When considering a pitch subject line … write the pitch first. Let the idea take shape then work on a subject line. #prtips

— PRTraction (@PRTraction) June 1, 2017

Preparation for media interviews separates the pros from the amateurs. #PRTips #PR https://t.co/rJwvDJwjhx

— Marianne Schwab (@VIP_MediaCoach) June 1, 2017

#PRTip: Be consistent

If you want to build a trust in your brand, communicate with your target audiences on a regular basis

— KD Communications (@KD_Comms) June 14, 2017

The media is calling for an interview about a controversial issue. Consider a written statement rather than an interview. #PRTip

— Leonard & Finco (@thePRexperts) June 12, 2017

By knowing exactly who your customers are, you stand a better chance of connecting with them. #PRtip

— Alexis Chateau PR (@AlexisChateauPR) June 11, 2017

Stuck on what to write about your #startup or #SME company? Here’s our #PRTip pic.twitter.com/5Udjw7BbCp

— JournoLinkBiz (@JournoLinkBiz) June 11, 2017

Especially today, when people are served up more content than ever. #PRtips #tuesdaytips pic.twitter.com/JjlegGBFqF

— Lindsay Paulson (@RDOLindsay) June 13, 2017

Aside from the fact that Quora has its own blogging platform, it’s also a great way to find out what customers are talking about. #PRtips

— Alexis Chateau PR (@AlexisChateauPR) June 4, 2017

Media Interview MUST: Master your ahs, ums, & other verbal fossils or they will undermine your credibility as an expert on camera. #PRTips

— Marianne Schwab (@VIP_MediaCoach) June 1, 2017

Why outsource social media? Time, Knowledge and Reliability #PRtips

— Briscoe French PR (@BriscoeFrench) May 29, 2017

But what about those commercials? Are they effective for the brands who spend millions on top placements during the top-watched TV event of the year? We came across this detailed INFOGRAPHIC from USA TODAY that shares some of the ROI details from the 2014 game. Check it out below:

#PRTip 3 – Make sure you can say your message in ‘sound bites’ i.e 10” – 15” secs. That’s maybe all the time you’ll get.

— Shiloh PR (@shilohpr) January 17, 2017

#PRtip: pitching is an art, not a science. Make sure your pitch is customized to make it appealing to your individual contact’s interest.

— See.Spark.Go (@seesparkgo) January 17, 2017

Proofing a co-workers’ piece? Don’t just check it on your monitor. Print a copy & read for content, spelling & grammar. #PRTip

— Leonard & Finco (@thePRexperts) January 17, 2017

Keep an eye on the weather. Look for ways to pitch your company in connection with a local or regional story in the news. #PRTip

— Leonard & Finco (@thePRexperts) January 16, 2017

#PRTip: Have a social strategy

Plan your messaging, platforms to use and your activity in detail before you post anything #socialmedia

— KD Communications (@KD_Comms) January 13, 2017

Nothing Sells Itself. #PRTip pic.twitter.com/kZFTImambA

— @ModionCommunication (@ModionComms) January 12, 2017

Never forsake the power of third-party credibility. #PRtip #ThursdayThought #TheInnerViewAdvisors pic.twitter.com/xZ8WT9fVIv

— TheInnerViewAdvisors (@InViewAdvisors) January 12, 2017

Looking to become a better public speaker? Practice in front of family, friends or co-workers and get their feedback. #PRTip

— Leonard & Finco (@thePRexperts) January 11, 2017

#PRTip Mix up your publicity/marketing strategies. Update your press photo, create a video blog or promo or reach out to a new media outlet.

— Susanne Pinedo (@PinedoPR) January 11, 2017

#PRtip: When was the last time you reviewed your website content? Make sure it’s up to scratch & reflects your firm’s current position

— LexRex Comms (@LexRexComms) January 10, 2017

List who you’d like to reach this year & their potential influencers. Develop timetable & calendar of outreach. #PRTips

— Cyndy Hoenig (@CyndyHoenig) January 4, 2017

The reporter shot down your last pitch. Don’t be afraid to go back with another pitch, but be sure it’s strong and newsworthy. #PRTip — Leonard & Finco (@thePRexperts) January 4, 2017

#PRTip Not everybody is your target audience — 1207 Media (@1207media) January 4, 2017

#PRTip: Know your audience

Build your communications strategy around the needs of your audiences – know their issues & solve them

— KD Communications (@KD_Comms) January 2, 2017

Be honest, be quick and be true to your values. Don’t just tell half the story. #PRTip

— Jo Scard (@scardjo) January 1, 2017

When responding to negative messages online, it’s important to be transparent and contact the customer to sort the matter out. #PRTip — Fifty Acres (@fiftyacres) December 30, 2016

Infographic: How #Millennials and #BabyBoomers Consume User-Generated Content https://t.co/7pv869c6gq via @Adweek #prtips #marketingtips pic.twitter.com/7HduNofGMN — Jennifer Dunn (@jenndunn31) January 4, 2017

And January is the perfect time to start a calendar. #HappyNewYear #PRTips #TuesdayTips pic.twitter.com/Mf43SD412R

— Lindsay Paulson (@RDOLindsay) January 3, 2017

@Regrann from @moccastyles – #PRTips: ✨The best time to post on Instagram is from ✨12 p.m. to 1 p.m. ✨Monday to Friday.✨ pic.twitter.com/GkJvJ8cXWS

— Suede MGMT (@SuedeManagement) January 2, 2017

Keep pitches, VM’s short & to the point. #PRTips

— Cyndy Hoenig (@CyndyHoenig) January 2, 2017

Identify the most popular hashtags in your sector to routinely integrate them into your tweets #PRTips

— JournoLink (@JournoLink) June 1, 2016

Marketing to kids? Remember – children think they're 5 years older than they actually are. #PRTips

— Pure PR (@PurePROKC) May 31, 2016

The last thing people want to hear when they meet you is your life story or why your biz is the best. Relax. Ask about them. #PRTips

— Cyndy Hoenig (@CyndyHoenig) May 31, 2016

Intention is everything. #prtips #publicity #podcasts #podcasting #onlinebusiness #smm #smb #entrepreneurship #quote pic.twitter.com/8Qwuljrl1w

— Esther Kiss (@EstherKiss) May 31, 2016

Keep in mind that reporters are returning to even more email than usual–so maybe hold your pitch until a bit later in the week. #PRtips

— Michelle Garrett (@PRisUs) May 31, 2016

Work to understand what your journalists want, and how they want it. One size doesn't always fit all. #PRTips

— PRdog (@prdog) May 31, 2016

Media Relations is 98% prep & 2% execution. Make sure to research the media outlet first. #PRTips

— Cyndy Hoenig (@CyndyHoenig) May 30, 2016

#PRtip: Make the #customer the hero of your #story. pic.twitter.com/2HdPy0kGMn

— White Water PR (@whitewaterpr) June 1, 2016

When pitching a reporter on a topic they know REALLY well, STOP opening with, "Did you know … ?" Yes, yes, I DO KNOW that. #prtip

— Roxanne Hawn (@roxannehawn) May 26, 2016

Working in a newsroom it drove me mad when PRs didn't understand the phrase "I'm on deadline". Time your pitch accordingly #PRtip

— HSW Media (@Hswmedia) May 24, 2016

When you call someone in the media, your first 4 words should be "Are you on deadline?" #PRTips #PRRockStar

— Pure PR (@PurePROKC) May 24, 2016

Become known in your community, then expand. Attend regional, state, national events, especially in your area, 4/month. #PRTips

— Cyndy Hoenig (@CyndyHoenig) May 24, 2016

#PRTip Tuesday! The headline of your press release can make or break the engagement to its receiver. Be enticing! #1stImpressions #PRLife

— Janiece Noel (@JanieceNoelPR) May 24, 2016

Humor can often increase engagement on your social media posts. Don’t be afraid to be funny! #PRTip

— Leonard & Finco (@thePRexperts) May 23, 2016

#PRTip: Measure your digital #PR success by delving into analytics. pic.twitter.com/KmaUybXqvb

— Aneela Rose PR (@AneelaRosePR) May 22, 2016

#PRTip Do not underestimate the power of #Calendar listings. Some even offer you to upload pics & videos to ensure optimal viewership.

— Susanne Pinedo (@PinedoPR) May 22, 2016

#PRTip: "Encourage an open-door policy with customers to gain valuable feedback." #PRAgency

— GreenRoom (@GRNRMAgency) May 21, 2016

Unless you have a weekend event, or want to purposely bury a story – never pitch the press or send out a press release on a Friday. #PRTip

— Jo Scard (@scardjo) May 21, 2016

#PRTip: PR stands for public relations – like any relationship, you have to work hard at it for it to succeed

— Julia Kendrick (@JRKendrick) May 20, 2016

Stay in tune with what others in your industry are doing. Follow their social media sites to stay up to date. #PRTip

— Leonard & Finco (@thePRexperts) May 20, 2016

Think strategic partnerships. Talk to local business owners. Explore cross promotions. #PRTips

— Pure PR (@PurePROKC) May 18, 2016

Networking: Don't be a bore. Don't do monologues & don't interrupt others. #PRTips

— Cyndy Hoenig (@CyndyHoenig) May 18, 2016

Never stop being curious. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it made the PR pro. #PRTip

— Jo Scard (@scardjo) May 19, 2016

#prtip Write press releases from point of view of your target audience. Ask Qs about topic til you find an interesting angle.

