Tag Archive for: Social Media

GrandCare gets “called out” by Forbes on Social Media!!

To tweet or not to tweet….that is the question….

Back in March, I spoke on a social media panel for the 2012 What’s Next Boomer Summit hosted by Mary Furlong & Associates.  I spoke ( too quickly and spastically.. or so I’m told…) on guerilla marketing and using social media to promote your brand on a panel with Stephen Chen from NewRetirement.com, Andy Cohen from Caring.com and moderated by Lori Bitter from The Business of Aging. When the panel was finished, Deborah Jacobs of Forbes introduced herself and said she was in the process of writing an article for Forbes on dos and don’ts for social media from a business perspective.  She wanted to know if she could interview me on my thoughts.  Not being one to hold my thoughts back (like….ever), I eagerly agreed.

I told her about how we got the word out about GrandCare Systems, back in 2005 when the market was in its prenatal stage.  As a high tech start-up, we didn’t have a large marketing budget and we certainly didn’t want to throw money at a deaf audience. There was so much education that needed to be done on digital health technology in general, much less which one to choose.  It was a bit of lucky thing that social media was really starting to hit its prime right around that time period as well. In the early days, having more time than money and the fascinating NEW world of social media was a perfect mix.  I unofficially began what would later be coined as our social media campaign.

It was odd and exciting because there really were no rules. There was nobody out there that could really say you were doing something wrong, because no etiquette had been defined (yet).  Nobody was considered an expert, because people were still exploring and experimenting and really trying to see how the new platforms worked and how they could benefit a business.  It was the perfect time to just try marketing strategies out. I still remember when LinkedIn was new enough that you could simply send an inMail to someone (and maybe you still can do this a little bit) and they would actually respond…well…if they were actually continually checking their account. Through LinkedIn, I managed to get in touch with people that I believe would have never responded to a basic email.

This reminds me a bit of back in the mid-nineties when email was new enough that you actually READ them! Remember when forwards and chain letters were actually things that people read and weren’t embarrassed to send?  It’s all about timing and the number one thing we are aiming to gain is someone’s attention.  Getting someone’s attention will continually evolve…we will need to move to new platforms to keep them engaged and interested in what we have to say and it will be even more important HOW we say it; whether it’s a video, a picture, an insightful comment, a quote, humor, etc.

The resulting article that Deborah released today on Forbes.com was an interesting and insightful piece on what social media etiquette might be…  She did a great job and I was proud to be a contributing source.

And as far as Deborah’s grandstanding? A+ for grace!!! 🙂

How To Grandstand (Gracefully) On The Web

by Deborah Jacobs

…

“For Laura Mitchell, who describes herself as a “grassroots guerrilla marketer,” the key to using social media is starting an engaging conversation. In 2005 she co-founded GrandCare Systems–a Milwaukee company that provides elderly people with technology that helps them age in place.

Mitchell writes her own blog, then drives traffic to her posts by a variety of routes. For example, if she sees an article somewhere else that interests her–say on Forbes.com–she might comment directly on the FORBES site; quote the article on her own blog and link to the FORBES story; then go on her LinkedIn groups and post her comments on LinkedIn, along with a link to her blog.

“Social media is about providing information on yourself and your interests,” says Mitchell. “That includes where you work and what you do.” Whether you’re selling a product, a service or entertainment, think of your website as a store, and social media as the tool that draws people into that store, she adds. The key is to offer some insightful comment, rather than purely trying to get attention.

By using that approach when she commented on an August 2010 NPR segment, Mitchell brought her company prime billing on the Discovery Channel …

To read the entire article, click here

2012 What’s Next Boomer Business Summit

The 9th annual What’s Next Boomer Business Summit is produced by Mary Furlong & Associates, and is the official post-conference event of the American Society on Aging (ASA) Aging in America Conference.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Marriott Wardman Park Hotel Washington D.C.
Website: www.BoomerSummit.com

This years Theme: The New Normal

The New Normal will showcase the groundswell in social media, the surge in a Service Economy, and rising of the independent sector.

