Author: WWPR

Facebook’s mission is to make the world more open and connected. Since launching in 2004, Facebook has changed what it means to connect online and has empowered billions to share. But nearly a decade in, there is uncertainty about Facebook maintaining its top flight position due to changing demographics, competitors, copied innovation and a backlash to paid content strategy. The assumption has been Facebook is easy, the de facto, must-use social platform.  A client says “we need social” – marketers would say “Facebook”. As strategists we can’t just assume Facebook is a go to solution moving forward.

Vocus recently brought together five industry experts during its Demand Success 2013 conference at the National Gaylord Hotel for a panel titled “Facebook Futures.” The closing panel was designed to discuss what the future looked like for a platform that has recently seen decreased results on fan pages, higher charges for promoted posts, and increased competition in the news feed.

The panelists included Geoff Livingston, author and marketing strategist; Katya Andresen, non-profit marketing expert and incoming CEO of ePals; Shashi Bellamkonda, VP Digital Marketing for The Buzzuto Group; Rebecca Davis, EVP of Digital at Ogilvy; and Angela Hausman, social media professor at Howard University.

Livingston sees a tough road ahead for Facebook. Watch the video here.

Before tackling the future of the platform, the experts discussed the changing demographics for Facebook and what it means for marketers. The fastest growing user base is baby boomers, which has pushed away many millennials from Facebook, changing what brands should utilize the platform as a central hub. Even with a shift in the age of users Bellamkonda points out that since there “are 1.1 billion users on Facebook your audience is likely there, but the big question is do they want to hear from you?”

Not all panelists agreed that Facebook is the place to be heard – Davis went as far as to say that if your brand “is not on Facebook already then ask if you would even break through” the clutter before joining. Andresen hedged bets by suggesting a “review of your audience and if Facebook is relevant to them” before implementing the channel into your outreach strategy.

The user demographics aren’t the only change at Facebook recently; the platform itself has undergone changes to improve the user interface which had panelist spilt as to if those changes were innovations or just copy cat moves, and if they added to the experience.

“There is a tension in Facebook currently,” comments Andresen. “We go to see friends, escape ads, but ads are part of the business model for Facebook” and there is a large demand from marketers to become something people want to connect with. Facebook is steadily working to ensure ads and connections coexist on the platform as well as offering a unique text and visual user experience. Facebook “watches competitors and it grows, sometimes they even innovate like with News Feed but that is in crisis now” comments Davis.

Facebook’s future is more in doubt than it was three years ago, so keep a close eye on the trends.  In the meantime, there’s value if you use Facebook, specifically capitalizing on its new feature of hashtags in a smart, clear way focused on the target audience.

A shining light for the future of Facebook appears to be the use of hashtags. The panelists painted a picture of a “dynamic community created by hashtags,” bringing people together for one moment in time making real time connections possible and giving users the tool to execute relevant searches in an easier way.

Even more changes might be on the way for Facebook too – a VP at the social network hinted that auto-play video ads could be the next piece of paid content rolled out in news feed according to Tech Crunch.

So yes, Facebook has challenges ahead to remain the de facto social platform, but the platform does boast billions of users and continues to create tools to connect users to brands, organizations and causes. Savvy marketers and agencies will want to watch closely as the demographics of Facebook users continue to shift and the platform’s capabilities evolve. In the meantime, there is still opportunity to utilize Facebook to connect the right client message with the right audience.

“As the social media heavyweight, it’s natural to debate the longevity of Facebook. But the fact is Facebook brings the largest user base to the table, making it a logical choice for marketers,” adds Porter Novelli’s Vice President of Digital Strategy, Valerie Elston. “The key is to understand your audience and what will motivate them to engage with you. Facebook requires brands to act as publishers and have clear content strategies to produce desired results. Before abandoning Facebook I would first consider if your approach to Facebook is right for your audience.”

Check out a storify recap of the panel.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — July 8, 2013 — Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR), the leading professional society for women communicators in the greater capital area, announced six finalists for the fourth annual Emerging Leaders Awards (ELA). The ELA is a signature WWPR accolade that honors young women (ages 23-30) in the communications field who have made a significant impact on the industry. The award highlights not only their contributions thus far, but their potential to contribute to the industry for many years to come.

