Blogging4Jobs

Social Media case studies abound have hit the social media interwebs this week.  Three very powerful and different cases have reared their heads.  It is very important to conduct a SWOT analysis to analyze the environment in everything we do.  As the grey area between professional and personal continues to lessen, what we say offline is impacting every fiber of our lives more and more every day.

As someone who is blogging for Chevy, as part of the Gotta Love Chevy OK Blogging program, I am considering these things every day.  A well executed, communicated, and strategic plan like Chevy’s can go along way.

That’s where a SWOT Analysis comes in.  SWOT is a planning method and acronym that to evaluate the Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats involved in projects and decisions both personal and professional. By taking a few minuets to step back and scan the environment and evaluate the impact of a decision on our surroundings, we strive to make a better and more strategic decision.

The beauty about SWOT is that simply an organized way clear your head and evaluate a decision, environment, and process. that can take a little or as long as you like.  And because social media is instant and continuous, a SWOT Analysis can be an extremely valuable, versatile, and effective use of 2 minutes or 2 days of your time.

CASE ONE–Double Shot, Tulsa, OK.

@thedoubleshot.  On Monday, a single, solitary tweet led to a social media firestorm for a Tulsa, Oklahoma coffee shop.  Mothers and supporters of breast feeding in minutes all over the globe tweeted quickly and fiercely after the following was posted from @thedoubleshot’s twitter feed, “Notice: No breastfeeding at the DoubleShot. Thank you.”

Mothers, bloggers, local news media, and websites including the Consumerist picked up the story.  Brian Franklin, the owner of Double Shot has since deleted his original tweet and posted a retraction, yet the damage is done.  Coincidentally, this week is World Breastfeeding Week (Aug. 1-7th).

CASE TWO–#ILSHRM10

Using hash tags and live tweeting from conferences are a great way to virally spread the word increasing your online presence.  The Illinois Society for Human Resource Management felt so strongly about their views on using social media as a form of communication and promotion, that they brought in a team of bloggers to attend the Illinois State HR Conference but when tweets began flying during a HR session on social media, many felt that those microblogging and blogging were being extremely harsh, rude, and over critical.

Mike Vandervort, of the Human Race Horses and one of the Il SHRM conference bloggers weighed in.  “The organization sponsoring a social media squad takes some risk, including the possibility of generating controversy from time to time. The members of the social media team have a purpose, which primarily is the education of conference attendees and the external audience of titter followers and blog readers,” said Mike.

CASE THREE–#tacotuesday. Okahoma City, OK.

Another hash tag controversy.  Late last week, Chef Ryan Parrott, co-owner of the Oklahoma City restaurant, the Iguana Mexican Grill received a cease and desist order from Taco John’s demanding the local restaurant no longer use the hash tag #tacotuesday to promote their $1.00 tacos.  Taco John’s choose to respond via Twitter sending the local social media community (including myself) into action.  In just under 24 hours, 1,100 tweets, a Facebook Fan Page, a Twitter petition, newspaper and television media, and two spoof Twitter accounts have been created (@tacojohnz and @tacojohnspr).

The 452 location restaurant chain, Taco John’s is claiming infringement and violation of copyright.  Instead of quietly settling, the letter has set off a social media firestorm with hundreds of supporters arriving to celebrate Taco Tuesday at the Iguana Mexican Grill this week.  The Iguana has used #tacotuesday hash tag since July 2009 with great success.

The good news is that we can learn from situations and case studies such as this.  When it comes to social media and real time engagement, I recommend clients and companies follow three rules:

1. Analyze your audience. Understand your audience, who your messages and actions will impact.  Anticipate actions, possible outcomes and plan your strategy using tools like SWOT Analysis.
2. Evaluate & filter your content. After conducting your preliminary research, determine your content and different methods in which to respond or promote your message.
3. Engage (or not). Reacting quickly and swiftly either retracting a statement or refraining from posting a message can be more powerful.  Each action and reaction depends on a unique set of situations and scenarios that you craft using your best judgment.

FTC Disclosure:  The Gotta Love Chevy Blogger Promotion is being sponsored by the Oklahoma Chevy Team Dealers.  Three women bloggers (including me) have been provided a Chevy Malibu vehicle to test drive for four weeks.  The program includes weekly fun activities or projects for us to complete.  Bloggers  been provided gift cards in which to complete these assignments.

Photo Credit Worship House Media.

