Get FourSquare and Get Busy

Could FourSquare be the next social media darling for business? Could Twitter possibly be de-throned? We think so.

FourSquare is a location-based application that you run on your smart phone that allows users to “check-in” when they are out and about. Headed to Publix? Check-in. Out with the guys at the neighborhood pub? Check-in. It definitely appeals to the exploratory and competitive nature of people. It’s like a combination game + communication tool.

FourSquare not only sends out a message on Twitter every time someone checks into a new location, it rewards users by declaring the most frequent traveler to a particular location the “mayor” and awards fun “badges” for checking in often. Additionally, FourSquare allows users to see which of your friends have checked in recently near your current location.

Some smart business owners are beginning to see the benefits already, especially restaurants, retailers, attractions, etc., of driving traffic to their business. With a few simple techniques, you too can use FourSquare to your advantage. Here are a few ideas to get you going:

1. Reward the Mayor – Offer the current “mayor” of your business a perk of holding that position. Maybe it’s a free dessert with every entrée they purchase or half price on all haircuts. To retain their position they will have to come in often, spend money and hopefully bring friends. And maybe others will “check in” more often to try to become the new mayor.
2. Encourage New Clients – The first time a customer “checks in” to your location, offer them a deal or special as a thank you for stopping by.  Something like a free coffee refill the first time they try a new café would encourage new business.
3. Build Traffic – Need your booth to look busy at the next big trade show? Enter everyone who stops by and “checks in” into a drawing for a great prize.
4. Work Together – Gather a few local organizations and create a Scavenger Hunt for the FourSquare crowd. People enjoy using technology to have a good time, and bonus if there’s a prize at the end! You may even get a little local attention!
5. Work the Tips – Use the tips section of the FourSquare app to announce specials and promotions. Users feel like they are being let in on a special deal.

The best part is that FourSquare now supports these “check in” offers. They want you to use their service to build your business, so they’ve invited you to submit your special offers to them and they’ll show them to people who “check in” near you. Here’s a great example from a Coffee House in North Carolina who’s offering a special to anyone who checks in at their location.

If you have a business and still have questions visit FourSquare’s Business page or give us a call to help you make the most of FourSquare.

What creative way could you use FourSquare to promote your company?

Local PR and Social Media Firm Honored with Two National Awards

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – Step Ahead Inc. has been recognized by two national organizations for its creative public relations and social media marketing work.

The Squeaky Clean blog, which Step Ahead designed and maintains for Castle Keepers, a Charleston-area cleaning company, recently received a Gold Award from the MarCom Awards, an international competition for marketing and communication professionals.

Additionally, the Society for New Communications Research recognized Step Ahead with a Commendation of Merit for the Twitter Beach Bash it hosted earlier this spring for MyrtleBeachHotels.com, a group of oceanfront hotels and condos in Myrtle Beach. The Twitter Beach Bash was a two-hour event in which Twitter followers were invited to answer trivia questions via Twitter for a chance to win prizes at the Myrtle Beach resorts.

The Society honors innovative organizations that are pioneering the use of social media, ICT, mobile media, online communities and collaborative technologies in the areas of media, marketing, public relations, advertising, entertainment, education, politics and social initiatives.

About Step Ahead Inc.
Step Ahead, Inc. is a Mt. Pleasant, S.C.-based company that combines the best of traditional public relations with social media and Internet marketing campaigns to help maximize visibility for clients both online and off. The company’s clients include Spirit Telecom of Columbia, the Charleston Breast Center, Myrtle Beach National resorts, Charming Inns of Charleston, Charleston Parks Conservancy, Golf Island of Hilton Head, SpiritLine Cruises and others. The company has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur magazine and the Associated Press and on MSNBC.com. Visit www.stepaheadinc.com or call (843) 606-0226 for more information.

Online Soiree Lures Businesses

A virtual beach bash that skipped out on bathing suits and sandy feet attracted more than 1,700 people to a Myrtle Beach lodging Web site last week.

Trying out a new way to lure business, Mount Pleasant public relations company Step Ahead Inc. held the “party” Tuesday night by serving up tiny, online blurbs through the social networking service Twitter.

While logged on to the feed for MyrtleBeach Hotels.com, hundreds of people learned about 11 resorts’ offerings this spring and summer, according to Step Ahead president Lyn Mettler. Myrtle Beach Hotels includes Litchfield Beach and Golf Resort, The Breakers Resort and Dunes Village Resort.

