Social Media has become a great tool to network with new people and reconnect with old friends.  It allows for a different way to interact and exchange thoughts and ideas with others. Expanding your “human reach” in a digital way. With all of the open access to people now, it has also caused concern and worry for some.

Just as there became a flood of spammers once email took off, it has similarly happened with Social Media. You get businesses or businesses portraying themselves as models, that will follow you and try to sell you something.  There’s another group though too that are REAL people that may follow you, but with a bad motive that can cause stress and anxiety – stalkers.

Imagine getting a friend or follow request, and everything seems fine, but then you get DM’d or messaged, and things go in an odd and uncomfortable direction.  I’ve heard 1st hand stories from women who’ve gone through this very problem, being stalked via Social Media. Thank goodness for deleting, blocking and reporting via the internet, but what if that’s not enough?  If they get a NEW account and do the same thing over and over again. Then legal action may need to be taken.  Posting your physical location may not be a good thing to do for awhile if you’re being digitally stalked.  Saying where you’re going or what your future plans will be may not be a good idea at that time either. Self-editing and planning are key.

This isn’t meant to be a “Gloom & Doom” post,  but just a reminder that with all the good that has come from and will continue to come from Social Media, a certain level of caution is an element to include in your personal Social Media planning.

@JoelECarlson – Hello, and welcome to the Food-Friday Twitterview of @kevin_hunt, the Social Media Mgr of Gen Mills Corporate. Lets begin!

@Kevin_Hunt – Hi Joel, glad to have the opportunity!

Q – #1    To start out @kevin_hunt, where did you grow up, attend High School, and then what did you do after HS?

A: Grew up in Ham Lake and went to Blaine HS, went to @UWEauClaire to study broadcast journalism and get into TV news

Grew up with two brothers, I’m the middle, older brother lives in Big Lake, younger brother is in Florida

Q – #2    What kind of TV news work did you do, and what stations did you work at?

A: As a kid I wanted to be a sports anchor, I tried that and more at @WEAU13News but liked producing news better

I spent a year or so producing news in Eau Claire and went to @wfrv5 in Green Bay for a year, in 94

I got a job at @KSTP in 1995 and spent the next 10 years producing about every newscast there, then as an exec producer

I also got to work with @5hauser at KSTP on “At Issue” and did political coverage, elections, breaking news, etc…

Q – #3    When and how did you take the leap into getting involved with Social Media?

A: When I left the TV world behind in 2005 to accept a corp comm job at then Thomson, now Thomson Reuters, in Eagan…

the move allowed me to dive in to the PR side of the world… Blogs were still new, podcasts were new…

I became convinced in late 2007 that our team there needed to be blogging for the biz, so we started small…

We noticed a lot of lawyers, legal professionals, were already well ahead of us, so we listened first…

We focused on creating good content, less about the biz and more about customers, with text, podcasts, videos, etc..

The social stuff grew at Thomson Reuters and we eventually redeisgned the blog to what it is there today…

I also had a role in creating social media guidelines and helping evangelize social to leadership and employees

Q – #4    Great plan! No doubt @CbetanbourtPR benefited from that plan too! So when did you start w/Gen Mills?

A: I started as Social Media Manager for General Mills in Dec… I report through Corporate PR…

I am heading up the social PR strategy for corporate reputation platforms like innovation, sustainability, etc…

We’re planning some great stuff! The biggest part of my work involves content creation, writing, video, etc…

But monitoring, engagement and social media oversight and training across General Mills also is part of my job

Q – #5    Congrats on the new position! Now to FAVORITES: Restaurant, store, winter activity, comfort food & recent book.

A: Thanks, it’s a great fit for me. Let’s see… I live in Farmington so my wife and I love Teresa’s Mexican rest. in Lakeville

Fav store is the Apple Store at MOA, I’m a fanboy. Fav comfort food is my Mom’s tator tot hotdish…

I love coaching youth basketball in the winter – I have 3 kids – it’s fun to teach kids the game, and…

I just finished “Content Rules” from @cc_chapman and @MarketingProfs… Great book!

Q – #6    Ah, okay. To close today @kevin_hunt, what advice would you give to HS students as to courses to take in college for SM work?

A: I’d look at a combo of journalism, PR, marketing and biz… There’s so much to learn from each and…

I’d also create content, interview profs, students, blog, shoot and edit video, podcast… be active and be social!

@JoelECarlson – Thank you very much @kevin_hunt for sharing some of your life and passions on #jectv today. Have a great weekend! :)

@Kevin_Hunt – Thanks Joel, it was my pleasure. Thanks for doing these Twitterviews!

@JoelECarlson – Hello everyone following today’s Twitterview with @LouiseCollier. Lets begin!

@LouiseCollier – Thanks for having me Joel!

Q – #1    So @LouiseCollier, where did you grow up, where did you attend High School and did you attend University?

A: I grew up in Nottingham, England where I still live now. I went to high school or secondary school as we call it…

…in Nottingham too. I went University in York and lived there for a bit after University.

