Free webinar: Dramatically improve your internal email communication

Are you making the right decisions when it comes to your internal email strategy?

From frequency to industry type, email efficacy is dependent on a variety of factors. Make sure you’re considering all of them.

Tune into this free webinar, Internal email metrics that will dramatically improve success, brought to you by Ragan and PoliteMail. Michael DesRochers, founder and managing director at PoliteMail, will dissect raw data from 135 million internal employee emails sent through Outlook.

Join us on Nov. 7 at 1pm CT and you’ll learn:

• What encourages employees to open their email—the from address, subject line, or time of day
• How much of your email will get read and why the open function is not the best email metric
• What formats and frequency works best to improve email readership
• What time of day, and days of the week work best
• How email behavior changes by industry, along with distribution list size

Sign up for this free webinar today.

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Opendoor Looking to Reach iBuyers on ESPN

I came across the following advertisement on ESPN while checking to see when Game 7 (if necessary) of the World Series was…

As you know, there’s no more free lunch…how are those without hundreds of millions in funding getting distribution leading into 2018?

News flash: If you’ve NOT been watching the Houston-LA World Series, you are missing one of the best October classics in history. Game time 5:20 tonight, on FOX.

The post Opendoor Looking to Reach iBuyers on ESPN appeared first on GeekEstate Blog.

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Digital PR pros’ toughest challenges

The public relations profession has never had it easier.

With all the information at your fingertips, there have never been so many avenues and platforms to connect brand managers with consumers. Plus, key influencers such as journalists, analysts and celebrities have never been more available.

With abundance, however, comes complexity—and this complexity leads to challenges.

The agency JBH perfectly summarizes eight of the top challenges that digital PR pros face:

1. Things that once were new, now seem old.

2. There’s more background noise than ever.

3. How to choose among many platforms.

4. Journalists are harder to impress.

5. Audiences are jaded.

6. You’re very busy.

7. PR pros are drowning in data.

8. Communicators’ job roles are changing.

For more on these challenges—along with tips on how to combat them—check out JBH’s infographic below and let us know if you think that digital PR is getting harder:

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A First Hand Perspective on BoomTown

What website platform should you use in 2017?

One option is BoomTown.

I had a chance to ask Tom Lipinski in Macomb County (a former client while I worked at Virtual Results) his thoughts on his time with BoomTown as his online marketing partner (website + SEM). He runs a Keller Williams team.

How long have you been with BoomTown, and why did you choose them over their competitors?

Almost 4 years. I did not compare them to any other product. I heard about Boom Town from a source I no longer recall and checked it out. At the time, I was using Virtual Results and felt that Boom Town was far superior in what the public viewed (buyer experience) and the CRM.

What do you like most about their product and service?

The ability to communicate with buyers, watch their activity, and team up with a lender partner on conversion.

What do you spend monthly, and what results are you seeing?

$1,500 for the service, plus $1,000 for ad purchases, in which they keep $150 (15%) for their fee. Total $2,500 per month. I get about 180 – 200 leads monthly at this rate.

What can BoomTown still improve upon?

If they would connect Showing Time to listings on the agent side, I could eliminate using the local Multiple Listing Service altogether. It is a PITA to transition people to the MLS and/or when making showing appointments to have to leave Boom Town and open the MLS. I spoke to the CEO and President about this at an event and they seemed to like the idea, however, nothing has happened yet. Their product would be way more valuable if I could schedule showings directly from it.

Thanks for sharing, Tom.

What website platform are you using? Do they do your search engine marketing as well? Are you satisfied with their product and results?

The post A First Hand Perspective on BoomTown appeared first on GeekEstate Blog.

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Mont Bleu by Newgen at Coquitlam

Located at the corner of Lougheed and Blue Mountain in the historical French Canadian neighbourhood of Maillardville, comes Mont Bleu. This will be Maillardville’s first high rise in the neighbourhood with easy access to Skytrain and a bundle of local amenities. Commercial units will be on the ground floor facing a public art piece as well as exposure from Lougheed. Mont Bleu will be featuring a 21-storey, 147 units with a mixture of studios, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom homes. The 19th floor of the tower will have a large, south-facing rooftop amenity space for residents. On the 3rd floor, a developer is planning on having a lounge, kitchen and fitness centre.

Mont Bleu will be revealing the gift of Une Belle Vie, ʻA Beautiful Lifeʼ soon.

The post Mont Bleu by Newgen at Coquitlam appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

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Flavelle Mill – Port Moody

Flavelle OceanFront Development

 

The city of Port Moody is planning a major upscaling of its livability with the creation of an oceanfront community that supports a mix of uses, including a range of housing options, along with commercial, light industrial and recreational uses for the benefit of local residents and visitors. As currently envisioned by city planners and developers, the 34-acre Flavelle Lumber Mill will be transformed into a modern urban village that supports a population of about 7,000 residents and adds a wealth of economic, recreational, social, natural and entertainment benefits to Port Moody.

A variety of housing options are being considered for the development, with condominium buildings, street-oriented townhouses, rental housing, and the potential for house boats estimated to lead to the creation of almost 3,400 residential units. The expansive waterfront area will be revitalized and enhanced by the building of about 1.3 kilometres of new recreational trails, a boardwalk along the water’s edge connecting to Rocky Point Park, and the development of four park areas totalling 4.9 acres, and a 1.9-acre public plaza.

The Flavelle Oceanfront Development could lead to the creation of more than 1,000 on-site jobs upon completion, which could generate up to $57 million in annual employment income. Plans call for 99,000 square-feet of office space; 72,000 square feet of retail space, including a grocery store, restaurants and cafes; 103,000 square feet of light-industrial space; a 106,000 square-foot campus of care facility; and 75,000 square feet of live/work space designed for artistry and other creative ventures.

Developers and planners plan to utilize a sustainable approach in the development to ensure energy efficiency and environmental health. By using LEED Principles of design and construction, planners aim to make the development a model for sustainable communities. The site’s location will help in this regard, as it is in walking distance of both the nearby Sky Train Evergreen Line and West Coast Express, which provide easy connections to the rest of Metro Vancouver.

Public consultation has been an integral part of the planning process thus far, and is expected to continue as the planning stage moves through the ongoing permitting process. I will be keeping a close watch on this project going forward, and will provide updates when appropriate. If you have any questions about the Flavelle OceanFront Development project, or any other questions about real estate in Metro Vancouver, register with us today.

 

 

E. & O. E. This is not an offering for sale. An offering for sale may only be made after filing a Disclosure Statement under the Real Estate Development Marketing Act

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Edgestone by Bold Developments – Port Moody

Edgestone is a new townhouse development by Bold Properties located at 2131 Spring Street in Port Moody.   Once Completed in 2019, Edgestone will consist of 38  2, 3 and 4 Bedroom townhomes ranging in size from 1308 to 1658 square feet.

The expected breakdown of the homes is:

• 2 Two bedroom + Den residences ranging between 1318 to 1327 square feet
• 13 Three bedroom residences ranging from 1319 to 1381 square feet
• 23 Three bedroom + Den residences ranging from 1540 to 1706 square feet

 

Each of the townhomes will be built Certified Green Gold, with Smart living solution including Ring Video Doorbells, Bluetooth enabled Schlage Deadbolt, and USB charging ports throughout the home, plus some more traditional family convenience such as laundry on the upper floor, private garages with overhead storage,  and family sized outdoor patios,  and a great children’s playground.

Located at 2131 Spring Street, Edgestone is centrally located with an easy access to Vancouver via the Barnett and Hastings by car, or if Skytrain is your choice, the Port Moody Centre station is a short walk away.  Other amenities in the neighbourhood include Suterbrook Village with all the shop and services it provides. For nature lovers and dog walkers, Edgestone is convenient located right off the Shoreline trail , which leads to Rocky Point and  Pajos!