The 2013 WWPR Emerging Leaders Awards finalists are:

• Kristine Austria, Account Executive, Ketchum
• Liz Bartolomeo, Media Director, Sunlight Foundation
• Nell Callahan, Senior Vice President, SKDKnickerbocker
• Rachael Glaws, Principal and Founder, RGI events & public relations
• Jackie Titus, Vice President, Powell Tate
• Lauren Wesley Wilson, Communications Strategist and Account Supervisor, MSL Group

“WWPR’s mission is to advance women in the field of public relations and today we are pleased to recognize these six extraordinary women who are making tremendous strides in their careers,” said Tina McCormack Beaty, WWPR Co-President. “With a record number of nominations submitted again this year, the Emerging Leaders Awards has become the hallmark of accomplished young PR leaders in the D.C. communications industry.”

From the six finalists, three Emerging Leaders Awards honorees will be named at the reception on Thursday, July 18 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at The National Press Club.

Attendees will be treated to a keynote address from Kori Bernards, Senior Vice President of Communications at Universal Pictures. Bernards serves as Universal’s top spokesperson and oversees all internal and external communications for the motion picture group at the distinguished film studio. Prior to moving to Los Angeles, Bernards spent more than a decade in Washington, D.C., as a top communications, policy and political strategist.

A panel of judges comprised of five top leaders in the communications field selected the finalists based on their record of excellence and achievements in their careers thus far, as well as their leadership qualities.

WWPR thanks the 2013 ELA judges:

• Ellie Collinson, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, The Raben Group
• Lauren Lawson-Zilai, Director of Public Relations and National Spokesperson, Goodwill Industries International, and a WWPR Past President
• Gwen McKinney, President and Founder, McKinney & Associates Public Relations
• Gabe Roth, Vice President, SKDKnickerbocker
• Sue Zoldak, Senior Vice President, Adfero Group

About Washington Women in Public Relations

Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) is the first and only D.C. based professional organization advancing women in the communications industry. WWPR is committed to delivering outstanding professional development, networking, marketplace positioning, and leadership opportunities to area communicators. Visit us at wwpr.org, find us on Facebook.com/WashingtonWomeninPR and follow us on Twitter @WWPR

In this issue:

WWPR Leadership Position
Emerging Leaders Awards
Vocus Demand Success Conference Discount
Teen Financial Literacy
Communicating with Scientists
WWPR Open House Recap
Trends of the Trade
PR in Focus
Articles of Interest
Upcoming Events
Jobs
Membership News
Sponsor Spotlight

Sponsorship Committee Chair Needed

Are you looking to find a way to become more involved with WWPR? The Strategic Partnerships and Sponsorships Committee is looking for a new chair. WWPR established its Strategic Partnerships and Sponsorships Committee to form beneficial relationships with women’s groups, professional societies and like-minded organizations. The purpose is to increase awareness of WWPR, secure sponsorships for key events and network with and learn about other groups in the community. To learn more, see https://wwpr.org/committees/#partnerships. If interested, please contact kendra@wwpr.org.

Now Open!

The Emerging Leaders Awards committee received a record number of nominations for the 2013 ELAs!  Five impartial judges are already in the process of reviewing each submission.

The awards ceremony on July 18, 2013 will recognize rising stars in the industry and showcase six of the field’s most talented young women.  Three honorees from the six finalists will be named at the reception, being held at the National Press Club.

Registration is now open — be sure to secure your spot at the 4th annual Emerging Leaders Awards!

WWPR Members Receive 50% Discount off of Vocus’ Demand Success Conference

Vocus is offering WWPR Members a 50% discount off of the Demand Success Conference which will take place June 20th-21st at the National Harbor’s Gaylord Hotel. Arianna Huffington, Mad Men’s Elisabeth Moss (plays Peggy Olson), Altimeter Group’s Jeremiah Owyang, and New York Times bestselling author Rohit Bhargava will be keynoting the conference. You can see the full line up of speakers here: http://www.vocus.com/conference/why-attend/speakers/.

WWPR Members can use the code Demand13LS500 to receive a 50% discount off of conference registration.

Pro Bono Update: “Girls Just Wanna Have Funds” July 8-12

Calling All Girls Ages 11-17!  Bring your teens or tweens to the “Girls Just Wanna Have Funds” summer program on July 8-12, 2013.  The summer week-long program is sponsored by WWPR’s pro bono client Financial Literacy Organization for Women and Girls (FLOW) in partnership with The Friends of the Library, Bethesda.  The summer program will be held at The Bethesda Library located at 7400 Arlington Road, Bethesda, Md., 20814 (three blocks from the Bethesda metro station).  Financial literacy experts from FLOW will provide the program curriculum that will focus on financial responsibility and decision-making; managing your money; wealth investing 101, and the ABCs of starting a business.  The program is free, but registration is required and space is limited.  Register today at http://sitting-pretty.org/.

