The ways to interact with the media have grown exponentially in the past years. My media contacts get my e-mails, retweets, @ replies, connection on LinkedIn and Facebook fan status. Every time they write a story, I want them to think about my client and how I can help them.
But even though PR professionals and the media have a symbiotic relationship, I never forget that my media contacts have a plethora of options when deciding what news to cover and who to interview for a story. I always appreciate any media attention and a AlexandraMBH: @myfavereporter Thanks for interviewing my client! just doesn't seem to show it enough.
You know what goes a long way? Put a pen to a thank you note! Remember ink? Remember stamps? Interacting online is easy, but imagine if a reporter thinks about you even after they turn off their computer. Writing a thank you note isn't hard, but it is thoughtful. It does make you (and your client!) stand out.
Bringing this to a more granular level, just remembering that reporters have stressful and deadline driven lives is critical to media relations. Say please, thank you and be respectful of their time. They might not send a thank you note, but they will certainly appreciate it.
Tags: Media Relations
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It's not a kind market for young grads looking for entry-level positions, but jobs are definitely out there. In fact, North Carolina has added over 45,000 jobs since January. The following are some tips for individuals seeking employment, specifically in the PR world...
1. Intern - Internships are a fantastic opportunity to find out how PR works in the real world while also building your resume and portfolio. Aside from the crucial experience an internship offers, they also provide connections that often lead to jobs. If you're really fortunate, your internship will turn into a job.
2. Keep up-to-date - Find a job posting from last week? You're probably too late. Jobs go quickly in this competitive market, so utilize technology to stay current. Set up alerts from popular job sites such as Monster and Google alerts for your desired position. Some companies post on Craig's List and even on social media sites such as Twitter, so check these daily.
3. Stay connected - Your former classmates and internships supervisors have the in on jobs at their company, so reach out to these people on a regular basis. They may let you know about an internship or job opening before it is even posted.
4. Edit, proofread, repeat - Before you hit submit on that application, read it over one more time. Trust me; there is nothing worse than receiving an otherwise strong application that is wrought with typos and misspellings. Not only does it make the reviewer question your seriousness in applying, it also makes them wonder if you would exhibit this kind of behavior on the job.
5. Don't be shy! - Companies want to hire employees that are hard working, intelligent and, most importantly, passionate. If there's a company you've always dreamed of working at, tell them! And don't forget to be specific about why the company impresses you. While you're at it, voice your interest for any current or future opportunities at the company. Not only will they be flattered, your initiative will make you stand out from a sea of applicants.
To stay current on PR happenings and Largemouth news, follow us on Twitter @largemouthpr. And for more information on Largemouth's internship program, click here.
Tags: public relations
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Facebook is at the forefront of discussion about social media. Clients want pages, fans, wall posts, etc. But how do you distinguish between the noise and real results on your fan page?
I just read an article in PR News about enabling fan engagement on Facebook. That means that your client's fans are not just a growing number, they're interacting with your page. In PR, we know results don't necessarily rest in having a lot of people looking; it's about the right people interacting.
What Facebook features might you be missing out on?
- Facebook Connect - You've probably noticed on various websites that there's a Facebook symbol and the option to "like" articles or blog posts. This is just one example of Facebook Connect, an option where users can interact on third party websites and applications using their Facebook identity. This way, their interaction on other websites is posted to their Facebook profile. This is a great way to encourage your fans to visit your website and drive website content back to Facebook.
- Event Posting - One of our clients is a restaurant that features live music. This is a great opportunity to create an event on your page. Using this feature, not only can you post the event to your page wall, you can invite fans of the page and your personal friends to attend the event.
- Note the importance of notes - Is your news too long to fit into a single post? Whether you have a B2B client who you'd like to post an article about or a B2C client whose new product you'd like to describe, notes are great places for more in-depth information. A brief description of your note will be posted on your wall with a link to the note itself.
- Don't forget to react as well! - Facebook is a great way to get your audience to interact, but don't forget to react to them as well. Let your wall be a place where you answer questions and comment on posts. Your audience members will be excited to directly interact with you.
Tags: social media
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I follow my favorite stores on Twitter for alerts about
sales and find out nightly restaurant drink specials through Facebook. Truly,
social media is at the forefront of B2C PR. But don’t forget that social media
has an increasingly important role in B2B as well. What should you and your B2B
client know about social media?
- Everyone is doing it. Someone once
decided that social media is irrelevant to B2B communications. Ignore
them! Have you checked out the people you might know on Facebook recently?
My tab includes my parents, their pastor and my best friend’s grandmother.
Everyone is using social media! Your task is to find people who are active
and important in your client’s industry. Once you find them, use social
media as another platform to establish yourself as a thought leader and
interact with key decision makers.
- Research is critical to success. Although social media is a great communication channel, your client might need some convincing. For example, pharmaceutical companies are weary that utilizing social media will result in public adverse event reports and consequentially, lawsuits. You will have to show your pharma client how Johnson & Johnson has a Facebook page and Novartis tweeted from the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual meeting.
- Roll out the numbers too. According to a recent article in PR News, the biggest obstacle to implementing B2B social media is lack of executive buy-in. Use facts and figures to show them the difference social media is making. We send out monthly social media reports to a few of our clients that detail their increased number of followers on Twitter and fans on Facebook. Tweeting from Hootsuite allows us to also show clients the number of people clicking through to their website from Twitter.
- Master the style. Social media is
not your ideal platform for posting in-depth case studies and detailed
press releases. The content must be fresh, concise and, as always,
relevant! At Largemouth, we tweet about new blog posts and
industry-related news. The point is to draw people towards your website
using social media. If you can do this, you’ll have a (Facebook) fan for
life.
