Communications 2.0

My first job out of college was working with a local PR agency, and our main client was a agriculture chemical company. As I mentioned in a previous blog, we had to travel in the field, collecting testimonials and taking photos of growers and their fields. The photos we took were used in the collateral we produced, we didn’t want to pay for the rights of a professional photographer’s work, and we were out there so we might as well make good use of our time. It took quite a few trial and error trips to start taking photos that we could use. We were also using strictly film because digital wasn’t as readily available, so we had to have a general understanding of what made a good photograph. We didn’t have the luxury of previewing the photo while we were out, we had to be confident when we got back to the office that there would be at least one good shot. This is just one example of when you are expected to wear multiple hats as a PR professional.

Now, this agency and others have contests where they ask growers and customers to upload and submit their own photos. It provides an additional way to connect with the customer base and allows the agency to receive some great photos to use. It keeps customers coming back to the site to see if their photo is featured and keeps the chemical company and their brands at top of mind.

I recently posed this question on my Facebook page.

“Question for all my FB friends – do you think all the social media that allow us to be more connected with our friends really makes us less connected?”

The lecture this week about micro-blogging made me consider this question. Specfically the short tutorial that explains what Twitter is. As they explain:

“So, what are you doing. It is one of the first questions we ask friends and family. Even if the answer is just mowing the lawn or cooking dinner it is interesting to us. It makes us feel connected, and a part of each other’s lives.” Youtube video Twitter in Plain English

Here was my response to my question posed above:

I keep “in contact” with people that I wouldn’t if it wasn’t for Facebook etc. But, I’m not really “connected” with them – in fact it can make me less connected with my friends  because I don’t ask “How are you?” because I already know based on status updates etc. There are times I am less engaged because they will be telling me a story and I think – didn’t I already hear/read this? Oh yeah, I did. And, here’s the other question – do you really need to be “connected” with people from high school or college or previous jobs that you never really talked to or hung out with in general? Does it distract from those that you have a real connection with now?

What do you think? Is micro-blogging another great way to keep in contact with those around you? Or does it just distract us from making real connections?

Vlogging is a funny word. A funny word for an activity that can have a big impact on your organization.Vlogging = video blogging aka vidblogging aka vlogging. Vlogging can add interest to your website or blog, can add an additional dimension and can draw significantly larger audiences. A brief vlog gives others the opportunity to share their story, experiences and feelings about your organization, adding credibility and helping build a sense of community.

A successful example of an organization I know that is utilizing vlogging on their site to help promote and garner awareness is DurhamCares. As posted on their website:

DurhamCares was founded to help Durham residents love their neighbors; not just the people next door, but across town and even across the world. Our vision is to see our city engaged in serving each other, building relationships across cultural boundaries, and transforming our community through committed involvement.

Co-founder Henry Kaestner has done an incredible job collecting vlogs to post on the DurhamCares website. It is a great example of how easy it is to collect and post vlogs, Henry has a small flip video recorder that he carries with him everywhere. When he meets someone with a story he is ready to record it and share the story with others. The vlogs are unscripted and help residents of Durham learn more about their neighbors. Check out their website and the hundreds of vlogs he has collected to date: http://www.durhamcares.org/video/

There are millions of blogs out there and according to Technorati there are 120,000 new blogs added each day. How do you make your blog stand out and be successful? What makes a successful blog? Obviously you want an audience that follows you and comments on your posts. Blogs are not meant to be a one-way conversation, gaining feedback and comments help create that relationship with your audience.

The first step is to remember your audience – who are you trying to reach and what do you want them to respond to? In addition, you have to dress your blog for your audience – are you maintaining a technical blog or is it more causal and formal? You have to listen as much as you talk and don’t let the flame burn out. It is important to keep your blog updated on a regular basis, and participate in conversations with your audience.

One group that has exploded in the blogosphere is the Mommy Blog. These blogs are started by mothers, some first time moms, some with many children and some with blended families, and are a place where they can share their experiences and gain feedback and support from other mommies. They are extremely popular and those that experience the greatest success are those that blog consistently and keep the conversations going. They have become so popular many are earning a living off the ads they run on their blogs and baby product companies recognize the influence they have and want to advertise on these sites.

These sites are so popular because the authors know their audience and they write to them. It is a place where writing about poop, puke and postpartum depression are accepted, and followers welcome these bloggers into their lives as a way to connect with others and feel like they aren’t the only one out there dealing with these issues. The blogs provide moms a sense of community when they may feel alone at home caring for their baby.

A few popular Mommy blogs:

Momversation

Dooce

Coolmom

Girls Gone Child