Edgestone pricing is expected to start in low 900s with sales to begin by Mid November. If you’re looking for more information on Edgestone and would like to receive additional information such as floor plans, pricing, features and finishes when they are available,  please register with us today!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

E. & O. E. This is not an offering for sale. An offering for sale may only be made after filing a Disclosure Statement under the Real Estate Development Marketing Act

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Beyond AP style: Terrific writing resources for PR pros

Guidelines for writing do exist apart from the Associated Press Stylebook.

PR pros need guidance for all sorts of preferred terms, as well as advice on protocol, grammar, citations, abbreviations, quotable sources and different versions of English.

Fortunately, many online resources provide free content. Here are standouts in seven categories:

1. Inclusive and non-discriminatory language: The Center for Integration and Improvement of Journalism at San Francisco State University created an online “Diversity Style Guide” (http://ift.tt/1ZBy02u) that consolidates content from more than 20 style guides and journalism resources. Here you can find glossaries on terms related to age, ethnicity, religion, gender identity and sexual orientation, among others. The National Council of Teachers of English also posts a useful reference called “Guidelines for Gender-Fair Use of Language” on its website (http://www.ncte.org).

2. Protocol for royalty and dignitaries: If you wanted to invite Prince Harry, an ambassador and a state governor to an event, would you know how to address them properly? Proper forms of address apply to royalty and nobility, government officials, diplomatic corps, religious dignitaries and certain professions. Robert Hickey’s “Honor & Respect: the Official Guide to Names, Titles, and Forms of Address” (http://ift.tt/2dcdmcp) and the Emily Post Institute (http://emilypost.com) cover some free content on forms of address, as does Debrett’s (www.debretts.com), focusing on British etiquette.

3. Alphabet soup of abbreviations: Acronym Finder (http://ift.tt/J984VY) includes more than 5 million acronyms and initialisms used in business and government. It also lists more than 850,000 postal codes in North America. Content is updated monthly.

[FREE GUIDE: 10 ways to improve your writing today.]

4. Quotable quotes: You can find quotations from fiction and nonfiction archives on Bartleby.com (www.bartleby.com), and the site contains the entire edition of Strunk and White’s “Elements of Style.” Brainy Quotes (http://ift.tt/1TjllQf) is another source full of quotations from famous authors.

5. Grammar and punctuation support: Mignon Fogarty, in her role as Grammar Girl (http://ift.tt/16qENk7), gives entertaining and practical advice on grammar, usage and punctuation. Capital Community College Foundation (http://ift.tt/1i9dv8b) sponsors a “Guide to Grammar & Writing” packed with useful resources and quizzes. Grammarly (www.grammarly.com) is another option, with free online grammar and spell checking, along with paid premium upgrades for extended services. If you’re an AP style adherent, just make sure to look at the stylebook rules on punctuation, such as omitting the serial comma in most cases.

6. Webster’s and Oxford English to Australian English: You can access Merriam-Webster online (http://ift.tt/rrxDEb) for both its dictionary and thesaurus for American English. Oxford Dictionaries (http://ift.tt/HkfI3p) offers an online dictionary in both U.S. English and British and World English, as well as synonyms, grammar, and an overview on the differences between U.S. and British English. The Macquarie Dictionary (http://ift.tt/15iRPzG) features a 30-day free trial for the most comprehensive dictionary and thesaurus on Australian English.

7. Citations and references: If you’re writing a white paper or a more formal document requiring citations and references that you may not remember from your college days, look at the Online Writing Lab at Purdue University (http://ift.tt/1hGLQer), which is called Purdue OWL, and available to anyone. This site includes the basics of citing research in the styles of APA, MLA and the Chicago Manual of Style, as well as other content related to academic writing. These stylebooks also have their own websites with some free content: http://www.apastyle.org, https://style.mla.org and http://ift.tt/14pJCbm.

Arhlene Flowers is an associate professor in Integrated Marketing Communications at Ithaca College, a former PR pro and the author of “Global Writing for Public Relations.”

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6 Halloween costumes inspired by PR crises

If you’re looking for Halloween-costume inspiration, look no further than PR calamities.

Crises such as a terrible marketing idea that evokes consumer backlash or a data breach that affects millions of consumers are enough to give any communicator a fright. Today, you can use that to your advantage and send your PR co-workers fleeing in horror.

Consider donning one of these costumes, inspired by several of the year’s top PR headaches:

1. Pepsi’s Kendall Jenner ad

Pepsi suffered widespread backlash for its marketing messages that depicted Jenner handing a riot cop a can of the cola, to the cheers of protestors.

To add insult to injury, the ad debuted on the anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King Jr.

Forbes reported:

Pepsi initially defended the “global message of unity, peace and understanding” that it meant to portray with its advertisement featuring Kendall Jenner as a model who leaves a photo shoot and joins a protest. The company defended itself against widespread criticism from viewers who believed the ad trivialized recent protests and the Black Lives Matter movement. Even Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King, Jr., responded to the ad, saying, “If only Daddy would have known about the power of #Pepsi.”

Even though Pepsi pulled the ad, screenshots and copies of the video live on—helping you to copy Jenner’s style:

Grab a friend to dress up as a police officer, and don’t forget the can of Pepsi.

2. Oscars ‘Best Picture’ goof

It was a blunder during Hollywood’s most prestigious awards ceremony that made communicators cringe.

Entrepreneur reported:

Feb. 26, 2017, marks one of the biggest flops in Oscars history, when Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway announced the wrong movie as Best Picture. It wasn’t Beatty or Dunaway’s faults, though, the error was caused by PricewaterhouseCoopers accountant Brian Cullinan. He was working backstage during the awards show and his only job was to make sure the right envelopes got in the right hands -- and he was specifically warned to stay offline so there would be no distractions.

Cullinan didn’t stay offline, however.

He handed Beatty the wrong envelope—a duplicate envelope from the previous award for Best Actress—because he was tweeting a photo from backstage. As a result, neither Cullinan nor his partner, Martha Ruiz, are allowed to handle the Oscar envelopes again.

Whether you go as Cullinan or Ruiz, dress up in formal attire—topped off with a “Best Picture” envelope, smartphone and sheepish facial expression.

3. Fake news

Facebook and Google are still working to stop the spread of stories meant to deliberately mislead viewers, but the growing problem of fake news has affected communicators of all stripes.

The trend is so popular that Yandy.com is even offering a sexy version of a “fake news” costume—which consumers favor over than the site’s highly criticized sexy “Stranger Things” getup.

You don’t have to shorten your hemline for this costume, though. Instead, grab several newspapers, tape and a red marker to scrawl the offending sentence across your chest.

4. Data breach

Hackings and security crises are becoming commonplace. Yahoo’s data breach, which affected all of its 3 billion users, was rivaled by Equifax’s hack, which affected roughly 145 million people and included Social Security numbers.

The credit-reporting agency’s poor response to its crisis—which included tweeting out a link to a phishing website instead of its resource for consumers— garnered additional backlash.

For a last-minute costume that gives a nod to the growing security crises affecting PR teams, pair a green or black shirt with leggings of the same color, attach several glow sticks and open locks and carry a sign emblazoned with either Yahoo or Equifax.

You can also dress up as Rich Uncle Pennybags (the Monopoly Man) and reference the prankster who stole the show at the Senate hearing for Equifax’s chief executive, Richard Smith.

5. Martin Shkreli

Whether you wear a hooded sweatshirt and jeans, a suitcoat and button-up dress shirt, or a prison uniform, include handcuffs: In September, Shkreli’s bail was revoked, and he was put back behind bars for violating his parole after he published an ill-advised Facebook post.

