PR Therapy by Lois Whitman-Hess 8/6/10

I am President of HWH/PR Social Media and this video blog was recorded on the new iPhone 4. Today's minute and a half video is all about people who use anonymous names and avatars when posting comments online

PR Therapy by Lois Whitman-Hess

I am President of HWH/PR Social Media and this video blog was recorded on the new iPhone 4. Today's minute and a half video is all about how well connected publicists are to members of the press

PR Therapy by Lois Whitman-Hess

I am President of HWH/PR Social Media and this video blog was recorded on the new iPhone 4. Today's minute and a half video is all about the importance of talking directly to a member of the press and not hiding behind emails.

PR Therapy by Lois Whitman-Hess

I am President of HWH PR/Social Media and this video blog was recorded on the new iPhone 4. Today's minute and a half video is all about the importance of the "message" that you deliver to the press and why that is so important.

43rd Year At CES

For some reason I am looking forward to this year's CES. I know
exactly why. The playing field has been leveled. Everyone is in the
same struggling position. After a year of disapponting sales and
performance for most companies, most attendees will be humble. Kind of
like after 9/11 when friends, neighbors and even strangers helped each
other.

Most people will be searching around to see who survived the economic
downfall and who will make a comeback. Those who show up will be
holding on tight to each other providing extraordinary support and
networking opportunities.

I want to be a part of the new foundation and rebirth. I did it once.
Now I want to do it again.

The Name "Senior Citizen" Stinks

Talk about a PR campaign. I need to start one. I better do something if I am going to make it thru the next 15 years of working. After that you can call me a senior citizen.

It all started when I entered TJ Max in South Beach, FL this past Saturday. The branch just opened and I had never shopped at the retail chain. All I ever heard is that it had some designer merchandise at steep discounts.

I wasn't in the store five minutes when a not-so-young-herself sales lady beelines over to me and bellows loud enough to be heard in Carnegie Hall, "We are offering senior citizens additional discounts today if you sign up for our credit card."

My world stood still. I watched every man and woman near size me up to see who the old biddy was. My husband and a male friend just stood there with smirks on their face expressing "ha ha."

I asked the sales lady how old you have to be to qualify and she said 55. I told her I was 54 and walked away.

Now we all know that I am a few years older than that but I don't want it broadcasted to make me feel what senior citizens used to represent.

In many ways I have more energy than lots of people much younger than me. I don't do jumping jacks and I haven't had my body nipped and tucked like most of my friends and family but does that mean I have to be the "alta cocker" (Yiddish for old fart) in the crowd.

I cant do anything about my age but don’t want to be characterized as old. I am deep in my career, I run around with my friends after work, I watch stupid high school movies, have more apps on my iPhone than most and I frequent many trendy new restaurants. My second home is in the playground of Miami. Need I say anymore?

I don't want to be referred as a senior citizen. How about a "seasoned citizen”? That is really who I am.

Ryan Seacrest Tweets

From the Emmy's. Talk about dedication. But Ryan uses Twitter as a
stage on and off screen. We can all learn from that. He is all about
messaging. It is so important to be a constant source of communications.

Why can't I be more disciplined? Perhaps l, am just plain lazy

Remember To Check For Responses

The whole point of social marketing is to start a dialog with someone
that you do not normally talk to. Too often, people post a thought and
then sign off. Someone yelled at me recently for doing that. Actually
it was my daughter. Ouch that hurt.

So now I try to be diligent about checking back. The more I check, the
more opportunities I see for friendships and business. It takes lots
of discipline to be devoted to social networking but the rewards are
very rewarding.

Celebrate A Life On 9/11

Look up three people you lost touch with on Facebook. Let them know
you have been thinking of them

Learning to Vlog For Social Networking

Part of your communications in the world of social networking is to learn how to really get personal.

And I don’t mean intimate.

I mean reaching out and attracting an audience

Here is my attempt

 

 

Lois Whitman's vlog Spend time building target lists
© 2009 YouTube, LLC 901 Cherry Ave, San Bruno, CA 94066

 

You Need To Make Sure Your Message Is Being Heard

Great to have Facebook and Twitter corporate account but what if no one is hearing you?

There are probably countless things you can do to attract friends and fans but here are the initiatives you need to do over and over to make sure you have the right target audience.

1-Connect your Twitter account to your Facebook page so both audiences can read your comments.

2-Post comments that provoke a response. Easier said then done but you can't be commercial. You have to talk about subjects that interest others.

3-Use "Search" on Twitter for key words that will bring you to people who have the same interests. For example, if you are promoting a shoe company you would look up, "Styles," "Feet," "Foot Problems," "Footwear," "Footwear styles," "Achy Feet," "Walking," etc.

4-You also need to click on "Trends" to see what the hot topics are for the day. You will be surprised to see there are topics you can join in on and attract new followers. Remember, your goal is to brand your logo so post, post, post.

5-Make sure you don't post anything you will regret later. It happens to all of us but once you have been burned, you will not do it again.

6-Use "Search" on Twitter to find people you admire. Follow them. Most likely they will follow you back.

7-Join as many groups as you can on Facebook. You will be networked to people you never thought you would have a one on one conversation with. Check out the group first to make sure they fit your target audience.

