Provident Partners news

I’m trying something a bit different, instead of just a blog to land on from Twitter, I’ve decided to provide a unique page that I’ll update as needed. First some basic items to consider when following me on Twitter. I use Twitter as a total communications outlet, business, personal, relationships, and even sometimes, What I’m doing now.  

Confessions: I use it to highlight, even promote new blog posts. I don’t go hog wild, a couple of tweets here and there to let people know I’ve something potentially worthwhile on the stove.  By the way, I write the Marketing Edge blog and podcast, that even others have recommended. :>)

Hidden Objective:  I crack myself up. And I hope to share some of those chuckles with people on Twitter,  people, I don’t care if the bots following me laugh or not. So you might see some tweets that don’t make sense, unless you read what I responded to.  I know, I know, I shouldn’t end a sentence with to, sorry Mrs. Grady (elementary school English teacher) 

 
Clients: Sometimes I will share what I’m doing with or for clients on Twitter. I usually will indicate those tweets with a (C) just to save space.  If there is room the first time I tweet about clients I will spell out the word.   I have not yet taken on clients that I promote their stuff, for example. Here’s XYZ software company, they have great stuff, you should buy some.  That situation has not yet presented itself and I’d rather not get into that kind of relationship.

I have pointed tweets to clients that have a software product in beta that they want feedback about.  I believe this represents more of Twitter’s core value, it is a two way street and I’m not asking someone to shell out cash. I also do not get paid for Tweeting about clients. 

What I do like to do is report about industries and trends. I will do that for clients and gladly take that conversation to Twitter to get more dialogue on a topic. To me, that is the beauty of social media in general and Twitter specifically.  For example,  I am doing project work Verizon Wireless.  I will reference articles or blog posts that highlight the issue of the Android phones, cell networks, and mobile application development. As part of this interesting project, I tapped into an organization I have a commitment in the Social Media Breakfast. Verizon Wireless is interested in being a part of the social community, in Des Moines there is an active and growing community online and in mobile development. I am involved with Nathan Wright of Lava Row in organizing the first Social Media Breakfast in Des Moines, Iowa with a dynamic panel conversation about the mobile web. I will be Tweeting a lot about it. I have also created Twitter lists in the areas I’m interested.

Dogs: Occasionally I talk about dogs, and you’ll see Torry, I am guaranteed to get a smile from at least her when I come home. Thanks for following.

Other Places to Stay in Touch:

The Society for New Communications Research as announced the line-up for its third annual Research Symposium & Awards Gala, taking place on Friday, Nov. 14th, at the Hotel Marlowe in Cambridge, Mass.

Provident Partners’ own Albert Maruggi is also a SNCR senior fellow, and he’s delivering one of the presentations at the symposium. He’ll be joined by SNCR fellows Emily Metzgar and Michael Adolph to discuss “Analyzing Social Media in the 2008 Presidential Election.”

For more info, please visit SNCR.org. We hope to see you in Cambridge!

Provident Partners’ president Albert Maruggi will take part in another upcoming event put on by the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce. Health and Human Services Day, taking place Aug. 14 at United Hospital in St. Paul, gives members of the chamber’s Leadership Saint Paul program an opportunity to learn how:

• major local hospitals do — and don’t — work together
• health and human services organizations operate and are funded
• social media tools affect health care providers and consumers

That last item — social media’s impact on health care — will be a presentation from Albert. His discussion will cover how and where consumers are getting their information, how are health care organizations responding to or “fighting back” against outspoken consumers, as well as the issue of whether physicians are now expected to do public relations.

Leadership Saint Paul is a community leadership program that challenges, engages and prepares emerging and existing leaders to strengthen the Saint Paul/East Metro area. One aspect of the program includes day-long sessions focusing on significant challenges facing the region, such as community effectiveness, education, health care, regional economic development and criminal justice. Each program day strives to enlighten, inspire and transform participants by exposing them to a vast array of perspectives, resources and mentors.

If you have any questions about the program, please contact Beth Albrecht at 651-265-2767 or elizabeth@saintpaulchamber.com.

In a Sunday article on how businesses can tap into social media, the York Daily Record talks to Albert Maruggi, president of Provident Partners and senior fellow at the Society for New Communications Research.

From the article’s intro:

If a few years ago someone had asked me what a “tweet” was, I would have told them it was the sound a bird makes.

Only more recently would I have said a tweet is a posting on Twitter.

Twitter?

What the heck is that?

Unless you are really tapped into the newest methods of social media and technology, Twitter is most likely something new to you.

So consider this your Twitter tutorial.

The article goes on to offer just that — a good tutorial for Twitter beginners. Maruggi’s contibutions include some insights on which types of businesses “absolutley” should look into Twitter and how they can get started.

Read the full article here.

Albert Maruggi moderates a panel today called “Social Media Bringing Change to Healthcare Marketing,” which, as you might imagine, examines the impact social media and online communication are having on the health care industry. The event is brought to you by the Minnesota chapter of the American Marketing Association.

Can you really shop for by-pass surgery the way you shop for a tie? Will the successful pharma practice of direct to consumer advertising work in other forms of healthcare? How can healthcare delivery practitioners prepare for consumer-driven selection? Marketers, advertisers, and PR professionals across the spectrum of healthcare will be impacted by these questions as social media pressures and opportunities come to healthcare. Websites like Thehealthcarescoop.com and Carol.com illustrate the dynamic social media marketing venues.

You can hear an audio preview of the panel discussion here.