New Addition for Your Social Media Toolkit

I recently read a post by Dave Fleet about what is currently in his social media “toolkit.” In this post, he talks about the social media tools that he uses on a regular basis.

I was pretty excited when I realized that I actually knew what most of these tools were and had used them at one point or another. But there was one in particular that stood out, mostly because he had noted that it was new. So I decided to check it out.

MicroPlaza is one of the new social media tools that you should take the time to become familiar with. Have you ever noticed that the links people post on Twitter often get lost in the mass of tweets you get each day? Wish you could check out the ones that spiked your interest, but you don’t have the time to filter though everything to find them again?

That’s where MicroPlaza comes into play. This new tool goes through your Twitter network and shows all the links posted by the people that you are following. It even shows you everyone else who posted the links as well, so you can see what those outside of your network have to say. One more cool feature is called “being someone.” This allows you to view all the links shared in someone else’s network.

Try it out. MicroPlaza just might become the newest addition to your own social media toolkit.

Blog = Backstage Pass

Charleston Magazine is hosting its third annual Charleston Fashion Week, a five night extravaganza that lasts from March 24-28.

Wish you could be there to experience the glamour and excitement, but you just can’t make it to Charleston?

No worries. Charleston Magazine is blogging every step of the way, so you don’t have to miss out on a thing.

Ayoka Lucas, the creative director for Charleston Fashion Week, has a video blog where she is documenting her involvement with this event. From parties and rehearsals to model castings and production meetings, Ayoka Lucas is giving viewers access to it all.

Want even more exclusive info about Charleston Fashion Week? Reese Moore is giving readers a backstage pass to all of the action with her daily blog to keep everyone updated about what happens each night.

Still craving more? Lucky for you, some of the models of Charleston Fashion Week are even getting in on the blogging action. Get stories directly from those on the catwalk, as six models document their experiences with this event.

Not only are these blogs entertaining for online users to read and watch, but they are also great PR tactics for the event. Those who wanted to go to this event may have even more of a reason to make this trip a priority next year after they read about all they could have experienced first-hand. Additionally, these blogs have the capability to reach people who didn’t know the event existed. Personally, I had never even heard of Charleston Fashion Week before I found their blogs… and there are probably many others in the same boat. Reading behind-the-scenes details of the event may attract new attendees for next year. There is so much potential.

Who knew that blogs could become the new backstage passes?

Comment on “Blog Used to Communicate God’s Urgent Message”

Comment on Meg Ried’s blog post “Blog Used to Communicate God’s Urgent Message“

Meg wrote about Reverend David Wilkerson’s recent blog post where he talks about a message he recieved from God. Check out what I had to say about God and social media coming together.

Times are Changing, So Should the Workplace

(The following is an article I wrote for my business writing class arguing that employers should be allowed to use Facebook at work.)

Social media. What’s that? Put simply, it is a technological innovation that has the potential to change how business of all sorts is done.

Gur Tsabar made a strong argument in a recent PR Week article, as he wrote:

“The organization of tomorrow will today understand that it must evolve to operationalize around its communications function. That is the fundamental shift necessary to successfully communicate in this highly fragmented new media environment. It is also the line in the sand that will ultimately separate the organizations that continue to view new media tools as an end from those that fundamentally understand that new media tools are but a means to achieving a new, more engaged reality. So if ever there was a time to reinvent the way your organization communicates, now would be it.”

You may be asking yourself, what does this have to do with me? Whether you are the CEO of a large organization or an employee who spends most of the day in front of a computer screen, social media is an issue that you should be aware of.

As our country knows, times have changed. Hence, so must the ways that we conduct business. We are living and working in a different world today, and a dwindling economy has made everyone’s future uncertain. As we face many obstacles and have limited resources to deal with these issues, social media is a valuable resource that has the capabilities to help businesses everywhere survive and succeed.

One of the most popular and well-known social media tools out there today is Facebook. In 2007, comScore reported astounding increases in the numbers of people using Facebook. There was an 181% increase among users between the ages of 25 and 35, and users 35 years and older went up by 98%. As the statistics indicate, a lot of people are on Facebook, and businesses are missing out if they ignore this on-line meeting room of individuals.

As with the introduction of most new ideas in society, there are many who are against the use of Facebook in the workplace. Unfortunately, these skeptical individuals do not fully grasp the ways in which this social media tool can benefit companies in so many ways.

Opponents of employees using Facebook worry about a decrease in productivity. They are concerned about wasting money on employees who sit around and look at people’s pictures and update their Facebook statuses all day instead of concentrating on the work that needs to get done. But let’s be honest, an employee who doesn’t want to do the work is going to find a way to stay occupied whether or not they can access Facebook on their computer.

Mike Stopforth, a speaker who teaches businesses how to use new Web 2.0 technologies to their advantage, makes an excellent point as he says: “Employees also waste time talking to friends and texting on their personal mobile phones but you don’t ban those. For crying out loud, your employees waste time with email. Why not ban that too. Heck, let’s ban all electronic communication. That will really up productivity.” Even the slightest distraction has the potential to impact a person’s productivity, so let’s look at how using Facebook in the workplace can make employees more productive instead.

