Social Media Club | Columbia If you get it, share it

***Meet Shani on THURSDAY Build Your Personal Brand Through Social Media!***

Shani Gilchrist is the braintrust that powers www.camillemaurice.com, a blog about beautiful things ranging from interior design, fashion, food and beyond. Through her blog and her Facebook and Twitter accounts, Shani has created a personal brand that thrives on conversations with her readers.

How do you define social media?

Social media is the constant and reciprocal exchange of ideas and opinions in an environment of instant feedback.

Which social media tools or applications do you use, and why these in particular?

I use Twitter because I can read and send messages quickly, which is important when you have a toddler tearing through the house. Also I’ve learned that it is an excellent way to meet people who do what I do or work in the industries on which I tend to focus. Some of my Creatives Cook profiles have been about people whom I’ve met through Twitter, and I’ve been able to find areas to focus on through the seemingly random but industry-specific conversations that pop up. I use Facebook more to get messages out. I do that with Twitter, as well, but being as long-winded as I am, it’s easier for me to let people know what’s coming up and what I’m working on via Facebook. It is also a great place to converse and ask questions, get people talking to each other who may not have before.

With increasingly busy schedules, Where do you find time for social media?

I have on and off days, depending on what is going on in my home. While this is becoming more and more like a job for me, I’m still a stay-at-home mom, which means I first have to worry about meals, bedtimes, preschool, and my home. This is why my iPhone (and now, having a laptop in my kitchen) comes in so handy… I can update quickly and move on to the next task. I use school days to do the bulk of the research that goes into Camille Maurice… all in all it makes for a very busy week these days!

What advice would you give to local businesses wishing to effectively embrace social media?

Jump in with both feet! Especially when starting out, interact often… make sure people know when new things are happening and coming in. Ask lots and lots of questions and jump into the conversations that interest you and your business. Be an ambassador.

Where do you see the future of social media?

As I see groups embrace social media whom I never would have expected (the interior design community, for example, has fully embraced the concept!), I realize that it is completely opening up new worlds of ideas to people. Social media is causing the spaces between industries to become smaller and ideas to come together to form new ways of creating, new ways of interacting, and new ways of doing business. I think that social media will be a part of a much needed change in the way we market, brand, and create, and therefore will continue to evolve to fit into more business plans and creative communities.