June 2, 2010

Social media profiles can help you prepare for an online crisis

It’s the Thursday before a holiday weekend, and I’m fortunate to be interviewing for what I think would be an amazing freelance writing opportunity. The phone interview goes well. I’ve given the company the link to my website to see some samples of my work and client testimonials. Only the unthinkable happens. I go to post a blog update, and my site’s down! Panic ensues. Why does this always happen to me at the most crucial times?

Well, I figured out part of that reason was my web hosting provider. I switched providers to Dreamhost, and that problem is solved.

But the point is, this scenario offers another great reason for multiple social media profiles. If you are relying on one site on the web for all of your marketing and public relations exposure, you are putting yourself at risk.

I recently encountered an ad agency that, I suppose in an effort to be cutting edge, has no website–just a facebook page. Would you really want your business hinging solely on facebook’s success?

In a crisis –your site is down, facebook is down, one of your profiles or your website has been hacked, the Twitter fail whale has come up for air–you should be prepared to communicate with multiple alternatives. Even when my website is down, clients can see that I’m actively engaging online by following my social media profile links, which I post everywhere online as well as on my e-mail signatures, business cards, resume and invoices.

As you develop your web presence, consider multiple avenues for content distribution. Go beyond your own website, and post everywhere it makes sense for your business. You’ll be better prepared to handle whatever mishaps the Web throws your way.

Tags: crisis, social media, Social Networks
Posted in Best Practices, PR Strategy, Social networking, Uncategorized | No Comments »

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January 28, 2010

foursquare, my new favorite game on the social media playground

I had a sad realization in the past few weeks…I’m slowly growing tired of twitter. It’s been four years since I became @chelbycat. It’ s been a great four years on twitter, but the shiny newness has worn off. Enter foursquare. I signed up for an account earlier this morning, and I’m already addicted. It’s fresh and exciting and intrinsically intuitive to those of us used to being on twitter.

foursquare is a location-based mobile social network that allows users to “check in” at their favorite hangouts–restaurants, bars, stores, etc. Using an app for your mobile phone or sms, foursquare determines your location and posts the check in to your profile as well as to twitter and facebook. Each time you check in, you can offer a tip: I’m @ Food Dudes – Thursday nights are the best dollar tacos in obx. It’s a little bit like Yelp meets twitter, in the sense that you are providing a tweet-sized review of an establishment. Once you’ve checked in, you can see who else is nearby. You can also use foursquare to see where your friends have checked in and keep track of places you’d like to visit.

Add to this the game aspect that each time you check in you earn points towards badges. I’ve earned my “Newbie” badge (so will you when you join and check in for the first time). If you check into a place more than anyone else, you become the Mayor (until someone else tops you). The gang at foursquare knows just how to stroke an early adopter’s ego!

I’ve only checked in twice now (work and Starbucks) and already I love it. I’ll post more as I get using and enjoying foursquare. For now, I’m already seeing tons of opportunity for marketing and public relations. I’ll be including foursquare my social media plans for clients. As the site explains, foursquare is a great way to run a customer loyalty program. By offering coupons and giveaways to your establishment’s Mayor, you encourage customers to check in and tell their friends what they like about your place. By encouraging customers to check in, you can get the equivalent of “word-of-mouth” exposure for your business. And, I can imagine as they monetize the site, there will be lots of room for advertising.

If you sign up, please friend me: foursquare.com/user/chelbycat

Tags: foursquare, marketing, social media, Twitter, word of mouth, Yelp
Posted in Social networking, Twitter, Uncategorized, Web/Tech | 1 Comment »

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January 13, 2010

Studio Rio: how radio publicity is enhanced through social media

Last year, I helped Studio Rio, a women’s-only gym in Virginia Beach, Va. that offers pole dancing classes, enhance their marketing and public relations efforts. During that time, they developed a new Web site, established a blog and developed a Facebook, YouTube and Twitter presence.

