Have You Checked Out The #NewTwitter?

Posted by Amanda Walsh
The Internet has been all a-buzz with the latest news on the new Twitter look and layout.  I finally noticed a button on the top of my Twitter landing page this morning that invited me to check out the #NewTwitter. I was met with a pleasant surprise! Twitter has had a complete makeover!

I noticed right away that the new interface is more interactive and streamline. Now, the news stream is located on the left hand side of the screen, which frees up room on the right for featuring your number of followers, number of people who follow you, and trending topics for searching.

The change I like the best is when you click on a fellow user’s tweet, their profile and a few of their recent tweets pop up to the right. You are able to read their profile on the right while continuing to monitor your news feed on the left.

New partnerships with YouTube, Flickr, and Vimeo make it even easier to see embedded photos and videos on the right-hand side of the screen.

So far, so good, Twitter!  I like the new layout and right now on my personal account, I still have the option to toggle back and forth between the old layout and new layout.  The Furia Rubel corporate account does not have the option to review the new Twitter yet, but I’m sure as the weeks go on Twitter will continue to roll out the new features for all users.

To read more check out Twitter.com/newtwitter or follow the hashtag, #NewTwitter on Twitter.com

Communicating Effectively With Web Designers

Posted by Amanda Walsh and Laura Powers

Our Vice President of Marketing, Laura Powers weighs in on the Mashable.com article, “How to: Communicate Needs & Expectations to Web Designers.” 

There are some relevant points that are outlined in the article, but Laura notes that one thing the article overlooks is the strategy behind developing pieces that need to be designed. Below, she adds her tips for communicating with the designer during the creative process.

One of the most critical parts of communicating needs and expectations with a designer is strategic planning. By developing a company’s communications plan that identifies target audiences and outlines key messages (among other things) before engaging a designer, professional designers will be better equipped to begin the creative process.

A large piece of design development is evoking emotion with visual elements. When developing a brand, creating print collateral or extending an online presence, a company’s strategic communications plan will guide the design of the materials by identifying how the company wants to be perceived in the marketplace and influence its audiences. In this way, the planning process becomes a foundational cornerstone of working effectively with a designer.

To read the Mashable article, check it out here. 

The Press Release Lives On – Even In Web 2.0 World

Posted by Amanda Walsh

Contrary to what some have been saying, the press release is not dead! A recent article featured on the Search Engine Watch.com blog reaffirms the important role of this public relations tool and defends optimized press release usage within the public relations industry.

We have written a little about Search Engine Optimization (SEO) in past posts, but I’d like to bring some readers up to speed on what exactly SEO is. According to Wikipedia, SEO “is the process of improving the visibility of a website or a Web page in search engines via the "natural" or un-paid ("organic" or "algorithmic") search results.”

“There are a variety of reasons why the Furia Rubel team utilizes the press release. The PR tool helps us to ensure that we have all accurate and relevant information from our clients, compiled it in one place with details and contacts. In this way, press releases are an invaluable resource when directly pitching media representatives because everything is clear, concise and together in one space. Also, with each release we write, our team specifically incorporates SEO language to increase online visibility for our clients,” said Leah Ludwig, Senior Account Manager at Furia Rubel.

The Search Engine Watch.com blog offers some interesting information from a 2010 PRweek/PR Newswire Media Survey, “Journalists use a variety of tools during the course of research for a story. Ninety-five percent use Google/search engines, 93 percent use the company web site, 47 percent use Wikipedia, 36 percent use the web site of a commercial newswire, 34 percent use the company blog, 33 percent use social networks, 32 percent use general blogs, and 19 percent use LexisNexis/Factiva.”

If journalists are using Google to research, an effective way for public relations professionals to get their news out there is through an optimized press release. A new challenge has presented itself however, because press releases are competing with news media for top search results. This does not mean that the press release is dead, just that it is important for SEO experts to stay abreast of the changing SEO terms and results.


(photo credit: webdesigngeek.info)

LinkedIn & Outlook Partnership Contributes To Ease Of Networking

Posted by Amanda Walsh

I learned that earlier this year LinkedIn partnered with Microsoft Outlook. I wanted to share the exciting news with our readers because some people may not have heard about it, I certainly hadn't!
 

Microsoft Outlook is a popular email program that many businesses use to communicate internally, schedule meetings, store contacts and much more. LinkedIn is an online professional social-networking site where you can find and connect with colleagues, classmates or any professional contact who you have met throughout your career. Many people are using LinkedIn as a networking/job search tool or a forum to ask questions and receive expert feedback.

Professionals can now use this tool to connect the two programs and grow their networks even further. To read more about how you can download and install the Outlook Social Connector, check out this The LinkedIn Blog entry.

(Photo credit: http://www.itnewsafrica.com/?p=5256)