The company gave away prizes throughout the night to participants answering Myrtle Beach resort trivia. The night wrapped up with a $1,000 gift certificate to use at the properties.

Mettler’s next stop on the online party bus: her clients in Charleston. Step Ahead will offer a Twitter soiree May 14 and give away prizes from local hotels, restaurants and attractions.

Local Social Media Pro Selected as National Blog Contributor

MT. PLEASANT, S.C.—Being a mom and working in social media are two of Lyn Mettler’s biggest passions, so her recent selection as a featured contributor to TwitterMoms.com, a social network of highly influential and “networked” moms who are very active bloggers and Twitterers, is a perfect match. Mettler, who is president of Step Ahead, Inc., a Mt Pleasant-based company that combines the best of traditional public relations with social media campaigns to maximize visibility for clients, was one of 15 featured contributors chosen from some 250 applicants. She will blog weekly about social media marketing within the community that currently boasts 5800 members.

Her first post discusses the much-talked about “phishing” and spamming episode on Twitter, which happened earlier in the week affecting many users, including some celebrity Twitterers. She offers tips for how to avoid such scams and what to do if you were affected. Twitter is an online service that allows individuals to converse socially within the confines of 140 characters per comment.

“I hope that I can create some interesting content that will engage this group of very Internet savvy moms,” says Mettler. “I know I’m in great company and I look forward to further sharing my love for all things social media.”

Step Ahead, Inc. is a Mt Pleasant-based company that combines the best of traditional public relations with social media campaigns that engage blogs, social networks, online video, Podcasting and more to help maximize visibility for companies and their products both online and off. To date, the company has worked with the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, Charming Inns of Charleston, ClassifiedFlyerAds.com, Tiger Lily florist, Charleston Parks Conservancy, Golf Island, Myrtle Beach National, Coco’s Café, POSITUS consulting and others.

Step Ahead executives regularly speak about social media across the state, including events and luncheons for the South Carolina Public Relations Society of America state conference, Columbia chapter and Lowcountry chapter; Center for Women; Charleston Digital Corridor; Charleston Trident Association of Realtors and more. The company has also been featured in the Wall Street Journal, on MSNBC.com and in numerous local publications. Visit www.stepaheadwebstrategies.com or call (843) 388-8376 for more information.

Local Company Helps Charlestonians Take on Twitter

MT. PLEASANT, S.C.— In the world of Web 2.0, there’s no denying Twitter, a microblogging service, is the industry darling of the moment, with new statistics from Nielson Online deeming it the fastest growing online social network in the past year. Step Ahead Web Strategies, a Mt Pleasant-based company that helps businesses strategically engage Web 2.0 tools and manage them on a day-to-day basis, is stepping up to the plate to make sure Charlestonians take advantage of Twitter with a seminar on the topic and a list for Lowcountry Twitterers.

The “Using Twitter for Business” seminar will be held Nov. 18, from Noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Francis Marion Hotel, 375 King St. for a cost of $50, including a box lunch and drink. The seminar will cover the basics for people new to Twitter, discuss the benefits, the etiquette, the most useful applications, as well as how to fit it into your schedule, what to say, who to say it to and lots more. Register at www.stepaheadwebstrategies.com.

“As a PR professional, Twitter is one of the best PR and marketing tools I’ve come across in a long time,” says Lyn Mettler, president of Step Ahead Web Strategies. “It’s helped me personally to get new business, media coverage, increased Web site hits and more, and we hope to share that insight with others. It’s a free tool, and in this economy, it’s a great way to expand awareness about your business for only the cost of your time.”

The company also recently developed the Lowcountry Twitter list, a place for Twitterers from Hilton Head to Charleston to register their “handle” or username so others can “follow” them. Locals can view the list and sign up at www.stepaheadwebstrategies.com.

“While it’s easy to make contact with those in your field, or with similar interests, on Twitter, it can be kind of tricky to find those geographically close to you,” says Simon Ashton, vice president of technology for Step Ahead Web Strategies. “So we developed the Lowcountry Twitter list to help those in our area connect. If you’re looking to make local contacts and network, this is a great resource.”

About Step Ahead Web Strategies
Step Ahead Web Strategies is a Mt Pleasant-based company that helps businesses and organizations strategically engage and manage the latest and most innovative technologies, including online video, social networking, search engine optimization, blogs, Podcasting and more, to reach their target audiences with the right message. To date, the company has worked with the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, Charming Inns of Charleston, ClassifiedFlyerAds.com, Tiger Lily florist, Charleston Parks Conservancy, Golf Island, Myrtle Beach National, Coco’s Café, POSITUS consulting and others.

