PR Tips

Achieving a degree in Mass Communications paves a road for those who want to submerge themselves into the world of social media.

First and foremost, journalists and public relations practitioners know social media is a business world and the most important first step in to maintain 100 percent credibility; you will go no where quickly without it.

Second step is to know your audience as it's your job to keep them interested and informed. Third step is simple, yet difficult for some: follow through with clients and continue to make those connections personable. People like to see and hear their name.

Find ways to campaign your message -or product- that will keep your audience captivated and hungry for more. Social media is filled with opportunities of different kinds as it's a fast-paced world, constantly changing and evolving every day. There are many different ways to communicate and reach out to the public; fundraisers, press releases, networking, meet-ups, marketing pojects, advertising, blog posts and list goes on and on.

Strategic commuication and campaigning go hand in hand as social media is a conversation.

Be present, be on time, know your facts, and be ready to brace to unexpected.

Bottom line, if you cannot connect with people, you simply won't be successful in the business world.

Twitter #FollowFriday list

"Too often, we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." -- Leo Buscaglia

I've been doing my best to change my way of life for the past two years and only recently has it gotten easier for me, but alas, I'm still growing. I want to be surrounded by people who make me a better person, virtual or not. I want to continue to pursue and change my attitude so that instead instead of walking "a mile in someone shoes", I'm constantly learning and growing with them. This life is all we have and I want to make the most of it.

"Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Continue to learn. Appreciate your friends. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is." -- Mary Anne Radmacher

I have many followers and I'm proud of this. I feel like I have 10 new people I want others to know and 10 people who I'm constantly mentioning on Twitter for others to follow. This is a list of people who encourage me daily, in one way or another and I appreciate the relationship I have with each one, for different reasons. People I meet along the way on Twitter, I will most likely add to this list.

Here's people who I follow that definitely stick with me and I think of through-out most of my days during the week.

@PRSarahEvans; location - Elgin, Illinois. I'm a huge, huge fan of Sarah's. Never met her in real life, but plan on attempting to make that happen in 2010. She is an entrepreneur and began her own media consulting company, Sevans Strategy, in 2009. She is the founder of #journchat, the top-trending weekly live chat between PR professionals, journalists and bloggers, taking place on Monday evenings. She is also a guest-writer for Mashable, founded by Pete Cashmore (@mashable) which is one of the most popular social media blogs in the world. You can also find her on Facebook, and at any given time, she's bound to be wearing one of these --after all, someday she just might own them! ;)

@Scott_Bryant; location - Portland. Scott loves to make you laugh, is a great photographer and is a lover of life who opens my eyes through his blog. I'm looking forward to meeting him this year, most likely this summer. He's a great friend, has a huge huge heart and makes animated voice-overs that are entertaining in a way that make you smile because you know he's having fun and is testing out new areas. Add him on Facebook, click on his videos, and you'll see what I mean.

His catch phrase seems to be "never put all of your eggs in one basket." He's a smart guy.


@RochelleVeturis; location - Orange County, California. Rochelle brings inspiration to my life, is a great mentor, advocate, peer, lover of life, Tweet Meet Ups and belongs to the #OCTriumvirate (she's the oldest and her sisters are listed next on my list). They also have @ourdogally, who is probably the most popular pup on Twitter. So many amazing things to say about this lady and I'm thankful to have found her on Twitter.


@ChelseyVeturis; location - Orange County, California. Chelsey is funny, inspirational, lover of life and understands not only how to form relationships, but keeps her relationship with those she runs into growing. It's not an easy thing to do as we all know.



@ReporterHaley; location - Orange County, California. Haley has so much going for her! Check out her DNA Blog! This girl has got it going on. I love her attitude and the way she carries herself. She's sweet, fun and I enjoy our conversations!


@PaulTTran; location - Orange County, California. Paul is a comedian in his other life. Funny, inspiring, businessman, knowledgeable, keeps in close contact with you and cares about people. Apparently he's broken a few karaoke machines --according to his bio on Twitter-- and this made me laugh in a very good way. I think he loves singing as much as I do. Someday, we'll sing a duet together. Oh and if you ever get sick of my hashtag humor *nudges Paul*, I blame it aaaaaaaaall on this guy! ;)


@TCTHURHAPPYHOUR; location - Minneapolis. I've met Jeff Nolan in person once; great guy who means well. He's the founder of Twin Cities Thursday Happy Hour. It's a very popular event where you meet other business people for drinks once a month, generally downtown Minneapolis and it's typically the 3rd Thursday of every month. You can check out more here.



