Why Social Media Marketing Is Perfect For Public Relations

I have been on the internet for a long time, since 1996 to be exact.  As a mom married to a military service member who had to go on deployments a lot, the internet has been a very important part of my life, not only for social interaction but entertainment as well. It's really difficult to get out and socialize when your husband is gone for up to 6 months and you have two toddlers depending on you for everything.  I started with forums for awhile, long enough that I was even a moderator on one for quite a bit. 

Then, MySpace came along and social media took off. I spent every free moment I had (which wasn't much) reading blogs, writing blogs, reading, and talking to folks from all around the world. By the time Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest came along, I was all in! And as most things do, social media has evolved into being a pretty important part of everyone's life now. I have seen so many things come and go through social media, it's infinitely interesting.

The most interesting thing I have found is how brands can so easily boost themselves on social media. Considering it's literally my job now, I have been researching and reading as much as I can about social media marketing and how to run effective campaigns.

There are plenty of different ways to market on social media. You can have a blogger, such as myself (contact details on the contact tab above!), write about your brand or product and spread the word on social media. There are also PR companies, such as Behrman and PR, that can handle larger brands/companies as they generally tend to have large teams that are adept at handling all of your brand's needs. Social media marketing has become imperative for business growth these days. The ROI (return on investment) for social media marketing campaigns is very high, and brands walk away satisfied with the growth and profit from these campaigns. 

By far, social media marketing has proven to be highly effective and indispensable to not only established brands, but small and upcoming brands. With the rise of influencer marketing, more and more brands are turning to social media marketing to showcase their brands and even introduce new products to the masses. By enlisting the help of influencers, public relations, and bloggers, more brands and businesses are able to reach more and more customers that otherwise would not have the same reach (thanks, algorithms grr!) as some other social media icons do. As someone who makes a living with social media marketing, I am really excited for the future of this industry! As with everything on the internet, I can't wait to see how it evolves from here. 

How have you seen social media evolve? Have you ever found a new product because of a social media marketing campaign? Tell me about it in the comments below!

I Hope You And Your Family Have A Safe And Happy Holiday!

Sunrise, Sunset

Everyone has dreams of what they would like their life to be when they are young. At 5, I was going to be a princess like Aurora in Sleeping Beauty. At 13, I was going to be a ballerina traveling the world to dance. At 16, I was going to be a psychologist helping all kinds of people navigate this life and healing traumas wherever I went. At 18, I began writing The Great American Novel (or so I thought at the time). 

At 20, I had my first child and all I wanted to do was be the perfect mom to my tiny little boy and my entire life changed.

Accurate portrayal of parenthood. 

As any parent will tell you, parenting is the hardest yet most rewarding job you will ever have. I took my new responsibility very seriously and enjoyed every single second of it. No, it wasn't cookie cutter perfect all of the time but I absolutely tried the best I could to be the best mom in the entire universe. I think every parent has those moments where they wish they could go back in time and change or fix something, and I am no different. My children are both in their 20s now and I miss them both to pieces and to death every day.

As it turns out, I get the chance to do it all over again because my oldest, my son, is going to be a first time dad in April!

Because of this, I have been on the hunt for all kinds of new baby stuff. And, as I mentioned before, I am absolutely amazed at everything they have for babies now! Just the sonogram technology alone is incredible! I can actually make out the baby's features, something that I definitely couldn't do with my own sonogram pictures! I am learning so much and finding so many cool things. One of the best things I have found is the Amazing Baby Swaddle Sack!

Designed by Lynette Damir, a nurse and mom of two, the Amazing Baby Swaddle Sack is a new product found exclusively on Amazon. As most of you are probably aware, swaddling is very important for your baby as it keeps them warm, snug and from being awakened by their own startle reflex. Swaddling is another way of telling your baby that she is safe. The Swaddle Sack comes in three stages: Stage 1 is the Swaddle Sack With Wrap for babies 0 - 3 months, Stage 2 is the Transitional Swaddle Sack for ages 3 to 6 months, and Stage 3 is zzZipMe Sack for ages 6 to 18 months. I got the Transitional Swaddle Sack and it is ADORABLE and so soft! 

It is designed perfectly for your infant: there are fold over mitten cuffs that can be worn open or closed so your baby can self soothe if she needs to. The round sack and arms up design helps your baby sleep better and allows for leg support and movement. It's made of soft and stretchy breathable cotton and has a 2-way zipper so it's easy to wrap the baby or unwrap the baby for diaper changes, or whatever baby might need. It is one of the new products I have found that I am truly excited about and wish I had when my own were tiny!

I cannot WAIT to use this for my sweet little granddaughter on the way. To say that she is going to be even more spoiled than my own children is the understatement of the century! I mean, that's just what grandparents are supposed to do, right?

What baby items are a must have for you?

Holiday Gift Guide - Part 8

For part 8 of my holiday gift guide, I have FINALLY found the perfect gift for my husband! 

SUCCESS. 

