A 20-something's Perspective

My Top 3 Super Bowl Ads

2011-02-07T17:54:00.006-06:00

Doritos: The Best Part

While the Doritos: House Sitting ad was very good, there was something about this one that just made me laugh. Perhaps it was the absurdity of it all? As a person who licks the bottom of her ice cream bowl when no one's looking, I could certainly relate.

Volkswagon: The Force

Maybe it's just because I'm dating a geek, but I thought this ad was adorable as well as effective. My boyfriend doesn't care much for advertising, but the sometime in the next 5-10 years Dad related to this ad. And so did I.

Chrysler: Imported From Detroit

What a wonderful ad for Detroit, and Chrysler, too. Even though I've never been to Detroit, I've had a tendency to view it as a broken, blue collar city with a high crime rate. That said, you have to admire the pride that this ad inspires. If I was in the market for a car, it would make me take a look at Chrysler. And it certainly made me hope for Detroit.

Honorable Mentions:
NFL Super Bowl Celebration
Pepsi: Love Hurts

The First-Timers Guide to Surviving a Trade Show

2010-11-07T14:48:00.004-06:00

This past Thursday I returned from my first and one of the biggest trade shows: SEMA. SEMA, otherwise known as the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association, is held each year in Las Vegas. As the biggest show for the auto aftermarket industry, I have helped clients prepare but have never been able to attend.

Getting ready for the show was a bit stressful as I wasn’t sure how to pack or what to expect. I’m here to pass on my wisdom (little as it may be), so you can be a bit more prepared for your first trade show.

Bring a backpack or some type of bag on wheels
I thought I was covered by bringing a large purse that could hold my laptop. I was wrong. When you’re at a trade show you’ll likely need to carry your laptop, laptop charger, cell and cell charger, briefing binder, print outs, etc. No matter how big the purse, you’ll want to have something else with you, if for no other reason than to save your shoulders.

Bring appropriate colored tennis shoes
We were told to wear black shoes in our booth. I brought a pair of black flats that I survived in, but when you’re standing for eight or more hours a day tennis shoes are your safest bet. Don’t worry if they don’t go the best with your outfit. Everyone who’s been to a trade show knows the drill, and they won’t think you’re underdressed.

Always carry water
Perhaps part of it was Vegas, but those huge convention halls are really dry. Add that to the fact that you’ll be doing a lot more talking than you’re used to, and you’re bound to get a bit horse. You probably won’t be allowed to eat and drink in the booth, but having a bottle of water stashed in your backpack will allow you to sneak a drink every so often. Trust me, it helps.

Keep your cell phone charger with you, you never know when you’ll get a chance to plug in
There are a lot of logistics to keep track of while you’re on the floor. Chances are you’ll be using your phone. A lot. If you have an iPhone like me, you know how fast the battery drains. Always bring your charger. There will most likely be somewhere in the booth where you can plug-in for a couple minutes. If you can’t find an outlet, you can always use your laptop.

When in doubt, fly in a day early
Originally I was going to fly in the afternoon before the show started. I’m really glad we decided to fly in a night earlier. There are always last minute adjustments and fires to put out, and it’s better to have extra time as opposed to running around like crazy the first day of the show.

Ship everything to the business center and keep your tracking numbers!
Not only will this save you tons of money in bag fees at the airport, but it makes things so much easier! If you’re staying at a hotel that deals with conventions they will be well equipped to handle last minute requests and packages. Just remember to keep your tracking numbers in case something goes wrong. It will also help you check off your list, to make sure you’ve received everything.

Do whatever you can to print out materials in advance
This is something I could have done a better job of. There’s nothing worse than running to the business center at 8 a.m. to e-mail and print off 50 copies of your news release 30 minutes before your press conference. Save yourself the headache, and try to do as much of that as possible at the office. Remember, you can always ship it to the hotel.

Bring transitional clothing
One of the hardest parts was figuring out what to pack. My advice: pack clothing that you can mix and match. You need to be able to go from work to client dinner to drinks pretty seamlessly. When in doubt, a lot of black pieces are always a safe bet. And, of course, it’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed.

Have fun, but not too much fun
You’re in Vegas, baby, or some other fun city. You should try to go out and enjoy it. Chances are you’ll probably be taking clients out at least one night. Have fun, but keep it professional and don’t overdo it with drinks. Some people will tell you not to drink at all. I think that’s silly. By now you’re a grown up. You know your limits and when you’re feeling tipsy. Pace yourself and stop drinking if you think you’re getting to the breaking point. There’s no shame in ordering a diet Coke. It’s OK for a client to show up hung over the next day. It’s not OK for you.

Sleep as much as possible
From my experience, there’s one thing missing from trade shows. Sleep. You have to wake up early in the morning, stay on your feet all day and often don’t get to bed until late. So, if you have an opportunity to go to bed at a reasonable hour, take it. You’ll thank yourself as the week wears on.

That’s it. Good luck! And happy trade show going.

Why I'm taking a leave of absence

2010-10-20T21:41:00.005-05:00

Why, hello there. It's been awhile. A lot has happened since we last spoke. In the last couple of months I have moved to Chicago, started a new job and sold my car. The change has been fantastic.

Don't get me wrong, I was leading a good life in Milwaukee, but I was beginning to feel stagnant. Now, I didn't exactly sell all my worldly possessions and move half way around the world, but I think we can all agree that I've had an exciting couple of months.

This brings me to the topic of this post. While all of these changes have been wonderful, it has left me with much less time to focus on other things like this blog and even, gasp!, Twitter.

You see, now that I've made these changes, I want to take some time to revel in them. I want to concentrate on my new position, explore the city and spend some time with friends I haven't seen much of the last couple of years.

I hope you'll forgive me while I'm away. My intent is to start blogging regularly again in the summer. However, that is not to say that I won't post throughout the year when the mood strikes.

Here's hoping you're able to tell me about your own big life changes the next time we chat.

-Sarah

Is Authenticity Dead Already?

2010-08-04T11:41:00.002-05:00

I came across a very interesting piece of travel-related information via my Twitter feed this morning. While most airlines have been making drastic cuts and passing many costs to consumers, it appears Spirit Airlines is taking it to a whole new level.

According to Travel + Leisure, Spirit Airlines began charging $45 for carry-on bags Aug. 1. Yikes. How much do they charge to check? But wait, it gets worse. The airline is also considering charging customers to talk to a Spirit Airlines employee at the check-in counter.

I hope Spirit Airlines does not decide to move forward with this idea. While more and more people are becoming increasingly comfortable with technology and operating self-check kiosks at grocery stores and airports, there is still a need for face-to-face interaction.

What happens if your check-in kiosk breaks down or malfunctions? Will you still have to pay an outrageous fee to talk to someone behind the counter?

While technology can certainly be very helpful and speedy nothing can replace a quality employee. Strong, positive interactions between Spirit Airlines’ employees and customers will help strengthen the brand and keep it from becoming a faceless, low-budget airline.

What are your thoughts? Is Spirit Airlines simply adjusting to the new economic climate? Or are they damaging their brand and reputation by being ballsy enough to charge people for talking to them?

Old Spice Social Media Campaign

2010-07-15T15:27:00.003-05:00

In an effort to keep this blog updated more regularly, I have decided to share insightful and relevant content from other sites from time to time. Let me know if you like it, love it or think I'm a cop-out for not writing all my own content.

Today Mashable posted one of the best case studies I've seen about the Old Spice campaign. (Hey, maybe this blog post will get me my own Old Spice video!)

So here it is: The Old Spice Social Media Campaign by the Numbers.

Enjoy.

Facebook: Then and Now

2010-07-05T13:10:00.003-05:00

Remember when Facebook was hip and cool? When only you and your 10 best college friends from that Fourth of July kegger had access? Yeah, me too...

Video is courtesy of AgencySpy.

Everything You Need to Know About Foursquare

2010-07-05T12:52:00.005-05:00

A link to the article I wrote for the latest Boelter + Lincoln newsletter. Keep in mind that this piece was written for Milwaukee area businesses that have varying levels of social media knowledge. Enjoy.

Everything You Need to Know About Foursquare

Sexism in America. Yes, it does exist.

2010-06-22T21:21:00.008-05:00

It’s 2010. Ninety years ago American women won the right to vote. In 1973, women won the right to choose via Roe v. Wade. In 1984, the first woman, Geraldine Ferraro, received a vice presidential nomination from a major political party. In 2007, Nancy Pelosi was elected the first female Speaker of the House. And finally, in 2008 the U.S. received its first realistic female candidate for president, Hillary Clinton.

Yes, it’s 2010, and despite all these accomplishments, I’m here to say sexism is alive and well in America.

How do I know this?

I know this because despite the fact that 35 percent of women between the ages of 25 and 29 have a bachelor’s degree, compared to 27 percent of men the same age, women still make 78 cents to every dollar men make. I know this because despite women making up over half the U.S. population only 17 percent of the U.S. Senate is made up of women. And I know this because despite the rise of stay-at-home dads, women continue to do 70 percent of housework. But perhaps, more importantly, I know this because a few years ago a drunken relative “humorously” said to me, “Sarah, you can be senator, but you can’t be president.”

Despite all these statistics and accolades, I know there are many who disagree with me. There are many who say women don’t make as much as men because they choose to take time off from work. To those I offer the following recent news stories:

Google Tells Sites for ‘Cougars’ to Go Prowl Elsewhere
This New York Times article explains that Google has banned dating sites like CougarLife.com (a site that caters to older women looking for younger men) from appearing as sponsored links or other types of Google advertising. However, Google continues to allow sites “like DateAMillionaire.com, which assures its clients they can meet sugar babies” to advertise.

K&L Gates: Closed to Associate Mothers?
This article discusses how the large New York law firm, K&L Gates, somehow finds a way to get rid of their female staffers once they have children.

Is This Woman Too Hot To Be a Banker?
A single mom was allegedly fired from her job at Citibank because “her bosses told her they couldn’t concentrate on their work because her appearance was too distracting.”

Do you think blatant sexism is a myth? Please feel free to share your thoughts and stories.

The Fight Over Personal Branding

2010-06-10T16:38:00.006-05:00

There is one argument as a PR professional that I am forever having with my tech-obsessed boyfriend. That is the idea of personal branding. The argument goes like this:

Me: Everything you do is branding. Even if it’s not your intent. When you post things on Twitter you are adding to your image, people’s idea of who you are. In other words, your brand.

Him: I am not a brand. I don’t care how other people see me. I’m going to do and say what I like. If people don’t like it, (expletive) them.

Me: And that’s your personal brand!

I will leave the rest of the argument to your imagination.

My point? Today the tech-obsessed boyfriend (who I love dearly) passed along a great post on personal branding by author Maureen Johnson. She has developed her own manifesto on the subject:

“The internet is made of people. People matter. This includes you. Stop trying to sell everything about yourself to everyone. Don’t just hammer away and repeat and talk at people—talk TO people. It’s organic. Make stuff for the internet that matters to you, even if it seems stupid. Do it because it’s good and feels important. Put up more cat pictures. Make more songs. Show your doodles. Give things away and take things that are free. Look at what other people are doing, not to compete, imitate, or compare . . . but because you enjoy looking at the things other people make. Don’t shove yourself into that tiny, airless box called a brand—tiny, airless boxes are for trinkets and dead people.”

If you haven’t guessed, she agrees with my boyfriend. But I have to say, I don’t really disagree with her statement. The Internet is made up of people, and when I talk to others about social media I try to make it a point to say it’s a two-way street. Yes, company XYZ, you will need to log-on several times a day and actually talk to people. After all, social media is about building relationships.

The term “personal branding” has gotten a bad rap among those who don’t work in marketing. It’s the same as the term “networking.” Ugh. Networking. Who wants to be forced to talk to a bunch of strangers and push business cards? Tweet-ups are much more attractive. At a tweet-up I get to have a few drinks, and meet new people!

It’s all a case of you say tomato, I say to-mah-to. In fact, I encourage people to post Lolcats photos, join causes and produce wacky videos. Just make sure the things you’re sharing, and the image you’re putting forth is one you’re OK with having. If that’s the image of someone who doesn’t care what anyone else thinks, more power to you.

How do you communicate?

2010-05-04T22:21:00.003-05:00

I’m in PR. I cater to people every day. I call or e-mail clients and journalists based on their personal preference, print out documents for those who like hard copies and use Twitter and Facebook to enhance my relationships. When I’m finally the client, the one to be catered to, is it too much to ask for people to communicate with me the way I prefer?

I recently e-mailed my personal banker with a question about one of my accounts. The response? A voicemail on my cell phone. I hate voicemail. I didn’t send my banker an e-mail because I wanted to talk on the phone. Weeks have gone by. I still haven’t called, and let’s just say his follow-up has been less than stellar. Meanwhile my questions are unanswered, and I am left with a less than perfect impression of my somewhat new bank.

There are a lot of different ways to communicate, and we all have our preferences. However, when you’re dealing with clients and other business professionals it’s important to take the time to cater your communication style to them.

A good rule of thumb: respond using the same communication method they used.

So if you’re wondering why I haven’t returned your voicemail, try sending an e-mail.

Victoria’s Secret Kills Brewers Dreams

2010-03-16T14:51:00.004-05:00

Okay, that might be a bit of an exaggeration. But for all the female Brewers fans out there, I have some bad news. Doris Hajewski (@dhajewski) of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is reporting that the Brewers did not make the cut for a new Victoria’s Secret line of Major League Baseball inspired clothing. Here’s a link to the official release.

Who was chosen?

For the most part the “beautiful” cities:

Chicago Cubs

Chicago White Sox

Boston Red Sox

Los Angeles Angels

Los Angeles Dodgers

New York Mets

New York Yankees

San Diego Padres

Sure, there were a few oddballs - like the Minnesota Twins, St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies – but all the cities are in larger DMAs with a seemingly larger selection of “beautiful” women.

I’m not sure what Victoria’s Secret criteria was for picking MLB cities, but it seems to me that they should have included fan loyalty in their decision-making process. Sure, L.A. is a huge market, but how many females really care about the Angels or Dodgers?

On the other hand, the women of Milwaukee (and the entire state of Wisconsin for that matter) are pretty fanatical about the Brewers. I’d wager that Milwaukee women would at the very least match the sales of the two L.A. teams. Heck, we’d probably wear the apparel more too.

What do you think? Am I out of touch with the female baseball-lovin fans of L.A.? Maybe I’m just blinded by my Brewer pride?

As one JSOnline commenter said, “Like I want panties with the Cubs logo on them. Then again, a well placed Cubs logo could be a great expression of the disdain I feel for them or the Yanks.”

Better luck next time, Milwaukee.

Epiphany Moment

2010-03-08T23:24:00.002-06:00

This post has been a bit delayed, but I wanted to tell you about a project I’m involved in that launched just last week. It all started when I saw a tweet about six months ago from one of my favorite Gen-Y bloggers, Matt Cheuvront (@mattchevy) asking for a few volunteers. A week later I was recording a video of myself describing my own “epiphany moment.”

For those who don’t know Matt, he is a highly motivated, Chicago-based, Gen-Y blogger and Web designer among other things. I encourage you to check him out at his blog, lifewithoutpants.com or his personal Web site, mattchevy.com.

With a little help from his friends, Matt has put together well over 20 videos of people describing their epiphany moments. The videos are meant to inspire and encourage you to upload your own epiphany moment.

A teaser trailer of the project is posted below. I hope you’ll check it out. What is my epiphany moment? Well, I guess there is only one way to find out…

The Rules of Foursquare According to Me

2010-03-04T13:19:00.003-06:00

While you won’t find any official rules at Foursquare.com, I feel there are some unspoken rules the Foursquare community has embraced. While I haven’t followed all of these rules to the letter, this is my interpretation of how the game should be played.

No checking in at a drive-thru
If you’re going through a drive-thru you aren’t at a venue. You’re in your car. How long are you going to be there? Five minutes?

No checking in after you leave a venue
This rule is pretty self-explanatory. The one exception? Celebrities with stalkers and crowds to worry about.

No checking in at home or work
Checking in at places you go to everyday is cheating. Also, no one cares if you’re at work. We do care if you’re at a hip new bar.

Do leave tips and to-dos
Tips and to-dos are great, and very helpful when checking out a new restaurant.

Do encourage all your friends to join
The more friends you play with the more fun the game is!

Do fight for your mayorship
Mayorship is a source of Foursquare pride. It is perfectly acceptable to visit your local pub to reclaim your throne on a Tuesday night. Not to mention the deals you can get when you do!

No checking in when you’re sitting on the couch watching Lost
Again. Cheating.

Do not friend request people multiple times
I understand that everyone uses social media tools in different ways. Maybe you’re using Foursquare to increase your social network. However, I’m not, and requesting my friendship over and over is not going to change the fact that I don’t want unknown people stalking me.

Do go on weekend badge crusades
Laugh at me if you will, but weekend badge crusades are a fun, cheap way to spend the weekend.

Do not share your check-ins on Facebook and Twitter
Remember, we all use social media tools differently, and not everyone on Twitter and Facebook are into the whole Foursquare thing. Unless it’s a special occasion (Ex. You’re at an event, conference, traveling to a new place) my Twitter and Facebook feeds do not need to be clogged by your check-ins. Please keep that to your Foursquare friends.

So there you have it, the rules of Foursquare according to me. What are your Foursquare rules, policies, dos and don’ts?

Putting the Cart Before the Horse

2010-02-19T13:16:00.006-06:00

Recently I've had discussions with a lot of different PR professionals about how they conduct media relations, and it has boiled down to one question.

Is it okay to pitch media without talking to your client first?

I'm curious to hear from PR professionals and journalists. Is it okay to put the cart before the horse?

Here are the pros and cons as I see them:

Pros

Opportunity to look like a hero
Better chance of being timely
No unreasonable client expectations going into the pitch

Cons

If the client can't come through your reputation is damaged
If the client can't come through their reputation is damaged
Client may not approve of the pitch topic
Unreasonable client expectations may result

2010 Super Bowl Ads

2010-02-09T15:27:00.005-06:00

Many people will tell you this year’s Super Bowl (or as Twitter has deemed it #BrandBowl) was a disappointment. The Who sucked and so did a lot of the ads. In fact, many of the ads have been labeled sexist, misogynistic and emasculating.

While I tend to agree, I would also argue that some people need to lighten up. Here are a few of the ads I enjoyed. What were your favorites? Which ones rubbed you the wrong way?

Google: Search On

Intel: Lunchroom Boast

Snickers: You're Not You When You're Hungry

Chrysler: Dodge Charger

Kia: Big Game

Mullen and Radian6 teamed monitored the Twittersphere to uncover the public's vote for best ads. Doritos, Google and Focus on the Family have the top three spots. If you'd like to see where the other ads rank visit http://brandbowl2010.com/.

