Paper.li makes content curation easy, and visually attractive while making you look like an expert on the topic of your choosing. Why should you do it? Because  you don’t have to CREATE the content. You just CURATE it. It’ll help you grow your online community while positioning you as an authority on the topic(s) that your niche audiences find interesting. Since Paper.li is a social tool, others can easily supply you with content or share your content with their communities, making your paper.li viral.

Want to see what Paper.li is all about? See the Chicago PR Daily, created by my friend and fellow ex-City Hall reporter Sarah Skerik, who is now an executive with PR Newswire in Chicago. Sarah curates content on Twitter, uses it in her paper, and cites the friends and followers who originally tweeted about the content (in fact, I’ve been cited in her Chicago PR Daily on more times than I can count).
Want to follow the latest news about food to your table? Check out the Food & Agriculture Spotlight or The Daily Agvocate.

Want news about Chicago’s hottest restaurants and bars? See the Chicago Restaurants & Bars Daily. Maybe you’re tracking Restaurants of the World? There’s a paper.li Daily for that too!

Want to learn more about paper.li?

Paper.li has an easy step-by-step process for creating your own online newspaper

Or check out How to become a Twitter publisher with paper.li 

If my post encourages you to create your own Daily newspaper, please let me know and send me the link to it.  Do Good!

The post Online Publishing is Easy with paper.li appeared first on Michelle Damico Communications.

© Photo by Michelle Damico, taken at White Pines Dude Ranch, Oregon, IL

What happens when you block Facebook ”friends” from seeing your posts and activity? Most of us hesitate before taking such drastic action against  friends, friends of friends, former colleagues or in my case, news listeners to WXRT and WBEZ, my former radio stations. Sometimes you just get fed up with their political rants, their whines about kids, in-laws or jobs.  It’s understandable and natural to simply say to yourself “Stop” or  ”Enough Already!”

I’m sure it’s crossed your mind what would happen if you blocked that annoying person on Facebook. Here’s a great slide show with descriptive explanations that I found today on my favorite tech news portal — Mashable.com.

Have you ever blocked someone from your Facebook profile? I have and it felt very cathartic and gave me a sense of freedom. I no longer had the ball and chain combination of bad vibes and bad karma that comes from avoidable life-intrusions! If you have the time, tell me the outcome of your Facebook-blocking experiences, by leaving a comment.

By the way, if you’re seeing this via email, I am testing-out a new email system to support my posts at Michelle Damico Communications. Have any ideas for future posts? Seeking an answer to a business communications problem? Email at michelle at michelledamico dot com.

And if you don’t want to receive these emails any longer, that’s OK too. Hit the unsubscribe button.

Do Good!

The post Blocking someone on Facebook? appeared first on Michelle Damico Communications.

Coach Brendan completed the Antarctica Marathon earlier this month, and proved that anyone can achieve the impossible. See his great coverage in the Chicago Sun Times and WGN Radio.

Looking forward to Chicago’s next great park and destination? The Bloomingdale Trail, the nearly 3-mile elevated park and trail system planned for Bucktown, Wicker Park, Logan Square and Humboldt Park, received great praise today in a comprehensive, three-page spread in the Sun Times.

Do you know what to do if you or your loved ones have a stroke?  Dr. Madhuri Koganti, the neurologist and creator of BrainAttack App, was featured in an informative piece in the Dallas Business Journal.

Most business owners think they’re either too small or too local to get hacked. Not true, as you’ll read in this Daily Herald Business Ledger story.

If you’d like to learn how we can jump start your PR efforts for Spring, please email me at michelle at michelledamico dot com.

The post Spring means a crop of client news coverage appeared first on Michelle Damico Communications.

Beautiful crocuses

Crocuses and snowdrops popping up in my garden signal spring’s arrival. I also know it’s spring because the phone is ringing — a LOT!  Now more than ever, organizations such as tech start-ups, entrepreneurs, non-profits, and corporations are reviewing their 2013 marketing and PR needs and deciding whether to hire a PR pro to help elevate their market position.