The Guardian reported:

The government sought to get Shkreli locked up as a danger to the community amid the fallout from his social media post, which read: “The Clinton Foundation is willing to KILL to protect its secrets. So on HRC’s book tour, try to grab a hair from her. I must confirm the sequences I have. Will pay $5,000 per hair obtained from Hillary Clinton.”

Though Shkreli’s attorney, Benjamin Brafman, defended the “pharma bro’s” actions, he conceded that “[Shkreli] says things that are stupid.”

To adapt the costume to a pre-prison look, include a smartphone and tweet frantically throughout the day. Don’t forget the characteristic smirk of someone who is utterly clueless about how reputation management works.

6. Corporate apology

In 2014, a PR Daily article asked whether corporate apologies had worn out their welcome. A few years—and many more mea culpas later—that answer seems to be a resounding “yes.”

Though there’s a right and wrong way to apologize after a crisis hits your organization, many statements get slammed for being insincere and dismissive of blame. A bad apology can intensify a crisis, too: Take the online firestorm United Airlines faced after it dragged a passenger off a flight—and after its chief executive gave a lackluster apology.

Take your pick of meager reactions to PR crises to hang from your neck for this costume. Alternatively, you can dress as Taylor Swift from her music video, “You Belong with Me”:

via GIPHY

What costumes would you add to this list, PR Daily readers?

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Why We Need a New Way to Measure Earned Media

While those of us in marketing or PR are quick to applaud technologies that allow us to do more, reach more, or earn more, we don’t seem to have the same attitude about updating our measurement tools and processes.

And so we continue to use legacy systems that no longer serve.

Take Advertising Value Equivalency (AVE), for example. Many public relations professionals continue to measure media exposure based on what the equivalent costs in advertising would be. And yet, that’s not a precise measure when it comes to earned media.

Measuring a tweet, a review, or a media mention has stumped many a PR pro, and so we often resorted to the system we knew best. Either that, or we don’t bother measuring results at all because we think doing so will be overly complicated and not worth their time.

This is such an alarming state, and it could have a serious impact on PR and marketing if it’s not rectified. But what’s the solution?

What if, as we reach new heights with how our brands are seen through various media channels, we match that uncharted territory with an updated and more appropriate measurement strategy?

How Mature Is Your Earned Media Measurement Strategy? Take Our Free Assessment To See How You Stack Up.

Why The Old Ways no Longer Work

While, yes, it’s comfortable to continue to use the metric systems we’re familiar with, they actually can do more harm than good.

AVE is impression-agnostic. What I mean is that it ascribes the same value to media coverage, whether it is positive or negative. So if someone rants and raves about your product and that spreads like wildfire, the AVE metric gives the reach two thumbs up.

You see what’s wrong here?

We need to know what sort of impact a given media mention had, either positive or negative.

And Opportunities to See (OTS) is just as outdated. Measuring the number of times a consumer is likely to see a marketing message in no way reflects how often she actually does, and what she thinks of it.

So if these outdated measurement systems are no longer serving, why do we keep them around?

Changing the Mindset

That old adage “if it ain’t broke” rings true in marketing and PR. Many would moan that nothing needs to be changed, that the old systems of AVE and the like are good enough. If you can add up how many people your coverage may have reached, or the approximate value of that media mention, why do you need additional insight?

But measurement — particularly concise measurement — is necessary in order to understand which messages and earned media had the biggest impact on people’s perceptions of your brand. Done correctly, it can provide detailed information about the types of coverage and sources that drive sales and attract leads.

And speaking of brand perception: it can fluctuate wildly with a single negative mention. So being able to see which way the winds are blowing on a given day can quickly alert you if anything is out of the ordinary. This gives you the opportunity to launch your crisis communications plan if necessary.

Another reason to shift your thinking? The folks who sign the checks for your marketing spend want validation that their money is being put to good use. If they continue to spend a significant amount each month without seeing concrete results, you run the risk of your budget drying up.

Being able to justify the spend with detailed reports showing ROI on your marketing and PR efforts keeps them happy.

So you can see that there’s value in changing how you and your colleagues view and utilize metrics. Yes, it may take some time to learn a new system or software, but if that would give you the benefit of concise results that would help you boost future campaign results, isn’t that shift in thinking well worth it?

A New, Better Solution

Just as technology constantly changes, so should our response to it. That’s why research and data are so instrumental in helping the PR industry understand results.

Knowing, for example, that your recent social media campaign influenced your target audience more than the press release you issued can spur you to put more attention into social media for future campaigns.

Digging even deeper, you could identify the specific social media channels and social updates that saw the most traction. Every tiny aspect of a campaign matters, down to the verbiage of your tweet. Having a granular view of precisely which messages moved your audience to action is hugely helpful.

And where we couldn’t tie earned media to sales in the past, tools like Cision Comms Cloud™ now show tangible business results. Not only can you see which media outlets sent traffic to your website, but also which visitors from those sources moved into your sales funnel or even converted to customers. You have such detail at your fingertips that you can precisely measure results down to the sale, giving you ROI details that you can take back to the powers that be as proof that what you’re doing is working.

The media world is changing. As social influencers grow in their value to brands, and as consumers wane in their trust of traditional media, you will need a strategy that effectively monitors your earned media efforts. And earned media is such a wonderful tool for introducing more people to your brand, creating qualified prospects, and engaging your customers through the right channels. Don’t put all your efforts in pitching and getting media placement to waste by simply throwing your hands up rather than dealing with measuring results.

Instead, embrace metrics platforms that help you do your job even better. But don’t just look at the data; act on it. Whatever the robust analytics are telling you should be a clue as to what you can tweak to improve results.

We live in a new and exciting media world. Now that we have the tools to navigate it, let’s fully take advantage of them.

About Susan Guillory

Susan Guillory is the president of Egg Marketing & Communications, a marketing firm specializing in content writing and social media management. She frequently blogs about small business and marketing on sites including Cision, Forbes, AllBusiness, Small Business Trends, The Marketing Eggspert Blog and Tweak Your Biz. Follow her on Twitter @eggmarketing.

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Make your words your organization’s most valuable asset

“You can make anything by writing.”

C.S. Lewis may not have worked in corporate communications, but his words ring true for industry professionals.

Your writing can bring about major improvements for your organization—a stronger corporate reputation, a more engaged workforce and a higher bottom line.

The downside: Little mistakes and poor editing can sap the power from your words.

Download our free white paper, 10 ways to improve your writing today, and sharpen your most valuable skill as a communicator.

A few pieces of wisdom you’ll gain:

1. Avoid hyperbole—there are many things worse than running late to a meeting.

2. Don’t assume you know the meaning of that “familiar” word. Check a dictionary.

3. Eliminate redundancies to keep your message clear to your audiences.

With these and other insightful tips, you’ll make an indelible impression on your stakeholders.

Download the free white paper here

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How do you use video for corporate storytelling?

 

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10 steps for building your crisis communications plan

Social media has changed crisis communication.

Victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma used social media to communicate with first responders, discover where gas was available and follow emergency updates. This month, The Wall Street Journal outlined dozens of ways social sites and apps are used during a crisis.

For brand managers, however, this rapid-response, multi-channel communication grid can produce scary challenges: A situation that once took weeks to unfold can now grow into a firestorm in a matter of hours. Getting approved responses and researching a situation takes time and is often delivered too late.

However, with careful planning and structure, you can put together an effective crisis communications plan that allows you to move quickly and avoid common pitfalls.

[FREE GUIDE: Keep your cool in a crisis with these 13 tips.]

