Davina Brewer @3hats
Atlanta, GA
- 1318 comments
- 2334 likes given
- 915 likes received
I blog, I comment, I stalk the Interwebs all while pretending to do some marketing, public relations, social media 'work.' Likes: wine, travel, food, friends. Dislikes: bullshit. Misses: naps.
@ginidietrich Ugh. But in a way that's a good deal breaker question for you.. helps you thin the no/yes piles pretty quickly. ITA on the education, which won't be at all easy as step one is teaching PR and Communication not as a one-week chapter in a marketing class, but given their own weight w/ that, accounting, finance, econ, etc. FWIW.
This just has to stop. I mean.. it's not us I don't think, it's them - it's hacks, it's the clients who confuse publicity and fake stunts as PR, who confuse people skills and basic professionalism as 'industry' traits. Ugh. And don't get me started on the bra strap thing - that's made of so much FAIL, I'm not gonna bother. FWIW.
Congrats! Sure you'll do well .. gives me hope my dream gig is out there. :)
@jennwhinnem Checking it out now, looks like one of those 'looks good but it's another thing to do and I've got too many, so will this be any more helpful or a time waster?' kinda of things. We'll see. ;-)
My own distaste for 'personal brand' aside, these are on the money. I know I should guest more, but just.. time for my own blog plus that ever-present fear of writing something stupid holds me back. Hopefully I've got the G+ author thing working properly and whenever I make myself take a week, gut and redo the website, my 'ME ME' page HAS to get a major rewrite.
I've done a 'hire me' post, make connections, think I've got #12 down cold - certainly am myself and engaging. Only thing is that while they helped me build a network and grow as a professional, the ROI hasn't been there in terms of business/career development - yet. Think the biggest thing to promote oneself as a professional, to build that reputation - do work so well others want to tell other people about it and ask. Know I've done good work, but even asking I struggle to get those references and referrals; something else on the to-do list. FWIW.
@ginidietrich People don't like being called on their b.s. either, even when they say they're open to different perspectives. Doesn't matter if it's biz or politics or crazy theories on LOST... It's as if - "you don't like X or disagree w/ Y, then why do you bother to read, watch, have an opinion? Oh, you're a troll." All b/c you're saying maybe there's another side. *shrugs*
Like @lauraclick I'm lucky in not having much trolling on my blog. (Spammers, keyword names are different.. delete and move on. BTW @ElissaFreeman that's part of my comment policy, it's a real name or social profile to post. Does block some b.s.) I also don't write on many hot button topics, and am careful to discuss the issues, never attack the people (also on my comment policy). Of course, it's the trolls that don't give a rodent's posterior about the comment policy, but for everyone else it shows you're not randomly blocking views that don't greek chorus your own.
I've been accused of trolling when making legitimate arguments, they just weren't popular or warm and fuzzy praise for the rest of the club. The key is #5 - Listen and read. Is this a real commenter? Is it a valid complaint or criticism? Is there something of value to readers? I'll let someone comment 'this is so bleeping dumb!' and give them ONE shot w/ a reply of "much appreciated - please tell us oh sage guru, explain WHY this argument or this tip is dumb." Usual response: *crickets*. After than it's some hybrid delete, ignore, bad if necessary - then move on. FWIW.
@ExtremelyAvg You did a good job on the plusses. A couple the minus column:
-- Once someone gets a deal, will they ever pay full price again? I rarely do - Macy's clearance rack, Groupons, etc. So, so few things will I pay retail, will I pay the 'in season' rates etc. not when I know there's always another deal around the corner.
-- In terms of social sharing, of building audience.. it is a different calibre of recommendation - 'check out this marketing book, free but totally good' vs. 'this book $29.87 is worth every penny I spent, will change your biz.' Example from my life as a cheapskate: I Priceline hotels and that always goes into the review as in 'I'd stay here again for cheap, but never pay the rack rate' or 'been elsewhere that was better, nicer, half the price via PL.'
There's already talk of Twitter bumping up their security protocols to a 2-step system, seems similar online banking. Which wow, that's some heady stuff and totally the right move in terms of the impact of social. Suspect we'll see that across the board, certainly the biggies like FB, LI, YT.
I've had a client hacked, caught and corrected the tweets in a reasonable time .. but they still didn't 'get' it; like many, they see all the risks and headaches, none of the rewards. As to the monitoring, yeah - though for small businesses that can't watch the streams every minute, very important to use the automated tools, set up those alerts for replies, etc. FWIW.
It's both daunting and empowering, this world we live in. On the one hand, the brand name 'influencers' have the attention and inside track.. and yet the other, any hard-working upstart is only one YT video or power RT away from getting noticed and changing the game. I'd guess more than ever, there are opportunities for writers to break in, break out and make a name for themselves. Speaking as a business consultant, the premium giveaway model has plusses and minuses like anything else; here's to them adding up in your favor.
Oh.. no favorite detective, but have read a few John Sanford "Prey" series. FWIW.
@ginidietrich I'm all about working smarter more than harder, streamlining and simplifying. But cut too many corners, odds are it'll show.
