Ms. America Twittering!

Congratulations on winning your pageant!  All your hard work, preparation and planning has paid off and now you’re finally living your dream. With that well-deserved crown on your head, you’re probably doing a lot of life-changing things: sponsorships, talking about a platform, events, Charity functions and meeting some incredible people. Coming from the reigning Ms. America 2009-10, I can assure you that your reign will be a wild ride of adventures.  And, even if you’re still preparing for a pageant (or just gave your crown away), I’m sure you have a lot of stories that other women in the pageant world could benefit from.  But how do you do that?

In my last interview for a magazine publication, the reporter asked me “What has been your most memorable experience?” The question was simple, but the answer wasn’t. That’s because there have been so MANY wonderful experiences, that I couldn’t choose just one. And, I also had trouble remembering all the fantastic events I’ve done. It truly continues to be a whirlwind—and one I’m so proud to be in!  In years past, the only true way to capture these great moments as a reigning beauty queen was through a newspaper article and perhaps a ‘Queen’s Shot’ of you with your crown and banner. But now, the world is watching...in every medium: TV, newspapers, magazines and online! Those in the pageant world are hoping to follow your lead and learn about where you’ve come from and where you’re headed. The best way to do that is get them the information in the places they frequent (like the internet). It’s not only smart to keep them in the know—it’s a great way to extend the brand of the pageant as well as the many supporters, sponsors and backers you have. 

Sounds great, right? So how do you go about using the internet to talk about your experiences??! Don’t worry—you’re not the only one to ask this question.  The ways to keep your fans up-to-date and spread the word about your whereabouts are overwhelming—and new.  Blogs, Twitter, Linked In, Facebook, pageant websites, minisites, promotional events—and more—are called social media and are becoming more and more prevalent. Many pageants have recently adopted these new ways to connect and if your pageant hasn’t already done so, I strongly urge you to discuss this with your director/president. They may not realize how valuable social media tools can be!  Fortunately, the Ms. AmericaÒ Pageant president, Susan Jeske, is ‘in-the-know’ and she’s employed these tools since the beginning of my reign.  Which is why I want to leave you with some reasons why social media is a great way to get the most out of your reign and keep your followers happy!

1)  Free Tools + Publicity = High Return: In order to embrace social media, the only things you need are: a computer, a blog system (that’s usually free), your time to create quick blogs and my tips and tricks (which will come from me next week). However, the return on investment can be invaluable.  Alerting people about what you or the pageant is  doing online will let them seek you out and learn about you on their own time. Maybe they missed today’s newspaper that announced you’d be at your local church doing a food drive. But they won’t forget to check their email and surf the web, which means if you post it on your blog, there may be more attendees at your next event! And, if you post something in a space where others can share (like on Facebook or Twitter), you’ll have even more people viewing your great message—which means more bang for your ‘blog’, so to speak!

2) Beauty Queens are social—and people want to talk!  How many times have you done an appearance and little girls (and even grown women!) were too shy or nervous to talk to you. Let’s face it—wearing a crown and a sash places you into a celebrity status that can intimidate others. Your twitter account or blog will take down those walls and let your fans reach out to you in an easy way.  And, it will allow you to truly connect with them, since you probably couldn’t fully focus on them anyway when you were at the event.  Take the time to answer their questions, follow them back on twitter or reply to their comments on your blog to show that you care and are listening.  You’ll reach them in a deeper, more meaningful way than just shaking their hand at a charity auction.

3) Take your reign to the next level.  Let’s face it…the world is turning digital. Don’t get left behind—and lose future queens and potential opportunities to enrich the lives of others—by not keeping up! It can be a really fun, informative way to stay connected and show your fan base and philanthropies how smart beauty queens really are! It can open doors for you through networking and give you the ultimate PR, free of charge.  Plus, documenting all your outings and charitable causes creates a great digital diary for you to keep long after your reign is over that will be a reminder of all the amazing things you’ve done!  It’s the way of the future…so, talk to your director and get blogging!

Now you know how important social media is for you and your pageant system, stay tuned for the next blog post next week. I’ll be giving you TIPS and TRICKS to maximize your blog!!