Can Your Business Bounce Back From A Social Media Blunder?

 Social media is an excellent marketing tool for businesses but it can be risky. If you say the wrong thing on social media and people are upset about it, mob rule quickly takes over. One small blunder could lead to a lot of bad publicity when it goes viral and everybody piles on. These situations are very difficult for businesses and it's vital that you learn how to manage them properly so you don't make it worse. So, what should you do if your business makes a social media blunder? 

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Assess The Damage

The first thing you need to do is assess the damage and work out how bad it really is. Is this a rant from a single disgruntled customer or a major PR disaster? The first thing you need to do is look at who made the mistake. Was it a junior social media manager who didn't think things through before they posted it on Twitter, or an executive head of marketing responsible for all messages going out from the company's social media accounts? See whether you've been blocked on Instagram or if people are calling for a boycott of your company. Remember, the news cycle moves quickly, so small blunders will be forgotten in a matter of hours. It's important to know how bad it really is so you can respond appropriately.

Acknowledge The Mistake

Once you've worked out the damage, it's time to apologize. This is one of the most important steps in managing a social media crisis. You have to show that you are contrite about what happened and that you're willing to take steps to fix things. People who do this properly will gain respect from their customers for taking responsibility, even though they may still be upset about the issue. There's no point just deleting social media content and trying to pretend it never happened, this will only enrage people even further. Don't try to cover up your mistake with silence either - you're opening yourself up to more bad publicity by not saying anything at all.

Don't Censor Negative Comments

If you get negative comments, don't delete them. Instead, respond to them properly and work out what the person is unhappy about so you can resolve it for future customers who visit your social media pages. If you just keep deleting the negative comments, people will get more upset about the situation and it will prolong the issue for much longer. 

Show How You Are Improving

If you're really committed to repairing the damage, show people how you are improving. Have a meeting about the issues in your business and make real, tangible changes to make the business better. You can then show people that you are actually learning from the situation and using it as an opportunity to make changes instead of trying to brush the controversy under the carpet. You can use social media influencers to help spread your new message and improve your image.

Although people are quick to judge businesses that make social media blunders, they are also quick to forget. If you follow these simple steps, your business will come out of the other side unscathed. 

Homeschool Hacks by Lindsay Knerl Book Review

Today I'm sharing a great book with you called "Homeschool Hacks: How to Give Your Kid a Great Education without Losing Your Job or Your Mind" by Linsey Knerl, mother of six and freelance journalist. 

I was sent a copy to read and review, and I was not compensated monetarily other than with a free copy of the book. Opinions are my own.

After you read my review, you can purchase "Homeschool Hacks" here if you wish! It's available for Kindle, in print, and as an audiobook.

I'm going to pop the Table of Contents here so you can see what's included in the book, then we'll talk some more about my thoughts on it. 

Introduction: How to Use This Book

Chapter 1: Who Are the Homeschoolers?

Chapter 2: How Do You Start?

Chapter 3: Homeschool Legalities and Requirements

Chapter 4: Tools of the Trade

Chapter 5: Sample Schedules and Proper Planning

Chapter 6: Homeschooling through the Grades

Chapter 7: Paying for Homeschool

Chapter 8: Handling the Childcare Problem

Chapter 9: Homeschooling and the Family Business

Chapter 10: Working outside the Home

Chapter 11: Military Homeschoolers

Chapter 12: Temporary Homeschool

Chapter 13: Getting Kids College Ready

Chapter 14: Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Appendix A: Resources

Appendix B: Sample Junior High and High School Course Outline

Some thoughts:

The Tools of the Trade chapter contains quite a bit of common sense, like writing utensils and other school supplies, including a printer and a computer, so probably the book could've done without this chapter entirely. 

The Sample Schedules and Proper Planning chapter was pretty useful, even for a homeschool veteran like myself. This chapter also includes information about setting homeschool milestones, for example, we need to be done with lesson 80 of math before Christmas break. This way, your child can work ahead or know how much they need to do to get caught up before the break. This is helpful when you have those days (or weeks!) where everything explodes and nothing gets done.

