Ramblings & Musings

Another Post With Video Links

2006-04-02T14:46:00.000-05:00

Okay, I have to post this for two reasons. First, it's hilarious. Second, my brother (Matthew Flood) is one of the videos. Recently, Univeral Orlando hosted a competition for its staff. The rules, dance for 30 seconds to a minute to a song of your choice. The prize, two tickets to the Ellen Degeneres show being taped at Universal Orlando. Some of these are outright amazing and some are so funny I almost cried. You got to check this out and spread the word.

Coming out of the closet...

2006-03-29T08:59:00.000-05:00

For gamers over the age of 25 who play the game Halo...check out this new video. It is brilliant. Once you watch it, you'll understand this post's title.

I'm so happy...

2006-03-28T16:47:00.000-05:00

According to Josh Hallett I have made it to blog level (drum role please) 1!!! Yes, I am no longer a 0 and am now a 1. Oh great Blogger gods, forgive Josh for he knows not what he says. Funny thing is, some of my favorite blogs are on Blogger. Cheap and easy, does it get any better than that? Not that it has all the bells and whistles of other programs, but according to his post, the height of blog enlightenment is not being worried about how many people visit your site. Content is king. Well, if I'm putting up good content (which I don't pretend to think that I am) then it shouldn't matter. Flashy, boring, high-end, low-end...whatever. Josh, I love ya buddy, but we're going to have to disagree about this agreeably.

Mixed Messages and Understanding Your Audience

2006-03-23T08:45:00.000-05:00

How often have you put together a piece of communication and failed to consider your audience. Unfortunately, I think this happens far too often! I know I am guilty of it, and I know that everytime I fail to consider my audience I have wasted valuable time and opportunity. While PR folks are trained in the art of mass communication - it is important to remember that every stakeholder group is made up of individuals who have unique backgrounds, ideas and beliefs. I know that this seems like PR 101. It is. However, I can think of a dozen examples off the top of my head from just the past month where I saw PR folks communicate the right message to the wrong audience.

One more thing that is different but related. I have often heard complaints that our bosses, other staff and clients don't appreciate or understand what we do. Before pointing the finger, consider for a minute that these folks make up just as important of a stakeholder group as investors, customers or government officials. We need to stop whining and start doing what we do best...communicating. Explain the role of PR and do it often. Then reinforce that message with hard evidence. It's amazing how often we forget this key point.

It's Been a Long Time

2006-03-22T08:52:00.000-05:00

Sheepishly I slip back into the blogging world, having been absent for some time. I could go on and on about my reasons (several major projects, etc.), however the main point is that I hope that I will be able to get back to more regular postings. (Big sigh of relief from my two devoted fans...haha)

To jump right back in...

I want to alert folks who are interested in the topic of PR about an online event that is going to be hosted by the Florida Public Relations Association's Orlando Area Chapter on April 10-14. Modeled after the Global PR Blog Week that took place last year, this is being dubbed the FPRA Blog Week. The event will allow Florida-based PR folks to discuss important topics to the PR profession and its future evolution. The event is being put together by Josh Hallett of Hyku and Bob O'Malley, APR of O'Blog. Make sure to stop by and check it out.

Guilty Until Proven Innocent

2006-02-24T15:38:00.000-05:00

A story that ran in todays Orlando Sentinel reminded me of a point that has been discussed many times in the past...the significant difference between the court of law and court of public opinion. Read the headline and some of the language used in the story and you'll see that this (like most journalism) was approached with a “guilty until proven innocent” framework. Compare that to our legal system's “innocent until proven guilty" and the differences will be clear. This also makes me think about the declining readership of newspapers. Maybe this “guilty until proven innocent” approach has alienated some members of their audience. Don't have any stats to back that up. Just a thought.

I also recently heard this reporter say that he sees the primary role of the media to be “to make the uncomfortable more comfortable and the comfortable more uncomfortable.” The problem with this thought process is that sometimes the comfortable are that way because they have made sound and ethical decisions. I don't know what the final outcome will be on the story referenced above, but I have doubts that this is much more than a situation that has been blown out of proportion. Time will tell.

