Money back guarantee for WOM?

I’m definitely going to keep my eye on this story as it develops.  I’d be interested to learn the results on athis new “WOM impact guarantee program” which focuses on guaranteeing results - or your money back.

http://adage.com/article?article_id=129593

Interestingly enough, I hope this contest of sorts doesn’t influence others to pressure public relations professionals into guaranteeing results.  Liza and I just had lunch today with a colleague and we were discussing how - no matter who your client is - it’s impossible and unethical to guarantee results, simply because of the nature of public relations activities and its relationship to what the media chooses to report.

Feel free to weigh in.

Palmetto PR Diva Dish - Jessica Munday, president of Trio Solutions

I just finished a 4.5-mile run in Jetton Park on the beautiful Lake Norman! One of my friends is planning to run the marathon in Las Vegas this December and I told her I would run with her…After a week of more mileage I’m not sure if this 31-year-old can do another marathon, but I will try!

This week we are profiling Jessica Munday, president and founder of Trio Solutions in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. Congratulations, Jessica, on the soon-to-be new addition to your family, and thanks for your insight on the importance of creating lasting relationships within the industry. After all, everyone wants to be treated with respect.

I’ve got meetings in Charlotte today and then am going to the Tom Petty concert tonight with some friends. Hope you have a great weekend, no matter what you have planned.

o Please provide title and a brief description of what you do:
o I’m Jessica Munday, president and founder of Trio Solutions Inc., a full-service marketing communications firm based in Mount Pleasant, SC. Our company specializes in marketing, event planning and Web development for nonprofit and health care organizations.

o How did you become interested in the public relations/advertising industry?
o I knew when I was a senior in high school that I wanted to work in the communications field. My aunt worked for a large PR firm in Columbia, SC and I had an opportunity to go with her to a grand opening for one of her clients. Witnessing her pull together the media, VIP guests and overseeing all the logistics was enough to intrigue me. I went home and applied to USC’s College of Journalism. The rest is history.

o What changes have you seen in the industry that is the most interesting to you?
o Definitely the Internet. It’s fascinating, fast-paced and overwhelming all at the same time. Keeping up with, and understanding, all the new technology to communication professionals is quite a challenge but one I enjoy.

o Are you involved in any professional associations? If so, what are they and what do you learn by being involved?
o I have been involved with the American Marketing Association for several years and I frequently attend our local PRSA meetings. Because we specialize in working with nonprofits, I am also actively involved with the South Carolina Association of Nonprofits Organizations (SCANPO) and the Association of Fundraising Professionals. The biggest value I find from being involved with these groups is having the opportunity to meet and network with other industry professionals.

o What is the one piece of advice you would give students that are interested in pursuing a career in the public relations/investor relations/marketing industry?
o Regardless of what you learn in school or read in a book, everything you do is dependent on relationships. Having strong relationships in this industry, whether it’s with your vendors, the media, your clients or your co-workers, is the most important asset you can have. Manage them carefully and with the utmost respect.

o What is the best thing about your job?
o Knowing that I am doing what I love to do and that through the organizations we work with, I’m making a difference. It’s very comforting and fulfilling at the end of the day.

o What is the thing you like least about your job?
o Being in an industry where so many people think they can do what you do. Everyone thinks they know how to market themselves. You see it all the time with homemade brochures (Publisher, anyone?), logos designed with clipart and Microsoft Word Art, poorly written press releases, Web sites designed by 13-year-olds. Marketing and PR as a practice still have a long way to go before they are viewed as being as vital of a business operation as HR or finance but we’re making great strides.

o Are there any exciting announcements you’d like to tell us about (either with your company or one of your clients)?
o Well the most exciting announcement I have is that I’m excepting my third child this September. Obviously our family addition will add a new dynamic to my life as a working mom and business owner.

o How do you balance your professional career with your personal life?
o It’s a challenge but both aspects of my life are so fulfilling that I do everything humanly possible to ensure a balance and to be the best I can be as a mother, wife and business owner. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming and that’s when I remind myself to take each day as it comes and to put my faith in God that he would never give me more than I can handle.

o Anything else you would like to add?
o Yes, I think what Palmetto PR Divas is doing is awesome. Keep up the great work and I love the way you ‘pay it forward’ with each nomination. (Editor’s note: Thanks, Jessica!)

