Category: Social Media + Influencer Engagement

Instead of Giving “The Finger”

Cherith AndesBlog, Public Relations, Social Media + Influencer Engagement, , , , ,

Facebook “Poke” Dies, Raising Another “Pointed” Question

After what might possibly be Facebook’s shortest-lived app, the infamous Facebook “poke joke” died a silent death on Friday, May 9—sans headstone, eulogy or even so much as commemorative post.

And rightly so, you’ll agree, after a quick peek at the facts.

As legend has it, Zuckerburg developed the new Facebook Poke app (not to be confused with the original poke feature)  in less than two weeks. This “new” version touted the ability to grace your friends with videos and photos that self-destructed after 10 seconds (yes, you got it. A direct Snapchat clone.) After its premiere in late 2012, Facebook’s iOS poke app zipped around the market for a whoppin’ 16 months before fizzling into the social media graveyard (accompanied by loud Zuckerburg family drama).

Sad Day.

Except not. Originally, the 2004 inaugural Facebook poke started as a little digital tug on the sleeve: “Don’t forget about me.” “I’m here…and thinking about you.” “NO, REALLY. MESSAGE ME ALREADY.”

And for the last half-decade, social media apps have followed suit, morphing into one big sleeve-yanking trick after another to garner the attention of our family, friends and followers. Snapchat, the obvious rival for the Facebook poke, appeals to our miniscule attention spans while Instagram satisfies our unspoken yen for endless visual stimulation.

But recently, social media has done an about-face. Rather than eliciting attention, we’re desperately trying to silence the noise.

Shut up? There’s a button for that.

Twitter, for instance, just introduced a new button that enables you to “mute” chatty followers from your feed. Zap. Instant silence. Another app, “Shut Up! The Red Button” available on Google Play, allows you to tell a nearby friend to pipe down with the tap of a  button. Enjoy a similar, albeit slightly more jarring, experience with Smosh’s “iShutUp” that yells “shut up” in response to any nearby noises.

We’re dying for ways to unplug with apps like Freedom or Anti-Social that impose timed internet blackouts on your laptop. And just think: after decades of inventing ways to burn the midnight oil, we’ve now created systems like SleepStation to force us to quiet our minds and nod off.

The Newest Craze: Nothing.

We can’t help but crave it: blessed, golden silence.

So the death of the “new” Facebook poke is certainly nothing to mourn. (Did anyone even know it existed?) Rather, the shift is a reminder for us to invest in meaningful communication. Meaningful communication: this self-defined concept bequeaths us with the freedom—the permission—to step back and reevaluate our time.

You may find that tweets truly are the glue in your long-distance friendships. Or your evening Facebook chat and random Snapchat streams actually strengthen the bond among your best girlfriends. That’s all ok. Better than ok.

Tweet it. Mean it.

The medium can be irrelevant; the message is critical. So don’t bother adopting every latest app fad (the Facebook poke being a prime example). Instead, choose whatever Insta-Snap-Book-Tweet-a-gram actually works for you and your friends, and then do it: invest in meaningful messages to those who matter.

And if you’re ever in doubt, I’m pretty sure the post office still manufactures them good ‘ole postage stamps (and Target has quite the collection of chic personal stationery). Just pointing that out.

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iMedia Day at Elon University

Tracy LathanBlog, Professional Development, Social Media + Influencer Engagement, , , , , , ,

I recently had the pleasure of serving on a panel at Elon University for the iMedia Day of Professional Development & Networking. It had been many years since I visited the Elon campus, and I was blown away by how charming it is. Equally impressive was the School of Communication’s facility. Within its School of Communication, Elon offers a ten-month M.A. Interactive Media program – what a great way for communication professionals to add to their skill sets in a short amount of time!

The panelists for the event included myself, a representative from another Raleigh PR agency, a recruiter from a firm in Atlanta and a former graduate of the program (now employed by an interactive agency in California.) We collectively answered questions from the moderator and then fielded questions from the students on the topics of interactive media and successfully navigating the job search.  Questions included…what does “interactive” really mean? What are the most relevant tools we are using today? How do agencies incorporate interactive departments?

What really stood out to me during this discussion was the realization that there is very little we are doing these days that is not interactive in some way…and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. Whether we are launching a Facebook campaign, providing hashtags for a client event so attendees can share via their social networks or creating animated graphics to be used on a trade show floor, we are interacting with our audience on some level.

The other topic we discussed at length with the students was best practices – the do’s and don’ts – for trying to land a job, and making a good impression once you have been hired. While some of these tips might sound like advice we have all heard before, what came out of the discussion was that even though things have become much more complicated, the importance of simple, basic courtesies have stood the test of time. Here are a few things the panelists shared:

  • Follow up! Don’t ever hesitate to call and follow up after sending in a resume. And please send a hand written thank you note.
  • Differentiate yourself. Bring samples, create a personal website, share your personal blog. We want to see your personal brand.
  • Do your homework. Come prepared with questions about the company and what your specific role will be.
  • Clean up your online presence. That means no graphic spring break photos!
  • Proof your correspondence. Make sure e-mails and cover letters are free of grammatical errors.
  • Present your best self in the interview. You have one chance to shine and make a good impression. Be professional but also be likeable. After all, people hire people they want to work with.
  • Look people in the eye and dress the part. Even if the company has a casual dress code, dress up for the interview.
  • Once you have started your new job, have a positive attitude! Be willing to jump in and tackle anything.

