Name: Debbie Friez
Email:
Bio: Here at BurrellesLuce I manage the company’s relationships with many of its largest clients. I currently co-chair the professional development committee for the National Capital Chapter of PRSA and vice president for Washington Women in Public Relations. I am also a member of the International Association of Business Communicators and the Washington, DC, chapter of The Association for Women in Communication. If there is one thing that most people should know about me, it is that I am a diehard hockey fan and enjoy the show, Lost. Twitter: @dfriez; Facebook: BurrellesLuce; LinkedIn: dfriez
Posts by Debbie Friez:
- A fan page is meant for businesses or organizations, and public figures; groups are for similar interests; causes are for cause campaigns; and profiles are for real people (not organizations).
- Your organization’s fan page name and description are both searchable, so include acronyms and nicknames in one or both. The name of your Facebook fan page cannot be changed without starting a new page and loosing all fans.
- Ask your employees to be fans. They are often your best advocates.
- Promote your events by creating a Facebook event and inviting all your friends and fans.
- Connect your blog(s) to your Facebook page and monitor how postings affect your page views.
- Be consistent with your organization’s messages on Facebook.
- Monitor conversations and look for trending topics.
- Facebook ads can be an effective way to gain additional fans and enforce your message.
- Facebook fans and friends are real people, so converse with them.
- Find someone to tell the story in the first person.
- Let pictures tell the story. Short, real, messy video works better than a professionally produced one. If these can come from your fans, all the better.
- Consider posting rules of engagement to let fans know what they can and cannot post. And how they can expect you to handle the situation should a post violate one of these rules.
- If you are having fun, your friends and fans will too!
- Resources and publications.
- Learning new relevant information and tactics
- Meet potential partners
- Network of resources for questions
- Job boards
- Mentoring programs
- Friendships
Facebook Tips for PR Pros
March 12th, 2010
Flickr Image: pshab
Earlier this week, my colleague Lauren Shapiro discussed Facebook: Expanding Your Reach Beyond Six Degrees. In this blog post, I’d like to elaborate upon the Facebook theme. Often with social media, we feel like we have to learn by trial and error. But it’s great when we can get some tips, and avoid the mistakes by learning from the challenges of others. I attended a National Capital Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA-NCC) professional development seminar this week, at which a panel presented some best practices and lessons learned in regards to their organization’s Facebook strategy.
Some Facebook Tips:
For more on this program, including a list of the panelists, you can check-out my post on the Capitol Communicator. Additional posts include: a video blog entry by Amanda Miller Littlejon of Mopwater and Deborah Brody gives a recap on the Capital Buzz.
And for more tips on how to effectively use Facebook, check out the BurrellesLuce newsletter, Boosting Your Value From Facebook: Ten Tips For PR and Marketing Professionals.
How are using Facebook to reach your audiences? How are you incorporating Facebook into your overall media plan? Do you have any additional tips to share?
Location, Location, Location!
February 19th, 2010Can Foursquare Put Your Client On The Map?
Location based social networks, like Yelp, Foursquare and Gowalla are the talk of the industry. A recent #PR20chat included a discussion on how can PR people use these new social networks to help their clients? I’m focusing on Foursquare because it appeals to the kid in all us, by rewarding us with points and badges for checking-in at locations and sharing information. If you check-in at a location more than anyone else, you become the mayor.
Finding Advocates
Social media lesson one – listen to the conversation and embrace your advocates. By encouraging people to check-in often, you can identify
Flickr Image: thinkpanama
your top customers or visitors. Many businesses are offering rewards for becoming the “mayor” of their location. I’m guessing your client would like to find an advocate like Jared Fogle, the Subway spokesperson?
Jon Newman of The Hodges Partnership (a BurrellesLuce client) shared ideas on his blog, Jon’s PR 1.5 for encouraging customers to utilize Foursquare when they visit a business. Encouraging positive buzz about a business helps to bring in customers.
Smart Moves
I recently checked-in at a movie theater, and allowed my status to be posted on Twitter. The theater, who was monitoring for mentions of their name, saw my tweet and re-tweeted it. My tweet validated messages they were trying to exhibit, and expanded the audience beyond my Foursquare friends. I’m wondering if there will be an extra reward when I become the mayor?
