It seems like every time you refresh your browser, there’s a new social media platform vying for your attention. Cue a slew of blog posts and articles about why your business should be an active user of that platform. There is some merit to this; increasing your visibility among your clients and potential clients is obviously important, and if they are using a certain social media platform, being present in that arena makes good sense.

Yet while public relations is constantly evolving thanks to these new platforms and sites, there are still many time-tested, tried-and-true principles that every good public relations professional adheres to, regardless of what popular social media site is taking off this week or the next.
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Social media is a critical enabler of engagement, connecting businesses with customers and the people who influence their decisions and perceptions. Social networks present opportunities to reach a variety of important segments that complement the structure of any organization. In addition to standard community management, delegation is necessary to engage on all social media fronts.

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Finding the perfect stock WordPress theme to fit your specific needs is rare. More often, web designers will find a theme that is packed with cutting-edge functionality but its design is often less than unique. In situations like this, understanding how to use WordPress parent and child themes can allow you to have the best of both worlds – inspiring functionality and a custom design.

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You have your social media plan figured out and you’re creating useful, engaging content – so what’s next? You need to build an audience that cares about your message, product or client. And the most straightforward way to build an audience that cares is to be genuinely social online. These tools are all about building relationships, and there’s no way to shortcut authentic relationship-building. Building an audience on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter is an art and a science, and creating excellent content alone won’t get you followers. By keeping the concept of being social on social media in mind, you’ll be able to gather an audience that will stick around.
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When your organization gets positive media coverage, it gets a bump – in employee morale, often in sales, and in gaining recognition that can help you stand out in a crowded marketplace. Earning that coverage can be tricky, though, if you don’t follow a few basic rules. Here are seven things to consider when trying to earn media coverage for your organization or client.

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Press releases are an essential element of any public relations strategy. Short and compelling, they detail such things as product releases, event announcements and other newsworthy items a company produces. Along with informing the media and the industry at large, press releases are also meant to pique the interest of journalists, who might be interested in exploring the topic further for a story.

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LinkedIn has added a lot of new features in the last couple years, positioning itself as the professional social network and working to provide functionality similar to Facebook. If you haven’t claimed or updated your business’ LinkedIn page in a while, it might be time to check out a few things you can do to liven up your presence on the fast-growing network of over 200 million members.

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We began using online tracking tools (ASP software) several years ago, primarily for tracking registration for events hosted by clients. How we use the tool has expanded, and we find that you can do a lot even with the basic tracking utilities.

If you search for “online feedback tools,” you will find a slew of them. From SurveyMonkey to Zoomerang and Get Satisfaction, there are many sophisticated and specialized options that you can evaluate to see what best meets your project needs and price point.

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Many of Pivot’s clients find themselves, on occasion, hosting a press conference or media event. It could be to launch a new product, address a public concern, or for a number of other reasons, but regardless, being prepared for these kinds of media encounters is critical to success. The members of the media in attendance will, no doubt, have questions for you, and answering their questions thoughtfully and with a clear message will be critical. Here are several tips for handling media encounters with grace, poise and totality.

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Showing strong samples of typography is often the best way to distinguish yourself as a graphic designer. Good typography requires high attention to detail that other designers will recognize and appreciate. Here is a list of ten common mistakes you can avoid to improve the use of typography in your designs.

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