As digital communications specialists we spend a lot of time on Twitter and other social networks, watching and listening to what’s trending. This means we can add value to our clients by flagging up inspirational insights which they don’t have the time to look out for. Our new weekly ‘engaging reads’ blog feature filters everything out there in the Twittersphere and gives you a round-up of the three most inspiring things we’ve read this week. Let us know what you think!
Finding a Twitter mentor
This Fast Company blog by Amber Mac on seeking out a Twitter mentor really resonated with us as a young small business which uses Twitter on a daily basis to gain insight and inspiration. There is a school of thought that says meaningful business relationships cannot exist online alone and that at some point they need be taken into the ‘real world’ to prosper. Mac challenges this by looking at those that have found mentors on Twitter who they have never actually met. She quotes PR entrepreneur Heather Whaling: “It’s so easy now to strike up a conversation and, over time, build a meaningful relationship 140 characters at a time. Eventually, you may want to move that relationship beyond just Twitter if possible, but I don’t think that’s a requirement. You can learn a lot by identifying people who seem to share your worldview and just following their speaking, writing, and activities online.”
What do you think? Are online mentors the future? Who do you admire online? Our ebook ‘Power Your Personal Brand for 2013’ features some of our Yorkshire ‘heroes’ who’ve impressed us with their online personal brand.
Having it all
This week’s Stylist Magazine feature on ‘having it all’ by working parent Lucy Mangan moots the idea of redefining this over-used phrase – and indeed what we mean by ‘success’ in today’s society generally. The debate isn’t new (see my blog on whether working parents can have it all from a year ago) but Lucy’s column made a strong case for why living a life that fulfils a more rounded/sustainable ideal, rather than one focussed on soul sapping work and financial goals, is better for everyone. She says:“In specifically female terms, I’d suggest we need a new definition of ‘having it all’ which doesn’t involve believing in the mathematical impossibility that you can fit a full measure of professional achievement, a full measure of personal achievement and a full measure of flawless caring for children/husband/ageing parents/all three into one little life”. We agree – let’s stop trying to ‘have it all’ and instead focus on playing to our strengths. We find that by maintaining a healthy work-life balance we’re more productive and well-rounded, which benefits both us and our clients.
Facebook hashtags
Finally, this week’s big social media news is Facebook’s introduction of clickable hashtags. Digital marketer Ryan Northover’s socialmediatoday blog explores what it might mean for the future of Facebook, particularly how it will influence user behaviour and the impact for brands: “Previously, brands were only alerted to mentions of their brand name either via users commenting on brand pages or tagging brands in status updates (only users with public settings). Now, conceivably, brands will be constantly tagged in millions of conversations via Facebook, meaning not only will brand marketers have access to many times the volume of data currently available to do with what they want, they will also be able to encourage more real time conversation, and influence millions more conversations on social media.” We are excited to see how this will enhance online brand communications, #watchthisspace!
