I’ve spent a couple of days judging entries for the Asia-Pacific PR Awards. This is the second year I’ve done this and I find it to be a very rewarding exercise. It reinforces in my mind that PR is a very healthy profession in this part of the world. I’ve also found the judging process to be very professional, impartial and undeniably fair.


But now, the gripes. I certainly have a lot of respect for the folks who’ve put time and effort into their entries. I know from experience how long it takes to put an entry together, get the required endorsements, often while balancing a crazy workload. 


But if you’re going to the effort of entering, can I suggest a few simple things that might help you take home the gong on the night? These suggestions don’t reflect the thoughts of my fellow judges nor the organizers – they come from my addled mind. 


1. Make friends with the judges (not literally)
Judges are reading up to 100 entries. Make it easy for them to read your content – so don’t run photographs or artistic watermarks under your text. Also, cramming more text onto your pages doesn’t make for a better entry.


2. Cut to the chase
These are PR awards, and they’re judged by PR people. Esoteric and flowery language may cut through in some circles, but, as I always say, you can’t kid a kidder. Be convincing but leave the hyperbole in the press release.


3. Measure against real objectives
The less specific your objective, the harder it is to prove you achieved it. I know this is a perennial issue in our industry, but do yourself a favour and report things you did achieve. Too many entries promoted programs that, by their own admission, didn’t work.


4. AVE is a lie
Ad value equivalency is invalid. I know some clients force this upon us. But it simply is illogical to put a financial value on newspaper column centimetres based on ad advertising rate. See more from IPR, PRSA and KD Paine.


5. Reruns might work for Seinfeld…
It is great that some programs have had year-on-year success. But if you enter year-on-year, please make it fresh. Use the fact that the program is old as a challenge and demonstrate how you overcame it. But don’t find-and-replace your entry.


Hopefully some helpful advice. In spite of my gripes, I believe the overall standard of entries this year has been excellent and I’m very happy to see even more Asian markets represented. 


- Jeremy

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Read more: http://www.flowtown.com/blog/the-rise-of-social-network-ad-spending#ixzz0yjAxTWhV

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Así como se dice que en la redacción de Vogue se decide qué prendas estarán de moda la próxima temporada, en las oficinas de San Francisco de la revista Wired se define cuál será el tema del que se hablará en los próximos dos años en el mundo de la tecnología. A la altura de las expectativas, el producto comandado por Chris Anderson se despacha con una tapa como “La muerte de la Web”. Un título polémico que tiene algo de cierto. Veamos.

Para empezar hay que despejar una confusión: la Web es apenas una de las posibilidades que ofrece Internet. La World Wide Web la componen los sitios que se visitan con el navegador.

En realidad, lo que Wired logra condensar bajo un título espectacular es lo que se viene diciendo desde hace años, sobre todo luego de la creación de las redes sociales y los blogs donde los generadores de información se multiplicaron: Internet es un mar de información cada día más difícil de navegar.

Así, si bien los generadores de contenidos son clave, aún más importante lo son los editores que eligen el material que puede ser más valioso y lo acercan de manera atractiva al público. Entre esta última categoría entran las vedettes del momento: las aplicaciones o simplemente apps que hacen más ameno acceder a contenidos no sólo en la PC, sino sobre todo en celulares, smartphones y tablets como la iPad.

Así ahora se pueden leer, por ejemplo, las noticias de The New York Times, no sólo en papel o en su site, sino también a través de aplicaciones que levantan la información que se genera en su redacción desde una batería de dispositivos que crecen mes a mes.

La buena nueva es que aunque la Web tiene menor peso -está claro que no murió- los usuarios siguen interesados por leer noticias, escuchar música y consumir otra serie de productos. Además, como Apple lo comprueba día a día, están dispuestos a pagarle al que le entregue esos contenidos de una manera ordenada, atractiva y accesible. Así se puede decir, como retruca Wired: larga vida a Internet.

conectados@lanacion.com.ar
Editor de Tecnología de lanacion.com
En Twitter: @fernandezpm

1. http://bit.ly/dcK48t

La nota de Wired, escrita por Chris Anderson y Michael Wolff, que disparó la polémica. Fue tapa de la edición de septiembre.

2. http://bit.ly/dwKkOU

El blog ALT1040, uno de los más importantes de Iberoamérica, explica los motivos por los que el título de Wired es, al menos, exagerado.

3. http://bit.ly/9jmSUz

Esta edición no es la primera en la que la revista da por muerto al navegador web. Ya lo había hecho en un número de 2003. En la nota de este año Anderson hace el mea culpa por esa tapa.

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I’ve been a bad blogger and not updated for awhile. One thought struck me in my absence. There is much buzz about social CRM. Interesting concept and one that’s getting the social media bubble excited. I’m all for it, and cross-referenced the idea against several client and prospect meetings I’d had lately.

