Edit Facebook Links With Ease

Posted on 01. May, 2012 by

Who knew? As I was updating PMG’s Facebook page today, I realized that you can now edit the headline and the description that appears when you post a link to your wall. Apparently you could do this as of last year – but somehow I have overlooked this feature.

By clicking on the title of the link, you can easily edit:

The same is true for the body:

The only caveat is that you need to edit BEFORE you post the link. Once you press “post”, the link can not be edited.

Wunderful Wunderlist

Posted on 16. Apr, 2012 by

Nope, that is not a typo. All of PMG is now using a free app called Wunderlist.

Alicia was the first to use Wunderlist. As PMG’s most organized member, she mentioned wanting to keep track of her own to-dos and that of the teams she collaborates on using a tool that can be done from her desktop and her mobile. She found it.

Wunderlist allows you to share and co-own lists, which makes working on accounts with other members of our team a breeze. The parts of it that I really love:

  • You can share your two do list with another person or multiple people
  • It is easy to enter items/to-dos
  • It syncs between devices
  • You can have multiple lists going in one place (I used to have a notebook FULL of lists – to dos were easily forgotten)
  • It reminds you when you have overdue items on your list
  • It sends you push notifications (if you want) when something is due today
  • You can sort your lists and group them in a number of ways (what’s due today/tomorrow/next week, what a list has on it, etc.)
  • People don’t have to have an iPhone to use it – ANYONE can use it from a desktop or an Android phone as well.

If you are looking for a way to streamline your task management for yourself or your group, this is it.

I have to run and go check off my Wunderlist now…

 

 

Media Training 101

Posted on 09. Feb, 2012 by

Being on TV or radio – or now even on a live stream can be intimidating even for the most polished and poised CEO. Media training is not something they teach you in business school – and rarely is it taught to undergrads who are majoring in public relations. Yet, formal (or even very basic) media training is something that anyone who will be spending time with reporters should have.

I seem to be doing this a lot lately – which is good. Mostly our media training includes consults with non profits, refreshers for executives who have been in the public eye for years, and grooming new spokespeople for clients. Regardless of who we are training and what the situation is, there are some key points that remain the same:

  • Before you are interviewed (if this is a pre scheduled interview), know the outlet and the reporters most recent work. If this is a TV interview, watch the show a few times. Familiarize yourself with the format and the reporters. This will make you feel more at ease on camera, and with the journalist.
  • From the time you arrive on location for the interview to the time you get back in your car you should be on your game. Nothing is “off of the record”.
  • Do not speak in industry jargon. Pretend that the audience has no idea what you are talking about – and explain yourself well.
  • Dress your part. Be sure that you are putting your best foot forward and look your best. (This seems obvious, but I have had to run out and buy an entire outfit for a client before going on national tv because he showed up at the station immediately following a day on the golf course.)
  • Talk for goodness sake! So many people become quiet once the cameras turn on. Look at the reporter, not the camera – this should put you more at ease. Forget the camera exists and have a dialog with the reporter.
  • Be mindful of their time and not going on and on… and on. Most segments are just a few minutes. This time passes quickly. Prepare a few bullet points (or talking points) before you go to the interview so you have an idea of what you want to talk about. It is fine to share these with the producer or reporter in advance of your interview.

Trade Show 101 for Flacks

Posted on 08. Jul, 2011 by

I have worked at trade shows from the very start of my career. It’s one of the functions of public relations: represent your client to the trade and consumer media at trade shows. With a busy summer and early fall chuck full of industry shows for our clients, I thought I would share some best practices and tips that I have learned along the way.

Best Practices

  1. Obtain a list of pre-registered press before the show. If one is not available, ask for the previous year’s press list. Reach out to each journalist (including bloggers) who would potentially cover your client/product/company. Yes, this takes research (read: time), but it is well worth it as you will not be pitching off topic.
  2. Prepare press kits before the show. Upload the press kit to the virtual press room. BRING COPIES OF THE KIT WITH YOU. By this I mean, one paper copy, and multiple copies of the kit in some other form. We prefer to use USBs/thumb-drives which bear the client’s logo. In an ideal world I like to affix the USB onto a postcard that outlines what is on the drive.
  3. When you attend the show, make yourself useful. In some cases, the client or sales team do not want you to be in the booth except for when you have press appointments. If that is the case, then recognize that this is their time to sell. If you are welcome to stay and spend time there – STAY! This helps you to understand how the products are sold, get to know key players on the team better, understand what the buyers are looking for, and perhaps drive some of the social media while there. Above all, keep your ears open – I guarantee that you will get some new pitch angles from your time spent. (Note: it amazes me how many firms go to shows and have associates wander aisles and not work in the booth. In my opinion this is money poorly spent by the client who probably is paying all of the flack’s expenses – this is valuable learning, bonding and extra set of hands time!)
  4. Attend any and all informal networking events as possible. This is not only a great way to expand your own network, but because of social media, many of these events have bloggers and journalists in attendance. I have been able to forge a few relationships at some of these – and now these journalists call me when they have an industry related question as they know I have a few clients who can give them help.
  5. Do not ambush the press. Press people at trade shows are the belles of the ball in a pr person’s eyes. It is easy to be overly enthusiastic when you see them come strolling down the aisle. That said, don’t stalk the press room or pull them into the booth unwillingly. Act like a normal human. (Yes, this seems like very basic information – but I have seen some flacks look even crazier than we already are! It needed to be said.)
  6. Be helpful to the show staff. Let the head of communications for the show know that you or your client would love to be useful in any way possible. Often these people need to find exhibitors to come to the show an an ungodly early hour for local tv, they need exhibitors to be able to do on camera interviews in the booth (which would disrupt selling time), and/or they have pre or post show press opportunities. Again, this seems obvious – but let them know that you are here to help and would be super appreciative of any press leads they could throw your way… in some cases this makes BOTH of your jobs easier!