Step Ahead Web Strategies executives regularly speak about social media across the state, including events and luncheons for the South Carolina Public Relations Society of America state conference, Columbia chapter and Lowcountry chapter; Center for Women; Charleston Digital Corridor; Charleston Trident Association of Realtors and more. The company has also been featured in the Wall Street Journal, on MSNBC.com and numerous local publications. Visit www.stepaheadwebstrategies.com or call (843) 388-8376 for more information.

The Changing Face of PR

The Changing Face of PR
Electronic Retailer Magazine
October, 2008

The world of PR is changing at light speed. Long gone are the days of sharing story scoops over a three-martini lunch, mass-faxing press releases to editors and journalists and the enormous “power of the press” being controlled by a few large newspaper empires.

Today’s PR environment is about social networks, online expert sources and web-induced story deadlines measured in seconds or minutes, rather than days or hours.

Furthermore, traditional PR tactics are experiencing a diminishing return. As Lyn Mettler of Mettler Public Relations observes, “I see an steadily reduced emphasis on the importance of traditional media in getting the word out about a company. Over the last five years, I have seen a great decline in the response my clients get to stories placed in even major media outlets. A few years ago, an article in The New York Times would result in dozens, sometimes hundreds of inquiries. Today, it may generate a handful at best. It seems a story on websites such as CNN.com or the Engadget blog is much more beneficial today.”

So what exactly is an e-retailing company supposed to do in order to get a little PR “juice” in today’s world? What tools and techniques can be leveraged to help you get the word out about your product or service?

To see what’s new, as well as what’s on the horizon, I did a little publicity of my own and put the word out to some of the top PR experts in the business for input. Following are the key issues, tools and strategies these experts wanted you to know about.

PR IS NOW “ONE ON ONE”

“The biggest change in the public relations industry is the ability to bypass traditional gatekeepers and communicate directly with consumers, prospects, reporters and bloggers,” says Valerie Jennings of Jennings Public Relations and Advertising. “It’s caused a transformation in the PR landscape, from one in which PR professionals were completely dependent on journalists, to a collaborative effort between the PR practitioners, citizen journalists and the general public. As a result of the social media revolution, there are endless avenues to deliver any message to niche markets and communities.”

PR MOVES FASTER THAN EVER

In today’s world, news happens fast, and the reporting of the news sometimes happens even faster. David Burrows from Fzzz! Media says the biggest change he has seen in recent years is this speed. He elaborates: “With tens of thousands of bloggers covering thousands of subjects, news happens and is reported in minutes. Decades ago, CNN gave us instant access with 24/7 reporting on television.” But even that’s not fast enough for today’s information junkies, Burrows notes. “Those classic relationships between newsmakers and reporters or editors have now moved into relationships–with almost instant communication–with top bloggers and other influencers.”

“The strategy of the PR professional has shifted as a result of the rise in credibility of the blogosphere, with the top news sources relying heavily on its new and emerging content,” says Jennings. “The online landscape now incorporates news and web communities, social networks, video sites and much more.”

SOCIAL MEDIA IS CHANGING PR

In the Spring 2008 issue of Online Strategies, I discussed how social networks such as Facebook and LinkedIn are impacting marketing. The reach and impact of social networks are having a profound effect on PR as well.

According to Jerry Grasso from GrassoPR, “You don’t have to be big to be relevant. If you have something to say, and the communication tools to help you say it with passion, then you have as much of a chance as any established media outlet of becoming a ‘guru’ in a niche area or interest–or of generating interest in your company. That’s the power of the Internet, blogging and social media.”

And it doesn’t matter how established your company is, or how full its coffers may be. “It isn’t about marketing budgets or media flights–it’s all about content and consistency,” Grasso continues. “If you have the best content, the most insightful and compelling information about a solid company that really performs for its customers or strives for its clients, you can play on a pretty even playing field with the likes of WalMart and GE by utilizing blogs and social networks.”

CASE STUDY: USING FACEBOOK TO CREATE PR BUZZ

David Peck, associate vice president of university relations at Azusa Pacific University offers the following case study of the recent release of the Miley Cyrus album “Breakout.”

