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	<title>C. Blohm &#38; Associates &#187; Public Relations</title>
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	<link>http://www.cblohm.com</link>
	<description>Visibility Matters</description>
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		<title>SMTs and VNRs and PSAs, Oh My!</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2013/05/03/smts-and-vnrs-and-psas-oh-my/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2013/05/03/smts-and-vnrs-and-psas-oh-my/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2013 21:42:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Chris Swietlik</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[C. Blohm & Associates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Satellite Media Tours]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=12542</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently, we had the opportunity to hear some words of wisdom from Michael Friedman, executive vice-president of DWJ Television, a company that specializes in satellite media tours. Friedman is familiar with the media, having worked at ABC Radio Network as a writer and producer, before moving into the public relations side of the business and becoming an expert on satellite media tours, radio media tours and PSAs—just to name a few. Over some bagels and cream cheese, Friedman shared his knowledge of how to execute satellite media tours, when to use a video news release (VNR), and why a public service announcement (PSA) can be an effective way to communicate a client’s message. Satellite Media Tours Satellite media tours are a way for a company to share a story with a national audience. A company expert spends a day in the studio being interviewed by local television and radio stations across the country through a satellite feed. In the United States, there are a select group of stations that participate in satellite media tours, and some will charge to conduct the interview. As with any story, a good pitch is critical to securing interviews for the tour. For local outreach, [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Special Needs Division Welcomes First Client &#8211; Brain Parade</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2013/04/23/special-needs-division-welcomes-first-client-brain-parade/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2013/04/23/special-needs-division-welcomes-first-client-brain-parade/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Apr 2013 19:11:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Carie Breunig</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Autism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[autism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brain Parade]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[developmental disabilities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[learning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[special needs]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=12349</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s official! Our new Special Needs Division has its first client. Brain Parade is a developer of learning solutions for children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Its award-winning iPad app, See.Touch.Learn., has been gaining momentum in the special needs industry for almost two years now and the reviews are worth reading! Much like C. Blohm &#38; Associates, the president of Brain Parade, Jim McClafferty, saw a growing need in an underserved market. Jim understands the importance of creating products that go beyond the classroom and resonate with children who have different learning styles. Children with special needs have been using See.Touch.Learn. to develop important skills, like vocabulary and self-expression, through its high-quality picture card learning system that replaces bulky, old-fashioned flash cards. The app even lets users record voice prompts to aid in the learning process. See.Touch.Learn. is literally the next generation of visual learning and provides educators, therapists, SLPs, behavior consultants and parents with the ability to create custom exercises and lessons that can be shared through the Brain Parade Community (available as a feature in the Pro version and as an upgrade in the FREE version of the downloadable app). To date, the app includes more than 4,400 [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2013/04/23/special-needs-division-welcomes-first-client-brain-parade/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Leveraging News Feed and Graph Search at Social Media Breakfast</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2013/04/19/leveraging-news-feed-and-graph-search-at-social-media-breakfast/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2013/04/19/leveraging-news-feed-and-graph-search-at-social-media-breakfast/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:57:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Chris Swietlik</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=12267</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This month's Social Media Breakfast featured Chad Wittman, co-founder of EdgerRank Checker, who discussed how to "Leverage Facebook’s News Feed and Graph Search." Wittman dug deep into the mechanics behind Facebook algorithms, explaining how long posts live on the News Feed, how to move beyond the simple "like/share/comment" strategy for engagement, and exactly what Graph Search is and how it works. Below are a few of the highlights from Chad's presentation.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2013/04/19/leveraging-news-feed-and-graph-search-at-social-media-breakfast/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>CB&amp;A Brings Visibility to the Special Needs Industry</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2013/04/09/cba-brings-visibility-to-the-special-needs-industry/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2013/04/09/cba-brings-visibility-to-the-special-needs-industry/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Apr 2013 20:19:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Carie Breunig</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Autism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[special needs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=12103</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We announced some exciting news today! C. Blohm &#38; Associates has rolled out its Special Needs Division, confirming our commitment to education, to children and to giving everyone the chance to learn and grow. The new division complements the structure and strategy we’ve used to achieve effective results in the education industry for more than 20 years. We will bring the highest standards of public relations and social media services to the special needs market as well. Resources dedicated to those with special needs should be available in schools, at home, in therapy settings and in the workplace. Our goal is to provide expertise to help companies (large and small) navigate a diverse market with PR campaigns that provide clear, concise messaging and successful results. We are passionate about creating awareness for products and services that assist all individuals with special needs. We are equally passionate about spreading the idea of acceptance. Everyone learns differently, and everyone deserves the chance to learn. Children and adults with special needs have unique talents and abilities that should be celebrated. Many need accommodations in order to share their talents and communicate with others, a process that can be bolstered through the creation of [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2013/04/09/cba-brings-visibility-to-the-special-needs-industry/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Liven Up Live Events</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2013/03/27/liven-up-live-events/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2013/03/27/liven-up-live-events/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Mar 2013 22:05:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Chris Swietlik</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=11863</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Planning live events can be tricky. Promotion, coordination, invitation and a handful of other –tions need to be executed for the event to be deemed a success. PR News recently held a webinar addressing the issues that can arise when planning a live event. Below are five helpful tips to pulling off a successful event: 1. Plan, plan and plan some more – Planning an event goes beyond booking a room and sending out an invitation. Generating interest is a key component to making a live event a success. Promotion across social media can help start a conversation that draws the attention of a wider audience. 2. Come with a story to tell – A good event has a purpose. Let people know why they should attend and what to expect. Everyone’s time is valuable, so convince potential participants that it’s worth their while to attend. 3. Different is good – Try new things to promote engagement among participants. Tradition is fine, but adding an unusual element to the event, like a game or a contest, will get people talking. 4. Extend the conversation – The event isn’t over just because the clock goes past the time on the invitation. [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2013/03/27/liven-up-live-events/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>SXSW Interactive: Journalism in the Social Media Age</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2013/03/19/sxsw-interactive-journalism-in-the-social-media-age/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2013/03/19/sxsw-interactive-journalism-in-the-social-media-age/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:11:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Emily Embury</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[#sourceby]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[#SXSW]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[#SXSWi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SXSW Interactive]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=11675</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[How has social media changed journalism? This was the question of the hour at a SXSW Interactive session titled “Sources in the Social Media Age,” featuring panelists Greg Galant, CEO of Muck Rack, Edmund Lee, media reporter for Bloomberg News, and Mike Isaac, senior editor for All Things Digital. As social media changes previous conceptions of reporters, their sources and the audience, it&#8217;s safe to say that journalism is being re-defined by the minute. Below is a snapshot of the insight shared by these three panelists as they discussed the state of journalism in the age of social media. View the story &#8220;SXSW Interactive: Sources in the Social Media Age&#8221; on Storify]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2013/03/19/sxsw-interactive-journalism-in-the-social-media-age/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>The People Behind the PR: Carie Breunig</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2013/03/13/the-people-behind-the-pr-carie-breunig/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2013/03/13/the-people-behind-the-pr-carie-breunig/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:37:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Saul Hafenbredl</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Staff]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=11512</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[CB&#38;A is an agency that values its team, and we hope you enjoy learning a bit more about the people behind the PR.  Carie is an Account Executive at CB&#38;A. Dogs or cats? Dogs. Dogs. Dogs. Morning or night person? Neither and both. It really just depends on the day. Coffee in the morning is a must, however. Best PR advice you can fit inside of a tweet? Develop trusting, sincere relationships &#8211; you&#8217;ll be a valuable resource to the media, your coworkers will be allies and your clients will like you. Favorite subject in elementary school? English/Writing If days suddenly lasted 25 hours, what would you do with the extra hour? Play my guitar (because I&#8217;m not very good yet, and I need lots of practice). No. 1 most-played song in your iTunes? It&#8217;s a tie right now between &#8220;Stubborn Love&#8221; by The Lumineers and &#8220;I And Love And You&#8221; by the Avett Brothers. If you weren’t in PR, what would you be doing? Singing in Nashville (with an awesome band, of course). What was the first thing you learned to cook? Macaroni &#38; Cheese Favorite condiment? Guacamole (is that considered a condiment?) Favorite sport and team? I&#8217;m a [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2013/03/13/the-people-behind-the-pr-carie-breunig/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>TCEA After Hours</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2013/02/05/tcea-after-hours/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2013/02/05/tcea-after-hours/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 05 Feb 2013 17:11:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Saul Hafenbredl</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=10843</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[TCEA week is underway in Austin, Texas. The exhibit hall will be bustling. Sessions will be packed. Twitter and #TCEA13 will light up. But there will come a time each day this week when the show floor empties, presentations conclude and some attendees pocket their mobile devices in favor of Cactus Margaritas. It’s TCEA after hours. After a full day of learning, sharing and networking, Austin provides visitors with plenty of options for recharging the batteries. Job number one is sampling some local fare, and let us recommend Stubb’s Bar-B-Q. In addition to preparing some of the best grub around, Stubb’s is a noted live music venue: In the 1970?s, Stubb’s restaurant became the heart of an explosive music scene. Stubbs was ground zero for musicians like Joe Ely and Stevie Ray Vaughn. Other famous musicians who would “play for their supper” included Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Robert Cray, George Thorogood, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Linda Ronstadt and the Fabulous Thunderbirds. After dinner, take a cruise down 6th Street and Austin’s historical entertainment district. There you’ll find local staples such as Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar and Esther’s Follies. If you’re more of a planner than a [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2013/02/05/tcea-after-hours/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Promoting Your Brand Via Google AdWords and YouTube</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2013/01/18/promoting-your-brand-via-google-adwords-and-youtube/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2013/01/18/promoting-your-brand-via-google-adwords-and-youtube/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 18 Jan 2013 20:37:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Adam Wise</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AdWords]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American Marketing Association]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Google]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pr]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Search engine marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[YouTube]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=10608</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are 6.8 billion people on the planet. 5.1 billion of them own a cell phone, but only 4.3 billion own a toothbrush.  – Mobile Marketing Association What does that factoid highlight about the human race? Well, clearly we don’t focus enough on dental hygiene, but it also highlights just how reliant our society has become on technology. With the decline of the traditional print media, companies are seeking new ways to promote their product/brand, particularly online via search engines like Google and YouTube (which is owned by Google). How best to reach audiences via search engine marketing was the focus of a recent presentation by Carl Damerow, a senior sales representative for Google. Damerow spoke at a recent American Marketing Association Madison Chapter event. He shared some sharp insights about advertising via YouTube and Google’s AdWords service. AdWords Damerow’s presentation, “Getting Down to Business: Sell stuff. Get users/clients. Track. Repeat,” explains how companies are using AdWords to bid for ad placement on search keywords and strands. The more money a company bids per user click, the better placement the ad receives on the search page, beginning with the Top 2 slots above search results, and then positions three through [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2013/01/18/promoting-your-brand-via-google-adwords-and-youtube/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Feed Your Holiday Appetite: Most-Read Posts of 2012</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/12/20/feed-your-holiday-appetite-most-read-posts-of-2012/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/12/20/feed-your-holiday-appetite-most-read-posts-of-2012/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 20 Dec 2012 17:36:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kristen Plemon</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Ed Tech]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2012]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Asperger's]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[autism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[buying cycle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Multimedia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[news release]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=10258</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As 2013 draws near, the CB&#38;A team has taken the time to stop and smell the roses — the Badgers are going to the Rose Bowl after all! — and reflect on the major milestones, issues and events of the past year. We’ve compiled a list of our top five most-read posts of 2012 for your reading pleasure, as you nosh on holiday goodies and break in your new gifts. Top 7 Ed Tech Trends to Watch in 2012: At the beginning of the year, we highlighted the technology movements in the industry that would soon shape teaching and learning in significant ways. Number one on our list was mobile learning, and findings from the 2012 K-12 Horizon Report provide a good indication we were on target. Watch for an upcoming post by our team of prognosticators on trends to track in 2013. Multimedia News Releases: Grabbing Your Reader’s Attention: Although this post is a couple years old, our readers gravitated to it during 2012, indicating the multimedia news release continues to be a topic of interest to education marketers and other industry professionals. This post provides helpful tips and insights on creating a compelling online news destination that you can [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/12/20/feed-your-holiday-appetite-most-read-posts-of-2012/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>People Behind the PR Holiday Edition: Part 3</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/12/18/people-behind-the-pr-holiday-edition-part-3/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/12/18/people-behind-the-pr-holiday-edition-part-3/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 18 Dec 2012 20:34:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Chris Swietlik</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Staff]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=10193</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s time to jingle those bells, walk around in a winter wonderland and find out about the true spirit of the season through some pop-culture treasures in part three of our holiday posts.   5. What holiday song is at the top of your playlist? Charlene Blohm: &#8220;I&#8217;m Dreaming of a White Christmas&#8221; by Bing Crosby. Andria Casey: I love “Grown-Up Christmas List” by Amy Grant. Otherwise, you&#8217;ll find me listening to &#8216;N Sync or Michael Buble Christmas stations on Pandora. Emily Embury: Alvin and the Chipmunks – &#8220;Christmas Song.&#8221; I was a huge fan of Alvin, Simon and Theodore growing up (and I still am)! Saul Hafenbredl: &#8220;O Holy Night.&#8221; Martha Jacobs: I have a hard time picking just one song, so my favorite holiday album is &#8220;A Winter Romance&#8221; by Dean Martin. It&#8217;s a staple at our house and always brings me straight to Christmastime at the Jacobs. Here&#8217;s one of the best: Paul Mamelka: &#8220;2000 Miles&#8221; by Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders. This live version from the BBC program &#8220;Top of the Pops&#8221; in 1983 may not put you in a holiday mood exactly, but if you&#8217;ve ever been away from a loved one at Christmas, it [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/12/18/people-behind-the-pr-holiday-edition-part-3/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>People Behind the PR Holiday Edition: Part 2</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/12/14/people-behind-the-pr-holiday-edition-part-2/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/12/14/people-behind-the-pr-holiday-edition-part-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 14 Dec 2012 20:49:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Chris Swietlik</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Staff]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=10159</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In part two of our holiday blogging, we tell the reindeer to go full-steam ahead, as we break out a post filled with holiday hopes and sweet seasonal treats. 3. The number one thing on your holiday wish list this year? Charlene Blohm: A new Dutch oven (for baking bread). Andria Casey: While a trip to Pasadena is number one on my dream list, what I&#8217;d really love is a Badger Rose Bowl win for my last Christmas in college! Emily Embury: I&#8217;ve been begging my husband for a gift certificate to a local yoga studio. And if he doesn&#8217;t come through I may just have to treat myself. Saul Hafenbredl: No wish list this year. Instead of exchanging gifts, my family decided we&#8217;re all taking a trip together in March – somewhere warm. Martha Jacobs: My holiday wish actually came true today! My cousin Craig is on his way home to Wisconsin for the first time in months. He&#8217;s in the Marine Corps and has been serving in Afghanistan&#8230;He&#8217;s our family hero and it&#8217;s amazing to have him home for the holidays! Paul Mamelka: A few days of sub-32 degree temperatures so local lakes and ponds will magically freeze [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/12/14/people-behind-the-pr-holiday-edition-part-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>People Behind the PR Holiday Edition: Part 1</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/12/11/people-behind-the-pr-holiday-edition-part-1/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/12/11/people-behind-the-pr-holiday-edition-part-1/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 11 Dec 2012 20:37:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Chris Swietlik</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Staff]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=10122</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Like almost every other sentient being, CB&#38;A folks love the holidays. So we&#8217;ve decided to reveal some of our favorite seasonal activities and memories of celebrations past. Tune in to this frequency on the blogging airwaves over the next two weeks to learn (among other things) the truth about Santa, and what elves do on their days off! Well, maybe not anything that sensational, but we&#8217;ll try to entertain you with a little peek behind the scenes nonetheless&#8230; 1. What is the best gift you have ever received? Charlene Blohm: A multi-day rental of the first five Planet of the Apes movies, along with plenty of microwave popcorn. It was sheer couch-potato bliss to watch the movies back-to-back on a chilly holiday weekend while chasing away the homesick blues. Andria Casey: One year my siblings and I received a surprise family trip to go skiing in Colorado. My parents managed to keep it a secret until Christmas Day, even though we had to be packed to leave the next day! Emily Embury: My dog Barley, a soft-coated wheaten terrier, was an early Christmas present four years ago. He&#8217;s been a loved member of our family ever since! Saul Hafenbredl: I once [...]]]></description>
