By Shonali Burke

Do you know what “neuroplasticity” is? It’s essentially the brain’s ability to “rewire” itself by forming new neural connections when it needs to. Or, in other words, it’s what happens when the neurons (nerve cells) in the brain start to find new ways to connect with and “talk to” each other, when the old pathways are no longer there (for example, because of injury, or disease).

If you read up on it (for example, via Wikipedia, the God of All Thesauri) you’ll learn that the concept of neuroplasticity is relatively new; up until the late 20^th century it was believed that after about early childhood, the structure of the brain didn’t change. That, basically, we were stuck with what we had as kids. Isn’t that a ghastly thought?!

One of the things I find most fascinating about the practice of PR in the digital age is how we are rewiring the discipline, our practice of it and some of the earlier assumptions that went unchallenged for a long time, much in the way the brain rewires itself when it has to. Because it knows the “old” way of life has disappeared, and in order to successfully function, it has to adapt to a new world.

However, in rewiring our discipline, I think sometimes we get a little too close to throwing out tried and true principles, simply because they’ve been around for a while. That’s a big mistake. Certainly, the tools and platforms we use on a daily basis are changing quickly. And, in fact, there is a fundamental shift in how we should be approaching building and maintaining relationships with our audiences. But one of the constants in creating and implementing effective PR programs, even in the 21^st century, is what the basis is for those programs in the first place.

And that is research.

With the advent of social media and digital platforms, I’ve seen far too many practitioners—and, frankly, companies too, some of them quite large ones—get extremely excited over the SNTs (shiny new toys). So much so, that they start to dream up public relations programs using X platform, or Y tool… forgetting that a good program needs to be grounded in research. That is the only way we can build solid programs that can grow.

One of the great advantages of living and working in the digital age is that now it is so much easier to conduct research, thanks to a plethora of digital tools. Now, I’m absolutely not saying traditional research methodologies should be thrown out, like the proverbial baby with the bathwater. But we have more ways to conduct research than ever before. Many of them are free, or low-cost… so why not take advantage of them? However, once again, how we use digital tools and channels for research should be determined by what exactly we are researching for. Here are just some ways (and reasons) to do this:

• Researching your content strategy: for many companies, a blog is a large part of that strategy. But you want to publish blog posts that resonate with your customers and prospects, right? So why not ask them what they want to hear about? If nothing else, they will appreciate the fact that you asked them… and that, in and of itself, goes a long way in building a relationship.

How to do this: you can do this on your Facebook Page (the Arment Dietrich “Facebook Question of the Week” feature is a great example), on Twitter, on Google+… anywhere you have built up a community that is engaged enough to reply to you. Use that intelligence to populate your posts. Go a step further by incorporating the authors of the responses into your posts (with their permission, if the conversation took place on a private forum). They’ll be thrilled, they’ll help you share and generate conversation around it, and are likely to become your staunchest community supporters.

• Keyword research: this continues to be important for search engine optimization (SEO) when you’re building your website or blog—that’s a given. But it’s also a great way to learn what other, relevant bloggers are writing about. In other words, smart keyword research is at the core of your listening program.

How to do this: for starters, Marketwired has some excellent tools to help you with your listening program. You can also set up a regular email or RSS alert for the relevant keywords (try Talkwalker, it’s great), and that comes to your inbox on a regular basis (I was also able to tweak Talkwalker so that the results are fed to Feedly, which is my preferred alternative to Google Reader now that the latter is being sunset). This is now a triple threat: you a) stay abreast of what is being published; b) put your own, unique stamp on the subject when you write your posts; and c) build relationships with said other bloggers by commenting on their posts… all of which form a three-pronged approach to building thought leadership in the digital space.

• Focus groups: when you launch a new product or service, you want to make sure it will be well received by the target market, right? And the best way of estimating the response once you actually get to market is to try and approximate that market ahead of time.

How to do this: ask a few people whose opinions you respect (and who are representative of your target audience) if they would be willing to act as a beta testing group for you. Create a private, invitation-only forum in a social space they are comfortable in, e.g. a Facebook Group or a Google+ community, and make that where you show them what you’re working on, and secure their feedback. I actually recently went through this process myself as I was getting a makeover for the online home of my social PR micro agency, and it made a huge difference to the final outcome.

