Quora: Fun with Strangers

I'm back! After a long hiatus due to a busy schedule, I've picked up the blogging again. Considering I'm an unemployed graduate, I think I'll be laying off of the interview tips and sticking to what I know - social media.

Which brings me to Quora. I got on Quora in the summer of 2010, before it got much buzz on the interwebs, because I pride myself on being an early adopter. However, once I perused the site, I found it to be the ultimate crowdsourcing tool. Quora defines itself as "a continually improving collection of questions and answers." What I would call a hybrid of Yahoo Answers and Wikipedia, this open website wasn't too hopping when I first joined. Fast forward a few months and I remember I have an account. I logged in and checked it out, to find that Quora has developed into quite a community. Here are my reasons why you should be on Quora!

1. Got an burning question? Someone else probably already asked it. The wide variety of questions on Quora, from job advice to car advice to all-out philosophical discussions, is vast. Sure, you could post your question on Facebook and your friends will probably pass it by. On Quora, you can categorize your question and get advice from someone who knows the material. For instance, when I first joined, I asked about the government incentives for buying a hybrid vehicle. Within a day, I had responses that, um... there weren't any anymore. I fact checked the response on Google and what do you know, they were right! For when your Google search results are just a little too complicated, Quora is a great alternative to pages and pages of information.

2. No question is too vague or too specific. No matter how broad your question is (for example, "What are fun things to do in Southern California?"), people will answer it for you. If you're getting very specific, like where to recruit talent for your business, someone will have ideas to contribute. A variety of users means a variety of results - you're getting a human response to your question, rather than a query to be more specific.

3. Face it - it's fun to be a guru. I only lived in Southern California for three years, but every time someone asks about good places to eat, I'm stoked to give recommendations. You know your field, your hometown, your hobbies and everything else in your life better than other people - and they have questions about it. This is a great place for you to share!

So go go go, sign up for Quora now. With people giving background on why they're qualified to answer the question (unlike Yahoo Answers) and specific answers/expansion to what you're looking for (unlike Wikipedia), Quora is a great place to get your knowledge in a social manner. You can find me on Quora here!

Social Media Stalking - Keep Yourself Safe!

I read a chilling article today about a woman who was stalked by a fellow Foursquare user at a restaurant. While the situation is as creepy as it is unique, one thing that many social media users don't own up to is their own accountability in usage. I'm not saying sites like PleaseRobMe (the live Twitter/Foursquare site that announced users home departures) are at all justified in what they do; in fact, I think websites like that cross a major line that takes social media from something fostering open communication to a more fearful type of relationship. Regardless of how you use social media, I think there are four guidelines that everyone has to consider before making that Check-In, posting that Facebook Status or sending that Tweet.

1. What are my privacy settings like? My Facebook is locked up tighter than Fort Knox, and that's because the things I share on Facebook aren't meant for anyone's eyes but those of my friends and family. The best decision you can make before opening an account on any social media platform is planning what you do and do not want to share, which brings me to my next point...

2. Monitor what the news is saying about a platform. Most people know about the Facebook privacy issues that have been on everyone's lips recently, but there are still some users that had no idea. While it's easy to blame Facebook, you have to hold yourself somewhat accountable as well. Taking a moment to Google the platform and see what bloggers or news sites are saying about it is a step that you should take from time to time, regardless of what you're posting (personal or professional).

3. Self censor based on your own guidelines. I spoke earlier about Facebook being for personal use only... while it's tempting to add a co-worker to a personal-use account to share with them some photos, keep in mind your own professionalism. Do you really want your co-worker (or, if your co-worker has a nasty streak, your boss or other colleagues) to know how you feel about working late or what you did during your "sick day?" Now more than ever, social media tears down alibis for everything from work to divorces to a white lie to a friend. I'm not by any means endorsing lying. I'm just saying that by keeping home and friends on one platform and professional acquaintances on another, you'll be saving yourself from a lot of embarrassment, and helping avoid any dangerous situations.

4. When in doubt, Google yourself. As someone who routinely Googles herself to see how high her LinkedIn page is ranking, imagine my surprise last summer when I found that some ex-employees I had worked with at my parents' business were making threats on MySpace about my family and me. Obviously, lessons were learned by both parties that don't need any more discussion. However, the point is that while you may be embarrassed about typing your own name into a search engine, finding a threat to your safety and stopping it before it becomes an issue far outweighs the momentary discomfort.

