I am not naive enough to think that all of the sudden my day will lengthen to give me that extra time, but I do believe that life is full of choices. So I make a choice, everyday, to lengthen my commute to work to 30 minutes. I pull into the parking lot at work and as others around me park and rush into the building, I sit. At first, I got strange stares as I waved people off, but I stuck with it. It was my choice to make me a priority even if for only 10 minutes. 

So what do I do? I breathe, deeply, over and over. Sounds simple, right? You’d think, but for someone that’s always on the go, 5-10 minutes of breathing can be torturous. I had to train myself to be patient, to let go, and to not feel guilty about this me time. The truth is diaphragmatic breathing (deep breathing) has many serious health benefits, so what started out as a way to have some time to myself became a way to improve myself. My heart rate and breathing slow down, my blood pressure and muscle tension decrease and a sense of ease and calmness washes over me. I am able to re-start my day, so I can be the best I can be. 

So in today’s crazy world, I suggest that everyone take a little time for themselves. Disconnect from technology and the outside world for 10 minutes and make yourself better.

To breath diaphragmatically, or with the diaphragm, you must draw air into the lungs so that you are expanding your stomach not your chest. At first this will feel forced and unnatural, but breathing this way fills your lungs with much more oxygen than taking short shallow breaths. Here are some steps to help you get started:

• Sit comfortably
• Put your hand on your stomach, so you can feel it expand as you breathe
• Slowly inhale through your nose (5 count)
• Hold your breath (2 count)
• Slowly exhale (5 count)
• Repeat for 5 to 10 minutes 

Practice this once or twice a day, and you will feel more relaxed and calm. Believe me, your mind and body will thank you.  

Photo credit: http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter/images/deep_breathing.jpg

What is live tweeting? 

Live tweeting is the process of posting tweets continuously at an event to engage your audience in real time. 

What are the benefits of live tweeting? 

Live tweeting gives brand managers a chance to interact with their audience in real time and gives your Twitter followers a glimpse of your brand in action. As you lead the conversation surrounding your event, you are able to guide the narrative and become an influential voice in the online community. 

If you are going to live tweet an event, use these three simple tips:

1. Prepare for the event.

The most important thing you can do before live tweeting an event is be prepared. First, you should have all of your devices fully charged with an extra battery or charger packed for the event. Whether you will be using your phone, iPad or laptop, it is absolutely necessary to make sure you don't risk your devices powering down while you are at the event. 

Make sure you add/follow everyone who you know will be at the event and/or who are involved (consider putting all the names into a private list to help you more easily monitor them). This helps to create pre-event momentum as you should also be buzzing the event on your Twitter page one to two weeks before it happens. You will want to monitor any pre-event buzz by checking Tweets sent to you, doing searches for your brand name and searching blogs for any posts about the event. When buzzing the event, come up with a simple yet specific hashtag for the event. For example, at the Pacific Edge Hotel Bungalows launch party on May 2, the hashtag #bungalows was used.

It’s also useful to have a social media center and/or table at your event, with marketing collateral clearly listing all social networks you monitor (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc), along with your event hashtag. If you are extending the Twitter hashtag onto Instagram (if you monitor this channel), mention that on the marketing collateral as well.

2. Post post post (Don't forget to share the small details!)

Post about interesting happenings at your event and include photos taken on your phone, as well as appropriate commentary and tagging. Be sure to use your brand’s “voice” consistently and don’t be afraid to throw in some fun (but appropriate) humor and playfulness. Monitor new followers, replies and retweets throughout the event to check for activity during the event. Make a point to meet and speak with followers at the event to put a human face to your brand. 

At times you might find yourself thinking "There's nothing going on so there is nothing to Tweet about right now." Wrong! There's always something to post if you put on your "social media glasses." What are these, you ask? Think about it. You're the average social media user browsing Twitter, looking for something interesting to click on. With the right kind of use of your 140 characters, you can find something to say or comment on.  Is there some kind of cool decoration hanging about? Are there awesome libations being passed around? Is there a musician jamming out to some rockin' tunes? Is there some cool art to scope out?

