Client Update - World Premiere Ballet "Braving the New World"

Nearing the end of our contract period, PRowl Public Relations' clients have a lot of great things coming up! One of which being the Rebecca Davis Dance Company's world premiere of its contemporary ballet Braving the New World on Friday, May 7 and Saturday, May 8 at 8 p.m. at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 South Broad Street.

Braving the New World explores issues of societal control versus individual freedom. Through passion and force, founder Rebecca Davis' new ballet brings a totalitarian future to the stage. This original dance piece was inspired by the fictitious worlds created in literary classics such as George Orwell's 1984, and is set to the tone of alternative music and modern dance performance. Admission to the performance is $25 for adults and $20 for students.

To purchase tickets, call the box office at 215-985-0420 or online at www.rebeccadavisdance.com.

Check out exclusive behind the scenes footage below!

Braving the New World Promo from Carmen Emmi on Vimeo.

Connect with the Rebecca Davis Dance Company -

Visit the Facebook fan page here

Follow RDDC on Twitter: @rddanceco

Philly's Newspaper Update

Philadelphia daily newspapers, the Inquirer and the Daily News are now in the hands of creditors. After some delay, an auction was scheduled for this past Tuesday, April 27th, but did not take place until a day later. The auction resulted in a winning bid of about $140 million from lenders, including Credit Suisse, Alden Global Capital, and Angelo, Gordon & Company. The newspapers were bought by Brian Tierney in 2006 for more than $560 million, but later faced bankruptcy in 2009 owing creditors more than $300 million. As profits declined and the debt gap increased, Tierney would eventually continue to fight for control along with local investors as one of the three parties (the third being a Candadian investment company, Stern Partners), in the bidding war which took place in midtown Manhattan.

After the battle of ownership ended, philly.com quoted Tierney who said, "It's been a heck of a fight. We didn't make it. I think I'll go home tonight and sleep like a baby, which means I'll wake up every hour crying."



Read more from philly.com here or this article by nytimes.com.

What do you think about this new ownership of our daily newspapers in Philadelphia? What sort of changes might you predict for the Inquirer, the Daily News and philly.com?

Second HAPPO Twitter Networking Event to Happen Friday

HAPPO, or Help a PR Pro Out, is holding another networking event this Friday, April 30, 2010 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Twitter. In case you missed my first post about HAPPO back in February, check it out here for more background on the origin of the event. Friday's networking event is especially exciting for college grads because it is completely dedicated to entry-level employment.

A few of my friends and I participated in HAPPO and quickly realized the hiring employers and the people searching for employment were slightly out of sync. The majority of HAPPO participants were seeking entry level jobs and most of the jobs being posted required three or more years of experience. This prompted HAPPO creators Arik Hanson and Valerie Simon to dedicate the next HAPPO event solely to entry-level opportunities.

Participate in HAPPO by following the hashtag #HAPPO on Twitter. Write a blog post or produce a video pitching yourself to potential employers; the more creative the better. Then use the link to that pitch in tweets also marked with the #HAPPO hashtag so that employers can find you. Use organizational sites like Hootsuite to schedule your tweets if you'll be busy during the two our window.

Good luck, and happy HAPPO-ing!

Auction Time

The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Daily News will be auctioned off to new owners today. There are three parties interested in the publications so far.

"Pending negotiations with the newspaper company's 4,000 unionized workers are already casting a long shadow over the auction, which will take place in the private offices of a law firm in Manhattan," the Inquirer reported. "All three of the investor groups bidding for the newspapers have put labor contingencies into their bidding proposals, the company's top financial adviser disclosed yesterday at an auction-eve hearing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court."

*Information taken from this article by Joe Strupp.

What do you think this means for Philadelphia media? I've never experienced something like this before in a big city, so I have no idea what to expect!

PR More Important Now Than Ever?

In her article "Publicity and Social Media: A Match Made in Heaven," Fauzia Burke explains that it is the job of a publicist to "develop a strategy, shape a consistent message, work with the media, and create exposure."