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		<title>The People Behind the PR: Chris Swietlik</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/11/29/the-people-behind-the-pr-chris-swietlik/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/11/29/the-people-behind-the-pr-chris-swietlik/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Nov 2012 15:00:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Saul Hafenbredl</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Staff]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=9932</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[CB&#38;A is an agency that values its team, and we hope you enjoy learning a bit more about the people behind the PR.  Chris is an Account Coordinator at CB&#38;A. Dogs or cats? I&#8217;ve never owned any pets, but I was bit by a cat once. So I&#8217;ll say dogs. Morning or night person? Morning, I like to get up and get going. Best PR advice you can fit inside of a tweet? Find that thing that makes you different. Standing out is much more effective than blending in. If days suddenly lasted 25 hours, what would you do with the extra hour? I would spend more time working on my creative writing. Favorite subject in elementary school? Language Arts. No. 1 most-played song on your iPod? For some reason this function hasn&#8217;t worked on my iPod for about three years, so I&#8217;ll take a guess and say Common People by William Shatner. If you weren’t in PR, what would you be doing? Well, before I was in PR I was assembling levels at a factory, so my guess is I would still be doing that. What was the first thing you learned to cook? Scrambled eggs, still one of [...]]]></description>
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		<title>CB&amp;A Team Snags 4 Awards at PRSA-Madison Event</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/10/23/cba-team-snags-4-awards-at-prsa-madison-event-2/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/10/23/cba-team-snags-4-awards-at-prsa-madison-event-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Oct 2012 18:18:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Adam Wise</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[#CB&A]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Awards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blogging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ISTE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ISTE2012]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pr]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRSA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Staff]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[StudyBlue]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=9313</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[C. Blohm &#38; Associates, Inc. (CB&#38;A), the premier public relations firm for the education industry, was proud to receive four honors at the PRSA-Madison Alchemy Awards ceremony Oct. 18. Honored by three Awards of Excellence for a trio of campaigns completed in the past year, the CB&#38;A team was thrilled by a Best in Show award for our Media Central campaign hosted at the International Society for Technology in Education 2012 Conference. CB&#38;A shared the evening’s top campaign award with St. Mary’s Hospital, which was honored for its work celebrating the organization’s centennial. The three CB&#38;A campaigns that were recognized with awards, followed by a few details explaining each, are listed below: ISTE 2012 Media Central Originally scheduled 56 meetings – 8 per client – with top-tier editors, but greatly exceeded that goal, hosting a total of 139 meetings. Facilitated meetings with 11 prospective clients, nine more than planned. Hosted virtual meetings over Skype for clients with media who couldn’t attend. Created a dedicated ISTE page on the CB&#38;A website featuring info on Media Central, virtual media kits, news announcements and San Diego travel tips. StudyBlue Infographic As part of a larger effort to raise the company’s visibility and enhance [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/10/23/cba-team-snags-4-awards-at-prsa-madison-event-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>A Few ‘Smart’ Ways To Pitch The Media</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/10/18/a-few-smart-ways-to-pitch-the-media/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/10/18/a-few-smart-ways-to-pitch-the-media/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 18 Oct 2012 14:29:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Adam Wise</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pitching]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pr]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRSA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[YouTube]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Zombies]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=9197</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the many great aspects of working at C. Blohm &#38; Associates I’ve quickly come to realize is the numerous professional development opportunities afforded the staff. As PR professionals working in an agency setting, we must always be willing to adapt to new technology, and to learn new ways of reaching out to the media to build the brands of the clients we serve. A co-worker, Katie, and I recently  participated in a PRSA-sponsored webinar hosted by Michael Smart. The hour-long session  detailed eight story “boosters,” as Smart calls them; ways to bolster your media pitches. Smart is the National News Director at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, but also provides media relations training and coaching to the PR industry. As a common courtesy, I can’t reveal all of the boosters, but these three caught my attention. Frame your pitch around PEOPLE Too often, companies push their executives or spokespersons to share a story that excludes the people most directly connected to it. Smart says PR pros must find the ‘regular’ people attached to stories,  those who deliver  a story’s emotional connection and grab even the most jaded editor’s attention. Exploit pop culture You may roll your eyes [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/10/18/a-few-smart-ways-to-pitch-the-media/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>‘Mobile’s Brave New World’ – And Why It Matters to Your Business</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/09/27/mobiles-brave-new-world-and-why-it-matters-to-your-business/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/09/27/mobiles-brave-new-world-and-why-it-matters-to-your-business/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 Sep 2012 14:14:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Saul Hafenbredl</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mobile]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[search]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=8797</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[CB&#38;A recently sponsored Madison’s Social Media Breakfast, an early morning event where local business, marketing and PR professionals gather to network and discuss an aspect of social media. September’s session was “Mobile’s Brave New World for Search and Social Marketers,” presented by Brian Klais of Pure Oxygen. The entire CB&#38;A team was in attendance for the event, and we’ve compiled a highlight reel of Klais’ most salient points to share with you: 2012 – The Year of Mobile There are 100 million smartphones in the U.S., and the market is growing at 50 percent. There are 40 million tablets in the U.S., and the market is growing at 100 percent. Mobile Users Are Your Customers 59 percent of people use mobile devices to visit a business Web page. 61 percent call a business after using mobile devices to find the page. 88 percent take action (purchase, visit location, etc.) within the same day. 79 percent of people use mobile devices to help with shopping. But Mobile Users Are Impatient 62 percent of mobile users will abandon a brand’s site if it’s not optimized for mobile devices. So, it’s increasingly important to provide consumers with a helpful mobile experience. Here’s how, according [...]]]></description>
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		<title>Madison&#8217;s Social Media Breakfast, Sept. 19, 2012</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/09/20/madisons-social-media-breakfast-sept-19-2012/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/09/20/madisons-social-media-breakfast-sept-19-2012/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 20 Sep 2012 14:08:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lauren Rothering</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=8743</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This month, CB&#038;A sponsored Madison’s Social Media Breakfast, an early morning event where PR pros gather to eat delicious pastries and dive into an aspect of social media. This month’s session was “Mobile’s Brave New World for Search and Social Marketers,” presented by Brian Klais of Pure Oxygen.]]></description>
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		<title>Social Media Breakfast Reminder</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/09/18/social-media-breakfast-reminder/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/09/18/social-media-breakfast-reminder/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 18 Sep 2012 15:29:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Martha Jacobs</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=8667</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Greetings coffee and social media lovers, alike! This is just a quick reminder about this month’s Social Media Breakfast Madison: Mobile’s Brave New World for Search and Social Marketers, on Wednesday, Sept. 19 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at CUNA Mutual Auditorium. CB&#38;A is proud to be sponsoring this month&#8217;s event, and we’re excited to announce our Twitter contest! The rules are easy: follow us on Twitter @CblohmAssoc, and look for a tweet from us asking a question about the SMB on Wednesday morning. Remember to use the hashtag #smbmad when responding, and we’ll randomly select one very special person to receive a gift! We’re looking forward to seeing all of you &#8211; and connecting through Twitter if you weren’t able to get one of the sold out tickets! Check back to Visibility Matters for a Storify wrap-up of the event later this week!]]></description>
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		<title>The People Behind the PR: Kristen Plemon</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/08/29/the-people-behind-the-pr-kristen-plemon/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/08/29/the-people-behind-the-pr-kristen-plemon/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 29 Aug 2012 15:13:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Saul Hafenbredl</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Staff]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=8356</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Each week we&#8217;ll feature a Q&#38;A with one member of our dynamic team. CB&#38;A is an agency that values its employees, and we hope you enjoy learning a bit more about the people behind the PR.  Kristen is an Account Executive at CB&#38;A. Dogs or cats? I don&#8217;t have either, but had both on the farm growing up. Morning or night person? Night-time.  As Ray Charles observes: It&#8217;s the right-time. Best PR advice you can fit inside of a tweet?  PR success is based on building good relationships, keep those principles in mind with every action, in every mode of comm. If days suddenly lasted 25 hours, what you do with the extra hour? Laughing and playing with my kids. &#160; Favorite subject in elementary school?  Didn&#8217;t have just one favorite subject, I loved elementary school. No. 1 most-played song on your iPod? I like a wide range of music genres, but right now I&#8217;m listening to a lot of Muse, Adele, and Ray LaMontagne. I play various versions of Guitar Hero and Rock Band with my husband and kids so listening to a lot of my favorite rock songs on those games as well. If you weren&#8217;t in PR, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/08/29/the-people-behind-the-pr-kristen-plemon/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>The People Behind the PR: Katie Waite</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/08/01/the-people-behind-the-pr-katie-waite/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/08/01/the-people-behind-the-pr-katie-waite/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Aug 2012 21:27:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Saul Hafenbredl</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Staff]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=8135</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Each week we&#8217;ll feature a Q&#38;A with one member of our dynamic team. CB&#38;A is an agency that values its employees, and we hope you enjoy learning a bit more about the people behind the PR.  Katie is an Account Coordinator at CB&#38;A. Dogs or cats? Definitely dogs. I love dogs of all shapes, sizes and breeds! I&#8217;m currently in the market for a dog and up for any suggestions! Morning or night person? I have to admit that I am a night owl, and I love sleeping in. I&#8217;ve never been a morning person. Even as a child, I was enrolled in afternoon Kindergarten because I wanted to sleep in every day. Best PR advice you can fit inside of a tweet? Sometimes it&#8217;s the quality of the coverage that counts, not the quantity. If days suddenly lasted 25 hours, what you do with the extra hour? Cook an actual meal every night for dinner. By the time I get home from work and get my workout in, dinner kind of falls to the wayside. Book you&#8217;re currently reading or have read recently? Most recently I read To America, by Stephen Ambrose. I love learning about U.S. history, and [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/08/01/the-people-behind-the-pr-katie-waite/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>The People Behind the PR: Emily Embury</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/07/25/the-people-behind-the-pr-emily-embury/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/07/25/the-people-behind-the-pr-emily-embury/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jul 2012 13:24:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Saul Hafenbredl</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Staff]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=8020</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Each week we&#8217;ll feature a Q&#38;A with one member of our dynamic team. CB&#38;A is an agency that values its employees, and we hope you enjoy learning a bit more about the people behind the PR.  Emily is a Senior Account Executive at CB&#38;A. Emily and Barley Dogs or cats? Woof. My dog Barley, a soft coated wheaten terrier, is the love of my life – aside from my husband of course. Morning or night person? Morning but only if a good cup of coffee is available. Best PR advice you can fit inside of a tweet? Act like a duck&#8230;stay calm, cool and collected on the surface even if you&#8217;re paddling like crazy under water. Favorite subject in elementary school? Art class. My mom still has a box full of my art projects. &#160; If days lasted 25 hours, what would you do with the extra hour? Practice Bikram yoga. If yoga were a pill, believe me, everyone would take it. Current Pandora station? Of Monsters &#38; Men based on a recommendation from a friend. If you weren&#8217;t in PR, what would you be doing? Running an organic vegetable farm with goats. I love goat cheese. What was the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/07/25/the-people-behind-the-pr-emily-embury/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>The People Behind the PR: Saul Hafenbredl</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/06/13/the-people-behind-the-pr-saul-hafenbredl/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/06/13/the-people-behind-the-pr-saul-hafenbredl/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Jun 2012 15:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Paul Mamelka</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=6908</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Each week we&#8217;ll feature a Q&#38;A with one member of our dynamic team. CB&#38;A is an agency that values its people, and we hope you enjoy learning a bit more about the people behind the PR.  Saul is an Account Coordinator at CB&#38;A. He joined the team back in July 2011. Dogs or cats? I love animals in general, but dogs win this match-up. I&#8217;m the proud dad of wonderfully affectionate and needy Yellow Lab named Garrett. Morning or night person? I aspire to be a morning person, and I&#8217;m making some progress. What&#8217;s the best PR advice that fits inside a tweet? &#8220;Give more than you take; be useful.&#8221; Or, &#8220;Measure twice, cut once.&#8221; The second bit also works well when installing new carpet. If days suddenly lasted 25 hours, what you do with the extra hour? I would probably try to read a bit more. Which book have you read recently? Two especially good reads:  The Audacity to Win and The Singing Wilderness. What was your favorite subject in elementary school? Does phys. ed. count? Well, I also enjoyed writing and reading classes. I was also pretty good at math as a kid. What&#8217;s the most-played song on [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/06/13/the-people-behind-the-pr-saul-hafenbredl/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>The People Behind the PR: Martha Jacobs</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/05/23/the-people-behind-the-pr-martha-jacobs/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/05/23/the-people-behind-the-pr-martha-jacobs/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 May 2012 14:13:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Saul Hafenbredl</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=7169</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Each week we&#8217;ll feature a Q&#38;A with one member of our dynamic team. CB&#38;A is an agency that values its employees, and we hope you enjoy learning a bit more about the people behind the PR.  Martha is an Administrative and Project Coordinator at CB&#38;A. She started with the agency in 2007 as a PR Specialist. Dogs or cats? I&#8217;m a sucker for ANY baby animals, but would have to go with dogs on this one. Morning or night person? Definitely morning person. If days suddenly lasted 25 hours, what you do with the extra hour? Realistically: sleep. Ambitiously: work out. Which book have you read recently? The Hunger Games. What was your favorite subject in elementary school? Art. What&#8217;s your current Pandora station right now? James Taylor. If you weren&#8217;t in PR, what would you be doing? Probably an art teacher, I basically had to flip a coin in college between business and education. What was the first thing you learned to cook? Probably potato soup &#8211; courtesy of my dad&#8217;s great skills Favorite condiment? Yellow mustard &#8211; none of the fancy stuff, it has to be plain yellow. What&#8217;s your favorite sport and team? Green Bay Packers, duh. If you could have dinner [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/05/23/the-people-behind-the-pr-martha-jacobs/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>The People Behind the PR: Lauren Rothering</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/05/16/the-people-behind-the-pr-lauren-rothering/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/05/16/the-people-behind-the-pr-lauren-rothering/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 May 2012 18:51:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Saul Hafenbredl</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[#CB&A]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Staff]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=7042</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Each week we&#8217;ll feature a Q&#38;A with one member of our dynamic team. CB&#38;A is an agency that values its employees, and we hope you enjoy learning a bit more about the people behind the PR.  Lauren is an Account Coordinator at CB&#38;A. She joined the team in May 2011. Dogs or cats? Neither&#8230;I&#8217;m not really a pet person. I&#8217;m not heartless though, I swear! Morning or night person? Definitely morning. I always had to get up early to beat my sister to the shower. What&#8217;s the best PR advice that fits inside a tweet? Find a way to say it, without saying it. If days suddenly lasted 25 hours, what you do with the extra hour? Hmm&#8230;I&#8217;d probably eat a big fancy breakfast before work everyday. Which book have you read recently? I just started &#8220;The Social Animal&#8221; by David Brooks, but recently I finished &#8220;The Power of Habit&#8221; by Charles Duhigg. It&#8217;s an awesome read, but also kind of creepy&#8211;check out this article for a teaser. What was your favorite subject in elementary school? In elementary school I loved computer class because we got to play Oregon Trail if we finished our typing assignments early. What&#8217;s the most-played song on your [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/05/16/the-people-behind-the-pr-lauren-rothering/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>CB&amp;A Welcomes Two New Team Members</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/05/10/cba-welcomes-two-new-team-members/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/05/10/cba-welcomes-two-new-team-members/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 10 May 2012 21:25:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Saul Hafenbredl</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[C. Blohm & Associates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hires]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Staff]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=7057</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[CB&#38;A was founded on the belief that all students deserve a quality education. Each day we strive to uphold our guiding principles and passion for education to achieve visibility for the clients we serve. When expanding the CB&#38;A team, we look for dynamic, talented and passionate individuals who share these same values. On that note, we would like to welcome Account Executive Betsy Francoeur and Account Coordinator Katie Waite to the team. Betsy and Katie’s passion for education is evident, and their diverse experiences will be instrumental in helping our clients succeed. As Account Executive, Betsy will use her communication, writing and social media skills to accomplish client goals and oversee client initiatives. Betsy graduated from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with a Bachelor of Science degree in public relations. Upon graduating, she was named Wisconsin’s 57th Alice in Dairyland and visited hundreds of classrooms throughout the state to educate students about the nutritional value and variety of Wisconsin food products. Afterwards, Betsy held public relations positions at two Milwaukee-area agencies. In her role as Account Coordinator, Katie will be responsible for assisting the President and Account Executives with tasks such as writing news releases, managing CB&#38;A social media accounts [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/05/10/cba-welcomes-two-new-team-members/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>CB&amp;A Celebrates Two Staff Promotions</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/04/25/cba-celebrates-two-staff-promotions/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/04/25/cba-celebrates-two-staff-promotions/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:00:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Saul Hafenbredl</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Promotions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Staff]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=6732</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[CB&#38;A is passionate about the value of education and giving all children a chance to succeed. We achieve visibility for our clients by sharing the positive stories that occur in classrooms around the country each day. These quality principles are part of CB&#38;A’s DNA, and our team endeavors to uphold them at every turn. With that in mind, we’re pleased to announce the promotions of Emily Embury and Martha Jacobs. Emily and Martha exemplify CB&#38;A’s core values on a daily basis, and their skills and contributions are invaluable to our clients’ success. Emily has been appointed Senior Account Executive, and Martha has been named Administrative and Project Coordinator. As Senior Account Executive, Emily will take on a greater role in supporting client visibility goals, managing team members and training staff. Emily joined CB&#38;A in 2004 and earned a promotion to Account Executive in 2007. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and women’s studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In her new role, Martha will gain additional responsibilities related to coverage tracking and analysis, event planning, client support, and business development. Martha began her career with CB&#38;A as PR Specialist in 2007. She earned her Bachelor of Arts [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/04/25/cba-celebrates-two-staff-promotions/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
