Twitter for fun & Customers' attention

Everyday, more and more discussions about the power and impact of new social media outlets are penetrating PR publications. Alexandra Bruell, writer from PR Week, recently recounted the story of Lane Bryant. Lane Bryant is a plus-sized clothing retailer who utilizes popular social outlets such as Twitter, to build brand recognition.

To engage consumers, Lane Bryant created a wardrobe giveaway contest in which the winner won a trip to London with tickets to the premiere of the movie Mamma Mia! Kristyn Wilson, the media relations manager of Lane Bryant’s PR team (MediaSource) felt “that the media doesn't cover who won contests, unless you won the power ball, it was not a story angle.”

To overcome that obstacle, the contest winner used Twitter to “tweet” her journey overseas and build interest in the movie and clothing brand. Amy Vogt, VP of marketing, PR and Communications for Lane Bryant said, “This is the first time it was used purely for fun…We believe this is the first time Twitter was used in this fashion and our feedback has been nothing but positive.”

Lane Bryant and the PR team both agree “now that we have our customer’s attention, we want to keep their attention.” For more on developing media strategies and online networks through new social outlets, read Alexandra Bruell’s article Lane Bryant builds online strategy with Twitter, MySpace.

New Rules for Experienced Pros

In the Career Development section of The Strategist spring 2008 issue, Robert L. Dilenschneider discusses the importance of experience in the realm of PR, stating that there is “no substitute for invaluable experience.” Dilenschneider is the founder and principal of the Dilenschneider Group, Public Relations firm where the average employee is older than 50.

Nevertheless, Dilenschneider acknowledges the ever-changing career climate and divulges new “power rules” for aged PR Pros. Dilenschneider says, “technology is an area that young people take to naturally and an older professional would do well to sharpen his or her skills.” He recommends professionals should comprehensively understand how to use search engines, blogs, iPod downloads or mass Internet postings.

On the other hand, Dilenschneider recognizes the downside of the recent high-tech revolution, sighting too many people with “minimal writing skills” who “do not take the time to think logically and critically.” Therefore, it is crucial to “connect directly with people” and to have the ability to “fashion information into a compelling story or argument.”

Mr. Dilenschneider has authored eight books, the most recent being 50 Plus!-Critical Career Decisions for the Rest of Your Life. Additional tips from his book can be found in Robert L. Dilenschneider’s article The New Power Rules PR Pros Should Know About.

Reports of Dead Newspapers - Are They Exaggerated?

Randy Siegel, the President of Parade Publications, recently wrote an article in Advertising Age regarding the decline of newspapers. Major-market-newspaper circulation has declined 15% since 1997 and TV and consumer magazines have lost circulation as well. However, he demonstrates a unique point of view in that he thinks optimistically and believes in the reinvention of newspapers.

Within his report, he suggests that newspapers learn from MySpace and Facebook and create social net-working sites. This could “engage their different audiences around consumer interests.” Additionally, newspapers could start “charging for the newsroom content that portals and online aggregators pilfer and profit from.” Lastly, Siegel feels that newspapers could benefit from hiring “more-provocative and diverse voices, including high-school and college students, who can help create compelling content for their respective communities.”

Therefore, Siegel urges newspapers to “rethink their strategies and reengineer their organizations.” Then, newspapers could have the ability to prove, once and for all, that reports of dead or dying newspapers are greatly exaggerated.

For more on Randy Siegel’s evaluation of newspapers, read the full article “Parade President: Reports of death of papers have been greatly exaggerated.”

Online Gaming Increases Brand Awareness

Online Gaming, the topic of PR Week’s May 12, 2008 Inside Information section was entirely foreign to me. The article eludes that PR professionals are using online gaming to achieve their dreams of “captivating consumers with brand messages for hours.”

According to Joe Kessler, partner at SS&K, “success is derived from consumer insight, between the nature of the game and the brand supporting it. It’s never a good idea to do a game just to do one.” The article also states that “online games can increase traffic to company Web sites, and draw attention to other content.”

