Why You Should Use Infographics to Communicate Visually

Tweet

By Vincent Derama, Design Specialist 

For a business, it is important to send the right message to your audience, but it is equally important that the audience can understand your message. After all, not everyone is an expert. Today, any individual can access the Internet and find very specific answers to very specific questions, but if their questions involve you or your message, how do you know that they’ll remember that information?

Information graphs or “infographs” are visual tools that communicate information simply and aesthetically. They take profuse and in-depth knowledge and present it clearly and concisely through visual representation. Infographs typically contain statistical information about a specific topic or field of work, but have also been adapted to communicate themes and ideas as well.

The value of infographics as a communication tool can be attributed to the way our brain processes information. For instance, right now you’re reading this article, line by line, taking in everything in the chronological order it was written. Because we read in a linear pattern, our brain cannot process information faster than we can supply it. The brain can process visual information up to 60,000 times faster than text, however. When you look at a picture of, let’s say a beach, every element of the photo is interpreted simultaneously, so you know the image is of a beach. Even when viewed separately, say separate images of palm trees, sand, or waves, you can infer that a beach is connected to these themes. However, after just describing a beach to you, you had to process that information linearly (e.g. palm trees -> sand -> waves = probably a beach).

Infographics are a valuable communication tool. When communicating with your audience, as a business or otherwise, an infograph brings a level of professionalism and expertise in a given topic through your ability to clearly convey complex data or information. Additionally, people want more visual content. In fact, there has been an 800 percent increase in “infographic” searches on Google throughout the past two years. The viral potential for visual content is at its highest. Who knows, maybe your next infographic could be your breakout in Internet immortality.

Four PR Trends

Tweet

By Grant Wright, CEO

Looking at past trends in an evolving industry can be a poor predictor of future trends—whether you’re talking about the stock market or the PR field.

Witness Facebook (a 9-year-old), Twitter (a 7-year-old), Instagram and Tout (both 2 year olds). These are among only a few of the game changers that disrupted the publishing industry. Each is a relative toddler by traditional business standards, and not that many years before their existence I don’t recall anyone predicting them. But their global impact on the human condition is already established.

The trend impacting the PR industry, therefore, is not which new social tool will take off, but that game changers are now the norm. Expect and anticipate them.

Here are four things (among many) I see near through long term impacting PR.

The Story Stays

We like a good yarn. Stories have been told throughout human history and they’re not going away anytime soon. So while the delivery method may continue to break speed records in the unprecedented data age we’re now in, if there isn’t a compelling story to whatever the communication is, it won’t leave the station.

In creating your communications, think about your story. How compelling is it or could it be, and why should others care? And if you don’t have one, then either create one or rethink your communication strategy for most effective resource use.

Multimedia Explosion

We are a sensorial species, and with the written word there’s a terrible lack of engagement of the senses. True, imagination can help make up for that. However, the way I imagine Utopia and you do can be very different, meaning there’s a significant control loss of the intended message. But what if I could not only tell you a story, but also engage you in it by your five senses? Instant communication around the planet is now possible with video covering sight and sound that will only increase. But I think it’s only a matter of time before technology allows for an online cook ‘book’ to not only convey with what and how something’s made, but also how it should look, feel and even smell and taste.

Additive Manufacturing

 …aka 3-D Printing will change everything, and this means for PR too.  I think 3-D printing is truly Roddenberry’s Star Trek replicator come to life like the cell phone, and why I see it profoundly impacting PR is that currently the world’s societies are built largely around traditionally manufactured goods and related services – shoes manufactured in China are consumed in the USA; medical implants created in New York are used in Canada; an airplane is created and assembled from many different places; etc. Things today are still made for us and we don’t make things for ourselves. PR supports all of this ‘traditional’ world commerce that in the next decade will dramatically change with the advent of 3-D printing for the masses. Like intangibles such as information value decreasing with increased accessibility, so will the value of physical goods change. As it does, PR will change as well, becoming less about conveying a compelling call to action to buy consumer products, say, and more about strategically helping communicate things like B2B opportunities, services expertise, key events, experience opportunities, and political and societal agendas.

