Do you HARO? November 3, 2009

For anyone looking to get wider exposure for their nonprofit, client or firm, a really good (and FREE) resource is a subscription to HARO–Help A Reporter Out.

Several times a day my email box receives an interesting compendium of topics and experts of interest to journalists, bloggers and writers. The down-and-dirty email isn’t fancy, but it’s an opportunity to possibly connect with NPR and other top publciations.

HARO is free but comes with a caveat. The code of HARO is that one doesn’t reply to the reporter with off-target pitches that don’t line up with their query. And don’t even think about spamming. Those who violate are kicked off of HARO.

If you don’t want to receive HARO emails two or three times a day, the Twitter feed is another great option.

Here’s a query from today’s HARO that might be up someone’s ally:

8)Summary: Guests Needed for Gravity Free Radio
Name: Stephanie Frost
Category: Business & Finance
Email: guests@gravityfreeradio.com
Title: Co-Host
Media Outlet: Gravity Free Radio
Specific Geographic Region: N
Region:
Deadline: 09:11am EASTERN – 07 November
Query:

Looking for interesting guests in business: entrepreneurs, startup
companies, bloggers, marketing savants, journalists, PR professionals, and anyone who might have something relevant to say to our audience of entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses. Gravity Free Radio is
available at www.gravityfreeradio.com and on iTunes. It airs live every
Tuesday at 10am from Atlanta, GA.

Team HARO Tell a friend: http://www.helpareporter.com http://www.facebook.com/helpareporter http://twitter.com/helpareporter for urgent queries

MWMC Women@Work Workshop :: November 17 October 29, 2009

Content is King: From Web sites to social media, keeping your online content in control

Tuesday, November 17
1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
St. Catherine University
President’s Dining Room (#372) in the Coeur de Catherine building on the St. Paul Campus
 
Content strategy – the emerging discipline focused on helping organizations effectively create, maintain, and manage content – is suddenly all the rage. But, why now and what’s the web got to do with it? Attend the Women@Work Workshop to learn why content strategy is necessary; how to deliver useful, usable content online, where and when your customers need it most; what you can do to get (and keep) your online content in control.

Register Now
 
Content strategy – the emerging discipline focused on helping organizations effectively create, maintain, and manage content – is suddenly all the rage. But, why now and what’s the web got to do with it? Attend the Women@Work Workshop to learn why content strategy is necessary; how to deliver useful, usable content online, where and when your customers need it most; what you can do to get (and keep) your online content in control.  You’ll also get an up-close look at a couple of case studies that demonstrate how local companies are successfully integrating social media into their marketing mix.  

About Our Speakers:

Melissa Rach

Melissa Rach, Director of Content Strategy, Brain Traffic
Melissa is director of content strategy at Brain Traffic, an agency focused on helping clients tackle messy content problems. Using skills in messaging, information architecture, writing, and communication planning; Melissa has consulted for a wide variety of clients including General Mills, Best Buy, Target, United Health Group, Wolters Kluwer, and Wells Fargo. Melissa worked on her first online project in 1993. Since then, she has become a respected authority on how organizations incorporate interactive content into their overall communications strategy. Her methodologies have been taught at universities nationwide and recognized in books for nearly a decade, from Webmastering for Dummies (2000) to Content Strategy for the Web (2009).

Eva Keiser

Eva Keiser, APR, Senior Vice President, Risdall McKinney Public Relations
Eva has a proven track record of success and expertise in marketing communications and media relations. Working in an integrated agency, Eva is on the front lines bringing elements together – online and offline – to create momentum for a brand and drive Web site traffic. With a deep understanding of the media and storytelling, Eva has the uncommon ability to uncover stories within an organization that resonate with the media, and move readers to action. Over her career, Eva gained a wealth of experience through working on political campaigns, with grassroots organizations, and at various print and broadcast media outlets. Eva is an adjunct professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

Parking:
Free parking permits will be sent via email to all attendees who pre-register before 5 PM on November 15.  Permits will NOT be provided onsite, so you must pre-register to receive a parking permit. Permits are valid in the O’Shaughnessy/Event Parking lot, which can be accessed from Gate 4, and the Visitor Parking lot, which can be accessed from Gate 3.

