Social media rules to follow

We frequently hear how important social media is to building a business, yet it is overwhelming to know when or where to start communicating with fans and building an audience.   Sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Google+ are great ways for companies to build brand awareness, improve SEO and engage with their customers. 

Here is a great article by Entrepreneur magazine on five strategies that will enhance your social media success.

If you need help customizing your social media efforts, please don’t hesitate to call us at 480.205.6195 or email us.  We work with nonprofits, small businesses, restaurants, professional services and would be happy to help you get started or maintain exist accounts.  

Is it ok to fire a client?

As small business owners, it can be hard to know when to walk away from a client.  But, it can also take a huge weight off your shoulders and open another door.  If you’re struggling with a decision about when to fire a client, here are a few questions to ask yourself:

1.       Does the client pay on time? Most of us have had a client who constantly pays late or uses the standard, “Oh, I thought I put that in the mail” line.  As a small business owner this can be very frustrating and at some point it’s just not worth the headaches anymore.  If they have been late more than twice, this is usually a good indication that they will continue to behind. 

2.       Do you have regular meetings or phone calls? Communication is key and if your client is too busy to meet or strategize with you, that’s usually a sign that they aren’t committed to the business either.  Without forward thinking and strategic planning, no one is going to be successful. 

3.       Do they want to utilize interns or friends for work? Interns and friends can definitely play an important role in building your business and may provide valuable input.  But, if you see clients opts to get things done for “free” instead of utilizing your expertise, it may signal they don’t value your professional input. 

4.       Is it their way or the highway? Have you ever worked with a client who thinks they are an expert in every aspect of the business. It can leave you scratching your head, wondering why they hired a marketing or PR professional?  If you are just there to be an order taker, you may want to reevaluate if this is an ideal client for you or not.  We’d prefer to be in a role where we can make suggestions that will help improve the bottom line, generate awareness and attract new customers. 

5.       Flaking.  We once set up an interview for a client and they cancelled within hours of it, leaving us to scramble.  This reflects poorly on them and you as a PR professional.  Clients who don’t value your time or relationships are going to end up hurting your contacts with the media. 

More times than not, you need to trust your instincts.  Keeping a client on and putting up with bad behavior can result in cash flow problems, lower employee morale and a more stress.  Once you make the decision and let them go, you’ll be amazed as to what doors open and lead you to more fulfilling work. 

Preparing for a Radio Interview

Landing a media interview is just half the battle. Now, it’s time to prepare the spokesperson by developing key messages and determining the call to action.  This week, we’ll explore how to prepare for a radio interview. 

• Always ask for the subject matter in advance.  This will give you some time to craft your key messages. You’ll also want to ask if it’s a live or taped segment.
• Use your voice to create variety and interest – no monotones.
• Don’t let the host fluster you.  He/she might ask you an unrelated question or describe your business in an unusual way.  Continue on with your key messages and bridge back to the points you wish to make. 
• Feel free to have notes with you or relevant statistics to help support your key messages. 
• If you are in-studio, maintain a distance of six to eight inches from the microphone, with both elbows ON the table. 
• Avoid ums, ahs and long pauses
• Don’t let angry or hostile callers throw you off.  Always take the high road and stick to your key messages.
• Remove jargon or long explanations.  Speak in short sound bites.  
• Conclude the interview with your web site address and a specific call to action.

What are you most thankful for this holiday season?

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, it’s a good time to give thanks to all the wonderful people and businesses that make my career in public relations fun, rewarding and fulfilling. 

1.       My husband for being supportive of my career as a WAHM (work-at-home-mom).
2.       My clients for trusting my judgment and allowing me to be a part of your business.  It’s rewarding to see how marketing, branding, public relations and social media can positively impact your organization. 
3.       My business associates such as Creative Intuition and Newhouse Studios for being outstanding partners in web development.  We work incredibly well together and it’s a pleasure to be surrounded with creative and smart professionals. 
4.       My connections and friendships with other PR colleagues who willingly share best practices, pass referrals back and forth to each other and generally care about each others well-being. 
5.       Members of the media who help spread our messages and tell stories that matter. 
6.       Social media tools such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and Google+ that are changing the way PR professionals do business.  These tools play a vital role in any company or nonprofits marketing plan - allowing them to reach and engage with customers, donors, volunteers and businesses on a whole new level.
7.       Networking groups (online or in person) that help me grow professionally and keep me connected with the latest trends.
8.       New opportunities.  My job allows me to meet new people, learn about new industries and work with some amazing people. 

So, what are you thankful for this year?