Minnesota Public Relations![]() Minnesota Public Relations The most recent news, event and jobs in Minnesota Public Relations. Articles
What do you want to read about?
2008-02-29 13:41:00 Hi Everyone,I want to know what topics you are curious about and what you would like to read about in the MNPR Blog.Please let me know what you think the most relevant issues related to PR are. What do you want to know more about? Thanks! More About: Read
Tracking Result
2008-02-27 00:57:00 One of the greatest and most salable portions of SEO is its ability to be tracked. Although only a few advertising or public relations activities can offer absolute tracking of the work completed, SEO gets incredibly close to this. In SEO there are different ways to track everything from page rank to keywords people use to enter a site. Some of this information can be determined by doing queries to check for search engine placement changes or studying site logs. Other information can be found through analytics tools ranging from free, Google Analytics, to not so free, Omniture; but any analytics tool is priceless in terms of data. We are seeing a major trend in companies using analytics to track their PR efforts. Some ways they do this is by sending out an optimized press release and tracking the traffic to the site in reference to the release, including the website in a media spot and watching changes and traffic metrics, or doing a guerilla marketing campaign and measuring a... More About: Tracking , Result
Job - Event Specialist - Kroll Ontrack - Eden Prairie, MN
2008-02-27 00:19:00 Event Specialist - Kroll Ontrack - Eden Prairie, MN More About: Event
PR Professional Help Wanted
2008-02-26 00:36:00 The Minnesota Association of Health Underwriters (MAHU) was established in 1937. MAHU is a professional association whose membership is comprised primarily of professional health & disability insurance agents and brokers, and health & disability carrier and third party administrator representatives.MAHU is a state chapter of the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU), which is located in Arlington, VA. Members participate in state and federal legislative and public policy development that is of mutual interest to our clients, the consuming public, our membership and to our industry. We also offer programs conducive to the professional and educational development of our membership and the greater health and disability benefits community.Our Mission is to promote and sustain a knowledgeable and professional environment for those engaged in the health insurance industry; to further enhance their professional skills and services which, through education, will foster a greate... More About: Wanted , Professional , Help Wanted
RAMA HONORS OFFICEMAX AND MACCABEE GROUP
2008-02-22 12:18:00 The Retail Advertising and Marketing Association (RAMA) has honored "A Day Made Better," the 1,000-school cause marketing campaign produced by OfficeMax and Minneapolis PR agency Maccabee Group , with a national 2008 RACie Award. "A Day Made Better" involved more than 4,000 OfficeMax associates at more than 900 stores, with the PR campaign generating $2.4 million in positive publicity for OfficeMax, including 227 TV segments and hundreds of news articles reaching more than 50 million consumers.Maccabee Group’s campaign for OfficeMax drove a 1,018 percent increase in Web traffic and a 459 percent increase in donations for OfficeMax’s non-profit partner, Adopt-A-Classroom. The campaign earned RAMA’s coveted Peter Glen Award, which honors companies who give back to their community in a unique way.
Job - Creative Director Wanted @ Schermer Kuehl
2008-02-21 18:54:00 Creative Director Wanted @ Schermer Kuehl More About: Creative
Advertise on MNPR Blog
2008-02-20 22:04:00 I added a new feature on the blog today, because many of you from the agency world have been requesting information on how to advertise on this site. Now you can. Click here to find out more information. More About: Blog , Advertise
Online Reputation Management and Social Media
2008-02-20 01:05:00 In last week’s post, I referred to the issue of receiving negative feedback online. This brings about the topic of online reputation management. It’s an emerging practice that combines search marketing and traditional public relations, and allows them to work together to monitor and promote a positive image for a company on the Web. The increasing importance of online reputation management is a result of the social media boom. Checking and managing every social media outlet on a daily basis would be impossible, but there are a few tools that can help. RSS feeds, blog search engines, and search engine alerts are all good ways to keep an eye on the conversation. If negative comments are being made, don’t be afraid to join the discussion. Try and answer the questions people are asking, thank them for the information and, most importantly, let them know the company is listening. Another way to deal with negative press online is to get as much of the search landscape for yo... More About: Social , Media , Management , Online , Reputation
Have you thought about APR?
