Top 10 Social Media Moments of the Lehigh Valley 2010

Posted on December 31, 2010 by mandreano

What else is there to do this week than to crank out a Top 10 list about something. Social media has turned our world upside down and kept us one click or touch away from what is happening right now. Similar to last year (LINK), here are the top 10 stories of our own Lehigh Valley from 2010 which had a social media element to them. Thanks to all our followers and readers out there who suggested and nominated some of these items, you see below. Enjoy!

10 – Readers Choice awards for BFD and Hosfeld Insurance

In August, the Morning Call had a Readers Choice contest where nominations were accepted and top nominees were awarded Readers Choice awards. With the power of social media and momentum, two long time active participants in social media, Black Forest Deli and Hosfeld Insurance took home awards in their respective categories Best Deli in the Valley and Best Local Insurance Agency. Maybe you attended one of their parties to celebrate? Congrats ladies!

9 – More Local Businesses embrace Facebook and Twitter

The number of local businesses that now use Twitter and Facebook is abundant. While you can’t follow them all (effectively, that is), you can certainly find your favorites. Businesses are a lot more engaging since the start of 2010 than previously. Some that come to mind, (the non-award winning ones that is) are Shuze, Moravian Book Store, Brew Works, ArtsQuest, Sands Casino, Morning Call, and the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs. If any others come to mind, feel free to leave them in the comments section. My apologies in advance.

8 – CelticFest App

Mobile apps was where it was at in 2010. CelticFest was one of the first to get it out there and made the event jump up a notch. It kept you up-to-date on everything taking place at the festival and downloads and stored the information on your mobile phone, iPod Touch, or iPad so it works with or without an internet connection. More info on that app at http://www.celticfest.org/info. Well done.

7 – Lehigh Valley Hospital begins a No Texting While Driving Campaign raising awareness.

In one of the largest public awareness campaigns in the Lehigh Valley and nationwide, Lehigh Valley Health Network lauched http://www.celllimit0.com where they talk about the urgent call to action to stop texting and using mobile devices while driving. The website states: “Each year, 6,000 Americans die in car crashes caused by distracted driving—and cell phone use is by far the greatest distraction. Studies indicate that talking on a mobile device quadruples your risk for a crash (raising it to the same risk level as driving drunk). “If you’re text messaging, you are eight times more likely to crash,” says health network trauma surgeon Robert Barraco, M.D.”. As of last week, they have distributed 10,500 magnets and close to 500 lawn signs.

6 – laini’s little books go electronic

These books have been around for a few years now (since 2007, the launch of the 1st Easton guide). but 2010 saw the launch of a website, blog entries and weekly lists of “9” things to do each weekend. Not sure why 9, but it’s unique. Relevant and timely content get pushed to her Facebook fan pages and Twitter feeds for all to see (and share / retweet / etc.). It all mashes up nicely at http://www.littlepocketguide.com, which features a great way to end the year – laini’s list of 9 – New Year’s Weekend!

http://www.littlepocketguide.com/lainis-list-of-9-new-years-weekend/

5 – Foursquare SWARM badge unlocked at Musikfest

One social media intregrated app that exploded on the scene in 2010 is Foursquare. It’s (in my opinion) the market leader in geo-location based apps out there. When 50+ people are checked in to a location on Foursquare – it’s a foursquare flashmob! Not too many Lehigh Valley locations can get 50+ checkins at one location. We got about 30-some at the LVTweetups from time-to-time. Musikfest is just the event to make that happen though, and on Friday the 13th. That night of Musikfest saw the badge get unlocked. If you were one of the 50+ who did it, congrats! Here’s @thuk18045’s badge. http://foursquare.com/thuk18045/badges/4c65efefe1da1b8d3ed899c3

4 – Bethlehem Horses Tweet, Morning Call and NBC10 Philly covers the controversy

How TMZ missed this one, I am not sure. One staple at Musikfest are the mounted police patrol horses. Suddently, they started tweeting. As the profile states: “We are the horses who protect you during MUSIKFEST in Bethlehem! Horses can’t tweet, this is a parody. Idiot.” and links to http://www.lehighvalleywithlove.com. This was covered by the Morning Call (http://articles.mcall.com/2010-08-09/news/mc-bethlehem-musikfest-horse-twitter-20100809_1_police-horses-patrol-horses-john-sarnicky), and then NBC10 even came up for the story and interviewed official PR LVwithLove correspondent George Wacker (Facebook profile) about it. See the NBC10 clip about it. http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/tech/Tweeting_Horses_Gets_Bloggers_in_Trouble_Philadelphia.html

3 – LVTweetup turns 1, holds 20 Tweetups!

