Catch up or Catch ya Later

In 2009 we saw exponential growth of social media and 2010 is proving to be no different. Since January, social media has become even more popular, more mobile, and more exclusive. Headliners are currently Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, and the emerging Foursquare. If you aren’t familiar with at least one of these, social media is leaving you in the dust.

It seems to be an impossible feat to stay on top of social media trends these days, and many wonder: “How can I keep up?” Here’s our answer: you can’t. Once you accept the fact that the world of social media spins way faster than your own, you can start choosing technologies that support the goals that matter most to you and your business.

Before you devise a social media strategy, you’ll need to know your choices. While the options are seemingly endless, we offered a quick briefing back in march of 2009 to get you up-to-speed. http://thewychegroup.blogspot.com/2009/03/social-media-and-ever-changing-face-of.html

Today, experts are buzzing about the following six trends as the future of social media:
1. Social media begins to look less socialWith groups, lists and niche networks becoming more popular, networks could begin to feel more exclusive.
2. Corporations look to scale
There are relatively few big companies that have scaled social initiatives beyond one-off marketing or communications initiatives. Best Buy's Twelpforce leverages hundreds of employees who provide customer support on Twitter. The employees are managed through a custom built system that keeps track of who participates.
3. Social business becomes serious play
Relatively new networks such as Foursquare are touted for the focus on making networked activity local and mobile. However, it also has a game-like quality to it which brings out the competitor in the user. As businesses look to incentivize activity within their internal or external networks, they may include carrots that encourage a bit of friendly competition.
4. Your company will have a social media policy (and it might actually be enforced)
If the company you work for doesn't already have a social media policy in place with specific rules of engagement across multiple networks, it just might in the next year.
5. Mobile becomes a social media lifeline
With approximately 70 percent of organizations banning social networks and, simultaneously, sales of smartphones on the rise, it's likely that employees will seek to feed their social media addictions on their mobile devices.
6. Sharing no longer means e-mail
The New York Times iPhone application recently added sharing functionality which allows a user to easily broadcast an article across networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Many websites already support this functionality, but it's likely that we will see an increase in user behavior as it becomes more mainstream for people to share with networks what they used to do with e-mail lists.

For more information please visit http://mashable.com/– currently the world’s largest blog focused exclusively on Web 2.0 and Social Media news.

World Fitness Day

The Wyche Group helps launch World Fitness Day!




In collaboration with Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (G-CAPP) and Jane Fonda, The Wyche Group spearheaded the PR campaign for the inaugural World Fitness Day held in the Georgia Dome on May 1, 2010. While managing all local media relations, The Wyche Group also supported national media efforts and handled celebrity scheduling for interview and media opportunities for the launch of World Fitness Day 2010. Efforts resulted in over 121, 844, 144 media impressions from March 21, 2010 through May 4, 2010 alone.







On March 21, 2010, People.com released the exclusive announcement of the launch of World Fitness Day. That same week, Jane Fonda's appearances on Good Morning America and Larry King Live were key to projecting the story across the country. Coverage included CNN, Good Morning America, Extra, Entertainment Tonight and local media outlets, such as Atlanta Journal Constitution, Best Self, and WAGA, WXIA and numerous radio stations.

World Fitness Day
On May 1, led by Jane Fonda and celebrity trainers Richard Simmons, Billy Blanks, Denise Austin, and Debbie Allen, more than 1,500 workout participants converged in the Georgia Dome for the First Annual World Fitness Day. Thousands more viewed the workout remotely online. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ludacris and the Pointer Sisters all promoted and energized the event in the name of a healthier world. Inspired by Fonda's fitness legacy, the event was conceived to be an important call to action to motivate the masses to commit to good health practices.




Celebrating the benefits of good health, World Fitness Day provided a platform to bring attention to the important role of health and wellness and its connection to teen pregnancy prevention. The inaugrual event kicked off the month of May, which is also Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month and National Fitness Month. The World Fitness Day workout benefitted the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (G-CAPP). Sponsors included

World Fitness Day proved to be a tremendous success, both through the media hits garnered, and the critical message spread by the event. The Wyche Group bolstered this spectacular exhibition of fun, high energy and entertainment through its PR and media knowledge.