Finding Purpose on the Blogosphere

2006-02-21T12:56:00.000-05:00

I just read an interesting post on one of the blogs that I monitor. This reinforced something I've been mulling for some time now. I believe that up to this point, many blogs have been started with little to no thought about audience, message or purpose. Heck...I'm a prime example. I started this blog with little idea about who I wanted to talk to, what I wanted to say, or why I wanted to say it. As a PR professional, I should be ashamed. Since that time, I've realized that my purpose here is to share insights with other PR professionals about how to make our professional stronger.

I've also mentioned in a prior post that I've helped my organization start a blog. That one was done with a lot more strategic foresight. Audience=traditional media. Message=Metro Orlando is full of interesting companies, business people and trends that you should know about. Objective=increase coverage of the undiscovered side of the region's economy. Since starting the blog we have tried to focus our attention on posting items that address these main points. Generally, we have a purpose.

I think this is John Jantsch's underlying point. Don't start a corporate blog, just to start one. That's a bad strategy and will lead to bad results. Need help identifying the potential opportunities associated with this medium? I have just the person to talk to...

My Shout Out

2006-02-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

With some of the horrible retail experiences that I have had in the past, I think that good customer service should be highlighted. It's unfortunate that positive retail stories seem to be so few and far between (that's a whole post in and of itself). However, today I just want to highlight two retailers that I have purchased products from for my Nissan 350Z. The two companies are Coastal Metals in Fayetteville, NC and ZeeToyz, Inc. out of Hamilton, Ontario. Not only did these companies offer unique, high-quality products, but they were both extremely responsive throughout the ordering and delivery process. I would highly recommend them, and would challenge other companies to take the kind of hands-on, responsive approach they represent.

This is also a good lesson for communication professionals. We simply cannot undervalue personal communication in this world of mass messaging. Think about that in terms of your strategic plan and media relations activities. Would you be more effective by personally sending a message or picking up the phone than by blasting something out using the dreaded Cc: or Bcc: function? In fact, much of the discussion on the Bad Pitch blog is about this mass e-mail approach.

ProfNet Inquiry...

2006-02-14T13:59:00.000-05:00

Thought some of you might get a kick out of this recent ProfNet inquiry.

BUSINESS : Small-Business Voicemail - The Associated Press (US)
I need to speak with small-business owners about leaving voicemails, and how to do it effectively so your target actually listens and responds. No phone calls, please.

Contact:
Joyce Rosenberg
Deadline: 10:00 AM US/Eastern FEB 15
Email: jrosenberg@ap.org

Draw your own conclusions as to the true purpose of this inquiry. Note: its not that hidden.

Tag: I'm It

2006-02-13T10:42:00.000-05:00

I've been absent for a bit, but this seemed like an interesting reason to get back on here. My friend Bob O'Malley just tagged me on O'Blog, so here is my response:

Four Jobs I've Had:
1. Sunglass Salesman at Sunglass Hut
2. Engraver at Things Remembered
3. Deli Associate at Publix
4. PR Intern for the City of Orlando Office of the Mayor

Four Movies I Can Watch Over and Over (Don't Judge Me!):
1. Napoleon Dynamite
2. Nightmare Before Christmas
3. Drumline (not sure why, it's just addicting)
4. Red Dawn (gotta love the premise)

Four TV Shows I Love to Watch:
1. Anything that is about to be cancelled (Ed, Love Monkey, Keen Eddie, etc.)
2. Alias
3. Four Kings
4. King of Queens

Four Places I've Been on Vacation:
1. Hawaii
2. New York
3. San Paulo, Brazil
4. London, England (Actually, haven't been but am going this summer)

Four Favorite Dishes:
1. Lasagna
2. Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
3. Pad Thai
4. Waffles

Four Websites I Visit Daily:
1. Orlando Sentinel
2. Bloglines
3. Metro Orlando EDC
4. Boing Boing

Four Places I'd Rather Be:
1. New York
2. North Carolina
3. Playing Xbox
4. At Napasorn

Two Bloggers I'm Tagging (Since everyone else I could think of was already taken):
1. Amy Edge
2. Casey Haas

One last thing...

