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Social Media Club Chicago 9/23 Features LinkedIn Tutorial

Posted on September 13, 2010


Ever wished you could have a LinkedIn referral network that automatically sends you leads, gets you noticed and advances your company’s goals but didn’t think you had the time, tools or talent to go from sitting on the sidelines to becoming a sought-out superstar?

On September 23, I’ll be presented a workshop for Social Media Club Chicago that’s based on the LinkedIn chapter I wrote in the recently published book, “Success Secrets of the Social Media Marketing Superstars.” Published by Entrepreneur Press with lead author Mitch Meyerson, this is a book that includes words of wisdom from over 20 social media marketing leaders. I’m honored to one of them and am pleased to have the opportunity to share my knowledge, especially with groups like Social Media Club Chicago. If you’re in the Chicago area, I hope you can join us at Hotel Palomar for the pre-program and a panel discussion about “Social Media by Design.”

Register to attend Social Media By Design + LinkedIn Power Profile Workshop.

Because I know you’re busy, I’m posting the invitation copy here . . . .

Social Media By Design + LinkedIn Power Profile Workshop on Social Media Club Chicago‘s September 23 Program

Join us and meet up with attendees in town for Cusp2010, a conference about ‘the design of everything.’ Bringing together thinkers, innovators, performers, skeptics, believers, visionaries and explorers from the arts, sciences, technology, business and design, Cusp Conference is for anyone who believes that the best way to predict the future is to design it.

Tickets, $10 before and $20 day of, include program, gourmet appetizers, one drink ticket and cash bar.

Location

Hotel Palomar

505 N. State St.

Program

5:15-6:00 Pre-Program LinkedIn Power Profile Workshop and Author Reception

Barbara Rozgonyi, SMC Chicago founder and author of the “How to Leverage a LinkedIn Network Into Dynamic Business Connections” chapter in the new book “Success Secrets of the Social Media Marketing Superstars” published by Entrepreneur Press with lead author Mitch Meyerson, will share top strategies leading authorities use to attract targeted attention and claim their company’s marketing space on LinkedIn. Bring your copy of the book for Barbara to sign or purchase one of your own at the event.

6:00-6:30 Networking

6:30-7:30 Social Media by Design Panel

7:30-8:30 Socializing and Networking

Event Sponsors

MS&L Chicago is part of MS&LGroup, a leading global communications firm, offering the best in public relations, digital, social media, real-time communications, corporate and events communication. Learn more at http://www.mslworldwide.com/ and follow us on Twitter @mslchicago.

Thanks to Ramon DeLeon of Domino’s Pizza for being SMC Chicago’s official pizza sponsor.

About Cusp2010

Cusp Conference is September 22 -23 2010 – You can learn more about Cusp2010 at www.cuspconference.com and via @CuspConference on Twitter. SMC Chicago discount code ‘SMCC’ saves 10%

Social Media Club Chicago

Social Media Club [SMC] is a worldwide organization, with local chapters, that serves as connecting organization for anyone interested in social media. Membership is free and open to all levels, including beginners. Chicago’s SMC chapter, launched in October 2008, presents events that mix socializing, networking and learning. Barbara Rozgonyi [@wiredprworks], founder and Jeff Willinger [@jwillie], president, lead the Chicago SMC chapter. Amy Korin [@interactiveamy] coordinates volunteers; Tim McDonald [@tamcdonald] manages communications; Jeannie Walker [@jeanniecw] manages logistics and Jessica Murray [@jessicarmurray]. Event attendees include entrepreneurs, corporate communicators, journalists, business professionals, publishers, marketers, media creators, citizen journalists and technology types. For more information, visit http://smcchicago.org, email smcchicagonews@gmail.com, follow @smcchicago on twitter.com or call 630.207.7530.

Can’t make the program? Check out my How to do Business on LinkedIn in 3D: Directly, Digitally and Dynamically presentation.

LinkedIn and Sales: How to Grow Your Business in 3D

Need a LinkedIn, PR or Social Media Marketing keynote speaker, webinar or workshop leader? I’d love to talk to you about speaking to your group. Last minute requests are okay – email corywestmedia @gmail.com or call 630.207.7530.