Pattie Boyd, Eric Clapton and…PR?

I know. I know.  I am supposed to be studying for my APR this summer.  But when I was in the airport flying to Florida last week for the July 4 holiday, I picked up a delicious memoir, “Wonderful Tonight” written by Pattie Boyd (she was George Harrison’s - of the Beatles - first wife and later married Eric Clapton). 

She inspired songs such as “Something,” “Layla” and “Wonderful Tonight” among others.  Let’s just say neither marriage really ended well.  I read her book twice while laying on the beach and decided to pick up Eric Clapton’s autobiography in the airport on the way back - to read his side of the story. (As consumer savvy as I think I am, I can definitely fall victim to marketing tactics and impulse buys…the two memoirs were conveniently next to each other in the book store.)

Anyway, I have completely enjoyed both books, not because of all the name dropping and an insider’s view to the rock n’ roll lifestyle, but because it’s so refreshing to learn about people’s experiences and how they deal with internal and external challenges they face.  I love a good story that details the rise and fall - and rise again - of someone who has been through the ringer.

The public relations industry is not as glamorous as rock n’ roll (much to the dismay of students everywhere hoping to become Samantha Jones from “Sex and the City” once they begin their PR careers), but there are a lot of parallels.  Dealing with rejection, encountering difficult personalities and not seeing eye-to-eye on creative processes are some I can think of off the top of my head. 

This past week I’ve been disappointed with a professional situation, but there is no reason to dwell on it too long.  So, as I move onward and upward and eagerly await what’s next around the corner, I will listen to Eric Clapton’s “Unplugged” in my car and think of how I can apply the lessons I’ve learned from this disappointment moving forward.  As silly as it may seem, reading these memoirs this week has helped me realize how important it is to stumble a bit, because you’ll be able to realize exactly why it happened at some point in the future.

Keep on keepin’ on, folks!

Re-post from Bad Pitch Blog.com

I came across this post today through my Twitter feeds, and thought you all would enjoy:
Fast Five Q&A with Adweek’s Digital Editor, Brian Morrissey

BTW, if you want to follow them on Twitter, too, and decide for yourself if Brian has it out for PR people (hint: he doesn’t), you can at @bmorrissey and @prblog.

PR Diva Dish - Christina Helms, account manager for Walker Marketing

If all goes well, this should appear on Friday, July 4, so we can continue our weekly PR Diva Dish section. So here goes!

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Christina Helms, account manager for Walker Marketing, both while I was at PR Newswire, where she was a client, as well as at Walker Marketing, where we were both account managers. And now I’m really happy to share with everyone what she has been up to. Happy July 4!

o Please provide title and a brief description of what you do:

Account Manager

I develop and implement comprehensive public relations programs for clients. The implementation often involves media relations and executive media training, event planning, community relations, writing, internal communications, crisis planning and management and social/interactive PR iniatives.

o How did you become interested in the public relations/advertising industry?

I always liked writing and performed well in English and journalism classes in college, which eventually led me to enroll in public relations course work. I then sought out an internship with the top public relations agency in my market and became fascinated with branding and the important role public relations plays in building a brand.

o What changes have you seen in the industry that is the most interesting to you?

Definitely the advent of social media and the way it has facilitated more two-way dialogue between companies and their customers. It has also introduced bloggers into the media mix and we are learning that they must be pitched differently than traditional media.

o Are you involved in any professional associations? If so, what are they and what do you learn by being involved?

I have been involved with the Carolinas Chapter of the Business Marketing Association and I am a long-time member of PRSA. Both have provided valuable networking opportunities and programs. PRSA publications and seminars are especially good for industry information, practical learning and advice.

o What is the one piece of advice you would give students that are interested in pursuing a career in the public relations/investor relations/marketing industry?

I would suggest that they complete as many internships as possible to make connections and gain practical experience.

o What is the thing you like least about your job?

