Feeling Like A Misfit Toy
Well Halloween is over and I ate too much candy and had a wonderful time playing a police officer. My 25th birthday has come and I received a wonderful gift from Mother Nature….2 gray hairs on my birthday! Thanks for that! Thanksgiving was warm and wonderful with family that only comes to town once a year for the best food ever. And finally we begin this countdown to Christmas. The Christmas tree is up at my house and was on Black Friday. Instead of standing in lines like a cranky zombie about to bite someone’s head off for a computer or tv I spent the day at home being lazy and slowly decorating the house for Christmas. I must say it was completely enjoyable and much needed after all the events that this holiday season has brought.
This countdown to Christmas always brings canned food drives, toy drives, angel trees, company Christmas parties, caroling, carriage rides, plays, driving through miles of traffic to see houses decorated for the season….and also leaves me feeling like a misfit toy. It’s an odd comparison I guess considering the fact that I wasn’t bullied onto an island with toys that don’t work or work incorrectly. But it does feel that way sometimes when I focus more on making magical moments for others instead of enjoying them for myself. I have definitely found a new respect for the people who work behind the scenes to light the tree in New York and also all the caterers who spend hours laboring over the perfect seasonal meals just to bring everyone a little more Christmas cheer.
This year I’d like to focus on taking some time out for myself to enjoy this magical season with the rest of the gang. Reflect on what gifts I have been given throughout the year, not just the ones wrapped in paper or hidden in big bags. I want to focus on my home, my husband, and my little family. I’d like to actually watch a movie without checking my email on my phone. I know I’ve worked myself into this routine of being everything for everyone but sometimes I have to be something to myself and to the ones I love. Not just leftovers.
Do you ever work yourself into those holes? Work yourself into constantly smiling and being happy because it’s the right thing to do for others? The holidays are always crazy for me and always bring up moments of personal reflection. Moments when I ask myself…”Why did I say yes to all these events?” I say yes to these events because they are for the betterment of others and the community. I feel selfish for not giving my time to everything I can. At some point I will find better balance to my madness and maybe not feel quite so much like a misfit.
This post is dedicated to every misfit out there who dedicates their time to others and never to themselves!
Marketing For Annual Events
For the past several years I have been involved in marketing for Relay For Life of Statesville, Carolina Balloonfest, Tee Off For Teachers Golf Tournament, The Davis Regional Amazing Race, etc. What I have found to be the most effective is to build awareness all year-long so that your followers and fans have a vested interest in your charity, organization and event overall. They don’t have to be posts about the event itself all year-long but can be more seasonal, social and interactive. For example you might want to post content about the fact that Halloween is Monday and ask people what their plans are. The point of this post and main message is that you can effectively grow a large following and keep them active for an event that takes place one time every year without losing ground, energy and momentum. Some ways to achieve this are:
- Be mission oriented but understand that everyone is not going to have the same amount of passion so try not to overwhelm your followers.
- Care about your followers, fans and friends
- Share ways that they can help you event, charity or organization all year-long that will build towards the event and build their excitement about how well the event goes.
- Be a person, share stories, photos, and experiences with your fans
Like this:
Get Local Deals And Give Back To Your Community!
So what’s this ChamberDeals.org we’ve been hearing about? Well ChamberDeals.org is a new community spirited online Deal website that promotes shopping local. I know what you’re thinking….”Another deal website? Why should I choose this one over others?” Well get ready to feel good about shopping! From every deal purchased 10% goes straight back to your local community! Of that 10%, 5% goes to the local chamber of commerce and 5% goes to the local parent teacher groups at your child’s local schools!
If you’re a business owner you’re wondering how you can get signed up to host your own Deal and the answer is so simple. If you are a member of your local chamber of commerce you can sign up today, if not then you would need to join your local chamber. The wonderful support team from ChamberDeals.org then helps you create the best Deal for your business. That’s basically it…no smoke screens or trick mirrors. You join, you host and you make money for your business instead of spending time and money on traditional advertising where the rest of the competition already is!
ChamberDeals.org has a complete marketing strategy to reach local residents and promote your Deal. With the use of social media marketing by me Ashley High Stevenson, SVP Social Media Marketing I post content daily to linkedin, facebook, twitter and other similar websites! We also have a youtube channel to educate you on just how it has helped other chambers of commerce and business owners. I hope you’re excited and ready to get signed up today! If you’re ready to start shopping then you can head over there right now!
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Alzheimer’s Benefit Concert and Day of Fun
In my last post I spoke about social media marketing tips for non-profits. Throughout my career I have worked with several non-profits/charities to promote increased donations and overall awareness for their cause. I am happy to announce that I am working with Shea Musick to bring the Alzheimer’s Benefit Concert and Day of Fun to Iredell County. This event holds a very special place in my heart, my grandfather suffered with alzheimers disease for over 10 years. It is a silent criminal, stealing precious memories from those you love most. It is because of this memory and for my grandfather Alvin High that I work to promote the awareness of this event and this cause.
The event will take place at the Iredell County Fairgrounds on September 24th from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. If you are interested in sponsoring or obtaining your own booth for the event you can contact Shea Musick or myself. We will have live entertainment, food, drinks, and activities for children. We hope you can join us for such an amazing event! Please see the flyer below for more info.
Davis Regional Amazing Race
Grab some comfortable shoes and a team you can depend on! The first Davis Regional Amazing Race is coming to Statesville, NC! High Profile Marketing Solutions is proud to promote and coordinate all social media marketing for this year’s first event! Let’s give a little back story shall we? Has everyone seen The Amazing Race on CBS? Teams are paired together to compete against each other by completing tasks and challenges that can include crazy heights, eating bugs, bungee jumping, car crashes, deep-sea diving…anything imaginable that you can possibly get away with! Statesville is scaling it down to a one day event on August 12th starting at 8 am and ending between 5:30 and 8:30 pm ending at the Piedmont Healthcare Friday After Five Summer Concert in front of Mitchell Community College in Statesville.
Teams of 4 (no less than 3) will compete against each other for bragging rights and a team trophy that will change hands every year based on the winners! Each team that is signed up is currently being promoted on the Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce facebook fan page! The team with the most “likes” on their team picture will win time subtracted from the overall time for the day. Even if a team reaches the finish line first doesn’t mean they will be the winners…votes and rules will have a lot to do with who wins and who comes up short! Participate this year by sponsoring or having your own team!
It’s Summertime…What Should I Post?
During the summer months business pages can tend to see a decline in activity and interaction amongst fans and followers….so what should you do? There are several ideas that you can use to increase activity you just have to make sure that your content will hold your audience’s attention long enough to answer or comment. With the beach, lake, pool and summer shopping calling our fans and followers away from the computer one thing sis still certain….they still love savings and recognition!
- Hold a summertime contest. It could be worst tan lines photo contest, best beach sunset photo, sand castles or the biggest fish! Reward your winner with the essential summer items!
- Post content about summer savings at local businesses in case people are saving money and having “staycations” this year.
- Host a customer appreciation cookout or bbq with raffle items!
- Host a charity car wash at your business! Team up with a local charity promising all proceeds to them!
- Host an intern day at your business! If the kids are out of school then let’s put them to work!
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