It all started when Amy’s Baking Company was featured on Kitchen Nightmares. You can watch the episode here:

After you watch a few minutes, you may begin to understand some things. They say the customer isn’t always right… well that’s not exactly a good way to run your business. You also shouldn’t yell at or scream at customers when they may not like your food. They’ve run their business into the ground.

On to their social media handling… these are just a few samples of their posts and comments taken directly from their Facebook page:

I understand they are upset about the “witch hunt” on Reddit, but this is no way to act at all. I’m literally just shocked as I’ve never actually seen something like this happen. It’s not a hack. It’s the actual wife and husband posting these things! [crazy to accept, I know, but in the episode the wife admits to being cruel on social media]

I love Reddit and often browse there myself. It’s a great place to find info like this and, after the episode leaked/aired, I wasn’t surprised to see them featured on Reddit.

Let’s all promise to never treat customers like this or manage our Facebook pages like this. Even Applebee’s did better than this.

Spring is here. The weather is finally warmer. You’ve started cleaning the house… but now it’s time to focus to cleaning up your digital space.

The list may be long, but it’s worth it and you can spend May gradually doing all of this!

Click for image source.

To-Do List: 

1. Clean up Twitter: what fresh value can you add this spring?

• Organize followers into lists and update existing lists. This helps when you are following a lot of people.
• Unfollow people who are not adding value to your feed
• Follow new people in areas you’ve found interesting lately
• Start a bit.ly account where you track your clicks
• Take a look at updating your bio

2. Clearing up Facebook: who do you really know anymore?

• Delete “friends” you don’t even know, don’t talk to, haven’t communicated with in over a year… etc.
• Rexamine brands and pages you “like” on Facebook. Do you actually like them? Time to UNlike.
• Clear out your inbox and actually check your “other” box Facebook has added
• Update your about section and check your privacy settings to see what you are sharing (!!)

3. Reorganizing Pinterest: how can your boards be better arranged?

• Combine similar boards (all clothes into one, accessories and shoes into one, all cooking-related into one)
• Delete boards you don’t actually pin to
• Follow some new people
• Identify new trends you can get involved with

4. Tackle your inbox: though this may the be hardest, go through your inbox and ask yourself “what do I really need?”

• Empty your trash and spam
• Unsubscribe to things you delete every single day anyways
• Go back YEARS and mass delete old stuff
• Organize your inbox into different folders and delete old folders you don’t use
• Seriously though, take the time to go back through and delete a ton of emails

5. Revisit Google+: how can you use your profile?

• Remember it’s tied to your Gmail anyways
• How can you leverage Google+ to up SEO to your blog, Twitter or other site?
• Update your info on Google+, add a new photo, change your cover

6. Examine your website: what new direction can you take your blog?

• Examine your blog followers and what topics you have blogged about
• Ask what else can you talk about or what new direction do you want to take your blog
• Make some plans to blog more
• Update your blog/website info and add some new content

7. Clean your hardware: how can you safely clean your products?

• Your laptop is looking filthy. Time to get some electronic-friendly wipes!
• Clean up your laptop, desktop, iPad and iPhone.
• Get new screen protectors
• Buy yourself a new case

Click for image source.

Since I love summer, warm weather and buying new clothes for the season, I’m doing a grand prize giveaway (a $50 gift card), to purchase an item you want from the Shabby Apple website. My favorite dress from them right now is this summery navy and white striped dress with a kelly green top!

To be entered to win:

1. “Like” Shabby Apple on Facebook

2. Comment on this post telling me your favorite part of summer AND what Shabby Apple dress is your favorite!

In order to comply with Facebook contest regulations, you must enter by means of comments on my blog, but eligibility for entry is contingent on the Shabby Apple Facebook “like.” If you are selected as the grand prize winner, you must also provide your address for shipping.

Even if you don’t win the grand prize, all my readers can still receive 10% off of a purchase at Shabby Apple for a month. The discount code is: stripeddress10off. Use that code at checkout!

Shabby Apple has a lot of other really cute summer dresses and even some other outfit pieces you can wear to work. It’s a great store to get some retro swimsuits, accessories, shoes and even art for your home!

Shabby Apple is an online dress boutique that specializes in vintage and retro dresses. Click here to see their selection and connect with them on Twitter as well.

So please leave your comments below for entries!

