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15 Top Tips for a Successful PR Career
One of the things I enjoy most nowadays is having the opportunity to speak to the future leaders of the PR profession when they’re starting out. One of the questions I often get asked is “what tips would you offer to get ahead in this field?”
Now that spring has sprung (at least, it’s trying to) and students are turning their minds to life after school, I thought it might be timely to offer some of that advice up here.
Here are 15 top tips for success in a public relations career. Funnily enough, I’d give the same advice to someone 10 years into their career, like me, too:
Never Stop Learning
Six Essential Shifts in Social Media Strategy
This post was originally published on Dave Fleet’s blog.
We’ve reached a critical point in the evolution of social media as a business tool. Gone are the days when the GMOOT (Get Me One Of Those) approach will get you anywhere – simply having a Twitter account, or a Facebook Page, isn’t enough. We’re at the point of social media saturation, and something’s got to give.
June 11, 2012 in Our IdeasTrust in 2012: 4 Implications for Social Media
Originally posted on Dave Fleet’s blog.
Edelman recently released the results of its 2012 Trust Barometer survey. Given the events of the last year, it’s hardly surprising that trust is decreasing pretty much across the board.
That is, except in Canada. Read more »
February 2, 2012 in Opinions, Our IdeasInsulating Your Business Against a Social Media Meltdown
Though it may seem far-fetched in an age of always-on communication, your organization’s digital properties, like your website or Twitter handle, can be taken offline by accident or interference. Here are three examples from 2011:
- In September, a group of hackers gained control of NBC’s popular Twitter account @NBCNews, and began broadcasting false news reports that included an airplane crash in Manhattan.
- In August, the British Prime Minister mused aloud about whether it was right for the government to shut down social media, which were perceived as being an organizational tool for rioters in London.
- And in January the Egyptian government turned off access to the Internet in Egypt altogether in an attempt to halt the protests in Tahrir Square that eventually felled the regime.
While no-one expects their own organization to experience this, a significant disruption to your business in any variety of guises can strike at any time, without notice. Are you prepared and ready to respond if your company’s Twitter account is compromised? Read more »
December 21, 2011 in Opinions, Our IdeasCorrecting a mis-tweet
Anyone who has ever had a conversation knows that despite our best attempts to speak clearly and listen carefully, the exchange of information is not always clear. Whether we’re talking to a cousin, a friend or a customer, the message we want to deliver doesn’t always arrive intact — sometimes we say things wrong; sometimes what we say is misinterpreted. And it seems to be happening more often in the online space as the immediacy and brevity of communication can tempt users to put less critical thought into their actions.
The potential to be misunderstood – or misunderstand others – shouldn’t drive us to logout forever. Rather, it should motivate us to strategically examine what we say and, when misinterpretations and mistakes do occur, move quickly to fix and own them.
July 20, 2011 in Opinions, Our IdeasYEAH, WELL YOUR AGENCY IS KILLING UNICORNS
The reality is that multiple partners are often involved in a successful Facebook effort. We frequently work closely with agencies of multiple stripes, and often help clients to develop governance frameworks so that each can bring their respective strengths to the table across multiple activities within a single channel.
Read more on davefleet.com.
April 26, 2011 in External posts, Our IdeasTrust Barometer Reveals Need for Mature Social Media
It’s time for a more mature approach to social media and trust – one that integrates different media forms; one that engages people over the long term and one that takes a more considered approach to generating trust among audiences.
Read more at DaveFleet.com
5 Steps to Thinking More Socially About Communications
As posted on DaveFleet.com
Like it or not, “digital” is becoming a part of more and more marketers’ jobs. The implications of this are broader than just tacking-on another channel to an existing marketing plan – developing digital approaches require a shift in mind-set from traditional channels, whether they’re owned, earned or paid.
Here are five ways to begin to shift your thinking from traditional communications to social communications.
December 7, 2010 in Our Ideas, The Zeitgeist StreamFacebook Strategies: Content Over Creative
Are you focusing your Facebook investment in the right place?
The immensely smart Jay Baer directed my attention to research conducted by Jeff Widman of Brand Glue, who found that 99.5% of comments on his clients’ status updates come from peoples’ newsfeeds, not from the pages themselves.
Interesting, right? As Jay notes, this means that a lot of effort which is expended on customizing fan pages on Facebook is, frankly, wasted. Read more »
November 1, 2010 in Our Ideas, The Zeitgeist StreamA Digital Welcome to Edelman Canada
Hi and welcome to the Edelman Canada site! My first post here – how exciting. Every time I start writing for a new site, I get that same little tingle I did when I first posted on my own site years ago.
I remember that moment quite clearly. It was about 10 years ago, and I was sitting in my university library. The site I built included flashing images, scrolling marquees, and nothing that anyone could possibly find interesting – ever. I wish I still had it as a memento. How things have changed since then… Read more »
October 21, 2010 in Our Ideas