FourSquare: What’s in it for Small Businesses?
So what in the world is FourSquare anyway? At first glance it seems to be another mindless game for people who have too much time on their hands. You score points for checking and snag the title of Mayor when you’ve checked into a location more times than your friends. So who really cares?
While new FourSquare users may find taking the time to check in at their everyday stomping grounds somewhat pointless, I’ve found a much more meaningful use for it. I take supporting locally owned businesses very seriously and FourSquare has created an easy way to accomplish this goal with amazing success. I already tweet about the businesses I frequent, but being able to ping them on FourSquare is like Twitter on steroids!
FourSquare allows me to:
- Add previously unlisted businesses, giving them exposure they wouldn’t have had before
- Share their specific address, map location and phone number so new visitors can follow my lead and drop in to try them out
- Offer tips (to do’s) and shout outs detailing why I frequent their company and what makes them unique
Mashable recently discussed how FourSquare is making waves in local communities:
Pioneering a Deeper Connection Between Place and Patron: Twitter offers a way for businesses to connect with their customers online. FourSquare puts location in context and extends that connection to the offline world. The model of the location-based game is such that any venue willing to make an extra effort can get to know their socially active customers on a more personal level, and even encourage meetups in their space. Of course, it’s a two way street, as FourSquare users are unconsciously contributing to the relationship by sharing tips and to-dos with the entire FourSquare community. As a result, information is being shared and stored by users — similar in fashion to Yelp — but presented in a way that makes it immediately helpful. It’s community on a whole new level.
So if you’re ready to make a bigger effort to support your favorite locally owned businesses, sign up for FourSquare and shoot me a friend request! Then download the mobile app for your iPhone, Blackberry or Google Android and start sharing your favorite places with others. To me, it’s all part of treating others the way I want to be treated 
What do you think? Is there any real potential here?
P.S. Sometimes there’s even a little something more than a warm, fuzzy feeling in it for you. Check out the growing list of companies offering freebies to their mayors here.
Be a Fly on The Wall: Ghost Blogging is the Topic
Jennifer, Alicia and I talk on the phone all the time! We talk social media, business, parenting, our frustrations and we often call each other and ask about product ingredients, plastics, toxins and the list goes on! Wouldn’t you LOVE to be a fly on the wall and listen to what we have to say? Sometimes you’ll hear all three of us, two of us or maybe a guest or two? What we always promise you is that you’ll get “us” and hear our voices, opinions and thoughts without scripts or edits! It will almost be like you’re eavesdropping but we’re inviting you!
To begin our first off the cuff, Fly on the Wall conversation, Alicia and I are talking ghost writing, social media and transparency. We are specifically chatting about Andy Wibbels blog post on ghost writing being a fraud and here is what we have to say…
Big Brands and Social Media Verses Small Business
My local chamber of commerce is amazing and recently I had a great cup of coffee from the Grand Traverse Pie Company and we talked social media and technology for small business. It was a great conversation but it left me thinking about some of what I said. You know when you say something that you must be feeling or thinking and it comes out for the first time into words and then you have to ponder what you said to see if you meant it? Well, that’s how I felt after making this statement:
“Most small businesses want me to give them the information for free on how to do something or get started but brands are starting to pay.”
Okay, reread this a few times.
Yes, even after I read it I’m not sure I mean it or if it means what I think it means OR if I like what it says.
The reason I said this was because of my recent experience with some new start ups that want all of this time from me through email and phone conversations – then they tell me I am not in their budget. I’ve had consultations where I literally feel raped, used and left with nothing. I’ve had social media strategies and proposals ripped off and used with no credit to me – even awards won and again no credit.
I’ve yet to have this happen from a “brand” and when I say brand, I mean a company that has actually branded themselves and have a reputation. I know, I might have been stupid a few times, overly excited and passionate verses business savvy, so I do take some of the blame. But it’s also partially why I feel that bloggers and people like myself are leaning towards brands that have contracts with PR companies – we’re less likely to be taken advantage of.
Is the Light Bulb On Yet?
If you still don’t get it, let me spell it out for you – small business and start ups need to not just want everything for free but really begin to recognize that there are free resources, guides, webinars and services out there – but it is necessary to budget for social media and digital marketing.
Here is what I hear often:
“Oh, I have a cousin who does web design – he went to college for it and he did my site and will keep it up to date.”
“My neighbor’s son is really into Facebook, he’ll set up my pages and get Twitter ready for me with followers, etc.”
Here is what I see:
A website made with a free template on a WordPress platform and things are all messed up with the business owner not knowing how to make things better; they’re left with no knowledge on how to handle the backend and be self sufficient.
A Facebook personal page instead of a business Fan Page, or a group with promotions or activity that is not allowable by Facebook. The teen knows Facebook for them but not for business.
