Some of you may know that I am the PR/Social Media Director for the Oklahoma State HR Council also known as OKHR.  I’m also HR blogger here at Blogging4Jobs.  My role at OKHR is to drive awareness about the professional association with the added hope of increasing membership.  I’ve pitched to the press here in Oklahoma with some success.  I’m happy to report our releases are getting several thousand views.

Sadly, some of the larger newspapers and publications in Oklahoma have not been as receptive as I would have liked when it comes specifically to social media.  And earlier today, I learned why.

A reporter from The Daily Oklahoman, a daily newspaper in Oklahoma City,  the city where I call home replied with the following after I sent an email to discuss their interest in covering our HR state conference:

My editor wants me to stay awy from SM stories. We just ran one April 27 for Crowe hc conf. … and when it comes to tweeting/fb’ing etc. it gets a little ticklish since The Oklahoman is now in the game as an online source and also provides contract SM services.

From this message the city’s largest newspaper and publication is avoiding stories that involve social media because they provide social media services and are a source of publication.  It’s sad because a partnership could be created, a relationship among the bloggers in Oklahoma City and The Daily Oklahoman where we build each other up instead of tearing each other down.

Let me just say that I wasn’t pitching publications and media to write strictly about social media.  Human Resources involves things that are mostly outside of social media and that was what this conference was all about.  It just happened to be the topic of conversation when I was referred to the writer at the Oklahoma.

The blogsphere and social media space in Oklahoma is very active.  It’s a great source of news and yesterday’s announcement of the death of Osama bin laden is a fine example.  In doing a quick Google search on the keywords Osama bin laden, you can see that there are over 1900 real time messages of his death from social media.  And this is nearly 24 hours after the story was broke to the press.

More importantly, is where I learned about bin laden’s death.  Just before shutting down for the night, I saw a tweet saying the following, “Ding dong the wicked witch is dead.”  Slightly intrigued I further investigated my Twitter stream to see an announcement from both TMZ and CNN.  I quickly retweeted the message to my own 24,000 plus followers and several responded quite surprised.

I see the world of blogging and social media as a tool to work together with more traditional publications instead of against them.  With more than 500 active bloggers in the Oklahoma City and Tulsa Metro areas, I believe that by all working together we can help one another instead of singling out community members who serve content generators and community influencers.  Because content generators and influencers ingest content at a greater rate than their counter parts.

Am I wrong or am I right?  Should traditional media engage or ignore bloggers?

Photo Credit Leadership Freak.

It takes guts to be a leader.  You have a crazy idea and you begin dancing, singing, shouting, or tweeting your revelation.  It’s hard work being an innovator and a leader, but the first follower is really the key to an idea, program, or new product’s success. The first follower is the guy that takes the risk and is the first to follow the leader’s lead.  The role of first follower in many ways is most important than the leader.

Those first followers aren’t always co-workers or traditional business partners like you might expect.  I like to think of my husband, Greg (@xceptional_it) as the constant balance check in my life.  He is the first follower who grounds me as I dance along from one idea to the next.  Take for example, my book.  Without Greg and his support Tweet This! would have never been published.

This video (shown below) is one of my favorite videos from the TEDx talks.  If you are not familiar with Tedx, I suggest that you check them out, and if you’re in the Oklahoma City area, be sure to check out one or all of the Tedx OKC events.  The first Tedx Tuesday is Tuesday, October 19th in Oklahoma City at the Deep Fork Grill.

Photo Credit Jilata Eliass.

Social Media case studies abound have hit the social media interwebs this week.  Three very powerful and different cases have reared their heads.  It is very important to conduct a SWOT analysis to analyze the environment in everything we do.  As the grey area between professional and personal continues to lessen, what we say offline is impacting every fiber of our lives more and more every day.

As someone who is blogging for Chevy, as part of the Gotta Love Chevy OK Blogging program, I am considering these things every day.  A well executed, communicated, and strategic plan like Chevy’s can go along way.

That’s where a SWOT Analysis comes in.  SWOT is a planning method and acronym that to evaluate the Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats involved in projects and decisions both personal and professional. By taking a few minuets to step back and scan the environment and evaluate the impact of a decision on our surroundings, we strive to make a better and more strategic decision.

The beauty about SWOT is that simply an organized way clear your head and evaluate a decision, environment, and process. that can take a little or as long as you like.  And because social media is instant and continuous, a SWOT Analysis can be an extremely valuable, versatile, and effective use of 2 minutes or 2 days of your time.

CASE ONE–Double Shot, Tulsa, OK.

@thedoubleshot.  On Monday, a single, solitary tweet led to a social media firestorm for a Tulsa, Oklahoma coffee shop.  Mothers and supporters of breast feeding in minutes all over the globe tweeted quickly and fiercely after the following was posted from @thedoubleshot’s twitter feed, “Notice: No breastfeeding at the DoubleShot. Thank you.”

Mothers, bloggers, local news media, and websites including the Consumerist picked up the story.  Brian Franklin, the owner of Double Shot has since deleted his original tweet and posted a retraction, yet the damage is done.  Coincidentally, this week is World Breastfeeding Week (Aug. 1-7th).

