Top 10 Things I Learned in PR

1.) Who you follow on Twitter is more important than who follows you.

2.) Writing is key! If you are posting a blog or writing a press release, spell check can be your best friend. Your writing will reflect who you are and what you represent.

3.) Keep your network alive.

4.) Your relationships are your most important asset. 3 and 4 kind of go together. Staying in contact with your professional peers can prove to be your biggest source of learning and success. Get tips from them! Remember them!…and you’ll see your career soar because of their insight.

5.) Blogging can be difficult! Truth be told, I do not like keeping myself accountable for posting every week! But I’m trying to get better and post more when COMM2322 is over!

6.) PR = Marketing….NOT!

7.) Stay fresh. Follow the news, check the latest tweet from your partners, and become savvy! With the way everyone is becoming so socially aware of what’s going on, you want to stay current to be a part of any conversation.

8.) You can be successful in a crucial conversation. Consider who you’re talking to and decide what tactics will help you reach your goal.

9.) Keep blogging!

10.) This is just the beginning. You are never over with research, staying updated with news, finding contacts…so keep going!

 

Take me out to the ball game…

We love a great football game, don’t we? Or what about the World Series? It’s always amazing to hear someone taking a weekend trip to watch their alma mater play in a big game…..

So what exactly do we have to learn from sports about PR?

Everything!

Keeping scores and rivalries and donning the championship apparel is what keeps the spirit alive – so don’t forget to do the same in PR. Taking care of your “fans” really helps in building your network and in keeping your vision alive.

Also, building that sense of community will help in creating the brand image for your clients. That ownership is essential to any community…think about it. What helps you bond with others? Is it your mutual love for Starbucks? Or maybe a certain TV show? Or is it most likely your love for all things Ohio State? And why is it that you love those things? Because you have some sort of emotional tie, whatever, and it can help you relate to others on a different level. This is cool. So why not play up on that?

Bottom line: In the PR process, please, please, please, don’t forget the ones who keep you going and who have started it all. They’re just as good as your newest followers and you should take care of them and remind them of why they fell in love with you in the first place.

Check out this article courtesy of Ragan PR about the importance of remembering your fans.

Another speech?

So this is somewhat of a continuation of my post about making an awesome PowerPoint; only this time, I think I should mention the fact about making a great speech to go along with that PowerPoint presi.

We all know it’s one thing to WOW everyone with great graphics, video clips, and a crisp presentation, but it’s totally different when the presenter opens their mouth and turns you off by being boring.

Use the power of story: Whether it’s a short joke, a real life experience, or an actual news story, tell it! I think this makes your presentation so much more dynamic and it helps your audience relate to you. I mean, how funny is it when you hear some speaker talk about a life crisis and it so happens that you’ve been through the same exact thing?!

Plus, if you need a great opener, telling a story can help grab the attention of your audience. You can always give some insight as to how your story relates to what you’re going to be talking about.

Use the tactics of other speakers: It’s okay to make a spin off from what someone else has done! If you like a particular way someone transitions from point to point, try to use that same style to help the flow of your presentation. If you like the idea of ending your presentation with a video clip, then end it that way!

There’s a great conference coming up in March in Washington D.C. called the 2012 Speechwriters and Executive Communicators Conference. You might want to research some of the speakers who will be there and might be able to learn a few tips!

You can always learn from what great speakers do. Look at some of the great speakers of the past. JFK is a great example of someone with PASSION. Be enthusiastic about your topic. Be excited so your audience is excited!

My Ultimate 10

Awesome post by Simply PR! It’s amazing how much you can learn by jumping into social media galore, the blogging world, and applying real life applications. Staying up to date with your information is key and your mindset is just as important; if you want to be heard and make a difference, give people a reason why to follow you and the rest is “Simply PR”!

Search Engine Optimization!!! aka SEO

Okay, here’s the deal; you need to write a press release and here’s how to get Google’s attention. Optimizing search engine capabilities can increase the hits you receive in response to a press release you might write. Making a checklist can help, but the key to writing a release should be for that human connection, not specifically targeting your search engine connection.

Here are just a few tips to get noticed:

Keywords are important when writing, making sure that what you write can be searchable in a search engine such as Google.

