Evolution of Contests in the Social Media Era

Contests have adapted to digital while they’ve retained their core appeal. Brands like Starbucks with their “White Cup Contest” leveraged user-generated content, inviting customers to doodle on their cups and share their designs online. This both fostered creativity and amplified the coffee brand’s visibility across its social platforms. Similarly, Dove’s “Real Beauty Should Be Shared” campaign on Facebook encouraged users to tell stories about their friends, blending emotional engagement with social sharing. GoPro also leveraged social media contests by encouraging users to upload adventurous videos they captured with their cameras, effectively turning customers into brand ambassadors. These examples show how social media has expanded the scope and reach of contests in ways that enable you to engage with a broader audience, foster community, and forge some viral marketing opportunities while you gather valuable consumer insights and content.

The Role of Social Media Automation in Contest Strategies

Automation can be critical to streamlining and enhancing your marketing strategies. Automation tools like dlvr.it can help you manage the potentially complex details of contest campaigns across various platforms. They can enable you to schedule and publish accurate contest-related posts consistently in a way that can maximize your visibility at peak engagement times. Automating your distribution of contest announcements, reminders, and updates can reduce the time you’d devote to those tasks so you can focus on creative aspects and real-time engagement. These tools can give you invaluable analytics and insights into how contest participants behave and how your contests campaigns perform. This data-driven approach can help you fine-tune your contest strategies so they resonate more with your target audience. When you integrate social media automation into your contest planning, you can efficiently manage large-scale contest campaigns, maintain target engagement, and ultimately drive successful outcomes with reduced operational overhead.

Five Reliable Types of Social Media Contests That Get Effective Results

Contests are a reliable tactic for engaging audiences and achieving brand objectives on your social media platforms. Five types of contests stand out for their reliability and effectiveness:

1. User-generated content contests can be a goldmine for brands seeking authentic engagement. By encouraging users to create content that resonates with their personal experiences, brands like GoPro have successfully leveraged this strategy. GoPro’s Photo of the Day challenge is a prime example, inviting users to submit their best photos captured with GoPro cameras. This not only generates a wealth of original content but also fosters a sense of community among users.
2. Giveaway contests are straightforward, highly effective ways to engage audiences on social media. With their Ultimate Fan Experience contest, beauty retailer Sephora invited its followers to win exclusive beauty products or a personalized shopping experience by following Sephora, liking the contest post, and tagging a friend in the comments. This approach both increased Sephora’s social media engagement and expanded its reach to potential new customers through the tagging. The simplicity of entry combined with the allure of high-value prizes made this contest a successful method for boosting Sephora’s online presence and customer interaction.
3. Creative challenge contests can push participants to think outside the box. LEGO’s fan design contests, for instance, invite enthusiasts to submit their unique LEGO creations. This type of contest not only stimulates creativity but also deeply involves participants in the brand’s world, turning them into active contributors rather than passive consumers.
4. Trivia and quiz contests are excellent for engaging and educating audiences. National Geographic’s Instagram trivia contests are a testament to this, combining engagement with educational content, thereby reinforcing the brand’s authority in geography and nature.
5. Skill-based competitions on social media platforms invite participants to showcase their talents or expertise in specific areas, creating a highly engaging and interactive environment. Adobe’s Creative Jam contests, conducted on platforms like Instagram, challenge designers and creatives to showcase their skills using Adobe software. Participants are often given a theme or a specific task, and their creations are shared on social media where the audience can view and engage with the submissions. This type of contest highlights individual talents and aligns with Adobe’s brand identity as a leader in creative software. They foster a community of skilled individuals, encourage learning and sharing, and create a buzz around the brand by showcasing practical applications of its products. Skill-based contests engage both participants and spectators, which makes them valuable tools for brands that want to showcase their community’s talent and creativity.

Six Strategic Tips for Effective Social Media Contests

• Understand your audience. To create a successful social media contest, it’s essential understand your audience deeply. That means knowing their preferences, behaviors, and the type of social media content that resonates with them. Tailoring your contest to align with audience interests increases participation and engagement–a beauty brand might run a makeup tutorial contest while a travel agency could solicit best travel photos. This alignment ensures that your contest has direct appeal in order to create more relevant interaction.
• Generate engaging contest content. The content of your contest needs to engage and be shareable. It should spark curiosity and encourage people to share with their networks. You can do this through creative challenges, compelling visuals, and intriguing prompts. The goal is to create content that engages your current audience and can go viral to reach a wider audience.
• Refine your timing and frequency. Timing and frequency are both critical for maximizing participation in your contests. Consider launching contests during holidays or special events when your audience is more active online. Try to be balanced with your contest frequency–too many contests can lead to audience fatigue, while too few might not keep your audience engaged with your brand.
• Use automation for consistency. Social media automation tools like dlvr.it can help you ensure consistent and timely posting of your contest content. Automation can help you schedule your posts for optimal times, ensuring your contest reaches the maximum number of people. Posting consistency also keeps your audience engaged throughout the duration of your contest.
• Monitor and analyze your contests’ performance. Using analytics tools to monitor your contests’ performance is vital. This involves tracking engagement metrics, participant feedback, and overall reach. Analyzing this data can help you understand what’s working, letting you both make real-time adjustments and improve tactics for future contests.
• Integrate contests into your broader marketing efforts. Contests shouldn’t just be one-off events. When you integrate them into your strategy, you can ensure that each contest supports your overall brand goals like increasing awareness, launching a product, or driving sales.

Bottom line

Strategically implementing contests on your social media platforms can significantly help enhance how your audience engages with your brand. Your contests need to align with both your brand’s identity and your audience’s interests. Each contest type can convert audience interaction into tangible results. When you integrate contests with social media automation tools like dlvr.it, you can keep the engagement consistent and monitor the performance of each campaign. When you thoughtfully plan and execute contests, you’re able to both grab existing audience attention, attract new followers, and strengthen your overall presence on the platform. Contests aren’t about short-term gains, but building lasting follower relationships and a loyal customer base. Learn how dlvr.it can free you from posting tasks and keep you focused on bringing relevant contests to your audience.

The post Make Contests Key to Your Social Media Strategy appeared first on dlvr.it | blog.

Potentially, your ‘About Me‘ page could be seen by a vast audience that includes potential and existing employees, other professionals in your field, as well as friends/relatives.

Your author bio is an excellent way to show your audience who you are and why they should trust you, and subscribe to your future posts. It also serves as a means to succinctly define your expertise on why they should follow you.

It’s your opportunity to tell the world who you are and what you do, so don’t squander it.

How to Write a Blog Bio

The first thing to know: There is no “right” way to author your ‘About Me’ bio. Some read like resumes, and others read like fun stories.

Writing a professional bio can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Crafting an effective bio requires conveying that you are credible and accomplished in a few sentences. It is important to identify the context of the professional bio before beginning the writing process.

Start by introducing yourself with your name and current job title or role. Then provide some background information about your education and work experience that is relevant to your current position. Also, include any awards or accomplishments that demonstrate your expertise in the field. And don’t forget to inject a dose of what makes you an interesting human.

Obviously, the tone of the bio depends on where it will appear.

• If you are writing a guest post targeting Mom’s in business, then you might mention kids or your experience with kids or being a Mom.
• On the other hand, if writing a bio for a trade journal or a speaking engagement, your focus might be on your years of experience, expertise, and education.

Here’s a snapshot of my 5-year-old “folksy” bio desperately needing a makeover:

No matter what the audience or the tone, there are a few things to remember that will make writing your bio easier.

Identify Your Audience!

The easiest way to do this is by having a good look at your current website or blog.

• What is its voice?
• Who is it targeting?
• What is the aim of the publication?

How to Write Your Blog Bio in 9 Easy Steps

Writing a blog bio is an important step in establishing your online presence. It helps readers get to know you and understand why they should trust your content. Crafting an effective “About Me” section can be tricky, but with the right approach, it can be done in 9 easy steps.