One example of online gaming that struck me as useful was MSNBC.com’s NewsBreaker Challenge. The challenge was launched April 14 and ended May 9, 2008. MSNBC.com incorporated a “falling brick” game with featured headlines reporting on varying news from “Britney Spears to the 2008 Presidential election.” The individual players with the highest scores were eligible to win an Xbox 360. Furthermore, at the end of the contest, the media agency with the top average score won a one-day MSNBC.com homepage takeover for a national charity of its choice.

Games are typically separated from work, and therefore this approach to PR is refreshing. For more on companies that are using online games or to read “Online Gaming Increases Pitch Time, Brand Awareness” by Nicole Zerillo, click here.

comScore Acquires M:Metrics

For those of you who measure your marketing, It's important to know that comScore acquired M:Metrics today. Below is the full detail from today's press release....

_______________
comScore Acquires M:Metrics

Accelerates Expansion of comScore’s Mobile Solutions, Cross Media Measurement and Global Footprint

Reston, VA, May 28, 2008 -- comScore, Inc. (Nasdaq: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today announced the acquisition of M:Metrics, Inc., the recognized leader in mobile measurement. The acquisition makes comScore the immediate leader in measuring the emerging and strategically important mobile Internet market and adds to comScore’s leading position in measuring PC-based Internet usage.

The transaction involves a cash payment of $44.3 million and the issuance of approximately 50,000 options to purchase shares of comScore common stock to certain M:Metrics unvested option holders.

M:Metrics offers three primary measurement products:
· MobiLensTM, a syndicated monthly online survey that captures overall mobile phone usage, including device information, data usage, media consumption and demographic characteristics of a representative sample of more than 40,000 mobile device users. MobiLens is available in the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Spain, and Italy.

· MeterDirectTM, the industry’s first on-device meter that passively measures the mobile Internet behavior and media consumption of more than 4,000 existing Smartphone panelists. The M:Metrics metering technology is compatible with more than 280 device models. MeterDirect is currently available in the U.S. and U.K.

· M:AdTM, the first competitive tracking service for mobile advertising that continuously monitors clickable display advertising from a broad representative set of mobile Web destinations to reveal leading advertisers across a variety of market segments. M:Ad is currently available in the U.S. and U.K.

Going forward, comScore will increase the size of the metered panel and will offer measurement of combined Internet usage across both PC and mobile-based online access platforms. The combination of the two companies is expected to result in substantial operating synergies, cost savings and enhanced revenue growth by building a larger customer base, combining two highly productive sales forces, and leveraging comScore’s global panel and scalable technology infrastructure.

“With the substantial growth of 3G devices and Internet friendly handsets, we believe we are now at an inflection point in Internet usage on mobile devices,” said Dr. Magid Abraham, comScore’s president and chief executive officer. “Our acquisition of M:Metrics makes comScore an immediate market leader in this space and positions comScore to deliver significant shareholder value as wireless carriers, telecom equipment providers, media companies, advertising agencies, online publishers, and marketers extend their reach into the mobile Internet world.”

“M:Metrics brings compelling products and an established, customer base of over 180 clients. Adding comScore’s capabilities and scale to this mix will significantly enhance the company’s future growth and performance,” continued Dr. Abraham. “We see compelling opportunities to increase the market penetration of M:Metrics’ products within comScore’s customer base of over 950 clients and to cross-sell comScore’s portfolio of products into the wireless industry, including the major carriers and device manufacturers. In addition, we plan to leverage comScore’s panel, technology infrastructure and sales force to expand the metered mobile panel and develop new offerings that can significantly increase the growth and profitability of M:Metrics’ business.”

In connection with the acquisition, the co-founders of M:Metrics, Will Hodgman, president and chief executive officer, and Seamus McAteer, chief product architect, will join comScore’s management team.

