Trish Skram’s Blog

I’ll be honest. When I first heard of Foursquare, I was turned off. I didn’t like the “game” feel to it, the GPS capabilities … and what’s this stuff about badges and mayorship? I don’t want to be the mayor of Noodles and Co. But I decided to give it a shot. I needed to venture in to new social media tools for my company anyway. But what can Foursquare do for me? A specific service, product, and ultimately, what can it do for a company’s brand?

So, I set out on a voyage (if you will) to explore this mobile application by, well, using it. It’s only been a month and I’m still discovering the benefits. I understand that it’s user-based and location-based, so I have to use the check-in feature. It’s very similar to a game. Turns out that Foursquare is more than a cell phone application that’s getting Internet buzz, it’s actually helping propel the location-based mobile platform with unique creativity. Now to me, that’s intriguing. I realized there are several ways it’s changing our mobile space.

“Who has the most active lifestyle?”

One thing I’ve noticed about Foursquare is that it inspires users to lead more active and interesting lives. Here’s what I mean: Foursquare makes you check-in to physical places. That “check-in” reaches all of your friends (like Twitter and Facebook), and tells them what you’re doing, AND actually where you’re doing it.

The impact? A friend of mine who also uses Foursquare puts it this way, “Multiply that single check-in by the thousands of other people who each regularly update their location status, and you’ve now put experience on a map, socially.” That’s a pretty great engagement tool.

I’m a ‘regular’

Foursquare implements mayorships for each business that is entered in to the application. To become a mayor of a venue, you need to have the most check-ins. I haven’t discovered what the benefits are to becoming a “mayor” but I imagine it’s pretty cool. You probably establish status and reputation. Now, with foursquare, we can actually prove our brand reputation? That’s interesting.

Customer Relations

Just like other social media tools, Foursquare is helping make connections and improving customer relations. Foursquare users can contribute to this “relationship” by sharing tips and to-dos with the entire Foursquare space. Information is being shared and stored by users. It’s like a recommendation, rating or even comments. I see the value so far.

All of these social aspects of Foursquare can really be beneficial to a business, especially retail business. I imagine Foursquare could even be used to incorporate social media rewards into their customer loyalty initiatives. And maybe Foursquare participants are already doing this. Again, I need to do more research. I could even see the check-in feature as cash exchange or transaction perhaps.

Do you use Foursquare? If so, how do you use it? Does it benefit your business, company or brand?

Technorati Tags: do you use Foursquare?, Foursquare, Random "Trish" Thoughts, social media technology, What can Foursquare do for me?

Yesterday I was asked by a local business professional to describe what makes me unique from my competition … in only a few words. Interesting, right? I think I squandered a bit. Bummer. Here’s the thing, the question wasn’t referenced to my employer, it was meant to me. What makes me different than other business professionals in the area?

I was in a “relationship building” meeting with one of the local businesses that I keep in touch with from time-to-time about their membership with Forward Janesville Inc., Janesville’s chamber of commerce. The meeting was to discuss membership discounts, events, community initiatives and opportunities. It ended up as a personal interview about myself. Don’t get me wrong I don’t mind talking about my company or myself when the time is right. I expect that, given my profession. But I was intrigued with the question, mainly because I had never really thought about that before.

As communicators, we know how important it is to have an “elevator pitch” and to be able to explain what it is that we do for a living. I do believe it’s important to be able to describe what we (or our business) can bring to the table in a clear, concise way. I just didn’t realize I’d ever be asked in only a few words. I have prepared myself for next time. Thing is, my mentor (and teacher) in college encouraged us to do just this in an assignment. I wish I had kept that paper. I’m sure it’s on a flash drive somewhere. It would be interesting to see what I said. Have those words changed? Not sure.

So how do you come up with just a few words? I took some time to look back through my recent LinkedIn recommendations, emails and “feel good” files and looked for common themes. If you don’t have recommendations or testimonials, you could get feedback by asking people you work with for just one word to describe you.