Step 1: Brainstorm

When crafting a blog bio, it’s important to put yourself in the reader’s shoes and write about what they would want to know. Focus on highlighting key questions they may have and how they can find answers on your blog. Remove any unnecessary information and keep the bio short, sweet, and to the point.

Step 2: Select Key Information to Include in Your Blog Bio

Writing a blog bio is an essential part of creating a successful website. It gives readers an impression of you and your content, and sets your blog apart from other options. Crafting a compelling blog bio is crucial to make a case for why people should stay on your website. To create an effective blog bio, it’s important to identify the purpose of writing it in the first place.

• When crafting your blog bio, don’t forget to utilize tips and tricks that will make it stand out from the rest. Use keywords that are relevant to your topic so that search engines can easily find your website.
• Include Highlight links to social media profiles or other websites where readers can learn more about you or connect with you directly. Finally, be sure to keep your credentials visible.

Step 3: Include Images and Your Contact Details

As the Head of Finance & Operations at dlvr.it, I have a wealth of experience in social media and digital marketing. My passion for helping businesses succeed has driven me to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and strategies. I’m always looking for ways to help companies maximize their online presence and reach their goals. This is the information I need to convey to the public in a compelling way.

The bio area of a blog is an important part of any website. It can be the deciding factor in whether or not they stay on your site. A well-crafted bio can help to keep readers engaged and on the site, as it gives them an impression of you and your content. It should be concise yet informative, giving readers a quick overview of who you are and why your website has the answers they’re seeking. Be brutal – just cherry-pick the most relevant, interesting stuff and ditch the rest, especially the fluff.

Your blog biography should be unique to you and your content. You have to make a case for what sets your blog apart from others in such a short space. This means that you need to include information about yourself, such as qualifications or experience, as well as details about what makes your blog special. Additionally, it’s important to include keywords related to the topics you write about so that search engines can easily find your website when people are looking for answers online.

Step 4: Highlight Unique Qualities

When writing a blog bio, it’s important to include keywords that will help search engines and potential readers find you. Take five minutes to make your blog better by updating the short bio in your site’s sidebar with relevant information about yourself and what you do. A strategically written bio should be concise yet descriptive, highlighting the unique qualities that make you stand out from the crowd.

Your bio should be tailored to your target audience so they can immediately recognize that they are in the right place when they land on your page. Even the most professional short bios should include something that shows you are a real person. 

Your industry recognition can help prove your expertise in your chosen field. Google’s E-A-T ranking score (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) is especially important for health, fitness, and finance blogs. You can draw attention to these credentials without a long list by displaying logos or images related to them.

You should also share popular blogs you’ve been published on, books you’ve written, and certifications you have.  Showcasing the famous brands you’ve worked with and the big results you’ve got in the past will also help prove your authority.

However, listing awards, accomplishments, medals, blue ribbons, trophies, and honorary titles that make you look accomplished in your field can have an unwanted effect on your audience – they might not know what any of these awards actually mean. Can listing your accolades seem like “bragging”? Well, yes. The balance is finding the line between asserting your knowledge, while also writing in a language that they will understand.

Step 5: Give Yourself a Time Limit

Once your fingers hit the keyboard, and you start writing the bio, you should be able to write a short one within 30 minutes, and a longer one in an hour. A time limit will make you write from the heart, which is where the best bios live. Then put it aside for an hour or so before a final proofread and edit before sending. Don’t sit on it too long or it will never finish.

Step 6: Write in the First Person

There are two sides to this argument: When thinking about how to write a bio, should you write your bio in the first person or in the third person?

Unfortunately, there are downsides to both.

• If you write in the first person, you can’t really brag about yourself, because it can come across as conceited.

• If you write in the third person, that can get weird, too… especially if the rest of your blog or website is in the first person. Because then people know you’re bragging about yourself and that you just wanted to disguise the fact that you were doing it by pretending someone else wrote it.

So, what do you do? Ultimately, this comes down to personal preference and your audience. In my opinion, the first-person point of view is the most intimate way to write you bio.

Step 7: Include Contact Details

Well, duh, but in all the stress this is sometimes forgotten. And don’t forget any social media profiles.

Now for the unveiling. Here’s what I came up with by following these eight steps:

About Debra Garber

Head of Finance & Operations at dlvr.it. Slipped a writing sample under the CEO’s door and now, happily sharing my experiences traversing the wilds of social media. Backyard chicken farmer. Will trade social media tips for organic eggs.

Step 8: Get a Second Opinion.

Ask several people  – colleagues, co-workers, family members, and friends – to review your author bio and provide feedback. After you receive the feedback, edit your bio as needed. Why ask friends? Because they’ll be honest with you.

Thankfully for me, my daughter and son-in-law, both writers, arrived just in time to open a bottle of wine, ask some great questions and slash away at my blog bio.

Version 3. We’ll go with this one for now:

Take a deep breath.

Unfortunately, you are not done!

LAST STEP (this may be the most important one): Include an Amazing Photo

Yes, investing in a good headshot is worth every penny.

Think about all the times you’ve read a great blog author bio and then squinted at the blurry, green-toned, unflattering image of the person it described. Doesn’t it kind of dampen your enthusiasm and admiration for them? NOT because of the way they look, but because they clearly didn’t make the effort.

The Quality of the Image Does Matter!

And, whether you like or not, people’s first impressions can be significantly affected by the quality of your photo.

Here’s a must read:  The Anatomy of a Picture Perfect Profile Image on Social Media

After following this guide, I uploaded a much better image, and voila…

Summary – How To Write a Blog Bio to Look Smart

A blog bio is an essential part of any website or blog. It is the first thing readers will look at to decide if your content is right for them. Your blog bio should be short and concise, providing a jumping-off point for other social media platforms. It should give readers an idea of what your website has to offer and why they should stay on it. And, it needs to inform them why they should come back regularly to read from YOU.

Your blog bio is important because it tells readers why your website has the answers they’re seeking. It gives people an impression of you and your content and sets your blog apart from other options. Writing a compelling blog bio is crucial to make a case for why people should stay on your website and become subscribers, as well as clients or customers. A good blog bio will include information about yourself, what topics you cover, and how often you post new content. Additionally, it should provide links to other social media accounts so that readers can easily find more information about you and your work. And not only that, but make it fun, interesting, and engaging. That’s what will catch their eye, and keep them coming back.

The post How To Write a Blog Bio to Look Smart appeared first on dlvr.it | blog.

We have compiled a list of nine super fun ways to bring summer fun to the office or outside with your team, whether large or small.

Summer Fun in the Office

1 – Office Luau

Office theme parties are a solid way to bring some fun into the office. Luaus, in particular, are an excellent way to both decorate your office and involve your team. Have your team wear their most Hawaiian attire to the office, have a potluck, or cater in lunch. Here in Portland, we have an awesome cultural scene that includes quite a few Hawaiian restaurant. Find your local Hawaiian restaurant, or distribute recipe ideas via email for your party. Have management bring in drinks and set up a cooler, or a kiddie pool filled with ice for a fun feel. Finish it off with tiki torches, grass skirts, and a flower lei. Check out this allyou.com article about how to make low-cost luau decor.

2 – Office Yoga Parties

Summer is a great time to get in shape, and what better way to get in shape than taking a break from your work? At my office, we are in a communal area with no walls and plenty of natural light. Even if you don’t have these conveniences, though, there are plenty of ways to make your office a comfortable place to relax. Take a few minutes every couple of hours and lay out a yoga mat. Do some gentle stretching to loosen up and get away from your computer screens. Try a guided meditation if you don’t have the ability to stretch out. Even try some office chair Yoga stretches. Check out Entrepreneur’s article about how to make Yoga into an office practice.

3 – Cook-offs or Potluck Contests

Some of the best office parties that I’ve ever been a part of were parties where we cooked our own food and brought it to the office. I remember an office party where we decorated a large conference room with sombreros, giant paper flowers, and vibrant tablecloths and had a salsa contest and potluck. Another office party was one held with a simple electric grill, an assortment of cheeses, and a few crockpots of soup. Yet another still, we brought fixings for a nacho bar. If you opt for a contest, put out simple ballots, label dishes with a number, and have everyone taste and vote for their favorites. Check out Buzzfeed’s article for some yummy salsa recipes.

