Archive for the ‘Social Media’ Category

The Underlying Benefits of Social Media

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

Everywhere you look, social media is a topic on everyone’s tongue.  I was doing a little digging and recently came across an impressive statistic about how in 2008, Dell announced they had made $1 million in revenue from Twitter over a one year and half period.  This was two years ago; can you imagine the amount they could make now?!

Social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter can be overwhelming for a client because it’s a whole new and fast paced world for them.  It’s important we educate our clients on why investing in social media is key.  It’s also important we as public relations executives continue to stay on top of this helpful technology and embrace it.

It’s great to see the optimism towards social media – here are a few benefits you can offer to your client:

  • Improve customer relationships
  • Reduce customer service costs
  • Influence sales
  • Increase media coverage
  • Establishes trust with consumers
  • Builds the client’s brand

Social media is a great tool to assist public relations executives in the online world.  With more people using Facebook than regular email, it’s our responsibility as PR professionals to guide our clients and help transition them.

Abby Boburka,
Account Executive

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What’s in a Title? Everything!

Monday, March 1st, 2010

If you had told me that one webinar our firm participated in back in August 2008 would lead to a whole new path for our Public Relations firm, I would have said at the time it’s not possible. However, as the months have gone by, and we have tried to incorporate social media into everything we do, the need has become greater to have one person focused on this category.

Whether it’s launching Dunkin’ Donuts South Florida Twitter account back in November and partnering with the Miami Dolphins on a ticket giveaway for this launch, or it’s “driving” the Truly Nolen Mousecar on Facebook, or it’s sharing links on the Tilson PR Facebook and @TilsonPR Twitter accounts that are mutually beneficial to others, we as a firm have been fortunate to have participated in that original webinar that launched all of this interest for us.

Therefore, beginning today, I am excited to announce that our great President Tracy Tilson has entrusted me in a new position. My title – Manager of Social Media!

Why does this excite me? Because I feel it adds a new dimension to what we do here. We already engage in Social Media, and now we’re going to begin focusing on offering current and prospective clients ways to also become engaged in the practice. Through speaking engagements, on-site tutorials and actual social media services, we as a firm will strive to do the best job we can in communicating on behalf of our client and showing prospective clients what we can do for them.

One of my favorite singers, Tom Petty, once said, “The future was wide open…The sky was the limit.” I couldn’t agree more, and as we move onward and upward into this new chapter for our firm, we’ll continue to aim high.

Toby Srebnik, Manager of Social Media (@TilsonPR)

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Set Your Sights On a New Horizon

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

I recently had the good fortune of partnering on a Social Media Presentation for the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce’s Back to Basics program with Jeff Zbar of ChiefHomeOfficer.com and Erin Glass of Viziun. Jeff set the tone speaking about branding as a whole, while Erin focused on Facebook as a business tool and I focused on how to use Twitter for business.

What I found encouraging about the presentation was that several chamber members approached each of us at the conclusion to ask us follow-up questions. Several even told us how they were planning to go back to their office and explain to their boss WHY they need to be on Facebook and Twitter NOW.

As someone who is very passionate when it comes to Social Media, I’ve always felt if you can explain to a business owner in clear terms why they need to be involved, they will be motivated to do so.

One example of a business that was allowing the conversation to go on without their participation was our friends at Lion County Safari (who is not nor have they ever been a client of ours). Back in June 2009 during a presentation to the Palm Beach County Attractions Association, I was able to visually show LCS what they were missing.

I went to search.twitter.com and typed in Lion County Safari. At the time, there were over 150 tweets about the attraction, and 95 percent of them were positive. LCS’ Director of Marketing and Public Relations Jennifer Berthume, upon seeing this, pulled me aside at the end of my presentation and used my computer to sign up for Twitter that day. Seven months, 559 followers, and 489 tweets later, @LionCountry has become a Twitter fixture and understands the value of connecting with the general public on a daily basis through this medium.

Therefore, my advice would be this: before you get involved, see what others are already saying about you and/or your business. Once you see how the conversation goes on without you, it just made be what you need to motivate you to take on the challenge of a new horizon!

Toby Srebnik,
Senior Account Executive (@TilsonPR)

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The Old Rules of Engagement

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

In light of Toby’s “new rules of engagement” post, I’m going to take some time to discuss, well, the old rules of engagement. Although Twitter, Facebook, and a host of other social media mechanisms are valuable business tools, it’s important to remember that old-fashioned communication still matters – and sometimes, can have added impact in a crowded digital world.

Companies that use Twitter and Facebook to enhance (not replace) their customer service efforts have the right idea. And when companies don’t treat customers well in person, on the phone, or via written/electronic communication, it often doesn’t bode well for their social media presence. Case in point: I just checked in on my favorite airline’s Facebook page, and saw comments from a customer alleging that her e-mails to the company have gone unreturned for months.

The old rules are still intact for us, too: it’s easy for a PR professional to conduct virtually all business by e-mail, whether it’s pitching media, negotiating with a vendor or conducting day-to-day dialogue with a client. But picking up the phone provides warmth, engagement and other intangibles that e-mail can’t always express.

At Tilson, we have a stack of notecards – the kind you use for a handwritten letter – and we are encouraged to use them frequently. I’m always impressed when I receive a written note by mail. In fact, receiving a written thank you note from a recent intern candidate assisted in my decision to hire him.

As Tracy wrote on this blog a few days ago, the days of stamping and mailing press releases is long over. But old-fashioned communication isn’t gone here, and it’s the delicate balancing act of new and old that makes communication – from both PR firms and companies – effective.

Amy Bagner, Senior Account Executive

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The New Tools of Engagement

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

One of the arenas where our firm has become quite active is Social Media.  Whether it’s creating a Facebook persona for the Truly Nolen Mousecar or hosting our own monthly tweet-ups to help business owners learn about what channels like Twitter can do for them, we believe social media is a great additional piece of the overall PR puzzle.

Some of the ways companies can use social media to their advantage include:

  • Developing relationships with their customers in a non-intimidating fashion
  • Posting photos of and “reporting” from a live event as it occurs
  • Listing upcoming events that can be shared with a wide audience
  • Quick distribution of press releases
  • Using customers as a sounding board to help develop company ideas

The number one reason people don’t get involved in social media is because “I just don’t have the time.”  As someone who has been serving on the Social Media Club South Florida Steering Committee since April and who now also serves as the Publicist for Social Media Club Palm Beach County, I’m here to tell you time is on your side!  People can start developing SM relationships in as little as 15-30 minutes a day.  Just remember, like a chamber of commerce membership, you will get out of it whatever you’re willing to invest in terms of time.

The possibilities are endless.  The question is whether you are willing to take the social media plunge.

Toby Srebnik, Senior Account Executive (@TilsonPR)

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