National Conference Advice- Days 1 and 2

The Public Relations Student Society of America’s 2008 National Conference has been an an amazing experience thus far. I am making lots of great connections with fellow PRSSA members from across the nation, and learning so much about my future career as a public relations professional.

In an effort to share some of the valuable public relations knowledge students are learning, I will be posting my “Top Five PR Tips” from each day, along with who gave the great advice. Below are my Top Fives for days one and two.

Day One

1. Brainstorm before the brainstorm session. By having some ideas ready before your brainstorming meeting, you will demonstrate your motivation and help to generate new ideas (Elon University).
   

2. Understand the office or team hierarchy. Be sure you know who you report to for questions about assignments, proofreading or other issues. You shouldn’t be turning in your first draft of a press release to the vice president of communications (Elon University).
   

3. Always remember to actually attach documents when sending an e-mail attachment. Having to send that embarrassing “oops” e-mail when you realize you forgot to click the attach button is unprofessional (University of Nebraska at Omaha).
   

4. When branding your client or PRSSA chapter, “Stick with simplicity--the rest is history.” Great brands and logos build upon a simple idea to create a winning and memorable look (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee).
   

5. Always follow up with interviews, client requests or job applications with a thank you note. Whether or not you get the job or client, it is important to maintain a good relationship for the future (University of Nebraska at Omaha).
   

Day Two

1. Remember Churchill’s famous words, “the price of greatness is responsibility.” In the demanding field of public relations, responsibility is synonymous with your rise to the top (Ofield Dukes, president, Ofield Dukes & Associates).
   

2. In crisis communication, your response impacts the organization’s reputation more than the crisis itself. Focus on delivering truthful messages and finding an effective solution to the problem--not on blaming someone for the cause (Tim McIntyre, vice president of communications, Domino’s Pizza, Inc.)
   

3. PR practitioners are not “spin doctors.” We focus on truth--not spin--by offering other perspectives on a situation or product (Tim McIntyre, vice president of communications, Domino’s Pizza, Inc.).
   

4. When used effectively, direct mail is still a great way to reach your target audience(s). For example, many listeners reported that WCSX-FM’s birthday card was the only one they received that year (Ben Perez, regional promotions manager, Greater Media Detroit).
   

5. The less your company’s “top dogs” talk, the more of an impact it has when they do. Delegate your organization’s expertise and resources in order to maximize the chances your message will be heard (David Wieme, director, strategic communication, Palace Sports & Entertainment).