Importantly, according to Burke, "this job has never been more important or multifaceted than right now." She uses five reasons to back up her claim, but I found one of them to be particularly interesting. Here is what she had to say about "timing," her second reason:

Social media has changed the timing of marketing campaigns. Instead of creating a blitz campaign of shock and awe (advertising driven), today we need a sustained campaign of community building and long-term exposure. Publicists are best suited for this kind of work.

Do you agree with Burke that we are seeing a shift away from advertising in favor of PR in today's market? Do you feel that the advent of social media has made PR increasingly relevant today? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Be sure to read the full article.

Wall Street's #1 Rule: Always Disclose!

Last week, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil suit against Goldman Sachs, one of the leading investment firms on Wall Street, and one of its former employees, claiming the bank defrauded investors by creating a mortgage scheme designed to collapse and eventually fail. The SEC says Goldman enabled John Paulson, a hedge fund manager who made a large income based on purposely betting against certain markets and choosing several mortgages that would eventually default.

Goldman supposedly marketed those mortgages, converted them into a bond that it then sold it to investors, who were unaware of the arrangement between Goldman and Mr. Paulson. Whether or not Goldman disclosed the information to investors, which is ultimately the Golden Rule of Wall Street firms, a public relations campaign and 'image overhaul' is needed to reassure current shareholders, ensure the trust of forthcoming investors and fight for the reputation they previously built.

In a statement released earlier this week, Goldman Sachs said the charges are "completely unfounded in law and fact" and the company said it would "vigorously contest them and defend the firm and its reputation."

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member, Stephanie Loiero.

New Gmail Feature Combines Google Calendar with E-mails

Within the past week, you may or may not have noticed a subtle change when writing e-mails on your Gmail account. I had been sending and receiving e-mails on my Gmail account the day the change was launched, but didn’t notice it until I read about it on Mashable that evening. For those of you who may not have noticed the change, Google has added an “Insert: Invitation” option next to the “Attach a File” option in the message composition window.

When this option is selected, an invitation window pops up on the screen, allowing users to fill out the details of their event and send it to their contacts in the body of an e-mail. The event is added to the user’s Google Calendar once they send the invitation and to their contacts’ Google Calendars once they respond to the invitation. This new feature is a convenient way for Gmail users to schedule events and keep track of them on their Google Calendars.

One of my teaching assistants used the feature to schedule conferences with the students in my class last week. All I had to do was RSVP to her invitation right in the e-mail and it was added to both her calendar and mine. Professionals who use Gmail may find this new feature to save time and help keep them organized.

To read Mashable’s article and see a screen-shot of the invitation, click here.

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member, Michelle Voli.

"Open Letter to Millennials" @tdefren

Todd Defren (aka @tdefren) has written an excellent letter to our generation - the millennials. The main point: don't think you're entitled to anything when you first start out the in PR industry. It's not about you - it's about your boss.

Defren goes over how to act and what to do while you're job searching, interviewing and even after you get the job.

Here's an excerpt:

"Your resume should not be stuffed with extraneous details. I already know you don't have a ton of experience; I don't really expect it. Meanwhile, however, before you even send in that cover letter and resume, you should already be fairly visible on Twitter, Facebook and/or your own blog. You've got time to surf the Web for fun; so carve out 30 minutes a day to post relevant content that prospective employers will find when they Google your name (which they will, by the way). If I already know OF you, I'll be glad to actually get to know you; I'll be excited to see your resume come through."

To read the full letter, which you should, visit Defren's blog PR-Squared.

Defren is a principal at SHIFT Communications, a hybrid PR firm named "New Media Agency of the Year" in 2008 and "Agency of the Year" in 2007. His blog is also routinely among the top 20 blogs on AdAge's Power150.

Blogging Workshop at Temple U

Calling all Temple University students! Are you interested in learning more about how to become a blogger or how to better promote your blog? Jessica Lawlor, President of PRSSA and former Director of Public Relations for PRowl Public Relations is presenting a workshop on blogging on Monday, April 26 from 3:30-4:30 in the Writing Center (second floor of Tuttleman).

