What NOT To Do

Ok, so this may seem like common sense, but here are a few things no PR person should ever do, and yes, I’ve seen these before.

So here it goes. A list of things to avoid:

How To Use a White Paper To Your Advantage

White papers present your company with a unique opportunity to share your industry know-how and set yourself apart as an expert in your field. They are a great resource for reporters looking for background information on a subject and can help you to become a source for a story related to your industry.

The challenge of writing a white paper is what to do with it once it has been written. A white paper cannot be distributed as a news release would—reporters wouldn’t get beyond the first sentence—but without touting its existence, a white paper can get lost in the Internet abyss. After you spend the time and effort to write a white paper, it is important that reporters and consumers in your industry read it.

How to become more successful just by changing up your day

We all wake up wanting to have a productive day, do good work for our company and stay a step ahead of our competitors. I recently found a blog at Fast Company’s website, called 5 things to do every day for success by Dayna Steele, who shares some advice on how to succeed even while others sleep. The simplicity in the author’s advice goes to show that it doesn’t require much to make a great impression or beat the competition, especially if you are searching for a career opportunity.

The Power of Repetition

Have you ever had one of those ideas that you think is brilliant, so brilliant that you have to tell your boss? It might be a miss the first time, but if you are persistent and keep bringing up the idea – your boss might start to think that it is her idea. Believe it or not, public relations strategy tends to work the same way.

New Year’s Writing Resolution

With the New Year underway, many individuals are still making resolutions for their personal and professional lives. One thing everyone can stand to work on is improving fundamental skills such as writing. In the article 3 Unusual Exercises to Improve Your Writing in 2012, author Laura Hale Brockway gives a few examples on how to change up your process and improve your writing.

How to make a name for yourself in the PR industry

Establishing and maintaining relationships with other industry professionals is a useful tool in building a network and making yourself well-known in your field. The same holds true in the public relations industry. There are several steps that you can take to bolster your reputation, and Becky Jones of PR Daily has concisely listed them in “Five sure-fire ways to become known in the PR industry.”

Targeting Your Publics

All too often, we get so caught up in putting our ideas onto paper, that we can sometimes forget who we are writing for. It is important to keep our audience in mind with every news release we send, but sometimes it becomes the last thing we think of when we sit down to write.

To avoid this in your writing, consider the following points before drafting your news release and as you are editing.

Why PR?

Working in public relations has shown me that there is a cloud of confusion surrounding the field.  Not only is there uncertainty of what public relations IS, but also how it works and benefits your company. Let’s see if we can’t bring some light to the subject.

The Strategy Behind Viral Videos

More and more businesses have started using videos, whether posted on YouTube or the company website, to showcase their talents and expertise. However, with so many videos floating around, how can you ensure that your company’s video goes viral and gains high traffic?

Chin Up

When distributing a news release, it’s easy to expect that each reporter you send the release to will cover it; however, as much you might wish, this isn’t how it works.  There will be times when you will send a news release and it does not receive as much coverage as you had expected. The most important thing to remember is that you are developing a longer-term relationship with reporters so that they will be more likely to write stories about your company in the future.