Tips

  • Pack an empty water bottle in your suitcase. Fill it at the water stations at the trade show. This way, you will not have to purchase water and you will have some at your booth.
  • Bring two pair of shoes to the show each day. Switch your shoes mid day to give your feet a break.
  • Install the app “Bump” on your iphone. Now you can exchange contact information with ease.
  • Pack more business cards than you think you’ll need… having to have cards FedExed to you is never fun.
  • Eat a healthy breakfast like fruit and oatmeal. I know the hotel breakfast of Eggs Benedict looks good – but trust me on this, a whole food breakfast will carry you further and give you more pep!
  • Do not consume too much alcohol in the evenings. This is tough to do at most events where there seems to be endless bottles of wine and entertaining – but pace yourself and for every glass you drink, drink a glass of water. Part two of this tip – is do not be the one to close down the bar, you will regret this the next morning!

What are some of your tips and best practices for trade shows?

Want to know what shows PMGers are at this summer, check our Twitter account for the latest, but the short list includes: The Summer Fancy Food Show, Summer Market Outdoor Retailer Show, and the Natural Foods and Products Expo East.

PR Bag of Tricks: Formulists

Posted on 21. Jan, 2011 by

Lists. I talk about them a lot. I am a list maker for the most part. In fact, I find list making kind of therapeutic.

The one exception: Twitter.

On Twitter, I have made lists. I have updated my lists. I have deleted lists. I have begun again. To what end, sometimes I have no idea. That is, until now. I stumbled across this site… a list making site that self updates. Brilliant!!

If you Tweet and have not seen or tried out Formulists, I highly encourage you to do so. I have made a few lists, and not all are public – but to give you a couple of examples there are Vermonters I Follow and Flacks Like Me. You can get all social-stalkerish and build lists of those who have un followed you, you can find people to follow… there are so many filtering options, you could make lists for hours!

Formulists is in Beta right now, so there are a limited number of invites. You can get access at the bottom of the home page for a limited time. If that does not work, I have five invites. DM me or leave a comment and I am happy to send you one, as long as I have some left!

PR Bag of Tricks: Pearltrees

Posted on 05. Nov, 2010 by

Each week we will highlight one tool from our PR bag of tricks. This could range from “old school” books or gadgets to a social media tool or client… and anything in between. Feel free to give your feedback on each tool/trick and tell us about yours.

This tip is from the newest PMGer, Kristena Morse.

What is one tool, app, website, etc. that you love at the moment?
Pearltrees has been a favorite of mine for the past several months. I’m someone who is always looking for new, simple ways to keep things organized, and this tool makes organizing my favorite web content so easy.

Why?
It’s easy to use, and a great way visual way to keep things organized.

How do you use it?
I installed pearltrees extensions on my web browsers (I use Firefox and Chrome), and pearl my favorite blog posts, websites, etc as I find them. Pearltrees lets me organize the information however I want to and to easily refer back to it. I’m also able to find interesting content from other users using the search functionality of the site.

If you’re a long time delicious user (like I was), pearltrees also makes it really easy to import all of your delicious bookmarks, allowing to you keep everything in one place.

PR Bag of Tricks: Vlingo

Posted on 27. Oct, 2010 by

Each week we will highlight one tool from our PR bag of tricks. This could range from “old school” books or gadgets to a social media tool or client… and anything in between. Feel free to give your feedback on each tool/trick and tell us about yours.

What is one tool, app, website, etc. that you love at the moment? Without a doubt, Vlingo has changed my life. I’m not joking. HUGE props to PMGer, Tom Kupfer, who brought this app to my attention. For living at a million miles an hour, like MANY flacks – this is the perfect tool!

Why? I have been a Palm user for MANY years and recently switched to the HTC EVO. Poof!! No more handy keyboard (or little mirror on the back of my Pre – which I would have said is the best thing – so handy for reapplication of lip gloss ;) – and I now have to type on the screen, which is no easy feat! Vlingo is an app for your smartphone that is voice recognition software that translates your voice into text. It follows directions and is super say to use. For example, I say: “Text Ken Liatsos. Message Don’t forget to do billing.” This is converted to a sms text on my phone and assigned to the proper contact in my address book. It then appears on the screen for me to approve and press send. For life on the go – in cars, running through airports, walking in town, etc. – this makes outbound communication really easy.

