a day in the life of a marketer and social media blog by digital marketer mayra ruiz-mcpherson
While I blog about a lot of things, blogging about digital marketing, social media and PR are some of my fave topics. It’s what I do, day in and day out, to bring home the bacon so why not talk about it, right?!

Wednesday
01Jul

blog update

DateWednesday, July 1, 2009 at 08:51AM

Just a quick note here to share with you where I'm at on my "blogging pause" brought on by months of marketing and communication challenges that have presented themselves to me ...

Bottom line
This blog is being *completely* restructured from head to toe. Much of the content on this site will be shifted to other web properties such as Facebook page(s) and/or entirely new web sites or blog platforms.

Rebranding
In parallel, there is some rebranding going on as well. The rebranding taking place is in response to growth and evolution of my digital marketing practice and how to proceed forward.

Some thoughts
While they may appear to be simple, these blog and brand related decisions have literally taken me months to figure out and sort through. What tends to happen to me is I spend so much time marketing for others but when it comes to marketing for my own needs??? Well, I think it's safe to say I'm just too close to my own brand and business to see see clearly at times. Couple that with the fact that I am extremely hard on myself and that I am my own worst critic ... and ya, you see where I'm headed with this, right??? LOL ...

So my blogging break -- a period of temporary retreat and reflection to clean out my own marketing house and closets -- has been absolutely necessary. I needed to get out of my own box for a bit and clear my head to create better vision for where I am going and what I want to be when I grow up :)

I am pleased to report the forthcoming changes are positive and I am excited to be building out everything on the sidelines. It's a very busy time but will yield very positive results in the end.

I plan to document this "blog strike" and rebranding experience so I may share my lessons learned with others. Hoping to share this, along with a mountain-full of stuff, very soon.

Will report more updates as they develop.

Thanks for your patience, readership and support during this transition...

Blog you soon,

AuthorMayra Ruiz-McPherson | CommentPost a Comment |
Monday
22Jun

is this blog over? ... sort of

DateMonday, June 22, 2009 at 02:43PM

happy birthday to this blog

Two important milestones are happening this week:

  • my beloved grandmother turns 89 and...
  • ... this blog turns 1!!

Trust me, I didn't think either of these birthdays would happen. My grandmother's been quite challenged medically in the past 4 months and life for her in the nursing home has been quite the transition.

And as for this blog; well ... what can I tell you? I started on this blogging adventure exactly a year ago this week and what I have learned is way too much to share with you here today.

What I can share with you is things are changing for me in many ways. Some ways are extremely positive; other ways are challenging. In the end, all changes are impacting greatly how I go about administering my web presence which as many of you know is spread out over various networks, social utility tools, multiple sites and of course here on this blog.

blame the vacation!

Vacations, while refreshing and needed, can bring about new perspective while you are removed from your day-to-day world. The epiphany I had over my brief time away is that my need to communicate and share thoughts and information with anyone here and interested in social media marketing is evolving. This blog meets some of my communications needs but not all. I have some thoughts on how to approach the near future but they require a bit more time and some sorting through.

bottom line: what it all means

At the end of the day, what this means to those who read, visit and frequent this blog is that it's time for some metamorphosis, growth and new direction. I hope to roll out substantial changes over this summer. In the meantime, as these changes take place behind the scenes, you may visit here and find things a bit out of date. Sorry in advance about that. Unfortunately for me, I only have two arms and two hands :) Combine that fact with only 24 in one day and yours truly is, shall we say, challenged?? But I love challenges and rising to the occasion is what life's all about.

Blog you soon,

AuthorMayra Ruiz-McPherson | CommentPost a Comment |
Friday
19Jun

facebook friday

DateFriday, June 19, 2009 at 09:16AM

a round up of big brands using facebook for marketing purposes

PepsiCo
PepsiCo Beverages Canada is using Facebook, which has a high concentration of Millennials, as the central platform for its current marketing campaign, and combining that with on-site engagement, reports Rob MacOdrum, marketing manager for the division. The campaign has so far resulted in more than 15,600 Facebook fans for the brand, nearly 257,000 visits to its Facebook page, more than 50,000 video views, and more than 61,000 votes. The ability to do a live stream on a social site such as Facebook enables consumers to "attend" events they might otherwise miss, in an environment in which they're comfortable, and obviously magnifies the reach of a sponsored event far beyond what has has been possible in the past, adds Ross McNab, director of digital advertising solutions at Eyeblaster.

Click to read more ...

AuthorMayra Ruiz-McPherson | CommentPost a Comment |
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Thursday
18Jun

question: should PR & marketing pros unlearn what they have learned to succeed (or get out of the way!)?

DateThursday, June 18, 2009 at 12:03PM

is this where your previously acquired marketing and PR knowledge should be?

Question

"Do you agree that PR & marketing pros should unlearn what they have learned to succeed or get out of the way???" asked on LinkedIn by Cindy Kim, Marcomm and Social Media professional in light of a recent blog Q&A by David Meerman Scott.