Take a photo and tell people what's going on! In the end, think of yourself as an events reporter: You are the eyes and ears of the party. Tell your audience what's happening and try to make it something that can be shared.

Use your caution and tact though--don't tweet anything to the effect of, "Wow this party needs some energy, where all the party people at?" That is not effective and, in fact, it's pretty embarrassing. But let's be honest here: not every event is bumping every second, so you are going to have waves of sedentary moments. You might just have to fluff it up a bit in the meantime. There's no shame in it as long as you can find the fun in it and give your audience a reason to be intrigued and ask themselves, "Why am I here and not THERE right now?"

3. Don't get overwhelmed.

With all of the talk surrounding social media strategy, at times one thing is left out when discussing effective execution: being social! Don’t feel like you have to do it all. Limit yourself to a certain number of messages per hour so you can fully experience the party. Meet people, have fun and make sure you are still networking and getting to know the people around you. 

Also, be prepared for tech issues in the process. There may be times when you have bad reception and cannot post when you want to, so the best thing to do is to save the Tweet as a draft and mingle with people around the party. You never know what will happen. Maybe you’ll find yourself in the middle of an impromptu karaoke session of “Livin’ on a Prayer” or a event-goer popping the question to an unsuspecting partner. Not only are these great things to witness, they will also be a perfect topic for your Twitter feed…but you will miss it if you’re too preoccupied with your device’s temporary malfunctions. 

Enjoy yourself and share your experiences because that is what it is really all about!

Amber is a social media community manager and a recent graduate from California State University Fullerton. Her passion and expertise for storytelling and interacting with an audience led her to the wonderful world of social media after she received her journalism degree in late 2012.

In my “spare” time I teach an online class here and there for those working on a Hotel/Restaurant Management Degree. I finished my own back in 2002 but I actually started working in hotels back in 1989 (yes, I was an infant).

So much has changed in the past 20+ years.

Then: We used a colored tape board to keep track of reservations and blocked rooms.

Now: Computers manage inventory for us and store all sorts of data on our guests that used to be handwritten in a log somewhere (if you even thought about it).

Then: At the end of the day, we hand-wrote the days charges on each guest folio and calculated how much of a balance the guest had left. We thought it was a big deal that you could plug a room number into the phone system and it would tell you the number of out-going calls they made so you would know how much to charge (not where they called mind you, just the number of calls).

Now: Guests can add charges to their bill, view them, and even check out, all through the TV (and possibly their phone). If a guest disputes a charge you can tell them exactly what movie they watched or where they called (not that anyone dials out on a hotel phone anymore).

Then: The big deal seemed to be Color TVs and how big they were. I even worked at one front desk where I was required to keep the TV in the lobby on at all times so potential guests could see what great reception we had.

Now: Free Wi-fi and fast connections.

Then: We used to sort metal keys back into the “bucket” for over 600 rooms a day (4 keys per room – this was grunt work usually bestowed upon the new-hires). Guests had to pay key deposits in case they lost the key and the lock had to be replaced.

Now: Disposable electronic keys that cost pennies and people keep as souvenirs (except a few old school conscientious types that spend more on the postage to mail it back than the key is worth).

I could go on and on but you get the idea. I can’t say that I remember too much of class discussions from a decade ago but I know we weren’t talking about how globalization is affecting the industry or whether or not social media goes too far when trying to learn about their guests. In some ways I wish my students could experience a hotel like I did back then. I feel like I learned so much of the “why” and not just the “how”. I also walked 5 miles uphill in the snow every day to get there.

What is exciting to see is that is there is a whole new crop of fresh ideas and enthusiastic customer service oriented people out there who are just chomping at the bit to run their own hotel, plan the next great event, or open the next famous restaurant. I hope I get to work with them someday.

