DISQUS

Andrew Mager · 10 months ago

Your commentary rocks my world :)

Derrick Schommer · 10 months ago

I've found a great way to get into the space is to social network yourself up the chain through these big companies. In my case, trying to get the attention of alcohol brands can be a big pain in the ass, you can call and hope someone calls you back or deal with their PR firms for awhile but, in the end, the only way to get the folks attention in the market is to write about them and user their product and company name in keywords within places like twitter.

Believe it or not, there are many old school brands using new school media to find their fans (flying dog, gray goose vodka, and more). If you want to work your way from a fan to a relationship you've got to draw them in. Toss out a "has anyone tried ?" or "I just posted a press release about " and all of a sudden, you get follow requests from folks within the company. Now, you've got the people you need to establish relationships.

This is a great time to establish relationships with many of these "big companies" because they're doing as you say, and jumping on the social bandwagon to try and find YOU. Might as well make it easier by talking about them so they find you when doing vanity searches and setting google alerts on their own products.

bryan thompson · 10 months ago

So true, Gary. Our company is half pregnant with regards to social media adoption, not upgrading fully to new hardware & software, and not upgrading our internal thinking to modern times. It takes a LOT of fighting, but we do see the light at the end of the tunnel. Every day is a fight against complacency, but it will be worth it. We are already winning and getting some national attention, but it's time to really focus and go after it.

chris tackett · 10 months ago

thanks, gary

as usual, smart advice.

we've been slowly gearing up to "full-on pregnancy" with TreeHugger.com on Twitter. Took a while for me to get the whole crew on-board, but we're there now. Just added a Twitter widget to the left-rail yesterday. Hoping that'll bring in even more noobies to Twitter.

check it out: Twitter.com/Treehugger_com

Troy Malone · 10 months ago

Consider me pregnant! Thanks Gary for the motivation to get out there and talk!

@troymalone

physocal · 10 months ago

Doing anything half way is usually a bad idea. Go for it ALL or go home is our motto.

Alamo · 10 months ago

Cant stop watching....love it!

Justin Jackson · 10 months ago

This is along the same lines of what I was talking about here: http://bit.ly/4sqZ1B

Procedures and going through levels of management kills innovation; it also allows some really bad ideas to come "top-down."

jim · 10 months ago

One thing I've always believed is that you have to pick a direction and go with it, either you're about social media branding or you're not. It's like a DB in football, either you're going at the QB or you're back in coverage... you can't be in the middle. If you're in the middle, you get nothing! You don't pressure the QB, you don't cover the wideout, you're stuck in the middle and you're dead.

Milos · 10 months ago

That's exactly it...research, do your due diligence, but once you pick a strategy then go all in, follow through and do whatever it takes to make it successful.

C/S · 10 months ago

Sometimes there comes a point when you ask yourself whether or not to even bother. You have to realize that you can't change everyone's mind. But be happy, not everyone can or will win. Just more room for us.

Brenda Direen from American Ca · 10 months ago

You rock, on a sleepy day you just fired me up to get in the trenches! Thanks!

E. Christopher Clark · 10 months ago

Good video and good discussion, so far. Loving Jim's football analogy and Milos's quote "research, do your due diligence, but once you pick a strategy then go all in, follow through and do whatever it takes to make it successful."

Ben Curnett · 10 months ago

I left a message on NPR site for Scott Simon (who I really like) to try to drive the point home. He's videoed on a handheld for 10 seconds, and later that day, someone says, "hey, liked you in the video, etc." The guy's a reporter- he'll figure it out.

Dealing with half-pregnancies with a lot of clients. Slowly but surely, we're winning them over. We've got a new one that's totally on board on the social media front. REALLY looking forward to the work there.

Thanks Gary. Inspiring and a whole bunch of other superlatives...

Sarah Taylor · 10 months ago

LOVE NPR and can't wait to hear you this weekend. That's like the best mix ever - NPR + Vaynerchuk (kinda like PB+J).

@AndrewSansone · 10 months ago

Sometimes people get paralyzed with not knowing exactly what direction to go. As much as that is important (like the old saying, without oars your boat will sail aimlessly", I think sometimes you just have to jump in and get started. For instance, if you're thinking about starting a vblog -- then start it today! Don't worry if it's not 'perfect' the first time! Just start and doors will open and everything will fall into place! And most of all you'll be moving in a direction of progress instead of sitting around thinking of how you want things to change in your life. Now get started! Best to you always.

jtGraphic · 10 months ago

What day / time will that spot be? I caught Saturday I think. Is that 1/31 @ XX:XX?

Daniel Kemp · 10 months ago

Hi Gary.

Your video reminded me of a quote from that Fight Club movie: "This is your life, and it's ending one minute at a time."

I still haven't seen Fight Club. Some people say it's a cool movie, and some people say it isn't a cool movie. I think the only time I would actually watch it is if it was on television sometime.

But whatever. Thanks Gary for another cool video.

Daniel

David Dadekian · 10 months ago

Ha! Nice motivation! NPR is probably the best all-around media company out there. Thanks.

Rick Wolff · 10 months ago

That was fast. Now you're right back to pointing at the camera and telling me what I gotta do. What if my gut tells me I should get into social media gradually?

Beverly Claridge · 10 months ago

I lucked on to your site last week when searching to learn more about social networking. You're dynamic. You rock. I'm hooked. Thanks.