What’s your biggest question about how to transform a dormant LinkedIn profile into a dynamic global network?

Image: Social Media Club Chicago event with The British Council June 2010 by Barbara Rozgonyi for thesociallens.com.

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Sunday Stroll: Why Asking for Permission is for the Dogs

Posted on September 12, 2010

Thanks for stopping by. Here’s a post about doing something I’d never thought of: asking for a dog’s permission to be photographed. We’ll also cover how to ask people’s permission. But, first how I came up with this post . . . if you don’t want to read the back story, skip to the how to ask permission section. Please share your comments about how you photograph events for PR – or links to photographs of your pets.

It’s day three of being back in the U.S. after spending a week in Paris and I’m writing my third post in as many days, which is not a huge feat, but not something I expected to be doing on an early Sunday morning. While in Paris, we walked and walked and walked – for what seemed like four or five hours a day. Come along with me on a short Sunday stroll and meet Mimi.

Why Asking Permission is for the Dogs

Walking around as a tourist, you’re apt to see lots of scenes you’d like to photograph. For me, in Paris, I wanted to take a picture of a French bulldog. Yes, we have them here and in fact there’s one in our neighborhood. But something about a French bulldog in Paris caught my fancy.

As it happened, we walked right up to a French bulldog and her owner in Montmartre. I hesitated. I knew that I could take a long-range image, but it wouldn’t be as good as a close up. The owner and the dog walked by. I smiled at them and walked in the other direction.

Then, I turned around and followed them. Catching up with the owner, I asked if I could take a picture of her dog, the French bulldog. I didn’t know if she would be offended because I asked in English, not French.

“My dog? You want to take a picture of my dog?” she asked.

“Oui.” I said and smiled.

She laughed and said, “If she wants. Mimi?”

Mimi looked up at her owner and this is the picture I got. She looks kind of quizzical, doesn’t she?

Asking for Permission to Photograph People for PR at Events . . .

When photographing events, first ask people if you can take their picture and then let them know how it will be used and where to find it online.

Ideally, everyone will sign a photo and video release form ahead of time so that all approve what’s being captured.

As extra insurance, preview the images and let the people pictured approve or disapprove the shot right after it’s taken on the camera’s display, and iPad or a laptop.

Our clients get a CD with images or a link to a gallery on flickr. Want to produce a quick, free and easy video? Check out out Animoto, a free tool that turns image slide shows into a videos.

How about you? How do you get permission to take pictures – of pets or people?

Image from the 2010 Paris collection, Montmartre set, by Barbara Rozgonyi for thesociallens.com copyright 2010

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Reflecting on 9/11 and Community PR Communications

Posted on September 11, 2010


To commemorate the ninth anniversary of 9/11, I’m sharing links to coverage along with my views on how the attacks immediately reshaped community public relations and communications.

To me, today is a day to remember, reflect and consider how communications, and life, is always changing.

September 11 Memorial Information

9/11 Memorial Site

Google News about September 11 in 2010

Twin Towers twitter RSS feed, a trending topic on Twitter this morning

Reflecting on How 9/11 Immediately Impacted Community PR and Communications

On September 11, 2001, I got up and went through the usual motions of a mother with three children to get off to school. My husband was away on business in Rotterdam and I was excited to be dressed in a snappy navy pant suite for a meeting with our local school district about photographing the annual report. I marveled at how beautifully the day was starting out.

On our way out the door to walk my boys to school, the phone rang. A friend was calling with the first news about the attacks. I didn’t say anything to the boys, but I told I’d call her back after I dropped them off.

Walking down our quiet, sunny street the news was surreal. How could a day seem so idyllic when the world was falling apart? I could only think about when and where the next attack would be. Arriving at the school district headquarters, the staff was stunned and silent, gathered around a radio, listening for updates and quietly considering crisis communication responses.

Every year on this day, I think back to those first few turbulent hours after the tragic event and remember how fragile the world seemed and how strong and calm we needed to be as education communicators.