Short Excursions to Bring on the Summer Fun

4 – Take your team out to lunch

Pick a restaurant within walking distance and take a short walk with your team to get there. Your walk is a great opportunity for team building.

• Have a scavenger hunt on your way.
• Pick some topics to get to know each other.
• Mix up teams by sending different teams on different routes to your destination.

Our team likes to get together at a local brewery and spend some time just talking. We enjoy getting to know each other at a local brewery or restaurant. If you can’t take the team out to a restaurant, take your team out for a picnic lunch just outside the office at a local park or even on your office lawn. Check out some icebreakers that will make your picnic even more fun.

5 – Create a scavenger hunt (either inside or outside your office – preferably outside!)

I know we talked about scavenger hunts in the last item, but this is a dedicated scavenger hunt. The idea is that you will give your team competition that will involve traveling around the office, and hopefully, they will engage with one another in the spirit of playful competitive banter. Hide stations around the office that will have checkpoints or even other clues. Give them clue #1, then make them find the rest of the clues. If your team is anything like mine was when we did this, you will have a ball giving each other hints as to where to find other clues, talking about what stations you’ve found, or taking a break on the lawn. Take a look at teambonding.com’s list of tips to create your own office scavenger hunt.

6 – Mount a wellness challenge for your team

Summer is by far the best time to get in shape. Swimming, walking, biking, hiking, and even windsurfing are great activities that can be done in a ton of different locations. If you can afford it, give your team some flex time during the summer to provide them with the option to get outside and exercise. Better yet, offer them an incentive to do so. Find a cool prize that your team would enjoy. Maybe a gym membership for six months (for those horrific winter months), perhaps a fitness gift basket that includes a yoga mat, water bottle, hand weights, and resistance bands. Maybe you can even provide a leisure activity like movie tickets and dinner for the winner!

All you have to do is provide your team with a method to track their exercise. Have them email you a selfie after they’re done working out with the amount of time their workout lasted. Provide them with a log that they can fill out. You could even get your employees to show the world how they get out and exercise using social media – if you are so inclined. Use a hashtag and the person who posts the most exercise photos wins the challenge. Set a daily limit and let them go wild! Use Huffington Post’s list of 50 Summer Activities to Burn 50 Calories to put out some ideas for your employees.

Longer Excursions for Amped Up Summer Fun

7 – Take your team to camp

We live in a world of many activities, yes, intended for kids. But many of these places that have camps for kids also have activities for adults. Check your local area for a camp that has outdoor courses, zip lines, or lots of trails for biking and/or horseback riding. If you can afford it, a retreat for your employees can provide a much-needed recharge for your team members and can even stimulate brainstorming for new or improved ideas for your product. In the Portland area, it is but a short drive to any number of these locations, and they can be a simple day trip. Carpool in smaller numbers to increase team interaction.

If you don’t have a place like this nearby, you can even make your own. Create a capture the flag course, tug of war, obstacle course, and keep plenty of water on the sidelines for hydration. Your team will thank you for it. Take a look at Venture Team Building’s 60+ free team building activities for some ideas as to how to create your office field day.

8 – Find a boat

Here in the Willamette Valley, we are very fortunate to have many surrounding bodies of water and many options to find ourselves upon them. Summer fun in the Willamette Valley is, in large part, on the water. We have windsurfing, fishing, jet boating, and many other options. For bigger teams, find a tour company who will let you bring a large number of people aboard. If you’re in Seattle, consider a whale watching tour (I highly endorse these, as I had a blast on mine). If you’re in the Willamette Valley like me, consider a jet boat tour. For all, you New Yorkers, put your tourist cap on and take a sightseeing boat tour. The possibilities are endless on bodies of water. For a less expensive option, check out these water balloons for a cheap alternative to paintball.

9 – Pick a sport, any sport

Put up a volleyball net, put out a couple of cones for a makeshift soccer goal or football goalpost, go golfing! The world is your oyster in the summer. Our team loves to go golfing. Your team may prefer running around on a soccer field. Perhaps someone has a badminton set! All of these options are a great way to bring you together and to get exercise. And, bonus, you may end up teaching a team member a new sport! You could even get some Nerf guns and have an indoor Nerf gun battle. Any fun is good fun!

Wrapping it up

I know it seems like it may be a waste of time to do any of these activities. I promise, though, you will enjoy these activities with your team, and they will be euphoric afterward. Any time I spend outside, always makes me feel great and refreshed. Sure, they may be reluctant at first to participate, but these types of activities are infectious, and your team will thoroughly enjoy them. So get out there and enjoy your summer fun!

The post Summer Fun Ideas to Bring Joy to your Office appeared first on dlvr.it | blog.

So while you will have to accept that a little less work will get done on Halloween, there are also plenty of ways to improve morale, focus your employees, and not completely write off the day.

Queen of Office Parties

My daughter-in-law, Christina, a supervisor for a large medical center, is the queen of planning company “morale boosting” parties. Her ideas run the gamut from office Olympics to an NFL opening day tailgate party (which according to her VP, was the talk of the floor) to monthly themed potlucks. Halloween is one her favorites.

Christmas may be the big corporate-paid party of the year, but Halloween is the party that each employee gets to participate in. Celebrating Halloween at work appeals to the child in each of us and helps create a motivational, team work-oriented work culture.

Mug shot of Christina with a co-worker at her office Halloween party

Halloween Activities for Your Office that Keep Employees Motivated

Thanks to Christina, the Balance, and Branding Beat, here are nine office Halloween ideas will that spark your creative thinking and open up the world of possibilities for celebrating Halloween at work.

1. Have a costume contest and parade

Encourage people to wear their costume to work for the day. Or, you can make the celebration more elaborate and hold an official parade of costumed employees throughout the company.

Have multiple categories of awards:

• Best costume
• Funniest costume
• Most sophisticated costume
• Costume that took the most work to make
• Scariest costume
• Most creative costume

Advertise the awards in advance and provide a thoughtful gift to the winners such as a Starbucks gift card or a gift certificate to a local restaurant or an afternoon off. (I vote for the afternoon off!)

We have a costume contest each year at work and there are always lots of creative costumes. It makes for a fun day and my mime costume won this year, yeah!

For offices with many departments (e.g., sales, marketing, accounting, tech, etc.), assign a theme to each department or by floor or division. Add an award to the list above for the best theme. Winning group gets a pizza party or an adventure to the local museum.

Halloween at In-Shape HQ is crazy. Each dept has a theme. We are the Villains! I am @disneymaleficent #marketingteam @inshapeclubs.

→Make sure you read the section below on office-appropriate Halloween costumes! And, the one after that on what not to wear – just don’t!

2 – Host an Office Halloween Breakfast

Cider and doughnuts make a yummy breakfast treat for Halloween. So might pumpkin and apple bread, pumpkin pie, pumpkin coffee cake, or pumpkin and apple muffins. For healthy eating, assorted fruits top off the meal, and do make the breakfast a team building celebration.

→Make sure to ask employees to spend some time together rather than retreating with their breakfast to their office or cubicle.

A couple of ideas for your menu:

Spooky Eyeball Recipe

• Cook egg in a little butter, don’t flip
• When done, add ketchup for the veins and a slice of black olive for the pupil

Mummy Sausage Dogs

• Use sausage links and a tube of biscuits
• Place a biscuit on a flat surface and roll out with the palm of your hand, cut thin strips with a knife
• Wrap strips around the sausage
• Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or according to directions on box
• Add ketchup for eyes

3 – Halloween Luncheon

You can make a Halloween at the office luncheon as seasonal as breakfast. Or, you can order pizza, sandwich wraps, sub sandwiches, or any other lunch menu.

You can even host a Halloween potluck contest, similar to the costume contest. Give awards for the scariest looking dish, best use of blood (i.e., the color red), craziest use of guacamole and best decor.