Local & Smaller

It’s well established doctrine for good communication to know thy audience, and reach them where they are. With billions of us now having our heads buried in our smartphones more than we’d like to admit, guess where audiences are? Sure, we’re still driving down the freeway ready to notice a billboard, pouring over that quaint thing called a newspaper at Starbucks occasionally, and watching commercials whip by as we watch our favorite DVR’d show.  But increasingly we’re more interested in our immediate environs – our local neighborhood - than otherwise. So as opposed to a broad shotgun approach, PR will increasingly need a precise rifle approach tailored to local geography and interests. And in doing so rely less on large real estate like a full magazine, in-depth television reporting or a regional newspaper spread, but instead plan for consumption to be increasingly on a screen just four or five inches wide—that if it’s showing a picture of a rose, soon enough will probably smell just as sweet.

Twitter: Grant_Wright

Tout: Grant_Wright

LinkedIn: /grantwrightwoc

Twitter: @wrightoncomm

Facebook: /wrightoncomm

Wrightoncommunications.blogspot.com

Wrightoncomm.com

Public Relations is More Than Order Taking

Tweet

By Rebecca Chappell, Account Executive 

Recently at a luncheon for hospitality sales and marketing professionals I heard the phrase, “I don’t care if you’re an order taker, be the best order taker you can be.” I suppose the phrase makes sense for a restaurant server, for example, since what typically sets the best servers apart is their ability to upsell: As you’ve each selected the same glass of wine, how about sharing a bottle? But could the same phrase also be applied to a PR professional? I certainly hope not.

At (W)right On we take ‘project orders’ from our clients all the time. In any given month we fulfill a myriad of requests from writing a press release or designing a brochure, to producing a video or strategizing an email marketing campaign. But it’s not our goal to simply be great order takers. As PR consultants, our goal is to help our clients achieve their communications goals while helping them to see a bigger picture. And that means steering them to the right strategies to reach their goals.

For example, before we ever sit at the table to create compelling copy for a brochure, we may first have to spend time gently explaining to a client why his company jargon isn’t compelling or why a brochure is not the communications vehicle in the first place. Or when a client comes to us with a “great idea” for a press release, we can’t be afraid to ask: so what? We’re in the business of communications, so it’s our job to pinpoint the “so what?” in every project we collaborate on. Is this idea newsworthy? If not, let’s come up with an idea that is! Will anyone care? If not, let’s look at why and figure out how to make it so! Is there a different marketing route we could take instead of a routine press release? Let’s brainstorm the possibilities!   

When I heard that phrase, “…be the best order taker you can be,” I immediately thought of (W)right On’s Core Values and how five of them illustrate why we will never consider ourselves order takers: 

We act with intention. When we know the outcomes that are being targeted and how these will help our clients reach their goals, we make the best use of client and agency resources and we can anticipate problems before they arise. 

We focus on the important. We don’t confuse flash for substance. And we don’t confuse activity for productivity.

We are relentless about results. We are creative and thorough in helping clients achieve their goals. And we accept that we won’t always be successful, but when we aren’t, it won’t be because of something we didn’t think of or do!

We embrace and lead change. We accept and strive to stay ahead of changes in our industry and our clients’ industries. 

We do what’s right. We always act with integrity and don’t compromise on excellence. We don’t take short-cuts that sacrifice quality or our reputation. When we make a mistake we own it and make it right. 

Fact of the matter is, for us, relationships rule, and you can’t really have a relationship with a client if you’re just an order taker. Order takers are a commodity. Leaders add value. We take the time to build relationships with our clients by adhering to our Core Values and setting clear expectations and goals, having open communication channels and showing mutual respect. 

How do you build relationships in your industry?

Where’s the Beef?

Tweet

By Maureen Legg, Account Executive

Communicating Value

No one ever likes losing a customer or client, especially when they leave for the wrong reasons or never share any of their doubt or discontent about your product or service. We often mistake no news for good news, but many people actually prefer the door to the daunting prospect of sharing their discontent.

Sharing their discontent with you, that is. They have no problem sharing with all their colleagues.

This problem is more common among consumers of services than actual products. With a physical product, if something doesn’t perform as a customer expected, they can return or exchange it. Consulting services, like those we provide at (W)right On Communications, require more proactive communication with clients to increase their understanding of the work product and value of the outcomes. And whether you’re in the communications consulting field or a seller of world-class widgets, the following five communication steps can increase client satisfaction and build client loyalty.

