10 Grammar Rules You NEED To Know…At All Times [INFOGRAPHIC]
We can’t count the number of times we’ve seen people in or aspiring to be in the PR industry use the wrong “their/there/they’re” or “your/you’re.” This is a big no-no, and just plain annoying. If you make these mistakes, study these 10 grammar rules every night and every morning until you never make the same mistakes again.
#WeeklyDisruptor: Noelle Hays, Founder of Sass Kisser
Each week at Embrace Disruption we introduce you to an influential person in the entrepreneurial, digital, blogger, arts, culture, film, or media world! Every Thursday, you can check back at EDPR to find out who we think is particularly amazing at ‘embracing disruption’ within their respective industries.
This week, we’d like to introduce you to Noelle, a pediatric nurse based out of Phoenix, Arizona and Founder of Sass Kisser, a line of all-natural lip products.
What’s your official job title, and where did you go to school?
I attended Northern Arizona University where I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and I am currently a pediatric nurse at a hospital in Phoenix, Arizona.
Elevator pitch. Describe yourself in a nutshell (or sea shell, or any shell for that matter).
I’ve always been a do it yourself person. I was the toddler making my own dollhouses from toilet paper rolls and shoeboxes- I even had my own hemp jewelry business in the 9th grade. My mantra in life is to accomplish what you want by simply utilizing your own skills and drive and to never ask of others to get you where you’d like to be.
Why did you pursue what you’re doing now? What was the inspiration?
I am quite possibly the pickiest person when it comes to my lip balms. I see lip balm as a very personal thing. What else does a person have with them constantly besides their cell phone? From unpronounceable ingredients to lackluster results, I was tired of constantly buying lip balms that didn’t have my needs in mind. So I did my research and made my own all-natural balms and glosses and if the big cosmetic companies don’t like it, they can kiss my sass!
What is the best part of your day-to-day?
My favorite moments are those times when it’s just me in my kitchen making lip balms and trying out different combinations. It’s peaceful for me in there; I like to call it my laboratory. I love my day job as a pediatric nurse because it is constantly rewarding and challenging but nothing beats those quiet moments at home to myself with just my husband and my puppy.
What’s the most challenging?
I am one of those people that have to do everything at once. I will have an idea of what goals I want to accomplish next in my life and instead of going down the list one at a time I do it all at the same time. I love life that way. It makes me feel like you never know for sure what you will accomplish next and who knows, maybe next week you will start your own small business because you feel like it is a good idea. Which is exactly what I did. It certainly isn’t easy to balance, but I guess I prefer a little chaos!
If you took a look in the cliché crystal ball, what do you see for yourself?
First of all, whatever I see, it better be sparkly. Because everything is better with sparkles. Second of all I hope to encourage others to find all-natural, simple solutions for their busy lives that still make them feel beautiful and glamorous.
How do you embrace disruption in your work and personal life?
Being the stubborn person that I am, I refuse to sacrifice the integrity of Sass Kisser in order to make my life easier. If there is something that can be done to better my product or my business I will do it regardless of the energy it requires of me. My supporters come first and my goal as an entrepreneur is to only improve on what I am doing to make those who support me happier. Having an all-natural business is certainly not the easiest path in the cosmetic industry, but I enjoy the challenge.
What is the most memorable moment in your career?
My family is my biggest supporter and during one of our family brainstorming meetings I looked around the table and realized that each person, even my older brothers and husband, was wearing my Sass Kisser gloss. A table full of all-natural glossy lips- that’s my proudest accomplishment!
Do you support any initiatives or charities? Tell us about it, and please provide links!
When I was much younger my family was blessed by the Make a Wish Foundation. During a tough part of all of our lives, we were given the chance to go on the most wonderful vacation completely funded by them. The wishes they grant for children with life threatening medical conditions is absolutely inspiring and I can tell you first hand it blesses not only the child but also their entire family.
Visit Make a Wish for more details.
Tell us what you see yourself doing at 65 years old.
At 65 years old I hope to be retired and relaxing at a beach house with my husband and our family including lots of grandchildren! Oh, and puppies, you always need puppies around. Honestly, anything with babies and puppies and I’d be happy.
Just for fun: if you had to pick one app in the whole APPVERSE, what would it be?
Don’t tell anyone, but my guilty pleasure is totally Temple Run. I haven’t been able to stop playing it! It’s completely an addiction. Oh and fruit ninja. I can’t get enough! I always try to sneak onto Temple Run without anyone knowing I’m playing but then my sound will be on and the monkey that screeches at the beginning gives me away- dang monkey!
