Tweet tip of the day

from @bydanielvictor 

  

"If a press release about a survey fails to include methodology, I'll assume it's because you're hiding it. And I will not believe the #'s"

Supervising social media

Guidelines issued Monday by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority are intended to “ensure that firms and brokers use social networking sites in an appropriate manner," says Chairman Rick Ketchum. FINRA is the largest independent regulator for all securities firms doing business in the United States, overseeing nearly 4,750 brokerage firms, about 167,000 branch offices and some 633,000 registered securities representatives.
Regulatory Notice 10-06 says member companies need to supervise the use of Web sites such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn by their employees — and "associated persons," such as their brokers and representatives — for public communications, to ensure that customers are not misled.
Firms also need to ensure that they can retain records of those communications.
Twitter, a 140-character online text-messaging phenomenon, started as a way for people to update friends and family on what they were up to at any given moment, but has become a powerful business tool. According to a recent report by the Pew Internet and American Life Project,
46 percent of American adults who use the Internet logged onto a social networking site in 2009, which is up from 8 percent in 2005. The "of the moment" nature of Twitter postings and FaceBook chats have an almost ephemeral feel, compared to blogs — something FINRA seemed to take into consideration. (Get its updates on Twitter by following @FINRA_News.)
It considers static postings to blogs to constitute “advertisements,” and any firm or registered representative that sponsors such a blog must obtain prior principal approval of any such posting. The exception: real-time interactive communications — such as tweets that are fed onto a site. FINRA considers that portion of the blog to be an interactive electronic forum that does not require prior principal approval — but that must be supervised.
The guidelines address the use of social media sites by firms and personnel for business purposes, not use by individuals for purely personal reasons. Translation: It's still not a great career move to post photos from your BFF's birthday bash at the beach bar — but FINRA won't care if you do.

Tweet outburst of the day

from @toddramsey

Dear event planners: please put the dates of your event on your homepage. In big, garish, bold, and maybe even neon, type.

The 3 R's for the new economy

I'll be speaking at the Wichita Professional Communicators' March lunch meeting on a topic that's become hot in this chilly economy: Career reinvention.

I happily took on this task because I've built my work life on the principles of taking calculated risks, accepting creative challenges and other key factors that help keep life interesting and rewarding.

My presentation is called "Reinvent, Revitalize, Renew: The 3 R’s You Must Master Now," and here's the pitch: "As a professional communicator, you’re a whiz at readin’ and ’riting, and thanks to calculators, you can even handle ’rithmatic. But your old reliable skills may not be enough to help you ride out these rough economic times. Media consultant L. Kelly offers practical advice for rejuvenating your job skills — and your life — at the March 4 Wichita Professional Communicators luncheon meeting.

"L. Kelly spent 26 years with The Wichita Eagle, working a variety of jobs as a writer, editor and page designer in the news, features and opinion sections. After directing the paper’s coverage of the BTK investigation, she was project leader and co-author of the true crime book 'Bind, Torture, Kill: The Inside Story of the Serial Killer Next Door' (HarperCollins 2007). She is now a media consultant, TV producer and communications trainer with her own company, L. Kelly Media Services, and teaches at Wichita State University."

RSVP to Becky Funke by noon Monday, March 2, at bfunke@activeagingonline.com, call 942-5385, or reserve and prepay using WPC’s online PayPal account at www.wichitaprofessionalcommunicators.com.

DATE: Wednesday, March 4
TIME: 11:30 a.m. sharp-12:30 p.m.
PLACE: Larkspur, 904 E. Douglas
COST: Members $12, students $10, guests $15

Listen and learn

A lot of my job - as a communications professional, as a parent, as a friend - is reading between the lines. Or mores precisely, listening between the lines.

Often it's not the question that is asked, but the concerns behind the question that need to be addressed.

"What are you working on today?" might be mere small talk, or it could be a sonar ping: "Do you have time for me? Are you too busy to talk to me? Am I important to you?"

When you talk with clients, family and friends, do you hear them? Are you sure? Try focusing your full attention on them (not your work, not yourself, not the long to-do list that is calling your name), and think before you automatically respond to questions. Tip: Ask "Why do you ask?" or "What's troubling you about that?" then listen. You may have your ears - and your eyes - opened. I know I have.

Investing in research

Do you know your audience or customer? Really? When was the last time you looked at sharply focused market research? Given the current state of the economy, is your inclination to invest more or less on understanding the people you need to reach?
Radio One recently commissioned and shared the Black America Study, which helps us understand the texture and diversity of this community. Consider these findings about black Americans ages 13-19:
Technical Savvy
• 71% are online
• 30% listen to iPod/MP3
• 20% watch music videos online
• 23% play video/computer games
• At least half have cell phones
• At least half use text messaging
Household and Family
• 52% are being raised by a single parent
• 22% are already parents
• Only 3% are single parents
• 55% are very stressed by school
Business and Finance
• 69% believe that they will own their own business someday
• They are impetuous in spending – heavy spenders on clothing
• They are brand conscious – highest percent (24%) that buy for brand
Understanding the daily lives behind these numbers could translate to better marketing strategies, larger markets, and more loyal customers.
What do you need to know about your current customers - and the people you'd like to attract as customers?

Presenting a better presentation

A Twitter acquaintance asked today about the worst presentation I'd ever endured. I had to admit: It was one I gave back in '05. I was unprepared; I tried to wing it on too little sleep and too much caffeine. Lesson learned.

HERE ARE 5 MORE TIPS for improving your presentations:
- Know your audience. Ask plenty of questions when you accept the gig about what is expected by the organizers, then arrive early and get a sense of the room. Tweak your comments if necessary.
- Dial back on the caffeine. You can count on a jolt of adrenaline to carry you through.
- Get away from the podium. Unless you are giving the State of the Union Address, you'll benefit from closing the distance between you and your audience.
- Talk to people, not things. Humans came to see you, not your notes, mic, laptop or PowerPoint screen.
- Lead the pack. Don't allow a "Jack in the Box" to ruin the experience by popping up with off-topic comments. Suggest you take up that discussion afterward (or by e-mail), then focus on other audience members.

Know who you work for

In my years as a newsroom editor, I had two major goals in mind as I worked: I wanted to meet the readers' needs, and I wanted to make the reporters I worked with look good. The first goal was obvious, the second more subtle. It meant helping reporters think about what their audience expected from each story, and teaching them to be not just better writers but better self-editors. It also meant going beyond expectations, and delivering more than was asked of us.