Calling a reporter I’ve never met. Call it a fear of rejection.

o Are there any exciting announcements you’d like to tell us about (either with your company or one of your clients)?
Our company, Walker Marketing (www.walker-marketing.com) has grown exponentially in the past year, expanding our creative department and adding our own full-service interactive department.

o How do you balance your professional career with your personal life?

I live in the country (50 minutes from work) so there is physical distance and the small town setting to bring me peace. I also try to do all my work in the office to keep personal and professional separate.

SC PRSA - Upstate Region to Host Networking Event

If work or play happen to bring you to the sunny Upstate of South Carolina next week, or if you’re just one of the lucky ones who are fortunate enough to live in this part of the world, then please plan to attend the S.C. PRSA-Upstate region networking event on Tuesday, July 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. at City Range Grill in Greenville.

This is a great time to mix and mingle with your PR and marketing colleagues and talk (gasp!) one on one. So please plan to join us and meet some new friends. And if you have friends in the area who don’t read this blog (shame on them!), tell them to come, too! The more the merrier. You will need to RSVP ahead of time, though, so we know how many appetizers to order for the crowd. See the 411 below:

Public Relations Professionals Invited to SCPRSA’s Upstate
July Networking Night at City Range Steakhouse Grill

Greenville, S.C. — The Public Relations Society of America’s Upstate South Carolina group will host a networking session on July 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. at City Range Steakhouse Grill on Haywood Road. SCPRSA will provide appetizers. Drinks and other food will be available for purchase by each individual. Please RSVP to ensure we order enough food.

Program: Networking Session

Date: Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Time: 6 – 8 p.m.

Place: City Range Steakhouse Grill, 615 Haywood Rd. Take I-385N to Haywood Road, turn left on Haywood Road. It is about a mile on the right. Call (864) 272-3005 for directions.

Cost: $15 for SCPRSA members, $20 for guests, $15 for college students. Walk-ups and late RSVPs are an additional $5. No shows will be billed.

RSVP: By noon, Monday, June 16, 2008.
For online registration, visit our website at www.scprsa.org.
If not registering online, contact Melea Mauldin at melea.mauldin@jdsouth.com.

Taking it all with you on vacation?

Ah, the July 4 holiday is here, can you believe it?!  I’ve really enjoyed chatting with editors, colleagues and friends about plans for the long weekend and am definitely looking forward to a little fun in the sun myself.

As of noon on July 3, my husband and I still have not packed for our trip to Deerfield Beach, Florida…and our flight leaves tonight at 8!  It’s a little town a stone’s throw away from Boca Raton and my aunt, uncle and cousin live down there.  I’m quite sure their place was built before zoning laws were enforced, because you can literally dangle your feet out their window and touch the water!  (Maybe a little exaggeration on my part!)

Anyway, the dillema is: How much of your “real world life” do you bring with you on vacation?  Do I bring my running shoes to squeeze a morning run in?  Will I bring my lap top?  Should I work on my PRSA database project while I’m on the plane? 

I’m sure it wouldn’t kill me to not run on my vacation, but I love running, especially on the beach!  And I’m quite positive that the database project will be waiting for me when I return next week. 

With innovations in technology, it’s nearly impossible to disappear for a while and just sit back, enjoy friends and family and wait for the fireworks.  So I guess the question is, when should work stop and vacation begin?  Or are we living in a day and age in which that is simply not possible anymore?

We’re profiling Christina Helms tomorrow for our PR Diva Dish section.  I’m going to try to create a draft and schedule to publish it tomorrow so we can move on - business as usual - through the holiday weekend.

Have a great and safe holiday; whatever you and your family have planned.  And if anyone has some insight to share on how to separate work when vacationing, please share!

Article: Bring Back E-mail Etiquette

This is just a great refresher article about e-mail pitching, written by Christine Kent, editor at Ragan Communications. It’s too bad that she and others have to continually remind some of those in our industry about these tips, but I guess since there are repeat offenders, its bears repeating. Enjoy.

**Update: this link will only be available for public viewing for five days, after which it becomes password protected for Ragan Select subscribers. I’ll try to post the text here so we can have as a reference moving forward.

IP survey - business practice issues related to Independent Practitioners

For independent practitioners, one of the best sources of information and knowledge are other independent practitioners.