Christine Ngo recently interviewed Tristan Walker of Foursquare, on Ogilvy’s Fresh Influence blog. Walker shared how some businesses, like Intel, BART, and the Brooklyn Museum are enhancing users’ experiences with tips about locations and promotional tie-ins.
Partnering with Mainstream Media
Foursquare has recently partnered with several media outlets, like Lucky and Bravo. The magazine or cable TV network rewards users with badges or medals when checking-in at locations related to their content, like fashion week, a film or a TV show. Zagat’s new Meet the Mayor series will highlight Foursquare mayors of featured locations. Wouldn’t you want to read the article about you or your friend?
Granted, Foursquare isn’t for every business, but if you rely on people visiting your business, it might be a great way to encourage more foot traffic. Retail outlets, restaurants, hotels, CVBs and other tourist spots, should not ignore this tool.
Have you checked-out Foursquare or another location based social media? How have you incorporated it into your overall communication plan? We’d love to know if any of our BurrellesLuce Fresh Ideas readers is a Foursquare dignitary (Mayor) so please let us know!
The Value of Joining a Group-Take 2
January 28th, 2010
In my last post I asked, “Why should you join a professional organization?” There were so many great answers that I felt it deserved a follow-up post, recapping all the insight.
Tangibles:
There are a lot of resources a professional organization can help you find, like: magazines, newsletters, sample reports, case studies, conferences, awards, seminars, webinars… But, the people seem to be the real reason many communications professionals join.
B j Altschul, APR, Montgomery County Humane Society, summed it up with, “…the value of peer support and knowledge has been a key benefit of my PRSA membership.” Like many of us, Altschul has moved from city to city. Her moves brought new leadership opportunities and new friends through her new chapter.
Inspiring others:
Association for Women in Communications (AWC) member Tina Christiansen, Write as Rain® Communications, says: “These are the FIRST people I turn to when I need another professional to partner with on a project or to make a referral — or when I just need to bounce ideas around.”
“I also think volunteering for IABC activities is one of the best things anyone can do to build a personal brand. People get to know you as a person then, and not just a business card, resume or portfolio,” says independent writer and editor Richard Buse.
I liked this idea of building a personal brand. How are you known in the communications community? Many people may see me as the “BurrellesLuce woman.” But, I hope they also see me as a volunteer, leader, tweeter or another persona I try to exhibit.
Media and communications advisor Jason Berek-Lewis noted, “We live in a linked world and I believe that real value lies in having access to a large, international network of thinkers in strategic communications – that’s why I joined the IABC.” Mary Wilson, ABC, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, agreed that the network has helped give her fresh ideas.
How are you using your professional community or organization to inspire you? Are you gaining the benefits of your membership?
Membership Has Its Privileges
January 13th, 2010Last week, my colleague, Tressa Robbins, reviewed some ideas for PR resolutions. She referenced a post by Charlotte Schaff, who is looking to get more involved in her local PRSA, which made me wonder why people take the time to join a professional organization? My own personal thoughts aside, I queried my network on why they join professional organizations, and what are the advantages. Considering the economy, why are they paying their dues? (Full disclosure, I am a member of several organizations, and the current president of Washington Women in Public Relations.)
Networking
The top advantage cited by everyone was networking. Lauren Lawson, Goodwill Industries, met her future boss at an accreditation event. Lawson told her of her goal to work at a nonprofit. They kept in touch, and her goal came true. You need to look at networking as building relationships. Lawson’s advice, “It helps to be persistent (without being annoying), look for likeminded individuals or people you’d like to achieve to be and also offer help when you can to that person. You never know what inside knowledge you have that might be helpful to someone else.”
Anne Lasseign Tiedt, APR, Momentum Public Relations writes, “I joined the Austin AWC professional chapter my senior year in college. The instant connections and access to networking opportunities helped me land my first job.”
For anyone who travels or has moved cities, a professional organization can be a life-line, offering activities and a network of people with similar interests. I experienced this when BurrellesLuce first moved me to Washington, D.C. a number of years ago. Some of my best friends were found at professional development seminars.
In the video below, Robin Lane, ZComm, explains why being a part of a professional organization is important.
Enhance Business and Learn About the Industry
Networking can lead to new business opportunities as well. Beth Keller Legate, Image Base, joined IABC over 12 years ago to drive new business, and she has remained a member because it worked.
