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9 Ways to Save Mad $$$ When Shopping for Holiday Gifts

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

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It's mid-November, & my holiday shopping is officially in full swing. If you're like me (thrifty, budget-conscious, and/or Jewish), you're always looking for the best deal - & don't necessarily want to wait in 4am lines on Black Friday to find them. Below are a few of my favorite ways to save money (& bring in a little side income) while shopping online during the holiday season. 

If you have a tip or site I don't yet know about, pretty please comment & let me know.

1. Regular Old Coupons

OK, this one is a gimme, but let's not underestimate the value - like, literally - of doing things the good, old-fashioned way. Most sites offer coupons of their own, especially on & in the lead-up to Black Friday. Find them in your mailbox & on the sites you're shopping themselves.

2. RetailMeNot

Having trouble finding aforementioned coupons & coupon codes? This site is my favorite retail roundup for discount codes & sale information for nearly every site I've ever wanted to shop from. Just search the site for the store you're shopping, & see what coupon codes pop up. You don't have to register to use the codes, though it seems like being a member of the site offers additional bonuses. Can any of you weigh in on this?

3. Newsletter Bonuses

Plenty of websites offer discounts for first-time shoppers when you sign up for their email newsletters. Already signed up? Uhhhh, I'm sure you have a second (or third, or fourth) email address, right? And if that's unethical, well... look, I never said this guide was on the up-&-up. Just do it. The 20% off will be worth it (& you can unsubscribe as soon as you're done).

4. Honey

This easy browser plug-in is another way to identify coupon codes on the sites you're using - everywhere from Macy's to Papa John's, & the site stacks coupons whenever possible. What I like best about Honey is that when you shop on Amazon, it tells you where to find lower prices, & it also lets you set 60-day price-drop notifications, should the items you're looking at go down in cost. Honey also offers cash back, though I've never used that feature because I'm too obsessed with...

5. Ebates

Ebates is, hand down, my favorite way to save/make money while shopping, not just at the holidays but year-round. Install the browser plugin &, when you shop, Ebates will let you know how much cash back you can get through them when you buy from each site. Once a quarter, Ebates sends a fat rebate check to your PayPal account. I've saved $200+ since I started using it! They also offer travel rebates & in-store rebates when you submit your receipts. In other words, go sign up for this immediately. 


6. Groupon

You're rolling your eyes right now because who even uses Groupon anymore? But I'll tell you: I do. If you're shopping for experiences or stocking stuffers, in particular, Groupon is still full of excellent gift options - and they offer \cash back through Ebates (6% right now!), which means you're saving extra. From electronics to clothing to personalized items to homegoods, Groupon is definitely worth revisiting while you're putting together your shopping list.


7. Amazon Associates

Affiliate marketing for the win! If you're a blogger, you've got to start using Amazon Associates, the quick & easy way to bring in a few cents every time one of your readers buys something you recommended to them. Just run your Amazon links through their simple URL creator to make unique-to-you links to use in your blog posts. When you reach an accumulated $10 in profit, Amazon will deposit a gift card into your account.

8. Social Media

Think you can't get discounts from small businesses? Think again. These sites, while unlikely to be on RetailMeNot or Groupon, often share their discount codes on their social media accounts. If you're interested in buying something from an Etsy shop, for example, your savings can be two-fold: Use Ebates to get cash back from Etsy itself (right now it's at 1%, but I've seen up to 5%), then check the seller's social media accounts - especially Instagram - to see if they're running any good deals you wouldn't have found out about otherwise.

9. Poshmark

This is more of a side-hustle than a couponing opportunity, but it's still worth doing if you're looking for some side cash. I recently checked out how much I've made in the four years I've been using this app, & I was honestly blown away! Awhile back, I wrote the post "How to Run a Successful Poshmark Shop," which I hope will help you in your side-hustle endeavors. And don't forget to use my code HMUGD for $5 credit on your first purchase!