The image below has my vote for the best Halloween table decoration:

With dishes ranging from Dirt Pudding to Cincinnati Death Dip, our Chicago office enjoyed a spooky lunch filled with creepy food and cheesy horror movies. Our potluck winner was editor Suzie Moore with her awesomely horrific ‘Monster Mashed Potato’.

And this dish wins for Guacamole (yum?) with tortilla chips:

Martha Stewart has even gotten in on the office Halloween fun with her 13 Hauntingly Good Halloween Potluck Ideas.

4 – Halloween Office and Cubicle Decorations

Synthetic cobwebs, plastic spiders, and craft pumpkins are essential for creating creepy office holiday decor.

Take some caution tape and webbing and drape it across cubicles, desks, ceilings, and walls. Randomly scatter hand prints (dipped in blood) and plastic spiders throughout for a more realistic effect.

Don’t hold back your artistic urges. Give the office a unique thematic feel and make this an office competition!

Offer prizes for best and most festively decorated work area. You can give awards like the awards suggested above for costumes.

→Enhance the team building aspects of this competition by encouraging groups of people to work together to decorate their shared work area.

If you succeed in making your cubicle into a character, take it a step further and embellish other office items with the Halloween spirit.

5 – Pumpkin Carving Contests

Start at around 4 p.m. so that staff can bring their children in for the pumpkin carving contest. Parents can bring older children to help and younger kids to watch if you choose to make this a family adventure.

Or, better yet:

→Make pumpkin carving a contest between individual employees or groups of employees. Either option is a fun, creative team building opportunity.

Pick a pumpkin face and start working. Get everybody in the office involved!

6 – Trick or Treating (Without the Tricking)

Not just for children, you can encourage all employees to bring treats to share and employees can go cubicle to cubicle or door to door trick or treating. Provide each employee with a Halloween trick or treat bag for fun.

7 – Schedule Philanthropic Activities for Volunteers

If your coworkers are going to be a little antsy, you might as well pour all that energy into some volunteering. Contact a local charity, soup kitchen, or animal shelter to see if you and some of your employees can volunteer for the day.

→It can be both inspiring and gratifying to give back to your community with the support of your company through philanthropy, volunteerism, and leadership.

8 – Bobbing for Apples and Other Games

Increase your office morale and offer your employees a couple of ways to express their Halloween spirit. Games and activities are a great choice because they are easy to set up and only take about 30-60 minutes to complete.

Try out one of these:

• Office decorating contest: spookiest set-up wins
• Guess how many candy corn pieces are in a jar
• Play the mummy wrap game with toilet paper or streamers
• Pumpkin bowling – yes, this is a real thing!

And, you can’t forget the ole, bob for apple game…

Bobbing for apples is a tradition many of your employees will decide to skip, but it’s fun for those who are interested. It’s a laughter generator for those who are not. Team building games and activities that are active in nature and without the potential to embarrass, work best for Halloween celebrations at work.

‘The Office’ – ‘Costume Contest’: Let’s hear it for the rational consumer!

Work-Appropriate Halloween Costumes That Keep It Classy

It’s always fun to rock Halloween costumes at work — you get to spice up your regular day with some fun festivities and bond with co-workers over your cute costume inspiration.

But — and this is a big “but” — don’t make the mistake of taking your outfit too far. So as much as you’d like to all dress up as a “sexy grocery store clerk,” you definitely will want to tone down your costume so that it’s appropriate for work.

With help from Pinterest and Brit + Co’s post on 130 Winning Group Halloween Costume Ideas, we’ve rounded up some ideas that are creative, easy to do, and still, keep it classy.

1 – Orange is the New Black

Everyone’s favorite Netflix show gets a second chance at being your group’s signature look this Halloween. Try not to get into a knife fight over who gets to wear the orange jumper.

2 – Dominoes

Grab your co-workers, pool together all the black clothes you have and decorate with plenty of sticky tape, and white paper. That’s all it takes to make this cute costume.

3 – Gangnam Style

Grab your dancing co-workers and get ready to go Gangnam style. Make sure you all perfect your gallop shimmy before hitting the parade route.

4 – Office Super Heroines!

Christina and her staff, strut their Halloween super strength.

And, don’t let a curmudgeonly boss or corporate policies ruin your office Halloween fun!

Christina to the rescue…

I think this says it all, “They told us we couldn’t dress up for Halloween, so we just wore superhero socks!”

Trick or Treat? Inappropriate Halloween Costumes are HR’s Worst Nightmare

It goes without saying, but just in case you need a visual reminder, we recommend not wearing any of these costumes to the office Halloween party.

There are different levels of conservatism in every workplace when it comes to how far you can push the envelope. But in most offices, you don’t want to wear a costume that offends a certain ethic group or goes crazy on the sex-pot-o-meter. – Shanti Atkins, President and CEO of ELT, an ethics and workplace compliance training firm

Inappropriate office Halloween costumes

1 – Pregnant School Girl Costume

Just don’t! While it is rather comical and could get a laugh or two, we don’t recommend wearing something like this to an office party. It could come off as offensive or just un-tasteful.

2 – Sexy Olaf

Just don’t! Apparently, the sexy variation of Olaf, the snowman from Disney’s Frozen is one of the hottest costumes this year. The costume might be a hit at the party, but you’ll likely have to endure lasciviously whistled renditions of “Let It Go” every time you walk the sales floor between now and Thanksgiving.

3 – Plug & Socket Costume

Just don’t! If you are bringing your spouse or significant other to the office Halloween party, we would recommend staying away from this one. It’s funny (kind of), but not worth it. Keep the couple’s costumes PG and avoid the innuendos.

4 – Janitor/Warehouse Worker/Manual Laborer

Just don’t! Every so often, some desk jockey, usually a skinny suit wearing, Audi driving, Red Bull-guzzling junior executive type assumes the whole office will find it hilarious if he dresses up in the manner of some occupation that is clearly several stations beneath him. We don’t, and it’s not.

Last, but certainly not least:

5 – Untitled

Just don’t!

Keep HR Happy! Let the festivities begin!

___

Thank you, Christina, the office party queen, for the inspiration for this post and impressive morale-boosting office Halloween ideas!

For further “office” inspiration, check out our posts on:

• Boss’s Day: Perfect Last-Minute Gift Ideas for Boss’s Day
• April Fool’s Day: 37 Awesome Office Pranks That Will Make You Want to Work Alone
• Unique gift ideas for a small business owner
• Job-safe New Year cards for your boss and customer
• Awesome ideas for a white elephant gift exchange

The post 9 of the Best Office Halloween Ideas That will Boost Your Spirit appeared first on dlvr.it | blog.

Fortunately, it’s not too late for your small business to use a Valentine’s Day marketing strategy even if you’re not a pizza parlor. Delighting and surprising your customers with a unique message isn’t difficult or time-consuming, and it doesn’t have to cost you a dime.

Valentine’s Day Marketing Strategies

Here are seven quick ideas to get you started:

1. Send a Heartfelt Email to Your Customers

Send a “heartfelt” email to your customer list telling them you appreciate them and why. As a small business owner, you may have a more intimate relationship with your clients than a large corporation would so use that to your advantage to build the relationships.

Maybe even share a little pizza humor:

2. Decorate with Pizza Hearts

If you own a retail store, spread a little love throughout your store with hearts and pizza lights. Not only with this create an air of festivity, but it will also get shoppers in the mood to find something special for their Valentines.

3. Package Items Together

Choose a few products to bundle together. You can even group a popular item with one that isn’t selling well. You’ll see more people pick up the bundles as an added-value item than would buy them separately.

4. Send a Pizza Valentine Card via Snail Mail

Just like you might send holiday cards to your clients in the winter, send Valentine’s Day cards now. It’s a thoughtful (or cheesy) way to show you’re thinking about your customers, and it will keep you at the top of their minds.