Organizations give members an opportunity to learn more about the industry and relevant topics through panels, speakers, events and conferences. Melissa Chang, APR, has found PRSA’s Travel and Tourism Conference to be helpful, and she especially enjoyed a “lightening round” pitching session one year.
Volunteerism
Opportunities to volunteer run ramped. Independent writer and editor Richard Buse says, “I think the greatest benefits I’ve gained have come from volunteering. There are lots of great workshops and seminars out there, but I find that I learn much more through the hands-on experience I get from volunteering for various chapter functions.”
Meghan Sager, New Media Strategies, explains how membership in a professional organization recently helped her career:
Leadership
Your needs may change as you progress through your career. Jeff Ghannam, Biotechnology Institute, commented, “Ten years later (after joining PRSA), the chapter now offers me something totally different. It gives me the opportunity to explore and enhance my leadership abilities… This service on the board has allowed me to enhance my people management skills, public speaking ability, and my ability to organize and delegate, just to name a few benefits.”
Additional advantages:
While there are many benefits to joining a professional organization, you may wish to exercise caution and do some research before committing to a membership. Consultant Robin Smothers says, “One thing to keep in mind is to make sure the organization will meet your needs: I wanted to expand into a new industry a few years ago, so I plopped down $200 to join a organization I thought was a good fit. Turns out that although the people were nice, they did not have the power to hire or even offer recommendations to those who did hire.”
And Meredith Mobley, marketing communications coordinator and PRSA Hampton Roads board member, reminds us that “with any membership, it is what you make of it.” Simply attending events, is not enough, you need to get involved.
Why have you joined a professional organization? Please share your thoughts on making the most of membership.
Millennial Communications Debate—Voice vs. Text
December 23rd, 2009
Flickr Image: papalars
We all know there is a generational gap. It’s not a new concept. Change is constant, as is the way we use the various means of communication available to us.
For example, twenty years ago, an executive may have asked a twenty-something to type (possibly with a typewriter not a computer) a memo regarding a recent client interaction on real paper for him (not likely a her) to read. (This really did happen!) Today, an executive (most likely a Baby Boomer and quite possibly female) might want to give some quick instructions regarding an account to a Millennial (or Gen-Yer) via voicemail. But, the Millennial may not like voicemail, and avoids listening to messages, and may even ask that the message be sent to him/her as an e-mail or text. The Baby Boomer is put off by this attitude. In both examples, we need to try to understand to who we are communicating.
The December BurrellesLuce newsletter reviewing 2010 Media Relations predictions includes re-evaluating our approach to multi-generational communications. The newsletter sites Mike Carlton’s white paper, The Challenge of the Millennials. There are many advantages to hiring Millennials, but the Baby Boomers (and quite possibly Gen-Xers) need to take the time to mentor and understand them.
For the purpose of this post, let’s concentrate on voicemail vs. text. A Baby Boomer friend of mine recently posted to his Facebook page how put-off he was by a message on a voicemail not to leave a voicemail message, which sparked quite a bit of debate. My friend’s point was sometimes a voicemail is the best way to convey a message. Additionally, he feels we shouldn’t rely on caller ID for calling people back. What if we don’t reach them? Sometimes you can call someone, but then you realize you can get the information another way, so you don’t leave a message. In this case, it would waste time for the person to call you back, when there is nothing to discuss. Many Millennials forget Boomers don’t always have or know how to text. On the flip side, texts and e-mails can be incredibly efficient.
I personally deal with this voicemail miscommunication every day. My husband (a Gen-Yer in a Gen-Xer body), does not listen to my messages. Many times, if he had listened to the message, he would have all the information he needs and would not need to call me back. Since I understand my husband doesn’t listen to his voicemail, I will often e-mail or text him when I have something quick to tell him.
If you do a web search, you will find several services to convert your voicemail to text. This might be a partial solution for Millennials looking to avoid listening to their voicemails with bosses and clients who insist on leaving them.
At the PR News “How-To” conference earlier this month, Donna Fenn, author of Upstarts: How Gen Y Entrepreneurs are Rocking the World of Business and 8 Ways You Can Profit From Their Success, discussed this same trend. Her advise, remember who you are communicating with and work to communicate in their preferred method. You will find you have more to gain, than to loose.
What are your predictions for communication changes in 2010? What will you do to better understand your boss or intern at your firm or organization?
