The other day I got into a discussion with no one’s favorite person @AmandaChapel (Brian Connolly) about, what else, social media. At the end of it he shared Bill Sledzik’s not so glowing review of Brian Solis’ new book “Putting the Public Back in Public Relations” with me and asked me if I read it AND the comments. (I had.) 

We then continued the conversation via DM where I said something like: “My PR 2.0 chat is NOTHING like what Brian Solis talks about” (paraphrased). I then went on to say: “I use the term ‘PR 2.0’ in my chat because it’s my backdoor entry to sharing traditional PR” (again, parapharased). 

[Regarding the statement about Brian, I didn’t mean it disrespectfully. It’s just that I don’t believe that PR 2.0 is only about the technology in this space what it can do to allow us to engage with publics. And I don’t believe in ghost blogging, which Brian is okay with. To me, PR 2.0 is a CHANCE to get ‘people relations’ right this time. Thanks to Kellye Crane for that term.]

The conversation has been on my mind ever since. Because, whoa!, I feel like I betrayed myself and where I stand on both topics. I engage in both AND I have issues with BOTH. I haven’t been quiet about it.

For 15 years I have had one thought when it comes to PR: It’s about people and the relationships established with them. It’s a two-way, respectful & ethical engagement that helps to establish mutual understandings and it should happen whether it’s a journalist, an employee, a person in the local community or a shareholder. And that’s how I have handled and taught PR.

In my mind, if a company needs to have a journalist “police” that kind of activity as a third-party...well, they have more issues than I can ever address.

My opinion is that journalists, reporters, & editors carry multiple biases (personal, editorial and business) with them that often affect their integrity. I also know that some organizations will absolutely manipulate any interaction they have with publics should they get the opportunity to do so.

What am I saying here? Perhaps I beat to a different drum. I am educated and experienced in both and I believe that gives me the ability to make up my own rules for what is right and what works. Arrogant? Perhaps. Successful? So far. My success isn’t based on arrogance; it’s been based on having the guts to put people first and taking the time to build relationships with them.

That said, I am almost positive my position on PR has landed me on the very tippy top of a “lay off” list more than once in my career. Trust me, I have pissed off more than one executive siding with a journalist and ticked off more than one journalist by not giving them the scoop they thought they deserved.

So... If you are engaged in the PR 2.0 Chat I moderate on Twitter, know this: I AM BIASED towards my own PR beliefs. I am trying to influence people to see PR a different way. I am persuading people to buck the system. I am hoping we come to some mutual understanding of today's best practices. And no matter what, I always enjoy our two-way conversations. (How's that for a good sprinkling of buzz words?!)

I guess for all my bitching, I am a PR gal at heart. Just not a typical one.

Loading mentions Retweet

I love it when I stumble upon a really smart, thoughtful blog post. It's like platinum to me [platinum is better than gold in my book and my favorite. ;-)]. But what I am really starting to be frustrated with are the issues I've been bumping into recently (only in the past month or so it seems, which is odd to me in and of itself) when it comes to blog commenting.
 
It seems like every time I take time out of my day to write a thoughtful comment and hit send inevitably there's a sudden suction, a bit of silence and then **POOF!**  It’s gone...forever.
 
Unfortunately, for me it’s been like a smack in the face...or a dose of reality (why did I waste precious time?).
 
What's worse is when I see the comment post and then when I go back later it's gone (gremlins?). Or even worse than that is when I leave a comment only to be told it's under moderation and then never appears. WTH?
 
I know, I know... CONTROL-C just in case. As a safeguard I have been trying to write blog comments in Word first and then copying & pasting them. But sometimes when a post is that great, I go to town in the comments and then pray that I don’t have a moment of regret immediately afterwards (sorta like those bad date experiences, you know?).
 
I can't believe I am the only one going through this... Am I? (Reality check please!)
 
I am just thinking aloud here, but doesn’t it seem that continuing down this path of frustration might keep us from wanting to participate? (Maybe it’s just me...)
 
Questions to ponder:  

• Whose responsibility is it to make sure these issues don't occur and that comments can be left seamlessly?
• And are bloggers not keeping up with the maintenance of their blogs? Could that be an issue too?

Loading mentions Retweet

If you read my blog you'll know I am taking a break from it. But those of you who know me know that I can't shut up for any real length of time (an issue since childhood...note passing was my #1 detention crime). As well, I have a ton of stuff spinning around in my head that never seems to make it to my blog for various reasons. Mainly perfection and time.

I was talking with a few folks about my blog hiatus and the reasons around it and they thought Posterous might be the place for me to jot down my thoughts. And if they never make it to my blog at least they made it out of my head. So there you have it: A Marketing Notebook.

Consider 'em marketing doodles, half-baked thoughts, random ideas, etc. that are...IMPERFECT.

Hopefully the ramdom thoughts will come together to help me formulate smart, analytical blog posts.

As well, I am working on trying to make my 'professional' writing style, more 'personable.' However, 15 years in corporate marketing has unfortunately left an indelible mark. We'll see what happens with time. (Can I curse here?! Does sarcasm translate?!)

And NO, I am not jumping on the "lifestreaming" bandwagon. It's such a ridiculously silly term (there I said it!). Really, it's a buzzword that makes people feel better about being on the "cutting edge," which is ironic since the term lifestreaming was supposedly coined in the mid-90s. (Uh, we're talking about 14+/- years too late to be hip.) And NO I don't think blogging is dead or archaic. Just like I don't think traditional marketing is. Besides, I am months behind on being cool enough to be an early adopter here...

You're all welcome to read/comment on my notebook or not (and yes, it will also be shared on Twitter & Facebook). This time it's not for you, it's for me. Really. I mean it. I dred the day someone comes up with a "ranking" for the best Posterous accounts. I am beyond tired of being ranked, judged, pedestaled. I just want to think out loud...freely & unencumbered. [Crap. Was that just one giant whine?! Kinda sounds like it. ;-) ]

P.S. Do people really want one more place to connect? No, seriously. Aren't we ALL overloaded?

Loading mentions Retweet