April Social Media Star: Megan Calhoun

Social media has opened up many new ways for people to communicate and interact daily, and TwitterMoms.com has become the place to be for social media mommies! TwitterMoms.com started off with only four members, but quickly grew to 1,500 in three short weeks, and has since been featured in TechCrunch, Forbes.com, RedBookMag.com, Yahoo and more.

Megan Calhoun, the founder of TwitterMoms.com and master of social media, has grown this online community to 25,000 active TwitterMoms (including several of our team members here at Step Ahead!). Megan saw the importance of social media early on, and once she found Twitter, nothing could hold her back. She now spends between eight and 12 hours a day using social media to run TwitterMoms.com and scour the web for cool, exclusive opportunities for members, so we can safely say that she is one very well connected TwitterMom!

Here’s what Megan had to say about social media:

What is your job/company/profession/title?
Founder and CEO of Megan Media LLC. I started a community for moms who love Twitter called TwitterMoms.com.

What was the first social media technology you used?
Facebook, but I later found Twitter and fell in love with it. It’s a different way to keep connected with people who share your passions.

What is your favorite social media tool?
Besides TwitterMoms.com, I’d have to say Twitter and my trusty iPhone.

How did you come up with the idea for TwitterMoms?
As a stay-at-home mom, you sometimes don’t get enough grown-up interaction during the day. My husband introduced me to Twitter, and I discovered some amazing moms who I could really relate to and connect with on the service. The trouble was, there wasn’t a great way for moms to find each other and make connections. On Sept. 2, I roughed out an idea to create a moms-only directory site using Ning.com, a free “build your own social network” service. I added the URL to my Twitter.com profile and the next morning four moms had joined the site and started making themselves at home. Three weeks later, we topped 1,500 members, found ourselves featured in TechCrunch, and have been focused on serving the needs of this unique community ever since. Today, there are about 25,000 active TwitterMoms.

How have you used social media to promote your business/company and how has it benefited?
Everything about our business is social — from the members of our community to the platform we use to host our service to the communications tools we use to keep our members engaged and active. We have no engineers, no technical team, no board of directors, no investors, no marketing budget. We couldn’t build a community like this without leveraging the sort of “Web 2.0″ tools and services on the market today. While lots of businesses look at social media from a promotional angle, we view it as our DNA. It keeps our costs down so we can focus on giving our members more of what they find value in: connections, media opportunities, sponsorships for their blogs, advice from peers, tools for building their personal brands and more. Social media has allowed us to grow and offer new things.

How much time would you say you spend a day engaging social media?
I’m like a junkie who hit the jackpot: I’ve taken my passion for moms and social media and turned it into a small business. It gives me the freedom to be connected eight to 12 hours a day, although I find myself spending more time administering TwitterMoms.com and working to find cool, exclusive opportunities we can offer to our members.

How do you incorporate it into your day so it’s not a time waster?
Well, I don’t see social media as a time waster. To me, it’s a great way to network, meet amazing people, help others make great connections and discover who is really doing innovative things. Social media is a wonderful way to connect with people from all over the world you might otherwise never have met.

What’s your best tip for using social media for business?
Get to know people. Listen. Find out how you can help them. Even simply showing an interest in what people are doing is a great way to build relationships with customers. It’s a two-way street. Reciprocate. Think of social media like one big cocktail party. If you were just talking all about yourself and never showed any interest in what the other people were doing, you would be standing all alone. Same goes for social media – be social.

Is there a social media tool/technique that you think is underutilized that you would like people to know about?
There are any number of services we know, use, and love around TwitterMoms.com: Ning.com, tumblr and posterous to name a few.

Where can people find you online and via social media?
@TwitterMoms and www.twittermoms.com

Look for Step Ahead’s Lyn (the featured TwitterMoms blogger on social media), Holly and Leslie on TwitterMoms!

Are You in Style?

Bring up grammar, spelling or the latest technique for diagramming a sentence (remember that?) and pretty much the whole room will let out an audible groan. Most folks – save for newspaper copy editors and English teachers – just don’t have a great grasp on our native tongue.

Sure, most of us have a grammar rule that gives us pause (think affect vs. effect), and everyone has at least a couple of words they struggle to spell (think canceled). But writing is so much of what we do, it deserves our focus. On any given day, I read an e-mail with an error (think it’s vs. its). And that’s simply unprofessional.

As a longtime newspaper reporter and editor and having taught some classes on writing, I have become well versed in Associated Press style. Those in the journalism industry abide by the AP Stylebook and its guidelines on punctuation, abbreviations and spelling. It gives a standard for consistency.

Public relations professionals should abide by AP style rules so they are in line with what journalists are doing and are writing their news releases in a journalist-friendly way.

Yes, some of the items in the stylebook are a little obscure (proper spelling for “shepherd’s pie”), but most are incredibly useful. Here’s a list of some common spelling, grammar and style errors. Keep this list handy and start checking your work.

