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What is Whrrl?  It’s similar to foursquare in that it’s a mobile locator-based app for smart phones which allows the user to ‘check-in’ at various locations and share their whereabouts with friends via social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

The difference is that with Whrrl, you can upload photos to show where you are and what you’re doing.  If friends are with you, their photo and text uploads can be combined with yours to create what Whrrl refers to as a ’story.’  I recently came across this post by Ciaran Blumenfeld, the founder of momfluential.com, especially insightful, as I totally agree with her statement about scrapbooking.  I’ve never had the patience for it either, but I love looking back at photographs and events, and Whrrl might just be the perfect solution for a sentimental social media addict like myself.

From a PR perspective, we at 360 have found Whrrl to be a useful tool in monitoring and tracking activity at client events, in particular.

The issue, as with most social networking sites, is how much is too much?  Should you tweet, use foursquare and Whrrl while out on the town for a night with your friends?  Or just enjoy the company and live for the moment?

The verdict: RT.  Whrrl is a service to watch.

Do you whrrl?  Let us know!

Filed under: Internet, Mobile Industry, Social Media by SkyeMcIntyre - No Comments →

In a new series of posts, we’re going to give you our take on the latest technologies, websites, Apps, social networks, etc. that the world is buzzing about.  In other words, should you re-tweet or delete?

 First Up: Chat Roulette.  Chat Roulette is just what its name implies - you log on and either via an AIM-style text exchange, a webcam, or both, converse with other site users around the world.  If you aren’t digging the conversation, just one click and another randomly generated person (note: it’s not necessarily a person, but I’ll explain that later) appears on your screen.

Though Chat Roulette is in its infancy, news of the site is spreading faster than you can hit ‘Next.’  This post from Fast Company describes CR as “YouTube, with even more exhibitionism because everything is live and nothing is being recorded.”  The author of the article, Cliff Kuang, goes on to say “self-published entertainment has officially moved into territory I can barely comprehend.  Parents: One more reason to lock up your daughters.”  I have to agree.  In fact, I’m purposely not linking to the site because I don’t want to encourage you to be subjected to what’s lurking on CR. 

If your curiosity takes over, however, here’s a sampling of what you may encounter:  lots of X-rated activity, scary men in gas masks and people with snorkels sticking their head in fish tanks.  You might even come across Nicole Richie. 

The verdict: due to complete lack of privacy, the site’s one-click access to underage kids, and personal experience, I say delete.

Have you braved the wild wild west that is Chat Roulette?  If so, we’d love to hear about it!

Filed under: Internet, Uncategorized by SkyeMcIntyre - 4 Comments →

I wonder if there is a Foursquare Anonymous. I’m seriously addicted.  Don’t laugh. Once you try it, you will be too. It’s what I thought Twitter was supposed to be - letting people know where you are and what you’re doing, but there’s so much more value-add than that with Foursquare. It’s not just the “I’m here” but also the “and now what” that makes it soooo powerful and cool. This weekend I was in Stowe, Vermont with my son and his friend. Needed a place to go to dinner, so I checked into Foursquare and found that the Whip Grill was just two blocks away. I was also able to get a great tip on what to order - guacamole made fresh at our table! What’s also neat is how businesses are making the most of Foursquare. When I showed the server at the Whip Grill that I found his restaurant using Foursquare, he handed me a free drink. I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m also addicted to the competitive aspect of Foursquare. I’m still a Newbie, but well on my way to unlocking the Adventurer badge. Not to brag, but I”m number one on the leaderboard today.

Foursquare is so practical and easy to use too. Even if you don’t have an iphone or blackberry, you can still use the service by sending SMS messages to 50500. Another neat feature is that you can gain points without letting your friends know where you are (in case it’s a scandalous venue). They know you’ve checked in but you’re “off the grid.” And “shout outs” are fun - you do stuff at a venue and then shout out that you’ve done them.

Love to blog more, but I’ve got things to do and new places to see… thanks to Foursquare.

Are you addicted too?

Filed under: Digital PR, Internet, Social Media, Uncategorized by CindyGordon - 9 Comments →

Simply stated, social media has changed the way we communicate during disasters. This is now abundantly clear with all of the online activity surrounding the recent earthquake in Haiti.

