Google Analytics - PodCamp Toronto 2009

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Google Analytics - PodCamp Toronto 2009

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Twitter Tools for Community and Communications Professionals

I was going to write another blog on Twitter, but I came across a blog post by Brian Solis (@brainsolis on Twitter) through one of his Tweets! It's a very comprehensive list of Twitter Tools for Community and Communications Professionals

He has lots of other great posts to read. Enjoy!

When Will It End?

No wonder I was feeling overwhelmed when I started trying to learn more about social networks. I just came across 50 Social Sites That Every Business Needs a Presence on.

I wonder which ones will survive and what new ones will crop up.

Yes, I am feeling SMUG

For years I have been an active participant in several listservs relating to my job. Last fall an e-mail sent out by Roger Johnson of Newswise mentioned Lee Aase, the manager for Syndications and Social Media at Mayo Clinic.

In the e-mail, he promoted a place for PR folks to learn the social media landscape. Lee had created his own university, Social Media University, Global (SMUG), and named himself the chancellor. Students are called SMUGgles.

For months I had been trying to get a handle of the social media landscape, but was overwhelmed by various outlets, technologies, my full time job (and commute), two teenagers (they are really very good though), a loving husband, housework–you get the idea. I could not seem to take a chunk of time all at once and break the learning down piece by piece.

When I went to the SMUG Web site, I was impressed with the organization. Lee breaks it down in to categories like, Blogging 101, Blogging 102, Twitter 101, etc.

It was just what I needed to get going.

Curious as to who this person was (had to check his credentials) I went to his about me section. Now, I grew up in Austin, Minn., just 40 miles from Rochester, home of the medical giant. So when I read his first sentence and it said that he lives in Austin, Minn., I was floored!

I e-mailed him and found out that he grew up in Austin (Home of SPAM) and graduated high school a few years after I did. I talked to my cousin later in the day to see if she knew him, and not only did she know him, but Lee just lives a few doors down from her AND her husband plays basketball with him! What are the odds. E-mail is a crude form of social media now, but it's still the same thing. Just old. So what a perfect testimonial on the power of social networking.

Lee has done some great things with Mayo Clinic. They just started a new blog called Sharing Mayo Clinic. He's what some call a PR rock star and gives presentations on social media at many conferences.

I thank Lee for the nudge to dive in and learn everything I can at a very accelerated pace.

Cheers!

Social Media in Higher Education

Word-of-mouth promotion has more power to influence people than traditional advertising methods such as billboards, newspaper ads, radio ads, etc. when it comes to building a brand.

Communities like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube have taken word-of-mouth to whole new level of importance. 

Universities world wide are jumping on the buzz bandwagon and getting into the conversations that are going on with prospective students, current students, alumni, donors, community and friends.

Rachel Reuben, the Director of Web Communication & Strategic Projects in the Office of Public Affairs at State University of New York at New Paltz, recently wrote an excellent paper on how universities are using social media.

 The Use of Social Media in Higher Education for Marketing and Communications: A Guide for Professionals in Higher Education

Here is a simple video from YouTube on social media

Trick or Tweet?

I don't consider myself a follower, but last fall I discovered that I have been following for years. 

In my line of work, we follow the chatter. We follow news and mentions on our university through paper news clips (I know, it's old school), monitor Google Alerts, Web sites, YouTube, blogs, etc. This has always been standard practice in my profession.

There really is no trick to it.

Enter Twitter. 

Last fall I became a "peep" and have been "following" social media experts that I have longed to hear present at various conferences but could not because of the cost. It was not too hard to find them on Twitter, and I have been following their conversations–lurking and listening–and have gained an invaluable amount of information in a very short time frame.

At first, it was a little creepy because I was brought up to never eavesdrop. I am basically eavesdropping on instant messaging en mass. You can follow almost anyone you like on Twitter. A few have their account as permission only, but most welcome more followers. It's like a contest to some.

Real difference though in gathering information this way is that it's using social networking to learn more about social networking–as it should be.

Here's a simple video explaining how Twitter works.

Universities don't really know how Twitter fits in with their communication programs yet. Right now my university uses it to send out news releases. Maybe not the best use since Twitter is conversation based, as is all social media, but I've had other "peeps" retweet our news. Considering there were over 3 million Twitter users In October 2008 (University Business, January 2009), a few minutes to copy and paste is worth it.

Joe Bonner, a communications pro for a university in New York, has a good blog called Odds and Ends on using Twitter with links to basic, intermediate and advanced information.

Read Karine Joly's feature on Twitter, "Should you Twitter" in the January 2009 issue of University Business for more depth information.