Domino's PR nightmare scenario

It’s a PR nightmare scenario: Domino’s (US) has to respond to a video, spreading rapidly online, that shows one of its employees picking his nose and placing the result in the food he’s making.  USA Today has reported on this story and here are key things experts say marketers can do to quickly catch and respond effectively to similar social-networking attacks:

• Monitor social media. Big companies must actively watch Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and other social sites to track conversations that involve them. That will help uncover potential crises-in-the-making, says Brian Solis, a new-media specialist and blogger at PR2.0.

• Respond quickly. Domino’s responded within hours. “They responded as soon as they heard about it, not after the media asked, ‘What are you going to do?’ ” says Lynne Doll, president of The Rogers Group, a crisis-management specialist.

• Respond at the flashpoint. Domino’s first responded on consumer affairs blog The Consumerist, whose activist readers helped track down the store and employees who made the video. Then it responded on the Twitter site where talk was mounting. “Domino’s did the right thing by reinstituting the trust where it was lost,” Solis says.

• Educate workers. It’s important that all employees have some media and social-media training, says Ross Mayfield, co-founder of Socialtext, which advises companies on new media.

• Foster a positive culture. Workers who are content and customers who like your product are far less likely to tear down a company online, PR guru Katie Delahaye Paine says. “This would be a lot less likely to happen at places like Whole Foods.”

• Set clear guidelines. Companies must have clear policies about what is allowed during working hours — and what isn’t, Doll says. “It won’t prevent everyone from breaking the rules, but at least they’ll know what the rules are.”

Read the full story.

Use the power of publishing podcasts and videopodcasts.

Most people have listened to a podcast. If you haven’t, a podcast is digital file that is distributed over the internet for playback on portable media (Mp3) players, iPods and personal computers.

Podcasts involve recording either audio or video material for other people to listen to when they want and where they want. They are extremely useful in a society where people are constantly on the go.

Podcasts are the perfect way to get your message heard and all you need is a computer and microphone to record one. Once you have finished recording you can post your podcast on several websites such as iTunes.

You can use podcasts to market your own business messages or those of your clients. You can also search for other peoples podcasts and listen to the information that they have recorded.

Free podcast software is Podcast Alley where you can search for topics and download them easily onto your computer.  One of the most popular programs for recording podcasts is Audacity. This program is easy to use and most importantly free!

Depending on your style of business, a videopodcast might be an interesting way to visually show your work to the public. A videopodcast is more than just audio, it also includes video. You can use a digital video camera and upload it to iTunes. You may even consider placing video footage on YouTube.

The first step is to create a concept, and when it is time to shoot keep in mind that it will be watched on an iPod, so get close and don’t use wide-screen or high contrast.

Once you have your video you need to compress it so it is optimised for the web and iPod viewing. You also need to tag your movie so it can be easily found online. There are instructions on the internet, so Google this.

You need to let people know that your video podcast exists. To reach as many people as possible, submit your podcast to iTunes. You can also provide a URL for your podcast by including it in your blog. First create an RSS feed  so that you can attach your video to your blog.

Then create an entry in your blog and then place a link to your video. You can also add your podcast to the Podcast Directory and www.podcastalley.com.

Top 10 Social Networks for Entrepreneurs

Mashable’s  Dan Schawbel has written about the Top 10 Social Networks for Entrepreneurs. Each helps entrepreneurs succeed by providing them with the guidance, tools and resources they need to setup their company and gain exposure.

1. Entrepreneur Connect
Entrepreneur Connect is specifically for entrepreneurs and small business owners where have the opportunity to create your own profile, explore the community, share ideas with other entrepreneurs and network. Unlike most social networks, this one frowns upon too much self-promotion and applauds idea sharing.

2. PartnerUp
PartnerUp is a social network for entrepreneurs who are searching for people and resources for business opportunities.  Anyone can join, but business partners, co-founders, executives and board members will get the most out of this one.

3.  StartupNation
Most social networks neglect the content aspect that makes StartupNation so useful.  With articles, forums, blogs, on-demand seminars, and podcasts, entrepreneurs will be better prepared for their ventures and have the resources required to make better business decisions.

4.  LinkedIn
LinkedIn offers many resources for entrepreneurs, such as groups, including the very popular “On Startups” group that has over 54,000 members.  Entrepreneurs on LinkedIn should brand themselves properly so they can attract the right kind of business opportunities, and perform searches to find service providers or partners.  As an entrepreneur, you should also be looking to participate in LinkedIn Answers, events and applications to spruce up your profile and become a valuable member to your community.

5. Biznik
Biznik is composed of freelancers, CEOs, and the self-employed.  Like the other networks, this is a place for you to share ideas, instead of posting your resume.

6.  Perfect Business
If you want to meet thousands of serious entrepreneurs, experts and investors from a variety of industries, then Perfect Business might be the perfect social network for you.  The type of people you’ll find are potential business partners, potential clients and advisers. Additionally, the site has leading business partners like Entrepreneur and Virgin Money.

7.  Go BIG Network
The Go BIG Network embraces job seekers, in addition to funding sources, service providers and entrepreneurs.

8.  Cofounder
The Cofoundr network is made up of idea makers, entrepreneurs, programmers, web designers, investors, freelancers and executives.  The primary purpose of joining this network is to start a new web venture.  Unlike most of the social networks already listed here, Cofoundr is a strictly private network, which means that you can’t view member profiles before you register for an account.

9.   The Funded
The Funded is an online community of entrepreneurs who research, rate and review funding sources.

10.  Young Entrepreneur
If you’re young, entrepreneurial and socially active or just curious, then Young Entrepreneur is a great starting point for you.

Read the full article.