Now that's Pinteresting!

In 2012 Pinterest exploded by the millions after two underground years and has since been added to big social media names Facebook and Twitter. Tuesday, Pinterest released their in-house analytics to help brands better know their audience on the site. In November of last year, Pinterest formally introduced business pages however many brands had already been using the site as a virtual pinboard.  

Pinterest describes its new feature in their blog:

“If you have a verified website, you’ll get information about how many people have pinned from your site, how many people have seen these pins, and how many people visited your site from Pinterest. We’ll also show you a selection of your most repinned, most clicked, and most recent pins so you have a better idea of what’s popular. For example, if you have a travel blog, you’ll be able to see whether people are pinning your ski vacation posts or beach vacation posts more.” 

To learn more click here, happy pinning!

Feed me Flyers!

Sunday I worked my second Flyers Wives For Lives Carnival and this year I had a new perspective as a volunteer selling out 4,000 Mystery Bags.  Flyers Charities did a great job organizing and informing hundreds of much needed volunteers showing how a small organization can run a successful event raising over one million dollars in one day.

Day of, volunteer coordinators, and Dunkin’ Donuts (thank God!), were anxiously awaiting our arrival. As we were named our assignments we continued to our individual destinations awaiting the doors to open. The Carnival was chaotic with Flyers fans loving every opportunity to meet and great favorite players and alumni. Volunteers came around every hour with snacks and sandwiches for other volunteers working various booths and games to keep the momentum of the day.

 

“The Flyers Wives Carnival is a long-standing Philadelphia tradition.  I remember attending as a teenager and meeting players like Eric Lindros.  Now that I am on this side of the event, I get to see first-hand everything that goes into making the Carnival happen,” said Theresa Russell Development Manager for Comcast-Spectacor Charities. “We are so grateful to the many people that help us behind the scenes to get the building ready and, of course, the huge team of volunteers who offer their time at the various booths throughout the day.  The Flyers Wives Carnival wouldn't be the event it is without them”.

The organization did a fantastic job with their hundreds of volunteers from the initial information to execution on the busy day.

Monopoly puts its own pieces in jail

One of America’s most iconic games Monopoly is losing one of its original pieces, the iron, race car, thimble, shoe, top hat, Scottie dog, wheelbarrow and battleship, to make way for a new piece in 2013. In a vote over Facebook, “Save Your Token,” users are invited to cast their vote to save their favorite piece and take a sneak peak of the new line-up which includes the robot, cat, ring, helicopter and guitar. But not to worry traditionalists, Hasbro plans to release a special Classic Monopoly Golden Token Edition that will include a gold version of all eight classic tokens.

Like many other companies, Hasbro is jumping on board with the voter’s choice method of elimination. Will consumers be more likely to buy the new game if they voted in this competition? The answer, probably not, but it does throw consumers into childhood nostalgia.

The game Monopoly was invented in 1935 by Charles Darrow, whose young nieces suggested the game should use metal charms from charm bracelets instead of buttons.

Monopoly enthusiasts are also encouraged to cast their vote to save their favorite token on Twitter by using #tokenvote, results to be revealed February 5. 

SAVE YOUR TOKEN!

What serving has taught me about PR

As a 5 year Texas Roadhouse veteran, I frequently still work over the breaks to help with the blow of text book costs for the upcoming semester. In my experience I have noticed many similarities between the two professions with their customer focused application.

Requests from both clients and guests can be difficult but the most important thing to remember is your attitude. When you have a good attitude it is easier to work with others and be open to suggestions or concerns.  When serving you can make suggestions to customers, or “up-selling,” to make the bill larger (bigger bill = bigger tip).

In a large scale restaurant, you have to communicate to more than one person in order to complete an order; the bar, kitchen, mangers, hosts and other servers. Similar to an agency, reporting with your team is crucial to success.

PR is notorious for being a multi-tasked profession, juggling between clients, work, and every social platform known to man. When you serve in a restaurant you have to move from multiple tables to refills while running back-work to help keep the restaurant flowing.

