Five years with Facebook

I was one of those super early adopters of Facebook. I was in my early 20s, impressionable and highly excitable. I liked to talk about how exciting my life was, and always had a giggle about my latest social antics. When a friend told me about something called Facebook – basically a place you could talk about how exiting your life was and share silly photos of random nights out but for the world to see – I was instantly sold.

2007 was an eventful year. I visited the local pub in the town I’d lived in for 20 years on at least 50 occasions; I learnt to cook about ten different varieties of pasta dinners; I lost – and found – my cat twice and I got upset with traffic jams and late trains almost every other day. I also swapped proper human conversations with friends in favour of ‘poking’, ‘giving bear hugs to’ and ‘throwing sheep’ at them. I suddenly found I had over 200 friends – much more than I ever imagined. An obligatory part of going out involved making sure I got a new profile picture, meeting at least one new person I could add to my Facebook tally, and giving the world a running commentary of how much fun I was having.

Fast forward to 2012, and having once been an avid Facebook user, I can feel its novelty finally wearing thin. As much as I enjoyed the antics of 2007, I feel they had their day and were best left buried deep in the abyss of cyberspace. Yet suddenly, they’re available at a single click thanks to Timeline. I also used to use the Facebook chat facility, until several of my random 400 “friends” tried to stalk me every time I went “online” to talk to someone else. Speaking of randoms, I have acquired about 350 of them thanks to my relentless 2007-9 popularity contest. Now, each time I go to update my status, I think of how many types of people are in my “friend” list; ex-employers, relatives, school friends, colleagues, my ex-next-door-neighbour’s friend’s dog… Is there really anything I have to say that I would be happy to share with everyone? Ok, Facebook has introduced ways to pick and choose how you share information. But who has the time these days to sit and adjust the security settings on each and every post?

The final straw came for me when Facebook “checked me in” at my own home. There, for the world to see, was a map showing exactly where I live. Not something I really want to share, and certainly not something I knowingly authorised. That – along with the re-emergence of thatembarrassing photo from 2007 – is enough to make me pack my virtual bags.

The lesson learnt from all this is of the importance of closely managing online reputation. The same theory applies for business users as for personal users – sometimes it is best to take a step back. It is imperative to understand the capabilities of social media and the internet; it is now easier than ever for people to discover all sorts of things about you, even if you think these things are hidden. Managing reputation will only become more difficult as social media and technologies evolve and, as PR professionals, we need to take a leading role in getting this right.

By Jess Matthias

P is for Pinterest

In the social media playground, Pinterest is most definitely the new kid on the block. Yet with a 145% increase in visitors to the site since the beginning of this year alone, it has become contagious. Launched back in 2010, the site now has a whopping 13 million users, making it one of the fastest growing in history.

Unsurprisingly for a website that is largely dominated by adorable pets and a vast array of tasty treats, in the States at least, 68% of Pinterest users are women. The UK however presents a different story. Males account for the majority of activity but have a different agenda, using the site for web stats/analysis and blogging services. It is theorised that this gender discrepancy is the reason for the launch of manteresting.com

So why is Pinterest so interesting? Is it the fact you need an invite to join and therefore it’s more of a VIP social network?

As with all social media networks, criticism of the website abounds. There is a vocal group of Pinterest sceptics who comment on the lack on imagination exhibited by its users. Although it is true that there are a healthy array of cakes, puppies and wedding dresses on show, the website’s use extends beyond its capacity as a virtual mood board.

Companies such as TED Global, Sony Electronics and vacation rental service, HomeAway, are all ‘pinning’ and there’s no trace of kittens or bouquets on their pinboards. In fact, such businesses are using Pinterest in an intelligent and innovative way, driving traffic to their websites by exposing Pinterest users to images of sparkly new gadgets or jaw dropping holiday homes.

Unlike Facebook and Twitter, Pinterest allows people to organise chaos and visualise dreams and aspirations of what they would like their lives to look like. The added bonus of people being able to re-pin your images makes you feel special. The first image I placed on my pinboard was a poor earless bunny. Within the first hour I had 2 repins, 1 like and 1 comment – not bad for someone who’s been a member for a week and has 0 followers. Not so happy about the latter.

So what’s in store for the website? In recent weeks the site has been facing issues surrounding copyright and because of the simplicity and intuitive interface, it’s been reported as an easy target for scammers. The website’s future may be unclear but its development will certainly be pinteresting.

By Stephanie Rock

Watch Word of the Month

Fortune favours the bold; seize the day; who dares wins. There are countless mantras, repeated throughout time, which extol the virtue of fearlessness whilst warning against reticence. We all reference them occasionally but how often do we actually set aside our inhibitions and step outside our comfort zones?

Recently, I was lucky enough to hear a speech given by the CEO of Cosworth, Tim Routsis, on the future of creativity in business. Tim’s speech held one prevailing message; now is not the time to be timid. The economic climate may have us all quaking in our boots but for those with guts and tenacity, the opportunities remain endless. Everyone is still looking for innovation, the next big thing. If fear of an unknown outcome threatens to stifle our creativity then the answer in obvious- we must be bold.

Tim’s words struck a chord with me, not just because of their refreshing optimism, but because they seemed peculiarly relevant to Wordville at this time.

In recent months Wordville has not only stepped outside its comfort zone; it has leapt the fence, swum the river and headed for the hills. In the February- March period two new recruits joined the Wordville team, one of which was myself. Embarking on a new job is a daunting prospect and so it is not difficult to recognise how Tim’s words resonated with me on a personal level.

