Where’s Twitter going? NO WHERE!

In the land of SM, everyone seems to be looking for the next big thing. Be it the latest mobile application, music sharing site, or off-color mash-up, new toys are appearing in our SM playground everyday. And for those of us trying to utilize these tools to help our organizations or clients build revenue, we need to know which sites are passing fads and which sites are here to stay.

That being said, I’m here to make an official stance on the Twitter debate. Here’s some words from folks on either side of the Tw-ence:

- Twitter’s a Fad – w/ stats to prove it (Wilson Research Strategies)

- Twitter stats nearly half-baked (New Media Strategies)

So what do I think?

I think Twitter is here to stay.

Or to steal a line from Boondock Saints: Where’s Twitter Going? NO WHERE! (profanity warning on link).

And why do I think this? I’m taking my friends’ word for it. I know what you’re thinking, but hear me out first.

Like many others in the SM realm, I realize I’m an early-adopter of new technology tools and don’t expect them all to pan out. But recently, more and more of my friends, colleagues and classmates have been opening Twitter accounts.

And these aren’t PR/Marketing folks or tech-crazed junkies. These are, for the most part, Average Joes — well, Average Joes from Generation Y. A quote from my roommate sums it up pretty well:

“I signed up for Twitter today — I figured it was about time. I tried to wait it out as long as possible, but I knew I’d eventually join. Everyone’s doing it.”

Well, okay. Not everyone is on Twitter. Nor will they be, but I remember this same phenomena among my peers when Facebook started to gain popularity in 2004-05 — except this time people are drawn to a network where they can connect with the likes of Shaq & Kim Kardashian.

To clarify, I realize Twitter has no where near the clout Facebook has. But it was less than four years ago when people were claiming that MySpace was the premier networking site and Facebook would never live up.

But I’m just speculating. What’re your thoughts? Is Twitter here to stay? Is it something you use now? Does it have perpetual value for you? Will Twitter ever reach Facebook-like membership?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

My “It’s 2009, and I don’t have a Smartphone” moment

I think it came some time between seeing this:

this:

and this:

I had my moment. The “I’m in the PR field. It’s 2009. And I don’t have a mobile Internet. WTH, am I thinking?” moment.

Truth-be-told, I resisted even the idea of being connected via mobile Web for almost two-years. Eventually I caved, if only, for convenience. I’m not sure when exactly it happened, but it definitely can be attributed to my SM use (read: addiction), and the feeling of necessity.

I admit it: sometimes I feel like I “just have to check my Facebook/Twitter/blogs.”

Between keeping up with my friends on Facebook and FriendZ on Twitter (more on the *Z in this post), I found myself jumping from laptop to desktop and back throughout the day just to keep up with what was going on. And for what? So I wouldn’t be tethered to the online world through a three-inch screen?

What I’ve found in my first few days after joining the BlackBerry Club, is that the three-inch screen is liberating. No longer am I chained to the desk, running to my different computers throughout the day checking for @mentions or tagged pictures. I’m able to live my life AND stay connected.

Though my girlfriend may argue that I’m slightly distracted at times (and more into my online life than my real life), I feel like my BB has given me the balance I’ve been missing. But, then again,  maybe that’s just a mis-self-perception.

I am wondering about other people’s habits though. When do you shut your mobile device off or leave it at home? What are the drawbacks of being available 24/7 for you? The advantages?

Hit me up here. Don’t worry, I’ll see the comments coming in almost instantly.

chained image courtesy of singleinla.today.com

It’s a Press Release, not an Advertisement.

One of the first lessons I learned in the PR field was that I’d have to stick up for myself.  In the business, we treat writing as both an art and a science. Unfortunately, not everyone sees it that way.

I take care in crafting my press releases thinking about all the audiences involved, while others see the medium as just another way to push out messages.

As part of my effort to reason with marketing and technical professionals, I’ve found that sticking to my guns (education & experience), as well as appealing to logic can be a successful way of proving that my way is the right way (<– the blog isn’t called “Steele Headed” for nothing, folks.)

Here’s an excerpt of an email I sent recently explaining my point of view on press releases:

My overall goal for a press release is to gain publicity for a product or XYZ corp. as a company, while positioning us as experts in an industry or niche.

To increase the probability of publication and increase the potential audience size, this means appealing to reporters/editors of trade magazines, taking care to present newsworthy information that is of interest to their readers. Sometimes this means simplifying more technical aspects of the information so it’s quick and easy to understand, as well as leaving out self-promotional phrases.

Here’s another way to think about it: In order for our messages to reach our customers, distributors and end-users, we first need to appeal to the gate-keepers in the media. This means giving them only the critical information they need in a format that’s easy to read and comprehend. If they’re interested, then they’ll contact us and ask for more.

