Blogs are an important new tool in public relations. There is no doubt about the importance that blogs have in marketing and selling the brand being promoted. Blogging is the most important public relations tool I learned throughout the semester and am glad I had the opportunity to learn to use them as I know they are playing an essential role in communications. Here are some of my favorite best practices we have learned this semester and make sure to check out the links provided!
PR HAS CHANGED
We have a greater amount of power than when generations older than us graduated college. This places a huge responsibility on our generation of college graduates. We have the ability to impact social change and can address big social and human problems with our job. Communications has become quite important in jobs today. In my organizational communications class, we discuss how organizations worked as a machine where every part of the machine was functioned by one person. Now, we realize that that type of organization doesn’t work because people’s opinions and personality and what they strive to do are taken out of the workplace making it a predictable environment. With the use of communications and letting people contribute individually what they feel allows individuals going into public relations to do what works best for them.
RESEARCH
Research is one of the best practices and has become an emphasis in current practices. Research is not handled approximately 90 percent of the time in non-profit organizations. Two types of research remain important for each business, qualitative and quantitative. These two types of research must be done for the research to move forward effectively.
INVESTIGATING COMPETITION
Being aware of what your competitors are doing is an absolute necessity. There is a gap in investigating competition with 20 percent not knowing what their competitors are doing. This is also important for non-profit organizations because they are always in competition whether we realize it or not. There is one pool of charity money, and they are all in competition because everyone wants the money. Ashlie McGill, the marketing manager for D magazine believes that knowing what other magazines are up to is essential for them to move forward with the publication and to remain in the top spot for a city magazine.
KNOW YOUR ORGANIZATION
It is important to know who you work for and everything that is built into the organization. Knowing your company from the ground up helps to do your job best and be able to use all resources possible throughout the company. Ashlie McGill, the marketing manager for D Magazine, says knowing the organization as a whole is the most important task. She relies on this when selling advertisements and speaking with sponsors. D Magazine uses editorial, marketing and advertising in every aspect throughout the company and helps tremendously when talking to clients and making the strongest decisions.
GOOD STYLE
In the communications business, writing style is a key variable to success. All documents should be consistent and polished. In our Advanced Communication Skills class, we have practiced this by writing pitch letters and interviews. It is important to note that credibility is lost easily when writing is weak, inconsistent and words are misspelled.
BRANDING
Branding is a power factor that organizations can’t ignore. When an organization has a motive to portray to other businesses and clients, it sets the organization apart from everyone else. For example, when the Virginia Tech tragedy occurred last week, Southern Methodist University was on top of their game and advertised that we come together in times of grief and tragedy. The prayer session was visible on all local networks advertising SMU’s unity.
BE UP TO DATE
Reading magazines and newspapers are essential to keeping up with the media. You must be relevant in the business with news and society. Public relations is all about new trends and staying on the cutting edge, so reading blogs, newspapers and watching television will help keep you up to date. McGill mentioned that staying on top of what people are interested in are essential parts of having a successful publication. Public relations must be aware of what is out there and how to find it. Looklook.org allows individuals to login and see what the new trends are.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT REPORTER
If you have produced a great news release, it’s only worth it if you send it to the right reporters. From a reporters mind, if you’re not smart enough to figure out who to send your material to, you’re not worthy of the coverage. A writer must call and ask for who deals with the type of story you want to submit. You don’t want your story to be thrown away, so take the time and get it into the right peoples hands. According to Jason Baxter, many journalists have their personal blogs, and they are much more accessible through these than through their “day job” publications. When you willy-nilly send out press releases to reporters that are not the right contact, you can both infuriate the reporter and ensure you will get no coverage. It's the same - and worse - in the blogosphere. While some people think to pitch bloggers, you go for the A-list and A-list only, according to The PR Blog by Jeremy Pepper at www.allbusiness.com/marketing
SUCK UP TO A REPORTER
Sucking up to a reporter is so simple. Keep up on what topics they write about and compliment them on their materials. If you have a press release to send out, follow up with a phone call to make sure they received it. This makes it easy for them and even easier to publish your article or cover your event. According to blog.guykawasaki.com, marketers try to befriend bloggers and reporters when they need them. Good marketers befriend bloggers and reporters before they need them.
BLOGGING
Even though blogs have been around for several years, they're growing at the rate of at least 30,000 new blogs a day, according to Larry Bondine’s LawMarketing Blog. Most of the speakers we had in class brought attention to the new trend and value to blogging. You no longer have to rely only on the media to get your message to the masses, you can create your own blog quickly, and communicate directly with customers and the public. Blog expert Peter Blackshaw of Inteliseek said blogs are like "megaphones on steroids."
Check out pm.typepad.com to check out some more new trends in public relations.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Take a Look-Look at Entrepreneurs and SMU
Our Advanced Marketing Communications class is yet on another mission, to find what strives new entrepreneurs here at Southern Methodist University. Take a look at what I have found for Look-Look!!
How and where have you seen new entrepreneurs in your world?