"Choose. Once a week.. Be professional.. Keep it up.. After 6 weeks.. every quarter.." Sorry Ms. Gini, you clearly won the hearts of hard-working PR types everywhere, but you've already lost 'em. Seriously I can hear it in my head "What.. like I can't just post 'Good story.' I have to actually read the story, then offer meaningful commentary? For weeks, months? For a chance to 'pitch' a story?!" would say almost every DIY marketer I've met.
I mean I LOVE this. It's methodical, it shows all the work and details, the research and planning. All I can add is a #7: when you do pitch, skip the self-serving hype; have real news and expertise. It's just.. I don't know any 'on your own' types willing to work this hard. They want to move offices, repaint and add new carpet, call it a grand opening and expect the daily, weekly and TV news to show up w/ bells on. Sorry, don't work that way.. it's this, you have to $pend the time. FWIW.
Right good stuff Frank. On a kick lately, seeing this theme: TIME. All of this takes so much time and work; it's not a quick fix, not a one-year campaign or five-year strategy. This is ethos, this is DNA, this is hard-wired into a company that won't happen overnight.
The company is the product and the products/service are the marketing, are the content; insert [big brands] here. Lip service from Mars; been fighting that battle a bit lately (and working on the obligatory blog post) - changes made in the name of 'branding' a 'new culture' when all the moves amount to changing the color lipstick the pig wears. That's my other kick lately; tired of 'looking' like you're 'doing social' or touting some relatively tiny media buy as comprehensive marketing. Token efforts for appearance sake.. just won't cut it. FWIW.
I think the ability to see the big picture and recognize cultural shifts is part of the PR DNA Sara. We see the changes in technology, in work and in play, how people live and how organizations work with people. We're all about improvising, adapting -- because we've always had to. Good luck catching up - and welcome back. :) And FWIW even though I haven't been away, I wish I had a time machine to go back and pay more attention to trends and changes as they were happening, how ahead of the curve would I be now!
Wrote very much the same on my own blog not too long ago - and IIRC it was Lisa Gerber who told me a story about a guy who - from the office - outsourced his job overseas, so he could slack all day. Heh. :) Sigh - offices aren't going anywhere and plenty of companies have to work this way and work better b/c of it. But that doesn't mean The Office is the only way to go.
This debate won't die Yvette, so it's important to get it right. The reality is that most of these 'objections' are toothless; they can and DO happen just as easily in the office setting. The real thing is the benefits - to the environment, and mostly to the employees and employers - the long-term returns of flexible working arrangements are genuine, measurable, tangible and real. FWIW.
Never thought of it but you're right - these two terms are probably used interchangeably when really they're not. Good tip FWIW.
@ginidietrich I've got a list I use now - but it's more strategy, goals. Something like this would be a much better screener, so it's time to update.
Fab list - I've got a post running soon, this will make a great addition. Now if only we can get the people who need to read these kinds of posts.. to actually read these!
You hit on one of my questions below @ginidietrich - You're not ready to WORK. If you think that signing a check and reviewing a few emails a month are all you'll have to do, you're so not ready. Outsourced does not mean hands off, set and forgotten.
As part 2 to @Shelley Pringle good question - You're not willing to share what you are already doing in house, don't see that as part of the budget. Just wrote it - what, there's no one drawing payroll and benefits responsible for developing strategy, driving business, working w/ customers, many other communications functions? See - there's budget and staff there, somewhere. Too often they're not willing to listen, to learn, to work b/c they see you as a vendor not partner. And sometimes frankly as competition, afraid you'll do their job - only better, meaning you'll get the budget, the projects, etc.
cc @i7Chris the not listening is a big one, not just in terms of your PR advice but the business in general. If you're not willing to consider the idea that your 'pet project' needs improvement, and that the PR can and should offer smart, strategic business counsel, you're not ready. FWIW.
Fab tips @ginidietrich and in the hallmark of what I consider a killer blog, even better discussion with the likes of @belllindsay @danperezfilms and many, many more. (And h/t to not thinking value has to be 'perfect' or 'awesome' all the time.) This post is great on the mechanics of blogging greatly.. writing greatly is a whole other story. I type that thinking I write pretty well, but blog.. not so much and it's something I need to improve (like my use of Yoast, etc.).
THAT typed, I think my tips are: 1) get out of your own blog. I too am big on linking elsewhere, so that means trying to mix up what I read, comment, share. And 2) have a point. Many things I read that I don't like have no point - other than clicks and links, shares and 'subscribe now!' - there's no narrative, no beginning, middle, end. I know I ramble sometimes, know I'm not always 'on message' but I do try to have a point, and more than hope, a plan for writing something that gets readers thinking. FWIW.
Sigh.. no one has ever said your surgeon or hotel maid can work via remote.I tackled some of the bad press this topic has been getting b/c the other side can only weakly argue 'but it's still not the office!' And so what? Plenty of folks like you do it, work hard at and make it work. Period. My thing is simple: if the tools of your trade are a computer/keyboard, phone and Internet connection, then the 'office' is where your brain is working at the time. FWIW.