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		<title>From Frat Row to SEO</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/04/23/from-frat-row-to-seo/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/04/23/from-frat-row-to-seo/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:30:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lauren Rothering</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[college]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[frat row]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Keywords]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Madison]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pr]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[search engine optimization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spiders]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=6717</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It’s hard to believe I’ve been out of college for almost a year. Well, sort of halfway out of college. I moved to Madison last May and chose an apartment complex on UW-Madison’s frat row—partly because rent was reasonable, and partly because of its proximity to downtown Madison and all its spoils. This past year, while I’ve been adjusting to “adult life”, my neighbors have been reveling in college immaturity with loud nights, game day fun and lots of hip-hop dance parties. Sometimes, when I arrive home to students playing bags in the street, or have to elbow some freshman frat boy out of the way for a parking spot, I feel more like I’m still in college than a professional working woman. This is part of the reason why I chose to take a class last semester. With all those students running around, it made me remember what I missed most about school—the excitement of learning something new. So, I researched some classes and stumbled across one that specialized in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies. I learned A TON during the eight week class, including some super useful (and simple) ways to boost your SEO. Here’s some of the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/04/23/from-frat-row-to-seo/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Are You Smart Enough to Write for a Fifth-Grader?</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/04/18/are-you-smart-enough-to-write-for-a-fifth-grader/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/04/18/are-you-smart-enough-to-write-for-a-fifth-grader/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:30:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Saul Hafenbredl</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pr]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=6596</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Try this sentence on for size: “By far, this is the most angst-ridden decision we have made in my more than 25 years with Starbucks, but we realize that part of transforming a company is our ability to look forward, while pursuing innovation and reflecting, in many cases, with 20/20 hindsight, on the decisions that we made in the past, both good and bad.” Starbucks paid somebody a handsome salary to write that, but could you tell what it meant after reading it once? Me neither. As PR professionals, we convey meaning. We take complex ideas and distill them into something that makes sense for a general audience. We simplify stuff. But sometimes our writing reads like an encrypted wartime message, and our stilted approach is counterproductive. Let’s explore literacy in the United States and how to write for readability. Literacy in the United States Put simply, you probably overestimate the literacy of Americans as a group. In 1993, only one of every five people (20 percent) could read at a high school level – a circumstance that has not improved in recent years. The National Adult Literacy Survey of 2003 deemed only 13 percent of Americans to be “proficient” [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/04/18/are-you-smart-enough-to-write-for-a-fifth-grader/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Power In Pinfluence?</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/04/13/power-in-pinfluence/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/04/13/power-in-pinfluence/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Apr 2012 20:36:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lili Beck</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ISTE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pinterest]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=6422</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Pinterest has earned a top rank among today’s most popular social networks, and C. Blohm &#38; Associates gives the site a gold star of approval too.  Some of you may be wondering, what’s the buzz really about? What is a ‘pin’? Is this site a waste of time? This photo-sharing website is not a waste of your time. The Los Angeles Times reports that Pinterest drew 23.7 million unique visitors in February, up from 3.5 million in September, according to research firm Nielsen. Experian Marketing Services ranks Pinterest as the third-most-popular social networking site, behind Facebook and Twitter. Pinterest is a social photo sharing website that allows users to create and manage image collections organized around events, interests, hobbies and more. Users can browse other pinboards for inspiration, &#8216;re-pin&#8217; images to their own compilations, and recommend, or &#8216;like&#8217;, photos. Based on Pinterest&#8217;s mission statement, their goal is to “connect everyone in the world through the ‘things’ they find interesting&#8221; through the use of a global platform for idea sharing. According to business intelligence firm RJ Metrics, 17.2% of all pinboards are categorized under Home, followed by Arts and Crafts (12.4%), Style/Fashion (11.7%), Food (10.5%), and Inspiration/Education (9.0%). Of those, food [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/04/13/power-in-pinfluence/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Top Mobile Apps for the Traveling PR Pro</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/02/14/top-mobile-apps-for-the-traveling-pr-pro/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/02/14/top-mobile-apps-for-the-traveling-pr-pro/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:33:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Saul Hafenbredl</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Efficiency]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mobile]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pr]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=5340</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Trade show season is in full swing for CB&#38;A, which means less time in the office and more time in planes, trains, taxis, conference halls and hotel suites. Typically, much of a PR professional’s work is done in front of a glowing computer screen, but increased travel translates to unconventional working conditions. In these on-the-go situations, many PR pros turn to their smartphones to help them manage the workload. Accordingly, we’ve compiled a quick guide to the best mobile apps for the business nomad. TripIt (Free) Before you begin your trip, you’ll have to actually plan it. Juggling itinerary, sharing it with your co-workers and family, synchronizing your schedules, and simply getting to the airport on time can cause a headache. With TripIt, you forward your confirmation emails to the service, and it organizes your itinerary for you. You can easily share trip plans with colleagues and family, or you can share via Facebook or LinkedIn. Bump (Free) Bump makes sharing content as simple as bumping two phones together. Just pick what you want to send, then hold your phone and gently bump hands with another Bump user. Share photos, apps, music, messages, locations, contacts and calendar events – or [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/02/14/top-mobile-apps-for-the-traveling-pr-pro/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Digital Learning Day 2012</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/01/31/digital-learning-day-2012/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/01/31/digital-learning-day-2012/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:09:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lili Beck</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Digital Learning Day]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ed Tech]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=5015</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Among education leaders, it’s no secret that technology is transforming how students communicate and learn; yet powerful digital teaching tools and resources are being underutilized in classrooms nationwide. On Wednesday, the inaugural Digital Learning Day, 36 states, 10,000 teachers, and more than 1.5 million students will join together to encourage technology use in the classroom. Digital Learning Day, “a nationwide celebration of innovative teaching and learning through digital media and technology,” was designed to explore and demonstrate how classroom technology can be used to improve student outcomes. Tomorrow, Feb. 1, a National Town Hall Meeting hosted by the Alliance for Excellent Education, will be held at 1 p.m., EST, in Wash. D.C., The event will celebrate participants across the nation and feature FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in a special joint appearance. Additional participants include Bob Wise, president of the Alliance for Excellent Education and former governor of West Virginia, and Leon Harris, Emmy Award-winning journalist and news anchor for ABC7/WJLA-TV (Wash., D.C.) and former co-anchor of CNN Live Today. To participate in the event, guests can register to watch the event on Skype. Interested spectators and participants can also follow the conversation on Twitter, or use the hashtag #DLDay. [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/01/31/digital-learning-day-2012/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Thumbs Up for Likable Social Media</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/01/27/thumbs-up-for-likable-social-media/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/01/27/thumbs-up-for-likable-social-media/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:38:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lili Beck</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Facebook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=4804</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Studies consistently verify a fundamental truth about buyer behavior: a friend’s recommendation is more powerful than any advertisement. In the world of social media, your inner circle’s experiences and opinions can travel farther and faster than ever before. The question is, how can public relations professionals harness the incredible power of word-of-mouth marketing to transform a business? Are you utilizing the advantages of social media to the fullest? Successfully using social media for business purposes is not as easy as it sounds. I just finished reading Dave Kerpen’s book Likeable Social Media, a guide on how to delight your customers, create an irresistible brand, and become a Facebook superstar. What makes this particular social media book stand out? For starters, author Kerpen has the credentials to support his social media principles. Kerpen is the co-founder and CEO of Likeable Media, an award-winning social media and word-of-mouth marketing firm with revenue growth for 4 consecutive years. Kerpen has been featured on CNBC’s “On the Money”, ABC World News Tonight, the CBS Early Show, the New York Times, and accredited blogs. Likable Social Media covers such relevant hot topics as authenticity, honesty and transparency. In an attempt to present the best image possible, most [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/01/27/thumbs-up-for-likable-social-media/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<title>Top 7 Ed Tech Trends to Watch in 2012</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/01/06/top-7-trends-to-watch-in-2012/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/01/06/top-7-trends-to-watch-in-2012/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:56:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lauren Rothering</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Ed Tech]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blended Learning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cloud computing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[common core]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[edTech]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mlearning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mobile learning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online learning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PLNs]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=4277</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Compiled by CB&#38;A staff As a follow-up to our 2011 reflection post, the CB&#38;A team once again collaborated to identify what we believe will be hot topics in education for 2012. Do you agree with us? Let us know in the comments! 1. Mobile Learning You’re not experiencing déjà vu. We did, indeed, identify mobile learning as a hot trend in our 2011 reflection last week. But since trends don’t adhere to calendars, we expect the gathering wave of mobile technology in education to spill over into 2012 and beyond. More than three-quarters of teens own a cell phone – 40 percent own a smartphone. These percentages will only grow in 2012, and you can expect to hear a lot more about using mobile devices as educational tools inside and outside of the classroom. 2. Common Core As with mobile learning, Common Core was included in our 2011 reflection post, also gaining momentum moving into 2012, especially as more schools incorporate Common Core State Standards into their lessons and assessments. Check out what some educators are saying about Common Core, and what they believe the future might hold 3. Online Learning With four states requiring at least one online course credit [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/01/06/top-7-trends-to-watch-in-2012/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>In Case You Missed It</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/01/05/in-case-you-missed-it/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/01/05/in-case-you-missed-it/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:24:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lauren Rothering</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Ed Tech]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christmas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dairy Dispatch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[edTech]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reindeer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=4184</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Feeling a little glum after the holidays? Rekindle your Christmas spirit by reading the November/December issue of the Dairy Dispatch! In this issue, we tackle the history of reindeer and bring you the latest news from our client family. Read the entire issue here! Be sure to keep your eyes open for our first issue of 2012, set to release on February 1!]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2012/01/05/in-case-you-missed-it/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>2011: A Year to Remember</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/12/29/2011-a-year-to-remember/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/12/29/2011-a-year-to-remember/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Dec 2011 22:47:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lauren Rothering</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Ed Tech]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2011]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[college]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cyberbullying]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[highered]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[infographic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Knowledge Delivery Systems]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PBS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[StudyBlue]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[university]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=4026</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Compiled by CB&#38;A staff At CB&#38;A, we’ve been talking a lot about collaboration recently, not only in our own office environment, but also in the education community. We saw tons of innovation and advancement in 2011, but through it all, collaborative efforts seemed to reign supreme. From everything we saw this year, here’s our take on the top seven trends of 2011: 1) Infographics Infographics can change the way we learn, and the way we interpret the information put in front of us. In 2011, one education trend was the increasing use of infographics to relay important data to students. A well-designed infographic can highlight important conclusions and study findings in a clear and concise way. For example, a successful 2011 infographic developed by StudyBlue®, a mobile and online study service for students, demonstrates several benefits for students who use their mobile device for study sessions. 2) Anything Free As schools and districts faced deep budget cuts in 2011, educators turned to free online resources, which proliferated this year. One example is the launch of PBS LearningMedia, a free nationwide service for teachers, parents and families. PBS, along with its member stations, debuted PBS LearningMedia in June to provide more than 14,000 high-quality digital learning [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/12/29/2011-a-year-to-remember/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>There’s Nothing like a Road Trip to Get to Know Someone</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/12/22/theres-nothing-like-a-road-trip-to-get-to-know-someone/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/12/22/theres-nothing-like-a-road-trip-to-get-to-know-someone/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:06:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lauren Rothering</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[co-workers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[office]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pitching]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=3809</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In November, the Account Coordinators attended a PRSA “Pitching Boot Camp,” presented by Michael Smart. We learned lots of tips and tricks on pitching and media relations, which have already come in handy for our several of our clients. The biggest lesson I learned, though, didn’t come from Michael Smart or any of the conference attendees, but from a dark booth at an Outback Steakhouse. Let me explain. The night before the seminar, we all piled into Saul’s car and hit the road to Chicago. The three of us had been working together for a couple months, but we learned pretty quickly there was a lot we didn’t know about each other. In between getting lost in Chicago on the way to our hotel and trying to track down a place to eat dinner, we bonded over stories of our college days and just how many nights a week we spend prowling State Street. By the time we sat down to dinner at Outback Steakhouse, there was a marked increase in the level of comfort we had with each other. This led to some great collaborative brainstorming over the next few hours, and into the seminar the next day. By [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/12/22/theres-nothing-like-a-road-trip-to-get-to-know-someone/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>How to Pitch Successfully</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/12/16/how-to-pitch-successfully/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/12/16/how-to-pitch-successfully/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:49:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lili Beck</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pitching]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=3515</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Do you ever feel like your pitches are ignored? You’re not alone. Many PR professionals feel that their pitches are not well received by the media. Truth be told, journalists and top bloggers are quickly developing a reputation for having an aversion to public relations pitches. Considering the high volume of emails they receive on a daily basis, it’s quite understandable. Any email with “awesome PR pitch!” in the subject line is bound for a slam-dunk into the recycling bin.  Swoosh! While news coverage in top outlets is still a very powerful way to reach key audiences, the methods to reach out to these influential opinion leaders are continuously evolving in today’s digitally focused, and time constrained world. Several CB&#38;A team members recently attended a PRSA Pitching Bootcamp event in Chicago led by Michael Smart, principal of MichaelSMARTPR. Michael has been landing top-tier coverage for over 13 years, and has placed stories in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Time magazine, and NBC’s Today show. His work is impressive, and the 8-hour pitching workshop was very informative and worthwhile. Today, I would like to share a few of Michael’s techniques. This post will cover social media etiquette, the top complaints [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/12/16/how-to-pitch-successfully/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Three Fatal Presentation Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/12/08/three-fatal-presentation-design-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/12/08/three-fatal-presentation-design-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:54:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Saul Hafenbredl</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pr]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[presentations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[public speaking]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=3392</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The first post in this three-part series covered how to create compelling content for your next presentation. Content is the foundation of your presentation, and this post provides some tips on how to build an engaging, visually beautiful set of slides atop that foundational content. You’ve done the hard work of developing meaningful ideas, so why not display them in the best possible light? This is the fun part. Avoid… Making your slides too complicated Avoid cluttering the slides with unnecessary bells and whistles. They’ll only distract your audience and detract from the message you’re trying to convey. The “less is more” cliché applies in this case. But you have all of that useful content, so what should you do with those data points and poignant examples?  Read on… Putting everything on one slide Ever notice how the audience suddenly springs to life and madly scribbles notes exactly when you switch slides? Then, after they copy the text from your presentation verbatim into their pads, they slump back into their chairs and zone out until they’re cued by a slide change to pay attention again. There’s a simple way to keep your audience on its proverbial toes: present at a [...]]]></description>
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		<title>A Formula for Creating Memorable Presentations [Part One of Three]</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/11/18/a-formula-for-creating-memorable-presentations-part-one-of-three/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/11/18/a-formula-for-creating-memorable-presentations-part-one-of-three/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:52:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Saul Hafenbredl</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pr]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[presentations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[public speaking]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cblohm.com/?p=3386</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We’ve all suffered through them before—presentations that lull us to sleep, fail to make a point, waste our time, and make us wish we could overthrow the presenter in favor of charades or an early Happy Hour. Then, on fleeting occasions, we’re reminded just how powerful presentations can be when they’re done the right way. The CB&#38;A team recently attended a webinar from BrightTALK on how to be a “presentation god” (or goddess), and we’ve picked out some key points that will help you deliver a killer presentation the next time you stand up in front of an audience. &#160; To make these tips easier to digest, we’ll feed them to you as a three-course meal: content, design, and delivery. This post will cover content, which happens to be the most important and most frequently overlooked step in crafting a presentation. Creating Effective Content Dan Schwertly, the webinar presenter, was emphatic about breaking everything down into groups of three, so we’ll do the same while discussing content. You need to consider three components in this stage:credibility, knowing the audience, and planning. Credibility Credibility is essential to the success of your presentation. If your audience doesn’t have faith in your status as a thought leader, [...]]]></description>