–       Include a brand name/product type that is recognizable

–       Research news stories/topics your top candidates search for

–       Use trend information to see what topics have been popular over time

For content optimization, build your keywords into your press release, including them into the title, the body of the release, and varying phrases to keep it consistent. Keeping it to 250 – 500 words is just the right length, and PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE avoid “marketing speak” – keep it short, simple, and to the point.

Links can also be really important to optimizing media content and directing traffic to other additional stories and related material. And again, use your keywords in the links to keep it consistent, and only put around 3 – 4 of them in your press release.

So there you go, a few tips to help you write a successful new release, but REMEMBER: write well. Writing is so important and you wouldn’t want your release to be tossed in the garbage if you don’t construct a well-written piece. And as important as keywords are, don’t get carried away; try to find a good balance between informing and going keyword crazy.

For more information about writing a great press release, PR, and social media, check out the blog of AdamSherk, VP of SEO and Social Media for Define Media Group.

Please Don’t Panic.

Courtesy of Ragan PR, here are some more great tips for small business owners, or small PR agencies: When business is slow, don’t panic – try these 4 activities. This article was written by Dan Lyons, president of Lyons Public Relations, and blogger at The Radio PR Guy.

Sometimes it’s hard to stay focused when things aren’t going as planned, but keep your chin up and make use of the extra time.

So here they are:

1.) Do the desk drawer dig.

You never know who you’ll find when you look through old cards and contacts.Rekindle relationships and it may bring you some unexpected business. Or just see what they’re up to…the important thing is to remember you’re not making a sales call.

2.)   Network out of your industry.

Even if it makes you a little nervous, just do it! Attending a seminar or big event can help you connect with others to share ideas and look for other opportunities.

3.)   Think!

Take this opportunity to look at the big picture. Yes, you have projects to finish and deadlines to meet, but it wouldn’t hurt to take a step back and analyze your company as a whole. Plus, this little period of down time could help you in reestablishing your company identity.

4.)   Take a chill pill.

Realize that every business, every industry, every EVERYTHING has its ups and downs, so just relax. Don’t be too hard on yourself.

Hmmm, so bottom line, don’t freak out. And this advice is good for anything, no matter what business you’re in, or whether you’re looking for a job, or really no matter where you are in life. Look at it as more of an adventure, than just a wall in your way that you can’t get over.

PR Pro Interview

Recently, I had the opportunity to phone interview Nikki Smith, President of ASAP, Advertising Services and Printing. She graduated from Polk State College with a degree in Business Administration – Marketing and loves to help others communicate what they want to the public arena. I personally know her from church, and knowing her schedule is absolutely crazy, I’m so happy I had a few minutes to speak with her about what she does on a regular basis.

Although mainly a marketing services company, Nikki faces the challenges of any PR practitioner, as their products must conform to the guidelines set by each company they represent.

With multiple projects throughout the year, ASAP promotes the campaigns of several companies throughout the central Florida area. One of the biggest challenges they face in promoting campaigns is adhering to legal verbiage and legal stipulations placed by the company.

Asking if writing was a key component to her job, she responded with a big “YES!”

Companies give them the scope of their projects and goals as well as a “creative brief” to brainstorm ways to work around different rules and regulations. Throughout the process, ASAP works closely with the company’s marketing department to ensure the right message is being broadcasted to the public.

One thing that stuck out in our conversation was her enthusiasm to stay connected and relevant with the outside world. She mentioned that reading, attending events, and networking with others are so important to becoming successful and helping sustain your edge in the market. Sometimes we can get lazy, but the passion for your job is what can really keep you going.

12 Outrageous PR Stunts

Some campaigns just get a lot of attention. Ever wonder how yours can, too? Take a look at some of these outrageous PR stunts that spark some interest. Ragan Daily reported the top 12 PR stunts with tons of video, pictures, and all the good stuff that comes along with great PR

I want to point out a few specific examples of great PR including the pandas in Paris, the face from space, and Oprah’s giveaways.

First, let’s look at pandas in Paris. Wanna create some sort of buzz? Just put 1600 papier-mâché pandas in front of the Eiffel Tower to raise awareness of your organization and the issue you want everyone to know about. Just goes to show that thinking outside the box can really pay off…and putting the time and effort into a thoughtful campaign will pay off. Plus, the whole “strength in numbers” perspective will really make an impact. I guess the bottom line is: Want people to react? Plaster the image EVERYWHERE or in one concentrated area.

