My job ..... Just click on it

Getting back from a trip is somewhat of a marathon. Theres the overstuffed suitcase to decant. Quite often containing wines I need to review wrapped up in a wine skin. Theres momentos that come tumbling out, reminding me the trip/adventure is now over and I will pound the keys and upload all those photos and videos that people are nagging me about.
Then theres my certosino who shows how pissed off he is by sinking his poiny teeth into my wrists and ankles. "Where have you been?" he says. I had to wait it out here in winter. Without your warm body here in the bed. ... I must wait for the moment he finally stops sulking and comes to knead me, and grace me with that most gorgeous sound in the world- his purr.
The bills have piled up, my partners hands were obviously too short to reach the table on which they are sitting.
The lemons have dried up, my lovely walked garden filled with colourful blooms and scents when I departed now sits grey and crinkled under the winter mantle. The soil stony hard. The withering is too awful to behold. So I turn around and come back in.
At the computer those who ignored my requests for decisions before I departed in November, have with the new year, suddenly woken up, and are insistantly trying to show me how planning- brilliant they are. As I attack my mail box- wading through multitudes of stuff that will find its way to my junk box, I must read from strangers who want me to introduce them to the right person in NYC , Milan, Zurich and Barcelona, because they are moving there, and can I suggest a job for them.
Then I move to sifting through letters from people who want me to write content for them. People who cant find the link to the entire photo portfolio I took of them (free of charge) uploaded and tagged and sent to them, at least 10 times. How do I say .. Ive moved on sweetheart, that was about 10 events ago.... Life moves fast at Casa Wisequeen..... After an hour of this heartrendering connecting.... I go downstairs to the plea of my loved ones. Who want me to cook and serve the wines I risked life and limb to bring back.
Friends arrive ; they have missed my cake my tea, my conversation they want to hear all about it. They who never move further than the supermarket, they demand a full account of the entire trip. Who I met. What I did. Oooh youre so clever, youre so good at this they coo.
"Why dont you read my blog?" I say "I written it all up there with photos."
Oh that.. Im not good with that online social stuff.. They lament." What must I do with that link they ask" What???
CLICK ON IT ... I find myself saying for the 100th time. Just click on it...

I sweep the deritus of the trip off the kitchen table. Camera leads, used tickets, brochures, business cards. Half eaten choc bars.. all fall into the basket. I set up the table again to entertain to recount, to hold court and I find myself looking forward to the moment I will find myself finally in bed and feel the heavy body, that has now forgiven me arrange himself between my legs and blinking at me with love start to purr. Ahhhh finally home..
Such is the life of a wine branding, vlogger- blogger- travel writer connector.

Stay tunned for the blog posts of my two month long South African wine trip. ..
Wisequeen.

2012 arrives

Don’t talk about yourself all night or just post you own links, offers etc. If you were at a cocktail party, would you talk about yourself all night?

Its about conversation If you suck at communication and connecting in real life - you’ll suck on the web. Learn

Dont RT compliments about yourself, remember the cocktail party,  would you go around all night repeating a compliment given to you.

If people DM you with numbers then keep it private.

Ask yourself before you post - is this stupid?

If you want to build a following give 500 % more than you take, when you reach tipping point you’ll start getting back.

Dont just tweet “Donna I liked your post about Gary”. It has no value to those reading, always include the link.

Don’t DM stuff that could be shared, give back. Never send auto DM s when people follow you.

Or better still, leave a comment on the blog post you want to mention and then press tweet this. That’s useful  to the blogger and you are putting yourself out there.

Be authentic and when you use someone’s idea or quote, always give credit to them. What goes around comes around.

10 smart tips on using those social tools.

10 smart #tips on Twitter or Facebook use

Don’t talk about yourself all night or just post you own links, offers etc. If you were at a cocktail party, would you talk about yourself all night?

Its about conversation If you suck at communication and connecting in real life - you’ll suck on the web. Learn

Dont RT compliments about yourself, remember the cocktail party,  would you go around all night repeating a compliment given to you.

If people DM you with numbers then keep it private.

Ask yourself before you post - is this stupid?

If you want to build a following give 500 % more than you take, when you reach tipping point you’ll start getting back.

Dont just tweet “Donna I liked your post about Gary”. It has no value to those reading, always include the link.

Don’t DM stuff that could be shared, give back. Never send auto DM s when people follow you.

Or better still, leave a comment on the blog post you want to mention and then press tweet this. That’s useful  to the blogger and you are putting yourself out there.

Be authentic and when you use someone’s idea or quote, always give credit to them. What goes around comes around.

Donna Jackson

making wine, wineries and social media

Its clear everyone wants to have the ability to tweet when they want to, to post some amazing picture they suddenly took and posted on facebook when they had a moment. They would like to be on Google + too, but only if someone else does it for them.

But then, when they do post something on facebook occasionally, its often ignored and seems lost in space. This feeds the idea that it's a waste of time.

So After a series of workshops I have run with companies and individuals across Europe, here are my thoughts for wineries or winemarketers

Imagine you plant a vineyard.

1. You dont pay much attention to how you lay it out.

2. You just go and find whatever cuttings are going cheap at the vine consorsio.

3. You find a piece of land that someone suggests is empty but holds vast potential.

4. And you plant without consulting an expert consultant.

5. You want great results and a fantastic vintage, but you dont want to invest too much.

6. You also decide you cant spend too much time on this.

7. While others are tending triming and nuturing their vines, adding and taking away for maximum yeild in the future, you just pretty much ignore yours, you boast you have a vineyard but you dont have too much time to waste.

8. Occasionally you take a drive out there to show some people your land and vines they seem convinced you know what your doing. You feel smug you are not like all those others out there, spending hours nurturing and fiddling with their vineyards.

10. When mildew comes you won't call in a consultant, no, thats a waste of money. Lets just wait and see.

  What kind of harvest do you think this vineyard will yeild?

When you try to sell the grapes or the wine and theres no one interested because you also thought you didn't need to market it in advance, will you be shocked? 

This is exactly the approach many people take to social media, they show up when they feel like it, ignore it when they dont, have no strategy, no plan of action.

Then when they need a response or they want to use it. They are surprised they have no audience.

We are living through an age when your response and planning to social media will determine your success or failure.

Thats it.

 http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2513487910/efblike

For a workshop programme in your area that will teach you the skills you need in one morning session, email Donna at amandini.ch  (at) gmail (dot) com and she will link you to events and workshops in your area.

French Corner South Africa

I have traveled to the four corners of the earth and to the most beautiful vineyards and places in the world, and nothing even comes close to the beauty of the land where I was born. Africa even with its problems its a paradise.

In anticipation of my social media tour of South Africa and its first class Cape vineyards. I want to say that despite a seriously full desk, suitcases to pack and unpack and  projects to oversee, moving office, and  with films to edit and workshops to run across Europe. The word Franschhoek ( French Corner) keeps popping up and reminding me that I'll soon be in the best vineyards in the world. A frission of excitment is carrying me along.

Do a little tour with me.