There’s nothing like a family emergency to get you thinking. It my case a time of reflection and writing does the trick to help me process. Spending time with my family this week reminded me how lucky I am and how the lessons my parents taught translate directly to my approach and use of social networks.
_________________________

PART ONE: Wherever you go in the world, you’ll always find a connection to the Illinois Valley

 If you follow or friend me online, you probably know that I grew up in a relatively small town. It’s one of those places where everyone knows everyone else and where you have to make sure you’re not related to someone before dating them (just kidding, kind of).

Old school social networking.

My mom always told us that no matter where you traveled, you were bound to see someone or meet someone with a connection to our hometown. I had no reason not to believe my mom since she somehow managed to find these people no matter where we.

There’s even a favorite story about a friend of my parents who was a diplomat in Africa. One day his children were playing at their school and they saw a classmate (from Africa) who had a t-shirt on from a local diner in our town. How could that be? After some follow up they discovered this child’s father met someone else from our town when he was traveling.

What has this taught me?

My mother taught me, before  the days of 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon, that we are all connected. The way you treat people and the decisions you make have greater (and long lasting) implications. Even though it’s a small town, the relationships do not only remain there.

How does that translate to social networking?

• Don’t look at your network as a confined group of people with a limited reach. No matter the size of your online network, you potentially have access to countless individuals (everyone in your network has their own network and so on). 
• Think about how fast information travels today (I mean really think about it). News can reach hundreds, thousands, even millions quickly. 
• We have the ability to meet people from all over the world. Social networking has offered us a global gift to learn from and meet others we may not have otherwise. If this post has taught you nothing else, remember that these people, as unlikely as it may be, could have connections back to you that you are unaware of. 
• It’s a small world after all.

I now tell my mother that wherever I go I always find someone from Twitter.

This is the sixth in a series of Crisis Overnight posts. Our goal is to raise $150K to save the Community Crisis Center of Elgin, Illinois from having to close. Personal stories are shared at the discretion of the individuals involved. Any stories where anonymity is requested will be honored.

You can follow or participate in our story on Twitter with the hashtag: #crisisovernight.

_____________________________

By: Adult Female

The Community Crisis Center has helped me so much. I’m [not including age for confidentiality reasons] years old and I’m finally having the courage to type into my true feelings and worth. Without the help and support of my counselor I would still be under the influence of drugs, liquor and sex to fix the many problems I have in my life.

Now I understand where all my depression and low self esteem has come from and now I’m dealing with it as I get stronger and more confident with the help of Sherryl everyday I’m happier and happier. This center has helped me value myself and get out of my abusive relationship and not to blame myself about the rape I endured while I was a little child.

Now I also feel like I can have a healthy, happy relationship because I do deserve to be happy and I do deserve to be loved and cherished.

I would be devastated if the center is closed. It is so beneficial to people not only because it’s free, but because when people need a helping hand they don’t know where to turn to and the first time I came here I was thinking it was not going to help but it does and it’s worth it. I ask you please think of other people and help us be happy help us feel cherished. Don’t close it down. Where would I be or who will help us if you close the center down? We can do so many things to keep it open: donations, bake sale, anything just to keep it open. Where will children or mothers with abusive spouses go to? 

Do you honestly have it in your heart to throw them out in the street? Please help keep us keep it open. Help people in need.

I’ve almost hit the wall during my 12-hour volunteer time. I’m sure I’ve annoyed some with the frequency of my tweets, posts, Facebook updates, etc this evening. However, I made a promise to my community to donate my entire social media presence to the cause of saving our crisis center. It was what I had the ability to give. So I did. 

I’m reflecting upon the evening and I realize that we will not meet the original goal of $150K in 12 hours. And that’s okay with me. It was an ambitious goal and DOES NOT discount the $20K+ (online and in person) we raised in 12 hours. I’d say that’s pretty impressive. We’ve had donations, tweets and messages from all across the United States. This night reenergized the staff, the residents and our community. There’s been electricity in the air (despite the fact it’s roasting in there and no A/C).