I came up with my few words to describe me: enthusiastic, creative, leader, motivator. Have you ever pondered this? Who are you, in just a few words? Share below.

Image provided by pewresearch.org

Technorati Tags: in a few words, professional advice for communicators and business professionals, Random "Trish" Thoughts, Who are you

Email is becoming the standard communication channel these days. That’s nothing new. Whether you’re a law enforcement officer/worker, marketer, student or online worker, you’re probably already spending a good percentage of your day in front of a computer and using email as your main means of communication, right? But just because you use email, doesn’t mean you’re doing it right, and most importantly, most effectively. If you rely on email to communicate as much as I do, you should ask yourself these 7 questions:

1. Do you limit to one screen or less?
If you answered yes to this question, you’re probably already writing short and succinct emails. That’s good. Whenever you are about to send an email, pause for a second and analyze if you could eliminate unnecessary words, phrases or even complete paragraphs. Most people will begin to scan rather than reading the email if the reader sees words running off the bottom of the screen, potentially missing the key elements of the message. Don’t worry about going straight to the point. In fact, that’s what you should do. Most people won’t be offended because you removed the “small talk.”

2. Do you write in bullets or sentences when there’s a lot to cover?
If you must write a long email (for whatever reason) you should use bullets. Online usability tests show that when people read messages off the computer screen, they find it easier to read and RETAIN the information if it’s broken down into bullet points, rather then long paragraphs.

3. Do you give the “meat and potatoes” in the subject line?
This one is so important because if you don’t craft the message of your subject line carefully, you won’t need too much in the body of the email. Here’s a good formula I follow for the subject line: subject + active verb + object. And try to be as specific as you can. For example, “Cancelled” is a bad subject line; “April mkg. meeting cancelled to May 9” is better.

4. When you send from your iPhone, do you tell people?
Some people think this is self-gloating but I disagree. If you’re a smart phone user, make sure you include a tagline by your signature telling recipients you’re using an electronic device. It will help explain why the message is short, possibly unclear (I cringe—you really should never misspell, but it happens.) If you don’t, your message may come off as rude.

5. Do you re-read and run your spell check?
I hope you said yes. Seems like common sense but most people are in a hurry and forget. It’s very unprofessional. Make it a habit to re-read and spell check every email before you send it. You should always be looking for errors, spelling mistakes, missing information, missing attachments and so on. I’m guilty of this too, folks! I’m no saint. But these mistakes will hurt your credibility. And, well, once you hit “send,” it’s hard to recall the message.

6. Do you ask questions?
I hope you do. Don’t use email as a one-way medium. Just like social media, the true power of email is its interactive capabilities. Managers, directors and supervisors: Do remember, this is a two-way street. If you’re going to encourage interaction with your employees, be sure you take time to answer them. If you don’t, it will set you up for possible reliability failure.

7. Do you organize, archive and store messages?
I made this mistake when I first started as a copywriter. Big mistake. Huge. I didn’t have evidence of a project/deadline and it really cost me my credibility in the long run. Make sure to organize, archive and save important messages. Outlook, Entourage, Gmail, Yahoo, they all have great saving and filing capabilities. If you’re like me, you don’t always have time to read all messages but you know you need to refer back. For example, if you just created an account for an online service like Wordpress, you know they will send you a confirmation (of course), containing your user name and password. Archive these messages right way. An alternative to archiving is simply marking the messages as read, so they stay visible in your inbox.

What do you do to effectively communicate using email? Please share below.

Image courtesy of http://toonpool.com

Technorati Tags: effective email communication tips, Random "Trish" Thoughts

Tired, zonked, drained. All great words to describe how we feel from time-to-time while at work, home or just doing every day things. Lately, I’ve been feeling really drained. Not sure if it is my schedule, stress or my workouts (training for a marathon.) Feeling tired, especially at work, can be a heavy on your life—it drags your workload down, lowers productivity and strengthens stress levels. If you’re a highly active person like me, it’s the worse feeling. However, over the years of living and breathing my profession, I’ve discovered a few great things you can do to get the energy back, quickly. Do remember though, folks, sometimes you just need some rest. Be sure to be mindful of when your body needs sleep and relaxation.