2006-02-02T09:20:00.000-05:00

...before I get off of the media relations topic. You have to check out this blog on bad media pitching. It is fantastic.

The Problem Defined

2006-02-02T08:49:00.000-05:00

I read with interest a recent post by Josh Hallett that related to my comments in Public Relations = Media Relations. Josh retells the tale of a Florida PR practitioner who was "directed by the 'corporate office' (read: not local) to increase their media outreach initiatives." I'm hoping that this directive came with an underlying purpose...a message and clear goals. It very well may have since I wasn't there and didn't get to talk to this fellow professional. However, too often a directive such as this is passed down from management without specific goals in mind. Basically, just go raise awareness, get my face in the paper.

It is time that the PR departments of the world stop hiding behind excuses that there isn't a way to track PR results. The fundamental problem is that we don't know what to track because we don't know what we're trying to accomplish.

I recently met with a local company that is looking at generating local buzz. However, these were smart business men and women, and they had a goal in mind. A competitor was taking too much of a lead in a business area they wanted to capture. The buzz was specifically related to helping them break into that market. Now, that's smart public relations. Is it hard to measure? Sure. But, that's true for many aspects of the business world.

Let me reiterate, I don't know any details of the situation mentioned by Josh. I'm sure there is more to this specific story than I know. It just made me think about a thousand other examples I've heard where PR folks are trying to get their boss's name in the paper, but have no clear understanding of the overarching business objectives driving that activity.

Let's get that seat in the board room, folks.

Public Relations = Media Relations?

2006-01-24T16:56:00.000-05:00

This week's edition of The Economist has an important article on the PR industry that everyone in the profession should read. From my perspective, there are some “ouches” in there. I believe that the story reinforces the fact that many folks in our industry have lost sight of the fundamental purpose of public relations, which has led to a skewed perspective by the population at large.

What do I mean? The general notion stated in this article (and that I've heard almost everywhere) is that Public Relations=Media Relations. It starts and stops there. That perception is extremely unfortunate, because PR should/could be so much more. To quote from one of my favorite textbooks Public Relations Practices Fifth Edition by Patrick Jackson, Fellow PRSA and Allen H. Center, Fellow PRSA:

“Although everyone in the organization can affect its relationships with various publics, establishing public relations policies, goals, and activities is clearly a managerial function. Public relations staffers are part of management.”

Did you catch it? PR is not about getting your face/name in the paper. Its not about news releases or press conferences or newlsetters or speeches. It's about managing relationships with key publics. From another part of Jackson and Center's book:

"If all public relations does is maintain the status quo, it is being used ineffectually. In addition, if it changes only the way people feel or think about the organization - and vice versa - it has not realized its full potential. Effective public relations elicits mutually favorable behavior from both the organization and its publics."

That's important stuff to remember. No matter what you may have heard, public relations does not JUST equal media relations. That is mixing up the table saw with the new wood table. A tool with the end product.

A Brand New Day

2006-01-20T16:06:00.000-05:00

Just have to share some exciting news. Over the past couple months, I have been working with several other folks in my office to launch a blog that covers Orlando's business trends and its interesting people and companies. Well, we are off and running and have some interesting stuff already popping up on the site. Check it out. This is a v1.0, so hopefully we will continue to tweak this and improve it. The primary audience we had in mind was reporters looking for story ideas, leads and sources. So, mostly we'll be using this as a media relations tool, and I think it will be an interesting case study. Will reporters use this kind of resource? Not sure, but I guess we will soon find out.

The Flip Side

2006-01-18T08:29:00.000-05:00

Okay, this post is going to seem a bit odd coming on the heels of what I wrote last night. But, isn't that the interesting thing about this whole blogging concept? Namely, this medium's aptitude at voicing opinions in real time (which sometimes shows a train of thought rather than a final concept).