So, through a part-time job, I have acquired skills that have helped me understand my clients’ objectives through attitude, communication and multi-tasking. 

9,000 Miles Fueled by Social Media

With only a 75-pound backpack, 28-year-old Michael Lee Johnson will be traveling from a Beijing, China to London, England (an over 9,000 mile trek!), entirely by foot.  

Johnson is making history by being the first to walk the entire journey which is estimated to take three to five years and will be entirely fueled by social media.  He plans to tweet his expedition as often as possible along with a video blogging series. Johnson has also launched a fundraising site providing FAQ’s and his position of purpose, “The curiosity about the world and its people.” Johnson also explains an alternative selfless motive:

“The people I’m in for really are the people who are stuck in an office, the people who can’t go out and travel,” he says. “I want them to see it all too. It’s not so much about me, but also the people who are following along. It’s important to show other people what is going on in the world too.”

Funding for the project includes Johnsons own savings of about $13,000 and a sponsorship from Maps.com which he will be paid between $500 and $2,5000 per month depending on how large an audience he accumulates.

“This walk is going to be my job,” he says. “It sounds strange, but that’s exactly what I’ll be: a professional walker.”

Would you follow someone for three to five years on an epic journey? Tell us why. 

Surviving Finals

For Temple University students this is the week where we pull out our hair, bite our finger nails and overdose on caffeine. THIS IS FINALS WEEKS. For some classes, finals require a final paper, presentation, test, or a combination of all three.   To survive the hellish week here are some tips to get you through:

Get some sleep

It’s no secret that a good night’s rest helps your concentration but sleep is not just a form of rest. Sleep plays a critical physiological function and is indispensable for intellectual development.  In 2005 a study conducted by Dr. Robert Stickgold revealed that with less sleep, we reduce the recall of facts we learned before or after a shortened night.

Caffeine

Caffeine chemical composition works in three related ways. It enhances alertness by inhibiting the action of adenosine, which gives you a physical boost by increasing the amount of adrenaline in your system and contributes to a euphoric state which activities the brain’s pleasures centers. In combination, these affect a state where we feel energy which catalyzes our creativity and awareness. Conveniently there are three caffeine dispensary on campus: Dunkin’ Donuts, Starbucks and Saxby’ s.

Brain foods and hydration

Staying full and focused is extremely important before taking an exam. Your brain requires a steady supply of glucose which fuels you body’s cells. Dr. Joy  Bauer, a New York-based dietician and “Woman’s Day” columnist, suggests the best choices for brain food includes salmon, fortified-eggs, ground flax seeds, chia seeds and walnuts. Fruits, especially bananas, are also attributed to reducing stress. Also during your exam, be sure to drink lots of water, it keeps you clam and helps with oxygen flow to your brain.

Be a Source

Temple’s PRSSA chapter allows Public Relations students to gain a better understanding of the industry by hosting Public Relations professionals to speak. Most recently, Ashley Berke, Director of Public Relations for the National Constitution Center, spoke on the importance of being a source for the news.

The industry of media relations is vastly changing. With the social media revolution, sources are becoming Twitter feeds and credibility is few and far between. Being a credible source is a powerful tool in today’s industry. It allows you to be the source of content and content is king.

The National Constitution Center’s new website is a great example of how organizations should present their information.  Along with press kits, press releases, and polls and publications, the organization also provides partner sources of experts that speak of the National Constitution Center’s behalf.  In addition to providing publicized sources, the National Constitution Center has their own non-biased blog.

Being a source means your organization can be the validation of content.

The Perfect Tweet

Although there is no magic formula for the perfect tweet, there are components that make a tweet the most effective. Research highlighted in PR Daily’s article, “The Anatomy of the Perfect Tweet,” suggests eight tips to the perfect tweet.

Contributors of the eight tips are researchers from UCLA and Hewlett-Packard’s HP Labs who released a nine-page essay on how to predict the popularity of a tweet with an 84 percent accuracy rate.

