TCM Panel #3

Panel #3: Using Social Media to Generate Press Coverage

Speakers:
-- I.J. Hudson, Director of Communications, Garson Claxton (used to be with local TV news)
-- Adam Van Bavel, Special Events Coordinator, Komen Maryland
-- Jiyan Wei, Product Manager, PRWeb, Vocus

First up: I.J. Hudson
-- Everyone is a reporter. Treat everyone as such.
-- Can only control original distribution ... not where it winds up or how presented. (Followed up by "Merry Christmas.")
-- Must first have compelling story to tell. Put not-so-good story out and gets picked up and criticized for it. (Think BadPitchBlog. If you're a communicator, you need to know about it and be reading it.)

Second up: Adam Van Bavel (talking about awareness and branding)
-- Awareness creates brand coverage. Brand drives brand coverage.
-- Speaker wears a lot of pink. He's the "pink wardrobe guy." Says he gets a lot of questions about it b/c of how much he wears. Interesting...
-- First social media focus: He chose YouTube page for Komen b/c Komen is an emotional topic and you can connect on emotional topic by showing emotion. (Can't show emotion as well on MySpace, Facebook, etc.) Says the video has led to more interaction with audience. And they use YouTube for fundraising as well. (Didn't know YouTube made fundraising so easy.)

Third: Jiyan Wei
-- 80 million Americans get their news online daily (40% use news portals and search engines)
-- 23 million Americans read blogs daily
-- 27 million Americans visit social networks daily
-- 20 million Americans produce content
-- Static release isn't enough. Must be interactive and easily shareable.

(Side note: TCM posted a YouTube video to promote this conference. They got 25 registrations. Out of a little over 100. Not a bad endorsement for YouTube.)

TCM Panel 2: Using Social Media for Lead Generation and to Find New Customers

Second presentation: Using Social Media for Lead Generation and to Find New Customers

First speaker: Tie Wong, CEO, Lore Systems and Opus8
-- Social media is a communications "channel"
-- Not a replacement for interpersonal connections.

People miss that second point a lot. Even I do sometimes.

Also claiming people are more responsive and open online. True? Not sure. What do you think?

TCM: Jeremy Epstein, Take... not sure what number

By the way, also tweeting on this (@referrier)

Go check out PollEverywhere. Very cool device Jeremy is using right now. It allows you to poll your audience using text messaging.

-- Robin

TCM: Epstein, take 3

Jeremy Epstein is now talking about embracing your brand fans even if they're product is:

-- branded a little differently than what you would do
-- "homemade"

Because 1 endorsement from a "raving fan" = 50 traditional impressions.

Another tip: Be the connector. Even if doesn't benefit you right away. (Personal addition to this point: Do this with the media as well. Tell your media contacts when you hear a good story idea that has nothing to do with you, your company, your client, etc.)

TCM: Jeremy Epstein (cont.)

Jeremy says we should go find people who love product already. Create more customer evangelists. They'll find new customers. More cost effective than finding new customers on your own.

I agree. In my day job at JHU, I am the biggest promoter of using our alumni (and current students) to find new students. That's how I found JHU's graduate program that I took (and loved). It's always nice to have reinforcement of your ideas by experts.

TCM Social Media Conference: Blogging as I Listen

So I'm taking this opportunity to practice social media. At the Tech Council of Maryland Social Media conference. Thought I'd blog about it. Hope there are readers.

First speaker: Jeremy Epstein. Title: Marketing Navigator. (Much cooler than my "Communications Manager" title.)

Background: 6 years at Microsoft. ("Laptop intensive culture." Not surprising...)

Interesting take on meetings and blackberries. Said if he can't keep our attention, we should keep doing what we want to do. Read emails, blackberries, etc. Said if I'm paying attention to email, he needs to do a better job. Interesting point... I've always hated people reading blackberries. May look at it different now.

September Lunch: PR and Communications at the National Zoo

Details being finalized. Here's what we do know.

WHEN: Wednesday, September 24 from noon - 1:30 p.m.
WHERE: National Zoo
COST: $15

We'll let you know when you can start RSVP'ing. (It will be later this week.)