Why Use Twitter? Part III – Brand Use
May 6th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Wrapping up my series, “Why Use Twitter?” (See Part I and Part II), I’m presenting why brands should be and could be utilizing Twitter.
Here is a list of possible uses, or reasons, why companies & organizations may utilize Twitter:
1. Create/increase brand awareness/exposure – If not for any other reason, a brand should secure its social media presence to create or increase awareness of itself. Get involved in the Twitter community and interact with users. If anything, these people are now aware of your brand. Just be sure not to constantly be selling and promoting – that’s bad awareness and publicity for your company.
2. Interact with, and reach current and potential clients/customers – Tying in with #1, creating more awareness of your brand can also help create more business for your brand. A company doesn’t necessarily have to sell on Twitter. By simply engaging with people in a genuine way, over time, the company can become top-of-mind to the potential customer, and earn the business.
3. Customer service avenue – @Zappos, @Comcastcares, and @HRBlock, to name a few, all have Twitter accounts that serve as customer service avenues. Instead of having to call the company, Twitter can sometimes be used as another way to contact the company and ask questions, get problems resolved, and more.
4. Monitor reputation – See what people are tweeting about your company. If it’s good, reach out to them and thank them. Build goodwill and a rapport with customers. If it’s not so good, see how you can resolve the problem. A company showing they care about what their customers think and say, can go a long way. The same holds true for companies who ignore negative feedback and don’t try to resolve issues (i.e. ‘United Breaks Guitars‘ – do you see how many views this video has?!) The great thing about Twitter is that people are talking – whether your brand is on Twitter or not – it’s better to be able to talk back with the person than to have comments floating around, unaddressed.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how companies could be utilizing Twitter. Hopefully these uses can act as a starting point for companies thinking about deciding whether or not it’s something that would be beneficial to them. What are some ways your brand uses Twitter?
Why Use Twitter? Part II – Professional Use
April 7th, 2011 § 1 Comment
As promised in the first post in this series, Why Use Twitter? Part I – Personal Use, I wanted to present some professional reasons one might use Twitter.
Here is a list of possible uses, or reasons, why people may utilize Twitter for professional reasons:
1. Networking – First and foremost, many people use Twitter as a resource for online networking with other business professionals. You don’t have to be in the social media profession to network. People with many different professions can be found on Twitter. Just dive in and start following and engaging with others in your profession. Build a network of people with similar professional interests as you, and your Twitter stream will soon be full of valuable information you might not otherwise had found.
2. Share knowledge and learn more about your career field – By networking with other professionals in your career, not only can you swap information and stories, but you can also ask for other people’s input quickly. Have a question? Ask it on Twitter and get a response quickly. You will find that your ‘tweeps’ can sort of feel like your coworkers, or even, friends sometimes. You can also use hashtags (#) to increase the chances of others who aren’t following you to see your tweet (i.e. #eventprofs).
from http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3379/3598159727_e6850ce763.jpg
3. Job hunt - Twitter is a great resource for job hunting. Not only can you often find job openings posted on Twitter, but you can also network (see #1). Networking is always fun, and doesn’t hurt when you’re job hunting! Setup a keyword search for job titles, companies, or words related to your job search and see what’s out there. Mention in your Twitter bio that you are on the hunt for a job, too.
4. Communicate live at events with others sharing the experience – Many conventions, trade shows, and seminars/workshops are using Twitter as a way to interact with people attending their events. People attending these events are also using Twitter to communicate with one another. Events can set up a hashtag (i.e. #SpringFlingSEA) and people can track what is going on at that event by this hashtag, whether they are at the event or not. Meet-up with someone for lunch while attending a convention; talk about the event via Twitter; share what you’re learning at the event, etc.
5. Track your reputation – Setup a keyword search for your name on Twitter. You can use this information to see if people are talking about you, and what they are saying. You can always address anything you’d like fast and easily by setting up a keyword search.
This is not an exhaustive list, by all means. However, these are great ways to utilize Twitter and get more involved with social media and others like you. What are some other ways you like to use Twitter for professional reasons?
