Free Tools to Create an Infographic

Long gone are the days of having to be a professional designer to create or design something visual. With the advancement of technology there are various free tools and methods to assist non professionals on creating something brilliant. Nowadays, people tend to gravitate more towards visuals rather than written items or articles. With that being said, infographics are a great foundation for anyone who is seeking to create visuals. 

Wondering how to create an infographic? Below are three free tools you can use to accomplish your goal:

1. Infogr.am- This website is free! Its the perfect platform for assistance when it comes to creating an infographic. Its easy and self explanatory and one major feature this website holds is you having the ability to make more than 3 different types of charts. Infogr.am also allows you to download files in PNG or PDF format. 

2. InfoActive- This website describes itself as Simple, Responsive and Interactive. InfoActive allows you to turn your data into an interactive story. InfoActive allows you to share your stories directly to your blog or any social network. 

3. Visualize-  This website allows you to visualize your resume in one click. You can connect through your linkedIn and make your resume more interactive. 

Tap in to your creativity and try creating an Infographic for one of your upcoming projects. Times are definitely changing and we are forced to stand out of the crowd so challenge yourself and create something memorable. 

Taking The Creative Approach To Your Cover Letter

Is getting a new job one of your New Years' resolutions? If so, now is the time to spice up your job application materials! I believe the most important part of the job application process is your cover letter.

Your cover letter is supposed to catch a prospective employer's eye, but that's easier said than done when it's buried under a pile of applications. As a result, nearly every professional has his or her own advice when it comes to writing one of these formal introductions and bids for employment.

Instead of following the typical formula, why not try a more inventive technique to get your application noticed. Mashable highlighted these five innovative approaches yesterday:

1. The Direct Approach
Lindsay Blackwell wanted to be social media director of the University of Michigan. Instead of typing up a typical cover letter, the tried and (sometimes) true method, she created a website with a video directed at Lisa Rudgers, the university's vice president for global communications and strategic Initiatives.

While Blackwell didn't ultimately get the job, she did land an interview for the position — an impressive feat on its own.

2. Using the Changing Communication Landscape

Video: YouTube, Graeme Anthony

Graeme Anthony, a PR practitioner looking for a job, uploaded his professional information to YouTube rather than creating a traditional cover letter and resume. Anthony's interactive video application included a breakdown of his skills and timeline for potential employers. It showed his video-producing and editing knowledge as well as his ability to use online resources.

In the end, it helped him land a job at Manc Frank. If a simple series of videos is enough to get you noticed, the sky's the limit.

3. The Power of Being Honest
Sometimes employers appreciate sheer honesty above well-written prose and assertions of dedication and passion. An unnamed applicant applied for a summer internship on Wall Street with a short but honest letter.

Whether the lack of embellishment helped secure the position for the student is unknown, but it made quite a splash online and proved that honesty really can be the best policy.

4. A Little Design Goes a Long Way

Image: Alice Lee

With a company as geared to the visual as Instagram, it can take more than a well-worded letter to catch the team's attention.

Twenty-year-old Alice Lee used her design skills to create an interactive website, complete with an Instagram stream with the social network's API. Instagram didn't end up hiring Lee, but she did get to speak to CEO Kevin Systrom, and Lee's site eventually led to an internship with another company.

5. Using Ads to Your Advantage

Video: YouTube, Alec Brownstein

Most of us have Googled ourselves at least once or twice, if only to make sure that nothing strange turns up with our names. With that in mind, Alec Brownstein decided to buy ads that would appear when specific people searched for creative directors' names, or more importantly, when said directors Googled themselves.

The ads led to Brownstein's site with a message that simply read, "Googling yourself is a lot of fun. Hiring me is fun, too." Brownstein now works at Y&R New York, and the ads only cost him $6. It isn't exactly a cover letter, but it isn't a bad strategy.

Which creative approach will you take?

Keeping Fundraising Fresh

Having trouble getting employees to participate in your fundraising events? While bake sales in the lunch room and casual Fridays are classic fundraising events that work on a smaller, more personal level, replacing traditional fund raising methods with fun events attracts many more participants to your cause. Keeping ideas fresh and up to date with some of the most popular trends will spark the interest of employees and your community! Here are a few fundraising events your PR department might like to try: 

ZumbaThons: Zumba, a dance fitness program that incorporates many different types of music and dance styles into the workout, has become immensely popular in the United States. Zumbathons are a fun, high energy fundraiser that gets everyone up and dancing for a few hours, and with the increase in health awareness over the years, this is sure to spark the interest of coworkers. Adding a raffle and some donated goodie bags makes an event like this a winner - for your company and employees!

