Monday, February 27, 2006

Overview of Social Media and Tools

Beth Farrell and Luke Armour, graduate PR students at the Univeristy of Akron blog about the public nature of blogs and share a great Powerpoint presentation that they prepared for PRSSA students about Social Media. We recommend that you take a look at it as it is a good overview of Blogging and Podcasting, along with a list of tools.

Friday, February 24, 2006

Tips for PR Toddlers

I found a post by Blake Barbera about Guy Kawasaki’s blog. Blake reports that Guy is one of the original employees responsible for marketing the Mac when it was launched. Guy’s blog contains lots of tips like How to Become a More Effective Emailer, The Art of Schmoozing, How to Kick Butt On a Panel, How to Get a Standing Ovation, and The Art of Execution. Guy’s writing style is entertaining and informative. I will be sharing some of his suggestions around the office. Naturally, the fact that he is a Mac Guru makes him highly credible in my opinion.

The wet feet pr blog by the way focuses on “an ongoing look into public relations from an entry level standpoint.” I was first drawn to it because of a post encouraging PR pros to use blogging to mentor PR students as is occurring at SMU. Perhaps something we should consider once we’ve gotten our own feet wet.

Knowledge Workers Get Connected Today not Tomorrow!

An exciting tool has arrived for creative professionals. Well, not really new but it is fast and convenient. Changing content at the quick of a button is invaluable. Of course, wikis don't work everyone. There are some interdisciplinary challenges that arise from its use.

For example, wikis are used best for structured information; however, it may not be an invaluable tool for the creation of new ideas. The idea of wikis is not new, just an enhanced technology whose main design is to develop a workable flow of ideas, ie. promotion of communicationn interchange. Wikis encourage professionals to share their viewpoints and receive feedback on processes. There are very easy templates to use that will help with the navigation of this great tool.

Finally, it can be used for small group cooperation, knowledge management, individual psychology, societal norms and behaviors, and management skills and technical design.
Essentially, wikis are the old way we used to do focus groups and now with the advent of technology, we have taken this one step further to involve management strategies and processes.

What a neat tool?

By Erica Taylor

Educational Warfare:Technology vs. Humanities

Any person interested in public relations vis a vis educational opportunities and investments in the future educational programs would enjoy reading the article “Investing in ‘Science’ Means the Humanities Too.”

How does anyone compare the value of technologically-based professions with humanies-based professions and come through with anything valid? Since technology allows us to implement communication such as this blog, it’s invaluable, but without the bridge of communication that allows the technologists to share ideas with the humans :-), no technology will be used, regardless of its value.

Grassroots PR Force of 8,000

Advertising Age carried an article earlier this week about plans that pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline is making to win over a skeptical public. It plans to “deputize” its 8,000 sales representatives as “public relations ambassadors” to respond to the criticism of and the negative perceptions held about the pharmaceutical industry.

Michael Pucci, GlaxoSmithKline’s vice president of external advocacy, created the program which he is calling the ”Value of Medicine.” Sales people will be asked to talk to their families, Rotarians, Elks, Lions Club members, senior-citizen groups, weekly newspapers, schools and other community groups.

Armed with talking points and answers to tough questions, the sales force has been asked to go out and speak to Rotarians, Elks, Lions Club members, senior-citizen groups, weekly newspapers, schools and every community group they can think of. And Mr. Pucci said GSK has enough sales reps to cover every county in every state in the country.

The key message include:

  • Affordability of prescription medication;
  • How today’s medicines fund the next generation of blockbuster drugs;
  • Access to state and federal programs that offset drug prices; and,
  • Common misconceptions about direct-to-consumer advertising (such as television drug ads)

This grassroots PR effort, which aims to capitalize on research that shows people trust information if they understand its source and if they know the communicator. Katie Payne and also Robert at InfOpinions write about the Glaxo plans.