Top 10 PR Pro Tips Of The Week For Your Business: Nov 6, 2013
Here are the top 10 PR Pro tweets for this week. You’ll see some of the tweets coming from the same account, and we’ll call them ‘Repeat Disruptors.’ Their tweets are too good to pass up.
Time for another #PublicRelations #PRTip of the day – If you don't have the 'budget', I don't have the time or the space. #QuidProQuo
— Ascending Butterfly (@Ascending1) November 2, 2013
Tell a story with a photo. It can make the difference between U getting media coverage or not #PRTip #entrepreneur #leadership #smallbiz
— Susan Harrow (@soundbitesiren) November 1, 2013
#PRTip If a journalist has given you coverage, thank them! They rarely get thanked so this will go a long way.
— Aneela Rose PR (@AneelaRosePR) November 5, 2013
Think like a reporter when you submit story ideas #PRTIP
— Christina Daves (@PRforAnyone) November 4, 2013
#PRTip – Start your week off by writing down exactly how you will market your business every day this week. Then do it!
— DianaEnnen (@DianaEnnen) November 4, 2013
#PRTip: When you DM at pitch on #Twitter incl your email address for f/u. #HTPR
— Lizz Harmon, CEO (@LizzHarmon) November 4, 2013
Stand out! Always send a handwritten thank you note! #PRTIP
— Christina Daves (@PRforAnyone) October 31, 2013
#PRTip Journalists want 3 things: What they (not you) consider is news; instant access to experts; someone to do their homework for them.
— Aneela Rose PR (@AneelaRosePR) November 4, 2013
#PRTIP always show gratitude to your media contacts when you're granted interviews or your work is published. It's all about #Relationships.
— Shane B (@iamSGB) November 2, 2013
https://twitter.com/TheBrainBureau/statuses/396332058923917312
How Mayor Rob Ford Could Have Saved Face During “Crack-Gate”
Rob Ford in all his close-up glory
(Source)
In light of Rob Ford’s recent confession to smoking crack cocaine, we decided to write about how his train-wreck of a impromptu press conference could have been diverted from disastrous to passable. After a short discussion, we realized that he made the situation much worse simply by the way he presented it (click the link to watch the press conference). We can use Ford as an example for any communications crisis/disaster by explaining different ways that it can be dealt with. Preserving at least a shred of the company’s or person’s dignity in a PR disaster such as this one is key. Even when it seems impossible to do so, such as Mayor Rob Ford’s case, there are still ways to soften the blow (or crack).
Communications crises and disasters are inevitable at some point or another. It’s knowing how to deal with them accordingly and ‘saving face’ that makes a scandal less…well…scandalous.
Step 1: Admitting the problem - Imagine how differently Mayor Rob Ford’s press conference would have gone if he had shifted focus from his crack-smoking video to him publicly admitting that he has an alcohol problem and that he will be seeking help. Temporarily leaving his position as Mayor while he is ‘recovering’ also would have helped greatly. By simply blaming it on a ‘drunken stupor,’ he gives absolutely zero gravity to the situation. Calling your ex and yelling at them is something that happens in a drunken stupor. A mayor of a city caught smoking crack on video is a problem. You will still be held accountable, of course – there’s no way you can get around that. But at least you have admitted your problem to the public and shown them that you are human with imperfections and mistakes.
Step 2: Owning up to the problem – It seems as if the mayor spent most the press conference bashing the reporters for asking the wrong questions and claiming that he did not lie to them at any point in the past. As if he’s trying to blame the reporters for his mistake, Mayor Rob Ford is trying to shift focus from him denying allegations to the fact that the reporters were at fault by not asking the right question. He admits to making mistakes, but it becomes overshadowed by his blaming the reporters. By owning up to his problems and being completely honest with the public on a more humbling level, he could have saved some respect (not much, but some). What else can be said when you tell people “I did this, and therefore I will be held accountable for my actions,” Sure, you’ll still be viewed negatively, but you’ll be saving some face.
Step 3: Lay low - If you’ve admitted your problem and owned up to your problem, then you’ve got a good chance to recover from the publicity mess. However, we recommend you lay low for a while and let the dust (insert another crack pun) settle before coming back out into the public eye. At this point, stepping down or temporarily leaving his position is Mayor Rob Ford’s only chance to survive this scandal.
