That, coupled with being married to a southern gentleman and raising a son in Raleigh, NC, has recently resulted in my heightened awareness (and embracing) of my southern-ness. As I watched friends from all over North America collaborate, socialize and talk at length about social media last week at PRSA’s Counselors Academy Conference, I realized there’s much to be learned about social media from southerner charm. Not following me? Well let me pour you a glass of sweat tea while you keep reading!

• Use your manners. My son has never walked out the door to go to a friend’s house without me reminding him to mind his manners. It’s no surprise that his regular use of “yes ma’am” has won the praise of all the other moms. Saying please and thank you in your social media conversations will go a long way in earning respect. “Please like my agency’s Facebook page.” “Thank you for commenting on my blog.” Give it a try! Please.
• Remember, salt and pepper are a pair. Having breakfast at the New Orleans Ritz, the host hotel of the conference, Abbie Fink asked Chuck Norman to pass the salt. Chuck passed the salt AND the pepper. This was something I learned when I moved further south, and Chuck said he was taught as a child in etiquette class that the two are married and should be passed together. If you blog on behalf of your brand, think of it as salt and pepper. Your brand has it’s attributes, messages and maybe even personality. You have your personality, interests and opinions. Yet it is important for the two of you to move about the dining table of social media as a set.
• Put a bow on it. Everyone loves gifts. While gift giving isn’t exclusive to southerners, I do find that we give and receive with gusto! Wrap it up, put a bow on it and write a pretty note to go along with it. Martin Waxman is so good at this IRL and online that I think he might be a southerner instead of a Canadian! Marcus Sheridan, aka The Sales Lion and one of our keynote speakers at the conference, said this was the key to blogging and inbound marketing… give the gift of your industry knowledge! Give freely, said Marcus. Don’t fear that you will be giving away your secret sauce, because can anyone really do what you do? The more you give in social media, the more you will receive. The work of Candy Chang, one of our other keynote speaker’s, revolves around this concept. Through her public works of art that I would describe as non-digital social media, Candy gives people a voice. What an amazing gift!
• Mother knows best. A southern mother’s mantra is “if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” With my team serving as the strategy developers and day-to-day managers of social media for several clients, I am no stranger to ugly comments via social media. Some of them might be justified and can be easily resolved. Many are made by people who would never say those things IRL. And some are…. well… inaccurate, hurtful or just plain crazy. Am I saying to never express your opinion? No. I’m just saying to think about it before you commit it to the Internet. Forever.

Some of my favorite southerners who extend their charm in social media include Ann Barks, Justin Brackett, Elise Mitchell, Caroline Barnhill and Kelli Beale. How about you? Who are your faves?

Isn’t that still the big question for those of us in PR, marketing and social media? How should my business be using Pinterest? Or maybe you are asking it this way: how does Pinterest fit into my marketing plan? Or maybe even…what is the value of Pinterest? If you are looking for information on what Pinterest is, how to set up a Pinterest account or how to use Pinterest, this post is not it. (I suggest reading Pinterest 101 and the other sections on the Pinterest Help page.)

The point of this Pinterest post is to take a step back and think about a few things companies can do to harness the power of all those people who have already gone cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs over Pinterest. These three tips are based on the work we’ve been doing with our clients that I suspect apply to all or most organizations.

1. Before you think about pinning, think about others pinning you. If you’re already pinning and haven’t checked to make sure that images from your company’s website can be pinned, stop reading and do it now. This is particularly important if you sell a product and have product photography. As an example, I recently pinned a photo of Prada sunglasses I was considering as a splurge purchase after trying them on but leaving them behind at Nordstrom. Still thinking about the designer shades the next day, I found them online and decide to see what my friends thought by pinning the image directly from the Nordstrom website. With more than 313 repins and 116 likes, I kinda have to think I’m not the only one who is thinking about clicking the order button. The tip: make sure your website is Pinterest friendly so that pinners can pin images that link directly to your website. Tools such as Flash and website photo galleries that might have given your website umph just last year might not work for Pinterest. Talk with your web designer or IT manager about the cost of making these changes and make it a priority in your overall marketing spend.
2. Speaking of product photography…Pinterest is all about the visual — images and videos. And not all visuals created equal. If you’ve been following the Pinterest popularity explosion, you know that it seems to have happened overnight. Last year we were helping a client undergoing budget reductions to strategize the best spend of its shrinking marketing budget. One week we were nodding in agreement to cutting the product photography budget and the next we were making the argument that Pinterest had changed everything. And it has! Think about the images you see getting repinned. Or if you aren’t yet an active Pinterest user, think about the types of photography you most want to see when considering a purchase. Example: take a photo of a Johnny Boden dress, and it looks okay. Put it on a beautiful model and shoot the photo on location, and voila! It’s stunning! Which do you think cost more? The tip: don’t skimp on photography and videography. If this is not in your marketing spend now, see how you can add it and make sure it’s given priority in your 2013 budgeting process. (And, you can use it on your website and with your other social media channels.)
3. Think about what you want to convey through Pinterest and what you have to share. If you are already doing other kinds of social media, you should already know this. A big brand that is doing this well is HGTV. Notice how the HGTV boards are consistent with the content viewers go to the TV channel seeking. Take Briar Chapel (a Clairemont client) as an example of a smaller brand that knows what people want from it. As our area’s largest green, new home community, Briar Chapel’s Pinterest boards give a view into what is important to the community’s residents (supporting local businesses, gardening, family time and outdoor activities), as well as what it’s like living in the community (with boards on amenities, available homes and even neighborhood pets). The tip: plan before you pin. Remember that social media is about sharing. What does your organization or brand have to offer? What advice or helpful hints can you share? (Briar Chapel pins links to tips on green cleaning, composting and craft ideas.) Then think about how you can mix that with visuals. The time to do so should fall under the planning portion of your marketing budget.