Looking for additional side hustles to bring in money for the holidays? Check out The Laughing Girls Guide for five sites that will help you find your holiday shopping (or, like, the rest of your life). I, for one, am about to be all over those ebook opportunities.

Am I missing anything? What tricks do you use to save money when you shop? Let me know - & if you try out any of the sites I've shared here, especially Ebates & Honey, please consider clicking through directly from my site so I get a little bit of referral kickbacks myself - & can save even more. Happy shopping, friends!
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11 Must-Reads from Other CLE Bloggers

Monday, November 13, 2017

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Post-wedding, I'm taking a few days off work & therefore probably a few days of blogging, so I'm sharing a little bit of content for you to enjoy while I'm away. Here, I've rounded up 11 posts from some of my fellow Cleveland bloggers. Show them some love & find your new favorite local read! 
  1. Dreading the arrival of cold weather? Shibani shares "5 Tips to Enjoy More Winter with Hygge." How many of these are you already doing? Step up this season!
      
  2. Brittny just did a solo tour of Budapest, Prague, & Viennia... on an impressive shoestring budget. In "How I Traveled to Europe for Under $1,200," she tells you exactly how she did it.
      
  3. I still don't consider myself a podcast-lover, which is ridiculous, given that I listen to at least three a day. Allison shares "Five Favorite Podcasts," including a few I've yet to try. Time to get listening!
      
  4. If you're feeling overwhelmed by social media, Brittney's "The Self-Love Survival Guide: Social Media" provides a gut check on not letting technology overwhelm or depress you.
      
  5. If you're like me, you're draaaaagging by 3pm on workdays. Amanda's "Hacks to Make Your Work Day Go Faster" are commonsense but helpful to see listed all in one place.
      
  6. I've got a bit of debt to pay off, so I appreciate reading how other people are handling theirs. Hannah gets personal in "How I'm Paying Off Debt," sharing both numbers & tips for how she's digging out of the hole.
      
  7. At-home tasting parties sound so fancy, don't they? That's why I love how Julia & her husband made the upscale dinner party a bit more chill with their "Blind Domestic Beer Tasting." Think you could tell the difference between your favorite light beers?
       
  8. I've got a work trip to Boston coming up in December, & though I'm an experienced traveler by now, I'm always looking for new tips to make it easier. Enter Stephanie's "5 Work Travel Tips."
      
  9. Cleveland.com has put out a new list of the best restaurants in the CLE, & this one is very close to home for me. Check out "50 restaurants and bars we love: Downtown, Ohio City, Tremont and the Flats" & let me know which spot you're checking out next.|
      
  10. I'm admittedly not great at setting or achieving goals (failing at the latter why I stopped doing the former). Maybe Kristen's "Goalsetting 101: Write it the F*** Down" will help.
      
  11. Finally, give cold temps the middle finger with Alyssa's recipe for "Spiked Hot Chai Cider with Ohio Bourbon." L'chaim!
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How We Met: A Love Story for Our Wedding Day

Saturday, November 11, 2017

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This is a pre-scheduled post because today I am very busy getting married. That's right, today is our wedding day! You can probably find photos soon on Instagram. I hope they're flattering.

This seemed like an appropriate time to share the full story of how Mike & I met. If you're a long-time reader, you may recall that he just sort of appeared on this blog, quietly, around the same time I shared a post about my uncommonly honest online dating profile.

Indeed, I like to say that Mike & I were introduced by our close mutual friend, the Internet. Though online dating has long been associated with weirdos & creepsters, we somehow managed to find one another through all the mess.

Mike messaged me after reading my profile on OKCupid, the free online dating site for people who want to find love but aren't willing to pay for it. After six months on the site, Mike was the first nice, normal guy to message me... so naturally, I didn't respond to him.

When a friend asked me, a week later, whether I'd responded to the cute guy with the glasses, I admitted I hadn't & said it was probably too late.

"You don't even know him!" my friend insisted, "What do you have to lose if you message him & he thinks you were too late?!"

