There’s nothing like a great saying to inspire us.  For years authors have leaned upon quotes from the past to initiate creative thinking.  Historians have used the sayings of those who came before us to understand history’s affect on the future.

While it may seem that words from the past are less meaningful in this world of digital messages, instantaneous connection and ever-changing culture, PR pros can still seek encouragement and motivation from some old-timers who knew what they were talking about. Check out these six quotes that can make you think twice, re-boot your creativity and inspire your next press release. Thanks to Stacey Acevero of PRWeb for submitting today’s guest post.

Words From Old: Six Quotes From History To Inspire Your Next Press Release

1.    “Think like a man of action, and act like a man of thought.” – Henri L. Bergson, Nobel Prize winning French philosopher

 Bergson convinced thinkers of his time that immediate experience and intuition are more significant than rationalism and science for understanding reality.

Do you still rely upon your intuition to come up with meaningful campaigns and content?  How can your experiences positively influence the way others see your brand?

2.    “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” – Will Rogers, actor/humorist

It’s a relevant thought in today’s non-stop, 24/7, all-access world of information.  Success in the digital marketplace is all about movement and adaptation.  Stop your progress and you won’t just be left behind, you’ll be trampled.

3.    “History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.” – Winston Churchill

No better motivation for writing content that will stand the test of time.  Remember, everything that goes on the web stays there, forever.  Make it relevant and compelling.

4.    “Ignore the conventional wisdom. If everybody else is doing it one way, there’s a good chance you can find your niche by going in exactly the opposite direction.” – Sam Walton, founder of Walmart

 What better motivation to look for niche sites on the net that can tap into new audiences or those who best fit the profile of the customers you want to reach!

 5.    “Anything is possible if you’ve got enough nerve.” – J. K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series

Rowling’s words are especially true in light of the Internet and its explosion of opportunities and possibilities.  Take a second look at how you market your brand and then push yourself to look outside the box.

6.    “I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” – Thomas Edison

A campaign that fell flat, an event that went wrong – PR is replete with potential for failure and yet it also provides a slate on which you can shape your brand’s presence in the marketplace.

Have you encountered failure in your marketing efforts?  Look for the success underneath – it may be the next great campaign that benefits from your wisdom.

Knowing that others have faced similar challenges and questions is a great motivator.  Take their advice and observations to heart.

Start your day with these and other quotes that motivate you and then answer this question:  If you knew you couldn’t fail, what would you do?

My Skechers Shape Ups arrived today. It’s neat; when you wear these shoes, you don’t walk–you sort of roll.

It’s an odd motion at first, but one that keeps you moving. That’s kind of how social media is, too. It may feel odd at first, but once you get moving you wonder how you managed to communicate before being connected to your friends online.

Flickr Blogger Book Launch Group Disclosure

My company contributed to the social media strategy along with Beth Rosen of 4 Keys Media; we created a flickr blogger book launch photo group; facilitated the Naked Fitness book tour event blog, and I was a member of the event’s social media team. Along with the other participants, many high profile social media celebrities, I received several promotional giveaways, including a NordicTrack weight set, Coach’s Oats, Muscle Milk, EA Sports Active 2, lunches and dinners at Hotel Arista in Naperville and Sunda Sushi. Today, I’m sharing a few ideas with you about how to promote a blogger event and book launch.

Posterous is a great place to set up a free blog. We set up 27 posts, including this one that recognizes the Naked Fitness, which is the name of Andrea Metcalf’s new book, event sponsors.

15 Social Media Marketing and PR Suggestions for a Blogger Book Launch

1. Encourage sponsors to interact with bloggers and to feature them on company blogs.

2. Set realistic expectations of the kind of coverage sponsors can expect, both directly and indirectly.

3. Give the social media team clear guidelines regarding content and frequency.

4. Interview bloggers and invite them to guest post on the event blog.

5. Host communications briefs before, during and after the event.

6. Give the bloggers an RSS feed they can follow and plug into their stream, if they want.

7. Invite local people with high klout scores to participate in a social event.

8. Propose that local officials declare a special day to honor the event.

9. Connect with schools and community centers to set up special appearances.

10. Allow time to plan, create, review, edit and then schedule tweets and Facebook updates.

11. Set measurable social media and marketing goals.

12. Collect all communications on one site with a back channel for check-ins.

13. Develop a series of releases, one for each event and sponsor.

14. Distribute releases online via prlog.net [free] or prweb.com [paid].

15. Publicize all blog posts with updates throughout social networks.

What would you add?