On to my point...today I read a number of posts starting with this one about a comment made by Steve Rubel. Steve is correctly identified as one of the leading PR bloggers. The criticism came when he indicated that he saw himself near the top of a caste like system. As these critics pointed out, I think Steve's intent was to be helpful. However, the comments got me thinking about a trend I've noticed among some bloggers. That is to focus on the regurgitation of information rather than the development of new content. (Note: I am not directing this perspective at Steve as he does a great job of providing fresh content. In fact, I don't have any one person in mind at all.)

There is some room for this approach to blogging (a great example is Boing Boing). However, at its roots blogging is supposed to be a person's thoughts on a topic. I just can't believe that the role of top-tier blogs is simply to redirect people to other blogs. Blogs like Micro Persuasion got to be where they are because of strong/fresh content not just links. So, how does that relate to all of us entry-level bloggers? Content is King! Quit worrying so much about pitching your blog, and focus on developing strong content. If you don't have anything interesting to say (and I'm sure you do) than maybe this whole blog thing isn't for you. And, if you do want to make a name for yourself, consider posting comments on the sites of guys like Steve. Prove you've got something good to say and people will start to listen.

Update:

Just got forwarded a link that once again proves there is "nothing new thing under the sun." (reference to Ecclesiates 1:9) Thanks, Josh.

Feeling Overwhelmed

2006-01-17T19:05:00.000-05:00

Okay, I've got to be honest here. I haven't posted in a few days or even been online much over the weekend. So, tonight I had a few minutes and booted up the ol' laptop to check my RSS reader and surf a bit. Wasn't planning on posting but just had to get this off my chest.

I am a bit overwhelmed at some of the intelligent conversation happening on topics such as PR measurement, the growing convergence between new and traditional media, and PR's use of social media tools. I say I'm overwhelmed not because there is good conversation, but because of the speed of that conversation. Trying to keep up with one's day job as well as stay in touch with the growth and transition of the communication's field is not the easiest endeavor.

I guess it all goes back to the shrinking distance between organizations and their audiences. That has led to the industry's shifting its thinking, redefining its objectives and modifying its approach. Maybe the PR world isn't doing such a bad job of keeping up with the times so to speak.

I just hope that we don't all get lost in the blur of information driving this crazy communication train.

Ramblings & Musings Gets Added to PR Blogs List

2006-01-12T14:52:00.000-05:00

My little space on the web has been discovered by blogger Constantin Basturea who maintains a fairly extensive list of blogs related to the PR industry. You can check out his post with "Ramblings & Musings" listed here.

Breaking the 'Cheap Labor' Myth

2006-01-09T09:59:00.000-05:00

A few months ago I was asked to do a presentation on internship programs. I focused this discussion on why intern programs are not "cheap labor" and in fact, cost a lot in terms of time and energy. I then tied that back to why time and effort would result in great value for both the employer and student.

Since I have a new intern starting today, this was on my mind. Here are the main points that I discussed.

Value to the Employer:

Opportunity for younger professionals to learn managerial skills.
Opportunity to “scope” out talent / future employees.
Opportunity to be a mentor – long-term investment in the future.
Opportunity to get more work out of a day.

Value to the Student:

Opportunity to make mistakes.
Opportunity to learn that the real world isn’t “glamorous.”
Opportunity to experience lots of tasks.
Opportunity to build a portfolio.

Developing a valuable program:

Analyze work environment, and develop program requirements and work plan.
Write an intern manual – code of conduct, dress code, internship requirements.
Find a talent source – educational program, professional contacts, etc.
Create an interview process – basic questions, writing test, etc.
Set aside time for a proper orientation.
KEEP YOUR INTERN BUSY!!! One or two long-term projects and actively look for short-term projects. Not their job to ask, your job to assign. (time commitment)
Offer advice – on projects and general topics. (mentor)
At the conclusion, evaluate and BE EVALUATED.

A Great Example

2006-01-05T07:52:00.000-05:00

As a follow-up to my last post, I wanted to highlight a local agency I think is a great example of where the business is going. I've watched with great interest the growth and evolution of Knight Images here in Metro Orlando. From advertising, to media relations, to web development, to publishing - they are willing to dabble in just about everything. And, because of their willingness to be flexible, I believe you will continue to see them thrive over the coming years.

