By Aliki Vrohidis Media relations has many uses, but is often used for one goal: promoting your business. One of the most economical ways to gain mass exposure is to be included in news media stories. Although your story pitches for features on your business may not be picked up by reporters, there is another way to position yourself…
With a panel made up of agency, corporate and academic experts, Minnesota PRSA took some of the mystery out of PR measurement and social media campaign evaluation at a recent event moderated by Douglas K. Spong, APR, Fellow PRSA, founder and president of Spong PR. Given the overwhelming amount of data available to communications professionals, it can be…
By Megan R. Auren Where research fits into public relations Public relations activities are often explained with acronyms like ROPES and RACE. ROPES: Research, objectives, programming, evaluation, stewardship. RACE: Research, action, communication, evaluation. It is important to note research is the foundation of all public relations activities and should operate on a continuous cycle. However,…
By Aliki Vrohidis The art of the media pitch is a difficult skill to master. Media pitching begins with a newsworthy story, customized media list and typically, a specially crafted email. After delivering what you think is a brilliant, personalized pitch, reporters may take hold to the idea or may not even respond. The question of…
Despite the fragmented nature in which people receive information today, there’s still value in using media relations to secure a positive story in traditional media outlets. Some of the benefits of media coverage on a TV or radio station, or in a newspaper or magazine include: Visibility. In my hometown of Minneapolis, the Star Tribune…
By Aliki Vrohidis A common question I receive from family, friends or potential clients is, “What does a PR professional do?” It’s one I’ve found difficult to answer but necessary for others to understand. The difficulty of this question comes from the many hats a PR professional wears. Responsibilities and tactics vary by industry and…
In April I published a book of life lessons I learned from my 93-year-old grandfather, Maynard Johnson. While thinking about ways to promote the book, “Maynard’s Memories: Life Lessons from the Developer of Airlake Industrial Park in Lakeville, Minnesota,” I learned about Amazon Giveaway, an offering from the Internet giant that provides anyone the opportunity to…
By Aliki Vrohidis When revamping a brand or taking it to the next level, many managers and executives see the importance of giving social media an overhaul. However, what was once limited to creating a Facebook page has expanded to so much more. At Minnesota PRSA’s most recent event, we sat down with Periscope to…
By Aliki Vrohidis With the inception of YouTube, the era of the beauty blogger was launched. What was once limited to pictures and written words on the Web has been transformed into a live community featuring how-to tutorials, reviews and giant hauls. According to recent data from OpenSlate, the top 100 beauty and style…
By Aliki Vrohidis America is thought of as a large melting pot. Different races, ethnicities and cultures come together, sharing ideas and intermixing values. In regards to communications, though, a one-size-fits-all approach simply does not work. While leaving out groups of society can cause damage to a brand, sometimes these niche messages are not cost…