“Things that help others is what gets the most shares.”
Chris Brogan
Even though this video was shot over 2 years ago, it’s still so relevant as Brian Solis speaks about the social value of “checking-in”. It’s a super simple way to understand “social currency” and the “social value” our interactions on the web play into growing our salons, businesses and brands.
“Social currency is represented in the resulting value and sentiment that stems from the exchange of social objects: words, videos, reactions, links. Social currency is a combination of actions and words.”
Brian Solis
So what does that mean for us?
Every time a client has a social interaction with our salon, every time they comment, share, like, and yes, even check-in, they are giving their endorsement of your salon to their group of friends. Sound familiar? Of course it does, it’s good ol fashion word of mouth, it’s just happening online.
When we provide engaging, relevant and valuable information and content on our social pages, people will take action.
Here are some examples of social actions: Facebook
Likes, comments, shares, RSVP’s to events, check-in’s
YELP
Reviews, checking-in
Foursquare
Checking-In, reviews
Twitter
Tweets, re-tweets, @ mentions
Pinterest
Likes, comments, re-pins
Instagram
Likes, comments
So, what are you doing on your social pages to create “social value” and “social currency”? Are you creating and delivering valuable content for your fans and followers or just trying to sell them something? In the end, the more value you deliver, the more actions you will get.
If you are ready to learn how to connect your offline efforts with your online efforts, we offer one-on-one coaching and mentoring to help you craft an awesome social + digital plan designed to increase your social value, currency and ultimately more word of mouth and referrals. Click here to learn more and get started!
(shared with LOVE from your passionistas, Nina + Gordon)
It all begins with a decision.
So what are you waiting for? So many times we get so wrapped up in the day-to-day that we put off the things that are most important to us. Sometimes we get so overwhelmed, we get so stuck, we do not know where to begin. Sound familiar? Like anything worthwhile, like any journey, it begins with taking the first step. It’s amazing what can happen once we make the decision to take that first step.
Whether its improvements we want to make in our lives, our relationships, our salon, our career, our health, our business plans, or our skills, it all begins with the first step.
Think back to the day you chose to go to beauty school, or college, or open that salon, or attend that advanced academy. You made a decision, and you took action.
Lights, camera…Action!
Ideas, dreams, goals and plans are only words on a piece of paper, until we choose to take action, to execute on them, to take the first step. Which goals, dreams and plans do you have sitting in a notebook or laptop somewhere you have not taken action on? What are you waiting for? Today is the day to take that first step.
If you are serious about igniting your passion and turning your dreams into reality, we offer one-on-one coaching and mentoring to help you craft the ultimate plan to begin your journey. If you are ready to take that first step, click here. We look forward to dreaming with you.
(shared with LOVE from your passionistas, Nina + Gordon)
“Do not wait; the time will never be ‘just right’. Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.”
Napoleon Hill
Meet Danielle Valiente, a super passionate salon owner, stylist, Paul Mitchell educator and blogger taking the social space by storm to get closer to her goals and dreams. Danielle is such a great example of delivering value through engaging content on social platforms and as she adds value, she is getting the attention of the likes of eHow and Lucky Magazine. Danielle took some time out of her super busy schedule to share her thoughts on how she is using the social web to empower herself and her community. Enjoy.
Nina: What are your current goals as a salon owner/session stylist, etc?
Danielle: My current goals as a salon owner are to continue building our brand and salon team. I set goals every year and work hard to reach them. As a session stylist, my goals are to continue to grow my portfolio, my contributions to Lucky Magazine and my video blogging.
Nina: Which social platform are you focusing on to reach that goal?
Danielle: Do I have to pick 1? Currently I use: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube as my main platforms. They each offer a little something different for reaching my audience.
Nina: Why those platforms?
Danielle: I’m focusing right now on building my YouTube presence. I love sharing education and information with people, so I’m using YouTube to bring my blogging education to life.
Nina: How did those platforms help you get closer to your goal?
Danielle: Currently I am one of Demand Media and eHows video talent. Every few months I create a series of how to videos that help hair stylists and the general public learn to do specific techniques related to hair styling.
Nina: What have the results been?
Danielle: eHow just added me to their YouTube page and within that day I already had hundreds of views.
Connect with Danielle on the social web and see all the cool stuff she is doing to build her brand.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. “
Margaret Meade
The social + digital web has allowed us to share, engage and connect like never before. One of the coolest platforms to do this is our fave hairbrained.me. A community of the worlds most talented artists sHairing their passion, art and minds.
Hairbrained is a great place to be inspired, learn new things, connect with mentors, find images and videos to share on your own social pages, and a way to socially network with the best and brightest in our biz.
Co-Founders Randy Taylor and Gerard Scarpaci are two of the most passionate hairdressers in the world. They created this space for our community, and they do it for the love of the hairdresser. They do it for us. Awesome.
Click here to become part of the hairbrained.me community, and begin sHaring your passion.
(shared with LOVE from your passionistas Nina + Gordon)
PS: A big shout out of LOVE to Randy, Gerard and Kelly for being awesome, and working their asses off so we can all be more connected through our passion for art, education and each other. You guys (and gal) ROCK!
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
Melody Beattie
Today is my Dad’s birthday. It will be the first time in 45 years that I cannot pick up the phone to call him, or give him the super special poems, CD’s or handmade cards I found so much joy in making for my #1 guy. Instead, I dedicate this post to him, and hope that since he got to heaven 10 months ago, that he made sure they got an Internet connection. Cause if anyone could make it happen, it’s my Dad.
So what does this have to do with gratitude you ask? One of the gazillions of lessons I have learned on my amazing, difficult and crazy journey, is about focusing on gratitude. And when I do, it makes dealing with the hard stuff a way easier. The quote above has incredibly deep meaning to me, so much so, that I tattooed on my arm, just in case I forget to be grateful. It happens.
So many of us get stuck in all the craziness that life throws our way. Each of you take in so much everyday, listening to your clients and team mates troubles, and sometimes we absorb that energy, sound familiar? The awesome news is we have a choice of what we get to do with the crazy, and when we choose to focus on gratitude, its amazing what can happen. Try it, I dare you!
One thing I was taught several years ago is when I get into a dark, sad place, which for me, is more often than I think people know, is to get out a piece of paper, or phone or whatever, and write 5 things I am grateful for. Even in the toughest of days, we can all find 5 things. Here is my list for today.
Nina’s Gratitude List
1. The 45 years I got to spend with my awesome Dad. I cherish each moment and memory, even the not so pleasant ones.
2. The love and support of my family and friends, no matter which decisions I make for myself, they’ve always got my back.
3. My unconditional loving dogs, Faith + Zen, without them, my life would be beige.
4. The journey I have been on learning how to match my outsides to my insides.
5. For Passion Squared (and my biz soul mate Gordon) which allows me to share my passion with the people I love.
Now it’s your turn. What 5 things are you grateful for today? If you are feeling courageous, jump on over to our Facebook page and share your list on our wall, or click here to share it just with us. Or text it to a friend. Just make one. It works.
(shared with LOVE + GRATITUDE from your passionista Nina)
PS: Happy Birthday Dad, I love you infinity and beyond.