Students I have seen around Southern Methodist University are shifting from predictable job descriptions to a working life created on their own. This new entrepreneur must realize the need to sell themselves because becoming a new entrepreneur entails self promotion. I have a couple of friends that are in the process of launching their own business. One, a jewelry designer, and two, a picture frame decorator. If there is an opportunity to create your own job, why not do it?
Do you see a shift to a certain type of attitude toward work?
People no longer want to start from the bottom of a company and move up. People aren’t willing to do the “crap” work in order to earn their way up. Through this moving up process, most individuals move from organization to organization in order to move up in a career field and don’t feel that sense of loyalty to stay with the same company. I have been taught that years and years ago, people had loyalty toward their company and knew that staying with them would result positively. Now, it’s all about earning money and being happy with what you do.
I feel that it is all a competition to be successful and the only way to win is to use unique ways of getting there. Along with this idea, people are interested in instant gratification. This idea is now applying to careers and success. A sense of empowerment also ties along with this idea. Entrepreneurs want to be in control and want to be outside of the box. It is getting easier and easier to start a new company everyday. Only now can you start up a .com from your bedroom.
How do you think this will change business in the future, if at all?
The new entrepreneur, because of technology, can be globally active. You don’t have to move somewhere you don’t want to be. Instead, you can do the business you want to do where you want to do it. This reach becomes doable and is a huge impact for the new entrepreneur. Focusing on SMU student entrepreneurs, I believe that Dallas is a great place for a start up company, especially fashion retail. Since SMU is a small private school, networking is a very big tool for anyone who wants to be an entrepreneur. If you wanted to start a retail store, you have many choices to network around the campus.
Examples
Blake Mycoskie is a graduate from the Cox School of Business at SMU. He saw the need for an on campus laundry service. Mycoskie’s business, EZ Laundry launched in the fall of 1997. The business grew quickly as he used sorority women to support him by wearing t-shirts in exchange for free dry cleaning. The company grew and Mycoskie found himself managing 40 employees and eight laundry trucks. The company expanded across seven universities. Mycoskie’s next great invention were TOMS Shoes. Inspired by a traditional Argentinean shoe made out of natural fibers, TOMS Shoes are the most ethical shoe on the market. In fact, for each shoe bought, the company donates a pair to a child. Due to great marketing, 5,000 pairs of TOMS Shoes were sold in the first month. The goal with the company is to give out one million pairs of shoes to children over the next three years. “There are a lot of things that need to be planned out before starting a business, but at the end of the day, if you have a product or service that people want, you can be successful and should just go for it,” Mycoskie said. Mycoskie credits Jerry White’s entrepreneurship course at SMU that helped him get where he is today. Take a Look-Look at Mycoskie's complete success story at wwwcox.smu.edu/aboutcox/success as well as other SMU success stories.
How and where have you seen new entrepreneurs in your world?
Students I have seen around Southern Methodist University are shifting from predictable job descriptions to a working life created on their own. This new entrepreneur must realize the need to sell themselves because becoming a new entrepreneur entails self promotion. I have a couple of friends that are in the process of launching their own business. One, a jewelry designer, and two, a picture frame decorator. If there is an opportunity to create your own job, why not do it?
Do you see a shift to a certain type of attitude toward work?
People no longer want to start from the bottom of a company and move up. People aren’t willing to do the “crap” work in order to earn their way up. Through this moving up process, most individuals move from organization to organization in order to move up in a career field and don’t feel that sense of loyalty to stay with the same company. I have been taught that years and years ago, people had loyalty toward their company and knew that staying with them would result positively. Now, it’s all about earning money and being happy with what you do.
I feel that it is all a competition to be successful and the only way to win is to use unique ways of getting there. Along with this idea, people are interested in instant gratification. This idea is now applying to careers and success. A sense of empowerment also ties along with this idea. Entrepreneurs want to be in control and want to be outside of the box. It is getting easier and easier to start a new company everyday. Only now can you start up a .com from your bedroom.
How do you think this will change business in the future, if at all?
The new entrepreneur, because of technology, can be globally active. You don’t have to move somewhere you don’t want to be. Instead, you can do the business you want to do where you want to do it. This reach becomes doable and is a huge impact for the new entrepreneur. Focusing on SMU student entrepreneurs, I believe that Dallas is a great place for a start up company, especially fashion retail. Since SMU is a small private school, networking is a very big tool for anyone who wants to be an entrepreneur. If you wanted to start a retail store, you have many choices to network around the campus.
