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7 Tips to Boost Your Twitter Followers

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The more Twitter followers the better. The more followers you have, the more likely your tweets will be seen. These 7 tips will help you gain followers on Twitter:

1. Post engaging content, such as links to articles, videos, photos, etc.
The world does not care what you had for lunch or when you are going to bed. Post information that you find interesting and you think others would find appealing too.

2. Retweet and @reply often.
No one likes when people only talk about themselves, so why would it be any different on Twitter? By retweeting others you are saying that their content is worth sharing. By having conversations you are engaging with your followers to create a personal connection with them.

3. Use tools like Crowdbooster to determine the best days and times to tweet.
By tweeting when your audience is listening you are more likely to get retweets and therefore have your message spread.

Crowdbooster Screen Shot-Best Times to Tweet4. Include your Twitter handle on business cards, your email signature, your blog, website, etc. Link to it anywhere you can.
People can’t follow you if they don’t know your Twitter Handle so make sure it is widely available.

5. Upload a picture of a person, not a logo as your photo.
Only spammers still use the egg as their photo. People want to see who they’re connecting with. Even big brands like @Mashable have a photo of a person and not a logo. This leads to my next point…

6. Create a custom background for your profile.
A twitter background is a great place to include a logo, additional URLs, and anything else that won’t fit into a  140 character Twitter bio. If you have a graphic designer who can create a custom Twitter background, awesome, but if you don’t, there are tons of free tools available. For example, we are currently testing TwitBacks.

7. Run a contest.
Everyone loves free stuff, whether it’s a t-shirt or a download of an e-book, you can’t lose if it’s free! No one wants to “buy” followers, but holding a contest every so often is a great way to reward your current followers and attract a few more.

Bonus Tip: Don’t use auto-bots to direct message new followers!
This is annoying and many people will unfollow if they receive a message from a robot.

Any other tips or tools you want to add to the list?

If you have suggestions for future Social Media News posts, want to be a guest blogger, ask questions or share thoughts, please feel free to email me. Thanks! – Laura

Share Buttons: Are They Worth it? Find Out In This Week’s Social Media News

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AddThis

Sharing information online is now easier than ever before because of share buttons. These buttons aren’t just there so you can “like” the picture of your newest baby cousin, but they can also help increase traffic to your website and result in a profit for your company.

This article By The Numbers: How Facebook Says Likes & Social Plugins Help Websites explains why having the ability to share your content through social media is imperative. In case you still need convincing, check out this stat from the article; “The average media site integrated with Facebook has seen a 300% increase in referral traffic.”

Although Facebook and Twitter share buttons dominate online the Google +1 button that debuted in March is starting to make some noise. Last week it started to appear on various websites such as Mashable and the code is now freely accessible to anyone who wants to use it. The article Google’s +1 Button Challenges Facebook’s Like Across the Web explains the impact this new button could have on sharing online.

If after reading about the benefits of share buttons you want to add them to your own website, we recommend AddThis. After registering (for free) you can add just about any social media share button to a website, blog, email newsletter, and more. AddThis is constantly updating and adding new services. For example they’ve already added the Google +1 button to their service. What makes AddThis our share button of choice? It gives analytics for shares, clicks, top services, the ability to track trends, and more.

If you have suggestions for future Social Media News posts, want to be a guest blogger, ask questions or share thoughts, please feel free to email me. Thanks! – Laura

Make Your Resume Stand Out With A QR Code

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Kaitlyn Bigica

Kaitlyn Bigica, Social Media Assistant at GCAI

This week’s Social Media News comes to us from our newest employee, Kaitlyn Bigica. Kaitlyn is a junior journalism major/IT minor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.  She is a staff writer for her college daily newspaper and a member of the University Programming Council.  Kaitlyn received her job as Social Media Assistant at Garvey Communication Associates Inc. after including a QR code on her resume. Below is her blog post on how using QR codes on a resume can make it stand out in the crowd from other applicants.

I have recently learned about QR codes and the growing impact they have on social media and communication with consumers. I thought it would be a great idea to put one on my resume to impress prospective employers.

What are QR codes?

QR codes or quick response codes are specific matrix bar codes that can be read by smart phones.  They are similar to bar codes used in retail but hold more data. The code links to a URL, text or other data.

