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Is there any social media etiquette?

As David Armano points out in a recent article from the Harvard Business Review, in 2009 we saw exponential growth of social media. According to Nielsen Online, Twitter alone grew 1,382% year-over-year in February, registering a total of just more than 7 million unique visitors in the US for the month. Meanwhile, Facebook continued to outpace MySpace. There is no question that we will continue to adapt and mold with the world of social media and eat-up new technologies and more efficient applications that are introduced to our daily lives.

While I’m a true fan of social media and you can find me on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Ning, commenting on videos on YouTube, uploading pictures to Ohio States O-H-I-O page (can I get a “go Bucks”?), sometimes I’m taken back by how many conversations I can juggle at one time. But is that a good thing? It’s not just tasks we’re juggling anymore, folks, it’s conversations . . . all those balls in the air, they have now officially multiplied. Did you respond to the most recent RT on Twitter? What about that person who commented on your status on Facebook a few days ago?

Those of you who know me well know how much I value communication. I am a talker and I love to be in conversation with others whether that’s via phone, social media outlets or in person. But now, as I’m hashing all of these things out in my head maybe the real question is -- what is the “PC” way to handle communication via social media?

It’s a known fact that if someone calls you and leaves a voicemail message, the courteous thing to do is to return the call. If someone sends you an urgent email, you respond. But what is the appropriate response to a RT or a status comment? Do they require a response? If so, in what time frame am I required to respond before it’s considered “too late”? And what topics are taboo? Some people are posting topics they would never bring up at a cocktail party such as religion, politics, personal hygiene and health issues.  Is this OK? Or can I politely “unfollow” someone whose views disturb me in any way? Miss Manners hasn’t written the book on online conversation etiquette. I write this to start the discussion. I’m curious, what are your thoughts? Are there any set standards for social media etiquette?

By Carrie Crabill

 

Olympic Dreamin'

I’m obsessed with the Olympics. Ever since I was a kid (and there were only 3 channels) I become a fan of every sport in the Olympics, wanting to watch nothing but that. Even today, when I have 500 channels and a DVR, the only thing on TV for me during these two weeks is the Olympics.  I had the privilege of being in Atlanta during the 1996 Summer Olympics and, being young and without children at the time, I took great advantage of them.  I can attest that particularly the Jamaicans and Irish absolutely know how to celebrate.
 
In 1996, too, I had many friends in Public Relations working different aspects of the Olympics. Some of it was “grunt work” of handing out flags or client-branded pencils to passerby, but what a great professional experience nevertheless. The atmosphere in the Olympic venues was wonderful.  
 
Here are my favorite Winter Olympic events to watch on TV:

Snowboarding/Half-pipe: OK, so I admit I have a completely age-inappropriate crush on Shaun White ever since that Fast Company cover story last year. But that’s not the only reason I love the sport. It’s just cool. Something I never was. So maybe watching it makes me just a fraction cooler? I watch the X-Games for the same reason. I can’t wait for its Freestyle Snowmobiling to make it to the Olympics!  
 
Biathalon: This sport is simply primal. Shooting at a target, racing through the snow, then shooting at another target. You can just see that the origins of this sport obviously spurred from necessity vs. the want for a game. I can imagine cave men with spears trudging through the snow and tossing spears at the animals for food. But you had to be the fastest and the sharpest shooter to feed your family or the spoils went to someone else.
 
Freestyle Arial: These are the high jump skiers who then flip themselves around in the air and land like they are just getting out of bed, nice and easy. I wish I had the moxie to try a sport like this. But the closest I’ll ever come is the big slide at the playground, I think.
 
Short Track (Speed Skating): This is fun to watch because it’s rock and roll on skates. Roller derby on ice. The bumping, the elbows, the crashes and the occasional bloody gash all make for constant entertainment.
 
The Fashion: I LOVE all the uniforms designed by Ralph Lauren, etc.  The snowboarder pants on the U.S. team this year win, however, for coolest uniform.

What's your favorite winter Olympic sport?

By Kira Perdue

A Decade Shaped by Technology

When I stop and think about it - it startles me to realize how much of my life revolves around technology. From my Verizon Wireless Blackberry to online music database managed by LaLa.com, technology follows me everywhere I go. And I love it. As a creature of habit, influenced by a technologically advanced society, I don’t know how I made it through the day ten years ago when I couldn’t easily access Google on my mobile phone.

