Archive for Engaging
“How do you keep up on all of this social networking stuff?”
Posted by: | CommentsThis is a question I’ve been asked more than a few times and for those looking to enter the social networking world it’s an important one. After all, we’re all busy enough that adding on additional layers might take away from other priorities…that’s not the goal.
For me personally, becoming a student of social networking means providing value to clients and the community while growing professionally and personally.
So for anyone who has asked that question, here are 20 tips.
1. It’s okay to start with baby steps but the key is getting started.
2. Look at ways to become involved in the conversation.
3. Worrying about making a mistake can paralyze you so don’t over think it.
4. Start with something you know and share that expertise, even if you don’t have any followers.
5. Once you start keep it up.
6. Followers will come as you become consistent.
7. Proficiency will happen the more you do it more.
8. Learn by watching others.
9. Take what you learn and build on it by finding resources designed to perfect your style.
10. Open your mind to the possibilities of each social platform.
11. Audiences are built over time as you open yourself up and offer something of value.
12. Realize it won’t happen overnight.
13. Don’t try to learn everything about all the social channels all at once.
14. Become a student of the social media area you believe provides the most value to your followers.
15. Then take on the next social media area and learn more and so on.
16. When you discover a new platform spend about a ½ signing up and learning about the application.
17. Seek out ways to simplify you post time. For example Tweets can be set up to post directly to Facebook and LinkedIn.
18. Simplifying your monitoring and response time with free services such as TweetDeck and HootSuite.
19. Take online conversations offline. Attend a TweetUp or ask to meet someone in person if you share common interests.
20. Most importantly have fun.
Student Lead Motivation
Posted by: | CommentsNovember 2 marked the first night of the University of Nevada, Reno Extended Studies 4-week class, “Google is Your New Business Card: Building a Valuable Personal Brand,” that I was invited to co-teach. The goal was to equip the participants with the knowledge, tools and resources to begin to develop their personal brand online and the motivation to continue to do so. By November 30 the class wrapped. And while I can’t speak on behalf of the participants and if they found the course valuable, here’s what I walked away with.
Point of entry: Everyone in the course started from different places. Some were quite proficient and for others it was brand new. The ability to communicate the importance of say Twitter versus a Facebook Fan page in a concise and effective manner really pushed me to think of experience beyond my boundaries. It drove me to see it from their position and how these tools could have a direct impact to personal brand and business interests.
Information gathering: The flood of information available online can be overwhelming. However, anyone who is a student of social networking understands the importance of RSS feeds and social bookmarking to be efficient with their time. Without these two resources there’s no way I would be able to recite a fact, remember a case study or provide examples during the class.
Validation: We all want validation that we’re doing something right but social networking is a different ball game. There is no right or wrong way. It’s about maximizing the socials sites to provide the value you need based on your vision statement and goals.
Learn from anyone: The neatest thing about social networking is that everyone is learning at different speeds and anyone can find new feature or an easier way to do something. This is especially true for newbies who have an incredible knack for finding new tricks.
Interaction feeds knowledge: My personal quest for learning more was enhanced greatly throughout the course. Questions and the personal desire of the individual participants drove me to not only find answers but be active in the process.
My thanks go to Dr. Bret Simmons for inviting me to co-present and the students for their active participation that motivated me to learn and do more.
New UNR Extended Studies Course Focuses on Personal Branding
Posted by: | CommentsIf Google is your new business card, then managing your personal brand online is critical. The University of Nevada, Reno Extended Studies Program offers a new course this November designed to assist students with hands-on techniques to build the online presence needed to remain competitive in today’s economy. “Google is Your New Business Card: Building a Valuable Personal Brand” is led by social networking, branding and entrepreneurship experts Bret L. Simmons, Ph.D., assistant professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, and Ronele Klingensmith, president of RKPR Inc. The 10-hour, four-session class assists students in discovering their personal brand and how to develop valuable content around that brand.
