Taking A Bow On BNET

Exactly a week ago, something really really really good happened to/for me.

Even though I couldn’t officially spill the beans, I had to tell my friends (of course).

They were equally happy for me and, I suspect, a little frustrated that it would take me a week to come clean. This was my Facebook post that day:

A week hence

Now, that day has come, and I can officially tell you…

Today marks my debut as a BNET blogger.

Woo hoo!

In case – just in case – you’re not familiar with it, BNET is “the hub of the CBS Interactive Business Network, which

” … provides working professionals with the advice and insights they need to get ahead in today’s workplace. It isn’t a site for those who merely punch the clock: It’s for business leaders—of today and the future–who believe in the meaning of work and who know that nurturing excellence in their staff and their organization is the true measure of success.”

A lot of media properties make similar claims, but having been a regular BNET reader for a while, my personal opinion (and you can decide whether it’s humble or not) is that BNET provides real value for those in, and who care about, business.

So I’m absolutely THRILLED to bits about this!

Image: Ross Hall via Flickr, CC 2.0

My first post ran today: Are you listening to – or shouting at – your customers online?

Those of you who interact with me on various social networks know that this is a pet peeve of mine; when organizations don’t understand what a “two-way street means,” and instead opt for what I call the Billy Mays approach.

Do have a read, and if you like it, please share it, Facebook “like” it, Stumble it…

In other words, do pass it around to those you think would enjoy it, much as we share crudités at parties. They’re just enough to whet our appetite for more without making us feel engorged and sated.

Dude. Let’s make this the broccoli of crudités!

Because if you do, then I have a real chance at staying on as a blogger for BNET for a run of more than a few weeks.

And who wouldn’t want that?!

So. Please read, share, and let me know what you think – good or bad. If you have ideas for more posts (I’ll be posting once a week for the next few weeks, primarily on PR and social media), please let me know.

My crudités and I will thank you!

Business Bootcamp for PR Pros: Network With a Twist

On networking for business

We see, hear, read ad nauseam about how we should network to grow our businesses.

Image: USACE Europe District, Creative Commons

Too often, though, I think people take that to mean going to innumerable tweetups, happy hours and the ilk. I’ve lost count of the number of people I’ve seen over-commit themselves to multiple networking events on the same night.

The end result is usually that they’re tired, over-extend themselves which they later regret, and sometimes do things they later feel sheepish about.

I, by the way, NEVER do things I later feel sheepish about.

I embrace my sheepishness from the get-go.

At any rate, I think networking events and tweetups are great.

I go to those that I can (I went to one last night and had a great time) but, frankly, I am a no-show at several more.

I know what you’re thinking. “She’s anti-social!”

Not at all.

And those of you who’ve met me know this. It’s not that I don’t want to meet new people—I love meeting new people.

I just recognize that there is a threshold beyond which some events are not productive for me, personally or professionally.

And if I’m not feeling my best at these events, you’re not going enjoy meeting or talking to me either.

See? Quite logical.

Networking with a twist

Outside of the gazillion networking events our calendars get crammed with—and there are some terrific ones out there—here are three ways to network with a twist that will grow your business.

I’ve experienced all of these at one point or another in my career, and again in rapid succession this past week.

I was so taken aback by how this “twisty networking thing” really works, that I went “Whoa!”

My dog, who knows exactly how to keep me in line, said, “Whatever, you’re not that special,” rolled over and went back to sleep.

Thanks a bunch, Suzy.

So I wanted to share. ’Cos I am like this only (a genius Indian saying we can all thank Channel V for).

1. Stay on the recruiter radar.

Usually we don’t think of recruiters as possible clients or as part of our business development process.

This is pretty stupid because good recruiters are some of the most connected people in the industry. They have to be. Their livelihood depends on it.

I’ve come across my share of bad recruiters, but the good ones are like gold.

Why? They understand the importance of networking and paying it forward and usually have memories longer than elephants.

When you make a good impression on them, they remember you.

Sometimes they have project-based work come their way – and don’t you want them thinking of you when it does? Or, they leave their recruitment firms and end up sourcing new hires for a new firm.

Helloo!! That often includes consultants and independent practitioners.

So: If you had a good rapport with them, connect on LinkedIn, Twitter and any other social networks where it makes sense. Make sure your profile stays up to date and “feed” your profile with your Twitter feed, blog posts, presentations, etc.

I believe this is particularly important for LinkedIn, though I think you should do a periodic sweep of all your networks, to make sure the information about you is up to date.

Be of help if they approach you for a search they are conducting. Connect them with someone you feel confident recommending.

One day – and I can’t tell you when, but I can tell you that it will happen – they will come back to you with a project that’s right up your alley and bingo! You have a new client.

2. A the LinkedIn Q & A.

There are a couple ways of doing this (possibly more, but these are two I’ve seen).

The first

is to join a group and mine its discussion forums, contributing thoughtfully when you can… and I don’t mean plugging your blog posts with scant regard to how spammy that might seem.

The second

is to set up an RSS feed for questions related to your area of expertise that are being asked on LinkedIn (and as you probably know, you can get alerts for your group updates, as in the first option above, sent to your email as well).

Just select “Answers” in the drop-down menu to the left of the search box, find the topics you’re interested in, and then click on the RSS option, as at left.

Yes, you will invariably find some that make you grit your teeth and wonder why so-and-so-with-usually-a-quote-unquote-decade-or-two-of-experience-or-so-they-say is asking something so basic you wonder whether she even understands what the dictionary definition of “expert” is.

But maybe there’s an educational opportunity here that could result in social karma down the road.

If you find what you think are really silly questions, though, ignore them, as well as the questions that are thinly veiled attempts at getting free consulting advice.

But those that are genuine requests for advice or sincere attempts to learn more? Go for ’em.

Just make sure you’re really adding value to the discussion at hand.

Bonus tip: if you find that 23 other people have already beaten you to the punch, don’t bother, unless you really have something original to say. Stay alert for the next opportunity and get in there as quickly as you can.

3. Be a volunteer leader.

Now you’re thinking, “Hang on. There’s nothing new about that. Isn’t business development and building their network the main reasons people volunteer with an association in the first place?”

Maybe, but it wasn’t for me. Every time I’ve gotten involved as a volunteer with an association, I’ve done it because I really enjoy the service aspect of it.

(That’s me at an IABC/DC Metro event with @amylizmartin and @SunainaTweets.)

What’s important is to really do stuff. Not just show up.

When you’re active and entrepreneurial in your voluntary leadership role, something funny starts happening.

Your colleagues on your board…

give you unsolicited recommendations.

People you’ve never heard of…

reach out to you because they recognize your commitment to the profession.

New business leads…

are forwarded to you from listservs you ordinarily wouldn’t have access to—and sometimes they’re even followed up by personal introductions made for you.

Why?

Because they’ve seen you in action.

They’ve seen your leadership style and your ability to manage an often far-too-large team.

They’ve seen how you handle conflict, and whether or not you try to come up with solutions.

They’ve experienced whether or not you really encourage creativity (regardless of what your resume says), whether you’re willing to say “no” diplomatically when the need arises, and whether you’re willing to give credit where credit is due.

All. These. Are. Things. Clients. Look. For. In. Their. External. Partners.

The key to all of this, of course, is to keep it real.

Be nice to people. Don’t indulge in SSP (shameless self-promotion). Make and maintain good relationships without expecting anything in return.

It will surprise you how quickly you come full circle.

Those are just three subtle ways of giving a new dimension to networking that will keep your business development funnel open and build your client base.

What has worked for you? Do share, I’d love to know.

Real Character, Real Work

Guest post by Narciso Tovar

I was born in October 1971.

Image: marilyn d., Creative Commons

Some of you may think, “WHOA!  This dude is ancient!”  While some others of you may think, “He’s older than I thought.”

Although I’m sure most of you don’t even care.

I bring it up because I’ve been feeling like an old-timer these days when I see idiocy like the stunt that Lindsay Lohan pulled in court a few weeks back.

It seems like some kids (yes, KIDS) feel like they are entitled to do things like this or that it’s ok to fall back on an “it was only a joke” kind of excuse.

Thankfully, it looks like everyone in is in the same line of thinking that this kind of behavior does no one any favors.

But here’s the thing:

There are lots of young, smart people (in business and in Hollywood) that don’t even approach this level of stupidity – bright people in PR & Social Media like Lauren Fernandez , David Spinks, Heather Whaling and Tom O’Keefe (to name a few) just don’t go there.

Because at the end of the day, they realize (just like the rest of us) that there is work that needs to be done – real work.

Even if it’s something like:

• Making copies the first half of the day
• Getting editorial calendars the second half of the day
• Stuffing press kit folders after hours for a conference
• Making a caffeine run for the team so they can keep stuffing until midnight

Because we’ve all done it at one point or another.

It’s not so much about paying your dues

It’s a matter of recognizing that this “mundane” work is still work.  A lot of the “important” stuff could not happen without that stuff getting done. And beyond that, it creates some grit and character in your work style. Yes, Lindsay Lohan may not be doing this kind of stuff; but look at Lindsay Lohan.

Apples… oranges, yes.

But character is character. And respect comes to those with character. Not someone who’s in danger of contempt of court for putting a slur on her fingernails.

At the end of the day, we’re all part of the same machine. The more we work together, the better the machine operates.

And the better the machine moves, the happier our clients may be.

What’s the “most mundane” work you’ve had to do in your career? How did it help your team?

Recommended – and perhaps contradictory – reading:

• Tom Murphy says, “PR people: if you want respect, pay your dues”
• Is “paying your dues” an outdated concept? (Employee Evolution)

With more than 14 years of public relations experience, Narciso Tovar is president and founder of Big Noise Communications, that runs on Method + Moxie. He lives in Dallas with his wife, Rhonda, and has a strong track record in media communications, both “old” and “new,” with organizations such as Vonage and the Wall Street Journal Online. One of the most energetic young voices in social media, you can easily connect with Narciso on   Twitter.

Living The Heretically Productive Life

A couple of months ago, I was asked by the estimable Thursday Bram to contribute to a blog post on Constructively Productive that would focus on “heretical’ productivity.

Image: woodring’s Flickrstream, Creative Commons

A fine idea, I thought. After all, is life worth living if you’re not a little heretical now and again?

Here’s what I said:

Put away the smart phone except for when you really, really need it. I don’t care how cool your iPhone or BlackBerry is, one of the worst things you can do is to make it your de facto computer. You’ll lose all your sense of rhythm if you’re constantly emailing back and forth from it.

When I was chained to my BlackBerry, I found myself constantly trying to keep up with myself. I wasn’t necessarily working better, just crazier. Sure, there are times when it comes in very handy, like emergencies, or when you’re not going to have access to your computer for a significant period of time.

But otherwise, treat it for what it is; a device that can help you stay in touch when you need to, not one that starts dictating to you.

I suggest you read all the responses if you’re intrigued by the concept of heretical productivity.

They’re from a bunch of fine, upstanding heretics, all of whom I’d be pleased to share a stake with as flames nip at our comely ankles.

Can’t you just see it?

“Darling, these ropes are chafing terribly on my wrists. Think you could nudge ‘em up a millimeter or two with your elbow?”

“Precious, consider it done.”

….

“Precious, I believe my elbow’s been consumed. So sorry for the inconvenience.”

Last weekend, I decided to put this into practice.

Because what is more heretical than advice from a heretic who doesn’t practice her own heresy?

With a trip to Alaska coming up…

(Eat your heart out. No, seriously, eat your heart out and then tell me what it tastes like because if it’s good I’ll post the recipe on my blog. It’s fine. We’re bloggers. We feed on each other.)

… my class at Johns Hopkins to prepare for, a new business proposal to submit in less than 24 hours and much writing and “deliverables” for clients, it wasn’t like I was lacking in a to-do list.

And don’t get me started on the household chores; my list was about two pages long (including things like getting my husband to clean up his record collection, and more) and indented to boot.

So I did the only thing that made sense.

I walked into my garden – which I must admit, at the risk of sounding smug, is very pretty these days – and inspected the crab grass.

Not six inches high yet? OK, no worries.

Back Yard Squirrel

and I had a temperate discussion on whether or not it was appropriate for him to steal bird feed from my bird feeder.

I pointed out that if he kept up with his kleptomaniac ways, the cardinals, blue jays and hummingbirds would go hungry, not to mention might suffer irreversible psychological damage.

He said, “Yes, but I’m bigger.”

I couldn’t dispute that. What was difficult for him to argue with is that I am bigger than him.

So after an amicable exchange of boos, hisses and tail-shaking, he wandered off to scavenge elsewhere, and I settled down in my hammock.

***

Before I continue, I must tell you that Back Yard Squirrel shares many of the deplorable tendencies of Common Squirrel. Not only that, he could teach CS a thing or two.

“Blink blink blink”?

“Dig”?

“Acorn”?

“Skitter”?

That’s all you got, CS? Come on over and BYS will give you a night on the town.

***

Three hours later, I awoke, much refreshed.

During my slumber, I apparently invented a new kind of measuring cup that ensures you don’t gain weight no matter how much you put in it, figured out how my proposal should read, and honed in on what references I should use in my class.

In addition, when I woke up

There was actually a bird eating from the feeder!

And my husband was cleaning up his record collection!

My proposal went in on time!

Now I’m not suggesting that the minute you shut your baby blues, all your problems will disappear. Um, well, they will, but they’ll come back.

Shut UP, BYS.

But there’s something to be said for just hitting “pause” when you have so much to do that you don’t know if you can do it all and still remain sane.

Studies have shown that we live and work better when we sleep well – and enough. At the risk of sounding new-agey, it refreshes our bodies, minds and souls.

See how well I’d fit in at the stake?

Work.

Multitasking.

Juggling Too Many Balls.

These are things all of us have to deal with. PR pros, clients, in house practitioners… we’re all painted with the same brush when it comes to Getting Things Done.

So to me, that hammock and what it gave back to me? That’s constructively productive.

You might enjoy reading:

• Why it pays to be idle from Constructively Productive
• How to stop information overload from crushing your creativity from Lateral Action
• Why I decided to manifest the Sabbath

How Do You Say “Good Morning”?

One of the most important things you can do in social media is to say, “Good morning.”

Image: Mahesh Khanna, Creative Commons

It’s amazing who will respond, and what they’ll respond with.

Chuck Hester, for example, puts out a daily CHUCKle. Like this one from a few days ago:

Heh heh.