Over the past couple weeks, there has been a tremendous outpouring of support for the Haitian people. According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy donations have exceeded $470 million!

Mobile giving raises the bar

A large portion of donations are coming from The Red Cross’ mobile phone texting campaign. With partners Mobile Accord and the mGive Foundation, Red Cross quickly enacted a mobile texting campaign shortly after the earthquake hit. And with the help of the NFL playoff game spots and other widespread promotions, mobile phone users have donated over $25 million thus far just by texting “90999!” According to this NY Times story, over $500,000 per hour was donated to the Red Cross during recent NFL games. And according to Pew and Twitter-tracking service Sysomos, 189,024 tweets included “90999″ between January 12^th and 14^th. 2.3 million included the word “Haiti” or “Red Cross” in this same time frame. Truly unbelievable!

Relying on social media and citizen journalists

Not only has social media been used to gather donations, but people on the ground in Haiti have used Facebook and Twitter to send updates/photos, while concerned onlookers tune in to the constant stream of updates. In addition, news outlets have relied on social media and “citizen journalists” in their reporting. For example, CNN started a “Haiti Boots On Ground” Twitter list, compiling updates from the CNN reporters on the ground.  CNN’s iReport has also played a key role in their coverage of the disaster.

And companies have rallied to develop mobile apps and websites dedicated to the cause, such as a Creole-to-English translator app .  An organization called “The Extraordinaries” which allows people to complete micro-tasks for organizations or causes, using a mobile phone or web browser in a few minutes, have set up a support page at http://www.beextra.org/haiti to leverage the “power of the crowd” to help locate and identify missing persons.

Our best wishes to the Haitian people and to all of the families affected by the earthquake. Stay strong.

Filed under: Cause-Related, Internet, Media and Press, Mobile Industry, Social Media by EliciaBasoli - 5 Comments →

The wait is over!  The first weekly digital news round-up of the New Year is finally here.  I know you’ve been waiting with bated breath to find out what’s going on in the world of social media, so here it is.  To ease you into a year that’s sure to be a digital whirlwind, below are stories to frame your social media savvy for 2010.

Mashable “How Social Media Has Changed Us” -  It’s amazing how many technological innovations have been made in the past decade - Skype, text messaging and the widespread use of blogs, to name a few.  This piece presents some less-obvious ways in which social media has changed our lives and the lives of future generations. There’s no doubt technology has made our lives different, but the article’s author asks the question, “for better or worse?” 

AdAge “The Official Social Media and Mobile Glossary of 2010″ - I like to think of myself as being on the up and up when it comes to social media.  After all, combing through news stories, writing this weekly post and working at a PR agency as part of a dedicated digital team pretty much forces me to be in the know (willingly, of course!)  However, after studying the terms in this article, I feel ignorant.  Quad stalkers?  Deciprocity?  Mobilenecking?  I was fully aware that the actions described by these words existed, but who the heck made up these names to define our digital behavior?

Mashable “Facebook Founder on Privacy: Public is the New ‘Social Norm’” - It honestly scares me that I know friends of friends of friends last names, addresses and places of employment.  That knowledge is as comfortable to Mark Zuckerberg as a home cooked meal.  At a recent awards ceremony, the mastermind behind Facebook made it clear that lack of privacy is the wave of the future.  In my personal opinion, Facebook’s solely to blame for making our public lives private.  As with anything, if you don’t want the ride, don’t get on the bus.

Filed under: Internet, Social Media by SkyeMcIntyre - No Comments →

Part two of two in our year-end social media recap touches on the more serious side of our evolving online landscape. We hope you enjoy! Let’s get started…

5.  Newspapers Move to Online-Only, Embrace Social Media Back in September, 360PR’s own John LeRoy wrote about the end of the Ann Arbor News’ print publication, and throughout 2009, many newspapers followed suit, moving to publishing their content strictly online and incorporating social media functionality.  Along with the recession came widespread newsroom cuts, and while many papers folded altogether, others can only be found now by visiting the web. Whether you embrace the change or miss the sound of a daily paper landing on your doorstep, the move to online-only is here.