Dr. Marcus Ettinger · 10 months ago

Thanks for for the follow. I don't know if you have any kids yet, but words can't describe the bond that will occur when he/she is born. I was a pretty hard-ass type of guy. Got married at 37, kids at 39. Like the Grinch, my heart grew 3 sizes that day. Enjoy my friend.

Mark Sanborn · 10 months ago

Thank you for the inspiration we talked about you in our podcast!

laurie ruettimann · 10 months ago

God, just another reason to love Scott Simon. He is handsome!

Andy Brown · 10 months ago

As ever Gary you are a source of motivation.

Success will only come in this space by being full on and committing to the cause - definitely no half measures.

Cheers

Andy

Marius Sigheti · 10 months ago

I feel good after watching this particular one, as the first time I started doing what you're suggesting was in 2003, in Bosnia, in a traineeship I did in one company! If you can believe that.

Susan · 10 months ago

Gary, Crushed it last night w/ Kevin & pragger!!!
Also love this new GV.com...time keeps on ticking into the future!!Can't be half-pregnant or half-anything!!! Glad 4 the reminder & super video...Looking 4ward 2 hearing u on NPR!!! Congratulations on another media op!!! :)

Christian · 10 months ago

all in, baby :)

Suellen Hoiles · 10 months ago

Hi Gary,
My fiance bought a very nice bottle of 2000 Trimbach Riesling Frederic Emile for my birthday. Well, my brother drank it not knowing it was such a nice bottle. I want to replace the bottle but am confused. When searching online, some bottles of the same vintage are $37 and some are $71.99. The one that is $71 says that it's the Vt? What's that? I know he bought me the expensive one, but I don't want to get ripped off. Can you help me? PS-Kevin actually bought it at your dad's store in Springfield...Thanks a bunch. -Suellen from Wolffer Vineyard.

Kaplan Mobray Author, The 10Ks · 10 months ago

Gary,
Great point on embracing the power of social media. It is the wave of the future but more importantly it is the tide of now! Growth for your company, your business, or your personal brand will come when you embrace the power of viral and transparent communication. Transparent communication leads to openneness and sharing which develops trust between an employer and employee.

The greater the trust, the greater the employee satisfaction, the greater the retention of talent. All contribute to healthy financial growth and a culture that inspires people and their companies to not be "half pregant" but rather to "deliver" greatness.

Andy Lacey · 10 months ago

Great analogy and strong message (as usual) Gary.

I think the reason so many smaller businesses are succeeding at social media is precisely because they have no red tape to cut through. This has leveled the playing field. So the message for them (like me) is just get on and do it, there are NO excuses.

For larger companies with masses of red tape, yeah you've just gotta cut through it. If that just seems impossible and nobody around you is prepared to join the fight then you've gotta ask yourself...do I really want to be part of this dying company? The message there is do it yourself, or join a group who ARE prepared to push the boundaries.

EZRA · 10 months ago

Great stuff Gary! 2009 and the future is about 'Crushing It!' I've been hooked to your vids for the last couple of months now and the things that you stress are so basic and powerful:

1. Crush It!
2. Get OFF your ASS!
3. Use the Great Tools!

My question is the latter, with so much out there what vid cam and soc net tools should I be using to get my brands to the masses?

Thanks Man...keep on keepin' on!

Sarah · 10 months ago

I watched your videos a few times and couldn't really get into it, but hearing you on NPR today sparked an interest.

THIS IS NOT MY MORNING WINE SPEAKING. Well maybe, but what of it?

Leah McChesney · 10 months ago

Heard you today on NPR...great job...was half listening and then heard your name...was...hey, I 'know' that guy.

Sam With Traffic Is King · 10 months ago

NPR does have a really good brand. They are more likely to embrace social media than some of the other stations that don't get it yet. They have more of a grassroots connection with listners also. I think social media is a perfect match for them. I'm surprised they don't use social media to raise money. They would have so much more funding.

Jean-Philippe · 10 months ago

I listened to you on NPR and you really make wine accessible to anyone.
Here in Japan it is a manga that lately makes Japanese learn and understand the basics about wines. Maybe your heard about it but each wine mentioned in "Drops of God" got extra sales in Japan and in the countries where the manga was published. Now they just started the TV series which is also very popular. (Title in Japanese: kami no shizuku)

Matt Deaton · 10 months ago

Yep—all or nothing. Thanks for the inspiration Gary!

Joe Colville · 10 months ago

I disagree with the half-pregnant analogy. Social networking apps are just tools like a web presence.

Many companies don't need more than a page or two with basic info, while some benefit greatly with dynamic content, daily updates, forums, videoblogs, etc.

My local muffler guy does not need to Twitter, for twenty years he's had all the business he'll ever need.

Time is money and money is money. Everything has a cost/benefit ratio.

Mark Matson · 10 months ago

Hey Gary,

We have to do one of these when you are in Cincinnati for our next high powered Gary coaching session. I agree go big or go home!

Carl Morris · 10 months ago

NPR featured my Sleeveface blog project.

Or should I say "our project" because it involves a huge community of enthusiasts worldwide.

Anyway the folks at NPR blogged it straightaway so big kudos to them. They walk the talk! Here's one of their Sleeveface pics and here's their blog post.