Simply Social Networking

What is social networking? Is it really worth our time? How can we create value using these amazing yet often times frightening platforms? It seems like all we hear is twitter this, facebook that, linkedin, blah blah blah. What began with teens tweeting and university kiddos sharing the latest place to party has evolved into an entire new dimension of marketing and PR. Welcome. Everyone’s doing it. Doctors, lawyers, your neighbor, teachers, real estate agents, small businesses, big corporations, the birds, the bees.

This clever yet simple video, found on youtube, simply explains social networking, and how it solves a real world “problem”. The problem being the unseen and therefore unrealized opportunities that may exist in our face-to-face social networks.

1. Diminish Traditional Advertising Dependence – Print ads are expensive. With the effectiveness of print declining as the internet continues to evolve and social networking becomes mainstream, opportunities to reach your potential customers directly are exponentially increasing. The rules of marketing and PR are shifting. Plus, with the entire world abuzz about social media, customers may not understand it, but they have surely HEARD about it. It is nearly impossible to go a day without hearing the word “twitter”. It’s on television, in newspapers, the radio, and obviously the internet. People are aware of the shifting way that we communicate, and if you explain your participation in these new-ish technologies to them, the need for print will shrink.

2. Cost Effective – The social networks that really matter are free. Repeat, FREE. Enough said.

3. Supports SEO Strategy – Social networking sites show up high in search engine rankings because they are viewed as of the o-mighty google. This means that when you create a profile and put content on it these pages are very likely to come up in search engines and be found by potential clients. Also, these pages, if linked back to your main website, drive traffic to your company site, supporting the linking strategy and therefore your organic search engine results.

4. Reach Your Target Market – Everyone is social networking websites. 75% of online adults are now involved in social networking, compared with just 56% in 2007. Within social networks are opportunities to join, or even create, groups tailored to specific interest, industries, demographics, etc. Through social networks you can define and reach your niche market.

5. Branding – Your reputation, online and off, is invaluable to your work. Social networking helps you monitor what is said about you online, plus it is a great way to brand yourself as a professional, as someone fun, as someone reliable, trustworthy and someone who will get the business done. Your image online is a clean slate. Write your own story.

6. Know Before You Go – Research and connect with your clients before you meet them face to face. Although everyone isn’t always exactly as they appear online, it will give you an idea into their needs and desires.

7. It’s Easy – You don’t need to be a computer programmer to be active in social networking. The top social networking sites are so user friendly and quirk-free that you may want to do a little dance.

For ideas on what kind of content to post and how often, email me emily [at] emilyking [.] me.

Emily King Named Senior Strategist for Social Media & Online Marketing at CC Stephens & Co

Today I have officially partnered with CC Stephens & CO, a full service marketing agency in New Hampshire. I am so thrilled for the opportunity to work with this creative and dedicated team of individuals. This means that now I have an entire team behind me! Below is the news release.

April 26, 2010 – Carol Stephens, founder of CC Stephens & Company, announced today that Emily King will join the CC Stephens & Co team as the company’s Senior Strategist for Social Media and Online Marketing adding her unique web savvy skills to provide Stephens’ clients with the advantage of a seamless blend of creative design, purposeful functionality, and search engine visibility. Her rooted beliefs in the power of social networking and that a website is only good if it is visible are her two guiding forces in the virtual world. Whether it’s website design and development, search engine marketing, social media, content development, or email marketing, Emily will effectively communicate a client’s brand’ essence into everything internet.

Some of Emily’s clients have included the The New York Times, The University System of New Hampshire, and a Sotheby’s International Realty agency. Emily is a 2006 graduate of the University of New Hampshire’s Whittemore School of Business and Economics. When not on the Internet, she can be found dancing, acting, or pursuing some extreme outdoor adventure, which she is most likely to tweet or blog about.

CC Stephens & Co, established in 1991, presently has an office in Peterborough and plans call for creating a presence for CC Stephens in the Manchester area later this year. The firm offers a full-range of creative marketing and strategic communications services for domestic and international clients in such diverse fields as technology, education, retail/wholesale, manufacturing, and non-profit services.

Visit Emily’s website
Visit CC Stephen & Co.

Racing To Save Lives With Team In Training

On September 12th, 2008, I raced an Olympic length triathlon in Washington, DC.  The experience was without a doubt, worthy of my first wordpress post!