Back in April, we had our 1 year anniversary for LVTweetup. We even had a cake from Backdoor Bakeshop to go with our pint-glass giveaway. This year we went to Musikfest, CelticFest, and an IronPigs game as well as the local nightlife scene places. Look for more great places and event in the coming year. And thanks to our sponsors for all the great giveaways and promo items. All your support is appreciated by all!! Follow the Tweetup on Twitter at @lvtweetup along with the current 1,130 followers.

2 – Callahan and Dent (and Towne) for Congress

The battle for this seat in Congress made #7 in the Stories of 2010 by WFMZ. http://www.wfmz.com/lehighvalleynews/26304393/detail.html While the candidates did nothing out of the ordinary when it came to social media, it was the power of the people’s voice that kept the social media airwaves going through the fall leading up to Election Day. Social media is one way that the demographics of Americans that weren’t as active at the polls stay informed and stay motivated to get out and vote each election. This is where 1992 MTV called to say they are proud of you – back then it was called “Rock the Vote”.

1 – 2 Days in a Cube, 70,000 Text Messages

They said it couldn’t be done (well, maybe they didn’t, but still..) The Tweetup community picked one lucky fellow George Wacker (Facebook profile) to rally behind and vote their way to Mayfair’s Morning Call sponsored 2 Days in a Cube contest to win a 2010 Nissan Cube. Among the five contestants, George came out on top thanks to a large following of votes, tweets and facebook posts to remind us, and many ancillary viral marketing moments throughout the month of May.

Feel free to leave a comment below with thoughts, opinions, commentary, etc. After all, isn’t that what social media is for?? Happy 2011 all.. See you online!

What else is there to do this week than to crank out a Top 10 list about something. Social media has turned our world upside down and kept us one click or touch away from what is happening right now. Similar to last year’s list, here are the top 10 stories of our own Lehigh Valley from 2010 which had a social media element to them. Thanks to all our followers and readers out there who suggested and nominated some of these items, you see below. Enjoy!

10 – Readers Choice awards for Black Forest Deli and Hosfeld Insurance

9 – More Local Businesses embrace Facebook and Twitter

The number of local businesses that now use Twitter and Facebook is abundant. While you can’t follow them all (effectively, that is), you can certainly find your favorites. Businesses are a lot more engaging since the start of 2010 than previously. Some that come to mind, (the non-award winning ones that is) are Shuze, Moravian Book Store, Brew Works, ArtsQuest, Sands Casino, Morning Call, Starfish Brasserie, and the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs. If any others come to mind, feel free to leave them in the comments section. My apologies in advance.

8 – CelticFest App

7 – Lehigh Valley Hospital begins a No Texting While Driving Campaign raising awareness

6 – laini’s little books go electronic

5 – Foursquare SWARM badge unlocked at Musikfest

4 – Bethlehem Horses Tweet, Morning Call and NBC10 Philly covers the controversy

3 – LVTweetup turns 1, storms the Valley monthly.

Our @LVTweetup birthday cake

2 – Callahan and Dent (and Towne) for Congress

The battle for this seat in Congress made #7 in the Stories of 2010 by WFMZ. While the candidates did nothing out of the ordinary when it came to social media, it was the power of the people’s voice that kept the social media airwaves going through the fall leading up to Election Day. Social media is one way that the demographics of Americans that weren’t as active at the polls stay informed and stay motivated to get out and vote each election. This is where 1992 MTV called to say they are proud of you – back then it was called “Rock the Vote”.

1 – Two Days in a Cube, 70,000 Text Messages, One Winner, One Wacker.

