I may not know it all, but Facebook I do know.

I was never a MySpace girl. Ever since its introduction a few years ago in the midst of my University career I have been hooked. It is easy to do so, and frankly the looks I received after deactivating it for one week (see puzzled, perplexed, disbelief, mystified in a picture dictionary for reference) made me wonder what’s the deal with Facebook?!

We all complain about it, that means you – creepers! We do. But truth be told everyone is still checking it, posting and tagging pictures, as well as adding the latest and greatest applications. The thought of living without this social network cannot be fathomed by its users, however there has to be a way to get around the complaints. We have to be able to brand ourselves better, just like the pros! PR technicians are using Facebook to brand products, yet figuring out a way to brand ourselves tends to be intricate.

For me and my close comrades, my fearless femme fatales, also known as my fellow professional cheerleaders, we tend to be stuck between a rock and a hard place. Actors, athletes and really any public figure have the same problem. How can we brand ourselves properly, keep our privacy, while maintaining the fun of Facebook?

PR tends to fix crisis’ or issues, so why not use it to “fix” the book.
Let’s start a new chapter, turn a new page and write a story on how to use Facebook to the best of our branding abilities (sorry for the pun-intended book references).

Here are 10 Best Practices for using Facebook in order to brand yourself as a professional cheerleader (actor/public figure/local celebrity/athlete):

1. Decide whether or not you will be using your real name – it isn’t for everyone. If you are in the public eye and want to keep a personal page, use initials. If not, stick with your name and be proud of your content. Privacy settings are there for a reason, so use them, but keep your name clean (XXXShanXXX K-Dawg doesn’t look good).
2. Use an appropriate profile picture – regardless of the other pictures you post, this one is for all to see and attributes certain qualities and statements to your page. First impressions are key in business, well they are also key in Facebook. This is your first opportunity to set a standard for your page!
3. Choose your networks carefully – this says a lot about who you are. Picking a network gives others access to your personal information and dictates what information may be sent your way. If you do not want to add education information, stay away from joining their network. This also gives others who do not have you as a friend, pertinent life information (ie: where you are attending post-graduate studies).
4. Add some personal information – that’s what Facebook is for. It is a social networking tool that allows people to get to know their friends and acquaintances. Education and work information should be current and appropriate. Adding the last job you were fired from is probably not a smart choice… and no it is not common knowledge saying that.
5. Stay away from crazy pictures – by crazy I mean the drunk stammering on the floor pictures. Point blank, keep it classy.
6. Keep your applications to a minimum – once someone is your friend, they can ‘creep’ on whatever you have. It also appears on their news feed. Remember that applications you add says a lot about your interests. Adding the “weed application” may not be such a great thing for your employer to read on their news feed. In a blog post The Top 5 Viral Facebook Technique, it is mentioned that a news feed is a way of viral marketing. If you wouldn’t stand on the street selling weed, don’t sell it on your Facebook news feed.
7. Decide whether or not to have a wall – it may not be a bad idea to get rid of it. I deactivated my wall for two months. Truthfully the reasoning behind it was that the “wall” is the one thing you have 0 control over. Anyone can write anything on your wall – remember that. Until Facebook decides that you need to confirm or deny a wall post, it is a very tricky component that relies on the user to be alert.
8. Keep your groups to a minimum – joining groups determines who you are affiliated with. It is just like writing a good release; keep it clear and concise. Having 10 groups reads commitment, having 100 reads congested.
9. Use your privacy settings and limit friends – there are a million of them so experiment. If you are that worried about having access, you can block users, deny users the ability to search you and of course put certain friends on limited profile. Remember that anyone you add as a friend has the ability to quote you, access your photos and do some damage. Pick friends and privacy settings wisely.
10. If all else fails, create a professional page – numerous well-known individuals (or local celebrities!) have two profiles; one for their friends and family, the other for work. If the above tips seem challenging than this may be your best option. This is still questionable by PR practitioners (read PR Squared: Public Relations and Facebook), yet it is an individual decision and just like the rest of the tips – it is only a suggestion.

For everyone (including those who are celebrities in mind only):
Facebook is a social networking tool and none of these tools should inhibit anyone from getting down and dirty in it. However, just as children, we need to play nice in the sandbox. Facebook is one big playground, but this time you can block the bullies! Use it to make friends, keep friends and even brand yourself – just play nice.

Side Note: Thank you to my former Cheerleading team, coach and our Communications Director for the insight and inspiration to write this blog post.