This week, the local radio morning team at WNOR FM 99, Rumble and Shelley, started talking about pole dancing on the air. When Studio Rio heard they were mentioned, they quickly responded to invite the morning team in for a free private pole dancing class. The morning team took them up on the offer and had a blast. The morning show hosts shared their experience with listeners this morning and it was hilarious and entertaining. Studio Rio could not have asked for better publicity.

But it does get better. The morning team has uploaded a YouTube video of their pole dancing lesson as well as an audio clip of the radio bit that aired. That extends the reach of publicity far beyond listeners who happened to tune in to the radio this morning.

The best part is that Studio Rio has been consistently communicating with its members and prospective members through online social media. Because Studio Rio actively engages with customers via Facebook, Twitter and text messaging, they were able alert customers instantly to tune in and listen. Then after the radio exposure, when the clips were posted online, Studio Rio used social media to share the links and get the word out even more. Congratulations to Studio Rio for getting some great publicity and for effectively using online social media to make the most of it.

Tags: Best Practices, facebook, publicity, social media, Studio Rio, Twitter, YouTube
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

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January 11, 2010

Back from my Orange reunion in NYC

Had a great time in New York City meeting with alumni of Syracuse University’s Newhouse Executive Master’s in Communications Management. I graduated from the program two years ago and hadn’t been back to their NYC facility, Lubin House, since. It was great to network and enjoy a fantastic line up of public relations speakers including Richard Edelman and Dierdre Breakenridge.

When I started the master’s program in 2005, I chose my field of research to be Web 2.0 communication (that research spawned this blog). My capstone research focused on best practices in Web 2.0 public relations. Back then, I remember having to convince the professors and academic director that this was a worthy topic of academic research. Thankfully, they were open to the idea (that’s the great thing about the program, you can tailor it to your interests). Amazing that two years later, Lubin house is filled with talk of digital media and enthusiastic tweeting. I just love it!

I highly recommend the Syracuse University master’s in Communications Management program to anyone looking to take their public relations practice to the next level. You’ll meet incredible people and make lifelong friends.

Tags: executive education, New York, Newhouse, professional development, social media, Syracuse University
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November 20, 2009

From Social to Mobile to Global – New Media Conventions 2010

That’s the slogan for our next  New Media Conventions event, which I’m pleased to be planning with a team of amazing professionals in Hampton Roads. Plans are in fast motion, and we have identified our mission and value proposition for what is sure to be the biggest new media event that’s ever taken place in Virginia Beach.

Mission Statement

Provide a select audience innovation in marketing and customer engagement ideas through new media.

Value Proposition

Learn how to get your customers speaking for you through social media by getting your entire marketing message out across all new media. If you’re new to this concept, you can find your way amongst the best, from numerous industries, which are prepared to help you get started. If you’re looking enhance your new media presence and initiatives, the best in marketing will be sharing ideas that can help you take things to a whole new level. Marketing is New Media and you need to be enhancing it – New Media is today and tomorrow.

A Call for Sponsors

We’re now identifying outstanding sponsors for this unprecedented event in Hampton Roads new media networking. If your organization would like to be a part of this dynamic event and have a chance to get social with professionals who are learning about and using new media to propel their business marketing strategy, please contact me for more information.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

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June 10, 2009

After weeks of redesign, welcome to my new blog

With Web sites and blogs, the work is never done. You are always tweaking and updating. It’s quite exhausting. In PR, we recommend you get out there and start blogging, but I think it’s important to keep in mind that blogging is a commitment. Once you get the site up, the work really just begins. In that sense, my work is beginning. Continue Reading…

Tags: blogs, redesign
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

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January 7, 2008

It’s official, I’m an SU Alum

I presented my capstone project in New York City over the weekend, fulfilling the final requirement for my M.S. in Communications Management from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School. It’s been a long six months working on this Web 2.0 research study, and I hope you have found the blog and my research findings useful.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

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