Are you making effective use of social media communications?

Did you know Social Networking websites continue to gain media market share? Facebook, www.facebook.com, recently announced it has reached over 400 million worldwide users and Twitter, www.Twitter.com, follows in its foot steps with reaching a benchmark of 50 million tweets per day. Together, Facebook and Twitter boast triple-digit growth in 2009 and presently account for 11% of all consumer time spent online.

Not only have user accounts experienced significant growth but time spent surfing social networking sites. In fact, a report from the Nielsen Company indicates a huge increase of 82%. This research concludes overall social media sites such as Facebook are the more common user homepage and people now spend the majority of their internet time either using a form of social network or blog. So, the question is ‘in relation to use of social media as a marketing or public relations tool to create ‘green awareness’, what is your level of participation?’

Believe it or not, during a volunteer ‘green’ advocacy activity, I recently had its leadership mandate that formats of social media could not be used to communicate their activities. Yes, you read the prior sentence correctly. Not only is this sector failing to adequately communicate its presence, it has mandated its failure to accept a viable present-day communication, social media.

On the contrary, let me share the success story of my colleague Kathy Jentz, editor & publisher for Washington Gardener magazine – www.washingtongardener.com. I first met Kathy through an Industry organization, the National Garden Writers Association. Since start up of her publication, I’ve contributed back-page columns, cover-story contributing writer features; and recently, participated in her 5th year anniversary celebration. So, I’ve watched Kathy transform an idea into a viable media business. As a result, the story of Kathy’s start up business is featured by Magazine Launch, http://www.magazinelaunch.com/case-studies/washington-gardener-magazine-....

This case study reveals tips and strategies for the implementation of successful print, online newsletter, blog and other forms of social media usage. Still, specific to Kathy’s online presence, is there additional proof of her success? Yes, a ‘google search’ reveals more than 137,000 web links exist, supporting the concept that all forms of web activity including social media are viable formats of communication.

Nevertheless, there are people and organizations that continue to fear usage of online formats; and to be candid, as in any form of media whether paper or electronic, there are privacy issues. So,
• don’t use a weak password, a good technique is to insert numbers within alpha characters,
• don’t except under secure circumstances provide your full birth date and/or credit card number,
• limit access to private information to a select few,
• specific to children, don’t include identifying name and/or home location,
• don’t mention ‘when you will not be home’,
• specific to Facebook, establish a secure personal home page and then, create groups that are used to advertise your professional, civic and/or business activities;
• in other words, apply the same caution applied in any other area of personal/business communications.

Having discussed the ‘don’t’ of social media formats, why participate? To simply state the obvious – it works! So, separate personal from professional or special interests. For example, I maintain a personal Facebook page and through this activity have acquired numerous ‘friends’ who share common interests. I also maintain my professional business group – The Wright Scoop, a community special interest group – Laurel Historic District Virginia, a professional networking group – Richmond Women’s Network and a cultural arts group – the National League of American Pen Women (arts, music and writing). As illustrated by my activities, use of social media is an array of opportunity.

So, where are you in your level of present-day media format participation? Are you refusing as the mentioned Industry organization to so to speak ‘get with the program’ or are you striving for all-star status such as my colleague Kathy? Related to personal exploration, are you prodding along at the rate of a prior era or pacing at the rate of a world-wide-web globe traveler? To share comments, ideas or strategies related to this subject or other communication topics, post comment or contact me at Sylvia@TheWrightScoop.com. Or, acquire a copy of my book - The ABCs of Green Industry Communications: assess, brand & communicate, http://www.lulu.com/content/6083320, which challenges all to ‘grow green their market share’. Together, let’s create a series of column topics that are helpful to the Industry. For additional details, link to www.TheWrightScoop.com.