Twitter and Marketing: The Real Story (or so says a new study) – A recent study by digital marketing agency, 360i, said that while twitter does have potential as a marketing tool, there is a huge gap between how consumers use it and how marketers are using it. The study, which analyzed 1,800 tweets found that consumers are using it to converse, while marketers are using it to broadcast. Is 1,800 tweets enough to base a judgment on?

Ask.com Reinvents Itself with a Focus on Community Q&A – Ask.com is taking a new direction and refocusing their search strategy around a more social experience with a new beta version. PR-wise, we’ve had a lot of clients building communities for a more interactive experience with their customers. What are your thoughts on online communities built by companies?

Facebook reaches out to the Public Relations Industry – Facebook has now created a page for PR professionals to go to – to have conversations, swap tips with other PR people. Have you checked it out? Would you? How would you leverage the page?

Market researchers get new tool in iPad – Researchers at malls have been able to draw people in– without having to approach – by using the iPad, rather than the pencil and paper kind of surveys. Would you participate in a survey because the surveyor had an iPad?

Why mobile technology is still going to save the world – People are now more accepting of mobile technologies. These technologies are now more affordable and accessible than ever before. Mobile tech is becoming more and more capable of doing things than they were just a few years ago. Are mobile technologies going to save the world? Where do you see mobile technologies heading?

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Technorati Tags: Mel Gibson, Mobile, PRobecast, Twitter

Boutique agencies turn to social media – There was an article in PRWeek talking about how companies used to offer one or two services within PR and now it’s essential to be able to provide a full scope of PR – and in that includes social media. We discuss why as a PR firm, it’s important for us to be able to help our clients with every aspect of their PR needs.

Forecaster: End of single-fee broadband poses threat to Web video – With AT&T Wireless’ decision last month to put pricing caps on broadband use for new smartphone customers, this might be a trend that not only spreads to other wireless providers – but could spread to online video at home. How do you think this is going to affect consumers or even businesses if they put a cap on your internet usage?

Tech Stress: How Many Emails Can You Handle a Day? – According to a recent survey by Harris Interactive, the number of emails an employee can handle is 50 a day. Once this number is hit – it is said that the person’s productivity goes down. As a PR person, I know we definitely get more than 50 emails a day. Are you overwhelmed by email?

Forrester: If You Think Social Media Marketing Is Worthless, You’re Doing It Wrong – According to a report by analyst firm Forrester, many people are looking to see what type of ROI is coming out of social media. And if they don’t see a good number, they think social media is worthless. However, it’s not really the fact that social media is worthless, it’s how they use social media effectively is the problem.

Hope you enjoyed this week’s PRobecast and we hope you come back and listen in next week!

Please send us your feedback and if there are any issues that you would like to hear about!

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Twitter’s launch of @earlybird – The group buying trend is becoming increasingly popular. Many smaller merchants are finding that it is a great way to market their business – but what should they be thinking about before joining in?

The influence of Mommy Bloggers – The media landscape has changed tremendously throughout the last couple years. Blogging isn’t just a pastime anymore. Bloggers can be highly influencial, especially mommy bloggers.

Are we in an Analytics Era – PR and marketing professionals are being asked more frequently for results of campaigns as more and more sources and platforms are used.

Usage of Cell Phones on Airlines – It might not be long before calls are allowed on domestic U.S. flights. Do you want to hear someone talking next to you while you’re flying? Will this be beneficial for those travelling for work?

Brown backing financial overhaul – Thoughts on Brown’s decision to back the financial overhaul.

Success of the Old Spice Man Viral Marketing – Old Spice has done an excellent and hilarious job responding to people’s tweets via YouTube. Is this something that more companies should be doing?

Let us know what you think!

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iPhone 4 – Was Apple rushing to get out the newest version of the iPhone without flushing out the kinks first?

KIN – Why is Motorola pushing promotion yet cutting the phone?

Facebook Rivals – Is Google building a facebook rival? How will these new rivals to the social networking giant work out?

Toyota recalls – Toyota was aware of a problem with certain Lexus models for the since 2008, yet they just announced the recall. Why are they trying to mask their issues?

Location-based services – Location-based technologies are now the new rage. How much information are you willing to give to people. Do you really want everyone to know where you are at all times? Is stalking going to be an issue?

You can send your feedback to bmoc@topazpartners.com. You can also call your feedback into 781-404-2403. Or leave a comment on our blog!

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Technorati Tags: Facebook, Google, Location+Based+Services, Mel+Gibson, Mobile+Devices, Topaz+Partners

In college, I was part of a sorority, Alpha Phi at Bentley, Zeta Rho to be exact. It made my college years very enjoyable and I still am best friends with many of the sorority sisters. Since graduation, I’ve received direct mail from Alpha Phi International executive offices as well as attended my own chapter alumnae events.

As a member of the organization, I have joined their Facebook page and now follow them on Twitter. The well-organized Alpha Phi website features RSS feeds, monthly podcasts, online newsletters, a travel blog, a Facebook page and now Twitter (@AlphaPhiIntl). They are able to connect alumnae, collegians, and potential new members using social media. Whether it’s sending out an event reminder for National Wear Red Day, posting job opportunities or uploading pictures, they are connecting all Alpha Phi’s.  They are reaching their demographics using all different methods.

