Pinterest has emerged recently as another innovative social media forum that is rapidly growing in popularity. Given this reality, Bolt PR poses the question: Is this new social network going to become another beneficial marketing medium, like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+ outlets have, for businesses to consider when developing social media strategy and overall effective public relations and marketing campaigns?

HOW IT WORKS: Pinterest , an online vision board, allows users to create and manage theme-based image collections they find interesting or inspiring. As users upload or share photos, the images become known as “pins,” which the user can then place on customized, themed boards for other Pinterst users to view, follow and “repin” as they like.

Skyrocketing in reputation over the last year, currently with more than 3.2 million monthly unique visitors, fashionistas, foodies, and brides-to-be are just some of the many who have fully embraced the site to explore creative and visually appealing ideas for their next dinner, hone décor, date or outfit. As a result, leading lifestyle brands have recognized Pinterest as a key platform to leverage for brand engagement and awareness.

According to Experian Hitwise, Pinterest, an  invitation-only site, now has 40 times the number of total visits it had six months prior and is quickly finding its way into the top 10 websites for social networking. Clearly, the popularity of this emerging social network is not slowing anytime soon – consumer businesses will want to carefully watch this evolving community and brainstorm tactics to effectively tap into this sea of target consumers.

If you’re debating the leap into Pinterest, here are a few examples to keep in mind:

• Bakeries: Post pictures of delicious and decorative wedding cakes, birthday cupcakes and recipes for top-selling cookies
• Fitness and Health Providers: Share impactful exercises on your own fitness equipment, images of inspiring fitness role models and health tips and diet plans
• Travel Company: Showcase pictures of desirable destinations, including resorts, restaurant, golf clubs and more, tips on how to take a cost-cutting vacation, and fashionable luggage
• Designers/Stylists/Salons: Highlight images of favorite looks, top trending clothing and accessories, and how to dress to impress on a budget

Keep in mind though, there is one downside to this new-found gem: If you want to join, you’ll have to request an invite and endure the waiting list.

Are you pinning? We would love to hear your Pinterest experience! Please share with us below.

Bolt PR | Public Relations | Social Media | Marketing | Crisis Communication

Raleigh, NC | Orange County, CA

According to the report, text messaging rates in large texting markets, such as Finland and Hong Kong, are on the decline. Christmas Eve text messaging, one of the biggest days for sending messages on Finnish carrier Sonera, dropped from 10.9 million in 2010 to 8.5 million in 2011. A similar 14% decline was seen in Hong Kong on Christmas Day this year.

So, what gives? The Forbes report blames social networks, such as Twitter and Facebook, for this reduction in messages. This trend isn’t just occurring overseas. Text messages are also declining in the United States thanks to social networking and apps like the iMessage from Apple.

Still, people aren’t ready to forgo sending and receiving texts all together. According to a Pew Research Center Global Attitudes Project study published in December 2011, about 75 percent of cellphone users in 21 countries said they still send texts.

Do you think text messaging will be replaced by other platforms and services in the future? Weigh in and leave us a comment below.

Bolt PR | Public Relations | Social Media | Marketing | Crisis Communication

Raleigh, NC | Orange County, CA

Sites like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+ have become a part of most American’s daily life, and nonprofit donors are starting to expect more social engagement from the organizations and causes to which they give.

Recently, PR Daily listed 10 reasons why nonprofits should be active on Twitter. We couldn’t agree more! Here are a few reasons that topped our list:

• You have something to say. You care about your company’s mission, have passion about the life-changing work you’re doing for the community, and others care about your causes. Now, spread the word about it.

• Your donors are on Twitter. If you start engaging on Twitter, chances are you will find donors. You’ll get to tell them about the great work their donations are helping to do for the cause– inspiring them to give more or spread the message to their own networks.

• You can build authority. By tweeting about your work and spreading awareness of your cause, you not only spark inspiration, but you also establish yourself as an authority on the work your company does.

Do you agree that nonprofits should be active on one of the world’s fastest-growing social media sites? Leave us a comment below.

Bolt PR | Public Relations | Social Media | Marketing | Crisis Communication

Raleigh, NC | Orange County, CA

The report shows that Zuckerberg and company are responsible for two-thirds of all Web traffic referred by social media sites. What does that mean, exactly? Out of every 10,000 links clicked, 66 of them were posted on Facebook.

No. 2 and 3, according to the report, are StumbleUpon and YouTube. The remaining social networks—including big players like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Google+—barely make a blip compared with the traffic that Facebook drives. Facebook now has over 1,000 times the amount of referrals as Google+.

Does this data change the way you view Google+ buzz? Will you choose one social network over the other? Weigh in and leave a comment here.

As you all know, we love supporting a good cause! Giving back to others is important to us, which is why we have a great cause to share with you, just in time for the holidays.

Cause Layouts™, the first and only free Facebook layouts that provide charities with cause-based social media fundraising tools, is teaming up with national organizations and charities to make a difference this season. Recently, Cause Layouts announced a partnership with the Isaiah Alonso Foundation, a nonprofit working to help families battling childhood cancer. The two organizations joined together to generate viral awareness and raise funds for cancer awareness. As part of this, Cause Layouts designed five free unique layouts for Isaiah Alonso Foundation supporters’ Facebook profiles.

