I can't live without...

Harvest Program

By Phyllis Erhowsky

If time tracking and time management are key factors in your professional life, Harvest can make that process so much easier.  We used to track our time manually on Excel sheets and then transfer to reports and invoices at the end of each month.

With Harvest:

-You and your staff can simply enter time for each project on the web-based program, or set it to start and it will keep time for you.

-You can allocate time to various categories and bill accordingly at different rates.

-You can get a full report 24/7 by time frame, by client or by employee.

The result for me has been a reduction in end of month invoicing from six+ hours down to about 45 minutes, allowing more precious time for strategy, creativity and doing the things we are passionate about doing.

To learn more about the Harvest Program, visit their website where they offer a 30-day trial for new clients:

http://www.getharvest.com/pricing

Membership Renewal Doesn't Have to be Spooky!

October is when we really start to think about the change of season as we anticipate Halloween, Thanksgiving and other holidays. It's also when FPRA does their membership renewals! Don't miss out and get spooked by the deadline (Oct. 31). 

Renew now and get ahead of the game. The application has changed this year so if you need a copy, feel free to contact Samantha Scott, APR at samantha@getpushing.com or grab a copy from the state website www.fpra.org.

 

Job Opportunities: Edison State College

Edison State College is expanding its marketing team.

They are looking for three PR/Marketing coordinators and one graphic artist/creative coordinator. All the information and prerequisites can be found on their website at: http://www.edison.edu/humanresources/jobdescriptions.php  Anyone interested, please scroll down to these titles to apply.

Applications are being accepted until Oct. 24.

October Luncheon Recap: Radio Panel

Our October meeting featured a panel full of information about the past and present of the radio industry, and how we as PR professionals are able to maximize the use of their services .  Robert Hallman, Dawn Krause, and AJ Lurie from Beasley Broadcasting talked about how the radio industry has been impacted by social media, streaming music sites, and satellite radio, and how they are able to help their clients maximize the effectiveness of radio advertising and promotions.  Some of the benefits they offer to listeners, outside of great music and interesting DJs/hosts, include the fact that listening to their local radio station is free, they have local connections, and they impact the surrounding community.  It is a great resource to use as PR professionals to promote our programs, events, and campaigns because we reach the local audience that wants to know what is happening where they live, how they can get involved, and how they can make a difference.  The panel also asked that we reach out to them if we can offer any advice to them on what we want or how they can improve what they offer.  They want to form relationships with us and our clients and businesses.

If you or your business is interested in contacting any of our guest speakers, please take advantage of that opportunity!

Robert Hallman - Robert.hallman@bbgi.com – (239) 495-2100 ext. 2140

AJ Lurie – aj@bbgi.com – (239) 495-2100 ext. 2517

Dawn Krause – (239) 495-2100

Thank you to Owen-Aims-Kimball for sponsoring this event!

President’s Word

I can’t believe that it is already October!  This year has flown by, as it seems every year does.  Knowing how fast paced our lives can be, it can sometimes be a challenge to utilize all the professional development opportunities we see around us.  As PR professionals, our organizations, clients, and businesses rely on us to stay abreast of the current trends and activities that may affect them in their day-to-day business operations.  Over the last few years I have heard many PR pros say they have taken on more responsibilities while also managing the projects and programs they have overseen for years.  These busy schedules make it hard to attend seminars or take additional courses on what is happening in the market and economy.  This is why your membership to FPRA is even more crucial and beneficial than ever before!

The 2012-2013 Board and Leadership team are working hard to make sure that you are getting the most out of your FPRA membership with monthly programs and additional PR opportunities.  Through programming, accreditation support, recognition, and interfacing with other local professional groups, our members are able to make new connections while learning about topics they find interesting and helpful in their daily professions. 

The next opportunity for members will be PR University on Thursday, November 8.  This full day event offers you a chance to hear from multiple speakers on a variety of topics, somewhat like a mini-conference.  The speakers at this event will connect you with principles, tactics, and the latest trends in communications.  Topics will cover crisis communications, trademark and copyright laws, changes in social media, and more.  Guests are able to attend the full-day event from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., or they can enjoy a special lunch presentation at a lower rate. 

Partial scholarships to PR University will be available for non-profit agencies.  To learn more, contact Carla Ulakovic at carla.ulakovic@gmail.com or Michelle Nagal at m@michelleinnovation.com. 

In addition to PR University, we will have a Merry Mixer event on November 29 – a fun time to get together and socialize while preparing for the holiday rush!  We will have a silent auction to help raise money to support our FGCU student chapter scholarships, professional scholarships, and community professional development series we offer at no cost to area non-profits.  So, on top of great company, you have a chance to walk away with some awesome items for yourself or the people on your holiday shopping list.

Stay tuned for more great events coming at the start of 2013, we already have many exciting events lined up that I know you will love! 

Have a great October!

Social Media Corner: Coming Face to Face with Someone Who Doesn't See Eye to Eye with You or Your Company...on the Internet

 By Jessica Boles

This morning I logged onto my agency’s Facebook page only to find the very first negative post we have ever received on the page since its creation three years ago. Needless to say, I was distraught. What should I do? Delete the post before anyone sees it? Respond with an over the top, but insincere apology? Ignore it?

These are all common mistakes that social media managers make repeatedly. The one right action to take is to show appreciation for the comment, offer an apology and then add a solution. As a social media manager, you need to address the comment and try to pacify the person posting it. By facing the criticism head on and not deleting or ignoring the post, you will show your willingness to improve or solve the matter at hand.  A public response will hopefully offset the negative comment and prevent your friends or followers from only seeing one side of the story. Following these ideas will offer more perspective on your company’s point of view and hopefully turn that person from an unhappy client to  one that is singing your praises.

There will always be people out there that disagree with your company and have negative comments they feel they need to share with online constituents. How you react is the key factor in managing your online social media effectively. Being a social media manager, you need to be able to handle the bad as well as the good. A negative post or comment will not ruin you, but how you deal with it will show your true professionalism.

Monthly APR Trivia: October

Question: True or False, a candidate for Accreditation in Public Relations must be a member of FPRA?

Answer: False. However, a candidate must be a member of one of the 10 participating organizations, and FPRA is one of those 10. Plus, members of the Southwest Florida Chapter of FPRA can attend the chapter’s study sessions for FREE as a benefit of membership and receive the only known electronic flashcards offered to candidates worldwide.