Manti T'eo: Social Media Snafu

We've all seen the headlines and we all have our opinions.

As an amateur politico and current events analyst, I found this particular headline truly fascinating.  My prediction is a Lifetime made for TV movie that will undoubtedly involve Rob Lowe.

But before the story is sold, I hope it doesn't break the soul and spirit of a seemingly innocent athlete who appears disciplined, focused, and who, before this media saga, appeared on a track for NFL fame.

What really interests me about the T'eo situation is how very divided bystanders seem to be based often on how familiar they are with social media.  It seems that the more hip one is to the ways and means of FB and Twitter, the more believable the scenario.  For those who never use social media, they have no concept of how very possible it would be to meet and begin a connection, even fall in love, all via Al Gore's Internet.

It's also very easy, via social media, and media in general to humiliate, and permanently damage the life of the innocent.  Let's not do that, shall we?

And so in conclusion, as we all sit back and watch this circus continue, I'd like to ask the world in general to be patient.  Be supportive.  Be compassionate.  Please remember that at the heart of this scandal is a young man, who lived his entire life on a small island in a big ocean, and is only now making his way in the world.  Until the cards are fully on the table, let's not judge.

We may just learn that quite anything really is possible via social media.

Do's and Dont's of Social Media While Job Hunting

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn serve as invaluable resources to marketing professionals, business owners, and even job hunters and recruiters just to name a few.

For recruiters and hiring managers, more and more emphasis is placed on a candidate's social media use than ever before.  Below are a few items to consider when using social media tools while also maintaining a job search or building a client base.

1.  Build your brand.  Social media allows a platform for you to brand yourself.  Assure that your views are clear and consistent and are not contradicting one another as time passes.
2.  Be mindful of extreme views.  Whether it be politics or religion, or anything in between, understand that your posts are immediate and permanent.  Your views will be seen by others is a variety of lights and you will be judged by your beliefs, whatever they may be.
3.  Do not over exaggerate.  Don't oversell yourself.  Don't lie.  Don't exaggerate.  These are all common sense reminders for everyone.
4.  Keep it positive.  Realize that while you want to seem real, you do not want to seem negative.  No matter what or whom the negative posts are about, remember that these will also be visible to the world and the world will judge you accordingly.
5.  Stay sharp.  Using slang, abbreviations, or just plain bad English will also be subject to review.  Those reading your posts will form an opinion of you based on the way that you speak.

In summary, remember that your social media profiles help shape your overall presentation.  What you post is who you are.  And most importantly, all posts are permanent and subjective.  Stay sharp, everyone.

The Best Breakdown of PR Ever

This is the simplest, most accurate, breakdown of PR that I have ever seen.  I loved it and wanted to share.

"If the circus is coming to town and you paint a sign saying 'Circus Coming to the Fairground Saturday', that's advertising.  If you put the sign on the back of an elephant and parade it through town, that's promotion.  If the elephant walks through the mayor's flower bed, that's publicity.  And if you get the mayor to laugh about it, that's public relations."

This was shared by Davina K. Brewer with 3 Hats Communication in Georgia.

To Blog Or Not To Blog

To blog or not to blog is a common question of late.  Many of my clients, whether already enthralled in the world of social media, or just getting started, seem to have as the last item on their agenda, launching a blog.

To many, a blog seems like a daunting proposition, a terribly time consuming and threatening venture.  Well to be honest, it is in fact all those things (sorry to scare you).  The reality does exist that a blog requires your love, your attention, and your upkeep - similar to a fickle houseplant.

The bottom line is this, if you're going to launch a blog, or anything else online for that matter, rule number one is that it must be kept up to date.  Always.  Forever.  Blog authors should commit to posting at least one post per week.  Many successful bloggers post as many as 3-4 posts per day.  At minimum, one post per week will keep readers interested.

So you still want to do it?  Great.  Do you even know what a blog really is?  It's okay if you don't.  You're not alone.  Technically, the word is a mashup of "web" and "log"... thus blog.  It's an online, chronological log of your thoughts, your ideas, your information.  Posts have a header just like a media release or article as well as a main body of content.  You can include links, photos, and pretty much any other information that you see appropriate.  Blog posts or entries as they are sometimes called, can be a short and concise message or a longer, more detailed piece of information.

