Tag Archives: Morningstar Communications

Unleash Your Creativity

Posted in Best Practices, Creativity and Design, Tips and Tricks

Our brains are incredible. They make new connections throughout our lives, constantly build new pathways and maintain information already stored. With hardware like this, it is difficult to understand why we often struggle with creative thinking.

Sparking creativity is difficult without the right tool set. Next time you are stuck in a creativity rut, try these “warm-ups”:

Think outside the box. Our brains are capable of exploring multiple pathways. Use this to your advantage by viewing an idea from various angles. Ask yourself questions that evoke different responses and meanings, i.e. emotional, physical and conceptual.

Work up a sweat. Next time your creative brainstorming session hits a roadblock, take a quick walk around the block. Exercise Exercise gets blood pumping to your brain and creates a positive mood, making it an excellent way to get your creative juices flowing.

Pencil in some creative time. When filling out your weekly schedule, dedicate an hour or two for creativity. Scheduling creative time will allow you to focus solely on creativity without added distractions. I suggest activities like painting, gardening or even discovering new music.

Looking for additional creativity inspiration? Click here for more creativity boosting tips and tricks.

 

Tagged Creativity tips, Laura Jung, Morningstar Communications

The End of Newspapers?

Posted in Media Relations

For anyone who has been alive during the last 100 years, the daily newspaper is a common item on any kitchen table. There’s something about the smell of finely pressed ink, a fresh cup of coffee and the smell of the morning air that makes life enjoyable. Catching up on the previous day’s events and looking forward to what’s to come starts your day right. The events of the past and future are a crisp piece of paper grasped between your fingertips.

But the rise of the Internet is changing everything. Newspapers across the country are seeing a drop in readership as people flock to websites and blogs for their daily updates and news reports. Facebook tells us about our friends, LinkedIn gives us job leads and Craigslist helps us buy and sell our stuff. All it takes is a few clicks and an Internet connection.

The question is, “Will newspapers become extinct?” Is the Internet going to take over permanently? Personally, I don’t think so. There is something about how the newspaper you’re holding took time and effort to create – a beautiful feeling that a computer cannot recreate.

When you hold the paper, it’s all you have to worry about. You can’t jump to Facebook, or search for some funny YouTube video.  You sit down and read without distractions. You can unwind and focus on something that you know will not likely shift your attention and will not suddenly be interrupted by a pop up ad. It is simply there for your pleasure and enjoyment.

Newspapers are changing, but they will never die.

Tagged Korab Eland, Morningstar Communications

You Are Your Brand, Your Company’s Brand and Your Client’s Brand

Posted in Best Practices, Tips and Tricks

 

You are a brand, and at all times, you are an extension of your brand. Not only are you a brand for yourself, but you also represent the brand reputation of your company and your clients. That’s a lot to take in, but as a professional in the always evolving and incredibly active world of PR, communications, marketing and advertising – we know this fact to be true. What you do, say, post, wear, etc., speaks for more than just you.

Heavy stuff, isn’t it? But, if we already know this, why blog on the topic? Because time-after-time I witness painful personal fails as people get a little too comfortable or have a little too much fun, seemingly not aware that they still represent their team, their company and their clients after 5:00 p.m.

We’re fortunate to work amongst exciting, innovative industries – industries that allow us to step away from our desks to attend networking events, client happy hours and trade shows and events in great locations. We work in a fun industry, so by no means should you eliminate fun from this job – it’s one of the best parts.  In fact, our clients often like working with us because we’re an enjoyable group.

It’s important to simply balance having fun and enjoying yourself with the knowledge that you’re representing your company and clients at all times. Remember: you are always on, and people associate multiple brand reputations with you as a person whether you’re at your desk or not.

So, what can we do to ensure we’re on top of our game as professionals while still enjoying the perks of the industry?

Act with tact: Just as your mother told you: be tactful, considerate, perceptive, polite and responsible. Easy enough, right? Keep in mind that your actions and your words both speak loudly. Keep simple courtesies in mind when networking, when engaging on social media sites and especially when sharing opinions or advice. Keep it clean and don’t be sloppy. Ensure your behavior matches the image your company and clients want portray.