The Fat Lady Sings
I’m not really fat but I’m singing. If you’re a small business or start up here is what I am singing: Bloggers and small fish that do consulting we do want to work with you and help you. It is up to you to find the right fit for your company but don’t take advantage and be sure to budget accordingly; you get what you pay for.
The Value of Social Media
A blog I read often, Social Media Explorer because I like how Jason Falls spells out the facts and gets down to business – there is no fluff. Recently, Jason posted on what social media can do for your business and with 2010 upon us an Alicia’s timely post on Social Media for 2010 it seems fitting to review the findings of what is brought to light from the Business.com’s report on social media success metrics.
The report in essence shows five key things that all companies and business online or offline should seek:
1. Increase web site traffic.
2. Engagement with prospects.
3. Brand Awareness.
4. Engagement with customers.
5. Revenue.
I always ask clients what they hope to gain when they dive into the social media pool and desire a blog, Facebook fan page, Twitter profile and friends, a social book marking profile, etc. and there has yet to be one client that does not list one, if not all of the five key findings. Social media for me as a business owner, for example, has proved to be of value for finding new readers, new revenue streams, new clients, increased web traffic which boosts my advertising sales, created a brand for Green and Clean Mom and essentially put me where I am today.
Social Media Value
Social media has helped to increase my online portfolio and generate monetary value in others ways that you might not think of as building monetary gain and as highlighted in Blogging Tips has listed as non-monetary but I disagree. When I have a support system, a strong online portfolio, my craft and skills are being perfected online and with documentation and I’ve helped other people online; whether I intend it or not I’ve increased my means to make dollars online. Monetary value can help a person have monetary gain and this is exactly why social media has substantial value.
A good example would be someone tweeting that they need help with something technical or simple like a Twitter feed or installing a WordPress plugin. Perhaps, I’m a technical person and I need practice or want to just be nice and help this Twitter pal out. I DM them, help them with their problem and I’ve further developed my technical skills and helped someone out. A month down the road I learn this person is a consultant working with others and needs some more help but this time it is paid help – they were impressed with my skills previously and liked my generosity and kindness. I now have someone to add to my portfolio for a testimonial and I’ve created a revenue stream.
It goes to say, this happens online all of the time with social media where one thing leads to another because of the connections people make online. Kim Woodbridge, our technical consultant or Designs by Shauna are two perfect examples of this and why I believe that even if you’re not seeking monetary gains from social media there is monetary value.
Photo Credit: FreeFoto
Tackling a very difficult subject – losing a baby for #ecowed
![crying-statue[1]](http://3greenangels.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/crying-statue1-300x214.jpg "crying-statue[1]")
At this Wednesday’s #ecowed Twitter party on November 18, 2009, we will tackle a very difficult subject – losing a baby, whether by miscarriage or at full term. The holiday season can be exceptionally difficult for those that have lost a baby. And trying to reach out and comfort those friends or family members can feel awkward and uncomfortable.
What do you say to a woman who has lost a baby?
How do you offer comfort?
Our sponsor, Earth Mama Angel Baby, has a wonderful website to help answer those questions – Healing Hearts, Baby Loss Comfort. EMAB created Baby Loss Comfort to help provide real support as well as emotional comfort and resource information for women who have experienced baby loss from miscarriage to stillbirth.
Before I had my son, I suffered two miscarriages. The first was very early on – basically, right after I had a positive home pregnancy test kit result. But the second was at 10 and 1/2 weeks or so, after I had seen the heartbeat during my ultrasound exam. I was devastated. However, I really had a difficult time expressing the loss because nobody knew I was pregnant. I started bleeding at work, very early in the morning, and I couldn’t really tell people I was losing a baby that I didn’t have yet, if that makes sense. I had to grieve, but I really couldn’t.
EMAB’s Baby Loss Comfort site has tons of resources to help women and their partners that have lost a baby, as well as information for friends and family. There is also a remembrance page where people can post their memorials, and it is heart wrenching to read. But oddly comforting. And, finally, there are specially designed gifts to heal and help those that have lost a baby.
Unfortunately, sources vary, but many estimate that approximately 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage; and some estimates are as high as 1 in 3. If you include loss that occurs before a positive pregnancy test, some estimate that 40% of all conceptions result in loss.
Based primarily on information provided by the March of Dimes:
- There are about 4.4 million confirmed pregnancies in the U.S. every year;
- 900,000 to 1 million of those end in pregnancy losses EVERY year;
- More than 500,000 pregnancies each year end in miscarriage (occurring during the first 20 weeks);
- Approximately 26,000 end in stillbirth (considered stillbirth after 20 weeks);
- Approximately 19,000 end in infant death during the first month; and
- Approximately 39,000 end in infant death during the first year.