Yes, Pinterest is fun for users!  It is also proving to increase brand loyalty and drive sales. Not yet convinced it should be part of your content marketing mix? Consider this quote from Linda Boff, executive director of global digital marketing at GE: “We use the mantra ‘business is social’ increasingly at GE. Social is accessible no matter how big your company is.” Oh, and btw, Linda has recently reported that Pinterest is driving more traffic to GE’s website than any other SEO-related effort. Pin for the win!

And yes, this is still new. Just a few months ago, Linda was saying that GE was experimenting with Pinterest — learning and having fun in the process. How are you experimenting and what have you learned? What have you done to make your company or brand Pinterest friendly? How has Pinterest changed your communications budget planning?

RALEIGH, N.C. (May 3, 2012) ―The North Carolina Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America announced today the winners of the 2012 InSpire Awards. The fourth annual event recognized the best in regional PR and communications with awards in 45 categories, including newly added nonprofit and government subcategories. Valonda Calloway, co-host of NBC-17’s My Carolina Today show, served as emcee for the event, held at the Capital City Club in Raleigh on May 2.

Modeled after PRSA’s national Bronze and Silver Anvil Awards, the InSpire Awards are open to all public relations, communications and marketing organizations and professionals in the state. Silver InSpire Awards recognize entire campaigns, while Bronze InSpire Awards honor specific tactics or components of programs.

“The InSpire Awards represent the best in North Carolina PR and communications,” said Eva Hornak, NCPRSA board president. “It was great to see so many talented professionals together celebrating their work and accomplishments.”

Largemouth Communications received the Best in Show award in the Silver division, and Clairemont Communications took the Best in Show award in the Bronze division—both representing the top-scoring entry in each division. In addition, UNC-Chapel Hill students Joseph “Fitch” Carrere, Michael Coletta, Jacquelyn Johnstone, Adam Schifter, Sarah List, T.J. Scholl and faculty advisor Scott Misner received the Student InSpire Award of Excellence for their entry “BIG:Durham.” The top-scoring entry in each category is listed below. A full listing of all the Awards of Excellence and Honorable Mentions is available by clicking here.

SILVER Best in Category Award Winners:

Events/Observances– Government/Associations/Nonprofits – Clairemont Communications: “Triangle Family Services 9th Annual Gingerbread Benefit”

Marketing – Consumer Products or Services, Business-to-Business– Walker Marketing: “Marketing a Leading Home Care Provider in a Competitive Landscape”

Integrated Communications– Business – Products/Services – Largemouth Communications: “Kangaroo Express Salutes Our Troops” (Silver Best in Show)

Integrated Communications– Government/Associations/Nonprofits – S&A Cherokee: “Band Together NC Promotion and Branding”

Integrated Communications– Government/Associations/Nonprofits – Capstrat: “ThisWayToCPA”

BRONZE Best in Category Award Winners:

Media Relations– Business – Products/Services – French/West/Vaughan: “Gear4’s Angry Bird Speakers Fly Off the Shelves”

Media Relations– Government/Associations/Nonprofits – Fleishman-Hillard: “St. Baldrick’s Foundation: “Conquer Kid’s Cancer”

Feature Stories –S&A Cherokee: “Netsertive Article for Dental Entrepreneur Magazine”

Web Sites – Fleishman-Hillard: “Blue Asks You NC”

Social Media– Clairemont Communications: “Thomasville Furniture” (Bronze Best in Show)

Creative Tactics – Gibbs & Soell: “CANStruction Trade Show Exhibit”

Press Conferences – S&A Cherokee: “Town of Garner/Strategic Behavioral Health Press Conference”

Press Kits – Capstrat: “National Media Press Kit”

Internal/External Video Programs– Clairemont Communications: “Thomasville Facebook”

Magazine – Gibbs & Soell: “Thrive Magazine”

Research/Evaluation– S&A Cherokee: “University Dining, Red, White and You Focus Groups”

Professional communicators are encouraged to join NCPRSA’s LinkedIn and Facebook groups and to follow @ncprsa on Twitter. Tweets with the hashtag #InSpireAwards reference the awards program.

