If there’s one field that has changed beyond recognition due to the Internet and social media, it’s PR.
The world wide web has opened up so many outreach opportunities, it seems like your creativity and imagination are your only limits.
Let’s chat about the most PR-friendly PR social media platform – Twitter – and how to utilize it to its full potential.
***Add #VCBuzz chats to your calendar here.
***Please sign in here to follow the chat -> twchat.com/hashtag/vcbuzz
About Carrie Eddins @blondepreneur
Carrie Eddins @blondepreneur is chief connection officer humanising #PR & #Content!
Carrie adores celery juice, fruit, animals, trees, and chat! She is the host of #Blondeabout fortnightly tweet up.
I Know now many people like celery juice it's so good for you, @Medicalmedium got me into with his books and work ! #vcbuzz
— Carrie Eddins (She /her) (@blondepreneur) January 25, 2022
Check out Carrie’s site -> The Blondepreneur
Questions we discussed
Q1 How did you become a digital marketer? Please share your career story! And how on Earth did you come up with that domain name?
I just was an early adopter first of Twitter really, and I just found it fun and it went from there, quite random really to be honest!
And then after Uni- I have a degree in Peace Studies, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do this was in the late 90s, so pre-social media, I fell into life coaching and then onto Twitter!!
I came up with the blondepreneur at a early am meeting, those 30 seconds I had been tweeting all night & flippantly said: ‘I’m blonde & entrepreneurial, no question too blonde as I’m the blondepreneur, and that was it.
Q2 Why Twitter? What makes it the most PR-friendly social media network?
Twitter is where 90% of the media hang out, so it’s if you want to get media coverage you need to be on here to grow your impact, authority and reach!
Also, news stories literally break first on here… in seconds.. before anywhere else!! in every area politics, arts, sports ,business etc.
A2 I love Twitter because it is so open: You can reach out to anyone! #vcbuzz
— Ann Smarty (@seosmarty) January 25, 2022
A2: Twitter is less judgmental channel compared to others. It’s easy to make conversation, engage and support/ be supported #VcBuzz
— Asangi (@asangi_j) January 25, 2022
"Report: 83% of journalists use Twitter—but most still want email pitches" @PRDaily https://t.co/0nfQk73Axc #vcbuzz https://t.co/7FHGkk38xA
— Gail Gardner (@GrowMap) January 25, 2022
A2: Not always friendly, lol. But I prefer to get my news here. I get to choose my feed. You can reach anywhere on the globe.
— Lori Anding ? || Introverted SoMe extrovert (@southbaysome) January 25, 2022
?That’s some brand reach?#vcbuzz #tweetchat https://t.co/eK56foznVD
A2. Twitter has such a strong conversational element and fast reaction time. It's a natural fit for PR. #vcbuzz
— Dana Lemaster Author (@LemasterAuthor) January 25, 2022
Q3 How to use Twitter for PR outreach?
Lots of ways really you can use the search bar to find key journalists, and see who they work for, often it is more than just one place.
You can use Twitter by using hashtags to find who is commenting literally up to the second about something you want to get noticed for.
A3: Cultivate relationships with influencers and reporters who cover your industry and share information with them. #vcbuzz
— Courtney Rogers (@CourtneyMRogers) January 25, 2022
Also, you see through the hashtags which journalists who are talking about something and then pitch them a follow up too.
You can see news outlets and journalist who are not talking about something, then then use that as data to pitch them too.
A3: #Journorequest: This is a hashtag used by journalists to find case studies and comments for the reports they're working on. Search for the hashtag journorequest to monitor for suitable opportunities. Make sure to pitch quickly, concisely and be relevant. #vcbuzz
— Salman Saleem (@salmanlashkari) January 25, 2022
There are so many ways really to use Twitter as outreach to be honest!! So many 🙂
For me whether you hire an agency or someone like me or not, Twitter is a gold mine for up to the second information for you to use for your PR campaigns it’s a no brainer.
A3. 1. Connect with right people.