Today I saw Mike Schaffer saying, “Good morning, good morning to you,” which immediately reminded me of the song from “Singing in the Rain” (one of my all-time favorites).

Sorry about the closed captioning; it was the only embeddable version of the song I could find on YouTube. On the flip side, you’ll be able to sing along.

So I asked my tweeps which “good morning” songs they like the best, and got a range of answers. Here are just a few:

First, what a great way to expand my play list.

But more importantly, I find it a refreshing way to start my morning; by connecting with people I may not actually have met, but who are an important part of my extended circle online. And I get to know them just a little bit more by a simple interchange, after which we all go off to start our days (or, in some cases, nights).

These are people

Whom I might actually (I hope!) run into IRL one day… like I did Mary Barber.

Who might become business partners or clients … like Shashi Bellamkonda.

Who might become – and this one’s my favorite – good friends … like Mary, Shashi, Jill Foster and so many others.

And all of that from a simple “good morning” on Twitter.

So – how do you say “good morning”?

Let Me Google That For You

… for some of the questions I get asked quite often (and I daresay you do too):

How do I start a blog?

How do I find a PR job in DC?

How do I get more followers on Twitter?

See? Easy.

It’s not that I mind being asked. I’m chuffed you consider my opinion worthwhile. But it will probably be more helpful to you if you’ve already done your – at least, some – homework, because then I can try to help fill in the gaps and not give you information you could easily find elsewhere.

And Google knows far more than I do. Trust me.

HAPPO: Why Ida Lupino Inspires a PR Student

For today’s HAPPO initiative, I asked Lindsay Worek, a student at Towson University whom I was very impressed by, to guest post on what inspires her and her career choice. She decided to write about film pioneer Ida Lupino. Read on to see why.

A pioneer is “someone who ventures into the unknown or unclaimed territory to settle” or “someone who opens up new areas of thought, research or development.” Ida Lupino (image: dovima_is_devine‘s Flickrstream, Creative Commons) is my inspirational pioneer figure.

Lupino was one of the first American female film directors. Not only was she unique in the industry because she was a female, but because her films were extremely controversial for the time period (1940s-1950s). Her films addressed issues such as rape, marital infidelity, pregnancy before marriage, murder, disability and maternal pressure on a daughter to succeed.

Lupino is a role model for professionals: she took risks, she took initiative and she wasn’t afraid to be controversial.

Ida Lupino was a risk taker. After she debuted in London as an actress at the age of 13, she moved to the United States to pursue an acting career. Lupino was often type-cast as a prostitute, criminal and/or generally bad girl.  Her most notorious role was of a murderess in They Drive by Night starring Humphrey Bogart. Her scene is absolutely chilling to watch. Her ability to capture evil in this character is horrifying.

After years of being called “a poor man’s Bette Davis” and receiving less-than-worthy roles, Lupino took the initiative. She decided to start her own production company called The Filmmakers with her then-husband Collier Young.  Instead of waiting for the perfect role, she took matters into her own hands. It was through this company that she produced, wrote and directed low-budget, issue-oriented films.

It is vital to take risks and take the initiative to survive in the professional world.

Lupino was not afraid to be the first. In this case, I am referring to the fact that she was the first female film director at the time. She didn’t make ordinary films, either. She was controversial and stood behind her creativity and her ideas.

Was Lupino a feminist? Her films blatantly portray controversial issues about women, yet she claimed that she didn’t want to be “too messagey” or “too preachy.” Lupino would even avoid the idea that her films were feminist. They often portrayed the mainstream patriarchal ideology. Quart* says that Lupino “visually portrayed defiance disguised as compliance.” It is a bipolar situation. There were gaps in what she said and what she did. She clearly was a brilliant woman but she would use self-depreciating language when she was asked about her work. I think Lupino knew that the only way to get what she wanted was to recognize and adhere to her place as a woman in 1950s society (whether she really agreed with it or not).

Ida Lupino was a woman who knew what she wanted her whole life. She was a fighter who never ever gave up or gave in. She called herself, “A terror- slaving long and hard to make things happen.”

This woman is an inspiration to me because I thrive to take risks and take initiative. I try to be the first and I am not afraid to be controversial and stir a great conversation. Lupino is the kind of pioneer that I hope to be as a professional. For more information, please follow @IdaLupinoFan or check out the official website: www.idalupino.com.

So, has Lindsay been bitten by the acting bug? This is what she said:

“I don’t necessarily want to be an actress. Lupino started her own company, which impresses me. I don’t necessarily want to start my own company but I would like to try my best and work my way up the professional ladder to eventually get to a high position that is well-respected.

I do absolutely love film and film production, especially writing. She wrote, acted in, produced and directed films so the fact that she accomplished all of those things is extremely inspiring (especially because she did it during a time where women didn’t do those things, except act, of course).

Throughout my career, I want to be able to express myself creatively. I would like to take risks and express my ideas. I want to venture into the unknown as she did and be unafraid. I want to stay determined, persevere and stay driven as she did, too.

Can you help this emerging PR professional find the right job? One in which her passion, drive and commitment are rewarded? And she’s a great writer, as you can see from her post. If so, please do contact her, either by leaving a comment below, connecting with her on LinkedIn, or sending her a tweet. Thank you!

*Reference used: Quart, Barbara Koenig. (1988). Women’s Directors: The Emergence of a New Cinema. New York: Praeger Publishers.

HAPPO: The Freshman Edition

A couple of months ago, I was part of the HAPPO kickoff team. If you’re new to the concept, HAPPO (Help A PR Pro Out) is “designed to help connect PR job seekers with employers looking for top talent.”

It started as a day, but now it’s much more than that; a hashtag, blog, chat… in short, it aims to be your one-stop shop if you’re a PR pro looking for a job, and an ever-growing community that tries to help you do that.

Image: Marco Vossen, Creative Commons

The second HAPPO day (and yes, you can pun away to your heart’s content, we’ve heard it all) is coming up on April 30, focusing on new and recent graduates. So watch this space on Friday for a guest post from a young lady I met recently at a Towson University career fair – she’s quite terrific.

Coincidentally, I came across Gawker’s post on the (potential) intern from Hell today. After I got up from ROFLMAO’ing, I couldn’t help but recall Bill Sledzik’s excellent post on millennials (and the comments are mind-blowing), as well as Todd Defren’s follow-up riff in his “open letter to millenials” (and there’s a follow-up to that as well here).

Millenials, I’m not here to beat up on you.

I know a ton of you and you are, by and large, absolutely terrific people. However, being at a disadvantage when it comes to the years you’ve spent job-hunting, I think it’s important to reinforce that there’s a lot more to the process than you might think. My friend Mary Barber, also a HAPPO “champion,” wrote a terrific post on this. In particular, she said:

“It is a little concerning to see comments from those wondering why this was just a one- day event, bothered that they didn’t get a job and especially that the champion in their area didn’t find them a job.”

Here’s a news flash: when someone’s taking time out of their day (read: paid work) to help you find a job, it is your responsibility to help them do you a favor. Which means you should be polite, make sure they have all the resources they need, and not expect anything in return.

This “not expecting thing” is particularly important, because it will influence how you interact with them (and possibly other people), which will in turn influence how they respond to you.

It will also save you huge disappointment down the road when things don’t turn out the way you’d like. If you start with no expectations, you have nowhere to go but up. That’s not to say you shouldn’t have hope; but “hope” and “expectations” are two different things.

The thing is, those of us who try to help out – and I don’t mean just the folks involved with HAPPO, but anyone, anywhere who’s offered to help you out at anytime with anything – really do try. But you’ve got to give us the tools to work with. And the right attitude is part and parcel of that.

Get HAPPO-ready

As you gear up for HAPPO Day on Friday, why not go through this checklist of dos and don’ts to make sure you’re positioning yourself as well as you can to get that great PR job?

1. Typo-proof your resumé. You’d be amazed at how many folks don’t do this… or, at least, do it well enough. And if you’re looking for a job in “public relations,” make sure you spell “public” with the “l.” That’s something Spell Check won’t fix for you.

2. Don’t attach your resumé to an introductory email. If someone’s nice enough to make an introduction for you, follow up politely with that new contact and ask them if they’d mind you sending them your resumé. Don’t assume they’ll want it right off the bat. You know what “assume” breaks down to, right? Right.

3. Manage yourself online. If you have online profiles, make sure they’re updated and contain a nice, professional-looking photograph. Clean up your Facebook profile and go through your privacy settings with a fine-tooth comb. And if you’re on Twitter, make sure your profile is unprotected, so that people can see your Twitterstream.

4. Use language, symbols and punctuation wisely. Yes, we use smiley faces (Image: Matthew Juzenas, Creative Commons), acronyms and exclamation points far more liberally than we have before; I do it all the time on Twitter, Facebook, etc. But I don’t use them half as liberally in professional communications; at least not until I’ve established a relationship with someone. When someone’s just getting to know you, a professional demeanor is the best one to project.

5. Don’t ask someone to “feel free” to… pass along your resumé, share jobs with you, or generally promote you until they’ve gotten to know you first. In fact, I’d suggest you drop “feel free” from your vocabulary altogether. It’s superfluous. If someone’s impressed by you, they won’t need the invitation. If they’re not, you’ll probably just irritate them.

6. Follow up, follow up, follow up. You can follow up on leads without being a pest. As Mary says in her post, it takes more than four hours to build a network and find a job (there’s that expectation thing again). But if you’re politely persistent, you’ll have a much better chance of securing informational interviews and, hopefully, a job you’ll look forward to waking up to every day.

Now let’s get ready for HAPPO, or, as Whoopi Goldberg might put it, O HAPPO Day.

What would you add to the checklist? How else can we help younger pros prepare for the workforce? I’m sure there are many more tips we can offer new entrants to our field, so please do share your knowledge.

Where’s The Box? Lessons Learned on The Job Search Trail

I first came across Mitch Derman when I participated in HAPPO (how great was that?). He took me up on my offer to showcase job seekers on my blog but, as luck would have it, was imprisoned by my spam filter that day.

To make up for it, I asked Mitch if he’d like to guest post on WUL, which is what led to a precursor to this post. I got delayed in publishing it, so what a grand surprise it was when Mitch asked if he could edit it slightly because… he’d found a job! Here are some great lessons he shares while on the search (image, Sascha Assbach, Creative Commons). And congrats, Mitch.

In my mind, every time that I envisioned getting laid off, I always thought there would be an empty box by my desk.

So when there was no box by my desk in November 2002, I was surprised by the call to come down to the General Manager’s office at the PR firm where I worked, only to see him seated at his meeting table with the HR rep by his side and a folder with my name on it.  I knew right away it was my last day of employment with the company.

While the moment surprised me, I had a feeling this might happen given the dotcom era had been replaced by the dotbomb era.  And all of our clients were in the technology industry.

Certainly this was a traumatic experience and one I would not wish on my worst enemy.  Needless to say, it was a learning experience.

For me, the biggest thing I learned the hard way was that I did not have a strong network in place.

At the time, while there were Internet resources such as Career Builder, Monster and others, there was no LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook.  I immediately joined IABC and PRSA, and attended various networking events.

Those activities certainly helped, but I know now that I would have been far more successful had I already built a strong network before the layoff.  It took me nearly six months to get a new job.

When I re-joined the workforce, I took my lesson to heart and tried to the best of my ability to stay active in professional and social interactions, where I could meet and network with as many people as possible.  I attended many events, participated in volunteer efforts and became active on social media channels once they started becoming ubiquitous in 2006.

Flash forward to today.

While different circumstances than 2002, I found myself on the job search once again earlier this year.

I left a job in February.  This time around, I was in a much better position.

I had multiple interviews; many of which were a direct result of networking. Once I knew that I would be leaving, I reached out to everyone I could through e-mail, LinkedIn and Facebook.  So many people offered to help and forwarded me leads.  And these were people that I stayed in touch with beyond just friending them on social networks.

I would post things, send congratulatory notes when people started a new job or were promoted, and I would forward job leads to those I knew were looking or were recently laid off.  I also started a blog.

Thanks to the help of my network, I’m happy to report that I started my new job on March 29.

Additional resources:

• Starting a blog is easy.  I used blogspot.
• The Twitter Hashtag #happo (Help a PR Pro Out) is a great resource.
• On LinkedIn, there are many networking groups to join; one being the Capital Communicators Group.  PRSA and IABC also have forums on most social media channels.

Guest author Mitchell Derman is a communications professional with more than 15 years of experience helping organizations enhance their visibility with external and internal stakeholders, in industries such as technology, telecommunications, media, aerospace and defense.  He is now Director of Corporate Communications for i2, a leading provider of intelligence and investigation management software for law enforcement, defense and intelligence analysis.  Visit him online at Mitch’s Beltway Banter.

On The Hunt? Jobs That Might Leave You Gobsmacked

Note: if you don’t read all the way through this post before jumping to put in your application, you may indeed be in danger of being gobsmacked (image: Clint Bohn, Creative Commons).

Job hunters with a yen for clean speak might find this interesting:

Director of Communications, the Ronald Wilson Reagan Hand Sanitizer Project, Washington, DC

Foundation seeks Director of Communications to develop and implement strategic goal of having every hand sanitizer in the United States named after Our Greatest President while promoting healthy habits. Duties include strategic planning across all 50 states and US territories; lobbying on Capitol Hill; op-eds; news releases; event planning; social media; and coordination with industry manufacturers and distributors. With your support, every hand sanitizer in every office, restaurant, medical facility and sports complex will bear the name of The Great Communicator. Resume and Party Affiliation to: RWRSP, The Ronald Reagan Building, 1776 Ronald Reagan Avenue, Washington (Reagantown name change pending), DC 20086.

On the other hand, if you’re going through social media rehab, this might appeal to you:

Communications Specialist, Campaign Against Butt-Dialing, Foggy Bottom, DC

Trade association seeking to eradicate America’s fastest-growing social disease seeks energetic person to serve on the front lines as we launch our latest public awareness campaign, “The Butt Stops Here.” Help us as we appeal to our primary target audience (men) and our secondary target audience (men), as well as tertiary audiences (men) on the importance of proper cell phone storage, butt-dialing etiquette and What To Do When You Accidentally Use All Your Minutes on a Call to Egypt. Resume to buttout (a) cabd (d0t) org. No phone calls please.

And I know buzzword bingo buffs will make a beeline for this one:

Vice President of Jargon, Washington, D.C.