Next week, I’m honored to present four programs at the IAPD/IPRA [Illinois Association of Park Districts - Illinois Park and Recreation Association conference]. Thanks so much to Jessica Alexenko of the Lisle Park District for booking me to speak at two workshops and two breakout sessions. We started talking about the conference almost a year ago and just last week I met several people at two different events who told me how much fun I would have at the conference.

In preparation for my sessions, I started scrolling back to think of stories I could share about park districts and realized that communities rely on local park districts for programming and facilities to shape activities, talents, teams, events, friendships and well, a whole lot of livelihood.

Our family photo album is filled with images from park districts and their programs: Magical Morning Workshop, ballet, creative movement, art, soccer, breakfast with Santa, playing at the park, walks around the lake and black and white images I developed in my photography class. I’m really looking forward to speaking to this group, meeting up with our local park district reps and reconnecting with a college friend who’s an area park district board member.

If you’ll be there, too leave a comment, send me a text message at 630.207.7530 or get in touch with me @wiredprworks on twitter.com.

Here are my sessions.

Wired Writing Workshop: How to Write for Screens, Spiders, Networks and People!
Barbara Rozgonyi, Founder, CoryWest Media, LLC
No matter what your grades were like in English class, chances are your teachers taught you how to write for print. But, great grammar and spotless spelling aren’t what you need for success in writing online. In this workshop, you will learn how to compose, format, package, repurpose and send your message so it gets action. You can use these skills every day in every message you compose to be read online (and off).
Participants will: (1) learn to organize and create informative or persuasive content that generates results; (2) learn to use tools and strategies to package content for multiple applications from print to online applications such as Facebook and Twitter and create a workplan that will guide consistent development throughout the organization to save time and improve quality.

Real-ize Your Virtual Brand: New Age Marketing/PR
Barbara Rozgonyi, Founder, CoryWest Media, LLC
Learn how to capture attention, start a conversation and convert searchers into customers using the power of virtual public relations! With the dawn of the social media revolution, the standard press release evolved into a dynamic new format that lets you take control of the story, presentation and distribution. Discover how you can tap into the PR power of the Internet – today and tomorrow – create news releases that attract readers, robots and search engines and dramatically increase your online visibility overnight.
Participants will: (1) learn how to bypass the press and easily track search engine rankings and readership for future success; (2) learn to masterfully convert simple press releases into multimedia Web sites.

Social Media Sampler: Test Drive the Latest in Marketing and Networking!
Barbara Rozgonyi, Founder, CoryWest Media, LLC
Blurring the lines between networking, marketing, public relations and communications, social media nurtures relationships that grow your business community online. You’ll find out how social media marketing can polish your profile, enhance your professional image and present you as the industry leader you are. In this session you’ll go on a live test drive and learn how social media sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Blogs and YouTube can benefit you and your agency. You will take away a social media owner’s manual that includes an action guide, resource directory, profile checklist and tips to grow your network.
Participants will: (1) take away a social media owner’s manual that includes an action guide, resource directory, profile checklist and tips to grow their network; (2) learn how to effectively and creatively utilize social media such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Blogs and YouTube.

Demystifying PR: Five Ways to Become an Expert News Source
Barbara Rozgonyi, Founder, CoryWest Media, LLC
Discover five ways to become an expert news source with new media tools and techniques you can start using today. Going beyond the meaning of PR as public relations or press releases we’ll cover: page rank; platform research; professional reputation; personal relevance; and process repetition. In one hour you’ll be on your way to planning your route to expert status. Participants will: (1) discover how to find and contact media sources; (2) learn how to craft traditional and social media press releases.

Images: Barbara Rozgonyi from the www.thesociallens.com copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

Your Turn: What’s your parks and rec story? How would you – or do you – share it via social media?

I’m really excited to be presenting at my first ever Public Relations Society of America [PRSA] meeting.

Thanks to Diane Short for being such a professional and easy to work with program chair. If you’re in the Chicago area, I’d love to see you there! Here’s the program announcement.

January 12, 2010
PRSA Suburban Chicagoland
Social Media Releases: the “Swiss Army knife” of Public Relations

Barbara Rozgonyi will show you how to craft and pump up your press releases for maximum impact.

You’ve leave this program with the following:
# Search Engine Optmization: Find out how to attract more focused attention with keywords and links

# Socialization: Learn how to transition traditional releases into a shareable and multi-media social release format

# Distribution: Discover free and paid distribution services that help you target newsmakers, customers and communities

Presenter(s)
Barbara Rozgonyi, Founder, CoryWest Media, LLC
CoryWest Media, LLC, is a strategic social, public relations and marketing consultancy based in Chicago’s western suburbs. The creator of the Marketing Transformations Process and The Accelerated Marketing Plan, Barbara blends her experience as a storyteller, sales trainer, entrepreneur, marketing consultant and social media maven into lively, dynamic programs that get results for clients, live audiences and students. In August 2009, Ragan Communications tapped Barbara’s talent to develop “twitter 101” and “twitter and PR” programs for their Social Media Boot Camp.