If you are definitely planning to attend, the Writing Center appreciates people signing up ahead of time on their Web site, so they have an idea of how many to expect (http://www.temple.edu/writingctr/incenterworkshops/index.html) but feel free to walk in too!

If there are any questions, please e-mail Jessica Lawlor (jessica.lawlor@temple.edu).

Insight on Informational Interviews

With graduation only three weeks away (eeek!) I've begun putting more effort into my job search. Yesterday, I went on my first informational interview at a Center City Philadelphia agency. It was a great experience and made me excited to complete more of these interviews and learn more about the industry. The best thing about my first informational interview is that it really helped me get to know myself even more.

I expected that we'd be talking about the career of the PR pro that I met with and was surprised when the first half of the interview was focused on my personal passions and interests. This helped me put my job search into perspective. I realized that I had been too focused on getting a job and not focused enough on what I want that job to be. We didn't begin to speak about the job search until the second half of the interview when I asked him more about himself and his career. Though this interview was completely different from what I expected, it was also much better than I expected!

The most influential thing that I took away from yesterday's interview was that I need to relax and go with the flow. At 22, most grads don't have a clue what they REALLY want to do, so the key is to find your passion, find organizations that align with that passion and find key people in those organizations that can help you get where you need to go. As a graduate with a bachelors degree most of us feel like we're failing if we don't get a full-time job out of school. It's important to remember that internships and volunteer opportunities are key to building your network and finding that first job. These opportunities are just as valuable after graduation as full-time employment. When you find the key people in the organizations that interest you, the best way to make a first impression is to offer your help. Volunteer to work an event or help coordinate other volunteers. This extra effort can really pay off because it will build your credibility as a professional and your network will continue to grow.

If volunteering isn't for you and you choose to keep actively seeking employment, don't just send an e-mail with your resume. Gaining an employment opportunity takes more effort than just clicking 'send' and giving up. Find a way to make yourself stand out. Make sure you're contacting the right people with your resume and learn a bit about them (yes, find out their name!) before sending that e-mail. Use creativity to make yourself memorable, and you've got a better chance at beating out all of those other grads for the job. The wackier idea, the better. In PR, anything goes when you're job hunting. Instead of talking about your creativity and writing ability in an interview, use it to show them first hand what you're capable of. It will probably put you at the top of the pack.

I hope that some of these insights will help you with your job or internship search. What is the most creative thing you've done to get a job? I'd love for you to share your tips and tricks!

PR Myths!

This is a list that I found on Ragan.com about five public relations myths that some business owners believe. It's funny to look at them as a PR practitioner!

1. "PR is a waste of money"
2. “Once I get a good spot of PR, I can go back to laughing all the way to the bank.”
3. “Once I get a good spot of PR, I can go back to laughing all the way to the bank.”
4. “I went to law school/I kick ass on Jeopardy!/I always win arguments; therefore, I will control/intimidate/steamroll any reporter interviewing me.”
5. “How hard can it be to write an op-ed/letter-to-the-editor/press release?”

I especially think number five is funny. We know all too well here at PRowl Public Relations how tricky a news release can be!

Read the list with descriptions here.

Do you know any other PR myths? Share them with us!

Florida PRSA Organizes a Flash Mob, of Sorts

The North Florida chapter of Public Relations Society of America (NFPRSA) apparently organized a flash mob of sorts on Saturday, during Earth Day festivities in Jacksonville.

Wearing Tim Tebow jerseys, a group of dancers organized by NFPRSA"staged a choreographed dance to Ke$ha's song, 'Tick Tock.'" The dance was intended to raise awareness and support for 1MillionShirts, a project started by the founder of IWearYourShirt.

According to firstcoastnews.com, NFPRSA is using their resources to help promote the project, which aims to donate 1,000,000 shirts to people in Africa.

This is a great example of a creative PR campaign, and of PR professionals using their skills and influence to raise awareness for a charitable cause. Be sure to check out the article for pictures of the event!

