Stop. Give Thanks. And, What PR Folks Are Most Thankful For.

Lauren Hannaford

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it has a simple history, meaning and purpose. Give thanks. Refraining from drowning everyone with a massive tirade on why I hate Black Friday, which has now morphed into Black Thursday/Friday, let me explain. Even if life has been handing you lemons consistently for the past year, there is always something to be thankful for. Even though sometimes it’s hard to see through the darkest of days, there is always a light, a silver lining or a better day ahead. We just have to stop and take the time to look for it. I can’t begin to list everything I’m thankful for; this blog would go on forever. One thing is certain; I don’t stop to think about those things enough. 

I was reading a friend’s personal blog recently and a quote by Christian author Jon Acuff really resonated with me. 

One insult + 1,000 compliments = One insult. 

Truth. 

Sometimes we dwell on things like failures, tough situations, difficult decisions, trying to be perfect, hectic schedules, never-ending to-do lists and other ridiculous worries so much that we fail to see the things we should be giving thanks for. Guilty.  

I think everyone, no matter your profession, can relate to these tips:

• Slow down. When you don’t slow down to think about the task ahead of you, plan effectively and strategize, you make mistakes and miss opportunities. 
• Focus on the good. Even in a crisis or negative situation, focus on what is good. It may be difficult to shake the negative image from your audience’s memory, but focusing on the good gives them something to look forward to, and hopefully, they’ll keep tabs on you or your client and follow up to see if things have changed.
• Don’t focus on the “what ifs.” If you focus on the “what ifs,” you will never be able to make a confident decision. You can come up with a “what if” for literally everything. 
• Move on. When you fail, move on. Dwelling on failures slows you down, keeps your attention from focusing on the good and floods your mind with all of the “what ifs.”

      So what are PR folks thankful for? 

1. Really awesome client relationships
2. Really awesome reporter relationships
3. When a client gets a front page story in one of our local publications
4. Overcoming a huge challenge
5. Helping a client meet a huge business or fundraising goal
6. When we can actually finish everything on our to-do list (Just kidding, this doesn’t happen, because in PR, there’s no such thing as “the end of a to-do list.”)
7. When you meet every deadline for an entire week!
8. When we win awards!
9. Monthly potlucks (at Obsidian)
10. Getting time off to recharge our batteries

Tips for Networking Introverts

Epiphany Woods

During a recent staff meeting, we were told we would be attending a networking event. Thankfully, it was on a day that I had class because I avoid networking events at all costs! Small talk has never been my forte, and being around a huge group of people makes me exhausted. #IntrovertProblems. But as a future PR professional, I have to get better at starting and building relationships. It’s an essential part of public relations.

I want to help my fellow PR introverts in being more comfortable with networking, so here are a few tips that I use when I have no other choice but to attend a networking event.

Open your mind: On your way to the event, clear your mind of every negative thought. If you go into a situation thinking it’s doomed from the beginning, then it will be. Try not to think at all. But if you must, think positive.

Be Prepared: If you didn’t clear your mind enough and still think you might freeze up, make a list of general talking points that can start a conversation. Staying current on the news is the best way to have something to say for small talk. But you already do that, right?

Courtesy of Flickr

Start small: Ease your way into the networking scene with an event with 50 companies listed (or fewer), so you won’t feel overwhelmed. If you’re a student, ask if the career center hosts a job/internship fair on campus. You will be more familiar with the area and the people around you.

Practice: The only way you’ll get better at doing absolutely anything is through practice. Go to a networking event to see how it’s done. At the next one, make a move you didn’t do at the last event. For example, if you didn’t meet a person and hold a conversation, make an attempt to do so at the next event. And always have your 30-second elevator speech about what you do perfectly rehearsed beforehand.

Always smile: With a smile, you look more approachable and friendly. People will gravitate toward that, and you won’t even have to start a conversation – just keep it going.  

There’s nothing wrong with being an introvert in the PR world. Just make sure you’re as good as those born-with-the-gift-of-gab people at networking events.

Newer is Not Always Better

Kelli Eason Brignac

One of my favorite commercial series on television right now is for AT&T. You’ve probably seen the ads, which show a guy sitting down with a group of children. They’ve determined that faster is better, better is better and, recently…newer is better. On that one, I’m going to disagree. Now, I’ll admit that I already have the newest iPhone, so it’s not that I think new is bad. But it’s not always better. 