J Paul Skincare is having a HUGE sale right now so you know I had to check it out! It's just as awesome as I thought, too, EVERYTHING is 50% off on the site right now! Not only that, when you buy a shaving regimen gift set or an anti-aging set, you get a free J Paul manicure set. Also, when you purchase a three razor set, you get another set for free!

I could not hold back, either. My husband likes to pretend that he doesn't care about stuff like this, then turns around and spends an hour trying to get his beard juuuust right! At first, I thought it was because he can finally have a beard after twenty years in the Navy, but then I remembered how he was BEFORE he went in and he was just as obsessed then as he is now! I'm not complaining, though. The man is hot, beard or not!

So awesome.

 Skincare for men is just as important as they age, as it is for women! A lot of products for men these days have harsh detergents and ingredients that are actually worse for their skin! J. Paul uses the best ingredients that are perfect for good skin care such as cold pressed aloe vera, jojoba oil, vitamins C, A, B5 and E, peppermint, shea butter, eucalyptus oil, omega 3, green tea, chamomile, and kola nut! This lyposomal delivery system is thoroughly tested by a team of  certified chemists at the Loesch Laboratories and Cosmetic Labs in Houston and Dallas, Texas. Because of this, J. Paul brings an excellent skincare line that penetrates deeply to help damaged skin cells and reduce fine lines and wrinkles to produce healthy skin once again!

I spent a lot of time trying to decide what to get for him, and since the prices are so miniscule during this sale, I was able to get him a large variety of things. I am so excited for him to open them on Christmas Day! You guys definitely need to check out this sale!

Don't forget to check out the rest of my holiday gift guide: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7 

Have you found the perfect gift for your loved one(s)? 

Kai's Virgin Vapor Fruitacular E-Juice

Hey, vape fam! Long time, no see, am I right?

Thanks, Loki...I think.

I have found my favorite new juice and I had to tell you guys about it! Kai's Virgin Vapor is my new love. 

Kai's Virgin Vapor is the best fruit ejuice I have tried! Their flavors are crisp and vibrant and I can definitely say that the taste is so fresh! I tried the Peach Perfect, Romancing The Strawberry, Wicked Watermelon, Razzmataz, Celestial Honeydew, and Hawaiian White Guava. I was happily pleased with each one! I tried to pick a favorite, it was really hard but Wicked Watermelon definitely surpassed all of the others. You guys know how much I love my watermelon ejuices! A lot of other companies I order from carry watermelon blends, like watermelon candy, or watermelon with strawberry, etc. but this is the first one I've tried that had so much flavor on its own! 

As you can see, it's almost gone!

All of their ejuices are 100% PG free, certified all natural, and made right here in the USA.  The prices aren't bad, either. You guys know how much I love bargains. They also have a great rewards program!

Right now, they're having a giveaway as well.  With every order, you get a mini stocking and a chance to win! All you have to do is take a photo with your mini stocking and juice and send it to them and you are automatically entered to win a $250 gift card or an e liquid prize bundle. Ten runners up will also receive prizes so you know that the odds are good!

I'm so glad that I was able review Kai's Virgin Vapor. I love their fruit flavors but they do have a wide range of other flavors to choose from. Give them a try, you definitely won't be disappointed! 

Cartoon

You're a cartoon
he said

and just like that I was
dead

Cartoons
he said
we all are

Just scripts 
code
snippets
pictures
memories of

Caricatures
he said
We who live in houses
made of skeleton bones
paste over our real skin 
with misery's breath

You're a cartoon
he said

and
just like that
I was
dead.

Source

Holiday Gift Guide - Part 7

It's already the third of December, have you bought all of your gifts yet?

Because I haven't...

I know, I know. I said I was going to get it done before December but I keep finding awesome stuff so, obviously I have to keep shopping.

I'm still looking for the perfect gift for my husband (who is the hardest to shop for) so, here's some awesome gift ideas I found for you on my neverending search!

Pairfum.com

Pairfum London has amazing scents! I could not hold back on my sister in law's gift. She L O V E S candles and reed diffusers so I started looking for those as her holiday gift. All of their scents are unique so they have been paired to match perfectly. I really liked the Cedar Noir scent. 

Pairfum.com

They don't just have candles, though. They also make their scents for reed diffusers, perfume, and oils! My brother's house is going to be the best smelling house on the block. I spent way too long shopping here, but

WORTH IT!

Next, I started looking for some unique jewelry for my daughter in law and found Green Tree Jewelry!

It started with the unicorn earrings, then I saw these silly cat stud earrings, and before I knew it, I stumbled on their bamboo jewelry collection! I might have spent entirely too much there as well. Again, 

WORTH IT.

You can get free shipping and 10% off right now with code GTJ10 on Green Tree  bamboo jewelry!

The pain relief cream you see in the above photo came from Natural Skin Rx. I admit, that one is a gift for me! I love trying natural creams and skincare before others so when I saw this Jadience Herbal Formula pain relief cream, I had to get it. I included this one because it was a nice surprise. It works so well and there is no smell at all. My skin in this freezing cold weather we've been having is so thankful for it! 

Who are you still shopping for? Tell me in the comments!

Don't forget to check out the rest of my holiday gift guide for more gift ideas:

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6