The eight tips are also comprised of social media guru, Dan Zarrella author of “The Social Media Marketing Book,” who spent nine months analyzing 45 million tweets.

1. Include link- Including a link in a tweet is proven three times more likely to get a hit. A link tells the audience that you are sharing more than a personal opinion but another piece of information.

2. Timely news- Tweets relating to current events are shown to be more popular among an audience.

3. Share niche news- Researchers at UCLA and HP Labs found that specific industries such as health news and celebrities were amongst the most popular topics on Twitter.

4. There’s no I in team- Using “You” instead of “I” can help your tweets get shared.

5. Caps lock off- USING CAPITALS in your Tweets are only a deterrent for an audience researchers discovered.

6. Leave a little wiggle room- By having your tweets less than 140 characters, it allows for other to retweet you and include a comment.

7. Punctuation points- Punctuation isn’t lost on the Twitter world. Colons and periods are used most often. However avoid using exclamation points as researchers found your audience can be misinterpreted.

8. It’s ok to name drop- Brands matter on Twitter. Researchers found that mentioning brands in a tweet such as Apple, allows for you and your audience to connect to trending stories and each other.

Next time you tweet think of these 8 tips to help build your feed.

LA vs NY

Have big dreams of the big city? Los Angeles and New York are frequent vision cities for future PR professionals. If you’re thinking of making the big move, get the facts. One of the foremost things you can do is read, read, read.

Take a look at local and national news; see how your dream city stacks against other major metropolitan areas such as Chicago or Atlanta.

A major thing to consider before moving is the cost of living. Go on a pre-house hunt on Craigslist and see hypothetically what a room would cost.

Another great thing you can do as a student is intern or study abroad in the city of your choice. Temple offers the most premier cities that host internship and study abroad opportunities.

More information on both Temple’s LA and New York programs.

Also read PR daily's newest article to help you decide.

Explore other opportunities in Dublin, South Africa,London, and Montreal!

Think You’re A Good Fit For PR?

Most people don’t know they want to go into the PR industry till they’re actually in it. If you’re like me you thought planning extravagant events and being the next Samantha Jones was all that the PR industry consisted of. Reality set in my freshman year when my predecessor and mentor, Niki Ianni, explained that PR has more aspects than one might think.

PR is a multi-faceted industry that is rapidly changing; even the definition of Public Relations has been up for debate due to its vastness. So do you think PR is right for you?  An original quiz titled, “You Know You’re in PR When…” by PR Daily can give you a really good idea if the PR industry is right for you.

1. You dream about headlines articles in your sleep
2. You want to work 10 days a week
3. You secretly hate it when emails aren't in AP Style
4. You get scolded for constantly collecting phone numbers, emails and random snippets of information when you're out and about with friends
5. You talk, a lot, about the communication teams for various politicians, and cite everything they are doing wrong.
6. You start analyzing people who are being interviewed by the media.
7. The word "spin" makes you cringe

Are You A Good Listener?

A great PR professional is also a good listener.  PR professionals need to listen to their clients, bosses and co-workers to achieve total success.

Active listening is a lost art form, taking notes and repeating what is being told to you has always been the forerunner of great communication.

As 21^st century listeners, our attention span and ability for retention has drastically lessened with Twitter and other sources that exemplify brevity.

Take this new self-diagnostic 10 question quiz from ragain.com to see if you’re a good listener.

1. Do you typically talk more than others during a meeting? Thinking back, can you quantify your typical share of a dialogue? Is it 15 percent? 30 percent? 50 percent?

2. When you prepare for a networking event, do you focus by researching your target’s goals? Or on developing your own messages?

3. Think about the last external meeting you led. Did you “drown out” the junior people you are supposed to be positioning for success? Or did you “spend” your words to help them become more successful in front of others?

4. When presenting a speech, do you obsess over every word? Or do you try to develop a flexible, “back and forth” format for audience participation?