5 quick things you can do to re-energize:

Knock out distractions: Again, this is always good advice—but when you’re tired, it has triple affects. Stay out of your email, don’t log into Facebook and don’t keep taking breaks from the task at hand. It’s so easy to get distracted when you’re not focusing well and it only makes it harder to concentrate. Social media can be a BIG distraction. So is television. Try to stay away from “just checking Facebook” and spending the next hour looking at your cousin’s holiday pics. We’re all guilty of this while at work. So every time your attention wanders, direct it straight back to what you’re supposed to be working on.

Workout: If you’re feeling sleepy, the worst thing to do is to sit down somewhere warm and comfy—you’ll almost certainly nod off. Instead, make sure you move around frequently. Get up and stretch, go for a brisk walk and get your body moving. This is a good idea if you get that mid-afternoon slump: walking around will shake it off.

Take a Shower (or freshen up): Getting into a shower will really wake you up when you’re feeling sluggish. If you’re struggling to even get out of bed, head straight for the shower: as soon as you’re under that running water, you’ll feel considerably awake. If you work from home, a mid-afternoon shower can be a great pick-me-up when you’re tired. If you’re in an office, splashing your face with cold water, or freshening up your makeup can be a good refreshing alternative.

Do the easier stuff: If you’re feeling really tired but you still need to get a project done, try doing more routine tasks: things like replying to emails, filing documents, organizing your desk, market research and so on. Often, your energy will naturally pick back up while you work.

Chat with others. Pick up your cell phone and call a friend or go next door and make small talk with a co-worker. Some of you may consider this tip a distraction, I tend to think it’s a great way to boost creative thinking. If you’re like me, you like to collaborate on a daily basis. We’re communicators, right?

So, what works for you? We all have our remedies. Please share below.

Image courtesy of http://istockphoto.com

Technorati Tags: communicators' advice, how to energize when feeling tired, social media, Trish Srkam

Many times, we get stuck in the same routine. The same song and dance. Same thing, different day. We’re all busy, overworked and probably over-tired so it becomes easier to stick to what’s worked in the past. It gets tough to look outside the box … between clients, meetings, events, research, pitching, email, etc—it’s even hard to find time for anything not work related these days. It’s easy to become so inundated in your routine that you never try to add to it. In fact, if I could give you a dollar for  every time I hear “That’s the way it’s always been done,” or “It’s just easier this way,” I’d be rich!

We all recognize it, right? With all that set aside, why are we so resistant to change? Why do we like routine so much? Why do we make excuses? I’m not saying routine is bad. In fact, routine should be your solid foundation. But you should also be willing to try new things. When it comes to creative thinking (especially if you’re in the advertising, marketing or PR industry) you should live a lifestyle or do a job that inspires you, motivates you or impacts others in a positive way. In my opinion, positive change comes easier that way.

Here’s how I challenge the norm:

If you’re stuck in an idea, open a dictionary, a magazine, newspaper or read a blog. Even if it doesn’t relate to the project.

Take a shower. Don’t think about it. Sometimes the best ideas come when you’re not thinking about them at all.

Don’t watch TV. It’s a destraction. Many of you will disagree. I think it just confuses us.

Bust out some tunes. Not death metal, but something smooth and upbeat.

Do something that you fear or doubt. The overwhelming sense of triump will leave you feeling like you can conquer anything. For me, it keeps the momentum going.

If you can’t focus, do some squats (or a walk would work). Find something that will get your muscles moving and your heart rate up.

Call up an old colleague or mentor. Or get out of your chair and chat with another colleague down the hall and shoot the breeze.