Qr codes are mainly being used by business’s to advertise their products in an interactive way.  They can be found in magazines, newspapers and on the back of business cards. Take a look at Macy’s use of QR codes on the tags of their merchandise.  The code scans to videos of the brand allowing consumers to get fashion tips and advice from the designer.  Read the rest on Kaitlyn’s blog…

If you have suggestions for future Social Media News posts, want to ask questions or share thoughts, please feel free to email me. Thanks! – Laura

FieldEddy and GCAI Bring QR Codes To Local Print Advertisement

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QR Code From FieldEddy AdQR Codes have landed in Springfield thanks to a new ad campaign launched by Garvey Communication Associates Inc. (GCAI) for longtime client, the FieldEddy Insurance Network. While some are still trying to decide whether QR Codes, otherwise known as Quick Response Codes, are the latest fad or in fact a game changer, GCAI has begun to adopt the new technology for virtually all the projects it undertakes. With close to half of the US population using smart phones, QR Code use is expected to expand rapidly.  Essentially, anyone with a smart phone can download a simple to use, free app that will allow them to scan a QR Code and be immediately linked to Internet based content.  Already, most major retailers are using them to link to videos, special offers, and additional product information that would not fit in conventional printed space.  FieldEddy Print Advertisement Featuring QR Code

According to John Garvey, president of GCAI, “The FieldEddy Insurance Network ‘Shopping’ ad was the perfect way to leverage other Internet-based media that was available. Last year, the boys at viz-bang! produced a terrific commercial for us. It built upon the popular ‘Shopping with Wendy’ campaign we launched in 2009. By employing QR Code technology, we were able to leverage that popular video and essentially add Internet capacity to a print ad.”  GCAI already has several other QR Code projects on the design table and will launch several additional ads employing the technology this spring.

Pajama Project Breaks Record

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L-R: Anthony Cignoli, president of A.L. Cignoli; Fr. Brennan, co-director at St. Francis Chapel; Don Anderson, owner of the Cruise Store; Aida Claudio, volunteer at St. Francis Chapel; and Mary Fallon, media director at Garvey Communication Associates Inc.

L-R: Anthony Cignoli, president of A.L. Cignoli; Fr. Brennan, co-director at St. Francis Chapel; Don Anderson, owner of the Cruise Store; Aida Claudio, volunteer at St. Francis Chapel; and Mary Fallon, media director at Garvey Communication Associates Inc.

The Pajama Project collected over 645 sets of pajamas this year, breaking the old record!

The pajamas will benefit homeless children and families at the Gray House and Friends of the Homeless.

Thank you to everyone who helped out and donated this past holiday season.

For more information about the collection please visit the St. Francis Facebook page.

3 Perspectives On How Social Today’s PR Graduates Must Be – Part 3

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Views from The Student, The Pro and The Professor

Last week we discussed how graduates will use social media to find a PR job. This week’s Social Media News, is the last of our three  part series, and asks what will surprise graduates about social media once they get on the job. GCAI tapped three people for their perspectives.

The Student: @stjackman
Stephanie Jackman, Intern at GCAI, completing a BA in Communication this year from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY
The Pro : @MFallon
Mary Fallon,  Media Director at GCAI and Isenberg School of Management at UMASS Amherst graduate, Google AdWords Certified, PRSA member for 4 years, has led seminars on SEO and SMO PR at UMASS Amherst
The Professor: @FvrythingPR
Dr. Daradirek Ekachai,  Associate Professor in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations at Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI

3) What will surprise graduating college students about social media once they get on the job?

The Student:
Little is taught about social media in the classroom so the majority of experience I have, I’ve learned as I went along. I was surprised to find the amount of time and effort that goes into developing a social media strategy and how essential it has become to a company’s marketing needs. In order for a company’s social media initiatives to be carried out successfully, they must be well thought-out and organized.

The Pro:
I believe most students will be surprised to realize how much strategy goes into social media.  Social media isn’t just about creating and distributing posts; the content must be tied to an overall plan which has been created with the business’ goals in mind. Also, the strategic plan must be constantly evolving as social media does.