20 Marketing Statistics That Will Drive 2014 [INFOGRAPHIC]
It’s no secret that the ground continues to shift in the world of both marketing and PR. We find it interesting to see what changes are predicted for 2014 — particularly with the shift in focus to more social and digital marketing. Of course, we’re big proponents of the digital shift and favour any and all forms of disruption. After all, that’s what keeps things interesting! Enjoy today’s INFOGRAPHIC from Webdam solutions outlining 20 marketing stats that they think will drive 2014!
#WeeklyDisruptor: Gustavo Espinola, Photographer & Founder of Focal Journey
Each week at Embrace Disruption we introduce you to an influential person in the digital, blogger, arts, culture, film, or media world! Every Thursday, you can check back at EDPR to find out who we think is particularly amazing at ‘embracing disruption’ within their respective industries.
This week, we’d like to introduce you to Gustavo, a Toronto lifestyle & travel photographer and founder of FocalJourney.com.
What’s your official job title, and where did you go to school?
Photographer and Founder of FocalJourney.com. I had the chance to go to school in different parts of the world (Canada, Argentina, France).
Elevator pitch. Describe yourself in a nutshell (or sea shell, or any shell for that matter).
Lifestyle and travel photography for the style-conscious global urbanite. I was blessed with the chance of living in different continents, usually in big urban centres; so I feel as comfortable being in Toronto, Paris, or Buenos Aires. I gather that I could describe myself as the global urbanite that my photography concept aims at.
Why did you pursue what you’re doing now? What was the inspiration?
I drew and painted for more than 7 years, and I worked in fashion as well, so I have always been drawn towards the arts. Also, I travel for business and pleasure, so my work as a photographer allows me to combine the two things I like the most: travel and design.
What is the best part of your day-to-day?
Every day is different. One day you have a photo shoot, the next day you attend an event, the next day you work alone editing photos, etc. So I guess the best part of my day-to-day is that you never know where the day will lead you. It is always very exciting not to know exactly what your day will be like. In addition to that, I would also say that I get to visit very interesting places and meet amazing people who, like myself, crave design and beauty in different forms, whether it is fashion, photography, architecture, interiors, etc.
What’s the most challenging?
The most challenging thing is to make the ordinary look beautiful, I reckon. As a photographer, I have to look beyond the obvious. That is extremely important to be able to capture the essence of what is in front of my lense. Cause of the critical eye of a photographer, you learn how to visually appreciate some of the most ordinary things that most people usually take for granted.
If you took a look in the cliché crystal ball, what do you see for yourself?
I always wonder what the future might bring for me. I see myself as being a wise old man who lived life intensely, but responsibly, with no regrets. I would like to look back on how I lived my life, personally and professionally, and realise that it was meaningful to other people.
How do you embrace disruption in your work and personal life?
Disruption is unavoidable, but I have to quickly adapt and make the most out of it, because it will happen whether you like it or not. As a photographer, knowing how to adapt to constant disruption is crucial. Whether it is unexpected poor lighting conditions, passers-by getting in front of the camera, etc, these are some of the disruptions I have to face on a regular basis, but I am used to that. In my personal life, however, I create my own disruptions by doing things spontaneously without having to worry about schedules. I love when people call me unexpectedly to go out for coffee or a drink. Having lived abroad, I see that spontaneity in North America is unfortunately extremely rare nowadays.
What is the most memorable moment in your career?
I am still growing, both as a person and as a photographer, so that memorable moment is yet to come (stay tuned!).
Do you support any initiatives or charities? Tell us about it, and please provide links!
I have been part of different organisations related to international education and development, whether it was providing supplies to rural schools in Latin America or visiting schools in Asia (see www.lionsclub.org).
Tell us what you see yourself doing at 65 years old.
That is a question that is very difficult for me to answer since I do not know what I will be doing when I am 40. In an ideal world, I will be retired living somewhere in Spain along the Mediterranean eating tapas and drinking vino all day
Just for fun: if you had to pick one app in the whole APPVERSE, what would it be?
One app I can’t live without is the weather forecast app. I constantly check the weather on my mobile phone to know what the day will be like. Based on that, I decide what to wear, where to go, and even what to do during the day.
Top 10 PR Pro Tips Of The Week For Your Business: Oct 30, 2013
For today’s post, we’re trying out something new. Each week we’ll be looking for the ten most useful and informative PR tips tweeted by PR professionals. We will strive to deliver the best tips that are selectively picked by our associates. Our goal is to have these tips readily available to our readers in a fast, informative and useful way.
