2010 August — Get In Front Communications

5 Emmy Awards You Should Have Won for Social Media

by Susan Young at 1:15 pm Leave a Comment

“Mad Men”, “Nurse Jackie” and ”The Closer”—all winners at the 62nd Annual Emmy Awards, which honors the best in television acting. (Hey, where was Snooki???!—rhetorical question my friends).

Don’t you deserve some credit for honing your craft and waiting tables while praying your Social Media strategy will pan out? Sure you do.

Best Series, Drama- for responding to off-the-wall, misconstrued, and over-the-top comments on your blog. You kept the dramatics at just the right tempo, and added 47 subscribers too. Sweet.

Best Actor in a Comedy- for attempting to have the creativity and humor of Larry David or Lorne Michaels, only to discover your video kinda sucks. Keepin’ the day job.

Best Guest Actor in a Drama- for nailing a fabulous guest post from a heralded “Social Media Guru/Expert”–yes we can create a buzz without Betty White. Who knew?

Best Social Media Movie-for getting in just under the new YouTube deadline of 15 minutes. IMHO, most of those embarrassing ”Made for TV” movies should be forced to comply with the 15 minute rule too. Just sayin’ .

Best Supporting Actress-for recruiting your stylish and trendy coworker, a lady on the street, or 3-year-old daughter for a cameo in your video blog. It’s all good.

Quick, grab the remote. The damn speeches are coming.

(Photo Credit: NASA HQ Trophy)

Filed Under: Blogging, Business, Communication, Creativity, Motivation, Online Marketing, Social Media, Success Tagged With: audience, blog posts, blogs, Business, Communication, interviews, message, Social Media, Success, technology, Video blogs

3 Secrets to Getting Publicity over Labor Day Weekend

by Susan Young at 1:11 pm Leave a Comment

Labor Day is around the corner which means there’s a great window of opportunity for you to pitch stories and get news coverage. Even though business and government may be slower than usual, newspapers are still printed, and TV and radio stations are on the air. You may have noticed that the Internet never closes. Reporters are turning to Social Media to see what’s out there. You can help.

Consider this. Many stories that may seem weak or tough to pitch during a busy news cycle can easily grab the attention of a reporter or blogger during the long holiday weekend. I know because I was a radio news reporter and news director for many years. It’s feast or famine.

Here are 3 quick and easy tips for getting coverage through early September:

Look at the calendar. Labor Day is Monday, September 6^th. If you send out your press release or pitch by Wednesday, September 1^st, reporters can use it anytime between September 1^st and September 10^th. The media is open 24/7. Your sleeper story on a busy news day could be a big headline over the extended weekend.
Keep it undated. If you have an “evergreen story” with no real date attached to it, that’s best for coverage during slow news cycles.
Get creative. Avoid the typical seasonal stories that reporters always cover, like back-to-school, fall clothing and holiday gas prices. Hard news and business stories are ideal for these time periods.

Take advantage of this window of opportunity by planning ahead and brainstorming. Reporters will appreciate your efforts and you can build key relationships.

(Photo Credit: meli254)

Filed Under: Blogging, Business, content, Creativity, media, News, Public Relations, publicity, Social Media, Writing Tagged With: audience, blog posts, Business, media, News, PR, press releases, publicity, reporters, Social Media, technology, Writing

Grow Your Business with the 10 Cs of Social Media

by Susan Young at 1:09 pm 3 Comments

Most of us who are entrenched in social media are driven by the goal of growing our business. Yes, we’ve met wonderful new people and friends along the way. Had a few yucks online and maybe a few drinks in person. But the overriding goal is directly linked to business development.

When you think back to what you’ve learned since embarking on this technological journey, it’s quite amazing. If you’re like me, I often have to pinch myself!

Here are 10 Cs of Social Media that have had a huge impact on my professional and personal development. How about you?

Clarity. 140 characters, writing blog posts, articles, marketing pieces, and landing page copy certainly require clarity in our communication.
Community. What would life be like without the @ sign? We share lists, DMs, and LOLs. It’s all good.
Chat. I often feel like I’m at “Cheers”–you know, where everyone knows your name. It just feels like a welcoming place to learn and share. And there’s no cover charge or dress code.
Compelling. The “light bulb” moment comes when you realize you have to offer something compelling to people so they’ll want to find out more about your expertise and business. It’s not about you; it’s always about them.
Cultivate. Have you learned the lesson of patience? Social media is a fine teacher of patience. It takes time to cultivate relationships, friendships, and business. If you’re looking for instant gratification, you’re in the wrong place.
Competency. You’ll be able to grow your business and community when you stick with your core skills and expertise. Social media demands transparency. You can’t fake competency; long-term anyway.
Communication. The cornerstone of success is communication. Haven’t your communication skills significantly improved since you began this online journey? Aren’t you more savvy about your Tweets, posts, and messages than when you first signed on?
Crisp. Our world and attention move at such a warp-speed that we have to use crisp words and language to attract people. Wordsmithing is about being picky and selective about every single word and sentence you use.
Charisma. You won’t build business if you’re a social media wallflower. Our new form of networking, blogging, and chatting requires personality and allure. Boring doesn’t build business.
Comment. Yes, people want to know my opinion! How cool is that? Makes me feel special…and you? It means I have to read something, think about it, consider my opinion and insights, and write about it. Commenting on other people’s posts is another tool to build business, communities, and critical thinking skills.