So, I pose to you, are you a change-agent or a routine- performer? Why? What helps you look outside the box at work, in life? All thoughts welcome below.

Photo courtesy of http://mediabistro.com

Technorati Tags: be a change-agent, Public Relations Writing, Random "Trish" Thoughts

Posted January 8, 2010

January marks the anniversary (or shall I say, blogiversary) of trishskram.com. One year ago, this month, I took the plunge and dove in to the blogesphere, knowing nothing about it and/or where I should go with it. My fellow social media and marketing companion, Ron (who is also my boyfriend), helped me spearhead the process, bringing it to life. It’s somewhat a slow-going process and I’m still looking for better measurement and feedback but it has come a LONG way since January 2009. I thank you, Ron, for your unwavering support and encouragement in the process—if it weren’t for you, I would’ve never taken the leap. Thanks, love!

I also thank my loyal twitter followers, Facebook fans and subscribers for continuing to read my posts. I’m honored to be a part of a community where my ideas are respected, encouraged and most importantly, a place where I can learn and grow from those who know the profession better than I do.

To celebrate, I’ve revamped this site. I’m always up for change and growth―especially when it comes to sharpening my brand. I think the new look provides a better space for you, my readers, because it has a cleaner image, easier navigation and a few new things in store.

As I embark into 2010, I vow to devote my time to 3 new goals: write more frequently, look for and encourage guest blogging and continue to engage in online conversations and learning from each one of you.

If you’re interested in being a guest blogger, please email me at trishskram@gmail.com. I’d love to hear from you and share ideas on how to make this site GREAT!

Cheers to 2010!

Image courtesy of http://istockphoto.com

Technorati Tags: blogging, building professional relationships, my work, PR and marketing, public relations professionals in Wisconsin

For those of you familiar with “Napoleon Dynamite,” you probably appreciate the title. In the film, Napoleon says to Pedro, “Girls only like guys with skills” after discussing prom dates. Well, that line might hold some truth. But besides nunchakus (or nunchucks) and computer skills (as Napoleon would say), good managers only like employees with skills … good communication skills that is.

I was inspired to blog about these “skills” based on a question posed at #u30pro chat last night on Twitter (a shout out to the #u30pro community … woot!)

I think it’s so important to recognize skills we have acquired (good or bad) over the years from past and current managers. You’ll be amazed with how much you learn about yourself, how much you’ve grown, how much more enhanced your natural skill has become and how much those skills have changed your goals and aspirations. So, here goes. Top 6 skills I’ve learned from great managers.

Caption: Halloween 2008. I still laugh at this photo whenever I see it!

Always listen … attentively. And always make time in your day to listen to others. No matter what. You’ll be respected, more approachable and you’ll be looked at as someone people trust and look up to. Listening can also be a great research tool.

Seek challenges. Even when they make your job harder, busier and more stressful. It will bring out the best in you, even if you fail at the challenge. As they say: if at first you don’t succeed, dust yourself off and try again.

Be open-minded. I’ve said this many times in previous posts. It’s a skill that enables us to achieve more success because we can perceive things as others see them.

Keep dialog positive. Don’t let negative conversations with colleagues; co-workers and clients outweigh the positives. Point out more positive aspects than negative in almost all situations. Constructive criticism is best. Avoid being too snarky (if you can).

Know the value of a team. A good team creates strong alliances and eventually will bring you everything you need in a good working relationship. Professional and/or personal, surround yourself with people who will take you higher.

Be a relationship-builder. Most important skill in my book. Need I say more?

What is #u30pro? Spearheaded by @cubanaLAF and @davidSpinks, #u30pro is a forum for young working professionals to discuss how to bridge the generational gap, demolish stereotypes and break down differences in the professional workplace. I think you’ll be interested in this forum - check it out!

What skills would you add to my list? Please comment!