While social media is fun and opens new doors in learning and communicating, there are always risks when using the platforms. By watching what you say, who you say it to, privacy agreements and monitoring your usage as well as others' usage of your name, you can keep the conversation going without worrying what the cost could be.

Social Media "Blunders" vs. Sins

I found BusinessWeek's Six Social Media Sins today, and while it's a good article with valid points, I think they overlook the fact that these aren't sins if you don't know what you're doing on Social Media; these are more uninformed blunders.

So to add on to what BusinessWeek started, I made a list of three "blunders" that many newbies to social media make when trying to effectively spread their message.

1. Mixing messages - A twitter account or Facebook updates should have a cohesive theme to the messages (and NOT just marketing messages, like BusinessWeek warns). But if you're talking about what you ate for breakfast without asking readers without relating it somehow to your tone, then it's confusing to the readers as to who is on the keyboard - or even if it's the same person.

2. You think that followers, fans or subscribers are the litmus test of success. If you're communicating and meeting the goals that you've set for yourself, it doesn't matter if you have ten followers or ten thousand. If you're using Twitter to reach journalists and you've successfully contacted several, then you've met your goal. It doesn't matter if you only have 20 or so followers.

3. You think the more platforms, the merrier without evaluating the communication potential. You might not need a Youtube account if you don't really have relevant videos. If you're working for a certain company, for example, having a Youtube channel of just your commercials is straight marketing, and not something that will foster communication. As the article says, social media is "about engagement in two-way conversation" - so just having a profile to be on that platform without something that will create a dialogue, is really just a waste of your time.

Are there any other sins or blunders you see new people or uninformed corporations make? What's the worst mistake you've made, and what lesson did you learn from it?

Don't Fight the Conversation! Brands on Social Media

This article by Brian Solis details that on average, one in three people are talking about brands on social media every week.

Now I don't love statistics because sometimes, they confuse me. But findings show that one in three people is seeking advice; one person is making a recommendation and finally, one person just has that brand on the tips of his fingers for discussion. That's pretty powerful stuff.

For brands like J.C. Penney, who are realizing now they need to tap into this market and meet their customers where they meet. By meeting that one person in three, they can reach the other two.

How long until every company is required to have a Twitter? I'm giving it six months. For the critics saying Twitter is temporary, I'm curious to see where the platform will evolve from here.

Words of Wisdom from Dan Edelmen (via Culpwrit)

Every once in a while, a blogger makes a "top ten" list that actually has some really insightful points that people should hear. When I was reading Culpwrit, I came across a list of keys to success by Dan Edelman that was definitely worth reading. For the too-long/didn't-read crowd, here are the points I found most relevant to us as students:

1. "Celebrate your victories but be quick about it so you can get back to the game." This is especially applicable to our recent NSAC victory. We've been celebrating our win for almost a month now. However, while we've been celebrating, our new account executives have been strategizing, coordinating and learning to prepare for the new year. I hate to predict the outcome of any competition I'm a part of, but I will say that I respect the dedication of our new leaders who, while the excitement hasn't faded, already know they have to work even harder to keep our team innovative and creative. Thanks Anna Duffy, Simon Blockley and Lexi Vanni!

2. "There are three legs to the stool - family, work and community." It's hard when your work becomes your life, your co-workers your family and your office your community. But I think, as long as you're aware of all of these elements, you can still provide for a good work environment that can transfer itself into the world beyond the office doors.

3. 'Woe to the young person who fails to take notes-sure to prompt a “never do that again” comment.' My memory's already going - that's why I keep my notebook (and my blog!) consistently updated with pertinent new information, things I want to keep close and possible topics for the future. Write it down, or else you'll forget it.

This article has inspired me to look for another professional to interview, since I got such great information from Joy Donnell when I interviewed her a few months ago. Any suggestions or connections out there?

Aw Google, C'mon.

