• How can journalists use Twitter?

    How can journalists use Twitter?

    I was on the phone recently with a senior reporter from one of my client’s top-tier trade publications, and we were talking about Twitter. It turns out that his publication has a Twitter feed, but the reporter doesn’t have his own account or contribute to the pub’s feed. He claimed that he didn’t know what he’d use it for, but was still a bit intrigued by the communication medium. I saw the opportunity to offer him some information and suggestions outside of the normal thought leadership and company news I would normally pitch, and I promised to write up a list of ways he could use Twitter.

    So I sat at my computer , unsure of what to say, and getting increasingly agitated at the unmoving cursor as it blinked away, mocking my inability to come up with the ideas I promised. Eventually, I figured there were a few basic things he could do, like tweet about his articles to drive traffic to them. I mentioned sending out appeals to his PR followers for sources for upcoming stories (I suggested this one rather selfishly – I thought it’d be clever to respond to one of his first tweets with a source). I also suggested he use Twitter to provide sneak peeks to upcoming pieces, and announce new webinars that were scheduled for the pub’s Web site.

    And while I feel like my suggestions were helpful, especially for a person who wants to use Twitter but hasn’t before, he still hasn’t signed up and used it. Naturally, being the neurotic PR guy that I am, I worry that what I provided wasn’t creative or specific enough for him to become a full-fledged Twitter-freak like so many other journalists.

    So I ask the larger PR community: How can journalists use Twitter to make their jobs easier? What are some of the ways we, as PR and communication professionals, would like the media to use this tool.

    Matter

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  • Twitter – you’ve officially won me over

    When I first heard about Twitter, I quickly dismissed it.

     

    In college, my friends and I all religiously updated our “Away messages” on AOL Instant Messenger, providing a constant stream of FYIs to our friends about where we were, what mood we were in, or what we were doing at any given moment. In those days, it was unheard of to simply sign off when you were done chatting, and even if you were going to leave a funny quote or a set of song lyrics, you were still expected to include a quick blurb at the bottom – something to the effect of, “at class ‘til 11:30…then lunch?”

     

    As Facebook came to prominence, Away messages became less important and everyone’s attention turned to status updates. Having a profile without entering a status was like admitting you hadn’t logged on in a few days. It was definitely not cool…and borderline social suicide. (more…)

    Matter

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  • Matter Communications Strengthens Management Team in Response to Continued Growth

    Matter Communications Strengthens Management Team in Response to Continued Growth

    Newburyport, Mass. – Matter Communications, Inc., a full-service public relations and marketing communications agency specializing in technology and business-to-business markets, today announced that the company has addressed its continued rapid growth by promoting several management-level professionals to senior positions. Patty Barry, formerly senior vice president was named agency principal. Colleen Sheehan was promoted from vice president to senior vice president. Andy Meltzer was promoted from director to vice president.

    “These well-deserved promotions recognize the accomplishments of each individual, and are directly aligned with our operating philosophy – to service client accounts with teams led by experienced senior-level professionals who contribute both strategically and tactically to program success,” said Scott Signore, Matter Communications principal. “This approach not only delivers outstanding results, it fuels our company’s success. Patty, Colleen and Andy help their clients achieve business and communications objectives, while also making significant contributions toward sustained agency growth. They are among the very best in the business.”

    Currently experiencing a growth trajectory that includes many new clients and an expanding team of PR practitioners, Matter Communications offers strategic and tactical know-how informed by years of experience on both sides of the client/agency relationship. In addition, the company has created a positive, learning-oriented work environment with minimal staff turnover, resulting in a higher degree of knowledgeable client service. The people whose achievements have been recognized with promotions are:

    Patty Barry – A founder of Matter Communications, Patty has held senior positions at some of the world’s most respected public relations agencies, including Golin/Harris International, Hill & Knowlton, FitzGerald Communications and The Weber Group (now Weber Shandwick). She has worked closely with large and small clients in a wide range of industries, from enterprise hardware and software to consumer electronics. Patty’s strategic counsel on client messaging, product launches and media relations has helped drive communications success for such companies as Compaq, Texas Instruments, Bekaert, SAS Institute, Sybase Inc. and others.

    Colleen Sheehan – With more than 10 years of experience, Colleen was also a founding employee of Matter Communications. She leverages her expertise as a key driver of brand- building programs for major consumer electronics and high-tech brands to provide outstanding results. Colleen has been a recipient of the PR industry’s prestigious Bell Ringer Award.

    Andy Meltzer – Before joining Matter in 2004, Andy served as account director for Stauch Vetromile and Mitchell (SVM), a full-service PR and marketing agency in East Providence, RI, and FitzGerald Communications, a Boston-based high-tech public relations agency that is part of the Omnicom group of companies. In addition to his many client-related activities, Andy currently manages the Matter Communications Providence office.

    As evidenced by these internal advancements, Matter maintains a commitment to two guiding principles: clients for life and employees for life. Matter’s PR services include company/product launches, product reviews, analyst and media relations, crisis communications and thought leadership campaigns. Marketing communications services include collateral design and production, direct marketing campaigns, website development and corporate branding programs.

    For more information, please go to www.matternow.com.

    Matter

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