Kicking Sand

Jennifer Leggio recently released insightful survey results from several months work capturing opinions from in-house PR reps about client satisfaction. The results caused a stir amongst agencies as certain points were driven home: Continue reading →

I’ve had the recent pleasure of hanging with some of my favorite PR pro’s. We’re all cut from the “same PR cloth” and are passionate about re-defining what PR is and how it’s perceived. Also core to these discussions are commiserating over the executives that won’t just let us do our job as it should be done (thankfully not my problem now.) Some are control freaks that can’t extract themselves from marketing details, others think PR is mainly for SEO purposes, there are all kinds. Almost all are guilty for not understanding how you get the most power out of PR. Continue reading →

This recent discussion got my mind to thinking after I read his post a second time and saw how angry and defensive he was.  And it’s OK. I totally get it.  He’s passionate about what he does.  And I am too.  And we’re both actually working toward the same thing, which is to make professionals smarter. Continue reading →

The other night I received an email inviting me to attend a Social Marketing workshop. After reading this email and, no offense to Giovanni as I’m sure attendees will learn a lot, but the first thing I thought was – Social Marketing? Now we’ve got another name in the mix that’s basically a description of what “Public Relations” or “Integrated Communications” is when incorporating social web tactics. Continue reading →

Wow. I guess I’m on a roll. I’m inspired. A lot of thoughts going on in my head right now. I touched down in LA, went home and then…

After the tragic comedy that was the #failedpitch, I had drinks with PR bad ass, Vanessa Camones. As she said over a glass of champagne, “We’re cut from the same PR cloth.” We are in sync that PR as it is known is not PR as it should be done. The name is tainted and, I’m starting to feel, beyond repair. Continue reading →

I am currently sitting on a plane flying back from a business trip to NY and was trying to read a magazine but am so bothered by something that occurred last night I had to get out my laptop and write it down so I can move on.

In recent weeks my CEO has forwarded me a couple emails from a guy who runs a PR firm in NY. I would actually really, really love to say exactly who it is but I won’t. He’s been reading about us in the news and is doing what agencies do when companies keep getting larger and larger on their radar, they start trying to work it to win the business. Continue reading →

After I posted the Tips article based on lessons I learned a few more came to mind so I thought I’d share those as well. I appreciate the feedback and encourage anyone with extra insights to please add to the discussion in the comments.

1. Expand your cell plan. When I listed the items you’d need (laptop, internet, database) I left out the most obvious- the cell phone. Get a good plan, negotiate down the rate because you’re going to need those minutes. Continue reading →

I figured if I’m encouraging all those new PR Recession-istas to look into consulting, it’s only fair if I share some things I learned during my transition from 7 years at high-tech PR firms to flying solo. A lot of it was fun, some, not so much.

1. Take a serious look at what you excel at and then consider what areas you want to grow. This will help you hone the type of consulting you should focus on. At least at first. I know the breadth of PR I began to do seriously expanded the more experience freelancing. Continue reading →

I just heard of yet another PR agency laying people off and this time it hit very close to home as it impacted a dear friend. Damn economy.

Many of us lived through this before during the bust. It was equally tragic then with some agencies being forced to close up entire offices, not just layoff a percentage of their staff. But, as with the last cycle, we saw that downturns like this always breed innovations and movements that lead to big change. The PR industry is not exempt. Continue reading →

Last week I had the pleasure of once again joining Al Krueger, Jennifer Leggio and almost Brian Solis (something came up) for Comet Branding Radio to talk about potential threats to the PR industry-at-large if not able to grasp social media or how it incorporates into business strategies. The topic spawned an engaging discussion that took a step back, looking at social media’s place within the larger map of communications, marketing, the sales cycle and branding. Continue reading →