Tag: social media

No Summer Vacation for Social Media

Posted by Amelia Daniels – June 13, 2011

Knoxville, Tenn. – Summer vacation is usually a time to relax, unwind and maybe even unplug from those digital devices that have become extra appendages to many.  But social media is increasingly becoming intertwined with family vacations.

Whether you find yourself mobile uploading photos of your adventures to Facebook or “checking-in” at various stops along your drive down I-75, you may have an excuse the next time your spouse politely asks you to put down your iPhone and join in the family fun.  Social media tools can actually enhance your vacation, but finding a balance is key.

Ackermann’s Digital Strategies Manager, Shane Rhyne says, “Living Social and Groupon, for example, can save your family money when you take advantage of special offers on restaurants, shopping and lodging.”  The social media community on FourSquare offers valuable tips about tourist attractions.  “We’re seeing that with the Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge,” says Rick Laney, Ackermann PR Vice-President.  More than 300 people checked-in to the attraction in the first year since the grand opening.

One vacationer, Bri-Anne S. enjoyed her experience at the Titanic Museum Attraction and was particularly impressed with the iceburg exhibit that allows visitors to feel the temperature on that fateful night.  Bri-Anne S. checked-in to the museum on FourSquare and offered this tip, “Make sure you don’t go in flipflops and shorts!  It’s cold in there anyway, but when you get to the 30 something degree room and then stick your hand in the 28 degree water, it’s really cold!”  Dollywood and Wilderness at the Smokies are also popular “check-in” destinations on FourSquare.

Popular travel websites like TripAdvisor.com are now teaming up with Facebook to further connect users to their friends.  “Soliciting travel advice from friends in your online networks can be extremely helpful,” says Rhyne.  Even government agencies are using social networks to provide information on road conditions and detours via Twitter.

Rhyne warns that the “always on, always connected” mentality may contradict with your family’s vacation.  “Finding the balance between the two, especially when you’re on vacation, will make for a happier experience,” says Rhyne.  “Or at least that’s what my wife Ruth tells me between my Twitpic uploads of our beach trip.”

For a full recap of Shane’s social media tips to use for your summer vacation, visit the Ackermann Experience.

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Media Contact
Rick Laney
rlaney@ackermannpr.com
(865) 584-0550

Majority of East Tennessee CEOs Are Engaged in Social Media

Posted by Amelia Daniels – June 6, 2011

Knoxville, Tenn.  – How social is your company?  The answer may be found within your CEO’s level of activity with social media tools like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.  

In a recent survey of more than 300 business leaders in East Tennessee, Ackermann PR found that the scales are tipping toward social media with a majority of CEOs – 61% –using social media for personal use.  Contrast that statistic with numerous sets of data from 2010 that show less than half of CEOs were using social media to engage with the public and other stakeholders. 

“We suspected that businesses in East Tennessee were moving beyond the experimental stage with social media,” said Cathy Ackermann, President and CEO of Ackermann PR.  “And while that’s what the results show, many CEOs are still trying to figure out how it fits in with their overall marketing and communications mix.”

Some of the survey’s key findings include:

  • 46% of respondents are using social media primarily for branding and awareness
  • Facebook is the most popular, with 54% of respondents using Facebook
  • 39% of respondents say these social media activities have had minimal impact on their businesses so far while 27% said impact has been small but noticeable 
  • 40% indicated they are not sure about how to track or measure their social media activities

Ackermann says one of the most significant hurdles that businesses are encountering is employee training and participation.  “The survey showed some concern on the part of CEOs regarding the allocation of resources to social media activities.”

These same issues were raised at the recent Social Slam event, held in Knoxville in April.  Ackermann’s Digital Strategies Manager, Shane Rhyne who participated in Social Slam says, “Upper level participation was a common theme of Social Slam presentations. The businesses reaping the best rewards from social media were also those businesses where the CEO and other senior level leadership had taken an active role in participating in social media.”

The companies whose CEOs are engaged in social media are often more likely to be using social media for business purposes.  “We can help CEOs find the right balance for their company, whether they’re personally involved with social media or not.  Because there is one thing we know – using social media strategically can greatly enhance a company’s bottom line,” says Ackermann.

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Media Contact
Shane Rhyne
(865) 584-0550
srhyne@ackermannpr.com

HGTV signs popular mom blogger for on-air and online content development

Posted by Shane Rhyne – January 22, 2010

Heather Armsotrong ("Dooce")

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — HGTV has signed Heather Armstrong of dooce.com, recognized as America’s most popular “mommyblogger,” to an exclusive programming development deal in which she will work with HGTV’s online and on-air production teams to create innovative convergence programming for the network.