4.  Rise of Mobile Apps If you’re an iPhone lover or a Blackberry devotee, you can’t deny the ease and convenience the downloadable applications that are essential to these smart phones bring.  With the click of a key or the touch of an icon, you can find the nearest gas station, read restaurant recommendations, check out times for movie showings, and much, MUCH more.  Running late for the airport?  There’s an app. that allows you to check the status of your flight. 

3.  Live Stream Presidential Inauguration Not only did 2009 see a new, African-American president in the White House, America saw his inauguration unfold in real-time online.  Courtesy of CNN, those unable to obtain a ticket to the inauguration were able to watch every second from the comfort of their own home.  January 20, 2009 was an extremely historic day in more ways than one.

2.  Moms Online  Nielsen recognized the power of moms’ online presence and released “The Power Mom 50,” 50 of the most influential moms on the ‘net (though Nielsen’s list left off some biggies), and the FTC implemented new rules guiding interactions between brands and bloggers (largely driven by the increase of sponsored content on mom blogs).  Meanwhile, Oprah recognized the importance of moms online when she Skype’d in mom bloggers from across the country in an April episode ‘The Secret Lives of Moms.’ 

1.  Brands and Social Media If you’re a Facebook or Twitter user, you’re likely connected with a few brands online. Jet Blue (@JetBlue,) Comcast (@comcastcares) and Whole Foods (@wholefoods) were among the most followed on Twitter this year.  Top brands on Facebook included Starbucks, Coca-Cola and Disney. But with more brands competing for valuable online space, it will be tricky breaking through the clutter. Starting with a solid fan base will help, but providing the online community with “insider” knowledge and unique insights is what will really make a brand stand out in 2010.

Happy New Year!

Filed under: Consumer Marketing, Digital PR, Internet, Marketing to Moms, Media and Press, Social Media by SkyeMcIntyre - No Comments →

Well, 2009 is nearly over and 360PR certainly was not going to miss out on the “year end list” fun!  We decided to compile our Top 10 Favorite Social Media Moments of 2009. Sure, the topic may be slightly played out, but does that make it any less important?  2009 concluded a decade of digital innovations: the iPod, BlackBerry, consumer GPS system, etc. And in our eyes, it most definitely went out with a bang!

So here they are, numbers 10 - 6 in our countdown, part one of a two-part social media extravaganza. Whether you think our choices are spot on or off-base, we’d love to hear your comments!

10. Burger King Whopper Sacrifice This year, Burger King challenged its fans to the ultimate test-delete 10 friends on Facebook, get a free Whopper-and created a slew of online buzz in its wake. Alerts popped up on mini-feeds everywhere (i.e. “Skye McIntyre sacrificed Lindsay Durr for a free Whopper”) and friends’ lists suffered significant depletions. But BK’s plan worked! Whether quirky, offensive, or just hilarious, the Whopper Sacrifice taught us all a valuable lesson-you can put a price on friendship, and that price is 1 Whopper.

9. Miley Cyrus Deletes Twitter On a more serious note, teen queen Miley Cyrus made headline news this year when she deleted her Twitter account. Outlets like The New York Times covered the “news” and, to respond to the public outrage inspired by her de-tweeting, Cyrus created this brilliant YouTube video. Wait-why is this #9, again?

8. “JK Wedding Dance” on YouTube This was probably the feel-good YouTube video of the decade. Something about this video struck a chord with online video watchers nationwide. In a year where everyone from Jon and Kate to Tiger and Elin headed for their attorneys, Jill and Kevin Heinz reminded us that love is out there, waiting, and it’s on YouTube. Several Today Show appearances and a hilarious Office spoof later, J&K are still going strong. They even used their tremendous popularity for a good cause; the pair helped raise over $26,000 for the Sheila Wellstone Institute, an organization that helps victims of domestic violence.  People questioned the authenticity of the video and wondered if a marketing team was behind it; marketers wished they could take credit.

7. Swine Flu Infects Social Media Swine Flu was one of the most serious topics of the year with an estimated 50 million cases in the US according to the CDC. However, the disease really went viral when concerned citizens began discussing it across Facebook and Twitter. According to Mashable, swine flu was the #3 topic trend on Facebook and the #2 and #6 trends on Twitter in 2009. For those who think Facebook and Twitter are only platforms for trivial discussions, think again.

