Bolt Buzz

Go Green with Internet Marketing - Webinar

2009-04-30T15:14:00.000-07:00

There seems to be a demand for Internet Marketing 101. Many small businesses are hungry for knowledge on how to do it themselves if they don’t have the budget to outsource professional services. Many business owners and traditional marketing executives are beginning to recognize the importance of social media and an online presence. Until recently, colleagues at business networking events would look at me bewildered or give me a look to say “that’s nice honey, but I think you are crazy and wasting your time” when I told them about my job managing social media and various Internet marketing tactics. Just this month, the tide has turned to “Oh yes, I have heard about that Tweeter. Should I be on it?” This makes my day, as I love to educate others about how Twitter and other social networks can help their business through exposure, customer relations, and actual growth.

By teaming up with Andres Hernandez from BIIS Solutions, Bolt is taking education to the web[inar] in order to educate more people in locations around the world at one time. One of the reasons I love webinars and Internet marketing is that it is eco-friendly. While I try to always put direct mailers and coupon ads in the recycling bin instead of the trash, we want to let marketers know about an alternative that allows them to conserve trees and their resources, plus increase sales with online strategies.

Here are the details for our Go Green with Internet Marketing I: Strategies to Increase Sales webinar:

Conserve resources and drive more prospects to your Web site with Internet Marketing strategies that work. In the first of our Internet Marketing Webinar series, you will gain valuable information on how Web 2.0 has changed the exchange of information online and how this impacts your business. Whether you are a small business owner, entry level professional or marketing executive, our team of panelists will define and explain the benefits of the following online tools:

* Social Media - Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and more
* Web Sites - Structure and content
* Internet Marketing - SEO landing pages, online news releases, PPC campaigns, affiliate marketing and more
* Analytics - Tools and resources to analyze your ROI

Presenters:
Andres Hernandez, CEO, BIIS Solutions, http://www.biissolutions.com/
Anne Carr, Social Media Director, Bolt PR, http://www.boltpr.com/
Caroline Callaway, Owner, Bolt PR, http://www.boltpr.com/

May 13, 2009
10:00 a.m. - https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/325723218
6:30 p.m. - https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/518860995

Cost:
$39

If you sign up for the webinar and are already on Twitter, we will use the hashtag #greenim and invite others to do so, too.

By: Anne Carr, anne@boltpr.com

Should I Be On Twitter?

2009-04-14T09:15:00.000-07:00

Yes! There are reasons for everyone to tweeting or, at the very least, following what others are tweeting about. This is especially true if you have a brand or a business. Amazon.com, although a leading Internet empire, showed its gray hair this weekend when it remained silent while social media users slammed them for allegedly removing gay and lesbian themed books from its lists and search results.

A major trending topic on Twitter was #amazonfail. Hashtags like this are used to track conversations on Twitter. Had Amazon been tracking its social media presence, it could have reached out via Twitter immediately to apologize and prevent the spread of a detrimental hashtag.

Twitter was not the only network with expressive users; there were outcries on Facebook, blogs and other channels. Two lessons to take away from this:

Monitor your brand on Twitter
Respond to tweets relating to your brand immediately

Not sure how to use Twitter or monitor your social media presence? Please feel free to email me with questions at anne@boltpr.com. At Bolt, we love to be a resource and offer social media consulting services or channel management.

By: Anne Carr

Get LinkedIn or Get Left Out

2009-04-09T17:49:00.000-07:00

I am always surprised when business owners, professionals or job seekers tell me that they are not on LinkedIn. Perhaps I live in a social media bubble, but I want to shake them and say, “Do you know how many opportunities you’re missing?!” Instead, I kindly suggest that they join and calmly explain the value. Here are the top two reasons why everyone (including you) should be on LinkedIn:

Search Function: LinkedIn users are able to do a keyword search and find users with the keyword in their profiles.

For example, I used the keyword search to find people who were involved in fundraising to let them know about a new resource (Legacy Benefit Auctions). Recruiters use the same function to find job seekers.
On the flip side, I have also been contacted by several business owners and professionals who came across my profile when looking for Public Relations or Social Media services or even just for networking purposes.
Tip: Make sure to include key words in your profile that reflect your expertise. Think about which keywords someone would use when searching for an individual with your skill set, and then sprinkle them into your bio

Web Site Traffic: LinkedIn is one of Bolt Public Relations’ top referring sites.

Your profile can be a mini-landing page for your business, so it is important to include a link to your web site.
Tip: Join groups and participate in discussions. After you post a comment in a discussion forum, include a signature at the end that includes your business name and link to your Web site. If group members are intrigued or impressed by your comment, they will go straight to your Web site. Make it your goal to participate in a discussion or answer a question at least a few times a week for maximum exposure.

If the idea of setting up a strategic LinkedIn profile or managing your LinkedIn visibility is overwhelming, Bolt offers social media management services and consulting. We would be more that happy to meet with you to help you set up your profile and map out a plan for you. This would include discussing your goals, from finding a job to boosting traffic and positioning you as an expert in your given industry, in order to set up a successful strategy. You should know your purpose before joining any social medium.

For more information about Bolt PR, visit http://www.boltpr.com. And please, connect with me if you are on LinkedIn.

By: Anne Carr

TownZilla.com: Your Local Search Engine

2009-03-23T16:36:00.000-07:00

As a business owner, it’s always a proud moment when a company wants to announce that it has chosen you as its service provider of choice. For the Bolt PR team, TownZilla.com not only selected us as its PR, copywriting and social media management agency, but the local search engine company also wanted to announce it to the world. (Thanks TownZilla.com!)

So if you haven’t heard about TownZilla.com before, here’s the skinny: It’s a local search engine for the Orange County, Inland Empire and San Diego communities. As a business owner in San Diego, if I want to find a San Diego CPA, I search on TownZilla.com and the results displayed will only be San Diego CPAs… not Orange County, San Francisco or Las Vegas CPAs. Just local CPAs in my local area. Now as a new Orange County resident, when I want to find a local restaurant, I can use TownZilla.com for that, too. And when I search for Orange County restaurants, TownZilla.com will only display OC restaurants. No amount of money can “buy” a business a place in this search engine where it doesn’t belong.

