Every Monday I post an interview with a social media marketing expert. My blog focuses on using social media to promote books (particularly self-published books), and I believe authors can really learn a lot about successful social networking by following the experts.
This week we meet Adam Evers, Social Media Marketer with Famous Dave’s
KS: Tell me about your company – how it was created and what you do.
AE: Famous Dave’s is an All American Barbeque joint with 183 restaurants nationwide. We serve up real authentic barbeque. We have won over 500 awards for our barbeque around the nation and we continue to compete with our traveling ‘rib team’. Our founder, Dave Anderson, created the first barbeque shack back in 1995 after traveling the United States trying to find the best barbeque in the nation. After he was done looking he set up shop in Hayward Wisconsin. He continues to be involved in the company and contributes to the overall success of Famous Dave’s. He loves to drop by the corporate headquarters from time to time and help with special projects. We are lucky to have a founder be apart of the organization like we do.
I am the social media dude for Famous Dave’s. I’m no expert. No one is … the medium is way to new. With that off my chest … my job entails basically anything online. Which means I am in charge of our website, social media mediums (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc), online advertising, etc.
KS: Who do you feel can benefit from a social media marketing strategy?
AE: Everyone. Strategy is where it should begin. Too many companies are just jumping into social because they know they should. If they knew they should … they should also know that without a strategy you’re doomed. Strategy is what will make or break any social media efforts.
A social strategy doesn’t have to be a long drawn out document it can be very simple. With that strategy add in some key metrics, sprinkle in some tactics and blam you have kick ass social media strategy which can prove ROI.
KS: How long have you been blogging and what is the primary focus of your blog?
AE: It feels like forever. I started out with a livejournal back in the day then upgraded to blogger then finally moved over to my own server with wordpress installed on it. In those periods of time I have blogged about my life, technology, social media, marketing and everything in between. Currently the focus of my blog is on social media … specifically advice, strategic musings, do’s and don’ts as well as the occasional rant.
KS: What is your favorite social networking site? Why?
AE: I really really like Twitter. I started March 23rd 2007. I remember it launched just about a year before and it was picking up steam in the tech realm. I joined and have loved it ever since.
The reason I like Twitter is because it breaks down all the barrios of entry. You don’t have to even know someone to talk to them. All you have to know is their username. That is huge. On Facebook + LinkedIn there normally has to be some kind of connection before messages can be sent/received. It’s completely different on Twitter. I remember the first time I ‘reached out’ to someone who I wanted to get to know on Twitter. It was Colin Burns who was at the time the dude who did the social media for Chipotle. I admired his style of social and I really liked his tweets. I replied to a couple of them and we started talking more and more and blam we were sort of friends. I have never met him in real life but I have communicated a ton with him over Twitter and email. After I did that I started making more connections and broadening my network. I am extremely intentional about those that I follow and communicate with. I don’t want to follow 1,000+ people. That’s way too much noise. I like to follow 150-200 people that’s perfect.
KS: What is your #1 piece of advice for social networking newbies?
AE: Just do it. Throw yourself out there. Meet some people and ask for help. Follow some people you admire and start talking with them. Join the conversations that are happening. The social media community at large is filled with nice people more than willing to help a newbie along. With that I would also temper it with don’t be someone you’re not. I am sick and tired of people not being real and authentic on any social medium. People are really good crap detectors.
To find out more about Adam Evers and Famous Dave’s, visit:
Website: www.famousdaves.com
Blog: http://adamevers.com/blog/
Twitter: @eversadam and @famous_daves
Thanks Kelly for interviewing me! It was a ton of fun.