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Unleash your inner social PR superhero – Q&A with Shonali Burke

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I’m so pleased this week to interview one of my personal superheroes, Shonali Burke.

She’s a “social PR” strategist who was named to PRWeek’s first “top 40 Under 40” list, the first list of 25 Women That Rock Social Media; and who founded and continues to curate the popular #measurePR hashtag and Twitter chat. She’s the owner of Shonali Burke Consulting, Inc.

Shonali is going to be offering a free mini-training to share some of her secret sauce, so I thought it would be great to have her answer some teaser questions here at Successful Blog. We could all use some help with PR, right?

 

How do you define “social PR”?

The classic definition of PR is the discipline that “builds and maintains mutually beneficial relationships between and organization and its publics” – that’s the *real* P in PR, not the imposter, “publicity.” Now, for decades publicity was the best way to get attention, and that awareness was the springboard for inquiries, additional marketing, sales, etc.

But if you’re actually going to build relationships with your “publics” – your audiences – you’re going to have to find ways to consistently engage with them. Social technologies allow you to do that in a way we never could before; it’s remarkable. I mean, just last week my website went down, and I was able to get BlueHost’s attention more quickly on Twitter than through their live chat!

So “social PR” harnesses the power of social technologies and platforms to help organizations build these relationships with their publics. This translates into a lot of online community-building, which is hard work (as you know), but the results can be incredible. Because if you can motivate your communities to start telling your story for you, isn’t that far more believable than you harping on it yourself?

What are some key mistakes that people make when trying to do social PR on their own?

First, I think a lot of companies (large and small) don’t realize they can’t just create social media accounts and blast information out at people. A press release will do that just fine. So there’s a lack of understanding of what it takes to have a regular conversation online. I find that a bit strange because they’re just fine talking to you offline!

Second, not actually listening to what people are saying, either about them, or their competitors, or their space. If you don’t do that, I don’t see how you can set a benchmark and ultimately gauge the success or failure of your campaigns and work.

Third, they’ll silo the various areas of communication as if they’re stocking their granaries for the winter. Social PR is by its very nature fluid and integrated (as business communications should be). While you must absolutely have some structure, you also need flexibility, because the mediums you’re working in are changing all the time.

 At what point does a small business owner need to call in a pro for PR?

The minute she can afford it. Truly, though I know you probably think I’m biased. But honestly – I’m wearing my own small business owner hat as I say this.

Unless you run a PR shop of some sort, your business is not PR. Your business is selling widgets, or distributing refrigerators, or knitting shark blankets, or selling online community software. Even if you have a knack for communications, and many many business owners do, ultimately any time you’re *not* spending on activities that grow your business is money you’re throwing down the drain.

Unless you’re exceptionally handy, you wouldn’t try to learn how to install a new roof on your home just so you could replace it in 30 years. So why would you not hire a PR pro to do what they do well, so that you can focus on what you do well?

How do you best leverage community to help spread the word about your product or service?

I heard a three-word mantra a long time ago that I often use: Educate, Cultivate, Motivate. This is how organizations *should* approach it; but most of the time they instead jump straight to Sell. That just doesn’t work.

You have to spend time becoming a part of a community, listening, engaging, curating, sharing. Do for everyone else before you ask them to do for you. Then, when you have enough community “change” in your bank, you can make your ask – but not before.

What’s your favorite social listening tool that won’t break the bank?

Talkwalker Alerts. I would have said Google Alerts, but they’re pretty unreliable these days, which is disappointing. 

What sparked you to create this course?

The best part of my job is when I’m able to help clients, students, people who attend my workshops, see what a joy social PR is. When that light goes off in their eye, that’s what makes my heart sing.

I got tired of seeing so many, many smart folk flounder when it comes to smart social PR strategy & implementation; not because they’re not smart, but because they don’t have the right coach to guide them.

I’m ultimately a teacher at heart. So I figured taking this online was the best way to share my joy with as many people as possible, and give back to an industry that has given so very much to me.

Thank you so much for chatting with me, Shonali!

Click here to sign up for Shonali’s free mini training course, The Social PR Launchpad: Unleash Your Inner Social PR Superhero.

Author’s Bio: Rosemary O’Neill is an insightful spirit who works for Social Strata — makers of the Hoop.la community platform. Check out the Social Strata blog. You can find Rosemary on Google+ and on Twitter as @rhogroupee

 

Is the Time Right for Your Business Aspirations?