That’s because TownZilla.com’s sole purpose is to support local businesses by connecting potential buyers with them. A few of the fantastic features of TownZilla.com include:

- Local search specific to Orange County, San Diego and the Inland Empire
- Free business listings for all businesses in the TownZilla.com coverage areas
- Updated event blog with all the latest happenings in Southern California
- Local job postings relevant to job seekers’ specific area of residence through a partnership with Jobing.com
- Travel search for local residents to find flights, hotels, cars, vacations and cruises
- Premium, non-invasive advertising for local businesses and events
- Local mortgage rate finder and real estate information
- Continuous traffic reports for anywhere in Orange County, San Diego and the Inland Empire
- Local restaurant, hotel and art gallery listings specific to each of the counties in Southern California

So check it out and start supporting YOUR local business: http://www.townzilla.com/.

Posted by: Caroline Callaway, caroline@boltpr.com

What is Squidoo?

2009-03-23T09:23:00.000-07:00

Squidoo, Seth Godin’s brainchild, is an online social encyclopedia made up of lenses (user-generated pages). Lenses are little authority sites, much like Wikipedia and About.com. Anyone can create a lens for free on any topic of choice and the creators are called “lensmasters.”
Unlike most Web 2.0 creations, Squidoo is about what you know, rather than who you know.

Why should you create lenses?

You are an expert on something. Why not share the knowledge?
Traffic! You can include backlinks to your website. One way to use Squidoo to increase your blog traffic is by using the RSS feed tool. You simply load the RSS feed from your blog and the Squidoo lens will update automatically as you update your blog.
Google loves Squidoo. The lenses often rank very high in search engines. Each page gives crawlers another opportunity to find you.
Money. You have the option to donate 50% the money Squidoo makes from ads and affiliate links on your page to charity. Or you can keep it. Of the other 50%, 45% of it “covers overhead and stuff” and the other 5% automatically goes to charity.
It is free.

For an example of a lens, check out Bolt’s ‘San Diego Public Relations’: http://www.squidoo.com/sandiegopr

By: Anne Carr, anne@boltpr.com

Are you wearing green today?

2009-03-17T15:07:00.000-07:00

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I did a little digging to find out just who St. Patrick is and why he’s important enough to have a holiday in his name. Here is what I found:

Who is St. Patrick?

Patrick lived during the 5th century and is given credit for bringing Christianity to Ireland. He was born in Ireland and lived there until he was kidnapped at age sixteen by pirates and sold into slavery. During his six years of captivity, he learned to find strength in his faith. (Although, he worked as a shepherd, so his captivity doesn’t sound too rough). Patrick finally escaped and lived in France, where he became a priest and then a bishop.

Oddly, he waited until he was 60 years old to move back to Ireland and spread the gospel of Christianity. While teaching about the Trinity, he used the shamrock as a metaphor to illustrate the concept.

St. Patrick is also legendary for driving snakes out of Ireland. While it is true, according to all accounts I could find, that there are no snakes in Ireland, critics believe that there probably never were any there in the first place because the island separated from the rest of the continent during the ice age before snakes existed. He is most likely credited with this because serpent symbols were common and worshiped by many supposedly pagan religions. Driving out the snakes may be symbolic for the end of these practices.

St. Patrick died a hero in Ireland on March 17th around 460 A.D. He described himself as a most humble-minded man, pouring forth a continuous paean of thanks to his Maker for having chosen him as the instrument whereby multitudes who had worshipped idols and unclean things had become the people of God."

What is St. Patrick’s Day?

Prior to the 20th century, St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated only as a religious holiday. It became a public holiday in 1903 by the Black Holiday Act, introduced to Parliament by Irish Prime Minister James O’Mara. In Ireland, the holiday is still a religious observance. Businesses, besides restaurants and pubs, close down. People attend mass where it is a time of spiritual renewal and offer prayers for missionaries around the world. Then, they celebrate!

The first accounts of American celebration date back to 1737. Now St. Patrick’s day is a day to wear green and celebrate everything Irish. For San Diego St. Patrick’s day events, visit the San Diego Weekly Reader.

Meanwhile we, the Bolt team, will continue helping small businesses expand their pots of gold through credible exposure, both on- and off-line.

By: Anne Carr, anne@boltpr.com

Increase Sales with Social Media Seminar: Quick Recap, Day 2

2009-03-09T12:47:00.000-07:00

Last week I attended Increase Sales with Social Media seminar at the Marriott in Newport Beach. As I described in my previous post, I walked away from the event with a wealth of social networking ideas to incorporate into Bolt PR’s social media efforts for our business and our clients’ organizations.

Here is a condensed version of day 2:
8:00 am – Keynote speaker David Carleton kicked off the morning with a presentation on Linkbait marketing and how to capture more leads
Biggest takeaway: host a webinar or a giveaway on your website for linkbait
9:30 am – Mike Koenigs stressed the effectiveness of using video sites to increase traffic
Biggest takeaway: purchase a Flip camera to record video for easy uploading
11:00 am – Shama Hyder provided 3 steps to rock Facebook
Biggest takeaway: think of Facebook like a coffee shop and act accordingly
12:30 pm – Lunch at P.F. Changs
Biggest takeaway: you can never go wrong with lettuce wraps
1:30 pm – Viva Visibility founder, Nancy Marmolejo, unveiled how to establish yourself as an expert through social media
Biggest takeaway: not claiming your expertise is costing you money
3:15 pm – Bill Wardell, a lens master, introduced the power of Squidoo
Biggest takeaway: Google loves Squidoo
5:00 pm – The conference ended and I made a stop at Pinkberry before driving home
Biggest takeaway: we need a Pinkberry in North San Diego County

Biggest disappointment of the seminar? I did not win any of the raffle prizes.

To see how Bolt Public Relations doe social networking, connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Fast Pitch Networking and JellyFish (just to name a few).

