|
|
Yesterday marked the kick-off of an 1,100 mile bike trek for 17-year-old John Ellis and his best friend, Jamaal. They are riding their bikes from Pensacola, Florida to Philadelphia to raise awareness for the Hepatitis B Foundation. John will be blogging along the way at http://believeinthecurecyclingtour.blogspot.com/. Please check it out and cheer him and Jamaal on. His words are truly inspirational! Please spread the word and share this great story. And if you're in the Philadelphia area on June 23rd, join us at 10 AM at Lloyd Hall on Kelly Drive (Boat House Row). We want to show John and Jamaal how our City of Brotherly Love comes out and support those who care to make a difference.
As a public relations firm, we have the opportunity to work with many types of organizations including nonprofits. Today, I was disheartened to read a blog post by Jeff Trexler. In his blog, uncivilsociety dot org, Trexler defames and pokes fun at the Hepatitis B Foundation’s grass roots effort to raise awareness in their hometown community at the monthly First Friday celebration in May. Ignorance is bliss until someone you know gets sick.
Trexler says that the Foundation “hijacked the city’s First Friday celebration of the arts to promote its own health care agenda.” This is far from the truth.
According to Bob Quon, First Friday Doylestown Chairman, “Local well established nonprofit organizations in our immediate region are invited to be showcased during First Friday. Every month features a different cause. The nonprofits have brought education, awareness and a voice to our community and the community has responded very well.” He said, “It is our way of giving back to the community.”
Just some of the nonprofit causes that have been highlighted at First Friday Doylestown include: Autism Awareness, ALS, Breast Cancer Awareness, CB Cares, Tabor Children’s House, Bucks County SPCA, Doylestown Fire Company, Central Bucks YMCA, National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) and Bucks Association for Retarded Citizens (BARC).
Joan Block, Co-founder and Executive Director of the Hepatitis B Foundation said, “The Hepatitis B Foundation truly appreciates the support it receives from the community. We are proud to be a resource for students, scientists, healthcare providers, and especially those families affected by serious liver disease.” She said, “We are honored to participate in First Friday Doylestown since May is National Hepatitis Awareness Month. We have the opportunity to give back to and educate people in our own back yard.”
Trexler also intimates that “he wouldn’t touch [the O’Liver mascot]” leaving one to assume that he fears getting sick. If this is correct, then little does he know.
Hepatitis B is the world's most common liver infection. It is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), which attacks and injures the liver. It is transmitted through blood, unprotected sex, shared or re-used needles, and from an infected mother to her newborn baby during delivery. Hepatitis B is NOT contracted through casual touching.
In fact, worldwide, 2 billion people (1 out of 3 people) have been infected with hepatitis B. 400 million people have become chronically infected (which means they are unable to get rid of the virus). An estimated 1 million people die each year from hepatitis B and its complications. In the United States, over 12 million people have been infected (that’s 1 out of 20 people). Almost 100,000 new people are infected with hepatitis B each year. An estimated 5,000 Americans die each year from hepatitis B and its complications.
The Hepatitis B Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure and improving the quality of life for those affected by hepatitis B worldwide. Their commitment includes funding focused research, promoting disease awareness, supporting immunization and treatment initiatives, and serving as the primary source of information for patients and their families, the medical and scientific community, and the general public. There is a lot that still needs to be done to improve prevention, education, and access to medical care and treatment.
There are many facts about hepatitis B that Trexler may not be aware of. To learn more go to www.hepb.org.
To learn more about the great things First Friday Doylestown is doing, go to http://firstfridaydoylestown.com.
Susan Ward, director of marketing and communications at Carlin & Ward, wrote a great article on linking blogs for the New Jersey Law Journal. The article, Top Blogs Hit All the Right Links, is posted on Law.com.
Some bullet points from the article:
While it takes time to build a cache of relevant posts, blog placement can be achieved through relevant content, and inbound and outbound links to other sites. - Blog reputation, reach and value are derived from linking in and linking out to other sources that are relevant to your topic -- whether they are mainstream press, nonprofit public interest sites, or other law blogs, even those of your competitors.
- Blogs always quote other blogs. The connection to the source drives traffic to those sites, enhancing their value. So when you use another writer's content, provide a link. The link should always go to the permalink page of the source blog post, not the front page of the source blog.
- Blog links include those within the post and blogrolls that are listed in sidebars. Typically, a blogroll is comprised of fellow bloggers whose site content is relevant to your niche or your industry. Industry-related links are valuable because they can enhance your credibility and increase your visibility through branding.
