PR Firm sees huge growth in social media platforms
When Tom McFeeley started his public relations firm a year ago he had no idea how important social media would be to his business. Now his company is spending 75 percent of its time on Web sites like Twitter and Linkedin.
“Every business should be concerned about their reputation,” McFeeley said. “You can directly put yourself in front of people you care about and tell them your story.”
This is why the Stamford, Conn., resident’s company, Thomas J. McFeeley Communications, has put so much effort into social media. The results so far have been encouraging. Communication barriers have broken down allowing McFeeley’s clients to better connect with customers directly.
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Sometimes the hardest things for us to do in our own business are the very things we advise our clients they must do. 
Turning the mirror on yourself, and your business, can be a tricky thing. Take this example.
When I consult small businesses about their social media strategies I insist they create two different Twitter profiles — one for themselves and another for their business. Even if your business has your name attached to it — as does Thomas J. McFeeley Communications — you must keep a (virtual) wall between them. I realized two weeks ago that I merely had one Twitter account, @TomMcFeeley.
Followers of @TomMcFeeley were subject to rants about the Mets, running jokes with friends, trash talking of any fan of a team playing my beloved Jets, my edgy humor blog posts, general crankiness. Only occasionally would I tweet about public relations, social media, or the accomplishments of my clients. Actually, it was more than occasionally, but it was lost in a stream of my personal life. I’ve accumulated 1,200 followers in six months. So I created my business Twitter profile, @PRSocialMedia.
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One of my favorite columnists is Maureen Dowd. Many don’t like her, and I’m not making a statement about my politics, but I do find her really compelling because her columns almost always start a spirited discussion. I don’t always agree with her but I do appreciate that she forces me to think about difficult questions and to look deeper into issues. And she doesn’t take herself too seriously, a good lesson for all of us.
Her column this week raised a question I’ve been wondering for a few weeks now. This vitriol around President Obama, particularly in this health care debate, is astounding to me. I know people whose jobs it is to know the legislation and they don’t fully understand what’s been proposed or written. So how is it that people are so worked up.
Words do matter. But sometimes a cigar is not a cigar. “Socialist” can mean something else entirely and I fear that in many cases in our country, it does. President Carter has weighed in on race question and agrees that such emotion is masked racism. I wish he was wrong, but I do fear he is correct. How can people get so worked up over something they don’t understand? Are they defending the current health care system? Couldn’t be, right?
A journalist friend of mine always says this about controversies that come from outrageous statements by famous people: Usually the person speaking is correct and people don’t want to admit it or face the issue. So prepare yourself for a few days of debate over President Carter’s race statements. But just keep an open mind – maybe he is right. Then what do we do?