When I took the GRE a couple of years ago, I spent a lot of time learning a lot of words. I already love to read, so I thought my vocabulary was pretty strong. After a month of learning hundreds of Latin roots and subscribing to the Dictionary Word of the Day (http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/), I was swimming in the sheer size of the English language. I probably didn’t make it easier on myself by also subscribing to the Urban Dictionary Word of the Day (http://www.urbandictionary.com/daily.php), but I did because, let’s face it – Urban Dictionary is hilarious. 

But as expansive and wonderful as our language is, I can’t help but have a “come ON, man!” moment pretty much every time Merriam-Webster considers adding new words to its dictionary. I was watching The Today Show this morning, and they discussed some of the new words up for consideration. I have to say, I am disappointed! Things like “hatewatch,” a word that has long been a part of Urban Dictionary, is now being considered for the ACTUAL dictionary. If you didn’t know, hatewatch is a term used when you watch a television show that you hate just so you can talk about it with your friends later. Here’s looking at you, Real Housewives of Any City Ever. Personally, I think we should start using some long-lost words like affable, gumption or philander before we start adding words that people made up. 

Courtesy of Flickr

I get being unique. I love trying new things. But to quote many a wise man, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” I mean, you’ve heard about the people who actually named their child Hashtag, right? (http://www.dailydot.com/society/hashtag-jameson-baby-name/) 

Got any other long-lost but awesome words we should use more often? Leave them in the comments – I’d love to keep learning!

Your Website Presence is a Present...Take it Seriously

Ali Glemser

Looking forward to eating the leftovers from that awesome restaurant you went to last night only to discover your roommate ate them is frustrating. The car driving too close behind you when there are two passing lanes to the left of you is annoying. But trying to navigate a poorly designed website or not finding one at all for a company you are searching for can be downright infuriating. 

The short-term task of creating and developing a website can seem daunting, but the long-term benefits far outweigh the upfront costs. A website is a cost-effective way to create a “face” for your brand and the products, services or causes it stands behind. It allows you to connect with your audience at any moment in any capacity you choose: print, video, audio, interactive messaging, etc. 

You wouldn’t show up to a client meeting with half-prepared work or poorly dressed, so why would you have a website that is difficult to navigate and aesthetically unappealing? A deficient website is an inadequate representation of your brand, and there is too much information available on this subject today for this to be excusable. Maybe you aren’t a culprit of this, but plenty of businesses are.

On that note, here are some things to consider when designing (or redesigning) your company’s website.

What is the purpose of creating the website?

Are you selling a product or service? Are you creating awareness for a cause? The content discussed throughout the website should be obvious after the first few seconds the homepage appears. Of course, you don’t want to include all of the details on the first page, but you should be able to grasp the mission or vision of the company after skimming over the first view (no scrolling down) of the page. 

Who do you expect to be visiting the website?

Will customers who have never heard of your purpose before be looking or will it be other companies in your trade? You want to tailor the information and design to accommodate all types of viewers. It is safer to error on the side of simplicity. Even visitors who know all of the jargon in your industry will appreciate a clear and concise presentation of the information you are trying to communicate.

Courtesy of Flickr

How will you know if your site is benefiting you?

Set goals to measure the effectiveness of your website based upon your business needs. If you are hoping that your website becomes a forum to exchange stories or ideas, track the responses to your postings. If you plan to communicate information on your website that you don’t provide many other places, consider looking into an analytic tracking system. Google Analytics, Piwik and Clicky all are free web analytic software programs that track visitors, what links they click on most frequently, what keyword searches brought them to your website and much more.

What is your future vision for the website?

Sure, plans can change in a short amount of time, but, overall, what type of growth do you expect for your website looking ahead? You don’t need to know the specifics just yet, but having a general idea can save you from a lot of time spent overhauling your current website design in the future.  For example, is your company looking to merge with another soon? Could you easily incorporate that into the existing website? What about the addition of another product? Could that be added easily too?

How long will this information be relevant?

Product and company information changes continuously. Think about how often you want to/need to update your website information. Look into a website design that will allow you to easily change information. You can bet you will have to do it at least once. Consider that relevant websites are changing on a regular basis to provide the most pertinent information to viewers.

