L-O-V-E for Social Businesses on Valentine’s Day
February 14th, 2012 | Shonali Burke | 105 Comments
So… looking through this blog, I realized that this is the fourth Valentine’s Day Waxing UnLyrical’s been around … can I get a W00t?! W00t!!!
Last year, I wrote about injecting the Valentine’s Day spirit into social media, and I really didn’t want to write a hackneyed version of what I’m sure will be several such posts out today.
So today, I decided to say “thank you” to social businesses; businesses that understand and use social media wisely, to listen to their customers, to improve their products and services, thus creating fans for life.
And since I’m trying to get over my self-consciousness about video, I decided to try something new.
Note: the video you are about to watch has music (legally purchased), lyrics (original, written by yours truly) and somewhere in there, a dog. No animals were hurt in the making of this video.
Click here to watch it on YouTube if it doesn’t show up for you.
This is the Dachis Group’s “attributes of a social business” presentation from which I used a screenshot, by the way, and if you’re interested in learning more about why I think Samuel Gordons and Eidia Lush are so terrific, you can catch up here and here.
Now that we live in a social world, it’s tough to imagine the days when businesses didn’t get back to us on Twitter, or Facebook, or another social platform. True, there are still many of “those” businesses around, but they’re certainly getting fewer and farther between (at least, I think so).
But the businesses that listen, that invite our feedback, that know being interactive is key to keeping us around – they’re golden in my book.
So to all the Vistaprints, Samuel Gordons Jewelers, Network Solutions, Eidia Lushes, Traackrs, Zappos’, and Southwest Airlines’ of the world:
Thank you for making our lives easier. You have a fan for life in me.
What social businesses have “convinced and converted” (h/t Jay Baer) you? Any stories you’d care to share? And, oh, what did you think of the video (if you want the lyrics, just tell me)? Do share, I’d love to know.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Image: Steve Snodgrass via Flickr, CC 2.0
Shonali Burke
President & Grand Poobah at Shonali Burke Consulting, Inc.
Head honcho of Waxing UnLyrical, Shonali Burke is President & CEO of Shonali Burke Consulting, Inc. Based in the Washington, D.C., area, she loves helping for- and non-profit clients, both small and large, turn corporate codswallop into community cool™. She also loves ABBA, bacon, cooking, dogs, and Elvis. Wouldn't you like to be in her kitchen?
@shonali
CEO & Grand Poobah, Shonali Burke Consulting, Inc. Teach @SAISHopkins. Founder #measurepr. Blog http://t.co/jjw1eiGmjy. PR/SM geek. Dogs. Foodie. Shoes. Elvis.
@K_Bookman Very! ;) - 6 hours ago
Latest posts by Shonali Burke (see all)
- Minding our Ps and Qs: Civility in the Digital Age - May 22, 2013
- Waxing and Waning, Lyrical and UnLyrical - May 21, 2013
- Monday Roundup: The Right Business Tools - May 20, 2013
104 comments
1 Like
@Shonali sorry for my late comment on this one Shonali. I do LOVE this post - I think I've listened to this a good 3-4 times now - sooo good! What gave you the inspiration/idea to write the song? I admire your courage and creativity so much :)
Latest blog post: Trashing the wall
@JGarant You never have to apologize for commenting "late" - I'm just grateful that you had the time to do so!
I honestly don't know where it came from. I hadn't written a V-Day oriented post, so was trying to figure out what to do, and then Nat King Cole's song popped into my head. I think @Mark_Harai 's earlier comment about putting on some makeup :p helped, and I suddenly thought, how about a love song to businesses? And then, once I had the idea, I wrote it very quickly (not particularly tough when the lyrics are of the moon-June-spoon variety ;p). I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Latest blog post: Whither #measurePR? Right Here!
1 Like
Woot for four Val Days and WOOT, WOOT for the video, Very, very creative. Love it :).
Latest blog post: Managing people is the most important job at your company
@JGoldsborough Thanks, Justin!
Latest blog post: #HAPPO Chat Alert: Tips for Starting Your New Job on the Right Foot
1 Like
That. Was. Brilliant! You are one brave, clever, beautiful, smart girl, Shonali and I for one and proud to know you!
Wow! and W00t!!
Latest blog post: Twelve Online Marketing Apps, Tips and Tools that I LOVE!
@EricaAllison Thank you! I think I finally made a video you can be proud of. And *your* comments on the video are very important to me. I'm proud to know you too!
Latest blog post: #HAPPO Chat Alert: Tips for Starting Your New Job on the Right Foot
1 Like
Love this video Shonali! You are too creative. Hands down the best Valentine I received haha
@rachaelseda I love that! Thank you! :)
Latest blog post: #HAPPO Chat Alert: Tips for Starting Your New Job on the Right Foot
1 Like
Great stuff, I'm still far too self conscious to video post on my blog and, as for my singing, the less said the better.
