July, 2011

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Should You Use a QR Code?

Waxing UnLyrical

Guest post by Mikinzie Stuart. QR codes may be old news to digital marketers, but lately I’ve increasingly noticed that this hot little two-dimensional bar code is going mainstream. From giant billboards in Times Square to tiny boxes of Sun-Maid raisins, these little buggers are popping up everywhere. In fact, I counted at least seven advertisements with QR codes in May’s issue of Elle Magazine.

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How to Invent Your Next Job

PR Job Coach

'As government bickering and inaction continues, job seekers are growing ever restless, frustrated and annoyed because, for many folks, there just are no jobs to be had. You are either too old, too young, suffering the stigma of no job or you have run out of runway in your network. According to a recent article in The Wall Street Journal , “More than one in three of the unemployed were out of work for at least a year in a handful of U.S. states that appear to be disproportionately caught up in t

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How Netflix Could Solve its Price Increase Debacle

Waxing UnLyrical

Guest post by Joe Hackman. If you’re a Netflix subscriber, you’ve probably already received a notice indicating the pricing and plan changes. If you haven’t, it can be summarized as a discount for streaming-only customers, and a huge price hike (up to 60%) for people who like to get DVDs from them in addition to the streaming. Our family happens to enjoy both, and evidently we’re not alone.

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Getting Started With Vlogging

Waxing UnLyrical

Guest post by Erica Allison. Video Blog Posts. Vlogs. Everyone seems to be doing them now. But are they doing them in the best way they could? Are there some tips out in the blogosphere that can be shared in order to make your foray into vlogging a more enjoyable, productive experience? Image: BenSpark via Flickr, CC 2.0. I say, “Yes!”. In addition to the video embedded here in the post , I’ll offer some additional tips, guidelines and rules of thumb that I’ve found to be quite helpful in my

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Peter H. Paulsen’s Inspiring Tale Continues to Resonate in 2024

Two years after its initial release, Peter H. Paulsen’s book, From Brick and Mortar to Prosperity, continues to inspire readers around the globe.

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On Social Media Bullies

Waxing UnLyrical

Have you come across a social media bully lately? That’s the person who tells you they “will not do X if you do Y.&# Or, “Unless you stop doing X, I will not do Y.&#. It could be anything from not following you on Twitter unless you stop checking in on FourSquare … … to not following you on Twitter (because you make so much “noise&# ) but they’d like to connect on LinkedIn anyway, because that will benefit them ) … … to not commenting on your

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#measurePR, Social Media Measurement & Klout

Waxing UnLyrical

Last week’s #measurePR chat was interesting. Well, it’s always interesting, but last week I was teaching a workshop in Houston , and #measurePR was a part of it. Even for those of you who are seasoned Twitterchatters, lemme tell y’all, teaching and moderating a chat at the same time ain’t no piece-a-cake. (Did I get sufficiently Texan with that previous sentence?).

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Thank you Google, for the Antithesis of a More Social Network

Waxing UnLyrical

[Ed: I know we've had a LOT of posts on Google+ here recently. But I wanted to give my bloggers a voice. This is an interesting viewpoint from India, so I hope you will read it.]. The first reaction to all the talk around Google+ and it’s Facebook-killing armor was, “Oh God, not another one.&#. Keeping the early adopter community in context, t here isn’t a desire to connect more, or even connect better.

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Professional Bragging Tips

Waxing UnLyrical

Let me tell you a story I’ve never told anyone else. I was a pharmacy technician at Wal-Mart years ago, and one day when a customer and his wife showed up, I began automatically tapping his name into the touchscreen before they reached the counter. “Johnson?”* I said with a smile as I hit “Enter.&#. His brow lifted in surprise. “You’re good.”.

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Bootcamp, Here I Come

Waxing UnLyrical

Earlier this week I came across a post by Lisa Byrne on how signing up for a bootcamp has significantly changed her health … and her outlook on life. I was fascinated by Lisa’s story of how she got started on her new path, and how she kept going. And it made me re-evaluate the goals I’d set for myself at the start of the year , and ask myself whether or not I’d made any progress towards them.

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Are Your Impact Comms Resonating With Stakeholders?

Whether your organization is at the start of its sustainability and impact journey or years into it, many brands share a common concern: the uncertainty of whether they are sending stakeholders mixed messages. Creating content that speaks to your audience's “love language” can be a tricky dance. But, worry not! 3BL has put together tips to ensure that your content not only finds its rhythm but also resonates with your target audiences.

