Should PRs pitch on Twitter?
No.
Well, that’s what I always tell PRs when I run training sessions. Why? Because I find it impossible to explain to twitter newbies exactly how and when it *might* be OK to do so. But am I too hardline?
Maybe.
I mean when I run training sessions most people are new to Twitter full stop, forget the marketing applications (ick) of the service. But could PRs have an authentic and relevant conversation about a client on Twitter? Hmmm…
Willing to accept I am not the Social Media equivalent of a Delphi Priestess I instead asked some of my on- and offline writing contacts to “B*tch about the Twitter Pitch”. Over to them……
Technology and the new industrial revolution
The FT’s reported on new research by HSBC on how business is expected to develop over the next 20 years. New technologies and working practices are, of course, at the heart of it. I was interviewed for the report and am profiled as
a “referral economist”, a new breed of business matchmaker who profits from connecting people
That alone sounds a little shady but in context it’s about using your network to connect with business opportunities and connect other businesses to eachother.
A lot of people think “networking” is ego-driven, greasy sales types at events handing out business cards and trying to get closest to the most important person in the room. That’s just a misconception like the idea that Twitter is just ego-centric, over-sharing of the minutae of life.
Networks (and social technologies like Twitter) are about connecting people. The social media revolution has already massively impacted industry by connecting brands and customers. The next phase is when businesses connect to eachother. Wikinomics fascinates me by exploring that idea, and the concept of Amplified 09 goes further looking at what happens when we connect across industries.
I know it’s cheesy but we really do live in exciting times.
2009 (Digital) Resolutions
Alpacas. The new LOL cats?
Kerry has started a meme to share resolutions for social media and digital blah in 2009. Ordinarily I probably just wouldn’t do it but then that’s already…
…My 1st Resolution: Enjoy doing more of the fun stuff on the web and less o’ the work side
My 2nd Resolution: Give up explaining why I use Twitter to non-users. Like with everything else just try it yourself and decide
My 3rd Resolution: Bother to show my friends more of the cool/useful stuff on the web. This will help with my 1st Resolution
My 4th Resolution: Express my opinion more even if it’s *shock horror* a tad negative. As a PR you can get a little paranoid that a) you are creating a problem for another PR b) will never work in this town again
My 5th Resolution: Trim out people in my communities who are unpleasant about PRs. Yes, we make mistakes but there should still be space for people to mess up without all this stoopid ‘naming and shaming’. Personal attacks on, quite often, junior people just starting out in their careers and following instructions, are rubbish. This includes PRs who are quick to cannibalise each other.
Could I suggest we spend 2009 victimising call centre support staff instead? Let’s face it everyone gets fed up with customer service, we’ll never find out their real names and we might get some vouchers from ranting.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
In line with 1st Resolution going to tag some non-marketers to see what they’re planning. Over to you Jess, Stuart, Steve, Leila and Ferdy
Somebody’s always listening
Gosh. That will teach me. I had a mini-rant on Twitter that I was struggling to get set up Qik. This was rather ineloquently expressed as:
This morning I logged on to see that Janefu who, judging by her profile pic, works for Qik had seen my plaintive cry and tweeted back to ask what the problem was.
Although I feel slightly silly, it’s impressive that they’re listening to conversations and responding direct to try and help out. Now, I wonder if I rant about HSBC if anyone will finally return my calls?
Moonrise: “What are you doing” meet “what are you feeling”
So having moved on from Facebook status updates and Twitter I really just can’t get enough of Moonrise, a new site which searches images, quotes and video to express how you’re currently feeling.
The images are pulled from Flickr based on the tabs attached by the people uploading them and the results are surprising, beautiful, interesting, funny, …
I use it mostly to send image cards to people, which are a lot cooler than some current e-card offerings. I sent a recently diagnosed diabetic gummie bears and a new home owner a quote.
I think they’re on to something…
Who’s using social media and are you too shy to share?
When i lived in Italy I visited the Benedictine monastery in Subiaco. It’s built around a cave where St Benedict supposedly lived in solitude for three years fed by a shepherd or monk (I’ve heard both versions) who lowered a basket of food down at intervals. The cave is surprisingly peacefully and, depending on your temperament, kind of appealing.
My positive response to the environment demonstrated that people feel different degrees of being intro- or extroverted and it’s something that crops up in questions when I run social media training sessions: who are ‘these people’ ie bloggers, tweeters, social networkers et al and why do *they* feel so comfortable broadcasting their lives?
I’m not sure I know the answer. At a basic level, once you and your friends start using something like Facebook it becomes more standardised and natural, you find yourself adding more personal updates, posting photos etc.
But honestly I still feel a bit like a social media “observer” using tools like this blog and Twitter to engage with my community from professional more than personal desires. As a pretty private person being publicly online makes me feel exposed and I contemplate deleting my accounts to run away to my Benedict’s cave. (Although I wonder if after 30 mins there I’d discover a compulsion to tweet “sitting in cave waiting for @Romanus to stop by with the food basket”).
What’s funny about the iPhone and Twitter
A little knowledge… makes this a funny thing.
[Check out more funny cartoons at Geek And Poke]
About:
I'm Darika Ahrens and I help brands develop marketing strategies for Social Media.
My background is in Public Relations for companies like Orange, Microsoft, Philips, HTC, Yell.com, and Estee Lauder. I've worked with and trained some of the UK's top agencies.
In 2009 the Financial Times referred to me as "a new breed of business matchmaker" due to my network of contacts and way I work creating bespoke teams to deliver projects.