branding

March Twitter Chat Highlights: Crisis Communications

Lauren Gray Leave a comment

We’d like to thank everyone who participated in the March #NPPRSA Twitter chat focused on crisis communications planning. We discussed what is required for any thorough crisis communications plan, which departments to include and how to prepare employees.

PRSA Twitter Chat Highlights: Crisis CommunicationsSpecifically, we’d like to thank Valerie Merahn Simon, senior marketing executive and Director of Marketing Communications for Plymouth Rock Assurance. She is also the co-founder of the #HAPPO and #PRStudChat Twitter chats.

Join us again on April 3 for our next #NPPRSA chat and stay up-to-date with PRSA New Professionals on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+.

Review highlights of the chat below. What did you learn from the March chat? How can you plan for unanticipated events for your brand? What methods can you use to prepare co-workers and executives for dealing with the public? Who can you collaborate with or who should you include in a crisis plan?

 

 

Lauren Rosenbaum

Lauren Rosenbaum is the PRSA New Professionals Social Media Co-Chair and Co-Founder of Soversity, a public relations and digital marketing company. You can connect with her on Google+, LinkedIn or Twitter.

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February Twitter Chat Highlights: Real-Time Marketing

Lauren Gray Leave a comment

We’d like to thank everyone who participated in the February #NPPRSA Twitter chat by discussing the opportunities and challenges of real-time marketing. This month we discussed ways that brands can be authentic when engaging in real time and also addressed some the of risks that can come with real-time marketing.

Real-Time Marketing Twitter Chat Highlights

Specifically, we’d like to thank our two special guests for February: Adam Naide and Ken Burbary. Adam Naide is the Executive Director of Marketing for Social Media at Cox Communications, where he leads overall strategy for the company’s social media presences including fan engagement, customer acquisition & retention, social commerce and Social TV. Ken Burbary is the Chief Digital Officer at Lowe Campbell-Ewald. Ken has over 20 years of marketing experience with a focus on digital for Fortune 500+ brands.

Join us again on March 6 for our next #NPPRSA Twitter chat and stay up-to-date with PRSA New Professionals on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Google+.

Review highlights of the chat below. What did you learn from the February chat? Should brands attempt real-time marketing? Is it worth the risks? How can brands authentically engage with consumers?

 

Amy BishopAmy Bishop works in digital PR and marketing for DigitalRelevance, a content distribution and promotion agency. She is also Social Media Co-Chair for the PRSA New Professionals Section.  Read her insights on customer experience and social business on her Marketing Strategy blog. Connect with Amy through Twitter, Pinterest or Google+.

Self-Branding: Creating Your Professional Identity

Zaneta Chuniq Inpower Leave a comment

Defining yourself as a public relations professional will be one of the most important tasks you will begin while starting your career. As we’ve evolved into the age of digital and social media, these networks have forced enabled individuals to create their own personal brands by creating the opportunity for us to share specific content to audiences that ultimately shape who we are, or striving to be.

With so many social networks, it may be difficult to decide which networks to use and if you should have a separate identity on each one. The best rule of thumb is to be consistent. Don’t be conservative on Facebook and rowdy on Twitter. Ask yourself, are you a Beyonce or Rihanna when it comes to social media expression? Personally, I share random thoughts and happenings via Twitter, yet I am always posting about business, news, PR and other professional, mature interests that let my followers remember what I am truly about.

