Friday, October 30, 2009

Words Can Be "Da Balm"

MICHELLE UBBEN, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

As a mother, I love all my children. But as a writer, I have my favorites -- those words I love to use and those I’d gladly see stricken from the popular parlance.

I am not alone in this. Surveys show most people have positive or negative reactions to some words. As Kristi Gustafson wrote in a recent column, those reactions may be driven by how a word sounds or what it means. For instance, mellifluous made the popular list, and for good reason. The word is a delight to the tongue. It sounds like the harp scale ringtone on my cell phone. It has a natural calming effect like a warm cup of lemon balm. There’s another word that sounds like what it is: balm. Maybe it’s the way your mouth has to slow down to enunciate the “l” and the “m” right next to each other. You can just hear the word stretching over something painful, like a wound, and soothing it.

Another well-liked word that sounds like what it means is discombobulate. I think we like it for the very reason that it packs so much meaning into a single word - it saves us the labor of a longer description. My family uses a related word that I believe may be, to quote my mother, a “homemader.” It’s cattywompus and it sort of means “askew” yet it captures the meaning so much more effectively. Use it this way: The drawer doesn’t close all the way because it’s all cattywompus. It may also be used to describe the typical child’s bedroom.

Then there are the words that sound like what they are in a negative way. Words like mucus and phlegm come to mind – and throat. Just hearing these words can make me gag. I think it should be considered a violation of basic social etiquette to use them at all.

Many of the words that are the most fun to say come from Yiddish. One of my favorites is “noodge,” an essential word for anyone with more than one child. This versatile word functions well as either a noun or a verb, meaning about the same, ie. “Stop being a noodge! Leave your sister alone.”

Finally, there are words I love, not for how they sound, but for the potency of their meaning. The best of this class is hubris, which means arrogance so extreme it draws the attention and wrath of the gods. Wow! That’s a whole Greek tragedy contained in a single word. You’ve got to love it.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Let’s channel our college selves

IVETTE MARQUES, SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

This week, I participated in the FAMU Career Fair representing the FPRA Capital Chapter. It was such a refreshing event that I felt the need to write about it. During the hour I spent at FAMU’s School of Journalism and Graphic Communication, I interviewed three young men who are in the PR program. Talking to them about the industry and hearing about their hopes and dreams was so energizing.

These students who have yet to enter the working world are full of life and ideas and excitement. It was wonderful hearing about what they’re involved in right now from launching a female rapper to volunteering at a local middle school to writing poetry. They were fascinated by stories about some of my clients and work experiences and eager to get their feet wet in PR. They want to be role models and change agents and influencers – they want someone to take a chance on them when they graduate this December. And I hope someone does as Ron Sachs took a chance on me, giving a TV reporter the opportunity to work in PR.

I know sometimes we have long, hard days and we feel down, but during those times we should channel our college selves. Go back to those days when everything was fresh and unknown and full of possibilities. I think that’s how we should approach every day of our lives. In reality, we don’t know what’s going to happen on any given day and if we start each day with that sense of wonder and excitement things can only look up!

Monday, October 19, 2009

Ron Sachs Rhinos in the Community





MARILYN SIETS, BUSINESS MANAGER

On Saturday, October 17, 2009, the Ron Sachs Communications staff participated in the Start! Heart Walk to support the Big Bend Chapter of the American Heart Association. The overall turnout was great and Ron Sachs Communications raised $1,000 towards the Heart Association’s $350k goal.

Joining me at the walk were Michelle, Carmella, Ivette, Marlene and Erica. Our family members and four legged friends accompanied us at the walk, too. It was great weather for walking and entire team enjoyed it immensely.

Ron Sachs Communications has a long tradition of community involvement. We love supporting events and causes that work to improve the lives of our friends and neighbors. In fact, we are currently gearing up for this year’s United Way fund raising campaign!

In recognition of our deep community involvement, Florida Trend recently recognized Ron Sachs Communications as one of the Best Companies to Work for in Florida.

A big "Thank You!" goes out to all those who had a part in our efforts!

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Survey Shows Social Media Use Gaining Ground

MICHELLE UBBEN, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

A new national survey of corporations about their use of social media tools and strategies, published in the October issue of PRWeek, confirms that social media is changing corporate communications, probably permanently. But the shape of that change is very much in flux. The survey responses confirm that we are in a period of intense experimentation, with varying levels of acceptance, styles of application and evidence of ROI.

One fact is clear: Although social media is essentially “free,” lots of dollars are flowing in an effort to harness its power, most of them diverted from advertising budgets.

The primary application of social media by corporate America is to shape conversations about the brand, but fully 45% use it to simply listen. Does all that listening have an impact? Apparently so: More than a third of those surveyed say they have changed their products or marketing efforts based on social media feedback.

The introduction of the two-way conversation is surely the most radical change ushered in by the social media phenomenon. While much of the focus of traditional communication – PR and advertising – involves shaping perceptions by controlling the message, social media is only effective if it is treated as a true conversation. Nobody likes someone who does all the talking. That means customers get to say what they think of corporate brands, products and services, unfiltered and unvarnished. And that’s scary.

