Social Media Insight -- There Are Some Areas Where Youth Knows More!

I tend to think someone is brilliant if after reading their article I wish I had written it. Lisa Barone has outlined in simple language and clear examples what we all think we know or wish we did. I've only recently discovered her, but she is one smart cookie for someone not yet 30.

Lisa is co-founder and chief branding officer at Internet marketing firm Outspoken Media, Inc., where they specialize in online reputation management and social media services. She blogs daily at the Outspoken Media blog (though she is on vacation this week!). But where I found her was a couple of pieces she wrote for Small Business Trends.

The first piece on June 1 was "5 Social Community Myths Hurting Your SMB" (SMB = small and medium size business). Here's a quick recap:

“We can give it to the intern.”
The person you put in charge of your social identity should be comfortable with the tools, comfortable speaking on the behalf of the company, quick on their feet, and be someone who genuinely enjoys making connections with customers.

“Community building is an online activity.”
....a good community builder will also find ways to take those online relationships, off.

“Your Community Manager should be friends with everyone.”
Focusing your time and energy on people who will never be customers or who don’t understand the value of what you do or who you are, is a time suck. Instead, focus on attracting the people in your area who WOULD find what you do valuable and useful.

“As long as you’re nice, your flaws don’t matter.”
If you’re not putting out a quality product or service, ........ people are still going to talk badly about you and you’re not going to effectively promote your company.

“Your community comes from your Community Manager.”
One of the most dangerous myths . . . . This couldn't be further from the truth. Being a “social” company means changing how you do business.

Read Lisa's entire piece at http://smallbiztrends.com/2010/06/5-social-community-myths-hurting-your-smb.html. And tomorrow I'll share highlights of her "9 Things to do Before Entering Social Media"!

2010 PRSA International Conference in DC, Great Networking Opportunity

It's been 20 years in the making... But now PRSA's International Conference is coming back to Washington, DC.
And the National Capital Chapter is serving as this year's host

You'll want to be part of it all from Saturday, October 16, through Tuesday, October 19, 2010.
At the Hilton Washington just a couple of blocks from Dupont Circle

The eyes of the PR world will be focused on PRSA's 2010 International Conference, Powering PRogress, and it's all happening right here in your backyard, the Nation's Capital.
Your participation will focus on:
*Learning from major keynote speakers and more than 80 professional education sessions
Hearing the latest in tracking innovative strategies, effective tactics and techniques, specialization and practice areas and the Business Case for Public Relations™
*Updating yourself on the latest ways to get the word out in today's changing media landscape by employing social media, word-of-mouth, video, webinars, blogs, podcasts, and much more
*Networking opportunities throughout the event at luncheons, workshops, the Gala Opening *Celebration, and the opportunity to meet with your peers at special Dine Around DC Dinners
*Seeing the latest tools, techniques, products and services on display and available for demonstration in an exhibit hall that you'll just have to visit several times
Powering PRogress is your best opportunity in 2010 to keep pace with the dynamic professional and media changes that you'll need to incorporate into today's messages and tomorrow's campaigns.
The excitement is building and we're just beginning.
Want to do more than just attend? Contact the National Capital Chapter to:
Secure added visibility for your firm as a conference sponsor
Showcase your products and services as a conference exhibitor
Serve as a volunteer on the Host Committee
You don't want to miss the best PR program in 2010.
Come capitalize on this rare opportunity to join with your friends and colleagues in NCC to show the world that Washington, DC is a professional powerhouse for PR.
Register for the conference.
See you in October at the Hilton Washington for Powering PRogress!

Networking Nights Still Plentiful This Summer

Two Offerings You Can Select Shaken, Not Stirred

PRSA's PRONet Committee Happy Hour Event
Wednesday, June 30 th, 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Mezza Luna
1140 19th St. NW Washington
(Metro: Farragut North, red line. Walk L Street to 19th, turn right for three blocks)

REGISTER HERE: $10 online in advance (online registration ends June 29)
$15 at the door (cash only)
Includes one free drink, plus appetizers
Email Sherry Perez at sherrydperez@gmail.com with questions.


