Making my best attempt to combine this blog w/ my Tumblr account, or at least link them! Thanks to @heyamberrae for her help… we’ll see if this works!!
Social Media Today blog just posted about the top 20 Twitter monitoring tools about, and it reminded me of some advice I recently gave a friend trying to jump start his company’s following on Twitter.
Social Media Today made some fabulous points as well about why Twitter is PERFECT for listening, not just talking…
1. Twitter has real-time results. We’ve all heard examples of how breaking news spreads immediately on Twitter. Because of Twitter’s real-time search engine, you can get a quick pulse of public opinion. Even when you tweet, if someones not looking at their feed, it’s there for a second and gone – and the trends and conversation are constantly changing.
2. Wide reach. Twitter is useful to many different types and sizes of businesses. The amount of different types of companies and professionals on twitter are endless…
3. Direct feedback. You hear what people are saying as they say it.
There are many powerful social media tracking and analytic tools available which help you monitor your Twitter feed. Why do you think there are so many applications to help you follow and track Twitter? Because it’s important to listen! If you are having trouble with following on twitter. Keep in mind it might be because you’re only talking. If you just ramping up your company’s twitter account. I can’t stress it enough… Keep talking, but make sure you listen.
Set a goal:
1. Tweet 3 times a day
2. Reply 3 times a day
The key is to make sure you are replying just as much as you are pushing out useful information, this well help you to first, join the conversation and second, prove you are listening, not just gabbing!
And while we’re talking tweets, here’s some twitter humor for you…. 
Apparently I missed a few Indy staples…. add these to your chow-down list! I haven’t been to either yet, but will be at Brewhouse in a few days! A special shout out to these two establishments being active on twitter! Follow @zingrestaurant and @brewhouse.
Scotty’s Brewhouse 1 Vermont Ave
A hub for several Indy events, everyone has been there, everyone loves it. Enter Scotty’s Brewhouse and you will be greeted with old gas burning lanterns, solid brick interior, hand-made bar, tables and stools, friendly faces and ice cold beer. Scotty’s Brewhouse has a Fusion Atmosphere which is a blending of two unlike items that actually work well and complement each other. So, to try and describe this type of atmosphere becomes very difficult. A sports bar? Kind of. A trendy club? Kind of. A casual burger joint? Kind of. A place to kick back on the patio, have an ice cold beverage, eat a great meal and be taken care of by some of the best servers in the industry? Dead on.
ZING Restaurant, 543 Indiana
ZING is a small plate dining experience. Rather than offering individual starters and main courses, ZING serves dishes that are designed for sharing among friends and are brought to the table steadily and continuously throughout the meal. You will be enticed by the many flavors and textures created by Chef Chris. Much care and detail is taken with each plate design. Bring friends and enjoy great conversation in ZING’s relaxed and comfortable smoke-free atmosphere. Enjoy a carefully selected bottle of wine or one of their many lagers and ales. If you’re into martinis choose one of the delectable specialty martinis.
Dining Downtown Indy? Try these hot spots I listed – I recently did some digging for some Miller Brooks clients in town, some of these I can personally attest to being on the top notch list of Indy dining, others are still on my to-do! My personal favorites (BARcelona Tapas, Aigo & the Rathskellar!!)
BARcelona Tapas, 201 North Delaware
BARcelona Tapas creates a traditional authentic Tapas Bar atmosphere including warm décor and the traditional hanging of the Serrano hams. The service reflects a traditional tapas experience as you might find in Madrid, Barcelona or Seville.
Oceanaire, 30 South Meridian
As sleek as a 1930s ocean liner, yet as relaxed as a dinner on the shore, Oceanaire provides the perfect setting to enjoy ultra-fresh seafood, flown in daily from around the world. Sip a Sidecar in the lounge, sidle up to the oyster bar, or kick back in a horseshoe booth before diving into steak-cut Alaskan halibut or seasonal favorites like fresh Copper River salmon or hard-to-find delicacies like true Dover sole or blue-fin tuna.
St Elmo Steak House, 127 South Illinois
St. Elmo Steak House has been a landmark in downtown Indianapolis since 1902. It is the oldest Indiana restaurant in its original location & has earned a national reputation for its excellent steaks, seafood, chops & professional service.
Palominos, 49 West Maryland
Palomino is a vibrant restaurant, bar and rotisserie famous for its style, hardwood fired Mediterranean cooking and versatile, imaginative menu.
McCormick & Schmick’s, 110 North Illinois
Connected to the downtown Indy Hilton, the menu at McCormick & Schmick’s is printed twice daily and features more than 30 varieties of fresh fish and seafood from both U.S. and international waters. Other menu highlights include tempting pasta, poultry and beef specialties to tempt any palette.
