Marijane Funess
August 20, 2012 | 06:16:59
by guest blogger Lauren Silverman
S
eptember is nearly here, and that means one thing: Back to School! Even if you haven’t set foot in a classroom in years, there are always new PR tools and skills to master. Here are some of my favorites.
Refresh your writing – Strong, succinct writing makes both pitches and programs more persuasive. Make sure to review AP Style rules periodically as they change every year. Also, check out websites like PR Daily for tips on eliminating jargon, clichés, and commonly misused words.
Assess your performance – This time of year is always somewhat of a fresh start and offers useful timing for an annual review if possible. The feedback should be used for goal setting!
Reorganize and restock – There may come a time when you unexpectedly need certain office supplies and they are nowhere to be found. Take office inventory and use the timely sales and coupons as an excuse to stock up!
Learn a new skill – PR requires constant learning, and now’s a good time to reassess what skills you have and what you want to learn. Whether it’s a new language or a new blogging platform, pick something and become a whiz.
Renew your subscriptions – Take the opportunity to discover new blogs and websites and unsubscribe from outlets you don’t actually check. This can apply to Twitter as well! Make sure you’re following current thought leaders and public figures!
Look back and forth – Take stock of the past six months and see what patterns or work habits emerged – keep the positive ones and purge the rest.
It seems like class is never out of session for PR pros! How else do you keep learning about the industry? Do you have any new tools to recommend? Feel free to respond in the comments.