With the new age of media, companies have the chance to go well beyond traditional print ads, billboards and television commercials to get their message out.

Social media (e.g. Twitter, Facebook) gives companies the chance to more directly reach their customers and engage them with timely offers and relevant information.

Businesses should be on the lookout for these social media opportunities and understand how they might play a role, along with traditional media.

For example, the University of Minnesota Duluth men’s hockey team will be ushering in a new generation of hockey in Duluth on December 30, 2010. The state-of-the-art Duluth Entertainment Convention Center will be completed and the University of North Dakota will be coming to town for the US Hockey Hall of Fame game against the Bulldogs.

This facility will allow for an additional 1,500 seats, 15 luxury boxes, an NHL regulation sheet of ice, and a four-panel video board to showcase game highlights. This means a plethora of new ways for advertisers to step out of the traditional norms of advertising.

Businesses can go beyond the traditional program ad and interact with Bulldog fans right on their mobile devices, driving traffic to their stores and generating buzz for their business. Well beyond hanging a banner in the arena, businesses can take advantage of the UMD Athletics’ Facebook and Twitter channels to interact with fans online and direct traffic to their websites.

Opportunities like these are growing exponentially. Take time to learn about them and how they could fit with your business.

When Kevin Holubar took his dog out to do his business on Christmas Eve, he could never have predicted what happened next. Nor could he have predicted the whirlwind, worldwide story that would ensue.

The short story about Kevin’s dog is this: Ham, the bulldog, took off on Christmas Eve and was lost for 11 days in Duluth. It was an 11-day stretch that was one of the coldest on record. He miraculously showed up on a good Samaritan’s porch, who had heard all about Ham on the news, and returned him to his owner.

In my role as the sales and promotions coordinator for UMD Athletics, I am always looking for ways to promote the athletic department and help the community. Well folks, this was one of those opportunities. There was intense media buzz, locally, nationally and worldwide, about this dog that had survived. Since Ham happened to be a bulldog, I knew this was an opportunity to do a promotion with the UMD Bulldogs.

I called Kevin, who lives in the Twin Cities (he was visiting family in Duluth for Christmas), and asked if he’d be interested in Ham being the honorary mascot for an upcoming men’s hockey game. He immediately said “Yes.” Kevin appreciated all the support and attention the Duluth area had given his dog and thought this would be a great way to say “thanks.” Wanting him to be properly outfitted, I called Duluth-based dogbooties.com and asked if they’d be willing to make Ham a jersey. Again, a resounding “Yes.”

The stage was set and Ham and his owner made their way to Duluth despite some snowy weather on Saturday, January 23. After both hockey teams were introduced, it was time for Ham to shine. He was introduced to the crowd and as he walked out to drop the ceremonial puck the crowd went wild! From the frozen ditches of Duluth to center ice at a men’s hockey game, Ham had truly been on an incredible journey.

Ham’s honorary Bulldog status garnered more attention for the team, got the fans engaged, and gave Kevin a chance to thank the community.

I encourage you to look for ways that your business can capitalize on public relations opportunities. If you already have, we’d love to hear your story.