Claddagh Irish Pub, 3835 East 96th
Claddagh re-creates the rich traditions of the great pubs of Ireland here in America. They present an authentic “pub house” experience based on the “craic” of Ireland – a fun, friendly and exuberant atmosphere. The recipes are prepared on the premises, using only the finest ingredients and they promise to stay devoted to Traditional Irish Fare and remain passionate about the perfect pint.
Adobo Grill, 110 East Washington
Adobo Grill brings contemporary fine Mexican cuisine to downtown Indianapolis. By using traditional cooking methods and ingredients such as jicama and cactus, Adobo Grill showcases the regional cuisine of Mexico. The chef’s unique approach uses the cooking styles of several regions in Mexico and the freshest ingredients to create flavorful dishes with flair.
Weber Grill Restaurant, 10 N. Illinois St.
Enjoy delicious burgers, barbeque, steaks, seafood and more grilled over charcoal on authentic Weber Kettles.
Harry & Izzy’s, 127 S. Illinois St.
Harry & Izzy’s is an independent; upscale American Grill located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. Its ambience exudes class and sophistication in a comfortable setting. While the lively bar is Harry & Izzy’s focal point, unique dining rooms incorporate dark woods, lush fabrics and a deep color palette.
Fogo De Chao Churrascaria, 117 East Washington
A rare treat for Indy, this internationally-renown Brazilian steakhouse serves the best of South American cuisine, along with a full bar, extensive wine list and a low-lit wall mural.
R Bistro, 888 Massachusetts Ave
The R bistro concept is a classically simple one: fresh local ingredients, menus that change weekly to take advantage of those ingredients, and a chef/owner with European training.
Scholars Inn, 725 Massachusetts Ave
A gem among downtown Indianapolis restaurants, Scholar’s Inn offers American cuisine with a twist, a trendy atmosphere, and a location on the hippest avenue in Indy. Scholars Inn features various specials several nights of the week including half priced martinis on Thursday evenings.
Agios, 635 Massachusetts Ave
Named the best Italian in downtown Indy and provides a memorable, upscale dining experience. The innovative chefs pair creative recipes with fresh, flavorful ingredients for an end result of creative and tasty fare. The list of appetizers alone is enough to entice customers; with unusual selections such as Baked Apple and Gorgonzola Empanadas, Asparagus Tempura served with garlic mayonnaise and Baked Goat Cheese with warm flat bread.
Rathskeller Biergarten & Kellerbar, 401 East Michigan
Set in the historic, 19th century Athenaeum Building downtown, The Rathskeller is reminiscent of both a quaint inn tucked in the Bavarian hills and a lively beer hall in Munich. Voted Best German Restaurant in Indy every year, even a true German feels at home here. From Jäegerschnitzel to Filet Mignon, the award-winning menu features authentic German cuisine as well as steak, seafood, chicken, pork and vegetarian entrees. The Rathskeller also features an extensive wine and beer menu.
Rathskellar, downtown Indy.
More than once that someone outside my work related contacts has asked me to explain the difference between true-blue public relations and advertising. To many who aren’t skimming the twitter-posted PR/marketing articles everyday, the two industries may seem fuzzy. It’s always good to go back to the basics, so here’s a little refresher course, inspired by Entrepreneur.Com to clear things up, and tell you why PR kicks advertising ass – to be blunt.
Public relations is actually the opposite of advertising… let me tell you why.
Advertising is pay to play. You pay to have your message placed in a newspaper, TV or radio spot.
PR is not. The article that features your company is not paid for. The reporter focuses on your company as a result of information he/she received and researched.
Publicity is MUCH more effective than advertising. Because..
- It is more cost-effective than advertising. Even if it is not free, your only expenses are generally phone calls and mailings to the media.
- Publicity has greater longevity. An article about your business will be remembered far longer than an ad among many.
- Publicity reaches a greater audience. Your story may receive national attention – spreading word about your company all over the country. Would an ad do that?
- Publicity has greater credibility with the public than advertising. Readers feel that if an objective third party is featuring your company, you must be legit! You’re not simply handing out cash for a highly circulated magazine to say you’re great.
And that’s why I work in PR, not advertising. Much more strategic, don’t you think?
Agree, disagree? Let me know with a comment!
…because I’m no fair-weather, weather fan.
Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather. – John Ruski
I’ve been in Indy for over a month now, have moved into my own studio apartment downtown, am settled into my job at Miller Brooks and starting to feel very at home. So, I decided to dedicate this post to telling you how much I love this city and state my case for why you should move across country at some point in your life…
Those of you who think you are happy by the ocean, and never need to see another portion of the US or winter climate in your life… I urge you, think again. If seeing my “snowfall in Indy post” a couple months ago wasn’t enough – let me walk you down the time-line of my life over the past month and attempt to share with you the ecstatic-ness that I feel over my recent move to the city of Indianapolis, Indiana.
