Alyssa's posterous http://blog.alyssagardina.com Life is good. posterous.com Thu, 16 Feb 2012 07:50:00 -0800 Is this HTML5? (via @reddit) http://blog.alyssagardina.com/is-this-html5-via-reddit http://blog.alyssagardina.com/is-this-html5-via-reddit
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via i.imgur.com

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/111704/twitter.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aGnaBHYTmEN Alyssa Gardina Alyssa Alyssa Gardina Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:08:00 -0800 Pinterest, Google+ and Facewallasquare: Why shiny object syndrome is eating our souls (and our energy) http://blog.alyssagardina.com/pinterest-google-and-facewallasquare-why-shin http://blog.alyssagardina.com/pinterest-google-and-facewallasquare-why-shin Everything is the next big thing, and everything that comes after that is a next big thing killer. I can't keep up with what's growing, dying or maintaining, but I do know that pepole seem to think it's necessary to welcome new social networks with books, agencies and tweetstweetstweets. At the end of the day, however, what good is all this spent energy doing?

For example, current social media darling Pinterest somehow unseated the epic, amazing, business-making network Google+ in the championship ring of Mashable infographics. Instead of data showcasing total users instead of active users, we are now subjected to grandiose claims about Pinterest's referral traffic capabilities (not saying it doesn't have any, but some of these headlines make it sound better than it is.) And sure, some brands are using Pinterest well, to the point where they should be seeing some results.

But what if it doesn't fit? Not if it doesn't fit your strategy - I'm hoping most digital strategy folks know at this point that jumping on a new network just because it's there is... well... not a strategy. What if it doesn't fit the time you have each day to attempt to keep up with the rapidly changing social and digital world?

If all we do is attention-hop from one social network to the other, how does that help us in the long run? We're creating a culture of flavors of the week by lauding sites that can't possibly sustain their buzz-driven traffic in the long run. We're dogs chasing our tails, trying to be the next big person to write a blockbuster ebook or Slideshare deck.

It's about integration, strategy and your brand. And, above all, it's about good data. Not something you retweeted from TechCrunch. 

Disclaimer: I know that by posting this, I'm just feeding into the Pinterest hysteria. But it had to be said.

Thanks to @thecburns and @unhatched for the heads up about an actual Pinterest agency, which inspired this post.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/111704/twitter.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aGnaBHYTmEN Alyssa Gardina Alyssa Alyssa Gardina Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:47:00 -0800 All hail the New York Giants! (via @reddit) http://blog.alyssagardina.com/all-hail-the-new-york-giants-via-reddit http://blog.alyssagardina.com/all-hail-the-new-york-giants-via-reddit

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/111704/twitter.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aGnaBHYTmEN Alyssa Gardina Alyssa Alyssa Gardina Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:04:09 -0800 So I guess @southwestair uses iStock Photo? http://blog.alyssagardina.com/so-i-guess-southwestair-uses-istock-photo http://blog.alyssagardina.com/so-i-guess-southwestair-uses-istock-photo
Photo

Sent from my iPhone

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/111704/twitter.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aGnaBHYTmEN Alyssa Gardina Alyssa Alyssa Gardina Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:46:00 -0800 Even more Ryan Gosling awesomeness: Agency Ryan Gosling! http://blog.alyssagardina.com/even-more-ryan-gosling-awesomeness-agency-rya http://blog.alyssagardina.com/even-more-ryan-gosling-awesomeness-agency-rya
Media_http26mediatumb_ofjcg
via advertisingagencyryangosling.tumblr.com

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/111704/twitter.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aGnaBHYTmEN Alyssa Gardina Alyssa Alyssa Gardina Sun, 01 Jan 2012 18:25:38 -0800 Properly labeled ski slope ratings http://blog.alyssagardina.com/properly-labeled-ski-slope-ratings http://blog.alyssagardina.com/properly-labeled-ski-slope-ratings
Ysbsx

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/111704/twitter.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aGnaBHYTmEN Alyssa Gardina Alyssa Alyssa Gardina Wed, 28 Dec 2011 11:50:00 -0800 Hipster Flintstones! http://blog.alyssagardina.com/hipster-flintstones http://blog.alyssagardina.com/hipster-flintstones
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via i.imgur.com

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/111704/twitter.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aGnaBHYTmEN Alyssa Gardina Alyssa Alyssa Gardina Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:54:10 -0800 Things that define my childhood: Merry Christmas, Little Critter! http://blog.alyssagardina.com/things-that-define-my-childhood-merry-christm http://blog.alyssagardina.com/things-that-define-my-childhood-merry-christm
Little_critter

