Month: February 2014

Brand Elevation — Preparing for Primetime

In my last post I wrote about identifying the hidden gems within your company and how to leverage them as subject matter experts. Of course not everyone is prepared to speak to the media, publish a paper or serve as a keynote speaker. How do you get your SMEs ready for prime time?

Think of them as a celebrity who needs a team. Each person on the team can help build the SME’s capacity. Jennifer Ransaw Smith, CEO and chief brand strategist for Brand ID, says some of the key players to have on the team include:

Media Trainer: This person will prep the expert on how to confidently interview for print, television, radio and social. They also should provide guidance on developing message points, how to control the interview and how to avoid journalist tricks.

Publicist: A publicist helps make the client more visible within her market and increases her value.

Speaking coach: This person helps the client speak with clarity and confidence. The first time I was asked to give a major presentation, I was fortunate that my company paid for a speaking coach. It really helped me with my delivery and breathing, but not everyone thinks they are worthwhile.

Brand Strategists help you develop a strategy to effectively market to your ideal audience.

Graphic designers can help design flyers and business cards.

Copywriters package ideas into powerful messages. They can help you write your bio so it stands out, for example.

Some of these individuals may already be on your team or you may have the skills and can offer the services to your SMEs. If you don’t have individuals within your company that can help, then considering hiring out because you want your experts to stand out – after all, they are representing your company.

As you help prepare your experts, don’t forget to help them build a brand tool kit. The kit should include the person’s bio and photo, as well as a list of previous conferences and publications.

By the way, this advice also holds true for you to develop your own profile. Smith says PR practitioners suffer from the cobbler syndrome because they are always building everyone else’s brand and not their own. So when you finish elevating your SMEs, make some time to build your brand.

Create a Strong Bench with Experts

“You have mastered something if you go to work every day,” says Jennifer Ransaw Smith, founder and CEO of Brand id |Strategic Parnters of Columbia, Md.

That means you, or your colleagues, are experts in their fields. If you are tasked with building visibility for your organization you will want to leverage your colleagues’ skills and experience by turning them into SMEs, or subject matter experts.

Smith describes these individuals as the “hidden gems” within a company, and says it is important to “develop an elevation strategy to leverage internal talent.”

“So many companies aren’t utilizing them to help elevate the entire company in the marketplace,” says Smith.

MVPIf you work for a large company, consider developing a year-long plan around your SMEs, whom Smith says are the MVPs of the company.

The plan should include industry specific conferences and publications. Smith also recommends color-coding the plan with each SME assigned a particular color. The goal would be to have experts speaking at conferences and publishing throughout the year.

How can you use SMEs?

Have them write for your company blog about their area of expertise. It’s a great way for your followers to better understand your organization’s work. It also makes colleagues proud of the work that is done.

Identify industry publications and ask them to submit articles. Then promote the publications on your website and with your stakeholders.

Ask them to speak at conferences, workshops and trade shows sharing their expertise. Last year the National Federation of Press Women held its annual conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. They invited a few speakers, but most of the talent came from within the membership. Members spoke about publishing, freelancing, social media trends, photojournalism, branding and Freedom of Information.

Hold Lunch and Learns within your company. Use your internal talent to offer training on everything from tax tips (auditors) to project management to industry successes.

Have them speak on your behalf. Reporters always need reliable industry leaders to quote in their stories. Offer your experts to them.

Learn to Grow

I’ve heard a few people talk about how frustrated they are by their jobs and some are even bored, even though they are super busy.

That sounds to me as if they are not learning and growing. In fact, one person confided in me and I suggested he might want to learn a new skill or, at least, volunteer for a committee that put him outside his comfort zone. Fortunately, he works somewhere where that is a possibility.

Writing and drawing utensils

Learning a new skill or volunteering for a committee are two ways to continue to learn and grow. (Photo by Cynthia Price)

If you find yourself going through the motions in your job or in your life, what are you going to do to disrupt the status quo?Learning comes in so many different forms:

Take a class. Community colleges and universities have short courses geared to specific topics. Or try a one-day seminar through a museum or botanical garden. I took a course on online publishing through a museum, and applied some of what I learned to my job. I also am still planning to publish an e-book, and it will be much easier now because of what I learned.

Study online. One of my favorite ways to learn about software, business and creative skills is through Lynda.com, which allows you to “learn what you want, when you want.” The site also provides exercise files to practice what you are learning. Last week I took a course in PowerPoint that was hugely helpful. I only wish I had taken it years ago.

Read a book. I love to read fiction, but I also try to read several books about leadership and management to hone my skills. I even participate in a book club at work where we discuss such books. Even if I haven’t read the book, I learn from the discussion.

