My New Romance with Instagram

There are so many social media sites to be involved with my head is dizzy. Should I choose one and be loyal to that tribe or should I use them all? I must admit I've grown very fond of Instagram. Don't get me wrong I love my Facebook, Twitter & the usual microblog suspects. However, I find myself drawn to the quick ability to share a picture, which evokes a mood. The old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words rings true for me.

I love photography and I love sharing life events but there are some days I really don't feel like saying much. My blog requires at least 250 words and Facebook requires at least a small story and Twitter 140 characters and some days they require a back and forth dialogue and let’s not forget to mention the obligatory cute or catchy hashtags. The photos I post on my Instagram  account usually say it all. It is quick and complete. I can choose to dialogue or hashtag if I feel like it.

I also like the easy use filters that can change the effects of the photos. It’s like a drive-by announcement. I really enjoy how I can post on Instagram and then it can be shared on the other sites simultaneously linking all my social media sites. Instagram just feels young and fresh.

So imagine my surprise that in total, Instagram has over 200million users, just behind Twitter, with younger users driving uptake. Perhaps because I am young at heart I favor it!

I Love Starbucks!

In this ever complaining world I thought I would do a “shout out” to a company I think is doing it right. It's not like Starbucks needs any press but  the things I love about Starbucks are not just the cool vibe, clean bathrooms, décor, free wi-fi, global partnerships, wages for employees, community outreach, pumpkin spice latte, etc. etc., but they get my drink right every time and when they don't, they fix it without attitude or complaint.

I have been a Starbucks Reward Card member since 2009. Suffice it to say, I am a Starbucks fan and devotee. That’s right I love Starbucks! I also love that they interact with me online via social media. They even followed me back on Twitter! I receive free drinks for frequenting their stores and last week they sent me a physical and virtual birthday card. I know they are a big corporation but I have to give them props for succeeding at making me feel like I am not just a dollar sign, even though I know I am.

The many locations, consistency and determination to try just a little harder then their competitors keep me coming back again and again. The customer experience is always positive and generally exceeds my expectations. Their ap is also great. I can pay with my phone and it lets me know where any Starbucks is when I am traveling. I think it is telling that I received 4 gift cards for Starbucks last week from my friends because they know I love them too! I wrote this review not because I want anything but I just know that if a Starbucks exec reads this they would probably send me a free drink because that’s just how they are.

Microblog vs. Microbrew

I must admit up until a few years ago I did not know the difference between a microblog and a microbrew, both of which can be intoxicating and explain my typing errors. So grab a beverage of your choice anything pumpkin would suffice, as it October, and let me inform you of the difference between a microbrew and a microblog. 

A microbrew is a beer, which is made locally in small amounts and is not nationally distributed. It is the antithesis of Budweiser or for my Canadian readers Molson. Microbrews are served mostly in local bars, microbreweries, brewhouses, pubs, and at beer festivals. They can also be purchased through mail order clubs online. A microbrew loses its exclusive status when bought out by large corporately funded brewery or it is distributed nationally.

A microblog is a type of blog that lets users publish short text updates. Bloggers can usually use a number of services for the updates but the best is Twitter. The posts are called microposts, using these services to update your blog is called microblogging. Microblogs can be produced locally but may become international. A microblog gains exclusive status when it reaches a large audience and is bought out and or funded by a large corporation, which may or may not be a brewery!

So now that you know the difference sit back and finish your drink. Cheers!

Mystery Unsolved!

Bet you were just thinking, who is the leading social media influencer in the interactive murder mystery dinner theater genre? After "Googling" it would seem that we at Marriage Can Be Murder are one of the top influencers... yikes! That is a great responsibility and it is also terrifying. When you are in the lead and at the top you spend the rest of your energy staying there or you will be bumped. I prefer climbing to the top not fighting to stay there! There are many murder mystery theater shows in the US. People seem to enjoy them and there are many that have impressive accolades and resumes. Keith & Margo’s Murder Mystery have been around since 1985 and was much of our influence as we worked with them in the 1990’s when we were at Suspects Dinner Theater in Old Sacramento. With only 81 followers on Twitter and only 895 likes on Facebook it would seem like someone murdered Keith & Margo’s social media presence. Leading the pack is The Dinner Detective which have a good website and decent Facebook page at 10,863 likes and a new Instagram account with 96 followers and a filled with potential Twitter page. However, the interaction for the many sites I visited is minimal. The mystery is why they do not branch out and explore the dynamic world of social media? You can’t really call yourself interactive without it now, can you? So we may remain on top for just awhile until they solve their own mystery.