Recently I had the pleasure of interviewing Dave Kerpen.
Dave is the CEO of Likeable Media, a social firm and author of a 2011 book, Likeable Social Media.
Carol Lawrence: Dave, please tell us about yourself, your family
and how you began your social media journey.
Dave Kerpen: I am the very proud parent of two girls.
Charlotte is 8 an amazing artist, loved and loving.
Kate is 4 and so very full of life. Carrie is their
incredible mom and my wife and partner in all things.
I have always loved connecting with people and have always
been very public, so social media was in many ways a perfect fit.
Began with blogs and Facebook in 2007 and never looked back.
Carol Lawrence: Who came up with the idea for your wedding?
Can you briefly give us some juicy details?
Dave Kerpen: Carrie and I came up with it together, but it
was mostly her. It was a lot of fun - here's a link to one of my
favorite media pieces from the wedding.
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=1833377n
The only juicy details I can think of was getting free stuff
we didn't even ask for, like teeth-whitening from Bright Smile.
Carol Lawrence: How did you go about putting your wedding together
and was there any doubt it wouldn't work?
Dave Kerpen: We pitched the Brooklyn Cyclones first,
because we needed a promotional partner that would have the inventory
to trade. Then we approached contacts we had made through our radio and
integrated marketing career. Once we landed 1-800-Flowers.com,
Smirnoff and Entenmann's it was easier to get more partners.
Once the NY Times piece hit, that led to other media.
A few family members had their doubts, but we never
doubted it would work.
Carol Lawrence: What inspired you to write Likeable Social Media?
Dave Kerpen: I really wanted to help small businesses leverage social
media well. We work with a lot of larger companies but I wanted a cheaper
way smaller organizations could access our knowledge and best
practices to grow their businesses and be more successful with
Facebook, Twitter and the social web.
Carol Lawrence: What do you think of the new Google+ platform?
Where do you see G+ heading in the future?
Dave Kerpen: I think Google+ is promising. It will take a lot to
shift the average consumer from Facebook but Google is off to a good
start,and Google+ will surely help their core search product.
Carol Lawrence: Can you share what the publishing process has been
like for you?
Dave Kerpen: I learned a lot about publishing :) It had its ups
and downs but I feel much more prepared now for my 2nd book.
Carol Lawrence: Where do you see social media heading in the future?
Dave Kerpen: Social media will become increasingly mobile and
increasingly part of how we spend our lives and jobs each day.
Carol Lawrence: What would you say to a business, author or
entrepreneur who has yet to take advantage of social media?
Dave Kerpen: Get started now! It's never too early or too late.
Carol Lawrence: Can you share your #1 tip for attracting new clients?
Dave Kerpen: Create great content and give it away to the right people.
Carol Lawrence: As a social media manager/coordinator, I primarily
work with authors. Do you have any advice for authors on how to promote
their books and themselves through the use of social media?
Dave Kerpen: Here is a blog post Megan from my team wrote about this:
http://www.likeable.com/2011/06/how-to-use-social-
media-to-launch-a-best-selling-book/
My advice is to get involved with social media and building your
community way before you publish a book.
Carol Lawrence: I put together Virtual Book Tours for authors.
Have you ever participated in a virtual book tour and do you
feel they are a good alternative or addition to physical book
tours for authors
Dave Kerpen: I haven't participated in a formal virtual book tour
so I can't really say, but it's seems a lot more cost-effective
than a physical book tour these days!
Carol Lawrence: I know some publishing houses and literary
agents vary in their opinion on the importance of an author
platform. Do you feel having an author online platform is a priority
for a new author to create before their book becomes available?
Dave Kerpen: Yes, the larger the platform, the better.
That's the reality.
Carol Lawrence: How do you structure your day to be the
most productive for you?
Dave Kerpen: I use my calendar very carefully.
6am-9am is family time. 9am-6pm is work time, with social
media built-in along the way. 6pm-10pm is family time, then
10pm-2am is catch up time on emails and social media, and writing.
Carol Lawrence: What's next for Dave Kerpen?
Dave Kerpen: I'm writing a 2nd book, tentatively titled
Likeable Business: Why Consumers Today Demand More, & How Brands
Can Deliver. I'm, hoping to speak more and at larger conferences
in 2012. I'm building our business (INC 500 #118 in 2011, hoping
to keep growing exponentially) and most important, I'm spending
time with my family.
Carol Lawrence: Do you ever take a break from social media?
Dave Kerpen: No. Seriously, I take an occasional 24 hour or
48 hour break during vacations.
Carol Lawrence: Thanks Dave for being so personable and approachable
to your fans and for taking the time to answer my questions.
I really appreciate it.(Please share all your links, Facebook, Twitter, G+, etc)
Dave Kerpen: My pleasure and here you go:
Likeable:
Website/Blog/Facebook/Twitter
Personal links:
Facebook/Twitter/LinkedIn/Quora/Foursquare/Google+
You may also want to check out:
#118 in the 2011 Inc 500 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America
Facebook Preferred Developer Consultant
Only 3-time WOMMIE Award Winner (2008, 2009, 2010)
Schedule a call or meeting with me @ tungle.me
Interview By: Carol Lawrence
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