Miley Cyrus and Disney demonstrated effective use of these new tools of engagement with the launch of her new song and album. On May 14, 2008, Radio Disney played the “planet debut” of her new song, “7 Things.” The album, however, was not scheduled for release until July 22, 2008. But Radio Disney and Miley Cyrus made the decision to create pre-release excitement by featuring the debut of the song on Radio Disney, and then posting an option to hear the song on her Facebook group page, which lists more than 107,000 fans. From a strategic standpoint, it made sense to release the song and album artwork, starting the excitement while students were still in school, encouraging them to talk about it for a month or so before the official release. Roughly two weeks later, more than one million people had listened to the song on YouTube alone, not including those who may have listened on Facebook, MySpace and Cyrus’s own website.

PRESS RELEASES ARE NO LONGER JUST FOR REACHING JOURNALISTS

Anecdotally, journalists tell me they trash 90 percent of unsolicited press releases sent to them via fax or e-mail. So if all of the thousands of press releases written every day aren’t being read by journalists and editors, what is the point of writing and distributing them? “Press releases are being used for search engine opti­mization,” says Robert Blodgett of CRVisions Communications. “The days of press releases being used strictly for announcing news are dead. Now press releases are an effective way of improving a company’s web ranking and search engine traffic.” By publishing the releases online, you’re achieving the dual goals of boosting your website on the search engines and delivering your news directly to individuals interested in the topic who are searching on the relevant keywords. No journalist required.

PR GOES SELF SERVICE

We have self-service gas pumps, bank tellers (in the form of ATMs) and grocery check outs–so why not self-service PR? Some businesses are wondering the same thing. “More and more businesses want to do it themselves and not use a publicist or PR agency,” observes Whitney Keyes of Whitney Keyes Productions. And why not? The news outlets are going direct-to-consumer, so there is no reason the newsmakers can’t go direct to the news outlets.

A prime example: This article was researched, in part, by reaching out to experts via social media and asking for input on the changing face of the public relations industry. In just one day, more than 50 people responded with ideas, information and quotations of potential interest to the readership. In the “old days,” reaching that many experts on a topic would have been a difficult, time-consuming and exhausting process. But thanks to a couple of new and innovative online tools, finding experts was a breeze.

The first tool I used was the “Answers” tool on LinkedIn. By posting my request for info on how PR has evolved to my network of connections, I posed my questions to almost 20 million people.

The second tool I used was Help A Reporter–a service recently started by Peter Shankman. Help a Reporter is a free service that connects experts, academics, business people and company PR executives with journalists and news outlets. As an example of just how fast things are changing in the PR world, consider this: In just 5 short months, Shankman has grown Help A Reporter to more than 25,000 members! If you are seeking PR placement for your company, a subscription to this service is a must. (Similar services such as PR Leads and ProfNet are also recommended resources for reaching top journalists and news outlets with your message.)

Whitney Keyes sums up the self-service trend by stating, “Over the next few years, we’ll see more businesses doing PR themselves–everything from writing press releases to making pitch calls about their news. With all of the accessibility and transparency happening online now, businesses won’t be intimidated about contacting the media. Connecting is easy. As more and more people become citizen journalists and bloggers, the old, hard lines between the powerful journalist and the relatively powerless business person (especially from a new or unestablished company) will start to break and opportunities for media coverage will increase.”

WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON FOR PR?

So what does the future hold for the rapidly evolving world of public relations? “I see more niche social networks being set up and more PR companies hiring people as ‘virtual brand ambassadors,’ or ‘conversation agents’ to keep an eye on what trends the customers are gravitating toward and how the clients can move into that space,” predicts John Carson of gcigroup.

The growth of online video is also expected, and PR experts expect it to impact their business, as well. According to Ed Lamoureaux of WestGlen Communications, “Video is already surpassing text online as the most sought-after form of communication for consumers. Video tracking and monitoring, as well as more video micro-syndication channels will continue to push multimedia PR to the top of the online PR professional’s toolset.”

And, of course, any discussion of the future of digital commerce wouldn’t be complete without acknowledging the incredible growth potential of mobile. “The use of mobile marketing in the form of text messaging to deliver videos and podcasts in order to drive traffic to websites will be a huge factor in future PR efforts,” says Valerie Jennings. “Public relations in the United States is rapidly falling behind that of other countries which already use mobile marketing as a primary means of communication with their audiences. The PR industry needs to understand this medium in order to effectively communicate overseas now–and in the U.S. in the near future.”

CHANGE–AT A COST?

Certainly, the PR business has undergone a sea change. But is all this change for good or ill? It depends on your perspective.

It’s true that companies have more–and more effective–ways of reaching their target audience and shaping their brand with the right messaging. And, as mentioned above, it can be accomplished faster than ever before.

