INK PUBLIC RELATIONS

I was recently asked by a college student what I did in college that helped prepare me for my career in PR. Thought I’d share with all of you – and get your answers to that question too as I’m sure we all had different paths to getting where we are today, all relevant and interesting. Here’s what I did:

Worked on the college newspaper. No question, this was hands-down one of the most helpful things I did to prepare me for my PR career.

Took sociology and psychology classes as electives. In this career, it’s a great thing to have insight into how groups work together and how people work, period.

I should have interned more. I worked two jobs to pay for school (in retail and banking) and while that prepared me for hard work, responsibility, juggling priorities and working with different people, it didn’t give me a PR internship on my resume that is pretty much a requirement these days, at least when I’m on the hiring end.

Oh and I didn’t go to school when it rained. I live in Austin, TX, so this wasn’t that often – if you live in Seattle, I would advise against this.

Please reply with your thoughts – I’d like to give the inquiring student as much feedback as possible!

I was chatting with the CTO of the Bluetooth SIG at the TweetHouse party during CES last week and he said something that has really stuck in my craw. In discussing his role in a previous lifetime when he worked at Mozy, and prior to that Microsoft, he said he came to the realization that social media was not his cup of tea because it was really made to serve the ‘all about me’ folks.

I cried foul immediately. The social media lover in me quickly defended that these tools are about connecting people and community. They are the opposite of ‘all about me’ – they are about everyone. They include everyone. They give a voice to those who would not normally be heard. Egotists? Never.

Once I stopped taking shots of the kool-aid, it occurred to me just how right Andy was.  Avid social media users like to talk about themselves –  what they had for breakfast, what they thought of the Apple press conference, what their favorite gadget is, what their least favorite airline is – a whole lot of me, me, me. And this isn’t a bad thing. Promoting ones thoughts, feelings, concerns and joys is what authentic social media use is all about. Those who truly excel at social media also like to listen and respond to others who are out their talking about themselves – and in the end, relationships are formed, conversations are had, and opinions are validated.

But that initial self-promotion and personal involvement is something that I think a lot of people, and certainly companies, have a hard time with – myself included. I am in PR. My career revolves around telling someone else’s story. And I like it that way. I love watching my clients excel. I am happy to be behind the scenes. So when an opportunity arises for me to take center stage (uh, TweetHouse session with Scoble), I definitely balk.  Same goes for all the social media channels. I lurked in the blogosphere FOREVER before starting my own blog. I followed (and still follow) people on twitter without commenting on anything they say, but yet I read every tweet. I peruse my Facebook friends pages ad nauseum, but rarely do I post a status update.

When I was sitting on the above-mentioned session, someone in the audience asked how to encourage and sway social media doubters into use. At the time, I recommending highlighting to these folks successful campaigns (the session was focusing on businesses using social media). And I think that is still a good first step. But immediately after that, get them to start lurking. Listen to the conversation at hand, find the self-promoters that you want to follow, tip-toe ever so slowly into the water. Because one of those people will say something about themselves that will spur you to act. And then you will authentically tweet YOUR reaction (or blog it or update your status, whatever). And when you do, social media heavens will open and the angels will sing. And you will realize it is okay to be ‘all about me’ every once in a while. And that authentic participation, be it every hour or once a week is what it is all about.

We’re 7! Hard to believe. Good things come in 7s:

I have 7 amazingly smart and dedicated colleagues. And we’re looking for someone else to join our team – if you’re smart and dedicated too, send a note to info@ink-pr.com, attention Adrienne.

We have 7 wicked cool clients who are doing exciting things in the areas of clean and high tech. Looking forward to a strong year with ACCIONA, the Bluetooth SIG, Broadwind Energy, Create with Context, Gemalto, and Nuventix. Already in Q1 we’ve done media and event work at CES, we’re working on a customer relations program, a media training, a messaging matrix project, a product launch, a dedication event, a messaging rollout in conjunction with an employee communications program and of course media and analyst relations.

And we’re looking forward to multiples of 7 more years. Go INK – HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

INK founders, the day we moved into first office.

Here at CES, in order to showcase the use of Bluetooth in fitness devices (currently just using classic Bluetooth, but in short order – this year! – will be using Bluetooth v4.0 with low energy) we set up a fitness challenge to crown the most active blogger/reporter (or client, or PR person, as the case may be) at the show. Using the BodyMedia armband that tracks steps and sends the count to your mobile phone via Bluetooth, we’re finding out just how many steps it takes to get to around this town during this annual orgy of consumer electronics devices, whims and wishes.