— Ann Wright (@roughhouse01) May 18, 2016

You have to be where your audience lives. ~@iRadioCoach #PRTip

— Debbie Laskey MBA (@DebbieLaskeyMBA) May 18, 2016

#PRtip #worcestershirehour Had some good PR coverage? Don't forget to shout about it on your social media channels! pic.twitter.com/DNM3GCUUXK

— Nolan PR (@NolanPR) May 18, 2016

As all good PRs know, especially if you've been on the other side of the fence as a journalist… #PRtip pic.twitter.com/bHDK9daXe0

— RuthStivey (@RuthStivey) May 18, 2016

Keep media pitches SHORT. #PRTip (4-6 sentences are best.) pic.twitter.com/0R1cFLFej0

— 3 Peas Marketing (@3peasmarketing) May 17, 2016

Action plans require real action. The plan is just the first step in the process, don’t stop there. #PRTip

— Leonard & Finco (@thePRexperts) May 17, 2016

#PRTIP: Journalists like extremes – the best, the worst, the largest etc. pic.twitter.com/5esPddCJc3

— Aneela Rose PR (@AneelaRosePR) May 16, 2016

Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and call if email doesn’t seem to be working. You’ll get what you need and more using the phone. #PRTip

— Leonard & Finco (@thePRexperts) May 11, 2016

#PRTip: Read the pubs and watch the shows you want to be in and on. pic.twitter.com/n4mUIgsm5K

— Amanda Vega (@AmandaVega) May 10, 2016

Don’t scoff at what seems like a reporter’s unreasonable deadline. If you don’t talk, she’ll find someone else. #PRTip

— Fifty Acres (@fiftyacres) May 10, 2016

#PRTip: Make sure you have a media schedule in place at the beginning of your campaign. pic.twitter.com/MY3vBQy8kN

— Aneela Rose PR (@AneelaRosePR) May 9, 2016

What’s done cannot be undone. Triple check your spelling and punctuation before you publish anything! #PRTip

— Jo Scard (@scardjo) May 9, 2016

You never know who you’ll meet & what role that person might later play in your life or career. #PRTips

— Pure PR Arizona (@PPRArizona) May 11, 2016

#PRTip: When are you pitching? Make sure you give the reporter plenty of lead time to meet their deadline.

— See.Spark.Go (@seesparkgo) May 6, 2016

Be the most honest person in town & business will beat a path to your door. #prtips

— Pure PR (@PurePROKC) May 11, 2016

Honor your process. You are the best salesperson you have. Know your work & don’t undersell yourself. #PRTips

— Cyndy Hoenig (@CyndyHoenig) May 11, 2016

Cultivate relationships with editors lower on the masthead, says @jules_afar #prtips

— I DO PR (@IDoWeddingPR) May 11, 2016

Here are our Top 10 PR Pro Tips for this week, selected from Twitter. Remember to submit your own PR pro tip using the hashtag #PRTip or #PRTips. Your tweet could be featured here next week!

Here are our Top 10 PR Pro Tips for this week, selected from Twitter. Remember to submit your own PR pro tip using the hashtag #PRTip or #PRTips. Your tweet could be featured here next week!

Here are our Top 10 PR Pro Tips for this week, selected from Twitter. Remember to submit your own PR pro tip using the hashtag #PRTip or #PRTips. Your tweet could be featured here next week!

Here are our Top 10 PR Pro Tips for this week, selected from Twitter. Remember to submit your own PR pro tip using the hashtag #PRTip or #PRTips. Your tweet could be featured here next week!

Here are our Top 10 PR Pro Tips for this week, selected from Twitter. Remember to submit your own PR pro tip using the hashtag #PRTip or #PRTips. Your tweet could be featured here next week!

Here are our Top 10 PR Pro Tips for this week, selected from Twitter. Remember to submit your own PR pro tip using the hashtag #PRTip or #PRTips. Your tweet could be featured here next week!

Here are our Top 10 PR Pro Tips for this week, selected from Twitter. Remember to submit your own PR pro tip using the hashtag #PRTip or #PRTips. Your tweet could be featured here next week!

Here are our Top 10 PR Pro Tips for this week, selected from Twitter. Remember to submit your own PR pro tip using the hashtag #PRTip or #PRTips. Your tweet could be featured here next week!

Although taking full advantage of Twitter can be difficult, it is important to understand the ins and outs to reap the full benefits for you and your business. In this Infographic below (created by Fuseworkstudios) you will learn how to maximize your tweets with a few simple tips!

Here are our Top 10 PR Pro Tips for this week, selected from Twitter. Remember to submit your own PR pro tip using the hashtag #PRTip or #PRTips. Your tweet could be featured here next week!

Here are our Top 10 PR Pro Tips for this week, selected from Twitter. Remember to submit your own PR pro tip using the hashtag #PRTip or #PRTips. Your tweet could be featured here next week!

If you send me a press release as a .pdf instead of a .doc, know that you are not one of my favorite people. #prtips

— R.L. Nave (@rlnave) April 29, 2014

Learn to write well. Short paras, short sentences & clear language. #PRTips

— Aneela Rose PR (@AneelaRosePR) April 29, 2014

Remember, successful #PR is not about what a journalist could do for you, but what you could do for them #PRtips

— Slack Communications (@SlackComms) April 29, 2014

Don’t forget to LOVE UP the wonderful people who are ALREADY in your business world. #PRtips

— Melissa Cassera (@casseracomm) April 27, 2014

Always pick up the check. People won’t remember what they had for lunch, but they’ll always remember who picked up the check. #PRTips

— Cyndy Hoenig (@CyndyHoenig) April 26, 2014

The optimum length for a sentence appears to be about 14 words. Write concise sentences with these tips! http://t.co/L6x5UNUewy #PRtips

— Brock Communications (@TeamBrockComm) April 25, 2014

Become comfortable in uncomfortable situations. #PRtips

— nicole (@Nicole_Kmiotek) April 25, 2014

If possible, compare your #PR progress against your competitors. Is there anything you could try and replicate/avoid? #prtips

— Slack Communications (@SlackComms) April 25, 2014

Coordination of effort takes much more energy to achieve than duplication of effort. But duplication takes much more energy to undo. #PRtips

— SwarnerGroup (@SwarnerGroup) April 24, 2014

#PRTip for Press Releases: Get to the point and fast! Don’t make it hard for the reader by hiding your message within the body copy.

— Whitefoot PR (@WhitefootPR) April 30, 2014

Here are our Top 10 PR Pro Tips for this week, selected from Twitter. Remember to submit your own PR pro tip using the hashtag #PRTip or #PRTips. Your tweet could be featured here next week!

Don’t exaggerate. Get your facts straight. If one of the claims you make is not true, the pitch quickly loses credibility. #PRtips #PRpitch

— Polongo PR (@PolongoPR) April 22, 2014

Review plans regularly, says @dawn_lou79. What’s going well & not so well? There’s no shame in changing tack to ensure great results #PRTips

— Tribe PR (@TribePR) April 22, 2014

Stay passionate and hardworking but don’t get too busy for the important things and people in your life. #prtip #life #workhard

— Rachel Laitala (@rachmariepr) April 18, 2014

BE PROACTIVE, NOT REACTIVE! Prepare for a crisis before it happens. Create a list of potential problems & develop a plan of action. #PRtips

— Sabrina – Blu Lotus (@BluLotusPR) April 14, 2014

The subject line of your email pitch should be less than eight words. Simplicity wins. #PRTips

— Aneela Rose PR (@AneelaRosePR) April 14, 2014

prtips The last thing ppl want to hear when they meet you is your life story or why your biz is the best. Relax. Ask about them. prtips

— LAKSH JINDAL JINDAL (@danuxrodh_regmi) April 22, 2014

Bloggers are going to be more likely to respond to your email if you take 30s to find & use their name #PRtip

— Sarah Worsham (@sazbean) April 21, 2014

#PRTip – The difference between persistence and chasing is timing.

— McCollins Media (@McCollinsMedia) April 21, 2014

Don’t always rely on email – sometimes you just need to get on the phone, it’s more immediate and can help you develop relationships #prtips

— Cerub PR (@CerubPR) April 22, 2014

There are no days off when it comes to public relations. Consistency is essential & key in the PR world. #prtip

— Samantha Jordan サマンサ (@_SJordan) April 21, 2014

(Source)

1. All employees involved in the social media component of the crisis communication plan must be trained to handle the technology (social media apps on smartphones, tablets, etc.) and manage messages relevant to the audience and situation.

2. Interaction between the organization and audience might be limited during a crisis because of the immediacy in posting messages, however, having an employee monitor comments posted by the public to gauge concerns is important.

3. If your business has nothing to do with the crisis at hand, be quiet. Is anyone really paying attention, anyway?

4. Consider taking a few days off from your normal editorial calendar. You want to be empathetic and stop promoting your product during a crisis.

5. Be alert and up to date on current news.

The power of Twitter was evident a year ago with many tweeting real-time, up-to-date information on the Boston Marathon Bombings and is active this week for the anniversary of the event. With the hashtag #BostonStrong which has been mentioned more than 2.3 million times since the event, the crisis has been overcome but is not forgotten.

(Source)

(Source)

Twitter has proven to be a leader in real-time news generation with information being posted by professionals, organizations and individuals alike. It is important to remember that although technology has enabled us to act quickly on information sharing, we must still act with heart and compassion.