Tonight I heard people compare this experience to “It’s a Wonderful Life.” A woman actually said, “It’s like when they came to rescue George Bailey.” An executive at the center told me she, “cried all day because they now have money to pay the June 30 payroll.”

An advocate at the shelter, Valentine, stayed with me until the 2 a.m. mark, even though she has to be back at work by 9 a.m. She said, “I’m staying because I want my job to be here next month.”

I had the privilege of listening to two women share their personal stories of pain and the life-source this center means to them.

Please forgive me if I’m rambling a big, the exhaustion has set it. 

I’m not giving up tonight, because here at the Community Crisis Center, they don’t give up.

Thank you for listening, watching, participating and donating.

(I’m also well aware of donor fatigue and will not be asking my network for any type of charitable contributions in the immediate future.)

This is the fourth in a series of Crisis Overnight posts. Our goal is to raise $150K to save the Community Crisis Center of Elgin, Illinois from having to close. Personal stories are shared at the discretion of the individuals involved. Any stories where anonymity is requested will be honored.

You can follow or participate in our story on Twitter with the hashtag: #crisisovernight.
____________________________ 

1. Nothing I can say or do will help

Yes, it can! Allow, but don’t force him/her to talk about it or to express his/her feelings. Listen without criticism, judgement, or condemnation. Patience and love heal many wounds.

2. It’s better not to talk about it

Talking about stressful events speeds up recovery, if people are allowed to talk at their own pace. Let him/her know that you’re willing to listen when he/she is ready.

3. Going to the police or court will just make it worse

Although painful, reporting and testifying can actually help people recover. These actions may also get the rapist off the street.

4. I’ll kill the guy who did this to you

While anger is a natural reaction, it can be very harmful. The victim, who has faced one perpetrator who was out of control, must now try and calm down another person to avoid more violence.

5. Why didn’t you fight?

Freezing is a natural response to being attacked. One must use his/her instincts to survive and since they did survive, they did the right thing. Remember, submission is not consent.

6. What’s the big deal?

Sexual assault is a very big deal for many reasons. It can totally upset a person’s belief that the world is a safe place; that he/she is control of their body, and that they know whom to trust. Rape is a life-threatening act, not sex.

7. When you fall of horse, you have to jump right back on

This may true of some fears, but it does not apply to resuming sexual activity after a sexual assault. Let the victim decide if and when they are ready for an intimate relationship.

8. Why can’t you just forget about it?

Forgetting is not healthy, helpful or often possible. The reminders are constant: sexual activity, interactions with the opposite sex (or same sex, if perpetrator was same sex) street harassment, being in vulnerable positions, news stories and media and pornography may all be reminders. Smells, sounds, furniture, anything that was present during the assault can create triggers (or memories) of the assault. Only the survivor can know what triggers memories of an assault.

9. What are you afraid of me for? I didn’t do it.

Rape and incest often make the victim fear some or many things. Other people often fall into that category. An assault may cause confusion about the relationship between sex and intimacy. Survivors may need to exert and feel more control in a relationship than prior to the assault.

10. Only crazy people need therapy.

Some experiences, like rape, are traumatic for virtually anyone, no matter how well adjusted they are. Rape crisis counseling is very important for recovery. Without it, the victim often continues to relive the assault and the assault controls their life.

This is the third in a series of Crisis Overnight posts. Our goal is to raise $150K to save the Community Crisis Center of Elgin, Illinois from having to close. Personal stories are shared at the discretion of the individuals involved. Any stories where anonymity is requested will be honored.

You can follow or participate in our story on Twitter with the hashtag: #crisisovernight. 

________________________

By: Female, Age 13

My name is “A” and I am 13 years old. People have been coming for years. And after six weeks and after that they move into a home of their choice. People built this place to help other people. And I know it helped us. It took heart, time and mind and all that won’t matter if you close this place down. All that will matter is that people won’t have a place to stay. So please think of the people and the people aren’t perfect. 