Good point. I responded, spending more than an hour crafting a one-paragraph response.

Our first date was in April 2015 at The Treehouse, which Mike chose because he thought I would like the Tremont neighborhood, having recently moved back to Northeast Ohio from the East Coast. We shared a meal of loaded tots & had our first kiss outside the Tremont Lofts building, where my car was parked.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

I moved to Tremont three months later, & Mike soon moved in with me - just three blocks from The Treehouse! Mike was right: I do, in fact, love Tremont... but not nearly as much as I love him.

Ani l'dodi, v'dodi li, I am my beloved's, & my beloved is mine. I cannot wait to be this guy's wife, starting... now. 
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Hanging on Tight to Autumn: The 5 Senses of My Favorite Season

Thursday, November 9, 2017

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Guys, fall is almost over, & I am not happy about it. As I try to cling to the last remaining vestiges of my favorite season (which is also the shortest season, to my annual devastation), I've rounded up a quick list of a few of the best things about autumn.

 I love the taste of... apple cider from Szalay's Farm in Peninsula, OH; my favorite fall booze, which I went through in this recent post; Friendsgiving food, especially the baked mac & cheese my friend Dubs makes; large soy lattes from Civilization, admittedly a daily indulgence; pumpkin bread from Starbucks (blessedly a rare indulgence).

 I love the sight of... the gorgeous changing of the leaves across Northeast Ohio; autumn decor all over, from my own home to my favorite coffee shop; fall flowers like Sweet Alyssum, Russian sage, & chrysanthemums; little kids in Halloween costumes; my mom's puppies frolicking in piles of fall leaves; cozy, comfy, jewel-toned fall fashion.
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6 Small Goals for November

Friday, November 3, 2017

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Just last month, I decided to start writing these "6 Small Goals" posts, a monthly opportunity to share what I'm working toward & to hold myself publicly accountable for getting ish done. You can find last month's post here, though I've recapped my October goals below. Let's go!

October Goal Progress

  1. Finish all major wedding prep. It would be most problematic, I suppose, if I hadn't achieved this goal, given that our wedding is in eight days - so, thankfully, I think I've got this one covered. Sure, there are a million little things left to do, but I feel like we've got a handle on them. Bring on the big day!
       
  2. Eat as healthfully as possible. Shocking absolutely no one, I did not achieve this goal, which I set for myself every month & day of every year & never achieve. I tried, sort of. But I also ate pizza & Ritz Bits cheese crackers & Halloween candy, so, uh, I didn't hit the mark here.
        
  3. Whiten my teeth. I kind of did this. I haven't yet sent in my Smile Direct molds, but I took the recommendation of a blog commenter & ordered charcoal toothpaste. When it arrived, I began using it twice a day. Do my teeth look whiter? I can't tell. But did I try? Well, sort of.
      
  4. Turn in my Cleveland Magazine assignment. This was a cheater goal, because I always meet my freelance deadlines & knew I would this time, too. That said, I'm proud of myself for reading two books so quickly & turning in what I felt was a thoughtful take on the assignment. We'll see if the editors feel the same - & if so, my pieces will go to print soon.
       
  5. Pull back on weekday plans. I'm especially proud of myself for this one. It's difficult to say no to something fun when you reaaaally want to say yes - especially when the Indians are in the playoffs! - but I knew I needed time to myself, time to plan, time to prep. Now, of course, I really miss my friends & my life, but it was worth it for all the wedding prep time.
      
  6. Hang out with my "little sister" twice. Yep, did this one! N wanted Olive Garden, so to Olive Garden we went for bottomless soup, salad, & breadsticks. Later in the month, we attended a BBBS event with other matches, a Cavs watch party with pizza & wings.

New Goals for November 


It seems crazy that November is here already, but here we are. It'll be holiday season before we know it! (Actually, I went to the mall a couple days ago, & they already had a giant wreath hanging out front...) Here's what I'm hoping to do this month, including the very obvious:
  1. Get married. Hey, this is happening! Harried as its been to plan a wedding, it's almost here - & come hell or high water, I'm ending November 11th with a husband.
      