This is an important cause and one I feel I can really relate to. I know the Boston bombings happened yesterday and I believe both of these issues are very important right now. My heart goes out to all affected in Boston and to the Boston community. As a nation, it’s not a time for blaming others or turning on our own people, but it’s a time to come together to mourn and take precautions. It’s not about politics or sides, it’s about being supportive together as a nation.

For the #SemiColonProject416, I think it is important to note this because everyone has problems and we all deal with them differently. It is not our place to judge how someone may go about dealing with issues. I’ve struggled with depression, anxiety and unhappiness at various times in my life, especially after losing my father at 14 years old. I’ve made some not so great decisions and wanted all the pain to go away, but I’m still here.

Depression is a real thing to be cautious of and something that deserves more awareness. I encourage everyone to get help or to talk to someone if you are unhappy or think you may be depressed. Counseling and support help tremendously. Do something and reach out to someone. If you know someone who is suffering, encourage them to seek help as well.

Before we let our anger out on others or judge too harshly, let us remember that everyone is facing some battle every single day. Be cautious as to how you react, speak to and treat others.

This is an opinion post, not a regular theme of my blog/website.

After seeing a few posts lately with some pretty standard info for business cards, I decided to take a different approach.

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1. Don’t overcrowd your business card. Simple and clean is always best.

2. Stop trying to make QR codes happen. They’re not going to happen.

3. You do not need a picture on your business card OR your address.

4. You don’t have to include every single social network you’re on. We get it. You’re social.

5. Pay more to get the custom design. Pay more to get the “got these business cards free at _____” from the back of your card.

Don’t overcrowd

There’s nothing worse than getting a business card and there is so much information on it that I don’t even want to read it. Keep it simple and clean.

• Name
• Email
• Phone
• Twitter
• LinkedIn (possible)
• Website link
• Design or signature

Stop trying to make QR codes happen

Why do you have a QR code on your business card when all the info anyone needs should already be on it and accessible without taking an extra step? Simplicity people. Pictures of people scanning QR codes.

Lose the picture and address

I’m not a fan of pictures on business cards. I don’t think it’s necessary; you may feel otherwise. It’s not a problem if you have it, but you could use the room for something else. You definitely don’t need your address. No one will be sending you mail (most likely). If you’re a student, you especially don’t need your address on your card. Goes for resumes too.

Lose every single social network link

Everyone is on every single social network, but we don’t use all of them the same. Only put the ones you actually want to engage on. I recommend LinkedIn or Twitter. You don’t need to list your Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, Google+… etc. List the ones that are important to you and your brand. People can find the others if they want to.

Pay for the custom design and REMOVE bizcard company text from back

Always pay the extra money to remove the “got these business cards for free at _____” (Vistaprint). Pay more for the custom design. Make your card look as close to your other branding colors/themes as possible. Get creative and make them stand out.

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Business cards are so customizable so you have unlimited options in design. Take a risk and make yours stand out.
Here’s my Pinterest board of some great business card designs to give some inspiration as well.

*College students need business cards too. They’re easy to hand out at conferences, events and at job fairs. YOU NEED SOME. Go buy.

What’s on your business card?

What to read first:

69% of PR pros are eating lunch at their desks + other stats from PR Daily

11 Ways to De-Stress from Your Desk from The Huffington Post

Is There Life After Work from The New York Times

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Click image for source.

From doing an internship at an agency and now working at Hunter in NYC, I can tell you that hardly anyone ever leaves for lunch (we all order or bring our food) and that we are working some long hours. We also spend A LOT of time at our desks doing work on our computers. So, we are not really moving around a lot either.

There are a few problems with our daily habits and there are a few things we can change to help our stress, energy and exercise.

Those articles address some of the issues, but also offer some solutions. I try to eat out at least once a week and I try to take short walks as well. I also walk around the office, go to people’s desk instead of calling and a few other small things that make a difference.

As for the life after work article, that is on a different level. There are a lot of ways to look at this article. Some talk about doing your “due diligence” when you are just starting out and others talk about making sure you’re taking breaks, not working long hours, etc.

Personally, Jarrett and Lanie are my family now and I want to spend as much time with them as possible. I work harder during the day and complete my work so that I can leave at a decent time and do my one hour each way commute. It is up to each person to define how much they should be/want to be at work and it is different for each person too.

In our house, Jarrett and I try to stay off our phones more now. We do not get on our phones immediately when we wake up and I try to leave the social media and talking with people for other times, like when I’m on the train, or when Jarrett does have to work late. I want to spend my time with Jarrett in quality ways, not attached to my iPad, MacBook Pro or iPhone.

