INK PUBLIC RELATIONS

This blog post is dedicated to my dear friend Chinae Alexander, who’s blog Be Better is definitely one to follow if you are looking for simple ways to improve in your social, professional, and personal lives. Fair warning: She definitely delivers a “healthy dose of sass” so please follow accordingly.

My inspiration came after attending SXSW panels last week and being completely blown away by the lack of manners some people possess. Yes, I get it. SXSW is a “cool conference” and not stuffy like most tradeshows – but alas, presenters still feel the same pressure and nervousness before speaking to hundreds of 20-30-something attendees trying to recover from parties the night before. With that said, here are a few (I think simple) rules to follow when being an audience member:

-       Take it outside: If you break out into a coughing attack and think you might lose a lung– excuse yourself. While I am sure all 250 remaining audience members care for your well being, it can be a tad distracting when everyone is thinking CPR may/ may not need to be administered.

-       Type with purpose (just not in a panel).  I know I might be spoiled with the light key sounds of a MacBook Pro, but if I can hear you punching keys vigorously from 5 rows back, take it down a notch. Please be cognizant of your surroundings and that others are trying to listen. (Plus, are you really taking notes…or updating your Facebook status?)

-       Saving seats: Unless it is absolutely vital that you sit next to your BFF in panel sessions, don’t save seats. This is not the third grade. Speakers like to see a full house and that others are engaged. By leaving random empty seats throughout, you are hurting the general flow of the audience.

-       Comments vs. questions: Personally, my favorite part of any panel is towards the end when audience members can ask on-the-fly questions of speakers (from a PR perspective, I love to see how “on message” some can be without prep). PLEASE do not stand in line at the microphone and then proceed to share a 5-minute comment or lecture. Save that for a follow-up email. Remember you are here to engage, not for a one-sided conversation.

There you have it – my top tips on how to be a better audience member. Here’s hoping next year’s SXSW is a little more well mannered.

You would have to live in a cave to miss the buzz surrounding Austin’s largest social innovation event – SXSW Interactive, currently underway and occupying all of downtown. Gemalto, recognized as a global leader in digital security, is taking on the show for the first time – and definitely making an impact.

Gemalto is hosting the Idea/Next lounge (check out http://www.ideanext-gemalto.com/home for all the details) located in the Hilton, Room 602 for the entirety of the show. Created with the intention to recharge, relax and connect with some of the best and brightest in all things digital security, this lounge has been a hotspot of activity from “coffee with the experts” sessions to Happy hour panels, and even a partnership with local location-based guru Aaron Strout and his Live from Stubbs podcast series (shooting live the next two days in the lounge from 4-5PM).

Nan Edwards, ISIS, on Live from Stubbs podcast

Along with the lounge, Gemalto also sponsored the Big Data track that took place yesterday in the Hilton, and hosted sessions focusing on mobile payments, cloud computing security, enterprise privacy and social networks.  Gemalto expert Jack Jania and Gordon Beatty participated in a panel (to a full house) on what’s next in mobile payments with Chief Marketing Officer Ryan Hughes of ISIS. Gemalto recently a partnership with ISIS, and continues to promote the security behind this launch taking place in Austin this summer. (ISIS is also rocking the house, for lack of a better phrase, at SXSW showcasing their mobile wallet through a cyber illusionist – this guy is amazing!)

Panel room during Gemalto's session.

Even with extremely unpleasant weather the first few days, the Idea/Next lounge continues to be a hotbed of activity and a premiere place where ideas, innovations, and relationships are coming together.  We’re expecting to hear from the best and brightest minds in startup and emerging technologies, and learn about the newest innovations. If you’re attending SXSW – come by and connect (or Kinect, we do have Just Dance available to unwind).

Idea/Next Lounge in full-swing.

Happy South-By from the Gemalto team.

Almost exactly one year ago, INK made a new friend in Tabbedout. Yes, I say friend and not client, because at the end of the day we work with the most amazing companies and people that should be recognized, not only for their campaigns or news announcements, but also for milestones they conquer. The last two months have been busy for Tabbedout, announcing a beta Offers platform for Austin consumers, as well as welcoming a new CEO to the team. On Tuesday we were thrilled to be a part of another noteworthy milestone – a new collaboration with online payments giant PayPal.