Examples
Blake Mycoskie is a graduate from the Cox School of Business at SMU. He saw the need for an on campus laundry service. Mycoskie’s business, EZ Laundry launched in the fall of 1997. The business grew quickly as he used sorority women to support him by wearing t-shirts in exchange for free dry cleaning. The company grew and Mycoskie found himself managing 40 employees and eight laundry trucks. The company expanded across seven universities. Mycoskie’s next great invention were TOMS Shoes. Inspired by a traditional Argentinean shoe made out of natural fibers, TOMS Shoes are the most ethical shoe on the market. In fact, for each shoe bought, the company donates a pair to a child. Due to great marketing, 5,000 pairs of TOMS Shoes were sold in the first month. The goal with the company is to give out one million pairs of shoes to children over the next three years. “There are a lot of things that need to be planned out before starting a business, but at the end of the day, if you have a product or service that people want, you can be successful and should just go for it,” Mycoskie said. Mycoskie credits Jerry White’s entrepreneurship course at SMU that helped him get where he is today. Take a Look-Look at Mycoskie's complete success story at wwwcox.smu.edu/aboutcox/success as well as other SMU success stories.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Easter Weekend
Happy Easter Sunday everyone... look forward to my post next week as it is in the works!
Friday, March 30, 2007
Tara Hall Social Marketing
Tara Hall, the account supervisor for Weber Shandwick, came to our class to talk about her career and where social marketing has been and what lies in the future. Under Weber Schandwick, Screen Grab was started and led by Hall. Hall manages the Screen Grab practice group from San Francisco to New York with online message marketing, monitors analysis programs and manages blog and pod casts.
Hall told the class that we were lucky because there are lots of different avenues we can work within social media now because new technologies are emerging daily. Hall informed us that youth market is dominating, so if you want to target a young audience, social marketing is the way to do it.
Because space is so changing and constantly adding something new, there is always a challenge finding people who really understand the space of pod casting and blogging. Public Relations firms are looking for people like us who are being exposed to and understand what is new in technology.
Clients:
American Airlines, Exxon Mobil, Coca Cola, Walt Disney, Mastercard, Hersheys, Susan G. Komen and Energizer.
Some Facts:
18-29 is the age group that is online the most
60 percent of Americans access broadband at home
72 percent of wireless Internet users check email on a typical day
Hall mentioned that the Internet is growing faster than other media networks and that Internet users are spending less time with traditional media. With that said, people are currently trying to figure out the best way to pod cast and the idea is still going forward. She warned us to make sure pod casts give an incentive to make people come back and want more because this is the only way it will work.
Hall finished her presentation with a tip for the class. She encouraged us to get engaged in the blogosphere within industry’s we are interested in and to start participating in their blogs within the company and people will notice and respect that.
Hall told the class that we were lucky because there are lots of different avenues we can work within social media now because new technologies are emerging daily. Hall informed us that youth market is dominating, so if you want to target a young audience, social marketing is the way to do it.
Because space is so changing and constantly adding something new, there is always a challenge finding people who really understand the space of pod casting and blogging. Public Relations firms are looking for people like us who are being exposed to and understand what is new in technology.
Clients:
American Airlines, Exxon Mobil, Coca Cola, Walt Disney, Mastercard, Hersheys, Susan G. Komen and Energizer.
Some Facts:
18-29 is the age group that is online the most
60 percent of Americans access broadband at home
72 percent of wireless Internet users check email on a typical day
Hall mentioned that the Internet is growing faster than other media networks and that Internet users are spending less time with traditional media. With that said, people are currently trying to figure out the best way to pod cast and the idea is still going forward. She warned us to make sure pod casts give an incentive to make people come back and want more because this is the only way it will work.
Hall finished her presentation with a tip for the class. She encouraged us to get engaged in the blogosphere within industry’s we are interested in and to start participating in their blogs within the company and people will notice and respect that.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Nordstrom.com's Successful Launch
Nordstrom, one of the nation’s largest upscale apparel and shoe retailers, hired Conners Communications to help launch Nordstrom.com summer of 1999. Nordstrom’s goal for launching Nordstrom.com was to capitalize on the brand and communicate with loyal, existing customers while gaining the interest of new, younger, hip customers by the internet. Customers had high expectations and quality with Nordstrom, but customer base had not grown for a couple years.
A second goal for Nordstrom was to capture a larger audience by successfully positioning Nordstrom as the leader in e-tailing. Creating buzz and excitement around key events such as the launch of Nordstrom.com was the plan for Conners Communications. Conners also formulated messages and a public relations plan that focused on the positive elements of Nordstrom history, for example, the company’s reputation of having incredible customer service.
In result, many top journals and magazines published positive feature articles on Nordstrom.com as well as multiple business publications and newspapers commenting on how Nordstrom.com was one of the most successful launches for an online retailer.
A second goal for Nordstrom was to capture a larger audience by successfully positioning Nordstrom as the leader in e-tailing. Creating buzz and excitement around key events such as the launch of Nordstrom.com was the plan for Conners Communications. Conners also formulated messages and a public relations plan that focused on the positive elements of Nordstrom history, for example, the company’s reputation of having incredible customer service.
In result, many top journals and magazines published positive feature articles on Nordstrom.com as well as multiple business publications and newspapers commenting on how Nordstrom.com was one of the most successful launches for an online retailer.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Blogvertising
Blogvertising, otherwise known as blog advertising, represents a potentially huge advertising market and is in fact part of the fastest growing alternative media industry. eMarketer reports a study that blog, podcast and RSS advertising rose by nearly 200 percent in 2005 and is expected to grow another 145 percent in one year to reach nearly $50 million. Blogvertising is growing because there is a perceived ineffectiveness of traditional advertising by the 18-34 year old demographic, the majority of targeted age groups, and blogs reach this younger demographic effectively.