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Multi-ethnic Superhero Businessmen Confidence Concept

If you’re considering starting a business during what’s left of 2015 or anytime in 2016, there are a number of factors to keep in mind.

From the current health of the economy to the type of business itself, starting a successful business oftentimes boils down to timing.

Here are just a few tips for starting a successful business the first time around in the coming year:

Strike While the Startup Iron is Hot

Although many small and large businesses alike are still recovering from the financial crisis of 2008, all signs point to a recovering economy. This means good news for entrepreneurs looking to start a new business in the coming year.

The U.S. has regained close to nine million jobs in the past year and banks are beginning to lend to business startups again.

Likewise, if you’re trying to start a business without relying on a line of credit from a bank, crowd-funding through sites like Indiegogo and Kickstarter is also at an all-time high.

It’s also important to note that a healthy economy means less competition for industries of all kinds.

Whether you’re starting an online brand or a local business, when the business world struggles less, it gives your business a better opportunity to set up shop without competing with other similar businesses hungry for sales.

Ask for Advice

Regardless of whether you’re starting your business tomorrow or in the New Year, it’s always wise to ask for advice and tips from successful business owners.

As the following article looks at, whether you’re looking for 8 tips for starting a massage therapy business or you just need some help in the marketing department, a little advice goes a long way.

You can reach out to other business owners on sites like LinkedIn and Facebook, read up on business blogs, or meet with business owners in person. You’d be surprised at how willing successful entrepreneurs are to share advice on the startup process.

Timing is Everything

Although the economy is currently ripe for new businesses to take shape, that doesn’t mean you should jump right in to starting your business.

Successfully getting your business off the ground takes a ton of planning and perfect timing.

That’s why it’s so important to choose the right time to get the business ball rolling.

For example, if you’re starting a consumer retail business, consider opening your doors closer to the holidays as opposed to after the New Year.

Starting your business at the right time could give you a much-needed sales boost during those critical beginning stages.

Study the Competition

In the weeks and months leading up to your grand opening, be sure to study the competition closely. Keeping an eye on the success rates of industries and local businesses similar to yours will provide you with valuable insights.

Are similar businesses currently struggling or are they experiencing unprecedented sales numbers?

By studying the competition and asking these questions, you’ll know when the best time is to jump in the business arena.

If you’re trying to decide whether to start your business in the coming year, then keep in mind the helpful tips mentioned above.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

About the Author: Adam Groff is a freelance writer and creator of content. He writes on a variety of topics including business startups and the economy.

Make Content Marketing a Leading Strategy

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Child scratching head with question mark on blackboard concept fContent marketing has been around for hundreds of years, but only recently has it been getting a lot of attention.

Essentially, content marketing is the process of advertising without advertising. This is to say that content marketing provides valuable content to consumers without overtly advertising, all while slyly incorporating a brand’s products or services.

A good example of this may be where a pest control service provides 10 essential pest control tips on Facebook with the hook that, if these tips fail, contact XYZ Pest Control.

The objective, getting the brand out there, is achieved by providing real-world tips that are valuable to the potential customer.
What Qualifies as “Valuable Content”?

Before you begin a content marketing campaign, stop and think … what would be valuable to me if I were a consumer?

While it’s easy to get lost in the world of industry jargon and technicalities, the consumer will, by and large, not understand what you mean. Therefore, try to think in simplistic terms.

What does the potential customer hope to get out of your company? What are the fears holding them back from doing business? What makes your company unique from the competition while ensuring that you can provide all that the consumer needs?

Consider all of these questions when crafting your business’ content.
Content Marketing is Great at Generating Leads

One of the biggest advantages to using content marketing is that it generates not only web traffic, which can boost search engine ranking, but it also boosts leads. The more valuable the content, the more likely people are to share this content.

In the article, “How to Generate More Leads Than Ever in 2015 With Content Marketing“, it’s pointed out that leads need to be nurtured through content.

Basically, you need an overarching theme to your brand message that transcends the content at hand.

You’ll want to form a full-force brand message about your new or existing product or service that implements value through your company’s website, social media channels, and traditional advertising in order to gain traction.
Don’t Just Throw It All at the Wall

Finally, one of the worst mistakes you can make is to generate content, throw it at the wall and see what sticks.

While it’s true that you need to monitor metrics in order to see what works and what doesn’t, taking a shotgun approach can prove to be disastrous.