To my friends with children, this book is a must have.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/111704/twitter.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aGnaBHYTmEN Alyssa Gardina Alyssa Alyssa Gardina Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:14:29 -0800 Using the new FB insights, and a bit concerned about this alert in the export tool: http://blog.alyssagardina.com/using-the-new-fb-insights-and-a-bit-concerned http://blog.alyssagardina.com/using-the-new-fb-insights-and-a-bit-concerned
Fb_insights

I'm thinking there's a good chance you won't be able to access data prior to 7/19/2011 after old insights data gets deleted on 2/15/2012. So... get exportin'!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/111704/twitter.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aGnaBHYTmEN Alyssa Gardina Alyssa Alyssa Gardina Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:08:00 -0800 I'm wondering if I could do this without my cat destroying me. http://blog.alyssagardina.com/im-wondering-if-i-could-do-this-without-my-ca http://blog.alyssagardina.com/im-wondering-if-i-could-do-this-without-my-ca
via youtube.com

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/111704/twitter.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aGnaBHYTmEN Alyssa Gardina Alyssa Alyssa Gardina Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:30:00 -0800 Artist sketches what NPR personalities look like based on voice http://blog.alyssagardina.com/artist-sketches-what-npr-personalities-look-l http://blog.alyssagardina.com/artist-sketches-what-npr-personalities-look-l
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via wbez.org

I'm pretty sure that is what Carl Kasell actually looks like.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/111704/twitter.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aGnaBHYTmEN Alyssa Gardina Alyssa Alyssa Gardina Mon, 05 Dec 2011 12:54:00 -0800 I wish that flowcharts used footnotes. Only 17% of Google+ users considered "active"? Based on what criteria? http://blog.alyssagardina.com/i-wish-that-flowcharts-used-footnotes-only-17 http://blog.alyssagardina.com/i-wish-that-flowcharts-used-footnotes-only-17
Media_httpwwwflowtown_cfemx
via flowtown.com

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/111704/twitter.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aGnaBHYTmEN Alyssa Gardina Alyssa Alyssa Gardina Mon, 05 Dec 2011 11:42:00 -0800 Oh the things you find on the internets... (via @Reddit) http://blog.alyssagardina.com/oh-the-things-you-find-on-the-internets-via-r http://blog.alyssagardina.com/oh-the-things-you-find-on-the-internets-via-r
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via imgur.com

Watch the whole thing. It's so worth it.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/111704/twitter.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aGnaBHYTmEN Alyssa Gardina Alyssa Alyssa Gardina Tue, 22 Nov 2011 07:41:40 -0800 Our #EpicThanksgiving Day Menu! http://blog.alyssagardina.com/our-epicthanksgiving-day-menu http://blog.alyssagardina.com/our-epicthanksgiving-day-menu Please keep in mind, there are two of us. And a cat. And that cat does not eat people food.

Our #EpicThanksgiving Day Menu

Breakfast

Snacks/Lunch

Epic Thanksgiving Dinner

Dessert
I don't know, ask Colin. 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/111704/twitter.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aGnaBHYTmEN Alyssa Gardina Alyssa Alyssa Gardina Sun, 20 Nov 2011 18:14:30 -0800 Recipe: Carrot Casserole (Thanksgiving traditions, in honor of my Grandma!) http://blog.alyssagardina.com/recipe-carrot-casserole-thanksgiving-traditio http://blog.alyssagardina.com/recipe-carrot-casserole-thanksgiving-traditio It's been a tough year for us, family-wise, so it's even more important now to keep some traditions going. So, while we're cooking our own Thanksgiving dinner, we'll still be making one of my Grandma's signature dishes - carrot casserole! It's comfort food at its best.

Carrot Casserole - makes 6 (generous) servings

Ingredients
4 c. sliced peeled carrots
1 medium onion, diced
3 tbsp. butter
1 can condensed cream of celery soup
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/2 c. grated cheddar cheese
3 c. herb-flavored stuffing
1/3 c. melted butter

Method
Cook carrots in boiling salted water until tender. Drain. Meanwhile, cook onion in 3 tbsp. butter until soft. Stir in soup, salt, pepper, cheese & carrots. Place in greased 2 qt. casserole.

Toss bread stuffing mix with 1/3 c. melted butter. Spread over carrots.

Bake in 350 degree oven until heated - about 20 mins. 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/111704/twitter.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aGnaBHYTmEN Alyssa Gardina Alyssa Alyssa Gardina Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:09:34 -0800 We need to stop fawning over the "Girl Behind Six" - and here's why. http://blog.alyssagardina.com/we-need-to-stop-fawning-over-the-girl-behind http://blog.alyssagardina.com/we-need-to-stop-fawning-over-the-girl-behind The Girl Behind Six is a cool concept. "She" launched her Twitter account with a big Promoted Trend party, and followed it up with days upon days of giveaways. It was shiny, it was mysterious, it was so very... Who Is TabCo. 