The statistics are a little scary, but they show that we all probably know somebody that has experienced baby loss. So, come help us talk about this difficult subject on November 18, 2009, at a sponsored #ecowed party from 10 to 11 pm Eastern. And yes, we will have prizes. Just RSVP below to be entered and join us during the party using the #ecowed hashtag.
FTC Disclosure: The November 18, 2009 #ecowed party is sponsored by Earth Mama Angel Baby.
ecostore USA: A Case Study on Social Media
Return on Investment (ROI). Three words that almost every single social media and marketing consultant hears when they speak with potential clients. Clients that want to see numbers and facts - not just mushy stuff about investing in something and gaining more trust and online exposure. They want to know the bottom line. What will it cost them short term, long term and will they see their profits increase? Sit in our seats and try to answer these questions and you’ll know that this it is no easy task. We may be angels but right now we have devilish little grins on our faces because we have some angelic news that shows that there is indeed ROI when it comes to social media >>>>Insert us rubbing our hands together and grinning from ear to ear<<<<<<<<<<<<!!!
With the economy suffering it might be hard to imagine online sales increasing for a company in the green market. Well, our halos are shinning because co-founder, Sommer Poquette of Green and Clean Mom, worked hard with ecostore USA to begin and maintain its social media campaign and the results were amazing! Here are a few excerpts from the recent case study:
“From January 2009 to March 2009 ecostore USA experienced an increase in online sales by 202% as compared with October 08 through December 2008″
“When ecostore USA ran its August 2009 BOGO sales on the heels of a live presence at BlogHer ‘09 in Chicago and Facebook contest, ecostore USA experienced a substantial increase in traffic to the ecommerce website along with 162% increase in customers who made purchases that were not just Gift Certificate sales, but rather, out and out sales.”
View the complete case study here: ecostore USA Case Study
Our Feeding Baby Green Chat with Dr. Greene
Wow, the #ecowed chat with Dr. Greene was AMAZING! So amazing that we can’t post the entire trascript but here’s the beginning of our eating healthy chat with Dr. Greene and you can get the rest at What the Hashtag.
| 8:58 pm | 3greenangels: | Welcome everyone! Tonights host @DrGreene-dad of 4 and so MUCH more! Guest @greenandhealthy *sponsored* -sp #ecowed |
| 8:58 pm | thesmartmama: | at party when son was 3, he turned down make ur own cupcakes for brocolli; alas, it didn’t last #ecowed |
| 8:59 pm | melissamoog: | @greenandhealthy I’m doing good, thanks. Never a dull moment in Moog household. How about u? BTW, I can hook u up w/ Nike Grind  #ecowed |
| 8:59 pm | 3greenangels: | Welcome the lady behind the man, @msgreene Have you RSVP’d http://bit.ly/3d0PK3 -sp #ecowed |
| 8:59 pm | DrGreene: | Great to see you all at the #ecowed party : looking forward to chatting together tonight – and having lunch with 2 of you! |
| 8:59 pm | bluefroggie: | hi everyone! #ecowed |
| 9:00 pm | easyecotogo: | I’m getting real-time search results at TweetGrid http://tweetgrid.com/ #ecowed |
| 9:00 pm | 3greenangels: | Hi @MsGreene! We get to chat with you too tonight? Whoot! -av #ecowed |
| 9:00 pm | greenandhealthy: | @melissamoog Never a dull moment here, either! Thanks for connecting me w/Nike Grind. I love the innovation. #ecowed |
| 9:00 pm | thesmartmama: | 95% of moms believe real obsesity epidemic in US . . . let’s talk about how to prevent with @drgreene 2nite #ecowed |
| 9:01 pm | greenandhealthy: | HUGS!! RT @3greenangels: Hi @MsGreene! We get to chat with you too tonight? Whoot! -av #ecowed |
| 9:01 pm | DrGreene: | Ever wonder why an 18th month old will spit out a delicious peach, filled with nutrients his body craves… #ecowed |
| 9:01 pm | msgreene: | I didn’t RSVP. But I’m here #ecowed |
| 9:01 pm | royaldixie: | RT @thesmartmama: @DrGreene says – pregnancy & first two yrs of life critical windows for learning nutritional intelligence #ecowed |
| 9:01 pm | easyecotogo: | I have super picky 10 & 5 yr olds, can’t wait to hear more! #ecowed |
| 9:01 pm | thesmartmama: | teaching your child healthy eating habits a gift that will last your child’s lifetime @drgreene #ecowed |
