Another Fascinating Free Resource

Linked In and Craigslist, watch out!

There is a new player in the social media round up and this free resource is about to up the game.

Three reasons why Thumbtack will Rule:

1. The idea is brilliantly bright.
Brilliant. I wish I had come up with the idea. The embedded viral tools are well done too. This is going to soar like a rocket ship.

2. The design is simply gorgeous both in visual and content.
Not only at a glance is this site drop dead gorgeous. Simply gorgeous. It also has mastered a clean navigation. Great use of image and content, the quality in design and visual integrity puts Craigslist on the back of the dinosaurs with the newspaper blahs.

3. The turnkey marketing service for independents is in great demand.
Together, independent professionals are the largest employer of any company in the nation. Without a marketing department and the advertising resources, it can be challenging to get the traction necessary to gain a strong client list. Linked In is helpful, but let's face it, it's merely a paperless rolodex. Thumbtack really sticks the services, simply put online on a variety of resources that are freely available. Also, it asks smart questions that any independent should be asked prior to marketing its services.

I'm glad to learn of this service! Here is my profile if you want to take a peek at this rockin new resource.
Social Media Coach

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Twitter Tips From the True Twitter Makers

The Midas Center would like to share an email we recently received from the co-founders of Twitter. We hope you will find this resourceful as they share a comprehensive list of tips on how to get the most from the Twitterverse.

After you've read the list, feel free to share your thoughts from your twitter account and include @midascenter to your tweet so we can hear your comments too! Tweet on tweeps!

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Our resolution is to help you get the most of out of Twitter this year. To start, we thought we'd send this note with four simple suggestions. Come on by our web site to try these out anytime!

1) Follow your interests.
We've found that the people who enjoy Twitter most tend to follow a variety of accounts: friends, family, people in their profession, local shops and events, and most importantly, people who share their passions.

2) Get specific.
Like sports? Follow your favorite leagues, teams, players, coaches, commentators, writers and fellow fans. Love food? Follow chefs, restaurants, critics, bloggers, specialty shops and respected foodies.

3) Don't panic.
People turn to Twitter during emergencies. Snowstorms, power outages and fires are just a few emergencies where Twitter may be helpful. Search for #hashtags and follow local civic accounts to stay informed.

4) Return to Twitter.
There are about 200 million accounts on Twitter now - that means new interests, new voices, and new ideas every day. We offer services in seven languages, apps for most devices, and SMS worldwide.

Thanks for being part of Twitter,

@Biz, @Ev, & @Jack
Co-founders, Twitter

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P.S. Stay connected to The Midas Center via our Linked In Group, The Midas Center Social Media Club, our Facebook page, or our Twitter account to get more information on the upcoming workshop we will be offering on Twitter. The Midas Center provides monthly workshops on a variety of business development topics. Feel free to stop by The Midas Center, anywhere you can get a connection to our online presence to learn more about the details of our workshops!

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Intangible Pioneers Pave the Way to Success

Do you want to improve your social media activities? Is it overwhelming? Too many tools, not enough time? Are you tempted to just discount the social media arena because you think it is a fad, or a trend that won't impact your career path?

How are you defining success in your career? We all know that success is not a destination, but is fulfilled along the journey. Are you ready for a journey and an intangible adventure? Are you embracing technology as part of your future planning of your career path?

A true pioneer knows that success is not about a destination. A one time achievement that can be acquired just because you've received a diploma or a retirement package. Pioneers, the successful ones are always learning, hypothesizing, experimenting, improving, changing themselves and the world around them for the better despite their circumstances. Overcoming fear and adversity along the way, successful stories of pioneers include a foundation of character and integrity and fueled by passion and hunger. This combination is key in making true progress, innovation and success in pioneers of the past and present. These are first and foremost the necessary tools in developing a social media program for your business or career development. Before you can proceed into the next era, you must be willing to have the character and passion to keep up with the rapid pace of technology.

Align your career path with this component, then the unknown landscape of new technologies, difficult people and ever changing stressors may detour your path but will not destroy you and your mission.

Go onward fellow pioneers. Continue to strive, move forward, toward more, better, faster, smarter solutions. We're in this together.

Pioneers who "first" found the western world continued to move onward, building the railroad tracks and digging those wooden telephone polls along the way. What are you finding, developing, creating in today's world? And, are you a true pioneer or a settler?