But these factors also carry a downside. “Having more ‘reporters’ and ‘newspeople’ in the form of bloggers and YouTube users is great for speed and the sheer variety and breadth of information,” says Burrows. “But is tends to translate into less probing and intelligent inquiry into any given story, leading to ‘sound-byte news,’ and one-dimensional perspectives. There’s also a ‘lemmings’ approach to accepting and forwarding un-researched information which is then reported as ‘news.’”

See the original article here

Darla Moore takes on Charleston’s local parks

Darla Moore is known for her business acumen, Southern charm and philanthropic spirit. Now she’ll be known for helping transform Charleston’s parks and public spaces.

An avid gardener and plant lover, Moore recognized that, though Charleston’s historic buildings were carefully preserved, the same attention wasn’t given to the city’s 120 public parks.

Having lived in New York City, Moore watched as Central Park was transformed from a “rat-infested, fearful” place to a wonderful park. She was certain the same attention could be given to Charleston’s parks.

Moore and her husband, Richard Rainwater, have a home in downtown Charleston near the Battery. Together they run Rainwater Inc., a private investment firm that manages billions of dollars.

Once she started spending more time in downtown Charleston, Moore realized that the city’s parks needed as much attention as the historic buildings and homes.

“There’s the preservation of history, but the parks are not up to the same standard,” she said. “It’s time for Charleston to have a similar organization as the one that rehabbed Central Park.”

From idea to reality
In New York City, the City Parks Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports hundreds of parks throughout the city. Moore met with representatives from the foundation, who visited Charleston and offered recommendations.

The result is the Charleston Parks Conservancy and an initiative called Park Angels. Six Park Angels have been selected as the face of the CPC. They will work with the conservancy and the city to mobilize residents and organize people who have a passion for parks.

The key, Moore said, is involving not only the city but the local residents. It’s a long-term project with the first step revitalizing Colonial Lake Park on Rutledge Avenue in downtown Charleston.

“The city can’t do it,” she said. “You can sit and complain that somebody needs to do something, but that somebody is you. You can say somebody needs to do something, well, bend over and pull the weeds.

“I don’t get paid for it, but I want to be part of something bigger,” said Moore, who likely will be pulling weeds and pruning plants herself.

Stepping forward
Jim Martin, executive director of the Charleston Parks Conservancy, said it often takes one person to draw attention to a cause.

“In every community, sometimes it takes one person to step forward and do more than just talk about how important this is,” he said. “That’s exactly what she’s (Moore) done with this.”

Moore recognized that all the hallmarks of Charleston’s charm are present in the parks, but not to the same degree, Martin said. In September, the conservancy announced six Park Angels, core volunteers for the conservancy who will give a face to the organization. Next month, the Park Angels will be introduced to city park employees, and Charleston Mayor Joe Riley will be named an honorary Park Angel.

A new way of thinking
Even though six individuals were selected to carry the proverbial banner, anyone with an interest in Charleston’s public parks can get involved. The conservancy gives residents an outlet for volunteering or making donations. Those with ideas or questions can go to the parks conservancy’s Web site and make suggestions.

The Charleston Parks Conservancy is using Greenville identity company Brains on Fire and local marketing firm Step Ahead Web Strategies to employ nontraditional marketing efforts. Web 2.0 concepts, such as creating a Facebook page for the organization and blogging, are emphasized more. Social networking and word-of-mouth will spread the message.

“We’re developing the concept in Charleston that it’s you and me,” Martin said. “It’s not, ‘Oh, the city’s going to do that.’ It ain’t going to happen. The city has limited resources. It’s going to take more involvement on your end. There are obstacles to getting the city of Charleston to do things it couldn’t do because it didn’t have the resources. I’m not saying that we’re the end-all, be-all of parks, but a different way of thinking.”

–Holly Fisher

Your Career: Cleaning up your digital dirt

Human Tetris: It’s Time to Face the Hole

Reality television has given us all sorts of new cultural touchstones, from the notion of people being voted off an island to the emphatic cry of “You’re fired!”

Fox may have hit upon a new one. In its new game show “Hole in the Wall,” contestants contort themselves into awkward positions and try to squeeze through a wall that approaches them on a conveyer belt. That’s it – it’s just human Tetris, repeated over and over again for TV success or shame.

The first “preview” edition of the show aired on Sunday. A second episode will be shown Tuesday after “Fringe,” ahead of the show’s official premiere on Sept. 11.

The concept comes from Japan by way of YouTube, where some of the greatest hits have scored more than six million views.

