Talking today at Webfest Global, Kim Kardashian expressed love for Instagram, found Twitter fun, saw Facebook as a great brand builder and, despite having emailed Google CEO Eric Schmidt earlier in the day, made no mention of Google+.
These and other thoughts she shared on business and social media are in my live blog below. I’ll highlight a few of the top items that stood out for me.
By the way, there are no pictures allowed, so what you see above from my program, that’s it. Second, I’m the one person in the world who barely knows who Kim Kardashian is. You’ll see that reflected in some of the live blogging :)
Kim On Eric Schmidt
She started off saying she’d emailed Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt shortly before coming to speak and knows him pretty well. Schmidt told her to say hello to the Googlers he expected would be in the audience.
Despite the Google connection, Kim never mentioned Google+ as a social network she uses. She does have a verified profile there but hasn’t posted since the middle of last year.
Kim On Blogging
“I really started with my blog before there was Twitter,” she said, saying she loves “the interaction with her fans” Her blog was like a visual diary. Even after she got into social media, she kept it going because “it was like my own little Twitter, my community”
Kim On Twitter
When it came along, it provided even easier access to her fans. She was happy with a Forbes article recently found that despite some celebrities having more followers, she was the person with the most engagement.
“Absolutely I’ve regretted something I’ve tweeted,” she said when asked, then went on to say after getting off a plane and seeing a tweet to pray for Israel, she tweeted she would. Which got a tweet asking her to pray for Palestine, which she tweeted she would. Which put her in the middle of a Middle East situation she didn’t realize was going on.
“I’m just praying for everyone,” she said of the furor that erupted, to good natured laughs from the audience.
She’s not paid per tweet. But some contracts for her companies might require things like one tweet per month. But she also does that because “it’s my company.”
Kim tweeted a McGriddle, and a friend asked if she was paid. “No, I was just having a McGriddle.” Her friend said shouldn’t do it. “I can tweet whatever I want.”
Kim On Social Media
“I fell in love with social media.” And while she loves her blog, social media has helped it. “I truly believe my blog wouldn’t be here today without social media.”
Social media also connects her more closely to her sisters.
“I’ve learned so much from my little sisters by looking at their Tumblrs and Instagrams,” she said. ” I know it sounds crazy, but I know them so much better through social media ”
She went to say she can see what they are doing and even “stalk” their friends. Though she added, she was glad she didn’t have Twitter through much of her dating.
“When I was in crazy relationships, if I had Twitter, that would have been the best stalking device ever.” She did give one example of a boyfriend saying he was in one place and her knowing he was somewhere else, off a tweet.
She doesn’t think social media usage will surpass TV any time soon, but she knows that social media can help TV viewing. “If we tweet we’re live, our ratings go through the roof.”
Kim, Her Baby & Social Media
Will she keep her child away from social media sites? “I would say yes,” she started, saying that originally, she thought “growing up in social media would be tough.”
She went on to say she sees her sisters dealing with online bullies, and she has her own challenges with them. But she’s also seen how they can be handled, which give her some hope for her own child.
“I’m definitely going to be more protective with my own child, but I have more faith seeing how my little sisters have handled social media.”
Kim On Business & eBay
Got her start selling 10 pairs of $700 shoes for $2500, after her father lent her the money — and required a contract.
Also, “I’m obsessed with eBay, and that’s what really got me started in the business world.”
She gets approached about products and says, “If you’re putting your name on something, it has to be something you would use and have tested.”
She says it’s good to listen to other people’s advice but “No one is you. If you came up with the idea, stick to your guns but also take other people’s advice.”
The best business advice she’s ever received? It came from her mom. “If someone tells you no, you’re talking to the wrong person.”
Kim On Facebook
She thinks it’s more effective for extending a brand and exposure, can post photos and not limited to 140 characters. It’s an easier communications tool.
Kim On Kik
She loves this video sharing service.
Kim On Political Influence
“I want people to make their own decisions” which is why she doesn’t do political tweets. She doesn’t want people doing things just because she does.
Kanye Has No Smartphone
She mentioned he doesn’t get text or do much on his phone other than calls. If I heard that right. Pretty sure I did.
Favorite Social Media? Instagram
What’s her favorite social media site for loyal followers, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram?
“Instagram is my favorite right now, but it changes.” Facebook is good for getting the message out, building the brand. “Twitter is fun,” she says. “But Instagram is such a part of your personality .. you can put up quotes or photos or anything you want.”
Below, the raw live blog of the talk:
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