Happy Fourth of July Weekend! Enjoy your holiday celebrations and, as always, stay safe. Don’t forget you have an extra day off, use it wisely! In honor of reaching the halfway point of 2010, (and if you missed them the first time around) here are our favorite TVG blog posts from the first half of the year. 

The New Face of Advertising  - Discussing the shift in advertising and marketing since the changes in the economy and the growth of social media over the last two years.

Tweeting is a Big F****** Deal – A new way to respond to a crisis or media slip up, from the perspective of the White House Press Secretary.

FTC Moving from Guidelines to Action. Blogging Fashionistas, Watch Out! – Taking a look at the FTC’s new regulations on full disclosure and endorsements in social media in light of the first warning issued to Ann Taylor Loft.

Is BP doing the right thing?  - The TVG crisis communications team assesses BP’s PR approach to the Gulf oil spill.

 Growing the Agriculture Industry in Social Media – The continued growth of social media platforms have impacted countless industries in 2010, here TVG looks at the changes from the perspective of the agriculture industry.

Enjoy and have a wonderful Fourth of July.

Hope everyone has managed to stay cool during the end of June heat!  Check out what’s been on our minds at TVG this week.

1. TVG’s Shelley Lester helped successfully run the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) June program this Thursday.  Attendees enjoyed a delicious lunch while Steve Hughes of Hit Your Stride LLC gave advice on how to use stories to engage your audience.
2. The replacement of General McChrystal following his comments in Rolling Stones’ “The Runaway General” gave us a lesson in the power of media. Even with the rise of social media and new communication technologies, knowing how to talk to a reporter is still crucially important.  TVG offers media training to help you avoid situations like this one.
3. Farewell to former TVG client, President Casino, who shut their doors for good this week after flooding forced them to close earlier than expected.
4. iPhone 4 was released this week in the midst of huge media buzz with 1.5 million sold on the first day. What kind of impact do you think Apple’s new technology will have on the way we communicate?
5. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) began installing new highway signs this week to help guide both visitors and locals to St. Louis’s biggest attractions. For a list of participating institutions click here.

That’s all for the Friday Five, have a safe and enjoyable weekend!

The rain has stopped in St. Louis just in time for the weekend! Happy Friday and enjoy a hot and sunny next couple of days. Here’s what was on our minds this week.

1. TVG is a finalist for the Top PR Firm in St. Louis! Check us out in the Best of the Best poll on the Small Business Monthly site and vote for your favorite small businesses.
2. Scott Langley, St. Louis native and son of former TVG staff member Carol Langley, heads to Pebble Beach to compete in the U.S. Open.  See how Scott and the rest of the participants are fairing.
3. Don’t forget this Sunday is Father’s Day! It’s a great opportunity to plan something fun with your dad. Here are some great ideas for things to do in St. Louis this Father’s Day weekend.
4. Twitter began testing the new “Promoted Trends” advertising in which brands can pay to appear below the “Trending Topics” at any given moment.  These new ads are unobtrusive, but will they be effective?
5. Pinnacle Worldwide (PWW) joined forces with the international PR network 27&More this week to help expand the reach of each network. This will give TVG and other members of each network access to the best PR consultancies all over the world.

Thank you for visiting our blog and come back next week.

Social media is now a part of everyday life in public relations and marketing industries. Often we look at social media from the focus of an individual or a company. Today, we want to consider how social media can bring together and benefit an industry.

With every unique industry, social media moves at a different speed and takes shape in different forms.  Consumer products, health care, restaurants, real estate…each industry takes a unique approach to social media.

One of the most interesting industries TVG works with in social media is agriculture.  As an industry driven by farmers who often have limited access to high-speed internet, and who are rooted in a strong tradition and history, social media has been perhaps a bit slower to catch on.

2010 has brought into focus two main ways in which social media will grow and benefit agriculture. These two elements can also be applied to many other industries. 

• Collaboration and best practice sharing among the industry.
• Building a stronger brand among industry influentials and the general public.

Collaboration and Best Practices

Social media uses technology to build and foster communities and conversations.  It is a resource that allows barriers of time and space to break down and it creates more opportunities to communicate and collaborate.

