PR Job Coach

DECEMBER 19, 2011

'You just finished three job interviews in a week and are still Monday quarterbacking about how well you did or did not. You are analyzing every question and answer to grade your performance with the hope that you got a touchdown and will soon be on your second interview cycle with the offer letter close behind. Then reality sets in and you hear nothing for the next several weeks except the sound of your own criticism and an occasional heartbeat.

Interviews 140

Interviews Analysis Communications 140

Waxing UnLyrical

DECEMBER 8, 2011

Recently, I received an email from someone asking if I would be interested in providing PR services for a fundraising campaign he is embarking on. He is doing this because so far, at least, he’s been unsuccessful in securing funding to build a prototype for what sounds like an interesting invention in the energy field. So now he’s turning to crowd-funding.

Energy 108

Energy Community Twitter Social Media 108

Bad Pitch Blog

DECEMBER 28, 2011

'Yes, the author of Ocean Marketing''s email exchange turned meme is an idiot -- at best. But is this a public relations mistake or is this a customer service mistake? I''m dead serious. Paul has zero credibility and I''m not trying to give him any. But I also refuse to become a part of the pile on. It''s too easy and Paul''s already being fossilized by the weight of the online pile on alone.

Customer Service 69

Customer Service Wikipedia Marketing Pitching 69

Waxing UnLyrical

DECEMBER 7, 2011

Guest post by Martin Waxman. I remember a time not too long ago when I knew how to do my job really well. I’d get up in the morning, scour the media and go to work, confident that when a client would call, I could help them out. I knew what worked by doing; that is, based on success. Soon I had a proven blueprint I could apply to virtually any situation that came my way, knowing that if I stayed with it, the results would be positive.

Product Launch 100

Product Launch Social Media B2B Corporate 100

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Waxing UnLyrical

DECEMBER 28, 2011

This post first ran on Jan. 27 of this year. It’s still the most popular Waxing UnLyrical post to date, so we re-run it, with minor edits to keep it updated, for your reading pleasure in case you missed it earlier. And because we’ve gone shoe shopping. Enjoy! In the genes? I don’t know if we PR pros have a faulty gene or what, but we make it so easy for other professionals to beat up on us.

Pitching 97

Pitching Interviews Comparison Writing 97

Waxing UnLyrical

DECEMBER 12, 2011

Guest post by Erin Feldman. I never was a cheerleader. I wasn’t the type. I wasn’t extroverted or bubbly. I was one of the quiet ones. I liked to study. I liked to read. I liked to think. But even though I never was a cheerleader, I understand the benefits of having a cheerleading squad. A cheerleading squad cheers for the team despite how well or how poorly the team is doing.

Community 94

Community Local Meeting Writing 94

Waxing UnLyrical

DECEMBER 2, 2011

Guest post by Rachael Seda. I’m drinking the Port City Brewery kool-aid (or beer, rather) and I wish other small businesses would give me the same buzz. It all began on a Saturday afternoon. a friend had told me about a $5 beer tasting and tour at a relatively new brewery called Port City. Luckily for me it happens to be a hop, skip and jump from where I live, so a few friends and I decided to check it out.

Small Business 93

Small Business Social Media Twitter Facebook 93

Waxing UnLyrical

DECEMBER 6, 2011

Dear You, Well, this isn’t actually a letter from Jamaica, since I didn’t get online at all much (and that was only to share photos on Facebook) while we were there. After we got back,you were asking about the trip, so I figured I’d tell you a little bit about it. First, though – hello! I hope you had a good Thanksgiving (if you celebrated it), and that the last two weeks have treated you well?

Hotels 92

Hotels Transportation Travel System 92

Waxing UnLyrical

DECEMBER 21, 2011

This past weekend, my friend Ken Mueller shared a video he’d taken of a Christmas flash mob at the Lancaster Central Market, singing the Hallelujah Chorus. I love flash mobs – who doesn’t, right? plus, I think they’re in my DNA, since no one can flash mob like Bollywood can – so I watched it. It’s a cute video, albeit without much arm-shaking and leg-waggling.

Video 76

Video Retail Communications Creativity 76

Journalists receive an overwhelming number of press releases daily, making it hard for your news to stand out. While some news is valuable, most is not.

Media

Waxing UnLyrical

DECEMBER 1, 2011

I read an article in AdAge a couple of weeks ago that described the way the customer data market is set to change , due to new “personal data vault and brokerage” companies like Personal.com. In pursuit of something called (by the author) a “Federated Identity” for all Internet users, these online services allow users to control the data they share with businesses about their spending and surfing habits without piling on usernames and passwords.

