Establish Authority In Your Industry

If you want to get ahead of the game and stand out in this over-saturated market, you are going to need to establish yourself as an authority figure. There is no better way to do this than by providing informative content that is centralized to your products and services. For instance, if own a small cake business then you could post information about the importance of choosing the right ingredients for a cake. You can even create a comprehensive how-to guide on decorating a cake. When you present yourself as a foremost authority figure, you are really going to go off as an expert and someone that your targeted audience can trust.

You Have To Get Noticed

There is no denying that Facebook is the biggest mogul when it comes to social media. With literally 1.9 billion monthly active users that is pretty evident. However, just because this social media platform has this many users it doesn’t mean that you are going to be able to reach them all. In fact, with so many users it can be hard to get the recognition that you need unless you amass a large number of followers. It seems that people are only interested in what’s popular and trending. When you visit Famoid.com, you can buy followers. This type of service helps you grow organic followers so that your business can get the recognition that it needs to grow and make sales.

Take Advantage of Chatbots

Chatbots are relatively new when it comes to social media, but they are making a huge hit amongst retail businesses. This is because these bots act like a sale rep or merchandiser. These automatic bots engage your customers, ask them questions, and help them find what they are looking for. For instance, a clothing retailer is using these bots to help customers find the exact type of clothing that they are looking for. The bot will engage the customer, ask them what types of fashion they are looking for, and then it will give them a link to your e-commerce site where they can purchase these items. This is a new concept, but you can see that it is ingenious.

The post How Social Media Can Act As a Primary Sales Channel For Your Business appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Yet, I have not seen a single news story about Giving Tuesday which is today!

It’s a simple idea. Just find a way for your family, your community, your company or your organization to come together to give something more. Then tell everyone you can about how you are giving. Be a part of a national celebration of our great tradition of generosity.

Instead of only focusing in on how you can spend money on yourself and gifts for others, this day was created so you could take some of your energy and dollars and put them towards worthy causes.

Last year, we started the #GivingTuesday weekly column here to shine a light on organizations that needed it and to encourage you to help. Today we want you to take the time to step up and make the world a better place.

Take and Share an #UNselfie on Instagram & Facebook

Upload a selfless selfie to your Instagram account and use the hashtags #UNselfie and #GivingTuesday to let the world know you support the cause.

Tweet Your Support

Here are a few tweets that you can copy and paste to help get the word out.

• #GivingTuesday is a day for everyone, everywhere, to GIVE! @GivingTues
• Celebrate #GivingTuesday- donate to a @GivingTues partner at givingtuesday.org
• Enough shopping –time for GIVING! Happy #GivingTuesday! @GivingTues

Post on Facebook to Show Your Support

Handy dandy status updates that can make a difference.

• Join the worldwide #GivingTuesday movement – take a moment to visit givingtuesday.org and donate to an organization that speaks to a cause you believe in!
• #GivingTuesday is a day for everyone, everywhere, to GIVE! Find a cause that matters to you at Givingtuesday.org
• Tell me how YOU are participating in #GivingTuesday. Take a video of your #GivingTuesday activities or take an #UNSelfie, and share what you’re doing on Facebook. Twitter or Instagram!

Change Your Avatars and Photos for the Day

We all know people may not notice when you get a haircut, but they do notice when you change your avatar. Consider using one of these to get even more attention.

Visit GivingTuesday.org to Find Out More

Take the time to find out as much as you can about this movement because I hope we can all agree it is better and more important than any of the other “special” days around Thanksgiving.

Giving Tuesday has a great website full of information. Be sure that you don’t miss their partner list of organizations who are actively involved.

Thank you for helping make this years #GivingTuesday a big success!

The post TODAY Is #GivingTuesday appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Time and time again you’ll hear me stress that giving is more than just writing a check and I want you to keep that in mind as we head into the holidays this year.

We all know that this is the biggest fund raising time for most organizations, so you are going to be seeing tweets, letters and commercials all asking for your donations.

Make Sure Your Money is Being Used Appropriately

Use a site like Charity Navigator to learn about any organization before you give them money. They have details on all legitimate charities (currently 1.6 million of them) and I like to use them to see how organizations spend the money they are given.

Plus, they keep an updated Donor Advisories page for all to see.