Are you using Twitter to your full advantage? Check out this INFOGRAPHIC outlining some tips for making the most of your Twitter experience!

(Source) 

We are blessed to live in a fast paced world that spreads news at real time speed and is evolving by the second.  In the past, it was essential for television advertisements to air frequently and remain fresh in your mind. Now, it seems that we are more likely to remember an ad that was shown before a YouTube video or on the right side of our Facebook feed.

Is internet advertising taking over and leaving television in the dust?

(Source)

For the first time ever, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), internet advertising revenue report declared that advertising dollars spent on the internet exceeded television advertising. Internet advertising dollars were at a whopping 42.8 billion whereas television advertising made up for 40.1 billion in the U.S.

Randall Rothenberg, President and CEO, IAB  says, “The news that interactive has outperformed broadcast television should come as no surprise, it speaks to the power that digital screens have in reaching and engaging audiences. In that same vein, the staggering growth of mobile is clearly a direct response to how smaller digital screens play an integral role in consumers’ lives throughout the day, as well as their critical importance to cross-screen experiences.”

Internet advertising prices are subject to vary, however, Digiday reports what some of the most prominent internet channels are charging:

YouTube homepage takeover = $400,000
To own the large display ad with video on the YouTube homepage, advertisers pay an estimate of $400,000. They usually include a package with other media such as in-stream video ads, display ads, or featured video listings.

technologytell.com

Facebook log-out screen ad = $100,000

businessinsider.com

Twitter promoted trending topic = $120,000

easypurl.info

BuzzFeed sponsored article = $20,000

socialfresh.com

The increase in internet advertising doesn’t come as a shock. The average person is equipped with a device that makes internet viewing easier than ever. We are certain that this trend is going to continue to evolve as the internet continues to grow. It’s time to say “Good-bye” to the tube and “Good day” to the internet. 

Here are our Top 10 PR Pro Tips for this week, selected from Twitter. Remember to submit your own PR pro tip using the hashtag #PRTip or #PRTips. Your tweet could be featured here next week!

Here are our Top 10 PR Pro Tips for this week, selected from Twitter. Remember to submit your own PR pro tip using the hashtag #PRTip or #PRTips. Your tweet could be featured here next week!

Here are our Top 10 PR Pro Tips for this week, selected from Twitter. Remember to submit your own PR pro tip using the hashtag #PRTip or #PRTips. Your tweet could be featured here next week!

Here are our Top 10 PR Pro Tips for this week, selected from Twitter. Remember to submit your own PR pro tip using the hashtag #PRTip or #PRTips. Your tweet could be featured here next week!

Here are our Top 10 PR Pro Tips for this week, selected from Twitter. Remember to submit your own PR pro tip using the hashtag #PRTip or #PRTips. Your tweet could be featured here next week!

Here are our Top 10 PR Pro Tips for this week, selected from Twitter. Remember to submit your own PR pro tip using the hashtag #PRTip or #PRTips. Your tweet could be featured here next week!

During last year’s Super Bowl, fans and social media enthusiasts alike experienced two major unexpected events. The first was an epic power outage during one of the most watched sporting events in the world and the second (happening only 10 minutes after the first) was a revolutionary tweet from Oreo.

This past Sunday during Super Bowl XLVIII, millions of viewers were glued to their televisions and social media accounts. Companies world-wide were waiting, praying, hoping that they would be granted the opportunity to experience an “Oreo Moment”. Instead of waiting on the sidelines, JC Penny took matters into their own hands. It started with a series of misspelled tweets around the time of kick-off. Immediate speculation of a account hacking began to circulate until the U.S. company tweeted the reasoning behind the erratic tweets: mittens.

JC Penny has recieved mixed reviews from this social media stunt. Yes, the brand’s name is out in the news and all over social media but is it true that any publicity is good publicity? With the influx of tweeting during major sporting events and the increased importance of tweeting in real-time, we have to wonder if the risk always outweighs the benefit. We think that Oreo nailed it with their originality during this once in a life-time event last year, however we don’t know if attempting to create your own moment has the same impact. We would like to hear from our readers: Do you think live-tweeting and taking the risk that JC Penny did worked? Here at EDPR the debate is still up in the air but they definitely got us talking. Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Social media has been around for quite some time now, but that certainly doesn’t mean everyone is fully comfortable using it. Check out today’s #FilmFriday and learn some helpful tips from EDPR founder, Cory Stewart, on how to up your social game!

Here are our Top 10 PR Pro Tips for this week, selected from Twitter. Remember to submit your own PR pro tip using the hashtag #PRTip or #PRTips. Your tweet could be featured here next week!

Here are our Top 10 PR Pro Tips for this week, selected from Twitter. Remember to submit your own PR pro tip using the hashtag #PRTip or #PRTips. Your tweet could be featured here next week!

Here are our Top 10 PR Pro Tips for this week, selected from Twitter. Remember to submit your own PR pro tip using the hashtag #PRTip or #PRTips. Your tweet could be featured here next week!

So, you’ve signed up for Twitter after hearing what it can do for you and/or your business. Now what?

One issue most Twitter newbies face is not having an audience – followers. You may have a great message, but what is the point of that message if it isn’t reaching the right audience? Here are some tips on how to get more followers, and, most importantly, how to keep those followers!

Get rid of your TrueTwit validation service

TrueTwit works by reducing possible spammers and bots from following you by sending out direct messages (DM) to all the people who request to follow you. Your potential follower then has to click on a link inside the automatically generated DM that takes them to a website where they type in a Captcha in order to follow you. It’s a headache and a complete turn-off for potential followers. If President Obama’s Twitter account doesn’t have TrueTwit validation service, there is no reason you should have one either.

Don’t set up automatic DMs

There is nothing more impersonal than receiving an automated message after following someone that goes something like this: “Thanks for the follow. Don’t forget to like our Facebook page, visit our website, listen to our music, buy our album, and worship the ground we walk on”. We know you didn’t personally send that message, and we’re slightly offended that you’re asking us to put in effort when you didn’t. Which brings us to the next tip:

Socialize 

It’s called social media for a reason. If you get a new follower, send them a personalized tweet thanking them for following you. This encourages interaction, which is a key component for successful tweeting. Retweet (RT) tweets you find interesting, and thoughtfully respond to questions other tweeters ask. An involved tweeter is a happy and successful tweeter. Also, be sure to check out Twitter parties to find like minded people in your areas of interest!

Be interesting 

Twitter is all about engaging people and exchanging news, links, articles and ideas. But in order to stand out, you need to be unique. Your followers don’t really care that you just went shopping. Be witty about it! Tell them about a great deal you got at a certain store or how you had to fight off a little old lady to nab that last adorable pair of $20 Steve Madden stilettos (hey, it could happen).

Follow people

Don’t expect to magically get thousands of followers overnight just by sending tweets. Getting followers takes time and patience. Follow those who you find interesting, whose topics you can relate to, and those who will ultimately help to boost your account’s popularity. If your followers enjoy your tweets, they will RT to their followers, and so on.

Reward your followers

This is especially important if you own a business. To really get your followers engaged, start a contest or provide them with unique value. Although giving away an iPad  might be exciting, it’s more exciting to be given exclusive information for an upcoming pop-up sale, exclusive (valuable) coupon or a loyalty benefit. This also gives you the perfect opportunity to ask your followers to RT your tweets, and it promotes your name/brand. People love being rewarded, particularly if they’re already invested in (or love) your products.

Share your @username

Include it in your e-mail signature, in your LinkedIn profile, on your website, and on any other social media network that you use.  

Update your bio

That ‘About Me’ section is more important than you think! It’s your potential follower’s first impression of you, so you want it to stand-out. Include a recent headshot of yourself, your company’s logo or something that pertains to what you will be tweeting about. Nobody likes that default egg picture.

Have fun!

Sometimes we forget that Twitter is also a means for entertainment and not just for work. If you explore the network, you will meet more people with similar interests. You will find the process to be very rewarding once you’ve settled in and become a regular Tweeter.

Sources:

http://www.twitip.com/7-ways-to-be-worth-following-on-twitter/

http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/10-ways-to-build-a-large-quality-following-on-twitter_b12298

http://www.bitrebels.com/social/how-to-keep-your-twitter-followers/

Today for Film Friday, Embrace Disruption PR founder Cory Stewart discusses the benefit of twitter chats and twitter parties. Find out why they are an excellent way to build your business/brand, and establish yourself as a thought leader!

For more information on twitter chats/parties, click here.

• Gaining feedback on service, events and menu items.
• Promoting and showing off menu items.
• Sharing specials.
• Recruiting.
• Monitoring reputation.

To find out how PR agencies (like us) can help with your restaurant’s social media strategy and execution, please send us an email, we’d love to hear from you!

Check out the full list below, along with a handy guide on which social networks to use for each tactic

Earlier in the year, we wrote a blog post outlining how to better your restaurant’s publicity: you can find that piece by clicking here.

This week, we’d like to introduce you to digital content/imaging specialist and co-founder of DevTO Inc., Joallore Alon (or as you may know him, @clickflickca)!