By: Anne Carr, anne@boltpr.com

Increase Sales with Social Media Seminar: Quick Recap, Day 1

2009-03-03T17:35:00.000-08:00

This weekend I attended the Increase Sales with Social Media seminar at the beautiful Marriott in Newport Beach. After listening to several entertaining speakers, I left the event feeling an information overload – in a good way! The seminar included two days of presentations by Social Networking experts who shared tips and promoted their products.

Here is a condensed version of day 1:
7:45 am – arrived at Marriott Hotel in Newport Beach. Note: the hotel parking lot informs you of the $18 parking fee once you are practically committed to entering the lot.
7:50 am – Checked in and was relieved to have $10 off of my parking for attending the seminar. I entered the large room and sat next to Jason Brett with Trinacle, Inc
8:00 am – Event organizer David Carleton welcomed us
8:15 am – Twenius Dan Hollings explained how to use Twitter effectively
Biggest take-away: Download mytwittertoolbar.com.
10:00 am – Matt Bacak unveiled how to get rich using social media
Biggest take-away: Create a ‘swipe file’ to save marketing ideas, both on and offline
11:30 am – Lunch at California Pizza Kitchen
Biggest take-away: The ‘half’ salad portion is too big for one person (and I love the Bar-b-q Chicken Salad)!
12:30 pm – Chip Lampert spoke about how to increase offline sales using LinkedIn
Biggest take-away: Take full advantage of personal network and request referrals
2:00 pm – Dr. Ron Capps gave an overview of social bookmarking
Biggest take-away: Use Ping.fm or Firefox application to simplify bookmarking
3:45 pm – Paul Colligan presented a way to make a profit through podcasts and Web 2.0
Biggest take-away: The phrase, “I’ll Grab That!”

Stay tuned for the condensed version of day two.

To see how Bolt PR does social networking, connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Fast Pitch Networking and JellyFish (just to name a few).

By: Anne Carr, anne@boltpr.com

The 1% Rule

2009-02-20T12:38:00.000-08:00

This week I attended a luncheon hosted by the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce, where Tim Templeton, Executive VP of Locallife, challenged us to apply the 1% rule. This means looking inside our businesses, examining each process, and finding a way to make the processes 1% better or more efficient. A process includes everything from the way we answer the phone to the way we follow up with business leads. He advised us to make a list of each process we engage in, which should include over 100, and focus on solutions to improve each one. While this task sounded a bit overwhelming to me, since I usually am scrambling for more hours in a day, I decided to take it slow. This weekend and next week I will create the list. Then pick one process per week to improve by 1% (or more).

Here is an example, or at least this is my interpretation, of the applying the 1% rule. Process: the way I answer the phone. I usually say, “Bolt PR, this is Anne.” I try to always sound upbeat. Now, how can I improve this to make the caller feel like I have been looking forward to speaking with him or her? Perhaps I can add in “Thank you for calling…” or remember to smile when speaking.

The 1% rule reminds us to be purposeful in our actions. I don’t always consciously think through each process I engage in because everything becomes second nature. But how much more effective will I be when I label each process and aim to improve?

Posted by: Anne Carr, anne@boltpr.com

Getting Creative During Job Searches

2009-02-20T12:26:00.000-08:00

NextWork, a career transition organization helping individuals identify personal strengths to discover a fitting career path, have noted that the changing economy and the rising unemployment numbers have forced job seekers to discover new tactics to really stand out. However, what new job searching methods are almost too unconventional and leave the wrong impression with potential employers?

An article published by CNNMoney.com on February 14 (http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/14/pf/unconventional_job_searches/index.htm?postversion=2009011413), explored this question further and identified individuals exploring the good and the bad side of standing out from competing job searchers.

Most experts, including NextWork, agree that attending networking events is still the best approach in proactively searching for a job. Experts also note to expand upon face-to-face networking and to incorporate the wonderful world of online socializing by utilizing such sites as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn (see we keep gabbing about these outlets because they truly are the great wave of the future!). A couple of years ago these tactics were not so widely used, but now many individuals use these approaches and job searchers still need to take their approach a step further and try something unique.

A Web developer profiled in the article distributed an email to his family and friends with his job search objective and resume. He asked all of them to pass the information along to any appropriate contacts and even offered a $150 incentive to anyone who led him to a job opening. Utilizing friends and family can really help you gain the support you need during a job search and is a great approach.

Another tactic discussed in the article was one practiced by a private duty registered nurse and a marketing manager, who both wore printed t-shirts with their Web site, contact information, resume and cover letter. This is a very easy approach that can lead to discussions with strangers that may have a tip to get you in the right direction.

On the flip side, the article noted that while creativity is appreciated, 52% of marketing executives and 26% of advertising executives see unconventional job-hunting methods as unprofessional. One example that was mentioned was an individual who mailed a shoe, noting that the candidate was hoping to get a foot in the door.

The rule of thumb is to absolutely explore your creative side, but to be mindful of what is appropriate for your given industry. For more tips on job searching methods, call NextWork at (760) 420-8444 or visit www.nextworkservices.com.

Posted by: Monica Kenney, monica@boltpr.com

The Value of Strategic, Effective Communication

2009-02-13T13:45:00.000-08:00

We’ve all heard the old panda in a café joke:

A panda walks into a café. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and proceeds to fire it.

“Why?” asks the confused, surviving waiter, as the panda makes towards the exit.

The panda responds, “I’m a panda. Look it up." The panda produces a poorly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder. The waiter turns to the relevant entry in the manual and, sure enough, finds an explanation. “Panda. Large black-and-white bear, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves.”

The value of clear, concise and strategic communication cannot be emphasized enough. Too often, we send emails in a hurry, type up documents in a flash, or prepare materials for meetings, all without thinking twice about our language, style, flow, context and clarity.

Every single word you write or type should be evaluated. Any communication you send to clients, customers, bosses, colleagues and even friends, should be proofread. The more often you do something, the more habitual it becomes. Thus, poor communication skills only become worse if not corrected. Ask yourself the following to ensure you’re communicating as effectively as you possibly can:

1. Is there another, more concise way to make my point? Can I tighten up my sentences while still getting my message across?