The Plan’s the Thing

As a service provider, it is important to establish upfront a client’s needs and expectations and how you plan to meet (and hopefully exceed!) them. Agreeing on a well-defined set of goals and objectives makes evaluation of your services turnkey. Documenting this communication in a plan of action keeps everyone on the same page.

Don’t Stop Thinkin’ About Tomorrow

With a plan in place, you can grow your relationship with your client by bringing to their attention relevant current events and new ideas that could impact their business. This is a value-added service you can provide that demonstrates what you bring to their team. If your contribution becomes an action item that requires amendments to the original plan, advise your client of the financial implications upfront.

Just Do It

One of the biggest benefits you can bring to the party is the ability to get things done. Find ways to solve problems apart from relying on the client for an assist. And meeting deadlines is a must. Lingering projects for any reason lead to apathy about your value and a lack confidence in your ability.

Making Dollars Make Sense

When a client complains about the bill, it means they are not fully aware of all the benefits they are receiving from you so they don’t understand the value. It’s up to you to continually communicate the benefits of your service. That can take the form of regular progress reports with measurable metrics (you can even send this with the bill). Periodically meeting with your client to review the bills gives them a chance to ask questions and for you to describe the value-added services that are often not reflected on the bill. This also gives your client the opportunity to clarify what kind of outcomes they are expecting so that there is no miscommunication.

Three Little Words

Checking in with your client from time to time is the easiest way to diffuse percolating issues. Simply asking, “How’s it going?” can initiate a meaningful dialogue that leads to good will (maybe even an accolade or two) or course corrections in advance of a crisis situation.

In a digital world, it’s easy to think we’re having conversations because we’re communicating with one another. But there’s no substitute for being in the moment with a live, back and forth, give and take conversation with real-time facial expressions and tangible emotional engagement.

And remember – it’s cheaper to keep a client than to find a new one. Beyond lost revenue, you’ve just cost yourself the time and resources to cultivate new business.

Fear Is Its Own Food

Tweet

By Grant Wright, CEO

It struck me the other day that America was consumed by fear for so many months leading to the election. Fear of more Obama. Fear of change to Romney. Fear that the housing market isn’t strong enough. Fear that it’s too strong and becoming unaffordable again. Fear of Obamacare. Fear that Obama really does care. Fear that things won’t be OK. Fear that things will be OK for us, but we’re not doing enough for others. Fear. Fear.

Watching a morning ‘news’ channel that for months pedaled little more than outrage, speculation and what-ifs, suddenly overnight seeming to set its communication priorities on a discussion of coffee varieties; reading of Mitt Romney no longer having Secret Service or his campaign plane, and leaving a meeting a couple days later by getting into the back seat of his son’s ordinary gray Subaru; seeing the media offer us the latest catchphrase to turn our suddenly vacant fear capacity to “fiscal cliff” (listen for it, it too was everywhere overnight) – reminds me to stop and refuse to buy into it.

Don’t get me wrong – if you’re a gazelle with a cheetah bearing down on you then fear is a good thing. And arguably a little more tempering fear and prudence preceding the 2008 financial meltdown would have been a good thing. But we’re not gazelles and so much of what we fear is manufactured by others who profit ridiculously by playing to our fear response. So it can be hard to know good fear and harmful fear.

I recently heard someone quote a study that something like 98 percent of what we fret about never comes to pass. Arguably, at least some of it doesn’t come to pass because we worried about it and prevented it. But still, the extraordinary price we humans pay by worrying is, well, extraordinary.

Antacid sales worldwide each year alone reportedly top more than $10 billion. Sure, a lot of this is to do with other health factors like the obesity epidemic here in the U.S., but I’m guessing another big factor in this is simply people worrying, often needlessly.

KPBS radio recently reported that each year in the U.S. hospitals and surgeons have to pay out a total of more than $1 billion to surgery patients who have had something left inside them, like a sponge. And this is because there’s on average 4,000 items unintentionally left inside patients each year. Should I fear this if I need surgery? Of course not, in the same way you can’t worry about your plane being the one to crash from the roughly 50,000 commercial flights that take off every day somewhere in the world.

Since we live in the information age, we are bombarded with things to worry about like no time before. Things to potentially worry about have always happened; it’s just that we never knew about a lot of them.

So, how do we filter but not become callous? I don’t know. If you have a sure-fire solution let me know. For now, and for me, I do my best to balance and try to err on the side of concern versus indifference. As they say, what goes around comes around. So we can hope to put out more good than less, and if we’re lucky maybe some of that will come back to us. But you can’t, and shouldn’t of course, have that expectation.