2008-02-18 21:36:00 APR Prep "Crunch" Course MinnSPRA proudly presents this weekend prep course to its members as well as to colleagues in other fields of public relations who are members of Minnesota PRSA and MAGC.The Crunch Course in intended to be an intensive study of APR relevant topics. Participants will learn what is needed to prepare for the Readiness Review and APR Examination. Topics include: introduction to the APR process; benefits of APR; Readiness Review preparation; public relations models and theories; information technology; research; PR planning and evaluation; media relations; crisis communications; business literacy; ethics and law; and advanced communications issues.Time: 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.Location:Minnetonka Public Schools District Service Center5621 County Road 101, Minnetonka, MN 55345Cost: FREEGet Registration Information Here More About: Thought
YMM selects Children’s Theatre Company as pro bono partner
2008-02-15 21:50:00 Yamamoto Moss Mackenzie (YMM) has selected The Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) as its pro bono partner for 2008 and will work with the theatre’s leadership to develop a new brand identity for CTC. Each year, YMM works in partnership with a non-profit organization to provide a full range of brand strategy and creative services. Yamamoto Moss Mackenzie reviews requests for support annually through this program and does not award cash grants."The program is designed to maximize our resources to do the most good in communities in which we do business, to support our partners in building or maintaining their brand and equipping them with the tools to sustain the effort," says Shelly Regan, president, YMM. "And, as an added bonus, in the selection of CTC, it will be rewarding work for our employees, many of whom are regular CTC attendees with their families.""We appreciate YMM’s inspired choice of Children’s Theatre Company as its 2008 pro bono partner," says Kathy Schaaf, CTC d... More About: Partner , Bono
CLS Promotes Powers and Nordeen
2008-02-15 21:42:00 Carmichael Lynch Spong has promoted two employees of its Creative Resources team in the Minneapolis office. Robert Powers has been promoted from design director to creative director and Craig Nordeen has been promoted from designer to senior designer. "Bob and Craig are catalysts of creative development at Carmichael Lynch Spong and they continue to bring ingenuity to the table and provide our clients with work that cuts through the PR clutter," says Douglas K. Spong, APR, president of Carmichael Lynch Spong.Powers joined Carmichael Lynch Spong two and a half years ago from his last position as a freelance designer for clients including Carmichael Lynch Spong, as well as Wellbridge Inc. and the law firm of Briggs and Morgan. Prior to freelancing, Powers handled advertising design and brand management for Blount Inc., and various design assignments at Upfront Productions.Based in the Minneapolis office of Carmichael Lynch Spong, Powers manages and implements the conceptual and produc...
More Layoffs at Newspapers
2008-02-15 02:10:00 According to PR Week's article yesterday Tribune Co. is slashing jobs thanks to the slow economy. Can already understaffed papers maintain their quality after cutting more jobs? Publisher Stephen D. Carver said he believes the reductions at The Courant – ten are expected to be from the newsroom - can be done without hurting the quality of the newspaper. More About: Newspapers
Communication: The Ingredients of Leadership
2008-02-13 23:35:00 Council of Agency Executives (CAE) SeminarCommunication : The Ingredients of Leadership Please join your colleagues for a stimulating discussion of public relations practice and the role of the top executive in any organization. Because of a new partnership between Minnesota PRSA and the Council of Agency Executives, we can offer you two hours in the company of two of the nation’s best-known counselors to CEOs and other top leaders.You’ll hear James E. Lukaszewski’s seminar, "Communication: The Ingredients of Leadership," a talk which advises top leaders on how to establish a communication strategy, and their personal role in executing it. Author of hundreds of articles and several books, Jim’s newest book, Why Should the Boss Listen to You? will be released two weeks before the Feb. 21 event. Preceding Jim’s seminar, you’ll hear remarks by Lynn Casey, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Padilla Speer Beardsley, one of Minnesota’s oldest and largest public relations fir...
