"I don't care what time you come to work..."

I love reading about progressive companies- those are the ones I want to work for. The companies that don't require the employees to dress in "business casual" everyday, who allow employees to work from home when they please, whose offices aren't full of the standard cubicles in bland and boring colors-- hire me. Please?

I read an article on Inc.com by Margaret Heffernan about "Why Flexible Hours Inspire Performance." Margaret Heffernan is a 60+ year old woman and she has the right idea here about work hours! She is an entrepreneur and author and has been the CEO of many successful companies and doesn't care what time her employees come in for work. She says, "You could say I'm the opposite of a control freak, in the sense that I have always resisted rules, for myself and for others. Why? Because once you have rules, you have to enforce them- and there's no more tedious task in life."

Well said, Margaret! She's trusted people to get the work done on time and they have. [See where treating employees gets you?!] She also says she takes the same approach to maternity leave- no woman knows exactly what she'll want once the baby arrives so she tells women to "figure out what works for you and let me know." She's never had two proposals alike but none have been unreasonable.

In closing, Margaret says, "I cannot remember a single instance of being disappointed by this approach. ...Instead, I've had the privilege of working with hundreds of dedicated, committed, energetic individuals whose stamina was hugely enhanced by the freedom to work as they saw fit."

Shameless Self-Promotion...

So I write another blog, a way more light-hearted and funny blog about my adorable grandparents and wacky family, called Tuesdays with Esther and Bill. If you're interested in reading, check it out here!

Things PR is NOT

Public Relations cannot be expected to be the cure-all for getting the word out about your business; other factors must be involved. PR can be very helpful to businesses but there are many things that PR is not, such as:

• ·         A replacement for a marketing and advertising campaign. PR is intended to support those plans, not take the place of it. Public Relations is “earned” media coverage- it is never guaranteed. Media relations can take weeks or months to establish. Advertising guarantees you the ad space but they do not carry that third party stamp of approval.
• ·         A way to become a celebrity overnight. Unless you are promoting a product that can really get some air time or ink, a PR pro cannot afford to use those contacts up simply for a fee. Your business should already be established or achieved some important benchmarks before hiring a Public Relations representative.
• ·         Something to take lightly. What’s done is done- a press release can never be recalled. To make sure that a press release is sent correctly, many businesses obsessively revise, review and edit simple press releases or they ignore editing altogether and just want to send it out. There’s a middle ground between these two extremes- let your PR person write the release, have someone else provide insightful feedback and send it.
• ·         Not going to be the cure-all to save your business. Don’t let your business become so strapped for cash that PR becomes the last resort to save it. Invest in PR from the beginning and it will yield better results in the long run.
• ·         A fake business that anyone is capable of doing- PR is a real profession. Treat PR pros the way you would treat any other professional- whether it’s an accountant, attorney or doctor. Ask questions but let the pro do their job.

A public relations professional can be a great addition to a business but that person should not be expected to work miracles, he or she must be working for an already established, good and solid business in order for results to be seen. 

Pinterest is the Next BIG Thing!

I've already introduced Pinterest on my blog and since that entry, I've noticed more and more people joining the online bulletin board website. [No, I am not saying it's because of me. Well, maybe...] Pinterest launched in 2010 and has grown significantly and quickly. The site registered more than 7 million unique visitors in December, up from 1.6 million in September. Pinterest is driving more traffic to company websites and blogs than YouTube, Google+, and LinkedIn combined. That's WILD and businesses should listen up! [And keep reading...]

Why should businesses join Pinterest?

• Pinterest allows people, or businesses to pin images of company's products which links them back to the company website. Companies can upload pictures of new products onto their organized boards, and people will see those products if they're following the company page. The company page should not be ALL business related though. For example, Whole Foods Markets pins pictures of food and recipes, and also ways to recycle or reuse things.
• Pinterest is upping the sales for some businesses because those businesses recognize that Pinterest is a two-way street. They post stuff that relates to their business, but also "follows" their fans and comments on and "likes" other peoples pins. Pinterest is a great way to interact with consumers and see who your customers really are.
• Not all businesses will benefit by joining Pinterest. If your product or service isn't particularly visual, your images may not tie directly back to your brand. The best way to see if it works is to give it a shot and remember to not be too promotional.
• Another way to link your business and Pinterest is to create an image of a special deal or coupon just for Pinterest followers.

After a few months, see if Pinterest drove any people to your business and tweak your boards if necessary. Make sure to link to your Pinterest site on your company website. Remember: the best images attract the most attention and followers. 

Social Media Lessons From the NY Giants

As we all know, the New York Giants won the super bowl this past weekend. I'm an Eagles fan, who usually hate on the Giants, but Eli Manning is just so darn cute! [Yes, I think cuter than Tom Brady. I said it.] Anywho, PR Daily managed to connect the Giants to social media, how timely.
Here's a synopsis of PR Daily's article 10 Social Media Lessons from the New York Giants.

1. Don't get complacent. During this past season, the Giants had a record of 6-2 and were in first place in the NFC East, yet the team didn't know until the last week of the season whether they'd make the playoffs. You cannot relax after your social media efforts even if they have started off strong.
2. Monitor for new brand ambassadors. New players, such as Jason Pierre-Paul can quickly turn into stars. Continually monitor what is being said about your company and who is saying it. This may lead to the discovery of a great brand ambassador who can help influence others and support your brand. 
3. Look to the future. When Ahmad Bradshaw and Osi Umenyiora were missing due to injury, the Giants were not playing as well, yet were great when they came back. After a crisis-communication situation, your company may not be the favorite but if you rehab properly, you can get back to where you were before the crisis struck.
4. Stand your ground. The Giants were once in the middle of a  four game losing streak with a 6-6 record, but they did not lose sight of their goal: the super bowl. The Giants had a plan and stuck to it. If you believe you have the right strategy in place, stand your ground and don't change it.
5. Experimentation is okay. The Giants were criticized during the off season for not re-signing players and giving unknown players a chance, which clearly worked out for the team. This doesn't mean every risk you take or every new social media channel will produce great results, but it's worth trying and taking a chance every once in awhile.
6. Keep improving. The Giants won five games in a row leading to the super bowl, with the team improving and learning more each week. Pay attention to your social media performance and evaluate it. Get rid of what's not working and keep what is.
7. Have the right people. The media was calling for coach Tom Coughlin to be fired yet the Giants stuck with him. In social media, work with a smart social media team and have confidence which will likely lead to the program being successful. 
8. Quality over quantity. Eli Manning is no Peyton Manning. Peyton has thrown for more touchdowns and has been on fewer TV commercials, yet Eli now has more super bowl rings than his big brother. Just because your competition may have bigger social media numbers, doesn't mean you are destined to fail. 
9. Stay focused. The Patriots boarded a plane for the game after a huge rally; the Giants held a normal Saturday practice. Were the Giants more focused? Maybe. Make your social media program similarly focused to reach the goals of your efforts. 
10. Patience is key. Football season is long and success doesn't happen overnight. Stay committed to your social media efforts and wait for the long-term results.