1.    What’s your official job title, and where did you go to school?

2.    Elevator pitch. Describe yourself in a nutshell (or sea shell, or
any shell for that matter).

3.    Why did you pursue what you’re doing now? What was the inspiration?

4.    What is the best part of your day-to-day? 

5.    What’s the most challenging?

6.    If you took a look in the cliché crystal ball, what do you see for
yourself?

7.    How do you embrace disruption in your work and personal life? 

8.    What is the most memorable moment in your career?

9.    Do you support any initiatives or charities?  

10.    Tell us what you see yourself doing at 65 years old.

11.    Just for fun: if you had to pick one app in the whole APPVERSE, what
would it be?

first direct (a UK-based financial institution) recently released a study that identified some of the social personalities that are prevalent in today’s online world. You have “The Ultras”, those who check social streams dozens of times per day; “The Deniers”, who insist that social doesn’t rule their lives – but would lose their cool without it; “The Dippers”, who go in and out of their social profiles irregularly; “The Lurkers”, pretty self explanatory; among many others.

Check out this entertaining and perhaps revealing look at what’s becoming a bit of a dirty little habit for some in our connected society.

Now more than ever: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google+ (among others) are the dominant place for consumers and advocates alike to engage with your brand. It’s so important that these destinations fully reflect your company in a seamless way, and maintain the consistency of your current web and offline materials.

Lucky for us, tentsocial has put together a blueprint that outlines almost all of the specs you’ll need when designing creative for your social-sphere. Have a look below, and be sure to bookmark this post – you never know when you’ll need this helpful infographic again!

It appears that fans were upset (to say the least) at the final episodes of the season, but what we found particularly interesting here at EDPR was the amount of fans outraged at the spoilers! If you couldn’t watch the episode on TV the night it aired, you were forced into utter seclusion from all social media forums, or risk spoiling the episode, which happened to a vast majority of viewers. This is just another example of how social media is a huge part of our daily lives.

Below is a video, courtesy of BuzzFeed, of 12 Signs You Might Be Addicted to a TV Show and the TV show featured is none other than The Game of Thrones. Enjoy!

• Be sure to tweet links to interesting content
• Ask! “Please Retweet” has a 51% success rate.
• Stop talking about YOU. Only 1.5% of tweets contain self-reference
• Instructional and entertainment based content get the most attention

All these and more in the image below:

(Image via)

One of the most important elements of my job is keeping current. I’m constantly surfing the web for content, PVR’ing daytime talk shows, and consuming multiple newspapers and magazines. Each and every day revolves around finding top news stories, digesting other PR pro tips, and reading up on current trends. To an outsider, the amount of information we (as PR peeps) have to constantly consume may be a bit overwhelming – but guess what? We love it.

In an effort to assist those who may be new to the industry, or perhaps want to learn more about PR, I thought I’d put together a few of the industry sites I visit on a daily basis – to keep my mind fresh and up to date:

PRDaily | PRWeek | All Top PR News | Mashable | Inc | Entrepreneur |Techcrunch | Techvibes

When it comes to news/content consumption that’s not industry related, I rely on a few different tactics. Here’s a few extra tips:

1. Learn To Love Your Remote

As I mentioned before, I make sure to PVR many of the local/national chat, daytime and morning shows so that I can watch them in my down time. It’s important as a PR person to know individual show formats, and what they look for in segments – if only to make your job easier when pitching your clients.

2. A Weekly Magazine Run

Each Tuesday, I try to make it out to my local bookstore to stock up on magazines. The selection varies based on what beats my current clients fall under, but I’m constantly on the lookout for opportunities and great fits for potential pieces.

3. A Daily (If Not Hourly) Scan Of The News

Knowing what’s up on a local, national, and international scale is essential.  Having context for potential story pitches, and being able to tie your pitch into current events is something media will love you for.

4. Twitter 

Twitter is a godsend. Of course, you can’t possibly keep up with absolutely everything going on in the world, and do your job – but Twitter certainly helps. Reading realtime news/articles from likeminded people, or those you admire can play a big role in keeping your fingers on the pulse.

For more tips, articles, and advice, be sure to follow us @EmbraceDisrupt.

Until next time,

Cory

The following INFOGRAPHIC from Go-Gulf.com shows how companies structure their social media teams &  what they are using their social media for. Here are some of the more startling facts we uncovered:

• The majority of companies are simply piling social media responsibilities on top of their workers regular duties, with teams of >3 people in charge of social media.
• Only 5% of companies are ‘highly satisfied’ with the social media for their company, yet about 3/4 of them are NOT planning on hiring dedicated social media people
• Most companies are using social media to garner brand awareness so they use the # of likes/followers/subscribers/etc to measure how well they are doing, rather than looking at engagement.

Hashtags: defined as those no space phrases starting with ‘#’ that so many people use on Twitter. Hashtags started out as a way for people to track specific phrases and trends on Twitter, but now they seem to have blown up on all social networks as a snarky way to add commentary – serving no other real purpose. Admittedly, we’ve always found it incredibly irritating when hashtags were used on Facebook for no real rhyme or reason. Now, those pesky hashtags on Facebook may have a real purpose.

The powers-that-be at Facebook are toying with the idea of using the hashtags to group conversations on a specific topic, much like what is seen on Twitter. This will help facilitate organizing social comments on television shows, movies and even event specific tags. Sources say that Facebook hashtags are currently in testing phase, but aren’t going to be introduced to the entire user population right away.

So what exactly is Zuckerberg seeking to accomplish by letting people use hashtags in their posts and status updates? Besides allowing ‘trending topics’ and popular conversations to have a common place to be archived; the hope is that Facebook users will spend more time on the site, scroll through chats, and ultimately consume more advertising. It’s no secret that Facebook’s user engagement is dropping, and the social heavyweight is loosing loyal users on a daily basis.

 The Evolution of Facebook

The move to hashtags is all part of the Facebook evolution. Mark Zuckerberg has stated in interviews he wants Facebook to become a “personalized newspaper” for users; similar to Twitter’s end goal. This aligns closely with the introduction of features like the new news feed design, the ability to subscribe to users and the graph search. It’s important to note: Facebook pulled in $4.3 Billion USD last year: 4 times higher than Twitter’s revenue. The gap on the mobile platform is smaller, $249 million this year for Twitter, versus Facebook’s $851 million.

That said, Twitter is working towards closing this gap. By allowing advertisers to ‘pay to trend’ or have their trend promoted within a user’s timeline, Twitter assists in exposing brands to a wider audience while hashtags remain a unique or compelling way to drive up click rates. We estimate Facebook will replicate this model, allowing people/brands to pay to promote specific hashtags.

So what do you think about Facebook copying the Twitter hashtag model? And who do you think will ultimately win the social media ‘war’ between Twitter and Facebook?

Here are some key points:

• Make sure you’re spelling things correctly (duh); no text speak or missed punctuation. Use your own voice, with a professional delivery.
• Hashtags are your friend, use them to draw in non-followers to your content.
• If you’re adding a link, SHORTEN IT! A shortened link (like a bit.ly) takes up less space, leaving more room for the MESSAGE.
• Always leave around 20 characters blank so people who RT can add to the tweet!
• Make people WANT to share your tweets, make them engaging and include a call to action.

So there you go, all the tips required to make your tweets A+ share-able material.

A version of this post by Gerry Moran appears here

Today we’re talking about Playskool and this message they tweeted about on Friday:

Now it may have only gotten 1 retweet and 2 favourites but the replies the message got numbered far more. Within an hour the brand was on the defensive, trying to ‘apologize’ to all the Dads (and Moms) out there they offended with the comment.

At first it didn’t seem that their Twitter person understood that people were offended:

But soon they came up with an explanation for their comment:

If they were trying to convey that sentiment I’m pretty sure there are clearer ways it could have been worded. Scrolling through Playskool‘s tweets for the weekend it seems that they had 2 or 3 go to messages they were simply recycling over and over. That didn’t sit well with followers either:

Perhaps the most jarred parent population were the families that include 2 fathers:

One of the most disappointing parts of their cookie cutter response is that there is no mention of families/parenting in the LGBT community. Not very forward thinking of the brand.

This whole mess erupted a DAY after Playskool posted this touching image on their Facebook page.

So what do you think of this whole situation? Was Playskool being insensitive to changing family dynamics? Share your thoughts in the comments!

It took almost an hour for The Onion to delete the tweet but the backlash from the tweet was almost instantaneous with users voicing their opinions and condemning the tweet from all sides.

This morning CEO Steve Hannah took to the publication’s Facebook page posting an apology:

This glaring oversight in self-control shows that some people just don’t learn from the social media mistakes of others. A publication such as The Onion, seeing as it is in the satire business, has placed itself in a slippery position. It must always be conscious of the content it puts out, toeing the line between funny and outright offensive.

What makes the situation worse is that The Onion wasn’t the only outlet to single out Quvenzhane Wallis negatively. E! Correspondents referred to the Oscar nominee as ‘Little Q’ and ‘Annie’ (in reference to her being cast in the upcoming remake) which started a firestorm of tweets in the vein of:

And then there was Oscar host Seth MacFarlane who delivered the following during the broadcast:

“To give you an idea of how young she is, it’ll be 16 years before she’s too young for Clooney,”

For the youngest Oscar nominee in history, Quvenzhane Wallis has sure had quite a big storm of negativity surrounding her; none of which was invited or called for. Maybe this time the call for professionalism moving forward will be answered. Social media isn’t going anywhere, learn the proper etiquette and remember, once it is on the Internet, it is out there forever.