- Anchor text is comprised of the words that provide the clickable hyperlink. According to Wayne Hulbert at Blog Business World, it is better to use a keyword as the basis for the hyperlink than "click here" or "read more." Keywords as links provide search engines with recognizable themes, says Hulbert.
- There are tools designed to quickly assess the relative visibility of a page or site, the potential strength and ability of a page to rank in the search engines and data on popularity, links and mentions of a page across the Web. To test your page strength, go to www.seomoz.org.
For more information on the bullet points listed above, check out the article here: Top Blogs Hit All the Right Links. You might also visit Ms. Ward's own weblog effort on behalf of her firm, New Jersey Eminent Domain Law Blog
In an age where people can have current news at a click-of-a-button, it becomes increasingly difficult for journalists to satisfy the cravings of consumers for minute-to-minute updates on local, national and world news. Luckily for journalists, technology has provided mediums which can deliver their opinions, facts or breaking news within seconds to people all over the world.
Frank Washkuch wrote a Definition of “Journalist” is Changing Fast for the March 10 edition of PR Week. In Washkuch’s analysis, he provides key examples of why incorporating new technology such as Web reporting, blogging and the use of multimedia applications is more important than ever stating that, “The speed of publishing today creates additional pressures for reporters or editors to get the story out quickly…”
Washkuch notes that there are several advantages of utilizing on-line tools such as:
- The ability to control the news you receive
- The ability to write your own original content when / how you want
- The ability to update your news or writing when / how you want
For more information on the growing trend of new age journalism, click here to read Frank Washkuck’s Definition of “Journalist” is Changing Fast.
I recently met Mark Beese through the Legal Marketing Association and LinkedIn. He is the "marketing guy at Holland & Hart, a law firm in the Rocky Mountain West (www.hollandhart.com)." He maintains a blog focused on helping lawyers become better leaders at http://www.leadershipforlawyers.typepad.com/. He has great content on his blog - I highly suggest reading it!
I recently began contributing to The Legal Intelligencer online. I'm blogging on Lawyers and the Media . My most recent post addresses when the media receives an unintended email and media policies.
While you're there, check out my post in memory of Judge Cipriani.
The PR Lawyer Blog ranked in the Top 50 PR Voices for Public Relations Blogs today! Thank you for reading and commenting. Please let us know via the comment tool what topics are of most value to you.
 
To some business practitioners, the thought of blogging is like getting your teeth pulled. In reality, blogging is a highly effective way to create credibility among your target audiences. In a Rueters.com article, Business of Blogging: How To Make It Work, industry experts give advice and tips on the do’s and don’ts of blogging for the everyday business practitioner.
Here are some of the tips provided: - Create credibility for your business by posting informative and educational industry news
- Drive the content of your blog by compiling key debates and issues affecting your industry
- Provide an outlet for readers to become part of the discussion by posting frequently
- Monitor your traffic to understand your audiences’ wants and needs
For more information go to the Business of Blogging: How To Make It Work article.
Earlier this week, Kevin O'Keefe notes in a post that Law firm Internet marketing to grow in 2008 : Warning to large law marketing & PR heads. He says:
"In 2008, it'll be up to you employed in large firms and PR agencies advising large law to assess whether you really know what you are doing when marketing via social networking. If not, it's time to get some help rather than dismissing marketing mediums you don't understand. Dismissing innovation only hurts the law firm and is ultimately going to cost you your job."
Kevin makes a good point. It is so important to work with experts who know what they're doing in every area of marketing whether it's direct marketing, social media, public relations or trade advertising. But first, law firms need to assess their communications plans and make sure their plans have solid and measurable goals and objectives. Once they know what they want to accomplish, then, and only then, should they determine which tactics will be best to reach their target audiences effectively and efficiently.
After months of hard work and anticipation, Focus Express Mail Pharmacy of Horsham, PA has announced the debut of their new educational and informational diabetes blog, the Diabetes Pharmacist Blog.
Focus Express Mail Pharmacy is an Internet-based pharmacy with a community agenda and practice that provides expert service, outstanding customer care and convenient home delivery of affordable prescription drugs and medical supplies to qualified patients with diabetes and chronic illnesses. Focus created the Diabetes Pharmacist Blog to provide persons with medical needs a sieve of information on medical breakthroughs, devices, as well as nutritional and health advice.
Follow this link to enjoy a plethora of information on diabetes and other related illnesses. For more information on Focus Express Mail Pharmacy, visit their website at http://www.focuspharmacy.com/.