Don’t get too comfortable: Whether you’re with colleagues, clients or other contacts, it’s typically a good move to leave the dire personal stories and experiences to yourself. In short, be friendly, but don’t be too friendly. It’s wonderful to love your clients and associates, but lines can be crossed. Don’t let what you intend to be a private joke or silly, personal story turn into a nightmare after the fact. Word gets around, and you want to come off as professional, even after hours. Don’t permit your actions one night to jeopardize the respect you’ve earned over time. Although you feel comfortable in good company, be careful not to release private information that was intended to be strictly between you and a client. Don’t give your associates and clients a reason to think you’re anything less than fabulous all around. A drink or two might be a great bonding experience, and silly stories can be fun for all – but just keep them clean and appropriate.

Prep as much as possible: It’s fair to say that in this industry, things come up. On any given day you might rush out of the office to assist a client with an interview or meet up with a journalist at an after hours event. So be prepared. Before you leave, take time to think about why you are going, and keep those goals in mind. Pack your business cards, brush up on recent articles, trends and general news that pertain to the industry and your client. Being perceptive and tactful comes in here once again – but so does being fun. You want people to want to work with you. So, before you run out the door in a hurry, take two minutes to think about with whom you’re going to spend time. Maybe you’ll find a funny meme on their Twitter account you can bond over. Who knows? Little things like this make you memorable and enjoyable. You’re more likely to get somewhere with a journalist or a business partner who knows you’re not only intelligent and poised, but also generally informed and fun to be around.

Attitude is everything:  For the most part, we’re a bunch of Type A people in this industry. Type A to a T. Don’t be a wallflower when there is fun and networking opportunities to be had. Ask questions; compliment someone on their fun shoe selection, whatever it takes to strike up a conversation. Smile, talk about your company, your agency, your client, the news, the latest autotuned news piece – establish relationships, that’s the kicker. You might be at a party, but you’re there for your company or client. Word will get around that you’re the person always sitting in the corner or that you’re the person everyone wants to talk to.

Know your limits: In this industry, you may find yourself at a good party from time to time. Alcohol is typically present, and often free flowing. At these events, you are often, “Mrs. Smith representing (insert fabulous client name here).” Mind your P’s and Q’s and know your limits. Don’t be the person your client mentions Monday morning while discussing people who went too far at the party, and certainly don’t be the person your associates have to carry out.

Tagged best practices, brand, brand recognition, Marketing, Morningstar Communications, Networking, preparation, professionalism, public relations, Susan Hinds, tips and tricks

Twitcher – Pitching Through Twitter

Posted in Media Relations, Social Media

I love learning something new every day, but when I can count new pieces of knowledge on two hands, that is a darn good day.

Two weeks ago I attended a PRSA event in which Erica Swallow was the featured speaker. She is accustomed to both sides of journalism – news and information, and strategic communication. Erica has an impressive resume: contributor to Forbes, The New York Times and Mashable – to name a few.

A key talking point in her presentation was about pitching through Twitter. One of the main reasons I was drawn to the PRSA event was because I had pondered the “Twitcher” concept before. I’ve noticed most editors, reporters and writers have a Twitter account. Some journalists are extremely active on it, too – as though it’s a side job. In fact, I know that some companies require all of its employees have individual Twitter accounts, like KCTV5, for example.

So, as these journalists take on added responsibilities, they put out content on their own personal accounts and are more likely to engage with readers through social media than they would through comments on their publications’ websites. Would I be overstepping my boundaries by pitching a reporter through Twitter?

I realize now that the answer is, “Of course not.” Unless it is clearly an account intended for personal use, dedicated to their non-work life, then “all systems go.” Based on my personal experience researching reporters, I’d bet about eight out of 10 journalists with active Twitter accounts post content relevant to their beats. It’s because they do want that feedback, and want to connect with people who will inspire their future stories.

As PR professionals, we seek journalists who will cover client news. Despite inevitable rejection, they still need us, too. They seek our resources – from exclusive statistics to subject matter experts and beyond. Besides, why else would they create helpareporter.com (HARO)?