"Kick-Ass": the Edgy New Statement in the Box Office

Temple's 2010 Spring Fling was full of creative, entertaining and rather rainy booths around every corner. For instance, who could forget the life-size yellow letters spelling out "KICKASS" right next to Barton Hall? Intrigued, I looked into this more and found out that Kick-Ass is a new movie expected to be a box office hit. The film combines teenage nerd culture with superhero combat madness. An inquirer article talks about the new hit as having "punk energy, ace action moves, and a winning sense of absurdist fun."

Kick-Ass is a story of Dave Lizewski, a dorky high schooler who wants to impress the girl of his dreams more than anything. Through the fabrication of an alter ego, crime fighting antics, and literally "kicking ass," a chain reaction sets off and other superheros, such as "Hit Girl," and "Big Daddy" come out of the wood works and a new-school justice league is formed from the everyday "average joes."

Interestingly, technology and social media play huge roles in the movie. For instance, when Kick Ass saves one of his first people from bad guys, bystanders watch from a distance and film the combat scene on their cell phones. The cell phone videos are then posted online, and Kick Ass gains notoriety as he becomes the next viral sensation. In a similar vein, MySpace has a huge placement in the movie, acting as the main social networking site through which Kick Ass raises awareness about his quest to help others. Social media is also used by the movie's bad guys to stream live video over the Internet as they take revenge against Kick Ass for foiling their plans.

The movie features action-packed comedy, but also reflects the enormous role technology plays in our lives today.

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member, Michele Reilley.

It’s all about WHO you know

As a college student and a PR junkie, I am constantly questioning how I can improve and expand my networks. I sit for hours on social media sites and keep up with the news, but the biggest roadblock I find in my long-term PR goals is that I do not know people of importance in the industry yet. As I delve into the world of un-paid internships in the fall, I know I will begin a slow process of building a network that will help me to thrive in the PR world. As I was contemplating my blog entry, I figured I would write on the thing I think is most beneficial for all young PR students: how to develop a strong sense of networking. In my research, I found an article on Ragan’s homepage entitled “Build a Stronger Network.” After all, in this business, its not what you know its WHO.

We are all aware that PR specialists can help each other out. Therefore, maintaining strong relationships is a vital part of the business. This article by Jeremy Porter on Journalistics gave 16 steps that are necessary to successful networking that I thought any PR enthusiast might like:

1. Know your Goals – figure out what types of relationships you are looking to build, and what types of people would benefit you to know.
2. Keep Score- track the progress you’re making and see how your network expands in terms of numbers… you might surprise yourself!
3. Target the Right Engagement Points- Make sure you are approaching people when networking is appropriate and people are open to engage. In some cases, people are not looking to work when they are out.
4. Have a Good Opener- Make sure you know clearly how to describe your profession, and maybe practice some key talking points.
5. Get digits- constantly get contact information and be able to keep these people in your active, rather than passive network.
6. Follow up- Keep your relationships going! Everyone gets lots of business cards but make yourself memorable by making contact.
7. Stay in Touch- once you’ve hooked a PR pro, you need to make sure that they don’t forget your name or face. Become friends and keep it that way!
8. Dress appropriately- it is important to take yourself seriously and dress for the occasion. You don’t want to stand out in a negative way for being under/overdressed.
9. Deliver Value- if you have information that would be beneficial to someone in your network, share it with them! You never know when they’ll return the favor.
10. Don’t judge- First interactions can be deceiving, so continue to get to know a person before you think you have them pegged.
11. Look in the mirror- Likewise, try to imagine you are meeting yourself in a professional sense. What would you think? What do you look like?
12. Keep it fun- PR people are social beings! Don’t try to make things all business, because the best relationships are friendships and professional.
13. Build Relationships when you don’t need them- This is important. People don’t want to feel as though you are constantly wanting something from them. Always be on the lookout for new networking, even if you don’t have an immediate need for it.
14. Say please and thank you- Manners matter. Politeness and rudeness can have a bigger effect than you realize.
15. Be sincere- People can tell if you simply want something from them or if you genuinely want to get to know them and learn from them. It shows.
16. Everybody is important- no matter how little or small, everyone has something to teach you and something to learn!

