Posted by Jessica Dennis on Thu, Jan 14, 2010 @ 09:22 AM
Red Shoes Speaks No. 8 Social media, strategy or communication channel from Jessica Dennis on Vimeo.
Jess and Tommy talk about Jess' blog post called Social media, not a strategy or a tactic…a communication channel. How should companies be using social media and incorporating it into their marketing plans? Jess and Tommy discuss best practices for corporate social media use.
Be a part of the conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #redshoesspeak.
Posted by Maria Heim on Mon, Dec 07, 2009 @ 09:01 PM
It drives me nuts to
receive an auto-DM after following someone. It takes away from the
transparent, honest and genuine spirit of twitter when you get the
equivalent of an out-of-office reply that you know went to everyone
else. As soon as I see one pop into my direct message box, my immediate
urge is to un-follow that person.
The auto replies vary from the generic (but honest) "Thanks for the
follow, I'll be sure to return to the favor," to those who try to veil
the fact that the same message goes to everyone, "Hey, it looks like
you have great things to say, be sure to check out my Web site for more
information on what I do."
When someone follows you on Twitter, chances are it's because that
person thinks you have interesting things to say and you would both
benefit from interacting. Don't take the risk of insulting your
new followers by assuming they're all following you for the same reason
and would all benefit from the same message. It's time to embrace
social
media for the fact that it's not a one-size fits all advertising
message and start interacting on a personal, one-on-one basis.
(image courtesy of @chriswallace)
Posted by Lisa Cruz on Tue, Aug 18, 2009 @ 01:14 PM
Red Shoes PR is excited to have another post from guest blogger tommytrc.
It’s hard to talk about the true power that Twitter has had on my life without talking about giving. Each and every day that I’m on Twitter, I learn something new. Whether it’s a new link, a witty quote or joke, or just some words of advice, my mind is always soaking up information gained from Twitter. Now, mind you, I have been known to be an information junkie. The History, Discovery and Science Channels are my favorite cable channels for gaining new, and sometimes useless, knowledge. So the evolution to gaining knowledge via Twitter is a natural progression of my need for 411. But getting is just part of the story.
On Twitter, giving is as important as receiving. The Golden Rule my mom Sharon used to say is, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” I like to take this rule and twist it slightly. Here’s tommytrc’s version: “Do unto others before they do unto you.” How does this fit into the context of Twitter? Let me explain. One of the most sincere forms of flattery on Twitter is to retweet what someone else has posted. For those who do not understand what retweeting is, here’s the cliff notes edition… Retweeting is sending out on your network what others have sent out on theirs. Every user on Twitter has their very own network of friends. Some friends may overlap, but many do not. If I see an interesting post from someone else, I’ll retweet it so everyone on my network can learn from it also.
Now let me get back to my version of the Golden Rule. I search for interesting tweets and retweet them to start conversations. Retweeting posts from new people or friends I have not chatted with in a while is a perfect way to spread the wealth and keep friendships alive. If someone in my network only has 100 followers and I retweet their post to my network of 15,000 followers, you can see the impact. Just imagine my thrill when Guy Kawasaki retweeted my last Red Shoe PR guest blog posting to his network of over 160,000+ followers. You get the point.
With Twitter, you get what you give and the more you give the more you get. It’s a 360 degree cycle and one that builds and builds. One of my favorite quotes that hammers the point home is from the founder of the famous New York grocery store chain called Wegman’s. In Robert Wegman’s own words: "I have never given away more than I got back."
As powerful as it is to see my own thoughts retweeted, it’s just as important to pass on the insight and information that others have shared with me.
Posted by Rachel Wollersheim on Fri, Jul 31, 2009 @ 01:54 PM
Today's guest blogger is Thomas Clifford, or tommytrc as his followers know him as. Red Shoes PR first met tommytrc via Twitter during the fall of 2008. Tommytrc regularly ranks as one of the top three Twitterers in Wisconsin and top 100 in the world. Tommytrc's presence on Twitter skyrocketed after tweeting throughout the birth of his son. We asked him to share his passion and expertise on social media. Thank you tommytrc!