Dates: When a date is used with the month, abbreviate all months except March, April, May, June, July. (Example: The program launched on Dec. 10, 2009.) But when the month is used alone, spell it out. (Example: The rebate will extend through the end of December 2010.) Do not use: “th,” “st” or “rd” as in “Let’s meet on March 11^th.”

Times: Lowercase a.m. and p.m. and use periods and a space between the time. Do not write times with “:00” (such as 8:00). Spell out “noon” for 12 p.m. and “midnight” for 12 a.m.

Addresses: When using the specific street address, abbreviate: boulevard (blvd.), street (st.) and avenue (ave.). (Example: The office is at 123 Main St.). When the street name stands alone, spell out. (Example: The office is located somewhere on Washington Boulevard.)

Numbers: Spell out numbers zero through nine; use numerals for 10 and above. There are some exceptions to this rule such as always use figures for ages.

Capitalization: Capitalize formal titles when used immediately before a name. (Example:  XYZ Inc. President Jane Smith is chairing the committee.). If you’re unsure, just don’t capitalize.

A final few tips:

• It’s – it is; its – the possessive
• Use website, Web page and Internet
• No “s” at the end of backward, forward, toward and afterward.
• Use “more than” instead of “over” when referring to an amount (Example: I ran more than 10 miles.).
• Between is for two items/people; among is for three or more.

We Did It!

Six members of the Step Ahead Inc. team finished the fourth annual iFive:K race last night! The iFive:K race, presented by the Charleston Digital Corridor Foundation, was a huge success, with more than 700 participants. The race course, which winds through historic downtown Charleston, started and ended at the Charleston Maritime Center on the Harbor.

Holly Fisher, Lyn Mettler, Leslie Bogstad, Bud DiMaggio, Melissa DiMaggio and Laura Angermeier all raced for the Step Ahead Inc. team. What race is next for the Step Ahead Inc. team? Just wait and see! Congrats team!

Foursquare Day heralds trend to location-based marketing

What if your business could offer a special deal to potential customers who just walked by your storefront? What if, as a consumer, you were instantly rewarded for frequent visits, recommending a business to friends or providing feedback on products and services? That’s called location-based marketing, and it’s the next big thing in social media.

Services like Foursquare, Gowalla, Brightkite and Loopt are free smart phone applications enabling users to “check in” anywhere from a grocery store to a coffee shop to a restaurant. Foursquare, the current darling that is catching on fast in Charleston and across the country, lets users earn points for checking in and, if you’re the latte lover who checked in the most at the local coffee shop this week, you’re deemed the “mayor.” You can post tips, suggesting friends try a particular sandwich or stay for Friday night happy hour, see where your friends are, earn badges for your activities and share what you’re doing through Facebook and Twitter.

Businesses and organizations that have accounts on Foursquare can target users with specials, discounts or other useful information. They can reward the “mayor” with free French fries or 10% off a pair of jeans, and follow them on Twitter.

How is this any different from sending customers e-mail coupons or handing out punch cards for a free sandwich with 10 purchases? Because you’re reaching people you know like to patronize your business. This gives you a way to learn about and connect with your customers. Plus, when others see people “checking in” at your location, it’s like a free recommendation.

By monitoring these location-based tools, you can know the moment a customer walks in the door. You know if someone is eating next door at the competition, and you can offer up a special deal to entice that person to visit your restaurant next time. Foursquare is working closely with businesses and will soon be offering up demographic details about your customers and when they visit your business – information which could prove to be incredibly valuable in better serving your customer base.

If you want to get up to speed on all that is Foursquare, join us for a “square up” on Foursquare Day, April 16 (4 squared = 16). Foursquare Day is a national initiative to promote the use of Foursquare. From 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., join us at our office, located at the Charleston Digital Corridor Flagship, 475-A East Bay St., to learn more about Foursquare, get signed up, mingle with fellow Foursquare users, enjoy free drinks and food — and be entered into a drawing for an iPod touch. For more details on the event, visithttp://www.StepAheadInc.com. Be there or be square!

Lyn Mettler is the founder of Step Ahead Inc., which combines the best of traditional public relations with social media and Internet marketing to help maximize visibility for clients both online and off. The company recently added Foursquare management to its line-up of services.

http://www.charlestoncurrents.com/#focus

Get Your Message Across – 5 trusty tips to improve your copywriting

There’s a lot of buzz among marketers about the importance of search engine optimization copywriting. And no doubt, getting your Web site ranked highly in the major search engines is important. But your effort will be wasted if you don’t deliver a clear message that drives recipients to take action. Whether you’re writing copy for a Web site, email newsletter, direct mail campaign, or any other marketing effort, keep the following in mind to be sure your language gets the message across to your reader:

1. Get their attention. When it comes to promotional copywriting, your first priority is to make sure your message gets read rather than immediately discarded. That means writing a headline (or envelope copy, email subject line, etc.) that spotlights what’s in it for the recipient (e.g., “10 Ways to Cut Down Your Grocery Bill”). Alternately, something that intrigues will get your message read. For example, a link to “The Top 5 Ways That Homeowners Lose Equity” could bring viewers to a home repair or plumbing business.
2. Offer helpful information. If you can deliver helpful advice in your field or explain a complex subject, you’ll establish yourself as a go-to resource. “The more you educate people, the more market there is for what you do,” explains Mary White, a training coordinator with the Mobile Technical Institute in Alabama.
3. Keep it simple. Uncluttered, straightforward language in your copywriting is best for getting your message across. Lyn Mettler, co-owner and founder of Step Ahead, Inc., recommends aiming for an eighth-grade reading level. “You don’t want to talk over anyone’s head,” she says.
4. Be real. A growing business has a built-in advantage with the many consumers who favor working with independent and local businesses rather than large chains and nationwide organizations. You can play to that advantage on your Web site by spotlighting your local presence and the more personalized service you’re able to provide. “It should be in your voice,” White says. “If you’re not a good writer someone can do it for you. But you should write it.”
5. Don’t neglect your brand. Be sure your communication reinforces your brand or your company name in the consumer’s mind. Include it in the headline (or Web banner, email subject line, etc.).

   http://www.fuelnet.com/daily/copywriting_tips/get-your-message-across/

Social Media Firm Celebrates Foursquare Day With “Square Up”, Other Activities

CHARLESTON, S.C. –  It’s hip to be square – at least around the offices of Step Ahead, Inc., a local marketing firm that offers social media management. The company is celebrating Foursquare Day, April 16, in an effort to promote the use of the popular location-based smart phone application, Foursquare.

From 5:30-7:30 p.m., locals are invited to the company’s offices at the Charleston Digital Corridor Flagship, 475-A East Bay Street, for a “square up” and a chance to win an iPod touch. There, guests can learn about Foursquare, get help signing up for the free service, or mingle with others who are regular Foursquare users while enjoying free drinks and appetizers.

Foursquare lets users “check in” at different locations to win points and see where their friends are. Users who frequent a particular spot more than anyone else in a particular week become the mayor, and users also have the opportunity to earn fun “badges” for various activities. Step Ahead, Inc., which creates and manages innovative social media campaigns for businesses, recently added Foursquare management to its line-up of services.

For every place an attendee to the event has “checked in” using Foursquare that day (up to five) they will be entered to win a new iPod  Touch. Everyone gets one entry just for attending, so even those who have never used Foursquare can still win. Step Ahead will also be giving away some fun awards, such as the Mayor of the Most Charleston Locations and Who Frequents Starbucks the Most, etc.

“I believe Foursquare and similar location-based services are the next big thing in social media,” says Lyn Mettler, founder and co-owner of Step Ahead. “As this continues to grow in popularity, it’s going to have huge implications for businesses, many of whom are starting to offer discounts and specials if you ‘check in’ at their establishment or are the mayor. It’s a very powerful way to directly connect to your consumer and encourage repeat visits.”

Foursquare Day (4/16), so chosen because 4 squared = 16, is a national initiative to promote the use of Foursquare. Step Ahead is also encouraging local businesses to offer a Foursquare Day special to Foursquare users. For more information about the free event, visit www.stepaheadinc.com or call (843) 606-0226.

About Step Ahead Inc.
Step Ahead, Inc. is a Charleston, S.C.-based company that combines the best of traditional public relations with social media and Internet marketing to help maximize visibility for clients both online and off. The company’s clients include Spirit Telecom of Columbia, Myrtle Beach National resorts, Charming Inns of Charleston, Charleston Parks Conservancy, Golf Island of Hilton Head, Sunset Rentals of Hilton Head, SpiritLine Cruises and others. The company has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and Entrepreneur magazine, as well as on MSNBC.com and SmartMoney.com. Visit www.stepaheadinc.com or call (843) 606-0226 for more information.

It’s Hip to Be Square: Foursquare Day April 16!

Because here at Step Ahead we love Foursquare SO much, we’ve decided to organize a Charleston get-together in honor of Foursquare Day, an initiative organized nationally to promote the use of Foursquare on April 16.

We’re hosting a “square up” April 16, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at the new Charleston Digital Corridor Flagship space in downtown Charleston, 475 East Bay St., with wine, beer and light appetizers.

But there’s more…. For every place you’ve “checked in” using Foursquare that day (up to 5) you will be entered to win a brand new iPod Touch, so you can, of course, use Foursquare on it . Just show us your check ins and we’ll enter you. Winner announced around 7 p.m. And you get one entry just for showing up (so newbies, you’re not totally out!)

If you’re not sure just what Foursquare is all about, that’s OK. We’ll have folks on hand to give you a quick tutorial, help you get it set up on your smart phone or iPod Touch and show you how it all works. Heck, we’ll even help you make your first “check in”!

AND, we’ll be giving away some silly prizes to regular Foursquare users like to the person who’s the mayor of the most places or who checks in at the most Starbucks, etc.

So join us April 16 at the Flagship from 5:30 -7:30 p.m. Be there or be square!