CEO of Starbucks Doles Out his Expert Advice

So I haven't blogged in awhile, but I want to call attention to a recent interview I read in the NYtimes "Corner Office" section.  I highly recommend checking out the interview  with CEO of Starbucks, Howard Schultz.  Not only do I love this interview because of my long-lasting love for starbucks (those of you who know me personally) and because I respect the brand, but because it provides insight into the thought patterns of not just a CEO, but an entrepreneur.

One of the questions and answers was particulary interesting:

Q. If you could ask somebody only two questions in the job interview, what would those questions be?


A. I think I’d ask them about their current family and their family history. Now you’ve got to be careful with some of this, but I’d want to know that.

I think Schultz's answer to the question draws a destinct parallel to public relations.  Public Relations is not only about who you know and networking, but it's also about personality.  My understanding of why Schultz asks about one's family is because you can learn a lot about a person's personality and upbringing by their family.  
 
Schultz also states, "I obviously want people who enjoy coffee. I think it would be very difficult for me to hire somebody who doesn’t drink coffee."  The same advice rings true for public relations--if you're not passionate about what you're doing or your clients..you should move on..I truly believe that passion is the core of this business.  
 
What do you think? 
 

The Coveted "Work-life balance"

I cannot believe I haven't written on this blog for so long!  That's why I've decided to blog about obtaining the elusive "work-life balance."  That is--being able to balance one's social life with work.  I must admit, I've been having some difficulty achieving this.  I'm a type-a person (i.e. perfectionist) and definitely have some "work-aholic" genes in my blood.  This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but i've been realizing that I haven't been giving myself time to do the things I enjoy outside of work--maintaing this blog for one!

So with that being said, i'm going to make a concerted effort to try to balance the two.

I've browsed the web for tips on how to manage the work-life as well as your own life:

-http://www.quintcareers.com/work-life_balance_tips.html

-http://www.savvysugar.com/15-Tips-Better-Work-Life-Balance-2982664

-http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/03/0326_work_life_balance/2.htm (I especially like these twitter tips!)

Sometimes we need to accept that we just can't do it all and if we just slowed down we might gain some piece of mind.

What do you guys do to manage your work and your life?

To be successful in Public Relations do you have to be a b*tch?

So i'm reading Kelly Cutrone's book "If you have to cry, go outside" (don't laugh-it's a New York TImes bestseller!) and it got me thinking about attitude.  In the book, she describes how she got into the PR business and how she has been able to maintain her success. In case you're unaware, Kelly Cutrone is the epitome of a  "power bitch." She's become renowned for her popular fashion PR firm "People's Revolution" and through her stints in reality Tv shows, in particular The Hills, The City, and Kell on Earth. 


In these shows (which I think give a fairly accurate reflection of her personality) she's a flat out b*tch.  She's not nice at all, and she certainly doesn't care about making her employees cry.  Yet, she's extremely successful.  In her book so far, she's attributed her success to not only her hard work, but her attitude that lets nothing stand in her way.  And to be this way, she's a b*itch.  Now this begs the question that to be successful in PR do women need to be b*tches.

I'd have to disagree with this, as I think that in the long run people things will pan out for you if your nice and don't burn any bridges.  While, in the short term, being a b*tch might help, in the long run reporters, clients, and employees (if you're running your own firm) will be much more receptive to helping you succeed. From personal experience, I find that reporters are much more willing to help you out if you're nice to them.

What do you think?

Note: For more info on Kelly Cutrone see interesting interview on mediabistro.

The Basics: How to Pitch a Reporter (and be successful!)

I know it's been a while since i've written.  In the past few weeks or so, I've really been focusing on being the best PR professional I can be.  That's why I've dedicated this post to the basics: pitching the media.


Pitching reporters is the basis of what public relations is-trying to get our clients positioned in the media.  We try to find a way of doing this without seeming as though we're pushing a product.  Reporters receive hundreds of pitches/story ideas every day so it's important to keep them targeted.  I've compiled a few helpful links so that reporters will be reading your pitches in no time!

See here: 
How to write a pitch letter

How to pitch a reporter call


More helpful advice


The bottom line is that reporters want to feel special.  If you send out a mass pitch, chances are the big names (i.e. AP, NYtimes) won't take a look at it.  Sometimes putting the extra half an hour into writing a targeted pitch can pay off!

Until next time, 
Aly

Do we always have to say 'yes'?

This post is inspired by Nicole Crimaldi of "Mscareergirl.com", who wrote an excellent blog post this week about women and their need to say "yes" to everything.  Her article is entitled "A Remedy for the Pleasing Disease," and it is definitely worth checking out.

