January Social Media Star: Meghan Miller

The television news business is ever changing. The industry has gone from news on only three networks to 24-hour news channels to the reach and speed of the Internet and social media. Meghan Miller, the Web producer for WMBF News, the NBC affiliate in Myrtle Beach, saw the power and importance of social media in TV news early on, and has been using it ever since to keep a step ahead.

We picked Meghan as January’s social media star, because she’s on the front lines of journalism embracing all that social media can do for this industry. She “gets” it where so many media outlets continue to struggle.

Meghan started the WMBF Facebook page in August 2008 with only 10 fans, but has grown the page to over 10,000! Daily, she manages multiple social media accounts for WMBF, including Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and, one you may not have heard about, Bubbletweet. Here is what Meghan had to say about social media:

What was the first social media technology you used?
Facebook. Over the years, it’s slowly become the No. 1 way I can keep a personal connection with my family and friends back in my hometown of York, Pa.

What is your favorite social media tool?
Definitely Twitter. Believe it or not, I was actually against getting a Twitter account, because I didn’t see the point in posting to the world what I was doing 24/7. Now it’s one of the first things I check on my Blackberry when I wake up – to see who’s doing what and what topics are making news in the Web world.

How have you used social media for your business/company and how has it benefited?
In all honesty, it’s one of the most important tools I use as both a journalist and as a Web producer. Social networking takes news to a whole new extreme – it allows us to see who’s doing what, what issues are important to our viewers, and really allows us to make those important connections with those who keep close tabs on our news product.

Our Facebook fan page has just exceeded 10,000 fans – many of which were gained in 2009. That’s an outlet where we can interact with our fans with a “Question of the Day” and post controversial news stories that we know will draw a response from the public. It also allows us to strengthen the push-pull from social networking sites to WMBFNews.com.

Twitter is another – I can’t tell you how many news stories we’ve broken because of Twitter and how many relationships we’ve built with legislators, community leaders, businesses and organizations because of the exchange of a few tweets. If we can’t pull any news stories off of Twitter, it at least helps us get our brains pumping to come up with new, fresh news content for our shows.
On the flip side, we can keep better track of our competition this way.

How have you seen TV news change since you started in the profession with regard to social media?
It has exploded! I can remember when we had 20 fans on our WMBF News Facebook Fan Page and 100 friends on our MySpace page. We’ve been nursing our social networking sites since we first launched in August 2008 and now depend on it for comments on controversial stories that really affect our viewers or our market drivers. Now, you’ll see a “Facebook Question of the Day” on each of our newscasts – and a big push to become a fan of WMBF News either on Twitter or Facebook.

What role do you see social media playing in TV news in the future?
I see it as a way to gather news stories, build the WMBF News brand, draw people into our product, interact with the community and share breaking news when it happens, as it happens.

How much time would you say you spend a day engaging social media?
Ha – it feels like 24 hours a day! It’s hard to gauge because my TweetDeck is always open, I’m always fiddling with UberTwitter on my phone when I’m away from my desk and always checking out Facebook. It’s a part of the job!

How do you incorporate it into your day so it’s not a time waster?
It’s hard! I make sure that when I’m at work – that’s what I’m on Twitter or Facebook for – just work. When I go on dinner break, am heading out to do a story or am on my own time, that’s when I hop on my personal Facebook and Twitter accounts.

What’s your best tip for using social media for business?
Use it as just another tool to better your product and your overall image. Don’t ignore the fact that your viewers or clients are interacting with you on a “virtual” level – it’s the perfect time to draw people in! Engage, interact and don’t ignore!

Is there a social media tool/technique that you think is underutilized that you would like people to know about?
This is where I plug BubbleTweet, I do believe! I think BubbleTweet is an AWESOME alternative to Tweets if you have a webcam. It’s been a cool way to take people behind the scenes during a newscast, break news stories on a more personal and visual level and to show people that the news is more than just TV.

Where can people find you online and via social media?
www.twitter.com/wmbfmegmiller
http://www.facebook.com/meghanmillerwmbf

On Down the Road: What’s in Store for Social Media in 2010

As we head into this new decade I can only hope it means social media will come into its hey day – that would be just glorious for a social media nerd like me. I could stop explaining why Twitter isn’t just about the minutia of my day and that no Facebook isn’t just a bunch of teenagers. Ah, but perhaps that is too much to dream of.

