Facebook for Non-Profits

Facebook started off as a social networking site for college students but today it seems almost everyone has a personal account and many businesses and organizations have their own pages. Even non-profit agencies and organizations are creating pages to get their messages out, which can be very beneficial in the long-run.

While interning for two non-profit organizations, it was often up to me to manage these pages. This led me to wonder if there were any methods to get the most out of Facebook for a non-profit. After managing these pages for a few months, I stumbled upon some very useful tactics for using a non-profit’s Facebook page to its full potential.

Many people wonder if a non-profit should title their Facebook page with the organization's name. Many non-profits choose to do so, but if you decide to title the page something else, keep in mind that the name of your page influences how it will be found. Also, the name of a Facebook page can only be changed if there are fewer than 100 connections made. When deciding what category to choose when establishing your page (Local Business or Place of Interest, Company, Organization or Institution, Brand or Product, Artist, Band or Public Figure, Entertainment, Cause or Topic) think about how the public views the organization, not how you think about it. Once your category is chosen, you cannot change it.

When the logistics are worked out and your page is set up, you can begin to promote your Facebook page. One way to do this is to add a ‘likebox’ to your website. When twenty-five people ‘like’ your non-profit, your page will officially launch. You should think about emailing those who already support your organization announcing the launch of your Facebook page and asking them to spread the message. You can also embed your Facebook page link in all of your emails. If you are serious about creating a large fan base, Facebook Ads can be a useful tool for promoting your page.

Once your page has a strong fan base and everything is running smoothly, you should add multiple admins to your page. This way, the time spent managing the page can be divided amongst a few people. This does not mean, however, that everyone should post something to the page every day. You should only update when you have something compelling to share. Think quality over quantity.

Lastly, be sure to be interactive with your fans. If someone posts something on your page, comments on a photo or ‘likes’ something, take the time to respond to let them know you appreciate their involvement with your non-profit. Try to maintain conversations and be sure to post things that will spark conversation.

Facebook pages are a great (FREE!) tool, so if you’re working for a non-profit, take these tips into consideration!

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Kaitlin Tully.

The importance of media training clients

The following blog post was written by '97 Temple Alum, Jason Mollica.

In public relations, we are taught that preparation is key for any crisis or situation that may need our attention. But, it is equally important on how we train our clients. One of the integral parts to keeping a client prepared is media training.

How your client looks and sounds on television or comes across in a newspaper story can go a long way to showing they are credible. I entered public relations after a long career in television and radio. Taking that experience, I've been able to assist clients in making sure they are well prepared for the media.

Television can make or break you and your client if they are not prepared. Here are five examples of what you can teach your clients.

Rehearse: Just like you would practice the piano before a concert, it's important to think over answers to possible questions from a reporter. Teach your client to review his talking points prior to any interviews.

Don't Fear the Camera/Microphone: That light on top of the camera isn't from an interrogator. It's there to help make you look better. Remember, most reporters don't want to make your clients look bad. They want the facts. There's nothing to be afraid of.

Be Concise: Don't give rambling answers. In television, soundbites run approximately 10-20 seconds. You need to get your message across in that amount of time. If you go longer, you risk having your message cut up.

New Media Awareness: Platforms like YouTube and blogs are very prevalent now. Newspapers use blogs to supplement their normal coverage. Some papers even turn their print reporters into new media journalists. Make certain your client is aware of any additional avenues a reporter may be using to tell a story.

Don't Want to Read It? DON'T SAY IT: This seems simple enough, but there are people who feel the need to tell a reporter more than necessary. If it's not something that needed to be revealed, damage control is necessary. Stick to the talking points!

Using these tips will not only assist your clients, they will also prove you are looking out for their well-being.

Jason Mollica is a 1997 graduate of Temple University's School of Communications and Theater. Since then, he has worked in television and radio in Philadelphia and New York City. Upon leaving the industry in 2005, he began a career in public relations and marketing. He is currently the public relations manager for Carr Marketing Communications in Amherst, N.Y. You can follow him on Twitter, @JasMollica and read his blog at http://oneguysjourney.wordpress.com

My Goodbye

Wow, what an amazing three and a half years this has been! In January 2008, PRowl Public Relations opened its doors for business under the helm of then-Firm Director Natalie Prazenica (now Mrs. Natalie Herr!) and a dedicated board of directors. After an invigorating semester with superstar PR students and enthusiastic clients, Natalie graduated, took over the baking and blogging world, got married and had a handsome son Elliott.