In summary, the rules of the blogging world are that there aren't any rules.  That being said, once you've made the commitment to give your blog the time and attention it deserves, go ahead... blog away.  To get started, Google "starting a blog".  Hundreds of articles will be right there at your fingertips, assisting you in starting the process.

Publicize your thoughts, promote your products and services, offer instructional advice, and drive traffic to your website.  These are just a few of the objectives you can achieve with a blog.  Now of you go.  Blogs away.

Effectively Responding To A PR Disaster

What happens at times is beyond your control. How you respond, is within your control. The following are key strategies according to the experts, on how to effectively respond to a PR disaster. Words to live by.

• Monitor social media. Big companies must actively watch Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and other social sites to track conversations that involve them. That will help uncover potential crises-in-the-making, says Brian Solis, a new-media specialist and blogger at PR2.0.

• Respond quickly. Domino's responded within hours. "They responded as soon as they heard about it, not after the media asked, 'What are you going to do?' " says Lynne Doll, president of The Rogers Group, a crisis-management specialist.

• Respond at the flashpoint. Domino's first responded on consumer affairs blog The Consumerist, whose activist readers helped track down the store and employees who made the video. Then it responded on the Twitter site where talk was mounting. "Domino's did the right thing by reinstituting the trust where it was lost," Solis says.

• Educate workers. It's important that all employees have some media and social-media training, says Ross Mayfield, co-founder of Socialtext, which advises companies on new media.

• Foster a positive culture. Workers who are content and customers who like your product are far less likely to tear down a company online, PR guru Katie Delahaye Paine says. "This would be a lot less likely to happen at places like Whole Foods."

• Set clear guidelines. Companies must have clear policies about what is allowed during working hours — and what isn't, Doll says. "It won't prevent everyone from breaking the rules, but at least they'll know what the rules are."

As a Michigan Seasonal Employer, You Could Be Exempt From Unenjoyment

Are you aware that under Obama's Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, out of work Americans are now eligible for up to 99 weeks of benefits?

That's nearly two years of social assistance for those out of work.

There may be critical information of which business owners in Michigan are not aware.

Tourism is our state's third largest industry. Because of tourism, a good deal of businesses operating in the state are seasonal. The state of Michigan has established a clearly outlined definition for what is considered a "seasonal business" here in the Great Lakes state. As a "seasonal employer", you are entitled to great benefits, most significantly being potentially omitted from paying one dime of to unemployment to your employees.

The information below is taken directly from the State of Michigan's Unemployment Insurance Agency website.

Seasonal Employer Status for Unemployment Insurance
Michigan employers who operate a business in an industry that customarily employs at least 50% of its employees for regularly recurring periods of 26 weeks or less within a period of 52 consecutive weeks and the industry customarily operates during regularly recurring periods of 26 weeks or less in any 52 consecutive week period can apply for seasonal employer status.


Designation as a seasonal employer means that workers may be denied unemployment benefits based on work with you during the period between your seasons if they are given ‘reasonable assurance' at the end of a season that there will be similar work available for them next season. Complete Form UIA 1155, Application for Designation as Seasonal Employer, to apply for designation as a seasonal employer. This form is available at www.michigan.gov/uia.

While there is no guarantee that you will not pay any unemployment, my experience with this law has been completely positive and it forced entry level and/or laborer type seasonal folks to seek additional positions during the company off-season.

If more seasonal businesses were aware of this provision, the possibility greatly exists that unemployment in our state would be greatly reduced. I hope this information has been helpful! Cheers to a great new year here in the Great State of Michigan!

Pure Michigan Logowear: Pure Expensiveness

Dear Pure Michigan folks,
Your new line of logo merchandise is super cool and long awaited, but tragically overpriced.

Further, with an award winning state tourism campaign floundering due to low funding, why is only 85%-90% of the proceeds going to the actual campaign?  Where's the rest of that cash going?

The organic tees and even the cammo hat are fabulous, but I just worry that in this economy and this market, your prices are off the charts for some.

Perhaps I am wrong and perhaps that 85%-90% will not be questioned by many.  However as a marketing consultant and family business owner living and working in one of the state's premier tourist areas, I don't find this announcement all that pure.  Hopefully I am wrong.

Visit the Pure Michigan online store at www.puremichiganstore.org.