At (W)right On, we advise our clients not to make decisions from a platform of fear. It is a poor platform. Better to make it from a reasonably and intelligently informed position, and then put full effort behind making whatever that decision have the best possible outcome.

Fear. Worry. Unless there’s a cheetah chasing you, in the inimitable words of Meher Baba made even more famous by Bobby McFerrin, “Don’t worry, be happy.”


Image credit: ajlber / 123RF Stock Photo

We're Thankful

Tweet

With Thanksgiving next week, we wanted to share what we're thankful for.

"Gratitude is a great stress buster. I have a Post-it note in my daytimer that reminds me to pause and think about those things I'm thankful for. My family, friends and coworkers always top the list! After that, I'm grateful for my health."  

-Julie Wright, President & Founder

  

"I'm thankful for being fortunate enough to have 'first world problems;' for love, laughter, family and friends; and for the smart and passionate people in my life who inspire me every day."

-Grant Wright, CEO & Managing Partner

  

"I'm always thankful for family, friends, food on the table and a place to call home, but this year I'm especially thankful for one thing in particular: my soon-to-be husband!"

-Rebecca Chappell, Account Executive

"I'm thankful for a supportive and loving family, beautiful girlfriend, handsome chocolate lab companion, Shakespear, and that I'm healthy enough to make every day enjoyable by taking advantage of life's opportunities. I'm also thankful for the little things in life like Internet memes, parody Twitter accounts, craft beer, Aziz Ansari, fish tacos and Google on my smart phone."

-Chancelor Shay, Account Executive

  

"I am grateful for my family because I always have a place where I belong and feel loved."

-Maureen Legg, Account Executive

 "I'm thankful for my loving husband, my amazing job and colleagues, and for living in beautiful San Diego."  

-Kristina Houck, Account Coordinator

"I am most thankful for my fiancé and having him as my best friend and the man that I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with! I am very thankful for my family who has always been there for me and helped me grow into the person I am today. I am also thankful for the two best friends that I left back in Chicago, but who I can still count on and always have for support even from across the country!"

-Kairee Luna, Design Specialist 

Making a Difference

Tweet

By Grant Wright, CEO

At (W)right On, there are principles by which we operate that we call our Core Values. They’re how we roll, or try our best to.

Written some years ago, they have evolved a bit, sometimes to add greater clarity and sometimes to simply articulate a new Value that through experience was realized to be there all along.

It’s # 3 – “We are inspired by our clients” - that prompted me to write this today. Well, part of its precept actually: “We choose to work with people who and organizations that are visionaries, leaders and changing the world for the better…”

This notion largely relates to another belief, that life is short and there are far more great things to do than we have time (a precept of Value # 13 – “We act with a sense of urgency.”) So at (W)right On, while remembering the bills that still need paying and all other things being equal, when we can turn our team’s capabilities toward maximum good, we should, and do.

While we have other great stories and outcomes for our visionary for-profit clients, over the years there have been numerous not-for-profit organizations we’ve been privileged to support. Currently, these include Toward Maximum Independence, The Roddenberry Foundation, New Haven Youth & Family Services and Tri-City Hospital Foundation, to name just a few.

Toward Maximum Independence is a nonprofit agency with a long standing reputation for “best practices” in providing personalized assistance to people with disabilities enabling them to live, work and participate in their communities. The positive attitude and work they and those they assist do everyday is extraordinary, and personally inspiring.

The Roddenberry Foundation, founded and chaired by Rod Roddenberry, son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, for its part has a vision of supporting efforts to expand new frontiers for the benefit of humanity.  Focused on the four pillars of the Environment, Science & Technology, Humanitarianism and Education, its Roddenberry Center for Stem Cell Research at Gladstone Institutes was established one year ago. A couple weeks ago, Dr. Shinya Yamanaka, who divides his time between Japan and the Roddenberry Center, was awarded the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine for his stem cell research discoveries. How cool is that? And how profoundly privileged is (W)right On to help carry on the Star Trek legacy established by Gene Roddenberry so many years ago?

