Public Relations

May Twitter Chat Highlights: Media Relations

Lauren Gray Leave a comment

We’d like to thank everyone who participated in the May #NPPRSA Twitter chat as we discussed methods to improve media relations and explored ways to build authentic relationships with the media.

PRSA Twitter ChatSpecifically, we’d like to thank Gini Dietrich, CEO of Arment Dietrich and author of Spin Sucks — a leading industry publication for public relations and marketing professionals.

Join us again on May 15 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. How can you best nurture a relationship with the media? How can you pitch effectively?

 


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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.

 

 

 

Treating Your Boss Like Your Client

Jess Noonan Leave a comment

You know something that’s strange? Oh, come on—take a guess.  Here are a few clues…

I’m not talking about any world records, pickles accompanied by mustard (yuck) or the way Shakira’s hips don’t lie (anyone else addicted to the Voice this season?).

Pat Blog

Source: www.notwillsmith.com

All out of guesses?  I’ll tell you.  It’s strange how closely the relationships we have with our clients and our supervisors mimic each other.  Shocker when you actually think about it, right? If your relationship with your boss is not like the one you have with your client, start making steps to morph it.

Your boss is your client.  She/he holds a certain power over your career, much like a client has a certain power in your agency’s ability to sign your paychecks. If you’re performing at the highest level, always achieving your professional goals and you communicate it to your boss, she/he will advocate for you.  In the same fashion as your boss, if you’re surpassing the goals you set with your client, you’ll continue to see positive results such as business growth and new business referrals.

Treating your boss (and colleagues) like a client shows that you respect them— if you show the same level of detail and care towards your boss as your client, she/he is bound to have a strengthened level of trust and respect for you as well. From my first internship to my current career, I follow a few simple rules when working with teams and/or clients: ask smart questions, always know your key messages before you begin presenting an analysis, and have back up ammunition such as supporting details, resources or next steps for those who questions.  Not only will the above rules show your boss you mean business, it will make you look ready for the next step in your career.

As young professionals, we have to embrace treating our teams like clients.  The continuous effort to treat your teams like clients will force you to perform at the highest level at all times (you won’t even need a Starbucks run).  Over time, you’ll begin to realize that your “default” internal mode will turn into your “client” external mode, and you’ll begin to see a natural upwards progression in your performance.

Source: Monster.com

Source: Monster.com

As I’m been jabbering away about treating your boss and teams like your client, I bet you’re wondering, ‘how am I supposed to act when your boss acts like the client from you-know-where?’ Simple. Treat them like a client.

Every moment is a learning moment.  If you have an extremely difficult manager—embrace it and still treat her/him like the client! You’ll be more prepared in the future to deal with harsh criticisms and the infamous indirect feedback. Practice makes perfect, start by having an open conversation with your boss by stating your expectations and goals you want to meet, and more importantly, learn how you can make their lives easier. Is she/he difficult because they’re terrible at responding to emails?  Try giving your boss a call. Is it because she/he will tell you everything she/he doesn’t want, but not what they actually want? Think two steps ahead.  Always be cognizant of what she/he already provided feedback on, and anticipate the next piece of feedback.  Go ahead and make the adjustments and provide reasoning to why you made the adjustments.

Now tell me about your experiences! Have you ever considered your boss as a client? How do you handle a difficult boss vs. a difficult client?

Pat MessengerPat Messenger is a Client Staff Assistant at Burson-Marsteller in Chicago. Pat is a member of PRSA Chicago and the Young Professional Network. Tweet at him @PatMessenger, or email him Patrick.Messenger@BM.com.

 

 

Keeping Your Bank Account Afloat While Job Searching

Jess Noonan 1 Comment

3354726208_0cce729fc8_zAs a new PR professional, the job search can be tough. You have your degree and a few internships under your belt, finding a job should be a breeze, right? Sometimes that isn’t the case. After a little while of looking for a job you’ll notice that entry-level positions are hard to come by and most full-time positions are looking for more experience then you have.