@Lotay; location - Los Angeles. Lotay Yang is the CEO of Black Card Circle and when I catch his tweets, I know he means business. That's the main reason I follow him. I like my humor, but business is business. I plan on meeting him this summer as well when I visit SoCal, if it all works out well that is. He's so busy!



@GlobalPatriot; location - San Diego. Mark Lovett is a great friend of mine who I'll also be meeting with this summer. His Web site is very informative about what's going on in the world and I don't get nearly enough chances to talk with him as much as I'd like to. He's a kind-hearted man who seems to always be willing to go out of his way to make the world we live in a better place.


@kshoop; location - Minneapolis. I met Katie in person shortly after we were connected on Twitter. She is the host of #YPCTC on Twitter and there's also a YPCTC Facebook fan page . Great individual whose smart, savvy, lives with intention, challenges herself in different ways when she gets stuck, we can bounce ideas off each other. All sorts of fun things come to mind that I wouldn't have thought of before when we get really 'deep' into our conversations. I really like PR people like her.


@DannyBrown; location - Burlington, ON, Canada. CEO of 12for12K and you can read all about it here. He's making a difference once again by raising more funds for Haiti. I don't think he needs anymore of an introduction. :)


@Admore; location - Detroit, Michigan. David is always in the back of my mind pushing me to thinking 'small', but do big things in relations to something I randomly one day decided to call #RRTweetMeetUp. The first one is apparently taking place next Thursday, Jan. 28 here. David is indefinitely a "sky is the limit" kind of guy, much like @RobertStanke, which is why I enjoy the company of these guys. A hashtag that David has 'made' me become familiar with? #MakeItHappen. I like it. I have a lot of learning yet to do and he's another mentor of mine!


@RobertStanke; location - Minneapolis. Bob is a colleague of mine at Life Time Fitness, Inc., who I'm looking forward to collaborating with in the near future. He has big ideas, always stretches for better ways make "this" or "that" easier or better and more convenient for us to live this life with even more intention. He listens, executes, he pushes himself to try new things and is a very, very busy guy with a lot on his plate right now. But, there is much that I even have yet to learn from him and I think you'd learn a lot from him too if you submerge yourself into his world.


@SimonlLeung; location - EVERYWHERE. Simon Leung is the guy who seems to always wear sunglasses, is traveling and is never in one place for longer than one month or so. He's an online marketer and you can get to know him much better here.



@MissMotorMouth; location - Los Angeles. Michelle loves cars. She loves to blog about cars, too. In fact, I'm a big fan and I'm somewhat of a gear head myself, but I trust few people when it comes to mechanics since I'm very much weary of being ripped off, just because I'm a female. So, why not turn to an expert? Michelle is funny, sweet and has great advice. She might even be able to help you solve your car troubles.


@Switchfoot; location - San Diego (and everywhere else). Switchfoot is Jon Foreman, Tim Foreman, Chad Butler, Jerome Fontamillas and Drew Shirley. My opinion is obviously completely biased, but these guys are about as down to earth as can be, yet their music/lyrics is powerful beyond my own explination. They live very private personal lives, yet reach millions of people and changes lives with their music. I first fell in love with their song Dare You To Move back in 2002 or 2003 when I saw the movie A Walk To Remember. There's no "specific" reason for you to follow them. They're just an amazing band whose music and messages I've fallin in love with.
I met Jon Foreman back in October 2009. I'll just say, he didn't seem to thrilled to take the picture, but I was estatic to have the chance to meet him in Minneapolis after the Music Builds Tour.

I'm going to end this with the following:

"The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for never and richer experience." -- Eleanor Roosevelt

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. DISCOVER." -- Unknown

To those of you who push me everyday, thank you. I appreciate it more than you'll ever know.