In the technology-driven world today, your company’s website is a crucial element in the relationship with your audiences. Putting forth the effort to create a well- designed and user-friendly website will increase your company’s exposure and give you more control over your brand’s reputation. 

Here are some website design links to get you started as well: The Best Designs, Make Better Websites, and Site Inspire. 

Just Stop... Stop the Lying.

Crissy Lintner

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford got himself into hot water in November when he denied, denied, denied, then finally admitted that he was in fact using crack-cocaine in a publicly released video that showed him using drugs. I don’t need to go into the details of the story – you probably all saw the headlines, the video, the subsequent run-ins with media and the news conference… and the most recent development on Nov. 13.  

As I was watching the story unfold over several weeks, I already mentally replaced “denied” with “lied.” Forget the illegal act associated with the situation. Proof was right there and caught on camera – the public isn’t blind – and yet, he lied about it. And while Ford may surprise everyone and win re-election based on his eventual confession (running on the ticket that he is only human, a great example for the “down and out” and inclined to making mistakes), his reputation is tarnished. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is not re-elected. He certainly may not keep his position much longer past the posting of this blog! 

The best advice any PR professional (or otherwise trusted adviser) can offer to somebody in a position of leadership is this: always be transparent and truthful no matter the situation. If I sound like I’m repeating something you’ve already heard on this blog, it’s probably because we strongly believe in transparency and truthfulness for our clients and ourselves. Politicians, high-level executives, actors – all are caught in lies on a regular basis it seems. They deny (lie) when evidence is fairly damning against them, and the truth might have been better than the lie. I tell my kids this all the time. The punishment is always lighter if you tell the truth first rather than digging your hole deeper and deeper.

So, if you are in the unfortunate position of facing the choice to come clean or try to cover things up (especially if there’s evidence like the video in Ford’s situation), whatever you do, don’t deny (lie). You will be more likely to come out of a crisis of this nature – or any negative scenario – on a positive note if you are forthcoming and honest. 

I have a confession to make…

Kim Morrison

Not so long ago, I was one of those Memphians. You know the type. They have nothing good to say about the Bluff City, but they will go to blows if an outsider dare say a word about our hometown. They can’t stand Memphis for X, Y and Z reasons, BUT “it’ll always be home” due to A, B and C reasons.

I grew up in what started out as the boonies, transitioned into the suburbs and eventually became the wrong side of the tracks. Many times growing up, friends or dates would come out to my dad’s house and wonder if they were going to make it out of there without getting shot. It took roughly 30 minutes to get anywhere, and with nothing to go do in the general neighborhood around my home, it was very easy to develop a “there’s nothing to do here” mindset. With little knowledge of any of the goings-on in town and the plethora of bad news on the nightly news, I had always held an “I can’t wait to get out of here and move on to somewhere better” frame of mind. That is until roughly the past few years or so.

With a new mayor in office, I moved into Midtown on Dec. 29, 2010, just in time for a brand-new year. I always held fond memories of Midtown since I was a teenager, and it truly was the only area of town where I really felt at home.  In August 2012, I began my first internship, which would become my first and best job with Obsidian PR. Through my final semester at The University of Memphis and my work at Obsidian, I became more aware of the various professional and civic organizations in town. I became more aware of all the various events, shows and festivals that go on in town over the course of the year. I became more aware of the small businesses and nonprofits that are hard at work to help make Memphis and our people better. I became more aware, more engaged and more knowledgeable about all the amazing things my hometown has to offer. I’m not exactly sure when it happened, but somehow my tune changed to “This is my town, this is my pretty awesome town, and I want to be part of making it more awesome!”

So why exactly is Memphis awesome in my book? Here are just a few good reasons:

Courtesy of Ron Cogswell

• We are grit and grind.
  For years, even decades, Memphis has been the proverbial underdog, whether you’re talking about the sporting world, professional world, etc. Memphis has been looked to for Elvis, barbecue and very little else, but for Memphians, we’ve always wanted more, and we’re finally starting to see it. Whether it’s local businesses receiving accolades from national publications, the Grizzlies being name THE No. 1 team in sports by ESPN or Memphis being named one of the best cities in the country for artists, the hustle is finally starting to pay off.
• We are worth being respected.
  With higher education institutions the caliber of UT’s med school, Rhodes College, Southern College of Optometry, Christian Brothers University, and of course my alma mater, The University of Memphis, we are a center of higher learning. With hospitals like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, The Regional Medical Center at Memphis, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, and the Baptist, Methodist and St. Francis systems, we have some of the most highly trained medical professionals in the world right here in our hometown. And with Fortune 500 companies based here in Memphis such as FedEx, AutoZone and International Paper, we have some of the greatest professional minds in business that call themselves Memphians.
• There is so much to do here!
  From Broadway shows to operas, ballets, art shows, street festivals, music festivals, food festivals, free music and events in Overton Park, concerts featuring every genre of music, sporting events, book signings, fairs, networking events, museums, parks, 5Ks, block parties, pop-up events, outdoor activities and more, you really have to avoid encountering any local print, TV or digital media to think that there is nothing to do in this city. Grab a Go Memphis, Memphis Flyer, look at I Love Memphis blog or even Get Down Memphis, and see all that this city has to offer.

Doesn’t all of that sound pretty darn awesome? Yes, there’s still crime and poverty and other social issues, but you’re going to find those to an extent anywhere. “Yeah, but they’re not as bad as Memphis.” Really? Most every moderate to large city out there has areas of town you wouldn’t want to be caught walking around in alone at 10 at night. Other towns are filing bankruptcy and dealing with economic issues. Other towns have bad news. Memphis isn’t unique in any of these aspects, so quit harping on about them. If a reformed hater can learn to love this underdog of a town, can’t you? ^_^

Tag, You’re It.

Thomas Whitehead

Hashtags. We get it. To some, they are all the rage. To others, they are just a fad. And to even others, well, they just don’t get their purpose. Even Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake had another video go viral showing just how extreme and ridiculous they can be. 

And let’s be honest, brands have jumped all over using hashtags. You cannot see a print or TV execution without a plethora of clever and timely hashtags associated with different campaigns and products. 

So, with that in mind, here is a quick pop quiz for you. I am going to list some recent hashtags associated with brands, and I want you to see if you know the company responsible:

• • #PretzelLoveSongs
• • #FirstDayLooks
• • #GetYourOwn
• • #UnwrapWhatsFresh

Well, how did you do? It was pretty hard, wasn’t it? Well, let’s see if you do better with this quiz. Now, I am going to give you taglines that have been associated with these brands. Let’s see if you do better this time around:

• • Now That’s Better/You Know When It’s Real
• • Every Day Matters
• • Eat Fresh
• • I’m Loving It

Okay, the answers are Wendy’s, JC Penney, Subway and McDonald’s. Did you do better? 

Let me be clear, in this day and age, a brand needs both a strong tagline as well as solid hashtags when appropriate. I don’t think there is any coincidence that they both share the word “tag” in them. The word symbolizes a label, a culture and an experience. It works. However, there are two important factors to bear in mind when trying to create both of them in this day and age. 

1. Regardless of how creative or unique they are, both have to represent the brand’s culture and mission. They have to be recognized by the consumer as an association with that company. We all know the great ones – Coke, Nike, McDonald’s, but what about all the other forgotten ones that we cannot recall? They failed to create that connection. Hashtags don’t have the intended mileage of a tagline, but they should be easily identifiable with the brand. Too many hashtags created by brands often cannot be traced back to that company. In a later column, I will address this in further detail as I gain more examples, but remember this down the road. 
2. Taglines and hashtags also have to be consistent with each other. Yes, most brands will have one overarching tagline and then several hashtags depending on the campaigns at any given time. But, the hashtags should be driven behind the brand essence that was determined to spark the creation of the tagline. If the tagline is chosen to represent what a brand’s promise, mission and intent are to the customer, then a hashtag should be chosen carefully as well to represent how the brand wants to engage with customers online. In essence, that is the brand’s suggested calling card for sparking a conversation. 

With all the hype now around hashtags and every communication/marketing professional pushing companies to fully engage in digital media, they are here to stay and to be executed in a smart way to help gauge feedback. However, it is important to not forget the tagline. After all, this is the overarching quick statement a brand wants its audiences to know. Everything else will flow from that. If it weren’t important, it would never be changed. That might sound counterintuitive, but as brands emerge, change focus, change missions and direction, then the tagline is the first thing amended to signify how important it is. Many times, that cannot be captured in a quick hashtag. 

Taglines and hashtags will continue to be a force in your marketing arsenal. The question is, are they being created with the brand’s longevity in mind? 

