Social Media Marketing Is Not Free (From the Archives of the Old AdTex Interactive Blog)

A business associate and I recently discussed the challenges of “monetizing” Social Media Marketing Services. We exchanged theories about why paying professionals to handle Social Media is such a tough sell to many small-to-medium-size business decision makers.

It all boiled down to the cost of the mediums (alternate plural for media) or the lack thereof. A Twitter profile, a YouTube membership, a Facebook personal profile and even a Facebook Business page all cost the user absolutely nothing.

So, the reasoning goes, “Why pay someone to do something that’s free?”

My answer is “Because Social Media is about ‘socializing’ but Social Media ‘Marketing” is about making money…and we have always been about our clients making more money!” That’s why we provide interactive advertising that engages your customers to entice them to buy your product or service.

Times are still tough and unfortunately, marketing is often where the first and deepest budgetary cuts are made. Maybe many managers think that employees are burning enough company time on Social Media sites that they can’t justify paying a full-time employee and certainly not an outside agency to do it. “Working” the Facebook page often becomes the part-time, “side” job for a staffer.

Those much-appreciated returning readers of this space are familiar with my oft-repeated “blog bites”, like “Social Media Marketing is a full-time job.”, “Many websites and Facebook pages are no more than ‘digital pamphlets’, lying on the receptionist’s desk, undistributed.”, “An unattended Facebook page is just a virtual wall covered with graffiti.” and “An effective Facebook page should be more of a ‘virtual hangout’, where the portion of Facebook’s 800 million users who have an interest in your company hang out.”

Take a look at a good selection of small-to-medium-size business Facebook pages and you’ll find loads of apathetic, occasional, text-only, one-way conversation about the company’s products or services. By now, even marginal do-it-yourself Social Media marketers know that effective work involves constant contact, two-way engagement and strong content (the visual and aural digital elements that used to be called “media”). Many of those pages aren’t even Facebook Business Pages (or still sometimes called “Fan Pages”), but are personal profiles, created by an employee who uses it as their company’s digital “message board”. Personal profiles are designed for individuals and fall way short of the inherent marketing functionality of “pages”. The practice is so pervasive that Facebook recently introduced a new tool to allow those using a personal profile for business to convert it to a Business Page.

Another common foible in the SM DIYers’ marketing plan is the belief that all of their Facebook wall posts are being seen by every “Liker” (or personal profile “friend”). They just keep writing those sometimes witty posts, sure their PC-addicted audience is soaking it all in.

It just isn’t so!

Facebook uses a powerful software solution to limit the users that see your posts. Ever notice that you don’t see all the wall posts (actually called a “newsfeed”) from all your “friends?” If you did, imagine the wall clutter with which you would be dealing.

Each item (text, photos, videos, links) you put in your newsfeed is called an “object”. Each FB user’s interaction (virtually “touching”) with that object is called an “Edge”. Your “EdgeRank” is what determines how many users see your newsfeed. Certain factors (called “algorithms”) raise your EdgeRank. Maximum object interaction is key to higher EdgeRank and those text-only “announcement” wall posts are big EdgeRank downers.

We know what kind of content raises EdgeRank. We are constantly learning more about SM technology and advise our “3M” clients of our Best Practices for maximum results.

So, my point is that although Social Media sites are free, effective full-time professional Social Media marketing, though economical, is not free. Frankly, bottom-line sales results from Social Media Marketing are sometimes incremental and often nigh impossible to measure. But the modern marketing business model has shifted to full-time, relationship-based customer contact, via Social Media. Customers are on sites, discussing your industry, product or services. You need to be in on those conversations.

Whether you hire full-time staffers or use an affordable, seasoned advertising company is up to you. If you choose the latter, I know a great little company that will help with that.

The Returned Call: A Common Courtesy Lost

I surprised a phone solicitor today. He left a message about a service that I neither need nor could afford. He was surprised that, although I had absolutely no intention of purchasing his service, I called back. The call took less than a minute.

The return call is a courtesy that is passé today.

It’s a habit that maybe I should break.

But here is from where it stems: on my last job, I managed an advertising unit that did millions of dollars of work annually and produced over 300,000,000 (that’s 300 million) pieces of advertising for virtually every major dept. store in the U.S. and Canada. I wound up on a list of the nation’s top print buyers. Thus, I would receive up to 250 business-related phone calls, daily.

I found time to return each and every call.