Article Sources:

http://thecontributor.com/onion-hot-water-calling-9-year-old-oscan-nominee-c-twitter
https://www.facebook.com/TheOnion/posts/10151500974969497
http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/quvenzhane-wallis-called-the-c-word-by-the-onion-on-oscar-night-website-under-fire-2013252
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2284169/Fury-The-Onion-brands-year-old-Oscar-nominee-Quvenzhan-Wallis-c–shocking-tweet-says-deserve-better.html

Sysomos took a moment to create a quick INFOGRAPHIC outlining some of the highlights from the entertainment industry’s biggest night, and here’s some of their findings:

• There were 403,862 total red carpet tweets
• Jennifer Lawrence was voted best dressed female
• Anne Hathaway was voted worst (we have to agree)
• #Oscars was the hottest hashtag with over 800,000 tweets
• Women tweeted over double the amount of Oscar content of men during the evening

Check out the full INFOGRAPHIC below:

With the recent news of Burger King being hacked, followed by Jeep and MTV – we find ourselves wondering who’s next?

Incase you’re not familiar with the scenario, we’ll break it down for you:

Burger King Twitter Hack

The Damage

The hacker took over the account, changed the display picture to the McDonald’s logo, and posted some of the following tweets (Image via):

It was revealed that BK’s password was “whopper” (creative right?). Burger King later acknowledged the rogue tweets:

Interesting day here at BURGER KING®, but we're back! Welcome to our new followers. Hope you all stick around!

— BurgerKing (@BurgerKing) February 19, 2013

and released the following statement to media:

“We have worked directly with administrators to suspend the account until we are able to re-establish our legitimate site and authentic postings. We apologize to our fans and followers who have been receiving erroneous tweets about other members of our industry and additional inappropriate topics.”

The good news? Burger King saw a jump of 100,000 followers over the course of the day. Is it worth the headache? Time will tell!

Jeep Twitter Hack

The Damage

The hacker posted odd tweets, including mentioning luxury brand, Cadillac. The account has since been tamed, but looked something like this (Image via):

Cadillac later responded to ensure tweeps they were not involved:

Just to clarify, Cadillac is not connected to the hack of the @Jeep Twitter account.

— Cadillac (@Cadillac) February 19, 2013

MTV Twitter Hack

The Damage:

The hacker made promises to return Jersey Shore, changed the brand logo to BET, and continued on a wild tweeting rampage (Image via):

UPDATE: Reports are saying that MTV hacked their own twitter in promotion of their new show, Hacked. Good one, MTV..

1. Change your passwords regularly. And change them to something obscure that has nothing to do with the product you sell. Random numbers, letters, and symbols are your best friend. We change our passwords every month—that will probably change to every two weeks in light of this development.

2. Have procedures in place to stop an attack in its tracks. Create a fail-proof social escalation policy that can end something like this before it gets out of hand. Have the assets you need on hand to be able to restore the images on your profile.

3. Minimize the number of mobile devices that can access the account. If you look at all the apps that can access your account, you should know for certain where they’re all coming from and what their purpose is. If you’re unsure about any of them, ax them.

4. Make it mandatory that any mobile phones that link to corporate accounts are password protected. That way, if you leave your phone at, say, a Burger King and you’re signed into your brand’s account, no one can have easy access to it. Similarly, make sure that if you leave your computer at, say, a Burger King, it’s not logged into any accounts. Password protect everything that allows access to accounts that are password protected. Thinking about the computer I’m typing on, if I were to leave it somewhere and some swarthy character logged onto Facebook, they would be able to wreak havoc on about six different accounts (none of which are my personal account). That’s pretty scary when you think about it.

5. Change your passwords every time someone leaves the company—whether or not it’s amicable. Don’t trust people. There’s too much at stake here.

If you had to guess, which brand do you think is next – or do you think the hacker is done their dirty work?

It looks as though the person managing The City Of Vaughan’s twitter account wasn’t so happy about a certain individual’s parking skills (Image via @_melissaashley).

Sadly, it doesn’t end there – it looks like the community manager showed signs of going rogue earlier last night:

The reaction on twitter seemed a bit mixed:

The @City_of_Vaughan Twitter just tells it like it is. Don't like it? Move to Markham where they have a safe twitter feed.

— Jon Sinden (@JonSinden) February 8, 2013

So the @City_of_Vaughan response is to delete all tweets and followers/followees #sigh… #smfail

— Stéphanie Montreuil (@Steph_Montreuil) February 8, 2013

City Of Vaughan, @city_of_vaughan is now trending in Canada http://t.co/lVOMreiu

— Trendsmap Canada (@TrendsmapCanada) February 8, 2013

The worst part of it all is that the city decided to delete their twitter account full stop. We hope that they decide to come back to social, address the situation – and admit to mistake. After all, this isn’t the first time something like this has happened.

Reality is, goof-ups and fumbles are inevitable in this space – and we all know that. Here’s hoping the person responsible for this doesn’t get terminated, because they’ve most certainly learned their lesson. City Of Vaughan, if you’re listening: get back on twitter and acknowledge your mistake, you’ll be surprised how forgiving we all are. Silence is never a good thing, come back to the conversation!

UPDATE

The City of Vaughan has re-activated their twitter to say the following:

The City of Vaughan apologizes for the inappropriate tweet that came earlier today from its corporate Twitter account.

— City of Vaughan (@City_of_Vaughan) February 8, 2013

The City will temporarily suspended the account & look into the cause of this tweet, including the possibility of the account being hacked.

— City of Vaughan (@City_of_Vaughan) February 8, 2013

The City has determined the inappropriate tweet from our account earlier today was from an unauthorized user.

— City of Vaughan (@City_of_Vaughan) February 8, 2013

We are implementing procedures to prevent such an event from occurring again in the future.

— City of Vaughan (@City_of_Vaughan) February 8, 2013

We have to say, this response is good – but should’ve happened soon after the incident, instead of 6 hours later. Reality is, all the news coverage that has generated today could have reflected a more professional conduct if the city was on their game. Ah well, lesson learned – the Internet will move on to something new tomorrow!

Any restaurant professional knows that empty seats are like idle dollars waiting to be made – and it’s important to operate as efficiently as possible. PR can make those empty seats full in a matter of ‘media hits’ by effectively positioning the restaurant into public view.

How, you ask?

There’s several tactics to making sure the restaurant in question gets favourably placed in the media. Any PR pro worth their salt will work with the GM, the executive chef, and perhaps the concierge to ensure they get a full grasp of the restaurant’s offerings.

PR pros have even been known to conduct ‘secret shopper’ visits to see exactly what the ‘secret sauce’ (media angle) of the restaurant really is – and build on it.

From showcasing the establishment’s chef on a popular breakfast show, to facilitating special promotional events, to getting a respected reviewer into your restaurant –  a PR pro’s skills can make the desirable happen!

What else, you ask?

Well, coverage is great – but it’s important to get the right coverage. PR pros can sift through their extensive contact lists and cater pitches to target the right people and the right outlets for your delicious restaurants to start making delicious profits.

That’s not all though, social media should also be high on your PR person’s list as a fantastic way to generate some organic buzz around the restaurant. Skilled pros will have tactics to create content for the standard Twitter & Facebook, along with Instagram, Pinterest, and even Tumblr!

Remember: innovation is of the utmost importance. If you work with an agency that has a focus on doing things ‘differently’ – you’ll most definitely see the results you desire.

We know the restaurant industry is insanely competitive, and guess what? So are we.

A few times a year, the Internet is taken by storm with news of a new and flashy mobile app – promising to change the life of it’s users (presumably) for the better. This is the case with Twitter’s new Vine app, which allows it’s users to record 6 seconds of video and publish it for their social followers to consume.

Brands and users have adapted to the app virally, if only to secure their all important ‘handle name’. Afterall, no one wants to be stuck with a handle like ‘JohnDoe56237126′, do they?

Because there’s been some really fantastic creativity from North American brands, we thought we’d do a little digest for you of some notable posts.

Dove uses the popular ‘stop-start’ functionality to play a quick bowling game with some of their top products.

Trident employs it’s consumers to ‘chew like you chew’.

General Electric shows off their bright idea.

Gap outlines details on their 1969 denim.

Urban Outfitters challenges Comedy Central to a bear off. Tempting, no?

Wheat Thins spells out their campaign in product.

It’s clear Vine is the beginning of something, and they’re certainly boding well in terms of user acquisition. Only time will tell if this app is the next big thing (Instagram, anyone?), or just another fad like DrawSomething – remember that?!

The entire Internet is abuzz today with the second inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama. Every one of my social media feeds is wall-to-wall Obama, from what everyone is wearing, to the performers and celebrities/politicians in attendance. The theme for the Inauguration (which also happens to fall on Martin Luther King Jr. Day) is “Faith in America’s Future” and if the crowd in this picture (below) from the National Mall is anything to go on, young and old alike believe that the re-election of Barack Obama will mean good things for the future of their nation.

The 57^th Presidential Inauguration is live streamed both on television and the Internet simultaneously, with no delay in the Presidential address reaching the ears of the world. In the time before there was a television in every home, and a computer in pretty much everyone’s hand, the White House had to wait days or weeks for their news and mandates to reach the people, delaying timely communication that government strives for. Luckily, we’re living in the Internet Age of ‘instant gratification’, where users voice their opinions and share their thoughts immediately – sometimes to a fault!

