Why Republicans Taking the House is Obama's Best Chance at Reelection

As a student of the political process, we are taught to never drink too much of the party kool aid. Instead, take a step back and really evaluate the pros and cons of each political parties decisions.

In a land side, Republicans swept up over 60 seats to regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Many political analysts cited the anti-Pelosi; repeal Health Care Reform rhetoric hit home in almost every congressional district in the country. One highlight and pick up for Democrats, would be right here in Louisiana as State Representative Cedric Richmond reclaimed the age-old democratic congressional from Republican Joseph Cao. 

But what's the difference between an angry voter lashing out at Obama and the democrats versus a student of politics? We knew a new change would come soon. Over the course of history, no political party has truly held onto power for any significant length of time. That is because voters never like too much of something when they have it. They are always looking for something else. This is especially heightened when you consider the economic climate in America right now. Voters are looking for someone to blame. And with Republicans help with a great messaging campaign, they helped voters place blame on Obama and the democrats.

So why is it that Republicans taking the house will likely provide President Obama with his best shot at reelection? 

Two things are important to point out. By having a Republican controlled House, Obama will finally have to learn to govern from the center. This means working with Republicans to solve Americas problems as oppose to telling them to ride "in the back of the bus." But the hit-or-miss mark for Obama and his communications staff will come from whether or not they can spin his work with Republicans into messaging that proclaims Obama as a populist and bipartisan President. For example, see President Clinton post 1994 mid-term elections. 

Finally, while it is not likely that Republicans can demand and pass their agenda through the Senate and over the President's pen, they too must watch out for the "Tides of Consent." Just has the country (or at least most of it) rallied behind Obama's rally cry in 2008, Republicans too could fall prey to voters looking for a change away from their agenda in 2012.

Continue the conversation about the mid-term elections with me on Twitter , Facebook or LinkedIn ! 

Thought of the Day "Leave Your Foot in the Door"

About a month ago, I listened to a great keynote address by political analyst Donna Brazile at the 2010 Louisiana Women's Conference. I served as a presenter at the conference on "Social Media in Business."

Over the last few days one of Donna's quotes in particular has stuck with me:

"When you fight your way into the board room, leave your foot in the door for someone else to come behind you."

On its surface you could stop and think, "why would I want to make the road easier for someone else to come behind me?" When you sit and think on the quote it hits you. We have all achieved life successes because someone else has paved a road for us to follow. Someone was thoughtful enough to leave their foot in the door to help pull us up into the ranks of our profession. 

As you go about your day think to yourself, "have I left my foot in the door for someone to come behind me?" Otherwise, have you really left a legacy for others to follow.

Follow me on Twitter @wbreaux or on Facebook http://facebook.com/whitneybreaux.

"People Spread Awesome!" Blog World Keynote by @Unmarketing

As luck would have @SouthwestAir did not offer a last-minute deal on flights from New Orleans to Las Vegas, thus I am stuck watching the @BlogWorldExpo twitter feed #bwe10. (Insert serious sad face.)

But, like a glimmer of hope in the far off distance I catch wind of @BlogWorldExpo UStreaming their keynote speeches for the world to enjoy! You can catch all the keynote action from Blog World 2010 just click here . 

This morning the @unmarketing King took to the stage to force laughs, light bulbs and the AHA moments to go off not only in the conference room at Mandalay Bay Casino and Hotel , but also online.

In case you missed it, here are the top 5 things I took away from his amazing keynote address:=