In a nutshell, PayPal is now being offered as a payment option through Tabbedout, rolling out just in time for SXSW in select Austin locations, marking the first time PayPal will be accepted at bars and restaurants in the U.S.  Customers can enter their secure PayPal username and password or their mobile number + PIN in the Tabbedout app and make a payment directly from their phone — without ever reaching for their wallet (the beauty of Tabbedout exemplified). Because Tabbedout has built strong software integrations with the majority of key point-of-sale systems, merchants can easily add PayPal as a payment option without purchasing additional hardware (it’s a win-win!).

If you live in Austin and have not downloaded Tabbedout – now is the time. Not only will they be celebrating their new partnership this Friday at the newly reopened Belmont (download the app for easy access) but co-founder Rick Orr can be spotted around downtown speaking on a solo panel Tuesday, March 13th, 3:30-4:30, titled Mobile Payments: Transforming Consumer Marketing.

A big congrats to Tabbedout – we can’t wait to see what’s next. See you at happy hour!

Tabbedout + PayPal = A New Way to Pay Your Tab

If you have been following this blog for a while, you know that I have previously mentioned the struggle print media faces in a world that is going completely digital. A new report released by the USC Anneberg Center for the Digital Future claims that most newspapers will be gone within five years. While every study should be taken with a grain of salt, the speed at which news platforms are relying on their online presence is unprecedented.  The study goes on to claim that the newspapers that will survive will be on the extreme ends – both the smallest and largest, with New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today and the Washington Post surviving in larger markets.

Looking closely at the numbers involved, it’s easy to see why this shift is occurring – the majority of people read their news online. Long gone are the days when you relied on the newspaper on your front porch to delivery the top headlines. The Los Angeles Times, for example, has a print circulation of 572, 998 while their online news reaches a reported 17 million.

The rise of media apps is also playing a large role in news delivery, with companies like Flipboard, Reeder, Pulse and NewsRack aggregating news from thousands of sites to specifically deliver the stories you care about. Also crowding the app space are the major dailies including the WSJ, NYT and Washington Post, who have figured out that their audience is driving this shift, and to keep up, they need to be available on all platforms.  Being in the PR industry, it’s important to follow how people receive their news and more importantly, how reporters are delivering it.  Five years seems like a pretty drastic estimate, but who knows. Check back with me in 2017 – until then, read up.

In a new survey just released by Jobvite, 1 in 6 people looking for a job found their opportunity through a social network. While that may not sound like a lot, take into account the term “social network” was merely buzz at the water cooler five years ago. Of the 22.1 million Americans surveyed, 78% attributed their job to Facebook, while 40% cited assistance from LinkedIn, and 42% cited Twitter. According to a similar TechCrunch article, social networks are adjusting their displays to be more job-friendly, allowing work history to be immediately visible.

With activity online blurring your personal life and your professional life, the question is – how are you portrayed online? Keep in mind that every industry is different (I, luckily, chose one that suits my lifestyle). However, if you are unemployed and seeking a career, now would be the time to remove last weekend’s photo of your “ladies / boys night out.” Yes, yes, Facebook has had quite the media blitz lately about their increased security features – but a lot of these updates need to be manually adjusted.  While the legality of social media in the workplace is an issue that is still being clarified in the court system, why take any chances?

Before these platforms existed, job seekers relied on their resume to get them in the door, and then hoped their dazzling interview skills took over. How boring!  I am optimistic my generation will utilize the opportunity that social networks present – not only as a search engine, but as a way to show personality when looking for their next endeavor.

In short: clean up your networks, promote yourself subtly, and only display pictures you would feel comfortable showing to your grandmother at the dinner table. People are watching – and who knows, that might include your future boss.

When I first began my journey at INK Public Relations, one of the first questions discussed in my interview was about the company’s efforts towards non-profit campaigns and promoting local organizations in the Austin community. Relieved to hear INK has always shown a little love towards these efforts, I quickly stated my desire to continue the involvement. This fall, with the lead of former INKer and rock star Beth Williams, we became involved with an organization that has not only grown tremendously over the last five years since its inception, but is also near and dear to our staff’s hearts, and love of running.

Run for the Water is a 10 mile race (with a 5K and Kids 1K option) held every fall in Austin and is produced and managed by the Gazelle Foundation, an organization that implements charitable efforts to improve life for people in Burundi, in this case, clean drinking water for life. The money raised during this race goes directly to the cause to build wells and implement clean water systems in Burundi. If you are wondering what exactly that entails, just ask Michael Madison, who visited Burundi and saw first-hand this action come to life. The attention towards available resources has been brought to light recently with the world’s population surpassing 7 billion – it is time to pay attention, and Run for the Water is just one way to help.

