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How can public relations professionals not have a Twitter account?

February 15, 2012

Twitter-for-PR-Public-RelationsThis morning Melissa Higgs, in public relations for LexisNexis UK, issued a press release regarding a couple LexisNexis iPhone and iPad apps which will make legal information more accessible to lawyers on the go.

I picked up the release because I follow the term, ‘LexisNexis’ in my my Google News feeds on Mr Reader. The subject of the LexisNexis release is the type of information I like to share with my followers on Twitter.

As is my practice, I took a quick search to find Higgs’ Twitter handle. That way when I share news of the apps via a quick hit of the Twitter share on Mr Reader, I can give Higgs attribution of getting the news out there.

As with all good news and public relations people, I know that Higgs must want to know who’s spreading word of their news and releases. She can then build relationships with those folks for further releases and let her company know how the news is breaking.

God knows the majority of LexisNexis target audience prone to use these apps is receiving of such news via social media – Twitter, blogs, and Facebook – not traditional legal publishers who might be relying on press releases.

The way I let Higgs know I’m ‘sharing the word’ is to do a quick attribution in my tweet by including her Twitter handle. I do this with all my Tweets – I include the news or public relations person’s Twitter handle.

I couldn’t find Higgs Twitter handle. Nothing on a general Google search except for a Melissa Higgs, also in the UK, who says her tweets are personal. No one by the name of Melissa Higgs on Twitter who says they are working for LexisNexis. Not seeing any tweets referencing LexisNexis from folks by the name of ‘Melissa Higgs’ on Twitter, I didn’t want to give an incorrect attribution by guessing. I went to Higgs LinkedIn profile, where most folks include their Twitter handles. Nothing.

I don’t get it. Some reporters and public relationships pro’s get their Twitter handles up front and center. They’ll include it in the byline for a story, in the press release contact info, and in their LinkedIn profiles.

While others who do not understand social media or are unwilling to play by the new rules social media dictates, whether they like or not, hold back. They’re just making it difficult for others to spread news they’re looking to get spread.

Time to get with it folks. Time to make it easier on people like me who are trying to help you do your job.

Here’s a powerpoint from Dr. Corrine Weisberger of St. Edward’s University on using Twitter as a public relations’ tool. Though you can’t glean the most from a powerpoint alone, Dr. Weisberger includes some nice points in her presentation.

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