Notice I said “found” time? I believe you can’t really “make” time. You’re only “issued” a certain amount of it.

My job wasn’t talking to solicitors on the phone all day. I oversaw and managed some 300 projects, “put out” client’s raging “fires”, did planning, budgeting, estimating, logistics, dealt with our valued production and print partners and actually spent a significant amount of time traveling, to service accounts.

But, I calculated that dialing a 10-digit number takes about +/- 5 seconds (yes, I actually timed it with a stopwatch…not an iPhone…it wasn’t invented, yet). Leaving a courteous message of appreciation for the caller’s time and our unfortunate disinterest in their wares took an average of about 20 seconds. Actually speaking to the person usually took less than two minutes. I would usually invite them to email or mail their info, in case there was future need…and sometimes there was.

So, returning even those 250 business-related calls could only take about 15-30 minutes.

If I had to stay a few minutes later on a Friday evening, I would do just that.

It was a common courtesy that I adopted, when starting my career, nearly 30 years ago.

It paid off. When we launched AdTex Interactive in 2003. At least one of those past “unsolicited” callers was able to provide a service that allowed us to meet a client’s unique needs and also saved us some major money.

All because of the relationship established, years after a 2-minute courtesy return call.

Everybody’s really busy, these days…supposedly. Or they might be just goofing off on Facebook, Instagram or playing Angry Birds on their smartphone.

But, consider the possible return on a simple investment of a few minutes of common courtesy.

Just a thought from your “Old School”, call-returning, newspaper-reading, watch-wearing Uncle DJ.

SOCIAL MEET YA [sic] (from the archives of the old AdTex Interactive blog)

 Facebook is not the real world.

Some may disagree with that assertion and many are so addicted to the site, they are in denial about the possibility of it being true. Personally, I am determined, even in the “Social Media” age, to lead a full social and business life that isn’t dependent on my Internet connection.

I have uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews I haven’t seen in at least a year. Most of us live in the same metropolitan area, so I won’t be passing up opportunities to see them to chat with a so-called “Facebook Family”.

As I near a half-decade of social existence, my circle of actual friends has been pared down to a faithful few. The associate and acquaintance count has significantly diminished also. Opportunities to visit with them are too rare to spend an inordinate amount of time interacting with “Facebook Friends”.

I don’t have a real farm, but do live on a little acreage, I have never “farmed” on Facebook, but don’t think I would find it nearly as rewarding as getting outdoors and doing some real gardening. I’ve always been fascinated by tales of organized crime. But my idea of fun tilts more toward heading out to the garage and working on a gangster-looking early 40s street rod, than battling Mafioso on my computer. I’m not knocking anyone’s pastimes…heck many find mine downright boring…I’m just extolling the virtues of getting away from that computer screen for some fresh air.

I’m blessed to lead a relatively quiet life with plenty of spiritual fullness, fun, true friendships and a magnificent woman with which to share it all. But even before Social Media and owning a “smart phone”, I had no desire to write my beliefs, passing thoughts, hopes, disappointments, etc. on a public “wall”. I studied “Radio/TV” in college, nearly 30 years ago.

My first career jobs were at TV stations. But I really never thought of “broadcasting” my life to strangers, associates and acquaintances. But maybe all that is generational. My generation’s impressionable years were before all these so-called “reality shows”. Please see my thoughts on the “People Are Sheep” post. Many of my 500+ Facebook connections are friends, associates and acquaintances. I try to limit connections to only those folks I truly know. I figure about two thirds of my Facebook connections would recognize my voice (which isn’t particularly distinctive) if I called them on the phone and didn’t immediately identify myself. They include childhood pals, high school and college classmates, former co-workers and others. I have been in communications/advertising/marketing over half my life.

I have seen a few trends, innovations and evolutions in the field. Maybe that’s why I’m not all atwitter (pun intended) about Social Media. Though no expert, I do indeed grasp the concept, scope and impact of the Social Media phenomenon. We have Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube and LinkedIn accounts, and of course, this blog. I realize that to be successful in most any kind of business, one must have a certain Social Media presence. I see the growing number of business “Like” pages. I wish we had more “Likers” on our FB page. But, I am of the mind that you still can’t beat old-fashioned, face-to-face communications (with the old standby phone calls running a close second).

