Sharing the Good Times.

Sharing vacation pictures with friends and family has been around as long as the first snapshot ever taken. But, (thankfully) gone are the days of dreaded, hours-long vacation slideshows in darkened living rooms. With social media sites like Facebook and Flickr, sharing our good times has never been easier or more efficient.
One reason social media has become so viral is because it taps into a basic human desire to share our experiences. We enjoy sharing our good times (and sometimes bad), and enjoy being part of a community of like-minded people.
Since launching a Facebook page for the Family Kingdom Amusement Park in Myrtle Beach, SC, we've a accumulated a significant fan base in less than a year. The consistently high fan interaction rating since it was launched shows that Family Kingdom customers have deep feelings about their visits to the park and look forward to returning.
A photo contest last fall resulted in over 200 submissions -- a 21st century version of the old family slide show. And what better way to showcase the park and the experience than through the eyes of its guests. Nowadays, real, customer-generated content will always trump the commercial in the minds of the consumer.

Can Social Media Enhance Customer Service?

The answer is absolutely, assuming it's done right. But, it's not just about putting out sales messages, the deal-of-the-week, etc. If your strategy is to cultivate a dialogue, not a monologue -- and your voice is genuine and responsive -- social media can be a great channel for connecting with your customers or prospective customers.
Fans of the LHWH-moderated Mar Vista Grande Facebook page are using the site to ask questions of this luxury beach resort, rather than picking up the phone or sending an email. The added benefit of this channel of communication is that other fans can see the questions and answers as part of deepening the engagement of the Mar Vista Grande community.
Actively-managing, daily responses to inquiries via Facebook hasn't just led to customer goodwill (a worthy goal in and of itself), but has actually been tracked to direct bookings. If you're serious about utilizing social media to augment your existing marketing and customer service you have to be totally on top of it...and keep it real.

As the Wood Turns.

Just back from his latest showing at the 34th annual Atalaya Arts and Crafts Festival in Huntington Beach, S.C., LHWH Studio Artist, Terry Lee Johnson, is already working on his next new collection of spectacular woodturnings. Self-taught, he began working with wood about seven years ago in his home workshop, where he now has one of the most extensive assortments of hand tools, saws and lathes imaginable. His work has included both furniture and what he calls his "wooden vessels." But the latter appealed to him most. Hundreds of pieces later, he's sought after by galleries, collectors and individuals who appreciate the richness, artistry and attention to detail in his pieces.

From natural-edged bowls to elaborate lidded containers, his designs incorporate various wood types from all over the world -- including Brazilian rosewood from South America, Brown Malle from Australia, and Zebrawood from Africa. One of his most fascinating and talked about pieces, however, was crafted from a native wax myrtle tree that once stood outside the LHWH offices. Blown down in a recent storm, part of the tree's main trunk yielded a small urn that is every bit as exquisite and desirable as one made from the most precious and exotic materials on the planet.

Check out Terry Lee’s wooden vessels.

What's on your mind? Why updating your business Facebook page is so important.

We all have friends on Facebook that seem to spend every waking moment online updating their status. Several times a day their profile picture pops up with some mundane information about their life. Or what about that person who asked you to be their "friend" and you haven't seen a post on their page in months? Personal Facebook pages are hit or miss, but when it comes to your company's page, there's a delicate balance. It's a balance you need to be very aware of.

If you can't remember the last time you updated your business page on Facebook, you need to start paying more attention or risk losing fans and credibility. Posting too frequently can have the same result.

It may seem like a simple plan: update your page regularly. But you'd be surprised how many businesses are still setting up Facebook pages without a strategic plan to follow up. If your business has a page and no plan, your reputation could be at stake.

If you're feeling a little lost, here are some tips:
1) Make your posts engaging and invite interaction. People want to interact. Give them the opportunity.
2) Answer questions. People are looking more and more to social media as "customer service."
3) Don't let them down. Be responsive and be honest.
4) Posts should be unique, informative and interesting to read with a personality -- and not mostly advertising messages.
5) and, most importantly, have a plan to regularly update your status. What does "regularly" mean? It could be a couple times a week or a couple times a month, as long as the content is interesting and relevant.

Facebook can be a great business tool if used correctly. While showing a return on your social media investment is still in its infancy, it's clear that the more you connect with and engage your customers and prospective customers, the better it is for your business.

So, tell everyone "what's on your mind," and then listen.