Don’t worry; we all have them! For this blog post, my animal friends and I will talk about commonly misused words. By the end, you’ll have a better understanding of how to use these homonyms properly.

Why does this matter, you might ask? Doesn't grammar "not count" online and in text messages? Sure--if you're just chatting with your friends. But when those bad habits bleed over onto your business communications or website content, you're affecting the public face of your brand.

Let's get started!

“Your” implies ownership. If something is yours, it belongs to you. In reference to the picture, the kitten climbed into your cup, and you should be upset because EWW, KITTY HAIR IN YOUR COFFEE. But you can’t be mad. She’s just too cute to be mad at. 

“You’re” is a contraction combining the words “you are.” When I’m reading or writing with contractions, I usually prefer to pronounce "you're" as “you are” to make sure the sentence makes sense and I'm using the correct form of the word. In reference to the picture, the baby is telling the mom “You are embarrassing me.” And seriously, she is. His hair was perfect before that.

Kelly Renick is a copywriter and word nerd at Yo!Dog, but only once she's had a cup of coffee or five. You can often find her on the California freeways, singing and drumming unabashedly in the car--especially when others are watching.

Yo!Dog Marketing is here to help! Time and time again, our social media team is asked, "How do I claim my page or listing?", "Why is it important to respond to custom reviews?", and "How do I craft a response?" No need to fear, Yo!Dog is here! We have the answers to all of your questions.

It is important to claim your Facebook Place page to optimize your social media marketing efforts. A Facebook Page may exist for your business even if you didn't create it. By claiming your Place Page you will be able to manage your company's address, contact information, business hours, profile picture, admins and other settings. Additionally, claiming your Place page allows customers who visit your business, to check-in online, thus sharing their location and your brand with their Facebook friends.

Follow our step-by-step instructions to claim your Facebook Place page by visiting clicking here!

Claiming your Foursquare listing gives you editorial control over it—you can change the address or phone number if they’re incorrect, for example. It also gives you access to statistics about your page. You can also set up a "Check-In Deal" where Foursquare users are rewarded when they check in to your location.

Follow our step-by-step instructions to claim your Foursquare listing by clicking here!

Click here for a quick starter guide to help you craft your TripAdvisor responses!

Even the most talented designers have days where their brains go on strike!  It cannot be helped--if the brain is tired, it needs a rest before inspiration will flow again. These 15 techniques can help you recharge and overcome creative blocks.

1. Disconnect:  Take a break, turn off your computer, or take a walk. This can recharge your creativity.
2. Search for inspiration: Online you can find a variety of artwork which can inspire you. Better yet, go to an art gallery. Historical and contemporary pieces of art can be a great source of inspiration! 
3. Make your space fun: Whether you have a full studio or a small cubicle, get inspired by building inspirations boards. Include color, images of your favorite designs, photos of your loved ones--anything that makes you happy and inspired. Make your space of work a place where you can find your home! Your surroundings will help fuel your creativity.
4. Be sociable:  Having a conversation--with strangers, colleagues, acqaintences, or old friends--could lead to the creation of a great idea! Ideas could be created from something you heard at random or it could be the product of shared thoughts. 
5. Draw: This will get you away from the computer screen, not to mention that drawing on paper gives you more creative freedom. Sometimes, on paper, ideas flow better. Don't be afraid on drawing something random; anything you have in mind will do.
6. Read: Reading not only generates knowledge, but can also fill your creative well.  Think outside the novel: visual materials such as magazines, comic books, photography catalogues, and coffee table books will help you get the inspiration you need.
7. Ask yourself questions:  Is there something that is missing in my life or work? Why am I not inspired? What do I need to get motivated? By answering these questions you will find that it could be really simple to find the solution you need to get inspired.
8. Listen to your favorite tunes:  Music can transport you to a world of ideas. You can get inspired by the rhythm or by the lyrics. Play music while you are working! Let yourself go, listen carefully and create!
9. Ask enough questions about the project: Ask as much as possible about your project just to check that you are not missing something crucial for your ideas.
10. Play: Yes, adults can play too, especially people who need to be creative 24/7. It will help you rest and it will lead you to take more creative risks! Have something fun in your office for those moments when your creativity stops flowing.
11. Sleep: Good rest is needed to not only recharge your body but also to improve mental ability.
12. Take notes on life: Noticing what you do in a regular basis could lead to ideas. Write events from your life as they come to you, or take photos of things you see that are interesting.
13. Focus on different perspectives: Viewing things from different angles might give you something that you are missing in your project. Looking at something upside down could create an unusual shape; a wrinkled piece of paper could create a texture that you can use. There are many things around that seem unimportant but could inspire you to create something great!
14. Observe your surroundings: Taking note of your environment can inspire you to design shapes or color combinations that you have not thought to use before.  Even a rotten banana peel could inspire you to a great idea!
15. Change your environment: Work in the balcony of your house, go to a coffee shop, sketch in the park or by the pool; changing environment will keep things fresh, and is also helpful to bring back that creativity!