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		<title>Reputation Management</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/11/17/reputation-management/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/11/17/reputation-management/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:39:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Charlene Blohm</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Books]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pr]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reputation management]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=3039</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;Your reputation is no joke, it&#8217;s your superpower.&#8221; With those words from the title of a Forbes article, John Doorley owned the room at the PRSA International conference (#PRSAIcon) in Orlando last month. Doorley is co-author of &#8220;Reputation Management: The Key to Successful Public Relations and Corporate Communication,&#8221; and assistant clinical professor and chair of the New York University Master of Science Degree Program in Public Relations and Corporate Communication. Previously, he headed corporate communications at Merck, and was the lead speechwriter for the chief executive officer of Hoffmann LaRoche Inc. Recently, he worked with the leaders of corporate communication at Johnson &#38; Johnson to create and teach in the Academy for Communication Excellence and Leadership (ACCEL). Doorley encouraged attendees to ask what their organization stands for, which is your intrinsic identity.  He said research shows an organization can have several identities, but you can have just one central identity, which is your core value. He shared a formula for calculating and monitoring reputation: Reputation = Behavior + Communications X Authenticity with authenticity being the degree to which your organization lives up to its intrinsic value. Other notable comments from Doorley&#8217;s presentation: Actions that put you at risk are those [...]]]></description>
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		<title>&#8216;Excellent&#8217;: Tech &amp; Learning 2011 Award of Excellence Winners</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/11/14/excellent-tech-learning-2011-award-of-excellence-winners/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/11/14/excellent-tech-learning-2011-award-of-excellence-winners/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:14:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lauren Rothering</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[excellence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[High School]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teacher]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tech & Learning]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=3074</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When you think about your high school days, the mind wanders to many places: football games, Calculus class, homecoming. But mostly, I think of “Bill &#38; Ted’s Excellent Adventure.” As a petrified freshman in a new town, I wandered into my first-ever high school class, World History. Nervously straightening my bangs, I sat down and pretended to be immersed in reading the introduction of my textbook, trying to ignore my churning stomach and the fact that I did not know a single person in the entire class. Lucky for me, as the bell rang and my stomach dropped, my teacher flicked the lights off and pulled down the AV curtain. This could only mean one thing: a movie. Enter “Bill &#38; Ted’s Excellent Adventure.” Starring a baby-faced Keanu Reeves, the film is a reckless romp through history, wherein Bill and Ted travel back in time to try to save the future. Though I don’t remember much about the movie, I do recall laughing along with my classmates, making friends with my desk-neighbor by giggling at how silly Billy the Kid was, and by the end of class, thinking high school might not be so bad after all. This is excellence. [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/11/14/excellent-tech-learning-2011-award-of-excellence-winners/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>How are PR People like Disney?</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/11/07/how-are-pr-people-like-disney/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/11/07/how-are-pr-people-like-disney/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 Nov 2011 23:37:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Anne Smith</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Disney]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Orlando]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRSA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Soledad O'Brien]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[storytelling]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=3016</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Twitter. Facebook. YouTube. Foursquare. Tumblr. Huffington Post. Discussion forums. Podcasts. iPad apps. Blogs. In our quest to embrace all that is shiny and new, sometimes we forget a simple premise: as PR and marketing folks, we&#8217;re telling (or selling) a story. This year&#8217;s PRSA conference (#prsaicon) was held in Orlando, home of Disney, master storytellers themselves. CNN anchor Soledad O&#8217;Brien (@Soledad_OBrien) opened the conference reminding us to find the character in the story. &#8220;Show me the faces behind the facts,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Tell me the stories that will move me, not just the statistics.&#8221; Over the next three days, I heard this storytelling mantra repeatedly. Echoed by speakers from Chris Brogan (@chrisbrogan) and Joe Rohde (@DisneyParks) to Gerard Braud (@gbraud) and Michael Smart (@michaelsmartpr), it&#8217;s clear that for all the tools and tricks at our disposal, we have to remember that building personal connections by sharing stories about people is the value of what we do. Here are my top insights from the conference, all of which relate to focusing on the story, the message, the audience&#8230;not the channel! An authentic and emotive spokesperson is usually more effective than the most articulate person you can find. &#8211; Soledad O&#8217;Brien PRSA [...]]]></description>
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		<title>The Future of Social Media</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/10/21/the-future-of-social-media/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/10/21/the-future-of-social-media/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:44:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lauren Rothering</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=3000</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On Oct. 11, I attended the PR + Social Media Summit at Marquette University. In its third year, the Summit attracted almost 500 PR and social media pros from the Midwest and beyond. Among the featured presenters were social media experts from the likes of Pepsi, American Eagle, The Northface and more. This Summit was also my first experience with live tweeting, which I’ll describe as attempting to run a marathon in quicksand while juggling fiery torches. Okay, maybe that’s a bit dramatic, but between trying to listen to the speakers and take notes and catch up with industry colleagues and research the best place to grab lunch, live tweeting was a difficult task to master. Nonetheless, after a full day of presentations, I returned to CB&#38;A with a dead laptop, a battered stick-on nametag and a brain full of ideas, tips and tricks for our clients and our own agency’s social media efforts. Here are some highlights from the day, condensed into my masterful live tweet form: George G. Smith Jr. from Pepsi kicked off the day with this statement, which acted as quasi-theme for the entire Summit: the need for human communication isn’t a new concept, but the [...]]]></description>
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		<title>Lessons Learned from Netflix</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/09/22/lessons-learned-from-netflix/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/09/22/lessons-learned-from-netflix/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 22 Sep 2011 06:13:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Emily Embury</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Netflix]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Qwikster]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=2880</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[All companies, whether they are active in social media or not, should secure the online names that could be used to protect or promote their brand. Unfortunately for Netflix, the company is learning this lesson the hard way. As many of you know, Netflix recently announced the separation of its online streaming and mail-order DVD services. This week, CEO Reed Hastings shared in a blog post that the DVD service will now be known as Qwikster - a name chosen because it &#8220;refers to quick delivery.&#8221; But Netflix seems to have forgotten to secure the Twitter address of its new service. A guy whose name is listed as Jason Castillo has been tweeting from @Qwikster for months. And get this - his profile picture is a cartoon Elmo smoking a joint, and his tweets are filled with foul language and drug references. As said best by The Washington Post, &#8220;Hardly the first brand association that a company would like to make, and a major failure on the PR front.&#8221; Yikes. TechCrunch was the first to discover this PR blunder, observing that &#8220;The first thing many tech pundits do upon hearing industry news is check a prominent brand&#8217;s Twitter account to see if [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/09/22/lessons-learned-from-netflix/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>SIIA Webcast Highlights Education Industry’s Use of Social Media</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/07/29/siia-webcast-highlights-education-industry%e2%80%99s-use-of-social-media/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/07/29/siia-webcast-highlights-education-industry%e2%80%99s-use-of-social-media/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 29 Jul 2011 20:12:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brittany Dorfner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ed Tech]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[education technology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education Vendors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SIIA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social networking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Software & Information Industry Association]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=2853</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;Social networks can be used to provide educators with career-long personal learning tools and resources that make professional learning timely and relevant, as well as an ongoing activity that continually improves practice and evolves their skills over time.&#8221; &#8211; National Ed Tech Plan 2010 Earlier this month, the Software &#38; Information Industry Association hosted the &#8220;Social Media Marketing in Education&#8221; webcast, which highlighted the use and integration of social media in education companies&#8217; sales and marketing plans. Stemming from an online survey conducted in February, participants answered several questions related to their knowledge, use, and implementation of social media channels as part of their overall marketing efforts. More specifically, the questions honed in on how respondents use specific tools to build their brand, reach key audiences, and garner feedback. Looking at the final data, 35 percent of companies surveyed felt they have a social media strategy and plan, while 35 percent believed they are using social media, but don&#8217;t have a clearly defined strategy or plan. Most of the remaining participants responded that they were working toward social media use. For those in the research and development phases, one of the challenges they faced was, &#8220;convincing higher-ups to take a [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/07/29/siia-webcast-highlights-education-industry%e2%80%99s-use-of-social-media/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>Implementing the Barcelona Principles into PR Practice</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/05/17/implementing-the-barcelona-principles-into-pr-practice/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/05/17/implementing-the-barcelona-principles-into-pr-practice/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 May 2011 15:12:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brittany Dorfner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Barcelona Principles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pr]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PR measurement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRSA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media measurement]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=2755</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In June of 2010, measurement industry representatives gathered in Barcelona, Spain and agreed upon seven principles. While these principles clarified some industry controversies, including the use of false multipliers and Advertising Value Equivalents (AVEs) and how to measure social media success, they left some unanswered, such as, &#8220;How do we implement these successfully?&#8221; To continue the discussion, public relations leaders gathered in London in November 2010 to address two questions: What do we use in place of AVEs, and how do we make sense of the approximately 300 suppliers of social media measurement? OneVoice (a combined agency of Omnicom companies) shares insight into implementing the Barcelona Principles, including: Budget for measurement up front: Figure 5 percent of your total PR spend, including fees and pass-through costs, for measurement services and internal resources. Talk the language of business: PR measurement has to talk the language of business to ensure executives see the value of public relations. Many companies keep track of how they&#8217;re doing with customers using a Net Promoter Score, even giving bonuses to staff members based on how they perform against that metric. Take one approach: Take one approach to measurement and stick to it. Continue ongoing maintenance and [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/05/17/implementing-the-barcelona-principles-into-pr-practice/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>Top Innovators in Education Technology Recognized by SIIA</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/05/11/top-innovators-in-education-technology-recognized-by-siia/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/05/11/top-innovators-in-education-technology-recognized-by-siia/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 May 2011 17:27:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brittany Dorfner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ed Tech]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education Talk Radio]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Innovation Incubator Program]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[personalized learning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SIIA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Software & Information Industry Association]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=2735</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Last week, the Software &#38; Information Industry Association (SIIA) announced 10 finalists for its Innovation Incubator Program. The Innovation Incubator Program connects developers of promising new technologies with industry leaders, potential investors, and established companies seeking partnerships or acquisition candidates. In addition, Karen Billings, vice president of the Education Division at SIIA, and Tasiyiwa Mapondera, program manager for the Education Division, joined Larry Jacobs of Education Talk Radio to discuss the history of the Innovation Incubator Program and the decision to focus the 2011 program on personalized learning. The full interview can be found online at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/edutalk/2011/04/28/educational-technology-siias-innovation-incubator. This year, innovative K-12 and postsecondary technology-based educational products and services were reviewed and assessed on a broad range of selection criteria, including various characteristics of a personalized learning solution. The selected finalists will present their innovations during the Business Profiles Presentations and the Innovation Showcase &#38; Welcome Reception at the Ed Tech Industry Summit in San Francisco, May 22-24. Finalists include: &#8211; Cabanga &#8211; Coursification &#8211; Dynamic Whiteboard &#8211; GiftedSpeech &#8211; GoKnow &#8211; McGraw-Hill Spark! &#8211; myON reader &#8211; Neurocognitive Training for Reading Comprehension &#8211; Sokikom &#8211; Wowzers (Alternate: Pay-Per-Result at Learn that Word) The 10 finalists will vie for recognition as &#8220;The Most Innovative&#8221; and &#8220;The Most Likely to Succeed&#8221; in the ed tech market.  Additionally, lead Innovation Incubator Sponsor, Blackboard Inc., (Blackboard), will award one [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/05/11/top-innovators-in-education-technology-recognized-by-siia/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>Should Your Brand Be Mobile?</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/04/18/should-your-brand-be-mobile/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/04/18/should-your-brand-be-mobile/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 Apr 2011 19:59:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brittany Dorfner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mobile marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pr]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=2717</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With mobile marketing on the rise, many organizations are asking: &#8220;Should we invest in mobile communications?&#8221; Before investing time and money in developing a plan, discuss these key considerations: How are your customers using mobile devices &#8211; what features or applications are most popular with your key audience? What devices are they using? A variety fit the definition of &#8220;mobile&#8221; &#8211; cell phones/smartphones, laptops, &#8220;phoneless phones&#8221; (e.g., MP3 player), networked gaming devices (e.g., Sony&#8217;s PSP), e-book readers and tablet computers. There are also several &#8220;flavors&#8221; of smartphones, (e.g., iPhone, Blackberry, Android-powered, Windows-powered), so don&#8217;t develop communications for just one platform. Thinking about creating an app? Ask yourself (and your team) how it can help enhance your brand, and decide how you will encourage people to interact. It&#8217;s also critical to come up with a real measurement and content strategy: What&#8217;s your primary goal? How do you refresh content? Determine the value of a like or share. Are 10K downloads worth it? Look at downloads AND usage to establish benchmarks. Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) to determine the campaign&#8217;s success. Providing the means to reach audiences in a new and different way is part of mobile&#8217;s big draw. Today, mobile communication [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/04/18/should-your-brand-be-mobile/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>Steps to Developing Your Organization’s Social Media Policy</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/03/07/steps-to-developing-your-organization%e2%80%99s-social-media-policy/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/03/07/steps-to-developing-your-organization%e2%80%99s-social-media-policy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 Mar 2011 15:39:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brittany Dorfner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[brand awareness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[crisis communcations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pr]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=2661</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you haven&#8217;t already integrated social media into your communications, marketing or public relations efforts, 2011 is the year to do it. As you begin to develop (or re-develop) your social media strategy, keep a few things in mind, including employee access to internal or external social networks and who to include in the development process. When forming your social media team, its important to remember that those involved come to the table for different reasons &#8211; every group has different goals and objectives. As PR professionals, it&#8217;s our job to help summarize everyone&#8217;s needs into one policy. It&#8217;s also critical to do your research first by asking questions &#8211; where does your organization or brand communicate now, what are the messages, and where do executives and employees want to see the organization moving forward? As you address these questions, keep the 3 &#8220;R&#8221;s in mind &#8211; respect, responsibility and representatives. Identify employees who can accurately address questions from your customers, members, the media, bloggers, etc., and incorporate them into the social media process. Additionally, you may want to break up your social media policy into two sections: internal and external. This will help ensure that you&#8217;re successfully reaching both [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/03/07/steps-to-developing-your-organization%e2%80%99s-social-media-policy/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>Video Interviews 101 &#8211; Three Tips for Creating an Engaging Video</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/02/22/video-interviews-101-three-tips-for-creating-an-engaging-video/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/02/22/video-interviews-101-three-tips-for-creating-an-engaging-video/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 22 Feb 2011 21:14:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brittany Dorfner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[#socialmedia #eventmarketing #marketing #PR #tradeshows]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=2653</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[After TCEA 2011, I felt inspired to write this post after recording a series of video announcements during the conference. If your organization has considered recording videos for its website (or news releases), or has already done so, I hope these few tips prove helpful. 1. Provide honest messaging. While preparing a script never hurts, resist the temptation to memorize and recite it verbatim. Your audiences want to see the &#8220;real&#8221; you and will appreciate a more natural, honest message. 2. Interact with your audience. Make eye contact with the camera and smile &#8211; many times interviewees get so caught up in remembering what they want to say that they forget about the viewer. Although you&#8217;re looking at a camera, you&#8217;re really having a one-on-one conversation, so it&#8217;s important to be enthusiastic and try to connect with your audience. 3. Stay calm. Even the most confident, charismatic person can freeze up in front of the camera. Be real, transparent and relatable. If you have great talking points, but look nervous, that&#8217;s all people will remember, so take a breath and relax. Finally, here&#8217;s a good tip from a member of our own client family: if you have to speak in [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/02/22/video-interviews-101-three-tips-for-creating-an-engaging-video/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>Building a Successful Social Media Strategy</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/02/18/building-a-successful-social-media-strategy/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/02/18/building-a-successful-social-media-strategy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 18 Feb 2011 18:13:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brittany Dorfner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[#socialmedia #socmedfored #PR #marketing #visibility #brandawareness]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=2641</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One thing&#8217;s for sure &#8211; social media gives you the ability to tell your story anywhere, at any time. Last month, I attended the Lands&#8217; End Speaks Out on Social Media presentation, hosted by Social Media Breakfast &#8211; Madison, with information provided by Eric Gohs (@ericgohs), Lands&#8217; End (@landsendchat) senior manager of social media and mobile marketing. During the presentation, Gohs emphasized the importance of social media and offered advice and examples on how any organization could build its own successful social media strategy. He began by acknowledging this key point: social media is all about content. In order to grab your audience&#8217;s interest (and keep it), you have to share content that is useful and of value to them. Equally important, you should know where your audiences (customers, members, stakeholders) are engaging &#8211; are they active on Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, all of the above? After you&#8217;ve identified the networks your audiences are frequenting, include those tools in your overall social media strategy. Using these networks allows your organization to maintain a connection with customers, and provide live, real-time customer service. In turn, you can provide your customers with a voice and help amplify their story. Aside from maintaining regular [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