Embrace Life

2010-02-01T21:46:00.004-06:00

I'm a little behind on my Google Reader, so I just caught this post from AgencySpy.

If we're being honest, the majority of PSAs aren't that good. They're low budget and often times that leads to low creativity. The following PSA is the exception to this rule. I challenge you to watch it without a shred of feeling.

This one's for you, Dad. Please. Buckle up.

Is Foursquare and Bravo TV a good match?

2010-01-31T22:24:00.007-06:00

An article in today’s New York Times announced a new partnership between Foursquare (the growing, location-based online game) and Bravo TV. According to the article, the partnership, which begins tomorrow, will allow Foursquare players to receive Bravo badges after checking in at any of the 500 plus Bravo locations.

Potential pros and cons:

Pros

How cool would it be to get a Top Chef badge?
The partnership will raise awareness for Foursquare and increase users.
It could create more brand evangelists for Bravo as long as the badges are closely tied to specific shows.

Cons

What kind of badge could The Real Housewives offer?
For some reason the idea of a TV network partnering with Foursquare rubs me the wrong way. I'd rather see a company like TGI Friday's, Target, Chase or Southwest Airlines partner. I can visit a restaurant, retail outlet, bank or airline. A TV network? Not so much.

What do you think? Is this a good move for Bravo and Foursquare? Do you want a Bravo TV badge?

UPDATE: Mashable has posted an article on the partnership that outlines a few more specifics.

It's all about relationships

2010-01-28T23:29:00.007-06:00

As some of you may know, the company I work for hosted Chris Brogan at a tweet-up yesterday, and I was fortunate enough to spend some time with him.

Naturally he spoke about building relationships, but he also demonstrated the importance of making people feel comfortable and important. (Note: I do not mean important in an ego-boosting way. I mean important as in feeling like you matter, like you are someone worth getting to know.)

How many business opportunities are blown each day by people acting rude, dismissive and cold? How many times would a simple smile and “How are you?” be enough to have a lasting positive impact?

I was reminded of this while touring Bally Total Fitness on Milwaukee’s lower east side tonight. I walked in with my boyfriend for our 6 p.m. appointment and asked for Derrick (who I had spoken to Monday). Derrick did not seem to remember our conversation, but he was happy to show us around.

The tour ended and we went upstairs to talk about rates. Here’s where the relationship started to deteriorate. Derrick brings out his fancy, lamented pricing sheet and shows us the options. It’s going to cost over $70/person upfront and $23/month after that.

Now $23/month isn’t bad considering the place has a pool, sauna, racquet ball court and classes that are included with your membership. However, it’s a tad more than I wanted to spend, so I mention other gyms are offering lower rates and I have a few friends with better rates at Bally. Any chance he would be willing to work with us? Here’s where it turned ugly.

“We don’t negotiate rates. We’re a national chain. Anyone who told you they got a deal is lying.”

Whoa. Calm down Voldermort. I’m suddenly rethinking our friendship.

Instead of getting defensive Derrick should have said, “I’m sorry. We are a national chain, so I am not able to negotiate rates. However, we do run promotions from time to time. In fact, next month we are introducing “X” promotion."

If the conversation had gone that way I would not have walked away feeling cheap and unimportant. I would have felt valued, and there’s a real possibility I would have signed up for the full rate.

Long story short, I might join Bally, but I will look at other fitness centers too. Maybe I will have a more positive experience. I’ll see you Saturday, Snap Fitness.

What kinds of relationship building experiences have influenced your buying decisions? Have you chosen a product or service based on how the company made you feel?

Young Pros Need Love Too

2010-01-04T18:42:00.004-06:00

If you're a recent college grad (read: out of school for five years or less) there's a good chance that you're broke, living with mom and dad or both. Unless you had the foresight to major in engineering, computer science, economics or finance you've probably been left to wonder, "Aren't I supposed to be making the big bucks now? I could make almost as much as I do now at my 9-to-5 bartending, and I wouldn't have to wake up till noon!".

Most of us understand that our measly salaries will not always be so meager, and our education will soon pay off once we are promoted and have paid our dues. After all, America can't afford millionaire CEOs if they are paying the grunts more than $30K a year, but I digress...

To help young professionals in their first few years I'm proposing brands acknowledge this economic hardship. I ask you, where is our Young Professional discount? Seniors get them. Students get them. Why not us?

It's no secret that many young pros are already taking advantage of some of these discounts by way of our old student IDs, but not all of us feel great about it.

Offering a young pro discount is a great way to encourage young pros to become brand advocates early on. While many 20-somethings are already brand loyal to Coke versus Pepsi and Apple versus PC, we don't hold many loyalties to banks, health care organizations or accountants. We are just starting to figure these things out, and a brand that talks directly to us will certainly become a winner. For instance, banks could offer young pros a slightly better rate on savings accounts, credit cards and/or loans. A bank that is willing to work with me, is a bank I'm going to stick with for a very long time.

This approach would also work well for the arts community. In college I had some money to burn. It was enough that I was able to see a couple shows at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts each year. Now that I'm a working gal I can't afford that luxury, but I get a call each year asking if I'd like to purchase a pack of tickets. If the Marcus Center offered a discounted package for young pros I would be much more likely to return, recruit friends, promote events and become a lifetime supporter. In short, the Marcus Center would become my performance venue of choice. Professional organizations are another group that could really benefit from this idea.

What do you think? Do you see the value in providing young pros with special discounts? Young pros, is this something you would be interested in?

Accepting Friend Requests

2010-01-03T22:13:00.003-06:00

Everyone has a different policy about "friending" people online. Some will accept any request, while others are a bit more selective. The duck in this video reminds us to take a second to think before we hit "accept."

What is your policy on following, fanning and friending online?

New Year Resolutions

2009-12-22T00:08:00.006-06:00

Making New Year resolutions are easy. It’s owning up to them that’s hard. In fact, ExpertClick.com claims 97 percent of New Year resolutions are broken. So, it is with a little courage, and yes, a pinch of fear, that I share mine.

My New Year Resolutions for 2010

Travel
Traveling is something I always wish I could do more of, and this year I want to make it happen. A trip to NYC to visit my BFF and at least one trip to Chicago is a must. I’d also like to take some kind of mini-adventure once a quarter, even if it’s only to visit a small town 30 miles away.

Money
Like most 20-somethings, I need to take better care of my finances. This year I want to make significant progress in paying off some debt.

Movies
I LOVE movies. I love them so much I worked at a movie theater throughout high school and some of college. However, there are a lot of things I haven’t seen. This year I want to cross The Godfather movies and An American Werewolf in London off my list.

Lifestyle
I’m turning a quarter of a century year old this year, and while I appreciate the hand-me-downs that kept me afloat during college, it would be nice to start transitioning into a more grown-up style of living. This year I want to find a nicer apartment and purchase my own bedding. Maybe I’ll even throw a dinner party or two.

Image
While this is the most cliché resolution, it’s one I’m hoping to stick to. It’s been over two years since I graduated college, and I still haven’t managed to lose that Freshman 15. A lot of my friends have been able to lead healthier lives in 2009, there’s no reason I can’t jump on that bandwagon. I’ve also decided to go red this year. I’ve been a blond for almost my entire life. It’s time for a change. This spring I’m jumping in head first. Both of my brothers are red heads. How bad can it be?

Professional
I want to grow my network this year. Once you’ve been somewhere for awhile you develop a comfort zone, and pretty soon you’re talking to the same three people at every luncheon. This year I want to make some new long-lasting relationships. I also hope to complete (or should I say start and finish) my Web site, sarahsoczka.com.

That’s it. The goals I hope to achieve by the time we ring in 2011. Aggressive? Yes. Impossible? No. What do you want to accomplish?

When newspapers die, do they go to heaven?

2009-10-26T13:08:00.007-05:00

I really hope the Rocky Mountain News, Baltimore Examiner and New York Sun have all gone to a better place; a place where there are millions of smart, informed readers, exciting, breaking news, world class journalists, and of course, many high-paying advertisers. At least that’s the kind of newspaper heaven I envision. (Feel free to leave your own versions of newspaper heaven below.)

Today I read about another newspaper that is shutting down and will switch to a semi-annual magazine format. Which newspaper? Why it’s none other than my hometown’s award-winning Warrior’s Word high school newspaper.

I understand the problems that caused Warrior’s Word to “adjust” are a bit different than those of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, but if the economy and budgets are so bad that a high school newspaper is closing, we have to ask ourselves: What’s the solution?

It’s no secret that blogs and online news videos are entertaining, informative and can provide a surprisingly high level of journalism. Hell, sometimes I’d rather read Gawker, The Huffington Post or watch Philly D. than read an article in the New York Times, but that doesn’t change how important newspapers are to our society.

We need professional journalists and news organizations that have the resources to uncover scheming politicians, and the column inches to educate people about tough issues like health care. We need journalists who report the news accurately and fairly, despite their personal views and opinions. In short, we need the type of in depth, professional reporting our newspapers currently provide.

So, what’s the solution?

While there are a lot of people who love ink stained fingers, the “paper” in “newspaper” may have to go. If newspapers cut the cost of a printed product they will have more money to invest in their online product. The Capitol Times in Madison, Wis. switched to a twice weekly tabloid and online-only product in April 2008, and so far it seems to be working.

Moving the focus entirely online gives newspapers the opportunity to bring their content to another level. Here are a few things newspapers could do to enhance their online content:

Show full video interviews to supplement stories

Award a local blogger the chance to write a story every month

Increase investigative reporting

Create hyper-localized text message offerings. Is the power out in your neighborhood? Wouldn’t it be great if you could sign-up for text message alerts (which include a link to a story) that tell you this type of news?

Hire news staff to be on the clock 24/7. The harsh reality is newspapers are competing with all media outlets. When news breaks on Twitter you want readers to go to JSOnline.com, not WISN-TV or WISN.com.

Better and more diverse online content will continue to increase online visitors, not to mention the increase in web traffic from people who used to read the “paper” version (let’s be honest, 99 percent of them are online anyway).This all increases ad revenue and eventually profit.

I know these few ideas are probably not going to save our newspaper industry, but it’s a start. After all, if Perez Hilton can sustain over 2 million unique visitors a month, our newspapers should be able to do the same, if not better.

What are your thoughts? Where do you see the newspaper industry going?

The Agency-Client Relationship

2009-10-21T22:47:00.004-05:00

I first saw this video on Todd Defren's blog, PR Squared.* I'm sure a lot of you have seen it, but I think it deserves another view. It's a satirical take on the agency-client relationship. 'Nuff said.

*PR Squared is one of my favorite industry blogs. Defren provides valuable insights on social media, public relations and what working in an agency is really all about. I highly recommend you check it out.

PR + Social Media Summit Recap

2009-10-15T22:13:00.007-05:00

Yesterday was the big day. The PR + Social Media Summit at UW-Whitewater. Apologies to all my Twitter followers who were annoyed by my frequent #PRSMS updates.

Overall, I thought the summit was very informative and provided some great networking opportunities. My one recommendation for next year is to supply extension cords and power strips throughout the conference rooms. Those of us using laptops were forced to either drain our batteries, or sit on the edges of the room in search of an outlet.

My favorite presentation of the day was from Paula Berg of Southwest Airlines. Paula told the story of Southwest’s journey into social media and provided some very valuable case studies. Here are a few takeaways from Paula’s presentation:

Where social media is concerned your first job is to listen, second is to engage and third is to address criticism.
Southwest started the “Nuts About Southwest” blog by handpicking 30+ employees from all different departments. Southwest let their employees blog as often as they wanted and encouraged them to blog about things they were passionate about.
Once Southwest added more valuable content to their blog (photos, news, podcasts) page views rose.
Southwest's blog proved to be a great resource for conducting focus groups. A blog post about their open seating policy resulted in hundreds of comments. Most praised the company for its policy and gave them the courage to stick it.
Rapping flight attendant video resulted in coverage on Oprah, CNN, Tonight Show, etc.

A little while later it was my turn to speak. I must admit, I was a bit nervous because it was my first opportunity to speak to a group that large, but thankfully it went well. (Thanks to Al Krueger and Ann Knabe for inviting me to speak.)

*Photo courtesy of Abigail Lynn (@justabs06)

During my presentation I discussed ways to create a successful online brand by merging your professional and personal identities. And yes, I also discussed my brief moment of so-called "fame" from February.

PR + Social Media Summit 10.14.09

View more presentations from Sarah Soczka.

Other great presentations from yesterday include:

Bringing it all together for PR + Social Media Success, Al Krueger and Sara Meaney of Comet Branding
How Social Media is Impacting Job Search, Jeff Carrigan of Big Shoes Network, Abby Gutowski of VisualCV.com, Joyce O’Brien of Laughlin Constable and Briana Rygg
How Harley is Revving up Engagement with Social Media, Randy Sprenger of Harley-Davidson

I am told all the presentations will be posted online within the next couple weeks. (I will link to them once they’re up.) If you are interested in learning more about the PR + Social Media Summit, Abby Gutowski has also posted an overview here.

What were your thoughts on the summit?

EDIT: To view photos of #PRSMS visit http://bit.ly/c3DQs. To download videos and audio of Southwest Airlines and Harley-Davidson's presentations visit http://itunes.uww.edu.

Hillshire Farm: GO MEAT!

2009-10-08T22:13:00.003-05:00

I've been spending a lot of time preparing for the PR + Social Media Summit at UW-Whitewater this coming Wednesday. I have been invited to speak about personal and professional online brands. I hope you'll come to my breakout session.

Until then, I wanted to share this adorable TV spot from Hillshire Farm. It's part of their "GO MEAT!" campaign. Enjoy!

"Help me, help you."

2009-09-28T23:02:00.004-05:00

“I am out here for you. You don’t know what it’s like, to be me out here for you! It’s an up at dawn, pride swallowing siege that I will never fully tell you about. Ok? Help me. Help me, help you. Help me, help you!” – Jerry Maguire

Sound familiar? Admit it all you agency folks, at one time or another you have felt like Mr. Maguire. Sometimes, despite our best efforts we simply can’t deliver for our clients because they fail to give us the necessary information, access or help that we need.

Most of the time our clients are great, but we’ve all had to go back to a reporter to cancel an interview or miss a deadline.

To those who work client side, here’s a quick plea from your agency friends (and I do mean friends).

Please:

Return our calls
Answer our e-mails
Take the early morning interview
Send us the information you promised
Show up to the meeting
Seriously consider our expert advice (That is what you’re paying us for, isn’t it?)

Because honestly, we’re doing it for you.

Four Success Stories

2009-09-23T23:20:00.016-05:00

In this economy it’s hard to find reasons for hope, or a reason to believe in success. However, there are four women who’ve shown me it’s out there if you’re willing to take the necessary risks.

I present you with four success stories. These women have all shown a great deal of courage and determination in my eyes. They have also all found happiness as a result. I hope you find some nugget of inspiration in their stories. I know I do.

Shauna Skalitzky – 24, New York City
I have been friends with Shauna since I first stepped into my college dorm room freshman year. Little did I know this shy girl had a "thing" for travel. Junior year of college Shauna took out a loan and flew to the UK to study in London for a semester. After graduation she moved to New York City to live with a girl she didn’t know, and began work on her masters in art history. I frequently ask Shauna if she is glad she moved to an uber competitive city where she doesn’t know a soul. Her answer is always a simple, “Yes”.

Kristine S chumann – 24, Chicago
I met Kristine in PRSSA my sophomore year of college, and instantly fell in love with her kind spirit. Although she could have easily snagged a job in Milwaukee, this determined PR professional moved to Chicago after graduation. At the time, all she had to look forward to was a small studio apartment and an internship to keep her afloat. Two years later Kristine is working for Garmin and just returned from a 10 day trip to Italy. She frequently tells me the beginning struggles were well worth the pay off.

Erica Zerbe – 24, Denver

Erica is my fitness rock star. While she has always enjoyed physical activity the last few years she has kicked it up a notch. Erica has completed numerous marathons and half marathons all over the country. After graduation she moved to Denver to take a job in the hospitality industry. Today she says it’s the best thing she’s ever done. In addition, a few months ago Erica joined the Colorado Air National Guard.

Andrea Platten – 24, Burbank

Andrea and I also met in PRSSA where she quickly became UW-Milwaukee’s PRSSA Chapter President. After graduation Andrea earned a position as a Page for NBC Universal in Burbank. Today she is working as a Production Coordinator for Bravo. Whenever I speak with Andrea she talks about how much she loves the west coast and is grateful that she was brave enough to move.

Do you have a success story to share?

Socialnomics

2009-09-18T20:05:00.003-05:00

Do you think social media is fad? Do you fail to see the value in engaging in one-to-one conversations with consumers?

The following video by Erik Qualman, author of socialnomics, paints a very clear picture. Social media is not a passing fad, and if you and your company don't take the next step, you probably won't be around in the next 10 years. At the very least, you won't be relevant. I'm just sayin'.

Was Jay Leno out of line?

2009-09-17T22:21:00.003-05:00

By now I’m sure you’ve heard about Kanye West's outburst at the Video Music Awards. If not, the video is below.

MTV Shows

Afterwards, West appeared on The Jay Leno Show. During the interview Leno mentioned that he had met West’s mother before she passed two years ago. He proceeded to ask West, “What do you think your mother would say about this?”

While the question made for some entertaining television I think it was kind of a low blow. Kanye West was wrong to interrupt Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech, but to bring his deceased mother into play seems a bit cheap. The singer had already apologized more than once for his actions.

Am I being too much of a softy? Do you think Leno crossed the line?

Social Media v. Media Relations

2009-09-10T20:31:00.007-05:00

A colleague and I had a discussion today about social media and media relations. My colleague's concern is that we are spending too much time on media relations when we could be talking directly to consumers (a la social media). So the question is...

How much time should we spend on social media activities? What's the ratio between time spent on social media versus media relations? I'm interested in hearing your thoughts.

I have also posed this question on Twitter. If you work in the PR, marketing or advertising field, please take a moment to answer the question below. I'll post the results next week.

Nostalgic for Facebook

2009-09-06T11:47:00.004-05:00

I remember walking around campus my freshman year of college, and hearing everyone talk about this new thing called “Facebook.” Eventually I jumped on board and found that Facebook was everything MySpace wasn’t. At that time only college students could sign-up for Facebook, so there were no annoying bands trying to get you to buy their CD’s and no creepy 40-year-old men wanting to be your friend. There weren’t any corporate fan pages or groups. It was simply a place where you could hang out online with your friends. Everything was authentic.

Today, Facebook has evolved to include many things I once praised it for not having, but I have evolved too. I like that I can keep my account even though I’m not in college, and I like that my friends and family can join the hip social networking site with me. The corporate fan pages and groups are so-so. On a personal level I sometimes wish they didn’t exist, but given my profession I can’t hate them entirely. After all, if used correctly they can bring a lot of value to their “fans” or “groupies.”

