Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook to share spotlight at national conference

PR and marketing professionals charged with building awareness and community for their brands will get the opportunity to immerse themselves in the latest best practices in leveraging the most important three social networks at PR News’ “The Big 3 Conference” on Aug. 9 in San Francisco.

Just as social media initiatives must be integrated into overall communications strategies and bottom-line imperatives, PR News has integrated Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook tactics into one intensive day of learning at San Francisco’s Hyatt Regency on Aug. 9. Among the brands that will be sharing their expertise in the use of Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook at The Big 3 Conference are American Airlines, Old Navy, Adobe, Boeing, Cisco, Buddy Media, American Heart Association, Esurance, Norwegian Cruise Line, Burson-Marsteller, H&R Block, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and Shine America.

Communications thought leaders from these brands will share ideas, tactics and lessons learned in using Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook to advance PR & marketing efforts. The conference also includes networking opportunities, breakfast, a keynote luncheon, an interactive clinic on team resource management and a cocktail reception.

For more information on the conference visit

AD SUMMIT PLANNED – Ad Age has announced the first Ad Age CMO Strategy Summit July 18 at the Ritz Carlton in Chicago.

Inspired by the pages of our agenda-setting CMO Strategy section, the conference features notable CMOs – from Crocs, Ikea, ZipCar, and Build-a-Bear – who have accomplished their marketing goals with innovative tactics and lean-and-mean budgets.

For more information and to register go to adage.com/CMO2012.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Friday’s View From The Pugh column features communications news and notes. E-mail viewfromthepugh@yahoo.com to submit an item for consideration for a future column).

Ohio ranks No. 9 in number of jobs posted online

It pays to check your social media sites when looking for work.

This is true, especially if you live in Ohio.

The Buckeye state ranks No. 9 in the country when it comes to posting jobs on social media, according to Bullhorn Inc.’s 2012 Bullhorn Reach Rankings Report: An Inside Look at Social Recruiting in the USA.

The study indicated that LinkedIn is the top place for posting jobs (77 percent of openings). In addition, 54 percent of open jobs are posted on Twitter, while 25 percent of openings are posted on Facebook.

While Ohio ranks high in social recruiting, the Midwest is the least active region in the country.

Maine is the most active state for posting jobs on social media, followed by New Hampshire, Mississippi and Oklahoma.

SOCIAL MEDIA MEETING SET – The Stark/Summit Social Media Roundtable will meet 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Creative Ohio Gallery in downtown Canton.

LUNCHEON HONORS CORPORATE LEGAL HELP – Columbus Business First will host its Top Corporate Counsel Awards Luncheon 11 a.m. June 21 at the Westin Great Southern Hotel.

You can register for the event here.

PLEASE GIVE BACK – My friend, Mark Hershberger, is riding in the Bike MS for his wife, Joanna, who has been diagnosed with this disease.

You can donate here.

Big O and Dukes co-host Chad Dukes is putting the word out to help Ashley Greene, who is raising funds to help pay for expenses related to her battle with eye cancer.

You can read Ashley’s story and donate to help her out at http://www.giveforward.com/hopeforashleygreene.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Friday’s View From The Pugh column features communications news and notes. E-mail viewfromthepugh@yahoo.com to submit an item for consideration for a future column).

Why news writers should rewrite wire copy

When running stories from The Associated Press, it’s good to rewrite copy. Here’s a reason why.

STORIES TO NOTE – Here are several recent communication stories from the communications industry you should check out.
– Whatever Happened To Traditional PR?
– Is Social Media Killing the News Industry?

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Friday’s View From The Pugh column features communications news and notes. E-mail viewfromthepugh@yahoo.com to submit an item for consideration for a future column).

TechColumbus names new CEO

The TechColumbus Board of Directors announces the appointment of Tom D. Walker as the new CEO.

“Tom is a nationally recognized leader in technology commercialization as well as company and job creation,” said Ray Shealy, Search Committee Chair. “He is a transformational executive with proven success at originating and leading tech-based initiatives that accelerate economic growth. Tom brings exactly the credentials and the track record that we want in TechColumbus.”

