Archive for the ‘Blogosphere’ Category

KellyBarrett
Kelly
Barrett

Learning WordPress: The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

If you know a thing or two about the Internet, chances are you’ve heard of WordPress. As of August 2011, it was estimated that 22 percent of all new websites in the world were powered by WordPress. It continues to win awards for being the best open source CMS (content management system) out there. I’m blogging on a WordPress-powered blog right now, hosted on a WordPress site. You could even call us WordPress super fans here at Spectrum. Put simply, I often feel that within this scary tangled web we weave, there is true solace to be found in WordPress…

Anyhow–last Friday I had the pleasure of working alongside Anthony Braddy to lead a group of small nonprofits through some of the in’s and out’s of building a WordPress website. The workshop was just one session within a larger Pro Bono Consulting Lounge held at Artisphere, hosted and made possible by DC Week.


Video credit: International Media Solutions LLC

In my opinion, this event is a highlight of DC Week, because it allows local organizations to get their hands dirty learning these practical skills, and provides them with free consulting, which they otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford. Sitting through a panel or a keynote speech can be inspirational, but it can also be overwhelming and may not get into the step-by-step people need to make things happen. When building a website, the problem isn’t just that a professional site can cost anywhere from $500 to $10,ooo to build out–it’s that once it is built, it’s left in the hands of an organization that may not know how to update it. This consulting lounge was built to empower these groups on a personal level.

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Posted in Blogosphere, Community Involvement, DC Week
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KellyBarrett
Kelly
Barrett

Five Common Sense Tips for Pitching Bloggers

Monday, October 24th, 2011

For a blogger-turned-PR-professional, there is really no feeling quite so sad (and comical), as receiving a seriously awful pitch email. You know ‘em when you see ‘em. They sometimes start out with “I found your blog, [insert full URL of blog] and truly enjoyed reading [insert arbitrary post], as well as [insert other arbitrary post].” They then go on to talk about an “opportunity” for you to cover something that’s really not vaguely connected to either of the two posts that they called out. I used to blog about cooking and sustainable agriculture, and once got a pitch about organic carpeting. That sort of thing.

I’m not saying that pitching a blogger is easy. It’s an art, and it’s foreign to many of today’s PR professionals rooted in more traditional outreach. As evidence of this challenge, we’ve been seeing all sorts of PR blogger pitching flubs arising in the news lately. And they go beyond just the run-of-the-mill boring pitch. Some of my personal favorite headlines include:

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Darby Pearson
Darby
Pearson

I Heart Fall in DC

Wednesday, October 12th, 2011

DC is a city of neighborhoods, and in each neighborhood, you find something a little bit different – different restaurants, architecture, bars, people, but lately, I’ve noticed that for the most part, they all have one thing in common – a great farmers market.
The District, always home to an eclectic mix – some who are passing through for a term and some who are lifers (like me!), all bring different experiences, cultures, and best of all, food. With the array of great seasonal produce, it doesn’t matter what’s cooking, you know that in DC it’s always fresh, and often (ideally) from not too far away. I believe food has the power to bring people together and share a little piece of themselves and their history. Whether I am roasting butternut squash or making a warm pot of mushroom soup when I come in from the increasingly chilly afternoons, I love fall and I heart DC.
Take a Saturday afternoon this fall and venture to some DC foodie hot spots I highly recommend:
Any fall recipes you’re looking forward to?

Posted in Blogosphere, Community Involvement, Food Policy and Nutrition
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Kaitlin Doody
Kaitlin
Doody

A Twitterview with AARP Illinois: Demystifying Social Media for Seniors

Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

Last week, I had the chance to “Twitterview” (Twitter + interview) Jennifer Baier, Senior Program Specialist of Technology and Volunteer Engagement at the AARP Illinois State Office, as a follow-up to her Social Media Week presentation, Demystifying Social Media for Seniors and Beyond.

We’ve heard that those over 50 are one of the fastest growing demographics on social networks, but what exactly are older adults doing online? Besides looking at photos of their kids and grandkids, they are using social media for advocacy, healthcare and job hunting. Take a look below to view our live Twitter Q&A exchange to find out more about what’s getting some seniors plugged in and what’s still keeping some offline.

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Posted in Blogosphere, Community Involvement, New Media
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Ricki McCarroll
Ricki
McCarroll

Blogging, Post-Its and Crayola Markers

Monday, August 29th, 2011

Last Friday, the Spectrum Digital Strategy team held a staff-wide workshop on the ins-and-outs of blogging. The workshop was low-tech, so to speak, with the use of HUGE Post-It notes as idea boards instead of a PowerPoint, which are now wallpapering my office.

So, how did we get the conversation rolling? The SDS team kicked off the interactive discussion with three questions:

  1. How do you get inspired to write a blog?
  2. What blogs do you read to get your information?
  3. What elements make a blog post absolutely genius?

Armed with Crayola marker pens, Spectrum staff then listed their answers with concerns, thoughts and tips to share on oversized Post-It notes around the room.

Here’s a little of what we came up with:

  • Use bulleted lists for the reader on the go (noticing a trend?)
  • Write on topics easily relatable to your audience
  • Take advantage of attending an event to gain inspiration and substance for a post
  • READ! READ! READ! Hit your Google Reader/Twitter feed to keep on the up-and-up…Here are a few Google Reader bundles to get you started:
  • Use hyperlinks/photos/videos to make your post interesting AND interactive
  • Be personable! Don’t be afraid to use pronouns
  • But what was the numero uno on the list? Writers block.

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Posted in Blogosphere, New Media, PR Industry, Social Media, Technology
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KellyBarrett
Kelly
Barrett

BDI’s Social Communications & Healthcare 2011: Empowering employees to ‘play’ with social media

Tuesday, July 19th, 2011

Last Wednesday, I had the pleasure of attending the Business Development Institute’s Social Communications & Healthcare conference in New York City. It was the third year that BDI has put on the conference but one of the first times the event has included such robust case studies from industry leaders.

It is unfortunate that in pharma, we really don’t have many social media case studies to look at, yet. And this isn’t just because social media is new, because really, it’s not that new anymore (and what’s new today is old tomorrow). The problem lies more in the fact that so many companies and agencies are doing innovative stuff that they aren’t yet allowed to disclose. Here at Spectrum, a number of our progressive social media-related initiatives are highly sensitive and stay confidential. However, in the meantime, it’s inspiring to see all the ways people are finding to best socially communicate.

BDI Wrap Up from Zemoga on Vimeo.

(Pixels & Pills covered the event and they provide a ton of great video interviews that you should check out. And New Millenium Research & Consulting has photos up on their Facebook.)

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Posted in Biotechnology, Blogosphere, Community Involvement, Crowdsourcing, doctors, PR Industry, Research, Social Media, Technology
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