Linking=Building your relevancy
2008-02-12 14:02:00 So for all of you who guessed linking would be this week’s topic, you get a gold star. Link building is another essential aspect of search engine optimization (SEO). The number and relevancy of links that a site has affects how a search engine will rank it. Linking can and should be both internal and external for a site. Internal links can be found on any page within a site and lead to different pages on that site. They show extreme relevancy, promote usability to consumers, and help lead the search engine spiders through the site. External links connect different sites or sources on the Internet to one another. The goal is getting external sites to link to the site being worked with. These links offer some of the greatest weight in where a site will rank in the search engines. However, this does not justify recruiting links from as many sites as possible. The relevancy of the links is just as important (if not more) as the number of links. A highly relevant link would of... More About: Building
Public Affairs Company hires Frederickson
2008-02-11 16:56:00 Public Affairs Company is pleased to announce the addition of Heidi Frederickson to their office. Heidi joins PAC after working on several federal Senate campaigns, both from Washington , D.C. and here in Minnesota . Heidi has also served as Press Secretary for a member of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate."We're very excited to have Heidi on board at Public Affairs Company," said Steve Knuth, President and CEO of PAC. "Heidi’s experience and enthusiasm for public service, advocacy, and media relations make her an ideal fit for PAC and we look forward to her contributions on several levels moving forward." More About: Public
Job - LaBreche looking for a Senior Account Executive
2008-02-08 23:31:00 LaBreche looking for a Senior Account Executive More About: Account Executive
Does Writing Matter?
2008-02-08 14:01:00 I am going to play devil's advocate for a minute and ask a potentially unpleasant question. Does writing still matter?Reporters get 100's of emails a day. Many of them are untargeted email pitches from well intention PR practitioners. I do get some responses from my email pitches but I have to wonder, how many reporters actually take the time to read our emails? I don't think many do - and I don't blame them.Generally, I engage a reporter once I get them on the phone. The chance of coverage for my client goes up exponentially once I get that personal connection. Take a look at Writing Still Matter s Professor Bill Sledzik says it absolutely does.What do you think? Is the press release becoming outdated in our e-mail centric world? Does writing still matter?
Nonprofits gain valuable communications tools during free day-long workshop
2008-02-07 13:29:00 On Saturday, February 9th, from 8:00 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Weber Shandwick will be hosting its 16th annual Telling Your Story workshop for local non-profit organizations at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. The free day-long workshop will provide over 25 local non-profits skills they can use to address their organization’s primary communications challenges.The organizations will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of sessions including, "How to Get Value for Your Web Site" and "I Laughed, I Cried: Creating a Compelling Nonprofit video." CEO and founder of Minnpost.com, Joel Kramer will also address the non-profits about the changing landscape of the media in the Twin Cities.In addition, the organizations will have the opportunity to participate in a one-on-one consulting session with a Weber Shandwick employee to address any specific communication needs and questions. This year's event is co-sponsored by the St. Thomas chapter of the Public Relations Student Soci... More About: Tools , Workshop , Free , Long , Communications
Carlson and Tuthill promoted at Weber Shandwick
2008-02-06 13:20:00 The Twin Cities office of Weber Shandwick today announced the promotions of two employees in the consumer marketing and corporate, community and public affairs practices.Jessica Carlson, who joined the agency in 2005, has been promoted from account executive to senior account executive in the consumer marketing practice. Carlson, an Eagan, Minn. native, graduated with a bachelor's degree in English and management studies from St. Olaf Collage in Northfield, Minn. Stacey Tuthill, who joined the agency in August 2006 as an intern, has been promoted from assistant account executive to account executive in the corporate, community and public affairs practice. In addition to her work on client accounts, Tuthill is a member of the Weber Shandwick | Minneapolis office Employee Action Group. A native of Faribault, Minn., Tuthill graduated from the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minn., and holds a bachelor’s degree in business entrepreneurship.