Dun dun dun, dun dun dun dun… (theme song, cut me some slack). It is finally here! Sex and the City The Movie – if you could only see the smile I have on my face now, ear to ear. After reading a fellow classmates blog, by the way Sarah you broke my heart by not loving it, I felt I had to comment. But needless to say… shoes have sizes and so do movies, they aren’t all going to fit you, and therefore Sarah I forgive you for feeling the ending was disappointing! — You’re welcome.

I went at 11:05 on Friday night – after having a few cocktails with a girlfriend to see the most anticipated movie in my life. The feeling afterwards was tremendous, it felt like a night out with my four best girlfriends who are closer to my mothers age than mine. However, I do understand the ideas behind Sarah’s blog post. Prada, Louis Vuitton, Apple, BlackBerry, Vera Wang, Christian Loubutin… we got it already – the ladies are loaded and love material things. But really ladies (and gentlemen) did you expect anything less?

I fell in love with the original show for its reality and the reality that I may like to have one day. For the fashionistas (I missed Toronto Style Week’s best shows to see this movie – sad I know) the movie would have lacked luster without the name drop sequence in bridal attire. You don’t see it everyday, and almost all of us will never be able to put on a Vivienne Westwood dress paired with Manolo Blahnik shoes. It is a treat for the eyes and ears. Although true, the excessive Starbuck’s being flashed in my face did make me crave a mocha frappucinno (is there a trend with this popping into my blogs), product placement for the most part made sense – excessive or not.

Carrie wore a bird on her head for her wedding – excessive. And I loved every minute of it. Did we really, really expect anything less than an over-the-top Manhattan name dropping movie?

Secret #5, don’t launch on a Monday.

After reading Tech Crunch’s post entitled PR Secrets for Start-Ups, I am starting to realize that as much as I would like to be the independent PR practitioner who makes it to the top on her own right – it ain’t gonna happen. We are all completely intertwined.

I am already horrible with personal relationships (see status of single for further details), nevermind relationships with those in the PR field. You are asking for a lot out of the 20something-year-old “I want a job so I can move out and have a loft for my shoes”. However, it makes sense!! Tada!

“Great bloggers see their posts as the first comment in a conversation, rather than the final word on that particular topic.”

Now wouldn’t it be nice if you could just post and not have anyone read, no judgment, no comments… no silly, that’s a diary. Blogging, especially PR blogging is meant for others to see, create a community of readers and responders in order to further a thought or idea.

All in all, we couldn’t survive without people posting start-up rules, and those who have responded. It would just be one big mass of typing for the sake of seeing yourself pattern a page with letters.

Listen, respond and write with keeping that in mind. And who knows, possibly building blogging PR relationships over martini’s on my computer will be better than building them over an awkward first-date dinner… martini for thought.

Get Satisfaction: Well I did just that, got satisfied. An easy to use, easy to sign-up approach at customer service. The elimination of the “bitchy” customer service rep (I have been one) who has the ability to hang up, put you on hold, or utter the dreadful “I dunno” is eliminated at last! Only problem, it isn’t as effective if everyone isn’t on the same page – see case studies below! However what can work is using this site to up your brand awareness. Everyone loves a company that is getting online, and public relations is all about relating to the public – right?! Getting online to get satisfied means that your company looks better in the public eye. Sign-up, challenge company reps and explore
The Good Case – Rolling Stones worthy
I want Sandy: What about a Sam? Then I would be all in! Regardless, what a great example of using Get Satisfaction to the best of its ability. A question was asked and less than two hours later it was answered. ‘I want Sandy’ is an e-mail personal assistant, meaning the users are tech savvy and people on the go – they want answers yesterday to questions asked today. Keeping up to date with three employees makes Get Satisfaction a great way for Sandy and her team of merry reps to get down to the customer service business.

The Bad Case – Britney Spears worthy
Starbucks: Grande Mocha Frappuccino please, hold the online customer service. Of course my favourite treat has to be made by a company that chooses to have a terrible relationship with Get Satisfaction – although the drink is satisfying. ‘Starbucks’ has one employee, one post, and no replies. I am also assuming it only has one follower because the barista seems to be only a part-timer behind the coffee machine. This page is annoyingly unhelpful, good thing they have addicts consuming their products.

P.S. – Rolling Stone’s reference… in order to “Get Satisfied” you have to be at the top of your game, otherwise I just ain’t getting no satisfaction.

www.getsatisfaction.com