Posts Tagged ‘ PR ’

You know you’re a PR professional when…

Are you constantly finding typos in magazines and newspapers without even seeking them? Have you ever created a mental media training report card for celebrities or politicians to judge how well they spoke in an interview? Do you triple proof every email you send out…and then proof it one more time before sending it? If you answered “yes” to any or all of these questions….you might be a public relations professional.

Last week, PRDaily.com published a story by PR practitioner Lauren Fernandez in which she listed 11 signs that indicate someone works in public relations. Check out the list below.

1. Your day starts and ends with a cup of coffee.

2. You can power-walk in 5-inch heels with your laptop bag while checking your BlackBerry.

3. Inside jokes with your colleagues will get you through the day—especially the insanely stressful ones.

4. You constantly engage in “PR is dead” and “the press release doesn’t have a place in business” arguments.

5. You are so used to putting the client first that you usually forget to eat lunch.

6. It’s detrimental to your health and workday when you forget your headphones.

7. You can toggle among a PowerPoint presentation, a press release, Twitter strategy, and PSA outlines—all in an hour.

8. You recite billing codes in your sleep.

9. You preface Happy Hour with: “Sorry, I need to keep my phone on the table. I have to be connected to email and phone just in case.”

10. You know more about AP style than Microsoft Office. Because of this, you’re a regular in the IT department.

11. You proudly put “PR pro” in your Twitter bio, knowing it’s the one place you don’t have to explain your job.

Well, does the shoe fit? If you are like me and answered “yes,” you’ll probably get a kick out this extended list created by PRDaily viewers who read last week’s blog. Feel free to add to it by leaving a comment below!

42 more signs you work in PR

2011
04/28
CATEGORY
communications
Marketing
PR 101
public relations
Social Media
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FREE useful online tools for PR Pros

In last week’s post, “Staying relevant and successful in the competitive public relations market,” I included a list of ten great public relations blogs I use on a regular basis.  In addition to those blogs, I would recommend quite a few additional resources to help public relations professional be more effective at their job.

  • iCyte: This is an online tool that allows you to take snapshots of your media clippings. iCyte stores your clippings in your online account where you can arrange them according to month, date, industry, etc.
  • Google Alerts: Okay, who doesn’t know about Google Alerts? Google Alerts are great because each alert you establish has the ability to bring up multiple mentions at a time. Just be sure to be specific in your search criteria. If you want your Google Alert to search for a specific phrase, put quotes around that phrase. Otherwise, you will get every instance on the Internet known to man where those words are used within a certain document or where that phrase is used within a sentence.
  • TwitterFeed: Got a blog? TwitterFeed lets you syndicate your content out to Twitter and Facebook. I personally use this tool to syndicate my blog posts!
  • Klout: How influential is your brand? Klout can answer that for you. Klout measures your level of influence among your followers and then labels you to put your level of influence in perspective.
  • TweetDeck: Another fave! Tweetdeck lets you monitor more than one account by using one source. You can post status updates or Tweets to LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter profiles. You can also monitor the conversation going on in the social space about your brand. Having multiple accounts up at one time will help you interact with your followers more and respond to them quicker.
  • Google Analytics: Google Analytics is a great analytics tool that gives you insight into your web site’s traffic and marketing efforts. It’s also rather easy to use. You don’t have to be an IT or tech guru to set it up.
  • HARO: Help a Reporter Out. HARO is another great resource for public relations people who are looking to land media coverage for their clients. Unlike ProfNet, a similar tool, HARO is free and available to anyone who subscribes. The one downfall that I found is that it is too general. If you cater to a specific audience, it might be difficult to find the fit for you.
  • PitchEngine: There are a lot of great press release distribution sites out there, but I think PitchEngine is one of the best. It is a great resource for creating a social media press release. The site delivers a social media release that has a clean look and is easy to read and understand.

Feel free to add to the list. I’m sure you all have plenty to contribute!

2011
01/31
CATEGORY
communications
PR 101
public relations
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Top 100 PR Websites and Resources of 2009

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Well, you know it’s the end of the year when the top 100 lists start coming out. Here is a list I would highly recommend reading. Liliana Dumitru-Steffens has put together a best in PR top 100 list. Today, she released her second batch. The first half was released yesterday. 

Looking for a potential employer. Check out her top 10 corporate PR sites!