Defense contractor seeks Vice President of Jargon to craft mechanisms that ensure inter-operational optimization and meet mission-critical objectives. Ideal candidate will triage time-sensitive priorities, coordinate infrastructure, enhance operational efficiency and service delivery through service management best practices, drive business innovation, ensure single point-of-accountability across infrastructure and promote time-to-resolution commitments. Background in assured computing preferred. Resume to WTF Corp., Near the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. 22023.

(One, two, three…)

People. Do you remember what today is?

Gotcha!

These are just a few gems (image: Eelco, Creative Commons) from my friend Ned Lundquist’s free, weekly jobs e-newsletter, “Job of the Week” or JOTW (of which I’m sometimes guest editor), and the “infamous March 32nd edition,” as Ned calls it.

Because what could be better than relieving the stress of the job hunt than a good laugh?

So if you’re on the hunt, give yourself a break and have some fun today. And do yourself a huge favor by subscribing to Ned’s newsletter – you’ll find it’ll brighten up your inbox every Monday (and heaven knows Mondays desperately need a makeover).

Did I mention it’s free? And that’s no joke.

Bonus and totally-not-fake tip: if you’re job hunting in the DC area, I strongly recommend you come to the IABC/DC Metro chapter meeting next week. Ned will be joined by Kate Perrin of PRofessional Solutions, the area’s first PR temp agency, and the inimitable Heather Huhman of Come Recommended, to discuss job hunting in a down economy.

With three powerhouses like that present, not to mention the connections you might make, can you afford to miss it? The early bird registration deadline is Tuesday, April 9, and you’re welcome to sign up as my guest for $5 off. I hope to see you there!

Help These PR Pros Find A Job

Update: please scroll down to see several more HAPPOers – the afternoon edition of this post. Again – these are all wonderful people who have unique skills and personalities – so if, while you’re reading their bios and posts, you can think of a connection that will help them – do make it. It’s social karma. Thank you!

I wrote earlier about why I’m participating in #HAPPO, so I won’t bore you with those details again (but if you need a refresher, the post is here).

Since today’s the actual HAPPO “event,” I thought I’d aggregate any DC-area HAPPO pitches I could here, to make it convenient for recruiters and folks with job openings to connect with them.

So if you do find someone below you’d be interested in talking to, or think one of the folks featured here could fit a bill you know about, please leave a comment or contact them directly, not me (but why not leave a comment anyway?).

Good luck, HAPPODC-ers!

Heather Mahoney

Heather (@Heather_Mahoney) attended the University of Maryland, College Park, graduating with honors in Communication (PR specifically). She’s involved with UCA, NCA, and PRSSA/PRSA. Published writer/editor for two publications; interned for Brotman Winter Fried and CBS Radio. A current reporter for The Scene Bisnow. Now, she’s looking for a full-time entry-level position in PR, specifically for a large publicity firm. She’s a fresh young professional simply looking for a place to allow her talents to shine.

Emilie O’Toole

Emilie’s a senior public relations major and business administration minor at Boston University, searching at the intersection of government, public affairs and communications for her first job. She’s a highly motivated and creative communicator looking to sink her teeth into a career in public relations. She’s an idealist, looking for an opportunity to make the world around her a better place through creative thinking, strategic planning and most importantly, action. Check out her full HAPPO pitch here or her resume.

Ashley Marshall

Ashley Marshall is a highly energized, self motivated, communications professional with experience in various avenues of public affairs, public relations, and television production. A recent graduate of Georgetown University with a Masters degree in corporate communications and public relations, Ashley completed a public affairs apprenticeship at one of Washington DC’s K street public affairs firms, Adfero Group. She had the opportunity to work with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Microsoft, The American Institute of Architects, and many congressional offices on Capitol Hill. This experience provided her with many transferable skills such as written communications, new media, web-based research, website development, developing communications strategies, advocacy campaigns, and Internet advertising analysis. Reach her at http://www.untaintedpr.wordpress.com.

Eli Baratz

Eli is interested in entry-level and intern positions with a PR firm in public affairs. He’s a 2007 graduate of Indiana University, BA in Telecommunications, BA in International Relations. Read his #HAPPO pitch here, and contact him at 317-626-7674 or elibaratz (dot) eli (at) gmail (dot) com.

Kim Allen

Kim is a recent PR professional, and loves the PR game. She’s looking for an entry-level position and to build a stronger networking base. And more then anything, she would love to relocate from Indiana, in fact she would consider that a requirement. Here’s more on Kim.

Andrew Elwell

Andrew is a senior at The George Washington University majoring in political communication and graduating in May.  He has experience working in communications with nonprofits and in an agency setting, as well as journalism experience.  He enjoys running, listening to bad pop music and constantly checking his twitterstream. Read his #HAPPO pitch here.

Laura Peck

Laura (@peccolina) is an organized, fast learner with great people skills, who loves to creative brainstorm. She’s graduating with a degree in public relations with minors in english, sociology and international studies from Penn State. She took the initiative to help co-found Penn State’s first student-run PR firm, Happy Valley Communications. Her extracurricular experience along with my education & internship experience make me a great addition to any team. For more, check out her blog.

The Afternoon Edition

Ann Marie van den Hurk, APR

I am an award-winning Accredited Public Relations (APR) professional with more than a decade experience leading all areas of integrated public relations planning and implementation including: digital media, issues/crisis management, media relations, organizational change, advocacy, events, and publication design. I am knowledgeable, skilled, realistic, and principled. I have a strong foundation in all areas of integrated public relations planning and implementation. I can design a plan through research then make it happen while doing it on time and within budget. My passions lie in doing good and have spent my career in nonprofits doing just that. Learn more about me that a resume can’t say: http://bit.ly/9CwaIL

Therese Pompa

Therese Pompa has five years of Marketing and PR experience.  Therese is diverse in her skill set and has an understanding of the connection between PR, Social Media, and Marketing; thereby allowing her to see the big picture when implementing a strategic plan. She has a strong attention to detail, is a creative thinker, a keen observer, sees the big picture and will go above and beyond until success is achieved. Learn more about her #HAPPO journey here.

Paula Newbaker

HAPPO-potomuses crash Internet!!!  To avoid such PR pitfalls in the future, view www.paulanewbaker.com. I’ve been doing this a few years, so you can check out my case studies and other samples for ways in which I can help you.  Strategic communications, PR, media relations, content-providing and writing, broadcast producing … I’ll even do your voice over work. Says Maury Tobin of Tobin Communications, “There are strategic thinkers and there are creative thinkers, but what makes Paula atypical is that she is smart when it comes to both approaches.”

Erica Lawton

Erica Lawton is an up-and-coming professional in the communication industry who is looking for opportunities in the DC area.  She graduated from Bryant University in May 2009 with an Honors BA in communication and minors in business administration and political science.  She is currently a master’s candidate at American University and will graduate with an MA in Public Communication in August 2010.  Her academic background and internship experience makes her an excellent candidate! Read more about Erica and #HAPPO here.

Faith Dow

I’m an Online Content Editor and Community Manager seeking to combine social media with marketing. I’m greatly interested in advocacy work surrounding access to technology and broadband internet. My writeup on #HAPPO is here.

Image (right at the very top): Blake Patterson, Creative Commons

Help A PR Pro Out: The Michael Clendenin Edition

I know I’ve been talking (or having other folks talk) about job hunting, do’s and don’ts, etc., quite a bit lately. Honestly, I can’t help it; given this blog is all about “personal” musings on our business and our lives, it really is a reflection of what’s going on with, in, and around me.

Even though I’m not looking for a job myself, I’ve been helped countless times by both friends and strangers (who then become friends… what a wonderful world!) when I have been in the market – and the least I can do is pay it forward.

So when Arik Hanson and Valerie Simon asked me to be a part of a wonderful initiative: “Help a PR Pro Out” or #HAPPO for short, where several of us PR pros are going to do our bit to help our colleagues in the job market make excellent connections – and hopefully, find a great job – on February 19 – of course I said “yes.”

You’ve probably already heard the buzz online, but if you’re still getting up to speed, here’s the 4-1-1 on the HAPPO website itself.

Today’s #HAPPO Focus: Michael Clendenin

Specifically today, I want to tell you about a good friend and an excellent communicator, Michael Clendenin. Mike was most recently with Freddie Mac (yup) and is now in the job market. Having known and worked with him in a volunteer capacity at IABC/Washington (he’s on my current board of directors too) I can tell you that not only is he one of the most patient people around, he’s a really smart guy too; and whether it’s through sheer persistence or the luck of the Irish, invariably manages to pull the proverbial rabbit out of a hat when most needed.

Please – if you have, or know of, a senior-level communication position in the DC market, will you contact Michael? Or leave a comment below so that he can get in touch with you. And thank you in advance for your time and thoughts!

And now I’ll let Mike speak for himself. Please help this PR pro out!

Job-hunting Long Distance? Five Do’s and Don’ts To Jumpstart Your Search

Job-hunting’s still very much on people’s minds, judging by the number of emails I get – and, I’m sure, you do as well. As I was reading Chuck Hemann’s fabulous guest post from yesterday on how to land a job in social media, as well as Thursday Bram’s post on online networking over at Women Grow Business, I thought I’d share what I’ve learned about job-hunting long-distance – because that’s what I did when I moved from the San Francisco Bay Area to the nation’s capital.

1. With an open mind, you’ll find opportunities in the unlikeliest of places

I’ve always been the kind of person to get involved in clubs and organizations. In San Francisco, I was on the board of a small publicity-oriented group, but wasn’t at all involved with IABC, simply because I didn’t have the time (ironic, huh?).

But when I knew I was moving to DC, which houses the largest IABC chapter in the country, I knew I had to check them out. After arriving here and settling in, I looked up their events calendar and started going for EVERY event I could, regardless of whether it catered to me or not; I figured the more people I met, the better for me.

One of those meetings happened to be an “accreditation funshop.” I’d started getting interested in accreditation a couple years prior, so off I went to learn more about it, even though it wasn’t a job-hunting or networking event per se. At that event, I got to know, and hit it off with, an extremely active IABC-er who ended up sending me the way of her neighbor… whose organization just happened to be looking for a PR professional of my level.

I interviewed and ended up getting a job offer, which I considered strongly, but didn’t take (I’ll tell you why in a moment). But I’m still in touch with some of the folks from the organization and none of that would have happened had I not ventured out.

2. Put your money where your mouth is… wisely

Even before I moved, I’d looked up IABC (as I mentioned) as well as the other networking groups in the area. Now, I’ll be the first to admit that trying to get the lay of the land when you’re completely new to it isn’t easy. Still, through some pretty intensive Internet searches, I knew that WWPR and PRSA were a couple of other groups I should start getting to know.

At the time, I couldn’t afford to join IABC or PRSA before I’d moved, but WWPR’s membership fee was relatively inexpensive. So I signed up – while still in the Bay Area – and once my membership went through, promptly emailed a couple of board members to introduce myself and let them know I’d be moving to the area.

Then, when I got to DC, I followed up with them and joined the organization’s pro bono committee. Through my activity with them, I not only made some great friends I have to this day, I got… you guessed it, another job offer (which I also didn’t take… yes, I’m coming to that).

If you want people to take you seriously, you have to show them you’re serious. And more often than not, that means putting your money where your mouth is. I know it’s tough, so do it wisely… but you really shouldn’t expect something for nothing.

3. If you think a job is right for you, use your leverage if you have it

The year we moved to DC – 2003 – was memorable for another reason; it was my first encounter with Katie Paine, measurement queen, mentor extraordinaire and who I’m fortunate to call a good friend. I’d organized an event at which Katie was speaking (there’s that professional development thing again!) and we hit it off. She gave me an introduction to a good friend of hers who was with Hill and Knowlton at the time – and I followed up when I was in DC.

After meeting, and getting along with, me, said friend gave me an introduction to four extremely highly-placed and well-connected agency friends, one of whom happened to be the Director of Media Relations for Ruder Finn. The minute I heard “Ruder Finn,” I knew I wanted to work there; I wanted large agency experience and their origins in art-related PR struck a chord with my entertainment background. I followed up with her, we had lunch and she set up a series of informational interview for me at RF. They loved me; I loved them. And over the next few months, I kept hearing that… but no offer was forthcoming.

One week the stars aligned. I received not one, but two job offers (#s 1 and 2 above). But I really, REALLY wanted to work at Ruder Finn. So I called my contact and let her know – nicely – that I had a great job offer on the table to which I needed to respond by week’s end. That this was not a shakedown, but that, if they were at all considering hiring me, now would be the time to make that known.

I had an offer in 24 hours.

Make no mistake, I would have taken that other job. But I leveraged the job I wanted. And you can too; just be prepared to walk the talk in case it doesn’t go the way you want.

4. Networking’s not a right, it’s a privilege

“It’s not a right, it’s a privilege,” is one of my husband’s frequent remarks about driving, and I think that applies to networking as well.

I know many people who make introductions and connections on a regular basis – I’m far from the only one – for no monetary gain whatsoever. There is certainly the “karma” aspect, though I don’t think any of us are intentionally trying to earn karma.

So when people give of their time and connections, remember this isn’t just a favor they’re doing you; they’re making a choice to spend time with or on you, as opposed to something else (which could quite possibly be earning them money). So please, please, please don’t take it for granted.

What does that mean? “Thank you” will go a long way, especially as a hand-written (yes, hand-written) note or card.

Along those lines, please don’t tell someone you’ve never met to “feel free to pass my resume along to anyone you think might be interested.” It’s not their job to help you. It’s YOUR job to help you.

5. Stay in touch and return the favor when you can

One of the first things I did before I moved to DC was get advice on my resume. Through a friend, I was put in touch with a senior executive at APCO Worldwide and while she didn’t have any openings for me at the time, she did spend an inordinate amount of time making suggestions on reformatting my resume (and it’s a format that has remained, to this day, and which I share freely with others, so if you’d like to see it, all you have to do is ask).

I can’t tell you how grateful I was – and still am – for all the time she spent with me. And even though we still haven’t met in person (I know, I know), I make it a point to keep in touch and one day, I’m convinced, will get that proverbial cup of coffee. Not because I want anything from her; but because I’m genuinely grateful for the time she gave me, which was invaluable to my job search.

Take it from me; when someone’s taken the time to review your resume, introduce you to a few folks via online or offline, they deserve more than a bcc email you send all your contacts to announce your new position before you disappear into the blue yonder.