I come from a very heavy Italian background. My grandfather on my mother’s side was born in Sicily, so eating and food preparation took a major role in my social upbringing.
Social media is like the recipe for Mom’s favorite spaghetti sauce or chocolate chip cookies. Everyone has a recipe and each is a bit different than the next, though the purpose of the finished product remains bringing smiles to the eater’s face!
Like every good recipe, you start by throwing a few key ingredients together, season to taste and Voile! your masterpiece takes shape. The key ingredients to social media engagement are really simple. Your mileage may vary as everyone’s social media engagement “strategy” is different. Here are my five key ingredients to social media success:
Interaction
It’s next to impossible to be involved in social media without interacting with others. Interaction is one of the main ingredients to a successful social media experience. Regardless of if you are using Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn, the base for each of these social media services is interacting with others. This may be the hardest work you do. You must get out there and meet people, strike up conversations and do some old fashioned “networking.” People can tell if you are genuine or not, and in social media, the one thing you cannot fake is interaction. While some people may find it hard to strike up a conversation on social media sites, I say just like the first dip into the pool, just do it! Once people start replying to your questions or comments, you will get the bug. And it’s infectious. Interaction feeds on other interaction, and before you know it, you will be a social media butterfly.
Share
As you build your social media recipe, it’s next to impossible to go through your day without seeing something that is worth repeating. Whether it’s a post on Twitter or a comment on Facebook, if you like it, spread the word. Like a telephone operator in the old days, if you see a comment that you feel your network of friends will like, “patch it on in” and pass the good 411 around. On Twitter you would retweet it, or on Facebook you comment on it. That way people in your networks can be exposed to valuable information and find people they normally would not cross paths with. In the Twitter world, the sincerest form of flattery is to be retweeted by someone else. Sharing is critical for true social media engagement.
Listen
Many times, the most important ingredient for your master recipe is also the one that you are most likely to leave out. Kind of like the salt in your mom's favorite chocolate chip recipe, “Why does something sweet need salt??” You may think that skipping this all-too important ingredient will not make any difference, but have you ever tried chocolate chip cookies sans salt? You get the picture. In social media, the top engagers are also the best listeners. Its one thing to want your message heard, it’s totally another to listen to other’s messages. Like a great parent, favorite teacher or counselor at school, what makes them great are their listening skills. Many times it’s not what you say that is important, it’s the fact you give someone a listening ear.
The same holds true to social media. Just like an IRL (In Real Life) conversation, listening is one of those ingredients that can make or break the interaction. A conversation without listening is just like mom’s chocolate chip cookies without salt. Do not forget to listen.
Moderation
A great cook knows when to hang up her apron and leave the kitchen. Likewise, in social media sometimes you just need to log off, shut down and spend some quality time doing something else. I’m not talking about just going to bed either. You cannot be a top engager in social media if you are not engaged in real life. You cannot neglect your local friends. Things like local tweetups, local Twitter meet-ups, are great opportunities to network and build new friends, while also feeding your hunger for social media interaction. Locally, we have a pancake tweetup every other Friday at 7 a.m. This is a great way to put real faces to the Twitter avatars and talk more openly about issues and situations. These local interactions actually strengthen our Twitter relations because now you are true friends with these people.
Family
Like moderation, family time is one thing that you may not expect to hear in a social media engagement “must have” list. But, family is one of those ingredients that will add so much pizzazz to your social media experience. Looking for content to share on Twitter or Facebook? Look no further than family oriented stories and experiences. Nothing builds more credit on the social media networks then someone who shares true blue family interaction. You can’t build good family interaction if you are on Twitter or Facebook all day, which is why the family ingredient goes hand-in-hand with our moderation ingredient. Showing family pictures and stories not only warms the heart of your friends and followers, but also shows you are a real person, which in turn builds your followers and friends. It’s a vicious circle that works.
Now, just because you talk about your family, does not mean you need to give up their identity. Privacy is one thing we all need to be careful of. I talk about my wife online all the time, but instead of giving up her name, she is referred to as “mrstommytrc.” This makes it fun, while also keeping your privacy level high. You can experiment to see what works for you.