This is the second in a series of Crisis Overnight posts. Our goal is to raise $150K to save the Community Crisis Center of Elgin, Illinois from having to close. Personal stories are shared at the discretion of the individuals involved. Any stories where anonymity is requested will be honored.

You can follow or participate in our story on Twitter with the hashtag: #crisisovernight. 
_______________________ 

By: Adult Resident, Female

Since I’ve been here the case managers have been a blessing. Homeless and not knowing where to turn I called the Crisis Center. They welcomed me with open arms. I came in upset. I have been living in a hotel. Ran out of money. I thank God for this place. I had no support from my family knowing I had been laid off for over a year, then lost my part-time job just six months ago. Please to continue to help all women. This is truly place of refuge. Thank God.

This is the first in a series of Crisis Overnight posts. Our goal is to raise $150K to save the Community Crisis Center of Elgin, Illinois from having to close. Personal stories are shared at the discretion of the individuals involved. Any stories where anonymity is requested will be honored.

You can follow or participate in our story on Twitter with the hashtag: #crisisovernight. 
________________________________________ 

How can I begin to explain how transformed my life is because of the work of Kate Van Eycke and the Crisis Center here in Elgin, IL. I am an ordained minister and an active member of the Elgin Community in the area of mental health. But when I needed help, the Crisis Center was there and has continued to be there as I continue my personal journey of recovery.

As I have been reflecting on the crisis at the Crisis Center, I thought about the healing that took place as a client of Kate Van Eyke. Kate and a couple of her colleagues were some of the first casualties of this financial crisis. After 15 or more years each their service at the Crisis Center was ended abruptly. Let me ask the folks who are proposing all these cutbacks - how many of you have ever lived in an abusive relationship? Physical, mental or emotional each takes their toll each devastating in its own way. That was essentially all I had known. I came from a good middle class home. My dad worked hard to support us. But as a family we had our secrets. My mother was emotionally abusive and it seeped into my being. I used food to insulate and self-medicate myself. I never felt that who I was or what I did was “good enough.”

Then I was married for 23 and a half years. By the time my divorce was final, my children were stashed with friends and I had the first of what would eventually be many psychiatric hospitalizations. Fifteen years later my daughter, now an adult, is still in counseling trying to recover from the emotional abusive reigned down on her by both her father and myself.

Kate helped me heal the cycle of abuse that kept repeating itself in my life. Through my recovery from my mental illness, I had come a long way in accepting who I was as a person. My work with Kate helped me continue to heal and to be gentle with myself. You took away Kate, please don’t take away the Crisis Center. Where will people in need like me go?

As I have been trying to picture my life without the safety net provided by the Crisis Center, I wanted to make sure that I had told Kate what a difference she made in my life. I sent her the following note -

I don’t know if I can summarize what an important influence you have been in my life. The holes in my life left by abusive situations are filled with self-respect because of the work that I did with you. I am no longer seeking a mate to fulfill who I am as a woman. If I were to find a man it would have to be a person that first and foremost treats me with dignity and respect because that is how I now treat myself. 

Kate, I know in my spirit that getting you as my counselor was a God moment.

Respectfully,

Rev. Patricia A. Lindquist

“Sometimes in the waves of change, we find our true direction.” - Anonymous

#CRISISOVERNIGHT

The Community Crisis Center of Elgin, Illinois averages one suicide call per day on its 24-hour hotline, and helps countless victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and economic hardship. But now the helpers need a little helping hand. The center has eliminated positions, drastically cut its budget and managed its resources responsibly, but without emergency funding, the center will have to close its doors as soon as July 1, 2009. There isn’t time to wait for additional grants or funding from the state (which is being reduced). What will those in need do when no one is there to answer the call?

It’s go time, and that means now.

I’m staying overnight at the Community Crisis Center tomorrow, June 18 (beginning at 7:30 p.m. EST) to bring awareness to the plight of victims of domestic violence if there is no funding. I’ll document the experiences of those who need access to the 24-hour crisis center through social media.  You can follow along on Twitter using the hashtag #crisisovernight or on Facebook at facebook.com/prsarahevans.