Sure, send the bcc email; but always follow up and thank them personally. And keep in touch over the years as best you can. It’s the right thing to do.

And now, for some additional resources:

• Ned’s Job of the Week is a free, weekly jobs e-zine that I’ve written about before, and to which you should subscribe
• If you’re moving to DC and are looking for a job in communications, IABC, PRSA, WWPR and WNG are just a few of the organizations you should check out and start getting active in
• Again specific to DC and the PR field, PRofessional Solutions is a terrific PR temp agency
• If you haven’t already created one, VisualCV is a terrific complement to your LinkedIn profile; I strongly suggest you have both, and keep them updated

Those are my top tips for job-hunting via long distance, though I think they apply to job-hunting in general. What can you add? Do you have stories to share that we can learn from, perhaps get a chuckle out of? The comment section is yours!

Image: Ame Otoko’s Flickrstream, Creative Commons

Five Ways to Land a Job in Social Media

This is a guest post from Chuck Hemann, someone I’ve enjoyed connecting with in the online world, and whom I very much hope to meet offline soon. Read on for great tips on landing a job using, and in, social media.

Social media jobs are popping up around every corner, and so are the people looking for those jobs. Unfortunately, the economic downturn took a heavy toll on the PR profession. Jobs aren’t as available for the experienced, or entry-level, professional. Because of the dearth of opportunities, many pros have taken to the Web in an effort to network and potentially land a new career.

If you’ve ever connected with me online or offline, you’ll know that I recently accepted a social media associate position with WCG, global media services company focused on the corporate and product marketing and communications needs of leading healthcare companies. I have enjoyed my current role as manager of research and online reputation for Dix & Eaton, but was hoping to land something more social media-focused.

If you currently have a job, or are recently unemployed and looking for something new, or even a recent college graduate who is trying to break into the workforce here are five tips that helped me land my job in social media.

1. Identify your niche

Social media may be new, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a host of cottage industries within the space. Are you interested in measurement/monitoring? Are you interested in community management? Are you interested in SEO? For me, that space was in monitoring and measurement so I made sure I got to know the folks from Radian6, Katie Paine, Don Bartholomew, Ken Burbary and a host of others you can find through my Twitter lists.

Do not try to be all things to all people. The end result will be you’ve spread yourself too thin, and probably not become noticeable in any one category.

2. Identify the “influencers”

I usually hate the term “influencers” as there’s really no standardized method to determine who’s truly influential, but in this case it makes sense to determine the 10-15 people in your niche that you’d like to read, and interact with. A Google search for any of the topics I’ve mentioned above will certainly help in that process, but don’t be afraid to ask. Use LinkedIn forums or Twitter or your own blog to ask people who they find influential.

3. Take a position

One of the pieces of advice I give to entry-level pros, and even more experienced professionals, is take a position. Nobody likes the guy/gal who waffles (unless you’re Switzerland), so figure out what your position is on the hot topics within your niche and express them.

Is this potentially dangerous? Sure, but prospective employers are looking for the ability to articulate and defend an argument. My first opportunity to do that on a large scale came when Jason Falls allowed me to share the approach to social media listening that I helped cultivate here at D&E on his blog. Search for those same opportunities within your niche.

4. Engage those “influencers”

Social media, regardless of the particular tool, does not come with an engraved invitation.

You either take the time to get to know the folks who are influential or you don’t. I haven’t “met” a person yet who is unwilling to engage people who engage with them. Take the time to get to know the influencers in your space and then engage them where they live.

5. Take it offline

Your online interactions can only take you so far. At some point, you need to meet the influencers in your space in real life. Whether you meet them at a conference, a tweetup, or just strolling through their neck of the woods you’ll no doubt gain more value from the relationship after you’ve met them in person. I’ve had the opportunity to meet many social media folks over the last two years and wouldn’t trade those experiences for the world.

These are just five things that worked for me. If you’re interested in other takes on landing a job, I’d encourage you to check out the posts from Teresa Basich and Lisa Hoffmann, both of whom have recently started new jobs in social media.

If you’ve recently landed a job in social media what worked for you? Do share!

Chuck Hemann, a 2010 Society for New Communications Research Fellow, is currently the manager of research & online reputation for Dix & Eaton, a communications consultancy with specialized expertise in social media strategies and tools. On February 15, Chuck will begin a new role as social media associate for WCG, a global media services company focused on the corporate and product marketing and communications needs of leading healthcare companies.

Image: Laurie Nadeau, Creative Commons

3 Reasons Why Being a Volunteer Leader Helps Your Business

One of the great things about joining a professional development organization is that you can get hands-on leadership experience as a volunteer; experience which, they say, will serve you well in your “real” job. Certainly that’s a selling point for such organizations and in the PR/communications field, organizations such as IABC and PRSA thrive on it.

What kind of leadership skills do volunteer leaders actually gain though? And do these skills actually benefit them in their careers, or are they simply good volunteer leaders because of skills they’ve acquired through their day jobs?

At the end of the day, is being a volunteer leader—with all the time it takes—worth it?

I recently started my term as President of IABC/Washington after having previously served on the chapter board as VP, Professional Development, for three years until a couple of years ago. Before moving to the DC area, I served on the board of San Francisco Bay Area Publicity Club and now, in addition to my duties at IABC/Washington, I volunteer on IABC International’s Accreditation Council.

Lessons in leadership

Here are three leadership lessons I continue to learn that have been assets in my own business:

1. “Decision by committee” and “democracy” are two different things.

I’m all for healthy debate and respectful disagreement. Heck, that’s why we have boards—to discuss and debate the pros and cons of decisions that will affect chapter members as a whole and, possibly, be held up by other chapters as precedents or best (or worst) practices.

But if you’re in a leadership position such as president, you’ve got to know when to close that debate and make a decision.

It’s ok if all decisions are not unanimous. That’s why boards have quorum requirements. What’s not ok is to drag on the debate until you’ve practically twisted everyone’s arm to agree with your viewpoint.

Debate the heck out of the issue, get the majority vote, make the decision (setting your ego aside, if you have to) and move on.

2. Boundaries don’t just work, they’re necessary.

It’s easy, as a volunteer, to get sucked into doing things that other board members should be doing, but aren’t, or delay on…because you’re passionate about the organization you’re volunteering with, and want to succeed. “If so-and-so can’t do it, or doesn’t do it, I’ll just do it myself.” That’s all well and good, but you’ll get very tired being Superwoman after a while.

Successful delegation is a critical aspect of successful leadership, management and growth. If you don’t learn to set boundaries on your time and activities, you’ll constantly be at the receiving end of unrealistic expectations and will burn out. So be clear about what you expect and when you expect it, and then—and this is the tough part—let your team work its way through its collective charge. You can’t do everything for everyone all the time and if you do, it’s an indication that your team has some serious weaknesses.

3. Setting benchmarks and measures of success is critical.

I write (you may have to log in to read this op-ed I wrote in PRWeek earlier this year) and present often on measurement in public relations, because that’s my field.

But measurement itself is intrinsic to the success or failure of a business—and it should be at a volunteer level as well.

Passion, by itself, does not make for success. By definition, success implies meeting or exceeding stated goals and objectives. Which means we’ve got to start at the end—what do we want to achieve? Put it in writing, and working towards it will be so much easier. And if you don’t meet your goals, there’s no shame in that. But tracking your progress will at least show you what’s working and what’s not. And when it’s time to pass the torch, the new set of volunteer leaders will be grateful for the lessons you can pass on to them.

It’s quite a ride, this volunteer thing.

It’s exhausting, energizing and exhilarating all at the same time (and I’m sure you could come up with a few choice words yourself). And it’s the very best thing I could have done for myself to grow not just in my profession, but as a leader, manager and now, business owner.

I very much hope it is for you too, and I would love to know what lessons in leadership your volunteerism have taught you.

Would you continue the conversation by leaving a comment so that we can all learn from each other?

This post – with a very few minor differences – is featured today as a guest post on Women Grow Business. Many thanks to Jill Foster for allowing me to cross-post here. And this great image, called “Out in Front,” is from monkeyleader’s Flickrstream (also found by the redoutable Jill).

Looking Back, Looking Ahead: IABC/Washington’s January Chapter Meeting

I know it must seem like IABC/Washington‘s the only thing on my mind at present – I assure you it’s not. But I did want to let you know about what I think will be a terrific event as we usher in 2010. And given how crazy the holidays get, I wanted to get the word out earlier rather than later.

Our first chapter meeting next year will bring together some of the smartest people in the DC metro area to look at the changes (often dramatic) that our business has seen since the turn of the century (and you know I’m not just talking Twitter) and tell us what they think lies in store for us. Nobody has a crystal ball, but I’m pretty sure we’ll get some interesting insights from these folk.

To loosely quote from our invitation: “… what will 2010 bring? Can we expect any changes for communication professionals in the National Capital area.. what are the communication trends we’re likely to see … and how can we learn to harness technology to work even better for our organizations and clients?”

Here’s who you’ll meet and get to hear from:

Shashi Bellamkonda, director of social media and “social media swami” for Network Solutions; Torod Neptune, senior vice president/Global Public Affairs practice leader and GM of Waggener Edstrom‘s DC office; John Taylor, senior manager of public affairs at Sprint Nextel; and Paul Sherman, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Tech Wire Publications.

I know – we don’t have a single woman on the panel, which is terrible – though we did try and we’ll have to do  better next time! But we were able to convince Daria Steigman, founder of Steigman Communications and a former chapter president to moderate, so ladies – Daria will represent.

Save the date (or register now): January 14, 2010, 5:30 – 8:30 pm, and we’ll be meeting at the Hamilton Crowne Plaza in downtown DC.

I anticipate great people, great networking and killer learning… and hope to see you there!

Image: Dan Queiroz

PR: Make 2010 Your WIIFM Year

Last week I (and several others) attended IABC/Washington‘s holiday party. I think a decent time was had by all (I had fun, but then, I’m the chapter president so I’d hardly rat my own chapter out).

We had wonderful holiday music provided by the Marsh Brothers (one of whom, Greg Marsh, is a chapter member; I learned this thanks to Judy Gombita, who is, I’m convinced, omniscient). We raised money for Bread for the City via a raffle ($450) and donations and we networked our hearts out. I can’t thank our raffle donors enough.

Measurement legend Angela Sinickas made a surprise appearance, which thrilled me, measurement fanatic that I am. She generously made an on-the-spot raffle donation as well, as did Paul Duning of the Capitol Communicator. The food wasn’t great, but the bonhomie was.

What really warmed the cockles of my heart, though, was when we did a slightly different iteration of what we call the “go around.” (We say this is an IABC/Washington tradition, but I have no way of knowing if any other chapters or groups do it.)

At any rate, the “go around” is where we invite anyone new to the chapter or IABC, looking for a job or with a job to offer to stand up and share that information. It’s a way for us to welcome newcomers as well as for job-seekers and providers alike to be able to identify each other, not to mention put them on the radars of those who might be able to help them.

Last week, we added something to the GA. We asked people to share good news – account wins, new jobs, etc. – as well.

You know what? Many people did; quite frankly, way more than I expected in this economy. And almost all of them had something good to say about IABC in the bargain. One even credited his new job – a 17-month process! – with a specific IABC-sponsored workshop and offered to share his learnings with anyone who wanted. Which, obviously, is a great thing for potential new members and sponsors stopping by to hear.

WIIFM

One of the questions I hear over and over again, when it comes to association membership, is “What’s in it for me?” Even if it’s not explicitly stated, you know that’s where the questioner’s going.

If you’d been at our holiday party, I believe you’d have gotten the answer very clearly. What’s in it for you is camaraderie. What’s in it for you is experience. What’s in it for you is giving and receiving through the generosity of spirit.

What’s in it for you are the completely unanticipated consequences of throwing in your lot with a bunch of your fellow communicators who, once they see you’re along for the ride, will start bringing value to your life in ways you probably never imagined.

And while no one can promise you a job, or a raise, or a promotion as the result of joining such a group, chances are you’ll get more out of it than you ever dreamed of. But you’ve got to show up and get involved.

My Wish for You: a 2010 Resolution

If there’s one thing you do for yourself as a PR or communication professional, as 2009 gives way to 2010, please consider this: commit to a professional development group and pitch in. That last part is important; you’ve got to get involved.

It doesn’t have to be IABC; choose your local PRSA chapter or any other group where you feel a gathering of kindred spirits. I know it’s not inexpensive and believe me, I’ve felt the pinch.

But it really is the best investment you can make in yourself and your growth as a professional. You’ll make incredibly strong bonds with people you might otherwise never have met along the way… and you know what else? Your career will follow.

That’s what’s in it for you.

All photographs © 2009 Marvin T. Jones

Getting a Foot in the Door with GoodieRecruit

If you’re in the PR field, a Gen Y-er, a recruiter, based in the Washington, D.C., area, or “all of the above,” you’re well aware of Heather Huhman. Heather’s one of the most prolific tweeters and writers I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know, and she focuses on helping entry-level job seekers navigate the often- (and now, it seems, always) turbulent waters of getting their feet in the proverbial door.

In addition to her “day job,” keeping up her column and religiously sharing job leads, Heather recently launched Come Recommended, an “exclusive online community connecting the best internship and entry-level job candidates with the best employers.”

And if that weren’t enough to keep her busy, she’s now getting ready to add GoodieRecruit to the CR family of services, again focusing on entry-level recruiting. She calls it “next-generation recruiting for the next generation.”

I thought this was really interesting; one doesn’t typically think of hiring a recruitment firm for entry-level employees, so I asked her to tell me more about it.

What interested you about focusing on recruitment services for Gen Y-ers – what got you started?

I am passionate about helping students and recent college graduates pursue their dream careers – have been since I was in their shoes. Because of my experience as a hiring manager of interns and entry-level employees, I understand the needs of today’s employers and job seekers. I realize there is a need for change in the recruiting process as more and more baby boomers turn 60 every day and organizations seek more cost-effective hiring processes.

Have you ever been a recruiter yourself? What interests you about that field?

I have not been a “recruiter” by trade, but I’ve been in the position of hiring interns and entry-level professionals and very much consider myself a skilled college/campus recruiter.

Tell me a little about “experiential hiring.”

Employers always tell me they wish there was a way to “test out” entry-level candidates before hiring them – short of a three-month internship program, of course. Well, now there is – experiential hiring. This concept capitalizes on the notion that Gen Y learns best by jumping in with both feet and participating and serves as an extended interview of sorts. Think NBC’s The Apprentice.