Your chance to get to know me a little better

This will be the most random note you'll ever read about me, but I encourage you to do one for yourself, for the public to see.

- I hate the sound of slamming cupboard doors; it seriously puts my stomach in a knot.
- I love the spotlight when on stage, but can't stand the media frenzy -- someone tell me how this even makes sense. :)
- I hate being put on the spot and depending on circumstances, I like to think things through.
- I love diet coke --but I find myself drinking less of it the more I work out.
- Belly button piercings take me back to 1998; I don't like them.
- I'm not a big on life stories in a 10-minute pitch; I'd rather learn what your story is over a period of 10 years.
- I love salt and used to not like black pepper . . . now, I like both.
- I'm a very strong spirited @Switchfoot fan who believes that no matter what you feel, attitude will take you as far as you wanna go.
- I want(ed) meet two people and know them personally. Unfortunately, one of them died my favorite month in the year of 2009. The other, ask and I might reveal the answer.
- One person I want to meet again and get to know better dropped out of college who lives in San Diego, but thrives on his Faith, music and surfing; he's in a band whose motto for their fans is "Friend of the Foot."
- I wish that silver looked good on my fingers. It doesn't, therefore I'm hoping I can settle for Platinum but I've heard that's not the best quality and gets beat up over time.
- I love camoflauge more than I think I should, as well as silver colored skeleton heads, as jewerly (i.e. rings).
- One huge reason I loved being 24; the song 24 written by Jon Foreman of Switchfoot.
- I love converse shoes; I don't tend to dress emo, but that's the one shoe I really like
- I wear my Ugs on the daily basis, as well as flip flops. Considering I have a job that requires me to be in the water a lot, especially during the winter time? Yeah, you would too.
- I can't stand it when cockiness overcomes the real reason for pride.

Random, but I'm trying to step out of my comfort zone here and see if anyone else is willing to follow.

Putting a filter...on your opinions?

Finding the "happy medium" is hard. But if you do it the right way, you gain respect from your peers and you feel better about yourself. Or maybe I'll have a different perspective at the end of this blog?

When I worked for Kwik Trip Inc., in Rochester, Minn., I was still a teenager and I remember applying for the job because my friend, now aquaintence, Chad Stokes worked at one also in the same town. He loved it and I just wanted a job cause I wasn't taking advantage of the work study on campus (yuck), but didn't feel I needed one.

I was hired less than one week after I interviewed with Joe Storks, who became my manager and was the store leader. Stokes no longer works for the company and has since moved to Tennessee. Storks does however, he's moved up in the company.

At the time, my personality was still growing (and always will be), my maturity was so-so, my attitude needed a lot of polishing and little did I know I'd learn to "manage" people, even though I was never a manager for this company. I didn't have a "filter" at work; I said what was on my mind, but was careful with my words most of the time, I made friends with co-workers and went out with those co-workers to party and have good times. It was, in a nutshell my college job that helped me pay bills and go out with friends.

People still accepted me for who I was because I meant well.

I no longer work for the company, as I've moved on and found better opportunities for myself that fit me better.

With Life Time Fitness, Inc., (I was hired in July 2009), I was beyond thankful to finally have a job again. At this point, I had not worked for Kwik Trip Inc., for a couple years and I had a couple odds and ends jobs in between: I wasn't jumping over the moon when I got these jobs because they were "dead end" to me and just a paycheck. Ouch? Not so much. Different boats for differents folks is what I say.

In a nutshell: I was back in aquatics and felt that it was where I needed to be and had something that finally could make me feel like a human being again.

What's different about LTF? It's a healthy way of life company and I'm not saying that just because it's part of our mission statement. I'm also not trying to sound savvy or sell anything. The general manager at the Lakeville location treats his employees very well. He's one of those once-in-a-blue-moon managers who is approachable and realistic. Because he treats us well, we have a better attitude and treat our Members with pride and respect, too!

As for this "filter" I'm thinking about with this post, I'm referring to walking a mile in someone elses shoes. Don't speak too soon, especially if it's just for gossip. I'm not gonna say anything more regarding that.