6. Celebs on Twitter Want to be alerted every time Diddy sips Cristal? Well now you can-thanks to Twitter! Everyone from Lindsay Lohan to Oprah Winfrey to Shaq started microblogging this year, some more successfully than others (we’re looking at you, Shaq). Missed out on the celeb tweeting action? Check out CelebrityTweet.com to get all the latest updates in one place.

Filed under: Digital PR, Internet, Media and Press, Social Media by LindsayDurr - 2 Comments →

The weekly digital news hasn’t exactly been, well, weekly, for some time.  Our apologies, but between the Thanksgiving holiday and client work, the 360PR team has been busy focusing on current campaigns, wrapping up past initiatives and planning for the New Year.  That’s why we’re bringing you three digital news stories that deal with what’s recently happened, what’s currently going on, and what’s on deck in the social media world.  We found the CNN piece on web trends particularly interesting.  What are you looking forward to in 2010?  Feel free to share your thoughts (or New Year’s resolutions) in the comments section!

AllFacebook “The 5 Fastest Growing Brands on Facebook for Black Friday” - While you were sleeping off your tryptophan coma, several brands were gaining serious recognition due to the post-Thanksgiving day shopping hysteria.  This article proves that a brands’ Facebook presence can boost sales.

MediaPost “100 Ways To Measure Social Media” - in PR, metrics definitely matter.  Newspapers have circulations and broadcast segments provide viewership, but how do you show the fruits of your labor when it comes to Twitter, Facebook and blogs?  This piece is a must-read for any PR pro.

CNN “10 Web Trends to Watch in 2010″ - Now’s your chance to get ahead of the curve.  This piece by the genius behind Mashable, Pete Cashmore, contains terms you’ve likely never heard.  Cloud computing, anyone?  Get a jump on what’s projected to be hot come January, and set yourself up for social media success.

Filed under: Internet, Measurement, Social Media by SkyeMcIntyre - 2 Comments →

In case you’re unaware, the 360PR Facebook Fan page launched yesterday! To celebrate, this week’s digital news stories all focus on, you guessed it, Facebook!

The 360 digital team invites you to become a fan of 360 Public Relations and poke around on our page.  You may be surprised to see dogs outfitted in Snuggies walking the runway and 360PR staffers dressed in furry hats and boas, but we promise, it’s all there.  You can also catch up on news related to 360PR, like our most recent edition of the MomSquad Trendletter.  You can even read our blog posts right on our page!

So log on, and then read on, for the latest Facebook buzz!

All Facebook “Want To Run a Promotion For Your Company? Facebook Must Approve It First” – Many brands offer promotions via their Facebook pages.  Previously, these promos were, for the most part, freely run and seemed to greatly benefit the company behind the contest by gaining fans and building buzz.  As of last Thursday, Facebook is cracking down on the rules and regulations behind company-run Facebook promotions. Not only is there a new set of strict guidelines outlining what companies can and cannot do, Facebook must approve all promos before they go live.

Mashable “Facebook Ads Now Let You Target Friends of Your Fans” – A new feature from Facebook Ads allows you to expand your audience beyond just your friends. Now, if you’re invited to an event, are part of a group, or use a Facebook application, your friends are able to see ads targeted at you.  Marketers rejoice!

All Facebook “5 Ways to Instantly Boost Your Facebook Page Traffic” – This is one article you can bet we’ve studied up on!  It’s all in the name – gain fans by implementing the strategies in this piece.

Filed under: 360 Public Relations, Internet, Social Media by SkyeMcIntyre - 2 Comments →

Filed under: Internet, Social Media by SkyeMcIntyre - 1 Comment →

Consumers want brands to help them stay informed. And with people often times defining themselves by the brands they buy, companies should be doing more than just providing a product or service. By educating consumers about topics surrounding a brand or an industry, they are likely to more deeply engage with that brand. 

eMarketer posted an article last week about Lightspeed Research’s “Global Web Index.” According to the research, “providing relevant news and analysis” was one of the top actions that US Internet users say brands can take (it came in 2nd to “offering discounts”). “Providing new ideas and thinking” came in at a close third place.