They said it couldn’t be done (well, maybe they didn’t, but still..) The Tweetup community picked one lucky fellow George Wacker (Facebook profile) to rally behind and vote their way to Mayfair’s Morning Call sponsored 2 Days in a Cube contest to win a 2010 Nissan Cube. Among the five contestants, George came out on top thanks to a large following of votes, tweets, a Facebook fan page, and facebook posts to remind us, and many ancillary viral marketing moments throughout the month of May.

Feel free to leave a comment below with thoughts, opinions, commentary, etc. After all, isn’t that what social media is for?? Happy 2011 all.. See you online!

November 2010 Lehigh Valley Tweetup Details!!

Posted on November 4, 2010 by mandreano

It’s back to business..

Attention Lehigh Valley socialites and social media junkies – Discover Lehigh Valley, the area’s designated tourism bureau, would like to tweetup with YOU at Starters Riverport on Thursday, November 11 from 6-8pm to share and discuss the wonders of their new interactive website.

Located at www.DiscoverLehighValley.com, the site allows users to explore almost 500 Lehigh Valley destinations in incredible detail, share locations with friends and family via social media and build their own custom itinerary.

Representatives from Discover Lehigh Valley want to meet with you, get your take on the site and listen to any feedback you might have on future enhancements and other tools that would make the site more useful to locals and visitors alike. An added bonus – this will be a great opportunity to reconnect with all your twitter friends. Oh, and free hors d’oeuvres.

Here are the details:

Discover Lehigh Valley Tweetup – New Site, Old Friends
Starters Riverport (Upstairs)
Thursday, November 11
6:00pm – 8:00pm
Free finger food, but drinks are on you. Bring a laptop if you’d like, Starters has WiFi.

1 Year Anniversary Lehigh Valley Tweetup write up, pictures and links

Posted on April 19, 2010 by mandreano

It’s one for the record books. The 1 year anniversary @LVTweetup has come and gone and the 2nd year of Lehigh Valley Tweetups will no doubt have tough shoes to fill as this first year wraps up.

We had 58 people come to the party. There is a twitter list of all the attendees.

The following articles were in the press and local blogs:

Morning Call Wednesday, April 14: Local Twitter Users Press Flesh at LVTweetup
Morning Call Thursday, April 15: Face to face, tweeters are networking
LittlePocketGuide.com: LVTweetup Turns One!

Here are some photos too:

@ Nagevmai, @VeronikaG, @HexStarDragon

Phillipino-Up: @galliguez, @homebase610, @primerx24, @hexstardragon

@AliciaMQuinn and other Poconos Tweeps

@BackdoorBakeshp and @MaryDunlap

@Galliguez and @LVRunningScene

Our Pint Glass giveaway

Our @LVTweetup birthday cake

A Summary of What’s In Store for @LVTweetup Tomorrow

Posted on April 12, 2010 by mandreano

Tomorrow’s Tweetup at the Allentown Brew Works is action-packed. We will be just past the bar in the Mezzanine level, same as last year.

Be sure to sign in at the registration table -the party starts 7PM.
Pick up your free pint glass! (First 60 people)
Pick up your door prize raffle ticket (winner must be present) to win:
- One of three boxes of 4 cupcakes – courtesy of Vegan Treats
- A bottle of LVTweetup homemade wine – courtesy of Be the Bee
Check in on Foursquare (if you Foursquare) – we are going for the Swarm badge and need 50 checkins.
8PM – Join us to sing Happy Birthday and get a piece of birthday cake – courtesy of Backdoor Bakeshop
Shortly after the cake, we’ll draw the door prize winners.
And all night long “Mo-Tweet-o” (Mojito) specials – Raspberry or Lemon – $4!
Be sure to stop by for the free social media / professional headshots courtesy of Christopher Elston Photography

See you tomorrow night!

Lehigh Valley Tweetup Turns 1!

Posted on April 8, 2010 by mandreano

Below is the press release for the upcoming Lehigh Valley Tweetup. MS Word format is available here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Michael Andreano, (610) 628-1071

email: mandrean AT gmailDOTcom

LEHIGH VALLEY TWEET-UP TO CELEBRATE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Monthly get-together of local Twitterers returns to Allentown BrewWorks on Tuesday, April 13

ALLENTOWN – April 7, 2010 – They said it wouldn’t last, but boy did it ever.

