Waxing UnLyrical

OCTOBER 12, 2011

“How do you become a social media expert?” That was one of the questions I was asked when I was in Lincoln, Neb., last week. I was speaking to several students at UNL, and while I didn’t get a chance to speak to each of them one-on-one, I could tell that they are serious about being the best professional communicators they can be (this was at the College of Journalism & Mass Communications).

Social Media 100

Social Media Journalism Industry Facebook 100

Bad Pitch Blog

OCTOBER 14, 2011

'Earlier this week, I enjoyed (finally) meeting Deirdre Breakenridge and attending her presentation on the " Hybrid PR Professional " with Cincinnati PRSA. Deirdre is addressing how the skill sets in our industry are expanding and changing along with the myriad of changes we see every day across journalism, public relations, consumer habits and technology.

Tools 57

Tools Twitter Journalism Consumer 57

Journalistics

OCTOBER 12, 2011

The physical presence of ears does not make you a good listener. Listening makes you a good listener. If you’ve created a Twitter, Facebook, or [insert your favorite social media] account for your brand, congratulations, you now have ears. Are you listening? I think we’ve reached a point where most brands realize they need to be present in social media, and I think most that create a presence actually are listening, but you wouldn’t know it.

Handbook 52

Handbook Policies Journalism Guidelines 52

PR Conversations

OCTOBER 12, 2011

Relationships are in the DNA of PR – in fact, the name itself indicates the function manages relations with publics. But the priority in PR practice is largely on writing skills rather than interpersonal ones; whilst although academic definitions and literature highlight two-way communications, they largely omit what is required to build and maintain mutually beneficial relationships.

Knowledge Base 40

Knowledge Base Newspapers Ethics Writing 40

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

Waxing UnLyrical

OCTOBER 13, 2011

If you are reading this blog, chances are you don’t need to be told about the merits of social media. It is ubiquitous. Most of the advice we received from early adopters years ago is hardwired into our brains: Listen first! Respect people’s time! Offer something that is relevant and valuable! Measure! Measure! Measure! This isn’t anything new. These are tactics you would apply to customer/client relations even if you worked in an old-time general store selling beans out of a bin.

Social Media 89

Social Media Media Print Television 89

Waxing UnLyrical

OCTOBER 10, 2011

It’s been quite a last few days, hasn’t it? . This past Wednesday evening, I was traveling home from a speaking engagement at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln when I was scrolling through my news alerts and found out that Steve Jobs had passed away (note: said scrolling was being done on my iPhone). Now, I was in no way an early Mac adopter, but ever since my conversion last year, I’ve come to love Apple products.

Measurement 73

Measurement Meeting Nonprofit Travel 73

Waxing UnLyrical

OCTOBER 14, 2011

I’m going to Disney World! OK, I’m not really going to Disney World. I am, however, headed to Orlando, Fla., tomorrow, for PRSA’s 2011 International Conference. I love this conference. It’s my fourth in a row, and thanks to the magic of social media, every time I’ve been back, I get to meet friends from all over the country – nay, world – whom I’d probably never get to see otherwise.

Measurement 69

Measurement Conference Case Study Meeting 69