As I sit in my gorgeous (but small) studio in downtown Indy looking over the Murat building while my home-made dinner is cooking and Pandora magically guesses at and plays my favorite music — I’m sipping a glass of Monogamy – Cabernet Sauvignon (my wine counter-purchase to @danmonaco’s favorite, Ménage a tois), and thinking about how lucky I am that this move has gone swimmingly well for me. I can’t think of a time in my life in the past – that I have felt more adventurous or independent. As my friend Ben always says, your better days are ahead of you. I never knew how true that was until now – because I bet it only goes up from here!
I miss my family and the salty smell of Sunset Cliffs, but I wouldn’t choose to be anywhere other than where I am right now. I think a large part of my ability to appreciate this city is that I have lived sea-side for so much of my life. I had my time to appreciate the countless grains of sand and the white wash. But I’m finding this city also has so much to offer, and the best part is – I haven’t even seen the tip of the iceberg yet. There is still so much left to discover and experience.
I learned this week from my doorman (who I am slightly obsessed with – have you seen ABC’s Samantha Who?) that Indianapolis has the highest number of Monuments than any other city in the US (outside of Washington DC of course). This city is the second biggest city in the Midwest (next to Chicago) and I think it’s a hidden treasure because it’s #2 on both those lists. I’m so lucky to have found myself in this mini city – and the fact that it goes unnoticed to many California’s and New Yorkers makes me like it that much more.
Another find of mine – Downtown Zionsville, where I work, might as well be a movie set for how quaint and adorable it is. Unique places to lunch, a Bentley dealership, art galleries, friendly faces everywhere, little boutiques and cobblestones streets…
By the time this post is winding down, I’m still nursing my wine, eating my pasta – and sitting on my kitchen counter w/ my laptop (because I don’t exactly have all my furniture purchased yet). I can’t wait until the summer when I can roam downtown without getting in my car, and Saturdays can be spent poolside or at the Rathskeller with friends.
Indy has welcomed me with open arms, and I would gladly get on my knees and beg you to make a change like this in your life. Those of you who have remained in the same city for most of your adult lives, move! Do it. It’s hard, it’s an adjustment, expensive, and scary – and also could be the most rewarding experience you may ever have.
indy
A friend of mine (@ntimpani) who just made the move from our home town of San Diego to New York City for grad school at NYU (holler) suggested to me today that we write a book on survival methods for women who move across country.
Just 5 months into her move and 2 weeks into mine in – We’re thrilled to be in our brand new cities, with brand new weather, a brand new job/school, a brand new social circle and network and essentially – a brand new life.
Now – could I write a book on how to help others cope with culture shock? Not sure I would want to attack that task just yet – but could I contribute a few words of advice that might get someone through a rough afternoon? Absolutely… (or at least I’ll be able to in a few weeks/months when these growing pains are over!)
A truth we have book been faced with is that no matter how happy you are to be where you are – you’re always going to miss where you came from. No matter how confident you are in the choices you’ve made to uproot your life – it’s still terrifying. There’s just no way around it. There will be hard days. But I’m not writing this post to tell you about hard days. I’m not writing to tell you about what I miss. You all know San Diego’s gorgeous skyline, countless activities and constant t-shirt weather. You’ve all seen Ron Burgandy’s backdrop and I don’t need to tell you about what I’ve left behind.
I want to tell you what I’ve gained.
Tonight, when I left work I had an extremely friendly co-worker (people are ridiculously nice in the Midwest…) telling me to drive safely (and with my CA license plates – it’s fair that they are worried.) Fact – I have yet to figure out what exactly “whiteout conditions” means. I’ll Google it when I’m finished writing this post… deal? That 30 minute drive home into downtown Indianapolis was exciting. Call me crazy – but it snowed today and the homesick feeling just up and leaves. Yes, mom and dad – I’m driving carefully, and yes my little car is holding up just fine. At least when the weather is bad here – you know the drivers around you know what to do (can’t say that much for San Diego in the rain!) And in the words of my best friend, “I feel sorry for people who never get to experience snow fall in a city.”
Now, I’m sitting at Starbucks, downtown on Mass Ave (yes I checked in on foursquare) watching these two college kids in beanies write their names in the powder that’s fallen on the sidewalk. I have a 3 block walk home in the freeeezing cold, but it’s snowing – and I have gloves. It’s gorgeous. It’s my city to learn – and it’s hard, when everything that means home to me absent from this Midwest city, it’s very hard. But everyday this transition will get easier, everyday this city will feel more and more like home and everyday it snows I will love this city a little bit more.
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.
Too valuable not to share. Thanks @ryangraves (www.thedreaminaction.com).
