Some Important Social Networks for PR professionals

This week we spoke about some important social networks that PR professionals may be interested in.

These sites would be ones that allow for professionals to connect with each other. While we know that such sites as twitter, facebook, and linkedin are useful for Pr professionals really allow for the PR community to speak with each other and share ideas.

I believe the most interesting one was Ning networks PROpenMic and Society for word of mouth (created by the writers of Citizen Marketeres). These networks exist solely for the PR communicty to interact with one another, and I believe that in general these types of social media networks can aid the rest of their audiences. Reporters can contact, communicate, and establish relationships with PR professionals.

The same can apply for Linkedin which is a place for many professionals to post their profiles and who they work for. This network allows you to examine profiles and communicate with professional individuals that normally you may not have access to.

In particular, here are some of the benefits of being on these medias.
-establish credibility

-use recommendation tool

-start networking through free access to : immediate connections, 2^nd/3^rd degree contacts

-join relevant interest groups

The more we are connected the better that we'll be able to express ideas and really find and connect to the expertise out there.

Participating with the consumer on user review sites

On the topic of blogging relations and dealing with the social media scene, Pr-Squared presented an interesting post on how companies can participate in user review sites.

One of the interesting features is how many of these tips can relate and be used for blogger relations. Being transparent, non-defensive, and listening to the consumer are largely the main lessons to learn from these experiences of which can grant companies a new insight into the way people respond to their products.

Being honest, open, and communicative is certainly a fresh perspective on the forms of communication we experience.

Failing at Twitter

Twitter, the micro blogging service, is known for it’s ease of use and ability to transmit news, status updates, and pretty much anything that you can fit into its 150 character space. This little tool can be quite a powerful arsenal in the communication field however, instead of denoting some of its best usages I’ll present two case studies in how it can be misused and hinder your cause.

Both of these cases largely tie into controlling your message and making sure what you say doesn’t backfire on you potentially.

The first of these cases involve Rep. Peter Hoekstra , R-Mich. To sum it up, in his recent undisclosed trip to Iraq, the congressman twittered on the exact location and bearings of his caravan. While this may not sound like something that could get you in trouble. In the troubled areas of Iraq having someone read exactly where your caravan is going and where it is heading is one of the most dangerous situations that the congressman was involving himself in. Breach of secure information is obviously something you’ll want to to keep tabs on. While this case has largely more dangerous consequences the same principle can be applied to PR. You want to make sure that in your use of micro-blogging and other social media that you are sure that the message you are giving out is correct, and that all your members are in accordance as to what should be privy to the public and what shouldn’t. While this may be a simple moral tech lesson it is an important one.

The second of these cases involves Jeff Frederick Republican Chairman of Virginia . To sum it up, a hasty posting on twitter hindered the Virginian republican party from achieving it’s goal of majority by letting the cat out of the bag to early. “insert twitt example” Because of the mistake and the leak of info the Virginian republicans lost their chance at achieving their goal. Twitter moral lesson of this case study is to be sure that when you release information that it is guaranteed, correct, sourced, and not to early or late. Proper timing is always important in providing the correct information to the public in terms of PR.

So take these stories to heart and Twitt smartly everyone.

Cluetrain Manisfesto and Evidence of Evolution

In interacting with the Internet of today, one can't help but see how easy and evolved the technology has become and is becoming. As a child of the 90's I got a chance to grow and experience the internet as it began and have had the privilege of witnessing the evolution of its communication model.

This model is discussed largely in the Cluetrain Manisfesto which we discussed in our class. The new model focuses on the need for an interaction between businesses and its consumers of which if not attained will lead to the harsh consequences for businesses.

One of the more interesting points in view now is seeing which companies have embraced this tactic/model and how they have made it succeed for them in terms of the evolving internet. The Dell brainstorm blog, Apple's Iphone pricing incident, the various marketing initiatives from various companies that have involved the use of their consumers which may be too many to note.

However, by and large as more social media technologies, pr practices, and the connection between the consumer and the corporation increases the more the model will evolve and create a new communication method for the business world.