Media Relations

200,000 Layoffs in January. Employers Beware - Tattlers Turn To Telonu.com

Ahhh, the latest headache for the PR profession.  When employees and former employees want to vent, they can do it here.  A site called Telonu "Tell On You" is featured in the Ragan newsletter.  Membership on the site has exploded, climbing 50-100% EACH DAY.  Those who post to the site are allowed to do so anonymously.  The Public Relations Society of America frowns on anonymous Internet posts for obvious reasons.  People can and do lie. 

But instead of feeling victimized and defensive, companies who find themselves attacked online should monitor what is being said.  The complaints just might give them more truth than they could get from their middle management and fearful-of-layoff employees. 

By the way, a lovely example from the site (look out for the language), by an anonymous manager...or maybe an employee with a flair for writing : ) 

Telonu.com

"I am Sonny McCutcheon and I just want to state a few words. My first priority is my bonuses and severance package. My second priority is my staff. My third priority is I don't give a damn about my employees..Ya'll can KISS MY ASS!!! I just want to give a few examples of how I treat my employees....When I hold a meeting for employee appreciation I reward them with notepads, logo pens, coffee mugs (all from a temporary agency...PROSTAFF and such), kitchen rugs, ELCOTEQ logo shirts that I've been holding for two years...that doesn't fit me and $20 restaurant gift cards that will pay for your date's dinner(but you're on your own). On Thanksgiving I purchase pre-packaged turkey lunch meat (that I heated up in the micowave) and on Christmas I arranged the potluck Christmas Party :). I am a money making man and I DON'T CARE ABOUT MY EMPLOYEES, all I care about is putting all the money I can IN MY POCKETS. I don't care about my asian hourly employees, your job is to get to the work out and put money in my POCKETS!!! I RUN A SWEAT SHOP HERE!!!!"

A Hot, Sweaty Social Media Gathering In Salt Lake City, And A Free Social Media Webinar

Need more knowledge in social media?  BurrellsLuce is offering a freebie Webinar on January 29.  Go here to register.

Next..."Word-of-Mouse" - the future of word-of-mouth communication:

An exciting encounter last night in Salt Lake City (thanks to the Summit Group).  The room was packed as the inaugural meeting of the Social Media Club of Salt Lake City took place.  Turnout was fantastic - people lined up in the hallway outside the meeting room. Some came from Sandy, some came from as far as Ogden.   Pizza was offered...few ate it...all too excited.

This is the first local social media gathering (that I know of) that attempted to focus on business applications and strategies for social media.  Ideas flew fast and furious. There were discussion groups for HR, marketing, non-profit, newbies to social media...and others I don't recall.

** blink **

I met one guy who has created a way for bands to track where their biggest fans live and thus can book more live events in those geographical areas - to be more profitable.  After all, he says, everyone expects music to be free.  Bands now must make their money off of live concerts.

** blink **

Met Sarah Buhr, who just launched her own Utah News Source online.  You provide the info about your company, or even your invention or own newsworthy items and she (just like a wire service) gets them to the local Utah media.  Go see. 

** blink **

Ran into Pete Codella, one of the founders of the Social Media Club of Salt Lake City.  Pete has created a low cost online newsroom that is amazingly easy to implement on any business Web site AND it is user friendly for non-technical PR types to use.  Best of all...it is only $99/month.  Go see Pete's product here.

** blink **

Ran into Deborah Lindner, a former TV reporter and anchor.  You can see her from the back (red hair) in the photo below.  Hi Deb!  She was at the meeting because social media may have wonderful and inexpensive tools for non-profits like the one she now works for, Utah Foster Care. 

** blink **

Ran into Jesse Stay, one of the area's premier bloggers.  Very wise for his years and he'll be speaking at the next meeting on March 19 - time and location TBA - during an open discussion on the best social media tools.

** blink **

Sat in on one of the breakout sessions where we all discussed the best ways to dive into social media.  Several:  Read Groundswell, Winning In A World Transformed By Social Technologies.  Read blogs!  For a directory on some of the best, go to: alltop.

** blink **

Much, much more, but I grab some pizza and head out the door to be with family.  I explain to my husband that I must keep up on social media to keep my career and business relevant, and to best service my clients.

And I intend to keep going to the meetings held by the Social Media Club of Salt Lake City.  Meeting dates and more info here, next meeting info go here, and if you want to join (free), go here,and if you know of a large (free) space where we can meet (for about 100-150 people, let Pete Codella know - [email protected]

And if you want to get the meetings on your calendar - here they are.  Many will be held in the evening. Some during lunch.

Feb 19, March 19, April 16, May 21, June 18, July 16, August 20, September 17, October 15, November 19, December 17.

A very special thanks to those who've founded this group (they don't know what they're in for!).

• Malcolm Atherton, Business Wire
• Pete Codella, APR, Codella Marketing
• Scott Duehlmeier, The Summit Group
• Hilarye Fuller, The Summit Group
• Sara Brueck Nichols, Operation Kids
• Jyl Johnson Pattee

When Layoffs Occur, Tips on Communicating Bad News. And 15 Tips For Writing Emails That Actually Get Read

Is your company headed for layoffs soon...especially as January 1 looms?   PR pros are often the unlucky ones.  If they haven't been laid off, they are usually tasked with communicating the bad news.  Some tips on how to do it - an excellent article in the blog Comprehension.  My favorites:  "Tell employees first."   "Ditch the PowerPoint and be human."

Meanwhile, if you struggle writing emails to reporters that actually get opened, some strong tips from Think Simple Now.

Be sure to read the part about "email psychology."

Economic Rumors in the Workplace: You Can Help Stop the Fear

Note: This post first appeared as a column in Utah Pulse, October 16, 2008

Do it NOW.  Talk to you employees. Tell them how your business has been affected by the current economic situation. Now is the time to head off inaccurate and highly charged rumors with transparent communication.   If you do, you will earn loyalty, trust and most importantly, your employees will take the message to their friends and families when they aren’t on the clock.  This is called community relations...and it works. 

This concerns me.  In a new survey, released October 13 and commissioned by the Global Communications Firm Weber Shandwick, there are some frightening findings. Employees are more concerned than you may realize.  From the survey:

1. 70 percent expect the current economic and financial problems in the U.S. will have a negative impact on the company they work for over the course of the next year.

2. Of those 70 percent, 26 percent believe their company will have to lay off employees and 62 percent said their company would have trouble meeting its goals.

3. 71 percent said that their company leadership should be communication more about current economic problems.

4. 54 percent have not heard from company leaders AT ALL on the impact of the financial crisis on their company.

The length of any recession is affected by many factors.  Many of those are out of our control. But the emotional security of your employees is something you CAN assist with.  For the sake of your business health, do it now. 

For the full report: http://www.waggeneredstrom.com/who_we_are/news_recognition/comms_impact_financial.pdf?emc=el&m=1799152&l=50&v=93701ca4d6