Walker is looking forward to joining TechColumbus and understands the kind of support and assistance that entrepreneurs need to turn innovative ideas and scientific discoveries into high-growth businesses that benefit local and regional economies.

“I’m honored to accept this opportunity and excited to join the Columbus area’s entrepreneurial community,” Walker said. “With the region’s outstanding entrepreneurs and the committed resources and collaborative activity from the city, state, and partners, such as The Ohio Sate University, Battelle, Columbus 2020, and the Third Frontier, TechColumbus is positioned to achieve even greater outcomes and to enhance its national recognition as a model of new company formation and job creation.”

Since 2007, Walker has been the CEO and President of i2E, a private non-profit corporation focused on growing high-growth companies and making a positive impact on Oklahoma’s economy. He was part of the i2E founding team, and prior to becoming CEO, served the organization in multiple executive positions.

i2E has received international and national awards, and is widely regarded as a model for tech-based economic development through working directly with entrepreneurs, researchers, and companies to help them commercialize their technologies and launch and grow new companies.

During Walker’s tenure, i2E significantly increased Oklahoma entrepreneurs’ access to risk capital. i2E has $40 million under management across six investment funds that span the stages of business growth from proof-of-concept to growth. Additionally, i2E has attracted angel and venture capital investments of over $700 million to i2E’s portfolio. These portfolio companies grew jobs at over 25 percent the past three years with an average salary of $65,000.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Friday’s View From The Pugh column features communications news and notes. E-mail viewfromthepugh@yahoo.com to submit an item for consideration for a future column).

Columbus Business First hosting Social Madness contest

Tuesday is the deadline for Columbus Business First’s Social Madness national social media contest.

The Central Ohio contest is part of a national tournament where companies compete against others of similar size.

Central Ohio winners will advance in the bracket-style challenge to a national competition that will honor three champions for their social media programs.

Winners will receive a $10,000 donation to their charity of their choice. Voting starts June 1.

Rules and sign-ups for the contest can be found here.

BOOM – The technology on Madden football keeps getting better and better.

Here’s a video from the production of the new game.

STORIES TO NOTE – Here are five recent communication stories from the communications industry you should check out.

– Six Questions to Ask Before Launching a Blog

– Social Media Helps Remedy Organ Donation Crisis

– 6 Tips for Optimizing News Releases for Social Media

– 11 Tactics to Optimize Your Blog

– The 4 Economic Reasons to Rebrand Your Business

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Friday’s View From The Pugh column features communications news and notes. E-mail viewfromthepugh@yahoo.com to submit an item for consideration for a future column).

Findlay marketing students recognized in national contest

Four students from The University of Findlay recently were selected as one of three top teams competing in a national integrated marketing communications competition sponsored by Eduventures.

Students submitted an integrated marketing communications plan, via a PowerPoint presentation, for the Medical Reserve Corps Volunteer (MRC) Recruitment Challenge. The submissions were judged by MRC professionals.

Camilla Jesko, Ashley Nickols, Cassie Norris and Josh Smedley developed the plan, which included research, target market profiling, SWOT and needs analysis, a communication strategy and marketing tactics.

The team will travel to Rockville, Md., to compete for the top spot on May 11. They will give a live presentation to MRC judges.

Students completed the project as part of an assignment in a consumer marketing class (MRKT 377) taught by Chris Ward, Ed.D., associate professor of business. Ward’s classes previously have participated in Eduventure’s competition, but this is the first time a team has earned a top spot.

$99 XBOX? – Microsoft is planning to offer an inexpensive xBox 360 system with a two-year xBox Live commitment for $15/month.

You can read more about the offer here.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Friday’s View From The Pugh column features communications news and notes. E-mail viewfromthepugh@yahoo.com to submit an item for consideration for a future column).

Job alert: Sales Executive at Cybervation

Cybervation Inc., a full-service technology firm based in Columbus, Ohio, is looking for an experienced sales person to manage sales for its web development firm as well as web portals, NeedNexus and Ohio Shopping Network.

