ColumbusMomstyle.com Discussion Leaders 101

The Columbus Momstyle Team

• Staci Perkins – Spell checker • Director of Marketing/ Editor of Columbus Parent

Magazine: [email protected]

• Liz Warren – Web geek• Web Strategy/Digital Marketing/ Community Manager

[email protected]

• Alexis Perrone Dicken – Earth Mama in the flesh• Marketing Coordinator: [email protected]

• Veronica Lynagh – Money maker• Sales Manager: [email protected]

So, what do you have planned for us?

• What the heck is ColumbusMomstyle?How we got to where we are today

• Okay, so what do I do?How to use the site

• So you wanna be a discussion leaderTopic assignments and taking ownership

• Be all that you can beSocial networking best practices

• What’s in it for me? Benefits of connecting and prizes

• What did you just say? Questions and answers

• Win some swag!

What the heck is ColumbusMomstyle, anyway?

• Real moms: We need this!– Staci: Veteran mom

• Real women: We can do this!– Veronica: Wannabe mom

• Go us! She did this.– Liz: Cue the nerd

Okay, so what do I do?How to use the site

• To sign up:– Go to http://www.columbusmomstyle.com– Click “sign up”– Enter your information to create an

account• Note: You may also opt-in to receive

Momstyle, our weekly e-magazine (we highly recommend it).

http://www.columbusmomstyle.com/


• To create your profile:– After you’ve signed in, you’ll see a

navigation, • Click on “my home”• Click on “edit my profile”

– Here, you’ll be able to add a profilepicture, change your profile theme and more!


• To add to discussion:– Click on message board– Choose a topic– Click “start new discussion– Or click on an existing discussion


• To add photos– Click on photos– Click “my photos”– Click “add a photo”– Select file from your computer: Click

“browse”– Add details as necessary– Click “add photo” to upload

So you wanna be a discussion leader?

Topic assignments and taking ownership

• ColumbusMomstyle features dozens of topics on the site, giving you plenty of opportunity to connect with other moms who have an opinion about that, too.

• In addition to our social networks, we have content, too! We feature articles, product reviews, tips and tricks to help you stay stylish!



Education• Preschool• Kindergarten• Grades 1 - 3• Grades 4 - 6• Middle school• High school• College• Special needs• Gifted/talented

Parenting• Trying to

conceive• Maternity• Newborns• Twins• Toddlers• Grade school• Tweens• Teens• Special needs

Women's health• Nutrition• Exercise• Yoga/pilates• Weight loss clubs• Fitness fads

Kids’ health• Pediatric Health

Source• Mental health• Sports health• Drugs/alcohol

Career• Working moms• Going back to work• Stay-at-home dads

Relationships• Love• Sex• Divorce• Marriage• Partnerships• LGBT couples



Beauty/fashion• Beauty products• Hair products• Local beauty stops• Fashion ideas• Outfit 411• Product reviews

Home/garden• Decorating ideas• Get organized

Green you• Longhair lovers

Spirituality• Church groups• Raising kids/

religion

Food/dining• Restaurants• Dining reviews• Best of Columbus

Literary• Online book

groups• Book reviews• Kids’ book

reviews

Money matters• Keeping your

finances in check• Local deals• Family budget

Entertainment• Things to do• Places to go• People to see• Family-friendly• Girls’ night out


• ColumbusMomstyle features dozens of topics, giving you plenty of opportunity to connect with other moms who have an opinion about that, too.

• These forums are the key part of ColumbusMomstyle.com and will keep you coming back for more

• Your site, your topics, your choice• If there isn't a forum that you want, we can

add it• Overlap is encouraged


• Your job as a discussion leader is to help facilitate these conversations.

• Now that you’ve chosen your topics, we want you to participate heavily in those conversations, but still contribute to others!

• You are a natural leader of ColumbusMomstyle, just by being here!


•And now a few words from Vanessa Druckman, a fellow discussion leader, and founder of the Silicon Valley Moms group


• Be Transparent – Honesty is the best policy.– Promoting your interests is fine, just be transparent.– Disclose any commercial ties or payments per the new FTC

guidelines.