When the first Lehigh Valley Tweetup (@lvtweetup) was held on April 13, 2009 at the Allentown BrewWorks, a skeptical but excited group of 35 people showed up to meet face-to-face. Since the social media outlet Twitter encourages interaction via the Internet, many of them had never met in person before. But that all changed one year ago when what started as an experiment turned into a monthly get-together that has introduced more than 400 people.

The brainchild of Forks Township resident Michael Andreano (@mandreano), the Lehigh Valley Tweetup (a Twitter meetup) was created as part of a larger trend of Tweetups taking place across the country in major cities like Chicago and New York. He knew through his Be the Bee Social Media Coaching business (www.thebeesbuzz.com) that there was a core group of Twitterers in the region and figured that if the big cities could do it, why couldn’t the Lehigh Valley? He saw the Tweetup as a way to connect in-person the local people who were already getting to know each other through Twitter.

The success of the April 2009 Lehigh Valley Tweetup and a follow-up one in June of that year prompted Andreano to make it a monthly event which averages 35-45 attendees. One Tweetup had as many as 100 attendees.

Andreano created marketing opportunities for local businesses using Twitter to create awareness for their brand, product or service for a fee by offering to list their company’s name and Twitter “handle” on a logoed giveaway item at select Tweetups. Giveaway items have included logoed pint glasses, golf balls, beer mugs, t-shirts and sweatshirts. He also sells logoed Tweetup apparel hats, mugs and other items on a web site

The December 2009 Tweetup, the largest Lehigh Valley Tweetup to-date, added a charitable angle with Andreano encouraging attendees to bring a donated toy for the annual Toys for Tots toy drive, and boxed and canned food goods for the Trinity Church Soup Kitchen in Bethlehem. A related silent auction raised $400 in donations for charities as well.

But perhaps most importantly, the Lehigh Valley Tweetups have connected area residents that may not otherwise have gotten to know each other except for a few 140-character messages.

“People like to connect with like-minded people,” says Andreano. “The Tweetups give them a chance to meet and connect with people in the local community both personally and professionally. Many local Twitterers who met online first have since strengthened that relationship by meeting in person at our Tweetups, and vice-versa.”

Join us for the One Year Anniversary of the Lehigh Valley Tweetup on Tuesday, April 13 at Allentown BrewWorks from 7 – 9 p.m. Logoed pint glasses will be given away to the first 60 attendees. A birthday cake made by the Backdoor Bake Shop in Bethlehem will be served to attendees at 8 p.m. Christopher Elston Photography will also be doing free professional headshots that people can use for their social media accounts. Dan’s Camera City will also have their photo booth available for free use.

Sponsors include:

Allentown Economic Development Corp – @allentownedc
Backdoor Bakeshop – @backdoorbakeshp
Be the Bee Social Media – @mandreano
Bethlehem Brew Works – @thebrewworks
Blabbermouth Communications – @blabbermouthcom
Black Forest Deli – @blackforestdeli
Christopher Elston Photography – @celston
CounterMarch Systems – @scrittler
Dan’s Camera City – @danscameracity
G&L’s Sign Factory – @synguy3
Hosfeld Insurance – @HOSFELDinsuranc
Mayflower Luncheonette – @LVGrkGrl
Spark – @mldrabenstott
Ted Colegrove – @primerx24

Top 10 Lehigh Valley Social Media Stories of 2009

Posted on December 31, 2009 by mandreano

Nothing completes a calendar year like a good top 10 list. In reading recent lists concerning top 10 stories around social media in 2009, no one can dispute the growth of Twitter, Facebook or even simply overall online interactivity. While we can’t ignore how Ashton Kutcher, CNN, Oprah, Michael Jackson, Iran, or the iPhone were in the news, here are the top 10 stories of our own Lehigh Valley which concerned social media. Enjoy! Many people brought forward these top 10 based on input from Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn over the last 48 hours.

