My Summer at Edelman

 By Blake Manfre, Summer Trainee, Dallas

When I first started out at Edelman, I was terrified. The night before my first day, I thought I would be thrown into the fast paced public relations agency life, and all of my coworkers would quickly realize I was not suited for this type of work. Of course no one knew this as I tried my best to remain calm and confident to my friends and family who were so proud of me for interning at PR Week’s “Agency of the Year.”

On my first day, I dressed in slacks and a freshly-ironed shirt ready for my first attempt at the cruel professional world. On the day that I had built up so much in my head for, I folded clothes. As anti-climatic as it was, a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders, and the pressure I had put on myself slowly faded. I was not thrown into a cruel world; rather, I was eased into the professional life and guided through everything that I did.

One of the first things I learned here at Edelman before all of the media lists, the email pitching and the infamous all day meeting was to take baby steps and have realistic expectations to grow as a professional as well as a person. I wasn’t going to become vice president overnight, but I still felt like if I made a mistake, it would be the end of days for me. Making mistakes is human nature, and we are really tested by how we handle those mistakes. Working here has helped me realize this over time, and although I have a long way to go until I get a paycheck instead of snacks and coffee, I feel like I have a strong foundation for moving forward.

My time at Edelman has taught me so much about public relations as well as many other life lessons that go beyond 9-5. It can be long and unglamorous at times, but internships allow students to contribute to real meaningful work, which is something rarely found in a classroom. I could not put a price tag on what I have been taught here (unless you count my gas bill), and for that, I would like to thank everyone who has put time and effort into helping me grow during my short time here in the Dallas office.

How do you define success?

 By Lori Martin, Vice President

That’s a constant question with continually evolving answers in our offices. Each client has its own goals and objectives and defining what success looks like can vary from increasing Facebook fans to that above the fold article in the newspaper (yes, people do still read the newspaper)!

So what does success in Houston look like this month? First, and totally not-client related we haven’t melted in this unforgiving hot summer heat - yet!

Second, Comcast continues to geographically launch its new XFINITY program, and we’re working in tandem with the Comcast to help communicate this change. For some, saying goodbye to the analog and bunny ears and hello to a digital set top box or digital adapter can be overwhelming and confusing. So, as we do with all our clients, we asked, “What does success look like for Comcast in the Houston region?” The answer: Delivering more HD, more On-Demand at a better quality that ever before and communicating this change with our customers in a concise and easy to understand way.

Have we achieved success? We think the proof is in the pudding. - http://galvestondailynews.com/story/248414

Walk a Mile...or 60..in Our Shoes

 By Carolyn Mayo, EVP and General Manager, Edelman Houston

Edelman is once again fielding a team to participate in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure. Yes you are reading this correctly – 60 miles in 3 days. Our 22-member U.S. team will be walking September 23 -25 in Washington, D.C. Edelman Southwest will be represented by yours truly from Houston and Sarah Hoffman from Austin. Have we lost our minds? Maybe, since neither of us would actually ever describe ourselves as athletes. But since our team was announced in May, there are a few things we’ve learned.

• Training for an endurance event is not just a walk in the park. It’s many, many long walks in the park. So far, Sarah and I have walked more than 300 miles. With each week, the distance grows and there are miles to go.

• People can be passionate about their footwear. And their socks: Wright Socks, Thorlos and SmartWool all have avid supporters who can – and will – expound upon the pros and cons. Did I mention they are expensive?

• Houston has a bad rap in the exercise department. I can personally testify there are amazing walking trails and parks all over town, not just at Memorial Park. Check out Buffalo Bayou or Terry Hershey Park sometime.

• Walking is not only good exercise. It provides lots of other side benefits. You can lose weight, feel better, have more energy and reduce stress. Sarah and I have enjoyed quality time and great conversation with family and friends. Sarah’s 19-month old daughter is a regular companion on the neighborhood trails in Austin.

• Wildlife abounds. I’m not referring to Houston’s pubs, clubs and restaurants. It’s the early morning variety that has been a delight. Rabbits are everywhere and the cardinals have been gorgeous.

• GU is not just something you avoid in the street. It’s actually highly concentrated fuel to keep your energy up. Personally I’ve found the chews a better choice than the thick gel, but to each his or her own.

• I’m not sure if the thought of walking 60 miles or the reality of camping in tents with no electricity is more daunting.

• In the past 25 years, the incidence rate of breast cancer has risen approximately 30 percent in westernized countries. Somewhere in the world, a woman dies from breast cancer every 69 seconds. I am a five-year survivor. My mother was not so lucky.

• Fundraising is a part of the deal and not ever as easy as you think it will be. In 2008, the Edelman team raised more than $77,000 to help fund ongoing research for a cure. Each participant in a 3-day walk must raise a minimum of $2,300 – but to top the 2008 contribution, the Edelman “60 Miles or Bust” team needs to raise much more than the minimum.

So here’s the pitch. If you are moved to walk a mile in our shoes, please contribute by going to our personal pages on the Komen 3-Day website. The “ta-tas” and our tootsies will thank you!

Carolyn Mayo: http://www.the3day.org/site/TR?px=6012111&pg=personal&fr_id=1623&et=-bkR5g9Ajky15jPVZp1a9Q..&s_tafId=478515

Sarah Hoffman: http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/2011/WashingtonDCEvent2011?px=6011966&pg=personal&fr_id=1623

See you around town and on the trails,

Carolyn Mayo,
EVP and General Manager
Edelman Houston

The Communications Doctor Is In

 Helen Vollmer, President, Edelman Southwest

In a digital world, you still need old-fashioned people skills. I recently learned that many medical schools (Stanford, Virginia Tech, UCLA among them) are now including brief interviews (MMI or multiple mini interview) demonstrating social skills as part of their admission process. No longer are test scores and grades the sole barometers of who will be treating you in the future.