Tags: B2B | social media
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But are students shying away from journalism because of what they read in newspapers? Take, for example, the disheartening situation at North Carolina State University's newspaper, The Technician. The 90-year-old student newspaper was on the verge of shutting down in March because of a struggle to find new editors. But without The Technician, how would students keep up with campus elections, Wolfpack sports news and campus events?
However, had The Technician closed its doors, it would certainly be following a national trend of newspaper closings and restructurings. A solid example of this is the Seattle Post Intelligencer, the largest newspaper to go entirely online. Hearst put the Seattle P-I up for sale in January, but no one was interested. On March 17, the newspaper rolled off the press for the last time. The editorial staff was reduced to 20 news gatherers and Web producers.
Glenn Ericksen, a P-I copy editor for nearly 25 years, said that he believes the Web "lowers the standard of literacy all around. Who needs copy editors on the Web?"
The state of journalism is changing, that's undeniable. The public still wants news, but they want it to be fast, concise and oftentimes, free. This gives up-and-coming journalists a bigger challenge and a greater opportunity than ever before.
My feature writing professor, a former journalist, warned the members of our class that if we pursued journalism, we would be tasked with the responsibilities of a writer, photographer and editor. However, the internet and social media outlets also offer journalists new ways to disseminate news and interact with the public. Today's journalists have the opportunity to help decide the fate of the news industry for years to come.
Journalists are also necessary to uphold the public's right to know: Without journalists as watchdogs to hold our government and corporate leaders accountable, American democracy suffers.
So, to aspiring journalists: Do not change your college major and run away. Rise to the challenge. The world still needs your passion...
Tags: News media | social media
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I recently sat in on a social media Webinar by Brian Solis, who is recognized for his thoughts on the convergence of PR, traditional media and social media. Here's what I learned...
Communication is changing every day
So your company has a shiny, new Web site, Facebook page, Twitter profile and a blog and you think that you have Web 2.0 down pat. Unfortunately, now is not the time to relax. Almost everything found on the Internet begins with a search and if you fail to consistently make new content available, you miss the opportunity to be found through those searches. The new semantic Web brings people information based on how they interact with the Internet. Therefore, it is not only important to update information, but also to know the habits of your target public to ensure that your information gets to them.
Social media and traditional media are pals
It is not as though everyone else got on the social media train and traditional media stayed at the station. Although we have experienced significant changes in the way we communicate, most traditional media outlets have realized the value of social media and are extending their reach. Traditional media channels still generally carry more credibility with readers than social media. Social media tactics should be used to complement traditional media outreach, not replace it. Even better, social media gives PR professionals another way to network with traditional reporters and editors.
The marketplace of ideas is increasingly crowded
Solis discussed the Conversation Prism, which is a division of the various social mediums that helps companies determine what channels are relevant for them. Researching your public to determine what they are reading and how they participate in online discussions is critical to reaching them. The sheer volume of information available on the Internet can drown out the most valuable message if it is not sent through the appropriate channel.
This Webinar offered critical information for PR professionals, but I found it helpful on an individual level as well. I know that before every job interview I go on my name is being entered into an online search engine. This Webinar, as well as my entire internship at Largemouth, has really helped me understand how to keep my name relevant and my online presence positive.
Tags: Media Relations | social media | public relations
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Relationships Are Imperative
Running a marathon might be an individual task, but most marathoners will tell you that completing one on your own is a demoralizing task. My parents left their house at 5 a.m. on Sunday morning so that they could see me off, cheer for me along the way and pick up the pieces of me at the end. Imagine trying to make it through 26.2 miles without someone waiting for you at the end. PR practitioners may have specific clients or activities they are responsible for but there are certain deliverables that they may need to ask for support to complete. Pulling in a team to brainstorm, develop a concept and execute it often delivers premium results compared to operating in a silo.
Planning Is Key
If you want to get a marathoner talking, just ask them about their training plan. You will be hard pressed to find a response that does not include specific mileage for each week and the best foods to eat before a long run. Just like in PR, to increase client awareness you identify specific objectives, strategies and goals before implementing a campaign.
Flexibility Required
In the midst of running a marathon or training for one, you might realize that your objectives are not lining up for you to reach your goal. I was excited to finish the first half of the marathon in less than two hours, but soon after, the mud and rain slowed me down. Finishing in less than four hours quickly eluded my grasp. With any solid PR plan there may be factors that arise unexpectedly and you must be prepared to recalculate.
Celebrate Every Victory
Getting to the end of a marathon sometimes isn't as simple as going from zero to 26.2 miles. At mile 18, I couldn't think about finishing another eight miles, so I thought about making it to mile 19. At mile 24, I celebrated making it another hundred feet. In the same way, as a senior at UNC, learning everything to prepare you for the working world can sometimes seem intimidating. It helps to give myself a mental pat on the back for each new accomplishment or PR technique I learn from my courses and internship assignments.
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My name is Alexandra Huffman and I am excited to join Largemouth Communications as an intern this fall. I am at Largemouth to help out in any way that I can; writing press releases and blog posts, researching editorial calendars and keeping up with media coverage.
As a senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I am double majoring in journalism and mass communication and political science. Prior to joining Largemouth, I served as a public relations intern at Koroberi, Inc. and MMI Associates, Inc. Graduating from UNC this year is bittersweet, but I am enthusiastic about putting my internship experiences towards a career in public relations.
At UNC, I am a member of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). In my spare time, I love watching the Food Network, traveling (especially in Italy) and running. Look out for me at the finish line of the Raleigh City of Oaks Marathon this year!
Tags: Largemouth PR | Around the Office
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