Join a group. If you are interested in something, learn from others. I belong to several professional groups. Members are an invaluable resource for me.

Attend a conference. A highlight each year for me is attending the NFPW conference, which moves around the country.  I attend as many workshops as possible and come away with a wealth of ideas. Last year after leaving the conference, I revised my resume based on what I had learned. I also applied creative techniques to my writing.

How will you continue to grow and learn?

Changing Communications Landscape

Part of my job as director of communications for a global organization is understanding global trends and their impact on the work my organization does. Earlier this month, I listened to a live telecast focused on the communications aspects that surrounded the World Economic Forum, recently held in Davos, Switzerland.

What struck me about the conversation that featured Arianna Huffington, Adrian Monck and Olivier Fleurot is how much the communications landscape has changed in less than a decade.

Monck, who is managing director of Communications and Media for the World Economic Forum, noted that communicators now have access to incredible tools. For example, Twitter is one of the primary ways to stay informed.

“There are these engines for creating a platform to talk about serious stuff,” he said.

Monck, who is responsible for disseminating communications from the World Economic Forum, said he is no longer reliant on the media to report the conversations. “The old method was to ‘PR’ it, but now you have platforms to have your own conversations,” he said, referring to social sites and blogging.

He wasn’t criticizing public relations, but rather noting how using all of the platforms can lead to a “phenomenal release” of information.

I considered his comments in the context of conferences I attend. At social media ones, the Twitter feed is usually scrolling on a screen within the room. The comments often add to the conversation. For example, the speaker may not recall the exact title of a book. While he continues to speak, an audience member quickly identifies the book and shares it via Twitter. Everyone in the audience now has it.

Huffington, who is chair, president and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post Media Group, talked about how she was asked to bring blogging to the Forum in 2005. “They understood the power of incorporating social media and new media.”

For change to happen, Huffington said, a critical mass is needed to make a difference, and social media can help with that. She also talked about how huge problems can be solved through philanthropy and the rise in the number of companies that are making causes part of their annual plans.

I’ve seen many more job postings that relate to corporate social responsibility. It’s an opportunity often to combine philanthropy and communications in one position.

Finally, Fleurot, CEO of MSL Group, said social media allows people to really follow what is happening in the world, whereas in the past conversations happened behind closed doors. The impact of new technologies is changing our world every year, he said, and the key issue is “Are we running fast enough to keep up?”

Fleurot cautioned, though, that communications companies also don’t want to run too fast because not all clients are running at that speed. “It’s such a fast pace,” he said. “How do you adapt to that?”

 

Favorite Tools to Communicate

A recent snow day provided me an opportunity to slow down.

One of the things I did was write a letter. Yes, I wrote a letter. I used a pen and put my thoughts down on paper. I then folded the letter, placed it an envelope, addressed it and put a stamp on it to mail it.

It’s something my mum and I have done since my freshman year of college. We started writing letters to keep in touch, and in many respects, I prefer her letters to a phone call. For one thing, I can read the letter any time, and I can go back and reread it.

Fountain pens and ink well

Fountain pens may be old fashioned, but I enjoy writing with them. (Photo by Cynthia Price)

Our letters aren’t about big life events – at least, not often. They are about the mundane things of life that make a life worth living such as pinochle scores, what was for dinner or how often the dog went for a walk. I doubt we would ever share those moments in a phone call.

I realized that with Valentine’s Day tomorrow, I have lots that I love when it comes to communicating, both in an old-fashioned manner and in the digital age.

What I love –

Fountain pens (and good pens in general) A mentor hooked me on them, and now I have a nice collection, including a Mont Blanc. Each pen has a specific ink that I like to use.

Note cards It’s a terrible habit, but whenever I travel, I pick up note cards. I like to drop my friends short notes or to thank a colleague for going the extra mile.

Small note books These are another indulgence. One of my friends frequently buys me notebooks. One time she was worried because I had just decreed that I didn’t need any more. Of course, that was before I saw the trio she had purchased for me – each with a scene of London. They are perfect for taking notes at an impromptu meeting, making lists for the weekend or just doodling.

Facebook Without I would lose track of many friends. While I really enjoy writing letters, not many people do and when you don’t get any feedback, it’s hard to keep the conversation going. On Facebook, I can check in on friends, update them on my life and keep the conversation going.

Smartphone I never thought I would be one of those people who would feel lost without their phone, but I am. However, I’m not worried about phone calls. I do want the camera, the GPS, my apps, text messaging and all the things that enable me to communicate easily.

What is your favorite communications tool?