It has now been three years since I have taken over as firm director of PRowl and I have been fortunate enough to build relationships with a variety of talented students who I am confident will move on to take over the PR world in Philadelphia and beyond. The most wonderful thing about PRowl is that we don’t only learn from our clients and professors, we learn from each other. It has been an absolute pleasure to have worked with more than 40 students over the years who are the top of their class and the most driven out of Temple’s Public Relations curriculum in the Department of Strategic Communication. PRowl members not only dedicate dozens of hours a week to ensuring successful campaigns for all of our clients, they hold internships throughout the city, are vocal and open-minded students in the classroom, serve the community, have a passion for staying current on all technology and communication trends, and are committed to ethics and professionalism at all times.

Although I am looking forward to starting my career in corporate communications with a respected national financial services company, I will assuredly miss my peers in PRowl and the professors who have imparted their knowledge on us all. Specifically, I would like to thank Gregg Feistman who was instrumental in developing the foundation for PRowl, helped get the firm up and running, and has since been my mentor and an amazing adviser (and editor) for all things PRowl. Gregg is a strong advocate for PRowl in the Temple and Philadelphia community, and the firm is extremely lucky to have his support and amazing library of knowledge.

Finally, I am SO proud to hand over my title and responsibilities to the most deserving girl in the room, Niki Ianni. Niki has been a force for her clients since her very first meeting and is a collaborative leader who empowers all members of her accounts to be creative, take ownership of their work, and learn from every opportunity and challenge presented. I know that Niki is going to lead PRowl to do amazing things and is going to capture every opportunity available to benefit her members and clients. I am so excited to watch PRowl continue to expand under Niki’s leadership!

Thank you to all who have read the blog over the years, and the amazing board of directors and staff members who have contributed to it. Thanks to you, our readership continually grows every month (now to more than 2,000 readers a month!) and our blog has gotten exposure on a national level. I hope you have enjoyed the posts from our student members, and continue to return back to read their insights daily!

Congratulations to all 2011 graduates, and I look forward to joining you in our lifelong mission of learning and growing as ethical professionals in any career we choose!

Paying Homage and Moving Forward

While everyone on PRowl's executive board will be posting their goodbye blogs this week, I have the even more difficult task of saying goodbye...no, see you later, to all of them. Some of them I have only known for a year, others have helped me grow from the very beginning. I wanted to take the opportunity to thank each of them for the knowledge, the experience and most importantly, the friendship they have provided me.

To Evan, thank you for leading our account this year and making the campaign a great success. You have been a great mentor to our younger members and your willingness to always share your advice with them has allowed each of them to grow throughout the past year into up-and-coming young professionals.

To Emily, your positive outlook and cheerful demeanor always made sticky situations seem bearable. You are a tremendous leader and did an incredible job at guiding your account throughout the year, despite all of the hurdles you faced. You are an incredibly intelligent and talented young woman, and even more importantly, a great friend.

To Michelle, it has been an absolute pleasure having the opportunity to watch you grow from a staff member into the incredible account executive and director of PR that you were this past year. It is a true testament to what a dedicated and hard-working individual you are and I have no doubt that you will find great success after graduation.

And lastly, to Jaime, thank you for trusting me to carry on the incredible organization that you have built. It is an honor to have the opportunity to lead the firm and I can only hope to do as half as good a job as you have done. Because of your hard work, sacrifice and endless passion, we now have an organization that provides 20+ students the priceless opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the industry. Thank you for being a mentor to me throughout the past three years. You are a wonderful leader and I promise you that I will continue to grow and strengthen the firm after you are gone.

To the remaining graduating seniors, it has been a pleasure knowing you and working with you. I have looked up to each and every one of you and appreciate all of the guidance you have shared with me. I know that all of you will find great success in whatever you do because I know that I have been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to work with some of the most talented young professionals in the field.

So, as the saying goes, it's not goodbye... it's see you later. Best of luck with everything.