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Critically Speaking

Waxing UnLyrical

Criticism. When it’s good, it’s great. It takes a big person to take criticism well. It takes an even bigger person to act on his/her own criticism. And by “big,&# I don’t mean literally; I mean “big of heart or spirit,&# as I believe King Arthur was, or any of your mythological heroes. The criticizer. Take Brian Meeks ‘ comment on the recent guest post by Erica Allison on vlogging.

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MeasurePR: Why Are AVEs Still Around?

Waxing UnLyrical

Guest post by Jen Zingsheim. [Ed: since I was out last week, the always-wonderful Jen Zingsheim agreed to moderate #measurePR. Here's her quick recap. and thank you, Jen!]. On July 5, the #measurePR chat discussed AVEs, specifically a Wall Street Journal Numbers blog post that challenges the notion that publicity can be equated with paid advertising.

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Google+ v. Facebook: The Battle For Our Love

Waxing UnLyrical

Many of us seem to be playing the waiting game. Circles are better than grilled cheese. But the ability to put people in them is not a big enough draw for me to entirely abandon Facebook if only a small number of my contacts set up Google+ profiles. So far, G+ has only been handy if I want to chat with social media marketers, educators who are using social media in the classroom, and the few friends of mine who are early adopters.

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Weekly Roundup: What’s Buzzing?

Waxing UnLyrical

Everyone’s buzzing about Google+ (I’m starting to like it a little better since I did my first hangout with Jack B and Jill Foster a couple of nights ago). Everyone’s starting to buzz about Spotify (I got my invite on Friday and LOVE it). “Everyone,&# of course, being everyone who’s into this kind of stuff… which is still not a lot of people in the grand scheme of things (though my Facebook and Farmville-addicted mom joined Google+ yesterday, so I take that qu

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Adapting to the Future: The Evolving Role of Crisis Management Firms in a Rapidly Changing World

As the Internet continues to grow and change, the role of Online Crisis Management firms is evolving. This article explores how these firms are adapting to the new topography of Online Crisis Management. Through interviews with industry experts and case studies, we uncover the key strategies and tactics that are driving success in this dynamic field.

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Do You Get It?

Waxing UnLyrical

[Ed: I'm on vacation. Here's the third of a week's worth of guest posts.]. Say what? One of the biggest gripes I have with people (myself included) is that we aren’t the best at … well, expressing ourselves clearly. We’re pretty good at things like naming what TV shows we like, what kind of foods we prefer and what movie may have seen over the weekend.

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Business Etiquette for the Craziest Job in the World

Waxing UnLyrical

Do you have the craziest job in the world? Recently, I had a conversation with someone who rescheduled a phone call three times, misspelled my name as many times even though we’ve emailed quite often, and was late to the call when it finally did take place. The excuse? “I have the craziest job in the world.&#. Turns out this person doesn’t actually have “the craziest job in the world,&# but a typical PR agency job.

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A Google+ Stream of Babble

Waxing UnLyrical

Google+, I’m on the horns of a dilemma. I don’t love you, I don’t hate you. Do I even like you? You’re nicely-laid out. I like dragging and dropping people into circles. It’s interesting to know who’s added me. It’s annoying that your preferences are preset to email me anytime anyone sneezes in Google+. Yes, I’ve changed them.

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Weekly Roundup: Where Have I Been?!

Waxing UnLyrical

I left DC on Monday to conduct a workshop for IABC/Houston. After getting back, catching up on work and then my Reader, I found there was a whole lotta stuff I’d been missing out on. Where have I been?! If you find yourself in the same predicament, have a read. 1. The hitchhiker’s guide to tracking website engagement , by Petri Darby for Convince & Convert.

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Communicating During a Crisis & Navigating the Chaos

Speaker: Shawna Bruce, Director of M.D. Bruce & Associates Ltd.

Are you ready to face the unexpected? When the stakes are high and the pressure is on, there's no time to waste - you must be prepared to communicate clearly and confidently. In today's unpredictable world, mastering the art of crisis communication is a must-have skill for any public relations professional. Whether you're facing a weather disaster, a cyber attack, or a PR nightmare, knowing how to craft a clear and compelling message can mean the difference between chaos and calm, confusion and

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On Independence

Waxing UnLyrical

Going through the grind. Earlier this year, I went through the process of getting my Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. Since India doesn’t recognize dual citizenship, every former Indian national, on acquiring the citizenship of another country, has to go through a painful process of first “renouncing&# his/her citizenship (you actually have to apply for and receive a “renunciation certificate&# ).