Questions asked are designed to assess how candidates think on their feet, how willing they are to participate in teams and how well they listen, empathize, as well as respond when someone disagrees with them. Why are these traits important? According to a recent New York Times article (nytimes.com/health) a survey by the Joint Commission found poor communication to be among the leading causes of medical errors, which cause as many as 98,000 deaths each year.

In short, it would seem that good communications skills are as critical in the medical field today as they are in the business world or in personal relationships.

In fact, from Harvard to Howard, most MBA schools now have specific communications courses integrated into curriculum. Several universities offer dual degree programs, such as John Hopkins’ MA Communication/MBA.

Digital communications skills and knowledge are now a huge part of how we engage with those around us. And that’s a good thing. But our abilities to effectively use hybrid, owned and social media should be complementary to, not a substitute for, the depth of understanding that comes from a handshake, a question in response to listening carefully, a well placed pause for emphasis, or a change in tone to indicate displeasure or approval.

I’m an advocate of “eyeball” meetings whenever it’s possible. You know what it’s like: being in the same room, watching a situation unfold with a bit of give and take. And then comes that moment of realization that you are moving down the same path together or you are still miles apart with differing points of view.

So as we all hone our digital communication skills, let’s not forget the importance of a good bedside manner or the value in a well-turned phrase that’s shared verbally. It’s what the doctor ordered. Take one eyeball meeting and two RSS feeds and call me in the morning.

On the Level: Where are you?

 By Meredith McKee, Account Supervisor, Consumer

Check out Edelman’s new tools BlogLevel and TweetLevel – available to anyone for free – and find out where you rank on Twitter and in the blogosphere.

Developed by Edelman staffers, these tools track bloggers and tweeters from around the globe and score them according to influence using 40 different metrics. People with the highest rankings are those who have unique ideas and engage their followers by providing informative and relevant content.

It’s addictive to use, and very helpful, as you can find the most influential people on a particular topic and even see how influential your own Twitter or blog are. As someone who works with travel clients – I’ve looked up everything from travel, business travel, airlines, hotels – and even more specific to destinations. Cross-referencing these tools with other sources you can be sure you are engaging with the right people on Twitter and blogs.

Give it a spin yourself. Not sure what to search for first? Tweetlevel yourself…it’s like Googling yourself.

Digitally Dialed-In: Social Media for Communicators

 By Alison Cox, Vice President, Corporate

I’ll start with a confession – in this always-on, always-connected, 140-character-or-less world, I’m still a fan of RSS for certain things. When it comes to PR and media news, I like having the content available to read at my convenience, without having to worry that I’ve missed something buried in my social feeds. So having said that, here’s what’s on my must-read list for communications pros:

• Richard Edelman’s 6 A.M. – Not just a blog about industry matters, our CEO also shares pictures from his travels and occasional personal stories.

• DiResta the Law – Tony DiResta, the Word of Mouth Marketing Association’s general counsel, provides insight and explains implications of FTC rulings and guideline changes for communications professionals.

• Romenesko – A collection of media industry news, commentary and criticism, this busy feed and Twitter handle (@romenesko) will keep you in-the-know about the business of media.

• Richard Prince’s Journal-isms – It’s online now, but it’s not a blog; he still calls it a column. Published three times a week, Journal-isms provides a round-up of hot topics in diversity news – everything from issues coverage by mainstream media to leadership and talent changes at national media outlets.

• Uncle Barky’s Above the Fold – Ed Bark’s site provides network show reviews, local Dallas/Fort Worth broadcast criticism and a Back Channels [link: http://www.unclebarky.com/back.html] section that spotlights relevant articles from his 26-year run as the Dallas Morning News’ TV critic. During sweeps months, he provides daily updates on overnight Nielsen numbers.

What’s on your must-read/must-follow list?

Through the Eyes of a Digital Trainee

 By Maria Albert, Trainee, Edelman Digital

Before my first day as a trainee with the Edelman Dallas Digital team, I really had no idea what to expect. I had heard “internship stories” from friends about organizing endless cabinets or seen interns in movies skip the Starbucks line to get the perfect latte for their boss, but nothing could prepare me for the most intense and incredible summer of my life.

At first, I did feel a bit overwhelmed when I learned that we would be managing twenty social channels and engaging daily with millions of fans across all of Latin America and the Caribbean. I kept thinking to myself, “It’s just Facebook and Twitter, how hard can it be?” But if there is anything that I learned this summer, it is that being a part of Edelman Digital is much more than that.

Every day was an adventure full of surprises, challenges, and excitement with events going on in different countries, constantly creating content for new campaigns, and engaging with fans. I never knew what was going to come next.

One of the things I loved the most about my experience working with the Dallas Digital team is how diverse and complex the audiences are and how we managed to engage with them in such a personal and culturally specific way. Sometimes people tend to generalize Latin America as just one audience that speaks Spanish, but I have learned that every country has its own personality and separate relationship with the brand, and that you must engage with them accordingly.

It was an honor working with the Dallas Digital team. I learned so much from each one of them. We were scattered all across the globe but we managed to communicate, stay motivated, be supportive, all while having some good laughs. It was very inspiring to see how we never settled, never stayed still, were always raising the bar and looking for ways to improve and innovate the way we engaged with our fans. This is why it only took me a day to realize why Edelman is number one in the world and why this is an experience I will never forget.