To illustrate your company’s thought leadership position and share its expertise with consumers, social media is the perfect platform. Some companies keep consumers informed through Twitter updates, Facebook applications, the production of online videos or podcasts, a blog, or via their own community driven company website.

HSBC and VISA are two great examples of companies that are providing small business owners with informative advice and tips. Both companies have “Business Networks” through which they share, for example, toolkits for Online Marketing and Cash Flow Management for small business owners. They also branch out from their network websites to other social media platforms, like Facebook and Twitter. 

Home Depot is another great example. They not only have “Home Improver” and “Garden Club” group websites where consumers can ask experts questions, but they have Home Depot TV and a YouTube page, which hosts numerous do-it-yourself and how-to project videos. Home Depot also shares tips and tricks via its Twitter account andFacebook page.

What brands help you stay informed and about what?

Filed under: Digital PR, Internet, Social Media by EliciaBasoli - 1 Comment →

Everyone could use a little assistance when navigating through the social media jungle. There are countless social media services, platforms and applications, and it seems as if a new one pops up every day. That’s why, this week, we’re sharing some of the best tools for tweeting at your tweeps, tagging your friends and polling your pals.

Mashable “Social Monitoring Console: Advanced Moderation for Your Facebook Page” - If you work for a company with a number of brands and have a Facebook presence, you’re in luck. A neat new tool from social marketing company ContextOptional now allows you to utilize Facebook Connect to manage multiple pages through viewing your Facebook accounts on different tabs. Multi-taskers rejoice!

Adotas “Agencies Find Social Media Buddy” - Social media platform Buddy Media is appropriately named - it’s any web connoisseur’s new best friend. In mere minutes, you can now host a photo, YouTube link, Twitter stream, survey, and virtually anything else your heart desires, all on one page. It’s everything you need in one place - what could be better?

Mashable “HOW TO: Find and Add Facebook Apps” - Do you remember when Facebook allowed you to have only a single photo, any one of your “friends” could delete your entire wall, and there were no sheep to be thrown? Those days are a distant memory now, as surveys, games, and what seems like anything imaginable is available as a downloadable Facebook application. Feeling confused and overwhelmed when you log on and are told your friend’s cows got lose in FarmVille? You’re not alone. Let Facebook’s official App Directory be your guide.

Filed under: Internet, Social Media by SkyeMcIntyre - 3 Comments →

If you’re a regular Weekly Digital News reader, (and why wouldn’t you be?), you know that the social media stories we detail are typically related in some way. Sometimes very loosely, mind you, but related nonetheless. This week, we’re throwing caution and tradition to the wind, and bringing you the crème de la crème of the past week’s social media news. Happy reading, and don’t say you didn’t hear it from us.

Brian Solis “The Great Social Divide: Twitter, Facebook Traffic Surges, Myspace Fades” - Robert Frost told us that nothing gold can stay. The same applies to social media trends, and unfortunately for MySpace, the ‘place for friends’ is fading into obscurity. Research suggests that while Myspace once appealed to a younger audience, those users are now turning to Facebook and Twitter to virtually connect. So move over, MySpace, your spotlight’s no longer shining.

PaidContent “Visible Technologies Gets Funding To Help The CIA Monitor Social Media” - Though details are sketchy, this article may encourage you to watch what you tweet. Social media monitoring firm Visible Technologies recently received an undisclosed amount of money from an investment group associated with the government. What this means for internet users everywhere is still shrouded in mystery, much like most things associated with the CIA are.

BrandWeek “Brands Join Virtual Gift Giving on Twitter” - ‘Tis the season - almost. With the holidays just around the corner, giving will soon be top-of-mind for companies, brands and individuals. The idea of virtual gifts, however, is an evergreen topic online. Why? Because shipping and handling’s non-existent, for starters. Facebook users have been giving free or inexpensive gifts to other users of their choice for years, but now, Twitter’s getting in on the online exchange. It’s simply another way for marketers to build buzz with their most important asset - consumers.

Filed under: Internet, Social Media by SkyeMcIntyre - No Comments →

The key take-away for me at this week’s Marketing to Moms conference was about story-telling. Not story-telling by advertisers or PR people - not the campaigns and messages that are pushed out. I’m talking about the stories created by the millions of consumers on YouTube, Facebook and other social sites.