Obama is #5 on the list of Twitter users with the most followers

Obama’s team seems very keen and knowledgeable on the use of social media and the effect it has and will continue to have on the President’s second term in office. This year’s Inaugural Address seemed full of quickly quotable anecdotes that convey a strong ‘untwist-able’ message. Hats off to the President’s publicity team, and here’s to 4 more years!

Some interesting insights:

• 40% socialize more online than they do face-to-face.
• There are more devices connected to the internet than there are people on Earth.
• People spend an average of 6.75 hours month on Facebook.
• Facebook is accessed by 7,000 different devices every day.
• 11 accounts are added every second to Twitter.
• Since 2012, 12 BILLION minutes have been spent using Pinterest on the web.
• Every second 1 new user joins LinkedIn.
• 30% of videos account for 99% of all YouTube views.
• 74% of brand marketers saw an increase in website traffic after investing just 6 hours per week on social.

All this and more in the INFOGRAPHIC below:

- 66% of social users made purchases on Black Friday/Cyber Monday as a direct result of social interaction

- Recommendations of social users are 2 times as likely to lead to a holiday gift purchase

- 52% of users are willing to pay more for a brand they trust

- Brands are only responding to half of the posts they receive (jeesh!)

Read all this and more in the festive image below:

Check out this INFOGRAPHIC recently posted on Mashable:

Not every CEO should be online—and few of them are embracing social media, according to a report by CEO.com and Domo.

The report found that only 9 out of 19 Fortune 500 CEOs registered with Twitter were active (a tweet within 100 days of the survey), a mere two CEOs had more than 500 friends on Facebook, and zero Fortune 500 CEOs were on Pinterest.

I have been fortunate to work directly with CEOs who are social offline. They are charismatic, well spoken, and lifelong members of the nonprofit fields that they oversee. However, neither of these CEOs had an online presence worth sharing.

So how do you take an engaging figure and bring them online?

Here are eight tips to help you:

CONFRONT PHOBIAS

CEOs, presidents, and members of senior management can have phobias regarding social media. If you’re lucky, they have private accounts and have a sense of the various forms of communication.

Regardless of their experience, you must further educate them about the benefits and risks of pursuing this form of communication professionally. Find and share accounts of other CEOs. Encourage your senior leaders to follow these conversations and show how they drive support for an organization. It is easier to overcome a phobia when someone else is leading the way.

EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF PERSONALITY

Teach your senior leaders the importance of adding personality to their online image. They must be comfortable with sharing some emotions or reactions publicly if this is going to work. If they cannot agree to take sides on issues that are relevant to your mission then this may not be the mode of communication for them.

FIND AN OUTLET

Just as you decided which social media resource was appropriate for your organization, there is not a standard platform for CEOs. Discuss goals, time commitments, a support network, approval process, and personal interests with your CEO.

Some CEOs are more suited for the brevity of Twitter, while others require a blog to state their views. If your CEO prefers photos of his work, you might consider Tumblr or an Instagram account like Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh.

TRAIN AND EXPLAIN

Once you’ve agreed upon a social media platform, both of you must commit to training. Set aside time for one-on-one tutorials, behind closed doors to protect any egos. Supply draft posts for review until your CEO—and you—feel comfortable sharing them publicly. Remember that social media training should be a continuous learning experience.

DEVELOP UNIQUE ANGLES

Some CEOs may think they don’t have any updates to share. Impress upon them that this is about providing insight into their character as well as enhancing the organization’s brand. Your CEO has a unique view of your organization and can provide an insight that can assist with a goal of transparency.

SHOW YOUR DIRTY HANDS

Social media is the perfect opportunity to shatter the image of a stuffy CEO stuck behind a desk. I frequently shadowed my CEOs when they ventured from the office—which was often—to photograph them engaging in our missions and gather information for future posts. Above all, the ensuing updates demonstrated the connection between the organization’s leader and the mission our followers supported.

STRESS THE 24/7 NATURE OF SOCIAL

Your CEO should be available to answer questions from the public and participate in dialogues. If you are ghostwriting for your CEO, he or she may need to become accustomed to approving posts that you run by them day or night.

FORGET LEGAL

Unless the legal department reviews all of your posts as part of your social media policy, trust your CEO just as he or she trusts you. Your process should determine the level of review you will need to perform. If you ghostwrite the posts based on discussions then a quick review with your CEO is appropriate.

Brian Adams consults with nonprofits, including Komera Project, regarding communications strategy. I am the former senior director of communications at United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley. A version of this story first appeared on the author’s blog.

Here is a guest post I wrote originally for the Vocab Communications blog. I still tend to get a lot of questions about Social ROI, so I thought it would be a relevant article for all you disrupters to have a look at.

Over the course of my career at one of Canada’s top digital media companies, I’ve learned a massive amount. You see, I started out as a retail wench, waited tables, and even (unsuccessfully) got into acting. Now, working with a large portfolio of brands, and continuously engaging their consumer bases with exciting PR and marketing efforts is what gets me jumping out of bed excited each day.

The past decade has brought us so many advances and opportunities to achieve real return on our PR, marketing and advertising investments. Today, I want to shed a little light on the importance of social.

“What’s the ROI?”

A question a lot of industry professionals throw around when social is brought up. First off, for those who aren’t familiar, ROI is one of the copious amounts of corporate abbreviations meaning “Return On Investment”. There’s three ways (in my opinion) to look at the ROI of social, so lets break them down here:

Brand.

Social has the ability to turn a brand into a friend. The benefit of using social as a way to communicate and develop relationships with advocates and fans alike is something that should be determined priceless. Never before have we had a more honest way to connect with our consumers, and really effectively listen to what they want/need/desire.

Impressions.

I’m going to stick to Facebook and Twitter for now: Pinterest, Google+ and others to be elaborated on in upcoming posts.

In the twitter world, each tweet has an impression value. These values are calculated in a variety of different ways depending on the company, and what metrics matter to them. At the moment, there is not one standardized way of measuring the value of a tweet. Best practice with clients is to make sure you get a good understanding of their expectations, and use social measurement tools that will deliver them with the data they find valuable. I would recommend checking out http://hashtracking.org, and http://tweetreach.com as a couple free services.

Facebook is a somewhat simpler beast. Their analytics tools are fantastic, and you’re able to really dive into the data. Just make sure again that you find out what matters most to clients, and deliver that information. Also, keep in mind that vanity metrics like ‘virality’ are not what makes a campaign successful. In the interest of being transparent, very few campaigns go ‘viral’- and that should never be the MAIN goal. It’s important to communicate your content, and engage with the consumers and influencers that really matter to your client.

Dollars.

This metric proves to be the most difficult, and (of course) the most desirable method of social tracking. Many companies are fixated on making money with social, yet no one has come up with a seamless way to make this possible. Sure, you can share trackable links on your networks – and hope that people convert into online purchasers: but is that an effective way to keep social networking social? This can sometimes be a challenging concept to convey to clients, and there’s nothing wrong with proving its validity through testing. Social definitely has potential to increase sales, but it’s arguable that social is effective in sales growth in the same way word of mouth is, and always has been. And let’s be honest: have we really ever been able to track the oldest and most effective form of marketing? Well, that’s another debate.

In the PR world, we constantly have to be on top of the trends and ahead of the game. The face of ROI in social will be ever changing: much like the networks themselves. Using these 3 areas as a barometer will help you identify just how much you’ve been able to deliver to your clients, and where you can help them grow.

Fast Company (one of the only magazines I still buy a paper copy of) recently asked social industry leaders what they thought were the fundamental rules of social media. I loved how they presented the information found (pictured below), and these 5 really resonated with me:

#5. As monetization attempts to go up, consumer experience goes down. In my experience, it’s really important that social remains social. Not only does turning followers into dollar signs always backfire, but long-term relationships aren’t sustainable if you’re always looking for a buck.

#12. Not everything will work, and that’s fine. Embracing failure is such an important part of social. Be sure to test out your efforts on a small-scale before launching social campaigns – it’s ok to make mistakes if you’re learning what the consumer wants.

#14. EVERYONE’S an influencer. Whether a person has one follower, or one million followers – they’re still influencing someone. Remember that social is a public arena – and everyone can see everything.

#15. If fans distribute your content without permission, offer to help. This should be a no brainer, as a large part of this community is all about sharing content. It’s obviously preferable that your content is the stuff that’s being shared, and that turns into traffic, new fans, and new followers!

#35 Think past vanity metrics like followers. This can not be stressed enough. Quality over quantity – followers can be bought, but smarts and great content are the valuable metrics.

Image Via Fast Company

This post is for you sassy pant folks who think you may be too good for twitter, or that it’s a narcissistic time waster. As it turns out, the DATA shows that breakfast is not the first option on the twitter menu – it’s actually the last. Diffbot (http://www.diffbot.com) recently just released some pretty interesting analytics based on tweets from July 10^th-July 11^th, 2012, and here’s the digest.

Status Updates Come Last

36% of tweets are images being shared

16% are articles – yes, NEWS! (well, mostly)

9% is a tie for video and page sharing

8% is product hawking

In last place comes status updates, and shared error pages at 7%

Image via Diffbot.com

Pretty outstanding stuff, no? Diffbot gets into more granular details about this content, and you can check that out here.

So the next time someone says they’re not interested in reading about breakfast – remind them: we don’t tweet about our OWN breakfast, we share articles about someone else’s.