Recently eWeek listed out the top 25 technologies that they believe changed the past decade, while admittedly there are some things on the list that 1. I don’t know what they are and 2. I have never heard of before -- there are others that I thank the IT geeks for creating because I don’t want to know life with out them. Some of the more familiar items on the list include:

·            3G Broadband -- allowing me to travel pretty much anywhere and still be able to find out how long it takes to boil an egg or what time it is in China (yes, I’ve done both, thank you again, Google mobile browser)

·            Blackberry -- I think there should be a sonnet called “Ode to Blackberry”

·            Gmail/Google Apps -- as if I haven’t already expressed my love for Google

·            Social Networks -- you make life easier. I now know what my roommate from college who lives 5 states away had for dinner last night. What more could you ask for? But in all seriousness, social networks keep us connected no matter where we are or what we’re doing. Whether it’s a common hobby, working in the same industry or graduating from the same high school -- these social networks allow us to easily keep in touch with all of our different communities.  

·            Twitter -- please see my previous post for my thoughts on Twitter. http://www.pr-speak.com/my_weblog/2009/06/win-them-over-with-a-smile-or-a-tweet-.html

To read eWeek’s complete list of the top 25 technologies that changed the decade check out the article here, http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Enterprise-Applications/25-Technologies-that-Changed-the-Decade-363376/.

So now, what couldn’t you live without?

By Carrie Crabill

February = Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

Girl meets crown prince of some mythical kingdom; they share love’s first kiss and live happily ever after….or so claims the Disney propaganda that’s passed down to children as lessons in love. Unfortunately, they soon learn life’s not a fairytale. Cellar maids don’t become royalty, the world doesn’t spontaneously break out into song and dance, and the prince and princess in stories aren’t always charming.

In real life, one in three teens experience dating violence; and 80% of parents are unaware there’s a problem. Teen dating abuse has become such a large-scale national issue that 10 states (including our own) have passed laws against this type of violence and 14 others are bring up similar legislation. Congress also has taken both notice and action by recently proclaiming February 2010 as “National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.”

Locally, a new awareness campaign – Letter To My Child – is adding fuel to the nationwide movement to increase public awareness by issuing a ‘call to action’ to Georgia parents, asking they play an active role in keeping their dating preteens/teens safe through communication.

Created as an extension of Verizon Wireless’ domestic violence awareness philanthropic platform (HopeLine), Letter To My Child encourages Georgia parents to open up the conversation regarding healthy relationships and defining unhealthy behaviors by sending a letter to their child. To help parents and family members get started, the campaign’s site, lettertomychild.org provides sample letters, statistics and links to other resources where to find more info and assistance.

Have you talked to your child yet about dating abuse?

Consider observing the first National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month by writing your own letter to your child to let them know you’re there for when they need you. Write a letter, share it with other parents through lettertomychild.org and help keep youths safe from dating violence.

By Brenda Becker

Will “Become a Fan” for Food

On January 25, Einstein Bros. Bagels announced the launch of its “Free Bagel Bonanza”.  Beginning yesterday, consumers who become fans of the Einstein Bros. Bagels Facebook page (www.facebook.com/einsteinbros) will receive a digital coupon valid for a free bagel and shmear. 

By using this social media promotion, in just 24 hours, Einstein has gained thousands of new Facebook fans.  Talk about the power of social media!

Social media has proved successful (at least to date) as a great new way to for a company to market its offerings. With most companies designing Facebook pages to look more like interactive websites, they are quickly learning the importance of creating a place to build relationships with current and future customers.

As I looked through my Facebook pages, I started to think about why I joined most of my pages.  The answer became clear as I scrolled down and realized I am a “fan” of over twenty restaurant concepts.  You may ask why I would become of fan of so many pages and the answer is simple - all of these pages offered me free food.

Free food has proven to be a successful way to gain new Facebook fans over the past several years.  Shane’s Rib Shack hosted a four-month long series of Facebook and Twitter promotions that offered free food in exchange for becoming a fan of its page.  This promotion gained new followers and gave customers a way to try many different items from Shane’s menu.  Another concept, Stevi B’s Pizza used free pizza as a way to gain its first 1,000 fans.  By offering a coupon for a free pizza buffet in exchange for becoming a fan, in less than 72 hours, Stevi B’s hit its 1,000 mark and continued to grow.