Six PR Predictions for 2006

2006-01-04T17:30:00.000-05:00

Now that I’m back from vacation, I thought I would start 2006 with six predictions about the PR industry. Please understand that these are simply my thoughts and observations and do not have any serious academic research to back them up.

1. The Death of the Mid-Sized PR Agency - It is my prediction that over the coming decade we are going to see a slow death of the current mid-size, PR agency. This prediction is based on the fact that overhead costs associated with employee compensation have risen much faster than what clients are willing to pay each month in retainer. I believe that this will lead to three scenarios: the rise of more consultant style PR counsel; the merger/acquisition of mid-sized agencies by larger agencies; and the diversification of mid-sized agencies into other business units such as publishing.

2. Refocus on Two-Way Communication - Blogs, wikis, podcasts...all forms of communication that rely on two-way conversation rather than the one-way, "we'll feed you what you need to know" method traditionally employed by corporate America. PR departments are going to have to take this into account moving forward. No longer can a PR practitioner rely solely on newsletters, news releases and static web sites if they want to be successful. These traditional one-way forms of communication are going to be eclipsed by the stakeholder group's desire to interact with the company or organization.

3. Advertising’s Continued Morph into PR - It used to be that the role of advertising (essentially to sell product) and the role of PR (essentially to build image) were fairly distinct. That is becoming less and less the case, and I feel certain that this trend will continue. Ask most PR professionals if they have developed ads as part of comprehensive communication plans and they will tell you, "yes." That's because the line between these two fields has become increasingly blurred.

4. The Evolution of the News Release – I’ve heard arguments from both sides on this one. Is the news release dead? Is it as viable as ever? One thing is certain…the function of the news release has forever changed. Once viewed as a media pitching tool, the release has now been relegated to two main functions. One – informing stock holders about current events and announcements that can impact their bottom line. Two – serving as a source or historical document for media and internal audiences.

5. Experience vs. Performance – Okay, this one isn’t just about PR but is relevant. I’ve observed a shift in the past few years from rewarding employees based on experience to rewarding them based on performance. I have many young friends who manage professionals with more years experience. I can’t imagine this is going to change anytime soon. That’s not to say that experience isn’t valuable and often preferable. It’s just that experience alone won’t get you by anymore. You’ve got to show that you can get it done.

6. A Bunch of Flacks – As a PR professional, I hate being lumped under this term. However, what makes me madder is that there are people out there who are calling themselves PR professionals that are actually just flacks. How do you know the real from the fake? Ask these questions:

Does the PR dept. have the ear of the organization’s executive team?
Is the PR dept. playing the role of the organization’s conscience?
Is the PR dept. both TALKING to their stakeholder groups and LISTENING to them?
Is the PR dept. transmitting messages from stakeholder groups to the executive team?

I believe that the image of our industry has suffered tremendously due to the growing number of PR flacks and shrinking number of PR counselors. We need to either help educate the flacks or “cut the fat.”

So, there you have it, my observations and predictions for 2006. Enjoy.

Another Post on Wikipedia

2005-12-19T16:38:00.000-05:00

Since I have written a couple posts on the topic of Wikipedia, I read with great interest an item from Wired magazine editor Chris Anderson. This journalist nails it. However, his blog is generally smart and on point, so it was of no surprise. There is an interesting dialogue going on following his post.

The Dark Side of Blogging

2005-12-15T16:06:00.000-05:00

I was driving home yesterday and began thinking about something. Now, this may get all you blogonuts riled, so proceed with caution. In the November issue of Inc. magazine, a writer named Jory Des Jardins did a piece titled "When Blogs go Bad." Sensing how touchy this story could be, I jumped onto Technorati yesterday and typed in her name. That little search led me to a post and subsequent discussion by Vaspers the Grate and Ms. Jardins. It got ugly...leading me to my drive time thoughts.

Back in college, when e-mail and AOL had really picked up steam, I was on a distribution list for a student organization. While the list started out as a nice way to share ideas, it quickly diminished into a forum for a handful of people to rant back and forth about a few isolated topics. What happened? The rest of us went away. We were busy with everything that makes up a college experience and didn't have time to listen to all that mess.

