Social Media

I'm on social media overload this week. I've been using various tools to network (LinkedIn), catch up with friends (Facebook) and share my reading list (Goodreads). As a marketing and PR professional, though, I'm delving into more and more because social media is clearly becoming an increasingly more important way to reach people. Recent changes to the landscape of traditional media make it even more critical to understand social media's impact on PR and marketing to stay at the top of my game.

It's a struggle, though, to understand what really results in significant ROI or even a meaningful number of impressions. It takes much more time to develop and implement strong social media strategies, mainly because you can't dive in for two weeks and disappear. It's not like buying a schedule on TV or radio or placing a print ad, or even sending out press releases and following up on pitches. You have to start an on-going conversation with your audience; you have to keep up with it, listen and respond. That's why I haven't done too much yet that is work-related. Large for-profit companies are lucky in that they can afford to have staff dedicated to social media. I was at a conference where the director of XBOX marketing shared that they have a full-time staff member dedicated to keeping up their MySpace and Facebook pages. That's it.

No such luck here. I have a great job, but I'd be in trouble if I devoted all of my time to social media. I have to incorporate learning, experimenting and implementing in with all of my other responsibilities. It keeps my job interesting but it's definitely one of the biggest challenges I face right now.

From the Detroit Free Press

"Detroit's honchos blew whatever chance they had for public sympathy last week when it was revealed that they had flown down to the Capitol in separate corporate jets to extend their collective tin cup."

SERIOUSLY?!?! The extent of some people's stupidity boggles my mind.

Bad for Baby

With the tagline "best for baby," you would think that Evenflo would take better care of its employees, many of whom are surely parents. If you did think that, you would be wrong. Evenflo is conducting lay-offs at its Dayton-area headquarters today, terminating employees with as many as 15 years of service. At least one laid-off employee is currently pregnant.

How is it "best for baby" if Evenflo is laying off parents with no notice right before the holidays? I'd call that "bad for baby."

Send a message to Evenflo that we will not tolerate this kind of behavior from a company that is supposed to help us nurture and protect our children. Boycott Evenflo products immediately.

Lunch with Madam Secretary

I just returned from a luncheon address given by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright at the City Club of Cleveland. She is both brilliant and funny, and it was an honor to be in the same room with her. She spoke on the main issues that will affect our president-elect - fighting terrorism without creating more terrorists, the economy, the environment, globalization, non-proliferation of nuclear arms and the promotion of democracy.

Three points that she made really hit home with me:
1) The Iraq war has been going on longer than World War II lasted.
2) She stated that the upcoming election is the most important of her lifetime. That is no small statement for someone who is 71 years old.
3) You have to talk to people you don't like. This doesn't always mean exchanging pleasantries, but refusing to talk to someone because you don't like them isn't going to solve any problems.

Despite her thoughtful and intelligent comments, the point that hit home with me the most was delivered by the City Club's Director of Operations, Gary Musselman. He asked us to consider three candidates:
A) A chain-smoker who has two mistresses
B) Does not wake before noon, had an addiction to opium and drinks a quart of whiskey every night
C) Is a vegetarian, non-smoker and has never cheated on his wife

Which candidate would you pick?

A) Franklin Delano Roosevelt
B) Winston Churchill
C) Adolph Hitler

This example made me feel a bit better about the devastating news of John Edwards' affair. I still wish, however, that it would someday be possible for there to be a good politician who is a good man. (Maybe the problem is that it would take a woman to simultaneously fill both of those roles!)

Dr. Albright's speech will be posted on both the City Club website and YouTube next week if you are interested. You can also check out her books: Madam Secretary and Memo to the President Elect.

Patch Adams

I just watched this movie for the first time last night. All I can say is - WOW. What an amazing story! This movie should be required viewing for every medical student, and every doctor should probably watch it once every three years or so.

If you've seen the movie, you know that it is based on a true story. To see what Patch Adams is up to today, click here.

Gesundheit!

Success

If success requires "blood, sweat & tears," why do people say it smells sweet?

Kicking Off the Season

On Wednesday, we kicked off the 2008-09 PlayhouseSquare season with style. Two of the Radio City Rockettes joined us in hosting Cleveland's longest kick line to bring attention to the hundreds of shows that were going on sale.

It was a bit of organized chaos, as managing an event that large always is, but overall it went very well. 350 people joined us to line up down Euclid Avenue and kick with the Rockettes. The weather was perfect (unlike today...Hurricane Ike seems to have made his way to Cleveland).

As fun as it was, I'll be glad when this week is over. Tonight is our annual Dance Showcase. Afterward, I am going home and going to bed until at least noon tomorrow!

If you'd like to see some photos from our fun day on Wednesday, look here: www.playhousesquare.org/sos.

Cindi