5. Have you ever been invited to act as a facilitator to help opposing internal or external parties? Or does that opportunity naturally default to others in your company?

6. Consider your last big meeting. Can you quickly recall the biggest unsaid concerns in the room? Were you able to read between the lines to identify what mattered to the group?

7. When giving feedback to a colleague, do you lead with your thoughts or routinely allow your colleague to share their concerns first?

8. Have you ever been complimented for your ability to capture and illustrate another person’s point of view in “real time?”

9. When you have an important business objective, do you always share that at the beginning of the meeting? Have you ever tried leading up to the objective with a series of shrewd questions instead? Trust your audience to guide the discussion.

10. Have you ever forced yourself to stay silent, recognizing that it might actually be your best weapon? 

If you’re working on being a better listener take these rules into consideration at your next meeting. Remember PR is all about building and maintaining relationships so start with your bosses, coworkers and clients by listening.

"Top Ten Tips for Success and Happiness" by Dr. Oz

Confession time,  I love Dr. Oz. Best friend and catalyst to Dr. Mehmet Oz’s booming two-time Emmy television career Oprah, Dr. Oz got his start on her show as the in-house physician answering audiences health questions and concerns.

In 1986, Dr. Oz obtained a joint MD and MBA degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and The Warton School.  Dr. Oz recently came back to his old stomping ground to deliver the MBA class of 2012 commencement speech in which he exclaimed, “Graduation is a time to reflect on the meaning of success and what will make you happy.” He then offered his “Top Ten Tips for Success and Happiness.” They are as follows:

10. Every day feel productive and challenged in a way tailor made for your unique desires and strengths

9. Generate an expertise in an area other than the profession in which you earn your living

8. Develop a system for a living your life, meeting challenges and evaluating opportunities.

7. Find a mentor, evaluation their strengths and weaknesses, and cop[y their positive attributes.

6. Whatever you choose, do it fully with passion and child-like enthusiasm

5. No one is a jerk on purpose. Let people surprise you.

4. Recognize relationships need to keep growing and partners should positively influence each other.

3. Never forget that the body is the temple of the soul.

2. Live in the present. Yesterday is history and tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why they call it the present.

1. Make the driving force in your life love, even more than wisdom. Humans die, not of darkness but of cold.

Whether you are a recent graduate and about to get your first big job or a new freshman embarking on a journey, follow your heart and success will find you.

Watch Dr. Oz’s entire speech

Twitter is All About Timing

When you post to your Twitter feed how many people are you reaching? Currently there are no sound reach demographics for Twitter but, there are optimal times to post. An optimal time means when the most people are on Twitter, including when users are posting and when they are checking-in. As a company or a growing brand you want to post at the most optimal times to get the most reach, number of potential viewers, out of your post.

According to KISSMetrics, compiled by Zarrella, you should always be thinking East Coast time. Data shows that 48 percent of tweets are from the East Coast, 33 percent of tweets are from the Central time zone and only 14 percent of tweets are from the West Coast. Additionally, Lemon.ly Marketing Firm reports that the most traffic on Twitter occurs from 9 to 11 a.m. ET and 1 to 3 p.m. ET.

Optimize Your Blog Post

Whew, the hard part is over, you wrote the most exciting and informative blog post, now what? Even if your blog has a reputation and a prestigious following, your post may not be getting enough promoted attention.  Branding oneself through blogs is highly important for an aspiring PR professional. Future job and internship opportunities are amongst only some of the perks of writing for a blog.  Divvy HQ recently posted “Your Blog Post Promotion Checklist” helping bloggers to optimize their coverage. Preview our top 5:

1. Add keywords
2. Take advantage of your RSS feed
3. Shorten you post’s URL
4. Tailor your status updates
5. Post teasers on other sites

What the 100 Most Influential People Means to PR

"They are the people who inspire us, entertain us, challenge us and change our world," stated Time magazine in their most recent special issue, "The 100 Most Influential People in the World"

World leaders such as Barack Obama are no surprise to appear on Time magazines prestigious list along with well-known U.S. celebrities such as Chelsea Handler and Adele. The select few that are featured on this list are opinion leaders. Opinion Leaders are those who the public looks to for direction and guidance for little things such as, “What brand of shoe should I wear?” to big things such as, “Who should I vote for in the upcoming election.” Opinion leaders help individuals identify with their personal beliefs by being in the public spotlight and making decisions.