Client X (who shall remain nameless) bemoaned that head office had forced him to set up a Facebook page but would only go ahead if “there would be NO conversation”. Client Y (also nameless) was struggling, as his division had developed a cool iPhone app, but the rest of his company (staff numbers in the tens of thousands) didn’t care. He couldn’t even get a meeting with the client support people.

Now, there was an elephant in the room, sitting quietly as we had those meetings. This particular elephant reminded me that every time you open a social channel – like Facebook, an iPhone app or Twitter stream – you’re opening a ‘door’. And once this door is open, anyone can walk through.

While some may like to think that social networks and channels were sites for marketing-led group hugs, the reality is people will want to talk and don’t necessarily want to play by your rules. Frustrated by 9am to 5pm customer support queues? Comment on a company’s wall. Angry about the delayed response from your local branch? Tweet about it.

The social channels are changing not just marketing, but the way businesses are structured. They’re breaking down silos and forcing a greater level of inter-departmental cooperation. This is great news for those who’ve struggled over the years with political and bureaucratic barriers to commonsense.

The real trick for those just now embarking on their social media ‘journeys’ is to ensure they’re connecting the dots now  - versus letting an angry customer set the agenda. And for those who’ve already pushed the social ‘button’ but not met with customer service, I suggest you make that call…

-Jeremy

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If your life is lacking a little in the romance department, maybe it is time to find your inner goddess.
It is important to see the divine in yourself, to understand your worth. When you approach your life from that centered place of knowing how wonderful and beautiful you truly are, rather than worrying about what other people say or think about you, you will see improvements not just in the romance department, but in all areas of your life.

Here are three simple challenges to help you find your inner goddess. They are simple, but not necessarily easy:

1. Stop putting yourself down!
Pay careful attention to your self-talk and learn to talk yourself up rather than down. If you make a mistake you are not stupid, you have learned one way not to do something. Talk to yourself like a kind and helpful coach, rather than a harsh critic.

2. Take the mirror challenge.
For two minutes a day for the next 30 days, stand naked in front of a full length mirror and simply accept and appreciate yourself. You are not allowed to pick out what you don’t like. Focus on loving and accepting yourself. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself giggling or even shedding a tear or two. If you persist you will find that you become more comfortable with yourself.

3. Give yourself a make over.
Get rid of anything in your closet that does not make you look good. Treat yourself with at least one outfit that makes you look fabulous. Get a bra that fits and flatters you. Get your nails or hair done. Most of all stand tall and smile. That creates the best make over of all.

Finding your inner goddess allows you to embrace the sexy, beautiful women that you are. When you feel sexy and beautiful, you will be sexy and beautiful. Remember, you are worth it.

Improving Relationships Blog

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Primero decían quieres bajar tal o cual canción ? luego de despliega esta landing que te presenta un gran cartel, un box y un gran continuar pero no dice nada del costo, sino en letra bien chiquita a la derecha, que con $30,25 pesos (iva incluido) y que LA RENOVACIÓN SERÁ AUTOMATICA Y POR SEMANA!!! buenísimo.

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Which relationships in your life nourish you? Which of your relationships are more like junk food to your soul?

Junk food relationships are those that are just for fun. The relationship remains a surface-type relationship; you talk about lots of things, except what really matters to you. Junk food relationships never require that you deal with any real problems or that you share difficult feelings. These relationships, although they may be a lot of fun, can sometimes feel kind of empty.

Nourishing relationships are the ones where you know and are known by another person. Joy and delight are shared and celebrated. Faults and problems are not hidden. You chose to love, in spite of knowing that you each have imperfections. Building intimacy nourishes your soul. It may be challenging and uncomfortable at times, but these are the kind of relationships that can last a lifetime and more.

Difficult relationships are not necessarily junk food relationships. Difficult relationships can provide us with wonderful gifts: the opportunity to grow, the opportunity to learn about our self and another, the opportunity to forgive and to heal and the challenge to discipline our self to be our best even when someone else chooses not to be their best.

The trick, just as with food, is to find a balance between junk food relationships and nourishing relationships. However, unlike food, junk food relationships can be converted into nourishing relationships with an investment of time and effort.

Deepening your relationship means taking a risk. Sharing feelings, asking for help, offering service helps to deepen a relationship. Paying attention to the interests, wants and needs of the other person and really getting to know him/her deepens a relationship. Being honest without being brutal can deepen a relationship. Nourishing relationships may involve more risk (what if s/he doesn’t like me as I am); but they are far more fulfilling.

Staying safely distant may protect you from rejection or disapproval, but it also does not allow you to get to know those people who would embrace you and accept you as you are.

Susan Derry, B.Ed., M.S.Psy., R.P.C.
Professional Counselor & Life Coach

Co-author of Marriage Prep: Beginnings a downloadable marriage preparation course

Co-author of Intimate Sex: Manual for Lovemaking, a sex manual for couples

Offers a free Nurturing Marriage Ezine

Improving Relationships Blog

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