Why Write A Blog?

Alison Sutton has a creative bend. That's why this public relations intern has chosen the blog format to share her relationship tales with the greater world.
The blog lives beyond its original purpose as a college class assignment because it provides Alison with a communication vehicle that allows her to publish her personal stories.
Her approach is refreshing and definitely worth the read!


Why Alison Chose to Create a Relation-Shits Blog:

Have you ever been kidnapped on a first date? Left on a curb during a date? How about received the "I'm not looking for anything right now" text? These are all situations I like to call relation-shits; dates that go horribly wrong but still turn out to be something you can laugh at. This is something I experience far too often as a 22 year old in my last semester in college.

Relationships are something one can only hope to obtain throughout their life, but what about all of those relation-shits you had to go though before finding "the one" or before just accepting defeat in that area? Unfortunately, or fortunately for me and my writing, I am still in the relation-shit phase of my life and the way I have survived all of the ridiculous experiences so far is to write about them. Thus, my blog came to be. Relation-shits became my passion, my embarrassment and my outlet. Blogging for me was a creative way to tell my stories without feeling the pressure I get from telling stories to a crowd in person. Being able to find the right words to convey a humorous outcome to all of my mishaps made sharing them that much more enjoyable. Overall I figured if I can't change the situation, I might as well blog about them and have a good laugh.

As a Communications major at Sonoma State University, I was required to choose an emphasis within my major. I chose public relations and journalism. In my journalism class, my teacher and blogger himself, Chip McAuley had us choose a topic to write a blog for throughout the semester. I figured if I was going to spend four months writing about something, I wanted to focus on a topic that I found be exciting to write about as well as entertaining for others to read. A topic that I believed everyone could relate to in some way while entertaining readers would be none other than hilarious dating mishaps! This theory proved to be correct seeing as one of the students in my class asked me on a date just so he could be in my blog. To which I responded "Why would I want to go on a date with you, hope it is a bad one, so that I can then blog about the horrible experience?!" That date obviously did not happen.

So with my new assignment in place, I reluctantly jumped back into the dating world and all I was able to find were relation-shits. From being approached by guys who had the worst pick-up lines in the world to dealing with my brother and our sibling-shits. All in good humor and fun, my blog warns readers of the possible relation-shit experiences they may encounter in life with boys, parents, roommates, siblings or friends and tips to try and avoid them. While I may not be the best as finding relationships, I can at least help others find the right path to one.

Visit relation-shits.blogspot.com for a good laugh at my "love life" and let me know what relation-shits you have experienced!

Ezines: What, How, and When?

What:

Ezines (electronic magazines) are online magazines. Ezines are usually hosted on a website or sent via email. Based upon a variety of topics, much like a hard copy magazine, they are available to subscribers. Subscriptions are delivered on a regular basis just like traditional publications. Ezines allow the publisher to stay in contact with prospective clients without being a pain in the neck because they offer value: news and useful content. Most people agree that this is better than getting a barrage of sales messages.

How:

Ezine publishers and editors are very busy people. In addition to publishing the ezine, they are often running a business and involved in family life. Craft your pitch in a way that shows you have done your research. Convince the ezine publisher that you want to save him or her time by providing useable, relevant material. This not only helps to cut down on the editor’s work load (if the information is well-written), compelling copy can also enhance their image to subscribers.

In some cases there are also advertising and affiliate opportunities. Be sure to explore them to see if they are a good fit for you.

When:

The best way to pitch to an ezine is to start as a subscriber. Find a few you are interested in. Read a few issues to get a feel for the content. Once you know the style and the subjects, you can then create a pitch. Some ezines publish ads. Some ezine publishers and editors will even post a guest article. You just have to ask. Be sure to check submission guidelines about what is and is not accepted. Don't stray from the published guidelines.

Ezines are beneficial both for all concerned: the subscriber who gets valuable content, the ezine publisher or editor who decides to use freelance articles, and you because you can present your expertise to an already established subscriber list.

