Twitter Mom of the Week: Lyn Mettler

If you’re one of the many moms in this joint who either a.) own a business, or b.) dream of starting a business, you already know something about the power of social media. You may not know how to harness that power, but here you are, on TwitterMoms, making connections, learning new things and otherwise spreading your wings. (Yay, you!)

And if you’re tuning into some of the business conversations going on here, you probably also know our TwitterMom of the Week, Lyn Mettler. Lyn, 34, is a Charleston, SC mom of two boys (ages 5 and 1) and founder/owner of Step Ahead Inc., a public relations firm that specializes in using social media for PR purposes. Lyn also blogs here on TwitterMoms as a featured contributor, covering topics related to money and business.

Her latest posts, “Facebook Pages Get a Facelift” and “Twitter & Facebook Help Find Lance Armstrong’s Bike!”, not only bring us up to speed on the latest social media happenings — they also provide insight on how these platforms work. She’s a terrific resource if you want to learn more about how to put the viral nature of social media to work for you — in a way that’s authentic and effective. (Follow her on Twitter @webprgirl.)

As a PR pro, Lyn not only gets media coverage for her clients, but for her own business. If you are a closeted, non-tweeting TwitterMom who’s afraid to admit you don’t how (or why) to tweet (I know you’re out there!), check out her interview on a Charleston radio station to get up to speed in a flash.

“I decided to start my own PR firm about 3 1/2 years ago after working in the business for many years,” says Lyn. “I wanted the flexibility to control my own schedule after having my first child and also felt like I wanted to do things my own way. I was lucky in finding several clients right out of the gate and while there have been ups and downs, I’ve been able to maintain it.”

Because she works from home, Lyn appreciates the ability to maintain her career and be a mom. “I’m grateful I can talk a walk with my one-year-old on a sunny day in the morning, and take my five-year-old to an afternoon playdate or take a Jazzercise class and even do laundry,” she says. “Course I couldn’t do it without my husband, who watches our kids a lot while I work. That makes things immensely easier, knowing someone who loves my kids is watching them when I can’t.”

I asked Lyn about the degree to which social media have shaped or directed her business. “I’d say about a third of the work I do is focused on social media, but almost all of my clients have dipped their toes in it somewhat,” she says. “As traditional media loses readers, listeners and viewers to online, it simply does not have the impact it once did. And so, while I’ve always been interested in how to use the web as a PR tool, about three years ago I realized it was going to become essential. Now, I feel like companies who are not looking at social media and trying to see how they fit in are going to get left in the dust.”

Lyn also finds time to donate her professional services to the annual Charleston Digital Corridor iFive:K run, the inaugural Charleston Marathon planned for 2010, as well as the MOMS Club of Mt Pleasant. She’s also served on the public relations committee for Dorchester Habitat for Humanity and provided public relations assistance to Pet Helpers, a local animal shelter. Lyn is active in the Public Relations Society of America and regularly speaks on the topic of social media and public relations to a variety of organizations throughout South Carolina.

Don’t worry, even the business-minded are required to answer our goofy question, “What is your all-time favorite TV show/book/movie, and what would you most like to be eating while you watch/read?”

“I love reading when I have time and watching reality TV,” says Lyn. “My all-time favorite movie is ‘Dead Poets Society,’ and I would like to be eating some combination of peanut butter and chocolate!”