 

Fortunately, every other year for the last eight years, Vincent Hazleton, APR, Ph.D., Fellow PRSA from Radford University in Virginia and Jay Rayburn, APR, Ph.D., Fellow PRSA from Florida State University have conducted a survey of business practice issues related to independent practitioners of public relations.

 

The survey results are made available to independent practitioners and other members of PRSA, FPRA, SPRF, and other public relations professional organizations. Professors Hazleton and Rayburn present the findings at the PRSA International Conference and publish the results in Tactics.

 

It’s now time to conduct the survey again.  If you are an independent practitioner, please click on the link below and take the survey.  It will only take about 10 minutes.  The researchers will gladly provide you with a copy of the results if you wish.

 

To “qualify” as an independent practitioner, you must be an individual whose primary income is derived from the practice of public relations. You should be in business for yourself, own your business and have no other full time professional staff, even though you may form alliances with other independent practitioners who provide services to your clients.

 

If this describes you, please take a few minutes to fill out the questionnaire. All information is confidential. Your answers will never be associated with your name.

 

To take the survey, click on http://www.surveypro.com/TakeSurvey?id=20387  Also, please feel free to forward this link to other independent practitioners or IP groups.

 

Ashley Sherry - Corporate Communications Specialist, First Citizens Bank

This Friday’s Palmetto PR Diva Dish focuses on Ashley Sherry, corporate communications specialist for First Citizens Bank.

I discovered that both her and Liza worked at Cookerly Public Relations, but missed each other by a few years! Read on to learn more and have a great weekend!

As Corporate Communications Specialist for First Citizens, Ashley handles public relations, media relations and a variety of corporate communications for the company. She serves as the managing editor of internal publication, First Citizenship. Ashley also develops, writes and pitches stories about topics relevant to the financial services industry and writes various corporate messages for executive management to deliver to internal and external audiences. In addition, Ashley manages internal and external corporate events.

Additionally, Ashley was recently selected as one of Columbia’s 20 Under 40 Rising Stars in Business. For all of her hard work, she was also the recipient of the 2006 Rookie of the Year Award from the South Carolina Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.

o How did you become interested in the public relations/advertising industry?
I interned at Cookerly Public Relations in Atlanta when I was in college and loved it. I knew then PR was what I wanted to do.

o What changes have you seen in the industry that is the most interesting to you?
Just the rise of technology and the use of social media in PR. It is amazing to me to see the shift from “fact-based” articles in newspapers to the idea of viral marketing via text messages and Facebook. I think this type of PR and marketing is something everyone in PR needs to take note of and use, if is in the best interest of the client or company of course.

o Are you involved in any professional associations? If so, what are they and what do you learn by being involved?
I am actively involved in SCPRSA. I serve on the board of directors as Midlands Regional Director and membership vice chair. I also serve as luncheons chair for the Midlands. The organization has been a great way to get involved and further my professional career, as well as network with other professionals.

I am also involved with Columbia Opportunity Resource (COR), which has allowed me to become more involved with the City of Columbia and network. I also sit on the Healthy Learners Fund Development Board.

o What is the one piece of advice you would give students that are interested in pursuing a career in the public relations/investor relations/marketing industry?
Only one? Well, I would say to gain some internship experience. In PR, you can study all day, but you really need to learn hands on. The field has so many aspects to it, that internships are a great way to see it all. Also, try to intern on both the client side and the agency side.

o What is the best thing about your job?
The collaborative team environment is the best thing about my job. I also have a boss that is great at brainstorming and mentoring. I am able to use my talents and skills, but also learn more each day.

o What is the thing you like least about your job?
The research. It is necessary, but not my favorite.

o How do you balance your professional career with your personal life?
I think this is one of my strengths. In prior jobs, I worked long hours and on weekends, but I’ve had to discipline myself to take time for myself, friends, family, and relationships. I leave work at work, but tend to it if needed past a certain time. I am very career-oriented, but I’ve learned that I can have a rewarding career and personal life. I also think that the people I choose to socialize with have similar concepts of work/life balance, so that helps. We are usually all busy at the same time or all together enjoying life.

o Anything else you would like to add?
PR is a great career. It has it challenges and its rewards and I can’t think of doing anything else.