2. Is my grammar perfect? Do all of my nouns and verbs agree? Have I included commas where appropriate?

3. Have I misspelled any names, titles or companies?
Tip: When typing a person’s or company’s name, perform a quick Google search to ensure that you’re spelling the name correctly.

4. Will my recipient understand the context of what I’m sending to him or her? Do I need to provide any additional background or information?
Tip: Remember to make your sentences clean and concise, but make your communication thorough.

5. Have I structured my sentences in the best way possible? Is there another way to order my words so my message is better communicated?

6. Am I using “power” words? Are there any words I can replace with a “power” word?
Tip: Check out these “power” words on CareerOwl.com: http://www.careerowlresources.ca/Resumes/Res_Frame.htm?res_power.htm~right

If you have more tips to offer, feel free to leave a comment and I’ll add them to this short list. And remember, your words are a direct representation of you. Make them the best they can possibly be.

Posted by: Caroline Callaway, caroline@boltpr.com

Be More Than a Business Owner; Be a True Entrepreneur

2009-02-12T14:50:00.000-08:00

According to the Encarta Dictionary, an entrepreneur is a risk-taking businessperson who initiates or finances new commercial enterprises. I recently read an article about an entrepreneur who truly defined the word, and her ambition leaves an inspiriting message for all.

Sara Blakely, the creator of Spanx, at the age of 25 was selling fax machines door-to-door and debating the direction of her career. When she was 27, Sara saved up for a pair of expensive white pants that she adored, but unfortunately had an issue wearing. Despite the undergarments she paired with the pants, they were very revealing and could not be worn. After many shopping trips searching for the perfect undergarment, Sara had the idea to cut the feet off a pair of control-top panty hose, and much to her surprise she found the perfect solution.

From her shopping experience, and the compliments she received on the pants, Sara saw a need in the market and started developing her own line of form-flattering undergarments. Blakely called many manufactures and many people laughed at the concept, until she finally found one that respected her determination and wanted to give the product a shot.

Today there are currently 150 styles of Spanx and the product can be found in many department stores alongside Calvin Klein and Donna Karan. The product graced Oprah’s favorites list and red carpet conversations with celebrities typically make mention of this must-have item.

While the business did not happen or grow overnight, many people thought it was a silly concept, and though Blakely had little money and no fashion experience, she encompassed the true sense of entrepreneurism and set out to make something happen. Every successful business owner takes risks and experiences some hiccups along the way, but in the end, gains the benefits that come with that risk-taking mentality. If you strive to be an entrepreneur, remember to be unique, take chances and have confidence in your goals even when everyone else thinks they’re random. You never know where your drive and determination will take you.

By: Monica Kenney, monica@boltpr.com

Live Coverage on Twitter

2009-02-10T17:16:00.000-08:00

Twitter has become one of my go-to sources for breaking news. Last night I logged on to respond to a few direct messages (DM’s in Twitter lingo) and noticed a few tweets relating to an LA slow speed car chase involving a white Bentley. The police followed the Bentley driver for hours before the man stopped. The incident caught my attention because there was speculation that the driver could possibly be Chris Brown. The chase ended tragically and law enforcement has not yet released the name of the driver.

Through Twitter coverage, I learned that LA’s ABC and Fox news stations were streaming live coverage. I watched online and via Twitter (#bentley), hoping to discover the driver’s identity. To find more information I turned to Google, my first instinct when I have a question, but found nothing. The Associated Press did not release news about the chase until 1:34 a.m., after the driver was taken away in an ambulance. Twitter coverage proved much faster than Google or any other news outlet – aside from ABC channel 7 and Fox channel 11.

This is evidence that Twitter can absolutely raise a buzz and lead to media coverage. This principle proves true in the world of public relations. Often, if a business or brand can saturate the realm of social media, it will lead to mainstream coverage. At Bolt Public Relations, we offer social media management services to ensure that our clients receive maximum exposure across all public mediums.

For more information about the Twitter coverage versus traditional media, see Dave Winer’s blog post. For more information about the police chase, see LA Times article, “Suspect leads police on low speed pursuit in a Bentley, kills self during standoff.”

By: Anne Carr, anne@boltpr.com

Always Practice Safety When Socializing Online

2009-02-05T16:13:00.000-08:00

As discussed by my colleague in her latest blog, utilizing online social networking is key in keeping up with the times and successfully establishing new relationships with other professionals to benefit your business. Many sites, such as Twitter, LinkedIn and FastPitchNetworking, are used for more professional reasons and are strongly protected to prevent user issues. However, other sites carry some risks that can be easily avoided if you take proper precautions.

Whatever social sites you choose to use, follow the steps below to make online networking safe, beneficial and fun.

1. Choose a strong, unique password for each Web account you own. It is easy for hackers to tap into one site and find a common link to all of your accounts through your password.

2. Download reputable anti-virus software that will constantly scan your computer to flag any suspicious activities, downloads or files.

3. Utilize a current Web browser that provides users with the added service of anti-phishing blacklist.

4. Immediately change your Web account passwords if you are suspicious of any unauthorized activity.

5. Do your homework before accepting a connection/friend request from a stranger. Google the person’s name to see where else they are listed, or look to see if you have any mutual connections/friends through the online social site.
6. Limit the amount of personal information you display, such as your home address or other information that overly exposes you.

7. When using a non-professional social site, such as MySpace or Facebook, try to keep your settings private where only your friends or colleagues can access your Web page.

Social media channels are extremely valuable tools to generate exposure and grow your business, but as with any Web site, just be smart about what information you choose to make public.

By: Monica Kenney, monica@boltpr.com

5 Ways to Integrate Social Media with Public Relations

2009-02-05T10:58:00.000-08:00

With the emergence of social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, FastPitchNetworking and LinkedIn, businesses have almost an unlimited access to the public. Consequently, public relations is evolving beyond traditional media outlets to Web 2.0. In order to monitor all messages and raise an online buzz, social media management should be an integral piece of your public relations campaign.