• There’s no such thing as anonymous.– Even if you use a pen name, you can easily be discovered so

be mindful of what you write.

• Online is forever– Long after you’ve forgotten your comments, Google will

remember them.


• Communities take time to get started. – Visit often and write often, even if you only have a handful of

participants.– If you build it, they will come.

• Share offline to grow online.– You would be surprised at how many of your offline friends

are active online and would be excited to join you in your new community.

• On average, over 70% of site visitors “lurk”.– Your discussion group will be read by many more people than

those leaving comments.

Be all that you can beSocial networking best practices

• Be honest– Being a part of this online community gives

you a place to have an honest conversation.– The other women (and some men) on this site

are here for the same reasons you are: to make a connection with people like them.

– Honesty is the portal to building trust with your online peers.

– And the best part: it’s anonymous!


• Be authentic– You’re either one of “us” or your one of “them”– Product pushing vs. making suggestions

• NO: spamming discussion boards with a product push

• NO: arguing with members who do not like your product or service

• YES: asking for product reviews or feedback on a particular topic

• YES: rectifying complaints or solving problems surrounding your product off-line

Be all that you can beBe authentic

Top 5 marketing DON’TS for social networking (from http://www.angelaconnor.com)

1. DON’T add links to your website in every single blog and comment that you post.

2. DON’T write blogs with titles like: “Great deals on travel” and only mention your organization. It’s the quickest way to illustrate a lack of genuine interest in the community.

3. DON’T start blogging about your product or service the minute you create a profile. It will be noticed.

4. DON’T misrepresent yourself as a satisfied customer, just to convince others to get on board.

5. DON’T disrespect the culture of the community. Take time to see how things work before you jump in and shake things up.


• Be open– Since users are (technically) anonymous, the

forums are more vulnerable to conversations that may be antagonistic on a particular topic.

– As a discussion leader, its important to remember to be open to these types of conversations, yet respectful.

– Your job is not to police the site, but to facilitate conversation.


• Be active– As a discussion leader, it’s your job to

make sure these conversations don’t become stale.

– Help topics continue to grow by checking and contributing regularly.


• Be candid– This site is for YOU. The sky’s the limit with

topic ideas.– Don’t be afraid to discuss anything on your

mind.• Sex, shopping and rock ‘n roll. Oh yeah, and kids.

– Remember: The more open and honest you are, the more authentic your conversations will be!


• Invite your friends!– The only way this site will grow is if you

participate in growing it.– The more the merrier!

• More moms = more friends = better advice.

– Start today by inviting 5 friends, who will invite more, who will invite more ….

What’s in it for me?Benefits of connecting and prizes

• As we’ve mentioned, the main benefit of using this website is to connect with moms like you.

• The more you engage the better your experience will be.

• But ... wait, there’s MORE!


• Point levels– As you continue to participate in

discussions, post photos, videos, blogs and invite others, you’ll begin to accumulate points.

– These points will qualify you for monthly contests and prizes!

• Tickets, T-shirts, gift certificates and much more!


• Featured ColumbusMomstyler– Each month (starting in March) we will

begin featuring a mom who is actively engaged in the community.

– She will also be the winner of that month’s giveaway!


• Improve your status!– The more points you earn the higher your

community ranking will become!– Wallflower 0-500 points– Getting chatty: 501 - 2000 points– Busy bee: 2,001- 10,000 points– Social butterfly 10,001 +points

• Point distribution on your handouts


• Want to contribute swag?– Have a product or service you’d like to

feature in one of our contests? We’ll gladly give your biz some shameless promo with our contests!

– Contact: Alexis Perrone Dicken [email protected].


Speaking of prizes …

What did you just say?Questions and Answers

Got questions? We’ve got answers!

Find us elsewhere!

• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/columbusmomstyle

• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/columbusparent

• Twitter - @ColsMomstyle– http://www.twitter.com/colsmomstyle

• Twitter - @ColumbusParent

http://www.facebook.com/columbusmomstyle

http://www.facebook.com/columbusparent

http://www.twitter.com/colsmomstyle

Special thanks!

A very special thank you to the

Columbus Metropolitan Library!

You guys are fab!

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ColumbusMomstyle.com Discussion Leaders 101