Photo courtesy of http://fanpop.com

Technorati Tags: PR people in Madison, Random "Trish" Thoughts, top skills for communicators, WI

I like to talk with my friends and colleagues in the PR and communication world—what makes them happy and successful in their careers. Not only does it help us focus on our strengths but it also allows us to learn from one another—especially me. I read a blog post on LAF called Three Signs you’re a PR pro (very good read) and was inspired to list the top skills (I think) every good communicator should know and practice DAILY.

#1 Tell a story that captivates people’s attention. As communicators, we have the ability to tell a story. In my opinion, it’s one of the main reasons I love my job. Especially in health care. WOW! If you can captivate attention with friends and your business colleagues and clients, you’re golden!

#2 Be connected and build your own inner circle. Network, network, network! Engage in as many conversations as you can, go to fun events and establish connections online. Which brings me to #3.

#3 Establish an online presence. You work hard to create a presence at work and with your important stakeholders, right? Why not do that online too. Everyone is online these days and social media is a great tool for creating and communicating your personal brand. Build it and they will come!

#4 Deliver bad news. Yup, bummer. But it does have to be done from time-to-time. I’ll be blogging more in depth about this one soon.

#5 Manage time. Be a focused juggler. Many of us work on several projects or accounts at the same time. You’ll have to manage your time effectively and provide each project and account with the appropriate attention at the appropriate time. Learn how to prioritize effectively.

#6 Remember names. I can’t stress this enough when I talk to other communicators. Read Networking 101 for my easy way of remembering names.

#7 Listen carefully to others. The more you listen and the less you talk, the more you will learn and the less you will miss. Not everyone will agree with this one but I’m a natural listener …

#8 Get in front of people and talk. Or give a short informational speech. I’m working on this one as I write (I’m still not fully comfortable). At the next company meeting if your boss asks you to explain what you’ve been working on over the last month, a short, clear, informative response is surely your best bet. “Duh…” won’t cut it.

#9 Know how to take a good picture. As mentioned in #1, telling a good story often involves a photo. If you’re like me, you have a digital in your handbag or car at all times and one in your phone. You never know when news will strike. Be prepared, always.

#10 Take useful notes. Go back to your days in college. Remember all the notes you took class-after-class. Never forget those skills because useless notes are useless, and not taking notes can be a recipe for failure.

#11 Be communicative. You can’t be shy. Hone in on your skill as a communicator, including writing and public speaking. Find out how you communicate best and embrace it.

#12 Make a good first impression. The first and utmost important thing to know and remember is that you have the control and all the power over the impression you make on your circle of connections.

#13 Be creative & open-minded: Be able to develop interesting story ideas to promote your organization, service or client. Think outside of the box!

#14 Be team-oriented: Working together with colleagues to brainstorm story or promotional ideas are one of the best parts of PR and communication. I love team collaborations and I never go full-force in to a project without consulting my colleagues and online PR community. I love you all!

#15 MEDIA-RELATIONS SPECIFIC: Be persistent but yet sensitive. PR people especially: rejection is part of the game; don’t take it personally. I learned this the hard way early in my career. I was so bummed out when something didn’t pan out the way I planned or a reporter didn’t bite on my awesome idea. Keep trying. Find another angle, pitch another idea to your boss, find something else that tells a good story. However, remember to be sensitive to reporter’s deadlines, time and opinions.

#16 Be passionate. I can’t stress this enough. Love what you do and believe in the products, clients and organizations that you represent. It will shine in your work, always.

I know you’re reading this and thinking, “I would add this too.” Please do! What would you add to this list?

Technorati Tags: 16 tips for PR people, PR gal, public relations, Random "Trish" Thoughts, skills for every PR person and communicator

Money has never really been the focal point of why I do what I do. In fact, I just realized a few days ago that money doesn’t matter to me, and I don’t think it ever will. So why do I work? Well, yes, I have to pay the bills some way or another but my work and profession goes well beyond doing a job for money. It’s about passion. That matters. As many of you know, I work in health care public relations and community relations. A big part of my job is spotlighting the experiences our patients, families and employees have, finding accomplishments and recognizing them for the impact they make on the community. The best part of my job is bringing out the good in my company and its community.