Professionalisim: when you take time to understand and you talk to people, and you don't talk down to other people just because you're "higher" than them on the ladder in a corporate setting. You lose credibility fast and you might as well just stand still in the sinking sand.

When can you take the filter down a notch though, yet still keep your credibility?? I'm in tough spot and I'm looking for answers. I understand it's also a learning experience and another part of management.

I take pride in my line of work. It's rewarding, it's fun, I'm constantly learning and the free membership isn't bad either. ;)

I have so much more to say, but don't need this to be a mile long.

Looking forward to meeting @RobertStanke (Corporate LTF employee) though at the end of this month!! :)

Have You Heard About The Lonesome Loser

"Have you heard about the lonesome loser? Beaten by the queen of hearts everytime. Have you heard about the lonesome loser? He's a loser but he still keep on trying." http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/little_river_band/lonesome_loser.html

Dear Lonesome Loser -
Embarrased. A word anyone could use to sum up the idea that when you don't check multiple [reliable] sources, false statements spread faster than the flu [it is still that time of year] and your credit then weakens.

That's all it takes in social media. One mass communicated false statement. Wave goodbye to your credibility because no one has time for you.

People look for attention to get their name out there.

I was not amused by a hoax message someone started from a Web site called Fake A Wish. http://www.fakeawish.com/ The sick rumor spread fast.

From this day forward, I was allowed one failed statement and I'm thankful that those who follow me on Twitter who accepted my apology for believing something to be true, before I checked multiple sources to confirm what I had read from someone who tweeted about the same thing just minutes before my own tweet on twitter. I'll keep that persons identity annoymous because I know this person means well.

Admit up to your mistakes. If you think about it, this can actually help you keep your credibility. Don't point the finger at someone else when you know what's been done. Speak up because the truth shall set you free.

I still think about that white sparkly glove and then just recently, after Brittany Murphy's death, which is still being investigated http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittany_Murphy I thought to myself "please, please no more."

To whomever started the nasty rumor today about a certain actress: get off your couch and do something that's worth your time. Stop being dramatic and hurtful. It's gotten you noticed, but it will get you no where.

Any advice from the professionals? I'll take it!

The following credits @PRSarahEvans and http://www.sevansstrategy.com/

"Business is a contact sport.

Ther are millions and millions of conversations happening out there, right now. That's a powerful thing. Social media is essential if you start to intergrate it into your business or your organization. There are uses for customer service, for fundraising, for buiness development, for marketing, for advertising. The list goes on and on. You could have the strongest brand in the world or the best CEO, and if they can't connect with people, it's not going to work. It's about going to where your customers are talking about you and finding the right time to jump in and become a part of it. There is so much that goes into that and it always goes back to that strategy and buying from the right people and making sure that the right people are actually using the tools well.

Social media is a conversation.

Maybe we should talk."

I don't feel feel popular enough in media. What can I use as my voice so I can become heard? A blog is only going to get me so far.

Social media is connecting and using strategies and having the right tools.

An LV enV Touch isn't going to get me further just because I could have access to the internet --as in Facebook, Twitter, etc. I have, however, upgraded to a new phone, but it probably wouldn't be to @simonleung's standards. :)

I'm not worried about my daily voice and connecting with people since I do that at work; I know I have a great reputation there. @LifeTimeFitness has a mission and as for my line of work, I do my best to provide an educational, entertaining, fun and innovative experience of uncompromising quality. I connnect with Members daily in Aquatics and I do my best to intrigue non-members to become Members who are interested in putting their kids in our U-Swim School program. We offer great rates, reasonable prices and our instructors are first aid, cpr/aed certified.

Go ahead! Check it out for yourself: http://www.blogger.com/www.lifetimefitness.mylt.com/index.jspa We are located in 19 states.

My biggest problem right now, is finding my voice in social media.

I wanted to create something called #RRTweetMeetUp. In fact, I just wrote a blog about it December 19, 2009. The intent of this was to have people meet at a restaurant in Savage, Minn., called Axel's Bonfire and your "ticket" in was to bring non-perishable foods. So far, there's two people confirmed; myself and another graduate from Minnesota State University, Mankato, who I graduated with named Rachel (@rachellaitala). Pretty sure I'm cancelling it until I have a bigger voice and know more about what I need to do to get the word out there. I tweeted about it consistently for a while, made a Facebook event (nobody has "confirmed" their attendance --I even invited a very popular figure in the midwest, but I'm assuming they won't attend) and I blogged about it.