Furthermore, “Twitcher” takes a more humanized approach to pitching, because you’re more transparent and relatable. Crafting a pitch within 140 characters also cuts down on jargon and unnecessary language. Media relations professionals understand pitches should be as short as humanly possible, and “Twitcher” is a smart way to appeal to reporters with short, attention grabbing story ideas.

Erica estimated that the response rate to email pitches is likely around 50 percent, while she has almost always received some sort of reply on Twitter. I encourage you to follow relevant reporters and try “Twitcher.” I’m excited to measure how it positively plays out for my clients.

Tagged Erica Swallow, Hannah Babcock, media pitching, Media Relations, media relations tips, Morningstar Communications, Pitching Stories, PRSA, social media, Twitter

Tips for a Smooth and Successful Office Moving

Posted in Best Practices, Tips and Tricks

Over the past 10+ years, I have moved and made new homes from one city to another, one state to the next, from the northern hemisphere to the southern and back. Still, I can tell you from experience, nothing compares to moving offices. It does not matter if you are moving across town or just a few miles up the road; the amount of work that goes into it is staggering. As we prepare for our move, we realize with each passing day how much work is involved and how stressful moving can be. Of course, it will be well worth it in the end.

Following are some tips to deal with and beat the move blues:

1. Get organized: Being uber-organized is one of the most important steps when preparing for a move. Keep a file or an e-file, with everything that involves your move: a checklist of all the things you want to get accomplished before the big day, contact names and phone numbers of various contractors, architects, designers and handymen that you may need to get in touch with any given time, plus the utility companies for your current space as well as the new office.

2. Declutter and clean up: Moving offices is the perfect time for you to get rid of all the things you are hoarding in the current office that you’ve got stashed away in a cupboard somewhere collecting dust.  If you haven’t used something in the last six months, it’s likely that you don’t need it and it can be given away or disposed of. This can be a fun exercise if you get all your staff involved in the process. We used a portion of our summer play day last year dividing our staff into teams with incentives to win prizes for the oldest item and coolest item found. We all had a blast and we amassed a large amount of items we were able to clear out of the office.

3. Hire a reputable office moving company: As soon as you know when you will be moving, the next important step will be to contact various movers to get a bid and then choose the one that best fits your needs and budget. It’s very important to be clear about what exactly they will be doing for you. Pay specific attention to uninstallation at the current space and reinstallation at the new space. Some companies do not want to be involved in that step because of potential damage to walls and will offer you third party solutions which may be a cost you weren’t planning on including in your original move budget.  Finding a company that offers an all-encompassing solution may be a better time saving option for you, even at a slightly higher cost.

4. Start packing: Once you have signed on with a moving company, they will provide you with appropriate packing materials (see picture below for what we will be using). Start with the nonessential items first. That way when you are in the new office, and need something in a hurry, you are not having to unpack your whole box to get to the important item right at the bottom. When packing your office possessions, label every box but do not list items included out on the label. If you do need to know what is in each box, using a note app on your smartphones, tablets or even a simple notepad can be the best solution. Use color coded labels to mark what goes and what stays back. It is also a good idea to mark where in the new office this box will go especially if you already know the floor plan and designated cube/office space. Also clearly mark boxes if fragile items are inside.

5. Keep consistent communication with movers and other key contacts: As it gets closer to the big day, it is a good idea to get in touch with the movers, contractors and other key contacts to make sure all is still as planned. There are always unexpected things that can happen – weather issues, illness, mechanical problems – and keeping on top of it by being in contact with these resources will help with identifying a backup plan or being prepared for delays.

6. Be prepared to notify important contacts of your move: Set up with USPS to have your mail forwarded to your new office with change-of-address forms. This can easily be done online on usps.com or by heading in to your local post office. Have your website updated with the correct mailing information. Notify all the local services you use about your impending change of address.

7. Set up necessary services at the new office: Coordinate with phone/Internet companies to set you up at the new office on the day of the move to avoid unnecessary delays to your company’s productivity. The last thing you need is to come in on your first day at the new office to find your essential services not working as they should be. This not only adds to what has undoubtedly been a stressful last few weeks, but is now affecting your business and clients.

It takes a lot of energy, planning and organization to accomplish a successful, mostly painless office move. The above tips should help you on your next one.