5k Run/Walk: Organizing runs not only get your employees involved, but also the surrounding community. They also attract all ages to participate. Many times, local businesses will donate food and water to give to runners as they cross the finish line. Handing out free T-shirts to runners and walkers are great gifts, and remind them to participate in the event every year. 

Concerts: Local bands and artists are great to hit up for a fundraising event. Not only do they get their name and talent out there, but it is also gets employees to socialize with one another and relax. Starting the evening off with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres is a great way to make an entire night out of it!

By incorporating some new ideas into your fundraising, more people will be attracted to participate and will, in turn, raise more money for whatever the cause may be.  

What are some of your favorite fundraising ideas? Leave us a comment and let us know!

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Staff Member Tessa Cohn.

Skills Outside of PR

I recently came across a PR Daily article that listed 9 non-PR skills that every PR professional should have.

1. Management and teamwork experience
2. Financial skills
3. Multitasking abilities
4. Extraneous knowledge
5. Math competency
6. Tenacity
7. Discretion and good judgment
8. Common sense, perception, and intuition
9. Creativity

I am lucky enough to attend a university that allowed me to take a variety of classes outside my major so it was easy for me to gain many of these skills throughout my education.  Numbers 1-5 on this list are easy enough to obtain.  You can pick up a minor in business or just use some elective credits to take an accounting or finance class.  As painful as it might be to learn for aspiring PR pros who are much more interested in writing than math, general financial knowledge will definitely come in handy down the road.

Numbers 6-9 are a little trickier.  Some might even say that you have to be born with traits like common sense and creativity.  I disagree.  Take a painting class or a creative writing class.  Even if you aren't the best artist or you have trouble coming up with story lines, classes like these will force you to get outside of your comfort zone and help you develop some valuable skills.  As far as tenacity, discretion, and good judgment go, those are things you're going to pick up once you enter the industry.  This is yet another reason why internships are so important.  You get to be around tenacious PR pros and learn from them.  Lastly, and probably most difficult to develop, is common sense and intuition.  I say as long as you realize that you need them, you'll develop them along the way.

Is this list missing any vital skills PR pros need to have?  Tell us your thought!

Instafamous

For those of you who have been living under a rock, Instagram is a free mobile photo-sharing app that currently boasts over 100 million users. The application was acquired by Facebook in April of 2012 and the rest is history.

For those socially savvy individuals looking to become 'instafamous', here are three tips to skyrocket your following.

1. Don't holdback on the hashtags
Hashtags are how your potential fans and followers will find you--so let them! Include any and as many relevant hashtags as applicable. When others like your photos, be sure to tag their handle and to thank them. This acknowledgement increases the chances that they will follow you. Finally, participate in popular hashtags like #tbt (throwbackthursday).

2. Take better pictures
Don't just be a picture taker, be an artist with a 'voice'. Spend the extra dollar or two and buy a good picture editing application. I personally recommend PicSay Pro, Snapseed or Colorsplash. You are more likely to gain followers with a well taken and well edited photo. Additionally, you will retain your current followers if you maintain the 'voice' you have created.

3. Build your Instacred
In order to trend and to gain visibility on Instagram, you need to be known. To accomplish this: follow others, like others' posts, and comment on their posts. Following and liking others are only the beginning on of the relationship. Commenting on others' posts shows that you want to further the relationship and generally seals the, "I'll follow you back" deal.

I'm slowly but surely making my rise to infamy, are you? If so, how? #f4f

Get Creative!

It is the end of the work week and everyone knows what that means; you’re spent. You are most likely tired, feeling less motivated and are dreading performing any task in which you need to think creatively.

One of the most valued aspects in PR, however, is the value of creativity. Whether you have to brainstorm a new idea for your internship or have to come up with content for a group projectyou’re your summer class, creativity is always embraced and is something that comes naturally to most people who enjoy public relations.

To help get those creative juices flowing on this dreadful Friday, here are some tips I use:

·         Switch up your daily routine – see how things can be done differently.

·         Don’t be afraid to voice your opinion – challenge yourself!

·         Think outside of the box – the less “normal” you think it is, the better.

·         Borrow an idea – take a good idea and transform it into something new to call your own.

·         Get up and walk around – leave your cubicle, desk or house and explore new sights.

How do you spark creativity?