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Momentous Moments

Waxing UnLyrical

We’ve crossed the halfway mark for 2011. And as we did… A space shuttle lifted off on its final mission. A new nation has been born. A woman who helped remove at least some of the stigma surrounding alcoholism and addiction died. A man-made human organ was transplanted for the first time into a human patient. Momentous moments. None of my moments are likely to be quite as momentous as any of these.

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What Happens When Leadership Starts Saying “Yes”

Waxing UnLyrical

[Ed: I'm on vacation. Here's the second of a week's worth of guest posts.]. No one tells you. how fast things will move once leadership is on board with social media. There are two similes I draw on when I have to describe this scenario to someone. Which one I use depends on the company I’m in. Image: Pattyequalsawesome via Flickr, CC 2.0. To colleagues at the office: “It is like a roller coaster.

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Weekly Roundup: From eBay to Heresy

Waxing UnLyrical

Today is July 31. You know what that means, right? We are more than halfway through 2011. Where did it go? How much progress have you made towards your annual goals? Or are you already looking ahead? While you start thinking about that, here are some posts that made me think, laugh and happy. And they run the gamut from web changes to sound bite addiction to, yes, social media “heresy.&#. 1. 5 conversion-making website changes you can make right now , by Shakirah Dawud.

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Discover the Actionable Habits of the World’s Best Strategic Communicators

Communication professionals can sometimes face difficult questions from internal stakeholders about the impact of their PR marketing initiatives. We know that nearly half of these professional say they need help with turning their PR data into actionable insights; and at least 20% don’t think they can measure their campaigns at all—but what if we told you all these obstacles can be easily combatted if you implement a few key habits.

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Weekly Roundup: While I Was Out

Waxing UnLyrical

Like all good things, my vacation (such as it was, I didn’t go anywhere but needed to take some time off, which I did… mostly) must come to an end. Since I was on vacation, I didn’t do very much online. And, as a result, my Google Reader has been mostly untouched. So there is a lot for me to catch up on. As I do so, here are seven posts I wanted to share with you: 1. 10 reasons why we [puppets] hate Facebook from Glove and Boots.

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Macy's one day Sale -- + Save an extra 25% on Clearance

Waxing UnLyrical

Shop On-line or find a store near you. Plus, save an extra 25% on Clearance Items.

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Digital Diplomacy

Waxing UnLyrical

Do you ever know when exactly inspiration will strike? For me, it struck towards the end of May when the UK welcomed US President Barack Obama. I was heartened to see that both he and Prime Minister David Cameron had been reading from The Modern Book of Australian Diplomacy when they held a lunch for the UK press at Number 10 Downing Street during the visit.

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Why Post Planner White Label Has Me Enchanted

Waxing UnLyrical

Color me enchanted. I wrote a while back about why I like Post Planner so much as a way to schedule posts to Facebook (have you tried it yet?). Let me tell you right now that if you haven’t, you should , and that there is a special offer waaay down the post for you. Yesterday, Josh Parkinson of Go West Social , one of the people behind Post Planner, did something absolutely wonderful for me; so wonderful, that I’m still reeling from his generosity.

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7 Ways to Deliver Groundbreaking Thought Leadership

Delivering Successful Thought Leadership Programs. In an increasingly crowded marketplace, a successful thought leadership program is a powerful tool to increase the profile of your brand. By developing compelling content that is authentic to your brand and offers something unique, you can become a trusted source and the ‘go-to’ expert in your field.

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The Art of Pointless Angst

Waxing UnLyrical

Guest post by Brian Meeks. Ken Mueller wrote a blog piece entitled 4 Little Known Blogging Secrets. It got me all worked up. The first 3 points were fine, but the 4 th started my “rant-o-meter&# running. The article was well written and, sadly, I agreed with all four points. The problem was, I didn’t WANT the 4 th point to be valid. As a species we have evolved to be rather clever creatures.

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When Twitter Gave Me Howler Monkey Angst

Waxing UnLyrical

[Ed: I'm on vacation. Here's the fourth of a week's worth of guest posts.]. There was an auto-DM waiting for me this morning. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and I felt my #HowlerMonkeyAngst boiling to the surface. It is from the seed of angst that most of my guest blog posts are born. The wheels were turning and my mind started flying off in dozens of different directions.

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The Joy a Newspaper Brings

Waxing UnLyrical

I had a delightful surprise waiting for me this morning. When my husband went out a short while ago to get the newspaper (yes, we still get one newspaper delivered), he also brought in a box that had apparently been waiting for me on our doorstep since last evening. I opened it to find the April 3 edition of several Indian newspapers, exulting and reveling in India’s victory in the 2011 World Cup.