Besides the allure of yummy treats, there’s another reason that these campaigns tend to take off. For whatever reason, restaurant pages are some of the most popular pages on Facebook in the first place. As I found in The Big Money Facebook 50, people like to be affiliated with their favorite pizza, candy, and soda companies. So, when these companies kick off a promotion, it tends to make an even bigger splash.

All I know is all these pages are making me hungry.  Today, I am eating my free four-cheese bagel with my lunch, and tomorrow the search begins for the next fan page to join.

By Kelly Ronna

2010 PR Predictions

In a recent submission to Media Bistro, Trevelino/Keller responded with its agency and industry predictions for 2010.

1) In 2010, I expect my business to be up/down/flat, and here's why.

We expect our business to be up considerably in 2010 ... along with many agencies who experienced a decline in 2009.  With that said, we believe those firms with the strongest reputations as specialists, be it skill (vs generalist firms) or industry, will see the biggest rebounds.

For Trevelino/Keller, we are receiving a great response for our ability to integrate social media and public relations strategies into a cohesive brand and sales-driven platform.  Practice specialists in those industries that saw declines in 2009 -- food/beverage/restaurants in particular -- will see stronger lifts.  We are already anticipating a strong January start with new food/beverage clients.  Pure green business or green-related business will be strong in 2010 in part as a result of stimulus dollars and incentives.  And technology, particularly early stage companies, will deliver increased revenue opportunities.  We hit the ground running in January with two new tech clients.

2) In 2010, I expect there to be more/less acquisitions in the PR industry, and here's why.

We expect to see more acquisitions.  The country is scattered with once strong small firms who have been weakened by the economic fallout.  Many will remain weak and vulnerable into 2010 and rather than go under or become freelancers again, we see an increased openness to selling.
Larger agencies will see it as an opportunity to increase their numbers, geographies, skill sets and talent.

3) The biggest PR story of 2010 will be...

I'm afraid the biggest "PR" story as it relates to media coverage will be the return of Tiger Woods ... the good, bad and ugly of it.  Who ever steps into the role of PR consultant or agency to manage that story will at least fall into the top 10 of most covered stories.

More important, the biggest business story in the industry isn't a new story but continues to be the integration of social media and public relations into the business mainstream.  There remains a debate as to who owns social media.  We believe PR owns it and that will become increasingly clearer in 2010.

By Dean Trevelino

Taking the Holidays Down a Notch

When it comes to the holiday season, I have two personalities:

1. I love Christmas and the whole holiday season.  I can’t wait each year for Thanksgiving to be over so that I can put up all my holiday decorations without guilt. I still believe in (the spirit of) Santa Claus. I actually enjoy gift shopping and the feeling of giving. I love driving around with my family looking at how people have brilliantly lit up their homes. And, even at my age of 35 (ok, I lie) I still get butterflies in my stomach going to bed Christmas Eve.

2. I hate Christmas. I hate the traffic at the stores. I hate the pressure to find everyone, even your kid’s school bus driver, the perfect gift. I hate the pressures family members and friends put on you during the holidays. I hate how my schedule is always jammed packed with holiday get-togethers. I hate how Christmas decorations were put up in my neighborhood right after Halloween, prompting even my seven year old to call the workers hanging the wreaths “jerks.” It’s all just too much and makes me want to go and hide until January.

So this year I am embracing my bi-polar nature by allowing one to become prominent, while killing the other (kind of like Spider Man vs. his dark alter ego).  I have decided to LOVE Christmas . . .and do away with everything I hate about it. Technology is going a long way in helping me do that.
 
I will not hit a mall parking lot. I am doing all my shopping online this year  . . .every last little stocking stuffer. Thanks to amazing shopping sites like Amazon.com, Shop.com, Overstock.com, etc. it’s super easy.  Sure I pay shipping, but online coupons are easy to find and I’m not paying taxes on the items.  So for the few dollars extra I spend on shipping, my gas money, time and sanity are saved.
 
I am putting up a fake Christmas tree. That’s right, I said it. For years I have been a “real tree” snob – even trekking out into the woods to cut our own tree, demanding the smell of real pine in my living room. But that smell only lasts a few days anyway. This year I’m saving the trip to the forest, the vacuuming of dropping needles and the constant watering. I am putting up a plastic tree.  I don’t think Santa will notice.
 