Join us where America’s leading analysts, corporate strategists, brand managers, entrepreneurs, nonprofit executives, authors, bloggers and tweeters meet to explore:
  • Who profits from the senior market and global boomer
  • Emerging trends in Markets, both Global and US
  • How mobile and wireless growth lead to monetization of boomers and their children and grandchildren.
  • Distribution models for reaching and engaging the boomer, the senior, the  caregiver, and the grandparent
  • Trends that engage consumers with integrated media; whether local, social, mobile, print or through gaming
  • New Normal Frugal Economy: the forecast for financial services, housing, consumer directed healthcare, aging in place, and entrepreneurship
  • Raising money for a start-up idea; brands entrepreneurs need to jump-start business
  • The boomer-seniors effect on the 2012 election

How to Accelerate Lead Generation Through Social, Mobile & Integrated Media 10:30 am – 10:45 am

In the new normal, it is all about customer acquisition, retention and service. Discover the latest trends in how companies are using media to drive leads.

Laura Mitchell – VP, Marketing, GrandCare Systems Will be a Featured speaker along side:

Moderator – Lori Bitter, President, Crew Media
Andy Cohen, CEO, Caring.com
Stephen Chen, CEO, NewRetirement

Transforming Social Media for the Senior Community With Brian Lang

Thursday, March 1st 2pm ET – 1pm CT – grandcaresystems.webex.com
Call in: 1-408-600-3600 – Pin: 660 464 102#

Today 40 million people are over 65 – the largest and fastest growing demographic in America. With Baby Boomers retiring, over 10,000 people a day turn 65, a trend that will continue over the next decade. Americans age 50+ are increasingly likely to have a cell phone, a laptop or tablet, or a game console, and represent the fastest growing age segment to adopt to social networking and hypernet technology. What’s the opportunity? A connected lifestyle that blurs boundaries across home, work, leisure, and retirement, smoothly connecting our online and offline lives. Unfortunately, this tech-enabled lifestyle is not yet widespread among older age ranges, hampered by technology choices that are complex and difficult to use. To enable a connected living and social aging experience for older consumers, vendors need to begin to design for all, and entrepreneurs and the venture community need a more dynamic relationship with this huge and underserved growth market.

Brian Lang, CEO of Seniors In Touch

Brian is a serial entrepreneur and social media executive with over 20 years of experience with interactive media. During the late 90′s he founded an online venture that partnered with Digital Equipment Corporation to create OnePlace.com, one of the earliest and still one of the most successful faith-based online communities. He has been a thought-leader dating back to 1999 when he authored the pioneering book, “Making the Internet Family-friendly,” for Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Brian is a champion of combining social media and health care for senior adults, is a speaker at senior living industry events, and authors for noted health care publications. His company provides a touchscreen and cloud-based social media and health care solution to senior living communities nationwide.

Customer Engagement in 2012:

Leveraging Social Media and Online Communities to Expand and Retain your Customers

Thursday, Febuary 16th 2pm ET – 1pm CT

Watch/Download

With guest speaker Ron Repking

Connecting with customers to drive more business has become easier as more and more seniors get online. Social media outlets such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and others provide a way for companies to connect with these consumers.  However, these outlets are controlled by third parties and don’t allow you to harness your users fully for your own benefit.  Creating your own presence under your control solves this problem and enables you to engage with your customers on your own turf.

In this webinar you will learn about:

  • The evolution and impact of social media and engagement
  • The components of a comprehensive engagement model
  • How to leverage these components to own and control your audience message

Ron Repking

Ron Repking is the owner and CEO of Capable Networks, a company focused exclusively on helping companies engage with their customers through online communities and social media.  Frustrated with traditional methodologies and strategies, Ron founded Capable Networks in order to bring a new perspective and approach to customer engagement online.  Ron is an expert in social media and assisting companies in the migration to new techniques and strategies in this field since the founding of his company in 2004.  Ron graduated Cum Laude from the University of Illinois in Champaign Urbana in 1990.