Many people I have met at various networking events or meetings have been intrigued by the idea of social media and grill me with questions regarding how to utilize it for brand awareness. To help explain how social networking partners with public relations efforts, I made a list of five ways that Bolt PR integrates the two practices to create a profitable buzz for our clients.

Link to articles. When you come across an article about your business or industry, share it with others by posting a link on your blog, Twitter, Facebook or other social network you are involved in. It is also a great idea to bookmark the article using StumbleUpon, Delicious, Reddit and Digg.
Drive traffic to website. When you participate in online forums or post blog comments, include a link to your website at the bottom.
Be an industry expert. Rather that focus on selling, be an educator. When you come across a question relating to your area of expertise, post an answer with your name, company, website and Twitter.
Respond to feedback. Search for what people are saying about you and your brand using Google or Twitter search. Respond to comments by thanking those who sing your praises and try to make it right with those who had a negative experience.
Involve the audience. Some of the best viral marketing campaigns involve audience participation on Twitter, Facebook fan pages, YouTube and Myspace. Ask for feedback or host a contest to help get your customers involved and generate some attention to your brand or product.

For a more detailed explanation of these 5 ideas, see my article in Social Computing Magazine. Feel free to reach out to us at Bolt PR if you have questions about our services or social media in general. All of us love to be a resource to anyone, client or not.

By: Anne Carr, anne@boltpr.com

Twitter Tip of the Day

2009-01-30T11:55:00.000-08:00

Remember: Symbiosis. A symbiotic relationship is essential to gaining Twitter followers. If you only talk about you and your company, followers will break up with you. If you respond to other tweets and provide helpful information, followers are more likely to pay attention to what you have to say.

Happy Tweeting and don’t forget to follow Bolt PR http://twitter.com/boltbuzz108.

Posted by: Anne Carr, anne@boltpr.com

The Power of Teamwork

2009-01-29T15:56:00.000-08:00

A very wise Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

I’m inspired today to write about the power of a team; more specifically, the Bolt Public Relations team. Never in my life have I been surrounded by such a dynamic, brilliant, authentic and motivated group of women. Of course I’m biased. But I’ve also been in other agency environments where this level of teamwork, commitment, drive and support has never been as profound. As we sat at dinner last night discussing our agency, successes, challenges and dreams, I realized that we have such a unique bond, not only with each other, but with our clients. At Bolt PR, our clients are our partners; we are part of the team. We are the support, the hands, the minds and the voices of our clients. We’re not in it for us, but for our clients. We succeed because our clients succeed. I believe that our deep commitment to our clients stems from our conscience selection of the ‘right’ partners for us. As a select-service PR agency, we choose to only work with organizations that we firmly believe in, that we desire to represent, and that we know we can truly impact. In turn, when companies choose the Bolt PR team, they are choosing a group of women who work harder, smarter and with more determination than any others I’ve ever known.

There are two sides of this to learn from: 1) if you’re working for an organization where you don’t feel the teamwork/the bond/the support, go find it. Life is too short not be surrounded by people who inspire and motivate you in some capacity every single day; 2) if you’re looking for a PR agency, choose one that truly believes in your organization. Don’t hire ‘doers’; hire strategic partners that are genuinely committed to you, your growth and your success. Don’t settle for anything less.

Posted by: Caroline Callaway, caroline@boltpr.com

Unemployment Rate is Rising Again - Workshop Can Help

2009-01-23T13:10:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the San Diego Metropolitan’s Daily Report for always keeping me abreast of the latest business news in San Diego. If you’re not already subscribing to SD Metro’s e-newsletter, do it.

The latest news: “San Diego’s unemployment rate rose to 7.4 percent in December, up from 6.9 percent in November and 5 percent a year earlier, reports the Employment Development Department. The number of [available] jobs fell 1,100 compared to November and 18,400 compared to December 2007.”Job supply is shortening and job demand is growing. If you or someone you know is currently looking for a job, he or she is going to need some type of a strategy to stand out amongst the thousands of other job seekers. But don’t feel discouraged. There ARE jobs out there, but looking online is not enough. So many jobs are secured through word-of-mouth referrals, inside connections and even chance meetings. To learn how to be one of those people who has an “in”, to learn what job is the best fit for you, to learn how to utilize social media in your job search, and to learn how to ace your interview once you get that “in”, check out the New Year, New Career event. Taking place next weekend, this is THE workshop to attend to get the upper-hand on all of the other job seekers out there.It's hosted by NextWork, a career transition organization that helps individuals identify the right career path to actually achieve personal and professional fulfillment.

Want more info? You can find it here. Space is limited so if you need help finding a job right now, be there.

Posted by: Caroline Callaway, caroline@boltpr.com

Earning More Than a Paycheck

2009-01-23T11:18:00.000-08:00

New Year’s resolutions that we hear people discuss in January every year revolve around such common themes as losing weight, finding a new job, setting new financial goals and planning to take more time for friends and family. How many people actually set the important resolution of taking time to volunteer more? So many professionals think that they do not have the time or energy to commit to another organization, but today’s volunteering opportunities make it easy for even the Trump’s of the world to tailor a community involvement activity to seamlessly integrate into their current schedule.

First utilize such Web sites as VolunteerMatch.org and SmartVolunteer.org to find an opportunity based on location, type of organization or level of commitment necessary. These sites make it a quick and easy process to identify an organization that easily fits your lifestyle. After you commit to a cause be sure to treat your role as a job even though you are not being paid. You are still obligated to attend events when you say you will and to behave professionally. Also, be sure to commit at least three weeks to the organization before deciding it is not a fit for you. Just like a new workout regimen, it takes some time to get into the swing of the activity before being able to determine the benefits.

If long term commitments are not your style, make a vacation out of your community involvement and signup for a great vacation that allows you to give back to others while giving back to yourself. Study animals in South Africa or Costa Rica through EarthWatch.org and VolunteerAbroad.com, or help to restore the environment in the Caribbean, Key West or Tuscany through SierraClub.org, ReefRelief.org and WWOOF.org. Most of these organizations even give you a discount, if not free, lodging and meals.