Aren’t the aforementioned SM tools just very convenient mediums for reaching others worldwide? To me, when the rubber meets the road, it’s still about effective communication. Poor communication is just as ineffective digitally as via any other medium…maybe even more so. Who wouldn’t be impressed by a long-distance communications method for almost instantaneously sending and receiving short messages? The message-length limitations even spawned a creative code system for abbreviated words and phrases. Twitter? No, Samuel Morse’s Electric Telegraph and Morse Code language from the 1840s. Okay techheads, I understand the advancements in wireless technology and handheld devices. But, we’re talking basic communications, here.

For best conveying a message, telegraph, telephone, two-way radio, email, smart phones and even video teleconferencing will never replace the emotion, voice inflection, eye movement and even the sincerity of a handshake (which, being a bit mysophobic, I believe should be universally replaced by fist bumps, “wrist shakes” or even “man hugs”). I also grasp the concept of convenience and practicality. Poking at that little screen on my iPhone to tell a potential new client “Lets meet to do biz” may be more convenient than fewer strokes to dial the number, exchanging pleasantries with the receptionist and saying “Hi, this is D.J. When’s the best time for us to come by, listen to your plans and discuss how we can help make them happen and earn your business?” But the latter is just ”me”. Those are the kind of clients I want most to deal with.

That’s why I have implemented what I call my “Exit Strategy From Advertising for a Living.” God be willing, approximately two years from now, my current vocation will be the hobby that helps grow my new career. This new path will find me on the road, providing a tangible product to like-minded customers who will expect to meet me, exchange that fist bump and buy the great, unique product I’ll be peddling. The venture will involve social media, e-commerce fulfillment and wireless/digital technology. But meeting me and getting to know my character will be the key element in the business relationships. If you’re curious about that venture, I’ll be glad to tell you more. Email me, text me or send me a Twitter or Facebook message. Better still, call me at 817.238.3807. I look forward to speaking with you.

Don’t Tell Your Likers, Fans and Followers Anything! (from the archives of the old AdTex Interactive Blog)

“Don’t tell your Social Media “Likers”, fans and followers anything!”

I gave this advice to a client today. Am I crazy? Do I have a business “death wish”? Have I been “bought” by the client’s competition?

Please allow me to explain. The client is a proven, experienced incumbent politician. He’s facing a younger, social-media savvy opponent in an upcoming election. It’s our client’s first foray into Social Media as a campaign tool and he’s eager to tell voters about his significant contributions to his district and years of dedicated service. But part of our job is convincing clients and potential clients that, unlike much of traditional marketing, Social Media is a two-way conversation. It isn’t about “broadcasting” your products or services to a “captive audience” of “likers”, “friends”, fans, followers or subscribers. It’s about engagement and stimulating a conversation that always comes back around to what you’re selling.

As a child, someone (possibly an educator or church mentor) asked me “How many mouths do you have?” Of course the answer was “One.” The next question was “How many ears do you have?” “Two.” I didn’t need to be hit over the head with the moral. I understood that we should spend at least twice as much time listening as talking. This isn’t a bad marketing practice. Speaking of “practice”, I told the councilman that one of our Social Media “Best Practices” is composing Facebook posts and tweets as questions, whenever possible. It tends to produce responses and stimulate interaction.

This works for our restaurant and retail clients:

“Today’s Special is Buffalo Chicken Sliders for $5.99” becomes “What side are you gonna’ have with your tangy, delicious $5.99 Buffalo Chicken Sliders, today?”

“We have a huge selection of Goodyear tires.” becomes “Guess how many sizes and models of Goodyear tires we carry? The closest guesser gets a free rotation, today only!”

“Get 1/2–price appetizers during the big game today.” becomes “Who wins game six, tonight? Let’s discuss it over tasty ½-price appetizers!”

“12.99 full set nail special today.” becomes “Which co-worker is more likely to notice how great your nails look after today’s $12.99 full-set special? Let us know.”

“Our hot wings are the best!” becomes “How do our hot wings rate? We’re up to the challenge.”

Get the idea?

So, we’ll continue to advise Social Media clients to get stingy with the promotional posts. Spark the conversation and you’ll soon get a chance to make your pitch. “Likers”, fans, followers and subscribers will appreciate the effort. Successfully executing this strategy requires a knowledgeable digital agency with an experienced copywriter on board. I can recommend one.

A Client Lost to Lethargy (from the archives of the old AdTex Interactive blog)

We lost a client last week. We’re devastated about it.