Instead, I thought I’d take a realistic look at what this social media nerd thinks is in store for us this year as it relates to business.

1) Real Time Web

Have you noticed tweets and Facebook posts now when you search on Google? That’s because the search giant is rolling out their new real time search features in which they have integrated tweets and public Facebook posts (so be careful what you set as public in your Facebook privacy settings).

What does that mean for business? A LOT! Guess what? Now whatever anyone posts about you just might show up when someone types in your name or a description of your product. That means you not only need to be on the defensive, monitoring what’s being said about you at all times so you can react, you also need to be on the offensive. That means a good quality Twitter account & Facebook page for your company with the right key words, consistently updated, quality content and good interaction. That ups the odds you’ll show up high in Google as well (maybe even above the person dissing you ).

A Twitter account we manage for a group of Myrtle Beach hotels recently showed up on page one of Google for the term “myrtle beach”. Do you have any idea what people pay to be there? A lot!

2) Localization

I recently read where CNN bought Outside.IN, a site that finds and reproduces local news, and sites like FourSquare.com, which is kind of like a city guide for your phone that connects you to your friends, are also becoming more popular. People want to find what’s relevant to them and a lot of time that means what’s local to them. Watch for more sites and tools to spring up that help people understand, sort and find what’s around them.

3) Geo-”stuff”

That leads me to geo “stuff” (sorry don’t know the proper words for all the geo stuff ). That’s certainly another way for people to pull in information that relates to where they are physically. Your iPhone knows where you are and offers results tailored to that location from movie times, to weather, to directions. Twitter may even add that feature, allowing businesses to “tweet” you or even text you with relevant coupons or ads for things nearby. Can you imagine walking by Starbucks and getting a coupon for $1 off your Frappucino on your phone. I’m all over that!

4) Third Party Review Sites Beyond Travel and Retail

The hospitality industry has started to live and die by sites like TripAdvisor and IGoYouGo as people weigh in on hotels and destinations and many people make their decisions based on these reviews. Retailers, like Amazon, who has really set themselves apart with their review system, are also used to this mode of operation. But now, people are reviewing stuff like their doctors, their plumbers, their hair stylists on sites like Yelp.

Watch out businesses. You’d better provide good customer service or trust me, someone will be talking about it online. Suzy not happy with her haircut? Bet she’s going to tell everyone somewhere online and the party responsible to boot. And things spread much more quickly online than they used to when co-workers chatted about it around the water cooler. Watch what’s being said about you and react when appropriate (ie offer Suzy a new “do” ).

5) Businesses “Get” Social Media

Ok, notice I said “get” not “embrace”. I don’t think we’re there yet. But here at my firm, we’re seeing a lot of people we’ve been telling about this stuff for several years finally come around and say “OK, you were right – help!” I think businesses will continue to realize that others are successfully using these tools for branding, PR and, what do you know, to actually make money! And they’ll decide they need to be there too.

Please, please, please though, don’t just farm it out to your IT person. Better your PR person, but they’re already swamped too and probably don’t have the time to do it properly. Either hire someone part time or full time to run your social media (who KNOWS what they’re doing – tough to find) or hire a firm (who KNOWS what they’re doing – also tough to find!) and let them manage it for you.

Those are my picks for the coming year.  What did I miss? What else is coming for social media? Please get in on the discussion. I want to know what I DON’T know about! Oh, and happy New Year!

Don’t Knock It Until You Try It

I’m beginning to think Twitter is something you either love, hate or just plain don’t understand. I often find myself trying to dispel the myth that it’s simply people writing about what they ate for lunch, what kind of creamer they’re using in their third cup of coffee or that they’re on their way to the kids’ soccer game. Well, yes, if that’s all Twitter was, I wouldn’t want to be part of it either.

“Twitter haters see no point in tweeting” was the headline for an Aug. 25 article in USA Today. Interestingly, the first comment in the story is from a man who has never used Twitter, but says it bugs him. Another woman quoted in the story has no interest in tweets that “share the most mundane details of life.”