I  thrive on jumping from task to task and coming back to things throughout the day. The important thing is to always ensure that each project gets completed to the 100% mark. How about you, would you say you’re an expert multitasker?

Check out some other eye-opening facts in this INFOGRAPHIC:

I get a lot of questions from beginners about twitter, and stumbled upon this article originally published on 12 Most (written by Susie Newday). If you’re looking for tips and tricks on how to start using your twitter account, read the 12 steps below for some great advice. Additionally, this can give you some useful reminders on how to optimize your twitter presence more effectively.

I tried Twitter for the first time when it was less than a year old. Someone on an online forum was raving about how much they loved it, so I joined. Honestly, I could not understand the attraction. A week or two later, I gave it up because I still did not “get it.”

Fast forward three years to when I started blogging. Twitter was already popular and any self respecting blogger was on Twitter. So I opened another account and started tweeting. It wasn’t easy to catch on and there was a bit of a learning curve, but suddenly, a few weeks later, I found myself addicted.

Although Twitter has been around since 2006, there are still many people out there who are not yet tweeting and for whom the attraction of twitter is still a conundrum. Here are 12 useful tips for the Twitter newbie or wannabee:

1. Choose the shortest Twitter handle you can

Tweets are 140 characters long and your Twitter name is part of those 140 characters. You want to leave room for your own messages as well as making it easy for people to reweet your tweets.

On the other hand, if the name people will remember and associate with you is a bit longer (like mine), the extra few characters may be worth it.

2. Get an avatar

When you join twitter, the avatar that comes standard is the dreaded Twitter egg. Get rid of it as soon as possible and replace it with a picture of your own. For personal accounts a face avatar is probably best. Brands usually use their logos. Try to make your avatar something people will remember.

3. Leave room for retweets

One of the things people want you to do with their tweets is to retweet (RT) them. When you retweet, the whole tweet gets published along with the original tweeter’s Twitter name and the letters RT in the beginning of the tweet. That means if your tweet was 130 characters, your twitter name can’t be more the 8 letters long including the @ sign. The general rule is to make sure you leave space for at least 20 characters.

* Bonus tip: If you do run out of room and there is a part of the original tweet that is not necessary, you can put PRT (partial retweet) in the beginning of a retweet to save some space.

** Bonus tip 2: Use a URL shortener like Tiny URL or Ow.ly to shorten links in tweets.

4. RT (retweet) wisely

Don’t forget that whatever you RT ends up on your Twitter timeline. If you retweet 20 links in the span of 3 minutes, your followers are going to have a lot of noise on their timeline. Retweet comments or links that you really like or think have value.

5. Find followers

Until you have followers and are following enough people, not only is Twitter going to be boring, your comments and links are not getting to a very big audience. A good way to find people who might interest you is to look at who the people you follow are following.

You also do not have to follow everyone who follows you. There are differences in opinion as to whether proper etiquette is to follow anyone who follows you (aside from obvious spammers of course) — in the beginning it might be tempting but later on it might get noisy. There are ways to deal with the noise though. (See build lists below.)

6. Interact

There are celebrities and famous people who only tweet their links and comments and don’t interact. That might work for them but won’t for most people.

Generally speaking, the point of Twitter is to interact and by doing that you are able to grow your potential audience exponentially. People with whom you have interacted are more likely to retweet something you would like tweeted. They are also potential offline contacts as well.

7. Don’t be afraid to interrupt, jump in and give your two cents

Unlike in real (offline) life, on Twitter it is not only NOT rude to jump into a random conversation, it is actually expected. It’s kind of the point of Twitter.

8. Be careful where your @ goes

When you are tweeting someone or replying to a tweet, your tweet will start with the Twitter name (including the @ sign) of the person you are tweeting to. In this case, only the person you are tweeting or someone who is following both you and the person you are tweeting will see your tweet.

If you would like other people to be able to see and join your “conversation,” write your comment first and then put the person’s Twitter name in the middle or the end of your tweet. That way, it is open to anyone following you.

9. Learn your options

You have quite a few options when you tweet. You can just tweet, which basically means you are posting an update that all your followers can see.

You can tweet to someone specific. You start the tweet with that person’s Twitter name (which starts with @). That tweet will only be seen by the person you are tweeting or people who are mutual Twitter friends.

You can tweet to someone specific but put words in front of the person’s Twitter name. Anyone can then see that tweet.

You can tweet multiple people at once by using all their names with a space separating each of them

You can retweet.

You can reply to a tweet.

If more than one person is mentioned in a tweet you can reply to all.

You can block a user who is a spammer or someone you don’t want.

You can block a user and report spam.

You can send someone who is following you a DM (direct message). (If you are not following them back, they will not be able to reply to you through a direct message.)

These are the basic options. There are more. Take time to learn them.

10. Build lists

Once you have more than a handful of followers, there is no sane way to keep up with Twitter unless you have lists. The lists are useful to help you break down people in different groups like friends, people who followed me, family, clients, funny people, fellow niche bloggers and so on.

The best time to start making lists is when you are first starting out. You can create groups and add people to the lists as you follow them. Make sure you realize that lists are public unless you mark them as private.

Another good tool to get the most out of your lists is a platform like TweetDeck, Hootsuite or Seesmic. All those platforms let you see a few columns simultaneously and make it easier to follow the action. All the platforms have pluses and minuses so research them before you decide which is best for you.

11. Be careful of opening links in direct messages

This is probably a no brainer, but there are lots of spammy direct messages. As in email, sometimes direct messages get hacked as well. So unless you know a link is okay, don’t open it in your direct messages.

12. Twitter is addictive

Plain and simple, Twitter is addictive. Now, before you jump in, this is your last chance to run away.

Proficiency in any skill is not built overnight. Twitter requires an investment in time, to learn the ins and outs, find quality people to follow as well as to grow your own followers.

I’m not sorry that Twitter is part of my life. In fact I find it to have many advantages, both personal as well as professional. I don’t think you’ll be sorry either. (After all, where can you get answers to almost any question in a matter of seconds at any time of the day?)

How many of you are Twitter addicts? How many Twitter newbies?

Are there any other tips you would give people who are just starting to use Twitter?

The first two speakers hit the stage after lunch!

Gini and Geoff spoke a lot about measurement and use of data to discover the true value of our digital efforts. It was amazing to see how many people were not aware of Google Analytics. Gini did a fantastic job stressing it’s importance, and rightfully so – Google Analytics is necessity online.

Next up, Tim Burrows from the Toronto Police. Tim really stole the show with great laughs, and candid conversation. It’s safe to say that Tim definitely improved all of the attendee’s perception of the Toronto Police force.

Scene stealer, Tim Burrows

Next came a quick briefing on The Remix Project – a fantastic initiative helping youth in Toronto to flourish in a variety of artistic positions while providing coaching and mentoring.

Finally, yet another scene stealer hit the stage to close out the conference – Film Friday’s Gary Vaynerchuk. Gary’s insights and outlooks on business and social media were so enlightening and refreshing.

He made one statement that I thought was incredibly bold, yet compelling:

Gary’s site has tons of videos and keynotes that are worth watching, check it out here. 

FInally, 2 of my favourite pics from the day:

Me and speaker/online buddy Amber Mac

Cool vintage taxi parked outside of The Fairmont Royal York during the conference.

Hope you enjoyed the brief rundown, and I’ll definitely recommend that you attend this conference next year. It was worth it’s weight in gold due to it’s fantastic speakers, content, and level of engagement.

All in all, a ton of fun – and just what the name Social Mix should entail.

Do you have any personal recommendations for tweeting or posting? Share them with me!

The button creation in action

As you may know, Embrace Disruption helped celebrate the launch of the new social movement called ‘The Pin Button Project’ in Toronto last weekend.

The Pin Button Project came from a stroke of genius by its creator, William Craddock some many months ago. While assisting at a gallery opening for the CLGA, William met someone who had identified a particular displayed archive button to have great personal meaning. After a lengthy and tearful conversation with the individual, it struck William that the thousands of buttons in the archives’ inventory could tell untold stories from many generations before.

Then came the AHA! moment, and William vowed to create a website where anyone could come and view buttons from the past to share their stories and comments. The launch on Friday, June 29, 2012 brought out crowds of people (from as far as Brazil!) to check out the buttons in person, view the new website, and even create their own buttons! This fall, The Pin Button Project will strike again with a larger exhibit highlighting the comments and stories that were shared over the summer – stay tuned for details.

Check out The Pin Button Project – you can comment, share or even sponsor a button!

For more photos, head to The Pin Button Project’s Facebook page.

A little background: Twitter is used to share information and converse with others in the online world. I always hear the popular ‘I’ll never use twitter, I don’t feel the need to share what I’m having for breakfast’ one-liner. Reality is: not many use twitter to share their meal details. They do however share recipes, relevant articles, news, and general information. The beauty of twitter is being able to follow whomever you wish – and get a constant stream of curated content. Nowadays, news can break on twitter before you even hear it on the radio or watch it on TV.

The 3 Main Functions:
There’s 3 main ways twitter is used.

1. Replies (@) – This is when you see the @ sign in front of a username, followed by a message. My username is @coryjstewart, so whenever you put that in front of a tweet, you’re tweeting directly to me. Remember: none of this is private, so the world can see what you say.

Lisa replied you’re welcome to me after I thanked her for sharing a post that day.