Who said this was a fad or a waste of time?

(Photo Credit: Todd Klassy)

Filed Under: Business, Communication, rapport, Social Media, Social Networking Tagged With: articles, blog posts, Blogging, business growth, Communication, message, rapport, Relationships, Self-Confidence, Social Media, Success, technology, Twitter, Writing

The 10 Most Overused Words in Social Media

by Susan Young at 10:05 am 14 Comments

If you’ve been tinkering around in Social Media for more than six hours, you may have noticed many of us have overdosed on one or more of the following words. How about you?

Engage - that’s for up- and-coming brides and their lucky partners.
Transparency-reminds me of Scotch Tape and the word “Frankly”. What else would you be?
Resources- can’t have too many of those, or can you?
Value- no one likes to waste their time with junk and get ripped off. Duh.
Free- come on, I have a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn.
Revolution- which came first, The Beatles or George Washington?
Marketing-ok…
Traffic- ever drive on the Long Island Expressway on Thanksgiving Day? Now that’s traffic. And it ain’t much fun.
Community-what about the anti-social and introverts?
SEO-e, i, e, i, o..with a moo moo here and a moo moo there, (come on, everybody!)

It’s been a busy day in paradise. Do you have any words you’d like to add?

Filed Under: Blogging, Business, Communication, content, Marketing, Online Marketing, Social Media, Social Networking, Writing Tagged With: Blogging, Business, Communication, Marketing, message, Social Media, technology, Writing

The Top 10 Reasons You Need Chutzpah in PR

by Susan Young at 3:00 am 8 Comments

This was a first. I went onto dictionary.com and looked up the Yiddush word “Chutzpah.” Moses and my grandma are probably both turning over. Here’s what I found:

khoot-spuh, hoot- noun Slang . 1. unmitigated effrontery or impudence; gall.

2. audacity; nerve. Also, hutzpah.

I’ll agree with all of the above. When I was growing up, I heard countless relatives using the word “Chutzpah” with their deep, throaty emphasis on the CH. Used in a sentence, “You’ve got some Chutzpah, leaving the table without helping with the dishes.”

And yes, in Public Relations, Chutzpah is a job requirement. Any PR pro (maven) worth their salt understands this.

Here are Top 10 Reasons You Need Chutzpah in PR:

10. It beats wearing a yarmulke (skullcap) when chasing reporters in a fierce windstorm with the hope of getting a 3 second sound bite for your client.

9. If you don’t have it, your competition will.

8. Your client expects it. How else can you get him on Oprah?

7. You have to tell your fellow alumni at the college reunion you majored in something in grad school. Chutzpah is a 300 level class. Very impressive.

6. It comes in handy to avoid family functions you prefer not to attend–”Sorry, Aunt Harriet, breaking news. PR’s a crazy business. I’ll be here for your 91st next year!”

5. You have to put your name on the press release, pitch or blog; this better be good or your credibility is tanked.

4. You somehow manage to always be “on the other side” of the security barricade, rubbing elbows with the VIP’s and men in dark suits who talk into their sleeves.

3. When your boss or new client shrieks, “How much money do you want?!!” – you don’t back pedal or cower. You smile. It’s hard to speak when you’re biting your tongue.

2. You can read the paper, watch TV, monitor the Internet, and use all the greatest gadgets on company time–must stay connected (wink, wink).

1. It’s the main ingredient in the recipe for PR success. (Matzah) Balls—a close second.

Hmmm, “Communicating with Chutzpah”, I wonder if that URL is available…

(Photo: Me and Bill Cosby backstage at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in NYC, 2001, refer to #4 above)

Filed Under: media, Public Relations, publicity, Self-Confidence, Success Tagged With: Attitude, blogs, Communication, credibility, interviews, Marketing, News, PR, press releases, Public Relations, publicity, Self-Confidence, Social Media, technology, Writing

8 Best Practices for Pitching Your Story to a Blogger

by Susan Young at 3:00 am 8 Comments

Many people in the blogosphere are uncertain about how to pitch their story, product or service to a blogger or journalist. In a recent chat on blogging, this mysterious topic had people rattled. It’s time to clear the air.

