C'mon Commonwealth!

So I prepared to write about all the wonderful things the Commonwealth Games had done in reaching audience’s through social media only to discover in that there was actually more to say about what they hadn’t done!

 Social Media NZ Creative Director John Lai (@iamjohnlai) recently wrote about the poor efforts in linking and utilizing the Commonwealth Games Twitter, Youtube and Facebook accounts, and failing to implement any sort of strategy across all fronts.
“..What differentiates a brand from the others, is the hard work and service a brand puts in order to connect with their fans/followers, which the Commonwealth Games Twitter page shows none of that connection whatsoever.”
 He suggests that with all the controversy surrounding the Games, they had better things to worry about than updating the Facebook, Twitter or Youtube pages. Perhaps they did, but here are a few of my ideas as to what else they could have done:

I personally feel that they could have taken a lot of heat off all the controversy by plugging the talent before, during and after the actual games.This could have been done via Flickr for a display of photos and descriptions of the world’s best, or perhaps an official Commonwealth Games iPhone app for even faster dissemination of information.
In terms of crisis communications I just wanted to profile WAYN.com, the largest travel and lifestyle social network with over 15.7 million members globally. They actively tried to lower the negative publicity around the Games by encouraging all Indians to upload pictures and leave messages of support to showcase the ‘positive face’ of the Games.
The UK Guardian reported that when team officials threatened to pull athletes out, the panel of influential’s behind the Games had only a matter of hours to put a plan into action, and there was talk of it already starting to affect the 2014 Games set for Glasgow.
Popular English bloggers One Chocolate Communications described the Games rightfully as a “PR disaster” – no better exemplified than when the head of the organising committee took to the stage at the opening ceremony and received boos.

“There have been allegations of corruption, ongoing concerns about the state of the facilities, outbreaks of Dengue fever and outcries of mismanagement.”
Seems to me that the basic steps of communication were missing from this recipe of disaster, lets hope Glasgow have a fully fledged strategy on board!
Written by Jess Miller

  

Social Media Etiquette and Ethics

In terms of Public Relations, we have a grand code of ethics in which we abide by when communicating in a professional capacity.

Do we need rules when doing the same, but over a much more informal mode of social media? The answer is "yes".

5 Rules of Engagement

• Talking business 100% of the time does not work (there is a right time, pick and choose your moments)
• Social media users do not appreciate being spammed or continually targeted (personal communication tends to spread the messages further)
• Always say who you are, and be clear about your intentions
• People value brands when they know the face who is talking for them
• Be sincere and respectful– word spreads faster than you can even imagine online

Social media has evolved into a tight knit network of people, and is often referred to as the online water cooler discussion. It’s simple and easy to enter these communities, yet it is also just as simple and easy to assume you can act in whatever way you please. If you’re not careful, you can easily damage your personal and/or professional reputation.

Kiwi businesses are latching on to the idea of transparency online. The Vodafone NZ Twitter account clearly indicates that they have a team of 9 who all communicate at any given time. Each member of the team signs off with their initials when posting so the network of Vodafone followers know exactly who is talking.

Other successful Kiwi brands with a “face to the name” are Urgent Couriers, and Giapo Icecream.

“How to make a splash online” details more about local business owners sealing deals, promoting messages, and building relationships through social media.

If you’re prepared to invest the time, then it is a great platform to stronger brand management. Be patient – reaching the centre of the water cooler doesn’t happen overnight!

Written by Jess Miller

iPad Release Causes a Stir Across NZ

It’s only been available in New Zealand one week, and for months it’s had all the workings of a huge PR stir around town. If you follow the success of Apples latest phenomenon, the iPad, you’ll know it sold more than 1 million units in its first month alone. At a casual $800 a pop, these little pockets of technology are drawing a line in the sand to what we know to be social media.

While the heads of social media around town wait for the stats of sales over here, New Zealand media have also recognized the potential at hand. The NZ Herald has launched an app specifically designed for their readers, and, rumor is, North and South also have something waiting in the wings.

Vodafone have also tried to jump on the iPad bandwagon , by releasing a “watch this space” type statement, which ruffled some feathers at NZiphone.com. See our post on what constitutes good news!

This new addition to Apple’s family of products has attracted interest from not just our chic&geek, techno-crazed, GenY society, but older users as well. Portable and personalized to your virtual library, and able to zoom in with the pinch of a finger.

While the iPhone is best on-the-go, and the iBook for getting down to work, the iPad is creatively positioned in the middle, as a leisurely browsing experience.

If you find yourself justifying a whole family of Apple, I don’t blame you.

Written by Jess Miller

PR Practitioners Talk Punk...

PR analyst Gerry McCuster has an analogy: "Social media is like punk rock." It's about breaking rules, about being heard, about being noticed..."The best campaigns are the best that take a risk"...and risk Gerry did by showing this campaign (warning: not for the faint hearted) at the recent PRINZ conference. It captured many eyeballs around the room (and globe thanks to YouTube and bloggers) yet most importantly, achieved the goal of changing undesirable behaviour.

Plain old search engines don't exist any longer either; they're "reputation search engines" according to Gerry.

More ORM (online reputation management) handy hints followed:

- Use the free tools on the web "manage your intelligence, it will save you."

- Monitor and track the trends.Fact check.Gauge reactions for tonality and tenure.

- "Word of mouse" is being used to spread "word of mouth."

- Own the first 30 search finds about you/your brand on Google/Yahoo.

- Engage your audience but be prepared for push back if it's edgy like this campaign!

- In a crisis, the benchmark for responding is within 2-4 hours.

- "Managing a social media crisis is like talking to a punk rocker."

- Think of yourself as a "broadcast centre."

- Editorialise, entertain and keep it "REAL."

PR MD Jenni Raynish once said: “Advertising is what you say about yourself and Public relations is what others say about you.” Bearing that in mind, it's safe to say that if you're not actively familiar with Web 2.0 and social media, how can you know what's being said about you, not to mention; where it's being said about you?

Welcome to a Kiwi PR Gal's Blog!

This is my first foray into "the world's biggest coffee house" (Wikinomics 2006) and I hope I find like minded communicators in far flung places in the world to share with?!