Allow me to preface this blog by stating that I am a raving fan of Twitter. Through the power of the 140-character tweets, I have found new partners, clients, opportunities, vendors, trends and information. I have connected with people across the globe and right down my street whom I may not have otherwise communicated with. I am able to stay on top of the news and information that I care about and interact through my personal “following” selections. At the end of the day, because of Twitter, I am better informed, better connected, and more visible online.

So why does Twitter have such a bad reputation? The simple answer is that those who do not get behind the tool truly don’t understand its use and power. The other answers lie in the excuses reasons that people have recently told me as to why they do not like Twitter:

• “I don’t care about the delicious bagel you’re eating for breakfast.” Really? You have no interest in hearing about the best place in San Diego to get a bagel? Fair enough. Then skip over those 140 characters and focus on all of the other relevant content that’s accessible to you in real time right this second.
• “I don’t want everyone to know where I am at every second of the day.” Ok, then don’t tweet about where you are every second of the day. Tweet about what you want, when you want.
• “Who actually has time to ‘tweet’ all day?” (Insert sarcastic tone on the word ‘tweet’ – it’s my segue way to the next bullet point anyway). Use applications. Take a look at Hootsuite (my personal favorite) or SocialOomph. Or read one of our recent Bolt PR blogs about social media applications. And by the way, you don’t have to tweet every second of the day to be connected. You just have to be on Twitter and connect. There’s a difference.
• “How can I take something called ‘Twitter’ seriously for my business?” I don’t have an answer for you other than millions of other people (105+ million registered users, in fact) find the name satisfactory enough that they’re engaging online right now… including some of your customers and prospects. It’s the name and it’s not going to change anytime soon, so get on it or get left behind.

And there you have my Friday musings. I’d love to hear your reasons for loving Twitter, or other reasons you’ve heard why some people do not. Just leave your comments below. I look forward to tweeting with you soon!

Caroline and I (Anne) had the pleasure of speaking about some basic online PR strategies for this month’s “Third Thursdays at Kravet San Diego” event this morning to a wonderful group of interior designers.  We discussed branding, how to use LinkedIn as a visibility tool, and creating online press releases to provide easy-to-implement strategies for increased exposure. We have posted our powerpoint presentation below as a resource for event attendees and anyone else looking to create awareness for their business.

Please feel free to leave a comment or email us with any questions.

As I was listening to Pamela Perkins, Founder and CEO of Human Communication Institute (HCI), speak on “Effective Communication in Your Work and In Your Life” at the SCORE Women’s Networking Breakfast on Friday, I became acutely aware of the messages I was sending. A former college professor, she defined communication as what happens whenever meaning is attributed to behavior, or the residue of behavior.
Pamela asserted that everything starts with a thought.

What was I thinking? I was hoping that I looked like an engaged listener while having a flashback to my Comm. 101 class at University of Arizona. At the same time, I thought about the women I wanted to connect with before leaving the event and all of the projects that I needed to complete before the weekend.
Communication is an inside-out process. Thoughts spur actions.

How was my intrapersonal communication affecting my behavior and the message I was sending? Sitting up straight with my legs crossed, I took notes, made eye contact and laughed at the appropriate times during Pamela’s presentation. I made a conscious effort to show signs of receptive listening and hope that is how the speaker and fellow listeners interpreted my behavior. My other thoughts only affected future action. I did connect with the women I wanted to meet before rushing off to face the day. Luckily, my experience in Comm 101 was positive, so I don’t think it affected by behavior. However, I can imagine that a negative memory would alter one’s posture, expression, tone, etc. In turn, others attribute meaning to my behaviors based on their own thoughts. What a cycle!

I left the breakfast determined to be aware of what I communicate. I do a quick check on myself by asking these two questions:

• What am I thinking?

• What are my actions communicating?

Remember, communication starts with a thought by both the sender and receiver. What are your actions, or others’ interpretations of your behaviors, telling you about your thoughts? Let us know how this translates into your professional life.