How did the idea for GoodieRecruit come about?

The national unemployment rate has reached more than 10 percent, and the number is even higher among entry-level professionals. Because of this, there is a huge shift taking place in how organizations are going about attracting new candidates. Organizations are forced to work harder and smarter and not spend nearly as much money as they are used to. Many employers are reluctant to hire simply because they are not sure if the candidate is perfect for the job after only meeting with them for a very short period of time.

I saw a need to offer a cost-effective service for even the smallest organizations where employers and candidates could build a relationship. GoodieRecruit looks to create a recruiting service that is personalized so employers are sure they are hiring the right person.

You can read more about why I’m launching GoodieRecruit on our blog.

What’s the GoodieRecruit process?

For employers, the process looks like this:

1. If you are not already a Come Recommended member, we will work with you to complete your account.

2. A GoodieRecruit representative either comes to your office to observe the culture or surveys current employees electronically.

3. The GoodieRecruit representative meets, either in-person or over the phone, with whomever in your organization typically writes job descriptions to help them craft a description that will both appeal to Gen Y and clearly demonstrate what you are seeking in a candidate.

4. GoodieRecruit will work with you to identify a local nonprofit at which the “experience” can take place, based on both the specific position(s) you have open and preference for a particular nonprofit.

5. GoodieRecruit takes over the entire process from there—coordinating with the nonprofit, attracting candidates, evaluating candidates during the “experience” based on conversations with you and your team, narrowing down the selection for you to 2 to 3 top candidates, and providing you with a complete portfolio on each as to why you should hire them.

Will GoodieRecruit focus on specific industries?

Yes, GoodieRecruit currently focuses on identifying top entry-level talent in the following fields:

• Public relations/communications
• Public affairs/public policy/government relations
• Marketing
• Graphic design
• Development/fundraising
• Sales/customer service

Can you share five tips for new professionals to put their best foot forward when entering the job market?

1. Personalize your job search materials: Employers like to see that you have taken time to research their organization and have found ways to contribute if hired. This means describing how your past experience has prepared you for work with their organization in your cover letter and including accomplishments relevant to the job description in your résumé.

2. Dress professionally: Even if an interviewer says the interview will be casual, it is always a good practice to dress to impress. If the interview is business casual, you do not need to wear a suit, but slacks (or a skirt) and a nice shirt or blouse is appropriate and dress shoes are a must!

3. Come to interviews prepared: Show you have done your research. This is more than simply glancing at the organization’s Web site 10 minutes before walking into the interview. Research ways you can help the organization by thinking about how your past experiences fit into the job description and organization as a whole. Also, always come with thought-provoking questions.

4. Network online and off: It is crucial that Gen Y knows how to professionally use social networking sites and how to conduct themselves at networking events. These days, networking is one of the best ways to land interviews and be the first to know about upcoming opportunities.

5. Keep an online portfolio: This is less cumbersome to take to interviews and employers can peruse your work at their leisure. Also, online portfolios illustrate your technical abilities.

It’ll be fascinating to see how GoodieRecruit takes off as it integrates social media into the recruitment process; not to mention the obvious benefits to hiring organizations as well as non-profits who sign up to be the “lab” – what a great way to identify potential candidates for non-profit organizations as well. And candidates – remember those dress shoes!

Heather, thanks for taking the time to fill us in and please do keep us posted. By the way, Heather is also generously donating a GR package to the IABC/Washington holiday party raffle, where we’ll be supporting Bread for the City, so if you’re at an organization with entry-level hiring needs, you might want to come check us out, or contact Heather, or both!

What do you think of the GoodieRecruit premise and process? Do you have more questions for Heather? Do let us know by leaving a comment below.

These Shoes Were Made For Walking

We had a great time last night at #shonalitweetup and yes, I will be posting photos from that event, but I’ve got just a few minutes before Arianna Huffington‘s keynote begins at PRSA2009.

Very quickly, though, here are some of the cutest shoes I’ve seen at the conference so far.

Why shoes?

There’s a lot of walking and standing at an event like this. Whether you’re an attendee, sponsor or presenter, your tootsies need to feel good, otherwise your networking’s going to be painful and potentially disastrous (as for presentations? Don’t even go there). And you know what a good conversation starter they are.

Plus, what kind of PR people would we be if we couldn’t find hot yet comfy shoes?

Here are some of the good ones so far:

Michelle Apodaca’s olive-colored Tsubos, one of Decker’s six brands. She said, “Tsubo means pressure point in Japanese… hence super comfortable!”

These are what Johna Burke of BurrellesLuce is wearing today. I don’t know what brand they are, but they’re hot.

Can’t leave the gentlemen out. Mike Pranikoff of PRNewswire never disappoints when it comes to cool duds.

And finally, moi. Franco Sarto. I love ‘em.

If I find more great shoes to showcase, I’ll add them to my Flickrstream. So if you’re at the conference and have a pair to show off, tweet me.

Oh, and props to Trevor Loe for admitting he owns more pairs of shoes than his wife. There’s a guy after my own heart.

Update, 8 pm PDT.

Sandra Fathi, that’s what I’m talkin’ about!

I saw these on Amy ___ (?) as I was coming out of Arianna Huffington‘s keynote. Even though they’re wedges, the heels look pretty high, so I think they qualify for this particular exercise, don’t you?

Tweetupin’ a Storm in San Diego

Disclosure: no one’s asked me to write this post, and I’m sure not getting paid for it, but I do thank sponsors of a certain event coming up. Now that you know all that… read on.

I don’t know what’s gotten into everyone lately, it’s tweetup this, tweetup that… oh wait, it’s that whole thing about moving your online relationships offline. My bad.

So in a few days, when I head to San Diego for PRSA 2009, I have not one, not two, but four tweetups to try to attend… and three of them are on the same day. Wow. We PR people sure like to party.

The one I’m doing a shameless plug for, though, is #shonalitweetup. Yup, you read that right. Before you start throwing rotten eggs at me, I didn’t come up with the name (I’m not that egotistical… I don’t think…). Here’s how it happened:

When I knew I was going to be in San Diego for PRSA09, I wanted to make sure I’d be able to meet up with some of my friends. A certain Jen Wilbur (who appropriately uses @rockstarjen as her Twitter handle) took on the unappetizing task of organizing it and next thing I know – she christened it with my name.

Whoa! And – wow!

So the long and the short of it is that from being a small get-together for a few people, we now have a possible 33 folks converging on Bar Basic from 5 – 7 pm on Saturday, November 11, to guzzle, greet and grin together.

I’m really looking forward to catching up with @Natalie_Joy, @DowntownRob, @richandcreamy, @JenMitch, @vargasl and so many more, and meeting @EricLeist, @nicklucido, @tressalynne and many others for the first time.

I’m also psyched that PRNewsire, Mike Smith Public Affairs and dna13 have seen fit to sponsor this tweetup. I know I speak on behalf of the entire PR community (or at least the tweetup attendees) when I say, “Your generosity shall not go unnoticed… or unburped.”

If you’re attending the tweetup, get there early if you want to enjoy the hosted drinks and pizza before they run out. I’m told there’s seating for 12 (hey, we didn’t think this would get so big!), and after that it’s Squishing and/or SRO. Don’t say I didn’t warn you! Ditto if you’re a late RSVPer.

And please say “thank you” to our sponsors by leaving a comment below and/or giving them a shout out on Twitter (don’t forget to include the hashtag #shonalitweetup). Where would we be without them?

See you in San Diego! And I found this great photo of fireworks in Serithian’s Flickrstream.

One To Watch Out For: Rebecca Denison

I’ve “talked” so often to Rebecca Denison recently that I’m liable to forget I haven’t met her IRL yet. Tell you what, this young lady knows the right way to network.

Rebecca, a “new professional,” and I first connected on Twitter, where she asked if she could pick my brain on career options. I said, “yes.” Then we set up a time to talk, and I was impressed with her lack of entitlement. So now I’m doing whatever I can to help her with her career goals.

Rebecca’s an odd cookie. I say that in a good way, because here’s someone, very new to the field, wh

o’s in love with research and measurement as it applies to PR. When was the last time you met someone like that? So I thought a Q&A with her would be interesting. You can also read more from Rebecca on some pretty cool blogs, including those of Lauren Fernandez, Mark Schaefer and Heather Whaling. Oh, and on her own as well (highly recommended).

Tell me about yourself. Brag a little.

I’m a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, one of the best undergraduate journalism programs in the country. I studied biochemistry for two years at UNC until I realized that my heart just wasn’t in it. Despite switching to the journalism school, I never lost my analytical mindset and critical thinking skills, and I think that this really gives me an advantage. I also feel like I’m on the cutting edge, so to speak, as I was in the first class on PR measurement ever taught at UNC.

I have two sisters (one older, one younger) who have truly become my best friends as we’ve grown older and more mature.  I am an avid college basketball fan (Go Heels!) and love to run when I have time. I’m fun and bubbly and rarely get embarrassed, but I do end up laughing at myself a great deal of the time. I have a loving boyfriend, who I am excited to visit in Australia next month.

You’re unusual in that you’re a new PR professional who’s extremely interested in research and measurement, an area that many pros grapple with even after years in the business. How did this come about?

My passion for PR measurement was instilled in me by Katie Paine.  I really credit Katie and my professor, Dr. Craig Carroll for where I am today.  Dr. Carroll helped me choose the best courses to hone my measurement skills and asked me to work with him for a variety of extracurricular programs.

During my first class in the journalism school public relations sequence, I heard a guest speech from Katie Paine about PR measurement, and I fell in love. Because it was my first class in PR, I assumed that this was something everyone in the industry was doing, and I was interested to be able to help measurement grow and change. I talked with Katie after the class and ended up taking an internship with her at the end of the semester which lasted through the end of my collegiate career. What I learned while working with her shocked me: barely anyone considered measurement to be as important as I did. My professors at UNC and Katie all taught me extreme importance of measurement, and it’s hard for me to understand why there are folks out there who still haven’t embraced it in their own work.

Once I discovered my passion for measurement, but realized that there wasn’t a degree program which would fit this passion exactly, I knew that a degree in public relations would be the best choice. I learned a great deal about the industry and about PR, and I think this only enhances my ability to understand PR measurement.

Working with Katie has given me the absolute best experience in measurement, and I was able to work with one of my professors, Dr. Carroll, to find a specific passion.  I helped him with the Carolina Observatory on Corporate Reputation which studied how the reputation of the top 50 companies in North Carolina were portrayed by the media.

Now that I have graduated, I am eager to become more involved with social media monitoring and measurement.  Particularly I am really excited to help measurement grow and change with the social media space.

What are your observations on the state of measurement in PR?

I am still surprised at how new PR measurement seems to be. Because of my own timing, hearing about it in my very first PR course and then being part of the first PR measurement course, it’s something that has always been an integral part of PR in my mind. I cannot understand public relations without the measurement and research aspect.

It’s encouraging to see that lately PRSA and the Institute for Public Relations have both endorsed measurement, so to speak.  The PRSA recently sought to come up with universal measurement standards, which is definitely a great step in the right direction. As I said before, I’m still baffled by the number of companies and professionals that don’t seem to understand the incredible value and necessity of measurement. I’m even surprised at what kind of research passes as acceptable. Some clients I have worked with only want to know how many mentions they have, which to me is just the bare bones, skimming the surface. There is so much else to learn and know.

Have you found PR different in practice than what you were “taught” it would be?

I’ve found that PR measurement can be so much more than what I was taught. There are so many different dimensions, and it really all depends on what a client wants and what is possible. I haven’t had any traditional PR experience outside of the classroom as I’ve been solely pursuing measurement. I have noticed that measurement is not as pure as it was taught. I understand that there are practical limitations to some measurements that just weren’t addressed in the classroom.

You’re also extremely interested in social media. What’s the RD take on SM?

Social media is the next big thing, well, it is the big thing. Everyone is talking about social media, and it seems to be the opinion that almost all companies need to be moving into social media in some way. For me, I’m just thrilled to be able to watch the space evolve and match measurement to new types of needs. As conversations happen more and more, how will measurement change? What new metrics will there be tomorrow? It seems that new tools and metrics are popping up every week, and I just want to be part of it!

What’s your dream job/client?

My dream job would be to be able to work as a consultant or with a small company doing measurement. I would really love to be able to start from scratch with a client, and to figure out what kind of measurement to do based upon their needs and how they want to measure success. From there I want to be able to perform the actual measurement, write the report and help the client understand exactly what the data is telling them. If possible, I would even like to help become more involved in the strategy moving forward based upon research.

Your must-have PR/industry related books are…

The books that I’m reading right now (or want to read) are Trust Agents, Twitterville, Measuring Public Relations and Putting the Public Back in Public Relations.

Isn’t she something? Rebecca, you’re an absolute delight. One to watch out for, for sure.

Who are the other young professionals you’ve come across who you think are the future of our profession? What makes them special? Do give the props via a comment below.

DC Conference Mania

There are two great events coming up in DC next week that I’m really looking forward to. Here’s my not-so-subtle pitch for you to come and be a part of them, if your schedule and wallet allow, because I think they’re smart conferences for smart people to attend.

The first is the Grow Smart Business conference on Tuesday, Sept. 29 (you’ll have noticed my blog’s been sporting the badge recently). I was lucky enough to be invited to it and I can’t wait to hear from Chris Anderson, Sen. Mark Warner, Bob London, Jill Foster (I’ll finally get to meet her!) and so many others. I’m also going to be helping to staff a “learning center” that will be open throughout the day at the conference, so if you’re planning to attend, please do stop by and say hello.

I’m chuffed that IABC/Washington (y’all have heard enough about how I’m involved with them, no need for me to go on about it, right?) is a partner of the conference; with a significant number of our members at or owning consulting firms, this is a golden opportunity to learn from some real movers and shakers. So if you’re an IABC/Washington member interested in attending the event, you can get $100 off the conference registration fee ($299) by using the code IABCGROWSMART here.

The second is Communitelligence’s Rethinking Corporate Communications conference, immediately following GSB (Sept. 30 and Oct. 1). There are some really interesting speakers lined up, including Mark Weiner, David Henderson, Jack Holt from the DoD, my friends Mark Phillips, APR and Ned Lundquist, ABC, and many more. Yours truly will be part of the measurement panel along with both Marks (MarkyMark?) on Oct. 1.

