New Features on LinkedIn for Companies

I can still hear my former professor repeating to the class, “Connections, connections, connections.” Though my classmates occasionally grew tired of this advice for starting a successful career, I certainly benefitted from the repetition. What I learned from my professor is that one of the most valuable tools when seeking and maintaining a career is, […]

Tips for Pitching the Media Through Social Media

In the age-old tussle between public relations practitioners and the media, pitches take considerable heat. In fact, a blog is devoted to bad pitches. Previously, I worked for a large organization in a small town. The local newspaper wanted story ideas – it just wouldn’t accept ideas that came directly from the organization’s communications office; […]

For Better or Worse: The Power of Social Media Mobs

By now, we’re all aware of the benefits of social media. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Social media is a powerful tool to connect with your target audiences, increase brand recognition and convey key messages. If you’re strategic and willing to make the time and resource investment, you can build a […]

Four Tips Gleaned From Analysis of Political Debates

In the past we have written about the importance of body language, but the topic came to my attention again during the eighth Republican presidential debate, and the subsequent analysis of that debate, when Mitt Romney and Rick Perry got into a heated exchange. Ann Gerhart with the Washington Post wrote a wonderful article about […]

Amanda Knox and the Double-Edged Media

Amanda Knox was just a name I’d see periodically in the news. I knew this woman had been convicted of killing her British roommate while studying abroad in Italy. But then, an appeal of her conviction was raised and I started to pay attention. Something had changed – and whatever it was had grabbed my […]

Dealing with Subtle, and Sometimes Not So Subtle Snark

I’ll admit it. When I drive the kids’ carpool or overhear interactions during “play dates,” there are times I feel conflicted. One child makes a subtle statement or comment that seems to take aim at another child’s perceived weakness. It is these subtle jabs that I struggle with – do I jump in or let […]

Driving Awareness on the Issues of Dwarfism With Seattle Children’s Hospital

Did you know that approximately one in every 15,000 children is born with dwarfism, also known as skeletal dysplasia? And that 80 percent of those children have average-height parents? Neither did I. To raise awareness around this condition and to change perceptions of those individuals with dwarfism, Seattle Children’s, Little People of America’s (LPA) Puget […]

The New Facebook – How Do You Communicate Change Effectively?

Most people have a problem with change and I am no exception. So when I logged into Facebook a few weeks ago, I was sent into a panic as once again another change was made to my trusty social networking site. As I scanned over my newsfeed, post after post was complaining about the new […]

Fundraising With Social Media: Causes.com

I’m checked in at Starbucks, video chatting with my uncle in England, scanning pictures from this week’s Seahawks game and rescuing dogs from Hurricane Irene all at the same time from my Facebook account. What’s next, Facebook – foot rubs? While Facebook may not be coming out with foot rubs anytime soon, one thing that […]

Road Trip to Spokane: MarCom and Strategic Public Relations

Last Friday, Colleen Moffitt and I had the opportunity to speak to the members of the Spokane MarCom Association about the importance of strategic public relations. The journey to Spokane was one we will never forget. We began our descent into the city only to have our landing aborted, turning us back to Seattle due […]