Archive for Twitter
Yes, You Can Buy Friends and Followers. But Why?
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Here’s a tactic that’s been out there for a while but has recently been gaining traction – buying Twitter followers.
We’ve heard of some companies that are pushing their agencies and PR teams to up the Facebook likes and Twitter follower numbers. Bigger is better, they say. Quantity over quality.
But wouldn’t you rather have an “organically grown” set of prospective customers, industry influencers, bloggers and members of the mainstream media as followers? Real people who care, who want to read your information and – if it’s any good – share the content with their audiences?
If the answer is no (or if the boss is still demanding big numbers now) head straight to eBay, search for “Twitter followers” and you’ll find all sorts of deals. Caution: this violates Twitter’s terms of service so there’s a chance you could be discovered and banned, but if the boss wants likes and follows, you can deliver big time – in just days.
Below is copy from one of the ads appearing on eBay right now – they can also up your Facebook likes, Google+ presence and more, including ‘INSTANT’ online credibility for your brand. It’s that easy!:
Now on eBay – $29.99 – 30,000+ Twitter Followers
Fastest Delivery! I will add 30,000+ Twitter Followers to your Twitter account in less than 96 hours! No admin access is needed just give us your Username. All Followers look real since they have profile photos and Bios and NO EGGS. Establish INSTANT Credibility Online For Your Brand With An Extra 30,000+ Twitter Followers!
Meet Spike & Otis
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A trend in social media is “brand humanization,” the concept of adding a bit of personality to an organization’s interaction with people. Who wants to engage in conversation with a logo or faceless institution? We want to do business with people!
At Sawmill we’re taking the concept a step further for the Maryland Transportation Authority. Meet Spike & Otis, a pair of spokesbirds who provide travel and safety tips for those planning to travel across the Chesapeake Bay this summer via the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bay Bridge.
Spike & Otis will stick to social media, supplementing a traditional advertising and PR program. You can follow them and ask questions on Facebook – www.facebook.com/TheMDTA – and on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TheMDTA
Baltimore PR Firms Share Social Media Tips
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Thanks to everyone who came out to the Baltimore Business Journal‘s “Crash Course in Social Media” event yesterday at Sheppard Pratt in Towson. Attendees were treated to a half day of solid content from some of the top PR and social media companies in Baltimore. Here are links to the tools I mentioned during my presentation:
Dashboard for monitoring social media accounts: HootSuite; daily emails with mentions on Twitter: Twilert; instant alerts from across the web: Google Alerts; advanced monitoring and analytics: Radian6
For social media policies, the policies by Southwest Airlines and Ford are good examples. For a searchable database, check out Social Media Governance.
For examples of crisis situations, search for Domino’s Pizza and Chrysler. The new book I mentioned is #FAIL: The 50 Greatest Social Media Screw-Ups by Bernhard Warner.
Finally, here is my slide on steps to take to protect your reputation:
Sawmill Partner on Social Media Panel with CNN Commentator and Washington Post Editor
Posted by: | CommentsI’m looking forward to being part of a panel on crisis communications and social media Nov.3 that will bring attendees the latest thinking on how news organizations are using tools such as Twitter and Facebook during crisis situations. Find out more about the session, “Crisis Communication in a Social Media World,” and register for PRSA’s Mid-Atlantic Chesapeake Conference here. My co-presenters are:
Maria Cardona is a Democratic strategist who recently joined CNN as a political commentator for the 2012 election and contributor to CNN en Español. During the 2008 Democratic primary election, Cardona was senior adviser and spokesperson to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign and served on the campaign’s Hispanic outreach team. During the 2008 general election, she was a key surrogate for the Obama for America campaign, and during the Clinton administration, Cardona served as a spokesperson at the U.S. Departments of Justice and Commerce.
James Buck is the Washington Post‘s local innovations editor. He came to the Post in 2010, after working at FRONTLINE/World, The Oakland
Tribune, The Center for Investigative Reporting and University of California-Berkeley. While a graduate student at Berkeley in 2008, James traveled to Egypt to cover an anti-government protest and was arrested. He used Twitter on his cell phone to alert his friends, who immediately began campaigning for his release. The founders of Twitter frequently use James’ experience in explaining the power of the site as a communication tool.
Register today and join us! The Mid-Atlantic Chesapeake Conference has an impressive lineup of sessions this year, making it a must-attend event for the region’s public relations pros.
This week’s Baltimore Business Journal showcases @contactjeff as a Twitter account worth following.
The item in “Smart Strategies” notes that PR firms and advertising folks were among the first to use Twitter to promote clients and engage in dialogue with the media. “One of the early adopters in this field was Jeff Davis, a partner with Sawmill Marketing Public Relations.”
“His tweets offer a nice mix of the personal and the professional — and some are quite funny,” the BBJ says. At least that’s their opinion!
In fact, the BBJ was the first to cover Sawmill’s push into social media in 2007, and then in 2008 under the headline: “What Are You Doing? PR firms answer that question and more via social networking phenomenon Twitter”
My Favorite Twitter Tools
Posted by: | CommentsThere are hundreds of Twitter tools out there, but for the “must-haves,” check out this list I shared today with a group from the Baltimore-Washington chapter of Sales and Marketing Executives International (SMEI):
Hootsuite – An at-a-glance dashboard that allows me to monitor multiple accounts as well as pre-load tweets. An alternative is Tweetdeck.
