At the end of Bathroom Blogfest, I like to reflect on the experience and lessons learned. After all, it isn't about pure business lead generation. It's infinitely social and the topic lends itself to giggles.
However, it continues to evolve since the first event in 2006, and it takes place in a digital marketing environment - aka the next marketing frontier.
Possibly the best part of Bathroom Blogfest continues to be the shock value which comes from all things bathroom related [unless you're in the bathroom business].
Then there's how much value I've gotten from featuring the bathrooms and amazing bathroom experiences I've come across and written about since taking part in Bathroom Blogfest. I've accumulated a goldmine of marvelous retail experience success stories and refer to them repeatedly in presentations! Simply check out Tile Outlets Of America's newly redesigned store bathrooms and Customer Experience is Still Climbing Out: Bathroom Blogfest 2012 and you'll understand what I mean!
Apart from that, Bathroom Blogfest winds up being an ongoing digital marketing experiment that I hope continues far off into the future. Here's why.
1. Bathroom Blogfest Fosters Collaboration
Last year, a freak snowstorm took place during Bathroom Blogfest. This time it was Sandy. Stuff happens, especially during Bathroom Blogfest. And, yet, fellow participants pitch in and keep the show going as did Bill Buyok and Nora DePalma even though I had no power and erratic cell service.
{See 10 Digital Marketing 'Still Climbing Out' Tips: Bathroom Blogfest 2012.}
What I discovered in the process is that many social networks - e.g, Facebook - perform much better when you involve others in your organization. The more people you draw in, the more fun the interaction and the more engaging the content.
That's why they are social!
Plus, how can you beat the amazing range of perspectives on one topic that comes from different points of view, interests and industry experiences? Check out Bathroom Blogfest 2012: Final Recap.
2. Bathroom Blogfest is Fun
Yes, it is fun! How awesome to connect October as Breast Cancer Awareness month with an observation from another Twitter Chat to make it the central topic explored during Bathroom Blogfest #KBTribeChat [the 2nd annual!]. Talk about adding significance to the Bathroom Blogfest and to the Twitter Chat conversation! Be sure to check out the Transcript for Bathroom Blogfest 2012 #kbtribechat "Still Climbing Out" after cancer and the marvelous summary from Sean Lintow Senior: Bathroom Blogfest: Still Climbing Out with Cancer.
3. Bathroom Blogfest is an Opportunity to Experiment Safely!
What a wonderfully, supportive environment in which to experiment!
What makes social networks interesting is their social nature. However, sometimes it's really difficult to figure out the value without having others to experiment with. That's what made Blogger Social so effective and valuable in 2008.
For Bathroom Blogfest 2012, I experimented with HubSpot to create a dedicated landing page for keeping track of this year's participants and send out email follow up communications with links to files.
I also added Pinterest to the mix! Check out my Bathroom Blogfest Pinterest Board.
4. Experience True 'Campaign' Marketing with Bathroom Blogfest
One of the challenges with Bathroom Blogfest is that it happens once per year, which makes momentum building challenging [note to those of you who still believe that advertising campaigns are effective! You are better off with ongoing relationship building!].
Earlier in the year, I created a Pinterest Board to help me keep track of ideas for Bathroom Blogfest 2012. I also pinned images from this year's contributors' articles and intend to keep up the board and extend the awareness beyond the end of October when Bathroom Blogfest takes place.
5. Legitimacy From an Event Taking Place Since 2006!
There's respectable legitimacy coming from an event that predates many of the current social darlings. Undeniable!
Bathroom Blogfest offers another kind of legitimacy. It comes from being gently forced to look beyond one's own blog or space and practicing interacting sociallly and digitally with others - via blog comments, #KBTribeChat, Twitter and Facebook.
It's the real social deal!
7. Bathroom Blogfest Means Online Visibility
It does! By virtue of participating in an event year after year, with fine caliber digital marketers, Bathroom Blogfesters achieve increased onlive visibility. Combine that with legitimacy and no one can accuse you being a digital marketing fly-by-nighter.
Thank you, Susan Abbott, Lolly, Bill Buyok, Jeanne Byington, Mr. Steam, Nora DePalma, Stacy Garcia, Diane Kazan, Arpi Nalbandian, Victoria Redshaw and Shelley Pond, Sandy Renshaw, Bruce D. Sanders, Paige Smith, Todd Vendituoli, Shannon Vogel, Irene Williams, Linda Wright and newcomer Sean Lintow Senior!