Here are 7 things PR Pros should consider when branding themselves:

  • Connect LinkedIN to Facebook or Twitter. Let people see that you are a professional with an opinion and expertise in your said field of study or work. This helps build a rapport with your personal friends who may not have previously been aware of your business savvy.
  • Remove all undergrad party pictures or set them to private. What happens in college stays in college (so it should). Keep it classy with the pictures you have uploaded and the ones you share. Once something is on Facebook online, it’s there forever.
  • Take a professional headshot for your LinkedIN page. Potential employers, colleagues and networking connections will take you more seriously when your picture is formal.
  • Not sure what you want your “brand” to say? Think of 5 of your best qualities or skills and use them as foundations for content and engagement. Build from your original skill set as you gain more experience.
  • Work in your field! This should be a no brainer; however you can’t be an entertainment PR guru if you don’t have any experience with record labels, management teams, venues, artists or music in general. If you’re looking for a career in any area, start with an internship, get a mentor in that area, start making mock news releases to build your writing skills and dive in.
  • Have strong, meaningful business card. Sure you can send someone your contact file on your iPhone or Blackberry, but business cards are still imperative. Enlist a graphic designer to design a custom card with your contact info, social media links and professional headline.
  • Dress for the job you want to have in the future. Invest in a nice suit, shoe(s) and accessories. Always have this on-hand for impromptu appearances at business events.

Talk back:

  1. What are some other things new PR pros can do to build a solid brand?
  2. How have you used the digital atmosphere to build your professional identity?

Zaneta Chuniq Inpower is owner and president of Chuniq PR, an independent media and marketing management firm. Additionally, she is the digital communications coordinator for Douglas J Aveda Institutes and Salons, editor  for Supreme Design Publishing and social media manager for COIN Handlers Management. Her personal interests include reading, international travel and culture and community revitalization. Inpower received her B.A. in advertising from Michigan State University. Zaneta Chuniq Inpower is a member of the Central Michigan PRSA chapter and is the PRSA New Professionals Section Executive Committee Blog Co-Chair.

 

professional development teleseminar… Developing portfolios for your dream career (Jan. 13, 2010)

New Professionals PR Blog Leave a comment

The New Pros of PRSA’s 2010 resolution is to continue delivering professional development opportunities on topics that you’ve asked for. This time, we’ve invited Heather Huhman to lead next week’s teleseminar on portfolio development for your dream career. (Register and get more information for the teleseminar here.)

Heather Huhman, founder and president of Come Recommended, is passionate about helping new professionals and recent college graduates pursue their dream careers. Huhman is currently a daily entry-level careers columnist at Examiner.com, a career expert for the CAREEREALISM Twitter Advice Project, as well as a contributor to other professional development outlets.

We asked Heather to tell us a little about opportunities and challenges she sees for new professionals in 2010.

1. What are some opportunities and challenges that New Pros will face in the 2010 job market?

The job market in 2010 will be competitive. New Professionals will have to stand out over other candidates, and go above and beyond just having a normal resume. They will need to utilize technology to present the best aspects of themselves to potential employers.

2. What is a professional brand and why is it important?

A professional brand is a strategic way to stand out by presenting your work experience to potential employers. Having your own brand is important because in this competitive job market, it will hopefully aid in landing your dream job.

3. Why should a PR professional have a career portfolio?

A career portfolio is an important way to demonstrate your accomplishments and skills. It’s a way to show – rather than tell – potential employers what you have to offer. Through online tools such as VisualCV, you can share your hard work and market yourself before a job even opens up.

Along with a portfolio, connecting and networking with others will be essential. Seek out recruiters on Twitter and follow them. Contribute to their conversation and demonstrate your qualifications, and you may impress them.

4. What drives your passion for helping young professionals pursue their dream careers?

As the oldest child in my family, I did not have anyone to guide me through the trials and tribulations of developing my career. Now, as an experienced hiring manager and someone who has been in nearly every employment-related situation imaginable, I am serving as that much-needed guide for others.

I feel like I know and understand the needs of today’s employers and internship and entry-level job seekers. My expertise in this area led to my position as Examiner.com’s entry-level careers columnist in mid-2008. The daily, national column educates high school students through recent college graduates about how to find, land and succeed at internships and entry-level jobs.

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Heather Huhman will be instructing our New Pros of PRSA teleseminar, How to Position Yourself for your Dream Job on January 13, 2010 at 3pm EST. Get more information or register here.