Redneck Getaway 2011 - Day One, 9/10/11

With Rydan getting older, we decided to make a trip to the coast part of our annual travel plans. We have done many years of visits to the Caribbean instead of the NC coast, and hauling a 4-year old on a flight to an island just didn't seem like the best thing. But we certainly wanted to see him experience the beach...and getaway ourselves.

For this RG we again chose NMB, with the Windy Hill area being the most calm, convenient, and not very crowded after Labor Day. With large condos, ocean front pool, and a wide beach...it off-sets any of the cliche concerns about it being "Myrtle"! But I still like to refer to it as our "Redneck Getaway. I mean there are still plenty of scary people, Wave-stores, and "I Love Grandma" airbrushed t-shirts.

Cierra & Rydan are along for the first few days, while Nick stayed back to do the responsible thing and work. The trip down was uneventful, with only a dozen true "are we there yet's". North Shore Realty folks were easy to work with. Condo they suggested is great, recently upgraded, and in one of the buildings we like.

Rydan's first few hours on the beach included, swimming, riding a wave on a Boogie board, building sand castle's and burying his Mommy. Guess we can go home now.

Beach is mostly empty, waves are small, cooler is full and Maria looks like a non-issue. Dinner in, girls go shopping, I watch the NASCAR race (it is a Redneck Getaway), and the moon is full! Should be a good RG

Facebook has been blocking and shutting down extensions that allow you to export your Facebook contacts over to Goggle+...but there is still a way. Here's a step-by-step work around by using your Yahoo account:

1. Open you Yahoo account (takes a few minutes to sign up for one if you don't have one) and go to the "Contacts" tab
2. Go to "Import Contacts", and you'll see the Facebook logo. Click it and say "OK". You'll see all your FB contacts
3. "Select all" contacts, go to "Actions", "Export all", and choose "Yahoo CSV file". File will download to computer
4. Switch over to your Gmail account associated with Google+ account
5. Go to "Contacts" tab, go to "New Group", and create a group called "Facebook"
6. Go to new "Facebook" group tab in left column, choose "More Actions", choose "Import", "Choose file", select the Yahoo CSV file you downloaded, select the "Facebook" label in the drop down, and hit "Import", click "OK"
7. Switch over to your Google+ profile and click "Circles", you should now see all of the contacts on your Google+ account!   (If not, you can also click the "Yahoo" icon next to "find friends", click "agree" to force a download, which may take a few "retry" clicks)

Requires a Yahoo account and a few minutes of your time, but if you plan on using Google+ as part of your personal social networking...this makes migrating contacts from Facebook easy, even if they don't want you too :)

What Time Is Prime Time?

One of the most asked questions by anyone just getting started blogging, posting, sharing, and doing any type of content distributions is; when is the best time to do it? Over time the best days of the week and times of the day have become a little more clear, although your target audience can impact what is optimum. But research used to derive those results has always surveyed all traffic, regardless of OS or device.

A new study published by Ad Age Digital says that the highest use of mobile web and apps happens between 7-9pm. Google also backs this up with their numbers on mobile search in the evening. Another incredible stat was that 86% of TV watchers had their mobile device in hand while doing it! The survey also found that ad click throughs were highest on iDevices, with the slowly dying Blackberry coming in last.  

What does this info mean to you? 

1. Make sure you are pushing content in this prime window to increase potential click throughs and engagement
2. Make sure that your digital marketing strategy includes the super-fast growing mobile platform
3. If you're lucky enough to have Television as part of your Marketing plan, include a call to action
4. If you can only afford to do one mobile app, make sure it's for Apple devices
5. Throw your Blackberry away

In the new America it's desktop by day, and mobile by night.

Source: Ad Age Digital

Does Google+ Matter

It's been very interesting to see how much "buzz" Goggle+ has generated in the past few weeks. (an ironic choice of words) So now that we have seen and used it, and as people migrate to it as an alternative to Facebook...it begs the questions; does Google+ matter?

• A new social network is added to the interweb almost every day, but not by Google...so that matters.
• Buzz was a complete failure, launched by Google...so that matters.
• Facebook is the 800-pound Gorilla, but evil to some...so that matters.
• Facebook is the 800-pound Gorilla, and works fine for most...so that matters.
• Social has been more important than sharing, so far...so that that matters.
• Video chat isn't new, but simple group video chat is...so that matters.
• A Circle is just a Group, but easier to use...so that matters.
• You already have too many social media profiles...so that matters.

Look, Google+ is fun, but far from proving itself as the "next big thing" in social media. The buzz around it will last for some time, and the early adopters will be in for a bumpy ride. We'll stay on top of it as it evolves to maximize its potential because it's Google...and that means it does matter.

What's That Smell?

Oh, it's Spring in the air! Spring is a time when all things are fresh & exciting! Spring is a time time when flowers & ideas start to bloom. Spring is a time time for new activities & endeavors. Spring is my favorite time of the year.

There is a constant barrage of information, ideas, thoughts and stuff that fills up my personal & professional life. So much stuff that it's sometimes hard to see through it all to what's going on around me...and what the possibilities are. But Spring, with its longer days and more sunshine, seems to allow me to feel more positive...and have a clearer picture. I plan to take advantage of it!

I have the same chaos going on around me I did 2 months ago, and six months ago...and I've been out of the traditional workforce for over a year now, but for some reason things just seem more manageable this time of the year. The to-do list is still as long as my arm, the family challenges are just as many & just as big...but Spring creates a sense that all of it is not only doable, but something to tackle with vigor!

There are opportunities to be explored, activities to do, and time to maximize. More family time, more fun time, and yes...hopefully more work time. And Spring time makes them all even more possible!

When you're in a funk, things smell funky. When things are good, they smell like Spring. Sniff that!