1. "People spread awesome." It just makes sense. Do people spread boring and plain jane rumors? or  Talk about information that isn't interesting? NO, of course not. The same applies for social media. People will RT (retweet), share, reply, forward, etc. content that they find awesome!
2. "Blog about what you are passionate about." Life is so short. Why waist your time blogging about topics you really do not care about? It shows up in your writing when you are speaking about a topic that you are not passionate about. If you don't have anything to say for a few days or weeks, it's ok. Wait until something inspires you and then blog about it. Oh and a few other pointers, turn on mobile for your blog and blog/write first, think about SEO later.
3. "Social media does NOT make something successful." I have preached this to students @LSU and business leaders, @unmarketing reiterates, "if your product sucks social media is only going to amplify how much it sucks!"However, I would insert that social media can help you identify ways to improve your product as long as it doesn't suck too much!
4. "Every time someone asks about the ROI of Twitter a kitten dies." The ROI debate will go on as long as the recession holds in the US. Companies are having to justify every purchase and decision with how it returns a profit or causes a debt. The mere fact that social media can improve customer relationships, increase brand loyalty and boost engagement will not move some executives. We are starting to see the turn thought as Facebook and Twitter continue to develop insights and other features to show some level of metric and measurement.
5. "Let them hate as long as they fear you." Negative comments and distracting posts are bound to happen no matter how big or small your social media presence. It's quite frankly human nature for people to complain and social media gives them the feeling that someone is listening. While some negative folks will always be themselves and you cannot change them, there are a few out there that with credible information and an earnest response can generate future positive relationships.

Follow Whitney Breaux on Twitter @wbreaux or on Facebook . Connect with Whitney on LinkedIn. 

Three Easy Ways to Position Your Social Media Accounts in Search

Do you remember how to use a phone book? Or better yet, how do you use a library catalog to locate a book? The best part of being forced to learn these tools as a child is I no longer have to use them! Thank you Google, Yahoo, Bing, and ever other search engine out there.

As I've mentioned before our "instant gratification society" wants news, information, resources, etc. with a few keywords and the click of a button. The same applies for when a consumer is looking for more information about your business/brand. Your website is the front office! But the consumer may want to hang out with you at the bar across the street = social media.

1. Facebook. Populate your business/brand information throughout the fan page. Try not to get too excited that you are now engaging with your audience that you forget others will have to find you too. Use the open text box under the fan page avatar and provide a short applicable description of your business/brand. Also do not take for granted the "Info" tab on the fan page. Put all your information in and as your page grows in information and activity so to will your search engine results.

2. Twitter. Your name and your twitter handle no longer have to be the same name. In theory, you would like your twitter handle to be short in order to maximize the 140 characters you have to convey a message. But you still want users to know your full name, website and more information about you. For example, if you are the United Bowling League of America your full name would be "your name" on twitter and your handle could be @BowlUS. Also, populate the "bio" section of your Twitter page with keywords and phrase that best describe your business/brand. You only have 160 characters so use your words wisely!

3. Publish your social media account information on your website home page. Facebook search is pretty accurate, but Twitter and other social networking sites are still perfecting their search tools. Make it easy for the consumer to find you on social sites by putting your account information where they can find you easiest!

So there you have it! Go and populate the world... with your content!

Follow me on Twitter @wbreaux (Your Name: Whitney Breaux ) and on Facebook . Let's connect on LinkedIn !

It's Decision Time for Les Miles and the 2010 LSU Football Team

Picture from www.Tigerdroppings.com by user jwall3.

I am arguably the biggest LSU Football fan this side of the Mississippi! Ok, so I'm sure I would be challenged on that front, but I am a huge LSU Football fan. Since the 2000 season and the emergence of my favorite (hottest) football coach Nick Saban, I have faithfully followed the LSU Tigers. I'll admit, when Nick said he was leaving for Miami I cried. Sad day...

Fast forward Monday, October 2005. After experiencing the worst hurricane/natural disaster in our countries history as a young freshman, I entered LSU's Tiger Stadium to take my place not only an LSU Football fan, but now as a student! Teachers canceled classes and tailgating traditions were altered to fit a Monday Night in Tiger Stadium. It would also be Les Miles's first game in Tiger Stadium. Les and I were the true freshman that night. He learned a tough lesson that in the SEC you go for jugular every down and I learned that my favorite Tigers would lose every now and then.

Fast forward to 2010. After a successful run and win at the 2007 BCS National Championship Game in New Orleans, Louisiana (I was there), we have arrived at the crossroad, intersection, diversion canal, whatever you would like to call it but it is DECISION TIME. After numerous errors, time clock management issues and failure to ignite the most talented offense in the country, this weekend will determine the future of LSU Football under Les Miles. Rumors are swirling that Les is done anyway after this season and the alumni have raised the funds necessary to sever his contract. Whether this is true or not, the LSU vs. Florida game will either provide LSU the platform to emerge as a team that's just been struggling to put it all together or a weak team with even weaker leaders.