10. The Bookstore is Exposed

There was talk of this new bar opening up on the Southside of Bethlehem and no one really knew what to expect. Low and behold, as people made there way in to explore, they talked about it on Twitter and word got out. The Speakeasy motif was unique and somehting new – a perfect candidate for social media buzz. The following tweet proves it. By the way, the next @LVTweetup will be at the Bookstore 7-9pm on January 14th, preceeded by Wine and Cheese at @HomeAndPlanet from 6-7pm.

@Silagh: #lv2009 top10 I learned about South Bethlehem’s Bookstore Night Club from local Tweets. Got there first week it opened. Urban Chic~

9. Obama Visits Lehigh Valley, Tweets a flutter..

President Obama visits Lehigh Valley. Source: Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call

Friday December 4, the Lehigh Valley saw President Obama fly into LVIA on Air Force One, stop at Allentown Metal Works manufacturing facility, speak at Lehigh Carbon Community College, and eat at the Hamilton Family Restaurant in Allentown. Through the eyes of the media as well as everyday tweeps and Facebook profiles, we felt like we were there on the runway, in the auditorium, and at the diner. You could smell the eggs cooking.

8. Local People in the National Landscape Revealed

Many people are “nationally known and locally obscure”, but not when you are on Twitter or Facebook and identify in your bio you are from Bethlehem, Allentown or other Lehigh Valley cities. You just can’t hide anymore. Such is the case with two people we would not have heard of or even met if social media wasn’t around. Two such people, Cindy Ratzlaff (@BrandYou) and Anne Coleman (@CookingWithAnne).

Cindy has developed the marketing and publicity campaigns for more than 150 New York Times bestselling books in her career at Rodale. She was named to the Ad Age Marketing 50 list for her blockbuster campaign launching The South Beach Diet. After being laid off, Cindy is now a founding member of the International Social Media Association and is one of the first twenty Certified Social Media Strategists in the world.

Anne is a “mother of 7 children and wife to one man”. Her kids range in age from 2 years to 20 years. In July 2005, she started a blog, Cooking with Anne, that began as a chronicle of her food life at home. By January 2006, her blog won a Best of Blogs award for Best Food Blog. in November 2006, she was contacted by the Walt Disney Internet Group and asked to write for them at Family.com as Short Order Mom on their blog Cookies to Caviar.

7. Lehigh Valley Zoo Facebook group helps save zoo..

Earlier this year, a Facebook group was developed to save the Lehigh Valley Zoo. Within a month, 2506 Facebook users joined and it even raised over $800 in a few short hours also with an online campaign on the group page. It can be found at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=43879323058. Have a look!

6. Southside Burger Company Fire

Bethlehem Fire Dept. at Southside Burger Company fire. Source: M. Andreano (@mandreano)

I remember driving to St. Luke’s Hospital for an X-ray when as I was turning I saw smoke from the Southside. While in the ER, I turned to Twitter and found out the Southside Burger Company building had caught fire. Everyday people were lined up at the gas station across the street taking pictures, texting and Tweeting. News broke on Twitter and such faster than the typical media got a hold of it. @MOB514, a Southside resident, was there to also capture details as they came out from the early morning sirens to the eventual demolition of the building.

5. Bethlehem Skateplaza is Saved

Over 100+ people came to City Hall in support of the Skatepark due to social media outreach. Source: HomeBase 610 blog

A proposal to pull the grant funding from the Bethlehem Skateplaza was to be brought to the City Council so when Andy Po (@homebase610) found out he got on Twitter he rallied support to keep the funds in place. the people responded and they got 100+ young residents, parents and business owners through social media who supported the skateplaza to stand by city hall in support of its completion. The town responded, the City listened and the skateplaza will now be breaking ground early in 2010. Check out the full story as told by Homebase Skateshop owner Andy Po at http://homebase610.com/?p=3497.

4. Geo-location, Mayors and Places to be..

There is no doubt that what you are doing and what is on your mind is what made social media a focal point in 2009, but more and more it is where you are at as well. Applications like FourSquare and GoWalla came onto the scene and integrated where you are into what you are doing. Fully integrated into tools like Twitter and Facebook, the adoption of these tools grew. They are now available not only on the iPhone, but on the Droid and now Blackberry as well. As use of these tools started, automated Tweets from the applicatoin itself spread about being Mayor of all these establishments where people were going (having been there at least 2 times in 2 months and continuing to be a frequent visitor, moreso than others made you Mayor). This created a little friendly competition, as well as satire (talk of #fivesquare, being mayor of your house, and other fictional establishments) and ridicule. Like it or not, it is here to stay, and you will probably see more of it in 2010.