A big thank you to Maggie Mullikin for organizing the event and hosting us. Hope to join the group again next year! Whether you are a professional or a student, what does interactive mean to you, and how has it changed your role as a communicator?     

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Is the Death of the Hashtag Scandalous?

Dana PhelpsBlog, Social Media + Influencer Engagement, , , 1 Comment on Is the Death of the Hashtag Scandalous?

Today’s guest post is brought to you by the incredibly smart and fabulous Sam Halle, Clairemont intern.

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery…

It hasn’t been long since Facebook wove hashtags and tagged mentions into its social platform. Now? It’s Twitter’s turn for a notable update. Perhaps the “Twitbook” jokes will start to hit a little closer to home for both services now.

Twitter announced its profile redesign this week, promising a “whole new you.” Interestingly, this whole new me looks quite familiar. The redesign bears a striking resemblance to Facebook’s three-column design. New users will immediately see the change, and existing users will receive their new look in the coming weeks.

PR gurus, take note of the following updates:

  • Users’ web profiles will now include a larger avatar profile photo;
  • Web profiles will also now include customized headers – with a photo (think Facebook or Google+ cover photos);
  • The font size of tweets that receive the most engagement will in users’ feeds, making notable content easy to find;
  • A user can now pin a Tweet to the top of his or her profile page (similar to the pinned post feature on Facebook); and
  • Filtered timelines – Tweets, Tweets with photos/videos or Tweets and replies – are available.

Lately, Twitter has been making an appearance in headlines for its efforts to increase its accessibility to new users. This profile redesign is clearly a step toward doing so. Get a glimpse of the changes by checking out these already redesigned profiles: @flotus, @kerrywashington, @zacefron or @channingtatum.

There have been other moves toward making Twitter more accessible as well. First, Twitter has begun to introduce a metric of post views to each Tweet in order to increase engagement and measurement. Second, the Favorite, Retweet and Follow buttons were made more prominent in the recent mobile app update, a change that has increased interactions by more than 35 percent. Lastly – and most controversial – Twitter reps have hinted that the company may phase out its infamous @-handle replies and #hashtags.

What do you think about Twitter’s new look? What – if any – implications will it have for clients’ PR or branding? Are you ready for the death of the #hashtag?

 

 

 

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Yelp: The Good, The Bad & The Fake

Margot HorganBlog, Entry-Level PR Job, Social Media + Influencer Engagement, , , ,

(Image via: Yelp)

If you’re like me, you love food. However, this does have its pros and cons. Pro: you will sample any type of crazy food just to try it, and most times – ok, sometimes – it’s actually pretty good! Con: every restaurant’s menu looks fantastic and deciding on only one eatery seems like just too big of a task. Faced with this un-makeable choice, some turn to friends for their opinions and suggestions. Others, turn to online review sites like Yelp.

For me, I ask my friends for advice. I know them and since we are friends we obviously have something in common. As for turning to an online review site like Yelp? Sure, I’ve perused the (often scathing) reviews every now and then, but I always take them with a grain of salt.

Why I don’t put too much weight in these user-submitted reviews is pretty simple and stems from my schooling in public relations. While at the UNC J-School, I was taught, people will take an action – such as writing a review – for often one of two reasons: 1. They are really, really happy, or 2. They are really, really mad. As you may know, those who are furious are typically the ones who are more likely to take action.

Zendesk-Survey-shared-customer-service-interactions-with-others
As you can see from this Dimensional Research study, people are more likely to share bad than good experiences.

Trusting this idea about extreme emotions luring people into action, I’m wary about online reviews. An article in the January/February issue of Midtown Magazine discussed this issue and offered up some great points on how much we really should (or shouldn’t) depend on online reviews for making decisions.

Quoting a study conducted by Dimensional Research in early 2013, the Midtown article stated that a whopping 90 percent of respondents said that their buying decisions are influenced by online ratings and reviews. That’s a lot of people trusting online reviews. The scary part, though, says the article, is that one of the most popular online reviewing sites, Yelp, admits that nearly a quarter of the reviews it receives are fabricated.