There are several other tools you can use, from Twtpoll, to online surveys (I imagine you’re familiar with Survey Monkey and Zoomerang, but there are several others; Qualtrics is a platform I like very much), to everything in between.

The key is to use the right tool for the right kind of research. So what might work really well for editorial calendar, or a blog post, research, might have disastrous results if used to generate “data” about how Americans feel about apple pie (for example). When in doubt, commission a “real” researcher or research firm to help you out; but please don’t avoid the initial, research phase of your PR planning.

That’s one type of rewiring we’ll be better off without.

Shonali Burke is president and CEO of a micro PR agency that successfully helps businesses take their communications from corporate codswallop to community cool. She founded and curates the popular #measurePR Twitter chat, is an adjunct faculty member at The Johns Hopkins University’s M.A./Communication program, and blogs at Waxing UnLyrical.

You’ve already heard a lot this week about the evolution of our company. Our CEO, Michael Nowlan, wrote about what this change means and our COO, Jim Delaney, wrote about how these changes reflect a changing landscape for our customers and how we’re here to help you. Well, today we thought instead of telling you more, we’d actually show you.

Below we put together an infographic that shows how certain industries and business functions have changed over the years. Things like PR, marketing, customer service and reputation management have changed significantly just in the past 10 years alone. In order to help you do these things better, we as a company had to evolve as well to grow with you.

Take a look at the infographic to see how the industry used to operate (Then) and how our Marketwired suite of products, powered by Sysomos, can help you do your job better today and make smarter decisions for the future (Now).

We’ve evolved from a wire company to a wired company and we want to help you do the same.

By Adam Lovinus, Associate Editor

What is a journalist looking for on Twitter?

News, of course!

A better question is, How is a journalist looking for news on Twitter? A savvy journalist uses Twitter to excavate story angles in a variety of ways. PR pros with a handle on how journalists are looking for news are in a better position to offer valuable, timely expertise and generate media exposure for their clients.

Here are five great ways to leverage your company’s Twitter profile.

FIND YOUR WRITERS: The number-one reason journalists use Twitter is that it is probably the fastest, easiest way to keep up with what news sources (you!) are up to. The first step is getting in touch with them. Acquaint yourself with the search tool in the Twitter platform, peruse contact pages of news organizations, and see who your industry peers are following to bolster your feed.

• PR Tip: There are online services offering journalist directories searchable by news organization, beat, and region. PressPass (www.presspass.me) and Seek or Shout (http://seekorshout.com) are two FREE online programs that can help get you in touch with relevant media entities.

LISTEN TO YOUR WRITERS: Journalists frequently pose questions to their followers to aid in the newsgathering process. Make sure to monitor this, and deliver exactly what they’re asking for whenever possible.

• PR Tip: Journalists looking for sources will post their requests @JournoRequest or #journorequest. Search those handles for potential media opportunities.

ENGAGE YOUR WRITERS: Relevance is the key to good sharing; every tweet should tie in to something else happening on Twitter. This is what is meant by “engaging” with social media. Random posting directed at no one in particular tends to be ineffective. Imagine Twitter as a giant conversation; when it’s your turn to speak, make sure to offer something that fits in with what others are saying.

• PR Tip: Use #hashtags to start conversations. For example, when tweeting at a trade show, always add in the tradeshow hashtag. That way, journalists covering the show will see your input.

PITCH YOUR WRITERS: Every journalist has a preferred method of getting pitches. Some use Twitter, some don’t. Check their profile; it’s often a good indicator. Journalists that prefer Twitter pitches do so because the 140-character limit ensures a quick, to-the-point pitch. Ultimately, it is up to the PR pro to feel out an editor’s preference. When in doubt, simply ask — “Hello @editor, I represent @company; I have #something you might dig; what’s the best way to reach out?”

• PR Tip: A good way to warm up to an editor is to retweet stories he or she posts.

GET IN FRONT OF BREAKING NEWS: Nothing is faster and more useful than a Twitter feed for a developing story. By searching tweets with #hashtags that denote a specific topic, a journalist is able to cultivate leads in real time. 99% of breaking news stories will not have any meaningful connection with your PR, but you never know when you can get in front of a breaking story and turn it into a nice chunk of earned media.

