Happy Friday, everyone, and welcome to this week’s Five for Friday!

Another week filled with developments in the world of Social Media means another week or scrubbing our RSS feed for stories to share – here are a few that rose to the top for us:

The Huffington Post is making its move into broadcast with an online video channel described as a “never-ending talkshow.” President and editor-in-chief Arianna Huffington announced that the live streaming network would launch in the summer and feature 12 hours of original programming “built around segments spotlighting the biggest, hottest, most engaging stories HuffPost is covering at any given moment.” Huffington Post co-founder Roy Sekoff described the ambitious project as “CNN meets YouTube,” and said it would be staffed by about 100 employees… (Source: The Huffington Post).

Though a hit amongst users, some brands are having difficulty finding a meaningful (and legal) application for the social tool du jour, Pinterest. Launched in 2010, Pinterest lets users collect and share images by “pinning” them to a virtual inspiration board. Curators can create boards based on any topic, follow those assembled by others and view/“re-pin” content they discover to their own boards. Given the value of photos, Pinterest could be an interesting arena for brands to play, but only if those images are clearly owned by the brand, have been purchased by the brand, are free of any licensing issues, are not the intellectual property of another, don’t imply endorsement, and on and on and on… (Source: Various).

According to research conducted by Carnegie Mellon University, Twitter users find only 36% of the tweets they receive “worth reading.” Tweets that ask questions are the least disliked, with an 18% probability of being rated “not worth reading.” By contrast, “me now” tweets regarding current mood or activity are among the most disliked, with just a 22% chance of being rated “worth reading”… (Source: Carnegie Mellon University).

The results of a new study suggest that women are significantly more cautious than men when it comes to sharing personal information on Social Media sites. Women are 33% more likely than men to say they are definitely not willing to share their physical address (78.8% vs. 59.1%), 39% more likely to definitely not share their location (52.4% vs. 37.7%), and 36% more likely to definitely not share their phone number (77.3% vs. 56.7%)… (Source: uSamp).

In an interview with BusinessNewsDaily, Mom Central founder and CEO, Stacy DeBroff, offered some advice for marketers eager to reach Moms, a target that’s at the center of what’s being called the “recommendation culture.” According to DeBroff, there are a number of factors to consider before you engage: (1.) Moms are no longer brand loyal – motivated by economic concerns, more and more Moms are exploring (and purchasing) new brands in favor of their old standards; (2.) Moms are getting personal – 75% are comfortable and willing to talk about their health and medical issues on Social Networking sites; (3.) Moms are clipping coupons; (4.) Moms are taking and giving advice; and (5.) Moms are skeptical – if you want to reach them through Social Media, you can’t fake it, you have to fully engage… (Source: FOX Business | Small Business Center).

Have a headline that made you go “hmmm?” Leave us a comment and let’s discuss!

Image courtesy of  someecards

Was this ecard in your Facebook feed yesterday?

Today, John Lennon’s 1970s song “Power to The People” has meaning again.  The People created an avalanche of social media protest when The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation (SGK) cut funds for breast cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood earlier this week.  No matter where you stood on the issue, it was The People who painted a picture of SGK as a polarizing charity and made many supporters re-assess their continued sponsorship.  It was The People who contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to Planned Parenthood – funds it wouldn’t otherwise have received.  And it was The People (more women than men, but you gotta love Michael Bloomberg), powered by social media, who incentivized SGK earlier today to reverse its funding decision.

And the best part?  Because of the speed and reach of social media this all happened in two days.

Have people used social media to effect change before?  They sure have.  There was that little thing called the Arab Spring.  And last summer, women in Saudi Arabia mobilized on social networking sites to demand their right to drive.  This sparked worldwide media coverage and support from female politicians and diplomats in the U.S. and Europe.

The enormous power of social media still thrills me.  Maybe because I remember the laboriously slow pace and even threat of danger of the old fashioned protests. How would social media have affected other well-known protests such as the Vietnam War in the 1960s or the HIV/AIDS protests in the 1980s?

Looking forward, there’s one thing of which I’m certain: we are past the time when social issues that large groups of people are passionate about can be swept under the rug or put on hold until next month’s board meeting.  Everything happens in real time.  And as public relations people, we need to be prepared to react in real time.