May Brown Bag Recap: The Science of Communicating with Scientists

Tips to cut through the clutter and reach health science reporters

In case you missed our wildly successful May 8 brown bag, “The Science of Communicating with Scientists,” at the American Chemical Society you are in luck — Erica Hiar, WWPR Professional Development Co-Chair and moderator from the event sums up the top tips from the panelists below.

1) Know the reporter’s beat.

We hear this from reporters all the time, but it is always important to reiterate. Reading recent articles and areas that a reporter has covered can help structure and define a pitch (not to mention get coverage). Panelist Kimberly Leonard at U.S. News &World Report was so impressed by a pitch from Sarah Willey at Racepoint Group that she asked her if she could share it with our membership.

Here are the topline details: Sarah followed a recent Twitter chat Kimberly organized about children with diabetes and followed up with a pitch offering her additional diabetes story ideas. Sarah has gracefully agreed to let us share some of it, and the pitch went something like this:

READ MORE

Click here, for more information about upcoming WWPR Professional Development events.

WWPR May 15th Open House Recap

By Angela Barnett, WWPR Professional Development Committee Member

“When I think of WWPR, I think of four words…service, skills, success and support,” Lauren Lawson- Zilai, director of public relations and national spokesperson for Goodwill Industries International, told the group of aspiring PR women that attended WWPR’s Open House on May 15th.

It was a great night of mingling and networking, where attendees had the opportunity to talk to the new WWPR 2013 Executive Board about getting more involved in the professional society and start taking the first steps in cultivating strong professional relationships.

“The most important aspect of joining a professional society is to network.  But the ability to form a personal relationship goes beyond your laptop.  It’s not just about social networking and connecting to people via LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter, it’s about engaging with someone in-person who will help you solve problems by introducing you to people with the expertise you’re looking for or contacts in your desired field,” Lauren Lawson-Zilai went on to say when addressing the group about how joining WWPR has helped shape and change her career.

Lauren’s final advice to the attendees was, “If you’re willing to work hard and be open, you’ll develop personal and professional relationships that will last a lifetime.  It’s not people you have to do lunch with, but people you want to do lunch with.”

We are excited to welcome all the new WWPR members and want to thank Ketchum for allowing us to use their space for the event.

If you have a suggestion for a future program topic or would like to join the Professional Development Committee, please email PD Co-Chairs, Melanie Jordan and Erica Hiar at professionaldevelopment@wwpr.org.

Click here, for more information about upcoming WWPR Professional Development events

Trends of the Trade: Influencers and Game Changers

Trends of the Trade is a monthly column written by WWPR member Cory Churches exploring, well, trends in PR. Follow her @Coricita or reach her at Cory.Churches@gmail.com.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of Washington Women in Public Relations

In this season of graduation speeches and life advice for emerging youth leaders, there is an overflow of “words to live by”. From  Steve Case at UNC to  Joss Whedon at Wesleyan Universityinspirational words are conveyed to graduates and non-graduates alike.  Case lists his three Ps: people, passion and perseverance, while Whedon tells his audience to pay attention to contradiction and see things from a different perspective. What you absorb and implement can have a great impact on not just your personal life but also your career path, your interactions with colleagues, and your choice of future employers.

Even the most erudite professionals know that you never stop learning.  Tapping new sources for new ways of thinking, approaching business, and interacting with colleagues and clients is a great way to stay on top of trends and continually refresh your approach to your chosen profession.

Written in 1936, How to Win Friends and Influence People has been on the shelf of aspiring business leaders since its publication.  Many of those lessons are still applicable today. Books, podcasts, networking events, and paid workshops are ever present and teach you the latest skills to stay attuned to the most effective ways to reach clients and influence people.

But which ones are really worth your time? As Washington Women in PR prepares to evaluate the latest crew of nominees for the Emerging Leaders Awards, it’s worth taking some time to review some influencers and resources that can help propel aspiring communicators to become tomorrow’s leaders and game changers.

Obviously we each have different interests and drivers but one thing we do have in common is our interest in communicating and reaching an audience.  Evaluating what inspires you to do your best work is a great place to start this exercise.  Determining your “personal brand” is akin to evaluating your value proposition and again, what inspires you.

Tapping into  mentors in your organization or during events such as WWPR’s Minute Mentoring event in April helps you learn from the experience of others and put these life lessons to work.