What's your take on Bathroom Blogfest?
I've submitted my Twitter and Facebook for Business Facebook article to Floor Covering Weekly. Thanks to many powerful contributions, I believe my story about the value and importance of social media and Twitter and Facebook specifically will win the day!
In the meantime, I want to thank those who responded to my Twitter and Facebook For Business Face-Off: Help Requested! plea and recap highlights.
First, who helped me with their Facebook and Twitter marketing stories?
- Larry Callahan, Callahan's Carpet One - replied via email with "Facebook and Twitter are helping me grow my business, but not because of consumers finding me via these social media sites. Rather, I am looking for things to tweet or post which has forced me to take a new look at me, my business, and how I am different than my competition. Through this process I continue to evolve and get better at what I do. Like John Wooden said – “learn as if you will live forever…” "
Facebook and Twitter for Marketing are about Relationships!
Here's the low down.
Whether for leveraging relationships, making connections, engaging with potential customers, networking, providing answers about buying, maintaining, decorating with rugs and using Twitter and Facebook to solve problems, or reinventing oneself, social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter are about relationships!
A wise man I met recently referred to the importance of being where your customers are and being interested in what they are interested in. If your potential customers are likely to be on Facebook and even Twitter, why not be there -- especially if the tools are available despite tight marketing budgets.
Thank you for being part of my response.
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Will you help me? Will you share with me your Facebook and Twitter business success stories?
I'm engaged in a face-off on Floor Covering Weekly with a formidable flooring foe: fellow columnist Jonathan Trivers. Both of our articles will appear in the same issue in March 2012.
Jon is legendary for his 'Marketing Wit & Wisdom' which comes to life during flooring industry trade presentations and in print. Not only is he respected for his retail consulting and his experience running Abbey Carpets, but he is also author of One Stop Marketing, published in 1996. He is an acerbic observer of the flooring industry.
Jon Trivers has long claimed that Facebook and Twitter are a waste, especially for flooring retailers. He is now taking his anti-social media opinions to his Floor Covering Weekly column and plans to reduce to rubble the new, social ways of conducting business online!
I will rebut his claims in my Floor Covering Weekly column. Twitter and Facebook can be effective for business; many have been undeniably successful connecting with customers using the tools of social media.
To make the case ironclad, I need your help.
I want to prove him wrong with your help, showcasing your success stories and using the tools he despises so much.
More specifically, let me know ASAP...
- What you find most valuable about Twitter and Facebook.
- How do Twitter and Facebook help you in your business?
- What successes have you had with Twitter or Facebook?
- What advice would you offer retailers getting started with Twitter and/or Facebook?
- Invite others whose Facebook and/or Twitter stories should be included.
You can do so via comments to this blog, tweets to @cbwhittemore, your own blog response, as well as comments on the Simple Marketing Now Facebook fan page.
I promise to recap all responses here.
Thank you! I am counting on the most social column winning! That means we will all win!
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Image credit: Is Social Media a Waste of Time?
As described last week in Bathroom Blogfest 2011 Takes Place Next Week, Professor Toilet and I were invited to co-host a Twitter chat today. More specifically, #kbtribechat on the topic of "Rethinking the Bathroom". The discussion was lively with 40 participants!
#kbtribechat takes place every Wednesday from 2:00pm to 3:00pm EST, live on Twitter, with people who are passionate about the Kitchen & Bath industry - individuals or company representatives who share a common interest.
Twitter: Affinity Social
By the way, the ability to connect based on shared interests is why I consider Twitter the "affinity-social" social network - unlike other networks where sharing takes place based on the jobs you've had or the people you know socially.
Twitter chats are friendly and effective. They bring together people from a variety of locations and backgrounds for a set period of time - usually an hour - for discussion in an organized fashion around a topic.
Twitter chats - more than any other interaction on Twitter - epitomize social networking. All of a sudden, Twitter makes sense. Despite a limitation of 140 characters, you get to experience first hand the vibrant nature of online interaction with distinct individuals, around a topic you care about for a finite period of time.
As a result, you identify new people to follow and be followed by and interact with after the chat. I recommend the experience to anyone wanting to better understand Twitter.
