10 Social Media Meccas: Where to Get Connected Worldwide
Tuesday, September 13th, 2011
When it comes to social media usage around the globe, the stats, trends, and “did-you-knows” are seemingly infinite. A lot of surveys have been conducted to determine the most socially connected cities based on numbers alone, so we did things a bit differently: we identified international cities that personify the social way of life in their own unique ways. We’ll take you to London, the city with the most Twitter users worldwide, and to Seoul, whose broadband penetration rate of 83 percent is nothing short of astonishing. And you’ll learn which US city is the best for online dating and where you’d likely get the best salary as a social media manager.
Crisis management in the face of social media requires a masterful and agile skillset. Today’s crises (and their responses) play out in real-time, as do breaking news and opinion about the situation at hand. Add to that the viral nature of social networks and the ability for a story to get around the world in mere minutes, and you’ve got a virtual powder keg of bad publicity threatening to explode in the hands of the organization at the center of the crisis. Gone are the days when you can bury a story or get by with a simple “no comment.” How your company reacts (or doesn’t) to a bad situation can sometimes make or break its future.
Lots of PR and digital agencies do a great job for their clients in helping them to establish a social media presence or build a loyal network of fans and brand advocates. But fewer do a great job with their own social media presence. Today’s social media-enabled agency knows it’s not enough to simply amass a large number of followers or broadcast promotional messages on their Facebook page — 
Social media and public relations innovator, thinker and lecturer 
Branding is important. The perceptions that customers have about a company, and its products and services, play a big part in how they make purchasing decisions. Personas are important, too. Social media has changed how brands are defined online and enabled companies to create more robust, almost lifelike, personalities. Increased brand loyalty, customer acquisition and retention are high on the list of goals for marketers, and branding efforts, be they online or offline, and through digital, social and traditional channels, play a critical role in helping to achieve those goals. 
Anyone who has recently traveled internationally will no doubt have noticed a well-placed McDonald’s restaurant, no matter the country. Iconic US brands are expanding rapidly around the world, some experiencing more success abroad than at home. To ensure the success of these expansion efforts, US-based marketing and PR teams need to work with their local counterparts as much as possible to tap into their expertise, knowledge and familiarity with that particular environment.
On a rainy Tuesday in April, I had the rare pleasure of a guided tour through the Manhattan office of Bloomberg, one of the largest organizations in the world that provides business and financial news, data and analytics. In spite of the calming river carp swimming throughout the office walls, I haven’t seen any organization more obsessed with speed since my trip to NASCAR’s Charlotte Speedway. 