— Amal Ghosh (@AmalGhosh3) January 25, 2022
2. Engage in various Twitter chats.
3. Try to build strong relationships.
4. Use relevant hashtags for better reach.#vcbuzz
A3
— Debi Norton (@BRAVOMedia1) January 25, 2022
* Connect w/ the ppl who support your industry/cause
* Participate in Chats that align with your business (like #VCBuzz )
* Engage with the community
* Reach out directly
A3. Take part in conversations through hashtags. Engage in Twitter chats. Chances are, you'll find like-minded people & develop relationships with them. Over time, they form your community. #vcbuzz
— Dana Lemaster Author (@LemasterAuthor) January 25, 2022
A3:
— Lori Anding ? || Introverted SoMe extrovert (@southbaysome) January 25, 2022
✴️ Share you expertise.
✴️ Join chats and show you’re a thought leader in your field.
✴️ Co-host other peoples’ chats.
Be searchable. Twitter’s search ability is AWEmazing. Find people you need to be connected to and make #twitterlists.
There is so much you can do.#vcbuzz https://t.co/zcwyaCFhwF
Q4 How to use Twitter to identify PR opportunities and build useful business relationships?
This can be answered on many levels really. short answer it depends on what your goals are both short-term and long term.
You need to be clear on what media your target consumes first and then find and follow them on Twitter.
A4: Social listening and competitive monitoring do wonders for PR on Twitter. #vcbuzz
— Don Dingee (@don_dingee) January 25, 2022
Then you need to daily I would honestly track the trends on the right hand side where the news stories break and see how you can comment on these.
As you start to do this, comment on breaking newstories and tagging key targeted media they will start to notice you and in time actually come to you! This is newsjacking on Twitter.
A4
— Debi Norton (@BRAVOMedia1) January 25, 2022
Look, Listen & Engage
Simple, not easy #VCBuzz
Some people might prefer to just find and follow journalists and keep nurturing the relationships as sooner rather than later they will be asking for help directly on their Twitter feed and not using any hashtags!!
A4. Hashtags can help to identify stories and issues in relevant areas, but there's no substitute for engaged listening. In the long run, that will lead you to the best sources and most satisfying relationships. #vcbuzz
— Dana Lemaster Author (@LemasterAuthor) January 25, 2022
In terms of building business, it’ s all about like know and trust, so show up as a human using what I call ‘soft Pr, which is about empathy, kindness, laughter too.. instead of trying to get something from them helps!
A4: Look for those who report on or who are influential in your industry, and engage in conversations with them. Interacting with others in their spheres of influence can also help you identify and build more strategic relationships. #vcbuzz
— Courtney Rogers (@CourtneyMRogers) January 25, 2022
And finally I say.. decide times when you are free to go onto Twitter and be fully present, nurture those relationships, without an outcome in mind and magic will start to happen, you will start to get noticed.
A4: Connect, make conversation, engage and be consistent with those efforts #VCBuzz
— Asangi (@asangi_j) January 25, 2022
A4: Start by researching and then engaging, consistently.#VCBuzz
— John Buglino (@john_buglino) January 25, 2022
And finally, the best way to find media opportunities and build useful relationships is to fully be yourself, and the perfect people for you, will find you, and want to get to know you!
This is why Twitter chats are an excellent investment of your time: building relationships without an outcome in mind that WILL lead to future benefits for all involved. #vcbuzz https://t.co/QGIJaSAKtu
— Gail Gardner (@GrowMap) January 25, 2022
Q5 What are your favorite Twitter networking and community building tools?
I find tools tricky sometimes but I trialled @agorapulse last year and found it really helpful! We are all different, so it depends on the individual needs and learning styles for me.
A5
— Debi Norton (@BRAVOMedia1) January 25, 2022
My favorite Twitter networking tool is participating in awesome chats to connect with real people within my industry. Hence – creating community.#VCBuzz
Yeah for sure they are the best! Totally forgot about that one… blonde moment..
Our previous Twitter and PR marketing chats:
- How to Use Twitter to Build Relationships with Sarah Clay @CurlyClay
- How to Make the Most of Your Twitter Chat with Alan K’necht @aknecht
- Get Your Content Re-Tweeted, Pinned and Shared on Auto-Pilot: ViralContentBuzz RSS Feature
- Twitter Marketing Productivity Twitter Chat with Tim Fargo @alphabetsuccess
- Twitter Management Chat with @KirksFletcher of @swftsocial
- How to Set Up an Effective Outreach Campaign with Gareth Simpson @SimpsonGareth