Impressively, Fox manages to make the fun last for half an hour. The reaction of Lyn Mettler, a viewer who wrote about the show on Twitter on Sunday, sums up the paradox: “The most ridiculous premise I’ve ever seen for a game show, yet I sat there & laughed hysterically.”

The ratings will reveal whether viewers want to watch the show more than once. Brian Lowry, a TV critic for Variety, concluded Sunday that the show “exhausted its shallow store of ingenuity during the half-hour premiere.” He added: “Everyone involved, in fact, seems to be trying just a little too hard, in what might be the first series to jump the shark before its final act break.”

Regardless of its staying power, “Hole” has already introduced a memorable catch-phrase to the reality TV canon. Alongside “You are the weakest link” (on NBC’s “The Weakest Link”) and “Will you accept this rose?” (on ABC’s “The Bachelor”) comes this gem from the host Mark Thompson: “It’s time” – dramatic pause – “to face” – another pause – “the hole.”

See the original article here

From Facebook to Flickr: Use the Web to Plan Your Next Event

by Lyn Mettler

You’ve probably received more Evites than you can count, been invited to attend an event via Facebook or maybe even found some-like minded souls on MeetUp.com. If you’re planning an event, using the latest and greatest Web technologies is a great way to communicate, save time and attract more people to your shindig, whether it’s a wedding, a corporate luncheon or the opening of a new restaurant. Here are eight totally free Internet resources you can tap into to get your next event off the ground:

1. Facebook – One of my all-time favorites, Facebook is a social network that connects friends, colleagues and acquaintances from across all walks of life and it offers a handy event feature. You can invite anyone to come, on Facebook or not, and it will keep track of RSVPs for you. You, or attendees, can upload photos, videos, links, etc. related to the event and start a discussion on the “the wall,” a place where people can publicly post comments. www.facebook.com
2. MySpace – While Facebook is dearer to my heart, MySpace, for now, still has an important place, even though earlier this year it was surpassed by Facebook in the total number of unique visitors. MySpace also has an event feature, which is not quite as nifty as Facebook’s. You can invite anyone who is a user of MySpace, track RSVPs, post it to your MySpace blog and more. It certainly doesn’t hurt to post the event in as many places as possible. www.MySpace.com
3. Twitter – If you haven’t heard about Twitter, it’s a service called “micro-blogging” or posting a comment that’s 140 characters or less. You can “follow” other people’s “tweets” (read: comments) and they can follow yours. Set up an account just for your event, try to find the folks you’d like to invite to your event and “follow” them. Twitter etiquette says they’re supposed to “follow” you back, so you can then begin to post updates about the event and engage in dialogue with them about it, as well. Twitter makes a great conversation tool. www.twitter.com
4. Evite – This site is really like a digital version of the classic invitation you get in the mail to attend a function. Choose from a variety of designs, or create your own, and then send to your invitation list via email where they can RSVP and see who else is attending. But it does a lot more. In fact, they describe themselves as “your own personal party planner.” They provide you with an event checklist, budget estimator, drink calculator and other cool party planning tools. www.evite.com
5. The Knot – Brides and grooms only for this one. What a fab tool that I wish they’d had when I got married! Set up an account and you can track your budget and due dates, manage your guest list, create a customized Web page about your Big Day to share with friends and family, search for vendors and send a Save the Date by email. www.theknot.com
6. Jott – Jott is an voice to text service that lets you use email, text messages and mobile phones to keep track of reminders, post to Web sites (like Twitter and Facebook), create lists and more all with your voice. So, for example, while driving to a meeting I can call Jott on my cell, and 1) tell it an email I want sent to a contact 2) have it email me a reminder about something I suddenly remembered 3) post a “Tweet” to Twitter or a status update to “Facebook.” www.Jott.com
7. Remember the Milk – Need an easy-to-use way to keep track of tasks for your event? This is the answer. Create lists for different types of tasks (promotion, execution, vendors), which you can tag by subject. It will also send you reminders via email, cell phone, instant messaging services and more. You can share your tasks and lists with anyone you want, and even note your tasks’ geographic locations, so you can more efficiently plan outings. www.RemembertheMilk.com
8. Flickr – OK, so you’ve had the event, it went beautifully, and now everyone is rehashing the good times. Consider creating a group on Flickr, a photo social networking site, where everyone can upload photos of their grand time and download full versions of others’ photos to save or print. www.flicker.com

Technology is amazing, isn’t it? Just dive in, get your feet wet and next thing you know, your event will be smooth sailing.

Next Page »