| 9:01 pm | racergirl1313: | Looking forward to tonight. #ecowed |
| 9:01 pm | bluefroggie: | @DrGreene I just watched a couple videos of yours and really want to change my baby’s diet. She just turned one! #ecowed |
| 9:01 pm | DrGreene: | … but an 8 month old baby will put almost anything in the mouth? #ecowed |
| 9:02 pm | 3greenangels: | @DrGreene Is he just playing around and feeling the food in his mouth? Were your kids picky eaters?? -sp #ecowed |
| 9:02 pm | 3greenangels: | RT @JessicaGottlieb: @thesmartmama oh finally something worth talking about! #ecowed |
| 9:02 pm | melissamoog: | @greenandhealthy Me too, I’m inspired by innovation & out of the box thinking…keeps it interesting & fun! #ecowed |
| 9:02 pm | thesmartmama: | @DrGreene Yes, tell us why an 18 month old will spit out a wonderful peach? #ecowed |
| 9:02 pm | msgreene: | It’s fun to be sharing Feeding Baby Green tips and info tonight with @DrGreene #ecowed |
| 9:03 pm | 3greenangels: | RT @melissamoog: I have Isabella cooking w/me in the kitchen She’s only 3 but luvs it & will eat what she cooks via @DrGreene #ecowed |
| 9:03 pm | DrGreene: | babies are built to sample lots and to learn what is good food. What they taste 6 to 10 times, they usually come to love. #ecowed |
| 9:03 pm | msgreene: | Have you announced the grand prize yet? #ecowed |
| 9:03 pm | 3greenangels: | Tonight our host @DrGreen will talk kids nutrition, healthy eating and feeding baby green! http://www.feedingbabygreen.com -sp #ecowed |
| 9:03 pm | ecochallenged: | i’d like to know how to get my 2yo to eat anything but pancakes #ecowed |
| 9:03 pm | greenandhealthy: | @msgreene Was just reading how you had to stop BFing after cancer diagnosis. Teary…you are amazing! #ecowed |
| 9:03 pm | tastefullytrish: | RT @thesmartmama Teaching your child healthy eating habits a gift that will last your child’s lifetime. #ecowed |
| 9:03 pm | melissamoog: | RT @msgreene It’s fun to be sharing Feeding Baby Green tips and info tonight with @DrGreene #ecowed |
| 9:03 pm | thesmartmama: | @JessicaGottlieb OMG – R U going to join a twitter party #ecowed (LOL) |
| 9:03 pm | 3greenangels: | Yes! Lunch for 2 w/ @DrGreene!! RT @MsGreene: Have you announced the grand prize yet? #ecowed |
| 9:03 pm | 3greenangels: | RT @ecochallenged: i’d like to know how to get my 2yo to eat anything but pancakes #ecowed |
| 9:03 pm | Babies411: | Excited to reed my new book Feeding Baby Green @DrGreene #ecowed |
| 9:03 pm | royaldixie: | My 20 month old puts everything in his mouth, food or not!! #ecowed |
| 9:03 pm | bluefroggie: | @DrGreene How do I introduce new foods to a 12 month old effectively? She’s mostly been eating the jarred stuff.  #ecowed |
| 9:04 pm | EcolabelFund: | RT @thesmartmama: AGREE! teaching your child healthy eating habits a gift that will last your child’s lifetime @drgreene #ecowed |
| 9:04 pm | Doodle741: | Am I way late?! What time did we start? #ecowed |
| 9:04 pm | greenandhealthy: | @EcolabelFund Heck yes! Join us for #ecowed with @3greenangels, @DrGreene, @MsGreene and me (and y’all!) |
| 9:04 pm | DrGreene: | but toddlers have this cool thing called neophobia: fear of new foods and food sources. protective #ecowed |
| 9:04 pm | Babies411: | RT @3greenangels: Yes! Lunch for 2 w/ @DrGreene!! RT @MsGreene: Have you announced the grand prize yet? #ecowed |
| 9:04 pm | greenandhealthy: | @EcolabelFund How old are your kids and what do you get them doing in the kitchen? #ecowed |
| 9:04 pm | thesmartmama: | @Doodle741 Started at 7 pm Pacific. #ecowed Join us – @drgreene is in the house! Talking about healthy eating. |
| 9:04 pm | Doodle741: | @bluefroggie My 12 month old has been eating table food for about 6 months – he won’t eat jars. He LOVES new things! #ecowed |
| 9:04 pm | melissamoog: | @DrGreene It’s true, you’ve got 2 have ur baby try foods over & over again. Don’t give up on the first try. They will soon love it. #ecowed |
| 9:05 pm | 3greenangels: | @MsGreene , did you help develop some of the delicious recipes in the book http://www.feedingbabygreen.com ? -sp #ecowed |
| 9:05 pm | 3greenangels: | RT @DrGreene: but toddlers have this cool thing called neophobia: fear of new foods and food sources. protective #ecowed |
| 9:05 pm | DrGreene: | u wouldn’t want a toddler to pick a berry or leaf & eat it. might not b safe. designed not to trust new fruits or veggies then #ecowed |
