Twitter Blogger and Web Consultant Barbara Bailey of Visibility Consultants

Tell me about your Company?

I own Visibility Consultants, a small web development company. We work with small-to-medium sized companies to help them achieve a strong web presence through web design, coding, online marketing and social media. I also have a popular humor/informational blog, Twitter Fail (http://twitter-fail.com), where I share good things I find on twitter, and expose the best of the worst fails. There’s never a shortage of material!

What was your first experience of social media?

Back in the “old days” before the world wide web, we had BBS – Bulletin Board Services. Someone would host a board on his personal computer, and then users would all login via a terminal program over the phone to post and respond to messages. Obviously, we didn’t call it “social media” then. It was more like, “this really cool thing that only geeks can do.”

What is the biggest tip you would give to a newbie in social media?

Don’t move too fast. Dip your toe in the waters and take your time. Each social media network has a different culture, which brings with it a unique glossary and rules of etiquette. It’s best to start off slow and learn how to do things right, meaning- acceptable to the existing community. Once you’ve figured out the way it’s “supposed” to be used, you can start testing those rules and breaking your own ground.

What do Twitter users do that you wish they wouldn’t?

Retweeting a lot without coming up with anything interesting to say on their own.

Where do you see growth in the social media field?

Social media is setting the stage for the next level of communication. It helps us get out of our caves and connect with others. I think personal recommendations via social media are going to eclipse much of the search engine traffic for local products and services.

What new ideas are advertisers coming up with to take advantage of new trends?

I like the way some of the “big guys” are making friends and fans in social media. I can see them creating new apps within their own web environment for their fans to connect to each other in a more meaningful way.

What would do you do to improve the world?

Remind people to smile and be kind. I heard that when you smile at, or treat others well, it causes a release of serotonin in both your brain, and the brain of the person you’re interacting with. By being good people, and treating each other well, everyone has the opportunity to feel better, and we all become better people.

What do you do that is green?

I’m a gardener. I love getting my hands into the dirt and watching little plants grow.

What is one thing about you that not many people know?

I nearly died three years ago. Because of that, very little upsets me now.

Who are your favorite authors?

Connie Willis, Terry Pratchett, Janet Evanovich, Dean Koontz, and about a zillion others.

What is on your iPod?

I am the only person I know who doesn’t have one. I’m nearly always in front of my computer, so I’ve programmed stations on Jango and Pandora to play my favorites. I love everything from Alternative to Country, Oldies to Electronica.

What are your contact details (email, company, blog, facebook, myspace, forums, etc)?

Barbara Bailey

http://VisibilityConsultants.com

http://Twitter-Fail.com

On twitter as @weirdenough and @tweet_fail

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/barbaraabbailey

I don’t really do much with my Facebook account, other than to keep up with the news posted by my daughter and nephews.

What events do you go to?

I do a lot of business networking. I run a Meetup group for entrepreneurs that meets once a month for education and support, and I’m a member of BNI (Business Networking International) which has been a fantastic source of business referrals for me. I also love to go to concerts every chance I get.

How do you prefer to communicate?

I prefer email for all my business correspondence, and I love Twitter for keeping up with my peeps.

Who would you recommend, and why?

I am connected to a lot of wonderful people. Some people I’ve interacted with this week who are the best at what they do:

My photographer: Lynne Lawlor (@lynnelawlor on twitter), who took a picture of me that I actually like

My good friend, Roberta Poirier, who makes the world’s best chocolates: http://robertaschocolates.com

Chef Lilly, a Personal Chef who creates amazing dishes in your home that are way better than eating out: http://bellacuisine.blogspot.com

My dentist: Bruce McArthur, DDS, who is an artist of teeth, and created a smile I can really be proud of (http://denverhealthysmiles.com)

My hypnotherapist, Steve Axtell, who is helping me lose weight and feel fabulous, without dieting (http://axtellhypnosiscenter.com)

My auto mechanic, Brian Bates at Eagle Automotive, for being the best, and most honest mechanic I’ve ever known: http://eagle-auto.com

Vickie Autry of EmbroidMe, who is very patiently working with me to find a Fail Bird product to match the bird on my blog: http://www.embroidme-lakewood.com

Keith and Casey of Neptune’s Divers, the best dive operation on Grand Cayman: http://neptunesdivers.com

I recommend anyone who is serious about social media to read Seth Godin’s books, and follow @mashable and @joelcomm on twitter.

As a blogger, what are some of your favorite blogs?

Sting in the Tail – http://stinginthetail.wordpress.com

Jackass Letters – http://jackassletters.com

Absolutely True – http://absolutelytrue.com

The Bloggess – http://thebloggess.com

Mind of Chester – http://thezimp.mindofchester.com/

Hello Kitty Hell – http://kittyhell.com

What is one thing people can do for you?

Enter my photo contest on Twitter Fail. http://twitter-fail.com/photo-contest/

Twitter Blogger and Web Consultant Barbara Bailey of Visibility Consultants