In the PR world, it is important to acquire contacts, keep them going, and utilize them. Make sure that you are doing everything you can to keep your contacts in good standings and happy with your relationship. This is the first step to success!

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member, Meagan Prescott.

PRSSA Clean-Up Tomorrow!

Temple University's Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) will be holding a clean-up in the neighborhood around Temple's campus tomorrow (Saturday, April 17) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Here are the details:

When: Saturday, April 17 (Rain date: Saturday, April 24)
Time: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Where: Sign-up table will be at Broad St. and Polett Walk
Area to be cleaned: From Diamond St. to Cecil B. Moore Ave. and from Broad to 17th Streets

If you have any questions, please contact Jaclyn McKeown at jaclynmckeown@temple.edu or Jonathan Burns at jonathan.e.burns@temple.edu

Hope to see you there!

Tips for Creating a PR Plan

The other day while reading the latest headlines from ragan.com I came across an article, "10 steps to creating a winning PR plan." Putting together a public relations campaign can be a daunting task. At PRowl Public Relations its a team effort with the account executive, myself as an assistant firm director, as well as account members work together to create a comprehensive PR plan for our clients. Of course our advisor and firm director assist in the editing process as well. Click here for the full article, while I've listed the 10 steps below:

1. Know your company's or client's current situation
2. Know your resources
3. Know your objectives and goals
4. Know and define your target audience(s)
5. List messages and strategies
6. Define the tactics you will use
7. Create a timeline for implementation
8. Delegate obligations and responsibilities
9. Create measurements of results/success
10. Review the plan

Do you have any tips for creating a great PR plan? We'd love to hear them!

Client Update: Rebecca Davis Dance Company

This Friday, April 16 marks only three weeks until the world premiere of the Rebecca Davis Dance Company's (RDDC) newest ballet Braving the New World. The members of PRowl Public Relations' RDDC Account have been diligently working to promote this premiere through media relations, event posting, social media management and the creation of a promotional video about the performance.

Senior account member Josie Fox did an awesome job crafting the press release that we used to reach out to Temple University media. The following is her succinct description of this special performance:

The performance juxtaposes contemporary ballet and alternative music of bands such as Nine Inch Nails to tell a science-fiction story about the creation and growth of a world state. The audience will experience the characters’ struggle to break free from the controlling world state in their journey to obtain a sense of self identification and freedom. Braving the New World continues Davis’ tradition of addressing social and political issues through her company’s performances to shed a new light on familiar issues.

Rebecca Davis' ability to address such difficult issues through dance with the development of each of her original ballets is inspiring. The issue of totalitarianism is one that she's always wanted to explore after reading famous literary works such as George Orwell's 1984, which inspired Braving the New World.

The performance premieres on Friday and Saturday, May 7 and 8, at 8 p.m. at the Suzanne Roberts Theater at 480 South Broad Street in Philadelphia. Tickets are priced at $25 for general admission and $20 for students and can be purchased at www.rebeccadavisdance.com. Follow our daily Braving the New World updates via @RDDanceCo on Twitter, and keep a look out for the premiere of our promotional video about the performance on YouTube for a special sneak peek.

Thanks for checking in!

The Importance of Volunteering

I love volunteering. I've always liked the idea of giving some of my time to an organization I feel passionately about, or one that I want to learn more about. I've volunteered at clean-ups, as a Big in the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program, for PR events, and many more. Here are a few reasons why I think that volunteering is SO important:

• It opens your eyes to something you may not have known about before. It's a great opportunity to learn a lot about an organization in a short amount of time. You'll get to do tasks, talk to people involved, and get a feel for the organization's culture.
• It's not a huge time commitment. Don't have time for an internship or can't get one that you want? Tell an organization you're interested in that you'd be more than happy to help them out when they have an event. Lots of organizations love the free help, especially from a trained PR student!
• Volunteering can open doors for you to bigger things. For example, last semester I volunteered with a friend at an event that she was doing for her internship. I got to chatting with another volunteer (who happened to be a full-time employee of the same organization) and she let me know about an internship opportunity. That led to me getting an interview, and landing a great internship. I wouldn't have had that opportunity if I hadn't helped out!
• It feels good. Volunteering is fun, and it's great to know you gave some time and helped an organization that needed it. It's great karma!