Starting now, Facebook users can download any one of the five Isaiah Alonso Foundation layouts from Cause Layouts’ newly launched website http://causelayouts.com. Each layout highlights one specific family’s journey with cancer. For each original download of a layout, Cause Layouts will donate $1 back to the Isaiah Alonso Foundation. If downloads reach 10,000 or more and they remain displayed on users’ Facebook profiles for a minimum of 30 days, Cause Layouts will increase its donation to $2 per download, equaling a minimum donation of $20,000.

To join in and show your support, download one of the Isaiah Alonso Foundation layouts at http://causelayouts.com/Home/IsaiahAlonso. To learn more visit http://isaiahalonsofoundation.org/ or http://www.causelayouts.com.

• HeyTell – It’s a cross-platform voice messenger that allows you to instantly talk with friends and family. It’s a quick way to stay in touch and it’s faster than texting!

• Shazam – Love a song that’s playing on the radio, but don’t know what it is? Shazam lets you discover, buy and share the song that’s currently playing within minutes. Love it!

• Facebook – For work and for play, the Facebook App is clutch.

• Around Me – This app is amazing! It shows the nearest gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, etc. We can’t live without it!

• Twitter – Whether we’re tweeting, sending a twitpic or checking the latest news, we’re obsessed with the Twitter app!

• Words with Friends – A fun and competitive way to pass time and test your word knowledge.

Do you have a favorite you’d like to share with us? We’d love to hear it! Leave us a comment below.

During the month of October, Cause Layouts will host the “Choose Your Cause” Contest to reward one lucky participant with a $1,000 prepaid Visa card. To enter the $1,000 Cause Layouts Choose Your Cause Contest, participants must simply register online at http://giveaway.causelayouts.com/ with their name and email and choose their favorite cause. After submission, participants will have the option to download the Cause Layout of their choice for free. Once a supporter downloads a Cause Layout, the graphically enhanced background immediately appears on the outer edges of his or her Facebook profile page. For every original download of a Cause Layout, the company will donate $1 to the selected charity.

Cause Layouts™ (http://www.causelayouts.com) are the first and only free marketing layouts that provide charities with Cause-Based Social Media Fundraising™ tools on Facebook®. Cause Layouts allow supporters to customize the appearance of their profile, stay in-the-know on their favorite charity’s activities and events, and share the cause they support with other Facebook friends.

‘Tweets, ‘Likes’ and ‘+1’s have become everyday conversation. With all the frenzy that social media has brought to our lives both professionally and personally – a few questions come to mind: which social media platform triumphs the rest? Can more than one social network influence a world?

With a reported 750 million global users, Facebook is currently the world’s largest social network and the social media king of the web. Its popularity has undoubtedly immersed itself in our society – with ‘check-ins,’ ‘likes’ and ‘tags’ – but can this king loose its thrown?

A new kid has moved on to the social media block: Google+. Within the span of a few days, Google+ opened its doors to the public, after only offering selective access for months. On the heels of the official launch, Facebook had an announcement as well: a facelift. The makeover included revamping its news feed to ensure all of your friend’s updates are front and center. Coincidence? Probably not. Facebook took one look at what Google was doing and jumped at the challenge.

With new buzz – rants and raves – circling both platforms, Google+ managed to out-announce Facebook this week by a wide margin. The search engine not only announced access to everyone, but it’s also offering an array of new features, such as turning ‘Hangouts’ into pseudo broadcast platforms. Within the last three months, Google+ has reached almost 20 million users and this expected to skyrocket in the coming weeks.

Although Facebook’s worldwide fan base is substantially higher, the social network is feeling the heat and the competition has officially begun.

One thing is certain, this is sure to be an entertaining match.

Will you stay loyal to one network or have a love affair with both? Will Google+ steal Facebook’s thunder or will it simply evolve to be MySpace’s evil stepsister? Can two kings share the social media thrown? The coming months will tell. Until then, we’ll be sitting ringside.

Here is a list ideas to share and post:

• Links to your blog
• Links to articles you are reading
• Youtube videos
• Insightful commentary on trending topics or current events
• Company news
• Links to company news coverage
• Photos from an event or every-day life
• Information about upcoming events
• Inspirational quotes
• Life lessons

For examples of this type of content in action, follow the Bolt PR team on Twitter at http://twitter.com/BoltPR or become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/BoltPR.

One thing to remember is that you don’t need to worry about producing all of the content because the “social” aspect of social networking is crucial.  Jump in, compliment and chat with others in your networks about their content and before long, producing content becomes second nature.

Here are 2 ways to avoid social media disasters that cause usually savvy business professionals to flee the new media scene:

1. Think twice before you post. Whether updating your status on behalf on your business or yourself, it is crucial think about the purpose of that post and if it aligns with how you want to be perceived. Double-check your spelling and grammar. Think again. Then go ahead and post.
2. Don’t ignore a negative comment. The horror stories about big name companies getting slammed online often stems from a few complaints or negative comments about the brand that went unnoticed and weren’t dealt with immediately. In order to handle these situations properly, businesses must monitor the conversation around their brands/services and then be ready to respond. The comment of “Thank you for voicing your concern, we are looking into it”, is perfectly acceptable until you can determine the next steps.

Above all, the more educated people become on social media and how to use it, the less scary it will be. Like all powers (not to get all Harry Potter on you), there is a dichotomy of positive and negative. There are any overwhelming amount of amazing stories about the good that social media has brought. The negative action will happen whether you are logged-in or not, but chances of stopping a viral catastrophe are much higher if you are already conversing on the networks.

How do you view the online social realm? Do you reside in the bubble like me? What are your fears?