  2. Start the process of changing my name. As I wrote earlier this year, I'm changing my whole name - first, middle, & last - when Mike & I get married.. Apparently it's a complex process to change anything more than your last name, so I don't expect it to happen quickly, but I'm going to start moving on it ASAP.
      
  3. Put new windshield wipers on my car. I've needed new wipes for months mow, & even though it's a totally easy fix, I've been dragging my feet on getting it done. Now that the weather is getting crummy - it's almost snow season! - it's time to check this off my to-do list.
      
  4. Hang artwork in my bedroom. Mike & I moved into our new apartment in May, & yet we still haven't hung most of our framed art on our walls. I've got a couple things hanging here & there, but after the wedding, I want to prioritize "finishing" our apartment so that it officially feels like home.
      
  5. Do yoga at least six times. Why six? I don't know, why not six? Right now, my yoga-doing is at zero, so I picked an arbitrary but relatively low number of times to try to practice in November.
      
  6. Start wearing my FitBit again. I'm great at wearing my FitBit Alta... until the battery dies. I can never seem to find the charger, & thus I never recharge it, so I only wear it for about five days per month. During the winter, I'm even less likely than usual to hit my daily step goals, so I'd like to start wearing my FitBit again in an effort to shame myself into moving more. (First step: Find said FitBit... & said FitBit charger...)
Do you have any suggestions for meeting my November goals? What are your small goals (or large ones!) for this month? 
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What I Read in October

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

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In October, I didn't have as much time as I usually do to get my reading on because, you know, wedding. Have I mentioned that we're getting married? Oh, I guess I've mentioned it. Sorry to be one of those people. Ugh.

That said, I got in wayyy more reading than I expected to, probably because I needed more of an escape than usual in order to deal with some of my stress. I was also fortunate to land on eight books I really liked, which made for a lot of good reading & good stress relief. Here's what I went through in October.

The Unclaimed Victim by D.M. Pulley

This was the second book I read for Cleveland Magazine's holiday issue, & my full review of it will appear in print & online soon. It's a local historical fiction novel, an Ohio author's take on the real-life Torso Killings as told through the stories of two women, Ethel & Kris, living decades apart, who both undertake their own efforts to find the Cleveland killer - & risk their own lives in doing so. It's got a major twist at the end that I did not see coming, which made it all the more sinister. ★★★☆☆

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

Breakfast Club with a modern-day bent: Five high schoolers find themselves in detention together, but one - the creator of a controversial gossip app - is dead before the day's end. Though the story's final twist is one I saw coming, it was written well enough that I didn't mind. This book approaches sensitive, serious subject matter such as death, domestic violence, suicide, sexual identity, & bullying in age-appropriate, respectful ways that still allow the story to flourish as a juicy drama. ★★★★★

Love Always, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

This YA novel is the third in a series about high schooler Lara Jean Song Covey, an all-around goody-goody now in her senior year & deeply in love (ah, high school) with her first boyfriend, Peter. Unfortunately, the other books in the series moved a bit faster & had more substance, but I still love the characters because, by now, I care about them. In all honesty, though, this book was so sickly-sweet that it was a bit of a slog to finish. ★★★★☆

How to Disappear by Sharon Huss Roat

I have a hard time with books about social media because they feel so transient, soon rendered irrelevant by ever-evolving digital media. Still, I loved this novel about high schooler Vicky, who suffers from anxiety so severe that she invents a bold Instagram persona to help her feel less lonely. When the account goes viral, Vicky has to face her fears and her classmates - & soon realizes she's far from the only one who feels alone. At one point, this story made me straight-up sob. ★★★★☆

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

This is might be my favorite book of the year so far (& the first I purchased from the newly reopened Visible Voice Books). The cover calls it a combo of John Green & Rainbow Rowell, a descriptor that couldn't be more spot-on. Simon, a closeted high school junior corresponding via email with a mystery suitor, is being blackmailed by a classmate who promises to keep his secret in exchange for being set up with one of Simon's female friends. ★★★★★