#KBTribeChat Highlights
You can access the full #kbtribechat transcript by clicking on Rethinking the Bathroom #kbtribechat transcript. I've extracted some of the conversation to give you a feel for this Twitter chat and the questions we addressed:
- When you design bathroom spaces, which are best sources of inspiration?
New products that arrive at the showroom, magazines and the client's house! #kbtribechat dkazan at 10/26/2011 02:04 PM EST - Elle Decor, Dwell, Kitchen Trends and Rue online #kbtribechat dkazan at 10/26/2011 02:06 PM EST
A1 Inspiration is all over! Seems most of my idea come to me while driving. Trade publications and blogs help. #kbtribechat rjmcontractors at 10/26/2011 02:06 PM EST
Q1: Other people's homes! (Though usually is a better showing of what NOT to do!) #kbtribechat FCNewsmag at 10/26/2011 02:07 PM EST
I have shelves of trade and design journals from Interior Design, AD, LUXE, KB+B, K&BDN insp+ #KBTribeChat BerensonCorp at 10/26/2011 02:08 PM EST
@kbtribechat A1: We like using Tumblr and Pinterest to gather inspiration. Design mags are great too, but can get expensive. #kbtribechat - Bathworks at 10/26/2011 02:08 PM EST Searching through tags on either site. Even just following influential designers can spring up inspiration. #kbtribechat -Bathworks at 10/26/2011 02:13 PM EST
#kbtribechat a1: I like to start w/ the latest in flooring trends & work my way up edithokc at 10/26/2011 02:09 PM EST
@professortoilet I like @cupboards @Paul_Anater @modenus @meredithheron and @studiom_ blogs. Many other too! #kbtribechat rjmcontractors at 10/26/2011 02:09 PM EST
a1: I like to start from nature (beach, forest stream,etc) - mags & web sources help with ideas how to achieve/interpret #kbtribechat ClarityK at 10/26/2011 02:11 PM EST
Yes, pics translate! @clarityk: Pics worth 1K words RT @JMByington: @brendaslynn Most dont know how to describe what they like #kbtribechat MarkJohnsonFAIA at 10/26/2011 02:26 PM EST
- Which are biggest challenges for bathrooms?
A2: Lack of space #kbtribechat Kitchen_Sync at 10/26/2011 02:15 PM EST
And aging-in-place. RT @berensoncorp: A2 for some have to think about worse case and plan for wheelchair mobility #KBTribeChat noradepalma at 10/26/2011 02:16 PM EST
A2 biggest challenge for bathrooms can be an appropriate budget master bathrooms can be cost as much as a kitchen. #kbtribechat rjmcontractors at 10/26/2011 02:21 PM EST
Yes odd shaped spaces and what clients want to put in them RT @edithokc: #kbtribechat A2: biggest challenge ... shaped spaces #kbtribechat ClarityK at 10/26/2011 02:22 PM EST
- How would you rethink the bathroom?
More color, using more tile choices and patterns, tile on the walls, a chandelier, lighting on the toe kick (motion-act.) #kbtribechat dkazan at 10/26/2011 02:30 PM EST
RT @filmoreclark: A3: baths are so personal even more so than kitchens. Should truly serve the homeowner. #kbtribechat TileEditor at 10/26/2011 02:30 PM EST
Find more are using color & patterned #tile in the bath. Love it. #kbtribechat filmoreclark at 10/26/2011 02:33 PM EST
A3: Rethinking: why can't everything be waterproof w/ central room drain like some countries? #kbtribechat Kitchen_Sync at 10/26/2011 02:36 PM EST
Tub elsewhere, generous curbless shower RT @BurginCo: Q3 - No tub, more closet space #kbtribechat ClarityK at 10/26/2011 02:36 PM EST
love 2 mix it up in bathrooms. In my master bath, mix patterned bold tile w/ a chandelier 2 create a glam, invigorating space. #kbtribechat MyMarrakesh at 10/26/2011 02:38 PM EST
If removing tub in master, remember to keep at least one tub in house for resale value #kbtribechat Remodel_w_Feia at 10/26/2011 02:39 PM EST
Q4 Having conversations w/ all involved in end result makes 4 best experience. Architect, builder, designer, home owner, etc. #kbtribechat
DesignerBath at 10/26/2011 02:47 PM EST
- What do you dislike/like most about bathroom experience in public spaces?
