Twitter

Twitter, Twitter, Twitter

Twitter is the number one word for 2009. It outranked Obama and H1N1. Not surprising given that currently there are 6 million Twitter users. By 2010 that number is expected to grow to 18 million!

What, you’re not using Twitter? You don’t get it?

Don’t panic. It’s still not for everyone, but if you really don’t get it and at least want o understand it then pick up a reference book to learn about it. Better yet, create an account. You don’t have to send a tweet every day (a tweet is what your post is called). You could do it once a week. You could simply follow others.

If you still aren’t comfortable or have no idea where to even start, then go to www.lynda.com and sign up for the Twitter essentials. Cost is $25 for a month. You can take as many modules as you like — the best part is that you can do it from your home computer at any hour. It’s the best investment you’ll make in 2009.

I recently heard from someone who did just that. She confesses she’s now tweeting for several of her clients.

Even if you don’t start tweeting, you won’t be behind the curve and you’ll be ready for the number one word of 2010.

Making Messages Memorable

My organization recently changed its name from Christian Children’s Fund to ChildFund International. Messaging was critical and continues to be so as we work to raise our visibility.

I was fortunate last week to attend a session on messaging presented by Paula Otto, a former broadcast journalist and now Executive Director of the Virginia Lottery.

In this day of Twitter (140 characters or less) how do you get your message out? Paula suggested breaking the message into 3 parts –

1)      What’s the one thing I want people to remember? (47 characters or less)

2)      If I were calling someone to tell them about this, what would I say? (66 characters or less)

3)      What’s my headline? (19 characters or less)

Even after completing 1, 2 and 3, you still come in at less than 140 characters.

Numbers 1 and 2 resonated with me because I’d always been told, “Pretend you have to tell your story to your mother (or best friend). What would you tell them?” The point is that what you begin with is most likely your key message.

Paula’s take on that idea was to review your notes or research and then cover the notes. Now begin writing and put in everything you remember. Again, those are your key messages.

In short, be short.

How Does Your Community Grow?

Are you part of a community? Of course you are! And more than one. In fact, if you are on Facebook you are part of the 4th largest country in the world! That’s because Facebook now has more than 300 million accounts.

This means that how we communicate is changing – and rapidly. Many youth today don’t even pick up a phone to talk; they pick it up to text. I don’t send emails to one of my dear friends because she won’t read it. If I send a message on Facebook, I know she will get it, read it, and answer it. By the way, she’s 70!

Last week I attended the PRSA-Richmond chapter meeting. We heard from Dave Saunders of Madison + Main, who talked about social media, which he says “is the marriage of creativity, technology and interactiveness.”

With more than 1.5 million people on the Web today, he says it’s critical to be connected. Most in the audience raised their hands to say they are participating in social media through LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Several had a blog. Then he stumped us. “How many have Tumblr” accounts? Very few hands. I don’t know much about it. If you do, I’d love for you to comment. 

When I Googled it (and when did that become a verb?), I discovered it is a “free and lightweight blogging platform aimed at quick and easy linking and sharing.” I’ll start experimenting soon; heck, I’m still adjusting to life with a blog. I promised myself I would post every Sunday and Wednesday so while I’d love to be reading a good book, I’ve got to finish this post. It’s just like being a reporter on deadline except that the only editor standing over me is in my head.

Dave also shared the benefits of social media and what it won’t do.  As for benefits –

  • Increased brand awareness
  • Reputation management
  • Improved search engine rankings
  • Increased Web site traffic
  • More sales for your product or service (if you didn’t know it, Dave says, “Cold calls are dead.”)

 What it won’t do –

  • Fix a broken company
  • Make you rich
  • Replace your other forms of marketing or PR

Quite simply, social media is another platform that is used to enhance your community, personally or professionally. So how does your community grow?