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		<title>QR Codes, Public Relations, and You</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/02/03/qr-codes-public-relations-and-you/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/02/03/qr-codes-public-relations-and-you/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 Feb 2011 23:41:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nate Towne</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HCCB]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[High Capacity Color Barcode]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mobile tagging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[QR Code]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Quick Response Code]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[scanner]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[smartphone]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=2583</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[They&#8217;re popping up everywhere. Little squares of pixilated flotsam and jetsam that at first glance don&#8217;t look like much. But looks can be deceiving! These unassuming little squares, called QR Codes – short for Quick Response – are packed full of valuable information to those in the know, almost like a digital version of the TARDIS on &#8220;Doctor Who.&#8221; (Apologies for the geek reference.) They provide a new way to reach target audiences with your public relations messaging. Let&#8217;s take this in &#8220;byte-sized&#8221; chunks, shall we? A QR Code is a matrix barcode (i.e. a two-dimensional code), readable by QR scanners, mobile phones with a camera, and smartphones. Like all barcodes, when scanned, a QR Code provides the scanner with access to data at high speed. This data can take myriad forms, but we&#8217;ll get to that. While a popular QR Code format consists of black rectangles arranged in a square pattern on white background, other variations exist, notably the High Capacity Color Barcode (HCCB) developed by Microsoft, which uses clusters of colored triangles instead of the square pixels traditionally associated with 2D barcodes. Each format has its backers, but so far there is no &#8220;universal standard.&#8221; The QR Code [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2011/02/03/qr-codes-public-relations-and-you/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
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		<title>Multimedia News Releases: Grabbing Your Reader’s Attention</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/12/29/multimedia-news-releases-grabbing-your-readers-attention/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/12/29/multimedia-news-releases-grabbing-your-readers-attention/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 29 Dec 2010 21:14:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Patrick Terry</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Multi media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Multimedia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[news release]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[press release]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=2558</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With the dramatic increase in media consumption and multitasking in this digital age, people want their information as quickly as possible and aren&#8217;t always interested in reading long, text-only stories, no matter how well written. Would Twitter be necessary if we all had long attention spans? Would there be eight Harry Potter movies if everyone had the time to read the books? How do you grab, and keep, a reader&#8217;s attention? Liven things up. Almost everything we read online is enhanced by links and information presented in various media formats. At C. Blohm &#38; Associates we do our best to replicate this experience with our news releases. The goal is to make them a &#8220;one-stop-shop&#8221; for media, bloggers and other interested parties to quickly access all the information they need. For several years, we&#8217;ve been providing our clients with &#8220;multimedia news releases&#8221;(a.k.a., social media releases). Here are some releases we&#8217;ve done for Lightspeed Systems and Shmoop that incorporate video, downloadable PDFs of the releases, images, links to background information, and social-sharing features. Here are some ideas for incorporating more media elements into your online releases: Videos &#8211; Feature an executive or customer affiliated with the story, do a product demonstration, [...]]]></description>
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		<title>PR in an Integrated Marketing Plan</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/12/20/pr-in-an-integrated-marketing-plan/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/12/20/pr-in-an-integrated-marketing-plan/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Dec 2010 21:22:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tim Lum</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Strategy]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=2416</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Integrated marketing is a high-level strategic issue that involves all marketing channels, including public relations and media relations.  And it begins with the marketing planning process.  Marketing plans usually start with overall organizational goals in mind – in the next year, we want to increase revenue by a certain amount, or we want to launch a new product, or set of products.  Whatever the overall goals, marketers develop a strategic plan to address those objectives and allocate resources – money, person-power, time – to accomplish them.  At the planning stage, it is critical to think about those targets in terms of the various marketing channels and how they will work in concert to achieve success.  If you&#8217;re not thinking about integration during these foundational planning stages, it is unlikely to happen during the execution of your marketing efforts. PR is a vital tool in an integrated marketing plan.  Because PR leverages and extends your organization&#8217;s branding and reinforces the messaging, it needs to be considered as part of the overall strategic planning process.  Rather than simply thinking about press releases and media communications as a separate part of the &#8220;to do&#8221; list, smart marketers consider how PR can serve the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/12/20/pr-in-an-integrated-marketing-plan/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>And Now Here’s Something We Hope You’ll Really Like: Nate Towne and Patrick Terry</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/11/12/and-now-here%e2%80%99s-something-we-hope-you%e2%80%99ll-really-like-nate-towne-and-patrick-terry/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/11/12/and-now-here%e2%80%99s-something-we-hope-you%e2%80%99ll-really-like-nate-towne-and-patrick-terry/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 13 Nov 2010 01:22:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Patrick Terry</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=2295</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You may have noticed CB&#38;A blog posts, tweets and other correspondence from a couple of unfamiliar chaps in recent months so we figured it&#8217;s high time to introduce these mysterious figures. The reality is that we are growing faster than a toothing toddler, and in light of that, the CB&#38;A Team has expanded so that we can continue to offer the highest quality service to our clients. That said, we give you our new Account Executive, Nate Towne and our new Account Coordinator, Patrick Terry. Nate originally hails from Boston; after earning his Masters degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Emerson College he made the pilgrimage to Madison and now calls the Midwest home. (Rumor has it he moved for the cookies though that&#8217;s yet to be confirmed.) A social media devotee and passionate PR practitioner, Nate likes to flex his strategic communications muscles to develop integrated public relations programs that achieve results for his clients. He enjoys learning through osmosis at CB&#38;A and finds the education technology industry to be a fascinating and wonderfully complex organism chock-full of surprises. If Nate isn&#8217;t developing a strategic communications plan, pitching the next great education publishing widget to the press, or guest [...]]]></description>
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		<title>The Need for Open Leadership</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/11/02/the-need-for-open-leadership/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/11/02/the-need-for-open-leadership/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Nov 2010 06:01:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Emily Embury</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[#PRSA_IC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Best Buy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charlene Li]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Groundswell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Open Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRSA]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=2232</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[According to the Nielsen Company, we each spend, on average, nearly five and a half hours per month on social networking sites, up two hours from last year.  During the PRSA 2010 International Conference, Charlene Li addressed the challenges company leaders face as a result of this dramatic adoption of social media.  She began with this question: &#8220;How do you get comfortable with this sense of being out of control?&#8221; Li became an industry name with the 2008 publication of &#8220;Groundswell,&#8221; which she co-wrote with Josh Bernoff.  In the book Li emphasizes, &#8220;It&#8217;s really not about the technologies, it&#8217;s about the relationships.  The one constant is relationships.&#8221;  As the use of social media continues to rise, she&#8217;s encouraging company leaders to enter the conversation, strengthening these relationships by improving efficiency, communication and trust. In her new book, &#8220;Open Leadership: How Emerging Technology Can Transform the Way You Lead,&#8221; Li presents a new approach she thinks company leaders must adopt to maintain a competitive advantage.  Traditionally, business is based on the concept of control, yet the growth of social media demands openness.  Li outlines how companies can thrive in this new, transparent world, and how they can leverage these tools to [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/11/02/the-need-for-open-leadership/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>A Growing Communications Channel: Best Practices for Mobile Marketing</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/10/25/a-growing-communications-channel-best-practices-for-mobile-marketing/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/10/25/a-growing-communications-channel-best-practices-for-mobile-marketing/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:28:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brittany Dorfner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[apps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mobile marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mobile media capabilities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mobile websites]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=2147</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hosted by the Association of Strategic Marketing, the Apple OS and Mobile Marketing: Best Practices for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch webinar began with this question: can you imagine living without mobile? Apparently, the world can&#8217;t live without it – 5+ billion people have mobile subscriptions, with 277 million in the U.S. alone. Why is mobile such a worldwide necessity? It&#8217;s universal, personal, contextual and interactive – all of which allows for intimate and direct engagement with consumers. Mobile is the third most used medium per week at 13.1 hours, behind computers (19.5 hours) and TV (16.2 hours). With its ability to host a multitude of media capabilities, including SMS (short message service), MMS (multimedia messaging service), e-mail, voice, content, apps and proxy channels (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth), it&#8217;s obvious why mobile has become so widely used. By 2014, it&#8217;s estimated that more people will be accessing the Internet via mobile devices than traditional broadband Internet connections. The other popular draw? Mobile devices obtain whatever information we deem relevant – making our favorite brands more accessible, and augmenting our purchasing capabilities with pricing information and reviews available at our fingertips. Given its benefits, mobile websites and apps become popular ways for [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/10/25/a-growing-communications-channel-best-practices-for-mobile-marketing/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>The PR Lesson in NBC’s Education Nation = Know Your Audience</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/10/19/the-pr-lesson-in-nbc%e2%80%99s-education-nation-know-your-audience/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/10/19/the-pr-lesson-in-nbc%e2%80%99s-education-nation-know-your-audience/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:27:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brittany Dorfner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education Nation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[education reform]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pr]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teachers]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=2101</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As a PR professional, it&#8217;s critical to know your audience &#8211; for your agency, organization, or client. As NBC&#8217;s recent TV special titled, &#8220;Education Nation&#8221; ended, I read a number of tweets, blog posts and articles from educators expressing their disappointment in the week-long summit dedicated to education reform. NBC&#8217;s intentions were good – a larger emphasis should be put on the needs and challenges facing America to improve education – but based on educator responses, I think they fell short in understanding their audience. Many of the teachers reported feeling &#8220;disappointed, depressed, and insulted&#8221; over the outcomes of the summit. Many said there was no teacher voice, and as I reviewed the lineup of &#8220;education experts,&#8221; the absence of teachers was highly evident. In its announcements, NBC recognized the importance of including teachers and parents in the week&#8217;s discussions, but many didn&#8217;t get the opportunity to expand on their opinions and ideas. In his blog, Outside the Cave, Stephen Lazar writes about his experience participating in the Teacher Town Hall, describing his initial excitement at the prospect of sharing his thoughts with a national audience. To his disappointment, however, he was given barely enough time to finish a sentence. [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/10/19/the-pr-lesson-in-nbc%e2%80%99s-education-nation-know-your-audience/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>2010 PRSA International Conference</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/10/15/2010-prsa-international-conference/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/10/15/2010-prsa-international-conference/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 15 Oct 2010 22:20:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Patrick Terry</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pr]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRSA]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=2048</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The PRSA&#8217;s annual conference is upon us once again, Oct. 16-19. PR professionals from across the globe will converge on Washington, D.C. to hone their craft through keynote presentations, breakout sessions and case studies, and to do some good old-fashioned networking. Sponsored by the Public Relations Society of America, the conference will focus on the value of public relations, with the theme &#8220;Powering PRogress.&#8221; We&#8217;re looking forward to learning from these thought leaders: Bettina Luescher, chief spokesperson of the United Nations World Food Programme (Sunday) Jim VandeHei, executive editor and co-founder, POLITICO (Sunday) Bill Tancer, author of &#8220;Click: What Millions of People Are Doing Online and Why It Matters &#8211; Unexpected Insights for Business and Life&#8221; (Monday) Jeffrey Hayzlett, author of &#8220;The Mirror Test: Is Your Business Really Breathing?&#8221; (Monday) Charlene Li, author of &#8220;Open Leadership: How Social Technology Can Transform the Way You Lead&#8221;, and co-author of &#8220;Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies (Tuesday) During the conference, be sure to follow the CB&#38;A team on Twitter, as Charlene, Emily, Kristen and Nate post live updates about what they&#8217;re learning. Watch this space in coming weeks for posts that delve into some of the key takeaways from the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/10/15/2010-prsa-international-conference/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Proving Social Media’s ROI through Consistent Measurement and Listening</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/10/01/proving-social-media%e2%80%99s-roi-through-consistent-measurement-and-listening/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/10/01/proving-social-media%e2%80%99s-roi-through-consistent-measurement-and-listening/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 01 Oct 2010 09:29:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brittany Dorfner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[community engagement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online conversations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online coverage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online listening]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online measurement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pr]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media measurement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media ROI]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=2014</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[While most people recognize the potential worth of social media as a public relations tool, the big question remains: How do you prove its return on investment? A deeply committed organization may hire a Community or Brand Manager, creating larger long-term costs for social media management and a greater need to demonstrate its value. In terms of monitoring, media content analysis should be supplemented by web and search analytics, sales and CRM data, survey data, and other methods. While there&#8217;s no comprehensive tool deemed the one to provide a detailed report of an organization&#8217;s social media activity (and resulting engagement), there are a number of free and subscription-based tools that can help to aggregate and analyze online coverage and social media mentions. These include: Google Alerts, Technorati, Tweet Reach and Radian6. In addition, measurement must focus on conversation and communities, not just coverage. While understanding reach and influence is important, experimentation and testing are key to developing a successful formula for social media analysis. As part of Ragan&#8217;s PR Daily webinar, The Biggest Trends in PR Measurement and ROI, David Rockland and Jennifer Fravel of Ketchum Communications outlined Ketchum&#8217;s Media Algorithm, which extends basic content analysis to include quantitative assessment. [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/10/01/proving-social-media%e2%80%99s-roi-through-consistent-measurement-and-listening/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>Submit Your SIIA CODiE Award Nominations Soon!</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/09/27/submit-your-siia-codie-award-nominations-soon/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/09/27/submit-your-siia-codie-award-nominations-soon/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 27 Sep 2010 18:49:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Patrick Terry</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ed Tech]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[education technology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SIIA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=1975</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Autumn has arrived, the leaves are turning; which means it&#8217;s time to turn in your CODiE nominations. The CODiE Awards, sponsored by the Software Information Industry Association (SIIA), recognize the very best in business software, digital content and educational technology. Knowledgeable industry veterans review the nominated products, making this a great opportunity to see how your entry stacks up against the competition. Submissions are narrowed to a list of finalists, from which the winners are chosen. Just being named a finalist brings benefits, including a comprehensive media outreach program, and the opportunity to be seen as an ed tech industry leader. Your company and product have a lot to gain from the elevated visibility, both industry and mainstream, that comes with qualifying as a finalist, or winning a CODiE. Nominations for the 2011 CODiE Awards are due by Friday, Oct. 1, 2010. Nominees will be accepted October 2-15, but a late fee will be assessed. SIIA will announce the CODiE Award finalists on Dec. 13, 2010. Winners in the Education Technology division will be announced at the SIIA Ed Tech Industry Summit, on May 22-24, 2011 in San Francisco. Winners in the other division will be announced at the following [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/09/27/submit-your-siia-codie-award-nominations-soon/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Three Years in a Row! And a Double Winner at That!</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/09/21/three-years-in-a-row/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/09/21/three-years-in-a-row/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:20:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Charlene Blohm</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Awards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pr]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRSourceCode]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=1932</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The CB&#38;A team takes great pride in delivering exemplary results for the members of our client family.  And I guess it shows. For the 3rd year in a row, the CB&#38;A team was recognized in the Top Tech Communicator survey conducted by PRSourceCode.  More than 800 information technology and business journalists participated, sharing their opinions about the IT industry&#8217;s top PR agencies, corporate PR departments and individual PR professionals. And not only was this the 3rd consecutive year to be cited in the survey, but the results indicate CB&#38;A was a double winner this year: I was recognized as a Top Tech Communicator, the 2nd time in three years (blush). And CB&#38;A was honored as a runner-up in the Small Agency category, also the 2nd time in three years that the agency as a whole was tapped for recognition. Wow (double blush). We come to work every day because we love sharing interesting stories about interesting people doing interesting things in interesting classrooms.  And we are inspired by our wonderful client liaisons, who are true partners in the PR process.  We are passionate about kids and the learning process, about schools and classroom best practices, and about teachers and the hard [...]]]></description>