It was recently estimated that podcast advertising will actually be a larger market than blogvertising by 2010. Podcasting, projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 154.4 percent, is predicted to reach a total of $327.0 million by 2010. These numbers are closely in line with eMarketer’s own visions, which put total spending on podcast advertising at a total of $300 million by 2010.
For businesses blogging, there might not be much, if any, interest in putting advertisements on their blogs. However, if you are a small business, you should consider using advertisements to earn a little extra cash because it is predicted to actually work. Most major advertising networks recognize that there are a lot of available blogs out there that have not been tapped by advertisers and that potential real estate blog advertising is going to be the challenge for the future.
http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=31&aid=101102
http://www.businessblogconsulting.com/category/blogvertising/
It was recently estimated that podcast advertising will actually be a larger market than blogvertising by 2010. Podcasting, projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 154.4 percent, is predicted to reach a total of $327.0 million by 2010. These numbers are closely in line with eMarketer’s own visions, which put total spending on podcast advertising at a total of $300 million by 2010.
For businesses blogging, there might not be much, if any, interest in putting advertisements on their blogs. However, if you are a small business, you should consider using advertisements to earn a little extra cash because it is predicted to actually work. Most major advertising networks recognize that there are a lot of available blogs out there that have not been tapped by advertisers and that potential real estate blog advertising is going to be the challenge for the future.
http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=31&aid=101102
http://www.businessblogconsulting.com/category/blogvertising/
Friday, March 2, 2007
Public Relations - Good or Bad?
Britney Spears recently provides her fans with yet another shock. Flaunting her private parts in public, modeling her poor parenting skills, her disappointing marriage to Kevin Federline, rehabilitation admissions, new tattoos and most recently her shaved head. All of which have given Britney maximum exposure to the media and her fans. Britney, as we all know has been on the cover of numerous magazines in the past couple of years, and not for the good she is doing with the community or even her music, but for the poor decisions she makes. You could ask most of the world what Britney did last week and would have an answer in two seconds, but if you asked those same people what is going on with the war, politics or medicine, blank stares is probably what you would receive. This proves that PR is good PR no matter what. Breaking news these days qualifies as all these things about Britney I listed above, when things that really matter in the world are being placed with less importance, for example war, politics and medicine.
We have all been taught in our communications classes that public relations is all about creating buzz. The definition of creating buzz is basically spreading news by word of mouth and obviously Britney has made that happen. You think this would be a disaster for Britney, but it actually gets people talking about her again even after her music “fell of the face of the earth.” Public Relations professionals would say Britney could possibly still have hope because people are interested in her life now and want to see what will happen in the future.
Check out the YouTube site to see Britney in action!
We have all been taught in our communications classes that public relations is all about creating buzz. The definition of creating buzz is basically spreading news by word of mouth and obviously Britney has made that happen. You think this would be a disaster for Britney, but it actually gets people talking about her again even after her music “fell of the face of the earth.” Public Relations professionals would say Britney could possibly still have hope because people are interested in her life now and want to see what will happen in the future.
Check out the YouTube site to see Britney in action!
Friday, February 23, 2007
Cancer Survivorship
Cancer is something that everyone fears and for those who have already been hit, long for recovery. Heal and Cure magazine have found the place in cancer patients lives to help them recover. In the up and coming blog supporting these magazines, the home page of the blog should have a welcoming tag line that draws in the audience. Knowing that cancer patients are aware of the magazines Heal and Cure, because my grandmother has been diagnosed and is currently being treated for breast cancer who reads Cure, the mission statement provides a credible statement cancer patients are aware of.
I believe it is important, being on the Relay For Life board at SMU, that people are aware of fundraiser events that are going on to support cancer research. A side bar would be great on the blogsite of Heal and Cure to have fundraiser information: money being raised, goals, entertainment, and how survivors and cancer victims could help and contribute by volunteering or being included in survivorship programs during the events. These women and men should have the opportunity to share their cancer story with the groups that strive to cure and research cancer. The American Cancer Society website, www.cancer.org, provides links to different fundraising events as well as survivorship ideas and facts as a way to be healthy.
Who wouldn’t enjoy a spa day? I am trying to put myself in the shoes of our audience, and personally would enjoy a “Spoil yourself” type of section including spas and group exercise facilities such as water aerobics and yoga information for those who are still weak from treatments to enjoy. After a long treatment process, every woman and man deserve a little bit of spoiling, why not a day at the spa. We could provide links to spas to encourage relaxation and allowing cancer patients and survivors that it is okay to spoil themselves.
Cancerfightingstrategies.com is a site that would be a great addition to the Heal and Cure blog as a way for patients and visitors to research ways in which they can aim at focusing on their life and making it cancer free. My grandmother, who I mentioned before, finds great encouragement in reading recommended strategies towards a cancer free life. I think it calms her mind and fills her heart with joy knowing that people out there are providing this type of information and finds it enjoyable to read.
