A Scot Across the Pond

The Vortex of Communication and the Value of Social Media

markisutherland — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:39:08 +0000

I’m a PR professional in a world where public relations, marketing, social media and search engines are all morphing into a huge mess of interconnected tactics that impact reputation and lead generation. Twenty years ago, when I started in this field, they were very distinct and separate. Today, you can’t tell when one ends and the other begins. And it is very common, almost a daily occurrence actually, for an executive or a fellow PR practitioner to ask about the value of social media in relation to the overall PR of a company or organization.

Keep reading over at the Elasticity blog

How to Use Twitter to Help Oklahoma Tornado Victims

markisutherland — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:12:28 +0000

Today, the world grieves with those impacted by the devastating tornadoes in Oklahoma. The damage is immense and the loss of life is severe. And the country begins to reach out to help those touched by this disaster by sending teams, food, and more.

And for those of us who followed the disaster as it unfolded via Twitter, we can also make a difference in the lives of the people in Oklahoma by donating to help them directly via Twitter.

I’ve covered the new charity fundraising tool, Givver, a number of times in the past. And one of the charities sending truckloads of food to Oklahoma is Feeding America. Feeding America accepts donations via Twitter using Givver.

You can sign up to use Givver at Givver.com. For those of us who already use Givver, we can simply tweet #Give $(an amount) @FeedingAmerica and our donation will be put to immediate use to help the families in Oklahoma have food to eat in the midst of this disaster.

It’s time we all made social media matter, and by supporting Feeding America at this time we can all make a difference in the lives of those who need it most. You can sign up at Givver.com or Givver.com/feeding-america.

Social Media Giving Day Momentum Builds

markisutherland — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:29:54 +0000

Social media gives everyone an opportunity to be heard. From Facebook to Twitter to Pinterest, there are a variety of social tools available. However, Twitter is one such network that pays tribute to our already short attention spans and is fast becoming a commonly used tool in all aspects of our society. In 140 characters or less, people attempt to shout into the wind and make a difference with their opinion. But that’s not all this social network is good for these days.

Today, more than 32 percent of Internet users are on Twitter, with the largest concentration located in the US. One million new accounts are started every day, there were 175 million tweets sent each day of 2012, and if you go back to the dawn of Twitter time, there have been more than 163 billion tweets sent.

Politicians are active on Twitter, campaigning, connecting, responding, debating, and kissing babies, all in140 characters. In fact, President Obama’s victory tweet was re-tweeted a record 800,000 times.

Marketers are generating leads, reporters are researching stories, and companies and non-profits are connecting with their supporters and detractors on a daily basis – All on Twitter.

And now, thanks to the creativity of a St. Louis-based team, Twitter is becoming a powerful tool to impact charities with much more than opinions. People can give money to the charities or causes that matter most to them, with one simple tweet.

The tool is called Givver…

Keep reading at Techli.com

Her Prime Minister and His Queen

markisutherland — Thu, 09 May 2013 02:02:31 +0000

Recently, in the middle of the US, I had the honor of being a guest of Her Majesty’s Government at an event honoring Sir Winston Churchill.

You can read more about the event, and the amazing work of the men and women who run America’s National Churchill Museum in Fulton, Missouri, USA, in a piece I wrote for the UK’s Weekly Telegraph.

But in reflecting on the event, and the legacy of Sir Winston, I can’t help but think back on the fact that Sir Winston was Her Majesty’s first Prime Minister.

Keep reading over at Royal Central

Honoring Sir Winston Churchill… in St. Louis

markisutherland — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:41:57 +0000

Few politicians in UK history are as iconic as Sir Winston Churchill. He is admired worldwide, honoured frequently, and stolen from by politicians around the world when they want to sound eloquent and educated.

And here in Missouri, USA, we have our own little bit of Churchill that binds us to his legacy.

Keep reading over at the UK’s Telegraph newspaper

Milwaukee Becomes First City To Support National Social Media Giving Day

markisutherland — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:34:17 +0000

The founders of the charity-supporting Givver.com are embarking on a nationwide push to encourage people on social media to make a difference and support their most important causes. And Milwaukee’s Mayor Tom Barrett has issued a proclamation encouraging people across Milwaukee to use social media to support their local charities on July 15, Social Media Giving Day, making Milwaukee the first city to join the movement.

Keep reading over at Techli.com

And read the proclamation here

The Sun Never Sets on the British Crown

markisutherland — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:45:30 +0000

Many people enjoyed the Royal wedding and watching the Royals cheer on the athletes during the 2012 London Olympics, but most—especially in the US where I now live—don’t know just how influential the British Crown is in global matters.

So, here’s a quick primer on the power of the Queen, and, one day, the Duke of Cambridge.

Keep reading over at Royal Central

Howard Phillips, 1941-2013

markisutherland — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:01:39 +0000

This week, I received some very sad news. A political giant in the US, and someone I was honored to call my friend, passed away.

Howard Phillips.

He walked in the hallways of power, and left because he was committed to principle over politics.

He loved his family, and sought to raise them in the fear and love of God.

He sacrificed often, in order to invest and fight for the future of the nation he loved.

He was humble, and always made the others in the room feel like they were more important.

He was one of the brightest, most intelligent men I have known, and was a powerful and eloquent speaker.

Words cannot express the impact he had on me personally. He will be missed. And he leaves behind a legacy.

Thank you Howard. Thank you for your service. Thank you for your example. Thank you for your friendship.

—

In honor of Howard Phillips, the book we worked on together, Judicial Tyranny, will be free on Kindle for the rest of this week.

American Affection for the Future of the Monarchy

markisutherland — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:50:59 +0000

St. Louis, Missouri, is in the middle of the United States, and the metro area has more than 2.8 million residents, making it the 15^th largest in the US and almost as populous as Wales. This fully American city, settled by the French, and sitting on the banks of the Mississippi is a welcoming city, a city of business and culture, and a great place to raise a family. It is also a city that loves British culture, with British stores, restaurants, and events and even has special screenings of Monty Python at local movie houses and plays Fawlty Towers on the local television.

And here, in the middle of the US fly-over country you should make plans to visit, I am constantly amazed by the profound love and affection the American public have for the British Royal Family. Pleasantly surprised, but surprised nonetheless.

Keep reading over at Royal Central

Can I Be A Private Secretary to the Royals?

markisutherland — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:44:50 +0000

A few months ago, thanks to breaking news via Twitter from Victoria Murphy with the UK Mirror and Richard Palmer with the UK Daily Express, I discovered that Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton was becoming Principal Private Secretary to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (William and Kate) and Prince Harry, while both Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge were getting their own Private Secretaries, Rebecca Deacon for Kate and Miguel Head for William. Edward Lane Fox is the newly-announced personal private secretary to Prince Harry.

This move within the Royal Household was “very interesting – a new era in the royal household,” tweeted Murphy. “The job changes in William, Kate and Harry’s household will be seen as them spreading their wings and loosening ties with their father,” Palmer tweeted.

However, I had another, more important question. What is a Private Secretary, and can I be one? So, a wee bit of research ensued.

Keep reading over at Royal Central