| 9:05 pm | bethanyev: | @DrGreene I don’t know what to feed my 12month for breakfast. Seems oatmeal is getting old. Out of ideas. #ecowed |
| 9:05 pm | msgreene: | @babies411, so glad you got your copy of Feeding Baby Green. I’m biased, but it’s a great book. #ecowed |
| 9:05 pm | royaldixie: | RT @DrGreene: but toddlers have this cool thing called neophobia: fear of new foods and food sources. protective #ecowed |
| 9:06 pm | thesmartmama: | I found that easier to get kids to try new vegetables after we started growing them in our rooftop garden. #ecowed |
| 9:06 pm | Ecomomwannabe: | definitely! RT @melissamoog: @DrGreene It’s true, you’ve got 2 have ur baby try foods over & over again. Don’t give up #ecowed |
| 9:06 pm | 3greenangels: | @DrGreene What about eating organic before conception? What research is done on toxins before baby is born? -sp #ecowed |
| 9:06 pm | DrGreene: | most babies in US learn to love the taste of baby food peaches, but never learn to like real peaches or tomatoes #ecowed |
| 9:06 pm | greenmom: | I’m curious @DrGreene if preg women should have fish b/c of mercury? #ecowed |
| 9:06 pm | bluefroggie: | Is twitter search broken for anyone else? #ecowed |
| 9:06 pm | melissamoog: | @DrGreene Agree, toddlers are so picky! I have a picky one & following ur book on cooking with her in kitchen has made a difference! #ecowed |
| 9:06 pm | Babies411: | @msgreene I won it at the Healthy Child twitter party…whoot! #ecowed |
| 9:06 pm | thesmartmama: | @JessicaGottlieb Can I just say that Twinkies always make me think of Die Hard when the cop buys 10 for his pregnant wife #ecowed |
| 9:07 pm | bethanyev: | Mine too @bluefroggie My 12 month old has been eating table food for about 6 months – he won’t eat jars. He LOVES new things! #ecowed |
| 9:07 pm | greenmom: | I like to add veggies into my breads, cookies, muffins and fruit to pancakes to help them eat healthy! #ecowed |
| 9:07 pm | racergirl1313: | My hubby and I are TTC soon so this is something I really need to know. I need to read the books! #ecowed |
| 9:07 pm | mamamelinda: | RT @3greenangels: @DrGreene What about eating organic before conception? What research is done on toxins before baby is born? -sp #ecowed |
| 9:07 pm | DrGreene: | @Doctor_V depends on the age. 6 to 9 months, the avg is 6 to 10 times, but can take 15. 94% of American parents give up by 5 tries #ecowed |
| 9:07 pm | Doodle741: | @bluefroggie Yes, I haven’t been able to use it all day! #ecowed |
| 9:07 pm | royaldixie: | My 20 month old is obsessed with new foods….loves fish, shrimp, berries, apples, cottage cheese. He makes his mommy proud #ecowed |
| 9:07 pm | 3greenangels: | RT @DrGreene: most babies in US learn to love the taste of baby food peaches, but never learn to like real peaches or tomatoes #ecowed |
| 9:07 pm | melissamoog: | It’s a shame! RT @DrGreene most babies in US learn to luv the taste of baby food peaches, but never learn 2 like real peaches #ecowed |
| 9:07 pm | greenandhealthy: | My DD often sat in DHs lap during meals as a baby. Grabbed food from him and he’d let her try. Now she eats ANYTHING! #ecowed |
| 9:07 pm | kimatsprig: | @thesmartmama I like to have my kids pick out a new fruit or veggie at the store #ecowed we actually ended up with cactus one day |
| 9:08 pm | thesmartmama: | To avoid mercury in canned tuna, choose canned salmon instead (no mercury, low flame retardants, sustainably caught) #ecowed |
| 9:08 pm | bluefroggie: | RT @DrGreene: most babies in US learn to love the taste of baby food peaches, but never learn to like real peaches or tomatoes #ecowed |
| 9:08 pm | 3greenangels: | Feeding Baby Green your new book @DrGreen is a great holiday gift, new baby gift, shower gift or just because! -sp #ecowed |
| 9:08 pm | MomsLikeMeSac: | RT @thesmartmama: I found that easier to get kids to try new vegetables after we started growing them in our rooftop garden. #ecowed |
| 9:08 pm | msgreene: | @3greenangels half the recipes in Feeding Baby Green are from friends at a variety of the wonderful new baby food companies. #ecowed |
| 9:08 pm | easyecotogo: | @racergirl1313 what is TTC? #ecowed |
| 9:08 pm | DrGreene: | @Doctor_V and only 1 or 2 parents in 100 will try a food 10 times for a baby. But they shouldn’t like at first #ecowed |
