The Wooden Spoon That Smacked My Behind

Written by Fairy Godmother, Mandy Allfrey

As a kid, I can think of numerous occasions where my mom was reaching into that dreaded kitchen drawer to grab one of the long skinny handled wooden spoons. I knew that something I said or did had just stirred her emotions to the point that I was gonna get a little time-out therapy. That look in her eye told my 3 brothers and myself – someone was in for it.

That 99 cent 3-pack of wooden spoons was a staple in our home growing up. Not only did it make some mouth-watering killer brownies, it was a tool that get our emotions sizzling. If I knew I had done something my mom was not proud of, the odds of a wooden spoon incident was highly in my favor. A wooden spoon smack across the behind meant I had crossed the line perhaps more times than a sweet little girl should in one day. That itty-bitty spoon sure knew had to get my blood boiling. The anxiety, fear, nerves and relief (when it was over) helped me learn the difference between right and wrong, build my character and understand the power of emotions.

You see, not only were my emotions wrapped up in a wooden spoon, my mom’s emotions had to be filled with anger, pain, sadness and love. Did she really want to take that spoon and give me a little smack? She was not trying to hurt me…only teaching me a lesson. And, I had stirred something emotionally inside of her to cause a wooden spoon tyrant.

You see, emotions are a powerful thing. They make us do things we may not want to do, need or desire. Sometimes they make us react instead of act. And the fact is, emotions are the reason people buy or do things.

In your business, social media is like the wooden spoon mixing the brownies. Sometimes it can pack a punch…in my world give a little smack… and sometimes it just blends it all together.

The ultimate goal of your social media is to stir the emotions of your buyer. First, you need to know the target audience each post is for. Second, you need to understand what they are thinking, feeling and doing. You need to know what their hot button is. What “their” needs really are. Put yourself aside, your emotions aside, and give your audience exactly what they are looking for.

There is no sales pitch, no better than, and especially no pie in the sky. Your goal…give them an emotional experience. I am not saying a smack across the behind is the answer. The answer lies in what your audience needs, and how your product can give that to them. It is not selling yourself or your business.

Don’t just dip their finger in your brownie batter…. give them a taste of the entire experience. You are a solution provider wrapped up in a single emotion. Don’t cloud your message. Too much salt can ruin a brownie. Give them the emotional experience they are looking for.

Social Media Expert - Mandy Allfrey of The Buzz from Asheville, NC

Mandy is a digital marketing professional, speaker, and blogger, having over 12 years of marketing experience in multiple industries. The founder and CEO of Social Media Architecture Company, The Buzz, of Salt Lake City, UT. Clients located across the United States, Canada, & the Caribbean. Mandy engages with corporations, clients, and groups teaching the value of social media and best structuring the best strategies for your business. She is also the founder of Cafe Grace, a positive, uplifting environment on Facebook (www.facebook.com/cafegrace) that makes a positive impact and creates influence in the lives of others.