I once wrote that “Nobody’s a blogger anymore, we’re all publishers“. The point is that at some point in the last few years of blogging growing up, and social media grabbing hold of us, that the reasons we started blogging became different. It wasn’t only about expressing our thoughts… it became more.

It became a business. Ok, you know what I mean. You start a blog today because you’re looking for something. Either to build your brand, or generate revenue, or to get publicity, or get a new job, etc… Therefore, since your intentions have changed, you no longer are a blogger… you’re a publisher.

A publisher is someone who’s looking to get something by producing content. A blog is just a tool you can use to do that. Same with Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, etc…

Now, what’s interesting to me is that we’re seeing the same shift happening in social media now that just happened with blogs. Albeit, we’re several years early for mass adoption of this meme, but I feel the trend happening. More and more people are getting into social media with a goal in mind.

The goal could be figuring out how to make money, or build their brand, or find a new job… whatever. But it’s more than just “socializing” as the intent is my point.

Why is this happening? Well, it could be that people have finally realized that it’s possible to “do something more” than chat with friends. People are now beginning to see that these tools can be used to help them accomplish something, and frankly, I don’t think that’s such a bad thing.

Why shouldn’t we have goals?

How long will it be before more and more people begin to become aware that social media is more than a glorified chat room and friend finder? Time will tell. But in my opinion, that trend is moving faster than you think.

Today I spoke to a chamber of commerce group in Westlake, Ohio about how small business owners can generate more sales, leads and publicity. If you are at all interested in learning how I and many others spend absolutely nothing on advertising and how we generate success online… you need to watch.

Below is the video. I start speaking a few minutes in.

Listening… It’s the first step really. Even if you’re only dipping your pinky toe into the social media waters, at the very least, you need to listen first. If you don’t listen… how do you know what people are saying about you? You can’t. And guess what? They are talking about you…

I had the chance to interview Dan Neely, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Networkedinsights.com. Dan’s company makes a product called Social Sense, which is a listening platform…

SocialSense improves your aim by giving you customer-driven insights. We help you answer questions about the who, what, where, when, and how so you can make better decisions. SocialSense mines the social web, uncovering and discovering insights that can be used and acted upon by marketers and advertisers.

Dan and I talked about the business of social media “listening” and about how businesses are afraid to jump into the social media scene. We also talked about how small businesses should be monitoring the social media landscape, and how to generate a return on investment from the data gathered.

If you’d like to test out Dan’s software. Contact them and drop my name.

Will you be in Cleveland on June 3rd? Join me and Lewis Howes in this exclusive 2-hour social media and online marketing workshop event. (10 spots left at the time of my posting this).

Me and Lewis, and you, all in a room together showing you, not telling, SHOWING YOU how to be a social media master. Not theories… real examples and instructions.

Social Media and Online Marketing Workshop (Cleveland)

Join Cleveland native, Award Winning Blogger and ultimate Business Web Coach, Jim Kukral and myself as we walk you through a two hour training workshop to help you increase your business profits through social media and online marketing. This event will be in the morning before the Cleveland Business Networking Event at Rock Bottom on June 3rd.
During this workshop we will teach you:

* How to get started with online networking sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter
* How to utilize these sites to find your target audience
* How to generate quality leads
* How to monetize your online efforts
* How to build a following of raving fans for your product or service
* How to save and manage time with advanced online tools
* How to build a positive brand image online
* How to create an online plan and maximize your time

Book now before it’s gone!

In my presentation called “Beyond the Website” (watch here) I have a slide that says this.

“The Internet is for kids and geeks, and MY customers will never be online.” – Unnamed 1990’s executive.

I don’t remember where I found that quote online, and I have no idea if it’s real or not (I bet it is). But I love it because it illustrates the short-sighted approach that many people take when emerging trends and technologies grab the hearts and minds of the world.

The thing is, people are still saying that quote, but today they’re inserting social media in place of “the Internet”. You know, things like Twitter, and Facebook and Myspace and all the rest. All of those things are just for kids and geeks… right.

Let’s redo the quote for effect. You know you know somebody like this.

“Social media is for kids and geeks, and MY customers will never use social media.” – Unnamed executive.

At this point I could go on and on about how that’s a big fail waiting to happen, and most surely a pink slip for the person who said it down the road as their business lags behind competitors who didn’t think that way.

However… let’s not do that. Let’s prove them wrong. On another slide in my presentation I point to a BusinessWeek piece that defines the 6 types of social media users.

BIG Image of above graphic

If you could really dig into this slide you would see that it’s not just kids that are using social media. The scale skews to younger, sure, but in fact, this data (which is two years old btw) does indeed show a major trend toward “older” people using social media in all kinds of facets.

Ignore social media at your own peril. This is your last warning!

Write this one up as the downside of social media. It’s painful to even post about this because I feel so bad for the Dominos Pizza brand. I mean, this is just brutal to watch and read about, but it has to be pointed out that this is the world we live in now. So, sorry Dominos.

If you go read this story (found from Huffpost), you’ll find out about a few completely horrible humans, err, scumbags who were working for Dominos who took some videos of themselves picking their noses and putting it on people’s food, and then wiping their butts with a wash cloth and washing the pizza pans with it.

I don’t want to put the videos here, but you can watch them here. Prepare to be disgusted and angry.

Again, this is completely disgusting and those people who did this should not have only been fired, but brought up on criminal charges of some kind.