As soon as my team returns from our Holiday Gift Week, the week between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day during which MMC is closed, we immediately start to think about the summer.  In case this sounds a bit premature, I’m referring to MMC’s Summer Graduate and Internship Program.  My colleagues and I revisit our program every year to ensure we attract top talent at the junior level and remain competitive with the opportunities being offered by other agencies.

Talent at the junior level undoubtedly becomes stronger every year.  The qualifications for a graduate or undergraduate internship at MMC has always included excellent research and writing skills; a knowledge of current with events and trends; demonstration of strong initiative, good judgment and creative flair.  However, we’ve put a much larger emphasis on digital savvy and social media presence in recent years.  A recent graduate’s social media footprint is their defining quality as new talent.  Unlike those of us who have been in the workforce for years, junior talent never referred to social media as “new media.”  The social space has always been their playground and their level of online expertise is both a requirement for our summer program and an opportunity as they can immediately put those skills to work.

Regardless of level, MMC candidates are active in social networks.  They connect with me on LinkedIn following their interview, “like” Marina Maher Communications on Facebook and follow @MMCtweets on Twitter.  They actively discuss PR industry insights, trends and relevant news on these networks and know how to leverage them, whether for clients or their own personal brand during the job search process.  In addition to engaging in social networks like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, many recent hires have blogs themselves, including F&B JAE Taylor Foxman and Health & Well-Being AAE Jenna Glynn.

Because being digitally savvy is so important, we have to ensure staffers continue to be engaged online and ahead of social media trends once onboard.  This means infusing our three key summer program areas of client management, training and development, and new business development with digital components and learning opportunities.  Our interns will onboard with our social media team, work closely with account teams executing social media tactics, participate in MMC Masters training courses and digitally-focused webinars, and finally, create a program and presentation for a new business opportunity with social media at its core.

Sound like the type of opportunity you might be right for this summer?  The application criteria for our 2012 Summer Program is more focused than ever before on getting to know you beyond your resume;  your resume and relevant experience should be available to me on LinkedIn anyway!  In addition to your resume, we’re looking for a brief creative bio and sample blog post.  Cover letters need not apply!  Most importantly, we’re looking for you to have FUN when developing these application materials!  In case you missed the details on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, check out MMC’s Open Positions page for program specifics.

And just one final word of advice: candidates who understand that “To Whom It May Concern” does not work at our agency tend to get a leg up on the competition.  Instead, they use LinkedIn to identify and contact me, Kate DiChristopher, Human Resources Manager or Julie Conway, Director of Talent Acquisition.  We look forward to hearing from you!

Happy Friday, everyone, and welcome to this week’s Five for Friday!

Like all before it, this week was far from quiet in the world of Social Media: from talk about impending IPOs to failed bills against online piracy, we had some fun combing through our collective feeds for stories to share. Followed are this week’s picks:

In a recent study, PopCap Games (developers of two of my personal faves, Plants vs Zombies and Bejeweled) found that women were the most active gamers on Social Networking sites, making up over 55% of all who played. In addition, their data suggests a direct correlation between the rise in popularity of Social Media among older users and the uptake of social gaming. It also reveals an interesting trend among women over the age of 35: not only are they frequenting social gaming platforms more often than any other demographic, but they’re playing a larger variety of games, especially those that connect them to “real-life” friends… (Source: PopCap Games).

According to The Wall Street Journal, Facebook could file for its long-anticipated initial public offering as early as Wednesday. As reported weeks ago, the company is currently looking at a valuation of $75 to $100 billion, making it the largest IPO in US history… (Source: The Wall Street Journal)

For years, media experts have pondered the demise of broadcast television at the hands of Web-based channels and digital content creators. According to The Huffington Post, those predictions’ time has come with “top video destinations on the Web suddenly flush with original programming.” Key players like YouTube, Netflix and Hulu – each already known for respectable fodder in the form of documentaries, reality shows and scripted series – are readying to unveil their most ambitious move yet: a push into a traditional arena that has capital and celebs, for sure, but is (as some say) in dire need of reinvention… (Source: The Huffington Post).