Many business owners try to offer up valuable content from across a very wide spectrum of their offerings, only to find out that they lose business as a result.

Instead, plan out a strategy, determine which content marketing channels are the best bets, and then focus on target audiences in order to achieve success.

Valuable content isn’t valuable if you aren’t reaching the right people.

About the Author: Andrew Rusnak is an author who writes on topics that include content marketing and social media.

Should You Be Dialed-in to After Call Surveys?

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Customer Services RepresentativeIf you have ever been asked to provide your opinion or give feedback after you complete a call, you have just been involved in an after-call survey.

You may wonder if these surveys provide any value to the business, especially if you were one who elected not to participate.

Do they have any value in today’s business world? If so, what do you need to know to make them effective?

Know What You Want to Learn

There should be a reason for everything you do in business, and after-call surveys are no exception.

You should know what information you want to find out, how you will learn this information and what you will do with it. If you do not have answers to all of these questions, you don’t need to take a survey.

Creating a goal doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, for these surveys, you should keep it simple.

Learn which call agents receive the best marks in customer satisfaction. Find out what percentage of customers have their problems answered when they call.

Keep your goals to one or two points to ensure that you get the information you are looking for.

Know What to Ask

Even if you know what you want to find out in these surveys, you won’t get the information if you don’t ask the right questions.

Make sure the questions are straightforward with enough options for the customer to answer accurately, but don’t overwhelm the person.

You cannot get feedback for complicated issues in this manner; keep your expectations simple and your questions easy to answer. You will use these surveys to gauge perception about general topics.

This may include finding out if the customer had a long wait time, if his or her questions were answered and if he or she was treated courteously.

Know How You Will Use the Data

Customers don’t mind filling out surveys or answering questions if they know their answers make a difference. They want to see that you make changes in your business based on the information they provide.

You should know before starting a survey what actions you will take with the results.

Obviously, if everything comes back positive, you won’t need to make changes. If you have less than desirable results, you should have a plan of what you will change.

As the article, “After Call Surveys: Are They Really Effective?” mentions, you should have a plan to follow up on any negative feedback.

You may even want to implement a mailed survey or contact specific customers if the reaction is strong enough.

The goal of any survey should be to make your business stronger, better and to improve customer satisfaction. When you accumulate information directly from the customer, this is your best weapon to improving your services or product.

Take your survey results seriously and they will be a valuable tool to help ensure that you retain customer loyalty so that your business thrives.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

About the Author: Joyce Morse is an author who writes on a variety of topics, including customer service and technology.

5 Great Guest Blogging Topics for Healthcare Providers

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by Mickie Kennedy

Managing a successful, interesting blog is of great benefit to a small practice as most people begin their health-related research online.

This can be incredibly tricky and time-consuming; HIPAA rules and increasing government regulations have seen to that.

Providing reliably accurate information is absolutely essential: not only so your readers and potential patients view you as a trusted source, but also because providing incorrect information could result in your website being removed and even a huge fine levied against your practice.

But blogging on your own website can get lonely, especially when you’re just starting out. One great way to get in front of a new audience is to guest post on another blog.

Start by offering a guest blog post to a colleague or partner.

Or take a poll and find out where your colleagues and patients get their information online and ask to write a guest post there. 

Not sure what to write about? Here are some topics to get you headed in the right direction:

  1. Medical Research
    Share some news on the latest advancements either in technology or medicine to give readers better insight when it comes to making health-related decisions.
  2. Conferences and Events
    If your company is attending a conference or promoting a health event, write about it. You can also do a giveaway of any conference or event swag.
  3. Share a Personal Story
    Write about a health experience that you have had personally or get permission to share another person’s experience. (Always be very aware of HIPAA rules!)
  4. Common Problem
    If there is a common problem (like allergies) that your practice sees often, blog about. Patients looking for an allergy doctor will see you as an authority on the subject. You can also research comments on the blog to see what readers have questions about most often.
  5. Infographics
    Health information can be a lot to process and infographics can help! Share one that your company has created or another public infographic on health issues.

There are many other topics will result in a successful guest blogging experience, which helps to build your practice’s credibility. Some other thoughts to keep in mind as you pursue writing opportunities include:

  • Research
    It is imperative that you know the blog that you are writing for and are familiar with their readers. It is near impossible to be granted a writing opportunity from a cold call or email.
  • FAQs
    If they have a frequently asked question section on their page, review it for potential guest topics. Is there a particular subject that your practice deals with regularly?
  • Recycle
    Look at previous posts from either your blog or theirs and find topics that you can explore more in depth.
  • Crowdsource
    Ask your readers which topics they want to know more about or take a look at trending health topics through Google or Twitter.