I don't have a 'team' to work with, but I connect with people from Southern California and Los Angeles area almost daily; @PaulTTran @RochelleVeturis @ReporterHaley @GlobalPatriot and even in Portland @Scott_Bryant! Can't forget about the East Coast, though, I'm specifically referring to @PRCog.

These people know how powerful social media is, so I ask them for tips every so often, not that the other 1,000+ people that are following me don't have advice. Unfortunately, 160 characters is not going to get me much.

Another reason I majored in Mass Communications? It's hands-on. It intrigues me. It's so broad, yet so definied.

People don't have time to teach me and in this business, things change constantly --just had a conversation with @RochelleVeturis about this and I couldn't agree with her more. We are all always learning in social media, even the pros. The classroom didn't teach me enough and I haven't "worked" and/or really been truly exposed to social media in six months; I feel like I'm losing ground and the education I paid for is 'slipping' away.

I don't attend social media events enough, but I'm not sure if that's going to be the trigger to make something happen because I'm learning that having a drink at a bar is great, but I also don't really have much reason to go because I'm not sure why it is I'm even going.

Example: there's a room with 300 people in it and I want to make it to at least 20 people in the 3 hours I have. That's not going to happen . . . I'll make it to12 of them if I'm lucky since most conversations last 10-15 minutes? I'm a talker and very, very guilty of this crime, but I've also learned that I have two ears and one mouth for a reason. I need to always keep that in mind that my next biggest problem is I'm very personable. I like to connect with people and in order to really connect, I need more than 15 minutes of their time.

What also doesn't help is that I have so much I want to do (making a difference in the lives of other people) and realize that making a list would help, but I don't know where to start.

It also rolls back to the bigger problem that I'm not popular enough in social media to be noticed. How do you get noticed?

Experience is that thing you need and don't get it until just after you need it. This might just be me at the end of my internship with BRIO, a publishing company in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. But hey! At least I'm getting back into the ball park and I know I'll be to make great networking connections through the 3-month internship.

Time To Live Life Out Loud

A few things I have on mind.

No more just "sitting around" for me. Not that I've really been able to do that much recently since things have started moving in positive directions for me. But it's because of my drive, dedication and stubborness, that I'm even in a place where life has taken a turn for the better and return, it's given me a chance to really . . . spread my wings.

I'm going to stick with the "routine" words now, even though I usually choose to not follow the crowd, but maybe it's time to try following the crowd, yet using my voice as I gain experience in areas that draw me into opportunities that can allow me to help other people achieve their goals?

Original doesn't have to always be boring; you just have to learn when to speak up. :)

1. I'm not breaking any rules here when I say that I have a free membership to @LifeTimeFitness. Go ahead, follow them on Twitter. In fact, you might as well follow @RobertStanke, too, since he's the one (from what I know) that updates the Twitter account.

I want to actually utilize the LTF facility I work at and I want to live a "healthy way of life company." And by gosh by golly, I am an employee, so technically by not taking advantage of what the company has to offer, I'm not leading by our own example. I know how terribly cheesy that sounds.

2. I want to earn my private pilots license.

I have an opportunity not many people have. My StepDad has a 19 seventy-something plane that he bought from his Dad who passed away a while ago. I have the book right behind me, just waiting to get read. My problem? I'm so hands-on, that it's hard to focus and I really need a teacher telling me what to do, or just super good direction, otherwise, I never seem to hang on for long.

3. I began blogging almost one year ago and I had to for participation points for the my Mass Communications Campaigns class. I should blog more often.

4. I have an amazing family who knows me better than I know myself, sometimes. I want to start giving back to them and I'm gonna do my best to do so.

5. Family does come first for me, but friends are good for the soul. That's about all I have to say about that.

6. I want to take actual vacations this year and really start traveling. It'll be a year in May since my last vacation. I just feel better about life when I can get outta town for a little while.

There's more, but that's because there's always self-improvement to be made.

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!!