Data 76

Data Marketing Travel Web 76

Waxing UnLyrical

DECEMBER 22, 2011

Guest post by Harrison Kratz. Ah, the holiday season. Can you feel the excitement? Amidst all of the lights, gingerbread houses, and It’s a Wonderful Life showings, there are some amazing communities coming together to give back in their own little way to uphold what the holiday season is all about. I’ve been honored to have created and worked with an incredible community spreading across the world with Tweet Drive.

Community 74

Community Social Media Tools Media 74

Waxing UnLyrical

DECEMBER 9, 2011

It’s been about a month since I started working out again (remember I had surgery in September , which meant I couldn’t do anything – literally – for about eight weeks). I g ot back on the exercise horse on Nov. 1. And since I promised to keep you up to date on how things are going on that front, here’s your next monthly update.

Exercises 68

Exercises Training Groups Measurement 68

Waxing UnLyrical

DECEMBER 13, 2011

Jen Zingsheim guest-moderated last week’s #measurepr chat and provided the following recap and transcript. The #MeasurePR chat on December 6 was a free-wheeling smorgasbord of terrific measurement topics, from what the community thinks will be hot measurement trends next year to which free tools we love the most. The discussion kicked off with a great question from Deanna Boss , who wanted to know: “What does 2012 look like for #measurepr?

Community 67

Community Measurement Analytics Trends 67

Speaker: Michelle Garrett, PR Consultant, Author, Speaker

Yes - press releases are still relevant in the world of public relations! 🎯 Ever wondered how to write a compelling press release, or what are current best practices for pitching your news to earn media coverage? In this exclusive webinar with Michelle Garrett, PR Consultant, we’ll cover tips and advice to help you get the most out of each piece of news you pitch!

Pitching

Waxing UnLyrical

DECEMBER 23, 2011

Perhaps you’ve started celebrating Hannukah, or you’re counting down the hours until Christmas Day. In the midst of your holiday cheer – which is well-deserved and much needed, would you take a moment to give a really great gift to nonprofits worldwide? All it will take is one click. I’m serious. Here’s the gen: Next year, thousands of new Internet domains will be up for grabs.

Nonprofit 66

Nonprofit Community Internal International 66

Waxing UnLyrical

DECEMBER 20, 2011

Without the input of communicators and marketers far and wide I fear Christmas may be doomed. Let me explain … The other night in a haze of nog and toddies I noticed that the table next to mine had elves – two of them. They were intense little creatures that smelt like cinnamon and cloves. I watched as they spent the night furrowing their brows at the page on their table.

Communications 66

Communications Analysis Print Meeting 66

Waxing UnLyrical

DECEMBER 30, 2011

I originally published this post when Fall was setting in last year. It didn’t get a lot of attention then, but it remains one of my favorites. And since “clocks and calendars” will be colliding again as 2012 sets in, I’m reposting it with a few modifications for the time of year, to give you a sense of where I come from, and where a part of me will always be.

Skype 65

Skype Google Facebook Twitter 65

Bad Pitch Blog

DECEMBER 5, 2011

'We have all been there. Have we ever. The figurative gas can is in your right hand and the match is in your left. With heavy heart and heavy hand you prep to splash the accelerant all over the well structured, painstakingly-built bridge. The smoke from the flaming embers stings your eyes as you triumphantly walk away from the tenuous relationship/partnerships/business venture.

Construction 63

Construction Exercises Fashion Meeting 63

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Brand

Waxing UnLyrical

DECEMBER 26, 2011

This post originally ran on Dec. 2, 2010. Waxing UnLyrical is on its holiday break, so we’re re-running this post since it might still be useful to you. And we hope you had a terrific holiday weekend! Are you planning to add job seeking to your list of New Year’s resolutions? I’ve been both sides of the interview table quite a bit.

Interviews 63

Interviews Creativity Course Energy 63

Bad Pitch Blog

DECEMBER 12, 2011

'Today Bad Pitch takes aim at Google+. It is, indeed, the newest toy. But it’s not the newest technology or anything that is so amazing that it should change the game. In fact it’s just another experiment to get us hooked in. (Search for the phrase “ Google Wave Game Changer ” and you see what I mean.) PR people are not using Google+ in huge ways—and the business profiles added in are not helping PR people.

Branding 55

Branding Brand Google Facebook 55