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The Buzz Bin

Musings and analysis on marketing, buzz and communications.

Why Are Hospitals Turning Their Backs on Blogs?Yesterday

By Jenn Riggle

Let’s admit it: Blogs are the ugly stepchild of social media.

Hospitals and brands are going where the action is by embracing Facebook and Twitter. They’re building “apps,” holding Twitter parties and finding ways to integrate video on their website.

But what about blogs, the slow and steady form of social media?

They’re a great way to build thought leadership and many, like Brian Solis and Geoff Livingston, have made a name for themselves by serving as a pundit and providing social (and social media) commentary. The same holds true in the heal

Locavorism – a one note mantraAugust 31

Two weeks ago I read a New York Times op-ed Math Lessons for Locavores  by Stephen Budiansky which to my mind warranted an instant tweet. Hurrah  for Stephen who was finally broadening the debate. I think that locavores  have for too long sung a one note mantra unabated (with you know who as their goddess

Are You Looking like Superman or Invisibleman Online? Three Steps to Strengthen Your Personal Image OnlineAugust 30

By Shashi Bellamkonda (@shashib) and Priya Ramesh (newpr)

I am so honored to have Shashi Bellamkonda, Social Media Director, Network Solutions, a CRT/tanaka client guest post with me today. Shashi is very well known in the DC region as a community evangelist for Network So

Mixologist ‘Booze Pros’ Should Shake Things Up with TwitterAugust 27

THE BOOZE BIN

By Cassandra Bianco (@CassandraBianco)

Mixologists, or liquor sommeliers if you will, are the charming cocktail house folks who meticulously master libations for a living. Dream job? I think so. The world’s best continue to be plucked by major liquor companies and the brand ambassador campaigns integrate traditional and social media.

The current allure of cocktail bars is their “underground” positioning—usually physically hidden—like Brooklyn’s unmarked Hotel Delmano, and more famously, New York’s PDT that’s located underneath a hot dog shop. Mixologists have developed their own identities— take the clean-cut mustachioed bartenders at the Manhattan Inn in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. With the classic cocktail throwback, old school décor and baby grand piano jazz, my Warsaw Mermaid buzz quickly progressed to hallucinations of a Great Gatsby scene.

A great way to remain under the radar, but still well-known is Twitter. The social medium is a resource for mixologists who lack support from a team of PR pros.

Here are five reasons to raise the [Twitter] bar:

1. Gain spirits world cred: Develop an online fan base, give shout outs to VIP guests, share press coverage and post video clips.
2. Give live-time alerts: Mixologists showcase their concoctions and talents at the 42Below World Cup, Manhattan Classic, Tales of the Cocktail, Taste of the Nation and the StarChefs International Chefs Congress, among others. Fans would love to see event snippets and test out recipes. An impromptu promotion tweet could potentially completely transform Friday night turnout.

Why #FollowFriday is Key to Social Media EngagementAugust 26

By Jenn Riggle

Social media is a lot like high school. People striving to prove their popularity by counting fans and followers. But what should you do if you’re sitting at the popular table and no one’s talking to you?

This seems to be a challenge a lot of organizations are facing. It’s hard to have a conversation if no one is talking back.

If we accept the 90-9-1 assumption that 90 percent of your community are “lurkers,” who read online content but never c