In this economy, you would think our largest lament would be the subsequent loss of income. But truth be told, the monthly revenue from this particular client was miniscule. What is most crushing are the dashed hopes of parading this client’s success as a benchmark for Social Media Marketing done right.

We hoped to showcase their results as proof positive of our Social Media Marketing strategy’s effectiveness. But alas, ‘twas not to be.

Here’s what happened. Last year, we partnered with a friend who has an agency that does email marketing for a coalition of independent specialty stores. Many of the stores’ owners expressed interest in Social Media Marketing. With the hope of adding at least half of the 200-plus stores as SM clients, we offered our services at a deeply discounted monthly rate. We traveled to their industry’s annual trade show to present our SM plan in a “breakout” session. We left with two or three commitments to the program. Neither panned out.

We understand that offering to do someone’s Social Media Marketing is a tough sell in tight times. I covered my theory on it in the “Social Media Marketing is Not Free” blog post. Anyway, a store that didn’t attend the show contracted us. As a show of good faith, we still offered the drastically discounted group rate for our already-low-cost service. They chose to have us create their SM sites and use our “3M” service. But they declined our affordable content-creation options, choosing to try doing it themselves (with lots of free consultation from us).

Hours were spent on the phone, discussing the retailer’s Social Media Marketing strategy, goals, plans and challenges. They were encouraged to call our offices or wireless phones with even the slightest questions or concerns. We communicated frequently. If not by phone, always at least by email. We started by telling them how Social Media marketing takes time, planning and effort. We worked the program as planned. We spent hours educating two employees on SM best practices. We showed them how Facebook isn’t their company’s “digital message board” to talk “at” customers and tell them what’s for sale. We taught them about engagement, interaction, Facebook as a “hangout”, blah, blah, blah… (much of the stuff that was covered in my “Don’t tell your “Likers…Anything” and “Your Company is On Facebook….” posts).

We set up their first three SM sites (after explaining how this would raise their website’s Search Ranking). They got a “tricked out” FB page with a custom canvas, “incentivized” landing page and apps. We built them a customized YouTube channel and Twitter profile. We had our friend do an “incentivized” email to introduce their list subscribers to their new Facebook page and grow their “likerbase”.

But our best efforts were put forth providing creative ideas for them to develop engaging, customer-capturing, EdgeRank-driving content. We suggested they buy a cheap digital video camera and do short (1-2 min. max.) videos at least weekly. We created a strategy for posting photos, helpful tips, using surveys, developing contests, asking “likers”/followers/subscribers questions, adding links back to their website, “liking” local pages and posting positive, non-promotional info on their FB walls, etc. We gave them a lengthy list of obscure holidays and suggested promotions they can create around them. We researched their local (we’re in Texas and they are in the Midwest) events and happenings that they could integrate with their SM programs. We came up with numerous creative ideas for them to manufacture “buzz”.

This retailer specializes in party supplies and is mostly staffed by women. We suggested they create a short weekly webisode series called Women on “Men”. It would be just 1-2 minutes of the women at the store, sitting around talking about the latest episode of TNT’s Ray Romano hit, Men of a Certain Age. Why this show? Because Ray Romano’s character runs an independent PARTY STORE! It would have been just a “hook” for novelty’s sake. It would be their Social Media version of ABC’s “The View” or CBS’ “The Talk”. The idea was to create low-cost web content that would develop incremental interest. Likers, followers and fans would watch to see what real, party-store-working women thought of those three whiny, middle-age men and their exploits.

About three months in, “Women on Men” and dozens of our other ideas soon were met with virtual silence. The company’s Facebook page suffered from the same malady. In the early goings, the two or three page administrators at the store would at least post a newsfeed or two weekly. There was the occasional photo of products in the store, a special promotion around a holiday or photos of employees participating in a local event. But those became few and far between.

Once, after noticing they had gone about two weeks with no activity, I left a phone message to let them know we would be sending an email with ideas for content creation and FB newsfeeds. We proposed that if they could spare just two hours weekly, creating content (videos, photos, links, finding relative articles, etc.), we would schedule and upload their content at no additional cost. We even offered some more, mostly free, strategies.

Again, silence. What more could we have done?

Last week, I received an email with the subject line” “Discontinuing your services”. The email’s body read “[we] have decided that we don’t have the time to invest in developing our Facebook page and while you have tried to give us ideas, it is just not going anywhere. We appreciate your help in getting it going, but for now, we want to discontinue your services and we plan on letting it grow organically till we have some time to devote to its growth. Just FYI – I just found the invoice for June and gave that to our accountant to pay.”