Here at Michelle Damico Communications, it’s Spring-Into-Action-Time, providing answers about how a company’s product, service or cause might benefit from my PR, messaging, and interview training services. So as a service to all future clients, here are things to ask before hiring a PR firm. (Note: There’s a special bonus for readers who make it to the end of this post!)

Six Questions to Ask Before Hiring a PR Firm

1. How deep is your PR firm’s media relationships? How often do reporters CALL YOU seeking sources? Every good PR person will tell you they regularly connect with reporters via email, phone or tweet reporters. The strongest sign of a deep media relationship is when reporters call PR pros they trust, seeking experts  – I know because it happens to me weekly. 
2. Tell me about your experience as former journalist? Many PR pros claim they used to work in journalism. But a closer look may reveal they wrote for their college newspaper and switched to business or marketing as their career. You can’t really understand the pressures professional journalists face without walking in their shoes and dealing with the stress of regular deadlines and surly editors. So check their LinkedIn profiles to learn what positions they held before landing their first PR position.
3. Can you provide examples of how media placements led to more business or lead generation? Is their coverage relevant to clients’ target audiences? PR initiatives are typically targeted at two segments: consumers and business people.  A technology start up with a just-launched app for doctors will target media outlets quite different than a start-up serving consumers’ health and fitness needs.
4. Does your PR firm have a solid web site, or a strong social media presence? This should be a no-brainer, but surprisingly it’s overlooked. A PR firm that participates in dynamic content creation will stay on top of digital media developments and appreciate the challenges of engaging with customers in the 24/7 digital communications world.
5. Can one easily view the most recent headlines secured on behalf of clients? The stock and trade of any great PR firm is the news hits or coverage they’ve landed for their clients. Is the coverage recent? Is there a steady stream of client news placements demonstrating consistent outreach?
6. Does your PR firm’s web site include a blog or dynamic posting feature? Any PR firm worth its weight is staying on top of digital PR trends and practicing them through their own digital properties. Actively blogging and sharing client case studies and insights about the current world demonstrates a PR professionals ability to stay on top of their industry.

If you took the time to read this entire post, here’s a nice little April 1st Thank you, with photos!

The post Hiring a PR firm? Ask these questions first! appeared first on Michelle Damico Communications.

In the last month, I’ve been approached by three different companies seeking help in generating news for their smart phone apps creations.  Currently, I’m working with a brother-sister team that developed BrainAttack App to help emergency room doctors and nurses save lives for stroke patients. Like my clients, all app creators are trying to rise above the noise being generated in an industry that’s growing at lightning speed.

Since 2008, when Apple launched its iTunes App store more than 800,000 apps have been downloaded. Google has quickly played catch up with just under 700,000 apps on Google Play as it marks its first birthday.

If there’s a business problem, there’s probably an entrepreneur who’s created or working on an app solution. Unfortunately, there’s no app guaranteed to get news coverage for your new app. With the mix of traditional and social media required to generate awareness of your app, a one-size fits-all solution just won’t get you results.

There are so many target audiences that can make or break your efforts to generate awareness of your apps. With these hurdles in mind, I offer…