Crisis Overnight was formed to achieve one goal: to raise enough money to buy time for the Community Crisis Center to look for additional funds. We raise the money, they stay open. We don’t, they close.

Whether you’re a local bar owner or CEO of a Fortune 100 company, people are talking about you online. This post is specifically looking at the online communities of media outlets. The majority of online media outlets, especially blogs have a comment section following articles. Many times these comments can prove more entertaining, heated and thought-provoking than the articles themselves.

Landing the story is only part of your strategy

This means that landing a story in the media or by a blogger is only part of your public relations strategy. 

Do you monitor online comments posted in articles you are mentioned in? If not, you’re missing a major part of your communication and public relations strategy. Invest the time into developing your own strategy. The worst thing you can do is to not have your finger on the pulse on what is being posted about you or your company.

Comments can determine prominence

In fact, did you know many times the number of comments can determine the prominence of an article? When a newspaper publishes it’s daily front page story, that story remains front page. If an online article receives a certain number (depends on the media outlet) of comments it can actually move an article “up” in prominence, making it the equivalent of a front page story. 

You must monitor

It doesn’t matter if you’re a team of one or 100. You MUST monitor your online presence-especially if you’ve got a public relations strategy. A simple and FREE way to find out if you’re mentioned anywhere on the web is to set up Google Alerts. This is a MUST HAVE resource for any business. Set up alerts for your executive team, your competitors, high profile customers, etc. You will stay in-the-know on important news.

Who decides?

Is it your vice president of marketing and communications, the president or a public relations agency? Someone needs to be responsible for not only monitoring the stories but setting the wheels in motion for your comment strategy. This strategy is dependent on a host of triggers. For example, classify comments as positive, negative or neutral and have tactics for each.

TIP: As part of your strategy decide when an article no longer needs monitoring (i.e. no comments posted in 48 hours).

Comments: newest to oldest or oldest to newest? 

Okay, you’ve been mentioned in a media article. What next?

Check out the comment structure for the outlet. Are comments posted oldest to newest or newest to oldest? This is important because if the oldest comment is first, it means it will stay there for-ev-er. The point is, you want to have the first comment posted. 

Engage a group of supporters

As part of your strategy reach out to a combination of employees and non-employees (this number depends on your average daily number of media mentions). Ask them if they will help to post their real, sincere comments on media stories about your business/company. If they agree, share your key messages, important website links and other information with them. When it comes time to ask for their help, they will be prepared. (Don’t forget to reward and recognize these individuals.)

MY OPINION: If employees are posting, they should disclaim in their post.  

There’s more

This is only a brief look into media integration of online communities. Overall, it’s a reminder that you need to beef up your public relations strategy to include the monitoring of online comments.

Feel free to share what has worked for you with this community.

 I haven’t really thought of myself as a character, but apparently that’s what I am.

On June 16 and 17, myself, along with 139 other Twitter folk, (a.k.a. Twitter characters) will invade New York City to discuss all things Twitter at #140conf. This means rubbing elbows with the likes of Jack Dorsey (co-founder of Twitter) to CNN’s Rick Sanchez and all those in between. (The conference is an open for registration, the 140 characters are featured participants.)

The original premise for the event was to explore the effects of Twitter on celebrity, media, advertising and politics. This conference has grown so rapidly that there are now many other topics (and celebrities) getting involved. #140conf will look at Twitter as a platform and some of the industries which have been disrupted by the advent of Twitter. That’s right. It isn’t all about drinking the Twitter Kool-Aid.

So what is the conference? It is the brainchild of Jeff Pulver and here it is in his own words:

I will be live tweeting all of my adventures at #140conf. From photos of the people I meet to golden nuggets of social media advice. You can follow along on my Twitter and Facebook profiles. 

Will you be joining me there? It’s not too late to register. See you there!

Designed by @adamcarn

I read a post earlier this week about a national “fist bump” day occurring in the United States on June 3. The day is inspired by President Obama’s public fist bump only a year ago. While I’m not one to talk politics, I like the concept behind this. A day dedicated to putting aside differences, embracing one another as human beings and spreading some good cheer. I definitely can’t argue with that.