It is a real balance with just a boyfriend and a dog… I can’t imagine bringing kids into the picture right now.

All that being said, I’m not very social at night anymore. I don’t spend hours and hours on social media platforms. I’m offline more and I really like it a lot better that way. I’m spending time in my real world.

After reading the three articles above, it is up to you to decide what is best for you. I do think taking some time to yourself during the work day, taking the time to step outside for just a few minutes or even taking time to do something else for a short period really helps your overall wellbeing. Just my opinion.

What do you think about the articles? What would you like to change or balance more in your work / life hours?

I came across this infographic today on the public relations industry “then” and how it is now via InkHouse.

Although I have not been in public relations long, I have already seen the basic teachings change. I know a lot of things have changed and evolved over the years from reading about PR and talking to PR professionals.

What I like about this infographic is that it not only talks about the changes, but it addresses what will always remain, such as: thought leadership, relationship building, credibility, authenticity and storytelling.

What do you think of this infographic? Curious to hear others thoughts on our changing industry.

I like the new changes and they aren’t all too noticeable. Unlike what other social platforms do, this wasn’t a complete overhaul in look so no one should be upset.

New home look

Old home look

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New board view

Old board view

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New profile look

Old profile look

The new “Pin it” button is also more Pinterest branded:

See? Not too different. Cleaner, more modern design. Font is different and a little bigger on the new look too.

Let’s all be happy about it.

You can also follow me on Pinterest here.

I have many identifiers: friend, girlfriend, sister, female, young professional and many more.

What we should not do is identify based on race, gender, religion or sexual preference. I do not say “my straight friend” so you should not say “my gay friend.” Why do you have to identify something about them? They are your friend and that is all.

Being gay is not your whole identifier; it is only part of you. Being straight is not my whole identifier; it is only part of me. Let’s stop the labeling and treat people as they are: like people. Being Catholic is not your whole identifier and being Asian, Indian, Native American, Black, etc. is not everything you are either.

There are many parts of all of us and we are all people. We are all equal. We all feel, bleed, love and think. We are all people.

It goes back to thinking before you speak. When you use unnecessary words to identify or label people, the other person may be offended or caught off guard. When you use these identifiers around others, it may give them cause to, unfortunately, think differently about the person which could lead to judgments, bullying or other things.

It is also not okay to say “that is so gay” or “that is so retarded.” Gay and mentally handicapped should not be associated that way.

This is a different kind of post for my blog, but just think before you speak.

Although I’m on the 3M team, this study is a must share. When I’m on the train, waiting in line, working from a coffee shop or working just about anywhere, I do not want people looking at what I’m doing. Sometimes I may be on Twitter or Pinterest, but I still do not want people to be able to see what I am doing all the time.

When it comes to working on client things or working on something for the agency, discretion is a must. If I feel like people can see what I am doing, I am less likely to do anything productive.

A new study conducted by the Ponemon Institute and commissioned by 3M, has revealed that employees are 50% less productive when they feel their visual privacy on their computer or mobile device screen is at risk.

Based on this finding, productivity lost due to visual privacy concerns could cost a business more than $1 million dollars per year. From Digitimes, “The study also found that visual privacy concerns impact an employee’s willingness to fully disclose sensitive information on a computer screen, which is especially relevant in industries where customer information is collected on a computer or tablet screen in a public place.”

More key findings:

• Visual privacy impacts transparency. When asked to answer a series of sensitive question on a computer, those who value privacy passed on nearly twice as many questions when they didn’t have visual privacy on a computer compared to those who did have a 3M privacy filter protecting their answers from the view of the researcher.

• Women value privacy more and are more productive. Fifty-six percent of those surveyed cited privacy as either important or very important, yet women valued privacy more (61%) than men (50%). Similarly, women’s productivity was more positively impacted than men when their screen was protected with a privacy filter.

How to fix the privacy issue:

Privacy filters are the first place to start. 3M has different types of privacy filters for your laptop, smartphone and desktop computer. These filters allow only you to see what you are working on and appear to make the screen display black or gold to anyone else watching.

Make sure you get the one that fits your screen though! Check out the privacy filter measurement chart.

You can also buy the privacy filters on Amazon and other online outlets.

Like I stated before, 3M is a client, but this was an important study and I know privacy concerns impact a lot of people. Visual privacy is a widespread concern. I hope you find this study helpful!

For more information or to read/download the full study, visit www.3Mscreens.com/ProductivityStudy.