The rewards for volunteering significantly out way the simple dollar amount of a paycheck. You can expect to make friends, establish business contacts, reduce stress and boost your overall physical and mental well-being, all while helping others. The important thing to remember is that volunteering, whether a lot of time or a little bit of time, is greatly beneficial and empowering to the community we live in and without it so many things would suffer. Take time as the New Year takes off to identify the ways in which you can schedule volunteering into your schedule, the benefits will seriously surprise you.

Posted by: Monica Kenney, monica@boltpr.com

Inauguration Day

2009-01-20T11:15:00.000-08:00

At Bolt Public Relations, we believe that a huge part of PR is staying on top of the latest trend and keeping a pulse on general happenings, that way we never miss an opportunity for our clients’ names, brands and products to be in the news. To take that idea one step further, we also try to be a resource to others.

Today, our whole country – both Democrats and Republicans - came together to watch President Barack Obama swear in to office. The Bolt team was glued to the TV for Inauguration day 2009 and covered the event, plus a little fashion commentary, via Twitter. Below is our tweet by tweet of the historic inauguration of the 44th President:

Working from home today to watch the Inauguration - history happening right now!
The first President Bush and his wife have matching purple scarfs
Loving Hillary's royal blue coat!
Decided to watch c-span
The Obama girls are little fashionistas!
The whole crowd is waiting, unsure what to do
Now the cheers for Obama are starting
Still making up my mind about Michelle's outfit...
The anticipation is building...A lot of mingling going on.
Here comes the VP-elect
c-span now showing our Pres-elect!
I think he is trying to hold back from smiling too much
Obama in a red tie and Biden in a blue - so patriotic (good branding)
The music is starting… and there is he is"ladies and gentlemen the President-elect of the United States, Barack H. Obama!" Everyone is seated.
Diane Feinstein is giving the welcome, "the world is watching this peaceful exchange of power"
‘No triumph tainted by brutality could be as sweet as the triumph of this hour'
Regardless of your political views, this is an exciting day
Prayer by Rev. Rick WarrenWow!
RT: @shelisrael #inaug09 posting faster than 1000 per minute.
Aretha Franklin with a large gray, sparkly bow on her head is singing 'my country tis of thee' - still has an amazing voice!
Everyone is standing for the oathsBiden is being sworn in
Incredible composition and performance - can feel the emotion in the music. The cello player is incredible and expressive
How cute - the girls standing on boxes. Obama is excited. Is he nervous? blanked when repeating words for a second.
*It is official. We have a new pres - speech time!
"We understand that greatness is never a gift, it must be learned." – Obama**
poet Elizabeth Alexander - "say it plain, that many have died for this day"***
***"What if the mightiest word is love?" E.A.
Jill Biden looks fab! way to rock the boots and red coat ;)
Great PR move by Obama - including/mentioning ALL of the American people, regardless of belief. Promotes good will.

*According to ABC News, Chief Justice John Roberts misspoke.
**Full Transcript: President Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address, ABC News
***Transcript of Inaugural Poem, NYTimes.com

Posted by: Anne Carr, anne@boltpr.com

Networking Tips from the Pros

2009-01-16T13:12:00.000-08:00

I attended a Relationship Building Network (RBN) focus group today and the topic of discussion was networking. Below are a few tips I learned from the experts at RBN on the most effective ways to network:

Network with a Vision. Know your goals for attending the event before you go. Whether it’s finding someone who knows a particular person you want to meet or if it’s finding at least one quality lead, have a goal in mind and commit to achieving it. This will help you move away from conversations that are counter-productive while giving you a specific topic to address with everyone you meet.

Network When Business is at its Best. When business slows down, you’ll have a rolodex full of contacts to follow up with.

Offer Gifts/Raffles/Prizes. Not only does this make you a popular person at the event, it’s also a great way to give someone a constant reminder of you every time they use or see the gift. But make sure your gift doesn’t come with strings attached, such as “free” consultations or “free X with the purchase of X”.

Arrive Early and Leave Late. If you’re going to take the time to attend an event, maximize your presence there. At the end, offer to help the hosts clean up after the event.

Let Others Talk First. This is one of the best ways to build rapport with others you meet. People love talking about themselves, so let them. They’ll not only like you more for it, you’ll have an understanding of their business so you can better frame how your product/service may be of benefit to them.

Demonstrate Value. At the end of the day, we all need to sell our products/services. Find a way to demonstrate that the benefit of what you’re offering far outweighs the cost. Communicate with the buyer’s perspective in mind… and you’ll understand their perspective if you let them talk first :)

Posted by: Caroline Callaway, caroline@boltpr.com

Lessons For Us All

2009-01-13T13:11:00.000-08:00

Last week I attended the Carlsbad Chamber First Friday Breakfast and heard a story that has stuck with me. It was a reminder of three things: 1 – give others the benefit of the doubt, 2 – do random acts of kindness, 3 – pride in America is unifying.

Bill Driscoll, a retired Navy Commander and decorated Air Force One pilot, spoke about how to approach problems when you are under pressure in a business setting. While this content was great, he told a personal story that actually induced tears (although I was careful to not let them spill out of my eye balls as it would be embarrassing in such a professional setting).

Although Commander Driscoll is retired, he stays in shape by running on the beach. A while ago he would run by one house that displayed a tattered American flag high on their pole. He grew increasingly agitated every time he jogged past this house. Clearly the owners had enough money to replace a flag if they could afford a beach-front property. He began to take the condition of the flag personally and could no longer be inert. What he really wanted to do was write a nasty letter to help the flag neglecters see their disrespect. But he took a different approach.

One morning Driscoll jogged up to the infamous house and left a new flag on the doorstep with a note. Dear neighbor, Please accept this gift from someone who loves this country, as I’m sure you do. Bill Driscoll.