The June invoice was only about 10 days late and was the third late one in as many months. But, that’s another issue that companies like ours face.

The sad fact is many companies know they need to get involved with Social Media Marketing. Their customers and competitors are out there on the sites. But they fail to embrace the reality of the need for a dedicated staffer or an economical, experienced agency to handle it. For those that are ready to step up to the plate and who choose the latter option, I know a great little company that will handle it all for you.

Facebook®. Starbucks®. Same Difference. (from the archives of the old AdTex Interactive Blog)

Both Are Free Hangouts, Both Are There to Sell You Something.

The most recent “Facebook to charge users” hoax created even more opportunities to tout my interminable “Content is Key” Social Media strategy. So many of my Facebook “friends” shared that ridiculous post about the gigantic (now over 800,000, mostly active, users) social network becoming a user-pay service (if they didn’t post a paragraph on their newsfeeds before midnight) that I felt the rare need to explain (via a brief newsfeed post on my personal profile) Facebook’s moneymaking strategy.

Here’s what I said: “For those of you seeing that newsfeed about Facebook becoming a “for-pay” service, note that IT IS A HOAX! It is highly unlikely that FB will ever need user funding. What most fail to grasp is that Facebook is about ADVERTISING! Those ads you see on the right of the page more than monetize operations. Notice that the ads seem to be for stuff in which you are interested? They are targeted specifically to you by the info YOU put in your profile. You made it public when you accepted the user agreement (that most of us don’t read). With over 800 million (mostly active) users to have advertising targeting to them, FB will never have to charge for users to “socialize”. While you are, you’re being bombarded…if only subliminally, by paid-for advertising.”

I’ve found that the easiest way to convey Facebook’s money model to many prospective small-to-midsize business clients is to liken FB to the “800-lb. gorilla” of coffee retailing, Starbucks. Both Starbucks and Facebook are FREE HANGOUTS. But make no mistake, the content with which you’re constantly bombarded at both, are craftily designed to separate you from some hard-earned bucks. You can park your tuckus in Starbucks and use the free wireless internet connection and soak up their climate control all day long. I don’t believe the employees are ever going to come over and insist you drop a couple of ducats for a cup of joe.

Well, why are they providing the free, unlimited wi-fi and letting you hang out at their establishment? In a word, CONTENT!

While “socializing”, checking emails or playing Angry Birds at Starbucks, you’re consistently being exposed to visual, aural and even olfactory media. “Media” is the old, “analog” word for the new, digital “CONTENT.” The marketing principle holds that you will eventually be overcome by the enticing aroma of Starbucks’ beverages, the ever-present logo, the consistent green-colored branding graphics and even the sounds of the in-store “radio” ads and those beverage machines. “Just keep sitting there, pal. You’ll soon give in and buy a delectable Pumpkin Spice Latte, scrumptious Panini or mouthwatering butter croissant.”

The same holds true with Facebook marketing. You can post, chat, “like”, “friend” and play CityVille 24 hours a day (and I believe there are people who do). Facebook will never need to charge you a cent. Those ads are reaching someone…maybe not you today, but someone, somewhere, sometimes. What keeps you on Facebook for so long? CONTENT!

Who is creating most of that content? You and your friends are! It’s a brilliant marketing scheme! The shared videos, links and not-as-effective textual newsfeeds keep you engaged with Facebook. The more content that captures your attention, the longer you linger on Facebook pages. The longer you’re there, the more you’re subjected to targeted ads. It’s the proverbial “Win-Win” for advertisers and especially Facebook.

GOOD CONTENT CREATION IS STILL A TOUGH SELL TO SMALL/MIDSIZE BUSINESSES

I marvel at marketing decision-makers’ reluctance or sheer inability to grasp the importance of effective content and the relationship-building nature of Social Media marketing. I know many businesses don’t want to pay someone to handle it for them. I covered that in my Social Media Marketing is Not Free” blog post. In my “A Client Lost…” post, I told how we lost a client who was, unwilling to work at it. Many of our prospective (I keep using “prospective”, because our few current clients are committed to the effective strategy we offer) clients know they need to utilize Social Media Marketing. But, even some who are seasoned traditional marketers, don’t know how or why (except for the staggering numbers, like the aforementioned 800,000,000 Facebook users). I always ask them “Are you considering Social Media Marketing to tell more people what you’re selling?” The answer is invariably “Yes”. My subsequent assertion that they are about to make a common and expensive mistake is met with emotional responses ranging from shock to indignation. I hope I effectively explained it in my “Don’t Tell…Them Anything” blog post.

