Client Relations vs. Social Media

My colleague, Kendra Dubyk, and I were working on a client's PR plan for the upcoming year. We laid out several strategies including a heavy focus on media relations, some in-store promotion and a creative way to connect with the local community. The external campaign was then supported by some internal communication ideas to simultaneously keep our best marketing foot soldiers, the employees, engaged and pumped about the business.

A social media strategy, however, was glaringly missing. I, the person who promotes social media strategies so often in this very blog, was chicken! Our client is quite risk adverse. As with most businesses, much of their success is dependent on positive customer opinion, word of mouth and brand image.

How would the client react to potential negative online chatter about their products? How would we then justify having suggested this strategic direction? My desire for ongoing positive client relations was taking over my campaign suggestions. Then, Kendra put it all in context.

"Whether or not we develop a social media campaign has nothing to do with whether people are, or are not, going to talk about them online. People who have negative comments are already posting them. Not having a campaign of our own in this space only means we are choosing to ignore it."

The absence of a formal social media campaign would only mean omitting the opportunity to add additional positive messaging and discussion. It made the plan.

Stephen Harper Gives Voters Someone to Love?

Maybe not enough to win back certain voters from his budget cuts to the arts, but definitely enough to make him resonate with a much wider group who needs to see their Prime Minister as warmer and more personable before the next election.

Two thumbs up Prime Minister Harper.

Click here for the full video of Stephen Harper making a surprise appearance at the National Arts Centre gala and singing With a Little Help from My Friends.

A slightly shorter version is here on YouTube:

My daughter, now in grade two, is running for student council. This is very exciting given that I work in public affairs and, naturally, I've emotionally skipped ahead a few elections.

I decided going to Carolyn Bennett's corn roast last night would be a great opportunity for her to learn about the different levels of government, local community building, speeches and how to connect with your local constituent.

We met Carolyn Bennett MP, Eric Hoskins MPP, Councillor Joe Mihevc and school trustee Josh Matlow - the full spectrum of where she can take this passion should it last past grade three.

She prepared a question for Carolyn Bennett before we went: Do you come up with your ideas by yourself, with your community, or both?

Carolyn's answer was perfect. "Both. But you should test your ideas first on your community. If they don't like them they are probably not very good."

(Eric Hoskins also gave a valiant answer to this question with tremendous patience for which I am a little embarrassed about, because my daughter was more interested in her corn than listening to the answer of our newest MPP!)