No Twitter Account is Better Than a Bad Twitter Account

PR Couture wrote a post on its blog a few days ago about the fashion magazine Marie Claire and its strategy for being on Twitter. It praised Marie Claire for taking an active approach, and it also featured an interview with the magazine’s senior web editor and web associate about how they were using Twitter to their full advantage.

The post was demonstrating how effectively Marie Claire was implementing its Twitter strategy, but it also briefly mentioned that fashion magazines had been slow to join in this new online phenomena.

So, that got me thinking. Of the other fashion magazines that do have a Twitter account, are they doing just as good of a job?

The first magazine that popped into my mind was Cosmopolitan, and I quickly reached its Twitter homepage. Unfortunately (for the magazine), I was less than impressed.

1. CosmoOnline posted its first tweet on March 9, 2009. As of today, they have only posted 15 updates on their Twitter page. This makes it quite evident that they are not making Twitter a priority. This lack of dedication reveals that they are not quite equipped or eager to join in this new conversation tool.

2. The 15 tweets that the magazine has published do not add anything new to the conversation. They are merely headlines and announcements that someone could easily find on the Cosmopolitan web-site. Additionally, there is no personal touch. Followers have no idea who is writing these tweets. In my opinion, when dealing with company Twitter accounts, pointless tweets are worse than no tweets at all.

3. As I am writing this post, CosmoOnline currently has 1,994 followers. Clearly, people want to know what Cosmopolitan has to say. On the other side of the situation, CosmoOnline is only following one person. This indicates that the magazine must not care too much about what its readers have to say if they are not going to take the time to follow them back and attempt to engage in some sort of interaction.

Needless to say, Cosmopolitan has a lot of work to do. Luckily for them, it’s really not that hard! With dedication and effort, this ineffective attempt at PR can be turned around and made into one of the magazine’s most useful tools.

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!