“The Cancer Blog” provides great factual information on different types of cancer that could be worth posting as a sidebar on the blog. Although patients are bombarded with statistics of their illnesses, I still find importance of having this information available on the blog, especially for those who are family members to cancer patients who research for their loved ones.
Medicineworld.org
In working with the new Heal blog, I have researched some websites I think would be good to add to the site. Medicineworld.org gives advice for good herbs to take while going through chemotherapy and good herbs to take to prevent cancer. It suggests good behavior changes to adopt in the road to prevent cancer. The site provides information on chemotherapy treatments and the latest health news involving cancer as well as multiple links to cancer statistics and information sites.
The Cardio Blog
The Cardio blog is full of information on healthy tips for your heart. I think it is important to provide this type of information to those who link to cancer.
Texas Childrens Cancer Center
This site provides a link with information for parents of children with cancer. It includes information on different Children's hospitals and what they are doing as far as research, treatment and money raised for cancer.
Cancer Kids
Cancer Kids is my favorite children's cancer site I came across. It is appealing to children because they are able to read about other children's stories that link to cancer and their treatment. I believe it is important for children to realize that they aren't alone. The site includes tons of stories from children all over the country.
You can visit the sites at:
www.medicineworld.org
thecardioblog.com
www.txccc.org
cancerkids.com
cancerfightingstrategies.com
thecancerblog.com
I believe it is important, being on the Relay For Life board at SMU, that people are aware of fundraiser events that are going on to support cancer research. A side bar would be great on the blogsite of Heal and Cure to have fundraiser information: money being raised, goals, entertainment, and how survivors and cancer victims could help and contribute by volunteering or being included in survivorship programs during the events. These women and men should have the opportunity to share their cancer story with the groups that strive to cure and research cancer. The American Cancer Society website, www.cancer.org, provides links to different fundraising events as well as survivorship ideas and facts as a way to be healthy.
Who wouldn’t enjoy a spa day? I am trying to put myself in the shoes of our audience, and personally would enjoy a “Spoil yourself” type of section including spas and group exercise facilities such as water aerobics and yoga information for those who are still weak from treatments to enjoy. After a long treatment process, every woman and man deserve a little bit of spoiling, why not a day at the spa. We could provide links to spas to encourage relaxation and allowing cancer patients and survivors that it is okay to spoil themselves.
Cancerfightingstrategies.com is a site that would be a great addition to the Heal and Cure blog as a way for patients and visitors to research ways in which they can aim at focusing on their life and making it cancer free. My grandmother, who I mentioned before, finds great encouragement in reading recommended strategies towards a cancer free life. I think it calms her mind and fills her heart with joy knowing that people out there are providing this type of information and finds it enjoyable to read.
“The Cancer Blog” provides great factual information on different types of cancer that could be worth posting as a sidebar on the blog. Although patients are bombarded with statistics of their illnesses, I still find importance of having this information available on the blog, especially for those who are family members to cancer patients who research for their loved ones.
Medicineworld.org
In working with the new Heal blog, I have researched some websites I think would be good to add to the site. Medicineworld.org gives advice for good herbs to take while going through chemotherapy and good herbs to take to prevent cancer. It suggests good behavior changes to adopt in the road to prevent cancer. The site provides information on chemotherapy treatments and the latest health news involving cancer as well as multiple links to cancer statistics and information sites.
The Cardio Blog
The Cardio blog is full of information on healthy tips for your heart. I think it is important to provide this type of information to those who link to cancer.
Texas Childrens Cancer Center
This site provides a link with information for parents of children with cancer. It includes information on different Children's hospitals and what they are doing as far as research, treatment and money raised for cancer.
Cancer Kids
Cancer Kids is my favorite children's cancer site I came across. It is appealing to children because they are able to read about other children's stories that link to cancer and their treatment. I believe it is important for children to realize that they aren't alone. The site includes tons of stories from children all over the country.
You can visit the sites at:
www.medicineworld.org
thecardioblog.com
www.txccc.org
cancerkids.com
cancerfightingstrategies.com
thecancerblog.com
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Tips for PR Workers from Journalists!
As we all should know going into this profession, journalists and PR people share a love-hate relationship, but can't seem to do without each other. I have found some tips that I believe would shift this relationship between PR people and journalists to appreciate each other a little more. The following tips are from journalists giving advice to PR people, so we should probably all consider them!! Here are my favorites!!
1. If you call to make a pitch, make sure you keep the pitch to 10 seconds. If you haven't persuaded them to write the story in 10 seconds, you will never persuade them. We are talking about first impression here. If they aren't completely sure that your pitch will make a good story, you can forget about it.
2. Spell and pronounce their name right. I think we all understand why this is important. How many times has someone pronounced your name wrong, especially when they need a favor.
3. Don't ask for informaiton you can find on the website. We should probably all learn not to be lazy. Do your research and background checks before you ask something that is easily given to you.
