her photography is amazing, she has a great personality, and her services were a fraction of the cost of all the other wedding photographers we looked at. Thanks Facebook!
Posted by Kathleen on 06/25/10
So many wonderful things have come out of my use of social media! I have met some of my closest friends via twitter. I have learned about auditions/been cast in films via facebook. When used well, social media's possibilities are endless.
The best thing that has come out of social media for me thus far was my first Editorial Spread with Iconography Magazine.
The editor of Iconography Magazine had contacted me via Model Mayhem. However, it wasn't until I reconnected with the magazine on twitter that I booked the photo shoot!
Check out the magazine HERE:
http://bit.ly/c21GZ9

Posted by ChelseyDC on 06/25/10
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It's Actually Easy Being Green

April 22, 2010

Earth Day is here!  More and more folks are working hard to be earth-conscious these days.  Here at Sisarina HQ we are always looking to reduce waste and save electricity.  Although Kermit the Frog didn't think it was easy being green, we think it is! Here are some great ways to save some trees in the process.

Ways to make your workspace more earth-friendly:

  • replace your incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient fluorescent bulbs
  • bring your own coffee mug to the office instead of using plastic or styrofoam cups
  • use power strips and make sure you turn off all computers at night
  • check office appliances to make sure they have a high Energy Star rating
  • be conservative with your thermostat settings & use a programmable thermostat if possible
  • make sure recycle bins & containers are easily available to everyone
  • keep blinds/drapes closed when possible to keep office temperature stable

Make being green a habit and:

  • print only when absolutely necessary
  • use recycled paper and inks (or soy-based inks) for your printer
  • when you must print, use the back of old documents for draft printing and then print your documents double-sided to reduce paper usage
  • file digital documents electronically instead of printing and filing - Sisarina loves Dropbox!
  • email newsletters instead of mailing them - Sisarina loves MailChimp!
  • keep plants in your office to help purify the air
  • recycle old business cards
  • choose furniture, desk accessories and office supplies made from recycled materials
  • look for environmentally friendly coffees and teas - Trader Joes and ZenTaraTea have some excellent choices!
  • take the train, bus or metro to the office or meetings whenever possible

These earth-friendly tips can help you save the earth AND money! It only takes one to make a difference. Let's do it together!

Answer us: What are your favorite earth-friendly office tips?


 

Filed under: Tell Us - Tags: earth day, tips, earth-friendly, recycle, green office, earth-conscious
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