I've heard and read bloggers who talk about wanting others to "join the conversation." They site statistics about how influential blogging has become and that people and companies that don't join in will be left behind. I don't think they are wrong. However, with examples like the one cited above, I wonder if this whole thing will turn into something like that distribution list in college. A few people screaming at each other and the rest of the world somewhere else. We all are dealing with too much stress from work, family, etc. to deal with this kind of garbage. It's pointless.

I think true blogging doesn't have to be psuedo intellectual or elitist. Blogs are people's thoughts, and that can be anything from fun stuff they found on the web, to issues they have with companies, to insights on certain industries. Sure, we can all interact on these issues, and we're not going to always agree. However, does it have to be a shouting match. If anything could slow this train down, that's it.

Britannica Vs. Wikipedia

2005-12-15T15:57:00.000-05:00

About a month ago I posted some thoughts on the media's growing use of Wikipedia as a source. This is an intriguing topic for me, and I think shows a growing connection between the main stream media and the blogosphere. Today I read a post on Boing Boing that mentioned a recent story on the accuracy of Wikipedia compared to the Encyclopedia Britannica. This study found that there wasn't a significant difference between the two sources since both contained errors. Very interesting.

Celebrating Life

2005-12-13T07:16:00.000-05:00

This past weekend, my wife and I went up to Indiana to celebrate my grandmother's funeral. Celebrate? Yes, for some people that might be an odd word to choose, but not so in this case. My grandmother was an amazing woman. From growing up on a farm where she learned an incredible work ethic, to being one of the first women to enter the radio market in northern Indiana, to raising a family of three kids by herself after my grandfather was tragically killed in a car accident (he was in his early thirties and their kids were all under seven years old). As I sat in the church and looked at the faces around the room, I could only wish that when I come to the end of my life that I will have accomplished half as much as she did. So, as my family gathered, we celebrated the life of someone who knew how to live and is now really learning how to live in the arms of her Lord.

MindComet Blog

2005-12-12T08:23:00.000-05:00

Just got e-mailed the following news release. Interesting approach to a "corporate" blog. You have to check out the bathroom soundcheck! It is hilarious.

MindComet Team Members Waste Perfectly Good Cake Celebrating the Launch of Corporate Culture Blog Cakeplow.com
ORLANDO -- Get inside the cake-covered faces of MindComet's outrageous creative team as they spill their frustrations about life, office pastimes, and the low-down on MindComet's leading executives. Launched to release extra creative energy, Cakeplow.com is a corporate blog like no other. They've taken off their suits and ties, and traded them in for ripped jeans and sandals, letting clients see how things really go down.
The head-turning, scratch-your-head, can't-believe-they-just-went-there website is never disappointing, often inappropriate, and always addicting.
Think you know Paul Lewis, MindComet's Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing? Think again. The quiet, well-organized, always studious brain of the company turned dancing machine, cigarette stealer, and advice-giving guru after a recent company cruise after party. Even he couldn't escape the lure of the posting on Cakeplow.com.
Looking to put in a request to hear your favorite song sung from the inside of the men's bathroom? Visit Cakeplow.com and check out MindComet's Viral Marketing Specialist's "Bathroom Sound Check." It's out there. It's outrageous. It's MindComet uncensored.
A simple, conservative corporate blog just wouldn't do the innovative, Relationship Marketing firm justice. "It's a great way to build stronger relationships with our clients and potential team members. The blog gives them an inside peek into our firm's culture and the people that make this place so special.
It demonstrates our passion for creativity and desire to communicate the unexpected," commented Ted Murphy, President and CEO of MindComet. "Since launching Cakeplow.com, traffic to our main site is up 20%, and the feedback has been nothing but positive. Cakeplow
demonstrates one of the many ways a corporate blog can positively impact a company's marketing effort."
Cakeplow.com is one of many blogs developed and maintained by MindComet on a variety of subjects. In September, MindComet launched their Internet marketing thought leadership Voodoo blogs, tackling subjects from email marketing to consumer generated media. All of MindComet's blogs are indexed at http://www.blogs.mindcomet.com which serves as the central hub for MindComet.