A few weeks later Mrs. Driscoll relayed a phone message to her husband. A lady had called to thank him for the flag. She explained that her husband had passed away a number of months ago and the putting up the tattered flag was one of the last things he did. She hadn’t been out of the house in a while and had not noticed the state of the stars and stripes in her yard. She replaced it with the new flag and knew her patriotic husband would be smiling down.

Posted by: Anne Carr, anne@boltpr.com

Looking for a New Job in 2009? Prep Yourself!

2009-01-09T13:09:00.000-08:00

On January 31 NextWork is holding the New Year, New Career event to help job seekers achieve career fulfillment in 2009 by educating them on the unique job market and how to stay ahead of competition.

At this full day seminar, speakers will provide tips and resources on the following topics:

The correct way to plan and execute a productive job search
How to implement and maximize your online presence to successfully fulfill your career goals
New ways to develop your cover letter and resume to properly market your potential to employers
How to build your image to leave a powerful first impression
How to enhance your interview techniques

In addition to the speakers, there will be an opportunity to network with other professional and visit with vendor booth representatives that will be there to provide additional resources to job seekers.

The event will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and attendees are required to RSVP in advance by registering at www.nextworkservices.com/events or by calling (760) 420-8444. Space is filling up quickly so act fast and make 2009 YOUR year to land the dream job!

Posted by: Monica Kenney, monica@boltpr.com

Tips to Earn More Business

2009-01-06T13:07:00.000-08:00

I attended a short presentation today delivered by a member of the Brian Tracy Programs and it was pretty interesting. The speech was centered around sales and the techniques we can all implement to earn more business and, as a result, more money. These tactics were developed from research conducted on the top money-makers in our country (income of more than $200,000/year). Following surveys and evaluations, there were 5 habits that each performed on a regular basis that were consistent across the board and directly impacted their earnings. Here is a quick snapshot:

Communicate Effectively. Communicate often and with confidence and you will earn more new business. When it comes to confidence, be aware of your words, tonality and physiology.
Ask for Referrals. We all need to overcome our fear of rejection, know what to say, respect the law of reciprocity, and then ask the question that goes something like this: “As you know, my business was built on referrals. My target client is X. Who do you know that comes to mind that could benefit from my product/service?”

Be an Action-Taker. If there’s something to be done, do it. Don’t waste time. Just get it done. Work like it’s your last day.

Ask for the Commitment. So few people shy away from actually asking for the business that they never get it. Just ask. “If you were to move forward with us…” or “If you knew we could do this…”

Invest in You. There is a proven, direct correlation between investing in one’s self and making more money. The Brian Tracy Program recommends attending at least four workshops/seminars, reading at least four relevant business books, and listening to at least four audio/video tapes each year.

Brian Tracy is hosting several live seminars in Southern California in March and April 2009. For more information, visit www.briantracy.com. Check it out. You won't regret it.

Posted by: Caroline Callaway, caroline@boltpr.com

Bolt Public Relations - 2-Year Anniversary

2009-01-02T13:06:00.000-08:00

Know anyone who needs a little exposure? Bolt PR is launching new referral program! For our second anniversary, Bolt Public Relations is offering a huge referral incentive to anyone who refers a new client to us. It’s our way of saying thank you to all who have provided referrals.
Check out the details here.

Remember, if no one knows about your business, it's impossible to grow your bottom line.

Posted by Caroline Callaway, caroline@boltpr.com

A Little Chatter About Twitter

2008-12-18T13:03:00.000-08:00

It is no secret that Social Media is all the rage and Twitter is joining the popular crowd. As a staunch believer in Web 2.0, I hadn’t realized that many people don’t know what Twitter is or how to use it. Some business friends approached me to help them understand Twitter, so I put together a short tutorial that I want to share with you.

What is Twitter and how do I use it?
Twitter is a micro-blogging and social networking service that allows its users to send and read other users' updates (otherwise known as tweets), which are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length.

You can follow a user which shows their tweets on your home screen.
Each user has a user name that begins with @. Bolt PR’s name is @BoltBuzz108.
To tweet another user, you can @ them (a public message) or DM (direct message, private) them.
If you like someone’s tweet and think others will find it useful, you can RT (retweet). ex: @boltbuzz108 Great social media article! RT: @sm07 read my latest blog: www.myblog.com.

But does this Twitter hype hold any real value for a business?
Twitter allows businesses to engage with customers, industry professionals, prospective clients, the media and others from all walks of life.

The Purpose:

Network with potential clients, vendors or partners
Learn from others in your industry and be a resource for them, too
Raise brand awareness
Connect with customers or clients - thank those who are speaking positively about you and be able to connect with someone who had a negative experience - this makes for excellent customer service

If you join Twitter, let us know! Follow Bolt Public Relations at http://www.twitter.com/boltbuzz108.

Posted by Anne Carr, anne@boltpr.com

Get Into the Holiday Spirit

2008-11-17T13:01:00.000-08:00

JellyRadio.com Toy Drive to Benefit Ronald McDonald House of San Diego

So those of you who know Bolt PR know that we love participating in community outreach and spreading holiday spirit. So easily we get swept up in the day-to-day activities of running a business and hearing others talking about the struggling economy. While those are serious issues right now, opportunities like a toy drive allow us to get a glimpse at the bigger picture. JellyRadio.com is hosting a huge SixOneNine toy drive to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of San Diego. JellyRadio.com is committed to helping sick children and their families have a little fun this holiday season with new toys.

Donors will receive raffle tickets for a chance to win hundreds of dollars in prizes. Check out the details at www.JellyRadio.com and listen to them online (celebrity DJ’s, hip-hop and R&B music… need we say more?) For more details, see the recent press announcement in the Bolt PR Press Room.

Posted by Anne Carr, 11/17/2008

Business Malleability

2008-11-14T12:59:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I was inspired and encouraged as we listened to a couple of entrepreneurs tell their tales of failures and successes at an event in San Diego. Both of the featured speakers had created and sold a few Internet companies over the past decade. They shared their roller coaster experience and encouraged other entrepreneurs to keep going. The nugget that resonated with me the most was their advice to be flexible with your business.

