Last week I made a new friend. He’s a cigar shop owner. Our conversation was incredibly awakening and inspiring. Sure, our conversation revolved around Cigars, but more so, the lifestyle and the industry. But what he had to say about his involvement in the industry is what really got me.

“I’m not in the cigar business. I’m in the Relationship business.” Is what he had to say.

He said “cigars, are, what I like to call a social lubricant.”

His business is about bringing people together. Creating an environment conducive to building a relationship, networking, and cultivating community. This guy gets it. People want to connect. People want to feel wanted, known, and accepted. It’s the cry of every heart. Cigar’s are a niche hobby that bring people together and connect them.

This particular cigar shop has a lounge and the lounge is used to allow people the opportunity to connect. To talk. To help. To share life over a cigar. A common denominator.

A monthly meeting takes place here, that brings guys together, just to simply talk and connect. My new friend says it’s an opportunity to fill people with hope, through real and relevant discussion about life…..over cigars.

My new friend is also a Pastor. He get’s it.

Zappo’s has done it. Ford is doing it. Southwest is known for it. They’re some of the current social media thought leaders. Setting the pace for other organizations. Not only setting the pace, but teaching other organizations how to use social media properly. They are pioneers blazing a trail for others to follow, but the great thing about these organizations is they are not just expecting us to follow, they are teaching us how to do it. They are blogging about their experiences, writing books, and allowing their Strategists to go out and speak at conferences.

The church, however, is trying to figure this out. The social media aspect of it, that is. In my opinion, one church hasn’t been able to step up and become the thought leader in this space. I’m waiting for it to happen. Any day now. I see a few that are primed to make it happen, they’re just at the Tipping Point.

We need more leadership in this space.

Churches need to know how to reach their current church community and the city they occupy. How to reach people that don’t attend a church, how to recruit more volunteers using social media, or to show churches how social media can increase involvement in initiatives outside of the church and for their live worship experiences.

As soon as one Church decides it will lead the way, the opportunity will be provided to influence others. Leading the way is not a communication director or church’s selfish gain or as a popularity contest, but it’s for the simple reason of teaching other churches how to reach more people. Churches CAN unite under the medium of social media. Cities can be reached through social media, people can be activated into opportunities outside of the church, making your city a better place as a result of your social media efforts!

The church as a whole could be vastly impacted if a few churches would start making the investment in that Online Communications position, providing the right resources, talent, time, energy, and materials that are needed to improve in that space.

Never has the opportunity been greater to reach your target audience, the people you live life around every single day. The people you worship with every single sunday.

Who will step up and lead the charge? Who will set the pace for other churches? Who will be the thought leader that shows how to effectively reach a community through Social Media?

The ROI of Social Media for the Church is a topic that not many have dared to touch within Church Communications. Perhaps, this is because of its difficulty to define, but ROI in social media needs to be discussed and discovered. It needs to be discussed on a strategic level, before you even establish your presence in social media. The Objectives of your strategy also need to be discovered before your ROI can be established.

The ROI of social media for the church is going to be a bit more unique than that of a business, such as, Dell or Ford. There’s not exactly a tangible product being sold through the church and there are not many opportunities for customer service support.

So, how exactly do you define the ROI of social media for the church?

It’s important to understand that you must first set measurable goals. I would say the majority of most churches are guilty when it comes to setting measurable goals and tracking the results of those goals. A good place to start is by defining the overall objectives of the church (I usually like to know at least 3 main objectives/priorities of the church I’m working with) and then discover the approach of transcribing those into the appropriate social media spaces. Define what you will be measuring, so that, you can discover if you are successul or not. By knowing the objectives of the church, this will allow you to begin to define the ROI of your presence and efforts.

What exactly are key performance indicators to measure ROI for your church?

Increase of Visitors to a Worship Experience – Through your social media efforts you can effectively grow your weekly amount of visitors. How? Run searches. Look for the people who are asking about churches in your area. Follow influencers in your community and engage in conversation with them. Host social events. As the Social Media Manager attend some tweetups or meetups in your area. I have seen people start to attend a church simply because I was engaging with them on Twitter.

Measure along these lines: The amount of visitors that begin attending should increase 20% with an increase of 8% coming from social media.

Increase in Membership - Social Media can cause a visitor to feel loyal within the  first week or two of a visit, rather than after months of visiting. By following and reaching out to them you’re showing you truly care about them. By simply asking a question or saying “thanks for visiting” you are making an extra, unexpected contact, that could possibly boost their feelings and loyalty towards you. They no longer have to visit for a month before feeling engaged or connected. This can happen within the first week – thanks to social media, emails, etc.

Measure along these lines: We want to see a 12% increase in membership in the 3rd Quarter, of that 12%, 5% should state Social Media was influential in their decision.