I think that this is definitely a relevant issue (for women in particular) in all areas of life, especially in work and social environments.  Crimaldi describes in her post how she once RSVPd to 3 weddings happening in the same weekend all in different cities.  From personal experience, I hate saying no to things, but in the long run I end up exhausting myself and regretting saying yes to everything. So, nowadays I make my best effort to follow through, but don't dwell over something if I can't do it.

The problem with saying 'yes' to everything is that we don't end up benefitting ourselves or our clients.  For instance, in public relations if we say yes to and promise a client everything not only will the bar be set too high, but if we fail..it ends up hurting us in the long run.  Nobody is expected to do everything.  My advice  is to say yes to the things that really matter, and leave the rest to how you feel.  Yahoo.com also gives some great tips on how to say 'no'.  See here: How to say no!

Social Networking Your Way Across the World

It's been a hectic week and while a lot has happened in the news over the past few days (Steve Jobs Iphone 4 conference, the plug in the BP oil spill) i've decided not to write about them.  Instead, I want to write about the new wave of travel sites and the hospitality industry's evolution over the past year or so.

This morning, while munching on a raspberry scone and drinking my ice coffee, I perused the travel section of the New York Times and stumbled on a very interesting article, "Europe Without Hotels."  The article describes the new wave of traveling for many--social networking and using sites, such as http://www.airbnb.com/ and http://www.crashpadder.com/ (newly referred to as 'Social B & B's).  These sites enable travelers to stay at locals' apartments with the comforts of "home" and a much smaller price tag.  As the article mentions, "these sites rely on social networking and everyone is encourage to have a 'back story and a face."

Personally, I find the idea of "Social B & B's" brilliant.  Who wouldn't want to stay at a nice apartment right near the Louvre for cheap?  From experience, I remember that when I was traveling across Europe it would have been nice to stay a place a little bit more "homey" instead of moving from hostel to hotel to hostel.  I hope more industries follow lead and take to social networking to revolutionize their business models.

My question to you all is: would you stay at a Social B & B?  I know I would.

Lebron's choice to state his decision "live" on ESPN: Good or Bad Choice?

So it would be crazy for me not to write about Lebron James after his decision aired live in front of millions of people last night (I can't believe he didn't go to the Knicks!).  I have to give it to ESPN and whoever organized "the decision" special..it was a great way to maximize on the NBA's pr and the Boys and Girls club pr.  My question for you all, though, was do you think it was a good choice or a bad joice for Lebron James in particular?

Lebron has already received a ton of negative backlash from other the teams, in particular the Cavaliers.  Immediately following his decision, people in Ohio were already burning his jersey (extreme much?).  See this article on ESPN's efforts to defend Lebron and his decision after last night's program.  The article states, "Lebron has just alientated a whole state." 

I am wondering if Lebron hadn't created such a media storm over his decision, if he would have received more positive pr?  I am sure that every ohio reporter has crafted a negative piece on him today, and he's probably regretting creating an entire "ESPN special" for it.  Honestly, I think that Lebron shouldn't have made his decision so public via the media, which is why I think he has received so much criticism over his decision. 

He stated during the press conference that "I had to do what was best for me."  Well, what would have been best for him was to avoid the media and make the decision quietly.  Don't worry Lebron, the media would have picked up on it regardless!
  

Bravo TV's on our "shit list"

So I guess this post falls into the "nonsense" category as it doesn't really have to do with PR but I felt it was worth blogging about.  Today I read a post on http://prbreakfastclub.com/ that is hilarious-It was exactly what I was thinking.

The article is entitled "Bravto TV #fail" and it talks about the author's obession with the "Real Housewives of NY/NJ"-(specifically NJ).  Now I must avow that myself, like the author, is sickly obsessed with the "Real Housewives." Honestly, I could spend hours mindlessly watching the show.  The funny thing about it, is that the Real Houswives of NJ isn't really an exaggeration--there are people like that in NJ.  Anyway, the author mentions how Bravo's previews were incredibly deceptive, as they showed the "knife episode" (the most anticipated episode of this season" that was supposed to air on monday.  Instead, nothing noteworthy really happened-as Danielle was being her usual ridiculous self.

Now this begs the question, if it was fair for Bravo to air scenes from the wrong episode to entice viewers?  Honestly, it makes me mad, but I think that this is the only way that they'll get viewers.  I wouldn't watch it if I didnt' think that the season would lead up to anything dramatic (cop cars and knives, anyone?).  What do you guys think?