With the increasing amount of user-generated content online, one of the best things brands can do is sit back and take it all in. Then, after looking and listening, figure out how to choreograph the content that’s already out there into a meaningful brand dance - the kind of raucous dance you see at Greek and Jewish weddings.

Coca-Cola is doing it. One of the best, most compelling presentations at M2Moms was by Wendy Clark, SVP of Integrated Marketing at Coca-Cola, who held a can of Diet Coke in her hand from the start to the end of her presentation (maybe not surprising, but as Clark talked about authenticity and brand fans, that Coke can seemed to add even more street cred).

Clark talked about seeking opportunities for collaboration and co-creation, tapping into the people who are telling your story. And that doesn’t mean people have to be literally talking about your brand. More often than not, it’s going to be a story that gets at the essence of what your brand has to offer (healthy living or more family time, for example).

“We need to integrate consumer ideas into the way we’re going to the marketplace, and use digital as an enabler,” said Clark.  She wasn’t talking about the usual consumer research or the traditionally linear process in developing campaigns.  As she talked, she pulled up random search results for “Coke” on Google.

What are people finding when they search for your brand (or a related topic)? How can you contribute to the conversation?  How can you “curate” what’s already there?  “The shift has happened - advertising doesn’t seem to capture what we do any more. We spend a lot of time talking about community marketing,” Clark said.  Marketers need to “be open to a model that bypasses traditional stages.”

Clark shared that her PR team is playing an active role in beating the social media drum at Coca-Cola.  “Our PR team has been our best friend,” she said. At the core, I believe good PR people are about two things: story-telling + relationship-building. We’ve got “the right stuff” for this new social media world. Now, we just need to listen a little more to the stories already being told in order to help write the next chapter for the brands we work with and the communities they want to be part of.

While at M2Moms, I “curated” a panel of brands and bloggers who are working together. Kristin Brandt of Manic Mommies, who was on the panel, was kind enough to record the session and we’ll be posting the audio here next week.  Meantime, you can scan some of the insights and soundbites from this week’s Marketing to Moms conference on Twitter, #m2moms.

Filed under: Consumer Marketing, Digital PR, Events and Conferences, Food & Beverage PR, Internet, Marketing to Moms, Social Media by LauraTomasetti - 5 Comments →

It’s been awhile since the Beatles instructed the world to “come together,” but their message of peace still resonates today. Whether it’s joining Facebook with your blog, the FTC setting guidelines between bloggers and marketers, or the ongoing battle of the sexes, elements of social media rarely stand alone. This week, we’re taking a deeper look at online relationships, whether they’re between two social media services, or a government agency and a nation of product-reviewing bloggers. We’re left wondering: can’t everyone just get along?

Mashable “HOW TO: Integrate Facebook With Your Blog” - As the article’s author points out, integrating your blog’s copy with your personal Facebook page (or fan page) is a great means of exposure for your content. And really, who isn’t looking for more bang for their buck? There are several ways to cross-promote your posts, so if you’re looking to publicize your work, this piece is for you.

The Forrester Blog for Interactive Marketing Professionals “The End of Marketer-Blogger Relationships?” - There’s been a lot of buzz in the past few months surrounding product reviews, pay-for-play, and the issue of bloggers being bombarded by companies looking to get in front of niche audiences, sometimes through questionable and unethical means. On Monday, the Federal Trade Commission announced that relationships between marketers and bloggers must be fully disclosed, in other words, if a blogger receives a free product, or is paid to write a review, they have to say so. What are the implications of the changing guidelines? We’ll have to wait and see.

Brian Solis “In the World of Social Media, Women Rule” - Sorry, boys. It’s a girls’ social media world, and you’re just livin’ in it. According to a recent study published by social media guru Brian Solis, women are more active than men on Facebook, MySpace, Flickr, Twitter, Yelp and other similar sites. ‘Women Rule’ was even a recent Trending Topic on Twitter. No disrespect to our male colleagues, but here at 360PR, we’re all about girl power!

Filed under: Blogger Relations, Internet, Social Media by SkyeMcIntyre - No Comments →