2. Retweets (RT)- When a user re-posts someone else’s tweet. Often I’ll use the retweet to share an article or conversation with my commentary on it. Identify where the retweet starts with the ‘RT’ at the beginning of the message.

My favourite tech-news site, @mashable posted a link to an article, and I retweeted (RT) them with my commentary.

3. Hastags (#)- Hashtags are typically used to sort information into categories. Any time a # is placed in front of a word, it becomes a hashtag. Typically conferences, events, etc will all use the same hashtag so that all communication can be found easily if one were to search up a hashtag within twitter’s search engine. If you click on a hashtag within twitter, you’ll be able to see all information about that specific topic that is being shared on twitter.

This tweet will be sorted into the #Toronto conversations, as well as the #NYC conversations.

There’s obviously plenty more to know about twitter – but this a starting point to understanding some of the basics. I’ll try to cover a little ground each week – so y’all are up to speed! In the meantime, what’s your username on twitter? Share in the comments so I can follow you!

On Wednesday, I’m teaching a seminar on Pinterest for Torstar Digital’s University program. Because of this, I’ve revisited marketing tactics for the innovative, image based social pinboard, and I thought I’d share with you some key ways that you can use Pinterest effectively for your business, your brand, or even yourself!

“Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes. Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.” (source: About Pinterest)

A picture represents each unique pin. Popular subjects include recipes, memorable blog posts, craft projects and more. Once a post is pinned, others can see the pin and follow a link to the original source. The ideal scenario is that your pictures (ie. pins) will be re-pinned and shared by others!

First off, a quick video that shows some of the key info about this buzz-worthy network!

Isn’t it crazy that Pinterest generates more referral traffic than Google+, Youtube and LinkedIn combined?! Here’s a few first steps that you can take to get a piece of the Pinterest action:

Make Your Site Image-Friendly

Whether you’re blogging, or just enhancing your current website – make sure to have lots of images that are able to be re-pinned! Why? This will ultimately bring you more referral traffic (not to mention make your site a prettier place to visit) while people are looking through the infinite images on Pinterest. A big shout out to some of you readers who have already started pinning my images – THANK YOU!

Get The Browser Add-On

When using firefox, google chrome, or even explorer – you can download a simple add on that allows you to easily right click on images and share them on your pinterest boards, etc. Find more information on where to download these add-ons here.

Place Your Pins On Your Site!

This one seems like a no-brainer. I’m using pinterest for the business I market for (Shopcatch), and am in the process of building out Embrace Disruption’s pinterest page (stay tuned). There’s plenty of widgets out there that you can place on your sites/blogs/profiles that will help you drive up your follower number, and also your traffic numbers by displaying snapshots of photos you’ve recently pinned.

***UPDATE!! You can now FOLLOW EMBRACE DISRUPTION on PINTEREST by clicking HERE.

Get Your Comment Skills ON

Another really important piece to the Pinterest puzzle is engaging. As with any kind of relationship, it’s a give and take! Make sure to comment on others’ pins – and really do the job of listening and viewing other people’s content. This may take some time, but is a guaranteed way to get people ‘pinterested’ in you!

If you’ve still got questions – don’t fret! After my presentation on Wednesday, I’ll post the slides for you to look through for more info. Also, there’s some real crossover in terms of promotional strategy that you can employ from the Twitter Engagement post yesterday.

One of the first questions mailed in is one that I encounter more often than you’d think, so I thought it necessary to start here:

“How can I get my twitter following to engage more with my brand?”

To be honest, there’s no “right” answer to this question, but there are some suggestions I can provide you with to hopefully spark some conversation.

On the content side of things, I think the most important thing to remember here is that when representing a brand, you should not always be in “sell” mode. Tweets should be treated as a conversational tool, and if done properly can develop a more rounded personality for your brand. It’s important that when tweeting, you treat each one as though you were writing a headline on a national paper. Stay relevent, and always ask yourself if what you’re about to tweet would interest you if you saw it.

There are ways to really build out your content and make it “must-see” writing. Some of the basic guidelines around building out engagement involve sharing relevant and interesting articles, but also reaching out to your audience and participating in their conversations. It’s important to not only be a broadcaster, but additionally a fantastic listener. Some of the best twitter presences will often engage a lot based on the content their followers are sharing and really listen to what others are saying. It’s important to remember that even from behind the facade of the computer, all these tweets are coming from real people. Finally, if you’re still struggling – there’s always contesting. It’s an easy way to get the ball rolling – and everyone loves the chance to win something (no matter how big or small the prize value is). I will caution that although it can bring great success, contesting should not be your sole strategy to engage with an audience on twitter – it’s more of a complement to your everyday content.

I hope this spurs some creativity when you approach writing your tweets in the future, and thank you so much for writing in! For more insight on twitter, have a look at “Follower Count Is Wrong: 5 Steps To Measure Online Influence Properly”.

Do you have a question you’d like answered? Click here to submit one!

What are your thoughts? Are you shocked by any of this info? Is there anything you didn’t know?

1. Search Their Username: Generally speaking, a truly engaged twitter user will have many mentions and retweets throughout the day. A simple and easy way to see if people are talking with them is to either search up their username in twitter’s search field – or use a simple tool like Twinitor. Remember, it’s not always the number of followers a person has, it’s WHO and HOW they’re engaging with them.

2. Look At Their Follower Count Ratio: This can be a very telling sign that someone is using a ‘bot’ to gain followers. If someone has 12,000 followers and they’re following 13,000: you can easily deduct that they simply followed a ton of tweeps to gain the ever-so-precious follow back.

3. Klout or Kred: These 2 sites are built to assist in measuring people’s online influence. Although they’re not the be-all end-all in scoring, they can (along with these other tips) gain you a more well-rounded perspective.

4. Look At Their Followers: Don’t be lazy. If you spend a few minutes going through the follower list of the person in question, you’ll get a pretty good idea as to what kind of influence they have (and what kind of people they’re influencing)

5. Fully Connect: When involving influencers and bloggers, it should be more than a couple of minutes of decision-making. In essence, these people will end up being extensions of yourself or your brand. One wrong selection could have a rather nasty effect – so make sure you’re googling, reading past blog posts, and even connecting with them personally before the moment of involvement.

Have some other tips, or want to recommend some fab bloggers or influencers? Sign off in the comments!

Appcircus describes The Social Radio as: “Listen to your tweets while doing anything else? Now it’s possible! The Social Radio converts your Twitter stream into a human-friendly audio experience. Listen to your Twitter timeline, lists, trending topics, funny hashtags and searches; everything beautifully mixed with the music you love. The result? Your own perfect experience of online radio. The content you care, with the music you love.”

The reason I love this app? It uses all my music stored on my iPhone, and plays it in the background while a (suprisingly) human voice broadcasts my twitter stream. This has come in handy while working (I like to have a finger on the ‘twulse’ at all times), but it’s also great for the walk to and from work. I have a pretty severe fear of missing content, and this app helps me stay up to snuff on absolutely everyone I follow.

You can download The Social Radio on iPhone or Android – and for those without smart phones, relax! You can use the web version by requesting an invite here.

Tried this app or have an app you’re obsessed with? Tell me about it in the comments!

Enter the TWITTER PARTY (Twarty for short). A revolutionary new way to engage with consumers and brand advocates alike, while effectively spreading a message across millions of viewers. I currently handle the marketing efforts for a Toronto start-up called Shopcatch. Shopcatch works with retailers to provide promotional strategies that will enhance consumer experience while driving transactions. Recently I had the pleasure of taking on H&M Canada as a client: they were looking to create some exposure for their amazing CONSCIOUS collection. I thought this would be a great opportunity to provide them with a customized twitter party, and really dive into their massive consumer base. Although this was not my first time hosting a ‘twarty’ – I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised with my results.

I’ll let the INFOGRAPHIC do the talking:

As you can see, the potential for exposure is PHENOMENAL. But it doesn’t stop at retail. There’s plenty of brands, events, restaurants, openings, galleries and more that could benefit from the kind of attention a TWARTY can grab them.

If you’re interested in what a TWARTY can do for your business, or would like more info, feel free to reach out! I always love discussing initiatives, and helping brands/companies achieve maximum potential within the socialsphere.

How about you, have you ever participated in a twitter party? Tell me about it in the comments below – and be sure to include your twitter handle so I can follow you!

As a young marketer in this space, I feel as though I spend a lot of my time just catching up on the latest buzz words, techy miracles, and filler articles on mashable.com. There’s nothing wrong with this, but I have to say: working in a strictly online world can be a huge mistake. Throughout time, we’ve evolved from the pigeon carrier, to telegrams, to sending letters by post, to email, and finally to tweets. But one detrimental piece is missing: good old fashion mouth to mouth. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve met that preface their conversation with “Hi I’m [insert name here], and you can follow me at [insert twitter handle here]“. Immediately, that tells me a few key facts: a) I know your name, b) before we even begin to forge a relationship, you feel it necessary that I follow your minute by minute broadcasts to the world. Don’t get me wrong: twitter is a powerful tool, and don’t get me started on networking. But when did we reach the point that it was no longer acceptable to acknowledge each other, and really learn what the person before us was all about. Granted, I love following people- and I’m all for adding to the daily content I see when logging in for the day – but it’s the person behind the text that I find much more interesting.

Disruption is defined as:

dis·rupt  (ds-rpt)