Read my other points at TalentZoo's Marketing Moxie columns.
Whether you're a PR pro who knows how to work with media or a journalist seeking sources, click the HARO logo.
Of late and often enough, I’ve been involved in and have seen situations where misunderstanding has come from email communication. Assumptions are made. Motives are read into what is typed. Much of it can be avoided with a simple telephone call — either at first or in reply. Remember, typed communication is not always a substitute for verbal communication.
For most people, this is a short week, but also a bit hectic. Have to finish up projects, meet early deadlines and possibly sneak out early Wednesday or even just take Wednesday off and enjoy five days away from the office — wherever and whatever your office is.
While I still am pursuing freelance opportunities (hint!) and full-time employment (hint! hint! 
), there’s plenty to be thankful for this week — and every day of the year. Let me list five things and see if I can start a meme (or, duplicate one if it’s already been started):
For starters, let me combine #1 and #2 into my family. While my wife and I have a lot in common (which can cause, um, issues), we also complement each other in many ways (which also can cause issues — but more often than not, results in family balance). I am very thankful for her support, love and the fantastic mother she is. She is a major reason why I am who I am, and who I will become.
I’m also thankful for — blessed with — our four children. As I’m sure most every parent believes of their own children, we have four great children — each with their own special talents (even our 16-month-old daughter) and personalities, and sound character.
For #3, I’m thankful for the personal friends I have begun to know and those I am getting to know better. Surprisingly, one of the best things to happen to our social life is having children — and getting to know the parents of their friends.
For #4, I’m thankful for the many people I know professionally and have come in contact with — and have learned so much from. From your own posts to links to other great information, I’ve learned a lot.
While I am thankful for God and my faith in him (which has substantially grown since November 2006, but still needs to be so much stronger), let me finish with something different and a bit trivial for #5: I’m glad that my mom saved a lot of my childhood toys and such. I smile when I see my youngest daughter pushing one of the two Pinewood Derby cars around (I brought both home after my youngest son started Scouts this year). And, the old Fisher-Price airport and gas station have provided my kids with plenty of fun when we visit. It’s something my wife and I already are thinking about — what toys of our kids should we save for our grandchildren to play with?
Okay, now that I’m done, I wonder what Ike is thankful for, or even Kami, Kevin, Chris or Christine?
Take care, and of course, THANK YOU!
-Mike
I’m fascinated by human nature, how and why people interact, and the processes of how successful results come to be.
If you’ve done any social media outreach — and been successful — then I assume you’ve also been involved in traditional, offline media relations — and been successful.
While there are many similarities, I’ve found that there are enough differences in the process of suggesting stories to media contacts — whether offline or online.
The similarities should go without saying, like:
But the differences are subtle.
Generally speaking, when dealing with offline media, you’re dealing with a professional. Someone at his/her job. Someone getting paid.
When you are dealing with social media — I’m mostly talking bloggers here — you’re dealing with people with a passion about a topic. While more and more bloggers seem to be making a career out of it, there are still very much elements of dealing with an every-day person who is blogging more out of passion than profession.
The subtly comes in how you contact the two types of media outlets.
Assuming personal preferences don’t dictate otherwise, it seems:
With offline, traditional media, you give them the materials that will make it easier for them to write a story about your suggestion. Materials like sending images or links to images; sending a well-written, AP-Style news release; and coordinating an interview between a reporter and your client/employer.You’re definitely not writing the story for them, but you are doing as much of the leg work as possible.
With online, social media, you are providing access to information, images and people. You direct bloggers where to get the information, and what you can provide (like contact information for a company official, and information that you can’t link to).
While the decision whether or not your story idea is published is ultimately up to the reporter or blogger, it seems more important that the blogger maintains an air of independence and separation from the subject than the reporter. It’s not a huge separation, but because it is the job of reporters to get information, there’s a closer relationship between professional media and PR/media relations personnel.
With bloggers, generally speaking, they didn’t start blogging because they wanted to inform. So, my feeling is that PR/media relations personnel need bloggers way much more than bloggers need PR/media relations personnel.
I definitely don’t mean to impune the objectivity and independence of professional media, but it seems there is a stronger need and desire by bloggers to remain untarnished by PR/media relations professionals.
Thoughts?
-Mike
Like I’m sure most, if not all PR and other professional communicators, I read a lot. I receive a lot of email newsletters, and when gainfully employed, get a lot of client and industry print magazines and newspapers. Maybe it’s just the info-geek in me or something that all journalists — past and current — have in common.
Whatever the reason, I have a need to feed the information beast within.
While I’m not fully caught up with my inbox reading and great pointers from those I follow in Twitter, I have read several informative articles that — in case you missed it — I’m passing along below.
-Mike
Image: Read All About It. Some rights reserved.
One of the most enjoyably-challenging parts of our jobs is brainstorming. Getting those creative juices flowing. Trying to solve a challenge for your employer or a client. No idea is too stupid (more or less).
So, as a way to develop ideas for my blog, keep my creative juices flowing and a few other benefits, I thought I start a periodic series of how different kinds of businesses and other organizations can benefit from social media. Granted, there are other, more traditional marketing means companies should explore, but they are likely already doing them.
So, let’s have some fun and brainstorm ways that different types of organizations can take advantage of this new marketing vehicle commonly called social media. Please have a look at the below and offer your own feedback on my ideas, and offer your own on how this hypothetical company can take advantage of social media.
Company Profile: Medium-size manufacturer. Let’s say it’s a machine manufacturer that sells to molders, shops or related companies that make things. Predominantly B2B focus. If it’s public, there is a need to communicate with the investor community and media. If private, the focus is on the trade audience, including media. The only consumer media of interest is the local business media for each plant location. The local general consumer media is of interest, but definitely not an integral part of its marketing plan.
Being a B2B company, the customer and prospect based is likely well-known, and likely includes engineers, technicians, some type of trade personnel, assembler or related. While people in purchasing and management are important, you also want to reach those who’ll be directly using or handling your product.
To best take advantage of social media, here’s what I’d recommend:
So, what do you think? Am I off base on any of the above? What else could a B2B machine maker do in social media? How could you work social media in with an investor focus?
-Mike
Image: Sergei Prokudin-Gorskii: Cotton textile mill, probably in Tashkent, ca. 1910. Some rights reserved.
Since being laid off in August, I’ve been repeatedly humbled and grateful for the range of support and assistance I have received. From the simple, yet thoughtful words of support and job search leads, to those who have opened doors with introductions to people and firms.
While this experience is not anything I would ever wish on anyone, the past two-plus months has been a fantastic learning experience in many ways. One way, as noted at the start, is how fortunate I am to have at least some level of connection — whether reading their blogs, IMs and emails, past working relationships, mutual friends, great friends or whatever –with a whole lot of thoughtful, caring and flat-out nice people.
Your efforts have reminded me that I must not forget to be outward focused — even though it’d be easy to become focused on my needs.
So, I’m taking advantage of my blog to say thank you to all of you, including good friends like the Siegs and Walkers, along with people like Aaron Newman, Amena Zeeshan, Brian Shaler, Captain Hops, David Binkowski, Greg Brooks, Ike Pigott, Jeremy Pepper, Kevin Dugan, Matt Braun, Mike Brice, Peter Shankman, Sherrilynne Starkie and Theresa Sheroian.
-Mike
Note that some people didn’t wish to be named. That’s fine, as I don’t want to adhere to that cliche that “no good deed goes unpunished.” If I’ve forgotten anyone or if you are not named, I am sincerely sorry and it does not diminish my genuine gratitude for you.