PR Corporate Sites

  1. Waggener Edstrom – the second most powerful PR agency in the world (after Edelman), showcasing its image and expertise with a visually striking web presence. This is our top choice for the Studio D aspect of the site – simple, elegant and very refined. Since we reviewed the site, many things have changed for the better.
  2. Padilla Speer Beardsley is known for experienced, strategic counsel built on a research-based planning methodology, communicating for action. Now it will also be known for one of the best PR corporate websites in the world. We reviewed the site before and after the changes and we can tell you that this company is going places. Actually, we predict that in 2010 Padilla will be among the top 10 PR companies in the world. This year, in March, it occupied a honorable place 13 according to O’Dwyer PR.
  3. APCO Worldwide – redesigned in July 2009, reviewed by Everything PR soon after the re-launch. The new corporate site is better than the old version of the site, more modern, and like everything else, it needs continuous improvement. The web is a constantly evolving entity. Note that APCO is the third most powerful PR company in the world.
  4. Dan Klores – we gave them a PR Goofy award in February this year. Today we should give them an award for excellence. The new site is visually striking, perfect representation of a company that describes itself as ” being a smart, aggressive and inventive team with a wide range of public relations and marketing talent and experience serving a diverse array of clients.”
  5. Taylor – excellent usability, features, content and information. Nothing has changed since our review (some companies are unaware that they are being watched by the media, maybe they need some of the tools below?). Taylor is the “go to” lifestyle, sports and entertainment public relations agency.
  6. Alisson and Partners – also known as Allison PR – for many reasons a to site this year, our review is yet to come. A rather aggressive approach to PR, but this is what makes Allison a winner.
  7. Makovsky + Company Inc. – good aesthetics, although we did find a few things to criticize when we first reviewed the site. However Makovsky is trying hard to prove why it’s the 25th most profitable PR company in the world, and the site reflects the expertise.
  8. Ogilvy – nothing extraordinary, however the information needed by a potential customer is there, accessible, in plain view, and very relevant. Our in-depth review will follow.
  9. KCSA – another site we will be reviewing in-depth soon, visually striking through simplicity. KCSA is extremely skilled in brand marketing, and it shows. 29th at O’Dwyer.

For the complete list, click here.  A link to the first 50 PR resources can be found on that page as well.

2009
12/15
CATEGORY
PR 101
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PR 101…stay with me now…

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“If I were down to my last dollar, I’d spend it on public relations.”-Bill Gates

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his was the quote that resounded around the world…the world of public relations professionals, that is. If Microsoft mogul Bill Gates sees the value in our profession, shouldn’t all businesses who seek to emulate his success see the same?

Well, I wish I could tell you they did. Sadly, public relations is one of the most misunderstood assets to the work world. PR…it’s like marketing, right? No. Oh, well it’s just like advertising, isn’t it? No. You have to pitch, right? So, it must be like sales? Again, No.

There isn’t one cut and dry definition of public relations, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) sums it up pretty well with the following definition.

“Public relations helps an organization and its publics adapt mutually to each other.”

Although public relations has similarities to advertising, it is important to remember public relations does not generate media placement or control messages through paid placement. Results are delivered by developing mutually beneficial relations with an audience and engaging in an ongoing conversation that positions a company as a trusted resource. Here are some other things PR does:

  • Builds credibility
  • Engages and informs a brand’s audience
  • Manages brand reputation
  • Increases brand visibility
  • Generates brand awareness

You can usually find public relations professional in an agency or in-house environment. Most PR pros will advise any new pro to get their start in an agency. The agency atmosphere is very fast-paced. If you can handle strict deadlines and don’t mind juggling a few clients, then that might be the route for you. Interested in working for one specific company? Perhaps you should stick to in-house. I did.

Now that you have a basic understanding of the profession, how do you get involved? Students should contact their journalism school/department to see what resources are available. The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) is a great place to start! The purpose of PRSSA is “…to cultivate a favorable and mutually advantageous relationship between students and professional public relations practitioners.” The organization gives students the opportunity to enhance their knowledge on public relations and serve the profession by developing qualified and well-developed public relations professionals.

Out of school or changing your career patch to public relations? It’s never too late to join your local chapter of PRSA. PRSA gives professionals the opportunity to network, stay on top of industry trends and accelerate their career.

So, if you are a new professional—welcome. This was your 101 course, so I hope you took good notes! If not, never fear! I’ve included links to a variety of sources that should help you on your journey. Enjoy!

Public Relations Links

2009
12/01
CATEGORY
PR 101
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