As a beta user and big fan of Google Wave, finding this article about why the buzz as worn off and the product abandoned, really cleared up for me why it's never gone big.
Remember how it was the "future of email?" It was a trending topic on Twitter and tech nerds from all over were salivating for an invite. It was a big deal, through word-of-mouth marketing and viral buzz, the service was thriving. But without Google's official support, the buzz eventually died out and the brand ambassadors moved on to the next great technology.
It's still an incredibly useful service. Having depended on it to keep a team of eight on a brainstorm and then using it to coordinate with over 40 other students for one project, I will stand by Google Wave as an incredible service. That's why, if you're not on it and want to try it out, please comment. I still have eighteen invites and would love to get you connected with the service.

Know Your Medium (Or At Least Put a Leash on Your Spokespeople)

The Attorney General of Utah announced the approval of a death sentence on Twitter yesterday, drawing shock and disapproval from the Twitter community. I agree with the general consensus that this was an inappropriate place, and the response to it less than professional.

To reply to people's concerns about the comment with a "flippant" and then aggressive manner, shows not only an inconsistency in tone, but that the Attorney General is either tweeting while emotionally unstable (which is not recommended) or someone else is tweeting for him (which is a lapse in tone for the communicators).

At this point, the Attorney General should apologize to his followers and to the families of everyone involved in the case. To announce such an important decision on a trivial medium was inconsiderate to the families of the victims. His PR team needs to jump on this situation and handle it to control his credibility as well as smooth over community relations, both online and offline.

Twitter Task Forces & Why They're Essential

Recently, a State Farm marketing exec advised students of at the NSAC conference this year, "You can't stop the conversation - you have to let it play out and try to respond as quickly as possible." In regards to twitter communications, all it takes is one frustrated customer tweeting at the counter to get attention.

Though I myself haven't had much interaction as a consumer with brands on Twitter, today was one of my first experiences and I have to say, one of the most impressive.

I recently was involved in a car accident that has left me car-less for the past few days. My insurance company arranged for me to get a rental car from Enterprise. Through poor staffing, pickup from my home would have been long delayed. Upon arranging my own ride and arriving at the location, I had to wait for a considerable amount of time and wasn't told to bring the appropriate paperwork. While I waited, frustrated, at the counter, I tweeted: "having a bad experience at enterprise, trying to rent a car." After telling the associate of my frustration, she apologized and made sure I was more than satisfied with my rental. Everything from that point went without fault.

I returned to Twitter only an hour and a half after to find that I had been contacted by an Enterprise associate asking what went wrong, and how they could help. Only an hour and a half, and one tweet! I was really impressed with Enterprise's monitoring of their brand on Twitter. I explained that I was satisfied. That's when I realized that, as consumers, we have an obligation to report the conclusions after we complain. I tweeted my admiration of Enterprise's online support and gave credit where credit was due. It's my own fault for not tweeting that everything was resolved afterward. So before you send that angry tweet, prepare yourself for two responsibilities after the fact...

1. You're responsible to report the conclusion. Your followers and others finding brand representations online need the whole story, not just your initial dissatisfaction.

2. Give credit where credit is due. Don't ignore any attempts to make the situation right online. Even if you aren't satisfied, if someone contacts you to ask why you were not satisfied, you owe it to them to thank them for their attempts. Chances are, if you've had a problem with one associate, that's not an accurate representation of the company as a whole. Thank them for what they do well and return or don't return; you decide with your money how satisfied you are. However, don't disregard the company if it's trying to help you out.

So, well done, Enterprise! We'll see how the rest of this transaction plays out, but as for now, your associate's responsiveness and your online outreach are very impressive to me!

@BPGlobalPR vs. @BP_America: Not a Fair Fight

Since 10 a.m. this morning, almost 30,000 Twitter users have jumped on the @BPGlobalPR bandwagon, giving the comical feed almost nine times the users that the real BP Twitter account, @BP_America, has. Personally, I saw the fake Twitter for the first time this morning on The Daily What. I can only imagine the other arenas in which @BPGlobalPR's link has been spread.
The @BPGlobalPR account has been live since May 19, barely a week. Since that time, it has accrued over 46,000 followers and has been listed 1,200 times. These are impressive numbers for a humor feed. My surprise is that BP has let this go on for a week.
Yes, it's fairly apparent that the account is a fake. But the bio reads, "This page exists to get BP's message and mission statement out into the twitterverse!" The name of the page is "BP Public Relations." The logo and fonts associated with BP have been modified but are still recognizable. The damage that this account could help bestow upon BP's already critical situation is massive. Yet BP has taken no action. Why not?
Well, it seems that BP's PR team has something more important to worry about: the oil spill.
Rather than fighting the internet bully, they're focused on distributing information to the public. This fake account is one element of the crisis that the PR team is letting slide, and for good reason: the bogus BP's aim, to sell "BP Cares" t-shirts, benefits the gulf through clean-up funds; buzz has drawn more traffic to BP's own Twitter feed, adding almost 400 followers in just under an hour. This fake account may actually be helping BP's reputation in the long run.
This makes me wonder if other companies in crisis have handled fake Twitter accounts in a similar manner, or have they spent time and energy in putting the faker in his place? Does anyone know of any examples?