About NCPRSA:
Since 1967, the North Carolina Chapter of the Public Relations Society of North Carolina has been unified through the strength of a collective vision and powered by the commitment of public relations professionals. The organization provides professional development and career assistance, networking and accreditation opportunities, and industry resources to members. For more information, visit www.ncprsa.org.

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In honor of Earth Day, Vogue published a list of its top ten must-have items for going green. With everything from home goods, to food, to transportation, this list of items is 100 percent stylish and 100 percent eco-friendly. We’ve shared the list with you below, so make sure to check it out!

1.     Suntanned leather shoes from Esquivel. Why Vogue loves it? The suntan collection is made with only sun-tanned leather and for the first time, George used the sun as a tool to bronze the leather eliminating the use of harmful dyes and treatments as well as lowering the number of energy-consuming machines traditionally used in the production of shoes.

2.     The Natural bamboo bicycle from Panda Bicycles, starting at $3,000. Why Vogue loves it? This company, based in Colorado, produces the first steel-lugged bamboo bikes hand built in the U.S. The bamboo is sustainably farmed and processed, and they offer custom paint and finishing touches to ensure each bicycle is different.

3.     Freitag Truck Tarp tote bags, F52 Miami Vice, $105. Why Vogue loves it? The bags are unique because they are made from used truck tarps—each one having its own look and its own state of use. Furthermore, each one-of-a-kind bag is still cut by hand in Zurich, Switzerland, and gets its individual look depending on the color, the writing, and design of the tarp.

4.     Greenopia Digital City Guides, $5; Available May 1. Why Vogue loves it? Whether you’re looking for a nontoxic dry cleaner or the best natural shampoo, download the online guide Greenopia, which lists eco-friendly retailers and services in major cities from Honolulu to New York—all without wasting a single piece of paper. And, with their new e-reader version, you can get access on the go, making it even easier to stay green while traveling or on vacation.

5.    La Isla hand-embroidered bikinis. Why Vogue loves it? La Isla has partnered with Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society to donate a portion of its 2012 proceeds to his organization, which works to protect oceans and educate children about their importance.

6.    Irving Farm Coffee Company special edition Rainforest Foundation coffee bag. Why Vogue loves it? All of the Irving Farm Coffee Company’s beans are roasted at its farm in upstate New York, and from every coffee bag sold, $1 is donated to the efforts of the Rainforest Foundation. Plus, the bag itself biodegrades, leaving behind only water, CO2, and natural fertilizer.

7.     Greenhouse Design Studio sets of vintage blue china from flea markets across the U.S., from $39. Why Vogue loves it? Laurie Furber will be renting an Airstream and driving from San Francisco to Austin, Texas, stopping to set up pop-up shops along the way to sell products that are vintage or made from sustainable, reclaimed materials. The trip will start on Earth Day; stops include Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and Palm Springs, and, in Texas, Marfa and Austin.

8.     Evolve Zinc electric motorcycle, from $3,100. Why Vogue loves it? This electric version causes less pollution than cars and traditional motorcycles. Additionally, operating costs are only about a penny per mile, and every Evolve motorcycle is eligible for a 10 percent tax rebate.

9.     Aso Oke Patchwork Pillows, from $175. Why Vogue loves it? Dosa’s pillows are one-of-a-kind patchwork designs made from vintage aso oke, a textile that is hand-woven on portable looms in Yoruba, Nigeria.

10.  The Natural Garden Company. Why Vogue loves it? The Natural Gardening Company, based in Sonoma, California, established the first certified organic nursery in the U.S. with organic plants (vegetables, herbs, and flower seedlings) available to order all over the world.

We absolutely love the Greenopia digital guide and cannot wait for its release on May 1! At only $5 for a list of all the eco-friendly businesses surrounding you, who could ask for anything more? Do you have any favorite eco-friendly products that you would add to Vouge’s list? We are always looking for more ways to go green!

We hope to see you there!

We can’t wait to celebrate Mother Nature and all of her glory tomorrow at Briar Chapel‘s Earth Day celebration. Deemed “A Celebration of All Things Local,” there are a few things that we’re sure you won’t want to miss. For those of you who like to plan ahead, here’s a schedule for the day:

Morning Activities

7:30 a.m. Registration for the Briar Chapel 5K begins.

9:00 a.m. Ready…set…go! It’s time for the Briar Chapel 5K.