New Haven Youth & Family Services is yet another organization making a difference. Established in 1967 and having helped more than 15,000 families to date, today New Haven is transforming lives for at-risk adolescent boys through an innovative education model that supports troubled youth, guiding them from despair to hope. Every young person they help not only helps them and those around them, but helps the community today and for the long term. It’s truly win-win.

Tri-City Hospital Foundation was established in 1964 with a mission of inspiring community health and wellness through support of Tri-City Medical Center. Recently I had the opportunity to trial for a few minutes Tri-City’s incredible new da Vinci Robotic Surgical System in part made possible by the Foundation. Humbling, to say the least. (No human or anything else was harmed in the process!) And while Tri-City helps thousands every year, it made a difference in the life of Caleb, and through a new law and its own ‘Code Caleb’ now other newborns that you should read about.

Each of these organizations I do injustice by mentioning them so briefly, and there are many others. I hope you’ll take a moment to check them out, and in a world all-too-focused on pop culture, or the latest talking head on what used to be legitimate news channels, think about what really matters to you.

There are many worthy organizations, and I hope we hear from you on the above or any of the other great things you know of going on around us.

And if you’re curious what the rest of WOC’s Core Values are, shoot me an email at gwright@wrightoncomm.com.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Internship

Tweet

By Leah Reyes, SDSU Public Relations Senior

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I began my internship at (W)right On Communications. This is my first time taking what I've learned in the classroom and applying it to a real public relations setting. I've been here for about one month and I've already learned so much. Here is what I’ve learned so far:

Don't be afraid to ask questions.

Internship supervisors understand that you don't know everything, especially if it's your first internship. In the beginning, I was nervous to ask questions because I didn't want anyone to regret choosing me as an intern. I learned fast that if I didn't ask questions, however, I would end up sitting there staring at my desktop. Therefore, I ask questions whenever I have the chance, whether it's to clarify a task I was given, or to learn something new.

Every opportunity is a learning opportunity.

No matter what you're doing, there is always something to learn. Observe how your supervisors talk on the phone, how they discuss client work with each other, or even how they conduct their individual work. Learn from them and apply it to your own work. If you are working on a task and you’re curious about something, ask. For example, I was browsing pictures for a brochure, and I realized that I had always wondered how organizations selected pictures for brochures and other marketing collateral. I asked Account Executive Rebecca Chappell, and she explained how images are selected. There have been several times when someone has given me advice or extra information just to expand my knowledge about the profession.

Don't be easily discouraged.

Supervisors are here to teach and correct if needed. I've made a few mistakes and I've been told what I can do better next time. I was scared that I would be scolded for mistakes, but the (W)right On team really makes sure that this is a learning experience for me. They don't make me feel bad for mistakes, but guide me instead.

Ask for feedback.

I am enrolled in an internship course, which requires me to have a "midterm meeting" with my internship supervisor. The purpose of the meeting is to evaluate my internship and discuss what I can improve. If this isn’t required for your internship course, I encourage you to seek feedback from your internship supervisor.

Show that you care.

When I don't have a task, which is rare, I always ask if anyone needs help. It's courteous to offer assistance, and it shows that you care to be part of the organization. Also always use your manners. I say "thank you" every time I am given a task. I also apologize if I make a mistake. We should be polite by default, but sometimes we forget how important it is. You want to establish a close rapport with your team, so don't forget your manners.

Social media is powerful.

Prior to joining the (W)right On team, I was aware of the power of social media, but I didn't understand how much power it has. As media technology develops, old media traditions begin to slow down. Almost every piece of client work I have had includes social media. There is something new to learn about social media every day. Visit mashable.com and you'll see what I mean. It's not enough to know what Facebook, Twitter, etc. is and how to post. The mechanics behind what to post are very detailed. I've learned that it's really important to have one "voice" when posting, especially for an organization. I've also learned that although it's free of cost, it's not free of your time. A lot of thought goes into the posts we draft and I've learned how to make personal, but professional posts. I've also learned how to use the different tools of social media, like Hootsuite. As long as media technology is changing, which is every day, you should be willing to learn it if you're going to be in the journalism/communications business.

An internship is an opportunity to learn about the profession you are pursuing. It’s important to get the most out of your internship so you can learn and grow. In order to get the best experience from it, you need to put yourself out there. I still need to work on not being so shy, but I am definitely taking everything in as I go, which will help me build my future career. 