| 9:08 pm | Babies411: | RT@thesmartmama To avoid mercury in canned tuna, choose canned salmon instead (no mercury, low flame retardants, sustainably caught) #ecowed |
| 9:08 pm | ecochallenged: | is that because of texture? RT @DrGreene: most babies love the taste of baby food peaches, but not real peaches or tomatoes #ecowed #ecowed |
| 9:08 pm | melissamoog: | I hardly ever used jarred baby food with Isabella. I took the time to cook fresh, organic fruits and veggies from day one. #ecowed |
| 9:09 pm | Doodle741: | RT @3greenangels: Feeding Baby Green your new book @DrGreen is a great holiday gift, new baby gift, shower gift or just because! -sp #ecowed |
| 9:09 pm | Ecomomwannabe: | @DrGreene Q. I try to feed baby what we eat, smtimes I blend everything together ie. rice, veggies.. is it better to serve seperate #ecowed |
| 9:09 pm | melissamoog: | 3greenangels Feeding Baby Green your new book @DrGreen is a great holiday gift, new baby gift, shower gift or just because! -sp #ecowed |
| 9:09 pm | greenandhealthy: | Great point from Feeding Baby Green – “there’s no such thing as baby food.” There’s just food! Share it! #ecowed |
| 9:09 pm | Babies411: | @melissamoog That’s fantatsic! #ecowed |
| 9:09 pm | LakeWinnipeg: | RT @thesmartmama To avoid mercury in canned tuna, choose canned salmon instead (no mercury, low flame retardants, sustainably caught)#ecowed |
| 9:09 pm | 3greenangels: | What tips do you have for making your own baby food? @MrsGreene @DrGreene -sp #ecowed |
| 9:09 pm | thesmartmama: | @DrGreene so re canned baby v. real peaches, should you make your own baby food to improve recognition? #ecowed |
| 9:10 pm | royaldixie: | I have Feeding Baby Green to my BFF who just delivered her first 2 weeks ago. She’s impressed!! #ecowed |
| 9:10 pm | msgreene: | @kimstsprig What did you do with the cactus? Soup or margaritas? #ecowed |
| 9:10 pm | DrGreene: | once neohobia sets in, can take up to 89 times to try something before developing a taste for it! #ecowed |
| 9:10 pm | thesmartmama: | @kimatsprig I only have made margaritas from cactus – what did you do? #ecowed |
| 9:10 pm | racergirl1313: | @easyecotogo TTC = trying to concieve #ecowed |
| 9:10 pm | Ecomomwannabe: | @DrGreene Q. re question , is it better to serve each food seperate to the individual taste comes through #ecowed |
| 9:10 pm | lisaborden: | The Tripp Trapp by @Stokke_USA_CAN allows babe to sit AT the table with you rather than being a tray away, so great! #ecowed |
| 9:10 pm | melissamoog: | If ur in Seattle, Portland, SF, Atlanta or Chicago you could win an autographed @DrGreene book at our Safe Baby Giveaway event. #ecowed |
| 9:10 pm | bluefroggie: | RT @DrGreene: only 1 or 2 parents in 100 will try a food 10 times for a baby. But they shouldn’t like at first #ecowed |
| 9:10 pm | greenandhealthy: | Buy a food grinder and mush up whatever you’re eating for dinner. Experiment with flavors. Engage your babe in family meals. #ecowed |
| 9:10 pm | Doodle741: | RT @DrGreene: once neohobia sets in, can take up to 89 times to try something before developing a taste for it! WOW! #ecowed |
| 9:11 pm | melissamoog: | Wow! RT @DrGreene once neohobia sets in, can take up to 89 times to try something before developing a taste for it! #ecowed |
| 9:11 pm | DrGreene: | @mamamelinda best time in all of life to eat organic is 3 months before pregnancy, pregnancy, nursing, and early childhood. #ecowed |
| 9:11 pm | Ecomomwannabe: | oh wow.! IRT @DrGreene: once neohobia sets in, can take up to 89 times to try something before developing a taste for it! #ecowed |
| 9:11 pm | 3greenangels: | Tell us about BPA and plastics? Do you address this in your new book http://www.feedingbabygreen.com ? -sp #ecowed |
| 9:11 pm | greenandhealthy: | RT @Doodle741: RT @DrGreene: once neohobia sets in, can take up to 89 times to try something before developing a taste for it! WOW! #ecowed |
| 9:11 pm | melissamoog: | RT @royaldixie I have Feeding Baby Green to my BFF who just delivered her first 2 weeks ago. She’s impressed!! #ecowed |
| 9:11 pm | bluefroggie: | RT @DrGreene best time in all of life to eat organic is 3 months before pregnancy, pregnancy, nursing, and early childhood. #ecowed |
| 9:11 pm | msgreene: | @greenmom Thanks for the disclosure. We believe in FULL disclosure. People need to know what they are getting and why. #ecowed |
| 9:12 pm | royaldixie: | RT @DrGreene: once neohobia sets in, can take up to 89 times to try something before developing a taste for it! #ecowed Oh that makes sense |
