Let’s take a look at 3 ways technology can boost public relations:

1. The Electronic Newsletter, often referred to as an “ezine”, is a newsletter that is electronically delivered to a list of email addresses using email marketing software such as:

• Aweber: www.aweber.com
  - 30 day money back guarantee
  - $1 for 1st month / $19 month up to 500 subscribers
  - Price increases based on number of subscribers
  - Price includes unlimited email  & auto-responders
   
•  Constant Contact: www.constantcontact.com
  - 60 day free trial
  - $15 month for up to 500 subscribers
  - Price increases based on number of subscribers
  - Limited auto-responders
  - Additional features extra (online surveys, event marketing)
  - Most user friendly & best templates
   
• - Vertical Response: www.verticalresponse.com
  - $10 month up to 500 subscribers
  - Price increases based on number of subscribers
  - Limited auto-responders
  - Additional features extra (online surveys, postcards)
  - Offers pay-as-you-go option to purchase email credits for the number of emails you want to send

Benefits:

• Cheaper than a printed newsletter; monthly & annual pricing options, annual pre-pay discounts, and non-profit discounts available.
• Faster delivery time; goes straight to recipient’s email inbox.
• People are used to receiving electronic newsletters.
• Can be integrated with Facebook and Twitter.

Tips:

• Publish regularly and provide valuable content.
• Create an opt-in form to use on your web site or blog.  Include a free giveaway or incentive for those who subscribe to your newsletter.
• Don’t purchase email lists.  Build your own targeted list from the ground up.

2. Make Use of Free Social Networking Sites

• Twitter is limited to 140 characters. Use it as a way to let your targeted audience get to know you.
• Facebook is more interactive. Use it to build more intimate relationships with your target audience (group, fan page, discussion boards, videos, links, photos)
• LinkedIn is great because you can recommend the work of professionals you’ve worked with and they can recommend  you and your work.

3. Web Video Marketing allows you to take a direct to audience approach with your message.

• You can embed or link to video on your web site, blog and social networking sites.

Ways to Use Your Web Video:

• offer reviews & tutorials
• record presentations or special events you’re included in; be sure to ask for permission
• introduce your office staff
• product demonstrations
• create welcome video for home page of web site
• highlight what makes your product/service unique
• create video posts for your blog if you don’t like writing

How to Record Your Web Video:
The Flip is a small portable high definition video camera that provides web ready video.  For under $200 it provides a quick easy way to record & publish video content online.  Free video editing software included; accessories available.

Tip:
Host your videos on YouTube.  It’s the 2nd largest search engine on the web.

All 3 methods:

• the electronic newsletter
• free social networking sites &
• web video marketing

are affordable, cost effective ways technology can boost public relations.  

Would you like to develop a public relations plan for your business using these same 3 methods? Get started today!  Contact me directly to schedule a free 30-min consultation.

About the Author:

Katrina Chesney is Founder & President of Portable Hands, a Virtual Assistance firm that provides leverage for small businesses.

1.  MANAGEMENT IS KEY

There are tons of social software clients available to help you manage your Twitter account and maximize your social networking efforts.  Most are free and allow you to manage your Twitter profile, tweets, and other functions all in one place.  Here’s a few of the most popular ones.

HootSuite: If you manage multiple Twtitter accounts or share your Twittering duties with friends or co-workers, HootSuite’s for you. If you’re interested in tracking how many people click the links you tweet out, HootSuite can help. If you want to pre-schedule your messages or feed your blog (or any other rss feed) to Twitter, HootSuite has got you covered.
free: http://hootsuite.com/

Tweet Deck: Also available on iphone, Tweet Deck is your personal browser for staying in touch with what’s happening now, connecting you with your contacts across Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and more.  This is a great management tool for individuals with several social networking profiles to manage.
free: http://tweetdeck.com/

Twhirl: Another social software client, Twhirl is based on the new Adobe AIR platform that also allows web development techniques to be used to create desktop applications.
free: http://www.twhirl.org/

2.  SET A TIMELINE & STICK TO IT

Decide early on how much time you will devote to your social networking efforts on Twitter and how often (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.).  Not only will this help you manage your time but it will also help you maintain your sanity and not become a Twitter addict.

3.  LEARN THE LINGO/LANGUAGE
What is a tweet, DM, RT or hashtag?  If you’ve not sure, spend some time learning the different acronyms because Twitter has a language all its own.  Here’s a quick reference guide of the most popular Twitter acronyms: http://wiredpen.com/2009/04/16/twitter-lingo-a-quick-guide/

4.  GET RID OF THE TROLLS

Take the time to get rid of Twitter spammers and trolls so they don’t clutter up your list of followers.  Here’s how:  http://twittercism.com/howto-deal-with-spammers-trolls-automated-direct-messages-on-twitter/
Be sure to follow Twitter Spam at http://twitter.com/spam to stay on top of the latest spammers and spamming techniques.

OTHER TWITTER MANAGEMENT TIPS
- Determine your ideal follower
- Follow those who are follow worthy
- Be follow worthy
- Prepare worthy tweets (helpful, supportive sprinkled with business tweets here & there)
- Practice the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you.”

About the Author:

Katrina Chesney is Founder & President of Portable Hands, a Virtual Assistance firm that provides leverage for small businesses.