• PR Tip: Use Advanced Search to search by topic and location for happenings that present an opportunity for getting in on news coverage. For example, a tech manufacturer that supplies electrical components for a weather-tracking device could find itself in a position to provide timely information for news media covering a storm system. Refine your search to find news opportunities specific to your client.

We all hear it echoed again and again. Content is what attracts and engages. In fact, for more than 200 years, the basic ingredient in good marketing has been content.

Now that social platforms have opened up information access, sharing and publishing to the masses, forward-thinking marketing and PR professionals have an opportunity to extend the reach and usefulness of their content and influence growth in media and new business in ways that didn’t exist even a few short years ago.

On Thursday, February 21 at 1 p.m. EST, Marketwire hosts a free webinar featuring Lee Odden, a 15-year Internet marketing veteran and nationally respected author and consultant. Lee will show communication professionals how to optimize their content-focused digital marketing and PR programs. He’ll explain how optimization using keywords and links is making room for a new set of signals and tactics, resulting in the need for a more customer-centric approach.

As Lee says, many online marketers “get” the value of SEO, social media and even content independently, but working them together in a way that makes sense is often a challenge.

At this free Marketwire-sponsored webinar, attendees will learn how to integrate SEO, social media and content marketing to maximize outcomes and influence growth in media and new business. Lee will share his proven three-pronged model to help attendees leverage content to attract, engage and convert.

• What: “Optimizing PR for a Content Marketing World” – a free webinar presented by Marketwire.
• When: Thursday, February 21, 2013, 10 a.m. PST / 1 p.m. EST
  The one-hour session will be archived for later viewing. All registrants receive access to the archived webinars.
• Who: Lee Odden, CEO of TopRank Online Marketing and author of Optimize: How to Attract and Engage More Customers by Integrating SEO, Social Media and Content Marketing.
• To Register: Click here to register for the webinar.

On Twitter? Connect with @Marketwire and @LeeOdden in advance of the webinar.

By Renee Sylvestre-Williams

The buzz for your event is strong and journalists and VIP guests are sending their RSVPs. How do you maximize your momentum?

In the previous article on event planning published on January 21, we looked at the preparation necessary before an event. Now we’re going to look at how to make your event successful and follow up with media after the event.

Kei Baritugo, founder of BoldLove Communications says there are many ways to make an event successful. As she said in the previous article, figure out the overall event goal and objectives and identify your target audience.

Once that’s done, at the event, Baritugo recommends the following:

Have a guest list but be flexible. If an important person shows up at your event and they’re not on the guest list, let them in. “Instruct your staff to be friendly and cordial, especially if it’s a VIP party. Always be polite and when possible, accommodating–even toward people who may not officially be on your guest list. Remember: kindness is free,” says Baritugo.

Set up a photowall or visually interesting area(s) for media and guests. Have press kits and one-sheets handy to address basic questions on name spellings, facts, and other pertinent information.

Grant journalists access to your key spokesperson(s) for interviews. As a backup, set-up a designated quiet space for interviews in case the event area is too loud or noisy.

Make sure attending photographers and videographers have a great vantage point if there are speeches or special presentations or performances. Great visual documentation is important for coverage so give them the space and access they need to take good shots.

Have official photos with suggested captions available the following day by hiring your own event photographer to capture the highlights of the evening.

After the event, Baritugo likes to send thank you notes. “It is very important to thank people for their time,” she says. This includes media and personnel working the event.

After a few days, she follows up with media to inquire when she can expect their coverage to be published or aired. If some journalists who attended the event are unable to give your event the spotlight it needs, be understanding and remain cordial. It’s not personal.

“PR is not a sprint. It’s a marathon. You don’t know what long-term impact this event has on your future endeavours and relationship with media. They may have not covered your event this time but maybe next time they will. In the end, it’s important to base your success on whether the overall event goal and objectives have been met and your guests had a great time,” says Baritugo.