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Adweek's Social Media Market Discussion

On a recent article from Adweek, "Keep Social Media Simple -- and In-House" written by Alex Blum, we shared our $.02. The Midas Center owner, Andrea Cook was pleased to be the first to comment, here is what she said:

You bring up a great topic that is so relevant and current and should be evaluated for businesses. My take on this is that social media, if managed and supervised under the guidelines and standards of a company's brand, image and goals can indeed be outsourced to reliable social media service.

In fact, I see this (social media outsourcing) as the next generation of corporate customer service. Gone are the days when customer service 1-800 numbers hidden on company's web sites and directed to an office somewhere off shore where people, completely dis-attached to the mission and values of of the company's brand read from a script.

Today, in the new era of the internet age, the corporations who rely on third party social media marketers to help build their brand throughout the variety of social media outlets will be the leaders to watch out for. Your article mentions authenticity and simplicity and so perhaps the real rub here is finding a social media source to partner with who understands these values. As you know, social media is not just about the traditional methodology of pushing a message, it also can provide valuable insight that can be informative to the R&D process.

If corporations have found value in outsourcing their R&D function as well as their customer service function, why would they not also trust a third party social media marketing business. I for one am in the process of developing a business and to train individuals to become more savvy social media juggernauts so that I may offer professional services to businesses who are seeking social media services.

I welcome further discussion on this relevant topic. My name is Andrea Cook and I am the President of The Midas Center (www.themidascenter.com), currently located in rural Indiana. What a better place to offer a third party social media service for businesses? Find me on Twitter/andreacook or Twitter/midascenter. Also, please join The Midas Center Social Media Club on LinkedIN for more discussions on out sourcing social media.

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Social Media: Help Me Help You

The Midas Center is passionate about helping businesses and organizations succeed. We want to be your Jerry Macguire. Like Jerry, we promote our clients and we use proven, best practices and a variety of creative marketing tools to help clients succeed. We completely relate with Jerry's passion and entusiasm in this clip (see video below). We are just as passionate about helping you to succeed and we are excited about the technologies that are currently and readily and "freely" available to each of us. We talk a lot about social media because there are so many tools that are free to use and have a great impact to helping you reach your marketing goals. So, tell us, help us... how can we help you?

Currently, we are creating opportunities for individuals and businesses to learn-n-grow and lead-n-succeed. Through workshops or coaching sessions, we have a list of social media topics we can offer. We also provide customized workshops, presentations and training to individuals and groups to help clients reach their specific goals through marketing on-line.

We are developing a list of topics we think would be useful. However, if you have a suggestion on a topic you think would be beneficial, we'd love to hear from you. Feel free to comment or email Andrea Cook directly with your ideas.

Help us help you!

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Social Media Coaching Now Available

We are now offerring social media coaching to interested businesses and entrepreneurs. If you would like to schedule individual- or group sessions, please send an email sharing your wish list of what you are interested in learning and your contact information. We will follow up with you soon to discuss details

contact us about social media coaching >

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Advertisers Seeking Success From Online Advertising

ADWEEK reports that there is a growing interest in online advertisements despite the poor economy. In fact, the iPad is noted as the publishing industry's saving grace in the recent article titled, "Digital Darlings: Will tablets save the publishing industry?"

Trends show big changes in the publishing industry such as:

- People are less interested in paying for content.

- Advertisers are in the process of undergoing changes in their advertising investments, mainly from print to digital.

- Digital advertisements prove to be engaging and customers are showing an interest in the available digital ads and apps.


To read the full article, click here.

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Retreat Day 5: Design is. . . ?

"Design is not about "like." It's not about "dislike." It's about passion . . . emotion . . . attachment.

- Tom Peters, reveals the true power of consumerism, "Re-Imagine! Business Excellence in a Disruptive Age"

Design is so much more than just the cosmetics of a product or the marketing collateral of a business. Design is the new dollar that symbolizes creativity and quality. Within an instant, the public can visually see the soul of a product through its packaging; or the quality and integrity of a business by glancing at its web site.

True, there is a lot of fluff out there. But those who matter will be attracted by design first and foremost. There is substance in style. There is a message that runs deep through the design of products and businesses. The message is in the details, it is in the overall appearance and the overall experience.

Enter into a Starbucks and you will have realized the impact design has, from the flavor of coffee, to the overall experience in the store, Starbucks exudes design and branding. Starbucks sells more than just strong coffee. Let's face it, the impact of the overall design of Starbucks and the addictive power it has over people is its true value proposition. Its consistent use of the color palette from the murals on the walls, to the seating areas and the straws is about the brand. The shapes of the counters and barrista stations, the logos that appear perfectly with each eye movement brands the experience in your brain and leaves you wanting more.