Front page follow up article to the race!  http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20081001-NEWS-810010331

I am so irrevocably grateful for the opportunity to have raised over $5,000 of the $3 million raised at the Nation’s Triathlon to find a cure for leukemia and lymphoma, to have trained with Team In Training, to have had a triathlon partner like Lindsey Blackburn, to have been supported by numerous individuals and businesses, and to have raced in memory of a few remarkable human beings. Thank you to everyone for their donations, words of encouragement, and thoughts and prayers. Below is a recap of the Nation’s Triathlon through my eyes…

The night before

Team In Training pasta dinner the night before Nations — As we descended the escalator to the pasta dinner, we were bombarded with noise makers, clapping, and cheering, as dozens, and I mean dozens, of TNT volunteers and employees shared their contagious spirit with us. It was as if all of the soccer and track moms and dads straight from high school had gathered try to win a noise reward.

Noisy fans kicking off the pasta party!

6-time Ironman Champion Dave Scott spoke to us about his rise as a world-class athlete, and the progression of the triathlon as a sport. He overwhelmingly put the following day’s race into perspective for me:

When stepping up to the starting line, the race is over, and the celebration has started.

That I will race my “first-triathlon” only ONCE in my life, and to enjoy every moment of it—the good and the bad.

And to do what you can with each moment.

Race day!

With only four hours of sleep, I awoke ready to go at 4 am. We were on the shuttle from our hotel to the transition area by 4:45. The roads of Washington, D.C., already closed for the triathlon, were desolate yet beckoning to us soon-to-be triathletes. We drove by the Washington Monument, framed by the night’s nearly-full moon and surrounded by proud American flags. As we walked down the deserted stretch of street to the transition area, I took a mental snapshot, noting the moonlight, surreal in its reflecting off of the Potomac River; the triathletes almost marching with anticipation of the task at hand; and the lit-up transition area, now the temporary home of approximately 3,000 bicycles, looming closer and closer.

There was a lot of waiting around, waiting in line for the bathrooms, stretching and setting up my transition area. FINALLY, at 8:12 am, our heat of 77 ladies took to the Potomac River.

The Swim (35 minutes): About 15 seconds prior to the gun going off, I found myself surrounded by 77 girls under the age of 25, all bobbing like buoys in the Potomac. I felt my heart rate jump, and panic set in. Taking a deep breath, I pushed myself to the back half of pack heat, towards the right. Then the gun fired. I very much enjoyed the swim. In fact, I was so lost in the moment that I forgot to spot a few times, and found myself headed off course. My goggles leaked and had to be adjusted. It was hot with a water temperature of 78 degrees, and I flushed myself with water three times.

My swim heat in the Potomac - wait don't fish's genders change here?

Transition 1 (2 min 2 sec): Exiting the water, I felt fresh. My wetsuit peeled off my body effortlessly. I found my bike, unlike the dreams I had had in the weeks leading up to the race. Socks on, sneakers on, jersey on, helmet on, sunglasses on, bike off rack. Ready to ride.

The Bike (1 hr 27 min): The course was amazing. The city of D.C. did a phenomenal job of marking the course, and shutting down streets. I biked past the Washington Monument. I biked by a babbling brook, and out some long 10 mile stretch parallel to the Potomac River. It was beautiful. I made the mistake of eating a power bar on my aero bars, as I took in the scenery. Then I drank all of the fluids on me, as the temperature was nearing 90 at about that time. I held back a bit, worried about the impending run, and thinking I’d save energy for the final leg.

The bike-to-run transition.

Transition 2 (1 min 41 sec): This transition was easy, as I simply had to to re-rack my bike and take off my helmet. I took a few seconds and dumped water over my head. I was HOT!

The Run (1 hr 10 min): My legs were NOT fresh, and I was HOT but immediately had the chills. I knew that I was in for a long run. Water stations provided water, Powerade, and ice every mile. I stopped at every water station and dumped ice down my shirt. I walked very very slowly through the misting tents. I literally took it step by step, mile by mile, and did what I could with each step. Dave Scott’s words were on my mind, “Do what you can with each moment.” After the race, I found out it was 98 degrees with high humidity!!

Smiling approach to the finish line.

Recap: I was definitely mentally and physically prepared for the Nation’s Triathlon. The race was almost easy until I reached the run. Next time I will stand up more on the bike, stretch my hamstrings, and forgo the power bar. I am glad it was 98 degrees. Although I certainly was not thanking Mother Nature during the run, it is now incredibly gratifying to have raced an Olympic length triathlon in extreme heat, and survived. And, I more than survived, celebrating victory post-race by eating a lot of food, downing a couple of beers, and dancing. I am astoundingly proud of myself, every single racer, the die-hard spectators, and my lovely fans that were there cheering me on. I will absolutely do another triathlon.

