Miss Ink

Top 3 reasons for not using social media to promote your business:

1. I don’t have the time.

2. I don’t understand how to use it.

3. I don’t think that it would help my business.

Enough with the excuses.

Being that it’s still so “new,” I can understand why people would be intimated by social media or not see its value.  There are so many new developments, that even I get a little dizzy thinking about it from time-to-time.  So, what’s a business owner to do?

1. Make it a part of your day. Schedule it into your daily plan.

2. Create a monthly plan for your strategies and tactics.

3. Get creative with your content and stay consistent with your activity.

Still not sold that you can use social media for your business? Or, do you already have some social media presence, but rarely give it attention?

Miss Ink is offering a FREE social media analysis for your business. There is no catch and no obligation to work with us. We just want to help point you in the right direction. We will research your current social media presence, perform a quick analysis of activity and offer a few suggestions on how to improve your efforts. Interested? Email Misty@miss-ink.com to request your complimentary social media analysis. (One free analysis per business or organization. Must be located in the Greater Miami area.)

Paws 4 You Rescue is proud to announce the first ever

“Pawtini: Cocktail Networking Event” at the Biltmore Hotel on Wednesday, August 25

MIAMI, August 11, 2010 – Paws 4 You Rescue, a Miami-based charity, welcomes all guests and their dogs to a unique cocktail reception where dogs are not only the inspiration of the event but also the definite icebreakers of the night.

As the pooches mingle, the guests will enjoy unlimited hors d’oeuvres and sip on a delicious signature Pawtini drinks such as the Blue Beagle and Chocolate Labtini.  Guests will have the opportunity to socialize with dog-friendly businesses, which include local pet sitting services, dog trainers, specialty pet stores and gourmet dog treat bakers.

“Paws 4 You is very excited about being a part of the first pet friendly event at the Biltmore Hotel. We are honored that the Hotel chose our rescue group to hold a fundraiser at their renowned location in Coral Gables.” states Carol Caridad, Paws 4 You program director.

All proceeds will benefit Paws 4 You in providing rescued animals with professional medical care, training, and a safe environment until forever homes are found for each one. Tickets to attend this event can be purchased on pawtinipawty.com for an advanced price of $20 or at the door for $25.

About Paws 4 You Rescue, Inc. (paws4you.org)

Paws 4 You Rescue is a non-profit and donor-subsidized organization whose priority is to save animals with the help from the Miami-Dade Animal Services. This volunteer-based animal rescue team commits to saving sick, injured, and homeless animals. With a dedicated and compassionate team of professionals, each animal receives nothing less than best quality treatment available. Paws 4 You Rescue possesses the passion and commitment to achieving their goal of saving as many animals as possible

When you understand how someone feels, do you sympathize with them or do you empathize with them?  I have personally been confused by the differentiation between these two words on a few occasions.  But, have no fear, Miss Ink’s latest Grammar Refresher is here. To really understand these words, you have to first understand the definitions of “sympathy” and “empathy.”  Sympathy means to share feelings with someone or to experience a feeling as a result of another person’s experience. Empathy means to understand the experience, whether feelings, thoughts or experiences, with another person.

Sympathize: When you share someone’s grief or suffering, you sympathize with them.  In other words, you feel for them, but you don’t necessarily understand their emotions if you have not experienced something similar.   It’s easy to remember when you think, sympathize equals to share.

Example:  I sympathize with the despair of homeless veterans.

Empathize: The experience of empathy.  In other words understanding or empathizing with their feelings, thoughts or experiences.  It’s easy to remember when you associate empathy with experience.

Example:  Being a mother myself, I can empathize with Suzy’s feeling of exhaustion.

Let’s try it out:

A.  I have never worked the night shift at a job, but I can empathize with how difficult those hours must be.

B. I have never worked the night shift at a job, but I can sympathize with how difficult those hours must be.

Answer: The correct answer is “B.” The key is that this person has not experienced a night shift so therefore, they can only share  the emotion from an objective point of view.

Let’s try one more:

A. I can sympathize with your frustration.  I had termites in my house several months ago.

B. I can empathize with your frustration.  I had termites in my house several months ago.

Answer: The correct answer is “B.”  The person speaking had a similar experience and therefore has a firsthand understanding of the other person’s frustration.

One more tip: You have sympathy for someone because you have felt a similar emotion. You empathize with someone when you have experienced the same situation.

For more detailed information on the meaning of these words check out Merriam-Webster online.  It is a fantastic resource that helped me put together this Grammar Refresher.