Be a Retweet Ninja!

Looking at my feed today alone, I noticed that I've been retweeting articles like a Twitter Ninja in the night.
I'm wondering... is this helpful, or obnoxious?

Here's the deal when it comes to Retweets.

1. You should share but with reason.
If you're only re-tweeting the link but not saying why you found it helpful, you're just putting another random string of characters out into the universe.

2. Add a hashtag if there isn't one!
If you find a great article for PR that doesn't already contain a #PR, add it! How many more people will see that article because of your addition?

3. Pair it up with something else.
Facebook's on everyone's lips today, but there are so many viewpoints that it's hard to get them all straight. If you find two good articles for different sides of the Facebook debacle, post them together! Bit.Ly should be your BFF for this.

By treating your Retweets to some personalization, you're adding credibility (proof you're not a bot) to a blogger you support, and you're making a name for yourself as someone who's thoughtful and contributes to a hashtag community. That makes everyone happy.

Facebook: to delete or not to delete?

Because of the recent Facebook privacy controversy, I've been on the fence about deleting my Facebook account for the second time. If you want to delete yours as part of the National Quit Facebook day (May 31), the information is all here.

In my opinion, there are three questions every Facebook user needs to answer before they decide what action they take on May 31.

How much do I share on Facebook? In the day of location-based social media like FourSquare and Gowalla revealing every time you leave your house, how can something like Facebook pose any more of a threat? One of privacy intrusions that worried me was the "public" profile that was much more public than I wished it to be. I don't particularly want random people to see the bands I love and activities I take part in, but with the new liking feature, they can see it all. I don't see how this information can cause me any harm, though. If others had conflicts of interest with their work, school or religion that can make for controversy, I can see how that would be a problem.

What kind of photos are there of me on Facebook? This one is partly your responsibility and partly that of your friends. I have some embarrassing photos on my Facebook page - not because I'm doing something illegal, or something that is socially unacceptable; just really dumb faces or days I wasn't looking my best. Do I want potential employers to see that? Absolutely not. Ask your friends to remove photos you aren't proud of, especially if they could be potentially detrimental to your reputation, and follow through to make sure they don't get posted again.

Bottom line: do I really understand what's going on with these privacy issues? There are many conflicting stories regarding the Facebook privacy gaffs. Make sure you're getting your news from a source that's reliable and has evidence to back up the claims, and not just listening to a story that's been manipulated by the grapevine.

So how do these answers affect your decision? It should be a good representation of the information you put on your Facebook page in the first place. The bottom line of this issue comes to personal responsibility. Since many people aren't fully reading or understanding the Terms of Use whenever they check the box, you have to be responsible for yourself. Passwords and protection laws and privacy settings are all well and good, but it's still the internet. Be responsible for yourself and what you post. That's the safest way to ensure that privacy changes won't trip you up.

As for me, I'm keeping my Facebook.

"Social Media Toolbox" from the Daily Dog

Bulldog Reporter, one of my favorite PR news websites, published an article recently about "tried and true" tools for the PR professional.

There are some great resources on here for public relations communications. Momentarily, I wondered why FourSquare hadn't been included. After thinking about it, though, there are few situations in which FourSquare could be used in a PR manner.

Perhaps after checking in at a restaurant that got a bad review or had negative press, the user could get a message thanking them for their patronage and present a coupon; but this seems to be more of a promotion than public relations. I wonder how much of a future that FourSquare has with promotional value, especially with the ever-changing trends of social media.