We also needed to find ways to communicate quickly, accurately and effectively. At that time, most community organizations – including schools – had no email database, only phone numbers and addresses. While the press could and would cover news, it would be on their deadline and in their voice. Producing a letter took time to write, print or copy and mail. Backpack communications was the most reliable and quick route to homes.

After 9/11, community organizations became more receptive and willing to gather email addresses, connect leaders online and form councils to relay information in case there was another crisis – or good news – that needed to be delivered quickly.

As an early email adapter, I became an advocate and a teacher on how to transfer communications to a digital platform to reach the media, leadership and the community at large.

The school district approved my proposal to develop an e-newsletter, only for teachers and the press at first. Eventually, subscriptions were open to the public. Thanks to Mary Kay O’Grady for asking me to manage these projects for her team.

I did get to photograph the cover of the 2001 annual report. The concept started out as an image of teachers gathered around a flagpole in silence. I had another idea, which was approved in its place. I asked if I could photograph my son’s first grade class releasing butterflies. After the butterflies flew off, I took pictures of the fifth graders replanting a barren prairie patch. Images from each made the annual report with a community theme of new life and recovery.

Because a crisis can strike anytime, here’s a post I wrote about how to plan ahead for crisis PR.

How did 9/11 affect your company or community’s communications?

Image from the 2010 Butterfly Collection by Barbara Rozgonyi for thesociallens.com copyright 2010

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10 Ways to Vacation from Social Media and Technology

Posted on September 10, 2010


Merci and Bonjour: Plugging Back into Networks After Unplugging in Paris

Thanks to those of you who checked in over the past week and wondered “Where in the world is Barbara?” Paris was the answer.

That’s me with Pan in Jardins et Palais du Luxembourg. I’ll have more stories about my trip later, but for now on re-entry day, I’d like to share these ten ways to unplug from social media and technology with you.

Please share your unplugged experiences with us in the comment box. Merci beaucoups!

Here’s my story. . .

I just opened my computer for the first time in over a week. The settings and the open files capture where I was the moment I closed it, slid my Macbook Pro into its case and ran out the door to fly off to Paris on a romantic holiday.

This morning I closed the files I left open that mentioned Hemingway and Julia Child sites in Paris, a refreshed media list, a final press release and a few files with no names, but possible headlines.

All of that work is finished. And now it’s up to me to choose where to start. It’s not a new journey, but a fresh branch on a 20 year old path that returns me to a place I chose to leave deliberately, yet thoughtfully, to focus all [or most] of my attention on experiencing Paris with my husband.

On a walk through the Prairie Path before I left, I planned a series of posts to go up while I was gone. Several possibilities popped into my mind: a retrospective series, a best of, guest authors – each concept could entertain, inform and keep my relationships warm. But, who would respond to comments?

In the end and with time running out, I decided to post a quick message on twitter and Facebook. All emails received a vacation response. A vacation response told callers I was out. After I go through re-entry, I’ll post my thoughts on how that went. But for now, here are 10 thoughts/learnings about being unplugged.

10 Ways to Unplug from Social Media and Technology

1. Decide how much your network to know about where you are. I was vague about where I was. Do you want people to be able to find you in your vacation city or visit your house while you’re gone?

2. Give your clients advance notice and connection to a back up contact who can either continue progress on a project in motion or find you if there’s an urgent matter. Lucky for me, our projects were in a final phase mode and the finishing editor was available to see them through. It’s also good to know that several new projects will begin this month, which made coming back something I looked forward to.

3. Weigh the benefits of being unplugged versus being plugged in. Although we had an iMac in our hotel room, I only used it a few times to check museum hours and directions. I confess that we did look up the Versailles twitter site for information on the site’s opening during a strike. My husband checked email everyday, which was helpful to see what was happening with our kids.

4. Appoint an email guardian. This worked so well that I may entrust someone to browse my email for important messages. I have to admit I get distracted by sales and travel messages that aren’t really relevant to what I’m doing.

