Archive for December, 2006
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Guest Post from Erica Harbison, Waggener Edstrom and member of the PRos in Training “advisory board” It’s almost a new year – perfect time to resolve to learn more about blogging and bloggers. So you’ve been hearing a lot about the rise in influence and importance of bloggers, eh? I’m here to tell you that from a PR perspective, what you’re seeing and hearing is true. Bloggers are here to stay for the foreseeable future and they (we) are powerful. I say “we” because if you haven’t gotten on the blog bandwagon by now, you’re already behind. Being a blogger, as Kelli has evangelized many times before, is the first step in knowing how to reach bloggers. If you’re driving a PR campaign, it’s nearly always appropriate to think about how to reach include bloggers in your strategy. Your first piece of homework is to research bloggers who are writing... Continue Reading
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With the new year, comes a new term and a new chance for students of all kinds to think about how to be better. 1. Be Curious: Read, ask questions, find out everything you can about your chosen profession. In public relations that means reading the industry blogs (I recommend Communication Overtones, PR Squared and On Message), paying attention to industry news (PR Tactics, PR Week and Bulldog Reporter’s Daily Dog), talking to local professionals in your community and being an avid consumer of media. 2. Be Engaged: Beyond curiosity, engage your mind. What are the greater implications of what you’re reading, listening to or talking about? 3. Be Empathetic: To succeed in public relations, you must be able to put yourself in another’s shoes. Practice now! How did your teammate come to that conclusion? If you were a member of a particular target audience, how would a company or... Continue Reading
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Sometimes it takes me a while to get in the holiday spirit. I blame 5 years of working in retail and hospitality. The worst of it – having to listen to holiday music for 6 weeks straight. But what if Christmas was your JOB. And no, I don’t mean working as the jolly man in the red suit. The National Christmas Tree Association is the trade association for Christmas tree growers. Obviously its busiest time of year would be right about now. The Association does a nice job of providing lots of resource information via its Web site for news media. The Web site’s not slick, but it’s useful. Highlights: Extensive background information and fact sheets. Who knew Christmas trees were so complex! Random fun facts like: In 1531, the first retail Christmas Tree lots are started in German cities. Lots of good recycling information. None of which is: leave... Continue Reading
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From PRos in Train… As a woman who is relatively “in tune” with her body, I can tell you that hormones certainly have an influence on the ebbs and flows of mood, comfort, social aptitude (and attitude) and creativity (among other things). An e-zine, www.fourweeksmag.com is taking this idea to a new level. I watched a National Geographic or Discovery Channel show many years ago that showed that women who are ovulating are more likely to dress and act in a way that might “attract a mate” – stripping us down to our primordial urges. I think the examples were that she might wear more revealing clothes and play with her hair (a grooming ritual). I am fascinated by that stuff. I think I was an anthropologist in another life. So today, I was cruising PRWeb (don’t ask…) and came across tips from www.fourweeksmag.com about how to use your natural... Continue Reading
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Leo Bottary, one of my favorite bloggers, offers 10 tips for agencies pitching new business. His tips, as always, are terrific. And even though I don’t do a lot of new client pitching on a scale that would require a formal “presentation” – I am responsible for an inordinate number of presentations on a weekly basis. Comes with the territory of being a university instructor, right? So, taking Leo’s tips and applying them, not only to business pitches, but to my lectures, I find myself coming up a little short. I fear I may be responsible for a large number of presentation sins. From PRos in Train… My favorite tip: Engage in an actual conversation. Toss the PowerPoint. Get to know one another. Everyone thinks capabilities are about qualifications. Maybe it’s actually about capabilities. Are you capable of being fun, likeable, smart, funny, human, etc.? Would I want to spend... Continue Reading
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I have to admit, that I still keep a box of 64 Crayola Crayons in my office supply closet. In fact, I think right now, I have the deluxe box of 96. And, I also keep a supply of coloring books. I suppose I have a better excuse now that I have a child… but my current box of Crayola crayons is probably 4 years old. And the child is just 9 months. According to the Bulldog Reporter, Crayola is stepping up its efforts to be innovative. Apparently it has a “stodgy” image. I would probably disagree with “stodgy.” But certainly Crayola is not taking a lot of risks with its product line. Crayola isn’t pulling any punches. Putting a huge holiday budget on on the line, the company hopes to “reinvent” itself. No, we’re not talking about new colors of crayons, but rather Crayola’s line of “less mess” toys.... Continue Reading
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It’s World AIDS Day. You’ve heard the statistics. The thousands of men, women and children suffering and dying from HIV and AIDS – they are heartbreaking. You’ve seen the photos of orphans or people in their prime literally wasting away because they can’t get the health care and support they need – they are gut wrenching. The problem seems overwhelming. But you can take a step and make a difference.Join (RED)Buy a braceletWear a ribbonLight to Unite: For every candle lit, Bristol Myers Squibb will donate $1 to the National AIDS Fund. Want to learn more? The Independent, a London paper, has gone (RED) for today’s edition with stories, photos and articles about the AIDS epidemic worldwide.... Permalink
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