A4: Lack of cleanliness... Too much white & bad glaring lights. #kbtribechat filmoreclark at 10/26/2011 02:52 PM EST
too small, too ugly, too stinky, not enough stalls, no hot water, not clean (which I think is a reflection a rest. kitchen) #kbtribechat dkazan at 10/26/2011 02:52 PM EST
More potty parity! RT @noradepalma: Lines in ladies rooms. Q4: What do U dislike most re bathroom experience in public spaces? #kbtribechat CBWhittemore at 10/26/2011 02:53 PM EST
Yes! RT @filmoreclark: A4: Lack of cleanliness... Too much white & bad glaring lights. #kbtribechat cabinetmakers at 10/26/2011 02:54 PM EST
Q4 Public baths with the latest innovations in bath design are the most memorable for GOOD reasons. Plus they conserve water. #kbtribechat DesignerBath at 10/26/2011 02:54 PM EST
@kbtribechat Hand dryers, lack of air freshners #kbtribechat Bathworks at 10/26/2011 02:56 PM EST
Glaring lights bad. Public spaces could be MUCH better. #kbtribechat ProfessorToilet at 10/26/2011 02:56 PM EST
@kbtribechat What we like MOST about public BRs? Air hand dryers. So environmentally friendly, wish we had one in our home! #kbtribechat AJMadison at 10/26/2011 02:56 PM EST
A4. Cheap door hardware that breaks. RT @kbtribechat Q4: What do you dislike most about bathroom experience in public spaces? #kbtribechat kitchens_com at 10/26/2011 02:57 PM EST
RT @Bathworks Don't forget lack of toilet paper... :-( @kbtribechat Hand dryers, lack of air freshners #kbtribechat AmercanStandard at 10/26/2011 02:57 PM EST
They say if a restaurant has a gross bathroom expect similar in the kitchen. #kbtribechat filmoreclark at 10/26/2011 02:57 PM EST#kbtribechat
A4: I seem to update public toilets a lot. Try to get creative w/ unique sinks & lighting. Always have fun w/ tile edithokc at 10/26/2011 02:59 PM EST
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I walked away from this Twitter Chat impressed with the level of conversation and the wealth of insightful ideas - not to mention enthusiasm for 'rethinking the bathroom'.
What's your reaction to these exchanges? Would you consider participating in a Twitter Chat? How might you apply this to your business? Let me know.
Are you ready to get started with Twitter for business?
In 'How Do I' Social Media Marketing Series, I mentioned Tip Sheets and Guides based on my How Do I social media marketing series created to help busineses make sense out of the chaos inherent to this wildly fluctuating digital and social world. In this post I share with you 10 Tips for Getting Started with Twitter and a Twitter Guide.
Brief Twitter Overview
I consider Twitter to be the most effective way to connect with people around common interests rather than because of social ties [i.e., Facebook] or work connections [i.e., LinkedIn]. For that reason, I often refer to Twitter as the "affinity social" network. Despite a 140 character constraint to the updates you can publish, it enables you to participate in global conversations about topics relevant to you, monitor what's happening at a conference you can't attend, learn about breaking news and find links to articles you never would have been able to find on your own.
Twitter isn't for everyone. However, you can get value from it without actively participating [i.e., through search] and it's worth understanding how a micro-blogging platform such as Twitter creates value for users [i.e., it's not all about what someone had for breakfast]. Not to mention how you might participate to promote your ideas, learn about others' and become part of an online community.
To that end, I share with you Twitter Tips for Business.
My 10 Tips for Getting Started With Twitter
1. Set up your profile. Include – ideally – a photo of yourself. Succinctly describe your interests and background. Include keywords relevant to your interests. Add a link to your website, blog or LinkedIn profile for more information about you. If you use a company logo, identify your name in the profile.
2. Your Twitter handle = what your username is on Twitter. It’s preceded by @
3. Learn Twitter language:
- '@username‘ is a tweet directed specifically to another Twitter user.
- 'RT’means 'ReTweet' and refers to repeating another's tweet because you admire/appreciate/find it relevant and want your followers to benefit from the content.
- You can DM [direct message] another Twitter user if you both follow one another.