As you know the medical field changes rapidly so choose your topics with care, especially when covering subjects like new technology or emergencies; be sure to state your qualifications up front to prove your great track record; and be sure to add a call to action at the end of your guest post so that their readers can follow you as well.

Do you have any other tips for writing practices in the healthcare field? Talk to us in the comments.

Mickie Kennedy, founder of eReleases, offers Free Whitepapers and eBooks for businesses of all stripes.

Featured image via Flickr, Creative Commons: www.audio-luci-store.it

How to Promote Your Self-Published eBooks: Checklist

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By Jessy Troy

When it comes to self-publishing an ebook, authors are afforded all kinds of freedoms that they’d never be able to achieve when releasing a book through a traditional publishing house, allowing them to retain all of their profits even as they take pride in the fact that the good job done was all theirs.

Unfortunately, they also lose the typical advertising team that comes hand-in-hand with a publishing house, forcing them to play marketer all on their own.

Luckily for all of you self-publishing ebook writers out there, the internet has made it possible to do just that, and to do it well, with social media leading the way in that regard.

I highly recommend that you first read this article: 5 Myths About Writing an E-Book, by Ovetta Sampson.

Here are six creative steps to promote your self-published eBook:

1. Set up a Separate Website

It’s easier to brand your eBook if you have a separate mini website for it. It will rank easier for the eBook name and will accumulate links and exposure naturally. Plus you can use branding colors, calls-to-action and logos to make sure people remember the eBook and will be more likely to convert next time they hear about it.

SiteGeek can help you find the cheapest hosting for it. Plus it has all those user reviews so you can make sure you are making a good choice.

And here are some essential basics for you to easily build a website.

It’s amazing that we can actually handle website development ourselves these days!

2. Be Informed

First things first: when it comes to social media marketing, like any other task, a bit of planning is in order; while you’re very likely familiar with major social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, have you ever really considered how to utilize them for business purposes?

Reading this article is a great start, but making the most out of what social media has to offer to you and your ebook means taking the time to do some serious research on each platform that you plan to tackle.

For example, tweeting your latest goings on simply isn’t the same as capturing an audience for a book in 140 characters or less, just as maintaining a personal Facebook account isn’t the same as leveraging a Facebook page to promote a product.

3. Be Informative

In order to get your campaign off on the right foot, start things off by tackling the big players in the niche. You’ll need to create thorough, in-depth, and always engaging social profiles that give your visitors – a fickle bunch, to be sure – a reason to stick around and learn more about who you are and what you have to offer them.

To achieve this, be sure to create fleshed out profiles that give visitors a good idea about who you are and, more importantly, why they should take an interest in your ebook.

4. Push Your Content Far and Wide

No matter what kind of content you find yourself adding to your social media streams, it is invariably true that the further it reaches, the more effective it is. With that in mind, it’s very important that you utilize all aspects of the social web in order to help your content grow wings and fly.

One excellent example of a social tool that can help you to achieve just that is Viral Content Buzz, a platform that brings together content creators in order to help each other to like and share content on the social web at large.

5. Engage Your Fans and Followers

One of the biggest tricks that needs to be utilized by any social marketer, especially one pushing a product as intimate and personal as an ebook, is to present yourself as a living, breathing human being to your followers.

The social web is full of content that looks as if it came straight from a spam bot and falling into that game, even inadvertently, is an easy way to turn off fans – and potential buyers – for good.

In order to stay approachable and engaging, be sure to always present your content additions as something deeper than simply trying to sell another copy of your ebook, and always make a point to engage one-on-one with fans and followers who take the time to ask questions and leave comments.

6. Stay on Top of Your Social Game

Even when the fans, followers, and sales start to roll in, be sure to stay on top of your social game, continuing to indulge your social enthusiasts by engaging them on a daily basis. This should continue to include the posting of content relevant to your ebook, one-on-one and group discussion, and teasers about your upcoming work.

More useful ebook marketing ideas:

Besides allowing you to continue to successfully push your existing work, these efforts will also help you to build a platform with which to generate interest in and sell future works!

Author’s Bio: Jessy Troy is a creative writer and editor at Social Media Sun. She Tweets as @JessyTroy.