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		<title>Ten Core Elements of Facebook Marketing Success</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/08/16/ten-core-elements-of-facebook-marketing-success/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/08/16/ten-core-elements-of-facebook-marketing-success/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:19:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brittany Dorfner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Facebook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Facebook for business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Facebook page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=1878</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Just behind Google, Facebook is the most trafficked website in the world, according to Alexa.com. With such powerful appeal, it&#8217;s important to consider Facebook in overall marketing plans. Facebook can be used to leverage and build upon your existing customer relationships through engaging content. Creating a Facebook page will expose your organization to fans&#8217; networks, garnering more visibility and potentially new business. During a recent webinar hosted by Mike Stelzner and Mari Smith, they shared nine case study examples of organizations with engaging Facebook pages.  Taken from those case studies, here are 10 core elements of successful Facebook pages. 1.     Create a strategy for your brand &#8211; By creating a strategy before building your page, you&#8217;ll be able to focus your efforts on the message you want to share, and how you&#8217;ll engage fans. 2.     Create a custom tab to highlight products or services &#8211; Have you recently launched a new product or added a service to your business? Give your fans the most important details by creating a custom tab with specific information about the new product/service. Additionally, consider using this tab as your landing page so fans are immediately directed to it. 3.     Ask fun, interesting questions to [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/08/16/ten-core-elements-of-facebook-marketing-success/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>Social Media Success Summit &#8211; Part Four</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/07/30/social-media-success-summit-part-four/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/07/30/social-media-success-summit-part-four/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:54:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brittany Dorfner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[#smss10]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[future of social media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media success summit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Steve Rubel]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=1841</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The final post in this four-part series addresses the future of social media, as discussed during the Social Media Success Summit by Steve Rubel, SVP, Director of Insights for Edelman Digital. Since technologies are always evolving, Rubel suggested it&#8217;s wrong to ask what&#8217;s the next Twitter or Facebook. To illustrate his point, he shared a 2006 slide listing a variety of social media technologies, many of which no longer exist. If you&#8217;re looking to learn more about social media, or you&#8217;re just getting your feet wet, Rubel recommends testing the technologies before executing a plan. It&#8217;s useful to talk to people who know a lot, or even a little, about social media to learn more about current trends, and to generate ideas for your organization&#8217;s optimal strategy. The key is to understand trends and evaluate their success before testing the technology. In today&#8217;s world, we&#8217;re snacking all day long on content delivered by e-mail, Twitter, Facebook, etc., sorting through the clutter to choose what we read, listen to, and absorb. It&#8217;s essential that organizations have a good understanding of which strategies engage their audiences most effectively, and craft attention-grabbing messages to build a following. To break through the everyday clutter, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/07/30/social-media-success-summit-part-four/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>Social Media Success Summit &#8211; Part Three</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/07/29/social-media-success-summit-part-three/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/07/29/social-media-success-summit-part-three/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:44:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brittany Dorfner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[#smss10]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foursquare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Groupon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media success summit]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=1834</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As noted in a previous post, some tech experts dub Foursquare as &#8220;the next Twitter.&#8221; During the Social Media Success Summit, Tristan Walker (@tristanwalker) of Foursquare and Andrew Mason (@andrewmason) of Groupon shared tips on how to bring satisfied customers repeatedly back to your business. If you don&#8217;t know what Foursquare is, check out our post titled &#8220;Why You Should Check Into Foursquare.&#8221; By encouraging people to explore their cities and frequent local businesses, Foursquare has proved to be an effective tool in gaining customer information for businesses both large and small. Using the service, business owners can learn who is visiting, how often, during what time of day, etc., and leverage the information to increase sales and their customer base. To illustrate this point, Walker cited the experiences of two small business owners: Monique&#8217;s Chocolates - Running specials via Foursquare (e.g., if a customer bought one truffle and checked-in at the store, they received one truffle free), Monique&#8217;s saw 60+ promotion redemptions, while local newspaper ads garnered no results. AJ Bombers - After learning how to successfully unlock the &#8220;Swarm&#8221; badge (50 or more people checked-in to a location at once), the restaurant chose to host a &#8220;Swarm Badge [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/07/29/social-media-success-summit-part-three/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Social Media Success Summit &#8211; Part Two</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/07/27/social-media-success-summit-part-two/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/07/27/social-media-success-summit-part-two/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:18:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brittany Dorfner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[#smss10]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media measurement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media success summit]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=1830</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In my last post, I addressed the importance of setting goals when considering a social media campaign, and shared tips on how to monitor conversations, build your following and find potential customers via Twitter. Moving away from implementation, today&#8217;s post focuses on Jason Falls&#8217; (@JasonFalls) presentation &#8220;Five Ways to Measure Social Media Success,&#8221; zeroing in on how to measure social media efforts and identify the ROI. So, you&#8217;ve finally gotten the C-Suite on board for your social media campaign, but now you have to prove it&#8217;s effective (and worth the organization&#8217;s time and money). After establishing goals and selecting the tools, set measurable objectives and strategies as part of your campaign &#8211; how will you use the tools to achieve your goals? Potential strategies include: &#8211; Develop an incentive to get people to follow you via Twitter, or to like your page on Facebook. &#8211; Advertise your incentive. &#8211; Reach out to people you know regarding your incentive, and invite them to link to your pages, effectively broadcasting your content across other networks. &#8211; Create content that encourages a new follower/fan to come back. With strategies in place, set realistic benchmarks against which to measure your campaign outcomes. Doing this [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/07/27/social-media-success-summit-part-two/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>Social Media Success Summit &#8211; Part One</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/07/26/social-media-success-summit-part-one/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/07/26/social-media-success-summit-part-one/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:11:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brittany Dorfner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[#smss10]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media success summit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Twitter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Twitter as a Marketing Weapon]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=1822</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In May, I was an online participant in the 2010 Social Media Success Summit (#smss10). Over the course of the Summit, I sat in on sessions that covered topics useful for organizations at every stage of social media use. I&#8217;ll summarize some of these in four posts that address beginners (using tools like Twitter and Facebook) and intermediate users (introducing Foursquare and Groupon), metrics, and the future of social media. The first post focuses on tips from Guy Kawasaki&#8217;s (@GuyKawasaki) keynote presentation: &#8220;Using Twitter as a Marketing Weapon.&#8221; When considering a social media campaign, the first step is to define your goals. What are you trying to achieve? Are you trying to build brand awareness, or improve customer service? Do you want to learn more about your key influencers, and build better relationships with those influencers through engagement? With goals established, determine which networks will best help you achieve them. Identifying two or three key social networks will make your efforts more powerful; joining too many will diminish your engagement. Successful network management allows you to follow key audience(s), monitor their conversations, and engage the thought leaders influencing the market. From my experience, I suggest using Twitter and/or Facebook to [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/07/26/social-media-success-summit-part-one/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>Flags and Bridges</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/06/26/flags-and-bridges/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/06/26/flags-and-bridges/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 26 Jun 2010 21:41:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sandy Fash</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bridges]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Flags]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Interviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ISTE 2010]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Media]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=1703</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With ISTE 2010 right around the corner, it may be a good idea to brush up on your media training skills. Whether you have meetings already set up with members of the education trade press, or you just want to be prepared in case someone stops by your booth for a quick interview, it can’t hurt to review the basics. Handling tough media meetings, or any interview for that matter, can be uncomfortable even for the most veteran company spokespersons. Beyond remembering to stay calm and professional, however, there are a few tricks that can help you stay on message while still answering the reporter’s more abrasive or probing questions. The real key to handling tough media meetings is realizing that you are always in control. Using your verbal prowess, you can focus the discussion on what you want to talk about. There are two techniques that can help when it comes to answering interview questions – transitional phrases known as “flags” and “bridges.” Flags You may say a lot of things during a meeting, but to emphasize the points that you truly want to get across, you will want to use “flags.” Flags are verbal signals that cue the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/06/26/flags-and-bridges/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Why You Should Check Into Foursquare</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/06/10/why-you-should-check-into-foursquare/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/06/10/why-you-should-check-into-foursquare/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 Jun 2010 04:52:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Emily Embury</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Add new tag]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foursquare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ISTE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Media Central]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=1645</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Dubbed &#8220;the next Twitter&#8221; by some tech experts, Foursquare is a location-based social networking website that tracks its users&#8217; whereabouts as they &#8220;check-in&#8221; on their smartphones from wherever they happen to be.  Users can then elect to share this information, along with comments on the places they visit, with friends and colleagues on Foursquare, or through personal networks such as Twitter and Facebook. Launched in 2009 with limited availability, Foursquare expanded in January to allow check-ins from any location worldwide.  The site has nearly 1.6 million subscribers, according to Foursquare CEO Dennis Crowley, and is adding 15,000 users per day.  Mashable noted recently that the site has recorded more than 40 million check-ins, almost double the 22 million total it reported just five weeks ago.  It&#8217;s not surprising that some think Foursquare is the next big thing on the social media playground. Foursquare doesn&#8217;t just share your location with your network; it also serves as a game, pairing virtual rewards with real activities, according to Social Media Examiner.  Users can earn badges by checking-in at different locations.  Visit a location more times than anyone else, and you become the &#8220;mayor.&#8221;  You can also add tips to a venue for other users suggesting great [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/06/10/why-you-should-check-into-foursquare/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Using Social Media for Crisis Communications</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/05/28/using-social-media-for-crisis-communications/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/05/28/using-social-media-for-crisis-communications/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 28 May 2010 21:11:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brittany Dorfner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[crisis communications]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pr]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=1507</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently, I attended Social Media Boot Camp, hosted by Ragan Communications. The all-day workshop focused on many aspects of social media, including its role in crisis communications. In a world of instant communication, it&#8217;s crucial to have a crisis communications plan that includes social media, and addresses the chain of command (i.e., who will respond, on what networks, etc.). With the growth of social networks, citizen journalism is altering the media landscape. Anyone with a mobile phone or camera can record an event, post the results to Twitter or Facebook, and share breaking news. Take Janis Krums for example &#8211; while traveling on a nearby passenger ferry, he used Twitpic to publish the first photo of U.S. Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River, and subsequently was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in Breaking News Photography. With easy access to social media, customers increasingly are in charge of your brand, and they&#8217;ll talk about you, both pro and con, whether or not you&#8217;re engaged. Why not take a proactive approach and interact with your audience? Building a presence on social networks like Twitter and Facebook allows you to humanize your company/brand, build customer relationships, and respond quickly during a crisis. Customers [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/05/28/using-social-media-for-crisis-communications/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>The Clock Is Ticking: Preparing Your Tradeshow Communications Plan</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/05/12/the-clock-is-ticking-preparing-your-tradeshow-communications-plan/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/05/12/the-clock-is-ticking-preparing-your-tradeshow-communications-plan/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 12 May 2010 19:25:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sandy Fash</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Communications]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ed Tech]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[education technology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ISTE 2010]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tradeshow]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=1420</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The countdown has begun to ISTE 2010. Now in its 31st year, the annual conference for the International Society for Technology in Education boasts a variety of professional development and collaborative networking events, including more than 600 hands-on and formal sessions fostering the use of technology across the curriculum. As many of our clients exhibit at this highly-attended conference each summer, our office is busy with a flurry of pre-planning activities. With this boost of energy in mind, we offer a few communications tips to the developers and publishers gearing up for ISTE (or any other upcoming tradeshows, for that matter). First things first: brainstorm with team members and leadership your company’s goal for the conference. Is it to launch a new product? Boost a new brand? Highlight successful implementations of your product or service? Boost revenue by a set amount? Once your tradeshow goals have been determined, discuss how communications (both marketing and public relations) can support them. For example, if you plan to announce a new product, what steps should be taken to prepare for the launch? Consider a few items that should be on your to-do list: creating marketing collateral, designing booth graphics and displays, determining a [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/05/12/the-clock-is-ticking-preparing-your-tradeshow-communications-plan/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>The Four P’s of Successful Online Customer Engagement</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/04/19/the-four-p%e2%80%99s-of-successful-online-customer-engagement/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/04/19/the-four-p%e2%80%99s-of-successful-online-customer-engagement/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Apr 2010 06:19:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kristen Plemon</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[brand building]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[branding]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[customer engagement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[negative comments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=1261</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When helping clients and colleagues to understand and navigate the world of social media, we suggest a three-step process: 1)  Listen to and learn from online conversations related to your business, industry and customers. 2)  Participate in online conversations with core audiences. 3)  Regularly measure the results to determine success, or to adjust strategies and tactics as needed. To carry out these steps successfully, it&#8217;s critical to build capacity within an organization and cultivate a work environment conducive to effective social media use.  Corporate social media use must be integrated seamlessly throughout the company (marketing, PR, customer service, product development), not &#8220;bolted on.&#8221; Everything a company does, whether online or offline, contributes to branding, so it must all be in sync. (Check out a previous post on building brands through social media for more information.) I recently participated in PRWeek&#8217;s webcast, &#8220;Foe to Friend: Turning Online Critics Into Brand Ambassadors.&#8221; The speakers succinctly summed up the principles of online customer engagement, and addressed the issues of capacity-building and company culture. The &#8220;Four P&#8217;s&#8221; are key to engaging customers successfully through social media, particularly when addressing complaints and negative comments: 1)  People - Listening and responding online to customers, and other [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/04/19/the-four-p%e2%80%99s-of-successful-online-customer-engagement/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
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		<title>All a &#8216;Twit About Twitter in Schools</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/03/09/all-a-twit-about-twitter-in-schools/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/03/09/all-a-twit-about-twitter-in-schools/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:19:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kristen Plemon</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[community engagement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[K-12 education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[school PR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[school-home communications]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Twitter]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=1071</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Twitter&#8217;s user base grew to more than 75 million subscribers in 2009, with its number of unique visitors increasing by 1,382% from 2008. Through its explosive growth and mainstream acceptance over the past two years, Twitter now offers schools and districts the opportunity to reach stakeholders via a new, preferred communications method. Adults over the age of 25 are Twitter&#8217;s fastest growing demographic group, a key audience for educational institutions serving parents, community members, and business leaders. During the recent CoSN 2010 Conference, we hosted a Birds of a Feather Roundtable session, &#8221;All a &#8216;Twit About Twitter,&#8221; on using Twitter as a school and district communications tool.  (CoSN is a professional organization for school district technology leaders.) A small online survey that C. Blohm &#38; Associates conducted on Twitter use in K-12 education prior to the conference indicated that while more than half the respondents (district CTOs, CIOs, and other education leaders registered for the conference) and their school systems have a Twitter account, many struggle with how to use the communication tool effectively. During our roundtable session, educators posed questions about what to tweet, why Twitter is better for communications than other methods and for what purposes, and how to get their [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/03/09/all-a-twit-about-twitter-in-schools/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<title>How to Put Your Best Foot Forward When Applying to Award Programs</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/02/15/how-to-put-your-best-foot-forward-when-applying-to-award-programs/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/02/15/how-to-put-your-best-foot-forward-when-applying-to-award-programs/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:43:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sandy Fash</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Awards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Products]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=949</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are several award programs in the education industry that highlight organizations, products and services, and many call for entries in the early Spring. With this in mind, we wanted to share a few tips to help your company put its best foot forward throughout the application process. 1. Create a checklist or grid of all award programs that are appropriate for your company, and your products and services. This will help you keep track of deadlines, costs and application requirements. 2. Begin the application process at least one month prior to the deadline to ensure all requirements are in place well before the due date. 3. Visit the award program&#8217;s Web site to learn more about it and review its award  categories. 4. Match your company, or its products and services, to the appropriate categories, carefully considering the cost and required resources. 5. Fill out the application forms. Many award programs require you to apply or nominate submissions online.  Some offer a printable PDF to help you determine what will be needed when it comes time to complete the application online. Use this document to prepare before logging online to enter. 6. Most award programs ask for multiple copies [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/02/15/how-to-put-your-best-foot-forward-when-applying-to-award-programs/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>The Bottom Line:  Why price matters in marketing communications</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/02/10/the-bottom-line-why-price-matters/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/02/10/the-bottom-line-why-price-matters/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:35:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Charlene Blohm</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[customer relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pr]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PR Marketing Advertising]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Price]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pricing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=942</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[How much is it? That&#8217;s usually the first question out of our mouths when we read about a new, &#8220;must have&#8221; product. So why the growing trend to remove pricing information from Web sites, product flyers, catalogs, and news releases? We always encourage our clients to include pricing in their news releases, but some companies have policies that make our request for pricing information difficult to fulfill. To shed some light on the topic, we&#8217;ve been polling editors at the nation&#8217;s leading education publications over the past six months. Speaking on condition of anonymity, several editors shared their comments on the subject. Why Pricing Matters For administrators, getting price data saves time and facilitates decision-making. &#8220;As a K-12 education editor, I know price is very important to our readers,&#8221; said one editor. &#8220;We try to provide this information, if possible.&#8221; Another editor put it this way: &#8220;Pricing is a key factor for administrators looking to compare and contrast products and services, and very important in their purchasing decision-making process.&#8221; &#8220;Budgets are tight,&#8221; the editor continued. &#8220;If an administrator has to spend a lot of time tracking down a single product,&#8221; only to find that the district can&#8217;t afford it, &#8220;that&#8217;s [...]]]></description>