- '#' symbol is a way to tag or identify Tweets that are related. It’s referred to as a hashtag.
4. Publish a ‘tweet’: Twitter allows you 140 characters for publishing a succinct message to your followers.
5. Keep your tweets to fewer than 120 characters if you want others to retweet you. That leaves 20 characters for others to include a Twitter handle, a comment or even a hashtag.
6. Learn Twitter Best Practices:
- Respond back when people interact with you via @ or RT
- Don’t autopost automatically to Twitter from Facebook or LinkedIn.
- No hard sell. For every tweet about yourself, issue 7 tweets about others.
- Add value. Don’t spam. Be focused on your topic in what you publish.
7. Start following others on Twitter. Use WeFollow to identify people in your space that you might want to follow. Follow people whose tweets you enjoy.
8. Follow back. You’ll receive an email notification of new follows. Check out their profiles to make sure they are real people; if yes, follow them back.
9. Create Twitter lists. Add new people you follow to a list [e.g., dog lovers, marketing mavens] that you create. Follow others’ lists.
10. Keep two browser tabs open: one for twitter.com/username and one for search.twitter.com. On your Twitter.com/username page, be sure to monitor the @Mentions tab so you can acknowledge.
You can download the formatted version of my 10 Tips for Getting Started with Twitter by clicking on this link.
Using Twitter for Business: a Guide
If you'd like more detail, consider downloading my 10 page Twitter Guide. It's filled with details on Twitter, how to get started, and how to use Twitter for business. You'll find advice on making sense out of Twitter with ideas and examples.
Simply click on Simple Marketing Now's Twitter Guide. You'll be taken to a landing page where you can download the 10 page guide after entering your email address.
Twitter and how we use it to market our businesses and communicate with potential customers continues to evolve. That's what makes these tools so fascinating. If you're using Twitter, how are you getting value out of it? What have you found most effective? Which tools do you prefer?
And, if you aren't, let me know what you would add to this Twitter Guide!
If you've started spending time on Twitter, have you noticed that many tweets include the "#" or "hashtag" symbol combined with a word or letters? Have you wondered what it's all about? Why are hashtags being used on Twitter? What reasons could there be? Read on. I'll explain and share with you eleven reasons for doing so.
What Are Hashtags on Twitter?
Using hashtags on Twitter allows users to categorize their Tweets [Twitter updates]. If you click on that #word, you will see all of the recent Tweets that include #word.
The Twitter help center explains in What Are Hashtags ("#" Symbols)? that the symbol "is used to mark keywords or topics in a Tweet. It was created organically by Twitter users as a way to categorize messages."
[Note: you'll enjoy this article titled The Short and Illustrious History of Twitter #Hashtags.]
The article includes best practices for using hashtags: no more than 3 hashtags in a Tweet [I recommend no more than two] and be relevant when using one. It also refers to the Twitter Fan Wiki page on Hashtags which includes not only great advice on using hashtags on Twitter, but also a comprehensive list of further reading on hashtags.
Hashtags exist on a multitude of topics. If you don't believe me, check out hashtags.org and go explore.
Why Use Hashtags on Twitter? 11 Reasons
I came up with the following 11 reasons for using hashtags on Twitter:
1. For a Twitter chat [see How Do I Twitter Chat]
2. To monitor trending topics [see Women's World Cup Final Sets Twitter Record]
3. To communicate during emergencies [e.g., 2007 California Wildfires]
4. To monitor conferences even from afar! [see I attended NeoCon... Virtually!]
5. To share related links and articles [see my #retailexp and #practicalmktr tweet roundup posts]
6. For sharing notes or asking questions during webinars or online seminars [e.g, #mprofspro]
7. To capture a mood [for a while I was tracking #simplepleasures]
8. To celebrate Friday [#FF or #FollowFriday] or Monday [#MarketerMonday] or Tuesday [#TileTuesday or #TravelTuesday] or...
9. To signal - for example #quote, #jobs, #sale or #Coupon
10. As a reminder: #ToDo
11. As part of a promotion [see Tigressa SoftStyle Carpet From Shaw...]
What other reasons can you think of for using hashtags on Twitter? Let me know in the comments.
PS: You might enjoy The Power of Hashtags on Twitter which refers to hashtags as the "World's chat room".