5. Tweet or Blog About Valentine’s Day Marketing Gift Ideas

If you use Twitter or your blog to market your business, write about fun valentine’s day gift ideas. By making it easy to get gift ideas, you’re connecting with new customers and making their shopping trip a breeze.

Results of the grilled pizza cone – YUM!

6. Get Social

Share a unique Valentine’s promo code on Facebook and Twitter, only good for your social media followers. You can pick up new customers in this way, and reward those that are already loyal customers.

Another great social media strategy you can use for Valentine’s Day is to post a “love note” to your customers and fans on Facebook each day in February. Just a heartfelt message, such as “we love our customer who always brings in her sweet poodle to the store!”

7. Let Customers Show Their Love

Hang a large chalkboard or whiteboard at the front of your store, and write “I Love _________.” Then let customers fill in the blank. It’s a great interactive addition to your store, and one they’ll tell their friends about!

___

Do you need some help delivering your social media message? dlvr.it can help you deliver virtual pizza anytime, anyplace!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

The post We Heart Our Customers: Why Valentine’s Day and Pizza Make the Perfect Marketing Team appeared first on dlvr.it | blog.

1 – Writer Emergency Pack

Writer Emergency Pack is a deck full of useful ideas designed to help get your story back on track. When your story gets stuck, Writer Emergency Pack has the tools you need. Fix plot holes. Spice up stock characters. Rethink your themes.

Each Pack Contains:

• 26 illustrated idea cards
• 26 detail cards with helpful suggestions and specific tips to try
• Instructions for individual and class use, plus a bonus story game (“Cards Against Normality”)

2 – 642 Tiny Things to Write About

We all get stuck when it comes to the next social media update idea. This book containing 642 things to write about is among a handful of books we love. It is a perfect gift for stumped writers, journalers, or any creative type needing a tiny flash of inspiration.

3 – @TwitterName FlipFlops 

Send your social media manager on vacation to a warm Hawaiian Island with these Social Media FlipFlops. They get a bit of rest, and you get a guerilla marketing tactic the drives new Twitter followers. They leave a lasting impression – literally. It’s a win-win!

4 – @TwitterName Necklace

To compliment their stylish @TwitterName flip flops, how about memorializing your social media manager’s Twitter handle in sterling silver adorned around their neck. It’s perfect for the manager who has single-handedly increased your company’s Twitter following by 10X. How glamorous they will look!

5 – Instagram Purse 

Let’s continue outfitting your social media manager with the finest that Etsy has to offer. This Instagram purse is perfect to carry an iPod, iPhone, money, or a wallet everywhere you go. It’s handmade with only the finest cotton.

6 – Social Media and Handmade Emojis Pillows

What social media manager wouldn’t love a social media inspired pillow. This pillow is the ultimate in social media geekery. Choose from YouTube, Facebook, a hashtag or an assorted array of smiley faces. It’s a gift only a social media manager would love and appreciate.

7 – AquaNotes 

Inspiration strikes anywhere! How many times have you been taking a shower and you had the best idea to grow revenue only to forget it by the time you towel off. Don’t put that kind of pressure on your social media manager. This waterproof notepad is the answer to that issue.

8 – Typewriter Keyboard

This keyboard is my favorite gift on the list. It is a new twist on the boring keyboard. It brings back a bit of nostalgia. Qwerkywriter takes the keyboard one step further and gives writers a wireless typewriter that connects via Bluetooth to tablets, smartphones and more.

9 – A new twist on  the desk

We all know how bad sitting at a desk can be. With the objective of being more productive, comfortable and saving your back, one of the craziest ideas in desk design is the desk by Altwork. Is Desk Design 2.0 the way of the future? Set your sleep comfort to “lights out”, grab a social media pillow and take a nap between tweets.

___
Looking for other awesome gift ideas? Check our post on the Ultimate Gift Guide for Your Boss, Your Co-Workers, and Your Cat [Always Up-To-Date].

The post 9 Awesome Gifts for the Social Media Manager in Your Life appeared first on dlvr.it | blog.

Gifts are one thing but what about holiday celebrations? Do you ignore them? Which ones are politically correct to celebrate?

Whether it is a gift for your boss or celebrating a holiday, more often than not, giving a small thoughtful gift or card is better than not doing anything at all.

But don’t you worry, we’ve got you covered.

Ultimate Gift Ideas: For Your Boss, Your Co-Workers and Your Cat

Although we’re not experts in gift giving, we’ve created some fun posts over the years with some GREAT gift ideas:

• Unique gift ideas for a small business owner
• Unique gift ideas for your boss
• Awesome gift ideas for your cat
• Awesome ideas for a white elephant gift exchange
• Job-safe New Year cards for your boss and customers
• The gift that keeps on giving: Standing Desks

Scroll down for a sneak peek at these posts:

___

21 Unique Ideas, a Small Business Owner, Would Love and Appreciate

Is a beloved small business owner on your holiday list? Can’t decide what gift to get him or her? We’ve put together 21 unique gift ideas for the multi-tasking, sleep deprived, and over-caffeinated small business owner on your shopping list. Some cool, some crazy, some useful and some just plain ridiculous.

Sneak Peek:

Coffee Brewer and Alarm Clock. The best gift ever! Good morning sunshine.

21 Unique (and Inexpensive) Gifts for your Boss

Thanks to Pinterest and other secret sources, here are 21 awesome DIY and inexpensive gift ideas to thank your boss. Who knows, they may even get you that raise!

Sneak peek:

Donuts, Wheatgrass & Golf. These three go together like…but seriously, who doesn’t like donuts?

7 Wacky Bacon (and Other Awesome) White Elephant Gifts for Your Co-workers

Are you in desperate need of last minute white elephant gift inspiration? We’ve put together a seriously crazy list of gifts that only your co-workers would love or hate. You pick!

Sneak peek:

Desktop Aquarium ($24.55): Anyone can put a pencil holder on a desk – why settle for that when you can have something infinitely cooler, like this USB-powered desktop aquarium.  Did you know that quietly watching fish swim eases stress, and may offer a means of treating high blood pressure? Hum, how SMART and relaxing is that?

7 Ways to FedEx a Cat [Includes a Bonus Gift Guide for your Cat]

Scroll to the bottom of this post to find some of the best present ideas for your cats, all of which are sure to make them forget about their travels — or at least, amuse you.

Sneak peek:

Cat Nap Cocoon ($53):  This unique gift comes from Lithuania. Your cat will instantly fall in love with this Cat Nap Cocoon (Cave, Bed, House, or Vessel) made of hand felted wool. From a satisfied customer, “A very well made bed! My cat loves it, and it’s fun to see him all curled up inside. He also adores the small felt heart that came with it.”

7 Kiss-Ass Happy New Year Card Greetings for Your Boss (plus 22 Boring but “Job-safe” Things to Say to Your Clients)

We’ve put together a list of some crazy things you could get away with saying to your boss, some things you probably should not say and then a boring list of politically correct things to say to your boss, clients or small business associates. Pick the one or two you like best and file the rest under “G for garbage”!

Sneak peek:

This is the most politically correct card I could find. The subtext: I’m eliminating the possibility of offending anyone including your wife because who doesn’t celebrate The New Year!?

7 Awesome Standing Desks that Will Change Your Life

With headlines like Sitting is the New Smoking: 4 Simple Tips to Avoid the Negative Side Effects, it’s not new news that sitting all day at work (or home) is killing us. Here are seven fabulous standing desk gift designs from around the world that will change your life.

Sneak peek:

The Level: Starts at $289. First came standing desks, and then treadmill desks, now say hello to surfing desks.

Other Inspiration:

• What Dad is Afraid to Admit He Really Wants for Father’s Day
• Six Safe Ways to Embrace Valentine’s Day at the Office
• 9 of the Best Office Halloween Ideas That Will Chill and Thrill
• 37 Awesome Office Pranks That Will Make You Laugh Out Loud

The post Ultimate Gift Guide for Your Boss, Your Co-Workers and Your Cat [Always Up-To-Date] appeared first on dlvr.it | blog.