I’m cutting down my Christmas card list.  Thanks to social media sites like Facebook, I am in touch regularly with so many people. It’s wonderful to have connected with so many new and old friends. Via social media applications we are able to share family stories, travel stories, work stories, pictures of our kids, etc. on a daily basis.  So why do they all need a card from me? Only a few family members who may not be online (Grandpa) will get cards this year.  And I can personalize those at www.ritzpix.com.  
 
I’m cutting down my gift list. Read my lips: No. More. Adult. Gifts. I mean, get serious. Does your Dad really need another DVD or dress shirt? Does your cousin really need that lotion from Bath&Body Works? The answer is no.  And any grown adult who “demands” gifts on Christmas doesn’t deserve them. So I am not going to stress over what to purchase them and save myself a trip to the post office for shipping. Instead, we have decided to pool our adult-gift money and put it to something more meaningful – donating to a charity of our choice. That’s much more in the holiday spirit, wouldn’t you agree? And if I see something that I really think a loved one will want, I’ll just get it for them “just because,” anytime of the year. That seems like a more meaningful gift to me anyway.
 
I’m saying “no.”  I do not have to attend every holiday cocktail party I’m invited to. I don’t. You can’t make me. It’s that simple. I will, if I so choose instead, stay home in my PJs and read a book by the light of my plastic tree. Guilt-free. I’m sure your party was wonderful, and it doesn’t mean I don’t love you . . . but a girl can only handle so much.
 
So I’m going to be jolly this Christmas, folks. I’m going to deck my halls and get excited about the holidays.  I will not let it stress me out. I will utilize my Blackberry, Kindle, and laptop for online shopping. I will download Christmas tunes on my Blackberry. I will enjoy the wonder and excitement in my children’s faces as we track Santa’s progress via NORAD’s website on Christmas Eve. I will spend more time enjoying life this holiday season and less time stressed out.  Sounds like a wonderful holiday gift to myself and to my family.
 
Oh, and as for Thanksgiving dinner . . .we have reservations at a restaurant for my entire family. No cooking. No dishes.  Bliss.  Oh, and I will not nor will I require any family member to eat green eggs and ham.  Hmmm.  

By Kira Perdue

Lights, Camera, Action! Using Pictures and Video to Enhance your Brand

Websites such as Flickr and YouTube have exploded in popularity for photo and video sharing.  Comscore, a marketing research company, revealed that the popular social network YouTube has reached 100 million viewers alone.

Using videos and photos are a fun and inexpensive way to showcase to potential customers the “feeling” or “personality” of your brand.  Giving them a visual can help solidify a decision to buy your product or to use your services.  In addition, pictures and video aren’t only fun, they show proven results.  According to Forrester Research, videos raise click-through rates up to 200%.

Videos are dynamic marketing and public relations tool.  They can be used in several ways to enhance your brand.

1.      Create Buzz.  Producing a video can be used to create buzz about an event you a participating in or a promotion you are launching.  For example, Shane Thompson, founder of Shane’s Rib Shack, used a video to create a buzz about Shane’s 100 Days of BBQ promotion, which gave 100 free racks of ribs to customers at every location around the country.  The video was easy to make and generated real buzz leading up to the promotion.

2.      Demonstrate. Videos are a great tool to use when you want to demonstrate a new product you are launching or when you are unveiling a new location or service.    Blendtec, a blender manufacturer, uses a video series “Will it Blend?” to demonstrate to potential customers the power of their blenders.  Blendtec’s fun videos have secured them interest all across the globe.

3.      Call to Action.  Videos can also be used to strike an emotional appeal with viewers.  The Salvation Army has a video series called “Hope Stories” which shares the stories of those who have benefited from the Salvation Army.  The videos call to action those who are watching to volunteer their time and money to contribute to the Salvation Army.

 The Bottom Line? Using videos and pictures is an inexpensive way to market your brand.  Using digital cameras, video cameras such as the Flip (which can be purchased at www.ritzcamera.com) and cellular devices with video and picture capabilities(such as the Verizon Wireless Blackberry Storm)  to create your videos and pictures allows you to connect your device to your computer for fast editing and uploading capabilities.  The key is to create an original video that appeals to your target audience.

For more information on how to upload your pictures and videos, visit Flickr and YouTube to get started.

By Kelly Ronna

 

A Holiday Resolution

Every year I make the same promise (to myself).  I will not become consumed with the commercialism of the holiday season.  Yet here I am again, November  – I didn’t even carve this year’s pumpkin – and I’m already making lists and budgets for holiday shopping, anxiously perusing store shelves for the latest and greatest Christmas décor that money can buy.  My calendar already runneth over with parties and shindigs that really just translate to more host/hostess presents and party outfits to purchase.
 