Buy Gifts That Give Back

For years, I’ve loved to give gifts that help a nonprofit at the same time.

As an example, if you want to help the victims of the recent typhoon in the Philippines you could donate directly to the Red Cross or another group. But, you could also buy one of these beautiful prints from artist Len Peralta like I did.

I’m also planning on buying gifts this year from Project Bead, fashionABLE and ONE.

People love getting gifts with a story behind them and it is the perfect way to introduce your favorite causes to your friends and family.

Don’t Forget Local Needs

It is very easy to get caught up in trying to save the world at large. I know from experience.

But, don’t forget that there are tons of groups just outside your front door that could use your time and resources too. Look online for local events happening where you can donate food, clothes or other items to help your community. Call up your local soup kitchen and see if there is some way you can help.

Join a Board

I’m proud to say that I am on the Board of Directors of two great organizations.

Wediko works to improve children’s lives through a range of therapeutic services and programs which are tailored to fit each unique child and situation.

The Hockey Foundation’s mission is to use ice hockey to reinforce character strengths, improve the quality of life and empower children in less fortunate regions of the world.

It is hard to put into words how good it feels to give back on a day-to-day basis by officially being involved with a charity. When you find a group that is close to your heart and you want to help, let them know your interest. They may not have an opening now, but I’m sure they’ll take any help you can give them.

Don’t Forget To Give Back

This is the reason #GivingTuesday was first created.

We all hear the hype, commercials and news reports about Black Friday and people would rush out to spend money.

Giving gifts is great, but helping out those who need it is even better.

Please take the above advice and find the charities that appeal to you and then find the best way to donate to them this holiday season.

Thank you.

The post Be Smarter With Your Holiday Giving This Year appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

They see families as a critical part of every child’s education. Even better, they help families become hotspots for learning. From the classroom to the dinner table, NCFL’s programs help parents and children move from where they are to where they want to be. I love this approach because I know that while my kid’s schools play an important part, what we do at home to continue their learning is equally important.

When I was asked to be an advisor to NCFL, I instantly said yes. That is why I want to tell you more about who they are and what they do.

NCFL views education as a family affair. Every parent is an asset; every family is a resource. Whether it’s reading on grade level or pursuing higher education, the results propel families towards achieving their dreams and our country towards success. It may not get talked about in the press much, but it is more important than ever.

Sometimes changing is necessary to stay true to your vision. Noting shifts in our ever-changing world, and even the language families use everyday (learning not literacy), NCFL changed their name to the National Center for Families Learning last week. While “Literacy” is an important term, it always felt too academic to me and not a word that gets used around the dinner table very often. Changing the last word in their name to “learning” leaves it much more open ended and I think will allow them to break through to more families. Plus, their name is now large enough to hold their dreams and full mission.

NCFL focuses on maximizing real-world situations as opportunities for learning. Our lives are demanding and our time is limited, but families can create their very own hotspots for learning in their everyday lives. We spend time in the car, at the grocery store and around the dinner table. Why not add a little fun, learning and wondering to all of them?

Earlier this year, I spoke with beneficiaries of NCFL’s work. They told me of the transformation NCFL made possible. From struggling to complete day to day to now excelling in higher education and careers, their stories have a common denominator: families learning together. NCFL has a wide network of educators supporting their efforts, too. From classroom teachers to librarians to pioneering thought leaders across settings, they all unify to meet families where they are and improve education together.

In honor of their new name and National Family Literacy Month®, NCFL is raising money to support literacy and learning in communities nationwide.

They’ve launched the Big Give for Families Learning, an online fundraising challenge. I’m thrilled to support an organization that’s not afraid to try new tactics, so I’ve joined the #NCFLBigGive. For this #GivingTuesday, please consider donating to help families learn together by clicking here.

I couldn’t write about NCFL without mentioning my personal favorite thing they do and that is Wonderopolis.

Every day, this website provides a different Wonder of the Day® — available to you and children you love free of charge. The Wonder of the Day focuses around high-interest subjects in the form of a question (such as “Do Your Taste Buds Change?” and “Why Is the Sky Blue?”), with a written passage that even reads to you, a related video, vocabulary words and more.

My kids and I have enjoyed many of these and I’ve learned that many teachers will use these in their classroom to spark wonder among the students, which of course leads to increased learning.