Yesterday, I bought an iPad from the Apple store in Chicago. If you have ever bought an Apple product, you may understand the overall manipulation and power Apple has over its fans. They aren't just a computer manufacturer any more than Starbucks is just a coffee maker. The design of Apple is the true soul of its products. Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple understands the majestic magnificence design plays in the overall marketing of its company too. From the research and development of the Apple products, to the marketing, selling and delivery, design exudes throughout the entire life cycle of any Apple item. The clean, no-nonsense, fresh white space is the very essence of Apple, its stores, the products and packaging.

As our world becomes more polluted with loud noises, images scrolling at top, on the bottom and along the sides of our screens, designing - whether it is packaging, a web site, direct mail, advertising, etc., - needs to be concise, consistent, cohesive to what you are selling, who you are.

Reflecting on my career, I have spent the past several years suppressing my "graphic design" capabilities. I quickly acknowledged the lack of value many C-level executives have towards designers. Perhaps the market is so saturated with designers that it was difficult to prove value. Maybe those who claim to be designers but really just own a copy of Photoshop have tarnished the designer name. Perhaps design is not easily quantified by the bean counters. Whatever the reason, I am realizing the value and need for good design.

I recall an attorney, sitting in his corner office of one of Chicago's tallest skyscrapers telling me with surprise and delight after I turned a courtroom graphic into a visual that could better prove his argument say, "You desktop publishers ARE more than just glorified secretaries."

The nineties were my decade to be a pioneer in legal marketing with most law firms paying little- to no attention to the need of design. My mission was to give attorneys the visual credentials they needed to communicate they represented a noble profession. Attorneys are advocators of the American legal system, not ambulance chasers.

Years of education and proof of intelligence appeared in the certificate that adorned their offices, but law firms would take no value in the overall image, style, they were visually communicating with the marketplace. One of my first law firm clients was a medium-sized firm. They hired me to design in-house invitations for their numerous events. The year was 2000, and they had about 2000 versions of their firm's logo. They put a lot of emphasis on their ampersand, the "&." I made waves on the issue whenever I had the chance. It is a wonder the marketing director put up with my shenanigans as long as he did!

By 2003, they hired a big design firm to develop a standard logo. I would have loved the opportunity to have done that for them, but, in reflection, I wasn't ready to demonstrate the leadership in the boardroom to present visual solutions to be effective. I'd love the opportunity today to do that. I'm ready for it now.

More than being qualified for the opportunity, I am learning my passion for this. I LOVE the design process of gathering information, realizing the emotional characteristics of a business, its offering, its product and then creating concepts, presenting them with awe and voila! The new visuals give life to a company. The new image is like a makeover that takes someone who was timid and recreates their confidence into a shining super star! Visually personifying the business, implementing the image on paper, on the digital screen, watching the business' morale increase and the sales grow is the ooey gooey secret sauce in my business offering. Oh yeah. Here we go. . .

Today, law firms of all sizes must have the competitive advantage in the design, the overall brand as they market their firm through the web site, the brochures. In fact, any business that has any competitor- which is EVERYONE - should start to appreciate and take notice of the design, the visual impact they are making with the public, with their "potential" clients.

I'm thrilled to see the value of design grow globally. It makes me realize that I have a special offering I could build a business offering around. I love creativity. Let's let it grow!

Watching companies like Apple continue to increase its market value to its shareholders despite the economy reiterates the value of design.

To those of you who have competitors, and that includes everyone... It isn't a question of whether you have a visual impact. We live in a visual era. The question is, what impact are you making visually?

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Announcing New Launch of iHEARTplymouth and Co-Editor

With the recent launch of iHEARTplymouth.com, there is a growing need for extra hands to promote our mission: helping businesses and organizations succeed in the marketplace. We are pleased to announce Cam Robertson, as our co-editor to iHEARTplymouth.com.

Cam is a Plymouth High School senior, soon to be graduate upon Friday evening's commencement program. As the president of student council, vice-president of Key Club, nationally recognized speech club leader and recipient of several awards dedicated to student excellence in the community, we are honored to have Cam play an important role in the early phases of iHEARTplymouth.com.

"Community is a huge value to me, and I love to call Plymouth, Indiana my home. At the same time, however, Plymouth is falling behind in this ever growing technological world. I feel like The Midas Center's new media program is just what this community needs to put Plymouth back on the map! And I would be thrilled to be a part of it!" Cam shares about his interest in the new position.

