• In the first part of the year, we brought you five seminars on everything from customer-centric marketing tips to creating a social media strategy. Other topics included integrating social media and marketing, how to produce effective webinars, and how to make the most of LinkedIn. We thank the University of Baltimore’s School of Communications Design, our event co-sponsor, for providing us with the space to present these programs.
• On June 14, we celebrated the 50^th year of the Best In Maryland Awards at the beautiful 1840’s Ballroom. This year, we added new categories and streamlined others making the competition tougher—and more interesting—than ever. The room erupted when the Best In Show was presented to Catholic Relief Services for its entry, “The Haiti Earthquake: Catholic Relief Services Responds to a Major Disaster.” (Go to 2011 PRSA MD Best In Maryland a resounding success! for a recap of the evening.)
• On September 29, at the invitation of PRSA-MD member Dan Dunne of Erickson Living, we were treated to a full-day of learning at the Resources & Tools for Public Affairs Success seminar. The day included two exciting panels looking at the role of social media in crisis communication and today’s newsroom, as well as hands-on workshops on Twitter and LinkedIn. We also heard from the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism on the State of News Media. The event was held at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel in Baltimore.
• On November 3, we joined with the National Capital and Central Chesapeake chapters to present the all-new Mid-Atlantic Chesapeake Conference – The New Face of PR: strategizing connectivity, innovation, and integration. More than 125 pros from Maryland, DC and Virginia came together for the first time to hear from experts on topics such as social/digital media, integration, professional development, and measurements/ROI. Response was phenomenal with many asking “why had it taken so long for the chapters to come together?” The conference was held at the Four Points by Sheraton BWI.
• Finally, we began the year with a PR Pros Happy Hour on January 27 at Meli Patisserie and Bistro, and ended the year with a packed Holiday Happy Hour on December 8 at RA Sushi Baltimore. Both networking events gave new and seasoned PR professionals a chance to mingle and toast each other’s accomplishments in a fun, relaxing environment.

On behalf of the PRSA-MD Board of Directors, we wish you a safe and happy holiday!

We look forward seeing you in 2012. 

PR and Communications pros, what tricks do you have up your sleeves for how to obtain the most effective local media coverage?  For those who have been looking for a solution— an efficient and expedient way to reach local journalists concerning local topics of interest — this seminar is for you!

Attendees, prepare to gleen all sorts of useful, relevant information from Rick Robinson, a Washington, D.C.-based writer who has written about hyperlocal news websites; Doug Donovan, Maryland Patch Regional Editor; Daniel Waldman, PR consultant; and Laurie Hays, Director of Public Relations for the Anne Arundel County Library System.  Moderated by Marc Apter.

Below, you’ll find Patch contacts in the MD, DC, and VA areas.  You won’t find this listing anywhere else, but we’ve got it here!

Representatives from all three chapters have worked tirelessly all year to brainstorm session topics, locate relevant speakers, find sponsorships, develop conference collateral, and then promote the darned thing!  All the while, we have had great fun forming relationships, networking, gaining valuable experience, and bonding in an energetic, collegial environment. 

It has been a really wonderful time working with all three chapters.  We’re looking forward to enjoying the conference next week!

There’s still time to register for this year’s conference.  Go to http://www.prsamd.org/news/events2011/nov11program.htm.  Seating is limited and tickets are going fast, so hurry!  

And we’re going to keep building on this momentum.  If you would like to get in on this synergistic, collaborative effort to plan next year’s conference, please don’t hesitate to e-mail Peggy at phoffman@marinermanagement.com.

“Millenials are the most likely generation to own these types of mobile devices – 28 percent are more likely to own a smartphone than the average American adult. 

• 54 percent – or more than 25 million Millennials – currently own a smartphone, and 18 percent plan to purchase one within the next six months.

• 63 percent of Millennials use their smartphones at work, while 95 percent report that they are the sole users of the device. 

• Millennials who have graduated college are 23 percent more likely to own a smartphone than others in their generation.” 

Smartphones are definitely the wave of the future.  More and more, consumers are using them to access the latest news, social media, shop, and take advantage of mobile marketing deals. 

Valerie Lambert of Bilou Enterprises will share her insights into the latest information and statistics with smartphone technology at the upcoming PRSA Mid-Atlantic Chesapeake Conference.  Join her on Nov. 3 at the Four Points by Sheraton BWI Airport as she engages session participants with real-time interaction to demonstrate the variety of ways PR pros can utilize smartphone technology.

