Anna is the person behind the @TitusPlus Twitter account you have been interacting with at KBtribechat. She is the principal at AH Media and Consulting.
Anna’s KBtribechat questions:
1.) Share your greatest success stories using social media marketing for your business.
• spreading the news • gaining new clients • referral stories
2.) Let’s talk about Instagram, with over 1 Billion active users monthly and a platform geared toward visuals and design. What are your favorite tips and tricks for finding new customers?
3.) Content strategy & features
Do you have a content strategy? What type of content and features typically gets you the best results?
4.) Algorithm tips
Share your best tips & tricks for increasing views.
Psssst…Use all the features! It doesn’t have to be perfect. Especially when using new ones. Just try it, boost your ranking, and monitor performance.
5.) Collaborations & tagging
Grow together. Instagram has made collaborations easier than ever. What are your favorite ways to collaborate with others on IG?
6.) Take action 🎬 What are some new ways you can collaborate socially in the future?
I am often asked why Twitter is my favorite social media platform. I’m always left with so much more to say on the matter so here goes.
First of all, I find Twitter to be the most social of the social sites.
This is where I have met most of my industry connections. We now follow each other on many platforms and meet up in person when we can, but it all started on Twitter. Twitter allows us to follow and connect with other experts in our field. Building these relationships has not only expanded my world but it has been a lot of fun. If you aren’t using Twitter to boost your visibility, I think you’re seriously missing out.
Twitter for Marketing?
For those who say they are only on social media for marketing their business, I say Twitter is an important part of this mix. Did you know that tweets are indexed by Google? Yes! Twitter can help with your website SEO. All of your social profiles should lead the viewer to your website, where the prospective client can pick up the phone and make the direct connection with you. An impression of you has been established by the time they call. Google is where many prospective clients will first hear about you. Even if they learn about your company some where else, they will likely Google your name to find out more. What will they find? Your social media activity will let them get to know you which is very valuable indeed.
Wondering what you should Tweet?
Here’s what I recommend: • Tweets with pictures are more popular. Share your work. • If you blog share links to your posts. • Share interesting articles on topics related to your business. • Retweet good information already posted by your friends. • When you post to Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram, share on Twitter too. • Share your expertise at #KBtribechat on Wednesdays at 2pm eastern.
Go read the timeline for the hour by searching the hashtag. When convenient for you, answer some of the questions, make comments and/or retweet answers you like.
Represent yourself accurately!
Twitter is 100% social. To me there are two discerning factors that make me want to follow. 1.) The account must look like a real person or business is behind the account. It is important to completely fill out your bio including your website AND a picture. Don’t leave the blue twitter bird logo or add a silly cartoon figure. Upload a picture of yourself or your company logo. Make sure your bio represents you. Also, upload an interesting banner image that adds information about you. 2.) When you post have it be interesting information on your topic.
To gain followers, ideally your Twitter account must look professional and engaging.
Get connected by Twitter chatting!
Our #KBtribechat group is extremely welcoming and helpful. Say hello at the beginning of the hour and let us know you’re new. You’ll be warmly included in the discussion and followed by those you interacted with. Twitter is not the place to be sales pitchy on a regular basis. KBtribechat gives you the platform to share expertise and information on a variety of kitchen and bath industry related topics on a weekly basis. Just add the hashtag #KBtribechat to your tweets to be part of the conversation.
I look forward to “seeing” you on Twitter! I encourage KBtribe to add their Twitter wisdom and tips in the comment section of this post.
Q1: What has been the most effective DIGITAL strategy for you so far this year in securing new clients? Your enewsletter, your blog, Instagram, Pinterest, Linked In, You Tube, Tik Tok or something else?
Q2: Let’s talk about Instagram. Here are 3 of my top tips, what have you done that’s been effective?
Q3: Let’s talk about your blog. If you write a blog, how are you using your blog to gain new clients?
Q4: What’s been your experience with video so far? Have videos helped you secure new clients?
Q5: If you are offering virtual design services, too, what digital strategy has helped you secure new clients?
