After checking on the possibility of changing this blog to a WorkPress address, I found out it could not be done. So for any readers who are considering blogging, please be advised to make an educated decision when you begin. Consult you employer, too. It will spare both you and your readers some time and confusion.
My new blog address is Currentsinpr.wordpress.com.
Please follow the link and keep reading . . .
Monday, September 20, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
New Posts for a New Season
After an absence, I am posting here again. Working, studying and trying to have a life have all kept me too busy. Your patience is greatly appreciated.
I have been advised, by someone who knows a great deal about blogging, to switch to WordPress. Apparently it has a better reputation for blogs. There must be some pros and cons about making a change like this. Please feel free to share any experiences you've had with Blogger or WordPress. What factors helped you decide which one to use?
I'll be checking on transferring this blog and address availability. We can learn about this together.
I have been advised, by someone who knows a great deal about blogging, to switch to WordPress. Apparently it has a better reputation for blogs. There must be some pros and cons about making a change like this. Please feel free to share any experiences you've had with Blogger or WordPress. What factors helped you decide which one to use?
I'll be checking on transferring this blog and address availability. We can learn about this together.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Looking Forward to 2010
Well, it has been too long since I've had time to update this blog. This started as an assignment for a class, but I would like to continue it to keep current in PR.
One of my jobs is working at a retail store, and the holiday season is crazy to say the least--long hours, opening early and closing at midnight, crowded aisles and dwindling inventory. I will say that the customers I helped were truly wonderful people who showed patience, appreciation and good humor. As December 25th approaches, you start to count down the days until things return to normal. Then you remember that December 26th is one of the craziest days of the year--long lines of returns and customers grabbing up the sale items! I'm just glad that I don't have to listen to the same Christmas carols over and over again.
Looking back to 2009, I am happy to congratulate Brian Solis for winning the "Blogger of the Year" award! He co-authored, Putting the Public Back in Public Relations, with Deidre Breakenridge. This is a great read if you want to learn about social media.
One of my jobs is working at a retail store, and the holiday season is crazy to say the least--long hours, opening early and closing at midnight, crowded aisles and dwindling inventory. I will say that the customers I helped were truly wonderful people who showed patience, appreciation and good humor. As December 25th approaches, you start to count down the days until things return to normal. Then you remember that December 26th is one of the craziest days of the year--long lines of returns and customers grabbing up the sale items! I'm just glad that I don't have to listen to the same Christmas carols over and over again.
Looking back to 2009, I am happy to congratulate Brian Solis for winning the "Blogger of the Year" award! He co-authored, Putting the Public Back in Public Relations, with Deidre Breakenridge. This is a great read if you want to learn about social media.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Using Twitter for Business--Advice From Chris Brogan
Chris Brogan is a social media advisor, President of New Marketing Labs and a New York Times best selling author. His blog (34,835 readers) and Twitter account (107,988 followers) prove that he knows what he writes about.
New Marketing Labs is "a premier digital marketing, strategy planning and social community engagement firm that builds relationships of value." Sony, Microsoft and Pepsico are just a few of their clients.
In August of 2008, he posted "50 Ideas on Using Twitter for Business" as an introductory guide. He used the words human, employees, people, community, customer service and balance in this post. This confirms my experiences that even when you are looking at a cold screen touching a plastic keyboard your goal it to reach out and connect with real, live human beings. Brogan recommends adding a picture (idea #2) to personalize your tweets.
Since I was looking for his main points, I decided to create a Wordle from his post for a visual message. As you can see, the largest (used most often) words are people, business, Tweet, others, human and helps. Of course Twitter stands out as the main focus of the text.
Brogan gives good recommendations for beginning your account. If you reread his first 10 steps, you'll see that they all pertain to building relationships and not selling products. He thinks it is important to "talk to people about THEIR interests" and "promote your employees outside-of-work stories."
Since keeping up with social media can be quite a task, Brogan wisely includes 10 ideas on maintaining your sanity. He suggests learning the URL shortening tools, allowing some tweets to go unread and tweeting in a manner that works for you.
This was a concise, but very informative post. It tells you exactly how to set up your own account and start connecting today.
New Marketing Labs is "a premier digital marketing, strategy planning and social community engagement firm that builds relationships of value." Sony, Microsoft and Pepsico are just a few of their clients.
In August of 2008, he posted "50 Ideas on Using Twitter for Business" as an introductory guide. He used the words human, employees, people, community, customer service and balance in this post. This confirms my experiences that even when you are looking at a cold screen touching a plastic keyboard your goal it to reach out and connect with real, live human beings. Brogan recommends adding a picture (idea #2) to personalize your tweets.
Since I was looking for his main points, I decided to create a Wordle from his post for a visual message. As you can see, the largest (used most often) words are people, business, Tweet, others, human and helps. Of course Twitter stands out as the main focus of the text.
Brogan gives good recommendations for beginning your account. If you reread his first 10 steps, you'll see that they all pertain to building relationships and not selling products. He thinks it is important to "talk to people about THEIR interests" and "promote your employees outside-of-work stories."
Since keeping up with social media can be quite a task, Brogan wisely includes 10 ideas on maintaining your sanity. He suggests learning the URL shortening tools, allowing some tweets to go unread and tweeting in a manner that works for you.
This was a concise, but very informative post. It tells you exactly how to set up your own account and start connecting today.
Monday, November 9, 2009
facebook or Facebook, twitter or Twitter?
The branding for facebook, twitter, delicious and other social media sites spell them with a lower case first letter. Then why are they written so many times with the first letter capitalized?
