Join Lee Odden for his workshop, Advance Your SEO Skills with Social Media Optimization, on Monday, October 17 from 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. at the PRSA 2011 International Conference, Oct. 15–18 in Orlando, Fla.!

The demand for smart Social Media and SEO information from Public Relations departments and agencies has increased significantly this year.  Many PR groups are investing significantly in SEO and Social Media strategy, road mapping and training for their teams. In our work as a resource for these organizations, one of the most useful insights we provide is guidance on what to avoid when it comes to incorporating SEO and SMO (social media optimization) into PR content strategies.

No one likes to #fail, so as PR pros ramp up their SEO and Social Media Optimization efforts, here are seven things to avoid:

Continue reading " How Not to Fail at SEO and Social Media Optimization "

Join Chris Foster, Dr. Gary Puckrein, Rex Repass and Patrick Pho for their workshop, Just Five More Seconds of Mindshare? Use the Best Strategies and Tools to Reach Your Audience!, on Sunday, October 16, 2011 4:45 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at the PRSA 2011 International Conference, Oct. 15–18 in Orlando, Fla.!

Picture this: It’s another Monday morning.  As you step out of bed, you are beginning to mentally prepare for the thirteen meetings that stagger ahead on your manic schedule. While gradually awakening, you emerge to commence your daily routine… pick up the paper, make the coffee, pop the English muffin into the toaster and turn on your computer – ready to respond to a series of instant messages and e-mails aggregated in your inbox from the time you kissed the kids goodnight at 11PM until the time the alarm clock went off at 5:45AM. You want to be in the office by 7, so you quickly rush through your calendar reminders to ensure you are on time and aware of all of your obligations. You enjoy that one last sip of coffee before jumping into your suit and you wave goodbye to you family (who are just now waking up). After shutting the car door, you immediately turn on your Bluetooth (allowing you to multitask even more!) and quickly dial-in for your weekly Monday morning staff call.  Turning on your mental auto pilot, you suddenly realize you’re 20 minutes into the call and you’ve been asked to provide your projections for the week.  What did you gather from the first half of the call?

We’ve all been in similar situations before – and it’s likely our audiences have been through the same.  Overtaxed for time, how do we retain our audiences’ undivided attention?

Continue reading " Cut Through the Clutter: Use the Best Strategies and Tools to Reach Your Audience and Measure Impact "

Join Mary Jane Saras, LCSW for her workshop, “Conflict Resolution Simplified,” on Tuesday, October 18, 2011 2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the PRSA 2011 International Conference, Oct. 15–18 in Orlando, Fla.!

There are some warning signs for team leaders to watch out for when it comes to high stress on a team. When stress hits the hot button, there is a natural tendency for all of us to revert to behavior we learned in our original organization, the family; things we learned for security and survival. These behaviors come to work with us in unique and powerful ways when we are tense and feel overwhelmed. So, if your teammate is behaving like a baby, you’re right. And if you are responding like a thumb-sucking toddler, you are!

In “Conflict Resolution Simplified,” I’ll give you a new perspective on warning signs to watch out for on your team, and why some of these “early warning signs” do come to work with you, even if you didn’t want them to.

Let me share a story.

Continue reading " What Team Leaders Need to know About Stress and Conflict "

Join Mary Deming Barber, APR, Fellow PRSA for her workshop, “Winning Strategies From a Historic Write-In Campaign,” on Monday, October 17, 2011 9:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at the PRSA 2011 International Conference, Oct. 15–18 in Orlando, Fla.!

This week, like many of my colleagues, I’m scrunching my work week into about 4 days before heading to Orlando for the Public Relations Society of America’s International Conference.

Coming from Alaska, I’m also looking forward to some warm sunshine. This conference is my largest professional development expense each year but it pays dividends well beyond its expense. For those coming for the first time, or wanting to know how to maximize the experience, I offer some tips:

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Join Cyndee Woolley, APR, and Jessica Macera for their workshop, “The Personal Branding Project — Crafting Your Identity,” on Monday, October 17, 2011 3:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. at the PRSA 2011 International Conference, Oct. 15–18 in Orlando, Fla.!

STEP 1: Establish Priorities
It is easy to take for granted that you are prioritizing the big things in your life, such as family, religion and career. But take a moment to think about your number one priority. Is this where you are spending the most time during the day?

For example, if your number one priority is family, and you are spending 12 hours a day tapped into work — through mobile devices or home office — are you really prioritizing your relationships? Or are you prioritizing your career?

Make a list of the top 3–5 priorities in your life, ranking them in order of importance. Each priority and its corresponding level will help guide you in setting the right goals and making the sometimes tough decisions to help you lead a rewarding life.

STEP 2: Set Goals Based on Your True Priorities

Continue reading " Five Steps to Effective Goal Setting "