Enjoy this week’s picks:
Attract followers in your target market. Why care about 1000s of followers who dont care about what you have to say? #PRTips
— Cyndy Hoenig (@CyndyHoenig) October 29, 2013
Tailor your message, tailor your pitch, and think deeper than just sending a free gift. -@jinnaboo #PRTips #fashionprcon @FashionPRCon
— Tanya (@labellatanchi) October 26, 2013
you can't develop other brands, without developing your personal brand first – you. #PRtips
— It's VAN™ (@THEfreshVAN) October 26, 2013
PR is every outward expression of you. Website, logo, tweets, partnerships, what you're wearing. Everything. #PRTips
— Cyndy Hoenig (@CyndyHoenig) October 26, 2013
You also want to make sure that you talk to an attorney to help you set up your biz structure. You need to be protected! #WIPRTALK #PRTips
— Women In PR™ (@WomenInPR1) October 22, 2013
When writing your headline you want to keep it simple and catchy. Keep in mind to always think like a reporter #PRTips #wiprh
— Women In PR™ (@WomenInPR1) October 13, 2013
Make sure you know the VALUE of your product and what you have to offer consumers #branding #smallbiz #PR101 #PRtip
— PR Mentality (@PRMentality) October 29, 2013
#PRTip: Include new developments in your newsletters, and help media locate them. #HTPR
— Lizz Harmon, CEO (@LizzHarmon) October 29, 2013
You don't only want to be apologetic but you want to offer a solution #PRTips #wisdom #crisispr #wiprsummit3
— Women In PR™ (@WomenInPR1) September 28, 2013
Share your expertise through informative and engaging content. http://t.co/4o1g4Gi62n #PRTip
— Christina Daves (@PRforAnyone) October 30, 2013
5 Tips To Get The Most Out Of Vine
Vine, a popular app and social media network where you film 6-second clips, has created many mini-celebrities, such as Jerome Jarre. The French Vine star is known for awkwardly and hilariously incorporating strangers and passers-by in his videos. Before he was becoming a Vine sensation with his videos, Jarre also co-founded the web based, event management software company, Atendy. Jarre is a perfect example of how you can use your Vine stardom to build your brand.
Launched just this past January, Vine challenges its users to create meaningful and memorable content in just 6-seconds. With attention spans seemingly becoming shorter, it’s no wonder that Vine has become so popular in such a short period of time. You might be wondering how Vine or Instagram videos are different from YouTube, and the biggest difference is that the two apps are strictly designed for use on a mobile device. Since Instagram released its video feature in June, the life of Vine was in jeopardy. However, with pages devoted to sharing funny vines, such as the Best Vines page on Facebook, we can see that the lifeline of Vine continues to be healthy and stable.
Instagram videos offer users a much longer shooting time (15 seconds vs. Vine’s 6 seconds) along with 13 filters and the ability to delete the previously shot scene. Vine is much simpler in that you simply tap to record and post. There is no option to add filters, although they recently updated the app so you can go back to delete and move around scenes before you publish it. While there has been much debate over which app is, for lack of another term, ‘better’, we find that Vine caters to a tighter community but demands creativity because of its short time-frame and simplified editing tools.
If you’re not yet a Vine sensation, you can still make your voice heard and vine-ify your brand. Here are some helpful tips on how to master the popular app:
1. Use stop-motion for effects: The reason why stop-motion videos are so popular (the good ones, at least) is due to the amount of work and thought put into them. One mistake could ruin the whole clip, meaning users have to go back and record the Vine all over again. Here’s a quick tutorial. Take a look at Target’s use of stop-motion filming for their most recent Halloween-themed Vine:
2. Create a #contest: Just like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other social media networks, you can use hashtags in your Vine posts to make them more accessible and visible to a wider audience. Boost your brand’s campaign by creating a contest that gets your consumers involved in the action. For example, Urban Outfitters paired with Converse to hold a contest called #yourkicks, where customers created Vines that showed off their converse kicks. The best Vines were entered into a contest with a chance to win a number of awesome goodies.
3. Sneak peeks & behind the scenes: Consumers love being in-the-know about future products and what’s going on behind the scenes. Excite them by making a quick vine showing off specific features of a new product or a day in the office. Include a hashtag that’s both general but also fitting for your Vine, such as #sneakpeek or #sneakpreview. If you make the hashtag too specific, it actually becomes more difficult for users to find your content. Check out Kate Spade’s behind the scenes Vine:
4. Tips & How-to: A great way to engage consumers without blatantly over-selling your own product is to give helpful tips. Two good examples are Intel’s “Sticky note” tip for cleaning the space between keys on your keyboard. The Vine is brilliant because it gives the consumer everyday tips and incorporates the product without being too pushy like typical ads. By focusing the attention away from selling, the ad literally sells itself. Consumers suddenly want to watch brand videos produced by a company (aka a subtle, helpful advertisement).