Have you had any great experiences volunteering? What are your thoughts on students volunteering their time?

Facebook Favors "Like" Over "Become a Fan"

Facebook has recently indicated that it has plans to replace the "Become a fan" button for branded pages with a simple "like" button, according to an article by David Berkowitz on AdAge.com. Following the change, branded pages will accumulate "connections," as opposed to "fans."

This change has several important implications for those who use Facebook:

• "This change narrows the list of actions available to Facebook fans, and consolidates the bulk of interactions fans will have with brand content to 'Like,' 'Comment' and 'Share,'" Berkowitz says.
• According to Berkowitz, Facebook has indicated that it does not plan on explaining this change to users. As a result, Berkowitz forecasts some confusion between clicking "like" to indicate acknowledgment of another user's action, and clicking "like" to subscribe to a page.
• Berkowitz says that this change will have a big effect on online marketers--particularly those running engagement ads. "'Liking' content comes far more naturally to the average Facebook user than becoming a fan of content, meaning that users will be more inclined to click on an ad that invites them to 'Like' a brand than one that asks them to 'Become a Fan' of a brand," he said. This simple "like," as opposed to having people "raise their hands and declare themselves fans," can also weaken the association between companies and their online publics.

Be sure to check out the article for more details!

The Point of PR

Suzanne Smith works at company XYZ in New York City. She works in their public relations department as director of public relations. Monday she entered her office, took the elevator to the 50th floor, entered her luxurious office and logged onto her computer. She began with email one and hoped to reach email 50 before lunch. She opened her first e-mail, which was from Doctors Without Borders. She chose to make a charitable donation to assist with relief efforts surrounding the devastating earthquake in Haiti. She then goes to her next e-mail. This one is from Blue Mountain Media, a graphic design company she hired to work on XYZ's annual report. Next she called Jovan Smith, head of human resources, to make sure he sent out the monthly internal newsletter, Insider's Look. She then edited the press release her communications coordinator drafted regarding customer service initiatives. Suzanne loves her job.

I was asked in my capstone class, Public Relations Management and Problem Solving, to compare and contrast consumer relations, investor relations, media relations, employee relations and community relations--all of which are essential practices of professionals, like Suzanne, in the public relations field. After analyzing, I found and concluded that all of these areas are very different, but share the similar goal of satisfying a chosen public. Public Relations is about reaching and connecting to publics important for the sustainability and growth of your company.

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member, Josie Fox.

FOX News Channel PR No-No

In my News Writing & Media Relations class this semester, we take time to discuss the current events in the media concerning education, politics and celebrities. A recent dispute between former Alaskan governor Sarah Palin and rapper-actor LL Cool J has grown to be a topic of conversation for the class.

To make a long story short, a past interview of LL Cool J was used without permission in the preview of FOX News Channel’s special program “Real American Stories,” with host Sarah Palin. The show highlights different stories of Americans rising above diversity by interviewing celebrities that match the criteria.

The rapper used social media as an outlet to respond to the preview, saying that FOX “lifted an old interview I gave in 2008 to someone else & are misrepresenting to the public in order to promote Sarah Palin's Show. WOW."

My professor discussed with us the issues from a public relations standpoint faced by FOX:

• Don’t pull an interview that isn’t your own.

The interview that was used was created two years ago from a different interviewer, causing confusion for both the creators of the footage and LL Cool J himself. If you are using another person’s interview, let them know and ask for permission!

Which brings me to the next issue…

• Inform a possible interviewee of an appearance on the show.

LL Cool J was unaware he would even be a candidate for the program, and was shocked by the appearance of his own face on television. Following this tip will prevent future insults from happening via social media.

If these issues were addressed prior to the release of the footage, FOX wouldn’t have outlets like social media working against them.

For the complete story, go to http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/04/01/arts/AP-US-TV-Sarah-Palin.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=ll%20cool%20j%20sarah%20palin&st=cse.

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member, Liz Offner.