And I lost my sneakers. My theory is that my sneakers were compelled to redeem themselves on the streets of D.C., and that they are there right now, happily running 7 minute miles around the Reflecting Pool, in triathlon heaven. I’ll give barefoot running a shot!

I placed 34th out of the 77 in my age group, and 424th out of 955 females. I am content with my performance and definitely see room for improvement.

Post triathlon silliness.

Be like the Washington Monument!

Reflecting on it all.

Celebratory car ride!

Training Journal

My training updates are below. To view my training log, click here: http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=psl1CY9Auf9qortSXfzPqdA&hl=en.

I am racing in memory of three amazing individuals:

Jack Hoyt
A beloved York High School teacher and passionate farmer who taught life lessons along with industrial arts.

David L. Hardy

An accomplished athlete and entrepreneur who helped pioneer organic recycling in California.

“May you embrace each day ahead of you and recognize this as your gift.”

Gary Katz
A fun loving guy, wonderful father and husband, sports and political enthusiast, and all around great guy that is greatly missed.

8/21/08 — This past Saturday, August 16th, Lindsey and I completed a “Mock Triathlon” with our coach, Bob Ouelette. In lovely New Hampshire, we swam one mile in Glen Lake, which was practically a snorkel-for-beer-cans-expedition; biked 20 miles past a pleasant creek and up some seriously intense hills; and ran 4 almost-easy miles. The mock-tri, although slightly under race distance, was a fantastic preparation for The Nation’s Tri. Upon exiting the water, Lindsey realized she had a flat. I, thinking I was super cool with my inflated tubes, decided to pump more air into the tire, so that the impending ride would be more like flying, and less work on my ever expanding quadriceps. I burst my tube. Tire changing clinic #2 followed…

I am ready.

8/3/08 — Is it August already?!?! Summer, please extend your stay. 6 weeks to go until RACE TIME! So far, this experience has been incredible. I made it into The York Weekly, York Independent, and Weekly Sentinel. The community’s response has been overwhelmingly supportive and generous. I raised approximately $3,200 in 9 days.

7/23/08 — The support I have received in the last week humbles me! Thank you York and beyond. I have raised about $2,000 in less than one week! I still have a lot left to raise in about 12 days (we have a fundraising deadline of 8/5), so if you are considering a tax-deductible pledge, remember that doing so online is quick, secure, and that every amount counts.

7/16/08 — Check out the York Weekly article that came out today!
http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080716/NEWS/807160318/-1/NEWS01

7/13/08 — Today I further understand my source of inspiration. What began as a way to get in shape, challenge myself, and give back to society has transgressed into the continuous restoration of faith in the human race. People amaze me. All sorts of people. In addition to those who have fought and overcome or sucuumbed to cancer, it’s simply people. People that I see every day. People that give me encouragement, praise, strength, and motivation to continue. People that believe in me. I have known that what I am doing is wonderful, but it is now just realized and cemented.

I am nowhere near my fundraising minimum or goal, and already the support that I have recieved humbles me. Grace happens.

7/6/08 — At Long Sands Beach today, was a surf contest to benefit The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in honor of a summer local named Andrew — a 17 year old surfer who lost his battle to leukemia. The courage that he possessed when faced with the greatest challenge of his life, gives me the strength to push on with this triathlon — both the physical demands, and fundraising efforts. The more money raised, the more research performed, and lives saved. FACT: In 1987, the five-year survival rate for those with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia was less than 55%. Now it is 95%.

6/28/08 — Today I bought my first road bike!! I bought a Specialized Dolce Elite. And I road 25 miles on it. I love it!!

Thank you to the following Gold Sponsors:

• Anne Erwin Sotheby’s International Realty
• Selectwood
• Coastal Kitchen and Bath
• Scott & Associates Builders
• Martha’s Garden
• Inn on the Blues

In Addition to the Gold Sponsors, I’d like to thank the following businesses:

• Bagel Basket
• Bull Shirt
• Integrated Development Corporation
• Jay Clark — Vestal, Dragon
• Liquid Dreams Surf Shop
• Papa Wheelies
• Rick’s Restaurant
• Signature Title
• Surface Skate Shop

For more info on the Leukemia and Lymphoma society, go to:
http://www.lls.org/hm_lls