When a weather disaster like Hurricane Sandy strikes, our first thoughts are for safety. Priorities then shift to getting back to business. But how? We are, quite literally, powerless. A physical office may not be critical in the digital age, but electricity, server access, water, and light are pretty important. Day 0: Storm warnings. We’ve had plenty of…
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For every pitch that’s exciting and enjoyable, there’s one that’s a horror story. For every media contact who’s an angel, there’s one who’s dark and intimidating. For every colleague or supervisor who nurtures, there is one who tortures. As Halloween approaches, here are a few favorite examples of ways we have been delighted by “treats”…
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Behind every great company is a great social media plan. I’m being slightly facetious, but there’s no denying the importance of a strong digital, as well as traditional, PR strategy. The two are complementary, and for first-time PR clients, there are definitely some must-have elements we recommend when implementing a new social media plan. Twitter-…
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by guest blogger George Drucker From a communications and presentation point of view, without getting political and commenting on the content or quality of each candidate’s responses, there’s a lot to be learned here. The style disparity between the candidates and the difference in outcomes provide food for thought. Based on what we have seen…
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One of the best ways to establish a client as a leader in his industry is by drafting an article (“bylined” by your client) on a particular area of expertise and working with a key trade publication or website to get it published. Often these byline articles work best as collaborative efforts between a writer…
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There’s no better way to wind down after a long week than to catch up on some reading – blog reading. Sure, I love a great magazine or newspaper, but blogs provide just enough content to keep me interested and they also help me with my job in Public Relations. Blogs have become a go-to…
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A PR team getting ready for a trade show can be like athletes prepping for the big game. There’s a game plan to follow, other teams to beat, fans to impress, and, most of all, a drive to score and score big. Conferences and shows are always a good opportunity for companies to meet with…
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Does your office have quirks? These are not to be confused with “perks” of the job, e.g., weekly cupcakes or summer Fridays. No, I recently asked friends and colleagues to help me come up with some unusual – yet positive- aspects that make their office unique — the “quirks” of your job. Ideally, these things…
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By guest blogger George Drucker No, it wasn’t a touchdown. And the lack of professionalism among the “replacement” referees caused one of the greatest uproars in the history of sports. It could have led to a major crisis in public confidence for the NFL. Professionalism can never be taken for granted. It applies to referees…
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Some of the most complicated and thoughtful decisions a PR agency head must make involve staffing a new or transitioning account. There is truly an element of matchmaking involved to ensure the personalities mesh well and the relationship is productive. Sometimes, missteps occur and a strategic course correction is in order, but here are a…
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A new CareerBuilder study reveals which careers are most well-suited for introverts and extroverts. While extroverts tend to be enthusiastic, talkative, assertive and gregarious, introverts are more likely to be reserved and less outspoken in groups. While these characteristics shouldn’t be the sole factors in job selection, the information could be useful in mapping out…
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The popular expression “half the sky” refers to the female half of the population and its equal share of responsibility in the world. And this has never been truer than today as Marissa Meyer takes over Yahoo and Hillary Clinton continues to navigate difficult diplomatic waters. But I have to ask myself, why, amid the…
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We’re sometimes asked to participate in naming blogs, products, or even brands. I usually begin by thinking about some well-known media and corporate entities with truly standout names (good or bad) and wondering how they were chosen… Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me Along with several other memorable and cleverly named NPR properties (“Here’s the Thing,”…
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As a PR agency person, it seems like you’re always plugged in: every device must be wifi-enabled, emails come at all hours of the day and smartphones are almost a necessity! Technology can make our lives easy and convenient, but you need to be smart! Here are 8 smart tech tips for the fall: Make…
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By guest blogger Bobbie Federman Horne In recognition of Grandparent’s Day this Sunday, we asked the owner of Hearing Tech, a business with a decidedly senior customer base, to give us some basics for marketing to this audience. Older Americans have unique buying power, as well as very specific habits. Yet their needs relative to…
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Currently 5.9 million people work from home. While 37% of people feel more productive working in an office and 50% of bosses still oppose working from home, more and more people are expected to do so in coming years. How can telecommuters best convince employers that they are working not shirking from home? Here are…
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by guest blogger Sodelba Alfaro It’s been fashionable of late to bash Facebook, but here are the facts. Nearly half of 18-34 year olds check Facebook as soon as they wake up. Those are huge numbers, and brands are taking advantage of this by launching promotional campaigns on the social network. With a Facebook contest,…
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Let me start by saying my “PR mindset” only wishes it had come up with the annual Beloit Mindset List – a media goldmine up there with the best of hotly anticipated yearly polls, surveys, and indices. The Beloit List looks at pop culture, politics and technology as experienced by the incoming freshman class each…
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by guest blogger Lauren Silverman September 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…
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Guest post by George Drucker, President, West Coast As communication practitioners, we often talk about the importance of goal-setting, expectations management, and risk management. A large part of our success can come down to making sure clients understand what should reasonably be expected if everything goes right, but also knowing what could go wrong. By…
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With the year more than half over, we couldn’t help but cringe over some badly handled company communications. So please join us in reflecting on these “PR don’ts” and giving thanks that they weren’t committed by YOU or your clients! Starbucks Ireland tweets about Britain Five years ago no one would have thought a 140-character…
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It just works differently for different people! For example, I could never leave the office for a few days with an outgoing email that says! “I will be away from the office with little access to email, so I will get back to you on August 30.” That message actually fills me with anxiety! So,…
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by guest blogger sodelba alfaro So You Want to Work in Luxury Goods PR Although it would seem counter-intuitive, now is actually a good time to be handling PR for a luxury brand. Fueled by increasing demand in China, luxury goods makers are resisting the global economic slowdown and gaining large profits with the sales…
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Right now, we’re waiting to hear whether we have won some new clients pitched in competitive presentations over the last 90 days. Granted, we may not win them all, but whatever the outcome, I am proud of our efforts and have decided to dissect the reasons why I feel so confident. These are my personal…
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by guest blogger Lauren Silverman In PR, tangible experience is just as important as classroom experience (if not more). Real-world opportunities build skills and provide an integral part of any career path. It is important to know at the outset that internships are a two-way street and it’s the intern’s responsibility to maximize the experience….
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Last summer on a bike trip through Montreal, my Blackberry was accidentally drenched in sunscreen. The little keypad just oozed off and you could see oil inside the screen. It was messy and sad and caused me to sweat and hyperventilate at the thought of how long I might be without a phone. Now that…
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by guest blogger Kerry Healy From the film “Broadcast News” to the current “Newsroom” on HBO, we’ve seen dramatic depictions of chaotic workplaces coping with crises. PR agencies often deal with the dreaded client “crisis situation” and just like in those fictional examples, when it happens, it’s all hands on deck. An office intern can truly…
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by guest blogger Claire Shriver Celebrity gossip, daily news, pictures of your friends—Twitter has it all. As a college student and PR intern who enjoys reading and writing in 140 characters or less, I’ve found Twitter to be the ideal location for new and (for the most part) accurate information when I want it, where…
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by guest blogger Lauren Silverman In PR, it’s not uncommon to wear a few hats over the course of the day; one minute you’re a writer, the next an event organizer, and you’re always a juggler. Balancing work for multiple clients and managers requires not only the right organizational skills, but good communication with higher-ups….
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by Guest Blogger George Drucker I received an email this morning from a casual business contact that got me thinking about a lesson I learned many moons ago from a very senior public relations agency professional. It has stuck with me through the years. The business contact’s email commented on a recent political development and…
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