Now back to the bad news for Dominos. Social media is going to allow this to spread, and fast. There’s really nothing they can do. It’s not libelous or untrue so they can’t have lawyers take down the videos and “news”. All they can really do is respond and hope it buries itself.

The VP of Communications had this to say on the site we found the story on.

Hi, Jeremy.

We just got off the phone with the franchise owner, who was absolutely dumbfounded by this. He has told us that he will be terminating their employment effective immediately. We suggested that he call them and get a written statement from them, asking them to “explain” (to the extent anyone can, really) their actions. We are also seeking legal counsel to see what kind of action we can take against them for damage to the brand.

You are welcome to use anything I’ve sent to you in the past 24 hours. I do want to thank you for bringing this to our attention…I just wish it hadn’t been posted so prominently on your web site…while it was certainly fair game, it does hurt the company and the thousands of people we employ in this country whether it’s intended or not.

Regards,

Tim

Tim McIntyre
Vice President, Communications
Domino’s Pizza, LLC

On one hand I’m glad that this type of thing can be exposed in such a way. I mean, if I was eating from that store I’d be VERY glad to know that those people are gone. But on the other hand, I feel bad for the brand, and it brings up a powerful discussion of social media and branding in today’s world.

What would you have done if you were Dominos? What could they have done beyond what they’ve done already? How would you handle this?

If I was Dominos, I’d just hope it disappeared. But unlikely.

Challenging times ahead for this new world we live in.

Over at my coaching site, TheBizWebCoach.com ($1.00 Trial), I’m constantly interviewing the movers and shakers and experts in the online marketing world. Here’s another interview you will enjoy. Please leave a comment.

Justin Levy knows social media marketing. He’s been using it to create leads and sales for his businesses for years now, and he’s willing to share his secrets with you, if you’re ready to listen.

Please enjoy this podcast where Justin and I talk about specific examples of how businesses are using social media to market themselves and to generate a return on investment.

Listen to the podcast with Justin here.

The Biz Web Coach wanted to find out more about how businesses use social media to market themselves. Justin Levy runs a restaurant near Boston and promotes it primarily through social media marketing. Find out how by listening to the podcast.

About Justin R. Levy

Justin began his career in the restaurant industry at the age of 15 when he began cleaning tables at Paisano’s Restaurant in Southampton, MA. He quickly moved through the ranks and learned every aspect of the restaurant under the mentorship of owner and successful restaurateur Constantine Sierros.

After moving away to college, Justin left the restaurant business while focusing on his studies and involvement with various philanthropic ventures. Following college, he became back involved with the restaurant industry working with Chili’s in Simsbury, CT. Justin also took on website development for Joe and began helping his friend learn how to market the restaurant to help it become as successful as both had envisioned.

Justin now focuses on rapidly exposing Caminito through organizations, affiliates, networking opportunities and events. Levy has taken the quality that Gionfriddo has created and now is introducing the Northeast to it.

Yesterday as I was browsing my Twitter followers, I came across a retweet from someone I know in Cleveland who linked to a local fitness company who made a video about their training programs. So I clicked on the Twitter link, went to the blog, and watched the YouTube video.

Then I picked up the phone to call them to find out how I could join.

SALE!!! DING!!! SOCIAL MEDIA JUST SOLD SOMETHING OFFLINE!!!

So let’s review again. Twitter is where I found the link. The blog had a post that included a YouTube video, which I watched. Then I called the company and asked about joining.

See what happened here?

Three very nice social media tools worked together to drive an ROI for an offline business.

This can be done… Don’t believe you can’t do it, because you can.

Here’s the video that I watched, that is very well done in my opinion.

Well, I’m not sure how much they “get it”, but I know they use it and monitor it. Case in point…

Last week I was informed via phone that I had just passed my fifth year of hosting with Rackspace. It’s obvious I love the company and their services because why else would I pay so much for it if I didn’t? FYI, if you want to find out about getting a server at Rackspace either go here and fill out my form or contact me and I’ll give you my personal rep’s information.

So back to the point. After I got notified and personally thanked from my account manager. I went on Twitter and started whining about how I should have gotten more from them than a phone call and thank you.

About an hour later I get a call from someone at Rackspace who saw my Twitter and was apologetic and wanted to thank me even more. After that call, someone else called me and thanked me again.

Then a few days later, I received a package in the mail from the team at Rackspace. It was some boxes of microwave popcorn and some Jones Soda and a t-shirt. But a few days later I got a really nice surprise when a package arrived that was a really nice Rackspace backpack.

All from whining about how I didn’t get anything on Twitter…. :)

So, I have to give it to the social media team at Rackspace, they are listening. And then they’re taking action too. Nice work, and thanks for the stuff.

Although, it appears someone has their Twitter username and is squatting on it?

I just finished putting my latest presentation online entitled “Beyond The Website – How your business should be using “the whole web” for more sales, leads & publicity”. You can view it below from Google video or click here to watch it on my site at a bigger size.

Here’s what you will learn:

• Why we use the Internet, past, present and the future
• How to go “beyond the website” and how a complete strategy is the best practice
• Defining and reaching goals of more sales, more leads and more publicity
• The tools of the trade in use today. How they work and more importantly, “why” they work
• Demographics of today’s online customer & social media user
• How marketing & sales function together online
• The expectations of today’s online customer/browser