NOTE: If you plan to register at the door, MWMC can only accept payment via cash or check; credit cards will not be accepted at the door.

Many thanks, Wendy Amundson October 29, 2009

Ages ago a book called, “Everything I Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” became a media sensation. My take on it is that high school was actually the real proving ground. Whether it was the student newspaper or yearbook, it became pretty clear that basically the same small cadre of people show up and do the work month after month. Maybe they get the credit and maybe not, but they show up.

One person in MWMC who continually “shows up” is Wendy Amundson, one of our past presidents. Without anyone asking, Wendy stepped in and has been posting  job opportunity content for the MWMC LinkedIn site for several years. Since MWMC decided two years ago to step away from the Job Mart program it founded, we’ve come to rely on Wendy’s updates to let members know about current job opportunities. Others post opportunities occasionally, but Wendy really leads this area just because she wants to and thinks it’s important.

From all of MWMC, I want to thank Wendy for helping to make our LinkedIn site active and engaging. It wouldn’t be the same without her.

Time to renew your membership October 21, 2009

While everyone looks forward to Halloween and the bright decorations that brighten our darkening days, it also marks the end of the membership period for MWMC members. Members who renew before Oct. 31 aren’t charged an administrative fee. Those who hesitate may pay the additional $35 fee.

MWMC has been structured so that all members–even those who join in the spring–have their membership end come Oct. 31. We’re changing this for any new members as we go forward, but all current members may risk losing the benefits of being part of MWMC.

 

To renew now, visit the MWMC Web site.

Learn the eight rules of improv on Sept. 15 September 8, 2009

 

Maureen Tubbs

Learning Lunch: Communicate Better with Improv; Tuesday, September 15 ,  11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Woman’s Club, 410 Oak Grove Street, Minneapolis.

Cost: $30 Members; $50 Non-members; $20 Students Register now at www.mnwc.org.

You don’t have to be a comic to use improvisation. Being able to think on your feet and listen effectively makes you a better communicator. At the upcoming Learning Lunch, you’ll learn the eight rules of improv to improve your presentations, client meetings and interactions with your staff. And, yes, have a little fun along the way. Maureen Tubbs, marketing director for the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal and professional improviser, will give you real tips you can use to feel more comfortable in front of a business audience – whether that audience is your employee or a room full of prospective clients. Learn how to be a better listener, trust yourself and find the “yes, and” in every situation – whether you’re a seasoned communications professional or just starting your career.

About our speaker: Maureen Tubbs is the marketing director for the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal where she oversees the circulation and marketing of the Business Journal and its related products. In her role she connects readers with the reporters and researchers in the paper’s newsroom by educating them on how best they can pitch story ideas and get press for themselves and their companies. Maureen is also a corporate trainer for American City Business Journals. She has worked in media and marketing throughout her career. Maureen also performs and teaches improvisation. She has been a professional member of Stevie Rays’ Comedy Troupe since 2005 and has performed at the Twin Cities Improv Festival, Brave New Workshop, Mixed Blood Theatre, in addition to corporate entertainment.

Women in communication and the bottom line August 25, 2009

Last week’s Alphabet Bash was a raving success! Thanks to Susannah Prochazka, MWMC vice president of marketing, for taking on this important work on behalf of our organization.

Looking at our robust local communications groups, one question taht comes up from time to time is why do we need/have a women’s group in the communications profession. My personal take on this question is that while many are in portions of the marketing/communications field that have statistically more women than men, the balance of power and pay don’t reflect that we are in a female-dominant field. So, it was with interest that I read the blog post from Dr. Bey-Ling Sha, Ph.D., APR is an associate professor, School of Journalism & Media Studies at San Diego State University on PRSA’s Comprehension blog:

And speaking of the whole picture, our study found that women STILL make less than men, even taking into account such factors as time off from work (for whatever reason) and years of professional experience. This gendered salary discrepancy remains in public relations, even after decades of research data, going back to before I was born. Gives a whole new meaning to “my cheap baby”! Clearly, we women have NOT come a long way.