(W)right On’s Julie Wright to Discuss Social Media at Local Business Summit

Tweet

Julie Wright, president and founder of (W)right On Communications, will speak about social media at the Economic Development Corporation of Southwest California’s 4th Annual Business Summit on May 9 in Temecula.

Wright, who is one of three scheduled speakers, will discuss how entrepreneurs can best use social media platforms to promote their businesses.

“So many businesses are already using social media, so I will share tips that will help them take their program to the next level to truly engage their customers and stakeholders while seeing a return on the investment,” Wright said.

In addition to social media, business professionals will learn about trends in cloud computing and employee recruitment. The event will also give attendees an opportunity to talk to vendors and network with other professionals.

The 4th Annual Business Summit will be held from 7:30 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, May 9 at Temecula Civic Center, located at 41000 Main St. Join us to hear Wright’s presentation, and be sure to stop by (W)right On’s table!

Registration is $20 and ends on May 8. To register, visit edcsummit4.eventbrite.com.

A Guide to Facebook Business Pages

Tweet

By Kristina Houck, Research and Online Content Specialist

With 901 million monthly active users, Facebook is a perfect place for businesses to connect with customers. So if you have a business and don’t yet have a Facebook business page, what are you waiting for?

During last week’s So Cal Business Networking and Internet Marketing Expo in Del Mar, speakers encouraged business owners to utilize Facebook and other social media platforms to grow their businesses. It was a great reminder to me that, despite Facebook’s immense popularity, many businesses have not embraced this platform for connecting with customers.

I’ll recap some of the basic essentials presented for establishing your business presence on Facebook, as well as some tips from our team. (If you already have a business page on Facebook, skip ahead for the tips from (W)right On!)

1. Create a business page

It’s important to not use your personal page to promote your business. After all, it’s against Facebook’s terms and conditions. Create a page just for your business and utilize Facebook, as well as third-party applications, to brand it as your own.

2. Brand your page

Create a custom URL to easily promote your business on Facebook. Use a cover image and profile image that best represents your company. If you don’t have a good photo, take one! The (W)right On team recently took new group pictures that will be unveiled on our page soon. You can further customize your page by selecting custom images for the tabs you created (not for default tabs such as Likes and Photos).

3. Provide useful content

Useful and entertaining content will increase interaction on your page, and interaction is essential on Facebook. Facebook’s default settings sort newsfeeds by top stories. Therefore, your page will be more visible if other users like and share your content. Post a variety of status updates, including photos, videos, links and questions to increase participation. You can also host giveaways and contests, but be sure to adhere to Facebook’s promotion guidelines. It’s also important to show your company’s personality. (W)right On, for example, often posts pictures of frog figurines as our President Julie Wright loves frogs! Our client Tri-City Hospital Foundation shares photos of volunteers giving back to the community.

4. Get “likes”

Drive people to your page. Do this by inviting your personal Facebook friends to ‘like’ your page and informing others about your page by using icons and social plugins on your blog and website. Also include a link to your page in your email signature. If you have a Twitter account, share the link to your page with your followers.

5. Set aside time for Facebook

If you’re worried about the amount of time managing a business page takes, don’t be. Set aside 20-30 minutes a day to post on your page and engage with your fans. As you gain more fans, you might want to increase the amount of time you devote to your page so you can properly monitor comments. You can save time by importing your blog posts on Facebook using a third-party app. You can also schedule some status updates by using social media management systems like HootSuite. But I recommend you also post manually as some sources say manual posts increase engagement. Basically you want to let your fans know you’re actively on your page and reading what they say by interacting with them!

If you’ve already established a business page, you’re well aware of its recent makeover when Facebook upgraded all business pages to the new timeline design on March 30. While some were wary of the changes, (W)right On has found the new design provides businesses with several benefits. Here are a few of our tips for making the most of your business page and Facebook’s new layout:

1. Use the admin panel and insights

The new admin panel is very user-friendly. You can now open your admin panel directly on your page instead of navigating to another page. Click on “Insights” to analyze your page’s user growth and engagement. Use this information to better understand what content your fans respond to.  

2. Highlight and pin posts

While your page has a two-column layout, you can highlight a post and expand it to widescreen. To do so, hover over the content and click on the star. You can also pin a post to the top of the page for as long as a week. To do so, hover over the content, click on the pencil and choose “pin to top.”

