Author: andrewcareaga

Former higher ed PR and marketing guy at Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) now focused on freelance writing and editing and creative writing, fiction and non-fiction.

What hath @BPGlobalPR wrought?

It had to happen, I guess. The popularity of the faux Twitter account @BPGlobalPR has spawned a legion of imitators. As Mashable reported recently, “The @[insert name here]GlobalPR Twitter account is a true blue meme.”

Just a few of the @__________GlobalPR accounts now floating around Twitter.
Just a few of the @__________GlobalPR accounts now floating around Twitter.

Faux Twitter accounts are nothing new. (Remember @FakeSarahPalin?) But it takes timing, originality and just the right level of acerbic satirical commentary to pull it off. The success of @BPGlobalPR comes from the mix of those three elements.

@IsraelGlobalPR may also have what it takes to separate from the pack of imitators. The account’s timing was impeccable — it launched the same day Israeli commandos raided that flotilla headed for Gaza — and its focus is narrow enough and its voice consistently in character. But other copycat GlobalPR accounts, such as @USAGlobalPR, are just horrible imitations. My Twiter pal @KyleJudah and I agree that this slew of faux Twitter copycats are more lame than meme-worthy.

Maybe the whole @[insert name here]GlobalPR meme just needs better PR. Sadly, I don’t think @PRGlobalPR is up for that challenge.

Friday Five: Random-access edition

A longtime blogging buddy in the UK recently posted what he called a blogpost of no consequence. It was, of course, nothing of the sort, as it was filled with all sorts of interesting links and even a fun YouTube video. It was a post of random observations, and randomness is not without consequence.

Today’s post is random. The only thing not random about it is that it follows the order of five things, as is my custom for Friday blog posts. So let’s get to it:

  1. Dave Olsen, well-known in the higher ed marketing community for his activity on Twitter and elsewhere, has launched a blog called Mobile in Higher Ed. It’s a great niche and I can’t think of anyone better than Dave to address what’s happening in mobile right now.
  2. Meet Leroy Stick, the man behind @BPglobalPR. I started @BPGlobalPR, because the oil spill had been going on for almost a month and all BP had to offer were bullshit PR statements. No solutions, no urgency, no sincerity, no nothing. That’s why I decided to relate to the public for them.
  3. Embracing Web Analytics is Karine Joly’s latest University Business column. It’s also the latest salvo in Karine’s call for an analytics revolution.
  4. The rise of page-view journalism means companies (and higher ed) must generate their own media.
  5. For all the needless drama of life (and really, is there any other kind?), try the Drama Button. (Warning: You may need to turn down your speakers.) Here’s hoping you won’t need this button till Monday.

Happy Weekend, everyone.

P.S. – Celtics in six.