Increase Online Giving – This is the part of ROI the executive team really gets into. If you are the social strategist and you start increasing the online giving, I guarantee you will get instant buy-in from the leadership, as well as, credibility! This is one of the few opportunities you have to measure ROI just like any business would – by the money that is coming in as a result of your efforts. The same could be said for increasing Campaign Funding.

Measure along these lines: 20% increase in giving online, with 12% increase coming from Social Media traffic.

Increased Volunteering - A large part of a church’s success is dependent upon its volunteers. The thriving churches have masses of volunteers activated to carry out the church’s mission every week. Those same churches are always looking to increase volunteers on a weekly basis. Once again, you start to increase volunteering and you get credibility.

Measure along these lines: Through traffic driven to your volunteer sign-up page, you should see an increase of 5% new volunteers obtained in upcoming quarter.

Increase Reach in Your Community: The great thing about social media is that, your church can now extend its reach beyond the stage. You now have the ability to reach into your surrounding city. Your message is one that your community wants to help spread. They are waiting for content to share. Remember, thousands of enthusiastic members can cover far more ground in a much quicker time.

Measure along these lines: Our facebook presence which currently has 4, 336 Likes, should grow to a total of 6, 200 with an average of 23 comments per post within 6 months.

Develop Deeper Relationships: Churches are emotional organizations that require a buy-in of your demographic’s emotions. No member wants to feel like just another number. People want to fall in love with your church. By helping your members develop deeper relationship you will ultimate increase trust, mindshare, and loyalty to the brand. Yielding an increase in positive public sentiment. and empowering them to make a difference.

Measure along these lines: The positive mentions about Your Church should increase by 35% through Twitter alone. The positive mentions should out weigh the negative by a ratio of 10:1. RT’s of the churches and/or Pastors posts should increase by 18%.

How has your church measured the ROI of your social media efforts? What else could be added to this list?

Recently, I was watching an NFL pre-game show and they were talking about Aaron Rodgers, Quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. Part of the segment on Aaron Rodgers was his on-field confidence and the collectiveness in which he plays. If you’ve seen Rodgers play before (perhaps as he won last years Super Bowl?!) you know he’s amazingly calm under pressure and still plays with a fierceness that leads and a level of competitiveness that wins games.

Later that same afternoon, I was watching another pre-game show where they were talking about Mark Sanchez, Quarterback for the New York Jets.  In a similar story, they were talking about Sanchez performance on the field as such a young player. The qualities he already embodies as an on-field leader, the poise in which he plays, and how he will prove to be a winner throughout his career.

Oddly enough, both stories shared a similarity. Separately, the stories talked about how the two Quarterbacks started the game off by building momentum. In the easiest form possible. The on field tactics the two Quarterbacks share could quite possibly make all the difference in the outcome of their games.

Their first play of the game, when taking over at Quarterback, is a safe one. It’s a short, routine pass to a Receiver or Tight End. Their first move on the field. Their first throw. Is their first win. That first move bolsters the confidence to make the big plays three minutes later.

Sometimes we need to start our days, tasks, or projects off with a small accomplishment. Something small and tedious that we can complete without a lot of effort. A small victory. Sure the 50 yard hail mary to Donald Driver is a lot more exciting, but Aaron Rodgers knows he has to make a small passes to get the confidence he needs to hit his receiver in stride. He gets the feel of the game. He gages the athleticism of his players on that particular game day. He sets a pace that he can accelerate.

Start your projects off with a small victory. Small enough to give you the confidence and momentum to complete a bigger project. To give you a feel for the day. To set a pace for the day that can only be accelerated by more accomplishments.

So, what’s your first move that sets the pace for the rest of your day?

When I first began working in the natural products industry I was working part-time in the supplement department at a health food store called “Talley’s Green Grocery.” This is where my use of supplements started. I had always thought my brain was a little sluggish when it came to being focused and having clarity.  I was introduced to a product sold in Talley’s called Ginkgo-Gotu Kola by Eclectic Institute. This is a combination of two herbs, Ginkgo and Gotu Kola, used traditionally to improve brain function. I had a quick results. The noticeable result was improved mental alertness and focus. The action of that product was that it improved blood flow to my brain.

In a previous blog I wrote here, I talked about the brain-gut connection; how both can influence each other. In order for the brain to function optimally, you must learn how to manage stress and take care of the gut by eating properly. Beyond this, for the beautiful creative humans, there are some supplements you can take that may help boost and maintain creativity. The brain needs oxygen and nutrients to help it work optimally. Oxygen and nutrients are delivered to the brain via blood circulation. If blood flow to the brain is sluggish, then adequate amounts of oxygen and nutrients may not reach the brain. The result experienced may be sluggish creativity.