4. Don't call them after 5 pm. Journalists know this is crunch time, but be respectable to them and call before 5.
5. Make the story easy for them to understand. If it is not easy for them to understand, they aren't going to work with you and try to understand what you are trying to tell them.
I got these tips from a couple websites... check them out!
http://www.valleywag.com/tech/flacks/dont-be-a-flack-tips-for-pr-workers-from-the-journalists-who-hate-them-200494.php
http://indiapr.blogspot.com/2006/09/what-journalists-hate-in-pr-people.html
http://www.businessblogconsulting.com/2006/03/pr-case-study-how-not-to-email-a-blogger.html
1. If you call to make a pitch, make sure you keep the pitch to 10 seconds. If you haven't persuaded them to write the story in 10 seconds, you will never persuade them. We are talking about first impression here. If they aren't completely sure that your pitch will make a good story, you can forget about it.
2. Spell and pronounce their name right. I think we all understand why this is important. How many times has someone pronounced your name wrong, especially when they need a favor.
3. Don't ask for informaiton you can find on the website. We should probably all learn not to be lazy. Do your research and background checks before you ask something that is easily given to you.
4. Don't call them after 5 pm. Journalists know this is crunch time, but be respectable to them and call before 5.
5. Make the story easy for them to understand. If it is not easy for them to understand, they aren't going to work with you and try to understand what you are trying to tell them.
I got these tips from a couple websites... check them out!
http://www.valleywag.com/tech/flacks/dont-be-a-flack-tips-for-pr-workers-from-the-journalists-who-hate-them-200494.php
http://indiapr.blogspot.com/2006/09/what-journalists-hate-in-pr-people.html
http://www.businessblogconsulting.com/2006/03/pr-case-study-how-not-to-email-a-blogger.html
Friday, February 9, 2007
Media Relations Tips
Having the right contacts and knowing how and when to deliver the right message is the key to getting results in the media relations industry.
What would be the strengths as a public relations professional if they moved to a new city and knew no journalists? The strengths the public relations professionals would have are communication, planning ability, understanding the media expectations in that area, and the industry. The challenge, then of course would be how fast they can adapt to the public relations scene in the new area and get acquainted with the local journalists. There is a known thought that says it is the relationship with the media that counts. If you know a journalist well enough, they will find a news angle just out of anything and do a story for you. Many media heads in public relations agencies will agree that it is because of their good bonding with journalists that have saved many public relations accounts at crisis situations. It is a good tip for public relations professionals to help their clients to build these strong relationships with journalists, invite them over to meet your client personally. It is an easy way to start a relationship with reporters by commenting on their blogs or sending them information that is not just a blatant pitch for you or your clients company. Become part of journalists’ network of sources. This comes into play with blogging. Remember that buyers, reporters and editors read blogs for story ideas and to understand market trends. Also, if the reporter has a blog, read it, comment on it, and track back to it.
Public relations agencies that have figured out the importance of relationships with the media agree that it pays off. Story angles work on good ideas and content, but good media relationships can give these story angles a push into becoming print items.
As many know, public relations professionals have been sending news releases and blind pitches to hundreds and thousands of journalists at a time without giving any thought to what each reporter actually covers. Sending large groups of journalists with public relations materials is not a good strategy to get reporters and editors to pay attention to you. In order to get your work in the hands of journalists and reporters, pay attention to what individual reporters write about by reading their stories and write specific and targeted pitches crafted especially for them. Before you pitch your stories, read the publication you’ll be pitching to.
I have found two lists dealing with international media relations I thought would be helpful to those students looking into public relations around the world!
Golden Rules:
1. Remember journalists have a demanding and often difficult job to do, so make their work easier.
2. Always return calls.
3. Be accurate, clear and concise.
4. Brief the press when any major event occurs within your company.
5. Listen to journalists and make your best efforts to comply with their requests.
6. Check announcements for clarity and cultural nuances; make sure to take different time zones into account.
7. Make management accessible.
8. Get to know the foreign press clubs.
9. Build personal relationships with foreign editors and correspondents.
Deadly Sins:
1. Unresponsiveness.
2. Trade jargon and slang.
3. Treating foreign journalists with disdain.
4. Treating foreign journalists as secondary citizens.
5. Assuming foreign journalists are hostile.
6. Bluffing, snowing, spinning.
www.prsa.org
www.businessfordiplomaticaction.org/files/fmrg_proof_20061108.pdf
http://indiapr.blogspot.com/2006/05/media-relations-content-or.html
www.gittinsgranado.com/communityrelations.html
Please comment your thoughts!!
What would be the strengths as a public relations professional if they moved to a new city and knew no journalists? The strengths the public relations professionals would have are communication, planning ability, understanding the media expectations in that area, and the industry. The challenge, then of course would be how fast they can adapt to the public relations scene in the new area and get acquainted with the local journalists. There is a known thought that says it is the relationship with the media that counts. If you know a journalist well enough, they will find a news angle just out of anything and do a story for you. Many media heads in public relations agencies will agree that it is because of their good bonding with journalists that have saved many public relations accounts at crisis situations. It is a good tip for public relations professionals to help their clients to build these strong relationships with journalists, invite them over to meet your client personally. It is an easy way to start a relationship with reporters by commenting on their blogs or sending them information that is not just a blatant pitch for you or your clients company. Become part of journalists’ network of sources. This comes into play with blogging. Remember that buyers, reporters and editors read blogs for story ideas and to understand market trends. Also, if the reporter has a blog, read it, comment on it, and track back to it.