While I’m betting most of you have never heard of NCFL, I hope you can appreciate the work they do. With all the distractions our children have surrounding them, it is crucial that parents and teachers instill in our kids a sense of wonder and a desire to learn about the world around them. This is what NCFL is trying to do and I hope you will consider learning more about them, donating or simple sharing the great things they do!

Thank you and happy November.

The post National Center for Families Learning – #GivingTuesday appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

This morning on Twitter was the first time I had ever heard of Charitybuzz and thus I wanted to share it with all of you. This was the tweet that got my attention.

Auctioning off tickets to my #HeidiHalloween party to benefit @UNICEFUSA on @charitybuzz. Find out more here: http://t.co/aFrAZ9M7lo
— Heidi Klum (@heidiklum) October 8, 2013

I mainly clicked because I was curious to see what her costume was going to be, but once that was revealed I decided to spend some time on the site seeing what else they had going on.

At Charitybuzz their philosophy is simple:

“We give our community of bidders exclusive opportunities to live their dreams and make a difference through incredible online charity auctions.”

Right now they have everything from training with a Navy Seal team, to being a character in a James Patterson novel and even a signed iMac covered in A-List autographs.

Charities, perhaps you should connect with Charitybuzz to make some magic happen.

If anyone reading this has used them before in any capacity, we’d love to hear your story.

The post Charitybuzz – #GivingTuesday appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

According to UN data, there are currently 4.25 million people internally displaced and 2 million refugees abroad. Of these totals, 3.1 million, are children.

Multiple organizations including UNICEF and the UN Refugee Agency are doing all that they can to help them all and make sure that the governments of the world do not forget them.

No matter how you feel about the conflict or what may come, we shouldn’t forget about these families in need.

Donations of all sizes help and using your voice to share this with others is greatly appreciated.

The post Help the Syrian Children Refugees – #GivingTuesday appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Started in 2009 by two moms of children battling CHD who wanted to empower their children throughout their journey. They learned by wrapping their child in the simple idea of a superhero cape, their children felt invincible while visiting their cardiologists. In many cases, the children found comfort in their cape amidst a crowd of medical professionals, especially if they couldn’t have the comfort of their parents’ arms during some procedures.

After seeing the results in their own children they decided to do more by giving capes to any family who requests one for their children.

They not only ship a cape to the child, but they sew their initial on it and of course the cape comes in their favorite color!

I for one was deeply touched by this story when I first learned about it on the nightly news. With that exposure they’ve gone from a small group sending out a couple of capes a day to not being able to keep up with demand.

This is why I wanted to make you aware of this great group because they need donations more than ever.

If you need more of a nudge take some time to read through their blog that is filled with stories and photos of the children and their capes.

You can learn more about them on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and of course on their official website.

The post Heart Heroes – #GivingTuesday appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

I was in Portland, Oregon for World Domination Summit and I saw this group of women AND men in school girl dresses.

My mind is very open to people expressing themselves, but I could tell something was going on, so I was curious to find out more.

Turns out that it was a One Girl fundraising event called #DoItInADress where they encourage anyone to do something to raise funds, but to do it in the uniform a typical African school girl would wear. The genius of this is that it instantly attracts attention when people (like me) see it and ask what is going on.

One Girl is a non-profit organization that’s changing the world, one girl at a time.

They provide education scholarships to the most vulnerable girls in Sierra Leone.

It costs only $20 a month to give a girl access to education and their current goals are to provide 600 education scholarships to girls by 2014 and also train 55 LaunchPad Champions to sell affordable eco-friendly sanitary pads in rural communities.

The truth is that when you educate a girl, she’ll change the world and that is why they are working on changing the world one girl at a time.

I remember when I first heard of organizations like this I always wondered why the focus on girls. What about the boys out there?

Take a few minutes to research this and you’ll quickly realize that boys get to go to school in most cultures, while the girls stay home to clean and work. They are never given the chance to think beyond their front door or walking to the watering hole.

This October they will once again be launching their Do It In A Dress campaign so stay tuned to see how you can look a little silly while raising funds to get girls into schools. Their blog is a great way to stay on top of the latest work they are doing. You can also find them on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

The post One Girl – #GivingTuesday appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Now, if you are not familiar with the inspiring work that AJ & Melissa Leon do through all the arms of Misfit Inc. you are missing out. They are dear friends and a daily inspiration to myself and thousands of other misfits around the globe.