However, with all this evolution I do have one complaint. You see, when I was in college the only people who “friended” me were those I had actually met. Even if I hadn’t talked to someone since high school there was still a connection. We shared an AP European History class or we were both in Concert Choir. You did not “friend” someone you never met, and you certainly did not friend someone just because you ran in the same circles. Facebook was a place to talk with your current friends, not a place to make new ones.

Somehow, there has been a shift, and these unspoken rules of my past have not translated to the Facebook of today. Lately, it seems like every week I get a friend request from someone I’ve never heard of. Sometimes I let them hang there and others I ignore right away. I am always puzzled when after ignoring a friend request someone decides to try again. I wish I knew what they were thinking. Do they think the request did not work? That I happened to not notice? That I was having a bad day, and I’m sure to accept them this time? Or, do they think that by badgering me I will eventually accept them into my circle?

Let me clear something up for these people right now. I ignored your request for a reason. Over time I’ve given in to some of my Facebook rules. I will accept friend requests from co-workers even if we aren’t really “friends” outside of work. I’ve started to monitor what I say and do on Facebook for professional and personal reasons. But the one thing I am not willing to do, is invite someone into my inner circle who I’ve never met!

Now, I realize that everyone uses social networking tools in different ways. That’s fine, but I believe the majority of Facebook users still use Facebook as a personal online playground. It’s a place to talk to friends, play games, create events and post photos. If you are using Facebook for business purposes, that’s great. Create a fan page or a group. If you are using Facebook to network with new people, cancel your account and join LinkedIn, Twitter or another social networking site where it’s appropriate to talk to strangers.

Maybe I’m trying to hold onto the past. Maybe I’m just upset that things can never be the way they were, but you know where I stand. If we haven’t met and you want to connect with me online, seek out my LinkedIn or Twitter accounts. It’s not that I don’t like or trust you. You just haven’t made it to my inner circle yet.

In Memory of Senator Ted Kennedy

2009-08-27T19:48:00.001-05:00

After watching a news segment on Ted Kennedy tonight, it is clear how many lives he has touched. One lesson the Senator has taught me is the value of relationships. If Ted Kennedy had the time to read to a child each week, surely I have the time to return a friend’s phone call or e-mail. The connections we make in life are important, and we shouldn’t neglect them because we are too busy or uneager to help.

How has Ted Kennedy changed your life? What have you learned from him?

Employees: the new celebrity

2009-08-23T15:28:00.005-05:00

In social media there is a lot of talk about building good relationships to turn loyal customers into brand ambassadors. As Peter Shankman says, our job as PR professionals in social media is to get other people to do our PR. However, there’s another audience of brand ambassadors that every company needs to be aware of, and they are right under your nose.

Who are they?
Your employees. These are the people who know your brand inside and out. Every day they go home and talk to friends and family about their experiences with your brand. In my opinion, employees are one of the most important untapped resources every company has. After all, if your employees won’t say good things about your brand, who will?

Puma’s “Employees Only” Campaign
A great example of a company who lets their employees do all the talking is Puma. Puma has started an “Employees Only” campaign that uses 14 handpicked employees to serve as the company’s official brand ambassadors. In addition to plugging Puma products, the employees also share their random thoughts via the company’s Facebook page and YouTube site. Puma is also planning to host in-store events where anyone can grab poster board, write their thoughts and be photographed for their own Facebook profile. In this way, Puma is not only letting employees promote the brand, but takes the idea of brand ambassadors to the next level by turning them into pseudo-celebrities. You can find out more about Puma’s campaign by reading this post at AgencySpy.com.

What can you do?
Right now you may be thinking, “That’s great, but I don’t have a budget like Puma.” Do not fear. Even without a Puma sized budget your employees can still add value to your brand. In fact, the first step you should take is to look at your employees and find out if they are already acting as brand ambassadors.

A girl I went to college with (Amanda) is a great brand ambassador for her employer. She currently works for a new Milwaukee burger bar called Stack’d. How do I know this? It isn’t because of my great cyber-stalking abilities. I know this because Amanda is always encouraging people to stop by for special events and drink specials through messages she posts on Twitter and Facebook. In fact, I’ve found out a lot of information about Stack’d simply by reading her comments in my social media feeds.

So, how do you get more employees like Amanda?
Hire passionate people. – People who are passionate about your business and industry are much more likely to promote your products or services because it’s what they love.

Be good to your employees. – We all have that one person in our life who complains about their boss or company. I like to call these people “brand embarrassers.” Everyone has bad days at the office, but the one way to make sure your employees aren’t bad-mouthing the company is to treat them with respect and give them a fun working environment. Hello casual Fridays, the occasional working-from-home and company happy hours.

Share your goals. – As much as your employees might love their work, they can’t help if they don’t know what your goals are. Be specific about your goals and ask your employees for help. Encourage them to share these messages and promote them on their own social networks. It will make them feel like a bigger part of the company.

Side note: If you do encourage employees to use social media on the company’s behalf, you may want to consider creating a set of social media guidelines. Todd Defren shares a great example of social media guidelines on his blog.

Have you come across other companies that are using employees as brand ambassadors? How do you encourage employees to support your brand? Please leave your ideas in the comments section.

Twitter Links: Aug. 9 - 15

2009-08-17T20:33:00.003-05:00

Your Twitter links from last week include the top 50 Tweeples from 2009, Facebook Lite and information on Milwaukee's Flip Cup tournament.

RT @prsarahevans Remember the Top 50 Tweeples to Follow of 2008? Wonder what the list would look like today... http://bit.ly/lt4sa
Rt @avflox The metrosexual is dead, bring out the manly men: http://bit.ly/13Yplc (via @violetblue)
Rt @mkelover Facebook causes jealousy in relationships? No way! http://bit.ly/2v8T7
Twitter affects box office results: http://tinyurl.com/lsmhen
RT @AndrewWeiland @compujeramey: High-speed rail connecting Madison and Milwaukee, where to put the station? http://is.gd/2aNO8
RT @dan360man Reading: How To Lose a Job Via Facebook In 140 Characters or Less (Applicant) http://post.ly/25eE
What the F*ck is social media? http://tinyurl.com/lkqdl4 - a lot of great social media statistics!
RT @bmorrissey cp+b, saatchi, ogilvy, proximity hold american idol-type contest for 30-day freelance gigs. http://bit.ly/j4U1l
RT @danschawbel HUMOR: Retweeting in Real Life [Cartoon] http://bit.ly/Ixs3n - Guilty?
RT @LindseyAMiller @chicagocomms @GeoffLiving: Twitter founder's wife tweets in labor.http://bit.ly/CDAPW - Someone please stop the madness.
RT @laermer Good stuff - how to write a killer bio (I hope my colleagues read this!) http://bit.ly/3jIfdg
Yikes! Almost half of executives are unhappy in their jobs. http://tinyurl.com/qpw4sa
Fighting UK knife crime with YouTube. http://tinyurl.com/o4nvvc
RT @AlKrueger @Mashable Big news right now: "BREAKING: Facebook To Launch Facebook Lite" - http://bit.ly/B0MtF (via @fischer510)
RT @briansolis Reading: Do PR Agency CEOs Need To Be Twittering? http://is.gd/2dzcL
RT @DriveAmalfi @raileurope "Explore Amalfi, Italy" beautiful photos from the Boston Globe http://bit.ly/fQ2tz - I'll go here someday.
RT @prsanews On ComPRehension: Is Public Relations Accreditation Worthwhile? http://ow.ly/15KK2Y
RT @LyonSHARE World population projected to reach 7 billion next year - http://bit.ly/Dr5o4 #cnn
RT @saman3259 Qualities that will Rock your Career! http://tischen.at/8gm Great list.
Correction: RT @FlipCupMKE MKE has a Flip Cup Tourney soon. Winning team represents will represent MKE in Vegas. http://flipcupguys.com
RT @danschawbel ADVICE: How to Write Sharp and Snappy Blog Posts http://bit.ly/gTNfY - Things we all need to remember.
RT @agencyspy Don't cheat anymore, because this could happen to you (if you have a lawn) http://bit.ly/rMDgo - Ha!
RT @sarameaney The truth about Facebook Lite http://sbne.ws/r/2x2G
RT @TDefren @nytimesbits: brain hardwires us to love Google, Twitter, texting - a bad thing, scientists say. http://bit.ly/3yguhS
RT @JennaSnacks Study: PR Pros are Unjustly Perceived as Liars—Scoring Higher in Ethics than Surgeons and Accountants http://bit.ly/8aw6t
Golf and rugby may make the 2016 Summer Olympics. http://tinyurl.com/mcccjg
RT @MarksKiosk Still have a land line? See who in the world is dumping them fastest: http://budurl.com/mn8w

Follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/sarahsoczka.

Peter Shankman’s Keynote at 2009 Affiliate Summit East

2009-08-11T21:51:00.004-05:00

I came home tonight with the intention of clearing out my Google Reader and hopefully writing a blog post that was worthy of a RT. That was, until I got to Peter Shankman’s blog.

In a world where every marketer is trying to call themselves a social media expert, Peter Shankman is one of the few people who is worthy of the title. For those who don’t know, Peter Shankman is the founder of Help A Reporter Out (HARO) and the CEO of The Geek Factory, Inc.

Earlier today Peter made a keynote address at the Affiliate Summit East. Since I work and play in Milwaukee I was not able to make the summit, but luckily Peter was able to bring the summit to me. So, instead of giving you my take on the latest industry trend or campaign, I give you Peter's keynote address.

I’ll warn you now. It’s long. Like, 60 minutes long, but well worth the time. I recommend starting the video at the 07:15:00 mark (after Peter’s introduction is finished). After the 1:06:00 mark Peter answers questions (one from Chris Brogan).

For those of you who do not have time to watch the video here are a few gems from the speech.

Peter’s 4 Social Media Rules
Transparency

“Social media is all about trust. A social media trust lends itself to viral behavior."
“Social media is not broadcast. Social media is two-way communication."
“Make people feel like they matter.” – Listen to what people are saying to you and respond!
“The second you are transparent a consumer’s level of trust will go up, and they will be ready to recommend you.”

Relevance

“Relevance is about giving people what they want when they want it.”

Brevity

“The average attention span in the 1980’s was three minutes. The average attention span today is 2.7 seconds.”
“You need to get to your audience in one paragraph.”
“How do you get brevity? Learn to write.”
“Learn how to write and you’ll increase your sales.”

Top of mind presence

“We only talk to three percent of our network on a regular basis.” - Learn to communicate with more of your network, and you’ll be top of mind the next time someone has a question, business lead, etc.
“Information used to flow from outside the network in. Now information is flowing from inside the network out.” – People use to get recommendations from traditional media, now they are getting recommendations from inside their networks.
“We are a society that loves to share.” – People want to share their experiences. If you don’t share it, it didn’t happen.
“Your job is no longer to do your own PR. Your job is to use social media to get other people to do your PR for you.”

Twitter Links: Aug. 2 - 8

2009-08-09T21:56:00.003-05:00

Lots of news, interesting tidbits and resources this week. Take a look.

Top 10 guidelines for employee social media engagement via @tdefren http://tinyurl.com/nf5le7
RT @rosemheather @LisaCollierCool: Breaking news: N. Korea pardons 2 US journos after meeting w/ Bill Clinton: http://bit.ly/4kUsYY
RT @Jourdz For everyone in an agency: http://www.agencyland.net/ - Clever Web site, I'm curious to know how much biz it brings.
RT @craigtrindl @chrisbrogan: A great recap of yesterdays #broman call with @skydiver and me by @prtini - http://bit.ly/18ZWCC
Forbes says Milwaukee is the 4th best city for working Moms. What do you think? http://tinyurl.com/mj776g
Why you should be engaged in social media even if your clients aren't. http://tinyurl.com/kprslc
RT @AccidentalWI New blog post: meghan & julie & julia: Welcome everyone who has popped over from the Milwaukee Jou.. http://bit.ly/10Yxui
The Wis. Lottery to give away club seat Packers season tickets! http://tinyurl.com/l4spjc
RT @gawker John Hughes, Filmmaker http://gawker.com/5331792 #andnowhesdead #obit
RT @danschawbel IMPORTANT: Back Up Your Social Media Profiles http://bit.ly/4bsZaD
RT @wistatefair Wondering where you can find your favorite food on a stick @ #wistatefair? Here's a complete list. http://tinyurl.com/nzp8qu
RT @agencyspy You must watch this trailer: Lemonade (it's about laid off ad people) http://bit.ly/teFld
There is a cheese and burger hall of fame. Who knew? Register to win a stainless steel grill on their web site. http://cheeseandburger.com/
With all due respect to the grandmas and grandpas out there... http://tinyurl.com/nz7pgk

Follow me on Twitter @sarahsoczka.

Social Media and the Next Generation

2009-08-05T21:16:00.003-05:00

I’ve been thinking a lot about social media and online identities lately. Some are extremely cautious about what they put online while others let it all hang out. As long as an individual is comfortable with their level of sharing both strategies are fine, but what happens when the individual is sharing more than their life or even their friend’s lives?

Today’s 20-somethings have been participating in social networks since they were pre-teens. But now they are growing up, getting married, divorced, having children… My question is what type of effect will all this sharing have on Gen-Y’s children?

People in my parent’s generation never had the opportunity to share hospital pictures of newborns online or post videos of baby’s first steps. In fact, many are still cautious of social networks, afraid of stalkers and sharing too much with the online world. In contrast, Gen-Y anxiously posts their new relationship status and shares their children’s lives with the world.

One girl I went to high school with actually changed her Facebook status to reflect how far along she was in the birthing process. First, I don’t even know how you can think about updating your Facebook status when you’re in labor. Second, no one needs or wants to know that you’re five centimeters dilated. But I digress…

How will our children feel about all the funny photos and videos we post when they are infants, toddlers, teenagers? For some, it could be like sharing their entire diary with the world. Others might not care at all.

If I had to guess, I imagine most children will be fine with our sharing habits. After all, they are growing up in a world where it’s normal to share your life online. Still, I wonder how many will be embarrassed by photos, or upset by seeing their parent’s friends comment on their divorce. Are there any rules? Any social guidelines?

If anyone has expertise on this issue please leave a comment. I haven’t found any articles written on the subject and would love to learn more. What’s your take?

Unplugged

2009-07-23T21:00:00.003-05:00

As much as I love being plugged into what’s happening online and around the world, sometimes you just need to get away. Tomorrow I leave for a weeklong vacation in northern Wisconsin. I will be spending a week in a cabin where this is no internet and limited cell phone service. A little scary? Yes. Incredibly peaceful? Yes.

The next time you go on vacation (and you should) try to stay unplugged.

So, I bid adieu to my blog, Tumblr, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google Reader for eight days. I’ll miss you, but I won’t be gone long.

This is Sarah Soczka signing off.

Limited Brands is Merging Brands

2009-07-22T21:56:00.000-05:00

Last night I had dinner with my Mom and Aunt who were in town for a choral conference. Since they live in Wausau, Wis. we chose to go to PF Chang’s at Mayfair Mall so they could shop afterwards. In an effort to save money I have been trying to avoid malls, so I was shocked when I walked into Bath and Body Works and found a selection of Victoria’s Secret products.

Let me clarify, they were not selling lingerie in Bath and Body. Instead, they had an entire table dedicated to Victoria’s Secret PINK beauty products.

I understand that Limited Brands (who owns both companies) has been having a hard time in this economy. Who hasn’t? But is it really necessary to start combining brands?

I have to wonder if there’s a better way to promote Victoria’s Secret’s beauty line. Bath and Body has always been a kid friendly store. Often times they carry products for young girls. Victoria’s Secret on the other hand is not. I wonder how Mom’s feel about introducing young girls to a brand that is clearly more naughty than nice. Is it ok because the Victoria’s Secret PINK line is more cute than sexy?

Instead of merging brands, I would rather Victoria’s Secret expand their beauty line. The beauty line has grown in recent years from a few perfumes and lotions to include candles, lip gloss, body wash and a range of cosmetics. Why not create a Victoria’s Secret Beauty store similar to the ALDO Accessories stores? If Victoria’s Secret wants to promote their beauty line they should work to become a true competitor in the beauty market.

Selling some of their products in Bath and Body just feels cheap. While their price points are similar, it still feels a bit like Vera Wang* trying to sell clothing at Kohl’s. It just doesn’t fit. Perhaps I’m a brand purist, but if I’m buying a Vera Wang dress I want to get it from Vera Wang. If I want to buy sexy beauty products, I want to buy them from Victoria’s Secret not her cute 12-year-old sister. It’s a fine line to walk. Too much merging and brands will start to lose their unique selling proposition. It’s hard to have a Victoria’s Secret experience in a Bath and Body Works store.

What do you think? Is Limited Brands making a smart move by cross-selling brands and products? Or are they confusing consumers with different brand promises?

Connect with me on Twitter @sarahsoczka.

*Note: The cheaper Vera Wang line at Kohl’s has been doing well.

Twitter Links: July 12 - 18

2009-07-19T21:33:00.004-05:00

This week there are more social media stats and I also learned about Pet Airways.

Cornell says traditional media breaks news faster than blogs. http://tinyurl.com/nrfbgl
In case you needed another reason to drink... http://tinyurl.com/lksxdv
How to use online video in a crisis. http://tinyurl.com/l6dk23
Pet Airways, what a great idea! http://tinyurl.com/l4fsra
RT @danschawbel RESOURCE: 4 Tools to Track Twitpics in Realtime http://bit.ly/Ed8r1
RT @danschawbel REPORT: 60% of companies are spending more on interactive marketing by shifting from traditional http://tinyurl.com/lp8nuu
Do you play the brand-spotting game? Coca-Cola hopes you do. http://tinyurl.com/mhlyft
RT @PRsarahevans In 2009, more data will be generated by individuals than in the entire history of mankind through 2008 http://bit.ly/178Pp5

Follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/sarahsoczka.

Twitter Links: July 5-11

2009-07-12T18:25:00.003-05:00

I hope everyone had a good weekend. This past week I changed my Twitter name from @ladyhero to @sarahsoczka. If you're following me, please remember the change!

Below are links to new social network stats, a video about United Airlines and tips on how to pick up women. Enjoy and have a good week.