At the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (aka, CES), Mercedes-Benz USA revealed a plan to bring Facebook to its cars. The luxury auto manufacturer has been working with the Network to integrate what they’re referring to as a “special version” that will be built into their in-vehicle telematics system. Before you head to your nearest dealership, however, you should know that your on-the-road Facebook experience will not be the same as it on your PC or mobile device. This iteration will be stripped down to a limited feature set that’s designed for drivers and centered around the locations of friends and businesses… (Source: Reuters)

This week, Twitter announced a tweak to their technology that would allow third-parties to censor messages on a country-by-country basis. Clearly driven by their desire to enter more territories and cooperate with local laws, the move has resulted in a significant amount of ire aimed at the platform, with some users planning to “go dark” on Saturday in protest… (Source: Various).

Did we miss a headline that made you go “hmmm?” Drop us a comment and let’s discuss!

Happy Friday, everyone, and welcome to this week’s edition of Five for Friday!

From a controversial campaign against copyright enforcement bills, to trends, acquisitions and everything in between, we had a ton of headlines to comb through this time around. Followed are just five of that caught our eye:

Furthering their commitment to Open Graph, Facebook has added support for more than 60 new partner apps. Expect alerts from friends who use tools like Foodily, Ticketmaster, TripAdvisor and Pinterest to start filling up your Tickers any day now… (Source: The Washington Post).

The New York Times has called Wednesday’s online protests against the Stop Online Piracy (SOPA) and Protect IP (PIPA) Acts “a political coming of age for the tech industry.” In response to flames being fanned by sites like Google, Boing Boing, Reddit and Wikipedia (where more than 162 million people saw the protest message), 4.5 million people signed a petition and 18 senators have backed away from the proposed legislation… (Source: Various).

YouTube has announced the launch of a film festival that will play out online. The Your Film Festival will take submissions of short films (up to 15 minutes in length) between February 2^nd and March 31^st. Fifty semi-finalists will be selected by Scott Free Productions, a company headed by famed directors Ridley and Tony Scott. Those 50 films will (eventually) live on a channel where users will be able to view and vote for their favorites. The top 10 finalists will have the opportunity to show their work at the Venice Film Festival. Cool… (Source: YouTube).

Our friends at Apple have released a new app that makes creating an e-book as simple as dragging and dropping. The iBooks Author App automatically determines the best layout and creates appropriate sections and headers. Users can move and resize images within the text, add definitions, photo galleries, movies, Keynote presentations and 3D objects before previewing their creations on their iPads or publishing them to the iBook store. Anyone involved in content creation can see tons of application here – oh, and it’s free… (Source: CNET).

While we’re on the subject of Apple, the Company has received approval on a patent that could make wearable tech the next big thing in apparel. The patent suggests that a whole line of “smart garments” (think Nike+, but for more than sneakers) are in our future, from shirts, to sweatpants, skates to skis. According to insiders, these garments would be able to “tell” us when they’ve reached their expected lifetime and when they need to be replaced. Crazy… (Source: Mashable).

What story grabbed your attention this week? Leave us a comment and let’s discuss!

Happy Friday (the 13^th), fellow friggatriskaidekaphobiacs, and welcome to this week’s edition of Five for Friday! Lots happening in the world of Social Media this time around, so without further delay, let’s take a look at some of the headlines that caught our eye:

In an example of “what not to do,” the owner of an Atlanta restaurant has apologized for a profanity-laced rant he made to in response to a negative review on Yelp. Instead of offering the patron a free meal, he went on a Social Media bender, accusing the critic of stiffing the waitress. He even posted a picture of her and linked to her Facebook page – oof! Feeling the heat after their battle caught fire, the proprietor removed his posts and (finally) offered a formal apology along a coupon for a free meal. Too little too late, or…? (Source: The Huffington Post).

According to a recent BlogHer survey, women more often turn to blogs rather than Social Networks to help with a consumer electronics purchases. Among the respondents, blog reviews and recommendations led by a wide margin (69%), followed by review sites (48%), visits to a retailer (47%) and manufacturer sites (46%). Surprisingly, Social Networks lagged (35%), as did Twitter (19%) and mobile apps (3%)… (Source: Marketing Charts).

Forbes’ Haydn Shaughnessy says the top Social Media influencers have three key behaviors in common: they’re active on a number of channels, they create and maintain high-quality networks and they participate often. Surprisingly, he makes no mention of ethics, journalistic standards or adoption of best practices, such as FDA or FTC guides… (Source: Forbes).