Here are 10 steps for building an effective crisis communications plan:

1. Watch and listen to trends.  It is vitally important to use media and social monitoring tools and set up regular alerts so you know immediately when news hits and a crisis bubbles to the surface. Think of your monitoring tools as an early warning system.

2. Identify who is responsible for listening and when.  Are you covered on weekends and off hours? Notifications from monitoring and measurement tools can help you with 24/7 coverage. Establish an escalation protocol. Once a PR manager or social media manager identifies a potential crisis, it is important to know the next steps to take. Map out what is and isn’t a crisis, who needs to be alerted and who should respond.

3. Acknowledge the situation.  It is tempting to “go dark” while you investigate a crisis, but those many will be checking your site and looking for your response. It is important to acknowledge the situation and say, “We are aware…” even if you don’t have an official response to the situation. Promise that a response is coming.

4. If necessary, apologize.  This is the scary one. Apologizing in a time of crisis can lead to legal concerns. If you are nervous about whether you can apologize, at least say “I’m sorry for the emotional duress that has ensued.” Check out how Boingo CEO Dave Hagan quickly addressed an email campaign error on the Boingo blog with an apology, defusing the situation before it became a crisis.

5. Create a hub.  Whether it’s your blog, your LinkedIn page, a landing page on your website or a pre-prepared dark site, consumers look to you to deliver the truth. Have a hub where people can find official responses and information. Otherwise, consumers will turn to other sources (which could be inaccurate) for information.

6. If consumers are angry, create a place to vent. Whether it’s on one of your social handles, on your landing site or on your blog, providing a place to vent can control the situation and allow you to have a voice in responding. During the Jerry Sandusky scandal, Penn State issued an apology on its Facebook page and provided a place for people to share their thoughts, giving Penn State the opportunity to respond:

7. Take your third-reply offline.  In crises, conversations can continue as you respond to articles and social posts, and people begin replying. To avoid seeing the crisis escalate, you should take the conversation offline after two responses. Know how you will take conversations offline. Will you reach out via email or phone? Who will respond?

8. Empower your employees and advocates. In times of crisis, people will reach out to your employees, influencers and advocates. Arm your people with information and let them know when to defer to others. Dell has trained over 10,000 employees on social media through its Technology Solutions Training Portal. Preparing your employees well in advance can help you share information and avoid rogue responses during a crisis.

9. Track results and establish takeaways. Using your media monitoring and analysis tools, track metrics in real time and report on progress. After a crisis has passed, ask yourself, how did we do? What can be done differently in the future?

10. Iterate and adjust.  Rarely does an organization handle every aspect of a crisis perfectly. Once you have established takeaways, adjust your protocols and measurements for the future.

Judy Luk-Smit is AirPR’s VP of product. A version of this post first appeared on AirPR.

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Meet the RE Tech Founder: James Davis from Upad

In our latest real estate tech entrepreneur interview, we’re speaking with the founder and CEO of Upad, James Davis. I had the chance to meet James in New York a couple weeks ago while attending the mipim summit.

Without further ado…

What do you do?

I run Upad, the UK’s largest online letting agent and winner of Best Online Agent 2017. We provide landlords with the same services as a high-street agent but use technology to offer a quicker, more efficient solution at a fraction of the cost. We’re essentially part of the new trend of PropTech – offering technology based solutions so landlords can find tenants in the digital age. We still focus on that service element, it’s really important to me because I don’t think lettings can be a complete e-commerce platform- you need that human interaction and it’s why we have ARLA qualified advisors for landlords to speak to.

What problem does your product/service solve?

Landlords are being hammered by rafts of legislation and more recently, and perhaps with the biggest impact, the reduction of mortgage interest relief- which will make huge dents in landlord’s profits. We offer landlords a cost-effective solution but still give them support and opportunities to build their knowledge with articles, guides and webinars. Landlords need an easy-to- use service to take the hassle out of letting- it’s our main focus when developing our services.

What are you most excited about right now?

I’m most excited about some big projects we’re about to launch at Upad. Through our research we know that landlords want to learn more and make sure they’re compliant in their course of business. Most notably, tax and legal advice are the main areas landlords want and need help with – we’re going to address that with tech solutions and ongoing support.

What’s next for you?

I think we’re going to see an even bigger shift towards PropTech in the next few years. 92% of tenants search online for their next property and this is going to drive Upad forward as we offer more solutions to landlords to manage their buy-to- let businesses. We’re also looking to expand even further; with services, advice and a bigger team to reach out to UK landlords.

What’s a cause you’re passionate about and why?

I recently went through a tribunal case contesting an educational healthcare plan for my youngest daughter, who has down syndrome. The help we received from experts in the field and SEN charities, plus the information available with the Down Syndrome Association, was invaluable. We did have to do a lot of fact-finding and research ourselves, but we had the outcome we wanted in the end.

Thanks to James for sharing his story. If you’d like to connect, find him on LinkedIn here.

We’re constantly looking for great real estate tech entrepreneurs to feature. If that’s you, please read this post — then drop me a line (drew @ geekestatelabs dot com).

The post Meet the RE Tech Founder: James Davis from Upad appeared first on GeekEstate Blog.

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4 research tips for your next medical story

As a medical communicator, I’ve written a number of articles requiring research. Luckily, I love the research aspect of my job and enjoy learning with each piece.

Not everyone is like me. What if the research doesn’t come easily? What if your job is to turn a verbose research paper or content-packed PowerPoint into something that a non-clinical audience would want to read and can easily understand?

Here are a few tips from our clients to keep in mind:

Write interview questions as you research. If there’s something you don’t understand in the research, ask your interviewee to explain it. Sometimes clinicians believe a PowerPoint or academic paper will tell the story on its own.

If you’re facing resistance to an interview, let your expert know that you’re writing for both a scientific and a general audience. A brief phone interview—or answers to some questions via email—will greatly improve your content. UC Health has posted a detailed yet easily understood story on curing pancreatitis; in it, the writer paraphrased a doctor’s explanation of a surgery. 

[FREE DOWNLOAD: Digital Marketing Musts for Health Care Communicators]

Pretend you know nothing. Be sure to explain medical terms and procedures succinctly, so a broad audience will grasp it. The pericarditis page at Aurora Health Care’s website delves into pericarditis in a way that’s accessible to the layperson.

Spell out and explain acronyms. Instead of using a medical acronym like CLABSI, say that hospital patients could suffer from infections if they have a central line that’s used to administer medication, nutrients or blood products.

Start with a story. Readers want to hear about how the research might affect them. For example, the nuts and bolts of research into the causes of infections that afflict newborns can be rather dry.

By contrast, the lede in this story focuses on the human element, drawing readers in to an article published in Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center’s Research Horizons.

The original version of this post was published here.

Previously published material.

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6 PR lessons from horror classics

Halloween is nigh and ghouls and goblins are on everyone’s minds.

October has seen a variety of new horror fare spook eager audiences in theaters across the country. Smart movie patrons are ahead of the plot and can see what is coming.

As a PR and communications professional, can you do the same?

Here are some ways to keep yourself out of your own personal horror story, scene by scene:

Having missed your exit, you take a small detour to spend the night in an isolated rural home. (“Psycho,” 1960)

As Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller opens, Janet Leigh’s Marion Crane mindlessly detours from the main highway, putting her on the road to ruin.

The lesson: Stay on your path.

Marion’s detour is emblematic of a problem many PR professionals face.

Whenever doing anything—for a client, your organization or your career—remember to stay in your proverbial lane and not venture into the unknown and end in disaster. In the PR industry, it’s typical to try and “spin” a story or develop a creative angle, but it’s important that ultimately you stay on message.

