7 Tips to Write a Social Media Plan RFP

As I began to respond to a Social Media Plan Request for Proposal (RFP) for a potential client, I began to think about the initial Proposal writing. Social media is so new that many companies aren’t sure of what they need, which makes it difficult to write a RFP whose main purpose is to describe what you want.

This made me starting googling “How to Write Social Media RFPs”, to see what other marketers and social media enthusiast had to say about this process. I came across a great article by Lisa Braziel at IgniteSocialMedia. Lisa gave some great points for companies who are looking to hire at social media strategist. Below are a few of her suggestions:

Tip 1: Define your needs. Address specific needs and how you envision the relationship to play out. Ask yourself:

• Are looking for a specialist or a generalist?
• What is your time frame?
• Are you looking for a one-time initiative or an ongoing plan.

Tip 2: Establish a Scenario with Specific Objectives. One of the best ways to tell if an agency is going to be a fit is to see how they think about your business.  Instead of asking for the standard case studies and related experience (which can all be manipulated to look favorable for the agency) – see if the agency has the chops to develop a social strategy that will meet your business objectives. Tip 3: Ask about the Future. Dont be afraid to ask large questions such as:

• What do you see is the future of social media?
• How do you see social media marketing evolving over the next year?

Tip 4: Reveal a Budget. A budget allows the agency to better prioritize — from all of the social activities your company needs to do in the space — which ones are most important.

Tip 5: Be Reasonable. To attract the best talent, you will need to streamline your list to the items that are based on your company’s needs, and give a response timeframe that is based on the number and difficulty of your questions.

Tip 6: Ask for One Good Case Study

Tip 7. Check references. These tips are a wonderful starting point for companies in the social media planning phase.

To read Lisa’s entire article, click here.

The 90 Day Planner Project

I woke up this morning to an instant message (IM) on my phone. I saw that it was a girlfriend saying good morning and asking about a certain situation in my life. My first thought was to turn the phone over and ignore it. I was still sleepy, half delirious, and a bit moody. I didn’t want to talk/chat let alone on my phone. But I remembered my prayer last night asking for some guidance, and told myself to not be a fool and respond.

I’m so glad I did. Let me tell you: Friends ARE a blessing. By the end of the conversation, my perspective on life and business had been tweaked just enough for me to feel the determination rush back into my body.

One thing she suggested was writing down my goals. I’m a planner by person by nature. I’m always researching, ,writing and modifying lists, schedules, and business plans. I love the written word; it organizes everything. But I seemed to have forgot to write down my goals. Perhaps, it was out of denial. If you write them, you have to believe in them. Perhaps it was out of fear. If you write them, you have to finish them. For whatever reason it was, no list of goals existed anywhere in my home.

She said she was on her way to Staples to buy a 90-day planner and suggested I design my own and get it bound. This would allow it to be more personalized and fit my lifestyle and business. It wouldn’t have to be a stuffy calendar with lists on each side, but really include information that matters to me each day.

Being the creative that I am, I’m excited about the idea and am about to design it right now. I’m already thinking of what I can put in it, Quotes of the day, Goals, Schedules, Mini Plans, Funny Cartoons. LOL. Call me corny if you like. But organization calms me.

Her second suggestion was to write my goals down twice a day- in the morning and afternoon. By looking at them every day, I will drill them into my head until they become second nature and a part of my whole way of life.

Now I know you’re probably wondering what these goals are…Well look to see them in the next post. I need to go get organized!

Finding My Passion: I’m Educated. Now What?!!

"Igniting my passion is another way of revealing how much I love myself."

From the moment I graduated from UC in December of 2009, I’ve been on the fast track. I was 30 years old and felt that I needed to catch up with my age. I had spent the last 2 years completing my “educamacation” fulltime and thought I was “behind”. So, I set these crazy, high goals and began to consistently reach each one. Within 7 months, I was the advertising manager of a respected company and I was prepared to keep going higher and higher and higher.