“comScore is the ideal partner for M:Metrics and clearly the right company to leverage and build upon M:Metrics’ leadership in mobile measurement. The combined company will provide our customers with a compelling portfolio of cross media online measurement and analytics.” said Will Hodgman, president and CEO of M:Metrics. “We are excited about joining comScore and leveraging its vast capabilities, blue chip customer base, and innovative technologies. By combining forces, I am confident we will be the pre-eminent Internet and mobile marketing intelligence provider in the world.”

The acquisition agreement was signed, and the acquisition was closed, today, May 28, 2008, having been approved by the comScore Board of Directors and M:Metrics stockholders. The transaction will be accounted for under purchase accounting rules.

comScore is expecting the M:Metrics business to be profitable on an Adjusted EBITDA basis by the end of the fourth quarter of 2008, and to be a significant positive contributor to Adjusted EBITDA in 2009. M:Metrics’ revenues are currently forecast to be approximately $11 million to $12 million for the full year 2008, and will contribute $6.5 to $7 million to comScore’s reported revenues for 2008 post-closing. The acquisition also enables comScore to lower its future tax payments by realizing a cash benefit of up to $7 million through the utilization of up to $20 million in M:Metrics net operating loss carry forward (NOLs).

Pro forma financials resulting from the M:Metrics acquisition will be reported in an amended 8-K that comScore expects to file in late July, when comScore also plans to announce its earnings for the second quarter of 2008.

M:Metrics, Inc. was represented by The Jordan, Edmiston Group, Inc., a New York City based investment bank that specializes in the media and information industries.

Conference Call comScore will host a conference call and simultaneous audio-only webcast on Thursday, May 29, at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time). The conference call can be accessed in two ways:
* By telephone at 719-325-4869, pass code 2461159
* Via a webcast at http://ir.comscore.com/events.cfm.

A replay of the webcast will be archived and available for playback beginning at noon that day, accessible from the same link.

About comScore comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR) is a global leader in measuring the digital world. This capability is based on a massive, global cross-section of more than 2 million consumers who have given comScore permission to confidentially capture their browsing and transaction behavior, including online and offline purchasing. comScore panelists also participate in survey research that captures and integrates their attitudes and intentions. Through its proprietary technology, comScore measures what matters across a broad spectrum of behavior and attitudes. comScore analysts apply this deep knowledge of customers and competitors to help clients design powerful marketing strategies and tactics that deliver superior ROI. comScore services are used by over 950 clients, including global leaders such as AOL, Microsoft, Yahoo!, BBC, Carat, Cyworld, Deutsche Bank, France Telecom, Best Buy, The Newspaper Association of America, Financial Times, ESPN, Fox Sports, Nestlé, Starcom, Universal McCann, the United States Postal Service, Verizon, ViaMichelin, Merck and Expedia. For more information, please visit http://www.comscore.com/.

About M:Metrics
Founded in 2004, M:Metrics is the mobile media authority. As the only research firm to measure the audience for mobile media using on-device metering and the world’s largest monthly survey of mobile users, M:Metrics provides the most accurate metrics on actual mobile content consumption by applying trusted media measurement methodologies to the mobile market. M:Metrics’ monthly syndicated data service gives clients the critical insights and intelligence required to inform smart business strategies and the competitive benchmarks needed to evaluate the performance of competitors and partners. M:Metrics services are used by more than 180 clients, including global leaders in the mobile, advertising, technology and consumer goods industries such as Verizon, Vodafone, Microsoft, RIM, FOX, CBS, BBC, BMW, Samsung, Palm, Qualcomm, Ericsson, O&M, and JWT. Prior to being acquired by comScore, M:Metrics was a private, venture-funded corporation headquartered in Seattle, with offices in San Francisco and London.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This release includes a reference to (but does not use) a non-GAAP financial measure called "Adjusted EBITDA", which comScore defines as net income plus the (benefit) provision for income taxes, depreciation, amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions, stock-based compensation, revaluation of preferred stock warrant liabilities, less interest income (expense), net. comScore believes that Adjusted EBITDA is an important indicator of the company’s operational strength and the performance of its business because it provides a link between profitability and operating cash flow. Adjusted EBITDA is also widely used by investors and analysts as a supplemental measure to evaluate the overall operating performance of companies in comScore’s industry. comScore’s management also uses Adjusted EBITDA extensively as a measure of operating performance because it does not include the impact of items not directly resulting from the company’s core operations. Moreover, comScore’s management uses the measure for planning purposes, to allocate resources and to evaluate the effectiveness of the company’s business strategies and management’s performance.
Whenever comScore uses Adjusted EBITDA, it provides a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the most closely applicable GAAP financial measure. Investors are encouraged to review the related GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