Branding is usually defined as the idea or image used to identify the name of your business. In most cases it represents the goods or services you are offering; in a way your intention should be to show your solution to someone's problem.

A good brand should deliver a message clearly; a lot of people make the mistake of using abstract logos that have meaning only to them and not to the public. Does your brand provoke emotion so people can connect to it and at the same time motivate them to buy?

Your brand should support your image and credibility so that the public can also trust on your reputation, products or services. It is such a huge element of marketing because you must understand your customers and what they need or want in order to be able to communicate with them through your brand design.

Branding has enormously evolved through the years, and some of the new trends to create successful brands include your value, your language and your voice. Your real value is about what you believe in, and how you can make other's lives better. Language should be correctly used to define and describe your business so people can understand what it is that makes you unique. Your voice should be a human voice, and an open and honest one. You are creating this persona that communicates with your customers, and it's not about selling, it’s about giving your customers the support that they need.

It is important to spend some money when it comes to branding because you need professionals, people that understand this concept clearly. Every business has a story to tell, something that will connect potential customers to your brand. Let experts help you build brand recognition, and an image that should be kept constantly across any advertising material used by your business.

Today, there are so many channels of communication in today's marketing; it’s so hard to keep up. These include social media, websites, print advertisement, and mobile marketing. This is one more reason why professionals need to work with your branding because you need to be able to translate your branding across all these channels consistently.

As the world continues to change at an accelerating rate, it’s easy to get lost among those that make branding their priority. Branding is no longer considered an option, it’s a necessity so don’t wait any longer to make your brand the top one. 

2013 is the year that small businesses finally embrace the power of mobile.

Owners want the most cost-effective medium that will give them the greatest exposure, accessibility, and sales lift. So before moving forward, businesses must decide which vehicle is most appropriate to deliver their product or service: a mobile application or a mobile-friendly website. 

Mobile Application 

Mobile applications are faster and more interactive than a mobile website. They are also more deeply integrated into a smartphone’s native features, often including video, photo, local, and social sharing features. While apps give consumers a better on-site experience, they’re extremely expensive and device-specific. Consumers are less likely to invest extra time in downloading an app unless it is well-designed and something they will use on a regular (or semi-regular) basis. Mobile applications are best suited for larger companies with steep marketing budgets looking to interact with consumers in the sports, news, social, and gaming industries. 

Responsive Website Design 

When it comes to shopping, surfing the web, or searching for entertainment, a mobile website often has an edge over a custom app. Small businesses can get the most bang for their buck by having a responsive website designed. These sites are built to be viewed on computer monitors, laptops, tablets, and mobile devices. Because they are cross-platform, responsive sites are cost-effective, accessible, and easier to maintain. We always recommend that small businesses ask their website developers to create responsive sites.

