Anne Green

What is your biggest success so far?

I think my biggest success with the “Our Newark Delaware” facebook page is how civil it is. That’s not always easy on a social media platform these days. I try to keep the page light and friendly, but there are times when tough topics come up, school budget issues for instance. I never mind if followers post polite discourse.

There have been a few times I’ve had to call someone who posted out. I usually delete their post and message them saying that they are welcome to re-post their opinion in a more polite respectful way. What I find interesting is that they are often very nice about it. They usually acknowledge that they went too far and tell me how much they enjoy having the page as a resource.

What is the biggest challenge in your industry? What are you doing to deal with that?

The biggest challenge I have with “Our Newark Delaware” is creating an environment where local businesses on social media actually “get social.” I like to connect people and businesses. So I do a lot of tagging and cross posting. Everyone should be doing that.

If you run a restaurant on Main Street, and you know the shop down the way just put up an excellent display of fall fashion items in their window take a picture of it! Share it and tag them! I’d even go so far as to suggest if you run a restaurant and the restaurant down the street is promoting a fundraising event share that! Yes! I did just say promote your competition! Why? Because as much as your customers love you, they are not going to eat every meal out at your restaurant. So why not share some of the love?

I’d love to create that kind of environment on local social media platforms.

What advice would you give to a business owner starting out in your industry that you wish you would have known going in?

The advice I give business owners, and human beings in general, is to be kind. There’s enough negative, aggressive karma in the world. Let’s not create more. Cooperation and collaboration will go a long way towards building a successful business.

Also, ask for what you need or what. So often people think the answer will be “No.” so they don’t ask for what they want or need. Ask! You might be surprised by how often people say yes because they want to work with you. Especially if, as I mentioned earlier, you’re kind and fun to collaborate with on projects!

What don’t most people realize about you or your company?

Most people don’t realize that everything I do with “Our Newark Delaware” is free, for now. It’s a hobby. I also own Commercial Marine Expo, and I have a few small clients who pay me to do some social media work for them.

It’s a labor of love, and while I do try to post things in a timely matter if I’m on vacation at the beach, or busy with my real job it has to wait.

I’m hoping that I will be able to evolve “Our Newark Delaware” into an actual business so I can hire some writers and photographers and make the website more of a destination. My goal? I want to make “Our Newark Delaware” so wonderful everyone in Newark will want it to be the home page on their browser. If you’re going to dream, dream big!