I continually do this to myself year after year, all the while knowing that the mad dashes through malls and taxing workout to my credit are not at all satisfying; not to my wallet, not to my loved ones and least of all to my spirit. Deep down, in theory, I do understand what the events that constitute “the holidays” are supposed to be about, but it all gets a bit more garbled in practice the older I get.
 
So this year I’m making a pledge to reclaim my holiday magic – the warm-fuzzies that once filled me with joy at the thought of three hours of quality time in the kitchen with Mom and Grams while the turkey cooks, pumpkin pie bakes, presents glisten under the tree and Pernil y arroz con gandules (traditional Puerto Rican holiday meal) awaits. Now the same list leaves me only anxious at all the preparations and work it takes and the spare time and cash I seem to always be short on.
 
My grand plan involves shifting my focus from egocentrism to altruism by starting some traditions of my very own:
 
Giving more of myself.  This is the time of year when we seem to become a bit more generous to charitable causes, but usually only by writing/ mailing a check we don’t think about again until it’s time to claim it as a write-off.
 
Don’t get me wrong, I’ll write the check this year too, but I also plan to spend some time appreciating all that I have to be thankful for by volunteering my time and efforts to do good for others in true need (i.e. soup kitchen, shelter, church pantry), not the petty gripes we’re all guilty of complaining about on a regular basis. I figure that if Rachael Ray has time to host a free Thanksgiving dinner for the entire Ohio city of Wilmington to help out an entire town without jobs, then I can find a bit of time to give to Meals on Wheels or a similar organization.
 
Focus on family – Immediate family usually gets the brunt of my selfish streaks, and at no other time of year is this truer than the holidays when the short trips home are jammed packed with last minute shopping, visiting childhood friends and their families, holiday preparations, and obligations of all kinds, most of which involve family. This year I promise to sit through and appreciate grandpa’s stories, even if I can already narrate them from memory.  I will willingly and smilingly trek with my mother to whatever relative she wants to visit; and I’ll even attempt to be nicer to my sister. This is the least I can do for the people that continually provide unconditional love and are the root of most of the things I’m grateful for in this world.
 
Finally, I will be more considerate of others’ needs and wants in an effort to share with them a bit of the same holiday magic I’d love to recapture.
 
After all, aren’t love, family, compassion and giving back what the holidays are supposed to be about?

By Brenda Becker

Spending Habits in 2010

As the New Year inches closer and we happily wave goodbye to 2009 one item that is weighing heavy on the shoulders of executives is budgets -- where will we allocate dollars? More specifically what will IT budgets look like? Questions range from what new investments will be made to whether security will be increased. However, glimpses of hope for a number of businesses have made headlines in the news recently. According to a recent survey by CIO Magazine, 43 percent of small companies with revenues less than $100 million anticipate spending increases in 2010 and 35 percent of mid-market companies with revenues between $100 million and $1 billion anticipate an increase. The survey also shows that IT capital spending is on the rise for 41 percent of the IT executives surveyed.

Results from another survey, conducted by Micro Focus (LSE.MCRO.L), a provider of enterprise application management, testing and modernization solutions, indicates a willingness from financial professionals to invest in existing IT systems, showing that investments are still willing to be made while organizations determine their financial stability.  The survey also shows that financial professionals view gains in efficiency and cost savings as the two most important measures of ROI for IT projects – areas that can be addressed by application modernization. According to the survey, 45 percent of respondents view IT as a “critical driver of value” or a function that “actively contributes value.”

In the PR industry we see companies every day struggle with the direction, priorities and budget limitations. However at the same time, we see new hires taking place. We see technology investments being made to better the company’s growth and security. We believe companies are on the road to recovery. But we also believe that it starts with thought-leaders identifying the problems at hand and brainstorming the most effective and efficient solutions and strategies to ensure a company’s future growth.

After a stressful 2009, companies need to determine what they are capable of in 2010 and should not lose sight of what keeps their business in working function. Much of this lies within the IT department. Don’t place security on the backburner. Don’t lose valuable team members who provide priceless knowledge base. Most important don’t let the fear of allocating dollars today limit your opportunity to get out in front of the competition so that when the recessionary dust does settle, you find yourself ahead of the pack vs running alongside it. 

By Carrie Crabill