One quick note: The overall mindset and approach I offer here can be applied to pitching stories to reporters in print, radio and TV news. I’ve been on both sides of the fence; a news decision maker in radio newsrooms who was subjected to lousy pitches every day. And I’ve been on the PR side; pitching stories and training people on how to get publicity. It comes down to do your homework,don’t ask for favors, and build relationships.

Here are 8 best practices for pitching to a blogger:

1. Know your story. Don’t pitch a concept you don’t thoroughly understand. If you don’t get it, how can you possibly explain it to someone else?

2. Identify your target audience. Determine where your ideal client “hangs out” online, i.e. chats, groups, and friends. What newsletters or websites do they read? Research the movers and shakers. These are bloggers and journalists who are respected, involved, and have large followings.

3. Pay attention to these influential and cutting-edge bloggers. Read their posts, add comments, listen to their interviews, and know their sweet spots. While researching, also find out if they allow guest bloggers. This is another huge opportunity. Find out where they ”hang out” online. This is called doing your homework.

4. Observe for a while. Watch their conversations and who they engage with. Follow them. Retweet their messages, a nice form of flattery. You’ll soon be on their radar screen. One note: be genuine. Don’t go on a retweeting rampage to be self-serving. Go for long-term relationships, building trust, and sharing solid content.

5. Find a natural opportunity to connect. If you did your homework, you’ll be able to start a conversation or jump into one without feeling awkward. Let them know, in a subtle way, that you’ve been watching, reading, and enjoying their material. The good news is this process may only take a day or two.

6. Move the conversation offline. Once you connect with the blogger, invite them to follow you so you can send a private message. Continue to build rapport by finding similarities between the two of you. Preferably this should be work-related, such as you agree with their opinion on yesterday’s post, you were both on the same chat, or you shared their article in your office. If they seem receptive and engaged over the next 48-72 hours, ask for their e-mail address so you can send a short note with “an idea.”

7. Go for it! Compose a carefully worded 2-3 line e-mail pitch with a compelling and succinct overview of your story. Focus on how it helps their target audience. Build your credibility. If you’re self-serving, you’re toast. You just wasted everyone’s time.

8. Give them what they ask for. If you’re able to pique the interest of your new blogger friend, they will likely ask for more details. Be prepared with a one page press release or background sheet. Don’t send them to a website filled with BS. Friends help friends.

Once your story is picked up by a blogger, remember to cross promote it. Mention it in all of your Social Media channels and newsletter. Link it to your site. E-mail it to prospects and clients. If you do it right, other bloggers and journalists will contact you. Publicity has a cascading effect.

Oh, and remember to thank them. Friends do that.

P.S. Here’s a free resource for you. Take advantage of my 21-day video series “Speaking of Communication.” It focuses on Social Media, blogging, PR, writing and communication themes. Click on this link now for instant access http://www.getinfrontcommunications.com/

Filed Under: Blogging, Business, Communication, content, Marketing, media, networking, publicity, rapport, Social Media, Social Networking, Writing Tagged With: audience, blog, blog posts, Blogging, Communication, credibility, Marketing, networking, publicity, rapport, Relationships, reporters, Social Media, Twitter, Writing

3 Key Communication Opportunities in Our Digital World

by Susan Young at 11:33 am 4 Comments

The digital and technological landscapes that we’re entrenched in bring exciting opportunities to our business, communication, and networking. Do I dare use the word game-changing? Sure I do.

Consider the 3 A’s:

Access: Social networking channels provide us with access to prominent leaders and experts like we have never experienced before. Millennials and Gen X/Gen Y folks may not remember this but for decades it was nearly impossible to “get the ear” of a CEO. The gatekeeper (receptionist/rejectionist) politely took a phone message that mysteriously dropped into the abyss. The line, ”I’ll give him your name and number” didn’t mean he’d ever call you back. You didn’t have to read too far into her words that this really meant, ”I’ll tell him and he’ll ignore you.” If you weren’t gunning for the CEO, cold-calling those who had purchasing power was also rough. The conversion rates and rejections were beyond harsh. Thankfully, things have changed. On Twitter, I’ve shared messages with prominent leaders in the PR and communications field. I’ve chatted online and offline with Suzy Welch, Gary Vaynerchuk, Patricia Fripp, and Bob Burg. That’s why it’s critical that our communication, identity and message are clear. We’re partying with the big boys. What are you conveying to them?