Cam's passion for community and media is evident as he will continue in pursuit of this interest as a student in the public relations program at DePaul University, Chicago this fall. Andrea Cook, The Midas Center owner and editor of iHEARTplymouth.com shares, "One of the most rewarding parts of my career has been getting projects and opportunities that provide jobs and empower other creative professionals. Cam is an emerging leader with many talents and a big future ahead of him. I am confident he will make us all proud!"

In the next several weeks, Cam will be out and about town offering businesses and organizations free advertising and member pages. He will also be popping up throughout town snapping photos and seeking human interest features.

If your business or organization is interested in learning about the summer launch specials including free ad spaces and membership profile services, feel free to contact him by email, coeditor@iheartplymouth.com. You may also send him information, announcements or press releases and he will be sure to help get the word out through iheartplymouth and beyond for you. And, of course, feel free to send just a simple "Kudos to Cam" for his new co-editor position, graduation, upcoming speech tournament or just because youHEARTcam!




About iHEARTplymouth
iHEARTplymouth.com is a fresh and free online media resource for everything you love about Plymouth, Indiana. With community added photos, events, feature stories, reviews and other fun tid- bits like daily fortune cookies and trivial quizes, this social media program is available for everyone: individuals, businesses, nonprofits and any other person or group who wants to get the word out to the community. With eleven targeted groups, readers and advertisers alike can focus their viewership to specific interests such as "good eats," "business to business," "arts and culture," and "sports, fitness and health" to name a few.

Since its summer 2010 launch, the site has received up to 800 visits in one day and over 10,000 pages have been visited in one month. With a variety of advertising options, it is the most affordable and effective advertising opportunity to reach a local viewership.

iHEARTplymouth.com is published by Go Green Media, a subsidiary of The Midas Center. Go Green Media is a grass roots publishing service dedicated to help local communities grow and thrive. Based on eco-friendly practices, Go Green Media provides publications that are paper- and ink-free, reducing waste materials. All of Go Green Media publications are proudly hosted by a service that is 100% WIND POWERED, another earth-friendly practice. Go Green Media creates the opportunities for small businesses and organizations to promote their unique products and services to local communities. For more information on how Go Green Media can help your community grow and thrive, contact Andrea Cook, Go Green Media owner at info@iheartplymouth.com.

EXTRA EXTRA: iHEARTplymouth.com Read it. Write it. Share it. Live it. Love it.

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Retreat Day 3: The Change Agency and the Infotech Revolution

"The modern computer has been with us for more than half a century. But it was arguably a member of the supporting cast, not a prime determinant of enterprise strategy, until the early- or mid-1990s. Then the emergence of the Internet and the wild growth in telecommunications technology together changed everything. Virtually overnight.

Fact is, depsite sectoral turmoil and disappoinntments of the last two or three years, we are merely in the baby stages of the infotech revolution. Established organizations do not exactly shine in discontinuous times. Neither do successful 40-year-old middle managers. On the contrary, orgs and hiearchs tend to hunker down, to guard their turf ferociously - and to pray that "This, too, shall pass." Well it won't..."

- Tom Peters, reinforces the staying power of social media, "Re-Imagine! Business Excellence in a Disruptive Age"

The infotech revolution is upon us and admittedly has hit this almost 40-year-old middle manager-type with much angst. From day one of entering into my career, I can't seem to get the right footing for the pace of this infotech world. To stay abreast of just the terminology let alone mastering the latest tools has required a level of endurance, like sprinting up to the top of Kilimanjaro without one day of training. And, once you arrive to the top, no one else is there. The timing is all off. Sometimes I wonder if I've missed the boat, when I see someone offering social media advice to their following of over 10K tweeps, for example. Other times I feel like I am just way too early, especially when some of my prospects are still trying to understand what "branding" means.

Understanding the world of business is critical for success. Keeping up with the trends of finance, management and marketing alone is a full time job. Add on top of that a dedication to understand the basic coding languages and proper software tools. Tech knowledge that is necessary to make what was once needed to happen, and at times still is necessary for printing on paper is now needed to produce social media. Then, sprinkle on the style, the aesthetics, most importantly to uphold credibility and add value to any collateral deemed acceptable in today's commerce. A strong sense of business, an understanding of the latest technologies and a creative flair is the necessary combination for success in today's infotech revolution.

Yet, the fragmented groups of the techies and creative types miss the mark when it comes to business sense. They lack the mojo to step up and only a few will have the stamina to keep up on the social media journey. The business executives who fear the change that technology brings or lack the zest to learn have regretfully slowed today's economy. These sub groups all speak a different language and hang out at different water coolers. They are missing the mark on how to work collectively in the internet era. Once they realize the value each bring to the table and respect one another, that is when they will settle, build a town, an enterprise.