Washington Network Group (WNG)
Communications/PR Networking Reception

Thursday, July 8, 2010
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Lima Restaurant & Lounge
1401 K Street, NW Washington (Metro: McPherson Square station)

As WNG always says on their invitations, "gather, grip, and grin" for shameless networking purposes!
Cash bar / Complimentary hors d'oeuvres
Register Online: WNG Members $15; Non-members $30
(WNG 48-Hour Cancellation Policy applies to this event.)

Be Careful What You Wish For . . . . . July Full of Professional Programs

Anyone who has read my whining in past years about summers filled with cash bar "networking" events might assume I have more influence than is the case when they see how full summer 2010 is with actual program offerings from all the professional societies. July 14th in particular is an embarrassment of riches (seriously, this makes the case for schedule coordination among the groups!).

WEDNESDAY JUNE 30 -- IABC Metro DC presents:
"Think Like a Reader and Cut Through the Clutter"
9:30 a.m. ~ 12:30 p.m.
Johns Hopkins University DC Campus
1717 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC (Metro: Dupont Circle, red line)
REGISTER: $149 IABC members; $199 non-members;$119 students

IABC Metro DC presents a three-hour writing workshop with acclaimed writer, teacher and presenter Ann Wylie. "Think Like a Reader and Cut Through the Clutter" is a custom-designed presentation of two of her most popular seminars. Wylie has won more than 60 communication awards, has been designated an “IABC Recommended Speaker” and serves as the Public Relations Society of America’s national writing coach.



WEDNESDAY JULY 14
WWPR Executive Communicators Committee presents:
A Brown Bag Luncheon on Corporate Social Responsibility presented by Bill Novelli
Noon ~ 2:00 p.m.
National Education Association (NEA has a cafeteria and carry-out where you can buy lunch)
1201 16th St., NW Washington, DC
WWPR & PRSA Members - Complimentary; Non-members - $15.00
Payment accepted at the door.

Novelli co-founded and was President of Porter Novelli, now one of the world's largest public relations agencies and part of the Omnicom Group, an international marketing communications corporation. He directed numerous corporate accounts as well as the management and development of the firm. Named one of the 100 most influential public relations professionals of the 20th century by the industry's leading publication, he retired from the firm in 1990 to pursue a second career in public service.

Novelli now is a professor in the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University. In addition to teaching in the MBA program, he is working to establish a center for social enterprise at the School. From 2001 to 2009, he was CEO of AARP where he doubled its budget, added 5 million new members and expanded internationally.


WEDNESDAY JULY 14 -- PRSA-NCC Professional Development Committee presents
Media Relations in the Digital Age
8:00 - 8:30 am: Registration/networking/continental breakfast
8:30 - 10:00 am: Program
U.S. Navy Memorial & Heritage Center
701 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC (Metro: Yellow/green lines, Navy Memorial/Archives)
REGISTER: $35 PRSA and WWPR Members; $55 Non-members; $10 Students/retirees

Speakers:
• Rita Braver- CBS Sunday Morning
• Greg Ip - The Economist
• Nancy Marshall-Genzer - Marketplace
• Ceci Connolly - The Washington Post
• Jordan Rau - Kaiser Health News
Moderator: Aaron Cohen – Vice President of Media and Digital Communications, MS&L Group

Find out what gets the attention of top business, health and broadcast journalists, how to talk to them like equals and become a trusted source.

• How to develop a story idea that top journalists will like
• How to articulate your story idea and still do your client justice
• What it takes to become a trusted source
• How to pitch a story in a 24/7, online news cycle
• Make great new contacts

The New Rules of PR on Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Do you find yourself struggling to craft the perfect "twitter pitch" or wondering how to best contact a reporter in an environment dominated by social media?

Please join the team from C.Fox Communications, along with some of the area's other brightest PR minds, for a lively breakfast discussion on these issues and others like them in The New Rules of PR.