My response

I fully get why Scott says "unlearn," but I would probably opt for using the verb "shelf" or "build upon" vs. unlearn. Discarding any kind of knowledge is not exactly the most effective thing to do; learning and education takes time to acquire and accumulate.

Click to read more ...

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Tuesday
16Jun

Is "Twitter blue" the new "Tiffany Blue?"

DateTuesday, June 16, 2009 at 10:48AM

something old, something new...

Just a random, fun observation but I've been noticing that just about everywhere you go online, there is a new hue of blue that is dominating the world of blogs, sites, forums and social networks. It's that infamous aqua blue we all know, love and recognize as "Twitter Blue." In my opinion, Twitter's aqua-shaded brand hue is becoming as ubiquitous as *the* ever-lasting Tiffany & Company aqua blue.

Quick Tiffany Blue background: Tiffany's "robin egg" blue, since 1837, has long been known to represent high quality gifts and exquisitely designed jewelry. The blue hue shade, trademarked as Pantone 1837, has become so closely identified with the Tiffany brand that it is often called Tiffany Blue. The blue box has also become an American icon symbolizing exclusivity and unmatched craftsmanship.

makes me wonder about twitter blue

Sometimes I wonder if the Twitter Blue is also on the Tiffany Blue's legendary path? Since bursting onto the scene, the Twitter Blue is just about everywhere from small, 16x16 pixeled icons to Twitter widgets of all shapes and sizes.

if tiffany blue represents "high quality gifts" then twitter blue represents ...?

So what does the Twitter Blue represent when you see the hue on just about every web piece of e-real estate? Here are some immediate thoughts that come to my mind when that blue hue calls my attention:

  • immediacy
  • engagement & conversation
  • sharing of information
  • impact & reach
  • relationship development

Surely, there may be more things one can think of but I believe these are the key points that come to mind when most of us see that pretty Twitter Blue flash before our eyes.

Twitter has indeed become *the* social media icon of today's time. And just as you couldn't have a high-end jewelry discussion without at least mentioning Tiffany & Company, you can't have any social media discussion without at least once hearing the word "Twitter" drop from someone's mouth.

All in all, just as Tiffany Blue is associated with "exquisitely designed jewelry," then Twitter Blue should be _______________________ (you fill in the blank) :)

AuthorMayra Ruiz-McPherson | CommentPost a Comment |
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Monday
15Jun

#AIW: is blogging real writing?

DateMonday, June 15, 2009 at 08:06AM

An excellent question posed @ the 30th American Independent Writers conference

AIW panelists from left to right: Thursday Bram (@thursdayb), Beth J. Bates (@bethjbates), Mayra Ruiz-McPherson (@marketingMisfit) and Deborah Ager (@clickwisdom)Overwhelmingly, the panelists – seen above – for #AIW’s “Writing for Online Audiences” break out session (2:30 – 3:45 pm) agreed that YES, blogging is indeed real writing.

Click to read more ...

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Saturday
13Jun

time to talk "writing for web" shop to local writer's group

DateSaturday, June 13, 2009 at 06:05AM

speaking today as a panelist @ 30th AIW's Writers Conference

Developing content for the web, and all that the subject entails, is one of my favorite things to talk about. And when you take me, plus the writing for web topic and mix it together with an audience of local writers who want to learn more about how to better express themselves online, well then ... you now have for what amounts to be a fun and interesting Saturday afternoon.

I was part of this same panel last year. This year, 350+ days later, what I've learned about writing for the web since then is too much to unfold and share here just now this early in the morning and without at least one swig of coffee! That said, it's amazing how much your writing style can transform and evolve over time.

As usual, I will take some photos and hopefully video, too, although just how much or many I'll be able to take is unclear because I'll physically be sitting as part of a panel in the front of the room. Hmmmm, I'll have to recruit someone to do the shooting for me :)

Recap forthcoming...

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Friday
12Jun

#blogpotomac on my mind: an objective review from the remote sidelines

DateFriday, June 12, 2009 at 10:41PM

my take, if you can take it

Boy, watching all the live tweets spewing out from #blogpotomac today made me appreciate my from-the-sidelines, remote and virtual participation. Human connection and networking opportunities aside, virtual attendance to this event by way of monitoring live tweets had some real advantages which included the ability to, from a bird's eye position, witness the event unfold from multiple platforms including photo sharing via twit pic, live blogs and Facebook status updates above and beyond the live tweeting. Some people did such a fine job in relaying #blogpotomac speaker information you almost felt like you *were* there!

Still, please folks don't kill me for having an opinion here but ... I was surprised by how much of what the speakers shared was not "new." The one speaker, I feel, really had some fresh perspective and new stories to share was @digitalsista. I was intrigued by her in-the-trenches, original coverage of the presidential election as well as her sharing the contrast between how the Democratic and Republican parties viewed or embraced social media during the election. I also especially liked the "SOI" term for Sphere of Influence vs. "ROI" term shared by @shelz.

Click to read more ...

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