Emerald Buzz

Five Magic Interview Questions

KMcShea — 2009-05-11T21:53:19Z

Do You Have Any Questions? Some years ago, I ran across a list of what I consider to be the most eye-opening interview questions on the planet. These questions never fail me. They consistently open up the conversation into nooks that produce insightful and interesting commentary. They are a cornerstone of any interview I do during one of my Web site audits I provide, but would be useful in just about any interview situation. Next time you start a conversation with someone new, as part of a job interview, a research project, a client engagement or something else, take my questions out for a spin...

Going Paperless: Target the Waste

KMcShea — 2009-05-11T21:52:40Z

Are you ready to go paperless? The New York State Senate recently pocketed $4M in savings by eliminating their old news clip service in favor of online news aggregators. With Obama’s call to action to federal agencies to trim their budgets, I think it is time to reconsider how the public wants to consume its government information. In the words of one reform-minded manager, “Shoot the dogs and take their money”. My own story of reform, from the trenches at the Department of Energy, has some ideas on how to begin a management review of your document clearinghouse systems.

Web Managers: Time to Weed the Garden

KMcShea — 2009-05-11T21:51:55Z

Transparency v. Information Overload. The push for "transparency" -- often translated into a desire to step up the tempo of publishing to government Web sites – ignores the problem of information overload at its peril. Simply too much of existing government Web content is out-of-date, redundant, irrelevant or even inaccurate – which can cause massive problems. A compelling case study from Microsoft makes the case that information overload is a serious problem that cannot be ignored. They claim it is high-time we measured dissatisfaction, and begin to “weed the garden” to turn that frown upside-down.

Why Web Scorecards Rock

KMcShea — 2009-03-30T15:15:35Z

An expert review can help you get the resources and momentum you need to make changes to your site. Benchmark yourself against best practices. Your Web scorecard is a roadmap to help you identify where you need to tweak, where you need to overhaul and where you are doing well...

I Heart Widgets

KMcShea — 2009-03-30T15:14:13Z

If you haven't brought a widget or two into your site, you are behind the curve. Time to catch up! Lets look at the best examples of sites which are actively leveraging Widgets to share content and distribute their online publishing. Plus we point you to some great resources to get started in this game-changer PR activity. What are you waiting for?

When it's Essential Your Meeting Doesn't Fail

KMcShea — 2009-03-30T15:11:55Z

If you want to be a change agent you need to master running successful meetings. This tip sheet shares insights into defining what type of meeting you are in, deciding if the meeting is necessary and licking the all important question of timing...

Web Manager Playbook: Emergency Controls and Procedures

KMcShea — 2009-02-27T20:45:50Z

Any enterprise Web manager knows it is essential to have policy and procedures in place to deal with communications emergencies. Here I detail some of the best practices I've collected over the years on how to do it right. If you don't have procedures in place -- or think it may be time to dust off and update your current guidance -- start here. (And don't forget to use the comments area to share whatever I've missed...)

The Purple Tunnel of Doom and Crisis Communications

KMcShea — 2009-02-27T20:44:50Z

I still have out of town friends ask what Inauguration Day was like here in Washington, D.C. I get to tell them how I experienced one of the strangest (and most avoidable) planning snafus in the history of Presidential inaugurations. Along with thousands of other purple ticket holders, I spent most of the morning in the 3rd street tunnel, AKA the "purple tunnel of doom". How this situation was handled by government leaders has a lot to tell us about crisis communications in the age of the blogs and Web 2.0....

My PR Crisis Survivor's Guide

KMcShea — 2009-02-27T20:43:58Z

This is a roundup of my top ten tips on surviving a PR crisis. By my count, people in charge of dealing with the "purple tunnel of doom" missed the boat on each and every item on the list, at least in the first few days of the fiasco. Agree? Disagree? Discuss!

How to Review Your Team's Performance

KMcShea — 2008-12-22T23:48:06Z

If you need to know how to review your team's performance so you can map a strategic plan for change, we've got just the tool you need.

How to Measure Leadership

KMcShea — 2008-12-22T23:47:41Z

A cookbook for Web governance. Strong stewardship mixed together with a secret sauce of four proven communication systems.

Web Design Strategy Step-by-Step

KMcShea — 2008-12-22T23:47:14Z

A design strategy document tells the story of what your Web site will accomplish and why it matters. It has six parts.

Organizing Your Web Dream Team

KMcShea — 2008-11-08T21:03:56Z

IT or Public Affairs? Neither! There is a third choice for where you place your Web team inside your org chart for maximum impact. We'll identify the obstacles in your way and share our ideas about carving up roles and responsibilities - so you can manage up and down with confidence.

10 Essential Social Media Tools for the Office

KMcShea — 2008-10-06T14:51:18Z

Today's "wired worker" is shifting their behavior at work, adopting smart new tools that make them more efficient and productive. We explore the story behind why it matters and also review the typical office routines where tools exist that can change the way you do business. Are you ready to bring Social Media to the workplace?

2008 US Presidential Campaign Message Box

KMcShea — 2008-10-06T14:46:36Z

As the U.S. Presidential election turns into its final days, how do you stay on message? We examine the campaign message box that the candidates and surrogates are using to stay on the offense and turn their opponents to defense with the voters. We show you what messages are working and why as the candidate's make their closing arguments. Download your own message box so you can stay on message.