Cautionary Statement
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including, without limitation, statements made with respect to: annualized 2008 revenue from the M:Metrics acquisition; the amount and availability of net operating losses to reduce future tax payments; anticipated synergies and other benefits resulting from the acquisition merger with M:Metrics and the timing thereof; and the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations, including planned integration activities and the timing thereof; the positive contribution of the acquisition to comScore’s Adjusted EBITDA; comScore’s ability to grow its existing customer base and develop new products; the expected strength of comScore’s business and client demand for comScore’s products; the future quality of client relationships and resulting renewal rates; expectations of customer growth; expectations of international sales growth; assumptions regarding interest rates and effective tax rates; and forecasts of future financial performance, including related growth rates and components thereof, and assumptions related thereto.

The forward looking statements included in the Press Release relate to future events or our future financial conditions or performance, Words such as “forecast,” “expected,” “should,” "will," "are," "provide," "continue," "remain," "anticipates" or the negative thereof or variations thereon and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements inherently involve certain risks and uncertainties, although they are based on our current plans or assessments that are believed to be reasonable as of the date of this press release. Factors that may cause actual results, goals, targets or objectives to differ materially from those contemplated, projected, forecast, estimated, anticipated, planned or budgeted in such forward-looking statements include, among others, the following possibilities, in no particular order: the business of M:Metrics not being integrated successfully, or such integration taking longer or being more difficult, time-consuming or costly to accomplish than expected; the failure to realize revenue synergies and cost-savings from comScore's acquisition of M:Metrics or delay in realization thereof; difficulties and delays in the further development and marketing of M:Metrics products and technologies; final determinations under GAAP of acquisition related costs, equity-based compensation expense, purchase price allocations and the impact of the loss of deferred revenues on a going-forward basis; limitations under applicable tax laws on the sources of income with respect to which the NOLs are available for offset, the amounts of the NOLs available for use in any given year, the useable life of the NOLs, and any other limitation on the use of the NOLs; the early stage of the market for digital marketing intelligence and the rate of development of such market; comScore’s ability to manage its growth; the rate of development of the Internet advertising and eCommerce markets; comScore’s ability to effectively expand sales and marketing; comScore’s reliance on subscription-based revenues; comScore’s ability to retain existing large customers and obtain new large customers, including with respect to M:Metrics; continued growth of the Internet as a medium for commerce, content, advertising and communications; inability to sell additional products and attract new customers; dependence on growth of international operations; product obsolescence with technological developments; volatility of quarterly results and analyst expectations; comScore’s history of losses and the risk of future losses; and comScore’s limited operating history.

For a detailed discussion of these and other risk factors, please refer to comScore’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2007 and from time to time other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which are available on the SEC’s Web site (http://www.sec.gov/).

Stockholders of comScore are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date such statements are made. comScore does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or new information after the date of this press release, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Contact:Andrew LipsmanSenior AnalystcomScore, Inc. 312-775-6510press@comscore.com

Comcast to Buy Plaxo Social Network

This just in from the Philadelphia Business Journal - Comcast is set to purchase Plaxo which currently provides a free service that updates and maintains the information in your address book. Plaxo has also become a social networking tool (Pulse) much like LinkedIn. So, as a Comcast user and subscriber, I'm wondering how long the platform will remain free.

Thomas Claburn of Information Week reported an hour ago on the story.