As PR professionals we should look to this list of individuals to help identify with our publics. As opinion leaders set the status quo, PR professionals should be at the pulse of their most recent endeavors and expand upon their efforts.  

Quote influential people and comment on their efforts in a blog, tweet, or post. Not only are you gauging what others think about your opinion leader but you are also engaging with your publics about a mutually accepted topic.

View the whole 100 Most Influential People list here

Your PR Pick-Me-Up

The end of the semester is quickly approaching and with that your flame for learning starts to dim. Fear not! Ragan.com’s PR Daily just debuted 20 PR quotes to re-kindle your burning passion for the industry.   

Henry Kssinger

Media interview quotes
1. “Does anyone have any questions for my answers?” —Henry Kissinger

2. “It is always a risk to speak to the press: They are likely to report what you say.” —Hubert H. Humphrey

3. “The most guileful amongst the reporters are those who appear friendly and smile and seem to be supportive. They are the ones who will seek to gut you on every occasion.” —Ed Koch, former mayor of New York

4. “The questions don’t do the damage. Only the answers do.” —Sam Donaldson

5. “No word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause. —Mark Twain

6. “An orator or author is never successful till he has learned to make his words smaller than his ideas.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson

7. “This business of saying the same thing over and over and over again—which to a lot of Washington insiders and pundits is boring—works.” —Michael Deaver, deputy chief of staff to President Reagan

Message development quotes
8. “I am sorry for such a long letter. I didn’t have time to write a short one.” —Mark Twain (also attributed to others)

9. “Short words are the best, and old words, when short, are the best of all.” —Winston Churchill

Crisis communications quotes
10. “By the time you hear the thunder, it’s too late to build the ark.” —Unknown

11. “It takes a lifetime to build a reputation and only a few seconds to destroy one.” —Unknown

12. “If it’s going to come out eventually, better have it come out immediately.” —Henry Kissinger

13. “Always acknowledge a fault frankly. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you opportunity to commit more.” —Mark Twain

14. “Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.” —Theodore Roosevelt

Public speaking
15. “A mediocre speech supported by all the power of delivery will be more impressive than the best speech unaccompanied by such power.” —Quintilian, Roman rhetorician

16. “Three things matter in a speech: who says it, how he says it, and what he says —and of the three, the last matters least.” —John Morley, British politician

17. “It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.” —Mark Twain

18. “According to most studies, people’s No. 1 fear is public speaking. No. 2 is death. Death is No.2! Now, this means to the average person, if you have to go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.” —Jerry Seinfeld

Body language and delivery

19. “What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson

 20. “It is better to speak from a full heart and an empty head than from a full head and an empty heart.” —Dublin Opinion magazine (h/t Dianna Daniels Booher)

PRowl's HIRING!

PRowl Public Relations is Temple University’s first and only student-run PR firm providing students with hands-on experience in the industry, and we’re hiring!

At PRowl Public Relations, students are given opportunities to develop their strategic thinking and gain tactical practice.  Members create and execute public relations campaigns, form valuable relationships with professionals in the Philadelphia area, apply their classroom knowledge to a real-world setting, become part of an interactive communications process and prepare for life beyond graduation.

To be a member of PRowl Public Relations, you must meet the following criteria:

-          At least a 3.0 GPA

-          Be a dues paying member of PRSSA or have the intention of becoming a dues-paying member

-          Have availability for weekly staff meetings every Thursday from 3:30-4:15 p.m.