The phone rings and there’s heavy breathing on the line. The call is coming from inside the house! (“Scream,” 1996)

In the opening scene of this horror-comedy, Drew Barrymore’s character Casey Becker answers a phone call at home alone on a rainy night, not knowing the mystery caller was already in the house.

The lesson: Understand your environment.

Anticipate what’s down the line by doing research and measured planning so you can manage expectations. Is a certain reporter likely to cover the topic you’re trying to pitch? Is there a major event in the near future that relates to something your client has to say? Knowing your environment will help you in all sorts of scenarios, whether that’s determining if there might be a psycho killer with a knife hiding in the shadows, or even worse, a client with a unrealistic expectations and a short fuse.

[RELATED: Learn how to properly pitch your stories, boost your visual content muscles, measure your tactics and more.]

The phone lines have been cut, cell signals are blocked and there’s no escape. The doors are all locked. (“Panic Room,” 2002)

In this film, a mother and daughter are locked in the titular room to insulate themselves from intruders who have broken into their home. They never bothered to set up the landline, though, and their cell phones don’t work, leaving them totally incapable of getting the help they need.

The lesson: Know your options.

This might seem obvious for any good crisis communications plan: Always leave yourself (or your client) a way out or backup options. Preparation is crucial. Taking the time to consider worst-case scenarios will pay huge dividends should they ultimately come to pass.

The house burns to the ground. (“House of Usher,” 1960)

In many classic horror stories, including this flick, things get toasty at the end. Whether to end a curse or simply an accident, the blaze leaves characters standing among the ashy remains.

The lesson: Be prepared to start from scratch.

Do you have a plan to start all over again, should the foundation of a communications strategy crumble? Constantly brainstorm new solutions for clients. They might be better ideas—and in the event of a disaster, you might require an alternative way to achieve your goals.

He’s not dead! (“Halloween,” 1978)

In this film’s iconic final scene, Laurie Strode has finally killed deranged killer Michael Myers—or so she thinks. Unbeknownst to her, Myers rises from the floor to make one final attempt on her life.

The lesson: Persistence is essential to success.

When you reach out with a pitch to a media contact and don’t receive a response, it’s essential to follow up as earnestly and persistently as possible. Don’t write anyone off as being not interested until they say so—any missed opportunity is unforgivable.

You were a ghost the entire time. (“The Others,” 2001)

Similar to the plot of “The Sixth Sense,” the hero of the story is revealed to have been the real ghost for the entire movie and the characters you were rooting for are actually the ones causing all of the plot’s problems.

The lesson: You can be your own worst problem.

While working on a project, email or pitch, consider what you’re trying to accomplish. If you’re not sure, then you’re the ghost in the story. Be clear and precise. Above all be honest with yourself to ensure sure you’re not the reason a pitch meets an untimely end.

Matthew Ryan is a communications intern at Scott Circle (@ScottCircle), a full-service communications, conference and event management firm based in Washington, D.C.

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From A to Z: How to embrace influencer marketing

Influencer marketing is growing in popularity.

Some marketers can’t thrive without a good influencer campaign. Social media communication and blogging have leveled the playing field, giving everyone an opportunity to share their voices and to create and curate content.

Considering that about half (49 percent) of consumers rely on recommendations from influential social media users when making buying decisions, the strategy is an important part of today’s modern marketing mix. Eighty-six percent of marketers have used influencer marketing in thepast year.

Follow this A-to-Z guide for influencer marketing success:

Attention

Approaching and engaging with influencers can be one of the top challenges marketers face. Fifty-nine percent of marketers struggle with getting an influencer’sattention.

If you’re having a hard time securing a partnership, you might be targeting the wrong influencers or perhaps you aren’t sending compelling messages. Put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself why influential social media users should care about your organization and products.

B2B

Business to consumer (B2C) brands have been early adopters, because they offer natural fits for influencers. Still, B2B brand managers are using influencer marketing successfully. This can be shown by these 10 telling examples of the power of B2B influencer marketing and four examples that prove influencer marketing can work.

Conversion

Influencer marketing is a great tactic, but it has to convert for it to be successful. A recent study revealed that campaigns featuring influencers show a tenfold increase in conversionrates. Customers who do convert will stick around: Influencer campaigns achieve a 37 percent increase in retention.

Disclosure

Marketers spent between $25,000 to $50,000 per influencer marketingcampaign in 2016 with the number likely to double for 2017, as 48 percent of marketers plan on increasing their dedicated budgets.

Read up on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) disclosure requirements. The FTC has cracked down on companies that disguise paid endorsements. Not disclosing information is illegal, and a paid influencer’s content is a bad idea for your brand. Recently, the FTC warned 90 Instagram influencers to more clearly disclose their partnerships with brands.

Events

Brand-hosted events can give you opportunities to meet influencers and develop personal connections. Events don’t have to be huge. Retailers can allow influencers to try on products or borrow them for large events such as New York Fashion Week.

[RELATED: Learn how to properly pitch your stories, boost your visual content muscles, measure your tactics and more.]

Find

The type of influencer(s) you need depends on the goals of your campaign(s) and how you want your brand to be perceived.

There are many tools to help you find the perfect brand ambassador, or you can check out the global list of LinkedIn influencers, which includes foremost thinkers, leaders and innovators.

Growth

Research shows Instagram influencer marketing could be a $2 billion industry by 2019. This is because Instagram has been one of the fastest-growing social media platforms. One key reasons influencer marketing is gaining steam: trust.

People want authenticity. They trust influencers, where trust in the news media is 43 percent and the trust of CEOs has dropped to an all-time low of 37 percent, according to the 2017 Edelman Trust Barometer. Also, most people don’t trust ads.

Handlers

Once you have identified your influencers, build relationships with them. You might deal directly with the blogger or social media heavyweight; some, though, have handlers or a management team.

Influence

Consumers have many choices about where hang out, engage and spend their money. Partner with influencers who can affect consumers’ opinions and actions and measure it across social media platforms.

Jargon

Skip the jargon and acronyms/abbreviations. People want simple, authentic language in your messaging.

Kind

There are three categories : mega-influencers, macro-influencers and micro-influencers. Huge influencers are often expensive and might have a less-engaged community than smaller influencers. Micro-influencers are cheaper and can provide a bigger effect on marketing efforts.

Long-term

Instead of a short campaign, aim for a yearlong or multi-year relationship so an influencer can get to know your brand’s voice, messaging and community. This increases authenticity and helps influencers show followers how they use your products and services in their everyday lives.

Measurement

Marketers can measure influencer campaigns’ success in terms of web traffic, content sharing numbers, revenue generated, leads and press and blog coverage. Proving ROI is the second-biggest challenge for marketers with influencer marketing. Most marketers don’t measure influencer marketing by direct sales, but rather byengagement and reach.

Niche

Seventy percent of marketers are looking to reach a niche audience. Identify influencers who are popular with a particular audience, and work with them to see what products or services are the best to promote. Consider why the niche audience followed these influencers.

Ownership

Data is one of brand managers’ most important currencies. Track consumers’ digital body language to identify the people who influence them. Digital marketing tools such as marketing automation, customer relationship management, web analytics and customer satisfaction surveys can help you obtain a single view of a client or customer.

Personalities

There are several influencer personalities, including activist, informer and authority. Based on their personalities, work with influencers individually to help them educate their followers.

Quality over quantity

Focus on a small number of influencers in the beginning; you can expand later. Don’t ignore those who are already speaking positively about your products and services. Check backlinks from your website(s). These influencers already know what you do and can be more authentic and convincing.

Reach

Seventy-one percent of marketers want to reach new audiences, and 54percent of marketers want to increase their brand’s social mediafollowing. Ensure that your influencer marketing campaigns fit your brand persona and align with your messages.