Three Semesters of Knowledge for the Future

When I was hired as a staff member at PRowl Public Relations for the spring 2010 semester, I was a little nervous and unsure about what to expect. I had only taken an Intro to PR course and had no PR experience. I didn't know the elements of a press release or etiquette for pitching and following up. Looking back, I can see how much I have learned and how far I have come since then- beyond PR skills. I will take all that I have learned during my past three semesters at PRowl Public Relations with me as I begin my professional life. Before I go, I would like to share a few of those things:

• Be courteous to everyone you meet. You never know who could end up being your co-worker, boss, or client down the road.
• Murphy's Law exists, but you can't let it stop you. No matter how thoroughly you plan ahead, things will still find a way to go wrong at some point. The key is being able to react quickly, calmly, and effectively to prevent obstacles from becoming catastrophes.
• Don't be afraid to ask questions. It's always better to ask than to assume. I always appreciated when staff members asked me questions. Asking questions doesn't make you look silly, it shows that you care about meeting expectations and doing the job right.

I wish the best of luck to my fellow 2011 graduates and to the continuing members of PRowl Public Relations!

Goodbye (for now)!

I can't believe this is my last blog post, and essentially my last day at PRowl Public Relations. I have been part of PRowl for the last three years, and have blogged every Monday for the last two. What is life without PRowl!? What are Mondays without blogging?

While it is sad to leave, I am deeply grateful to PRowl for all the experiences and opportunities it has given me these last three years. Thanks in great part to PRowl, I feel ready and excited to enter the world of public relations full time.

I would like to thank Gregg, our faculty adviser, and Jaime, who has been our firm director these last three years. Thank you for all the opportunities you have opened to our members! To those graduating with me, congratulations and good luck! I know you will go out into the world and do great things. To the continuing members who are the future of PRowl, I appreciate you all and will miss you. I look forward to watching the firm continue to grow and succeed through your hard work and dedication.

A few words of wisdom before I sign off:

• Take the time to do the job right; it will pay off in the end
• Take every opportunity you can to learn
  
• Seek out new experiences
• Plan, plan and make a back-up plan
• Learn to manage your time and your priorities
• Your calendar is your friend
• Network as much as you can
• Have fun!
  

Philadelphia PR Agency Blogs

In Philadelphia, there are many Public Relations agencies that try to reach out to the world through blogging. Below are some examples of agencies that use this tactic and an overview of each of their blogs.

Buchanan PR Blog

Buchanan PR uses their blog to help advise the public on proper networking etiquette and even how to land at job at their agency. Instead of boasting about their own accomplishments, they help inquiring minds learn more about the business and offer tips on self-promotion. Certain blogs such as, “Why You Will Never Get Hired at Our PR Firm” and “Meet, Greet, and Tweet” help the readers’ personal growth in the world of PR. Networking is crucial to landing a job and Buchanan PR offers a lot of good advice on their blog.

Vault Communications Blog

If you want to know what people are writing about in the surrounding area, Vault Communications will let you know. Communicating on the Internet has become such an important resource for people that it is imperative to know about the latest topics and trends when doing so. Vault has recent posts about how mothers are starting to share their parenting experiences with others. If you are a fan of cooking and recipes, Vault has a great article entitled “Get Cookin’ with Food Bloggers.” Here anyone can post their own recipe to share with others. Vault asks the public to comment on media topics such as the Super Bowl XLV commercials and discuss which ones were the best. Vault lets the public know about their own achievements, but they also open a forum for public debate on current hot topics.

PR Lawyer

One of the most interesting blogs I have found is by the agency Furia Rubel. Their Blog is titled The PR Lawyer and it extremely active. The top of their homepage reads, “The PR Lawyer helps professional service providers, attorneys, legal marketers, public relations specialists and others find tons of useful PR information to assist with strategic marketing and public relations campaigns.” This blog has posts that inform professionals about resources such as new social media outlets and current trends around the world. Some recent blog posts include “How Do I Respond To That? - Tips For Community Management” and “Shut Up and Say Something: Conversing with the Media When the Stakes are High.” These help readers figure out what to do in sticky situations and provide steps that professionals can take to solve problems.

What other Philadelphia PR blogs do you read?

This guest blog was written by PRSSA External Communications Committee member Kaitlin Brooks