The Professor:
 I think students might be surprised that, being seen as a “digital native,” they could be regarded as a social media “expert” with full responsibility in the area “grown ups” are not familiar with. They will have to learn quickly on management (time and organization) issues.

GCAI Staff Member Gains Google AdWords Certification

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Mary Fallon, media director at Garvey Communication Associates Inc. (GCAI) recently attained Google AdWords Individual Certification. Google AdWords allows advertisers to create text, image, and video ads to run on Google, its partner “search network” and/or its content network sites.

Mary Fallon, media director at Garvey Communication Associates Inc. (GCAI) recently attained Google AdWords Individual Certification. Google AdWords allows advertisers to create text, image, and video ads to run on Google, its partner “search network” and/or its content network sites.

Mary Fallon, media director at Garvey Communication Associates Inc. (GCAI) recently attained Google AdWords Individual Certification.  Fallon passed two exams to gain certification including an advanced-level exam on search advertising covering best practices for managing AdWords campaigns.

Celebrating its 10 year anniversary this year, AdWords continues to be Google’s flagship advertising product.  Google AdWords allows advertisers to create text, image, and video ads to run on Google, its partner “search network” and/or its content network sites.  The advertiser is able to limit spending by setting daily budgets and can specify the geographic location, ranging from local to international distribution.  All of these controls make for an incredibly targeted marketing campaign.

A resident of Springfield, Fallon is a graduate of the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing. She is also a guest lecturer at the University of Massachusetts Amherst on the subject of SEO and SMO PR.  Fallon is a member of The Valley Press Club, The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and serves on the board of directors for The Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts. She also volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County through their Community-Based Mentoring program.

GCAI Appoints Caroline Scannell As Accounts Analyst And Laura Chechette As Public Relations Analyst

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Ms. Scannell manages over $1 million in financial transactions annually ensuring contract compliance, through reconciliation, and arranging for make goods where necessary. A resident of West Springfield, Ms. Scannell will complete her Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance and Accounting from Northeastern University in the spring of 2011, where she has already earned a Certificate of Accounting.  She is also a graduate of the Katharine Gibbs School in Boston, MA, where she earned an Associate Degree in Secretarial Arts with a legal specialization.

Ms. Chechette creates content for Search Engine Optimized (SEO) and Social Media Optimized (SMO) Public Relations efforts. She also supervises over 30 social media platforms that GCAI currently has under management for its clients.  Ms. Chechette is a recognized expert in social media monitoring and measurement platforms having researched, evaluated, and written about most of the top products currently available.

A resident of Longmeadow, Ms. Chechette is a Cum Laude graduate of Stonehill College in Easton, MA where she holds a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Communications.  After graduation, she completed a year of service with AmeriCorps NCCC where she provided public relations services in support of various projects around the country. Ms. Chechette is an associate member of The Public Relations Society of America and a member of the Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts.

Caroline Scannell-Accounts Analyst

Laura Chechette-Public Relations Analyst

Mary Fallon Chosen as One of BusinessWest’s 40 Under 40

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Pictured left to right are: Mary Fallon, Media Director at Garvey Communication Associates Inc.; Father Jim Brennan, Co-Director of St. Francis Chapel; Ellen Lambert, volunteer; and Amanda Gauthier, Social Media Assistant at Garvey Communication Associates Inc.

Pictured left to right are: Mary Fallon, Media Director at Garvey Communication Associates Inc.; Father Jim Brennan, Co-Director of St. Francis Chapel; Ellen Lambert, volunteer; and Amanda Gauthier, Social Media Assistant at Garvey Communication Associates Inc.

Our own Mary Fallon has been chosen as one of BusinessWest’s 40 Under 40 – the Class of 2010. The panel of judges reviewed over 90 nominations and felt that Mary’s credentials, accomplishments, and contributions to the community made her stand out. Over the past year Mary has been involved in many business and community events. Serving as Media Director at GCAI, Mary manages public relations efforts, coordinates media planning/buying, and supervises social media – just to name a few responsibilities. She has presented on various Social Media topics, most recently at Online Impact 2010. Mary also played a major role in the St. Francis Chapel’s collection of personal care items for the homeless which resulted in the most successful collection to date and is a volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Even after all of this, she still finds time to take care of her 3 year old Weimaraner, Riley.