You can learn more about G-CAPP and World Fitness Day by visiting www.gcapp.org

Womenetics POW! Awards

The POW! Awards provided a powerful message - of inspiration, change and aspiration-while celebrating and endorsing women's leadership. As more women enter the workplace every day, a few key, 'forces-of-nature' are changing the landscape of business. These women trigger change from within as they challenge the status quo. Fresh ideas and the ability to inspire put them at the forefront. They transform vision into the language of action. These women are about dynamic growth; they surmount challenges, break down barriers, and have attained success in the workplace. They bring the "POW!" factor to everything they do. These are the women that were honored April 21, 2010 at the Loews Hotel Atlanta at the first ever POW Awards.



With Jazz singer Anna Wilson to stir the crowd with toe tapping songs, and the empowering keynote of Anita McBride, former Chief of Staff of First Lady Laura Bush, the POW! Awards were unlike any event Atlanta has seen.



The 2010 POW! Winners:
Becky Dowling
Director/Founder, "Just" People Inc.

Cathy CoxPresident, Young Harris College

Dr. Dorothy Mitchell-Leef Partner, Reproductive Biology Associates

Emily Ellison
President/Executive Director, Literacy Action

Helene Lollis
President, Pathbuilders

Jacqueline "Jackie" Yeaney EVP/CMO, Pgi

Kate Atwood
Founder, Kate's Club

Kathy Betty
Owner, Atlanta Dream

Leticia Maspons Willis
President, Willis Mechanical

Marilyn Midyette CEO, Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta

Mary Parker President/CEO, All (n) 1 Security

Richelle (Shelly) Patton President, PRI Development

Rilla Delorier EVP/CMO, SunTrust

Robin H. Sangston
VP/Legal Affairs, Cox Communications

Sally M. Davis VP Institutional Advancement, Morehouse School of Medicine

Wendy Clark SVP Integrated Marketing & Communications, The Coca Cola Company


The Wyche Group provided key messaging, strategy and logistics for the POW! Awards – creating a turnkey event for our client – while ensuring a platform for purposeful women to be honored.

Special Thanks to the Loews Hotel Midtown Atlanta, Swank Audio Visual, Associated Planners of Georgia and Parties to Die For.

You can learn more about Womenetics at www.womenetics.com

Atlanta Ballet's Nutcracker Tea

Atlanta Ballet’s 50th Anniversary of Nutcracker and the Nutcracker Tea

In 2009, Atlanta Ballet asked The Wyche Group to create a campaign to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker and to raise awareness and funds to support Atlanta Ballet programs. The public relations campaign and the creation of a celebratory event served as a platform to engage new sponsors, to draw in families not previously involved with the Ballet, and to build a broader opportunity for publicity surrounding the 50th anniversary.

Through a targeted public relations campaign, The Wyche Group generated over 11 million media impressions to create excitement and public interest for the 50th season of Atlanta Ballet’s unique Nutcracker. Public relations efforts —utilizing creative pitching and experienced media relationships—resulted in hits with Delta Sky and Southern Living, covers and articles in Southern Seasons and WHERE Atlanta, and multiple local TV and print stories. Coverage was diverse and widespread. The Nutcracker campaign not only raised awareness about the celebratory season, but also served to reach and meet sales and tickets goals.

Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker Tea
On December 19, 2009 Atlanta Ballet celebrated 50 magical years of Nutcracker, with Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker Tea, sponsored by Belk. From May to December of 2009, The Wyche Group managed the creative process and creation of the new event. From working with sponsors and patrons, collaborating with Atlanta Ballet staff and Nutcracker Tea Co-Chairs and volunteers, to strategic and tactical planning with partners, The Wyche Group provide a turn-key event unlike any in the Atlanta market.
Children and adults were enchanted as snow fell inside the grand ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead and characters from the Nutcracker were brought to life. Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker Tea was a feast for the eyes and for the holiday senses. The highlight of the afternoon was a fashion show by Belk that not only included professional models, but also 40 very lucky children of patrons who were tapped to strut down the runway and have a holiday moment in the limelight.

Through the combined efforts of public relations and a unique event that told the story of 50 magical years of dance and community history, The Wyche Group helped to create a season of celebration for Atlanta Ballet.

Womenetics hosts successful event Women & Power: The Female Approach to Business, Success & Responsibility and Why it Matters

On November 19, Womenetics presented Women & Power to a sold out crowd at the W Atlanta Midtown. The panel of key influencers initiated a lively, insightful and personal conversation surrounding women’s growing influence and the increasing demand to empower women to step into leadership roles. Dr. Jane Smith concluded the breakfast with a dynamic keynote address.