Happy 4th everyone!

Mashable's "Social Media Day"

Public Relations is all about who you know--in short: Networking.  I want to devote this post entirely to a networking event that i'll be attending sponsored by Mashable. This will be my first "real" networking event and i'm really looking forward to it.  I even ordered new business cards for the event-so hopefully i'll get to use them (all 250 of them haha).

The event is called Social Media Day and it's being held this upcoming Wednesday at the Mean Fiddler.  You can check out the rest of the details here: http://socialmediaday.eventbrite.com/

They even provide the guest list for it, and so far there as some pretty impressive names on the list.  I can't wait.  So in an effort to "prepare" for the event i've browsed tips on how network at events.

Here are some helpful tips that i've found:

Networking at Events

Ehow's networking tips (Note step #7 is a little odd-i would not recommend pretending to smoke in order to pursue a contact)

*My personal tip that I find the most useful is to FOLLOW UP the next day.  If a contact is worth pursuing, a good way to stand out is to email him/her to reiterate what a pleasure it was to meet them.  Chances are he/she probably spoke with a lot of people at the event and this is a great way to make yourself stand out from the crowd!

Hopefully i can make some great contacts. Will update y'all next time.  Cheers!

The Art of Small Talk

Wikipedia defines small talk as "conversation for its own sake."  Small talk.  It's something we all engage in on a regular basis but it IS an art.  Most people are terrible at it, but small talk is very important.  Small talk is a great way to network and form relationships.  Most people don't want to talk about work and they'd rather talk about the world cup or how hot it is outside. Life is stressful so if you can strike up a conversation about the little nuances in life, you'll be patting yourself on the back later.

I came across a great article on PRBreakfast Club on tips for engaging in small talk.  The article provides a lot of great ideas on what to talk about and what to avoid.  Check it out here.

The one thing I do disagree with in the article is that they say to avoid politics and current events, such as the BP oil spill.  I think that these days a lot of good conversations can come about from discussing current events.  From personal experience, I sit across from a TV in the reception area..where I almost always have CNN on....talking about the news is a great discussion topic.

Small talk. Try it sometime.

 

It's all about keeping in touch

Yesterday I finally had the time to send out emails to several people I've been keeping in touch with over the past year or so.  One of them was my italian exchange partner and good friend Pizio-when I studied abroad in Florence a year ago (gasp!) he was my best friend out there.  Unfortunately, I haven't been able to make it back to Italy, but we have kept in constant contact since I've left over email.  

So this week got me thinking about all the relationships in life.  Whether big or small, all of my relationships have succeeded because i'm able to keep in touch with the people I care about.  Now in relation to public relations, keeping in touch is VITAL to maintaining client relationships and relationships with the media.  The same goes for networking--if you don't reach out to people you've networked with every so often, you will lose that relationship.

I stumbled across a good blog article: here it is! about how the onset of social media has made it even easier for PR professionals to keep in contact with journalists.  The article even mentions that it's "not the journalists job to reach out to PR people, but the opposite.  So what are you waiting for?!  Go reach out to that connection who you've lost touch with, or send that email to your long time friend.  It can go a long way...

 

First Week on the Job=Success!

Don't hate me.  I know it's been awhile since I've written but this week was incredibly busy.  I had a great first week at my internship and I think it's only going to get better.  I am already busy and I have assignments for the next week due.  I've noticed that since the day goes by, there are several things to accomplish and sometimes it's difficult to A) figure out what needs to get done first and B) Multi-task.

I figured it wouldn't hurt to browse some tips on multi-tasking at work and I came across a great article on Penelope Trunk's blog on how to prioritize at work.  See the article here: Excellent article!

My favorite tip is #9 which is to organize your to-do list everyday.  I've started doing this and it makes things soooo much easier!  With the to-do list, I know that I won't forget anything and it's a way to not feel so overwhelmed by why I need to do.

* Another personal tip of mine that I wanted to add was to BUY A NOTEBOOK!  I've learned that in PR, people are constantly writing things down.  A notebook is a much easier way to organize client information than just a regular notepad.  I'm going to invest in a good one this week!

Well, that's all for now.  But if you have any additional multi-tasking and time management tips PLEASE feel free to comment.

Until next time,

Aly

Moving home....indefinitely.

Yesterday marked my first official day back home on long island after graduating college.  I think I was in denial yesterday, but today I woke up and came to the realization that i'm home for good.  I'm definitely freaking out a bit.  I mean i've been in the midwest for the past 4 years and frankly it's a little disconcerting  to wake up in my childhood bedroom.  So instead of focusing on the negative (i'm trying to be an optimist these days!) I decided to browse some articles on moving home after college.

After browsing through a few of them, I realize that moving back home is in no way unusual but it's actually the NORM!  According to monster, at least 60 percent of college grads move home after graduating and this figure is expected to rise, especially given the state of our economy.

A post on Penelope Trunk's blog (the slightly wacky creator of Brazen Careerist) helped quell my fears and reassure myself that i'm doing the right thing.  In fact, the article states, "This period is not a transition, but an actual life stage."

So I figure as long as it's a "life stage" I don't have to feel too guilty about being a "grown up," and I can enjoy the free food, laundry, and cable for the time being.

Blogging from the Road

I'm currently blogging from a hotel in Dubois, PA as I make my way back to New York (it's a 10 hour drive) and it got me thinking about how to stay "connected" on the road.  While, I do have my blackberry, I oddly felt out of touch without being able to blog until I got to my hotel room.  This could turn into a dangerous obsession...

I stumbled upon this article that gives some good tips on staying connected while traveling, particularly with regards to blogging.  It's definitely worth checking out:

 Super tips on keeping your blog updated! 

The article makes it apparent that wireless networks are everywhere so it's very easy to stay connected.  I do, however,  recommend "pulling the plug" once in awhile.  I promise the world will still go on if you don't respond to an email immediately. 

First day on the job jitters

I can't believe it, but I start my new job on June 1st next tuesday.  I am pretty nervous about starting but I know that once I start, I'll be able to take initiative and get into the flow of things.

I came across a great post on www.culpwrit.com that shares a lot of great tips on how to survive the first day and week on the job when the days are a bit "uncertain."  Ironically, it was posted on June 1st, 2009-- a year ago from the day i'll be starting.  OH THE IRONY! HA!  

I've posted the best tips they suggest below:

1. Ask questions!

2. Be proactive--if you're not assigned anything review the industry's publications, clients, blog, and website to to get a feel for the company culture.

3. Be friendly!--try to meet and connect with as many people as you can.  First impressions are everything.

4. Appearance--lay your clothes out the night before so you won't be rushing to throw something together in the morning.

5. (My personal tip) At the end of the day, it is essential to follow up with your supervisor either by email or in person about what you accomplished throughout the day.  This will not only set a great impression based on trust and competency but it also shows your initiative.

See culpwrit's full post here: Handy Dandy First day reminders!

*If you have any more tips please feel free to comment and post below!  Anything is appreciated! 

BP's got more problems! A PR Prospective.

I know that i'm a bit delayed on writing about BP, but I figured i'd share my musings on them from a PR standpoint.  Number one, their PR rep needs to stop talking.  It was a major flaw for BP not to come clean and fully disclose their reponsiblity for the oil spill.  This is a good lesson for PR pros to take home, as full-disclosure of a mistake or issue with a product is essential for bouncing back from a catastrophe.  Another problem with BP's PR is that they don't seem to be preposing any viable solutions for the problem.  My suggestion, would be to start garnering some positive PR by organizing an event where all the money is donated to saving the environment, or they could even donate a portion of their sales to the relief efforts. 

I recently read about the BP Public Relations fake twitter account that was a created a few days ago.  Already they have over 20,000 followers-and with good reason.  Their tweets are hilarious!   

A few of my favorite tweets from the faux BP PR account:

The ocean looks just a bit slimmer today. Dressing it in black really did the trick! #bpcares

The good news: Mermaids are real. The bad news: They are now extinct. #bpcares

Jelly beans, roller coasters, pizza and trampolines. Without oil, none of these would exist. Just something to think about. #prayforBP

Catastrophe is a strong word, let's all agree to call it a whoopsie daisy.

And who ever thought social media couldn't be funny?! See @BPGlobalPR for more amusing tweets!

Back to being the "newbie"

Since I've graduated, i've been reading a ton of articles about how to venture the "right" way into your career.  Anxious, much?  I have a lot of free time in Ann Arbor these days!  Anyway, this morning I came across an interesting article by Kate Ottavio entitled "Back to Square One," in which she describes her experience after graduating and taking on a new role at a pr firm as an account coordinator.  She explains how she was naive in thinking that she was "on top" and that she knew all there was to know.

One of her statements troubled me and I definitely disagree.  She writes (in BOLD) "You are of little value to the professional world when you first graduate college."  First of all, this is very disheartening to all college grads.  Now what was the point of going to college in the first place?  I would hope that I didn't sit through all of those bluebooks to be considered worthless.  Second, I think that recent grads are in fact valuable to employers.  We can offer a fresh perspective, advanced knowledge on technology and social media (my dad still doesn't know how to make a powerpoint by the way), an eagerness to learn, and enthusiasm.  My guess was that Kate was trying to warn grads of being too arrogant but I think her statement is not only way off, but untrue.

To be honest, I don't have a problem being the "newbie."  Personally, I think going back to square one is NORMAL for any transition in life.  Not to sound cliche` but any time i've embarked on a new path, i've started out as the little fish (i.e. freshman in high school, college, etc).  My experience has been that you only learn unless you start out at the bottom first.  

See Kate's article here: Back to Square One

What do you think?

Pitching to Reporters

Apologies for not writing yesterday, it was just a gorgeous day out in Ann Arbor (which seldom happens) that I laid off the computer for the day.  Today, however, is of course rainy so i've been browsing pr blogs like crazy.  I came across this great post on Nicole Van Scoten's blog about how pr pros should pitch to reporters.  It has a lot of great tips, and i'm learning gradually how important the relationships are between public relations pros and reporters.

See the article here: Tips on "pitching"

I think the most important tip is doing research on the reporter.  Before you pitch a reporter, you should at the minimum google them and check out the types of articles they're writing.   Ask yourself, does the reporter write stories on what I plan on pitching to him or her?  And if anything...at the very least the journalist will be happy you're reading his/her pieces :) 

Lady Gaga and Public Relations

So this morning while I was driving, Lady Gaga's "Alejandro" came on the radio.  I have to admit that initially I couldn't stand Lady Gaga, but lately I've been loving her songs.  This got me thinking about Lady Gaga as more of an "icon" and a "performer" and less of a singer.  Yes, Lady Gaga has songs that people enjoy, but she would never have been as big as she is if she wasn't as let's say "out there" as she is.  She paints herself as someone who is extremely original, daring, and doesn't care what the press or anyone else thinks--but she fact is that she DOES care what people think.  We can site her "telephone" video with Beyonce` as an example of this.  (Truthfully I thought the video was ridiculous and she was trying WAY too hard to be artsy and to get additional publicity).  So, now, what does this all have to do with public relations?

PR plays a huge role in Lady Gaga's success.  Clearly, she has a great publicist, who has been able to implant her "original" reputation in eyes of millions of fans.  From her outrageous acts to her outlandish costumes, her publicist put the message out there for fans.  For anyone who says public relations is a dying industry, here's clear evidence it's only growing.

For your enjoyment i've posted the telephone video:

Lady Gaga's "Telephone"

Network, Network, and...more networking!

So while I was browsing my usual career blogs and websites, I came across this great interview with Anne Brown that I thought I would share.  Anne Brown writes the blog gradtogreat.com, which I would recommend reading, and in the interview she discusses her recent book on networking and tips for recent grads!  It's definitely worth watching, if you are wondering how to go about networking.

See here:

Anne's Interview

On my personal experience with networking, I did what Anne recommended and reached out to my Alumni Center for the names of people in my industry.  Twitter is also a great resource for searching for people in the industry and following the trends.  Another tip: Join PR and marketing professional groups on Linkedin, you would be surprised how many people use these groups!  I would also ask family members to bust their butt for you and connect you with people they know.  I promise, there will always be someone they can connect you with.

That's all for now.

-Aly

Start of the blog

Well here I am.  Finally blogging again and I am going to try to keep this much more up to date and focused.  To start, I recently graduated from the University of Michigan (as you can probably note from "about me" section) and I'll be moving back in a few weeks from ann arbor to new york.  My parents live on long island (yessss LONG-GUYLAND!) and unfortunately I'll face the plight of most poor recent grads and move back in with them indefinitely until I save up enough to move out.

The situation isn't ideal, but I was able to secure an internship at a prominent pr agency that should transition into a full-time position.  I plan on writing a lot about my experiences there and everything else that comes a long with becoming part of the "real world."

On that note, I figure i'll leave a few random facts about myself:

1. I'm FREAKED out of pigeons.  Seriously, they are like flying rats.  I see them, I run.

2. I'm a twitter fanatic.  Follow me: @AlyMarks 

3. I am obsessed with all things Italian.  I'm fluent in the language.

I look forward to sharing my thoughts with anyone who is reading out there and hopefully I can provide some insight. 

Until tomorrow,

Aly