Constantly telling your Facebook “likers”, Twitter followers and YouTube subscribers what you’re peddling is akin to the Starbucks employee frequently coming to your table to interrupt your socializing with annoying reminders about the stuff they’re selling. Such behavior in a “hangout” tends to run people away. That goes for Social Media, too. Modern interactive marketing requires a new way of thinking. Thought time consuming and sometime labor intensive, it’s relatively easy. Plus good guys like me give away loads of info about it in blog posts like this.

But, when you’re ready for the critical application of these strategies to grow your business, I know a great little interactive marketing agency that will save you some money.

I Am Not An Infidel! (from the archives of the old AdTex Interactive Blog)

Thoughts on “Freelancing.”

In the past and occasionally here lately, I tend to “hire out” my skills in trade. That trade is advertising copywriting. During those times, I have been called a “freelancer” and I don’t particularly cotton to it! I prefer “independent contractor”, “outside representative”, “consultant”, or even contract laborer”. By it’s very definition, the word freelancer conveys a sense of disloyalty and infidelity. Among a certain crowd, “freelancer” has such a negative connotation. Plus, the reciprocal nature of the inherent freedom in freelancing isn’t often considered.

Please allow me to explain. My research of the word, which admittedly wasn’t exhaustive, reveals that it is derived from the medieval term “free lance”. A free lance was a mercenary knight whose lance or sword was not sworn to a particular king or lord. It’s sort of like “hired gun” in the westerns. I understand the term “free lance” was used way back in Sir Walter Scott’s 1819 novel, Ivanhoe. The implications is that these roving soldiers of fortune were only in it for the money and their loyalties lay only with the highest current bidder. Sometime “freelance” is even used synonymously with “rogue”. Is that how I’m viewed when I take a temporary/hourly or per-page gig? Well, I beg to differ! Once under contract (whether written or implied) I would like to think I am certainly dedicated to carrying out the terms of the agreement between the client and I. Like nearly any full-time employee (except for those with military commitments and the like). I also have the option of terminating the agreement, walking away and forfeiting contingent compensation. The client has the same option and many are mighty quick on the trigger to exercise it, with little or no advance notice.

Curiously, the freelancer label has been most-often linked to creative professionals; “freelance graphic artist”, “freelance copywriter”, freelance journalist”. Also the noun “free lance” has morphed into common use as an adjective (“a freelance artist”), a verb (“a writer who freelances”) and an adverb (“he worked freelance there”).

The client/freelancer relationship is characterized by the lack of long-term commitment. Sound familiar?

“DJ, we love your writing style and your penchant for alliteration. But, frankly, we want the freedom to see other writers.”

Ever hear that “see others” line in an amorous relationship? It’s usually the relationship’s death knell. It reeks of “Infidelity” and “Playing the Field”. Well, two can play that game!

The key is absence of exclusivity. Which is understood in this type of relationship. A client often doesn’t have as much invested into the freelancer — no benefits, no training costs, no guaranteed seat at the office Christmas party, etc. Thus, there is no real commitment. The advantage afforded both parties is flexibility. A full-time staffer isn’t likely to let the employer push their payday back even 24 hours. Whereas my “freelance” experiences often involved my 30-day-net invoice finally being paid after 45-50 days…often only partially, then. It’s the nature of the business.

Don’t get me wrong…and please take my observations in the tongue-in-cheek spirit intended. Mostly it was an opportunity to share with my peers, the history of the word. Most of my past freelance gigs were profitable, fruitful and even educational. Freelancing help me establish lasting relationships with people who have proven beneficial to our business. But remember, as a local auto dealer says in his radio ads (commenting on his vehicle inventory), “I ain’t married to none of ‘em!”

I Want to Be Like That Bowling Carpenter

The Hardest Working Man in Home Improvement

It’s D.J., with another of my periodic “check-ins.”

Since retiring from “advertising for a living” after 29 years in the field, I‘m not looking back.

But, I have come to grips with the fact that I’m still too young (a “pup” of just 50)  and way too broke NOT to work.

So, as I diligently work to launch our new product brand, I’ve effectively executed my “AdTex Exit Strategy,” as planned.