Tagged Morningstar Communications, Suchitra Kamath

Give New Life to Your Business with Spring Cleaning

Posted in Best Practices, Tips and Tricks

Spring is the perfect time of year to declutter and refresh both at home and at the office. My spring cleaning routine includes cleaning out my closet, desk drawer and garage.

I recently came across an article on Entrepreneur.com entitled “4 Ways to Spring Clean Your Brand.”  This article resonated with me. Like my closet, brands are constantly changing and growing, and if left unattended, they become messy, crowded and outdated. Here are the four recommended tips for giving your brand a good spring cleaning:

1. Renovate your audience. Target audiences may change over time. Taking a second glance at your current audience allows you to refocus your priorities and locate where you should be planting new business seeds. Ask yourself whether or not you are reaching the most relevant people to your brand.

2. Refresh your services. After looking into your audience, examine all that your company offers to them. Do your products and services still work for your customers, or do they require something new? Transcend customer satisfaction. Even if customers are content, you want to surpass expectations.

3. Examine your online presence. Customers’ opinions matter. Try doing a quick online search of your company. What are the reviews? Are customers happy with you or are they looking for change? Staying on top of what others are saying about your company will allow you to better serve their needs.

4. Stay on top of your social media tools. Staying up-to-date on the latest and greatest social media apps can be tricky, but it is important for your brand to be “in the know.” Is your company accessible through various social media outlets? Is all of your information updated and accurate? Think about which social networks best communicate your brand messages.

Tagged Laura Jung, Morningstar Communications, Spring Cleaning Business Tips

Space, Coffee and Entrepreneurship

Posted in Tips and Tricks

I recently attended the first ever Great Minds Think Big event, an intimate “fireside chat” on April 3^rd powered by Think Big Partners. The event spotlighted two entrepreneurs from very different industries to show that “great minds don’t always think alike, but they do think big.” I attended to gain insights from the speakers and also to share with attendees the story of Youth Entrepreneurs, a non-profit we work with that teaches business and entrepreneurship education in 30 Kansas and Missouri high schools.

The spotlighted entrepreneurs were Danny O’Neill, founder of The Roasterie, and Scott Tibbitts, a successful aerospace entrepreneur. O’Neill is a well-known Kansas City entrepreneur who started The Roasterie Café from the basement of his Brookside home, growing it into a famous coffee destination in Kansas City. Tibbitts is an aerospace entrepreneur who founded Starsys Research Corporation, a company that develops products for spacecrafts. Here are some insights I gained from their interactive chat:

• You can’t do anything extraordinary without putting yourself in an uncomfortable position.
• All entrepreneurs should have game day tension; if you’re not a little scared, you’re not taking it seriously enough. Use fear of failure as a motivator to push yourself.
• You are not your company. Learn to separate yourself so that you can try other ventures if you feel compelled.
• Ask for help. Entrepreneurs are very independent and sometimes lag on asking for assistance. Find a mentor to gain helpful advice from someone who has been in your situation.
• Use others’ opinions about your business like a decision tree, or a filter for ideas. Danny said, “I like to hear from people who don’t have a dog at the table, so they have your best interests at heart.”
• The only way to move forward as a country is innovation and entrepreneurship, so working with young entrepreneurs is key.
• Lynchpin questions to ask yourself about your business idea:
  -Is it fun/enjoyable?
  -Is it something I would buy?
  -Is it extraordinary/unique?
  -Am I passionate about it?
  -Is it something that moves our world forward?

 

The audience question portion of the event was lively and interesting. One question from the audience to Tibbits was how he gathered the initial courage to approach NASA with a product idea. “You have to have a genuine belief in your product and its ability to help someone,” he said. “Americans love an underdog. Think big.”

The panel ended on a funny note. “Do they drink coffee in space?” the moderator asked. “And if so, what brand?”

A podcast is available to hear the entirety of the discussion. It was the first of what will become a series of Great Minds Think Big events, so stay tuned on upcoming opportunities to attend. I highly recommend it.