Everyone wants more exposure for their business because the more people you reach, the more sales you make.  Right?  Actually, efforts to increase your visibility have to be done correctly otherwise, you might be reaching an audience that isn’t interested in your product or service or if you reach the right audience, you might not be sending the right message.  What’s a company to do?  If you’re looking to hire a public relations firm, you’ll want to make that investment count. Here are 10 questions to ask  potential firms:

1. Is your public relations representative consistently communicating a cohesive message?

If you’re reaching the right audience, but you’re bombarding potential customers with mixed messages, how can you expect them to hire you?  The message has to be clear.  What exactly is your product or service? How can your product or service help them gain pleasure or avoid pain? These two basic principles need to be outlined before you start any campaign and serve as the base of your communication. Otherwise, your potential customers will end up confused and for those customers you do have, their loyalty is at risk.

2. What are their results with other clients?

Don’t be afraid to ask this question.  Is it media exposure that you’re interested in? Ask for example of press releases and media clips. Is social media a priority? Ask for the names of clients they perform this service for and then check out their Facebook pages, Twitter accounts, blogs, etc.  Better yet, ask if any of these efforts have resulted in increased sales for their clients.

3. Are they business-minded and focused on increasing your customer base?

At the core of every business is one simple word: sales.  It’s crucial that your public relations firm understands your sales goals.  Again this goes back to knowing your audience and knowing what message to communicate to them.  If the firm isn’t actively interested in your sales, you can pretty much bet they are just interested in their own sales.

4. What kind of experience does the staff have? Specifically, the team that will be managing your account.

The individuals handling your account will most likely have varied degrees of experience. You’ll want to know that at least one member has enough experience to effectively lead the management of your account. Find out who the point person will be and be sure they’ve sat in on the preliminary meetings with you.

5. Are they creative and does the creativity have a purpose?

You want your brand to stand out from the crowd, but what happens when creativity goes bad?  If the message is so creative that no one understands it, or even worse, people liked the message but don’t remember the company tied to the message, you will have a problem on your hands.  This is not to say that you can never take risks but be prepared. The best preparation is to have a solid base to your communication efforts.

6. Do they think objectively from the customers’ point-of-view?

Whether the public relations firm is writing a press release or launching an expensive campaign, the message has to go back to one principle: What’s in it for me?  If the firm is distributing information that is talking about the features of your company versus the benefits, the communication effort will fail. What if you were the consumer? What’s interesting to you and your friends?  Find the angle that best fits your audience.  It is crucial that your public relations firm understands this.

7. Do they have media relationships?

Notice I wrote, “relationships” and not “contacts.”  Today’s world of journalism is extremely fast-paced and competitive.  Having relationships with reporters, publishers, producers, etc. is extremely important because if they know your public relations representative, they’ll be more likely to take their call or read their email.  Not to say they need to know every person who works in the media, but you’ll want to know they have relationships with media that are key to your business.

8. Are they realistic or do they over-promise?

I’ve heard of firms that will promote events and will tell the client that every paper, magazine and television station will be in attendance. That’s unlikely and most of the time the client ends up disappointed.  I would shy away from any firm that promises the world.

9. How long have they been involved in social media and are they active in education?

Social media is growing component to public relations.  There is an entirely different strategy involved in social media.  Are they active with it and how long have they been involved? It’s also important to ask about education because social media is still in the growth and development stage. It’s growing very quickly and your representative should be keeping up on the latest developments to help you keep up with the competition.

10. Do they have strong writing skills?

Last, but certainly not least, do they have good writing skills?  Do they know Associated Press Style (the style that media uses)? Can they be creative and concise?  Do they understand how to write for different mediums (e.g., blogs, microblogs, newsletters, brochures, websites, press releases, media alerts, etc.)?

Asking these questions will undoubtedly help you determine which is the right public relations firm for you.  Have more questions? Feel free to post them in the comments section.

Want to know what’s going on in the world of social media marketing but don’t have the time to research through hundreds of articles.  Here’s our list of the most important social media marketing articles that we’ve come across this month.

Pew Study: 99% of Blog Links Come From Newspapers and Broadcast Networks (Via Joe Ciarallo in PRNewser)

Notable excerpt: “The lead story on Twitter matched that of the mainstream press in just four weeks of the 29 weeks studied. On YouTube, the top stories overlapped with traditional media eight out of 49 weeks.”

Study Shows Time Pays With Social Media Marketing (Via Amy Porterfield in Social Media Examiner)

Notable excerpt: “According to the survey, the number-one benefit of social media marketing is greater exposure (85%).  Improving traffic and building new partnerships followed next.  More than half of marketers indicated a rise in search engine rankings was a benefit of social media marketing.  The report states, ‘As search engine rankings improve, so will business exposure, lead generation efforts and a reduction in overall marketing expenses.  More than half of marketers found social media generated qualified leads.’”