After 2003, AdTex  (which is still operating, by the way) was a +$4 million agency that annually manufactured and delivered over 300,000,000 (that’s three-hundred million) pieces of print advertising for Macy’s and many other major department stores. We knew that work would eventually dissapear.

Back in ’03, when we had our first formation meeting for AdTex, someone asked me, “What are you going to do when this is over?” I said, “Go to work for Home Depot.”

So, some mornings, you’ll find me at The Home Depot in Weatherford, Texas, proudly working as a Bay Integrity Associate. BIAs are the folks who daily walk the entire +/-100,000-sq. ft. stores, recording hundreds of thousands of price stickers and UPCs with a handheld phone/laser scanner. It’s a great job! What handy little boy didn’t dream of working in a gigantic “hardware store,” while carrying a laser ray gun?

But alas, my beloved part-time gig at “Big Orange” isn’t allowing me to make the progress necessary to get our new brand rolling.

IT’S TIME TO GET TO WORK!

Do you know someone that can use someone with my skill set and experience? Oh heck, skip “someone”…just make it me!

What I really excelled at and did most, at both Pillowtex and AdTex, was PROJECT/ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT.

I managed logistics and people under sometimes-incredibly hectic situations and schedules. Facing an impossible delivery deadline, one client once told our VP, “That DJ has the demeanor of a gunslinger.” We delivered. I did budgeting, projections, estimating, reports, market research and above all else, customer service.

Customer service is about working with/for people. Maybe that’s why I eventually grew kinda’ weary of the “interactive” stuff. I was spending more time interacting with a computer than with people.

Because our new product brand is an automotive product, I’m looking forward to doing something automotive related (You know how much I love cars and the automotive aftermarket!), or at least involving manufacturing of a hard-line product.

Please indulge me with a story about my super-cool uncle.

Uncle Clarence is the most youthful, active Mid-Octogenarian you’ll find. At about age 65, he retired from his material-handling job at Bell Helicopter. Because he looked and moved like a much younger man, coworkers didn’t realize he was that age and didn’t believe he would really retire from a job he obviously enjoyed.

But Uncle Clarence had a plan! He was determined to start life’s “second half”, doing two things he really enjoyed; BOWLING and CARPENTRY. He got a part-time job…get this…building cabinets at a large bowling complex! He went on to bowl multiple 300-score games  and an 840 series (search “Fort Worth” at this link to see Uncle Clarence’s bowling accomplishments)— at 70 years old! He is an honoree in the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame.

So, why shouldn’t I hope, with your help, to find a good job (or long-term contract) doing something at which I’m good, in a field I love? And guess what, I’m willing to temporarily relocate! Admittedly, I am picky about possible destinations. How about New Mexico, Arizona, California, Wyoming, Colorado or anywhere in Texas?

Please keep that “ear to the ground” for young, broke, car-crazy DJ. Thanks!

Come On Into Uncle DJ’s Blog Cabin, Ya’ll!

Readers of the “AdTex Happenings” Blog may know, that after 29 years, I have retired from Interactive Marketing/Advertising/Visual Communications. So, although I won’t be blogging to develop business for the agency, an old “word hack” like me needs an outlet for all the random craziness, crashing around in my cranium.

Since I have spent the last four or five years, absorbing so much knowledge of “New Media”, Social Media and stuff like that, let’s address some personal thoughts on that, namely Facebook.

In my early “Social Meet Ya'” post, I expressed my personal beliefs about the site and others like it. I still believe it’s a tremendous waste of time…albeit a necessary one. I made no secret of the fact that I first created a personal Facebook profile only because it was necessary to have a personal page to own a business (then called “fan”) page.

I tried to create engaging posts to raise my profile’s EdgeRank, ( I explained EdgeRank in another blog post) so more users would see my frequent newsfeeds about AdTex Interactive. I would like to think that the tongue-in-cheek humor, goofy witticism and thought-provoking questions/observations would be entertaining.

I purposely avoided posts about religion, politics, philosophy and such.

My “Friend” count ballooned to over 900. I figure I have met and personally know approximately 90% of those “friends”. Others are associates of associates, folks who I have “e-met” through business networks and some are “friends of friends.” In the aforementioned blog post, I think I said that the majority of those connections would recognize my admittedly non-distinctive voice, if I called them and didn’t immediately identify myself. Some are childhood or college friends, to whom I haven’t physically seen or spoken to by phone for 30-40 years.