So another great PR campaign that I want to point out is the KFC face from space. The great thing about this is the fact that anyone from anywhere on earth can see such an amazing work of art. I mean, take the Great Wall of China for example. Obviously not everyone is Chinese, but as a member of the human race, we can all appreciate the grand effort it takes to construct something so magnificent and awe-inspiring. All I can say is: This is so cool!

 

And of course, you can’t fail to mention Oprah when it comes to PR. With her annual Christmas shows booked for years, she has the ploy to basically create an image, promote a brand, or do whatever she wants with a product; and this is great for the company sponsoring gifts. Who wouldn’t love a free car given to everyone in the audience? What?! Definitely go for the wow factor.

 

So I guess the theme for this would be “go big or go home” and the sky is the limit. Never underestimate the random acts of gigantic stunts provided by a PR campaign. It can make you stronger and create that extra buzz you need.

PR Ethics and the Law

Ethics is basically concerned with how we should live our lives and your moral obligation to stand up for what you believe. Oftentimes we find worlds colliding, questioning personal and professional ethics, and in the corporate world, it’s up to the PR practitioner to make the call. The main concern with media today is the question of the degree of honesty a person presents when reporting.

Dishonesty can definitely destroy your credibility.

I think today, bribery is a big issue to overcome, because people are always willing to pay someone off for saying or doing something specific. That’s why organizations like PRSA (Public Relations Society of America) promote responsibility in public relations. Core values set the standard for anything that happens and create guidelines to safeguard the industry. Dishonesty is easy to occur when trying to put “spin” on something, but it needs to be done in a way that upholds the truth and is not deceptive.

Different elements of the law keep PR practitioners accountable for they’re actions as well. Corporations are considered “public figures” because the actions of the company, as a whole, present a specific image to the public.

 Engaging in specific activities reflects the company and its values and can either help or harm those who come in contact with them.

 Laws against defamation, libel and slander, issues of copyright, and infringement all affect the day-to-day activity of a company’s decisions.

I think some of the biggest issues to overcome are trademark law and other regulations.

People want to create ideas based on ones that are already successful in hopes that they will be successful as well.

Even more, they create campaigns that are deceptive and misleading, all for the sake of making an extra buck. The Federal Trade Commission actually has jurisdiction over such campaigns and upholds companies to their duty to be honest. PR practitioners should be aware of their decisions and how it can affect the outcome of their business as well as the ones they’re supporting. In the process, ethical questions should be raised to determine if their actions support their own important values and standards.

Network Away!

So we’re all desperately trying to increase the number of followers we have on Twitter, or find new friends on Facebook, but your personal network is way more than a number. It’s really about whom you know and how you’ve established a relationship. That face to face contact, constant update through email kind of a person is more valuable to your work experience than the number of retweets you have in a day.

5 Tips to Stop Sucking at Networking on Ragan PR helped me refocus my energy in making a difference in the physical relationships I have actually built with professionals that I’ve come in contact with. These quick tips will help you better connect with people who have the same outlook on the job and are as willing to invest in you as much as you are into them.

 

1.) Personal Note: Handwritten means so much more than the old standby: email communication. What I’ve found is that a handwritten thank-you note goes above and beyond expectations and shows you really care and appreciate the work someone else has done for you. If you had a guest speaker at a meeting, if someone donated money or giveaways for a big event, let them know it hasn’t gone unnoticed!

 

2.) Use LinkedIn: The popularity of this site is growing fast and you can update your professional profile, as well as make new contacts and see what they’re doing.

 

3.) Keep a Networking Database: There are apps on your phone that let you keep track of your contacts and details about what they do. Little things like birthdays, favorite color, etc. are all important because it can help you connect with those who support you and who you’re supporting.

 

***QUICK TIP*** Try using a Google account to organize all your contacts! You can organize hundreds of email addresses, fax numbers, and other information you might need. You can even transfer multiple lists and it will organize it for you!

4.) Send Small Gifts for Achievement: Even if they’re not a client, stay up to date with their life and that will make your network strong. If someone is having a baby, send them a gift card and a note. It goes a long way if you can remember the small things.

 

5.) Create a Separate Facebook List for Your Closest Contacts: Organize people in your professional network. This will help you see their updates and correspond accordingly. Having them in the front of your mind will definitely help.