3. Learn what people are saying

Fan comments used to get lost on the old layout. Now, fan posts to your page or mentions of your page appear at the top of the right-hand column. This is a great way to easily read what others are saying about your business. With that said, you can also choose to hide this box in your admin settings.

4. Check private messages

Users can now send private messages. Fans could only comment on business pages before the switch to timeline. Be sure to regularly check your messages and respond to your fans.

5. Have fun

While you may create a business page to gain more customers, don’t think of Facebook as work. Have fun engaging with fans and potential customers!

Have more questions about Facebook business pages? Contact the (W)right On team for all your social media needs!

Are your employee communications as productive as your employees?

Tweet

With fewer employees doing more of the work, the economy has really put the squeeze on workers during the last 12 to 18 months. For those fortunate enough to be considered in the employed rather than the unemployed category, they’ve stepped up, done more with less, and the statistics show it. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, productivity has increased more in the last year than it has in the last 48 years. Read that again: the productivity of American workers has increased so dramatically over the last 12 months that 1962 was the last time the workforce saw such an increase. Specifically, from the first quarter of 2009 to the first quarter of 2010, productivity increased 6.3 percent.

Can this rate continue? Or is this a cause-effect relationship that will be a mere blip on the radar a year from now? Is your business prepared to make this a long-term trend? Businesses today don’t need sprinters, they need marathoners. It is foolish for employers to do nothing and expect that this trend will continue. It is more important than ever to have a strategic employee communications program in place. Whether your company consists of 5 or 50,000 – employees must feel connected, engaged.

If they are not already, have your corporate communications team work closely with human resources. Make sure employees are getting the need to know information as well as the nice to know.

At (W)right On, we’re leading internal communications programs for small businesses as well as for large, international businesses with tens of thousands of employees in hundreds of locations spread across the world. Don’t let language barriers, multiple time zones or diverse cultures be excuses. If you’re a small business, don’t just assume employees feel connected. Make the effort to communicate, it builds employee morale which will help keep productivity on the upswing.

Paraphrasing our favorite character from "The Office," Dwight Schrute. "Would I ever leave this company? Look, I’m all about loyalty. In fact, I feel like part of what I’m being paid for here is my loyalty. But if there were somewhere else that valued loyalty more highly, I’m going wherever they value loyalty the most."

(W)right On goes to 11!

Tweet

Grant Wright sent the (W)right On team this message today, on Nov. 11, to remind our group of its accomplishments in achieving 11 years of growth. But also to inspire the (W)right On team to adapt to the demands in this new era of communications and business as we move forward. It's a universal message and worth sharing beyond our walls.

Today we recognize this auspicious day for several reasons:

In the USA for Veteran’s Day we celebrate veterans who have sacrificed so much to defend our freedom, and in Canada where it’s Remembrance Day we remember the lessons of history so as to never have to repeat them.

And at (W)right On, we celebrate a different meaning on this 11-11… We have our own celebration of 11 years going strong!

For any business, what does 11 years mean? Well, a quick review of business survival rates indicates the vast majority of businesses (something like 90%) that start out do not survive to 11 years. (W)right On has. And maybe it’s worth noting that the statistics for the past decade really don’t incorporate the past 24 month recession period, the most severe since the Great Depression. So I wonder what the stats will look like a decade from now when this period is taken into account.

But ‘surviving’ and ‘thriving’ are very different things. It may be that many companies eking it through over the past 24 months redefine surviving as the new thriving, understandably so. But overall, I think by adhering to the fundamentals that are the foundation of our success (W)right On thrives.

We’re not only here after 11 years putting us in the elite ‘less than one in 10’ category, but our foundation leaves us poised for continued growth and a bright future. The ‘asset’ pieces of the foundation are numerous and remarkable, and I’ll save a review of them for a separate discussion if anyone would like to chat about it. But my view is also that ‘what got us here won’t get us where we need to go’. Meaning we need to never stray from the non-negotiable standards at the core of (W)right On’s success, but leave behind other old behaviors and increasingly adopt new behaviors fitted to a larger enterprise and a future business and communications world for which there's no precedent. Not an easy thing to do, and it means an even greater risk tolerance and stretching our personal and collective comfort zones. But if I know one team that can do it, it’s this one. And I’m very proud to be part of this team, that extends to our external team members, vendors and great clients, celebrating (W)right On’s 11th anniversary on 11/11.

THANK YOU, everybody!

Grant