The Serial Killer's Apprentice: And Other True Stories of Cleveland's Most Intriguing Unsolved Crimes by James Renner

My favorite local crime writer does it again with this book of unsolved local true crime stories, from the now-famous (& now-solved) kidnappings of Amanda Berry & Gina DeJesus to the suicide of a reclusive identity thief who was once thought to be the Zodiac Killer. In 1967, a local 20-year-old bank teller stole $215,000 & disappeared without a trace! This was a quick, fascinating look at a dozen curious cases I can't stop Googling. ★★★★☆

All Grown Up by Jami Attenberg

This book took me awhile to get into, but by the end, it had me feeling a whole lotta feelings. It jumps around, telling various stories in the life of New York native Andrea, who has a decent job, an unstable love life, a lapsed passion for art, & a young niece who's dying of a terminal illness. Something about the book is so touching, so relatable, so familiar. As you watch Andrea grow up, you can't help but reminisce about the ways you've done the same. ★★★★★

This is Just My Face: Try Not to Stare by Gabourey Sidibe

An old friend of mine used to be roommates with the American Horror Story actress, & since hearing about how great (& normal!) she is IRL, I've loved her. Her book was no exception, written in a chill, down-to-earth, hilarious voice that sounds like her own. She hits on serious topics, like depression, body image, domestic abuse, & race, but she also tells funny stories from her own life & dispenses advice on funnier subjects, like dating & her job as a phone sex operator. ★★★★☆

 Comment to tell me what you're reading, then add me on Goodreads to keep in touch & see what I've read in months past.


My "What I Read in..." posts include Amazon affiliate links to the titles I discuss. If you buy a book using one of these links, I will receive a small percentage of commission. Please don't feel any obligation to use these links, but if you do, it will help me buy more books.
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Cheers, Witches! My Favorite Booze for Fall

Friday, October 27, 2017

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When I turned 30, I accepted the fact that I only liked shitty beer: PBR, Coors, the occasional Yuengling... I was determined not to spend adulthood feeling ashamed of my lack of beer sophistication.

And then I learned about hops.

I know, I know, where had I been? More specifically, I learned what hops tasted like - & that not all beers were hoppy. Once I was able to make that identification, a whole new world - a world of beer! - opened up to me. Since then, I've come to love kolshes, saisons, & hefeweisens, especially, & I don't mind a lager or a witbier; I also know to stay far away from IPAs, pale ales, & stouts. Now that I know what I like & don't like... well, let's just say I haven't ordered a Miller Lite for awhile.

I love just about everything about autumn, but now I can add another to the list: Fall booze is the best booze. I love the flavors of cinnamon, yam, maple, pumpkin, & other cozy smells-like-a-candle notes that tend to show up in autumn beers.

Yet Another Pumpkin Beer (Sibling Revelry)

I love the name of this one, as though the brewery is well aware that we're all rolling our eyes at pumpkin-flavored items by now. And yet... while I don't usually like pumpkin beer, I love this one. It tastes much lighter than standard pumpkin beers, not as thick or syrupy, although it's finished with local maple syrup from a farm in Mantua, OH. It has the body of a summer beer with the taste of an an autumn one - the best of both worlds!

Bourbon (Watershed Distillery) with local apple cider

I love bourbon but have never been an on-the-rocks kinda gal. In fact, I can't figure out what I like to mix with my bourbon. At a bar, I can always identity a bourbon-based cocktail I'll like, but at home, I don't have the patience to put together a fancy mixed drink. Enter Watershed Distillery, a Columbus-based distributor whose bourbon tastes smooth & silky, with a hint of vanilla & caramel. Mix it with local apple cider from Ohio apple farms, & I've found my new favorite kick-back-&-take-a-breath drink of the season.