Here are the participants – check them out on Twitter to find out how they’re doing. So far, Kevin Tofel with GigaOm seems to be kicking butt…

Eric Zeman, Phone Scoop, @phonescooper

John Biggs, CrunchGear, @johnbiggs

Mari Silbey, Zatz Not Funny, @msilbey

Matt Hamblen, Computerworld, @matthamblen

Lucy Hedges, Stuff.tv, @lucyhedges

Ross Rubin, NPD Group, @rossrubin

Enid Burns, KinectShift.com, @enidburns

Michael Reyes, Hardware Geeks, @HWGeeks

Radiris Diaz, Cute Geek, @cutegeek

Lance Ulanoff, PC Magazine, @lanceulanoff

Brian Westbrook, Newsradio 750 KXL, @BMW

Rob Pegoraro, Washington Post, @robpegoraro

Kevin Tofel, GigaOm, @kevinctofel

Mike Foley, Bluetooth SIG, @wirelessmike

Blair Poloskey, INK PR, @poloskey

Jennifer Lopez, INK PR, @jen_lopez

Helen Rodriguez, INK PR, @helenrod

It’s Vegas so place your bets!

One of our favorite bloggers, Dave Zatz, wrote a blog post today re tips for CES 2011 – he said it was in rebuttal to Jeremy Toeman’s similar list, though as Toeman pointed out, he agreed with 9 out of 12 points. Without going line by line, I will say that between the two of them they got the big stuff – try to avoid the “CES flu” (I have not – my life is such that I get sick the day before I come here and spend the entire time fighting it), wear comfortable shoes because you should depend on your feet for the most reliable – and quick – transportation around (see pic here of girls who are going to want to amputate at the end of the day – no, this is no one at INK), and think of other ways to communicate because your cell phone is likely not going to work.

They left out – ENJOY IT. It’s crazy, it’s tiring, it’s just overall ridiculous, but it’s also amazing, for exactly all of those reasons. I didn’t make the trip last year (due date being the same as the first day of the show will do that to you) and I sorely missed it. Apparently Zatz felt the itch to get out here as well since his original plan was not to come, but now he’s hopping on a plane for a quick day trip to the crazy land.

Client Mike Foley being interviewed at Bluetooth CES booth.

If you are lucky enough to work in tech, come on in – the water’s fine.

So the first night of D: Dive Into Mobile is complete. The evening consisted of a cocktail hour, an on-stage interview by Walt and Kara of Andy Rubin, VP, Mobile Platforms, Google, a very late dinner and then shortly-attended “nightcap reception.” I sat down at a table for the main show and was joined by folks from Jawbone and a gentleman from Austin with a very interesting company (who needs assigned seating? .  Andy Rubin may be my new “what TO do” example for media training as Walt and Kara did not disappoint. I wonder how tired he gets of comparing Android to Apple? Rubin introduced some firsts: Gingerbread running on the Nexus S, an NFC demo with a Google print tag (ex. for couponing, ticketing, mobile payments) and a prototype Android-enabled Motorola tablet with a new 3D version of Google Maps due out in days (VERY cool).  He also said Gingerbread would have added VoIP so you could add a SIP provider (how does that work with Google Voice?). No video calling in this version although he alluded to work in that direction. When asked about mobile payments, Rubin said he is “looking at this from an infrastructure perspective” and that Android does carrier billing integration already and operators have an efficient billing system that could create those scenarios.  Not quite the mobile payments scenario consumers have been hoping for but baby steps. There was lots of RIM and MSFT bashing; I feel for Joe Belifiore and Mike Lazaridis that speak tomorrow. . .

The line up tomorrow is amazing which is why I should get to bed and rest up! Follow updates on Twitter at #dmobile and @karihernandez.

I am on my way to San Francisco today to soak up some knowledge at D: Dive into Mobile.  I can’t wait for tonight’s opening session with Google’s VP, Mobile Platforms, Andy Rubin who is rumored to be formally announcing Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Dive into Mobile is the first spin-off event of the influential D: All Things Digital conference put on by WSJ’s Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher and is positioned as a more intimate gathering to drill down on the mobile space and the opportunities/implications for the next year to 18 months. If anyone can provide this, it’s the heavy hitters on this speaker list.  Here are the questions Walt Mossberg highlighted for the event:

Can Google’s Android keep surging without fatally fragmenting? Can Research in Motion get back its mojo? Can Palm be revived inside the Hewlett-Packard monolith? Can Microsoft resuscitate its mobile business? Will local apps and mobile Web sites fight to the death or co-exist? Is the Apple iPad a fluke or will tablets spread like wildfire, threatening laptops? And what will it matter without better networks, must-have software and a viable advertising model?