Tagged Great Minds Think Big, Morningstar Communications, Think Big Partners

Vine: The Newest “Link” in Social Evolution

Posted in Creativity and Design, Online Marketing, Social Media, Tips and Tricks

 

Watch out social media world, there’s a new app in town and its already the number one most downloaded free app on Apple’s App Store. Vine, from the creators of Twitter, is a video sharing app that allows users to share short, six-second video clips on Twitter and Facebook.

The people at Twitter discovered something magical when they limited tweets to only 140 characters, and they’ve done it again with Vine’s six-second limit. While some reacted by saying that six seconds was too short of an amount of time, we have to remember that the same reaction was made in regards to Twitter. In time, Twitter has grown to become one of the largest social platforms in the world and the brevity of tweets combined with their instantaneous sharing ability has allowed us to consume massive amounts of content and create a global platform for conversation in real time.

Setting a restriction on time, or characters, forces users to be more creative and concise with their content. The six-second time limit encourages users to create stories that capture a point or central message in an amount of time that is easy for others to watch, pay attention to, and share.

Vine’s touch screen capabilities allows for videos to be chopped into sections by simply lifting up your finger and pressing down again for the next segment or shot. This gives users the ability to capture various angles or even create stop motion shorts.

Here are a few examples of Vine videos I’ve created in my free time so you can see these features in action:

By tapping the screen every few steps up the hill, I created a sense of motion that takes the viewer right along with me. Then I sat at the top for about fifteen minutes, taking a snapshot of the same angle every minute or so. The final product is a sunset at the top of a hill, all captured in less than six seconds.

Here is one more to show how shooting from different angles can create a 360 degree view:

Vine adds a new dimension to Twitter and the social world as a whole by making video sharing simple and concise, allowing content creators to quickly take video in a creative way that tells a story or shares a current event.

Brands have already jumped onto the Vine bandwagon. How would you use Vine?

You can download Vine for iPhone at the App Store, here.

Tagged eland, korab, Korab Eland, Morningstar Communications, social media, Tips, Twitter, Vine, Vine App, Vine Tips

How to Boost Brand Engagement on Twitter

Posted in Social Media, Tips and Tricks

More and more companies are taking to the Twittersphere in hopes of further engaging with key audiences and heightening visibility. Social media is an important part of a comprehensive marketing program, but some brands are much better at it than others.

I recently came across an infographic posted by Ragan online. It has some helpful statistics to help maximize your company’s tweets. Here are a few highlights:

• Keep it short and sweet. Tweets with less than 100 characters have a 17 percent higher engagement rate than longer tweets.
• Use #hashtags. Tweets with hashtags get two times more engagement than those without. (Warning: Don’t go #hashtag #crazy – tweets with more than two hashtags experience a 17 percent decrease in engagement.)
• Don’t neglect the weekends. Saturday and Sunday are two of the best days to tweet. Tweets sent on the weekend receive 17 percent higher engagement than those sent during weekdays.
• Ask for what you want. What’s the best way to get a Retweet? Apparently, asking for it. If you ask followers to Retweet using “RT,” the Retweet rate increases ten times. By spelling out the word “Retweet,” the Retweet rate increases 23 times.

Tagged Michelle Boyd, Morningstar Communications, social media, Twitter

Why Women Make Excellent Leaders

Posted in Executive Insights

Last week, I came across an interesting article in The Kansas City Star explaining why women make better corporate leaders than men. I was intrigued, considering I know many successful female leaders. Then it got me thinking. Which qualities do women possess that make them such excellent leaders? The article lists the following reasons:

1. Women are inquisitive. They are excellent at determining which questions need to be asked and as a result, are able to find more than one solution to a problem.

2. Women take competing interests into consideration and take a cooperative approach when making decisions, according to a study, conducted by A.T. Still University in Arizona and McMaster University in Canada. This can lead to well-rounded decisions that are in the best interest of the company.

3. Women are not afraid to think outside the box. They take a creative approach when confronting an issue, which allows for unique solutions that aren’t limited by tradition.

While the article focuses on female leaders in the corporate world, I believe the qualities described are found in women, in every sector whether it is a startup, nonprofit, agency or corporate.

What other leadership qualities do you think women are likely to possess?

Tagged Leadership, Morningstar Communications, Tricia Jaworski