Yammy Yammy Sweet Potato Ale (Platform Beer Co.)

Nothing about the descriptor "vegetable beer" sounds tasty, but this sweet potato ale is a light, tasty, & creative twist on the standard pumpkin beers everyone's downing this time of year. It's not too heavy (are you sensing a theme in the kinds of beer I like?), made with roasted sweet potatoes & a spice blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, & clove. Unfortunately, more than one gives me some serious acid reflux, but the one I drink is always the best beer of the evening. 

Spiced Pumpkin Mead (Western Reserve Meadery)

By now, I've told you about how much I love this local meadery, which recently won a Best of Cleveland award. Last month, I attended the tapping of their autumn mead flavor, spiced pumpkin, (which was being served with a dessert pairing from Sweet Costo, a local baker specializing in booze-based dessert bites. Yummm!) It's the perfect drink to settle in with on a brisk fall night while watching Game of Thrones reruns.

Waffle Sauce Maple Pecan Imperial Brown Ale (Rusty Rail Brewing)

This is the only drink on the list not made here in Ohio, but it's made in the boonies of Pennsylvania, which almost counts, right? I know the term "waffle sauce" makes it sound like it ought to be the sweetest beer ever consumed, but somehow it's not. It is sweet, but not in a sickly, sticky way, which makes it a great dessert beer or only-drink-of-the-night beer if you're looking for something cozy alongside a meal. I've never had it for brunch, but I'd like to. Bloody Mary who?

 Have you tried any of these? What's your favorite drink to sip when temperatures drop? 

 Disclaimer: The kind folks at Watershed Distillery gifted me a complimentary bottle of bourbon & two whiskey glasses for taste-testing & review. As always, all opinions are my own. 
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What Do You Do When You Can't Do Anything Right?

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

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I'm having one of those weeks where I feel like I just can't get anything right.

Do you ever have days - or weeks, or months - like that?

I won't go into details, but suffice it to say that it's a little bit of everything: work, wedding, diet, home. All I want, quite honestly, is to crawl under the covers & mope & feel sorry for myself for a little bit, but I've got so much to do in the next few weeks that that's not feasible. Instead, I've got to slog through it & hopefully rebuild my confidence a little bit in the process so that I don't get stuck in a rut.

Here's how I tend to do it - but I'm open to suggestions & additions, so hit me with your best pick-me-up tips!

1. Power through my to-do list.

The more organized I am, the better I feel, so when I'm feeling down, one of the best things I can do for myself is to feel very in-control of as much as possible. Even if that means working after hours or staying up late to get everything done, well, it feels worth it when I don't feel stressed about how much I have to do - which usually only serves to make me feel worse about myself.

2. Indulge in some self-care.

I know everyone Gen X & older seems to roll their eyes at this phrase (after a particular incident, I no longer mention it at work), but I believe self-care is important - & it's not all spa days & eat-the-donut, either. At its base level, self-care is about taking care of yourself, & so, during times when I'm feeling down, I try to do things that will make me feel better, both about myself & generally, from getting enough sleep to getting all my work done to reading a good book to, yes, the occasional home facial.

3. Be kind to others. 

When I feel like all I ever get is negative feedback, I try to provide positive feedback to others & hope that some of it rubs off on me. Maybe that just means saying thank you to someone who holds the door for me, or shooting off a quick, "You did a great job on this!" email to a coworker, or giving a small compliment to a stranger. The nicer I am to others, the nicer I can be to myself.

4. Vent to someone who gets it.

I really try not to complain to much, & when I do, I spread it out among friends so no one ever hears too much negativity from me. When I'm having a rough day or difficult moment, I think for a little bit about who might understand how I'm feeling & why, or even just the one who can surely pick me up with a funny story of gif. I'm grateful to have friends who will talk me through it or even just let me send a wall of angry text before we move on to happier topics. Word-vomit is incredibly cathertic.