Texas-based Pear Analytics, which does data analysis for marketing, studied 2,000 tweets from the public Twitter timeline over a two-week period from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Central time). The tweets went into six categories: news, spam, self-promotion, pointless babble, conversational and pass-along value.

Even though pointless babble was 40.55%, conversational tweets accounted for 37.55%. Coming in third was pass-along value at a lower 8.7%. You can read more about the study and get the firm’s white paper on its blog.

I spend a great deal of time on Twitter each day, checking out things for clients or just monitoring my own Twitter account. Yes, Twitter has its share of “turkey and cheese on rye” kind of tweets. But I gloss over those and direct my attention to people I know have something entertaining, informative or useful to share. I’ve come across plenty of good Web sites, tidbits and articles I wouldn’t have seen without Twitter. I’ve checked out products, companies, shopping deals and parenting tips all thanks to Twitter.

It’s a matter of filter. Look at who you follow. If the person is tweeting about lunch and other mundane details, it’s quite simple: don’t follow that person. And you can always unfollow someone who seemed interesting at first and later takes a nosedive into mundane.

Also, choose to follow like-minded people. If you have no interest in sports, don’t follow people who are talking about sports – to you, that’s “pointless babble.” If you don’t have children, don’t follow people who tweet about their kids or give parenting advice – to you, that’s “pointless babble.”

If you find tweeters who share your interests, opinions and hobbies, chances are you’ll find more conversations and pass-along value and less pointless babble.

OK, gotta run. I’m having ham and cheddar on wheat.

The Real People Behind Social Media

By Lyn Mettler

AS A SELF-DESCRIBED GEEK when it comes to social media, I love spending time on all range of sites like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, blogs, and more. But, of course, all this “socializing” is actually spent staring at a computer screen or my iPhone, not at a real live human being.

That’s where a new group to Charleston—Social Media Club—comes in. It puts all of us geeks and wannabe geeks in a room together where, yes, we actually have to talk face to face. And whaddayaknow? It’s amazingly gratifying. As a colleague, Ben Cash of Blue Key, Inc., noted to me, we can’t forget that amidst all the Twitter and Facebook talk, what’s really going on here is two humans communicating; it’s just different tools we’re using to accomplish that.

So what is Social Media Club? It’s actually an international organization whose aim is to share best practices, establish ethics and standards, and promote media literacy across the Web 2.0 realm. Membership is free, and there are currently 65 active chapters around the world.

Social Media Club Charleston was started by several local people (myself included) who wanted to connect those in the Charleston community who have an interest in social media. The other founders include Jeff Webster of Rawle Murdy, Heather Solos of the HomeEc101 blog, Jared Smith of the College of Charleston, Nick Tompkins of Patriots Point, and Chad Norman of Blackbaud. Want a taste of the impact that social media is having? Watch this video:

I find myself in pure heaven at Social Media Club get-togethers with the chance to dialogue with others way smarter than I am about how to best use these tools, what’s new coming down the pipeline, and what’s working for others. But by no means is this group meant for just techie types; we want anyone in the Charleston community with a desire to learn more about this always-evolving medium to join in the conversation, ask questions, and learn.

If you’d like to join us, we’re planning monthly get-togethers—some networking, some educational. You can stay in touch by—well, of course—joining us on social media! Join our Facebook group, follow us on Twitter, or read our blog (still a work in progress). Come one, come all, and who knows, maybe you’ll be able to put a face with a Twitter name! •

About Lyn Mettler
Lyn is a social media nerd and the president of Step Ahead Inc., a company which combines the best of traditional public relations with social media campaigns to maximize visibility for clients both online and off. Lyn is the social media featured blogger for TwitterMoms.com and also blogs regularly on her company Web site. Follow her on Twitter at @webprgirl.

The uses of social media – in life and in death

My first real foray into the land of Web 2.0 was a blog I started in fall 2005. It was mainly a way to record and share the moments in my life with friends and family. Since then, I’ve jumped on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. I feel immersed in the world of social media and its capabilities as a personal and business tool.

But earlier this month, I discovered an entirely new use for social media and the Internet when a professional colleague and friend passed away after a battle with brain cancer. Terry Harper was the executive director of the Society of Professional Journalists, an organization with more than 8,000 members. I served on the SPJ national board of directors for six years so had worked with Terry during my board service.

