Almost famous is one of my top 5 favorite movies. The soundtrack alone is amazing! I wanted to compile my favorite quotes from the movie and realized they were all relevant to social media. This movie really glorifies fangirls, nerds, and brand image. It's about how being uncool is actually really cool. Your passions might not be the same as everyone else and that is perfectly ok because hey who put such a premium on being ordinary? Watching Stillwater try to maintain their image while rising to fame. Understanding the Band Aids undying devotion to the band and their music. This movie taught me a lot about being authentic and staying true. So I put together the best quotes and what they taught me about social media.
The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone when you're uncool.
One of my all time favorite Twitter interactions was with a guy talking about buying a new car because his car, Lord Voldemort, had died. I tweeted him back something like 1,000 points for Slytherin if you shop with us.
1. We got to talk about Harry Potter and
2. He appreciated a brand reaching out to him in a funny way.
He loved it! He shared with his friends, was posting screen shots of my tweet, and telling his friends where to go if they needed to buy a car.
Who put such a premium on being ordinary?
Out of all the clutter and noise online if you want to stand out trying being yourself. You can be yourself and still be professional right? I see a lot of brands and people typing with a stick up their ass. If you want people to interact with your brand try sounding like a person. I love it when brands have a fun voice!
I tell the girls never take it too seriously.
Social media is supposed to be fun. Don't take it too seriously. I had this girl flip out on me for no reason and what did I do? Blocked her and never had to deal with it again. I could have gotten butt hurt and had an argument but I just don't care enough to worry about that stuff. I do care about having my fav bands tweet me, finding news and social articles.
You have to make your reputation on being honest and unmerciful.
No one likes a liar...or even worse a super fake person. Same thing goes online. Being true and authentic with your personal or professional brand is what's up! My mom follows me on Twitter and said everyone will see that. Well that's just who I am and my followers think I'm funny. I can still incorporate my Harry Potter, DIY, music festival, beer and wine, cheese loving self with the right amount of DAMN!
I guess what I'm trying to say is I've done twice the things I said I have.
We all make mistakes in life and online. You live and you learn but don't regret the early days or the starting out days of your personal brand. My first blog was about music and concerts and I loved talking about my favorite bands. Some of these bands weren't "cool." Did anyone read it? Apparently people did! It ended up inspiring my college radio station to start a blog about the events I had been blogging about. Still exciting to look back at it.
I forgive you...I didn't apologize.
One of the WORST things about "talking" online is that you can't convey tone or sarcasm. A lot is lost in social speak. One time I thought a customer was being funny with us but they were being sarcastic, how I missed sarcasm is beyond me, and they got pretty pissed off. With these kinds of miscommunications or rage its best to apologize and take it offline if possible.
I have to go home...you are home!
Where else can strangers connect over something as simple as a Harry Potter obsession? The people you meet via social media and the connections you make are all a part of the social puzzle. I was at a conference and tweeting a girl about some super cute nail wraps she posted. We decided to meet at the next panel and now Tweet all the time about nails and nail art. Same goes for brands where else can you get millions of eyes and ears?
What kind of beer?
This is one of the sad scenes where Penny realizes the guy she loves traded her for $50 and case a beer. She could have had a meltdown but instead she wipes her tears and says what kind of beer? When I'm having a bad day some times all I want to do is rant with a glass (bottle) of wine and some cheese (a block of cheese). Sometimes Twitter rants can be funny but when you start attacking someone else is where you gotta draw the line. One time this woman was tweeting my company saying all these terrible things...and not only was she tweeting to the complete wrong Twitter handle she couldn't be reasoned with. She had gone rouge at that point. So what do you do? Be helpful, provide a solution, apologize, and sit back till it all sinks in. She eventually realized her mistake and was super apologetic even tweeting how she wasn't talking about us and that she made a mistake.
They don't even know what it is to be a fan.
Always remember the fans. They are the ones sharing your content to their group of friends. When I share something it's because I find it funny or relevant. To me sharing or liking is the highest compliment you can give someone...well online at least.
I didn't invent the rainy day, man I just own the best umbrella.
First of all Jimmy Fallon has like 3 lines in this movie and they are all gold! Second how true is it that when it rains it pours. One negative comment turns into 5. You need to have a plan for damage control before anything happens! How will you respond, who reaches out to the person, and what resolutions can be made? Have a plan and hope you never need to use it.