Moderated by C.Fox Communications president Carrie Fox, and featuring insights from award-winning communicators, this event will highlight creative ways to develop a story that not only gets noticed, but that translates into positive media coverage. We'll also share suggestions from some of the city's best bloggers and journalists for making your pitch stand out, and for getting your story shared and re-tweeted.

CONFIRMED PANELISTS INCLUDE:
*Jennifer Nycz-Conner, special projects producer and columnist for The Washington Business Journal, where she covers a variety of topics within the local business community. She is also the voice of the WBJ's Twitter handle, @WBJonline
*Kate Michael, aka 'K Street Kate', president and founder of the popular online lifestyle magazine of the same name, and talk show (The District Dish), that promote life, work and play in the District of Columbia
*Michael Price, Press Secretary for At-Large Councilmember Kwame R. Brown and the brains behind the Councilmember's popular website and social media
*Chinyere Hubbard, Vice President, Communications and Marketing, Washington Convention and Sports Authority (WCSA), responsible for all public relations and marketing activities in support of WCSA, the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and WCSA's sports and entertainment programming.
*Susan Apgood, President of award-winning radio media relations firm, News Generation

WHEN:
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
8:00am-10:00am

WHERE:
Bistro Bis, at The Hotel George
15 E Street NW, Washington DC 20001
Closest Metro: Union Station

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
Executive Directors, Directors of Communications, Directors of Media Relations,
Vice Presidents of Communications, Marketing Communications Managers, Agency Account Managers, Communications Officers

Register at: http://conta.cc/dsG8Bd

Another Reason We're Lucky to be in DC Area -- Access to Experts!

One of the great things about living and working here is that we are surrounded by great resources, including human resources.

I was reminded of this yet again when I noticed that Ragan Communications' upcoming webinar on Thursday, June 24 from 3:00 - 4:15 p.m. features our own Shonali Burke, principal of Shonali Burke Consulting. The webinar's title is "Social media doesn't drive strategic communications, you do."

Shonali is currently the president of the DC Metro chapter of IABC (International Association of Business Communicators) and is frequently a speaker at a number of local communications organizations. That means most of us get the benefit of her knowledge and expertise for $20 to $50. Pretty good compared to either $169 for members of Ragan Communications or $209 for non-members for either the webinar or the CD of the webinar!

But if you want more, you can register for the webinar, the CD, or for $30 more both.

Another Freebie: PRWeek White Paper on How to Write Releases For The Web

We love sharing news about free ways to stay on your game.

PR Week will let you download PRWeb’s free white paper with tips to optimize press releases for search engines.

Find out how to:
• Make your story newsworthy and attract media attention
• Find keywords and SEO tools to propel your story up the search rankings
• Expand your distribution to global, national, and local networks
• Harness social media to create a buzz around your story

A Gift from Robert Deigh ~ Tips on Using Your Web Site as a Virtual Newsroom

The Capital Buzz is fortunate to have colleagues who allow us to share some of their excellent ideas and suggestions. Robert Deigh of RDC Communication/PR, LLC does a great e-newsletter that is chock full of news you can use right away to build your business or improve your PR practice.

The June newsletter outlines some great ways "to make your Web site 'sticky'", starting with placing a button on the Home page that takes visitors to a virtual newsroom.

Rob notes that a good virtual newsroom doesn't just include links to press releases. He describes it as "a snapshot of your entire organization" and . It can include:
- product and service capability brochures,
- bios,
- news clips and links to stories about you on news sites,
- testimonials,
- speeches,
- event information,
- white papers,
- FAQs and contact information,
- newsletters and case studies.

He says you don't need to redesign your Web site to create a virtual newsroom, just create a new page. And, "for reporters checking out the site, easy access to information can mean the difference between being included in a story and being left out," so be sure that the items can readily be down loaded as .pdf files.

Want to get your own copy of Robert Deigh's newsletter with great tips? Email him at robert@rdccommunication.com.