IABC/Washington is also supporting this conference, which is built around delivering value in a tough economy; again, if you’re a member, you can get $300 off the standard registration of $900/$600 (depending on whether you work in a corporate or government/nonprofit setting). The details are on our website.

There’s always a lot going on in DC and no doubt I’ll be wiped after next week, but I wouldn’t miss either of these for the world. I hope I’ll see you there.

Photo: brianjmatis

Job Hunting? Give JobShouts a Holler

I came across JobShouts the way I seem to come across many new things these days: on Twitter. I’m not looking for a job (hey, my boss is very good to me), but I know many people who are, and for them, it’s definitely worth investigating.

According to its website, JobShouts is “no longer just a job board in the traditional sense,” but “a job search engine integrated with social media, helping to create connections and deliver better matching results for both employers and job seekers.”

Basically, you can search for jobs – and receive real-time postings – across multiple social networks with one click, which is a huge bonus for job seekers. Recently, it introduced a similar feature for those looking for candidates called Talent Search.

I thought this was a very smart use of social media, particularly Twitter, so I sat down virtually with Robin Eads, the co-founder, and asked her to tell me more about it.

Who’s behind JobShouts?

Robin Eads & Michael Quale. (AKA @imjustagoyle & @tall_geek). Michael has 20+ years working in technology, with a strong focus on technology integration. I have more than 15 years of experience in IT/telecom staffing, business development, resume writing and career coaching.

What inspired you to do this?

As a user of job boards all through my staffing career, I knew that every year job boards got more expensive; and every year they delivered less quality and more restrictions. I was so fed up with job board results that I quit using them and resorted to using only my strong Boolean skills.

Late in 2008, after my second layoff that year, I decided to start my own recruiting and career consulting company. Demand wasn’t nearly as high for recruiting due to economic conditions and I found myself providing a lot of pro bono assistance to job seekers, mainly via Twitter. I felt Twitter was a great tool for interacting and receiving real time information.

That’s when the idea was born. Michael and I were discussing the need for a better job board; one that provided fresh information about real jobs, in real time.  We discussed that the “pay to post” job boards would have to evolve with demand, which was rapidly moving away from that model. Michael came up with the name JobShouts when we talked about integrating with Twitter and it stuck.

We decided Twitter would be our first platform, since it was fastest way to receive information about jobs being posted. We liked that we could “tap in” to the API as a means to providing information more quickly. So JobShouts.com was born in January of 2009.

What can job seekers to do to optimize being found via JobShouts?

They can create a free (and private) user profile, that will allow them to receive notification via Direct Message on Twitter whenever a job is posted that matches their profile.

We’re working on a solution that will also allow them to choose how they receive that message (email, Facebook message, etc). For now, all job seekers that sign up for a profile must also have a Twitter account. However, they can set their Twitter DM settings to forward to their e-mail or phone so that they don’t have to monitor Twitter actively.

What PR and marketing efforts are you putting into JobShouts?

All PR and Marketing is home-grown, trial by fire. During my career I’ve had plenty of marketing experience including business development. The PR is all new and self taught, with the help of some great friends on Twitter. We’ve experienced a tremendous amount of support from some key industry people; namely Alison Doyle, Job Searching Guide from JobSearch.About.com. Her help and exposure landed us in the L.A. Times only 2 weeks after our launch!

Eight months later, we’ve been featured in the Baltimore Sun, New York Times, Tampa Tribune and on FOX-TV across the country. Most of this effort has been largely due to my own learning and relationship building. I write all of our press releases as well as our blog. I create and maintain relationships with people in PR, HR, Recruiting, News Media, etc and I pay attention and learn from them.

Our marketing plan is being refined as we currently take on the task of writing a formal business plan. JobShouts.com needs capital to continue to grow and pursue more innovation, so our business plan is crucial in developing investor interest.

How are you planning to measure success?

I think success has multiple levels. Personally, I consider what we’re doing as a success already – we’ve already done what the big job boards don’t do. We’ve already given recruiters, employers and job seekers a better and more cost effective resource.

As far as monetary success, there will be an enhanced set of features available to paid subscribers in the very near future. Some features will always remain free – but even the subscription costs will be reasonable. We strive never to be a Monster.com, so I suppose the ultimate success for us would be to us to eventually gain market share from them.

***

I imagine aggressive job seekers will be leery of focusing their efforts on just one service, but I do think JobShouts is worth a shot; if nothing else, for the time it can free up for them online, allowing them to focus on networking and relationship-building, which are still incredibly important, perhaps even more so today. (And if they’re still part of the “I don’t think Twitter’s much use” brigade, this might change their collective mind.) Their blog is fun to read as well, and if you’re not already doing so, follow them on Twitter here, here and here.

If you’ve been helped by JobShouts, would you let me know? How are you using social media in your job search? Do share by leaving a comment; successes and failures, we can learn from them all.

Email Lists: One Step at a Time

I took a completely unscientific Twtpoll a couple of days ago. The question was: you’ve met someone once, and like a good networker, exchanged business cards. Next thing you know, you’re on this person’s email list, which is clearly being used to market his/her small business. OK or no way?

Out of 28 votes, seven thought it was ok. The rest (75%) pretty much said no way (if it’s going in your spam filter, I take it as a sign that it’s unwanted) and the comments are pretty clear.

My Take

In my opinion, this is the quickest way to eliminate what could have been potentially a very good contact for you from not just your database, but your life. Or worse, fall afoul of CAN-SPAM.

You want to grow your business; I get that. But building a business is based in no small part on building relationships, as yesterday’s #soloPR Twitterchat made perfectly clear (and many of those participating were/are small business owners).

Building relationships, like everything else, takes time. So you met a few people you think could be potential customers or advocates down the line. Great. Don’t start bombarding them with “this is the dream of my life” emails when you have no idea if they even want them.

Get to know them first. Shoot a quick email saying you’d like to keep in touch. If they respond, kick it up a notch; maybe set up a phone conversation or, if they seem willing, a cup of coffee. Find out what they’re about, what they are interested in. Find out what you can do for them – that whole social karma thing.

If it goes well, ask if they’d be interested in hearing more about what you’re up to, and go from there. And once they’re on your marketing list, always, always make sure there’s a way for them to extricate themselves. In Seth Godin’s words, it’s permission marketing.

Or, as Chris Brogan put it, “I’m reaching out to shake your hand and you’re trying to put your tongue in my mouth.”

What do you think? What are your tips for small business owners trying to grow their base? Have you had great – or not-so-great – experiences you’d care to share? I’d love to know and, as always, thanks for stopping by.

Want to Freelance? TwitterSource

I had a lot of fun co-hosting the first #soloPR chat on Twitter today. It was a shame that my co-host, Heather Huhman, was locked out of Twitter for the duration, but pros like Kellye Crane, Jen Wilbur, and many more shared great tips on a career as a freelance PR professional, especially for new/recent grads. That’s right, I put “career” and “freelance” in the same sentence; because it can be a great one.

You can see the entire transcript of today’s chat at the #soloPR What the Hashtag?! page, but here are some gems from today’s chat:

It was great to meet new folks and reconnect with friends like Jennifer Mitchell, a feisty San Diego-based pro. Jen and I agreed to use the term “an agency of one” (which I first heard from her and promptly appropriated – with her permission – for my website earlier this year) on separate coasts. And Shane Kinkennon put me squarely in my place with a beautiful definition of “higher marketing”:

Many thanks to everyone who signed on today. I hope you’ll join the erstwhile Kellye Crane as she moves the #soloPR chat forward every Wednesday, from 1 – 2 pm ET. If today was anything to go by, we just tapped into an amazing resource.

You.

Do you have more tips you’d like to share on a career in freelance PR? Do leave a note in the comments, I’d love to know.

Photo: Photos8.com

Email Lists: To Add or Not To Add

I’m curious: how do you feel about being added to email lists that are clearly being used for marketing purposes by someone you don’t really have a relationship with, specifically, you’ve met only once? Being a good networker, you gave out your business card. Next thing you know, you’re on their email list (sometimes without an unsubscribe option).

I know how I feel about this, but what about you?

I’d love it if you’d take this quick Twtpoll and let me know. Your answers will help me greatly with the follow-up post.

Thank you!

Photo: Eternal*Voyageur

Communicator, Sell – and Share – Thyself

A couple of weeks ago, IABC/Washington (of which I’m president-elect) held its annual “resume review and networking night.” This has become something of a tradition for us, and one of the chapter events I enjoy the most. Every August, we scrap our usual monthly meeting format (bar, dinner, speaker, you’ve all been there before) and devote the evening to networking.

Um, yeah. Nothing new.

What I think adds a different dimension to this event is that we schedule a limited number of free resume reviews and career counseling sessions, which take place throughout the evening, which senior communicators – both members and non-members – graciously donate their time to do.

It’s a bear to organize. Putting the schedule together, dropping people in, rearranging things because folks have conflicts that come up, handling late requests and walk-ins when the schedule is already overflowing… yea, you get the picture.

It’s completely worth it.

If you’ve ever been a job hunter, let alone one in a down market, you’ve felt the pain of paying a few hundred dollars for an “expert” to look over your resume. Perhaps they made great edits, but your search hasn’t gotten any easier. You have no clue what you’re doing wrong … are you doing something wrong? And you get even more depressed when everyone around you seems to be getting the jobs they want (or at least, say they want).

It’s great to be able to provide this service free (the meeting registration is the only fee). Granted, most of the volunteer reviewers are not avowed experts in that area, but you figure after 20, 25 years in the business, they know a thing or two about resumes. More often than not, what people are looking for is not a once-over of their resume, but for someone to listen to them, bounce ideas around with, and perhaps walk away with a couple of new doors to knock on.

This year, we had 24 such sessions scheduled. Thanks to the generosity of our volunteers, we were able to knock out 54 such sessions – we accommodated everyone on the wait list, and then some (you can see some of the photos from the evening here).

But what really makes this kind of event, I think, is the recharging of batteries that almost everyone experiences – especially those who’ve been on the hunt for a while. I didn’t, but almost teared up, when one of the attendees told me that he’d barely been able to get out of bed in six months, since being laid off (and this is someone very senior we’re talking about here) but that this event – the first he’d attended in those six months – made it worth it. Yup, I’m mushy like that.

What added even more value to our event was the presence of Kate Perrin, CEO of PRofessional Solutions, the DC area’s only PR temp agency. Kate, who’s a stalwart of the DC communication community, made brief remarks on job hunting in a down economy; reassuring (don’t lose your confidence) but also candid (don’t apply for any and every job, get to grips with SM and put new technologies to work for you, don’t ignore the cover letter, and market yourself because you are your product).

Here’s a brief clip of Kate talking about marketing yourself. Yea, the camera’s shaky (I didn’t have a stand and it’s the first time I’ve done this), but hopefully it’ll give you a flavor of the evening.

By the way, if you’re interested in putting on a similar event for your own professional development group, PRSA or IABC chapter, please let me know; either shoot me an email or leave a comment below with your contact information. I’ll be more than happy to share our formula.

You’ve got to share – and sell – yourself. It works.

What programming have you found most beneficial, no matter where you are? Do you have a formula for job hunting or career success? Do share it so that we can all learn.

Photo: permanently scatterbrained

You, Who?

You know how, sometimes, you’re reading a conference line-up, trying to decide whether you’ll attend or not, and you see a name you’ve never seen, or heard, before? Happens to me every now and then. I like to think I know more than a few people in our “biz,” but sometimes I can’t help but go, “You, who?”

Yes, I get excited by events that are being headlined by the rock stars of our industry, or the folks I call the “WHOs.” These are the folks who – at least to me – are the real deal, not just big fish in whichever echo chamber they’ve taken up residence. They have terrific experiences and lessons to share, and it gives me a kick to meet them.

What I’ve started finding lately, though, is that the “whos” are often more exciting to me than the “WHOs.” Because they share new ideas and have fresh voices – the stuff that keeps our profession growing and relevant. And I’d really like to see and hear from more of them.

If there’s one thing you can do for yourself as a communicator and our profession at the same time, it’s to share what you know. Because that’s the only way others will learn, and we can continue to shape the body of knowledge that future generations will draw on. And what good are all those great ideas if you keep them inside yourself?

So if you’re a “who,” here’s my challenge to you: start doing something TODAY that will take you from a “who” to a “WHO.” Get involved with your local IABC or PRSA chapter. Look for and speak at local events. Share your thoughts on Twitter or your blog. Better yet, do both.

If you’re a “WHO,” are you paying it forward? Are you reaching to the “whos” of our world to help them climb the ladder you did so successfully?

Take it from a former “who” not quite a “WHO.” And if you won’t take it from me, take it from Smokie. Don’t be Alice… or the guy who lived next door to her.

Whether “who” or “WHO,” how have you been helped? What tips can you offer those trying to break the thought leadership ceiling? Do share, I’d love to know.

Photo: sfdavidz

Follow Friday: The Graceland Edition

One of the things that struck me about Elvis’ former home on our recent road trip through Tennessee was just how comfortable it looks.

Graceland’s certainly an imposing structure when seen from afar – or even the front. But once you get inside, the rooms aren’t vast and the furniture looks really comfy. It doesn’t look too much like a rock star’s home, unlike some of the mansions you see on Cribs; it looks like a place you’d want to hang out in.

So this week, I’m highlighting five of my Tweeps in the greater marketing communications community who aren’t just rock stars at what they do; but more importantly, they’re good, honest people whom I feel comfortable with.

1. Robin Lane (@robinhlane). I first came in contact with Robin a few years ago while she was still at Vocus, and have been a fan ever since. She’s an amazing PR professional but more than knowing the mechanics of the business inside out, she builds and maintains relationships.

2. Arik Hanson (@arikhanson). Arik and I started “talking” on Twitter, and finally met at BlogPotomac earlier this year. Boy, is he a nice guy! He knows who he is, but he won’t beat you over the head with it. And that’s saying a lot for someone of his caliber and standing in the community.

3. Leigh Fazzina (@leighfazzina). Will you look at this woman’s bio? My god, what a rock star! But what’s even more amazing about Leigh are her energy and generosity of spirit. Just looking at her avatar is a a pick-me-up.

4. Arun Rajagopal (@arun4). I don’t even remember how Arun and I came across each other, but he’s now one of my closest Twitter friends. He’s great at what he does – advertising – but he’s just FUN to talk to. And he cares; you can tell that from the minute you start talking to him.