Looking for awesome gift ideas or just wanting to relax and laugh? Enjoy some of our most read FUN posts from the Social Media Minute over the past year:

• 21 Unique Gift Ideas, a Small Business Owner, Would Love and Appreciate
• 21 Unique (and Inexpensive) Gift Ideas for Boss’s Day
• What Dad is Afraid to Admit He Really Wants for Father’s Day
• 9 of the Best and Worst Small Business Welcome Signs
• 7 Ways to FedEx a Cat
• 7 Wacky Bacon (and Other Awesome) White Elephant Gifts for Your Co-workers
• 7 Stop-You-in-Your-Tracks Sandwich Board Signs that Customers Will Notice

___

Need a break from the family? Enjoy a good crossword puzzle:

Happy Thanksgiving!

The post Thanksgiving is a Time to Relax and Enjoy [Best-Of Fun Posts 2015] appeared first on dlvr.it | blog.

“What greater gift than the love of a cat?”

—Charles Dickens

5 Ways to Celebrate National Cat Day

1 – Clear your day. #UberKITTENS are back! 

For just $30, Uber will deliver kittens on-demand in 50 cities!

It’s just a $30 “snuggle fee” for the best 15 minutes of your day and we will turn around and support the participating shelters! If you’re smitten for a kitten or are looking for a new purr-sonal assistant just ask the local shelter representative assisting with your kitten delivery. We’ve helped over 30 kittens find their forever homes through UberKITTENS and this year, we hope to find every eligible kitten a home!

HOW IT WORKS:

1. Open your Uber app between 11 am and 3 pm.
2. Request the “KITTENS” option in your app. Set a reminder to request at the purrfect time. 
3. Once the kittens arrive, you and your friends will get to enjoy 15 minutes of kitten cuteness! PRO TIP: Make sure to have an enclosed space purrrfect for playtime!
4. The best part? In most cities, kittens are eligible for adoption.

2 – Read to your cat:  7 Ways to FedEx a Cat. 

Your cat may not be amused but make sure to check out the five AWESOME present ideas for your cat at the end of the post. Your cat will eventually forgive you.

3 – Gaze into your Cat’s Eye.

How do your cats eyes compare to the alluring Cat’s Eye Nebula which lies 3,000 light-years from Earth?

4 -Post an animated Gif of your cat to social media.

via GIPHY

Read: How to Create and Tweet Animated GIFs to Jazz up your Twitter Timeline

5 – Curl up on the couch and watch “My Cat From Hell” on Animal Planet

Feeling less stressed now?

Happy National Cat Day!

The post Need a Cat? Uber Delivers Kittens on #NationalCatDay appeared first on dlvr.it | blog.

In prior years, have you given your boss a gift, expressing your gratitude?

If not, there’s no time to start like the present – no pun intended~!

What Exactly is Boss’s Day?

Seriously, I had no idea what Boss’s Day was until it popped up on my recently subscribed to Social Media Calendar from Twenty20.

Who knew? Thankfully, Wikipedia has it clear:

Boss’s Day is celebrated on October 16 (or the nearest working day) in the United States. Today, Boss’s Day has gained increasing popularity, not only in the United States but across the world, and is now also observed in countries such as Canada, Romania, Australia, India, and South Africa. It has traditionally been a day for employees to thank their bosses for being kind and fair throughout the year. This day was created to strengthen the bond between employer and employee. Although the holiday is still controversial, it has become increasingly popular since its creation.

It’s never too early to start planning. Here’s a schedule of upcoming Boss’s Day from calendar-365.com from 2017 to 2027:

So, how do you say thanks?

Favorite ways to say “thanks” include:

Cards

Lunch in your boss’s honor

Flowers

Gift Certificates

= BORING

Just kidding, but wouldn’t it be fun to find a creative, inexpensive way to say thanks?

One of our more popular posts from last year lists 21 Unique Gift Ideas a Small Business Owner Would Love and Appreciate. Some are cool, some crazy, some useful and some just plain ridiculous.

Here’s one example:

The Nap Pillow is a gift that keeps on giving. Sleep, sleep, sleep – my tired entrepreneur. $99

Need more inspiration?

Thanks to Pinterest and other secret sources (source 1 and source 2) here are 29 fresh, creative and inexpensive ways to say THANK YOU to your boss on Boss’s Day!

There’s something fun for every type of boss out there. And, who knows… one of these gifts may just get you that raise!

29 Awesome Gift Ideas For Boss’s Day

1(a) – Donuts, Wheatgrass & Golf. These three go together like…but seriously, who doesn’t like donuts?

1(b) – Donut Know What I Would Do Without You. Awe, such a SWEET sentiment.

2 – DIY Mason Jar Herb Garden. Perfect for the office window sill.

Note to self: I love this idea!

3 – Rock Garden. This one is easy: find some rocks, a sharpie, pass them out to your office mates and fill a bowl with quotes and messages for your boss.

4 – Cool Card Poster. You are sure to earn some extra brownie points with this one.

5 – Keep Calm and Lead On. If you must go the flower route, here’s a clever vase.

6 – Shirt Cake. No need to send out for dry cleaning.

7(a) –  Mood Wine Glass. Good Day – Bad Day – don’t even ask!

7(b) – Moby Beer Mug. If your boss acts like a friend, then it’s likely he or she has invited you out for a drink or two. This personalized mug is bubbling over with style.

8 – DIY Spa In A Jar. Try saying that a few times. This idea is pretty simple and would also make a great Mothers Day gift (hint).

9 – Custom Rolodex. Don’t laugh. Bill Flitter, this may be old-school, but it’s coming back!

10 – Thanks a Latte. Substitute the mug with one from your favorite coffee shop or beverage. Great budget-friendly and quick present to put together.

11 – Mini Zen Garden. Have any Altoid tins hanging around the office?

12 – Knock, Knock, Deal With This Self-Inking Stamp. When the urge to wield a rubber stamp strikes, an inkpad is rarely at hand.

13 – An Honest Day’s Work Notepad with Pen. Hope your boss appreciates your humor.

14 – Custom Coffee Mug. Got a sharpie? Grab a mug from the pantry and be creative.

Note: Oil-based Sharpies and enamel-based paints made specifically for ceramics will make this dishwasher safe.

15 – Not Another Mug! Use sharpie from #14 above and grab another mug from the pantry. Wrap it up and let your boss enjoy!

16 – Witty Crumpled Legal Paperweight. Here’s the DIY version: find a heavy rock, place it in the center of a piece of yellow lined legal paper, crumple the paper around the rock. Voila!

17(a) – You are Awful Card. Just kidding. Fooled you!

17(b) – You’re Not The Boss of Me Card. Oh, Wait…You Are!!!

18 – You Hold The Pieces Together. Another DIY project. Fill the jar with Reese’s Pieces and call it a day!

19 – Horrible Bosses DVD. Hope your boss has a sense of humor. When in doubt, go with a classic like Breakfast at Tiffany’s or Forrest Gump.

Or any of these funny movie bosses:

1. Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder), “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”

2. Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), “The Devil Wears Prada”

3. Willy Wonka (Johnny Depp), “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”

4. Felonious Gru (Steve Carell), “Despicable Me”

5. Santa Claus (Ed Asner), “Elf”

6. Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock), “The Proposal”

7. Dr. Julia Harris (Jennifer Aniston), “Horrible Bosses”

8. Dr. Evil (Mike Myers), “Austin Powers”

9. Franklin Hart Jr. (Dabney Coleman), “9 to 5”

10. Cruella De Vil (Glenn Close), “101 Dalmatians”

***

20 – Best Boss EVER! You can’t go wrong with this one (except for the size!). And, there are plenty of DIY versions out there if you have the time.

Already have an idea, but need a last-minute delivery method?

21 – A Boss’s Day Certificate. Use this certificate – if and only if you are entirely out of time!

Need more inspiration?

Bonus Ideas for Boss’s Day

For the “traditional boss”:

1 – Edison Genius Paperweight. Remind your boss that hard work will pay off with this inspirational paperweight.