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Afternoon Activities

3:00 p.m. Food trucks, including BaguetteAboutIt, Chirba Chirba Dumpling, Will & Pop’s and The Parlour, begin serving!

3:15 p.m. King BMX stunt crew performs.

3:45 p.m. Lizzy Ross Band takes the stage.

4:15 p.m. Linda Watson of Cook for Good and author of Wildly Affordable Organic offers a cooking demonstration.

4:45 p.m. Tom Maxwell plays some tunes.

5:15 p.m. YardSprout demonstrates how to create your own container garden.

5:30 p.m. Another performance from King BMX stunt crew.

6:00 p.m. Afternoon activities conclude and food trucks pack up and go.

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Evening Activities

6:00 p.m. Best Buddy Contest video showcase.

6:30 p.m. Best Buddy Contest winner announced.

7:00 p.m. Disney-Pixar’s “Wall-E” will be screened on the green.

We hope to see you there, everyone! Happy Earth Day!

Did you catch our recent blog, Harvesting Community, where our Briar Chapel Best Buddy contestant Emmo Pike shared a video (see below) about the Green Thumb Committee? These individuals are dedicated to keeping things up and running in our community garden, the Briar Patch. Like so many others across the country, the residents at Briar Chapel are reaping the benefits of a community garden, and just in time: it’s almost Earth Day!

In honor of our favorite holiday, we’d like to share a few reasons why community gardens are so great for the environment, community and folks just like you! Here’s an excellent list from the American Community Gardening Association:

• Improves the quality of life for people in the garden
• Provides a catalyst for neighborhood and community development
• Stimulates social interaction
• Encourages self-reliance
• Beautifies neighborhoods
• Produces nutritious food
• Reduces family food budgets
• Conserves resources
• Creates opportunity for recreation, exercise, therapy and education
• Reduces crime
• Preserves green space
• Creates income opportunities and economic development
• Reduces city heat from streets and parking lots
• Provides opportunities for intergenerational and cross-cultural connections

Feeling inspired? Be sure to check out the Briar Patch this weekend during our Earth Day celebration. Members of the Green Thumb Committee will be at a booth in Briar Commons to answer any of your questions, including Emmo, who is one of the founding members of our garden. She recently professed her love for Briar Chapel on her blog, greenchathamliving.blogspot.com, and we’re sure she’d love to share even more reasons why she loves Briar Chapel with you.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Are you on Foursquare?

With the emergence of smartphones came the emergence of location-based social networking sites like Foursquare, our very favorite of the bunch. By downloading the Foursquare app on your phone (it’s free) and checking into locations when you’re on site, you have the opportunity to score even more points for Briar Chapel’s Best Buddy Contest! Here’s how:

10 pts: Check in at one of the designated Briar Chapel locations. Examples are:

• Briar Chapel Info Center
• Bark Park
• The Briar Club at Briar Chapel
• Briar Patch (community garden)
• Homes by Dickerson Model Home

Remember to keep your eyes peeled. Each week, Briar Chapel will announce additional point opportunities around the community and the surrounding area. Where will they ask you to check in next?

Stay tuned…

We love YouTube for so many different reasons. First off, there are plenty of hilarious videos to go around. Secondly, it’s a great educational tool. And last but not least, it’s a great way to rack up tons of points during Briar Chapel’s Best Buddy Contest! The point break-down goes like this:

• 5 pts: Subscribe to the Briar Chapel community on YouTube. Super quick and easy.
• 25 pts: Upload an original video and use the words “Briar Chapel Best Buddy” in the title. Need some inspiration, see below. And encourage your friends to check it out! For every like or view, you’ll receive an additional point, and for each comment, you’ll get two!

We love what this fan did in her video about how to use the compost bins in the Briar Chapel community garden (also known as the Briar Patch). Check it out:

How will you get creative on YouTube?

We can't get enough of @BriarChapel!

We’re big fans of Twitter (in case you’re not following us already, you can find us here). We’re even bigger fans of Briar Chapel’s Twitter page – the folks there are always tweeting about local businesses, yummy food and all things green!

Here are some easy ways to get points for the Best Buddy Contest using Twitter:

• 5 pts: Follow Briar Chapel (@BriarChapel) on Twitter. A super easy way to get one point!
• 5 pts: Hashtag @BriarChapel for #FF (Follow Friday). Here’s how #FollowFriday works.
• 3 pts: Share a Briar Chapel-related photo. We recommend using Twitpic or something like it.
• 2 pts: Tweet @BriarChapel. Don’t have anything to say? Try sharing a green living tip or your favorite thing about the community!
• 1 pt: Retweet a @BriarChapel tweet. Easy as pie!

Also, don’t be afraid to encourage your friends to re-tweet your tweets. You’ll get extra points for every person that does. Now get out there and start tweeting!