5. Judy Gombita (@jgombita). As far as rock stars go, Judy’s at the stratospheric level. We could probably take everything the rest of us know and it would fit on her little finger. But the even greater thing about Judy is that she never lets you get lazy. She’ll challenge – and make you think – about everything you think you know.

There are many more Tweeps who give me immense value – these are just five of them. Even if you don’t work in the PR/MarComm areas, I believe you should get to know them. Because they’re like Graceland: imposing but oh so comfortable to be around.

Who’re your “Graceland” tweeps? I’d love to know.

Social Media, Social Karma

There’s an awful lot of social karma going around lately.

JOTW: My First Experience With Social Karma

For the last few years, I’ve occasionally guest-edited the free “Ned’s Job of the Week” e-newsletter. If you don’t know about it, it’s a free weekly newsletter that lists job postings sent to Ned Lundquist, ABC, by subscribers (as well as many he finds himself) in the spirit of sharing.

For a couple of weeks every year, I experience what Ned goes through on a daily basis: sifting through job postings sent by readers, looking for them myself, telling people how to subscribe and unsubscribe (even though the instructions are clearly listed in the newsletter) and then compiling all the information, along with other announcements that would be relevant (such as communication/PR events) into a newsletter that’s sent out every Monday.

It’s a lot of work, and I’m exhausted and relieved when Ned returns; but I’m always grateful for the additional connections I make by filling in for him, as well as honored by his trust that I’ll keep JOTW rolling along.

And I always ask myself: how on earth does he keep doing it?

The answer is very simple: Ned believes in social karma. Or rather, as he puts it, JOTW is dedicated to the “positive, unanticipated consequences of nedworking.” And no, that’s not a typo.

Ned didn’t start publishing JOTW to get something out of it. He did it to help a few folk he knew, and figured he might – just might – help himself along the way. Since its inception with a handful of subscribers, JOTW has grown tremendously; at last count, there are more than 11,111 members of the JOTW network. It now has a home on the Web as well as advertisers and sponsors.

The WIIFM Factor

Is Ned getting something out of JOTW now? You bet. But that’s not why he started it, and not why he keeps it going, or why he keeps it free to subscribers. And that, in my opinion, is why he’s successful.

Mind you, all this started several years ago, way before “social media” became the “buzzphrase” it is today. But to me, Ned epitomizes the inherent karmic element of social media. If you send something good out to your world – with no expectation whatsoever – something good will come back to you.

Twitter and Social Karma

One of the reasons I love Twitter is that it’s a perfect platform for social karma. Want to know who can enrich your network? Head to #followfriday. Want to show someone some Twitter-love? Re-tweet something interesting they’ve shared.

And through Twitter, I’ve come across even more instances of social karma.

Mark Story, for example, has started #blogmonday, where he highlights bloggers who might not be very well known. Arik Hanson posts interviews with professionals he thinks are “PR Rockstars” on his blog. Heather Huhman provides a wealth of PR resources by tagging relevant posts with #PRadvice. And there are countless others.

As far as I know, Mark, Arik and Heather aren’t necessarily “getting” anything out of their efforts. But I’m pretty sure they are enhancing their reputations (don’t worry, I’m not going to get into the whole personal branding thing here), building their networks and sowing the seeds for “positive, unanticipated consequences” which will have a beneficial effect on their work.

What’s the Communications Angle?

The first thing that anyone – including the many “gurus” out there – will tell you about social media is that it’s about listening, connecting and sharing. Everything else comes later.

If you’re a professional communicator grappling with the amoebic nature of social media, try thinking of it as your path to social karma.

After all, our business is communication, right? Sharing information, educating and informing audiences and hopefully, at the end of the day, doing some good by using smart communications to help organizations (or clients) achieve their goals.

Listening, sharing, connecting – this is what we DO. Don’t get intimidated by the technology behind it, or the buzzwords that tend to change quicker than David and Dania.

Call me naïve, but I believe social karma is a large part of what we do for a living. Social media is just another way to get there.

(Photo: Miss Bliss 55)

What about you? Is social karma part of your approach to communications? Have you found social media has increased your social karma? If you want to give props to someone who does, a comment would be a lovely way to do so.

Of Job Hunting, Cologne… and Twitter

On April 2, a few friends and I put on the “Dream Team” hats that Ned Lundquist, ABC, bestowed on us some years ago, to help folks “Pimp My Job.”

What on earth is “Pimp My Job,” you ask?

If you subscribe to Ned’s free, weekly “Job of the Week” newsletter, which I sometimes guest-edit, you know what we’re about. But in essence, we’re a group of communicators from near and far who provide advice – sometimes mercilessly – to those brave enough to ask for it. They submit their on-the-job – or job hunting – nightmares to us, and we have at it, maintaining their privacy. Advice is compiled and published in the newsletter. You can read previous PMJs here.

PMJ Meets IABC

A few years ago, when I ran IABC/Washington‘s programming, I thought it would be fun to do a real world version of PMJ – and sure enough, it was. A couple of weeks ago, we reprised our “act” at IABC/Washington’s Senior Communicators Council meeting (disclosure: I’m President-Elect for the chapter, currently also Acting President).

Given how dramatically the economy has changed in the past few years, I wasn’t quite sure how the SCC meeting would go (it’s one thing to pimp your job while you still have it, quite another when you, and more and more of your peers, are out of work).

It was wonderful. Folks shared their experiences, asked for advice, gave advice, and I felt a tremendous sense of camaraderie among the attendees. We had some fun too: can you guess which Indian goddess the Dream Team is trying to portray here?

“It’s Not Rocket Science”

Now, none of what we said is rocket science (I couldn’t resist). Career advice abounds, especially these days. But there were two things that stayed with me:

1) It’s easy to get depressed when you’re in a go-nowhere job/laid off/have been job hunting for years, etc. But as Kate Perrin of PRofessional Solutions said, you cannot afford to let the “stink of desperation” cling to you. That’s when you’re in such a poor frame of mind that it comes across no matter where you are, who you’re talking to, or what you’re talking about … and that will come through in your interviews.  Do I need to give you examples? I didn’t think so.

2) Senior communicators must start understanding and using online social networks. Being… well, me, I gave the attendees a quick demonstration of Twitter which, as we all know, is just one of the many platforms you can use to connect with people. Time and time again, I hear “we don’t get it,” “I’m not technologically savvy,” what the heck is the point of (fill in your epithet network of choice) anyway?”

The point is two-fold: first, it’s networking. If you have experienced the advantages of meeting and communicating with your peers outside of your work, you cannot afford to ignore online venues that afford you the same opportunities. Yes, you have to then take your online network offline and put it to work for you. But you can’t do that if you don’t have an online network.

Second, you are probably finding that these days, more and more jobs require a knowledge of the online sphere and social media. How can you be competitive if you don’t explore the spaces potential employers need you to have an understanding of? It doesn’t matter if you don’t consider yourself an “expert” (there are too many wannabe experts floating around these days anyway, as Beth Harte points out in this most excellent post). But you’ve got to be able to talk knowledgeably about it – and you can’t do that if you don’t engage.

In my enthusiasm to bring a Twitter dimension to the meeting, I asked my tweeps to submit questions for the Dream Team to me via Twitter, hoping to be able to answer them live from the session. Many thanks to all of you who did (you can read the entire event-related tweetstream here). The meeting had so many facets to it that we weren’t able to get to all the questions, but they (and the answers) have been published in today’s edition of JOTW.

A final word: if you don’t subscribe to JOTW, I strongly recommend you do. It’s completely free and you will experience the “positive, unanticipated consequences of nedworking” first-hand. Subscription (and unsubscription) instructions are at the top and bottom of every email. The annual March 32nd issue itself is worth the price of admission.

The Bottom Line

Yes, it’s tough out there. But it’s tough for everyone, not just you. So check your desperation at the door and start using the networks around you. That’s what they’re there for, and you’ll be the better for it.

(Thanks, Ned for the use of your photo)

To ABC or Not, That is the Question

A couple of weeks ago we started talking about accreditation on Twitter (at least, I did). I serve on IABC’s Accreditation Council so, clearly, think it’s a good thing. I was curious about what others thought, so I asked my networks why they had pursued, or were pursuing, accreditation, and what value they derived from it.

What’s the Value of Accreditation?

The response overwhelmed me, not just by how many there were, but by how strongly people feel about accreditation.

There were a few recurring themes: curiosity as to whether one “measured up,” validation of one’s approach to communications, and value in staying involved with process by being a mentor or grader. On LinkedIn, Mary Hills, ABC, who’s director of marketing for the Council said:

And Jason King, ABC, accreditation liaison for IABC/Washington, said:

You can read all the LinkedIn answers here, but I found Maureen Ryan, ABC‘s answer particularly interesting:

Maureen’s accreditation was accepted by two universities in lieu of the GMAT. Bill Spaniel, ABC made good use of it too:

Accreditation v. MBA

So: you’re thinking of getting accredited, but should you be considering an MBA instead? What if you already have one, does accreditation still make sense? Here’s what Dora Smith, currently an accreditation candidate, told me:

Sue Johnston, MBA, ABC said:

The “Official” Accreditation Value Study

A study on the value of accreditation was conducted by L.C. Williams & Associates for IABC late in 2007. I encourage you to read the executive summary, which is extremely interesting; some key findings were:

• Seventy-nine percent of ABC respondents said the designation improves their résumés;
• Sixty percent said it’s given more credibility to their department or organization;
• Eighty percent said it benefits the profession by providing a professional global standard; and
• More than one-half of them (53%) said that since being accredited, they ensure that evaluation, measurement and monitoring are part of their plans.

So far, then, we have increased credibility, greater confidence, more rigorous use of communication best practices and advancing the profession.

Not All Peaches and Cream

Amy Mengel made several points from a different perspective; first, that accreditation is not inexpensive, when you consider the initial cost as well as the cost of maintaining it. She said (via email, and all emphasis is mine):

“I’ve worked in corporate communications for about five and a half years now, so I guess I’m ‘eligible’ to go through the process now if I wanted to. But I’ve never felt like having ABC or APR after my name would help me move up the career ladder or land a better/different job in corporate communications. I got my MBA two years ago (entirely company-funded) and I think that’s been much more relevant and opened more doors for me. I think accreditation would be much more important if I were an independent consultant or ran my own business – or even a member of a smaller PR firm.

If I were to do it, I think my reasons would be purely personal – for the experience and personal knowledge gained from going through the process. If I set out to do it with the expectation that it would get me a better job, a promotion, a pay raise, etc., then I think I would be disappointed. It’s not a credential that most hiring managers in corporate comm roles seem to be  familiar with or understand - it’s not like a CPA for accountants where it’s almost expected that practitioners have it.”

And, finally:

“I’ll also admit that I think a lot of these programs (beyond PR/comm. accreditations) are ‘profit centers’ for organizations… I can still be a good communicator without it, and the variety of designations handed out (IABC, PRSA, AMA, etc.) somewhat diminishes the strength of any one accreditation program.”

Gulp.

My $0.02

I promised Sarah Ann Walters I’d also share my opinion and story, so here they are:

I earned my accreditation four years ago, starting the process just after moving to DC. I did it because I don’t have formal training in PR, and I wanted to know whether my work – which I “thought” was good – really measured up. I attended an accreditation “fun shop” held by Ned Lundquist, ABC (who’s also founder and editor of Ned’s Job of the Week), and since I wasn’t working (I’d just moved to DC, remember?), figured I might as well start on my accreditation.

It took me one and a half years, from application to certificate. I paid for it myself, but it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done. It wasn’t cheap and yes, it was time-consuming. But I grew in confidence and learned a great deal which was reflected in my work, which led to the promotions and pay raises.

It’s one of the reasons I focus so much on smart measurement as an intrinsic part of strategic communications. It has helped define my approach to business communications, and the business of communications. So while accreditation has certainly been a personal achievement for me, it’s one I’ve put to good use for employers and clients, and they’ve appreciated it.

As to hiring managers being unfamiliar with accreditation… well, that’s a little of a chicken and egg situation, isn’t it? Until we, as accredited business communicators, take the time to educate them, why should they care? The Accreditation Chapter Toolkit might have been designed for chapters, but it’s got a wealth of resources we can all adapt and use to grow awareness of accreditation.

Michael Sponhour, ABC, puts it best:

“I find it works in the most simple ways – I have ABC on my business card, websites etc. and it often prompts questions from people who want to know what it is – that allows me to explain about the whole process. People should not expect an earth-shattering change in their professional career, but a greater sense of confidence and new opportunities to tell their stories without resorting to bragging or overbearing self promotion.”

The Last Word: From Shel Holtz, ABC

There are a lot of issues the PR profession faces, and this post certainly isn’t going to get to grips with them all. But one of the most critical issues is our validity as a profession, which Shel Holtz’ recent post on the issue examined extremely well. I’ll give him the last word:

Accreditation, unlike certification, is voluntary, and there are plenty of outstanding, professional PR practitioners who are not accredited. And it’s as likely you’ll find an accredited communicator who behaves badly as you are to find a lawyer who acts less than ethically.

But when faced with two communicators who are unknown to you, but who both seem to be equally capable, you can be more assured that the accredited communicator is going to perform his job based on a thorough understanding of communications’ models and standards because he has gone through a process and judged knowledgeable.

Photo credit: hartlandmartin. My thanks also to everyone who responded to my query, via Twitter, LinkedIn and email, several of whom are quoted in this post. The lack of space that prohibited me from using all your quotes in no way diminishes the value of your responses – thank you again.

What do you think? Is accreditation important to you, or are you curious about it? What else do you want to know? I’d love to have you join the conversation.

Home Is Where The Mouse Is… Maybe

A few days ago, Pew Research’s “Daily Number” was 38%: the percentage of Americans who, having lived in more than one place, don’t consider their current community home. Given that this is a country of immigrants, that isn’t surprising, and a feeling I (a naturalized American of East Indian origin) can relate to.

A couple of days later, we had a friend over for lunch. Canadian-born, he’s worked all over the world, including in several African countries, and now calls Liverpool, U.K., home. At one point he asked, “Where do you feel at home?” Initially, my answer was, “In this country, California” – because that’s where my husband is from, that was my first experience of the U.S., that’s where many of our good friends and family still live.

“Home” Is…

I kept thinking about that question, though. Where does one really feel at home? What is it that defines “home” from “away”? Can one feel at home in several places… or none?

… Where The Heart Is?