| 9:12 pm | mamamelinda: | RT @greenandhealthy: Buy a food grinder & mush up whatever youre eating. Experiment w/ flavors. Enga gebabe in family meals. #ecowed |
| 9:12 pm | DrGreene: | @greenmom fish are a great source of omega 3s like DHA so important for brain growth, but choose low mercury options #ecowed |
| 9:12 pm | melissamoog: | RT @thesmartmama To avoid mercury in canned tuna, choose canned salmon instead (no mercury, low flame retardants, sustainably caught)#ecowed |
| 9:12 pm | thesmartmama: | @DrGreene do you believe in reducing mercury intake up to year before trying to get pregnant? #ecowed |
| 9:12 pm | Babies411: | RT@DrGreene @mamamelinda best time in all of life to eat organic is 3 months before pregnancy, pregnancy, nursing, early childhood. #ecowed |
| 9:12 pm | 3greenangels: | Always sign up for a daily dose of @Drgreene http://bit.ly/3vX7rr -sp #ecowed |
| 9:12 pm | 3greenangels: | RT @thesmartmama: @DrGreene do you believe in reducing mercury intake up to year before trying to get pregnant? #ecowed |
| 9:12 pm | greenandhealthy: | @lisaborden Don’t you lose the fiber from the peel and starch with a juicer? #ecowed |
| 9:12 pm | easyecotogo: | @racergirl1313 gotcha, thanks! My hubby & I had a really hard time the 2nd time around, but it did eventually happen. Good luck! #ecowed |
| 9:12 pm | LaMamaNaturale: | sorry tweeties baby woke up! NAK #ecowed |
| 9:13 pm | bethanyev: | RT @3greenangels: Tell us about BPA and plastics? Do you address this in your new book http://www.feedingbabygreen.com ? -sp #ecowed |
| 9:13 pm | greenmom: | RT @DrGreene: @greenmom fish are a great source of omega 3s like DHA so important for brain growth, but choose low mercury options #ecowed |
| 9:13 pm | ecochallenged: | whoops. Rt @DrGreene @mamamelinda best time to eat organic-3mo bfore pregnancy, pregnancy, nursing & early childhood #ecowed #ecowed |
| 9:13 pm | DrGreene: | @greenmom pregnant women should average at least 300 mg a day of DHA, but in US only get about 54 mg #ecowed |
| 9:13 pm | melissamoog: | RT @greenandhealthy Great point from Feeding Baby Green – “there’s no such thing as baby food.” There’s just food! Share it! #ecowed |
| 9:13 pm | Doodle741: | RT@DrGreene @mamamelinda best time in all of life to eat organic is 3 months before pregnancy, pregnancy, nursing, early childhood. #ecowed |
| 9:13 pm | thesmartmama: | Join us for #ecowed tonight – grand prize is lunch for two with the fabulous @drgreene! Must RSVP to win. |
| 9:13 pm | racergirl1313: | @easyecotogo Thanks! We are excited but understand that it might take a while. #ecowed |
| 9:13 pm | greenandhealthy: | @thesmartmama Dr. Grandjean has been doing research on the importance of fish to brain weighed against contamination. Need fish #ecowed |
| 9:13 pm | easyecotogo: | RT @Babies411: RT@DrGreene @mamamelinda best time to eat organic is 3 months before pregnancy, pregnancy, nursing, early childhood. #ecowed |
| 9:13 pm | melissamoog: | RT @DrGreene @greenmom pregnant women should average at least 300 mg a day of DHA, but in US only get about 54 mg #ecowed |
| 9:13 pm | mamamelinda: | YES!RT @DrGreene: @mamamelinda best time in all of life to eat organic is 3 months b4 pregnancy, pregnancy, BF, & early childhood. #ecowed |
| 9:13 pm | greenandhealthy: | RT @DrGreene: @greenmom pregnant women should average at least 300 mg a day of DHA, but in US only get about 54 mg #ecowed |
| 9:14 pm | bluefroggie: | oh yay, my tweetchat is working again! can you all see me? #ecowed |
| 9:14 pm | greenmom: | @greenandhealthy There are lots of great food grinders. Always wondered about the peel! Glad you are here tonight! #ecowed |
| 9:14 pm | melissamoog: | RT@DrGreene @mamamelinda best time in all of life to eat organic is 3 months before pregnancy, pregnancy, nursing, early childhood. #ecowed |
| 9:14 pm | bethanyev: | I need breakfast ideas for my 12 month old #ecowed |
| 9:14 pm | DrGreene: | @bethanyev other kinds of cereal can be great. breakfast is a great meal for berries & other fruit. eggs can be great. #ecowed |
| 9:14 pm | aspiringmama: | @greenandhealthy what is neohobia? #ecowed |
| 9:14 pm | greenmom: | @DrGreene Is there a link between nutrition and colic? #ecowed |
| 9:15 pm | melissamoog: | @Babies411 Thanks, when traveling it was harder and Earth’s Best organic foods were great on the go. #ecowed |
