Erica Ehm is the Founder and Editor-in-chief of YummyMummyClub.ca – the online destination for modern moms looking for adult stimulation.
Erica is one of Canada’s most recognized personalities, having started her career in the mid-80’s as the voice of her generation on MuchMusic. Her multimedia resume includes acting, award winning songwriter, playwright, author, journalist and most importantly, YummyMummyClub.ca.
3. Getting Hooked
• I joined Twitter almost 3 years ago on January 19, 2009.
• Twitter helped me grow my business on many different
levels, and improved my social life enormously.
• Naturally, it was recommended to me by someone I had never
met IRL. His name is Anthony Kalamut @SouthsideAdguy.
• That's the beauty of social media - you connect with perfect
strangers and actually start relationships with them.
• I remember feeling very nervous when I first started on Twitter.
Because I'm not good at parties. That's my social anxiety.
5. Twitter Therapy
• Twitter has cured me of some of my social anxiety.
• It's made me learn how to engage in a different way.
• My mom @journeywoman and I were at a big PR event
last year. 20 people at the large table, and I'm chatting. My
mom whispers to me, “You‟re not shy anymore.”
6. Welcome to the
Twitter Cocktail Party
We‟re going to navigate together so you can…
• Connect with many interesting and twitterific people
• Give out your virtual business cards in a meaningful way
• Go beyond „followers‟ to create relationships
• Get lucky
7. Party Twitter-quetteRule 1:
KnowThyself
• Before you go to any party, you have an agenda.
• Are you going to get clients?
• What are you going to wear?
• How will you behave?
• How much are you going to drink?
• What info are you going to divulge?
• It’s the same at the Twitter Cocktail Party
8. Rule 1: Know Thyself
The Checklist
•One word?
•Who are you?
•What are your personal core values?
•What is your brand?
•What are your brand‟s core values?
•What are your main interests?
•What do you know a lot about?
•What kind of image are you trying to project?
•Why do you want to go to the party?
9. Party Twitter-quetteRule 2:
The Brand is You.
You are a Brand.
• The way you communicate has to be
true to who you are in your life.
• Period.
10. Rule 2: Youare a Brand
Take the Test
• If someone meets you in real life, are they meeting the same person
they're tweeting with? This goes for both tone and avatar.
• Be yourself. Be proud. Be consistent.
@Unmarketing- renegade marketer, still a teen, individual
@MomMagRocks- loud, in your face, antiestablishment, mom power
@CarlaYoung- practical resource for working moms
11. Party Twitter-quetteRule 3:
First ImpressionsCount
• Don‟t be the drunk guy at the party who meets you
once and acts like he‟s known you forever.
• Tweet responsibly.
• Take. It. Slow.
12. Rule 3: First Impressions Count
Introduction Guidelines
• Take the time to give context about who you are.
• Be proactive
• You‟ve got to give a little to get a little.
• Don‟t come on too strong. I‟m not that kind of girl.
• It‟s not enough to follow.
• Interact.
• Engage.
• Take genuine interest.
• Facebook and Linked In too!
13. Party Twitter-quetteRule 4:
Make the First Move
• Social media is the big equalizer.
• Anyone can talk to anyone…if you
take the time to engage with them.
14. Rule 4: Make the First Move
How to Get Out There
• If you don‟t try, you won‟t know.
• Don‟t assume.
• Don‟t play the social media victim (“..nobody talks
to meeeeeee..”).
• Be yourself and engage (see a theme here?)
16. Rule 5: Listen
Words of Wisdom
• Social Media is like any conversation – it‟s all about
listening and responding.
• Create conversation, don‟t just push content.
• Nurture connections, don‟t get „follower hungry‟
• Think quality - don‟t add to the white noise and clutter.
• Give people a positive reason to read your tweets.
• When in doubt, wait to respond.
17. Party Twitter-quette Rule 6:
Reciprocate
• Recognize when someone does you a good
turn, and return the favour.
• If someone retweets something you post, be
nice, and at least thank them.
• Jump into conversations when someone asks a
question and be the life of the party.
• Connect people.
• Do Random Acts of Kindness.