Those who have had any significant contact with me, especially within the last 30 years, know something particular about me; I am a blatant and unashamed believer in The Risen Christ and can be a fervent apologist and contender for the Christian faith! That’s the primary thing about me. Secondarily, I am an ordained Servant (deacon) in the baptist church and a dedicated Christian Educator. I have many morally conservative beliefs in which I can be quite unwavering (although always tolerant of others’ beliefs).

Some of my Facebook “friends” and Twitter “followers”, those who haven’t spent significant time with me, might be surprised by that. Even those who know me well don’t think I’m a pontificating, judgmental jerk…at least I would hope not.

Some may wonder, “Why doesn’t he mention his faith on Facebook?” Well, I do. Usually in a reference to something educational, topical, humorous or even in my own, special way — self-deprecatingly sarcastic!

But the reason I don’t use Social Media to evangelize, teach Christian principles or pontificate is I believe it’s largely a waste of time.

Don’t get me wrong. I have no problem with all of the religious and “inspirational” quotes and posts on Facebook. Although I find some are misguided and a few of the folks who I personally know don’t display the principles they post, in real life. That’s not judgment, just my personal observation…which I’m allowed to do on this particular blog, huh? Someone, somewhere is being helped, given hope, inspired and possibly even led to Salvation by those posts. I’m glad they are. But have you considered many of the COMMENTS that are generated by posts with a religious or political bent?

They are highly subjective and most-often opinionated. For the religious posts, you can include all the scriptures you want. Those who are like minded will either simply agree or add their own scriptures to bolster the point (or show their Biblical knowledge).  Those who aren’t will say so in “Comments”, which amount to lengthy “virtual arguments”. The same often goes for politics and all the skewed “facts and stats” used to support ones particular beliefs, either way.

By the end of a long, time-consuming newsfeed string, most will still be believing what they believed before all the typing started. The rationality, passion, fervor, dedication and sincerity of face-to-face or phone conversations are mostly lost in the digital void. Because those emotions can’t be effectively conveyed without facial expression and vocal inflection, the conversation often degenerates into frustration at the least and hostility at the worst (which makes the virtual aspect somewhat advantageous…no punches thrown).  Maybe someone will feel a little relieved by expressing their belief or opinion. But the believers will likely still be believing, the unbelievers will be just as adamant, the conservatives will be even more so and the liberals will be as liberal as ever.

What makes this easy is the lack of actual contact. A feeble, 120-lb. newsfeed poster can be the biggest, baddest bully on the web, while in the privacy of their dingy basement, basking in the glow of their PC’s display. The humility of a burly, 6′-4″, 250-lb. guy isn’t quite as apparent as he pokes at the touchscreen on his tablet computer or smartphone.

Single-minded commentary on a single subject, on which two or more people might vehemently disagree, lacks the opportunity to discover their common interests and beliefs. Imagine a super-conservative Tea-Party mother meeting a liberal, former-flower child housewife as they’re both perusing the same craft book at the mall book store? As they go to the connected Starbucks to discuss it, somehow, politics enters the conversation and their differences emerge. I believe (and maybe it’s just me?) that they would be less likely to get into a bloody fistfight over “Obamacare”, knowing that they are both basically good mothers/wives who both love scrapbooking.

That’s less likely to be the case on Facebook.

So, what’s my point? I don’t know. I lost it, somewhere at about 1/3 into this rambling diatribe.

I guess I’ll say, “I don’t waste much time discussing deep or controversial subjects on Facebook, ’cause it really doesn’t matter…coming from me…to those who don’t really know me. Those who know my passion, my deportment, my strong points, my shortcomings, my struggles (and I have struggled mightily…at least financially…here lately) are mostly like-minded and, like me, need encouragement more than evangelizing.”

To everyone else; If I’m blessed to get to know/meet you, you’ll see what I’m talking about. I hope we both are enriched by the encounter and/or relationship.

And don’t worry, this should be the last somewhat-deep-subject “Uncle DJ’s Blog Cabin” post you’ll see.

I hope to use a bit of wit, introspection and my trademark snarkiness to either dazzle you with brilliance or at least baffle you with bull… (saying the word you were all thinking would be quite un-Christlike, wouldn’t you say?)

So, tell your friends to drop by Uncle DJ’s Blog Cabin. There’s always something good inside.