by Colleen Flood*

I set up a Twitter handle months ago, maybe even a year ago, (@cgflood) so I could follow my clients and the trends in my industry.  I had some followers, but never garnered the courage to tweet anything.  I was so afraid I might say the wrong thing, use the wrong symbols (# @, etc.) that I never tweeted…until now. 

Flickr Image: cjc4454

I came to San Diego for the International PRSA Conference (#PRSA09) and attended a “tweetup” the first night.  A tweetup is a gathering of tweeters who get together in person to socialize. (For a more in-depth look at tweetups and how you can get the most out of them, check out this BurrellesLuce white paper.) Many at this particular tweetup had never met each other face-to-face before.  While at the event, many people I met were asking me for my handle or address on Twitter and I reluctantly gave it to them, saying: “I don’t really tweet so you don’t have to follow me.” 

The following day I attended a professional development workshop, at #PRSA09, titled Social Media and the PR (R)evolution: It’s Not Just PR Anymore.

The session consisted of a panel of social media experts who all had the same message:  “Peer to peer connecting is the here and now and we must make social media a commitment.”  As many of my clients are looking for answers on how to get involved in monitoring, I found much of the message was targeted at recognizing channels to network your brand with the consumer and getting involved in them. Below are some takeaways:

• If you are using social media, be active.  Ariel Hyatt said, “Make sure you and your client know how to use the tools. You don’t want their fan page to go dead or their Twitter handle to lack use” Like mine did! 
• Response and responsibility to social media is necessary.  Joe Jaffe was asked by moderator Kaimi Watson Huyse, “Who owns social media?” Joe replied, “No one will ever own social media but someone needs to be responsible.”  Joe added, “PR is social and going to be more valuable than it has ever been.”
• Brian Solis said, “It is important to ask yourself when you are on Twitter are you you?”  He added that Twitter and Facebook may have both personal and professional contacts so you may want to think about creating secondary accounts and establishing separate social media identities.
• Align your social media activity with business goals and strategy is Deirdre Breakenridge’s advice – know your stakeholders and build your brand champions.

After listening to the panel, I decided I needed to get in the game or get off the court.  I have made the commitment to contribute to my social media communities; have you?

*Bio: Colleen Flood has been a sales consultant with BurrellesLuce for over 12 years and is eager to become a more integrated part of the social-public relations community. She primarily handle agency relations in the New York and New Jersey metro-area. She is not only passionate about work, but also about family, friends, and the Jersey Shore. Twitter: @cgflood LinkedIn: Colleen Flood Facebook: BurrellesLuce

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 1:34 pm and is filed under Career Advice/Professional Development, Industry Events, Public Relations, Social Media, Twitter. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.