Ten Steps for Creating a FANtastic Facebook Fan Page 
by Mari Smith

Remember, while Facebook offers a free platform to interact with your target publics, businesses that are serious in maximizing the benefits of a Facebook presence need to commit time and effort to activitely participating in this community. Just because you set up a Facebook page, doesn’t automatically mean that your revenue will increase.  Same as in a person-to-person relationship, you’ll need to genuinely interact, be present, and maintain your Facebook relationships to generate good feelings, trust, and respect between your company and your Facebook fans.  In doing so, you will be able to build your brand, a better understanding of your customers, and thus, your business.

Do you already have a Facebook page for your business? If so, let us know some of the benefits that you’ve reaped as a result of your Facebook presence.

The students were all unique individuals and it was clear by meeting all of them that you really can’t judge books by their covers.  You might see them around town but you might never guess that one is going to an Ivy League university, or that one comes from a single-parent home, or that one has never traveled away from Hawai`i.  All the same, these kids were ambitious and focused.  Their parents were all very supportive of their children and had obviously provided them with guidance over the years. The thing that struck us though was that the students and parents alike had an unfailing positive attitude.  They had big, clear dreams, they felt great about the future, they believed that what was ahead would be fun and good, and though many of them had struggled one way or another in the past, they learned from those challenges and used the lessons to fortify themselves.  None of them were daunted in any way.  And none of them had anything that you and I don’t have, except maybe the right attitude.

In these times, when we’re facing economic challenges, environmental disasters, war, and day-to-day personal trials, the positive attitude displayed by the scholarship recipients and their families is something that can only help matters. Likewise, when you consider your business dealings and how you think and speak about your business, do so in a way that displays your optimism. That kind of positive energy is very attractive to consumers and the public in general. It’s also contagious, and we could all use a shot of optimism now. So dissipate any negative thoughts of fear and loathing and replace them with the bright side.  You will become a business magnet. Or magnate as the case may be.

Kauai, Florida, and Louisiana (to name a few) businesses have learned from past experiences that one can never be too prepared for a hurricane or other natural disaster. Especially since each business has a base of people for whom it is responsible, whether it’s employees, vendors, customers, or the public at large. As we enter the heart of our hurricane season, we bring you these seven helpful tips to help your business prepare for a hurricane from a public relations angle.

Before a hurricane occurs and potential impacts threaten the public and customers, businesses must have a plan. Being proactive can avoid panic and distress in the midst of an emergency. Your plan should include:

1. An emergency staffing structure. Who will be your company spokesperson(s) and who will develop and implement emergency communications strategies?
2. A qualified spokesperson. Who knows enough about the business to provide accurate company information? Have they been trained and are they prepared to speak confidently with members of the media?
3. Employee guidelines. Are your employees aware of what their roles are in an emergency? Do you have a communications process and plan in place that they are familiar with?
4. Media policy. Do you have a policy on providing statements to the public and news media on behalf of the company?
5. Sample documents. Are there any emergency communications documents you can prepare ahead of time, like sample news releases and media talking points.
6. Contact list. Do you have an up-to-date contact list including emergency numbers as well as your business’s key customers and vendors?
7. Alternative communications tools. Do you have communications tools to reach your contacts in case the usual ones aren’t available? Phone lines and email may not be a communications option.

Remember, these tips can also be applied to and customized for other natural disaster situations.  For more information on hurricane preparedness, visit http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/intro.shtml.

You know the basics of presenting yourself well: have good hygiene, dress appropriately, and be neat. Here are a few “advanced” tips to making stunning impressions:

1. Update your look to be in sync with the latest fashions. You don’t need a new wardrobe, just a new accessory or hairstyle that says you live in this decade, not the last one. An up-to-date look tells others that you’re on top of things.

2. Maintain eye contact when speaking with others to project confidence and strength.

3. Have good posture. Standing up straight shows others that you’re self-assured and interested in your job.

4. Pay attention to detail. A wrinkled shirt or chipped nail polish can turn a great look into a sloppy one.

5. Know your products, company and industry. A well-informed employee is the best ambassador for a business.

Lastly, remember to smile. A smile never hurts and can say a thousand good words in a few seconds. Add these tips to your Public Relations strategy and you’ll have a powerful PR punch!

Matsumoto of Kalaheo is a graduating senior at Kaua`i High School with a 3.651 grade point average (GPA).  She has been accepted to Oregon State University where she will pursue a double major in secondary education and chemistry. Outside of school, Matsumoto has been an active volunteer and an effective leader.

“I have always had a passion for working with our island keiki, and recognize the need for quality teachers on our island, especially in upper-level math and science classes in our high schools,” says Matsumoto.  “I also have a growing interest in the science and health areas, so upon graduating with both undergraduate degrees, I will either come home to teach or go on for further schooling to pursue a career in the medical field.  The path I take to college may not always be free and clear, nor the goals I seek fast and easy, but where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

“We are so pleased to invest in this extraordinary young woman,” said Jenny Fujita, partner with FMPR.  “She will make enormous contributions to the world around her, and to Kaua`i in particular.”