Herbs are my go to supplements for improving blood flow to the brain, such as Ginkgo. Ginkgo is an herb that is known to help improve blood flow in the body, especially to the brain. But it’s not for long term use. Traditionally Ginkgo has been used for brief periods, like three months at a time, to enhance mental alertness and focus. The reason behind this is that the body can become used to the action of an herb, thus suffocating the benefits. They just stop working.

An herb that works like Ginkgo, and has been shown to produce consistent benefits with long term use, is Bacopa. This herb too helps improve blood flow to the brain. Bacopa has also been shown to help people retain information better and help with short term memory. Another product beneficial for improving blood flow to the brain is Vinpocetine.

There are three products that I think are optimal choices to help with maintaining and enhancing creativity.

• The first is called, Mind Care by Himalaya USA. The primary ingredient in the formula is Bacopa. In addition to Bacopa is a blend of other herbs that make the formula complete and compliment Bacopa nicely.

• Better Brain by Garden of Life is another winner. Not only does the product contain Bacopa, it also contains Vinpocetine, omega-3 fatty acids, and B vitamins.

• Another exceptional brain booster for short term use is the one I stared out with; Ginkgo-Gotu Kola by Eclectic Institute. There are many other choices out there besides the ones mentioned. You may want to experiment with different formulas until you find one that is perfect for you.

In conclusion, proper nutrition from fresh whole foods is optimal for maintaining creativity. This is why herbs are my go to supplements for brain function. Herbs are food.

Note: if you are using medication that thins the blood, you should consult a pharmacist before using supplements of any kind that improve blood flow.

What do you do to increase creativity? Will you be trying any of the supplements listed above?

A few weeks ago, I was eating dinner in a nice restaurant. The menu was that was specifically prepared for patrons. Meals where the chef spent time contemplating, sampling, and preparing. Meals prepared for customers, who took time out of their life, to visit that restaurant and eat food.

Well, that is, with the exception of one particular table. This family decided to bring in Wendy’s for their not so small children. Yes, Wendy’s, the drive-thru chain. I’m not a chef, but I could imagine that this is the highest form of belittlement that could be offered. To say to the chef, “We know you have something good here, but we don’t care enough to give it to our kids.”

This insult spun off a couple different thoughts and feelings I had been contemplating regarding Social Media. It has to do with content. Not just content creation, but content sharing.

As Social Media Performers (aka “specialists”) I think it is time we stop bringing our “Wendy’s” content into different “restaurants.” It’s time we start showing all these other spaces the respect they deserve by giving them their own selections, so to say. Let me break that down for you.

It’s time to stop using Facebook to post to Twitter and Twitter to post to Facebook.

There I said it.

I’ll explain this in typical four-point fashion:

It’s Not Personal - It’s like the family that brought the food from Wendy’s into a restaurant just to enjoy that restaurant’s space. Or perhaps dumping content from one space to another just because your friends are there. Where ever you are, be all there.

When I see your post and it’s not even a complete post, because of the fb.com link and the 140 character max, I feel like you are giving me your second best in my number one channel for information, resources, and connections. I don’t like your second best.

Confusion – Distraction – Retraction - Obviously, there are millions more users on Facebook than on Twitter. When those Facebook users that aren’t on Twitter are seeing your posts including “RT: @name #hashtag @friendsname MT“, you are doing nothing more than confusing them with your posts, distracting them from future posts, and causing them to retract from following or engaging with you. There is going to come a time where you will need your followers to read a post. And it will have been too late.

Inappropriate Duplication - I remember my friend, Phillip, calling me out one day on Twitter for something I had posted on Facebook (we’re friends in both spaces). I had posted something about my Twitter followers specifically (and at that time had the two connected) and it went to my Facebook page. The response was something along the lines of “This is a great reason to not have Twitter and Facebook connected.” I immediately disconnected the two. He was right.

Different Purposes in Different Spaces – I have heard it said that “Twitter is for meeting people and Facebook for the people you already know.” If that is the truth then you would most likely speak differently to someone you already know, than to someone you don’t know. And if that is the truth, then why would you not treat your content the same way? You could be introducing your blog, website, or business for the first time on Twitter at any given day. If that post you are sharing doesn’t capture them because it is an incomplete post with a fb.com link in it, do you think they will actually engage? Doubtful.

What are you thoughts on linking your social media accounts?

I understand this blog may not be for all of you. Some of you are casual, for-fun, social media users. In that case, your occasional posts on both sites is causing no harm. This is more for those that “get it.”

My wife and I do a lot of traveling, if you follow us on Twitter or Facebook you’ve probably seen that. And if you do follow us in those spaces, you’ve seen that we hashtag all our trips. You’ve probably seen us tweet things like #Floridacation, #InTheHills, #InTheYahd, or most recently #74andSunny. Yes, we are the quintessential social media nerd couple and we make no apologies for it. It’s fun. And it serves a purpose.

