Navigating the New World of Public Relations

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Public Relations used to be a high-cost endeavor, leaving many companies at a distinct disadvantage. The Internet leveled the playing field. Now online public relations is all about engaging your customer and building community. Learn how to creatively and cost-effectively deliver your PR and marketing messages online, including the tools and techniques you’ll need in this new media landscape. We’ll cover:

• How Online PR differs from traditional PR
• How to write effective online press releases
• How to set up an online press kits
• How to distribute online articles
• How to set up article banks/newsrooms on your site
• Why you should be concerned about reputation management
• How to engage online communities (Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn, Digg, forums, etc.)

Thinking about starting a blog for your business? You’ll need to know a few things before you get started. Blogging is about creating a community and connection with your customers. Find out if blogging may benefit your business. You’ll learn:

• All about blogs
• Benefits of business blog
• How to determine if a blog is right for your business
• Do’s and Don’ts of Blogging
• Feedreaders (Bloglines, My Yahoo!, etc.)
• How to get started blogging

Collyn Floyd manages online marketing and public relations for The Karcher Group. In this role, Floyd writes copy, press releases, and other communications, as well as manages The Karcher Group’s search engine optimization seminars.

Floyd also manages online public relations and content creation for The Karcher Group’s SEO clients. In this role, Floyd’s worked with dozens of clients to help them more effectively communicate their marketing messages online.

Prior to joining TKG, Floyd spent several years working in the offline world handling marketing, event planning, and corporate communications. Past employers include InfoCision Management Corporation in Akron and Mount Union College in Alliance.

Floyd also has a Direct Marketing Association International Silver ECHO Award to her credit for a fundraising campaign she led at InfoCision Management Corporation.

Floyd speaks on keyword selection and copywriting, link building strategies and online public relations at The Karcher Group’s Search Engine Marketing Made Simple seminars. Floyd has also been invited to speak at local convention/visitor bureau events and Search Engine Watch Live!