Q – #2    What kind of courses/subjects did you take at the University? What kind of work did you get after that?

A: I studied Chemistry for a year but didn’t like it and then changed to Applied Social Science which I really enjoyed

I was working in a bar part-time during Uni and I carried on working there for about a year afterwards – great fun!

I then came back to Nottingham to recover from an operation and got a job in a call centre! Absolutely hated that!

Q – #3    What do you do now for work? How long have you have you been a blogger?

A: I haven’t had a ‘proper’ job for about a year and a half because of health issues (I’m a problem child!!) so I started…….

…blogging in November 2009. I’ve recently started to offer consulting services on my blog and I’m going to start…

..offering training programs soon hopefully :)

Q – #4    Congrats @LouiseCollier on your new journey! Have a name for your biz? What are some of your favorite Social Media platforms?

A: Thanks @joelecarlson! Not really, I kind of just call it Louise Collier Inc but that may change!

I LOVE Twitter, I’m a bit obsessed! I love how instant it is and how many great people you find, like you of course! ;)

And I think @Hootsuite is really great for managing Twitter and Facebook and LinkedIn as well.

Q – #5    I see. Have any of the geo-location platforms like @Foursquare, @Gowalla or @Facebook-Places succeeded in your area?

A: Not really, people use @Facebook-Places a bit now, but things like @Foursquare don’t seem to have taken off, I think..

..because we don’t have for example a @Starbucks on every corner you don’t really get a lot out of using it over here..

..the only place I can ‘check in’ near my house is a train station, not much fun!!

Q – #6    Agreed! :)  Lets now find out some of your FAVORITES: Restaurant, store, vacation city, comfort food & recent book.

A: Oooh, favourite restaurant is a place in Nottingham called Le Bistrot Pierre. Store is Topshop or Urban Outfitters.

I love, love, love New York but only been once, so there or Florida. Fave comfort food – steak and chips (fries)

And I probably should say a biz book! But I really liked ‘Picture Perfect’ by Jodi Picoult which I read recently.

I am currently reading @garyvee’s ‘Crush It’ though which I’m enjoying

Q – #7    To students say in secondary school, what would you encourage them to study in University to work in Social Media?

A: Ooh goodness I’m not sure @joelecarlson, I’ve heard a lot of people say that they learn so much more from actually getting out…

..and doing it (blogging, social media etc) than they ever did from their business degree. I’d probably say Marketing..

..because at least then they’ve got a base, and hopefully Marketing degrees will start to incorporate social media more

@JoelECarlson – Hopefully! :) Thank you so much @LouiseCollier for sharing some of your thoughts and time with #jectv today.  All the best to you!

@LouisCollier – Thanks Joel! It was fun! All the best to you too :)

@JoelECarlson – Hello everyone, and welcome to the Twitterview of Social Media Specialist and book co-author @AmyPorterfield! Lets get to Tweeting!

@AmyPorterfield – Happy to be here with you, Joel! Let’s do this :-)

Q – #1    So @AmyPorterfield, tell us, where did you grow up and what did you do after you got out of High School?

A: I grew up in Yorba Linda, CA (hometown of Richard Nixon–our claim to fame). After high school I left for college…

…and attended UC Santa Barbara.

Q – #2    I see. So what did you major in at UC Santa Barbara, and what kind of work did you star doing out of college?

A: I majored in Communications and studied traditional marketing mainly. Right out of college I was a project Manager for . . .

…a project manager for a nonprofit called “Dream Foundation”–they grant dreams to terminally ill adults….it was amazing.

…a project manager for a nonprofit called “Dream Foundation”–they grant dreams to terminally ill adults….it was amazing.

Q – #3    That does sound like a rewarding job! So when did you start getting involved with Social Media & using it?

A: I started getting into social media when I was working with Tony Robbins (the peak performance coach)–Tony started…

Tony Robbins started to dabble with Tiwtter and it skyrocked for him–and from there I was hooked. It was exciting to…

…2 see how he could reach so many peeps instantly. I managed his marketing dept at the time & we then jumped on FB…

& created a community on FB as well. It’s been an awesome ride since. I began to eat/breath social media from there!

Q – #4    So who do you work for now, and what made you decide to work on a book about Facebook?

A: Now I work for myself. I took everything I learned from 6 years working with @TonyRobbins and created my dream job….

Now I create online social media training programs (http://simplesocialmediaformula.com/) & work w/ clients such as…

and work with awesome companies such as @SMExaminer and @TrafficGeyser. I was approached by Wiley Publishers…

As for the Facebook book, I was approached by Wiley to co-author it and since I was working w/ so many of my clients…

…so many of my clients on their Facebook strategies, I really wanted to take them up on the offer. So I did!

Q – #5    How did the writing process go for you? Will this be your first book?

