Archive for March, 2010

The Official PR Salary & Bonus Report – 2010 Edition, recently released by PR executive recruiting firm Spring Associates, reported PR salaries were down in 2009: Agency salaries decreased an average of 10.6 percent and in-house corporate communications decreased by 11.3 percent. As a comparison, in 2008 agency salaries increased 2.7 percent.

Across the board billing rates decreased: down seven to ten percent for independent agencies, versus five to seven percent for holding company owned agencies.

What was your experience like in 2009 and how is 2010 treating you so far?

Arika Anderson Daniels is a founding partner of Scatena Daniels Communications, a boutique marketing communications agency focusing on connections, creativity and results based out of San Diego, Calif., as well as one of the founding editors of SoCalPRBlog. Follow her on Twitter.

San Diegans have been buzzing online about #influenceSD’s inaugural awards program to recognize the city’s social media movers and shakers.

After weeks of online nominations and voting, the finalists were revealed Wednesday night for a number of categories including Top Blogger, Top Non-Profit, Best in Business and Top Agency (disclosure – RKPR, my agency, is among the finalists). A complete list of finalists can be found here.

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In real life, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, but not necessarily in PR.  Believe it or not, it’s easier to reach some of the big outlets through an intermediate route rather than contacting the big folks directly. This is because some media folks are skeptical about PR people and automatically assume any pitch is made solely to sell a product. Granted, that is the main purpose, but a good PR person understands what journalists want and take that into consideration before formulating the pitch. Read the rest of this entry »

It may just be me, but I feel like I’m engaging in contests every day – whether I’m the participant or the creator, I love the process. It’s a fun extension of a brand and a terrific way to link social media tools with a Web site and e-commerce.  Be it friends pushing their love story on Crate and Barrel’s “Ultimate Wedding Contest” or a business aiming to win a “Best of” ranking, there is fun, prizes and customer relationships to be had.

A great example is Artistic Hub, a technology platform that makes contests easy to create, manage and share on the Web. I had the chance to interview the founder, Patrick Dillon, based in San Diego, Calif.  Here’s the scoop:

1. How do contests serve as a smart tactic to support a larger marketing communications strategy?
Integrated marketing strategies are really about how to complete a picture, and contests are a simple and effective way to reach people. That’s where it all starts. We focus on creating truly interactive contests that generate enough interest so that you can spread a bigger message with a captive audience. We make contests sticky!
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UPDATE: As of April 16, 2010, the AP Stylebook has officially changed the entry for “Web site” to “website,” a revision that was predicted at the end of this post. The official AP Stylebook entry now reads:

website: A location on the World Wide Web that maintains one or more pages at a specific address. Also, webcam, webcast and webmaster. But as a short form and in terms with separate words, the Web, Web page and Web feed. See Web.

Q: In AP style, when do you use Web site or web site or Website, etc.? I personally use Web site, but everyone handles it differently.                                                                                                                                             – Anonymous, University Heights, San Diego

Good question, and one that many people do not ask; instead, they choose the “Web site” wording of their choice based on personal preference or because they “feel” it is correct. (Note: In my opinion, neither of these methods should be the sole factor for determining best writing practices for any organization – PR- or media-wise – especially for the sake of consistency and when drafting public documents.)

According to the Associated Press Stylebook, you are correct. In ALL instances, it should be written as “Web site,” with a capital “W” and two separate words. Read the rest of this entry »

SoCalPRBlog has been nominated for Blog of the Year at #InfluenceSD. Please support our efforts to keep the local communications industry informed and in-tune with the ever-changing marketplace by VOTING for us! 

#influenceSD is a San Diego based awards event created to unite champions in new media and celebrate success in social media and the people behind the campaigns and content.

Thank you for your support!

SoCalPRBlog Editors: Arika, Denise, Lauren, Jennifer and Rachel

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Former KSWB-er Returns to iWeatherman Roots

Meteorologist Kyle Hunter, a familiar face reporting San Diego weather, has resumed production of iWeatherman.com, after his recent departure from KSWB-TV (Fox 5). Hunter posts current weather reports, twice a day, one at 12 noon and the second at 6 p.m. Hunter is the “World’s First Internet Weatherman – the iWeatherman™” posting his weather reports on the Web, beginning during the earliest days of the Internet in 1992. Tune in to his site  and follow along on Twitter.

KUSI Welcomes New Morning Show Producer

KSWB-TV’s Jay Jones headed across town to KUSI-TV where he will be the new producer on the station’s Good Morning San Diego  program. So look for some big changes on San Diego’s independent news station. Send pitches to planner@kusi.com. Read the rest of this entry »

For some mid-week laughs, check out this fight between producers on a recent Italian news broadcast. Hilarious!

Arika Anderson Daniels is a founding partner of Scatena Daniels Communications, a boutique marketing communications agency focusing on connections, creativity and results based out of San Diego, Calif., as well as one of the founding editors of SoCalPRBlog. Follow her on Twitter.

I started out like many in the PR field, as a generalist account executive at a mid-size PR agency pre-Internet bubble.  Once the sky started to fall and tech clients disappeared overnight, I was moved to start supporting large financial firms involved in venture capital and leveraged buyouts.

It was a rewarding job, working with these masters of the universe and becoming immersed in the financial media and learning how no news sometimes was a good thing. Two years later, I was lured to the wonderful world of Wall Street, working in PR for a large brokerage firm, promoting financial advisors in their local markets. It was great to travel across the country and drive media interest in local markets help build their brand. Read the rest of this entry »

Social Muse Welcome Two New Clients

Social Muse Communications, a Los Angeles-based PR and social media marketing agency founded by Christine Kirk (@luxuryprgal), recently added two new clients to its roster. Social Muse Communications represents restaurants, travel, luxury hospitality, technology, and lifestyle brands. We consult brands seeking ways to integrate social media within their overall marketing and PR programs and provide guidance, expert advice and strategic direction for participation across various social networks such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, FourSquare, MySpace and LinkedIn. Read the rest of this entry »