Now remember kids, if your initial blend of herbs and spices isn’t exactly right, no need to worry or fret. Social media is your creation and you make it what you want. I know from personal experience that mom’s special sauce was always a work in progress. A little more of this, or a little less of that. Like all great cooks, experimenting to get the blend just right takes time and practice, but once you hit it, you will be a social media engagement gourmet!
Connect with tommytrc:
Twitter: @tommytrc
Posted by Lisa Cruz on Fri, Apr 17, 2009 @ 04:11 PM
Dear Oprah,
I want to welcome you to the twitterverse! I know social media, and especially twitter can be a bit overwhelming so I thought I would share with you a few things I have learned along the way.
• Fellow tweeps will appreciate tweets that come directly from you. I understand you are extremely busy and may require a few others to help you out but … the more we can hear your voice, the better.
• While twitter is a great way to express yourself, make sure you do a lot of listening.
• Engage with your followers and try not to talk too much at us.
• Have a little fun with your bio.
• Follow a variety of people. You might be surprised at what you find.
• Insert humor into your tweets.
• Demonstrate your personality through your voice.
• Re-tweet as often as you can. There are a lot of great things people tweet on twitter and a re-tweet from you would help get the word out.
• Remember, not everyone will agree with the things you say but it’s ok.
• Twitter is another communications channel for you to grow your brand (even more!). Make sure you have a Plan B if communications spiral out of control.
And, as a quick reference guide, here is some Twitter lingo to get you through:
tweeps – people on Twitter who tweet
tweet – what you say on Twitter
fail whale - when Twitter is overloaded, you will see this screen depicting a whale
tweet up – when tweeps decide to have an in-person get together (you could probably have the largest one ever!)
twitterific – things that are just terrific
retweet or RT – when you like someone’s tweet, re-tweet it and send it on to your followers. Please remember to keep your tweets short so we have enough space to copy them, put in RT and @name
@name - which brings up another point… when you RT, you have to give credit where credit is due. This means putting the @name in your tweet. For example: RT @lisaredshoespr insert rest of content here.
Tinyurl – convert long-winded urls into a succinct url. This makes it easier to post your tweets. Visit www.tinyurl.com
hashtags - when you want a conversation to be tracked you can use the # with a corresponding word for the conversation. For example, #oprahontwitter
twittersearch – you can search conversations and tweeps on this site, as well as trending conversations (see above description for hashtags. I also noticed, of course, you are already a trend!)
DM – This stands for direct message. You can DM a person, which means it’s a private conversation. Remember, though, you must be followed by the other person to send them a DM.
twitterers – I think you’ve heard about this enough and I don’t need to go any further.
#followfriday – This could be a huge day of the week for you. People like to recommend other people to follow. Oh my gosh. I see another opportunity for you, similar to your book club recommendations. Maybe an #oprahfollowsfriday !!!
Again, welcome to the twitterverse! Just DM me when you are ready to have a tweet-up and then I can RT it.
Sincerely,
@LisaRedShoesPR
Posted by Maria Heim on Thu, Apr 02, 2009 @ 08:50 AM
One of my favorite aspects of social media is its approachability. The majority of the platforms are free and Web-based, and with a little instruction, they become easy to use. The more people I meet and talk about social media with, the less I’m able to guess who has already integrated social media into his/her life – my best friend makes fun of my Twittering, yet a 60-year-old friend of my father’s has taught me a few things about Facebook’s capabilities.
It’s this “by the people, for the people” spirit that has got me hooked, and also makes me want to look out for my Tweeples’ best interests. I recently heard about an in-person networking event for people who connected online. (I recommend these beneficial events as a way to extend your online networks.) What made me pause about this particular gathering was the fact that the organizers were charging attendees.
It’s important to look at different online opportunities and evaluate them based on what they offer:
• Who has been invited?
• How many people are planning on attending?
• Is there going to be programming offered?
• Are there additional enticements (free drinks, etc.)?
I’m a fan of the informal, spur-of-the-moment meet-ups and the more organized Tweet-ups. I think this is what social networking is all about: finding like-minded people online and furthering your interactions by meeting off-line.