By Salena Barcenas, Associate Editor, Los Angeles

Writing a press release that is concise, clear and informative can sometimes be a challenge. Toss in numbers and it can be difficult to navigate through percentages, ratios, dollar amounts, profit and loss stats and numerals. Here are some tips to help when including numerous numbers in your release. (more…)

By Anita Saidi, Senior Editor, Los Angeles

As hard financial times put a strain on many small- to medium-sized businesses, the publicity budgets seem to get smaller and smaller. So how does a small company get the most ‘bang for their buck?’ The answer to this question is not necessarily simple, but there are tools that can be utilized to stamp a company’s Social Media footprint on consumers, without the need for a huge advertising budget. (more…)

By Josh Kahn, Senior Editor at the Los Angeles office

Ask anyone what makes for a good press release, and the likely first answer is, “a catchy headline.” After all, an engaging headline is what captures people’s interest and makes them want to read a presser in the first place. Headlines are important. However, a slick headline isn’t the only ingredient needed to create a compelling release. It’s not enough to start strong; a release also has to finish strong. Which is why every release needs a clear, simple and informative boilerplate. (more…)

Tech toys are big business and it seems that the coolest, fastest, smallest, smartest, most multifunctional or just plain “gotta have it” products are particularly popular around the holiday season.  But just because something is cool doesn’t mean it can’t also be useful, and some of the best digital tools are those that are equal parts play and productivity (smartphones, anyone?).  With this week’s Pulse, we asked ourselves one simple question:  What fun and functional gadgets would make great gifts for the busy MarCom or PR professional in your life?  We searched the e-shelves and found ten, any of which are bound to please.

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Let’s face it.  In the business world, despite every terrific tweet, luminous LinkedIn recommendation and fantastic Facebook post, sometimes a little quality time and face-to-face action is just what it takes to really connect with your clients and get the job done.  With this week’s Pulse, we step away from our usual online and social media focus in order to highlight offline hot spots — specifically, some of the best-recommended restaurants from around the world for hosting agency clients.   We know that online presence and audience engagement across the social sphere are critical for public relations and marketing professionals today, but we also recognize that offline “real life” is where some really great stuff happens. After all, contracts aren’t signed on Twitter, and most new business pitches are still sealed with a handshake and a smile.  Here’s a list of ten sit-down social hot spots.

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When it comes to work, money means a lot – but it doesn’t mean everything. That’s why, in our quest to find the leading “money meccas” for public relations, we chose our top ten cities based not only on highest salaries, but also on the concentration of available jobs and quality of (city) life. The resulting list reveals PR-rich cities, where an exciting variety of opportunities is available to upwardly mobile communications professionals. You’ll discover what U.S. cities have a three-fold greater availability of PR jobs compared to the national average, and which cities have the highest concentration of “PR specialist” jobs. You’ll even learn more about the “2011 Eastern European Consultancy of the Year,” and the top “2011 PR Agency in Europe.” Grab your passport and work permit, and take a look at the 10 best cities for top-paying PR jobs.

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There are a lot of PR blogs and bloggers out there – and that’s a good thing.  From Richard Edelman to Brian Solis, many are RSS and TweetDeck mainstays, and whether you follow industry giants or niche writers, some of the most insightful and foreward-thinking blogs about communication, social media and audience engagement are authored by those in the PR space.    With “The New Breed,” we set out find ten PR blogs we could recommend to you that offered a unique mix of content and personality, and gave you some new ideas and fresh thinking when it comes to public relations. 

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Many North American employees spend as much time (if not more) at the office as we do at home, so it’s little wonder that we want our workplace to be more than a sea of cubicles bathed in fluorescent light and muzac.  But what makes a great space?  We set off in search of the coolest PR and marketing agency reception areas knowing we’d see some pretty incredible spaces:  exposed brick, funky artwork and open, welcoming interiors. We didn’t expect to see the utterly amazing, quirky, and just plain fun alternatives to traditional office design, including an antique carousel, a barista bar and even a “WOW” bell for clients to ring when they experience great service.  Equally impressive was the extent to which these agencies and their employees personified the social media ethos: collaborative work environments, Wi-Fi lounges, breakout spaces that foster creativity and sharing.  Let’s take a look at ten of the places some very fortunate and creative people call “the office.” 

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