An additional note: serving as an ezine writer also enhances your credibility as an expert.

Ezine Examples

· Window Boxes

http://www.windowbox.com/

This site is dedicated to people that live in urban areas but grow their own plants. They have all kinds of resources that people can buy to help people grow various types of plants. If you scroll all the way to the bottom there is a box which allows people to subscribe to their ezine.

· Rim Digest Ezine

http://www.rimdigest.com/

This site is for people who run their own business. The ezine is chock full of information designed to help people run a successful home based business. The editor of this ezine has included contact information as well as advertising information.

· Free Homemade Gift Ideas Ezine

http://www.free-homemade-gift-ideas.com/

This site is for people who like to make crafts. Subscribers get emailed free craft ideas every so often. There are even some free projects right there on the site.

E-Newsletters: The First Step

E-Newsletters Allow Others To Sample Your Work

Let's face it sometimes people are reluctant to part with money. That’s especially true in today’s difficult times. So how can you get potential clients to trust you, let alone hire you? You have to have a method for them to sample your products and services without having to make a sizeable commitment. Wholesale stores like Sam's and Costco do this all the time. I know what you're thinking. You can't afford to give your services away for free. I get that. However, people won't buy from you if you have not built up the important (and basic) know, like, and trust factors. So how can you get people to get a sample of your products and services without your giving away too much? You can produce an e-newsletter.

E-newsletters showcase your expertise

When you publish an e-newsletter you have an opportunity to show others how much you know about your chosen subject. In time your readers will recognize you as an authority because you provided them with useful and original content on a consistent basis.

You can decide which schedule works best for you. Some choose to produce a weekly e-newsletter. Others send an e-newsletter every two weeks, monthly or even quarterly. Timing doesn’t matter as much as regularity, so you’ve got to know what level of output you can provide on an ongoing basis.

Delivery Matters

The best way to deliver an e-newsletter is to purchase an autoresponder service. An autoresponder is exactly what it sounds like. You schedule a series of messages to get delivered at a specific interval. Autoresponders can be very expensive so you have to determine a budget you can comfortably (reasonably) afford. You also need to decide which features are important for your purposes. Some autoresponders have very good tracking methods while others may allow you to import existing email lists. There are literally dozens of autoresponder hosting companies to choose from. Here are four of the more popular ones:

• Aweber
• Constant Contact
• GetResponse
• MailChimp

Be cautious of using free autoresponder services. Some have been known to pull the plug on the service without any warning. That would leave you without an autoresponder and email list.

An e-newsletter is a vital part of any entrepreneur's online marketing arsenal. It is usually one of the first ways people find out about your products and services. E-newsletters not only help introduce you to others in a non-sales environment, they also serve to remind others that you are around and ready to serve, should the need arise.

Smile

On a final note, remember to include levity in the content. I always have a few links to funny or uplifting videos, blogs or articles in each issue that DO NOT have anything to do with either of my businesses (public relations or publishing).

I learned early on while working in newsrooms that people want to find enjoyment as well as valuable information in what they read.

PR Forecast: 4 of 12 Trends

Today I read an interesting article, 12 Trends to Watch: 2012 Public Relations Forecast. Made me realize (again) how much the pr landscape is changing and how important it is to keep up with the shifts .

With thoughts (and client budgets) turning to the New Year, PRSA continues our tradition of an annual PR industry forecast. This year, we feature contributions from 12 creative thinkers in public relations. We asked for insight into trends they believe will fundamentally change the PR industry in 2012.

Below is a compilation of their thoughts. Starting Jan. 3, 2012, and running for 12 consecutive business days, PRSAY will publish each trend as a full blog post.

We hope you find value in reading these predictions. Please add your own in the comments below or by using the hashtag #PRin2012. We’ll capture the best contributions and publish those in a special baker’s dozen post in late-January.

Related: Read the top-11 PR trends for 2011 in this Dec. 22, 2010, PRSay blog post..

