Do not read this blog post

So you're reading this post, huh? Kind of a compelling title, isn’t it?

Why is that?

Read_this_post

I have strong evidence that "negative" Web headlines and links often generate lots more clicks than "positive" ones. For example, my Worst Practices blog category gets more clicks than any other category on this blog.

Several years ago I worked on a site where we included a link "For Executives Only" and this generated more traffic than other links. It turns out people react to negatives. Words like "Worst", "Not", "Don't", and "Only" are interesting and people want to know what’s there.

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Grade your press release (for free!)

HubSpot's Press Release Grader is a free application that evaluates your press release and provides a "marketing effectiveness score". The score is based on the language and content of the release, plus advanced factors from Internet marketing experts at HubSpot such as links and search engine optimization characteristics.

Wow. This is such an awesome tool. You’re hearing about it here first, but my guess is that this will become a popular little application in PR circles.

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Facebook and YouTube blocked by paranoid corporations at their own peril

I've had an opportunity to casually explore the attitudes of hundreds of large and small companies whose employees attend my full-day New Rules of Marketing seminar and my keynote speeches. In my very unscientific questioning, my guess is that about 25% of companies block employee access to YouTube, Facebook, and other social networking sites.

Twenty-five percent block access!

That is a huge number of companies that are putting their organizations at a disadvantage.

I can't tell you the names of the nanny-state dinosaurs. But you'd be amazed at some of the big names that are too scared to let people into the world of social media.

One company I can talk about is on the other side. IBM is on the forefront of embracing employee use of social media (more on IBM later in this post).

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Public Relations Handbook (Media Practice)

by Alison Theaker (Author)

Book Description

The Public Relations Handbook is a comprehensive and detailed introduction to the theories and practices of the public relations industry. Tracing the history and development of public relations, it explores ethical issues which affect the industry, examines its relationship with politics, lobbying organisations and journalism, assess its professionalism and regulation and advises on training and entry into the profession. The Public Relations Handbook combines theoretical and organisational frameworks for studying PR with examples of how the industry works in practice. It draws on a range of promotional strategies and campaigns from businesses and charities, including Railtrack, Voice of the Listener and Viewer, Marks and Spencer, the Metropolitan Police, the Prince's Trust, Daewoo cars and the NSPCC. The Public Relations Handbook includes: * interviews with press officers and PR agents about their working practices * case-studies, examples, press releases and illustrations from a range of campaigns from multinational corporations, local government and charities * specialist chapters on financial public relations, business ethics, online promotion and the challenges of new technology * over twenty illustrations from recent PR campaigns.

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Weblogs: A curent trend in Public Relations

Public Relations as an industry has a long history of evolution , this industry has had to constantly reinvent itself to keep up with the fast changing times. In contemporary times where the world is at the threshold of a digital age, there have been massive changes in the way human beings communicate. The bounds of geography, culture and nationality no longer hold true and the world is turning into a global village. In this fast changing world , it is information and communication that hold the key to success. Organizations across every industry and geography recognize the importance of effective communications. Along with the traditional PR strongholds of analyst and media relations, disciplines such as internal communications are now becoming increasingly important as a core requisite for successful business operations. (Murphy, 2005, www.globalprblogweek.com) Public Relations is primarily concerned with establishing effective communication between organizations and individuals or companies and their audience.

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Tamano thanks Erap for inclusion in list of 2010 bets

From The Daily Tribune online-06/10/2008

Genuine Opposition (GO) spokesman Adel Tamano yesterday thanked deposed President Joseph Estrada for including him in a shortlist of personalities United Opposition (UNO) has come up for its choices to filed in the 2010 senatorial elections, saying such a practical endorsement by the ousted leader would definitely boost one’s candidacy.

Tamano, who is also the president of the Pamantasang Lungsod ng Manila, is the son of former Sen. Mamintal Tamano.

He though said he has yet to decide if he will throw his hat into the 2010 senatorial “ring” as he is still mulling over his options for the future, including if he will remain as the opposition’s spokesman.

“I am very fortunate to have President Joseph Estrada’s support. His popularity with the masa (masses) will be a deciding factor in 2010,” he said.

Tamano reportedly was picked by Estrada to be included in a shortlist of probable candidates for UNO over his “unblemished” record.

Aside from Tamano, others in the list include former Sen. Sergio Osmeña III, who served as the campaign manager for GO during the last senatorial elections; Bukidnon province Rep. Teofisto Guingona III, Iloilo province Rep. Rolex Suplico, broadcaster and former Leyte province Rep. Ted Failon and Parañaque City Rep. Roilo Golez.

Tamano said a strong Muslim candidate is needed to be able to implement reforms that would be beneficial for Muslims in the country.

“While I personally have yet to decide, 2010 still being far away, President Estrada’s support for a Muslim candidate is a very positive signal to Filipino Muslims who have not had a representative in the Senate for a over a decade,” he said.

Estrada said he has chosen the personalities based on their “clean” record. He said since the opposition stands against corruption in government, it is important for its candidates to be not involved in any anomalies in public service.