RT @pheadrick Cool stats like: 5% of Twitter users are responsible for 75% of all activity -- http://is.gd/1p3pJ
Late nite battles for viewers. http://tinyurl.com/pvdwaf - O'Brien catering 2 younger viewers = Tonight Show will still be around in 10 yrs.
Sad, but true. Why "Speidi" is remarkable and you and your company are not. http://tinyurl.com/ly9prb
RT @PRtini Ragan's PR reading list. http://tr.im/rfkE
RT @avflox How To Pick Up Women, a fast @avflox guide on @Manolith: http://tr.im/roAf -- It's really not as hard as you think it is.
RT @theGlenn Guy had his guitar destroyed by United, so he wrote a song about it: http://bit.ly/rI2ef - I hope United Airlines is listening.
RT @PRwise Do you Twitter? Then you are more interested in sex than the average Facebook, MySpace or LinkedIn user - http://ow.ly/gUve
I think I tweet 90% of @tdefren's posts, but they're so good. The latest - What PR can and cannot do for clients. http://tinyurl.com/mdw4m4
10 Stunning and useful Twitter stats via @rohitbhargava. http://tinyurl.com/lgkja8
Wis. state health program gives men family planning options. http://tinyurl.com/meu942

Follow me on Twitter via my new username. http://twitter.com/sarahsoczka

My Megabus Adventure: Another lesson in customer service

2009-07-10T21:12:00.003-05:00

A few Saturdays ago I woke up early to take Megabus* from Milwaukee to Chicago to visit my family. I had taken Megabus before and knew to plan for delays. (A one-way ticket for $5 is worth a few traffic delays and late buses.) What I wasn’t prepared for was a complete lack of customer service.

On this particular route the bus makes two stops, one in downtown Milwaukee (where I board) and another by the Milwaukee airport. When the bus reached the airport it was clear we were going to have problems.

After speaking with Megabus, the bus driver said that Megabus had screwed up and overbooked. People with ticket numbers 1- 12 were to get off the bus. Reaction? Nobody moved. The bus driver made a half-hearted attempt to check everyone’s ticket and looked around dumbfounded.

Then he began asking for volunteers saying, “I’m sorry. Megabus really screwed up. I need four volunteers to wait for the next bus. It’s not going to be here for a long time. I wouldn’t do it.” That’s right. He actually said, “I wouldn’t do it.” At this point I started cracking jokes about the absurdity of the situation.

Another 10-15 minutes passed, and two Megabus employees gave up their seats and stood the entire trip. Meanwhile, some people were SOL. The whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth, and delayed our trip by half an hour.

It’s incredible that a company of this size does not have better policies in place. Instead of trying to kick people off the bus, Megabus should have instructed the driver to apologize and immediately ask for volunteers.

To give people an incentive, those who gave up their seats should have received a free roundtrip ticket in addition to being reimbursed for that day’s trip. It would have also been nice to let the volunteers know when the next bus would arrive. If the next bus was at capacity, Megabus could have offered to pay for a ticket on the nearby Amtrak.

At the end of the day, I’m still going to use Megabus for short trips when I don’t have to be somewhere at a certain time. Normally they offer a great service for an extremely low price, but if they don’t fix their customer service issues soon they are going to start losing customers. Fast.

*Megabus is a non-stop intercity express bus company that offers fares to travelers as low as $1 via the Internet.

Why I’m not Going to Grad School

2009-07-02T17:35:00.006-05:00

A lot of people have asked if I’m planning to go to grad school lately. While I applaud those who have chosen that path (and there seems to be a lot of people my age who have) there are several reasons why I feel it’s just not right for me.

It's all about the money.
Many people I talk to say grad school is their back-up plan in case they lose their job. Maybe I’m a cynic, but I don’t see how this is realistic. Most 20-somethings already have a hard time managing student loans, car payments, cell phone bills and let’s not forget, credit cards. Grad school is expensive. The economy is bad, and let’s face it we’re getting paid crap. Grad school doesn’t seem like a smart financial decision.

Who’s going to hire me?
Before you start lecturing me on all the professions that require a Master’s degree please, read further. I understand some professions require a higher degree of learning. Doctors for instance, but I’m working in the ad and PR agency world. In my world, a Master’s degree means my employer has to pay me more than someone else at the same experience level. Employers are trying to keep costs low. If it comes down to two people with the same level of experience and similar backgrounds… Sorry, but I think the bachelor’s degree gets the job.

What’s the value?
Again, while I applaud those with Master’s degrees, I simply fail to see the overall value. For PR professionals in the corporate or not-for-profit world a Master’s degree might be useful. For PR professionals on the agency side, I think an APR accreditation is more valuable. By now you may think I’m just lazy. That’s not true. I simply would rather work towards my APR, and be recognized by people in my industry than an educational institution. And yeah, it doesn’t hurt that an APR is much less expensive.

I’m sure there are many arguments that can be made on behalf of grad schools everywhere, but for me, getting a few more years experience and becoming APR accredited is of greater importance.

As a side note, if you really want to feel awful about the money you’ve “wasted” on college read this article from Gawker, “College: Waste of Time.”

Do you agree? Disagree? I’d be interested in hearing what others think on this topic, especially if you work in upper management. Which do you value more? A Master’s degree or APR? Who are you more likely to hire?

Twitter Links: June 21-27

2009-06-28T20:57:00.002-05:00

I hope everyone had a good weekend and is ready for the start of another work week. In this week of links you'll find numerous Twitter stories, sweet Milwaukee airline deals, new studies and much more.

Great speech by @skydiver about social media and "making it about you." http://tinyurl.com/kwgx6g
RT @RochelleVeturis HOW TO: Back Up Your Tweets http://bit.ly/FHVut via @mashable
RT @Razorfish What happens when u deprive American families of TV? @Razorfish did a study: http://tinyurl.com/ljbu54 #CannesLions
RT @danschawbel REPORT: 88% of millennials said they still counted on their parents for advice http://tinyurl.com/m2ytw4
NYTimes article on BB etiquette. http://tinyurl.com/nxcfqe What do you think? If nothing else it encourages presenters to be more engaging.
Cool tool from @Culvers RT @culvers U can use our new Meal Builder tool 2 plan ur meal & learn its nutritional value! http://bit.ly/Z9qt1
RT @julieannwarner Touche, Dan Bice? MKE Magazine says Bice is the real journalistic shame in Flynn's affair. http://ow.ly/fxnG
RT @RochelleVeturis 10 useful Twitter presentations http://is.gd/1acjc via @leeodden
RT @TDefren Wife & I were Alice.com (client) beta users. Love it. So many fewer trips to WalMart. http://www.alice.com. - Looks interesting.
RT @NancyStall Just in. Vikings equip manager has already ordered #4 purple jerseys with Favre's name on back. http://bit.ly/NAbKq
BK Blow job ad. http://tinyurl.com/b6sp24 Disturbing and hilarious. Thanks for the heads up @agencyspy.
If you're planning to fly in or out of Milwaukee book your tickets now. http://tinyurl.com/mw5p7b
RT @laermer @carlosdiamond Fortune 100 CEOs Who Are Social Media Slackers http://tinyurl.com/n6xwnz - This is kind of sad.
RT @streetzapizza A listing of all of the summerfest deals and ways to get in for free... http://milwaukee.about.com/...
Why Google and Virgin Airlines Online Scavenger Hunt Campaign Rocked http://tinyurl.com/lba3z7
RT @briansolis A List of Top Media Outlets and Blogs: http://bit.ly/5jMRc - A handy list for PR pro's.
RT @mashable Twitter Guide Book: Mashable Launches Hub for Twitter Resources - http://bit.ly/JfX4H - A great resource 4 everything Twitter.
RT @prblog: Okay, PR friends, here's the tool for your journalist research: Google News byline search http://ow.ly/fVSS (via @DwriteN)

Follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/ladyhero.

When do blogs become news organizations?

2009-06-26T12:44:00.004-05:00

This has been a question I’ve been thinking about ever since my blog post in February caused a bit of an uproar. (You can read more about it in the latest issue of PR Tactics.) This question has come to light again in wake of the New York Time’s article about a blogger being invited to a White House news conference.

I am of the opinion that the majority of blogs, including this one, should not be taken as a serious source for news. Most bloggers do not take the time to follow-up with sources, double check the facts and conduct interviews. Many times you’re lucky if they cite the source. I personally try my best not to spew false information, but I am in no way as credible as a professional news organization.

However, the distinction is a littler trickier with other blogs. What about The Huffington Post, Drudge Report or even Gawker? Many of the people at these blogs are paid for their contributions, and The Huffington Post certainly does their fair share of research before posting a story.

Isn’t it about time for everyone to sit down and come to a consensus?

Maybe some blogs do deserve the same rights and privileges as traditional news outlets. But if so, who chooses those blogs and how do we identify them? Perhaps this is a job for an industry organization like the Society of Professional Journalists .

For blogs that are chosen as news outlets, how about posting an icon on their home page to identify them? Or, maybe no blog deserves this title. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Twitter Links: June 14-20

2009-06-21T22:45:00.003-05:00

Apologies for missing my weekly post again. A busy work week and the second wedding in two weeks kept me busy.

This week in links... A few quirky news stories, a letter of inspiration from Peter Shankman and the newest trends in marketing. Enjoy!

RT @TDefren "I get around three to four pitches a day from PR firms and they all suck." (@modite - client) http://tinyurl.com/q3w5se
@NewsHub That's hilarious. Couldn't they have just sent the poor guys home? :) http://tr.im/oBHG
RT @streetzapizza Top Ten Businesses to follow - milwaukeeconsumer.com: http://tinyurl.com/ko5f4e
5 ways gaming can transform healthcare & wellness via @rohitbhargava http://tinyurl.com/ldakzw. - can't wait 2 see what other industries do.
A letter to high school graduates via @skydiver. http://tinyurl.com/3kjqa6 (And a little inspiration for the rest of us.)
RT @wausauherald Jail inmate smears a death threat to a judge, using his feces http://tinyurl.com/nk43j5 Ew!!!!
The next trend in marketing - holocams. http://tinyurl.com/l6tnde
This makes me think... Why hasn't Wisconsin struck a reciprocity deal with Ill. yet? http://tinyurl.com/l6or7l

Follow me on Twitter @ladyhero.

Twitter Links: June 7-13

2009-06-14T21:27:00.003-05:00

Being the maid of honor in my best friend's wedding this weekend didn't leave me much time to Twitter. I'll be back this week in full force. Until I leave for my cousin's wedding on Friday...

RT @Armano congrats to @stephagresta who joins @porternovelli as EVP of digital strategy http://twurl.nl/m7uw6r
RT @mashable Local Tweets: 9 Ways to Find Twitter Users in Your Town - http://bit.ly/3B87Fu
RT @NewsHub A revolutionary development @WIStateFair: Chocolate covered bacon. http://tr.im/nTJX - Maybe I'm weird, but that sounds tasty.
Lakefront Brewery launches new Wheat Monkey beer Thurs. June 11. http://pitch.pe/14780
RT @AlKrueger I enjoyed this: 10 Irrational Behaviors on Twitter that’d make you look crazy in Real Life http://bit.ly/aYvhH
Somehow, even w/ all the college drownings La Crosse ranked in the top 10 places 2 live by US News & World Report. http://tinyurl.com/m3uwqh
For anyone still wondering what #blamedrewscancer is all about. http://tinyurl.com/lgw4h8

Follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ladyhero.

The Power of the Written Word

2009-06-09T23:02:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago I wrote thank-you cards to everyone who helped me throw a bridal shower. After the cards were sent, the bride-to-be told me her mother really appreciated the card and was more or less impressed with my efforts. That got me thinking…

Because I am a millennial, you may be surprised that I didn’t send an e-card or mass e-mail. Or sadly, that I sent a note at all. Well, call me old-fashioned, but this millennial still believes in the power of the written word.

Over the years we’ve developed many different communication tools. We’ve gone from fax to e-mail to instant messaging, and now hundreds of social networks. But in all this excitement, many of us have forgotten the value of ink. You remember, it’s the stuff that comes out of your pen.

With all the talk about growing our social networks and staying connected, how many of us take the time to show our inner circle how much they are valued? I’m not saying we should go back to writing long letters, and of course it’s important to be “green,” but sometimes a handwritten note says a lot more than an e-mail.

The Impact
Because we live in a world where online rules, sending a card has become quite meaningful. In business, receiving a handwritten note shows the person is serious about continuing the relationship, and will keep you a priority. In our personal lives, receiving a handwritten note shows how much that person cares. It means a lot to know they spent time picking out a card, and putting pen to paper. In both cases that person is showing they value the relationship.

I make it a point to write a thank-you card for every formal birthday or special occasion present I receive. (The exception that proves the rule being Christmas presents.) I also send holiday cards with a different message to each person. I send birthday cards, anniversary cards, valentine’s cards, it-was-nice-to-meet-you cards. I even send thanks-for-the-interview cards. And you would not believe all the thank-you's I get for doing so.

I realize this may seem like a daunting task, and I’m not suggesting you send holiday cards to everyone in your Rolodex (does anyone use those anymore?). But in an effort to be better communicators, it’s important to remember the joy and value you can bring to a relationship by taking the time to write a few sentences with ink. I promise one card is worth more than 10 expertly crafted e-mails.

Twitter links: May 31 - June 6

2009-06-07T19:47:00.004-05:00

There are some great studies and surveys out this week on social media users. Also, look below to find out about the new Harry Potter LEGO video game and more.

RT @SocialMedia411 Poll - Business People Say Twitter More Important Than LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/hpHtl
RT @mashable YouTube Brands: 5 Outstanding Leaders in YouTube Marketing - http://bit.ly/KhIA9
RT @SaraMeaney Harvard study says men have 15% more followers on Twitter than women. http://tinyurl.com/lyjs9u - NE1 else think this is sad?
I don't play many video games, but I'm kind of excited for this one. http://tinyurl.com/pgpjda
Study shows some men experience pregnancy symptoms like weight gain. http://tinyurl.com/paw78q
Trend: More and more high school graduates are looking to Canada for college. http://tinyurl.com/qd3jmp
RT @danschawbel REPORT: Social networking up 83% for U.S. http://bit.ly/1a3Ieq
Yay New Hampshire! http://tinyurl.com/q49jvj
RT @boelterlincoln Do you want to build an audience or community? Great post via @chrisbrogan. http://tinyurl.com/oe2j5c
RT @laermer (I love amusement): @skydiver Amusement: Top 100 movie lines in 200 seconds. http://tinyurl.com/cbfs87 (!)
RT @BradleyWill 5 Reasons People May Follow You on Twitter http://bit.ly/2fH7c
Are you buying tactics or strategies? http://tinyurl.com/pkczhx Thanks for the great post @tdefren!
RT @boelterlincoln Reading: Your Network is Your Only Insurance Policy http://tinyurl.com/o67emr
RT @danschawbel REPORT: 53% of females participate in social media at least once a week http://tinyurl.com/ogu7pm

For real time updates follow me on Twitter. http://www.twitter.com/ladyhero

Rebranding GM

2009-06-03T23:34:00.002-05:00

This week General Motors became the second-largest industrial bankruptcy in U.S. history. According to the Wall Street Journal, GM plans to close 17 factories and parts centers on top of cutting 20,000 more jobs before 2012. After hearing this news, it is no surprise that many Americans are worried about GM’s future. A huge rebranding effort will be required to help lift GM out of the red. Enter the video below.

While I personally have not been a fan of American cars, much less GM in recent years, I am a fan of GM’s new effort to rebrand themselves and communicate with the online community. The message in their video is authentic, and it’s clear that GM realizes doing business as usual will simply not work anymore.

Here’s hoping their message resonates with the rest of the American public. After all, we all have a stake in GM now. If that doesn’t convince Americans to buy American-made cars, I don’t know what will.

Twitter Links: May 24 - 30

2009-05-31T22:21:00.004-05:00

There was a lot of Milwaukee business news this week. Also check out the link below from @tdefren. The video he posted on his blog titled "Welcome to the Agency World" is hilarious.

RT @Newshub See? There was an incident with drawn guns this afternoon on I-794. @rheoflux is somewhat vindicated. http://tr.im/mtwE
European boutique opens in MKE's 3rd Ward May 28 & debuts w/ a runway show. I think I'll pop in after work. http://tinyurl.com/qq6oe4
RT @ironhorsehotel We're looking for great bartenders, know anyone looking? send them here: http://tinyurl.com/ihh-empl...
Learning abt @StreetzPizza. It will be interesting 2 see how they do. See @TheLarch's post 4 more info. http://tinyurl.com/p52v9c
RT @chrisbrogan Great post by @conversationage on starting blogging - http://bit.ly/BqjqJ
RT @AndrewWeiland @stevejagler: More than 90 % of economists predict recession ends this year ...http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id...
Wisconsinites: Make sure to register your land and mobile lines on the do not call list. https://nocall.wisconsin.go...
Levi's promotes gay marriage with white knotted ribbons. http://tinyurl.com/r3h83a
Reading @TDefren - Welcome to the Agency World http://pr-squared.com/?p=1002 - If you work at an agency you will totally get this post.
RT @TDefren Google's gonna own your ass. http://tinyurl.com/lxulsg
RT @NewsHub: If you even considered smiling at the DMV, stop now. http://tr.im/mH47 - I always smile when I get my picture taken.
Milwaukeeans: Remember it's downtown dining week! http://bit.ly/apWz $10 lunch and $20 dinner. I'll be @ Mason Street Grill tonight.

Follow me on Twitter for live updates @ladyhero.

Twitter Links: May 17 - 23

2009-05-24T17:27:00.005-05:00

Hello, and happy Memorial Day weekend. I hope you are able to get outside enjoy some nice weather before the weekend ends.

PF Chang's lovers check out the last link for a free coupon. Also, be sure to read a great article about tips for making conversations with strangers with graduation parties and weddings upon us they are bound to come in handy.

RT @fox6wakeup: Free, printable coupons & coupon codes for thousands of stores. Check it out! http://ow.ly/7DPQ
RT @Vollrath_PR Check this video out -- Marcus Theatres North Shore Cinema Opening http://bit.ly/hWM9i - I didn't know Marcus had a mascot.
RT @danschawbel REPORT: 1 in 3 Americans Drinks Alcohol at Least Weekly http://snipr.com/iaqx9 - I doubt the East Coast drinks more than WI.
RT @mashable Useful: "List of Ad Agencies on Twitter" - http://bit.ly/hb67d
RT @themediaisdying "Why journalists deserve low pay" - economics of journalism explained : http://tr.im/lOmf -- Interesting idea
Congrats @Draftfcb Chicago for being named the best large company to work for in Ill. One of my cousins works there. :) http://is.gd/BJ7x
RT @LyonSHARE http://tinyurl.com/qu65mf The Coolest Thing Your Smartphone Can Do - Looking forward to the BB app.
RT @danschawbel ADVICE: 7 Tips for Making Good Conversation with a Stranger http://tinyurl.com/pupesu - It lives up to the headine.
Retique moves into the third ward. Will you shop at the high-end Goodwill store?http://tinyurl.com/rbx5fu
Love PF Chang's lettuce wraps? Enter your e-mail address for a free coupon. http://www.pfchangs.com/bri...

Follow me on Twitter @ladyhero.

Top 4 Guidelines for Online TV Ads

2009-05-21T23:19:00.005-05:00

Within the past year I have become a huge fan of watching TV online. It’s a great way to save money (no need for DVR) and for the small price of four to six commercials you can watch most shows without resorting to illegal downloads. Thank you Hulu and ABC.com.