This book is pretty much like other books on homeschooling and anything you can find on the Internet, except it's in a smallish package that you can easily carry around and digest a bit at a time. I do think it's a great resource to have around if you are just getting started, but maybe not so much for a seasoned homeschooler.

The Homeschooling and the Family Business and Working outside the Home chapters were a nice update to a lot of other homeschooling books, many of which do not take these unique situations into consideration. I don't have a family business and I don't work outside the home, but I have worked INSIDE the home and while traveling with the family pretty much ever since my first child was born 20 years ago.

There's a lot of great information in this book, and I recommend you grab it if you have small children or are just getting started. It's one to purchase for your home library in that case. For those who have been in the homeschool game longer, definitely grab it at the library first, and then you can decide if it's one you'd like to purchase.

*If you feel like sharing this on social media, please tag @TillerPress and @simonandschuster, as well as @mommykerrie and @thekerrieshow. Thanks!

How To Smoothly Transition To A New Doctor

 Whether you’re moving, or are ditching a bad doctor, you want to make the transition to a new doctor as smooth as you can, to make sure you don’t experience a break in your care. Here’s how to do it. 

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To make the transition from your old doctor to your new one go a smoothly as you can, you want to carry out a few steps. 

Find A New Doctor First

If you’re choosing to find a new doctor, then make sure you can get in with the new one before you leave your existing surgery. You might not always be able to because:

• They may not be accepting new patients

• They don’t accept Medicaid patients

• Specialists are all booked up

When you find a new doctor, set up an introductory appointment before you leave your old one. 

Have A Final Visit

Book in one last appointment with the doctor that you are leaving. In this appointment, you can:

• Ask for a status report on current or recurring health conditions. Take notes, if you can. 

• Discuss your reasons for leaving, if you wish to. Try not to burn any bridges as the medical community is a small one. Making your old doctor angry could make it harder to find a new one. 

• Get copies of your medical records for the past several years, especially ones that relate to current or chronic problems, so your new doctor will have access to your notes, test results, and other information that will be useful to them. Ask your new doctor if they will take care of this step, as many do. 

Get Your Medical Records

You have a right to your medical records under HIPAA. However, each state does have it own laws about how you have to make a formal request to get them, so check first. You will probably need to:

• Make the request in writing

• Pay for copies

• Give them time to comply

If your old doctor uses an electronic medical record-keeping system and your old one doesn’t, or has a system that is very different, this might change the process. 

Do I Have To Say Why I’m Leaving

No. if you’re leaving because you’re unhappy, you don’t have to share. 

If you’re leaving because you don’t have a choice, such as because you are moving away or your insurance has changed, it can be nice to let your doctor know, so they know there wasn’t a problem with their care. 

If you’re leaving due to problems with the doctor, and you think this information would be valuable to them, you can tell them, although it’s best to stay away if you’re seeking advice from a medical malpractice attorney. This conversation will be awkward, but if you can manage it, it might help other patients. 

You could choose to write them a letter or an email, if you’re angry and upset and would rather not face them. Explaining your reasons might feel cathartic, and could help your doctor o change their habits to better care for their other patients. 

5 Situations When Your Life Insurance Policy Won't Pay Out

 Life insurance is something that a lot of people don't think about, especially when they are younger. However, disaster could strike at any time and it's important that your family is protected, so you need to think about taking out a policy. 

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But one thing that people don't always realize when they first get life insurance is that it's not guaranteed to pay out. In fact, there are certain situations where your insurance company will refuse to pay a settlement to your family. Understanding your policy and knowing what situations are covered is the only way to make sure your family is protected. These are some of the situations when your life insurance policy won't pay out. 