“We are thrilled to have Heather join the HGTV family,” said HGTV president, Jim Samples. “Not only is she one of the world’s best known bloggers and parenting writers, with a unique and hilarious voice, she’s also a talented designer and photographer. She’s clearly a great fit for us and our audience.”

Armstrong will play a starring role in HGTV’s social media-driven audience engagement initiatives, while continuing to blog at dooce.com.

“I am thrilled to be partnering with HGTV in the upcoming year and have been a huge fan of the network for many years,” said Armstrong.  “In fact, I spent the first three months of my second child’s life watching every episode of Curb Appeal and Designed to Sell, and now if called upon I could stage a house within an inch of its life. I’ve been looking to grow my business beyond its online presence, and having been approached by other media brands before I can confidently say that there is no better partner than HGTV to help me take this step.”
The network plans to unveil the details of Heather Armstrong’s HGTV platform in spring of 2010. Viewers and online users can get more information on HGTV.com/Heather, Facebook/HGTV.com, and via Twitter at @HGTVOfficial.

“There are numerous opportunities by which Heather’s many talents will come to life, and we’ve been collaborating with her on a menu of them,” said Samples. “We think that both her audience and ours will be excited by what we have in store.”

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About HGTV

HGTV, America’s leader in home and lifestyle programming, is distributed to more than 98 million U.S. households and is one of cable’s top-rated networks.  HGTV’s website, HGTV.com, is the nation’s leading online home-and-garden destination, which attracts an average of more than 4 million unique visitors per month. For more information, visit www.HGTV.com.

About Heather Armstrong

Heather B. Armstrong of dooce.com is widely acknowledged to be the most popular “mommyblogger” in the world. She has more than 1.6 million followers on Twitter, and was recently named by Forbes Magazine as one of the 30 most influential women in media, along with Diane Sawyer, Kelly Ripa and Oprah Winfrey. She has been profiled in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, and she’s appeared as a guest on Oprah, The Bonnie Hunt Show and CNN. Armstrong is the author of the 2009 New York Times bestselling book, It Sucked and Then I Cried: How I Had a Baby, a Breakdown, and a Much Needed Margarita. Armstrong lives in Salt Lake City with her husband, Jon Armstrong, their two young daughters, and two dogs, Chuck and Coco.

Contact:
Audrey Adlam, HGTV
212-549-8599 / adlam@hgtv.com

FeistyLittleDroid.com Provides Online Community for Droid Phone Users

Posted by Shane Rhyne – December 7, 2009

feisty_little_droidFans, users and developers of the popular Google Android smartphone now have a brand new online community where they can learn from each other, share ‘Droid apps and tips, get expert advice, and catch up on the latest Droid-related news and blogging.

FeistyLittleDroid.com will open its virtual doors on December 7, and is sponsored by Cellular Sales, the nation’s largest Verizon Wireless retailer. FeistyLittleDroid offers community members the chance to interact with fellow Droid enthusiasts via a variety of popular social networking tools, including discussion forums, reviews, photos and personal blogs.

Movie fans may recognize the new site’s name as a nod to one of the most beloved characters in the Star Wars franchise.

“Everyone’s favorite little Droid in Star Wars was a feisty fellow” said Jay Witherspoon of Cellular Sales. “He was unafraid to back down when challenged, while remaining loyal and eager for friendship. Those are qualities we think reflect the Droid phone and its users, too. So we loved the idea of using the ‘feisty little droid’ reference for our new community.”

To celebrate the launch of  FeistyLittleDroid, the site will be hosting a series of contests and giveaways on the site and through the official FeistyLittleDroid Twitter feed throughout the months of December ‘09 and January ‘10. Prizes will include gift certificates to online retailers specializing in vintage Star Wars toys and collectibles.

Cellular Sales LogoWhile FeistyLittleDroid is sponsored by Cellular Sales, visitors and participants won’t find company sales pitches there. Instead, Cellular Sales intends to offer FeistyLittleDroid as a free community for all Droid fans, no matter where they purchase their phone and service.

“We hope to see the site grow into a premier one-stop shop for Droid enthusiasts who want to develop relationships around their shared interest, and even work collaboratively to create, test and review new apps for the Droid,” said Witherspoon. “We want it to become an entertaining, informative and welcoming home for the entire Droid community. That’s why we have created FeistyLittleDroid with a playful and spirited atmosphere—maybe like the Star Wars cantina, but with less blaster fire.”

