What I found particularly interesting about this story wasn’t the fact that mom’s were using Facebook to voice their concerns (the term ‘mommy bloggers’ was born due to their large influence in the social media world), but rather P&G’s response which is highlighted in a Social Media Influence article. They acted fast, distributed SEO friendly content, used an integrated media approach (local TV news and YouTube) and they were clear on the product changes.

Too often in a crisis situation, organizations tend to remain quiet and address the issue with more of an internal focus versus responding immediately to public outcry. P&G did the exact opposite and set up an immediate, integrated media effort to respond to the comments being made on social media. From interviews with local TV stations to posting videos from experts on its YouTube channel to address concerns, it was obvious that P&G was monitoring the conversation taking place on multiple channels and responding when appropriate. It is clear they have previously discussed possible online crises and developed a plan that allowed for quick response within the correct channels.

To me the most impressive part of their response was the way that they acknowledged and validated the parents’ concerns. P&G even added additional customer-service representatives in order to provide additional time to speak with consumers with questions about the Pampers product. They have admitted that their initial launch of the product lacked detail and may have caused some confusion with parents. I find some comfort in the fact they are listening to their audiences and taking action to rectify the issue.

It will be very interesting to watch the debate continue between consumers and P&G. Will the social media storm continue to grow? Or will P&G’s efforts successfully satisfy shoppers and the media. We can praise the transparency and speed in which P&G responded to the complaints – a practice we should all learn from.

• Always remember your audience and the impact that social media will have on them. Sometimes we get so caught up in the tools that we forget to think about how our audience will interact.
• Social media isn’t about controlling a message, it’s how we engage and build channels to facilitate conversations.
• When it comes to social media, measure outcomes vs. outputs.
• Social gaming is a powerful communication tool. Just take a look at everyone’s favorite Facebook game Farmville. Launched in July 2009, Farmville now has 83 million monthly active users.
• Fifty-five percent of social gamers are women with an average age of 43. (I would have never guessed that!)
• One-third of all online participants are conversation drivers, the remaining participants are conversation passengers. Social media can be a great tool to engage both.
• A good coach doesn’t just tell people what to do. They frame the conversation so that people come to a conclusion themselves. (My personal favorite tip of the day.)

With the constant growth and change in social media there is so much to learn about different uses and applications with unique audiences. Have you successfully used social media to engage with an audience? Any tips or best practices you would like to share?

What I find most interesting about this event isn’t so much Biden’s choice of words, but rather what happened after he made the statement and the response from the White House. Sure, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs could have issued an official statement or addressed the press corps directly, but instead he turned to social media, more specially, Twitter, with the following tweet: “And yes Mr. Vice President, you’re right…”

This brief, 41-character tweet is just one of many recent examples of the power of social media as a communication tool. From world events such as the earthquake in Haiti or the protests of the presidential election in Iran last June, Twitter has provided – and will continue to provide – a new way to report on the stories of the day.

Whether you’re a fan or Twitter, or not, the social media tool is here to stay and will most likely continue to explode…and continue to report on explosions (verbal and otherwise) that happen in this world we share.

Change in how we communicate is certainly a constant in our life today. How are you and your organization adapting to that change? Are you taking advantage of the ways to more efficiently communicate with your employees or with your customers?

The Vandiver Group has utilized the evolving social media technologies to enable change in the way we communicate as employees and as company representatives. TVG’s Pulse program and proprietary software creates an online, social space for more efficient and engaging conversations. Learn more about the Pulse program from our online Pulse booklet.

Pulse for Focus Groups
Instead of taking weeks or months to set up a focus group, Pulse efficiently brings together an online group, facilitates conversation, identifies key trends and builds summary reports. Pulse can gather valuable information from global audiences at the same time.

Pulse for Public Engagement
Managing public comments and responses is tedious. Pulse streamlines the process by taking large quantities of data and creating charts and graphs that capture public comment results.

Pulse for Brainstorming
Instead of scheduling multiple meetings and conference calls, Pulse uses an online platform to facilitate communication and collaboration. Employees in the same office or a network of offices can share ideas and opinions 24/7.

Pulse for Employee Engagement
Pulse engages employees in a two-way conversation to identify hot topics within an organization. Conversations allow employees to become more connect to the organization and builds the employee brand.

What does social media mean for employees? Paul Van Klaveren, Director of Branding and Social Media at TVG, addressed this topic in his recent presentation at Webster University titled: Engaging Your Employees: Web 2.0. Below is a quick summary of the presentation.

Even if your organization isn’t formally using social media to communicate, you can bet that your employees are already using it. They are using Facebook, Twitter and Glassdoor (just to name a few) to talk about their experiences while on the job. Using the power of social media, organizations have a unique opportunity to become part of the online conversation and create two-way dialogue between employees and organizational leadership. Some examples of ways that social media can be utilized in the corporate world include:

• Capturing Employee Feedback
• Training & Education
• Employee Recruitment
• Project Collaboration

Not only does social media allow organizations to collect real-time data, but it is often a cost effective solution to allow employees who do not work in the same office to connect and share ideas. Social media can also have an impact on the overall culture of an organization by creating an environment that acknowledges employee input and values their comments.

But, before jumping into social media as a means of employee engagement, there are a few things you should keep in mind:

• Remember the importance of monitoring social media for mentions of your organization.
• Develop Web 2.0 policies and training to establish expectations and guidelines for employees using social media.
• Make sure to get buy in from C-level executives. They should be participating in the conversation and letting employees know they are listening.
• Instead of employees starting their own conversations on various social media outlets, create the space for them. This could be a micro site available on the company intranet or something as simple as a designated Facebook page. As long as you create a means for engagement, conversations will begin and a community will start to build.