There are some great examples of how this is already working. As of early 2010, more than 25 different state farm bureaus were on Twitter, in addition to many commodity groups, industry media and individual farmers. Planned weekly Twitter conversations like #AgChat bring together the industry to discuss hot topics on a weekly basis.  Commodity groups are also funding social media efforts. The National Corn Growers Association has a multitude of social media channels, including a blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and a newly launched Podcast. And one of the best examples, the Future Farmers of America, is bringing together young farmers on various social networks like Facebook, as well as their own micro-social network of more than 5,000 members.

These groups are setting a precedent for how to communicate and collaborate as an industry. As the Future Farmers of America take their place as the new leaders in agriculture, their enthusiasm for new media and communication technologies will continue to move the industry toward new methods of communicating.

Communicating with the Public

The second focus of social media – targeting external audiences – presents a greater challenge and yet perhaps the greatest reward for agriculture.  The social media world we live in has changed the way consumers want to relate to the companies, brands and products they purchase.  Consumers want a more personal connection to companies and want companies to be more socially aware and transparent about their practices and products. 

In agriculture, consumers want to know more about their food, where it comes from and who the people and companies are who produce it.  Films like Food, Inc. and authors like Michael Pollan have been a part of this trend and are aggressively using social media to spread their opinions and perspectives on food.

Often that perspective on U.S. food and the image of the agriculture industry is missing one important voice—that of the American farmer.

Because of this, many industry corporations and commodity groups are helping farmers to get their voice heard. Some good first steps to get more engaged include social media training, online videos featuring farmers and commenting on blogs or news articles you agree or disagree with.

It is important in 2010 for all industries to become more involved in discussions and communities in social media so an accurate and informative image can be delivered to consumers. 

The U.S. consumer is craving information and a direct connection.  Social media is providing that direct connection, a connection that has the power to bolster the U.S. farming brand and the brands of countless industries and companies around the world.

1. TVG won first place in the SMPS Archie Awards this week in the brochure category for our Pulse Feedback Software program. Shelley Lester accepted the award on TVG’s behalf.
2. Several members of the TVG staff are attending the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, which takes place this weekend in downtown St. Louis. Good luck to everyone participating in the race!
3. The frenzy begins as the 2010 World Cup kicks off in South Africa. No doubt any and all social media outlets will be buzzing with updates on scores, stats and predictions. Make sure you know how to keep up!
4. BP bought the top sponsored links on Google and Yahoo’s search results this week. This tactic is aimed at improving its public image, but will it work? TVG offers web development and SEO to help improve online presence for even the toughest cases.
5. If you’re headed to the St. Louis Brewers Heritage Festival this weekend be safe and enjoy! Events like this one are made possible through Forest Park Forever and their dedication to sustaining the park for everyone’s enjoyment. Help them keep the park looking its best!

A lot of commentary lately has centered on BP and how they are handling the oil spill crisis. In last Friday’s issue of the St. Louis Business Journal, TVG’s Andy Likes commented on how BP has handled things from a PR perspective and how it’s a lesson in what not to do. See what he and other PR pros have to say.

Hello all, my name is Claire Eckelkamp and I am the newest member of the TVG team. I am a recent grad of the Missouri School of Journalism and I am thrilled to join this amazing staff! Here’s what else is new this week.