And now we see that the Girl Behind Six was, in fact, Wendy. Or actually.. Wendy's, who was promoting the new (6th) item on their value menu. As soon as the big reveal hit, the inevitable onslaught of Mashable love began. The article praised the campaign, declaring, "[this] stealth campaign for Wendy’s brought on 33,000 Twitter followers in about a month with minimal ad support, a feat that many brands haven’t been able to match over several years’ time."

Except it didn't. And here's why:
  • To say that buying a Promoted Trend is "minimal ad support" is crazy. Promoted Trends run upwards of $100K a day - not a Super Bowl ad spot, but not nothing, either.
  • These 33,000 Twitter followers are now on the @GirlBehindSix Twitter account, which is now desperately trying to port users over to the Wendy's account, where the real interaction is going to happen. 
  • What will happen to the @GirlBehindSix? I'm not sure, but getting 33K fans to an account that's separate from where your main brand activities happen seems like a waste. Campaign-specific accounts are hard to manage, because the question always exists - what do these do after the campaign?
What might Wendy's do next? Change the @GirlBehindSix handle and keep those followers, but make sure to keep it on message. Those 33K followers came for a giveaway, not a devout love of square burgers. 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/111704/twitter.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aGnaBHYTmEN Alyssa Gardina Alyssa Alyssa Gardina Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:47:43 -0800 My favorite recipe - Kitchen Sink Quinoa Salad! http://blog.alyssagardina.com/my-favorite-recipe-kitchen-sink-quinoa-salad http://blog.alyssagardina.com/my-favorite-recipe-kitchen-sink-quinoa-salad I make this for dinner at least twice a month, so I figured I'd share this recipe for my fellow busy foodies! You can sub the veggies, meat or cheese for pretty much anything, but here are the basics. Serve with pita bread or crostinis. 

Kitchen Sink Quinoa Salad

Ingredients
1 cup uncooked quinoa (available in the bulk sections of most food stores)
1.5 cups water or chicken broth
2 links chicken or pork sausage
1/2 cup goat or feta cheese
1 red onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
8 oz pre-sliced mushrooms, chopped
1 can chickpeas
2 cloves garlic
1/4 cup balsamic or red wine vinegar
3 tbsp olive oil, divided
1 tbsp mustard
salt & pepper

Cooking Method
To prepare the quinoa: combine 1 c quinoa and 1.5 c water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then simmer 10-15 min or until quinoa is cooked

While quinoa cooks, heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pan over medium high heat until smoking. Add chickpeas and sprinkle with salt & pepper. Chickpeas will start to pop after 2-3 minutes. Once chickpeas start to pop, add garlic and veggies and saute until veggies are tender. Pour chickpea & veggie mixture into a large bowl, return pan to stove. Remove casings from sausage and cook through. Add sausage and cooked quinoa to bowl. 

To prepare dressing, whisk together vinegar, olive oil, mustard, salt and pepper. Toss dressing and feta with quinoa salad, serve warm or at room temperature.

Enjoy!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/111704/twitter.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aGnaBHYTmEN Alyssa Gardina Alyssa Alyssa Gardina Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:59:37 -0800 Oh hai, Ryan Gosling. http://blog.alyssagardina.com/oh-hai-ryan-gosling http://blog.alyssagardina.com/oh-hai-ryan-gosling
Photo

Sent from my iPhone

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/111704/twitter.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aGnaBHYTmEN Alyssa Gardina Alyssa Alyssa Gardina Wed, 12 Oct 2011 09:47:13 -0700 Wait, so my @UPS package gets to take a vacation to LA? What about me? http://blog.alyssagardina.com/wait-so-my-ups-package-gets-to-take-a-vacatio http://blog.alyssagardina.com/wait-so-my-ups-package-gets-to-take-a-vacatio
Ups

This is seriously the National Lampoon of packages.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/111704/twitter.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aGnaBHYTmEN Alyssa Gardina Alyssa Alyssa Gardina Thu, 15 Sep 2011 09:20:34 -0700 Facebook's first 2 "People to Subscribe to" recommendations for me both... work at Facebook. That's good. http://blog.alyssagardina.com/facebooks-first-2-people-to-subscribe-to-reco http://blog.alyssagardina.com/facebooks-first-2-people-to-subscribe-to-reco
Facebook_subscribe

But now I know that Facebook's CTO likes to watch Star Wars until 2 AM. Life = complete.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/111704/twitter.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aGnaBHYTmEN Alyssa Gardina Alyssa Alyssa Gardina