As I’ve been watching copious amounts of TV online I have noticed many different styles of online ads. Some can be very entertaining and informative while others are just plain boring. Most web sites give you 30 seconds to capture an audience that can easily go to the bathroom, grab a snack, or even (dare I say) surf the web during that time. That said, running your standard 30 second spot is not going to cut it.

Here are a few of my personal guidelines for creating online ads for TV shows.

Do not go over 30 seconds.
It sounds pretty basic, but you would be amazed how many people violate this rule. As soon as that little timer hits zero I am finding out if Chuck Bass will finally tell Blair "I love you." It’s okay to give your audience the option to engage with your ad a bit longer, but by 30 seconds you have to be done talking.

Provide me with valuable content.
The keyword here is valuable. I am not a robot sitting in front of the TV. I’m online baby, I have options. And if I don’t like what you’re doing I can easily look through my Google Reader while you’re yapping away.

One of my favorite sponsors has been Florida Orange Juice. Their spots included educational games and quizzes that taught me why orange juice is good for me. Short and quick online games are always an easy win.

Use multiple techniques.
There are several ways to do this. One online ad for a car company showed their traditional spot in the upper left hand corner while allowing me to learn more about their car on the right hand side of the screen. I actually remember probing around while listening to the ad. Remember, people can be surprisingly good at multi-tasking and chances are they’ll be engaged by at least one of the options you present.

Develop multiple ads.
If you are the sole advertiser/sponsor for a show, seeing the same thing five or six times in a row gets really annoying. I will never forget the commercial for digital cameras with the quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald and how I came to despise it.

Nesquik does a decent job of mixing it up. While their ads don’t always entertain me for the full 30 seconds I appreciate how they switch it up. One time I get to play around and make the rabbit dance while another time they show a more formal commercial.

What did I miss? What do you like and dislike about online TV ads? Do you have any guidelines you wish advertisers would follow?

Twitter Links: May 10-16

2009-05-17T21:03:00.004-05:00

There were a lot of good stories out last week. Read below for articles about social media, travel, some of the best cookies ever and WolframAlpha (It's like AskJeeves, but better).

RT @danschawbel RESOURCE: Twitter Bible: Everything You Need To Know About Twitter http://tinyurl.com/q6apm7
Personal-care services are up 4.5% this year. Find out what other sectors are doing well. http://tinyurl.com/owbfom
RT @TDefren @briansolis updates his Blogger Relations ebook. Download immediately. http://tinyurl.com/qe6gnb
In defense of Twitter by @PRluna. http://tinyurl.com/przlar
Non-Profit Social Networking survey results http://tinyurl.com/oqm9tz (via @rohitbhargava)
RT @wisdells Cool Tool for calculating travel costs for upcoming vacations. Cost To Drive http://bit.ly/UwU4w
A great post on social media expectations & commitment. You can't go from 0 to 1,000 friends overnight! http://sturly.com/026
These are some of the best cookies. http://www.k-suerte.com/coo... Thanks Spot Filmworks.
RT @ironhorsehotel Motorcycle rentals & self-service bike wash are now available. http://twitpic.com/53sds - How cool!
RT @AlKrueger How cool is that? Milwaukee is the 11th most uniquely American city http://digg.com/u13GPt
How to get journalists to open your pitch e-mail (via @laermer). http://tinyurl.com/qbh9sl Hint: The subject line is important!
Need to get away? Check out T+L's 45 best new hotels. http://bit.ly/Ntmiv
Holy crap! I predict that my kids/grandkids will say, "What did people do before WolframAlpha?" http://tinyurl.com/q735x7
RT @danschawbel REPORT: 50% of women say no to dating a jobless man http://tinyurl.com/pl6rp8 - Would you date someone w/o a job?

Follow me on Twitter @ladyhero.

Social Networking: It's Not a Pot Roast

2009-05-13T23:30:00.005-05:00

Last Friday I attended Ragan’s Social Media Unconference in Chicago. For those unfamiliar with an unconference it’s kind of like a big brainstorm session with a couple moderators to keep everyone on topic.

One comment that has stuck with me is, “It is better to engage in one social network and do it really well than to engage in many and do them poorly.” This statement really resonated with me. How often do we join social networks only to forget about them a few months later? How does this help our personal brands and our clients’ brands? Perhaps, more importantly, how does it hurt them?

The one social networking account I have fallen behind on is LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a great professional networking site, but it seems that I (like many people) only use it when I’m looking for a job. I hate to admit that I often only log-in to accept friend requests. Who has time when they are busy Twittering, Facebooking and blogging? Okay, poor excuse.

The truth is a social networking profile is only as good as you make it. Profiles aren’t like a pot roast you can set-up and leave on while you’re away at work. It’s important to keep all of your social networks up-to-date and stay engaged. After all, in the event that you have to look for another job you want your LinkedIn connections to be ready and waiting. You shouldn’t be working on growing your LinkedIn presence after you’ve been laid off. By the time that happens you want your connections to be working for you.

To that end I have decided to take a renewed interest in my LinkedIn profile and become an active member in the community. You know, just in case. I hear it can be good for building your brand too. Which social networking sites have you left on the back burner, and how are you planning to resurrect them?

While you're at it, connect with me on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahsoczka.

Twitter Links: May 3-9

2009-05-11T22:19:00.003-05:00

Hello, I apologize for not posting yesterday. I had a really busy weekend. Last week I watched a great TED talk from 2004 on authenticity (yes, it's still relevant), learned about Moms Uprising and attended Ragan's Social Media Unconference. Check out the links below.

A great talk by Joseph Pine about authenticity. http://tinyurl.com/9zzgjo (via @addthis)
Make your mom "Mother of the Year" and join Momsrising.org - http://tinyurl.com/d2csbt
RT @cqpolitics Political Wire: Maine Lawmakers Approve Same Sex Marriage Bill http://tinyurl.com/c2fq44 -- Yay, Maine!
RT @danschawbel JOB SEARCH: (note: this is awesome!) Big Fat Job List http://bit.ly/uXdJl
Miller Park is turning into a drive-in movie theater for a few days this summer! $20 gets you admission for 2. http://tinyurl.com/cu2ndf
RT @julieannwarner: Are You Strong Enough to Care? = good example of compelling online video http://ow.ly/5RBr #raganunconf

Follow me on Twitter @ladyhero.

Free Music: A decade later the music industry is cracking

2009-05-06T23:02:00.005-05:00

As I write this post I am listening to the entire No Doubt digital audio catalog. That’s right, all six albums. This in and of itself is not worthy of a blog post, but what is worthy is the way I received the music. I didn’t buy each mp3, download the files illegally or even upload individual albums from CD’s. (What are those again?) Instead, I got all this music free for purchasing tickets to a No Doubt concert.

In an e-mail message from nodoubt.com the site stated:

“Thank you for your ticket purchase and for being part of No Doubt’s 2009 Summer Tour! Below are the instructions to follow to receive a free download of the band’s entire digital audio catalog for each ticket you purchased.”

We’ve seen gestures such as this with other bands. Recently, Coldplay announced they are giving copies of their Left Right Left Right Left CD to everyone who attends their “Viva La Vida” summer tour (excluding festivals). The nine-track CD will also be made available May 15 for free download at Coldplay.com. In 2007, Radiohead put their album In Rainbows online and allowed fans to pay what they thought was fair.

It seems musicians and record labels are finally conceding that they simply can’t rely on record sales anymore. (Much like newspapers are starting to recognize that they cannot rely solely on subscriptions.) Fans are simply not willing to spend $15 to $18 on a CD that may only have two good tracks.

Instead the music industry is beginning to move to an experiential business model that focuses more on ticket sales and concert swag than a good and/or service based business model. There are many other industries that have gone through this transformation. Starbucks was one of the first coffee shops that made drinking coffee an experience rather than a service. Hotels and resorts like Treasure Island in Las Vegas have also turned a typically service based business into an experiential one.

In the near future many more businesses will be capitalizing on the idea to provide consumers with an experience. So the next time you’re trying to come up with the “next big idea” for a client; think about how you can help the consumer experience the company. Why would someone pay for your company’s experience over another’s?

Online v. Real Life Identity – What’s the difference?

2009-05-03T21:40:00.003-05:00

A couple weeks ago I was having lunch with one of my PR friends when the conversation turned to social media. My friend confessed that he carefully guards his online identities stating the infamous, “I like to keep my personal life personal.”

While I can certainly appreciate the desire to keep some things out of the public eye, you cannot have a successful online identity without being personal. After all, that’s what social networking is all about.

In reality, meeting people online isn’t much different than meeting them in person. The only change I’ve found is that meeting people online makes us a little bit braver. It’s easier to introduce yourself to someone online. You can comment on their blog, post a message on their wall or send them an @Reply. If they don’t respond there’s no humiliation involved. No awkward silence, no fumbling over words, no patronizing stares.

The trouble comes when the rules we follow in professional settings are broken online. In real life you may not share your college spring break experience with business associates, but you probably wouldn’t be afraid to talk about your latest golf outing, favorite restaurant or summer vacation. There’s a reason why many business deals are made on the golf course.

It’s all about personal connections. As much as the internet has “isolated” us it is still important to connect with people. Sometimes it’s not possible to meet face to face. Instead we settle for reading their Twitter streams, blogs or cataloging their hobbies on Facebook. In the end, we want to be able to look that person in the eye (or at least their profile) and know that we’ll get along. Know that we have some things in common outside the business world.

Consequently, the idea of separating your personal life from your professional life online is no smarter than doing so in real life. There are some things that would be smarter not to share online (discriminating photos, off-color jokes, stories about crazy nights in Mexico), but creating an online presence that is devoid of personality will do you no good either.

What’s your take? Have you had trouble separating your personal life from your professional life online? Are there any rules you follow?

Twitter Links: April 26 - May 2

2009-05-03T18:12:00.003-05:00

I hope everyone had a good weekend. I ran/walked a mile this Saturday! Hey, we all have to start somewhere. This week there are many good articles on social media, a new restaurant opens in Milwaukee, we take a look back at Obama's 100 days and much more.

RT @danschawbel The Future of the Social Web: In Five Eras http://www.web-strategist.c...
The new @ironhorsehotel restaurant Smyth opens Friday. http://tinyurl.com/dhx9aq The food and wine are excellent! Make your reservation now.
RT @MikeBrenner: HELP! Need WI folks to do this survey for my MBA class ASAP - http://bit.ly/WfRbh
RT @mashable Reading: "Where To Find Social Media Power Users" - http://bit.ly/CfUDw
http://tinyurl.com/d8pnqs -- What Obama's been up to the last 100 days.
A somewhat sad but true post about the state of news and how PR can make stories more "news-y." http://tinyurl.com/djdz26
Get your $2 Summerfest tickets! http://tinyurl.com/cndqgd
RT @danschawbel Let workers text and Twitter, business owners say http://tinyurl.com/crkem8 - Agreed. As long as you're doing your job well.
Great advice from HR Block’s Paula Drum via @TDefren: 10 Lessons for Social Media Marketers http://tinyurl.com/ct4jdq
A new service in NC allows teenagers to text their questions about sex. http://tinyurl.com/c8vhjx

Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/ladyhero.

A little inspiration from Mr. Burnett

2009-05-01T10:55:00.005-05:00

In today's economy it can be easy to keep your head down and stick to what "works." This clip (courtesy of Agency Spy) of Leo Burnett helped remind me that even though many of us face potential layoffs and are uncertain about the fate of our agencies, it is not an excuse to lower our standards.

To everyone looking for jobs, battling to keep jobs and just hoping to make it through... Please do your best to stay inspired. Do your best work and come up with new ideas. Question the way you do things. That is the only way our industry will prosper.

#TheRescue

2009-04-27T22:05:00.002-05:00

April 25 thousands of people "abducted" themselves to show support for child soldiers who have been recruited for over 20 years. Below is a slide show from Rohit Bhargava of Personality Not Included and the Influential Marketing blog. It outlines eight lessons marketers can learn from this campaign.

Enjoy.

8 Marketing Lessons For Cause Marketers

View more presentations from rohitbhargava.

Twitter Links: April 19-25

2009-04-26T22:02:00.003-05:00

This week some news about Reality TV stars, online job tools and more.

Yet another reason to be on Reality TV. Free @airtran tickets. http://tinyurl.com/ca7s6u
RT @danschawbel The best job applications on twitter. http://tinyurl.com/cz4slg
RT @mashable Google Me. No, Really! - http://bit.ly/UfDSX - Make yourself more searchable online.
First Britney Spears and now Lauren Conrad? http://tinyurl.com/ch7tcm
For those who are unfamiliar with GlassDoor.com - RT @danschawbel @heymarci How to figure out what you're worth http://tinyurl.com/dkkx2c
RT @davitydave First-Class Second Cities: Where to Go Instead http://www.frommers.com/art... Agree? Disagree?
RT @mschield Cool tweeters according to jsonline: http://www.jsonline.com/ent...

For real time updates follow me on Twitter @ladyhero.

Study Finds Journalists Like Social Media

2009-04-22T23:03:00.004-05:00

Today I ran across an article in PRWeek announcing TEKgroup International's sixth Newsroom Survey. The survey revealed that 70 percent of journalists "want online newsrooms to provide links to every social media platform that corporations participate in." This is in contrast to the less than 15 percent of respondents who use social media sites for company news. To download a full version of the report visit http://www.tekgroup.com/onlinenewsroomsurvey/.

Now think about the clients you represent or the new web site you're building. What does your online newsroom look like? Are you incorporating social media into your overall strategy?

It's becoming clear that more and more people are turning to social media as their primary source for news. I receive a large portion of my news through RSS feeds and Twitter.

Right now I think media are largely using social networking sites for finding sources rather than gathering news. After all, not every company has a Facebook or Myspace. I predict as more and more companies join social web sites journalists will expect to find company information there. Promoting your clients social media efforts via their online newsroom will help journalists keep track of them on their own favorite social network and will in turn bring you consumers there as well.

Twitter Links: April 12-18

2009-04-20T00:43:00.004-05:00

Good evening, or maybe I should say good morning. This week I discovered some advice for the recently unemployed along with a job opening. I also found some great online travel tools.

RT @telie Just found the "Mother of all Lists" from employment to pets to family: http://tinyurl.com/dhrep5 - I could spend all day here.
RT @danschawbel MUST READ: 10 steps for those that got laid off http://www.tribbleagency.co/cy.co/...
RT @VisitChicago Job posting: Tourism Sales Coordinator / Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau http://budurl.com/CCTBjob
Governors finally hop on the high-speed rail bandwagon. I think we could use more state partnerships like this. http://tinyurl.com/c36f5s
RT @TravlAndLeisure Affordable U.S. Weekend Getaways: http://tinyurl.com/bak5w4 - A fun travel planning tool from T+L.
Really proud of my UWM PR mentees who made the news! http://tinyurl.com/dz2v8d, http://tinyurl.com/c7jok3
RT @TravlAndLeisure Using Twitter for Travel (So Meta!): http://tinyurl.com/c46uch - Check out these Twitter names for great travel deals
RT @danschawbel 4 Frequent questions about Gen Y http://tinyurl.com/ca85qg - Note: If u feel valued & are bettering urself u won't leave.

Follow me on Twitter @ladyhero.

What's in a name?

2009-04-14T21:34:00.004-05:00

A small blonde first grader glances across the classroom to catch a peak at the cute boy sitting a few chairs over. With a secret smile she looks down at her notebook and writes Mrs. Sarah Brenner.

Yes, that first grader was me. It was a simpler time when the thought of taking my future husband's name wasn't a question but a widely known fact. But you see I've grown up a bit since I was six years old, and now the issue of taking my husband's name doesn't seem quite so black and white.

Kathy Konrath wrote a great post on this subject on the Personal Branding Blog. While some men might roll their eyes at this "dilemma" I think it's something every 20-something woman should consider.

As a young professional I am working hard to get my name out there and become at least slightly well-known in the Milwaukee PR community if not the PR community in general. Honestly, I don't think it's fair to give up my name for traditions sake.

For the moment I plan to legally change my name when I marry, but continue to use my maiden name in a professional capacity. This way I can have the best of both worlds. Close friends and family will know me as Mrs. Sarah X. Meanwhile I will have the freedom to continue developing my personal brand in a professional capacity online and in real life.

Stepping Up My Game

2009-04-07T21:18:00.008-05:00

In the past few months I have moved "A 20-something's Perspective" from a few random posts to a place where I write frequently and am not afraid to share my ideas. I have even gained a few subscribers! But lately I’ve been thinking about my goals for the blog and how I would like to see it grow. Frankly, it is time to step up my game and move “A 20-something’s Perspective” to the next level.

I think a lot of new bloggers get to this point and are not quite sure what to do or how to make the improvements they seek. Luckily, Dan Schawbel, a leading personal branding expert for Gen-Y, has just published Me 2.0, and is sharing his 52-page "Blogging Your Brand” guide online.

The free guide has some of the best blogging advice I have ever read. It is clear and concise outlining specific steps bloggers can take to make improvements. It is broken up into four sections (beginner, intermediate, advanced and expert) and I am looking forward to putting his advice into practice. You can download a copy of the guide here.

So what does all this mean for “A 20-something’s Perspective?”
Within the next couple months I plan to buy my domain name and make the switch to WordPress. In addition, I want to add more ways for others to share my content through StumbleUpon, Digg, Delicious and other social platforms. The blog’s content is also going to grow and will try to focus more on being a 20-something in the Advertising/PR field. In the future I would like to include interviews, guest blog posts and maybe even some video.

I’m really looking forward to taking this blog to the next level. As I embark on this journey please tell me what you would like to see at "A 20-something's Perspective." Are there topics you would like covered? Is there some new functionality you crave? Please feel free to share your ideas in the comments section or send me an e-mail at sarahsoczka@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Twitter Links: March 29 - April 4

2009-04-05T19:41:00.003-05:00

This week there was a lot of good conversation and posts about the PR industry. Check out a new effort by @PRsarahevans, @skydiver and others called MediaOnTwitter.