But this post isn’t about what I do or how I do it. It’s about having a passion in your work, profession or job. Do you have it? Can you honestly say that you’d do your job for free? Especially in these hard economic times and hearing about how many people hate their jobs, losing them, etc. Do you feel you have ‘that passion’? ‘that optimism’ in your work?

I just finished reading a fabulous book. Maybe you’ve read it, saw it on TV or heard about it—“The Last Lecture,” by Randy Pausch, late professor and speaker at Carnegie Mellon University. It’s a truly inspirational book that I encourage everyone to read. The book was heavy in ‘take-a-ways’ so it’s hard to pinpoint just one. I can say there was a part that stood out to me, how to understand optimism and embrace it. Even though it doesn’t pertain to work passion, it does highlight the importance of optimism. After Randy learned he’d had cancer, he didn’t let it consume or burden his life. Instead, he thought positive and continued to live his life to the fullest. It eventually brought him to new heights. In chapter 57, he says this, “My personal take on optimism is that as a mental state, it can enable you to do tangible things to improve your physical state. If you’re optimistic, your better able to endure brutal chemo, or keep searching for late-breaking medical treatments.” Randy found a true balance between optimism and realism. Even when he knew he couldn’t fight the cancer, his optimism helped him get through each day with a smile. That’s powerful!

I don’t have an uplifting story like Randy’s but I do strive to be as optimistic and passionate about what I do. I’m lucky to have the courage and strength to go after what I believe in and choose a work profession that I have a genuine passion for.

Trish Skram’s advice to a happy, passionate, optimistic work:

#1 Look for the good
If you wait long enough, your clients and co-workers will impress you. Same with situations, events and happenings. This does take patience, especially with the people and or ‘things’ that frustrate and anger you the most, but do know that they will eventually show you their good side. I believe everybody and everything has a good side.

#2 Listen and learn, no matter what
My boyfriend says I’m the best in the world at this. Between you and me, I think he’s just glad I’m there for him and his babbles [I love his rambling, babbling mind]. Honestly though, when you really listen, you absorb so many new things. Make it a personal mission in your line of work to learn one new thing about someone or something⎯it will amaze you how much that one thing can make a lasting, positive impression on you.

#3 Don’t sweat the small stuff
“Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people.” Eleanor Roosevelt

Life is too short to worry about what everyone else thinks, acts like or does. Don’t be afraid to discuss new ideas at work, express your feelings, bad or good, learn you can’t control everything and understand that everyone has different perspectives and perceptions⎯Really. Don’t let small problems or challenges ruin your day. Don’t worry about it. You’ll be fine.

#4 If you don’t like it, fix it
If you find yourself in a job that truly has no meaning to you or you dread going everyday⎯find out why and fix it. I’ve been there. Again, life’s too short to put so much effort in something not worth the time or energy. Try to find the strength and courage to fix the negative aspects of your job. If that means putting in your two-week notice, great! But if you can’t [because we can’t control everything] go back to #1. I realize that sometimes you can’t just quit. But try to have that passion and optimism if you need to stay. Don’t think of your job as just a paycheck.

So I ask you, do you have passion for what you do? Do you live your life, feeling optimistic and excited to take on a task at work? Would you quit, even if it wasn’t the most popular choice? Now … I don’t claim to love everything about my job. I wouldn’t even say that I do. But I can say that I love having the opportunity to make a difference and follow my dreams. I admire people that actually do, like Randy Pausch has.

Photo courtesy of http://post-gazette.com

Technorati Tags: job, passion for your work, public relations professionals in Wisconsin, Random "Trish" Thoughts, Randy Pausch, Tricia Skram

Technorati Tags: corporate communicators, marketing, media relations, PR, RAgan Communications, tweetup