Staying Out of Range When Explaining Social Media
Posted on February, 23, 2012 by Kerry Rego -
I manage the Facebook page for my Rotary Club*. We have a meeting coming up where all the different divisions will give an overview to the rest of the members about what we have been working on, what we’ve accomplished, and what our goals are for the future. You can probably guess that the “Facebook girl” is scoffed at by the more established members.
Imagine the most cantankerous old man you know. The kind with a walking stick that if you get too close, he might whack you with it**. This “doubter” is who I’m thinking of while I draft my informational handout. The handout has basic statistics for Facebook, user behavior (the undeniable kind), our current status and more. I have also included screencaps of how to post and how to share something someone else has posted. The goal is to have the membership understand more clearly how we can share the great community work we do with others.
Now, I don’t have false expectations that this man is going to use Facebook. I’m shooting for the 80% in the middle. My goal is to gently educate, inform, and inspire over a prolonged period of time. I understand that change is hard, not everyone is going to do it or is interested, and that it takes all kinds. My job here isn’t to convert.
But I’m staying out of range of the walking stick.
———————
*If you’re not a Rotarian, there are more women and younger people than you are probably imagining. We are simply people that care about the world and all the people in it and we are members of the largest volunteer organization on the planet. No religion and no politics.
**The person I see as I write this is, I’m sure, a perfectly wonderful man with a family, an illustrious career, and has donated money and time to his community. So if you are in my club and have hazarded a guess at who I’ve imagined, I use this as a general illustration of all people that might fit into this category. This is not a judgement of the person himself.
[Image via Stock.xchng]
Risks & Reputation Management: Using Social Media to Protect Your Brand
Posted on December, 22, 2011 by Kerry Rego -
“Risks & Reputation Management, Using Social Media to Protect Your Brand”
You are invited to attend a free informational event hosted by Kerry Rego Consulting at Santa Rosa City Hall 7:45 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. on Tuesday March 13, 2012 to educate and inform the public about social media, legal considerations, risk and reputation management.
Learn what you need to know about how to protect your brand name, elevate communications about your company, and understand where hidden dangers to your business lie. You will have access to networking with the speakers as well as other professionals. Resources of information and snacks are provided.
See Press Release for Risk and Reputation Management Event
The speakers are:
Kerry Rego started her consulting firm, Kerry Rego Consulting, in 2006 yet has 20 years professional computer experience. In addition, her varied background weaves office management, customer service, entertainment, technical recruiting, and technology together into a truly unique skill set. Her firm provides technology and social media education, training, implementation, support and keynote speaking. Ms. Rego will discuss traditional media and new media, risks that must be planned for, and the need to know facts about tools that may or may not be right for a brand.
Judith Delaney of TurnsonPoint Consulting has 27 years experience building and managing legal departments as well as lead drafter and negotiator for companies such as SAP America, Sybase and Indus International. Ms. Delaney will discuss risks, social media policies, and legal strategy.
Jack Wolf of Wolf Communications has been creating marketing campaigns in the fields of tourism, government outreach, health care, architecture, consumer shows, recreation, products, retail, hospitality, and special events since 1990. Mr. Wolf will address corporate communication, the changes facing decision makers, and challenges of which to be aware.
You Are Not the Only One Afraid of Technology!
Posted on December, 05, 2011 by Kerry Rego -
O'Reilly Media Ignite November 16, 2011
We believe we are the only ones. The only ones that aren’t cool. That we alone “don’t get it”. Trust me. We are not alone. I work with people from 6-92, low income, C level executives, students to business owners and I’ll tell you now that we are all the same and have the same fears.
(Click here to watch a 5 minute video of my Ignite presentation titled “Everybody’s Afraid”.)
You may assume it’s about how old you are and that you’re too old to learn. That’s not it at all. We are ALL learning and adapting to new technology every day and no one has it all figured out. I get frustrated with those that call themselves experts or “ninjas” because that implies that they know everything. That’s impossible. It makes me laugh to hear someone call me an expert when I’m introduced to an audience. My response is, “I know more than the average bear”. Please know that it’s okay to have and ask questions, in fact, that’s exactly what you should be doing.
And kids today? They aren’t smarter than you, I promise. They have it way easier than those over the age of 30. With punch cards, DOS, and floppy disks, we’ve had so many forms of technology to adapt to that those that were born with touch sensitive tech simply don’t know how far we’ve come. Yes, they’ve been using technology practically since birth but that doesn’t mean they have the advantage. You can catch up. They may know how to push the buttons but frequently they lack the critical thinking skills when it comes to using it appropriately. This is not about age. It’s about experience.
If you’ve read Malcolm Gladwell’s “Outliers”, you know that 10,000 hours of practice will make you an expert. Get in there. Play with the technology. Ask questions (no one will think you’re dumb). Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. It gets less and less scary the longer you work with it. The best way to learn is by doing. And the truth of it is, when it doesn’t work (often), that’s when you learn the most.
The bottom line is, tech is here to stay. From our cars, to our phones, our entertainment, business, banking, healthcare, shopping, and travel, technology is present and advancing. The sooner you put down your fear, the faster you can adapt. Remember, adaptation is what survival is all about. There’s no point in being afraid of it, it won’t bite you. Accept that change happens every day, all day long. The sooner you accept it, the easier it’ll be. Take a deep breath, step into change, and you’ll be alright. Promise.