5 Surprising Social Media Business Success Stories (Via Rick Burnes in Mashable)

Notable excerpt: “In a business driven by relationships, Geoff says that Facebook allows him to build new ones. ‘People do business with people who they’re friends with. Period,’ he says. ‘And Facebook is a great way to get to know people. It allows people to see that I’m a person.’ As he builds these relationships using social media, Geoff is also expanding his company’s reach. He says it was his blog (), his Twitter feed, and his Facebook account that helped him win appearances on Horse Talk Radio and HorseGirl.tv. So what’s this done for his business? Geoff says that over the last year, Facebook alone has generated about 100 leads and 10-to-15 customers.”

Current Facebook Statistics

Notable excerpt:

Have you ever written an email and stopped typing mid sentence?  Did you delete what you wrote and reword it because you weren’t sure if you used proper grammar?  Stop being afraid.  Miss Ink’s Grammar Refreshers are here to help!   This week we’re reviewing “former” vs. “latter.”  This one is actually really simple.

Former: An item that appears first in a list of two things or persons.  You can easily remember the meaning of “former” by associating it with the word first.

Example:  Tiffany was given a choice between a blue dress and a red dress. She chose the former.

Bonus Tips: This is similar to the word “formerly,” which means something that occurred before something else. However, don’t confuse it with the word with “formal,” which means a custom that is clearly defined, something that is strictly regulated or, as it pertains to attire, clothing that can be defined as fancy (e.g., black tie).

Latter: This word refers to the last item in a list of two items or people.

Example: The cafeteria was serving ham and turkey.  I prefer the latter.

Bonus Tip: Don’t confuse “latter” with the word “later,” which is something that will happen in the future.  Also be careful to not misspell it as “ladder” and wind up talking about an object you step on to reach high points.

Let’s Try it Out:

A. The teacher asked her students, “which is red, a banana or a raspberry?”  Most of the students answered correctly when they said the latter.

B. The teacher asked her students, “which is red, a banana or a raspberry?”  Most of the students answered correctly when they said the former.

Answer:  The correct answer is “A.” A raspberry is red and it appears last in the list.

A. Tiffany and Brandon wanted Dairy Queen for dessert while Martha and Billy opted for Cheesecake Factory.  We chose the former since we were in the mood for ice cream.

B. Tiffany and Brandon wanted Dairy Queen for dessert while Martha and Billy wanted Cheesecake Factory.  We chose the latter since we were in the mood for ice cream.

Answer: The correct answer is “A” since we wanted ice cream and Dairy Queen serves ice cream.

It happens to all of us. You’re standing in front of your closet staring at the abundance of clothes yet you’re still wondering, “what do I where?” Wait a minute, “what do I where?” That can’t be right. Or is it?  While you’re focused on what’s in fashion, allow me to pardon your inner fashionista for a moment to take you on a walk down the grammar runway.

Where: Mostly simply, the word “where” most often indicates a location. It can be a physical location or as Merriam-Webster defines it, the location can be, “at, in, or to what situation, position, direction, circumstances, or respect.”

Examples:

Where are my car keys?

Where do you see your career in the future?

Wear: This one is a little trickier so I will stick to the most common usage.  “Wear” can mean an article of clothing or an item that a person has on.  It can also mean to deteriorate something or to produce gradually by friction (Merriam-Webster).

Examples:

I want to wear my party dress.

Tiffany is wearing her favorite pair of earrings.

The carpenter used sandpaper to wear down the rough patches on the baseboard.

Let’s try it out:

Which is correct?

A. Where can I find a good pair of running sneakers?

B. Wear can I find a good pair of running sneakers?

The correct answer is “A” because we are referring to a location.  “Wear” would only be correct if the sentence said something like, “I am going to wear my new pair of running sneakers.” or “I usually wear down the soles of my running sneakers within six months.”

Which is correct?

A. Now that summer is here I can wear my flip-flops again.

B. Now that summer is here I can where my flip-flops again.

The correct answer is “A” because flip-flops are shoes and therefore they go on your feet.  “Where” would be correct if the sentence said something like, “Where are my flip-flops?”

Does English grammar have you confused? Email us your questions to info@miss-ink.com.

“I’m going to loose my mind.”  A friend recently wrote this sentence in an email that they sent to me.  Grammar oversight or grammar confusion?   Having seen this mistake made on more than a couple occasions–yes, I am a grammar nerd even when it comes to Facebook status updates–I thought it would make a good grammar refresher.  Whether writing a friend or a business associate, grammar is crucial to getting your point across correctly and maintaining credibility.  Before you write something embarrassing like, “I may loose the business deal” read through the difference between “loose” and “lose” below.

Loose:  Indicates when something is not fastened tightly or no longer confined.

Examples:

- I have loose change in my pockets.

- The dog shook loose from his collar.

Lose: As per Webster’s dictionary, there are several meanings for this word including, unable to find an item or person; fail to win; fail to keep, or to have taken from by accident, death, removal, etc.

Examples:

- Shannon left her diamond necklace in a safe so she would not lose it.