Cole Silver, the Legal Marketing Secrets blogger, announced today that they will be launching an expert audio series through http://www.findcareersuccess.com/. He says the audio series will feature
interviews from world renowned experts and advisors that will provide you profitable and incisive information, secrets, and tactics that will help you create the legal career you desire.
The line up includes: • Dan Janel, member of the public relations team that launched America Online. • Harry Beckwith, one of the world's most respected marketers and author of What Clients Love. • Gerry Riskin, world renowned expert in law firm management and rainmaking. • Jim Hassett, founder of LegalBizDev and author of seven books and more than 70 articles on legal marketing. • Margaret Grisdela, the author of "Courting Your Clients: The Essential Guide to Legal Marketing”. • Trey Rider, one of the country’s premier legal marketing experts. • Hindi Greenberg, author of the best selling, The Lawyer's Career Change Handbook. • YOURS TRULY . . . Gina Furia Rubel, Esquire, a communications expert, attorney and publicist, is the owner of Furia Rubel Communications (We'll be talking about the advice in my book, Everyday Public Relations for Lawyers, due out mid-December) • Mike Schultz, Principal of the Wellesley Hill Group and Publisher of RainToday.com. I'll keep you posted about my audio interview. Be sure to check out Cole's blog too!
Here are some tools to help you keep up with the conversation on blogs. These are tools you can use now to track what’s being said about you, your industry, your company and your competitors:
Ice Rocket (www.icerocket.com)
Blog digger (www.blogdigger.com)
Blog Hop (www.bloghop.com)
Plazoo (www.plazoo.com)
Feedster (www.feedster.com)
Google Alerts (www.google.com/alerts)
Twitter appears to be an excellent social media tool for public relations. The idea is simple, based on one question we ask our friends all the time “What are you doing?” Friends and strangers alike are responding to that question on Twitter either posting on the Website or via SMS (text message). Members can invite friends to join and Twitter privately with them, or they can Twitter with the masses, posting their response to every Twitter member. The site has even launched a Facebook application so Facebook users can add it to their Facebook page. At first I thought the idea was silly, but after reading Cohn and Wolfe’s Boomerang Blog on Twitter, it seems Twitter has the potential to generate PR for businesses. If you’re a blogger, you might Twitter- “I just posted a blog on x, y and z, check it out!” (using 140 words or less). Or if your company is launching a PR campaign you might provide a sentence pitch or link to the website. It’s worth checking out, for no other reason than to see what people are talking about-from the outrageous to the mundane, there’s a million and one ways to answer the question, “What are you doing?” As for me, I’m finishing up this blog and grabbing another cup of coffee!
In this week's Business Insurance magazine, Judy Greenwald writes that a New York blogger ruling from the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals may have a wider impact. She says a federal appellate court's dismissal of a defamation lawsuit brought by Brooklyn moving company Best Van Lines Inc. against Iowa blogger Tim Walker "will have influence outside New York State."
On June 26th, the court reaffirmed other courts' rulings that the Iowa blogger who "runs a nonprofit Web site that provides information and opinions on household movers" is not liable for what the plaintiff claims to be "defamatory statements" under the state's long-arm statute. Walker published two blog entries stating that according to court documents, the moving company was "performing household moves without legal authorization and without the required insurance."
Greenwald quotes Mass.-based attorney, Robert J. Ambrogi as saying, "I think this is going to be one of those seminal cases that becomes kind of a turning point in defining the law on this issue."
Beth Bar of The New York Law Journal spells out the facts of the decision very well.
It appears that our freedom of Internet speech - even if "defamatory" - is still protected. So, blog on my friends, but remember if you publish it online and someone doesn't like what you have to say, there is always the chance for a lawsuit no matter what sayeth the courts.
In a recent marketing survey in PR Week, I came across an interesting quote. Clark Caywood, professor of integrated marketing communications at Northwestern University, said he’s skeptical as to whether the PR industry can capitalize on the new media that has emerged in the last few years. Caywood doesn’t believe that the “PR industry will be able to demonstrate some form of thought leadership on blogs, how to measure blogs, or even the integration of video and blogs,” according to the PR Week article. “To a lot of my friends in PR, [new media] is like another press release vehicle, and that’s not what it’s all about,” said Caywood. Respectfully, I disagree. Just because new media may not make for an easy ROI formula, does not mean that we underestimate its value or mistake it for another vehicle for distributing press releases. To the contrary, Furia Rubel and many of our colleagues encourage clients to blog, not just when they have press release-worthy news to report, but when they come across an article and want to comment or share important and relevant information with their target audiences. We also encourage new clients to embrace Myspace, Facebook, YouTube and other social media opportunities when it makes sense to reach their target audiences. Certainly a press release wouldn’t jive with any of those forums. Perhaps the industry can take this skepticism as a call to arms and rise to the challenge of utilizing new media.