| 9:15 pm | bethanyev: | RT @3greenangels: Always sign up for a daily dose of @Drgreene http://bit.ly/3vX7rr -sp #ecowed |
| 9:15 pm | BeNicePrenatal: | RT @melissamoog RT @DrGreene @greenmom pregnant women should average at least 300 mg a day of DHA, but in US only get about 54 mg #ecowed |
| 9:15 pm | msgreene: | @blufroggie I can see you And you look lovely tonight, may I add. #ecowed |
| 9:15 pm | bluefroggie: | @DrGreene How do you prepare eggs for a 12 month old? #ecowed |
| 9:15 pm | royaldixie: | My LO takes @DrGreene liquid vitamin and I take his VitD and Prenatal. Not all childrens diets are full circle! Remember that #ecowed |
| 9:15 pm | greenandhealthy: | @lisaborden Oh, that sounds yummy…my juicer wouldn’t do that. #ecowed |
| 9:15 pm | Doodle741: | @bethanyev We do eggs – a lot! #ecowed |
| 9:15 pm | racergirl1313: | RT @greenandhealthy Great point from Feeding Baby Green – “there’s no such thing as baby food.” There’s just food! Share it! #ecowed |
| 9:15 pm | Babies411: | @melissamoog absolutely! Do what you can, when you can! LOVE IT #ecowed |
| 9:15 pm | greenandhealthy: | @aspiringmama Fear of new things. #ecowed |
| 9:15 pm | DrGreene: | According to AAP allergies are no reason to hold off on any food after 6 months: including eggs, peanuts, fish! #ecowed |
| 9:16 pm | 3greenangels: | @bethanyev I like to make pizza breakfast and the kids eat veggies with the homemade sauce and just love it! Get creative! -sp #ecowed |
| 9:16 pm | thesmartmama: | @oobinsnaffa canned wild salmon (not farmed), has 4X omega 3 from chunk light tuna; only issue – BPA in the can. #ecowed |
| 9:16 pm | LaMamaNaturale: | @mamamelinda Awe!!!! *blushing* that means more to me than you know. Thank you for the kind words!! ditto!!  #ecowed |
| 9:16 pm | melissamoog: | @RobinPregnancy I like that philosophy, the kids eat what the grown ups eat at the table, no difference. #ecowed |
| 9:16 pm | bluefroggie: | @Doodle741 How do you prep the eggs? #ecowed |
| 9:16 pm | Ecomomwannabe: | RT @DrGreene: According to AAP allergies are no reason to hold off on any food after 6 months: including eggs, peanuts, fish! #ecowed |
| 9:16 pm | bethanyev: | Yes! RT @bluefroggie: oh yay, my tweetchat is working again! can you all see me? #ecowed |
| 9:16 pm | greenandhealthy: | RT @DrGreene: According to AAP allergies are no reason to hold off on any food after 6 months: including eggs, peanuts, fish! #ecowed |
| 9:16 pm | thesmartmama: | @greenandhealthy agree; but must make healthy fish choices tho; choose low in mercury, low in flame retardants #ecowed |
| 9:16 pm | msgreene: | @bethanyev love a variety of egg dishes for breakfast — scramble, poached, boiled … only organic in our house though. #ecowed |
| 9:16 pm | bluefroggie: | @bethanyev Great, thanks! #ecowed |
| 9:16 pm | mamamelinda: | RT @DrGreene: According to AAP allergies are no reason to hold off on any food after 6 months: including eggs, peanuts, fish! #ecowed |
| 9:16 pm | ecoeverythingbc: | #ecowed tip: Shop not only eco, but LOCAL this coming xmas season at local businesses, who sell local products. Reduce your footprint |
Top 5 Reasons for Using DISQUS Comments on Your Wordpress Blog
I learned about the DISQUS comments plugin from two of my favorite social media mentors, Chris Brogan and UnMarketing. It was super easy to install and quickly became one of my all-time favorites! DISQUS is really more than a simple plugin for handling comments – it’s a social networking system that saves you a tremendous amount of time and energy!
Top 5 Reasons to Use DISQUS:
How to Use and Install DISQUS
Seems like such a complex system would require dealing with countless issues and complicating programming when shifting to DISQUS, doesn’t it? Well no, it doesn’t. It’s shockingly easy to install . . .
All you have to do is register for a free account with DISQUS and install the plugin. Then you can easily choose your display options and rules, make simple styling changes, and import your other comments. When ready, it will remove your current commenting system and replace it with DISQUS. So it seriously only takes 5 minutes of work!
*NOTE: When you first install DISQUS, your comments may seem to disappear – but don’t worry – give it a little time and they appear in their whole new format soon!
>> READ about many more reasons to use DISQUS here.