Dec 1
It’s pigskin season, so we ask the team this week: “Who are your favorite college and NFL football teams and why?”
Adam: Ohio State University is my favorite college team. The Browns are my favorite NFL team – although it’s been tough to watch them over the years.
Charlie: When the Browns left Cleveland they were my favorite team. Unfortunately their departure really took the wind out of my sails and I've never really recovered as a football fan.
Sandy: I’ve never really understood the appeal of football, so I don’t have any favorite teams.
Debbie: I’m not really a college football fan. As far as NFL goes, I have to go with the Browns. Good memories of the Cardiac Kid games and fun at the old Stadium!
Bonny: We have season tickets to the Browns so I will go with them. I feel like Cleveland really deserves a break. It amazes me how true the fans are through thick and thin.
Carmen: I grew up in Central Ohio, so I bleed Scarlet & Grey. My husband and sons are really into the Browns, so I guess I am too!
Oct 27
This week we asked the staff “What was the spookiest (or kookiest) costume you’ve ever worn?”
Carmen: I dressed as bacon and eggs as a child (Thanks Mom!). Now I find pleasure it subjecting my own kids to embarrassing costumes. My personal favorite was when they were both skunks.
Adam: I’ve been random zombies, ghouls and hobos throughout my trick-or-treat days. Nothing really jumps out as all that “Kooky” or “Spooky” – guess I’d be pretty lame at a costume party now a days.
Sandy: Like Adam, I’m lame about dressing in costume. I remember being various witches and ghosts as a kid. Nothing particularly spooky or kooky.
Charlie: One time I put Elmer's glue all over myself and rolled in a leaf pile. I told everybody I was Leaf Man, I got in trouble that night. I miss my twenties some times.
Salli: The most recent costume I tried was Steve from "Blue's Clues". The kooky part was that I thought kids would know who I was at first glance. Not so much. And I disagree with Charlie...he dressed up as 'House' a couple years ago, and it was spooky how much he looked like him!
Debbie: I was never really a spooky costume person. My favorite as a kid was a stewardess (dating myself - now "flight attendant") As an adult - probably Betty Rubble from the Flintstones!
Bonny: I love Halloween because I have small children and we host an annual chili party but I personally have never been a fan of dress up. I have a no face paint rule. I usually pull out the black cat ears and call it a day.
photo credit
Oct 13
This is the seventh installment in our on-going series on Social Media for Manufacturing. This is an extension of a recent seminar Web Marketing Manager Carmen Fontana gave on the topic for the Cleveland manufacturing association, WIRE-net. While geared towards industrial companies, many of the principles can be applied to businesses of all types.
It’s time to get our hands dirty! Well, in the Social Media sense of the word that is. After you have spent a fair amount of time Listening and Learning and feel comfortable with the terminology, platforms and protocol, it’s time to Engage.
There are numerous ways to get directly involved in Social Media and it really depends on which channel you are exploring. Here are a few ways to begin engaging in Social Media:
- Blogging – Start writing blog entries. Shoot for 2-4 articles per month, 200-400 words in length. Make sure to cover a variety of topics and, if possible, have a variety of authors.
- LinkedIn – Fill out your personal and company profiles. Participate in group discussions. Read Questions and answer the ones you can. Update your (and you company’s) status updates. Comment on others’ status updates.
- YouTube – Create and upload videos. These do not need to be Hollywood quality feature length films. A well-light two minute production with your personal video camera will probably be sufficient. Make sure to integrate YouTube with your company Facebook page.
- Twitter – Tweet 3-5 times per week on a variety of topics. Retweet interesting messages of others. Don’t forget to respond to direct messages and directed tweets.
- Facebook – Update your company’s status 3-5 times per week. Upload pictures. Respond to comments on your page. Comment on other people/company’s pages.
That’s a lot to do! Don’t fret! The next installment in the series, Step 4: Schedule and Streamline, will help you simplify your Social Media tasks.
Sep 22
September is here, leaves are beginning to fall and the weather is crisper. Today the WRIS staff discusses their favorite ways to enjoy one of autumn’s best products – juicy, delicious apples.
John: I like apple cider. Also like eating straight from tree as I used to do at Orchard Hills in Chesterland during a round of golf!
Adam: I love apple cider (and cold pizza) in the fall. It takes me back to high school; the morning after a football game….ahhh….good times.
Sandy: All of the above, plus applesauce and freeze-dried (‘brothers all natural’ apple crisps are a great snack!). Washington state is known for its apples, and the house I grew up in had two apple trees in the back yard. We used to eat them in all sorts of forms, including homemade applesauce.
Charlie: My favorite way to eat apples is to grab them right off a tree and eat them. The sour green ones were the best.
Salli: My faves are cut into chunks with a fresh wedge of good cheese and a nice bottle of wine, or in my Great Aunt's recipe for homemade apple pie...which means just a whisper of cinnamon and nutmeg. Warm up the pie and slap a good slice of cheddar or a nice dollop of whipped cream and you're eating a little piece of heaven!
Debbie: I would say my favorite is dutch apple pie. I have to also agree with Salli - wine and cheese is right up there. Makes me think of California wine country trips - totally awesome.
Bonny: The more crisp and tart the better. If I am feeling crazy, I will do crunchy peanut butter. I love a caramel apple in the Fall too!
Carmen: My grandmother used to make delicious apple butter. The recipe involved Red Hots candy believe it or not. I think I will try making it myself soon.
Image courtesy of La Grande Farmer's Market
Sep 15
This is the sixth installment in our on-going series on Social Media for Manufacturing. This is an extension of a recent seminar Web Marketing Manager Carmen Fontana gave on the topic for the Cleveland manufacturing association, WIRE-net. While geared towards industrial companies, many of the principles can be applied to businesses of all types.
In the real world, you would never walk into a cocktail party shouting at the top of your lungs, “MY NAME IS JOE AND I RUN THE BEST COMPANY EVER. BUY MY PRODUCT NOW,NOW, NOW!!!!”
Instead, you would probably quietly enter, grab some h’or dourves and carefully observe the room. Once you had a feel for who was there and what they were talking about, then and only then, would you politely introduce yourself to fellow party goers.
A cyber cocktail party, be it Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, operates in the same manner. You will be more successful, and a lot more liked, if you take a “Listen and Learn” approach before diving right into Social Media.
Principles to observe:
- Watch what others are doing. What are they posting about? How frequently? Are they getting good response rates?
- Speak, don’t shout. Social Media is a conversation between people, not a billboard for your latest specials.
- Promote, but discretely. At the end of the day, you are trying to make money. And that’s totally fine. Just promote yourself in less obvious ways. Less is more when it comes to selling in Social Media.
- You give as much as you get. Give free advice. Answer questions. Post informative articles. Good will breeds good will.
Here are a few ways to start listening and learning:
- Sign up for Google Alerts.
- Read industry blogs using a RSS reader.
- Follow companies, read Answers and follow News on LinkedIn.
- Watch relevant videos on YouTube.
- Follow companies and hashtags on Twitter.
- Like companies (both B2B and B2C) on Facebook.
Next installment: The Social Media Process: Step 3, Engage