2 – Personalized Cuff Links. Traditional bosses love professional dress days.

For the “quirky boss”:

3 – Nailed It Desk Organizer. You’ll have no problem hitting it off with your boss at the office with this quirky desk accessory.

4 – A Short Guide to a Happy Life. The oddball boss tends to enjoy talking deep or spiritually, so give your boss some more material with this remarkable book about life.

5 – Bicycle Bookends. From the misty shores of Maine to the park down the road, you never know where a good book–or bike ride, for that matter–can take you.

For the “friendly boss”:

6 –F-bomb paperweight. The friendly boss probably joins in at the water cooler and enjoys office humor. This recycled steel paperweight is sure to be an expletive hit in the office.

And last but not least, use if all else fails…

7 – At Your Service Bell. Can I get some service around here? Ding ding! With this handy red service bell, you can finally get your boss’s attention in a hurry.

Still not inspired? Here’s our final suggestion. Seriously, you can’t go wrong!

Bonus: Personalized Best Boss magazine cover.  Features a photo of your boss along with custom headlines with inside jokes and special memories. A unique gift that will bring a smile and be kept for years to come.

___

Happy Boss’s Day to all the bosses out there ~ especially mine!
___

Have any awesome Bosses Day traditions or gifts? Please feel free to add them in the comments. Share the inspiration and cool ideas for Boss’s Day!

The post Perfect Last Minute Gift Ideas for Boss’s Day appeared first on dlvr.it | blog.

While you can blame office work, processed foods, and sedentary lifestyles, there are some simple solutions – taking frequent breaks, stretching, and eating your veggies – just like Mom told you. What Mom probably doesn’t know is that the “new office” doesn’t have to involve sitting.

7 Fabulous Standing Desk Designs From Around the World

1 – Ever get the feeling that your hampster gets more exercise than you do?

Hampster Wheel Standing Desk: $ DIY

Rise, sedentary slouchers, and unleash that untapped potential within by marching endlessly towards a brilliant future of focused work. Step forward into a world of infinite potential, bounded only by the smooth arcs of a wheel. Step forward into the Hamster Wheel Standing Desk that will usher in a new era of unprecedented productivity.

2 – Walking 10,000 steps per day does your heart good

Treadmill Desk: $499

The TrekDesk treadmill desk will show you how to workout at work, improve your mental and physical health while performing nearly any regular desk task, without taking extra time out of your day.

No sweat, extra time or motivation required!

3 – First came standing desks, then treadmill desks, now say hello to surfing desks.

The Level: Starts at $289.

The Level is a beautifully designed tool that brings motion to any common work or meeting area. You were designed to move – it’s likely your workspace was not. From your desk to the conference room, to the living room, we aim to provide a shift where you need it most – physically, emotionally, and intellectually. The Level is the perfect addition to a standing desk, gaming system, or classroom.

Now That You Can Surf at Your Desk, Standing Is So Passé

4 – Rather than change careers and become a courier

Kickstand Desk: Start at $500

We’re cyclists. We want to ride, but we have to work. Unless you’re riding for work, you’re not riding at work. Our concept: 

ride + work

5 – The “Ergonomic Office Chair” is an oxymoron

• Locus Seat: $715
• Locus Workstation: $1,290
• Confluence Conference Table: $2,999

If ergonomic office chairs “worked,” then why are so many people still plagued with neck, shoulder, back and hip pain? The reason is simple: there are plenty of “ergonomic” desk chairs, but there’s no such thing as ergonomic sitting. The solution split the difference between sitting and standing. In its body-first design simplicity, the Locus Seat is the most radical and forward thinking way to work in comfort and health in the digital age.

The complete Locus Workstation:

The Conference Table:

6 – Standing while working?

The DeskStand: $189 (ships from Cape Town, South Africa)

For the multi-tasking individual who needs more space and a separate monitor, or two. The DeskStand doesn’t just get you on your feet; it helps improve your posture, strengthening your back muscles, allowing you to stay focused longer.

7 – So you’re looking for a desk with wheels. 

Mobile Laptop Cart: $85

Our favorite sub-$100 adjustable mobile laptop workstation is the TECHNI MOBILI Cadmus. Great for the home or the office, the mobile cart can go almost anywhere you want to use your laptop.

In case you were wondering, I’m standing now while crafting this entire post – my one hour is up. My setup is not as sophisticated as the ones mentioned above but my birthday is soon, and I’m in love with #4!

Here’s your challenge:

1. Stand for one hour the first two days
2. Gradually increase the number of hours
3. Goal: Be standing four hours by Friday of the 2nd week!

Featured image thanks to John Powers.

The post 7 Awesome Standing Desk Designs that Will Change Your Life appeared first on dlvr.it | blog.

Yahoo Travel put together a list of the ten top small-town 4th of July celebrations that are worth the journey. My hometown of Sonoma, California ranked #3. I mention Sonoma from time to time in my posts, but this honor gives me greater “bragging rights” (at least with my Mom). Local businesses, non-profits, clubs, schools, sports teams and community members all jump into the fun to make it a real hometown celebration using various 4th of July social media tactics.

For proof of how fun Sonoma can be, the featured photo in this post was taken at the climax of Sonoma’s 4th of July parade last year where firefighters doused the (willing) crowd with water.

Five 4th of July Social Media Ideas

1. Partner with a charity

Take a look at your local community – is there a charity that makes sense for your business to support? My favorite charity is the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation! This year, the foundation will be marching in the 4th of July parade along with Sonoma Market, a favorite local business. Sonoma Market gives back to the community in numerous ways. Here’s a recent picture from inside the market where they “happily” sell raffle tickets for this cherry red scooter for the upcoming #redandwhiteballsonoma – one of the foundation’s biggest fundraisers.

This is a great way to market your business on a budget while helping a local organization.

2. Host a party for your customers and open it up to surrounding businesses

Host a red, white and blue party for your clients and surrounding businesses. It doesn’t even have to be on July 4th. Take over the parking lot. Encourage your guests to wear their most patriotic ensembles. Have guests vote for the best outfit and offer a prize. What a great way to showcase your business style and flare.

Be sure to take a lot of photos to share with your followers on social media. Not only does this represent your business as a fun place to work, but it also showcases the people who make up your company. Encourage your followers to share their photos with your social media community.

Or, send out a short Tweet or Facebook post reminding your customers that you are open for business.

Here are examples from two of my favorite local Sonoma businesses: Taste of the Himalayas and Sunflower Caffé:

3. Offer FREE admission

What a great way to showcase your business, give back to your community and gain some friends. Here’s an example of Sonoma’s local museum offering free admission on the 4th of July for its current Diebenkorn exhibit.

4. Have a spur of the moment sale or promotion

Give your social media follower’s notice of a spur of the moment sale. Create a brand-specific hashtag for the sale or item to maximize your reach and impact. Although Williams-Sonoma has a large international retail presence, it has humble roots starting back in my California wine country town of Sonoma in 1956. Secret code: JULY

And, here’s an example of an email campaign from a local auto care shop offering $20 off AC repair – just in time for the 4th of July.

5. Conduct a contest or tweet out Fourth of July Fun Facts

Here are a few:

• The 4th of July wasn’t referred to as Independence Day until 1791.
• In a bizarre, though perhaps, an apt twist of fate, both Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams died on July 4, 1826.
• The value of American flag imports in 2013 was $4 million. That’s right; we import our own flags.
• U.S. imported $203.6 million of its $213.8 million worth of fireworks from China in 2013.
• July 4th is the “biggest hot dog holiday of the year,” according to TIME magazine, with Americans reportedly consuming about 155 million of them on Independence Day alone.
• Benjamin Franklin proposed the turkey as the national bird, but John Adams and Thomas Jefferson overruled him, they wanted the bald eagle.
• The number of Americans who will spend the holiday at other people’s homes is approximately 41 million.
• There are a total of 59 places in the U.S. containing the word “liberty” in the name. Many of these are the names of counties, cities, and towns.