CASE TWO–#ILSHRM10

Using hash tags and live tweeting from conferences are a great way to virally spread the word increasing your online presence.  The Illinois Society for Human Resource Management felt so strongly about their views on using social media as a form of communication and promotion, that they brought in a team of bloggers to attend the Illinois State HR Conference but when tweets began flying during a HR session on social media, many felt that those microblogging and blogging were being extremely harsh, rude, and over critical.

Mike Vandervort, of the Human Race Horses and one of the Il SHRM conference bloggers weighed in.  “The organization sponsoring a social media squad takes some risk, including the possibility of generating controversy from time to time. The members of the social media team have a purpose, which primarily is the education of conference attendees and the external audience of titter followers and blog readers,” said Mike.

CASE THREE–#tacotuesday. Okahoma City, OK.

Another hash tag controversy.  Late last week, Chef Ryan Parrott, co-owner of the Oklahoma City restaurant, the Iguana Mexican Grill received a cease and desist order from Taco John’s demanding the local restaurant no longer use the hash tag #tacotuesday to promote their $1.00 tacos.  Taco John’s choose to respond via Twitter sending the local social media community (including myself) into action.  In just under 24 hours, 1,100 tweets, a Facebook Fan Page, a Twitter petition, newspaper and television media, and two spoof Twitter accounts have been created (@tacojohnz and @tacojohnspr).

The 452 location restaurant chain, Taco John’s is claiming infringement and violation of copyright.  Instead of quietly settling, the letter has set off a social media firestorm with hundreds of supporters arriving to celebrate Taco Tuesday at the Iguana Mexican Grill this week.  The Iguana has used #tacotuesday hash tag since July 2009 with great success.

The good news is that we can learn from situations and case studies such as this.  When it comes to social media and real time engagement, I recommend clients and companies follow three rules:

1. Analyze your audience. Understand your audience, who your messages and actions will impact.  Anticipate actions, possible outcomes and plan your strategy using tools like SWOT Analysis.
2. Evaluate & filter your content. After conducting your preliminary research, determine your content and different methods in which to respond or promote your message.
3. Engage (or not). Reacting quickly and swiftly either retracting a statement or refraining from posting a message can be more powerful.  Each action and reaction depends on a unique set of situations and scenarios that you craft using your best judgment.

FTC Disclosure:  The Gotta Love Chevy Blogger Promotion is being sponsored by the Oklahoma Chevy Team Dealers.  Three women bloggers (including me) have been provided a Chevy Malibu vehicle to test drive for four weeks.  The program includes weekly fun activities or projects for us to complete.  Bloggers  been provided gift cards in which to complete these assignments.

Photo Credit Worship House Media.

Jessica Miller-Merrell participates in 4 week Gotta Love Chevy Program

07.13.2010 – OKLAHOMA CITY — — A prominent Oklahoma City blogger is among those selected to test-drive a Chevy for the next four weeks. Jessica Miller-Merrell, an author, HR executive and business blogger at Blogging4Jobs.com will pick up her 2011 Chevy Malibu at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow, July 14, at Mark Heitz, Exit 108 and I-35, Norman, Oklahoma.
The program is an indication of the growing role of bloggers in marketing and advertising. According to Miller-Merrell whose book, Tweet This! Twitter for Business was released earlier this year, the connection is growing between influential bloggers who command the attention of niche markets and companies with products to sell.
“Chevy decided to do something different,” Miller-Merrell said. “Advertising is very expensive and this is one way they figured out they could connect their brand with women for less.
“Research shows they are the primary decision makers when it comes to large purchases.”
Miller-Merrell, who began blogging 2007, will write twice a week about her experience driving the Chevy Malibu. “Anyone can start a blog,” she said. “Good blogging, however, takes a lot of time. I have worked hard to grow the community that has built up around my blog, but this is the first time I’ve entertained the idea of representing products.”
Chevy’s blogger program has previously selected bloggers in cities like Dallas and Houston, but this is the first time bloggers the program has come to Oklahoma.
“I’m really looking forward to this opportunity,” said Miller-Merrell. “It’s very exciting and a privilege to have been selected by Chevy.”
For more details, visit the Gotta Love Chevy OKC website, www.gottalovechevyokc.com and be sure to check out Jessica’s bio for the Gotta Love Chevy program below.
###

CONTACT: Jennifer James, APR 405.401.1354 â– 

â– zenobiapr@cox.net zenobia, llc â–  zenobiapr.org

Jessica’s Bio from Jessica Miller-Merrell on Vimeo.

Although I have only lived in the Oklahoma City Metro area for 3 1/2 years, I consider Oklahoma to be my home.  I’m excited to be a part of such a progressive, exciting, and wonderful city!  Take a look at the video to learn more about Maps 3 and don’t forget to vote YES for Maps 3, December 8th, 2009.

I urge everyone in Oklahoma City to get out there and speak with others on how important this vote is.  Oklahoma City is a city with so much potential.  Maps will help us continue to grow and promote this wonderful city.

To learn more about Maps 3, please visit the city’s website. You can also view recent Oklahoma City Maps 3 survey results.

Vote for Maps!