Social Media Summer Reads

Since I will have a little free time over the summer, I would like to read these cool Social Media reads:

-Likeable Social Media: How to Delight Your Customers, Create an Irresistible Brand, and Be Generally Amazing on Facebook (and other Social Networks) by Dave Kerpen
http://www.amazon.com/Likeable-Social-Media

-Socialnomics: how Social Media Transforms The Way We Live and Do Business by Erik Qualman (as my professor calls it, "The Social Media Bible")
http://www.amazon.com/Socialnomics

-The Zen of Social Media Marketing: An Easier Way to Build Credibility, Generate Buzz, and Increase Revenue by Shama Kabani
http://www.amazon.com/The-Zen-Social-Media-Marketing

Social Media in Event Planning

Social media is very important to the event planning field for these three reasons:

-Clientele: Although most referrals are done through word-of-mouth, it is always best to have an online presence. For example, start a blog can be used as a portfolio from your past events, an explanation of your offered services, or even a place for past or current clients to give testimonials.

-Competition: With everyone moving to the digital world, nine times out of 10, your competition is already there or hopping on the bandwagon. Why not be apart of the in-crowd with this and show off your goods?

-Better Aim at Your Target Markets: Of course you have your Facebooks and your Twitters, and while those are great to have with any business, there are other social media outlets that cater more to the event planning business. Use Pinterest to make vision boards of past events you've done. Create an About.Me page to build a one-stop-shop for all of your social media. There are plenty of ways to use social to your advantage!

Twitter: In 140 Characters or Less

Twitter is the gateway to expressing yourself and interacting with others with others with similar (and even different) interests.


Pretty self explanatory, right?

ORCO and Facebook by Marie Eclectic Jaye

So my group members Kristina, Vivaca and I came up with some recommendations for developing the presence of the Organizational Communications' Facebook page.

 
We think:

• They should have a group and fan page on Facebook. The group page would be for the creators and other professionals to collaborate on different projects to get information out there, whereas,  the fan page would be to inform people to the major/minor  and show the career opportunities that come with majoring or minoring in this field. 
• By establishing these pages on Facebook, it will allow for networking opportunities between Organizational Communications professionals, educators, and students.
• On the fan page, it would allow its members to make their on comments on certain topics or offer new ideas.

Twitter Time!!!

Well, these are some cool Twitter People that I decided to follow and I think you should too!


Professionals in Event Planning/Public Relations/Organizational Communications
@AnjeMiami
@EllEChantS
@ALewisEvents
@MindyWeiss
@JaffeJ
@PublicityGuru
@OpulentCouture
@HesterParks
@TCreativeDesign
@TySand
@chakisse
@edeckers
@jgclemons


Students In Public Relations/Event Planning
@MacKenziePorter  

@lee_nicole  

@Kissandtell  

@nicklucido  

@erob1 

@AlyHubbell   

@Taylor__Dwyer 

@ellatacey 

@Daniel_in_PR  

@NoraChanTweets


Local Entrepreneurs in the Middle Tennessee Area
@KiaJarmon
@SusanHartPR
@R
@DanielCWhite
@DaveDelaney
@MelissaOnline
@JenniCatron
@LilyBugToo
@Maurilio
@ToniBirdsong


MTSU Organizations
@MTSU
@MTSUStudProg
@MTAthletics
@MTSUSGA
@MTSUGreeks
@MTSU_NSLS
@C100MTSU
@MTCareerCenter
@MTWomenInAction
@MTAlumni 

Social Media Blogs
@NecoleBitchie
@SocialMouths
@ViralBlog
@HeidiCohen
@LikeableMedia
@splashmedialp 
@smexaminer 
@Hubze
@briansolis 
@soshable 

My Facebook: Then and Now

When I started using Facebook in 2006, it was still "Invite Only" and you had to be a high school or college student. I initially used it to keep up with some of my Overton friends and connect with other incoming students at Middle Tennessee State University. At that time, Facebook served a purpose. By the time I was moving into my dorm, I already knew 3/4 of the people that would be living there.

As of now, I personally believe that Facebook has gone down in a personal sense. I only use it to keep up with my family in other states and friends back home. In a business sense, it is alright for promoting and building a following for your brand. The biggest downfall, in my opinion, is all of the "apps" and "games". I am guilty of using them at one point, but it is really out of hand with the spam and extra unnecessary add-ons.