The Predictions

1. Business Increases its Voice in the Digital Space

If 2011 was the year of brands getting their owned-media properties in order, 2012 will be the year of PR professionals empowering business leaders and experts to get involved. As we look to the year ahead, it’s important for communicators to understand the methodology and value in this and be prepared to work with business leaders, decision makers and subject experts to get them up to speed and involved on digital platforms if they aren’t already. (Aedhmar Hynes, CEO, Text 100)

2. Convergence Continues

The recent news about Johnson & Johnson appointing Michael Sneed as vice president of global corporate affairs, overseeing global marketing and public relations, stands as yet another indication that brand and reputation continue to converge and create the need for joining forces. Always a hot-button issue in PR, the reality is that organizations will continue to merge their brand management functions (marketing) with their reputation management functions (PR).

If PR professionals are going to continue to work closely with their marketing brethren and generate significant results for clients, they need to get more comfortable with analytics. (MaryLee Sachs, former U.S. chairman, Hill & Knowlton; author, “The Changing MO of the CMO”)

3. Organizations Will be Defined by Communication

Time magazine named “the protester” as its person of the year for 2011 — an insight that foreshadows a challenge for every organization in 2012: never will it be easier for any David to throw any Goliath off stride, and never will organizations be more defined by communication. As we move ever closer to a world in which global publishing power lies in every person’s pocket, the punishment for failing to listen, engage, anticipate and respond effectively will be severe; and the rewards for an organization that defines itself through communication will be rich indeed. (Daniel Tisch, APR, Fellow CPRS, chair, Global Alliance; CEO, Argyle Communications.)

4. Wanted: Great Industry Leadership

The issues currently being debated by the profession are almost exactly the same as those that occupied the industry a decade ago. The topics are familiar to both student and veteran: ethics, formal definitions, diversity, measurement and skills.

With better leadership, the PR industry has the opportunity to become the management consultants of the 21st century. We need to claim our ground. The industry needs leadership. (Stephen Waddington, managing director, Speed) To read all the forecasts, click on the article title (above).

Hope this is good news for you. Happy Forecasting!

Media Heroine Says Goodbye to THIS WEEK

Just read this Huffington Post Report about one of my media heroines:

Christiane Amanpour signed off from her final broadcast of ABC's "This Week" on Sunday. Amanpour closed the broadcast with some final thoughts.

She thanked viewers for welcoming her into their homes each Sunday and spoke of her upcoming gig. "In the new year you can find me off on new adventures, covering global affairs, and challenges here at home in this struggling economy," Amanpour said.

Amanpour's departure from "This Week" was announced in mid-December. She will split her time between hosting prime time specials on ABC, and launching a new international affairs program on CNN International. Former "This Week" host George Stephanopoulos will return to ABC's Sunday morning show on January 8, 2012.

She is a remarkable journalist. I wish her well!

Hashtags: Use Them Well

Hashtags are a new way to track topics on Twitter. They are in many ways a version of keywords. People use hashtags when they are tracking certain comment subjects. And as with any other social media tool, there are times when it is appropriate to use hashtags and times when using them can be considered as unwelcoming as spam email. If handled correctly, they can help to draw attention to your business or your cause.

First of all, a hashtag is a word or phrase that is accompanied by the ‘number’ symbol “#” before it. For example, on Fridays you will see #followfriday. Basically #followfriday represents a time when people suggest that others follow their friends on Twitter. You'll see something like Follow @Sample because he or she is a great #followfriday person. On occasion, abbreviations like #ff are used. The primary reason people use hashtags is to draw attention to a recommendation they are making. People also use hashtags when they have twitter parties or twitter chats. An example of this is the #journchat that is held every week to connect journalists, bloggers, and public relations professionals. There are literally hundreds of hashtags used on Twitter, if not more. And their use is growing. Hashtags used in tweets during an event or a conference help people who were unable to attend the conference feel like they are still a part of what is going on.