Top 10 tips to build media buzz for your App 

1. Identify who’ll use your app and what media do they follow? If your app appeals to people’s lifestyles (shopping, travel, food, restaurants) you’ll want to target reporters or bloggers who write about these topics. Does your app solve problems for business people? Target the trade publications and associations serving specific industries.
2. Develop simple and compelling messages about your app’s value proposition: Does it save time? Cut costs? Create conveniences? Protect your family? Save your life?
3. Use your messaging everywhere — on your company web site, on the GooglePlay or iTunes download pages, on press releases, social ads, and in your posts on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.
4. Line-up friends and family as your focus group to trial your app. They’ll help you find bugs, provide fresh ideas, and give you happy customer testimonials about their experiences.
5. Create video demos of your app in action. Get photos and videos of users who tell how they used your app. Repurpose their stories on social networks as well for your own case studies.
6. If your app targets business professionals, contact their respective associations and offer a free trial.  If those associations conduct research, ask if they’d like to test your app’s effectiveness through a research trial and get valuable validation through their members real-life use.
7. Write a press release introducing your app and distribute it on a press release distribution service such as PR Web. Send it to your local news paper, portal, radio or TV station. Most local media love human interest stories about innovative minds in their communities. Include photos and bios of the creators, too.
8. Target local business media as well. In Chicago, there are several outlets that feature products and technology “made in Chicago” and want to hear about your invention. You can see how the portal “BuiltInChicago.org” featured news about BrainAttack App.
9. Professional associations need your news as well. Doctors, lawyers, accountants, teachers. There are professional associations churning out daily e-newsletters containing trends and tidbits about tools to improve their job effectiveness. You can find many groups on LinkedIn, so join them and start discussions. Here’s a LinkedIn group devoted to iPhone and iPhone Apps in Medicine. If it affects their industry, they’ll want to know about your app.
10. Organizations that educate on specific topics may be interested so connect with them, too. BrainAttack App serves audiences concerned about strokes, so I’ve reached out to stroke prevention organizations, such as the National Stroke Association, which sponsors research that helps not only the general public but the doctors treating stroke patients.
11. (Couldn’t resist this 11th tip!) Connect the old fashioned way – by phone. Don’t send out emails and cross fingers that the reporters and editors will read your news. MAKE a call with that smart phone, leave a message, and follow up with an interesting story about your app. Be persistent and look for other ways to have a dialogue with your key media targets so they’ll remember you and your app news.

Related articles

• Gifts Galore as Google Play Celebrates its First Birthday (thedroidguy.com)

The post Need PR for your App? Sorry, there’s NO App for that! appeared first on Michelle Damico Communications.

Just a few weeks ago, I sent reporter Bernie Tafoya of Newsradio 780 a press release about client Brendan Cournane’s trip to the South Pole to run his 87^th marathon in Antarctica. Bernie has covered Coach Brendan’s story in the past and aired two different broadcast reports about his trip to Antarctica. You can hear one of his latest reports that aired on February 25th.

On the same day the story was broadcast on Newsradio, something I like to call the “Me-Too” media pack mentality occurred. Writers at NBC5 Chicago (who also received my release) most likely heard Bernie’s report (by the way, all local media assignment editors monitor Newsradio) and they took interest in the story.

However, they didn’t ask for an interview. By simply visiting www.coachbrendan.com, NBC5 writers had access to the great content on the site.

Coach Brendan’s 1st Antarctica Marathon

They downloaded the visuals they needed for a compelling and short TV story,  using the photos of Brendan’s recent destination marathons!  In an age when news reporters value their time more than ever, such ease of access to information for a story is absolutely vital.

Clearly, when properly deployed as part of your social media tool kit, the tried-and-true press release can save valuable time for journalists, while generating great media coverage for clients.  In this case, our release allowed for a great news story to be quickly told and a new media relationship to be created!

The post Press releases can STILL pack a punch appeared first on Michelle Damico Communications.

I wanted to maintain my great relationship with this veteran street reporter at one Chicago’s top-rated broadcast outlets. Being helpful is one thing — jeopardizing future client coverage is another. What to do?

I made a deal. I agreed not to make calls and emails to any other reporters until his reports were aired. If any other media contacted me during the interim, I would let my broadcast friend know that he should run his story because I’d be working with other media. He agreed.

Did I make the right call? Leave a comment. Later this week, you’ll hear how it all turned out.

The post A reporter wants an exclusive. Now what? appeared first on Michelle Damico Communications.

You address complaints immediately and publicly — I have proof! Today you did so to my total surprise.

Yesterday, I complained on your page after twice calling your toll free number and twice having the system hang up on me when I tried to reach customer service. I left this note in frustration (I admit, I did it in haste and it was a bit snarky).

I thought that would be the end of my Nespresso Facebook engagement and was quite shocked to get this email today. Apparently, someone on the Facebook team connected with customer service, or looked up my order history, noted that I had not yet requested my first scaling kit, and took the initiative to order it on my behalf.