5. Be creative: This is arguably the most important aspect of Vine. A post needs to be creative and, overall, interesting enough to catch the consumer’s eye and be shared. A good example of this is Gap’s Vine for their #BeBright campaign for their line of 1969 denim.
For more amazing examples, be sure to visit BrandsOnVine.com to get inspired by some of the world’s leading brands and their Vines.
5 Things Super Successful People Do Before 8 AM [INFOGRAPHIC]
We’re always on the look out for helpful tips to share with our readers on how to be more successful in their day-to-day routines. We came across this helpful INFOGRAPHIC that outlines five things you should consider integrating into your busy mornings.
Here are all five as identified by fast business Canada:
- Map Out Your Day
- Eat Breakfast
- Get Some Exercise
- Visualize Your Day
- Attempt Your Worst Tasks First
Check out all five in detail below:
Our Do’s And Don’ts For Halloween Decorating
When it comes to decorating for a holiday, there is a fine line between getting it just right and overdoing it. Some people are very spirited and go all out on Halloween decorations, which can be just as frightening as the day itself. Here are some great ad stylish ways you can decorate your office, room or house without overdoing it.
DO
Pumpkins: there is nothing better than a display of creative and well-carved pumpkins illuminating your porch (or balcony) on a crisp autumn night. Carving pumpkins is not as easy as it seems, though. Think of the design you want (you’ll have to plan for which spaces will be empty or carved out), transfer the design onto the pumpkin, and use more tools than just a knife (they are difficult to carve with, can be dangerous and could ruin the end product).
DON’T
Plastic pumpkins, skeletons, Frankenstein, gravestones, etc: Even if you’re decorating your office, there is something about those cheap plastic novelty Halloween items that are an absolute eyesore. If you share a space, please refrain from these novelty items as your neighbours or coworkers may not have the same decorating ideas as you.
The palm trees definitely don’t add to the “spook”
DO
Wreaths: A wreath adds the perfect Halloween-spirited touch to your front entrance. You can add one to your apartment door or place one on the front door of your home. Enough said.
DON’T
Cobwebs, fake spiders, and strobe lights: Unless you are turning your home into a haunted house for all the neighbourhood kids, refrain from fake cobwebs, spiders and especially strobe lights. There are people out there who have a terrible fear of spiders, and the sight of even a fake one might be enough to send them into a catatonic state of mind. Skip buying the strobe lights for obvious reasons: one of your trick-or-treaters could be an epileptic (the flashing lights are also just plain annoying).
This just looks like a pain to clean the next day.
DO
Scented candles: Even if you’re decorating your office, you can decorate the space with scented candles and not have to light them (most offices won’t allow you to light candles). Some candles are pungent enough for you to be able to smell them even when they’re not lit. Scents like pumpkin spice, cinnamon apple, baked apple pie, etc are perfect for the season.
DON’T
Smoke machines: Do you remember coming up to a house to say “trick or treat” only to be cut off by the sound of a smoke machine spraying a thick cloud of smoke, temporarily confusing you and disabling you from any sort of normal human function? We do. There is no need for smoke machines unless you’re the stage designer for The Rolling Stones’ 45th Farewell tour. They can also be dangerous by impeding a trick-or-treaters vision, which could cause an accident (like falling down porch steps – yes, its happened to one of our staff members).
Ideal for tripping over those gravestones, too.
DO
Candy & Baked Goods: This doesn’t quite fall under the category of decorating, but if you have candy and baked goods in the office, your co-workers will love you. Have a wide variety of candy readily available for them to snack on. No matter how old, people love candy! Even if its just one bite to satisfy that sweet tooth.
Overall, be minimalistic! Think ‘less is more’. Don’t go on a spending spree buying Halloween-themed photo albums, fake leaves, banners, or other excessively spirited objects that you can only use once a year. Save your money for a vacation or for Christmas gifts. A simple wreath hanging on the door, soft-glowing lanterns, and carved pumpkins will do the trick. They are inviting and will still make you appear spirited. If you think of creative DIY crafts for your Halloween decorations, your wallet will most certainly thank you.
Sources
http://www.sheknows.com/holidays-and-seasons/articles/805916/halloween-decorating-do-s-and-don-ts
