PR for Start-ups!

Yeah, I got my Google Wave invite - now what

I was so excited to get my Google Wave invite and now I don't know what to do. I came across this very cool video demonstration to the tune of Pulp Fiction. Now it all makes sense.

Warning: some explicit language

Hmm, viral or vile?

There are good viral campaign ideas and there are the examples where you wonder what was going through the heads of the people involved. One such campaign is the Toyota “Yourotheryou” campaign.

What part of stalking is entertaining, maybe I am just old school. However, Toyota is now faced with a $10 million lawsuit after a woman in L.A. was on the receiving end of the viral stunt that helps to promote the Toyota Matrix.

 

 

Viral Video of the Week: Piano Stairs

It seems that everyone is always asking about how companies can create a video that then becomes viral. Volkswagen's ad agency, DDB Stockholm, recently launched "The Fun Theory" campaign to get people to change their lazy behaviors - and nailed it. This video is brilliant and why is it brilliant?

This video:

• captures emotion

• makes a difference/ changes the way we look at things

• isn't outright self-promotional and yet the brand is carried throughout the campaign

What is the most effective social media tool for branding "You"

This Saturday, I will be presenting “self-branding with social media” at PRSA’s Engage ‘09 Event in Denver. The event is targeted at college students who are interested in learning more about self-marketing and tips for entering the workforce. In preparation for the presentation, I would like to hear what social media tools are proving to be most effective for branding YOU.

MediaOntwitter - New Podcast with @AmyFeldman, BusinessWeek

In this week's Voice of MediaonTwitter podcast, we talk to Amy Feldman, Associate Editor of BusinessWeek, to learn more about how she uses twitter:

BusinessWeek - Amy Feldman

***Interested in being interviewed for future Mediaontwitter podcasts, feel free to contact me at mhourigan (at) digitalideamedia.com

Twitter for Business - a presentation to narrow?

I was recently invited by the Denver Chamber of Commerce to Speak at the Business Excellence Forum. This particular forum was labeled as a Spotlight on Social Media and my presentation was specifically focused on Twitter for business.  Listening to the people at the event, it was clear that had the title been something more broad like Social Media 101, I would have had a much larger attendance.

I consider myself a student of social media and as such, believe that there are a number of layers to each social media tool available. I picked Twitter because I believe the opportunities are without limits and jump at the opportunity to talk about the benefits of Twitter and ways in which monitoring tools can dramatically improve the experience. I love to watch a naysayer begin to change their opinion and an advocate walk away with new ideas.

Twitter Talk Radio Interview - MediaonTwitter

Join @aaswartz and me today on Twitter Talk Radio at 12:00 PT where we will discuss MediaonTwitter, some new additions to the site as well as recent trends with media on Twitter and how social media is helping to evolve the PR profession and how companies and celebrities break news.

http:/www.twittertalkradio.com

How your organization can use Twitter to improve customer relationships

During the past few weeks, I have been working on the launch of a new feauture on the MediaonTwitter site and heads down on a number of launch initiatives. Amidst the craziness, I was recently interviewed by Laura Brandau of Bridging the Gap and thought I would share the conversation.

I promise to be better in the near future but for now, take a look at our conversation and let us know your thoughts.

Interview from Bridging the Gap.
 

Scaling Caring... Do you care what your customers and prospects have to say?

Love this bit of advice given by the infamous @garyvee on "scaling caring." Hey marketers, if you give a crap, you need to listen to what people are saying about you, your brand, your business and your industry.

Businesses today need to understand the importance of listening as well as engaging with their customers and potential customers. This isn't hype. Don't turn your nose to Twitter and other vehicles for communication. You are only doing your company a disservice and opening the door for your competition to engage. But then again, we all make choices that we have to live with later. Use Twitter search! It is so simple. Do it now, just care!

Twitter Tracker -- the next best thing to monster truck rallies

Here is funny bit that was on the Conan O'Brien show about celebrity tweets. Don't spit on the twit...

Journalist's Guide to Twitter (via Mashable)

Mashable recently posted a great guide, The Journalist’s Guide to Twitter. MediaOntwitter was among the many tools that were mentioned. Check it out and then head on over to www.mediaontwitter.com and add your media faves to the list.

Shout out to Entrepreneurs

A good friend, @damata, sent a link to the following video. He said he thought of me when he saw it. I am sure it is because of my fascination (some may call it an obsession) with the entrepreneur community.

I am passing it along with a note to all of the entrepreneurs out there, don't be afraid to GO FOR IT. Don't put that big idea off for another moment. Now is your moment.  We will be here to cheer you on!

(Hat tip to Grasshopper.com for creating the video)

ModernMom.com - the community for the woman behind the mom -relaunches

Excited to be a part of an important relaunch of ModernMom.com.

Brooke Burke, television personality, host and founder of BabooshBaby.com and Lisa Rosenblatt, successful Internet entrepreneur, have announced the acquisition of ModernMom.com, a community dedicated to the woman behind the mom. The acquisition and relaunch of ModernMom.com fulfills a long time dream of the dynamic moms to find a site where moms who juggle a combination of roles as parent, professional, friend, coach and partner can come together to connect, share and grow.

Check out what Kara Swisher had to say in her article on AllThingsD.

Guest Post at Twitter Attraction: MediaOnTwitter Lands in Its New Home

Today the MediaOnTwitter database landed in its new home www.mediaontwitter.com!

I was lucky enough to get a guest blog spot on Twitter Attraction to talk about this PR resource and to provide the history behind getting it started. Check out the Twitter Attraction post.

Twitter is not a news feed... Tips for Companies to Consider

Today, I came across a great list of reasons why companies should not Tweet from the What's Next Blog. This is definitely a good list that marketing teams should print out and consider bringing to the meeting for when the question is asked.

To add to the discussion, I think it is important to also address some considerations for companies who may be ready to make the leap into the Twitterverse. If all you do is push information that you believe the audience wants to hear, you are defeating the purpose of the Social Web and tools like Twitter. Twitter isn't about selling, it is about observing, engaging and influencing. With that in mind, here are some tips for companies considering Twitter:

The Conversation Prism

Isn't she lovely...

Yesterday, Brian Solis and JESS3 released the latest version of the Conversation Prism. The prism orginally debuted August 2008 to provide a visual representation of the true expansiveness of the Social Web and the conversations that define it. In this short time span, over one million people have crossed its path. For a detailed journey into the ideas behind the Conversation Prism, check out Brian Solis' blog.

The Conversation Prism by Brian Solis and Jesse Thomas

Announcing MediaOnTwitter... and Contest

Partnering with TrackVia and Sarah Evans of PRSarahEvans.com, I am pleased to participate in such an important service for the PR community.  Today we launched the most comprehensive MediaOnTwitter database available online. MediaonTwitter provides PR professionals with a free resource for locating media by beat, location, name or media outlet on the microblogging platform Twitter.

MediaOnTwitter ....

Watch for tweets about MediaOnTwitter with hashtag #mediatweet beginning tomorrow for chance to win KINDLE 2

The Evolution of PR -- Integrating Social Media into the PR Mix

Here is a presentation that I gave at CSU last night to the University's PRSSA Group.

Evolution of PR

View more presentations from MelissaHourigan.

Facebook Responds to Revolt

Was surprised to see that Facebook responded to the user revolt tonight - coincidentally it happened during the President's Speech.  Perhaps this was intentional so that they could get the response out there, the Facebook folks could go home and the rest of us who are online after 10:00 pm, could tire ourselves out trying to understand what the response actually means.