Paid Internships

Some internship programs extend to college graduates up to 1 year after graduation. Look for a full-time internship that pays. This is a great way to gain experience, network with professionals, find a mentor, hone your skills and earn some cash while your waiting to kick-start your career. The experiences you can learn at this level will benefit you in the long run and help you expand your skills. There also is a chance that the company could hire you after your internship is complete.

Worst case scenario, you’ve added additional experience to your resume and no one is going to tell you that you did too many internships at your next interview.

Part-Time Positions

It can be frustrating to see that a company is only hiring part-time or internship positions when you are looking over their careers page. This should not be discouraging. Instead think of it as a great opportunity to get your foot in the door. Chances are that if you come in part-time and do a good job, when the HR manager starts looking to hire for a full-time position candidates within the company are the first choice. Already working at an organization makes you a great hire because you understand the company, the culture and the work, which can save time when it comes to training.

In the case that your part-time position does not lead to full-time, it’s still something to build up your resume. Plus you can look for and interview for a full-time job during the hours you are not at work.

Freelance Work

One of the best ways to bring in some extra money, gain experience and add some references to your resume is freelancing. If you know a small business or a non-profit near you that want to be active on social media but can’t do it because of time or inexperience, you can capitalize on that opportunity by freelancing. Many small companies out don’t have the time or resources to hire full-time employees. However, these companies might be willing to hire a contract employee or freelancer for a set amount of time. This is the work that helps you build up your professional portfolio and will give you with a taste of what it’s like to be your own boss.

You don’t have to sit around with your fingers crossed waiting for a company to hire you. There are many opportunities out there that as a young professional you can – and should – take advantage of. Take some time to gain experience, network within your industry and save some cash. The rest will fall into place soon enough. Happy job searching!

daynaDayna Lucio is a Digital Specialist at Alchemy Group in Michigan. Her experience lies with social media, content creation, blogging and media relations. You can connect with Dayna on Twitter or LinkedIn.

A Guide to A Successful International PR Campaign

Lauren Gray Leave a comment

Businesses communicate to a wider and more international audience these days.  Defining an international PR strategy is a very important step as perceptions in one part of the world can have an immediate impact across the globe.

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Before you start writing, emailing and tweeting, take the time to ask yourself: “why am I doing this?” and “what am I trying to achieve?” “What is the aim of this challenging international PR campaign?” Most of the time, the ultimate goal is to make an international brand shine across countries, engage in new conversations and attract new clients across cultures.

Today, I invite you to take a ride into a new PR mindset and adapt a glocal perspective!

Glocal: a connection between global and local. In business, being glocal is having a worldwide strategy while adapting it to local cultures.

  1. Differentiate global and local: First identify and differentiate your global strategy from your local initiatives in each country. Global is your brand’s overall personality while local is your cultural characteristics.
  2. Divide responsibilities: The head of global reputation shouldn’t execute any local initiatives as it might affect his vision. Beware of conflicts of interest in communication. One or two heads maximum should lead the campaign in one central city and define responsibilities in each country.
  3. Execute locally: If the brand is targeting the European market, you will need to define mini campaigns for each country. You might be aware of the diversity of food in Europe? Well, for media, it’s quite similar. Media landscapes and cultures in Europe are as varied as national food specialities! Pitching a journalist in Germany, France, the UK or Switzerland is totally different. The best way forward is to coordinate with local PR professionals with strong media relationships.

So what’s next? Now that you are involved in an international campaign, ask yourself the following questions before pushing the green light:

  • Does this local initiative respect the global corporate messages?
  • How will the product/service adapt to the local market?
  • Can we push the product through the same channels in each country?
  • What social media outlets should we use?
  • How and when will we translate content to impact local markets?