Lipstick Jungle is officially cancelled. http://tinyurl.com/c6p6tw
RT @PRsarahevans Wish u could sort media by beat, location, name or media outlet? w/ the NEW MediaOnTwitter NOW YOU CAN! http://pitch.pe/7448
RT @TDefren "The True & Remarkable Fate of Public Relations" http://is.gd/pGoG - Great post about the future of PR.
Check out Decider's guide to the Milwaukee Twitterverse. http://tinyurl.com/c246oe
RT @patrickstrother @brandonacox Five Twitter Analytics Tools You Might Find Addictive http://bit.ly/2pl6T
Calling all linguists, IT, engineering and business professionals. The FBI wants you. http://tinyurl.com/ctg5cn
RT @SocialMedia411 Who Wins the Struggle for Social Media Control In Your Organization? http://bit.ly/15SrtH - I'm voting for PR!
RT @OGILVY The Real Joke About Marketing: Lack Of Integration http://tinyurl.com/dxwe6x
RT @theGlenn Creative Commons usage tracker - Fair Share "Watch how your work spreads. Understand how it is used." http://tinyurl.com/c25yyd
RT @identify_urself WTMJ4 will have a camera crew at the #milwaukeetweetup April 7th @The Iron Horse-RSVP here - http://kl.am/6k
RT @prdude 10 hottest PR chick pics on Twitter. Go to: http://is.gd/qwVE - Maybe I'll make the next one. ;)
RT @russfeingold STAFF: Introducing 'Fein'Tunes http://www.russfeingold.org - Ha! This is awesome. Wisconsin's State Senator rocks.

For real time updates follow me on Twitter @ladyhero.

Are you a Shaq or a Britney?

2009-04-01T22:02:00.006-05:00

Last week the New York Times published a story about ghost twittering that made many Twitter fans stop dead in their tracks. (Ghost twittering is paying someone to tweet on your behalf.)

I understand why this concept upsets many social media advocates who preach authenticity (as do I), but in some cases is ghostwriting really so bad? I mean, does anyone really truly believe that @BarackObama is Barack Obama? Of course not, but during the 2008 election I didn't hear anyone shouting blasphemy. Instead I read stories and listened to newscasts about how innovative the Obama campaign was. How they were leading the way for future political campaigns.

So the question then is when is it okay to hire a ghostwriter? My personal rule of thumb, if you are a celebrity or business it might be okay to hire a ghostwriter. Obviously, I would encourage everyone to tweet on their own behalf. In Shaq's words, "It's 140 characters. If you need a ghostwriter for that, I feel sorry for you."

However, as long as one person is managing your account I do not take issue with the practice. After all, if I am hired to represent a company I do my best to integrate myself and become part of the team. More often than not I do feel part of the team, so why wouldn't I be allowed to tweet on behalf of company XYZ?

Isn't that what PR people are hired to do? Communicate on behalf of their clients? I realize this is n0t ideal, but as long as the company is posting quality content and continues to be interactive and as transparent as possible does it really matter if the message comes from the PR agency or the internal PR team?

In addition, as long as a celebrity's Twitter account doesn't try to pass itself off as the real person a ghostwriter might even be preferable! After all, a celebrity is a type of brand just like a company. In fact, a celebrity ghostwriter is likely to be much more responsive than an actual celebrity and more responsible. As in they will actually know when the next interview is taking place and at what time.

At the end of the day I too wish that each Twitter account, each blog post could be authentic and real. But let's face it, as different social networks become popular this is not always going to be possible. It's time for some of us to come back to reality, jump down from our high horse and appreciate some Twitter accounts for what they are.

Twitter Links: March 22-28

2009-03-29T21:43:00.003-05:00

This was a pretty slow Twitter week for me. The good news? A&W will be opening 12 new stores in the Milwaukee area. I LOVE A&W. See below to find out more.

RT @jamesdickey Get a ReTweet Button for Your Blog: http://tinyurl.com/dx7666
RT @rheoflux @convincingindie: Here you go everyone, I just made your day awesome. (You are welcome.): http://bit.ly/Ii5xt - This IS awesome
I voted for Peter Shankman on the Internet March Mayhem! http://march.shoeboxed.com/
RT @wausauherald 2/3 of those who died in WI snowmobile crashes were drunk http://tinyurl.com/d8peag - Drinking & driving applies to all vehicles!

RT @MarkKass MkeHamburger wars? - A&W to open 12 Milwaukee locations following Sonic's arrival in the area. http://twurl.nl/8qshto - Yes!!!
YouTube creates a place for academics on thier site http://tinyurl.com/c4e358 - Thanks @Yaybia.

How to use Twitter - Some guidelines

2009-03-24T23:07:00.004-05:00

May 13, 2008 - the date of my very first tweet. What did it say? "following Glenn on Twitter." How utterly mundane. The point? The point is no matter who you are we all start out on Twitter (and any social network for that matter) completely clueless.

The good news? I have found the Twitter community to be pretty understanding and more then happy to help. With that in mind I present some of my own Twitter guidelines.

First, in order to be successful you need to know what your purpose is. Why are you Twittering in the first place? So many of us, myself included, jump into Twitter without a game plan. The sooner you figure it out the faster you will be able to gain influence and generate results.

I use Twitter for several reasons. My overall goal is to build and enhance my brand, but apart from that I use Twitter to network and keep up on industry trends.

NOTE: If your goals do not match mine the guidelines you choose to follow may be different and that's okay.

1) Above all else remember, you are a content provider. I believe this point holds true for everyone on Twitter. Whether you're selling shoes or promoting yourself. If the content you're providing doesn't appeal to anyone no one will follow you.

2) Cater to your audience. If you're trying to sell shoes you shouldn't be talking about tech news. Talk about new fashions and your product line. Remember your purpose. As a general rule I tweet about social media, the PR/advertising industry and travel. These are things I'm passionate about, so as I use Twitter to enhance my personal brand I will naturally attract an audience that is looking for these qualities.

3) Do NOT follow everyone. Just because someone follows you does not mean you have to do the same, nor does it mean they have to follow you. This is not Facebook. The people you follow should be those you find interesting and can help further your goals. You can still talk to those you do not follow with @ replies.

4) Join the conversation. I have the most fun on Twitter when I actually communicate with other people. That's what this social networking thing is all about, right? So lend some advice and supply a link. Don't worry if they aren't following you back. If you provide key content and engage others your following will grow organically.

5) Share the love. Now that you're tweeting it's time to give kudos to your fellow tweeters. Did you enjoy that last tweet? Retweet (RT) it! People LOVE being retweeted. It's a great way to give others props and increase your network.

6) Be human. Some may disagree with me, but I think it's perfectly okay (even good!) to let a few "boring" tweets slip out. It proves to the rest of us that there's a real person on the other side of the screen. Two weeks ago I tweeted, "Going home to pack and then off to Wausau for the weekend." Is this very exciting or meaningful? No. But it does give insight to my followers and explains why I may not be responsive during the weekend. However, you should be careful. No one needs a play by play of when you eat, sleep, wake-up and go to the bathroom.

7) Yes, you're on Twitter to promote yourself, but don't overdo it. A lot of times self-promotion seems like a dirty word, it's not. You just have to be careful how you do it. For instance, I typically blog once a week. I would like to more frequently, but that's where I'm at right now. As long as I think my posts are relevant I tweet them, but only once. Never RT yourself. If you blog multiple times a week or have other self-promotional channels try to keep it to a minimum. Only broadcast your very best and most relevant work. We know you're on Twitter, but we don't need it shoved down our throats.

Do you have more Twitter advice? Did I forget anything? Share it in the comments section. Until next time this is @ladyhero signing out.

Twitter Links: March 8-21

2009-03-22T20:33:00.004-05:00

It has been a busy couple of weeks at work, so here are my last two weeks of Twitter links. See below for lots of cheap travel opportunities and online tracking tools. Enjoy!

RT @daynasteele Would you like Twitter with your fries? Great article from Newsweek on the power/speed of Twitter. http://tinyurl.com/cud7yj
Customized newspapers in L.A. http://tinyurl.com/awb8un It might prolong the printed papers lifetime. What do you think?
RT @patrickstrother A list of 10 free tools you can use to track what people are saying about your company or products. http://bit.ly/NQTQR
RT @mashable Cliqset Wants to Unify Your Social Identities http://ping.fm/yiqEx - Has anyone tried it yet?
RT @TravlAndLeisure 11 Money-Saving European Travel Tips: http://tinyurl.com/cxqc3t - For all my friends looking at Euro. vacations.
RT @prblog @themediaisdying not sure if you saw top 10 newspapers likely to fold next? http://tinyurl.com/d25m4s - I hope not!
RT @mashable Your Honor, I Tweeted http://ping.fm/bRZ7p - An interesting problem.
I'm already in love w/ Twendz. Thank you Waggener Edstrom. http://tinyurl.com/d2arq4
A really smart post from AgencySpy about the value of advertising online v. TV. http://tinyurl.com/c33fdc
RT @msnbc_travelTake in Madrid with a vacation from $599 http://tinyurl.com/ctyn4l - So tempting!

For real time tweets follow me on Twitter. http://twitter.com/ladyhero

Are you Twendz-ing?

2009-03-19T22:05:00.005-05:00

The PR agency W aggener Edstrom has recently launched a new Twitter tool called Twendz. This tool is incredibly valuable for PR people and anyone else who is in charge of managing a brand. By now we are hopefully all aware that the first step to take before using social media is to listen. But even this first step can be daunting. After all, who has time to sift through hundreds of tweets? This is where Twendz comes in.

After entering your keywords the tool pulls the latest tweets and displays the overall mood be it positive or negative. It's a great way to monitor what people are saying about your company or client. My only complaint is depending on your keywords it can take quite a while to load before you have any tangible results.

You can read more about Twendz on CNET. Go check it out and let me know what you think.

SXSW: Why not me?

2009-03-16T21:00:00.018-05:00

The past couple weeks have been filled with valuable and exciting social media events. Last week was Ragan and PRSA's second annual Social Media Conference for Communicators held in Las Vegas. This week brings the much anticipated South by Southwest* festival and conference for the music, film and interactive industries. The festival is being held in Austin, TX March 13-22 and will be the event I kick myself for not attending all year.

But the point of this post (despite it's title) is not to complain about being stuck in dismal Wisconsin where I am excited by a high of 60 degrees. No, the point is to highlight SXSW's awesome use of social media.

SXSW has truly embraced the third component of the conference - Interactive. It is obvious in the blog posts, hashtags, mobile apps and microsites. Here, I would like to highlight a few of the social media endeavors from SXSW that all communicators can learn from (whether or not they are at the event).

1) Blogs
The first is a blog post by one of my favorite bloggers, Rohit Bhargava. On his Influential Marketing Blog he writes "How To Blog, Party, Learn, Promote & Network Like A Rockstar At SXSW 2009." There are many tips in this post that can be used at any large conference or event. One of my favorite nuggets of wisdom is, "Take good notes. In other words, don't write down everything - just the "aha moments" that come from the session. Those are all you'll really need afterwards anyway."

2) Hashtags - #SXSW
By now creating a hashtag for an event is hardly new, but it is incredibly useful. A hashtag allows event goers to communicate with each other and ask event organizers questions. Since Twitter is all about immediacy event organizers can learn about a problem quickly, and hopefully fix it in time to make sure everyone has a great experience. It's also a good way to keep in touch with media.

3) Mobile Apps
Amid many mobile apps making their debut at SXSW, Mashable has dubbed "Foursqu are the Breakout Mobile App at SXSW."

"Foursquare, which offers an iPhone app or mobile browser experience, works by letting you tell the app where you are and then lets your friends know where to find you. All you need to do is check-in via SMS (text to 50500) or mobile app.

Using the Foursquare iPhone app, you can automatically check-in and post shouts based on where you are and what you’re doing. You can also find your friends, search venues, earn badges, and add friends."

I'm sure many will balk at this app as the end of privacy, but really, what is private anymore? As long as you have nothing to hide Foursquare is the perfect way to connect with friends. Still hesitant? Don't worry, Foursquare allows you to log-in and -out, so you won't have to worry about broadcasting your whereabouts while dodging an annoying friend.

4) Microsites
Microsites have also been a large component of SXSW this year. There was a lot of hype built around http://www.secretsxsw.com/; launched shortly before the festival. The site allows festival goers to keep track of all the cool stuff they can get for free! At an event this large you want to make sure you don't miss out on the best swag. It also provides businesses with a great way to reach their target market.

The second microsite I found on Kevin Dugan's Strategic Public Relations blog. As a festival sponsor Pepsi went above and beyond the usual in-kind and/or check writing donation with a marketplace booth. To optimize their sponsorship they created a web site that truly provides festival goers value.

Using Twitter, the web site tracks what SXSW participants are doing by breaking activities into six simple categories. The site also tells participants what's popular, where people are, where parties are and what interesting tweets were "overheard." The site accomplishes all this by collecting data from Twitter.

This is one of my favorite SXSW social media examples. Pepsi nailed it. This is a classic example of a company remembering that it's not all about them. It's all about their customers.

*South by Southwest (SXSW, Inc.) is a private company based in Austin, Texas, dedicated to building and delivering conference and festival events for entertainment and related media industry professionals. Since 1987, SXSW has produced the internationally recognized Music and Media Conference & Festival.

Twitter Links March 1 - 7

2009-03-08T22:09:00.005-05:00

There was a lot of social media and travel news last week. Look below for the new Skittles web site, find a way to make yourself look thinner on Facebook, find the best cities for Shopaholics and a list of the top 10 U.S. cities for vacation value.

RT @telie Find out when it's best to tweet someone: http://www.tweetoclock.com
RT @stedavies Wanna make yourself look thinner on your Facebook profile? A new site that helps you http://tinyurl.com/abp659
Kudos to #Skittles for trying something new. I'm not sure if I like it though... http://skittles.com
RT @JeffCole53 @StephenTiano @guykawasaki Are bloggers journalists? Ask the House. http://adjix.com/5eg8
RT @sorayad @jonathanlandman A new thing for NYT: Local Websites Bklyn http://bit.ly/PlLuI & NJ http://bit.ly/7ZkaH - I hope it's a success.
RT @davitydave Where Does the Dollar Do Best? Frommer's Global Price Index for March 2009 http://twitclicks.com/loms
http://twitpic.com/1tncr - I was just handed this orange from my fellow B+Lers. A new Wellness Program at Boelter+Lincoln? Only good can ...
RT @VisitChicago Chicago made the list: Top 10 U.S. Cities for vacation value http://bit.ly/TGvCw - Some locations surprised me. Atlanta?
RT @theGlenn Saw last night's perf. of Pride and Prejudice @ the Rep. It was a great show. See it! http://is.gd/lMya
RT @boelterlincoln @Charno @onmilwaukee Downtown Dining Week May 28 - June 4 http://bit.ly/EJf3G - Mark your calendars!
RT @msnbc_travel Top 10 cities for shopaholics http://snipurl.com/d5ngx
RT @jaimy_marie Reading: Freebies + Social Media = Hot Restaurant Strategy (via @microgeist) http://is.gd/l5Hy

To receive live updates follow me on Twitter @ladyhero.

The Perfect One

2009-03-01T22:19:00.009-06:00

This weekend I helped do my part to jump start the American economy by visiting the mall. While making a purchase at Victoria's Secret I noticed the extremely personable woman behind the counter dropping a business shaped card into my bag. I assumed it was some kind of coupon and remembered to look for it once I was home.

To my surprise it was more then just a coupon. The text on one side of the card read:

TEXT US & BE THE FIRST TO EXPERIENCE
NEW!

PERFECT ONE

3.3.09

Below it provided the text number and code to receive more information on their newest bra and a special offer. I was hooked.

Once I sent my message I received a response saying I had been added to the Victoria's Secret mobile list that would provide me with exclusive offers, event coverage and new product information. It also gave me a way to opt-out.

I like this tactic for three reasons.

It's a great way to grow your mobile list. As a Victoria's Secret credit card holder they could have easily added me to their mobile list without my knowledge. Instead, they gave me a chance to opt-in before bombarding me with messages.
They gave me a quick and easy way to opt-out at the beginning. I don't have to call Victoria's Secret, visit a store or even check out their web site to opt-out. They included the option in their very first message to me. This tells me that they value my time and business.
They gave me a good reason to stay. Not only do I want to remain on their mobile list to get the first special offer, but they also made it clear that my loyalty would be rewarded with more offers and information that I will get before the general consumer.

Assuming this mobile list does not turn into weekly or monthly spam I will be happy to stay on it and sing their praises. This has me wondering. How many other companies are jumping on the text message bandwagon? Do you know of any? It's a smart move considering there are more text messages sent and received every day than the total population of the planet.*

And in case you're wondering what the "Perfect One" looks like. I found it (a bit early) on the Victoria's Secret web site. Enjoy.

*Taken from Richard Sander's presentation at the Sony BMG annual Global Marketing Meeting

Twitter Links Feb. 22-28

2009-03-01T19:00:00.002-06:00

I hope everyone had a good weekend. This past week we learned about Australia's contest to hire a travel blogger (for $100,000), how the stimulus bill will effect high speed rail and Peter Shankman's "What's Hot on HARO" site went live.

Enjoy!

RT @mashable The Twitter Song http://tinyurl.com/aenvsz
RT @chrisbrogan Did you see Australia's contest 2 hire a travel blogger ($100k 4 6 mos) . http://bit.ly/8kCbB
For those who hate winter... http://tinyurl.com/bm9xb7 By @laermer
Submit your greatest creative ideas that got killed by clients at http://killedideas.com/. Winning ideas will be in a book.
10 Ways Generation Y Will Change the Workplace from Employee Evolution - http://tinyurl.com/de6pek
RT @theGlenn Wired - What the Stimulus Bill Means for High-Speed Rail http://is.gd/kSDV - Finally Amtrak gets the attention it deserves
RT @onmilwaukee Tourism CEO moving back to San Francisco http://bit.ly/6pxhi
RT @skydiver Woohoo! Retweet the hell out of this please! www.whoh.com is live! What's Hot on HARO has a home! :-) iTunes rss in a few days!
RT @NewsHubDid you know @milwaukeepolice puts surveillance videos of robberies on YouTube? See if you recognize anyone. http://plurl.me/3np
This video is a bit long for the internet but it's a great way to reach Gatorade's audience. Thanks @Yaybia. http://tinyurl.com/b724dn

5 Reasons Why NewsHub is Better Than BizJournalMke

2009-02-25T20:29:00.006-06:00

A lot of traditional media outlets in Milwaukee have recently started Twitter accounts. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (@NewsHub) and the Business Journal Serving the Greater Milwaukee Area (@BizJournalMke) are two that I follow. And I have to say that NewsHub kicks BizJournalMke's ass. Here are five reasons why.

Followers - BizJournalMke does not follow anyone! In contrast NewsHub follows two thirds of the amount of people who follow them. Can you guess who is engaging their followers?
Tweeting Hours - BizJournalMke tends to tweet only during normal business hours. Twitter is all about immediacy and last time I checked news happens 24/7. In contrast NewsHub tweets at all hours. Guess who's getting scooped on stories?
Community Engagement - If you don't follow anyone it's pretty hard to engage in any type of discussion. NewsHub frequently retweets, direct messages and @Replies. They also link to other Wisconsin media outlets for more coverage and stories. If I have a news question or breaking news tip you bet I'm letting NewsHub know. They provide value to me, so I will return the favor. Plus, it's clear they will receive it!
Current Events - In addition to talking to followers, NewsHub also engages in larger conversations. For example, last night NewsHub used the #Obama hashtag to talk to the Twitterverse about Obama's speech in real time. Where was BizJournalMke? With all the articles about the economic stimulus package they should have been contributing.
Character - Finally BizJournalMke just lacks character. Ninety nine percent of their tweets are simply their headline and link to their news story. NewsHub's tweets are catchy and playful. You can tell an actual human is behind them. For example, one tweet said, "Puff daddy, ahem, that is Michael Phelps, commits to making comeback meet May 14." The actual headline was "Olympic hero Michael Phelps to return from 3-month suspension at swim meet in Charlotte." Which one would get you to click the link?