NeedNexus, http://www.neednexus.com, matches people with needs with service providers who can help. This position would sell memberships to individuals and businesses to list their skills and help find work.

Ohio Shopping Network, http://www.ohioshoppingnetwork.com, is designed to offer great deals on products for Ohio residents. The successful candidate would help identify and secure agreements with Retailers to add new items and manage online sales for the site.

We’re looking for someone with the following:

• Take ownership of the sales process for the company and help build a sales department
• Knowledge of IT products and services preferred
• Ability to identify new markets, build business strategies, plans through research or other means
• Excellent prospecting and cold calling skills and record of consistently exceeding objectives and performance goals
• Proven focus on building relationships, proactive communication and raising visibility of the company
• Self-driven, motivated and results oriented
• Familiarity with social media marketing techniques

Compensation would be based on a base salary plus commission.

Experience with sales for online applications and websites would be a definite plus.

Forward a cover letter and resume to recruiter@cybervationinc.com

University of Findlay plans PR boot camp

Non-profit professionals are invited to attend “PR Boot Camp 2012” on June 12 at The University of Findlay. The daylong conference will focus on how to do more with less using public relations, digital media and innovative collaborations.

The Department of Communication at The University of Findlay is hosting the conference, which has been made possible with a grant from the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation.

Delivering the keynote address, “Town and Gown: A Partnership of Excellence,” will be Dr. Janet Rice McCoy, associate professor of advertising and public relations at Morehead State University. Before returning to the university to teach, McCoy spent more than 20 years as a project coordinator, event planner, editor, grant writer, technical writer and trainer. With a passion for non-profit organizations, McCoy regularly integrates service learning into her teaching and actively engages her students with non-profit organizations (NPOs) throughout Kentucky. She also serves on the board of directors for the Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road Council.

Registration is $10 and includes a continental breakfast, boxed lunch and a series of workshops conducted by experts in strategic communication, social media, organizational communication and grant writing.

Space is limited to the first 50 registrants. Those interested in reserving a seat should contact Barbara Glock at
glock@findlay.edu or 419-434-6982.

TWEET-UP PLANNED – The Columbus Social Media Club will hold a tweet-up 7:30 a.m. April 17 at Camelot Cellars Winery in the Short North, 958 North High Street, Columbus.

Admission is $5 and you can register at the event page.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Friday’s View From The Pugh column features communications news and notes. E-mail viewfromthepugh@yahoo.com to submit an item for consideration for a future column).

Guest post: Sales Managers Role – ‘Keys to Success’

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Guest post from Mike Levi of Levi Inc. Contact him at http://www.high-performancesales.com/).

Develop a systematic way for managing people. Salespeople don’t fail. Sales Managers do by managing the wrong things. You can’t control what you can’t manage.

You can’t manage:

* Quotas

* What clients are going to spend

* Acceptable or unacceptable behavior (salesperson responsibility)

* Results

You can manage:

* Activity

* Sales behavior

* Role Behavior

* Accountability (monitor)

Wishing you the best in your goal to be the best sales manager you can be.

Please click HERE to subscribe to our Sales Tip of The Week.

Guest blog: A case study on how bloggers can win the attention of the press

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Guest post from Nate Riggs of Social Business Strategies. You can read Nate’s blog here. The blog was originally posted Feb. 2).

I’ve been a big fan of the work of Brian Solis for some years now.

As one of the leading thinkers in the study of disruptive technology and its impact on business and culture, Brian is known for consistently has his hand on the pulse of what’s changing in the digital space.

In the case below, we’ll look at how Brian uses his blog, content marketing techniques and social networks to break news related to Facebook’s coming IPO. By executing these tactics, he’s able to build credibility and awareness for the Altimeter Group, a research-based advisory firm in which he is a Principal.

All that said, PR students everywhere should laud his approach to this blog post on the SEC Filing information for Facebook as a classic case study in how to leverage blogs to get the attention of traditional press and other online publishers.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: You can read the rest of Nate’s post here).