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		<title>Deploying Social Media in 2010</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/01/11/deploying-social-media-in-2010/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2010/01/11/deploying-social-media-in-2010/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:35:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brittany Dorfner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online networking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=917</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Looking back on 2009, was your company innovative in terms of online networking, or more of a social novice? If last year was your time to learn more about social media, then 2010 provides an opportunity to put your new-found expertise to the test. As the new year begins, apply what you’ve learned towards planning the implementation of your social media strategy. Innovative networking tools are in the forefront of an ongoing revolution in how we share information, and you need to factor them into your company’s communications plan. To remain competitive with other forward-thinking companies in your industry, it’s crucial to start strategizing with social media now. Here are three key concepts to guide your company’s social media planning: 1. Personalization Today, customers and key audiences are able to connect directly online with the organizations and institutions they value most. Case studies show customers respond positively to the personal connection available through social networks, as well as the rich interactive experience online platforms provide. Because of this positive response, it’s important to include personal elements in your company’s social networks. When setting up your company Twitter account, include a 2-3 sentence company bio, along with the name of who [...]]]></description>
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		<title>PRSA 2009: Measuring the Influence of Social Media</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/11/24/prsa-2009-measuring-the-influence-of-social-media/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/11/24/prsa-2009-measuring-the-influence-of-social-media/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:32:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Emily Embury</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[measurement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRSA]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=851</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[How have public relations metrics changed with the advent of social media?  Katie Paine of KDPaine &#38; Partners addressed this question during a professional development workshop at the 2009 PRSA International Conference. Paine began her presentation with some statistics: 91 percent of Inc. 500 companies are using social media – however, 38 percent are not monitoring their brand in social media. 48 percent of companies are moving money from advertising to social media – only 18 percent are taking money away from public relations. 78 percent of people trust recommendations – only 14 percent trust advertising. According to Paine, social media renders obsolete everything we know about public relations measurement.  The definitions of “timely,” “reach” and “success” – three elements of public relations – have changed.  Online coverage appears instantly and, if unfavorable, requires an immediate response.  Online impressions are impossible to count, and irrelevant as a measure of social media exposure.  Rather than focusing on impressions, or the number of people reached, we need to look at how many people responded or interacted.  A campaign’s effectiveness is measured by engagement with a particular audience, not the number of eyeballs. Here’s an overview of how public relations measurement has changed [...]]]></description>
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		<title>PRSA 2009: The Value of Online Video</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/11/23/prsa-2009-the-value-of-online-video/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/11/23/prsa-2009-the-value-of-online-video/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:27:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Emily Embury</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRSA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[search]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Video]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=809</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If a picture is worth a thousand words, then imagine the impact of a video.  During the 2009 Public Relations International Conference, Laura Sturaitis of BusinessWire and Greg Jarboe of SEO-PR discussed the use of multimedia as a way to increase news announcement visibility. Search engine optimization efforts often focus on Google, but a substantial number of searches are also taking place on the second largest search engine – YouTube.  In September 2009, while almost 9 billion searches were conducted on Google, there were 10.3 billion videos viewed on YouTube.  According to Jarboe, Americans are spending more time looking for videos on YouTube than they spend searching for content on Google. According to comScore Video Metrix, during September 2009: •    84.8 percent of the total U.S. Internet audience viewed online video •    125.5 million viewers watched nearly 10.3 billion videos on YouTube •    The average online video viewer watched 9.8 hours of video •    The duration of the average online video was 3.8 minutes The public relations industry is being rapidly reshaped by the widespread access to online video, and how it can impact public opinion.  One example is the public relations crisis experienced by Domino’s Pizza after employees posted a prank [...]]]></description>
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		<title>PRSA 2009: How to Optimize News Content</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/11/20/prsa-2009-how-to-optimize-news-content/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/11/20/prsa-2009-how-to-optimize-news-content/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:46:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Emily Embury</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Optimization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRSA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEO]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=776</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Ninety percent of journalists rely on online search engines to perform key elements of their job, whether researching a story, locating a subject matter expert, or researching a word’s precise meaning.  As newsrooms reduce their staff, journalists are writing more articles with less time and fewer resources, making it ever more critical that companies and their news announcements rank high in search results.  Lee Odden of TopRank Online Marketing outlined the steps required to optimize news content during the 2009 PRSA International Conference. To understand the importance of optimization, it’s helpful to re-examine the notion of “push” and “pull” public relations tactics.  According to Odden, push comprises the tactics used to announce company news, including news release distribution and sharing story ideas with members of the media.  Pull involves bringing journalists to a company’s Web site through optimized news releases, robust online newsrooms and social media efforts.  Achieving media coverage through both tactics enables companies to extend the reach of their news. Keyword Research Begin the optimization process by defining a list of keywords or phrases that journalists or other audiences would use to find a company or products.  Brainstorm a list of possible phrases, and test them with a [...]]]></description>
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		<title>PRSA 2009: Digital Revolution – The Chaos Scenario</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/11/19/prsa-2009-digital-revolution-%e2%80%93-the-chaos-scenario/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/11/19/prsa-2009-digital-revolution-%e2%80%93-the-chaos-scenario/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:03:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Emily Embury</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bob Garfield]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[digital revolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[listenomics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRSA]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=732</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Are traditional media falling apart before our eyes?  And, more important, are we prepared to pick up the pieces?  Bob Garfield, host of National Public Radio’s “On the Media,” Advertising Age columnist and author, explored this topic during his keynote address at the 2009 PRSA International Conference.  Garfield argued that the yin and yang of mass media and mass marketing – mutually sustaining for more than 400 years – have decoupled. Garfield’s latest book, “The Chaos Scenario,” documents the demise of traditional media as a consequence of the digital revolution.  He supports his thesis with these sobering facts: Newspapers: In spite of 23 percent U.S. population growth in the last 20 years, newspapers have lost 20 percent of their circulation.  Two years ago Robert Murdoch paid $5.5 billion for the Wall Street Journal, a publication that is now worth $2 billion. Magazines: Newsstand sales were down 12 percent in 2008, and 2009 is looking even worse.  In North America, 525 magazines folded in 2008, and another 200 have disappeared so far this year. Broadcast: Television advertising revenue dropped 20 to 30 percent in 2009.  The primetime audience for CBS is down 2.9 percent, 14.3 percent for NBC, and 17.5 percent [...]]]></description>
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		<title>PRSA 2009 International Conference</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/11/18/prsa-2009-international-conference/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/11/18/prsa-2009-international-conference/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:25:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Emily Embury</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRSA]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=711</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Last week I attended the 2009 Public Relations Society of America International Conference (PRSA) in San Diego.  More than 3,000 public relations professionals from around the world attended the conference, which is the industry’s largest annual learning and networking event.  This year’s theme, “Delivering Value” celebrates public relations as a driver of business outcomes critical to organizational success. During the conference I attended a number of professional development sessions led by the public relations industry’s thought leaders.  In addition, I listened to keynote addresses by Arianna Huffington, Todd Buckholz and Bob Garfield, three of the most influential and respected journalists, authors and commentators working today. PRSA has published recaps of the keynotes online: To Stand Out, Arianna Huffington Says That You Need Drama Despite a Troubled Economy, Todd Buckholz Believes That This is Now the Time for Innovation and Prosperity Bob Garfield: Shut Up and Listen – Or You’re Doomed Over the next week, I’ll be publishing a series of posts to share the insights and knowledge gleaned from attending the keynote and conference sessions.  Four common themes emerged during the conference – Revolution, Optimization, Multimedia and Measurement.  Each post in the series will focus on one of these themes.  [...]]]></description>
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		<title>Public Relations&#8217; Role in the Corporate Twittersphere</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/11/13/public-relations-role-in-the-corporate-twittersphere/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/11/13/public-relations-role-in-the-corporate-twittersphere/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:47:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brittany Dorfner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ghost tweeting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Twitter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Web2.0]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=692</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As people turn toward Twitter to build their personal and professional brands, one practice that’s sparked some controversy throughout the Twittersphere is ghost tweeting. Ghost-written celebrity biographies are commonplace, but hiring someone to tweet on your behalf is a hot topic among Twitter users.  The controversy stems from the notion that Twitter (and other social networks) was created for people to connect with an actual person or company. Given this presumption, is it appropriate to have someone ghost tweet on behalf of a company, or an individual who wants the benefits of a Twitter “presence” without actually doing the work? Here are a few comments on the merits of ghost tweeting shared on Becky McMichael’s blog, “Becky McMichael’s PR Balancing Act,” and MyRaganTV: •    Ghost tweeting is a misrepresentation of a person or brand and should not be condoned. •    Here&#8217;s my rule: if you don&#8217;t have the time to have your own original thoughts and key in your own 140 characters, stay out of the game. •    It violates the spirit of the open community we are trying to build on Web 2.0 with Twitter, Facebook. •    Here’s an example of ghost tweeting in action: http://twitter.com/Bob_Monkhouse. Bob was a [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/11/13/public-relations-role-in-the-corporate-twittersphere/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>PR + Social Media Summit Wrap Up</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/10/20/pr-social-media-summit-wrap-up/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/10/20/pr-social-media-summit-wrap-up/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:10:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brittany Dorfner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[#PRSMS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pr]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media summit]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=666</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently, I attended Social Media Club Milwaukee’s (@socialmediaclub) PR + Social Media Summit (#PRSMS) at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater (@UWWhitewater). The all-day summit featured keynote speakers from Southwest Airlines and Harley Davidson, and a plethora of other experienced PR professionals from Wisconsin and Illinois. With such a wide array of knowledgeable speakers, I was able to take away valuable bits of information to bolster our social media efforts, and to share with others to help them build and grow their own social media campaigns. Here are a few key points from some of the presentations: Paula Berg (@paulaberg), Southwest Airlines, “Nuts About Southwest” •    Establish social media channels (like Twitter and Facebook) to join the conversation and accentuate the positive to avoid/respond to crisis situations that involve your company. •    Update your social media content frequently with fresh, valuable information to keep your readers interested. Sarah Soczak (@sarahsoczka), Boelter + Lincoln •    Personal tweets, blogs, and other social content can reflect on the professional reputations of you and your company – always think before you post. •    If you have a personal blog, include a disclaimer stating that your opinions are not those of your employer. Cassandra Sura [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/10/20/pr-social-media-summit-wrap-up/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>PR is More Than Publicity</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/10/01/pr-is-more-than-publicity/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/10/01/pr-is-more-than-publicity/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2009 06:45:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kristen Plemon</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=638</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It seems everyone is talking about social media. Journalists are all a-Twitter, business conferences now include sessions about “being social,” and a few colleges even offer a social media degree. But looking beyond the hype, companies need to view social media from a pragmatic perspective. Although social media can transform the way we do business for the better, it’s a set of tools, not a panacea. It’s important to formulate a plan, strategy and process to use these tools effectively if they’re to have a positive effect on your business. So how should companies incorporate social media into their business plans? Let’s take a step back for a minute, and look at the role of public relations (PR) in business. PR is more than publicity (i.e., “spin”). PR is responsible for facilitating and maintaining relationships between an organization and its publics, the target audiences that can impact a company in either positive or negative ways. Company success hinges on building and nurturing successful relationships. PR encompasses media relations, employee communications, government relations, customer relations/service, crisis communications, reputation management, and much more. As a management function, PR supports strategic business planning, and aligns with company goals and objectives. As such, PR [...]]]></description>
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		<title>You Can&#8217;t Win Unless You Enter</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/09/08/you-cant-win-unless-you-enter/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/09/08/you-cant-win-unless-you-enter/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:44:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sandy Fash</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Awards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CODiES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SIIA]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=576</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are several award programs in the education industry offering companies and organizations a chance to stand in the spotlight. One of the most widely known programs is the CODiE Awards, sponsored by the Software &#38; Information Industry Association (SIIA). Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the CODiE Awards program recognizes the software and information industry’s most newsworthy products and services. Each year, CODiE judges review thousands of nominees across multiple categories in order to select the best of the best. And, being an award finalist or winner gives you and your company a great reason to reach out to customers, clients, partners, and the media, reminding them of your accomplishments. Nominations are due this year by October 16, 2009, and finalists will be announced on February 12, 2010. Education industry winners will be announced May 25, 2010, during the Ed Tech Industry Summit in San Francisco. Visit http://www.siia.net/codies/2010/default.asp for more details, including the nomination form, entry fee information, and a listing of the education-focused categories. Do you have a product worthy of a CODiE? As the saying goes, “you can’t win unless you enter.”]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/09/08/you-cant-win-unless-you-enter/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>How To: Build Your Brand Using Social Media</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/09/02/how-to-build-your-brand-using-social-media/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/09/02/how-to-build-your-brand-using-social-media/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:37:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brittany Dorfner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[branding]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Facebook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pr]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media campaign]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Twitter]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=591</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently, I sat in on the “Social Media for Business” conference call with Peter Shankman (@skydiver), founder of Help A Reporter Out (HARO), and Chris Brogan (@chrisbrogan), president of New Marketing Labs, as they discussed best practices for using social media in business. The focus was on three key uses of social media: building your brand, generating and increasing revenue, and providing positive customer service. The conclusion: if at the end of the day you’re not generating and increasing revenue by using social media, you’re not doing your job. In a world where Twitter followers and Facebook fans serve as statistics to track your company’s return on its social media investment, Shankman and Brogan highlighted three key ways to generate that ROI: 1.  Online Interaction Quality over quantity – Although big numbers are nice, it’s more valuable to look for engaging numbers – followers who are engaging in conversations and interacting with others online. Ultimately, your company’s customer base will grow through conversations about your company and/or products. Engage – Along with your followers, your company needs to be engaged as well. Use social media networks to monitor conversations surrounding your brand, and contribute to them. Customer Service – If [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/09/02/how-to-build-your-brand-using-social-media/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>Dealing With Negative Comments in Social Media – and Calming Your Fears</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/08/30/dealing-with-negative-comments-in-social-media-%e2%80%93-and-calming-your-fears/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/08/30/dealing-with-negative-comments-in-social-media-%e2%80%93-and-calming-your-fears/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 21:45:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kristen Plemon</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blogging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[crisis communications]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[negative comments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pr]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reputation management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=555</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Negative comments are inevitable – whether or not your company is engaged in social media. At some point, if they haven’t already, people will post unfavorable remarks about your company somewhere online. Fear of negative comments often holds companies back from using social media, but moving quickly to address such comments is a primary reason why companies should engage in social media. In an earlier post, I listed reasons why companies blog. Reputation management and improving customer relationships are two key benefits of corporate blogging, and of corporate involvement in other social media. The benefits far outweigh the risks. If your company starts to build an online following now (if you haven’t done so already), and develops deeper relationships with customers and others through social media, the company will be better positioned to address negative comments when necessary, and to minimize their impact on it&#8217;s reputation and revenue. In most cases, negative comments offer the opportunity to learn and improve, engage in meaningful conversation, or correct a mistake. Tips for Handling Negative Comments If you learn to deal with the negative comments, you can let go of the fear and seize opportunities to generate positive feedback and develop strong relationships with [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/08/30/dealing-with-negative-comments-in-social-media-%e2%80%93-and-calming-your-fears/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>Districts Turn to Public Relations to Boost Enrollment</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/08/20/districts-turn-to-public-relations-to-boost-enrollment/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/08/20/districts-turn-to-public-relations-to-boost-enrollment/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:27:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Emily Embury</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pr]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Schools]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=538</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[An article in the Aug. 17 edition of the Wall Street Journal sheds light on the use of public relations as a recruitment tool for schools.  