Cutline Speaks
Welcome to our virtual soapbox, Cutline Speaks! We couldn't pass up the opportunity to share our adventures in the world of tech PR (we're in communications and like to talk, you know), so each week, you'll get a fresh perspective on the latest news, the coolest gadgets, the hottest trends, and whatever else is on our minds. There will be laughter, there will be love (for technology, of course), there might be some loathing - we're glad you're here to enjoy it all. Happy reading!
Fun Fourth of July Facts
posted by Meghan on July 2, 2009
Cutline is off to celebrate our nation’s independence and our team wants to wish you a safe and happy holiday! Before we go, here are some fun facts about the Fourth of July (thanks, encarta!).
- The American national anthem, the "Star-Spangled Banner," is set to the tune of an English drinking song ("To Anacreon in Heaven").
- The Statue of Liberty was designed by French engineer Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, who also built the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
- Fireworks were made in China as early as the 11th century. The Chinese used their pyrotechnic mixtures for war rockets and explosives.
- Uncle Sam was first popularized during the War of 1812, when the term appeared on supply containers. Believe it or not, the U. S. Congress didn't adopt him as a national symbol until 1961.
- The first two versions of the Liberty Bell were defective and had to be melted down and recast. The third version rang every Fourth of July from 1778 to 1835, when, according to tradition, it cracked as it was being tolled for the death of Chief Justice John Marshall.
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Tags for this post: meghan current events fun
7 Questions with… Megan F.
posted by Meghan on July 2, 2009
The Cutline team is happy to announce a new addition to our team. Megan Foster is a rock star intern joining us for the summer to learn the true meaning of "work hard and play hard." Check out her 7 Questions interview below. Welcome to the team, Megan!
1. What do you do at Cutline? 
Basically, everything. Interns are the cornerstone of any good business.
2. If you would travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Outer space. Then you could see the whole world at once. :)
3. What's the one gadget or service you wish someone would come up with?
Something that would dry and straighten my hair in ten seconds flat.
4. If you could be any type of car, what would you be?
A little smart car. A "Green Machine."
5. What's your favorite past time?
Hanging out with friends, music, movies. You know, the usual response to that question.
6. Mac or PC?
I'm a PC and I'm sixteen years old.
7. Are you a pirate or a ninja?
Pirate. Captain Megan A. Foster, at your service. Arrgghh.
10 Ways to Make Social Media Work With a Small Team
posted by Meghan on June 25, 2009
Earlier this week, I attended a Commonwealth Club Inforum SF event hosted by Sarah Lacy. The topic was focused on ways non-profits and SMBs can make the most out of social media tools within a limited budget. The discussion centered on how a one to two person team could create social media solutions without taking too much time. This led to a pointed discussion on the most common mistakes as well as prime opportunities in the social media world.
A lot of companies and entrepreneurs I've spoken to recently have asked how they should use Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn -- especially with a limited staff and budget.
In an effort to be more social, I thought I'd share the top 10 points I took away from the discussion. But, first, the one thing that we all need to remember is: Know who you're trying to reach and what you want to get out of it before getting started.
1. Have one voice.
Agree on final messaging and communication materials with your team so that everyone is on the same page. This includes both your culture and how your "voice" is portrayed in images as well as Twitter responses.
2. Describe yourself in searchable ways.
Think about the words users would type to find your pages, and make sure that your site actually includes those words within it.
3. Turn your volunteers and customers into evangelists.
Engage with your customers and they'll share their experience within their networks. If you have volunteers for your non-profit, have them work on your social media presence by taking pictures of events and engaging with other social networking sites.
4. Set up feeds to capture conversations about your company.
If you have a small team, you should find easy ways to listen to what your audience is discussing on social networks. Twitter has updated its search options so that you can save a search string for your company, products, executives, etc. to stay informed of conversations in real time.
5. Find time to respond.
Make sure you take the time to respond, otherwise the rest of these tips are for naught! Reply to people who mention your company/industry/interests on Twitter and leave comments on relevant blog posts and news articles.
6. Beauty is only skin deep… and so is Flash.
Flash sites may be pretty on the outside, but the animations provide no way for your site to be picked up by the search engines. Ensure that your keywords are directly on your page and not just embedded in the flash animations. The same goes for your products, if someone can't share the URL to a product with friends or a social network because there is no URL for its animation, then you've lost the viral connection social networks provide...and potential customer evangelists.
7. Provoke a conversation.
Bring out your brand with emotion. Use pictures and videos to show your culture and brand. Post pictures that users will want to share and discuss. For example, take pictures of a fun new product your office received, a crazy design your employees came up with, or your company mascot to start a conversation.
8. Understand the return on engagement of Facebook.
Not all companies should create a fan page or group unless it's updated constantly and interacting with Facebook followers. The best advice for non-profits and small companies is to use Facebook for event updates (Eventbrite will help you manage the number of attendees, Facebook will spread the word). A fan page is also a great way to find evangelists who can help promote your brand and share your picture or video content within their groups.
9. Make sure your own house is in order.
Use Google's Web Master Tools for SEO advice. You shouldn't engage with social networks until your site is final, searchable and accessible to your audience.
10. Increase your PageRank.
Aside from keywords on your site you can create separate landing pages and sub-domains that will also help your page ranking. Understand that Facebook and other closed sites will not promote your page rank. Be part of the conversation on these sites and draw your audience back to your page.
Here are the panelists if you'd like to follow them:
Jeremy Toeman, Founding Partner, Stage Two Consulting (@jtoeman)
Adam Lasnik, Search Evangelist, Google (@thatadamguy)
Ben Parr, Associate Editor, Mashable (@benparr)
Chris Lindland, Founder, Cordarounds (@cordarounds)
Sarah Lacy, Valley Girl Columnist, BusinessWeek; Co-host, "Tech Ticker"; Author, Once You're Lucky. Twice You're Good - Moderator (@sarahcuda)
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Tags for this post: social networking meghan social media