Monica Hardwick Says: #BeLegacyMinded and #GetASocialMediaPlan [the Long Version] #StPete

Monica Hardwick

It is not a good idea to eat only doughnut holes all of the time. Duh! Right?  They are great for only once in a while eating. In addition, they are not healthy to eat every day and besides that, having meals of only doughnuts is so uneventful!

If BRANDS (Entrepreneurs, Artists, Athletes and Businesses) take that symbolism and apply it to social media, most are only serving their audiences doughnut holes. And serving them that all the time. Plain doughnuts I might add over and over again. Blah. Blah. Blah! We want a cheeseburger or a steak sometimes. Perhaps even a giant green healthy salad, we want some candy. And we NEED protein, but oh noooo. You keep serving ... doughnuts!

If you stop and think of your entire web presence, your website and your social media practices should complement one another.

THINK LIKE THIS: 
Your website is the house or real property on the internet. It is what you own. That is where the lot is. This is the place that ‘houses’ everything. Your website should be the home and the source of your BRAND housing ALL main elements.
Your home has a few [or several] windows allowing audiences to peer into it.

1.  Facebook Window  
2. Twitter Window  
3. YouTube Window 
4. Blog Window 
5. Pinterest Window
6. Tumblr Window or
7. Google+ Window

However many windows you decide to have

 ---> **Everything Leads To the House**

In addition to the windows, your mobile devices: smartphone/camera act as your chimney. Allow "smoke signals" (social media releases, Instagram posts, text blasts and newsletters) to be sent to either make the house known or invite them to see something new. Letting audiences know that something is indeed cooking.
If you have a Call to Action (CTA) such as a: "visit my website" post and you choose to use a photo, you should use Twitter so the link is accessible to be clicked on. 

If you just want to post a photo using Instagram, have your web address typed directly on the photo without links. #GetASocialMediaPlan

So, how do you stop or not serve plain doughnuts? Easy!
Create and share the content in a different way on each social media platform.
Example A:

• House a full video only on your website 
• Share a teaser on YouTube
• Instagram a still photo with your clean web address (just the name, not all the https://stuff) typed on the photo
• Tweet photo with your clean website link

Example B:

• House a full photo gallery only on your website
• Create a GIF on Tumblr
• Blog about your photoshoot and provide your clean website link
• Facebook post a picture with a CTA to visit your website

  

**Everything Leads To the House**

Men Who Are Wanting to Increase Their Audience with Women Should Use Pinterest #GetASocialMediaPlan

 Ideas to pin on Pinterest

1. Locations (city you are from and places you tour) 
2. Fashion and Style (what you wear on stage or photo shoots)
3. Musicians Who Influence You
4. Your Favorite Era (70’ s, 60’ s etc.) 
5. Favorite Lyrics (use your lyrics in here) 
6. What or Who Inspires You 
7. Musical Instruments you play(ed) 
8. Favorite Memorabilia / Tour Souvenirs 
9. Share your heart: Charity / Causes 
10. Something that reinforces your brand; i.e. a hat 
11. Favorite Food, Drink, and Recipes 
12. Favorite place to travel 
13. Favorite studio you have recorded in    

and last but not least, we all know
 
   14.  Animals! Women love animals and the men who own them.

Monica Hardwick Says: The Erroneous Effects of Music Reality TV on the Music Business is the Equivalent to McDonald's #BeLegacyMinded

Back in the day when American Idol first began, most of us thought it was fun. We were even glued to our television screens. 

Monica Hardwick

 Now 10+ years since then we've had American Juniors (American Idol for kids), America’s Got Talent, X Factor and I remember a show called Duets. 

The concept of these series of Television Shows is (or was) to find new solo recording artists. What I call: The McDonald’s of the music industry. 

While the shows are entertaining, they come at a price. The true elements of music is being lost, because it seems as if it is easy, that everyone can do it, and it can happen for you overnight. Television is a lie. It CANNOT happen overnight. In the real world; by the time you hear of an artist they have been working and perfecting their craft for years. These shows propel contestants into the spotlight perpetuating the celebrity culture. The shows are teaching audiences that real talent should not be valued while beguiling the public toward an image. A carefully crafted, well invested image.

True, there is no one path to enter the industry; each artist has managed to break through in various ways. Plus, some profound artists have come through the music reality TV path.  But because it is TV, These shows cannot encourage artists to explore, develop and perfect their musical talents over time. These artists are patterned and procedured, which is processed, unoriginal and boring. 

They also take deep short cuts.  

McDonald's.