The Wyche Group was proud to manage all logistics, speaker acquisition and overall public relations and event strategy. The panel, which included the below individuals, addressed difficult questions and pressing topics, all the while exuding energy and wit. As members of the audience, we can say they had us entertained and enthralled – what a fun group!

o Karen Handel, Georgia Secretary of State
o Jan Smith, Vocalist and Vocal Producer for industry powerhouses
o Kathy Waller, VP and Controller, The Coca-Cola Company and Chair of The Coca-Cola
Company's Women's Leadership Council
o Cathy Woolard, EVP, Global Advocacy & External Relations, CARE USA

Moderators:
o Dr. Jane Smith, Executive Director Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement, Spelman
College
o Emory Mulling, Chairman and Senior Executive Coaching Consultant, Mulling Corporation

If you missed Women & Power, you still have the opportunity to listen to the mp3 online at Womenetics.

A huge thank you to our vendors and partners: W Atlanta Midtown, PSAV, Associate Planners of Georgia, Image Link, Parties to Die For; as well as our sponsors: Bank of North Georgia, Belk, Buck Consultants, Business Wise, Cadillac, Georgia Pacific, North Highland, and The Coca-Cola Company.

Keep an eye out for the next engaging conversation surrounding Global Women.

A Fresh Take on the Good Life: Arvid's Cork Envy

Wine artist Thomas Arvid is known across the country not only for capturing shared experiences on canvas, but also for infusing art into the every day.

Whether he is playing the ukulele or building a boat with his two sons, he is always finding new ways to express himself. This season, The Wyche Group is thrilled to help introduce the newest expression of the artful life with Arvid's foray into a new medium…

“Cork Envy,” the first in the Arvid Limited Edition Sculpture Series, illustrates Arvid continued ability to produce work that reflects care, attention to detail and a delicious balance.

Conceived to work either independently as a single sculpture or as an instillation of several sculptures, “Cork Envy” brings Arvid’s bold painting style into a three dimensional work of art.

Each signed and numbered limited edition sculpture is cast in resin and hand-painted to reflect the nuances of the classic cork and wine stain with the exquisite detail and craftsmanship for which Arvid is known. They are truly beautiful.

Join us in December at Arvid’s annual homecoming show to experience “Cork Envy.” Vinings Gallery: Saturday December 5 from 6pm to 9pm and Sunday, December 6 from 1pm to 4pm.

Taste the good life at http://www.thomasarvid.com/

An Oh So Sweet Celebration in Sweet Auburn

Another slice of Atlanta history will remain intact thanks to the success of a 30-year-long partnership between the Trust for Public Land and the National Park Service in their efforts to preserve the boyhood home and block of Martin Luther King Jr.
On October 28, TPL conveyed one of the last privately owned parcels in the MLK National Historic District to NPS. This transaction represents TPL's continued commitment to preserve the neighborhood's cultural heritage and to recapture the vitality and distinctiveness the Auburn Avenue area enjoyed during Dr. King's life.
To commemorate the ownership transfer of 530 Auburn Avenue, The Wyche Group joined TPL to plan and implement a 1930s-style neighborhood celebration.
A historic car was parked along the street, children played street games, and "John Wesley Dobbs" made an appearance for the special day. Guests enjoyed old fashioned cakes, popcorn, Coca-colas and lemonade. All in all, the block truly represented what life was like when Dr. King lived there.
We were thrilled it turned out to be a beautiful day. The rain the night before pressure washed the block, leaving the corridor on Auburn Avenue brilliantly gleaming for the ceremony.
Numerous special guests were in attendance and an impressive group of VIPs participated in the program, including TPL national president (in from San Francisco) and MLK Jr.'s sister, Christine King Ferris, and her son Isaac Ferris. Unexpected, special guests cam to the event - the great granddaughters of the original home owners.
We also had a terrific showing of media at the event. The Atlanta Journal Constitution, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Atlanta Magazine, WABE-FM, WAGA-TV, 11Alive, and WSB-TV all joined the celebration.
The Wyche Group is proud to be a part of the efforts to ensure the character of Sweet Auburn and the neighborhood that nurtured Dr. King and his vision will be preserved forever.
Click on the links above to view broadcasts and articles surrounding the event.