Claburn says:

"For Comcast, the deal provides an opportunity to make use of data about the 50 million people now under its umbrella. This may prove useful not only for marketing, but also for promoting content creation and communication. With a few more Internet-oriented acquisitions or partnerships, the cable service provider could develop a loyal Internet community, making it more competitive in the social arena with the likes of Facebook, Fox Interactive, Google (NSDQ: GOOG), and Yahoo (NSDQ: YHOO)."

Here are some links to more of the news coverage:

REFILE-UPDATE 2-Comcast buys social network pioneer PlaxoReuters - 5 hours agoBy Yinka Adegoke and Eric Auchard NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO, May 14 (Reuters) - Comcast Corp (CMCSA.O: Quote, Profile, Research) has agreed to acquire ...

Comcast buys Plaxo websiteguardian.co.uk, UK - 5 hours agoThis article was first published on guardian.co.uk on Thursday May 15 2008. It was last updated at 12:06 on May 15 2008. US cable company Comcast has bought ...


Comcast Buys Social-Networking Site PlaxoTheStreet.com - 6 hours agoComcast CMCSA will acquire social networking site Plaxo in a move aimed at unifying social media across the Internet and television. ...

Comcast Acquiring Social Networker PlaxoWashington Post, United States - 14 hours agoComcast (NSDQ: CMCSA) has acquired social networker Plaxo. Terms of the deal weren't disclosed in a Plaxo blog post announcing the news, but both TechCrunch ...

Comcast And Plaxo Invite You To The Marriage Of Set-top Box ...Washington Post, United States - 14 hours agoJust got off the phone from a tandem interview with Plaxo CEO Ben Golub and Comcast Interactive Media's Sam Schwartz. They weren't willing to talk money but ...

Comcast buys Plaxo: Will social networking and TV fly?ZDNet - 19 hours agoComcast has acquired Plaxo in a move that aims to make the cable giant’s interactive portfolio more social and potentially bring a little Web 2.0 to your ...

Comcast to Buy Plaxo for Social NetworkingPC World - 19 hours agoComcast will acquire social-networking company Plaxo to power upcoming community features on its TV, broadband data and phone services. ...

Confirmed: Comcast Bought Plaxo, Deal Closed TodayWashington Post, United States - 19 hours agoThe rumors were accurate: Comcast will announce their acquisition of social contact list Plaxo today. Financial terms are not being disclosed, ...

Comcast to acquire contact manager PlaxoThe Associated Press - 20 hours agoPHILADELPHIA (AP) — Comcast Corp. is buying contact management company Plaxo Inc. and plans to incorporate into all its offerings features intended to help ...

Comcast to acquire networking Web site Plaxo: reportForbes, NY - 21 hours agoSAN FRANCISCO (Thomson Financial) - Comcast Corp. is acquiring privately held social networking Web site Plaxo, the Wall Street Journal reported on its Web ...

Comcast acquires social network pioneer PlaxoReuters - 21 hours agoNEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Comcast has agreed to acquire pioneering Web start-up Plaxo, which first sought to turn address books into social ...

Comcast to Buy Networking Site PlaxoWall Street Journal - 21 hours agoBy VISHESH KUMAR Comcast Corp. said Wednesday that it will acquire high-profile networking Web site Plaxo, in an effort by the cable operator to broaden the ...

Social Media Connects Firms with Clients

A recent article, “New Media Helps Firms Connect with Clients,” written by Ted McKenna, a Washington bureau chief for PRWeek, provides a great example of why social media skeptics should at least experiment with new media tools like blogs and podcasts if they want to connect better with current or potential clients in this new media realm.

While McKenna believes that not all agencies should feel obligated to use every new media tool that’s available just because everyone else is, but rather to find one or two that fits their company’s needs. For example, McKenna quotes Arketi Group principal, Mike Neumeier on his company’s new implementation of using Podcasts, “what we found is basically about 15% of Web site traffic is coming in through our podcasts,” and Neumeier adds that, “clients mention it (podcasts) and we certainly showcase it when we sell our clients. We encourage them to go out and look at what we’ve done for ourselves.”