Nevertheless, our whole-hearted admittance into the Wordville fold also represents the fearless attitude of the team. After all, company expansion is a bold statement of success. It provides a promise to existing clients of fresh ideas and even more efficient delivery, as well as a declaration of readiness to take on new business.

As a new, young and enthusiastic team the future’s bright for us. We’re eager to have our metal tested and prove our worth. Our watch word for this month in bold- because fortune never favoured the timid.

By Polly Robinson

Wordville's Word of the Month: Pounce

First day back to Wordville and the village has cleared out the Christmas decorations, recycled the old papers and prepared our New Year’s resolutions.

I have that back-to-school ‘new pencil case’ feeling, where anything is possible and feel motivated for what we can achieve for the company and for our clients in 2012. There’s a whole year of opportunity out there – a million press stories that can be nurtured, referenced, responded to.

In 2012, Wordville’s is instating a 'Word of the Month' – a professional mantra that can apply to everything we do. To kick-off January and a new year, this month it’s pounce.

It’s a good time of year to get in quickly before everyone’s woken up, before the plans are solidified and while everyone is in that ‘how are we going to get this done?’ frame of mind.

Better get going – time will move fast this year, and I’ve got pouncing to do.

Are you ready to face a crisis?

PR Crises occur around us all the time. There are the big ones that come to mind immediately, for example, when BP’s former Chief Executive declared: ‘I want my life back’ at the height of the Gulf of Mexico oil catastrophe last year. BP has since spent millions trying to repair its reputation.

Another more recent example, which is far from over, is the infamous ‘Hackgate’ – the scandal which embroiled Rupert Murdoch’s media empire when news broke that journalists at his flagship UK Sunday tabloid had been hacking phones for stories. News Corporation has been in PR crisis mode ever since, even dedicating all advertising space in the final edition of the now-defunct newspaper to charities. Many charities were so disgusted by the actions of the newspaper that they even refused free space in what was Britain’s highest selling Sunday newspaper. That’s bad news if I’ve ever seen it.

The riots and looting in London and the UK this week have seen many different PR crises erupt. Blackberry came under fire after it emerged that many perpetrators of the riots spread the word about targets using its BBM messaging service. London’s Metropolitan Police was forced to defend its ability to manage public disorder just a year away from the Olympics at a time when the world will be watching the capital. Even British PM David Cameron faced criticism for a sluggish response to the unfolding hysteria, as he decided whether to return from Tuscany where he was holidaying with his wife. The same went for Home Secretary Theresa May, George Osborne and the Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who were all holidaying abroad at the time.

So when bad news threatens to taint your brand, or a brand you’re responsible for, what should you do? Do you have a plan in place?

Of course each situation is different and should be approached with an individual strategy, but being prepared to communicate in a crisis is more important than ever, as organisations and individuals are under increasing levels of scrutiny. Companies and brands need to have processes in place to manage and respond to media interest in times of high stress. It’s a matter of anticipating what could go wrong, and having a plan of action and a ‘tool kit’ ready, so you can tackle the problem head on.

To make sure that you’re fully prepared to handle a crisis why not attend our course on ‘Reputation Management During a Crisis'? Click here for more details

Emphasis on Ideas

By David Anthony

In what seems like a blink of an eye, my first month at Wordville has already come and gone. It’s been a hectic few weeks, familiarising myself with a variety of clients and throwing myself into some fantastic projects.

I can't believe that almost three months have passed since I first met the team – I guess it’s true what they say, time flies when you’re having fun.

Back in early May, as part of the interview process, I was afforded the opportunity to meet my would-be colleagues over a cup of coffee. This served not only as an informal introduction, but a chance for all involved (myself included) to gauge whether or not I was in fact the right man for the job.

We traded numerous questions, shared past experiences, talked through day to day activities and spoke about the future of the agency. Much was discussed, but for me, one topic in particular really stood out. ‘Above all else, what one thing are you looking for from a prospective colleague?’ I asked. The answer came in almost perfect unison, ‘ideas’.

Before joining the team here, I plied my trade at D&AD – a not-for-profit organisation that represents the international design, advertising and creative communities.

D&AD exists to promote the importance of creativity, innovation and ideas, while their annual awards are to the creative community, what the Oscars are to those in the film industry.

Needless to say, I would find myself immersed in creativity on an almost daily basis, surrounded by the best advertising and design the world has to offer. D&AD is a truly inspiring place to work, and not least because it provides proof, if ever proof was needed, that a good idea can go an awful long way.

There’s a lot more to PR than merely churning out media kits and press releases. Creative thinking is at the very core of what we do.

Brainstorming, thrashing out ideas – ideas that evolve to form the backbone of a story, and a good story at that – is a truly creative process.

Finding the all important hook that will catch a journalist’s eye and ultimately generate press is of course no mean feat. From the sublime to the ridiculous, where ideas are concerned, no stone should be left unturned. Having a team of creative minds, with the ability to bounce ideas off one another is of utmost importance and key to the success of any business.

Thinking back to that day in early May, coffee in hand, sat in front of an expectant audience, it’s clear to see why I chose Wordville, and more importantly, why Wordville chose me. We value the importance of an idea.

Creative thinking isn’t just a mindset here, it’s a way of life. And I for one am extremely proud to be a part of it.