Tag: CAPRSA

Counselors Academy Conference: A Leash-Free Zone for PR Agency Leaders

Dana PhelpsBlog, Counselors Academy, ,
Leash free
What do you do when you are unleashed?

There’s a wonderful dog park behind Austin Four Seasons, the host hotel for the 2013 Counselors Academy Conference. When I was enjoying the walking trails there in January, I saw this sign, and immediately thought, “That’s exactly what Counselors Academy Conference is!”

Let’s face it, with the demands that come along with being PR agency owners, managers and leaders, there aren’t many opportunities to run wild. Really, there’s one chance a year. That’s when we get together with our trusted peers (old and new friends each time) at the Counselors Academy Conference and have frank discussions about our business challenges, take a good look at what we might need to do to change and open our minds to improving ourselves as leaders, our teams and our agencies.

It’s so wonderful to be able to set aside time annually to be untethered in a safe environment to ultimately figure out how to better serve our clients and keep improving year after year. Being unleashed gives us the freedom to remember what we do best and what we love about being PR agency leaders and re-energizes us with creativity and fresh thinking.

Hope to get to get to run free with you in Austin! The conference is June 9 – 11 which is just a few weeks away. That makes me wag my tail. 🙂

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Going Batty in Austin with PRSA’s Counselors Academy

Dana PhelpsBlog, Counselors Academy, , 1 Comment on Going Batty in Austin with PRSA’s Counselors Academy

Okay, okay, the theme for the 2013 Counselors Academy conference is in fact Get W.E.I.R.D. in Austin: Wired, Entrepreneurial, Imaginative and Results-Driven, but if you go for the conference June 9 – 11, you might also want to get batty while you are there.

Let's get batty in Austin, June 9 -11.
Let’s get batty in Austin, June 9 -11.

Did you know that Austin is home to the largest urban bat colony in North America? It just so happens that our conference takes place during prime bat watching season when up to 1.5 million bats will be living under the Congress Avenue Bridge. Each night as the sun is setting, they fly out from under the bridge in search of insects to eat right out of the air.

Yes, this does sound a little weird, I’ll admit. And as someone who has always had a fear that a bat is going to want to nest in my hair, I was extremely creeped out by the thought of this. However, I was convinced to witness it a few years ago, and I’ll go ahead and say it is an Austin can’t-miss!

Our conference hotel is within walking distance of several prime bat viewing locations. If you want to get weird AND batty in Austin, ask the hotel concierge for tips on the best places and times to see these interesting little creatures and unofficial Austin ambassadors. See you in Austin in a few weeks!

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How is Juggling like Managing a PR Agency?

Dana PhelpsBlog, Counselors Academy, ,

The better question is, “How is juggling NOT like managing a PR agency?”

When I was in Austin in January for a planning session for our upcoming PRSA’s Counselors Academy Conference, I took some time to walk around and enjoy the weirdness the city is known to embrace. As I watched this amazing juggler, I thought about what it takes for PR agency owners and leaders to keep all the balls in the air each day. It’s no cake walk!

Fortunately, there’s Counselors Academy to help you hone your juggling skills. First, let me say that it is the relationships I’ve made through this organization that are the biggest asset to me in running an agency. I depend on my Counselors Academy friends on a weekly (sometimes daily!) basis for support, advice and in-market support throughout the year. The fact that Counselors is part of my world year-round makes the annual conference so exciting!

It’s so wonderful to get to see my trusted colleagues in person AND to meet each new attendee who shows up as a newbie only to walk away as “one of the group” just a few days later. We gather to learn how to better our teams, our client work and our businesses through sessions like “Building the Best Place to Work” by Starr Baker and Kelly Womer, “Transforming Your Agency: How Change Inspires Creativity” by Indra Gardiner and “Managing Your PR Agency as a Business” by Darryl Salerno.

Anyone juggling the management of teams, clients, new business and other aspects of a PR agency should consider attending this year’s conference in Austin, June 9 – 11. If you have questions about the conference, feel free to leave them in the comments section or email me direct at d@clairemontcommunications.com or ring my mobile at 615-294-1886. Hope to see you there!

What caption would you write for this photo?
What caption would you write for this photo?
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What is a Social Media Expert?

Dana PhelpsBlog, Raleigh PR Agency, Social Media + Influencer Engagement, , 3 Comments on What is a Social Media Expert?

As the recent co-chair of PRSA‘s Counselors Academy 2012 conference, I was closely involved with planning the content for the conference. With social media as a growing part of what PR agencies offer, I found myself in discussions with conference chair, Martin Waxman, about the social media leaders, authors and “experts” we should invite as speakers. I also found debating with other agency owners and senior management about the definition of social media expert.

This certainly isn’t a new discussion, and asking the question of what is a social media expert is sorta like asking who bakes the best cake. Like in any industry, we see self proclaimed experts popping up everyday. It isn’t hard to setup a Facebook page for a business. Once you’ve done it, does that make you a social media expert? Some say so. But how does it fit into the overall marketing strategy? Are you ready for it to be a customer service channel? How do likes relate to sales? Hmmm. Maybe not so simple. And that’s just one example.

As for the conference, we were delighted to host several speakers who are truly regarded as experts, including Marcus Sheridan. I loved hearing his story because he was a pool guy who turned to blogging to save his business in a down economy. Not only did he save the company, sales exploded and a new career as The Sales Lion was born. Similar to Chicago Cabbie who I blogged about last year after learning how he is using Twitter, this goes to show you that ANY business can benefit from social media.

Since I liked the presentation Marcus gave so much, I’ve been reading some of his blogs, and one called The 3 Essential Qualities of a TRUE Social Media Expert caught my eye. I agree that his three qualities can define a social media expert. They include: 1) The “rules” are always changing, and every industry is different. 2) They freely admit they are not for everyone. 3) They can put their money where their mouth is.

Going hand-in-hand with #3, I would add the point that the social media expert is the right kind of expert for you/the job. Can you be a social media expert without being an author, keynote speaker or even known for social media? YES! Yes, yes and yes. So what are you seeking? If you want a social media expert to speak at an event, the author or keynote speaker will likely be a good fit. If you are looking for a person or a team to analyze your business, build a social media strategy and work with you on long-term goals and execution, the author or speaker might not be your best choice. Continue reading “What is a Social Media Expert?”

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