Here are some key points McKenna gives in his article:

• Agencies shouldn’t use new media tools just because they can, but because they help market the firm in meaningful ways
• Podcasts can give a quick, personal overview of how agencies address communications issues
• New media’s impact is measured mainly anecdotally, though client’s viewing of blogs and podcasts can be easily tracked

For more informational, here is a link to the “New Media Helps Firms Connect with Clients” article written by Ted McKenna.

Harnessing the World of Social Media and Client Relationships

The Wall Street Journal Online recently published an article by Marshall Loeb of MarketWatch titled Improve Client Relationships Through Social Media.

In this article, Loeb discusses the growing popularity of social media platforms like MySpace, Facebook and LinkedIn, and how all types of businesses are embracing these tools to build community and strengthen consumer interest.

Loeb then highlights the co-founder of ThePort Network, Dan Backus. ThePort Network is a firm that focuses on creating software tools for virtual communities. Below Backus outlines the following four tips on how to use the power of social media to support your company's advantage when dealing with consumers:

- Know your audience. The tools you will want to invest in should be directly related to the online behavior of the people you are trying to reach. Ideally, you will want to conduct audience research to determine how often potential customers are online, what other sites they visit and how comfortable they are downloading podcasts or setting up RSS feeds.

- Align organizational objectives with social media tools. Different tools are better at accomplishing specific goals. For example, blogs are a great way to get feedback on potential programs from large groups of readers, while photo-sharing programs are useful for building a sense of community and excitement around new programs.

- Establish procedures. Social media require companies to have a higher level of trust in their publics than other communication tools. At the same time, it is important to retain some oversight to ensure communications remain appropriate and continue to focus on your company's key goals. You might want to begin by identifying forum moderators and establishing rules for posting.

- Identify resources and bring everybody on the same page. A successful social-media strategy requires participation from many constituents, as well as from the organizational leaders themselves. Before initiating, make sure the internal personnel support the idea and are willing to integrate social media functions into outreach activities. Ideally, those same leaders will want to participate in the online communities themselves – both to learn more about their customers and to use that knowledge to shape future goals.

These are great tips on how to harness the world of social media to your company’s and/or your client’s advantage.

Ten Ways to Use LinkedIn

We have posted several articles on the benefits of utilizing on-line networks such as LinkedIn. You may have checked it out, or even signed up for an account, but have you capitalized on any of the opportunities of networking on social media sites?

If not, here is an informational article to jump-start your on-line networking capabilities, Ten Ways to Use LinkedIn. The author, Guy Kawasaki, is a managing director of Garage Technology Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm and a columnist for Forbes.com.

In this article, Kawasaki provides the following “how to” tips on on-line networking:

• Improve your connectability
• Increase your visibility
• Perform blind, “reverse,” and company reference checks
• Gauge the health of an industry

For more information, check out this article on-line.

Keep Your Press Releases Relevant

Craig McGuire of PRWeek recently shared tips on how we can all keep our press releases relevant to the rapidly changing times. According to McGuire, “In this digital age, social media and video elements are essential.”

News releases are used by 90% of business journalists as sources for story ideas and 54% of the same journalists also use bloggers for story ideas. McGuire urges his readers to go beyond simple text and to incorporate links, social media tags, images, etc., into all press materials. It is crucial to give journalists all the resources to use our releases and to offer bloggers and social media site users the same tools.

McGuire then goes on to highlight the dos and don’ts of keeping your press release relevant:

Do
- Include links to pages where multiple instances of your keywords/phrases reinforce your message.
- Place terms in key positions like headlines and first paragraphs.
- Distribute a release through a service that carries hyperlinks to downstream sites such as Yahoo Finance, AOL News and Netscape.

Don’t
- Go link crazy. Too many links will confuse journalists and draw focus away from key messaging.
- Use low-res images. Opt for high-res multimedia that can easily be used by layout pros.
- Use all tools, all the time. Focus first on the message. Use the bells and whistles to complement the campaign.