Sit up Straight!

Bianca Gordon

On a recent visit to a client’s office, I walked in and was blown away by – wait for it – their chairs! Yes, I said chairs. Every single desk is equipped with a stability ball chair. I tried to hide my giddy expression when I realized that I, too, would get to sit in one because their conference room was also outfitted in 12 of these things. The client informed me that they have these chairs to help their employees improve posture and reduce tension on their back. Immediately, thoughts of my horrible posture crept in. Countless times during the workday, I find that my back hurts long before 5 p.m. because I’m slouching.

The chair was actually quite interesting, and at first, I told myself “there’s no way this is comfortable, nor stable.” Imagine my surprise when I sat down, and, after the hour-long meeting concluded, I felt like I had a pretty decent core workout and noticed myself standing taller (which, for me, is a perk since I’m 5’4” and still hoping that, with improved posture, someday I’ll reach 5’7”).

Being a strong believer in the efficacy of Post-it Notes as reminders, I decided to place one with “sit up straight” written on it in the top right-hand corner of my computer screen to remind myself to practice the perfect posture that I strive for. I was fondly reminded of a conversation from our Obsidian retreat that was on this very same topic. It made me wonder: Is my posture something that I personally want to improve because I’ve noticed myself slouching as of late, or is it something that can enhance me physically as well as improve my productivity at work. Does posture really equal productivity? “Light bulb!” (in my best Steve Carell voice from “Despicable Me.”) 

A survey from Staples Advantage reports that half of U.S. workers say they’d be more productive in a more comfortable and ergonomic workspace. The same survey reports that more than one in three workers would be more pleasant to work with, and 35 percent say they would feel less stressed at work. According to the Cleveland Clinic, correct posture at a desk helps keep your spine and joints in proper alignment, decreases stress on ligaments, prevents fatigue, strain, backache and pain, and reduces the risk of arthritis. 

If ordering a stock of ergonomic equipment isn’t in your office budget at the time, no worries; you aren’t cursed with bad posture for the rest of your working days. In a Livestrong.com article I recently read, they offered the following FREE tips on how you can improve posture (thus, increasing productivity), by positioning your body properly while working at your desk:

Courtesy of Weldon Kennedy

1. Sit facing forward. Yes, it may take concentration and a few laughs from co-workers, but this is worth the practice. Your buttocks should press against the back of the chair, and your back shouldn’t be slouched or hunched.

2. Keep a towel at work. No, it’s not for those coffee spills where you have to try and salvage every paper on your desk. When rolled up, the towel can be placed in the natural curves of your back to increase lumbar support and reduce the temptation to push your back flat against the chair. 

3. Keep it even. When sitting at your desk, your weight should be distributed evenly across both hips – don’t favor one side over the other.

4. No leg crossing. This is probably particularly difficult for all the ladies out there who have been told for years that “a lady should cross her legs when seated.” Throw your etiquette classes out of the window at the office! Sit with your knees bent at right angles, slightly higher than or even with your hips. The CDC recommends lowering your chair slightly or resting your feet on a low stool if necessary to obtain the correct height.

5. Sit close. Adjust the height of your desk and chair so that you are sitting close to the writing or typing surface and your work is tilted slightly up toward your face.

6. Use those armrests. If your chair has armrests, lay your elbows on them and extend your lower arms toward your writing surface or keyboard. Your lower arms should be positioned at an angle from your elbows, not extended straight out away from your body. If your chair doesn’t have armrests, move your keyboard back so that your lower arms can rest on the desk.

7. Keep your head forward. Look straight ahead when sitting and working, and do not place documents or your computer monitor off to one side. You should not need to move your head to read your screen, and you should not look up or down repeatedly between the computer and your documents. 

8. Get off the phone. If the phone is a big part of your job, invest in a headrest or headset to use while sitting at your desk. Most importantly, do not hold the phone between your ear and shoulder. Doing so can cause muscle strain, fatigue and pain, according to the CDC.

While I do think it would be really cool to have a bunch of stability chairs “rolling” around the office (pun intended), it’s good to know the fate of my good posture doesn’t lie in the investment of one. 

Does your office have one of these cool chairs? If so, comment below to let me know if they’re really worth the hype. I’d also love to know how my fellow office-dwellers prevent the 5 p.m. back pain.