I just read an excellent blog post by Kevin O'Keefe of LexBlog. Kevin says, and I agree, that "Blogs are not meant to be published by a PR agency or law firm communication folks. By their very nature, blogs are written by the lawyers participating in an online conversation on their niche area of expertise." He's right.
Interestingly enough, Kevin quotes Steve Rubel, (no relation to me as far as I know - but for we share the same last name and love of public relations) as saying:
Communities like Facebook, the blogosphere and digg are becoming even more
influential than certain traditional media outlets. Their relevance to PR pros
is rising and the industry is responding by wisely trying to beef up its new
media acumen.
Unfortunately, the biz is not evolving quickly enough. Many in PR seem to be treating Web 2.0 as simply an extension of the traditional media - another venue for buzz. They are pumping thousands of email pitches into the community every day.
.....Journalists are accustomed to the PR mating dance. They know that as soon as they get a desk, a phone and an email address they're going to get bombed with inquires from PR pros. Some of these will be helpful, others won't be. Journalists know that PR inbound is an occupational hazard that comes with the territory. Online social networks and communities are completely different. Bloggers, social networkers, diggers, social bookmakers and Wikipedians don't want to be pitched. They're collaborating on these sites for a reason - to share, be entertained, to become informed, to connect, etc. They place value on people who contribute regularly and selflessly.
Kevin goes on to say: Unfortunately, most PR agencies and communications professionals working with
law firms do not understand PR by participation. Worse yet are the agencies that
belittle blogs and social media when law firms bring them up. Although this is true, I have found it just as daunting and common to counsel law firms regarding their need to reach their target audiences via strategic and well planned social media programs only to be told, "all we need is a brochure. . . . " The time has come for communicators and lawyers alike to embrace social media, to learn how to use it strategically, and not to throw caution to the wind when it comes to communicating within the bounds of legal ethics.
Just when you finally got the hang of blogging via your computer, a new trend has hit the blogging scene. According to PR News, the new trend is “Cell blogging,” from your mobile phone or Blackberry device. Apparently, in the instantaneous age in which we live, waiting until you can get back to your PC is the equivalent of blogging next week. Until LG finds a way to attach a full-sized keyboard to my cell phone, I don’t think I’ll be trying it any time soon, but maybe this new trend will save time for the more cell phone savvy while tailoring to the short, concise postings that readers want.
Law firms, when appropriate, should be incorporating social media in their public relations campaigns. Blogging is a great way for an attorney to establish him/herself as an authority in their practice area. It’s also a great way to have a social discourse with members of the media and other publics who have an interest in that area.
Blogs are an underused vehicle in the legal marketing and public relations arena – however, I suspect they are going to multiply in leaps and bounds. So, if you haven’t considered blogging just yet, start reading all about it. One of the leading resources is Kevin O’Keefe. You can read all about attorney blogs at http://kevin.lexblog.com/.
While researching the best way to launch a blog for a client, I came across the blog "Daily Blog Tips" which is absolutely fantastic. The blog is fascinating and a must read for anyone who is an amateur (such as me) or up-and-coming blogger.
It's tough trying to keep up with the peregrine falcons when you feel like a terapin. Alas, I remember the days without email, cell phones, VCRs, Tivo, PDAs and even iPods. . . . .
M. Micallef, is a Brisbane, QUEENSLAND, Australia attorney with a national law firm who is in his also a student at Deakin University studying for a bachelor’s degree in public relations. He’s also a blogger and maintains “Opportunities and Information for PR Graduates.”
In a May 30, 2007 post titled Networking Advantages for PR Grads, Micallef provides students with information about how they can use blogs, podcasts and social media to network and then refers to my blog post “Online Rants Raves and Resumes: The Digital Dirt You Leave Behind.” For some reason, his link takes readers to a different post so hopefully, when you get here, you’ll find this post.
Sidebar: One thing I love about the Internet is that is has opened the global gates of communication. This morning, I sit here at home preparing for my work day. I add a post to my blog as part of a global discussion with my “mate” (used as an Aussie term meaning male friend) on the other side of the globe. In 1977, when I was a young girl, I had a pen pal in Sydney, Australia and it took us weeks to get information to one another through snail mail. I have a dear friend from Oz, Neen James, who now lives just miles away from me in dear old Doylestown. If you don’t know who she is, check out her website, http://www.neenjames.com/. She provides valuable productivity and networking information for everyone!
|
|
|
| |