Ultimately we want readers of the trade publications to visit our website and buy our products, but we need to appeal to trade publication reporters/editors first to ensure we get the exposure.

I sent this note after the fifth round of repetitive edits and included specific justifications for specific changes I made (or didn’t make). It seemed to work, but I’m still waiting on a response.

Have you come across the same situation? How’d you handle it?

image courtesy of perspectiveim.com

Everyone needs to unplug, sometimes

With numerous stories in the mainstream media (MSM) covering the recent “disappearance,” of South Carolina Governor, Mark Sanford, I felt the need to chime in to support* a fellow woodsman.

The story made its way into the national spotlight after those close to Sanford (including office aides and his wife) were unable to contact him or confirm his whereabouts for four full days. Coverage of the story ran rampant in the MSM Monday evening and early Tuesday morning partially due to the recent controversy surrounding Sanford’s decision to reject $700 million from the federal stimulus bill.

During the day Tuesday, reports came out saying that Sanford had been hiking on the Appalachian Trail. He was reported to have left Thursday evening without making his plans known and turned off his cell phone before heading into the woods.

If it were up to me, I’d give this guy a pass. With my experience, I understand the importance of unplugging in order to recharge. There’s a certain Thoreau-vian aspect to Sanford’s “vacation” that I can also appreciate. A short excerpt for folks who are unfamiliar:

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life… I wanted to live so sturdily and so Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life… to drive life into a corner to know it by experience and be able to give an account of it in my next excursion.” — Thoreau, Henry David

Me living deliberately

What poor Gov. Sanford failed to realize, is that we’re in the 2st century, and the ability to be constantly connected is an expectation — especially if you’re a high ranking government official.

*While I support Sanford’s decision to retreat for a few days for peace of mind, I think he would’ve benefited from letting his security team (and wife) know where he was headed (not to mention the taxpayers who pay his salary).

The PR lesson in this is one of transparency, based in openness and honesty. While not everyone (including those in the MSM) will understand the need to retreat to the wilderness, Sanford could’ve saved himself a lot of bad press simply by saying he was taking a vacation.

What do you think? Are Sanford’s actions acceptable? Understandable? Share your thoughts in the comments below…

***UPDATE***

As it turns out, Gov. Sanford was actually in Argentina for six days, NOT on the Appalachian trial.

Argentina, Appalachia, what’s the difference, right?

I’d blame this on a miscued text and chalk it up to T9, but I don’t think that’s the case.Plus, Sanford left his cell phone behind triggering this whole mess in the first place.

As this story develops and Sanford has to answer to questions of where he’s been and why, it further enforces the point that TRANSPARENCY from the beginning could’ve helped the Governor avoid this whole mess — that is, of course, if his actions are reputable.

I-Ran, but couldn’t hide…

OR…

What the aftermath of the Iranian election shows us about the power of social media.

Unless you’ve been hiding under “Iraq” (I swear that’s the last pun on a Middle Eastern country name in this post), you’ve heard about the turmoil in Iran in response to a hasty vote count of highly speculated presidential election. Despite the Iranian government’s efforts to keep out foreign media personnel and control the increasing unrest amongst citizens, word is getting out.

Regardless of political leanings, nationality or religion, it’s safe to say that the state of society in Iran is a mess — and the whole world knows it.

This morning I woke up to my daily dose of CNN to find out that Iran’s government officials were blocking certain web sites and interfering with cell phone signals and other methods of communication. Where did Iranian citizens turn? You need only ask Sylvester.

Tweety-bird (my pet name for Twitter) helped carry the message of thousands of Iranians and millions more around the world as the masses sought democracy and freedom.

If you missed the chatter (and, I don’t blame you) you can check out the #freeiran
or #iranelection search pages.

So what does this tell us about Public Relations and social media?

It tells us that, as organizations (governmental or not) no matter how much we try to hide that big, fat, ugly, half-fuchsia-half-chartreuse, (did I mention BIG?) elephant in the room, IT AIN’T GONNA HAPPEN.

SM’s created a new dynamic amidst the people. We’re not living in the same world where the market place of ideas can be stifled by the broom and the rug of administrative action.

Give credit to technology, the Internet, social media or Twitter if you want, but the fact is that this is the result of the people. The tools they use are just instruments of empowerment. And governments, corporations and NGOs all need to realize it.

The sooner the better.

Let me hear your thoughts. It’s been awhile since I’ve posted, so let me know if it’s worth your while.

Images courtesy of cartoonstore.net & birdsinthebelfry.com, respectively.