While National Fist Bump Day is great for face-to-face interactions, it leaves those of us in the virtual world a bit “bumpless.” 

Therefore, I’m unofficially partnering with National Fist Bump Day and declaring June 3, 2009 World #tweetbump Day on Twitter. 

Using Twitter also allows those participating to take this thing global and not only limit it to Americans. So, if you’re up for a good cause that costs you nothing, makes others feel good and takes a moment of your time. Read on…

#tweetbump works like any other hashtag. In order for it to work, you simply add the hashtag somewhere in your tweet. You can then search for those talking about it here. 

If you don’t use Twitter or want to take #tweetbump into other platforms, use #txtbump when texting or #FBbump on Facebook.

So, what are some examples of what a #tweetbump looks like? There are no rules (except to add the hashtag to your tweets), but here are a few examples to help you get started.

If it’s before June 3, you can tweet things like:

• I’m participating in the 1st ever World #tweetbump Day on June 3. Are u? (include link to this blog post)
• Bring on the #tweetbump! World #tweetbump Day is coming on June 3. (include link to this blog post)
• Sharing worldwide love on June 3 for World #tweetbump Day. (include link to this blog post)

On June 3, you can tweet any number of things, here are some ideas:

• Reach out to someone you’ve never tweeted with and introduce yourself. Tell them why you like their tweets.
• Recognize your favorite tweeps.
• Recognize those who embody what World #tweetbump Day is all about on a daily basis.
• Send a “just because” tweet to someone you haven’t tweeted with in a while.
• Tweet with someone you’ve had a difference of opinion with in the past. Resolve and restart your relationship.
• Not get political, but…  Find someone with different views than your own and tweet with them. Don’t talk politics, just chat with them. Find a common ground. 
• Search for people on Twitter who work, live or play in an area unfamiliar to you. Just say hello!
• Send tweets to your coworkers or customers.

Last week I decided to tweet 15 things public relations professionals can use to show a RETURN ON ENGAGEMENT (ROE)–the new return on investment–on their social media efforts. Here is a recap of those tweets:

Social media ROE tip #1: use a URL shortener like bit.ly to show how much traffic you are driving and from where (they collect stats 4 u)

Social media ROE tip #2: Follow your tweets and retweets on Twitter to see how far they travel http://tweetreach.com/

Social media ROE tip #3: track positive, negative and neutral along with # of comments posted on your sites (any sites w/ comments)

Social media ROE tip #4: acknowledge that conversion may take a while to see. your opportunity to connect is priceless (well, sort of).

Social media ROE tip #5: read this, “calculating the ROI of blogging” http://bit.ly/Z6xqP

Social media ROE tip #6: don’t make it a numbers game. a goal of “X number of fans” won’t prove anything.

Social media ROE tip #7: # of RSS subscribers and your repeat traffic (demonstrates loyalty)

Social media ROE tip #8: develop specific tactics which improve your ranking on popular search engines (can be diff b/t u and competitor)

Social media ROE tip #9: remember traditional methods like polls and surveys to get results.

Social media ROE tip #10: keep track of what topics/issues/conversations ppl respond to the most. may surprise you.

Social media ROE tip #11: Use a resource like @pitchengine to create a social media release, tracks # of views.

Social media ROE tip #12: measure customer satisfaction via social media, take a quick pulse to see where you stand.

Social media ROE tip #13: track # of ppl recommending, whether it’s a RT, “like,” “favorite,” which results in new members of ur community,

Social media ROE tip #14: look for and identify what doesn’t work. document and keep on hand for future campaigns.

Social media ROE tip #15: determine your “share of conversation” vs. ur competitors http://bit.ly/Gjxgg

This is not a “be all, end all” list. In fact, this is just the beginning. What do you use to measure or use to show a return on using social media?