Times are always changing and so is the market, which has been accentuated and endlessly discussed lately due to the economy. The key to success is molding your business to fit the needs of the market. This is true for any product or service in almost any industry. One speaker gave the example that his business originally was creating a social networking community but that it transformed into an Internet Security business because it was more in demand.

As a public relations firm, Bolt is always looking for new and better ways to generate attention for our clients. To do so, we watch media and market trends by reading everything we can get our hands on, networking, attending workshops and talking to everyone. Then, we act on the information, molding our services to the ever-changing market, but never compromising the quality of the clay.

Posted by Anne Carr, 11/14/2008

What Buzz Word Should You See on Your Business Plan?

2008-11-04T12:56:00.000-08:00

Businesses tend to use the buzz word “marketing” for everything. It is a rare occasion in the small to midsize business world when a business owner will say, “I need PR”, and that is not because public relations campaigns are for large businesses only. It is because business owners aren’t always aware of the use of different tools in their toolbox. They just think it’s all marketing.

The first step in identifying your needs is asking yourself one simple question, do you want to increase your business’ exposure? If you said no, you are done and have no further work to do, congrats!If you said yes, do not fret because the steps to increase your business exposure are easy if you take the proper steps to understand what resources are available to you.
So I was sitting with a colleague last week who asked, “What should I be listening for when I’m looking for people to refer to you?”

My response: “Anytime someone says ‘I want to increase my exposure’, that’s a candidate for PR. Direct them our way and from there, we can serve as a resource for whether or not this person is a fit. A lot of people don’t understand what PR actually is and it’s our job to help them identify their exposure goals to see if PR will bring about the desired results.”

First things first, advertising, marketing and public relations are related, but not the same. They can be partnered together to maximize results, but differ in the results each brings. Here are a few notes to understand the differences:

Research is the primary focus with marketing, but you must research a lot of different avenues to build a strong foundation for the next steps in your marketing campaign. You will want to research your current clients to see what strengths and weaknesses each account/client possess to understand what your ideal clients should be like, analyze your client communication practices, research your competition to ensure that your prices, messages, products and services are competitive, evaluate the way that you position yourself in front of prospective clients, and become an expert in your industry to understand where and how you should communicate with your prospective clients.

Advertising is an artistic, smaller form of communication that often uses few, if any words, to convey a message to current and potential customers. This can be an expensive tool, and once an ad is run in a publication once, it retires and never runs again. That is, of course, unless you have a large budget and can pay for multiple runs. Furthermore, advertising is you talking about your business and may not establish your credibility in the public eye since the information is biased and typically very ‘salesy’.

Public relations is the art of communicating with various sources of public information, often media outlets, to see if they would be interested in covering or publicizing your news. The information is then developed by the media outlet to inform the public about a given service, product, person, organization or event. When an unbiased and influential person or media outlet publicizes a story on behalf of an organization, serving as a third party opinion, it lends credibility to the given organization and increases its exposure. The message will never be retired and can be re-positioned and tailored to meet a given audience’s needs. Every article that is published is archived online and can help increase an organization’s visibility on the internet by generating more ‘hits’ when searching for that organization online.

So now that you know a little bit more about the buzz words M, A and PR, you have to assess your exposure goals to identify which resources are the best fit for accomplishing your exposure goals. Once you sit down and develop a list of your organizational exposure needs, you should be able to identify what resources to utilize.

For further input on identifying your exposure needs and goals, contact us at Bolt PR to serve as a resource in your ‘increasing exposure’ mission. And by the way, feel free to contact other PR firms, too. We know you’ll call us back. Our other clients did.

Posted by Monica Kenney, 11/4/2008

PR & Marketing: A Perfect Match

2008-10-06T12:50:00.000-07:00

Effective Business Development Plans Utilize Both Public Relations and Marketing Efforts

A common misconception in the business world is that public relations and marketing are the same and that an effective business development plan can be successful by incorporating one of the two options. However, a business should incorporate both elements to maximize brand awareness. To understand how both roles should be balanced within an organization’s business plan, it is imperative to clearly define public relations and marketing and to explore what tactics and tools are used in the two different fields.

Public relations is literally the act of establishing relationships with the press (print and broadcast media) to promote a particular organization. Accomplished through a variety of tactics, the most common approach is to disseminate press releases to specific contacts at media outlets. Editors at these publications are flooded with phone calls and emails every day, so public relations practitioners use their expertise to effectively differentiate an organization and tie the news in with the outlet’s coverage. Public relations practitioners also provide editors with background information about the organization to ensure they have all the elements needed to develop a strong article.

In addition to press releases, public relations practitioners also develop bylined articles and organizational literature (i.e. press kits, sales presentation, Web site content, case studies), coordinate special events, forge strategic partnerships, arrange for involvement at speaking engagements, offer media training programs, and some even handle crisis communications. Public relations practitioners are direct extensions of the organizations that they serve and work as mouthpieces to establish a business’ credibility and presence in the marketplace.

On the other side of brand management is marketing, which incorporates consumer research to effectively position a product/service within the public eye to drive awareness and to create a demand. A big element of marketing is researching and anticipating what consumers’ needs are now and what they will be in the future. Marketing involves such tasks as coordinating efforts with advertisers, foreseeing market trends, and developing direct mail materials, promotional literature and signage solutions.

Research has shown time and time again that buyers must see, hear or read about a product or service numerous times before taking action. For organizations to reach their target audiences multiple times, they need a plan that involves public outreach. This plan can include everything from participating in community events, securing media coverage and creating a direct mail campaign, to advertising in magazines, hosting speaking engagements, and securing award nominations in their target industries. Each of these tactics, as well as many others, are accomplished through marketing and public relations campaigns.

As the business world becomes more complex and credibility among organizations becomes increasingly difficult to establish, creating a positive image is of the utmost importance in defining and differentiating one company from the next. When properly coordinated, public relations and marketing campaigns will work synergistically with one another. As organizations take advantage of these efforts to realign their business plans, profitable results, customer trust and increased brand visibility can be expected.

Posted by: Monica Kenney

As published in SUCCESS Magazine (Adobe PDF)