Actually, I am pleased to see the results of this survey by ComScore– seriously, it is great to have numbers backing up our contention that social networks need to be taken seriously, and this is good ammo.

For example, this chart from the press release makes it very clear that social networking sites are a phenomenon:

Ok, I can’t resist anymore: No duh. Again, these statistics show not only the growth, but the global appeal of social networking sites. But, I want the whole story, to see numbers proving what I am seeing at the “street” level: that people– certain types of people, valuable to certain types of markets are going to newer sites like Twitter, Ning, and any number of the sites in Beta to gather in affinity groups. This is where messages can go.

I’m not crabbing about ComScore. Really. I just want to see more. There’s a lot more out there than the top 10 sites that have been around for more than a year.

(OK, maybe I’m a little grumpy tonight)

Technorati Tags: comscore, social+networking, Facebook, myspace, orkut, bebo

Jim Horton, the PR blogger whom I have been following the longest by far, has released another of his short, thoughtful white papers. This time, he tackles Twitter, trying, like many of us have, to come to terms with the usefulness/frivolity quotient of the SMS-style microblogging tool.

Horton raises the question, what can PR people do with Twitter to serve clients? He serves up the usual objections about people telling us what they are eating for lunch, but in the end remains open to the possibilities for the medium.

Among his conclusions, with my responses:

• “One should use Twitter well rather than indiscriminately”
• OK, but don’t confuse “sparingly” with “well.” One of the important parts of making Twitter useful is building up the network and creating conversations– not all of which serve you or your client.
• “Twitter has the feel of a complement to other services rather than a standalone application.”
• I see the point, but don’t really agree. You can’t have an only-Twitter strategy, if only because the medium is not mature enough, but it does stand alone in the people you reach with it and the types of messages you can send.
• “Twitter’s advantages are its limitations”
• I agree, in that the 140-character limit to messages forces you to focus your thought into a digestible piece. Perfect for the ADD generation
• “PR practitioners should experiment with Twitter…”
• Yes!!! Though the examples he gives (“Quick alerts to employees”) may show a lack of understanding by Joe on how Twitter works. Local promotions? That could work.

I use Twitter, aside from conversation with friends and colleagues, to bring quick attention to developments by clients, blog posts, and news. I try to keep it appropriate to daily discussion, and disclose if I am talking about a client– confident, of course, that the message is of interest when I do so.

I’ll be doing more experimentation, and I hope Jim Horton does as well. I didn’t see a Twitter ID in his paper– Jim, what are you doing?

Note: Very interesting is the quote with which he leads the paper, from Alexander Pope: “Be not the first by whom the new are tried, nor yet the last to lay the old aside.” I liked that, and actually fits to my previous post about Facebook vs. LinkedIn.

Technorati Tags: twitter, Jim+Horton, social+media

Welcome to the PRobecast, Episode 25 of Topaz Partners’ weekly PR-related podcast.

Doug Haslam, Rob Capra and Sandy Kalik discuss:

1. The “Public Relations” entry on Wikipedia: Is it ok if PR people contribute to it–pretty please, Mr. Wales?
2. We discuss a new white paper, “Relating to the Public; the Evolving Role of Public Relations in the Age of Social Media,” by Paul Rand and Giovanni Rodriguez. We talk particularly about integrating social and traditional media, recruiting, and teach new media in PR classes.
3. “Social Media Influence” index: Do we need one? Is it useful? Should we create one that shows Tech PR Gems to be the most influential blog?
4. Cheering on the Grammar Vandal: striking a blow for proper English. Plus, yet another appeal to get rid of “Post Mortem” in business usage.
5. On the Blog: Facebook vs. LinkedIn, Facebook vs. MySpace, and focusing social media usage
6. On the Blog: Read alison Raymond’s post on Technorati!
7. What to do next week: social media-driven film screening for “No Reservations” at Fenway Theater in Boston, July 24.

Comment below or email bmoc@topazpartners.com
Audio: Leave a comment at +1-781-404-2419, or Skype doug.haslam

Download MP3 File

You can subscribe to the podcast via Podcast Ready —
or iTunes.

Or simply use the RSS link here:

Technorati Tags: Wikipedia, Public+Relations, PR, Social+Media, Paul+Rand, Giovanni+Rodriguez, edelman, David+Brain, Grammar+Vandal, Post+Mortem, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Technorati, No+Reservations, StartCooking