READ MORE

PR In Focus

PR in Focus is a monthly column written by WWPR member Jessica Williams exploring a wide range of topics and current events from a public relations perspective

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of Washington Women in Public Relations

A Buzzword Worth the Hype

A Buddhist proverb says the teacher comes when the student is ready.  I think this also applies to conferences and workshops insofar as what you learn depends on your receptivity.  Last month I attended the What’s Next DC conference and was truly energized.  I left with a head brimming with ideas and newly-acquired knowledge on a host of buzzwords.  One in particular seemed to dominate all of the presentations and resonated strongly in the discussions I had with fellow attendees-innovation.

As I wrote in April’s “History Lessons” about Daniel J. Edelman’s vision and enduring legacy in the field of public relations, innovation is born of an inherent willingness to learn, endless curiosity, and a desire to make things better in some way, shape or form.  This also proves instructive for those of us in a profession where success is often measured by and depends on coming up with new ideas and strategies for our clients, respective companies or organizations.

Ideas Matter

Working in communications gives us the opportunity to interact with people in a host of industries and fields and is one reason why I find it so rewarding.  Variety may be the spice of life but it’s easy to overlook the fact that just coming into contact with professionals in various disciplines offers up new ideas and experiences you may not have otherwise had.

With speakers hailing from such well-known companies and organizations as Pandora, Coca-Cola, McDonalds, Siteworx, Honest Tea, PBS, National Geographic, AARP, and the United Nations Foundation among many others, a conference like What’s Next DC becomes a wonderful learning opportunity.  Over the course of two intense days, there was no shortage of lessons being shared, offering attendees an abundance of ideas to consider and hopefully go back and employ in our respective jobs.

READ MORE

Articles of Interest

• Transforming Your Agency: How Change Inspires Creativity (Clairemont Communications)
• In the Age of Social Media, Why PR Should Matter to Businesses, Both Small and Large (Huffington Post)
• TweetDeck Gets a Major Makeover From Twitter (Mashable)
• 25 Digital Media Resources You May Have Missed (Mashable)
• Building a Better Pinterest Through Data (Mashable)

Upcoming Events

-6/20/13 — On Thursday, June 20 from noon-1:30 PM, WWPR is being hosted by U.S. News and World Report for a “Brown Bag Discussion: Newsroom Tour and Intimate Q & A” at its Georgetown offices located at 1050 Thomas Jefferson St., NW, Washington, DC. The program will include a tour of the newsroom followed by a meet and greet with their top editors and reporters. Find out what type of content is appropriate for their audience. Bring your questions about the best ways to engage with their reporters and editors. If you want feedback, bring sample pitch ideas!  This members-only program is already sold out, but if you’d like to be placed on a waiting list emailprofessionaldevelopment@wwpr.org.

-7/30/13 — WWPR July Brown Bag Discussion: “Online Metrics Bootcamp” — WWPR and Beekeeper Group will offer an opportunity for attendees to participate in a discussion about the importance of understanding and sharing the best online metrics for measuring and reporting.  Hear from the digital communications industry’s leading experts on how to gather meaningful data, analyze it, and then optimize it. From bounce rates, to traffic sources, to keywords, we’ll walk you through the metrics that matter.Registration is open.  Cost: Free to WWPR Members; $15 non-members.

-8/6/13 — 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Don’t miss the “August Brown Bag Discussion: WUSA9, CBS News Taping, Studio Tour and Meet and Greet.”  Have you always wanted to be in the studio audience during the live broadcast of a television show?  Well, now is your chance!  WUSA9 will give WWPR the chance to be part of its live audience for the local CBS News noon taping at its studios located at 4100 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Washington, DC.  Afterwards, there will be a Q&A brown bag session with the editors, producers and on-air reporters.  Registration is open.  Cost: Free to WWPR Members; $15 non-members.

If you have a suggestion for a future program topic, please contact the Professional Development Committee at professionaldevelopment@wwpr.org.

Top

WWPR Job Board– 

– Media Relations Specialist, Z Communications Company

– Team Reporter, Ripken Baseball

– Communications Projects Specialist, Goodwill Industries International

– Executive Assistant/Office Manager, Strauss Media Strategies

– Account Group Supervisor, Health Care Public Affairs, GolinHarris

– Managing Associate, CLS & Associates

– Public Relations Associate, American Psychological Association

Post a Job

Membership News

May New Members

Sarah Immenschuh, International Food Policy Research Institute

Catherine Weckenman, Student

Vanessa Kauffman, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Dorothy Amatucci, Student

