PR folks (if you’re not on the bandwagon yet) start tweeting!

10 Reasons Why PR Professionals Need to PERSONALLY be on Twitter – Inspired by Social Media Today

I meant to post this ages ago, and am just now getting around to it. (So my apologies if you find this a little outdated..) However, as many PR professionals have given in and joined twitter for their firm or clients, I know for a fact many don’t tweet on their own. I think this is a mistake, and in this post I’ll tell you why. I think the “Trouble w/ Twitter” is hilarious but I do see the real value in twitter beyond being able to share w/ your followers that you just tried a really great new herbal tea. I found these 10 reasons on Social Media Today’s website months ago, and I’m not only backing them up, I’m adding to them….  I think the important difference between this post and many others that argue for PR folks to start tweeting is that these reasons are more about why YOU as an individual should be on twitter, not just your brand, not just your clients but you personally. So read on, and then start using your twitter account that you signed up for 6 months ago and don’t use! (Or go to www.twitter.com and sign up if you seriously still don’t have an account….)

1. Twitter is an influential medium

As SocialMediaToday puts it – as influencers it makes sense that we should be active in an medium that is rapidly influencing and engaging more and more people. 35% of tweeters are social network users which means they are plugged into other social web outlets as well, and they will spread your information (and therefore your brand) if it is interesting or helpful. Being on a personal twitter account with your name allows you to get to know other influencers in your field. Not just their companies (or competing firms) but who they are, what they do on the weekend, what articles they are reading etc. Get to know your industry, professional by professional.

2. Meet clever people

The people I follower on twitter never fail to make me laugh (and not just because my entire extended family is on twitter and my mom says funny things). There is an incredibly diverse range of people on twitter, get on, start listening and learn from them.

3. Build your network

I have met some great people who are in the PR industry who have given me great advice and direction. People like @gregblock have made twitter worthwhile for me! I’ve reached out to several people in multiple cities from San Diego, to Indianapolis, to DC in order to gain advice and friendship from people in my field, or in my similar situation as I’ve gone from job to job. People are willing to help, and when you’ve found them on twitter – it goes without saying that you already have common ground. In my opinion, the “twitterverse” helps you to connect with someone right off the bat.

4. Keep up with trends

As PR professionals we are supposed to be keeping up with our clients trends. Twitter is a trend every industry is jumping into, and therefore one that we should not only follow but attempt to know inside and out. Learn how to use hashtags and lists, and know how to recommend their use for your client!

5. Pitch journalists
6. and/or bloggers

Journalists are getting more active on twitter, and bloggers tend to be pretty involved. Meet them where they hang out, and reach out to them via twitter. Try reaching out to them as an individual too, professional to professional rather than just throwing info or links at them via your client/company twitter account.

7. Tactical execution

Twitter has enough of a presence to now be used as an individual tactic in a full campaign. Learn it now so you are prepared before you realize it’s expected to be a leg of your next full service media campaign.

8.. Get info…fast!

One of my favorite things about twitter is how quickly you can find and share information (search.twitter.com) or simply tweeting a request for information to someone you know or simply to twitter if you have enough followers. You can easily find people with common interest, and common knowledge. Someone asked me recently for some info on the value of foursquare (I’m still learning about this myself) but I quickly directed them to my brother @ryangraves (a foursquare expert you might say who was able to send me some info which I passed along.. (Do you see how this works?) Twitter is largely about sharing knowledge and information with a vast array of people who know a lot about a lot…. use your network to learn!

9. Build your personal brand

I’m young, I’m some-what new in the PR industry – and definitely always still learning. I’m interested in social media – but I’ve got a lot to learn and I don’t have 1/2 the time I wish I did to explore new applications, read more social media expert blogs etc…. BUT I have a pretty impressive twitter following because I reach out to people! I try to arrange as many “meet-up’s” as possible, and I’m interested always in getting more and more involved in social web avenues. You might say… I’m building my personal brand, and my interaction with other professionals on twitter is one way of doing that.

10. Have a laugh

Seriously, I documented my road trip from San Diego to Indianapolis via twitter, tumbr and facebook. Did I annoy some people? I’m sure I did. Is it professional? Maybe not. Were the constant comments about the flat state of Kansas and the horribly long and boring drive hilarious? Absolutely. Tweeting pictures of lost hubcaps and the “come hiking in Kansas” sign was pretty fun. I’m constantly coming across others who are sharing funny things they see, hear and do… and at least once I day I find myself laughing or re-tweeting something that I find interesting or hilarious on twitter.

To leave you on a positive note, part of Scott Monty of the Social Media Marketing Blog‘s number one prediction for 2010 is that Twitter will continue to achieve legitimacy! Hooray.