The launch of Search, plus Your World by Google continues to draw considerable criticism from users and experts alike. Questions about privacy, security, anti-trust concerns, the fate of Facebook and whether G+ results would be weighed more heavily are still gathering steam in what seems to be the latest in a string of headaches for the search giant. Hate to say it, but we see a ton of potential in deeper integration and a more personalized Search experience. What do you think? Has Google shot themselves in the foot or are they on the right track? (Source: Various).

Being able to say that you have the attention of approximately 1/7^th of the entire global population is no joke. Such is the case with Facebook who’s quickly approaching the 1 billion user mark. Having already surpassed $1 billion in revenue, the Network is gearing up for what is expected to be a one of the largest initial public offerings for a Web company. Based on analyses, implied valuations are expected to fall somewhere between $50 and $100 billion… (Source: MSN Money).

Do you have a story to share? Drop us a comment and let’s discuss!

Image courtesy of  Digital Trends

MMC was at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this week and, as had been predicted, heard a lot of news about tablets and e-readers.

To compete against the dominance of the iPad, many companies are introducing tablets running on Android or Windows 8, and at a variety of price points. Even traditional e-readers (such as Amazon’s Kindle or Barnes & Noble’s Nook) are evolving to include tablet-like functionality. According to recent statistics, 65% of Americans are expected to own a tablet or smartphone by 2015. With a user base topping 82 million, the consumption of media through these devices will only increase.

Women purchase the majority of tablets.  Nielsen said in August that 61% of all eReader owners are now female, compared to a mere 46 percent in Q3 2010. Tablet owners are also using other forms of media less: 39% of tablet users say they use their laptop less frequently, while 20% admit to not reading print magazines as often.

This quickly growing phenomenon gives marketers many exciting opportunities to spread the word about their brands and tie advertising and PR more closely to sales.  Via their tablets, readers can share products and brands they love through Social Media, increasing word-of-mouth about the publication and the product. Tablet-only newspapers and magazines can enable direct links to purchase or provide geo-specific links that guide consumers to the nearest point of purchase. And there are probably endless opportunities to partner with retailers to offer promotions through location-based check-in.

MMC is embracing this trend with gusto.  What about you?

Happy 2012, everyone, and welcome to this year’s first edition of Five for Friday!

This time of year, articles and conversations about “the year that was” and “the year to be” are hard to miss in the world of marketing, particularly in the areas of digital and Social Media. In 2011, the medium continued to grow by leaps and bounds. Several of the major platforms (like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube) underwent significant overhauls, while relative newcomers (like Spotify, Tumblr and Google+) were embraced by brands and consumers alike. In all, it was quite a year… so what’s next? Well, in the spirit of Five for Friday, let’s take a look at five blips on our radar:

1. Mobile adoption will continue to rise. In 2011, an estimated 750 million people worldwide accessed the Web via some form of mobile device. If current stats are to be believed, usage is expected to double within five years and mobile will overtake PCs as the most popular way to get online. Advice for 2012? Get yourself mobile-friendly version of your site and fast! Your customers are doing far more with their phones than checking in, updating status or sharing photos.
2. ROI models for Social Media will be redefined… again! If the introduction of new performance indicators on Facebook (Iike “talking about this” and “virality”) didn’t serve as a wake-up call to those who value collection over engagement, we don’t know what will. With Facebook’s user base quickly approaching the 1 billion mark – and links to brand pages included in every marketing push – it’s time to re-evaluate success, not only on Facebook, but across Social Media.
3. Check-ins and commerce will collide… in a good way! Retailers large and small will offer more on-the-spot deals and find ways to make closing the sale more seamless. No more Foursquare tutorials at the register – yippee!
4. YouTube will grow up. Hot on the heels of their 2011 redesign, YouTube (the second-largest Search Engine on the Web) will continue to add “Social” functionality to their portal, making it “the place to be” for marketers seeking to tell a good story.
5. Email will make a comeback. In certain areas of business (like pharma and financial services), marketers will rediscover email as a safe and effective (not to mention highly-controllable) form of communications. Decades after its introduction, email still tends to garner the highest response rates when compared to Social Media tools. Not bad for an old fogey!

So what Social Media predictions do you have for 2012? Leave us a comment and let’s discuss!

 Image Courtesy of Carlos Latuff

The Huffington Post published a photo essay today on what they deemed The 50 Best Moments for Women in 2011. Turns out there were a lot of reasons to celebrate women’s progress in many areas, including politics, media, the arts, athletics and more.