Facebook is a valuable business communication tool, for both internal and external purposes. Groups can be created to revolve around specific topics, and group members can share their ideas with one another through discussion boards. One example of how Facebook has been used to bring employees together is the group that IBM created. The IBM Facebook group presently has 11,394 members, all current or previous employees of the company. IBM employees who may have never known about one another beforehand now have the opportunity to interact and develop a business relationship via this on-line resource. Additionally, those who work together on a regular basis have an opportunity to learn more about their fellow colleagues and interact on a new level. Better company communication sounds like a plus to me.

Facebook is also a valuable tool for promoting and selling your business. Microsoft took note of this as they made the decision to take a $240 million equity stake in Facebook in 2007. Microsoft recognized the unique opportunities that exist with the growing popularity of Facebook, and it is time that other businesses do the same.

In a struggling economy, it is necessary that businesses make smarter decisions about their advertising, marketing, and public relations strategies. Having a presence on Facebook can be extremely beneficial. One useful application in particular is Facebook advertising. By putting an ad on Facebook, you can tell over 175,000,000 people about your business. You also have the opportunity to target specific ages, genders, and locations. Additionally, no longer are you stuck with a static ad. If the statistics Facebook gives you about who’s clicking on your ad doesn’t meet your standards, then you can easily modify the content until you get the results you want.

Doing business on Facebook is smart. But when do you expect all of this to get done if you don’t let your employees get on the site while they’re at work?

If you are still a little skeptical, let me ask you a few questions. Why would you want to let an opportunity like this slip through your fingers? Are employees really being “unproductive” when they’re building professional relationships with people they may never get to talk with in person? Is the extra bandwidth they use while on Facebook that much of an inconvenience when they’re trying to improve the companies that they work for and ensure the security of their jobs?

Social media is a growing phenomenon, and we all need to get more involved with tools like Facebook to do everything in our power to make it through these difficult times. The benefits of allowing employees to use Facebook while at work just may make the difference between collapsing or thriving. Just because it is a “social” media site doesn’t eliminate the fact that Facebook can be used for positive business purposes.

With knowledge of the benefits of Facebook, it can easily be integrated into the workplace. So take a chance. Encourage employees to make the most out of this social media tool. See what Facebook can do for your business.

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After taking PR courses and learning about the importance of social media, it was hard for me to understand why employers would be so adamant about banning Facebook in the workplace. The public relations industry is clearly embracing this new tool, but I can’t help but wonder why so many other sectors are skeptical about getting involved. We know that people are costantly checking their Facebook accounts, so why would any business not want to jump in and have a presence? Your thoughts?

Managing Your Online Image

Dave Fleet recently wrote an interesting post about people feeling obligated to act more professional online than they would in real life. In “Is There Still a Personal/Professional Line?” he brought up some really good questions about companies checking out how people handle themselves online.

• If online content is written with employers in mind, does it really reflect the person?
• Should we disregard online content when recruiting, or is this another way to find the people with the smarts to be professional online?
• Should employers and clients respect the line between professional and personal? Does that line even exist any more?

As a 21 year-old college student who is (hopefully) entering the workplace in just a few months, I have purposely tried to establish a more professional online reputation for myself. However, I don’t feel like I have sacrificed who I am as a person just to make myself look more appealing to the PR professionals who may be reading what I have to say.

Does that make me any less professional? No, I think it just makes me human.

Everyone makes mistakes, has emotions, and enjoys being silly sometimes. If employers and clients can’t accept that, then shame on them.

Even when you’re trying to make yourself look good online, never try to be someone that you’re not. If you really have to try THAT hard to get someone to notice you, then it’s probably not really worth it anyways. You might get that job or client, but what happens when they realize that the person they “met” online isn’t the same person they’re talking with face-to-face?

Personally, I don’t see why you can’t have a professional AND personal presence online at the same time. It might be smart to think about what you write before it’s out there for the world to see, but don’t sacrifice your true self just to be the “professional” you think you’re supposed to be.

YOGA JAM: Getting active for a good cause

This Saturday, March 7, Asana Activewear is hosting its first annual Yoga Jam. Yoga instructors from 11 studios around the Charlotte area will all be in one location, and participants will have the chance to take part in five different yoga classes that day. For $48 you can try new styles of yoga, have lunch, and get some free giveaways from vendors and sponsors.

What could make this event even better? Knowing that your registration fee is going to a good cause.

After paying for the costs of the actual event, Asana Activewear is donating all proceeds to Speedway Children’s Charities and YMCA Community Outreach.

Asana Activewear is a fairly new addition to the Charlotte area, with only one location thus far. The store is looking to expand its services, so the founders are currently making efforts to franchise their business. They could easily use the money they make from the Yoga Jam to open more retail locations and increase revenue. Instead, they are donating the funds to local charities.

This is great public relations for the business. Not only do they know how to put on a great event, but they also realize the importance of helping out the community. Asana Activewear is good in my book!