StoryTeller Media & Communications

Minneapolis/St. Paul Marketing and PR agency and video production company|StoryTeller

social media

Redefining public relations

Dec

12

By Amy Schneider | Categories Our Blog No Comments

Amy Schneider

How the role of public relations has changed

Public relations professionals are known for their communication skills. However, when asked to communicate what it is a public relations professional actually does, many (including myself) come up short. How do you succinctly describe a job that encompasses everything from media relations to social media to collateral material creation to event planning to marketing? Even the textbook definition of public relations leaves something to be desired:

Public relations helps an organization and its publics adapt mutually to each other.

This has been the formal definition since 1982. But how can we expect anything from 1982 be relevant in today’s ever-changing communication world? Needless to say, the Public Relation Society of America’s (PRSA) campaign to redefine PR is long overdue.

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Is There A Right Way To Do Social Media?

Nov

30

By Ed Heil | Categories Our Blog, Social Media No Comments

Ed Heil

Is there a right way to “do” social media? I suppose it’s no different than asking whether there’s a right way to “do” conversation and the answer is, probably not. However, there are socially acceptable ways to have a conversation just as there are socially acceptable ways to engage in social media. So then, it is also true that there are those in social media who are socially inept just as there are people who are socially inept in face to face situations.

The socially awkward, or inept, people online show themselves in many ways, you see them all the time in places like Facebook. They are the people whose self-promoting posts are always about themselves or they’ll relentlessly comment on your posts or conversations only to talk about themselves. If you’re wondering if you’re socially inept or awkward in social media -as a brand or as yourself take this litmus test:

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A Social Media Mistake: A Case Study of Online Customer Service

Nov

28

By KHeil | Categories Our Blog, Social Media No Comments

KHeil

Social Media Misstep: A Case Study

In this relatively new age of social media marketing, so many businesses are finding their way. Some have catapulted their businesses into overnight successes, while others are plodding along trying to figure things out and then there are those who are still on the sideline. Nevertheless, it seems daily there are new case studies of both social media best practices and worst practices.

Recently, here in Minnesota, those of us in the PR and social media space witnessed a faux pas that reminded us of the power of online marketing. A Minneapolis-based, family owned, liquor and cheese shop, ran into a buzz saw of online public opinion that left customers irate and the company stuck on mute. This store, which claims to be the largest of its kind in the midwest, has been a one-stop shop destination for the biggest selections of wines, cheeses and beer.

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Take Time to Develop Social Media

Oct

9

By Ed Heil | Categories Our Blog, Social Media No Comments

Ed Heil

We live in an interesting time, on many levels. One aspect about our society today is our need for immediate gratification. Whether it’s purchasing material items, relationships or results in work - we want it and we want it now, or else!

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Maximize the Power of Social Media - Help People

Sep

3

By Ed Heil | Categories Our Blog, Social Media No Comments

Ed Heil

When I was growing up, my dad’s first cousin Joe Fedor used to call our house from time to time and my mom would always say, “It’s Uncle Joey again,” even though he’s a cousin and not an uncle, “I wonder what he needs now.”  It’s the age old case, you only hear from relatives when they need a favor.

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Engage Your Customers with Dynamic Web Content

Jul

29

By Ed Heil | Categories Our Blog, Social Media No Comments

Ed Heil

If David Letterman had the same show every single night with the same monologue, the same guest, the same Top 10, would you watch every night?  If you saw it once, would you sit through it again?  If you checked back a month later, would you watch it again?  This is a question that was posed during a webinar that I participated in the other day.  The answer to these questions is NO WAY!

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Third Party Endorsements: Beyond Mainstream Media

Jul

19

By Ed Heil | Categories Our Blog, Social Media No Comments

Ed Heil

Third party endorsements.  Our clients love third party endorsements, especially when that “third” party is the media.  For years, that’s what PR professionals have gone after - the coveted third party endorsement. Morning news? Great.  Daily paper? Fantastic.  Evening news? Wonderful.  Oprah?  Oprah? Somebody get me the paper bag and hand fan, I’m feeling dizzy.  I should say right now, I value all of the above as meaningful results for the hard work of our team.  But with the growing use and understanding of social media the best third party endorsements are not necessarily from the news media.

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Blogging for Your Clients versus Blogging AS Your Clients

May

27

By Ed Heil | Categories Our Blog, Social Media 3 Comments

Ed Heil

Okay, so I went on a mini-blogging sabbatical.  Sue me.  I’m back.  Truth is, I was never far away really, I’ve been spending more time blogging on my clients blog than my own, which is good for our clients, not so good for StoryTeller.  Oh, yes, you heard me, blogging for my clients.

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Why Golf is Still A Worthwhile Business Expense

Apr

29

By Ed Heil | Categories Ed's Blog 1 Comment

Ed Heil

I play golf. I don’t play nearly as much as I’d like or as much as I did before my wife and I started raising children, but I love the game and will play whenever I can sneak away to get in 18 holes. Heck, I’ll take 9 if that’s all I can get in. I’ll also play with just about anyone. Man, woman, senior citizen, little old ladies and little kids. I have friends I enjoy playing with, but I’ve never been averse to taking my clubs to the course alone and finding a group to play with. You always meet interesting people when you join others.

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Getting Started in Social Media: It’s Not Too Late

Apr

27

By Ed Heil | Categories Our Blog, Social Media No Comments

Ed Heil

So, where are you on “all this social media stuff?” It’s interesting to me how many people, both friends and business associates, have not plugged in to social media. Especially, since various forms surround us and many have no idea it exists. Consider a few examples:

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