5. Look to the future.

Just today, my Twitter friend Nneka shared some wisdom: "This day did not start off well. But thankfully, as my spiritual advisor always says, at any point you can start your day over." This tweet felt like a freaking revelation: Just because it's been a bad day/week doesn't mean it has to remain a bad day/week. Keeping my focus on moving forward toward the positive - whenever that comes - always helps me to remember that I won't always feel the way I do right this moment.

What do you do when you're feeling down on yourself? Got any tips for me? 
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"Me, Too": A Movement to Bring Sexual Assault to Light

Saturday, October 21, 2017

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It took me a long time to say, "Me, too." 

Wait, let me back up. The "Me, too" movement overwhelmed Facebook feeds this week, spurred by widespread allegations of director Harvey Weinstein's sexual assaults on many of the women with whom he has worked. On Sunday evening, actress Alyssa Milano tweeted, "If all the women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted wrote 'Me too." as a status, we might give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem."

And yet, as I watched other women's "Me, too" posts go live - as I read, with dread in my stomach and devastation in my heart, of all the terrible thngs that have happened to them - I still didn't post my own.

Why? Because I am not comfortable discussing my own stories of sexual assault, and I don't want to feel pressured into doing so. For all the stories that I, as a writer, tell in real life and on the Internet, there are some that just don't feel right, yet, to speak aloud.

And that's OK. I don't have to; you don't have to. No one has to.

Keep reading on ReformJudaism.org.


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7 Tips from a Social Media Strategist (That's Me!) for Strengthening Your Online Presence

Friday, October 20, 2017

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I love when people think that writing is my full-time job, but alas, it isn't. I work a 9-to-5 (OK, more like a 10-to-6) at a nonprofit organization, where I'm responsible for writing & editing, yes, but also for lots & lots of social media management. My background is in journalism, but social media was just gaining traction during my college years, & as a communications major, I fell into it naturally. You could say social media & I have grown up together - or at least grown together. We've both come a long way! 

I've done a little bit of social media consulting on the side, but mostly I just like to engage in on-the-fly conversations with friends & small business owners who have one-off questions or just want quick tips for building their social media presence. I know, I know, don't give away your expertise for free - but I like it.

Here are the seven most common quick tips I like to share with folks who are struggling to get a grasp on their social media presence. Please consider forwarding it to someone you know who's having a hard time Internetting!

1. Make time. 

Especially if it doesn't come naturally to you, set aside a little time each day - on your clock or calendar! - to devote to social media scheduling, engagement, etc.


2. Use scheduling tools. 

No one wants to spend all damn day online, social media professionals included (& perhaps especially!) I love Hootsuite, Sprout Social, & Facebook's native engagement tool for setting it & forgetting it while remaining consistent in posting.

3. Engage with others! 

If a tree falls in the forest & no one is there to hear it... same with social media. Retweet, share, praise, ask questions, etc. Your social media voice shouldn't exist in a vacuum.

4. Vary your content from platform to platform.

Switch it up, rather than cross-posting the same thing over & over on all of them (& for goodness sake, don't set up auto-crossposting!). These platforms are different for a reason, & different presentations work best for each of them. You'll see the most engagement & have the most success if your messaging is tailored for the medium.

5. Post different kinds of content.

Sometimes, post a teaser link, other times a photo or a branded graphic, or a retweet-with-comment, or a direct share, or a video, or a Spotifty playlist, etc. See what works best for your audience & which kinds of posts give you the greatest levels of engagements.

6. Google is your BFF. 

Have a social media question? Someone has definitely already answered it online. Stick with reliable sources, a la Mashable, Hubspot, & other industry professionals.

7. Ask a pro. 

Still not sure you're doing it right or want direct feedback? Hire a professional to help you sort out your social media presence & get on the right track. Lots of folks with full-time marketing/writing gigs do social media consulting on the side (like me, or Brittany from According to Brittany), so you should be able to find someone at a reasonable price, whatever your range.

 Have a question for me - or a tip for others? Leave it in the comments, & let's talk social media! 
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