Droid fans can create their free online account at FeistyLittleDroid.com beginning on Monday, December 7.

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Media Contact:

Katie Granju, Ackermann PR Digital Communications/Social Media Director
(865) 584-0550
kgranju@ackermannpr.com

Cellular Sales

Cellular Sales is a 15-year old privately held company headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn.  The company currently operates throughout the United States.  By year end, Cellular Sales – which attributes its rapid growth to unparalleled customer service – will operate more than 300 locations throughout the country.  For the past two years, Inc. Magazine has named Cellular Sales one of the nation’s fastest growing privately held companies. This year, the company was in the Top 100 for retailers.

DROID is a trademark of Lucasfilm Ltd. and its related companies. Used under license.

Clayton Homes adds social media to public relations strategies

Posted by Shane Rhyne – October 6, 2009

Clayton Homes Logo

Knoxville, Tenn. – Clayton Homes is adding social media to the public relations duties handled by Ackermann PR, the manufacturer’s national Agency of Record. The firm will now include social media strategic development as part of public relations efforts on behalf of the company.

Ackermann’s work for the Berkshire-Hathaway company in promoting the launch of the Clayton Homes i-house was highlighted in the October 2009 issue of PR Week. The traditional public relations media campaign also included outreach to bloggers and social media platforms. The resulting efforts helped generate thousands of customer inquiries through the company’s phone and mail centers and through online venues, including a featured story on Yahoo.com’s front page.

“The interest generate on our web site from the Yahoo feature was historic for our company,” said Clayton President and CEO Kevin Clayton. “As our online activity expands, adding Ackermann’s duties to include social media is a natural addition to our relationship.”

“It is not surprising to us that Clayton Homes recognizes the long-term importance of adding social media strategies as part of a successful PR plan,” said agency President and CEO Cathy Ackermann. “Our focus is on helping them stay out in front of these new trends.”

The Ackermann PR digital and social media division, led by Katie Allison Granju, represents a rapidly growing segment of the firm’s work. In recent months, Ackermann has added a significant number of new clients, representing a wide variety of industry sectors, including tourism, hospitality, entertainment, sports, healthcare, manufacturing, and non-profit.

Ackermann PR is a full-service, integrated marketing communications firm providing strategic public relations and marketing. It is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, and serves clients across the United States.

Media Contact
Mike Cohen
(865) 584-0550
mcohen@ackermannpr.com

Rhyne joins Ackermann PR Digital Communications division

Posted by Shane Rhyne – September 29, 2009

Knoxville, Tenn – Ackermann PR announced that Shane Rhyne has been hired as the company’s Digital Communications Associate. Rhyne brings a background in print, broadcast, and digital media to the company’s expanding services in digital and social media.

“Adding Shane to our staff allows us to continue building on our established leadership in developing innovative branding and marketing opportunities for our clients,” said President and CEO Cathy Ackermann.

The Ackermann PR digital and social media division has represented a rapidly growing segment of the firm’s work during the past quarter. In recent months, Ackermann has added a significant number of new clients, representing a wide variety of industry sectors, including tourism, hospitality, entertainment, sports, healthcare, manufacturing, and nonprofit.

“Shane’s marketing and media background made him the ideal choice as we made plans to expand the division,” said Katie Allison Granju, Social Media Director for Ackermann PR. “Shane is well known in Tennessee’s blogging community for his work on successful social media initiatives, and we are pleased to be able to offer his talents on behalf of our clients.”

Rhyne is a steering committee member of the Knoxville Social Media Association and an active community blogger. He has worked previously as the public relations and marketing director of the East Tennessee Historical Society, and as an online community manager with the E.W. Scripps’ branded social network for pet enthusiasts. In addition, he has worked as a radio news journalist and station manager, and as a freelance writer for magazines and newspapers, as well as on a project with the late Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alex Haley to document the author’s childhood.

Rhyne is a native of Clinton, Tennessee, and studied journalism and broadcasting at the University of Memphis and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. He lives in Knoxville with his wife, Ruth Sapp.

Ackermann PR is a full-service, integrated marketing communications firm providing strategic public relations and marketing. It is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, and serves clients across the United States.

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Media Contact
Katie Allison Granju
(865) 584-0550
kgranju@ackermannpr.com