Public relations agencies that have figured out the importance of relationships with the media agree that it pays off. Story angles work on good ideas and content, but good media relationships can give these story angles a push into becoming print items.
As many know, public relations professionals have been sending news releases and blind pitches to hundreds and thousands of journalists at a time without giving any thought to what each reporter actually covers. Sending large groups of journalists with public relations materials is not a good strategy to get reporters and editors to pay attention to you. In order to get your work in the hands of journalists and reporters, pay attention to what individual reporters write about by reading their stories and write specific and targeted pitches crafted especially for them. Before you pitch your stories, read the publication you’ll be pitching to.
I have found two lists dealing with international media relations I thought would be helpful to those students looking into public relations around the world!
Golden Rules:
1. Remember journalists have a demanding and often difficult job to do, so make their work easier.
2. Always return calls.
3. Be accurate, clear and concise.
4. Brief the press when any major event occurs within your company.
5. Listen to journalists and make your best efforts to comply with their requests.
6. Check announcements for clarity and cultural nuances; make sure to take different time zones into account.
7. Make management accessible.
8. Get to know the foreign press clubs.
9. Build personal relationships with foreign editors and correspondents.
Deadly Sins:
1. Unresponsiveness.
2. Trade jargon and slang.
3. Treating foreign journalists with disdain.
4. Treating foreign journalists as secondary citizens.
5. Assuming foreign journalists are hostile.
6. Bluffing, snowing, spinning.
www.prsa.org
www.businessfordiplomaticaction.org/files/fmrg_proof_20061108.pdf
http://indiapr.blogspot.com/2006/05/media-relations-content-or.html
www.gittinsgranado.com/communityrelations.html
Please comment your thoughts!!
Friday, February 2, 2007
Blogging: The New Trend
Blogs offer a unique channel for developing and maintaining relationships and communication between organizations and publics and allow you to put new information on the web frequently and efficiently. Corporations use blogs to connect with customers, put a face on their business, promote themselves, and therefore, customer loyalty is increased. Blogs have evolved from both online and offline modes of communication and have characteristics of both personal and professional communication. Basically, blogging is word of mouth opinions that can reach the entire world. Consumers are looking for authenticity, and blogs is where they can find that.
In my research through public relations blogs, I found credible information that suggests blogging is useful in the hotel industry. The Maine Innkeepers Association says that with a blog, there’s no waiting for someone to help with your website, and there is no need to pay money every time you want to add new information to the site. You just write as casually as you would talk to a guest. The Maine Innkeepers Association says that once a prospective customer has found your blog, they’ll see marketing messages and perhaps even links to where they can reserve a room directly from the blog. This makes it easy for the customer and gives the hotel an upper hand compared to it’s competitors. They are also allowed to see other interesting posts about activities nearby the hotel to make the customers stay even better. It gives the hotel industry the opportunity to share personal stories in their own voices. A human voice is created by making messages personal and developing relationships. This is the most cost effective way to promote the industry. Blogging has helped the industry and is proven by its statistics that 1.49 percent more rooms per day are sold in comparison to last year. The industry says that due to online technology, spending over a five year growth period of 53 billion dollars increased to 111 billion.
Owner of Marriott Hotels, Mr. Bill Marriott, says this is where the action is if you want to talk to your customers directly and believes strongly that blogs will be a huge communication tool in the 2008 presidential campaign. He says that blogging will allow the hotel to do what they’ve been doing for years, speak directly to the customers, only on a global scale and more efficient. “We are a company that is built on opportunity, and the foundation has made us successful,” says Marriott, “I believe in communicating with the customer, I’d rather engage directly in dialogue with you because that’s how we learn and grow as a company.” The hotel industry is now able to get feedback from their customers and have conversations with them about their experience.
Mr. Gratsch has strong intentions of expanding the use of RSS at Microsoft. He says before, you had to make an active attempt to visit sites to check and see if things have changed. With RSS, you don’t have to actively pursue that information, it’s delivered to you if changes have been made. Forrester’s Young said that RSS enablement is becoming popular for mainstream applications. For example, Spanning Partners’ Spanning Salesforce is a tool that lets Salesforce.com send out information about new leads and contacts to salespeople by an RSS reader.
An Indian restaurant in Minnesota used blogs to rally customer support when threatened with the loss of its lease. They were able to put the truth in what happened and had the opportunity for customers and the workers to share their stories with credibility. Clip-n-Seal is a small business that used blogs to market a device for resealing bags. In their case, customers could learn about the product in a way that cost nothing for the company.
