Thankful for These Tweeps

Twitter users understand that it's a bit of a ritual to send out a #FF each Friday. The # makes it an easy way to get picked up by the Twitter search engine, and the FF stands for "Follow Friday." It's a way to keep growing your Twitter network and get connected with new people that may share something in common with others who follow you. Each week, I like to select a handful of Tweeps who have interacted with me by mentioning @daisymaesmarket with a comment, question,  or link that tells me they're reading my posts. 

This week I wanted to #FF all the wonderful people who reacted to yesterday's misfortune at Findlay Market. These people either re-tweeted my blog link, expressed sensitivity and support, or offered other words of encouragement. As I started to make a list, I realized there were far too many to thank using the 140 character Twitter limit. So this week, I've created my own #FFsuperduperblogpost list. Thanks to all of you (and I apologize in advance to those I may have missed). You make it all worthwhile. 

geekjames

TaketheCakeCafe

mojojacob

merubin

positivelycinci

cbesl

joshosbo

msred513

CincyNomerati

WillCook4Shoes

UneasyPink

feoshiawrites

foodstuffsnati

Twitricia

TasteofBelgium

TravisFessler

Megebee

classicgrrl

kendurbin

GoMariaGo

Sophiaz123

sdugas

TheRealFadi

Nikki

WestEnder

Twitterific!

I was looking back at some of my old posts and saw that a year ago I was writing about the wonders of Twitter. A post from October 2009 focused on how I had become acquainted with Findlay Market merchants Josh @worldfoodbar, Jean-Francois @tasteofbelgium, and Michael @dojogelato...all via Google and Twitter.
A year later, I continue to be impressed by the power of Twitter. Just yesterday, Mr. Daisy Mae ran into someone on an elevator while making a delivery. When he told them he was with Daisy Mae's, the woman immediately replied, "Oh, sure...I follow you on Twitter." You'd be surprised how often that happens or how often someone makes a reference to a specific tweet.
Reflecting on those first three Findlay Market merchants that I met, I wonder how much Twitter has helped them grow their businesses...Josh now operates a restaurant called Mayberry and will soon open a small grocery store in addition to his Findlay Market World Food Bar. Jean-Francois seems to be everywhere with his waffles, crepes, and more...including his most recent expansion at the Wexner Center in Columbus. And, Michael has nothing short of a legion of dojomaniacs who make pilgrimages to Findlay Market and follow his DojoGelato cart around like 8-year-olds follow an ice cream truck. I have to believe the growth of these businesses can be partly attributed to the use of social media. The connections made not only between company and customer, but also between businesses have surely contributed to rapid expansion.
I'm amazed www.twitter.com/daisymaesmarket has 700 followers and keeps growing. I hope our use of Twitter is valuable and somewhat entertaining for those followers. I also hope our use of Twitter allows Daisy Mae's to grow like the businesses of my first three Twitter acquaintances. Twitter is quick, targeted, and perfect for busy entrepreneurs like us. A tip of Daisy Mae's hat to Josh, Jean-Francois, and Michael for showing us how twitterific social media can be. Here's to continued success for all of us, and I'll tweet ya later...

You Meet the Nicest People on the Internet

Contrary to what your mother always told you, it's possible to meet the nicest people on the internet. Thanks to Twitter, I've met several professional chefs, a few budding entrepreneurs, some restaurant owners, and a whole bunch of nice people who like to cook and eat. The weird thing is I've never really MET any of these people--we are only acquainted online. Yet, we share recipes, shopping tips, cooking tips, personal observations, and a lot of clever comments every day. 

Last Monday, I had a particularly amazing experience. I participated in Foodies' Night In as sponsored by the team at www.cookingwithcaitlin.com. From 4:00-6:00 pm, Daisy Mae's Market was one of the hosts for an online chat focused on recipes and how social media is used to share cooking ideas. All kinds of people chimed in with thoughts and comments--some from as far away as Italy, but many were also Cincinnati locals that I had previously crossed paths with on Twitter. From this 2-hour exchange, my network of contacts grew, I acquired several tempting recipes, and I learned one or two new cooking techniques. Now THAT'S what I call "Social Media." 

I'd like to thank the Cooking with Caitlin team for including me in this online exchange. You can be sure that I'll be checking in every Monday for Foodies' Night In. To join in, use the hashtag #fni and follow me @daisymaesmarket. 

Who Wants Mushrooms?

Barry and Jeff have spent the day on a buying spree. We have an extensive inventory for tomorrow's opening. For starters, we hit the jackpot with mushrooms. Besides white mushrooms, we'll have maitake, beech, oyster, trumpet, and porcini mushrooms! We also have some great looking apples, grapes, greens, parsnips, peppers, potatoes, oranges, and squash. It looks like we'll have over 70 items this week. The first few weeks will be a bit of a learning experience. We really will make an effort to stock what our customers want and need...some for the everyday buyer and some for the gourmet cooks. When we get a good deal or a specialty item, we'll try to tweet about it. Stay tuned.

www.twitter.com/daisymaesmarket

Tweet for Veggies!

Hidden Valley has come up with a great marketing idea. In an effort to promote vegetables to kids, Hidden Valley is offering a $10,000 grant. The new twist is that it's a Twitter contest. Anyone can tweet about the grant and by including @HVRanch #lyvgrants in the post, you are entered. The contest runs for the next couple weeks so sign in to Twitter, and re-tweet my post:

Please RT! Winton Woods Primary North kids like veggies. They'd LOVE them if they got the $10,000 Hidden Valley grant. @HVRanch #lyvgrants

Thanks!