Mobile is no longer a choice

Consumers demand their information on the go. An increasing percentage of web searches are coming from mobile devices, which also leads to an increased number of website bounces from sites that are not mobile-optimized. Most mobile searchers will not take the time to browse your non-responsive website on the small screen of their phone; instead, they will likely search for a competitor whose information is more accessible. Mobile websites are no longer optional; they’re an operational necessity for every small business.

AJ Pasquale, a recent graduate from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration / Marketing, is very motivated to strive for success. He has a passion for sports, travel, snowboarding, and the outdoors.

There has been as much discussion about search engine strategies around organic and paid search as you would see around the current debate over getting the US budget balanced or campaign finance rules. Strategies typically fall into one of the following:

• People trust organic listings because of all the work done to ensure relevant results so focus on SEO.
• SEO takes time to achieve so, you should use pay-per-click (ppc) short term to ensure that you are capturing your share of the audience until your efforts start working
• You should always run paid search campaigns regardless of your organic search. You can control when, how and how often they run, not to mention the messaging.

Occasionally, clients come to us with the goal of eventually getting out of ppc advertising by improving the organic optimization of their website. There was a time when I once that that this may be an attainable goal for some businesses. However, I am beginning to believe that more often than not your goal should be to maintain a substantial search marketing budget despite your the organic search positioning of your current website. My change in position is largely based on research and analysis around Google's 2012 research - Impact of Ranking of Organic Search Results on the Incrementality of Search Ads.

There is a lot to read in the report, so let me touch on the high points.

1. 81% of the time that a pay-per-click ad is shown on the first SERP results page, there was NO related organic result on the page. You cannot optimize your site for every keyword phrase out there. Additionally, maintaining page 1 rankings is challenging. Ppc campaigns call help you bridge the gap in missing content, new opportunities and changing search engine rankings.
2. At a minimum, 50% of the clicks you are getting via paid search are incremental. For any organic search term that ranks #1 for the search page about 1/2 of the clicks you are currently receiving are purely because of your search marketing. The other half are thanks to your SEO. Move below that first result and the benefits of paid search grow substantially. Just look at the infographic below.
   
3. Results to vary by business, so there are no guarantees. I could just imagine the requests coming in if I didn't put this last point in the presentation. As with any type of advertising there is no guarantee that you will experience the same type of results.

I believe an ongoing paid search strategy can be beneficial for any size business. I'd love a chance to discuss this with you. If you would like and audit of your current paid search campaign, please leave a message in the comments below and a member of our team will call you to set up a meeting.

For those of you still on the fence about paid advertising campaigns, we have a special offer to extend to the first 20 new advertising clients we receive. We will give you a $100 credit to use on your first advertising campaign. The catch is you must take advantage of this offer between now and June 30th and commit to spend at least $500 total for your first campaign. Hope that got your attention!

For most girls, one common dream has finally come true. With today's photo technology made specifically for mobile devices, you almost never have to worry about taking a bad picture ever again. Crop it, enhance it, filter it, and TA-DA. You have a flawless photo to share with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and beyond.

Today, countless photo apps have truly made taking beautiful pictures a breeze. Remember when you'd have to go to the local drugstore and actually submit a roll of film - only to be ready several hours (or days) later? Oh, the patience required! And even more, if those pictures didn't turn out as good as you'd like, you were stuck with the hard copies the shove in a desk drawer and forget about. There wasn't a filter that you could apply or a delete button to press. 

Today, smart phones have made pictures instant - as well as instantly-shared with friends, family, and strangers on social media. However, sometimes, I miss the wait. The wait after a special event like Prom, Christmas, or a vacation, when you actually had to wait several hours to see your photos from the day before. This was a time even before digital cameras, when there wasn't even a small screen to view the picture on. I'm only 27, but I'm probably dating myself here. 

While today's pictures can be flawless as well as instant, the anticipation of seeing your photos from the previous day (or even week) was fun.