Attention: The way our brains are wired has not changed over time. Our digital world has significantly impacted how we process and focus on information. We pay attention in different ways than people did five years ago and certainly 25 years ago. Your ability to get someone’s attention in less than 1.8 seconds–and keep it for another 1.8 seconds–is critical. By way of our gadgets, we’re bombarded with multimedia messages that beg for our attention. Your written and verbal communication (hate to sound like the SAT’s) must be crisp and engaging. That’s because an infinite number of people have access to you (see Access). They may not be interacting just yet but they are watching. You have their attention. What are you doing with it? Are your messages compelling or crap? To help you gauge this, look back at your last 10 tweets or blog posts.

Abundance: Clearly there is an abundance of information that’s available at our fingertips. You can communicate with experts at all times of the day or night. The set of World Book Encyclopedia’s my family had when I was growing up didn’t provide us with that opportunity. Let’s combine access to movers and shakers, your ability to grab the attention of others, and the amount of knowledge you can acquire. The result is abundance. Our digital landscape offers you an abundance of relationships, opportunities, education, and prosperity.

Access, attention and abundance are here for you. Now all you have to do is take action. :)

(Photo Credit: Xinem)

Filed Under: Blogging, Business, Communication, content, listening, networking, Online Marketing, rapport, Social Media, Social Networking, Success, Writing Tagged With: Attitude, audience, Business, Communication, communications, Interpersonal Communication, message, networking, rapport, Self-Confidence, Social Media, technology, Twitter, Writing

7 Signs Your Blog is on Life-Support

by Susan Young at 3:00 am 6 Comments

Life support. I can imagine that’s not a good place to be. Yes, humans and animals get sick and hover near death. Sad to report that many blogs do too. How would you recognize the warnings signs that your blog is heading towards the Pearly Gates of the Blogosphere? Is St. Peter waiting for your blog? When do you seriously consider pulling the plug?

Consider these 7 tell-tale signs:

1. My blog is updated every two weeks, or every three months, depending on when the TV reality shows are on hiatus.

2. My blog is all about me. Hey, my name and mug shot are on the top. Who else would I want to focus on?

3. My blog has links that lead to dead-ends and expired pages. I’ve been too busy to deal with those small details (see #1)

4. My blog has posts with word counts of 3,961, give or take. I’ve been told I’ll appear smarter if I write more. Repetition is wonderful when it comes to word count.

5. My blog is quite humble. I don’t like to brag and self-promote. I’m sure those search engines and that Google thingie will bring readers my way. I’m not looking to be an overnight success. I’m good behind the scenes. Really.

6. My blog is consistent in its appearance. All the colors, graphics and fonts are from a template my 12-year-old neighbor designed. How cool is that? I couldn’t afford one of those flashy web consultants. Who needs white space, a theme and snappy headlines? And what the hell is WordPress anyway?

7. My blog is easy to maintain. I turned off the response option so no one can comment. It’s working out great for me. Low-maintenance is good.

Oh no, is that a flat line?

(Photo Credit: David Armano)

Filed Under: Blogging, Business, Communication, content, Interpersonal Relationships, Marketing, Motivation, Online Marketing, rapport, Social Media, Social Networking, Success, Women, Writing Tagged With: blog, blog posts, Blogging, blogs, Business, Communication, credibility, Interpersonal Communication, Marketing, message, rapport, Relationships, Social Media, technology, Twitter, Writing

Embracing Incompetence

by Susan Young at 8:29 am 6 Comments

No one likes to feel incompetent. Whether you’re a housekeeper at the local motel, an executive assistant, or the CEO, incompetence almost always makes us feel bad. It indicates a lack of skill and ineptitude.

Consider competence. That beautiful sense of being knowledgeable, proficient, and capable. Competence means we’ve learned “it”- whatever “it” is.

So why would I suggest that you embrace incompetence? Incompetence implies you don’t know something. But you can learn it. And therein lies my message. It’s time for you to learn.

The First Step

What are you incompetent at right now that you need or want to learn? The first step in learning is to admit you don’t know something. Embrace your incompetence, and begin moving in a new direction. Curiosity breeds competence.

Rapid change is all around us. We keep up or we’re quickly left behind. Learning is frustrating, tiring, and overwhelming. Many people approach the learning process kicking and screaming. Others feel empowered and excited. There’s plenty of ”ouching” along that learning curve. Scary, but essential. Awkward and uncomfortable, but necessary. It’s moving from incompetent to competent.

Consider what your life would be like if you never learned to use a computer, read, or drive. Frustrating or empowering? Look at incompetence as being on the cusp of proficient and capable.

Acknowledge it. Embrace it. Don’t run away from being incompetent. Run towards competent.

Challenge yourself to learn something new. Be patient with yourself when you are “ouching” through the process. Starting now.