Pew’s report answers some of these questions, and the results aren’t surprising:

Among all respondents to the Pew Research Center survey, 57% say they have not lived in the U.S. outside their current state: 37% have never left their hometown and 20% have left their hometown (or native country) but not lived outside their current state.

The Pew survey finds that stayers overwhelmingly say they remain because of family ties and because their hometowns are good places to raise children. Their life circumstances match those explanations. Most stayers say at least half a dozen members of their extended families live within an hour’s drive; for 40%, more than 10 relatives live nearby. A majority of stayers also cite a feeling of belonging as a major reason for staying put.

(Emphasis mine).

Movers are far less likely to cite those kinds of ties. Fewer than four-in-ten say a major reason they moved to their current community has to do with family or child-rearing. Most movers have five or fewer extended-family members living within an hour’s drive of them, and 26% have none. The most popular reason that movers choose a new community, selected by a 44% plurality, is job or business opportunities, according to the Pew survey. About the same share of stayers (40%) cite job or business opportunities as a major reason for staying, but far more stayers choose reasons related to family and friends.

(Again, emphasis mine).

… Or Where The Mouse Is?

Where one feels at home certainly has to do with people and community – a sense of belonging. Which is why, as I continued to think about it, I realized that I feel at home in several places. This is not only due to the people I’ve met and relationships I’ve made, but because I stay connected to them through my mouse.

I keep up with them on Facebook and certainly via e-mail. And increasingly, my online home is Twitter, where I make new connections with fascinating people every day, taking offline relationships online and vice versa. Apparently there are quite a few people around the world who are interested in what I’m thinking about, in 140 characters or less, most of whom I’ve never met “IRL.”

That goes for me too. Because of the engagement I experience online, I’m fairly certain that should I experience another physical move, this community will help me root myself offline, to the point where I begin to feel at home – wherever I may be.

How Is This Relevant to PR?

One of the fundamentals of good PR is knowing your audience. And a key element of that is having an understanding of which media they consume, and which they don’t; where they like to get their information from. In other words – where they feel at home.

The media landscape is changing dramatically; today’s shuttering of the Rocky Mountain News has been drawing national attention. Will other traditional media stalwarts, such as the San Francisco Chronicle, follow suit? We’ll have to wait and see. What we know is that consumers have more choices than ever before, and the media outlets they call home – both traditional and “new” – are growing exponentially.

Let’s forget about the media for a second.

Consider the data from Pew’s Internet & American Life Project December 2008 survey:

Over half of the adult internet population is between 18 and 44 years old. But larger percentages of older generations are online now than in the past, and they are doing more activities online, according to surveys taken from 2006-2008.

Contrary to the image of Generation Y as the “Net Generation,” internet users in their 20s do not dominate every aspect of online life. Generation X is the most likely group to bank, shop, and look for health information online. Boomers are just as likely as Generation Y to make travel reservations online. And even Silent Generation internet users are competitive when it comes to email (although teens might point out that this is proof that email is for old people).

The Bottom Line

You may be an excellent PR professional who is not a Twitter devotee, Facebook junkie, or a fan of the countless online mechanisms that, for want of a better term, we call social media tools; and you are perfectly within your rights to remain so.

But as Internet users increasingly span generations, as millenials grow into their roles as business leaders and decision makers, I suspect you might be doing your employers or clients – and most of all yourself – a disservice if you don’t at least familiarize yourself with the online channels that help people meet, talk, work and grow – and where they feel at home.

Maybe, just maybe, home is where the mouse is.

What do you think? Where do you feel at home? Please share your thoughts and perspectives; I’d love to hear them.

Images: Pew Research Center

Recruiters: PR Also Means “People Relations”

Yesterday I received one of the most unusual calls in recent memory. It was from a recruiter with Profiles, who’d presented me for a position here in DC several months ago. Times are bad, hiring is slow; still, the process with this particular position has been dragging on for several months now.

When my path first crossed that of this recruiter, I made it clear to her that I didn’t expect her to “get me” this job; but what I did ask for was for whatever the final decision was to be communicated to me. I’ve encountered some recruiters who don’t do that, and there is nothing more off-putting than not knowing where you stand. As Rachel a.k.a. Jennifer Aniston said, “That, my friend, is what they call ‘closure’.”

Well, this recruiter walks the talk. While I have no idea whether we’re anywhere near the finish line, she has consistently kept in touch with me to try to keep me engaged. She follows up regularly with the hiring organization, and lets me know what their response has been. And when they do make their final decision, I know she will communicate it – whatever it is – to me.

For someone who’s not working for me, as Lindsay Olson explains in this excellent post, I call that pretty good “people relations.” Good people relations is something that not just PR professionals, but everyone, should aspire to – including recruiters.

Recruiter Horror Stories

We’ve all heard the horror stories about job candidates. Ad nauseam, I might add. But what about the recruiter horror stories?

Apparently there are quite a few, as my Twitter network told me:

Jason Buck “had an ‘interesting’ experience at temp agency party, where one very drunk recruiter told me exactly what she wanted from me, in earshot of all… I won a bottle of champagne at the next party for being ‘the most adaptable temp.’ ”

Another (whose identity is concealed on request) had this experience:

1. Brought me in to interview in October – seemed positive
2. Sent writing sample, never heard back
3. The main recruiter left – still hadn’t heard back
4. Move to November, I got laid off
5. They had me come in to interview three times, and meet with about eight people
6. Never heard from them again – by then I was so put off I didn’t care anymore though

And one of my Facebook friends, who also requested to remain anonymous, went through 10 (yes, 10) interviews to join a global recruiting firm; discussed a possible niche practice with the COO; drove 100 miles through a snowstorm for the final (10th) interview only to be told she was “more concerned with moving up the ladder than learning the ropes of the  business.” Her subsequent emails and phone calls were not returned.

The Bottom Line

No, job candidates should not chew gum or eat brownies during interviews. They should present themselves professionally, and follow up diligently and politely. And they should not expect recruiters to work for them – that is certainly not the way it works (though often good recruiters will give candidates tips and an insight into the recruiting process, as Lindsay and several others do).

But candidates can expect recruiters to work with them, and afford them the same courtesies they would like to see returned. After all, job hunters are people too. And when the economy turns, these same candidates, who are beating down every door they can see right now, might just be in a position to do someone a favor.

It’s called good people relations.

What do you think? Do you have tips for recruiters – or candidates – that you’d like to share?

Thanks to @KarenRussell, @jasonbuck and everyone else who contributed to this post.

Five Ways to Show Twitter Love

It’s a cliché. A “Hallmark holiday.” “Every day should be Valentine’s Day.”

Ever heard – or made – any of those remarks?

I confess; I have, and I think they have a ring of truth. But cliché or not, Valentine’s Day is a way – admitted, perhaps born of artifice and over-commercialized – to show one’s appreciation and affection to those who make your life better.

To me, that includes my Twitterverse. So, for those of you who have fallen in love with Twitter, here are five ways to show your Twitter love on Valentine’s Day:

1. Mr. Tweet is a great way to find interesting people to follow, depending on what your interests are. I like to follow those in my profession (public relations), writers, social media savants, IABC members and, sometimes, folks who are just downright interesting, funny and who would probably rear up at being categorized in any way.

Take it one step further and give back to those you follow by giving them a recommendation on Mr. Tweet; this will help others find them. It won’t cost you more than a click, and there are more than enough of those to go around.

2. Re-tweet… with credit. Just as bloggers get a charge out of comments on their posts, because they show engagement, it’s very satisfying to see something you tweeted about spread through re-tweets, especially when you didn’t ask for it. If you frequently re-tweet interesting posts, links or news – good for you.

Give credit where credit is due by adding the original Twitterer’s handle when you forward the update. TweetDeck and Twhirl make this easy to do; if you’re just getting started on Twitter and using the Web interface, copy and paste in the original update, precede it with “RT @<whoever>” and boom, you’re off.

3. #FollowFriday. Increasing Twitter followers seems to be the be all and end all for some. I can’t deny it’s satisfying to see one’s follower numbers go up, but what I personally get more satisfaction out of is the engagement, the conversations I have with other Twitterers.

A great way to pay it forward is to participate in Twitter events like #followfriday, where you recommend Twitter users to others. It helps if you explain why, e.g. “Foodies: @<whoever> #followfriday” and so on. Using the hashtag with no spaces between the two words will help others find them.

4. Engage. Speaking of engagement, one of the most remarkable things about social networking is the ability to talk to and get to know people you might never have come across otherwise in the “real” world. Whether you choose to follow everyone who follows you is up to you. But one of the nicest things you can do is respond when you are mentioned in tweets, or when someone sends you a message.

For example, yesterday I recommended Paisano on #followfriday, because his updates make me think, inform me and, sometimes, he’s just very funny. I was completely unprepared for him to write back and thank me; let’s face it, he’s a pretty influential Twitterer. When he did, I was impressed and, as a result, I will be following him even more closely now.

5. Go offline. Twitter is a wonderful way to get to know people online. As you develop those relationships, take them offline. Meet up for coffee, attend tweetups in your area… get to know the people behind those avatars. We live in a uniquely multi-dimensional world. Take advantage of it.

Those are my five ways to show Twitter love; I’m sure you have many more. Won’t you share them with me… and the love?

Happy Valentine’s Day.

Photo credit: ~Athena

Writing: PR’s Sleeper “R”

My foray into the U.S. public relations world dates back to 2000, when I had just moved to this country. Apparently “networking” was the way to go (in India we called it the “old boys’ club”) and, dutifully following the lead of more experienced professionals, I plunged myself into monthly meetings of the San Francisco Bay Area Publicity Club (which we fondly called “The Pub Club”).

Of all the characters – some offbeat, some extremely colorful – that I met, no one left a more lasting impression on me than “Mr. T.” I can’t remember his full name, but I do recall that his first name began with a “t,” was older than the average Pub Clubber (20-something), had worked primarily in Tech PR, and had recently been laid off (we’re talking late 2000/early 2001 here).

Mr. T said to me, “I can’t write, but I don’t think that’s important. I know how to do PR, and there are enough writers to go around.” (Or words to that effect.)

I remember being quite taken aback by that pronouncement. However, being a (fairly) well-brought up Bengali girl, I smiled politely and moved on to exchange pleasantries with the less-outré attendees at the event. But Mr. T’s words stayed with me. Every now and again, I wondered if he was right.

I don’t think so.

If you’re a journalist, author or successful blogger, you already know why.

PR professionals – especially those who are new to the industry – if you ever had doubts about the importance of being able to write well, consider:

Your communications with clients, the media and internal constituents invariably comprise a high volume of writing. How will you convince them of the validity of your plans, pitches or whatnot if you can’t express yourself well in the written medium?

We live in an age where short attention spans are not just the norm, they’re “ADOS,” as Peter Shankman famously describes himself. Lose your audience before your first paragraph is complete, and you risk the possibility of losing their attention for good.

We are trying to survive through a time of record job losses and the fear and self-questioning that accompany them. If ever there was a time to showcase the diversity of your talents, it is now.

Getting Started on Writing Well

Being able to write beautifully may be a gift, but being able to write well – both succinctly as well as with meaning – can be learned. Here are just a few ways:

Give yourself a précis exercise. One of the most useful high school English classes I had to go through was “précis,” or the practice of distilling several, often long-winded, paragraphs, into a finite number of words without losing the essence of the original writing. Try it: create a table in Microsoft Excel of “x” number of cells, and allow yourself no more than one word in each cell (punctuation marks can be included after a word). How good are your compression skills?

If you haven’t already jumped on the bandwagon, get thee on Twitter. What better exercise in expressing yourself succinctly than in being restricted to 140 characters?

Capture your soundbites. While this word may have been bequeathed to us by audio-visual media, there is nothing more potent than a catchy phrase that rolls off the tongue, that not only captures the essence of what you’re trying to say, but can be used across many mediums, be they press releases, op-eds, or messaging documents.

You may be well ahead of me and, if so, please do share your tips. If you’re still trying to figure out the skills you need to hone as a public relations professional, though, don’t dismiss the ability to write well.

It might make the difference between being – well, Mr. T and you.

Image courtesy Debbie Ridpath Ohi.

What Makes a Mentor?

About a month ago, I saw a tweet from Shel Holtz, ABC, that piqued my curiosity:

Not one to bridle said curiosity, I followed the link Shel provided and immediately signed up for the Mentorship Connection. Again, almost immediately, I was told (via e-mail) that I had been matched with a willing mentee: Nick Lucido – and now it was up to the two of us to connect and figure out how I could help Nick move towards his PR career goals.

What Nick and I have in common are a passion for smart PR and the desire to give back to the broader PR community by being actively involved in it. Thanks to the similarity in our natures, it took the two of us almost a month to speak via telephone this past Friday (though we’ve been corresponding via e-mail and Twitter since we were put in touch). I was struck by his drive and conviction – how many of us knew while still in high school that PR was our chosen path? – but most of all, by his willingness to extend himself along paths unknown.

What Makes a Mentor?

About a week after I saw Shel’s tweet, Kami Huyse wrote an insightful post on why mentors are vital to the development of one’s career. I’ve had many friends, colleagues and supporters who have helped me over the years, and I hope there will be many more.

But as I read Kami’s post, it reminded me of the mentors who have – perhaps without knowing it – been instrumental in helping me navigate my career and grow into my PR shoes. John Mason, one of the most visionary educators this world has seen, was an early mentor; since I moved to the U.S., I can never repay the kindnesses my first boss, Charly Zukow, and measurement queen Katie Paine have shown me. More than kindness, though, they exemplify the dictionary definition of a mentor:

What John, Charly and Katie have even more in common is that – at least from my point of view – they didn’t come to me and say, “Hey, I’m going to mentor you.”

What they did, instead, was lead by example, letting me know their respective doors were always open. They recognized potential that I did not, and armed me with the confidence to plumb that potential. They steered me towards taking on ever-increasing challenges that, when I succeeded, showed me possibilities I didn’t even know existed. And when I failed – because we all do – they let me lick my wounds but, before long, picked me up, dusted me off and set me back on track.

What John, Charly and Katie have in common is that they earned the title of mentor. And whether they know it or not – or like it or not – they will always be my mentors.

If I can do even one-tenth for Nick of what has been done for me, I will count myself fortunate. And perhaps then I’ll earn the title of being his mentor.

What about you? How have your mentors inspired you and earned your trust? I’d love to know your thoughts.