As the mobile industry continues to converge and innovate, the same issues and key players are affecting all of our clients as they move to provide new mobile capabilities such as mobile VoIP, mobile commerce, voice control, hands-free, digital health and mobile advertising, to name a few.  I expect insights from this event to be of value to all our technology clients and help us shape strategy for their PR programs, as well as point out new areas of mobile that we should be targeting from a new business perspective.

I’ll be sharing key insights here and via Twitter (@karihernandez) so stay tuned.

Long-time INK client Mike Foley of Bluetooth fame was a guest on Larry King Live last night.

I’m not sure who was more nervous of the two of us, but if it was him, he sure didn’t show it. In the last Fresh INK post, Kari mentioned Wilson Rothman as an excellent interviewee, doing all of the things we recommend to our clients re sound bites, staying on message, etc. Well this time, the shining example is our client – and we are so impressed and proud (though we certainly don’t claim his success, minus all of the practice he’s had over the years through the interviews we’ve set up for him ).

What did he do right? He smiled (engaging), he spoke in real language (sometimes hard for a tech guy – again, engaging), he spoke to what he knows and deferred topics on which he’s not an expert to someone else (staying on message), he shared information that was of interest to the audience, of interest to the reporter, and in his best interest (staying on message), and lastly he had a pretty memorable sound bite (Bluetooth headsets transmit 1/1000th of the power of a cell phone – go figure!). He was also extremely quick on his feet on this live show, which is hard for even the most seasoned spokespeople to do and he did it well.

Kudos to you Mike! You know me, I don’t mind giving the critiques when needed, but this time – not a critique to be had in the house. Check it out:

MICHAEL FOLEY, BLUETOOTH SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP: Sure, these are two examples of wireless headsets that you wear in your ear to take phone calls. So then your phone can remain in your pocket, in your purse, in your briefcase, and then you don’t have to hold it to your head. Many new cars now have Bluetooth built in as well, where it uses your speakers for basically a hands-free kit in the car. Of course, everyone is not going to go out and buy a new car, so you can get aftermarket Bluetooth speaker phones as well to use in the car. These you can clip these on the dash right above your head. You can make the call and not, again, have to hold the mobile phone to your head while you’re driving. Of course, while you’re driving, that’s the law in many states and many countries around the world as well.

KING: What are your thoughts on the study released tomorrow?

FOLEY: I found it very interesting listening to the experts, and thought it was very confusing. I don’t think they really know right now. And the other thing I didn’t hear any of them talk about all of these were phones from 15 years ago, 10 years ago because they’re 10- year studies. Think of what your phone was like 10 years ago, Larry.

KING: I think I still have the same one.

FOLEY: You’re the exception. Most people in America in a ten-year period would go through four to ten cell phones. And they transmitted with a lot more power back then than they do now. Like everything, the technology changes over time. And how you fit that into the study is very interesting.

KING: What’s the difference in the power transmission between a cell phone and Bluetooth?

FOLEY: A bluetooth headset or speaker phone uses approximately one one thousandth of the power.

KING: One one thousandth?

FOLEY: Exactly. It does depends on your mobile phone and Bluetooth headset. But, give or take, that’s roughly the amount.

KING: I believe Dr. Ottis Brawley is still there. Are you there, Dr. Brawley?

BRAWLEY: Yes, I am.

KING: What do you think of the Bluetooth?

BRAWLEY: I think that for people who are concerned about cell phones concerning brain tumors, using a Bluetooth or a wired device is a very reasonable thing to do. I don’t want people to be panicked and not use their cell phones over all of this, or be confused. If you’re concerned, use a wireless device or a Bluetooth.

KING: Isn’t you safer? Wouldn’t you be safer using a Bluetooth?

FOLEY: It sounds like it. I’ll leave that up to the medical experts. But if you can use something that uses one one thousandth of the power, and it really doesn’t change your use patterns — just put this on and take the call like you normally do — why not do that. It seems prudent to me.

KING: Quickie, where did it get its name?

FOLEY: Bluetooth was a Danish king around the 900s. And he united the Scandinavian countries. The original concept with Bluetooth was it was a technology that would unite the mobile phone and personal computer. And Bluetooth was originally created by people in those countries at Eriksson and Nokia. So that was the code name and it stuck. It’s been the name for over a decade now.

KING: You can buy these anywhere?

FOLEY: Sure. Any electronic store, you mobile phone provider store, they all have headsets, car kits. Of course, as I mentioned, most new cars come with it now.

KING: One one thousandth?

FOLEY: Yes.

KING: Thanks, Mike. Thanks, Dr. Brawley. Thanks to all of our panel. We’re going to do a lot more on this.