Social Networking Seminar

Harnessing the power of social media to promote your business!

Sponsored by WBA Chamber

Tursday June 9th
8 am – 930 am
Free to chamber members
$15 for non members

Are you currently using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Blogs and chat forums to promote your business?

This seminar will inform you of why social networking is beneficial to your success and how to get one step ahead, with even the smallest budget.

Moderator:

Laura Mitchell – VP Marketing, GrandCare Systems

Seminar content:

  • Why social Media is so important to your business
  • See how it works
  • Learn what to do
  • Make promo videos for free
  • Effective advertising online at no cost
  • New ways to get noticed
  • Track your competitors

 

Laura Mitchell

Laura is the VP of Marketing and a founding member of the GrandCare team, a software development company that has created a smart home wellness assessment, social connectivity and activity of daily living monitoring technology to allow individuals to live independently with greater security and less social isolation. A significant part of her role was to bring the product to market through the development of a nation-wide dealer/distributor network and PR/marketing. Laura has spoken around the country  in various venues including the American Society on Aging, Consumer Electronics Show, Dominican University, various trade organizations and the National Association of Home Builders about enabling technologies for aged, tele-medicine, the importance of social media and Internet marketing.  She graduated from the University of WI-Madison and resides in WI with her husband and two little boys.

@CES 2011 – See the future of AGING: STOP BY the GrandCare Booth: LVCC North #2812

JOIN THE Silvers Summit @CES in 2011. There are loads of exciting events going on!!! Below is a suggestion for optimizing your agenda and filling your days starting with signing up for the AgeTek Workshop on Wednesday afternoon, visiting GrandCare and other AgeTek members in the AgeTek Pavilion in booth 2812 (part of the Silvers Summit) and go on from there…

– – Wednesday – –
The Silvers/AgeTek workshop 1-5pm AgeTek Members Receive a $50 discount!!! Laura Mitchell from GrandCare Systems will be speaking along with Jill Gilbert on the Social Networking Panel!

STICK around RIGHT AFTER THE WORKSHOP and attend the AgeTek annual meeting and networking mixer at 5:30pm. This meeting is open to all AgeTek members and potential new AgeTek members! You may sign up for AgeTek right at the event or JOIN NOW Come and mingle with AgeTek members and meet the staff from GrandCare Systems!

CES 2011 Exhibit Hours: Visit the Silvers Summit, Digital Health and Sports and Fitness in LVCC North Hall.
Las Vegas Convention Center North Hall
Th Jan 6 10a – 6p
Fri Jan 7 9a – 6p
Sat Jan 8 9am – 6p
Sun Jan 9 9am – 4p

– – Thursday January 6th, 2011 – –
10am CES Exhibit Hall Opens!

– – Friday Jan 7th 2011 – –
9 am CES Exhibit Hall Opens!
– Attend a full day of Digital Health panels,
– In the evening, attend the Mommytech Fashion show of wearable Technology

– – Saturday Jan 8th 2011 – –
9 am CES Exhibit Hall Opens!
Attend a full day of Silvers Summit LVCC North Hall,RM N253 Panels, network and meet the speakers
Charlie Hillman, founder of GrandCare Systems, will be speaking along with Meridian’s Sandra Elliot on “Intelligent Systems for Caregivers” from 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (LVCC N253)

GrandCare’s Laura Mitchell will be participating on the AgeTek Alliance Panel from 5 – 530p.

For more information on Silvers Summit or the Pre-CES Workshop : Contact susan.walker@silverssummit.com

For more info on GrandCare Systems, events at CES or the AgeTek Pavilion, contact: info@grandcare.com

SEE YOU AT CES!