Science

Influencer marketing is equal parts art and science. Understand the data, along with the theories and principles of influence and persuasion. This can help you select the right influencers and better reach target audiences.

Tools

Tools such as BuzzSumo, Followerwonk and Klear can help you discover which content performs well online and identify top influencers in certain topics through keywords. You can also see how much authority and reach each person has.

Unity

Your marketing and PR teams must align their efforts for successful influencer marketing. Drop the turf war, and harness the power of integrated marketing and communications, especially when you work with internal and business teams.

Visuals

Visual content receives 94 percent more views than text-based onlymarketing. It’s crucial to include images, videos, infographics and the like in your marketing.

Why?

Ask yourself why you’re partnering with influencers. Eighty percent of marketers look to influencer marketing to reach a newaudience, and 70 percent want to reach a niche audience. You might want to generate early buzz around an incipient product or service.

Xenial

This word describes a friendly relationship between two parties. Successful influencer marketing requires healthy, working relationships between your organization and brand ambassadors.

Yaply

This means to do something nimbly, seen in the rise of agile marketing.

Zeal

Inject energy and enthusiasm into your influencer marketing campaigns. It can help you reach your objectives.

Matthew Royse is a digital marketing director of Forsythe Technology, a global IT firm in Chicago. A version of this article originally appeared on his blog, Knowledge Enthusiast.

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Spacey slammed for response to sex-abuse allegations

The public landscape has shifted—and long-buried stories are coming out.

Anthony Rapp, known for his starring turn in the original production of “Rent” on Broadway, told Buzzfeed that Kevin Spacey made unwanted advances toward him when Rapp was only 14.

Buzzfeed wrote:

For years, Rapp, now 46, told no one about his experience, and he has never spoken with Spacey since. But as Spacey's star began to rise through the 1990s and 2000s — including a Tony Award, two Oscars, a decadelong run as the creative director of the Old Vic theater in London, and six seasons and counting on the hit Netflix series House of Cards — Rapp's frustration, anger, and incredulity with the sexual boundary he said Spacey crossed with him grew as well. Seeing Spacey now, “My stomach churns,” Rapp said. “I still to this day can't wrap my head around so many aspects of it. It's just deeply confusing to me.”

Spacey did not speak to Buzzfeed, but tweeted instead.

http://pic.twitter.com/X6ybi5atr5

— Kevin Spacey (@KevinSpacey) October 30, 2017

In his tweet, Spacey denies remembering the incident and says he is “horrified,” yet offers his apologies to Mr. Rapp. In the second paragraph he addresses his secretive personal life, confirms that he is gay and promises to examine his own behavior in an open manner. The accusations come in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, which Rapp acknowledged as the impetus to come forward now. Buzzfeed reported:

Rapp said he feels compelled to come forward. "And not to simply air a grievance," he said, "but to try to shine another light on the decades of behavior that have been allowed to continue because many people, including myself, being silent. … I'm feeling really awake to the moment that we're living in, and I'm hopeful that this can make a difference."

Some see Spacey’s tweet—in which he came out and apologized—as insufficient.

Nope to Kevin Spacey's statement. Nope. There's no amount of drunk or closeted that excuses or explains away assaulting a 14-year-old child.

— Dan Savage (@fakedansavage) October 30, 2017

Kevin Spacey has immense wealth & fame, and yet never came out as a gay man until he needed a distraction from this story - & sympathy. https://t.co/VEDQQ5vM5C

— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) October 30, 2017

Some aren’t happy that Spacey seems to use his sexual orientation as an excuse for shameful behavior.

Kevin Spacey using the coming out rhetoric to distract from making sexual advances on a 14-year old is completely inexcusable and vile.

— Grant Amos (@grantyy__) October 30, 2017

No no no no no! You do not get to “choose” to hide under the rainbow! Kick rocks! https://t.co/xJDGAxDjxz

— Official Wanda Sykes (@iamwandasykes) October 30, 2017

Some say they have had concerns about Kevin Spacey’s behavior for years.

The Hollywood Reporter wrote:

During a discussion on sexual misconduct on Radio 4's Today show, Victoria Featherstone, artistic director of the Royal Court Theatre, was asked if she was aware of any stories about Spacey when he was working in London as artistic director of the Old Vic. "I think that many people in the theater and in the creative industries have been aware of many stories of many people over a lot of years, and Kevin Spacey would be one of the people that people have had concerns about, yes," she replied, The Independent reported.

[FREE DOWNLOAD: 13 tips for preparing for a crisis]

Many on Twitter are also drawing parallels to the character Spacey plays on “House of Cards,” whose Machiavellian ploys always keep him one step ahead of scandal. That’s fiction, though; on Twitter, no one is buying it.

Kevin Spacey's response to child molestation accusation is straight out of #HouseOfCards with misdirection of coming out as gay male http://pic.twitter.com/laxb35qgaM

— 🎙Wayne Dupree (@WayneDupreeShow) October 30, 2017

Everyone: "Kevin Spacey did you rape a 14 year old?"

Kevin: "I can't recall! Doesn't, matter now! I'm gay."

Everyone: "No worries then!" http://pic.twitter.com/wYhbNDPOHZ

— Hutch (@EladHutch) October 30, 2017

Some say the revelation of Spacey’s sexual orientation is hardly earth-shattering:

That Kevin Spacey is gay was news in 1997. Anthony Rapp’s announcement is news in 2017. http://pic.twitter.com/LCGprtCf43

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 30, 2017

Other gay celebrities are not thrilled with his timing:

Kevin Spacey has just invented something that has never existed before: a bad time to come out.

— billy eichner (@billyeichner) October 30, 2017

Rapp has declined to comment further after his Buzzfeed interview. In an emailed statement to The New York Times he wrote:

“I came forward with my story, standing on the shoulders of the many courageous women and men who have been speaking out, to shine a light and hopefully make a difference, as they have done for me,” Mr. Rapp said in an emailed statement. “Everything I wanted to say about my experience is in that article, and I have no further comment about it at this time.”

PR Daily readers, what’s your take? How would you have advised Spacey to address Rapp’s allegation?

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Win a Free Trip Around The World!

Twelve years ago, I was inspired to travel the world by five backpackers I met while on a trip to Thailand. As we talked on our way to a temple outside Chiang Mai, I was captivated by their tales from the road. Since my trip to Costa Rica the previous year, I had thought about nothing but travel. All I wanted to do was travel more and here were five people who had managed to unlock “the secret” to long-term travel. They were living my dream.

And I wanted to nothing more than to follow in their footsteps.

So, in a moment of spontaneity, I quit my job, finished school, and with my savings went on a yearlong trip around the world. Eighteen months later, I finally came home and immediately decided to head out again.

I’ve been a perpetual nomad ever since.

My life is not what I imagined it would be. What started as a yearlong trip has turned into a decade-plus adventure. I’ve been to close to 90 countries, lived and worked overseas, and seen and done things I never thought possible. I was just going to get travel out of my system before I settled down with a corporate job – but life had other plans!

And, along the way, what started as a personal journal has morphed into a six-figure business with employees, digital guides, a best-selling book, a charitable foundation, media school, a hostel, and a host of conference and speaking engagements.

It’s been a crazy ride.

And it can all be traced back to my decision to travel. I never had any intention of making travel a career.

Today, the third edition of my New York Times best-selling book, How to Travel the World on $50 a Day, is out. This new edition contains over 40 pages of new content, updated prices, tips, tricks, and travel advice. It features new companies and resources you can use to help you travel cheaper. It also has more of a global perspective to help non-Americans, couples, and families travel.

So, in honor of this new edition, I want to do something special. I want to give someone the chance to travel and change their life the way travel changed mine:

I am giving away a FREE trip around the world.

For real.

