Let me ask you a simple question.  Do you think it’s possible to reach nearly half a million viewers, while doing close to nothing? Well I do, and I can prove it.  Do me a favor: Use your favorite search engine, type Bank of America sings U2, click the first YouTube link and check out the number of viewers.  Told ya I’d prove it.

So our social media journey continues with the ever-so-popular YouTube!  In today’s world, you will often hear people say “everyone is a reporter.”  Thanks to YouTube, that statement has never been so true.  Founded in 2005, YouTube is the leader in online video.  With a couple of keystrokes you can upload and share video clips across the internet through websites, mobile devices, blogs and email.

I know, you’re thinking, whenever you receive a YouTube video it’s always something silly.  This is probably true, but while you will find the weird and quirky, you will also find current events and common interests.

How do we use this form of social media in the real world?  Easy.  Most stories can be told visually.  Think about that press conference that the media passed over, the playscape you helped build that did not garner the attention you felt it deserved or the footage from your company’s anniversary party (careful with this one … for obvious reasons).  With something as simple as a camera phone or digital camera, you can cover your own stories.  Or you can always visit your friends at McConnell Communications, Inc and we will do it for you.

Just because the major dailies and TV stations don’t find it newsworthy doesn’t mean someone else won’t.  Often times, your target audience is far beyond the newspaper, radio or television.

Side bar:  Video is also a cool way to market your company.  For example, Darci was preparing for a conference and thought about introducing potential clients to the firm by way of video.  I thought this was an excellent idea.  While the masses are passing out business cards, you’re passing out dvds with your contact information on them.  Move over kicker cards, hello creativity.   (I thought you’d like that little tid bit). And yes, we can do this too.

Back to our regularly scheduled program:

Still don’t believe that YouTube is a legit form of media?  Let’s re-examine my earlier request.  If you recall, about two years ago Bank of America acquired LaSalle Bank.  Newsworthy? Sure.  Interesting to the average twenty-something? Not a chance.  But tell me my usually uptight banker is singing my favorite U2 song and – How do I view it??? Hence, the 477, 000-plus viewers who are still interested in a banks merger two years later.

YouTube says it best with its slogan Broadcast Yourself!

By:  Jessica M. Hunt

Let me tell you a story that you more than likely will not believe. My boss is always reminding me that I need to engage myself in more professional development opportunities. “You need to get out the office,” is what she always says. My reply is always the same, “I don’t have time to get out of the office, there is work to be done here.” Noticing my reluctance, Darci made life even easier by finding a seminar for me (some boss aye?). Thanks to the guys over at the Public Relations Society of America I was being shipped off to sunny San Francisco, California. Now, here is the part you won’t believe…..I DID NOT WANT TO GO. I know, I know crazy right? I hate to fly (5 hour flight with lay over –ugh) and I had never traveled so far alone. But, never the less, I packed my bags, prepared for airport security and set out to continue my journey on the relationship between new media and public relations.

I did some research amongst my peers who had experienced tons of business travel and training seminars. The report was exactly the same: Stay awake in the seminar and try to get yourself a good dinner. What a great way to get excited! (I’m being sarcastic). On July 26, 2008 at UCSF Mission Bay I prepared myself for the worst. What I experienced that day was overwhelming, virtually unheard of; the seminar was awesome! I have so much to tell you guys about!

Right away, there were three points that stood out for me: The front page of the newspaper is becoming less and less important; more people view Google daily; and it is dangerous to measure new media standards by traditional ones. So, the question looms, how do we infiltrate the on-line media community? The easiest place to start is right here….blogging. Think of a blog as your very on web diary, or online conversation. I know you’re thinking, what place does a blog have in corporate America? If you haven’t realized it yet, your employees are your best word of mouthers! No one can sell the company quite like those who work there. They have an open invitation to the new media party, give them an extra hour for lunch, so they can attend. As public relations professionals, we are not welcome in the blogosphere. The idea is we are paid to be there, while you are there because you are passionate and you can’t buy passion.

I believe that blogger relations are at the heart of new media’s existence. We are given the opportunity to listen in on what others have to say about our field. Not only can we listen, but we can participate with our peers all around the world, engaging their views, opinions and ideas. Often times, blogging is effective crisis management, setting the record straight. Finally, blogging humanizes the company. By giving employees a voice, the stereotypical corporate America is softened.

I most certainly could go on and on about this subject, we have only scratched the surface. Instead I’ll give you a little homework. Google key words in your field and compare the number of blogs you find verses other traditional forms of media. The results might surprise you!

By:  Jessica M. Hunt

As an account executive, one of my daily duties is to read the newspaper, but as a twenty-something who rarely uses pen and paper, I find this duty a difficult task.  My life evolves around my laptop, smart phone and the World Wide Web.  I am definitely part of the generation obsessed with text messaging, Facebook and You Tube, just to name a few.

We live by a code:  if we can’t access it electronically, it might as well not exist.

Because of our affinity for all things electronic, there is a misconception that my generation is not interested in current events.  Nothing could be further from the truth; we just want it in the most creative way possible.  For us, social media has become an intricate component when attempting to reach the masses.

My generation is visually stimulated; for some reason, we can understand better if we see it; hence, the success of You Tube.  Just imagine: you can record a video on your cell phone and upload it in less than five minutes.  In five short minutes, you can reach billions of people all across the world.  Genius, don’t you think?

Then there is the social network, Facebook, one of the most ambitious of all the networks.  Think of a social network as a community atmosphere where you connect with people who have the same interest or activities.  Three areas allow Facebook to thrive in the realm of business.  One, they have a variety of applications; you can create your own interest group, sell anything from your collectibles, to your house and forward your business cards.  Two, you can receive email or text message alerts on your phone (I like to call this the double whammy).  Three, ITS ALL IN REAL TIME!

I bet you are still wondering why all these are important?  Well let me explain it to you.  You can reach a multitude of people about anything you can think of at the exact moment you think it.

Oh yeah, there is one other thing, and my cohorts will not appreciate this.  If you are the boss, you can log on and find out what your employees are really doing during work hours.

Sure, social networks are great for reconnecting with old friends and checking up on new ones, but believe me it is far more useful than just looking at pictures.  The next time you want to engage a youngster about social issues or politics, tell them to log on to your Facebook or MySpace page.  I guarantee you will have their undivided attention.