I wish I knew how to quit you: Saying "goodbye" to Facebook

Gizmodo recently published an editorial about the privacy issues many bloggers and tech-savvy individuals are bringing up over Facebook's terms of use. The article seems to suggest that in this day and age, Facebook is Big Brother and it's time to fall off the grid. While I agree and disagree with the article on certain points, it certainly raises the issue as to whether or not it's time to pull the plug on Facebook. For me, this would be the second time.

There's always been the issue of addiction.
Many teens can't log off Facebook without logging back on. Hell, it's not just the teens. People have been fired for being on Facebook during company time. People have lost their jobs, hurt relationships and damaged their reputations because of information they shared. While it's nice to keep in touch with friends from far off, Facebook seems to cause enough trouble to outweigh the benefits of keeping an active account.

From a consumer's point of view, I'd much rather interact with brands on Twitter where I know I'm dealing with someone who's reading my comments. It seems that being one of a million "fans" or "likers" of a brand on Facebook is almost like a sport - see who can get the most "likes." It loses touch with the real part of social media, which is building relationships. Twitter, through retweets and replies, does this. I personally have not had an encounter with Facebook in which I've communicated with a brand and gotten a response.

So the answer I pose to myself: will I keep my Facebook account open? Probably. I quit before for some time and fell out of touch with friends scattered across the company because they don't like email the way I do. But will I use Facebook to disperse my private information and feelings? Definitely not. No more liking, no more apps. DEFINITELY no Farm Ville, but I never started that in the first place.

One last thought - the media attention given to Facebook's privacy claims has raised a very good point that many social media users overlook: the Terms of Use. Do you read it all the way through? I know I never have. Maybe it's time to start...

Social "ME"dia: Networking on Facebook

An article on Personal Branding Blog has a very helpful quiz to determine whether or not you're making the most of your social media, or just using social media as a word vomit of your pitches and products.

The Facebook questions seem to be a little bit biased toward companies. There are actually many really important actions you can take when using your personal Facebook account that help you to network and maintain relationships with colleagues, former classmates and more. A lot of them seem to slip through the cracks, so here are the ones I think are most important:

1. The birthday reminder is there for a reason. We've all done it, I know I have: we see a person's birthday reminder pop up on the right events column and immediately click through to pound out a "Happy birthday, you!" and consider it a job well done. While this is OK for people you have no desire to work with or maintain a relationship with, people with whom you've forged or hope to forge a connection, you have to do a bit more. I recommend actually sending a private message, telling them happy birthday. You can thank them for something nice they did for you, remind them of the fun time you had at a conference or meeting or ask after a personal item you had discussed previously. This shows that they're more to you than just a wall post, a public display of affection; you actually want a response to the message, you want to hear how they are.
2. Like their picture? Say it. I'm not saying zero in on the first bikini picture you see of a female coworker or say something that could be construed as inappropriate. If they took pictures at an event you attended or wished you could've attended, say something about them! Tell them how fun it looks, or ask if that speaker was as good as you heard. This starts a conversation and helps personalize your relationship.
3. You don't live online, so don't keep your relationship there. Since I was the "Facebook Girl" my first year of college, I know it well to be the person who friends everyone, comments on their walls and photos, and then can't recognize them in person. It's a huge embarrassment and, to be honest, can be looked at as desperate. Don't be like I was - do it right. If you know them online and talk with them online, you better be talking to them in person as well. Make sure your online and offline behaviors are complementary, not creepy.

So there you have it. They may seem like simple ideas, but they are often overlooked by students who want to network at 1 a.m. and have nothing better to do. If you follow rules like these, you'll be remembered as a thoughtful person, not just a social media addict.