This is the first post in a new “HOW TO pitch” series. I’m reaching out to media outlets (including popular bloggers) on the best way for public relations professionals to pitch them and increase chances of story(ies) being picked up. Each participant is asked the same set of questions and their answers will not be modified. If you would like to participate* in an upcoming “HOW TO pitch” post, email me at prsarahevans at gmail dot com.

*UPDATE #1: I have already received several emails from PR folks requesting to be featured in the series. I am currently only working with vetted media outlets and bloggers.
_________________________________

Adam Ostrow, Editor in Chief, Mashable

Adam Ostrow is a new media entrepreneur, consultant, and commentator. As Editor in Chief at Mashable, Adam is responsible for the editorial management and direction of one of the most widely read blogs in the world, with more than 200,000 RSS subscribers and several million monthly viewers. Mashable is at the forefront of covering the latest technologies, trends, and individuals that are driving the current evolution of the Web. 
_________________________________ 

1. When is/are the best time(s) to send a release or pitch your outlet?

We’re pretty much 24×7 these days, but we are most fully staffed between around 8am-8pm ET.  Also - everyone seems to submit their news on Monday and Tuesday.  Volume tends to be a bit lighter the rest of the week, so the competition to get coverage is less intense.

2. When are the worst times?

In the middle of the day on Monday or Tuesday.  We tend to be incredibly busy around those times and sometimes don’t even have the bandwidth to cover all the stories we’d like to.

3. Does your outlet have a general submission process for breaking news?

It’s best to send news - breaking, embargoed, or otherwise - to our news@mashable.com inbox.  Often people try to reach myself or our writers individually, but everyone works on different schedules so they might not necessarily get your message in a timely fashion.  But if you submit it to our main news box, someone will see it almost immediately. 

             

  

4. Should pitches go through you or are there others who should be notified?

If you mail the news box during the day, chances are it will go to me.  If you want to get a bit more aggressive, you can always tweet @mashable or @adamostrow and remind us you sent it.   

5. What is your preference email or phone?

Email! 

6. How do you feel about being pitched via social media?

I don’t mind it, but it’s really not part of my workflow, so it can be less efficient.  My Facebook and Twitter accounts are a mix of both my business and personal life, whereas our news box is all business.  So, I don’t mind it, but you’re just not doing us or yourself any favors by trying to pitch us this way. 

7. How many pitches and releases would you say you receive on a daily basis?

Probably somewhere between 150-300 depending on how busy a day it is.

8. Are there any days of the week one should or shouldn’t pitch you on?

Any day is fine, but like I said, Mon/Tues tend to be busiest, so trying other days are good for you and good for us! 

 

9. What is your biggest pet peeve about being pitched?

Getting stories that clearly aren’t relevant to our audience.  Unsolicited phone calls (I don’t answer them anyways).

10. What is a best practice you would recommend regarding pitches?

     

In a concise way, tell us why the story is relevant to our audience, link us to all relevant materials (preferable over attachments), and ideally give us advance notice with a specific time that we can publish something about your news.  And let us know who to contact if we have questions or want to dive in further with an interview or demo.  

11. Does your outlet have an editorial calendar?

Yep! 

12. What are the topics you cover?

News about the key social media platforms - Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, YouTube, iPhone, etc - and the ecosystem around them - third-party apps, how brands can leverage them, and how users can make the most of them.  Plus new and interesting web startups.  Our focus is mainly on getting the most out of social media.

13. How does one get you to notice their pitch?

By reading the rest of this interview and following those directions :-) 

14. What are three things you wish every PR considered before contacting you?

If the story is really a good fit for Mashable, if the story is actually newsworthy, and making sure they are contacting us through the appropriate channel (news@mashable.com).

 

NOTE: Have other questions you would like to see asked in the “HOW TO pitch” series? Tweet suggestions to me @PRsarahevans and I will consider.

 

 

 

 

I’m presenting at a business and industry conference tomorrow on learning about “how to” use Web 2.0 in the workplace. Since I believe a major component of “Web 2.0″ is all about sharing, I’m sending the slides out to my entire network. Feel free to beg, borrow or steal (well, don’t steal, make sure to credit me if you use).