HeyLets!

There's a new social media App that has just launched that I think has the potential to be a very powerful new tool for publicists and agents. HeyLets is all about finding and sharing experiences, activities and events using tweet length posts and a photo. There are 50 nominee positions in each of the Australian capital cities, which means they will be followed by every new signup. Read on for more details...

For beautydirectory.com.au: Hosting the Perfect Event

Media & industry website beautydirectory.com.au invited me to write a guest blog for them, on tips and tricks for beauty events.

Will Ben Wear His PJs to Social Diary Halloween?

I just got sent this vid as a surprise from my friend Mike, goddamn hilarious. Yes I am a massive Big Brother fan and proud! Was lamenting Ben's departure from the BB house, never imagined I'd see him at my 'soiree' along with Ben the winner of Big Brother 2012! #TeamBens ;) xxx

What is Celebrity Brokering?

Social Diary recently entered into a sponsorship arrangement with Waterfront, one of Australia's leading celebrity sourcing agencies working with big brands, big stars and PRs. It occurred to me that many PRs may not know the benefits of using a celebrity specialist, so I had a chat with Director Sean Pickwell about the nuts & bolts of it all.

Copyright Issues in the PR Industry

Did you know that posting unapproved clippings on your website is an offense? And that every time you email a client a scanned article or include it in a monthly report you are committing copyright infringement and could be fined heavily for doing it?

A number of Social Diary members have contacted me recently regarding some rather scary letters they've received demanding the removal of editorial clippings from their website. Apparently you are not even given the opportunity to take the material down, but hit with a whopping fine backdated copyright infringement fee on the spot (which is likely to be in the thousands). As this affects the majority of PR people who routinely post articles achieved in the press on their company sites, I've tried to work my way through the confusion that seems to cloud the issue. Read on if this alarms you...

10 Reasons Not To Take On A PR Client

Some PR agencies are desperate for new business; some can afford to be very picky; most are perpetually open to it. Can't imagine knocking back new biz? There are some occasions when you should perhaps say...thanks but no thanks.

Protect Your Image! Don't Sign Your TV Footage Away Forever

A friend of mine was surprised this week to see footage of herself in a promo for an upcoming TV segment. Surprised because she had declined to be interviewed for the story...and because the footage in the promo was more than 5 years old.

She instantly became nervous about how her comments from 5 years ago could be sliced into the story to seem current. Another friend said it had also happened to her - she had organised for her young son to take part in a 'sleep issues' segment on a nightly current affairs show, and now anytime there is a 'sleep story', images of her son flash up...repeatedly for the past 6 years.

This highlights the need for people and PRs to properly protect themselves and their clients from losing control over footage. Here's some tips how...

Guest Blog: The Secrets to Catching (And Keeping) People's Attention

Guest Blogger: Margarita Peker, Klick Communications

There, you've already learnt secret number one. It's called the "curiosity gap" and you use it in headlines. It's that hook that makes you want to click - you need to make sure you strike the right balance between being too vague ("Things that help authors") and being too specific ("Curiosity Gap In Headlines Catches People's Attention"). The first isn't enticing and the second has taken away your reason to read.

Wasn't hard to learn something in 40 seconds, was it? What you're currently experiencing is a South by Southwest moment; you come away having a brain stuffed with lessons and ideas.

9 People You Become When You're Drunk

Absolutely cried with laughter over this blog. Which one are you?

Source: thoughtcatalog.com

6 Things to Consider Before Starting a PR Agency

Sole traders in the PR Industry are popping up all over the place, practically every day. While I 100% whole-heartedly support entrepreneurial endeavour, there are many things to consider before taking the leap into PR biz world...

Are PR Monkeys Charging PR Peanuts?

Have you been undercut lately by a competitor? Are you yourself, a rampant undercutter? With new sole traders and boutique agencies popping up practically every day competition is fiercer than ever. It appears an easy option is to slash your fees to secure the biz...but at what cost to our industry?

CommsCon 2013 Award WINNERS!

Huge congrats to Tim Burrowes and his hard-working team at Mumbrella - Denise Jinks, Cathie McGinn & Martin Lane - for the inaugural CommsCon conference yesterday & awards last night. A sold-out event with the cream of the PR industry in attendance, it was an inspiring group dedicated to raising the bar of our industry, pursuing excellence and achieving common goals.

It was a huge honour to be a juror, panelist and presenter of the Corporate Social Responsibility Award to the well-deserving team at Liquid Ideas for R U OK? Day. Enthusiastic back-pats to you all!

See further for the official release and full list of winners. *drum roll please*

How Old-School PR Are You?

I cacked when I read this post from PR Daily, and identified with Every. Single. One. (Except of course in Australia we had the trusty ol' Margaret Gee's Media Guide, not Bacon's.)

The 7 Reasons Your Friends Won't Set You Up

I was involved in a hilarious debate last night about friends and match-making. It resulted in a definitive list, which I figured I should turn into a blog, naturally. So, to all you single people out there, here are The 7 Reasons Your Friends Won’t Set You Up…