Linked In, and How You Can Screw Up On It

While looking at twitter searches for #PR, I found this little number: http://bit.ly/6HQ1AQ?r=td
on a website called New Grad Life. Seeing as I'm just one year away from being a grad, and being a LinkedIn user, I decided to peruse the article, and found that apparently, I'm making a ton of huge mistakes.
Not only do I not have a personal URL (I don't think so, anyway), but I also don't have a company website for my internships and professional experience. Until NSAC gets a website, and my current job (at a nonprofit organization) adds interns to their website, it's somewhat irrelevant to put my company website on my LinkedIn page. My page is already set to public, which is both a blessing and a curse. Though it's public, I've never heard anything from anyone about liking my information or seeking an employee like me.
Aside from those, there were two points I could see I was lacking and I agree with fully.
You should be participating in discussions. Among all of my social networking platforms, it seems exhausting to try and keep up with everyone. So yes, I let my LinkedIn discussions lapse. This seems like an important place for me to channel some energy, more important than say, Facebook, but this is the place where I'm going to meet professionals and get my name out there. By not stepping into the spotlight, I'm doing a great job at existing but not contributing to the LinkedIn Community.
You should be giving recommendations, and heck, sometimes asking for them.
The first time I got on linkedIn, I recommended three of my 7 connections almost immediately. I've since grown my network to considerably larger, but failed to keep up with the recommendations. For the students I've worked with, I should be touting their successes along with my own, and in some cases, asking for reciprocation. This is something I plan to work on.

There is one part that I really didn't agree with: Not updating status often.
This isn't Facebook. I don't link my tweets to my LinkedIn profile because let's face it, LinkedIn connections don't want to hear about bands I like, reporters I'm talking to or restaurants I appreciate. The articles that I tweet about, I most often link here on my blog. I update my status once every weeks to what I'm currently looking for or what I have achieved. I think that suffices. It gives me enough personality and action without being obnoxious.

LinkedIn is definitely a platform I need more experience in and exposure to. I'm making this one of my goals: to get more active and more proficient at LinkedIn relationships.

5 Ways To Reduce Social Media Distractions

Oh Mashable, how you speak to me.

"“Insecurity work” is the stuff we do that has no intended outcome, does not move the ball forward in any way, and is quick enough that you can do it multiple times a day without realizing. But nonetheless, it puts us at ease.

The first step in reducing insecurity work is becoming self-aware. Recognize what you do in your everyday life that is, in fact, insecurity work. The second step is to establish some guidelines and rituals for yourself that provide more discipline, such as restricting all insecurity work to a specified 30 minute block every day. The third step, if applicable to you, is to delegate the task of checking on this data to a less insecure colleague who can review it periodically and report any concerns."
http://mashable.com/2010/04/15/reduce-social-media-distractions/

I'm definitely going to start trying this. I find that obsessively checking my email, my Facebook, and my Twitter only stress me out more, or make me aggravated that no one has responded yet to the message I just sent. I think I'll set myself a goal of only checking my personal Facebook and Twitter account three times per day (morning, afternoon, night) and my work email and Twitter as needed. Here's my goal, hopefully I'll stick to it. I am rebelling against social media addiction!

"10 Twitter Tips for Nonprofit Organizations"

At my current internship at a local nonprofit, I'm working on using Twitter to get publicity for a specific event. Starting out, it's been daunting - looking at less than ten followers and having trouble getting retweeted or communicating with the people that can help my cause. This article by Heather Mansfield for Change.Org has given me some really helpful tips and hopefully I'll be able to get the message out even further!

http://nonprofits.change.org/blog/view/10_twitter_tips_for_nonprofit_organizations

I'm Anti-Google Reader

I love blogs. I love to read them, to visit them. The reason why I frequent my favorites, is that it has its own identity and purpose, even if sometimes content overlaps. When I signed up for Google Reader in November, I had a realization: a lot of a blog's appeal can come from its aesthetic as much as its content.

For example, Geekologie.com.

I love this blog. The writer is hilarious and the things he features are zany and random and all things geeks love. It's a place where I can scroll through a Star Wars tattoo to a man blending an iPad to something useful, like China's newly-discovered "yeti." Reading Geekologie mixed in among posts from Gizmodo and industry blogs, made me lose the purpose that I was reading it for in the first place. Maybe it's just me personally, but I find actually visiting a blog and reading the content in its natural environment can make or break the reader's experience. It's possible to sort with Google Reader and find only Geekologie posts, but doesn't that lose the purpose? Why not just go to the actual blog? At the same time, sometimes formatting and links are lost. As a stickler for readability, I hate to see when formatting is sacrificed. Sometimes Google Reader can take a bad formatting and make it better, but it seems more likely that the original formatting was just fine, and it gets sacrificed for simplicity.

While Google is fantastic at simplifying every aspect of life, this is one thing I'd rather not be simplified. Are there any hardcore Google Reader fans out there that would disagree? What do you think?