Unlawful Denials

There are certain reasons for denied payments that are written into your contract, and we'll get on to those. But it's important to note that insurance companies will sometimes deny a claim without a legitimate reason. In this situation, you need to contact insurance claim attorneys and explain your situation to them. Knowing your policy inside out is the best way to avoid and fight unlawful denials, so read it properly before you sign anything.

False Information On Applications

The majority of life insurance applications ask if the person applying has any serious medical conditions. This is because certain illnesses can mean that someone won't live as long, which means they're more likely to die during the term of the policy. If you fail to mention something on your application then this could invalidate your claim. This doesn't just apply to health conditions either, any false information is grounds for denying your claim, so always double-check your forms before submitting. You also need to make sure you update your policy after any major changes to your life circumstances or your health. 

Terminal Illness

Some policies will not cover you if you have a terminal illness. This means that you have a very serious illness with no chance of recovery. Your insurer may decide to pay out a smaller amount, but they won't pay out the full amount. If you're buying life insurance then it's worth asking about their policy on terminal illnesses and which health problems will result in them not paying out. 

Suicide

If you commit suicide during the term of your policy then it will not pay out. Depending on when this happens, it could invalidate the policy completely. However, if you take out a policy and then attempt suicide but fail then this won't necessarily be considered to be a suicide attempt unless there is proof that you intended to end your life.

Outliving Your Policy

Most life insurance policies only cover you for a certain amount of time. If you outlive your policy then your insurance company won't pay you out, because the term is now over. That's why it's crucial to check your policy regularly and update it when needed. 

Knowing when your life insurance policy won't pay out is so important if you want to prepare for the future and protect your family. 

Workout Tips For The New Mom

Congratulations on your newborn baby! Right now, you’re probably on a total high from the labor experience while feeling totally exhausted. That tiny bundle in your arms is about to keep you feeling exhausted for a few years, so it’s rather important that you know how to get back to feeling more of yourself. There is a lot of things that your baby needs and the most important is a happy and healthy parent. This doesn’t mean snapping back to a pre-baby body that you gently nurtured and cared for, it’s about giving yourself the right amount of energy so that the demanding night feeds don’t take too much of a toll on your body.

There is an absolute ton of information out there about getting back into fitness when you’ve had a baby. Some of it is helpful, some of it is unrealistic. All of it is going to depend on how you feel and the type of birth that you’ve had. Mom’s who have had a c-section, you know the rules about waiting to get fit after you’ve had your baby, so step on back for a few more weeks and allow yourselves to heal properly so that you don’t do any damage. For those who are able to start easing themselves into exercise, don’t push yourself too hard. Your body just made, carried and birthed a child; it needs time to heal, too. So, how can you get back to feeling energized and ready to take on the night feeds?

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Be Happy. Firstly, your body has gone through a lot. It took nine months to change, so you need that much time at the very minimum to change it back again. You’ve got a brand-new little person in your life to enjoy, so focus on breathing in that scent. The workouts will still be there after your six-week check.

Equip Yourself. Working out after birth doesn’t mean you will be heading to the gym to start pumping iron. If you invest in the right double jogging stroller, you can add weight with a toddler as well as the baby and go to the park. Even doing your daily errands can give you a little bit of a workout boost – as long as you slowly get your heart rate up, you’re going to be burning off some calories.

Do SOMETHING. It’s hard to get up and go when you’re pinned to the sofa on the fourth breastfeed of the day and you’re still in your pajamas. However, there is a big wide world out there and you need fresh air as much as the baby needs vitamin D. Get up, get dressed and go for a walk. It doesn’t have to be a long one, just enough to get you moving. Go further every day.

Be Real. You’ve just had your baby. You cannot hope to lose the weight instantly, and you need to be gentle with yourself when it comes to goal-setting. Motherhood is trying enough without added pressure.

Mom, you’re doing an amazing job. Body confidence doesn’t get much better than when you know you’ve created life. Go you! UPDATE: Check out this post from April 2020 on CoolBaby Mom about the Best Double Jogging Strollers!

On a personal note, here's my walking story for National Walking Day a couple of years ago with an update.