- I lost my car keys.

- John is a sore loser.

Putting it to practice: Which is correct?

A. Did Lee lose her sunglasses?

B. Did Lee loose her sunglasses?

Answer: The correct answer is “A.”  The person is inquiring if Lee has misplaced her sunglasses.

Let’s try one more. Which is correct?

A.  Tiffany’s watch is loose on my wrist.

B. Tiffany’s watch is lose on my wrist.

Answer: The correct answer is “A.”  The person is saying that Tiffany’s watch fits big on his/her wrist and is therefore loose.

Grammatically confused? Email your grammar refresher suggestions to info@miss-ink.com.

COACH JIMBO FISHER TO BE GUEST OF HONOR AT 2010 SEMINOLE BOOSTERS COACHES TOUR

AND LEGENDS GOLF TOURNAMENT

The event, presented locally by the Miami Seminole  Club, will take place on Saturday, April 26 at the Doral Golf Resort

MIAMI – April 6, 2010 – On Saturday, April 24, the Miami Seminole Club and the Seminole Boosters will present the 2010 Seminole Boosters Coaches Tour and Legends Golf Tournament at the Doral Golf Resort (4400 NW 87^th Ave). Florida State University’s (FSU) football team’s head coach, Jimbo Fisher, will be the guest of honor.

All FSU alumni and friends are invited to register for the golf tournament as either a single player or as a foursome. Not a golfer?  The event will also feature a cocktail reception and silent auction—with prizes such as Royal Caribbean Cruise and a two-night stay at the Sofitel—as well as a luncheon with Coach Fisher following the golf tournament.  In addition, Seminole Booster members will be treated to a private reception with Coach Fisher.

“Given the recent buzz surrounding the FSU football program, this year’s Seminole Booster Golf Tournament and Banquet at Doral will be historic,” said Eric Munoz, president of the Miami Seminole Club.  “It will offer a unique opportunity for FSU alumni and fans to interact with new head coach, Jimbo Fisher and to join him on his quest for a National Championship.  I encourage the entire South Florida Seminole Community to attend this unforgettable event.   Go Noles!”

A variety of sponsorship opportunities are still available ranging from the Tournament Hole Sponsor level ($300) to the Local Golf Tournament Sponsor ($6,000).

For additional information, and to register online, visit www.miaminoles.com.  Information on becoming a Seminole Booster and attending the private reception is available at http://seminole-boosters.fsu.edu. Golf Tournament registration deadline is Thursday, April 15.

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About Seminole Club of Greater Miami

Founded in 1977, The Seminole Club of Greater Miami is one of more than 90 local organizations that supports and promotes Florida State University’s excellence in athletics and academics. The Seminole Club of Greater Miami is an extension of the Florida State University Alumni Association, the National Seminole Boosters and the University’s Office of University Relations.

The Seminole Club of Greater Miami unites alumni, boosters, fans, and friends of Florida State University. The Seminole Club of Greater Miami achieves this by providing its members with networking opportunities through various membership socials and special events. For more information on the Seminole Club of Greater Miami visit www.miaminoles.com.

The difference between “between” and “among” is probably not something you think about very often.  Okay, so maybe you’ve never thought about it at all.  (Am I the only grammar nerd here?)  Seriously though, there is a difference and while they may seem to be interchangeable terms, these two words have different meanings.  So, what’s the difference?  Here’s the breakdown:

Between: The easiest way to determine when to use this word is to think of “between two things.” Note that it can also be used for a list of single, clearly identified items.

Example:  She chose between strawberries, blueberries and bananas for her smoothie.

Among: This word is used with plural items and in reference to a group that someone is either a part of or left out of.  It can also be used to describe an ambiguous location.

Example: Ronnie enjoyed being among other fishing enthusiasts.

Let’s Try it Out:

Which is correct?

A. She chose to spend her free time between the dog park, the mall and the gym.

B. She chose to spend her free time among the dog park, the mall and the gym.

Answer: “A” is correct because the sentence is describing three distinct places.

Which is correct?

A. Tiffany was the only brunette among the group of blonds.

B. Tiffany was the only brunette between the group of blonds.

Answer: The correct answer is “A.”  Taking a closer look, the “A” sentence makes the most sense because Tiffany is left out of the group of blonds.

Let’s try one more…

Which is correct?

A. Henry rode his bike between the rocks.

B. Henry rode his bike among the rocks.

Answer: Both!  This is a little tricky, which is why I wanted to include it last.  When it comes to location, if you say “between” you are talking about a distinct location. For instance, “A” means Henry rode is bike in the middle of rocks, avoiding them all together.  On the other hand, “B” means that Henry rode is bike around the rocks or on the rocks, but not on a clearly defined path.

Reference credit: Grammar Girl, one of my favorite grammar resources, has a fantastic post on this topic as well. You can find it here.