But wait! There’s more! Vlingo also reads me all of my inbound text communications – including text messages, emails tweets and Facebook posts. This is invaluable when driving – eyes stay on the road, hands stay on the wheel and you don’t miss a beat!

How do you use it? I use it in my car with my Bluetooth. I have been known to use it when I do not want to have to fight with the screen-based keyboard. It is amazingly accurate, though you do have to speak slowly which can be a challenge for me.

PR Bag of Tricks: AP Style Guide

Posted on 05. Oct, 2010 by

Each week we will highlight one tool from our PR bag of tricks. This could range from “old school” books or gadgets to a social media tool or client… and anything in between.  Feel free to give your feedback on each tool/trick and tell us about yours.

PMGer Elizabeth Hagwood’s Pick:

What is one tool, app, website, etc. that you love at the moment? Since I’m considered the “Grammar Nazi” around these parts, I’d have to go with my AP Style Guide.  I’d consider it more a love/hate relationship though; other things may come and go, but this book has been in my life since high school journalism.

Why? If there’s ever a debate about proper spellings, usage or punctuation, this book settles all :) .  Their’s nothing worse than words used incorrectly.  (Get it? Catch it? Petpeeve.)

How do you use it? Anytime I’m editing something or if there is ever a question about the proper usage or spelling of a word.

Jump on in!

Posted on 22. Dec, 2008 by

I came across this post on VizEdu, it is another great example of how social media works. 

These posts continue to serve as a reminder to me that social media is not something that we can control. When speaking with clients and potential clients, the questions most asked are:

  1. how quickly can we get this going? 
  2. what happens if the conversation goes in a way we would prefer it not to go?

How fast you can get your social media campaigns going will depend on how much time you have to spend signing up for accounts, “friending” or following the right people, and monitoring your brand to identify opportunities to interact. This is not something that happens overnight, though relatively speaking, your company’s foray into social media can be quick.

Well, friends, if you are going to embrace social media, you have to be ok with giving up control. Part of the viral aspect of the campaigns that you do is how you interact with your customers and how they influence others about your brand. Sure, you may have some not so wonderful things said about your company – but how you address those comments will go along way with the public.

Here are three quick suggestions for those wanting to dip a toe into the social media waters before fully committing:

  • Start small and build. It is ok to implement one or two social media tactics and master how those work before jumping into the rest.
  • Join a community that has an active dialogue about social media. This is often the best way to learn on the fly.
  • Understand what you are using. So often clients want a Facebook business page or a corporate Twitter account, but they do not use the services themselves, so they do not understand what they are looking at and how these sites work. It is valuable to understand that your blog and your micr blog can work together – you don’t have to know how if you have somebody doing this for you – but you should at the very least know what you are looking at.

The social media water is warm, come on in!

Nicole

"Teeny-Boppers" Take Over the World!

Posted on 18. Nov, 2008 by

The election of 2008 will never be forgotten.  And in Grafton County, New Hampshire, that day will be remembered as the day campaigning changed forever.

Vanessa Sievers, a twenty year-old, Dartmouth college student from Montana won the county treasurer position against incumbent Carol Elliott, which was a major upset.  How’d she do that? Easily.

Ms. Sievers used the power of social marketing to campaign, marketing herself to her own generation – who were already headed to the polls in record numbers to cast their vote for the 44th US President. She placed an ad on Facebook for $51 targeting students at Plymouth State and Dartmouth Colleges.  This gave her the 500-vote lead over Ms. Elliot.

Unfortunately, Ms. Elliot chose to take the low road of name calling and coming off as a sore loser. From calling college students not “real people” to calling Ms. Sievers a “teeny-bopper”, you can read all about it here and here. And even the big dogs wrote about it here.

Use of social marketing was key in the national races, but it was not used as prominently in the local races. This is one stone that was left unturned by most local candidates, which is too bad as the cost of a viral marketing campaign on a small scale can cost a candidate little to no money and can be extremely targeted.

I looked back at my state elections.  Vermont being a small state, I figured it would be relatively easy to track what had been done.  All of our candidates for governor had Facebook fan pages.

And that was about it.

Humph.

If every vote counts and most of Gen Y is not reading the paper (which is a shame – Just ask Andy Rooney!), wouldn’t it make sense to use social media and marketing tools to target these voters? They are/were going to the polls anyway.

Hopefully those seeking office on a local level all the way up to a national office will do a better job of marketing themselves and where they stand on issues so that they can get their messages across to all voters. And if you are one of those candidates and you need a few tips – give my office a call… we’d be happy to walk you through a few simple tips or let you know when we are holding our next seminar (shameless plug, I know.).

Nicole