A few weeks back they announced this new project. Watch this video to hear AJ explain how it all came about.

The windmill will help irrigate the crops of five hundred families all year round, thereby providing them with the ability to eat fresh produce every day and sell the excess in the local markets, eliminating any need for aid. This will serve as an empowering graduation present for a village that is in the final stages of GHNI’s rigorous Transformational Community Development program.

But, instead of just running your standard fundraising campaign, AJ and team wanted to do something different.

They sent out the call that they wanted to find thirty different people who had a specific idea on how they could raise $500 towards the goal. They had to submit their ideas and be chosen in order to take part in this.

What I love is the variety of the ideas that the chosen misfits came up with to raise their part of the windmill. Everything from local events, parties and several businesses donating pieces of their profits. The variety of ideas from around the globe showcase how a simple idea can grow into something amazing.

I’m happy to report that they not only reached their goal, but exceeded it. YOU can still donate directly to the project and every dollar helps.

The post Good Misfit – An Experiment in Social Giving appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Their simple shirts, hats and other accessories have always made me smile. The vibe matches my love of the outdoors, a good dog and a kicked back approach to life.

But, today I don’t walk to talk about their clothes and instead share with you something much more important and that is the work that The Life is good Playmakers do to help kids overcome poverty, violence, and illness by using the power of joyful play to heal and strengthen children.

When you read their story about starting in 1990 as Project Joy and it growing into something larger and more powerful over the years you can’t help but be inspired. They now work with child care providers and children throughout the country.

Watch this video to discover their core values.

They’ve just announced the line up for their yearly Life is good Festival and it includes Jack Johnson, Hall & Oats, The Roots. Delta Rae and more. How many other summer music concerts do you know that have a family resource center on their site?

You can get involved in many different ways besides a simple donation. Festival goers can fundraise for special perks, you can get certified or simple buy Life is good products and a portion of all sales goes towards helping the kids.

I encourage you to visit the Life is good Playmakers page and find out more about them today. After all, it is important for each of us to protect and insure that our kids grow into happy adults.

The post Life is Good Playmakers – #GivingTuesday appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

The military holds a special place in my heart, as I mentioned before when I wrote about the Fisher House Foundation, and that is why today I want to make you aware of the work being done by the Green Beret Foundation.

The Green Beret Foundation provides unconventional resources to facilitate the special needs of our wounded, ill and injured Green Berets and Green Beret Gold Star families. They provide the unique support that the Special Forces Community needs to strengthen readiness and uphold Green Beret traditions and values.

The transition from active duty to civilian life is never an easy one and there are special hardships when that person is one of America’s quiet professionals.

The Green Beret Foundation has a variety of programs and initiatives they provide including:

• Casualty Care
• Advocacy
• Gold Star Family Support
• Ruck Program
• Steel Magnolia’s 
• Scholarships

None of us will ever know what these silent soldiers and their families go through. That is why I support them in any way I can.

Thank you again to all those who serve!

The post Green Beret Foundation – #GivingTuesday appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

A couple of years ago when I first met Adam he was working for an NHL team trying to get them to embrace social media. They never fully understood it, he left and then he started talking about how he wanted to go to remote parts of the world where they had never heard of hockey and teach it to the kids. I vividly remember him first mentioning going to India to do this and my reaction being that I didn’t even know they had ice there to skate on. How wrong I was.

Their vision is to use the sport of hockey to positively change the lives of all that come in contact with the game. By instilling character strengths such as accountability, honesty, teamwork, selflessness, discipline and resiliency into each player they teach, communities around the world will be improved.

As if that wasn’t enough, they dream of a global connection of hockey players that will eventually lead to friendly games being played by people of different races, religions, genders, social status and professions, etc. These games will create lifetime bonds between the players no matter which side of the ice they are on.

What I also love is that in addition to teaching the kids the game, The Hockey Foundation is also making sure that they directly help the communities where they run their clinics.

Also, be sure to connect with them on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube and sign up for their newsletter if you’d like to be kept up to date on their latest efforts. Even if you are not a big fan of hockey, their blog is mainly a travel journal of their trips and makes for fun filled reading.

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