If you missed #SMMUChat this week, you missed a great discussion onthe importance of integrating social media into your overall public relations plan. You also missed our free access offer for Social Media Marketing University’s Strategic PR course!

bigstockphoto Twitter Bird Announce 5263769 300x300 #SMMUChat Recap: Leveraging Social Media to Make Headlines

Courtesy of socialmediapotpourri.com

Among some of the tips and insights shared during the Twitter chat by John Souza, founder and chief strategist of Social Media Magic and SMMU were:

  • The advent of social media means that you no longer have to rely on traditional media outlets to broadcast your news. Use social media, including your blog, to broadcast your news releases.
  • Most journalists have a social media presence. Following and interacting with journalists that cover your industry in social media can bring you one step closer to making headlines.
  • Muckrack.com (@muckrack) is a great tool to research journalists that cover your industry and get your news in front of them via Twitter.
  • Social media can be an excellent crisis communications tool. You can use it as a ‘first response tool’ to break the story in the way you want it to be told. You can also use it to monitor negative commentary and quickly develop a plan of action to diffuse damaging messaging.
  • Online newsrooms aren’t just for journalists anymore. Make sure all components are social-friendly so that your stakeholders, customers and other supporters have the tools they’ll need to be your brand ambassadors in social media.

Thanks to everyone who joined this week’s chat. Each week we’ll be featuring a “Tweet of the Week,” the most insightful tweet contributed during the conversation.

This week’s Tweet of the Week comes from Sonia Harris (@harrisonia). In response to “Q4: How do we incorporate social media into our crisis communications plan?” Sonia suggested that “A4: Each team/department could be assigned a hashtag to be used for updates once away from the emergency (fire, etc.).” Great insight!

Want more insights from Social Media Marketing University and your peers on how to best leverage social media? Follow #SMMUChat every Wednesday night at 8 p.m. E.T. on Twitter by following the hashtag. You can use TweetGrid or TweetChat to help make participating in the chat easier.

Join #SMMUChat on Wednesday, December 7 to discuss Building Your Business with Twitter. We’ll be discussing proven strategies for leveraging Twitter to attract and convert leads, increase sales and edge out the competition. Plus, all participants will receive free access to our Twitter course.

Visit us here to submit your questions prior to the chat and don’t forget to invite your friends and colleagues.