The Caraway Group has worked with major clients like Microsoft Corp., MGM MIRAGE, Bristol Myers Squibb, MCI, Mitsubishi, and Texaco.  As one of the nation’s top political strategists, Yolanda’s extensive work for the Democratic National Committee and with major political campaigns has produced relationships with elite influencers and decision makers.  Through these associations she has counseled government and nonprofit agencies such as the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Center for American Progress, NATO 50th Anniversary Summit, and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Foundation Project.

 Our theme for this year is The New Face of PR: Strategizing Connectivity, Innovation, and Integration.  Ms. Caraway will address how the industry is managing the ever-changing landscape of social media and what that means for communications professionals.

Engagement with online communities is the key.  Rather than burying their heads in the sand and hoping it’s just a phase, the most successful PR pros have fully embraced this new way of communicating and have found new and interesting ways to integrate these mediums into their campaigns to achieve spectacular results. 

If you’re still not sold on the importance of integrating social media, just look at these quick facts:

• 78% of consumers conduct product research online
• 41% of B2B companies have acquired a customer through Facebook
• Social sites are the #1 source for product information
• 91% of e-mail users have opted out of company lists they previously subscribed to
• 2/3 of the country is on the “Do NOT Call” list

– Integrating Social Media into Your Marketing Mix by Michael Brenner Sr. Director, Integrating Marketing SAP

Many of our session topics support the theme of integrating the traditional forms of media with the new forms of media in innovative ways.  Join us on Nov. 3 at the BWI Four Points Sheraton for this awesome regional conference!  Register now at prsamd.org!   Follow the conversation using hashtag #Chessie11.

• Traditional and digital communications are all tools in your toolbox.  Social media is just one of these important tools. Be sure to keep this in perspective when planning your campaign.
• The secret to using all your tools (traditional & digital) is brand clarity.
• Brand, marketing and public relations opportunities all focus on your primary, secondary, and tertiary target audiences. As the cycle repeats itself, you continue to strengthen the power of your brand. This is integration in action!
•  The text book definition of a brand is the “expectation of someone or something that delivers a certain feeling.” This expectation is created through communication and reinforced (or weakened) by the experience.  What Thomas wanted us to understand is that ultimately “Brand is about making a fundamental emotional connection with your audience.”
• Seventy percent of all brand-based decisions are made at the emotional or subconscious level. Great branding inspires loyalty beyond reason. Examples: Dunkin Donuts coffee, McDonald’s coffee and Starbucks.
• Brand is not about the logo, collateral material, packaging, tagline, advertising – these support the brand.
• Main questions to ask: What does your company want to make people feel or think about themselves? How do you want to stand out? How do you want to be remembered?
• Companies who have gotten it right – TOMS Shoes, Southwest and Levis. We also talked about one big “Uh-Oh” involving social media: the 2009 Skittles Twitter campaign. For a time, Skittles lost control of its brand when it turned its home page into a Twitter page resulting in tweets having nothing to do with the colorful candy  (If you’re unaware of the case, Google it.).
• Some statistics: 43% of peer to news sharing comes from social media. 27% of frequent sharers generate 87% of all news shared online. It’s this 27% that can become your brand champions/ambassadors.
• Most of all, social media isn’t a one-sided conversation. It is about developing a connection with your target audience.  Don’t use social media as just another platform. Use it to start a conversation.

The program ended with a great Q&A where we discussed other campaigns successes, as well as a few failures. Thanks again to Thomas Neuberger of Warschawski’s for sharing the morning with us.

Want to hear more about this and other relevant PR topics? Mark your calendars for the 2011 Mid-Atlantic Chesapeake Conference scheduled for November 3, 2011. This year’s event titled The New Face of PR will be co-hosted by the Maryland, National Capital, and Central Chesapeake Chapters. Registration & details coming soon at www.prsamd.org.

KiaraHughes is a Communications Specialist at Miles & Stockbridge P.C. She is also a member of the Communications Committee, Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Maryland
Chapter.

Opinions and conclusions in this post are solely those of the author unless otherwise indicated. The author has provided the links referenced above for information purposes only and by doing so, does not adopt or incorporate the contents.

We’re working on filling the session slots for our fall Mid-Atlantic Chesapeake Conference, as well as our regular fall monthly professional development programs.

ROI? Google+? FourSquare? Crisis communications? Public speaking? Online writing?

No matter what the topic is, if it is of interest to you, it’s of interest to us!

Please post your topic suggestions in the comments section!

Have you tried it yet? What do you think?