Social Media Data Mining: YouTube Viewership Ratings

Here is an interesting article with new research on data mining which analyzes viewership for YouTube videos in the first month. The following are some key findings:

In the first month on YouTube:

• 70% of videos get at least 20 views
• 50% of videos get at least 100 views
• Fewer than 20% of videos get more than 500 views
• Fewer than 10% of videos get more than 1, 500 views
• 3% of videos get more than 25, 000 views
• Around 1% of videos get more than 500, 000 views

For more information, click here.

The PR Lawyers In Top 50

The PR Lawyer Blog ranked in the Top 50 PR Voices for Public Relations Blogs today! Thank you for reading and commenting. Please let us know via the comment tool what topics are of most value to you.

Planning Your Communications Before Choosing Your Tacticians

Earlier this week, Kevin O'Keefe notes in a post that Law firm Internet marketing to grow in 2008 : Warning to large law marketing & PR heads. He says:

"In 2008, it'll be up to you employed in large firms and PR agencies advising large law to assess whether you really know what you are doing when marketing via social networking. If not, it's time to get some help rather than dismissing marketing mediums you don't understand. Dismissing innovation only hurts the law firm and is ultimately going to cost you your job."

Kevin makes a good point. It is so important to work with experts who know what they're doing in every area of marketing whether it's direct marketing, social media, public relations or trade advertising. But first, law firms need to assess their communications plans and make sure their plans have solid and measurable goals and objectives. Once they know what they want to accomplish, then, and only then, should they determine which tactics will be best to reach their target audiences effectively and efficiently.

Forbes Top 25 Web Celebs...

Forbes compiled this year’s list by looking at a “Web Celeb” as a person famous primarily for creating or appearing in Internet-based content, and for being highly recognizable to a Web-based audience. From the candidate list of 200 Web celebrities each candidate was ranked in five areas:1. Web references as calculated by Google 2. traffic ranking of their home page as calculated by Alexa3. Technorati rank of their primary Web site or blog4. TV/radio mentions and press clips compiled from Factiva5. bonus points if ‘Web Celeb’ regularly published their own videoblog or podcast. For the full list, go to
http://www.boxofficepsychics.com/?p=864

The Hepatitis B Foundation Launches Corporate Video

We're excited to announce that the Hepatitis B Foundation, located in the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center in Bucks County, Pa., launched their corporate video. The Foundation is the only national nonprofit organization solely dedicated to finding a cure and improving the quality of life for those affected with hepatitis B worldwide through research, education and patient advocacy.

The video is a must see. It's a great way to learn about all the wonderful things the Foundation is doing. And of course, we're proud to call them a client. To check out the video on YouTube, click here.

Google Squares Off Against Microsoft

Google has made it quite clear over that it wants to be a prominent contender in the social networking arena. So naturally, when Facebook was taking bids for a developer, Google jumped at the opportunity. Unfortunately, Facebook founders chose Microsoft for an undisclosed three year deal.

Google moved on and made an alliance with MySpace for $900 million dollars spread out for more than three years. Interestingly, Microsoft was denied the same deal from MySpace.

Google, being the social giant it is, then harnessed around a dozen additional social network partners such as LinkedIn, Friendster, and their own social networking site, Okrut, to build as big a base as possible. Google also plans to incorporate other applications like Flixster, iLike and RockYou for the music minded users.

Is this just a “I can do it better game” without having any real purpose? I don’t think so. Facebook software is notoriously known as costly and difficult to learn by developers and with Google creating a basic javascript and html code that can be used across most platforms, they offer a much needed remedy for unsatisfied developers.

TechCrunch, a leading blog on social media, “believes that the plan is likely to be a big hit with developers as well as Facebook’s rivals.” TechCrunch’s Michael Arrington states, “Developers have been complaining…Facebook-fear has clearly driven good partners to side with Google.”

I sense a schoolyard gang-up against Facebook. What do you think?

For more information, check out the article here.

Glossary of Web 2.0 and Social Media Terms by Digital Influence Group

For those of you still trying to figure out all of the new vocabulary used to identify all of the cool tools and features of Web 2.0 and social media, there is a great glossary of terms provided by Digital Influence Group - a company started by Larry Weber. Larry is the author of "Marketing to the Social Web" which is a must read!