A few answers and tips:

  1. Work with locals: As you can’t be everywhere, liaising with local experts will help you understand habits and attitudes of your audience. In addition to this, even if English is a leading business language, speaking other languages can be beneficial in communication. Your impact with be much bigger if you speak a fluent German to German journalists.
  2. Build conversations: Shaping a reputation is less about what companies say about themselves but more about what people say about them. In this context, it’s vital to initiate conversations globally. Create a consistent brand internationally through traditional tools (website, blogs, press releases, by-line articles) while engaging with local audiences on traditional and social media. Let your market influencers become your brand ambassadors!
  3. Communicate among teams: As information travels fast, give priority to transparency and dialogue between your teams. It’s better to over communicate. Even if meetings can be laborious sometime, daily updates guarantee that nothing is missed.

Think cross-cultural, think glocal.

 

corpDiane Gaillard is an International PR Consultant with experience in the financial, real estate, hospitality and B2B sectors after having worked in London and Paris. She develops cross-cultural communication campaigns and raises the profile of international companies and startups in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the U.S. To learn more about Diane, visit her website at www.dianegaillard.com.

 

Joining your local PRSA Chapter: Consider the benefits

Lauren Gray Leave a comment

Is it just me, or is the term “new pro” often synonymous with “person in transition”?

306214_10150791409076513_1976218223_nMany reading this post are soon-to-be graduates, preparing to leave their college comforts and launch their careers. Others may be nearing their first or second work anniversary, trying to master the ins and outs of post-grad life. Some may be transitioning from entry-level positions to mid-level ones, seeking guidance in their new roles.

It’s difficult to believe nearly four years passed since I transitioned from college student to new professional. Although I was an active PRSSA member throughout college, I chose to postpone PRSA involvement. I waited one year to join PRSA on a local and national level, and looking back, I truly wish I joined sooner. I missed out on so many opportunities to network and gain the support I desperately needed as a budding new pro in an unfamiliar city.

If you’re a soon-to-be grad or new professional considering whether to join your local PRSA Chapter, please consider the benefits local membership provides.

Finding mentors

Think of your local PRSA Chapter as a trusted support group that wants to see you succeed. It’s laden with seasoned professionals who can offer guidance as you begin your career.

My local PRSA Chapter connected me with peers and seasoned pros who helped me navigate the post-grad waters. Throughout my career, I’ve met several mentors via social media: but in the end, there’s nothing better than chatting with professionals face to face. Local mentors offer so many opportunities to engage, whether it’s discussing topics over coffee or connecting at a PRSA event.

Seeking new opportunities

Considering a new gig? Trying to land your first post-grad career opportunity? Your local PRSA Chapter is an amazing place to start. In addition to career tools (such a job boards,) your Chapter offers endless chances to build relationships vital to your success. Networking is all about cultivating relationships, and your local Chapter is a valuable resource.

Continuing education

College students often take learning for granted. Once the coursework is complete and you receive your diploma, it’s up to you to gain new skills and pursue higher education.

PRSA offers programs that help sharpen your skills and expand your public relations toolkit. Considering earning your APR? Wondering if an MBA is right for you? Your local Chapter can offer support as you shape your career path.

Cultivating friendships

When I moved to Columbus, Ohio in May 2010, I could count the Columbus residents I knew with my two hands.

When I graduated, no one warned me how difficult it can be to foster new friendships after college. Making new friends demands a little extra effort and a proactive approach.

My local PRSA Chapter gave me so much more than opportunities to learn and network: It gave me a chance to turn professional acquaintances into friends. Many of my local Chapter peers initially bonded over common career goals and interests, but our professional relationships eventually grew into friendships.

PRSA Chapter members: What’s your favorite local PRSA Chapter benefit?

 

f84bd73ce090253a0d12b7e23f8ddd65Rebecca Odell manages marketing and communications at Big Red Rooster: a multidimensional brand experience firm. She’s an active Central Ohio PRSA member and co-chairs the Chapter’s New Professionals Section. You can reach her via email, Twitter or LinkedIn.