A quick scan of Department of Labor data doesn’t easily yield salary information by gender for our profession–it takes some digging. And, this has been the story since I’ve been in the profession. So, women can research and find data that may (or may not) be helpful in negotiating their salary or compensation package. But, it takes going into the bosses office and asking–or demanding–a raise. That’s often the harder part and one that the network of women in MWMC can help one another to practice, get the facts straight and take action. 

In a previous job, I finally worked up the nerve to ask for a real raise and walked out with a 12% increase in pay. And, that pay increase meant I had more money for retirement and a better foundation to negotiate an equitable salary at the my next position.

Measuring serendipity August 7, 2009

While I love the commercials for Bing with the random links by word that the characters spout, there is an element of serendipity to the web that is equal parts frustrating and amazing.

I’m a huge fan of Katie Delahaye Paine and her blog. She posts previews of books on PR measurement that are going to press and is  the guru for PR measurement. In my quest to see if she’s spoke in town lately (wouldn’t she be great for MWMC to have at a Learning Lunch!), I came across a series of podcasts on social media for communications practioners.

The “On the Record Online” podcasts cover measurement, government affairs, online reputation, crisis communications–you name it. If you’re interested in hearing directly from some of the leaders in the industry, you can subscribe via RSS and download them to your iPod.

Your opinion needed August 4, 2009

The debate over opinion versus news content will continue, but one area where opinion reigns is the Minnesota Women in Marketing and Communications annual member survey. Express yourself and take the survey at: MWMC Member Survey. Your opinion will shape the programming, speakers and events for the next year.

We’ll share the highlights of the results here in a few weeks.

(Net)work like a man July 17, 2009

Talking to an MWMC member about our Women Launching Women networking events, she observed that many attending WLW tend to keep in small clusters and don’t “work the room” as extensively as more advanced networkers.

Her comments came back to me in reading a postfrom Catherine Kaputa on wowowow.com. Kaputa points to research on women’s pattern of maintaining a small but intimate circle of friends. She points to research on playground friendships among boys and girls and notes there may be some biological imperative for women to focus more on deeper relationships with a smaller group.

However, the world of work doesn’t work that way. Men tend to have broader networks and Kaputa notes they don’t hesitate to reach out to acquaintences to ask for help.

 

One thing I love about her article is the reminder to think of networking as an economy of favors. When I was younger I didn’t appreciate that part of networking and probably didn’t think I had access or information to offer someone. But recognition, connections and volunteering are  great networking “capital” that anyone can use. Networking is all about karma–you get what you give.

“All systems go!” for 2009-2010 July 17, 2009

Your MWMC board for 2009-2010 has now met twice–first at a planning retreat in June and then our first board meeting on July 13. It’s an honor to work with such a great group of women this year and I’m very excited about our plans.

We have identifed three really important goals for the year:

• Cultivating volunteers. We want to  improve our outreach to potential volunteers and effectively tracking and thanking volunteers. As an all-volunteer professional association, volunteers are the heart and soul of our organization. We want to improve our volunteer descriptions and ensure we follow up quickly with anyone–member or nonmember–who’s interested in volunteering.
• Developing leaders. From both our volunteer base and members, we want to ensure that we provide opportunities to grow leadership to volunteers, whether it’s leading a committee or serving on a board. In these competitive times, leadership skills are very important and we can provide those to members who want to help grow the organization.
• Building systems. As a fairly young professional organization, MWMC is growing. One area we will focus on this year is developing more systems to help set some guidelines and processes to help next year’s board. Not very sexy stuff, but an important stage in our growth as an organization.