Thank you to everyone who came out bright and early to listen to Paul’s presentation and thank you to the team at Webster University for hosting the event. Click here for more information on TVG’s social media or employee communications programs.

Unfortunately, with all of the subscriptions, it is rare that I have the time to read an entire article. However, last night one particular post titled, “Hamster on a Wheel” on PR-Squared caught my attention. The overall message of the article really resonated with me, and I’m sure many other young professionals. There were several key points that I found particularly interesting:

• It may be hard to recognize sometimes, but “getting frustrated” is not the same as “getting stale” or “burning out.”
• It is not your manager’s responsibility to motivate you on a consistent basis. You have to take personal responsibility for motivating and challenging yourself. (This applies to everyone, at all levels in an organization).
• Sure, it’s great to get good feedback in your annual review. But ultimately, achieving small, personal goals will be just as satisfying, if not more. “Cuz only y-o-u know what you’re really bad at, terrified of, need to work on; only y-o-u know what’s going to make you feel like a world-beater.”

I plan to put the advice from this article to use throughout the rest of the summer months. I guess I’m still a kid at heart because when it’s sunny and 80 degrees outside, it’s a little bit of a fight to stay motivated and focused on my work. Hopefully setting some small personal goals will help me fight the fight and stay on task.

One of the project teams I am currently a part of has been tasked with developing the copy for a variety of marketing tools – Web site, brochures, print advertisements, etc. I’ve always enjoyed writing – that is until I run into the dreaded writer’s block. (This morning I think I spent a half hour trying to finesse two sentences.) So, I’ve taken a brief break to draft this blog post hoping that a switch in topics will get the brain waves flowing again.

This isn’t the first time I’ve been faced with this dilemma, nor am I sure will it be the last. I have a few strategies that usually help. I know it’s kind of unusual, but I have never been able to work well in silence. In school, I was that girl who went to the quiet library to study armed with headphones and an iPod. I’m the same way at the office. If I really need to focus and get something done, I put in the ear buds and start working. (Which reminds me; I really should let my cube neighbors know when I have headphones on. There have been several one-way conversations that have occurred because they don’t know I’ m not listening. Sorry Kanna and Phil!)

This recent episode got me wondering what other tricks and tactics people use to break though writer’s block. Do you try to work in a different location? Use a pen vs. typing on a computer? I’m sure there are lots of different strategies out there. Your thoughts and input are greatly appreciated!

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for a little social media detox. I have enough things in my life to worry about already without adding updating my Facebook page to the list. I’ve actually heard a person tell a friend to delete a digital photo that was just taken because “it was not Facebook-able.” (Pardon if that is misspelled, but I’m not even sure if it is a word!?!)

Not to completely write off social media – I do enjoy keeping in touch with friends and I have learned a thing or two from recommendations provided via social media outlets. It has also provided companies and organizations the opportunity to really connect with their customers and create communities. I just think some people have taken it to the extreme.

Case in point – CNN.com recently posted a story titled “Five Clues That You Are Addicted to Facebook.” Not going to lie, I laughed when I saw the headline, but after reading the story it seems that this is a legitimate problem for some people.

You can read the entire article for the full story, but to summarize, here is what CNN listed as the “Five Clues That You Are Addicted to Facebook”:

1. You lose sleep over Facebook.

2. You spend more than an hour a day on Facebook.

3. You become obsessed with old loves.

4. You ignore work in favor of Facebook.

5. The thought of getting off Facebook leaves you in a cold sweat.

I would write some more commentary about the issue, but I need to go check my Facebook page.

Another reminder that spring is just around the corner is the beginning of interviews for summer interns at The Vandiver Group. I could hardly believe it when I met our first candidate a couple of weeks ago (I think we must have skipped half of January or something this year!) After returning to my desk and validating the fact that it ACTUALLY is the end of February, I thought it might be a good opportunity to do a quick refresher on some dos and don’ts of interviewing.

1. You can never be too early! Like I mentioned above, at TVG, we are interviewing for our summer intern positions now. While May seems like years away, many organizations begin looking at future staffing levels far in advance in order to be prepared for upcoming projects. The closer we get to mid-May, the more and more resumes start to pour in our inboxes. Take the opportunity to start early and get out in front of your competition!

2. Be prepared. Bring extra copies of your resume, samples of your work and don’t be surprised if you’re asked to complete a writing exercise as part of the interview process.

3. Ask questions – if you need to, prepare a list of questions you have about the organization. And don’t forget to include questions about the culture of company. While skills and work experience are important, it’s also important to make sure that you are a good fit with personality and culture of the organization.

4. You’ve heard it a thousand times, but you need to turn off/silence your cell phone. Even if it is on vibrate, trust me, the buzzing sound is noticeable and is distracting during an interview.

5. Many companies accept cover letters and resumes via email. When submitting your information electronically, be aware of the file names. Files saved as “Resume to use for marketing jobs” or “Use this one” do not appear to be professional.

Best of luck to those beginning the interviewing adventure! I know it can be a nerve-racking experience, but my best advice is to make the interview more of a conversation versus a question and answer session. Oh, and one other reminder, don’t forget to send a thank you note following the interview.

If you need more tips and advice on preparing for interview season, check out Monster.com’s Advice page with job search, resume and interview tips and samples.