This can mean bad news bears for restaurant owners. The article continues with a quote from a second report titled Fake It Till You Make It: Reputation, Competition and Yelp Review Fraud, which claims that just one additional star in a restaurant’s review can equate to about 10 percent in added revenue. With this much at stake, what can owners do to ensure that Yelp helps, not hurts their business? Here are three tips Midtown Magazine shared:

1. The I can’t see you, you can’t see me mentality most certainly does not apply here. Just because you aren’t keeping tabs on the reviews on sites like Yelp, doesn’t mean that they aren’t there. Instead of ignoring negative comments, use this as an opportunity improve your business, and if you’re lucky, make a brand advocate. Take the time to respond to complaints and negative comments. Provide your customer with an apology, ask how you can help and try to make the situation better. Offering a helping hand and a genuine concern about the problem can be all you need to turn an unhappy customer into a customer for life.

2. You can’t do it all. All it takes is one person to ruin a guest experience, or worse, your reputation. A proactive approach to beating negative reviews is making sure guests have no negative feedback to share. Stressing customer service as one of the most important parts of the job can be just what is needed to take a server’s job performance to the next level, and subsequently the diner’s experience.

3. Flag fake reviews. Last, but not least, reporting a suspected fake review is always an option. If you truly believe that an online review is faux and defamatory, flag that bad boy and send it to the Yelp officials to deal with immediately. Posting fake reviews on sites like Yelp is a crime, and the website takes fake reviews — good and bad — very seriously.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dqi-jjbEKcs&feature=player_embedded

To read more details about the validity of online reviews and for a complete list of best practices for business owners and consumers, check out the full article, “The Reviews are in and They’re…Fake?” in Midtown Magazine.

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Is a creative spark just a Tweet away?

Margot HorganBlog, Public Relations, Social Media + Influencer Engagement, , , , 1 Comment on Is a creative spark just a Tweet away?

Have you ever turned to social media to overcome a writer’s block or creative drought? And, no, we’re not talking about aimlessly scrolling through Pinterest or photo stalking your Facebook pictures from eight years ago. We’re talking about taking the vast amount of knowledge and ideas that are available through social media and using them to create something amazing. As professionals in an industry where it literally pays to be creative, it’s important to always be looking for our next creative spark. As you’ll see below, our intern Sam is using Twitter to surround herself with a creativity brain trust of sorts to keep her mind in the know and her creative juices flowing. 

As public relations professionals, it’s our job to be creative.

Briefly, public relations is all about communicating the right message to the right people at the right time through the right medium. On the surface, it sounds as if it could become a bit formulaic. But, if we do it correctly, it won’t. Yes, all good PR plans have discernable goals, objectives, strategies and tactics. But, in true one-size-does-not-fit-all form, one PR pro’s trash has the potential to be another’s treasure; creativity can make all of the difference.

It takes a creative mind to come up with a message. It takes a creative mind to figure out how to move people to care or to act. And, it takes a creative mind to leverage the right medium in the right way. Oh, and at the risk of sounding redundant, it also takes creativity to pitch those stories that don’t exactly draw media in; to handle sticky client situations; and to win new client accounts.

Now that we’ve got the important buzzword of “creativity” out on the table, where can you go to find that creative spark? Most recently, I’ve turned to Twitter.

In a world where we’re on the go, yet still need to be in the know, knowledge in the form of 140 characters can be the perfect inspirational spark. Follow current events, academics, think tanks, industry leaders, inspirational speakers, tech news, communication news, trend reports and more.

Here are some of my favorites to get you started, though you can check out my ever-changing list here:

  1.  @medium — Everyone’s stories and ideas.
  2. @upworthy — Things that matter. Pass ’em on.
  3. @trendwatching — Trendwatching.com is an independent consumer trends firm, relying on two thousand spotters worldwide.
  4. @contagious — Contagious is the global authority on the intersection of marketing communications, consumer culture and emerging technology.
  5. @WarcAmericas — Warc is a knowledge service giving access to the best thinking, the best research, and the best practices globally.
  6. @mintelnews — Mintel is an independent award-winning provider of world-leading market intelligence, delivering robust information, analysis and critical recommendations.
  7. @springwise — Springwise scans the globe for smart new business ideas, delivering instant inspiration to entrepreneurial minds.
  8. @coolhunting — Cool Hunting is a daily update on ideas and products in the intersection of art, design, culture and technology.
  9. @PSFK — Inspiring creative business.
  10. @PRdailynews — The Best Daily Public Relations and Corporate Communications News. Knowledge hub for smart comm pros in a digital age.
  11. @PRDaily — Official feed for http://www.PRDaily.com . Your one-stop shop for news on PR, marketing, social media & more.
  12. @FastCompany — Official Twitter feed for the Fast Company business media brand; inspiring readers to think beyond traditional boundaries & create the future of business.
  13. @mashable — News, resources, inspiration and fun for the connected generation.
  14. @TheThinkTankPR — PR Team at The Think Tank, integrated marketing and PR agency in Clerkenwell, London – http://www.thinktank.org.uk.
  15. @TED — The OFFICIAL feed for the daily TED Talk. Only new talks are posted here.

And so, I challenge you to cultivate a library of brains to virtually surround you. I promise, you’ll be better (and more creative) for it.

Where do you look for creative inspiration? Any Twitter handles I should add to my list?

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