A: Yes, my first book. The writing has been a process to say the least! There’s so much research that goes into it…

I have two AMAZING co-authors, @phylliskhare & @AndreaVahl & we pow-wow a lot! The book is over 700 pages because. . .

The book’s over 700 pages because it is an “All-In-One” Facebook Dummies book–it covers just about EVERYTHING!

I just wish Facebook would stop making so many changes–the edits are going to be super fun :-)

Q – #6    FB makes updates? What do you mean @AmyPorterfield? :)  Lets find out your FAVORITES: restaurant, store, recent book & comfort food.

A: Ooooh, this one is fun. Let’s see: fav restaurant-@bistrowest1 in Carlsbad. SO GOOD. Fav store-just one?!

I’m a clothes girl, so @Nordstrom :-) Recent Book: @nowrevolution (@JayBaer & @ambercadabra) & favcomfort food . . .

I’d have to say Mac & Cheese all the way :-)

Q – #7    @AmyPorterfield for HS students looking to get into Social Media, would you suggest Marketing, Journalism or Comm to major in?

A: I would suggest Marketing. I think Mrktg in college today incorporates so much more new media, it’s the best way to go.

Q – #8    In closing @AmyPorterfield, what’s one quick/easy Facebook tip you’d like to share with Social Media folks?

A: It’s important to monitor your posts and respond quickly. Here’s a great monitoring tool: http://www.hyperalerts.no/

@JoelECarlson – Thank you very much @AmyPorterfield for you time and comments today. All the best to you and success with your new book! :)

@AmyPorterfield – This was so much fun, Joel! I’ve highlighted your Twitterviews in my video that posts tomorrow-great stuff! THANK YOU!

@JoelECarlson – Hello everyone, and welcome to the Food-Friday Twitterview with guest @UnplannedCookin. Set your timer to 1hr and lets cook!

Q – #1    So @unplannedcookin, where did you grow up and what did you start doing out of High School?

A: I grew up in Ithaca, NY and became a camp counselor that first summer before college.

Q – #2    Ah! Now where did you attend college, what did you major in, and what was your 1st job out of college?

A: Went straight to grad school (Columbia Univ). Studied writing. First job assistant at @UsMagazine. Total culture shock.

Q – #3    What kind of work did you do at @USMagazine? Describe your transition from there to MN and having a food blog.

A: for @USWeekly I wrote promo material, attended brand events + stalked celebs who came in. Fetched a lot of coffee too.

Was a shock moving to MN, but great friends like @redstamplindsay @kitchpantrysci @megkaplan make move worth it :)

love that blogging helps u stay focused on professional goals, w/o time commitment of a job (love being home w my kids)

Q – #4    Flexibility is great! What is the name of your blog, and what would you say is the focus or theme of it?

A: Unplanned Cooking. It’s easy meals for people like me who are learning how to cook. I also blog about home building.

I think sometimes professionals at home w kids ask “How did I get here?” It’s humbling not being able to stock pantry.

Q – #5    Are your recipes all originals made by you? Family size dishes? What kinds of topics do you cover in home bldg?

A: I modify existing recipes to make them easy. Enough to feed your family.

For home building, I write about challenges of sharing ur space w loved one. But also how empowering love/marriage is.

Q – #6    Good topics! What triggers your creative “juices” for each post that you do? Who’s helped you or been a mentor?

A: Triggers: emotion. Either positive or, well, not so positive:). + lots of reading. Don’t think u can write w/o reading.

Mentor/friend is @KitchPantrySci. We’re both working on books so we’ll swap material + energize one another.

Plus if other parts of my life feel overwhelming, @KitchPantrySci is always there to ground me. And @RedStampLindsay.

Q – #7    That’s great! :) Now to your FAVORITES: Restaurant, store, winter activity, comfort food & National chef/cook.

A: Favorite restaurant: We’re fickle. Great meals at First Course, 112 Eatery

Dying to try @piccolo_mpls b/c @megkaplan raves about it but can’t get reservation. Can u pull some strings?

Fav store: @coopeats (yes, a grocery store:); love ice skating in winter +playing hockey; comfort food -do fries count?

Fav national chef? Drawing a blank. Do @FreshTartSteph + @Katenthekitchen count?

Q – #8    You are earning BIG brownie points today! :) If you could have any 1 guest (dead/alive) for dinner, who & why?

A: My parents. They live so far away + it’s hard for them to travel as they get older.

I wish families didn’t have so many miles between them today. I would love for our children to know my parents.

Did you say brownies? I’m hungry now.

Q – #9    To close, what advice would you give to mothers struggling to cook well for their families?

A: Start small. Just make one dish, even if it’s just a salad. Soon, you’ll be a pro in the kitchen :).

I think it’s important to cook b/c you’ll naturally become more aware of what’s in that PopTart. And so will ur kids.

@JoelECarlson – Good advice! Thank you so much for sharing some of your time and life today on #jectv! Have a great afternoon & weekend!

@UnplannedCookin – Thanks so much! Was a blast :).