Yet, I still felt this disconnect. I was happy. I was stable.  I was living just fine. Still, something was missing. And this missing link grew into a huge worry. This worry that I might lose myself- “the urban hippy, flower child, I like butterflies and rainbows” part of me. BUT, I wasn’t going to stop doing what I was doing because that would be totally irresponsible.

Then, I went to my 1st or 2nd Sunday at Crossroads this January. (Yes, the heathen returned to church.) What I remember is the pastor reading verses from Ephesians 4:1-16. It talked about how each of us has our own gift or mission in life. And if we all accept that mission, things could really change for the greater good of all. Now trust, I didn’t suddenly become a saved bible thumper but it did make me stop and wonder why I had been given these opportunities to succeed and why I had overcome all the obstacles in my life along the way.

After that day, I decided to really STOP and reflect on my personal mission– whatever it was. There’s a lot more to this story, but this is a blog, NOT a novel. I will eventually write more about where this is leading me. However, I can say that some AMAZING opportunities for growth have come into my life and I’m accepting the challenge. It’s time I wake up every morning and know that I’m giving back while using my skills and talents.

It is totally possible to be ambitious and happy. You just have to find a way to put it all together. In future blogs, you will see how I’m trying to do it.

As always, I’ll be Chasing Jackson.

Mohawk, PhD, and Personal Branding

A Short Story About Me:

A few years ago, I shared a room with an excited young woman from Philly. We had both been invited to attend the PhD Project Conference, a conference that brought together some of the smartest minorities I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting with prominent universities. Whoever matched us as roommates must have knew exactly what they were doing. We were like fraternal twins.

We both had a strategic plan of attack with a list of exactly which schools we wanted to meet and our “personal brand” for the conference. And yes these strategies had been planned in advance of attending without us conferring. She was into strategic management, while I was passionate about internet marketing. We were just 2 of a few who were passing out resumes and business cards for 3 days.

Personal Branding: Choose one and WORK it.

The results were the same (I will get to that), yet our approach very different. She was the pure Corporate America Woman in the flesh. Her favorite company of all time was SouthWest. And she was PASSIONATE about their strategic plans and management style. And you knew it when she talked.

I, however, took a non-traditional approach. I went to the conference with a messy mohawk and a tailored, Calvin Klein suit. I was still a Junior Undergrad student. So, there was no way I could compete on pure work credentials especially when my goal was to completely skip a MBA and run straight into a PhD program. To do that, I had to stand out and prove I had just as much knowledge and insight on Internet Marketing as my peers, if not more. I was confident, smart, and always smiling. That combination made people stop and ask questions.

We both were eventually recruited by Penn State (and other schools). Our application fees were waived and we were mentored by their faculty from the moment we walked out of the conference until application. They were like “oh my goodness, two of you in the same year, we hope we’re ready for this”. lol. In the end, for various reasons both our journeys led us down a different path separate from Academia and for good reasons. Yet, I do not regret any of the hard work I put into it…because it looks like I might be heading right back but this time with experience.

Lessons: Initiative and Passion DOES Matter

In fact, I’m grateful. The opportunity was a blessing. I learned how important it is to go after what you want. It’s so easy to take the easy road and expect people to come to you. But outside of your own 50 mile radius, how do you expect to be found if you blend into the background. Educators, employers, clients want to see drive. They don’t want to hope that when you’re hired you’ll begin to show initiative. Initiative should be a part of your lifestyle, not just your employment description. No, I may not be sporting the mohawk still, but I am still passionate about marketing and a creative at heart. I don’t try and hide that I’m an geek. I just am. A geek who enjoys life.

Also, I learned to think big and be passionate about something. I love IT & Marketing and (as my roommate used to do) am constantly studying how my favorite technology companies are branding and differentiating themselves within the marketplace. I no longer want to just “read” about them or copy them. I want to “be” them.