INK managed the social media component of this program, encouraging runners to sign up and donate to the cause, as well as produced videos to help runners prepare for the race. It was inspiring to experience such a strong sense of community, both online and off, among the run’s participants and supporters. In close coordination with our friends at Sanders /Wingo, we helped raise the level of awareness in the community, as well as the state of Texas. After the team’s efforts, it feels good to say that Run for the Water surpassed its goal of 2,600 runners: more than 3,100 people registered to run, donating to the cause and providing clean drinking water (for life) to Burundians. Together, participants raised over $11,000 – all of which directly supports the Gazelle Foundation’s efforts.

Fellow INKer Jessica Warren and myself ran the course, with Blair Poloskey running the Kid’s 1K with her son, Jacob. With perfect weather and a great turnout, the 6AM Sunday wake-up call was hardly even noticed. This race continues to gain the support of the Austin community, INK PR included. If you have not read about the Gazelle Foundation or their involvement within Austin, check them out.

My view from the start line - 7:00AM.

Sanders/Wingo campaign content.

Jacob the skeleton and Blair.

When was the last time you read an entire article… in an actual newspaper? Not just skimmed, but actually read, absorbed, and retained the information. It is no surprise that in today’s world a large majority of us like our news information short, bulleted, and hopefully with pictures (sad, but true). With the flailing news print industry, the emphasis on online content has become overwhelmingly important, not just for the news sites, but for us readers as well.

In the PR industry, we are faced with the same struggle. How can we work with media to deliver original content that is informative and compelling, while still capturing the attention of our target audiences? One answer – infographics. These colorful, easy to read graphs that break down the news have become the latest boom with online reporters; and if you are a whiz with pulling stats and have mastered Adobe InDesign, you are pretty much the bee’s knees. While this tool may be a buzzword at the moment, and just a fleeting trend, readers dig them and reporters are now demanding them.

So, rather than bore you with how infographics can maximize marketing ROI, I’m just going to show you my favorite of the week. (Compliments to our folks at Tabbedout who sent this our way.)

Back in February I wrote a blog post on the surge of mobile payment technology making its way into consumer’s hands. I focused on the (then recent) announcement of Starbucks mobile card application that lets you buy your morning coffee with a tap of a button. Revolutionary? At the time, to some, maybe. But the concept of paying with your phone is one that is here to stay, and increasingly growing in the U.S. market – a market that is ripe for consumerism among the masses. For those who live in a tech-resistant bubble, the big news over the last year has been the long awaited arrival of ISIS – a mobile payment platform being developed by Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, and expected to roll out the first half of 2012 (initially in Austin, TX I might add).

What NFC really means.

For those who don’t know, and that’s apparently the majority of you, NFC stands for near-field communications, a wireless technology that lets two devices (like a phone and a payment reader) transmit data when held a few inches apart. Given our increasing reliance on mobile phones, NFC is widely touted as the technology that will enable mobile payment adoption. NFC technology has been implemented in the U.S since 2003, yet trials in the U.S. have stalled because various prevailing interests can’t align behind one standard. For NFC to take off and excel with consumer adoption, it needs to involve enough wireless carriers, banks, and retailers to be successful. ISIS will hopefully solve this problem, now that it is being offered to a more universal audience.

Other players in the ring.

Mobile commerce, or the ability to make payments through your phone, is emerging in many forms. Among the most high-profile are Google Wallet, which involves using a Sprint Nexus S 4G phone to shop at a select list of retailers with a Citi-issued MasterCard credit card; the Square reader app from Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, and separate browser-based payment systems from Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. While NFC is at the top of everyone’s minds, it is not the only technology being deployed to offer mobile payments. Be on the look for other categories of payments: P2P (peer-to-peer, think PayPal), POS (point of sale, think RFID chips and physical hardware interactions), and mobile commerce (think Square). Still confused? Refresh your knowledge here.

Local shout-out.