Barb Jump, BarbJump.com

Kimberly McCune, Lipman Hearne

Amy Clark, Freelance

Patricia Neidlinger, Brazilian Consulate

Lisa Frederick, Frederick Communications

Melissa Thompson, Society for Neuroscience

Sally Koroma, Student

Anne Kelsey, Society for Neuroscience

Jana Goldman, Press Here

Barbara Semedo, Independent

Lauren Mandell, e.republic

Lauren Tyler, Public Affairs Council

Deborah Prideaux, Independent

Arlyn Riskind, National Communication Association

Sandra Wills Hannon, The Hannon Group

Benjamin Jordan, Student

Carrie Clyne, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

Grace Courter, Student

Jacqueline Salmon, American Bar Association

Megan Duke, Pivotal Voices

Sarah Moore, Independent

Meredith Corley, UBM Tech

Laura Wilson, ICF International

May Renewals

Jennifer Murphy, Hickok Cole Architects

Sarah Holt, Mixed Minds LLC

Kelly Mack, Environics Communications

Dawn Jakutowicz, Dougherty & Associates (DAI), Inc.

Lisa Newman, Independent

Kate Connors, Media & Communications Strategies

Stephanie Abraham, American College of Cardiology

Top

Sponsor Spotlight

Vocus provides cloud marketing software that enables businesses to attract, engage and retain customers.

Online information, recommendations and social networks increasingly influence buying behavior. Marketing has evolved, and in order to succeed in today’s world, marketers have to take advantage of new digital marketing channels and ensure that they are working together to generate brand awareness, demand and revenue.

Vocus offers a unique solution for marketers. Our software integrates powerful features of digital marketing including social, search, email and publicity. In addition, our software sends real-time marketing opportunities directly to marketers in the form of leads, prospects, social media conversations, curated content and inbound media inquiries. With our marketing consulting and services team ready to help, our software solution delivers marketing success.

Trends of the Trade is a monthly column written by WWPR member Cory Churches exploring, well, trends in PR.Follow her @Coricita or reach her at Cory.Churches@gmail.com.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of Washington Women in Public Relations

In this season of graduation speeches and life advice for emerging youth leaders, there is an overflow of “words to live by”. From  Steve Case at UNC to  Joss Whedon at Wesleyan University, inspirational words are conveyed to graduates and non-graduates alike.  Case lists his three Ps: people, passion and perseverance, while Whedon tells his audience to pay attention to contradiction and see things from a different perspective. What you absorb and implement can have a great impact on not just your personal life but also your career path, your interactions with colleagues, and your choice of future employers.

Even the most erudite professionals know that you never stop learning.  Tapping new sources for new ways of thinking, approaching business, and interacting with colleagues and clients is a great way to stay on top of trends and continually refresh your approach to your chosen profession.

Written in 1936, How to Win Friends and Influence People has been on the shelf of aspiring business leaders since its publication.  Many of those lessons are still applicable today. Books, podcasts, networking events, and paid workshops are ever present and teach you the latest skills to stay attuned to the most effective ways to reach clients and influence people.

But which ones are really worth your time? As  Washington Women in PR prepares to evaluate the latest crew of nominees for the Emerging Leaders Awards, it’s worth taking some time to review some influencers and resources that can help propel aspiring communicators to become tomorrow’s leaders and game changers.

Obviously we each have different interests and drivers but one thing we do have in common is our interest in communicating and reaching an audience.  Evaluating what inspires you to do your best work is a great place to start this exercise.  Determining your “personal brand” is akin to evaluating your value proposition and again, what inspires you.

Tapping into  mentors in your organization or during events such as WWPR’s Minute Mentoring event in April helps you learn from the experience of others and put these life lessons to work.

I subscribe to Fast Company as a way to keep tabs on trends in business, design, technology and communications. Articles are timely, topical and offer insight into business trends and creative innovation.

I find authors such as Chip and Dan Heath, Dan Pink and Malcom Gladwell universally appealing regardless of your industry. The information they impart make you think, stretch your imagination, and maybe help you conceive of a new way to approach a problem or make a decision.  Pink, in his book A Whole New Mind, touts design, story, symphony, empathy, play and meaning as the six essential aptitudes on which professional success and personal fulfillment now depend.  Business Insider has an interesting list of their  top 15 thought leaders in marketing.  I encourage you to take a look and see who strikes your fancy.

TED speakers and seminars are also great sources of inspiration and innovative ideas. Some of my favorites are Jill Bolte Taylor’s Stroke of Insight and Oliver Sacks’ talk about hallucinations, Hans Rosling: Stats that reshape your worldview and Susan Cain:  The power of introverts but there are many others.

So in the end, take to heart the information and advice you glean from influencers and game changers, and figure out what inspires you.  As you incorporate more information and tap into your inspiration, you will end up doing more of what you love to do and we will all be better for your efforts!