Until then, most techs and creative types go unemployed. Corner offices are cursed with insecure chiefs who no longer know how to lead and thus, have instead grabbed onto fear. Fears that have led to corruption and the need to control. This begets less and less innovation that leads to more techies and creatives being unemployed...

What happens when droves of techie and creative types are unemployed? Well, I hope that a new free world is created. I hope that people will see today's business landscape of unpredictability and know for sure that there is opportunity in social media. We are living in an infotech revolution. Some see it as revolting. Not me. I see it as a golden opportunity and it is time to forge onward, fearlessly. March on social media soldiers.

Signed,

Social Media Maniac of The Midas Center

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Retreat Day 2: The Change Agency

"It won't be easy, just as it wasn't easy for those brave families in their Conestoga wagons, heading across the dusty and dry plains, and then on to the virtually impenetrable Rockies and Sierras. But if there wasn't always gold at the end of the rainbow, there was - almost always - an opportunity for reinvention. A new start. A new you."

- Tom Peters, encourages reinvention and restlessness, "Re-Imagine! Business Excellence in a Disruptive Age"

When I think of social media, I often visualize American pioneers and their journey of discovery. What was the fire in their bellies that kept them moving forward? What sort of support systems did they rely on when the they were faced with a "bad day." How did they keep their focus? At what point along their journey over the sea and vast land did they realize their success and relish the reward? Picturing the pioneers of our past inspire me to take on the new technology of social media.

Social media is the new frontier plentiful of possibility. Domains are like online real estate and just like the centuries before the cookie cutter subdivisions were created, here we stand with a blank canvas, a land of opportunity. Social media juggernauts are at the starting point of the journey.

Treading along in today's business landscape, I am hopeful yet somewhat anxious. The rate at which technology changes and shifts is speedy and the learning curve is steep. But, step by step, I move forward because it is the future and if I feel a calling, a purpose driving me forward.

Behind me, darkness is beginning to fall on those big businesses, those Fortune 500 leaders who once led all of us to drink the kool-aid from the same communal cup. Their big budgets for too long have controlled the messages and images that we have consumed through those old forms of media. Traditional media once gave us only three channels that worked through our rabbit ears all sharing the same messages on same schedules. Some of us could purchase more channels, cable provided us with options of 350 channels, yet nothing was ever on.

Sure, we had choices and freedoms, we even had the convenience of a remote control that only created us to become more lazy and complacent. The messages through advertising, through programming, programmed us, formed us into a mainstream culture that idolized name brands. Robotically, we digested the messages. At times, we would change the channel, channel surf and that was about all the control we had over the messages coming into our living rooms.

Today, social media gives society so much more freedom from the traditional one way communication. Not only do we have so many more channels to select from, we also have more avenues to comment, share, tweet our likes and dislikes about our consumer experiences. We can choose what messages we want to hear, when we want to hear them. The information highway is not just a one way road. Social media has created multiple lanes of two way communication.

Consumers now have a louder voice than just their pocket books. Now, consumers can tell it like it is and spread their feedback, the good and the bad, on a product or service faster and more effective than it takes you to find a 1-800 number to customer service. How businesses will respond to this new freedom of client feedback? That might be what separates those who will stand and and those who will fall.


And, from where I stand, the horizon of social media is more than just a flat line before me. It is a multidimensional land of opportunity that is going to divide mainstream into its natural habitat. It will impact the way we do business and the way we learn.

We can learn about anything we want as quickly as our wireless connections will allow. Sitting at a keyboard, we can travel anywhere on the informational highway. In fact, it isn't just a cyberspace of information, social media has extended the universe to include entertainment, socialization, consumerism, education and beyond!

Now, all humanity has a voice. Social media is a friend to all humanity, helping small businesses the disenfranchised minorities to become media movers and shakers. Small businesses that don't have the big corporate budgets to advertise will now have a voice and have opportunity to reach out and be a player like they never have before. That is, if they will hop on the band wagon and not be afraid to stake their claim on social media.

For too many years we have accepted the ol wagon wheel. Perhaps the wheel still works for you and you are comfortable settling in to where you are.

This pioneer is seeking more. We're seeking ways to improve that ol wagon wheel. We want to give a voice to minorities, the creative types, those non-conforming identities that you probably don't even realize exist! We're looking for new media platforms and tools that will help us all get to that place, over the rainbow.

We'll tweet ya, I mean, send you an email...um, I mean a post card or a message in a bottle when we get there!


Signed,

Social Media Maniac of The Midas Center

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