In fact, fear does play a role in companies’ failure to implement social media strategies – engaging in a public conversation seems risky to a brand. And yet, fear is not even close to being the biggest barrier to implementation: 53% cite lack of internal resources or time and 43% cite lack of knowledge or expertise.

Primary uses of social media? Sixty-five percent say they connect with customers, 63% build brand awareness and 49% manage brand reputation, yet only 29% found it important for crisis communication.

Where will all this tweeting lead? Look for growing acceptance among the 37% who say they don’t currently use social media tools and increasing experimentation among those who do. And, of course, expect everyone to attempt to find ways to use social media to boost sales without turning conversations into a sales pitch. THAT would surely be bad form.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Social Media: Join the Conversation

The PowerPoint presentation from the Social Media workshop at the Tallahassee Chamber Annual Meeting.

Social Media: Join the Conversation

IVETTE MARQUES, SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Erica Villanueva and I just got into the office, although it’s only 10:30 a.m. – it feels like a full day of work. We started our morning at the Tallahassee Chamber’s Annual Meeting where Matt Brown, President & CEO of Premier Bank was installed as the new chairman.

Following the breakfast meeting, there were three breakout sessions. Erica and I presented one of the workshops: “Social Media: Join the Conversation.” It was really exciting to have a room full of small business owners and community leaders eager to learn about social media or expand their use.

Our presentation was simple and focused on the “rules of engagement” – featuring real examples of how businesses are using social media and showcasing what works and what doesn’t. Our goal was to show Tallahassee businesses how other local businesses are using social media and what they can do to get involved.

Thanks to everyone who attended our workshop and all the wonderful feedback. We hope to see you on Twitter soon, follow us at @IvetteMarques and @EricaVillanueva and follow Ron Sachs Communications @RonSachsCom.

We’ve posted the PowerPoint presentation in our blog above and provided a link (below) to the Red Cross Social Media Policy we mentioned during the presentation.

If you have any questions or need more information please email us at Ivette@ronsachs.com or Erica@ronsachs.com.

Red Cross Social Media Policy
http://sites.google.com/site/wharman/social-media-strategy-handbook

Monday, October 5, 2009

Want a seat at the table? Be a problem solver.

IVETTE MARQUES, SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE


A line from a recent Bad Pitch Blog post got me thinking: “Be a shining star—not a whiny burn-out bulb.” As a young professional I have aspirations to one day be a part of my firm’s management team, ideally as the Director of Digital Services, but how do you get a seat on the table? Well, it starts with a little confidence, a great plan, and a tool belt equipped with solutions.

Often times people just complain about a situation, get angry and nothing gets accomplished. Managers have a lot on their plates and are constantly juggling current clients, bringing in new clients, participating in management meetings, and meeting the bottom line. If you are faced with a situation that is challenging, before running into your boss’s office to whine and complain about “the problem,” take a moment to think about a potential plan to solve it. Trust me, they’ll appreciate it. Nothing makes you shine brighter than presenting a problem or challenge directly followed by an amazing plan of action.

If you constantly bring up problems and offer no solutions, how can you expect to ever be a part of the management team? As YPs we have a lot of energy, endless ideas, and a different perspective. We can’t be shy. We need to speak up and be counted. Even if your ideas and solutions aren’t always implemented, the fact that you were able to add to the conversation will make upper management take notice.

If you don’t let people know what you want and show them what you’re capable of, you’re selling yourself short. So my advice is simple: Go get it, whatever “it” is and make it happen. With a positive attitude and a strong work ethic, you’ll be moving up the company ladder in no time!

Friday, October 2, 2009

David Letterman Scandal Demonstrates Smart Crisis Management & Public Relations

RON SACHS, PRESIDENT

In what is surely his most important monologue of the year, David Letterman used his glowing star power – and a national network broadcast platform -- for the biggest, best new textbook example about getting out in front of a 'bad' story, even when it involves a subject as salacious as workplace sexual encounters. Instead of waiting for the scandalous facts about his dalliances with female members of his own "Late Night" show staff to break on the national publicity landscape, Letterman 'outed' himself to his in-studio and viewing audience. It is the story of the day and week in show biz. As a result, rather than the focus being on Letterman's behavior, the 'bad guy' is an alleged extortionist who tried to intimidate the comedic star into coughing up $2 million in hush money to keep the scandal quiet.

Letterman wisely went to authorities, rather than buckle to such pressure. Now, the would-be shakedown artist is charged with major crimes. And, Letterman's voluntary disclosure on "Late Night" was brilliant in its unexpected candor, earnestness and stated concern about the well-being of his own family (he married his long-time companion and mother of his child earlier this year) and the privacy of the women he was involved with on his own staff.

Regardless of morality questions that may dog Letterman for a while, he came off as a sympathetic figure because of his bold decision to break his own bad news -- on a grand scale. While network execs at CBS may be properly focused on HR issues of propriety regarding Letterman's affairs, the shine on his star may grow even brighter for the lessons he has learned -- and for the strategic, surgical strike he delivered on behalf of others and himself. Few public figures ever have done a better job early enough to really matter in making a difference in public perception of their own misdeeds or shortcomings than Letterman's example this week.