Gmail: According to Steve Rubel

Long gone were the days of missed appointments, forgotten birthdays and no time to read the morning paper.

Steve Rubel’s blog, Micro Persuasion had crafted a unique way to utilize Gmail into your personal social networking hub.

Keep updated with your life and your friends’ lives with the ability to post to social nets, keep a “lifebase” and prioritize your everyday needs.

Check it out at Micro Persuasion.

Facebook Warned It Could Face Fraud Charge for Safety Claims - Associated Press

Associated Press

ALBANY, N.Y. — The social networking Web site Facebook has been warned that it could face a consumer fraud charge for failing to live up to claims that youngsters there are safer from sexual predators than at most sites and that it promptly responds to concerns, a spokesman for New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said Sunday.

"We expect an immediate correction eliminating the dangers exposed by our investigation," said the spokesman, Jeffrey Lerner.

Cuomo announced last week that he had subpoenaed Facebook after he said the company did not respond to "many" complaints by investigators who were solicited for sex while posing as 12- to 14-year-olds on the site. Officials from Cuomo's office discussed the issue with Facebook by phone and fax Friday after they said Facebook took three days to answer calls and e-mails from state investigators.

An official in Cuomo's office said he and others are scheduled to meet with Facebook representatives this week and anticipate changes will follow immediately.

"We said, 'You have got to make accurate representations on your Web site," said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because court filings haven't yet been made. "What we told them is, 'Correct the language describing the site and stop marketing yourself as this pristine Web site ... parents have a misimpression. You can't mislead people."

Lerner said Facebook's contention of being safer than most sites was accurate when it started out as a closed site 3 1/2 years ago. But it's now much larger, and the safeguards and apparently the response times for complaints aren't what they once were, he said.

There was no immediate response to e-mail and phone messages left for a Facebook representative. But a statement issued a week ago stated the company was concerned about Cuomo's claim that sexual predators could use the site to meet with children.

"We strive to uphold our high standards for privacy on Facebook and are constantly working on processes and technologies that will further improve safety and user control on the site," Fcebook spokeswoman Brandee Barker said in the statement.

Lerner said Facebook has continued to promise to cooperate.

Can “Friends” Catapult Next Presidential Election?

I am a huge advocate for social media and the potential impact it can have on everyday matters, but is it powerful enough to sway the votes of thousands of Young Americans?

It seems that music mogul Sean “P. Diddy” Combs thought so in 2004 when he created the “Vote Now or Die” campaign that encouraged young Americans ages 18-24 to vote.

P. Diddy’s campaign was smeared over all social outlets and encouraged people to don t-shirts with the catchy slogan. This message was not to be ignored. Roughly 3 million more young Americans voted in that 2004 election than 2000; was that just coincidence?

I do not believe so. I remember--I was a sophomore in college and fellow undergrads were donning the “Vote or Die” t-shirt. It was all over campus, the news, magazines, you name it.

When I came across a recent article, “Friends” in high places” on Reuters.com, by Andy Sullivan, I thought to myself that social media has yet again sparked another revolutionary campaign among young Americans; vote, be heard, and have fun doing it.

Young Americans spend countless hours a day on social media outlets like Facebook, MySpace, and Friendster. Presidential hopefuls, such as Illinois Democrat, Sen. Barack Obama and Democrat Hillary Clinton jumped on the social media bandwagon to obtain “friends” that will support their cause and push them into victory. So far, they have been successful.

Barack Obama totaled 299,000 friends between MySpace and Facebook while Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, only has 169,000 friends. Obama even has his on social networking sight, my.barackobama.com in hopes of converting “friends” into volunteers and eventual votes. On the other hand, Former Republican NY mayor, Rudy Guiliani seems to be way behind the times, only boasting a mere 7,400 friends.

I am hoping that the increase in young voters was not a fluke and that Presidential campaigns are successful in turning “friends” into voters. What do you think?