A hashtag, according to Twitter, is used to mark keywords or topics in a Tweet. It was created organically by Twitter users as a way to categorize messages.

Here’s a couple reasons why we hashtag our trips, along with a couple thoughts on why you should use and engage hashtags for your business, brand, or organization.

Track conversations – A hashtag is an amazingly simple way to search through all the posts that have been generated using a particular hashtag. We like to hashtag our posts, check-ins, and pictures that we’ve posted while traveling to retrace our steps and places visited. It’s a great way for an organization to stay tuned in to what people are saying about you, as long as their using the hashtag you’re tracking.

Archive posts – The last few trips we’ve taken I’ve used either Twapper Keeper or Storify to save all the posts for future reference. If your diligent with your hashtag you can consistently go back to one of these sites to save your conversations. Helpful for those of you who are monitoring what people are saying about your brand and not using a paid service to do so.

Host a chat around a hashtag – Yes, you can host chats in Twitter around a hashtag. It’s simple really. Post your questions and conversations as you normally would, but include your hashtag in all those posts. Encourage your followers to save the hashtag search in their Twitter client. This will allow them to easily follow along and engage. Jumping into a Twitter chat is a great way to find and follow people who are talking about similar interests. As you engage and interact in these chats, you’ll also find that your follower count will begin to increase.

Simple Searching – A hashtag was created to categorize Tweets. To categorize something is to group it. You can find items when they’re grouped together. See how that works? Your brand, your product, your church series or even your event should be hashtagged. It allows others to search what people are saying about you, it allows you to track, and others to jump in the conversation. It all comes back full circle with the hashtag!

For the Fun of it – Some might say the hashtag is being abused by people hashtagging random thoughts or full sentences. I don’t think there is anything wrong with it. The #sarcasm hashtag gets used quite a bit, even when it doesn’t need to be. The #IJustUsedAHashtagBecauseItsARandomThought Hashtag gets used quite a bit as well. It’s ok. Use them up, I don’t think those hashtags are going to be used for true searches anyway. Social media should be about the fun, so if you enjoy a  128 character hashtag’s, go for it. Just don’t expect us to try and read it!

To own a hashtag is to own a conversation, to follow that conversation, engage in that conversation, and to keep that conversation. When you own and monitor a conversation, the discoveries you can make about your community are priceless.

What do you think about hashtags? How do you use them? Have you followed our trips hashtags?

I’ve been scouring the web all week, so you don’t have to. Here’s a little list of the top 7 sites I found useful and engaging…for your Saturday viewing pleasure.

Except this week I didn’t do too much scouring. I went to a social media conference put on by SocialFresh and hosted by Jason Keath. An excellent conference, that I would encourage anyone with any level of interest in social media, to attend. This weeks 7site Saturday are 7site’s I picked up from the conference. A couple are the speakers page or business and a few are some sites that were mentioned. Enjoy.

Social Media Governance :: A helpful resource for developing your corporate social media strategy.

Argyle Social :: Eric Boggs, founder of Argyle, spoke at the conference and delivered some helpful information on analytics and tracking. I’ve been a fan of Argyle for a while now, unfortunately I’m not currently using the platform but I do hope to utilize soon. The describes Argyle as a social media marketing dashboard that combines social publishing, customer engagement, and  social analytics into one platform.

Rowfeeder :: I believe Chris Penn mentioned this site during his session. I’m a fan. I’ve used it before for tracking campaigns, it provides simple information from your social networks. You have the ability to track keywords, hashtags, or usernames from Twitter or Facebook and get reports sent to you in an excel format.

Google Social Connections :: Mentioned by Roy Morejon and Brandon Uttley of Command Partners (who deserve a spot on 7site Saturday for their awesomeness).  A “directory” of your contacts and the social networks were you are connected. It’s a neat aggregated list of all your contacts to let you know where you have or have not connected.

Tweetadder :: My friend Rich initially told me about this tool and the huge success he was having in growing his community. Automatically follow Twitter users. Find people by their geographical location. Find followers of users and follow those users, search and obtain Twitter users by their Twitter Bio.

Social Triggers :: Founder, Derek Halpburn knows how to get traffic to a website and how to increase sales on your site. This is where he blogs about it. He was one of the speakers at Social Fresh and was quite engaging. Derek laid down some truth on blogging and reaching more people while challenging my blogging strategies.

I haven’t uploaded contacts to Facebook for the purpose of inviting to a Fan Page in quite some time and after trying to today, I ran into some confusion.

After a little digging through Facebook, I finally found the option to do so.

Here’s a walk through of how to upload contacts via .csv file or webmail.