“With Google being a 21st-century electronic business card, it communicates one’s personal brand to the world–with a click of a mouse anyone can learn about you,” said Simmons. “Combine that with today’s intensely competitive business environment, and it’s even more essential to actively control what is being said about the value of someone’s unique skill set. You can control your brand and that’s what this course is about.”
Through hands-on coaching from social-media experts, students will learn how social-media tools correlate, as well as the most effective ways to use the tools discovered to create a personal brand. It will also go beyond traditional social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook and static websites to demonstrate how to create and operate a dynamic blog and develop a presence on Twitter the right way.
Klingensmith founded RKPR Inc. in 2002 to provide clients with innovative communications strategies. With her 17 years of communications experience, Klingensmith offers a broad range of expertise with a variety of clients in various industries with strong emphasis on travel and tourism, focusing on the integration of social networking, new media and integrated communications. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of Nevada, Reno and received her Accredited in Public Relations (APR) certification in 2003 from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).
Simmons teaches classes in organizational behavior, entrepreneurial psychology and research methods at the University of Nevada, Reno. His research currently focuses on positive organizational behavior and employee performance. In addition to academic publications, his research has been featured in articles by US News & World Report and USA Today.
Class dates for “Google Is Your New Business Card” are November 2 and 9 from 6 to 9 p.m. and November 16 and 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. Registration is required for the course, for information visit online or call the Extended Studies office at 775-784-4046.
Reno’s A Buzz with AceBall
Posted by: | CommentsAs a native Nevadan I’ve seen a lot of changes in northern Nevada and I’ve heard lots of talk about things that were coming or going to happen that never did. But hey, that happens everywhere. But today is a new day and today I’m feeling jazzed for something that I was excited about but never thought I would be THIS excited about – Reno Ace’s baseball.
Downtown Reno is buzzing, really buzzing with excitement. I captured these photos while coming back from a meeting this afternoon (one day before the first game) and saw the businesses around the stadium preparing to greet the baseball fans. Signs are being hung, windows polished, specials posted and even a side of a building is painted. It’s an infectious excitement!
And that’s what the Reno Ace’s was supposed to do. We’ve worked with clients in travel and tourism for many years and during that time we’ve been privileged to work on the opening of the Truckee River Whitewater Park in downtown Reno as well as several other national events. I can honestly say that I’ve never seen this kind of support and it’s about time.
Today, the fence is down around the $50 million stadium and it’s bringing with it a true “build it and they will come” mentality.
The home opener is tomorrow and I know that those lucky folks attending the game are in for a real treat.
Go Ace’s…looking forward to seeing you on the field!
I Get Paid to do This?
Posted by: | CommentsMy husband always says there’s a reason why so many people want to be in public relations and marketing: because it’s fun. And that’s true if you wind up working on clients that you enjoy. Just today I got to research restaurants and summer activities at ski resorts – the former for planning a media visit and the latter for pitching a writer. I listen to music and surf YouTube so I can enrich blog posts and understand what I’m writing about in event releases. This week I’m even heading to Reno eNVy to film their t-shirt making process for a client so we can post it to the blog. How cool is that?
Don’t get me wrong there are days when it’s really tough. We can put in long hours nitpicking every last detail of a 25-person, 5-day tour of Reno-Tahoe. We wake up at the crack of dawn to drive artists to a TV station for interviews. We get back press releases that we’ve slaved over with so many edits a re-write is often the only option. And yes, the media do ignore us sometimes. But if you weigh all of these things against all of the fun things we also get to do, they’re really not that bad. Secretly, I even like those early morning TV interviews!
Just another pilot
Posted by: | CommentsWhen it comes to connecting with audiences, removing the barriers (seen or unseen) goes a long way. This video showing “Just Another Pilot” is layered with life lessons. In the end, communication is about being authentic.
We’re in the business of engaging
Posted by: | CommentsLike proud parents, there’s nothing better than seeing your team aspire to do great things for each other, the clients we represent and in turn expand their world. It’s become quite apparent to us that our motto as an agency is to engage. To engage our audiences to respond to our clients messages, products and/or services. To engage our clients to think beyond traditional public relations tools and tactics. To engage actively in social communications. To engage each other to do and be more.