Busy Month for WWPR -- Successful New Event and Return of Popular Annual Media Roundtable

A BIG NIGHT WITH SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF NEW EMERGING LEADERS AWARD

Kudos to Washington Women in Public Relations, one of the best values in communications professional society membership in the area. Many groups that are solely volunteer run have all they can do to maintain their programs from year-to-year, but this group keeps looking for what else it can do to enhance the PR community.

Last night's well-attended reception to honor rising stars in the industry highlighted the professional accomplishments of three young women and the significant contributions they already have made in the industry.

The recipients of the new Emerging Leaders award went to
- Carrie Fox, president and founder, C. Fox Communications
- Lauren Musiol, senior account executive, GYMR and
- Stefanie Pidgeon, communication planner, Office of the Chief of Public Affairs, U.S. Army; MPRI

Kirsten Suto Seckler, Vice President, Branding & Communications for the Special Olympics and one of the 2009 PR Woman of the Year honorees, introduced the award recipients.


NEXT UP: WWPR'S ANNUAL MEDIA ROUNDTABLE

This terrific event (which started about 25 years ago as the "Flack Attack") is still one of the best opportunities for PR people to learn from media reps what they want, what works, and how to get their messages heard.

Tuesday, June 22nd, noon-2:00 p.m.
National Press Club 529 14th Street, NW (METRO STOP: Metro Center)
Register at www.wwpr.org
$35 for members of WWPR and PRSA-NCC; $50 for non-members and guests
lunch will be served.

This year’s program promises will again include an informative panel discussion featuring local members of the media from TV, radio, and print. Learn about best practices for pitching the press; gain insight on media trends; and see how social media is impacting journalism. Questions and comments from those attending are highly encouraged. (Please take a moment to email your questions to: info@wwpr.com.)

Panelists include:
• Cynné Simpson (pictured left), ABC 7/WJAL-TV's 5:00 p.m.
weeknight news anchor is an Emmy Award winning journalist
who joined the WJLA team from Atlanta where she anchored
the weekday evening news for CBS-46/WGCL-TV.

• Elizabeth Drachman (pictured right) is managing editor of the Washington Business Journal. She moved to D.C. after working as a business journalist in Cairo and Dubai from 2002-2006. Prior to that she worked for American City Business Journals in San Francisco and Atlanta.

• Sheila Stewart (pictured left) is an award winning media conglomerate whose career as a radio, TV and print media personality spans more than 20 years. She is the director of news programming for Radio One-DC Stations (93.9) WKYS-FM; (102.3) WMMJ-FM; (104.1) WPRS-FM; (1450) WOL-AM; WYCB-AM and the syndicated “Russ Parr Morning Show” heard in (40) U- S cities.

• Monica Norton is local news day editor for The Washington Post, primarily responsible for breaking news. In addition to her current position, she has also served as Technology Editor and Assistant Maryland Editor for Education. Previously, she worked for Newsday as the Washington News Editor in D.C. and as a Deputy Long Island Editor in New York.

Calling All DC-Area Judges!

Whether or not you are submitting a Thoth Award application, please consider serving as a judge. Judging the Thoth awards is a window on the best and most creative communications’ energies inside the beltway.

Judging takes place all-day June 24, and in the morning on June 25 at the American Forest Foundation, 1111 Nineteenth Street, NW, Suite 780, Washington, DC. The closest metro stop is Farragut North. Judging times are divided into morning and afternoon sessions. The morning session on Thursday, June 24 runs from 8:00 to noon and the afternoon session from 1:00 to 5:00. On Friday, June 25, there is a morning session that runs from 8:00 to noon. Breakfast and lunch is available on Thursday and breakfast only on Friday.

Please contact Jackie Fishman at jackied881@aol.com or Susan Apgood at sapgood@newsgeneration.com by Wednesday, June 9 to volunteer or if you have questions. Please visit http://www.prsa-ncc.org/thoth_awards to view award categories.