4 Lessons from Recording My Audiobook
I spent three days recording the audiobook version of my book, 𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑇𝑎𝑙𝑘: 𝑃𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑐 𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝐸𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙𝑠 𝐴𝑙𝑙 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑠 𝑆ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝐾𝑛𝑜𝑤. Read here to find out what I learned during that process.
Book Sneak Peek: Think 360
In Chapter 7, “Understanding Integrated Marketing Communications,” I introduce the framework my firm, MVW Communications, uses for our 360-degree approach to planning.
Book Sneak Peek: PR, DEI & Touchy Terminology
In Chapter 6, “Use Tailoring to Serve Multicultural Needs,” I dive deep into cultural strategy and why communicators should understand how to tailor their communication approaches for a multitude of audiences.
3 Pro Tips from a Recent Grad
I am not your “traditional” intern. I am slightly older (27) than what most would consider an intern. I returned to college in the middle of the pandemic, after already completing a degree in a field that didn’t make me happy. I’m so glad that I came back to the field that I fell in love with as a teenager.
Book Sneak Peek: Building Relationships Means EQ>IQ
In Chapter 5, “The Relationships You Need to Be Successful,” I discuss relationships essential to a successful career in PR. These relationships can be with other PR pros and even clients!
Book Sneak Peek: Strategic Communication Planning
In Chapter 4, “Planning Like A Pro,” I explain a four-step process to creating and implementing a strategic communications plan.
Book Sneak Peek: Media Relations Do's and Don'ts
In Chapter 3, “Media Relations Do’s and Don’ts,” I share best practices on topics such as setting media coverage goals, pitching story ideas, and knowing what’s newsworthy.
Book Sneak Peak: How to Embrace Email Ettiquette
In Chapter 2, “Start Smart with PR Etiquette,” I share my thoughts on the unspoken PR etiquette that makes or breaks our reputations. These tips will save you lots of embarrassing moments. A surprising section to many is my take on email management strategy, which is actually key to successful workplace communication.
Book Sneak Peek: Getting Started in Public Relations
In Chapter 1, “What PR Really Is,” I share tips and advice on getting started in public relations. Why? Because colleges may teach how the field works, but they can’t always teach how to work in the field! The hardest part can be getting started – getting that first break. Read this excerpt with tips on landing your first shot below.
Get Familiar with Meta Business Suite for Facebook Advertising
Facebook advertising should be a staple of the media mix for organizations, large and small. It's less expensive than traditional advertising, can be managed easier, and doesn’t require a hefty advertising budget to be successful. Before you set up your paid ads, it’s important to understand…
The Changing Language of DEI
When you use the word “diversity”, what do you think of? Language continuously evolves. In English, many words have double meanings and terms evolve from acceptable to unacceptable over time. Or we have many words that mean the same thing. PR pros – do you say “media release” or “press release”?
MVW Communications Shares 2021 Holiday Hours
It’s been quite a year! We hope you’re planning a restful, restorative holiday seasonal break as you can. The MVW team will be taking the following time out of the office for the holidays: Thanksgiving Week: Wednesday, November 24, 2021 - Friday, November 26, 2021. Christmas & New Year’s:
Communication Specialties: Generalist vs. Specialist
Everyone should have a generalist capability and mindset. That means that you could specialize in a certain topic or category, but you have enough knowledge to know the communication that would benefit that area all the way around. It’s a more integrated world every day we’re in it, so our communication profession demands that of us these days!
Census Says: Hispanic Heritage Month is a Must
Hispanic Heritage Month helps remind us of the rich traditions, leaders and shared values that make the Hispanic/Latino culture so significant. And that significance is rising -- the Latino population represented some big statistical shifts recently in the latest U.S. Census. Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15 and lasts through October 15. There’s a lot to commemorate during this short time. No matter your market area, encouraging your organization or client to embrace this month makes good fiscal sense now.
Steps to Being an Ally at Work
If you promote this concept in your workplace, allyship is a step towards showing you support social responsibility because it’s in alignment with diversity, equity and inclusion. The first step starts with YOU. Just like we teach children -- we have to first be a friend to make a friend.
Think Before You Post to Avoid A Social Media Crisis
We all have had those moments where we see something on social media that makes us feel an emotion. Quickly, we can be inspired to laugh, cry or get angry. We instantly want to react. But what does liking, sharing, or commenting say about us professionally or personally?
Four Steps for Practicing Social Responsibility
If you are unfamiliar with “Corporate Social Responsibility'' or CSR, you may not realize you are taking part in it when you participate in your organization's United Way campaign, recycle items in the office, or donate in a company’s food drive.
How College Graduates Can Launch Their Career
Dear college graduates, we feel your pain! We know what it’s like to do everything you have been told - get a high school diploma, a college degree - but no one promises you a fun and lucrative job out of college! We’ve been there too.
How to Clarify Complex Brands
A marketing industry rule of thumb is that a customer needs seven interactions with a brand before they remember it or engage with it. If the brand is inconsistent in its brand expression, then that rule goes out the window.
Brand expression inconsistency is quite common with organizations large and small. Sometimes with small organizations, a brand style guide doesn’t exist.
Women Must Support Women
Women’s History Month is an ideal time to examine our progression as women and the gaps we still need closed. For example, we may not be able to overcome the female wage gap in our lifetime, but changing our mindset could help us grow our finances and stature in the workplace.