Just as there are times to use hashtags, there are also times when their use is not appropriate. Most importantly, do not use a hashtag if you do not know what it represents. If you see a hashtag about something that interests you, ask the tweeter using the hashtag what it means. Once you find out what it means, only use that hashtag if what you are tweeting is related to that particular. Sometimes people see that a certain term is trending and they will highjack that hashtag, so to speak so that they can post something unrelated to the hashtag theme as a way to get attention. As is the case with false or unsolicited advertising, this can be considered as a form of spam. The reason is because the tweet you have attached the hashtag to does not fit int the conversation subject. It’s considered to be a ‘bait and switch’ tactic that will not get you the attention you want. And in the viral world, news like that can spread quickly.

One of the best ways to draw attention to your cause is simply to find people who are already talking about either it or a related cause. You can do this by searching for hashtags that mention your cause. Chances are someone is already talking or tweeting about your cause or one that is similar enough for the conversations to be connected. If you cannot find a hashtag then create one for your cause but be sure that not one is using those same words. Visit hashtags.org to look up the hashtag you have in mind. If no one else has already claimed it, then go for it. You might even want to sponsor a twitter party to draw attention to your cause. A twitter party is pretty basic: you and some of your supporters will sit around and answer twitter questions about a topic related to your cause. For extra fun you may want to get someone to sponsor the party by providing a prize to participants who complete a desired action like filling out a form.

There are many ways to attract attention to your cause or business using Twitter hashtags. While it is perfectly acceptable to adopt hashtags that are related to what you are talking about, don't overdo it. One hashtag per tweet is more than enough to achieve the desired effect. Remember hashtags are a call for attention so use them wisely!

Are You Using FREE Online Media?

Did you know that free online media sources can boost your expert status?

Entrepreneurs are always looking for publicity because they know that will boost their credibilty. It does so primarily by keeping you on the public’s radar in a way that tells the public you are successful because you know what you are doing. But how do you get publicity? It’s simple:
You can hire a professional public relations specialist who knows how to access free online publicity opportunities. Or, if you have the time to follow-through, you yourself can learn how to take advantage of these great opportunities.

Many journalists and bloggers employ certain cyberspace sites to find experts for stories. These sites provide a directory of experts for members of the media to make contact with. They also provide a directory of journalists and bloggers who request to speak to experts on a variety of subjects.

Because media is all about timing – NOW – as opposed to later, most members of the media and their shrinking news rooms operate on tight schedules. They often don’t have time to just chat with entrepreneurs who want news coverage in the hopes that maybe a story will evolve out of the conversation. If you want a reporter, talk show host or blogger to cover you as news, then you’ve got to give him or her something newswothy.

Pay attention to what these media people ask for when they request to speak to an expert. If they say they are looking for book authors and you are a book author, great. If they indicate they dont’ want to speak to book authors and would rather speak to book sellers, note that, too. It’s always a good idea to follow the instructions and not try to accomplish something that is not a response to what the media is requesting.

This bears repeating: Make sure your pitch is relevant to the request.
If a blogger is looking for an African American female between the ages of 25-35 for a story he or she is writing and you don't fit the criteria don't respond. If you do respond, you will be letting the media person know that you are not willing to cooperate as requested.In some instances you will actually be barred from having access again to the directory site.

And, if they indicate they want a press release then send that. If they want a fax or an email, then do just that. Bottom line is this: Journalists don't have time to sort through unrelated pitches and they don’t appreciate someone misusing access to them. Just keep your eyes open and check the sites regularly. Eventually you will come across a request that will be perfect for you.

Should a member of the media want to contact you for further information or instructions, maker ure you are available. Provide current information and remember no one benefits by visiting a website that is still under construction.

One final bit of advice: don't send blatant sales pitches. These http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifjournahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.giflists and bloggers are looking for stories. Sales pitches will be viewed as spam.

It is possible for both you and your pr professional to get free publicity online. You just need to be relevant and respectful of the journalist's and bloggers’s time. If you are then you stand a good chance of being an entrepreneur the media will want to talk to.

Here are two free sites for entrepreneurs to consider:
HelpAReporter
Pitchrate