1. Memorial Day was this past Monday and gave us an extra day of rest, but more importantly, a chance to remember those who have bravely served our country. We here at TVG thank all the men and women who protect our freedoms every day.
2. This week the 20th Leffingwell Hat Luncheon was held in Forest Park to benefit our 2010 pro bono client, Forest Park Forever. Attendees, including members of our very own TVG staff, flocked to the World’s Fair Pavilion in hats ranging from elegant to outrageous. This event demonstrates a creative way to raise awareness within a local community. Hats off to all who support this wonderful asset to our region!
3. We all know social media is about making connections, and Twitter is making it a little easier for us. This week they tested a “You Both Follow” feature, which will let you see the followers you have in common with someone before choosing to follow them. Similar to the mutual friends reference on Facebook, this new Twitter feature adds deeper connections to the site and lets us follow people within a more meaningful context. Make sure and find TVG on Twitter for updates on what’s new in social media.
4. Next week TVG’s own Andy Likes is playing in the St. Patrick’s Irish Open Golf Tournament. Proceeds go toward providing homeless services in Missouri, such as housing, employment and mental health programs.
5. The paradoxical Twitter account BPGlobalPR, which tweets daily about the company’s shortcomings, exceeds BP’s actual Twitter account by more than 100,000 followers. Yesterday the man behind the BPGlobalPR account identified himself (sort of) and explained some of his reasons for creating the account. Make sure you are monitoring what people say about your brand. Check out TVG’s Pulse software, which lets you monitor and analyze conversations centered on your business.
   

I am not a mother myself, so I usually do not pay much attention to media stories about baby toys, bottles or diapers. But this month, one story about Procter & Gamble’s Pampers brand caught my attention. Using the power of social media to communicate their frustrations, angry mothers were using a Facebook page to detail incidents of chemical burns as a result of the diaper’s new design. From one simple Facebook page, the conversation grew to include print stories and a report on CNN on May 6.

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.

April showers bring May flowers, but lately it’s been the opposite here in the Midwest. May has been filled with rain!  But enough about the weather, here is what’s new and hot this week.

1. Donna was in North Carolina this week for the Pinnacle Worldwide (PWW) conference.  PWW is a network of more than 50 privately-owned PR firms around the globe, for which Donna serves as President.  The group shares best practices and collaborates on various projects.
2. Here at TVG we love Panera lunch meetings. This week Panera Bread Co., or St. Louis Bread Co. as it’s known around here, has been making national news for opening a non-profit location in Clayton, Missouri.  The St. Louis Bread Company Cares Café asks patrons to “pay what they can” for their food.  The concept is not new in the restaurant world, but it is the first national chain to take on the initiative.
3. You probably have already heard the buzz about Google’s homepage today, but I can’t resist sharing.  Today the logo is in honor of Pac-Man’s 30^th anniversary, but boy, Google has outdone itself yet again.  Check out Google.com and select “Insert Coin” right next to the normal search button. Just watch out for Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde!
4. One last reminder for St. Louis to check out the Ag Innovation Showcase next week at the Danforth Plant Science Center.  If you are interested in attending, use the discount code AG20AT and receive 30% off of the registration price. You can register here.
5. As an industry we are constantly looking for ways to monitor the fast paced conversation on social media.  This week try a new search engine, Kurrently, searches Twitter and Facebook simultaneously.  Facebook can be a difficult site to search and this tool is a great real-time solution, while also capturing the Twitter conversation. Thank you to Jay Baer for sharing!

What is on your Friday 5 this week?

1. Looking to work in social media, marketing, public relations, graphic design or web development?  TVG is hiring entry level positions and summer internships so contact us at 314-991-4641 or direct message Kelly Ferrara on Twitter.
2. Most companies are working up strategies to join Facebook, but some people are talking about leaving the massively popular social network.  Due to changes in their privacy settings and sharing of user’s information, unhappy customers are planning a Facebook exodus on May 31.
3. TVG is partnering again this year with the Ag Innovation Showcase being held at the Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis on May 24-25. If you are interested in attending, use the discount code AG20AT and receive 30% off of the registration price. You can register here.
4. Check out the news any given day and you’ll find a new crisis developing. For almost every crisis there is an organization or multiple organizations with a brand and reputation being impacted. Whether it is an oil spill, a plane crash or an employee’s actions, organizations everywhere are impacted by unforeseen crises. Make sure your organization has a crisis communications plan in place. For more information you can check out TVG’s services.
5. If you have attended a training session or conference on social media, changes are you’ve seen the Social Media Revolution video filled with stats and figures on the power and growth of online communications. Last week the video’s producer, Erik Qualman, released an updated version with new statistics.  If you need to convince anyone on the influence and power of social media, show them this video!

Happy Friday everyone and have a safe and fun-filled weekend.