I know how lucky I was to be able to do that original trip and how much of a positive impact it had on my life.

So I am going to give a free trip around the world worth $18,250 USD (i.e., $50 a day) to one lucky person who buys the book. It’s like Willy Wonka’s golden ticket contest…except winning this won’t turn you into a giant purple ball!

So, without further ado, here are the details of the contest — and how you can win:

The Prize: One trip worth $18,250 USD (i.e., $50 a day) with money paid out in monthly increments.

You have six months to start your trip after you win and nine to eighteen months to complete it (or when the money runs out, whichever comes first).

How to Enter:

1. Purchase a copy of the latest edition of my book, How to Travel the World on $50 a Day. You can buy it in person at any retailer or online at the following places:
   
2. Write a 500-word (no more) mini-essay on why you really want the trip, what you hope to accomplish, and how you will give back to the world along the way. Be honest and raw. I want to know what drives you. I want to know your why. Essays will be judged on clarity, humor, and creativity.
3. Submit a copy of your receipt along with your contact details and essay by clicking the button below:

This contest will run from now until 11:59:59 EST November 30th, 2017. Winners will be picked on or around December 17th, 2017.

Three other things to know

1. Winners will be required to update readers about their trip once a month on this blog so we can follow along with your adventure!
2. This is open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec), age 18 or older. I wish it was open to the entire world but since this is a published, print book, I must work within the constraints my publisher’s legal department tells me!
3. Be sure to read all of the legal information below!

So I wish you luck. Even if you don’t win, the book is an up-to-date collection of all the best ways to save money. It’s my most complete guide to date, containing resources, tips, and details you won’t find on this blog (so you should totally get it!). (Plus it makes an amazing gift for anyone you know who travels…and the holidays are coming up soon! Just saying!)

Here’s all that legal jazz that my publisher told me I had to tell you:

Official Rules for the HOW TO TRAVEL THE WORLD Contest

Open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec), age 18 or older.

HOW TO ENTER

1. To enter the How to Travel the World Contest (the “Contest”), presented by Nomadic Matt, Inc. (“Author”) and TarcherPerigee, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC (together, the “Sponsors”) purchase a copy of How to Travel the World on $50 a Day by Matt Kepnes and complete the entry form as instructed at nomadicmatt.com by submitting the transaction or purchase order number from your receipt , along with your first and last name, e-mail address, telephone number, and an essay of no more than five hundred (500) words on why you want to take a trip around the world, what you hope to accomplish on your trip, and how you will use this trip to give back. Contest begins October 30, 2017, 9:00:00 AM, Eastern Time and all entries must be received no later than November 30, 2017, 11:59:59 PM, Eastern Time. Limit one entry per person and per email account. The sole determinant of time for the purposes of receipt of a valid entry will be the computer servers of the Author. Proof of transmission (screenshots or captures, etc.) does not constitute proof of receipt

2. Entries will not be returned. By entering the Contest, contestants agree to abide by these rules, and represent and warrant that the entries are their own and original creations, and do not violate or infringe the rights, including, without limitation, copyrights, trademark rights or rights of publicity/privacy, of any third party.

3. Entries are void if they are in whole or in part illegible or incomplete. Sponsors assume no responsibility for late, lost, incomplete, illegible, or misdirected e-mail entries.

4. Sponsors and their parent, subsidiary or affiliated companies are not responsible for technical, hardware or software malfunctions of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, or failed, incorrect, incomplete, inaccurate, garbled or delayed electronic communications caused by the sender, or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in this Contest which may limit the ability to play or participate, or by any human error which may occur in the processing of the entries. If for any reason the Contest is not capable of being conducted as described in these rules, Sponsors shall have the right to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest. In the event of a dispute over the identity of an online entrant, entry will be deemed submitted by the authorized holder of the email account.

PRIVACY POLICY

All information submitted in connection with entry to this Contest shall be governed by Author’s privacy policy (at http://ift.tt/2yYnz3a). By entering this Contest, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to this privacy policy and you agree to receive e-mail communications from Author.

JUDGING

1. On or about December 17th, 2017 one (1) will be selected by the Author.

2. Entries will be judged on clarity, humor, and creativity, with equal weight being given to each criterion. The decisions of the Sponsors with respect to the selection of the winners, and in regard to all matter relating to this Contest, shall be final and binding.

3. Winner will be notified via email and/or telephone. Winner must respond to the email notification or telephone call within six (6) days or an alternate winner will be chosen.

PRIZES

1. One (1) Winner shall receive a trip around the world in consultation with the Author as more fully described below. Total Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) = $18,250.

Winner will consult with Author to book initial flights for the trip and to purchase travel insurance and travel gear (ARV = $2,000). Winner and Author will consult to book subsequent flights for the trip (ARV = $2,700). Winner will receive $1500 upon commencement of the trip for the first month of travel to cover other travel and living expenses in connection with the trip. Winner will receive an additional $1500 to cover travel and living expenses in connection with the trip every thirty (30) days for twelve (12) months, the money runs out, or until the trip concludes, whichever occurs first. Travel must be commenced within six (6) months of winner being notified and must be completed within eighteen (18) months of commencement of the trip. Winner shall submit travel journals with itineraries, tips, and highlights to Author every thirty (30) days from commencement of the trip and a final journal upon conclusion of the trip. Non-compliance with these terms and conditions may result in forfeiture of part or all of the prize.

2. Winner is responsible for any expenses not expressly included in the prize description in excess of the prize amounts, such as transportation to and from the airports, travel within destinations, personal expenses, travel and health insurance, meals, beverages, gratuities and any additional hotel expenses such as telephone calls, incidentals and upgrades or other charges that may arise.

3. In the event that there is an insufficient number of qualified entries or if the Sponsors determines in their absolute discretion that no or too few entries meet the quality standards established to award the prizes, Sponsors reserve the right not to award the prizes.

ELIGIBILITY

Open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec), age 18 or older. Employees of Sponsors and their parent company, subsidiaries, affiliates or other parties in any way involved in the development, production or distribution of this Contest, as well as the immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings, children) and household members of each such employee are not eligible to participate in the Contest. Void where prohibited by law. All state and local restrictions apply.

GENERAL

1. This Contest will be run in accordance with these Official Rules, subject to amendment by Sponsor. These Official Rules shall govern in the event of any inconsistency with other Contest-related materials.

2. No cash substitution, transfer or assignment of prizes allowed. In the event of the unavailability of a prize or prizes, Sponsor may substitute a prize or prizes of equal or greater value.

3. All expenses, including taxes (if any), related to receipt and use of prizes are the sole responsibility of the winner.

4. Winner shall be required to execute an Affidavit of Eligibility and Release. The affidavit must be returned within fourteen (14) days of notification or winner will forfeit their prize and another winner will be selected. Should the ARV equal or exceed $600.00, winners shall be required to provide a Social Security Number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number to Sponsors for issuance of a 1099 Form. Winner is responsible for obtaining all necessary visas and a valid passport/travel documents for international travel.

5. By accepting a prize the winner grants to Sponsors the right to edit, publish, copy, display and otherwise use their entries in connection with this Contest, and to further use their names, likenesses, and biographical information in advertising and promotional materials, without further compensation or permission, except where prohibited by law.

6. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. By competing in this Contest and/or accepting a prize, entrants release Sponsors, their parent, subsidiary or affiliated companies, or the agencies of any of them and the authors and/or editors of any books promoted hereby from any and all liability for any loss harm, injuries, damages, cost or expenses arising out of or relating to participation in this Contest or the acceptance, use or misuse of the prize(s). UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL THE RELEASED PARTIES BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, ATTORNEYS’ FEES, OR ANY OTHER DAMAGES.