Stephanie Simon reports that urban districts are employing public relations to dissuade students (and their parents) from fleeing to charter schools, private schools, and suburban districts that offer open enrollment. According to Simon, the number of students attending urban public schools continues to decline.  In Washington, D.C., enrollment has plunged from nearly 150,000 in 1970 to less than 50,000 in 2008.  Over the last 10 years, enrollment has dropped 25 percent in Pittsburgh and San Antonio, and is down 40 percent in St. Louis. Boosting enrollment helps districts on several fronts.  State funding for schools is based on attendance, with each new student bringing in more money.  In addition, schools with low enrollments run the risk of being closed, so districts hope a positive public image will persuade voters to support levies and bond issues that keep public schools open and operating. Here’s a review of public relations efforts by four urban school districts as described by Simon in the Wall Street Journal article: District of Columbia Public Schools: District spent $100,000 on a [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/08/20/districts-turn-to-public-relations-to-boost-enrollment/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Integrated Media Campaigns Yield Highest Returns</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/08/17/integrated-media-campaigns-yield-highest-returns/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/08/17/integrated-media-campaigns-yield-highest-returns/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:34:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Charlene Blohm</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PR Marketing Advertising]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[public relations agency]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=517</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[During the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC), the CB&#38;A team hosted a series of Publishers’ Roundtable discussions.  These brainstorming sessions focused on how educational marketers can expand their current marketing efforts and generate a greater return on investment by tapping into the new (and often customized) programs, products and services offered by the market’s leading print/Web publishers. Linda Winter, president of the Winter Group, moderated six sessions during the conference.  Each discussion included representatives from a member of the CB&#38;A client family (CEOs, presidents, and executives from sales, marketing and product development) and representatives from education trade magazine groups (publishers, sales representatives, print editors, online editors, and special event managers). One of the publications started offering “integrated campaigns” in mid-2008, shortly after the first Publishers’ Roundtable.  Here’s a summary of what we learned this year: Editors at the leading trade publications are eager for best practices content. One editor described his criterion for selecting content to post online: “It’s about covering news and innovations in our industry.” Each publication we met with mentioned webinars, virtual meetings, and/or virtual conferences as part of its core offering – in fact, webinars were “the big thing” that was discussed in each of our [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/08/17/integrated-media-campaigns-yield-highest-returns/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Thank you!</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/07/28/thank-you/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/07/28/thank-you/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2009 22:27:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Charlene Blohm</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PR Journalism Award]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=490</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the responsibilities we take most seriously at our agency is helping our clients build and maintain meaningful relationships with the media, primarily the editors, journalists, bloggers, and analysts who cover the education industry. In doing so, we share timely, newsworthy stories to meet their information needs. Our hard work and success was recognized today in PR SourceCode’s annual “Top Tech Communicators” study, which highlights journalists’ opinions on the IT industry’s top PR agencies, corporate PR departments, and individual PR professionals. PR SourceCode is a content service provider serving the journalism, conference, industry accolade, and public relations communities within the IT industry. C. Blohm &#38; Associates, Inc., was ranked among the top three small public relations firms in the information technology industry, according to PR SourceCode’s survey of more than 500 journalists, including staff at InformationWeek, Security Magazine and eWEEK, as well as leading publications in the education technology industry. Our team was recognized for being responsive, reliable and bringing value to the editorial process. (In this Podcast (1:45 min.), Cole Smith of PR SourceCode describes the criteria used in compiling the 2009 PRSC Top Tech Survey.) This honor would not be possible without the amazing people we work [...]]]></description>
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		<title>Lights, Camera, Action &#8211; Preparing for Video Interviews</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/07/28/lights-camera-action-preparing-for-video-interviews/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/07/28/lights-camera-action-preparing-for-video-interviews/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2009 07:00:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brittany Dorfner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Video]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=457</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With Web-based social media platforms increasing their dominance as inexpensive marketing tools, it&#8217;s important for companies to consider adding more multimedia to their Web sites, existing social networks, and press materials.  Producing short, informative videos is an easy and inexpensive way to bolster your online content. Videos can provide viewers with simple, to-the-point explanations of your company, products and news announcements, while providing the opportunity for your news to be shared across the Web. Whether producing your own in-house videos, or agreeing to a journalist&#8217;s request for an on-camera conversation, it&#8217;s important to be ready to make the best impression, and to communicate your message effectively. When preparing for an in-house video shoot, here are some tips to consider: Know your target audience(s) and tailor your message to grab their attention. Look directly at the camera and maintain eye contact, just as you would in a personal conversation. Aim to complete your video in 45 seconds to two minutes. Your viewers are watching to receive information quickly, so stick to key points and keep your message clear, concise and simple. If you&#8217;re using a prop, be sure it effectively demonstrates your product&#8217;s value. Even though viewers may see the video after [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/07/28/lights-camera-action-preparing-for-video-interviews/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Three Key Tips to Remember When Engaging in Social Media</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/07/13/three-key-tips-to-remember-when-engaging-in-social-media/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/07/13/three-key-tips-to-remember-when-engaging-in-social-media/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2009 08:35:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brittany Dorfner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hubspot]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=440</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[After participating in Hubspot&#8216;s Using Social Media for Lead Generation webinar, hosted by Rick Burnes, Hubspot Marketing Manager, I came away with three key tips for anyone engaging in social media, which could be summarized in this simple observation:  Take your in-person networking skills and deploy them in the social media sphere.  More specifically: Listen, listen, listen to your audience/fans/followers. Build relationships with those audiences. Share your content – think of contributions you can make that  your audience will appreciate; that will let them know what you, or your clients (or your clients&#8217; products) can do to solve their problems. In addition to contributing content on Twitter and Facebook, get involved in conversations on other social media networks. Take LinkedIn Q&#38;As for example – LinkedIn may not be the best forum for distributing your news, or your clients&#8217; news, but contributing your expertise on specific topics through the Q&#38;A forums will bolster your industry credibility. Be sure to include calls to action in your online content when appropriate (on your Web site, in blog posts and tweets). Creating a well-balanced combination of calls to action and interesting content will turn your visitors into leads. In addition, you can evaluate your [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/07/13/three-key-tips-to-remember-when-engaging-in-social-media/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Passion &amp; Dedication Become Elements of Success for Leading Organizations</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/06/30/passion-dedication-become-elements-of-success-for-leading-organizations/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/06/30/passion-dedication-become-elements-of-success-for-leading-organizations/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:32:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brittany Dorfner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=419</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There&#8217;s a lot to be said about turning 30. In fact, here are a few things that happened to some notable people at 30 &#8230; Thomas Edison invented the phonograph. Sylvester Stallone starred in Rocky. Francisco Vazquez de Coronado, Spanish explorer, discovered the Rio Grande, and introduced horses, mules, pigs, cattle, and sheep to the American Southwest. Scott Joplin published his &#8220;Maple Leaf Rag.&#8221; Now, not everyone can be as accomplished by 30, but congratulations are in order for the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) on 30 years of advancing and promoting technology&#8217;s essential place in schools around the globe. Through its annual conference, the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC), ISTE has provided an area for educators to share their successes and frustrations with education technology in the classroom, building a network for future educator leaders and the opportunity to share resources for classroom instruction and personal development. Thirty years as an established organization requires passion for your industry and consistent efforts to stay top of mind with your members, the media, and other industry leaders. The ability to set your organization apart from the competition not only strengthens your membership, but also allows it to grow. ISTE [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/06/30/passion-dedication-become-elements-of-success-for-leading-organizations/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<title>Don&#8217;t Let First Impressions Overshadow Potential Customers</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/06/28/dont-let-first-impressions-overshadow-potential-customers/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/06/28/dont-let-first-impressions-overshadow-potential-customers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:43:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brittany Dorfner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[customer relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[first impressions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Malcom Gladwell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NECC]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=422</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[National Educational Computing Conference (NECC) opening keynote speaker, Malcolm Gladwell, discusses the good and bad of rapid cognition in his book, Blink. He defines rapid cognition as the snap decisions we make when we meet new people, try new products, visit new places, etc. &#8211; moments that build our first impressions. Although Gladwell discusses the value of rapid cognition, he also notes that marketers should beware of acting on their first impressions when it comes to interacting with customers. As much as we hate to admit it, we all judge others. Whether on purpose or not, we pass judgment on complete strangers based on appearance, clothing, mannerisms, etc. In your personal life this may be acceptable as it can prevent making the wrong choices about who you interact with, what products you buy, where you vacation, and more. Our every day decisions are typically based off first impressions. But when it comes to selling a product, every customer is important and its necessary to put your personal assumptions aside and give them the information they&#8217;re looking for. Consider NECC for example &#8211; even among the chaos of the trade show floor, you still need to connect with your customers. Although [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/06/28/dont-let-first-impressions-overshadow-potential-customers/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Using Social Media Effectively to Engage and Inspire</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/06/26/using-social-media-effectively-to-engage-and-inspire/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/06/26/using-social-media-effectively-to-engage-and-inspire/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:42:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kristen Plemon</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[education technology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PBS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=394</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Looking for examples of how to use social media to engage and collaborate with your customers and other target audiences?  PBS FRONTLINE&#8217;s Digital Nation project provides a great example of how organizations can get people involved and create meaningful user experiences that contribute to the growth and recognition of a brand. Digital Nation is a multi-platform initiative that explores how the Web and digital media are impacting the way we think, learn and interact. FRONTLINE&#8217;s year-long project will unfold through a series of online video reports and user-submitted stories that will springboard to a nationally televised documentary scheduled to air in winter 2010.  Unlike the typical documentary process, in which producers and directors work behind the scenes, unveil the finished product, and invite comments and participation only after its release, FRONTLINE and the Digital Nation team are seeking contributions during the entire production cycle.  Central to the project is a mosaic of user-generated videos, audio, photos, comments, and posts that provides key elements of the project&#8217;s reports. For the chapter on educational technology, &#8220;Education in the Digital Age,&#8221; FRONTLINE and the Digital Nation team are asking educators to collaborate by submitting stories and comments on how technology impacts their classrooms, their work, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/06/26/using-social-media-effectively-to-engage-and-inspire/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Increasing Blog Readership</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/05/27/increasing-blog-readership/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/05/27/increasing-blog-readership/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2009 23:55:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kristen Plemon</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blogging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[corporate blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pr]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=174</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#160; Think like your reader.  Why should they care?  That&#8217;s the most important tip for corporate blogging and driving more people to your blog.  In our earlier posts, To Blog or not to Blog and How to Start a Corporate Blog, we explored the value of establishing a company blog, and provided helpful tips on getting started.  The next step is engaging your readers with compelling, dynamic content that draws them in and keeps them coming back.  The amount of traffic to your company blog and readers&#8217; comments are important indicators of success. Blog Writing Tips To gain the attention of readers, post original content as much as possible, such as your opinions, thoughts and commentary on industry trends, news, timely issues, and important updates from your company.  Don’t regurgitate company newsletters and news releases.  The purpose of a blog is to facilitate a conversation.  Corporate blogs are most effective when they are written in an authentic human voice, as if one was speaking to a friend or colleague. Know and understand your audiences.  Your readers may extend beyond your customers or users; they could be business partners, government officials, journalists, or potential users.  To make your posts worthwhile, write [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/05/27/increasing-blog-readership/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>How to Start a Corporate Blog</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/05/22/how-to-start-a-corporate-blog/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/05/22/how-to-start-a-corporate-blog/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2009 23:53:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kristen Plemon</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blogging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[corporate blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[corporate blogging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[customer relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pr]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=166</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Corporate blogging is not about jumping on the bandwagon.  It’s about developing a deeper relationship with your customers and other key audiences by being open, engaging in a dialogue, and showing the human side of the company.  In To Blog or not to Blog, I shared the benefits of corporate blogging and the importance of understanding its value.  But, businesses often find it challenging to start a blog. What should we write? What do we do when there&#8217;s a negative comment?  How much time, and what resources do we devote to this? How do we measure return on investment? These questions will be answered in this and subsequent posts on corporate blogging. Once you’ve decided to start a corporate blog, outline the goals, the author(s), format, style, writing guidelines, and measurements of success. First, your company should be actively listening and connecting with others through online social networks. Read and provide thoughtful commentary on others’ blogs. Joining in conversations helps build company credibility and visibility in the online community, which is critical to the success of your blog. Author(s) Simply, pick the best person for the job. The author should  understand blogging, be a good writer, have valuable insights to share, and [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/05/22/how-to-start-a-corporate-blog/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>To Blog or not to Blog</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/05/09/to-blog-or-not-to-blog/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/05/09/to-blog-or-not-to-blog/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 09 May 2009 18:07:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kristen Plemon</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blogging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[corporate blogs]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=130</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Is a blog right for your company? Establishing a corporate blog can be a valuable investment of time and resources, if it’s done correctly. According to the Technorati State of the Blogosphere 2008 report, more than 50 percent of Internet users in the United States read blogs, making it one of the mostly widely used forms of social media. Blogs are also becoming a more prominent part of the media landscape overall, as a growing number of traditional media outlets cease publication. Yet, popularity isn’t the key reason a company should blog. Top reasons for corporate blogging: Building thought leadership. Strengthening customer relationships. Reputation management. Testing out ideas, or seeking feedback. A corporate blog – whether written by one or several employees – isn’t just another communication channel to send out news. It provides a unique opportunity to converse with your target audiences on their terms, where they increasingly spend their time learning, working and socializing – the Internet. In other words, they&#8217;ll come to your blog, if you pique their interest. Once you have their ear, keep them coming back with engaging content and discussion. In the end, you and your readers will learn from each other, an immeasurable [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/05/09/to-blog-or-not-to-blog/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
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		<title>Getting Ready for NECC</title>
		<link>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/04/02/getting-ready-for-necc/</link>
		<comments>http://www.cblohm.com/2009/04/02/getting-ready-for-necc/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2009 22:00:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sandy Fash</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NECC]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cblohm.com/blog/?p=96</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Spring is the season for education-focused trade shows.  From the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) to the International Reading Association (IRA), industry organizations are hosting their annual conferences, inviting educators and administrators to network, learn and share best practices.  For many educational technology companies, the biggest show of the year falls in late June, following this string of subject and audience-focused conferences.  That show is the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC), presented by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). This year NECC will be in Washington, D.C., starting on June 28th with a series of workshops for educators and hours of booth set-up for vendors.  For educators, administrators and tech directors, NECC will be a forum of activity – presenting, learning, sharing, and checking out the latest products.  For ed tech companies, NECC is an opportunity to showcase their best and latest innovations, developed with the hopes of making a difference in the academic and teaching success of students and educators.  And for another group – editors, reporters and bloggers – NECC will be a kaleidoscope of activity and information overload where vendors and educators alike highlight their stories and vie for a spot in future [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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