Keyword Research: Finding the Right Terms
2008-02-05 15:47:00 In the land of search engine optimization (SEO) and public relations the phrase “Content is King” is familiar and lived-by. However, in public relations the focus is on having the “Right Content,” while in SEO having the “Right Content” is fueled by having the “Right words.” Keyword research is at the core of any SEO project. It’s a process that involves the analysis of numerous terms and phrases to determine what words the public is using to attempt to find you (and your competitors) when searching online. Doing Google or Yahoo searches for terms related to the site or topic, asking a client or friends for phrases that come to mind, and analyzing a competitor’s site for different words they are using, can all help to get a base of words to try. Then, there are keyword research tools such as the Google AdWords Keyword tool which is free and allows you to put in some of these words or phrases, hit a button, and get different terms related to the ones you typed... More About: Research , Terms , Keyword Research
Spong Named to Advisory Panel for University of Minnesota
2008-02-04 23:38:00 Carmichael Lynch Spong President Douglas K. Spong, APR, has been named to the inaugural eight-member advisory panel for the Professional M.A. in Strategic Communication Program in the University of Minnesota School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The panel is comprised of some of the Twin Cities most recognized advertising and public relations professionals and will serve as a recommending, consultative body, helping to shape the strategic communication program.Doug Spong founded Carmichael Lynch Spong in 1990. He is an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America and has received five presidential citations for extraordinary service to the society. Spong is also a founding member of the Council of Public Relations Firms where he has served as both a four-year director and three-year treasurer.Launched in the fall of 2005, the Professional M.A. in Strategic Communication provides advanced strategic thinking capabilities for early career professionals. The prog... More About: Panel
Job - Select Comfort - Public Relations Manager
2008-02-01 18:43:00 Select Comfort - Public Relations Manager More About: Select
Ringham promoted to Client Relationship Director at Fast Horse
2008-02-01 18:39:00 Betsy Ringham has been promoted to Client Relationship Director at Fast Horse , a Minneapolis-based consumer marketing agency. Ringham had been a Client Relationship Manager with the firm. Ringham, who joined Fast Horse in 2006, specializes in the development and execution of marketing campaigns, media relations and special event coordination on behalf of local and national clients."Betsy’s promotion to Client Relationship Director reflects her growth as a counselor," said Jörg Pierach, President of Fast Horse. "She has distinguished herself through an unwavering commitment to her clients as well as our agency culture, and we are delighted to recognize her efforts with this promotion." At Fast Horse, Ringham has been instrumental in the execution of several high-profile marketing campaigns for clients such as The Coca-Cola Company, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, University of Minnesota’s West Bank Arts Quarter and MacPhail Center for Music. Ringham began her career ...
