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COWICHAN SOCIAL CONNECTION
Social media, for me, is about people connecting to people
      
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Brenda Burch

 

Wow! Summer seems to have flown by! I have dubbed 2014 the year of the hose as hand watering is only permitted and I have a new garden.  

 
CLICK IMAGE TO TAKE SURVEY
Fall is nearly upon us and along with your help in taking the survey (nifty Survey button, eh?) it will help us deliver the best learning for the Fall from Social Media is Simple.

 

To the left you'll see a link to an excellent article on Facebook's latest change regarding Fan-Gating from Jon Loomer.  Here's another link to a great article from Hugh Briss at Social Identities on the same topic and 

here's my latest post on the subject that simplifies what Fan Gating means and the new rules.

 

We'll definitely talk about Fan Gating, Facebook's new Save function, Twitter, LinkedIn and more in our Fall series.  All details coming shortly to an INBOX near you! 

 
So, What About You?

Writing the perfect "About You" bio can be a daunting task. You have many different audiences to whom you wish to introduce yourself. You want to be compelling. engaging, informative and personal. You want to communicate confidence and expertise. 

Here are 10 tips to help you move beyond the blinking cursor on the blank page.

  1. Understand your audience - This is critical. Do not write your bio for you, write to your audience. If you don't know your audience, how do you expect to communicate with them? The better you know your audience, the better you can tell them about you and what you can do for them.
  2. More than the facts - Don't bore your audience with the facts. Share the real you. My audience knows I like to garden, I enjoy good food, I support the community and I love my Corgi. 
  3. Values added - What are your values? What drives you? What are your beliefs? Usually the same values that guide your life also guide your business. People connect with people who share the same values and beliefs.
  4. Image is everything - Include a recent picture of yourself. It builds trust and gives people a chance to look into your eyes. We are, after all, visual creatures!
  5. Map your professional journey - Tell people how you got to be where you are today. Again, avoid the facts, tell a story. 
  6. How can you help - Potential clients want to know what you can do for them them. Tell them. Be specific. Provide links to your products or service.
  7. Provide examples - If you have a portfolio or list of projects you have worked on, display it. 
  8. Share your client feedback - Include client testimonials and stories about how you work and how you helped make the client's experience positive and beneficial.
  9. Contact information - You want your audience to know how to contact you. Make sure they can easily find this information. Include a Call to Action ex: Find out more, Call today, etc.
  10. It's not about you - What do you want your audience to leave with; a self - involved story about you or how your expertise can help solve their problem?
Enhanced Facebook Business Pages Course @ VIU

I am preparing for my Continuing Education course at VIU - Cowichan Campus. I am excited to teach what I love. As always, I will be offering a lot of information on this topic. 


 
The course description is as follows:
Minimize the amount of time spent on Facebook while maximizing results! This session is for small business owners and non-profits that already have a Business Facebook Page but need to understand thoroughly how to reach the maximum number of customers and contacts. Learn to use Facebook's features to your best advantage. Instructor Brenda Burch is a national social media trainer. Please note: does not cover initial page set-up

BMFB 010 F14D01 $65 + tax
Wednesday October 22; 7-9pm (x1)
 
If you or someone you know wants to learn more about your Facebook Business Page, I encourage you to sign up for an informative session.
A Damn Fine Dinner
See The menu
On August 7, I got to enjoy a truly unique dining experience. Drumroaster Coffee and Deerholme Farm hosted a pop up dinner. 

The five course dinner included
featured Drumroaster coffee as a part of each dish. Each dish was divine in its own right. I was fully sated by the end of the evening. 

This fine partnership announced there will be another pop up dinner in September. The theme will be wild mushrooms. Yum, I will be first to purchase my ticket again.
Cowichan Valley Social Media Club

The Cowichan Valley Social Media Club has taken a summer hiatus. We hope to bring in more engaging speakers in the fall. 

In the meantime, it's not too early to start thinking about our annual Toys, Toiletries and Toques fundraiser. If you are spending anytime in a hotel, grab the unused toiletries to donate. Fill an extra backpack full of school supplies or consider a donation for our draw. 

We don't have the details in place yet but November will be here quicker than any of us want to admit!

We truly put the "social" in social media.
Testimonials

 

Thanks for all your help, Brenda. You are a treasure trove of online marketing advice and a good sounding board for ideas. So happy to have met you.

Ruth Nehring Koehn as posted on Social Media is Simple's timeline.

 

 
A New Look
COMMUNITY EVENTS
 
TALES FROM AN AFGHAN VILLAGE
Enjoy the pleasures of a summer garden and hear two dynamic speakers tell their stories about helping women and children in Afghanistan.
Read More

SAVOUR COWICHAN
This is a great way to enjoy the food and wine of the Cowichan Valley. From September 26 to October 5, come indulge your senses.
Read More

CHEMAINUS THEATRE
The very powerful story by Victor Hugo will be performed during the summer. Les Miserables is the story of love, sacrifice and redemption. It will surely stir your soul!  Learn More 
CHAMBER LUNCHEONS

I am proud to be a member of the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce and I serve as a board member.

During the summer, the Chamber offers members the opportunity to visit the sites of other chamber members. The Chamber on Tour still has a three more tours left in the summer season. Contact Elizabeth to learn more.
250-748-1111

September Lunch n' Learn



SOCIAL MEDIA

HOW TO WIN THE FACEBOOK ENGAGEMENT GAME
Are you still struggling to gain more engagement on your Facebook page? Read More

TWITTER FACTS AND STATISTICS
Here's some interesting information about Twitter.
HOW TO TRAVEL HEALTHY
As I have been spending more time traveling lately, and this is the season of travel, I thought I would pass along a few travel hacks to help you. Read More



Social Media is Simple is a consortium of talent lead by myself and including design, digital, communications, and PR professionals as required. We take pride in our business network and we tackle every new consulting project with passion and developed expertise.  I look forward to continuing to focus locally on the Cowichan Valley for Simplified, Effective Social Media for Business. 

 

 

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