Press releases are an important component of PR. Typically, I focus on writing the right headline to catch a reporter's attention, while crafting intelligent quotes for my spokesperson. But sometimes, a catchy headline and eloquent phrasing may fall short of helping your client from a marketing and search engine optimization (SEO) perspective. was reminded of this recently when reviewing my company's site ranking for various terms.  I realized that my company's press releases was an ideal opportunity for SEO. 2) Title Tags: This is the description that appears when you navigate to a web page. MORE >>

I originally posted this on my friend's blog, Tech for PR. I'm reposting an edited version (in italics) here to kick off this blog! While working at Blanc & Otus , I was proud of how my team responded to clients and the quality of our communications. My team may have hated me for it, but I was very nitpicky about grammar, spelling and formatting for any client facing documentation, such as weekly reports, emails, briefing sheets, etc. Since moving in-house, I've reviewed the work of two agencies and one PR contractor. agree. 2)   Correct names - This goes to attention to detail. MORE >>

I recently completed a webinar with MPI on “Dispelling the 5 Myths of Going Virtual.&#   One of the questions asked was if I could provide a list of relevant case MORE >>

Since my first PR job with Ogilvy & Mather PR Taiwan, I’ve discovered this “hidden rule” the hard way. When you’re just starting out, you’re taught to do what you can to please the journalist – and now extending to bloggers. Most practitioners start by asking what the journalist wants but now asking questions that you want to ask on behalf of your client or company. understand not wanting to anger a reporter, but if you don’t ask the question, then how do you know? So here are some questions that you should ask: What’s the timing for the story? del.icio.us MORE >>

Four years ago this month, I left the agency side to move in-house. During this time, I’ve had the opportunity to work with different types of agencies, do an agency search and consider the value of working with a PR freelancer. If you decide to bring in outside PR help, here are five points to consider: Administration. The general rule of thumb is that 10% of any retainer goes toward administration. On this point, I do favor opting for a PR freelancer over an agency, especially if you have a smaller budget. More Arms and Legs. This will vary on your budget and PR objectives. Conclusions. MORE >>