Like paying for anything, it’s important to remember “caveat emptor” and to discover what benefits will come with your payment (time, money or both) to attend social networking events. As social media continues to become more mainstream, it’s important to hold true to its foundational tenant: to provide networking and idea sharing forums within everyone’s reach.
Posted by Lisa Cruz on Tue, Mar 17, 2009 @ 10:05 AM
Today's guest blogger is Cathy Browne, a tech-savvy PR gal. I first connected with Cathy via Twitter a few months ago. As a
fellow PR professional, I was saddened to hear about her losing her
job. Since that time, Cathy has shared her situation with the social
media world and through numerous media outlets. What resulted is
astonishing and, I think, demonstrates the power of integrating on and
offline communications to stand out in her quest for the next job. I
asked Cathy if I could share her blog post.
Thank you Cathy!
I’ll state the obvious right up front – this is not a great time to be job hunting. I’ve been looking for a PR job myself for many months, first in Silicon Valley, where I had lived for several years, and now in Vancouver BC, where I came after my visitor’s visa had expired. It hasn’t been easy – but I’ve learned a great deal along the way.
At first, I did many of the same things most people have been doing – I scoured the major job boards, as well as craigslist, LinkedIn and Facebook. I even paid a hefty monthly fee to a well-known organization to give me ‘exclusive’ access to choice positions – a huge waste of money I didn’t have.
I was also on Twitter, but it wasn’t part of my job search strategy - but it is now. One single tweet changed my approach in December.
I simply love Twitter. I had been using it faithfully to connect and engage people in conversation, and had built a nice community for myself, but I had never really brought up my situation. Then, on a particularly tough day, I announced that I was on the verge of losing everything and would have to leave the US.
The response was immediate – and overwhelming. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to tell my story through guest blogs, media interviews, speaking engagements and Internet radio shows. Several people offered to circulate my resume to friends and colleagues. To this day, folks I’ve never met and probably will never meet write me to see how I’m doing, feed me leads, give me encouragement, and tell me things will get better. I’ve started my own blog, Cathy’s Clean Slate. I have hope.
Twitter is now one of my primary job search tools that I use in conjunction with other social media. If you are job hunting, or know someone who is, here are a few Twitter tips based on my own experiences. I hope they help.
• Build up your Twitter network – follow people you respect, the people they follow, and the people who respect them. Use tools like Twellow.com and the brand new WeFollow.com to find like-minded people who may be helpful resources.
• Follow job sources such as @JobAngels, @SocialMediaJob, @MicroJobs, @SimplyHired and more.
• Take a good look at your skills and spend the time to ensure that your Twitter bio reflects them. Your bio is easily searched, so the right buzz words matter. Be direct. My bio says I am job hunting in the first line!
• Make sure you have a twesume - what you do in 140 characters - and tweet it on a regular basis. (No spamming, though…)
• Join Twitter discussion groups like #journchat, #smbiz, and #gno (Girls Night Out) to talk to people who have similar interests or shared experiences. Someone online may be able to help.
• Check out Tweetups or Twitter interest groups on Meetup.com to mix and mingle with people in your area. Nothing beats face-to-face contact.
• Let your followers know you are looking, and if there are certain contacts or companies you’d like an introduction to. This is no time to hold back. If no one knows, no one can refer you.
• Keep your followers posted on how the search is going. We can all relate to your frustration, and cheer you on when things look promising.
• Talk about your job search in your blog or ask bloggers you follow if they accept guest posts, so you can provide your own insights on social media and job searches. Post the link on Twitter.
• Share information. If you find a great new tool, or if you know of opportunities that aren’t a fit for you, tell the world. Someone will benefit. Twitter is all about supporting each other.
• And never give up. I’m not.
What strategies have worked for you – and what haven’t? What tools have you used successfully? Share your experiences so we can all benefit. And if you are hiring, post your requirements here.
Let’s keep on working for each other.
Connect with Cathy Browne:
Twitter: @CathyBrowne
http://www.cathybrowne.com/