“Wherever her career takes her, we know she’ll blend her intellectual talents and concern for others to play an influential role in the betterment of society,” said Koerte.  “To that end, we have asked Shyanne to send us end-of-semester updates about her progress.  We will be posting these updates on our website at www.fmpr.net and eventually, plan to have a network of FMPR Scholars that can collaborate and achieve great things for themselves and our island.”

FMPR Scholars are chosen based on several key criteria: they are Kaua`i residents and students who are pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees, preferably in communications or public relations; are interested in owning or working for a small business and/or home-based business; engaged in entrepreneurial activities; intend to come home to and pursue their livelihoods on Kaua`i after undergraduate or graduate school; are engaged in community service and wish to advance the Kaua`i community after college; have proven intellectual and academic achievements; show integrity of character and an interest in helping others; have the ability to lead and the motivation to use their talents to the fullest.

Ranked as one of Hawai`i’s top PR firms, FMPR is a full service PR firm that provides the finest communications consulting services to clients in a variety of industries worldwide.  FMPR specializes in communications strategies that are effective in our unique island community, where cultural and business nuances must be carefully navigated. For more information about FMPR and for free PR tips, visit our website at www.fmpr.net., subscribe to our blog at www.YourPublicIsWaiting.com, and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/fmpr.  FMPR’s radio show is on www.FromHawaiiWithLove.com or as a podcast on iTunes.

New AP Stylebook Responds to Users’ Questions about Social Media Terms

Social networking has been a part of the customer service and shopping experience at Kukui Grove Center for over a year.  Our presence on Twitter, Facebook, Posterous, and other social media sites has allowed us to expand our online reach, beyond traditional website capabilities, to build relationships and communicate with our customers about services, sales, merchants, and community events.

We utilize social media to increase Kukui Grove’s advertising exposure at every opportunity.  After a year of creating a database of online followers and fans, we decided to test Kukui Grove’s social media reach initially by promoting a new Toddler Thursday event via our Twitter and Facebook pages. The results were amazing!  Attendance increased each week.  Recently, we garnered our largest turnout of more than 81 toddlers thus, providing valuable entertainment for our weekday consumers and increasing pedestrian traffic for our merchants.

Social networking is changing the way we do business everyday.  Kukui Grove has received great benefit from social networking, and we are certain that your business can too.

Here are a few of my tips on using social media:

• Clarify your objectives, develop a strategy, and execute appropriate tactics.
• To increase traffic to your social media site, always include who, what, where, when, and why.
• Partner with neighboring businesses to promote special offers.
• Create an online “code” that only your followers will know to track store sales, purchases, etc.
• Promote your social networking presence through email blasts or one of your current advertising vehicles.
• Negative feedback is okay. Plan a strategic response to negative and positive feedback before responding.
• Lastly, the most important thing is to listen and engage — it’s social! Don’t be afraid to speak, ask, and “mingle!”

Visit Kukui Grove Center at www.kukuigrovecenter.com, www.Twitter.com/KukuiGrove, www.Facebook.com/KukuiGroveCenter, and http://kukuigrovecenter.posterous.com.

Scenario: The child of a longtime customer is running wild in your store, disrupting other customers and damaging your wares.

Script for store manager: “Mr. X, we want you to know how much we appreciate your patronage of our store. We notice that you’re son is a bit antsy as you get your shopping done here. Here’s a bag of crayons and a coloring book for him so he can sit in your cart and color while you shop.  We want to make sure that he is safe in our store.  Also, let us know if we can  help you find what you need so you can get through with your shopping more easily.”

There.  You’ve occupied the little tyrant, you’ve assuaged the father, and you’ve made your point and kept your customer happy without making him feel badly.

If you have a difficult situation for which you’d like us to produce a script in our column, send it to us at info@fmpr.net.  Of course we’ll tweak the wording so that you and your business remain anonymous.

Now think about this in the larger context.  King Auto launched a school contest to create a :60 TV commercial for their company.  The commercials were to be made by Kaua`i students.

How many targets did they hit through this one tactic? They got local kids and their families invested in their company.  Where do you think they’ll shop for their next car?  Smart.  King Auto Center also engaged the general community in the contest by allowing them to vote for their favorite commercial online for the “Kaua`i Choice” category.  Smart.  They ended up with a great selection of TV ads for which they didn’t have to pay any production costs.  Smart.  The one cost to King Auto Center was the monetary prizes given to the winning schools, so this money actually went right back to benefit education in our community.  Smart. When the winning spot airs, it will engage the friends and family of every child who participated in making the commercial. Smart.

Next time your company has a need, think of a win-win way to achieve your goal.  Be creative, think at a grassroots level, and figure out how you can get as many people as possible involved in a fun, positive way.  That’s smart public relations.  Kudos to King Auto Center for being all-around smart.  And, kudos to all the students that worked so hard to produce the ads!