Why Use Twitter? Part I – Personal Use
March 23rd, 2011 § 1 Comment
There are still tons of folks that don’t ‘get’ Twitter. It’s strange to me that some view it as difficult, since I use it daily, and see the many benefits of it. But, I do understand. Even my best friends don’t use ‘the Twitter.’ I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been met with, “I don’t care what you eat for lunch,” when I ask if someone uses Twitter. I then go into my rant about why Twitter is so much more than sharing what I’ve eaten for lunch, or dinner, for that matter. If you’ve never used the social media network, and still don’t really understand it, I’m here to give you a brief overview and possible uses list, and reasons to use it – other than sharing what you’ve eaten for lunch.
I’ve decided to break “Why Use Twitter?” into a few different parts: Personal, Professional, and Brand use. Throughout the series, you’ll get a general idea of why people and companies are using Twitter, and what can be achieved through its use.
So, what is Twitter? (I won’t get into all the details, however, if you’d like that, check out Mashable’s great Twitter overview.) I generally say Twitter is, “a real-time stream of 140-character-or-less posts from people sharing all kind of information.” As a Twitter user, you can ‘follow’ anyone you’re interested in hearing what they have to say. For example, Starbucks has a Twitter account. If you want to hear what Starbucks is talking about, you’ll want to follow them. They may share special offers, deals and discounts, coffee facts, etc. If someone wants to hear what you have to say, they will follow you.
Here is a list of possible uses, or reasons, why people may utilize Twitter:
1. Share news - where are most Twitter users getting their news? Most likely from other users on Twitter. Sadly, Elizabeth Taylor passed away today. How did I first hear? From people tweeting about it. When the earthquake in Japan occurred, the first place I learned about it was on Twitter. More often than not, important news is posted on Twitter before it’s even posted on the Internet and showing up in a Google search.
2. Learn & Teach – On Twitter, you can follow whomever you want. Celebrities, companies, CEOs, chefs, experts in various fields, etc. use Twitter. There are Twitter accounts for all kinds of interests. If you’re a Seinfeld lover, you would maybe want to follow @SeinfeldQuotes_ for daily quotes from the TV show. If you want recipes, you’d probably want to follow @FoodNetwork. You can learn whatever you want from experts on Twitter; and if you’re an expert, consider sharing your knowledge. That’s huge on the social network. Post tips of the day, or interact with people who have questions about your expertise. Share information!
3. Meet people – Whether you think it’s “dorky” or not, Twitter is a great place to meet new people and new friends. Welcome to the 21st century, where more and more people are meeting others off of the Internet. No longer are our social interactions dependent on those within our vicinity. We have the whole world to explore from behind our computers, and Twitter is a great place to share ideas with others from around the world.
4. Explore new ideas and places – By using Twitter, not only can you share what you’ve eaten, but you can also share other ideas and things you like. Shocking, I know. Most of the restaurants I try, or new things I venture out to try, are from people in my Twitter stream recommending them. Going on vacation somewhere? Ask your Twitter community, and someone in that area may be able to make a few suggestions. For example, while planning a trip to Italy, I asked my Twitter followers if they had any hotel recommendation for Venice. Within minutes, I had numerous responses, not only from my followers, but also a few hotels IN VENICE!
5. Participate in contests – Many companies use Twitter as a way to have giveaways. Sometimes they involve skill, and sometimes they’re just luck. With Twitter being relatively new, the odds of winning are good!
There are obviously other reasons to use Twitter, and everyone has their own reason, but these should help you understand the gist of it. For those of you who are already familiar with Twitter, why do you use it?
“Unite the Invite” – a True Social Media Sweepstakes
March 1st, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Do you know this girl?
In an attempt to promote the United Kingdom, and prove the world isn’t as large is some may think, Love UK is hosting a very unique Facebook sweepstakes. Calling it “Unite the Invite,” Love UK is hosting a sweepstakes where two strangers are both given a goal of finding one another and ‘uniting their invite.’ The pair of people who find each other the quickest (yes, there is a timer) win a prize. The prize? The ultimate British adventure.