Florida will come out for blood after their disappointing performance in Bear Bryant Stadium and unfortunately our Tigers will be on the receiving end of their frustration. All I can do is strongly advise Coach Miles to let the quarterback call the plays (these kids are talented let them play ball) and somebody put the biggest fricking clock in the world on the LSU sideline and have it synced to the stadium time clock.

Or better yet, I like the idea of Les Miles's new Asst. Coach!

Social media morals and ethics, do they exist?

Rutgers student Tyler Clementi jumped off the GW bridge after being exploited online.

I recently read a fabulous article by Austin Gaddis, a sophomore majoring in public relations and communication studies at the University of Alabama, entitled “Social media addicts.” http://www.cw.ua.edu/2010/10/08/social-media-addicts/ 

His article cited how social media has transformed the way we communicate and I could not agree more. Recent surveys have shown that Internet users spend more time on Facebook  than they do on any other website on the web. With 500 million users that’s an incredible statistic. While Twitter and location based social media platforms are still on the up swing, the mere fact that they are featured at the close of every major advertising commercial these days demonstrates their mainstay.

But in turn we as a social media industry must look to each other and question, where are we headed? In recent days the deaths of teenagers and college students who have been bullied via online networks is a scary fact. How can we as a community help drive a since of ethical behavior online?

My question is “how can we stop playground bullying, murder, crime, etc?” The only answer I can think of is education and parenting. These are societal issues that exists even offline. So are these kids just the victim of the next breed of criminals? Those who exist online? I certainly hope not.

Just as we hope our teachers are educating students on how to behave in the classroom, it’s time that we also start the conversation about how to behave online.

What can we do to help create the solution?

Why Mass Comm Students Must Learn Social Media Now!

Two weeks ago, I returned to my alma mater to speak to undergraduate Mass Comm students about the evolution of our industry. At the Louisiana State University (@lsu ), the Journalism college offers a wide range of concentrations including Political Communication (my degree program), Print Journalism, Broadcast Journalism, Advertising and Public Relations. The student I addressed are at the beginning of their long journey through the Manship School of Mass Communication . However, their enlightened professor Roxanne Dill recognized that social media will play a direct role in the future careers of her young students. I could not agree more.

The fact is every facet of the communications world now requires (or at least highly recommends) a social media component. I told the students "why we communicate as not changed!" Instead, "how we communicate has changed!" By the time the graduating class of 2013/2014 enters into the communications job market, social media will be in full onslaught swing.

Most, if not all, journalist will tease their next day print story with tweets about their investigations. In turn, after the story hits news stands they will use Facebook and blogs to tell the rest of the story that didn't get past the copy editors desk. Print journalist may use a small video camera to capture clips of their story research and build video clips that can be published online.

During one of my talks with students, I held up the LSU Daily Reveille, a student publication. On the front page was a story about the resurgence of New Orleans street bands and music. I explained...

"Now hear is a great story for print. It talks about something that is very important to the people of Louisiana and New Orleans, music. Now imagine if the same camera that took this great photo, also recorded video clips of the same band playing on the street corner. Let's say in the story conclusion, the reporter directs the reader to the LSUReveille.com website and there the reader can download iTunes clips from the artists and view a video of them performing. Now instead of just being a print journalist, I've added value to the newspaper website and increased interest in my story."

Of course, college is the perfect time to experiment with what's right and what's wrong, but that's just the first step. I encouraged the students to think beyond the boundaries of their particular field. Facts suggest, almost 200,000 students graduate each year with a degree in communications. My wish for LSU graduates is that they know how to "add value" to their particular field by being innovative and versatile!

Here is a recap from the Manship School of Mass Communication website, Dill and Whitney Breaux Team Up for Social Media.

I might be speaking to more students about social media in the near future, what would you recommend I advise them to do?