3. MusikFest

Joan Jett plays MusikFest. Source: M. Andreano (@mandreano)

MusikFest has been around since 1984 but there was so much buzz around MusikFest online this year, it was almost like you could be there while just looking at your phone. Twitter and Facebook saw contests, reviews, musical acts, photos, and more all centered around this August event. Concert tickets were given away, vendors were given the thumbs up (or thumbs down), “wish you were here” pictures flooded online for that whole week. You could almost tasted the brushed on butter of AwShucks corn as you read what and where people were at MusikFest. Even the Mullet Count hanging from Spark‘s windows were pushed out to the Twitter users who weren’t there in person to keep track of it.

2. Local Businesses & Bloggers Boom

It’s one thing to talk to your friends online about what you ate for dinner, how your co-worker said something annoying. It’s also another when you are shopping and the sales people just won’t leave you alone. Many folks don’t wanna constantly hear about your latest special, or limited quantities, or how you need this NOW.. and buy, buy, buy, buy, blah, blah, blah. Well, we did see a lot of that online this year, the past years and you will continue to see it in the future, sorry folks! However, some folks do it right by engaging social media to promote and advertise their business but do it tactfully and by considering the human factor of it all. They are involved in the community and establish themselves as business leaders and it made their message stick a lot better. Many local consumers advocate “#buylocal” and Twitter and Facebook had the pick of the litter to choose from. Businesses like Hosfeld Insurance (@HOSFELDInsuranc) and Black Forest Deli (@BlackForestDeli) are people we got to know online not just for their businesses but as people too. The rumor is that the hottest sandwich in the second half of 2009 at Black Forest Deli was the MOB, named after Michele of Bethlehem (@MOB514) on Twitter. What is on a MOB? It’s a triple decker sandwich with turkey, crispy bacon, avocado, honey mustard, tomatoes and lettuce. Am I making you hungry?

The growth of blogging locally also came into the fold in 2009. Three that really took advantage of social media were Lehigh Valley with Love (@LVwithLove) [may be NSFW], LV Scene (@lvscene) and the newest blog The El Vee (@theelvee). If you haven’t already, check them out.

1. Tweetups for Community and Charity

The @LVTweetup received the most votes by the Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn community in our poll. There were 8 Tweetups this past year in the Lehigh Valley. April 13, 2009 was the first one at Allentown Brew Works. We gave away T-shirts to the 30-some folks that came out that night and took a chance. Since then there have been 8 total in Easton, Bethlehem, and Orefield. Many business sponsors kicked in money, food and more, and we gave away t-shirts, beer mugs, golf balls, and sweatshirts throughout the year. At our December Tweetup at Bethlehem Brew Works, we had over 100 attendees (see our Twitter list for who came), collected a large box of toys for Toys for Tots, and over 7 boxes of canned goods for the Trinitiy Soup Kitchen all in the holiday spirit. Our silent auction raised almost $400 total for these two charities as well as some for the Lehigh Valley Zoo.

Many friendships and business networking opportunities blossomed as an outcome of these events. Tim Fortner (@timshady) mentioned “I think of all of the off-line friendships that have been created from on-line introductions. I’ve meet some pretty cool people that I talk on the phone with and actually hang out with. It’s easy because you can meet people with common interests.”

Have a safe and prosperous new year. See you online in 2010! Follow us on Twitter and be a fan of our Facebook page.

November Tweetup Wrapup – Magnolia’s

Posted on November 25, 2009 by mandreano

It seems no matter where we have a Tweetup, the people come out for them, from Easton to Orefield. Another crowd of 40-plus people came out for the November Tweetup (@LVTweetup) at Magnolia’s in Orefield. Below are some pictures from the event. I was even interviewed by Cindy Ratzlaff (@BrandYou on Twitter) about these great monthly events.

Who attended? See the Twitter List of Attendees and it’s members.