Of course it should be capitalized when it is the first word in a sentence like facebook has on its sign up page. The name of the company is Facebook, Inc. so maybe writers are referencing to the company rather than the Web page.
If you check out their copyrights, both facebook and twitter use a capital letter. They are also proper nouns so technically they should be capitalized. But doesn't their branding over ride that grammar rule?
The YAHOO! branding uses capital letters with an exclamation mark, but we rarely see it written that way either.
Even Wired spells facebook with a capital f when they mention it in an blog, but they use a lower case letter when they list it as a tag at the end of the page.
To be grammatically correct, do you spell them with a capital letter or lower case? What is the prudent proof reader to do?
Of course it should be capitalized when it is the first word in a sentence like facebook has on its sign up page. The name of the company is Facebook, Inc. so maybe writers are referencing to the company rather than the Web page.
If you check out their copyrights, both facebook and twitter use a capital letter. They are also proper nouns so technically they should be capitalized. But doesn't their branding over ride that grammar rule?
The YAHOO! branding uses capital letters with an exclamation mark, but we rarely see it written that way either.
Even Wired spells facebook with a capital f when they mention it in an blog, but they use a lower case letter when they list it as a tag at the end of the page.
To be grammatically correct, do you spell them with a capital letter or lower case? What is the prudent proof reader to do?
Monday, October 26, 2009
Writing a Social Media Press Release
In case you thought my last post seemed a bit out of place, you're right. I was writing a Social Media Press Release about an event at MSU this weekend.
Some guidelines for SMRs are:
Some guidelines for SMRs are:
- Use short sentences and simple sentence structure
- Write with active verbs
- Use minimum punctuation--stick to periods, commas and dashes
- Always use numerals instead of writing out the numbers in words
- Use symbols in place of words--$ and %
- Keep paragraphs short at 1-2 sentences
- Write subheads and use your key words there
- Try bullet points for lists
- Provide links for those who want additional information
- Try to keep it to one page or shorter
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Women and Spirituality Conference, Mankato, Minnesota
Dr. Vandana Shiva speaks on "Women and the Gendered Politics of Food"
10.23.09 — Mankato, MN - Feminism, food and faith all converge at the Women and Spirituality Conference on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Dr. Vandana Shiva presents the keynote address entitled "Women and the Gendered Politics of Food." Her lecture begins at 11:00 a.m. in the Centennial Student Union Ballroom on Oct. 31. Registration is required.
Shiva is a physicist, author and international sustainability leader. She is active in honoring all women and the major role they played in improving agriculture and science on a global level.
She founded a national Indian-based movement to protect resources and promote organic farming called Navdanya.
“When I found global corporations wanted to patent seeds, crops or life forms," Shiva said, "I started Navdanya to protect biodiversity, defend farmers’ rights and promote organic farming.
Shiva is recognized as
For 28 years, men and women have met in Mankato for support to continue traveling on individual and communal spiritual journeys. Over 100 workshops and discussions group are offered this year.
Participants can learn about
See the registration form for information on scholarships, Continuing Education Units and course credit. Childcare is provided for registered children only.
Minnesota State University, Mankato is wheelchair accessible. For special arrangements, call 507-389-2077 at least 48 hours prior to the event.
All quotes in the post appeared in:
Vandana Shiva, by FRANCES ROONEY
Contact:
507-389-2077 or email veldhc@mnsu.edu
News Facts
Mankato's population in the 2000 census was 32,427.
Mankato is the county seat for Blue Earth County.
MSU has an enrollment of 15,000 students.
Resource Links
Greater Mankato Convention and Visitors Bureau
Mankato weather
Mankato Free Press
City of Mankato
10.23.09 — Mankato, MN - Feminism, food and faith all converge at the Women and Spirituality Conference on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Dr. Vandana Shiva presents the keynote address entitled "Women and the Gendered Politics of Food." Her lecture begins at 11:00 a.m. in the Centennial Student Union Ballroom on Oct. 31. Registration is required.
Shiva is a physicist, author and international sustainability leader. She is active in honoring all women and the major role they played in improving agriculture and science on a global level.
She founded a national Indian-based movement to protect resources and promote organic farming called Navdanya.
“When I found global corporations wanted to patent seeds, crops or life forms," Shiva said, "I started Navdanya to protect biodiversity, defend farmers’ rights and promote organic farming.
Shiva is recognized as
- an "environmental hero" in 2003 by Time magazine
- one of the 5 most powerful communicators in Asia by Asia Week
- receiving the Alternative Nobel Prize (Right Livelihood Award),
- receiving the Order of the Golden Ark
- receiving the Global 500 Award of UN
- receiving the Earth Day International Award.
For 28 years, men and women have met in Mankato for support to continue traveling on individual and communal spiritual journeys. Over 100 workshops and discussions group are offered this year.
Participants can learn about
- ethical wills
- trance dancing
- esoteric healing
- creating sacred space
- atheist spirituality
- communicating with animals
- channeling loved ones
- and many more topics.
See the registration form for information on scholarships, Continuing Education Units and course credit. Childcare is provided for registered children only.
Minnesota State University, Mankato is wheelchair accessible. For special arrangements, call 507-389-2077 at least 48 hours prior to the event.
All quotes in the post appeared in:
Vandana Shiva, by FRANCES ROONEY
Contact:
507-389-2077 or email veldhc@mnsu.edu
News Facts
Mankato's population in the 2000 census was 32,427.
Mankato is the county seat for Blue Earth County.
MSU has an enrollment of 15,000 students.
Resource Links
Greater Mankato Convention and Visitors Bureau
Mankato weather
Mankato Free Press
City of Mankato
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