A Social Media Conversation I Didn't Expect

Old attitudes die hard.

This past I ran a workshop talking  about social media. Most of those attending saw the value of integrating social media into their marketing mix.  However an influential minority remained suspicious of platforms like Twitter and Facebook.

Their opposition was a conversation I fully expected up to two years ago, but not today.  We have shifted to a new communications paradigm, but it seems many in influential positions still don't get it. What are they afraid of?

My concern is those who don't at least try the new technologies may well end up talking to themselves in future, not their audiences.

The Value of Journalism

Emailing The Newsroom With Your Story

An article by Ryan Zuk in a recent edition of PRSA Tactics newspaper shared tips on emailing journalists to pitch a story.

Ryan suggests:

• Creating subject lines that stir interest.
• Limiting the body of your email to two or three sentences.
• Providing links to images, video or additional information.
• Identifying your spokesperson, why they would be good to interview and when they are available.
• Tracking who is opening your emails and when, to learn which date and time works best for the media.

Ryan's advice is timely given local newsrooms are shrinking and journalists are becoming harder to reach by phone.

Stage Fright Is Not Nice But Necessary

In recent years I must have given hundreds of talks to different groups across Australia.

All have been about communications, PR or marketing. I have spoken to groups at workplace seminars, big conferences and, at times around kitchen tables in rural areas.

I still get nervous before each presentation, whether the audience is a group of critical professionals or enthusiastic volunteers eager to learn about the fundamentals of communications.

Over the years I have come to appreciate the value of stage fright before a presentation. It keeps you sharp, focussed and always keen to do your best. Complacency alongside poor preparation ranks among the worst things a speaker can display.

One thing that helps me before a talk is to visualise a happy ending where the audience leaves the room satisfied they now know something new that will help them in the future.

So while I may not like pre-event nerves, I have come to accept them as necessary.

How do you steady your nerves before talking to a group of strangers?

Australia's Olympians Are An Unhappy Lot

Australia's London Olympians are an unhappy lot.

Or so you would think looking at the Qantas signs in Melbourne Airport.

The airline is running a sponsorship promotion wishing our Aussie gold medal hopefuls good luck before they leave for London.

Concourse billboards present a short message of encouragement topped by rather sullen images of athletes representing popular sports.

The problem is the sports stars look positively intimidating and unapproachable in the images.

OK, we expect our athletes to be focussed on the upcoming competition. At the same time we also want them to enjoy the London Olympics which after all are a celebration of sporting achievement.

Which begs the question. Why do marketers routinely choose haughty or sullen images in their advertising?

Disdainful looking models, aggressive looking sportsmen and minor celebrities looking down their noses at the rest of us. They're everywhere in today's advertising.

Why would anybody want to buy or support anything associated with such unfriendly looking and pampered people?

I'd much rather a pleasant looking person conveying my messages. After all a friendly face stands more chances of winning friends, fans and followers any day.