Twitter Links Feb. 15 - 21

2009-02-22T16:50:00.003-06:00

It's time for this week's Twitter links. This week the UK bans kissing in train stations, a Snuggie pub crawl is scheduled in Chicago and we learn what the uber rich waste their money on.

6 Ways to Fit in When You're the Youngest in the Room http://tinyurl.com/bbtswt
RT @larsma @NewsHub @newlocalmedia City of MKE will text you in the event of 4" rule/snow emergency. Sign up here: http://twurl.cc/h3b
RT @themediaisdying We need YOUR resumes and jobs - help the laid off & looking by sending mediaishiring@gmail.com (@themediaishuntn/shirin)
RT @SocialMedia411 WARNING - EXPLICIT LANGUAGE. Cursebird monitors real-time swearing on Twitter: http://bit.ly/f14m7 WTF, what's next?
RT @avflox Vatican survey reports women are more prone 2 give in 2 sins of pride & envy & men 2 sins of lust & gluttony: http://tr.im/gx4r
Check out Boelter + Lincoln's new web site. http://www.boelterlincoln.com/
New Kissing Ban at UK train station. http://tinyurl.com/c7ctzu
RT @melwhalen @jaimy_marie @tommytrc Snuggie Pub Crawl Sat. April 18 http://tinyurl.com/ddo3ad - Hilarious. If only I had a Snuggie.
RT @skydiver This is a pretty amazing video... Take 5 minutes to watch. http://wimp.com/fiftypeople/ - I would wake up in Italy w/ friends.
RT @daynasteele @bcbusiness Eye Candy: The 17 most expensive luxury items in the world: http://is.gd/khWz

Remember, to get the links in real time follow me on Twitter @ladyhero.

Have a good week!

AT&T Wasting Trees... Again

2009-02-21T14:57:00.003-06:00

I have been an ATT* customer for the last five years, and rarely received mail that was not a bill, so it surprised me to see a magazine from them in my mailbox. The magazine had articles like "Texting & Dating: the New Rules" and "New Offers that won't Break the Bank!"

I was confused. First, I had never received a magazine like this before and second because I am signed up for paperless billing. Wouldn't an e-newsletter be a better choice? Clearly, they don't know their audience. With all the crap ATT has gotten for their 300 plus pages of iPhone phone bills you would think they would be a little more conscientious about printing materials.

I know some people would still rather get a hard copy, but for those who clearly do not want to waste the paper wouldn't you distribute the information electronically? That really got me thinking.

Sending a newsletter is a pretty old tactic. To be honest, I don't think many people read them. Sure, you might scan the headlines but a newsletter from my cell phone provider is pretty low on my priority list. Isn't there a better way to reach me? Creating a Twitter account might be a good start. What about creating cool apps that only work on the ATT network? ATT has started to use Facebook, but in my quick search I couldn't find an official fan page.

Here's an idea. One of the things ATT is known for are their rollover minutes. In fact, I have hundreds of rollover minutes that expire each month because I never use them. (Many Gen-Yers would rather text than talk. Most of the time it's faster, and there's no need to "make nice" with mindless banter about the weather.) My point?

What if ATT really started to embrace social media and create a Facebook app where ATT users could donate their rollover minutes to other ATT users? What a great story that would be! Can you feel the potential? People could start connecting with other ATT users all over the globe. Surely that would be a better way to spend time and money than writing cutesy articles and printing what I can only imagine is thousands of magazines.

So after all this I have only one thing to say. ATT, please stop sending me pointless magazines and start engaging me in ways that matter. To ME. Thanks.

*For some reason blogger won't let me use the "and" symbol so bear with me.

Twitter Links Feb. 8 - 14

2009-02-15T18:32:00.002-06:00

It's time for another round of Twitter links. Read, learn, enjoy!

RT @hbobier Have you met @davetheshoeguy yet? Win a Pair of Manolo Blahnik or Christain Louboutin Shoes at www.davetheshoeguy.com.
Get your Grammy fix of winners and highlights here http://tinyurl.com/ajcwpz.
RT @onmilwaukee 2009 Best happy hour: Rascals: The home of the "One Dollar Happy Hour." http://bit.ly/1zgtEa
RT @ironhorsehotel AMC Mad Men coming to MKE! Hosted by Adworkers at Eisner museum Feb 25, after party at Branded http://twitpic.com/1es3f
RT @theGlenn high speed rail, German style. Because why not serve beer? http://tinyurl.com/bvu9v4 - Why can't America do this? Like now.
RT @Travelzoo NEWSFLASH: 14 European Cities from NYC, $137-$149 http://bit.ly/A1T7
Want to get famous? Follow @skydiver and then join www.helpareporter.com - Get sourced, get quoted, get famous, all free
RT @jamesdickey A-list bloggers are quitting Will corp networks save blogs? http://tinyurl.com/adda33 - What do you think?
RT @hbobier Haha! Gotta love work-related comics. RT@bastholm http://twitpic.com/1faqu - This is great.
Just filed my state taxes. It was easier than I thought possible. Wisconsinites can file at http://tinyurl.com/af25lv.
Wish the Republicans would have let some education spending go through. http://tinyurl.com/cy648l
Thanks @skydiver for the link. Reporter goes "Christian Bale" on PR person. http://tinyurl.com/b8cy5f Enjoy.
RT @BizJournalMKE Brewers will try to take over Wrigley http://twurl.nl/xmu61p - Not even opening day and the rivalry is picking up steam
RT @melwhalen Man appears free of HIV after stem cell transplant: http://tinyurl.com/c27o8v WOW!
@mcarnold NEWaukee is a social networking group for young pro's. First event was last night. Check them out here http://tinyurl.com/ago9po

By Consumers, For Consumers

2009-02-09T12:30:00.006-06:00

This article on AgencySpy got me thinking today. With the invention of mobile phones with video cameras, YouTube and recording and editing software it has become increasingly easy for the average person to document their experiences with their favorite brands. We've seen this recently with the Dutch Heineken walk in freezer ad. (To view the original ad click here.) I'm still waiting to hear if this is for real.

And now we have this lovely ad for Trader Joe's or arguably the Palm Treo.

Not all consumer material is positive of course. The below Comcast video is enough to make any PR person cringe.

Even though some user-generated content is a cause for crisis communications I urge PR and advertising professionals to not take positive user-generated videos for granted. When a brand has consumers championing their product or service they should think of ways to leverage the attention. Maybe they would make good spokespeople? Heck, maybe they'd even do well in an ad? Perhaps you could use them to write a blog post on the company web site or become a regular contributor. There are lots of different ways to involve and embrace your brand ambassadors. Don't let them slip through your fingers!

Twitter links Feb. 1-7

2009-02-08T22:30:00.003-06:00

Every Sunday I will post links from my previous weeks Twitter posts. My hope is that you will find these links helpful and interesting. Let me know what you think! Right now each post will show up just as it did on Twitter. I'll do my best not to post links that are no longer relevant. To get them in real time follow me on Twitter @ladyhero.

RT @rheoflux Someone pulled a Fight Club porn flash during the Superbowl last night! http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/...
RT @mashable ...and how much is your Twitter account worth? http://tweetvalue.com/
Play this Oscar game on YouTube. Can you tell the difference between the pics? http://tinyurl.com/c35l6l
RT @mashable Twitter Influence Calculator is a neat tool http://tinyurl.com/c5crmm - It takes a while too load, but it's a useful tool.
@larsma You can design your own business cards for free here http://tinyurl.com/ajzyf5
Vote for your favorite MKE single to make it into the top 10. http://www.jsonline.com/ent...
RT @agencyspy Nielsen Changes Tune: Super Bowl 43 Was Highest Rated, Ever http://tinyurl.com/bpdue7
Corn ethanol worse for health and environment than gasoline. http://tinyurl.com/ajgek5
RT @rohitbhargava Geek News Of The Day: Rubik's Cube goes spherical w/ the "Rubik's 360" - http://tinyurl.com/dcv255
This makes me nervous. Candyland as a movie? http://tinyurl.com/cort6z Princess Frostine was my fav. Who was your fav Candyland character?
To learn how to make better use of LinkedIn... http://imonlinkedinnowwhat....
If anyone is new to Twitter and wondering what the # signs are about read this article http://tinyurl.com/abhoh5

My Favorite Superbowl Ads

2009-02-02T19:06:00.012-06:00

Between Jennifer Hudson's national anthem and the winning 78 yard drive by Pittsburgh, NBC Sunday night viewers saw $206 million dollars in advertising. Rather than bash all the awful ads I'll tell you my favorites and briefly mention the ones that didn't make the cut.

My Top Four
Hulu's ad featuring Alec Baldwin was one of the best ads of the night. It worked because A) Alec Baldwin is hilarious, and B) it gave viewers an immediate reason to visit the site -- to watch your favorite Superbowl ads! I also liked the ad because it educated viewers who aren't as Internet savvy about another "free" source to view high quality TV. Take heed, there is no longer a need for fancy DVR or expensive cable and satellite! Hulu provides high quality entertainment for the price of a high speed Internet connection.

Doritos Crystal Ball ad was hilarious. Some will argue that it contained unnecessary violence. To them I say get over yourself. While I have seen ads where the college humor goes too far this one had everyone in the house laughing. Maybe those who were offended have just been kicked in the balls too many times?

Not all the Miller High Life one second ads made it to game time, but they were great. The Milwaukee market saw the "High Life" ad. These ads work because they stick to Miller's brand. In a time where $3 million seems a bit excessive for a Superbowl ad, Miller went the cheaper route and bought ad time in local markets. The media buy complimented the brand message perfectly. Miller High Life clearly gives you the best bang for your buck.

Finally, I have to give up for PETA. Creating an ad that you know will be banned isn't exactly a new trick, but PETA was successful in creating a ton of buzz. Most major news sources and several blogs ran stories on the ad.

I'm not sure if it will convince anyone to go "veggie," but it's a nice spot. Does anyone know if the women in the ad are actually vegetarians? If they are, that might give people something to think about.

'Veggie Love': PETA's Banned Super Bowl Ad

Other ads that deserve honorable mentions are: Cash4Gold, E*Trade (I can't help, it I love the baby) and the NBC: LMAO ad.

What Should Have Stayed on the Cutting Room Floor
While there were many disappointments this year the Budweiser ads were the worst. The Clydesdale's did not make me want to drink beer much less Budweiser. I was also put off by all the 3D ads. No one I was with had brought special 3D glasses to watch the ads and without them they fell short. Maybe I would have felt differently if I'd had the glasses?

To see what the Twitterverse thought of the ads go to Search.Twitter.com and type in #superads09. What were your favorite Superbowl ads?

The Whopper Campaign

2009-01-15T19:39:00.000-06:00

Burger King along with their ad agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky recently launched a Facebook application named Whopper Sacrifice. Burger King's tongue in cheek Facebook application had users delete 10 friends from their network to receive an e-mailed coupon for the new Angry Whopper. The friends were then sent a message announcing their deletion in favor of a fast food sandwich. Ouch...

To date, Burger King claims 232,566 friends were deleted in favor of the free Whopper. In addition, the campaign has sparked controversy with more than the 232,566 former Facebook friends. After going live for only a couple of days, the application was hacked allowing people to get a free burger without dismissing 10 friends. Then Facebook shut down the application proclaiming it violated user's privacy. The termination is allegedly temporary, but after being hacked and shut down by Facebook I wouldn't be surprised if the app was gone for good.

While some may say this campaign has been unsuccessful I have to disagree. The controversy surrounding Whopper Sacrifice has generated so much buzz that I'm sure Burger King has far surpassed its awareness goals. A quick Google search will show you that articles about the campaign have appeared in the New York Daily News, L.A. Times, Media Post, New York Times and MSNBC to name a few.

That is not to say I don't have my own criticisms of the campaign. While I admire Burger King and CP+B for thinking outside the box and using social media in a unique way, I'm not sure of the overall strategy. This Facebook application has certainly raised awareness and encouraged people to try the Angry Whopper, but it also flies in the face of Facebook creators. Typically the idea is to gain friends not lose them. An application that forces users to lose friends is sure to get Marc Zuckerberg a little miffed. True, Facebook is not hurting for users, but I wonder how eager they or other social networking sites will be to work with these companies in the future.

Have Burger King and CP+B jeopardized their standing with social networks?

When Your Social Life and Professional Life Blur...

2009-01-12T21:47:00.000-06:00

Not so long ago, when people punched out and went home for the day they were done worrying about their professional image. They were free to relax with friends, and even get a little... Crazy. This does not hold true today. In an era where competition is as fierce as ever, my generation does not only need to worry about getting into the best schools, having the best grades or even landing the perfect internship. Instead, many are worrying about their online presence and how it may be affecting their current job and job search.

With everyone Facebooking and Twittering the social media space does not only belong to a circle of close friends. For many it is not uncommon for an aunt, uncle or even parent to be part of their social network. Furthermore, many people are "friending" colleagues.

I am a big fan of social media, but I must admit that sometimes I yearn for the days where the only harm an unflattering picture could cause is a mild humiliation in class on Monday.

Today I manage five to six different social media accounts. Not only do I try to make sure all of these online spaces are kept current, but I also worry about the messages I send out. Would my coworkers and family approve of my Facebook status? What about that last tweet? There's no complaining about work or the company when one of your friends is a V.P. Is it ok to decline a coworkers friend request? And, how much is too much, or not enough? If I don't tweet everyday will I be considered out of the loop? If I tweet 10 times a day will people think I'm neurotic?

The hardest and greatest part about social media is there are no rules. There aren't even many social norms. What is appropriate and what's not is completely up to the person and their social network.

On either side of this debate are two, I think, valid arguments. The first is that the Internet is a public space, and if a person is leary about some of their "extra curriculars" they should think twice before posting online. The second deals with the right to privacy. I think it's safe to say that most social media web sites allow the user to play around with their own privacy settings. For instance, I block all of those who I have formed professional relationships with from viewing my photos on Facebook. To all my professional friends it's nothing personal, but as I try to brand myself online I don't want you looking at photos from my latest Saturday night at the bar.

Which brings me to my main question. Is there a way to enjoy all social media has to offer without compromising yourself? Is it possible to keep parts of your private life private online? If we remain professional it can take much of the fun out of social media. If we strip our Facebook profiles to look like nondescript paper cutouts we are left with little sense of authenticity and character.

Is there a solution? A way to have fun with social media while not scaring away potential clients and job offers? What about creating two online persona's? One with an alias to be used with close friends and another to be used for business?

Right now I am debating whether or not to post this to my Twitter and Facebook account. How will my colleagues react when they see my hesitation towards sharing my whole self with them online? I guess I'll have to wait and see. Until then, how do you manage your professional and private lives online?

The Economy

2008-12-08T21:58:00.000-06:00

I will admit that when I first started to hear about the housing crisis and possible recession I was a bit naive. Okay, very naive. The financial crisis was going to have a big impact, but it couldn't possibly affect me. After all I don't own a house, I rent! I couldn't even lose much money in my 401K because I had only been contributing for 9 months.

Then things started getting worse. Gas prices spiked and getting loans got trickier. Despite all this I still thought I'd be okay. Until student loans hit...

You see, it has come to my attention that I am not as good as managing my money as I thought. I pay my bills on time and try to make more than the minimum payment, but it isn't always enough. Ever since college I've had a tendency to live above my pay grade. If I could "afford" to go to Spring Break and pay off my credit card in a few months what was the harm? I hadn't gone shopping in months. I work hard, I deserve a shopping spree. I graduated college, I not only deserve, I need a new car!

Sidebar - To be fair I did try to find a used Mazda3, but there weren't any available with all the features I wanted and in the right color... Okay, I had no excuse.

The thing is once you add up all the vacations, shopping excursions, new car and students loans I am left with a sizable amount of debt.

The solution? After the grace period lapsed on my school loans I requested a forbearance for a year. At that point I already had a second job and adding another bill was not an option. Ten months later student loans were coming and it was time to stop procrastinating and start consolidating. As you can imagine, this is where the credit crisis started to bite me in the ass. No one would consolidate my loans, so I am left with three monthly payments.

Today I am struggling, like the majority of Americans, to keep my head above water. (It's a good thing my parents are thrilled with home made CD's for Christmas.) I know a lot of people want to blame the financial institutions and auto companies for their failings, and I agree, but I think the American people need to take some of the blame too. After all, it's my fault I owe $5,000 to my credit card company. It's my fault I bought a new car without considering how much it would really cost each month once you factor in insurance and maintenance.

While I feel for families whose homes are in foreclosure they had a hand in putting themselves there. The financial institutions should have made better decisions and the auto makers need to be wise enough to run stronger business models.

I guess what I'm saying is that we need to stop pointing fingers and admit that we as a nation have collectively fucked up. We have all been living above our pay grades. Whether it's the CEO who tried to make the stock or home more valuable, the family who bought a house they couldn't afford or a college student who went on spring break, we've all been financially irresponsible and it's time to face the music. The government, businesses and individual people need to help one another get back on track.

Personally, I don't like the term "bail out." It sounds too much like a hand out, and Americans don't take hand outs. At least that's what Denny Crane would say. Instead, we all need a helping hand. The financial institutions, auto companies, families who no longer have a place to stay, recent graduates and current students who can barely afford an education and the millions of people who have lost their jobs. Our government needs to provide that helping hand, and in doing so they need to do more than hand us a blank check.

In return I'm going to do my part to be more fiscally responsible. Are you?

MotrinMoms Observations

2008-11-18T17:29:00.000-06:00

Attending a PRSA luncheon today it was painfully obvious which PR professionals were tuned into social media and which were not. As I sat at a table with five other PR practitioners the MotrinMoms incident was brought up. Only two of us had heard of MotrinMoms. Coincidentally, we were the only two who had Twitter accounts.

The Motrin Campaign
So what is the MotrinMoms incident? Motrin developed an ad campaign aimed at Moms who carry children in baby slings. The ad claimed that Mom's do this to look like "an official Mom." Adding that baby slings are a great cause of neck and back pain. The solution? Motrin, of course!