5. Relax, your work and your friends will be waiting for you. I love following what people are doing in real time. Engaging in a conversation or commenting would take me out of the Paris zone so I decided not to check in at all.

6. Keep a tab on your international data plan usage. Data roaming charges can rack up to equal almost another vacation’s worth of charges. Before leaving, I talked to at&t, turned on an international plan for one month and turned off data roaming for 99.9% of the entire time we were in Paris. I did turn on the Maps App twice to help us find our way when we needed to confirm an address. In all, I made two phone calls, both to my husband, sent about 30 texts to family and checked Google maps three times.

7. Have a re-entry plan. I’m working on that this morning. Thanks to United for finding my lost luggage that just arrived with my camera battery and card reader, I can start looking at my images. But, I’ll wait to do that until I slog through email, return phone calls and check blog comments along with twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn messages.

8. Know how to use your equipment. My iPhone arrived the week before we left and I purchased a Canon T1i about 10 days before we flew out. Although I didn’t plan to use my iPhone as much, it would have been helpful to understand more about how to use it before we got there. I love my new camera, but am still getting comfortable with the settings.

9. Stay at a hotel with a computer and let your companion do the surfing. When we got back home last night my husband said, “Are you ever going to touch a computer again?” At that moment, I was too tired and jet-lagged to appreciate how much being offline and away from a screen meant to both of us. And next time? I’ll be looking to host a tweet-up in Paris.

10. Write to your readers right away. I missed you all and it’s good to be back at the keyboard and the screen. Although I have to admit, that this morning with jet lag, it’s harder to think.

How about you? When do you choose to unplug and for how long? What recommendations would you share with us?

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Customer Appreciation PR Stamps Out Memory Loss

Posted on August 26, 2010


Today’s mail call brought in two thank you notes.

One, in the form of a postcard, came from Zappos.com addressed to my son who returned a pair of shoes. He’s growing fast, but he only needed one size bigger, not two, to replace his shredded Lakai Manchester Selects.

What do you do when your shoes don’t fit?

My son, a high school sophomore, gets on the phone.
After all, Mom is for preliminary price approval, not return intervention.

When he found the shoes he ordered weren’t in stock in his correct size, the customer service rep stayed on line with him while he shopped for a new pair onsite. He wanted the ones that cost $11 more and was willing to pay. But, Zappos said no prob, we’ll upgrade your order at no charge.

Today Sarah’s postcard came in the mail: “Thanks for calling in today! I hope you like your new Lakai shoes!” The “return address” on the card is a call to action: “Put a smile in someone’s day by sending them an unexpected observation or totally random comment.”

In the past 10 years, I’m estimating I’ve purchased at least 50 pairs of skate shoes. [Please, don’t do the math.] Not one shoe or shoelace has come from Zappos. Why? We never thought of them as a skate shoe store. Do you think Zappos has a frequent skate shoe buyer club? Because if they do, I know at least a dozen dudes who’ll sign up.

And, the second thank you note came as a letter addressed to me to share with Social Media Club Chicago from Adele Hazen of GasPedal thanking us for all of our help with BlogWell. Primary credit for that goes to Tim McDonald, SMC Chicago’s communications director.

What’s our customer relationship with BlogWell? Social Media Club is a marketing partner, which means that we often get free tickets to the events in exchange for letting our members know about special discounts.

But, my personal relationship with GasPedal goes back almost two years ago when Andy Sernovitz gave me a scholarship to attend his Word of Mouth Marketing Genius event – for free. Inspired, I wrote “PR Tools: Word of Mouth Marketing – Give it Away,” and gave away the steps in my company’s marketing transformations process.

How do you show customer appreciation?

As many times as I’ve listened to Natalie Merchant sing “Kind and Generous,” the first time I saw the music video was just now when I previewed it to embed in this post. Wow!

For those of you would like a personal thank you note for reading this post, please email your address to corywestmedia @gmail.com with the message “Please Thank Me” in the subject line.

How do you or your company show appreciation?

Image creditt: Thanks to Shutterstock.com for supplying images in exchange for a photo credit.

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