Learn Social Media with Laurie Dunlop

My husband calls himself a Facebook widower. That’s because I spend on average 10-15 minutes an evening catching up with friends and updating my status. For me, Facebook is a wonderful way to stay in touch with old friends, many of whom I lost touch with over the years. I’ve reconnected with high school, college, and Army friends. Plus I’ve friended new people since moving to Northern Va.
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Learn Social Media with Laurie Dunlop

It happens. You make a short-tempered comment with your outside voice, wishing at once you had kept that statement to yourself. Yes, perhaps the auto mechanic is an idiot, or the cable company customer service rep should solve your problem sooner. But I know your mother taught you long ago, as did mine, take the higher road and never lower yourself. You’re better than that, right?

Your Tweet IS your outside voice. In fact, it’s louder and never fades away with the breeze. The Internet’s ability to remember is eternal. Like those dead sea scrolls, people can dig up your Tweets and anything else you write online for posterity.

Tweet responsibly. The New York Times recently reported that author Roberta Silman, upset by a negitive Boston Globe book review, Tweeted her displeasure and even posted the reviewer’s phone number and email, asking fans to “Tell her what you think of snarky critics.” Silman later issued a statement through her publisher, explaining “… in the heat of the moment I responded strongly and I wish I hadn’t. I’m sorry if I offened anyone.” She reportedly terminated her Twitter account.

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Learn Social Media with Laurie Dunlop

If a tree falls in the forest but no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?

If someone complains about or compliments your organization online, but you have no social media presence, is it like that tree?

Nope! The forest now listens and one falling tree can cause quite a stir.

I recently spoke with Alison Chander, marketing manager for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), about her association’s social media presence, especially on Facebook and Twitter.

AAAS launched its first page on Facebook in June 2007.

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Learn Social Media with Laurie Dunlop

Army leadership began drumming operational security (OPSEC) into my head 20 years ago when my husband was a “butter bar” lieutenant. The recent explosion in social media caused me to wonder what the Army’s official take on this craze is, especially when it comes to OPSEC.
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Learn Social Media with Laurie Dunlop

I recently read Adam Ostrow’s Mashable blog entitled, “Is Social Media Making Corporate Websites Irrelevant” and wondered how my Northern Virginia team at NetStrategies would react to that headline. Keep in mind, our area of expertise is helping businesses optimize their Web sites! So I asked my team for a rebuttal and here is their take:

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Learn Social Media with Laurie Dunlop

Everyone agrees that you must define your customer profiles before you can market your product or service. Those profiles can include a wide range of detail from basic demographics to spending habits and hobbies. Watch a great instructional video that describes creating marketing personas at the SEOmoz Web site.

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Learn Social Media with Laurie Dunlop

The shear number of Twitter tools to make Tweeting “easier” is somewhat overwhelming! You can discover thousands of programs that do this and do that. How can you stay on top of it all?
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Learn Social Media with Laurie Dunlop

Twitter. It’s in the news. Your favorite talk show hosts talk about it. Political cartoonists illustrate it. Politicians, celebrities, and family physicians now “Tweet.” While the wave of popularity continues to evolve you can jump in and engage potential customers in this new social media platform.

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