I encourage you to click through all of it.  But if you don’t have time, here are a few highlights about women’s progress in media that I thought were particularly noteworthy. 

• Social networking scores a victory in Saudi Arabia.  No, this wasn’t another Arab Spring – it was a campaign for women’s rights in the ultra-conservative kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  Women2Drive was created to demand women’s right to drive after a 32-year-old female engineer was arrested for driving.  The campaign demonstrated the dramatic impact of social networking sites, as it sparked worldwide media coverage and support from female politicians and diplomats in the U.S. and Europe.  While women have not won the right to drive, Saudi’s King Abdullah did grant them the right to vote in elections for the first time, moving women’s progress one small step forward.    
• Despite widely available information online, generations of women still turn to the same women’s health reference book.  In 2011, “Our Bodies, Ourselves” (OBOS), the iconic and widely-circulated women’s health reference book, celebrated its 40th birthday. Published by the Boston Women’s Health Collective in 1971, when health information was hard to come by, this book helped launch the women’s health movement.  Forty years later, despite the surfeit of online information, OBOS remains a go-to resource for women of all ages – from Boomers to Millennials and Generation Z.
• The first ad featuring lesbians airs on national TV.  Kudos to KY, the personal lubricant brand, which aired a commercial featuring a lesbian couple sitting on their bed talking about using KY Intense, a new product designed for women because “they say it makes sex more satisfying.”  Add this breakthrough to 2011’s passage of New York’s Same Sex Marriage Act and the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act signed in December of 2010 and I’d say the LGBT community had a pretty good year!
• Social Media may thwart another “Oprah Effect.”  HuffPo notes that while Oprah single-handedly influenced how millions of women thought and talked about their lives, social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter have so democratized media that “it’s nearly impossible for any one person to have that much control over any conversation again.”

There’s a lot more great stuff in this article, including not one, but two mentions of Ryan Gosling, who was the subject of more buzz than he probably wanted in 2011.  You’ll have to go to the site to find out why.  Or just check out this blog to find out more about his, um, feminist side. 

Happy New Year!

Photo credit Samara Finn

When you work in public relations social media, you follow every incident of positive and negative customer service on the web. However, it’s rare that you actually find yourself in a situation where a company is observing your actions online and recognizing you for your patronage. In this case, I was the recipient of some acknowledgment and thanks that went above and beyond.

Last week I was traveling for business in Los Angeles.  The event we were hosting was being held at the InterContinental Hotel so we secured sleeping rooms there.  The morning after my first night’s stay I happened to check-in via Foursquare (yes, I’m still hooked on possible specials and the chance to unlock new badges).  It wasn’t too surprising to receive a tweet back from @InterConLA asking me about my stay and offering to answer any questions.

I tweeted back once or twice and thought that was it.  What happened next, though, did blow me away. I was about to jump on a conference call when room service was at my door with a complimentary tray of waters and Sprinkles cupcakes (the best cupcakes in LA).  My mind immediately started racing – who could these be from?  Were my colleagues back in NYC doing something special for me?  Did my friends and family do some recon and find out where I was staying? I was at a loss until I opened the card.

The card was from the hotel.  They referenced Twitter and wanted to thank me for sharing my thoughts online. The also offered me complimentary wi-fi for my stay – which for anyone traveling for business who specifically works in social media, is a pretty useful and appreciated offer.  However, where the InterContinental really won me over is that they didn’t just send me cupcakes – ‘cause who doesn’t love cupcakes — they sent me cupcakes because the day before my stay (and fresh on my Twitter feed) I was tweeting about cupcakes I had made and decorated. They wow’d me with something that resonated with my interests and that they knew would get my attention.  It was this customized and personalized approach that won me over. And of course, as a delighted customer I told my Twitter followers, Facebook friends, family, colleagues and just about everyone I came in contact with.

Here’s how I break down what they did right:

• Used social media to seek out customers experiencing their services via an established online presence
• Offered something complimentary proactively (not as a make good for displeasure customer complaint)
• Tied their thoughtful gesture to something personal and customized, making the guest feel even more special than pure acknowledgment
• Continued to engage and offer help throughout my stay

As a result of this experience, I’ve not only shared the story off and online, I have also recommended (and will continue to recommend) the InterContinental Hotel.  Kudos to the social media people behind @InterConLA for using technology to win with customers!  There are many companies out there who can learn from you.