My Dow Network – My Corporate Social Utility

Before I left Dow, I promised I would be one of their first “Alums” to get active on Dow’s new social media site, My Dow Network. The site has been around for more than a year. It’s an interesting model – connecting employees, quitters and retirees in a private social community. 

I’ll blog more about it later. For now, check out Dow’s feature story on the network, I’m pictured. Also, Dennis McDonald wrote an interesting summary based upon a conversation with one of my former team members, Trish Bharwada.

Dow alumna Becky Marxer, who is now working at a public relations firm, says My Women’s Network helps her to stay connected with friends she left behind when she moved away from Midland to be closer to her fiancé. 

“This is an easy way to keep in touch,” says Marxer. “Although I’m 600 miles away, it feels like I’m back at Dow.  I have about 35 friends on my contact list.  I can look at their photos, keep in touch with job moves and stay current.”

 

By the way, as an accommodating PR professional, I did not object that they characterized my leaving the company to get married. That said, that explanation is a little simplified and… minorly feminized. Alas, gotta paint the one woman as having work/life balance issues! To be honest, I DID have a life issue – my future husband lived three states away! (Vent completed.)

Dow, I will always love ya – great company, even better people. Thank you for all the opportunities you affored me.

Uh-Oh. “Ihate(yourcompany).com”

How to Handle ‘IHateYourCompany.com.’ Good read, I bet. If only I had a WSJ subscription. If you check it out, let me know what you think.

Twitter Handbook is Here!

Exciting evening development. The Twitter Handbook was just been released. Check it out, it’s free. I’m scanning through it now. What do you think, 181 pages on a 140-character medium? Looking forward to the upcoming dialogue on the handbook!

Wonder how long it will take for me and my fellow PR brethren to monetize the insights. So many vultures out there trying to sell “the twitter solution.” I can tell you one thing, being an early adopter or first in your industry to get on Twitter puts you in a good competitive position. BUT… I have a hunch that many of us, passionate strat. commers, will toss our savvy to wind and go hog wild – spamming and promoting with dollar signs in our head versus relationship development in our hearts.

Hope us PR flacks get it right this time! Personally, I’m doing my best to be smart about it. In a new world like Twitter, one must rely on his/her instincts. In my case, those instincts are deeply rooted in strat comm theory.

… Alas, when I start talking “theory,” I know it’s time to log off.

Bringing My Colleague Into the 21st Century

UPDATE-2X: Had an awesome session this morning. Though we got to mashups, we didn’t even make it over to Facebook. We’re going to schedule a “part 2″ meeting for next week. Was an incredibly fun session, but I think I my colleague’s head might be swimming a bit at the moment! The Common Craft videos were a huge hit. Sent her a follow-up note with links to some reccomended tutorials.

UPDATE: Meeting rescheduled due to pressing client projects! We’re meeting this Friday morning (9/12). Do you have any advice or links to cool social media tools and/or tutorials??

Today is an exciting day at the St. Louis office of Fleishman-Hillard. Today, I am embarking on an hour of virtual enlightenment with a colleague. Actually, our Outlook meeting maker is titled something like “Bringing you into the 21st century.” 

This is a real treat for me. This afternoon, I get to spend a full hour of my day bringing the world of social media and new technology to a coworker. Here at FH, we do all sorts of “digital bootcamps” to help meet specific client needs – we’re a very “switched on” firm. But I’ve never had the opportunity to sit one-on-one with somebody and help open their eyes. 

Don’t get my wrong, I’m no Morpheus here. Just a passionate communicator looking to spread the good word of social media. Part of our journey will bring us to this blog and we’ll watch this embedded video on Twitter.

Oooh – I’m excited! Wikis, and Facebook and LinkedIn – oh my! IM and Rick Roll and chrome life – oh yes!!

The Effects of Internet Content Structure on Attention & Memory

A few years back, I executed a psychophysiological research study to fulfill the requirements of my master of arts degree. To date, my mom, dad and husband are the only folks who have cracked this book open. It’s dense, academically focused and it’s got some seriously questionable grammar! Nonetheless, it’s online – so might as well offer it up to the global collective. 

What’s the point? What knowledge was discovered and articulated?

Findings suggest that content structure does impact allocation of cognitive

resources for controlled attention. BSM requires less effort and fewer cognitive resources

allocated during exposure with no significant memory differences.

I presented these findings of my thesis at a couple academic conferences – it got me a trip to NYC and Lisbon. It also helped me get my first post-grad job. If one person out there finds value in it, all the better! 

Long live the Missouri School of Journalism and The PRIME Lab – Mizzou-Rah!

A Company that Cares

I love Chipotle Mexican Grill for many reasons – as a customer, former stockholder and community member. I’m not sure what my stance is on organics or growth hormones for cattle, but I appreciate that my fresh-mex joint of choice cares.



Mmm… Taste the fresh goodness. source


In a world where it’s so easy not to have an opinion, where the bottom line drives decision making, it’s refreshing (pun intended) to support an organization that can do well by doing good. Sure, they’re stock has gone wild and the sector is hot right now, but I’d like to think that their business model and corporate philosophy inform their success too.

Bottom line, public companies’ number one responsibility is to shareholders, I’m just saying that it’s nice that they care about what I think too. Very savvy branding! Chipotle, you’ve got a customer for life – many for life.

What’s your style? Not rhetorical.
I’m a bol, cilantro-lime rice, black beans, fajita mix, pico, corn and hot salsas, a half fwap of sour cream, cheese and lettuce. Just typing makes my mouth water.