SEO 101 - Coming next week
2008-02-01 01:57:00 Holly Matson answered my call to arms and will be writing a 4 part series on "SEO 101". I will be posting it for her every Tuesday beginning next week. Here is her quick intro and look forward to her pieces for the next several weeks.Hello to all the loyal readers of MNPR and to those stopping in for the first time. My name is Holly Matson and I will be writing a 4 part blog series for MNPR called “SEO 101.” These posts will give a little insight into some basic Search Engine Optimization practices with specialinterest in how SEO can be integrated into PR.I am a University of Minnesota: Curtis L. Carlson School of Management Alum that was a transplant from the Black Hills of South Dakota. I took to “city life” almost instantly and now proudly call Minneapolis home.I work at Risdall Marketing Group http://www.risdall.com in New Brighton as the Online Visibility Specialist for its Search Marketing division. My position with Risdall is where I have acquired much of the SE... More About: Week
CLS Finalist for the PRWeek Midsize Agency of the Year Award
2008-01-30 03:09:00 Carmichael Lynch Spong has been chosen as a finalist for the 2008 PRWeek Midsize Agency of the Year Award . Should Carmichael Lynch Spong win this accolade in March, it would mark the third time in the last four years that the agency has been named Midsize Agency of the Year. Carmichael Lynch Spong previously received this honor from PRWeek in 2005, and from The Holmes Report in 2004."We are thrilled to be recognized as a finalist for this celebrated award, and at the prospect of achieving the Midsize Agency of the Year title three times in the last four years," says Douglas K. Spong, APR, president of Carmichael Lynch Spong. "During the past year our firm has achieved new levels of success: another record year of outstanding revenue growth, ranking among the nation's top 20 PR firms and being one of the most award-winning public relations firms in the world."The PRWeek Awards, the world's leading awards program for the public relations industry highlighting and showcasing the best...
Search Engine Optimization
2008-01-26 15:50:00 When I started researching Search Engine Optimization I got completely overwhelmed. I have found everything from programing tips to how to write content. Obviously, content is where I feel most comfortable so that is where I am going to start. For a future post I would really appreciate a local SEO expert writing SEO 101 for the blog readers. Please send me a quick email if you are interested in providing a post. To start, what is Search Engine Optimization? According to Wikipedia "Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the volume and quality of traffic to a web site from search engines via "natural" ("organic" or "algorithmic") search results for targeted keywords. Usually, the earlier a site is presented in the search results, or the higher it "ranks", the more searchers will visit that site. SEO can also target different kinds of search, including image search, local search, and industry-specific vertical search engines."Ok, so the higher a website rank...
8 Top Trends for 2008
2008-01-25 20:17:00 Wondering what 2008 will bring for the world of marketing? Join the Minnesota American Marketing Association and Hans Eisenbeis, Sr. Editor at Iconoculture for a discussion on social networks and green technologies. That's right, it's that time of year again. As the curtain closes on 2007, marketers, brand planners and media outlets across the country are pondering the same billion-dollar question: What's next for 2008?From group solving of social issues to the maturing of social networks and green technologies, Iconoculture's 8 Top Trends for 2008 unearths future projections, trends and values that are impacting consumer behavior today and tomorrow - illuminating not only what consumer activity is transpiring, but why it's happening and where it's heading.Presented by Hans Eisenbeis, Iconoculture's Sr. Editor, "8 Cultural Trends for 2008" is designed to inform and inspire spot-on marketing plans, savvy business strategies and innovative marketing solutions. This presentation...
Technical Difficulties
2008-01-23 15:58:00 MNPR Blog is experiencing technical difficulties today. If you have trouble accessing the site please try back later. More About: Technical
CREATIVE LEADER TO BUILD LOCAL OFFICE OF GLOBAL INTERACTIVE NETWORK
More articles from this author:2008-01-15 19:28:00 Chris Henderson becomes the latest creative talent coup for BBDO Minneapolis as Minnesota’s pioneering ad agency strengthens its team for aggressive growth. Chris joins BBDO as Creative Director of the newly formed Proximity Minneapolis office to lead interactive work for the sixty-person BBDO Minneapolis. Henderson arrives from Colle+McVoy where he was Interactive Creative Director, producing award-winning work for Purina, Johnson & Johnson, New Holland, Aveda and other key clients. Before C+M, Chris spent seven years with Olson building the agency’s interactive department and rising to Executive Creative Director. At Olson, Chris won industry recognition for his work on Nike Bauer, Target, PBS and Formica. At BBDO, Chris reunites with Brian Kroening, BBDO's Executive Creative Director who joined last September to lead the 78 year-old Minneapolis shop. The two Minneapolis creative veterans worked together at Olson when Kroening was Executive Creative Director and Henderson led... More About: Office , Network , Global 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |




