The New PR - Latest Comments

Re: On Mediocrity

Ryan Anderson — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 04:15:52 -0000

Your point about awesome not necessarily needing to come from your work is apt, but given that I know you, I think you belie your own point. You don't work for a shitty company or have a shitty job. You may not define yourself by your job (though, I'll remind you that you do have a social media podcast) but I'd wager you'd leave your job if it didn't give you satisfaction.

My larger point was more about not understanding why someone would start a shitty company. I also think that mediocrity is rarely compartmentalized. If you're mediocre in the rest of your life, you're probably a mediocre parent, too. That's just an assumption, though.

Re: On Mediocrity

joeboughner — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:20:09 -0000

I agree with the broad strokes of this post but I think there's an inherent assumption that's fundamentally flawed - that the work someone does defines their relative level of awesome.

From my perspective, I certainly strive to do awesome in my day-to-day work but the reality is that not every project I work on is going to change the world. Sometimes clients don't want awesome, they want reliable or safe. I don't love those projects but the reality is taking projects like that from time to time is part of the reality of working where I work.

So why not work somewhere else? Because the job also allows me to do what I think is TRULY awesome: spend time with my kid. Be a good dad. Read her stories and tuck her in at night. Spend time with my wife. Be a good husband.

Call it naive but I think the most important thing I can do right now is make sure I'm around to help raise one small part of the next generation. If that means working at a job where sometimes clients value safe over awesome then so be it.

Re: A very geeky Christmas greeting

Sarah — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 10:15:33 -0000

I love this. I love love love it. Brilliant. Just freaking brilliant.

Re: Starting out in PR

Ben Smith — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 13:05:51 -0000

Totally agree, we've put together a quick "test" to see if people are right for a career in PR. It's more a bit of fun that anything, but it might help... http://blog.prmoment.com/am...

Re: Every kiss begins with a condescending douchebag

Dr Wright — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 10:04:27 -0000

Only the woman who is afraid of the storm would even go to that cabin in the first place. A confident woman would have said, there'sa big storm, lets stay in the city where the lights are more likely to stay on and cuddle here. I am glad to know that I am not on the only person who thought the commercial was creepy. If I am scared a necklace is not going to cut it.

Re: A new year, a new look, and maybe some posts

Mitchell McKenna — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 08:13:17 -0000

I don't have much of an eye for design but it looks nice, nice color scheme, have you considered removing the white space from the top and moving the header right to the top? Or reducing the white space to just 3-5 px might be nice effect actually! Congrats, and subscribed :)

Re: This site is best viewed with utter contempt

Mitchell McKenna — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 08:11:19 -0000

Bahaha, that's awesome, was checking out your new design when I came across this post. Love it when people put those little messages in for people on IE6 (although I'm not sure why they'd suggest Safari to someone on Windows).

Re: Your anus is too tight

Daisy Gentry — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 01:28:53 -0000

Just awesome!

Re: I Hate Media Relations

angelica — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 09:23:27 -0000

I have to say I am in agreement with Kathryn's comments and find the profession equally vacuous and insidious. Communication programs at universities these days profess the merits of two way open communication and this probably exists in some spheres, yet agencies are really culprits of manufacturing news, using phoney research to justify menopause treatments for example. Honestly, if you're someone who wants to be an agent for change or at least have a positive impact, why would you choose such a profession. Currently I work in Pr for government, and admittedly this is less duplicitous than agency work... nonetheless when you are associated with politicians there is definitely an element of bending the truth for the purposes of the campaign. For some this may not present a problem, as they may well believe that engaging in political spin serves the interest of their favoured party. For me, working in political pr has confirmed that politicians are vulnerable to their own desires to stay in power more than ever, and will change everything for opinion polls and market research. Yes, I can process and understand why the world is this way, but I am not sure I want to be the handmaiden which weaves the tale....

Re: Five steps to starting a successful blog

Michael Jon Ward — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 18:54:27 -0000

I like the idea of starting with success in mind... I mean I have a few different blogs, each focuses on different topics, readers etc... It is so so important to identifying your finish line, I mean put down on paper what you really want from your blog!? Once you have answered this all important question I believe it becomes easier to post regular / informative info.... Keeeeep blogging! http://mjward.co.uk/blog

Re: Starting out in PR

Sharon White — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 19:08:33 -0000

2; I agree that the PR Program at Algonquin is the best course I've ever enrolled in. Upon graduation, I found a wonderful and rewarding communication's job in the environmental field where I practiced PR for twenty years.

Re: Things you say that make you sound stupid

Chris McClelland — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 18:11:48 -0000

> Or did you mean to say “Your welcome”

Oh the irony...

Re: Your anus is too tight

wordsmess — Wed, 05 May 2010 06:58:44 -0000

Just awesome!

Re: I Hate Media Relations

Alma — Mon, 03 May 2010 17:48:55 -0000

Hi Ryan, I&#039m new to this blog and kudos on media relations. The only reason I do it is because I do it for a non-profit (issues I care about), otherwise I would not bother. I like the humor though.

Re: I don’t know (and neither do you.)

KINGRPG — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 10:35:47 -0000

I like that you think. Thank you for share very much.

Re: Things you say that make you sound stupid

mia — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:06:02 -0000

Say what you mean: People greet by asking: &#039How are you?&#039 and are answered “I&#039m fine” – but are you ‘fine’? Isn’t that for your admirers to decide? If you meant: “I’m well” why not just say that.
Another one of these: “It’s a pleasure” – to be honest, did you really pleasure yourself in this action? Or did you mean to say “Your welcome”

Re: Starting out in PR

Kelly Rusk — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:48:03 -0000

Great tips Ryan, I want to comment on two of your points:

1. Low paying exp. vs high paying irrelevance. Yes! Agreed completely and walking proof: I was pretty humbled to graduate top of my class but get one of the lowest paying jobs (of the people I spoke to at least) However, my first month at that job I planned and executed a customer appreciation event start to finish. I also got into social media before most of my colleagues knew what it was and was allowed to write under my own name which helped me get it out there. I&#039m tremendously thankful that I took that job and still miss it dearly (the company was acquired)

2. Experience vs. Education: I want to plug the Algonquin PR program here because while it covered all the necessary theoretical and skills development side of PR, the focus on the program is hands-on, practical experience. It also strongly encourages students to build a network, volunteer and launch into their careers with a lot of experience under the belt. Again I&#039m super grateful that I took it and (as you may have noticed) have become a huge advocate for it.

Re: Starting out in PR

Ryan Anderson — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:38:23 -0000

I agree completely. Though, the nice thing about Twitter is you can network passively - connect with people you&#039re interested in and follow what they&#039re doing, and reactivate the connection later when you&#039re at the same conference, etc. Again, patience is key.

Re: Starting out in PR

joeboughner — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:00:59 -0000

Well said, Ryan. I&#039d add a bit to the network thing though and say network but don&#039t try to grow your network for the sake of growing it. Learning is important, as you said, but so is patience. A lot of people want to get hundreds of followers and LinkedIn connections right way. That&#039s time better spent building the body of experience that you referred to.

Re: Can we stop calling this social media?

Brittany Dow — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:28:52 -0000

That&#039s funny you bring this up, I said something similar last night!

Re: I don’t know (and neither do you.)

Rich Becker — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:35:14 -0000

Ryan,

So much of marketing "depends" as communication continues to become increasingly situational, which is probably why "I don&#039t know" is probably the most honest answer today (I prefer "it depends"). But there is a more scientific approach at our disposal.

Generally, it seems to me that we want to conduct research, make a hypothesis (to narrow the approach), execute the approach, and then measure the results, which allows us to expend (or shift or reduce) any program intelligently. Of course, like you mention, it&#039s critical to define any challenges or objectives well before creating content.

All my best,
Rich

Re: I don’t know (and neither do you.)

Barbara — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:50:05 -0000

great blog :) keep it up.

i find this entry relevant. i really have no idea as to how to measure results since they are largely varying from time to time. one thing is just for sure. the website set-up by Prova really worked wonders for me. i used to rely on traditional advertising but now, my online presence allowed me to grow my business into a new level.

Re: Can we stop calling this social media?

Anthony — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 03:29:42 -0000

So its not the tools, its the overall strategy that counts essentially you&#039re saying? Okay.

But isn&#039t that really a subtle difference, since the strategy is always evolving to include all of those new tools?

Re: Social Media 201 – Class is in session

Ryan Anderson — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:07:23 -0000

It's funny - I'm always really skeptical about presentations on social media from agency people, but Collin is definitely one who gets it, and probably as intolerant as anyone of the snake oil salesmen.

It's a good point, though. In our hurry to talk about what's changed, we often leave out what hasn't.

If you happen to find yourself up at 5am your time, you could always follow the discussion and tweet a question with the hashtag #smbottawa. :)

Re: Social Media 201 – Class is in session

Rich Becker — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:15:15 -0000

Ryan,

I would absolutely love it if you proposed to Collin Douma that social media is not changing the game as much as its adding new pieces or, perhaps, another environmental layer on top of communication that require a more immediate situational strategy.

I'd be interested in what someone from BBDO might say, hoping they point out that social media is merely an extension of the concept from another BBDO alum that a brand is the relationship between the company and the consumer.

Wish I could be there. :)

All my best,
Rich