Hook Recruiters on LinkedIn

As opposed to Facebook, LinkedIn should be utilized as your professional social networking site. It is not to update friends about your weekend happenings, but instead to "link in" with professionals in your area of interest as well as to stay connected with other professionals you meet while networking. LinkedIn can also be used to see who's hiring who, but according to this article by Liz Seasholtz (with contribution from Lewis Howes, author of LinkedWorking), you need to be a little more refined with your professional online identity.

Here are a few tricks to help lure recruiters:

Be Complete
LinkedIn says you're 40 times more likely to turn up in a search if your profile is complete.

Fly Under the Radar
You most likely don't want people to know you viewed their profile. If this is true, go to the homepage and click "Who's viewed my profile?" in the right column. Then click "Edit Visibility Settings" and select "Don't show users that I've viewed their profile."

Start a Group
Being the owner of a group raises your visibility. Anytime someone views it they see your name and Web site.

Customize
Custom URLs are easier to remember, look better in an e-mail signature and increase your profile's rank in search results.

Create a Compelling Headline
If you're unemployed, state your specialty where you would normally put your title.

Say Cheese!
Keep your profile pic professional!

Thanks to www.WetFeet.com for the great tips! Click here to view the full article.

Client Update: Casa Papel Workshop

Casa Papel is a specialty paper store and design house located in Northern Liberties, Philadelphia. If you haven't visited the store already, you really must stop by 804 North Second Street to check out the vast selection of papers and the special projects available there.

The store also has monthly workshops which the staff conducts, allowing for great hands-on fun! This Sunday, April 11th there will be a personalized stationary workshop at the store from 10 am to noon. The cost is just $30 and supplies are included. This is great for soon to be graduates who will be writing lots of thank you notes to professors or interviewers. Embellish your stationary by using decorative papers and other embellishments. With a personal touch, created by yourself, you will definitely be making a lasting impression!

For more information feel free to call the store at 267-761-9149 or e-mail hello@casapapel.com.

First Ever SMILE Conference Begins Today

The first ever Social Media in Law Enforcement Conference begins today and runs through Friday, April 9, 2010 in Washington, D.C. The goal of the conference is to bring law enforcement officers together from around the globe to learn how social media is being used to combat crime. The use of social media in law enforcement is still in its early stages but is already being used by hundreds of police agencies.

Lauri Stevens organized the SMILE Conference after seeing a growing interest in the incorporation of new media into law enforcement. Stevens is the founder of LAwS Communications, an organization that helps law enforcement agencies with web solutions, and is the current Chair of Web Development and Interactive Media at The New England Institute of Art, according to an article in yesterday's Huffington Post by Lon S. Cohen.

The aim of using social media in police work is to not only help officers connect the dots by breaking down communication barriers between agencies. It is also exciting to see law enforcement open their investigations more to the public who can spread the word more quickly about missing persons or suspects.

Read more about the SMILE Conference in this Huffington Post article. How do you feel about the use of social media in fields like law enforcement? Who else do you think could benefit from this new media?

Undercover Boss

Last night, while visiting my family for the Easter holiday, I tuned in to watch an episode of "Undercover Boss" with my family. Run on CBS, the show follows CEOs who go undercover to find out what their company is really like at the ground level.

The particular episode we watch profiled the CEO of Roto-Rooter, as he went undercover under as a new hire named Hank at several Roto-Rooter locations across the country.

As we watched the show, I was struck by how great of a PR opportunity the show presented for Roto-Rooter (and other companies who will be profiled throughout the course of the season). On this show, the company received a one-hour profile, and the format of the show was perfect for enabling Roto-Rooter to show off its strengths as a company, profile some of its best employees, make it look like they are genuinely looking for ways to improve and show that their company embraces both its workforce and its customers.

A show like this is an especially good opportunity for a company like Roto-Rooter, one that doesn't get a lot of publicity and operates in an industry that is not usually front of mind (plumbing). The show was definitely entertaining, but this all begs the question: at what point are shows like this beneficial for brands and at what point do audiences become suspicious that they are advertisements operating under the guise of entertainment?