This Thursday AgeTech Topic: How to use Social Media to Reach Boomers

Martin Diano speaks – “How to Utilize Social Media to Reach Baby Boomers and Beyond”

Martin Diano is a thought leader in helping Baby Boomers use social media to find, access, and consume high-value content. He is CEO of Boomer Authority™ Association and Publisher of the Baby Boomer [Knowledge Center]™. A veteran of international business, Martin held senior staff positions Thunderbird — The American Graduate School of International Management and the National Institute for World Trade.

Thursday, 2pm EDT (1pm CDT)
http://my.dimdim.com/grandcare
Dial-in info listed on the webinar.

See you there!!!

ASA/ Boomer Summit wrap-up

Got back late Friday night from the ASA and Boomer Summit In Chicago! It was an exciting, exhausting and fun-filled, action-packed 3 days.

Thursday morning was an AgeTek board meeting – getting ready for the big launch later that day. Thursday afternoon was when the boomer summit boot camp sessions began.

I spoke on a panel about social media and how to best use it for business. It was a 3 hour panel. After that, I rushed to the AgeTek launch down the hall.

It was our official AgeTek Industry Alliance meeting! Standing room only – it was an enormous success! Everyone was enthusiastic and ready to work together – a truly historic step for our industry! We all left with tshirts and directly after this had to head to the speaker reception put on by Mary Furlong & Associates.

After a full day and evening of networking, great conversations and new friends, we turned in.

Friday was the Boomer Summit – GrandCare had an exhibit table, but we also had to work the speaker rooms, helping moderators get started and set up in the beginning of each session.
Lunch with the experts was wonderful & after the last sessions ended at 5p, we all headed to the summit wrap and networking session.

All in all, very glad to have gone! We caught up with industry folks like, Laurie Orlov, Donna Cusano, Susan Ayers Walker, Karen Klein – fellow tech colleagues & agetek members: halo, mygait, presto, wellcore, verizon, jnl technologies, home instead…

and of course my fellow AgeTek board members: Peter Radsliffe, Michele Ahlman, Jill Gilbert, Bud Myers

A great ending to a great week! Now on to this week – we will be reporting live from Orlando – the Electronic House Expo will be going on and GrandCare will play a significant role in the home health tech pavilion.

Wednesday, we are hosting 25 new GC dealers for GC dealer training. Authorized dealers may attend as a refresher for a small fee, learn all about our new multi-resident features.
Still have a few seats available, email gcsales@homecontrols.com to sign up.

Many educational presentations by GrandCare, please check ehxweb.com for schedules.

Thanks,
Laura Mitchell
Dir of Business Relations
GrandCare Systems

This Thursday’s call Topic – Marketing to Seniors & Caregivers using the Internet

ALL ARE WELCOME!!!

This Thursday’s Aging & Tech Web Meeting

Topic: Using the Internet as a marketing tool to boomers and their aging parents by Carol Marak (Carebuzz)

When: Thursday 10-22-09 2p Eastern/1pm Central/12n Mountain/11a Pacific

Where: Meeting Site: www.dimdim.com room: grandcare  (Optional Dial-in Number Listed on Webinar)

1. Introduction & Announcements
– Electronic House Expo: Home Health Technology Pavilion.  Dealer and Technology vendor opportunities.
– Upcoming Authorized GrandCare Dealer Webinar.

2.Carol Marak, founder of CareBuzz, offers her perspective: reaching adult children, the caregivers and decision makers, of aging parents through the Internet.  CareBuzz delivers relevant content on healthy aging news and trends via blogs that connect family & friends of seniors to local resources. http://carebuzz.com/

3. Next week’s topic: Patrece Banks (Assistive Technology): Knowledge gaps, Risk Management Issues & The Medical Device Link.

4. Wrap-Up

This call is brought to you by in-home technology, GrandCare Systems: www.grandcare.com. These calls were designed to bring about a group of visionary individuals to learn from each other, network and grow! These calls are open to anyone and everyone at no charge. If you are interested in speaking, or have a topic suggestion, please reply to: info@grandcare.com

_________________
Laura H. Mitchell (your host)
GrandCare Systems
www.grandcare.com