We Are Failing Our Kids
Posted on July, 13, 2011 by Kerry Rego -
I dare you to give a 16 year old a car but don’t give them any information about the rules of the road or a map. Tell ‘em to just wing it. Teach yourself, kid. How well do you think that would work out? Just think about the damage that could do. So why do we think that kids (not to mention adults) and computers will just “figure it out”?
I get really worked up when I think about the state of technology in our schools. How can we expect that our children will be prepared to face the hi-tech world outside of their school walls? When they graduate from high school, will the be adept at the tools they will find in the workplace? Are they able to speak the language, navigate data, and keep themselves safe? Will they even be able to find jobs? No No No No No and No. They have no opportunities in which to be prepared. If the teachers don’t know, then how can they arm our future breadwinners with the skills they’ll need to survive in this increasingly digital world? The more I think about it, the more upset I get.
I wish I could go door to door and teach the teachers. Get them up to speed on what’s available (see Social Media in the Classroom), work them through their fears so that they can figure out ways that they can use these amazing tools in their classrooms. Essays in blogs, language learning via video conference, literary discussions in collaborative digital classrooms, higher math assistance available on streaming video, mobile applications that allow you to “adopt a creek” and report statistical data regarding the biosphere, architectural designs tested via augmented reality and 3D rendering software. All available. All begging to be played with. All limited only by our imaginations.
We need to teach them them how to research, develop, communicate, program, build, compute, be productive and stay safe. These skills are only going to become more necessary. There simply has to be a way to gear up and get these people they skills they need. Our financial livelihoods and economy depends on it. You wouldn’t dream of handing a kid keys to a vehicle and not training him how to use it. Carnage will follow.
For the Last Time, You’re Not Too Old for Technology!
Posted on October, 19, 2010 by Kerry Rego -
I think we experience ageism more as we grow older. We experience it from ourselves more than any other source. A large part of my services revolve around training users on technology. I hear this over and over, “I’m too old.” “Everyone else gets computers but me.” “I don’t get this stuff because I’m too old.” I think it starts around 40. We put OURSELVES out to pasture.
Tim O’Reilly didn’t coin the term Web 2.0 until 2004. Websites weren’t even available until the late 90′s. Why do we beat ourselves up so much when it comes to technology and age? Where is it written that everyone is supposed to know? We don’t! We have to learn and grow every day as the world changes around us.
Even though we think we CAN’T, we ARE. Did you know that almost 50% of adults 50-64 are social networking? And 26% of those 65 and over are as well? (Pew Research)
Next time you find yourself saying you’re too old, realize that you are as young as you feel. The only way to stay ahead of the waves is to grab a surfboard!
Fear of Technology
Posted on April, 22, 2009 by Kerry Rego -
Questions. Everyone has questions but are often reticent to ask.
Computers. They are some of the greatest tools that we have at our disposal yet many of us just barely get by using very limited knowledge. I wanted to take this opportunity to clarify some basic information on computers. I put computer issues into four categories: 1) hardware/diagnostics 2) software 3) networking 4) peripherals (things that connect to your computer-scanners, printers, cameras, etc). The most common computer issues I hear about are, for example, when your printer doesn’t connect, you can’t connect to the Internet, your computer is very slow, you have viruses, you want to set up a wireless network. All of these problems require a hardware diagnostician or a network specialist.
Just like doctors, computers have specialists. I am an end user trainer. I teach people how to use the software on their computers and their peripherals. Some of the programs I can teach you to use more effectively: Word, WordPerfect, Excel, Quattro Pro, PowerPoint, Access, Pagemaker, Publisher, iTunes, iPhoto, iCal, address books, scanner programs, databases, custom programs designed for your work, the Internet, search engines, social networking and blogging sites (LinkedIn, Facebook, Myspace, Blogger, WordPress, Ping.fm), and email marketing programs (Constant Contact, iContact, Vertical Response). Peripherals are your smartphones, cameras, USB drives, backup drives, scanners, printers and the like. I can help you understand how to make them work and how they can used to enhance the quality of your life.
We all need help sometimes. Asking for help is the hardest part. My tactic is to ask someone I think either has the answer or can point me in the right direction. No one will judge you and no one will think you are stupid. Just ask. I’ll do whatever I can to help. If I can’t, I’ll point you in the right direction.
May you be productive!
Change is the Only Constant
Posted on December, 31, 2008 by Kerry Rego -
Even though our current business and economic environment is scary and unpredictable, something really exciting is happening. I speak to people every day about their desires for their lives, work, families and material possessions. As a whole, we are opening our eyes to what our priorities are and choosing to treat those high priorities with the utmost respect. We are beginning to respect ourselves more and our things less. Our face to face communication may be down but we are developing new ways to stay connected to the people that are important to us and even trying to reach out to those we don’t know well enough. We are awaking to our spirituality, our planet, our country, our politics, our morals, our families and ourselves. I am so proud to see the growth, willingness, and change among those I know. We are doing a great job acknowledging what the issues are and we are working on being more involved and present in every aspect of our lives.
The one thing that is constant is change.
I get really excited when I meet with someone and they are ready to change something that’s not working in their lives. The attitude and willingness to make it better is inspiring to me. I want to help you make it work the way you need it to. So, when you’re ready to make changes for the better, call me, I’m here.
I wish you and yours the very best today, tomorrow, and into your future!
*UPDATE This was printed originally on my previous blog. What fascinates me is that the change that was occurring when I first wrote this is still happening. It’s more rapid and not as scary. Go Team!