Favorites and Lists – A sometimes overlooked tool, they are on everyone’s Twitter pages. If used, favorites offer a summary of what the account holder considers valuable tweets, and lists can be a good source for finding interesting accounts to follow.
search.twitter.com - A way to target your search by keywords, location and more. Try the search terms “looking for” or “can anyone recommend” along with the type of company you represent.
Sawmill Guide to Baltimore Media on Twitter – Our comprehensive list allows you to connect with the region’s media. Click on the link on our homepage.
Tweepz - A way to search keywords on bios. You can also limit results by location, number of followers and more. Looking for “foodies” in Baltimore for your restaurant account? This is a good place to start.
We Follow – A way to find people to follow. Search tags by location or focus (music, social media, PR, etc.).
Twilert - Delivers a daily email summary of tweets that have whatever account or keywords you are tracking.
There are so many more (check out www.oneforty.com), but if you start by adding these basics to your toolkit, your Twitter experience will be much more efficient and worthwhile. What are your can’t-live-without Twitter tools?
BALTIMORE, Md. (June 7, 2011 ) — Jeffrey A. Davis, a partner with Baltimore PR firm Sawmill Marketing Public Relations, will be a featured speaker during the June 14 Knowledge Session sponsored by the Baltimore-Washington chapter of Sales and Marketing Executives International (SMEI).
One of three expert panelists, Davis will share a range of tips and best practices showing how brands can best use Twitter to communicate and engage in conversations with customers, potential customers and the media. Co-presenter Jonathan Oleisky, of Media 924 LLC, will share Facebook tips, while Colleen McKenna, of Intero Advisory, will cover LinkedIn.
The SMEI event is scheduled for Tuesday, June 14 with a networking session beginning at 7:30 a.m., followed by the panel presentation beginning at 8 a.m. and concluding at 9:30 a.m. The event takes place at PSA Insurance and Financial Services, 11311 McCormick Road, Suite 500, Hunt Valley, MD 21031.
Additional details and registration information is available at the SMEI website.
About Sawmill Marketing Public Relations
Sawmill Marketing Public Relations is a Baltimore PR firm and social media marketing communications agency established in 1995 specializing in the development and execution of marketing public relations programs as business development strategies for business-to-business, business-to-consumer and professional services clients. The Maryland public relations company specializes in social media, traditional media relations, media training, and crisis communications. For additional information, visit www.sawmillmarketing.com
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Davis to Speak on Social Media and Commercial Real Estate
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BALTIMORE, Md. — Sawmill Marketing Public Relations partner Jeffrey A. Davis has been invited to address the topic of “Social Media Applications for Commercial Real Estate” at an upcoming meeting of Baltimore CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) from 8 to 10 a.m. on June 9.
To promote the talk, CREW issued the following statement:
A social media strategy and its relevance is more than just trying to fire off one or two “tweets” a day about your latest project. Like advertising, social media marketing is quickly becoming a necessity in today’s business climate. If you believe business-to-business relationships are all about people – not companies – connecting with each other, then social media is something you’ll want to consider as an efficient way to share your expertise, build new connections and continue conversations with others.
Come hear real-world examples of how social media can be a valuable B2B tool that should be integrated with other marketing communications activities as more purchase decision-makers look to Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and blogs for information. Learn how some commercial real estate executives and the media are using Twitter to connect with prospects and news sources, the importance of social media when it comes to online search results, the role social media plays in branding and recruitment, implications for crisis communications and more.
Joining Davis will be Pauline Harris, owner/principal, SPIN.
Location of the CREW event: Saul Ewing, LLP, 500 E Pratt St, Ste 900, Baltimore, MD 21202. For details and to register, visit this link.
Davis Invited to Speak about Social Media and Commercial Real Estate
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I’ve been invited to address the topic of “Social Media Applications for Commercial Real Estate” at an upcoming meeting of Baltimore CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) from 8 to 10 a.m. on Feb. 22. Here’s the blurb promoting the talk:
A social media strategy and its relevance is more than just trying to fire off one or two “tweets” a day about your latest project. Like advertising, social media marketing is quickly becoming a necessity in today’s business climate. If you believe business-to-business relationships are all about people – not companies – connecting with each other, then social media is something you’ll want to consider as an efficient way to share your expertise, build new connections and continue conversations with others.
Come hear real-world examples of how social media can be a valuable B2B tool that should be integrated with other marketing communications activities as more purchase decision-makers look to Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and blogs for information. Learn how some commercial real estate executives and the media are using Twitter to connect with prospects and news sources, the importance of social media when it comes to online search results, the role social media plays in branding and recruitment, implications for crisis communications and more.
Joining me will be Pauline Harris, owner/principal, SPIN. Location: Saul Ewing, LLP, 500 E Pratt St, Ste 900, Baltimore, MD 21202. For details and to register, visit this link.
Our New Year’s Day Gift to You: An Updated ‘Sawmill Guide to Baltimore Media on Twitter’
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We started to compile a list of Baltimore media on Twitter in 2008, published it on New Year’s Day in 2009 and updated it every time we came across a new account.
Today we present the 2011 edition of the “Sawmill Guide to Baltimore Media on Twitter,” now more than 250 names!
The list can be accessed here, and it resides on our home page all year long (see the link on the right). If you have any updates, please leave a comment and we’ll share.