Out of curiosity, I entered the contest and was shown a photo of my ‘Target Person’ to find. Instantly, I began sharing her photo with my Facebook friends, but quickly realized I should just post her photo on the Love UK page. Apparently I wasn’t the only one to think that, because many others had done that. Three hours later though, I still have yet to find my mystery partner. I’ll keep you updated.
The thing I love about this sweepstakes is that it truly represents social media. It makes the world feel a little bit smaller and like we all have potential to be connected, worldwide. I imagine once I find my target, it will feel even smaller! Maybe we’ll even become BFF. 
Regardless, it’s refreshing to find such a creative campaign that is doing a great job at promoting the United Kingdom and uniting its community in a friendly social media game.
It’s rare to find a truly unique and eye-catching social media campaign or sweepstakes. Are there any good ones you’ve found?
Arcade “Fries” Wins Grammy While Tweeps Show Confusion
February 15th, 2011 § 6 Comments
Indie-Rock band, Arcade Fire, took home the Grammy for ‘Album of the Year’ at Sunday night’s award show. This was a surprising moment, considering the band was up against more widely known acts like Lady Gaga and Eminem. However, perhaps the best part of the win, seemed to be the chat on Twitter.
Both celeb tweeps and everyday tweeps took to Twitter questioning who Arcade Fire is. Or rather, who, some variation of the name, is. Everything from ‘RK Fire’ to ‘Arcade Fries’ was mentioned as the band’s name. Many people seemed to not recognize the band, despite their popularity.
As I decided to blog about this, just out of its hilariousness, someone had beat me to the punch. Enter this website. An all-in-one “Who the F$@# is Arcade Fire?” page showcasing the funniest tweets and video. The Twitter community never fails to bring the funny.
Has Social Media Made You More…Social?
December 2nd, 2010 § 4 Comments
It’s pretty commonplace for us computer nerds to hear, “You need to away from your computer more!” or “Have you been outside AT ALL today?” I’ve actually been asked this question a lot less as I’ve gotten older, but I think it’s because nowadays the Internet is portable (enter iPhone.) Anyways…it used to be that computer nerds were thought of as these people who just sat in a dark room, dropping crumbs all over themselves and wearing coke-bottle glasses. It’s almost like the complete opposite now. Obviously if you don’t have a computer, you might be living in the 80s still…but aside from that, you may not be as social as us who are glued to our computers.
With the introduction of chat rooms way back when, and nowadays with Facebook and Twitter, computers and the Internet have allowed us to be more social than we ever have been. Obviously communication avenues have expanded, and people are gathering information in larger and quicker quantities, so the opportunity to meet new people is always there when you login to social media sites. Like I’ve said in previous posts, I belong to an awesome generation. We know what life was like pre-Internet, and know what it’s like to be considered digital natives as well. IMO, it seems so much easier to meet new people and make new friends now than it was before social media existed.
Yes, it kind of seems like a no brainer – it’s called “social” media for a reason. Duh. But, Twitter wasn’t originally designed to be a site where people could talk with strangers and swap ideas, then create offline conversations called “tweet-ups.” We’ve taken social media and turned it into more! And to top it all off, many people on Twitter consider the people they follow, although maybe never having actually met in person, their ‘friends.’ Do you?
Has social media made you, in fact, more social? Do you get out and meet people off the Internet? Do you attend tweet-ups?
When Does Social Media Posting Cross the Line?
November 4th, 2010 § 4 Comments
My Twitter stream was interesting today. More so than normal, at least. It was reported that a woman in Seattle was threatening to jump off a downtown building, causing police to come to the scene, streets to close down, and passersby to stop and watch. My Twitter stream with the #Seattle tag I follow was moving at rapid speeds. All of a sudden I was seeing people tweeting about this woman, what was happening at the scene, live, and what other people were doing. It didn’t just end at Twitter though. 
Someone began UStreaming the entire spectacle. I then noticed outraged people on Twitter in disbelief about people UStreaming this incident. The debate began.