Latest blog post: Gout Treatment Advice
@Debra Silimeo Thank you! And you have game BIGtime. I know because I see you every week at #mybootcamp - aren't you glad you're doing that, btw?
2 Like
Quite the singing voice you've got there! Nicely done! Who are these Samuel Gordon Jewelers folks? I'm unfamiliar with their early work :)
1 Like
@MSchechter LOL. I'm told they were pioneers of social jewelry. Their rings talk to you. :p But @dangordon can tell us more about that...
And thank you!
1 Like
@Shonali@MSchechter Ha! Hey you all! :) LOVE the name of this post! Love is definitely in the air over here in #OKC... & Thank you very much for the kind words! We are swamped for Valentine's DaY! Check out one of many happy receiver's of LOVE in the form of engagement here ---> https://twitter.com/#!/marekalaine/status/169515592733302784/photo/1
1 Like
@Shonali@MSchechter HA! :) It's a verrry nice one. I will just leave it at that & Happy Valentine's Day!
1 Like
I knew this was going to be good when @ginidietrich said to come see your post first! When are you going on tour? I'd like to reserve a spot for the pre-sale.
Looking forward to more awesomeness from you :)
1 Like
That. Is. Awesome! Great job @Shonali - I'm looking forward to hearing your musical stylings at the next conference :)
1 Like
Well, I KNEW you were not only UNlyrical, but lyrical as well! I see an X Factor tryout in your near future. *staring-into-crystal-ball smile*
@janthonyrivera Oh boy, none of that for me. I do ok within a certain range, but I can't belt it like some of those people. They are really amazing.
Thanks for stopping by, Tony - I really appreciate it!
1 Like
Awesome, Shonali! You made my day!! And a message that I will share with my "Principles of PR" class tomorrow as we get "into the weeds" of what it means to be a public relations professional! Happy Valentine's Day!!
@KirkHazlett You'll have to tell me if they run out of the room, kicking and screaming... :p
Thanks, Kirk, and happy V-Day to you too!
1 Like
Geesh, that's not fair - way too much talent Shanoli!
All I said is to take off your glasses and put some makeup on... How do you compete with that!
I can see you throwing down some dance moves on your future video posts : )
I've never sang a song to my clients, nor would they want me to. I have sang with a hairbrush in hand in front of a mirror, but that was a long time ago.
Some folks just have all the talent!
I can play some drums :P
1 Like
@Mark_Harai Well, um, you threw the gauntlet down, and I took it up. Now it's your turn. :p
Hey, if you play drums, you can join our band! What do you say, @Hajra ?
2 Like
@LanierUpshaw of course; well, maybe not a total convert but we are rapidly getting there.
This was so cool ma'am; I see the theatrical background shining through very brightly. You know, I was going to do this exact same thing but I couldn't find where to purchase the rights to Nat King Cole's song and when I tried to do it acapella, but it didn't turn out so well.........
Happy Valentine's Day to ya, and social is sooooo happy you gave them props today.
@bdorman264@lanierupshaw !
Thanks, Bill - I had so much fun doing this. I bet you sing really well...
1 Like
I LOVE YOU!!!!! This was #AWESOME*********
and PS, my dog asked to be let outside during the video, but don't take it personally. I think he loved it too.
@Lisa Gerber ROFL! Maybe he heard Lola bark? Or he wanted to go spread some doggy L-O-V-E around. He needs to take up bootcamp. :p
1 Like
@Shonali you are a woman of many talents. This video is so cool, and big props for doing it all in one take! Love it! I'm sharing it on my FB wall. You rock, my friend. Cheers! Kaarina
@KDillabough Thanks! I didn't have much of a choice... I didn't know how to split the track I downloaded... plus, as you can see, I got into the swing of it. I tried at one point to stop tapping my feet so that I wouldn't bounce around so much, but I couldn't help it!
3 Like
Very nicely done. I am impressed.
Latest blog post: Blogging Should Be Like Great Sex- Fun!
1 Like
@yvettepistorio Thank you! Er, should I plan on singing during our upcoming webinar...? I bet that will be a first!
@bsafron@hksully@yvettepistorio Mad beatz & rad ukes? O.M.G. This is going to be a webinar to remember!
Latest blog post: #HAPPO Chat Alert: Tips for Starting Your New Job on the Right Foot
1 Like
@hksully@yvettepistorio@Shonali I can't wait to see the two of you busting out mad beatz and rad ukes.
1 Like
@yvettepistorio@Shonali Hahaha! You guys crack me up! I can't wait to see how this webinar goes. :)
@yvettepistorio Well, we're certainly going to have a lot to talk about on our call tomorrow! @hksully
[...] I have a secret. Nothing I write today is going to outdo Shonali Burke’s Valentine’s Day blog post. [...]