The ads were placed online and in magazines. Once Mom's saw the ads they were deeply offended and began posting furious messages on Twitter. They organized and used a #MotrinMoms tag to make their tweets easy to find. To their credit, Motrin was able to respond to the outcry over the weekend and has since removed the ads. To view the ad and Moms responses view the videos below.

The Industry's Awareness
My question is after all this, how did only a select group of PR professionals have any knowledge of the event? The simple (and scary) answer is that many PR professionals are still not tuned into social media. I find this astonishing when social media is talked about at luncheons, at the PRSA National Conference, in news articles, trade publications... Social media appears to be so prevalent in our industry that popular PR vendors (Cision, Vocus and PRNewswire to name a few) are holding Webinars.

If Motrin has taught us anything it's that it is very important to listen to what people are saying about your company online. If PR professionals are not listening their clients will not be able to respond to negative attacks or benefit from this new medium.

The Solution
The only way to get comfortable with these new tools is by using them. My advice? If you don't have a Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn account get one now. Never heard of Digg? Google it and start learning. The only way PR professionals will be educated about social media is if they invest the time to learn about it, and that means playing with these tools.

If you aren't convinced that Twitter is a valuable tool go to http://www.summize.com/ and put in your companies keywords. It will generate a list of tweets of what people are saying about your company. I urge all communication professionals, old and young, to start learning more about social media. I am confident that failing to immerse yourself in this new medium will cause you to find yourself unemployable.

Where were you?

2008-11-10T14:15:00.000-06:00

Where were you the night Barack Obama was elected? This question is bound to be asked time and time again. There are certain events in each country's history that define a generation. For my grandparents it was Pearl Harbor and the stock market crash of 1929. My parents generation was defined by the JFK assassination, Martin Luther King assassination and Woodstock. Generation X has partly been shaped by the challenger explosion.

This of course leads to Generation Y -- the millenials. When I was little I'd hear stories of the 1960's and it sounded like the most exciting time. The U.S. was full of young revolutionairies, mind altering drugs, bell bottom pants, duck and cover drills and an endless parade of events that would never be forgotten. To be clear, I am not advocating mind altering drugs or bell bottoms, but there was something special about the 60's that made my middle school mind yearn for that same kind of excitement.

As it turns out I got exactly what I wanted. The questions that will define my generation will be, "Where were you when the Twin Towers fell?" and "Where were you the night Barack Obama was elected?" Maybe if I'm lucky... "Where were you when the first woman was elected president?" or "Where were you when we dropped our dependence on foreign oil?"

I am very excited and honored to be a part of this generation. My generation will launch the world into a new technological era, we will work to find solutions to the world's energy crisis and hopefully make life just a little bit better for the next generation. In the spirit of hope here are a few of my wishes for the next twenty years in no particular order.

U.S. and all other nations become energy independent, reducing our global carbon footprint
Legalization of gay marriage and gay adoption
Full sex education for all children
An end to the abortion debate - give women the right to choose
Better regulation of reproductive facilities (sperm banks)
Higher educational standards with the government support to make this a reality
Affordable healthcare for everyone
An end to war in Iraq

What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

Brilliant VW Campaign

2008-10-14T20:30:00.000-05:00

I've just witnessed a new campaign from VW and it's brilliant.

Within 10 minutes of receiving an e-mail from a friend 10 20-somethings had logged onto the VW web site and started learning more about the new Routan. The Routan is the latest minivan from Volkswagon. This incredibly intelligent campaign is aimed at young and soon-to-be parents.

When you look onto the VW Routan site you are greeted by a video starring Brook Shields. Shields explains that "10 thousand babies are born in the U.S. each day for German Engineering." Because you can't buy a mini-van unless you have kids, right?

When the video ends (I actually made it through the whole video) there is a link to the RoutanBabymaker 3000. This fun online widget allows users to make a baby without actually making a baby. By simply uploading your picture and your boyfriend, girlfriend's, husband or wife's picture the RoutanBabymaker 3000 will show you what your baby could look like. It's an ingenious campaign that easily allows the user to share their results with others.

This viral campaign perfectly targets Gen X and Y who do the majority of online comparison car shopping and are the most likely to share online content with friends.

So, what are you waiting for? Go make your own Routan Baby.

Being a Grown Up

2008-10-13T18:31:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I long for the days when I came home from school to the smell of fresh baked cookies, a home cooked meal and clean laundry. Those days have been over for awhile now, but it hasn't been until recently that I've had to deal with securing my own medical care.

I've found that this is something they definately don't teach you in school. If you've moved to a new city how do you find a new doctor? Do you have to find one right away, or should you wait until you need to go? How do you know if it's a good doctor, and how do you navigate the health insurance that you hopefully have?

I went online to search for an OB-GYN that was in the area, and happened upon mine by mistake. Thankfully, I like her and visiting is more or less painless. Finding a dentist was another story. After procrastinating for over a year I finally got around to asking my co-workers for dentist recommendations. Because I'd never had a cavity (not one!) I wasn't too concerned.

Below are my observations from these visits.
When you go to a doctor for the first time there are way too many forms to fill out, and they all ask the same questions. Most of them are simple enough, but then you get to the, uh.. hard ones. Are you current on your latest shots? When did you have your Hepatitis shots? When were you vaccinated for Small Pox? Who is your doctor? These are questions I did not know, and why would I? When I was in the land of fresh baked cookies and clean laundry I never had to worry about booster shots! My doctor's name? It was some nice lady at the Kronenwetter clinic. Luckily, doctor's seem to be fine with this response, "I don't know, but I will get back to you." I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing.

The thing with doctor's and being a 20-something is they expect that you already know how everything works. As I said, I'd never had a cavity. So when I was told I had "some detoriation and needed to get two fillings," I needed more information. It took about two minutes before I figured out that she meant I had cavities. Then I was asked, "Would you like white or silver?" White or Silver? I don't know, white? There was no explanation of the benefits versus downfalls. All she said was white were a bit more expensive. I guess I'll wait for my quote...

Also, if you are aware that your patient has never had a cavity before wouldn't you explain what the procedure entails? Apparently not. I realize that for most people having a cavity is not a big deal, but for me there were many questions.

Will my insurance pay for it? How do I find out? How long will the procedure take? Will it hurt? Should I plan it in the morning, over the lunch hour or after work? What exactly happens when you have a filling? Most of the answers I had to drag out of her.

The Take Away
My advice for everyone who is new to this thing called "adulthood" is to ask a lot of questions. Doctors, cable companies and crediters aren't as forthcoming with information as you might think. Sadly, it is your job to ask the questions and get the information you need to make an informed decision.

Media Relations: Why it shouldn't be the only thing you do

2008-10-09T12:57:00.001-05:00

Maybe it's just me, but it seems that those in the PR profession often forget that there's more to public relations then media relations. True a large part of our job is to reach out to media to get our message heard, but sometimes we forget who the audience is. Ultimately it's the consumer, not the reporter.

I realize what I just said completely disregards the fact that a story has to be interesting to a reporter before a consumer can hear it, but bear with me.

For PR people the big pay off is the article in the New York Times or the segment on Good Morning America. Big national media will have big flashy ad values to show clients, but what our industry somtimes fails to remember is it's what that article or segment will do for the business that's truly important. What is the media coverage trying to achieve?

The simple answer is to increase business. What story are you telling the consumer that will make them buy your product or visit your destination? And, if media relations is a way to talk to your consumer might there not be other ways?

Obviously, media relations is a key component of any PR plan but other ways to speak to consumers need to be considered. In many cases social media should be another key component.

Right now I only see large established companies like Dell and Urban Outfitters catching the social media bug. Perhaps it's because they have more resources, but smaller companies need to realize that even with a smaller audience and budget social media can still be valuable.

If you are a local women's clothing store in Milwaukee there has to be some Facebook group of Milwaukee fashionistas you could target. If you're in the tourism industry surely you'd want to target people who list traveling as one of their hobbies.

The bottom line is the more you engage your customers the better chance you'll have of increasing business, but you have to be strategic. Facebook and Twitter are not right for everyone. We need to remember, today's world is all about communication and building conversations and you don't have to be on a major network to do it.

A Woman's Role...

2008-10-05T22:40:00.000-05:00

As I sat on my bed going through my Google Reader I stumbled upon an article by Lisa Belkin, a contributing columnist for New York Times Magazine. The article titled, "Palin Talk" raises issues that are on every mothers mind. In a world where women and men are supposedly "equal," is it ok for a woman to go back to work after having a child? What if that woman is in a high powered position? Or one that forces her to spend a lot of time away from home? What if the child has special needs?

As much as I loathe Sarah Palin I am thankful that her new celebrity status has brought attention to this issue.

As a highly ambitious 23-year old woman I have always assumed I would rejoin the workforce when my maternity leave ran out. However, after being bombarded by pregnant co-workers, Pro-life protests, talking heads, a visit to my OB-GYN and sitting across from a very cute baby at breakfast I have been forced to revisit the issue.

Parental Opinions

My parents have a lot of strong opinions about how to raise children. Having been raised in very traditional households with five brothers and sisters they believe the mother should stay home -at least until the children are in school. Can't afford to be a stay-at-home Mom? Only want one child? Then you shouldn't have children at all.

It probably comes as no surprise that my Mom hates Sarah Palin. I have heard her say on more then one occasion, "I don't think she's a very good mother." In fact, my Mom seems to take strong offense to Palin's supporters. I might even go so far as to say the the idea of Gov. Palin as a mother is insulting to her. This is also the woman who won't watch Family Guy because she hates Stewie.

The Government

Some may think this is an odd category to include, but the government greatly affects the choices of mother's everywhere. One of the women I work with has taken three months off to be with her newborn. This includes the maternity leave my company grants along with some of her own vacation time.

A quick search on Wikipedia finds this very generous by federal standards. In the U.S. companies are only required to give women six weeks of unpaid leave. Six weeks! They aren't even required to give mother's partial pay. Oh gee, you mean you can't fire me for keeping the human race alive? Thanks... In fact, it seems the only perks mother's enjoy in the workforce are lower pay raises and waiting considerably longer to receive promotions.

Canada gives their mothers up to 50 weeks with partial pay to share with the father. Now there's a country that cares about family values. Even Iraq has a better maternity policy than the U.S. Eight weeks off with full pay!

France allows parental leave for Mom and Dad. Mom receives a minimum of 16 weeks with full pay and has an additional two years of leave without pay if she chooses.

Germany - 14 weeks with full pay
Italy - 22 months with 80% pay
United Kingdom - 39 weeks with partial pay
And you should check out Norway!

Me

At the end of all this, I think of what kind of Mom I want to be. I'd like to be there for my child during their most formative years, or at least until they can walk. While I don't think I want to become a full-time stay-at-home Mom it would be nice to have some options. Three months (if my company allows three months) is not a lot of time to stay at home with a newborn.

I hope I'll be able to afford to spend six months to a year with my child before going back to work full-time. It would be even better, if my employer would partially compensate me for the first six.

In this digital age it shouldn't be too much to ask for a flexible schedule once I decide to have children either. It would be tremendously freeing and relieve a lot of stress to work from home a few days a week. As long as I'm putting in the required time and getting my work done why should flex scheduling be a problem?

Now many of you will think I'm living in a dream world and maybe I am. But if you can't envision a better future, how can you possibly create one? The Secret and "vision boards" work for a reason. Just ask Oprah, and with every staunch conservative screaming about family values, it would be nice if our government started to reflect them.

I'm not sure which side of the debate I will land on when it becomes my turn to step into the baby arena, but I hope that the choices will be easier for me then it has been for so many others.

The Fonzie Debate

2008-09-08T10:33:00.000-05:00

Is he the "King of Cool" or an unwelcomed blast from the past?

A few weeks ago I participated in Milwaukee's Bronz Fonze event. As a member of the committee that helped run and organize the event I was fortunate enough to meet the cast and their families and experience the day.

The Bronz Fonze is exactly what it sounds like. A bronz statue of Arthur Fonzarelli from the hit show "Happy Days" that resides on Milwaukee's riverwalk. Ever since the statue was announced by Visit Milwaukee's Dave Fantle there has been a lot of controversy.

Many people, especially those in the art community, would have you believe that this statue is a detriment to the city of Milwaukee. That this statue emulates a city that has not evolved since Happy Days aired and is still home to Laverne & Shirley.

I have to say I respectfully disagree. First, what's wrong with Laverne & Shirley? The statue was never meant to be a "work of art," but rather a fun tourist attraction and a way for the city to garner some media coverage. In short, a way to create a buzz around Milwaukee and increase tourism.

I believe Dave Fantle and the rest of the committee did a great job of this. The statue generated a tremendous about of media coverage locally, nationally and internationally! As the statue sits right outside our office windows I can see a fairly steady stream of visitors coming to get a picture with "the Fonze."

The statue does not represent Milwaukee as a whole, but merely one piece of Milwaukee. The city has a fantastic arts seen with numerous theaters, concert venues and galleries. It is also home to fabulous restaurants, universities and shops. However, the city also has three area breweries and a number of micro-breweries. It it important that Milwaukeeans not forget their roots. It is part of what makes us genuine and original...

As the Online World Sprints PR Crawls

2008-08-22T11:26:00.000-05:00

This thing called the internet has turned our world upside down. In the course of a few years people have changed the way the work, shop and communicate. In this same amount of time businesses and PR professionals have been very slow to using this new technology and understand it.

Some people are still trying to convince companies to blog! As far as social media is concerned blogging is dinosaur. This is not to say that blogging isn't a useful tool. I'm doing it right now, but it is sad that our industry has been so slow to jump on this bandwagon. It is equally as sad that clients have been less than enthusiastic about these new tools.

Maybe it's the generation gap? Old people run the businesses and old people don't "get" new technology. How are PR professionals supposed to recommend new online tactics if they don't even know what they are? If they don't use them?

If this is the case why not appoint a millenial as your new Director of Social Media or Social Media Manager? Make it their job to investigate all these new tools and explain to you and your clients how they can be used and to what benefit.

If the generation gap is not the problem I urge you to find out what is. Everyone knows that social media is important. We owe it to ourselves, our profession and our clients to learn about it and use it correctly. Creating a Facebook group will not be right for everyone and it's our job to know that.

As the younger generation continues to enter the workforce they will want to be engaged on this level. I predict that PR agencies that do not use social media will not only fall behind and recieve less business but will also lose talent. I am happy that my agency is starting to embrace social media. In all honesty, if they didn't I probably wouldn't stick around long.

HARO: A PR and Media Godsend

2008-08-14T12:23:00.000-05:00

Those who work in public relations are constantly trying to form relationships and better relationships with journalists. As anyone who has worked in PR can tell you, there's nothing worse than cold calling a reporter.

That's why editorial calendars and services like Profnet are so valuable. I want to announce a NEW service that works like Profnet for FREE! HARO is run by Peter Shankman and has a membership of over 20,000 PR professionals and a growing number of journalists.

I have been part of the HARO "family" for a little over a month and can't say enough good things. Because the service is free more freelance journalists and boutique agencies are able to join. I am a Profnet member too and can safely say I get twice as many leads from HARO.

Peter has a policy about PR pitches that Profnet does not. If you provide a bad pitch to a source you are kicked off the list. This keeps HARO a credible source for media and a place they'll continue to go to for information.

The media on HARO include national morning shows, major newspapers as well as smaller media outlets.

If you are in the PR or media field I highly recommend signing up at helpareporter.com. You can also follow Peter on twitter @skydiver.

Baby Boomers vs. Generation Y

2008-04-30T12:24:00.000-05:00

The Rift

Traditionalist, Baby Boomer, Gen X, Gen Y... Which category fits you?

I am a member of Gen Y also known as the "Millennials" or "twenty-somethings," and I'm damn proud of it. I'm sick of hearing the boomer generation complain about how we're so hard to work with. If memory serves me right, they weren't exactly easy to get along with. Remember the 60's? The baby boomers caused so much rucus that it spawned a revolution.

Granted, not everyone in Gen Y is as much fun as a "Pic-a-nic basket." Some of us do need too much coaching, are completely self-absorbed and unable to do anything without our parents. However, the vast majority in my generation are very motivated. Our notion that the sky is the limit is extremely helpful. We are "Yes" people.

We are driven and extremely efficient. We can whip up that report in half the time while IMing and listening to our ipods. Because we are tech savvy we are able to be more environmentally-friendly. When is the last time a twenty-something asked you to "Print it out and put it on my desk?"

That's crazy talk to us. Why do you need to print when you can use track changes, keep track of things in an excel sheet, or simply save it electronically? These are things that frustrate my generation.

We work hard and want to be rewarded.

I've found that many businesses are too slow moving for Gen Y. If we've been at a job for six months and done outstanding work we feel we should be rewarded. How about a raise or promotion? Hell, I'd take some extra vacation days! Instead we are told to wait a year or two before we have a chance to move up.

A Happy Workplace

Many employers are initiating wellness programs and making their work environments more friendly to maintain and attract quality staff (read Gen Y). This shift can only help businesses. I understand there may be some sticker shock when CEO's are told how much it will cost to update the office, but I guarantee they will be rewarded.

Employees who feel comfortable, well taken care of and appreciated will be more productive and eager to work. They might even come up with an idea or two.

The Bottom Line

Please stop bashing Generation Y. We're really not that bad. We put up with your eccentricities. Please put with ours.

The Olympics

2008-04-25T12:06:00.000-05:00

There has been a lot of talk in recent months about the Olympics being held in China and subsequently Tibet. Tibetan protestors have gone so far as to disturb the passing of the torch, and several world leaders are refusing to attend the games (so far President Bush will be attending).

This week we learn that China has agreed to speak with the Dalai Lama's envoy. This is a great step towards Chinese peace with Tibet, but I'm afraid that China is reaching out only in a public relations capacity.

As someone who works in the world of public relations this is a very good move by China. However, if China does not honestly make an effort to move forward with Tibet the world will see through them. The Olympic games will become a platform for discussing the Tibetan conflict and China's world image will not be helped.

Great Lakes Wind Power

2008-04-24T09:51:00.000-05:00

In the search to become more environmentally friendly Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle along with many others are discussing the option of Wind Power in the Great Lakes.

I think this is a great idea. The UK and Denmark are already taking advantage of this new technology. There are some valid issues being raised such as the effect on migratory birds.

However, another concern is how this renewable resource might block the lake views of the wealthy who contribute much needed campaign dollars. This should be the least of our concern. While I understand that windmills may not be pretty, they would serve as a wonderful renewable resource for the state of Wisconsin and potentially other states. If a few people have an impaired view of the lake so thousands more can enjoy clean energy... Well, that's a price I'm willing to pay.

Read more: http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=743201

Welcome!

2008-04-23T16:32:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my first posting. My original intention for this blog is to give my opinions on politics, entertainment and media from the perspective of a 23-year-old female from Wisconsin.

Please leave comments and e-mail me if you have any ideas/suggestions as this is my first real endeavor into blogging.

I'll see you soon!
Sarah