Has this new concept of Web 2.0 and being able to do everything in real-time (often times using our mobile phones) crossed the line of being morally correct?
Some may make the argument that news reporters report on these incidents all of the time. They use helicopters and vehicles to record polices chases, for example. Why can’t the average Joe do the same when it comes to reporting something going on?
Others may argue that setting up a UStream, standing by the scene, and just watching as someone debates whether to live or die is just wrong.
What are your thoughts?
#FEEDFriday – Very Official Blog
October 22nd, 2010 § Leave a Comment
Each Friday I post and tweet about my favorite blogs to read. Find the hashtag #FEEDFriday on Twitter and/or check here every Friday for info and links to my favorite blogs.
Blog Title: Very Official Blog
Description/tagline: Social Media Integration Means Business
This is a great blog for social media and marketing enthusiasts. A lot of the topics Shannon writes about are simple, yet don’t have solid answers. Questions are posed and it really gets social media strategists thinking about the larger picture of organizations and social media marketing. This blog allows for more interactions among readers as well because of the subjective nature of the topics. It’s a win/win!
I recommend this blog if you are interested in: social media and marketing and how it pertains to organizations.
Happy Halloween: My Favorite Horror Movies
October 17th, 2010 § 3 Comments
It’s my favorite time of year: Halloween. I usually celebrate October by watching horror movies, going to haunted houses, and doing anything Halloween-related. I’m an avid horror movie fan and have been all of my life. I have compiled a list of my favorite horror movies that I think are great to watch around Halloween time. They’re some of the scariest, and perhaps, some of the more realistic horror movies (this is highly questionable.) Here we go.
1. Halloween – Even the theme song is scary to this classic horror movie. Michael Myers, IMO, is probably the scariest of all horror villains. He’s slow, never speaks, and is super mysterious. I highly recommend skipping the Rob Zombie versions of Halloween and sticking to the old classic ones. I don’t fully agree with his back-story of the characters and don’t like the direction he’s chosen to go. This specific movie is great to watch in October when Fall has set in, the leaves are falling, and Halloween is approaching.
2. The only recent Halloween movie I can rave about is Halloween: H2O. Michael Myers comes back after 20 years away, to torment his sister, played by scream queen, Jamie Lee Curtis. I’m kind of a sucker for movies involving high school, so this one really got me. It is full of suspense, with a good storyline. And of course, Michael is as creepy as ever.
3. Wrong Turn – For those of you who’ve ever gone camping, you’ll appreciate this movie. It’s creepy because the forest and woods are always kind of creepy, but these characters actually find some really spine-chilling things. Wrong Turn has a pretty decent storyline and the acting isn’t half bad.
4. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre – I actually like the newer version of this movie, starring Jessica Biel. I even saw it in the theater…alone! I was scared the whole time, which is kind of unusual, but it was just an eerie movie with an offbeat 70s feel. Another unsettling fact about this movie: it’s based on a true story (sort of.)
5. 
Clownhouse – This is an awesome 80s horror movie. Need I say more? Three teenage brothers stay home alone one night, some mental patients break out of an institution, kill a few of the clowns in town at the local circus, and terrorize the three boys. This is actually a really scary movie. If you were ever a kid who stayed home alone, you would be glad you didn’t watch this as a kid. (Unfortunately for me, I saw it around age 10 and always had this movie on my mind when staying home alone.)
6. 
Scream – For those of you who have seen this movie, did you see it in the theater? I was probably 15 or so and remember thinking I was actually having a heart attack. No joke. Scream is still scary every time I watch it. And like I said above, I’m a sucker for horror movies involving high school, so this is one of my faves.
7. The Strangers – So when I said “realistic” above, I was referring to this movie. This horror movie really appeals to everyone. If you’ve ever been home at night, then this movie will creep you out. It’s that simple. An ordinary couple is terrorized by three masked people in this chilling and suspenseful movie.
These are just a handful of my favorite horror movies that never fail to give me the chills. What are some horror movies you recommend?