The Pew Internet and American Life Project reported that blog readership had increased by 58 percent in 2004, claiming that blogs had established themselves as a key part of online culture. In Fortune’s 2005 issue, it was said that blogs are changing working practices in the areas of advertising, marketing and PR. The Harvard Business Review commented that blogs are the most conversational of all the forms of media, and marketers can’t afford to be left out of this new trend.
After companies took the opportunity to use the new technology trend, they realized that blogs provide a source where managers are able discuss new products with developers and put questions to answers for their customers. I think this new type of online technology will continue to grow as companies see the positive results it has given.
Check out more on these topics by viewing these links:
http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol11/issue2/kelleher.html
Maine Innkeepers Association
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2084409,00.asp
http://jeffreyhill.typepad.com/voiceblog/files/mbadissertation.pdf
http://www.blogs.marriott.com/default.asp?item=435095
www.businessblogconsulting.com
prblog.com
In my research through public relations blogs, I found credible information that suggests blogging is useful in the hotel industry. The Maine Innkeepers Association says that with a blog, there’s no waiting for someone to help with your website, and there is no need to pay money every time you want to add new information to the site. You just write as casually as you would talk to a guest. The Maine Innkeepers Association says that once a prospective customer has found your blog, they’ll see marketing messages and perhaps even links to where they can reserve a room directly from the blog. This makes it easy for the customer and gives the hotel an upper hand compared to it’s competitors. They are also allowed to see other interesting posts about activities nearby the hotel to make the customers stay even better. It gives the hotel industry the opportunity to share personal stories in their own voices. A human voice is created by making messages personal and developing relationships. This is the most cost effective way to promote the industry. Blogging has helped the industry and is proven by its statistics that 1.49 percent more rooms per day are sold in comparison to last year. The industry says that due to online technology, spending over a five year growth period of 53 billion dollars increased to 111 billion.
Owner of Marriott Hotels, Mr. Bill Marriott, says this is where the action is if you want to talk to your customers directly and believes strongly that blogs will be a huge communication tool in the 2008 presidential campaign. He says that blogging will allow the hotel to do what they’ve been doing for years, speak directly to the customers, only on a global scale and more efficient. “We are a company that is built on opportunity, and the foundation has made us successful,” says Marriott, “I believe in communicating with the customer, I’d rather engage directly in dialogue with you because that’s how we learn and grow as a company.” The hotel industry is now able to get feedback from their customers and have conversations with them about their experience.
Mr. Gratsch has strong intentions of expanding the use of RSS at Microsoft. He says before, you had to make an active attempt to visit sites to check and see if things have changed. With RSS, you don’t have to actively pursue that information, it’s delivered to you if changes have been made. Forrester’s Young said that RSS enablement is becoming popular for mainstream applications. For example, Spanning Partners’ Spanning Salesforce is a tool that lets Salesforce.com send out information about new leads and contacts to salespeople by an RSS reader.
An Indian restaurant in Minnesota used blogs to rally customer support when threatened with the loss of its lease. They were able to put the truth in what happened and had the opportunity for customers and the workers to share their stories with credibility. Clip-n-Seal is a small business that used blogs to market a device for resealing bags. In their case, customers could learn about the product in a way that cost nothing for the company.
The Pew Internet and American Life Project reported that blog readership had increased by 58 percent in 2004, claiming that blogs had established themselves as a key part of online culture. In Fortune’s 2005 issue, it was said that blogs are changing working practices in the areas of advertising, marketing and PR. The Harvard Business Review commented that blogs are the most conversational of all the forms of media, and marketers can’t afford to be left out of this new trend.
After companies took the opportunity to use the new technology trend, they realized that blogs provide a source where managers are able discuss new products with developers and put questions to answers for their customers. I think this new type of online technology will continue to grow as companies see the positive results it has given.
Check out more on these topics by viewing these links:
http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol11/issue2/kelleher.html
Maine Innkeepers Association
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2084409,00.asp
http://jeffreyhill.typepad.com/voiceblog/files/mbadissertation.pdf
http://www.blogs.marriott.com/default.asp?item=435095
www.businessblogconsulting.com
prblog.com
Monday, January 29, 2007
Creating Buzz at the Granger Community Church
The Granger Community Church, in February 2006, set out to create buzz. Their unique creating buzz technique was started by a billboard with a website given. The website was to promote an upcoming sermon series on “God’s design for sex.” Their biggest goal was to create buzz, and that it did with 6,000 visits to the website in the first week alone. Along with the website visits increasing, the church’s main website increased by 25 percent. The church began getting phone calls from local media to investigate the series. Granger’s strategy around creating buzz is “invest and invite,” where members are asked to invest in others’ lives and invite them to a series. To read more, visit the website!
http://www.pastors.com/article.asp?ArtID=9891
http://www.pastors.com/article.asp?ArtID=9891
Friday, January 26, 2007
Creating Buzz in Golf
Women’s golf is trying to become as popular as women’s tennis. How is this going to happen… create crazy promotions! The LPGA event is considering giving a sponsor’s exemption to a man. It would create buzz to have a famous male golfer to tee up with the women. What do you think?
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