Jessica Miller-Merrell participates in 4 week Gotta Love Chevy Program

07.13.2010 – OKLAHOMA CITY — — A prominent Oklahoma City blogger is among those selected to test-drive a Chevy for the next four weeks. Jessica Miller-Merrell, an author, HR executive and business blogger at Blogging4Jobs.com will pick up her 2011 Chevy Malibu at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow, July 14, at Mark Heitz, Exit 108 and I-35, Norman, Oklahoma.
The program is an indication of the growing role of bloggers in marketing and advertising. According to Miller-Merrell whose book, Tweet This! Twitter for Business was released earlier this year, the connection is growing between influential bloggers who command the attention of niche markets and companies with products to sell.
“Chevy decided to do something different,” Miller-Merrell said. “Advertising is very expensive and this is one way they figured out they could connect their brand with women for less.
“Research shows they are the primary decision makers when it comes to large purchases.”
Miller-Merrell, who began blogging 2007, will write twice a week about her experience driving the Chevy Malibu. “Anyone can start a blog,” she said. “Good blogging, however, takes a lot of time. I have worked hard to grow the community that has built up around my blog, but this is the first time I’ve entertained the idea of representing products.”
Chevy’s blogger program has previously selected bloggers in cities like Dallas and Houston, but this is the first time bloggers the program has come to Oklahoma.
“I’m really looking forward to this opportunity,” said Miller-Merrell. “It’s very exciting and a privilege to have been selected by Chevy.”
For more details, visit the Gotta Love Chevy OKC website, www.gottalovechevyokc.com and be sure to check out Jessica’s bio for the Gotta Love Chevy program below.
###

CONTACT: Jennifer James, APR 405.401.1354 ■

■zenobiapr@cox.net zenobia, llc ■ zenobiapr.org

Jessica’s Bio from Jessica Miller-Merrell on Vimeo.

Although I have only lived in the Oklahoma City Metro area for 3 1/2 years, I consider Oklahoma to be my home.  I’m excited to be a part of such a progressive, exciting, and wonderful city!  Take a look at the video to learn more about Maps 3 and don’t forget to vote YES for Maps 3, December 8th, 2009.

I urge everyone in Oklahoma City to get out there and speak with others on how important this vote is.  Oklahoma City is a city with so much potential.  Maps will help us continue to grow and promote this wonderful city.

To learn more about Maps 3, please visit the city’s website. You can also view recent Oklahoma City Maps 3 survey results.

Vote for Maps!

Oklahoma City is one of the top 10 best midsized cities for remote workers

Would you be surprised to know that Oklahoma City is one of the top 10 best midsized cities for remote workers? According to initial findings from a survey of information workers commissioned by Microsoft Corp., Oklahoma City was slotted at number six. Today, a growing number of area employees are spending one or more of their work days at home each week. What’s occurring is a quiet but very real and steady shift toward teleworking.

The top 10 best midsized cities for remote workers are these:

#1 San Diego

#2 West Palm Beach

#3 Buffalo, N.Y.

#4 Salt Lake City

#5 Raleigh, N.C.

#6 Oklahoma City

#7 Nashville, Tenn.

#8 Charleston, S.C.

#9 Greensboro, N.C.

#10 Hartford-New Haven, Conn.

Until recent years, businesses often objected to remote workers. Preconceived notions pinned remote workers as difficult to locate when you needed them, security risks and in need of expensive technical support. The workers themselves often felt disconnected. Thankfully, new technologies have emerged to squash those objections significantly and have contributed to the viability of remote working.

Advancements in technology have made remote working not only more convenient for the worker, but for the employer as well. While the employee will see a significant improvement in their work-life balance, employers can look forward to spending less on travel expenses. Innovations like video conferencing allow meetings to occur between people who are in different locations, without ever taking away from the valuable face-to-face interaction that is so important in the work world. Additionally, mobile phones provide the same access to documents and co-workers that a regular work computer does.

Surprisingly, despite the widely understood business and personal benefits, the survey results suggest that workers need a more formal usage policy from their employers before they will embrace remote working. According to those surveyed, even though nearly two-thirds of employers are supportive of remote working arrangements, less than half of their employees have ever used the option. Businesses that encourage and empower their employees to work remotely now, will gain a much-needed competitive advantage for the future.

If you are tired of the confines of your cubicle, don’t fret. As one of the top ranked midsized U.S. cities for remote working, Oklahoma City has businesses that are ready to go mobile! Using the survey results could be a great way to start a conversation with your boss on how to implement a remote working policy.

Article courtesy of www.journalrecord.com

HR Peeps,

Please view the attached video for more information about our upcoming Oklahoma State HR Conference May 31-June 2. It’s a great opportunity to network and stay up to date with recent HR changes and trends. Don’t forget to visit www.okhr2009.com for more information and to register.

Cheers!
Jessica

Below is a slideshow presentation I will be giving later this week sponsored by the South Oklahoma City Chamber. Please take a look and leave me your comments or contact me directly at jessica@xceptionalhr.com for questions.

Enjoy!~Jessica