PRowl Public Relations is a great experience and is a large time commitment. PRowl PR operates as a functioning PR firm and is similar to a working, professional-level agency, not an extracurricular organization. Therefore, applicants should only apply if they are able to dedicate the necessary amount of time and work. Staff members will have the opportunity to work on social media campaigns, event planning and media relations to name a few.

Interested?  Please set up a time using the Google doc link below:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aq3jAk8UiCYKdFVtemtmSDRHY0k1T3JLZktXTFprRlE

MUST BE SIGNED IN UNDER A GMAIL ACCOUNT TO EDIT

Comments, questions or concerns, please email Samantha Wanner at Samantha.Wanner@temple.edu

Interviews will be scheduled starting Monday, April 30 and be conducted through Friday, May 4. All applicants will be required to submit a resume and two short writing samples during their scheduled interview.

Learn more about PRowl Public Relations:

Follow us on Twitter: @PRowlPR
Find us on Facebook: PRowl Public Relations

Barbie Goes Bald

Mattel Company is producing a bald Barbie as a result from a Facebook page that launched in December of last year by Rebecca Sypin and Jane Bingham, two friends affected by cancer.

Mattel company spokesman Alan Hilowitz told HealthPop that the company will produce a friend of Barbie that will have wigs, hats, scarves, and other accessories to give children "a traditional fashion play experience." The Barbie will have the option to remove the wigs and head coverings.



The company stated that they will not be selling the dolls at stores, but instead will donate them to children's hospitals, as well as the National Alopecia Areata Foundation.

Supporters of the Facebook page are pushing to get the doll sold in stores.

The manufacturing of this product means Mattel listens to their public. As a result of Sypin and Bingham’s efforts of promotion, receiving more than 156 thousands likes on Facebook, the women were in the intimate process of developing the Barbie which included what she was to like look and what accessories were going to be available to the doll.

In Public Relations, it’s important for your consumers, contributors, or supporters to know that their opinion can directly impact the organization. Mattel not only fulfilled the wishes of a popular group by manufacturing the Barbie, but also is donating the funds to worthy organizations. It will be interesting to see if in the upcoming months if consumers will see the bald Barbie in stores.

Show Me The Money!

With non-profits and charities the most important question contributors ask is, “Where does the money go?” My most recent experience with charities deals with my internship at Comcast-Spectacor Charities. Since its inception in 1977, the organization has raised over 24 million dollars for local Philadelphia charities. Their motto: “If it matters in your community, it’s important to Comcast-Spectacor.” However, I have noted a lack of tangible efforts performed by the organization and as a result, a lack of contribution from repeat donors.  

Charities and non-profits raise an exuberant amount of money but if contributors physically cannot see where the money is going, you will lose repeat contributors, as I saw happen to Comcast-Spectacor.

In an effort to accumulate repeat contributors, Comcast-Spectacor proposed a new tactic to show contributors where the money physically goes. The Flyer’s wives participated in the renovation of a home on Camac Street in Philadelphia for a sick 7-year-old boy named Kahlil. As a result of their physical efforts, a jump in donation directly followed. The success of the project created a catalyst for an entire series of renovations, “Building Hope For Kids”. The series will focus on renovating chronically ill children’s bedrooms to brighten their future.

Charities and non-profits need to physically and tangibly show where contributors money goes. As seen with Comcast-Spectacor Charities, beneficiaries will be more inclined to contribute more frequently if they can physically see your organizations efforts.

Uwishunu Receives National Recognition For New Video Series

Ragan.com recognized a hometown favorite blog Uwishunu, an outlet under The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corp, for their new 101 video series, “Uwishunu’s Philly 101”. The campaign will feature 101 Philadelphians, including some Philly favorites such as The Roots, describing the things they wish you knew about the city of Philadelphia. The series will run every day, including weekends, for 101 days.

Other successful campaigns brought to you by The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corp include Philly360, Visit Gay Philly, and With Love, Philadelphia XOXO. In February, Visit Philly ran a successful Facebook promotion in which it have away 29 dates with a grand prize of a red With Love Vespa.