My complaint addressed. Item ordered. No need for me to do a thing. Nespresso, this has NEVER HAPPENED to me in my entire life as a consumer. I immediately went back to your Nespresso Facebook page in amazement.

Your social media presence is not only engaging with your loyal fans, but it is also a sharp and responsive customer service tool.

It reminded me of a comment that came up yesterday during an excellent Vocus webinar I attended that featured social media guru John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing. Jantsch said to be effective marketers, firms need to create “Total Online Presence.”  In your case, that means Nespresso’s marketing and customer service departments working in harmony to address complaints, promote product, and engage with customers.

Nespresso, you’ve demonstrated that your team can serve the customer seamlessly. Your social team could have easily responded: “We’re sorry, but you’ll have to contact our customer service department at…” forcing me to do the work. Instead, you did it all for me. You looked up my purchase history, found my address, ordered the product, and notified me the next day that it was being shipped.

Impressive? Yes. Common? Absolutely not. Effective? You bet.

You’ve earned a customer for life and someone who isn’t bashful about sharing happy customer experiences. You made me so giddy, I couldn’t help taking another photo of your sleek and beautiful machine in action, making a frothy cappuccino in my lovely mug from artisans at Rampini Radda, Tuscany (one of the most beautiful places on earth).

Bravo Nespresso for getting it right. Grazie for your quick response. I hope others will take notice of your great work.

Want to read more about social networks for customer service. Check out this great resource: Top 10 social customer service blogs for 2012

The post Nespresso on Facebook: Brewing great customer service appeared first on Michelle Damico Communications.

So when Advertising Age compiled its 10 best magazine covers for 2012, I had to see them. And it’s worth the view. As I perused these beauties, I couldn’t help but wonder how many people actually purchased/subscribed to these publications and actually saw them at their best — in print. With magazine circulation numbers on a never-ending downward slide (see below),I also tried to estimate the year when we’d no longer hold a fully assembled and stapled magazine for our own personal pleasure.

Magazine industry keeps downsizing, thanks to digital media and social networks.

My Newsweek print subscription will be no more come January 1st – I’ll have to get my Newsweek fix online and it won’t be the same.

I was saddened when Gourmet folded in 2009 and not surprised when PC Magazine suffered a similar fate. You can take a look to spot one of your favorite pubs that folded in 2009. Or maybe one of your favs ceased publication in 2008?

Will some of the best magazines remain as print versions, because they’re just too vital or beautiful or popular to die? Will many be around in 2015? 2020?

What’s your prediction on the year the last printed magazine as we know it will fold? Will you miss them when they do? Will you be satisfied reading an article or seeing your cover on a tablet or smart phone? Leave your comments because I love when you do.

The post Best magazine covers; Magazine burial ground broadens. appeared first on Michelle Damico Communications.

Sports? Never my strong suit. Football, the weakest pocket in my strong suit!  I’m a fair weather fan, one who really pays attention to the Chicago Bears if they make the play-offs or start a winning streak.  I like watching the Superbowl to see the commercials and follow funny observations on Twitter and Facebook. The game is pretty much an afterthought to me.

So I was pretty surprised and thrilled to be asked to lend my PR expertise to a story out today on the Re-Branding Jay Cutler: How Would PR Execs Fix The Bears QB?

It’s written by local media reporter Michael Sebastian for ChicagoSide, a great Chicago sports web site. Mike sought out a number of Chicago PR professionals to ask what Jay Cutler should be doing to reverse his standing as one of the most loathed players in the NFL.

Check out the piece, and whether or not you’re a diehard Bears fan, I’d love to know what you think. Does Jay Cutler need a PR Fix?

And hey, if anyone out there has a line to Cutler, tell him I’m available to help repair his brand, OK. The fact that I don’t care for football may be a positive in his playbook.

The post PR advice for the Bears’ Jay Cutler? appeared first on Michelle Damico Communications.