8-Always spend time posting comments to those people on Facebook and Twitter that you want to get closer to. Social networks are just like real life. You have to give to receive.

More tips in a future post

Rethinking The 'Out Of Office Reply'

In the world of social marketing, one would think that an Out Of Office message posted on your email is just not what the digital world is all about.

Why don’t you simply say. “I hate my job so don’t bother me when I am away from the office” or “I cant be on holiday and take 20 minutes a day to scan important emails.”

I don’t know about you, but when I get an Out Of Office reply I immediately think that person is either tied up, in prison or in a coma.

I get a chuckle out of those who put an automatic Out Of Office response on their emails, but if you send them a message that invites them to a “wow party” or offers “a special gift” they know how to get back to you in an hour or two.

I know, I know there are exceptions so I will stand back while the avalanche of nasty emails come my way.

What about those that leave the Out Of Office reply on even when they are back for a few days?

A%#(@&& !!!!

Un Social Networker

It is not easy being a proponent for social networking

Take the case of HWH trying to explain the benefits of social networking to a client recently

Client: I guess I understand why you want my company to be on Facebook and Twitter

HWH: Yes, without spending a dime you can talk directly to your customers for the first time ever, you can precisely pick who those customers are and you can actually conduct an interactive dialog

Client: But I don’t like the whole concept

HWH: Why?

Client: My old girlfriends can now find me

HWH: Something tells us “Thou Protests Too Much”

Client: Every time I go on Facebook or Twitter, all I read about are comments from friends of mine who say “I am having a bad day.”

HWH: Get past that and learn how to use the technology for branding and sales

Client: We trust HWH so handle it

HWH: Okay, we will make it work

A few minutes later client screams out : “Oh my, check this one out”

HWH: Hmmmmmmm !!!!!!!!!!!

Social Networking Is Coming To A Gas Station Near You

I bet you are not aware of a whole new video platform for reaching your customer. It delivers 20 million customers a month that have a spare five to 10 minutes with nothing to do but hear your marketing message. Social Networking on the Internet is all about directly reaching your target audience and this is a novel approach.

Check out Pump Top TV at www.pumptoptv.com, a new video concept at 12,500 gas stations across the country. Watch the attached video to see how it works.

Companies like Audi, Verizon and Delta have already jumped on the bandwagon. They report fabulous results because they have a captured audience without all of the usual distractions. Early adopters are always thought of as cutting edge companies.

A year from now this is going to be huge just like wireless email, e-readers, MP3 players, etc. You heard it here first.

You Can Be Sued For Your Comments on Twitter

http://www.ragan.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=MultiPublishing&mod=PublishingTitles&mid=5AA50C55146B4C8C98F903986BC02C56&tier=4&id=DBE35C0C931B41A2AF82EA37690BB5B5&AudID=3FF14703FD8C4AE98B9B4365B978201A

 

This is not a free for all.  People are suing companies and companies are suing people for their Tweet posts. Read the case of what one Twitter is now up against. And she only had 20 followers.

 

Target Your Audience

The most important element of social networking is to target your
audience. That means you have to think about who you want to reach and
then you have to spend the time going after them.

It is so worth the effort. There is no other way that you can actually
reach out to a specific person or demographic group for practically no
money and in record breaking time.

All you do is make a list of who you want to reach and then search for
them. It is that easy.

This task can take hours or even days, weeks, months. It truly is
never ending because you should always be searching and refining your
lists.

The good news is that you can hire an intern to help you or even ask
your family to help. The younger the better. They're usually the ones
that are clued in the most on how to get this accomplished in the
most expedient way.

Remember, if you don't have the proper target audience you are
basically talking to yourself.

Live Social Networking

Remember, whatever you post on any of your social networks is going to
be seen by all. The word "all" is the operative word. Saturday night I
attended a party in the Hamptons where I met up with a famous investment
banker who looked a little down. I asked him why he was so preoccupied.

He admitted that he had a big deal in the works. He hinted about it on
his personal blog a week ago and the other side immediately felt
betrayed. They said he couldn't be trusted. They walked away. He was
devastated. One little line like.........."something big is about to
happen" blew his deal.

He spent the entire night at the party calling everyone on speed dial
trying to gain sympathy. No one could help him but his close friends
gave him the time to vent. I spoke to him again this morning and he just
doesn't understand what he did wrong.

That in itself is the problem. I suffer too from putting too much in
writing. I am warning all of you. Think twice about the content you are
about to post on your site, their site, Twitter, Facebook, or anywhere
else.

The Best Thing About Social Networking

It allows you to talk to people you never thought possible. Our clients are learning that too. The first time Steve Case, the founder of AOL, answered me on Facebook, I thought it was an imposter. How could this be possible? It became possible because I asked Steve a question that he was interested in and a dialog occurred.

I really felt important. That self confidence helped me reach out to a few other VIP's. Before I knew it, I secured a panel of speakers for a conference I was working on. Before social networking, it would have taken me 10 times the amount of time to get this panel together. Or, it may never have happened because I just couldn't reach the right people.

SN made me a hero.

Still Can't Believe I Made It The Western Wall

I am a walking billboard for Israel. Waited too long in my life to go.
Traveled around the world many times and never had a thirst to go.
Went for two weeks in May and now want to return every year.

The Star Of My Blog