Q6: What is your pain point with digital marketing? Time, know how, not knowing what to focus on….or something else?
Q7: What advice do you have for designers who will read this transcript later on? What would you advise them to do?
On this episode of Element Sessions, Voice of B2B Daniel Litwin was joined by cabinet industry veteran Stacy Garcia, the owner of Garcia Cabinetmakers and founder of KBtribechat™️, which facilitates weekly social media discussions on Twitter for thought-leaders in the kitchen and bath industry.
Litwin and Garcia, who brings four decades of experience in the industry to the table, dove into how social media has not only provided inspiration through sites like Instagram and Pinterest, but has completely reshaped the way professionals in the kitchen and bath industry network, build relationships and share ideas.
“We were early adapters of computers – we’ve done shop drawings since the early days of them being available on the computer,” Garcia said. “But that has evolved way beyond what it was in the early days. … I see everything online now. Things stay the same, but (there are) different platforms, and you really need to be represented online.”
Garcia said she’s noticed a shift in networking away from phone and in-person avenues and another in data collection, which has moved online and away from slogs down to City Hall for records, etc.
KBtribechat™️, designed to make Twitter more effective for members of the kitchen and bath industry, has allowed Garcia to craft a critical space for achieving the industry’s modern goals and expanding the boundaries to unexplored, fascinating topics.
“The main thing is that I don’t consider it mine. It’s a community,” she said. “I’m overseeing it, but if I see that somebody has a special area of expertise that I find fascinating, I will ask them to host. … It’s a whole community thing.
“It’s our industry’s platform. It’s not about me, it’s about the industry.”
Ever feel like you need to go “Marie Kondo” on the clutter in your digital, social, and mobile life? You’re not alone!
All of us are constantly tethered by technology, relying on social media and digital platforms to manage our businesses and connect with friends and family. It not only can be intrusive; it’s potentially addicting. Without strategies to manage email, computer files, phones, photos, and time spent on the socials, we can drown in overwhelm and disorganization.
Join us for a practical chat about ways to tame the tech. Digital marketer Irene Williams will guide our discussion. After years managing social media and digital marketing for herself and her agency’s clients, Irene developed a Digital Decluttering system that transformed her daily life and vastly increased her productivity and peacefulness. Now, she’s on a quest to help others do the same (and she has the time and energy to do so thanks to her own solution!).
Our KBtribechat questions:
Q 1:
What area of digital life overwhelms you the most & why? Consider email, computer files/photos, social media, smartphone use, etc.
Q 2:
How does digital disorganization/too much social media make you feel & affect your biz/life?
Q 3:
Let’s talk about your inbox. What’re biggest challenges w/ email?
Q 4:
Ever get sucked in by social media? Share experiences & how you tried to handle it.
Q 5:
Computer files & phone photos: Need an excavation crew to find your stuff? Do tell!
Q 6:
Share favorite tools/tactics/tips for managing your digital life.
Join this Twitter conversation
on Wednesday, February 5
from 2 to 3pm eastern
by adding #KBtribechat to your tweets!
Here’s a link to read the transcript for this KBtribechat.
Hosted by Laura Muller, Allied ASID of Four Point Design Build Inc.
What is Unity in Design? Unity for us is a result of an organized, transparent collaboration of moving parts working together with a shared objective. Creating elements that support each other to serve a common goal. True collaboration comes when all independent parties (from the designer to the installer, the specialist, and the consultant) work together, with roles clearly defined from the first meeting through project completion. The concept rings true especially in kitchen and bath design and build. It’s critical to the project success to understand who and how their roles affect the decisions made. For collaboration to work, the lead project manager must create an inclusive project environment, while maintaining balance and authority and it is critical to include the experts; the product manufacturers; the specialists; the installers; and contractors…every step of the way.
The KBtribechat questions:
Q1. What does unity and collaboration in design mean to you?
Q2. How has collaboration shifted your process now that the internet makes costs and comparisons so transparent?
Q3. How do you retain your mystique as a designer while working in full collaboration and transparency?
Q4. What are some of the benefits that you can share as a result of collaboration?