Or, post crazy recipes to your Facebook page. Here’s one for Rocket Hot Dogs.

Remember to have a little fun celebrating the 4th of July. While engagement isn’t everything, it’s critical to give back to your customers sometimes (and not always make it about the sale). Wishing everyone a happy and safe 4th of July!

Ready for more social media marketing inspiration? Here are a few more social media success stories to inspire you.

And, if you’re planning to go on vacation this 4th of July and want to keep your social media active while you are away – check out the best social media automation services.
___

Would love to hear your 4th of July social media ideas. Share in the comments below.

The post 5 Easy To-Do 4th of July Social Media Ideas appeared first on dlvr.it | blog.

Make this Father’s Day the best ever by giving your dad a day that shows him just how important and loved he is.

Father’s Day has been celebrated for over 100 years. The traditional way of celebrating Father’s Day is to indulge your dad or husband with breakfast in bed and gifts like cards, flowers, chocolates, and neckties. But, is that what he really wants for Father’s Day?

We’ve brainstormed with family and friends and put together a short list of awesome Father’s Day gifts he’ll actually want!

Perfect Father’s Day Gifts He’ll Actually Want!

#1. You think he wants: Breakfast in bed

But he really wants…

Everyone else to go out to breakfast so that he can sleep in and have the rest of the morning to himself!

#2. You think he wants: A card

But he really wants…

To be playing cards with his best friends!

#3. You think he wants: Flowers

But he really wants…

Someone to dig in and help him clean out the garden shed and organize his tools!

#4. You think he wants: A box of chocolates

But he really wants…

A box of bacon

#5. You think he wants: A necktie

But he really wants…

A neck rub

#6. You think he wants: Dinner out

But he really wants…

A grilled burger in

#7. You think he wants: To go for a Sunday bike ride

But he really wants…

A ride-on lawn mower

Dad’s Day Gifts Bonus:

#8. You think he wants: To drive to the beach with the family

But he really wants…

A day at the driving range with his buddies

_____

For more stuff for cool dads (aka every dad), check out these Father’s Day gifts from uncommongoods.com and Etsy.

Happy Father’s Day to all the great dad’s out there especially those I work with at dlvr.it! Hope you receive the “perfect” gift!

The post What Dad is Afraid to Admit He Really Wants for Father’s Day appeared first on dlvr.it | blog.

You’re first instinct is probably to run and hide behind your firewall, but ultimately; after going through the The 17 Stages Of Your Mom Joining Facebook, you have to accept her friend or follower request. Sorry, but you just have to! Now that your mom is on Facebook, it’s time to reminisce with her.

I’m the first to admit (even to my Mom), I like #throwbackthursdays or TBT for short on Facebook. My teenage daughter looks at me like I’m crazy when she asks me what that is. Does it stand for…To be told? Truth be told? Tell boy to? (hopefully, not the last one). Throwback Thursday means taking a walk down memory lane by posting old photos on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. It is one of the most popular trends on social media today. Why? Simply because people love nostalgia! If you’re old enough, looking back at what you used to look like, whom you used to spend time with, and what you used to wear is a fun way for people to remember, and laugh at, old times. (Side note. Just learned another one from the teenager: SS = Selfie Sunday)

In honor of Mother’s Day, here are a few fun throwbacks found across the web:

1. The Good Wife’s Guide – Housekeeper Monthly, May 13, 1955.

Never, ever show this to my husband!

The following is from a 1950’s home economics textbook intended for high school girls, teaching them how to prepare for married life:

 2. If 70s Moms Had Blogs… 

This one is awesome. Taken from the blog Wide Lawns and narrow minds. Make sure to click through to the full article.

Read more.

3. Grandma’s City Chicken Recipe

As mentioned in an earlier post on old-school marketing, my Mom was raised above a butcher shop in Lorain, Ohio where she learned how to make City Chicken from her Mom. Care to guess what it is?

City Chicken was developed around the 1930s as a way to knock-off chicken without spending the money on chicken. The traditional City Chicken recipe uses cubes of pork, veal and beef. The cubes of meat are skewered, breaded, fried and baked. The thought is that the meat on the skewer resembles a chicken leg. Obviously these days it would be much more economical to just make some breaded chicken legs. However, City Chicken definitely stands on its own as a tasty, down-home comfort food. In fact, my Mom surprised us with the dish at Thanksgiving a couple years ago!

For a modern day take on the classic recipe, here’s Food.com’s 5-star recipe on City Chicken (But It’s Not Chicken!).

Happy #throwbackthursday and Happy Mother’s Day to all the great Mom’s out there (including mine).

The post A Mother’s Day Throwback Thank You! appeared first on dlvr.it | blog.

And, at the very least, we hope you have a good laugh!

Fun Office Pranks Anyone Can Pull Off

___

1.) Everyone Loves Balloons. Use your humor to blow these up on your lunch hour!

2.) Think twice before you pop one in your mouth. At least make them mint flavored.

3.) In another food-related prank, share some tasty fresh donuts with your co-workers – wink!

Replace the custard filling with mayonnaise for a real surprise.

4.) Part A: Awesome follow-up to your Mayonnaise prank

5.) Part B: The counter-Mayonnaise prank

Convince a friend to do that. THEN switch the pudding back to Mayo before they execute the prank.

Results: Hilarious!

6.) Render your co-workers mouse unusable (temporarily, of course)

This one is deviously simple and a classic. Just stick a little bit of tape over the laser on the bottom of the mouse, and it will stop working. Take out a stopwatch to time how long it takes them to turn it upside down – my guess, longer than you think!

7.) Automatically replace words in a shared document with hilarious substitutions

This prank works in either Microsoft Word or Google Docs.

If you’re using Google Docs:

Go to Tools → Preferences. Replace some of your colleague’s commonly used words with some ‘interesting’ substitutions.

In Microsoft Word:

Go to Tools → AutoCorrect options. Do the same thing.

Watch your colleague tear their hair out trying to type the words they want.

8.) Grow a garden in an old keyboard and swap out with your co-workers. 

This one takes some time and planning, but the war is SO on!

9.) Dust Lego’s with flour so they look like candy. 

As they say in France, Bon Appétit!

10.) Got scissors, glue, and black paper? 

This one is pure genius!

11, 12, and 13.) These pranks have been around for years BUT are just as hilarious today as they were 20-years ago 

14.) Impressive to say the least.  

Maybe you can’t fit this one in on your lunch break.

15.) Is this really a prank? 

Where can I get a bacon covered mouse?

16.) This one could go either way. Use at your discretion. 

Wrap your garbage up to look like a body and place next to the dumpster.

17.) For the loud telephone talker in the cube next to you…

18.) Bad sushi!

For hours, the only stall in the bathroom was ‘taken’…people complained.

Eventually, someone had to check why this guy was on the toilet for 6 hours!

19.) Nothing like good harmless bathroom office pranks

20.) Or better yet. Another use of Duct Tape! 

21.) Now where did all those Sticky Notes go?

22.) Martha Stewart’s new office line of products.

23.) Just wrong…

24.) The latest design in Standing desks

25.) When the cube next to you becomes suddenly available…

26.) Sometimes life just sucks.

27.) Here comes the boom!

28.) Bah, boom! 

29.) She never saw it coming

30.) The Hoff is back!

Universal prank for those who love and hate the Hoff.

31.) Where all the orphaned left-over boxes go

Office filled with left-over take out containers. Ok just the boxes.

32.)  How to FedEx an entire office

33.) Bring your fish to work day.

34.) This is best Grated (cheese!)

35.) This is for the birds!

Bird seed neatly spread.

36.) Is your boss an ego-maniac?

Cover the office with pictures of your boss.

37.) This one will make you cry

Hopefully, these office pranks inspired you to do something fun and harmless to your coworkers on April Fool’s Day or anytime during the year.

___

Please share your fun (PG-13) office pranks. We would love to hear from you.

The post 37 of the Best Office Pranks That Will Make You Blow Your Mind appeared first on dlvr.it | blog.