When we found out about his cancer, members of the organization rallied their thoughts and prayers and put full support behind Terry and his family for many months. But a few weeks ago, we found ourselves coming together again, this time to pay our respects to our colleague and friend.

What struck me as most interesting was the method for our collective sadness. With SPJ members scattered about the country, the majority of us couldn’t physically attend the memorial service or other events that would honor Terry’s memory. So we pulled together online. We posted messages on Terry’s Facebook page as well as a special group page that had been created to support Terry’s fight with cancer. We tweeted our grief on Twitter. We posted hundreds of comments on Terry’s blog, Thumping My Melon. SPJ created a memorial page on its Web site where members and friends of the society could post comments, donate to a memorial fund or simply remember Terry in pictures.

I couldn’t help but think about how social media has changed the way we do everything, including celebrate lost loved ones and friends. In the past, we could only send a card of condolence, make a phone call or give a memorial donation to a particular charity. And while those are all still quite appropriate and important, now we have a chance to create a living, breathing memorial, a place where a person’s friends and family can read the many touching and inspiring comments as long as they like and friends can continue to post their thoughts.

Terry wrote a final blog post that his wife posted the day of his death. At last check, that post had 241 comments. Many of the comments are from people who knew Terry well; other comments are from people who didn’t know him at all – just another example of the far-reaching power of the Internet.

Housed online, these blogs and Facebook pages live on forever, a touching reminder of a person’s contributions here on Earth. And, I have to admit, I’ve been thinking: what would my final blog post say?

March Social Media Star: Leah England

If you own a dog, you’ll want to meet our March Social Media Star: Leah England, founder and publisher of Lowcountry Dog magazine. Leah has created a fabulous publication that serves as a great resource for anyone living in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as a dog owner.

We picked Leah, because she has recently taken the magazine’s print presence online, as well, and is quickly becoming known as the expert for all things doggies in and around Charleston. She’s on Facebook, Twittering about the latest pet events and news, blogging about the pet world and has become the go to resource. And all this is helping grow her audience both online and in print. So with that, meet Leah!

What was the first social media technology you used?
LinkedIn. Ironically, though, I use it the least now.

What is your favorite social media tool?
Twitter and Facebook are neck and neck. With MySpace in second place, and LinkedIn in third.

How have you used social media to spread the word about Lowcountry Dog (LCD) and how has it benefited?
It’s amazing how social media enables me to interact instantly with LCD readers. It’s like having a constant focus group right in my living room. I ask LCD readers for their content ideas, what issues matter most to them, what they love most about LCD and what I should do more or less of. And the best thing is, they talk to me – like a real person! Not some elusive publisher holding a charette, but someone with whom they can have an open and honest discussion.

This year I’m heavily promoting the annual LCD model contest, held at PetFest, through social media. Even though we’ve always had a good turnout, I’m really pumped to see how things go this year!

I also promote LCD advertisers when it is relevant and newsworthy. If a groomer is offering a discount, a kennel has new online reservations and Web cams, or a retail store is hosting a meet and greet for a rescue – it all gets posted! So social media is giving me another opportunity to help pet-related businesses connect with their demographic.

How much time would you say you spend a day engaging social media?
2-3 hours. Weekday only. You’ve got to set some limits.

How do you incorporate it into your day so it’s not a time waster?
I schedule my social media activity. Morning, mid-day and late afternoon. I think it’s good to space things out, not only for yourself so you can get other things done, but also so you have the chance to catch different people at different times.

What’s your best tip for using social media for business?
The conversation should flow both ways. Don’t just constantly shove yourself down your followers’ throats. Ask questions. Respond to your followers’ posts. Post truly beneficial, entertaining and useful information. Be gracious. Be authentic. If you use a lot of auto-responders and post one-sided information, people can smell it a mile away. Social media is one of those things where what you get out of it directly correlates with what you put in it.

Is there a social media tool/technique that you think is underutilized that you would like people to know about?
I’ve only been using social media for about three months, so I’m not an expert. There’s a lot I feel I don’t use enough. I’m excited to begin using Flickr as a visual social networking tool and to start a Squidoo lens for Lowcountry Dogs!

Where can people find you online?
www.lowcountrydog.com
www.lowcountrydog.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/leahengland

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.