20. Rule 7: SomethingWorthSharing
Mirror YourPassion
• Everyone has a thing. What‟s yours?
• @Those2girls - their brand is spreading goodness, bringing people
together, smiles, helping people to feel better about themselves.
• @YMCBookalicious - Wanda is all about books. She reads books, she
tweets books, she runs online twitter book clubs. She also very proactively
(but nicely) stalks interesting people in her field and starts up conversations.
• @CocktailDeeva is about drinks and doing good.
21. Your Timeline will tell a
STORY
• What kind of story are you telling?
• Is it one-sided?
• Is it inclusive
• Does it really reflect who YOU ARE?
22. Party Twitter-quetteRule 8:
Build Business Relationships
• Newsflash: Business success is not measured by the
number of followers you have.
• Bring more than your business card to the party, but
leave your pitch and your script at the door.
23. Rule 8: Business Relationships
Do UntoOthers
If you want to You should be
• Have deep business relationships •Listening to them
• Have people listen to you •Responding to them
• Have people respond to you •Clicking on THEIR links
• Have people click on your links •Engaging with them
• Have people engage you
24. Party Twitter-quetteRule 9:
Be There
• If you plan on being part of the social media game
you need to commit.
• Be thereto respond.
• Be a part of the conversation, especially if you start it.
25. Party TwitterquetteRule 10:
Take it Full Circle
• Integrate your social media experiences.
• Twitter is awesome - but it‟s really important to meet
people face to face.
• Solidify relationships by bringing them into your real life.
• Go to real cocktail parties, dinners, conferences,
meetings.
• Don‟t hide behind Twitter – it‟s just one way to interact.
26. Final words from an addict.
• The most important thing is to be yourself.
• Twitter is about you making personal connections with other
like-minded individuals.
• So for better or for worse, get comfortable in your own twitter
skin, because it's all about how you choose to interact.
So when I first started on Twitter it was like walking into a loud cacophonous room where everyone had someone to talk to, or at least seemed to have someone to talk to, I was so uncomfortable.
I have found that Twitter has cured me of some of my social anxiety. It's made me learn how to engage in a different way. My mom @journeywoman and I were at a big PR event last year. Twenty people at the large table, and I'm chatting. And my mom whispers to me. Your not shy anymore. She noticed!
One word game which I did at Blissdom last year at my Book ClubMy one word was Industrious
One word game which I did at Blissdom last year at my Book ClubMy one word was Industrious
When you're at a cocktail party - its rare but its happened when someone - usually drunk or rude - comes up , barely introduces themselves and is asking me for favours, help, something. I'm so turned off. I don't even know you! Maybe if I knew you I would DJ your son's 13th birthday party or speak at your company lunch and learn.On Twitter, it's the same thing. A ton of people barking at me or asking me to do stuff for them out of the blue. Who -- take it easy. Let's get to know each first before we start asking each other for favoursON FB - I have aprox 4 guys with avatars of them holding a guitar asking me to be their friend one a daily basis. Rarely do they introduce themselves. Usually their profile is completely blocked so I have no clue who they are. They could be the president of a bank but I have no idea so I delete the request.’Linked in, slightly better but rarely a comment as to why they want to connect with me.
I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO THINK OF ME, OH SHE'S ERICA, SHE'S SO WELL KNOWN, SHE'S SO BUSY. SHE'LL NEVER TALK TO ME. BUT THE REALITY IS, YOU'LL NEVER KNOW IF YOU DONT TRY. SOCIAL MEDIA IS THE BIG EQUALIZER. ANYONE CAN TALK TO ANYONE WHO'S ON TWITTER. AND THERE ARE A TON OF FAMOUS PEOPLE WHO WILL TWEET BACK TO YOU. IF YOU DO IT PROPERLY. IF YOU TAKE THE TIME TO ENGAGE WITH THEM. BE THE LIFE OF THE PARTY. BE INTERESTING. BE CHARMING. REMEMBER I'M THE ONE WHO IS ACTUALLY KIND OF SHY AND AM GENUINELY RELIEVED WHEN THERE'S SOMEONE TO TALK TO.
Compare it to an old fashioned rolodex - I have so many business cards I never use.