A few days ago I spoke to a group that started programming early in the morning. Although I wasn’t on until 9:45 I decided to get there early to hear the first speaker talk about communications. Our preliminary exercise required that we introduce the person to our right. The person on my left introduced the…
Is there a simple way to tell how you’re doing in social media? How can you gauge what’s working and what needs to be fixed? In preparing for a presentation, I came up with ways to rank five social media marketing and PR essential elements. Plan Platforms Keywords Images Stories Social Media Marketing Scoring Guide…
Today is Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday. While there’s lots of talk about our new president being the first to bring technology into White House communications, maybe this reference really belongs to President Obama’s role model, Abraham Lincoln. On November 7, 2006 – election day – I wrote a post called Abe Lincoln’s T-Mails: high-tech Civil…
As a backdrop for my presentation to “It’s Chic to be Geek” I’m sharing a process we usually only show to our clients. Called the Creative WorkPlan, it’s a structure thought process/checklist that walks you through why you’re writing or communication just about anything. Thanks to Theresa Carter, founder of Chicago’s “The Local Tourist” and…
Looking for ways to energize your message delivery? Here’s the list we use when we create wired writing for our clients. Wired Writing: Ways to Enliven Writing Start with what’s most important Active versus passive voice You versus we Peer editing Short sentences Lead with verbs Tell stories Gunning Fog Index Read aloud Interview Research…
Looking for ways to energize your message delivery? Here’s the list we use when we create wired writing for our clients. Wired Writing: Ways to Enliven Writing Start with what’s most important Active versus passive voice You versus we Peer editing Short sentences Lead with verbs Tell stories Gunning Fog Index Read aloud Interview Research…
“Google is every brand’s new home page.” “You might want to think less about “marketing” and more about “findability.” Two of my favorite quotes from Brink, a new new ebook that captures the best of Todd Defren’s writing at his blog, PR Squared. A principal at SHIFT Communications, Todd sets the tone for the…
“It’ll never work. It’s taken me 12 years to do what I do. You have to practice for hours to do these tricks. And, you have bail – a lot.” 16 year old skateboarder’s answer to why he won’t give skateboarding lessons It’s Monday and I’m in the mood for some motivation. What do you…
What do you tell people you do when you meet them for the first time? Are you a title, a profession, an entrepreneur or something else? On the way to a networking event, I decided to introduce myself as “The Optimizer” or someone who optimizes people, places and things. It’s fun to test out different…
While it didn’t take a press release to get interviewed in a feature about the power of press releases for small businesses on inc.com [published this week], it did take a personal connection. A connection with the writer, Marla Tabaka, a contributor to inc.com’s one person business blog series. Marla also writes for Sparkplugging. A…
Do you know what RSS stands for? Do you care? You do, if you want to get news delivered somewhere to you automatically online. RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. It’s like ordering online subscriptions to blogs, news sites, twitter updates or any content that has an RSS feed. Sounds kind of fancy to have…
Groups give speakers get all kinds of gifts: flowers, chocolate, gift certificates. One of the best “gifts” you can give a speaker is a recommendation. Although I use critique sheets for reviews, it’s not often that a get a group review like this one from West Suburban Women Entrepreneurs. What I like about this format:…
I’m getting ready to redesign this blog and I’m asking for your help. After writing over 550 blog posts, it’s safe to say I like what I’m doing. But, do my readers? How can I make visiting this blog a better experience for them? Click Here to take a quick blog redesign survey Now that…
Does your website need refreshing? Are you attracting all the traffic you want? Does your intent match your results? Every website needs a review now and then. In this article by Barbara Rozgonyi, you’ll discover 20 tactics you can use to revitalize your website. Originally published in October 2007, this post suggests 20 ways to…
Here’s the latest in our reader Q&A series . . . from a college student in Toronto who asked questions in the comment box on a recent post about questioning twitter boundaries. Thanks to Cory for giving me permission to answer her questions as a blog post and to and to everyone who contributes to…
Technorati Tags: branding,marketing,public relations Want to help people remember something? Forming your message into an acronym catches attention and gets you noticed. Possibilities for S-O-C-I-A-L: S subject, space, story, super O organize, open, opus, ostrich C content, create, cool, classic I intelligent, insight, investment, innuendo A act, action, American, all, art L learn, laugh, love,…
Now we’re getting somewhere. Momentum is building in Chicago around all things social media. As a founding member of the second city’s Social Media Club, I’m thrilled to see people packing rooms to learn, network and advance social media for themselves, their companies and the community at large. Check out Social Media Club Chicago’s Facebook…
“I’m calling you because I’m in the happy doodle business. This guy wants to get serious. Maybe you can help him. Here’s his number” That’s the call I got late one afternoon from a well-regarded PR agency that specializes in happy stories. But, life isn’t always happy, fun or pretty – even though some PR…
Red, red wine you make me feel so fine You keep me rocking all of the time Don’t know if that’s his theme song, but that’s the background music in Gary Vaynerchuk’s, Affiliate Summit West conference keynote. I watched it live, took notes and pulled out the highlights. Host of Wine Library TV: Gary Vaynerchuk’s…
I’ll never know everything I need to know about marketing. That’s why I study what other people do that works. Especially people like Ford Saeks whose clients include Randy Gage who talks about prosperity and business. Recently, I had the opportunity to hear Ford talk about marketing for speakers and small business at our local…
If women love to socialize so much, why aren’t more of them growing their networks online? After talking to West Suburban Women Entrepreneurs today, three major obstacles surfaced: time, diversification and technology. [If you’re a meeting planner, call 630.207.7530 to check my availability – I love to do presentations like this.] That’s me with Karen…
Problem: You have a fabulous presentation, but the only people who ever see it sit in your audience Solution: Upload your presentation with or without audio to Slideshare and reach the world – along with more than a few new prospects Almost a year ago today I wrote those words about SlideShare as a cool…
Potlucks are popular in my circles – and a huge source of anxiety for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love to cook [I did answer yes to Julia Child when she asked me that question in person, so I have to say yes]. But, sometimes there isn’t time to make what I want. Take…
Social networking online is a lot like driving in Chicago in winter. This time of year it’s difficult to drive down the street without dropping into a pothole. You know, a dip that jars your car. After a few potholes, you start to dodge the drop off. This post covers five ways to fill the…
Video: A beach in Jamaica with David Hasselhoff – doing the limbo dance. Reality: New year, new budget, uncertainty Every business and organization needs to set a 2009 budget for marketing, advertising and PR based on the results they want to achieve. Maybe you’re doing the limbo dance with your budget right now. Lowering your…
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