What do you think? Have you watched the show? If so, what is your take?

Protect Your Facebook

You are probably well aware that Facebook changed its format back in December, but one thing you may not know is how these changes have affected the privacy of the information you wish to share on Facebook. Some of you may remember the dialog box explaining the recommended setting changes that appeared on the Facebook homepage, but many may not remember what you were actually agreeing to?

Here is where the “red flag” is raised. There are many who fear that users agreed to the recommended changes without really understanding how the changes affect their privacy of information. According to an article in the New York Times, by agreeing to the changes, “you inadvertently gave Facebook the right to publicize your private information including status updates, photos, and shared links” to literally EVERYONE.

If you are reading this and worrying that your private information will come across the eyes of the wrong readers, don’t freak out just yet because here is how you can change these settings to protect your information:

1. From your Profile page, hover your mouse over the Settings menu at the top right and click "Privacy Settings" from the list that appears.
2. Click "Profile Information" from the list of choices on the next page.
3. Scroll down to the setting "Posts by Me." This encompasses anything you post, including status updates, links, notes, photos, and videos.
4. Change this setting using the drop-down box on the right. We recommend the "Only Friends" setting to ensure that only those people you've specifically added as a friend on the network can see the things you post.

Now that you are aware of how these changes affect who can view the information you post, make sure that the next time you log onto Facebook you check to make sure you are protected.

If you would like to read the complete article from the New York Times on how to protect your privacy on Facebook, click here.


This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member, Amanda Kaster.

Is your resume ready?

With graduation around the corner it is time to dust off your resume and start making some adjustments. After looking at several peers' resumes, analyzing my own and researching resume tips I think mine is finally ready! This leaves me ready to start the hardest part, the job search! Here are a few tips I found on Temple's website:

• Limit your resume to 1 page
• Do NOT list your GPA
• Do NOT include an objective
• Include your graduation date and make sure they realize you are still in school (depending on how early you begin applying)
• Tailor your resume for the job to which you are applying (this means it's going to be constantly changing)
• Use a simple typeface and a bold typeface to highlight sections
• Proofread every time you edit and send it

Plenty of other websites are out there that help you create the perfect resume for any job. Another way to really add to your resume is to have it printed on specialty paper. This idea came about when speaking with PRowl Public Relations client Cecilia Torres, owner of Northern Liberties specialty paper and design house, Casa Papel. Torres said that it is common for upcoming and recent grads come to the store to either have their resume printed by the design house or purchase paper to do it at home with their own printer. While today most resumes are sent online, it’s always nice to have one to hand over at an interview.

Hopefully these few tips help get you ready to start the job hunt!

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member, Tristin Fabro.

PR Disasters

I was introduced recently to a blog that was new to me and thought I'd share it with you too! PRdisasters.com is a blog chronicling "PR disasters, spin doctors, and reputation management gone wrong" written by PR analyst and author Gerry McCusker.

Recent posts include "Bush PR man Fleischer to restore Tiger Woods' PR?," "Aussie PR hires actress to fake a news story," and "Fast Food Denny's pull 'humorous' Irish Famine ad," among others.

Check out these posts and others at www.prdisasters.com!

YouTube Gets Sticky

YouTube introduces a new watch page to make the site more "sticky," in hopes that viewers will stay on the site longer. The new page design is clean, simple and should be easier to use.

Here are some highlights:
-Instead of a five-star rating, there is now a "like/dislike" model
-The right hand side of the page is devoted to the next video to watch (with "smarter" suggestions based on how you found the video you were originally watching
-New playlist interface allows you to easily expand that list or skip ahead using a new "next" button in the player controls
-The comments sections highlights the best discussions and when creators communicate back

In an article by the New York Times, Shiva Rajaraman said, “We create an option for you to watch 15, 20 or 30 minutes of content,” continuing, “You can sit back and click ‘next,’ ‘next,’ ‘next.’ We want users to leave because they run out of time, not because they run out of things to watch.”

Click here for more information and a descriptive guide about the new video page design.

Have you taken a look at the new YouTube watch page? What do you think about it?