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Nestle Family Blogger Event Backlash

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

There is a firestorm brewing on twitter at this very moment over a blogger outreach event at Nestle.  I’m not using this post to comment about the debate.  What I find interesting is how it is being handled by Nestle.

Blogger outreach events are on the rise and many companies are using them for positive PR for their new products or image.  I’m not entirely sure (as I am not at this event personally) whether or not Nestle was prepared for the twitter backlash.

By using Twitter search, you can follow much of what is being said at the event.  The participants are doing a great job reporting what is happening.  Those not in attendance are slamming them with questions and adding fuel to an already raging fire.  I’ve been following this for some time now this morning and not once has a representative from Nestle been on twitter to respond.

Instead of leaving the bloggers to address the concerns of the company, Nestle could have been actively engaged in this debate.  I don’t know if there is any better example out there right now of the need for a good social media game plan and having someone available to make sure you are a part of the conversation (good or bad).

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Social Media Revolution

Monday, September 28th, 2009

If this video doesn’t grab your attention, I don’t know what will. We are truly only scratching the surface at what social media will do to the communication landscape.

I’m pumped. Are you?

You can find our current class schedule and registration information here.

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Quick, look over here!

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

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It’s happened to all of us.  We’re driving down the road and the person you’re with shouts, “Quick, look over there!”  And you look, and you don’t see exactly what the person is referring to.  Either the moment has passed, or something is blocking your vision. 

Do you all have those check cashing places where you live?  We have a lot of them here too, one specifically is located on  the corner of a very busy intersection.  About 75% of the time, they have someone dressed in a chicken suit flashing a crazy sign and doing a chicken dance.  Does it get my attention?  Sure, it does.  Have I ever used the check cashing place?  No, never. 

This same technique seems to be used by retailers closing doors all around us.  Hiring people to wave signs along busy intersections.  Again, does it get my attention?  Yes, it most certainly does.  Have I ever attended one of these store closing events?  No, I haven’t. 

With marketing, it’s all about grabbing your prospective clients attention and getting them in your doors.  Making the sale.  It’s great if you have dancing chickens on the corner and it’s working- getting people to notice you AND get customers through the door. 

We work with a lot of new start ups and they want results, and they want them yesterday.  The hardest part about starting a business is being patient.  Work your tail off, and work it off a little more.  Make sure you are working it smart.  Getting proper attention is great and fun, but make sure it’s getting you the clients you need to walk through your door.  We’ve all heard the saying, “work smarter, not harder.”  Apply this to your marketing, “market smarter, not harder.”

image here

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Upcoming Classes

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

Have you clicked over to our Classes tab recently?  We’ve added a lot of new classes in the next month that we’re pretty excited about!  If you are looking to step up your social media game, there’s bound to be a sure fit for you. 

Here’s a run down of the options in the next couple weeks:

Social Media 101- Sept 28th 7-9pm
Want a quick run down of the most popluar social media sites?  This is the class for you!  We will talk about and start using Facebook, Twitter, & LinkedIn.  You even get a free headshot to upload to your profile!

Social Media 201- October 8th, 7-9 pm {$25 Early Bird tickets end soon!!}
I’m all signed up… now what?  We will help you create a plan and focus what you talk about on social media sites.  We will also give you tips on great applications and tips for these sites that will help you be more efficient and effective in getting your message across.

Lunch and Learn- October 15th 11:30-1pm- $15- Downtown Lincoln
This Lunch and Learn seminar will focus on how integrating social media into your overall business strategy can help you generate leads, convert them into customers, and keep them loyal.  You will take away information that you’ll be able to implement that day.

To register for one of these classes now, click here.  We guarantee it will be more than worthwhile.  See you in class! 

We also offer one on one consultations if you are looking for a more personalized approach to your social media strategy. 

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Make a Plan to Increase Productivity

Monday, September 21st, 2009
image via flickr, copyright koalazymonkey

image via flickr, copyright koalazymonkey

It’s Monday morning and we’ve got a full work week ahead of us. Today I’m going to share a few tips to help you increase productivity.  The first few times you do this will take up some time, but as you continue to plan in this way, it actually saves you time in the long run.

Make a Plan

1. Set your goals.  Write down what you want/need to accomplish today, this week, this month.  You can also include some long term goals on this list.

2. Prioritize your list.  If you have items that need to be done today, put them first.

3. Create tasks.   Break up your list of goals into tasks.  If one of your goals is to get three new advertisers, you’ll want your tasks to reflect all that is involved in completing that task.  Make the tasks focused and meaningful.

4.  Cross them off your list! I love making to-do lists and being able to cross things off my list.  There are several great online to do list applications.  I personally use a combination of Google Calendar and Google Docs.  Using a shared Google document is a great way to keep a to-do list if you’re working with a partner or in a group.

Are you ready to get to work?

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Proactive PR: The Current State of the PR Industry

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

I have always had a love for PR – that’s what I wanted to be what I grew up, that’s what I went to school for, and that’s what I’m doing now.