Q5. How do you balance full inclusive collaboration while maintaining authority as the designer/project manager?
Q6. What trends have you seen lately that are influencing collaboration in the design industry, that weren’t happening 10 years ago? Share pics.
Q7. When building a successful team, communication and collaboration is vital. What are some tips for communicating with numerous team members?
Q8. How important is your relationship with your suppliers and manufacturers and how do you optimize communication and collaboration?
Q9. What are some top brand collaborations today, and why is it so important to the design industry?
Q10. As designers, what’s the most important thing about your relationship with your manufacturers/suppliers and vice versa?
Q11. When it comes to kitchen and bath design, what are some top tips to creating a unified cohesive space? Share pics.
Q12. Is social media an important element in collaborating with your favorite manufacturers?
Q13. Has social media helped you build your brand’s relationships with product manufacturers? Why is this relationship so important?
What does it take to design a product line? How do you bring it to market? Do you find yourself dreaming up product to suit a market niche and wonder where to get started? Join cohosts Toni Sabatino of Toni Sabatino Style, designer of the Retro Collection for Baden Haus and Kim Vance, designer and mastermind behind the Whyte and Company line of colored sinks, and founder of Thistle, a marketing agency dedicated to the interior design industry, to chat realities and misconceptions. Using your resources to create product is a dream but what is a realistic return for residual income?
Whyte and Company sink
The KBtribechat questions:
Q1. Do you find yourself designing one offs due to lack of available product to suit your design project needs?
Q2. As a designer, how big of a factor is social media and personal branding on your attractiveness to manufacturers for licensing?
Q3. Timing is everything! How important is networking for being in the right place at the right time?
Q4. People tend to think designers get rich with product design. What is your conception of percentage of earning in product design?
Q5. Manufacturers: What attracts you to designers for product collaboration?
Designers: Do you look at company culture when considering alignment with a manufacturer?
Q6. What role does marketing play, and how can you be sure your product is represented the way you want it to be?
Q7. White-labeling your own line versus licensing with an existing brand, which do you think is the most beneficial route to take?
Q8. Do you think that having in-depth product knowledge of the type of product you want to design is necessary before trying to design product for that industry?
Q9. Do you see mainly see designing product as more of a way to make additional income, an interesting artistic project or a way to bolster your brand?
Q10. What are the first steps you need to take in order to reach out to brands that you want to be aligned with?
Q1) What sites do you recommend for K+B industry pros who want to be active in social media? Why?
Q2) What is your strategy for managing social media accounts? This can be time consuming! Tips?
Q3a.) Instagram – a popular site for sharing. Are you active there? Please share a links to your account(s) so we can make sure to follow.
Q3b.) Please share Instagram tips and pet peeves. How often do you share? What are best practices to gain followers?
Q4a.) Houzz – Do you have an account here? Share a link to your profile so we can make sure to follow!
Q4b.) Please share about your Houzz experience including tips and pet peeves.
Q5.) Facebook – Please share your FB page and share tips that you have found helpful for managing sharing here.
Q6.) LinkedIn – Do you share here? Please share a link to your profile. How often do you post? What is your objective for this site? Please share tips!
Q7.) Pinterest – Are you (still) active here? Share a link so we can make sure to follow! Please share tips for best practices on this site.
Q8.) Google Plus – Do you share here? Please tweet links to your account(s). What do you find this site is best for? Is it still vibrant? Tips?
A social media discussion for kitchen and bath industry professionalsOur discussion questions:
Instagram is currently a top place to share images and video! The format is perfect for sharing beautiful kitchen and bath design related pictures and ideas.
Q1.) Where can we find you on Instagram? Please share a link so we all can follow!
Q2.) What Instagram advice do you have to encourage good engagement?
Q3.) What tools do you use to make instagram more manageable?
Q4.) How often do you share on Instagram? Does it matter? Why?
Q5.) What tips do you have to get more likes? Do you reciprocate likes for likes?
Q6.) Do you have any Instagram pet peeves? Please share!
Q7.) Do you follow any hashtags on Instagram? Please share those you have found interesting!
KBtribechat 