This will help with many of Alpha Phi’s causes. The Alpha Phi Foundation will now have many resources to use for donations and support. This was a great extension for the organization. Many other charity organizations can learn from the footsteps Alpha Phi is making.

Joining a sorority meant that you had sisters all over the world (trust me, you ask when you see someone wearing Alpha Phi letters). Sororities’ use of social media is now making it even easier to connect to others outside your chapter or region.

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When it comes to marketing and branding, the conventional wisdom is that the “elevator pitch” is a must-have. It’s practically unquestioned that you should be able to boil down what your company does in 30 seconds, the length of an average elevator ride.

Marketing consultant Steven Melanson says the elevator pitch is seriously misguided. Steven says that 30 seconds is in fact too long and overlooks perhaps the key objective of any successful branding effort: differentiating you from your competition.

Steven is President of Melanson Consulting, which according to his website is a “verbal branding development and instruction company.” He’s also the author of Jaw Branding™, a book and audio CD “that describes the verbal gap in the branding services marketplace, Jaw Branding™ philosophies for verbal interactions, the relationship to memory and psychology, its superiority to traditional sales or communications approaches for revenue generation, and the implications of verbal branding for organizational culture.”

Steven joined Topazers Glen Zimmerman, Anne Dalrymple and Wendie Larkin for a special episode of PRobecast, which you can listen to here:

You can subscribe to PRobecast via Podcast Ready —

or iTunes.

Or simply use the RSS link here:

You can send your feedback to probecast@topazpartners.com. You can also call your feedback into 781-404-2409. Or leave a comment on our blog!

PRobecast’s opening music is “Junk In A” by Pat Zelenka, available on the Podsafe Music Network. Our closing music was composed by Rob Capra.

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Technorati Tags: Branding, Marketing, Melanson+Consulting, PRobecast, Steven+Melanson, Topaz+Partners

1. The Christian Science Monitor goes to a web-centric delivery and distribution model and we like it. Private ownership has distinct advantages in the media world.

2. WBUR, Boston’s NPR news station, uses Twitter to set up live meetings in the studio with its listeners, and we like that too!

3. This tech economy isn’t like the one we experienced in 2001, thank goodness. We talk about how it’s different this time.

4. Social media and productivity are once again on the agenda. How we’ve already been faced with a “distraction challenge” with email, and what we should have learned from it.

Subscribe to PRobecast via RSS here:

PRobecast’s opening music is “Junk In A” by Pat Zelenka, available on the Podsafe Music Network. Our closing music is by Boston area band Blizzard of ’78.

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Technorati Tags: Christian Science Monitor, Events, Journalism, PRobecast, Social Media, Tech, Twitter, WBUR

1. 6 reasons why we can't be friends
2. Executives who Tweet (and the PR people behind them)
3. How to kick your content up a notch (and how not to Tweet)
4. Monitter.com
5. Two stats you need to know
6. The election: Tweeting politics, scoring the debate, hosting your own debate party, and remixing the debate

You can subscribe to PRobecast via Podcast Ready —

or iTunes.

Or simply use the RSS link here:

You can send your feedback to probecast@topazpartners.com. You can also call your feedback into 781-404-2409. Or leave a comment on our blog!

PRobecast’s opening music is “Junk In A” by Pat Zelenka, available on the Podsafe Music Network. Our closing music is “Chase Me On A Bike” composed by Rob Capra.

Have a listen to some of our past PRobecasts…

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1. Current TV to broadcast tweets during debates
2. SoMe Election 08
3. Are bloggers "media?"
4. Is PR propaganda?
5. Why can't PR still get it right?
6. Fostering entrepreneurship and driving innovation
7. It's okay to go negative!

You can subscribe to PRobecast via Podcast Ready —

or iTunes.

Or simply use the RSS link here:

You can send your feedback to probecast@topazpartners.com. You can also call your feedback into 781-404-2409. Or leave a comment on our blog!

PRobecast’s opening music is “Junk In A” by Pat Zelenka, available on the Podsafe Music Network. Our closing music is “Chase Me On A Bike” composed by our own Rob Capra.

Have a listen to some of our past PRobecasts…

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1. Obama needed to score big at the DNC. Biden flopped. How did Obama do?

2. Giving up: it's not just for wimps anymore. Why companies like Circuit City and AMC should just give up control, unlike Babs.

3. Disclosure: Did it help or hurt the Social Media Group and Livingston Communications? We all agree that disclosing the break-up was the right thing to do, but could they have avoided all the publicity, positive and negative, if they'd waited until they were done with the due diligence before announcing the merger?

You can subscribe to PRobecast via Podcast Ready —

or iTunes.

Or simply use the RSS link here:

You can send your feedback to probecast@topazpartners.com. You can also call your feedback into 781-404-2409. Or leave a comment on our blog!

PRobecast’s opening music is “Junk In A” by Pat Zelenka, available on the Podsafe Music Network. Our closing music is “Chase Me On A Bike” composed by our own Rob Capra.

Have a listen to some of our past PRobecasts…

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