I graduated nearly 7 years ago and oh my- how times have changed.  Almost everything I was taught in school is different.  Or is it?

During my education, we had to spend a semester working for the college newspaper.  I hated it.  I wasn’t good at it, and I hated my beat.  My beat was for a small town that never had anything going on besides rodeos and it was about 30 minutes away.  For me to go there all the time and juggle school was a nightmare.  If I were able to go back and do it over, I would have looked at things differently knowing what I do now.  There is always news.  You just have to find it and spin it correctly.

As PR this is our ultimate job.  We find the various news stories that are going on for in the company, and pitch and make contacts, and pitch again.  We also listen to the stories that others are creating for you {what they are saying about you- true or not}, and making sure we respond to these stories in the appropriate manner.  That being said, there is a lot more listening that is going on in PR than there was 7 years ago.  So many more avenues and spaces in which things can be said.  To be a proactive listener, I think it takes proactive PR.  Be involved in the various communities (facebook, twitter, blogs, etc) so you can respond quickly to what’s being said. 

Blogging has opened a lot of doors for companies as being a bloggers best friend can go a long way.  We know word of mouth advertising is the best {or worst, if negative}.  Follow bloggers who like your company, and see if you can work with them.  Approaching bloggers is just like approaching your beat reporter- treat them with respect, and know them.  What do they blog about and what do they like?

The difficulty of PR 2.o is that it takes a lot more work than it used to.  There is more personalized pitching occurring, and a lot more listening.  If done correctly though, it is a huge weapon in your toolbox that can spring you to the top.

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Effective Listening Online

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

Many companies are still dragging their feet when it comes to entering the social media space. What are they so afraid of? A new study came out recently that showed 1 in every 5 tweets was about a brand.  We’re already talking about companies online.  Don’t you think they’d want to listen?

I’ve shared before an example of how a local organization wasn’t doing a great job listening.  Today I’d like to share an example of where a company surprised me.

I was on the phone with Windstream.  It wasn’t anything too pressing, something about my bill.  I was on hold for several minutes.  While I was waiting, I tweeted.  I mentioned that @windstream sure was taking a long time to get to my call.  Within a minute, I had a reply from Windstream asking how they could help.  In a matter of seconds and with just one tweet, a horrible customer service experience turned into a positive.

Can your business afford not to be in this space?

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What a Blog can do for you

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

We meet with clients and help them plan their marketing strategically- and more specifically, we focus on social media and what ways they can reach out online to build their brand.  One of the most common questions we get is:  “What is a Blog & how is it going to help my business?”

Here are a couple things we share with them:

  1. SEO.  It helps you keep you at the top of search engines like google because you are keeping your website fresh and updated.  Search engines like new activity and new content.
  2. Expert.  It helps you be the expert.  Talk about what you know and love and you are going to either meet people that know and love the same things (networking) or people that need you because of the things you know and love (clients).
  3. Give back.  It allows you to share your knowledge with those around you.  It never hurts to be helpful.  We believe that what goes around, comes around.

Do you have a blog?  If so, what are ways that having a blog has helped you?

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Social Media 101 Class

Monday, September 14th, 2009

Wondering how to use Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social media sites to grow your business?  We are having a class this week where we will give you a basic run down on each site and get you started using them.   Included in the class fee is a headshot so you can get that up on your profiles from the start.

Who should take this class?

  • You want to enter the social media space but don’t know where to start.
  • You don’t know the difference between a retweet, hashtag, or status update.
  • You wonder what each of these sites do and how they can help your business.

When: Wed. September 16th from 7pm-9pm

Where: 7160 South 29th, Suite D
Lincoln, Nebraska 68516

Cost: $50 or $25 if you are a Facebook fan.

Register: Register online.  Space is limited.

We will be offering Social Media 201 on October 8th.  Early bird registration is open now and the special $25 rate will only be available until Sept. 25th.

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Shiny & New

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

I have a background in real estate and probably the most common thing that happened to me with clients wanting to sell their property is that they always pointed out the shiny and new. 

“Look at this cool statue we have in our yard.  We get compliments on it all the time.  And it was only $50,000.”

“Look at this plush, new carpet.  We upgraded since we are going to try and sell.”

When these situations would happen, I would have to break the news to them that they weren’t getting their money back on those items.  I realize that you have a great $50,000 statue, but it doesn’t add ANY value to your home.  {And frankly, who knows if the new owner will want it anyways}.  And I love the new carpet, and it does feel nice, but the new owners may have a different taste in color palette, and may end up replace it.  Again, it doesn’t add ANY value to your house.

It may help it sell, but it doesn’t add value.  {Carpet that is new is always better than 10 year old carpet that is showing the floor board}.

So is the same with marketing & advertising.  The ad you placed in a magazine doesn’t add value to your business, but it will help you sell your product.  The key is to do it correctly, and focus on the right things.  Don’t just place an ad in a top notch magazine because you need to spend your advertising budget somewhere.  Think through your marketing and advertising plans and do everything with a purpose.

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