7. Any dispute arising from this Contest will be determined according to the laws of the State of New York, without reference to its conflict of law principles, and by entering the entrants consent to the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in New York County and agree that such courts have exclusive jurisdiction over all such disputes.

WINNERS LIST

For a copy of the winners list, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope by June 4, 2018 to TarcherPerigee Marketing, 375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014, Attention: How to Travel the World Contest Winners List.

SPONSORS

Nomadic Matt, Inc.
207 E. 9th Street
Georgetown, Texas 78626

TarcherPerigee
An imprint of Penguin Random House LLC
345 Hudson Street
New York, New York 10014

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3 ways to master the PR balancing act

Social media management. SEO. Media relations. Analytics. Video production. You’re expected to do it all as a modern PR pro.

It’s easy to get exhausted—and it takes more than an extra cup of coffee to keep up with all your new duties.

Fortunately, the experts at the PR Daily World Conference can show you exactly how to thrive in your new role. Here’s some of what they’ll share:

1. Quell crises by teaching employees how to spot damaging remarks on social media
2. Grab the attention of distracted audiences by using neuroscience principles to craft better stories
3. Leave vanity metrics behind and focus on the numbers that show the true ROI of your programs

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Announcing PR Daily’s 2017 Nonprofit PR Awards finalists

We think nonprofit communicators deserve more recognition, so we’re putting the best campaigns, creative assets and teams on center stage. This year’s applicants include health care organizations, universities, environmental organizations, those dedicated to the preservation of the arts and more. We’re excited to honor those who had the most exciting case studies of the year.

Our judges selected these finalists from more than 90 submissions to find the best campaigns and initiatives from around the world. Next, the judges will review this pool of finalists to name the category winners of PR Daily’s 2017 Nonprofit PR Awards. The PRDaily.com Special Edition announcing all the winners will be released on Nov. 29.

The Ragan Communications staff congratulates all our finalists and wishes you the best of luck in the final round of judging.

CAMPAIGNS & PARTNERSHIPS

Advocacy or Awareness Campaign

• Orange Slice Selfie Campaign, SHIFT Communications
• Illinois Nurses Association Correctional Center Nurses Project, David James Group and Illinois Nurses Association
• Decide to be Heard, Ohio's Hospice
• Text for Food, Share Our Strength
• #144aDay, Addiction Policy Forum
• Filter It Out, Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
• Seat 14C, XPRIZE

Branding or Rebranding Campaign

• The Martin Family Initiative Rebrand, Klick and The Martin Family Initiative
• It's Not Just Camp It's …, JCC Chicago

Community-Nonprofit Partnership

• Flint Water IT Infrastructure Collaboration, Truscott Rossman and Great Lakes Health Connect
• Delta Dental Clinic at VOA: Building a Dental Home for the Homeless, Delta Dental
• Riley Children’s Health Safe Sleep Campaign, IU Health

Corporate-Nonprofit Partnership

• South Sound Proud, JayRay and South Sound Together
• Metro United Way 2016 Campaign, Humana
• The Castle Group x WriteBoston, The Castle Group and Write Boston

Fundraising Campaign

• EdGEOcation Giving Campaign, USGIF
• Love Tremendously Hope Exceedingly, Red Couch Stories and Ronald McDonald House of Rochester, Minnesota

Social Media Campaign

• Home for the Holidays: Taking a Virtual Road Trip with the American Red Cross, American Red Cross
• Kitty Election, All Boats Rise and Michelson Found Animals
• Going For Gold: Leveraging the Rio Olympics for Social Media Success, McMaster University
• What's Age Got to Do With It?, Asbury Communities
• The Great State Road Trip: Exploring MSU's Impact Across Michigan, Communications and Brand Strategy, Michigan State University

Marketing Campaign

• When I Grow Up, The Abbi Agency and Northern Nevada Children's Cancer Foundation
• Tacoma Kids Have It, Tacoma Public Schools
• "Fun Never Gets Old" Engagement and Awareness Campaign, Air Force Enlisted Village, Inc.
• Value of the CCCs, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
• Golden Apple Awards Surprise Visits Campaign, The Harbinger Group and Golden Apple
• DEVENEY Delivers for Florida's Foo Foo Festival, DEVENEY and Foo Foo Festival

Media Relations Campaign

• The Science of Exercise: Reaching a Worldwide Audience with High Impact Research, McMaster University
• Helping Solve an International Mystery—Team of Experts Investigate Death of Nobel Winner Pablo Neruda, McMaster University
• Domestic Child Sex Trafficking Public Relations, KPS3 and National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
• DKMS U.S. Media Campaign, Marino PR
• Global Fishing Watch Launch, Oceana
• University Medical Center Budget Cuts, DEVENEY
• Spring/Summer 2017 Bug Barometer, Vault Communications and National Pest Management Association (NPMA)

Event PR

• Build Day 2016, RMD Advertising and Wagons Ho Ho Ho
• A Call to Action for Gender Equality, Boylan Communications, LLC
• Repurposed Architectural Relic Revealed: Public Debut of the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern, Elmore Public Relations and Buffalo Bayou Partnership
• PA Blue Ribbon Champion for Kids Awards and Rally for Children, Nell McCormack Abom Communications and Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance
• Positioning Sohn as a Conference for a Cause, Group Gordon and Sohn Conference Foundation
• Taste of Cayman Food & Drink Festival, Tower

CREATIVE PR ASSETS

Article

• "Cutting-Edge Cancer Research: Patients share their clinical trials experiences," University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
• “A blessing I didn't expect,” Spectrum Health
• “A dying child's spirit shines,” Spectrum Health
• “Mighty boy defies the odds,” Spectrum Health
• The Heart-In-A-Box, Indiana University Health
• Positioning Sohn as a Conference for a Cause, Group Gordon and Sohn Conference Foundation
• Taste of Cayman Food & Drink Festival, Tower

Blog

• IU Health News Hub, Indiana University Health
• Health Beat, Spectrum Health

Print Publication

• Urban Angel Magazine, St. Michael's Hospital Foundation
• Thrive Magazine, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Forward Magazine Spring/Summer 2017, Fox Chase Cancer Center
• Foundations for Transformation: 2017 Sustainability Report, CooperKatz & Company and American Cleaning Institute
• Trajectory Magazine, United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation
• Command Information—Yankee Engineer, USACE, New England District

Annual Report

• We Are Stronger TOGETHER, Jewish Federation of Delaware
• One Mission: 2016 Annual Report, Fox Chase Cancer Center
• 2017 Report to the Community, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
• Foundations for Transformation: 2017 Sustainability Report, CooperKatz & Company and American Cleaning Institute
• Inspired by Progress. Powered by People., LMI
• Reporting VISIT PHILADELPHIA’s 2016 Success In A Revolutionary Report, VISIT PHILADELPHIA

Video

• Everyday Moments of Grace, PeaceHealth
• Peter Lombardo's Miracle, Spectrum Health
• Pill-sized Pacemaker, Spectrum Health
• Towards a More Compassionate Workplace, Seattle Children's Hospital and Fox-Wilmar Productions
• Pew Fellowships in the Arts at 25, The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage
• One For All, PHASE ONE Foundation

User-Generated Content

• Transformed by Travel Photo Contest, Cultural Vistas
• How VISIT PHILADELPHIA Inspires and Repurposes User-Generated Content, VISIT PHILADELPHIA

Grand Prize: Nonprofit PR Team of the Year

• North Bay Regional Health Centre

Grand Prize: Nonprofit PR Campaign of the Year

• Text for Food, Share Our Strength
• Global Fishing Watch Launch, Oceana
• VISIT PHILADELPHIA’s Historic District Campaign, VISIT PHILADELPHIA

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