Program details
Date: January 12, 2010
Time: Networking at 6:00 PM, Dinner at 6:30 PM, Program Follows
Location: Sheraton Suites, 121 Northwest Point Blvd., Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Cost: $30.00 for PRSA members $40.00 for non-members $25.00 for PRSSA students

Registration Deadline: 12:00 PM January 11, 2010

Online PR Social Media Releases Program Registration

Have a question or need help with online social media releases? Let’s talk in the comment box or call me at 630.207.7530.

In this picture, I’m smiling at an authentic Chicago Italian beef joint with Marc Harty. We met for the first time a few years ago when I won a contest to be Marc’s guest at an Internet marketing seminar. We’re both Illinois grads, we both like Italian beef and we both have a passion for helping people get their news out and rank higher in the search engines.

When Marc asked me to review his new product: Online PR Made Easy, I downloaded the files with a critical eye. After all, I teach online public relations and my company provides these types of services for clients.

Online PR Made Easy Overview
Current Price: $97.00, set to increase, includes 25% lifetime PRWeb.com discount
Ratio of Value to Investment: High
Recommended for: beginners and anyone who wants to save research time – Marc’s done most of it for you, including running down specialty distribution services and ranking free or low-cost distribution resources.

Critical Review of Online PR Made Easy from an Experienced Perspective

What could Marc say that I didn’t know already? [Disclosure: Marc gave me a complimentary review copy, but did not require a review or payment. The links to the product in this post are all affiliate links. I will receive a commission if you buy this product using my affiliate URL. If you do, let me know and I'll send you a copy of my Ultimate PR Secrets interview with Marc Harty, a $49 value, for free.]

Pre-product: Marc went all the way to England to get video for the “London Chronicles” pre-launch blog promo portion of the product launch. While I don’t think a trip across the pond adds to the value of the product, it’s interesting to watch Marc on camera. He’s an engaging storyteller and if you haven’t been to England, you’ll enjoy the scenery. Plus, it shows the level of commitment and detail Marc puts into not only promoting, but producing and presenting, his products.

You won’t have to guess what you get when you order this one. Although Marc’s already upgraded the product since I reviewed the launch version, here are a few modules I liked that stand out:

Insta-Coaching Step by Step Online PR Video Tutorials Demonstrate How-to
Press Release Success
Newswire Selection
Press Release Distribution
Metrics & Tracking

Optimized Templates: The 20-Minute Press Release Fills in the Blanks
New Product Template
Event Template
Expert Authority Template

Ultimate Newswire Directory Sorts out Distribution Options
lntroduction
Directory Tour
Specialty Newswires
Specialty Newswire Tour
Geo Targeted Newswires
Geo Targeting Exercise
Social Media Newswires

Online PR Made Easy Process Maps Chart Out Checkpoint Systems
OPME process maps, or flowcharts, include:
1) Press Release Creation
2) Press Release Distribution
3) Press Release Metrics and Tracking
Clearly laid out, these flowcharts help with planning and tracking.

There are a few areas I would build on, but given that this is more of an introductory package that even more advanced users can learn from, I think it’s definitely worth $97.00 [price subject to increase]. Maybe you have the money, but do you have the time? Marc’s done such a thorough job with video, special reports and templates that you’ll want to study the course to make sure everything sinks in. The good news is once you own the course, you can keep studying. If you’re pressed for time or you’re not good at do-it-yourself communications projects, this may not be the product for you. But, if you’re willing to learn, you’ll get fill in the blank templates, video tutorials, insider tips and shortcuts that will save you more than $97.00 [price subject to increase].

My Online PR Made Easy Review on Marc’s Site . . .

When Marc Harty asked me to review his new product: Online PR Made Easy, I opened the files with a critical eye. After all, I teach online public relations and my company provides these types of services for clients. What else could I learn? Having learned some valuable tips when I interviewed Marc for Ultimate PR Secrets, I looked forward to finding out.

With detailed process maps, tutorials and templates, publicity seekers at all levels will find it easy to write and send optimized press releases. Considering that many companies often invest $200 on distribution alone, Online PR Made Easy is a well-priced investment in better online PR performance.

Check out Online PR Made Easy at http://budurl.com/easyonlinepr

Have a question about how online PR can dramatically improve your visibility and search results? Let’s talk in the comment box or call me at 630.207.7530.

Wired PR Works!
Barbara Rozgonyi