Jason Faustino

Originally posted in http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/20080610nat2.html

Encyclopedia of Public Relations (Hardcover)

by Robert Lawrence Heath


Synopsis
The two-volume Encyclopedia of Public Relations, arranged alphabetically, contains nearly 450 entries spanning all aspects of the public relations field - from theory and practice to history, including the great, famous and infamous practitioners. With contributions from internationally recognized professors, scholars and practitioners, this encyclopedia will be a must-have for any library with collections in business, management, communication and journalism. It provides students, scholars and educated lay readers with a sound, insightful and appreciative view of what public relations is and does as well as the ethical challenges it must meet to be seen as a positive force in society.Topics Covered: - Crisis Communication and Management - Cyberspace - Ethics - Global Public Relations - Groups - History - Jargon - Management - Media - News - Organizations - Practitioners - Relations - Reports - Research and Analysis - Theories and Models Advisory Board Elizabeth L Toth, Syracuse University John Madsen, Rock Island, Illinois Dean Kruckeberg, University of Northern Iowa Kirk Hallahan, Colorado State University Timothy Coombs, Eastern Illinois University Shannon A Bowen, University of Houston A A (Betteke) van Ruler, Free University, Amsterdam Kathleen S Kelly, University of Florida


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Websites are investments

Mind Bullet wants to share some inputs on website creation and use.

Nowadays, a website is more than your ordinary communication tool. From your online brochure, it has evolved into - a diary, a corporate portfolio, your mall and supermarket, a library, a photo album, your newspaper, your TV, your watch, your comics, your best friend, you source of income . . . websites are tools beyond communication, socialization, entertainment and income.

For ordinary users, a website still, is a source of ordinary information. Questions on what to do with a website is crucial for those who invested on it.

Why invest in one?

Three reasons:

First, the web is a global directory. The once very useful yellowpages is obsolete. Nowadays, people search in the web for services. A company with internet visibility is necessary for them to be searched in the global directory. Of course there are content optimization that has to be done to have good visibility.

Second, websites are more affordable than TV or radio ads. Products such as cigarettes are prohibited to advertise either in print or broadcast. Websites can be the main tool -- and not your alternative. Websites are probably the best emerging marketing tool nowadays. One click and you can tell the whole about your product or your services.

Third, a website, can also be your ticket to new investors or donors. This tip is usually not taken into account. For foundations or non-government sectors, having a website rich with information of your accomplishments, activities, mission-vision and of course contact details, can be possibly clinch you with donors. At the same time, donors, use website to explain to the world where their investments go.


Website: your identity
A website is your face. It can show what your company can bring - the quality of outputs, the expertise of people and your own competence. A well-made website which is basically user-friendly, attractive, streamlined and loads fast, brings out your identity. If your website works well, then it can be an indication that the company works well too. It can be said that the rigor of website creation and the careful implementation of output and services are quite synonymous.

Those who should project clear identities - such as those in politics, in advocacy and even schools, should have websites for them to be identified and known. Sometimes, websites can be a tool for branding and creating identities.


Net users: The new critical mass
Net users' opinion are important in decision and policy making. The net users is the new critical mass. Opinions, facts, feelings, ideologies are now transparent and can be read in blogs, websites, social networking sites, etc. The net users themselves is one sector with a voice - they can form a concensus whether or not they are in the same physical territory.

The new era of no-boundaries was made possible by the internet. Now, physical territories have been broken - and thus, more perspectives rise, relate, communicate - they can fight, argue, rebuke, rebutt, mesh, cooperate -- bringing new insights to issues and everyday conversations.


SO, WHY HAVE A WEBSITE?
It is your window to this global trend. A spot to show who you are, what you can do, where you can be.

Mind Bullet Pick of the Week: Patricia J. Parsons: Ethics in Public Relations: A Guide to Best Practice

For this week, Mind Bullet introduces the book by Patricia J. Parsons on Ethics on Public Relations: A Guide to Best Practice. Found through Amazon, the book by Prof. Parsons provides a

framework for understanding important ethical issues in public relations and corporate communications now and in the future to help develop an attitude that supports the concept that ethics are key to professionalism and credibility in the field to assist in everyday ethical decision-making. Written by a leading academic in the field, this practical and engaging title is a must-have for any public relations practitioner or student who wants a framework that relates underlying ethical theories to everyday issues

Prof. Patricia Parsons is a Public Relations professor and a past chairman of the Bachelor of Public Relations degree program at Mount Saint Vincent University. For more information about the author, you may visit her Linked In Profile


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Kahlil Gibran and Work

(photo is from Gibson books )



To keep ourselves sane in this stressful world, we should always have a moment for ourselves. The internet, a rich fabric of information, is the best source of various materials to keep us grounded, inspired and energized. Mind Bullet shares with you a site on the written works of Kahlil Gibran. Kahlil Gibran, the author of the book, The Prophet, The Madman shares inspiring tips and concepts on simple everyday things.

Here is a bit of what Kahlil Gibran says about work.

On Work

Then a ploughman said, "Speak to us of Work." And he answered, saying:

You work that you may keep pace with the earth and the soul of the earth. For to be idle is to become a stranger unto the seasons, and to step out of life's procession, that marches in majesty and proud submission towards the infinite. When you work you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music. Which of you would be a reed, dumb and silent, when all else sings together in unison?

Always you have been told that work is a curse and labour a misfortune. But I say to you that when you work you fulfil a part of earth's furthest dream, assigned to you when that dream was born,
And in keeping yourself with labour you are in truth loving life,
And to love life through labour is to be intimate with life's inmost secret. But if you in your pain call birth an affliction and the support of the flesh a curse written upon your brow, then I answer that naught but the sweat of your brow shall wash away that which is written.

For more of Kahlil Gibran's work, you may visit http://www-personal.umich.edu/~jrcole/gibran/gibran1.htm.


Kahlil Gibran
The Madman
His Parables and Poems
(1918)
http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext04/thmdm10h.htm