One company definitely making headway in the mobile payment arena is recent start-up Tabbedout (also an Austin local) who offers a free app for iPhone and Android smartphones that allows you to open, view, and pay your tab via your phone at participating bars and restaurants.  Now available in 90 cities in 20 states, this company is gaining attention and backing, with a recent $5.75M round of funding secured last month. POS market leaders including MICROS and Dinerware have allowed Tabbedout to capture nearly 70% of the full service restaurant and bar industry, with new merchants coming on board every day.  With security and convenience top of mind, Tabbedout is revolutionizing the checkout process while adding bonus features such as E-mailed receipts, social media check-ins and Cabbedout – a feature that connects you to local cab companies for a safe ride home.

Long story, made short: For an easier and more secure way to make your purchases, ditch that wallet, and jump on board the mobile payment wave.

Rick Orr, CEO of Tabbedout, being interviewed by KXAN-TV at Austin watering hole, Shangri-La

This year, the country’s largest wind trade show, AWEA WINDPOWER, took place near the happiest place on Earth. That’s right – at the Anaheim Convention Center, just steps away from the Disneyland theme park. With California’s newly strengthened commitment to 33 percent renewable energy by 2020 – the nation’s strongest renewable portfolio standard – there is a lot to be happy about, aside from the abundance of roller coasters and amusement parks that line the Pacific coast.

The WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition is the leading event for wind professionals to learn about wind issues, technology, and policy while networking with industry decision makers, and generating high-quality business leads. Some 20,000 people were in attendance this year, with over 1,200 exhibitors from across the world. Organized by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), the conference offers access to the wind industry for those serious about capitalizing on this growing market.

ACCIONA Windpower made its grand debut at this year’s show with a highlighted focus on a newly engineered 3MW turbine, the AW3000/116, designed specifically for IEC class IIa wind sites (medium wind speeds). This turbine features a 116-meter rotor diameter, delivering a superior power curve and the best cost of energy at sites with medium wind speeds. Other features of this machine include multiple standard tower height options (both steel and concrete), 12kV generation (producing economic savings for customers), and advanced grid integration.

During the conference, ACCIONA Windpower Director of Strategic Procurement, Tom Waggoner, participated in a panel focusing on domesticating supply chain while CEO Joe Baker and Global Product Line Director Scott Baron were on hand to talk to media about what this turbine means for customers and the wind industry as a whole.

[Picture below of CEO Joe Baker talking up the AW3000/116 turbine]

Exactly one year ago, I began my full-time gig here at INK PR. I guess it’s true that time flies when you’re having fun, because I still consider myself “the new girl,” even though we have brought on four new staff members since my hiring. Living in the world of PR, one question that we hear more often than not is “how is your success measured?” For our clients, this means high interview to coverage ratios, increased awareness, successful social media campaigns, and positioned thought leadership; however in my personal opinion it’s through lessons learned, which include the following (in no particular order):

- You don’t have a TRUE Starbucks order unless you have to repeat it at least three times (Grande, decaf, Nonfat, Mocha, no whip… I am looking at you).
- Fridays are NOT a calm day, if you think this, you’re wrong. On that point, neither are summers, or Christmas breaks for that matter. Bottom line = down time only comes when you least expect it.
- Flipping your tube on the Guadalupe River = total rookie move. All experienced tubers stay dry (and bruise free) from start to finish.
- Mini-Vans are the new Range Rovers. Unless you have one, you just don’t know, right @millionbaker?
- Moving 4ft X 2ft wooden letters across Austin IS possible; with the help of 2 Man Movers, some illegal parking, and 24 knit-covered medicine balls.
- While it may seem like it at times, Dave Hernandez is NOT an employee of INK PR, just ask @karihernandez.
- Running 26.2 miles is easier said than done. I now know the true meaning of tired, thirsty and pain and would be worse for wear without the help of @nashwilliams and @jen_Lopez.
- Those weird looking fruit at Whole Foods that you think no one buys…people do. Just ask @helenrod – she’ll tell you exactly how to eat a kumquat.
- Weddings do not count as vacations.  While they may sound glamorous, they aren’t, and should be exempt from INK PTO.
- Speaking in tech code is a skill quickly learned, yet easily forgotten, LTE, EMV, NFC are NOT all the same. Trust me.
- Being the least knowledgeable in the social media space in the INK office does NOT make me any less reputable (or cooler)…right @poloskey?
- Unless a business lunch takes 2 hours and consists of at least 1 order of sangria and / or margaritas, it is not successful.

Here’s to another year as busy, eventful, successful, and interesting. I am so lucky to love what I do and work with fabulous colleagues. Cheers!